Fang Yichi, who was crossing through hell, suddenly stopped as he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. It wasn't something mental—it was real pain.
'Aaahh!' he tried to scream, but all that came out were silent cries in his mind. 'What's happening? Why does it hurt so much?'
He didn't understand and had no time to think. To try to neutralize the pain, he clutched his stomach, which was twisting violently, as if he had eaten spoiled food.
Without any clue of the reason, he remained silent, enduring the agony.
'What's wrong with my disciple?' Mei Lie, seeing Fang Yichi frozen like a statue, didn't understand. Confused, she approached, circling him until she stood in front. Her disciple had his eyes closed, hands lowered, and teeth clenched.
"...?" Mei Lie grew even more perplexed. 'Is he playing around? Or enjoying the sensation of cultivation? But his face doesn't look like it... it's far too tense.'
While Mei Lie strained her brain trying to understand, Fang Yichi did everything he could to endure the internal nausea.
He couldn't speak, nor move. His body was completely paralyzed.
Like his master, he also wondered why this was happening.
The cause of it all was the golden map, which was shaking violently inside Fang Yichi. Each tremor triggered an explosion that twisted his entire internal system.
After several convulsions, the map stopped, having absorbed all the essence his host had cultivated so far.
Then, it began to break apart into golden fragments that scattered through Fang Yichi's body like raindrops falling from the clouds.
Transformed into particles, the fragments became a brush tipped with ink, which began drawing on Fang Yichi's flesh. With each stroke, the brush shrank, its ink sinking into his skin.
Soon, the figure of a diagram was engraved. It glowed, like a starry field filled with golden stars.
At the end of the drawing, the brush faded away.
***
With no idea of the true cause, Fang Yichi felt the pain in his stomach vanish. It no longer twisted.
He sighed in relief. 'What was all that? Was it the effect of my first cultivation? Is my body reacting badly to the essence?'
He was uncertain, and quickly thought of asking the only person who could answer: his master.
Opening his dark eyes, he saw her. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed golden dots appearing on her body.
"?" Fang Yichi was shocked, his eyes wide. "What is that?"
In just a few minutes, he'd been overwhelmed with questions without answers.
Mei Lie, who had been lost in thought, let out a sigh of relief upon seeing him wake up—but then frowned when she noticed Fang Yichi's eyes scanning her entire body. It was uncomfortable. Instinctively, her face flushed.
"What are you doing, disciple? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Master, come here." He motioned for her to come closer.
Mei Lie furrowed her brow even more but, driven by curiosity, stepped forward until she stood before him.
Fang Yichi, seeing the dots up close, grew even more curious about their strangeness.
"May I touch you, Master? It's important."
"You brat, what the hell are you talking about!" Mei Lie turned bright red, both from embarrassment and irritation. Clenching her fists, she was ready to teach this disciple some respect—but upon seeing his pure eyes, her anger faded.
"W-Why?"
"A test. I'm sorry for being a disobedient disciple, but I truly need to test something." Fang Yichi was sincere. Those glowing points resembled the golden map. He felt there was a connection. So, he took the risk of offending his master.
"Go ahead…" In the end, Mei Lie agreed. Fang Yichi's intentions weren't impure, though her face remained as red as a tomato.
Fang Yichi found her reaction cute but quickly pushed those thoughts aside and focused on what he needed to do.
Gently touching her shoulder, he pressed on one of the golden dots.
Mei Lie, though flustered, suddenly felt an indescribably pleasant sensation. It was as if a divine hand were massaging her shoulder. It was soothing, wonderfully so. She didn't want it to stop—but it only lasted five seconds.
Fang Yichi withdrew his hand. In that moment, he understood everything.
The instant he touched his master, memories surged in his mind.
Heavenly Pleasure Diagram…
The map that had saved him was, in fact, this diagram. A treasure capable of locating the weak points of all beings in the universe.
It also had another function: to absorb all types of Qi and Origins, and to fuse various natural resources born of heaven and earth.
'I-I… What the hell have I obtained? Isn't this kind of indecent? So many… so many perverted functions?'
Fang Yichi didn't know whether to be excited or overwhelmed by the mystery now solved. After thinking it over, he looked at his master, who was gazing at him with gentle eyes.
"Master?" Fang Yichi feigned confusion at her gaze, which made Mei Lie snap out of it. Still shy, she looked away and asked a question.
"Disciple, what was that? You should explain."
"I don't know... after I began cultivating, I can see things… basically the weak points of a human." Fang Yichi lied.
He knew his master wouldn't harm him, but he understood that carrying such a treasure meant carrying disaster. To protect her—and himself—he decided never to reveal the truth about the diagram. It wasn't something simple. It could change anyone's fate. Him being the only one to know was for the best—for everyone.
"You awakened a special ability?" Mei Lie was surprised.
"Looks like it. Is that a good thing, Master?" Fang Yichi smiled, satisfied.
"I think so… very good." Remembering the massage, that was all she could say.
"Would you like to try again, Master—" Before he could finish, he was staring at the sky again… with the ground at his back.
"No! I don't want to! Respect your master, disobedient disciple! It hasn't even been two hours since I accepted you, and you're already acting so bold?" she said sternly…
Even if her little face didn't show it too strongly, she still meant it.
Fang Yichi just smiled, feeling like life was getting interesting… but above all, he could get stronger!
Even if that region was desolate, with this diagram, it didn't matter!
'Dad, Mom… your son will live well.' He made this promise to himself. 'When I reach the top, I'll revive you both, and give you a life you never dreamed of. Your son will make you proud!'
With a determined expression, he stood up—more resolved than ever.
He would go all the way to reach his goals. And along the way, he would build a perfect life and enjoy everything the world had to offer.