As the lecture ended, Tian Jue and Huan Tao walked side by side through the stone-paved paths of Shenxian Sect. The warm morning sun filtered through the trees, casting shifting shadows across their path.
They didn't speak for a while.
The atmosphere was still heavy from what they'd heard—the revelation of hidden stages, the elder's warning about personal paths, and the silence that lingered in the minds of every disciple who left that hall.
As they neared Huan Tao's courtyard, Tian Jue suddenly turned his gaze toward the horizon—toward the faint silhouette of distant mountain ranges, shrouded in mist and ancient qi.
"Huan Tao," he asked quietly, "do you know anything about the Million Range Beast Territory near the sect?"
She blinked, surprised by the question.
"The outer mountain zones?" she asked, ears twitching. "That place is… wild. Full of spirit beasts, rogue cultivators, even old ruins. Some areas are forbidden without clearance."
"I want to explore it," Tian Jue said, voice calm. "Not deep—just the outer rings. Enough to gather spirit beast materials or herbs and trade them for sect points."
Huan Tao tilted her head slightly. "It's dangerous. Even the outer zones have creatures at the late Qi Refinement or Foundation level."
Tian Jue simply nodded. "That's exactly what I'm looking for."
She hesitated, tail curling softly.
"I'm free in a few days… If you're serious about going, I'll come with you."
He glanced at her. "You don't have to—"
"I want to."
Her voice was firm, eyes clear.
There was a pause.
Then Tian Jue gave a faint nod. "Alright. In a few days."
They stopped in front of her courtyard. Huan Tao gave him a small smile before disappearing behind her gate.
Tian Jue turned, hands behind his back, and headed home.
After parting ways with Huan Tao, Tian Jue returned to his quiet courtyard.
He didn't rest.
Instead, he pulled out a thick stack of jade slips and scrolls—manuals on herbalism, from the basics of spirit soil preparation to detailed methods for growing Tier 2 herbs.
Hours passed as he studied, absorbing theory after theory.
His Five Elemental Scripture gave him an advantage, especially in understanding how elemental cycles influenced medicinal growth. The cultivation of spirit herbs wasn't just about soil and water—it was about resonance, timing, and spiritual rhythm.
By the time the sun reached its peak, he had mastered the theoretical foundation of Tier 2 herbalism.
Now I just need to grow a few Tier 2 herbs myself… and I'll qualify as a proper Tier 2 Herbalist.
Then, as if responding to his progress—
Ding!
The system rang out, and a glowing panel appeared before his eyes.
⚙️ System Update Complete
Level: 23
Constitution: 45
Strength: 21
Dexterity: 24
Intelligence: 22
Wisdom: 35
🔓 Spiritual Power:57
Tian Jue's eyes narrowed at the new attribute.
Spiritual Power...
He focused for a moment. The energy coursing through his soul now had a form, a number, a measurable weight. Spiritual sense wasn't just a passive ability anymore—it was something he could train, strengthen, and refine like any other attribute.
Then, another panel slid open with a soft chime.
🧠 Skill Interface Unlocked
[Martial Techniques]
Silent Wind Step – Proficient
Hammering Flow – Entry Level
Twin Fang Dagger Arts – Entry Level
[Cultivation Techniques]
Five Elemental Scripture – Minor Accomplishment
Spirit Sensing Meditation – Proficient
Beneath each skill, a glowing bar indicated his proficiency level. A tiered ladder appeared beside them, revealing the system's ranking scale:
Entry Level → Proficient → Mastery → Minor Accomplishment → Major Accomplishment → Transcendence
Tian Jue's gaze grew sharper.
So this system tracks technique growth… That means I can quantify my improvement—and plan how to break bottlenecks.
This changes everything.
With the clarity of his Spiritual Sense, the power of his scripture, and now the precision of this skill interface, Tian Jue was no longer moving forward blindly.
The morning mist lingered around Tian Jue's courtyard, veiling it in a quiet stillness.
Tian Jue knelt beside a series of specially prepared planter boxes. The Tier 2 spiritual herb seeds lay in a wooden tray next to him—Blueflame Orchid, Cloudveil Grass, and Jadeleaf Root. These herbs required more than just soil and water—they needed careful elemental balance, qi circulation, and resonance tuning.
He inhaled slowly and began.
He pressed his palm against the soil, circulating his Five Elemental Qi in a soft rhythm—wood → fire → earth → metal → water—completing a full generative cycle. The soil shimmered faintly, enriched by the harmonious flow of balanced elemental essence.
Too much fire, and the root burns. Too much water, and the sprout drowns…
This balance, this fragility—that was why so few outer disciples pursued the herbalist path. But Tian Jue wasn't just any outer disciple.
He planted the first seed—Blueflame Orchid.
It required a gentle wood-fire synergy, simulating a mountain spring exposed to morning sun. He guided his qi slowly into the soil, alternating the elemental flow between fire and wood, a soft breath of life and warmth beneath the surface.
Minutes passed. Then—
Rustle…
A tiny sprout pushed through the soil, glowing with faint blue veins.
Tian Jue's eyes lit up. He didn't stop.
Next, he planted Cloudveil Grass, a herb that thrived in environments rich in water-metal qi. He shifted his elemental cycling to match, creating a cool, misty field around the seedbed. The grass took longer to emerge—delicate and pale—but when it did, it shimmered like early morning fog.
Lastly, Jadeleaf Root, a sturdy herb prized by alchemists. It required a grounding earth-wood-metal synergy and stable qi flow. He slowed his breathing, drawing on the lessons from his manuals and spiritual sense to monitor the root's progression underground.
Three hours passed.
Tian Jue finally stood, wiping his hands clean with a soft towel.
Blueflame Orchid: Healthy.
Cloudveil Grass: Stable growth.
Jadeleaf Root: Rooting complete.
He brought out his herbalist token, injecting a trace of qi into it.
Ding!
🌿 [Herbalist Interface Unlocked]
Herbalist Rank: Tier 2 (Confirmed)
Spiritual Herb Proficiency: Moderate
Specialization Detected: Five Elemental Cultivation Support Herbs
✅ First Successful Cultivation of Tier 2 Spirit Herbs
Tian Jue allowed himself a small smile.
His thoughts drifted briefly to his mother—Tian Zhuzai. Though she had never spoken much about her techniques, she had always guided him subtly toward the herbal path.
Mother… I've taken the first step.
With his knowledge deepening and his status rising, Tian Jue now had access to higher-level herbalist commissions, new sect gathering missions, and even refinement research privileges in the future.
The path of strength was not always in sword or fist.
Sometimes… it was in the quiet growth of a seed.
As twilight blanketed Shenxian Sect, Tian Jue sat cross-legged in a small wooden tub, filled with a steaming, glowing mixture of spiritual herbs.
The surface of the bath shimmered with golden light. Wisps of spirit-infused vapor rose into the air, carrying the pungent scent of Thunderroot, Cloudsilver Vine, and Ironheart Moss—rare herbs used in bone tempering.
His skin prickled as he guided his Five Elemental Qi through his meridians, circulating it slowly, gently drawing out every drop of medicinal essence from the solution. The qi carried the essence deep into his bones, into the marrow itself.
A sharp ache ran through his limbs.
He didn't flinch.
This is the final marrow refinement. I mustn't fail now.
Time passed.
The pain deepened into a cold burn, like his bones were being hollowed, reforged, and reshaped. Then—
Clink.
A faint, almost imperceptible sound echoed inside him.
His bones shimmered briefly beneath his skin, casting a pale silver glow before fading.
Tian Jue opened his eyes, expression calm but satisfied.
"Marrow tempering… complete."
His internal vision confirmed it. His bone marrow had been cleansed and reformed. The next stages would be even more challenging:
Bone Hardening, which required increasing density and durability until bones became as strong as refined steel.
Tendon Regeneration, replacing mortal flexibility with spiritual elasticity, enabling explosive speed, agility, and control.
He stood slowly, steam rising off his skin. Though only seven years old, his body now matched a seasoned warrior in his early twenties—muscular, balanced, and honed.
His progress wasn't just thanks to the herbs or cultivation.
It was his will.
When I complete the constitution enhancement stage...
my entire body will be reborn.
He poured the used spirit bath into a waste channel lined with stone, watching the golden liquid drain away. His eyes narrowed slightly.
My cultivation is catching up to my potential.
But soon… the outside world will start noticing me.
He stepped out into the cool evening breeze, body still steaming from residual qi, and gazed at the moon overhead.