Endless Ascension

Chapter 3: I must become stronger

Qin Ze certainly didn't dare do anything to the old sow in the pigsty. She produced two litters a year, all destined for the roasting pit. Killing her would surely see Zhang Dafu skin him alive.

With the upgrade system in place, Qin Ze could almost see the brilliance of his future, and his heart couldn't help but race with excitement.

"Young Master, have you broken through to the second level of martial cultivation? You seem different from before," Meng Lei said, puzzled. He had known about Qin Ze's damaged Dan Tian, which prevented him from advancing beyond the first level. Yet just now, he had clearly sensed a sharpening in Qin Ze's aura, a clear sign of advancement.

In the Tianyuan Continent, martial practitioners relied heavily on the qi power condensed in their Dan Tian. A damaged Dan Tian meant an inability to condense qi power, rendering further breakthroughs impossible. No matter how diligently one trained, the qi power would instantly dissipate within the Dan Tian, preventing any progress.

The Tianyuan Continent was a land where martial cultivation flourished, and a damaged Dan Tian was a rarity that might not occur in a thousand years.

Cultivation was determined by aptitude and destiny. Even ordinary people could reach the realm of martial practitioners through a lifetime of training, but they wouldn't suffer the fate of being forever stuck at the first level like Qin Ze.

After five years of suffering, Qin Ze knew firsthand the agony of a damaged Dan Tian. Now, with the heavens showing mercy and granting him an upgrade system, he no longer had to worry about his Dan Tian. All he needed to do was level up and kill monsters, and his qi power would increase permanently, unaffected by his damaged Dan Tian.

His martial cultivation had already advanced to the second level, and with enough experience, breaking through to the third level was just a matter of time.

Rigorous training was useless to him now. All he needed to do was kill more beastly creatures, just like in a game—kill monsters, gain experience, level up, and become stronger.

This process was all too familiar to him. If his future life was like a game, then he would undoubtedly strive to be the strongest player.

Glancing around to ensure they were alone, Qin Ze gave Meng Lei a subtle nod, acknowledging his advancement to the second level.

Upon receiving Qin Ze's confirmation, Meng Lei grinned foolishly, happier than if he had achieved the breakthrough himself. All those years of relentless training had finally paid off.

As he laughed, tears welled up in Meng Lei's eyes.

He was so overwhelmed with joy that he couldn't help but cry tears of happiness.

Qin Ze patted Meng Lei on the back, consoling him, "What's there to cry about? This is a happy occasion."

A bitter taste lingered in his heart; he had indeed endured too much hardship.

"No, I'm just happy, so happy," Meng Lei wiped away a tear, his face innocent and guileless.

Though their relationship was that of master and servant, they were like brothers, supporting each other through the years. This bond was something Qin Ze couldn't comprehend in his previous life, but now he felt it deeply.

If he had indeed broken through to the second level of martial cultivation, it meant one thing: every time he leveled up within the system, his martial cultivation level would also increase.

"If that's true, this is too amazing! Others toil and suffer through rigorous training, while all I need to do is kill a few more beastly creatures. Especially when facing a bottleneck, my advantage becomes even more apparent. Ha-ha... I'm set for life," Qin Ze couldn't help but feel exhilarated at the thought, all his morning troubles vanishing into thin air.

The sun blazed high in the sky, and it was noon. The Lotus Restaurant was filling up with diners.

There were countless eateries like the Lotus Restaurant in Qinghe City, but this one remained bustling, with hardly any spare tables during mealtimes.

"Boss, where's our food?"

"Waiter, bring us a pot of superior Zhuguo wine!"

"Dammit, where's my beef?"

...

Upstairs and downstairs, the restaurant was a hive of activity. Qin Ze, a white towel draped over his shoulder, darted around without a moment's rest, his humble demeanor pleasing many of the patrons.

In their eyes, he was nothing more than a lowly peasant, and no one would bother with such a person, lest they lose face.

Of course, there were those who disliked him, like Qin Kun in the Imperial Suite.

"Let me introduce you all. This is the biggest waste of our Qin family in a thousand years. At fifteen, he's still stuck at the first level of martial cultivation. Brother Wang, how old were you when you reached the first level?"

"I was five."

"I was seven, and now I'm at the fifth level. I'm only thirteen, you see."

"Do you hear that, waste? You're embarrassing the Qin family. How dare you still live? I would've killed myself long ago, ha-ha..."

"Ha-ha..."

The laughter echoed through the private room, while Qin Ze kept his head down, unfazed and unyielding, as if the insults were not directed at him at all.

The last time he was beaten was by Qin Kun, the little tyrant of the Qin family, the youngest son of Elder Qin Xiangtian, a dominant figure in Qinghe City and a renowned genius in the region. At just sixteen years old, he possessed the strength of a seventh-level martial artist, with a much more profound qi than most others at his level.

He was a talent that the Qin family nurtured with utmost care.

Seeing Qin Ze's lack of reaction, Qin Kun glared at him coldly and spat a glob of thick phlegm onto his face, sneering, "Get out."

"Ha-ha..."

Qin Ze didn't bother to wipe it off. Instead, he lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and slowly backed out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Standing outside, Qin Ze's body trembled with fury, the humiliation of being spat on seared into his memory forever.

Wiping the phlegm from his face, Qin Ze's eyes narrowed like an old fox, muttering to himself, "Just wait."

"Young Master, did Qin Kun bully you again? I'm not letting this slide."

Meng Lei rushed out of the private room, enraged, like an avenging deity fueled by righteous indignation.

Seeing the remnants of spit on Qin Ze's face, he knew exactly what had just transpired. This was not the first time Qin Kun had spat on Qin Ze publicly; such humiliation was unbearable for anyone.

Instantly, Meng Lei's anger boiled over, and he longed to storm into the room.

Qin Ze grabbed Meng Lei's arm, saying, "Are you their match? He's probably waiting for you to make a scene so he can have an excuse to attack."

Meng Lei was burly and naive, willing to do anything for Qin Ze.

"Young Master, let's go to the clan leader and demand justice."

"The clan leader?" Qin Ze chuckled bitterly, wondering if Meng Lei was truly naive or just pretending. Going to the clan leader about this would only invite trouble.

Would the clan leader offend Elder Qin to take Qin Ze's side?

Moreover, Qin Kun was the Qin family's prized protégé, a golden child destined for greatness. How could the clan leader scold him for mistreating a mere waste?

"It's simply impossible.

This world is no different from the one before, where the strong prey on the weak. The only path to acquiring everything is to become stronger.

Qin Ze, having lived two lives, understands this perfectly well.

'I must become stronger.'"