Lin Xuan stepped out of the golden spring slowly, water sliding down his bare skin and dripping onto the fractured stone beneath his feet. The air within the valley felt cool against his body, yet he showed no reaction at all. In fact, he didn't even glance at himself. His attention had already shifted elsewhere.
A faint blue light flickered into existence before him.
It appeared without warning, hovering quietly in the air as if it had always been there. The screen shimmered once before stabilizing, its glow soft yet impossible to ignore. A clear mechanical sound echoed within his mind.
DING.
[System update complete] [Primordial Physique successfully integrated]
Lin Xuan's gaze sharpened instantly. The battlefield, the shattered ground, even Zhao Tian standing not far away—all of it faded into the background. At this moment, only the interface before him mattered.
The screen shifted as lines of text unfolded in a steady rhythm.
[Host Status]
Name: Lin Xuan
System Rank: SSS – Heaven-Stealing System
Cultivation Realm: Body Strengthening – Fourth Layer (Peak)
Physique: Primordial Physique (Initial Awakening)
His eyes moved downward, calm and precise, absorbing every detail without missing a single number.
Physical Attributes
Strength: 7 → 68 (+61)
Agility: 6 → 51 (+45)
Endurance: 6 → 70 (+64)
Vitality: 7 → 73 (+66)
(Average outer disciple = 5)
For a brief moment, he showed no outward reaction, yet his breathing slowed slightly as the numbers settled in his mind. This was no ordinary improvement. It was a complete transformation.
The interface continued.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched the corner of his lips.
Now he understood. The one hundred and twenty reconstruction cycles hadn't merely strengthened him—they had rebuilt him from the very foundation.
"…So this is the result," he murmured quietly.
The system did not pause. Another panel expanded, presenting further data.
Spiritual Attributes
Soul Power: 9 → 18 (+9)
Comprehension: 8 → 39 (+31)
Dao Comprehension: 1% → 6% (+5%)
(Ability to understand concepts and laws of the world)
The numbers stabilized, their glow dimming into a steady state. Just as it seemed complete, a final section appeared.
Talent Attributes
Luck: 3 → 22 (+19)
Charm: 5 → 18 (+13)
Perception: 7 → 44 (+37)
His gaze lingered there slightly longer.
"Dao comprehension…" he muttered, his tone turning thoughtful.
He could feel the difference. The world itself hadn't changed, yet it seemed clearer, as if a thin veil had been lifted from his perception.
"So this is what it means to touch the laws of the world…"
Lin Xuan exhaled slowly, allowing the realization to settle before the interface faded quietly into nothingness.
Only then did reality return.
The wind brushed against his skin once more, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and lingering energy from the spring. And with that awareness came something else.
He glanced down.
A brief pause followed.
"…Right."
His clothes were gone.
Not torn or damaged—completely erased during the transformation. For most, it would have been distracting. For him, it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Without hesitation, he turned toward the edge of the battlefield. The bodies of the Azure Sword Pavilion disciples still lay scattered where they had fallen. Their robes, though stained and worn, remained usable.
He walked over calmly, his steps steady and unhurried. There was no hesitation, no unnecessary emotion. After everything he had endured, this was trivial.
Crouching beside one of the bodies, he removed the outer robe.
"Borrowing this," he said quietly, more out of habit than necessity.
He gave the fabric a light shake before putting it on, adjusting it over his shoulders and tightening it at the waist. The fit wasn't perfect, but it was sufficient.
Once dressed, he straightened and rolled his shoulders slightly.
The difference was immediate.
Not because of the robe—
but because of what lay beneath it.
Zhao Tian had been watching the entire time.
"…Are you done?" he asked calmly.
Lin Xuan turned to face him, his expression composed. "Yes."
A brief silence followed, but the atmosphere between them had already shifted.
Zhao Tian's gaze sharpened as he studied him more carefully.
"You've changed."
It wasn't a question.
Lin Xuan tilted his head slightly, as if considering the statement. "Haven't you?"
Zhao Tian didn't respond. Instead, he slowly raised his hand, and the air around him began to compress once more. Invisible pressure gathered, heavy and familiar.
But this time—
it wasn't the same.
Lin Xuan stepped forward.
Just one step.
The ground beneath his foot cracked faintly, not from explosive force, but from the sheer density contained within his body.
"Go on," he said calmly.
The pressure descended.
It reached him—
and slowed.
It didn't crush him like before. It didn't overwhelm him. Instead, it met resistance—real, undeniable resistance.
Zhao Tian noticed immediately. His eyes narrowed, a trace of surprise finally breaking through his calm exterior.
"…Interesting."
Lin Xuan smiled faintly.
Then he clenched his fist.
A low, dense sound echoed from within his body, like metal compressing under immense pressure.
"This body," he said quietly, "is enough."