After gaining yet another boost in strength, Luo Changfeng entered closed-door cultivation once again.
This time, the days slipped by unnoticed—three full days passed in what felt like the blink of an eye.
At the break of dawn, as a pale gray light crept over the distant mountains, countless beings across the land remained sound asleep. But in the heart of Qingshi Town, within the ancient and solemn grounds of the Luo Family Ancestral Land, a figure stirred.
Inside an old courtyard infused with lingering traces of timeless Qi, Luo Changfeng slowly opened his eyes, which still held a faint murkiness.
"Three days…" he murmured, the words tinged with weariness and disappointment.
He had devoted every moment of these three days to relentless cultivation, not daring to waste even a breath. In his current condition, time had become more precious than gold.
And yet—
He lowered his arms slowly, flexing his fingers.
—there was no breakthrough, no forward step.
Worse still, he felt... weaker.
A dull ache radiated from his bones. His limbs felt heavier. A faint tightness coiled in his chest.
To gain nothing from bitter cultivation was one thing.
But to actually regress?
Luo Changfeng's brows furrowed deeply as an unsettling silence settled over the courtyard.
"Could it be… my remaining time is starting to take a toll?"
Suppressing a heavy sigh, he raised his right hand, fingers trembling faintly, and summoned his golden panel once more.
[Name: Luo Changfeng!][Lifespan: 5 days+][Cultivation: Bone Refinement Intermediate Stage+ (170/200)][Qi-Blood: 1350 (-85) (PS: Safe available Qi-Blood is 50 points!)][Cultivation Technique: Mortal's Finest – Fierce Tiger Power (Comprehension: 30%+)]
Indeed, the number behind his cultivation level had dropped.
By normal estimates, after three days of diligent effort, the count should've reached at least 185. Instead, it had fallen short—only 170 remained.
It was undeniable: his current rate of decline was outpacing his efforts.
The whisper of death was becoming louder.
He stared at the figures on the panel for a long time, a flicker of calculation in his eyes.
"…First, I'll use 30 points of Qi-Blood to reach the next cultivation level."
"Then… I'll add two more days to my lifespan."
His voice was calm, but beneath it lay an undercurrent of urgency.
With grim determination, Luo Changfeng tapped the attributes.
[Qi-Blood -30. Cultivation increasing…][Qi-Blood -20. Lifespan growing…]
As the notifications echoed in his mind, a warm, surging energy burst forth from deep within his marrow. It wasn't the same chaotic burst from before—it was steadier, clearer, as though the power itself understood his desperation.
This time, the force lingered.
For three full minutes, it flooded his body—repairing, tempering, strengthening. Each pulse of energy pushed his physique to its limits, reshaping bone and blood alike.
When it finally faded, Luo Changfeng let out a slow exhale, beads of sweat trickling down his temples.
[Name: Luo Changfeng!][Lifespan: 7 days+][Cultivation: Bone Refinement Refining Stage+ (0/300)][Qi-Blood: 1350 (-135) (PS: Safe available Qi-Blood is 0 points!)][Cultivation Technique: Mortal's Finest – Fierce Tiger Power (Comprehension: 30%+)]
He clenched his fists.
His strength had indeed improved. But the cost… he now had no safe Qi-Blood left to use.
The familiar [+] still hovered behind his cultivation level.
It signified temptation—he could consume more Qi-Blood from the clan, dig deeper into the vitality of others, and rise faster.
But he didn't move.
Instead, Luo Changfeng's expression turned solemn.
"No."
Relying on draining others was a short-term fix—a dangerous path that could doom the entire Luo Family if abused.
He preferred the slower, more sustainable way.
But therein lay the next question:
How could he increase the Luo Family's total Qi-Blood?
And more urgently, how could he raise the daily recovery limit, which was currently capped at fifty? That number was laughably low, especially given the cost of breakthroughs.
Seclusion had yielded no answers.
So, Luo Changfeng finally pushed open the door of his courtyard and stepped into the open air.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he wandered the ancestral grounds—lost in thought.
The Luo Family was vast, with many servants and attendants bustling about.
But…
As he passed several pavilions and walkways, a frown slowly formed on his face.
There weren't many clan members visible.
The majority of those he passed bore servant uniforms or civilian attire. Only a handful carried the refined robes and family tokens that marked them as true members of the Luo bloodline.
"No wonder the family's total Qi-Blood is only 1350…"
He paused near a covered walkway.
"With this few true clansmen, expecting a high reserve is unrealistic…"
He looked up, watching clouds drift lazily overhead as an idea began to take shape.
What if the Luo Family encouraged every male member to take multiple wives and concubines?
More wives meant more children.
More children meant more members with the Luo bloodline.
And more bloodline meant more Qi-Blood in the system.
Of course, there was a prerequisite: whether the golden finger would recognize non-bloodline wives or in-laws as part of the Luo Family.
Logically, once a woman married into the Luo family, she should count.
But that wasn't for him to decide.
Only the golden finger held that authority.
Still…
"At the very least, encouraging more offspring can't be wrong," he murmured. "Even if only by a little."
Then another thought hit him.
"…But as the clan's Ancestor… would it be improper for me to advocate something like that so directly?"
A dry chuckle escaped him. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and shelved the plan—for now.
Suddenly, a soft voice called out.
"Elder Changfeng."
Luo Changfeng turned.
Standing near the entrance of the Luo Family's Library Pavilion—a dark, solemn structure painted entirely black—was a young man in scholar's robes. He was holding a thick book, his posture a bit slouched, his eyes ringed with fatigue.
He looked up and bowed politely.
[Luo Chuan – Son of Luo Ping, current Patriarch of the Luo Family!]
The golden panel in Luo Changfeng's mind supplied the information.
"It's you," Luo Changfeng said, observing the dark circles under the young man's eyes. His voice carried both curiosity and concern. "You don't look well. Haven't been sleeping?"
Luo Chuan gave a tired smile and closed the book in his hands.
"Yes, Elder. I don't know why… but for the past few days, I've felt weak all over. It's hard to fall asleep, and even when I do, it's not restful."
Luo Changfeng's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I even asked the clan physician to examine me. But he couldn't find anything wrong… though I suspect his skills may be limited."
"Is it only you experiencing this?"
Luo Chuan shook his head.
"No… quite a few of the family's core members are facing similar symptoms. The severity varies. Some are just more tired than usual. Others are restless, irritable, or plagued by nightmares."
He paused, then added, "But interestingly… the servants don't seem affected at all."
Luo Chuan looked up at Luo Changfeng, his gaze quietly probing.
"Elder Changfeng, do you have any idea what might be happening?"
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air.
The question lingered like smoke.
Luo Changfeng did not immediately answer.
Perhaps it was guilt, or perhaps it was something else—but he found himself unable to meet the young man's gaze.
He turned away slightly, eyes fixed on the distant mountains.
Something stirred in his chest—a vague discomfort, a gnawing awareness.
He had consumed the family's Qi-Blood.
Not just a little—but over a hundred points.
Though none had died, and no one was physically harmed… the consequences were beginning to manifest.
Subtle. Insidious. Hard to trace.
But very real.
Luo Changfeng let out a quiet sigh.
"Perhaps," he said softly, "some things cannot be cured by medicine alone."