Lu Fan had no concept of how large the Five Phoenix Continent was. However, the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty was vast, comprising sixteen prefectures. The founding emperor of the Great Zhou established sixteen regional governors, each ruling their own territory. Later, under successive emperors, this was reduced to thirteen governors. Now, the royal family had weakened. The previous emperor of Great Zhou died suddenly at the age of thirty, leaving behind six children, five of whom were princesses, with only one son eligible to inherit the throne. As a result, the eleven-year-old crown prince ascended the throne, with the national teacher acting as his regent. But due to the young age of the emperor, turmoil swept across the country.
...
Lu Fan sat in a wheelchair. The blockage in the veins of his legs had been resolved through the natural infusion of innate spiritual energy. He was aware of Ning Zhao's expression but did not explain himself. Instead, he asked a simple question. A clear conscience brought him peace.
"The master is in the study and is about to summon Doctor Hua to treat the young master," Ning Zhao spoke gently, with a tone full of compassion.
"No need to trouble him. Just push me to the study," Lu Fan replied.
Ning Zhao nodded and pushed the wheelchair out of the garden, heading directly to the study. Since the spiritual energy had been fully developed, the system notified him that he now had the "permission" to view certain things. However, Lu Fan refrained from exploring for the time being, fearing he might fall into a state of obsession and alarm his father and the maidservants, causing unnecessary trouble.
Upon reaching the study, the red-painted doors, adorned with intricate carvings, were wide open. Ni Yu and another maid waited outside. Ning Zhao carefully wheeled Lu Fan inside. The study had no threshold, making it easier for Lu Fan to enter.
From a distance, Lu Fan saw a tall figure in armor, without a helmet. The figure turned as soon as the sound of the wheelchair's wheels on the floor was heard. The sharp gaze, filled with the coldness of battle, seemed to lower the temperature in the room by a few degrees.
"Father," Lu Fan said, despite the awkwardness in calling him that, even after merging with the memories. It still felt strange.
Lu Chang Kong, seeing his son sitting in the wheelchair, immediately softened. The cold aura in his eyes dissipated.
"Fan'er, Ning Zhao says you've been feeling disoriented. Are you feeling unwell?" Lu Chang Kong asked with concern. He had been stationed at the city walls, and upon hearing the news, rushed back to the mansion without even removing his armor. He scanned Lu Fan closely and, seeing nothing wrong, finally let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm fine, Father. Don't worry about me," Lu Fan smiled and reassured.
Hmm? Lu Chang Kong, always understanding of his son, noticed something unusual. Despite Lu Fan being paralyzed, no one in Beiluo City, or even in the capital, dared to call him useless. Besides his father's influence, it was also due to Lu Fan's own efforts. Though Lu Fan could not practice martial arts, he had excelled in Confucianism, even earning praise from the national teacher. However, Lu Chang Kong knew that, despite his hard work in academics, Lu Fan had always struggled with inner conflicts, making it hard for him to smile, and often appearing somewhat self-deprecating and irritable. After all, his leg condition made him feel weak compared to others, and not everyone could easily overcome that.
"Please step out," Lu Chang Kong nodded at Ning Zhao, waving her off. She hesitated for a moment but quickly withdrew, closing the door behind her.
"Fan'er... The world is in turmoil. Twelve factions of warlords have risen, and Beiluo City, as the northern frontier of the Great Zhou's capital, bears the brunt of it. I have to personally lead the army and stay here. I've neglected you, don't hold it against me," Lu Chang Kong said with a touch of guilt in his eyes.
Lu Fan felt warmth in his heart. His father was a good man, and the reason he hadn't become twisted despite his condition was largely thanks to Lu Chang Kong's constant companionship since childhood.
Lu Fan hesitated but eventually decided to reveal the truth, as there was no way to hide it. Better to speak now than be questioned later.
Looking up, Lu Fan's eyes glimmered with a sharp light. "Father, I have something to tell you..."
Lu Chang Kong furrowed his brow. "Go on."
But instead of speaking, Lu Fan suddenly threw off the blanket from his legs, placed both hands on the armrests of the wheelchair, and, with a slight push, stood up, wobbling slightly.
The room fell into a stunned silence for a moment.
Then, a powerful surge of vitality erupted from his body, causing the paintings hanging on the walls to tremble. Lu Chang Kong quickly stepped forward, catching Lu Fan. His eyes were filled with disbelief.
He had once invited the best physician in the land to examine Lu Fan's leg, only to be told that Lu Fan would never stand again. Yet now, here he was, standing miraculously!
Lu Chang Kong stammered, trying to speak, but his emotions overwhelmed him. "Fan'er... take a few steps?"
Lu Fan's face flushed, feeling a strange sensation under his father's overwhelming energy, like needles pricking his back. Perhaps this was the sensation of a martial artist's vitality in a low-level martial world. He took a deep breath to steady himself and, with his father's support, took a tentative step. At first, it was difficult, and he almost fell. But Lu Chang Kong could clearly see—Lu Fan was actually walking!
Lu Chang Kong burst into laughter, his voice echoing throughout the study.
After a long time, Lu Chang Kong carefully helped Lu Fan sit back in the wheelchair. Although he didn't understand how Lu Fan's condition had improved, he didn't ask. A cure for his legs was a blessing.
With a serious expression, Lu Chang Kong said, "Fan'er, you must not tell anyone else about this, except for your three maidservants. While it's good that you can walk, if word gets out... the national teacher may order His Majesty to summon you to the capital."
"So, keep it a secret as long as you can. Ning Zhao and the others are carefully chosen and trained by me. Not only can they protect you, but they are loyal and trustworthy. No one else can know."
Lu Fan understood the situation and nodded. He was aware of the stakes in the political turmoil surrounding the Great Zhou Dynasty. The twelve warlords had divided the land, leaving only six cities under royal control. To prevent betrayal, the national teacher had all the heirs of the other five city lords brought to the capital, under his watch.
Lu Fan's family had always been loyal, and his leg condition had kept him from entering the capital. But if others learned he could walk, it would disrupt everything. The five city lords would likely oppose this, and the national teacher would have no choice but to summon him to the capital.
"Alright, then. Rest well now that your legs have recovered. I can finally relax and attend to your Uncle Dantai," Lu Chang Kong said with a hint of coldness in his eyes.
...
Back in his room, Lu Fan's three maidservants began tidying up. Now, he had some free time. His mind stirred, and the system interface popped up before his eyes.
Host: Lu FanTitle: Qi Refiner (Permanent)Qi Refinement Level: 1Soul Strength: 1Physical Strength: 0.5Spiritual Qi: 10 threadsModification Rewards: NoneWorld Rating: Five Phoenix Continent [Low Martial Arts]Permissions: [Tasks], [Path Guidance Platform], [Qi Infusion]
Since his spiritual energy had been unlocked, the system indicated that his new permissions were active. He immediately focused on the "Qi Infusion" option.
Upon selecting it, a line of text appeared.
"Qi Infusion Permission: Can infuse spiritual energy from the host's Qi Dan into designated areas, enhancing the cultivation environment and sparking a cultivation frenzy, based on the current level of Qi refinement, with a minimum multiplier of 100x."
Note: Infusion into the human body is not multiplied.
Lu Fan's heart surged with excitement. To transform a low martial arts world into a fantasy world, the key was having enough spiritual energy. And now, he had the ability to both produce and transport it. This was his chance to lead a massive spiritual revival!
Moreover, he noticed something else—spiritual energy could be infused into the human body! This meant he could create cultivators by injecting them with spiritual energy!
Suddenly, Lu Fan's eyes flashed with sharp determination. Perhaps it was time to test this on a martial artist.
At that moment, Ning Zhao, gently rolling the scroll on the table, felt a sudden chill run down her spine. She instinctively looked up and found Lu Fan, who was staring at her with an intriguing smile, resting his elbow on the armrest of his wheelchair.