Chapter 1: Xi Clan of the Jin Empire

Across the vast Great Forest continent, a continent dominated by human cultivators, there exist seven major forces that control most of the land.

Of course, there are hundreds of other forces beyond the seven major forces, however their power is incomparable in both quantity and quality. As such, most of these forces, spare a select few, are either direct subordinates or offer various tributes in return for peace.

One such force, neither a subsidiary force or a major force, is that of the Jin Empire.

The Jin Empire, though marked as a second-tier force, is as close to the level of the major forces as it can get without actually reaching such a power.

Having once been the eighth major force of the continent, the foundation of the Jin Empire is incomparable to other second-tier forces.

With the defensive and auxiliary formations remaining from their peak, as well as a vast number of Golden Core cultivators, the Jin Empire only lacks a Nascent Soul ancestor to push them back into the ranks of the Major Forces.

Yet, due to their foundation and vast numbers, the Jin Empire has remained a solitary force. Though efforts could be made from the current seven major forces to dominate and control the Jin Empire, such efforts would simply be far too costly.

As such, the Jin Empire has remained; simply waiting for the birth of a Nascent Soul cultivator that can push them back into a superior position.

The Jin Empire is ruled primarily by the Jin Imperial family. Not all power falls into the hands of the Imperials, however, with several other noble families and clans holding high positions.

Among these noble clans is the Xi Clan. Though their presence within the Imperial Capital is little, the Xi Clan is renowned throughout the Empire.

With their territory concentrated largely in the southern parts of the Empire, the Xi family also controls most of the land that surrounds the Misty Moon Forest.

The Misty Moon Forest is one of several forbidden zones across the Great Forest continent and is entirely confined within the territory of the Jin Empire.

Because of the innate traits of most forbidden zones as dangerous and hostile environments, the Xi Clan has largely grown renown due to their ability to contain the entities of the Misty Moon Forest.

Though considered average in most other remarks, the combat techniques of the Xi Clan are what have kept them in prominence for so long.

Without considering the top techniques of the Xi Clan and Imperial family, most other techniques are often comparable in power and efficiency. Such is the combative ability of the Xi Clan.

Within this Xi Clan, there exists a young cultivator by the name of Xi Lifeng.

Having just turned 15, Xi Lifeng had been cultivating within the main branch of the Xi Clan for 7 years now.

Originally the son of two mortal parents, Xi Lifeng had been brought to cultivate in the main branch when it was detected that he had 7th Grade Three Element Spiritual Roots.

Though considered low-grade, the Xi brought every mortal that held spiritual roots to the main branch for cultivation.

Given until their 16th year to reach Foundation Establishment, such cultivators were primarily left to their own devices---only given a monthly allotment of resources.

Should an individual fail to reach Foundation Establishment in the given time, they would be assigned to a job position by the Clan.

If they did happen to reach this goal then they would continue to receive resources for cultivation, though they would be required to fulfill a task every two months.

"It seems that the previous owner died trying to break into the 4th Stage of Qi Refinement."

Xi Lifeng opened his eyes after inspecting his body's condition.

Looking extremely emaciated, it was clear that Xi Lifeng, the original Xi Lifeng, had been starving himself. Likely focused primarily on breaking through to the next stage in his cultivation.

"Even if life outside of the main branch isn't as easy as it is inside, it should certainly be better than death..."

Xi Lifeng shook his head, seemingly disappointed in the decision his predecessor had made.

"After all," Xi Lifeng muttered, "Even if 'I' had made it to the 4th Stage, it is impossible 'I' would have made it to Foundation Establishment in a year."

"It seems that leaving the main branch is my most likely future."

Sighing, Xi Lifeng unfolded his legs from the cross-legged cultivation position he awoke to find himself in and laid onto his back, staring vacantly at the dull, white ceiling of the small room he found himself in.

To Xi Lifeng, such a situation seemed absolutely insane. Just thirty minutes ago, from his own perspective, he had been pulling an all-nighter; spending the night bonding with his fellow senior classmates by dominating the lobbies of League.

The group had decided to get off early, only at 4am, to get a short rest before their morning courses.

Of course, Xi Lifeng felt that such a break was unnecessary. He only had one class in the morning and felt that as long as he could get through that he could take a nap after.

Why stop gaming when he was already so close to a promo match?

Unfortunately, he had thought the same thing the previous two days as well yet never took that nap.

Just as the last game was won and the shining achievement of promotion appeared on his screen, Xi Lifeng's vision went dark.

Yet, just like a blindfold was removed, he shortly reopened his eyes, only to find himself in a completely different place.

Following a sharp headache and a surge of information, he came to learn that he had possessed a body with the same name and appearance.

Or would it be better classified as a delayed reincarnation? He didn't really know at this point, but he also wasn't too concerned with it.

With all memories of his predecessor intact, Xi Lifeng didn't really think that anyone would ever tell the difference between him and the previous owner of this body.

Besides his mortal parents, of whom he had seen neither hide nor hair in the years since he entered the main branch of the Xi Clan, there was no one even remotely close to Xi Lifeng.

Both his talent and background were ordinary, so there wasn't even anyone that would try to curry favor with him.

"With such an ordinary setting, I should be getting some kind of ridiculous golden finger sometime soon, right?"

If he didn't even get a basic system, Xi Lifeng felt that it would be better to forgo any cultivation at all and live in the mortal world solely as a promiscuous and lustful nouveau riche.

After all, even as a lowly 3rd Stage Qi Refinement cultivator, he would be invincible amongst mortals. Making money with such ability wouldn't be too difficult at all.

"Alas, it seems that choosing between being an inferior cultivator or illustrious mortal is all I can do..."

With a sigh, Xi Lifeng began to sit up.

"At the very least, I should live a more comfortable life here than I did in my first life. No bills, no worries. Just wealth and relaxation."

Just as Xi Lifeng began to resign himself to a life of prosperity, a ding resounded in his mind and a translucent screen opened in front of him.

[Name: Xi Lifeng]

[Cultivation: 3rd Stage Qi Refinement Realm]

[Cultivation Method: Xi Clan Severing Chain Method]

[Spiritual Treasures: None]

[Map]

Seeing the screen in front of his eyes, Xi Lifeng felt as if the world began to glow in wonder.

"It seems that the perilous path of immortality and cultivation is what I must pursue. Though filled with danger and schemes, I refuse to let my panel go to waste!"

If anyone were to hear what Xi Lifeng was saying, they would hear a voice filled with passion and bravado.

In truth, as much as he would have accepted a life in the mortal world, he never truly would have been happy. Especially knowing that cultivators in the world did truly exist and that he could never be one. Such a shadow would haunt him forever.

"What exactly is my panel, anyway?"

Xi Lifeng had looked through it multiple times and couldn't sense anything out of the ordinary. It didn't seem as if it was one of the sentient panels he had read about in the countless stories of his past life, nor did there seem to be any point distribution system.

Even if it listed his cultivation and cultivation method, it seemed that there was no way to externally raise them.

In fact, the only option that seemed to be different from the rest was that of [Map].

In the case of [Map], it seemed that it was beckoning for Xi Lifeng to focus on this option and open it.

Following this instinct, Xi Lifeng began to concentrate on selecting [Map] with his mind. As soon as he did so, the panel changed and an extremely detailed overhead appeared in front of his eyes.

Showing the room that he was in, Xi Lifeng also felt that if he were to focus he could zoom in and out and pan around the area that he was in.

Focusing just on the room he was in, Xi Lifeng saw a bright blue dot standing still in the center. When he moved to the right, so too did the dot. When he moved left, so too did the dot.

Focusing further on the map, Xi Lifeng began to look at the cultivation area that he was assigned by the Xi Clan.

Though he had technically been moved to the main branch of the Xi Clan for cultivation, he was nowhere near where the actual talents of the clan would cultivate. This was where the Xi Clan would assign those with poor talent like himself.

If, by chance, a cultivator could break out of the constraints set by their talent, the Xi Clan would move them closer to the center of the Xi Clan stronghold. There they would receive better resources and cultivate in a better environment filled with denser spiritual energy.

Such an area was too far away to show up on Xi Lifeng's map. Such a distance was probably hundreds of miles away. Though considering the tens of thousands of miles he had to travel before being brought here, such a distance wasn't too far.

Still, Xi Lifeng soon discovered that he could only see as far as 50 miles in any direction, with him at the center.

Returning back to where he was on the map, Xi Lifeng noticed all sorts of colors glowing on the edge of the map. Each color signified a different thing and he had not yet determined what they meant. The brighter the color was on the edge, if it wasn't within sight on the map, meant the closer it was to him.

Of these colors, there was a dull grey that seemed to grow brighter and brighter with each passing second.

Focusing the map to look at that area, he soon saw a grey dot heading straight towards the room he was staying in.

Focusing on the grey dot, Xi Lifeng saw a label: Steward Lei.

From Steward Lei's presence near his room, Xi Lifeng understood that it was time to receive his monthly stipends from the family.