The first breath of spiritual energy successfully injected! The first practitioner successfully cultivated! Lu Fan's mind was in turmoil, his heart soaring as he read the notification text over and over again. He felt an immense sense of satisfaction, like planting a seed that had finally sprouted into a tender sprig.
"Transformation rewards and [Task] permissions unlocked?"
Lu Fan's eyes brightened slightly. With a thought, he summoned the system panel.
Host: Lu FanTitle: Qi Refining Master (Permanent)Qi Refining Level: 1Soul Strength: 1Physical Strength: 0.5Spiritual Energy: 9 strandsTransformation Rewards:"Creation of the Mysterious Qi Refining Method"World Rating: Five Phoenix Continent [Low Martial]Permissions: [Task], [Dao Transmission Platform], [Spiritual Energy Distribution]
As he observed the panel, Lu Fan noticed the difference. The rewards section, which was once empty, now displayed the "Creation of the Mysterious Qi Refining Method". The name alone sent a jolt of excitement through Lu Fan's veins, as if he had been injected with adrenaline. His heart was screaming with joy—this was a cultivation method! A cultivation method that could increase his strength!
Lu Fan only had ten strands of spiritual energy, and he had pulled them out from his own paralyzed legs. Every strand was precious, a resource that had to be used sparingly. He had been worried about running out of spiritual energy, but now, the appearance of this method solved his immediate problem. With the "Creation of the Mysterious Qi Refining Method", he would no longer need to worry about depleting his spiritual energy.
Although he was eager to check the method immediately, the others were still in the room, so Lu Fan suppressed his excitement and shifted his focus to the Task option, which had just lit up in the permissions section.
"Please select a task, Host."
The reminder appeared in Lu Fan's mind.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Fan focused his mind. Immediately, a large chunk of text popped up.
Main Task: Transform the Five Phoenix Continent into the Five Phoenix Great World (Task Accepted)Current Progress: Low Martial (Task evaluation not yet available)
Side Task: Save the impending fall of Beiluo City (Task not accepted, would you like to accept?)
Lu Fan carefully read through the task details. There weren't many tasks; aside from the main task, there was only one side task. The main task was self-explanatory: transforming the Five Phoenix Continent into a world of fantasy and mysticism was a long-term and arduous goal. To go from Low Martial to the realm of Fantasy, he would need to cross the boundaries of Medium and High Martial. Also, Lu Fan couldn't refuse it; from the moment he received the system's attributes, he had already accepted this task.
What caught Lu Fan's attention was the side task!
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes and focused on the task description.
Save Beiluo City… Beiluo City, the city governed by Lu Fan's father, Lu Changkong, one of the six cities under the control of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
"Accept the task," Lu Fan said without hesitation. Although he didn't know the specifics of the crisis Beiluo City was facing, he made his decision swiftly.
As he opened his eyes, the joy on Lu Fan's face slowly faded.
The room had taken on an odd atmosphere.
Ning Zhao had her eyes closed, sensing the spiritual energy within her body. Yi Yue, on the other hand, was staring at Lu Fan, clearly shocked by his abilities. As for Ni Yu, she was wide-eyed, her mouth agape, looking as if she could swallow a whole cooked egg. What she had just witnessed had completely surpassed her imagination, and her little heart was overwhelmed by an unprecedented shock.
"Ahem…"
Lu Fan cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence.
Ning Zhao's graceful body quivered slightly as she slowly opened her eyes, a flicker of light passing through her pupils.
"Thank you, Young Master, for granting me this immortal fortune!"
Ning Zhao cupped her hands and bowed, her words sincere.
Spiritual energy! There really was such a thing in the world! Her years of martial training beliefs had been completely shattered and scattered to the winds.
"Can you sense the spiritual energy now? Gather it in your dantian... You should have made some progress in your cultivation," Lu Fan said, sitting in his wheelchair, smoothing the thin blanket draped over his legs with a light smile.
"Your servant's strength has had a great leap forward. It's a qualitative transformation," Ning Zhao replied, nodding with joy.
Though the spiritual energy was just a single strand, for someone living in a world devoid of spiritual energy like herself, it was a groundbreaking achievement.
"Now, I can be called a Master!" Ning Zhao's beautiful face blossomed with a radiant smile.
Master—this was the level every martial artist aspired to. Ning Zhao's martial talent wasn't bad; otherwise, she wouldn't have reached the top-tier martial artist level at just 24 or 25. However, to reach the level of Master, she would need at least a decade of work.
Yi Yue, upon hearing that Ning Zhao had truly reached the Master level, looked at her with envy. This was practically a shortcut to success!
"The first strand of spiritual energy is just the beginning. The human body is a great furnace. With spiritual energy, you must use one strand as a foundation and cultivate more, filling your dantian. Only then can your strength advance further."
"This is how cultivation in the Qi Dan Realm generally works," Lu Fan added.
The term Qi Dan Realm was something Lu Fan had found from the system prompts earlier. He wasn't entirely clear on the specific breakdown of realms, but to create a proper fantasy world, a structured cultivation system was necessary. When he had more time, he would have to carefully study the system to understand the exact cultivation tiers.
Ning Zhao bowed again, her respect for Lu Fan growing deeper. The more mysterious he became, the more she revered him. Perhaps, as Lu Fan said, he had been granted an opportunity. Immortals caressed the top of one's head, filling the body with spiritual energy. Even if he wasn't an immortal, Lu Fan still held the key to changing the world's course.
The Young Master was destined to be extraordinary!
Besides, Lu Fan spoke about Qi Dan cultivation with such clarity, making her feel even more reverent.
"Y-Young Master…"
Suddenly, Yi Yue, who had been silently listening, bit her plump lip and spoke up.
"What is it?" Lu Fan asked, puzzled.
"Young Master, Yi Yue dares to ask for a strand of spiritual energy as well." Yi Yue suddenly dropped to her knees and bowed her head to the ground.
Ning Zhao stood up and moved to Lu Fan's side, her expression neutral as she watched Yi Yue. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and no one would want to miss it. Yi Yue asking for spiritual energy had been within Ning Zhao's expectations.
Lu Fan understood her motives as well. Yi Yue certainly knew how to seize opportunities. Unfortunately...
"Wait until you become a top-tier martial artist, then come to me." Lu Fan's expression was calm as he declined.
Yi Yue, who was kneeling on the floor, trembled slightly.
"Thank you, Young Master!" Yi Yue said softly.
Lu Fan didn't outright refuse her, and that was her opportunity. Yi Yue got up, pressed her lips together, her eyes filled with determination. She didn't feel any resentment or bitterness; in her mind, Lu Fan's refusal was likely for her own good. If a second-tier martial artist couldn't breakthrough to the Master level in one go, wouldn't it be a waste of the precious spiritual energy?
"Master! I want one too!"
Ni Yu, who had been leaning against the door frame, saw both of her older sisters receiving rewards and promises from Lu Fan. Her face flushed, and she immediately became anxious.
Lu Fan raised an eyebrow, looking at Ni Yu before rolling his eyes. He rejected her without hesitation.
"Little girl, what are you trying to join in for? Go play somewhere else."
Ning Zhao and Yi Yue both suppressed smiles, but couldn't hide their amusement.
Ni Yu: "..."
It was as if an invisible arrow pierced her fragile little heart.
Both of her sisters were showing off, and she was the one being left out.
Not bothering with Ni Yu's sulking, Lu Fan turned to Ning Zhao and asked with a serious expression:
"Ning Zhao, do you know the current situation in Beiluo City?"
Ning Zhao froze for a moment, not expecting the Young Master, who had always been indifferent to Beiluo City's affairs, to suddenly inquire about it. As a martial artist, her concerns were always focused on more immediate matters. She parted her red lips and spoke slowly.
"The world has descended into chaos. The Great Zhou Dynasty has sunk into a quagmire. The twelve lords have raised their banners in revolt, surrounding the capital. Among them, the Western County Governor, Xiang Shaoyun, leads the combined forces. They issued a proclamation claiming the emperor is young, the national master controls the politics, and the people are suffering. They raised their army to overthrow the corrupt regime and restore the country to its former glory."
Lu Fan pondered, lightly tapping his fingers on the armrest of his wheelchair.
"So, it's rebellion?"
Ning Zhao nodded. "Yes, the rebellion has been in full swing for over half a year now. Beiluo City is positioned at the heart of the conflict. Although Beiluo City has always been loyal to the Great Zhou Dynasty, the wave of rebellion is inevitable. The city is in grave danger."