Pain should have crippled him.
The kick he received yesterday was meant to leave him unable to stand for days.
Yet when Blake pressed his palm against his stomach, there was nothing.
No swelling.
No bruise.
No pain.
"It healed…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
Around him, dozens of young servants still lay asleep on the cold floor. Thin blankets. Hollow faces. The quiet breathing of children who had already seen too much loss.
Blake lowered his gaze.
"System, sign in."
The mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
Sign-in confirmed, congratulations host for receiving –
Reward: Fire Sutra (1st Rank — Mid Grade).
For a moment, his heart pounded.
A cultivation manual.
Mid Grade.
Not power.
Not strength.
But the key to it.
Knowledge began pouring into his mind — structured pathways, breathing rhythms, mana circulation routes.
Blake inhaled sharply.
"So this is a real sutra…"
It was far more complete than the broken fragments ordinary servants occasionally heard rumors about.
But excitement quickly cooled.
A sutra was only knowledge.
Without practice — it was useless.
And practice meant risk.
Blake stood up and quietly left for work.
The garden-side area of the mansion was remote and rarely visited — mostly used to dump old equipment and unwanted supplies.
Perfect for someone who preferred not to be noticed.
Blake swept the stone path slowly, mind racing.
1st Rank Mid Grade.
Even some outer disciples in noble families didn't have access to such quality.
If anyone discovered this…
He would disappear before sunset.
A branch snapped nearby.
Blake instantly suppressed his expression and continued sweeping.
A passing servant glanced at him and walked away.
Only after the footsteps faded did Blake exhale softly.
Too dangerous.
Daytime cultivation was impossible.
By evening, exhaustion settled into his limbs.
As he returned toward the dormitory, he spotted a familiar figure ahead.
"Ethan."
Ethan turned, his face lighting up slightly.
"You're working already? Are you sure your injury's fine?"
Blake gave a small smile.
"It's nothing serious."
Ethan frowned.
"You shouldn't push yourself. If it gets worse, go to the infirmary."
There was genuine concern in his voice.
Blake remembered.
The previous owner of this body had carried Ethan through demon-infested streets when their town fell.
Children forced to grow up overnight.
"I'm fine," Blake replied calmly.
Ethan hesitated, then nodded.
"If anyone bullies you again, tell me."
Blake almost laughed.
Ethan was barely stronger than him.
But the intent mattered.
"I will."
They walked the rest of the way in silence.
Night fell.
The dormitory grew quiet.
One by one, the exhausted children fell asleep.
Blake remained still on his bedding for nearly half an hour — ensuring everyone had entered deep sleep.
Only then did he sit up.
Cross-legged.
Breathing steady.
The Fire Sutra knowledge surfaced in his mind.
He followed the first circulation pattern carefully.
Slow.
Precise.
Mana in the air was faint — thin threads barely perceptible.
He guided one strand into his body.
Heat flickered in his lower abdomen.
Another strand.
Then another.
Sweat formed on his forehead.
Mid Grade meant faster absorption — but his body was still that of a servant with no foundation.
Minutes stretched.
His breathing grew heavier.
The heat inside him intensified.
Then—
Something clicked.
Mana gathered in a stable cycle.
A faint warmth spread through his limbs.
Blake's eyes snapped open.
He had stepped into the 1st Rank —
Early Stage.
A real cultivator.
Weak.
Insignificant.
But no longer powerless.
He clenched his fist slowly.
"So this… is the beginning."
For the first time, he felt in control.
But as he prepared to stop—
A strange tremor pulsed deep within his chest.
The Fire Sutra's mana shuddered.
As if… suppressed.
Blake froze.
Because his fire sutra was....