In the back mountain of the Lu Mansion, a young man with delicate features, around seventeen or eighteen years old, was sitting on a large rock, cultivating.
Moments later, the young man slowly opened his eyes, letting out a sigh of resignation.
“Sigh! I still can't gather Qi. Is it true that I'll never be able to draw Qi into my body in my lifetime?”
“My Three Revolutions Golden Body Art has already reached perfection. Without a better body refinement technique, my physical strength will hardly improve.”
“But my father is gone too. What should I do now?”
Thinking about this, a look of defiance flashed in the young man’s eyes.
The young man's name was Lu Yu, the only son of the Third Elder.
The Third Elder had unfortunately sacrificed himself while defending against the beast tide.
Lu Yu had a congenital deficiency in his dantian since childhood, making it impossible for him to draw and gather Qi normally. In the entire Lu Mansion, he was considered a true waste.
While the Third Elder was still alive, he had searched through numerous scriptures and taken Lu Yu to visit many renowned physicians, hoping to cure his dantian defect.
But without exception, none of them could solve it.
However, Lu Yu, who yearned for strength, never gave up on himself. Since he couldn't cultivate techniques to draw Qi into his body, he began to study external martial arts and cultivate his physique.
Therefore, starting from the age of fifteen, Lu Yu began to explore the path of body refinement.
Although his physical strength had increased only slightly after several years of dedicated training, he had never given up.
Until three months ago, he accidentally obtained a mysterious crystal.
He discovered that he could actually extract life essence from the mysterious crystal. It not only replenished his blood and Qi, but also repaired injuries.
With the assistance of this mysterious crystal, his Three Revolutions Golden Body Art finally reached perfection a few days ago. His physical strength could even rival that of a True Spirit Realm cultivator without falling behind too much.
But now, without a higher-level body refinement technique, even with the mysterious crystal, he couldn't fully utilize its potential.
This put him in a difficult situation.
However, just then, Lu Qing Xuan suddenly appeared and landed in front of Lu Yu.
Lu Yu looked up, and a familiar face reflected in his pupils, which startled him.
“Lu Yu, greets the Duke!”
He immediately stood up and bowed to Lu Qing Xuan, but thought to himself, "Why did the Duke suddenly come here?"
At this moment, he couldn't help but wonder if his treasure had been exposed.
Thinking about this, Lu Yu’s heart started to beat nervously.
Lu Qing Xuan smiled slightly, "No need for formalities."
Lu Qing Xuan did recognize the person in front of him.
After all, the Third Elder and he were both members of the direct lineage. Lu Qing Xuan had some understanding of the family members of this lineage.
Then, he activated his True Sight, and a transparent light screen appeared in front of him.
【Name: Lu Yu】
【Cultivation: Body Tempering Ninth Level】
【Aptitude: Semi-Waste】
【悟性: High】
【Talent: Mortal Body】
【Fortune: Congenital dantian deficiency, unable to draw Qi into his body. One night three months ago, when a meteor fell, he accidentally obtained a mysterious crystal resembling a meteor that entered his body. Since then, with the help of the mysterious crystal, the speed of his body refinement technique cultivation has been significantly improved!】
Good grief!
Seeing Lu Yu's Fortune, Lu Qing Xuan thought of a certain protagonist template on Earth!
It was practically identical!
And at this moment, the system's voice sounded again.
【Ding! The current investment target can trigger a gold-level return!】
【Investing in the Earth-Rank Upper-Grade Body Refinement Technique "Eight Gates Formation" can obtain the Heaven-Rank Upper-Grade Technique "Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art" and the Heaven-Rank Upper-Grade Martial Art "Transcendent Sword Technique"】
【Investing in the Earth-Rank Middle-Grade Treasure "Five-Colored Profound Light Wings" can obtain the Heaven-Rank Middle-Grade Treasure: "Seven-Colored Profound Light Wings" and the Heaven-Rank Middle-Grade Treasure: "Cold Spirit Silver Moon Sword"】
【Investing in two bottles of Gold Core Pills can obtain two pots of Purple Extreme Pills, two bottles of Profound Spirit Golden Core Pills, and a scroll of the Profound Spirit Golden Core Pill formula!】
It has to be said that the returns from this gold investment were truly generous!
The grades were all quite high, even Lu Qing Xuan was amazed.
In this world, techniques, martial arts, pills, treasures, formations, etc., are classified from low to high as Yellow Rank, Xuan Rank, Earth Rank, Heaven Rank, King Rank, Emperor Rank, Saint Rank…
Below King Rank, each rank is further divided into four levels: Lower Grade, Middle Grade, Upper Grade, and Extreme Grade.
And the King Rank and Emperor Rank only have two levels: ordinary and top-tier.
Lu Qing Xuan suppressed his excitement and glanced at Lu Yu, encouraging him, "Good, even though you can't gather Qi into your body, you never gave up on your pursuit of becoming stronger."
“I see that you seem to have hit a bottleneck in your body refinement path. I have a body refinement technique here that should be suitable for you!”
Speaking, Lu Qing Xuan took out the Eight Gates Formation and handed it to Lu Yu.
"This is an Earth-Rank Upper-Grade body refinement technique that I collected outside. The cultivation methods of this technique are somewhat special. Each step requires immense willpower. I believe that with your unwavering determination (gold finger), you will surely achieve success!"
Hearing this, Lu Yu was taken aback.
"This…"
Looking at the technique in front of him, Lu Yu's throat involuntarily twitched. His eyes were full of astonishment.
He was just a transparent person in the mansion, seen as a waste by his family members. Yet, the Duke was suddenly giving him a technique.
Moreover, it was an Earth-Rank Upper-Grade body refinement technique.
He knew that the Three Revolutions Golden Body Art he had been cultivating before was only a Xuan Rank Middle Grade, and it was obtained by his father at a considerable cost.
But now, an Earth-Rank Upper-Grade body refinement technique was laid out before him.
To say that he wasn't moved by this technique would be a lie. What he lacked most right now was a high-level body refinement technique.
If he had a high-level body refinement technique and combined it with the mysterious crystal in his body, he believed that no matter how difficult the body refinement art was, he could learn it.
This sudden turn of events left him somewhat at a loss. Should he accept it or not?
"Take it. In my eyes, you've never been a waste, but a Lu family descendant who never gives up on becoming stronger!"
"I hope that one day you will become a strong individual who can shield the family from harm, like your father, or even surpass him!"
"Take this technique and cultivate diligently. Prove to everyone that even if you can't draw and gather Qi, you're no worse than those with exceptional aptitudes!"
Hearing these words, a fire ignited in Lu Yu's heart. He couldn't wait to start cultivating immediately.
He never thought that he, a transparent person, would be so highly regarded by the Duke. This made Lu Yu utterly shocked.
His heart surged with emotion for a long time before he reached out with trembling hands to receive the technique in front of him.
"Thank you for your grace, Duke. Lu Yu will strive even harder in the future and will not disappoint your expectations!"
Lu Qing Xuan gave a slight smile and nodded.
Then, he took out the Five-Colored Profound Light Wings treasure he had collected and two bottles of Gold Core Pills, handing them to Lu Yu.
"Take this Five-Colored Profound Light Wings and these two bottles of pills as well. The Five-Colored Profound Light Wings will provide you with a guarantee of safety, and these two bottles of body refinement pills will come in handy for your cultivation!"
Seeing the Duke gifting him treasures and pills again, tears welled up in Lu Yu's eyes.
From childhood to adulthood, he had never received such treatment, except from his father.
At this moment, his heart was filled with warmth and gratitude, and Lu Qing Xuan's figure became tall and majestic in his mind.
"Thank you, Duke. Lu Yu will not let you down!"
Receiving the pile of treasures and pills in front of him, Lu Yu assured him again with excitement.
【Ding! Investment successful! Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Heaven-Rank Upper-Grade Technique "Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art," Heaven-Rank Upper-Grade Martial Art "Transcendent Sword Technique," Heaven-Rank Middle-Grade Treasure: "Seven-Colored Profound Light Wings," Heaven-Rank Middle-Grade Treasure: "Cold Spirit Silver Moon Sword," two pots of Purple Extreme Pills, two bottles of Profound Spirit Golden Core Pills, and a scroll of the Profound Spirit Golden Core Pill formula!】
Lu Qing Xuan didn't rush to check the system rewards for this investment.
He looked at Lu Yu, extended his right hand, patted the other person's shoulder, and said encouragingly, "Cultivate diligently. If you lack any resources, you can go to the Second Elder!"
"I look forward to the day you surpass your father!"
With that, Lu Qing Xuan left the place.
Looking at Lu Qing Xuan's departing figure, Lu Yu felt the warmth of his family for the first time, and his pursuit of the path of strength became even more resolute.
Moments later, he calmed himself down and immediately checked the "Eight Gates Formation" body refinement technique.
Meanwhile, Lu Qing Xuan, who had already left, was checking the system rewards for his investment.