Lin Ming ignored the lingering stares and celebratory whispers, quickly finding a secluded spot in the now-empty school gymnasium. The adrenaline from the fight faded, replaced by an eager anticipation. He closed his eyes and focused on the glowing blue panel in his mind.
[Name: Lin Ming]
[Age: 16]
[Cultivation Realm: Qi Refining - Early Stage]
[Battle Will Points: 2135 / 2000 to advance]
[System Prompt: Host has sufficient points for breakthrough. Would you like to proceed to Mid-Stage Qi Refining? This process may cause slight dizziness, a warm and fuzzy feeling, and a sudden craving for roast duck.]
"Ignore the craving part and just do it," Lin Ming commanded. "Consume 2000 points and begin the breakthrough."
[-2000 Battle Will Points deducted. Beginning advancement!]
Instantly, the small energy vortex in his dantian began to spin wildly. A powerful suction force pulled the surrounding worldly energy—invisible and inaccessible to normal people—into his body. It felt like standing in a warm waterfall. The energy refined his limbs, strengthened his organs, and sharpened his senses. His bones became denser, his muscles more pliable and explosive.
The miniature vortex in his dantian grew larger, spinning faster and becoming more stable. His Qi capacity had effectively doubled.
The entire process lasted only a few minutes. When he opened his eyes again, the world seemed different. Crisper. The faint smell of chalk dust in the gym was as clear as perfume. He could hear the low hum of the fluorescent lights and the scuttling of a spider in the corner of the ceiling. His vision was sharper, his body felt light yet powerful, brimming with energy.
[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully reached Qi Refining - Mid Stage!]
[Physical Attributes Increased: Strength +20%, Speed +20%, Endurance +30%]
[New Ability Unlocked: Qi Sense (Passive)]
[Qi Sense: Allows the Host to faintly perceive the flow of Qi and living auras within a 10-meter radius. Useful for detecting ambushes and finding people who are hiding in closets.]
Lin Ming clenched his fists. The feeling of power was intoxicating but comforting. This was real, tangible strength. In his past life, he was a skilled soldier, but he was still fundamentally human, fragile. Now... now he was on a path to something more.
[Remaining Battle Will Points: 135]
[Next Milestone: Qi Refining - High Stage. Requirement: 4000 Battle Will Points.]
The requirement had doubled. That meant he'd need to find even more challenging "sparring partners." He smiled. The world was full of them. From street thugs to spoiled young masters, there was no shortage of idiots lining up to contribute to his cultivation journey.
When he arrived home, he found his entire family waiting for him in the living room, their faces a mixture of pride, worry, and sheer disbelief. Lin An jumped up and threw a school champion banner—hastily made from an old bedsheet and markers—around his shoulders.
"CHAMPION! MY BROTHER IS THE CHAMPION!" she squealed.
His mother, Mai, had tears in her eyes. "Oh, Ming... we are so proud. But are you okay? That last punch looked... very painful."
"I'm fine, Mom. Peachy, even," he said with a grin.
His father, Lin Tao, was silent. He stood up and walked over, his eyes scanning Lin Ming from head to toe. The intense analytical gaze was back. As Lin Ming had advanced, his control over his aura had weakened momentarily. An experienced soldier like his father could feel the difference.
"Let's talk," Lin Tao said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Mai, An, give us a minute."
Once the women had reluctantly left the room, Lin Tao closed the door. He turned to face his son, his expression grave.
"No more lies, Ming," he said softly. "No more 'watching documentaries.' I've been a soldier for twenty years. I've fought beside Awakened. What you have... is more than that. The energy coming off you is faint, but it's potent. It feels... ancient. Pure."
Lin Ming froze. He had underestimated his father's perception. The Qi he cultivated wasn't like the raw, chaotic energy of a natural Awakened. It was a structured, refined power, honed by the system. Of course, his father would notice the difference.
Lying was no longer an option. He needed his family's trust. But the truth about rebirth and a system? That was too insane. He had to give them a partial truth they could accept.
"Dad," Lin Ming started, his voice steady. "I... found something. An inheritance."
It was a classic xianxia trope, but it was also the most believable lie.
"Inheritance?" Lin Tao's eyebrows shot up.
"A few weeks ago, in the junkyard... I found an old, damaged data chip," Lin Ming explained, weaving his story. "I managed to fix it. It contained... a training manual. A very old one. From before the wars, maybe even centuries old. It described a way of breathing, of channeling... energy."
He took a risk and held out his palm. He focused, channeling a tiny wisp of Qi to his fingertips. A faint, white mist, visible only in the dim light of the room, swirled around his fingers for a second before dissipating.
Lin Tao's eyes went wide. He stared at Lin Ming's hand, then at his son's face, his mind racing to process what he was seeing. This wasn't a psionic trick or a brute force enhancement. It was something else entirely. Something fundamental.
"This 'manual'... it's how you defeated Pham Tuan," Lin Tao breathed, the pieces clicking into place.
"Yes," Lin Ming nodded. "It calls the energy 'Qi.' It says that with enough training, a person can become... incredibly strong. Strong enough to..." He paused, then finished with conviction. "...strong enough to protect what's important."
Lin Tao stared at his son for a long, silent moment. He saw the fire in his eyes, the unwavering determination. He wasn't looking at a reckless teenager who had stumbled upon power; he was looking at a young man with an old soul, one who carried a heavy burden.
Finally, he let out a long, heavy sigh, a mix of awe and fear. He placed a hand on Lin Ming's shoulder.
"Keep this secret, Ming," he said, his voice deadly serious. "Tell no one else. Not even your mother or sister. The world is not ready for this. If the wrong people find out... if the military or the Madakaros find out... they won't just recruit you. They will dissect you to learn your secret."
"I know, Dad," Lin Ming said. And he did. In his previous life, he had seen what happened to unique individuals who couldn't protect themselves.
"Good," Lin Tao said, his posture straightening again. A fierce, protective light shone in his eyes. "Then we will protect this secret together. You focus on your training. Get stronger. I will handle things on the outside. Anyone who comes asking questions will have to go through me first."
At that moment, the bond between father and son was forged anew, not just with love, but with the shared weight of a world-altering secret.
Lin Ming felt a profound sense of relief. He wasn't alone in this.
As his father left the room to reassure his mother, Lin Ming's thoughts turned back to his cultivation. The next stage was High-Stage Qi Refining. But after that came Foundation Establishment, a realm that required a massive leap in power. According to the vague memories from his past life about Madakaros cultivation, the Foundation Establishment realm allowed for the use of simple techniques—spells.
That was the real game-changer. That was how he could truly start to turn the tide.
But to get there, he needed points. Lots of them. Schoolyard fights wouldn't be enough anymore. He needed bigger stakes, bigger risks.
His mind went back to Instructor Long's offer. The Dragon's Fang unit. Elite special forces. Perhaps he wouldn't join them, but an early admission test... that sounded like the perfect opportunity to meet some high-level, point-rich opponents.