The Road to the Tournament: Baptism of Fire

The scent of blood and burning wood lingered in the air as Shen Tian stood amidst the corpses. Their souls had been devoured, their bodies reduced to nothing more than lifeless husks.

But Shen Tian was alive.

Stronger.

His body pulsed with newfound energy, the Soul Devour Technique merging with his being, expanding his divine awareness like an unseen force pressing against the world itself. He could sense everything—the rustling leaves, the distant heartbeat of a spirit beast, even the faint energy of wandering cultivators miles away.

The system's voice echoed in his mind.

[Ding! System Upgrade Available!]

New Feature Unlocked: System Spirit

System Spirit Created… Initializing Personality…

A moment later, a mystical figure materialized before him, composed of shimmering blue light.

She had the form of a woman—ethereal, yet alluring. Her long flowing robes seemed to shift between existence and nothingness, her eyes glowing with wisdom beyond the mortal realm.

She smiled, her voice smooth as silk.

"Finally, you're strong enough to awaken me."

Shen Tian narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

"I am the embodiment of the system. Your guide, your advisor… and the one who will push you toward your ultimate destiny."

Her lips curled into an amused smirk. "You can call me… Yueru."

Shen Tian crossed his arms, studying her. "So what exactly do you do?"

Yueru raised a delicate hand, and the air around them shimmered.

[Displaying Host's Status…]

A translucent golden screen appeared before him.

—[Shen Tian]—

• Cultivation: Mid-Core Formation (Yin-Yang Body Awakening)

• Physique: Demon-Tempered Body (Stage 2)

• Bloodline: ??? (Yet to Awaken)

• Techniques: Soul Devour, Yin Absorption, Saber Mastery (Level 2)

• Weapon Affinity: Dual Wield – Sword & Saber

• Divine Awareness: Low Tier

• System Points: 42

Shen Tian smirked. "Not bad."

Yueru giggled. "Of course. And now that you've unlocked me, I can do much more."

New Features Available:

• Appraisal: Analyze items, weapons, and people.

• Storage Space: A separate dimension to store objects.

• Advanced Quests: Riskier challenges with greater rewards.

• Weapon Mastery Expansion: Slowly unlocking mastery over all weapons.

Shen Tian clenched his fists. "Perfect. Now, what's next?"

Yueru's eyes gleamed. "A new quest. One that will truly set you apart in the upcoming tournament."

[Ding! New Quest Available!]

Quest: Establish a Cultivation Foundation

Objective: Cultivate and stabilize your Yin-Yang body before the tournament.

Reward: ???

Shen Tian exhaled sharply. He already knew what this meant.

More dual cultivation.

The moon hung high when Shen Tian returned to the sect, his movements swift and silent as he navigated through the winding corridors of the inner disciples' quarters.

His target? Sister Mei.

She was one of the more experienced disciples in dual cultivation, and tonight, she would serve as his stepping stone.

Shen Tian stopped before her chambers, the golden runes on the wooden doors glowing faintly under the moonlight. A smirk formed on his lips.

"Time to grow stronger."

He pushed the door open.