The world was quiet when Li Fan finally tried to get out of bed.
He had waited until long after Yun Mei left, sitting in silence, fingers twitching, staring at the glowing interface etched into his mind. It felt unreal—like a fever dream that had overstayed its welcome.
But now, with the infirmary dim and empty, it was time to test things for real.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed.
And collapsed.
"Ugh—!"
His knees gave out the moment they touched the floor, and he landed hard on the cold wooden planks, gasping as fresh damage rippled through his battered body.
[Caution: Host's physical state is unstable.]
"No kidding," Li Fan grunted, coughing. "What the hell… I thought I was healing."
[Skill Passive Regeneration has drawn on your body's stored energy to accelerate recovery. Excessive damage causes rapid depletion. Without replenishment, collapse or death may occur.]
Li Fan blinked, face still pressed to the floor. "Wait… stored energy?"
[Affirmative. All healing is fueled by reserves within your body. If damage exceeds what your body can endure or recover from, death is inevitable.]
"So I can grow stronger through taking damage… but if I take too much damage too fast, I'll die?"
[Correct.]
He let out a tired sigh. "Of course. There's always a catch."
Dragging himself up with the edge of the bed, he wobbled to his feet. His legs still felt like damp noodles, but he managed to stay upright.
Outside, night had already fallen. The air was cool, and the training grounds were empty—lit only by a few flickering lanterns and the distant glow from the mess hall. His stomach growled, loud and mournful.
"Guess it's dinner time…"
---
By the time he stumbled into the mess hall, it was deserted.
Behind the counter stood one person: a thin old man in a grease-stained apron, humming to himself as he cleaned the last pot.
Elder Cook Bei. Rumored to be a failed alchemist who'd turned to kitchen duty after blowing up a few too many cauldrons.
"Well, well," the elder muttered when he noticed him. "Thought you were already dead."
"Still hanging on," Li Fan smiled wearily. "Any food left?"
"Some scraps," the elder grunted, turning around. "Soup and a couple of buns. Maybe a sliver of meat."
"I'll take it."
Minutes later, he was seated in a quiet corner, hunched over a chipped bowl of lukewarm broth with two crusty buns. The soup had one floating meat chunk and what might've once been cabbage, but it was the best thing he'd tasted in days.
"Thanks, Elder," he called out.
The old man just waved him off with a grunt. "Get out before I change my mind and make you do dishes."
---
Li Fan's room was tiny—a shared corner dormitory in the far end of the outer sect housing. Luckily, his roommate was still on night patrol duty, so he had the place to himself.
He locked the door, drew the curtains, and lit a small candle on the desk.
The flame flickered gently, casting shadows across the room.
Then he stared at his fist.
"…Alright," he muttered.
He tightened his grip, drew back his arm—and punched himself in the thigh.
Hard.
"GAH—!"
He stumbled, clutching his leg.
But… nothing happened.
No glow. No pop-up. No update.
He waited. And waited.
"…System?" he whispered.
[Self-inflicted damage is not recognized.]
"…Excuse me?"
[To generate Body Tempering Energy, damage must come from external sources. Damage you cause to yourself does not count.]
He gaped at the air. "Why not? I still got hurt!"
[System protocol: Source of damage must be external.]
"…So I can't just punch myself into becoming stronger?"
[Correct.]
Li Fan rubbed his temples. "This is absurd…"
He sat back and eyed the candle on his desk.
"…But what if the damage isn't from a punch?"
Then he reached out… and hovered his hand over the flame.
The heat licked his skin. His fingers trembled. He hesitated. Then, gritting his teeth, he lowered his hand until the flame kissed his palm.
"Shit—!"
The flame burned his palm briefly before he yanked it back, cradling the scorched skin.
Then it came:
---
[Damage detected.]
[BTE +5]
[Realm Progress: +0.5%]
---
Li Fan's eyes widened.
"…It worked."
He stared at the candle with a mix of fear and fascination.
Then he did it again.
Once.
Twice.
Over and over, he pressed his hand into the flame—briefly, carefully—but enough for the system to respond each time.
---
[BTE +5]
[BTE +5]
[BTE +5]
---
By the fourth burn, his breathing was ragged. Sweat clung to his forehead. His palm was a mess of blisters and swelling.
But he kept going.
One more.
"Gnnn—!"
Then he collapsed backward into the bed, panting hard, cradling his hand.
"…System," he wheezed, "why do I feel like I'm going to pass out?"
[Skill Passive Regeneration has used a significant portion of your body's stored energy to heal and stabilize damaged tissue.]
"So that's why I'm getting lightheaded…"
[Host must replenish energy through rest, food, or other means. Prolonged depletion may cause organ failure.]
"Lovely."
He collapsed back onto the cot, arms limp, chest rising and falling like he'd just run laps around the outer courtyard.
"…System," he muttered, "what exactly can I use BTE for?"
[Body Tempering Energy (BTE) can be utilized for the following purposes:]
[Realm Advancement: Increase progress in current cultivation stage.]
[Damage Conversion Rate: Enhance the rate at which external damage is converted into BTE.]
[Passive Regeneration: Improve baseline healing speed and recovery efficiency.]
[Trait Acquisition (Locked): Unlock and purchase physical traits. Available from Skin Tempering – Perfection Stage onward.]
Li Fan raised an eyebrow. "So I can get stronger… faster… and eventually even gain new abilities?"
[Affirmative.]
"…Alright," he murmured, voice low but resolute. "Open the interface."
A familiar pulse resonated in his chest, and a soft glow bloomed in his mind. The translucent panel shimmered to life.
---
Host: Li Fan
Age: 16
Constitution: None
Physical Condition: Scorched Palm | Internal Strain | Energy Depletion
Current Realm: Skin Tempering — Early Stage (6.5%)
Damage Conversion Rate: 1.0x
Passive Regeneration: Elementary
Physical Traits: [Locked]
BTE: 65 Units
---
Li Fan scanned the lines carefully. His fingers twitched with quiet anticipation.
"…Allocate all BTE for realm enhancement,"
[Confirmed.]
The system's response was immediate. A soft heat spread from his core outward—subtle, but steady. It wasn't a blinding burst of power, but something deeper. Subsurface. Like metal slowly being forged under flame.
His skin tingled faintly. The soreness in his muscles gave way to something denser—like his body was knitting itself together beneath the surface, strengthening thread by thread.
The interface flickered.
---
Current Realm: Skin Tempering — Early Stage (13%)
[Note: 10 BTE = 1% Realm Progress at current stage]
---
Li Fan exhaled.
He raised his injured hand into the candlelight, watching the skin tremble slightly as the Passive Regeneration worked to heal it.
"I might not have spiritual roots. I might not have elemental affinity. But I have this."
His voice was quiet now, firm.
"If pain is the path… then I'll walk it."