Thirty-one years. That's how long it felt since a rogue car turned Chen Yang into an isekai protagonist in this strange world.
Back on Earth, he'd been the king of spreadsheets, a mild-mannered accountant at a school.
Here, in this realm ruled by strength, money meant nothing without the muscle to protect it.
Chen Yang could have used his accounting skills or some strategy from Earth to become a millionaire, but his personality landed somewhere between a mimosa and a wet noodle.
Or, should I say ,he had seen a smart man using his brain to make a quick buck of just hundred silver coin within a month.
And next day his body was on alley.
It's not just one case there are many examples like that person even with in this Qinfeng cit.
Innocent man is guilty for having money more that he could digest.
So, to be on a safe side he decided to be in comfort zone, crunching numbers at the local Pavilion after a year of soul-crushing job hunting.
His predecessor, an orphan with only a sister for company, clearly inherited some good genes – both siblings were lookers.
Fourteen years ago, at the tender age of sixteen, his sister married a hotshot cultivator from a nearby town, leaving him to fend for himself.
Despite years of dedicated training that would make a sloth look energetic, Chen Yang's lack of talent couldn't keep up with his hard work; his realm was stuck at the third level of body tempering cultivation.
Cultivation Realm in this world is divided into nine realm.
First Realm:Body Refinement Realm.
This is the initial stage where cultivators focus on strengthening their physical body. Through various exercises, techniques, and sometimes medicinal aids, they temper their flesh, bones, and internal organs, laying the foundation for future cultivation. This realm is typically divided into nine minor realms, each signifying a further enhancement of physical prowess.
Second Realm: Qi Condensing Realm
After peak Body Refinement, cultivators in Qi Condensing sense the surrounding ethereal Qi. They learn to draw it into their bodies, guiding it along meridians to store primarily in the dantian. This stored Qi enhances physical abilities like speed and strength, marking the first step into true supernatural power. Like Body Refinement, Qi Condensing also has multiple stages of mastery.
Third Realm: Foundation Establishment Realm
Once the body is sufficiently refined, cultivators move on to establishing a stable foundation for their spiritual energy, often called Qi. In this realm, they learn to sense, gather, and control this energy within their bodies. This is a crucial step for accessing more advanced techniques and abilities. Like the Body Refinement Realm, the Foundation Establishment Realm is usually divided into nine minor realms, indicating increasing mastery over their foundational Qi.
Fourth Realm: Core Formation Realm
In this realm, the cultivator takes their refined Qi and condenses it into a solid "core" within their body. This core serves as a powerful reservoir of energy and a central point for their cultivation. Reaching the Core Formation Realm signifies a significant leap in power and often grants access to more potent abilities and a longer lifespan. This realm is also generally divided into nine minor realms, representing the increasing size and purity of the core.
Sixth Realm: Golden Core Realm.
Building upon the Core Formation Realm, cultivators in the Golden Core Realm further refine their core, transforming it into a radiant golden color. This signifies a much higher level of energy purity and control.
Golden Core cultivators possess considerable power and are often considered significant figures within cultivation societies. Unlike the previous realms, the Golden Core Realm is typically divided into four stages: Early Stage, Mid Stage, Late Stage, and Pinnacle Stage.
Seventh Realm:Nascent Soul Realm
Upon reaching the peak of the Golden Core Realm, some cultivators can achieve a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm. This involves the formation of a spiritual avatar or "soul" that exists independently within the cultivator's body. The Nascent Soul greatly enhances the cultivator's spiritual power and grants them even more extraordinary abilities, often including a form of spiritual projection or even limited immortality. This realm is usually divided into nine minor realms, signifying the growing strength and maturity of the Nascent Soul.
As, for the information of realm above them Chen Yang, didn't have access and the feather kingdom he is in didn't seems to have cultivator above nascent soul realm.
"Man, time flies when you're perpetually stuck at the beginner level," he grumbled, a sigh escaping his lips like a deflated whoopee cushion.
"Forty-seven already. Maybe I should take up knitting."
Clearing his head with a mental snap, Chen Yang asked, "System, what can you do?"
"This is an Exposure System," the system replied in a monotone. "Think of it as blackmail with benefits. You expose someone's secret, you get a reward. New features unlock as you level up. Explore them at your own pace."
"Do you have, like, a beginner's pack or something?" Chen Yang asked hopefully.
"One beginner's gift pack has been sent. Please accept it yourself," the system replied.
"Open the beginner's gift pack!" Chen Yang commanded eagerly.
A warm glow surrounded him as the system intoned, "You have received a Slight Potential reward - your cultivation qualification has increased by 40 points (50/100 white level). x2 reward for 1 year considering host old age. (think as a old age pension for year.)"
Chen Yang couldn't help but laugh!.
This system seems to be quite a responsible to give x2 for elderly people .
"Huh... What do you mean by elder , I am still young and can last few rounds... Cough.. still for the x2 reward I ready to be your elder forever..."
Chen Yang gave a thumps up to system.
As for system concept it was just: expose secrets, get rewards, and power up simple as that.
Just as Chen Yang was lost in his own fantasy, a familiar voice cut through his thoughts.
"Chen Yang, any sign of that Essence Rejuvenation powder shipment yet?"
It was Ye Ming, a stunning young cultivator with eyes that could melt glaciers and a smile that could launch a thousand fantasies.
Unfortunately, those fantasies belonged solely to Chen Yang's perpetually lovesick friend, Li Yan.
Just thinking of a way to test to see how this exposure system works, a lab rat came asking him to experiment on it.
Chen Yang couldn't help but give a thumbs up to Ye Ming silently in his heart.
"Nope, but actually," he said, his eyes twinkling mischievously at Ye Ming.
The poor girl shivered under his unexpected gaze.
Li Yan, who seemed to have appeared, smelling Ye Ming's scent like a lovesick puppy, asked, "Anything you need help with, Accountant Chen?"
"Oh Li Yan there is no need for now, just stand at side as,I am about to have an important discussion with Miss Ye," Chen Yang said while leaning in conspiratorially towards Ye Ming.
He lowered his voice to a stage whisper.
"Miss Ye, do you know our resident lovesick poet over here has been secretly writing poems about your dazzling smile?"
Ye Ming's cheeks flushed the color of a ripe sunset. Her eyes darted between Chen Yang's mischievous grin and stunned Li Yan.
As a fourth-stage Body Refinement cultivator, how could a sound at the level of a whisper escape his ear? It was loud and clear.
Li Yan, suddenly panicked, stammered, "Chen! That's... nonsense! I mean, uh, Ye Ming is a very... respected cultivator and—"
"See?" Chen Yang winked at Ye Ming, completely ignoring Li Yan's increasingly frantic denials. "The man's a poet at heart, just too shy to admit it."
Ye Ming giggled, a sound like wind chimes on a gentle breeze. Li Yan, on the other hand, looked like a shy girl with a hateful gaze on Chen Yang.
Chen Yang, ever the master of pushing boundaries, decided to press his luck.
"And Lin boy here seems to be guarding you in secret while you go home after work." He patted Lin Yan's shoulder. "Believe it or not, I have seen it more than once."
With that bombshell dropped, Chen Yang turned back to his work, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips.
He stole a glance at Li Yan, who currently seemed to be engaged in a silent battle between mortification and the urge to strangle him.
Ye Ming had a flush on her cheek. With a quick glance toward Li Yan, she gave a loving smile and went away from there.
"Ding! Congratulations! You have successfully exposed a secret. Reward: 3 years of cultivation progress."
"With x2 bonus as a old man, you got 6 years of cultivation progress!"
A surge of energy coursed through Chen Yang, invigorating his body. He'd jumped from the third level to the fifth level of the Body Refinement Realm.
The power thrumming within him made him want to leap over the counter and do a celebratory dance.
Thankfully, he restrained himself, settling for a casual fist pump instead.
Meanwhile, Li Yan, having finally regained his composure, turned to Chen Yang with a sigh. "You know," he said with sarcasm, "sometimes I wonder if you're secretly a demon in disguise, sent to torment me."
Chen Yang chuckled. "Hey, I'm just trying to help a love story blossom! Besides, taking a little step forward never hurt anyone, right?"
Li Yan rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
As Ye Ming bid them farewell with a playful wink in Chen Yang's direction, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.
Maybe, just maybe, his friend's meddling might actually lead him somewhere.
So without any delay or hesitation he went to catch up with Ye Ming.
"Just 40/100 of white level cultivation talent but can advance two level in row, if I had higher talents....." Thinking about it Chen Yang couldn't help but have a new hope in his life.
Now let's see who is afraid of whom. Now, what I lack is time.
Even if I can't beat Manager Zhang's brother now , can't I hide or hide from him now and beat him after getting his realm higher than him?
Thinking about this Chen Yang couldn't help but give a evil smile.
Hehe... just you wait...