Lin Xuan's vision sharpened as he focused on the faint glow in front of him. A panel of light appeared, hovering before his eyes. It was simple, almost clinical, yet impossibly precise. He reached out instinctively, and the system acknowledged his touch, expanding into full view.
[System Panel — First Activation]
Host Status: Lin Xuan — Current Body: Dying Ancestor of Lin Clan
Cultivation Realm: Body Refining Level 12 — Injured / Frail
Below this, the Clan Information loaded.
Clan Name: Lin Clan
Clan Level: Mortal Tier 3
Population: 1,000
Cultivator Distribution:
Body Refining Level 1–3: 700 people
Level 3–6: 100 people
Level 6–9: 150 people
Level 9–12: 50 people
25 at Level 9 (9th layer)
10 at Level 10
8 at Level 11
7 at Level 12 (including host)
Lin Xuan blinked at the numbers. He flexed his hands slowly, wincing as the pain ran up his arms. Every detail of the clan's structure, every cultivator's strength, appeared in front of him like a blueprint.
He scrolled down slowly, studying the distribution. Most of the clan was weak—Level 1 to 3—barely capable of basic survival. Only a handful approached mastery in Body Refining, and very few had even reached his current level. His mind traced the implications immediately.
If he did not act, the Lin Clan would continue to decline. The numbers told the truth: a Mortal Tier 3 Clan, struggling to maintain footing in a world that demanded far more.
He exhaled slowly, letting the system's panel sink into focus. Every cultivator, every layer, every individual was now visible to him. The 25 at Level 9… the 10 at Level 10… even the 7 at Level 12, including himself. All weaklings, struggling, clinging to life and cultivation alike.
Lin Xuan's gaze hardened. His body, fragile though it was, was not the limit. He could feel a pulse beneath the skin, a faint hum of potential suppressed by injury and years of stagnation.
The panel shifted. Options appeared: Daily Sign-In, Clan Management, Training Guidance, Resource Overview, Unknown Features — Locked.
He tapped Daily Sign-In. A faint chime sounded.
[Sign-In Complete — Reward Pending]
Lin Xuan didn't smile. Not yet. He simply flexed his fingers, observing the tremor, the way his muscles obeyed reluctantly but still obeyed.
He was alive. He had the system. And now, for the first time, he could see the truth of the Lin Clan laid bare before him.
A Mortal Tier 3 clan. 1,000 members. Most weak, a few on the brink, and one dying ancestor who would have to shoulder all their fates.
He exhaled. This was only the beginning.
The light from the system panel expanded, filling Lin Xuan's vision. The interface pulsed calmly, almost patiently, as if waiting for him to absorb what was about to be displayed.
[System Activation — World Overview]
A voice, neutral, mechanical, yet clearly audible in his mind, spoke.
"Host," the system began. "You currently inhabit the body of the dying ancestor of the Lin Clan. Your physical cultivation is at Body Refining, Level 12. You are fragile. Recovery is necessary. Observation is recommended before action."
Lin Xuan's mind absorbed the words, but the system continued immediately, opening wider horizons.
"This world operates on structured cultivation tiers. Current revelation to Host as follows:"
Cultivation Tiers:
Body Refining — 12 layers total
Qi Refining — 10 layers total
Foundation Establishment — 9 layers total
Qi Sea — 9 layers total
Divine Bridge — 9 layers total
Pagoda Condensing — 9 layers total
Golden Body — 9 layers total
Golden Core — 9 layers total
Nascent Soul — 9 layers total
Divine Transformation — 9 layers total
Void Shattering — 9 layers total
Body Integration — 9 layers total
Tribulation Realm — 9 layers total
Spirit Destroying — 9 layers total
Mortal Transcending — 9 layers total
Lin Xuan's eyes widened slightly, tracing the layers one by one in his mind. Each step was more than just a measure of power; it was a framework, a ladder of existence that most cultivators could only ascend with decades, even centuries of effort.
The system continued without pause.
Item Grades:
Mortal Tier 1 to Tier 9
Black Grade Tier 1 to Tier 9
Yellow Tier 1 to Tier 9
Blue Tier 1 to Tier 9
Earth Grade — Low to Peak
Heaven Grade — Low to Peak
Mysterious Grade — Low to Peak
"Items and artifacts follow strict grading. Host comprehension is advised before acquisition."
A new section unfolded, revealing levels of authority beyond individual cultivation:
Forces Levels:
Mortal Tier 1 to Tier 12 — applicable to clans, sects, dynasties, and similar entities.
The system's voice turned slightly analytical, precise.
"Host, your current strength prevents full revelation of higher realms, Dao-level entities, or forbidden techniques. This interface provides the maximum comprehensible framework at your present Body Refining Level. Additional tiers and entities will be revealed upon advancement."
Lin Xuan remained silent, taking it all in. The system displayed charts, bars, and categorical hierarchies. Every layer, every tier, every grade—each was an organized structure, showing the bounds of the world he had entered.
He flexed his fingers again, feeling weakness, but also understanding. The world was far larger than he had assumed. Far stricter. Far more ordered. Every cultivator, every clan, every item, and every force had its place in this hierarchy.
The system's light dimmed slightly, signaling the end of the revelation.
"Host, observation complete. Integration of knowledge recommended. Daily Sign-In and recovery functions remain available. Further actions are contingent on Host cultivation progression."
Lin Xuan blinked slowly. He sat on the massive bed, his white hair spilling over the pillow. The numbers, the tiers, the grades—all pressed into his mind.
He was weak. He was isolated. He was at the very edge of what the Lin Clan could currently offer.
Yet now, for the first time, he understood the framework. Every decision, every cultivation step, every resource, and every potential ally could be measured against this structure.
The system hovered silently before him, awaiting his next action.
Lin Xuan's vision sharpened as he focused on the faint glow in front of him. A panel of light appeared, hovering before his eyes. It was simple, almost clinical, yet impossibly precise. He reached out instinctively, and the system acknowledged his touch, expanding into full view.
[System Panel — First Activation]
Host Status: Lin Xuan — Current Body: Dying Ancestor of Lin Clan
Cultivation Realm: Body Refining Level 12 — Injured / Frail
Below this, the Clan Information loaded.
Clan Name: Lin Clan
Clan Level: Mortal Tier 3
Population: 1,000
Cultivator Distribution:
Body Refining Level 1–3: 700 people
Level 3–6: 100 people
Level 6–9: 150 people
Level 9–12: 50 people
25 at Level 9 (9th layer)
10 at Level 10
8 at Level 11
7 at Level 12 (including host)
Lin Xuan blinked at the numbers. He flexed his hands slowly, wincing as the pain ran up his arms. Every detail of the clan's structure, every cultivator's strength, appeared in front of him like a blueprint.
He scrolled down slowly, studying the distribution. Most of the clan was weak—Level 1 to 3—barely capable of basic survival. Only a handful approached mastery in Body Refining, and very few had even reached his current level. His mind traced the implications immediately.
If he did not act, the Lin Clan would continue to decline. The numbers told the truth: a Mortal Tier 3 Clan, struggling to maintain footing in a world that demanded far more.
He exhaled slowly, letting the system's panel sink into focus. Every cultivator, every layer, every individual was now visible to him. The 25 at Level 9… the 10 at Level 10… even the 7 at Level 12, including himself. All weaklings, struggling, clinging to life and cultivation alike.
Lin Xuan's gaze hardened. His body, fragile though it was, was not the limit. He could feel a pulse beneath the skin, a faint hum of potential suppressed by injury and years of stagnation.
The panel shifted. Options appeared: Daily Sign-In, Clan Management, Training Guidance, Resource Overview, Unknown Features — Locked.
He tapped Daily Sign-In. A faint chime sounded.
[Sign-In Complete — Reward Pending]
Lin Xuan didn't smile. Not yet. He simply flexed his fingers, observing the tremor, the way his muscles obeyed reluctantly but still obeyed.
He was alive. He had the system. And now, for the first time, he could see the truth of the Lin Clan laid bare before him.
A Mortal Tier 3 clan. 1,000 members. Most weak, a few on the brink, and one dying ancestor who would have to shoulder all their fates.
He exhaled. This was only the beginning.