The sun had barely risen, and the gentle warmth of the morning spread across the secluded village of Fengshan. Wang Lin woke up early, as usual. The day was calm, but he knew that in order to achieve his goals, he needed to follow his training routine with discipline.
Getting up from his simple bed, he walked over to the small wooden table where the System interface appeared in a blue glow.
•System•
NAME: WANG LIN
CULTIVATION LEVEL: BODY REFINEMENT (5)
MISSIONS:
DO 200 PUSH-UPS
DO 200 SIT-UPS
RUN 20 MILES
REWARD: BREAKTHROUGH TO BODY REFINEMENT LEVEL 6
SKILLS:
Primal Strength (B)
Appraisal (C)
Wang Lin looked at the mission with a determined smile. The system's missions were a way to measure his progress and help him become stronger. He knew that each completed mission represented another step towards his advancement. Today's mission, however, was not simple, but he was prepared for the challenge.
"200 push-ups, 200 sit-ups, and 20 kilometers of running?" Wang Lin muttered to himself. "This seems like an intense mission, but I won't give up. Each mission brings me closer to my goals."
With a firm expression, he headed out of his humble home and began to exercise. The empty field before him would be his training ground.
First, Wang Lin laid down on the ground and began to push-ups, his body moving up and down with a steady rhythm. The strength granted by his Primal Strength (B) ability made his muscles work efficiently, allowing him to perform push-ups with an ease that other cultivators at his level might not have. However, he did not let it go easily and focused on improving even further.
After completing the push-ups, Wang Lin stood up and moved on to sit-ups. The training routine was starting to become a bit more challenging, but his body was getting stronger with each movement, his progress visible in each exercise he performed.
Finally, after completing the sit-ups, Wang Lin prepared himself for the 20-kilometer run. He knew that this part of the mission would be the greatest test of his endurance. He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and began to run.
With his Primal Strength (B), his muscles were much more prepared for endurance than the average body of someone at his stage. Even so, he knew that 20 kilometers would be an exhausting test. His body was accustomed to the effort, but he still felt the pain in his muscles. However, this pain did not deter him. He knew that it would pass, and by the end of the mission, he would have taken another step towards evolution.
After completing the 20 kilometers, Wang Lin was exhausted but extremely satisfied. His body trembled from fatigue, but the sense of progress made him feel invincible. He was already closer to breaking through to Level 6 of Body Refinement, and that was enough to keep his motivation high.
With the mission complete, he sat down on a rock to catch his breath as the System interface appeared before him again.
•System•
MISSION COMPLETE!
REWARD: BREAKTHROUGH TO LEVEL 6 OF BODY REFINEMENT.
Wang Lin smiled with satisfaction. He knew that his path was still far from easy, but each day he was moving one step closer to reaching his full potential.
Wang Lin, tired and sweaty after completing his morning mission, walked back to his home. The smell of sweat wafted from his body, wrapped in a blanket of exhaustion and exertion. His muscles ached with every step, but the tiredness didn't diminish his inner satisfaction. He was stronger, closer to reaching the next level of his cultivation. As he walked through the center of the village, the sound of the young people's lively conversations caught his attention.
Some were chatting amongst themselves, and Wang Lin noticed a group gathered near the square. At the center of attention was Lin Wei, one of the most promising young people in the village, always surrounded by admirers. A girl looked at Lin Wei with a glint of admiration in her eyes.
"Wow, Lin Wei, I'm sure you'll be chosen by some of those sects!" she exclaimed with a radiant smile, clearly delighted. Another boy, a little bolder, walked over and spoke with a tone of flattery, "That's right, young master! You're the strongest person in this village, without a doubt, a true genius!" His voice was filled with respect, but also with disguised envy. Lin Wei, with his arrogant face, smiled confidently. His posture was imposing, as if he had already found himself accepted into one of the largest sects on the continent.
"Hahaha, thank you very much for your consideration," Lin Wei replied, his voice full of smugness. "I'm sure I'll be chosen by the Five Element Sect!" he said with an expectant tone, looking at the others with disdain.
A young man, who seemed more cautious, couldn't help but ask, "Why do you think that, young master?" His voice carried curiosity, but also a hint of suspicion. Before Lin Wei could give his arrogant answer, another young man chimed in, speaking with a wry smile, "Are you stupid?" He laughed, looking at the others as if it were obvious.
"Rumor has it that Lin Wei's ancestor was once a great cultivator and that he had an affinity for fire!" The information spread like wildfire, generating murmurs and looks of respect. Lin Wei smiled even wider, clearly enjoying the attention his rumors were generating. He looked at the other young men with an air of superiority, as if he was already destined for a great future. Wang Lin, who was watching from afar, paused as he listened to the conversation.
He didn't know Lin Wei well, but he knew that this kind of arrogance could be a hindrance to many. The power in Lin Wei's words was undeniable, but would that be enough to earn a spot in the great sects? Wang Lin wondered how the other youths could be fooled by these rumors. He had no time for judgment, but he felt that true strength would only be revealed when they put themselves to the test. Wang Lin walked through the square, sweat still dripping from his body, creating a trail of a strong, pungent smell that immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding youths. They turned to look, some grimacing while others muttered in annoyance.
However, the most noticeable thing was Lin Wei's arrogant voice, which didn't miss the opportunity to mock. "Well, if it isn't Wang Lin, the fatherless and motherless boy," Lin Wei said with a mocking tone, drawing laughter from everyone around him. Lin Wei's smile was cruel, and the other youths quickly joined in the mockery, laughing and exchanging superior glances. Wang Lin was unmoved, but within him, the memory of his life story surfaced.
Wang Lin's story was a sad one, and everyone in the village knew it. His mother, a humble and kind woman, had been raped by an evil cultivator. The pain of losing his mother had scarred him forever, and she, unable to bear the pain of childbirth, took her own life shortly after his birth. Wang Lin grew up homeless, surviving as best she could, until the moment his spirit was transferred into his current body—a strong body, but with a history of suffering and abandonment.
Even with all his pain, Wang Lin did not let himself be defeated. He used his strength and perseverance to train and improve, to prove that regardless of his past, he could become someone worthy. But to Lin Wei, he was just the "fatherless and motherless boy," someone he could easily mock.
With a calm gaze, Wang Lin was not affected by Lin Wei's words. He knew that the words were just an attempt to humiliate, and he had no time to waste on this. In his mind, he quickly logged into his system and thought about evaluating the arrogant young man.
"System, evaluate." Wang Lin thought, his gaze fixed on Lin Wei.
The system interface quickly appeared in front of him, and he was surprised to see the results.
• Name: Lin Wei
• Cultivation Level: ????
• Skills: Fire Affinity (B), Wind Affinity (C)
Wang Lin was shocked, but not so much by Lin Wei's cultivation level, but rather by his elemental skills. The B-level fire affinity and the C-level wind affinity were truly impressive, especially for someone so young. He knew that Lin Wei was a true genius in elemental cultivation.
But that wasn't all. Wang Lin also knew that although Lin Wei had these affinities, he still wasn't a formidable opponent for him. As talented as Lin Wei was, his lack of physical combat skills put him at a disadvantage against someone like Wang Lin, who possessed the B-level Primordial Strength skill. This gave him superhuman strength, nearly unbeatable within his cultivation stage. Wang Lin sighed in thought. "Lin Wei sure is a genius," Wang Lin thought, remembering the battle he had with him months ago, when he had easily defeated Lin Wei despite their elemental affinities.
Lin Wei, noticing Wang Lin's silence and the way he was watching him with an almost disinterested gaze, became irritated. He took a step toward Wang Lin, his face showing growing anger. "Are you just going to stand there and stare at him with that dumb expression?" Lin Wei growled, clearly annoyed by Wang Lin's gaze. Wang Lin looked back, unafraid. His gaze was filled with defiance, and Lin Wei's frustration only increased his confidence. "It seems like the beating you received from me months ago didn't stop you from staying quiet, Lin Wei." Wang Lin calmly replied, directly challenging him.
Lin Wei snapped his fingers angrily, trying to maintain control, but inside he knew that Wang Lin was right. Even with his fire affinity, he still wasn't prepared to face someone with Wang Lin's brutal strength. While he was focused on cultivating his elemental affinity, Wang Lin, on the other hand, had become a true physical fighting machine. Lin Wei knew that until he advanced to a higher stage of cultivation, he would have no chance of overcoming someone with such brute strength. But Wang Lin didn't care about that.
He knew that the real challenge would be when Lin Wei advanced to the 'Qi Condemnation' stage. Lin Wei didn't respond right away, but walked away with a look of frustration. He knew that it wasn't worth continuing this confrontation now, but that didn't mean he would forget.