Chapter 3

Ye Qi had already gone back to the City Lord mansion and was now sitting in his courtyard.

"Here, eat well, Yeye." Said a black-haired woman.

She bent down and placed a plate full of fruits and nutrient demon beast meat in front of Ye Qi.

The woman had long black hair that was tied in a bun, a huge chest, snow-white skin, and blue eyes.

"Mom, I told you not to call me that."

This 27 years old woman was his mother and the second wife of his father.

The age gap between them wasn't that great. Not as close great to the age gap between her and his father, who is definitely older than 40.

She was a talented inscription and Gold Rank Spiritualist. The Snow Wind family knew what they were doing for sure to pick up talents for their individuals to marry.

Although his father was hard on him, his mother was always soft on Qi and treat him nicely after he is done training.

"Stop being shy. Now, tell your mother about what you learnt today.."

She grabbed his cheek. Her tone was teasing honestly. Qi, who was seeing her as a woman whom he met at his twenty, didn't feel too comfortable with her grabbing his cheek and touching him like that.

Qi smiled slightly and gave a short report about what happened today.

The woman, Ye Luo, seemed to be interested in the details.

"Have you met any cute girl who you like?"

Ye Qi rolled his eyes and turned his face.

Ye Luo just chucked and teased his cheek. "Don't hesitate. Just ask her out. With your statue, you can get anyone."

"I'm not too comfortable about talking about that." Ye Qi could only force a smile. "Besides. I need to cultivate."

"Heh. you are a hard worker for sure." Luo Qi chuckled. "Just don't be too hard on yourself, and eat well before that."

"Thanks."

"Oh, by the way."

Ye Luo waved her hand. A group of scrolls appeared in front of him.

"Sell these if you ever needed the money. Your father doesn't need to know about that." These scrolls had a strong inscription and were made up with her soul force and rare ingredients. They would sell well in the market for a good price. Ye Qi stared at his mother with eyes wide opened.

'You may not be my mother. But you are my mommy.' These were his thoughts about her now.

"Thank you, mom."

"I'm always happy as long as you are."

After she left, Ye Qi closed the door of his courtyard.

He didn't reach 18 and here he is living in his own house.

Shaking his head, he waved his hand, and a crystal, hand-sized and colourless, appeared in the middle of the room. Ye Qi sat cross-legged.

He held the crystal, took a deep breath, and channelled the little soul force he had. These crystals would usually be used to see the colour of the soul realm and measure the soul force for Bronze Rank Spiritualists. However, according to the Chinese Manga, only non-used crystals can show what kind of soul realm and attribute he has. When Ye Qi channelled his soul force there, the changes on the crystals appeared. A reflection of a yellow river flowing in every direction was shown. It wasn't water, and it wasn't anything else.

A yellow soul realm, average talent, and a soul force of 30.

Nothing to mention.

However, the attribute his soul realm has, he didn't have any, as he is seeing.

An Attribute-less River that flows.

That's the new name he picked up for his soul realm.

"Good news is, I have attribute-less soul realm."

The cultivation method he has was about cultivating the Time-Space Law.

His technique allows him to transform his soul attribute slowly to use Time-Space. Each attribute has its own cultivation style.

However, for an attribute-less, he can directly start with the cultivation. Once he reaches a higher level, he would be able to learn more of Time-Space skills.

'Probably I may become a Spiritual God here.'

These were very strong existences here in this world.

If things process smoothly, then he wouldn't need Nie Lie to deal with troubles here at all.

'Now, for a clear mind, all I have to do is not to think about my teacher, and cultivate.'

Ye Qi tried his best to adjust his seating position. It was very basic for every spiritualist to take a comfortable sitting position before starting cultivating. Sitting in Lotus position wasn't so helpful. Ye Qi ended up lying on the bed.

While breathing slowly, the soul force in the air was getting absorbed by him. All of the thoughts, external ones should be pushed. Cultivating in this world was surprisingly easy. All you have to do is to chant according to the cultivation method. The chanting has to be so quiet, so others can't steal your method, of course. While doing so, Ye Qi felt changed in his soul realm. It was opening up. The river in his soul realm started flowing in reserve and growing larger.

Ten minutes passed, one hour, three, four… he lost count of how much time had passed.

Finally, when his stomach started growling, Ye Qi opened his eyes to see Ye Luo, his mom, staring at his face.

"Mom, what are you doing here." He asked in surprise.

Seeing that he opened his eyes, she said, "dinner is ready, your father wants to dine with you and your brother before he goes outside the city."

"Mm…" Ye Qi nodded as he stood up, finding that his legs were numb. Luo held his arm not letting him fall and giggled. "You know, there is a reason why others sit cross-legged while cultivating their soul realm."

"Oh." Ye Qi opened his jaw as if realisation stroke him. No wonder his legs feel so numb that he couldn't walk. "I get it."

"Now, take bath and come to the dining hall."

"Alright."

Ye Qi nodded slightly as she left. Staring at her, he nodded, His father, surely, a lucky old man. Life as an old person while having your own harem sounded good in his ear.

But first, one needs to make sure that he lives to that age.

Ye Qi picked up the crystal when his mom had left and injected his soul force there.

This was the first time he had cultivated, and he had to see how much he progressed.

Injecting his soul force there, he found a number that almost stroke him.

[Soul Force: 95]

That was so fast!

He is only 5 soul force points away from becoming a Spiritualist — Bronze Rank.

Even a genius like Ye Ziyun wouldn't reach this level after one cultivation night — Not without the cheat like method from Nie Lie anyway.

Suddenly, a piece of information reached his brain.

<<The Eye of the Present and Past: a skill that allows the user to see things in past and read the intents. Allow the user to read through anything>>

That was a skill that he got after his first cultivation session.

The method of how to use it appeared in his mind.

He felt that he can do it without effort.

However, it consumes soul force to use it.

He held the crystal, curious of what this skill can do.

Suddenly, his eyes' colour changed to silver.

The crystal in his hand started glowing.

Flashes of the crystal in the seller's hand started to appear, moving back to the time it had been inside of a mine outside of the Glory City.

"I just found where the mine this one came from."

Ye Qi massaged his legs, so he could feel them again, before walking to have dinner with his family now.

Although the future is full of promises to him, it would be rude to ignore having dinner with his family.

Ye Qi now felt true that he is walking on the path to achieving his dreams.

'Luckily, the old man is leaving, and I can cultivate all the way I want without his harsh training.' This seemed to be promising, with him having his first cultivation skill.

Ye Qi suddenly thought. What if one bought a mirror from a women clothes store and decided to use it on it… would he see the past.

He shook his head. 'That's too cultured for this world.'

-x-X-x-

Xiao Ning'er, the daughter of the patriarch of the Noble Family, the Lightning Dragon family, was currently sitting inside of her courtyard. It was night, and her usual time of cultivation has arrived. She had already cultivated for the day, and now, since it was night, she wanted to sneak outside and cultivate her soul force at night.

The reason she didn't want to do that home is that her father would go against it, saying that she is going to become Shen Fie's wife and she has to take things easy. Ning'er never wanted to marry that playboy. Just because she is beautiful, her family is treating her like a tool. Her only hope to escape the marriage from Shen Fie was to cultivate and reach the Bronze Rank as soon as possible. Once the hard work shows its result, she would be shown as a genius, and her family wouldn't force her to marry that man.

She thought about Ye Ziyun. The two of them were friends, childhood friends. However, unlike her, Ning'er was being used as a tool by her family. That girl, though they were friends one, Ning'er sees her as a rival, someone who has the freedom she desires.

Ning'er shook her head. She took a peek at her storage ring, looking for the things she had learnt from school today.

Revision them before going to train was something that she didn't see the harm in. Opening her storage ring, she saw that there was something besides the scroll she used to write on. Getting it out along with the scroll, she had a flashback of what happened in the morning. Ye Qi, the cousin of Ye Ziyun, had put this sneakingly under her scroll as he had made his way to ask the teacher.

She was a beautiful girl, one of the most pretty two in her generation. Love letters weren't something new for her. But the fact that she is engaged made others get away from her. No one would go to confess to someone who is going to join the Sacred Family. She knew, that from the past, Ye Qi had a small crush on her.

What's with him." She shook her head, taking that paper, and starting to rip it off.

However, something made her regret her actions.

As the shreds of the papers were falling, she could take a glance at them and read their content.

<<Don't cultivate at night.>>

<<It will only cause you bruises more pain…>>

Just seeing these two lines, she opened her eyes widely. She hadn't even told her father about her bruises, which were hiding in her feet and chest. She also covers these areas so well. So, how in the hell did he know about them.

Looking now at the messed up paper shreds, she looked at something else that caught her eyes.

<<your cultivation would go back to zero if you don't stop.>> <<If you want to heal>>

Surprised she picked up the shreds of the papers and put them together. She regretted that she threw them in a moment of frustration. Now, after few minutes of putting them together, the beautiful mature girl opened her eyes widely.

<< If you want to heal yourself. Go to the library and look for…>>

"What in the!"

She opened her eyes widely. No one knew about her decease, except for her. However, he knows? That should mean he has a clue for a cure, right?

She believed that he has a clue about the cure.

Seeing that she lost one shred of the paper, she shook her head and looked at the door. Ye Qi had written that she needs to stop training at night. It would only make her pain worse. And there is nothing that she can do about it.

She went back to her bed and hugged her knees to her chest, biting her lips in frustration. If she doesn't cultivate, she would not be able to change a thing about her fate. Shen Fie was known for being a playboy. Someone who sleeps with commoner girls and throw them away when he is done with them. There are even rumours about him having children.

She took a deep breath. Ye Qi seems to know a cure for her, even to give her a hint for it slightly.

"Guess no choice but to rest for the night." She lowered her head while thinking about Ye Qi.

Wondering how did he know about her condition. He must be mysterious that she used to think of him.

-x-X-x-

Ye Qi stretched his arms as he was heading to the school. His soul force is at 95 and that his rank as a fighter is 3 Stars Bronze. That would make him look like a true genius in the eyes of the others. Even Ye Ziyun who has a Cyan soul realm wouldn't be compared to him.

'Don't get cocky…' Ye Qi looked at the passing clouds. 'You aren't a thing, yet.'

This is a world… no, a city where life can end at any second.

People in Glory City, despite being more than a million, are afraid of the Demon Beasts horde that can knock at them at any second.

If not for his Grandpa, Ye Mo, then everyone here would have died twenty years ago.

Ye Qi now was going to the institute. Last night, he had one last dinner with his family before his father had departed to venture outside the Glory City.

For Ye Qi, this was good news.

At least, there won't be more harsh training for him.

Shaking his head, he walked excitedly to the Holy Orchid Institute.

Cultivation and flirting with a hot teacher was his recipe for future happy life. But it's not like he had forgotten who she is.

'Bad habits from an old life.' Ye Qi chuckled when he entered his class.

Ye Ziyun, as soon as she saw him, gave a small smile. He nodded back at her as he took his seat and starred around. Nie Lie was here as usual. This means that he didn't reincarnate for sure. Ye Qi now believes that there is only one cheater in this universe.

Looking around, he found some big pretty honey brown eyes staring at him. The other beauty of the class, Xiao Ning'er was looking in his direction. Ye Qi made eye contact. She didn't seem she would take her eyes back very soon and only kept looking at him.

Knowing that she may expect him to blush and turn his face, Qi shook his head. "Do you need anything?" he directly asked.

Ning'er, not expecting that he would talk to her coldly, opened her eyes widely. Is this how boys are treating girls, pretty ones? But nonetheless. Ye Qi must be thinking that she got his message, completely, and hadn't lost the most important part. As she was about to stand and go to his place, the door of the class was slammed open.

Shen Xiu scanned the class with her red eyes. Ye Qi smiled when their eyes met. She pushed her crimson silk hair back and swayed her full hips as her long legs made their way to her desk. Ye Qi could only follow them and sigh silently.

"Shall we start?" She said, not sounding like the very firm teacher who was antagonising Nie Lie.

The class progressed as usual. Shen Xiu gave a small lesson about the Fire-type Demon Beasts and how they act and react and all. It was essential notes for both spiritualists and fighters. Ye Qi was only taking notes on her chest was jiggling, or how he suddenly started to favour the red colour.

When the class was over, Ye Qi pretended to be innocent and went to Shen Xiu, talking and asking few questions. Unlike yesterday, she was more open to talking. Ye Qi took her notes while praising her. Things were smoother today. They always get smoother the next day.

"Now, you can leave," Shen Xiu stood up ready to leave the class as she was done showing Ye Qi her wisdom. To Shen Xiu, It felt really good to praised by one student. Though she saw that his talent was average, just like hers, he was a good student who is willing to learn and make her feel that she is doing a good job. At least, it's better than advising the commoners who don't know where their lives may head to.

"I'm enlightened, thanks to you." Not remembering a word of what she had told, Ye Qi said, silently taking a glance at her chest. Since he was just a teenager, and that she was a woman with a tall build, his eyes naturally fell on the big soft melons in front of him.

"Anytime." She replied and walked past him.

Ye Qi, on the other hand, smiled and turned. 'No one goes to school to learn, for sure.' Now, it would be a good time to cultivate and try to reach a higher level.

As he turned with the foxy smile on his face, he found a girl, a mature one with pale skin and long fair brown hair staring at him, while standing so close.

He almost freaked out as she was too close all of the sudden and that she came behind him sneakingly.

"Hey! you almost gave me a surprise," he said as he almost made collusion with her.

"Ye Qi..." She said, repeating every word slowly. The fact that his gaze is piercing didn't escape her eyes. How should she start talking? "Yes, how can I help you."

"About your message." She said, thinking about her next words.

Ye Qi raised his eyebrow as if he doesn't know what she is talking about.

The fact that he tried to help her was only something from feeling pity.

He didn't want to start some drama with young masters by showing that he's interested in helping her.

Not yet.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"I have seen you throwing it under my scroll." She said. "I wasn't mind absent. I want to know, how did you know that I am si— "

"If you got it, then good for you. Pretend that nothing happened. Agreed?" Ye Qi stretched his arms and walked past her.

"Wait." She said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Ye Qi frowned. He had already helped her and told her you're welcome in his way. She should be in the library, looking for one book of many to help herself. But instead, she is here.

"Please, I need your help."

Ye Qi's face turned pale when he saw her biting her lip and looking at the ground, avoiding making eye contact with him.

'Don't tell me she is expecting for me to look through many books with her now.'

That was too much effort.

However, the way she looked, she was too cute. And that sad expression and a pretty face.

'I wonder which one is harder to resist. Puppy eyes or this.' Ye Qi needed to tell her the truth. 'The puppy wins.'

"I can't look in the library." He said.

If she is expecting him to do the rest of the offer then she has to reconsider that.

"No. It's just… she lowered her head. "The last part of your letter. I lost it. Can you tell me which book contained the healing method for me?"

Ye Qi, somehow, could understand. She must have ripped off the paper when she was in a bad mood, and then she regretted it. "You thought it's a love letter?"

Ning'er opened her eyes widely, her cheeks beamed with red blush. "No… my spatial ring must have been overloaded. And somehow, the most important part wasn't stored."

"Let's say I buy it." Ye Qi scratched his forehead. He himself doesn't remember the details from the Tales of Demons and Gods he had read a long time ago.

"Honestly, I don't know. It should be something from an ancient empire. It's a massage technique. Look for anything that massage the Yin soul force out of your body. That was the content of the letter, look for an ancient massage technique."

"You don't know exactly what it is…" She murmured. "Yet you know about my condition and that there is a cure…"

When Ye Qi was met by those eyes, he said.

"In fact, I only read about your condition from an old unfinished book. It was a translation project made by one of our deceased snow wind family experts. That's how I knew that you were sick, and that's how I knew there is a cure." Ye Qi paused for a brief. "I had done what I can, the rest is up to you."

Xiao Ning'er opened her eyes widely. "I'm sorry for doubting you. But I still don't understand. You must have sharp eyes to know my decease…"

A doctor still needs to look at his patient to know what's with her.

'look' was the keyword.

"Who knows. My eyes are normal. Maybe everyone else is blind." Came his reply. "If there is nothing, I'm leaving."

Ning'er put her hand on his shoulder. "Wait," she said, making him pause again. "if you can please, don't tell anyone about what you know."

"I'm not intending."

"And also. Can you help me?" Ning'er now knew that she may need every help she can get. After all, the pain which is taking over her is getting more severe. Not to mention, there is a risk that her cultivation would be lost. When Ye Qi glanced at her with those purple eyes, she said, "Please."

Ye Qi rolled his eyes. She isn't leaving him, will she? "I will consider that."

"Thank you." Ning'er's face beamed with a smile. Before he could change his mind, she walked away, to the library's directing.

"I didn't say yes." He sighed. Looking at her back, he realised that she may be more mature than she is. She was already tall for her age. And her shape was of a mature woman with a chest that was huger than his cousin's.

'Huh, and here I thought that One Piece's girls have wild shapes.'

After leaving a sigh and preparing to leave, he was met by Ye Ziyun. She smiled at him like usual and asked. "What were you talking about," she said, pointing to Xiao Ning'er. "Nothing really."

"Can't I know?" "

She wanted my help with something."

Ziyun opened her eyes widely. "She needs something, can you tell me, maybe I can help as well."

Ye Qi understood. This one is trying to make a friend with Ning'er again. How can someone be so pure? Nodding with his eyes closed, he put his hand on her shoulder. "Just finding some book about something."

Ye Ziyun took a step back, frowned a bit and said, "are you really that ignorant."

"Ignorant to what."

Ye Qi didn't understand.

"Nothing. You should help her if that is the case. Just don't cross the borders. You know about her condition."

Ye Ziyun thought that Ning'er didn't really need help to look for a book. Ye Ziyun smiled. "I may come to help you as well in that case. Don't forget to tell me."

"As you wish." Ye Qi said.

Ye Ziyun nodded as she looked at his face. Ye Qi, he was too Innocent. Even for someone as pure as Ziyun, she could tell that Qi was purer for her to not understand obvious thing like this when a girl asks him to look in the library with her.

Anyway. She would take this as a chance to talk with her childhood friend.

Ye Ziyun smiled, "Let's meet at the market before going home."

"Mmm." He nodded. Ye Qi was intending to cultivate as soon as he goes back home anyway.

Ye Qi then picked up his things and got outside the institute, while thinking about all of the things he would do at home.

However, on his way, he had felt some bad feeling.

"You, stop there!"

Qi's face became ugly.

'Did I have to jinx myself?'

With a deep frown, Ye Qi turned to the arrogant voice's source.