Chapter 4: The Bloodied Stranger in the Night

"System, who am I? Who are my parents?"

A brief silence followed before the System's voice responded:

[You are the Young Master of the Li Clan.]

Li Feng Yun's breath hitched.

"The Li Clan?" His brows furrowed. "There is no such clan in the lower realm."

[That is because the Li Clan does not exist in this realm.]

The system's voice carried a weight of undeniable truth.

[The Li Clan is the most powerful clan in the Higher Realm.]

His pupils contracted, the words sinking in like a blade piercing through his thoughts. The most powerful clan… in the Higher Realm? If that was true, then why was he here? Why had he been abandoned in this forsaken land, stripped of his memories, left to rot in obscurity?

His fingers tapped against his knee, a cold smirk forming on his lips. So, I wasn't just anyone—I was royalty among cultivators, a dragon forced to crawl among ants.

"What happened?" His voice was calm, but his mind was anything but. "Why was I sent here?"

[I cannot provide further details. However, if you reach the Narcissistic Soul Realm, your uncle from the Higher Realm will personally come to fetch you.]

Narcissistic Soul Realm…

That was the peak cultivation realm in this entire continent. Even the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect was only at Narcissistic Soul Realm - Low Rank.

He was supposed to reach that level?

Li Feng Yun took a deep breath and sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor of his cave.

"A young master of the most powerful clan, reduced to an outer sect disciple?" He scoffed, exhaling softly as he closed his eyes. "What an insult."

The Flowing Jade Breathing Technique activated as he drew in the surrounding Qi, his mind racing even as his body calmed. He wasn't just going to reach the peak of this continent—he was going to crush it underfoot.

Closing his eyes, he began circulating the Flowing Jade Breathing Technique, relying on the memories of his predecessor.

The moment he activated the technique, he immediately felt something off.

Despite possessing an Earth Rank - High breathing technique, his cultivation had stagnated at Qi Condensation - Middle Rank. He should have been far beyond this stage by now.

His brows furrowed.

"Even with a top-tier breathing technique, I haven't reached Core Formation?"

The Flowing Jade Breathing Technique was given to him when he was twelve years old, at the time when his talent was tested. His talent was graded as Blue, which was decent but not extraordinary.

At the time, the elders had mistakenly classified this technique as Profound Rank - Low and gave it to him as a "suitable" breathing method for his talent level.

But in reality…

This technique was Earth Rank - High.

And the worst part? He had been cultivating for years.

With that determination, Li Feng Yun resumed his cultivation, meticulously following the correct method of the Flowing Jade Breathing Technique. Minutes passed, then an hour. His breath steadied, Qi surged through his meridians, but exhaustion crept in faster than expected.

When he finally opened his eyes, he scowled. His progress was… barely any better than before. Even after his talent had upgraded, his cultivation speed still felt frustratingly slow.

"What the hell is going on?!" he growled, glaring at his status panel.

Annoyed, he turned to the system. "Explain. Why is my cultivation still this slow?"

The system's metallic voice answered calmly.

[Now that your soul has fully merged, your true nature is beginning to influence your cultivation. Both your soul and your predecessor's originate from the same source—a remnant of a god's soul. Because of this, your body no longer follows the conventional path of mortal cultivation. To advance, you must exert twice the effort to achieve the same results as someone with Dark Blue talent.]

So that was the reason… Even with an Earth-rank breathing technique, he had been unable to reach Core Formation. It wasn't a matter of talent but the nature of his very soul—one that demanded twice the effort for the same results.

Still, reaching the Middle Rank of Qi Condensation at the age of fifteen was an achievement in itself. Many outer sect disciples struggled at the Lower Rank well into their late teens. He had broken through just a few days ago, but since he had kept to himself, no one knew about it yet.

Li Feng Yun's eye twitched. "Twice the effort? What kind of cursed advantage is this?!"

However, the system continued, [While your cultivation speed is slower, your foundation will be far stronger. At the same realm, you will be more powerful than others of the same level.]

Li Feng Yun's eyes flickered with contemplation. A slower cultivation speed was an inconvenience, but the promise of superior strength at each realm was intriguing. Strength was the ultimate truth in this world—what use was rapid advancement if it came at the cost of a weak foundation? If he had to move slower to ensure absolute dominance, then so be it. After all, what was the point of reaching the peak quickly if others could pull him down just as fast?

The night was silent, the moon casting a pale glow over the vast landscape of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Standing at the entrance of his cave with arms crossed, Li Feng Yun scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes. The sect had strict rules about leaving without permission, but to him, rules were nothing more than temporary obstacles—things meant to be bypassed, broken, or bent to his will.

He clicked his tongue in irritation. "No Qi Crystals, no progress. If I want to cultivate properly, I need to get my hands on them—fast."

His predecessor had already planned to go to the town tonight to acquire some Qi Crystals, and Li Feng Yun saw no reason to change that plan. If anything, he had even more urgency now. With his soul being a remnant of a god's, his Qi consumption was twice that of ordinary cultivators. That meant he needed twice the resources.

He turned his gaze toward the outer sect. The sect had high walls, protective arrays, and night patrollers. If he was caught sneaking out, he would face severe punishment. However, the previous Li Feng Yun had done this multiple times before without getting caught. Those memories would serve him well tonight.

"Hmph, let's see how difficult this really is."

He exhaled slowly, suppressing the impulse to teleport. His ability was still on cooldown, leaving him to rely on traditional sneaking methods. Keeping his breath controlled, he moved like a shadow along the rocky path, avoiding any spots where the moonlight was too bright.

The outer sect was massive, spread across the lower regions of the mountain, where thousands of disciples resided. Unlike the inner sect, which had grand halls and elegant courtyards, the outer sect was more rugged and practical. The disciples lived in small caves carved into the rocky slopes, forming uneven rows along the mountain's base and extending into the nearby forest. These caves varied in size and quality, with the stronger or more senior disciples occupying the better ones closer to the sect's main grounds, while the weaker ones were pushed further into the wilderness.

Dirt paths connected different sections of the outer sect, winding through clusters of trees and jagged rock formations. Tall lanterns lined the main roads, casting dim light in the darkness, but the deeper areas remained shrouded in shadows. Patrols of guards occasionally walked the well-traveled routes, but they rarely bothered to check the outskirts where the landscape was rougher and harder to navigate.

Li Feng Yun knew this all too well. Using the natural terrain to his advantage, he moved swiftly along the sect's boundary, keeping to the dark patches between the trees and rocky outcrops. His robes blended into the night, his footwork light and precise, making him nearly invisible in the dim moonlight.

As he neared the sect's perimeter, he crouched behind a cluster of boulders. Beyond this point lay the protective formation—a transparent barrier that covered the sect like a dome. The formation wasn't perfect, however. The previous Li Feng Yun had discovered a flaw—an area near the eastern side where the formation's energy fluctuated slightly. If timed correctly, one could slip through without triggering the alarm.

He waited. Five seconds. Ten seconds.

Then—

Now!

He dashed forward, his body pressing against the cool barrier. The moment the fluctuation occurred, he slipped through, emerging on the other side without a sound. He exhaled in relief. "Still works."

The real challenge was getting back in later, but that was a problem for the future.

With the sect behind him, Li Feng Yun adjusted his robes and set off toward Azure River Town. To get there, he had to pass through a stretch of forest that separated the sect from the outside world. The journey wasn't dangerous—any real threats had long been wiped out by the sect's disciples as part of their quests. No powerful beasts roamed this area, only small wild animals too weak to be of any concern.

The forest was dense, with towering trees stretching toward the sky, their leaves rustling softly in the night breeze. Moonlight filtered through the gaps, casting shifting shadows on the ground. The dirt path beneath his feet was uneven, with scattered rocks and twisted roots threatening to trip careless travelers. Despite the silence, the occasional chirping of insects and distant hoots of owls filled the air, a reminder that life still thrived here.

Li Feng Yun moved swiftly, stepping lightly to avoid making noise. Though there was no real danger, he preferred to stay cautious. The town was about an hour's walk away, and he had no intention of wasting time. The sooner he arrived, the sooner he could take care of business.

Azure River Town was the closest settlement to the Heavenly Sword Sect. It was a bustling place filled with merchants, rogue cultivators, and outer sect disciples looking for better deals. The sect sold cultivation resources, but their prices were steep. In the town, he could find cheaper alternatives—perfect for someone who preferred to keep his wealth intact.

He smirked. "At least the old me had some sense."

Upon reaching Azure River Town, Li Feng Yun pulled the hood of his robe over his head, blending into the shadows. Despite the late hour, the town was still alive with activity. Dimly lit stalls lined the streets, selling everything from beast cores to alchemy pills. The air carried a mix of scents—herbs, incense, and the mouthwatering aroma of grilled meat.

Ignoring the main market, he slipped into a narrow alleyway, heading toward a more discreet part of town—the black market. This was where rogue cultivators, wandering merchants, and desperate sect disciples gathered to trade under the table. Official sect stores charged high prices, but here, bargains could be found if one knew where to look.

This place had been introduced to him by Zhou Wei, a fellow outer sect disciple. Zhou Wei wasn't talented—his cultivation talent was only Yellow, the lowest grade—but he was resourceful. Unable to compete in cultivation, he turned to information gathering, selling useful intel and guiding disciples to places like this for a small fee.

Li Feng Yun had bought information from him in the past, back when he was younger and struggling to cultivate. The guidance had been helpful, allowing him to acquire Qi Crystals at a lower price and speed up his progress. Now, he was here again, this time with greater purpose.

His destination was Old Bai's stall, a rogue cultivator who had been selling Qi Crystals in this black market for years. Unlike official vendors, Old Bai didn't ask questions. As long as one had the money, he had the goods.

"Ah, if it isn't my favorite young customer," Old Bai greeted him with a toothy grin. The man was in his late forties, dressed in ragged robes, with a calculating glint in his eyes. "Looking for Qi Crystals again? Got a fresh batch just today."

In this world, the currency system was straightforward: copper, silver, and gold coins. Copper coins were the most common, used by ordinary people for daily expenses like food, clothing, and shelter. A hundred copper coins equaled one silver coin, and a hundred silver coins equaled one gold coin. For a normal family, earning a few dozen copper coins a day was enough to survive, while a single silver coin could sustain them for a week. Gold coins, on the other hand, were rarely seen by commoners and were mostly used by merchants, nobles, and cultivators. A single gold coin could buy an entire farmland, fund a merchant's caravan, or provide a year's worth of living expenses for an average family.

For cultivators, however, Qi Crystals were the true currency. These crystals, formed from condensed spiritual energy, were essential for cultivation and came in three grades: low, medium, and high. A single low-grade Qi Crystal was worth around five silver coin, but if it was of lower quality, the price dropped significantly. This made it possible for someone like Li Feng Yun to buy 50 low-quality Qi Crystals for just 50 silver coins. Medium-grade Qi Crystals were much rarer, costing dozens of silver coins each, while high-grade Qi Crystals were worth several gold coins, making them a treasure sought after by powerful cultivators. Ordinary people could never afford such resources, which was why only those born into noble families or accepted into sects had a chance to step onto the path of cultivation.

Li Feng Yun nodded. "How much for fifty low-grade low quality Qi Crystals?"

Old Bai rubbed his chin. "Ordinarily, 55 silver but for you… 50 silver. Special discount."

Li Feng Yun narrowed his eyes. "45 silver total. I know you get each of them for 1 silver"

The old merchant chuckled. "Sharp as always. Fine, 45 silver it is."

Li Feng Yun handed over the money from his storage ring, watching as Old Bai produced a small pouch filled with faintly glowing crystals. He examined one, feeling the Qi pulsating inside. Satisfied, he pocketed them.

"Pleasure doing business." Old Bai grinned. "Be careful on your way back. The sect doesn't take kindly to sneaky disciples."

Li Feng Yun smirked to himself as he turned to leave. His predecessor had done this many times before, but tonight was his first. Still, everything had gone smoothly. Now, all that was left was sneaking back into the sect.

The Heavenly Sword Sect was about five kilometers away, but with his mid-level Qi Condensation cultivation, he could move swiftly through the forest. The night was calm, with only the occasional rustling of leaves and the chirping of insects. However, as he advanced, his sharp senses picked up a strange sound in the distance—a faint groan, weak but filled with pain.

Curiosity sparked in his mind. Something was wrong.

He moved carefully toward the source of the sound, his steps light as he blended into the darkness. Soon, he spotted a figure lying on the forest floor. It was an old man, his robes stained with blood, his breathing ragged. Even in this pitiful state, Li Feng Yun could vaguely sense his cultivation level—this man was in the Narcissistic Soul Realm.