Cultivation starts with picking up attributes
Chapter 98: Ch-98: Do you understand

Chapter 98: Ch-98: Do you understand

Feng Yin walked beside him in her usual quiet grace, though her eyes flicked toward him every so often. Suspicion, concern... maybe a little curiosity.

"You still humming?"

She asked, voice low.

He blinked.

"What?"

She said, tapping her own chest.

"You’re giving off heat like a furnace. Makes me want to roast mushrooms on you."

He smirked, slipping his hands into his sleeves.

"Then bring seasoning next time."

"Maybe I’ll bring a skewer," she muttered, but the corner of her mouth lifted.

They climbed up to the mountain peak where Elder Su resided.

The climb was long, lined with ancient pine trees and interwoven with roots that had probably seen the rise and fall of sect leaders.

As they passed a pavilion, two Inner Sect disciples nodded in greeting, but their eyes lingered on Tian Shen longer than usual.

Word traveled fast, especially when it came to freak breakthroughs and ominous heavenly signs.

By the time they arrived at the towering doors of the Inner Sect Hall, Tian Shen could feel his heart picking up pace.

Not fear. Just... anticipation.

Two bronze guardian statues flanked the entrance, their sculpted gazes watching like ancient sentinels.

She made some changes, it seemed.

The doors loomed ahead, adorned with carvings of qilins and phoenixes locked in eternal dance. Feng Yin stepped aside, letting him open them.

Tian Shen pushed the doors open.

The hall was spacious, high-vaulted, with sunlight filtering in through arched windows.

A subtle fragrance of sandalwood clung to the air, calming yet dignified.

Elder Su sat at her jade desk, a delicate brush poised in her hand.

She was a vision of composed elegance—Her gaze, always serene and unreadable, lifted as they entered.

She felt some changes in Tian Shen, but she didn’t pay it mind.

"Tian Shen. Feng Yin."

She gestured, and the doors quietly swung shut behind them. A subtle formation triggered. Elder Su was always prepared.

Tian Shen bowed deeply.

"Master."

Feng Yin offered a respectful nod.

"Elder Su."

Elder Su’s eyes didn’t leave Tian Shen.

"The sky stirred this morning. And now it seems it’s your doing, Report."

Tian Shen stepped forward and held out the shattered jade seal.

"It broke during my cultivation," he said, voice steady. "I wasn’t trying to break through. It just... happened."

Elder Su’s fingers brushed over the shards. Her eyes narrowed, not in anger, but calculation.

"There was no external catalyst? No pill, no treasure?"

Tian Shen hesitated.

Feng Yin jumped in, arms crossed.

"His body started glowing. Then the wind got so intense it nearly turned me into a feather duster."

Elder Su’s lips twitched—barely noticeable.

"Come closer."

Tian Shen stepped forward, and Elder Su rose, approaching him. She was tall—not in height, but in presence.

Her Spiritual Pressure rolled off her in soft waves, enough to humble most disciples to their knees.

With a gentle motion, she lifted her hand and pressed two fingers to his wrist.

A soft hum. A current of Spiritual Sense flowed into him.

And then—

Symbols flickered across his inner meridians. His Core shimmered. For a split moment, the faint echo of a divine rhythm played between them.

Elder Su’s eyes widened a fraction. The shift was subtle, but it was there.

But she said nothing.

Instead, she stepped back, gaze unreadable.

"Do you know what cultivation realms implies."

The two newbies shook theor head in sync.

"Body Refinement, Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, also known as 1st phase of cultivation, these three Realms focuses on empowering the Body and making it tough enough to intake Spiritual Qi."

"Core Formation, Core Reinforcement and Utopian Core Realm, the 2nd phase, focuses on Spiritual Qi. Core Formation, in particular."

She paused a bit, seeing the newbies looking straight at her, she continued.

"In Core Formation, The Spiritual Qi that’s stored in your body is compressed into a semi-solid sphere, replicating the principles of formation of Celestial bodies. Introducing Cultivators to the force of electromagnetism, which gives the Cultivators a more major upgrade as where to before."

Tian Shen stayed quiet the whole time. In his mind, there’s only one thing loudly screaming.

’AND I THOUGHT THAT CULTIVATION WAS UNSCIENTIFIC!!’

Just then, system also came out of its non-consented Quarantine.

『Cultivation is in accordance with the laws of the universe, so you can assume it as scientific.』

’Oh, you still alive?’

He asked, surprised by the sudden interruption.

『...The system is not considered as a living or conscious entity.』

Even the system was speechless by this, but still, as user friendly as it was, it answered his query.

’Anyways, show me my status.’

Tian Shen put aside the useless matter and just came straight to the point.

___

『Host』: Tian Shen

『Cultivation』: 1st Stage of Core Formation Realm

『Auxiliary Profession』: Formation Master (3-star), Alchemist (3-star), Talisman Master (4-star), Weapon Refiner (2-star)

『Physique』: 14340

『Spirit』: 13000

『Qi』: 12050

『Luck』: 10006

『Charm』: 10005

『Martial Arts Experience』: 0

『Auxiliary Profession Experience』: Alchemist–600, Formation Master–900, Weapon Refiner–300, Talisman Master–2000

『Cultivation Arts』: Sun Revolution Cultivation Technique (4-Star) – Master

『Martial Art』: Poison aura Finger Technique → Venomuos Beam Technique (3-Star) – Master, Storm Chasing Technique → Storm Riding Technique (3-Star) – Master, Body Tempering Technique (2-Star) – Major Accomplishment

『Divine Power』: Beastial Sword Intent, Ordinary Yang Physique

『Storage』: Soul Sword, Beast spirit Sword...

『Spiritual Beast Companion』: Little Mei (Blood Fox), Drowsy (Chicken Empress)

『Undistributed Attributes』: Thunder Element ×50, Fire Element ×300, Poison Element...

___

Looking until he was satisfied, he blinked the window away.

At last, Elder Su finally completed her speech.

"Now, You understand?"

"Huh, Oh, a little bit," he replied dryly, but from his face she knew it wasn’t even little bit.

Sighing, she turned to Feng Yin, who now looked like a serious student who understood everything. This, Elder Su was satisfied with.

Elder Su gave her a satisfied glance, but said nothing. Instead, she turned to Tian Shen and nodded slowly.

"You will remain in seclusion for three days. I’ll assign you a new Courtyard. Feng Yin, you may accompany him."

Feng Yin nodded like the wife she was.

Elder Su’s gaze softened—just slightly.

"But you handled the breakthrough well."

Tian Shen’s brow lifted.

"Was that a compliment, Master?"

She turned away, expression unreadable once more.

"Don’t let it get to your head."

As they turned to leave, Elder Su added.

"Tian Shen."

He paused.

"Try not to seduce any more masters during your cultivation."

Feng Yin choked while Tian Shen almost died of heart attack.

...

They stepped out into the morning light. Birds flitted across the treetops. The world carried on. But something had shifted.

Feng Yin nudged him with her elbow.

"So... New Courtyard. Huh."

He murmured.

"Should be fun."

"It is, with you."

Tian Shen laughed, light and true.

The path down the mountain peak wound gently through lush greenery, the morning dew still clinging to the grass like reluctant tears.

Tian Shen walked a step ahead, hands behind his back in the manner of a scholar who definitely didn’t just get roasted by his master.

Feng Yin walked beside him with her usual calm air, though her lips were twitching suspiciously.

"So..." she said slowly, "how many women have you seduced actually?"

Tian Shen halted mid-step and gave her a long, sideways stare.

"You think I keep a ledger for that?"

She shrugged innocently.

"Let me clarify something," he said. "I don’t seduce. I exist. They get seduced."

"Oh, poor you," she said, patting his shoulder with mock pity. "Such a burden, being so charming."

"I suffer in silence."

"Liar."

He chuckled. It was easy, this banter with her. Like tossing pebbles into a stream and watching the ripples dance.

Ahead, their new courtyard came into view—nestled against the mountainside, surrounded by a veil of mist that reflected sunlight in faint prisms.

A small waterfall trickled nearby, feeding into a serene pond with white lotus blossoms lazily floating atop it. The courtyard was quiet, elegant, and undoubtedly... romantic.

Feng Yin’s eyebrows lifted.

"You sure this is for cultivation and not a honeymoon retreat?"

"Don’t ask me," Tian Shen muttered. "Apparently I’m being supervised, not seduced."

Feng Yin’s smirk was practically glowing.

"We’ll see about that."

As they crossed the threshold of the courtyard, a subtle formation pulsed once—acknowledging their presence.

The wooden floors gleamed with polish, and soft cushions were arranged on the veranda overlooking the pond.

Two adjoining rooms awaited them, separated by a sliding bamboo screen.

"Well," Feng Yin said, glancing around, "not a bad place to explode if things go wrong."

Tian Shen rolled his eyes.

"You’re a comforting presence, truly."

She stepped up beside him and leaned in slightly, her voice dropping.

"I mean it," she said. "If something happens... I’ll be here."

Her warmth wasn’t just in her words. It was in her eyes, that quiet fire behind them that never asked for thanks.

Tian Shen looked at her for a long moment, the smile on his lips softening.

"Then let’s make sure nothing does."

And behind his casual tone, he meant every word.

Just then, Feng Yin dropped the bombshell.

"You are forgetting our two little cuties."

"Oh, Sh*t!"

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