The Silent Mystic

Chapter 7

Inside the room.

Chu Yun deactivated his Spirit Vision and retracted his gaze. He shut his eyes tightly, feeling a faint stinging sensation, and furrowed his brows slightly.

Beside him, Shen Ye cast a careful glance at Chu Yun. Assuming his master was furious, he didn't dare utter a single word.

Soon enough.

The sting in Chu Yun's eyes began to fade.

Without a doubt, that girl was a Martial Cultivator—and a very strong one at that.

Seventh Tier?

Or maybe Sixth?!

Her vibrant Crimson Vigor far surpassed Little Yan's. Even with his twice-upgraded Spirit Vision, forcibly trying to track her had actually hurt his eyes.

This world was not a peaceful place. In fact, it was highly turbulent. But whether they were greenwood outlaws or martial arts masters, as long as they were human, they had to obey the rules set by the biggest fist.

And here in the Imperial Capital, the biggest 'fist' was the Imperial Court.

A wandering heroine...

Heh.

As if there were any real heroines in a world like this.

However, she probably wasn't coming for him. She really was just passing by.

To have that level of martial cultivation at such a young age, she couldn't have been trained by some ordinary sect. She had to be a younger generation disciple from one of the world's Eight Sovereign Sects, and an outstanding one at that. She wasn't just some random nobody popping out of nowhere.

Speaking of which, he really was still weak right now. Although unlocking Spirit Vision made him a Mystic Master with a high status—comparable even to a Seventh Tier Martial Cultivator—his actual combat strength was nowhere near that level.

But he wouldn't be stuck at this stage for long.

Because just a moment ago, that emotionless system prompt had echoed in his ears.

[Notification: You have gained 17 Spirit Points]

The earlier incident was just a minor interlude. Chu Yun quickly tossed it to the back of his mind, focusing instead on his newly acquired Spirit Points and recalling Little Jade's lingering obsession from the Nether Realm.

*Looks like my theory was right. I really do need to resolve a ghost's obsession to earn Spirit Points. Perhaps Little Jade has already passed on to reincarnation,* Chu Yun murmured inwardly.

With this haul of Spirit Points, he could upgrade his Spirit to the next level. It hadn't even been a full day yet! This speed of progression was absurdly fast!

After all, the vast majority of Mystic Masters were stuck at their initial tier for their entire lives, unable to advance even a half-step.

*In the path of the Mystic Master, the Ninth and Eighth Tiers have no real combat power. But starting from the Seventh Tier, they gain the ability of Spiritual Kinesis. Their strength instantly leaves Martial Cultivators of the same tier in the dust, and their status rises accordingly.*

Eighth and Ninth Tier Mystic Masters held high status because of their Spirit Vision. They could survey the land, locate spiritual veins, and read feng shui—things that even the strongest Martial Cultivators couldn't do.

But Mystic Masters at the Seventh Tier and above didn't rely on such things to maintain their standing.

They relied on pure power!

Once a Mystic Master reached the Seventh Tier, everything changed. Mastering the ability of 'Spiritual Kinesis' brought a qualitative leap in combat strength!

With a single thought.

They could send a flying sword to sever a head from a hundred paces away!

Martial Cultivators of the same tier found it nearly impossible to defend against a Mystic Master's abilities. Even higher-tier Martial Cultivators faced immense danger against a Mystic Master's long-range assassinations!

Further up, the higher a Mystic Master's tier, the more unpredictable and god-like their methods became.

Chu Yun hadn't just sat around doing nothing the previous day. He had sought out and read numerous books, most of which were about Mystic Masters.

Why was a Second Tier Mystic Master considered equal to a First Tier Martial Saint?

Because of their sheer might!

A Second Tier Mystic Master could seize the fortune of heaven and earth, wielding unfathomable mystical arts. A single strike could change the color of the sky. Their deterrent power was in no way inferior to the Martial Saint realm of a First Tier Martial Cultivator!

As for why the 'First Tier' position was completely vacant in the Mystic Master lineage, Chu Yun found it quite strange. He had flipped through many ancient texts but hadn't found a definitive answer.

As Chu Yun's thoughts drifted.

A voice pulled him back to reality.

"Young Master, here is the prescription. You can take this to any pharmacy to get the medicine."

The doctor carefully handed a piece of yellow paper to Chu Yun.

Chu Yun took the yellow paper, glanced at it, and tossed a small piece of loose silver to the doctor. The doctor hurriedly caught it with both hands, repeatedly thanking him for the reward before hoisting his medicine chest and taking his leave.

"Take this prescription to a pharmacy to get the medicine."

Chu Yun turned and handed the prescription to Su Yin, giving her a gentle nod. Then, he fished out the remaining dozen or so taels of silver he had on him and placed them into the mother's hands.

Shen Ye's heart ached watching this, but he kept his head down and remained carefully silent.

The woman hastily tried to prop herself up, but couldn't quite manage it. Clinging to the silver, she struggled to say, "Young Master, you saved us today. My daughter and I already have no way to repay your immense kindness, how could we possibly dare... dare to accept..."

Chu Yun shook his head and didn't take the money back. "You deserve it. There's no need to decline."

How could the Spirit Points he had harvested from Little Jade be measured by a few pieces of silver?

With that said.

Chu Yun reached out and rubbed the little head of the bewildered Su Yin standing nearby. He gave her a warm smile, then turned and walked out of the house.

*This was a terrible deal. We should have at least gotten the little one to sign a servitude contract...*

Shen Ye grumbled internally, but he hurried to catch up with Chu Yun anyway.

He couldn't shake the feeling that ever since Chu Yun recovered from his severe illness, he had become a bit of a stranger. His entire disposition and aura were different, making him impossible to read. This only made Shen Ye act even more cautiously around him.

Stepping outside, white snow was fluttering down.

Shen Ye opened a bamboo umbrella, matching Chu Yun's pace, and whispered, "Second Master, you have a kind heart. If word of this gets back to the estate exactly as it happened, it shouldn't be a big deal. I'm just worried that some petty people might start wagging their tongues."

"Let them talk," Chu Yun replied flatly.

Shen Ye murmured in acknowledgment and didn't speak again. He dutifully walked alongside Chu Yun, holding the umbrella high, all the way back to Duke Sovereign's Estate and into Chu Yun's small courtyard.

Only after watching Chu Yun return to his room did Shen Ye let out a small breath of relief.

Thinking about the silver Chu Yun had left for the mother and daughter, Shen Ye hesitated for a moment, but eventually tossed the thought to the back of his mind and headed back to his own little quarters.

...

Inside the bedroom.

Chu Yun closed the door and cast a glance outside into the courtyard.

His gaze pierced right through the doors and windows, watching as Shen Ye obediently returned to his own room. Chu Yun let out a soft "heh," and then retracted his vision.

Next, he summoned the system interface.

[Name: Chu Yun]

[Age: 18]

[Martial Prowess: Feeble Mortal]

[Spirit: level 5.0 (+)]

[Spirit Points: 19]

[Spirit Projection (Nether Realm) — Available to Activate]

Taking a light breath to settle his mind, he immediately began consuming Spirit Points to upgrade his Spirit.

Buzzz!!!

A resonating hum, like the striking of a massive bell, echoed in his mind.

A hot, comforting current washed through his entire body. But this time, the warmth was intertwined with a refreshing coolness. The alternating waves of hot and cold swept over him, enveloping his entire being and causing him to zone out for a brief moment.

The heat and coolness seeped from the outside in, thoroughly permeating his mind and sinking into the absolute deepest depths of his spirit. The profound changes reflecting upon his spirit were countless times more intense than any physical sensation.