Li Yao Mother

The sun was beginning to lower in the horizon, casting long shadows across the dense canopy of the ancient forest. Shafts of light pierced through the leaves, dancing atop the mossy ground like silent spirits. Birds had gone quiet, replaced by the faint hum of spiritual energy still lingering from recent combat.

Meng Hao leaned against a thick, gnarled tree, his breathing steady but his eyes sharp.

Li Yao had just disappeared into the thicket, her figure swallowed by vines and fog as she dashed off to hunt. She needed points. After all, she had been with him since the very moment of teleportation—protecting him, saving him, and sacrificing her own chance to score enough merit to pass the trial. Now, with time running short, she had no choice but to fight alone.

Meng Hao watched her retreating figure until she vanished from sight. A faint breeze carried the scent of her hair and robes away, and the forest slowly returned to stillness.

"…Now's the time," Meng Hao muttered under his breath, glancing around carefully.

A familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

[Ding! Unclaimed reward detected: 1 month of cultivation. Claim now?]

He hadn't dared to trigger it earlier. He didn't know what kind of phenomenon might occur. Would his body radiate spiritual energy? Would he scream from pain or glow like a beacon? Not something he could risk while someone else—especially someone as nosy as a daughter of luck—was present.

But now, alone among trees, with the sky his only witness, Meng Hao smirked. "Claim."

As soon as the word left his lips, a golden translucent panel appeared in front of his eyes.

[1 Month of Cultivation Transferring…]

Day 1: You meditated without pause.

Day 3: Still no breakthrough. You persist.

Day 10: No rest. No food. No distractions.

Day 20: Your spiritual sense deepens. You approach the bottleneck.

Day 25: You reach the peak of the Fifth Level of Qi Gathering.

Day 30: You meditate on the threshold of the Sixth Level. You endure the strain. Do you wish to integrate the memories and cultivation now?

Without hesitation, Meng Hao clicked "Yes."

The very next moment, his body stiffened.

It was as if an avalanche of memories came crashing down—visions of sitting in endless darkness, meditating silently, drawing spiritual qi from thin air. He saw himself cultivating with utmost discipline, resisting fatigue, refining every drop of spiritual energy until his meridians screamed from the strain.

All of it… compressed into mere minutes.

His muscles tensed, veins bulging slightly as spiritual qi surged like a storm through his body. Leaves scattered from nearby trees. The surrounding qi was being sucked into his skin like smoke pulled by a vacuum. Even the forest reacted—small insects fled, and spirit beasts watching from afar retreated deeper into the foliage, sensing something unnatural.

After ten long minutes, the influx slowed. The golden panel flickered again.

[Ding! You have successfully reached the peak of Fifth Level Qi Gathering! You are one step away from the Sixth Level.]

Meng Hao slowly opened his eyes, his pupils gleaming with faint silver light before dimming. His skin had grown slightly fairer, his body now leaner, more refined. His senses felt sharper, and his spiritual perception had subtly expanded.

"So this is the result of one month's cultivation… simulated in minutes," he thought, stretching his fingers with satisfaction. "Truly heaven-defying."

He exhaled slowly, allowing his body to adapt to the new strength.

"And to think, this is just one month's worth… If this system keeps its word, then..."

His thoughts paused, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes.

"It said I'd gain a hundred years of cultivation if I can win over Li Yao completely... And a thousand if I aim higher and fuck—her mother.Then I would get ten times the reward than fucking daughter of lick which is 1000 year of cultivation."

Meng Hao chuckled quietly to himself, shaking his head.

"Of course, I can't get too arrogant. Cultivation is one thing… but schemes, timing, and control—that's where the true power lies."

Even though his heart plotted, his face remained calm, and his aura controlled. His experience as a former software engineer had taught him patience, long-term thinking, and the value of exploiting every resource to maximum benefit. He was no fool charging ahead with lust or pride. Everything had to serve a purpose.

He stood slowly, body feeling lighter, more in sync with the world.

"At this pace, even if my talent is low… I'll climb faster than any so-called genius. The system… It's not just a cheat. It's my path to the apex."

A bird chirped in the distance, followed by a beast's low growl somewhere far off. He knew Li Yao would be battling soon. She'd return when finished, tired and blood-stained, still thinking of him.

He smirked faintly.

"Let her believe she's protecting me. Let her think she's in control."

Then, brushing off his robes, he glanced up at the setting sun bleeding through the canopy.

"In this world of reversed roles… I'll be the hunter hiding beneath the sheep's skin."