Long Yan arduously turned his head, his body trembling. He scanned his surroundings and found that the pigs hunting him had completely disappeared. Relief washed over him, and his body gave out, collapsing onto the soft grass.
For a moment, he lay there, catching his breath, his chest heaving. The realization hit him: he had survived.
"I almost died… from a pig…" Long Yan muttered, a wry smile on his lips.
The absurdity of the situation made his mind spin. On Earth, humans ruled the world; here, a human could be humiliated by giant rabbits and pigs. "When I get stronger," he vowed, clenching his fists, "I'll come back and deal with these beasts. I'll turn them all into bacon!"
Just as the resolve in his eyes grew firm, an intense pain shot through his chest. He gasped, looking down to see blood spurting out. His vision blurred, and before he could comprehend what had happened, darkness overtook him.
---
Long Yan jolted awake, sitting upright in bed. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his dark hair was drenched in cold sweat. Fear lingered in his eyes as he clutched his chest.
It took him a moment to realize he was back in his room. The familiar sights of his small quarters greeted him—his desk, his bed, the faint morning light creeping through the curtains.
"What is going on?" he muttered, touching his chest. The pain was gone, but the memory of it lingered.
His heart raced as the events replayed in his mind. "Did I… die?" he whispered.
The last memory of the grassy plains surfaced—the sharp pain in his chest, the blood pouring out, and the overwhelming sense of helplessness. He had felt death before, back on Earth, but this time was different. This death felt more… real.
"Was it a dream?" Long Yan questioned, his hand trembling as he rubbed his forehead. "Or did I really transmigrate?"
As confusion clouded his thoughts, something clicked in his brain. A strange, faintly glowing three-dimensional space appeared in his mind. Hovering within that space were two red rocks, identical to the ones left behind by the giant pig.
His eyes widened in disbelief. "Those rocks… How are they here?"
He focused on the stones, and they vanished from the space, materializing in his hands. They were as weightless as before, warm to the touch and emitting a faint glow.
A voice broke through his thoughts, calm and mechanical: "Host, these are Spirit Stones. They contain pure energy that can aid in cultivation. Would you like to consume one?"
Long Yan blinked, then looked at his Dragon Ring. Realization dawned on him. "The ring… The voice is coming from the ring!"
The absurdity of the situation made him laugh dryly. "Fine, let's see what happens. Worst case, I end up in the hospital."
Taking a deep breath, Long Yan placed one of the Spirit Stones into his mouth. As soon as it touched his tongue, the stone dissolved into a warm, fiery energy that coursed through his body. His skin flushed red as his body heated up, and waves of power surged through him.
He quickly sat down, crossing his legs, and instinctively followed the system's guidance to channel the energy. The warmth flowed to his skin, muscles, and tendons. He felt an old, oppressive force resisting the energy—a dark, murky presence within his body.
But the Spirit Stone's power was relentless. It burned away the murkiness, purging it from his body in the form of dark smoke.
"So this was why I couldn't cultivate before!" Long Yan realized, excitement lighting up his face.
With the obstruction gone, the energy began refining his skin. Dead cells were replaced with new ones, and his skin tightened and glowed faintly. The refinement process brought pain, but it also brought an exhilarating sense of strength.
An hour later, Long Yan opened his eyes. He looked at his hands, which felt stronger and steadier than ever before. Without hesitation, he consumed the second Spirit Stone.
The process repeated, further refining his skin until he felt like he was coated in a layer of steel. His breathing slowed as the energy dissipated, leaving behind a calm, powerful sensation.
---
As the sun rose, its crimson glow filled the sky, bathing the room in soft light. Birds chirped merrily outside, their songs carried by a gentle breeze.
Long Yan stretched, feeling lighter and more alive than ever. "Those two rocks completed my Skin Refinement," he muttered, clenching his fists.
The first level of martial cultivation was finally his. His body was now more durable and powerful, capable of enduring the strain of further refinement.
"If I face that giant pig again," he smirked, "it'll be bacon in no time."
Yet, a nagging thought lingered in his mind. "Will I have another chance to return to that grassy plain?"
As if in response, the voice from the ring chimed in: "Host can re-enter the alternate space at will. Would you like to check your status?"
Intrigued, Long Yan followed the instructions, holding his hand in front of him. A translucent screen materialized in the air, displaying his current stats:
Name: Long Yan
Age: 18
Martial Status: Single
Cultivation Level: Body Refinement Level 1 (Skin Refinement)
Martial Techniques: None
God Art: None
Divine Art: None
Long Yan studied the screen with curiosity. "There's so much here I don't understand yet," he muttered, his mind racing with possibilities.