Transmigrating Into a Fantasy World: Signing in During Pregnancy, Reaching the Summit with My Childhood Sweetheart

9: Chapter 9: Minor Body RefinementIn the dimness of the Woodshed, time lost its measure. Only the occasional crackle of charcoal in the mud stove outside and the faint breathing of the three people intertwined, like a weak pulse sustaining this small space.

Liu Qingxuan held Lin Mo, leaning against the cold, rough wooden wall, falling into a deep sleep. Once her extreme exhaustion and tense nerves relaxed, they overwhelmed her like a landslide or a tsunami. She slept deeply, yet her brow remained furrowed; even in her sleep, her arms holding Lin Mo instinctively tightened, as if guarding her final treasure.

Lin Mo, however, did not sleep. The chaos dao body seed had absorbed the medicinal power of the Warm Sun Jade fragments and the Cold-Dispelling Powder. Like parched earth soaking up sweet rain, it was radiating an unprecedented vitality. Deep within his consciousness, that tiny speck of Chaos light shone a bit brighter and more solid than before, slowly rotating as it sent strands of pure warmth to his limbs and bones. The bone-chilling cold was completely dispelled, replaced by a gentle sense of comfort; even the minor damage from his previous forced eruption of the Chaos Origin was being quietly repaired.

He carefully controlled this warm current, not letting it become too surging and wake his sleeping mother. Most of his energy was directed toward the fingernail-sized fragment of Warm Sun Jade in the System space. Though the yang-harmonic energy within this common-grade fragment wasn’t massive, it was pure and gentle, like a trickling stream, making it extremely suitable for his current fragile infant body to absorb.

[Chaos Dao Body (Seed) Growth: 0.3% → 0.32%...0.33%...] The prompts for slow but steady improvement jumped in his consciousness. Every tiny increase brought clearer Perception and finer control over his body. His ”vision” pierced through the dust filling the Woodshed, allowing him to see his mother’s tired and haggard sleeping face more clearly and hear the steady but slightly weak heartbeat in her chest. He could ”perceive” the life-fire of the little girl on the straw mat nearby—weak yet exceptionally resilient, flickering like a candle in the wind—recovering its vitality at an extremely slow pace.

Her breathing was much steadier than before; though still weak, it no longer seemed as if it would cut off at any moment. At the wound on her left shoulder, beneath Old Sun’s pungent black ointment, a tiny spark of life was stubbornly fighting against the invading cold. Her broken right arm, under the crude stabilization, seemed to have bone fragments slowly attempting to knit together... ”Su... Mu... Xue...” A fragment of a name, extremely blurry as if separated by an endless curtain of water, crashed into Lin Mo’s consciousness without warning. Like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, it only stirred a tiny ripple before vanishing without a trace, so fast he thought it was an illusion. Is that her name? A ripple stirred in Lin Mo’s heart. This girl... who is she? Why would she be wandering alone in the desolate forest? That resilient aura she possessed, which never fully extinguished even when she was critically injured and dying, was certainly not something an ordinary child would have.

He withdrew his thoughts and refocused on himself. Power! He had never craved power as much as he did at this moment! The feeling of helplessness in the desolate forest was like a brand, deeply etched into his Soul. Although the Chaos Dao Body was strong, its growth was slow, and every eruption came with great risk. He needed a more practical and stable way to improve!

His consciousness sank into the System space. [Ding! Would you like to perform today’s sign-in?] The cold prompt sounded like heavenly music.

”sign-in!” Lin Mo did not hesitate. [Ding! sign-in successful! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Lesser Body Tempering Technique (Remnant)!]

A thin booklet made of a strange material—neither metal nor jade, and warm to the touch—appeared out of thin air in the System space. There was no writing on the cover, only a few extremely simple lines, like a child’s doodles, sketching out several twisted human postures, accompanied by a few lines of equally crooked, worm-like strange script. Lin Mo didn’t recognize the script at all, but when he focused his intent on the booklet, a weak but clear flow of information instantly flooded into the core of his consciousness!

It wasn’t a specific interpretation of the text, but rather a strange realization acting directly on the conscious level about how to mobilize the finest muscles and bones of the body and guide the blood and Qi to circulate according to specific routes! It was like a sudden enlightenment!

”Lesser Body Tempering Technique”! The name was plain and even somewhat self-deprecating. Its core essence was actually to squeeze and temper the body’s own potential to the maximum through extremely fine, almost self-torturous physical control and breathing exercises, without using a single shred of Spiritual Qi! It was like stubbornly tempering unyielding gold from the lowest dust! It did not pursue the growth of strength but focused on solidifying the foundation, enriching the blood and Qi, making the bones and muscles flexible, and achieving absolute control over every inch of one’s flesh!

This was practically tailor-made for Lin Mo! His current infant body was as fragile as glass; his Meridians were not yet open, and his Dantian had not yet manifested, making it impossible for him to endure any orthodox Spiritual Qi cultivation methods. However, this Lesser Body Tempering Technique took a different path, bypassing Spiritual Qi and acting directly on the most primitive physical Origin! Although it was only a remnant, containing only the three most basic postures and the corresponding breathing methods, to him at this moment, it was no different from lighting a lamp in the darkness!

Lin Mo was ecstatic! He immediately settled his mind and began to try the first posture—the book called it the ”Embracing Origin Stance.”

This posture was extremely simple yet incredibly awkward! It required the whole body to be relaxed, yet the spine had to be like a Dragon, the top of the head suspended by a thread, and the feet rooted deep into the earth like roots. His arms were to be held loosely in front of his chest, as if embracing an invisible sphere. The most critical part was the breathing! It required the breath to be fine, long, even, and deep. Between each inhalation and exhalation, his intent had to guide the weak blood and Qi in his body to slowly sink along the spine to the tailbone, then slowly rise to the baihui point point at the top of the head, forming a tiny internal circulation!

Lin Mo tried to adjust his posture in his mother’s arms. An infant’s body is soft, but its coordination is extremely poor. Just the ”spine like a Dragon” requirement made him feel awkward all over, and the muscles in his waist and back trembled uncontrollably. Breathing was even more difficult! An infant’s breathing is naturally short and shallow; to forcibly control it to be long and even, while coordinating it with intent to guide that blood and Qi which was so weak it almost didn’t exist... it was as difficult as reaching the heavens!

On his first attempt, he lasted less than three breaths before a strong sense of suffocation surged up. His little face turned red, and he almost coughed out loud. His intent was like a runaway horse, impossible to concentrate, let alone guide the blood and Qi.

”Phew...” Lin Mo let out a long breath of turbid air in the depths of his consciousness. Don’t be discouraged! A ten-thousand-foot building starts from the ground! He immediately adjusted his mindset, discarded all distracting thoughts, and tried again. This time, he no longer pursued the perfect posture but focused on the most basic breathing control. Inhale... slowly... even slower... intent sinking into the Dantian... exhale... equally slowly... intent imagining the breath like a warm current, sinking from the Dantian to the tailbone... once... twice... ten times... clumsy, slow, with far more failures than successes. Every concentration of intent was like wading through a swamp, and every guidance of breath was accompanied by muscle stiffness and soreness. Sweat soaked the fine baby hair on his forehead, and his tiny body trembled slightly in the swaddling clothes. The weak warm current provided by the chaos dao body seed became his only source of support at this moment, constantly repairing the minor damage caused by the forced practice.

Time passed in silent torment. After an unknown amount of time, just as Lin Mo felt his spirit was exhausted to the limit and he was about to give up— Buzz! A warmth so weak it was almost imperceptible, like the finest spider silk, finally moved under the difficult guidance of his intent. From the position of the tailbone, it extremely slowly and tremulously climbed an inch up the spine!

Although it was only an inch! Although it was as weak as a candle in the wind! This warmth did not come from the chaos dao body seed, but was truly and genuinely derived from his own blood and Qi! Through this clumsy Lesser Body Tempering Technique, he had for the first time actively guided and controlled the primitive power belonging to this body!

Success! A massive joy instantly surged through Lin Mo’s consciousness like an electric current! Although it was only a negligible step, it meant he had finally stepped onto the path of actively controlling power! He was no longer completely dependent on System sign-ins and passive growth! This sense of control instantly steadied his mind significantly!

He no longer pushed to guide the blood and Qi very far, but repeatedly practiced the most basic breathing method and intent concentration of the Embracing Origin Stance. Every successful concentration of intent and every weak movement of blood and Qi made his Perception of his body a bit clearer and his control over power a bit more refined.

[Ding! Lesser Body Tempering Technique (Remnant) proficiency +1!] [Ding! Host’s blood and Qi slightly condensed! Physical Body foundation strength +0.01%!] The cold System prompts sounded like beautiful music, constantly echoing in the depths of his consciousness. Although the increase was minuscule, Lin Mo understood the principle that grains of sand can build a pagoda better than anyone.

Just as he was immersed in the wonderful feeling of first controlling power. ”Ugh... mm...” An extremely weak groan, filled with pain and confusion, came from the straw mat nearby.

Liu Qingxuan suddenly jolted awake from her deep sleep! She instinctively hugged Lin Mo tightly and looked alertly toward the source of the sound.

On the straw mat, the little girl who had been unconscious for who knows how long had long eyelashes that trembled violently like the wings of an injured butterfly. Finally, she slowly and with great difficulty opened her eyes.

What kind of eyes were those!

They were as clear as the purest spring in a mountain stream, yet they were clouded by a thick mist due to immense pain and confusion. Her pupils were a rare, soft light green, like young sprouts in early spring, but they were now dull and lifeless due to weakness. She seemed to want to move her eyes to look at her surroundings, but the sharp pain from her left shoulder and right arm made her tiny body twitch violently. She let out a suppressed groan of pain, and her eyes, which had just opened, weakly half-closed again, leaving only long eyelashes casting fragile shadows on her pale little face.

”Child! You’re awake?!” Liu Qingxuan was both surprised and delighted. She hurriedly held Lin Mo and approached the straw mat, her voice trembling slightly with excitement. ”Don’t be afraid! Don’t be afraid! You’re in a medicine shop, you’re safe!”

The little girl seemed to hear the voice. Her half-closed eyes struggled to open a slit again, looking at the blurry figure before her with confusion and fear. Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but only a few broken and blurry syllables came out: ”...Mother... cold... hurts...”

This weak call, like the softest feather, gently brushed against the softest part of Liu Qingxuan’s heart. A wave of immense pity instantly overwhelmed her. She reached out and used her fingertips to very gently brush away the messy hair soaked in cold sweat from the little girl’s forehead, her voice so tender it could drip water. ”Good child... don’t be afraid... the wolves were driven away... Auntie is here... it’s not cold anymore... and it won’t hurt anymore...” She clumsily mimicked the way she remembered her mother coaxing children, gently patting the little girl’s uninjured left arm.

The little girl seemed to feel this unreserved tenderness and kindness, and the fear and confusion in her eyes faded slightly. She tried to open her eyes wide to see the person in front of her, but her vision remained blurry. The intense pain and extreme physical weakness soon caused her to fall back into a semi-conscious state, but this time, her breathing seemed a bit steadier, no longer filled with the same terminal despair as before.

Looking at her pale and fragile little face, Liu Qingxuan’s heart was filled with complex emotions. It’s good that this child is awake! If she’s awake, there’s hope! She looked down at Lin Mo, who seemed to have fallen back into a deep sleep, and then at this critically injured little girl of unknown Origin on the straw mat. A heavy sense of responsibility weighed on her shoulders. No matter what, she had to protect these two children and help them survive!

Just then, the curtain of the outer room was gently lifted. Old Sun walked in carrying a bowl of steaming hot congee that radiated a rich aroma of rice. His clouded gaze fell on the little girl’s face—she had woken up and, though she had fallen back asleep, her breathing was much steadier—and a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.

”It’s good that you’re awake.. This girl is tough..” Old Sun placed the bowl of congee on the wooden board, his voice still calm. ”Are you hungry? Have some hot congee first to fill your stomach.” He pushed the bowl toward Liu Qingxuan.

Only then did Liu Qingxuan feel a burning hunger in her stomach. She gratefully took the bowl, and without worrying about the heat, took small sips. The warm rice congee slid down her dry throat, bringing an indescribable sense of satisfaction. This was the first decent meal she had eaten since leaving the Liu family.

”Shopkeeper... this child...” While drinking the congee, Liu Qingxuan looked at the little girl on the straw mat, hesitating to speak.

”The external injuries have been treated, and some of the cold has been forced out, so her life is temporarily saved.” Old Sun walked to the little girl’s side, felt her forehead, and checked the splint fixing her right arm. ”But the wound on her left shoulder is too deep, and the cold has entered her bones; I fear there may be recurrences. The fracture in her right arm is severe; even if it heals, I’m afraid... it will leave her disabled.” He sighed softly, his eyes filled with a physician’s compassion. ”Furthermore, she has lost too much blood, and her Origin Qi is severely damaged. She needs proper rest and blood-replenishing nourishment, otherwise... I fear she will be left with chronic ailments that will damage her Lifespan.”

Disabled... chronic ailments... damage to Lifespan... these words hit Liu Qingxuan’s heart like a heavy hammer! Looking at the little girl’s pale and fragile face, a wave of immense sorrow surged up. Such a small child... has to endure all this?

Old Sun looked at Liu Qingxuan’s eyes, which had instantly dimmed, and the bowl of congee she could barely hold steady. His clouded gaze swept over her thin, worn clothes, then glanced at the pile of hay in the corner and her shriveled purse, and he fell silent for a moment.

”This Black Stone Town... is not peaceful.” Old Sun’s voice was very low, carrying a deep worry. ”Recently... things have been a bit tense. I’ve heard that over at Black Wind Ridge... things are not quite settled.” He didn’t say it explicitly, but the meaning was clear. Banditry was always a sword hanging over this impoverished small town.

He paused, his gaze falling once more on Liu Qingxuan and the two children, with a hint of subtle complexity. ”You... may stay here for the time being. Although the Woodshed is dilapidated, it’s better than sleeping on the streets. However... the subsequent medicine for this girl, and your own food...” He didn’t continue, but the meaning was already clear. The medicine shop was not a Charity house, and he was just a lonely old man with limited means.

Liu Qingxuan held the bowl of warm congee, but her fingertips were ice-cold. Money! She didn’t have a cent! Those pitiful travel expenses weren’t even enough to buy this bowl of congee! How could she buy medicine for this poor child? How could she support Moer and herself?

The massive pressure of reality, like cold shackles, instantly choked the sliver of hope that had just been ignited by the child’s awakening. The road ahead was still filled with wind and snow, and covered in thorns. Even just surviving was so difficult.

She lowered her head, looking at the clear congee in the bowl, then at the sleeping Lin Mo in her arms and the weakly breathing little girl on the straw mat. A flash of desperate determination crossed her eyes. No matter what, she had to find a way! For the sake of the children!

Inside the Woodshed, the aroma of rice congee mixed with the bitterness of herbs, drifting in the cold air. Hope and despair intertwined, like the flickering light in this dim space. And in his mother’s arms, deep within Lin Mo’s consciousness, the remnant booklet of the Lesser Body Tempering Technique was radiating a weak but steady light. The desire to become stronger had never been as intense as it was at this moment.