The silence of the villa was deafening after Chen Anya and Mu Suying left. The heavy doors clicked shut, and Su Ning found herself alone again, the vast marble-floored hall stretching out around her like a palace.
For a moment, she simply stood there. Her slender fingers tightened around the handle of her schoolbag, the faint scent of luxury tea still lingering in the air. Then, with a soft sigh, she set her things down and wandered toward the kitchen.
Cooking had always been a survival skill for her—when money was scarce, she had to stretch every yuan, boiling thin porridge or frying the cheapest vegetables. Now, surrounded by gleaming countertops of imported stone and a refrigerator stocked with delicacies, she still reached for the basics.
Rice. Fresh fish. A handful of greens.
The aroma soon filled the kitchen, and Su Ning served herself carefully, eating slowly at the wide dining table. Every bite carried with it a strange sweetness, the taste of freedom. This is mine, she thought, looking around at the chandeliers, the polished floors, the villa that could swallow ten of her old apartments whole. No one can take this away from me.
When the meal was done, she washed her hands and padded into the living room. A plush couch the color of cream velvet sat waiting. She sank into it, sinking deeper than she expected, and hugged the fluffy white teddy bear resting on one of the cushions. The softness pressed against her cheek, and for the first time that day, her guard slipped.
"System," she whispered, voice trembling. "Issue the rewards."
A cool, mechanical chime echoed in her mind.
'Ding! Mission complete. Initiating reward distribution.'
Her breath caught.
'Reward One: Shennan Real Estates. Title deeds and ownership contracts have been transferred to Host. Physical evidence materializing.'
A golden folder appeared before her with a soft shimmer, thick and embossed with the official seal. Su Ning's hands trembled as she touched it—the weight of countless properties now hers.
'Reward: Limited-edition BMW 7.0 luxury car. Key fob delivered. Car is already registered and parked in the private garage of Villa One.'
A sleek, black key dropped into her palm. The logo gleamed under the chandelier light, and she couldn't help but laugh softly, the sound disbelieving. A BMW 7.0… the kind I used to only see in glossy magazines.
'Reward: Twenty million yuan in cash. Funds transferred into Host's Yinhai International Bank account. Black-gold card issued.'
A card slipped into her lap—black as midnight, its edges traced with gold. Her phone buzzed a moment later.
[Your account XXXXXXX has been credited with 20 million yuan.
Balance: ¥26,961,000]
Su Ning covered her mouth with her hand, shoulders shaking. Twenty million… I used to starve myself to save ten yuan on notebooks. Now I…
She wiped her eyes quickly. No tears. She couldn't afford to be soft anymore.
'Reward: Grade 3 Driving Skill (automatic mastery). Host may now operate all standard and luxury vehicles with professional-level proficiency.'
Her head buzzed, and knowledge slotted into place—steering techniques, reverse parking, racing lines. She clenched her fists, marveling at the sudden confidence in her bones.
'Reward: Memory Pill. One jade bottle, three pills. Enhances memory retention, grants photographic recall.'
A delicate green jade bottle appeared, cool to the touch.
'Reward: Chi Gathering Pill. One crystal bottle, three pills. Boosts cultivation foundation, enhances physical body.'
This time, a crystal bottle glowed faintly in her palm. She held it reverently, as though afraid it might vanish.
'Reward Seven: Heaven-Grade Cultivation Manual – Nine Heavens Immortal Scripture. Transmitting directly to Host's consciousness.'
Light speared into her forehead, and Su Ning gasped. Ancient words, flowing diagrams, deep truths of heaven and earth poured into her mind. It was overwhelming, dizzying, yet exhilarating.
When the glow faded, she collapsed back onto the couch, panting. Sweat dotted her forehead.
But her lips curved upward.
She opened the jade and crystal bottles, staring at the pills nestled within like treasures from another world, her heart beating wildly.
Su Ning rose, gathering the golden folder and bank card. She tucked them neatly into her study's drawer, locked tight. Then, as she was about to head to the balcony, her phone chimed again—a message from Fengshang Estate's private butler service.
[Dear Resident of Villa One, would you like to employ full-time staff? Services available: maid, chef, driver, bodyguard.]
Her eyes lingered on one word: driver.
She had driving skills now, yes, but walking into school herself behind the wheel might draw too much suspicion for now. A driver would make things… natural. Besides, she could always drive when she wanted.
"Yes," she murmured, tapping the option. "A driver."
The response was immediate.
[Understood. Fengshang Estate will assign one of our most experienced drivers. He will report tomorrow morning.]
Su Ning whispered, "System… I want to begin cultivation."
'Ding! Host may proceed at will. Recommend: one Chi Gathering Pill for foundation strengthening.'
Her pulse quickened. She entered her bedroom, sitting cross legged on her bed. hurried upstairs, into the master . Then she carefully opened the crystal bottle.
Three marble-sized pills sat inside, glowing faintly with spiritual energy. The fragrance that escaped was enough to make her skin prickle, every pore drinking in the essence.
With reverent hands, she tipped one pill into her palm. It shimmered faintly, as though bending light itself. For a long moment, she simply stared at it, her nerves warring with her determination.
"This is it," she whispered, and without allowing hesitation to creep in, she placed it into her mouth.
The pill was bitter at first, sharp and earthy, but within seconds it melted into her tongue with a sweetness that spread down her throat, blooming warm in her chest.
And then—
Boom.
Her entire body ignited from within.
Heat rushed through her veins, so intense it felt as if molten metal had been poured directly into her bloodstream. Her bones creaked and cracked, as though reshaping.
She gasped and groaned, her breath ragged. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, soaking her clothes. Her muscles trembled under the violent surge, her heart hammering so hard she thought it might burst.
But alongside the pain came clarity.
Knowledge poured into her mind—not in words, not in verses, but as if an invisible teacher were whispering directly into her thoughts. She suddenly knew what to do. How to breathe. How to guide the wild, surging qi within her.
With shaking hands, Su Ning forced herself upright. She crossed her legs on the bed, spine straight, palms resting loosely on her knees. Her lashes fluttered shut.
The room grew eerily still.
At first, there was only silence. Then, faintly, she felt it. Threads of something… light, delicate, almost imperceptible, brushing against her skin like strands of morning mist.
Qi.
Her breath hitched.
She reached for it, not with her hands, but with her mind. And the qi responded. It stirred, swirled, and then, as if drawn by a magnet, it poured toward her, seeping in through her pores, her nose, her mouth. Invisible currents filled the air, spiraling into her body.
The moment the energy entered, her meridians screamed.
Years of malnourishment and weakness had left them clogged, brittle. The qi slammed into the blockages like water hammering against a dam. Her body arched as pain tore through her veins, sharp enough to make her vision blur.
Her nails dug into her thighs. "Open…" she hissed between clenched teeth.
The pill's medicinal essence roared to life, crashing forward like a tidal wave. One by one, the blockages burst. Her meridians snapped open, rivers cleared of debris. Qi rushed through, carving new paths, flooding every corner of her being.
Crack. Crack.
Her bones resonated, hardening, strengthening. Her muscles tightened, compacted into lean, hidden strength. Her skin shimmered faintly, flushing then smoothing, softer than silk, glowing like polished jade.
Hours passed unnoticed.
The moon climbed high above her balcony, then slowly dipped. The stars wheeled across the sky. Time became meaningless. She sat, utterly still, her breath even, her aura expanding.
And then—
Boom.
A golden light shimmered faintly from her skin before vanishing in an instant. Su Ning's eyes snapped open. For a single heartbeat, her irises glowed faint gold, and she gasped, clutching her chest.
The energy inside her had transformed. It wasn't just chaotic power anymore. It was alive. Smooth. Obedient.
She had broken through.
Level One.