Pain lingered in Kael's body long after he opened his eyes.
It was not sharp pain.
It was worse.
A constant weakness, as if his bones were hollow and his blood refused to flow properly.
Kael slowly sat up on the wooden bed. The moment he moved, a wave of dizziness hit him.
"Tch."
He clenched his teeth and steadied his breathing.
"So this is the body of a cripple," he muttered.
In his previous life, even a mortal weapon could not scratch his skin. Now, sitting up felt like climbing a mountain.
Kael closed his eyes and examined his body with his spiritual sense out of habit.
Nothing responded.
No qi.
No flow.
No foundation.
His meridians were thin, twisted, and partially shattered—as if they had been forcefully destroyed at birth.
"This isn't a natural defect," Kael realized. "Someone did this."
That discovery made his gaze turn cold.
Before he could think further, the door creaked open.
A thin old man walked in, carrying a bowl of dark liquid medicine. His clothes were worn, his back bent with age.
"You're awake?" the old man said, surprised. "Good. Drink this."
Kael recognized him from the memories.
Old Chen.
The only servant who hadn't abandoned him.
Kael accepted the bowl and drank it in one gulp. The bitter taste spread across his tongue.
"Does it help?" Old Chen asked carefully.
Kael shook his head. "Not much."
Old Chen sighed. "Young Master… you shouldn't push yourself. The clan has already—"
Before he could finish, loud footsteps echoed outside.
The door was kicked open.
Three youths walked in, wearing the robes of the Kael Clan outer disciples. Their expressions were full of mockery.
At the front stood a tall boy with sharp eyes and a cruel smile.
"Still alive?" the boy said. "You're tougher than I thought."
Old Chen's face changed. "Young Master Lin, this is—"
"Get lost," Kael Lin snapped.
He kicked Old Chen aside.
The old man fell to the ground with a painful groan.
Kael's eyes darkened.
"Get up," Kael Lin said arrogantly, looking at Kael on the bed. "The clan elders want the room back. A cripple like you doesn't deserve it."
Kael slowly raised his head.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, Kael Lin felt a chill run down his spine.
But then he laughed.
"What are you looking at?" Kael Lin sneered. "You think you're still the young master?"
Kael said nothing.
He simply activated the system.
[Forbidden Cultivation System Activated.]
[Battle opportunity detected.]
Target: Kael Lin
Realm: Body Tempering (3rd Layer)
Threat Level: Moderate
Condition:
— Host cultivation: None
— Victory possible through risk-based combat
Reward Preview:
— Meridian Repair (Minor)
— Body Tempering Progress
Kael's heart beat faster.
"So it begins," he thought.
He slowly stood up from the bed.
Kael Lin frowned. "Sit down, cripple. You'll embarrass yourself."
Kael took a step forward.
His legs trembled.
Pain shot through his body.
But he did not stop.
Another step.
"Are you deaf?" Kael Lin shouted. "Beat him!"
The two disciples behind him rushed forward.
Kael dodged clumsily. A fist grazed his shoulder, sending him crashing into the wall.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
Old Chen shouted, "Young Master!"
Kael wiped the blood from his lips.
Then he smiled.
A wild, fearless smile.
"Good," he whispered. "Pain means I'm alive."
Kael grabbed a broken wooden stool from the ground and swung it with all his strength.
Crack!
The stool shattered against one disciple's face. The boy screamed and fell.
The second disciple hesitated.
That hesitation was fatal.
Kael lunged forward, ramming his head into the boy's chest. They both fell to the ground.
Kael bit down.
Hard.
A scream echoed through the room.
Kael rolled away and staggered to his feet.
Only Kael Lin remained standing.
Kael Lin's expression finally changed.
"You… you dare?" he snarled.
He unleashed his qi, his fist glowing faintly as he charged.
Kael braced himself.
This was it.
He stepped forward instead of retreating.
Their fists collided.
Pain exploded through Kael's arm. He heard bones crack.
But at the same time—
[Battle condition met.]
[Host challenged stronger opponent.]
[Meridian Repair (Minor) activated.]
A warm surge spread through Kael's body.
Something inside him snapped into place.
His broken meridian pulsed.
Kael roared and slammed his forehead into Kael Lin's nose.
Crunch.
Kael Lin screamed and stumbled back.
Kael didn't give him time.
He grabbed Kael Lin's collar and smashed him to the ground.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Kael Lin stopped moving.
Silence filled the room.
[Victory Achieved.]
[Rewards Granted.]
— Meridian Repair (Minor)
— Body Tempering Progress: 1%
[Status Update:]
— Meridian condition: Stabilized (partial)
— Pain resistance increased
Kael stood there, breathing heavily, his body shaking.
He looked at his trembling hands.
"So this is cultivation through battle," he murmured.
Old Chen stared at him in shock.
"Y-Young Master… you won?"
Kael turned toward the door.
Footsteps were approaching.
More people were coming.
Kael's smile widened.
"This is only the beginning," he said softly.
Footsteps grew louder outside the room.
Voices followed.
"What happened?"
"I heard screams!"
"Was that Kael Lin?"
Old Chen panicked. "Young Master, you should hide—"
Kael shook his head.
"No," he said calmly. "Running only makes them bolder."
He straightened his back and stood in the center of the room. Though his clothes were torn and blood stained his lips, his gaze was steady.
The door burst open again.
Several clan members rushed in, followed by an outer elder with gray hair and cold eyes.
The moment they saw Kael Lin lying unconscious on the floor, the room fell silent.
The elder's gaze snapped toward Kael.
"You did this?" he asked.
Kael met his eyes without fear. "Yes."
Murmurs spread among the onlookers.
"A cripple beat Kael Lin?"
"That's impossible."
"He must have cheated!"
The elder frowned. His spiritual sense swept over Kael's body.
No cultivation aura.
Still crippled.
Yet the result lay clearly before them.
"Explain," the elder demanded.
Kael wiped the blood from his mouth. "They came to take my room. They attacked first. I defended myself."
The elder's eyes narrowed.
Clan rules were clear.
Private fights were forbidden—but self-defense was not punished as harshly.
After a long pause, the elder snorted.
"Take Kael Lin to the medical hall."
Then he turned back to Kael.
"As for you," he said coldly, "this matter isn't over."
Kael lowered his head slightly.
Inside, he smiled.
Let them come.
The more pressure they brought—
the faster he would grow.