An unexpected Beauty

wang Jun's laughter was a facade, a response to the expectations set by his parents. They wished for him to carry a perpetual smile, believing that it was the path to lifelong happiness. However, this laughter, which had once come naturally, now felt like a distant memory.

His life took an extraordinary turn when he found himself in the starry continent, burdened with an incredible responsibility. He became the leader of a group entrusted with an extraordinary system. This newfound role stripped away his ability to genuinely experience joy.

The mission assigned to him was nothing short of colossal – to elevate the Solid Strike faction to unparalleled greatness and attract a staggering 100,000 disciples into its ranks. This task was incredibly daunting, made even more challenging by the stringent condition of completing it within a mere century.

As Wang Jun contemplated his unique predicament, he couldn't help but wonder why his system seemed to pale in comparison to those of others. While his peers received equipment, valuable experiences, or prices that approached 999, he couldn't help but feel that he had drawn the short straw in the grand scheme of things.

Wang Jun sighed, pondering his unique situation as a traverser. He wondered aloud, "How do I greet my fellow transmigrators?"

He knew he had to make the best of this unusual experience. So, he initiated a conversation with the space ring that had become an integral part of his new life.

"I hope there's something special inside," he murmured, his thoughts melding with the enigmatic space.

Wang Jun often laughed softly as he prayed, his thoughts melting into the mysterious space. After he entered the space ring, his hopes for a divine costume or a cherished beast egg hatched slowly faded away. All he found was a plain brick.

He approached the brick with a hopeful smile and whispered to himself

"Is it an artifact? I've read countless books, and I know that even seemingly ordinary objects can hide ancient secrets."

"Snapped,"

he chuckled, grabbing the brick. His heart raced as he felt a faint, almost imperceptible, pulsation from the brick.

These discoveries filled him with excitement and curiosity, and he couldn't wait to uncover the mysteries hidden within this unassuming object.

A surge of excitement coursed through Wang Jun's heart. "Could there be a hidden power within this brick?"

he wondered aloud. The mere thought of unlocking a fantastic ability filled him with exhilaration.

As he continued to contemplate the possibilities, his enthusiasm for the artifact grew. He couldn't contain his excitement, and a triumphant smile graced his face.

However, his elation was abruptly halted as he examined the brick further. The brick's surface displayed a text and a series of numbers, revealing a startling truth

the remaining time until self-explosion: 99 years, 355 days, 23 hours, 58 minutes, and 46 seconds.

Shock washed over him as he read the ominous message. In the lower left corner, a brief note added to his mounting concerns: "The mainline mission must be completed within a hundred years, or the explosive device will trigger on its own."

The realization that his life was now bound to this mysterious artifact left him with a mix of fear, uncertainty, and determination.

"Ding!''

''Ding!"

The notifications kept popping up, and each one seemed to take a year off the countdown.

"I hit his uncle!"

Wang Jun couldn't hold back his exasperation any longer. He chucked the brick to the ground like an enraged child and yelled,

"This is no fancy artifact, it's a bloomin' bomb!"

"Ding!"

The brick landed with a thud, and the display stubbornly insisted on showing 22:58 instead of the initially terrifying 23:58.

"Host!"

The system chimed in, sounding as composed as ever, "This charming device is known as a 'soul blaster.' It even has feelings, and if you upset it, it'll just quicken the countdown."

Wang Jun couldn't help but collapse dramatically to the ground, tears in his eyes as he cried, "System, this isn't fun anymore. I just want to go home..."

The system, still unfeeling, replied, "The system's a one-way ticket. You've got a main task to complete, and if you're a downer, this soul blaster might just throw a tantrum."

Wang Jun's comical despair continued, "Fine, give me a knife then. I'll end it myself."

"Ding!"

"Fulfilling the host's first wish: Here's a rare sword!"

Now he had a shiny, menacing sword but was no closer to escaping this peculiar predicament. Wang Jun stared at the blade in bemusement, thinking, "Well, at least I can fend off the impending explosions with style."

Wang Jun was in a bizarre state of both frustration and amusement. His wish for a quick exit hadn't been granted, and now he held a sword that he didn't really want. It was ironic, but he found a strange satisfaction in it. "Well," he thought, "at least I've got a fancy sword to accompany me on this crazy journey."

But when he finally arrived in the Starfall Continent and reactivated the system, he realized that his fate was far from over. With a sigh, he examined the system panel's data carefully.

The information about the martial arts, their leaders, and their members was straightforward enough. However, what truly puzzled him was the part labeled

"Sect Construction: Level 1"

"Sect Contribution Value: 0/100."

He scratched his head in confusion, muttering to himself, "What in the world is this 'sect construction' and 'contribution value' all about?"

"Host."

A voice from the system said, "The martial arts construction contains a lot, and the higher your level, the more martial arts functions you can access."

Wang Jun, with interested tone asked, "Can you give me an example?"

The system responded with enthusiasm, "Certainly! The host can simply think about it and touch the 'sect construction' to open a detailed data panel."

Curiosity piqued, Wang Jun wondered, "Does this feature still work?"

With a knowing smile, Wang Jun closed his eyes, shutting out the distractions of the world around him. He focused his thoughts on the words

"sect construction."

Suddenly, as if in response to his mental command, a small panel appeared in front of him, radiating a soft, ethereal glow. A short but informative explanation hovered above it.

Level 1: Sect - No special features yet.

Level 2: Sect - Opens the Alchemy Pavilion.

Level 3: Sect - Unlocks the Foundry Pavilion.

Level 4: Sect - Opens the Charm Pavilion.

Level 5: Sect - Unlocks the Spirit Beast Pavilion.

In small print at the back of the page, it says, "You need to reach Level 5 to discover more features."

Wang Jun smiles to himself

"How to improve sect construction?"

"To enhance your sect construction, you need to recruit more members," the system advised.

Wang Jun chuckled, asking, "that's it"

The system clarified, "Yes, Recruiting members increases the contribution to the Sect, which you can use to get valuable items from the Sect Mall."

"Sect Mall?" Wang Jun's eyes sparkle with interest.

In his understanding, many novel protagonists, after gaining a system, had their own virtual malls, often offering newbie gift packages filled with for showing off their skills.

Wang Jun often smiled and examined the system panel repeatedly, feeling puzzled. He asked, "Why can't I find the Sect Mall?"

The system explained, "You need to accumulate at least 1 contribution to unlock the hidden Sect Mall panel."

Curious, Wang Jun inquired, "How can I increase my contribution?"

The system replied, "To open the Sect Mall, you need to recruit more members."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jun laughed, realizing that the so-called ultimate sect system relied on both construction and contribution, and it all came down to recruiting more members.

"Alright!" he exclaimed, determined to gather more members and unlock the potential of his sect system.

Wang Jun, brimming with enthusiasm, declared, "Starting tomorrow, I'm going to actively recruit members!"

However, reality proved to be quite harsh. When he swung open the creaking, weathered doors and posted the announcement seeking disciples, an entire month passed with no takers.

He grew disheartened as another half-month dragged on, and his hope began to wane. But just when Wang Jun was on the verge of giving up, someone unexpectedly arrived.

A young woman paused in front of the discipleship recruitment notice posted on the door. She entered hesitantly and said, "I'd like to join the solid strike Sect."

Wang Jun , who had been casually enjoying his noodles on the front steps of the hall, burst into laughter but was suddenly struck speechless. He had waited for dozens of days, feeling despondent, and now, a beautiful prospect had appeared before him – an unexpected delight!

Lu Lu glanced at him and quipped, "Are you a fool?"

In a rush of excitement, Wang Jun abandoned his chopsticks and eagerly guided her through the entry procedures. When he produced the head seal, symbolizing his position as the head, Lu Yan questioned, "You're the head?"

Proudly, Xun Jun beamed and puffed out his chest, responding earnestly, "Indeed, I am the head of the Solid Strike Sect."

"I'm leaving," Lu Yan declared.

Desperation gripped Wang Jun, and he pleaded, "Beauty, please don't! Don't leave!"

At last, with his thick skin and numerous attempts to persuade her, Wang Jun eventually managed to convince her, ending his solitude in the world of martial arts.

"Ding!"

"Martial members: 2/100!"

"Ding!"

"Martial contribution: 1/100!"

"Ding!"

"Contribution requirement met. System unlocked - Martial Arts Mall!"

With a cheerful notification, Wang Jun laughed and accessed the Martial Arts Attributes panel. Right beneath the main mission, the words 'Martial Arts Mall' stood out.

As he gazed at it, he couldn't help but remark, "Just as I suspected, there is indeed a mall!"

Wang Jun was brimming with joy and couldn't contain his excitement as he reached out to touch the Martial Arts Mall.

In an instant, the screen seemed to shift, resembling a warehouse panel, and displayed a plethora of products listed before him.

"Nine Turns To Wash My Pills!"

"The dragon elephant palm!"

"Shadow strike footsteps!"

"Five Elements Yin Yang Jue!"

"Millennium Ice Battle Armor!"

"Holy Flame Body!"

As he gazed upon the array of martial arts techniques, elixirs, and battle armor offerings in the Martial arts Mall, Wang Jun's smile grew even wider, and his heart raced with anticipation. The possibilities were endless, and he couldn't wait to explore and acquire these incredible assets to enhance his martial arts journey.

Wang Jun couldn't help but burst out with an exaggerated, "Just by listening to the name, you know that these things are absolutely great!"

But then, in the next moment, his head froze in shock as he scanned the exchange prices displayed under each item. To his disbelief, they all began with a minimum contribution of 10,000 points!

His eyes practically bulged out of their sockets as he exclaimed, "Isn't it?"

With a bewildered expression, Wang Jun, in a comically exaggerated manner, tugged at his hair, making it stick up at odd angles. He muttered to himself, "So expensive?" It was as if he had just discovered that the Martial Arts Mall was a high-end luxury boutique rather than a budget-friendly store.