Steadily Upgrading Everything!
Chapter 55: Eventually, you will run out of places to hide.

Chapter 55: Eventually, you will run out of places to hide.

After checking his system panel and setting the Blood Rush Pill to upgrade, John stood up from the mat and stretched lazily.

His bones cracked slightly as he twisted his torso.

"I deserve a break," he muttered to himself. "Let’s take it slow for once."

He walked into the bath chamber attached to his cottage.

The room, shaped in a circular design with softly glowing spirit stones embedded in the walls, was already warm.

A copper tub, inlaid with an array of spirit-channeling runes, sat in the center.

Steam gently rose from the crystal-clear water that filled it, automatically regulated by the cottage’s built-in formations.

John undressed and lowered himself into the water.

It hugged his sore muscles like a warm embrace.

The heat soaked into his skin, loosening every stiff joint and easing away the tension in his shoulders, back, and thighs.

"Aah... now this... this is heaven."

The steam carried a faint herbal aroma, likely due to the Spirit Herb Bundle hanging above the bath, gently dripping into the water, mixing medicinal effects with a calming fragrance.

After half an hour of tranquil soaking, John stepped out, dried himself with a spirit-thread towel that wicked away moisture and lingering Qi residue, and put on a fresh robe.

His hair tied neatly behind his head, he stepped out into the crisp morning breeze and headed toward the Outer Sect Market Area.

The market district of the Blue Cauldron Sect’s outer ring was unlike anything John had seen in the mortal world.

Massive jade buildings lined the clean cobblestone roads, each one buzzing with activity.

Glowing signage floated midair, some advertising pill shops, others announcing discounts on spirit weapons, charms, or even hired mercenaries.

Cultivators in blue and gray robes moved around with practiced grace, some bargaining over cauldron parts, others negotiating alchemical herbs or beast cores.

There was music in the air from a distant corner, a soft flute melody accompanied by the sizzling sound of meat being grilled over flame.

The entire atmosphere was vibrant but orderly.

John wandered down the main street and turned into a building marked with golden characters, Heavenly Pulse Massage Hall.

Inside, the air was dim and cool.

Soft incense filled the room, and the quiet gurgle of a water fountain could be heard somewhere deeper within.

A female attendant bowed as he entered.

"Welcome to Heavenly Pulse Hall. Are you here for a basic Qi massage or deep meridian alignment?"

"Let’s go with something relaxing. Full-body," John said.

He was led into a private chamber with silk curtains and a jade massage bed.

The room was perfumed with faint spirit petals that calmed the mind.

A professional masseuse entered, her fingers glowing faintly with a controlled flow of Qi.

As she began pressing and guiding energy through his back, shoulders, and legs, John nearly dozed off.

Every knot of tension from mining, every trace of combat fatigue, was slowly dissolved as the Qi threads gently repaired microscopic internal injuries.

Time melted away.

He didn’t know how long he stayed there, only that when it ended, he felt like he could float.

Feeling as though he’d been reborn, John finally left the spa and headed toward a cozy little restaurant near the end of the market row, The Golden Leaf Pavilion.

The inside smelled divine, roasted meats, rich broths, and faint herbal spices filled the air.

The restaurant was built with dark wood beams and golden lacquered panels, with private booths for outer sect disciples to dine undisturbed.

He ordered a simple yet luxurious meal, A bowl of Firewood Ox Bone Soup, thick and creamy with spirit marrow that replenished strength.

Jade Rice steamed in lotus leaves, fragrant and fluffy.

And a platter of Thousand Herb Duck, roasted with over a dozen Qi-rich herbs that left his body tingling with warmth.

As he ate, he chewed slowly, savoring each bite like it was the first meal he’d had in years.

"Damn... I could get used to this," he muttered between bites, his stomach finally full, his body refreshed, and his mind clear.

John stepped out of the Golden Leaf Pavilion with a satisfied sigh, his hands clasped behind his head and a rare smile on his face.

His stomach was full, his body was relaxed, and for once, everything seemed to be in balance.

But the peace shattered the moment he turned the corner.

Thud.

He bumped into someone head-on, his shoulder hitting a solid wall of muscle wrapped in a blue outer sect robe.

John instinctively stepped back, and his gaze met the familiar cold smirk of Crimson Silentsword.

"Well, well..." Crimson said, brushing a nonexistent speck of dust from his sleeve. "The peasant cultivator lives... and is enjoying fine cuisine, massages, and hot springs like a pampered young master."

John narrowed his eyes but didn’t reply.

He could feel the faint pulse of hostility radiating off the man like heat from a forge.

Crimson tilted his head, voice like smooth poison.

"Don’t get too comfortable, John. Indulgence leads to a weakened heart. And in the martial path, a weakened heart is like a cracked foundation, it shatters sooner or later."

John kept a calm face, though his fingers twitched slightly at his side.

Crimson stepped closer, his breath now brushing against John’s cheek. "Speaking of shattering... Where’s that sword I lent you?" His smile widened. "Surely you’ve come to return it now."

John’s gaze turned sharp. "As I told you before, I melted it."

Crimson’s smile froze. Just for a moment. Then he laughed softly, cold and sharp like glass breaking.

"Such disrespect," he muttered. "For a man walking around like a fat goose waiting for slaughter, you have quite the tongue."

Then, his voice grew louder. "Very well. I, Crimson Silentsword, challenge you to a formal duel. Tomorrow. At the Outer Sect Dueling Arena. Let’s see if your cheap tricks can help you now."

John stared at him in silence for a moment, then replied coolly, "I refuse."

Murmurs from passing disciples buzzed briefly in the air before fading.

A refusal to duel was allowed, but it was rare.

And it made things... personal.

Crimson’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t speak.

John, on the other hand, had already activated Spatial Awareness.

From head to toe, Crimson’s cultivation pulsed with intensity.

Layers of refined spiritual energy moved like coiled snakes around his dantian.

Spirit Tree Realm.

Three full realms above John’s Spirit Seed Realm.

He clenched his jaw subtly.

No chance in a fair fight. Not yet.

"I’m not stupid," John said calmly. "If you’re waiting for me to walk into a deathmatch, you’ll be waiting a long time."

Crimson’s smile returned, but this time it was tight and venomous. "Then I’ll wait," he said, voice low like a promise. "Because eventually, you will run out of places to hide."

He turned and walked off, the edges of his robe fluttering like wings of a vulture.

John watched him go with a sharp glint in his eye. "Soon... but not yet."

By the time he returned to his cottage, the sky had turned orange with the coming sunset.

The peaceful hum of spirit insects buzzed in the background, and the garden outside his cottage glowed under the light of spirit lanterns.

Leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and a lazy grin on his face, was Caros.

"There you are," Caros said. "Took you long enough."

John’s expression softened as he approached. "What, you missed me?"

"No," Caros said immediately, then paused. "Okay, maybe a little. But mostly, I wanted to see if you died after eating too much."

John snorted. "Trust me, I almost did. What’s up?"

Caros looked around and then said, "Got some news. Thought we should talk."

John raised an eyebrow. "Something up?"

Caros nodded. "Yeah. I need your help."

John straightened. "With what?"

"My hard mission," Caros replied. "It’s a team mission. I already asked Riara, and she agreed."

John blinked. "Wait, you got her to agree to something without bribing her with beauty pills?"

Caros smirked. "She’s not as prideful as she looks... okay, maybe she is, but she’s not stupid. She knows this mission could benefit all of us."

"What’s the mission?"

Caros lowered his voice. "Assassination. We’ve been assigned to eliminate a rogue cultivator in the Greenstone Kingdom. He’s been wreaking havoc for months, killed the Crown Prince and half the royal court. The kingdom petitioned Blue Cauldron Sect for help. We’re the help."

John frowned. "How strong is this assassin?"

"Spirit Fruit Realm," Caros answered grimly. "Probably early-stage, but still far stronger than any of us individually. However, if the three of us work together..."

"We might be able to take him down." John finished the sentence.

Caros nodded.

There was a short silence before John said, "I’ve already completed my hard mission. Bit since you are my friend I will still help you."

Caros looked surprised. "You did? Already?"

John shrugged. "Yeah. Took me a day."

"Damn, you’re more of a monster than you look," Caros muttered. Then he grinned. "Still... thanks for helping anyway. With you onboard, our chances of success just doubled."

"When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

John gave a small nod, and Caros clapped his shoulder in thanks before heading off.

Back inside his cottage, John poured himself a small cup of spirit tea and sat cross-legged on the soft mat beside his cultivation platform.

His eyes flicked to his panel.

His cultivation had barely moved since yesterday.

"I really need a new breathing technique..."

The Slow Toad Breathing Skill, though maxed out, had reached its limit.

The technique was excellent for stable cultivation, but its slow pace had become a bottleneck.

"After I help Caros, I’ll start hunting for a better technique. Maybe even a dual-path one."

With that decision made, John shut his eyes and entered a meditative state.

The night passed quietly.

But sometime after midnight, John’s eyes snapped open.

A faint humming sound echoed in his head, the sound of progress.

He quickly pulled up his system panel.

[Upgrade Complete: Blood Rush Pill – Level 2]

John immediately reached into his Panel and retrieved the upgraded Blood Rush Pill.

To his surprise, a faint, almost invisible ring circled the pill’s glossy surface, glowing with soft red light.

"What is this...?" he murmured, squinting.

He dug out one of the basic alchemy manuals provided in the cottage by the sect.

Flipping through it, his eyes finally landed on a familiar illustration.

"Ringed Pills: A phenomenon caused by surpassing the natural threshold of a pill’s grade during refinement. A single ring represents a stage of purity and potency beyond normal standards."

"A pill can form a maximum of nine rings. A Grade Three pill with nine rings can rival even Grade Eight pills in efficacy. Ringed pills are exceedingly rare and highly sought after by alchemists and sects alike."

John’s breath caught in his throat.

"A Blood Rush Pill is normally Grade Three... and this one now has one ring?"

He stared at the pill in wonder.

"So my system doesn’t just refine skills... it can elevate objects far beyond their natural limits."

This discovery sent chills down his spine, the good kind. His lips curled into a grin.

He now held something even top-tier alchemists would envy, and he’d only just started exploring this side of the system.

"Let’s see what happens when it gets two rings... or five... or more."

With excitement coursing through him, John placed the pill back inside his spatial bag, shut the manual, and closed his eyes once more. He also placed his Lightening Bull Kicks into auto upgrade and set the level cap to level three.