The surroundings changed in an instant, causing Noah to panic.
- This isn't an act anymore, this is way too real.
The tremors subsided, and only then did he look down and realize that he was suspended high in the air, with nothing beneath his feet. The ground was far, far below.
For a moment, the tiny heart in Noah's chest skipped a beat, then seemed to stop altogether. Panic surged through every cell in his body, and his balance vanished. He fell into the endless void below.
The vast space had no center, no support, nothing to hold onto. There was nothing to stop his fall.
At this moment, Noah felt nothing but fear and despair, wishing for death.
But after flailing and struggling for a while, he realized he was still in the same position—not falling, not rising. He had been spinning in circles like clothes in a washing machine.
...After vomiting everything in his stomach...
A warm energy spread throughout his body.
A soothing sensation emerged, and the discomfort faded.
A notification panel appeared.
The System notified: The adaptation function has been activated.
...
Noah found that he was no longer dizzy, even when he tried to look down.
"It was miraculous."
Even though his feet weren't touching anything, he felt as steady as if he were standing on solid ground.
Now that he had regained his composure, Noah turned his attention to the information panel in front of him.
- Host: Noah
- Level. Mortal .
- Identity: Master of the Three-Headed Tiger Mountain Manor
- Assets (click to view details)
- Basic functions: Celestial Summoning has been unlocked
- Main questline has been unlocked (click to view details)
Based on the current situation, the System has gifted the host a beginner's package.
Would you like to open it?
- Confirm.
Received 10 Celestial Summoning chances.
Received basic equipment: 1 fully functional basic house (already equipped).
Received Four Symbols Guardian (already equipped).
Received Mountain Protection Talisman to protect the manor for 7 days (already equipped).
Received 1 Manor Relocation Card.
Received 1 Manor Renaming Card.
...
Another window popped up.
The System notified:
- Based on the host's status and position, the quest "First Step" has been set.
- The contract has been successfully signed.
- Friendly AI intelligence mode has been activated.
- Beginner mode has been activated.
We hope the host enjoys their journey.
As the mechanical voice ended, the space shifted again, but this time it contracted. Everything shrank back into a single room. Before Noah could prepare, he felt another wave of extreme dizziness. His body lost balance, and he collapsed onto the floor, his stomach churning as if he wanted to vomit again, but there was nothing left inside...
- What the hell... Are you trying to kill me?
One hand tremblingly supported the wall, while the other covered his mouth. Dizzy and nauseous, Noah panted as he looked around.
- Where is this...?
The same emotionless mechanical voice rang out.
- This is the bedroom in the fully functional basic house gifted by the System. This room has a table, chairs, and all necessary living supplies. The host can safely begin their journey here.
...
Sitting on a sturdy wooden chair, feeling the warm energy dispelling the dizziness, Noah looked around the room. It had an ancient, tidy, and clean style, with a table, chairs, and even a tea set—though there was no tea inside. But that wasn't the main point. He felt an uncomfortable sensation, as if he had fallen into some kind of prank.
'The adaptation function only activated when I wasn't moving. If I moved, it wouldn't activate... Ha...ha... '
'In stories, every System is harmful in some way to its host. The easier things seem, the more likely there's a scheme behind it. This System... needs to be watched carefully. It might stab me in the back one day... '
- So, have I returned... to the same place?
In the room, the candlelight was bright—he didn't know who lit it. The scene was warm and peaceful. A notification window popped up.
- Basic guide opened (Beginner mode).
Basic operation guide begins.
Welcome to the Celestial Summoning function.
To avoid monotony in cultivation and seeking opportunities, as well as to enhance your strength, the System has launched the Celestial Summoning function.
The Celestial Summoning function is a gacha mechanism for random searches. 10 summons guarantee a legendary item, and 100 summons guarantee a mythical item.
The host can obtain summoning tickets by completing main quests, achievements, or by using spirit stones, the System's currency, to purchase them.
Starting with the beginner's summon, only 10 summons are needed to guarantee a mythical item.
Would you like to use this function?
Despite still feeling dizzy from the sudden teleportation, Noah was sober enough to recognize the blood-sucking nature of this gacha system.
He glanced at the notification panel with the confirm button.
- A gacha game, and it's about seeking opportunities...
'This feeling was both strange and familiar, both exciting and slightly repulsive. What was this? And this dialogue box in front of me was no different from a Windows system...
The interface was rigid and familiar. Was this some kind of joke?
But the scene earlier wasn't a dream... This is giving me a headache... Looking at the big red confirm button right in front of me... What now? Am I scared or something?
- Confirm.
The surroundings changed once more. By the time Noah realized it, he found himself in the midst of a vast cosmic space. Countless shimmering stars floated around him. Nebula bands drifted, some forming bright streaks across the sky, some clustered together, some scattered everywhere... A myriad of colors and shapes.
The scene was romantically magnificent.
Suddenly, he felt that each star was an opportunity, each one capable of changing a person's life. And he, all he needed to do was touch them, and they would be his.
Noah, moved, reached out to touch the stars floating before him. But as soon as he lifted his hand, all the stars suddenly moved. Giant rings of light formed and began spinning around him.
He was at the center, and everything revolved around him.
And then, amidst the countless shimmering lights, a golden beam of light deviated from its orbit and fell into his hand. As the light faded, a vivid golden dragon appeared.
The dragon's body was translucent, with faint specks of light drifting inside. Its outer form was made of soft, flowing rays of light that bent gracefully as the dragon moved. Its large, round eyes, with golden pupils, stared at him with a mix of fear and curiosity.
Noah.
- This is miraculous, so beautiful.
A bit excited, he thought, "This is my opportunity. I've summoned a dragon. Am I going to become a dragon rider?"
Sensing Noah's excitement, the dragon flew a few more joyful circles before tightly wrapping itself around his hand.
Noah felt its small claws gently scratching, its cool body hugging his arm, and he grew even happier.
- So adorable...
...
Outside, as soon as Noah pressed the confirm button, the space around him lit up brightly. His body floated effortlessly in mid-air. A vast, ethereal energy filled the surroundings. Strands of destiny took shape and swirled around him, the light danced, and the wind created an indescribably magical rhythm.
In the sky, the storm outside was instantly swept away, making room for the stars that connected to form a massive nebula pattern covering the sky of the Eastern Continent.
The commotion was so great that it startled the great cultivators and scholars, especially those in the academy of the Moonlight Empire. Groups of people gathered frantically, trying to calculate and understand the cause and result of this phenomenon...
The center of the celestial phenomenon occurred right above their country's sky. Such a grand phenomenon surely heralded a major event.
Outside, the common people were in chaos, kneeling and praying incessantly. Inside the palace, the emperor calmly observed the celestial phenomenon, while a great scholar stepped forward to report.
- Your Majesty, this phenomenon indicates that a treasure is about to emerge. The location is at Strong Bull Mountain in the north of our territory.
The emperor listened, then nodded solemnly and slowly issued an edict.
- By my decree, gather our forces and head to Strong Bull Mountain. Bring the treasure back to the palace.
...
As soon as the celestial pattern formed, it began to move. The ethereal energy and overwhelming pressure spread perfectly across the land. Small, submissive—that was the feeling of all living beings looking up at the sky, at the celestial pattern at this moment.
Just as everything seemed perfect, 10 stars suddenly deviated from their orbits, shattered the pattern, and shot straight down to the earth.
The stars intertwined, unstoppable like a bamboo splitter. Where they passed, all things gave way. They cut across the sky and fell into the mortal world... At the same time, the central dragon veins of the five great dynasties all awakened, roaring toward the stars before submitting.
As the stars descended lower, space became sluggish, and all things fell into silence. Nothing could move; it seemed all could only watch... watch the only thing crossing the mortal world at this moment.
The moment the stars touched the earth, a tremor spread across the Eastern Continent. Almost everyone felt the same sensation in their hearts—vast, powerful, domineering, sweeping everything aside. It was as if a king had appeared, and any willful action before him would be punished. The tremor didn't stop at the Eastern Continent, but spread across the continent, even reaching the distant west, where it could be faintly felt. The massive tremor was like a challenge to all living beings on the continent.
In the north, atop a high mountain, an old man shrouded in wind and snow murmured.
- The Eastern Continent is about to give birth to a great emperor... Is my opportunity here? Or should I go ask that old fortune-teller first?
...
In a desolate grassland to the south, the roars of demonic beasts echoed...
...
At the center of the continent, a middle-aged man looked toward the Eastern Continent with suspicion.
- Everything is so strange. Surely this has nothing to do with me...
...
And in many other places, undercurrents were already moving. Those with ambitions knew what to do...
At the center of the phenomenon...
As the tremor passed, the Moonlight Emperor's palace immediately issued a curfew. The entire country entered a state of war. Those who disobeyed would be executed without trial.
Other forces nearby also issued similar orders.
...
...
Back to Noah, the more he looked, the more he liked the golden dragon coiled around his arm like a bracelet. Its body rubbed against him, its mouth making cute little sounds—utterly adorable.
At this moment, a System panel appeared.
- Received Mythical-grade Spirit Vein.
- Received Mythical-grade Bodhi Tree.
- Received manor construction items: 1 sect stone tablet, 3 stone tables, 20 bricks, 2 iron axes.
Summoning complete. Returning to reality in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Feeling every little movement of the dragon, Noah's mood was joyful. He lifted his arm, looked at the dragon, and said:
- So, you're my spirit vein? Let's work hard together from now on...
The dragon's small head looked around cautiously, then slowly flew a few circles before returning to gaze at him with a bewildered expression.
Noah...
- You don't need to be afraid. This place is safe. What should I name you?
The dragon's big round eyes stared at Noah, its small arms waving as it made little sounds, as if trying to express something. Then, under his puzzled gaze, the dragon flew up, turned decisively, and shot straight down to the ground without looking back.
Noah... took a few seconds... looked at his empty hand. He finally reacted and called out:
- Hey, little dragon, where'd you go?
... No response...
... The space was silent as paper...
... Only he remained...
Noah's heart skipped a beat as he realized what had just happened. He hurriedly shouted:
- System, the dragon ran away!