Two years passed quietly in the Li family estate, nestled within the heart of Azure Sky City, the capital of Blazing Sun Empire's eastern province. Within this grand compound, laughter often echoed through the halls as a certain two-year-old brought joy and warmth to everyone he met.
That child was Li Qingyun—beloved son of Li Tianyang and Lin Meiyu. To others, he was just a gifted toddler. But within that tiny frame hid the soul of a reincarnated man.
His new life had been a blur of warmth, love, and learning. At first, confusion and panic had gripped him when he realized he had been reborn as a baby. But slowly, reality settled in. He now had a family that cared for him deeply—parents who doted on him, a lineage of wealth and power, and a new world filled with cultivation and martial might.
At two years old, Qingyun's days were filled with early education. His parents personally taught him to read and write, helping him adapt to the elegant but unfamiliar characters of this world. Though some resembled those from his previous life, the language here was laced with ancient brush techniques and spiritual meaning.
"Yun'er, do you remember this character?" Lin Meiyu smiled as she pointed at a scroll.
"Yes. It means 'spirit'... but the top stroke is longer," Qingyun said, pointing with his small finger.
"Haha! Clever as always," his father Li Tianyang chuckled. "You've already surpassed most six-year-olds in calligraphy."
But what even his parents didn't know was that Qingyun wasn't just studying. He was preparing.
Each night, when the house quieted and the candles dimmed, a faint screen would shimmer before his eyes—visible only to him.
> [Self-Cultivating Technique System]
[Current Energy: 74 Points]
"Insert a technique into the slot to begin automatic cultivation."
The energy count had slowly increased over the past year. But unlike others who might resort to sneaky methods, Qingyun had done everything openly.
He had simply… asked.
"Father, I want some silver coins to play with. I like how they shine."
"Mother, can I keep that gold ring? It looks pretty!"
At first, his parents had laughed, amused by their son's strange preferences. But seeing his bright eyes and obedient nature, they indulged him without hesitation.
As their only child, the heir of the Li family, there was nothing they wouldn't give him.
1 tael of silver provided 1 point of energy.
1 tael of gold gave 5 points.
Jewels and gems gave variable amounts based on their rarity and cultural value.
Low-tier cultivation treasures, like spirit herbs and jade stones, began at 10 points and above.
With his parents' blessings, he had accumulated a respectable 74 points, even before starting cultivation. Of course, he made sure to avoid requesting anything precious or irreplaceable. His parents' happiness mattered to him.
In the meantime, they were preparing his body for the day he would begin true cultivation.
Medicinal baths—infused with low-tier herbs—were scheduled every three days. These helped temper his body, clear impurities, and slowly strengthen his meridians.
His food was tailored by his mother, an alchemist of the Royal Pavilion, His meals were infused with spirit ingredients—rice soaked in marrow broth, fruits nourished by elemental fields, and fish caught from spiritual springs. Lin Meiyu would occasionally add a drop of mild alchemical potion to his porridge, aiding digestion and strengthening his body.
Recently, Lin Meiyu had even introduced pill supplements.
"This is a Body Nourishing Pill, Qingyun," she said gently. "It will strengthen your bones and blood. One every three days, okay?"
Qingyun nodded seriously, taking the pill under her watchful eye.
Despite his age, he had already begun displaying a mature temperament, listening to every instruction and asking surprisingly intelligent questions.
And through this slow, gentle approach, his physical body was becoming robust and pure—the perfect vessel for future breakthroughs.
Meanwhile, Qingyun spent much of his free time gathering knowledge.
He now understood the power structures of this world: the Blazing Sun Empire was vast, but still only one of several kingdoms on the continent. The world was split between two dominant cultivation paths:
---
[Martial Artists:
Focus on strengthening the body through combat, movement, and physical discipline.
Stages: Body Tempering → Bone Refinement → Meridian Expansion → Martial Heart Awakening, etc.
Martial artists typically join clans, sects, or armies.]
[Cultivators:
Channel spiritual energy to refine mind and soul, capable of manipulating elements and performing magic-like arts.
Stages: Qi Gathering → Foundation Establishment → Core Formation → Nascent Soul → Soul Transformation, etc.
Often belong to sects or spiritual academies.]
---
The Li family, he learned, was firmly rooted in the cultivation path. Their close ties to alchemy and the Royal Alchemist Pavilion made them highly respected, even among nobility.
His mind, however, never rested. He constantly watched, asked subtle questions, and pieced together more of the world. He now knew that Azure Sky City was ruled by a governor loyal to the imperial family, and the nearby sects often recruited talents from the noble families. In three more years, once he turned five, he would be eligible to take the Meridian Awakening Test—a ceremony to determine one's path between cultivation and martial arts.
But Qingyun wasn't worried.
He already had an unimaginable edge.
> [System Status]
Slots Available: 1
Current Energy: 74
Pending: Technique input required.
All he lacked was a proper technique.
"I'll request access to the family library soon," he thought, gazing out his window. "Once I get even a basic cultivation method, I can let the system take over."
Though he kept up the appearance of a curious and innocent child, within his mind was the same sharpness that had let him survive in his past life.
He wouldn't waste this chance.
And so, as the Li family rejoiced in the health and growth of their son, and the city continued its daily rhythm, deep inside the heart of their estate…
A new genius was quietly laying the groundwork for an extraordinary future.
For now, he would continue to learn, absorb, and prepare.
Because one day, his techniques would cultivate themselves, and he would rise.