Daiyan Dynasty, Qingyang Town.
Several months away from the Lin Family's Comparisons.
In order to stand out in the family and gain their recognition, the younger generation within the family kept pushing themselves in relentless cultivation, creating a frantic atmosphere of improvement.
Amidst such a fast-paced cultivation environment, there was one young man who seemed completely out of place compared to his peers.
His name was Lin Yan.
While the others diligently worked within the family, he wandered around with an air of astonishment.
After nearly exploring the entire Lin family area, Lin Yan finally stopped and muttered to himself, "So..."
"I've really crossed over!"
Looking up at the sky with a mixture of emotions, Lin Yan sighed deeply as he remembered his situation.
"But my circumstances are just too poor."
"No background to speak of. Both parents deceased, and in life, I was just an ordinary disciple of the Lin family, leaving behind only a meager inheritance."
"No talent to boast of. Kids like Lin Shan are already at the Fourth Layer of Tempering, while others like Lin Hong are even at the Sixth Layer. Yet here I am, stuck at the First Layer."
"It's quite troublesome," Lin Yan said, feeling a headache coming on.
In a world like the one he had entered, where the strong preyed on the weak, strength was everything. Without strength, one was worth less than a pile of dog poop, merely a plaything for others to manipulate.
Lin Yan didn't want to be a powerless ant. Coming to this martial world, he desired to carve out his own path. It would be even better if he could find some close companions along the way. Therefore, he had to change his fate.
"Oh right, the small stone pool in the back mountain!"
"In the original work, Lin Dong obtained the Stone Symbol there. Maybe I still have a chance now."
With this thought in mind, Lin Yan hesitated no longer and immediately rushed towards the small stone pool in the back mountain of the Lin family.
"Here, this must be the small stone pool!"
"Let's search quickly."
After searching for a long time in the back mountain, Lin Yan finally found this somewhat concealed location.
Without further ado, he stripped off his clothes and jumped directly into the pool to search.
"If I can find the Stone Symbol here, perhaps I could replicate Lin Dong from the original work and replace him?"
However, Lin Yan quickly realized he was too late.
Despite searching meticulously through the pool, he found no trace of the Stone Symbol. Instead, due to soaking in the pool, he absorbed the last trace of energy, successfully breaking through to the Second Layer of Tempering.
But Lin Yan couldn't muster any happiness.
"Just a bit of residual energy is enough to advance my level."
"If only I could find the Stone Symbol."
Alas, Lin Yan sighed. He had already searched the small stone pool several times. If the Stone Symbol were still there, he would have found it long ago.
Now, the only possibility was that Lin Dong had already taken it.
With this realization, Lin Yan's expression became even more regretful.
Knowing the power of the Stone Symbol made its loss all the more disappointing. Especially since Lin Yan felt trapped. Besides the Stone Symbol, he couldn't think of anything else that could turn his fortunes around.
"Wait a minute, shouldn't a transmigrator have a system?"
"Where's my system?"
"System!"
Lin Yan couldn't help but call out several times, but all he received was a deathly silence.
Seeing this, Lin Yan could only laugh at himself bitterly.
He was too naive. Reality wasn't like novels; it was unlikely for him to have any system. He wasn't Dragon Ao Tian; as a modern person like him, his fate in this world probably wouldn't be too good, right?
Exhaling deeply, Lin Yan climbed out of the small stone pool, intending to return to honest cultivation.
However, to his surprise, in the next moment, a strange voice suddenly rang out!
[Ding! Congratulations, host, the system has been successfully activated!]
[This system is a check-in system. When the host successfully arrives in a specific area, they will be able to check-in and receive rewards.]
[Currently, the host has arrived in a specific area: the small stone pool at the back mountain of the Lin family.]
[Would you like to check-in?]
The emotionless voice sounded suddenly in Lin Yan's ears, and upon hearing it, his face lit up with surprise.
Life had its ups and downs.
Just when he thought he might get a big opportunity, he got nothing.
Just when he thought it might just be another day, he unlocked the system.
"What a dog of a system! Loves to scare people!"
Lin Yan couldn't help but curse, then addressed the system, "Check-in!"
[Check-in begins!]
[Check-in completed!]
[Congratulations, host, you have successfully received a reward: the Alchemist Ring!]
The system remained emotionless. Despite Lin Yan's curse, it remained unmoved.
Upon hearing Lin Yan's instructions, it immediately completed the check-in. Following that, a black ring appeared in front of Lin Yan.
"The Alchemist Ring?"
"The one from Battle Through the Heavens?"
Lin Yan couldn't help but be slightly stunned upon seeing the system's prompt.
This person was someone he knew too well.
The teacher of Flame Emperor Xiao Yan!
Known as the Alchemist Ancestor Yao Chen!
The original Xiao Yan had considerable abilities himself. However, it couldn't be ignored that Xiao Yan was nurtured by Yao Chen.
Without him, Xiao Yan might not have become the Flame Emperor later!
Therefore, after a brief moment of shock, Lin Yan became somewhat excited.
If Yao Chen were to teach him, coupled with the help of the system, could he also become another Flame Emperor in the future?
Or perhaps, even surpass the Flame Emperor?
That seemed pretty good.
After all, in Lin Yan's view, if he couldn't become a Martial Ancestor, being the Flame Emperor was not bad.
But the biggest problem right now was.
Was Yao Chen willing to help him?
With concerns in his heart, Lin Yan directly grabbed the black ring in front of him.
As Lin Yan grabbed the black ring, the system's voice disappeared.
Following this, a transcendent figure, surrounded by a faint white light, suddenly appeared in front of Lin Yan.
"Young friend, thank you for your lifesaving grace."
Yao Chen appeared and bowed to Lin Yan.
Ever since he was ambushed by Han Feng and infused his last bit of soul power into the ring, it had been quite some time.
However, the ring had yet to be obtained by anyone, so he had been stuck inside the ring, watching his soul power continuously diminish, feeling as if he were running out of time.
Perhaps, in a little while, the ring would be obtained by Xiao Yan's mother. However, before that happened, the system had brought Yao Chen over prematurely, and even helped him replenish his soul power. Therefore, Yao Chen naturally remembered this favor Lin Yan had done for him.
(End of Chapter)