Chapter 3: System Build Mode – Home Sweet Home
The first night on Still Wind Hill was quiet.
Alex sat beneath the starlit sky on his porch, legs folded, watching as fireflies danced among the spirit grass. The soft chirping of insects filled the air, and the scent of blooming night orchids drifted from the surrounding woods.
He took a sip of tea—some blend called Tranquil Cloud from the system shop. It calmed the body, soothed the mind, and nurtured the soul. Honestly, it tasted better than anything he'd ever had back on Earth.
"System Notification: Residence established. Would Host like to initiate foundational development?"
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Development?"
"Host may expand the home, build surrounding structures, and begin agricultural functions. Suggestions include: barn, storage shed, spirit well, animal shelter, protective formation, and garden enhancements."
Alex stood and stretched. "Show me the interface."
A golden screen appeared before him, floating just above his palm. It looked like a cross between a farming game and a cultivation blueprint: miniature models of buildings hovered in the air, each with small tags—[Free], [Self-Maintaining], [Auto-Optimized].
"I can build all this?" he asked.
"Host has unlimited access. Resources will be generated via spiritual material conversion. No physical cost required."
Alex chuckled. "Now this... this is cheating in style."
He selected a storage barn, which appeared instantly near the back of the house, sleek and wooden, with spirit-sealed compartments. He added a tool shed, a greenhouse, and a small chicken coop on the eastern side of the hill.
When he chose the Spirit Well, a fountain of silver-blue water burst from the ground behind the house, channeling pure qi into the land. Its soft glow bathed the area in a calming light.
Finally, he activated a Protective Formation—an invisible barrier that kept out wild beasts, hostile intent, and malicious qi. The system allowed friendly beings to enter but would push away those with violent auras. Not with pain—just with persistent, gentle resistance.
"Like a barrier made of politeness," Alex murmured. "I like it."
He spent the rest of the morning placing crops. The system helped prepare rows of fertile soil. He selected seeds from the shop: Spirit Rice, Moonleaf Lettuce, Crimson Root Carrots, and Blue-Gold Cucumbers. Each was naturally infused with low-level spiritual energy, healthy for both mortals and cultivators.
He knelt and dug his hands into the earth.
Even with all the system's power, he chose to plant with his own hands.
The soil was soft. Cool. Alive.
He pressed each seed into the ground gently, covering them one by one.
"Let's grow something good," he said.
"Manual planting detected. Emotional resonance recorded. Plant growth will accelerate in response to Host's intent."
He paused. "Wait, really?"
"Yes. Host's sincerity and care increase spiritual attunement. Crops will grow stronger and sweeter."
He blinked, then smiled. "So… love makes them grow better?"
"In simple terms: yes."
He laughed, a full, honest laugh that made the birds chirp louder and the wind pick up slightly.
As the sun rose higher, Alex summoned farming tools from the shop—an elegant wooden hoe that never dulled, a watering pot that never emptied, and gloves that never tore. Everything was practical, yet made from materials cultivators would kill for.
He worked through the day, tilling, planting, watering. The system offered to automate everything, but he refused.
He wanted to earn this life. Not by power or dominance—but by action. By rhythm. By stillness.
By farming.
By the time evening returned, Still Wind Hill had transformed. The once-empty slope was now a small sanctuary. Lanterns lit the porch. The spirit well flowed with silver light. Freshly planted fields stretched along the slope, gleaming faintly under the moon.
Alex sat again on his porch, watching the wind rustle the crops.
"System Update: Agricultural foundation complete. First harvest expected in two days."
"Would Host like to engage auto-defense mode at night?"
"No need," Alex said softly. "Let everything rest."
"As you wish."
The stars seemed closer than ever. The wind was warm. His heart was still.
He had died in a cold, uncaring world. But here, under the open sky, surrounded by the quiet song of nature, Alex finally felt… alive.
He smiled, then whispered into the night:
"This is home."