In the Phoenix Dynasty, located in the Qingyuan Province, in Cloud Sea City, within the Ling Residence.
Inside a neatly arranged room, Ling Yun suddenly opened his eyes and sat up abruptly.
"I… I'm not dead?"
Looking at the familiar surroundings, he felt dazed. The Moonflower by the windowsill, which had long withered, was now alive and flourishing.
"I've been reborn! Hahaha, the heavens truly have eyes! Oh, my dear master."
His once kind and gentle master, Li Rou, who raised him since childhood, had revealed her true nature just a few days after the Lantern Festival.
She drained him of his pure Yang energy for several days and nights, ultimately causing him to die, exhausted and filled with resentment.
Ling Yun was originally from Earth, but after an accident, he was transmigrated to this world.
Unlike his original world, this one was dominated by women. Soldiers on the battlefield were women, officials in the court were women, and even most of the laborers were women.
Men, on the other hand, stayed home, managing households, raising children, and doing handiwork. They were entirely secluded from the outside world, rarely stepping beyond their doors.
"Ding! The system has detected that the host has died once. Activation conditions met. System activated."
Host: Ling Yun
Cultivation Level: Ninth Level of Qi Refinement
Technique: Ascending Sun Art
Physique: Eternal Sun Physique (Awakened)
Bloodline: None
Martial Skills: None
Inventory: Unlocked
"System! Finally, my golden finger has arrived!" In his previous life, being a fan of novels, he knew all too well how powerful a system could be.
Knock, knock, knock!
Just as he was about to delve deeper into the system's functions, a knock came at the door.
"Young master, are you up from your nap? Don't forget, we have to visit the Lord of the Manor later for his treatment," came the voice of his servant, Xiao Chun.
Ling Yun glanced out the window; the sunlight bathed the world in warmth—it was indeed noon.
Every three months, his body would be overwhelmed by unbearable heat, as if he were thrown into a furnace. The only way to alleviate it was to drink a bowl of specially prepared "Golden Essence" decoction from his master.
This condition had plagued him for as long as he could remember.
"I'm awake. I'll be out in a moment." Ling Yun wasn't fond of being served, so he always preferred to handle things like washing up himself.
"Take your time, young master."
When Ling Yun stepped out, Xiao Chun immediately rushed to support his arm, afraid that something might go wrong.
After all, the last person who let the young master fall, a childhood friend of his, was now long gone—buried deep in the ground.
They passed through a labyrinth of corridors that spanned hundreds of meters. The main hall was located at the heart of the estate, where a woman dressed in black robes came into view.
Her long, silky black hair was tied casually and draped over her back. The most striking feature was the strange black flame tattoo between her brows, as if it could devour anything in its path.
This was the only person in charge of the Ling Residence, and Ling Yun's master—Li Rou.
At this moment, Li Rou sat cross-legged, her eyes closed, focusing on meditation and rest.
"Master, the young lord has arrived. He's right outside," the elderly housekeeper, Granny Li, reported.
Li Rou's eyes opened, a flicker of black light passing through them.
"Let him in," Li Rou said, her red lips barely moving.
In no time, Ling Yun found himself in front of the seated Li Rou.
"Master, your disciple has come."
'Seeing that beautiful yet cold face once again stirred a mix of emotions in his heart.'
'Damn it! If you're going to drain my Yang energy, couldn't you have done it in stages? Did it have to be all at once?'
Although she had seen her disciple many times before, Li Rou was still taken aback by Ling Yun's appearance every time.
His eyes sparkled like the night sky full of stars, and his sharp features, high nose, and perfectly proportioned face made him stand out. At six feet tall, even she was shorter than him by a head.
His well-shaped body, coupled with that lustrous black hair falling casually down his back, made him impossible to ignore.
In this female-dominated world, a man with such a strong physique, let alone one who was this handsome, was a rare sight.
"In the blink of an eye, my dear disciple has grown so much," Li Rou said, standing up as her icy expression softened with a smile.
She flipped her right hand, and a bowl of golden liquid appeared in her palm.
A spatial storage ring—a staple among cultivators.
Suddenly, Ling Yun's brow furrowed as he felt a wave of heat surging within him.
Li Rou didn't hesitate and swiftly brought the Spirit Elixir to his lips.
"Gulp..."
Despite its unappealing appearance, the elixir tasted quite pleasant, sweet with a hint of floral fragrance.
After drinking it, the searing heat inside him vanished like birds fleeing from a storm, leaving no trace behind.
"How do you feel, Yun'er?" Li Rou's voice was soft, like the purr of a seductress.
He had to admit, Li Rou was extraordinarily beautiful, with an alluring air of danger about her. Her figure was tall and imposing.
"Master, my body feels fine now," Ling Yun said after carefully checking his condition.
"Ding! Detected toxin invasion, now automatically neutralized."
Ling Yun froze. Damn it, poison? She poisoned me too?
He had always suspected it, but he didn't know that the "Golden Essence" was a poison. However, it did seem to have some effect on alleviating his heat issues.
"What's wrong, Yun'er?"
Li Rou noticed his sudden stiffness and asked.
"Nothing, just a bit dizzy," Ling Yun said, trying to remain calm as he rubbed his forehead.
"Oh? Let me check your body for you. Stand still," Li Rou said, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Ling Yun felt as though he was completely exposed, like he was being scrutinized from every angle.
Luckily, the sensation only lasted a breath or two before disappearing.
"Strange, there's nothing wrong. Why are you feeling dizzy?" Li Rou murmured, stroking her flawless chin in thought.
"Maybe I caught a cold recently," Ling Yun said with a fake cough.
"Is that so? You should go rest then. I'll call for a doctor to check on you later."
"Thank you, Master," Ling Yun replied, keeping up his act. Until he was absolutely certain he could escape the Ling Residence, he had to maintain the same attitude as before.
"Go on. Xiao Chun, stay behind," Li Rou said, returning to her meditation mat with a wave of her hand.
"Disciple takes his leave."
…
Thud!
As soon as Ling Yun left, Xiao Chun fell to her knees, trembling with fear.
"Madam, I swear I don't know how the young master caught a cold. Please spare me!"
"Useless. What good are you?" Li Rou's face turned cold, a complete contrast to her earlier demeanor.
"Madam, please—"
Before she could finish, his head exploded like a ripe watermelon with a resounding bang.