The storm above the mountain did not fade.
If anything, it grew darker.
Golden lightning coiled through the clouds like furious dragons, illuminating the ruined sect in flashes of white and gold.
I stood frozen at the top of the broken stairs, staring at the ancient stone staircase that had risen from beneath the snow.
The cold wind blowing from below felt unnatural.
It wasn't just cold.
It felt old.
Ancient.
Like something buried for thousands of years had just taken its first breath.
"…you have returned…"
That whisper still echoed in my ears.
I swallowed hard.
"System", I muttered, forcing my voice to stay calm, "Start explaining. What exactly did I just awaken?"
The translucent screen flickered before me.
For a moment, lines of unreadable golden text flashed across it, too fast for me to catch.
Then the familiar mechanical voice returned.
[Host authority insufficient.]
I stared blankly.
"Authority insufficient?"
[Please increase sect rank to unlock historical records.]
I nearly laughed in disbelief.
"So even the answers are locked behind grinding?"
[Correct.]
"…Of course."
The system paused.
Then, as if unable to resist mocking me, another line appeared.
[Current Host Status: Weak, poor, and dangerously overconfident.]
I clenched my fists.
"You really enjoy insulting me, don't you?"
[Statement: Merely reporting facts.]
"Brutal."
I exhaled and looked around again.
The sect was a complete disaster.
The main hall's roof had a hole big enough for snow to fall directly inside.
The courtyard statues had lost their heads.
One of the walls leaned so badly that I was afraid it might collapse if I sneezed.
Even the old bell seemed ashamed of existing.
This wasn't a sect.
This was a historical accident.
Still, the system reward screen was floating in front of me.
STARTER PACK OPENED
Recruitment Token x1100 Spirit StonesBasic Sect Protection Formation TalismanRepair Charm x1
I rubbed my hands together.
"Now we're talking."
Even if this sect was trash, a system was still a system.
These rewards could be my starting capital.
The moment I tapped the 100 Spirit Stones, a small leather pouch appeared in my palm.
It was heavier than expected.
I loosened the string and peeked inside.
A faint silver glow spilt out.
Inside were smooth, translucent stones radiating spiritual energy.
"Spirit stones…"
Even with the inherited memories, I could tell these were precious.
For mortals, one stone was enough to live comfortably for months.
For cultivators, these were cultivation resources.
For me?
These were survival funds.
The next item was a yellow talisman.
The words on it glowed faintly.
Basic Sect Protection Formation
I raised an eyebrow.
"Can this actually protect this mountain of ruins?"
[Can repel Qi Refinement cultivators below the 3rd layer.]
"…So basically it's only useful against weaklings."
[Like Host.]
I stared at the screen.
"You know what? One day I'm deleting your sarcasm settings."
The system remained gloriously silent.
Then my eyes fell on the last item.
Repair Charm
This one looked more useful.
I stepped toward the broken sect gate.
Half the stone arch had collapsed.
Snow had buried the entrance.
I pressed the charm onto the cracked pillar.
The talisman dissolved into golden light.
The entire gate trembled.
Cracks began sealing.
Stone dust rose into the air as broken fragments reassembled themselves.
Within seconds, the shattered sect gate stood upright once more.
I blinked.
"…That's actually amazing."
The ancient plaque above the gate also repaired itself.
And there, carved into black stone in elegant golden letters, were the words:
ALL-HAIL SOVEREIGN SECT
A gust of wind swept across the mountain.
For a moment, the sect looked almost dignified.
Almost.
Then I looked to the left and saw half the outer wall collapse with a loud crash.
"…Baby steps."
Just then, the system chimed again.
[Main Mission Updated.]
MISSION: FIRST DISCIPLE
Objective: Recruit your first discipleTime Limit: 3 daysReward: Spirit Root Detection Art + Sect Rank UpgradePenalty for failure: Soul Punishment
I froze.
"Soul punishment?"
[Moderate pain.]
"How moderate?"
[Comparable to being struck by heavenly lightning.]
"…That's not moderate!"
The system, once again, ignored my suffering.
I turned toward the mountain path leading down.
A nearby town existed at the base of the snowy peaks.
If I wanted disciples, that would be the best place to start.
Then reality hit me.
Who in their right mind would join a sect ranked 9999 out of 9999?
A sect with one member.
A sect leader with zero cultivation talent.
A sect that looked like it might fall apart before sunset.
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"This is impossible."
[Host may use Recruitment Token.]
The screen displayed the token's description.
RECRUITMENT TOKEN
Effect: Detects one high-potential candidate within a 10 li radius
Now that was useful.
I crushed the token in my palm.
Golden light burst outward like dust in the wind.
Then a single thread of light shot down the mountain path, pointing toward the mortal town below.
I smiled.
"Well then."
Looks like the heavens had already prepared my first victim.
I mean disciple.
I wrapped the spirit stone pouch inside my robe and began walking down the mountain.
Snow crunched beneath my boots.
The sky remained cloudy, but the storm had lessened.
As I descended, I finally had time to think.
This world was not Earth.
The inherited memories made that much clearer.
This was a cultivation world.
The weak were prey.
The strong ruled kingdoms.
The above kingdoms were sects.
The above sects were holy lands.
And above even them…
The Nine Heavens.
A place spoken of only in legends.
If I failed here, I wouldn't just die.
I would be erased.
My soul obliterated.
So no matter what—
I had to make this sect rise.
Even if I had zero talent.
Even if the system bullied me every five minutes.
Even if I had to drag disciples back by force.
The light thread led me through the snowy forest and finally into a bustling market town.
People crowded the streets despite the cold.
Vendors shouted over one another.
The smell of roasted buns and grilled meat filled the air.
And then—
A blur.
A small figure dashed past me and snatched a meat bun from a stall.
"Hey! Thief!" the vendor roared.
The figure ran straight into an alley.
For some reason, the golden thread of light followed.
I stopped.
"…No way."
I quickly followed the glowing trail into the narrow alley.
There, crouched behind stacked wooden crates, was a girl no older than fourteen.
Her clothes were ragged.
Her black hair was messy.
Her cheeks were dirty from soot and snow.
Yet her sharp golden eyes glared at me with absolute defiance as she clutched the stolen bun.
"Old man," she snapped, "if you're here to take this, I'll bite."
I stared.
Old man?
I was twenty-six in my previous life!
Then again, this body was slightly older.
Still.
Rude.
Before I could respond, the system screen exploded into light.
TARGET DETECTED
Name: Lin XiaoyuAge: 14Status: MortalPotential: SSSBloodline: HiddenDanger Level: High attitude, higher talent
I nearly choked.
SSS?!
My eyes widened.
This scrappy little thief was the disciple candidate?
The system continued.
[Warning: Candidate possesses sealed Ancient Dragon Bloodline.]
My heartbeat spiked.
Ancient Dragon Bloodline?
My first disciple was already this broken?
I looked at the girl again.
She glared right back.
"What are you staring at?"
A slow grin spread across my face.
"Oh, nothing."
I crouched down.
"Just thinking…"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Thinking what?"
I smiled.
"Would you like to join the greatest sect in the Nine Heavens?"
Silence.
Then—
She burst out laughing.
"Hah?!"
Her laughter echoed through the alley.
"Are you crazy?"
I pointed dramatically toward the snowy mountain peak.
"Behold! The future number one sect!"
She looked at the mountain.
Then back at me.
Then laughed even harder.
"…That broken ruin?"
I coughed.
"Temporary condition."
She crossed her arms.
"Sounds fake."
I smirked.
"Good. Then it's perfect for us both."
Her golden eyes narrowed.
For the first time, curiosity flickered inside them.
And I knew—
This was where the real story would begin.