CHAPTER 119: ANCIENT FOREST QUEST

The sun dipped low, casting a golden haze over the Li Family compound. The echoes of the day’s commotion still lingered faintly, but now the clan’s courtyard was hushed, filled only with the sounds of distant cicadas. Li Tian sat cross-legged atop his bed, his body perfectly still while his mind churned like a storm. The afterglow of battle still burned in his veins, the memory of clashing against foes with far more experience still fresh in his body and soul.

He inhaled slowly, drawing the scattered strands of his qi together, pulling them into the dantian where they swirled like a vortex. His body trembled faintly as he pushed the energy against the bottleneck of his current stage. The cracks in the barrier widened. A sharp breath escaped his lips, his eyes snapping open, and in that moment a surge of power roared through him.

The room shook. Threads of spiritual energy lashed outward, rattling the wooden walls and causing the candles to flicker violently. He clenched his jaw, forcing the turbulent energy under control, binding it to his will. Then, silence. The air grew still again, and Li Tian exhaled, his lips curling into a faint smirk.

"Peak Foundation Establishment," he muttered, his voice calm yet edged with satisfaction. His progress was astonishing—no ordinary cultivator could leap realms with such speed. But then, he was no ordinary cultivator. The remnants of his past life’s experience, coupled with the strange system bound to his soul, made his cultivation path unlike any other.

[Congratulations. Host has advanced to Peak Foundation Establishment. Reward granted: Technique – Shadow Serpent Step.]

A flicker of excitement sparked in his eyes as the words echoed within his mind. The system’s tone was the same as always—detached, mechanical—yet its gifts were priceless. Knowledge flowed into him like a torrent, diagrams of movement, footwork patterns, and the profound rhythm of slipping through shadows as if the world itself could not pin him down. His body moved instinctively, testing the newfound skill. In an instant, his figure blurred and reappeared at the other side of the room.

He chuckled. "Perfect for dealing with both enemies and women."

A soft knock came at the door, pulling him from his thoughts. "Brother Tian?" A familiar, gentle voice spoke from beyond. It was Li Xue.

"Enter," he said, his tone casual.

The door creaked open, revealing his younger sister, her face lit with quiet relief. She stepped in, closing the door behind her, and her eyes immediately darted toward him. She must have felt the shift in his aura, for her expression froze, then widened in disbelief.

"You... you broke through again?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Li Tian leaned back slightly, his eyes half-lidded. "It seems so."

She approached slowly, almost reverently, as if afraid she would wake from a dream. "Brother... your progress is terrifying. Even Father would be shocked if he knew."

His smirk widened at her words. "Then let’s keep it between us for now. There’s no need to announce every step I take."

Her lips pressed into a small smile, and she nodded. Yet her eyes lingered on him, filled with admiration, curiosity, and something more she dared not voice. She sat beside him, her presence warm and comforting.

After a moment of silence, she asked softly, "Are you... happy, Brother? With everything that’s happening? With how the family treats you?"

Li Tian tilted his head, studying her face. There was genuine concern in her voice, and it stirred something inside him. He thought of his father’s cold distance, his siblings’ disdain, the whispers that had followed him since birth. And yet, he also thought of her—the only one who had shown him kindness without hesitation.

"I don’t live for their approval," he replied, his voice calm but resolute. "Their opinions don’t define me. I pursue what I desire, nothing more. If they cannot accept me, that’s their problem."

Her gaze softened, and she nodded. "I see... That’s just like you, Brother."

He reached out, gently tapping her forehead with his finger. "And you worry too much, silly girl."

Her cheeks flushed lightly, but she smiled. The tension in her shoulders eased, and for a brief moment, the world outside their room ceased to exist.

But beyond the walls of the compound, forces were already moving. Word of Li Tian’s performance in the tournament had spread beyond the family. In taverns, tea houses, and even sect halls, whispers of the Li Family’s bastard son circulated. Some dismissed him as lucky, others speculated that he was a genius hiding his true strength all along. But to those with power, curiosity had already turned into intrigue.

Some saw him as a potential ally worth courting. Others saw him as a threat that should be eliminated before he grew further.

Li Tian, however, cared little for their schemes. As he leaned back on his bed, listening to Li Xue chatter softly about trivial matters, he closed his eyes and allowed himself a moment of rare peace. He knew it would not last. The world was vast, filled with dangers and temptations, and his path was only just beginning.

The system’s voice echoed once more, as if to confirm his thoughts.

[New Task Generated: Seek the source of the strange fluctuations near the Ancient Forest within seven days. Reward: Unknown.]

His eyes snapped open, a glint of interest flashing within them. "So, the next stage arrives..."