The morning sun crept through cracks in the half-rotted roof, spilling light across broken tiles and old dust. Lin Xuan sat cross-legged in the center of the ancestral hall, the golden shimmer of the system interface dimmed for now.
He exhaled slowly, then began to check his belongings. A battered satchel lay nearby, salvaged from a pile of debris. Inside:
— A broken flagon of wine, still faintly smelling of vinegar — A few copper and silver coins—mortal currency, dull and dented — A short iron sword with patches of rust along the spine — A dog-eared manual titled: "Fundamentals of Qi Circulation"
He picked up the last item with a raised brow. "This is my cultivation guide? It looks like someone used it to balance a wobbly table."
Still, he opened it, flipping through its brittle pages. Diagrams of meridians, vague philosophical passages about the 'Essence of Breath'—it was hardly intuitive.
He frowned. "I don't even know what level I am right now. Am I strong? Weak? Average?"
As if on cue, the system chimed.
[Current Cultivation: Qi Condensation – Stage 3] [Assessment: A slap from a Foundation Establishment cultivator would likely put you in a two-week coma.]
Lin Xuan blinked. "...Comforting."
[Qi Condensation ranges from Stage 1 to 9 for mortals. Cultivators absorb Qi and condense it within their meridians to temper the body, reinforce the spirit, and prepare the foundation for advancement.]
[Note: Stage 9 is not necessarily the limit. Exceptional individuals may reach unique variations... if they're lucky.]
He digested that in silence. Despite being new to this world, he had already felt it—lifting broken beams, clearing wreckage. His body, though middle-aged, moved with an unnatural strength.
"Definitely stronger than a normal Earthling," he muttered. "But if stage 3 makes me above average, and I nearly coughed out a lung moving wood..."
He looked around. "I'm supposed to find a spirit vein. But where? It's not like those things come with road signs."
[Map of Local Region: Broken Earth Valley — Available in Heaven's Treasury, 10 Points.]
The system's tone was flat. Dry.
[Perhaps I summoned the wrong soul.]
Lin Xuan scoffed. "Excuse me for not assuming you were selling spirit vein coordinates in aisle one."
[You are excused. Would you like to purchase the map now or spend the next decade wandering aimlessly?]
He purchased the map.
A soft pulse of light revealed a translucent topographical scroll overlaid on his vision. Hills, rivers, roads... and toward the bottom, nestled in a forested mountain range: a faint golden glow.
[Detected: Dormant Spirit Vein – Southern Ridge. Estimated travel time: Two weeks by foot.]
Nearby settlements dotted the path—a few villages and a city labeled "Embertrace City."
He stood, brushing dust off his robe. "Alright. Let's go start a legend."
As he stepped toward the broken doorway, the system chimed again.
[New Quest: Transport the Ancestral Tablet to the New Sect Grounds. Reward: System Function Unlocked – Disciple Management System.]
Lin Xuan stopped.
"...You want me to carry the giant rock?"
[Correct.]
He turned back to the tablet, which looked like it weighed more than a small ox.
"And let me guess—it doesn't come with wheels?"
[Correct.]
He exhaled through his nose, then grumbled, "Fine. I didn't skip leg day for nothing."
—
Before leaving the ruins, he passed through a nearby village—Stonepath. A humble farming settlement of maybe forty families. Here, he bartered for a sturdy sack, dry rations, and a set of leather straps to help carry the tablet.
He also gathered local rumors. Spirit veins were indeed considered sacred resources—guarded, claimed, or fought over. But few dared venture south of Embertrace. Bandits and beasts roamed the path.
Still, no mention of an existing sect.
A small blessing.
—
Day 2 of travel.
As he sat beneath a willow tree, the system's voice returned.
[Daily Quest Unlocked: Meditate for 30 minutes.] [Reward: +50 Points, Qi Gathering Pill (Perfect Grade).]
Lin Xuan blinked. "...Daily quests? Are you kidding me?"
[Would you prefer I didn't reward you for spiritual discipline?]
He sat down and meditated.
Thirty minutes later, a golden pill appeared in his palm. Pure, fragrant, not a single blemish.
His eyes widened. "This would cost a fortune. And perfect grade? Most alchemists can't make those!"
He consumed it, and over the next two days, his cultivation advanced to Stage 4.
He had no treasure, no backing. Just an incredibly generous system... and sheer will.
The technique he practiced? The one from the old book? It was called:
[Fundamentals of Qi Circulation — Low-Grade Mortal Technique. Efficiency Rating: Trash+]
Still, with pills and effort, progress came.
—
Day 7.
He had begun to feel confident. Birds flew. Trees whispered. His Qi flowed like a weak stream, but it flowed.
Then came the bandits.
Seven of them, leaping from the treeline, blades drawn. Each radiated Qi—rough, but present.
[Threat Assessment: Average Cultivation – Qi Condensation Stage 7.]
"...Ah." Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed. "That's not great."
The lead bandit sneered, stepping forward with a glint of Qi flashing across his curved blade. "You're coming with us. Orders from the top. Struggle, and you might lose an arm or two."
Without hesitation, Lin Xuan raised the Three-Seal Talisman.
The talisman flared—pure, translucent blue light expanding into a ripple as the attack met it.
The Qi-infused blade stopped midair. No sound, no clash. The attack simply… vanished.
The bandit stumbled back, stunned. "What—what kind of power is that?!"
Another bandit hissed, wide-eyed. "He didn't even move! The strike just disappeared! Is this guy a monster?!"
Lin Xuan's eyes gleamed, and he straightened slowly, brushing his shoulder as if ridding it of dust. "I was hoping to make it through this journey peacefully. But if this is how you greet strangers..."
He let his words hang in the air, letting the silence deepen the tension. The bandits looked at one another uncertainly, a few inching back.
Then Lin Xuan gave a small, almost pitying sigh. "That was just a warning. I suggest you rethink your life decisions."
The leader hesitated, caught between fear and the weight of his orders. "Y-You... You're no ordinary traveler. What are you?"
Lin Xuan smiled faintly. "What I am doesn't matter. What matters is whether you value your limbs."
He stepped forward, slowly, with measured confidence. "Drop your weapons, leave your belongings, and perhaps I won't use my... other techniques."
The group broke. One dropped his blade. Another knelt.
Within minutes, Lin Xuan stood alone as the bandits scrambled away, visibly shaken.
He examined the spoils: — A pouch of mortal coins — A faintly glowing low-grade spirit stone — A wax-sealed letter with the emblem of Embertrace City
He cracked the seal and read:
"To the Enforcers of the Blazing Reed School: Detain any traveling cultivators or suspicious individuals approaching from the southern forest. Do not allow word to spread."
His eyes narrowed. "Blazing Reed… so you're not just bandits. You're hounds in uniform."
As Lin Xuan walked away, he pocketed the letter.
"So Embertrace has secrets... and I've just stepped into the game."