Early morning, faint light filtered through the window lattice.

Zhou Kai opened his eyes, his vision still somewhat blurry. The warmth beside him had long since faded; Chen Ziyi must have already gotten up.

Memories of last night were somewhat chaotic, but certain fragments were exceptionally clear.

That delicate body melting beneath him, from the initial tension and stiffness to the later involuntary soft moans and yielding… Once you’ve tasted the marrow, you know the flavor; this was probably it.

【Zhou Kai (Dantian Damaged)】 【Cultivation: Qi Condensation Fourth Layer (0/400)】 【Vitality: Meridian Opening First Layer (86/100)】 【Spirit Root: Metal (Low Grade 12/100), Wood (Low Grade 25/100), Water (Low Grade 17/100), Fire (Low Grade 23/100)】 【Cultivation Arts: None】 【Beauty: Chen Ziyi】 【Available Omni-Points: 4】

Huh? Four points? Wasn’t it only one point per time?

There had clearly only been three exchanges since the system awakened.

Where did the extra one come from?

Puzzled, he opened Chen Ziyi’s panel.

【Beauty: Chen Ziyi (Mortal)】 【Spirit Root: None(+)】 【Affection: 20 (Fondness)】 【Provides Omni-Points: 2 points】

Affection twenty, no wonder. It seems the affection increased during the last exchange, hence the extra point.

Yesterday, the system hinted that due to the newbie gift package, Chen Ziyi would provide Omni-Points before stepping onto the immortal path. Didn’t that mean she could cultivate immortality even without a Spirit Root?

He looked at Chen Ziyi’s panel again.

Behind the Spirit Root column, there was clearly a faint plus sign!

Zhou Kai’s heart gave a sudden leap. Clicking on this plus sign indeed brought up a colorful array of options: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth! Each option had a plus sign behind it.

Now he completely understood!

This Beauty Bonding System was simply heaven-defying!

After the excitement subsided, he gradually calmed down.

Ecstasy was fleeting; survival was fundamental.

He was currently at the Qi Condensation fourth layer. In a cultivation family like the Chen Family, he was merely a Guest Elder with an awkward status.

Having a low cultivation level on the surface would not attract attention.

If his cultivation soared like a rocket, it would inevitably raise vigilance and suspicion.

A Guest Elder with poor aptitude making rapid progress in cultivation was itself the greatest illogicality.

A commoner is not guilty; possessing a treasure makes him guilty. He understood this principle better than anyone.

This was not a society governed by law; people could kill and plunder even without evidence.

Therefore, improving his cultivation couldn’t be too fast; at least he couldn’t visibly become stronger. All strength must appear reasonable at minimum.

First, improve his alchemy skill to refine pills to repair his own Dantian.

Next is aptitude, meaning Spirit Root grade.

Anyway, at this stage, he couldn’t directly improve his cultivation level.

As for how to proceed later, Zhou Kai already had a plan in mind.

He sat up from the bed and stretched.

In front of the bronze mirror, he examined himself.

The mirror reflected a face not exactly young, with some wrinkles at the corners of the eyes, but the lines were still somewhat firm.

At fifty years old, he looked like a mortal just past forty.

Qi Condensation cultivators typically had a lifespan of one hundred and twenty years; after eighty, decline became inevitable.

Zhou Kai’s ambitious strategic plan instantly crumbled by half.

Alchemy? Spirit Root? Those were important, but… damn it, I’m a transmigrator!

With a system cheat code, do I still have to compete with those young and beautiful genius cultivators with this slightly weathered face? Chase those tender young ladies?

No way! Looks are justice! Youth is king!

All those thoughts about “sustainable development,” “resource production lines,” and “steady growth” in his mind were instantly replaced by the simple idea of Do I still want this face or not?

“System, add all Omni-Points to Vitality!”

【Vitality: Meridian Opening First Layer (90/100)】

As long as Vitality improves, the body can become stronger and more resistant to aging; even rejuvenation or rebirth from a drop of blood wouldn’t be out of reach!

There was no physical sensation, but visibly, those wrinkles at the corners of his eyes had lightened somewhat.

“I really am a looks-obsessed dog.” Zhou Kai couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Has Master awakened?”

The voice came from afar as the door creaked open. Chen Ziyi walked in carrying a wooden basin and a set of washing utensils.

She wore maid attire, her hair meticulously combed. The blush from last night hadn’t fully faded from her face. With downcast eyes, she appeared particularly shy.

“Master, breakfast is already on the table.” She placed the wooden basin on the stand and picked up a cup of steaming tea. “This humble one will serve Master in washing and dressing.”

“Ziyi, sit first,” Zhou Kai said gently.

Chen Ziyi obediently sat on the nearby round stool, sitting ramrod straight, appearing very uncomfortable.

Seeing her so reserved, Zhou Kai smiled. “No need to be so formal. From now on, just relax in front of me.”

Chen Ziyi’s beauty was undeniable; her brows and eyes were full of gentleness and obedience—adorable and pitiable.

“Ziyi, have you ever thought about treading the path of immortality?” Zhou Kai suddenly dropped a bombshell.

“Master… I… I’m just a Mortal. I have no Spirit Root…”

“The matter of Spirit Roots is determined by heaven, but there are also opportunities beyond destiny.”

Zhou Kai deliberately spoke mysteriously. “Do you know there is an extremely rare type of Spirit Root in this world called the Hidden Spirit Root?”

“Ordinary methods cannot detect it at all; it’s identical to that of Mortals. Only through special secret techniques or opportunities supplemented by external force stimulation can it manifest and transform into a true Spirit Root.”

“I happened to obtain an ancient text fragment about unusual Spirit Roots in my early years. It recorded methods for identifying and initially guiding Hidden Spirit Roots.”

“Last night, I unexpectedly discovered signs of what seems like a Hidden Spirit Root within you. Though uncertain, it’s worth trying.”

Utter nonsense spoken with complete seriousness.

“Follow me and serve diligently. I will let you step onto the immortal path.”

“And also, no need to call me Master anymore. You don’t need to refer to yourself as ‘this humble one’ either.”

Chen Ziyi’s mind buzzed. Let her tread the immortal path? Not call him Master?

She was born beautiful and had been indoctrinated since childhood to contribute to her family.

To her family, she was just an object—a tool. Those sisters less beautiful than herself could still marry desirable husbands; at worst, become concubines—at least they could choose someone they didn’t dislike themselves.

She had thought that as long as she wasn’t given to an old, frail, or eccentric immortal… she heard many cultivators whose cultivation stagnated developed twisted personalities.

She had even mentally prepared herself—as long as it wasn’t too unbearable…

Fortunately, Zhou Kai wasn’t like that.

Last night… though tense at first… later… it wasn’t all pain either; there was even… a strange sliver of pleasure…

The man before her looked younger than last night; even his crow’s feet had lightened.

She lowered her gaze; her eyes slightly reddened—grateful she had been assigned to Zhou Kai.

Yet she still said this:

“This humble one dares not. Ziyi will definitely harbor no disloyalty.”

【Ding!】 【Chen Ziyi Affection +30】 【Affection: 50 (Devotion)】 【Provides Omni-Points: 5 points】

Zhou Kai looked at her, inwardly overjoyed. He didn’t mind her form of address anymore; having spoken his piece was enough for now.

“I’m going to the Affairs Hall once to report my cultivation level,” he said casually. “Don’t feel constrained; do whatever you wish.”

Chen Ziyi stood up to see him off when she suddenly sensed something. “Master broke through?”

“It’s rather strange indeed,” Zhou Kai said gently while looking at her. “Perhaps being with you… well… my state of mind was stirred somehow. The bottleneck that troubled me for years unexpectedly loosened by chance—that’s how I managed to break through into mid-stage Qi Condensation.”

“That’s why I say you are my lucky star.”