The following morning, Lin Feng rose before the sun.
He no longer needed long meditations or slow, painful breathing exercises. Cultivation flowed into him like a spring unblocked.
Qi Condensation – Layer 4 → Layer 5
Estimated Time to Next Layer: 1 Hour, 45 Minutes
He wrapped his worn robes tighter and stepped outside. The village hadn't changed. The air still smelled of wet clay and livestock. The distant mountains still loomed like sleeping titans.
But something inside him had.
At the well, he saw his sister drawing water.
"Xue!" he called softly.
She turned, surprised. Her eyes widened. "Brother? You're up early…"
He smiled. "Had a strange dream. Thought I'd get some fresh air."
She looked at him for a moment—then frowned. "You… seem different."
"Do I?"
Her eyes scanned him carefully. "You're standing straighter. And you look… stronger."
Lin Feng scratched his head sheepishly. "Guess I've been eating better."
She didn't look convinced. But she nodded and handed him a water bucket. "Good. You need your strength for the harvest. The elders said—"
New Quest Available: Village Labor
Objective: Assist in three daily village tasks.
Reward: +50 Reputation (Qinghe Village), +2 Stat Points
Optional Bonus: Complete without using Qi – Reward: Hidden Title [Humble Root]
Lin Feng blinked. "System quests for chores?"
Still… he accepted.
For the next few hours, he chopped wood, hauled water, and helped an elder mend a fence — all without using Qi.
Sweat poured from him, but it felt… good. Real.
When he finished, a soft chime rang in his mind.
Quest Complete: Village Labor
Reward Gained.
Bonus Achieved – Title Unlocked: [Humble Root]
Title Effect: +5% Favorability with Commonfolk
Stat Points: +2
He grinned.
Progress didn't always mean bloodshed or battles. Sometimes, humility had its own rewards.
But peace never lasted long.
By afternoon, Jian Bo had returned.
"Oi! Cripple!"
Lin Feng turned slowly, calm.
Jian Bo stalked toward him, sneering, flanked by his usual lackeys.
"I heard you were playing farmer again. Guess you finally gave up your silly dreams."
Lin Feng looked him in the eye. "Didn't give up. Just took a different path."
Jian Bo paused.
Something in Lin Feng's gaze made him uneasy. It was no longer dull and defeated. It burned, quiet and controlled.
Like fire hidden under still water.
"You—" Jian Bo scoffed. "Still acting tough, huh? How about you prove it? Duel me. Right here."
A crowd gathered.
A duel in Qinghe was rare — and always dramatic.
Lin Feng hesitated.
Then the System chimed.
Event Triggered: Unofficial Duel – Qinghe Village
Opponent: Jian Bo (Qi Condensation – Layer 2)
Conditions: First to yield or fall
Reward for Victory: +100 Reputation, +3 Stat Points, Jian Bo's Storage Ring
Lin Feng smiled.
"I accept."
The crowd gasped.
Lin Xue pushed through, panic in her voice. "Brother, no! He's a cultivator—!"
"So am I," Lin Feng said softly.
He stepped into the clearing.
Jian Bo laughed. "Fine. I'll give you one free hit."
Lin Feng nodded.
Then blurred forward.
Before Jian Bo could react, Lin Feng was there. One fluid motion—
Falling Leaf Slash.
A burst of wind surged, slicing across Jian Bo's chest. He staggered back, eyes wide.
"You—what?!"
Lin Feng didn't wait.
He struck again, his movements graceful, refined, precise. Jian Bo blocked with clumsy haste, but Lin Feng flowed like water, weaving through his guard.
A final palm to the gut sent Jian Bo flying backward.
He hit the ground with a wheeze.
Duel Complete – Victory
Reputation: +100 (Qinghe – Respected)
Stat Points: +3
Loot Acquired: Jian Bo's Storage Ring
The crowd was silent.
Then, whispers began.
"He defeated Jian Bo…"
"Did you see that movement?"
"Impossible. He's… he's cultivating?"
Lin Xue ran to his side, wide-eyed. "Brother… how?!"
He smiled gently. "I guess the heavens finally opened their eyes."
But inside, he knew:
It wasn't the heavens.
It was the System.