Only I Cultivate

Feng Fan returned home after dealing with SIF's tests, feeling a rare sense of satisfaction.

'At least I got a decent job in this world. Maybe hunting ghosts won't be so bad, especially with the pay, even for low-level Hunters, it's more than enough.'

But Feng Fan knew that even if SIF hadn't offered him a job as a Hunter, he would have ended up doing it anyway.

The moment he inherited the title of Sect Master of the Ghost Sealing Sect, his fate was sealed. Whether he wanted it or not, ghosts would come for him. 

The dead never let go of those who could chain them.

Not that he minded.

The idea of eternal life intrigued him. If there was even the slightest chance to achieve it, why wouldn't he take it?

But before anything else, he needed power.

'The first realm is called Opening the Inner Palace. Since the straw hat already unlocked mine, I can be considered a first-stage cultivator in this realm. It's divided into six stages…'

Feng Fan's eyes narrowed as he processed the information.

'This also puts me on the same level as an F-rank Hunter… and an Apparition.'

Sitting on his bed, he focused on the cultivation technique he received from the straw hat, fully examining it for the first time since his awakening.

The technique relied on sealing ghosts inside one's inner palace and chaining them to the cultivator's soul. The ghosts, bound by these chains, would be forced to siphon spiritual energy from the other side—an endless cycle of torment, feeding his strength. 

The stronger he became, the more his inner palace would evolve.

'My inner palace and soul don't have a fixed form. They can change depending on my cultivation path, but…' Feng Fan narrowed his eyes. 'It seems the previous Sect Masters followed the same standard—a heart surrounded by blooming flowers…'

A mantra left behind by his predecessors surfaced in his mind.

'The heart is the source of life, sending nutrients to flourish the light, which blossoms to seal and destroy the darkness.'

Feng Fan chose to follow in his predecessor's footsteps, using what was laid before him as a guide.

Focusing on his will, he channeled it into his soul, forcing Ma Chen to siphon spiritual energy from the other side. The stolen energy surged through his inner palace, strengthening its foundation and gradually expanding its domain.

And so, he cultivated, allowing the power to build within him as the day passed.

👻👻👻👻👻

By the time Feng Fan opened his eyes again, night had already fallen. He raised his hand, attempting to summon the chains. 

A black chain materialized from his right palm, but it was short, barely a meter long, and maintaining its form felt like holding onto smoke.

Less than a minute later, the chain vanished.

Feng Fan sighed, but he wasn't discouraged. "It'll take time, but at least I know how to improve."

Then, something else came to mind.

'This thing on my head hasn't even introduced itself. What am I supposed to call it? Just… Straw Hat?'

After thinking for a moment, he shrugged.

'Yeah. Straw Hat it is.'

👻👻👻👻👻

The next day on the morning, Luo Li was discharged from the hospital. Aside from Mao Jiang and Feng Fan, no one else had come to see her.

This wasn't the first time she had been injured on duty, but it was the only time more than one person had visited her.

As she stepped out of the hospital's front entrance, a black limousine was waiting for her. A butler stood beside it, holding the door open.

"Young Lady," he said, bowing slightly in respect.

Without a word, she got into the car.

The limousine made its way to the Luo estate, a property that had belonged to her family for generations. It was located on the outskirts of Green Vine City.

The estate consisted of a grand mansion, where the direct descendants of the Luo bloodline lived, and smaller houses for workers and adopted sons.

Hierarchy and tradition were taken seriously in the Luo family. Whether direct descendants, adopted members, or staff, everyone was bound by the family's rigid rules.

The limousine carrying Luo Li stopped in front of the Luo mansion. The same butler from before promptly opened the door for her.

"Young Lady."

Luo Li stepped out of the limousine and walked through the grand entrance. She passed through the main hall, where lavish parties were held and esteemed guests entertained, and entered the dining hall.

At the far end of a massive table, large enough to seat over fifty guests, sat an elegant woman with long black hair, dining alone. Every movement she made was graceful, each bite precise, as if adhering to an unspoken set of rules.

"Mother," Luo Li greeted, her voice devoid of warmth or emotion.

Without looking up, the woman continued eating, her presence cold and distant, as if Luo Li didn't exist.

Luo Li took a seat at the farthest end of the table, keeping as much distance as possible between them. Silence hung between them like an unbreakable wall.

Moments later, a different butler from the one who had driven her home arrived, pushing a silver cart laden with an elaborate breakfast.

A delicate porcelain plate was placed before her, holding a meticulously arranged spread: golden croissants, lightly crisped on the outside and buttery within; fresh mango slices cut into perfect shapes; a soft-boiled egg with a side of smoked salmon and avocado toast.

A fine china teacup followed, filled with jasmine tea, its floral fragrance drifting gently into the air. Beside it, a tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice sparkled in the morning light.

Luo Li stared at the extravagant meal for a moment before picking up her utensils.

Although Luo Li hadn't eaten all day and hunger gnawed at her, devouring the food like a starving wolf was not an option. Such behavior would only earn her a harsh reprimand.

"I'm glad to see you've recovered from your injuries," her mother finally spoke, the first words since Luo Li had entered the room.

But there was no warmth in her voice.

"Unfortunately, you have disgraced the Luo name." Luo Xiu's tone was calm, yet sharp as a blade. "Your partner died in action. More than half of your classmates fell right behind you. And worst of all, you failed to kill the ghost responsible. A mere unawakened child accomplished what you could not."

Her grip on the fork tightened ever so slightly, the only visible sign of her displeasure.

"Is this how we raised you, Luo Li?"

Luo Li placed her utensils down carefully before answering. "No, Mother."

Luo Xiu's expression remained impassive. "Until you prove yourself worthy of the name you carry, you will address me by name, not as Mother."

A heavy silence filled the air before she delivered her final order.

"You are to report for duty today. When you return, go to the punishment hall and receive five lashes."

Luo Li's hand trembled slightly against her lap.

"Yes… Luo Xiu."