In the embrace of the morning's golden hour, radiant beams filtered through the tightly woven clouds, creating a magical cascade of sparkles that adorned the proudly standing waterfall on Deepthorn Mountain. Accompanied by the melodious cries of birds soaring on majestic winds, the rivers below surged robustly, extending their reach to the lush greens and the city of Deepthorn nestled beneath.

Li Cheng, who was gazing at the beautiful morning scenery, let loose a sigh. It had been almost 5 years since he had found himself transmigrated into a body named "Li Cheng".

Coincidentally, that was also his name in his previous life.

In contrast to his former life, tethered to a typical 9-to-5 office job, he now found himself navigating the realms of a cultivation world as a 16-year-old teenager, with his 17th birthday on the horizon.

He was born in the branch family of one of the 4 Great Southern Sects - The Li Sect. Although these sects ruled the Southern Province of the Ming Empire, they were somewhat inferior to their neighbours.

In terms of relative power within the south, the Li Sect could be considered the strongest in cultivation progress, though not necessarily in combat prowess.

It must be known they were also a powerful clan.

'I had already done my 3rd offering today but…'

Li Cheng took a glance back to see if anyone was watching and then put the bushes back into place. Afterwards, he connected his spiritual sense, an ability possessed by cultivators to scan their surroundings with their spiritual energy, to the ring on his finger.

'...clearly it's not enough? Right? I must be more sincere and faithful.'

He took out some extra incense sticks and his spirit stones. He looked at the small stones and back to the few medium stones.

"Be sincere and faithful. Sincere and faithful. Sincere and faithful…"

Then, whilst holding and praying with his incense sticks in his left hand, he began to throw the spirit stones into the fire pit with his right hand.

For every spirit stone he threw, a groan ached out amidst his muttering.

Louder and louder.

At some point, tears had begun to shed, soaking his orange sect uniform.

At the front of the fire on the other side of Li Cheng, one can see a very small, weird temple, about the size of a cardboard box, housing sculptures of powerful entities.

"Gods, Heavens, Great Buddha, Immortals, Jade Emperor, Great Dao, Divine Beasts, Sovereigns, Legendary Heroes, Celestials, Powerful Demons, Powerful Spirits, Devils, Emperors, Kings, Mount Tai— I lowly junior, beseech you to please listen to my shameful plea.

"Please grant me a chance to obtain a fortuitous encounter!"

Bow!

Bow!

Bow!

This daily ritual went on for about an hour until there was nothing more to burn. After cleaning up the place, he bowed one last time and put the bushes back into place, making sure that from the outside it looked perfectly normal.

"It looks like I need Master or Big Brother Wei to treat me again for a while." Guilt began to swell up, but he was already used to it.

3 years of spirit stones. 3 years of offerings. 3 years of poverty.

Ding!

[The Legendary System has awakened.]

"IT'S FINALLY HERE!"

"4th times the charm!"

Li Cheng screeched and galloped in the air. He immediately froze, and then furtively looked around to see if anyone had heard him. Seeing that there was nothing that had been attracted, Li Cheng went over to an inconspicuous spot, sat down, and pretended to cultivate.

[What is the purpose of your System?]

'Holy shit! It seems like I may be able to customise? I want it to make me the strongest! No, it must make me the strongest!'

[Clarify the purpose behind your great desire for strength.]

'Hm? In order to survive this cultivation world where the strong preys on the weak. If I do not become the peak itself, then no matter how strong I become, I will never be able to break free from the shackles of being a prey to those above me!'

[Indeed. And the higher the peak, the more one is intertwined with fate and karma.]

[Warning! Your System requirements requires 'Growth!' Are you sure you wish to proceed?]

'System what is Growth?'

[A period of time to grow and mature. As the System matures, there will be more accessibility and features. Most of the System features are available over time, but you can accelerate this by aiding the System through the user's performance and usage.]

'It's a little vague, but I understand. You may proceed!'

[Optimising System to suit purpose and world…]

[You may pick your pathway…]

[Strongest Sword God, Strongest Dual Cultivator, Strongest Demon God, Strongest Beast Tamer…]

"This…"

Li Cheng was stunned. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things, but the truth was in front of him. This kind of customisation was beyond what he was expecting. Usually in these System stories people were granted a designated system: essentially, he did not have a choice in the matter of how it worked and must adapt with the System given.

Thus, he never thought in specifics of what he wanted.

"Hahahah!!"

It looked like the System he obtained was not just a strong system but rather… the Ultimate System!!

He cupped his chin, stroked, and turned through the endless pages of pathways.

'Strongest Dual Cultivator?' Damn that is tempting! Becoming a Harem God is a dream for many men. Too bad I'm not scummy enough like Scum Che.

'Strongest Devouring System?' This is certainly one of the most broken ones of the list being able to devour all the abilities of the entities you eat. WHAT you can even turn into that entity and switch between entities you've devoured before?!'

Li Cheng almost immediately struck to confirm it

"No… I have to be careful. It seems too good to be true."

There were some stories where the System itself would try to screw over the protagonist or make it difficult for them. Considering the system's need of 'Growth', it would likely mean that he couldn't just devour anything he meets as they probably came with specific conditions to devour.

Li Cheng whose eyes were clouded with greed slowly regained to normal. He took a deep breath and calmed himself.

'Let's think rationally. What will be the weaknesses of this System?'

If he chose this and his power was somehow exposed, wouldn't he certainly be the enemy of literally not just the human race, but also everything in existence?

He wasn't even sure about laws and concepts and how that would pertain. It says that it devours the target's cultivation, but wouldn't he still need to undergo tribulation?

According to his knowledge upon attempting to breakthrough to the Golden Core realm, one would be forced to undergo a tribulation. It certainly wouldn't be a normal one.

Li Cheng was 100% sure that the Heavens would do everything in its power to eradicate him to death that not even his ashes are allowed to be remained in existence.

"Shuuuu!"

He sucked in a cold breath of air.

That was a close one!

Li Cheng entered into deep contemplation. Problem solving and weighing the cons and benefits of the pathways he was interested in.

>And the higher the peak, the more one is intertwined with fate and karma.<

Fate and karma… these laws were certainly in there. But when he checked the descriptions, he couldn't fully understand them. They were too profound and mysterious.

'Fate… predetermined events, destiny, it's hard to conceptualise. But if we think through these novels' mindsets regarding a protagonist, describing their fate is like their path to becoming a star. Those with high fate are destined to shake and cause changes to the world around them.

'As for karma… it could relate to ethics, morals, actions that we take accumulated in one's life which determine our cosmic merit or demerit. And this could affect our relationships with one another. In these novels, it is always about the whole idea of repaying karmic debt or being connected.'

"Interpersonal relationships…" he whispered.

No matter what he picked, Li Cheng believed he would be fated to meet those with high 'fate' and be affected by 'karma'. In fact, considering this was a cultivation world and he had a system, he was very likely to be forced to meet many scenarios where he will be fighting to keep his life at stake.

"Will I really be able to fight all the way to the very peak?"

'Fuck no!'

It was a complete contrast to what he declared to the System earlier.

There were many reasons why he did not have the confidence. One of the main reasons was because he didn't think fighting head-on like most cultivation protagonists suited him.

'Rebelling against the Heavens?'

'Overturning Fate?'

'Slaughtering everything that stands in his way?'

'I'm not wasting hundreds of chapters worth of time running away every time I'm facing an enemy I can't defeat, being an aggro magnet for all those young geniuses and their clans behind them, as well as being in the spotlight everywhere I go.'

'That life isn't for me!'

Li Cheng rolled his eyes at the next system he saw: 'The Strongest Hermit System'.

'But I'm not a pussy either!'

If he could make peace with the enemies, he would make peace!

If he can be friends with the Heavens, he will be friends with Heavens!

If he can be low-key, he will be low-key!

[You have chosen the pathway: Strongest Sect Master.]

Li Cheng will ascend to the pinnacle not by standing atop it, but by embodying the very summit, clearing the path for all aspiring cultivators ascending through the Nine Heavens. He shall wield the authority to decide the comings and goings of those who desire to be on top of the world.

'And now it should ask me…'

[What type of System do you desire?]

Li Cheng's eyes flashed with a glint, and his lips curled up to form a smirk in the crevices.

[Standard System, Levelling System, Gacha System, Summoner System…]

'Most of these systems are enticing, but there can be no question that this one is the most suitable for me!'

[You have chosen: Sect System.]

[You have obtained the "System Starter Package #47" and received the following: 100,000 Supreme Spirit Crystals, Heavenly Cure All Pills x20, Devilish Crimson War Elixir x20, Primordial Azure Dragon Egg x1, Worldly Teleportation Talismans x10…]

"Holy shit! Isn't this start too overpowered?" he couldn't help but blurt out.

Before Li Cheng could figure out how his Sect System worked, he was bombarded with so many items obtained from what was supposed to be a newbie starter pack.

What astonished Li Cheng the most was the diverse array of items that greeted him. The list was meticulously categorised into nine sections, inviting Li Cheng to explore realms ranging from Cultivation Wisdom and Miscellaneous Items to Weapons, Treasures, Bloodlines, Pills, Cultivation Clothing, Talismans, and Formations.

Within each section, there were approximately 10 different items, more or less, with each item marked by a specific quantity.

Despite being only in the early late stages of the Qi Condensation level, he was able to take in and have a brief scan of what each item entailed in a short few minutes. If anyone was watching, they would be amazed at how the human face can make all sorts of expressions continuously.

'I will need to digest this later back in my room.'

But first, Li Cheng wanted to take a look at this 'Sect System'.

'System, open my Sect System!'

[Notice: It appears you are already in a sect. If you leave your current sect, System Growth speed will greatly increase.]

Li Cheng froze.

He had forgotten that he was already in fact in a sect. However, it really was too inconvenient to leave for now. 'Could I leave later?'

[Given your circumstances, I will permit it for now. However, within the next 5 years, you must leave the Li Sect. Overtime, growth may become stagnant so it is advisable to leave as soon as possible.]

'Understood. Thank you for your benevolence!'

Ding!

[Your welcome.]

"The system kind of seems like a person despite its somewhat mechanical voice," Li Cheng mumbled.

[The name of the sect is currently listed as 'Untitled Sect'. Would you like to rename it?]

'Yes!'

[What would you like to rename your sect to?]

'Legendary Sect!'

[...Are you sure?]

'Please confirm it!'

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have renamed your sect to Legendary Sect!]

[Opening Main Sect Window.]

[Legendary Sect]

[Sect Master: Li Cheng]

[Disciples 0/6 Elders 0/3]

[Location: Not established.]

[Mission: Find Disciples!]

[Although you have yet to find a place to establish a place for your sect, you can still find potential disciples! Recruit 6 disciples and 3 elders.]

[Reward: ???]

Skills:

[Sect Master's Godly Sect Management Skills.]

[Your skills in sect management are simply god-like.]

[Eyes of the Strongest Sect Master: Mastery 1]

[You can see through the following:

Name, Cultivation Level, Bloodline, Talent,]

[Unfathomable Sect Master Li Cheng!]

[When activated, you become unfathomable! Nobody can see through your cultivation level. People who look at you are pressured, effect based on your cultivation level. Other Sect Masters are compelled to listen to you. Your aura gives off a mysterious feeling. This is permanently activated towards a disciple of yours. Active Duration: 45 minutes Cooldown Period: 1 day.]

"Not bad!"

"What's not bad Little Brother Cheng?"