Chapter 2
The morning sun broke through the misty mountain peaks, casting golden light across the sprawling grounds of the Xio Clan estate. Though once a proud and powerful clan, the manor now bore the quiet melancholy of decay—cracked tiles, fading paint, and the eerie silence of dwindling numbers.
Xio Xun walked through the stone corridors like a shadow reborn, his every step steady and filled with purpose. The servant girl from earlier, Mei, scurried ahead of him, nervously glancing back. She had served him before—back when he was the "sickly Young Master"—but this Xio Xun… this was someone else.
He could feel the change too. His senses were sharper. He could hear the flutter of sparrows outside, the distant splash of fish in the garden pond. The air itself felt different—richer, denser, alive with the presence of something invisible.
Qi.
> "System prompt: Host body has stabilized. Physical restructuring complete. Preparing next phase—Qi Refining Realm initiation. Pre-requisites: Cultivation technique required. Suggestion: Acquire foundational manual."
"Exactly where I'm headed," Xio Xun murmured.
---
The Xio Clan Library
The building stood in the heart of the compound—once a center of learning and strategy, now nearly forgotten. Cobwebs clung to its wooden beams, and the scent of old scrolls and dust filled the air.
"Here it is, Young Master," Mei said, bowing deeply. "I'll wait outside."
Xio Xun nodded and stepped inside.
Rows upon rows of shelves towered above him, lined with faded manuals, family records, and worn cultivation scrolls. He wandered through them slowly, his fingers brushing the bindings. He knew nothing about this world—its history, its dangers, its rules. But knowledge was power, and right now, that was what he needed most.
> "Scanning library… relevant beginner techniques found. Filtering by compatibility…"
A soft ding echoed in his mind.
> "Recommended technique: [Ironwood Meridian Scripture]. Grade: Low-Mortal Tier. Focus: Qi Refinement, Body Tempering synergy. Success Rate: 74%. Compatibility: High."
Low tier. But it was a start.
He pulled the scroll from the shelf and unrolled it, eyes tracing the ancient calligraphy. His mind drank in the instructions like a sponge.
"Let's begin."
---
That Night
Cross-legged on the jade floor of his chamber, Xio Xun inhaled deeply. The [Ironwood Meridian Scripture] guided his breathing, his posture, and the flow of his internal energy.
Inhale. Sense the world. Exhale. Draw the Qi.
At first—nothing.
Then—like the tiniest thread of wind—he felt it.
A warm current flowed into his body through his navel. His veins lit up like rivers under moonlight. The energy twisted and turned, trying to push past his blocked meridians.
> "Qi Refining Stage – Initiation Attempt Detected."
> "Warning: Meridians damaged. Process will be painful."
He gritted his teeth. "Do it."
The pain struck instantly—burning, stabbing, as if molten metal was being poured into his bloodstream. He screamed silently, sweat pouring down his face.
But he didn't stop.
He visualized the path the scroll had described—forcing the energy through one channel at a time, reshaping and rebuilding what had been broken by this body's former weakness.
Minutes passed.
Then hours.
> "Qi Refining Stage – First Layer: Achieved."
> "Spiritual Sense activated. Qi pool: Initialized."
Xio Xun collapsed, panting, chest heaving—but inside, a roaring fire had been lit.
He had stepped onto the path of true cultivation.
---
The Next Morning
In the outer courtyard, a group of young Xio clan disciples sparred lazily under the eye of an old instructor. Laughter echoed in the air—until it died abruptly.
All eyes turned to the newcomer.
Xio Xun.
He wore the black robe of the clan, but now it clung to a figure that had grown stronger overnight. His eyes glinted like blades drawn at dawn.
"Brother Xio?" One of the youths, Xio Lang, stepped forward with a mocking smile. "Didn't think you could walk, let alone come out here."
He was taller, older—late Foundation Forming Realm, maybe. Muscular and arrogant.
"I'm not here for small talk," Xio Xun said flatly. "I came to test myself."
Laughter broke out around the courtyard.
Lang scoffed. "You? You think just because you finally left your bed, you can stand beside real cultivators?"
Xio Xun's eyes narrowed. "Let's see."
Without warning, Lang lunged. A palm strike aimed directly at Xio Xun's chest—fast and sharp.
But Xio Xun was faster.
His footwork was still raw, but his instincts were sharpened by the system's influence. He dodged left, ducked, and sent a jab into Lang's ribs, reinforced with raw Qi.
Lang staggered back, face pale.
"You… you've already broken into Qi Refining?!"
Shock rippled through the crowd.
Xio Xun didn't reply. He simply turned and walked away, leaving silence in his wake.
---
Later That Day
"Impressive," came a voice from the shadows of the elder's hall.
Xio Xun turned to see a figure step forward—a thin, elderly man with long white hair and piercing gray eyes. Xio Tian, the current patriarch of the clan… and his estranged uncle.
"You've changed, Xio Xun," Tian said quietly. "I expected you to die like your mother. Instead, you stand here… cultivated… and defiant."
Xio Xun bowed respectfully but said nothing.
Tian studied him for a moment longer. "Very well. Since you wish to walk this path, you will participate in the Clan Trials one week from now. Pass them, and I'll recognize you as a true heir of the Xio bloodline."
"And if I fail?"
Tian's eyes gleamed. "Then I will assume your return was a mistake… and I do not suffer mistakes."
Xio Xun clenched his fists. He didn't have the luxury of failure.
> "New Quest: Survive the Clan Trials. Time limit: 7 days. Reward: System Upgrade, Clan Recognition, Access to Inner Techniques."
> "Failure Penalty: Expulsion. Host will be marked as a failed heir."
So be it.
The path ahead would be brutal.
But this time, he would not be swept aside.
---
To be continued…