The Grand Yunhua Art Hall glittered beneath a thousand lights. Marble floors reflected silk dresses and polished shoes, while priceless paintings hung like silent witnesses along the walls. The exhibition was one of the cultural highlights of the year, and only Huaxia's elite families had the privilege to attend.
Su Wanqing walked gracefully through the hall, her silver gown a river of moonlight. Beside her, classmates whispered and cast envious glances, but none dared to approach. She had always been the ice goddess of the university — untouchable, aloof, beyond reach.
But tonight, unseen eyes tracked her every step.
Chen Hao.
In a tailored suit, his smile was cold, his eyes venomous. Lin Feng, you humiliated me at the banquet. Tonight, I'll bury you.
---
Meanwhile, in a corner of the hall, Lin Feng adjusted his simple black jacket. Though plain compared to the suits and tuxedos around him, his calm gaze made him stand out.
The System's cold voice whispered in his mind:
> [Mission Activated: Protect Su Wanqing from humiliation or harm during the art exhibition.]
[Reward: 20,000 yuan + chance of rare reward.]
Lin Feng's lips curved faintly. So it begins.
---
The exhibition unfolded in elegance: violin music, murmurs of appreciation, flashes of cameras. But beneath the beauty, Chen Hao's scheme moved into place.
A waiter brushed past Lin Feng carrying wine. His hand trembled slightly. Lin Feng's sharp eyes caught the faint smirk of Chen Hao across the hall.
Poison in the details.
Sure enough, the waiter stumbled — and the entire tray of red wine tilted toward Su Wanqing's silver gown.
Gasps rippled through the hall.
But Lin Feng was faster. In a blur, he stepped forward, intercepting the tray with one hand. A flick of his wrist steadied it, not a single drop spilling.
The hall fell silent.
Su Wanqing blinked in surprise, her calm eyes softening slightly as they met his. "You again…"
Before she could say more, a sudden crack echoed above.
Everyone looked up.
A loose chandelier bolt, deliberately tampered with, snapped free. The heavy crystal fixture groaned as it tilted — directly above Su Wanqing.
Screams erupted. People scattered.
But Lin Feng's body moved without hesitation. He pulled Su Wanqing into his arms, spinning them both away just as the chandelier crashed down, shattering into a storm of glass and sparks.
The hall was chaos. Guests shouted, cameras flashed.
But at the center of it all, Su Wanqing found herself pressed against Lin Feng's chest, his steady heartbeat pounding beneath her ear.
"…Are you hurt?" His voice was low, calm despite the wreckage.
She shook her head, stunned. For the first time in years, her cold composure wavered. "No… thanks to you."
Around them, whispers exploded.
"Again! He saved her again!"
"Lin Feng? How does this nobody keep stepping in?"
"Is this fate, or is he just that bold?"
Chen Hao's face twisted, fury burning in his gut. His perfect plan, ruined in front of everyone.
---
In Lin Feng's mind, the System chimed.
> [Mission Complete]
[Reward: 20,000 yuan credited]
[Rare Reward Granted – Body Tempering Pill]
[Effect: Strength +20%, Speed +10%, Endurance +30%. Unlocks the path toward cultivation.]
In his jacket pocket, he felt the faint warmth of something solid — a small golden pill, glowing with faint spiritual light.
---
After the chaos settled, Su Wanqing was escorted away by her family's attendants. But before leaving, she looked back at Lin Feng.
Their eyes met across the ruined chandelier.
This time, her gaze lingered.
---
That night, back in his dorm, Lin Feng sat cross-legged on his bed. His roommates were out, leaving the room silent. He took out the pill.
It glowed softly, exuding a fragrance that stirred something primal within him.
"Body Tempering Pill…" Lin Feng whispered. "So the System really wants me to step beyond the ordinary."
Without hesitation, he swallowed it.
---
The effect was immediate.
A burning tide surged through his veins, like molten fire racing under his skin. His muscles trembled, sweat pouring down his forehead. Every bone felt as if it were being reforged, every tendon stretched and strengthened.
He bit down hard, forcing himself to endure.
Minutes stretched into hours.
Then, at last, the pain subsided, replaced by a roaring vitality. His vision sharpened, his breath deepened, his body thrummed with power. He clenched his fist — the air whistled with the motion.
So this… is cultivation.
The System's voice echoed again:
> [Congratulations. The Host has stepped beyond ordinary limits.]
[New Attribute Panel Unlocked.]
A glowing screen appeared before him.
Strength: 15 (Ordinary Human: 10)
Speed: 12 (Ordinary Human: 10)
Endurance: 16 (Ordinary Human: 10)
Lin Feng exhaled, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He flexed his hand, feeling the raw power coursing through him.
Money, power, cultivation… The Supreme Life System really intends to give me everything.
He looked out the dorm window, the moonlight casting silver shadows across his sharp features.
"And I'll use it… to protect what matters. To protect her."