As I slowly opened my eyes, my vision was filled with a soft golden glow. The air felt warm yet unfamiliar—carrying a subtle energy that gently caressed my skin. The scent of incense and sandalwood enveloped my senses, bringing me to the realization that I... was no longer on a city sidewalk at night.
The ceiling above me was made of old carved wood, etched with cloud and dragon patterns that seemed alive, as if they could move at any moment. The walls were built from greenish jade stone, polished and pristine as if freshly sculpted. In every corner stood golden pillars, wrapped in talismans and ancient lanterns that floated and glowed softly without flame.
I lay on a low bed with a thin mattress—yet it was as soft as a cloud. Beside the bed stood a small white stone table, displaying scrolls, jade beads, and... the old book I had found earlier.
> [Shop System Activated.]
A voice echoed inside my head. Not heard by the ears, but resonating directly within my mind—calm, clear, and commanding.
> [You have accessed Xuanchuan Sky services. Complete the registration task to earn Sky Credits.]
I slowly sat up, trying to process it all. My body felt different—lighter, stronger. Every breath I took exhaled a faint white mist—a sign that my body had begun to harmonize with this world's spiritual energy.
Across the room, a large wooden door engraved with a yin-yang symbol slowly opened, revealing a breathtaking view: towering mountains, eternal mists dancing in the air, and a foreign sky with three suns hanging serenely on the horizon.
A single thought crossed my mind:
> "I... really have transmigrated and received a system."
> DING!
[Initial Task: Head to the Xuanchuan Pavilion west of this house and learn about this world.]
Wasting no time, I stepped outside, following the western direction indicated by the system's compass. Not far from where I stood, a grand structure rose: the Xuanchuan Pavilion. Its towering architecture boasted five-layered rooftops, entwined with dragon carvings. An aura of knowledge and power radiated from every wall.
Upon entering the pavilion, my eyes were greeted by a stunning sight. Towering bookshelves surrounded the vast hall like an endless maze. Scrolls, jade stones filled with information, and glowing panels were scattered everywhere. Some displayed strange techniques, names of sects, and the long history of this world.
I walked toward the section labeled "General Knowledge of the Xiantian World." Fortunately, the system helped me comprehend each scroll. The language of this world was nearly identical to that of my former world—perhaps a blessing from transmigration.
After reading a few initial records, I slowly began to understand… this was no ordinary world. This was a world of cultivation, where power was law, and the heavens could be defied if one was strong enough.
A soft chuckle escaped my lips. A surge of excitement welled up in my chest.
> "Will my cheat defy the heavens like those fantasy novel protagonists?" I murmured, lips curling into a hopeful smile.
After three days and three nights of isolating myself within the Xuanchuan Pavilion, I finally grasped the foundations of this world.
This realm is known as the Xiantian World—a place where spiritual power is not just strength, but absolute law. Here, cultivators can split the skies and shake the earth. The strong live as kings. The weak? Nothing more than dust beneath their feet.
In this world, only those with spiritual roots may tread the path of cultivation. That root is the foundation of all things. Without it, a person is merely ordinary—unworthy of even dreaming. But with it… even the heavens can be challenged.
And here I am now. A stranger in a new world, with a mysterious system embedded within me. In a place where anything is possible.
> "Alright then," I whispered, clenching my fist. "Let's see… if this world will tremble at my arrival."