The mountain wind carried the early spring chill as villagers hurried along the dirt path, repairing fences, feeding livestock, and shouting across their small homes. In the middle of this lively, noisy scene, a boy around nine years old sat cross-legged on top of a giant rock, holding a wooden stick like a sword, dramatically swinging it in the air.
"Haah! Take this! And that!" Zinny yelled, performing exaggerated sword moves he had seen in countless cultivation novels during his past life.
He almost slipped and fell off the rock.
"Careful, hero," an elderly woman scolded from below while holding a basket of vegetables. "One day you'll hurt yourself trying to fight invisible enemies."
Zinny jumped down gracefully and flashed her a grin. "Aunty, destiny calls. I must prepare."
"Destiny will break your nose if you keep jumping like that," she muttered as she walked away.
Zinny chuckled, not offended at all. He enjoyed feeling alive—whether he was being scolded, praised, misunderstood, or mistaken as a lunatic. Everything was more vivid than his previous life spent indoors writing novels.
And, of course, he wasn't really alone.
Inside his mind, a familiar voice yawned dramatically.
"Host… your sword stance is 10% decent and 90% embarrassing."
Zinny clicked his tongue. "System, I'm practicing."
"You're waving a stick like a deranged chicken after losing a fight."
"Hey!"
"It's true. Very artistic chicken, though."
A moment passed before Zinny laughed. "At least compliment the chicken."
"Hmph. Fine. You're the king of chickens."
Zinny puffed his chest proudly. "As expected."
The voice—his System—snorted with exaggerated disdain. Zinny still never fully understood how his reincarnation created this sharp-tongued partner, but he knew one thing: the system contained his previous life's natural confidence, shamelessness, cleverness, and tactical ruthlessness. Meanwhile, Zinny's soul, in this world, kept the maturity and caution of a 30-year-old human who finally wanted to live.
They completed each other perfectly.
The System suddenly spoke with a cheerful, playful tone.
"Host, your gold-coin balance has increased by 12 coins."
Zinny blinked. "Huh? From what?"
"A new unnecessary educational video you absorbed last night."
Zinny raised a brow. "You mean the old man who was shouting for two hours about 'proper posture while sweeping the courtyard'?"
"Yes. A masterful performance. My sensors detected your brain cells screaming. That counts as suffering compensation. Therefore, you received gold coins. Maximum boost ×10 achieved. Congratulations."
Zinny wiped a tear dramatically. "I almost died listening to that."
"And yet… you survived. Impressive."
"Thanks, I guess?"
"You're welcome. Also: do not forget that in this world, gold coins convert to actual money using local ratio. You can buy snacks. Lots of snacks."
Zinny's eyes sparkled. "Now that is true power."
He stretched, placing the stick on his shoulders as he walked back to the village. The smell of rice porridge drifted from houses, children ran around chasing each other, and a few old grandpas argued about unrelated nonsense.
This was his peaceful home.
For now.
---
Later that day, Zinny sat in front of his small wooden house with a bored expression. The system popped up a glowing puzzle board in his vision—something like Sudoku mixed with cultivation runes.
"Host, you haven't done today's puzzle."
Zinny groaned. "Do I have to?"
"Yes. It trains your pattern recognition. If you don't improve, you will die at age 13 when a chicken spirit beast attacks you."
Zinny jerked up. "A chicken?! A chicken kills me?!"
"Mm. A very aggressive one."
"That's shameful even for me!"
The system hummed. "Then solve the puzzle."
Zinny narrowed his eyes. "Fine. But if I survive, I want compensation."
"As expected of my host. Always negotiating."
He worked on the puzzle. Within minutes, the board glowed, confirming completion.
"Good job," the system said, sounding pleased. "+50 gold coins. Try to maintain this. Your improvement is visible."
Zinny smirked. "Flattery accepted."
"Don't get used to it."
Zinny heard footsteps approaching. He glanced up—three young boys around his age were walking toward him.
"Hey Zinny," the tallest boy called. "Sect recruiters are arriving next week. Are you going to try?"
Zinny's eyes twitched. "Me? Try? No way! Absolutely not!"
The boys blinked.
Zinny leaned closer. "Of course I'll try."
They slapped his back, laughing at his theatrics.
Their laughter faded when the village chief's bell rang loudly. Everyone gathered in the square.
The chief, an old man with long white hair tied in a loose bun, spoke in a loud voice:
"Everyone, as you know, three sects will visit next week to recruit potential disciples. Prepare your children. Clean their clothes. Train their manners. Fortune waits for those chosen."
The crowd murmured excitedly.
Zinny's heart thumped fast.
Cultivation world = danger, opportunities, mystery, and death.
Exactly the type of life he came for.
But he wasn't stupid. He was cautious. He was prepared.
The System whispered.
"Host. Remember: your Copycat ability will activate during the recruitment tests. If you see any martial moves, techniques, or spiritual patterns, even once—you learn them. No need for permission. Just watch."
Zinny grinned, playful and sharp. "Then let them perform."
"Indeed. Also: you have 453 gold coins. Consider saving for cultivation boosters. Or snacks. Snacks are essential."
"Snacks first, life later."
"A true warrior."
---
That night, Zinny sneaked into the forest behind the village holding a basket filled with food. Not for himself—for feeding spirit beasts.
Not because he was brave.
Because he was preparing.
"System, monitor danger."
"No threats nearby except one squirrel. Very hostile."
"Ignore it."
"Understood. Preparing to ignore squirrel."
Zinny found a small clearing. Bright moonlight filtered through leaves. A rabbit-like spirit beast stared at him suspiciously. Zinny smiled warmly.
"Come here, little one. I brought carrots."
The spirit beast hesitated, then hopped closer cautiously.
Zinny whispered quietly.
"Observation… Max Learning… everything, activate."
He watched the spirit beast's movement patterns, tension, muscle behavior. His ability instantly absorbed the knowledge: how the beast shifted weight, how it prepared to flee or attack, how it sensed danger.
Technique gained: Micro-Tension Predictive Pattern.
Zinny smirked.
"One sample, one lesson."
The System whistled. "Copycat efficiency: 100%. Host, you have learned survival instincts from a rabbit."
Zinny puffed his chest. "A king must learn from all creatures."
"A king of chickens and rabbits."
"Still royalty."
More spirit beasts arrived. Zinny fed them, observed them, learned small movements, escape patterns, and defensive instincts.
This world was dangerous.
He needed every advantage.
After an hour, he walked home feeling satisfied.
The system suddenly spoke in a serious tone.
"Host… do you want your 90% attribute report?"
Zinny blinked. "Hmm… not now. I'll ask during the test."
"Wise."
"You're impressed?"
"A little."
Zinny smiled proudly.
---
One week later…
The village was decorated with lanterns. Children wore their best clothes—patched but clean. Parents whispered prayers. Grandparents boasted about their grandchildren's nonexistent talents.
Zinny stood among them wearing simple blue robes. His hair was tied loosely, giving him a carefree look.
The system sighed.
"Host… your appearance is 10% decent."
"Only 10?"
"Because the robe is wrinkled."
"I slept in it."
"I know."
Before Zinny could respond, the sky darkened—not from clouds, but from shadows descending.
Three groups of cultivators arrived, floating gracefully in the air.
The crowd gasped. Everyone bowed.
Zinny felt goosebumps.
They were the first real cultivators he saw.
Three sect banners unfurled:
• Azure Cloud Pavilion
• Crimson Blade Mountain
• White Lotus Valley
Each had ten disciples in grand robes.
The Azure Cloud Pavilion disciples released soft blue light. They looked calm and scholarly.
The Crimson Blade Mountain disciples radiated sharp killing intent, their red robes fluttering like flames.
The White Lotus Valley disciples glowed with pure aura, their white robes elegant like floating petals.
Zinny whispered, "This is dramatic."
The system replied, "Welcome to the world you asked for."
A tall woman from Azure Cloud Pavilion stepped forward. "Children, step forward for the first test: Spiritual Affinity Resonance."
She waved her hand.
A floating crystal orb appeared. It shone brightly, rotating gently.
One by one, children touched it. The orb displayed lights representing their affinity. Most glowed weakly. Some not at all.
Zinny waited patiently.
Finally, his turn arrived.
He stepped forward with a smile. "Hello, beautiful orb."
A few disciples raised their eyebrows.
Zinny touched the orb.
Instantly—
Before any affinity colors appeared—
He felt a strange tingling in his fingertips.
The orb flickered.
Not in normal colors.
But in a shifting, chaotic blend that looked like dancing silver threads.
The disciples gasped. The sect elders exchanged looks.
"What affinity is that?" someone whispered.
"Unknown…"
"Unstable?"
"No… adaptable…"
Zinny blinked innocently. "Is that good?"
The Azure Cloud Pavilion elder stepped closer, eyes narrowed. "Child… have you ever cultivated?"
Zinny shook his head. "No. I'm just… me."
The elder leaned closer, inspecting him like a rare fruit. Zinny felt attacked.
The System whispered calmly.
"Host. This is good. But be cautious."
Crimson Blade Mountain elder grunted. "Affinity unknown. But potential… high."
The White Lotus elder spoke softly. "Let us continue with the second test: Combat Instinct."
They brought out wooden training dummies that could move through basic combat patterns.
Children went one by one.
Some cried.
Some froze.
Some fell instantly.
When Zinny's turn came, he stepped forward with a playful smirk.
The dummy activated and swung a wooden arm toward his head.
Time slowed in Zinny's eyes.
Copycat ability activated subconsciously.
Every training movement the dummy made—its rotation, its weight distribution, its weak points—entered Zinny's mind instantly, like downloaded data.
He dodged smoothly, stepping right.
He tapped the dummy on the shoulder.
It stumbled.
Gasps echoed.
Zinny moved again—tilting his body slightly, lowering his center of gravity, using the rabbit's micro-tension escape patterns combined with natural street reflexes.
He wasn't overpowering it.
He was dancing around it.
The system chuckled, very pleased. "Good job, host. This performance is 90% awesome."
Zinny grinned. "What about the other 10%?"
"That is for future improvement."
He knocked the dummy down with a simple push at the perfect angle.
The disciples murmured.
This kid… wasn't strong.
But he learned instantly.
He adapted instantly.
And his movements were too clean for a nine-year-old.
Copycat mastery.
The elders whispered quietly.
Azure Cloud Elder: "Azure Pavilion likes adaptable talents."
Crimson Blade Elder: "Crimson Blade needs combat instincts like that."
White Lotus Elder: "White Lotus values intelligence and purity of mind."
Zinny just awkwardly scratched his cheek.
"Uh… can all of you stop staring at me? I'm shy."
The entire crowd awkwardly stared more.
Zinny regretted his mouth.
The system muttered, "Host… you are not shy. You are chaos."
Zinny whispered back, "Don't expose me."
Next came the final test—Mind Resonance.
A chessboard appeared. A puzzle board. A riddle stone.
Three mental tests.
Zinny sat down.
Before he could even think, the system whispered:
"Host… do not use me."
Zinny froze. "What? Why?"
"You need to show your own mind. Not mine."
"But—"
"Trust yourself."
Zinny swallowed.
He placed his hands on his thighs and took a deep breath.
The first puzzle appeared. A chess situation missing half the pieces. Zinny studied it, his mature mind analyzing quickly. His years of writing strategy scenes in novels helped him.
He solved it.
Second puzzle: rotating symbols forming a pattern.
He completed it in seconds. His Copycat ability recognized the rune-based structure from the training dummy's movements.
Third puzzle: a philosophical question.
"What is strength?"
Zinny wrote:
"Strength is choosing what you want to protect and knowing the cost."
When he finished, the elders looked speechless.
Azure Cloud Elder murmured, "His mind is calm but lively…"
White Lotus Elder nodded. "He has seen pain but chooses humor."
Crimson Blade Elder smirked. "He will be dangerous one day."
The village watched with wide eyes.
The elders stepped forward.
"We will each give him one offer."
Zinny raised a brow. "All three?"
Azure Elder: "Yes."
Crimson Elder: "Correct."
White Lotus Elder: "Indeed."
Zinny turned to the crowd and whispered dramatically, "This is awkward."
The system laughed loudly. "Host, congratulations. You have triggered a three-sect bidding war. Legendary start."
"What do I do?" Zinny muttered.
"Choose. Or negotiate. You're good at that."
Zinny stepped forward, smiling calmly despite his racing heart.
"Esteemed elders… I am honored. Truly. But I am just a simple village boy. Maybe I need to see what each sect offers before making such a life-changing choice?"
The elders exchanged glances.
Crimson Elder scoffed but nodded. "Very well."
Azure Elder smiled. "Practical."
White Lotus Elder agreed. "Wise."
Zinny felt relieved.
The system giggled. "Host. Smooth. Very smooth."
He smirked proudly.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
But deep down, Zinny felt something else.
Excitement. Fear. Ambition. Curiosity.
This world was unpredictable.
But Zinny had a system, a mature mind, shameless negotiation skills, Copycat mastery, and gold coins.
He would survive.
He would laugh.
He would explore.
He would take advantage of opportunities.
He would build his own path.
As the crowd dispersed, Zinny whispered,
"System… show attributes."
The system hummed. "…Only 90%."
"Fine."
A glowing panel appeared:
Name: Zinny
Age: 9
Background: Village boy / Reincarnated
Strength: 9/??
Speed: 11/??
Agility: 13/??
Intelligence: 28/??
Talent: 30/??
Reflexes: 25/??
Max Limit: 90% visible
Immunity: Low
Regeneration: Low
Healing: Low
Luck: Unstable (fluctuates)
IQ: 90% visible
EQ: 90% visible
Zinny squinted. "You didn't reveal everything."
The system whistled innocently. "I forgot~"
"I don't believe you."
"You'll live."
"Maybe."
They laughed together.
Ahead of him, the three sect elders waited, their eyes glowing with interest.
This was only the beginning.
A comedy-filled, shameless, dangerous, tactical, adventurous beginning.
Zinny stepped forward with a grin.
"Let's see what this world has to offer."