The Great God Who Abandoned His Cultivation to Win Back the Heroine 01

"Ugh! Which historian wrote this?" Fang Zhiyi was fuming.

The system replied, "It's not wrong. You left the original host and returned to his body—at that time, he did love Liu Guxia."

"Damn it! Let's go, let's go!"

Another wave of dizziness hit him. When he opened his eyes again, Fang Zhiyi was stunned to find himself sitting in... a small wooden hut?

The system materialized slowly before him. "Host, your mission this time is to ascend to immortality alongside your Dao companion."

Fang Zhiyi simply stared curiously at the little creature in front of him. Its tentacles had vanished, replaced by tiny hands that were now waving excitedly.

"Host?"

Fang Zhiyi snapped out of his daze. "Huh?" Then came a sharp pain in his head as the plot flooded his mind.

This was a world from a cultivation novel. Fang Zhiyi was a powerful cultivator, already at the early-stage Unity Realm. But everything changed when his disciple brought back a girl.

The girl, named Zhong Ling'er, had lost her family to bandits and had nowhere to go. She encountered a disciple from Cloud Sky Palace who was out recruiting new members. Impressed by her spiritual roots, the disciple brought her back to the sect. Innocent and lively, Zhong Ling'er brought a breath of fresh air to the secluded Cloud Sky Palace, and soon, everyone from top to bottom adored this junior sister from the outer sect.

After standing up for outer disciples a few times and clashing with elders, Zhong Ling'er caught Fang Zhiyi's attention. The once-detached cultivator gradually found himself drawn to her, eventually taking her in as his personal disciple.

Though Zhong Ling'er's talent wasn't exceptional, her spirited nature made Fang Zhiyi feel a long-lost connection to the mortal world. He, who had long abandoned mundane meals, grew accustomed to her daily habit of loudly calling him to eat.

Over time, Fang Zhiyi realized he had fallen in love with his disciple. But bound by their master-disciple relationship, he buried his feelings deep inside—until Zhong Ling'er went on a training journey and shattered the communication talisman he had given her. Rushing to her aid, he found her surrounded by enemies while protecting a severely injured man. His arrival saved her, and for the first time, the outside world learned of his true cultivation level.

Then came Fang Zhiyi's junior sister, Yue Anyao, who had secretly loved him for years. She was the first to notice the shift in his feelings and repeatedly sabotaged the budding romance between Fang Zhiyi and Zhong Ling'er, sowing misunderstandings between them. The worst incident ended with Zhong Ling'er storming off after a heated argument with Fang Zhiyi—only to run into the man she had saved before.

That man was a demonic cultivator, the story's male antagonist, Chu Aotian. Recognizing Zhong Ling'er, he eagerly offered to repay her kindness, taking her on adventures and even avenging her family's massacre. Zhong Ling'er's fondness for Chu Aotian soared, and when Fang Zhiyi finally found her, she stubbornly demanded that he promise never to quarrel with her again—right in front of Chu Aotian—before agreeing to return to Cloud Sky Palace.

The sect gradually learned of their relationship, and while most didn't object—after all, Fang Zhiyi was now the sect master—a few disapproved, believing romantic entanglements hindered cultivation progress, especially between master and disciple.

For a while, the two lived in bliss. Fang Zhiyi even transferred part of his cultivation to Zhong Ling'er through a secret technique, hoping they could ascend together.

But their happiness didn't last. Chu Aotian, longing for Zhong Ling'er, often lurked near Cloud Sky Palace. One day, a patrolling elder nearly obliterated him. When Zhong Ling'er rushed to Fang Zhiyi for help, she found Yue Anyao clinging to him, refusing to let him leave. Remembering rumors about Yue Anyao and Fang Zhiyi entering the sect together, Zhong Ling'er felt betrayed, convinced he still had feelings for his junior sister. Enraged, she left again, using the cultivation Fang Zhiyi had given her to forcibly take Chu Aotian away.

The two fled into demonic territory.

Fang Zhiyi was frantic but couldn't find Zhong Ling'er—until much later, when she returned, kneeling and begging him to save Chu Aotian. In his reckless attempt to boost Zhong Ling'er's cultivation, Chu Aotian had stolen the Demon Lord's Seven-Colored Lotus and suffered a crippling injury from demonic arts.

Though reluctant, Fang Zhiyi couldn't refuse when Zhong Ling'er threatened to abandon her cultivation. He expended his own power to heal his rival, plummeting from the Mahayana Realm to the Void Realm—a full major realm. Weakened, he became a target, and the trio spent months evading relentless pursuers.

It was during this ordeal that Zhong Ling'er, moved by his sacrifice, reconciled with him and returned to Cloud Sky Palace. However, her earlier actions had alienated the sect. Love-blinded Fang Zhiyi suppressed the dissent, driving some disciples to leave.

Then came the rumors—whispers that Fang Zhiyi conspired with the Demon Lord, even murdered disciples to boost his cultivation. Shaken, he investigated and traced the slander to a rival sect. To clear his name, he and Zhong Ling'er infiltrated the sect, exposing the hypocritical leader and restoring his reputation.

But their deepening love pushed Yue Anyao over the edge. Her Dao heart shattered, and she fell into demonic cultivation, defecting to harass the couple. Zhong Ling'er's frequent tantrums and disappearances were glossed over—until the Demon Lord rallied an army to attack Cloud Sky Palace during Fang Zhiyi and Zhong Ling'er's ascension.

It was then that Fang Zhiyi discovered the new Demon Lord was none other than Chu Aotian! Distracted by his appearance, Zhong Ling'er nearly got struck by heavenly lightning, saved only by Fang Zhiyi's intervention. Chu Aotian incited Yue Anyao to stop the ascension, and she launched a suicidal attack on Zhong Ling'er. Chu Aotian intercepted it, taking the devastating blow. Seeing him injured, Zhong Ling'er rushed forward recklessly, forcing Fang Zhiyi to shield her from the heavenly tribulation.

"You still care for me after all," Chu Aotian smiled weakly at Zhong Ling'er. Realizing Fang Zhiyi's peril, she turned—but it was too late. Exhausted from protecting her, Fang Zhiyi was obliterated by a violet lightning strike.

After his death, Zhong Ling'er rejected Chu Aotian and abandoned cultivation, waiting devoutly for Fang Zhiyi's reincarnation, convinced he would return.

"......" Having relived the entire plot, Fang Zhiyi fixed the system with a stare. The system squirmed under his gaze.

"Tell me the truth... the worlds you pick never have normal people, do they?"

"Host, they're all normal people, isn't it touching?"

"Touch your mother... Never mind, forget that. Let me ask you—am I the protagonist this time?"

The system waved its tiny hands excitedly: "Yes!" Its voice brimmed with pride.

"I..." Fang Zhiyi took a deep breath. "Where are we in the plot now?"

"The supporting male lead is about to be discovered by the patrolling elders."

"Another random checkpoint?"

"Host, I’ve done my best. I wanted to push it earlier, but I just didn’t have enough energy."