His fingers twitched against the rough wooden floor, the cool breeze licking at his exposed skin. With a groggy groan, he forced himself up, blinking against the dim morning light filtering through the gaps in his cabin. His mind was still sluggish, his thoughts tangled in a haze of half-dreamt memories.
"System... how long did I sleep?" he asked groggily, rubbing his temples.
"Host, you have been asleep for approximately 15 hours," the system replied matter-of-factly.
Li Yun’s bleary eyes widened in disbelief. "No way! That long?! You must be pulling my leg."
"Host, I am incapable of making jokes. You have been unconscious for nearly 15 hours due to extreme exhaustion and starvation."
He let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his face as he processed the information. "Was it because of the starvation from staying in the mind realm for too long? Or am I just a lazy fatty? is that what your trying to say to me system?"
Choosing not to dwell too much on the question, he stretched his stiff limbs, dusting off his robe as he forced himself fully awake. His stomach rumbled in protest, reminding him that while the grain pills had sustained him, they had not satisfied the deeper hunger gnawing at his core.
Still, before eating, he needed water. The only source he knew of was the waterfall, and it wasn’t as if he had many other options.
Stepping outside, Li Yun inhaled deeply, the crisp mountain air filling his lungs. His surroundings were untouched, a testament to the isolation of the peak he had been left on. The vast expanse of greenery stretched endlessly before him, the sheer scale of the mountain making him feel as though he were but a speck lost in the wilderness. It was impossible to tell just how far this place extended, how much lay beyond his immediate surroundings. He could spend years exploring, yet he doubted he would uncover all its secrets.
He began the slow walk toward the waterfall, savouring the stillness around him. There was something oddly serene about this isolation, a quiet that was neither suffocating nor overwhelming. The sound of his footsteps, the occasional rustle of unseen creatures in the underbrush—these small disturbances only made the silence feel more alive.
When he arrived at the waterfall, he didn’t rush. One by one, he undid his clothes, allowing the cool mountain air to embrace him fully before he stepped into the water. The shock of cold against his skin sent a shiver through him, but he welcomed it, wading deeper until the water reached his shoulders. It had been days since he had last cleaned himself, and the feeling of fresh water washing over him was nothing short of divine.
Memories flickered at the edges of his mind—memories of a life that felt distant, yet still clung to him like a shadow. The feeling of stepping into a hot shower after a grueling day at work, letting the scalding water wash over him, loosening tense muscles, numbing his thoughts. How many times had he stood there, forehead pressed against the cool tiles, allowing the heat to chase away the weight of the day? Sometimes, he stayed there long after the steam had faded, long after the warmth had turned to a chill, simply because the thought of stepping out meant returning to a world that never seemed to care whether he stood or fell. A faint, bittersweet smile touched his lips, but it wavered, threatening to break. Here, in this foreign world, he was alone in a different way, yet somehow, the ache in his chest remained the same.
He blinked the memories away before they could fully settle, pushing them into the depths of his mind. Now was not the time for nostalgia.
Finishing his bath, he stepped out and dressed, shaking off any lingering water droplets before making his way back to his cabin. The moment he arrived, a thought occurred to him—a lingering curiosity that refused to be ignored. He wanted to check on the little ball again. He knew he couldn’t afford to lose himself for days at a time, but surely a brief visit wouldn’t hurt.
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Settling into a lotus position, he steadied his breathing, sinking into the familiar rhythm of cultivation. Within moments, the world around him faded, and he found himself once again in the dark expanse of the mind realm.
The instant he appeared, the little ball spun rapidly, vibrating with an almost frantic energy. It zipped toward him at blinding speed, its motion a blur of light and excitement. With a sudden burst of force, it rammed into his astral form, sending him careening backward into the abyss. For a moment, he lost all sense of direction, tumbling helplessly through the void. Laughter bubbled up from his chest, startled yet genuine, as he struggled to right himself. When he finally regained his balance, he found the little ball hovering nearby, pulsing with an almost needy anticipation, as if afraid he might disappear again. The sheer intensity of its joy made something deep in Li Yun’s heart clench—had it been waiting for him all this time?
"Alright, alright, I get it. You missed me," he chuckled, floating closer again.
The ball pulsed, vibrating with an energy that felt almost alive. It was happy—so happy, in fact, that it seemed to be generating emotions all on its own. Li Yun could feel them swirling in the air, unformed yet potent, as though a god were sculpting the raw essence of life itself.
"I can’t stay long," he told it, watching as it spun faster in protest. "I just came to check on you. I’ll come back soon, alright? Just be patient."
The energy ball trembled, then slowly stilled, its spinning coming to a near halt. After a brief moment, it pulsed softly in acknowledgment.
Satisfied, Li Yun pulled himself back into reality, blinking as he adjusted to the shift. But just as he did, a familiar chime rang in his ears.
Ding!
"Congratulations, Host, for taming the wild little ball of energy within the mind realm. Reward: 150 Star Shards."
Li Yun’s eyes widened. "Wait… does that mean I can finally buy something from the shop?"
Excitement surged through him as he pulled up the system’s interface. But before he could browse, he noticed something new. A previously locked section had been opened.
"Boxes?" he muttered.
The system chimed in eagerly. "You have met the requirements to unlock the Lucky Boxes section! I will now explain how they work—"
As the system began to ramble on about the different types of boxes, Li Yun’s expression twisted in confusion.
"There are three types of Lucky Boxes available to you!" the system announced with an almost unsettling enthusiasm. "First, the Box of Requirement—this marvellous box will provide you with an item that you desperately need at the moment of opening!"
Li Yun's brow twitched. "That sounds… oddly convenient."
"Second, we have the Stat Box! A thrilling choice, where upon opening, one of your stats will increase by a completely random amount!" The system practically beamed with excitement. "It could be a small boost… or a grand one! Who knows? That's the fun of it!"
Li Yun narrowed his eyes. "Right. Totally fun."
"And finally, the greatest of them all—the Random Box!" The system’s voice somehow managed to grow even more dramatic. "This magnificent box could contain anything! An item you need! A stat increase! Perhaps something far more valuable than what you could ever purchase with your meagre star shards! But of course… it could also be something far less useful. It’s all about the thrill of chance!"
Li Yun’s face darkened. "So, in short, you want me to become a gambler?!" he shouted. "You want me to get addicted?! My lord!"
He shut the interface immediately, refusing to entertain the idea any further. Rubbing his temples in frustration. "As if I'd willingly throw myself into that bottomless pit," he muttered, shaking his head. The very thought of relying on blind luck left a bitter taste in his mouth. No way was he falling into that trap.
Shaking his head, he sighed and opened the normal shop instead, scanning through the available items. His 150-star shard budget limited his options, but there were still a few useful things available:
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☆☆ Spirit Cleansing Pill (120 Star Shards) – Helps remove impurities from the body, allowing qi to circulate more freely.
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☆☆ Enhanced Qi Recovery Talisman (90 Star Shards) – Speeds up qi regeneration for an hour.
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☆☆☆ Low-Grade Martial Art: Soaring Step (150 Star Shards) – A movement technique that Blinks the user in a 10 metre direction.
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☆☆☆☆ Mysterious Seed (130 Star Shards) – An unknown seed that requires nurturing. Its effects are uncertain.
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☆☆☆ Minor Blood Refinement Elixir (140 Star Shards) – Strengthens blood and improves physical endurance.
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☆☆☆ Qi Condensation Array (150 Star Shards) – A small formation that gathers qi within a set area.
As he scrolled through the options, indecision took hold. There were too many choices, and his tired mind wasn’t making it any easier. His eyes darted from one item to the next, weighing possibilities, only to feel more overwhelmed with each passing second. A deep groan escaped his lips as he slumped back against the wall, rubbing his temples. "Why is it so damn hard to pick something?" he muttered. "This shop is supposed to help, not give me a headache." Eventually, frustration won out, and he waved the interface away with an exhausted sigh. "Forget it. I’ll decide tomorrow. Maybe."