Morning light slipped gently over the quiet valley as mist drifted between the low hills like pale silk. A small wooden house stood near the edge of a narrow stream, its roof covered with moss and its walls weathered by years of wind and rain. Behind the house stretched a modest herb garden, rows of carefully tended plants shimmering with dew.
Jiang shan pushed open the creaking door and stepped outside.
He was only thirteen years old, but his movements were calm and deliberate. A woven basket hung at his side, and a clay watering pot rested in his hands.
He breathed deeply.
"Ah… the air is nice today."
He walked toward the garden barefoot, the soft soil cool under his feet. As always, he began watering the herbs one by one, humming quietly.
His voice was clear and surprisingly beautiful for someone his age. The song was simple—a folk melody about mountains, clouds, and wandering cranes—but he sang it with a carefree joy that made the valley feel even more peaceful.
"Above the jade peaks the white cranes fly…"
Water poured gently onto the roots of a young spirit mint plant.
"…beyond the drifting clouds the immortal road lies…"
The herbs swayed softly.
Jiang shan smiled to himself.
This valley had been his home since childhood. His father had once lived here, teaching him how to identify herbs, refine simple medicinal powders, and cultivate slowly and patiently.
But his father had left three years ago to travel the world.
Before leaving, the old man had said only one thing:
"Guard the valley. Tend the garden. Fate will come when it must."
Jiang shan never understood what that meant.
Still, he continued living quietly.
Water herbs. Gather firewood. Cultivate at night. Sing when he felt happy.
A peaceful life.
He tilted the watering pot again.
Then—
A flash of crimson-gold light suddenly exploded in front of his eyes.
Shan nearly dropped the pot.
"AH!"
The water splashed onto his shoes as he stumbled backward.
Floating in the air before him was a line of glowing text, shimmering like molten gold mixed with fresh blood.
The words rearranged themselves slowly, radiating a faint pressure.
"The Supreme Valley System has been activated."
Another line appeared beneath it.
"Is there anything that the host wants this servant to do?"
Jiang shan froze.
"…."
He stared.
The text stared back.
A full ten breaths passed in silence.
"…Ghost?"
He looked around cautiously.
Nothing.
Birds chirped normally.
Wind rustled leaves.
The valley was exactly the same as always.
Jiang shan swallowed.
"…Spirit?"
The glowing letters flickered slightly but remained unchanged.
He cautiously reached out with a finger.
His hand passed through the text like mist.
"…Illusion technique?"
He shook his head immediately.
Impossible.
He had only reached the early stages of body tempering. Someone capable of casting illusions like this would be a powerful cultivator. Such a person would have no reason to scare a small valley caretaker.
The text flickered again.
"Host, this servant awaits instructions."
Jiang shan blinked.
"Wait… you can hear me?"
"Affirmative."
"…You can talk?"
"Affirmative."
He scratched his head.
"…What are you?"
The text shifted again.
"This servant is the Supreme Valley System."
"…System?"
Jiang shan frowned.
"That sounds like the name of some sect artifact."
There was a brief pause.
Then the crimson-gold text began producing new lines rapidly.
"Explanation requested. Beginning introduction."
The air around the words shimmered faintly as if invisible runes were assembling.
"A System is a supreme auxiliary construct designed to assist its host in growth, cultivation, and development."
Jiang shan tilted his head.
"…Auxiliary construct?"
"Correct."
"…So… you help me?"
"Affirmative."
"…Why?"
The text paused longer this time.
"Primary directive: assist the host in establishing the Supreme Valley."
"…Supreme Valley?"
Jiang shan looked around at the small herb garden, the crooked wooden fence, and the chicken coop behind the house.
"…This valley?"
"Correct."
He blinked twice.
"…It already has a name."
The system responded immediately.
"Current name: Unrecorded."
Jiang shan opened his mouth, then closed it.
"…Fair enough."
The glowing text brightened slightly.
"The system will now introduce its primary functions."
Five rectangular panels unfolded in front of him like floating scrolls.
Each radiated a faint golden glow.
[Invincible Valley Domain — Level 1]
Description:
Within the boundaries of the host's valley, the host becomes invincible against all hostile entities below a certain realm threshold. Host vitality, defense, and recovery are enhanced drastically while inside the domain.
Jiang shan blinked.
"…Invincible?"
He waved his hand through the panel.
"…You mean no one can beat me here?"
"Correct within current level restrictions."
"…What restrictions?"
"Information locked until domain boundaries are established."
Jiang shan scratched his cheek.
"…Still sounds impressive."
The second panel unfolded.
[Resource Creation]
Description:
The system can generate cultivation resources for the host. Resource types may include spirit stones, herbs, materials, and other cultivation necessities.
Energy generation:
10 Energy per second
Resources can be produced by consuming stored system energy.
Jiang shan eyes widened.
"…Spirit stones?"
Those were the fundamental currency of the cultivation world.
Even low-grade stones were extremely valuable.
He leaned closer to the panel.
"…Ten energy per second… how much energy does one spirit stone cost?"
"Cost varies depending on grade."
"…But it's possible?"
"Affirmative."
Jiang shan suddenly felt like his heart skipped a beat.
If this was true…
Then he would never need to worry about cultivation resources again.
The third panel opened.
[Cultivation Amplification — Level 1]
Description:
When the host cultivates within the valley, cultivation speed is significantly increased. Efficiency improves based on system level and environmental conditions.
Jiang shan eyebrows rose.
"…So I cultivate faster?"
"Correct."
"…How much faster?"
"Current amplification multiplier: unknown until the host performs cultivation within the valley domain."
Jiang shan nodded slowly.
Even a two-times increase would be incredible.
The fourth panel appeared.
[Heavenly Garden — Level 1]
Description:
A special garden space capable of accelerating plant growth and enhancing herb quality. Spirit herbs planted within the Heavenly Garden grow faster and possess higher medicinal potency.
Jiang shan eyes sparkled.
"…Wait."
He immediately looked back at his herb rows.
"…You mean herbs grow faster?"
"Affirmative."
"…And stronger?"
"Affirmative."
He laughed.
"That's amazing!"
If his father saw this, the old man would probably drop his wine jar in shock.
Finally, the fifth panel unfolded.
It glowed brighter than the others.
[Lifespan Multiplier — Level 1]
Description:
The host's lifespan will multiply by 2× every day.
This effect stacks continuously.
Jiang shan froze.
"…Multiply…?"
He stared at the panel.
"…Every day?"
"Affirmative."
"…Stacking?"
"Affirmative."
He slowly lifted a finger.
"…Does that mean if I live thirty years… tomorrow it becomes sixty?"
"Correct."
"…Then the next day… one hundred twenty?"
"Correct."
Jiang shan suddenly felt dizzy.
"…Is that… allowed?"
The system answered calmly.
"The system operates under supreme authority."
"…Right…"
He looked at the glowing panels again.
Then another line of text appeared.
Host Information
Name: Jiang shan
Age: 13
Body Lifespan: 29 years
Soul Lifespan: 1000 years
Jiang shan blinked.
"…Wait."
He pointed at the numbers.
"…Body lifespan twenty-nine?"
He touched his chest.
"…I only have sixteen years left?"
The system replied calmly.
"Correct."
"…Why?!"
"Body constitution currently weak. Early damage accumulated from harsh cultivation conditions."
Jiang shan winced.
That was probably true.
When his father trained him, he often practiced breathing techniques during winter nights in freezing water.
"…And soul lifespan?"
"Soul lifespan refers to the endurance of the host's spiritual consciousness."
"…So my soul can live a thousand years but my body only twenty-nine?"
"Correct."
Jiang chen sighed.
"…That's depressing."
Then he looked back at the fifth panel.
"…But the multiplier will fix that?"
"Affirmative."
Jiang chen scratched his head again.
"…This is all a bit sudden."
The panels slowly folded away.
Only the crimson-gold system text remained floating in front of him.
The valley breeze passed quietly between the herb rows.
After a moment, Jiang chen asked another question.
"…System."
"This servant is present."
"…Are you going to stay there floating in front of my face forever?"
The text flickered slightly.
"The interface can be hidden upon request."
"…Good."
He nodded.
"…Hide."
The glowing letters vanished instantly.
The valley returned to complete normality.