Chapter 122: Mystery Reward

Outside the estate, in the courtyard, the night breeze rustled gently through the garden bamboo, but inside the spacious hall, the air was entirely motionless.

Sitting cross-legged on the raised stone platform, Lu Feng took a deep, measured breath. The silence of his estate was absolute. With Han Lin back safely from the market with her supplies, Song Heng and Bai Bao diligently patrolling the outer walls, and the two Iron Fang captives safely locked away in the underground cellar beneath the eastern guard house, no one would disturb him.

While the entire upper district of Crimson Vale was currently buzzing in a frantic frenzy over the ninety-five percent pure pills auctioned at the Treasury Pavilion, Lu Feng was finally claiming what he had stalled for far too long.

It was time to begin his cultivation path in earnest.

Ever since he had arrived in this world and established his footing, his attention had been constantly consumed by immediate survival, securing his estate, acquiring allies, and building a steady stream of income through Lin Laifu. Step by step, he had built a sturdy fortress around himself, but he knew better than anyone that true security in this world did not come from thick stone walls or silver coins. It came from absolute, undeniable strength.

Lu Feng closed his eyes, settling his posture into a traditional meditative stance. He began clearing his mind, preparing to draw upon the surrounding spiritual energy, when a sudden, forgotten memory flickered at the edge of his consciousness. ’Wait...’

Lu Feng paused, his dark eyes opening slightly in the quiet gloom.

Weeks ago, when he had first interacted with his System interface, his eyes had briefly skimmed past a secondary icon hovering near the corner of his visual field—a small, glowing envelope icon representing a notification log.

At the time, he had been far too preoccupied with the immediate chaos around him to investigate it, intending to check it later. But one event had bled into another, and the matter had completely slipped his mind.

Now, sitting in absolute seclusion with no immediate threats looming over his shoulder, the memory resurfaced clearly.

’Let us see what I have been overlooking,’ Lu Feng thought, focusing his intent inward.

With a silent mental command, he summoned the interface.

A translucent, faint blue screen materialized directly before his vision, casting a soft, ethereal glow over his calm features. Floating near the upper right corner of the main display was the notification tab, pulsing with a faint light. Beside it was a small numerical indicator that read.

[3 Unread]

Curious, Lu Feng mentally selected the icon, expanding the notification log into three distinct message windows.

The first notification sat right at the top of the list:

[SYSTEM NOTICE: SOFTWARE UPDATE AVAILABLE]

[Description: A core interface optimization patch is ready for deployment. This update will refine system responsiveness, improve energy feedback loops, streamline status displays, and introduce a more suitable user interface. User authorization is required to initiate the integration process.]

Lu Feng scanned the text with a raised eyebrow. A system upgrade sounded immensely useful, especially if it provided faster feedback during cultivation or battle. However, knowing that system processes might take time or briefly alter his perception, he decided to hold off on pressing the authorization prompt until he reviewed the remaining messages.

He bypassed the first notice and tapped the second notification.

[NOTICE: PENDING MISSIONS (2)

Mission Name: ???

Description: ???

Requirement: ???

Rewards: ???

Failure Penalty: ????]

Lu Feng stared at the wall of question marks, his brow furrowing slightly. He clicked into the detailed view, but the interface remained stubbornly blank, offering nothing but three glowing question marks for every single field.

’Why is it completely obscured?’ Lu Feng pondered silently, rubbing his chin.

He considered the possibilities. Either these two missions were event-triggered tasks that had been generated by actions he hadn’t yet taken, or—more likely—the requirements and parameters of these missions were tied to a level of power he had not yet attained. In short, his current cultivation base was simply too weak to even view the details without putting himself in danger.

’If I cannot read them, there is no point dwelling on them now,’ Lu Feng concluded pragmatically, closing the second tab and dismissing the prompt. ’Once my strength increases, whatever these missions are will reveal themselves in due time.’

Finally, Lu Feng shifted his attention to the third and final unread notification.

This message carried an older timestamp, originating from back when he had successfully completed his second system mission. At the time, he had been so caught up in the immediate aftermath and managing his surroundings that he had completely forgotten to claim the mystery reward attached to it.

As his eyes swept over the glowing text of the third window, his breath caught slightly, his calm demeanor faltering for a brief second.

[MYSTERY REWARD: MYSTERY CULTIVATION TECHNIQUE]

[Item: The Seven Immortal Path Arts]

[Type: Primordial Cultivation Scripture (Lost Era)]

[Description: A legendary foundational scripture originating from the forgotten Immortal Era—an age when spiritual energy flooded the world, immortals walked the earth, and heavenly ascension was readily achievable. Unlike conventional manuals that force a cultivator to choose a single element or singular attribute, the Seven Immortal Path Arts synthesizes the seven fundamental paths of existence into a singular, unified supreme cultivation technique. Extremely difficult to master, it is designed solely for those who possess the resolve to tread an unrivaled path.]

Below the sweeping text, two clear options hovered in bright, golden lettering.

[ACCEPT] / [REJECT].

A faint, incredulous chuckle escaped Lu Feng’s lips as he read the description once more.

A lost scripture from the Immortal Era.

Most cultivators in Crimson Vale spent their entire lives fighting over low-tier or mid-tier manuals, bound by the rigid limitations of whatever weak attribute scripture their minor clans possessed. Yet here sitting in his unread notifications was a technique that unified seven distinct paths into a single foundation. It was precisely what he needed—a scripture with no ceiling, capable of granting him absolute, unshakeable strength at every stage of growth.

’To think I had this sitting in my log for days while worrying about what technique I would use,’ Lu Feng thought, a confident, sharp grin slowly spreading across his face.

Without a second thought, Lu Feng focused his intent and selected the [ACCEPT] option.

The moment his choice was finalized, the golden prompt shattered into thousands of tiny, luminous specks of light. Before Lu Feng could even blink, the light surged forward, passing straight through his forehead and pouring directly into his consciousness.

BRRRRRNG!

A soft, resonant hum echoed deep within his mind, like the striking of an ancient temple bell.

A vast torrent of information instantly unfolded within his memory. Complex meridian charts, ancient breathing patterns, intricate energy circulation pathways, and profound spiritual mnemonics carved themselves permanently into his mind. He didn’t just receive the text—the fundamental understanding of the Seven Immortal Path Arts was instantly engraved into his soul, as if he had studied the scripture for a hundred years.

Lu Feng took a slow, deep breath, feeling his spiritual senses sharpen dramatically as the knowledge settled into his sea of consciousness. The path forward was crystal clear now. The technique demanded immense discipline and vast amounts of energy, but the sheer quality of the spiritual energy it forged would make him far superior to anyone of the same level.

He looked back at the floating blue window before him, where the first notification was still waiting patiently for his command.

[INITIATE SYSTEM UPDATE?]

[YES] / [NO]

Lu Feng focused his mind on the [YES] prompt, authorizing the upgrade, before closing the interface entirely.

Sitting atop the stone platform in the quiet darkness of his private hall, Lu Feng drew a deep breath from his chest. He lowered his hands, placing them palms up over his lower abdomen, and began executing the very first breathing cycle of the Seven Immortal Path Arts.

The ambient spiritual energy in the training hall began to stir, swirling softly around his body like a gentle breeze.

Finally, after all the planning, stalling, and preparation, Lu Feng had officially taken his first step upon the road to immortality.