“Hiss... ha... oh... ah...”

Han made strange noises as he limped toward Huang Shiren’s corpse.

He couldn’t help it—he was in real pain.

During the battle, Han had entered a peculiar state, one where pain was muted. Even after the fight, the horrifying sights had shocked his mind so much that it temporarily numbed his body.

But now that he had calmed down and his thoughts began to settle, the wounds across his body were screaming for attention.

This was his first time being cut by a sword—across both his lifetimes.

Han couldn’t help but think his master must have a big heart. Watching from the sidelines, Bai Tian hadn’t even flinched as Han got slashed repeatedly, seemingly unconcerned about the possibility of a fatal mistake.

This, Han realized, was the life of a martial artist.

For a warrior, combat was a lifelong companion.

Bai Tian was pleased to see Han experiencing the harsh realities of battle early on. Even more so, he was impressed by Han’s performance.

A genius was indeed a genius.

Still, Bai Tian lamented that he hadn’t seen his disciple’s peak physical potential, dulled by circumstances. It was one of life’s bitter ironies.

Han’s gaze turned icy as he looked at Huang Shiren’s cracked corpse. There wasn’t an ounce of sympathy in his heart. For his first kill to be such a vile creature—it was, in its way, meaningful.

“You got off easy dying this quickly,” Han muttered coldly.

Perhaps it was the influence of his growing martial spirit, but the sight of so much blood didn’t faze him at all.

Han crouched to search the corpse but found no manuals or cultivation techniques.

It made sense—who would carry such things around at home?

Finding nothing of value, Han turned to leave.

Though Huang Shiren had some gold, silver, and jade ornaments on him, Han didn’t take a single piece.

Instead, he picked up the sword lying nearby. Its blade reflected his face, its edge glinting with a cold, sharp light.

“What a fine sword,” Han exclaimed. He didn’t know much about swords, but having felt its cutting power firsthand, he could recognize its quality.

Han decided to keep it as his prize of battle.

Sliding the sword back into its scabbard, Han headed off to search Huang Shiren’s room. It didn’t take long to find it, and after a thorough search, he discovered what he had been hoping for.

He returned to Bai Tian with his findings.

After examining the items, Bai Tian nodded. “Nothing sinister here,” he said, handing the materials back.

“I noticed you have a keen interest in soul cultivation. Take these and study them—they might prove useful.”

Bai Tian’s insight was remarkable as always.

Grateful, Han happily stashed the items away before raising another topic.

“Master, Huang Shiren was quite wealthy. I have an idea.”

“After this matter is dealt with, could we use some of his wealth to compensate the families of his victims—if any of them survived?”

Huang Shiren had been in Black Cloud Town for three years, wreaking havoc on countless families. The full extent of his crimes was known only to him and his accomplices, but Han could easily imagine the despair he had caused.

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Using part of Huang Shiren’s ill-gotten gains to aid those families seemed like the least they could do.

Of course, Han planned to keep a small portion for himself—he was utterly broke, after all.

Even so, most of the money would remain for others.

Han felt no guilt about using Huang Shiren’s wealth for good.

As for whether Bai Tian would take his share, that wasn’t Han’s place to ask.

It was an unwritten rule, even recognized by the authorities, that warriors were entitled to claim spoils after taking down evildoers.

“Agreed,” Bai Tian said, then glanced at Han. “First, though, you should head to the martial hall and get some healing medicine from Ruoyue. Change into fresh clothes while you’re at it.”

Han winced, the reminder of his injuries reigniting the pain. Thanking his master, he hurried off to the martial hall.

Thankfully, his warrior physique kept him from fainting from blood loss.

When Bai Ruoyue saw him, she was startled. Seeing Han’s hurried demeanor, she thought he was being chased.

Before Han could explain, she called over the other disciples in the hall.

Han couldn’t help but laugh bitterly as he spent a good amount of time clearing up the misunderstanding. Eventually, the group helped him apply medicine to his wounds.

The healing salve was remarkably effective. It soothed his injuries with a cooling, tingling sensation, bringing instant relief.

Afterward, Ruoyue suggested that Han spend the night at the hall, but he refused, insisting on going home. Unable to change his mind, Ruoyue personally escorted him back.

When they reached his house, Ruoyue gave him an odd look.

“Junior Brother, you must have great neighbors—your house doesn’t even have a door,” she remarked.

Han’s lips twitched.

He’d have to fix that door later. What a hassle.

Ruoyue didn’t stay long, reminding Han to rest and not overexert himself before leaving.

Sitting in his room, Han poured himself a cup of water and stared into space, lost in thought.

So much had happened in such a short time since his arrival in this world.

Last night, he had faced ghosts. This morning, he had faced humans. By evening, he had faced monsters in human form.

Three different moments, three entirely different battles.

Han chuckled to himself. Did this count as upholding justice?

He had thought his first nemesis in this world would be a formidable villain, someone he’d need time and effort to overcome. But in the end, Huang Shiren turned out to be nothing more than a petty thug.

Shaking off those thoughts, Han reached for the spoils he had taken from Huang Shiren: two paper manuals.

"The Yaksha Visualization Technique"

"Ghost Control Method"

These were the entirety of Han’s gains in the realm of soul cultivation from this encounter.

Curious, Han first skimmed through "Ghost Control Method". True to its name, it detailed techniques for harnessing ghostly spirits for personal use.

This method wasn’t inherently evil—it all depended on the practitioner’s intentions.

While Han grasped the general purpose of the technique, certain parts of the cultivation process left him puzzled. The text used specialized terms he wasn’t familiar with.

It was, frustratingly, quite realistic.

Setting it aside, Han opened the second manual. A quick glance was all it took for him to become engrossed.

If "Ghost Control Method" was akin to combat techniques in martial arts, then the "Yaksha Visualization Technique" was like a cultivation method, designed to elevate the soul’s strength and level.

Through this manual, Han finally began to understand the process of soul cultivation.

He realized that the Sensing Phase he was currently in was analogous to the preparatory stage of martial arts—much like building foundational health. It wasn’t yet the true entry into the path of a cultivator.

The Sensing Phase involved clearing one’s mind of distractions, meditating to sharpen the spirit, and seeking a glimmer of inner clarity. Eventually, one would sense the presence of their Soul Haven—a unique spiritual space within themselves.

Han had glimpsed his Soul Haven before, a small ethereal space he once inadvertently stumbled upon.

While still in the Sensing Phase, one wasn’t considered a true cultivator. However, their enhanced mental strength allowed them to resist common ghostly illusions.

Thanks to the Life Essence he had consumed, Han’s soul was already exceptionally robust. His spiritual power had reached a peak stage comparable to novice cultivators who had just begun their journey.

In essence, Han was a dual prodigy, gifted in both the physical and spiritual realms. A talent without equal—if only he had a cool code name to match.

Furthermore, the life essence he absorbed had strengthened his soul to the point where he naturally sensed his Soul Haven.

Once the Soul Haven was sensed, the next step was Visualization: meditating within the Soul Haven and imagining various objects. Successful visualization marked the true beginning of the path of cultivation.

Huang Shiren had been a cultivator at the Visualization Phase, and the technique he practiced was none other than the Yaksha Visualization Technique.

Han felt a mix of emotions—both elation and concern.

He was thrilled to have a clear path forward in soul cultivation and a method he could actually comprehend.

But he was also worried that this visualization technique seemed of mediocre quality.

In martial arts terms, if this were the equivalent of a secret-grade martial technique, Han might have been the one defeated in their battle earlier.

Given Huang Shiren’s age and the fact that he was still stuck in the Visualization Phase, it was unlikely that the technique he practiced was particularly advanced.

Han knew his talent in soul cultivation was exceptional. Hastily cultivating with a subpar technique would undoubtedly limit his future potential.

Deep in thought, Han made a decision.

Why not ask his enigmatic master, Bai Tian, for advice?