Morning mist curled low through the forest, dew clinging to the edges of Lin Xuan's robe as he paused beneath a solitary elm tree. Seven days had passed since his journey began.
[Weekly Pull available. New Heaven's Treasury inventory unlocked. Opening interface...]
A familiar shimmer materialized before him. The system's elegant, jade-colored interface expanded into view.
This time, the shop displayed a fresh batch of items:
— Qi Gathering Pills (Perfect) ×10 — 20 Points
— Grade-1 Spirit Compass (Detects Qi fluctuations within 50m) — 60 Points
— Cloudwalking Sandals (Minor speed boost when traveling by foot) — 80 Points
— Spirit Beast Jerky (Tamed beasts gain increased loyalty) — 15 Points
[Current Points: 390]
Lin Xuan scanned the list, eyes locking onto the most obvious value.
"Ten perfect pills for twenty points?" he muttered. "That's basically charity."
He didn't hesitate—he purchased all ten Qi Gathering Pills, reducing his balance to 370.
[Inventory Updated.]
Combining these with the few pills earned through daily meditation, he speculated, "This should be enough to reach Stage 6 in a few days, if my meridians can keep up."
[Weekly Draw: Available. Would you like to proceed?]
A slow grin crept across his face. "Absolutely."
The interface swirled. Lights cascaded across the panel—gold, crimson, and a glimmering shade of silver that hadn't appeared before.
Then it stopped.
[Congratulations! You have obtained: Banished Immortal Physique]
Time seemed to freeze.
Wind shifted. Trees around him rustled, not from breeze, but from his presence. The air shimmered. Birds in the distance went silent.
[Banished Immortal Physique: Your presence exudes otherworldly grace. All elemental attributes unlocked: Fire, Water, Lightning, Earth, Wind. Innate Yin-Yang balance achieved. Massive increase to cultivation efficiency.]
[You may be perceived as an ethereal being by those with weaker spiritual perception.]
Lin Xuan blinked, then chuckled. "Now this—this feels like the kind of cheat an ancient sect master deserves."
[Indeed. It seems your luck is exceptional. Do try not to waste such a gift.]
He sat down to meditate, consuming one of the Qi Gathering Pills.
The difference was immediate.
The surrounding Qi bent toward him. He could feel it now—earth pulsing beneath his feet, fire simmering in distant magma veins, water dancing in the air's humidity, wind brushing his skin like whispers, and the gentle crackle of dormant lightning coiled within the clouds.
Were it not for his modest cultivation level, he felt—no, he knew—he could command the very elements.
He spent another day adjusting to the sensation, cultivating swiftly. By nightfall, he had reached Qi Condensation Stage 5.
—
On the tenth day of travel, he arrived at a small village nestled near the foot of the mountainous forest—Willow Hollow.
The village was simple, with straw-roofed homes, tilled fields, and children laughing barefoot along dirt paths. It was too remote for an inn, and when he asked for lodging, most residents hesitated—until an older man with kind eyes and a limp stepped forward.
"I'm the village chief," the man said, bowing respectfully. "If you don't mind humble quarters, you may stay with us tonight."
Lin Xuan offered a small smile and returned the bow. "I'll graciously accept your hospitality."
That night, as he sat beside the chief's hearth, eating a simple meal of steamed roots and salted fish, a curious voice broke through the silence.
"Excuse me, sir cultivator," came a soft, youthful tone.
He turned to see a teenage girl—fifteen at most, bright-eyed, and wearing a linen tunic stained with mud from the fields.
"My name's Mu Yeling. I… I've always dreamed of becoming a cultivator. Will you take me as your disciple?"
The chief stiffened. "Yeling—no. We've discussed this. Cultivation is a dangerous path. Few return."
"But Father—he's different. Can't you see it? Just standing near him feels like... like I'm staring at the stars."
Lin Xuan studied her quietly, noting the sincerity in her tone, the spark of determination in her eyes.
The Banished Immortal Physique, he mused. Even when I say nothing, it draws others in.
He folded his hands calmly in his lap, his voice smooth and measured. "Your desire is commendable. But my sect does not accept disciples with insufficient cultivation."
In truth, Lin Xuan felt a knot tighten in his chest. Mu Yeling's hopeful eyes reminded him far too much of his daughter from his past life—bright, curious, and full of dreams. She had passed away far too young, and the memory of her fragile hand clutching his never truly left him.
Besides, he thought, what sect? I haven't even established it yet. To bring a child into uncertainty and danger… I won't make that mistake again.
Still, he couldn't bear to turn her away completely.
Her expression fell. The chief looked relieved.
After a pause, Lin Xuan added, "However—this is a gift." He reached into his sleeve and withdrew a single Qi Gathering Pill, placing it gently in her palm. "If you can absorb this and lay a proper foundation, perhaps fate will allow our paths to cross again."
The girl stared at the pill with trembling hands. "Thank you... Senior."
He stayed in the village for several more days, spending the mornings instructing Mu Yeling in breathing techniques and meditation. Her progress was slow but steady, and each evening she returned for guidance without fail.
One afternoon, the village chief approached him by the river's edge.
"She's never been this focused," the old man admitted. "She's always been willful, but now she speaks of nothing but cultivation."
"Sometimes," Lin Xuan said, watching the flow of water, "a dream simply needs the right kindling."
By the third night, Mu Yeling broke through to Qi Condensation Stage 1.
She knelt before him, eyes glistening. "Please… allow me to call you Master Lin. I promise I'll become worthy of your guidance."
Lin Xuan's heart stirred. For a moment, Mu Yeling's silhouette overlapped with another—a girl in a sterile hospital room, smiling despite the pain.
His daughter.
Gone too soon.
He reached out and placed a hand atop Yeling's head, voice quiet. "Then grow strong, Mu Yeling. Strong enough that even the heavens must take notice."
The next morning, with the ancestral tablet strapped to his back, Lin Xuan departed.
From the hilltop, Mu Yeling watched him disappear into the mountains, her small hands clenched tightly at her sides, resolve burning in her chest.