Dawn broke over the Crimson Dawn Mountains, casting streaks of pale gold across the sky. A light mist drifted through the servant compound, coiling around the wooden huts like faint spiritual threads.
Lian Hong stood alone in the grove behind the quarters, the early breeze brushing against his skin.
Today marked the beginning of his ascent toward the Third Layer.
A requirement for the Outer-Disciple Qualification Trial.A requirement to finally step out of servitude.
He closed his eyes.
The moment he activated 〈Crimson Meridian Breathing〉, the world responded.
Qi gathered around him—thin strands of spiritual energy swirling into a tight vortex, drawn by the technique's refined structure.
His meridians pulsed, expanding slightly as the breathing pattern deepened.
The system chimed softly:
[Ding!Cultivation efficiency enhanced by: 12%Technique Proficiency: 14% → 18%]
Lian Hong exhaled, steam drifting from his lips.
Progress was accelerating.
But cultivation alone wasn't enough.
To reach Third Layer within days, he needed something more—
Combat pressure.
Pressure forced breakthroughs.Combat shaped instinct.Battle built understanding faster than any meditation session.
He opened his eyes, sensing movement.
Zhou Shan approached cautiously, clutching a tray of steamed buns. He looked conflicted—half afraid, half eager.
"H–Hey, Lian Hong… I brought you breakfast. You, uh… seem busy lately. Stronger. Taller. Brighter. Different. Very different."
Lian Hong raised a brow. "Is that so?"
Zhou Shan gulped. "Y-Yes. You're not… planning anything dangerous, right?"
Lian Hong didn't answer.
His second life was built on danger.
And he welcomed it.
He reached for a bun, ate it in silence, then turned to Zhou Shan.
"I need something from you."
Zhou Shan's eyes widened. "Please don't say my kidney."
"…No."
"Oh. Good. What is it then?"
"Gather three servant disciples who spar regularly. The aggressive ones."
Zhou Shan's expression collapsed.
"Oh no… You are planning something dangerous."
Lian Hong looked at him calmly. "Can you gather them?"
Zhou Shan hesitated, swallowing thickly. Then he nodded.
"I'll try. But Lian Hong… be careful. Strong or not, you're still… you know… just broke through Second Layer."
Lian Hong didn't respond.
He simply turned his gaze toward the rising sun.
"Soon."
Later that day – servant training yard
The servant disciples gathered as usual for drills. Overseer Chen barked orders, and dozens of youths strained under horse stances and basic strikes.
But whispers filled the training yard.
"Did you hear? Lian Hong held stance three for a full hour yesterday.""I saw him move during drills. He's faster than before.""Impossible. He used to be the weakest one here!""Seriously, what did he eat?""Maybe he found some miracle herb."
Lian Hong ignored the chatter.
Instead, he observed the disciples around him—their habits, weaknesses, movement patterns.
He needed targets.
The first part of the Qualification Trial required defeating three servant disciples in official sparring.
He wasn't worried about that requirement.He was worried that he might hold back too much.
As training ended, Zhou Shan approached with a terrified expression.
"I found them," he whispered.
Lian Hong followed him behind a storage shed where three servant disciples waited.
The biggest one, Wu Dahai, cracked his knuckles.A tall girl with sharp eyes, Jin Xiaoyu, leaned against the wall, arms crossed.And the third—skinny, twitchy, eager—was called Min Tao.
Zhou Shan whispered:
"T-These three are the best fighters among the servants… be careful."
Lian Hong stepped forward.
"I need sparring partners."
Wu Dahai laughed. "We heard. You think you can take all three of us?"
Lian Hong didn't correct him.He simply took a stance.
Jin Xiaoyu pushed off the wall, expression fierce. "You hit first."
Min Tao grinned. "Don't cry when you lose."
Lian Hong breathed once—
—and vanished.
BAM!
His fist landed squarely in Wu Dahai's stomach, sending the large youth stumbling backward.
Before Dahai even hit the wall, Lian Hong shifted, using the early form of 〈Shadowstep Phantom Movement〉.
His body blurred.His footsteps disappeared.His presence flickered.
He appeared behind Jin Xiaoyu—
"Wha—"
—and tapped her shoulder lightly.
Not a strike.A warning.
She froze, realizing he had chosen not to hit her full-force.
Min Tao screamed and charged blindly.
Lian Hong sidestepped.A perfect, fluid dodge.
He flicked his wrist, striking Min Tao's wrist.The boy's arm went numb.
Then—
He swept Min Tao's legs out from under him.
The boy tumbled.
The spar ended in less than five breaths.
Wu Dahai groaned.Jin Xiaoyu stared in disbelief.Min Tao whimpered.
Zhou Shan watched with his jaw nearly dislocated.
"What… WHAT are you?!"
Lian Hong didn't answer.
He simply clasped his hands behind his back and walked away.
Behind him, the system chimed:
[Ding!Combat Analysis Complete.Skill Proficiency increased:〈Shadowstep Phantom Movement〉 +7%〈Crimson Meridian Breathing〉 +4%]
[New Condition Met:Minor Combat Pressure achieved]
[Breakthrough threshold increased.]
Lian Hong felt a pulse in his chest.
Qi surged in his meridians, hotter and more aggressive than before.
His instincts screamed that he was one step away—
from touching the Third Layer.
He steadied his breath.
"Not yet," he whispered."Tonight."
That night – in the grove
Moonlight bathed the spirit grass in pale silver.Wind whispered softly through the trees.
Lian Hong sat cross-legged.
His meridians burned like molten threads.His breathing deepened, controlled, precise.
The cultivation vortex formed again, larger than ever.
Qi flooded him—fierceviolenthungry.
His body trembled.
[Ding!Breakthrough condition met.Host is ready to ascend.]
Lian Hong's eyes snapped open.
"Then let it happen."
He guided the raging qi inward—toward the barrierthe wallthe threshold.
And then—
BOOM—
A surge erupted inside him.
Light flooded his senses.His meridians expanded.His spiritual core roared with newfound strength.
[Ding!Congratulations!Host has reached:Qi Gathering – Third Layer]
Lian Hong exhaled shakily, feeling his body stabilize.
He clenched his fist.
Power rippled from beneath his skin.
His second life's path had officially begun.
Tomorrow—
The Qualification Trial would start.
And he would show everyone—
that the weakest servant of yesterday…was going to dominate the outer sect of tomorrow.