Chen Feng stepped into the family courtyard. The path, paved with smooth blue stone, snaked beneath tiers of housing, flanked on either side by blossoms of riotous color, utterly unlike anything he had seen in his previous life—each one exquisitely vibrant, redolent with a pure fragrance, reminiscent of orchid and iris, utterly intoxicating.

Though the Kaint family was not the largest in Dragon Mountain Town, their accumulated foundation was still remarkably deep.

According to the other set of memories, Chen Feng’s residence was situated in the northwest corner of the entire compound, close to the rear mountain. This was the most secluded spot, originally designated as a place for disciplinary confinement for those who had committed serious offenses within the clan, yet it had now become his dwelling, speaking volumes about his status within the family.

Shaking his head, Chen Feng let out a bitter smile. It seemed this was a world where strength reigned supreme. Because he could cultivate neither Dou Qi nor any Fa Jue, in the eyes of others, he was little different from useless waste, subjected to scorn and cold glares. Even his own biological brother offered nothing but sneers, and worse, might just deliver a sound thrashing.

By the time he reached his quarters, dusk had settled. The bright, round moon hung silently above the treetops, while a sparse scattering of stars occasionally winked in and out amongst the clouds overhead. These sights were exactly the same as in his past life. How far away was that planet called Earth, where he once lived? He dared not contemplate it. After the Big Bang, perhaps "he" had already died, his consciousness inexplicably crossing over into this world, inhabiting the body of an idiot.

The pale yellow glow of the Magic Crystal Lamp spilled onto the floor. The dim, ethereal light cast his slightly hunched shadow across the rough wooden planks, a fragile silhouette that somehow highlighted the deep sense of fear he had been fighting to suppress since his arrival.

Fists were the ultimate law; without cultivation, one would only be bullied by others. Now, having the cultivation methods for King of Fighters techniques in his mind, it would be a waste not to practice them!

With this thought, he finished the meal Uncle Wen had brought in a few quick gulps. He sat cross-legged on the pallet, tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth, palms facing the sky, his back ramrod straight. His mind cleared, and following the methods recalled from memory, he began to concentrate on the Qi Cyclone within his body.

Initially, his mind was plagued by random thoughts, making it impossible to settle, but as soon as he envisioned the scornful gazes of those around him, his internal anxiety vanished. After an unknown period, he suddenly felt a resounding clang in his mind. The endless Yuan Qi in the air slowly flowed along his meridians into his Dantian, like trickling streams merging into the ocean, radiating a warmth that was exquisitely comforting.

He continuously absorbed the various elements in the air, solidifying them within his Dantian. Following the technique for condensing the Qi Cyclone, he nourished every single cell in his body, restructuring its very composition.

In truth, Chen Feng did not know that his smooth progress in cultivating the Qi Cyclone was not due to any inherent talent. It was his powerful spiritual perception, honed by living two lifetimes. The level of one's spiritual power is the key to communicating with and understanding nature.

His survival and subsequent transmigration after the explosion meant his soul had, to some degree, mutated. His spiritual power was many times greater than that of a normal person. Consequently, he could effortlessly sense the fluctuations of the elemental Yuan Qi in the world and absorb it for his use.

“Kaka…”

Chen Feng’s body emitted crisp sounds, like beans frying in oil. This first cultivation session, combined with the Dou Qi that inherently existed in his body, condensed into a Qi Cyclone that moistened every cell like silent stream water, infusing them with vitality.

The Qi Cyclone was entirely different from Dou Qi. Although both achieved bodily refinement by absorbing Yuan Qi from heaven and earth, the purity of the Qi Cyclone's power was far higher than that of Dou Qi. It was like comparing pure alcohol to beer; their levels of purity were incomparable.

Dou Qi absorbed only the coarse Yuan Qi of heaven and earth, categorized according to attributes. However, the Qi Cyclone absorbed the primordial power of all elements between heaven and earth!

This explained why the former idiot Chen Feng’s meager cultivation of Dou Qi could only convert into a pitifully small fraction of the Qi Cyclone, barely capable of maintaining even a complete Qi Cyclone state.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Chen Feng slowly opened his eyes. Day had broken completely. He hadn’t slept the entire night, yet not only did he feel no discomfort, but his entire body was suffused with strength.

Chen Feng nodded in satisfaction and jumped off the bed. Just then, a knocking sound echoed from the doorway.

“Fifth Young Master!”

Chen Feng opened the door to find Uncle Wen standing there with water and a towel. “Uncle Wen, good morning!”

Uncle Wen smiled, then sniffed the air. “Fifth Young Master… why do you smell so foul?”

Chen Feng finally noticed. Having been nourished by the Yuan Qi overnight, his once frail body had undergone a complete metamorphosis. The impurities expelled from within were intensely fetid and clung to his clothes, nauseating to behold.

“So stinky…” Chen Feng inhaled slightly and nearly passed out. “Hurry and bring me some water, I need a bath…”

...

After bathing and changing into clean clothes, Chen Feng left his room. It was nearly noon, and his stomach was gnawing with hunger. As he stepped out of his small courtyard, intending to find something to eat, he saw a figure staggering toward him.

“Amu!” Chen Feng called out.

Amu was about his age, maybe thirteen or fourteen, an orphan adopted by the family, serving as a runner and general errand boy.

Amu stopped, catching his breath. “Fifth Young Master, the Patriarch sent me to find you and bring you to the Assembly Hall!”

“The Assembly Hall? Why would Father look for me now?” Chen Feng was slightly puzzled. In those memories, his father, Patriarch Chigu Kaint of the Kaint family, was an intensely proud man. After Chen Feng was confirmed to be an idiot, his father hadn't visited this residence for a full four years. That meant, aside from major clan ceremonies, his father hadn't spoken a single word to him in four years.

Though Chen Feng didn't feel overly emotional, the bitter taste left by that other memory still soured him somewhat. After four years of absence, being specifically summoned to the Assembly Hall today meant something must have happened.

Amu looked at him with confusion, which was quickly masked by bewilderment. “Fifth Young Master, you… why aren't you stuttering anymore?”

Chen Feng knew his image as an idiot was deeply ingrained in everyone’s mind, and he didn't care to offer an explanation. He asked instead, “Is something wrong in the clan?”

Amu shook his head. “I don’t know, sir. All the Elders are there, and a few outsiders I don’t recognize! But from the tone of things, they sound like they’re from a Magic lineage family!”

“A Magic lineage family?” Chen Feng blinked. “Aren't the relations between the Magic lineage families and our Martial lineage family not good?”

Amu nodded, concern clouding his face. “Fifth Young Master, I saw the Patriarch and several Elders looking unwell. I heard it has something to do with you… you should be careful!”

“My business?” Chen Feng suddenly understood. “Could it be Gu Bo?”

He couldn’t beat me fairly, so he resorted to using the family’s influence? What a disgrace, that Gu Bo! Chen Feng scoffed, but paid it no mind, heading toward the Assembly Hall.

From a distance, he could see figures milling about inside. Chen Feng strode in, only to realize the atmosphere was decidedly wrong. He looked around but couldn't spot Gu Bo. By rights, how could trouble be stirred up without him showing his face?

The Patriarch, Chigu Kaint, sat in the center, the Elders arrayed on either side. A few inconsequential servants stood scattered around the periphery. Seated prominently on the guests' side was a man with a furious glare. He was slightly short and thin, dressed in a dark gray Magic Robe, wearing a silver-white, triangular Magic Emblem pinned to his chest.

Only Magisters were qualified to wear such emblems; the number of points increased with rank. Thus, a first-tier Magister wore a single-pointed emblem, a second-tier wore two, and so on.

The triangular emblem signified a third-tier Magister. Regardless of where they were, Magisters were absolutely top-tier figures.

“Father! Esteemed Elders!” Chen Feng performed the requisite salute while standing in the hall.

The slender magician spoke in a chilling voice. “Patriarch Chigu claims your son is congenitally weak-minded. Yet, I observe his bearing is measured and his conduct polite. Such an excuse seems rather farcical!”

Chigu Kaint’s brow furrowed. He glanced at Chen Feng with undisguised displeasure. “Chen Feng, I ask you, did you engage in a physical altercation with Gu Bo Lufu yesterday, and grievously injure him?”

Although Chigu had lost faith in Chen Feng, he habitually referred to him as ‘Little Five.’ Now, addressing him by his full name plainly indicated the extreme depth of his anger.