Death Flags Everywhere!
"F**K! I'm Dead!"
The expletive ripped from my throat as a tidal wave of memories crushed my sanity.
One hour ago, I was just cultivating as usual in my room when suddenly, like enlightenment, I began to gain knowledge beyond what I previously knew.
Soon enough, I realized it wasn't enlightenment in Martial Arts as I thought. Instead, I was regaining memories from what was perhaps my previous life.
Earth!
My old life—nine-to-five drudgery, late-night gaming marathons, and a graveyard of cultivation webnovels.
And now?
I stumbled from the silk-draped bed, heart pounding. The jade floors were cool against my bare feet, the air thick with the scent of incense.
Gilded screens, spirit lamps, and treasures littered the room—luxury fit for a young master.
My room!
My name... Bai Zihan!
Arrogant! Cruel! Wasteful! A third-rate villain!
You could say that I was a person who liked to bully the weak, spending every day picking on other clan members.
There was no other reason for what I did than because I could.
With my parents being the Clan Master and Matriarch of one of the strongest clans in the Empire, there weren't many who could go against me.
It was also one of the ways I relieved my stress and anger, knowing that I was a 'waste' whose talent wasn't worthy of being called the heir of the Bai Clan.
However, that is not why I am freaked out right now.
After regaining my memories from Earth, my knowledge of different cultivation novels also flowed into me.
And the reason why I am freaking out is because, comparing my circumstances with the cultivation novels I read on Earth, I found out that...
My family is a villain family destined to die!
For one—one week ago, my elder sister broke off her engagement with her fiancé, whose cultivation had been crippled—a walking cliché destined for greatness.
There's no need to elaborate on such a cliché story where he would rise up, topple his ex-fiancée, and perhaps even destroy her clan.
My sister's ex-fiancé was definitely one of those protagonists, and I might get killed by him.
"Why now?"
If only I had regained my memories a week earlier, I could've stopped my sister from antagonizing the inevitable protagonist of this world.
Or not!
Deep down, I knew the truth: even if I had regained my memories earlier, I wouldn't have been able to stop her.
I was nothing but a waste—a disappointment to the Bai Clan, eclipsed by my genius sister.
My talent was a disgrace, and my reputation worse—a bully who terrorized weaker clan members and branch families.
Our relationship was strained beyond repair due to such repeated behavior.
Worse, breaking the engagement with that crippled fiancé was something both the Bai Clan and the Heaven Sword Sect—my sister's sect—wanted.
No one would have listened to me. They'd see me as a fool stirring up more trouble for the clan.
"Sigh!"
And that was just one death flag raised by my sister.
Because if that wasn't enough to kill me, my mother made sure to raise the stakes.
She ripped a Dao Bone from my cousin and gave it to me—an attempt to salvage my talent.
It helped, a little. But not nearly enough!
Now, my cousin would hunt me down in the future, seeking vengeance for what was stolen.
There was a high chance that she would grow stronger and, sooner or later, come to claim her Dao Bone.
So, even if I survived my sister's ex-fiancé's inevitable revenge... my cousin would finish the job.
And these two death flags were only the start. There were even more things done by my family and clan—definitely things only villains would do.
There was also me—making trouble and creating enemies everywhere I went.
My sister and mother might be major villains who survive for a hundred chapters.
But me?
Looking at my behavior, I'm just a third-rate villain—fodder who would die in three chapters just after meeting the protagonist.
"Sigh..."
My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms.
Surveying my family's actions and my reflection, I knew one thing:
"I'm so screwed!"
No matter how I looked at it, death flags sprouted around me like weeds.
From my family's sins to my own foolishness, it was a perfect storm.
And if even one of those flags played out like a standard cultivation novel...
I was already dead!
"What should I do… What should I do…"
I paced back and forth, trying to think of a way to salvage my situation.
Looking at the dire situation, severing ties with the Bai Clan was the only thing that might guarantee my safety from the hands of those protagonists.
There was no way to salvage the relationship with those protagonist-like people after what had happened.
My sister had already disgraced the Nie Clan—her ex-fiancé's clan—and broke off the engagement in front of other clans.
There's nothing to say about my cousin, whose Dao Bone my mother stole and gave to me.
Not only did my mother commit this horrible crime, but my cousin was also expelled from the clan with her parents' whereabouts unknown.
I'm 100% certain that the moment I meet her, she will take my head before any conversation can take place.
Additionally, I don't think I treated her well even when she was in the clan. She must definitely be holding a grudge for that as well.
"However, leaving the clan might be even more dangerous!"
Like I said, I wasn't the kindest person, and knowing I had my family's protection, you could say that I had antagonized a lot of people.
One might even say that those people would be more eager to kill me than the protagonists.
The moment they knew I had left the Bai Clan, there was a high chance that I would be killed right after stepping out of the Bai Clan territory.
Even if that wasn't the case, this world wasn't safe like Earth, and one careless mistake could lead to death especially with my current strength.
There was a high chance I would die faster outside without the Bai Clan's support than by the hands of these protagonists.
There was also a chance I would meet one of those heaven-blessed protagonists even after severing ties with Bai Clan and still get killed.
Without Bai Clan protection, getting killed would be much easier.
"No! I still have this!"
There was perhaps one thing that could truly save me from my death.
"Indeed, this is a System Screen!"
Before my eyes was something that refused to leave—it was my golden finger.
It had been with me since I was born, though I never knew what it was and couldn't even make it go away before.
*************************
[ Host Info ]
Host: Bai Zihan
Age: 16
Cultivation Realm: Core Formation (Early)
Constitution: None
Martial Arts: None
*************************
Scratching my head, I felt more annoyed than excited, remembering my past suffering because of this.
"Why the hell is this in English?"
The reason why I had no idea what it was until now, or how to make it go away, was because...
This System was in English the whole time!
A language I wasn't familiar with—until I got my memories from Earth.
"Why the hell would a System I've had since birth be in a language that wasn't common in this world?"
If I hadn't regained my memories, I would have never figured out what this was and would've stayed blinded by the System's inferences for 16 years.
Otherwise, with such a cheat, how the hell would I have been treated as a 'waste'?
But without knowing about the System or English, for the past 16 years...
This System has been nothing but a nuisance—blocking my sight and ruining my life.
Heaven Defying System!
"Isn't one of the reasons why I was a 'waste' because of this damn System blocking my sight?"
Of course, my cultivation talent was lacking—there was no denying that. However, my failures extended far beyond my poor aptitude for cultivating qi.
My combat skills, reflexes, and ability to learn martial techniques were all severely hindered by this damned thing that had been glued to my vision since birth.
At first, everyone assumed I was simply lazy or untalented, but that wasn't the whole truth.
When I was a child, my parents even took me to the best doctors, fearing that I had a vision problem when I told them about this System Interface.
Yet, the results were always the same—my eyes were perfectly healthy.
Some even mocked me for this and said that I was making things up and since only I could see this, I couldn't prove them wrong.
But how could they understand that it wasn't my eyes that were the problem—it was this damned System screen constantly obstructing my view!
Imagine trying to fight with a thick, translucent panel blocking your field of vision—one that you couldn't swipe away or close.
A permanent blind spot, forever lingering in front of me.
The System's notifications would pop up randomly, covering vital parts of my view during battles, and no matter how I moved, the screen followed, always hovering in my line of sight.
Even when I tried to learn martial arts, the problem persisted. The forms looked blurry, the teacher's movements partially obscured.
It was like trying to read a book with a page torn down the middle—everything important was always out of reach.
So, yes—I was a waste. But it wasn't just because of my lacking talent.
It was because I was fighting with both my hands and my eyes tied behind my back!
"System, Close!"
The words slipped from my mouth almost instinctively—an unconscious reaction born from years of reading system-based cultivation novels back on Earth.
The moment I spoke...
The blinding, ever-present interface vanished.
"That's all it took?"
Sixteen years.
Sixteen years of stumbling through life like a blind man.
Sixteen years of being labeled a waste, mocked, and discarded.
Sixteen years of failure—all because I didn't know two English words!
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!"
After laughing at my situation, I chuckled at myself for a few seconds before finally settling down.
Sigh!
If not for regaining my memories, this suffering might have extended to life though that might have also been short-lived considering the situation I am in.
However, currently I wasn't in the situation to condemn the System which has ruined my 16 years.
This System which has been the source of suffering for the last 16 years is also my only hope of getting out of this damn situation.
"System!"
I called out and immediately the System Interface was back in full display.
Forgetting about the resentment, I immediately went to explore what this System is all about and how it could help me out of this situation.
"Let's see what this System is all about!"
Bai Zihan's eyes narrowed as he scanned the System Interface.
Firstly, it was the same System Interface that he had seen for the last 16 years with details on his status.
*************************
[ Host Info ]
Host: Bai Zihan
Age: 16
Cultivation Realm: Core Formation (Early)
Constitution: None
Martial Arts: None
*************************
His focus then zeroed in on a tab—[Store]—and alongside it, another labeled [Rewards].
Without hesitation, he clicked on the Store tab, and System Interface instantly changed to show dazzling treasures before him.
Bai Zihan's eyes flickered with awe as he skimmed through the Store, his lips moving unconsciously as he read the names aloud.
"Immortal Dragon Saber... Heaven-tier treasure, sharp enough to cleave space itself."
"Heavenly Rebirth Pill... 7th-tier pill, rumored to defy death and restore one's prime."
"Ninefold Star Scripture... Void Dao Bone... Thunder Dragon King Bloodline… Even a constitution could be brought?"
Bai Zihan looked through the countless treasures that he never even heard about but sounded super powerful.
From the pills he took daily to powerful Bloodlines he had never heard of, there were all sorts of things he could potentially buy.
With such powerful treasures that he can buy, he felt relieved and more confident about tackling the future threat.
However, there was just a small problem and that was that to buy those treasures he needed points.
Zihan clenched his fists, his voice tight with longing.
"So many treasures... But without points, they're nothing but dreams."
A spark lit in his eyes as he spoke firmly, his voice cutting through the silence.
"System, what are points? How do I earn them?"
Bai Zihan tried asking to see whether System would respond but as expected there was no response.
"Let's try this in English!"
"Ahem! System, what are points? How do I earn them?"
Bai Zihan asked again, this time in English.
The System responded with words on the System Screen.
[ Heaven-Defying System ]
Earn points by defying the very fabric of fate and surpassing your limits.
Ways to Earn Points:
Defying Fate: Twist common clichés and rewrite destiny.Achievements: Points for reaching cultivation milestones and rare accomplishments.Challenging the Strong: The greater the disparity, the higher the reward.Stealing Fortunes: Seize opportunities meant for Heaven's Chosen.
Zihan's lips curled into a daring smirk.
"So, to claim these treasures, I must gamble against fate itself... and win."
Indeed, looking at my background, I was a third-rated villain that could die just by opening my mouth.
To defy such, having Heaven Defying System is indeed appropriate.
Next, his eyes moved to the [Rewards] section as he quickly changed the tab to [Rewards].
( Hope that there is something here like newbie gift or something which could help me! )
Instantly, the screen flashed, revealing numerous unclaimed rewards—glorious fruits of his cultivation milestones.
[ Unclaimed Rewards Available ]
Qi Refining Stage Achievement: [ 10x Cultivation Speed Card (3 Days) ]Foundation Establishment Stage Achievement: [ Martial Arts Enlightenment Card (1 hour) ]Core Formation Stage Achievement: [ Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Technique - First Part ]Defeated Bai Lei: 1000 points …
Bai Zihan's heart pounded as he scanned the [Unclaimed Rewards] list. His lips parted with excitement, his eyes blazing with anticipation.
His voice trembled with excitement.
"10x Cultivation Speed Card? That means I can cultivate ten times faster for three days! With this, Perhaps I could finally go from Early Core Formation to Mid Core Formation Stage!"
His eyes sparkled as he continued.
"And this Martial Arts Enlightenment Card... It should be something to do with Mastery of martial Arts. Perhaps I could gain Minor Mastery after using this?"
He wasn't exactly sure how effective it would be but knew that it would have great effect, considering this is a reward from the System.
Then there were many more unclaimed rewards for defeating different people and most of them gave him just Points.
"How did I even defeat them? I don't think that I have even gotten into any official fight with any people?"
After all, Bai Zihan was a coward and wouldn't fight where he could be injured.
"Can this be that when I bullied them using my status? That is also considered as defeating by the System?"
After looking at similarities in the list of people that were defeated and given him points, he came to a conclusion that there were all those he would normally bully with his status.
Although they were certainly stronger than him in terms of power, they wouldn't dare go against him as he was direct Heir and also the son of Clan Leader.
"Looks like I did benefit something from such an act!"
Bai Zihan now found that although his third-rated villain act was sure to bring his doom, it has also unexpectedly brought in some rewards.
With how much he bullied those people, the points given by the System should be quite substantial.
Apart from this, there was the reward for breaking through to the Core Formation Stage and that was some kind of technique.
"Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Technique...?"
His brows furrowed.
"I've never heard of a body refinement technique like this. Primordial Chaos... isn't that... the origin of everything?"
Although he has never heard of such a technique, just looking at the name, one could tell that it wasn't ordinary and quite powerful.
And most importantly, anything to do with Primordial or the beginning of time should be very powerful as those were the things that existed before the universe.
Of course, there was the chance that the technique was just given some fancy name and wasn't that powerful.
"System! What is the Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Technique?"
Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Technique
The System responded immediately, lines of text forming on the interface:
[Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Technique - First Part]
Forge the body into a vessel of chaos—the source of creation and destruction.
Upon reaching the First Stage – Chaos Seed Baptism, the user's body can freely break down and reconstruct itself, allowing it to absorb all forms of energy.
Note: The pain of each refinement may shatter the mind. Failure means body collapse and certain death.
Grade: Unspecified! (Incomplete!)
Bai Zihan's eyes widened as he read the description. His heart pounded faster, and excitement flickered in his eyes.
"Freely break down and reconstruct the body... absorb all forms of energy?"
He muttered, his voice a mix of awe and exhilaration.
Even the first part was beyond his imagination, not to mention the perks of being able to absorb all forms of energy.
( Can I also absorb other people's attacks? )
After all, those attacks also contained Qi, so it wasn't unreasonable to do so.
Anyway, that needs to be tested after attaining the first stage of Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Technique which doesn't seem easy.
"But... certain death if I fail?"
Although failure could lead to death yet his excitement refused to die down.
A cultivation technique that could defy all limitations—one that could turn his very body into a conduit for power. But the cost…
"Failure means body collapse and death."
It was a terrifying result for failure.
However, thinking about his current situation, it didn't seem like he could escape death unless he became stronger.
Bai Zihan's expression hardened.
"If I'm to survive in this world, I can't afford to be weak. The Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Technique... it's risky, but the benefit..."
Mastering this technique could potentially change his fate.
Although the grade was unspecified due to the technique being just the first part, the description alone was enough to suggest that it was at least comparable to a Saint-Grade technique.
Techniques were categorized as Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, Saint, and beyond.
Even Heaven-Grade techniques were extremely difficult to obtain.
Despite being the strongest clan in the Desolate Heaven Empire, the Bai Clan possessed only three such techniques, none of them were for body refinement though.
As for Saint-Grade techniques, they were practically nonexistent in the Desolate Heaven Empire—or at least, Bai Zihan wasn't aware of any powerhouse possessing them.
Maybe those protagonist-like bastards were cultivating them, but he wouldn't know.
In any case, this was certainly superior to the Earth-Grade Body Refinement technique Bai Zihan had been cultivating in the Bai Clan.
The Bai Clan's refinement technique had made Bai Zihan's body incomparably stronger than normal people, allowing him to withstand sword cuts.
However, it wasn't as powerful as the Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Technique.
Additionally, the Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Technique allowed the body to absorb all forms of energy, which would greatly enhance his cultivation.
Of course, he wasn't stupid enough to start practicing the technique blindly.
He needed to research more to increase his chances of success and determine whether this was truly the best path for him.
After all, his primary objective was survival.
He wasn't just going to jump from the pot into the fire.
Perhaps he wouldn't need to take this risk at all.
Anyway, he could finally see some hope in his hopeless situation.
"System, claim all the rewards!"
Bai Zihan commanded.
[Claiming Rewards…] [Qi Refining Achievement: 10x Cultivation Speed Card (3 Days)] [Foundation Establishment Achievement: Martial Arts Enlightenment Card (1 Hour)] [Core Formation Achievement: Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Technique (First Part)] [Defeated Bai Lei: +1000 Points] …
[ Total Points Earned: 27,270 ]
A golden glow enveloped Zihan, knowledge and power flooding into his soul.
His lips curled into a determined smirk.
"Now... let's see how fate fares against me!"
***
For the rest of the day, Bai Zihan organized his thoughts and decided on what to do going forward.
With the acquired points, there was a lot he could buy, but he wasn't going to make any hasty purchases.
As for weapons and protective gear, being a direct heir of the Bai Clan meant that his current arsenal of artifacts was more than sufficient.
Most of his artifacts, including weapons and armor, were already Earth-grade and could be considered overgeared.
Of course, the System had far superior artifacts, but he wasn't foolish enough to waste precious points on them at this stage.
Moreover, wielding higher-grade artifacts required a much larger pool of Qi. With his cultivation, he could properly only use Earth-Grade artifacts.
Perhaps he could wield a Heaven-Grade artifact once or twice, but that was it.
So, there wasn't much reason to purchase higher-grade weapons at his current cultivation level.
He could reconsider once he broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm.
He didn't buy any martial art either for the same reason.
His clan's martial arts techniques were already Earth-Grade, and rather than purchasing higher-grade techniques, it was better to master what he had already been taught.
Although he wasn't particularly interested in fighting techniques, there was one category he was deeply concerned about—
Cultivation Techniques!
Among all types of techniques—martial arts, body refinement, and movement arts—one reigned supreme in importance:
Cultivation Techniques—the foundation of power.
Unlike martial techniques, which dictated how one fought, or body refinement techniques, which tempered the flesh, cultivation techniques determined how one absorbed, refined, and utilized Qi.
A good cultivation technique could mean the difference between a powerful expert and a forgotten nobody.
It affected Qi quality, recovery speed, breakthrough probability, and even longevity.
His current cultivation technique, the Bai Clan's Earth-Grade [Azure Dragon Breathing Method], was respectable.
It provided him with a strong foundation, but it was far from enough.
Even with an Earth-Grade technique, Zihan's cultivation speed was only average. But what truly worried him was something else—
Potential Bottlenecks.
Many cultivators hit an invisible wall at higher realms—Nascent Soul, Soul Formation, or Ascension—because their foundation was flawed.
A low-grade cultivation technique often caused impurities in their Qi, making breakthroughs increasingly difficult and dangerous.
"If I rely solely on my Bai Clan technique, my path to Nascent Soul or beyond will be a dead end."
Bai Zihan muttered.
Of course, that wouldn't be a big problem if he was truly talented, but he wasn't.
With his current talent, the highest he could realistically achieve was the Nascent Soul Realm.
While that was considered impressive, it wasn't nearly enough to survive in this villainous clan.
Perhaps purchasing a powerful bloodline or constitution could help, but it was beyond his budget.
Bai Zihan would need at least ten times more points to afford a bloodline strong enough to make a real difference.
So, the more realistic option was to buy a high-level Heaven-Grade Cultivation Technique.
He opened the System Store, his gaze flickering to the Cultivation Techniques section.
Bai Zihan scrolled through the vast arsenal of cultivation techniques, his eyes sweeping over countless methods.
Some drew from the stars, others from the sun, and a few even from the abyss itself.
But in the end, his gaze settled on one.
***********
[Myriad Breathing Technique: Heaven-Grade]
Description: A cultivation technique that refines the essence of the world, allowing the user to absorb and utilize Qi. Absorption Efficiency: 200% increased Qi absorption.
***********
Bai Zihan's fists clenched in excitement.
Compared to his current technique, [Azure Dragon Breathing Method], this new method was on a completely different level.
It offered at least twice the Qi absorption efficiency.
That meant his cultivation speed could potentially double—provided there was sufficient Qi to absorb.
But with all the resources available to him from the Bai Clan, that wouldn't be a problem.
Bai Zihan had stockpiled a large number of pills, gifted to him by both the clan and his mother.
He had been lazy before, but now he understood—
If he continued down that path, he would die.
Myriad Breathing Technique
After much contemplation, he purchased the Myriad Breathing Technique, which cost an astonishing 15,000 points.
Of course, considering this was better than the Azure Dragon Breathing Method, which was already considered one of the best in the Desolate Heaven Empire, it was justifiable.
As soon as Bai Zihan confirmed his purchase, the System interface flickered.
[Purchase Successful!]
[Would you like to learn the Myriad Breathing Technique now?]
A prompt appeared before his eyes, the glowing text hovering in his vision.
"Yes!"
[Learning Myriad Breathing Technique…]
In an instant, a golden glow enveloped Bai Zihan's body.
A flood of information poured into his mind like a tidal wave, each strand of knowledge integrating seamlessly with his consciousness.
He felt his very understanding of cultivation shifting, expanding beyond what he had known before.
The Myriad Breathing Technique wasn't just a superior technique—it was an entirely different way of cultivation.
Unlike the Azure Dragon Breathing Method, which focused on channeling Qi in a structured, disciplined manner, the Myriad Breathing Technique was like breathing in the essence of the world itself.
It didn't just absorb Qi; it refined and transformed it into something purer, more potent.
"So that's how!"
Bai Zihan immediately understood how to cultivate using Myriad Breathing Technique and there was no need to waste time learning it thanks to the System.
Immediately, he began to test this new cultivation technique, and indeed, the speed at which his body absorbed Qi was faster than before.
Although he couldn't say it was 2 times as the Qi in his room wasn't that high and was immediately absorbed by him.
"This is incredible!"
Moreover, even without actively cultivating, he could feel the Qi naturally gathering around him, seeping into his body at a slow pace.
With this, his path to breaking through to higher realms had become much smoother.
Although that still didn't change his situation, and he was still too weak to compete with those protagonist bastards, this was a good starting point.
Bai Zihan exhaled slowly, a faint mist of Qi escaping his lips.
He had taken his first step toward changing his destiny.
Now, his next objective was to utilize the 10x Cultivation Speed card he had received as a reward and try to break through to the next level.
With his new cultivation technique and the 10x Cultivation Speed card, he was confident that he could advance at least one realm.
Without hesitation, he pulled out the 10x Cultivation Speed card and used it.
[10x Cultivation Speed (Active) – 72 Hours Remaining]
The world around him seemed to hum with energy as the surrounding Qi thickened tenfold. It felt like he had stepped into a spiritual spring.
"Additionally, let's take these pills!"
Bai Zihan said as he took out the Golden Core Condensation Pill from his storage ring.
With so many resources together, he refused to believe that he couldn't break through.
Without hesitation, Bai Zihan entered a cultivation trance, cycling his Qi through the Myriad Breathing Technique.
The surrounding energy surged around him, flooding into his body like a raging river.
His dantian swelled with power as he guided the refined Qi through his meridians.
The golden glow of the Myriad Breathing Technique mixed with the dense Qi from the 10x Cultivation Speed card and the Golden Core Condensation Pill.
His entire body resonated with power, and he felt a breakthrough brewing within him.
Hours passed like fleeting moments, and suddenly—
BOOM!
A shockwave of Qi rippled outward from Bai Zihan's body.
His cultivation base surged as he reached the Core Formation Mid-Level from the Early Core Formation Stage.
He exhaled sharply, his eyes snapping open, his gaze bright with newfound power.
"I've already broken through in just 10 hours?!"
Bai Zihan was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't expected the combination of the Myriad Breathing Technique, the 10x Cultivation Speed card, and the Golden Core Condensation Pill to be so effective.
He clenched his fists, feeling the newfound strength coursing through him.
Although one of the reasons for such a fast breakthrough must be that he was already near a breakthrough, he had never advanced so easily before.
(So this is what geniuses must feel like.)
He had never heard about his sister struggling to break through. For her, success in breaking through was always guaranteed, unlike him who failed countless times.
"This is only the beginning!"
Without wasting a second, Bai Zihan re-entered his cultivation trance, pushing to make the most of the remaining hours.
The Qi around him thickened further as he focused on refining the gathered Qi, consolidating his newfound cultivation base, and attempting to make further progress.
Time blurred as Bai Zihan cycled his Qi, tempering his meridians and purifying his dantian.
The Myriad Breathing Technique worked tirelessly, elevating the potency of the Qi within him.
Another 24 hours passed, and Bai Zihan's aura surged once more.
Though he hadn't broken into the next major realm, he had pushed himself to the very peak of Core Formation Mid-Level, only a step away from Top-level.
Sweat glistened on his forehead, but his expression was one of satisfaction and determination.
"The remaining time will be spent consolidating my strength. I can't afford to damage my foundation!"
Perhaps if he truly pushed himself, he could have broken through another minor realm, but that wasn't good for his foundation and could impact his future cultivation.
So, rather than pushing forward, he decided to step back and consolidate his current cultivation.
He continued cultivating for the remaining hours, ensuring that his foundation was solid and that there were no flaws.
As the final minutes of the 10x Cultivation Speed card ticked away, Bai Zihan opened his eyes, a confident gleam shining within them.
Phew!
This time, cultivation almost felt like a breeze compared to before.
Whether it was because of the Myriad Breathing Technique or the 10x Cultivation Speed card, he felt that those three days had passed by very quickly but meaningfully.
In the past, even if he had worked for a month, he might not have achieved what he did in these three days.
Also, previously he could cultivate for a full day without any gain due to his poor talent.
But now, he feels his hard work is very rewarding, and he actually wants to continue to do so as well.
He rose to his feet, the air around him crackling with suppressed power.
"Shall I take a bath?"
Luo Qing
"Shall I take a bath?"
He muttered to himself, glancing down at his body.
After three days of intense cultivation, impurities had naturally been expelled from his body, forming a thin layer of filth on his skin.
Though it wasn't as dramatic as when entering the Qi Refining Stage, the difference was clear—his pores were unclogged, his skin had an almost ethereal glow, and his meridians felt utterly refreshed.
This was due to the Myriad Breathing Technique, which allowed only the purest Qi while immediately expelling any impurities.
Bai Zihan dusted off his robes, feeling the lingering energy from his cultivation.
The faint impurities clinging to his skin made him uncomfortable, and he had no intention of remaining in this state for long.
He took a deep breath, his gaze shifting toward the entrance of his room.
With a calm yet commanding voice, he called out, "Luo Qing, come in!"
A moment of silence passed before hurried footsteps approached.
The door creaked open, and a petite young maid stepped inside, her head lowered and hands slightly trembling.
Luo Qing was Bai Zihan's personal servant, assigned to him since childhood.
In the past, she had been subjected to his unpredictable moods and cruel temperament.
He had never raised a hand against her, but his sharp tongue and cold indifference had been enough to instill deep-seated fear in her.
Additionally, Bai Zihan hadn't even spared his own cousin when he was displeased, so how could she, a mere maid, not fear him?
Her voice was hesitant.
"Y-Young Master, you called for me?"
Bai Zihan glanced at her trembling form and let out a sigh.
It seemed his past actions had left quite an impression on those around him.
Well, he didn't care much about it, especially knowing that his life was hanging by a thread.
"Prepare a bath for me!"
Bai Zihan ordered.
Luo Qing's body flinched slightly at the command, but she immediately bowed.
"Yes, Young Master! R-Right away!"
She hurriedly turned and left, moving with such urgency that it almost seemed as though she feared lingering in his presence for even a second longer.
Bai Zihan shook his head slightly but didn't dwell on it.
He sat down, allowing himself a brief moment of rest before the bath was ready.
As Luo Qing rushed to prepare the bath, she couldn't help but notice something felt… off.
Her Young Master had always spoken with authority, but this time, his voice lacked the usual coldness or irritation. It was firm, commanding—but not cruel.
She shook her head as she worked.
(Perhaps I was just imagining things!)
Anyway, she didn't want to waste time on such meaningless thoughts.
If she made the Young Master wait too long, he could become irritable.
Once the bath was ready, she returned to inform him, keeping her head bowed as always.
"Young Master, your bath is ready."
Bai Zihan walked past her without a word, heading toward the bath chamber.
Before leaving, he looked at her face carefully.
This was because it was the first time Bai Zihan had truly seen this maid's face who had served him for many years—previously, her appearance had been blocked by the System Interface.
(She is quite pretty!)
Luo Qing was a delicate young woman, barely in her late teens, with a slender yet graceful frame.
Her long, jet-black hair was neatly tied into a simple braid, falling over her shoulder in a way that accentuated her smooth, porcelain-like skin.
Her features were soft and refined—gentle, almond-shaped eyes of deep, misty brown framed by naturally long lashes, a small, slightly upturned nose, and full lips with a faint rosy hue.
Despite her modest status as a servant, she carried an understated elegance that was hard to ignore.
Even the plain, light-blue maid's robes she wore did little to hide the natural grace in her movements.
However, the slight tremble in her stance, the way she kept her gaze lowered, and the subtle way she bit the inside of her lip revealed the fear she still harbored toward him.
(If this were Earth, she would definitely qualify to become a top idol!)
Bai Zihan thought.
He wasn't sure about the beauty standards of this world and didn't know whether his maid was special or if such appearances were common.
Looking at Luo Qing, his maid, he thought that perhaps due to cultivation, this world was simply filled with beautiful people.
Whichever the case, he needed more time to understand.
After all, in his memory, everyone's face had always been blurred by the System Interface.
Luo Qing stood motionless for a moment, her hands unconsciously tightening around the fabric of her sleeves.
She had served him for years, yet today was the first time she felt something was different—especially when he looked at her before heading to his bath.
She couldn't quite put it into words, but… there was something about Bai Zihan that had changed.
His presence, the way he carried himself, even the way his eyes briefly passed over her—there was no disdain, no irritation, and, more importantly, he looked directly into her eyes.
(This is the first time the Young Master has looked into my eyes!)
Normally, he would look irritated whenever she served him, his gaze lowered toward her legs or body.
She knew it wasn't because he was lecherous or after her body. With his status, what women would he not get?
Rather, he seemed to have a problem distinguishing people through their face and tried to identify them through their other body parts.
She had also heard from another servant that Bai Zihan was rumored to have some kind of vision problem, although it was just a rumor and had never been confirmed.
But having served him for years, she knew it was at least somewhat true.
Although she wasn't sure what the problem was, she knew that he had difficulty identifying people's faces and often mistook others, even when they looked nothing alike.
Perhaps that was why Bai Zihan had made a habit of identifying people through other features, and his gaze was usually lowered.
This is also why Luo Qing had specifically worn the same kind of dress forever to make identifying her easy for Bai ZIhan.
But that didn't seem to be the case today.
The Young Master was looking directly at her face, and for a moment, he almost seemed fascinated.
However, she quickly shook her head, dismissing the thought as mere imagination.
"There's no way someone like me, a mere servant, could possibly catch the Young Master's interest."
Bai Xueqing
Bai Zihan undressed and stepped in, allowing the warm, soothing water to wash away the impurities.
"Ahh…"
He let out a satisfied sigh as he leaned back, submerging himself deeper into the pool.
The tension in his muscles melted away, and he could feel his body absorbing the residual spiritual energy within the water, further refining his meridians.
For the first time in a long while, Bai Zihan allowed himself to relax.
After about thirty minutes, he was done with his bath and ready to leave.
Bai Zihan stood up, water dripping down his body, and grabbed a nearby towel.
He dried himself off with practiced efficiency before slipping into the fresh robes that Luo Qing had left for him.
The fabric was smooth and comfortable, a deep shade of black embroidered with faint silver linings.
Once dressed, he walked toward the bronze mirror mounted on the side of the bath chamber.
It would be the first time he saw his own reflection.
He stepped in front of it—and froze.
A face stared back—flawless skin, sharp eyes, and an expression dripping with arrogance.
A face designed for one purpose: to be obliterated by the protagonist before the story even got going.
Handsome, sure. But with a sharp, villainous edge that screamed 'young master cannon fodder.'
He had the look—the type of sharp, wicked handsomeness that screamed 'disposable stepping stone.'
His black hair was slightly damp, clinging to his forehead in strands, making his appearance even more striking with his red eyes.
His eyes narrowed as he leaned closer.
(Seriously? The world gave me this face?)
It was as if the world had taken extra care in sculpting the perfect Young Master You Must Defeat appearance.
Bai Zihan let out a low, bitter chuckle.
Of course!
Of course, he would look like this.
It all made sense.
He didn't just have the name of a doomed antagonist—he even had the face to match.
His fingers brushed against his jawline as he studied himself further.
He sighed, stepping back from the mirror.
(Well, at least I'm good-looking!)
Still, knowing how he appeared to others helped put a lot of things into perspective.
And if this world was truly following the script of a cultivation novel…
Then he needed to change his role fast.
Immediately after, he went out and called for Luo Qing.
"Luo Qing, are you there?"
He wanted to ask Luo Qing to prepare lunch for him since it had been many days since he last ate.
Normally, he didn't care much about filling his belly, as a cultivator could go weeks without eating, and with pills, there was no need to eat at all.
But how could he so easily forget his Earthly habits?
One of the few things in life he had truly enjoyed in his past life was food.
Rather than eating just to live, he also lived to eat.
He wasn't particularly rich in his past life and had only eaten normal meals, but here, it was a different story—he could have anything he wanted, especially when it came to food.
"Luo Qing!"
Bai Zihan called again.
It was strange that she didn't immediately appear. As far as he could remember, Luo Qing rarely made such mistakes.
Just as he was wondering what had happened, Luo Qing finally appeared.
!!!
But what surprised him wasn't her appearance—it was who she had brought along.
"Bai Zihan, so you were here!"
A commanding and arrogant tone.
There was only one person in the entire Desolate Heaven Empire who could speak to Bai Zihan like that—his only sister, Bai Xueqing.
The first true genius of the Bai Clan, the pride of the younger generation, and one of the most dazzling figures in the entire Desolate Heaven Empire.
This is also the first time Bai Zihan has properly seen her face.
Long, flowing silver hair cascaded down her back like threads of moonlight, contrasting sharply against her dark, elegant robes embroidered with frost-like patterns.
Her icy-blue eyes were as piercing as a frozen lake in winter—calm yet unforgiving, holding a sharpness that seemed to see through everything.
Her physique was slender yet powerful, a testament to her rigorous training.
Unlike the delicate beauty of Luo Qing, Bai Xueqing carried herself with the refined grace of a martial goddess—unshakable, confident, and completely untouchable.
She was someone who stood at the peak, admired by countless people in the empire.
And right now, she was staring directly at Bai Zihan with a mixture of impatience and mild annoyance.
It was only natural.
Because in the eyes of the Bai Clan, Bai Xueqing was a dragon destined for greatness.
And Bai Zihan?
He had always been the disgraceful younger brother, the one who could only hide in the shadows of her brilliance.
Bai Xueqing's brows furrowed slightly as she folded her arms.
She had expected to find him sulking, flinching, or trying to weasel his way out of whatever lecture she was about to give.
But instead, he just stood there, calm and composed.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Bai Zihan, what are you doing?"
She asked, her voice carrying its usual authority.
Bai Zihan blinked.
(What kind of dumb question is that?)
He crossed his arms and replied casually, "I was taking a bath. What does it look like?"
Silence!
Luo Qing's eyes widened in shock.
Even Bai Xueqing's expression stiffened for a brief moment, as if she hadn't expected such a direct response.
Normally, Bai Zihan wouldn't even dare to meet her gaze, let alone speak to her so nonchalantly.
She had been so used to seeing him act meek and fearful in her presence that this new attitude…
It was almost unnerving.
Luo Qing, who had been standing quietly behind Bai Xueqing, looked between the two siblings with a stunned expression.
(This… isn't normal. Young Master Bai Zihan never talks back to Lady Xueqing like that!)
Even in the past, Bai Zihan had always been arrogant toward those beneath him, but when it came to his sister, he was completely different.
He had never once shown defiance toward her.
Yet now—he had spoken with confidence, without a trace of hesitation or fear.
Bai Xueqing's sharp gaze studied him carefully.
There was something different about him.
For as long as she had known Bai Zihan, his eyes had always been filled with either frustration, self-loathing, or false bravado.
But now, there was something else.
Something new.
He looked straight at her.
No avoidance! No cowering!
