《SOUL CULTIVATION》 The Beginning ¡°Good morning, brother!¡± a young lady exclaimed loudly as she barged into the room. ¡°Aah, don¡¯t be so loud, Xiao Li,¡± the young man groaned, rubbing his temples. ¡°Hehe, brother, I have special privileges to be loud since I¡¯m your little sister, after all,¡± Xiao Li said with a mischievous grin. ¡°Forget about that, brother! I have something you¡¯ll love. I can¡¯t wait for you to try it, so hurry up! Let me help you,¡± she said enthusiastically, assisting her brother into a sitting position on the bed. Once he was sitting, the young man asked, ¡°So, what is it that you want me to try?¡± ¡°Just cooperate with me! You¡¯ll find out soon enough. I can¡¯t tell you¡ªit¡¯s a surprise, after all,¡± she said as she placed a helmet-like device on his head. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m starting it now. You¡¯ll know what the surprise is in just a few minutes,¡± Xiao Li said, pressing a button on the side of the helmet. Suddenly, the young man felt his consciousness being pulled away from his body. His senses dulled, and he lost all awareness of his surroundings. When he slowly opened his eyes, he found himself standing on a pure white platform, surrounded by mist. An otherworldly aura radiated from everything¡ªthe platform, the mist, even the very air itself. Anyone would have been stunned by such a sudden change in their environment, but what truly shocked him was something else entirely. His legs trembled, unaccustomed to supporting his weight. His vision, a distant memory, now painted the world in vivid colors and light he had nearly forgotten. His breath hitched as he clenched his fists, feeling strength flow through them for the first time in years. ¡°W-w-wait, what? How can I see? And why am I able to stand on my own?¡± he stammered, overwhelmed by the realization. Yes, more than his unfamiliar surroundings, what truly shocked him was his own body¡¯s newfound functionality. A Glimpse into the Past The young man and his sister were orphans, adopted by an elderly man in his seventies. Just weeks after their adoption, the young man fell victim to a mysterious illness that left him blind and completely paralyzed, except for his ability to speak and hear. The old man did everything in his power to uncover the cause and seek treatment, but no doctor could find an answer. A year after the disease struck, the old man passed away. Since he had no blood relatives¡ªhis family had died in a car accident¡ªhe left everything he owned to the two siblings, who were not even ten years old at the time. The old man had been fairly wealthy, leaving behind enough money for them to live an average life for some years. He had never indulged in luxury, choosing to live in a modest apartment. But after his death, life became an uphill battle for the siblings. Xiao Li was only eight, and the young man was ten. Determined to survive, Xiao Li dedicated herself to gaining knowledge. She bought a laptop and read countless books online, learning everything she could. On top of that, she managed all household chores while taking care of her brother¡ªfeeding him, talking to him, and even cleaning him daily. She also took him to the doctor every month, hoping for any sign of improvement. After five years of relentless hard work, she had educated herself in nearly every practical field. Using this knowledge, she launched an online business¡ªand it was a resounding success. She used her earnings to provide better treatment for her brother, determined to cure his illness. Another three years passed, and then¡ªan opportunity arose. A game was about to launch, one that had taken billions to develop. The world was about to witness the first fully immersive VR cultivation experience. Soul Cultivation was more than just a game¡ªit was a revolution. Some claimed its technology blurred the line between reality and fiction, while others whispered that it was based on ancient, forgotten techniques. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Xiao Li had spent weeks researching it, ensuring her brother would be among the first players. She wouldn''t let this opportunity slip away¡ªnot when it could bring her brother happiness. Back to the Present For the young man, this feeling¡ªbeing able to move, see, and feel¡ªwas priceless. He didn¡¯t know what his sister had done, but he couldn¡¯t be more grateful. She had always been the one carrying the burden, taking on responsibilities no child should have to bear. He owed her everything. Suppressing the overwhelming emotions building within him, he muttered, ¡°Th-this is amazing... But how did she do it? And where am I?¡± Finally, he took notice of his surroundings. Floating in the air before him was a golden sign with bold words inscribed on it: [WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF CULTIVATION] [TIME UNTIL GAME LAUNCH:] [05:30] [05:29] ¡°A game, huh? So, this is what it was¡­ No wonder I can move. But this is still miraculous! Even if it¡¯s just a game, I¡¯ll make full use of this opportunity my sister gave me.¡± Determined, he spent the remaining time familiarizing himself with his body. He stumbled multiple times, but before the countdown reached zero, he had regained control. [00:01] [00:00] As the timer hit zero, a powerful gale surged from behind him. Turning around, he saw cracks forming in the air before a circular portal appeared. An ancient, oppressive aura pressed down upon him. From within the portal emerged a breathtaking woman, seemingly in her early twenties. She exuded an aura of absolute dominance, as if she were the most powerful being in existence. She had silky white hair, golden eyes that could captivate anyone, perfectly arched eyebrows, and an hourglass figure that radiated elegance. She was, without a doubt, the most stunning woman he had ever seen¡ªsecond only to his sister, obviously. Studying him with a nonchalant expression, she finally spoke. ¡°Mortal, place your hand on this stone.¡± A smooth, glowing stone materialized in her hand, and she gently pushed it toward him. It floated in the air, waiting. The young man nodded and placed his hand on the stone. A screen materialized before them. [Name: Not Chosen Yet] [Cultivation Stage: Mortal] [Physical Toughness: 180] [Physical Strength: 160] [Mental Strength: 390] [Soul Strength: 2700] [Speed: 190] [Stamina: 140] [Physique: Soul Cleansing Physique] [Bloodline: Not Activated] [Soul Purity: 100%] [Talent: Error] The woman¡¯s composed expression flickered for the briefest moment before she quickly regained her calm. However, internally, she was screaming. ¡®What the hell?! His soul strength rivals that of an Advancing Soul Stage cultivator¡­ and he¡¯s just a mortal! No¡ªwhat¡¯s even more absurd is that his soul purity is at 100%! That shouldn¡¯t even be possible! And what is this ¡®Error¡¯ talent? Did something go wrong?!¡¯ Xiao Feng noticed the momentary change in her expression and frowned. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Regaining her composure, she spoke. ¡°My name is Xia Lingling. What is yours, kid?¡± ¡°You can call me Xiao Feng, Sister Xia,¡± he said with a polite bow and a small smile. Xia Lingling¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®Sister Xia?! This brat¡­¡¯ ¡°Xiao Fengdon¡¯t ask any questions. For now, just focus on comprehending as much as you can from what I¡¯m about to show you. I¡¯m not allowed to give you anything directly¡ªI can only reveal it to you. You have ten minutes to grasp as much as possible.¡± Without waiting for a response, she gestured for him to sit cross-legged. As he complied, she closed her eyes and began chanting in an unfamiliar language, her voice carrying a mysterious resonance. Xiao Feng, rather than simply listening, stared at her with such intensity it felt as if he were trying to unravel her very existence, before finally closing his eyes. A slight chill ran down Xia¡¯s spine. His gaze unsettled her in a way she couldn¡¯t quite explain. Nine and a half minutes passed, and finally¡ªjust a single letter from the thousands of words she spoke made sense to him. In that instant, a strange power stirred within him, unlike anything he had ever felt before. For the first time in his life, he struggled to comprehend something. Xia¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she noticed a faint, shimmering thread emerging from his body, radiating an aura eerily similar to her own. ¡®Impossible. A mortal¡ªcomprehending this technique? In under ten minutes?¡¯ she thought. ¡®I only did this to test his so-called "error-level" talent¡­ I never expected him to actually understand anything! This shouldn¡¯t be possible. No¡ªhis very existence is an anomaly!¡¯ Her shock slowly morphed into slight irritation. Xiao Feng, noticing that she had suddenly stopped chanting, opened his eyes and asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± He had been enjoying the sensation her words evoked, but now that it was gone, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little disappointed. Shaking off her thoughts, she said seriously, ¡°Listen carefully. I don¡¯t have time to explain everything but never reveal your stats to anyone you don¡¯t trust with your life. It could bring you endless trouble.¡± She then took a deep breath and added, ¡°What I just showed you was a glimpse of the Heavenly Soul Obliteration Technique. It is one of the most powerful techniques I know, and at your current level, you won¡¯t be able to use it for a long time. Train your body and mind currently as that¡¯s the only thing you will be able to depend on for some time.¡± Looking at Xiao Feng one last time, she smirked. ¡°I look forward to seeing what you become. Try not to die, kid, I am looking forward to the next time we meet so try not to disappoint me¡± she continues before pointing at his wrist as a small light orb which was so bright that the brightness spread across the entire area of thousands of miles which forced him to close his eyes, before it flew and got attached to his wrist. ¡°You will know if someone from my faction is nearby when that starts glowing and it also gives you a little support, once again try not to die, kid¡± her voice seemed distant as she was finishing her statement. Xiao Feng wanted to say so many things but just as he was about to open his mouth, he felt an energy enter within him and the next moment he was not in the platform. On the platform where he was, Xia looked at his disappearing figure and said ¡°*Sigh* I really need some rest after that, maybe my eyes were deceiving me all throughout this¡± she says while entering the portal she came from. ¡°I wonder what is about to happen to the world I have to keep this a secret for now, just what kind of an existence is entering this world¡± she says as her figure along with the portal slowly disappeared. When he finally opens his eyes again, he was stunned by what he saw- Descent Upon a New World The young man felt himself floating atop a cloud, weightless yet aware. As he gazed around, he saw thousands of similar clouds, each carrying nearly a hundred people. At the very center of this vast sky, an old man with a long white beard reaching upto his chest sat on a floating chair, his piercing gaze studying the gathered individuals with an amused curiosity. A small smile flickered across the elder''s face before vanishing as he stood from his chair, now standing on air itself. His voice rang with authority. "Welcome to the world of cultivation, where the strong rule and the weak serve." He continued, his voice unwavering. "Each of you has received a technique chosen based on your talent. You had ten minutes to comprehend it. Some of you have been blessed, while others¡­ cursed. You will soon learn the effects once you enter your battlefield." Then, he spoke of rankings. "Physiques, techniques, and bloodlines follow the same hierarchy: Mortal, Earth, Heaven, and Divinity. Mortal is the most common. Earth¡ªone in a thousand. Heaven¡ªone in a million. And Divinity? One in a billion!" His gaze swept across the crowd. "Anyone with a Heaven-ranked physique, raise your hand." Four hands rose among the crowd of millions. "Not bad." He sent four glowing orbs into their wrists. "A small blessing from me for those with a heaven rank or above." Then, his eyes sharpened. "Anyone with a Divinity-ranked physique? Though I doubt any among you possess such fortune." A single hand rose. A young man with various handsome features, blue hair and azure eyes. The old man chuckled, sending forth a brighter orb. "Impressive. You will need this blessing, young man. Since your rank is higher, your blessing will be stronger." His expression turned cold. "Any questions? Find the answers yourselves. Here, only the strong have the right to speak." Finally, he declared, "You will now descend to the Lower Realm, a land divided into five continents¡ªNorth, East, South, West, and Middle. The Middle is the most treacherous. If you wish to stay with someone, think of their name." Many people felt their body turn into a form of light before disappearing. ¡®Xiao Li.¡¯ ¡®Xiao Feng.¡¯ The siblings murmured each other¡¯s names in their minds¡ªand vanished at the same time. In a Forest Xiao Feng¡¯s eyes fluttered open to the rustling of leaves and the scent of damp earth. A soft groan reached his ears. He turned¡ªand froze. Beside him lay a beautiful young woman with long, jet-black hair and delicate features. Xiao Li. His little sister. The one he hadn¡¯t seen in eight years¡ªthe one he thought he might never see again. Their gazes met, and time seemed to stop. "Brother?" Her voice wavered, her body trembling. Then, as if a dam had burst, tears spilled down her cheeks. Xiao Feng tried to smile, but his vision blurred. Tears streamed down his face before he could even speak. His body moved instinctively, arms reaching for her. With a choked sob, Xiao Li threw herself into his embrace, clutching his robes as if afraid he might disappear. "It¡¯s really you¡­ It¡¯s really you!" Xiao Feng swallowed hard, his voice thick with emotion. "You¡¯ve grown so much..." His fingers trembled as he ran them through her hair, gently patting her head. "I¡¯ve missed this feeling, Xiao Li. Thank you." Her body shook against his. "I was so scared! What if this didn¡¯t work? What would I have done then?" Her words came out between sobs. He held her tighter. "But it did work. And now, we¡¯re together again. Look how happy I am." For a long while, they simply held each other, letting the weight of eight lost years melt into the warmth of these sensations they yearned for. Finally, Xiao Li sniffled, pulling back slightly. She wiped her tears and pouted. "Dummy brother. The first thing you do after seeing me is cry?" Xiao Feng let out a shaky laugh, wiping the moisture from her face. "I guess we¡¯re even, then." She chuckled through her remaining sniffles while wiping the tears on Xiao Feng¡¯s face, but her expression suddenly shifted¡ªsharp and focused. A high growl rumbled behind them. Xiao Feng spun just in time to see a five-meter-long wolf with bloodshot eyes lunging toward him. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Brother, move!" Xiao Li screamed. Before he could react, she was already in front of him¡ªher fist colliding with the wolf¡¯s skull. Boom! The beast exploded into a shower of blood and fur. Xiao Feng stood frozen. His little sister¡ªthe one who had just been sobbing in his arms¡ªhad obliterated a five-meter wolf with a single punch. Xiao Li scoffed, shaking the blood from her knuckles. "Hmph. You dare attack my brother? Consider yourself lucky I gave you a quick death." Xiao Feng gulped, a shiver running down his spine. Since when was she this terrifyingly strong? She turned to him, concerned. "Are you okay?" He nodded slowly. "¡­I think I should be the one asking you that." She grinned. "I told you, Brother. I¡¯ve grown up." Then she continued, "Actually, the evaluator lady said I was way too strong for my stage. Can you believe what she said next?" She stomped her foot. "She said I shouldn¡¯t even exist! So rude. I wanted to lecture that NPC so bad." She flipped her palm, showing him her character window. [Name: Xiao Li] [Cultivation Stage: Mortal] [Physical Toughness: 2300] [Physical Strength: 3000] [Mental Strength: 2700] [Soul Strength: 250] [Speed: 2200] [Stamina: 2600] [Physique: Mind and Body Harmonized Physique] [Bloodline: Not Activated] [Soul Purity: 95%] [Talent: Error] Xiao Feng studied the stats. "Looks like we¡¯re total opposites. You¡¯re all brute strength, while I¡¯m... whatever this is." He flipped his own character window for her to see. "Who are you calling a brute?!" She pouted. "And here I thought we¡¯d make a perfect team. You focus on the soul, I focus on the body¡ªit¡¯s like we were made to reach the peak together!" Before Xiao Feng could respond, he noticed something strange¡ªan ethereal energy seeping from the wolf¡¯s corpse. "Xiao Li, do you see that?" he asked, pointing. She frowned. "See what? There¡¯s nothing there." ¡®Weird¡¯ Xiao Feng reached out to touch it. The energy rushed into his hand and condensed into a sphere before shooting into his chest. Pain exploded through his body. It felt as though thousands of ants were burrowing into his bones. He screamed in agony. "BROTHERRR!!" Xiao Li cried out. Seconds later, the pain subsided, replaced by a flood of notifications. [Congratulations! You have broken the shackles of mortality.] [You have entered the 1st Foundation Soul Stage.] [You have entered the 2nd Foundation Soul Stage.] [Physical Toughness: 180 ¡ú 460] [Physical Strength: 160 ¡ú 440] [Mental Strength: 390 ¡ú 670] [Soul Strength: 2700 ¡ú 3160] [Speed: 190 ¡ú 470] [Stamina: 140 ¡ú 420] [Soul Purity: 100% ¡ú 99%] ¡®Huh, I broke through the shackles of mortality. Does that mean I¡¯ve become a cultivator now? And what¡¯s up with this overwhelming strength I suddenly feel in my body? Maybe it¡¯s because all my stats increased at once?¡¯ Before he could process everything, another notification appeared. [Acquired: Soul Cleansing Physique] [Rank: Primordial] [Description: Grants complete control over souls. This ability can be applied to the user¡¯s soul or any living being¡¯s soul simply by thinking about the desired action. It does not alter the personality of the individual¡¯s soul if used for absorption.] [Warning: Cannot be used on souls vastly more powerful than the user¡¯s unless permitted. Attempting to use it on unstable souls may result in damage to the user¡¯s soul.] ¡®So, this is the physique I own? Seems pretty overpowered based on the description. Does this mean I can basically control souls now?¡¯ he wondered as yet another notification appeared. [Xia Lingling¡¯s Blessing] [Rank: Ascendant] [Description: Grants one-time protection against any life-threatening attack from a being weaker than Xia Lingling. If the attacker is stronger, the blessing¡¯s effect will be reduced but still maximized to its potential.] [???????? Curse] [Rank: Progenitor] [Description: ????????] ¡®So, this is the blessing Sister Xia gave me. Not going to lie, it¡¯s pretty useful. But what¡¯s up with this curse? Did she or that old man cursed me? Damn, whoever did this to me!¡¯ He felt a mix of excitement and irritation as another notification appeared. [Learnt: Heavenly Soul Obliteration Technique] [Rank: Immortal] [Description: A devastating soul attack that reduces an enemy¡¯s soul purity.] ¡®This is the technique Sister Xia taught me. It seems incredibly powerful, but as she said, I can¡¯t even use it yet, considering the requirements. Also, what¡¯s with these strange ranks? That senior only mentioned four. Does this mean there are even rarer ranks beyond those? I wonder how rare they are¡­¡¯ His thoughts were interrupted by a worried voice. ¡°Brother, are you okay? What happened to you?¡± Xiao Li asked with concern. ¡°I think I became a cultivator due to that energy, but honestly, I have no idea what¡¯s really going on.¡± He then explained everything that had happened. After listening carefully, Xiao Li suggested, ¡°From what you¡¯ve said, I believe you should test it out on different souls until you understand how it works.¡± ¡°Yes that¡¯s a good idea, let me try.¡± He thought inwardly, ¡®If I can do anything I want with my soul, let¡¯s see if I can restore my soul purity back to 100%.¡¯ ¡®Cleanse my soul to 100% purity,¡¯ he commanded in his mind. The very next moment, thick black mist seeped out of his body, and a notification appeared. [Soul Purity: 99% ¡ú 100%] ¡°Oh, it worked,¡± he muttered. Then, as another thought crossed his mind, he turned to Xiao Li. ¡°Can you help me kill one more beast? I want to test something else.¡± ¡°Of course, Brother! I don¡¯t mind. I just want to enjoy this game with you,¡± she said with a cheerful nod, still slightly confused about what had just happened but relieved that her brother seemed fine. She then led the way excitedly. After about six minutes, they encountered a four-meter-tall gigantic ape. Before it even realized it was under attack, Xiao Li killed it with a single punch. ¡°Wow¡­ That was terrifying. Your pretty face and your monstrous strength are in complete contrast¡± Xiao Feng comments on her strength and chuckles. Xiao Li pouted in mock anger. ¡°Brother! If you say something like that again, I¡¯ll beat you up too!¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry! I wouldn¡¯t dare say it again,¡± Xiao Feng quickly backtracked, imagining himself in the same position as the ape and the wolf and shuddering just at the thought. ¡°Hmph, glad you understand,¡± Xiao Li said proudly. ¡°Now, show me what you wanted to do!¡± ¡°Alright, give me a minute.¡± Xiao Feng focused, then issued a mental command. ¡®Extract the ape¡¯s soul and condense its energy into an orb.¡¯ The corpse trembled as energy rapidly gathered from both within it and the energy that went outside it, forming a glowing orb of condensed soul energy. ¡®Good, that worked. Now for the next step. If my soul purity decreased the last time when I absorbed energy then that must mean impurities were mixed within. That black mist must have been the impurities. Let¡¯s see if I can remove them.¡¯ ¡®Cleanse the impurities within this energy orb¡¯ He orders and as expected, black mist seeped out from the orb. Xiao Feng smirked. ¡®As I thought.¡¯ He then spotted a small, ordinary-looking rabbit under a nearby tree. ¡®Let¡¯s see if I can transfer a portion of the soul energy.¡¯ ¡®Split 10% of this energy and transfer it into that rabbit.¡¯ The orb split in a 1:9 ratio, and 10% of the energy flowed into the rabbit. Immediately, the rabbit¡¯s body grew slightly larger and more muscular, exuding a newfound strength. Xiao Li noticed the change and frowned. ¡°Why does that rabbit suddenly feel stronger than before? Isn¡¯t that too sudden?¡± Xiao Feng nodded. ¡°That was my doing. Can you test it out and see if anything feels off?¡± Xiao Li attacked the rabbit while holding back to avoid killing it. They exchanged blows for about ten seconds before the rabbit suddenly turned and bolted away at full speed. ¡°Did you notice any unusual behaviour?¡± Xiao Feng asked. ¡°Well, aside from becoming stronger and faster, it seemed almost¡­ happy and confident for some reason,¡± Xiao Li replied after pondering for a while. Xiao Feng grinned. ¡°That means the experiment was a success. I can not only absorb others¡¯ soul energy, but I can also transfer it safely. Let¡¯s test it further to ensure there are no side effects. We can¡¯t afford mistakes when dealing with souls.¡± Xiao Li nodded, and together, they experimented on various creatures, confirming that the process was safe. Eventually, they stood before the massive corpse of a bear. Xiao Feng¡¯s heart pounded as he stared at the glowing orb of condensed soul energy. He had tested small doses, but this time, he was about to do something completely different¡ªtransferring an entire soul¡¯s worth of energy. His fingers trembled as he clenched his fist. ¡®What if something goes wrong? What if I hurt her instead of helping her?¡¯ The thought gnawed at his mind. He looked at Xiao Li. She stood confidently, but there was a faint hint of unease in her eyes, as if she could sense his hesitation. ¡°Are you sure you want to do this?¡± he asked, his voice carrying a trace of nervousness. Xiao Li nodded firmly. Determination flashed in her eyes. ¡°I trust you completely, Brother. I want to grow stronger with you.¡± Xiao Feng inhaled deeply, then exhaled. No turning back now. ¡®100% of the bear¡¯s soul¡­ enter Xiao Li¡¯s body.¡¯ The moment the thought formed, the energy shot forward¡ªstraight into Xiao Li¡¯s chest. Her eyes widened. And then¡ª Xiao Lis Awakening As the energy entered Xiao Li¡¯s body, she trembled violently. A golden aura surged out from within her, blinding Xiao Feng and forcing him to close his eyes. The monsters in their vicinity¡ªwithin a 10-mile radius¡ªalso reacted to the overwhelming energy. ¡°XIAO LI!!!¡± Xiao Feng¡¯s heart pounded as worry consumed him. ¡®This¡­ this didn¡¯t happen when I absorbed the energy. Then why is it happening to her? I knew I shouldn¡¯t have accepted her request¡­¡¯ regret, that is what he was feeling Xiao Li, wracked with excruciating pain as she quickly sat down cross-legged, trying to control the overwhelming power surging within her. But to her horror, she couldn''t do anything with it. Just as despair threatened to consume her, believing she was about to die¡ª A notification popped up before her eyes. Her breath hitched as her eyes widened. Never in her life had she expected such a thing to appear. [The Heaven peers into your existence.....] [The Heaven is unable to determine your potential.....] [The Heaven is intrigued by your existence.....] [The Heaven has decided to bestow a gift upon you.....] *Whoosh* The golden aura surrounding her suddenly rushed toward the sky. Dark clouds gathered at an alarming rate, casting an ominous shadow over the land. A deafening roar echoed as trees were uprooted, their trunks shattering from the sheer pressure emanating from above. Then, another notification appeared. [An event is detected.] [Prepare for the event: Heavenly Tribulation.] Xiao Li looked up once more¡ªthen froze. A bolt of lightning struck her. A bloodcurdling scream tore from her lips, so raw and agonized it could send chills down anyone¡¯s spine. But this was only the beginning. One after another, more bolts rained down, merciless and unrelenting. Each strike seared her flesh, wracking her body with unbearable torment. ¡°Shock¡± ¡°Shock¡± ¡°Shock¡± ¡°Shock¡± ¡°Shock¡± ¡°Shock¡± ¡°Shock¡± ¡°Shock¡± Eight more bolts of lightning tore through her. Her body lay smoldering on the scorched earth, charred beyond recognition, smoke rising from her trembling form. The sky refused to grant her mercy. As the storm subsided, Xiao Feng received a notification. [You have died.] [No respawn point found.] [Respawning at your starting point.] His body reformed, but he had no time to process what had happened. He immediately ran toward the place where he had last been before dying. When he arrived, his heart clenched at the sight before him. A crater nearly 20 meters wide surrounded Xiao Li¡¯s unconscious body. No trees, no monsters¡ªeverything within 100 meters had been obliterated. He rushed to her side. Her body was charred, her face contorted in silent agony, her voice too weak to even scream. Guilt and helplessness overwhelmed him. Tears formed in his eyes. I should have stopped her. I should have protected her. Then, a thought struck him. Xia Lingling¡¯s Blessing. ¡®Maybe¡­ maybe I can transfer it to her.¡¯ He hesitated. ¡®But the blessing didn¡¯t save me from the lightning, which means the attack was stronger than Sister Xia¡¯s power¡­ But since the lightning has ended, maybe it can at least help her heal. Since Xiao Li didn¡¯t die, there must be a reason for it.¡¯ Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. He took a deep breath and commanded in his mind: ¡®Xia Lingling¡¯s Blessing, exit my body and enter Xiao Li¡¯s.¡¯ [A soul fragment from Xia Lingling detected.] Oh¡­ so blessings are actually part of a person¡¯s soul? That means only people like me who can control souls can do this¡­ [The fragment is tremendously more powerful than the user. Cannot force manipulation. Requesting access...] [The fragment allows access.] A soft light emerged from Xiao Feng¡¯s wrist and entered Xiao Li¡¯s body. [The fragment enters the individual ¡®Xiao Li¡¯s¡¯ body.] [Potential Death Detected.] [Taking Precautions¡­] [Success.] As the final notification appeared, an aura identical to Xia Lingling¡¯s surged from Xiao Li¡¯s body, enveloping her in a radiant glow. Her charred skin slowly regained its color, burns fading as if time itself was reversing the damage. Her pale, tortured expression softened, her ragged breaths steadied. The screams that once filled the air were no more¡ªshe was healing. The sky cleared, returning to its former calmness. Xiao Feng heaved a deep sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯m so glad that worked.¡± His eyes lingered on Xiao Li¡¯s peaceful face. ¡°What exactly happened to her?¡± Meanwhile, in a distant place, an ethereal beauty sat on a luxurious chair, sighing in exasperation. "Sigh¡­ Why did I feel the blessing I gave that brat resonate twice already? It hasn¡¯t even been an hour since we parted ways!" Her brows furrowed. "And the fact that it resonated not once but twice¡­ that means it failed to protect him the first time. How is he already encountering existences stronger than me?? "Am I really that weak that someone from the lower realms can overwhelm my power?" If someone told her that Xiao Feng had just been struck by an attack from The Heaven itself, who knows what her reaction would be? "I give up. I don¡¯t understand that brat. He¡¯s already given me several headaches in an hour. If I keep thinking about him, I might die." She waved a hand dismissively. "If fate allows it, we shall meet again. It¡¯s not like I can help him any more than I already have." This beauty was, of course, Xia Lingling. Hours later, in the forest, Xiao Li¡¯s eyes twitched. Slowly, she opened them¡ªfinding herself resting on her brother¡¯s lap. Xiao Feng sat with his eyes closed, one hand holding hers, the other gently patting her head in comfort. ¡°¡­Brother,¡± she whispered. His eyes snapped open. Seeing her awake, relief washed over him. ¡°Xiao Li! Are you okay?¡± She nodded weakly. ¡°Un.¡± ¡°You should rest some more. We can talk about what happened later.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine now, Brother. So¡­ where are we? And what happened after that lightning strike?¡± ¡°Well, you fell unconscious and were on the verge of dying,¡± Xiao Feng explained. ¡°I managed to heal you thanks to something I was given during my evaluation. After that, I carried you to a nearby cave, and here we are now.¡± Xiao Li listened carefully before noticing a series of notifications flashing in front of her. [Congratulations! You have broken the shackles of mortality.] [You have entered the 1st Foundation Soul Stage.] [You have entered the 2nd Foundation Soul Stage.] [You have entered the 3rd Foundation Soul Stage.] [Physical Toughness: 2300 ¡ú 3140] [Physical Strength: 3000 ¡ú 3840] [Mental Strength: 2700 ¡ú 3540] [Soul Strength: 250 ¡ú 690] [Speed: 2200 ¡ú 3120] [Stamina: 2600 ¡ú 3420] ¡®Woah! It seems that just like Brother, I¡¯m a cultivator now too!¡¯ [Acquired: Body and Mind Harmonizing Physique] [Acquired: Eternal Physique¡ªThrough the Heavenly Tribulations] [Attempting to combine physiques...] [Success!] [Acquired: Eternal Body and Mind Harmonizing Physique] [Rank: Primordial] [Description: Grants complete control over minds. This ability can be applied to the user¡¯s own mind or any living being¡¯s mind simply by thinking about the desired action. It also weakens enemies with an oppressive aura, whose intensity is determined by the difference in strength. The greater the gap in strength, the stronger the oppressive force (Can be disabled).] ¡®Woah, that¡¯s one hell of a physique. But what was the point of that lightning if I cannot even access its powers *sigh*. I really am the complete opposite of Brother in this game. I wonder if this is just a coincidence¡­¡¯ Xiao Li pondered inwardly. [Learned: Oppressive Domain] [Rank: Ascendant] [Description: Creates a domain with a radius proportional to the user¡¯s mental strength. Clears the minds of the user and allies while significantly boosting their physical strength, toughness, stamina, and speed relative to their enemies.] [Requirement: Mental Strength > 20,000] ¡®Hmm, so this is the technique that lady taught me back then. Not bad! If I weaken enemies with my physique first and then strengthen myself using this technique... would that work?¡¯ Xiao Li thought. ¡°Xiao Li, are you feeling unwell?¡± Xiao Feng asked. ¡°Ah, Brother, you know how you changed after absorbing that soul energy? Well, the same thing just happened to me¡ªexcept for the lightning part. See for yourself.¡± Xiao Li opened her character window. [Name: Xiao Li] [Cultivation Stage: 3rd Foundation Soul Stage] [Physical Toughness: 3140] [Physical Strength: 3840] [Mental Strength: 3540] [Soul Strength: 690] [Speed: 3120] [Stamina: 3420] [Physique: Eternal Body and Mind Harmonizing Physique] [Bloodline: Not Activated] [Soul Purity: 100%] [Talent: Error] ¡°From both our stats, we can see that we gain 140 points in all attributes upon reaching a higher stage. However, our specializations are different. In my case, I gain double points in Soul Strength per level-up, while you gain double in everything else since your physique focuses on both body and mind, and what''s up with the addition of eternal to your physique.¡± Xiao Feng deduced. Xiao Li proceeds to explain all the notifications, she then continues a little irritated. ¡°Brother, stop sweating over the smaller details. Forget about all this stuff, ever since we entered this game, one crazy thing after another has happened! Let¡¯s explore the area and have some ¡®normal¡¯ fun for once,¡± Xiao Li pleaded. ''Small details huh...'' Xiao Feng pondered for a moment before speaking with a smile. ¡°Yes, I was thinking the same. Let¡¯s set the complicated stuff aside for now. We should hunt in the forest for a while until we find signs of civilization. We haven¡¯t met a single player or NPC since arriving here. Heading to the nearest city or town would help us understand our current location.¡± Xiao Feng suggested. Xiao Li stood up excitedly. ¡°Alright! Onward to the forest¡ªto hunt and kill!¡± Xiao Feng smiled awkwardly, wondering what the game had done to his once cute and harmless sister. He sighed before standing up as well. ¡°To gather information, not to kill. Do you understand that?¡± ¡°Hehe, of course, of course¡± Xiao Li replied, walking forward confidently. Xiao Feng sighed again, wondering what crazy event they would witness next. But a glint of excitement remained in his eyes¡ªeager to explore this unknown world. They kept clearing their way through the forest. They did not gain much in this adventure and weren¡¯t even able to raise their stage, contrary to how easy it has been to raise it up till now. As they marched forward, they discovered¡ª First Encounter Xiao Feng heard the sounds of battle coming from the east. ¡°Did you hear that, Xiao Li?¡± he asked. Xiao Li nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go see.¡± They then started running toward the source of the noise. A couple hundred meters away¡ª ¡°Hahaha, this is the end for you, Miss Ma! Now be a good girl and do me the favor of dying.¡± A muscular, giant man shouted as he swung his sword. ¡°Clank!¡± ¡°Young Miss, run away while I hold off these bastards!¡± A female knight, her body covered in bruises and blood, urged the young woman, who was barely holding her ground against four opponents. ¡°Damn it, Yue! I already told you¡ªwe live or die together! Stop worrying about me and focus!¡± the young woman yelled, slicing a man in two. The remaining three attackers coordinated their strikes, preventing the young woman from moving freely. ¡°If you¡¯re only after our treasures, we¡¯ll give them to you! Just stop this and let the Young Miss go, Bai Zhan!¡± the knight, Yue, pleaded as she fought the towering man before her. Bai Zhan scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Yue. You¡¯ve known me for years, so you must know I don¡¯t like leaving future troubles behind. I always cut them down without a second thought.¡± He grinned devilishly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, though. To honor the time we spent working together, I¡¯ll make sure to give you the most painful, torturous death possible.¡± ¡°You sick bastard!¡± Yue spat in disgust. The battle soon reached its climax. The young woman fell to her knees, panting. ¡°Damn it¡­! My body refuses to move when I need it most! I¡¯m not this weak¡ªstand up¡­! Get up¡­!¡± she willed herself, but her body wouldn¡¯t listen. ¡°Boss, what should we do with her? She can¡¯t fight anymore,¡± one of the men asked Bai Zhan. ¡°Do you even need to ask?¡± Bai Zhan sneered, his gaze shifting to Yue. Her eyes were filled with despair. Then, with a twisted smile, he said, ¡°Torture her to death, obviously.¡± Yue¡¯s body shuddered at his words. A surge of killing intent exploded from her as she lunged at Bai Zhan, aiming for his throat. But Bai Zhan merely smiled. He crouched, swung his sword¡¯s hilt, and struck Yue¡¯s wrist, making her drop her weapon. ¡°You finally let down your guard, Yue. As expected of the Ma family¡¯s genius. You know what time it is now, right? It¡¯s torture ti¡ª¡± Before he could finish, a powerful force sent him flying, crashing into a tree. Coughing up a mouthful of blood, he barely registered what had happened. His blurry vision cleared just enough to see an ethereal beauty standing beside Yue, staring at him with a disgusted, furious expression. It was Xiao Li. Meanwhile, Xiao Feng swiftly incapacitated the men surrounding the young woman. Xiao Li turned to Yue. ¡°Hey, are you alright?¡± she asked, concerned. Yue nodded before speaking. ¡°I thank you, benefactors, for saving the Young Miss and me. I express my utmost gratitude.¡± She then dropped to one knee, lowering her head. ¡°So formal,¡± Xiao Li chuckled. ¡°C¡¯mon, don¡¯t be like that. Stand up¡ªyou still have a duty to fulfill, don¡¯t you?¡± She turned to Bai Zhan, who was gritting his teeth in rage. ¡°Who the hell are you?! How dare you attack someone from the Ma family? Do you have any idea what the consequences of your actions will be?!¡± Bai Zhan threatened. ¡°Heah. And who exactly would tell your Ma family about this?¡± Xiao Li shot back, glancing at Yue before refocusing on Bai Zhan. ¡°The people you tried to kill? Do you think they¡¯ll help you?¡± Bai Zhan¡¯s eyes flickered toward Yue. ¡°Yue, you know I would never harm you or the Young Miss! I attacked you both to teach you a valuable much needed lesson. You were too inexperienced¡ªI wanted to show you the reality of the world so that you¡¯d be more cautious in the future!¡± he pleaded. Xiao Li couldn¡¯t believe he could lie with such a straight face. Just as she was about to speak¡ª ¡°A mere servant dares to teach his master? I wonder where you found the audacity to spew such blatant lies after drugging our comrades last night!¡± The Young Miss¡¯s voice was laced with fury. ¡°If Yue and I hadn¡¯t fallen asleep early due to training, we would have died, too.¡± She gritted her teeth, fists clenched. ¡°One of our most trusted men¡­ killed dozens of his own comrades. And I was powerless to stop it.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. She took a deep breath before issuing an order. ¡°Knight Yue, I command you to behead the traitor. Let our fallen comrades rest in peace.¡± ¡°Yes, Young Miss.¡± Yue stepped toward Bai Zhan, her face emotionless. ¡°Wait, Yue! I did it for you! For the Young Miss! Think about the loyalty I have shown all these years¡ªspare me just this once! I promise I won¡¯t ever do this again!¡± Bai Zhan begged. Yue looked down at him and muttered, ¡°You disgust me.¡± With one swift motion, she beheaded him. Memories of how he had guided her when she first joined the Ma family flashed through her mind. But she did not shed a tear. He didn¡¯t deserve it after what he did. Xiao Feng and Xiao Li watched in silence, slightly disturbed. This was their first time witnessing someone kill a person. But they understood¡ªthis world belonged to the strong. The weak could only suffer. The Young Miss looked at the dozen of corpses with a sorrowful expression. Then, turning to Xiao Feng and Xiao Li, she spoke. ¡°I thank you, benefactors, for everything. As a token of gratitude, please accept the treasures in our carriage.¡± She lowered her head. ¡°That isn¡¯t necessary,¡± Xiao Feng replied. ¡°We didn¡¯t do this for a reward. We did it because it was the right thing to do.¡± He turned to Xiao Li. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Xiao Li smiled. ¡°Besides, we watched the situation before stepping in. It was clear you were betrayed. Instead of treasures, we¡¯d prefer something else¡ªIf you are heading towards a city, take us with you to the city you¡¯re heading to. We¡¯ve been stuck in this forest for too long.¡± The Young Miss was slightly taken aback by their friendliness but soon smiled. ¡°Of course. We have no issue with that.¡± She then turned to Yue. ¡°Prepare the carriage for departure. Take care of those three men and bury our fallen comrades first.¡± ¡°Yes, Young Miss.¡± Yue left to carry out her orders. The Young Miss then introduced herself. ¡°I am Ma Shanguan from the Ma family of the Middle Continent. You may call me Shanguan. The knight beside me is Ning Yue, my personal bodyguard. We were traveling here to sell treasures at an upcoming auction in Mystic City. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± ¡°My name is Xiao Feng, and this is my sister, Xiao Li. We are wandering travelers, exploring the world together. It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± Xiao Feng replied. After some time, Yue returned. ¡°Young Miss, the carriage is ready. We can depart at any time.¡± Shanguan nodded, and the trio boarded the carriage while Yue took the reins, guiding the horse-drawn vehicle down the road. Inside the carriage, Shanguan retrieved five rings and handed them to Xiao Feng and Xiao Li. ¡°These are the spatial rings of the men who tried to kill us. These should be rightfully yours, please accept it.¡± Xiao Li furrowed her brows as she examined the rings. ¡°What is this? Why are you giving us these strange rings?¡± Shanguan raised an eyebrow. ¡°You don¡¯t know about spatial rings?¡± The duo shook their heads simultaneously. ¡®Just where did they come from?¡¯ she wondered before explaining, ¡°These are called spatial rings. They are convenient storage items that create a unique dimension where anything placed inside is kept safe. Only the wearer of the ring can access its storage space. Try it for yourselves¡ªit¡¯s pretty easy.¡± The siblings exchanged glances before following her instructions. They each focused on their rings and, to their amazement, pulled out swords. After inspecting them briefly, they placed the swords back inside. ¡°What a miraculous item! This will make our lives so much easier,¡± Xiao Feng said in awe as he studied the ring. Xiao Li nodded excitedly in agreement. Shanguan, still bewildered, couldn¡¯t hold back her curiosity any longer. ¡°You¡¯ve never used spatial rings before? Just where did you come from?¡± ¡°As we said, we¡¯re wandering travelers,¡± Xiao Feng replied. ¡°We spent most of our lives in the forest, so we don¡¯t know much about the world. Actually, we know almost nothing.¡± Shanguan was stunned. For a moment, she simply stared at them, unable to comprehend how two people with such limited knowledge had survived, let alone become this strong. ¡°Sister Shanguan, can you tell us which continent we¡¯re on and a little about it?¡± Xiao Li asked. Shanguan gave Xiao Li a long, perplexed look before sighing and answering anyway. ¡°This is the Middle Continent. It is divided into three areas¡ªOuter, Inner, and Core. We are currently in the Outer Area, where the strongest monsters are generally only at the Foundation Soul Stage. The deeper you go, the stronger the monsters become, reaching far higher cultivation stages. The city we are heading to is also located in the Outer Area.¡± ¡°What are the different cultivation stages?¡± Xiao Feng asked curiously. ¡°Well, we are in the lower realms, so the highest stage attainable here is the Grand Mastered Soul Stage. The progression goes as follows: Foundation Soul, Tempered Soul, Advanced Soul, Mastered Soul, and finally, Grand Mastered Soul. Each major stage consists of nine minor stages. According to my father, higher realms exist beyond this one, with even greater cultivation levels.¡± Shanguan paused for a moment before adding, ¡°Oh, by the way, that gigantic bastard you fought was already at the 1st Tempered Soul Stage, while you are only at the 3rd Foundation Soul Stage. How were you able to defeat him despite such a vast gap in cultivation? Both Yue and I are considered geniuses, capable of fighting opponents four minor stages above us, and we are both at the 6th Foundation Soul Stage¡ªyet even we wouldn¡¯t have been able to beat him.¡± Xiao Li thought for a moment before responding, ¡°Hmm¡­ I think it¡¯s because of my physique.¡± Shanguan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Oh? You must have quite a high-ranked physique, then.¡± Not wanting to pry further, she decided to leave the matter alone. After some travel, they finally reached their first city in the game¡ªMystic City At the city gate, the duo had their entrance fare paid by Shanguan. After entering, they looked around- Before them stretched a magnificent, wide road paved with polished stone, gleaming under the afternoon sun. On either side, vibrant stalls overflowed with exotic goods¡ªsilken robes embroidered with gold thread, mystical trinkets pulsing with faint energy, steaming skewers of meat sizzling on open grills, and toys that whirred and danced as if alive. The city pulsed with excitement, a grand spectacle of colors, scents, and sounds. ¡°All this crowd is because of the auction that will begin in three days. Many merchants come here during this time, hoping to sell their goods,¡± Shanguan explained. Xiao Feng and Xiao Li looked around in awe at all the amazing things around them. They made their way to an inn, where they received two separate rooms, also paid for by Shanguan. ¡°Sister Shanguan, thank you very much for covering our expenses. We¡¯ll be heading out to explore the city after resting for a bit. You should rest too¡ªI bet it¡¯s been tough on you,¡± Xiao Li said. Shanguan nodded before bowing slightly and saying, ¡°Thank you for everything. It¡¯s only because of you that Yue and I are alive.¡± She then took out two spatial rings and handed them to the duo. ¡°The rings I gave you before belonged to those bastards, but these are my way of expressing gratitude. Each ring contains 100 gold coins, a set of the best armor we have, and food for ten days. Ah, don¡¯t worry¡ªthe food won¡¯t rot inside a spatial ring.¡± ¡°Since you insist so much, we¡¯ll accept it.¡± The duo each took a ring and wore it on their index fingers. ¡°Good. This will be our primary ring, and we¡¯ll store all the other rings and our stuff inside it,¡± Xiao Li said with a bright smile. Shanguan also smiled upon hearing this. Then, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll be busy preparing my items for the auction, so we won¡¯t be able to meet for a while. If you¡¯d like, you¡¯re welcome to attend the auction.¡± She then took out a platinum token from her spacial ring and handed it to Xiao Feng. ¡°Show this to the guards if you want to enter. They¡¯ll let you in directly.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll definitely come. See you soon, then. Take care Sister Shanguan,¡± Xiao Li said before she and Xiao Feng entered their respective rooms. After they left, Shanguan turned to Yue in her room. ¡°Yue, what do you think about those two?¡± ¡°They seem like good people, Young Miss. I didn¡¯t sense any ill intent from them, and they didn¡¯t appear to be after our treasures. I think we can trust them,¡± Yue replied. ¡°I told you to call me Shanguan when we¡¯re alone. Officially, you¡¯re my bodyguard, but first and foremost you¡¯re my friend. Don¡¯t speak so formally when it¡¯s just us,¡± Shanguan lectured, pouting in mild frustration. Yue smiled upon seeing this. ¡°Yes, yes, Shanguan. Stop whining. Come on, get cleaned up and rest a little. A lot has happened, and you need rest.¡± Shanguan stared at Yue in shock and defended. ¡°I am not whining, okay? And what¡¯s up with this sudden change of tone? Hmph, forget it.¡± She stomped toward the washroom, her frustration evident. ¡®*Sigh*... I wonder what will happen now. So many people in her group were killed, and all the blame will fall on her. With the existing pressure and problems, she already faces... I can only hope for the best,¡¯ Yue thought inwardly, concerned. In Xiao Feng¡¯s and Xiao Li¡¯s room- ¡°Brother, we¡¯ve been playing for almost six hours. We already skipped breakfast, and its lunchtime now. Get off the game so I can clean you up and feed you lunch,¡± Xiao Li said. ¡°Alright,¡± Xiao Feng answered. They both logged off the game. As their consciousness returned to their real bodies, Xiao Feng, unlike in the game, once again felt nothing¡ªjust as always, he couldn¡¯t see, sense his body or surroundings at all. Xiao Li then entered his room and¡ª