The moon was fading, giving way to the first light of dawn. Nie Yong had been training relentlessly, his movements precise, his strikes fierce. Sweat dripped from his body, yet he never stopped—not even once.
Compared to the hellish work shifts of my past life, this is nothing.
His body moved on instinct, repeating the Swirling Wind Palm again and again. Each strike was faster, sharper, more refined.
Then, suddenly—
Ding!
[The martial skill, Swirling Wind Palm, has leveled up to level 39!]
[You have broken through to the 2nd Tempered Body Stage!]
[Host's current combat power: 8th Tempered Body Stage!]
Nie Yong exhaled sharply, feeling a surge of strength ripple through his body. He clenched his fist, sensing the raw power now coursing through his muscles.
"Yeah… if I just train a little bit more, I'll reach the power of the Initial Element Stage—"
But before he could finish the thought, a sudden glare of light hit his face.
The sun had risen.
Nie Yong's lips curled into a grin.
"Perfect. It's finally time to practice the Demonic Body Record."
Nie Yong took a deep breath and steadied his stance. Now… let's begin.
As he initiated the first movement of the Demonic Body Record, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion crashed over him. His limbs felt like they were weighed down by boulders, his muscles screaming in protest.
What the hell…?
He gritted his teeth. This was unlike anything he had ever practiced before. Every motion felt as if it was tearing his body apart, demanding every ounce of his willpower to continue.
A fleeting thought of stopping crossed his mind. This is too much…
But then he remembered—he only had half an hour each day. The energy of the rising sun wouldn't last forever.
Half an hour to push my body beyond its limits.
Nie Yong forced himself forward, movement after movement, ignoring the pain, ignoring the fatigue. Sweat drenched his clothes, his breath ragged, his vision hazy.
By the time the final form of the Demonic Body Record approached, his body was on the brink of collapse. His bones felt like they were crumbling, his flesh burning from the inside out.
Then—
Crack!
A sharp pain erupted through him as his bones fractured all at once. He nearly screamed.
But before he could react—
A warm energy surged through his body, washing away all pain in an instant. His broken bones mended, his exhausted muscles rejuvenated.
Strength unlike before flooded his limbs.
Ding!
[You have broken through to the 3rd Tempered Body Stage!]
[Host's current combat power: Peak Tempered Body Stage!]
Nie Yong slowly opened his eyes, his breathing steadying.
Then, a wild grin stretched across his face.
"Hah… I did it—"
Grrrrrrrggglll…
A loud growl echoed from his stomach, cutting off his words. Nie Yong froze for a second before sighing.
"Well, I guess training this much really took too much of my energy…" He patted his empty stomach. "I should go eat something… and I just happen to know the right place."
Without wasting time, he turned away from the training ground and started heading toward the Black Plum Village. Unlike the sect's meals, which he hadn't ever eaten since reincarnating but had heard countless of his fellow martial brothers talk bad about, the village had fresh, hearty food, and more importantly—real flavor, but unfortunately, he just happened to know only one such place: Uncle He's rice shop.
...
The morning sun cast a warm glow over the Black Plum Village as Nie Yong walked through its narrow dirt roads. Villagers bustled about, setting up their stalls, chatting among themselves, and preparing for the day ahead.
As he strolled past familiar-looking buildings, his gaze suddenly landed on a small shop. His steps came to an abrupt halt.
A wave of nostalgia washed over him.
Uncle He's rice shop.
He could recognize it instantly—it was identical to the one in the manhwa. From the worn-out wooden sign to the inviting scent of freshly steamed rice drifting through the air, everything was exactly as he remembered.
Nie Yong hurriedly stepped inside, his hunger intensifying at the thought of a warm, satisfying meal.
The moment he entered, he was immediately greeted by a stunning aunt behind the counter. She had delicate features, a kind smile, and an air of gentle warmth.
"How can I help you today, young master?" she asked, her tone laced with exaggerated respect.
Nie Yong smirked slightly. It was only natural. A Lower Base Sect disciple visiting a small village shop wasn't an everyday occurrence.
"Well, I just came to buy some rice… I'm quite hungry," Nie Yong replied, offering a relaxed smile.
As he looked at the woman, a soothing feeling rose inside him.
She… really resembles my mother.
At least in appearance—and in that reassuring, gentle smile.
The aunt chuckled softly. "Well, if that's young master's wish, it will be immediately fulfilled. Please wait here for a minute."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the storage room, leaving Nie Yong standing there, feeling a rare sense of warmth he hadn't felt in a long time.
Nie Yong waited patiently, his fingers idly tapping against the wooden counter as he took in the familiar surroundings of the small shop. The scent of rice and warm food filled the air, a stark contrast to the rigorous training he had just undergone.
Before long, the auntie returned from the storage room, a bag of rice hoisted over her shoulder with practiced ease.
But just as she was about to place it down—
Bang!
The shop door burst open as a middle-aged man hurried inside, breathless and wide-eyed with panic. His clothes were slightly disheveled, his face drenched in sweat. Uncle He.
Nie Yong raised an eyebrow, sensing that something was terribly wrong.
"Ling'er! Ling'er!" The man called out the auntie's name—his wife's name. His voice shook with urgency, his eyes darting around wildly as if searching for her.
The aunt—Ling'er—rushed to his side, worry creasing her face. "Husband? What's wrong?"
Uncle He clutched her shoulders, his entire body trembling. "He Xue… she's been—" He choked on his words, his breathing ragged.
Nie Yong narrowed his eyes.
"He Xue? Is she Uncle He's daughter? The one Su Mu tried to impress playing the hero?"
Uncle He took a deep breath, forcing himself to speak the words he wished he didn't have to.
"She's been abducted!"
To be continued...
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Well, as you can see I've removed something huge from this chapter (if you don't know what I am talking about just go check out the previous one and yeah...), well it didn't make any sense and just felt out of place.