Martial Arts

The figure's thoughts were in turmoil. He could not make sense of this system's origins.

Across the myriad planes and worlds, systems of every size were too numerous to count. Most systems ultimately existed to serve their headquarters, gathering information and acquiring energy in pursuit of advancement.

Helping their hosts grow stronger served the same purpose.

Symbiotic systems were exceedingly rare. Creating a system required an immensely complex process, along with the installation of all manner of core programs. The cost was far from low.

There were countless hosts throughout the myriad worlds; there was no need to hang oneself from a single crooked tree.

A symbiotic system that lived and died alongside its host was utterly at odds with headquarters' long-term interests.

Especially in the Lingyang Realm, where he currently was—a plane among the highest tiers in terms of power. To deceive the Heavenly Dao of this world and make the system's operation seem reasonable would come at an astronomically high cost.

To spend such a price on creating a symbiotic system—there was surely some unknown truth hidden behind it.

And his accidental arrival here might not have been an accident at all.

While the figure was lost in thought, Shi Lan sat cross-legged atop her high bed, staring speechlessly at the white dress in her hands.

The dress was simple in style, soft and silky to the touch like ice silk, its fabric gleaming with a beautiful sheen.

Lifelike white immortal cranes were embroidered along its collar and hem. Shi Lan counted them—neither one more nor one less, exactly nine.

There was a spark of spirit in the eyes of all nine white cranes, as though they were alive.

Shi Lan stared blankly at the dress, and her heart stirred faintly. This dress is rather pretty...

"Hiss..."

Shi Lan abruptly shook her head and put the White Crane Skirt back into the system's temporary storage. Wearing a dress was impossible. She would never wear a dress in this lifetime.

Thinking of the novice mission, Shi Lan felt troubled.

The missions issued by the Empress Cultivation System were exceedingly difficult for her as she was now.

Although the former Shi Lan had never cared much for martial arts, she had grown up in a martial family. Through constant exposure, she had gained some understanding of the path of cultivation.

Only upon entering the Body Tempering Realm could one be called a martial artist. The Body Tempering Realm was the starting point of cultivation, requiring one to temper the flesh, strengthen the tendons and bones, and continuously increase physical strength.

At the first level of the Body Tempering Realm, one's strength was condensed throughout the entire body, and a single punch could carry a hundred jin of force.

The Body Tempering Realm had nine levels. With every level gained, one's strength increased by a hundred jin. At the ninth level, one possessed nearly a thousand jin of force—enough to draw a powerful ten-stone bow, and to split steles and shatter rocks with every gesture.

After tempering the body to its peak, one could open a Dantian Qi Sea within the body and give birth to Xiantian True Qi. One could then wield magical artifacts, soar through the skies, travel a thousand li a day, and break through the limits of mortal lifespan to live for two hundred years.

Shi Lan did not know much about the realms beyond that. Her memories contained nothing about the later stages of martial cultivation.

However, as far as Shi Lan knew, Shi Tianlu's cultivation had long surpassed the Xiantian Realm by an unknown extent.

Looking at her smooth, jade-like palm, Shi Lan felt a headache coming on. This body was not so weak that it could not carry anything on its shoulder or lift anything in its hands, but it had little strength to speak of.

To undergo a complete rebirth in three days was truly difficult.

Remembering the novice gift pack from before, Shi Lan flipped her hand and took the Body Tempering Pill from the system's temporary storage.

"How am I supposed to use this pill?"

[Body Tempering Pill: Consume directly. It can help Body Tempering Realm martial artists temper their bodies and increase their strength. Suitable for those at the third level of the Body Tempering Realm or above. Consumption below the third level is not recommended, as the physical body will struggle to withstand the medicinal potency.]

The system gave a very detailed explanation.

Shi Lan sighed and put the pill away. Relying on medicine would not work, and she did not know any cultivation techniques either. Blindly practicing on her own was certainly not an option.

In the entire Shi Mansion, the only person who could help her obtain a cultivation technique was likely Su Lanyue.

Glancing at the utterly dark sky outside, Shi Lan hesitated for a moment, then lay down and wrapped herself in the blanket. Sleep!

She would replenish her energy first.

The next morning, Shi Lan was awakened by a trace of dampness between her legs. Her lower abdomen felt sore and swollen, and she instinctively reached down to touch it.

Seeing the glaring dark red on her fingertips, Shi Lan climbed stiffly out of bed.

Women always had those few days every month, and Shi Lan was naturally no exception. Judging by her memories, the time had indeed come.

Shi Lan climbed down from the bed, walked to the wardrobe, and opened it. Then she opened a hidden compartment inside and took out a strip of white cloth.

What that strip of cloth was for went without saying...

After taking care of herself with an incomparably heavy heart, Shi Lan opened the door and headed toward Su Lanyue's separate courtyard.

None of the servants she encountered along the way dared speak to Shi Lan. The low pressure hanging around her made it abundantly clear that she was in a very bad mood.

The training grounds lay directly between Shi Lan's residence and Su Lanyue's separate courtyard.

There were two training grounds in the Shi Mansion. One, located on the left side of the front courtyard and covering a vast area, was for the guards, servants, and others to practice. The other was somewhat smaller, closer to the rear courtyard, and reserved exclusively for Shi Tianlu and his sons.

This was the one Shi Lan passed by.

Morning was when spiritual energy began to rise. Unless burdened by some urgent matter, no martial artist would ever miss this perfect time to train.

When Shi Lan arrived at the training grounds, she happened to encounter her two current younger brothers, Shi Yiming and Shi Qinghu. Shi Tianlu was not in the grounds; presumably, something had held him up.

Shi Yiming was two years older and considerably stronger than Shi Qinghu. At that moment, he was feeding Shi Qinghu moves.

Shi Qinghu was bare-chested and somewhat hard-pressed beneath Shi Yiming's attacks, sweat pouring down him like rain.

Shi Lan's eyesight was limited, and she could not tell what level the two had reached. Yet as they exchanged blows, fists and kicks flashing in succession, they completely captured her attention.

This was true martial arts, utterly different from what she had seen on screens in her previous life.

Though Shi Qinghu was young, his tendons and bones were robust, and his muscles contained astonishing explosive power. Like a young tiger, he had already begun to reveal his sharp edge.

Looking at the sleek lines of Shi Qinghu's upper-body muscles, a wave of envy rose in Shi Lan's heart. How wonderful would it have been if I had transmigrated into a man...

Perhaps Shi Lan's gaze was too undisguised. The two sparring in the field noticed her presence and stopped.

After seeing Shi Lan standing at the edge of the grounds, the two casually cupped their hands and greeted her.

Shi Lan nodded unconsciously, her gaze still lingering on Shi Qinghu.

Shi Qinghu felt his scalp prickle beneath Shi Lan's stare and instinctively picked up the robe on the ground nearby, pulling it over himself.

Shi Lan withdrew her gaze regretfully and headed toward Su Lanyue's separate courtyard. Martial arts truly possessed a power that captivated people. Before this, she had only intended to seek Su Lanyue's help for self-preservation and because the system mission had forced her hand.

But after watching the Shi Yiming brothers exchange blows, a faint longing for martial arts had already ignited within her heart.

Nothing in this world was more dependable than one's own strength.

Watching Shi Lan's departing figure, Shi Qinghu's face flushed red. "Is something wrong with him?"

"Yes. And it's not a mild case." Shi Yiming's gaze turned cold.