The lingering heat of dual cultivation coursed through Li Tianchen's veins, a heady mixture of fire and ice, pleasure and pain. His muscles throbbed, his dantian pulsed, and the Asura Bloodline inside him burned with raw, primal energy. Beside him, Mei Xue lay still, chest rising and falling, aura flickering with lust, reluctance, and the lingering effects of their bond. Her loyalty was weak, her will resisting the connection—but her body had already responded.
A chime sounded in Tianchen's mind.
[Dual Cultivation complete.]
[Host breakthrough achieved: Qi Refining – 4th Stage.]
[Partner successfully bound: Mei Xue of Crimson Cloud Sect.]
[Loyalty: 41%. Lust: 98%.]
Tianchen exhaled sharply, feeling the surge of energy coursing through him. Qi Refining 4th Stage… my first major breakthrough after dual cultivation. His spiritual sea had expanded, meridians strengthened, and the Asura Bloodline throbbed like molten metal. Mei Xue's aura resonated faintly with his, though her loyalty remained low and unstable. That will change with time, he thought with a wry smirk.
He summoned the system interface. The translucent panel shimmered to life, displaying his stats and companion projections.
Li Tianchen
Age: 18
Realm: Qi Refining – 4th Stage
Bloodline: Asura Bloodline (Awakened)
Element: Fire / Shadow
Strength: 48
Agility: 38
Intelligence: 29
Luck: 4
EXP: 0 / 100
Inventory: [Empty]
Skills: [None]
Companion Projections (Visible Only to Host):
Yue Lian
Realm: Qi Refining – 2nd Stage
Constitution: Moonlit Lotus Physique
Element: Wind
Strength: 16
Agility: 17
Intelligence: 20
Luck: 7
Mei Xue
Realm: Qi Refining – 3rd Stage
Constitution: Frost Jade Physique
Element: Ice
Strength: 19
Agility: 17
Intelligence: 21
Luck: 6
He studied the projections carefully. Yue Lian remained serene, her growth natural but steady. Mei Xue, pushed by their dual cultivation, had advanced to the 3rd stage. Her body had adapted to the bond, though her mind resisted. She doesn't know yet… but she will.
[System Notice: Qi Refining is the first stage of formal cultivation, divided into 1st–9th stages. Practitioners refine the body, expand the spiritual sea, and unblock meridians. Elements manifest according to bloodline or constitution. Qi Refining allows for dual cultivation, survival adaptation, and bloodline resonance. Stage progression occurs naturally through survival, combat, and compatible partner cultivation. Beyond Stage 9 is Foundation Establishment, then Core Formation... and so on.]
Tianchen closed his eyes, letting the Asura Bloodline pulse through every meridian. Fire and shadow coiled inside him, harmonizing with his essence. His body adjusted, absorbing the residual energy from dual cultivation, stabilizing the surge, and reinforcing his Qi Refining breakthrough. He could feel the shadow element subtly assisting in movement, concealment, and defense, though it lacked raw power at this stage. Fire roared along his veins, ready to erupt at his command.
It took several minutes, but eventually, Tianchen felt a deep calm. His body, meridians, and spiritual sea were fully synchronized. Now I'm ready.
No sooner had he opened his eyes than a pulse of danger prickled the edges of his awareness.
A rustle in the undergrowth drew his attention. Tianchen's instincts flared, and the system buzzed:
The system chimed urgently:
[Warning: Incoming threat detected. Survival task assigned: Defeat Tier-2 Spirit Beast Bone Serpent to gain access to Lucky Draw. Failure may result in death.]
Through the trees, a massive black-scaled serpent slithered into view. Amber eyes locked on him, muscles coiled, venom dripping from jagged fangs. Yue Lian's face stiffened. "Tier-2 Spirit Beast… even at 4th Stage Qi Refining, caution is essential. Its power is extreme."
Tianchen clenched his fists. He had no weapon yet, but his Fire element flared along his veins, burning brightly. Shadow energy stirred within him, coiling around his body, thin and subtle at this stage, more suited to defense, stealth, and positioning than attack. He would rely mostly on fire to strike, letting shadow assist him in movement and concealment.
The serpent struck first. Tianchen rolled aside, shadow energy helping him vanish briefly into darkness, only to emerge behind a massive tree. Fire erupted along his arms as he swung, scorching the serpent's thick scales. It hissed, venom spat into the air, but his reinforced Qi Refining body absorbed the minor toxins.
Ding! Host has gained +5 EXP from combat adaptation.
Ding! Host has gained +3 EXP from elemental resonance application.
Ding! Host has gained +2 EXP from survival instinct.
EXP: 10 / 100
The serpent coiled and struck again, faster this time, targeting his midsection. Shadow element twisted around him, deflecting part of the strike, but it was not enough. Fire surged, igniting the air in a precise arc, scorching scales and creating an opening. Tianchen lunged, shadow energy propelling his movement silently and unpredictably, fire slashing like molten steel along the serpent's skull. Amber eyes flared, then dimmed as the serpent collapsed, writhing, then lay still.
Ding! Host has slain Tier-2 Spirit Beast: Bone Serpent. Rewards granted: 40 EXP, 1x Spirit Beast Core (Tier-2, Venom Attribute), 1x Serpent Bone Fragment (Rare Material).
EXP: 50 / 100
A translucent wheel appeared: the Lucky Draw interface. Symbols spun—scrolls, crystals, beast eggs, question marks, pills, weapons. Ding! Host obtained [Infernal Serpent Technique – Tier 2], a martial art combining fire and venom, perfectly compatible with the Asura Bloodline and his elemental affinity. Inventory updated.
Tianchen let out a long exhale, energy still humming through every vein. Mei Xue and Yue Lian remained unaware of the subtle improvements they had received from residual resonance.
From the forest edge, outer sect disciples of the Crimson Cloud Sect had witnessed the battle. Wide-eyed and pale, they whispered furiously. By the time they returned to the sect, their tale had already transformed: a young Qi Refining cultivator alone had slain a Tier-2 Spirit Beast using fire and shadow. Rumors spread quickly, escalating tension within the sect.
Tianchen crouched beside Mei Xue, allowing adrenaline to ebb and Asura energy to consolidate. Each pulse of his bloodline reinforced his body, spiritual sea, and meridians. The forest, moonlight, and whispering wind all seemed to align with the path he had chosen. He had survived dual cultivation, reached 4th Stage Qi Refining, bound his first partner, and defeated a formidable beast in the wild. Yet, this was only the beginning.
[System Notice: Continue survival and cultivation. Opportunities for partner growth and harem formation imminent.]
Tianchen glanced at Yue Lian and Mei Xue. One calm, one unpredictable. Both would grow, both would challenge him, and both would strengthen him. Step by step, fight by fight, bond by bond, he would carve his name into this world.
Beneath the crimson moon, Li Tianchen rose, fists blazing with fire and shadow, ready for whatever awaited. Every heartbeat was a step forward, every pulse a promise: the Asura had returned, stronger than ever, and the world would know it soon.
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--- To Be Continued ---