Zhaoxi Bizheng

Guiyuan Sect, Outer Disciple.

The morning mist shrouded the rolling peaks, and the morning bell tolled leisurely, echoing through the valley.

In the South Courtyard where the outer disciples lived, rows of crude houses were built against the mountain, with bluestone paths winding between them.

In the room in the very corner, Chen Xuan suddenly sat up from the bed.

He was panting heavily, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, while his mind churned like a stormy sea as countless fragments of memory flooded in frantically.

Guiyuan Sect... Outer Disciple... Three years of cultivation, still at the Fifth Stage of Body Tempering...

Chen Xuan muttered to himself, rapidly digesting the information in his mind.

In the current world, ever since the previous dynasty was overthrown, no powerful figure had unified the land for decades, and various regions were controlled by martial arts sects or aristocratic families.

The times were chaotic, and bandits ran rampant.

The original owner of this body was also named Chen Xuan, born in a small village. Three years ago, it suffered a bandit raid, and most of the villagers were massacred.

An elder of the Guiyuan Sect happened to pass by and conveniently disposed of the bandits who plundered the village, while the surviving youths of the village were brought back to the Guiyuan Sect to become outer disciples.

In three years, most of the fellow disciples of his batch had already broken through to the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering, and some outstanding talents had even reached the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering.

Only he was still at the Fifth Stage of Body Tempering.

Three years, Fifth Stage of Body Tempering.

This aptitude could only be described as mediocre among the outer disciples.

According to the rules, if one failed to reach the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering in three years and failed to break through to the Zhuqi Realm to be promoted to an Inner Disciple within five years, the sect would not waste resources on cultivation training, but would instead have to leave the sect and be assigned to various cities under the sect's jurisdiction to hold certain positions. If one wanted resources, one had to strive for them oneself.

The original owner wanted to secure a good position before being assigned outside, so he recklessly attempted to break through to the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering, the Anjin Realm, only to fail and suffer a backlash that resulted in death.

And Chen Xuan had arrived at this very moment.

I have to leave the sect tomorrow.

Having sorted out the memories in his mind, Chen Xuan understood his current situation.

Within the sect, all cultivation resources were provided by the sect. Although they were not abundant, for an outer disciple, they were already enough to support daily cultivation needs, and there was no need to worry about other trivial matters, just peace of mind for cultivation.

This was the same principle as going to school to study: a carefree living environment where one only needed to focus on improving martial arts cultivation.

However, leaving the sect was equivalent to graduating and going to work.

Being assigned outside by the sect without reaching the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering was equivalent to graduating from elementary school, while being assigned outside upon reaching the Ninth Stage of Body Tempering was equivalent to graduating from junior high school.

An inner disciple of the Zhuqi Realm being assigned outside was equivalent to graduating from high school.

The Body Tempering Realm was the first stage of martial arts cultivation.

The first to third stages of body tempering were Zhuangxue, Tongli, and Mingjin, the fourth to sixth stages were Mopi, Duangu, and Anjin, while the seventh to ninth stages were Yangzang, Shenyong, and Huajin.

Anyone could figure it out with their toes.

What kind of good job could an elementary school graduate below the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering get?

Right at this moment.

[Ding! Fate System successfully awakened!]

[Detecting the host's current situation, generating Fates.]

[Congratulations to the host, you have awakened the Fates Late Bloomer and Zhaoxi Bizheng. Because the two Fates conflict, the host can only choose one.]

A mechanical prompt sounded in Chen Xuan's mind.

Immediately afterward, a light screen visible only to Chen Xuan materialized before his eyes.

On the light screen, two Fates stood side by side, emitting completely different radiances.

The one on the left was like a setting sun sinking into the horizon, its light restrained and profound.

[Fate 1: Late Bloomer]

[Quality: Golden]

[Effect: The longer the host lives, the more terrifying the cultivation talent becomes. Laying low for thirty years is like a dormant dragon emerging from the abyss, soaring up to the nine heavens in a single bound.]

[Note: This Fate requires patient dormancy and must not seek quick success and instant benefits. Strength improves slowly in the early stage, begins to exert force in the middle stage, and becomes invincible in the world in the late stage.]

The one on the right was like a newly risen morning sun, its light blazing and dazzling.

[Fate 2: Zhaoxi Bizheng]

[Quality: Golden]

[Effect: Whenever the sun rises and sets, one can accumulate a point of energy, which can be used to accelerate martial arts cultivation, gaining a year of cultivation power per day.]

[Note: This Fate focuses on the present and contends for every day and night. The energy acquired every day can be used to accelerate martial arts cultivation without the need for cultivation, reaping without sowing.]

The two Fates, one on the left and one on the right, floated quietly.

Chen Xuan's gaze swept back and forth between the two, sinking into deep thought.

Late Bloomer.

Lying low for thirty years, and then soaring to the nine heavens.

The longer one lives, the more monstrous one's talent and aptitude become, invincible in the world during the later stages.

However.

Thirty years was simply too far away.

The original owner had reached the Fifth Stage of Body Tempering in three years and was scheduled to be sent out on an outer sect assignment by the sect tomorrow. The current world was chaotic, and even holding the identity of an Outer Disciple of the Guiyuan Sect offered no safety; the slightest misstep would cost him his life.

If he chose the Late Bloomer Fate Pattern.

That would mean.

Being trampled under others' feet for thirty years.

Enduring humiliation and catering to others' moods for thirty years.

Living with clenched teeth and swallowed pride for thirty years.

Furthermore.

Chen Xuan understood clearly in his heart.

If he chose the Late Bloomer Fate Pattern, given his current predicament, he feared he would have already perished and descended to the Yellow Springs long before thirty years had passed.

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze and looked at the fate pattern on the right.

Zhaoxi Bizheng.

One could accumulate one point of energy every single day.

A single point of energy could increase one's cultivation progress by a year.

No cultivation was needed, no resources were required, and he could grow stronger simply by lying down.

Today he was at the Fifth Stage of Body Tempering, tomorrow he could reach the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering, and in two more days he could reach the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering...

The Late Bloomer was a hidden dragon in the abyss, waiting thirty years for a soaring flight; prior to that, it was nothing more than a little mudfish, forced to hide away in the silt.

Zhaoxi Bizheng was the accumulation of sand into a pagoda, growing stronger with each passing day.

Thirty years is far too long.

Chen Xuan raised his head, his gaze resolute.

I only contend for the dawn and dusk.

As his words fell, he reached out without the slightest hesitation and tapped the light screen on the right.

[Ding! Fate pattern selection complete!]

[Host has acquired the Zhaoxi Bizheng Fate Pattern!]

Host: Chen Xuan

Fate Pattern: Zhaoxi Bizheng (Effect: Whenever the sun rises and sets, one point of energy can be accumulated, which can be used to accelerate martial arts cultivation, increasing cultivation by one year per day.)

Realm: Fifth Stage of Body Tempering (Duangu)

Martial Arts: Giant Whale Body Refining Technique/Fifth Layer, Mountain Crushing Fist/Proficient

Zhaoxi Value: 0

Chen Xuan looked at the panel before his eyes and could not help breaking into a smile.

An increase of one year's cultivation in a single day.

This wasn't cultivation; this was cheating.

He only needed to wait for the sun to set to acquire one point of Zhaoxi Value.

At this moment, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door.

The door was pushed open, and a lean young man walked in.

His name was Chen Shitou, and he shared the same village as Chen Xuan, possessing even a trace of thin blood relations, making him a paternal cousin.

They had been brought to the Guiyuan Sect together three years ago.

The two lived in the same room, making them the closest people to each other in this world.

Chen Shitou was a year younger than Chen Xuan, not very tall, with dark skin and exceptionally bright eyes. However, his root bone and aptitude were considerably better than Chen Xuan's; having cultivated for the same three years, he had recently broken through to the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering realm and would be able to continue cultivating within the sect for another two years, temporarily avoiding being sent out on an external assignment.

"Brother Xuan, you're awake. Are you alright?"

Chen Shitou walked into the room carrying a food box in his hand.

"I'm fine." Chen Xuan shook his head. "Just a bit tired."

"It's good that you're alright. Charging the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering Anjin Realm shouldn't be rushed, or the inner force will riot inside the body and easily damage the viscera." Hearing Chen Xuan say he was fine, Chen Shitou let out a breath of relief. "I brought you some food. The cafeteria made braised pork today, and I got you an extra portion."

"Thanks."

Chen Xuan sat down by the table and opened the food box.

Chen Shitou sat down as well, though he didn't pick up his chopsticks. Instead, he hesitated for a moment and spoke in a low voice, "Brother Xuan, tomorrow is the external assignment. Do you... have any plans?"