High School Student with Immortal Race System

Two days later, on the Celestial Platform.

It was a rare, sunny day.

Although the Buddha Sound Body Refining Technique meant Yang Shen no longer needed daily Rising Sun Fist Training to strengthen his Qi and Blood Value, he stuck to the habit. It simply felt invigorating.

His Advanced Fist Intent, which he’d named the "Rising Sun Wheel," was also most active at this time of day.

According to Yanhua legends, ancient Source Beasts refined their bodies by gazing at the moon. Yang Shen wondered if what he was doing counted as Sun Gazing Cultivation.

Today was a special day for Yang Shen.

On the black waterproof surface of the roof, Yang Shen, dressed in a t-shirt and shorts, moved through his forms. His movements seemed slow but were deceptively fast.

They seemed slow because his movements were Harmonious, lacking any abrupt, sharp edges.

But they were fast because his Power was formidable, and his abundant Qi and Blood Value had already elevated his Body Forging to a new stage.

Today was the day his Qi and Blood Value would exceed 300, the day he would step into the Marrow Refining Realm.

This height, which had once seemed so far out of reach, was now within his grasp... and it held many other wonders besides.

He could clearly feel that his Cultivation Side realm—the second layer of Qi Cultivation—had also reached a substantial state, and a breakthrough was not far off.

After all, he had been diligent in his daily Cultivation, never wasting a single bit of the free "source energy."

If he were to divide the second layer of Qi Cultivation into stages, he figured he was somewhere in the mid-to-late part of it.

Yang Shen stared directly at the sun, his eyes holding a faint, fluorescent glow. Instead of finding it blinding, he felt a gentle, nourishing warmth.

Through his Qi Sensitivity, the source energy within him vaguely strengthened his muscles and bones, finally reaching a point of saturated equilibrium.

The surplus energy began to spread from his limbs and bones, moving toward his Spinal Dragon.

Yang Shen felt a tingling numbness spread through his lower back. The sensation was far more intense than the breakthroughs for the Skin Refining and Bone Training realms.

This was because the Spinal Dragon is the body’s "central channel" for nerves, containing a high concentration of major nerve pathways that influence every other part of the body.

Numbness, soreness, stabbing pain, and itching!

And it was all happening deep beneath his skin and flesh. If he tried to scratch the itch, he’d find it was on a different "layer," completely unreachable.

According to theory, the first task for anyone entering the Marrow Refining Realm was to endure these strange sensations without letting their Body Forging form fall into disarray.

But for Yang Shen, this was remarkably easy.

’The Buddha Sound Body Refining Technique would have scoffed. As far as making a Martial Artist suffer, this sensation was a rank amateur.’

Yang Shen’s movements didn’t falter in the slightest. He wasn’t in a hurry to savor the ascension to his new realm; he would finish this round of his routine first!

An hour later, as the sun’s golden rays hung high in the sky, Yang Shen slowly retracted his stance.

He extended his hands flat before bringing them to his chest, slowly calming his scorching, racing heart. What little sweat he’d produced had long been evaporated by the high body temperature generated by the Rising Sun Wheel.

With a fleeting flash of Spiritual Light, Yang Shen opened his eyes.

Only now did he take a moment to perceive the changes in his body.

’Marrow Refining... Marrow Refining...’

If Skin Refining was about skin and flesh, and Bone Training was about muscles and bones, then Marrow Refining was about improving metabolic efficiency and enhancing blood production and recovery capabilities.

This was a long process, spanning a Qi and Blood Value from 300 to 1,000. Of course, it also served to further consolidate and strengthen the effects of Skin Refining and Bone Training.

A Martial Artist’s Power and physical strength wouldn’t just stagnate; it was just that the two words "Marrow Refining" were more representative of the stage.

This would continue until the Spinal Dragon was completely nurtured, allowing one to advance to the Innate realm... and achieve "Innate Rebirth." This meant unlocking one’s own genetic potential and completely transforming one’s physical constitution.

The short could grow taller, the skinny could grow stronger. Apart from baldness, which was apparently incurable, every other aspect of one’s body could reach an "optimal value" within its genetic framework.

Yang Shen felt the tingling numbness in his spine gradually fade as the Rising Sun Wheel within him dissipated. He exhaled a scorching breath.

He clenched his fists.

’Marrow Refining... I’ve made it.’

There wasn’t a great surge of emotion to vent, nor the ecstasy that comes with sudden, newfound wealth.

His state of mind was already like the Rising Sun—calm and certain of its own ascent.

————————

He returned home from the Celestial Platform without any fuss, ate breakfast, and then took a long shower, washing away the night’s sweat.

He had even gotten a haircut the previous night, leaving him looking neat and sharp.

Then... he awkwardly put on a black formal suit.

In front of the mirror on the old wardrobe, Tao Ying helped Yang Shen with his collar. "Let’s skip the tie," she said. "You’re a student, so there’s no need to be so formal. Just buttoning the top button will be fine."

As she smoothed out a small bump on the shoulder, a result of the suit hanging for so long, a nostalgic look appeared in Tao Ying’s eyes.

This suit had been bought for Yang Shen’s coming-of-age ceremony six months ago. But due to her husband’s passing, Yang Shen had missed the school’s event.

At the time, as the family’s sole remaining guardian, Tao Ying couldn’t pull herself together enough to go to the school, and Yang Shen hadn’t been in the mood for it either.

So, the first time he’d worn it was at his Uncle’s funeral.

And today, he was taking it out to attend another funeral.

Tao Ying smiled. "Good thing we bought it a size up. Otherwise, it would be too short on you now... You’ve been growing so fast recently."

Yang Shen smiled. "The Yang Family Secret Technique, a cure for all ills!"

In truth, that wasn’t it. The change in his height came mainly from his Martial Cultivation. But in front of his aunt, he was more than happy to attribute all kinds of miracles to the "Yang Family Secret Technique."

The four kids were all cultivating diligently now, and the Yang Family was finally united in spirit.

’Unfortunately, Auntie doesn’t have a Spiritual Root. I’ll have to wait for the family to grow stronger, so we can then support her in returning to the path of Martial Arts.’

Tao Ying was also dressed in black, though not in formal wear—just a somber-styled outfit. The two of them left home together, heading a few blocks away.

Teacher Zhou Yao had been cremated ten days prior, an event to which Yang Shen had not been invited. Today, the elderly couple was preparing to take their daughter’s ashes and leave Jinshui District for good, to return to their hometown.

Before their departure, they had set up a memorial at their home, inviting friends and family for one last farewell.

Her family wasn’t originally from here. Perhaps Teacher Zhou had once been filled with hope, dreaming of making something of herself and even bringing her parents to live with her in Jianghuai City.

But now, the elderly couple who had come here with their daughter could only leave with her ashes.

Yang Shen and his aunt left their names and a condolence gift at the registration desk, then took a white flower and headed inside.

In front of Teacher Zhou Yao’s memorial portrait and urn, the elderly couple stood to one side, their aura heavy with grief, numbly making conversation with the visitors.

The room was not large, and many people were seated inside. Yang Shen even spotted a few familiar teachers and students from school, but given the somber occasion, no one was chatting.

He presented the flower, lit an incense stick, and bowed his head in silent mourning.

Then, Yang Shen approached the couple and took their hands. "Uncle, Auntie, please accept my condolences..."

Tao Ying also offered her condolences.

Only then did the couple recognize him as the young man who had encouraged them outside the hospital. They managed a faint smile. "You’re a good kid. Thank you for coming."

"It’s what I should do," Yang Shen said. "Uncle, Auntie, there’s no school today. Is there anything I can help with? I can stay and lend a hand."

There wasn’t much to do, but the couple still agreed.

Perhaps, in their eyes, having one of Zhou Yao’s students more involved provided some small measure of emotional comfort.

After they stepped outside, he spoke with his aunt. Tao Ying left first, and Yang Shen arranged to leave after he was done helping.

Yang Shen had experience with this, so he was familiar with the tasks. He helped show guests in and directed cars for parking. Eventually, he rotated to the registration desk, taking over the duty of recording visitors’ names.

About half an hour later, Xu Bamboo arrived, wearing a long black dress. She was followed by a woman with exquisite makeup.

She bore a strong resemblance to Xu Bamboo and was likely at least forty years old, but her face showed no signs of aging. She could have passed for someone in her early thirties.

If not for the aura of nobility that added to her perceived age, one might even believe she was in her twenties. She was obviously impeccably maintained; the upkeep cost per square centimeter of her face probably exceeded that of its weight in gold.

However, the corners of her eyes were sharper than Xu Bamboo’s, and her overall expression was less gentle. It gave Yang Shen the feeling that she had a bit of a temper.

Still, her presence today was rather surprising to Yang Shen. Xu Bamboo’s mother had no real obligation to be here.

’The rich always find it easier to be excused.’

The atmosphere was solemn, so there was no idle chatter. Yang Shen simply said, "Hello, Ma’am."

The woman’s gaze swept over Yang Shen, but she said nothing. She simply gave her name: Ye Qingyao.

A little while later, Huang Gang arrived. He wasn’t in a suit, having instead found a black tracksuit to wear, which made him look out of place and a little self-conscious.

He sidled up and whispered, "Yang Shen, how much did you put in the red envelope?"

Yang Shen replied, exasperated, "It’s not a damn red envelope... it’s a condolence gift. Forget it. My aunt and I each gave 300. The amount doesn’t need to be high, and it’s usually an odd number."

Huang Gang’s face was a mask of anxiety. "I’m screwed... I only brought 250..."

’Of all the numbers to pick...’ Yang Shen thought.

He pulled a 50-yuan bill from his pocket. "Here, I’ll lend you this."

Looking greatly relieved, Huang Gang quickly registered and hurried inside.

Yang Shen went back to calmly waiting for the next guest.

There weren’t many guests to begin with, however, so it was a quiet post.

His phone vibrated. Yang Shen pulled it out and glanced at the screen... It was a message from Lin Yuebai.

He was writing to say that the Extra-Large Jade Pendant had sold! The selling price was 11,000 yuan!

That was 1,000 more than the estimate. It seemed that while the shop of the "Exchange Student" girl didn’t have much in it, she certainly had some knowledgeable regular customers.

The transfer arrived a moment later: 9,900 yuan.

Seeing the four-digit sum arrive in his account, Yang Shen felt a wave of relief. He had now earned nearly 13,000 yuan from his Window Spirit Field!

At this thought, Yang Shen opened the system interface again to check his side quests.

Sure enough, Quest Option Three had finally been updated: "Total family enterprise revenue: 10 Spirit Stones (1/10). Expected sustainable revenue: no less than one spirit stone per month. (1/1)."

’So one spirit stone is equal to ten thousand yuan... That’s a high exchange rate.’

But before he could even celebrate, he glanced at Option Two and was truly stunned.

"Option Two: One will suffer for refusing a gift from the heavens. 180 li to the east, there is an Exotic Treasure of no small value. You may take it for your own use."

Yang Shen immediately opened the map on his phone... 90 kilometers.

The direction had changed, and what’s more, it was on land now!

It was right in the port district of Jinshui District