He died as Ethan Vale, an ordinary boy from a world without cultivation, without fate.
When he opened his eyes again, he was reborn as Lin Yuan, a child abandoned at the gates of Azure Cloud Sect, one of the weakest sects in the Eastern Spirit Domain.
On the night of his reincarnation, as rain soaked the stone steps and thunder rolled above.
A cold mechanical voice echoed in his soul.
[Reincarnation Complete.]
[Heavenbound System Activated.]
[Host: Lin Yuan.]
[Current Mission: Live.]
No rewards.
No guidance.
No explanation.
The system fell completely silent.
Lin Yuan was sixteen.
Within Azure Cloud Sect, he was known as steady but unremarkable.
Cultivation Realm: Spirit Condensation (7th Layer)
Talent Evaluation: Above Average
Reputation: Reliable, forgettable
Those who surpassed him included:
Zhao Feng, a genius disciple backed by an elder
Mu Chen, the sect's favored prodigy
Qin Yue, a sword cultivator praised by all
Lin Yuan never complained.
He cultivated harder than anyone yet no matter how he tried, his realm refused to advance.
It was as if an invisible lock sealed his foundation.
Then, on the night of his sixteenth birthday, while meditating beneath the Moon Reflection Pavilion.
The voice returned.
[Main Quest Unlocked.]
[Ten-Year Silence Condition: Complete.]
Lin Yuan's breath froze.
[Quest: Confess your love to the Sect Leader.]
[Target: Su Yanli.]
[Location: Sect Assembly Hall.]
[Time Limit: 24 Hours.]
Lin Yuan's mind went blank.
Su Yanli.
The Sect Leader of Azure Cloud Sect.
A woman rumored to have once challenged a Nascent Soul cultivator while still injured.
Cold. Dignified. Untouchable.
Confessing to her was not bold.
It was suicide.
[Failure Condition: System Termination.]
For the first time in ten years.
Lin Yuan felt fear.
The next day, the Sect Assembly Hall was full.
Elders sat above:
Elder Mo Rong, master of formations
Elder Bai Shen, the punishment elder
Elder Luo Qian, who disliked Lin Yuan openly
Disciples stood below, whispering.
At the highest seat sat Su Yanli, clad in white and azure robes, her presence suppressing the hall into silence.
Then—
Lin Yuan stepped forward.
Gasps echoed.
"Isn't that Lin Yuan?"
"What is he doing?"
"Is he insane?"
He knelt.
And spoke.
Sect Leader Su Yanli I do not seek your favor or your body nor your status.
The hall froze.
I confess my heart.
Su Yanli's eyes narrowed.
This disciple believes in you.
Believes in your path.
Believes that following you… is worth giving everything.
The words were not desire.
They were truth.
For a heartbeat
Nothing happened.
Then
BOOOOOOM
The sky shattered.
Spiritual energy descended like a collapsing heaven pillar. Lin Yuan screamed as his meridians broke apart then reforged stronger than before.
Golden light erupted from his body.
[Breakthrough Detected.]
[Realm Advancement Successful.]
[Spirit Condensation to Ascendant Core.]
[Hidden Dao Unlocked: Heart Truth Dao.]
The elders stood in shock.
This is impossible Elder Luo Qian
A breakthrough without pills Without guidance Elder Bai Shen
Su Yanli slowly rose from her seat.
Her eyes were no longer cold.
They were shaken.
Because she felt it.
His cultivation had advanced without deceit, ambition, or greed.
Only sincerity.
The system whispered one final line:
[In this world, the heart is the rarest spiritual root.]
And Lin Yuan collapsed smiling.