Coincidence

Han Ming gave a faint smile before flicking his wrist lightly. The luck he had just taken from the White Tiger Army began to dissipate, and at the same time, the system's notification echoed once more.

[Congratulations to the Host for investing in a disciple whose luck cannot currently be measured. Return on investment: ???x. Reward obtained: Immortal-grade pills +10 types, Immortal-grade weapons +10 pieces, Immortal-grade scriptures +10 volumes.]

Immediately after, the system grumbled to itself in a half-joking tone while sealing off the thought channel so Han Ming wouldn't hear it.

[Ugh… what even is this life… Instead of spending time looking for disciples, he just sits around thinking of ways to scam the system every day… this guy…]

[Sigh… and I'm supposed to be the pure, innocent, and lovable system here… How did I end up with such a degenerate Host…]

Han Ming chuckled softly, then proceeded to assist his two disciples. He began by stabilizing their bodies, followed by guiding them in cultivating the scriptures, and teaching them the foundational stages of cultivation from gathering qi, to establishing their foundation, all the way to forming the Golden Core.

Guan Zixuan and Ye Liyin trained with unwavering focus and tireless determination. Han Ming observed them with a calm gaze, but during that same moment, his thoughts drifted toward the new power that had now fallen into his hands.

Back during the battle between the Wu Clan and the Holy Land of the Immortal River, Han Ming's system had issued a warning about a transmigrator who possessed a system of their own. However, it turned out to be nothing more than a weak, low-grade system, and its host was none other than Wu Zhao.

Han Ming had not overlooked this matter. He immediately ordered his own system to block Wu Zhao's system entirely, ensuring that his disciples would have a fair fight and that Wu Zhao could not rely on cheats from his system.

But what he did not expect… was how easily Wu Zhao was defeated by his disciple in their very first clash.

And yet, in that moment of desperation, Wu Zhao's system forcibly unleashed a hidden power at the cost of sacrificing half its own energy. At that very moment, Han Ming casually reached out and absorbed the energy it released. Without any attempt to hide or disguise it, he openly seized fragments of Wu Zhao's system and just like that, Han Ming gained a portion of its power.

After the war ended, Han Ming began studying the abilities of Wu Zhao's system. It was a fascinating construct. Its core function was the ability to steal the luck of others and convert it into cultivation power, treasures, and countless other benefits.

Upon deeper analysis, Han Ming realized that this system hadn't formed naturally. It had been created by someone someone using Wu Zhao as a tool to gather luck. And when enough had been collected, the true owner of the system would either consume him or do something else entirely Han Ming wasn't sure. But none of that mattered to him.

What truly mattered… was that he could adapt this power for his own use without suffering any side effects whatsoever. After running a few tests, Han Ming discovered that not only could he steal the luck of others to enhance his own cultivation, but he could even use it to multiply the returns on his own system's investments.

He was still in the process of researching the full extent of this new power, and much remained unclear. But there was one thing he had come to realize with certainty…

He now trusted his own system more than ever before. Because…

At that moment, Han Ming sensed a sudden shift in energy. The auras of his two new disciples trembled violently, a clear sign that their cultivation had made a breakthrough.

Guan Zixuan and Ye Liyin opened their eyes at the same time. Their gazes gleamed with newfound strength, and their bodies radiated a golden light. They both knelt and bowed respectfully before Han Ming.

"We thank you, Master!"

Han Ming gave a small nod before casually tossing a Great Emperor-tier weapon to each of them. Guan Zixuan and Ye Liyin stared at them with wide eyes, excitement surging within them. Without the slightest hesitation, they reached out and immediately formed contracts with the weapons.

As soon as the contracts were complete, their spiritual energy surged again.

Next, Han Ming tossed out a pair of Emperor-grade pills.

"Take them. They'll fully restore your bodies."

Without hesitation, Guan Zixuan and Ye Liyin swallowed the pills. A vast wave of power coursed through their bodies. All of their wounds vanished in an instant no matter how severe they had been. Even Guan Zixuan's missing hand grew back as if it had never been lost.

But that wasn't all. Their cultivation realms exploded upward uncontrollably. From Qi Condensation Level 10… to 11… 12… 13… and then 14 rising rapidly without pause.

And still, it did not stop.

Han Ming then took out twelve pieces of Emperor-grade materials and summoned the Primordial Flame. He refined them into pure energy with a wave of his hand. His disciples did not waste a moment—they absorbed the energy directly into their bodies.

Boom!

A system notification sounded at the same time as an eruption of energy roared across the area. Their bodies burst into dazzling light. Crimson-red foundation roots manifested around them, and their cultivation levels broke through once again

To Foundation Establishment, Level 9!

Following that, they did exactly as Han Ming had instructed.

Inside their bodies, eighty-two Golden Cores were formed instantly. They began to shimmer with multicolored light before fusing seamlessly into their forms.

With their cultivation surging wildly, they ascended directly to Golden Core Level 9. Their progress finally came to a halt at the peak of the Golden Core Realm. Outside the sealed zone, Sui Zhimeng furrowed her brow slightly. She sat in silence, gazing at the sealed space from afar, observing it from beyond the bounds of the world.

That man… just what exactly is he doing in there?

Some time had already passed, yet Han Ming still hadn't emerged. Though curiosity gnawed at her, she didn't dare to probe the area with her spiritual sense. She wasn't certain which force Han Ming truly hailed from, but her instincts told her to be cautious.

Suddenly, the barrier of energy trembled before dissolving into the air. The scene revealed to her was Han Ming standing alone. As for the two disciples from earlier… they had vanished.

Though she was puzzled, she didn't press the issue. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment before she spoke.

"You… what is your name?"

But Han Ming gave her no reply. He remained silent. Standing still upon the earth… as if waiting for something.

In that very moment, a beam of radiant light streaked down from the sky with tremendous speed, descending from the heavens right above Han Ming.

As the light faded, a group of people gradually appeared, all wearing the uniform of the Holy Land of the Immortal River. They stood scattered across the ground—some still dazed, others chatting and laughing with voices brimming with the joy of victory.

"Hahaha! I almost chose to die alongside that Mu Nansi woman! How could someone like her be a leader? I'd really like to know."

Another voice chimed in with a scoff. "Seriously, I was thinking the same. If we'd kept following a fool like her, she'd have gotten all of us killed. Good thing we decided to flee. Let those people fight on their own."

"We were supposed to be on the same side, and yet that demoness actually turned on Lord Ji Yiren herself… Ugh, how did I survive in a place like that for so long?"

Waves of mocking laughter followed.

"But all of this it's thanks to Junior Brother Ye Lin, who led us away from that wretched place."

"Exactly, exactly. Junior Brother Ye deserves the title of number one genius of the sect more than that Han Ming, who just guzzled down pills to force his cultivation."

"Hmph. So many resources were handed to that kind of trash instead of us. If I had been given even half that amount, I could have reached the Great Emperor level in three days!"

Ye Lin replied in a gentle voice, laced with subtle confidence as countless eyes turned to him.

"It's nothing, Senior Brothers and Elders. I merely did what needed to be done. As for Han Ming… if we were at the same cultivation level, I would never lose to him."

Standing right in front of them, Han Ming let out a faint smile upon hearing those words. He whispered to himself quietly.

"Who was it… who spread such rumors and dragged my name through the mud? Those four old geezers? Or was it you… System?"

[Always ready... If there's a chance... Don't miss it, Host]

Han Ming let out a soft chuckle. His eyes turned golden, and he murmured once more under his breath with a laugh.

"I never thought… I'd run into you all like this. What a coincidence."

Outside the world, Sui Zhimeng gazed at Han Ming and his shimmering golden eyes. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she gave a small shake of her head.

"Coincidence? Anyone could see from up here that you were clearly lying in wait…"

"Oh? So in this case… I'm the one with bad luck?? Damn it… my White Tiger Army… Damn it all!!"

Sui Zhimeng once again began spinning scenarios in her mind. Her thoughts tangled into a web of emotions, shifting back and forth as she tried to make sense of it all.

At that moment, Ye Lin's eyes widened. His face turned pale, drained of color. And he wasn't the only one struck by shock.

Disciples from the Celestial Bamboo Peak, the six Guardian Elders, the Grand Elders, Vice Elders, more than ten Core Elders, direct disciples from various peaks, true disciples, core disciples, inner and outer disciples, even the seven Elders of the Disciplinary Hall and the three Ancestral Elders all froze in utter disbelief. Especially the Grand Elder.

Han Ming slowly turned his gaze toward everyone present, until his eyes landed on a young woman cradling the unconscious body of Ji Yiren in her arms. The faint smile at the corner of his lips never left. Then, he spoke.

"Rule number 2,314 of the Holy Land of the Immortal River... You all know what it is, don't you?"

The Grand Elder furrowed his brow, responding with a voice full of authority.

"Our Holy Land only has one hundred rules. How could there possibly be more than two thousand…"

Fwoosh.

A golden beam shot from Han Ming's fingertip and pierced clean through the man's forehead without a shred of mercy. Fresh crimson blood burst into the air as the now-headless body collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Thud.

Han Ming's voice echoed clearly across the silent land.

"Rule number 2,314... of the Holy Land of the Immortal River is this surrender your lives, all of you... to me."