Drake was a resourceful and street-smart orphan who had learned to fend for himself from a young age. He had grown up on the rough streets of the city, where he had to rely on his wit and cunning to survive. Drake was a timid person by nature and always avoided trouble, but he was clever and had developed a knack for picking locks and stealing small items from the ultra-rich people who lived in the city's posh neighborhoods.
Drake had been keeping a close eye on a little school kid for a few days, waiting for the right opportunity to steal from him. Drake had noticed the kid wearing a different watch each day and knew that the parents must be loaded. Lately, he was in dire need of cash and figured that a wealthy family wouldn't miss a small watch, especially since they could easily afford to buy another one.
One might think he is too timid, seeing how many days he observed a 7-year-old kid just to steal a watch from him. But drake doesn't think so. Life has taught him that planning is the key to success, and one can never be too prepared. He had been casing the area for a few days, waiting for the right moment to strike. He knew that the kid would be leaving school at a specific time.
As his thoughts raced, he suddenly caught sight of the little kid he had been patiently waiting for, emerging from the school gates. Drake nonchalantly leaned against the trunk of a tree that stood in the path of the child's route to his school van. He had disguised himself as an inconspicuous middle-aged man, blending seamlessly into the surroundings.
When the kid walked by, Drake cleared his throat and called out, "Hey, kid! You want some candy?" He pulled a candy bar out of his pocket and offered it to the kid.
The kid's eyes widened as he recognized the sweet treat, a favorite of his beloved grandmother's, and his face lit up with a radiant smile.
The child responded with a cheerful "Sure, why not?" as he took the candy from Drake's outstretched hand and happily skipped away toward his waiting school bus. Meanwhile, Drake used his quick fingers to expertly remove the brand-new watch from the child's wrist and slip it into his own pocket without the child noticing.
"Piece of cake," Drake thought, grinning to himself.
Just then, Drake heard a commotion. Turning around his eyes widened in horror at the sight of a massive black truck careening toward the oblivious child. Without hesitation, he sprang into action, his muscles tensing as he sprinted towards the boy.
Drake's hand shot out, grabbing the boy by the collar of his shirt and pulling him back with all his strength. However, in his haste to save the child, he wasn't able to dodge the truck completely and was struck by it. Drake's body was flung several feet away, tumbling in the air before hitting the ground with a sickening thud. His body was mangled, and he lay there motionless, with a pool of blood forming around him.
The impact was so severe that it shattered his bones and caused internal bleeding, and he was barely conscious. His vision was hazy, and he could hear nothing but a high-pitched ringing in his ears. Every breath he took was a struggle, and he felt a sharp pain shoot through his chest every time he tried to move.
As people gathered around him, he could feel their concerned faces looking down on him, but he couldn't make out their words. He knew he was badly hurt, but he couldn't bring himself to care. All he could think of was the little kid he had just saved and how fortunate he was to have been there at that moment.
Despite the pain, Drake couldn't help but let out a faint chuckle, knowing that his life as a thief had come to an abrupt end. "I guess crime really doesn't pay.", He thought as he lost his consciousness.
***
Somewhere else in the universe, there is a majestic cultivation world where strength reigns supreme. The world is filled with experts like grains in the sand, and divine beasts like dragons and phoenixes soar through the sky. This world is home to a continent known as the Myriad Fire Continent, and in the southwest lies a forest called the Dark Wood Forest. It's a rank-three danger zone, filled with powerful beasts and treacherous terrain.
Deep within the forest, in a secluded area, lies a bloodied youth with bone-deep wounds covering his body. His ragged breathing slowly comes to a stop, and he loses his life. But then, after a few moments, his eyes snap open, and he gasps for air. As the youth looks around, his expression shifts from confusion to disbelief.
This youth is none other than Drake, who seems to have died in a truck accident on Earth and miraculously transmigrated to this new world. He glances down at his medieval-style clothing and the injuries on his body, wondering where he is and how he got here.
"Ding* Welcome to the primordial cultivation world.
Congratulations on obtaining the Secret Santa system
The host is critically injured.
The host has a 'full body recovery after reincarnation' package.
Requesting permission for immediate usage of the package"
Drake became completely stunned as he heard a mechanical voice talking to him out of nowhere. There are two buttons, a green-colored agree button and a red-colored decline button displayed before his eyes, on a transparent blue screen.
After calming himself down, Drake realized that he must have transmigrated to some new world after he died and this system must be his trans-migrators cheat.
Shaking his head heavily to get rid of distracting thoughts, He didn't waste any time pressing the green-colored Agree button, as he knew he would die in no time with these injuries.
Suddenly life energy started to gather quickly from the surrounding forest and began to pump into Drake's body. He became stunned once again, as the severe injuries on his body didn't take more than five minutes to heal completely.
"Ding! Recovery complete" the system voice rang once again.
Drake nodded as he looked at the information on the transparent blue colored display screen in front of him.
"Species: Human
Name: Wen Dingxiang
Qi Cultivation: Qi condensation second stage
Soul cultivation: None
Body cultivation: None
Mission: Secretly gift Blue spring ginseng to Azure dragon city lord's daughter
(Note: The gift receiver should not find out that it was you who gifted it)
Mission time limit: two days
(Note: Not completing the mission within the deadline will result in amputation of a random body part)
Mission difficulty: Grade 1
Reward: Heaven grade magical clothes
Storage space available currently: 10 square feet"
As Drake's eyes scanned the information displayed on the screen, he was struck with disbelief and shock upon reaching the section about the mission and the subsequent punishment. The revelation that he had to retrieve the Azure Dragon City Lord's daughter was a daunting task, especially considering that even the previous owner of his body, Wen Dingxiang, had never even laid eyes on the city lord's mansion. Not to mention the city lord himself is a Late-stage foundation establishment expert. Drake felt a wave of injustice wash over him at the sheer absurdity of the system's demands.
Moreover, the punishment for failing the mission was nothing short of barbaric - randomly amputating a body part. The mere thought of risking one's manhood was enough to make Drake shudder with horror. He couldn't help but feel a sense of resentment towards the system's harsh and unfair punishments.
He glanced down at his torn clothes and sighed inwardly, knowing that his previous body had not fared well in its final moments. Drake recalled that the dark wood forest had been a perilous place, teeming with danger at every turn. His predecessor, Wen Dingxiang, had ventured into the forest in the hopes of attaining a fortuitous encounter to boost his cultivation base, but instead, he had met his untimely demise.
Sighing his expression turned solemn as he looked toward the direction of the city he came from. He had to make his way through the outer forest, a dangerous place full of unpredictable beasts and rogue cultivators. Drake's heart was racing as he remembered the stories of bandits lurking in the forest, preying on unwary travelers.
Drake knew he had to be cautious, stepping lightly and keeping his senses alert. The path he had chosen was winding and treacherous, with steep inclines and narrow pathways that left little room for error. The ground was slick with moisture, making it even harder to keep his footing.
He passed by streams and small waterfalls, each one providing a brief respite from the oppressive humidity. He took a few moments to splash his face with cool water and catch his breath, but he knew he couldn't linger for too long.
Suddenly, Drake's heart raced looking at the pack of fierce wolves coming his way. Their glowing eyes and razor-sharp claws were enough to intimidate even the bravest of warriors. Although they might not have been demonic beasts, to a novice like him, who had no experience in any kind of fight, they were more than capable of sniffing out his small life.
Fortunately, the beasts gathered towards the small stream and had yet to notice him. Drake held his breath and took cover behind a boulder. With bated breath, he watched as the beasts slowly drank to their fill and wandered away. He waited for some more time, after which he concluded it was safe to continue his journey.
Hours passed, and Drake's body was growing weary. His feet ached from the uneven terrain, and his stomach was growling from the lack of food. He had to press on, fueled by the knowledge that he was getting closer to his goal with each step.
Drake trudged wearily through the thick underbrush of the forest's outer reaches, his heart heavy with exhaustion and trepidation. However, his spirits lifted upon catching sight of the flourishing city sprawled out before him. The entrance to the Azure Dragon City towered above him, an awe-inspiring monument to human ingenuity and creativity. The walls, etched with ornate and intricate designs, stood tall and proud, while the city gates, fashioned to resemble fierce, golden-colored dragons, gleamed in the light of the sun, casting a mesmerizing reflection in his light blue eyes. The resilient city walls were no less impressive, their surfaces resembling the shimmering scales of a dragon, leaving Drake captivated and entranced.
As Drake drew closer to the entrance, he couldn't help but notice the long lines of merchant carts and commoners eagerly waiting to enter the city. Thankfully, possessing his sect's token allowed him to pass through the gates with ease, instantly granting him access to the city. The stark contrast in treatment between cultivators and commoners was hard to miss.
The bustling markets and the unique dressing sense of the cultivators transported Drake back to the medieval periods of Earth. Determined not to squander any time, Drake made his way through the familiar streets, finally arriving at the entrance of the esteemed Mystic Sword Sect. The guards patrolling the sect gates quickly allowed him entry upon seeing his sect token.
Drake headed straight to the sect's mission hall, the epicenter of sect disciples earning merit points by completing missions. These points could be exchanged for various cultivation resources, with only inner court disciples eligible to place missions themselves.
Upon entering the hall, Drake's gaze fell upon an old man lounging on a chair, the record book placed neatly on the desk in front of him. Drake respectfully bowed to the elder and announced, "Greetings, Elder. Disciple Wen Dingxiang has returned to report the mission's completion."
The elder barely acknowledged Drake's presence, offering a disinterested nod in response. Unfazed, Drake continued, "Elder, the disciple has successfully completed the Demonic Sunflower Seed collection. Please take a moment to verify," he said, presenting the elder with a medium-sized cloth sack containing the seeds.