Pain.It was the first thing Li Han felt.
It was not the sharp, burning agony of heavenly lightning tearing through his meridians.Not the suffocating dread of his soul being ripped apart in the middle of his Nascent Soul Tribulation.
No.This was the dull, achy soreness of sleeping on a hard wooden bed, with thin straw poking through a ragged mattress.
His eyes snapped open.
The ceiling above him was… crooked?Cracked beams, hanging cobwebs, sunlight leaking through holes.It was a roof he hadn't seen in fifty years.
Slowly, he sat up. His chest rose and fell with shallow, human breaths. There was no endless ocean of spiritual energy swirling in his dantian, no vast divine sense scanning the mountains.
He reached inward—Nothing.Just a trickle of spiritual essence. Foundation realm, first stage… no, worse—half a step into it.
"This…" his voice cracked. It was the voice of a seventeen-year-old.
He stumbled off the bed, his bare feet touching cold floorboards. His gaze fell to the corner of the room, where a cracked bronze mirror leaned against the wall.
The face that stared back was… his. But younger. Sharp-eyed, handsome in a youthful way, hair tied messily at the back.
"This is… the outer disciple quarters," he whispered.Back then, he'd been nothing more than a nobody in Azure Cloud Sect, mocked for his poor talent.
The memory of his death came rushing back—the final lightning bolt, his scream, the white void—then darkness.And now… this.
His thoughts were interrupted by a cold chime that echoed not in his ears, but directly in his mind.
[System Activation Complete]Welcome, Host, to the Fortune–Cultivation System.
Binding complete. Synchronizing memories…Initial Parameters:
Cultivation: Foundation Realm (Stage 0)
Charisma: 50
Fortune Points: 0
First Task:Secure basic food and lodging.Reward: +50 Fortune Points
Li Han blinked. "A… system?" He'd heard of legendary cultivation inheritances—divine manuals, spirit treasures—but this was different.
Before he could ask questions, a thin, transparent screen floated before him. It shimmered faintly before fading into his mind's eye.
Step One: Survive
His stomach growled, dragging him back to reality.He searched his robe pockets—nothing but a single copper coin. Not enough for a full meal.
In his past life, this was the day he skipped breakfast, wandered the sect in frustration, and wasted precious hours before a humiliating spar in the training yard. That one loss had cost him his spot in the sect's inner disciple selection.
Not this time.
Li Han stepped outside. The crisp mountain air filled his lungs. Disciples bustled about, some carrying swords, others with baskets of herbs. Nobody spared him more than a glance.
He headed straight for the mission hall.
A young attendant sat behind a desk, barely looking up. "Outer disciple Li Han? You're late on last month's kitchen duty."
"Actually," Li Han said smoothly, "I'm here to help today. Right now."
The attendant squinted. "Volunteering?"
Li Han smiled faintly. "Consider it making up for past mistakes."
By midday, he was hauling baskets of vegetables and washing rice in the outer kitchen. Grease clung to his hands, but the smell of steaming buns and savory broth was heavenly. The kitchen master, an old man with a permanent scowl, glanced his way.
"You work fast for a lazy brat," the old man grumbled. "Here. Eat before the rest."
Li Han accepted the steaming bowl. Broth, noodles, and… actual meat slices.He devoured it with quiet gratitude.
[Task Complete: Food and Lodging Secured]Reward: +50 Fortune Points
A warm rush filled his mind, like golden coins raining down in an unseen vault. A new option appeared on the system panel:
Shop Unlocked – Basic Tier
Beginner Qi Condensation Manual – 30 FP
Low-Grade Qi Nourishing Pill – 20 FP
Minor Luck Charm – 10 FP
Li Han's fingers itched. In his past life, it had taken him months to afford even a single low-grade pill.
Without hesitation, he exchanged 30 FP for the manual. A golden book icon flashed, and the knowledge poured directly into his mind. Lines of refined breathing techniques, subtle meridian exercises—this was no ordinary outer sect manual.
He exhaled slowly. The path was open again.
This time, he wouldn't just claw his way into the inner sect.This time, he would dominate it.And beyond.
The sun dipped below the peaks, staining the clouds in red-gold. Li Han sat cross-legged on his creaky bed, the first thread of Qi swirling in his dantian.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
Fifty years of regret. A second life. And now… a system.
"Let's see," he murmured, eyes gleaming, "just how far I can go."