The sunlight had long vanished when I woke up. The wooden floor beneath me pressed cold against my back, my limbs stiff from the previous day's grueling training. It was already six in the evening, but exhaustion was no excuse — the day awaited, and the world I had entered didn't pause for me.
I sat up and instinctively checked the system interface that appeared before me, a familiar translucent screen in my vision. The quest reward had arrived:
[ +30% progress in the first realm of Qi Gathering, and an ability unlocked — Lunar Slash, level 1 mastery - progress( 0%).]
A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Even a beginner quest could propel me far, though the system's mechanics were clear: repeated attempts would only give 5% cultivation per day, with no new abilities for the remainder of the thirty-day cycle. It was enough, I decided. Steady progress was better than stagnation.So I checked my Status panel again to confirm my reward .
--- The Celestial System ---
[[Name: Xuan Yuan [Lucas Silva]
Age: 17
Cultivation Level: 1st Stage of Qi Gathering (30%)
Skills :- ...
Abilities :- Lunar Slash - Level 1 - progress(0%) --- [A swift, crescent-shaped Qi strike that slices enemies with moonlight-like speed and precision.] (Sun Wukong's First Ability Unlocked)
Quests :- "CLICK HERE" ]]
After seeing the status, then only did I sighed in relief. Then I realised somthing , my stomach was growling. Breakfast had long since been digested, and lunch had been skipped due to training, leaving only a gnawing emptiness. I called one of the servants to my side, and a simple supper appeared on the table. There were no other faces in the courtyard — unless summoned, the maids didn't dare to approach me and I was also content with it. I ate in silence, thoughts wandering, then finished and rose at 7pm, eager to explore.
The courtyard was alive with muted activity. Though part of one of the five major clans, the Xuan Clan, I felt the weight of its hundreds of people around me. People whispered, avoided my gaze, yet dared not confront me openly. He passed familiar faces — servants, minor nobles from branch familie sides, and disciples - almost 500-600 people in the clan — all aware of the original owner's notorious reputation. Even the briefest glance was enough to remind me of the past body's cruelty.
And then I saw him: Xuan Kong, someone he had hoped to avoid. Their eyes met for a split second as he passed. Instead of confrontation or arrogance, I simply nodded and said, "Good evening, uncle." The words seemed to startle Zhuang Kong, who paused mid-step, caught between surprise and recognition, before continuing without a word. I exhaled silently and continued my walk, my pulse steadying as I left the courtyard behind.
The streets of Stardust City stretched before me, a labyrinth of cobblestones, narrow alleys, and bustling lanes. Lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, casting flickering shadows across the merchant stalls. The air was a mixture of incense from small shrines, the smoky tang of grilled meat, and the faint metallic scent from the blacksmiths' forges. Children weaved between carts and pedestrians, squealing with delight as horses' hooves clattered over uneven stones.
Merchants called out in overlapping voices: "Finest silks! Fresh herbs! Swords forged to perfection!" Their words collided into a chaotic rhythm, punctuated by the hammering from the distant smithy. Nobles in flowing robes passed by, servants carrying lanterns in their wake, while street performers twirled fire and knives to the crowd's awe. The city was alive, and it demanded awareness; one careless step could be fatal.
My mission was simple yet crucial: acquire a proper sword. The Lunar Slash ability could not be trained on wooden weapons, and borrowing a clan sword was out of the question — too many others relied on them and I was at the lowest realm so it would be nothing more than waste to provide me with a real sword. After visiting three shops, each promising quality yet failing to satisfy my system's scrutiny, I finally found one that seemed reliable. The shopkeeper, a stocky man with a neatly trimmed beard, weighed him carefully with his eyes before presenting a polished steel training sword. Its balance was ideal, weight manageable but substantial enough to feel real. This sword would serve me well for three months — long enough to reach the third realm before the sect entrance requirements became pressing. I adjusted it in my hand, testing swings carefully, imagining the drills I would soon perform.
Even with the sword secured, the streets felt dangerous. A beggar crouched in the shadow of a side alley, extending a grimy hand. Out of instinct and habit from my previous life, I reached into my pouch for a coin. As I stepped forward, three men emerged from behind a corner, surrounding me. Their laughter echoed in the narrow street, sharp and predatory. "Look at this bastard noble, giving coins like a fool," one of them sneered.
Panic rose in my chest. I froze, every instinct screaming to fight or flee, yet reason held me back. To act rashly would be humiliation as later when this matter blows up, everyone will ridicule me for having to meddle with road beggars and thiefs despite being the young master of the Xuan Clan but to be beaten here, on my second day front was unacceptable to me. My mind raced through possible outcomes — and then, before I could make a sound, the attackers lunged.
A blur of motion descended from above. One figure, impossibly fast and precise, struck with a single motion that was over before it began. The attackers collapsed, beheaded, the sound of steel on flesh echoing in the narrow street. I staggered back, horror and awe striking me simultaneously. The scene, so violent and immediate, was more than my mind could process, and darkness claimed me.
When I awoke after a lot of time, I was in bed. Confusion gripped me for a moment, the world still tilting slightly. A figure stood beside me, calm and deliberate. "Young master," the man said, which made me startled for a moment, "you are the face of our clan. Be mindful. You are seventeen — you should know the type of people who lurk in dark corners. Maturity will serve you better than reputation alone."
Before I could respond, the figure was gone. A fleeting breeze brushed past my cheek. The window was closed. The man had exited the room as silently as he appeared. Memories of the street attack returned, visceral and raw. Disgust and fear overtook me, and I bolted upright, running to the washroom and vomiting everything I had eaten in the late evening. By the time I felt I am okay, It was nearly 11pm by the sundial, the city quieting outside as lantern light flickered in the distance.
Exhaustion overtook me after the ordeal. I returned to my bed, muscles trembling, mind racing with the day's events. One day — it had begun with reward and promise and ended with a near-death encounter and a stark lesson in the reality of this world. I laid down on my back, staring at the ceiling, the events replaying like flashes of fire and shadow. Sleep came quickly, carrying me into the next day — heavier, wiser, and more aware of the world's dangers.
---
Morning came with pale sunlight brushing against the wooden beams of my room. I woke up, muscles still aching, but when I thought of that gruesome scene from yesterday, my fear started to transform into a quiet, burning determination. It was now that I realised that to survive in this world, I have to change my mentality. I washed, drank, and steeled myself, feeling the weight of yesterday's lesson pressing down on me. Survival in this world required courage, skill, and preparation — not just instinct.
Stepping into the courtyard, I called for a young maiden. "Go summon a disciple who wants to spar with me and should be at the second stage of Body Refinement. I need someone to practice with," I instructed. Her eyes widened for a brief moment but she nodded, rushing to carry out my command. Being the son of the patriarch had its advantages, but it also came with responsibility. I could not simply rely on status; I had to train, learn, and grow.
As I waited, I reflected on yesterday. Seeing death so immediate and brutal, surviving only by chance, had stripped away illusions. Courage was not instantaneous — it had to be forged through sweat, repetition, and experience. Observing techniques was one thing; experiencing them by yourself, feeling the strain, testing his reflexes, learning timing and distance — that was how real skill was honed.
And now here I was, trying to learn how to survive in this world... maybe I will lose many on the way, maybe I will gain many allies in the future but one thing which I will survive for is myself and the others I hold dear to me.