Blinding light gave way to the familiar dim glow of the oil lamp flickering on the wall. Tian Feng blinked, disoriented for a moment. He was back. Back in his hut, sitting on the stool beside Meng'er's bed, just as he was before the world went dark. The light snores of his sleeping sister filled the air. Was it all a dream?

He tentatively reached for the bandages on his chest, a frown creasing his brow. The pain, the throbbing agony that had consumed him just moments ago – gone. He gingerly peeled back the cloth, expecting to see the angry red wound left by the obsidian tiger's claws. Instead, only a faint scar remained, barely a whisper of the injury. He flexed his left arm, the one he'd broken in the fight. The dull ache that had plagued him was absent, replaced by a smooth, effortless movement.

A gasp escaped his lips. It couldn't be real. Yet, the evidence was undeniable. He was healed. Completely.

Carefully, he rose from the stool beside Meng'er's bed. Relief washed over him as he saw her still fast asleep, her tiny form curled peacefully under the worn blanket. He didn't want to wake her, so he moved quietly towards the door, his body humming with an unfamiliar energy.

Stepping outside the hut, the cool night air nipped at his skin. The moon cast an ethereal glow on the surrounding landscape, bathing the village of Hongyue in a silvery light. Tian Feng took a deep breath, the air filling his lungs with vitality. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the martial arts manual his father had gifted him. It was a simple book, detailing basic stances and techniques for Martial Disciples.

"Time to refresh my memory," he murmured, a small smile playing on his lips. He assumed a basic stance, his movements flowing smoothly, ingrained through years of practice. Left leg forward, making a 30-degree angle with his right leg. Left hand open and parallel to the ground, mirroring the calmness of a still lake. Right hand cocked back into a tight fist. As he moved through the first kata, a sense of power surged through him. His punches ripped through the air, sending a sharp crackle that echoed in the stillness of the night.

He felt an energy coursing through his body, warming his skin from within. It was tempering his skin, a crucial step in a martial artist's journey. In the Martial Disciple realm, martial artists focused on tempering their skin, making it as resilient as demon beast hide and impervious to spear and swords. This process typically took years of dedicated training, slowly increasing their raw strength with each layer of advancement. From the first to the ninth layer, a martial artist's punching force steadily grew – 200, 220, 240, 260,280,300, 330, 360, and finally 400 kilograms of raw power, respectively.

However, as Tian Feng felt the energy surge through him, it felt different. His punches felt much stronger than they ever had at his previous sixth layer cultivation. He needed to test it. With excitement overwhelming him, Tian Feng strode towards the Iron Oak tree that stood proudly in the clearing near his hut. This giant tree was renowned for its strong and tenacious wood, a favorite target for martial disciples to test their limits. Tian Feng took a deep breath, focusing the energy within him. The same warmth spread through his body, channeling towards his fist. He punched.

The air roared as his fist connected with the Iron Oak's trunk. A surge of energy erupted from the point of contact, splitting through the wood like a hot knife through butter. A gaping hole remained, exposing the lighter wood beneath.

Tian Feng stared at his handiwork, awestruck. Only a peak ninth layer Martial Disciple, could pierce through the trunk of Iron Oak. This was a feat that shouldn't have been possible for him, not at his current cultivation.

A wave of exhilaration washed over him. The mysterious space, the blue orb, whatever it was, had granted him a phenomenal boost in power. He wasn't just healed; he was reborn as new.

Then his stomach rumbled loudly, reminding him of his situation. He hadn't eaten properly in three days, relying solely on watered-down broth to sustain himself. It was already past midnight, and sleep beckoned, but his stomach had other plans.

"Guess I should grab a bite to eat," he muttered, his stomach grumbling in agreement. He made his way to the kitchen, the flickering light of the oil lamp casting long shadows on the mud walls.He pushed open the creaking door, the familiar scent of dried herbs and stale bread filling his nostrils. Their meager supplies greeted him – a few kilograms of rice stored in a chipped clay pot and a hunk of dried horned rabbit jerky hanging from a nail on the wall. Horned rabbits were low-level demon beasts that thrived on the outer edges of the Thousand Beast Mountain. Their meat was cheap, readily available, and offered enough nutrition to keep the poor villagers healthy, albeit barely.

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Tian Feng sighed, the excitement of his newfound strength momentarily dampened by the harsh reality of their situation. He knew their rations wouldn't last much longer. The last beast wave had decimated their farms, livestock, and even their house. Hunting forays into the Thousand Beast Mountain were becoming increasingly risky. He glanced at the jerky, a pang of guilt twisting in his stomach. The last piece should have been saved for Meng'er.

"Might as well make some porridge," he muttered, grabbing the pot and a small pouch of rice. He set about building a fire in the mud stove, his movements practiced and efficient. As the flames licked at the dry wood, casting dancing shadows on the walls, a soft scuffling sound alerted him.

"Gege?" Meng'er's sleep-tousled head peeked around the corner, her eyes wide with concern. Her small frame, accentuated by the oversized nightclothes, made her look even younger.

"Meng'er? You shouldn't be awake," Tian Feng said gently, crouching down to her level. "It's late. You need your rest."

Meng'er rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, her voice barely a whisper. "But I heard noises. Are you alright? Did the pain come back?"

Tian Feng's heart ached. He knew how worried she must have been while he was unconscious. "No, no, silly," he reassured her, ruffling her hair affectionately. "I'm all better. Just feeling a bit peckish, that's all."

Meng'er's brow furrowed. "Peckish?" she repeated, her voice filled with confusion.

Tian Feng chuckled. "That just means I'm hungry, Meng'er. We haven't eaten much today, have we?"

Meng'er's face fell. She knew their situation all too well. "Just some watered-down broth," she mumbled, kicking at the loose dirt on the floor with her bare feet.

Tian Feng gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll whip up a pot of delicious porridge. It'll fill us right up."

Meng'er's eyes lit up at the mention of food. "Porridge? With… with maybe some jerky?" she asked hesitantly, glancing towards the lone piece hanging on the wall.

Tian Feng's heart clenched again. "Of course, with jerky," he said, a determined look in his eyes. He wouldn't let his little sister go hungry any longer.

He finished building the fire and poured water into the pot. As the water heated, he chopped a few scavenged vegetables and cut up a small portion of the dried jerky. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

"Here," Tian Feng said, ladling a steaming bowl of porridge for Meng'er. "Eat up, little Meng'er. You'll need your energy for tomorrow."

Meng'er beamed, her worries momentarily forgotten. She took the bowl carefully, her little hands dwarfed by the rough earthenware. "Thank you, Gege," she whispered, blowing on the hot porridge before taking a hesitant bite.

Tian Feng watched her eat with tenderness. He would do everything he could to protect this little light in his life. He finished preparing his own bowl, the meager portion failing to satisfy his now-enhanced appetite. However, seeing Meng'er's happiness was worth it.

As they ate in comfortable silence, a plan began to form in Tian Feng's mind. With his increased strength, it wasn't just about hunting low-level beasts anymore – it was about survival. He could use his newfound strength to hunt stronger, more valuable demon beasts further inside the Thousand Beast Mountain. It would be risky, but the potential reward outweighed the risks.

He knew he couldn't tell Meng'er his plan. It would worry her even more. But he had to try. He had to secure a future for them both, a future where they wouldn't have to worry about their next meal.

With a newfound resolve, Tian Feng finished his porridge. He placed the empty bowl beside Meng'er's, the clatter echoing in the quiet kitchen. "Alright, Meng'er," he began, his voice gentle but firm. "Finish your porridge and head back to bed. I'll clean up here."

Meng'er looked up from her bowl, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you sure, Gege? You look tired."

"I'm alright, Meng'er," he reassured her, forcing a smile. "Just a bit worn out. But a good night's sleep will fix everything."

Meng'er didn't seem entirely convinced, but she knew better than to argue with her older brother. "Alright, Gege. But wake me up if you need anything, okay?" she bargained, her voice heavy with sleep.

"Of course," Tian Feng replied, ruffling her hair again. "Now go on, get some rest."

Meng'er shuffled sleepily back to bed, her small frame disappearing beneath the worn blanket. Tian Feng washed the dishes quickly, the rhythmic clatter a strange comfort in the silence. As he finished, his gaze landed on the lone piece of jerky hanging on the wall. It wouldn't be enough. They needed more food, more supplies.

An idea sparked in his mind. Picking up the sharp knife hanging beside the mud wall, he clenched his jaw and lunged at it, aiming the blade at his palm. But the blade glanced off his skin harmlessly. He tried again, this time holding the knife vertically and throwing himself at it with full force. Yet, all it did was leave a faint red mark that vanished just as quickly as it appeared.

A wide grin spread across his face. Even a full-on attack from a peak ninth-layer Martial Disciple couldn't pierce his skin. This meant he could hunt those powerful, peak Tier 1 demon beasts that lurked deeper in the mountains. Their hides and furs would fetch a fortune. The merchant caravans were due to arrive at their village next week - perfect timing.

He extinguished the fire in the mud stove, the embers glowing faintly in the darkness. The village slumbered, the only sound the chirping of crickets outside. Tian Feng closed his eyes, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to him. He had a plan. He had the strength. Now, he just needed the dawn.