2026-10-16 18:36:02Luo Qingyu's expression tightened slightly.
"Don't waste your time on him." Shen Yuan felt something sink inside his chest. He looked at her. "Qingyu, I only wanted to—" "Enough." Her voice was cold. "Do you really not understand your situation?" The people nearby began paying attention. Luo Qingyu continued, each word clear enough for them to hear. "You have been stuck at the first layer of Body Tempering for three years. You cannot protect yourself, let alone seen with me,” Shen Yuan said nothing. "I have my own future to consider. I will not allow you to keep approaching me simply because we knew each other when we were young." Gu Chen smiled and slipped an arm around her shoulders. She did not move away. Instead, she looked Shen Yuan directly in the eyes. "From now on, stay away from me." A few disciples snickered. Someone muttered that Shen Yuan had finally received the humiliation he deserved. Shen Yuan stood motionless. He had never asked Luo Qingyu to love him. He had only wanted a chance to speak. Yet standing there, surrounded by people who regarded him as worthless, he finally understood how little his feelings mattered to her. Luo Qingyu turned away. "Let's go, Brother Gu." Gu Chen laughed softly. “Of course." As they walked away, he glanced over his shoulder. "Try not to die before our next meeting, Shen Yuan. I'd hate to miss the spectacle of you failing again." The surrounding disciples burst into laughter. Shen Yuan watched them disappear beyond the gate. For a long moment, he couldn't move. Then he lowered his head and laughed once. It was a dry, bitter sound. He had spent years believing that if he worked hard enough, he could change his fate. Today, the clan had stripped away his resources. Shen Hao had crushed what little dignity he had left. And Luo Qingyu had made it clear that he was someone she wished to forget. Fine. If this world only respected strength, then he would pursue strength. If the cultivation path everyone else followed had abandoned him, he would find another. And if the heavens themselves refused to give him a chance— He would find a way to climb above them. That night, Shen Yuan left the clan estate. The Blackwind Mountains stretched beyond the northern boundary, their jagged peaks disappearing into a sea of mist. Spirit beasts roamed the forests, and abandoned ruins lay buried beneath centuries of vegetation. It was a dangerous place for someone at the first layer of Body Tempering. Unfortunately, Shen Yuan no longer had the luxury of choosing safe opportunities. Without his cultivation allowance, he needed to find spirit herbs or beast cores he could sell. He carried a short blade, a water flask, and the last three spirit stones he possessed. That was everything. After several hours, he found a patch of low-grade spirit grass growing near a rocky slope. His eyes brightened. Even a handful would be worth something. He crouched and began gathering the herbs. Then the ground trembled. Shen Yuan froze. A low growl came from the darkness between the trees. Two red eyes appeared. A Blackfang Wolf stepped into the moonlight. Its body was nearly twice the size of an ordinary wolf, and spiritual energy shimmered around its claws. Shen Yuan's blood ran cold. A spirit beast. And it was not a weak one. The wolf lowered its head. Shen Yuan slowly reached for his blade. He knew he couldn't defeat it through brute strength. Even Shen Hao would have needed to be careful against such a creature. But the wolf was already moving. Shen Yuan threw himself sideways as its claws tore through the air where his throat had been. He rolled down the slope, striking his shoulder against a rock. Pain shot through his arm. The wolf landed above him. Its jaws opened. Shen Yuan scrambled backward, but the creature lunged again. He raised his blade. The impact knocked the weapon from his hand. His back struck the cliff face. There was nowhere left to run. The wolf's teeth gleamed in the moonlight. Shen Yuan stared at the creature, his mind racing. Was this how he would die? After years of humiliation, after being cast aside by his own clan, after finally deciding to change his fate? No. He refused. As the wolf lunged, Shen Yuan threw himself toward a narrow crack in the rock face. Its claws scraped his back. He squeezed through the opening just as the beast slammed against the stone. The impact shook the cliff. Shen Yuan fell into the darkness beyond. He hit the ground hard and slid down a steep passage, unable to stop himself. When he finally came to a halt, everything went silent. He lay motionless for several breaths, fighting the urge to lose consciousness. Then he noticed something. A faint blue light glowed beneath the dust. Shen Yuan pushed himself upright. The passage opened into an ancient chamber. Strange symbols covered its walls, and broken stone pillars surrounded a circular platform at its center. Something rested upon the platform. A black crystal. It was no larger than his palm, yet the spiritual energy radiating from it made the air tremble. Shen Yuan approached cautiously. He had never seen anything like it. The moment his fingers touched the crystal, a sharp pulse shot through his arm. The chamber lit up. Ancient symbols blazed across the walls. A mysterious voice echoed inside his mind. [Host detected.] Shen Yuan froze. [Soul compatibility confirmed.] [The Supreme Path System is awakening.] A translucent screen appeared before his eyes. For the first time in eighteen years, Shen Yuan saw something that seemed to offer him a chance. Then another notification appeared. [Warning: Host's cultivation foundation is severely damaged.] [Would you like to begin reconstruction?] Shen Yuan stared at the words. His heart began to pound. A way forward. Perhaps even a way to change everything. He didn't know what the system was, where it came from, or what price it might demand. But he knew one thing. He wasn't going to remain at the bottom forever. His bloodstained fingers reached toward the floating screen. "Yes." The instant he made his choice, the crystal shattered into countless specks of light and rushed into his body.
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Chapter 12: The Bride From Han Family I
Shen Yuan hadn't slept a wink. Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered the black mist crawling over his arms and the terrifying sensation of losing control of his own body. Worse, he couldn't forget the voice's final words. ‘Your mother was far more accommodating.’ What did that mean? And why had it mentioned his father? Shen Yuan sat cross-legged on his bed, slowly circulating his spiritual energy through his meridians. The fifth layer of Body Tempering. His breakthrough was real. His body felt stronger, his spiritual energy denser, and even his senses had improved. Unfortunately, the price of that advancement was an unwanted presence inside him. "Supreme Path System," he called silently. "Examine my current condition." A translucent screen appeared before his eyes. [Host: Shen Yuan] [Cultivation: Body Tempering, Fifth Layer] [Meridian Condition: Stable] [Abnormal Energy: Present] [Identification: Insufficient Information] Shen Yuan stared at the final line. "Y
Chapter 11: His Mother's Evil Core
“Just accept me…” Shen Yuan froze. Before he could respond, a violent force erupted inside his chest. “AHHH!” He dropped to his knees. Pain tore through his meridians, spreading from his chest to every corner of his body. It felt as though something ancient had awakened inside him and was forcing its way into every part of his existence. He clutched his chest, his teeth clenched so tightly that his jaw ached. “What the hell is happening to me?!” [Supreme Path System Alert.] [Severe energy fluctuation detected within the host's meridians.] [Warning: The host's spiritual foundation may be unable to withstand the energy's full power.] Shen Yuan's eyes widened. “You knew this could happen?” [Insufficient information to determine the nature and origin of the abnormal energy.] “Then what exactly are you good for?!” The system remained silent. Shen Yuan nearly cursed. Of course. He was the one suffering, and the only thing capable of communicating with him co
Chapter 10: The Price Of Power
Shen Yuan walked through the moonlit courtyard, his anger refusing to settle. A live-in son-in-law? What was next? Would someone offer to purchase his cultivation rights and ask him to thank them afterward? “Shen Yuan?” He stopped. Luo Qingyu stood near a stone pavilion, her expression caught between curiosity and uncertainty. “I heard Elder Han proposed a marriage alliance with you.” He said nothing. “Is it true?” She hesitated. “Are you really getting married?” Shen Yuan looked at her. For a moment, he remembered the public rejection that had changed their relationship. There had been a time when hearing concern in her voice would have made him forget every hurtful word she had spoken. That time was over. “No.” Her shoulders seemed to relax slightly. “Then you've rejected the proposal?” “And How does such issue relate to you?” Luo Qingyu opened her mouth, then closed it. “I was only asking.” He looked at her for a while, then walked past her. “Shen
Chapter 10: The Marriage Condition
Night had settled over the Shen Clan. Shen Yuan sat cross-legged on his bed, a worn cultivation manual resting open before him. A small oil lamp flickered beside him, casting dancing shadows across the walls. He had spent the better part of the evening studying the manual he obtained from the Scripture Pavilion. Most of its contents were incomplete, but the unusual circulation method hidden between its damaged pages had caught his attention. According to his Insight ability, the method could improve the efficiency of spiritual energy circulation. Unfortunately, understanding it was another matter. “This thing is determined to give me a headache.” He rubbed his forehead and returned to the page. A dull ache stirred in his chest. Shen Yuan's expression darkened. The strange energy inside his body had been troubling him throughout the day. But... he wasn't about to let an unexplained presence ruin his night as well. He closed his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing. Inh
Chapter 8: The Unexpected Marriage Proposal
Laughter and conversation filled the Shen Clan's grand courtyard. Cultivators from neighboring clans sat beneath embroidered canopies, their robes displaying symbols of their respective families. Servants moved between the tables, carrying spiritual tea and delicacies, while disciples gathered in small groups to observe the distinguished guests. Above them, several cultivators descended from flying swords, drawing admiring glances from the younger generation. Shen Yuan watched one of them land gracefully near the Azure Cloud Sect's table. “One day, that will be me,” he muttered. He lifted his cup. A sharp pain twisted through his chest. His fingers tightened around the porcelain, but he maintained his composure. [Supreme Path System Alert.] [Abnormal energy remains present within the host's meridians.] Shen Yuan's smile stiffened. “Must you remind me in the middle of a celebration?” [The energy continues to interfere with the host's meridians.] “And I alrea
Chapter 7: Unknown Presence
“Come with me. Gently.” She whispered. Shen Yuan stared at the veiled woman, then glanced at the knife in her hand. “Gently? With a knife. Who are you?” Before she could react, he released her wrist and kicked toward her abdomen, hoping to create an opening. Unfortunately, she was faster. She caught his leg, twisted his balance, and shoved him onto the bed. Before he could recover, she pinned him down and pressed the knife against his throat. Shen Yuan froze. His brilliant escape plan had lasted less than a breath. How embarrassing. “Don’t create a scene,” she warned. He shook his head, his chest pounding. Then his cheeks flushed. It was his first time being that close to a woman. Her veiled face was close enough for him to notice the faint rise and fall of her breathing. Her eyes remained cold, showing no hesitation as she held him down. Shen Yuan tried to shift his weight, but her knee pressed firmly against his side. Damn it. She was stronger than she look
