Xian Di floated in a void, weightless and detached from his body. Darkness surrounded him, yet it didn't feel suffocating. It was almost… peaceful. Time had no meaning here, and for a moment, all of his pain, frustration, and shame faded away. But just as quickly as that calmness settled over him, a voice—soft yet commanding—broke through the silence.
"System activated... welcome, Xian Di."
The words echoed in his mind, clear and unyielding, like a pebble dropped into a still pond. Slowly, the darkness began to recede, and Xian Di's awareness returned to his body. A dull ache throbbed through his chest, but the sharp, overwhelming pain he had felt before was gone. His eyelids fluttered open, and he found himself lying on his bed, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of lanterns.
For a moment, Xian Di couldn't move. His body felt foreign like he had been sleeping for days. His mind, though, was racing. What had happened? The last thing he remembered was collapsing on the floor after taking the Qi Recovery Pill. But now… now he was alive, the burning poison no longer ravaging his veins.
And then the voice spoke again.
"You have been poisoned. The system has purged the poison from your body."
Xian Di's breath hitched. He sat up slowly, his heart pounding in his chest, his mind whirling with confusion. System? What system?
As if in response to his thoughts, a translucent panel appeared before his eyes, suspended in the air.
System Notification:
Poison Neutralized.
Health Stabilized.
Current Condition: Weakened State.
First Quest Unlocked: Kill a Stage 2 Beast to Strengthen Your Spiritual Root.
Xian Di blinked, his eyes widening in disbelief. He waved his hand in front of him, but the panel remained, glowing faintly. This… this can't be real, he thought, but the words hovered there, undeniable.
"W-What is this?" he muttered under his breath, trying to make sense of it all.
The system, however, remained silent, offering no response beyond the initial notifications. Xian Di stared at the panel, the quest still floating before him, slowly beginning to understand. The system was real—it had saved him, and now it was giving him a chance to change his life.
The quest was simple enough, but the danger was clear: Kill a Stage 2 Beast. If he succeeded, his Spiritual Root would be strengthened, and his cultivation path would finally open up.
For years, he had struggled at Qi Refinement Stage 2, with no hope of advancing. His weak root had left him far behind his peers, earning him the family's scorn. But now, if he could just complete this task, everything could change.
The hours passed in a blur as Xian Di gathered his thoughts. The poison that had nearly killed him was no ordinary toxin—it had been designed to cripple his cultivation permanently, sapping his strength and destabilizing his Qi flow over time. The system had purged it from his body, but his weakness remained.
"Your Spiritual Root remains weak. Complete your quest to strengthen it." The system issued the notification once more.
Xian Di nodded, the gravity of his task settling in. Kill a Stage 2 Beast… The Lingfeng Mountain Range wasn't far, but it was known to be dangerous, especially for someone like him. He had never faced a beast of that level alone. The thought sent a shiver of fear down his spine, but it also fueled a new determination. There was no turning back now.
By the next morning, Xian Di felt stronger than he had in months. Though his body was still weakened from the poison, there was a sense of vitality returning to him. He moved carefully, stretching out his limbs, testing his strength. His mind, though still grappling with the reality of the system, felt sharper.
He glanced at the system panel that floated before him, the quest still lingering there like a beacon.
Quest: Kill a Stage 2 Beast.
Reward: Upgrade from Mortal Grade Spiritual Root to Spirit Grade Spiritual Root.Additional Chance: Any beast or person killed has a chance to drop one of their skills.
Xian Di's heart raced as he read the quest description. A Stage 2 Beast? The Lingfeng Mountain Range was teeming with beasts, but hunting one and surviving the encounter would not be easy. He had never fought a beast on his own before—he had barely even held his own against his peers in training. The very thought of facing a beast sent a ripple of anxiety through him.
But alongside the fear, there was determination. For the first time, he had a clear path forward, a way to escape the label of failure that had clung to him all these years.
Later that morning, as the estate began to stir with activity, Xian Di was sitting quietly in his chambers, still processing the events of the night. His body felt stronger, though there was still some residual fatigue from the poison that had nearly claimed his life.
A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. Before he could respond, the door slid open, and his mother, Mei Ling, stepped into the room. Her face was calm, but the worry in her eyes was unmistakable as they immediately scanned over him, assessing his condition.
"Xian Di…" she whispered, relief flooding her voice as she approached his bed. "You're awake. How are you feeling?"
Xian Di sat up straighter, offering her a reassuring smile. "Better," he replied, his voice steady but soft. "I'm not in pain anymore."
Mei Ling reached out, placing a gentle hand on his forehead as if checking for any lingering signs of illness. Satisfied that he wasn't feverish, she let out a small sigh. "When I found you last night, I feared the worst," she admitted, her voice tight with emotion. "You were so pale, and your breathing—"
She paused, composing herself. "I'm just glad you're alright."
Xian Di looked down, feeling a pang of guilt for the worry he had caused her. "I'm sorry, Mother," he murmured. "I didn't mean to make you worry."
Mei Ling shook her head, her expression softening. "You have nothing to apologize for," she said firmly. "What matters is that you're safe now. You've always been strong, Xian Di—stronger than you think."
Xian Di nodded, his chest tightening with emotion at her words. She was the only one who had ever believed in him, even when everyone else had given up.
Mei Ling's eyes lingered on him for a moment longer before she stood up. "You should rest a bit more," she suggested gently. "The gathering is coming in a week, and I want you to be at your best."
"I will, Mother," Xian Di said, his voice more confident now.
Mei Ling smiled a small but warm expression that filled the room with quiet comfort. "I'll check on you later," she promised before turning to leave.
As the door slid shut behind her, Xian Di let out a deep breath, the tension in his body easing. The conversation with his mother had grounded him, reminding him of the strength he still carried within. He knew there was a long road ahead, but for now, he allowed himself to rest, his mind clear and his resolve steady.