Morning sunlight spilled across the Crimson Dawn Sect, warming the red-tiled roofs and gleaming pavilions. Disciples bustled through the courtyards, preparing for another day of cultivation and chores.
But today—the air held a different tension.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear? An outer disciple was found unconscious near the warehouse.""I heard his ribs were cracked—like he took a clean, concentrated hit.""But Liu Yan was Qi Gathering Third Layer. Who could've done that?""No idea, but whoever did… they didn't even leave a mark behind."
Rumors swirled throughout the servant quarters and outer courts.
Some said it was a rogue inner disciple.Others said a wandering beast infiltrated the sect grounds.No one suspected the quiet servant boy who walked through the courtyard with calm steps and steady breath.
Lian Hong kept his expression neutral as he carried a bucket across the walkway.
Zhou Shan rushed up beside him, face pale.
"Lian Hong! Lian Hong! Something big happened!" he hissed. "Liu Yan was beaten half-dead last night!"
Lian Hong raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Y-You don't seem very surprised..."
"Should I be?"
Zhou Shan blinked rapidly, flustered.
"Well… I mean… Liu Yan was an outer disciple. If someone's strong enough to beat him like that, we servant disciples should be careful."
Lian Hong simply nodded.
"You're right about one thing."
"Huh?"
"We should be careful."
Zhou Shan didn't know why, but those calm words made his scalp prickle.
Meanwhile, in the inner courtyard…
Wei Changbai sat beneath a tall crimson tree, his robe immaculate, his presence elegant—yet his eyes were sharp as blades.
Before him knelt a trembling disciple.
"Senior Brother Wei," the disciple stuttered, "Liu Yan has been injured. Someone attacked him during his patrol shift…"
Wei Changbai's fingers tightened around his teacup.
"Who?"
"We don't know. There were no witnesses. No traces left. Liu Yan's injuries were precise—like the attacker was targeting weaknesses…"
Wei Changbai's brows furrowed.
"That fool Liu Yan has bullied dozens. Anyone could've retaliated."
The disciple hesitated.
"There… is a rumor."
Wei Changbai's gaze sharpened. "Speak."
"Some say it… might be someone from the servant quarters."
Wei Changbai set his teacup down slowly.
"A servant disciple?"His tone turned icy."Liu Yan may be trash, but he's still Qi Gathering Third Layer. No servant could even scratch him."
The disciple swallowed nervously.
"But Senior Brother… Liu Yan keeps muttering something strange…"
"What?"
"He keeps saying… 'a pair of eyes… cold… terrifying…'"
Wei Changbai froze.
A faint memory tugged at him.
Eyes full of hatred.Eyes he once looked down upon as he pushed someone off a cliff.
"…Impossible," Wei Changbai muttered under his breath.
The disciple blinked. "Senior Brother?"
Wei Changbai stood abruptly, robe sleeves swaying.
"Tell the outer-sect overseers to increase patrols. Whoever attacked Liu Yan is not simple."
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
Wei Changbai looked toward the distant mountains, expression unreadable.
"If that boy is really alive…"A dangerous gleam flashed in his gaze."…I'll finish what I started."
Back in the servant compound
Lian Hong finished his chores quickly.Years of suffering in his past life had taught him efficiency better than any training manual.
Once his tasks were done, he slipped away toward the secluded grove behind the compound—the same place he had meditated during his breakthrough.
The moment he sat down, the system responded.
[Ding!New Daily Tasks have been generated.]
A panel unfolded:
––––––––––––––––––[Daily Tasks]
Cultivate for 2 hours→ Reward: +1 Attribute Point
Practice physical strikes (100 repetitions)→ Reward: +1 Strength
Execute movement drills (30 cycles)→ Reward: +1 Agility
Breathe using technique 〈Crimson Meridian Breathing〉 (3 cycles)→ Reward: +5% technique proficiency––––––––––––––––––
Lian Hong's eyes brightened.
Daily tasks.Small rewards.But accumulating daily would stack into terrifying progress.
In his past life, he scraped for every ounce of improvement.Now, with systematic growth?
He could surpass the people who once looked down on him—effortlessly.
He closed his eyes and began cultivating.
Qi flowed smoothly.Faster. Cleaner.〈Crimson Meridian Breathing〉 worked like a flawless engine, refining each thread of spiritual energy.
After the cultivation session ended:
[Ding!+1 Attribute Point obtained!]
Then he moved to the physical drills.
Strikes.Each punch accompanied by a faint ripple of power.Solid. Controlled.A hundred repetitions finished in half the time required by an average outer disciple.
[Ding!+1 Strength obtained!]
Next—the movement drills for 〈Shadowstep Phantom Movement〉.
His body blurred.He shifted between tree shadows, his silhouette flickering as he left faint afterimages behind.
Not perfect.But terrifyingly efficient for a beginner.
[Ding!+1 Agility obtained!]
Finally—
He practiced the breathing technique, feeling his meridians vibrate gently as qi flowed in elegant spirals.
[Ding!Technique proficiency increased.]
As the sun dipped below the treetops, Lian Hong opened his eyes.
His body felt stronger.Sharper.More alive than ever.
He checked his updated status:
––––––––––––––––––[Status]Name: Lian HongCultivation: Qi Gathering – Second LayerStrength: 9Agility: 7Endurance: 3Spiritual Power: 5Unassigned Points: 1Passive Skill: Predator's IntuitionTechniques:• 〈Crimson Meridian Breathing〉• 〈Shadowstep Phantom Movement〉––––––––––––––––––
A slow smile spread across his face.
This speed of growth…Even inner-sect geniuses would tremble if they saw it.
Suddenly—
A new system alert flashed.
[Ding!New Quest Available:"Outer-Disciple Qualification Trial"]
Lian Hong leaned forward.
Qualification Trial.The stepping stone to rise beyond servitude.
Perfect.
He opened the quest screen.
––––––––––––––––––[Quest: Outer-Disciple Qualification Trial]Objective:• Achieve Qi Gathering Third Layer before the trial• Defeat at least three servant disciples during preliminary sparringReward:• 1× Mortal Rank Combat Manual• Attribute Points ×5• Unknown Hidden Reward––––––––––––––––––
Lian Hong's pulse quickened.
"Third Layer…" he murmured.
He was already far beyond his past self at this point.
He stood, the evening wind stirring his hair.
"Good," he whispered."Then let the trial come."
He wasn't just rising.
He was hunting.
And soon—everyone who once stepped on him would hear the steady, unstoppable footsteps of someone walking toward ascension.