Reincarnated With The Degenerate System

Almost four days had passed, and my body had finally adjusted enough. My meridians, once stretched to their limits, had settled, the flow of Qi through them now smooth and steady.

I also spent time tempering my dantian, coaxing my energy to flow more naturally, working with the rhythm of the Qi instead of forcing it. But even with the air thick with energy, my cultivation moved at a slower pace than before.

It made sense, though. The higher I climbed, the harder it became to break through. In fact, if not for my recent luck, it probably would've taken me months to achieve the same result.

Realistically speaking, my current growth rate was already monstrous. Most cultivators would be lucky to reach the same level in decades, let alone the few days it had taken me to get here.

But that wasn't something I could afford to get cocky about.

The truth was, most of my success came from three key factors.

First, there was the system. Without it, I'd still be groping around in the dark. It streamlined everything for me.

Second, my environment. I was in a place saturated with energy, practically begging to be absorbed. It wasn't like other places, where cultivating felt like forcing the river to flow uphill. Here, it was like the river flowed on its own, and I just had to ride the current.

But the third factor—the real game-changer—was the inheritance I received from that egotistic Monkey God.

'I should get ready to head up to the upper floors.'

The thought passed through my mind as I stood up from my seated position, stretching the weariness from my limbs. It had been days since I last left the safety of my quarters, lost in my own cultivation.

The camp had changed in ways that were almost unrecognizable. As I walked through the now bustling area, the transformation was hard to miss.

What had once been a scattered group of survivors huddling for protection now resembled a town.

Taverns had popped up on every corner of the camp, each one full of life. The air was thick with the smell of roasting meat and the rich aroma of stew.

Inside, seekers were resting, laughing, and swapping stories about their lives. It was their way of coping with the losses they'd endured, finding a bit of relief in the shared comfort of each other's company.

They spoke about their homes, their families, and the adventures—or misadventures—that brought them here.

It was a mix of humor and pain, a way to keep their spirits up while accepting the harsh truth: it would be weeks, maybe longer, before any rescue came.

"Morning, Sir!" A sweet and feminine voice called out from behind a counter as I passed.

Everyone looked at me and bowed their heads.

Turning, my gaze landed on one of the women with blonde hair. She couldn't have been much older than Hai-Min—maybe a few years—but the way she greeted me made it clear she admired me.

I walked further, observing the hard work around me. The walls that had once been hastily thrown together were now reinforced with proper timber and stone, a far cry from the wobbly barricades we had before.

Somewhere in the distance, the sound of chisels scraping stone carried across the air. I headed that way, drawn by the noise and the vibrant buzz of activity.

And then I saw it: the bridge.

It spanned the river now, an elegant arch of wooden beams reinforced by stones. People were already crossing it, some of them carrying goods while others just enjoyed the novelty of the thing.

The bridge's design wasn't exactly beautiful, but it was functional. The real beauty lay in the collective effort of it—people working together to change their environment.

No wonder humans were natural-born conquerors. Give them a patch of land, and they would start drawing borders and waving flags.

I watched them for a moment, my thoughts interrupted by a voice behind me.

"Big Brother!"

I turned, and there she was—Hai-Min, a bundle of cuteness, her usual cheerful grin plastered across her face.

She wore a loose shirt and some simple pants, covered in the faintest dust from the work she'd been doing.

"Everything's looking amazing, right?" she said, her eyes sparkling as she gestured around at the busy place. "I was just helping with the cooking. Everyone's really pitching in."

I nodded, a grin pulling at the corner of my mouth. "Yeah. Looks like you all have been busy."

There was a pause. She glanced away, eyes flickering to the river as if the rushing water calmed her down.

"Hey, Big Brother," she spoke up again, quieter this time. "Do you think... you know... that it would be nice to have a bathhouse here?"

I raised an eyebrow, not entirely expecting that kind of question. "A bathhouse? You mean one of those with hot water, and a sauna?"

She nodded, her hands wringing together.

"Yeah...With everything going on, I think people would appreciate somewhere to relax, you know? And… we've been working so hard, right? Everyone needs a break."

I gave her a sideways glance, catching the subtle shift in her demeanor. She was being extra careful with her words, but the way her eyes darted around told me this request wasn't just hers—it felt like other people had something to do with it too.

"You're right. It seems we're going to be stuck here for over a month, so having a proper place to clean up and relax would help. I'll order Adam to build a bathhouse right away."

Her face lit up, and for a moment, she looked like she was about to jump for joy, but she quickly caught herself, changing her weight nervously. "Thank you. Big Brother"

I smirked. She was practically glowing now.

"No need to thank me just yet. We still need to get the materials. But once it's done, maybe I'll take a dip myself."

Her cheeks flushed a little, and she bit her lip. "Then, if you want… maybe I can wash Big Brother's back."