His mind and heart were in turmoil. He needed answers from the group chat, and he needed them as soon as possible.
He frantically pulled up the chat interface and began typing with trembling fingers.
Carefree Immortal: Has anyone watched the video with the highest megabyte cost?
The moment Xu Qingxian's message appeared, the chat went silent. Then, replies started pouring in.
One Inch Stick: You saw that? Huhu, I was so scared it felt like he was staring straight into my soul.
Big Fatty: That's the most terrifying video I've seen in a while. The new guy was really unlucky, ending up in the hands of someone who can detect transmigrators.
Big Fatty: Summoning the big boss for clarification.
Jade Beauty: Huhu, the fragile lady is absolutely scared out of her mind…
Wandering Monarch: There is no need for panic among the group members. At least, he does not seem to be concerned with us for now.
Wandering Monarch: His strength is at an unfathomable level. From what I saw in the video, he has already walked far along the Dao of Time. I have not even begun to touch upon the Dao of Time myself.
At the Wandering Monarch's words, everyone fell silent. Was it truly that terrifying?
What kind of wretched luck did the transmigrator have to land not only in that world but directly in front of him?
Crouching Down and Begging for Mercy: One minute of silence for the new guy. May he find luck in his next life.
Everyone followed with a barrage of prayer emojis, offering their respects to the poor soul who had transmigrated into such misfortune.
Xu Qingxian fell silent. The Dao of Time? What kind of concept was that?
Damn! Thankfully I wasn't that unlucky to end up in that world, Xu Qingxian thought, feeling a wave of internal relief. His situation might have been tough, but at least it was not hopeless.
Now that he understood the strength of the unknown figure—and the fact that he likely would not bother with small fry like them—he felt a little at ease.
Still, I can't afford to relax. I need to grow stronger before it's too late.
He pocketed his phone and turned his focus to his system interface.
[Host: Xu Qingxian]
[Cultivation Technique: Basic Sword Technique - Flowing Sword Technique]
[Attribute Points: 8]
[Allocate 4 Attribute Points to Basic Sword Technique?]
[Yes/No]
Xu Qingxian contemplated the decision for a moment before choosing not to allocate the points. Something told him it wasn't the right time.
He opened the worn-out Basic Qi Gathering Technique manual and began flipping through its contents, squinting to make sense of the ancient text.
His comprehension was pitifully low. The words danced before his eyes, tangled and elusive. Still, Xu Qingxian persisted, driven by an unshakable feeling.
Maybe… maybe this manual holds the key to restoring my destroyed dantian. If I can fix that, I can resume cultivating properly.
Fueled by that hope, he continued to study, his gaze unwavering.
Time crawled by like a sluggish stream. Before he realized it, night had fallen, and darkness cloaked the small chamber.
A gentle knock on the door snapped him from his trance. Xu Qingxian blinked, placing the manual gently to the side.
He had studied the entire day without realizing it. His body ached, and his mind throbbed from the strain.
How pitiful… Xu Qingxian muttered to himself. Even though it was just a Basic Qi Gathering Technique, he could barely understand a fraction of it.
If something this basic was so difficult, how would he ever comprehend higher-grade techniques?
He let out a tired sigh, but his spirit remained unbroken. With the system's attribute allocation, he had a path forward. One step at a time, he would solve this problem.
The scholarly youth, Lin Fan, entered the room quietly, holding a tray with steaming dishes. He placed them neatly in front of Xu Qingxian, the aroma of roasted meat and spiced vegetables wafting into the air.
"Young master, please eat to your satisfaction," Lin Fan said with a respectful bow. He turned and began walking toward the heavy steel door, but Xu Qingxian's voice stopped him.
"Wait."
Lin Fan paused mid-step and turned to face him.
"Young master, is something wrong?" he asked with concern.
Xu Qingxian thought for a second, then spoke calmly. "Sit. I want to have a discussion."
"Young master, I…" Lin Fan hesitated, his eyes darting nervously.
"I said sit." Xu Qingxian picked up a pair of chopsticks and placed a tender slice of meat into his mouth. The savory juices spread across his tongue, comforting and warm.
As he chewed, a glowing line of golden text appeared before his eyes.
[Devoured a Qi Condensation Beast. You have received 1 attribute point.]
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He gestured again for Lin Fan to sit.
After a moment of hesitation, Lin Fan complied, although his expression remained cautious.
"You stay nearby?" Xu Qingxian asked casually.
"No, young master. I stay with my mother in the southern parts of the royal kingdom, in the commoner districts," Lin Fan replied humbly, without any pretense.
Xu Qingxian nodded. From what he knew, the Cold Palace was located in the western section of the kingdom. That's pretty far, he mused, glancing thoughtfully at Lin Fan. Sister really did pick a good man.
After a brief silence, Xu Qingxian muttered, "The commoner districts, huh? If that's the case, I assume you hear a lot of gossip about the royal kingdom."
Xu Qingxian's eyes narrowed slightly. Information was vital in this world, and he needed every scrap he could gather.
Lin Fan laughed awkwardly. Of course, he had heard rumors, but to share them in front of a member of the royal family? That could be dangerous.
"Young master, I…"
Xu Qingxian waved a hand, understanding the hesitation. He placed another piece of meat in his mouth.
[Devoured a Qi Condensation Beast. You have received 1 attribute point.]
"If that's the case," Lin Fan said, sighing, "then I will speak."
"Young master, from what I've heard, the Fourth Prince is planning something big. It's said that most of the bandits in the northern prefecture now follow him."
"Fourth Prince?" Xu Qingxian murmured. He couldn't remember much about the Fourth Prince, but this was something he needed to keep an eye on.
"Why is he gathering bandits? And why isn't the king doing anything about it?" Xu Qingxian asked with a furrowed brow.
Lin Fan leaned in slightly, glancing toward the door as if to make sure no one was listening.
"Young master, the fight for the throne is about to begin. I've heard that the king plans to step down soon. Every prince is gathering their forces in preparation."
Xu Qingxian's expression darkened.
"It's not just the Fourth Prince," Lin Fan added quietly. He leaned closer and whispered, "I've heard rumors that the Second Prince is working with evil sects, planning to overthrow the kingdom from within."
Xu Qingxian's eyes narrowed. "Forces from the evil sects? What exactly do you mean by that?" A sharp glint passed through his eyes as his mind raced.