Chapter 7: "Spoiler Title. Revealed at the End of the Chapter."

Night had fallen, and many were already preparing for sleep. In one of the cabins, a young man stared ahead with a vacant look; helplessness was written all over his face.

"Why is this happening again? Why can’t I guide it to the Dantian!?"

Zhang Chen groaned as he pulled at his hair in frustration.

"No… no… This can’t be normal. I can’t stop now. Just like the booklet says, I have to nourish the Dantian with energy until it expands—but how am I supposed to do that if no energy ever reaches it?"

As he spoke to himself, Zhang Chen didn’t realize that deep within his Dantian, tiny specks of light flickered now and then. At the center, something cloaked in light concealed its true form. It rotated once, then twice, preventing what little spiritual energy there was from dispersing.

Just as the booklet explained, it was necessary to cultivate a bit of energy every day. Cultivation had to be continuous, since with so little spiritual energy in the body, it would quickly dissipate.

This was also one of the reasons so few cultivators emerged among those who lived out here. The quality of the rice was already poor, and access to cultivation techniques was difficult to obtain.

Of course, all of that would be meaningless in the face of talent. Too bad such cases were far from common.

With a downcast expression, Zhang Chen put the booklet away and lay down.

He didn’t want to think about what he’d do the next day, since he had run out of crystalline rice.

The night passed quickly. When the first rays of light began to appear in the sky, Zhang Chen was already on his feet.

After all, it was his fault for going to bed so early. But there wasn’t much else to do—in this world, distractions were scarce for those who lived in poverty.

He went to the kitchen and washed his face and mouth.

Without delay, he stepped outside, greeted by a biting breeze. Just breathing caused a puff of white vapor to appear in front of his face, and his nose tingled from the shock of the cold air.

Looking up at the sky, Zhang Chen guessed it was around five in the morning, though he didn’t know how people told time in this world—or even if they kept track of the date.

Well, if they thought about payday, they must have some kind of calendar.

Thanks to the conveniences of his past life, he still had a general idea of the time based on the sunlight, but the exact day remained difficult to gauge.

Without further hesitation, he made his way to Shen Jie’s house. He walked slowly, unhurried, knowing he wasn’t late.

After a few minutes, he saw her house come into view.

Noticing she wasn’t at the door, a smile appeared on his face. He approached and waited by the side. He looked around at the surrounding homes, still engulfed in darkness.

Some elderly folks and women were beginning to step outside, and a few older ladies gave him knowing glances, as if thinking, "Ah, youth…", before continuing on their way.

The houses were so close together that the sun’s rays struggled to filter between them.

The cold kept him especially alert, and while he waited, Zhang Chen began to reflect on everything that had happened since arriving in this place.

The memories of his previous life made him feel nostalgic and sad, but they also reminded him of something he had unconsciously been ignoring.

Someone had been circling around him, wanting something—that much was obvious—but for some reason, he had let it go. Maybe because they hadn’t appeared in a while.

Lost in thought, he was startled back to the present by the sound of a door creaking open. Looking up, he saw her stepping out, rubbing her eyes, and stretching leisurely. Upon seeing this, Zhang Chen shouted “So cute!” repeatedly in his mind.

Shen Jie, stretching comfortably, caught sight of someone smiling at her out of the corner of her eye. The moment she realized who it was, her face began to heat up rapidly.

Turning away awkwardly, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath—but even that deep breath left the tip of her nose slightly red from the cold.

When she turned back, her expression was more composed.

"Why are you here so early? Have you been waiting long?" she asked as she walked over, trying to sound casual.

"I said I wouldn’t be late again. I haven’t been here long, no need to worry," Zhang Chen replied with the same smile. He felt that braving the cold hadn’t been so bad after all.

Shen Jie looked at his smile, and her eyes sparkled faintly. With a simple, "Then let’s go," she started walking ahead, and he followed.

As they walked, the sun began rising over the horizon. Shen Jie, walking slightly ahead, gave Zhang Chen a sideways glance and asked, "What’s wrong? You seem distracted."

"I do? It’s nothing. Just some trouble with cultivation," Zhang Chen replied casually. He didn’t mind sharing those details with her.

Upon hearing that, Shen Jie’s eyes lit up.

"What kind of trouble? If it’s spirit stones, I can get you some."

"No, it’s not that. Thanks for the offer. After everything you’ve already done, I’d be ungrateful to ask for more. The problem is that spiritual energy just seems to vanish too quickly."

"In that case, there’s no shortcut. Only continuous cultivation can prevent it from dissipating. But don’t be fooled—sometimes what seems to vanish might actually be accumulating inside you."

They continued chatting as they walked. Her words made Zhang Chen wonder if she had already overcome that barrier.

“Has Sister Jie already overcome that stage?” he asked, curious. To Zhang Chen, she always seemed a bit more mature than what her age should ever have required.

"Hmm? No, I haven’t managed it yet, but… I’m a little different," she replied, hesitating before finishing the sentence—as if she had something more to say but wasn’t ready to speak.

Seeing her hesitation, Zhang Chen decided not to press the matter, and the two continued walking in silence until they reached the worksite.

Today had been much like the others. The only difference was that they arrived earlier, and Zhang Chen noticed that Tan Rui had been watching him repeatedly throughout the day. At times, Tan Rui didn’t even try to hide it.

The day went by quickly, and just as Zhang Chen was getting ready to leave, he realized no one had left yet. Instead, everyone began gathering around the supervisor’s stone.

Whether planned or not, it seemed to happen at the exact same time.

Still trying to understand, Zhang Chen saw Shen Jie approaching and standing beside him.

"First payday of the month…" she said softly, looking straight ahead.

Upon hearing that, Zhang Chen finally understood why everyone seemed so excited. Silly grins were plastered across many faces.

He quickly spotted the supervisor standing on top of the stone. With a flash of light, several pouches appeared at his side.

"Silence. Those who wish to receive your payment in spirit stones, come to the left. Those expecting payment in rice, go to the right," Lin Xiao declared—not too loudly, but his voice seemed to reach everyone’s ears like magic.

The moment he asked for silence, no one dared to make a sound. Even though it wasn’t their first time seeing it, the sight of so many sacks of rice appearing out of thin air made blood run hot with excitement.

Without further hesitation, each person made their choice according to their needs.

"Let’s go, then…"

"I’m heading that way…" Zhang Chen said, assuming Shen Jie would come to get rice with him. But when he saw her heading in the opposite direction, he was a bit surprised.

After all, by his estimate, one kilo of rice could last a single person for quite some time—it made sense to get spirit stones in the next few payments.

Still, he kept those thoughts to himself. With a simple nod, they went their separate ways.

Just one look at the length of each line was enough to understand that many shared Zhang Chen’s thinking. The spirit stone line barely had twenty people, while the rice line had nearly eighty.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Looking toward the left, he noticed Tan Rui was also in that line.

As he tried to chat with Shen Jie, Tan Rui kept glancing over at them out of the corner of his eye. Zhang Chen frowned slightly, shook his head, and turned back to face forward.

The wait wasn’t long; just five minutes later, Zhang Chen was carrying a one-kilo bag of rice on his shoulder.

As he raised his head, he saw Tan Rui still hanging around Shen Jie. He was speaking enthusiastically, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.

Shen Jie turned her gaze toward Zhang Chen, said something quickly, and walked off before Tan Rui could say anything else.

As she approached, Shen Jie looked at the bag Zhang Chen was carrying and said, "All set? Then I guess we can go…"

"Are you sure you don’t want to chat a bit longer with your friend Tan Rui?" Zhang Chen asked with an enigmatic smile.

"Chat? He just talked while I listened—I’m not sure that counts as a conversation…" Shen Jie replied with a confused look, not understanding why he brought that up just now.

Seeing her puzzled expression, Zhang Chen shook his head and said, "Really? Then I guess we don’t need to worry."

And why would he need to worry? Shen Jie wondered as they walked together.

The two made their way up the hill, chatting about trivial things to avoid walking in silence. Soon, they reached Shen Jie’s home.

Just as Zhang Chen was about to say goodbye, he noticed she seemed a bit hesitant. Her eyes flicked from side to side, as if struggling with herself over something she wanted to say.

"Is there something you want to tell me? You can say it; it’s fine…" Zhang Chen asked gently. He didn’t want to pry into her secrets, but it was clear she wanted to share something.

"It’s not that… I was looking for the best way to invite you inside for dinner…" Shen Jie replied calmly, though her voice trailed off to a near whisper by the end.

A flicker of deep surprise flashed in Zhang Chen’s eyes. He had been expecting anything but that.

Who would have thought Shen Jie was more straightforward than her usual demeanor suggested?

"It’s fine; you can invite me however you like. When were you thinking of having that dinner?"

"Whenever works for you…"

“My day depends entirely on yo—I mean, any day works,” Zhang Chen quickly corrected himself.

"Tomorrow’s a good day."

"Then tomorrow it is."

They said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

Once inside, Shen Jie felt her face burning hot, as if it were on fire.

"Don’t think anything improper… This is just to help him…" she murmured to herself. But the smile on her face betrayed her true feelings.

Zhang Chen’s walk home was later than usual. The cold was biting, yet, for some reason, it didn’t bother him much.

Neither the cold nor the weight on his shoulder seemed to affect him. As he walked, Zhang Chen even felt like humming some of the catchy songs from his past life.

But amidst his obvious happiness, he passed by a narrow alley and saw something that reminded him of the ruthless nature of this world.

Two men were forcefully taking most of a rice sack from a third man. Clearly, the man being robbed worked alongside them.

Those who stole from him didn’t dare to kill or take all the rice, so they settled for the largest portion.

Zhang Chen took a step toward the group but hesitated. He knew this wasn’t a simple world; here, the law was the fist—and his still wasn’t big enough.

With a resigned sigh, he returned home and followed his usual routine. In the darkness of the night, he sat on his bed and began his breathing exercises.

At the critical moment, an image once again flashed in his mind, and the energy seemed to vanish from his body.

This time, however, Zhang Chen was ready. Without letting it shake him, he simply lay down. Tomorrow would be a good day!

The night passed quickly, giving way to the first rays of sunlight that lit up the sky. Zhang Chen didn’t waste time; he got up and started his usual routine.

Today, he had rice for breakfast. As he ate, he found himself missing meat. Even a few vegetables would’ve been nice.

But that thought didn’t stay in his mind for long. He finished eating, did a bit of exercise to keep the energy flowing, and stepped out.

The wind was just as cold as the days before—sharp and merciless.

After walking for a few minutes, he saw Shen Jie’s house. She was stepping outside just as he arrived.

“Did you sleep well?” Zhang Chen asked.

“Yes, I slept. We should get going so we’re not late.”

As soon as they saw each other, Zhang Chen greeted her with his hands cupped, and she offered a light bow in return.

They both exchanged faint smiles—neither of them able to hide it, no matter how hard they tried. The two headed off to work together.

Today followed the same routine as always. It really did feel like a place that offered a fair chance to mortals. There weren’t many problems around here. But for two specific people, the day went by surprisingly fast and easily.

Before they knew it, work was done and the sun had begun to set. They climbed the mountain path in silence, both keenly aware of every step that brought them closer to Shen Jie’s house.

With each step, their hearts pounded harder in their chests.

As they suddenly realized they’d already arrived, they glanced at each other and immediately looked away.

“I’ll head home to wash up and come right back,” Zhang Chen said, clearly trying to hide his nervousness.

“Alright. Just don’t be late. We’ll start as soon as the sun sets,” Shen Jie replied, turning her face slightly to hide the blush rising in her cheeks.

Zhang Chen nodded and walked off quickly—almost as if he were fleeing. Shen Jie stepped inside with the same hurried pace.

Their neighbors, already used to seeing the two of them together, just shook their heads with a knowing smile.

“Youth is a beautiful thing…”

Zhang Chen got home with a smile he could barely contain.

Once there, he grabbed a rag and took the best “bath” he’d had in days. He cleaned his mouth with a few plants—spicy, but refreshing.

Then, he filled a bowl with rice. After all, who shows up to dinner empty-handed?

With a quick leap, he opened the door and rushed toward the evening’s destination.

As he neared, he saw the sun had already set, and the door to Shen Jie’s house was closed. He took a deep breath and knocked.

Knock knock!

With a soft creak, the door opened, revealing a young woman completely different from the one he was used to seeing.

Shen Jie’s white dress was spotless, not a grain of dirt on it. Her face was clean, without the small red marks she normally had. Her long, silky hair fell down her back like a waterfall, shining faintly even in the dark.

Despite preparing himself, Zhang Chen was left speechless.

“You’re right on time. Are you coming in, or do you plan to eat out there?”

When she’d heard the knock, she’d run from the kitchen to answer. The young man she saw seemed to shine.

He wore a white robe with a black belt, and the few stains it had only made it clear he’d chosen his best outfit. His hair was tied back, showing the graceful line of his neck. His face was handsome, and the smile on Zhang Chen’s lips could make anyone’s heart skip a beat.

Shen Jie was no exception.

“Please come in. Thank you for the invitation, Sister Jie. It’s not much, but I hope you’ll accept this.”

As they spoke and walked inside, Zhang Chen handed her a bowl filled with rice—almost a quarter of everything he had. Shen Jie tried to refuse, but his insistence won out.

Once inside, Zhang Chen looked around. The place was far more organized than his own home and even seemed larger. There was a kitchen separated from the living area and even a full table.

At her request, he sat in one of the chairs. As he looked around, he noticed a closed door leading to one of the rooms—curiosity sparked in his heart.

“If you need help, feel free to ask,” Zhang Chen said, glancing toward the kitchen.

“Don’t worry, it’s almost ready. Just wait a little longer,” came her voice from the kitchen.

Hearing that, Zhang Chen could only sit quietly and wait.

He was even tempted to stand and snoop around, but fear of the consequences held him back.

A few minutes later, Shen Jie came from the kitchen carrying a pot of rice. She returned again with another pot. On her last trip, she brought out a plate of vegetables.

Seeing her bring food to the table, Zhang Chen’s imagination began to run wild.

Looking at the amount of food laid out before him, he couldn’t help but be impressed with what she had managed to cook in a place like that.

But the most surprising moment came when she lifted the lid off the pot and revealed… meat. Meat!

Without further ado, Shen Jie sat down in the chair across from him. By candlelight, her delicate face looked even more beautiful.

"Why are you staring? Let’s eat," she said, noticing he was still standing there, simply looking at her. Seeing him like that clearly made her happy.

"Haha, right. But didn’t you spend too much preparing this meal? Are you sure it’s okay?" he asked, eyes on the food, tinged with a hint of guilt.

"You don’t have to worry about that. I invited you because I wanted to. If you really feel that bad, then invite me for dinner next time—and we’ll call it even."

"Then it’s a deal."

They laughed together after that, as if they hadn’t even realized they’d just scheduled another “dinner.”

During the meal, they talked about all sorts of things, laughter echoing through the house.

It was the first time Zhang Chen had ever seen Shen Jie laugh. It was a beautiful sight.

As he ate, he quickly noticed that the rice was of clearly superior quality, with much denser spiritual energy.

Even the meat was different—delicious, yes, but also full of energy. His craving for meat was satisfied far beyond his expectations.

Between conversations and laughter, time slipped by unnoticed, and soon the meal came to an end.

As Shen Jie started clearing the table, Zhang Chen finally came back to his senses. What would happen next? He had no idea—nor did he know what she had in mind.

When she returned from the kitchen, the two stood in silence for a moment, staring at each other. The sound of their hearts seemed incredibly loud at that moment.

Shen Jie looked at him, eyes reflecting a brief internal struggle. After an undefined stretch of time, she closed her eyes and said, “Don’t forget to cultivate tonight. This meal might help you take a step forward.”

Hearing that, a faint trace of disappointment stirred in Zhang Chen’s heart—but it quickly gave way to a sigh of relief. Everything had been moving too fast.

At the same time, his heart warmed at the realization that all of this—the entire meal—had been prepared to help him.

"Yeah, don’t worry. I won’t waste your help. You shouldn’t skip cultivation tonight either. After all, that’s why we’re here," he replied with a smile. His face didn’t seem all that disappointed about not having taken things further. Then he added, “One day, I’ll repay this dinner. After all, the moon’s beautiful tonight, don’t you think?” ( )

Hearing his words, Shen Jie lowered her head, and it was hard to tell what she was thinking. But upon hearing about returning the favor and the moon, a smile involuntarily blossomed on her face. With a soft nod, she replied with a simple “Mhm.”

…

Back on his way home, Zhang Chen could still feel the energy coursing through his body—even though his mind wasn’t focused on it.

Looking up at the sky, he noticed that the moon really was beautiful that night.

Once he arrived home, he went straight to his room and grabbed the cultivation manual. After all, he wasn’t going to waste this opportunity.

Sitting on his bed, he began preparing for his breathing exercises.

“This time it’s going to work—I’m sure of it!”

With a word of encouragement to himself, he closed his eyes and began regulating his breathing. This time, the amount of spiritual energy in his body was so great he almost couldn’t start guiding it.

After nearly fifteen minutes of effort, he finally managed to channel the energy. Every place it passed through brought him an incredible sense of relaxation.

At that moment, the image that had appeared so many times before returned—clearer than ever.

Something wrapped in light was spinning constantly, and for the first time, he saw something incredible.

As if naturally guided, all the energy in his body began to orbit around that object.

The more time passed, the clearer the form of that object became. However, before he could fully perceive it, everything returned to normal—and the energy vanished.

But before he could even feel disappointed—a thunderous sound rang out within his body.

BOOM!!

Immediately, Zhang Chen’s vision darkened, and he saw a scene that appeared to be inside his Dantian. The spiritual energy, in gaseous form, was gathered in a corner, but at that moment, it seemed to illuminate the entire space that had previously been submerged in darkness.

Soon after, he awoke. He felt a wave of energy sweep through his body, washing away all fatigue.

He finally understood what was happening: this was the expansion of the Dantian, the first spiritual energy cleansing.

A body devoid of energy, once it stores spiritual energy for the first time, undergoes this purification—shedding its mortal shell.

As he was still trying to process everything, a transparent panel suddenly appeared in his field of vision.

Chapter 7: The Moon Is Beautiful… Breaking Through the Realm