Body Tempering Stage!

"What do you expect from us when you don’t even share such crucial information!" Shen Yuan grumbled out loud. The frustration of his death, the new life, and the dangers it brought was finally getting to him.

No one in the cult had uttered a word to the servants about this most important stage in cultivation.

"They gave us the illusion of the freedom to chase after..." To shed his status as a servant, he had to have a powerful cultivation base, but how could he do that when he does not even know the right method?

"It seems only the most well-connected, resourceful, and shrewd people are the ones who can survive in this place." Taking a deep breath, Shen Yuan calmed himself. "Focus, man, you don’t want to end up in the Second category."

He knew those who did not meet the standards of the demonic cult only had one end, death. The process may differ— They may be used as materials for Chambers of Pill Research and Development or joyous union pavilion’s consumable items or some other way—in the end, their fate would be death.

Shen Yuan believed that even now someone was sending the decapitated bodies of the servants to any of the pavilions to be recycled.

"Better focus on this technique..."

With the hidden section of the technique unlocked, Shen Yuan realized that the meaning of the whole technique had changed. To learn it properly, he had to review it for a long time.

[Notice!]

[You have learned your very first Profound Rank Technique—1st Stage of The True Scripture of the Bloody Moon!]

[Reward Processed—Bonus added]

[Exp Earned — 1500 (500+1000)]

It took Shen Yuan three hours to reach the beginner’s stage in comprehending the technique from scratch.

"Can I level up now?"

Shen Yuan did not waste any time and opened his status screen. The words had barely left his mouth when a sudden warmth enveloped his body.

It was like taking a dip in a hot spring in the middle of the winter. All of the pores of his body opened up. Beads of sweat oozed out of his skin. His muscles started to tighten around his bones.

Every movement seemed a little strenuous and odd. But soon, the feeling faded, and everything went to normal.

Shen Yuan felt the transformation with his body on the screen.

[Name: Shen Yuan]

[Age: 16]

[Level: 1 → 4/10]

[XP: 1500/700 → 100/1000]

[CORE ATTRIBUTES:]

[ Strength (STR): 10 → 18 ]

[Agility (AGI): 10 → 18 ]

[ Dexterity (DEX): 10 → 18 ]

[ Physique (PHY): 10 → 18 ]

For the first time, Shen Yuan saw the core attributes, but he already understood what they were all about.

Average peak mortals only had a number of 5 in each section, but it varied depending on their bodies and physique.

Once they reach the body tempering realm, their stats double.

Shen Yuan frowned, wondering why he did not feel powerful when the stats showed he was already better than most of the people in the second stage of the body tempering realm even before he leveled up.

Before transmigration, Shen Yuan was one of the weak servants.

"Maybe it’s the system." Feeling the power settling in his body, Shen Yuan waved his hand, wanting to turn the screen off only to stop when he noticed another new line on there.

[Free Stat Points: 8]

Stat points? Where did that come from?

Shen Yuan had many questions seeing the extra points, as there were already 32 points added to his core attributes.

’Is there some sort of glitch?’ Even in the information he had received from the system, there was no mention of extra points.

It only mentioned that he would gain strength corresponding to the realm he breaks through to.

’Should I do it?’ After some deliberation, Shen Yuan pushed 2 points in each attribute. A familiar sensation covered his body.

[ Strength (STR): 20 ]

[Agility (AGI): 20 ]

[ Dexterity (DEX): 20 ]

[ Physique (PHY): 20 ]

Unlike before, the sensation did not last for long and faded soon.

’I feel stronger.’ Shen Yuan looked at his hands, clenching and opening them. ’I might have just found the key to surviving in this hellhole.’

Even though the difference only appeared to be two points, the current Shen Yuan was powerful enough to stand toe to toe with someone who had reached the 7th stage of the body tempering realm while he was still in the 4th stage of the same realm.

"Five more levels to go." Shen Yuan sighed in contemplation. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Even though he had experienced a sudden burst of power just from learning one ability, there was no way he could do it again.

According to the system, every technique has its own grade, and depending on how complex and powerful it was, he would gain more experience points.

Even though the ranks and the points were not specified, he understood the basics.

’The bonus was only a one-time thing. Maybe I will get another for a technique of another grade. Thinking of this, Shen Yuan recalled something he had noticed when he learned the new technique.

Within the notification of the system, a name stood out.

Profound Rank Technique.

’Was that the grade of the technique?’ Even though he knew he was probably right, the boy had no way of knowing where it stood in the grading system.

"If I want to get stronger, I need techniques to comprehend, but currently I only have the scripture of the Bloody moon given to me by the sect. Where can I get more?"

Digging into his memories, Shen Yuan soon found an answer.

"I have to rush to the market. It should be open now." Shen Yuan looked out of the window of his cottage and noticed that it was still morning. "I should also get something to eat. I am starving."

Grrr!

But in his rush, he almost forgot something. "Ew, so gross!! I have to take a bath."

Fortunately, there was someone there to remind him.

The moment Shen Yuan stepped out of the cottage to fetch water for a bath, he noticed a figure coming towards his house.

It was an old man, around 60 years old. The moment his eyes landed on sweat-covered Shen Yuan, the old man stopped three meters away from him. His face contorted in disgust as he spoke, "How dare a mere junior servant be late for work?" Do you want to be killed early?"

Shen Yuan finally remembered that he was still a servant, which meant he had to work like one. "I apologize for my tardiness, Senior Feng Yuan. I will report to the servant hall right now."

"Hmph! Hurry up while I am still being merciful." Just from being looked at by the old man, Shen Yuan felt like he was on the verge of dying once again. The familiar coldness and the danger it hid were slowly embraced by his body. When the old man looked away, the sensation vanished as well.

As if ignorant to Shen Yuan’s turbulent emotions, the old man flicked his loose sleeves and walked away to the next house to warn another late servant. As he walked away, Shen Yuan faintly heard him muttering under his breath, "Tch, how unlucky. Here I thought I would find someone for the young master’s amusement. Maybe I will be lucky on the next one."