Liang Chen was sitting on a big throne, inside a castle that looked empty but still too beautiful like it wasn't built by human hands. It was quiet, like no one lived here for millions of years. He leaned back, thinking to himself what even was happening to him.
Then his system spoke.
[Great Heavenly Dao System: Host's thoughts detected. Processing assistance.]
And suddenly, all kinds of knowledge started entering and filling his head. It was like the whole sky, the stars, the balance of life and death, creation and destruction everything poured into him at once a books of knowledge which can make even topper insecure of existence filled his dumb head . He almost couldn't take it any more. His heart shook because it wasn't just normal cultivation knowledge, it was like he was becoming the heavens themselves.
He asked in shock, "Where is the old Heavenly Dao then? Did I replace it or what?"
The system replied coldly but also calm,
[The previous Heavenly Dao has merged with you. Now you and it are one. I remain as the Great Heavenly Dao System, a fragment, to assist you.]
Liang Chen froze. His hands trembled. For a moment he thought, am I dreaming in my bed right now? Maybe I'm in a hospital in a coma? This kind of thing happens only in novels I read like Battle Through the Heavens or Renegade Immortal or Birth of the Demonic Sword. But even in those novels, no one just wakes up as the Heavenly Dao itself. This has to be a mistake!
He almost laughed and cried at the same time.
"I'm not some clan's useless young master, or a disciple thrown out by his sect. I'm literally the Dao? What kind of crazy novel did I fall into?"
But the more knowledge entered, the more he realized something dangerous. If he kept absorbing, his emotions were fading. His mind was turning too perfect, too empty, just like the Dao before him.
"No," Liang Chen muttered and forced himself to stop. "If I take all this in, I'll lose myself. I don't want to be some cold emotionless Heavenly Dao. I'm human. I want to live, to feel."
The system went silent. The hall felt too quiet again. Liang Chen sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"…Forget it. If I'm stuck like this, I'll just use the system for what it's worth."
He raised his head and said, "Great Heavenly Dao System, open my window."
And in that moment, his journey as both human and Dao truly began.
As soon as Liang Chen said the words, the system screen didn't just pop up like normal no, it literally turned into some live video feed, like he was watching a heavenly YouTube channel. The whole sky, realms, continents, mortal villages, sects, everything started playing in front of his eyes. He even saw a farmer shouting at his cow because it ate too much grass.
Liang Chen's jaw dropped.
"Bro… System, what is this? Are you running some livestream of the whole world? This feels like stalking, you know?"
The system ignored him, voice calm as ever.
[Displaying current realms, mortal kingdoms, immortal sects…]
Liang Chen leaned forward. "Wait. Where are the immortals? I don't see even one smug old man flying on his sword yelling about 'this junior courting death.'"
The system replied,
[The previous Heavenly Dao battled them during tribulations. To escape, they used artifacts to hide themselves from Heaven's vision.]
Liang Chen blinked. Then he sighed.
"…Common. So cliché. Exactly like those novels I read. Every time someone strong just hides in some turtle shell treasure to avoid heaven's slap."
He rubbed his chin, looking at the endless realms flashing by like a movie. "Still, not bad. I memorized every place name already. Thanks to my brain being half Dao now, I guess."
Then, after a pause, a little grin spread on his face.
"Well, if this is like a game system, then obviously… let's check the system store."
Liang Chen opened the store and almost choked on his own spit.
"System… what the hell is this, a legendary auction house?!"
The first item shining at the top was:
[Heavenly Dragon Egg – Divine Grade]
Description: Hatch your own dragon. Warning: it might call you dad or it might eat you, depends on mood.
Price: 999,999 Dao Points.
Liang Chen: "Bruh… even dragons have attitude problems now."
Next item popped up:
[Mortal Body – Common Grade]
A weakling body with no talent, can't even pass the first Qi Gathering.
Price: 1 point. Discounted.
Liang Chen squinted. "Why would anyone even buy this? Who's the fool spending points to become trash?"
But right under it was another:
[Heaven's Chosen Body – Divine Constitution]
Born with aura of main character, every encounter = lucky chance, even if you trip over a rock it will reveal an ancient treasure.
Price: 100,000 Dao Points.
Liang Chen rubbed his forehead. "Oh, so this is where all the novel MCs get their cheat from. I knew it."
He scrolled again.
[Immortal Peach of Longevity]
Eat one, live another 100,000 years. May cause constipation.
Price: 50,000 Dao Points.
[Discount Coupon for Creating New Universe]
Because why not.
Price: 1,000,000 Dao Points. Limited time offer.
Liang Chen nearly fell off his throne. "Bro, am I supposed to be a cultivator or some interstellar shopaholic?"
He scrolled again, muttering to himself, "Okay okay, dragons, divine fruits, heavenly bodies, legendary weapons… all legendary stuff is here. But system, where's the free trial section? Don't tell me this whole cosmic mall is pay-to-win."
System replied calmly,
[Host may unlock Beginner Pack after first mission.]
Liang Chen clapped his hands, half crying half laughing.
"Yes! Beginner Pack! In every game it's always broken, let's go!"
As he said this suddenly in front of him.
Liang Chen blinked as the mission screen floated in front of him.
[Mission: Bless a sect with medium grade grass]
Reward: New Body (Grade Unknown) + ???
He rubbed his temples.
"Grass again… really system? Am I supposed to be Heavenly Dao Farmer now? I swear if I end up growing cabbage like some novel side character, I'm uninstalling you."
System: [Processing… Reward Prepared… Information Hidden.]
Liang Chen stared at the glowing words.
"Information hidden? Oi oi, what's that is supposed to mean to me? Don't tell me you're playing gacha with my life like free fire Valorant etc . I plant grass and you give me mystery loot box rewards?" Minecraft with myself.
System didn't reply, just left the screen hanging.
Liang Chen sighed.
"Tch, fine, whatever. I'll do the stupid grass blessing. But you better not scam me, system. If the reward is just fertilizer or some junk, I'll"
Before he finished, another faint line blinked at the bottom:
[Note: Additional system generated. Access currently locked.]
Liang Chen froze.
"…Wait. Did I just read that right? Another system? What the hell am I, the walking system collector? First Great Heavenly Dao System, now mystery DLC system pack?"
He slapped his forehead and laughed.
"Hah, whatever. Maybe I'll wake up On tomorrow and find out my body is upgraded like a game and I've got a new cheat menu a safe gift for real is so real. If this isn't the most scammy heavenly dao system ever, then I don't know what is."
Liang chen asked system where is the grass system replied in the storage room of his castle. he walked and opened the door only to see a huge hall with rows of cupboard stacked higher than the sky each cupboard shining like it was some treasure vault.
"oi oi oi don't tell me every cupboard is filled with stuff" he muttered and pulled one open. inside glowing green grass neatly tied in bundles. "seriously grass in divine cupboard? are you kidding me" he pulled another one open and almost choked it was filled with dragon eggs glowing like suns. he quickly closed it. "nope nope not touching that yet system is trolling me"
he walked further opened another cupboard and a sword screamed like it wanted to cut heaven itself. "okay what is this pawn shop of heaven? system are you selling me this stuff?" he rubbed his head laughing like crazy.
system replied calmly only mission item usable.
liang chen rolled eyes "ha so you mean all these dragons artifacts and divine pills are just sitting here like supermarket display and i can't touch them? what am i a window shopper heavenly dao?"
he sighed and grabbed the bundle of medium grass from the cupboard. "fine let's do this stupid mission first. after that system we're gonna have a long talk about why my house looks like black market for gods."
(Meanwhile)
the poor sect was on its last breath their disciples wearing torn robes sitting in empty fields they had nothing to eat their sect master raised hands to sky "oh heavens help us even a single herb to grow and we shall worship forever"
the moment he said that the whole sect ground started glowing the medium grass liang chen threw just like trash on the soil suddenly sprouted like mad bamboo shooting up into clouds leaves shining green like jade stalks thicker than the sect master's waist
disciples dropped jaws "sect master!! the grass… it's alive!!" one disciple hugged the stalk crying "mother i finally touched a real spiritual plant not just weeds" another started bowing to the grass like it was a god "we shall protect you forever mighty herb"
sect master cried rivers "thank you heaven!! we prayed for one herb and got a whole forest!! disciples this is proof heaven favors us we are not abandoned"
all disciples screamed "heavenly grass sect forever!!!" and they started dancing around the fields like lunatics while liang chen watching through system live feed held his head "seriously system i gave them medium grass and now they worship weeds like immortal medicine… this is comedy show not cultivation"
system replied calmly mission complete reward given.
liang chen: "yeah yeah whatever… i swear i just created the first sect in history that believes grass is a divine treasure. what's next? cabbage dao?"
as liang chen finished watching the sect grass drama the system dinged again
reward: one mortal body granted
a new figure appeared in front of him it was the body of a young man around his age no name shown just standing there like a sleeping npc system wrote aptitude: suitable for immortal venerable path and under that another line exclusive system: strongest lord system
liang chen rubbed his eyes "wait wait what… i get new body plus a new system? bro are you giving me employee benefits now?"
system replied calm like always host may now adventure in the created world using the body. if host leaves the heavenly dao realm a will shall form automatically. it will act like a ai assistance to balance heaven in your absence.
liang chen laughed "ah so basically you telling me you hire yourself another me like an employee keeping the company running while boss goes on vacation. not bad system not bad."
he looked at the body again his eyes shining "so i can finally go inside the world i made… no more just watching live feed like a stalker now i can join the game. this is gonna be fun."
with that liang chen smiled big "alright then… let's go"
and the chapter ended there leaving everything hanging like a door half open waiting for the next step.
next time adventure begins ... :