As soon as Kim opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the ceiling—made of white stones, with faint medicinal runes carved into them. The fragrance of herbs floated in the air. There was still slight pain in his body, but he no longer felt as broken as before. At that very moment, a blue screen flashed before his vision.
[System Panel Activated]
[Host Returned to Original World: Ullu World]
[Time Difference Confirmed]
[Nerathion + Small World Duration: 10 Years]
[Ullu World Passed Time: 10 Days, 10 Nights]
[Reward Settlement in Progress...]
Kim remained silent for a few moments. Then he felt within himself—his soul, his inner space, his stable core… all were exactly as they had been formed in Nerathion. But his real body was still in its previous state.
He thought inwardly,
"As the system said… my soul cultivation has already risen high, but this body is still only at Qi Refining First Level."
He felt deeply within himself.
A stable seed-core still existed inside his inner space. It was subtle, but real. Ordinary people could never sense it. Only a high-level cultivator could recognize its depth.
He looked at his hands again. The injuries on his body had almost healed. The marks of the beating given by the disciples in the Task Hall were now almost healed as well.
At that moment, the room's door opened.
A beautiful young woman walked inside. She wore a light green disciple robe, with the symbol of Medicine Valley embroidered on it. Her steps were balanced, her face was beautiful, and her figure was truly poison, absolutely poison.
Seeing Kim awake, she said,
"Oh… so you've regained consciousness."
There was concern in her voice on the surface, but inside, slight contempt was hidden.
"How are you feeling now?"
Kim looked at her carefully. He understood—this concern was not real. It was only obedience to the elders' orders.
The young woman stepped forward and said,
"You probably don't know. After being injured in the Task Hall, you returned to your room. You had already fallen unconscious. Then you did not come out for seven days. The elders became worried." Because you are the young master of a great household, the elders became worried."
"Then the disciples began searching. Someone said that you had not come out of your room. When the door was broken open, you were found unconscious. After that, you were brought here."
She clasped her fingers behind her back.
"You have been here for three days. Your treatment was ongoing. Now you are almost completely healed."
Then she leaned toward Kim and said,
"And I… have been taking care of you all these days."
Her voice changed.
"So what do you think… shouldn't I get something in return?"
Kim laughed inwardly. After serving under Medicine Master's orders, now she was asking for a reward.
He said calmly,
"I have nothing to give."
"I myself am considered trash. My cultivation is low. My meridians are broken. I cannot even cultivate."
"And I have nothing… that I can give you."
The young woman's face changed instantly.
"Useless human."
In the very next moment, she angrily kicked Kim in the face.
Bang!
Kim fell down from the bed.
"You are almost healed. Now get out of here."
"Medicine Hall is not a place for beggars."
She turned around and walked out without looking back.
Silence filled the room for a few moments.
Kim slowly got up. He wiped the thin line of blood from his face. There was anger in his eyes.
"Just as a hunter steps three paces back before hunting…"
"So I too will now step back."
He slowly returned to his room.
As soon as he reached the room, he closed the door and sat on the bed.
"System."
The blue screen opened again.
[System Online]
Kim asked,
"What is my current status?"
Within a few moments, the answer appeared—
[Body Cultivation: Qi Refining First Level]
[Soul Cultivation: Body Refining Peak]
[Inner Space: Stable]
[Seed Stone Core: Formed]
Kim began to think.
"If I want to bring my body cultivation equal to soul cultivation?"
The System replied—
[Two Methods Available]
Purchase Body Sync Resource via Coins
Complete Assigned Task for Perfect Synchronization]
[Warning: Successful Sync will not damage host body]
Kim took a deep breath.
"So there is a path…"
At that moment, the screen changed.
[System Fragment Integrated Successfully]
[System Upgraded to Version 2.0]
[Reward Package Available]
[Reward 1: Aura Suppressing Technique]
[Reward 2 & 3: Auto Delivery in Future]
In the very next moment, a stream of knowledge entered his mind.
Kim instantly understood—this was not the previous ordinary technique.
This was a high-level Aura Suppressing Technique.
If activated, he could completely hide his cultivation.
But in the next moment, a new line appeared—
[Activation Cost: 900 Epiphany Points]
Kim's face darkened.
"Dishonest system…"
"It gave a reward, and is still asking for points to activate it."
After thinking for a few moments, he said,
"Activate."
[900 Epiphany Points Deducted]
[Aura Suppressing Technique Activated]
New information opened before him—
[Current Stage Effect]
Can conceal cultivation from all cultivators up to Core Foundation Peak.
No person below that realm can detect host true level.
Kim sat silently for a few moments.
"That means…"
"I can show the world whatever cultivation level I want."
"And no one will know my real state."
He slowly controlled his aura.
First, his presence disappeared completely.
Then he made himself appear as Qi Refining First Level.
Kim closed his eyes.
"The people who think I am trash…"
"They will be the last ones to know the truth."
He stood up.
Kim completely suppressed his aura.
At that moment, the System activated before him once again. A panel made of blue light appeared in the air, and clear words began to shine before him.
[Congratulations Host]
[Aura Suppressing Technique Successfully Integrated]
[Current Cultivation Hidden Successfully]
[Future Cultivation Masking Feature Unlocked]
Kim looked at the system.
System
[Host may now use available points to synchronize body cultivation with soul cultivation.]
Kim's gaze immediately moved to the next section. He looked at his total Epiphany Points. Then he saw the cost to reach Body Refining Peak.
The very next moment, he remained silent for a few seconds.
"So many…?"
He looked at the figures again.
Almost everything he had earned in Nerathion and the Small World was going to be spent in this one purchase.
Kim slightly lowered his head.
"So the Points I risked my life to earn there… were only enough to bring me to my current cultivation?"
"This system is truly very cunning."
He calculated inwardly. If he did not make this purchase now, then the gap between his soul cultivation and body cultivation would remain. In the long run, this difference could become a weakness.
After a few moments, he made his decision.
"Purchase."
The System lit up.
[1,000,000 Epiphany Points Deducted]
[Body Synchronization Initiated]
[Current Body Cultivation Rising…]
Warm energy spread through Kim's entire body. His bones, muscles, veins, and meridians began adapting to a new power. There was pain, but it was bearable. This was not destruction, but reconstruction.
After some time, the panel stabilized.
[Synchronization Complete]
[Body Cultivation: Body Refining Peak]
[Soul Cultivation: Body Refining Peak]
Kim took a deep breath.
Now his body and soul were at the same level.
But some Points still remained.
He opened the System Shop again.
Inside were many options—
Minor Cultivation Pills
Strengthening Herbs
Temporary Combat Buffs
Basic Techniques
Bloodline Triggers
Passive Enhancements
Kim looked at each one.
Then he slowly said,
"Now that my cultivation has risen this high, these small items will not make much difference."
He thought for a while.
"Should I take a technique?"
"Or bloodline activation?"
"Or a passive reward for future growth?"
He looked through the options for some time, then directly said to the System—
"Recommend best options according to current stage."
The System immediately replied.
[Three Suitable Choices Available]
Combat Technique Enhancement
Close combat and reaction speed will increase.
Bloodline Trace Activation
The body's latent ability may awaken.
Cultivation Foundation Reinforcement
Future breakthroughs will become easier.
Kim read all three carefully.
Then without haste, he chose the third option.
"Foundation first. Everything else later."
[Foundation Reinforcement Activated]
A faint energy descended into his Dantian and stabilized there.
Kim felt that his cultivation was now not only powerful, but also stable.
Now a new question stood before him.
"What cultivation should I show inside the sect?"
If he showed very high cultivation, the elders' attention would immediately focus on him.
If he showed too little, people would once again think of him as trash.
He thought for a while, then lightly smiled.
"If no one mocks me… then where will Epiphany Points come from?"
He immediately suppressed his aura.
Displayed Cultivation: Qi Refining First Level
From the outside, he looked like the same weak disciple as before.
No one could know that inside him was the stable power of Body Refining Peak.
Kim was alone in his room. He spent the whole night practicing cultivation and breathing cycles technique.
By morning, his clothes were soaked in sweat. The room was filled with hot breaths and the subtle pressure of energy.
He opened the window.
Outside, a new morning had arrived in the sect.
The first ray of sunlight fell upon the stone buildings.
Kim washed his face, changed clothes, and stepped out of the room.
The moment he did—
Several disciples suddenly surrounded Kim from all sides.
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Chapter 20 end. But
Chapter 21 coming soon.
The hunter has sharpened his claws.
Kim has hidden his true strength, but how long can the weak mask remain?
The next chapter will begin with confrontation.
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