"That's the spirit," Lin Qiao said with a bright grin. "If we're climbing this tower, then we're in it to win." She rose from her chair and stretched lightly. "Alright, let's get prepared. If we're going into a dungeon—and if it's anything like the ones I've read about—then you'll need to use my method to speed up the growth of your Dao Seed."
She walked slowly toward him. "Let's see what you're working with." Standing beside him, her eyes fell to the golden bamboo slip resting near his seat. She picked it up and examined it. "Hmm. Grade IV Wind Dao—interesting. I guess we're Dao buddies, but mine's Grade V, so I'm one grade higher than you."
When she unfurled the golden slip, characters rippled across the surface like flowing water, rearranging into lines of instruction. At the center of the slip was a tiny radiant seed, pulsing faintly with life.
The characters glowed as they formed:
A Dao Seed must be nurtured with a constant supply of essence. It will grow together with the cultivator's life force, rooted within the dantian. For greatest harmony, it is best to plant a Dao at the earliest stage, ensuring maximum synergy as one advances.
To begin, swallow the seed. Then enter meditation. Descend into your inner sea, and there, picture the truest image that embodies the Dao you seek to embrace. Only by anchoring this image upon the seed may it take root and flourish.
"See? Pretty straightforward," Lin Qiao said, showing it to him.
"You have to picture the element of wind after swallowing the seed into your spirit sea. But that's vague. You're probably thinking—what image do I use? A tornado? A hurricane? Sure, that could work… But can you do that? Have you ever truly felt what it's like to be a hurricane or a tornado?"
She didn't wait for an answer. "Of course not," she said, sounding like an experienced instructor. She rolled up the golden slip and set it down. "It's impossible for a human to mimic natural disasters. At best, you could grasp a fraction of their power if you witnessed them firsthand—but most people go their whole lives without experiencing something like that. So if we tried to force that image, we might succeed, but the result would be incomplete."
"You said we. Does that mean you did something else?" he asked.
A playful smile curved her lips. She moved behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders, massaging them lightly. "Exactly. At first I considered something simple—like imagining a fan or a wind vortex. But years of reading cultivation novels made me think outside the box. The golden slip looked like only half of a complete method—there was a golden and a silver slip."
She reached over to the table and unrolled the silver slip next. "But what if I first had it backwards? What if, instead of trying to imitate natural disasters, you unknowingly cripple yourself by choosing the wrong path from the start?"
The silver slip opened to reveal illustrations—an archer drawing a bow, arrows wrapped in swirling wind.
"This is where my nurturing method comes in," she said, tapping the images. "Listen carefully. You now understand two things: one, you can't form your Dao using vague natural disasters. Two, this technique is meant to help you."
She leaned closer. "So what do you think the next step is?"
She didn't leave him guessing long. "You imagine yourself using the Dao. Picture your own future—your path. You aren't mimicking nature—you're advancing your own Dao. See yourself shooting arrows, your Wind Dao flowing around them—but have them moving like in the manual."
"And Zhao Qiao, stop pressing up against him already," Zhao Ren muttered from the side. "We only have a few minutes left to prepare, so it's better he gets this done quickly rather than listening to your—"
"Zhao Ren," she snapped, glaring over her shoulder. "What did I tell you about interrupting my—"
He shrugged with a smirk. "It's not just me saying it. I'm sure the guy doesn't want you being all over him, especially since he probably has a wife or something. Right?"
He looked toward Zhang Rui, expecting support—but instead…
"Well, I don't mind," Zhang Rui said.
Zhao Ren froze, blinking as if he had just been slapped by reality.
"Huh?"
Lin Qiao's lips curled into a slow, victorious smile. She slid even closer to Zhang Rui, pressing herself against his arm as if to make a point.
"See? He doesn't mind," she said sweetly, eyes glinting with triumph. "I'm sure he's happy to have a doting senior like me."
Zhao Ren stared at them, betrayed by the universe. "Are you serious—"
"Shh," Lin Qiao waved him off without even looking. "Go cool off somewhere; you can check if Mom or Dad tried to contact us yet." Then she turned away from him entirely, her focus back on Zhang Rui as if the rest of the world no longer existed.
"Now—essence absorption." She smoothed her hair back and composed herself. "Since you got three skills that run on essence—your Dao once you plant it, and your traits—you'll need to constantly cycle and refine essence inside your body."
She moved behind him again, placing her hands lightly on his shoulders—professional this time, though her body still leaned into his a little too comfortably.
"Think of essence absorption as controlled breathing," she said. "Except instead of air, you draw in natural energy from your surroundings. You guide it into your dantian—your core—where it's refined into pure essence. That essence fuels everything: traits, skills, Dao growth, and even strengthening your body."
She continued explaining what she knew, telling him about the best ways to absorb essence—such as meditation, which he already understood—and her own discovery of yoga, which she had now forced him into doing.
"These are the poses I've found have the best circulation," she said confidently. "And you're the first person I'm showing them to, so if you want to thank me, call me Master Lin Qiao from now on."
She stretched lightly, then shifted into a new pose—one that required his support. She lifted one leg and arched her back while reaching her hands behind her, and Zhang Rui instinctively stepped forward to hold her steady. Her spine pressed against his chest, her weight leaning completely into him as he supported her hips. Their breathing synchronized.
The position became unintentionally intimate. Her body was warm against his. His hands, steady on her waist, felt the smooth tension of her muscles, the subtle softness beneath. Her perfume—light jasmine?—brushed past his senses, and for a moment his pulse picked up.
His mind flickered. Why does she feel… soft, like Bai Lian? No. Not just that—she feels even softer somehow. Can a background extra really feel this good? His blood pressure rose, and his eyes flickered. Damn it… what's wrong with me?
But maybe... "A little peek won't hurt," he thought as a ripple formed in his iris.
[05:45]
They held the pose for a few breaths before she eased out of it. He stepped back, and her clothes slowly covered her again as his X-ray effect faded.
"I don't know about calling you master," he said slowly.
"But… how about I take you out on a date? Something doesn't feel right about what I did, so I want to make it up to you," he muttered, averting his gaze.
Lin Qiao paused, blinking. Then her lips curled into a graceful smirk. She lifted a hand to lightly cover her mouth, eyes glimmering with amusement.
"Oh? It can't be that, right… Mister Husband?" she teased. "Don't tell me—you've never touched a woman before?"
He stiffened, unsure how to respond.
"No… Having touched a woman in this world is what's messing up my morals in the first place. I used to condemn perverts who wished for X-ray vision!" He wanted to say it, but the words wouldn't come out.
Her gaze sharpened with playful intent. "I knew it. That title must have come from something else," she said. "Definitely not marriage experience."
She leaned forward, lowering her hand as her smirk deepened. "But… if you ask me out properly, I might consider going on a yoga date with you sometime."
She leaned back, crossing her arms beneath her chest. Her expression shifted from playful to serious. "But first, focus on the present. If you're confident, it's better to plant your Dao Seed now. You'll need every bit of power you can get inside an F-rank dungeon."
He sighed and returned to his seat. I need to keep myself in check, or I might become an unfiltered harasser. Maybe Bai Lian was right—I do need more than just her to keep me busy.
Lin Qiao walked behind him and then sat opposite him. Since I already… crossed a line, maybe I should ask her out. What I did shows there's at least some attraction. Zhang Rui tapped the stone table, and she looked at him and winked.
He reached out for the golden bamboo slip. The seal shimmered as he pulled out the small, glowing seed—his Wind Dao Seed. It pulsed faintly in his palm, like a captured breeze struggling to escape.
He didn't hesitate.
He placed it against his tongue and swallowed.
The moment it entered his body, his eyes closed—and he felt himself fall inward, descending into his inner spirit sea. There, inside the storm of his own consciousness, he reached out—and grasped the Dao.
He stood on a vast mountain peak under a roaring sky, wind whipping violently around him. An ancient bow rested in his hand. He drew it back, and the wind itself gathered at his fingertips.
He released.
Arrows of wind tore across the horizon—endless, unstoppable.
And at the center of it all… his Dao took root.
Zhang Rui continued meditating as the timer ticked down.
Wind roared around him—not real wind, but the manifestation of his will. With each calm breath, he fed the tiny Dao Seed resting in his spirit sea, letting it root deeper inside him. He pictured motion, growth, relentless forward advance—the very nature of wind. Not destruction, but progress.
The Dao answered.
[Dao Integration: 42%...]
[53%...]
[78%...]
[91%...]
His heart synced with the faint pulse of essence in the air. A strange clarity settled in his mind. Everything felt sharper—lighter.
Outside, Lin Qiao and Zhao Ren watched in silent tension. Even Zhao Ren seemed impressed now, arms crossed as he glanced between Zhang Rui and the ticking timer.
[00:10]
A breeze stirred inside the pavilion, though no wind should have been able to reach them. It coiled around Zhang Rui like a serpent—obedient, waiting.
[00:05]
[Dao Integration: 100%]
Wind Dao Seed Successfully Planted
Zhang Rui opened his eyes—calm, steady, and sharper than before.
[00:01]
The world turned white.
When reality returned, they were standing on a cracked city street at night. Police sirens wailed in the distance. Smoke rose from shattered windows. Car alarms blared in broken harmony. Neon lights flickered overhead.
A shaken-looking police officer stumbled toward them with disbelief in his eyes.
"Thank God—you Returners finally arrived!" he said, breathless. "We don't have much time. The dungeon—it's taken over inside the mall!"
He pointed to a massive shopping mall behind him—its glass entrance shattered, dark ichor smeared on the walls. Something growled from inside. Something big.
"We've evacuated who we could, but there are still people trapped inside. The deeper levels are crawling with monsters. They dungeon's bounder is also about to solidify. You need to move now!"
Five black triangular tokens materialized in the officer's hand, and he forced them into Zhang Rui's grip.
Then—everything froze.
The officer became motionless mid-breath. Flames from burning cars froze in place. The wind stopped. Sound died.
The world around them flickered—its realism peeling away like a glitching digital simulation. Hollow. Artificial. A reminder.
They weren't home yet.
A cold mechanical voice descended from the sky.
Final Tutorial Scenario Activated
Objective – Prevent a Mock Dungeon Break
Place Sealing Stones at designated locations within the F-rank Dungeon.
Rescue at least 12 civilian captives on the first floor.
Defeat the Dungeon Boss.
Secure the Dungeon Core to complete the clear scenario.
Failure Condition: Total Party Elimination.
Performance will determine final tutorial rewards.
Time Limit: None
Warning: The longer you take to clear this dungeon, the lower your potential reward tier.
Reality resumed with a violent shudder. Flames crackled again. A distant scream echoed from inside the mall.
Lin Qiao exhaled slowly. "So it starts."
Zhao Ren cracked his knuckles. "About time things got fun."
Zhang Rui looked down at the five black tokens—their surfaces shimmered with faint symbols. He tightened his grip on them, then paused as he noticed something.
His outfit had changed.
He glanced down—a dark-gray tang jacket and matching pants now fit him perfectly, replacing his soaked school clothes from earlier. He exhaled through his nose.
He felt his chest and pulled back his sleeves and found his armor was underneath—and around his waist he saw his pouches.
Convenient.
The tokens slipped from his hand and floated around him in a lazy orbit, soon joined by his three bamboo slips. He pulled his bow from his back and nocked an arrow with smooth familiarity. The iron-scaled arrowheads glinted under the city lights—sharp, deadly.
He stepped forward and came up beside Lin Qiao.
"Let's be careful going in," he said, eyes on the shattered mall entrance.