Cultivation System: Stronger with Age Chapter 1 Vigorous in Old Age

Moonlight nestled amid the willow branches.

Inside an ancient wooden house in Great Marsh Prefecture of the Xia Kingdom, Lin Xuankong lay sideways upon a wooden bed when abruptly he convulsed and unleashed a torrent of fierce coughs. "COUGH COUGH COUGH!" Only after over a dozen relentless coughs could he finally gasp for breath.

he reflected inwardly.

That notion had just surfaced when the early spring chill struck him fiercely. His throat prickled with itchiness, triggering yet another bout of savage coughing. Realizing sleep was out of reach, Lin Xuankong forced himself upright, threw on some garments, and sat perched at the bed's edge.

Three days had passed since his transmigration, during which he had assimilated fragments of his predecessor's memories. The original owner bore the same name, Lin Xuankong, had no family left, and scraped by vending flatcakes. Though his body was once sturdy, a brutal cold had ravaged him day by day. Then, after downing excessive wine, he had perished outright.

With a heavy sigh, Lin Xuankong gazed toward the bedside wooden cabinet. A bold red papercut 'double happiness' character adorned it. The vivid crimson paper clashed jarringly against the weathered, peeling cabinet.

Abruptly, footsteps echoed from beyond the wooden dwelling. Moments later, a green-robed young woman stepped in, bearing a bowl of herbal decoction. The flickering oil lamp cast light upon her. Around sixteen years old, she boasted a statuesque, voluptuous form and a face of flawless beauty.

She cast a glance his way. "Drink this medicine. Your cough will ease once you've taken it."

Lin Xuankong felt a jolt of surprise. "Home has just enough coin left for sorghum flour. Where'd the silver for medicine come from?"

The woman knitted her brows. "I served as a maid in the Huang Family for more than ten years and stashed away some碎银 for my dowry in secret."

At those words, Lin Xuankong grew quiet. This was Lii Xiaolan, once the personal servant to the Huang Family's eldest young miss in West City. As she blossomed into womanhood, her stunning allure drew the gaze of Master Huang, who sought to claim her as concubine. Yet Lady Huang, hailing from influential roots and burning with jealousy, fiercely blocked it. Powerless, Master Huang yielded to his wife and expelled Lii Xiaolan from the Huang Mansion. But the vengeful lady wasn't done; she compelled Lii Xiaolan into marriage with his penniless, fifty-nine-year-old predecessor.

The ceremony occurred three days prior. His predecessor had been ecstatic, as if Lii Xiaolan had descended from the skies. On that day, he squandered his coffin savings to host a lavish banquet for the neighbors. Little did anyone expect that the ailing old man, fresh from his cold and deep in drink, would collapse post-guests, never making it to the bridal chamber. That moment marked Lin Xuankong's arrival.

Mindful of his predecessor's demise, Lin Xuankong had refrained from intimacy with Lii Xiaolan these past two days. This decrepit frame was far too fragile; he dreaded keeling over mid-act.

Yet Lii Xiaolan's virtue shone brightly. She had dipped into her hidden dowry to fetch medicine for him and brewed it in silence. Such kindness left him too embarrassed to press any advances.

"Tha... Thank you," Lin Xuankong stuttered. He had meant to say 'wife,' but the term stuck fast.

"Between us... no need for such formalities." A subtle mix of grievance and concern flashed in Lii Xiaolan’s eyes, though she forced a smile. She lifted the bowl to her lips, blew softly on the brew, and sampled it. "Not too scalding anymore. Drink up."

Grasping the bowl, Lin Xuankong sensed a twinge of wariness. He scrutinized the herbal soup closely, then inwardly shook his head.

"GULP." Holding his nose, he swallowed a gulp and paused briefly. As the decoction hit his stomach, a cozy warmth diffused outward, easing his whole frame.

No gut ache. No vertigo. he pondered. With firm resolve, he gulped down the rest of the hearty brew.

Shortly thereafter, the raspy itch in his throat eased markedly, and even his feeble form gained a spark of vigor.

Noting the color returning to his face, the anxiety in Lii Xiaolan’s gaze faded. She claimed the bowl, exited the room, and ascended the stairs. Over their three-day union, they had slept apart—he below, she above—save for her caregiving moments.

Right now, Lin Xuankong sat beside the bed, lost in a trance. Once the medicinal soup began working, a voice abruptly resounded in his ears: "Qi Blood reached five points. Activating the first Talent of the Life Plate." Moments later, rows of purple-gold text surfaced inside his mind:

Lin Xuankong: Remaining Lifespan: 32 days

Life Plate: [Vigorous in Old Age]

First Talent of the Life Plate: [Old and Wise] Cultivation Speed increases with age. Current age: 59. Cultivation Speed increased fiftyfold.

Qi Blood: 5/100,000

Spotting this text, Lin Xuankong's face underwent a dramatic change. During his previous existence as a web novel writer, he'd consumed endless tales featuring 'golden fingers'—unique powers—that every transmigrator seemed to receive without fail.

he pondered inwardly. He scowled, inspecting his own frame closely.

Lin Xuankong creased his brow lightly and sank into profound contemplation.

From the recollections of his former self, Great Marsh Prefecture belonged to the Great Xia Dynasty. Within this realm, Martial Dao held supreme honor. Officials, mighty clans, and noble heirs all chased after it relentlessly. Masters of the Martial Dao possessed terrifying might, slaying Demons with ease; dispatching mere mortals felt no harder than snapping a chicken's neck. Lii Xiaolan’s old clan, the Huang Family, boasted a storied Martial Dao heritage. Master Huang himself had attained the Transcendence Sixth Layer ages ago, securing his vast riches and clout—enough to forge brotherhood with Great Marsh Prefecture's Prefect and claim elite standing. Lady Huang sprang from an elite Martial Dao lineage too, whispered to possess an even loftier Martial Dao Realm; else, Master Huang wouldn't dread her so. Moreover, the Government Office, Martial Arts Halls, and street gangs across Great Marsh Prefecture all relied on Martial Dao experts for control.

Lin Xuankong reflected silently.

While he brooded with a furrowed brow, a thunderous "BANG! BANG! BANG!" exploded from the front door, chased by a rough man's bellow. "Old Lin, open up! I want to buy some flatcakes!"

Lin Xuankong rose unsteadily and shuffled to the front room. He sidled up silently to a gap in the door, peering out cautiously. There, a pack of hulking thugs lingered. The door-pounder sported a dark, rugged face, loomed at eight chi high, and donned a black sleeveless jacket. A Hundred-refined Steel Saber dangled from his belt, its edge gleaming ominously under the moon's glow.

One look plunged Lin Xuankong's heart into icy depths. His prior self had frequently encountered this dark-skinned brute while hawking flatcakes along the lanes.

In West City of Great Marsh Prefecture, the direst threats—beyond Martial Dao powerhouses like the Huang Family or the Government Office—came from rich landlords. Still, not even they dared cross one notorious faction: the Black Tiger Gang. Word was their Leader had hit Transcendence Fifth Layer, rivaling Master Huang's prowess closely. His Hall Masters ranked as fierce Martial Dao warriors too. This swarthy giant was Zhang Wu, a Late Stage Transcendence First Layer cultivator. His raw power had elevated him to Leader status in the Black Tiger Gang, with Wutong Village falling squarely under his domain.

"Old Lin, you dead yet? Get the door open! I want flatcakes!" A sinister smirk twisted Zhang Wu's features as he hammered the door repeatedly. His blows carried monstrous force; the frame quaked violently. A handful more, and it could shatter apart.

The racket had roused folks along the street. Numerous neighbors cracked open their wooden shutters to glance out. But spotting Zhang Wu, their faces paled instantly, and they ducked back inside, too terrified to linger. As a mighty Transcendence First Layer powerhouse and Black Tiger Gang heavyweight, Zhang Wu struck fear into every one of Wutong Village's hundreds of homes and thousands of souls.

"Fifth Brother, bet Old Lin kicked the bucket! If true, his fresh bride's got rough days ahead. We should lend her a hand!" one of Zhang Wu’s lackeys mocked.

"Yeah, yeah! Younger Sister-in-law Lin, come on out! No fear—Fifth Brother'll treat you right!" another hooted.

"Open up quick, or we're smashing through!"

"Relax, Younger Sister-in-law Lin, Fifth Brother's got real skills! He'll pamper you proper! HAHAHA!"

The savage thugs trailing Zhang Wu reeked of booze. They staggered about, howling in mirth, utterly convinced Lin Xuankong and his bride lay helpless before them.

Through the door's slit, Lin Xuankong observed their vile antics, grinding his teeth in fury.

At that instant, a gentle voice drifted from behind. "Open the door. This wooden door won’t hold them."

At the noise, Lin Xuankong's brow creased deeply. He whirled around, tugged Lii Xiaolan to one side, and hissed, "Why did you come out? These thugs are clearly here for you!" Pausing briefly, he pressed urgently, "Hurry, slip out the back door! I’m just a dying pauper; they won’t do much to me. If they can’t find you, they’ll probably leave."

His words caused the subtle resentment in Lii Xiaolan’s eyes to ease a little. She gave her head a faint shake. "If I hide today, they’ll come back tomorrow. If I hide tomorrow, they’ll keep coming back. There’s no escaping it."

"Then let’s leave Great Marsh Prefecture!" Lin Xuankong declared firmly.

Lii Xiaolan’s eyebrows knitted together. "Demons are rampant outside Great Marsh Prefecture. Do you think it’s so easy to leave?" With that, she drew a black gauze veil from her sleeve, masked her face, and strode toward the wooden door. Her hand shot out, yanked the latch, and the door swung open with a "CREAK!"

Moonlight flooded in right away, highlighting Lin Xuankong’s heavily wrinkled forehead and Lii Xiaolan, who stood steadfast in her green dress.