The room was silent after Lin Yue’s departure. Yun Che remained standing before the massage table, staring at the empty space where the system interface had disappeared.
He was quite satisfied. He had survived his first mission and obtained a cultivation technique that could completely change his destiny.
And for the first time, he possessed something that no other disciple of the Profound Flower Sect, or anyone else in the entire world, knew about.
But then the interface reappeared.
[New Mission Detected.]
[Objective: Reach the second major cultivation realm.]
[Current Cultivation: Tempered Body.]
[Minimum Requirement for Entry into the Ancient Flower Secret Realm: Elementary Profound.]
Yun Che frowned.
"Second realm..."
He understood the sect’s hierarchy. Tempered Body was only the first step. Elementary Profound represented the true beginning of a cultivator’s path.
For someone talented, crossing that threshold could take months or even years.
For Yun Che, however, the problem was even greater.
Then the interface changed.
[Conventional Cultivation Method: Locked.]
Yun Che froze.
"Locked?"
[The user cannot advance through conventional cultivation methods.]
[The Supreme Dual Cultivation System possesses absolute priority over the user’s progression.]
He felt a bad premonition.
Then the next message appeared slowly.
[Required Method: Dual Cultivation.]
Yun Che closed his eyes.
"What the hell? I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world."
Ever since the system had appeared, he had already understood that his path would be different.
But knowing that he would need to use that mechanic was one thing.
Discovering that his survival depended on it was another.
Then the final message appeared.
[Time Limit for Completion: 7 Days.]
[Mission Failure: User’s Death.]
Yun Che opened his eyes.
"You will die in seven days."
The sentence echoed in his mind.
It was not a threat.
It was a possibility.
And a sentence.
He walked toward the window and looked at the mountain of the Profound Flower Sect.
In the distance, several disciples were already beginning to prepare for the Secret Realm.
Some possessed spiritual weapons. Others had powerful families supporting them from behind.
Even the most talented disciples had already reached True Profound.
Yun Che lowered his eyes to his own hands.
He was still at Tempered Body, the same realm that had caused the other disciples to treat the former Yun Che like trash.
"Seven days... Hmph."
His hands slowly clenched.
"Then I have seven days."
That morning, Yun Che headed to the courtyard where Mei Liang usually prepared herbs.
She was sitting before a wooden table, carefully sorting several spiritual plants.
Without raising her head, she asked:
"You seem different since yesterday. What’s the secret?"
Yun Che stopped.
"What do you mean, different?"
"Restless."
Mei Liang finally raised her eyes.
"Yesterday, you seemed determined. Today, you seem to be in a hurry."
Yun Che remained silent.
Mei Liang placed an herb on the table.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
He thought carefully before answering.
"Master, do you know any technique capable of allowing a cultivator to quickly cross the bottleneck between Tempered Body and Elementary Profound?"
Mei Liang became serious.
"Yes, I know several methods, but none of them are safe."
"Even so, explain them to me."
She sighed.
"Tempered Body strengthens the physical body. Elementary Profound is different. At that point, spiritual energy ceases to be merely an external force and begins circulating stably through the meridians."
She picked up another herb.
"If you try to force the breakthrough, you could damage your spiritual channels."
"Then I need an alternative."
"Why?"
Yun Che hesitated.
"I want to enter the Secret Realm, but my cultivation realm doesn’t meet the minimum requirements."
Mei Liang remained silent for several seconds.
"I knew it."
She rested her arms on the table.
"Yun Che, don’t confuse courage with recklessness. The minimum requirement exists for a reason. Even disciples at Elementary Profound will have difficulties in there."
"I know that."
"You’re still at Tempered Body."
"For now, yes. I don’t intend to remain at this realm."
Mei Liang watched him carefully.
"You’re hiding something, aren’t you?"
Yun Che slightly turned his gaze away.
"Isn’t it normal for a cultivator to hide something?"
"Not when I’m around. You can barely be considered a true cultivator."
The answer came immediately.
"If you really consider me your master, at least don’t lie when your life is at risk."
Yun Che remained silent.
Despite her concern, he could not tell her about the system.
But that conversation had given him an important piece of information.
Dual cultivation was not an unknown or forbidden method in this world.
"Mei Liang."
"What is it?"
"What do you think about dual cultivation? Do you think it is a suitable cultivation method for rapidly increasing my cultivation?"
Mei Liang froze.
"It depends."
"On what?"
"On the technique, the person, and the intention."
She crossed her arms.
"Among willing cultivators, it can be used to assist the progression of both parties. But it is not a game. An unsuitable technique can cause harm to both."
Yun Che nodded.
"So there really is a way for two people to benefit from the same process."
"There is, but it is rare. Most techniques only benefit one party while the other has their cultivation stolen."
Mei Liang narrowed her eyes.
"Why are you asking? Don’t tell me you intend to use dual cultivation?"
"Nothing like that. Just curiosity."
"Because that doesn’t sound true to me."
Yun Che almost smiled.
"Mei Liang, you know me so well."
Mei Liang did not insist. Instead, she returned to the herbs.
"If you’re thinking about using dual cultivation to break through your bottleneck, choose someone who knows what they’re doing. And, above all, someone who agrees willingly."
Yun Che nodded.
"Understood."
When he left the courtyard, his expression was more determined.
Now he had a direction to follow.
But there was another problem he had to solve.
Who would agree to cultivate with him?
He was known as a useless person and possessed no high position.
He also had no influential family.
And most female disciples probably would not even consider the possibility.
Yun Che walked across the training grounds, observing the disciples training and displaying their techniques.
The most talented were surrounded by admirers.
The average disciples trained in groups.
The weakest remained isolated.
It was then that he noticed a young female cultivator sitting alone beneath a tree.
She looked frustrated.
In front of her was a small Spiritual Stone that had almost completely lost its luster.
Yun Che recognized her.
She was an outer disciple known for being stuck at the same level for a long time.
He slowed his steps.
Perhaps this was a timely opportunity.
Not because she would be easy.
Yun Che approached, and the young woman raised her eyes.
"Yun Che?"
"That’s me."
"Do you need something?"
"I want to talk to you. Can we?"
She looked suspicious.
"With me?"
"Do you see anyone else?"
"Why?"
Yun Che took a deep breath.
From that moment on, every word could determine whether he lived or died.
"I have a proposal for you."
She frowned.
"What kind of proposal could someone like you possibly have for me?"
Yun Che kept his gaze firm.
"A dual cultivation proposal. I believe it will greatly help you overcome your bottleneck."
Silence settled between them.
The young woman slowly stood up.
"Wait a second. Are you talking about dual cultivation? And you intend to practice it with me?"
Yun Che nodded.
"I do."
She stared at him in surprise, unsure whether she should laugh or cry.
Then she let out a small laugh, but there was more nervousness than humor in the sound.
"You’ve really lost your mind."
"Maybe."
"And why would I agree to something like this with you?"
Yun Che did not answer immediately.
Because he could not tell her the truth.
He could not say that he would die in seven days if he did not attempt dual cultivation.
He also could not reveal that he needed this opportunity to survive.
So he chose the only words he could offer.
"Because I believe we can help each other. My technique will allow you to break through the bottleneck at the tenth level."
The young woman continued staring at him in disbelief.
Yun Che realized that he had found someone who could completely alter his destiny.
In the distance, the sect’s bell rang again, signaling the urgency of the situation.
Seven days remained before the Secret Realm opened.
Yun Che had seven days to remain alive.
Unfortunately, his efforts to find a partner for dual cultivation did not seem to be going well.
What would he have to do to find a partner?