!~Ding~!
[System mission completed]
[
Begin your path as a body cultivator.
Requirements:
Start your body cultivation by entering the Body Tempering stage.
Reward:
500 System Points
]
Evan blinked slowly as he stared at the floating screen.
"Five hundred more points…"
His breathing gradually calmed as the intense pain faded from his body. The burning sensation that had once spread through every inch of his muscles was gone. In its place was a strange sense of clarity and strength.
His body felt… different.
Lighter.
Yet stronger.
Almost as if something inside him had been reforged.
Evan slowly clenched his fist.
The movement felt smoother than before.
Stronger too.
Before he could examine the feeling further, Lyra's voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.
"My prince!"
Evan looked up.
Lyra had stepped closer to the pool, concern still visible in her eyes. She had been watching him the entire time, her gaze never leaving him during the painful tempering process.
She stepped closer and hugged him tightly, as if letting go would make him disappear.
A single tear slipped from her eye and fell onto Evan's shoulder.
Now that everything had ended, she looked both relieved and scared.
"What just happened? You just started body cultivation, but already reached the first stage." she asked.
Evan tilted his head slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Lyra pointed toward him.
"A moment ago… something changed. Your body suddenly became like that of a Body Tempering stage cultivator. Even I didn't reach the Body Tempering stage in a single attempt."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as if she were trying to sense something invisible.
"You were sitting there in pain for hours, and then suddenly your aura shifted."
Evan blinked.
"You can tell that?"
Lyra looked at him like he had asked a ridiculous question.
"My prince, I am a cultivator. Of course, I can tell."
She hugged him tighter.
"Now answer me."
Her tone softened slightly.
"Did the system say something?"
Evan sighed quietly.
It seemed hiding it was pointless.
"Yeah."
Lyra folded her arms.
"And?"
"The mission is completed."
Lyra's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"The body cultivation one?"
"Yeah."
Evan slowly climbed out of the pool with Lyra's help.
His skin was flushed red from the intense tempering process.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, he noticed something strange.
His body felt… incredibly light.
Even his balance had improved.
Lyra noticed his movement and immediately grabbed his wrist.
"Wait."
Evan blinked.
"What?"
"Stay still."
Lyra cupped Evan's cheeks.She closed her eyes for a moment.
A faint strand of Qi flowed from her fingers and gently entered Evan's arm.
Evan felt a cool sensation travel through his body.
A few seconds later, Lyra's eyes suddenly opened.
Surprise filled her expression.
"My prince…"
"What?"
"You actually did it."
Evan frowned slightly.
"Did what?"
Lyra looked at him like he was unbelievable.
"You completed the first stage of Body Tempering without any flaws."
Evan blinked.
"That's… good, right?"
Lyra stared at him for a few seconds before letting out a quiet breath.
"Good?"
She almost laughed.
"My prince, most cultivators spend weeks reaching this stage."
Her gaze slowly moved toward the small wooden pool.
The water inside had turned completely dark.
Black impurities floated across its surface.
"And you just did it in a single session."
Evan scratched the back of his head.
"Well… I think my bloodline helped."
Lyra sighed.
"I can see that."
She looked back at him again.
"Still… your body adapted faster than I expected."
"Most people can't reach the Body Tempering stage in a single attempt. And certainly not this flawlessly."
Then suddenly—
Her expression changed.
Her nose twitched slightly.
She frowned.
"My prince."
"What?"
"…You smell terrible."
Evan froze.
"What?"
He lifted his arm and cautiously sniffed himself.
Instant regret hit him.
"Okay."
He winced.
"That is actually horrible."
Lyra covered her nose slightly.
"Of course it is."
"Why are you covering your nose? You smell too."
She lifted her hands and smelled them, and she regretted it immediately.
She pointed toward the bathroom area of the house.
"Go wash immediately."
Evan didn't argue.
She didn't wait another second and rushed off to wash as well.
A few minutes later, after washing away the dark impurities and changing into fresh clothes, Evan stepped back outside.
The morning sun had risen higher now.
The training yard was quiet.
Lyra stood near the center of the field, her arms crossed while waiting for him.
Evan walked toward her.
"Done."
Lyra nodded.
"Good."
"That was quick…""I think you still smell, though."
Lyra didn't fall for his provocations.
And didn't say anything.
She stepped closer and examined him again.
Now that the impurities were gone, the difference was clearer.
Evan's skin looked cleaner.
His posture looked slightly more stable.
Even his breathing felt more controlled.
Lyra nodded in satisfaction.
"Now that your body is clean, I can see that tempering worked well."
Evan stretched his arms slightly.
"Yeah… I feel stronger."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"Of course you do."
She tapped his shoulder lightly.
"Your muscles, bones, and tendons have all been strengthened."
Evan looked down at his small hands.
Even though he was still a five-year-old child, his body no longer felt fragile like before.
Lyra suddenly clapped her hands once.
"Alright."
Evan looked up.
"What?"
"Body Tempering is only the first step."
She turned and pointed toward the large open training yard.
"From today onward…"
Her voice carried a calm seriousness.
"Your real training begins."
Evan blinked.
"Real training?"
Lyra nodded.
"Yes."
She walked a few steps forward into the center of the field.
"Cultivation isn't just sitting in a pool, absorbing medicinal liquid and Qi."
She turned back toward him.
"It requires discipline."
"Strength."
"And endurance."
Evan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I know that."
Lyra smiled.
Not the gentle smile she used earlier.
This one carried a hint of mischief.
"Only a little."
Evan didn't believe that for a second.
"So what are we starting with?"
Lyra pointed toward the path leading outside the estate.
"We start with running."
Evan followed her finger with his eyes.
The path stretched far beyond the gates and disappeared into the distance.
"How far?"
Lyra answered calmly.
"Until you collapse."
Evan slowly looked back at her.
"…You're joking, right?"
Lyra simply smiled.
"Come on, my prince. If you collapse, I'll carry you back home."
Evan yelled at her.
"That is not the point."
She stepped toward the gate.
"Let us begin."
Evan sighed deeply.
It seemed his peaceful life had officially ended.
He took a step forward and followed her.
Today marked the true beginning of his training.
And the first step toward becoming stronger.