Night had settled over the outer sect of the Qingyun Sect. The mountain paths were nearly empty, save for the occasional patrol disciple passing by. Lin Yue stepped into the cool evening breeze as he left the abandoned woodshed behind. The spiritual energy of Body Tempering Great Perfection surged smoothly within him, every step light yet firm, utterly different from the wretched state he had been in earlier.
"The priority now is to stabilize my realm and get more familiar with the system's devouring ability," Lin Yue thought, scanning his surroundings. Spiritual energy in the outer sect was already thin, and the woodshed area was especially barren. If he wanted to stabilize his cultivation quickly, he needed a place where the energy was slightly denser.
Guided by the original owner's memories, he headed toward the Spirit Herb Garden on the western side of the outer sect. Low-grade spirit herbs were cultivated there. While the spiritual energy wasn't abundant, it was far purer than elsewhere.
A short wooden fence surrounded the garden. The guarding disciples had long since slipped away, leaving only a few oil lamps swaying in the darkness, casting flickering shadows over the herbs. Lin Yue vaulted over the fence and found a corner where the plants grew most vigorously. Sitting cross-legged, he immediately activated the system's basic devouring ability.
In an instant, the spiritual energy in the air—along with faint medicinal essence leaking from the herbs—was drawn toward him like streams converging into a river, seeping into his body through every pore. Unlike the turbid energy near the woodshed, the garden's energy carried a refreshing, botanical clarity. As it circulated through his meridians, it continuously tempered his freshly advanced body, firmly anchoring his realm.
[Pure spiritual energy and herbal essence detected. Devouring and conversion in progress… Host cultivation: Body Tempering Great Perfection (stabilizing).]
The system's mechanical voice echoed in his mind. Lin Yue could clearly feel his spiritual energy growing denser, his muscles and bones steadily hardening. The slight sense of instability caused by rapid advancement was being filled in bit by bit.
He closed his eyes and immersed himself fully. Time passed quietly. Half an hour slipped by in the blink of an eye.
When Lin Yue opened his eyes again, a sharp gleam flashed through them. His aura briefly converged before surging outward, heavier and more solid than before.
Body Tempering Great Perfection—fully stabilized.
He stood up and stretched, faint cracking sounds coming from his bones. The explosive power coiled in his fists filled him with confidence. While devouring the herbs, he had deliberately restrained himself, absorbing only the dispersed essence without damaging the plants themselves—stabilizing his realm without inviting trouble.
"Zhao Hu… it's time to settle accounts."
A cold smile tugged at Lin Yue's lips as he turned toward the outer disciple residences. According to memory, Zhao Hu lived in a private courtyard on the eastern side of the outer sect. Relying on his connection to an outer sect steward, he had long acted as a tyrant, bullying countless disciples.
Before Lin Yue reached the residential area, loud curses and arrogant laughter echoed from ahead.
He looked up to see three figures blocking the road. The lead youth was broad-shouldered, with a shallow scar on his face—Zhao Hu himself. Flanking him were his lackeys: Li Mang at the fourth level of Body Tempering, and Zhang Lei at the fifth. The three were surrounding a scrawny disciple, extorting spirit stones.
The smaller disciple trembled, clutching his pouch tightly. "Senior Brother Zhao… these spirit stones are for healing pills. Please, let me go…"
"Let you go?" Zhao Hu sneered and kicked the disciple's knee, forcing him to the ground. "In the outer sect, I get whatever I want. Hand them over, or I'll break your legs and feed you to the beasts!"
Disciples slowly gathered around, faces full of sympathy—but none dared step forward. Zhao Hu was already at early-stage Qi Refining, and with a steward backing him, he was untouchable in the outer sect.
Lin Yue walked straight toward the crowd.
The noise died down slightly as people noticed him. Many recognized him as the "trash disciple" Zhao Hu had beaten to death and dumped in the woodshed. Shock and curiosity flickered in their eyes—he was still alive?
Zhao Hu turned around, froze briefly, then broke into a vicious grin. Letting go of the scrawny disciple, he strode toward Lin Yue.
"Well, if it isn't the 'dead trash' Lin Yue. Crawled back from the grave, huh? You really are hard to kill."
Li Mang laughed. "Tiger Brother, looks like this trash wasn't beaten enough. Came back begging for mercy?"
Zhang Lei cracked his knuckles. "Even if he survived, he's still a third-level Body Tempering waste. Want him gone for good today?"
The surrounding disciples whispered among themselves, most convinced Lin Yue was doomed.
Lin Yue ignored the mockery. His gaze locked onto Zhao Hu, voice icy. "Zhao Hu. Yesterday's beating—today we settle it. And return the spirit stones you stole."
"Settle accounts?" Zhao Hu burst into laughter. "With you? Looks like you got beaten stupid. Today I'll beat you again—and strip everything valuable off you!"
Before he finished speaking, Zhao Hu threw a punch straight at Lin Yue's chest. As an early Qi Refining cultivator, his strike carried spiritual energy, powerful enough to cripple Lin Yue outright.
Several disciples shut their eyes—
—but the impact never came.
Lin Yue sidestepped effortlessly. At the same time, his right hand shot out, gripping Zhao Hu's wrist. Using Zhao Hu's forward momentum, he twisted lightly.
Crack!
A sharp sound rang out, followed by a scream.
"My hand—!" Zhao Hu howled, face draining of color. Sweat poured down as he struggled, but Lin Yue's grip was like iron.
Li Mang and Zhang Lei froze, stunned. Then they rushed in from both sides.
Lin Yue kicked Zhao Hu in the abdomen, sending him flying. He flowed past Li Mang's punch and smashed his elbow into Li Mang's chest.
Thud!
Li Mang staggered back, coughing up blood.
Zhang Lei activated his spiritual energy, pale light gathering in his palm as he struck at Lin Yue's head.
Lin Yue moved calmly, steps fluid. Years of modern combat training paired with Body Tempering Great Perfection made his reactions far superior. As Zhang Lei's momentum faltered, Lin Yue gathered energy and triggered the Instant Fireball Technique.
A fist-sized fireball appeared and slammed into Zhang Lei's shoulder.
Boom!
Flames erupted. Zhang Lei screamed as his clothes burned to ash, skin blistering and blackened.
"You—you can use spells?!"
The crowd was stunned. Spellcasting was the domain of Qi Refining cultivators, and even they needed incantations. Instant-cast spells were rare even among inner disciples.
Zhao Hu staggered up, eyes filled with disbelief and hatred. "What are you?! You were just trash!"
"Trash?" Lin Yue stepped forward, aura chilling. "Say that again."
Zhao Hu retreated, then roared, "Even if you know spells, I'm Qi Refining! I have a steward backing me!"
"Qi Refining?" Lin Yue scoffed. "That's nothing."
He vanished.
The next instant, a loud slap echoed through the area. Zhao Hu spun and collapsed, blood at the corner of his mouth.
Silence.
He had slapped Zhao Hu.
Zhao Hu screamed and pulled a dagger, stabbing wildly. Lin Yue dodged and stomped down.
Crack!
The wrist shattered. The dagger fell. Zhao Hu passed out.
Li Mang and Zhang Lei collapsed to their knees, begging.
"Drag him away," Lin Yue said coldly. "Bully others again, and I'll cripple you."
They fled.
Disciples bowed respectfully.
At that moment, a white-robed girl approached—Su Muyue.
She had seen everything.
Their eyes met briefly. She nodded once and left.
Lin Yue watched her go, then felt the system speak:
[Temporary revenge task completed. Reward: 100 spiritual energy points. Devouring efficiency increased.]
[Hidden task updated: Parent relic linked to inner sect.]
Lin Yue looked toward the inner sect, eyes narrowing.
This was only the beginning.