A Twisted World
Midnight passed, and a gentle breeze drifted across the mountain before everything returned to tranquil silence. Lei Chen's body appeared normal, but something about him felt subtly different, as if something within had shifted. Han Ming stood watching his disciple with a faint smile before pulling up his information.
[Name: Lei Chen]
[Age: 17]
[Identity: Personal disciple of Pure Light Peak within the Holy Land of the Immortal River, former Holy Son of the Lei Clan, former Child of Destiny, son of the Empress of the Yin-Yang Dynasty]
[Cultivation Level: Foundation Establishment – Stage 7]
[Special Physique: Sacred Bones (Emperor-tier), Ancient Divine Eyes (Emperor-tier), Sacred Dragon Blood (Emperor-tier)]
[Potential: 10 Stars]
[Comprehension: 10 Stars]
[Fortune: None]
[Loyalty: 101]
Han Ming smiled slightly, though a trace of doubt flickered in his heart at the strange status displayed. Still, he chose to keep those thoughts to himself for now and spoke calmly.
"Alright. For now, your focus must be on cultivation and combat training. You may arrange your own schedule, but you are to train in that cabin for twelve hours each day. Behind the mountain, there's a cave with a Spirit Spring. You may use it for cultivation."
Lei Chen nodded without hesitation. Han Ming then tossed him a spatial ring and continued.
"Inside are the resources you'll need. I'll be away for today, seeking out a junior disciple to bring back. I'll return later tonight."
Lei Chen accepted the ring and immediately knelt down. "I will not disappoint you, Master."
Han Ming nodded in satisfaction before adding another instruction.
"If anyone comes seeking an audience, tell them I've gone to recruit a disciple. No one is to enter Pure Light Peak."
"Understood, Master."
With that, Han Ming vanished in a flash of light.
High above the night sky, as his figure passed through the veil of clouds, the voice of the system echoed within his mind.
[Since the host's disciple possesses no fortune, the system will initiate randomization of investment rewards. Reward rates will range from ten times to as much as ten thousand times.][Because the host's disciple has reached the Foundation Establishment stage, the system has unlocked additional information display functions. These include the individual's identity, which will indicate their position within their clan or faction. Additionally, the loyalty metric has been enabled, indicating the relationship level between the host and the individual. The details are as follows:]
[Loyalty below 0: Enemy][Loyalty 0–20: Stranger][Loyalty 20–40: Acquaintance][Loyalty 40–60: Familiar][Loyalty 60–80: One who respects and admires the host][Loyalty 80–100: Loyal follower with unwavering trust in the host]
Han Ming furrowed his brows slightly at the new information reported by the system. He let out a dry laugh inwardly before continuing toward his next destination. As he soared through the sky, drifting past a sea of clouds, the system's voice suddenly rang out.
[Congratulations to the host for investing an Emperor-tier spatial ring in a disciple with no fortune. You have received a 100-fold return. You have obtained: 100 Emperor-tier spatial rings, 1 billion peak-grade spirit stones, 100 types of Emperor-grade pills, 1,000 Emperor-grade explosive talismans, 10 Emperor-tier puppets, 10,000 types of Emperor-tier materials, 10 Emperor-tier weapons, 10 Emperor-tier strange flames, and 10 Emperor-tier manuals.]
Han Ming paused midair for a moment, and a faint smile crept onto his lips. It was far more than he expected. Even he found it unbelievable. He had packed a vast number of treasures into the spatial ring he gave to Lei Chen earlier, just to test the waters a little.
Suddenly—
[Ding ding]
[System bug detected]
[System bug detected]
[System bug detected]
[Initiating fix...]
Han Ming could only chuckle as he glanced at the newly delivered trove of items now neatly stored within his personal vault. But before the system could correct the bug, he had already absorbed every single item into his inventory.
[Host... you are truly cruel and heartless...]
The system's voice rang out, sounding as though it were holding back tears. Han Ming responded with a sly smile.
"How was I supposed to know your system would have such a convenient flaw? And instead of blaming yourself, you blame me? That's quite the nasty attitude you've got there."
The system went quiet for a moment, as if it had just been publicly slapped across the face. Then, in a quivering voice that almost sounded like it was sobbing, it replied.
[As long as the host is happy... then I'm happy... I guess.]
On a remote mountain far removed from the main routes of cultivators, a small village lay nestled within a hidden valley. The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful, but something about the village was oddly unnatural.
Inside one of the huts, a large number of villagers stood in line, waiting. Each of them held a container meant to hold some kind of liquid. Some had earthen cups, others wooden jugs or glass flasks. Everyone waited anxiously for their turn. When one person exited the hut, they clutched a container filled with a thick, deep crimson liquid. They walked out with expressions of joy on their faces, but deep within their eyes, something hidden stirred.
Han Ming stood some distance away, observing silently. His eyes narrowed. The system had guided him to this location for a single reason: someone with ten-star potential and ten-star comprehension was here.
Han Ming stared into the hut, his spiritual sense sweeping through the space within. What he saw caused his brows to furrow. Inside, a young girl lay on the bed, her body pale and frail, utterly devoid of strength. Her arms bore the marks of needles, and her body was covered with traces of blood being drained. Her once-bright eyes were now dull, like someone who had lost everything, yet forced herself to keep on living.
[Name: Rong Lixian]
[Age: 16]
[Identity: Villainess of Fate, ???]
[Cultivation Level: Crippled]
[Special Body: Golden Five-Clawed Dragon Emperor Physique (Seized) (Emperor Tier), Ancestral Dragon Bloodline (Seized) (Emperor Tier)]
[Potential: 10 stars]
[Comprehension: 10 stars]
[Fortune: Black]
[Loyalty: 0]
Han Ming examined the information with an unreadable expression. But deep in his eyes, a chilling glint flickered.
"System, what does the question mark in her identity field mean?"
[Even I don't know,] the system replied, sounding uncertain.
Han Ming chuckled softly. "Thanks for nothing."
[...…Always here to serve you, Host.]
The old woman draining Rong Lixian's blood smiled in satisfaction. Her withered hand gently patted the girl's head as she spoke in a voice laced with many emotions.
"Thank you, little one. Without you, my husband and children might have died from those wounds."
Rong Lixian, breathing weakly, forced a smile for the old woman. Her face was deathly pale, but her voice remained gentle.
"It's alright, Granny… If I can help you, I'm glad to do so…"
Before the old woman could respond, a sharp voice rang out from outside the hut, cutting them off.
"Hurry it up in there! I've got plans with the ladies today, you know!"
The shrill, irritated voice of a young man barked from beyond the door. The old woman, who was in the middle of sealing the blood into a bottle, hastily sped up. She turned to look at the drained girl lying limp on the bed, her gaze seemingly filled with pity—but in truth, it held only cold indifference.
"Rest now, dear child."
With that, she left the hut, walking away with a serene expression of gratitude. Yet, after only a few steps, her expression twisted into one of annoyance.
"Tch! Barely got any of that monster's blood again. How the hell am I supposed to pay off my gambling debt with the Black Hound Gang like this?!"
She muttered under her breath, quickening her pace toward a certain location. But before she could get far, her body vanished in an instant, warped away without warning.
"Waaaahhh!"
The old woman's scream pierced the air as she realized she was suspended in midair. A slender hand, like the claw of a beast, gripped her tightly, giving her no chance to resist.