Free Web NovelChapter 4: 4. Prelude: Stepping Out
I stepped out of the steaming water, standing right on the edge of the rim as water droplets cascaded down my body and onto the jade floor.
Behind me, Ruyi scrambled out of the pool, grabbing a silk towel with hurried deference. Her legs were still slightly unsteady from the intense climax she had just experienced, but centuries of conditioning kept her moving.
She leaned in close, pressing her entire body against me as she began to rub my chest in slow, circular motions. The sensation of her soft curves molding against my torso sent a jolt of heat straight to my groin, causing my shaft to harden instantly.
Ruyi clearly felt it press firmly against her thigh, but she put on a professional facade, pretending not to notice.
’What a magnificent body my Young Master has... His wife is truly lucky,’ Ruyi thought internally. Her hand wandered downward, tracing a deliberate path from my chest down to my abdomen, her breathing turning shallow.
’Look at her, pretending to be so innocent while rubbing her body against yours. Hmph, what a whore,’ Lucy’s voice echoed in my mind, dripping with unmistakable jealousy.
I chuckled internally. Because of my heightened, aroused state, I realized I hadn’t even checked my own status since integrating the system’s starter rewards.
’Lucy, show me my status,’ I commanded.
At that exact moment, Ruyi reached the lower half of my abdomen. She began drying my lower half with one hand, while her other hand casually brushed against the sensitive tip of my dick.
Ignoring her subtle teasing for a moment, I focused on the translucent blue interface that flickered to life right in front of my eyes:
[OWNER’S STATUS INTERFACE]
Name: Lu Jianxiao
Age: 120
Identity: Elder of the Myriad Sovereign Sect / Young Master of the Lu Family / Sole Disciple of the Sect Leader.
Cultivation Level: Peak Nascent Soul Realm.
Bloodline: Unknown [ERROR: The SYSTEM needs to be upgraded to view the bloodline].
Bloodline Ability: [SEALED BY ANCIENT WILL].
Description: A primordial lineage that predates the current heavenly laws. Its awakening process still cannot be detected by the SYSTEM.
Skills:
- Eye of Destiny (Divine Grade - Lv.1)
- Sword Proficiency (Earth Grade - Lv.1)
- Indomitable Sovereign Mind (Divine Grade - Passive) – Grants absolute immunity to mental attacks, illusions, and soul invasion. Keeps the host completely detached, logical, and immune to emotional manipulation.
- Enhanced Lower Anatomy (11-inch Length / 4-inch Girth)
- Infinite Carnal Stamina (Special Grade)
- Addictive Celestial Essence (Vital fluids are purified into raw energy, highly addictive to female cultivators)
Martial Techniques:
1. Nine Shadows Void Step (Heaven Grade - Lv.Max) – A high-tier movement technique utilizing spatial distortion. Leaves behind nine untraceable sword-qi phantoms.
2. Sovereign Asura Sword Art (Heaven Grade - Lv.4) – A dominant, offensive sword technique that channels killing intent to suppress the spiritual pressure of anyone below the Soul Transformation stage.
3. Instant Death Sword: Oblivion Strike (Divine Grade - Lv.1) – An absolute ultimate strike that devours over 60% of the user’s total Qi in a single burst. Instantly obliterates any ordinary Nascent Soul realm cultivator and severely wounds masters of the Early Spirit Severing / Soul Transformation realm.
Inventory:
- Heaven Severing Sword (Grade: Unknown)
1. Ability 1- Gives 20% more damage when dealing with corrupted qi.
2. Ability 2- Locked
3. Ability 3- Locked
- Heart-shaped Pendant- Can negate a full-blown attack from a Mahayana powerhouse (made from an unknown Primordial Star Core fragment).
A satisfied smirk played on my lips as I scanned the panel. So that’s why I am the sole disciple of the Sect Leader. Even with the immense backing of the powerful Lu Family, a powerhouse like her would never accept anyone ordinary as her successor.
My gaze lingered briefly on the age counter. One hundred and twenty years old. In the mortal world, I would be a crumbling skeleton. But in the world of cultivation, reaching the Peak Nascent Soul Realm at just over a century made me a monstrous, once-in-a-generation prodigy.
It wasn’t just status. The talent required to inherit the Sect Leader’s legacy was genuinely terrifying, and this status screen proved I was more than qualified.
In a world where cultivation tiers strictly bounded human capability, stretching across a rigid path from the lowly Mortal Foundation realms of Body Tempering, Qi Condensation, and Foundation Establishment, up into Earthly Transcendence involving Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and Spirit Severing, and finally the legendary Higher Ascension planes(Void Integration →Body Integration→Mahayana/Immortal Acsension Stage), I had climbed near the absolute peak of the middle realms.
My eyes swept over the martial techniques section, gaining a deeper understanding of my own lethality. The Nine Shadows Void Step at maximum level meant that in terms of raw speed, almost no one in my realm could beat me.
In this world, the grades of skills and arts were rigidly categorized into Mortal, Earth, Heaven, Divine, and Primordial classifications. Having a Heaven Grade movement art was rare enough to be a sect’s crowning treasure, and distorting space itself to leave nine untraceable sword-qi phantoms was a cheat in its own right.
Combined with the level 4 Sovereign Asura Sword Art, another top-tier Heaven Grade technique, my offensive capabilities were already oppressive enough to actively suppress the spiritual pressure of anyone below the Spirit Severing stage before the fight even began.
My attention then drifted downward to the separate inventory section, specifically locking onto the Heaven Severing Sword. It was a mysterious heirloom from my mother, currently providing a twenty percent damage boost against corrupted qi while its remaining potential remained tightly sealed.
Staring at the prompt, I couldn’t help but wonder what grand conditions were required to upgrade the sword or unlock its true, hidden grade.
Then my gaze locked onto the new martial addition, Instant Death Sword: Oblivion Strike. A dangerous glint flashed in my eyes. A Divine Grade move that devoured more than half my Qi but guaranteed the instant death of any equal Peak Nascent Soul opponent, and could even heavily cripple an Early Spirit Severing master, was the ultimate card.
Even if the massive Qi drain left me temporarily vulnerable, the Heart-shaped Pendant resting against my chest guaranteed I could never be blindsided. A wave of profound nostalgia hit me as I looked at the pendant’s description. I still vividly remembered the day I descended from the higher heavens to this lower realm.
Before my departure, my mother had placed the chain around my neck, holding my face gently and whispering for me to always carry it with me because it was a token of her love.
To think that this simple token of love was actually forged from an unknown primordial star core fragment, holding enough power to completely negate a full-blown attack from a legendary Mahayana powerhouse which is the strongest existing cultivator of this realm. It gave me an extra life in this mortal realm.
’Lucy,’ I called out in my mind, my focus shifting toward the blurred, error-ridden entries at the top of the interface. ’What’s the deal with my bloodline? Even with a system this powerful, it’s completely blacked out. Why is it locked?’
’Hehe, don’t look at me like that, Master~’ Lucy’s voice giggled in my head, a playful yet mysterious tone echoing through my consciousness.
’It’s not that the system wants to hide it from you. Your bloodline is tied to a primordial law that predates the current heavenly order. Right now, the system’s core framework is simply too low-grade to parse information that heavy. Looking at it right now would be like trying to fill a porcelain teacup with an entire ocean because your current soul structure couldn’t handle the backlash of the truth.’
’So how do I unlock it? How do I upgrade the system?’
’It’s simple, really,’ Lucy purred, her voice dripping with amusement.
’You just need to complete high-tier destiny missions, conquer the destiny-bound targets who hold the world’s karmic luck, and gather massive amounts of Love Points or Fate Points. Until then, you’ll just have to keep breaking the composure of beautiful powerhouses to find out what mommy left behind for you~’
As if responding to her words, a formal system prompt materialized right before my eyes, outlining the exact requirements to upgrade the system.
[SYSTEM UPGRADE REQUIREMENTS: LEVEL 1 -> LEVEL 2]
- Total Love Points / Fate Points Required: 50,000
- Core Material: Absorb 1x Heaven-Grade Origin Core or equivalent spatial energy source.
- Unlock Rewards: Unlocks System Shop, Bloodline Analysis Tier 1, and Bloodline Ability Partial Unsealing.
’Alright, makes sense,’ I thought, shifting gears. ’By the way, how many Love Points do I have right now? Pull up the balance.’
A small, holographic window popped up in my vision.
[CURRENT BALANCE: 1,500 Love Points]
I paused, staring at the number. ’Wait a second. Didn’t I get exactly 1,000 points as a starting gift from the system?’
’Ah, oops! Teehee, silly me, I completely forgot to tell you about the other ones!’ Lucy laughed, entirely unbothered by her own forgetfulness as a cascade of delayed notification boxes suddenly flooded my view. ’There were so many pop-ups flooding the log while you two were busy that I cleared them out of your main view so you wouldn’t get distracted while enjoying your maid’s mouth.’
[SYSTEM LOG ACCUMULATION]
- Event: Received a Breast Massage from Void Integration Realm Head Maid (Ruyi).
- Reward: +100 Love Points
- Event: Received an Oral Service from Void Integration Realm Head Maid (Ruyi).
- Reward: +200 Love Points
- Event: Swallowed by Void Integration Realm Head Maid (Ruyi) [Addictive Celestial Essence Bonus triggered].
- Reward: +200 Love Points
’See? Totaling up the intermediate intimate acts gives you an extra 500 points on top of your starting gift,’ Lucy chimed in smoothly, her tone filled with a teasing warmth. ’You really worked her over, Master. Every single point is well-earned. You’re already three percent of the way to upgrading the system to lv 2.’
A slow, wicked grin spread across my face as I absorbed the information. So every level of intimacy with a powerhouse target gave scaled rewards. The more thoroughly I broke them down, the faster my power would skyrocket.
Ruyi’s soft, melodic purr suddenly pulled me from my calculating thoughts. "Your attire is complete, Young Master," she whispered, taking a respectful step back after meticulously fastening my jade belt and securing my hair with a jade hairpin.
I adjusted my sleeves, letting the cool silk settle over my skin. "I’m heading out to the assembly meeting. Recover your strength, Ruyi. I expect you to be fully prepared for me when I return tonight."
A faint, alluring flush crept up her neck as she perfectly understood the underlying promise in my words. She bowed deeply, pressing her hands together in absolute submission. "This servant will rest well and eagerly await your return, Young Master. May your presence command the hall."
I turned and walked away from the steamy, opulent pavilion, stepping out onto the open grounds of Dragon Peak. The peak was situated at a dizzying altitude, completely isolated from the rest of the Myriad Sovereign Sect.
A vast, endless sea of white clouds covered the summit, rolling over the ancient stone courtyard like a silent, misty ocean.
Lying lazily amidst the swirling clouds was a massive, magnificent creature.
It was a high-tier Frostwing Qilin, a legendary sky beast capable of traversing thousands of miles in the blink of an eye. Its crystalline, ice-blue scales shimmered faintly through the mist, radiating a cold, powerful aura that would terrify ordinary cultivators.
As my footsteps approached, the great sky beast opened its glowing eyes, letting out a low, submissive rumble. I walked confidently through the biting mountain air, leaving the fog behind as I went directly toward the magnificent creature to prepare for my descent. It was time to show the sect exactly who had awakened.
Leaping onto its broad, crystalline back, I settled into the luxurious saddle crafted from high-tier demon beast leather.
"To the Grand Assembly Hall," I commanded calmly.
With a thunderous roar that shook the very foundation of Dragon Peak, the Frostwing Qilin vaulted into the air. Its massive wings snapped open, generating a localized blizzard that violently scattered the sea of clouds. We shot forward, transforming into a streak of icy blue light streaking across the sky.
This wasn’t just a sect; it was a divine empire.
Built atop a Grade-9 Supreme Spiritual Vein, the Myriad Sovereign Sect spanned over a hundred thousand miles. From the sky, the layout was incredibly clear.
At the very bottom was the Outer Sect. It looked like a sprawling mortal city, densely packed with millions of outer disciples and servant families who looked up at the sky with deep reverence.
Past the sprawling cities lay the Inner Sect. It was a breathtaking sight: seventy-two floating mountain peaks hanging in the air, anchored to the earth by glowing golden chains of runes. Waterfalls of pure, liquid spiritual energy poured down from these floating islands, creating endless rainbows in the valleys below. It was a true cultivation paradise. Just taking a breath here could extend a mortal’s lifespan by decades.
Yet, even those floating peaks were nothing compared to where I lived.
Piercing through the sect’s inner barrier, the central Sovereign Peak loomed ahead. It was a monolithic titan of stone that pierced the clouds, acting as the absolute core of the sect’s authority.
Orbiting around this massive central mountain were nine subsidiary peaks. My home, Dragon Peak, was one of these nine elite floating mountains. Only the Sect Leader, the Core Elders of the sect had the absolute right to reside in this highest, most exclusive airspace.
At the very summit of the main Sovereign Peak sat the Grand Assembly Hall. It was a colossal structure built entirely from Dark Celestial Bronze, its pillars carved with true dragons. A semi-transparent golden dome shimmered above it, the sect’s ultimate defensive formation, strong enough to withstand a Heavenly Tribulation.
As my Frostwing Qilin descended from Dragon Peak toward the expansive jade plaza outside the hall, the sheer pressure of my mount forced the elite Core Guards stationed at the entrance to immediately drop to one knee, their heads bowed in absolute submission.
The Qilin landed with a heavy thud, its sharp claws cracking the reinforced jade tiles. I didn’t wait for it to fully settle. I slid off its back, my robes fluttering in the residual wind, and walked straight toward the towering, hundred-foot-tall bronze doors.
Before I even reached the handles, the muffled sound of a defiant, arrogant voice echoed from within the grand hall, easily piercing through the thick bronze.
"I don’t care if he is the Sole Disciple of the Sect Leader or the Young Master of the Lu Family! A man who hides on his peak for a year while his wife is publicly humiliated is no man at all! Leng Qingxue, you are a phoenix destined for the Nine Heavens. I, Ye Chen, will not stand by and watch you be tethered to a cowardly cripple!"
My footsteps stopped just inches from the door.
’A cowardly cripple, huh?’
An amused smirk formed on my lips. Raising one hand, I pressed my palm against the bronze door and violently pushed the door open.
