He nodded slightly. "Alright. I'm keeping this one."
[Next, grab this — Qi Sensing Pill. Boosts your qi awareness for one hour. 10 points each. Perfect for early refinement.]
"Buy one."
[Purchase complete! Item added to your inventory.]
"Nice, bring it out."
The spiritual medicine materialized beside him with a soft shimmer. It was a small, round pill with a light orange tint, warm to the touch and faintly glowing.
This was an actual mid tier spiritual medicine! Li Tian had taken lots of these when he was at his former sect.
"Well, there is no better time to start than now..."
Li Tian picked up the pill and eyed it. Just as he brought it toward his mouth—
Knock. Knock.
Someone was at the door.
Li Tian paused, the warm pill still resting in his hand.
Knock. Knock.
He lowered the pill slowly and stood.
He walked over to the door, placing the pill carefully beside the mat. His hand hovered for a second before pulling it open.
The door creaked as it swung back.
Mei stood outside with her head slightly bowed. Beside her were two older villagers—a man holding a small wicker basket and a woman standing a half-step behind him.
The man looked uncertain, and the woman wary. But both stood firm, their expressions marked by quiet resolve.
Li Tian recognized them immediately—Mei's father, Mei Qiang, who ran the village mill, and her mother, Zhang Lan, who always greeted him with a nod during his evening walks.
He stepped aside. "Mr Qiang, Mrs. Lan, please, come in."
Mei smiled quickly. "Sorry for disturbing you, Big Brother Tian. We just... wanted to thank you."
Her father stepped forward and held out the basket with both hands. Inside were apples, dried nuts, and a few berries wrapped in cloth.
"You saved our daughter," the man said, his voice hoarse. "Please accept this. It's not much, but this is the best we could offer."
Li Tian looked at them quietly, then raised a hand gently.
"You don't need to bring anything," he said. "Mei is like a daughter to me. If anything had happened to her, I would never have forgiven myself."
There was a pause. Mei Qiang looked down at the basket, then back at Li Tian. "That may be true. But you're the only reason our daughter and perhaps the entire village are alive. Even if it's just fruit, please accept this small gesture."
Zhang Lan nodded without looking up. "Please, Tian. Consider it a gift from Mei."
Li Tian's expression softened. He slowly reached out and accepted the basket with both hands.
"Then I'll treasure it. Thank you."
Mei's mother gave a polite nod and kept her eyes low. Mei, however, looked up at him with open relief.
"We'll get going. You've probably had a long day," her father said.
Li Tian gave a small nod. "I'll come by later."
"Brother Tian, you cannot forget about me. You have to come and play with me later."
"Of course. How can I forget about my favorite Little Mei?"
They left. The night air slipped in before he closed the door.
He set the basket down beside the mat and sat again.
His fingers brushed the cloth gently.
What happens when I leave?
He looked around the dim hut. The roof was patched. The walls were thin. Everything around spoke of poverty and poor living conditions.
But it had been home longer than the clan ever was.
If I want to dominate the world, I will have to leave soon. What after that?
Will they be safe the next time someone stronger comes?
His chest tightened. The system had given him strength. But the village had given him shelter when he had nothing.
He stared at the floor, slightly depressed at the new challenge.
[You're thinking about the future, huh?]
Li Tian didn't answer.
[You know... You could help them cultivate.]
He blinked. "What?"
[You heard me! The shop has basic cultivation arts and medicines made just for beginners. If you get enough points, you can help every villager here step onto the path.]
"Is that really possible?"
[Totally! You just need points. That means missions, battles, and contributions! But you can do it. I believe in you, Master!]
"System...."
[What is it? Aren't I the best? Quickly praise me...]
"You are the best." Li Tian said with a big smile on his face.
Once Mei and her parents had left, Li Tian used a mental command to bring the pill out once again.
The light orange Qi Sensing Pill appeared on the table once again, seemingly out of thin air.
Li Tian picked up the pill and placed it in his mouth. It slid down his throat easily.
Then the heat hit.
It was heavy. A deep burn, slow and steady, as if something dense had settled in his gut. His stomach clenched.
Slowly, the warmth spread upward.
It reached his chest, then his spine, then his head. His fingers twitched.
What... is this feeling? I have taken so many medicines before, but none of them had such an effect.
He closed his eyes. Slowly, the burn shifted. It wasn't pain anymore. It was awareness.
Something clicked open.
He inhaled, and the air felt textured. The faintest traces of qi brushed against his skin, curled around his arms, and hovered near his forehead.
So this is what it's supposed to feel like...
He adjusted his posture and began the first breathing pattern from the Azure Vein Qi Scripture. The moment his breath synchronized, the qi outside rushed in — like it had been waiting for an invitation.
A massive surge of Qi started to flow to the various parts of his body, strengthening every part.
Slowly, minutes started passing by, but Li Tian had completely immersed himself in cultivation.
Even the normally vocal system kept quiet during this time, not willing to disturb Li Tian's cultivation.
A steady flow of qi kept getting vacuumed into Li Tian's hut.
Mid of the second layer.... Top of the second layer.... Boom!
Third Layer of the Body Tempering Realm.