Jiang Chen stumbled through the main gates of the Azure Thunder Sect, the first hints of dawn painting the eastern sky in soft hues. His clothes were torn, dust-covered, and the chilling memory of the Ravine Wolf still lingered. Most of the other servants from his group were already back, huddled together, their faces pale with terror. Some were missing, likely left behind in the dark depths of the Whispering Ravine.
[Host, your timely return indicates superior survival instincts. Estimated average lifespan of uncultivated servants in this world: approximately 3.7 more dangerous missions. Recommend accelerating cultivation to avoid becoming bandit bait.] The System's voice was back to its usual light sarcasm.
Jiang Chen ignored the jab. He was just glad to be alive. The scarred overseer eyed him, then gave a curt nod. "You brought anything back, worm?" he grunted, not bothering to hide his contempt.
Jiang Chen reached into his pocket and pulled out the small pouch of salvaged herbs and the junior disciple's Azure Thunder Sect Identity Token. "Only these, Overseer. The bandits had already taken most, and... a beast, a large wolf, took the rest." He made sure to keep his voice flat, showing only exhaustion, not the fear he'd truly felt.
The overseer's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the token. Taking a fallen disciple's token was usually a severe offense, but retrieving it from danger was different. He snatched the token and the herbs. "Hmph. A small contribution. Go on, get some rest. You'll be needed for chores after sunrise."
Dismissed. Just like that. No praise, no sympathy. Just a new list of tasks. This world was harsh, truly.
Back in his room, Jiang Chen felt the fatigue finally hit him. He collapsed onto his mat, but his mind raced. He had 95 System Points now. A Divine Fortune Wheel spin required 100. He was so close.
"System, what about those Spirit Stones I found?" he asked, pulling out the three smooth, faintly glowing stones. Each was about the size of his thumb.
[Excellent question, Host. Spirit Stones are condensed forms of pure Spirit Qi. They can be used as currency, but more importantly for you, they can be directly absorbed to accelerate cultivation. Each Low-Grade Spirit Stone contains enough Qi to significantly boost your progress in the Body Tempering realm.]
"How much of a boost?"
[One Low-Grade Spirit Stone can push a Body Tempering Stage 4 cultivator to the cusp of Stage 5, or even directly through with your Divine Comprehension talent. You have three. Ergo, three potential breakthroughs.]
Jiang Chen's eyes lit up. This was it. This was how he'd truly speed things up, how he'd bridge the gap between himself and arrogant bullies like Young Master Li. He looked at the window. Dawn was breaking. He had precious little time before he'd be called for chores.
He picked up one Spirit Stone. It felt cool and smooth in his palm. He focused, recalling the cultivation method. This wasn't about drawing Qi from the air; it was about absorbing the concentrated energy directly from the stone.
As he began to absorb, a powerful, yet gentle, flood of Spirit Qi poured into his dantian. It was like a dam breaking, filling him rapidly. He felt his meridians thrum, expanding, strengthening at an incredible rate. His bones vibrated, his muscles tightened, growing denser and more resilient. The transformation was swift, profound.
CRACK!
A distinct, internal sound echoed in his perception, louder than any before. A wave of immense power surged through him.
[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully broken through to Body Tempering Stage 5! Remarkable efficiency! Reward: 25 System Points and Divine Fortune Wheel unlocked! Current System Points: 120.]
Jiang Chen let out a shaky breath, his body radiating a palpable strength. He stood up, testing his limbs. He felt... solid. Like a finely honed blade. He clenched his fist; a surge of raw, physical might coursed through him. He was no longer just fast; he felt genuinely powerful.
"Stage 5," he whispered, a thrill running through him. He had used just one Spirit Stone.
[Indeed. And with 120 System Points, the Divine Fortune Wheel awaits your command, Host. Would you like to spin? Only 100 System Points per spin.]
The Divine Fortune Wheel. This was the moment. He had heard about these 'lucky draws' in novels, always a chance for something amazing, or utterly useless.
"Spin it, System," Jiang Chen commanded, a spark of anticipation in his eyes.
The holographic interface changed, showing a vibrant wheel of fortune. It was segmented into various colored sections: sparkling gold, dull brown, shimmering silver, ominous black. Each section had tiny, unreadable symbols. The wheel began to spin, slowly at first, then picking up dizzying speed, the colors blurring into a vibrant kaleidoscope. Jiang Chen held his breath.
The wheel slowed, gradually, agonizingly. The pointer hovered over a dull brown section, then skipped to a shimmering silver. It hesitated, teasing him, before finally, with a soft ding, settling on a small, golden section.
[Congratulations, Host! You have landed on a 'Rare' category! Item acquired: One-Time Talent Acquisition Voucher (Low Grade)!]
Jiang Chen blinked. "A... what now?" He felt a small, nondescript golden token materialize in his hand.
[A One-Time Talent Acquisition Voucher (Low Grade). Consume it to acquire a randomly generated talent of Low Grade. Think of it as a lottery ticket for an innate ability. Use it wisely, Host.]
A new talent? This was even better than a pill or a technique! This could change everything. Jiang Chen stared at the golden token in his palm, then at the two remaining Spirit Stones. The day was just beginning, and he already felt unstoppable. He had faced death, survived, cultivated, and now held the key to a new innate ability.
The brutal world of Xuanjie Continent was still dangerous, but Jiang Chen now had more than just cunning and a System. He had strength, and the promise of more.