The trio, bruised and battered from the tribulation, rose to their feet slowly, their movements stiff and deliberate. Zhang Wei leaned heavily on his spear, wiping sweat from his brow as he surveyed the cracked ground around them. Mei Lan clutched her side, her qi reserves clearly drained, though her eyes retained a glimmer of determination. Li Yun, however, despite the pain lancing through his body, managed to straighten, a mixture of exhilaration and relief washing over him. His resolve hardened as a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
"Congratulations, Host. You have reached Level 5."
The system’s voice seemed to cut through the haze of exhaustion, and a spark of excitement ignited in Li Yun. A grin broke across his face, ignoring the aches in his limbs. He had done it. He had finally reached a new threshold. Almost immediately, a new interface materialized in his vision, the translucent blue panels filled with options and opportunities. The system’s voice continued with mechanical precision:
"Shop function unlocked. Inventory access expanded."
Li Yun’s pulse quickened. He’d been waiting for this moment ever since the system had revealed its presence in his life. The prospect of accessing the shop and its treasures was tantalizing, but before he could delve into it, the system chimed again:
"Current balance: 20 Starlight Shards."
The excitement dimmed slightly. “Only 20?” Li Yun muttered under his breath. He vaguely recalled earning shards through his quests, but he hadn’t realized just how scarce they were. Still, 20 was better than nothing, and the possibilities ahead filled him with anticipation.
The system’s screen shifted again, and this time, a list of his updated stats appeared before him:
Li Yun’s Stats:
* Strength (STR): 15
* Agility (AGI): 14
* Stamina (STA): 13
* Qi (QI): 25
* Luck (LCK): 12
Beneath the stats, a new notification flashed:
"New Function Unlocked: Titles."
Curiosity piqued, Li Yun navigated to the titles tab. A single glowing title floated in the middle of the interface:
Title: Heavens’ Child
* Effect: +5 Qi Gain, +3 STR, +4 LCK, +3 AGI
Li Yun stared at the title, his jaw slack. “Heavens’ Child? What does that even mean?” he murmured aloud. The boosts were significant, but the name—it carried a gravity that made his chest tighten. He traced the crescent mark on his palm unconsciously, the questions swirling in his mind.
Why me? he thought. I’m just an ordinary guy… or at least I was. I was walking home from the supermarket when…
His thoughts were abruptly cut off by a sharp, searing pain in his temple. He staggered back, clutching his head as fragmented memories and doubts surfaced. Whose body was this? Why did they share the same name? How had he ended up here?
Before he could make sense of the chaos in his mind, the system’s calm, unwavering voice cut through the storm:
"Mental restriction released."
Li Yun froze, his breathing shallow. The fog that had clouded his thoughts since his arrival lifted, and for the first time, he realized he had never questioned the circumstances of his existence in this world. The name, the body, the inexplicable acceptance—it had all been veiled, hidden behind an artificial barrier.
"You knew," Li Yun hissed, his voice trembling with anger. His gaze turned inward, addressing the system. "You’ve been keeping this from me. Who was the original Li Yun? Why am I here? Answer me!"
The system remained silent, its lack of response stoking the flames of his frustration. His fists clenched, the tension in his body boiling over. Without thinking, he turned and drove his fist into a nearby tree. The trunk splintered with a deafening crack, fragments of wood scattering across the ground.
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Mei Lan and Zhang Wei flinched, their eyes wide with shock. Mei Lan instinctively took a step back, her hand hovering near the hilt of her weapon.
"Brother Li," Zhang Wei ventured cautiously, "are… are you all right?"
Li Yun’s chest heaved as he struggled to rein in his emotions. The anger slowly ebbed, leaving behind a hollow ache. He exhaled deeply, bowing his head. "I’m sorry," he said quietly. "I lost my temper. It’s… it’s nothing to do with you."
The pair exchanged uncertain glances but eventually nodded. Mei Lan managed a hesitant smile. "We all have moments like that," she said softly. "Let’s just… keep moving."
The journey resumed, though the tension lingered in the air. Li Yun trailed behind, his thoughts a turbulent mess. The joy of reaching Level 5 had been overshadowed by the revelation of the system’s restrictions and the mysteries surrounding his existence. Still, he knew he couldn’t afford to dwell on it. He needed to focus on the opportunities ahead.
To distract himself, Li Yun opened the shop interface. The sheer variety of options was overwhelming. Martial arts manuals, weapons, potions, tools—the possibilities seemed endless. Yet his balance of 20 Starlight Shards felt pitifully small against the exorbitant prices.
His eyes landed on one particularly striking manual:
Heavenly World Order Saber Arts (5 Stars)
* Cost: 10,000,000 Starlight Shards
* Description: A supreme saber technique said to have the power to rewrite the order of the world itself.
Li Yun’s mouth fell open. "Rewrite the order of the world?" he murmured. The description was awe-inspiring, but the price tag was utterly out of reach. With a sigh, he scrolled further, searching for something more realistic.
Eventually, after nearly twenty minutes of searching, he found it:
Fallen Leaf Sword Art (1 Star)
* Cost: 10 Starlight Shards
* Description: A seemingly basic sword art passed down by an unknown master. Its true potential lies in its ability to reveal the optimal path for each strike, guiding the user toward victory with minimal effort.
The name was unimpressive, and the cost reflected its rank. Yet the description hinted at something deeper, a potential far beyond its modest appearance.
"I’ll take it," Li Yun decided. He confirmed the purchase, and the system presented him with two options:
1. Deliver to Inventory
2. Imprint Directly
Without hesitation, he chose the latter. The moment he confirmed, a torrent of information surged into his mind. His vision blurred, and his knees buckled as his head throbbed with unbearable pressure. Zhang Wei and Mei Lan turned toward him, alarmed but unsure how to help.
Li Yun’s body trembled, sweat pouring down his face as he fought to stay upright. His skin turned deathly pale, and his breaths came in shallow gasps. Finally, the flood of knowledge subsided, and he staggered forward, catching himself against a tree.
"Are you all right?" Mei Lan asked, her voice filled with concern.
Li Yun nodded weakly. "I’m fine. Just… adjusting."
Summoning his Crescent Blade, he turned toward a nearby tree and swung. The blade cut through the air, and a faint red string appeared, guiding the strike to the tree’s weakest point. The trunk split cleanly, collapsing with a satisfying crash.
Zhang Wei and Mei Lan stared in stunned silence. After a long moment, Zhang Wei spoke, his tone cautious. "Brother Li… are you feeling better now?"
Li Yun paused, then let out a small laugh. "Yes," he said. "I just needed to vent. I’m fine now. Thank you."
Mei Lan placed a hand on his shoulder, her smile more genuine this time. "That’s good to hear. You scared us earlier, but if you’re feeling better, that’s what matters."
As they continued their journey, Mei Lan glanced toward the horizon. "We’re only a few hours away from the Heavenly Cloud Sect," she said. "You’ll get to see it soon."
Li Yun’s heart raced at the thought. The entrance exam loomed ahead, and with it, the chance to begin his path as a cultivator. Doubts crept in, but the system’s voice cut through his thoughts:
"I do not issue impossible quests, Host."
The reassurance steadied him. Squaring his shoulders, he pressed forward. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready to face it.
----------------------------------------
The silhouettes of distant mountains now loomed closer, their jagged peaks rising against the clear blue sky. The path underfoot began to shift, transitioning from the uneven dirt trail of the forest to a more compact and well-trodden road. It was a sign that they were nearing civilization once more.
Mei Lan, always eager to fill the quiet moments, began recounting stories from her earlier days in the sect. “When I first arrived,” she started, a nostalgic smile crossing her face, “I thought the Cloudveil Peak would be the easiest. I figured formations were about standing around and drawing symbols. Turns out, it’s exhausting.”
Zhang Wei laughed, shaking his head. “That’s because you kept overthinking every step. You spent two hours trying to draw the Wind Cage Formation during our first class, only for it to trap you instead of the practice dummy.”
Mei Lan pouted, swatting him lightly on the arm. “At least I eventually got it right. Unlike someone who fell asleep in the middle of their first sparring match.”
Li Yun listened to their banter with mild amusement, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The system’s reassurance echoed in his mind, but the weight of the unknown still pressed on him. As they continued walking, he couldn’t help but glance down at his hands, flexing his fingers. The sensation of the Crescent Blade’s guidance lingered, a faint echo of its potential.
“Brother Li,” Zhang Wei’s voice broke through his thoughts, “are you nervous about the entrance exam?”
Li Yun hesitated, then nodded. “A little. It’s hard not to be. I’ve only just begun to understand this world… and myself.