The moon hung low over Azure Cloud Sect, casting silver light over tiled roofs and winding stone paths. The night was quiet, save for the faint sound of night watch bells in the distance.
Li Han sat cross-legged on his creaky bed, the Beginner Qi Condensation Manual's breathing techniques still fresh in his mind.His hands formed the first seal, his breaths slow and deep, guiding the faint ambient Qi toward his dantian.
In his past life, this first step had been agony—clumsy, slow, frustrating. But now, with fifty years of cultivation memory guiding him, the process was smooth, almost instinctive.
A wisp of Qi entered his body. Then another.By the time an hour passed, a thin veil of spiritual energy surrounded him like mist. His dantian, starved for decades in this body's timeline, greedily absorbed every thread.
[System Notification]Qi Condensation Progress: 5% → 20%Bonus applied: Past Life Cultivation Experience
Li Han exhaled slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.With the right resources, he could break through to Stage 1 of Qi Condensation in days—something that had taken him years in his previous life.
He glanced at his remaining Fortune Points. 20 FP.Enough for a low-grade Qi Nourishing Pill.
[Purchase: Qi Nourishing Pill – 20 FP]Item Delivered to Inventory.
A faint flash of light appeared before him, fading to reveal a small jade bottle. Inside, a single pearl-like pill shimmered with soft light.
Without hesitation, Li Han popped it into his mouth. It dissolved instantly, flooding his body with pure, gentle spiritual energy. He guided it along his meridians with practiced precision.
The creak of wooden boards outside broke his focus.Voices.
"…I told you, the kitchen duty boy from earlier—he's acting strange," a harsh whisper said."You mean Li Han?" another replied, mocking. "The one who got flattened by Chen Liang last year in the sparring ring? That trash?""Yeah. But tonight, I passed by his window… the Qi in his room is thicker than mine, and I'm at Stage 2!"
Li Han's lips curved slightly. So, people were already noticing.
By dawn, his cultivation had surged. His dantian felt fuller, his body lighter.
[System Notification]Breakthrough Achieved: Qi Condensation – Stage 1Reward: +10 Fortune Points
When the morning bell rang, Li Han left his quarters. The air was crisp, the stone paths glistening with dew. Disciples were already gathering at the training yard for morning sparring.
Among them stood Chen Liang—tall, broad-shouldered, with the arrogant posture of someone who had never truly lost. His eyes locked on Li Han, and a cruel smile tugged at his lips.
"Well, well. The coward shows up." Chen Liang's voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. "Care for a warm-up? I'll go easy on you… this time."
In his past life, Li Han had avoided this fight. Back then, he'd been afraid of humiliation. That single act of cowardice had branded him as weak for years.
This time, he stepped forward, meeting Chen Liang's gaze head-on.
"Warm-up?" Li Han's voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. "I was thinking more along the lines of… a lesson."
A murmur ran through the watching disciples.
Chen Liang laughed. "Big words from someone barely clinging to cultivation. Fine. Don't cry when you lose."
The training instructor, intrigued, gestured for them to begin.
The match started.
Chen Liang charged first, aiming a sweeping kick at Li Han's ribs. It was fast—but to Li Han's eyes, sharpened by years of past-life battles, it was sloppy.
He stepped aside, his hand flashing out to grab Chen Liang's wrist. A twist, a step forward, and—
BAM!
Chen Liang hit the dirt, his eyes wide with shock.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
Li Han released his grip, his tone light. "Consider that… a warm-up."
As he walked away, the system chimed.
[System Notification]Task Completed: First Public VictoryReward: +30 Fortune Points
Li Han's smile was faint, but in his eyes, there was the glint of a predator.
The wheel of fate had begun to turn—and this time, he was the one pushing it.