NOVEL WEB Chapter 2:
Chapter 2: The Beautiful Maid and a Life of Indulgence:
“Oh, God! I swear on my old roommate’s ten-year lifespan, don’t let me fail again!”
In the quiet courtyard, Xu Chuan set down the ancient manual in his hands, clasping them together in a mock prayer.
In his previous life, Xu Chuan had the worst luck imaginable. He could barely make money, couldn’t afford a house, and even in games, his luck was abysmal—never drawing anything good. His misfortune was so bad that he often joked he could rival someone cursed with endless bad luck.
Compared to others, especially the rich, he felt like a background character. While others were thriving, he was there just to give them something to laugh at.
“Not this time! I refuse to be the supporting role again!” Xu Chuan sighed deeply.
If he could, who wouldn’t want to be the protagonist of their own story? Especially if it meant being the invincible hero in a novel.
…
For the upcoming spirit test ceremony, Xu Chuan had done his research.
The world is divided into five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The human body could also manifest these elements, and the spirit test ceremony was designed to activate one’s spiritual core, or dantian.
Once activated, the Dantian begins absorbing the Spiritual Qi of the world, beginning the path of cultivation.
A person’s cultivation aptitude was determined by the number of elemental attributes their dantian could produce. The more elements it contains, the worse their aptitude. Those with all five elements have the worst potential. The fewer the attributes, the better. The rarest and most sought after were those with a single element—called Heaven Spiritual Roots—allowing the highest efficiency in absorbing Spiritual Qi.
The Heaven Spiritual Roots were considered the ideal for cultivators, but there were exceptions. Some people were born with special constitutions, like the Sword Body or Dual Pupils. These individuals, though rare, could rival even those with Heaven Spiritual Roots.
There’s also an even rarer phenomenon—a perfect balance of all five elements in the dantian. If someone’s multiple attributes were perfectly balanced, the competition for Spiritual Qi between elements disappears. For example, if a cultivator possessed fire and wood attributes perfectly balanced at 50-50, they could absorb both types of Spiritual Qi at full efficiency, doubling their cultivation speed.
However, such a case was practically a myth.
In all the history of the Central Plains, there hasn’t been a single cultivator with perfectly balanced multiple attributes. Even the dual-system balance was almost unheard of.
Xu Chuan, well aware of his streak of bad luck, was willing to settle for any Spiritual Root—just as long as he didn’t end up with none at all.
At the last spirit test, thousands of Xu family members were tested, but only a few hundred had any Spiritual Roots. Considering the Xu family’s strong bloodline, the odds were still low. This thought made Xu Chuan nervous.
Just then, footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard. Xu Chuan knew it was his maid, Xu Wan’er, returning.
This courtyard had been specially set aside for Xu Chuan by his family—a place of quiet near the main hall, off-limits to anyone except his personal maid.
He stood and opened the gate just as Xu Wan’er walked in, almost colliding with him.
“Young Master, you…” Xu Wan’er blushed and stopped herself.
The girl, dressed in a palace robes, had skin as white as snow, long black hair flowing like a waterfall, and large, bright eyes that shimmered with a playful smile. Though she was still young, it was clear she would grow into a great beauty.
Xu Wan’er wasn’t from the Xu family originally. She had been selected from the mortal world by Xu Chuan’s mother when she was twelve and had served by his side ever since. Because of her position, she was given the surname Xu.
“By the way, Young Master, this is the Marrow Cleansing Pill your father asked me to bring you.” Xu Wan’er pulled a jade bottle from her sleeve.
“Father sent it…” Xu Chuan murmured as he accepted the bottle, a wave of gratitude washing over him.
The Marrow Cleansing Pill was incredibly valuable. It could purify the body and strengthen the bones, worth hundreds of Spirit Stones in the market. Most members of the Xu family had to save up for months to afford one. And yet, here he was, holding a bottle with hundreds of them.
Besides the Marrow Cleansing Pill, his father frequently sent other medicines to enhance Xu Chuan’s physical strength. Xu Chuan had grown so used to these pills that he treated them like candy, popping one into his mouth whenever he felt like it.
Indulgence! Complete and utter indulgence! Xu Chuan thought.
“Cultivation requires personal effort. Relying too much on external help won’t get you far! As a transmigrator, how could I be so careless?” Xu Chuan chastised himself, though he still tossed a pill into his mouth. It had a surprisingly chicken-like flavor and was oddly crunchy.
“Young Master, this is the Qi Gathering Pill from the Great Elder,” Xu Wan’er continued, pulling out another jade bottle. “And this is the Blood Strengthening Pill from the Second Elder. Oh, and the Law Enforcement Hall Elder sent this as well…”
One after another, Xu Wan’er revealed a stash of pills, each gifted by a different Elder of the Xu family.
Xu Chuan stared, dumbfounded. His mouth hung open, nearly losing the pill he had just eaten.
The spirit test ceremony was only days away, and it seemed like every Elder and high-ranking member of the family was betting on him.
They… they all have such high expectations for me, Xu Chuan thought anxiously.
But if the test reveals I have no cultivation potential… wouldn’t I be doomed to disgrace?