The night in the herb garden was unusually quiet.
Moonlight poured down like cool silver, washing over the rows of spiritual plants and casting long, twisted shadows along the rocky paths. Crickets sang their ancient song, and the occasional wind stirred leaves still warm from the day's sun. A lesser disciple might have found peace here.
But Lin Xuan sat cross-legged in the dirt with his heart racing.
He stared at the Life Devourer interface hovering in front of him—its faint golden glow reflecting in his dark eyes. Even now, after absorbing lifespan and gaining a spiritual root, it felt like a dream. A hallucination born of desperation.
But feeling the small amount of Qi within his dantian although It was faint, almost invisible, but it is real.
"I can cultivate," he whispered, "Even if it's only a low-grade wood spiritual root… it's a start."
He clenched his fists. They no longer felt like the hands of a useless servant. They were the hands of a cultivator—one walking a path unknown to this world.
A path paved in stolen years.
---
He took a moment to study his interface again:
---
[Life Devourer Interface]
Name: Lin Xuan
Age: 17
Lifespan: 17 / 49.7
Spiritual Root: Low-Grade Wood Spiritual Root
Cultivation Realm: Qi Refining – 1st Layer
Techniques: None
Available Lifespan: +0.7 Years
Options:
Enhance Cultivation
Strengthen Physique
Refine Spiritual Root
Store Lifespan
---
He hovered over "Enhance Cultivation" but hesitated.
"Too soon," he muttered. "I don't even have a technique yet. What's the point of rushing forward if I don't even know how to circulate Qi properly?"
Even with Earth's memories, cultivation wasn't something he could brute-force with stolen life. If he raised his realm too fast without a solid foundation or technique, it might cause more harm than good.
He needed a method. A proper technique to guide his Qi. But those cultivation techniques were closely guarded.
Servants weren't even allowed to learn one unless they were promoted to outer disciple.
Lin Xuan laugh bitterly. "So I'm still stuck. Just a weed with roots."
Still, his mind raced with plans. He could fake weakness, continue absorbing lifespan from herbs, and build up strength while remaining under the radar. All he needed was one technique—just one—to ignite the next stage.
But fate, as always, had its own plans.
---
Rustle.
The sound came from the far edge of the herb garden—a cluster of overgrown vines tangled near the storage shed. Lin Xuan tensed immediately, all thoughts vanishing as instinct took over.
He holds his breathing low and extinguished the interface with a thought, plunging the area into darkness.
Something was moving. Not a disciple. Because in this place at late night who have so much time to wonder arround.
He move closer, staying low, stepping around stones and avoiding dry branches.
As he approached, a soft growl met his ears.
Low. Wet. Hungry.
Then, two yellow eyes blinked open from within the vines.
"A spirit beast?"
His breath caught. He recognized the creature—barely.
A Duskwind Hound, low-rank demonic beast. It had slick gray fur and a body the size of a mountain wolf. Its spirit energy was thin, but unmistakable.
These creatures were used by some sect elders to guard their pill chambers or herb stores. But this one didn't wear a collar. It was wild.
And it was injured.
Blood dripped from its leg, staining the soil red. Bite marks marred its side.
Lin Xuan didn't move.
The hound locked eyes with him, and a tense silence passed between them.
Then it growled again—but didn't attack. Instead, it collapsed, panting heavily.
Lin Xuan blinked.
Was it… dying?
Cautiously, he took a step closer.
The beast tried to rise, but its legs failed. It slumped again, wheezing.
"You're dying," Lin Xuan muttered under his breath. "You're out of time."
And then the thought hit him—sudden, dark, tempting.
Could he devour its lifespan?
His hand twitched. He had only stolen years from herbs so far. Living, rooted plants. But this was a beast—a sentient one, although low-tier.
It was different. Dangerous. But…
He moved.
Kneeling beside it, he slowly extended his hand toward its fur, focusing on the Life Devourer ability.
"If you attack me, we both die."
The beast didn't resist.
His fingers brushed the hound's matted fur—and the world shimmered again.
> [Target: Duskwind Hound (Rank 1 Spirit Beast) — Critical Condition]
[Estimated Lifespan Remaining: 6 Days]
[Devour? Y/N]
Lin Xuan's mouth went dry.
Six days.
The beast was on its last breath. Whether from another predator or a failed hunt, it was already doomed.
He hesitated for only a moment.
> Y.
> [Devouring…]
[Lifespan Gained: +0.45 Years]
[Beast Vitality: Depleted]
[Target: Deceased]
[Lifespan: 17 / 50.15]
The hound exhaled one final breath and stilled. Lin Xuan watched as the light faded from its eyes—guilt flickering behind his calm expression.
"I gave you mercy," he whispered. "You gave me lifespan."
He stood, chest tight, as the interface updated.
---
Notification:
Life Devourer Evolution Triggered — Beast Energy Detected
Unlocking Basic Beast Vitality Technique: "Ironbone Pulse"
Absorbed Technique Added
---
He staggered.
A new panel opened before him, glowing with swirling lines of Qi.
---
[Technique:
Ironbone Pulse (Passive, Tier: Mortal Rank – Beast Grade)
Origin: Duskwind Hound
Strengthens bones and tendons using beast vitality.
Increases durability and physical resilience.]
---
Lin Xuan stared at it, awed.
He hadn't just stolen lifespan—he'd taken a fragment of ability.
Was that possible with all beasts? Or just this one?
The implications were staggering. If he could harvest techniques from beasts—especially those with innate talents—he could craft an arsenal unlike any cultivator alive.
"Herbs for lifespan. Beasts for ability or technique," he murmured. "What about humans?"
The thought chilled him.
He move away from the body and buried it beneath a mound of dirt and grass, muttering an apology.
---
Back in to the servent house—Lin Xuan sat cross-legged, his heart is still racing.
He activated the Ironbone Pulse and felt it work instantly.
Faint waves of beast Qi circled his bones. His arms tingled, his spine pulsed, and his muscles tightened slightly, as if his very whole body was growing sturdier.
No scripture. No scroll. No mentor.
Just… absorption.
He exhaled, and for the first time, felt like he had stepped onto the path.
No one would give him a chance. So he'd take it himself.
He would not cultivate like others. He would devour.
---
The next morning, Lin Xuan was back in the herb garden as if nothing had changed.
At these moments.
Zhao Chen walked past him, flicking dust from his sleeves with a snort, but Lin Xuan didn't even look up.
He was already planning his next move.
More herbs. More beasts. More lifespan.
---
End of Chapter 2