Helping Evelyn cultivate wasn't just for her sake — it was for his own as well.
If Michael had been free to choose a disciple without any complications, Evelyn wouldn't have even crossed his mind.
But things had happened, and he didn't regret his decision.
He couldn't afford to — after all, it was what had saved his life, even if it brought its own problems.
Now, if they were going to achieve anything, Alex had no intention of going easy on her.
For a while, at least, Evelyn would have to suffer.
"Your posture is off. Fix it."
Evelyn winced as a sharp jolt ran through her arm — all from a single tap of her master's finger.
Her face twisted slightly in pain.
"Are you slacking off? Why would you shift into an even worse posture?"
Alex adjusted her stance again, his tone cold.
"How did you even reach this level with form this poor?"
He was relentless.
Evelyn, feeling small and helpless, nearly burst into tears.
'He's a demon in human skin,' she thought.
But she didn't dare talk back. Gritting her teeth, she forced her trembling limbs to obey.
As Alex adjusted his disciple's posture, the frown on his face deepened.
If he had doubted the system's judgment about her before, he no longer did.
This girl...
She truly was talentless.
Not only was her physical foundation poor, but her comprehension was also severely lacking.
The only thing that eased his frustration was her willingness to keep training.
But even that didn't necessarily mean she had a strong will.
"Stop."
Michael's voice was firm, causing Evelyn to freeze immediately. Sweat dripped from her brow as she looked at him, trying to hide her exhaustion.
"You're forcing it without understanding the basics," he said, his expression unreadable. "Sit down. I'll explain it properly."
Evelyn quickly obeyed, sitting cross-legged on the ground, her posture still a little off until Michael nudged her leg into the correct position.
"The technique you're using is a common Foundation Establishment method," Michael began. His tone was calm, but there was an undeniable sharpness to it. "It's used by countless cultivators, regardless of their origins or backgrounds. Noble or peasant, it doesn't matter. Everyone uses it because, at this stage, the goal is simple—tempering the body to make it suitable for cultivation."
He glanced at her, making sure she was paying attention before continuing.
"The method works by refining and strengthening the flesh, bones, and internal organs while unlocking key acupoints throughout the body. The eyes, ears, heart, head, limbs—each has an acupoint that must be awakened if you want to progress properly."
Michael crossed his arms and added, "The Body Tempering stage itself is divided into nine layers. The first four layers focus entirely on strengthening the flesh. Building durability, endurance, resilience—these are all crucial for what comes after."
Evelyn nodded along seriously, her eyes wide with focus.
"The final five layers, however," Michael continued, "are different. They're about awakening the acupoints. Without opening them, your body will always remain limited, no matter how strong your muscles are."
He paused, studying Evelyn closely.
"You are at the fourth layer right now," he said. "You've strengthened your flesh to a basic standard. But to advance into the fifth layer, you must unlock your first acupoint."
Michael pointed lightly to the center of her forehead. "Normally, the first acupoint people target is located here—the Spirit Gate. It's connected to your mind and senses. Opening it not only boosts your mental clarity but also begins the real transformation into a cultivator."
He let that settle for a moment before his gaze hardened.
"From now on, we focus on that. No more sloppy practice. If you can't even open your first acupoint, don't dream about stepping further into cultivation."
Evelyn swallowed nervously but clenched her fists in determination.
Michael snorted lightly. "Good. At least you have that much spirit. Now—adjust your posture again. We're starting properly this time."
This time, Alex wanted to test something new.
[Bone Hardening Powder] — a resource he'd purchased from the system store.
Its purpose was simple: reinforce the skeletal structure, granting a minor boost to defense and improving the body's ability to absorb spiritual energy.
In the cultivation world, it was considered valuable. Not exactly rare, but certainly not cheap either.
Alex was still getting used to the system store, but he believed he'd gotten the Bone Hardening Powder at a bargain—just like the Foundation Building Elixir he'd set aside for Evelyn.
Even if one had the connections and status to acquire it, the cost to refine a single Foundation Building Elixir was already in the range of a thousand low-grade or several hundred mid-grade spirit stones.
Given that he could easily obtain another hundred if he wished, Alex was certain the price he'd paid was far below market value.
But that wasn't the real issue.
The question now was: would the system's effect apply to system-purchased items?
The core function of the system was to increase the quantity or quality of what he gave to his disciple—either a hundredfold more of the same resource or a significantly improved version.
But could he exploit that mechanic with items bought directly from the system?
Alex narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
It was time to find out.
Alex reached into his storage ring and retrieved a small jade bottle. Inside was the Bone Hardening Powder—ashen-white and faintly glimmering with a subtle, almost imperceptible energy.
He uncorked the lid, and a faint medicinal scent wafted out, earthy and slightly bitter.
Evelyn looked at it curiously. "What is that?"
"Bone Hardening Powder," Alex replied. "It'll reinforce your skeleton and slightly boost your ability to absorb spiritual energy. Nothing rare, just expensive. Take it."
She hesitated, but obeyed. He watched her down the pinch of powder, her face scrunching at the bitter taste.
The moment she swallowed it, Alex mentally triggered the system.
> [Disciplinary Trigger Detected]
Resource: Bone Hardening Powder
Confirm reward type:
— [Quantity x100]
— [Quality x100]
A wide smile immediately threatened to appear on Alex's face.
He didn't even hesitate.
> [Quality x100] selected.