In this world governed by cultivation, where soaring to immortality meant rising above the heavens themselves, one's fate was written the moment their meridians formed.
For those born broken—like Lin Hao—there was no path forward. Only ridicule, pity, and scorn.
On a desolate peak west of Qinzhou City, Lin Hao stood still as a statue, his gaze fixed on the abyss below. The wind lashed against his robes, whispering like ghosts in his ears.
"Broken meridians, no cultivation, no dignity, no future… Even my wife won't look me in the eye."
He laughed bitterly. "Maybe death is my only way out of this joke of a life."
His foot shifted forward. He'd been here before, dozens of times—but this time felt different. He was ready.
Then—he paused.
High above, the heavens flickered. A star—no, something else—burned crimson in the sky. And it was growing.
Lin Hao squinted, confused.
"That's not right…"
Suddenly, dread surged through him.
"It's not a star… it's falling—!"
BOOOOM!
A deafening explosion shattered the silence as the meteor slammed into the nearby cliffside. Earth shook. Rocks blasted into the sky. The mountain itself groaned in agony.
Lin Hao was flung from the cliff like a ragdoll, his screams drowned in the roar of destruction. His vision blurred, then vanished entirely into black.
Lin Hao woke up to find himself lying in the middle of a forest.
The earthy scent of moss and damp leaves filled his nose as he slowly pushed himself upright, brushing dirt off his school uniform.
"I'm not even injured... not a single scratch," he muttered, checking his limbs. Everything seemed disturbingly fine.
Golden sunlight filtered through the treetops as dawn broke, casting gentle rays across the forest floor.
"An entire night has passed?" Lin Hao blinked in surprise. Then his expression dulled. "Not like anyone would've noticed I was gone anyway."
He turned to look at the towering mountain he'd jumped from—where he'd chosen to end it all—when something caught his eye. A faint blue glow blinked in the corner of his vision.
A rectangular box suddenly hovered in front of him, flickering gently.
[Welcome, Host!]
"Huh?" Lin Hao blinked. "What the hell is this?"
[Idiot Host, you have been chosen to wield great power!]
"Idiot host? Did this thing just insult me?" he growled. "Wait—host?"
[You have ten seconds to decide whether you accept this power or not.]
"Power? What power? Why am I talking to floating text like it's normal?! Am I dead? Is this some divine punishment for suicide? Madness in the afterlife?"
[Ten]
[Nine]
His heart skipped.
"It's actually counting down?!"
[Seven]
"Would I really die if I don't accept it?!"
[Six — (You shall die)]
"..."
[Four]
[Three]
[Two]
[One]
"I accept!" Lin Hao shouted, eyes wide in panic.
The countdown halted instantly.
"Huff… huff… Was it really gonna kill me…?" He clutched his chest, feeling his heartbeat slow. "What kind of psychopathic system is this?"
[Congratulations, Host! Your fate has now been turned around!]
"Hmm? What power is it even talking about?" Lin Hao squinted at the hovering text.
[Your body shall now undergo constitution examination and evolution!]
"Evolution?! What am I, a Pokémon?!"
But before he could rant further—
Yawn...
His eyes drooped. Sleep pulled at his consciousness like a tide.
[Host shall be transported to his abode and will remain unconscious for the next twenty-four hours.]
"Wait—!"
A blinding light exploded around him.
Zing!
Lin Hao disappeared into thin air, leaving only the swaying trees and whispering wind behind.
[System Update – 12%]
[System Update – 24%]
– Twelve Hours Later –
[System Update – 97%]
→ Quests function unlocked
[System Update – 99.9%]
...
[System Update – 100%]
[System update completed!]
[Congratulations, Host! You have now received this power completely!]
Lin Hao's eyes flew open.
He gasped and sat up, drenched in cold sweat.
"I-I'm still alive?! I didn't explode? No tribulation thunder? No divine punishment?!"
He glanced around.
Soft bedding. Silk curtains. The scent of sandalwood.
He looked down at himself."
[Host has been relocated to your abode for stabilization.]
Lin Hao's mouth twitched.
[You're welcome, peasant.]
He twitched harder.
"…So, what now?"
[Now begins your glorious journey…]
[As the one and only host of the CUCK SYSTEM!]
Lin Hao: "…"
"…I should've died when I had the chance."
[Initiating full-body scan for cultivation potential…]
He sat up straighter.
"Finally, something serious. Let's see what kind of heaven-defying hidden bloodline I've got…"
A warm light enveloped his body. His eyes lit up in hope.
"Could it be... I'm actually a chosen one?"
[Scan complete.]
[Analyzing dantian… meridians… organs… soul… libido...]
"...Libido?"
[Result: Host is completely incapable of cultivating.]
→ Dantian: Shattered
→ Meridians: Twisted
→ Spiritual Root: Nonexistent
→ Soul Sea: Dehydrated puddle
Lin Hao turned pale.
"W-what?"
[Further analysis: Host is also incapable of dual cultivation.]
[Reason: No Yin-Yang compatibility. Also… erectile qi dysfunction.]
"..."
"..."
"You mean to tell me… I can't even cultivate by sleeping with women?!"
[Correct.]
[Host cannot cultivate through intimacy with wives, lovers, demonic foxes, sect fairies, or heaven-defying beauties of any kind.]
Lin Hao was stunned.
"…So what the hell does this system even do?!"
[The Cuck System™ offers a revolutionary path: instead of cultivating with your women… you gain power when others do it for you.]
"...What?!"
"You're telling me… I get stronger… by being cuckolded?!"
[Exactly!]
"...So I just stand there like some tragic side character, watch my girl get taken by some young master... and then I power up?!"
[Bingo. No pain, no gain. No girl, no gains.]
"This is... This is hell..."
[Correction: This is cultivation.]
[Welcome to your path, Host. Embrace it. Endure it. And ascend.]
Lin Hao collapsed back into the bed, eyes lifeless.
He had no roots. No dantian. No women. No pride.
All he had… was the Cuck System.
And his suffering had just begun.