The morning sun cast a gentle glow over the city of Lianyun as Wei Jian stirred awake, confusion clouding his mind. His last memory was of plunging into icy water, struggling to rescue a drowning six-year-old boy. Then—darkness.
Now, as his eyes fluttered open, he found himself surrounded by two breathtaking women. Their attire—silken robes loosely draped—hinted at a night of revelry. Before he could question where he was, his vision blurred, and a torrent of alien memories flooded into his mind.
His name was still Wei Jian.
But in this life, he was the sole heir of the Jian Clan, one of the top forces in the Central Continent.
From childhood, Wei Jian had lived as a spoiled young master. Born to Jian Zheng, the patriarch of the clan, and Lady Liena, the only daughter of the Azure Lotus Sect's leader, his path should have been dazzling. Yet, his disinterest in cultivation—and the constant indulgence of his parents—left him stagnating at the fifth stage of Body Refining by sixteen.
Had it not been for his parents' protection, the clan would have long abandoned him.
Now, as the memories settled, his heart pounded. I've transmigrated… into a cultivation world.
Compared to his past life as an orphan scraping by on small gaming tournaments, this was a paradise of status and resources. Yet alongside the thrill came frustration. His peers were already stepping into Foundation Establishment, while this body languished in mediocrity.
The cultivation system in this world was vast:
Body Refining
Qi Gathering
Qi Condensation
Foundation Establishment
Golden Core (Initial, False, True)
Soul Formation
Nascent Soul
Tribulation Transcendence
Half Saint
Wei Jian clenched his fists. In this world, the strong rule. If I don't rise quickly, I'll be trampled.
A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Young Master, are you awake? Your father and mother are waiting in the clan hall."
"I'll be there shortly," Wei Jian replied, his voice calm.
The two women at his side stirred. Twin beauties with flowing violet hair and crimson eyes, their delicate faces contrasted with their mature, voluptuous figures.
"Young Master, shall we assist you in bathing?" one asked with a coy smile.
Wei Jian hesitated only for a moment before nodding. The memories of this body told him who they were—maids raised alongside him since childhood. Despite their remarkable talent—already at True Golden Core by twenty—they served only him. In another sect, they could have been celebrated as holy daughters. Here, they were his shadows, bound to him by loyalty and something deeper.
As they bathed and clothed him, Wei Jian caught his reflection in the mirror. His obsidian hair framed a handsome face that was both familiar and foreign. His once-ordinary brown eyes now gleamed azure, reflecting an otherworldly depth. For the first time, he truly looked the part of a young master.
---
The clan hall radiated majesty. His father, Jian Zheng, exuded power, broad-shouldered and stern, while his mother sat beside him, dignified and serene in azure robes.
"Wei'er, come sit beside me," his mother said warmly.
As he complied, her next words struck him like thunder.
"You have a fiancée. Your grandfather arranged it before his passing."
Wei Jian's mind immediately jumped to cultivation novel clichés. Don't tell me this is one of those plotlines—abandoned fiancée, face-slapping, revenge arcs…
Seeing his stunned expression, his mother's voice softened.
"You needn't worry. The girl is from a backwater clan, unworthy of you. Your grandfather only decided on a whim."
But hidden in the memories, Wei Jian found the truth. His fiancée, Lin Xue, was no ordinary girl. Once hailed as an unparalleled genius, she had been the pride of her generation—until her meridians were shattered in a mysterious accident. Once destined to stand at the peak, she had become a cripple, mocked as trash.
That was why his grandfather, in his eccentric ways, had sealed the engagement. Pity or foresight? Wei Jian couldn't tell.
"I will need to meet her before I decide," he replied calmly. His composed words shocked his parents, who had expected arrogance or rejection.
His father's gaze softened.
"Good. Focus on cultivation first. Without strength, even your status is a hollow shell. Here—take these spirit stones."
Wei Jian accepted the spatial ring, only to gape inwardly. Five hundred thousand spirit stones? Just like that? For comparison, a core disciple in a sect earned about five thousand a month. Truly, this was the life of a young master.
As he left the hall, pondering his future, a chime echoed in his mind.
Ding!
A translucent blue screen appeared before him.
> Initializing Speedrun Cultivation System…
Progress: 1%… 20%… 67%… 100%.
Hello, Host. I am the Speedrun Cultivation System, your eternal guide.
The voice was feminine, cold yet melodic.
Wei Jian blinked. A system? Just like in those trash cultivation speedrun games I used to laugh at? What's next, time trials and penalties?
> Correct.
Objective: Reach Qi Gathering Realm within 10 days.
Failure to comply will result in immediate death penalty.
Wei Jian froze, his blood running cold.
Ten days. No excuses. No second chances.
A ruthless grin spread across his face.
"So be it. If this world wants a speedrun… then I'll show them the fastest one they've ever seen."