Years passed like a fleeting breath for Kaelien Drakarth. After traveling through forests, mountains, deserts, and cities, he had seen more than any mortal could ever hope to witness in a single lifetime. Yet none of these wonders, none of these epic rivalries or power struggles truly managed to capture his interest.
He had watched cultivators rise from the early stages of Spiritual Awakening, reaching the heights of Spiritual Foundation. He had seen sects crumble under the weight of civil wars or internal rivalries, once-powerful clans fading into obscurity, all for a few extra years or fragments of power. This world was obsessed with the pursuit of strength, with each being seeking to climb higher on the cultivation ladder.
But Kaelien was already at the top. Nothing and no one could threaten him. He could destroy mountains with a gesture, cross continents in the blink of an eye, bend the world to his will. And yet, this immense power, which had once intrigued him, was beginning to feel like a burden.
The feeling of boredom crept in gradually. At first, he had found a certain pleasure in being a distant observer, analyzing the power dynamics, the strategies, and the internal struggles of the sects. But over time, it all became predictable. The same ambition, the same insatiable hunger for power, the same tragic mistakes committed by those who believed they could reach the pinnacle of cultivation.
The endless cycle of the pursuit of power became tiresome.
One day, Kaelien stopped at the summit of a mountain he had crossed many times in his travels. From there, he could see the world spread out before him: prosperous cities and thriving sects, wind-swept deserts, and ancient forests sheltering mythical beasts. This world had so much to offer, and yet... there was nothing new left for him to discover.
He recalled several events he had observed:
- An epic battle between the Black Dragon Sect and the Scarlet Heaven Sect had unfolded before his eyes in a mountain valley. Kaelien had watched from above as hundreds of cultivators clashed, each pushing their abilities to the limit. Blood flowed like rivers, and in the end, neither side truly triumphed. The losses were too great to be considered a victory for anyone.
- The meteoric rise of a young prodigy named Huo Lan, who, at only twenty, had reached the Intermediate Saint level. Everyone proclaimed him the future leader of the cultivation world, but Huo Lan encountered the limits of his own ambition. In his quest for an ancient artifact hidden in forgotten ruins, he provoked the wrath of an ancient entity that obliterated him with a single blow. His rapid ascent had been brief.
- He had also witnessed the fall of the Golden Phoenix Sect, once one of the most powerful in the region. Their leader, arrogant and confident in his superiority, had led his sect into a war against forces far beyond his understanding. Within a decade, the sect had been annihilated, its legacy reduced to ashes.
Kaelien had watched all of this unfold like a puppet theater. Each event seemed to repeat a pattern he had seen hundreds of times before. These cultivators, though ambitious and powerful in their own ways, lacked true vision. They trapped themselves in futile quarrels, temporary power struggles, never stepping back to see the bigger picture.
And Kaelien began to wonder: what was the point of having such immense power if all he did was watch the repeated failures of others? Immortality, coupled with the total absence of challenge, was suffocating.
Then, an idea began to take root in his mind.
All this time, he had refused to use the System's recruitment feature. He hadn't deemed it necessary, or even interesting. But now... the thought of choosing a few particularly talented individuals, guiding them without directly intervening, and watching how they evolved with the tools he would provide, suddenly became appealing.
"Maybe recruiting people would make this world a little more entertaining" he murmured.
Kaelien stood up from the mountain peak, looking at the horizon with a newfound sense of purpose. The System allowed him to select up to twelve individuals, offer them resources, and observe and manipulate them from afar. This wasn't about domination or control for him, but rather creating a personal game. A distraction to escape the monotony.
If he chose his recruits well, they might accomplish what others had failed to: bring something new into this stagnant world.
He stretched, feeling the immense energy pulsing through his body, a constant reminder of the power he held but rarely used. This time, he was going to change the rules of the game. He wouldn't participate directly, but he could make sure that his recruits left a mark on the world.
"Very well" he finally said, a sly smile forming on his lips. "It's time to start playing."
Kaelien Drakarth, the being at the pinnacle of power, would now step into a new role: an unseen force, pulling the strings from the shadows. And perhaps, just perhaps, this new game would rekindle the excitement he had long lost.