Qingshan Village.
“Brother Lin An, an immortal has come to the village to recruit disciples! Let’s go take a look. Maybe we’ll be chosen too and join an immortal sect, becoming legendary immortals ourselves!”
A boy dressed in hemp clothing grabbed Lin An and ran out of the thatched cottage.
“Zhang Fan, slow down. The immortal isn’t going anywhere, so there’s no need to hurry.”
Lin An tried helplessly to talk him down.
Half a year ago, he had transmigrated into this world in the flesh.
Fortunately, Zhang Fan’s family had taken him in. Otherwise, he would have starved to death in the mountains.
For the past six months, he had helped with the farm work and improved several tools, earning the approval of Zhang Fan’s family and the villagers.
At first, knowing that this was an ancient world, he had planned to make a name for himself. Perhaps he could even become emperor.
But after learning that cultivators existed in this world, he had abandoned that idea.
Even if he managed to invent pistols and cannons, they would be nothing more than chicken and tile dogs before cultivators.
His reason for staying in the village was also related to something else.
Every few years or every decade, disciples from the Qingxuan Sect would come to the village to recruit disciples and test their spiritual roots.
Rather than searching aimlessly for a chance at immortality, it was better to wait patiently here.
And now, his patience had finally paid off.
By the time he and Zhang Fan arrived, the village entrance was already surrounded by people.
At the very center stood a young man and woman dressed in elegant blue robes. They were most likely the Qingxuan Sect disciples who had come to recruit disciples this time.
“Anyone under the age of twenty-five may come forward and have their spiritual roots tested.”
After waiting a while, until nearly everyone had arrived, the male Qingxuan Sect disciple stepped forward and made the announcement.
“Let me go first!”
A sturdy young man who looked as strong as an ox stepped out of the crowd.
His name was Wang Daniu, the village bully. Among the younger generation, no one could beat him in a fight.
“Place your hand on the spirit-root testing stone.”
The male Qingxuan Sect disciple took a spirit-root testing stone out of his storage pouch.
Wang Daniu extended his hand nervously and pressed it against the stone.
Several seconds passed, but the stone showed no reaction.
“No spiritual root. Next.”
The Qingxuan Sect disciple spoke indifferently.
Wang Daniu’s face turned pale. Like a defeated rooster, he walked back dejectedly.
No matter how strong he was in a fight, it was useless. Without an immortal destiny, he had no immortal destiny.
One after another, more people stepped forward.
Yet the spirit-root testing stone remained completely unresponsive.
“Next.”
The Qingxuan Sect disciple was beginning to grow impatient. He had tested so many people, yet not one of them had a spiritual root.
“Zhang Fan, you should give it a try too.”
Lin An patted Zhang Fan on the shoulder.
Zhang Fan was somewhat nervous. So many people before him had failed, and he was afraid that he might not have a spiritual root either.
But regardless of whether he had one or not, he had to test it to find out.
He steadied himself and slowly walked forward.
“Begin.”
The Qingxuan Sect disciple pointed at the spirit-root testing stone. His tone was flat, and there was already no hope in his eyes.
Zhang Fan swallowed nervously, then extended his hand and pressed it against the stone.
The next moment, the spirit-root testing stone erupted with dazzling red light.
The eyes of both Qingxuan Sect disciples lit up at the same time.
“Middle-grade—and a single fire spiritual root at that.”
The male Qingxuan Sect disciple revealed a warm smile.
“Congratulations. With your aptitude, you can become an inner disciple.”
“Thank you! Thank you!”
Zhang Fan hurriedly expressed his gratitude before running back joyfully.
“Father, Mother, Brother Lin An, did you hear that? I can join an immortal sect, and I’ll even be an inner disciple!”
He cheered excitedly, while the people around him cast envious glances his way.
“Good, good! Our family has produced an immortal too.”
Zhang Fan’s father was filled with pride, while Zhang Fan’s mother was so excited that tears streamed down her face.
“Brother Lin An, you should go test yourself too. Maybe you have a spiritual root as well. Then we can join the immortal sect together.”
After calming down from his excitement, Zhang Fan looked at Lin An, his eyes filled with anticipation.
After half a year together, he had long since come to regard Lin An as his own elder brother.
“All right.”
Lin An nodded, forcing down his nervousness as he slowly walked forward.
“Begin.”
The male Qingxuan Sect disciple’s eyes held a little more anticipation.
He didn’t ask for much. Having one more promising inner disciple would be enough.
But when Lin An placed his hand on the spirit-root testing stone, it showed no reaction whatsoever.
Several seconds passed, yet the stone did not emit even the slightest glimmer of light.
“No spiritual root. Next.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed the male Qingxuan Sect disciple’s eyes, and his tone became particularly indifferent.
Lin An stared at his hand in disbelief.
He was a transmigrator! Weren’t transmigrators supposed to be amazing?
Even if he followed the useless-protagonist route, he should at least have a mixed spiritual root and be able to rise from an outer disciple step by step.
But what did having no spiritual root mean? Was he not even qualified to cultivate?
“Move aside. You’re in the way.”
Seeing that Lin An had not moved, the male Qingxuan Sect disciple’s tone turned cold.
If not for Lin An’s relationship with Zhang Fan, he would have knocked Lin An away directly.
Lin An returned dejectedly.
“Brother Lin An, once I become an immortal, I’ll find a way to help you. Then we can cultivate together and become immortals.”
Seeing Lin An’s disappointment, Zhang Fan patted his chest as he offered reassurance.
“I’m fine.”
Lin An smiled.
“If you don’t have an immortal destiny, then you don’t have one. There’s no need to force it.”
That was what he said aloud, but the disappointment in his heart refused to fade.
He had transmigrated into a world of cultivation. It was impossible for him not to dream of becoming an immortal.
But without a spiritual root, it was useless no matter how badly he wanted it.
Zhang Fan didn’t know how to comfort him, so he could only pat Lin An silently on the shoulder.
The testing continued. In the end, two more boys and girls were found to possess spiritual roots, but their aptitudes were relatively poor. They could only begin as outer disciples or servants.
“You have half an hour to prepare. Once that time is up, we will depart for the sect.”
After everyone had been tested, the male Qingxuan Sect disciple made the announcement.
Lin An followed Zhang Fan’s family back to the thatched cottage.
As Zhang Fan’s parents gave him instructions, they packed his luggage.
Lin An watched the three of them, all brimming with excitement, and felt somewhat envious.
But more than anything, he felt bitter.
He was a transmigrator, yet he wasn’t really going to grow old and die in this little mountain village, was he?
[Ding! The Longevity Investment System has been activated.]
[The host has obtained a passive ability: Immortality.]
[The host has unlocked the investment function. Invest in people with potential, and after the invested individual dies, the host will receive corresponding returns according to the investment ratio. (Note: The cultivation level of the invested individual cannot exceed that of the host.)]
[The host’s first system activation has been detected. The beginner’s gift pack has been issued.]
[Gift pack contents: 10 low-grade spirit stones and 3 bottles of low-grade Qi-gathering pills.]
The gloom in Lin An’s heart vanished instantly.
He knew it! As a transmigrator, how could he possibly be without a cheat?
It turned out that it hadn’t been absent—it had merely arrived late.
“Zhang Fan, come with me for a moment.”
Lin An looked at Zhang Fan and beckoned to him mysteriously.
“Brother Lin An, what is it?”
Zhang Fan was somewhat puzzled. However, he keenly noticed that the disappointment and gloom had disappeared from Lin An’s face, replaced by a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“Wait here.”
Lin An pretended to go inside and rummage around, then took all the items from the beginner’s gift pack out of his system storage.
“I happened to obtain these things from an immortal’s corpse while fleeing from disaster. I didn’t dare take them out before, but now that you’re about to become an immortal, these things may be able to help you.”
[Ding! The host is currently making an investment. The investment target has been bound.]
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”
e vast world of cultivation, where he becomes the master of the Heavenly Ruins Sacred Hall, a dying old man with barely a tenth of his former cultivation remaining. He is immediately confronted with a deadly crisis: his subordinates have rebelled, and his protectors are forcing him to abdicate. At the critical moment, the system descends from the heavens: [Ding! The host has been detected facing a life-or-death crisis. The system is now officially activated!] [As a gift, you have received the Supreme Beginner’s Pack and awakened the ultimate cheat: ten thousand years of pure cultivation essence every second!] Yin Tianjue: “Wait… ten thousand years of cultivation every second? That’s six hundred thousand years a minute, and in one day… I can’t even calculate it. Either way, I’m already invincible!” You’re a peerless prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re an undying ancestor who has guarded a sacred land for countless ages? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re the strongest chosen one, blessed with heaven-defying destiny? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. From this day forth, I have only one thing to say: “I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. Now, how exactly are you supposed to deal with that?”
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
