Courtyard House: The Cultivation System Takes Me Flying

The room returned to silence. Qin Lindong sat cross-legged on the hard bed, his mind focused on the system panel, carefully examining the rewards he had just received.

[Host]: Qin Lindong

Age: 20

[Realm]: Body Tempering Realm Level 1 (70%)

Physical Strength: 21 (average 10 for normal adult males)

[Mental Strength]: 8

[Skills]: Divine Swordsmanship (Perfect), Iron Shirt (Beginner)

[Technique]: Iron Shirt

System Points: 330

System space: 1 cubic meters

[Items]: Spirit Rice Seeds x10, Low-Grade Spirit Cleansing Pills x5, Basic Seasoning Pack x1

Every stat on the panel is steadily improving, especially his stamina, which is more than twice that of an average person. Combined with his beginner-level Iron Shirt skill, even a dozen strong men can't get close to him.

The availability of basic seasoning packets solved his immediate problem.

In this era of scarcity, soy sauce, vinegar, and spices are rare commodities that are hard to buy even if you have money. With these seasonings, the taste of his cooking will be even better, he will absorb more spiritual energy, and his cultivation will naturally improve faster.

Just as Qin Lindong was carefully reviewing his gains, the system notification sounded again, breaking the silence in the room.

[Ding! Main/Side Quest Triggered: Punish the Villains!]

[Mission Objective]: To completely intimidate the three members of the Jia family, so that they would never dare to have the thought of provoking the host again, and to avenge the humiliation suffered by the original owner!

[Task Deadline]: None

[Task Rewards]: The body-strengthening technique "Iron Shirt" is upgraded to the proficient level; Stamina +10; System Points x500; System storage space expanded to 2 cubic meters!

The sudden assignment caused a glint of light to flash in Qin Lindong's eyes.

From beginner to expert level in Iron Shirt!

His current Iron Shirt skill is only at the beginner level, which allows him to avoid injury from ordinary sticks and blows. If he were to improve to the proficient level, his physical strength would increase dramatically again, and even if a kitchen knife were to cut him, it might not leave a wound!

Stamina +10, points +500, system space expansion—every reward made his heart flutter.

And the mission objective was exactly what he was thinking.

The three members of the Jia family are greedy by nature and bully the weak while fearing the strong. Although they were beaten into fear today, their inherent evil nature will not change. Given the opportunity, they will definitely sneak around and make trouble again. If you want to get rid of them once and for all, you must completely subdue them and make them fear from the bottom of their hearts so that they will never dare to have any crooked thoughts again!

"System, I accept this task."

Qin Lindong silently recited the mantra in his mind, his eyes resolute.

The original owner was oppressed by the Jia family for three whole years. His grain was stolen, his residence was broken into, and he suffered all kinds of grievances and contempt. He must settle this score completely!

After accepting the task, Qin Lindong did not act immediately, but chose to calm down and cultivate.

He practiced the Iron Shirt Technique, guiding the spiritual energy within his body to continuously temper his physical form. With each breath, a faint amount of spiritual energy seeped into his muscles, bones, and skin, making his body stronger and more resilient.

The progress of the first level of Body Tempering Realm was 70%, and it slowly increased during cultivation: 71%, 72%, 73%...

Time passed slowly, and the sky outside the window gradually darkened, with night enveloping the entire courtyard.

The neighbors in the courtyard turned off their lights and went to bed early. No one dared to approach Qin Lindong's house. Even the Jia family, which was usually the liveliest, was now deathly silent, without a single light.

Clearly, the Jia family of three was utterly terrified and hid inside the house, afraid to go out, lest they provoke Qin Lindong, this menacing figure, once again.

The quiet of the night is the perfect time for spiritual practice.

Qin Lin got up, walked to the coal stove, and prepared to cook dinner, hoping to fill his stomach while accelerating his cultivation.

He took out the cornmeal, pork, and eggs he had redeemed from the system space, and opened the basic seasoning packet he had just obtained, which contained salt, soy sauce, and spices.

His god-like knife skills were on full display. He picked up the iron plate, flicked his wrist, and the pork was sliced ​​into even strips. The scallions, ginger, and garlic (a bonus from the system's reward seasoning packet) were finely chopped. His movements were incredibly smooth and pleasing to the eye.

The flames in the coal stove roared, a little lard was poured into the pot, and once the oil was hot, shredded meat was added and stir-fried. Instantly, the rich aroma of meat, along with the fragrance of seasonings, filled the room, smelling several times better than the lunch.

Add soy sauce, salt, and spices to taste, then crack in an egg and stir-fry. A simple home-style stir-fried pork with eggs is now complete.

Meanwhile, a pot of steaming hot cornmeal porridge was also ready, golden and thick, with a wonderful aroma.

[Ding! Host has cooked a perfect home-style dish and gained a large amount of spiritual energy!]

[Body Tempering Realm Level 1 progress +15%, current progress 85%!]

[Points +50, current points: 380!]

System notifications rang out one after another, and Qin Lindong was overjoyed. Sure enough, with the seasoning, the quality of the food improved, and the spiritual energy and points he gained also skyrocketed!

He picked up the food and ate it in big mouthfuls. The savory shredded meat and the soft, sticky porridge melted in his stomach, transforming into pure spiritual energy that nourished his body.

His cultivation progress continues to rise steadily, and he is getting closer and closer to breaking through to the second level of the Body Tempering Realm.

Just as he was enjoying his meal, the low-grade Cleansing Pill in his system space suddenly emitted a faint light, seemingly responding to the spiritual energy within his body.

Qin Lindong's heart stirred, and he took out a low-grade Qingling Pill.

The pill was perfectly round and milky white, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance. It melted in his mouth, and a cool spiritual energy instantly swept over his body, washing away impurities and making him feel completely comfortable.

[Ding! Host has consumed a low-grade Cleansing Pill, increasing progress to the first level of Body Tempering Realm by 10%, current progress 95%!]

[Cleansing impurities from the body leads to an overall improvement in physical fitness!]

Only 5% away from breaking through to the second level of the Body Tempering Realm!

Qin Lindong was excited and continued eating and cultivating. Spiritual energy kept flowing in, and the progress bar gradually filled up.

96%, 97%, 98%, 99%...

As the last mouthful of porridge went down, a surge of powerful spiritual energy suddenly erupted within him, like a torrent, washing over his limbs and bones. His muscles and bones cracked slightly, and his physical strength, power, and endurance all increased dramatically!

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have broken through your cultivation level and successfully advanced to the second level of the Body Tempering Realm!]

Stamina +8, current stamina 29!

[Iron Shirt Technique automatically and slightly upgrades, increasing defensive capabilities!]

[Reward: 200 points, current points: 580!]

A powerful force surged through his body. Qin Lindong stood up, gently clenched his fist, and could clearly feel the explosive power within him, twice as strong as before!

The second level of the Body Tempering Realm, truly lives up to its name!

After breaking through, Qin Lindong did not slack off at all. He knew very well that in order to complete the task of punishing evildoers, breaking through his cultivation level was only the first step. Next, he had to completely sever the Jia family's hopes!

He walked to the window, opened it a crack, and looked at the Jia family's tightly closed doors and windows with a cold gaze.

The Jia family, prepare to face my reckoning!

Tonight, I will make you utterly despair!