Side Effects of the Celestial Pill!?
After consuming the Celestial Refinement Pill, Satoru could feel the changes in his body—everything felt stronger, lighter, and sharper.
He ran his hand over his face, glancing at his reflection in the mirror, seeing a fresher, more radiant version of himself.
"Good, very good! If this continues, I'll be as handsome as Zoro!"
But just as he was basking in his own satisfaction—
Ting!
[System: I forgot to mention, the Celestial Pill has a small side effect that I failed to inform you about.]
Satoru froze, frowning.
"Side effect? What now!?"
[System: It has extended your lifespan to 500 years.]
Satoru: "..."
His mouth fell open, his entire body stiffening like a statue.
"WHAT!?"
He grabbed his own shoulders, his voice trembling.
"System… Are you messing with me!?"
[System: No, I'm serious.]
Satoru: "...!!!"
He clenched his fists, veins popping on his forehead.
"You think just saying 'sorry' is enough to fix this!?"
But then, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
"Fine… Whatever. What's done is done."
"Might as well make use of it."
He flopped onto his bed, expecting sleep to come. But strangely—
"Wait, why don't I feel sleepy!?"
Satoru sat up abruptly, realizing his body showed no signs of fatigue.
Instead—
He instinctively sat cross-legged, focused his breathing… and entered a meditative state.
All thoughts vanished, leaving only pure tranquility in his mind.
Startled, he opened his eyes, alarmed.
"WHAT!? Why am I meditating!?"
Then, a memory surfaced in his mind—
A memory of Miyamoto Musashi.
Strangely, the legendary swordsman had a habit of never sleeping conventionally but instead meditated through the night to refine his mind and spirit.
"Could it be… that I'm being influenced by Musashi's habits!?"
Satoru sighed, lying back down.
"Fine. I'll just accept my fate."
The System Unlocks a New Cultivation Path!
Just as he sank deeper into meditation—
Ting!
[Congratulations, Host! Meditation Cultivation Path Unlocked!]
[This path will help you unlock your meridians, enhance chakra control, and strengthen your physique.]
Satoru's eyes gleamed with interest as he opened his system interface, revealing a detailed diagram of his body's meridian system.
The system provided further explanation:
Ren Meridian (Ren Mai):
Runs along the front of the body, storing and regulating chakra. When fully opened, it increases chakra absorption and prevents unnecessary loss. Method to unlock: Meditation, breath control, and internal energy circulation. Effect: Increases chakra endurance for prolonged battles.
Du Meridian (Du Mai):
Runs along the spine, enhancing chakra resilience and circulation speed. When fully unlocked, it boosts reaction time and chakra flow. Method to unlock: Physical training, enduring pressure (such as training under waterfalls or continuous battle). Effect: Supports Eight Gates Release Formation and reduces stamina depletion.
Satoru's eyes sparkled as he read further.
"If I can unlock the Ren and Du Meridians… wouldn't that mean my chakra would stabilize, and my power would increase significantly!?"
The system continued:
[After completing the initial stage, Host can proceed to unlock the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.]
Chong Meridian: Doubles chakra reserves and reduces chakra consumption in jutsu. Dai Meridian: Strengthens the body, making it more durable. Yin Qiao & Yang Qiao Meridians: Enhances chakra regeneration and reflex speed. Yin Wei & Yang Wei Meridians: Improves chakra defense and amplifies physical attack power.
Satoru took a deep breath, deep in thought.
"If I can unlock all these meridians… my strength will reach an entirely new level."
But then, he reached the Death Meridian entry—
[Death Meridian (Zi Mai): A hidden meridian that only prodigies or those with powerful bloodlines can unlock. If fully activated, it grants godlike strength.]
Satoru: "..."
"Okay, now this is getting ridiculous! Don't turn me into some shonen protagonist!"
He sighed, rubbing his face, before a faint smile crossed his lips.
"But… this is a great opportunity."
He could feel the chakra flowing through his body more smoothly, his breathing becoming deeper and steadier.
For the first time since arriving in this world…
He had a path to follow.
A path to grow stronger.
He clenched his fists, determination blazing in his eyes.
"Alright. If this world is so dangerous… then I will become strong enough that nothing can threaten these kids."
The sun was beginning to rise.
Satoru opened his eyes, a smirk forming on his lips.
"Tomorrow, my new life begins."
(TL: Stay tuned for Chapter 21 – The First Breakfast of Teacher and Students!)