Huo Zhenyang woke to the scent of damp thatch and sun-warmed earth.
His eyes snapped open. The cramped Shanghai apartment was gone—no flickering laptop screen, no half-empty instant noodle cup, no angry one-star review still open on the browser. Instead, he lay on a thin straw mat inside a simple thatched hut. Rough wooden beams crossed overhead. A square window let in soft morning light, and outside came the gentle splash of water against rice stalks.
He sat up slowly, heart pounding. The body felt young and weak—twenty years old, lean from farm labor, sun-tanned skin, short messy black hair, ordinary features that held no special promise. Yet the name in his mind was still his own: Huo Zhenyang.
Memories crashed in. He had been twenty-eight, an ordinary office worker in modern Earth, exhausted after another long day. Late at night he had read the latest chapters of Heavenly Yin-Yang Chronicles, only to watch the author kill off Su Yinrou in a cheap, pointless tragedy midway through the story—just before the ending. Furious, he had posted a scathing one-star review calling out the lazy writing and wasted potential. Then came the strange cosmic shift, like the universe itself had taken offense… or offered a twisted second chance.
Now he was here, inside the very novel he had hated.
Zhenyang swung his legs off the bed and stood. The hut was tiny: one room with a low table, a few clay pots, and a wooden bucket. Through the open doorway he saw Green Willow Hamlet—scattered thatched roofs, wide rice paddies gleaming with dew, and gentle wooded hills beyond. The air felt alive with faint spiritual Qi, though the density was low, typical of the outer edges of the Azure Veil Continent.
A clear mechanical chime sounded inside his head.
[Clan Blessing System]
Activation complete.
Host consciousness successfully transmigrated.
Current body: Huo Zhenyang, age 20, Grade 2 Earth-attributed Spiritual Root.
Cultivation realm: Mortal (uninitiated).
Location: Green Willow Hamlet, outer edge of Azure Veil Continent.
Clan Points: 0
Partners: None
Reputation: Unknown villager
He exhaled slowly. "So the system is real… and it's mine now."
The interface felt clean and helpful, not overwhelming. He remembered the original novel's vague mentions of cultivation realms—ten major stages from Qi Refining all the way to Dao Origin, each split into Early, Mid, Late, and Peak. Dual cultivation was the fastest, most harmonious way to absorb and balance Qi here, merging Yang essence with nourishing Yin essence. In the countryside especially, it was open and celebrated, part of daily life.
Zhenyang stepped outside barefoot. Cool, damp soil met his soles. A few villagers were already moving between the paddies. Men wore open-front vests that showed sun-browned chests paired with simple fundoshi bottoms. Women wore short cropped hanfu tops tied with single sashes over chest sarashi wraps, their fundoshi-style loincloths fluttering lightly as they worked. The clothing was practical, revealing, and easy to loosen during work or intimacy.
He started walking along the narrow dirt path that wound between huts and fields. His steps were slow, deliberate. The young body felt unsteady at first, but it adapted with each stride. As he moved, more details of the world settled into place through simple observation.
This was the outer edges—low Qi density, where mortals relied on farming rice and spiritual herbs to survive. Conception was notoriously difficult here; fragile life essence and harsh conditions made natural pregnancy rare. Regular, enthusiastic dual cultivation was the main way couples strengthened their bodies, circulated Qi, and increased the slim chances of stable offspring. Moans and rhythmic sounds of pleasure often drifted across the fields during work breaks, met with knowing smiles or polite ignorance. It was simply how life worked.
Zhenyang's modern Earth mind still found the openness jarring, but he understood its logic. Pleasure, power, and family were intertwined.
He recalled the original plot clearly. In Heavenly Yin-Yang Chronicles, this weak orphan farmer's son had died young and forgotten. Su Yinrou—the curvaceous village girl with sun-kissed golden skin, warm expressive eyes, and a body shaped by honest farm labor—had been destined for a meaningless tragic end. The author had thrown her away for cheap drama. Zhenyang had loved her character: gentle yet fiery, the kind of woman who could grow into a strong matriarch.
Never again.
The path curved toward the eastern side of the hamlet, near a small clear stream. That was where Su Yinrou lived with her widowed mother. At the start of the original story she had already been acquainted with this body—fond of his quiet reliability even when others teased the talentless orphan.
As Zhenyang walked, the System chimed again, feeding information gently.
[Clan Blessing System]
Host has not yet sworn the founding oath.
All functions remain in standby.
Note: This system is heavily overpowered. Even simple helpful actions in daily life, farm work, or small combats will earn generous, disproportionate rewards.
Current Affection with Su Yinrou: 18 (Acquaintance stage, bordering Fondness).
Affection tracks genuine emotional connection only. It cannot create or force feelings.
Good, he thought. He wanted real bonds, not artificial ones.
Tall rice stalks swayed on both sides of the path. In the distance he caught faint sounds—soft, breathy moans mixed with the wet slap of skin and a woman's gasping pleasure. They came from behind a thick patch of crops where two villagers were clearly taking a morning break. The rhythmic cries carried openly on the breeze, unashamed. A low male groan followed, then shared laughter and murmured words too quiet to make out.
Zhenyang felt his cheeks warm slightly. The contrast with his old world was stark, but he kept walking at the same slow pace. Public affection was normal here—lewd kisses with Qi exchange, bold caresses, intimate touches during the day. Full sessions usually stayed private but often spilled into audible ranges. In low-Qi outer regions like Green Willow Hamlet, dual cultivation helped restore energy after hard labor and improved the slim odds of successful pregnancy.
He passed another small field where an older couple worked side by side. The woman waved casually. "Morning, Zhenyang. Heading to the stream?"
He nodded politely, palms together in a light greeting. "Yes, auntie. Checking the herb patch near Su's place."
She smiled knowingly but asked nothing more. Villagers here were tight-knit. Everyone knew everyone, and daily shared labor created natural chances for conversation and courtship. Finding a good partner was simpler in the countryside than in the competitive inner regions.
The stream came into view, its water bubbling softly over smooth stones. Su Yinrou knelt at the bank, rinsing a few clay bowls. Her long dark hair was tied in a practical ponytail that swayed with her movements. Sun-kissed golden skin glowed in the morning light. Her cropped hanfu top had shifted slightly from work, the single sash straining against the heavy swell of her breasts beneath the sarashi wrap. Wide fertile hips and strong yet soft thighs filled her fundoshi bottoms, the side ties fluttering gently. Her full plump ass pressed against her heels as she worked.
She looked up as he approached. Warm expressive eyes met his, and a small, genuine smile curved her full lips.
"Zhenyang? You're out early today. Is something wrong?"
Her voice was gentle with a natural lively undertone. She wiped her hands on a cloth and rose to her feet. The motion made her top shift again, briefly highlighting the deep valley between her breasts.
Zhenyang stopped a respectful distance away, taking her in slowly. His heart beat faster—not just from attraction, but from the knowledge that this was the woman the original story had wasted. She was already acquainted with him and fond of his honest hard work.
"Nothing's wrong," he said calmly. "Just felt like starting the day differently. The fields looked thirsty, and I thought I'd check the southern herb patch. And… I wanted to see you."
Su Yinrou tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her face. "See me? That's new. Usually you just nod and keep to yourself."
He offered a small, honest smile. "Maybe I've been too quiet. Things feel different this morning."
She studied him for a moment, then laughed softly—a warm, musical sound that fit the peaceful village morning. "Different how? Did the spirit herbs give you strange dreams?"
Zhenyang took another slow step closer. The stream burbled beside them. Somewhere farther off, another faint moan drifted from the fields, reminding him how natural intimacy was here.
He looked at her directly. "I had a rough night of thinking. In this world… strength matters. Protecting what's important matters. I don't want to stay weak forever. I've decided I'm going to rise from the bottom and become the strongest patriarch this continent has ever seen. I'm going to build a real clan—one based on genuine bonds, not empty numbers."
Su Yinrou's eyes widened slightly in surprise. She set the bowls down carefully. "That's quite the big dream for a morning by the stream, Zhenyang. Most men here are happy just to keep the harvests steady and find a good wife."
"I know," he replied steadily. "But I want more. And I want you to be part of it—if you're willing. Not as some passing fancy, but as my first wife. My matriarch. I swear it here and now: I will protect those who stand with me. I will build something lasting."
The words carried absolute sincerity. They came from the anger he still felt toward the original novel's waste of her character, mixed with real admiration for the gentle fire he saw in her.
For a heartbeat, silence stretched between them, broken only by the stream and distant village sounds.
Then the System responded with clear, clean notifications.
[Clan Blessing System]
Oath of the Patriarch recognized and accepted with full sincerity.
Clan Blessing System now fully activated at maximum early-game overpowered capacity.
Massive rewards granted for decisive action.
Clan Points awarded: +800
New Quest Unlocked: The First Bond
Affection with Su Yinrou increased naturally by 12 points due to genuine resolve shown.
Current Affection with Su Yinrou: 30 (Fondness stage)
Primacy Blessing reserved for Su Yinrou as First Wife / Matriarch.
A warm surge of energy flowed through his meridians. His Grade 2 Earth root pulsed gently, as if responding to the new possibilities. Even his currently weak mortal body felt a little more stable, though he knew real cultivation would take time and effort.
Su Yinrou's cheeks flushed a soft pink. She stared at him, lips slightly parted. "Your first wife? Zhenyang… we've barely spoken beyond greetings and shared meals. You're really serious about this?"
"I am," he answered quietly, keeping his tone warm and steady. "I know it sounds sudden. But I've seen enough to know what I want. You're kind, strong, and you have real fire inside. I want to prove myself to you—day by day—if you'll give me the chance."
She looked down at her hands for a moment, then back up at him. Her expression shifted from surprise to something softer, more thoughtful. A tentative smile touched her lips. "You've always been reliable and hardworking, even when the village teased you for having no talent. I don't dislike the idea… but talk is cheap here. Actions matter more than big words."
Zhenyang nodded, respect blooming warmly in his chest. She wasn't rushing in blindly. That only made her more appealing. He wanted quality—real compatibility built through consistent effort.
"Then let me start proving it today," he said. "With small steps first. The herb patch, the fields… and getting to know you better."
The System chimed once more, soft and encouraging.
[Clan Blessing System]
First steps toward selective clan building initiated.
Su Yinrou's potential as Primary Wife detected.
Lineage tracking started.
Further progress depends on mutual genuine connection and shared actions.
Zhenyang felt a quiet thrill settle over him. The path ahead was clear now. The overpowered system would reward even ordinary helpful tasks generously, turning daily life into satisfying progress. Su Yinrou stood before him—alive, real, and already showing the first sparks of interest.
She stepped a little closer. The faint scent of fresh herbs and warm skin reached him. Her warm eyes searched his face with newfound curiosity and the barest hint of excitement.
"Alright, Zhenyang," she said softly, a playful lilt entering her voice. "You've caught my attention this morning. What's your first small step, then?"
He smiled slowly, the weight of his oath resting comfortably on his shoulders like the beginning of a mantle.
The morning sun rose higher over Green Willow Hamlet, painting the rice paddies in golden light. Somewhere in the distance, another pair's joyful cries drifted across the fields—life continuing its natural, bold rhythm.
Zhenyang looked at Su Yinrou and felt the first real stirrings of possibility.
This was only the beginning.