Who Needs Humility When You're This Handsome?

Su Chen sat down carefully in the quiet cave, adjusting his posture into a stable lotus position. He made sure he was comfortable enough to remain seated for an extended session—no distractions, no cramps, no regrets.Once settled, he closed his eyes and began to circulate the Wood Sovereign Scripture,

Almost immediately, faint ancient characters shimmered across his skin—runes that pulsed gently with a mysterious energy. They resonated with the world around him, stirring the natural Qi hidden within the forest.

Swish, swish...

Strands of green energy—misty and ethereal—began to drift toward him from the surrounding forest. The Wood Qi was so dense it became visible, like faint trails of smoke weaving through the air, drawn to his body and seeping in through his pores.

With his eyes shut, Su Chen could clearly feel it. The energy entered slowly but steadily, warming his limbs and core like a hot bath on a winter morning. It was calming—almost addictive.

Time passed quietly.

Then—

Crack!

A subtle sound echoed from deep within his body. Su Chen's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he knew—he'd done it.

He had officially stepped into the first level of the Qi Refining Realm. The true beginning of the cultivation path.

Without wasting a breath, he shifted to the next section of the Wood Sovereign Scripture. This portion guided how to properly refine and circulate spiritual energy now that one's meridians were open.

Phush, phush...

As soon as the next chant began, the runes on his skin lit up even brighter. Qi absorption accelerated. What was once a gentle stream turned into a steady surge. The surrounding spiritual energy, sensing the change, rushed toward him in excitement, like loyal dogs answering a whistle.

Phus, phus, phus—

A series of sharp, clean bursts echoed within Su Chen's body. One after another, twelve meridian points—from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head—activated like valves clicking open. Each burst released a shockwave through his body.

An intricate structure formed deep inside him—an octagonal web of Qi that linked his core and limbs in perfect balance. Though invisible, Su Chen could feel it clearly. His body had transformed into a flawless spiritual circuit.

His eyelids twitched.

A smug grin pulled at the corner of his mouth.

"I must be a peerless genius," he muttered with complete self-satisfaction.

He opened his eyes briefly and glanced at the light outside the cave.

"Only a few minutes have passed, and I've already opened all twelve meridians? This is... this is insane!

According to the Wood Sovereign Scripture, opening ten meridians was the mark of a once-in-a-generation genius—and even that required at least two hours of painful focus. As for the eleventh and twelfth meridians... they were dubbed forbidden. Their activation demanded a rare physique, months of preparation, and powerful spiritual medicine. Not to mention...

A heavenly tribulation.

Yes. A literal lightning strike from the heavens to punish anyone arrogant enough to go beyond mortal limits.

But Su Chen? He felt nothing. No rumble. No divine threat. Just warmth and good vibes.

"I must be too exceptional," he said, grinning. "Maybe my physique is too close to the Dao. " So perfect the heavens took one look and said, 'Nope, not dealing with that today.'"

BOOM!!

A deafening thunderclap shattered the moment like a brick through a window. The cave shook slightly. Birds screamed in the trees outside.

Su Chen's grin froze mid-face.

His eyelids twitched.

Slowly… he opened his eyes.

The sky above the forest—clear and calm just moments ago—was now pitch black. Clouds boiled across the heavens, dark and thick, swirling like a pot of divine wrath on the stove.

"…f*ck. My bad mouth. Why do I even talk?" he whispered.

He didn't move, but every muscle in his body tensed like a hunted rabbit. He was ready to jump, dive, tunnel underground, or even fake his own death if it meant avoiding that divine barbecue.

"If I'd known I'd actually trigger a tribulation, I would've stopped at ten meridians! Who needs forbidden meridians anyway?! Ten's a perfectly handsome number!"

Lightning flashed across the sky, turning the forest into a strobe-lit horror scene. But after a long, painful moment...

Nothing happened.

The thunder stopped. The clouds slowly began to scatter like embarrassed stagehands realizing they came in too early. Sunlight peeked through.

Silence.

Su Chen sat frozen, spiritually sweating bullets.

A few seconds passed.

Still nothing.

"...Huh?" he muttered.

"No zapping? No heavenly spanking?"

He slowly patted himself down, half-expecting to find scorch marks.

"I... I'm alive?"

He exhaled, long and dramatic. Then sat up straighter and cleared his throat.

"Hmph. Of course. The heavens looked at me and thought, 'No, he's too handsome to smite.' As expected of me."

His eyes still flicked toward the sky every few seconds, just in case a delayed lightning bolt came to correct him.

When nothing fell from above, a familiar shameless grin crept back across his face.

Looking inward, Su Chen realized the Qi within his body was flowing more smoothly than ever. The twelve meridians weren't just open—they were flawless. Fully activated, completely harmonized, and pumping spiritual energy like a divine engine.

His cultivation base was rising at a ridiculous pace.

He glanced at the cave entrance.

Barely ten minutes had passed.

"…Only ten minutes? I already broke through to Qi Refining, opened all twelve meridians, and survived a heavenly tantrum?"

He stretched his arms slightly and chuckled.

"Well then. Since the heavens have decided to spare me—for now—I might as well take advantage."

"Let's see just how far I can push this by nightfall."

With that, he took a deep breath, readjusted his posture, and sank back into meditation. This time, though, one ear remained half-open—just in case another bolt decided to sneak in late.

Kit-kit...

The gentle creak of swaying trees whispered through the forest as evening settled in. The sun dipped behind the horizon, casting long shadows and bathing the treetops in a golden hue.

Inside the cave, Su Chen sat completely still.

He hadn't moved a single inch. His breathing was steady, deep, and almost invisible. He looked less like a person and more like a stone statue carved into the mountain.

Around him, a soft green light glowed faintly.

Wood Qi.

It drifted like mist, dense and gentle, encircling his body in a protective cocoon. The energy flowed in waves, pulsing with the rhythm of his breathing, and gently merged into his meridians.

Time passed. The forest start darkening.