The First Client of Renting a Dao Companion

"Sys, it's been three days already. Why haven't I heard a peep? Are you even capable?"

Qin Hao slouched against a throne carved from ten-thousand-year warm jade, his face etched with melancholy. Three days ago, he had transmigrated into this world, becoming the Imperial Son of the Primordial Qin Clan, and awakened a Rental Dao Companion System.

The system was simple. It would scan for the Daughters of Destiny in this world and send them advertisements for renting a Dao Companion. Once a Daughter of Destiny placed an order, Qin Hao, upon successfully accepting it, would obtain her special physique and a portion of her providence.

Not only that, but after the order was completed, the client would rate Qin Hao's service. The higher the rating, the better the rewards he would receive.

Qin Hao had been running this advertisement for three days, yet he still hadn't received a single order. This left him feeling very distressed.

"There shouldn't be any problem with my ad, right? Why am I not getting any orders?"

"Three Realms and Nine Heavens, emotional emergency! Professional temporary Dao Companion, taking orders online!!!"

"Are you troubled by your family forcing you into an arranged marriage?"

"Are you suffering from headaches dealing with relentless suitors?"

"Do you simply desire a brief, yet perfect companionship?"

"Contact me, and I will provide you with a professional, customized, and confidential temporary Dao Companion rental service!"

"Service Motto: Act deeply affectionate, solve troubles, leave without a trace once the deed is done, and absolutely never get entangled in karma."

"Contact Method: Focus your thoughts and gently touch this message with your spiritual energy."

Qin Hao rubbed his temples, looking at the ad he had posted. The selling points and contact info were all clearly stated, so why was no one reaching out to him?

Qin Hao was extremely depressed. Although he held the noble status of a clan's Imperial Son, his current situation was quite awkward. The main reason was that his deadbeat father, in order to break through to the Immortal Emperor realm back in the day, had actually created a wicked secret technique to forcibly borrow the providence of his descendants.

This resulted in the original owner of this body being born not only without any providence, but actually owing the Heavenly Dao a full measure of it. One could easily imagine how miserable the life of someone who owed providence to the Heavenly Dao would be.

Owing providence to the Heavenly Dao meant the original owner was completely unable to cultivate. His cultivation base was entirely forced up to the Golden Core Realm by his Immortal Emperor father. Why only the Golden Core Realm? That was because, with Qin Hao's uniquely unlucky physique, he couldn't withstand any more cultivation; otherwise, he would face rejection from the Heavenly Dao.

The Golden Core Realm was already Qin Hao's absolute limit. As a result, right after turning eighteen, the original owner died suddenly and mysteriously, allowing the current Qin Hao to take over his body.

You ask how Qin Hao got here? Of course, he actively took a massive gamble to seize that ethereal chance of transmigration. Qin Hao admitted that there was an element of risk involved, but he won the bet!

Just as Qin Hao was feeling utterly frustrated, the system, which had been completely silent with no activity since its awakening, lit up in front of him once again.

"Ding, you have a new rental order. Please check it."

The system's prompt startled Qin Hao so much that he did a kip-up, leaping right out of his chair. He couldn't wait to open the information panel to check on his very first patron.

Client Name: Su Qingyue

Identity: Legitimate Daughter of the Su Clan of Qingfeng City, Great Cang Nation, Southern Region.

Order Request: Pretend to be my Dao Companion and help me escape a family-arranged marriage.

Client Rating: Massive Potential (Innate Dao Physique). Current Providence: 5 Stones (Emperor's Providence).

Accept Order?

"Accept!" Without a single second of hesitation, Qin Hao decisively chose to take the order. Hesitating for even a moment would be a blatant disrespect to the system.

"Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully accepting your first order. Distributing starter pack benefits..."

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the following rewards:"

"1. Immemorial Dragon Emperor Avatar: Summons a trace of the Immemorial Dragon Emperor's pressure to intimidate the entire audience. Duration: thirty breaths of time."

"2. Void Emperor Robe (Replica): Once worn, grants immunity to Immortal Emperor-level attacks for ten breaths of time (once per day)."

"3. Dual Pupils: Origin Insight, integration of offense and defense, mental control."

"Order successfully accepted. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the same physique as Su Qingyue—the Innate Dao Physique."

"Ding, upon completion of the order, you will acquire Su Qingyue's providence based on your rating."

After fusing with the Innate Dao Physique and the Dual Pupils, Qin Hao felt that the world before his eyes had completely changed. It wasn't just clearer; it was closer to its true essence. He could actually see the operation of the Great Dao's rules!

"The Innate Dao Physique and Dual Pupils! Coupled with my background as the son of an Immortal Emperor, all I lack now is providence!" The corners of Qin Hao's mouth curled up. The aura around his body climbed steadily, almost to the point where he could no longer suppress it.

If not for the concern that his current providence was negative one measure, and that raising his cultivation would trigger rejection from the Heavenly Dao, Qin Hao, having fused with the Innate Dao Physique and Dual Pupils, could have broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm immediately.

"System, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and teleport me to my patron."

...

Qingfeng City, Su Clan.

The moonlight was cool, casting a cold glow over the laurel tree in the courtyard. Beneath the tree stood Su Qingyue, dressed in a white gown, quietly holding a sound transmission jade pendant in her hand.

She had picked up this jade pendant by chance. The moment her fingers brushed against it, a voice transmission flooded into her Sea of Consciousness:

"Three Realms and Nine Heavens, emotional emergency! Professional temporary Dao Companion, taking orders online!!!"...

Normally, Su Qingyue would have scoffed at such an absurd message of unknown origin. But right now, this message was like a frail straw appearing above a deep pool where she was about to drown.

In order to elevate the Su Clan to a higher level, Su Qingyue's father wanted to betroth her to the City Lord of Qingfeng City—a Golden Core Realm old man with only three years of lifespan left.

Looking at the jade pendant in her hand, an unrealistic sense of absurdity welled up in Su Qingyue's heart. "I truly am grasping at straws in my desperation."

Su Qingyue let out a faint, melancholic sigh:

"Putting aside whether the voice transmission in this jade pendant is just a deliberate prank left by someone, even if it is real, what kind of strength could someone who relies on playing the role of another's Dao Companion to exchange for resources possibly have? What kind of background could he possess?"

"I'm afraid he might not even be a match for me. He's probably just someone struggling at the bottom of the cultivation world, surviving with great difficulty by relying on a bit of acting skill and good looks. How could he possibly help me escape this arranged marriage?"

"The City Lord of Qingfeng City is a mighty Golden Core expert!"

Su Qingyue rubbed the cold jade pendant in her hand, her face full of self-deprecation and despair.

"Miss, Miss! The Master wants you to go to the front hall immediately. The City Lord's Estate has sent people over. They said they are here to take you to stay for a short while at their estate, so you can familiarize yourself with the environment in advance."

The maid's words drained the color from Su Qingyue's face, turning it deathly pale. A short stay? It was obvious that the dying old man didn't even want to go through the formalities of a wedding. He was impatient to claim her as his own!

Su Qingyue drew the sword at her waist. Even if she had to die, she would never surrender herself to an old man whose lifespan was nearing its end!

"Clang!"

Just as Su Qingyue was about to raise the sword to her own throat, a streak of spiritual energy accurately struck the blade, knocking the longsword from her hand.

"Bastard! How can you be so selfish? It is your honor that the City Lord has taken a liking to you! He doesn't have much lifespan left. Once he dies, won't you be able to inherit his estate? Do you have any idea what this means for our Su Clan?"

"Qingyue, endure it. It's just for three years. Serve him for three years, and once you obtain his estate, the family will welcome you back at any time!"

Su Qingyue lifted her beautiful eyes to stare intently at her father, Su Zhenhai, her face etched with unyielding stubbornness. "Endure it? I would rather die than agree to this marriage!"

"You obstinate wretch, I'll beat you to death!" Su Zhenhai raised his hand, about to strike Su Qingyue with a harsh slap.

Yet before his hand could even fall, Su Zhenhai was suddenly sent flying backward, his body completely out of his own control.

"Who gave you permission to lay a hand on her?"