The rumble of car engines, the sound of honking horns, and the constant chatter of people filled the air as Lin Fan sat in his cramped office cubicle. His computer screen was glowing with the latest chapter of Immortal Sovereign of the Heavens, a popular cultivation web novel he religiously followed.
"Why do they always get the system? Why not me?" Lin Fan muttered under his breath, clicking through the story with a frustrated expression. "A talentless waste who becomes the strongest? If only I could be reincarnated in such a world. With a system, of course."
Lin Fan had always been an ordinary man—average grades, a mundane office job, and no extraordinary talents. Yet, in his heart, he yearned for adventure, power, and a life beyond the constraints of modern society. He dreamed of transcending his reality, of wielding heaven-defying powers and standing atop the world.
That night, as he walked home under the glow of flickering streetlights, he stopped at an old alleyway to take a shortcut.
The air felt unnaturally cold.
A strange sensation washed over him—his body felt light, as if his soul was being drawn out of his mortal shell. Before he could react, a blinding light engulfed him, and the world around him disappeared.
---
When Lin Fan opened his eyes, a splitting headache greeted him. He found himself lying on a rough wooden bed in a dilapidated room. The air smelled of damp wood and stale herbs, and the faint sound of chickens clucking came from outside.
He sat up abruptly, feeling an unfamiliar weakness in his body. His hands, thin and bony, trembled slightly as he examined them.
"Where… am I?" Lin Fan whispered, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar.
Memories flooded his mind like a torrent, crashing against his consciousness. He was no longer Lin Fan. He was now Lin Feng, the third young master of the declining Lin Clan, a minor noble family in the Southern Azure Continent.
But there was a problem—Lin Feng was widely regarded as a waste.
While his siblings and peers cultivated their talents in martial arts and Qi manipulation, Lin Feng remained talentless, unable to sense even the smallest trace of Qi. He was mocked by his clan, ignored by his father, and bullied by his older siblings.
Lin Fan—no, Lin Feng—gritted his teeth in frustration as the memories settled in his mind.
"Of all the people I could transmigrate into, why did it have to be a waste?!" Lin Feng slammed his fist against the wooden bed, only to recoil in pain. "Even my body is this weak? What kind of cosmic joke is this?"
As he lamented his fate, a sudden mechanical voice echoed in his mind, startling him.
"Ding! Activating the Heavenly Sovereign System. Binding to host… complete."
Lin Feng froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Wait, what? System?!"
"Congratulations, host! You have been chosen by the Heavenly Sovereign System. This system will assist you in becoming the strongest cultivator in the world."
Lin Feng's heart raced with excitement, his frustration melting away. "A system… I actually have a system!"
The voice continued.
"The system grants you the ability to summon cultivators from any realm, acquire divine cultivation techniques, and receive heavenly rewards upon completing quests. However, failure to complete quests will result in severe penalties."
"Penalties? What kind of penalties?" Lin Feng asked cautiously.
"Examples include weakening your cultivation base, halving your lifespan, or obliterating your existence."
Lin Feng gulped. "Alright, no pressure…"
A translucent screen appeared before him, displaying his current status.
---
[Host Status]
Name: Lin Feng
Cultivation Realm: None
Talent: None
Techniques: None
Summons: None
Quests:
Starter Quest: Prove your worth. Summon a cultivator and defeat an enemy within 24 hours.
Reward: Breakthrough to Qi Condensation Realm.
Penalty: Death.
---
Lin Feng's excitement turned into panic as he read the quest. "Defeat an enemy in 24 hours? I don't even know how to fight!"
Before he could dwell on his predicament, the door to his room burst open. A tall, arrogant young man strode in, flanked by two lackeys.
It was Lin Tao, his second eldest brother and one of the clan's prodigies. Lin Tao was already at the 5th stage of Qi Condensation, and he never missed an opportunity to humiliate Lin Feng.
"Well, well, if it isn't our useless little brother," Lin Tao sneered, crossing his arms. "Still lying around like a good-for-nothing parasite?"
Lin Feng clenched his fists, anger boiling in his chest. He had inherited all of the previous Lin Feng's memories, including the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Lin Tao.
"What do you want?" Lin Feng snapped, trying to keep his voice steady.
Lin Tao chuckled. "Father is ashamed to even call you his son. I figured I'd help him by reminding you of your place." He cracked his knuckles, a menacing grin spreading across his face.
Lin Feng's heart pounded in his chest. He glanced at the system screen, his mind racing.
"System, how do I summon a cultivator?" he asked in desperation.
"The host must use system points to summon a cultivator. As this is the starter quest, the first summon is free."
"Then do it! Summon someone strong!"
"Summoning cultivator… complete. You have summoned a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator: Bai Long, the White Dragon Sovereign."
A brilliant light filled the room, and a figure materialized between Lin Feng and Lin Tao. The newcomer was a middle-aged man dressed in flowing white robes, his long hair tied into a neat braid. His aura was overwhelming, exuding an air of unshakable confidence.
"Who dares disturb the summoning of the White Dragon Sovereign?" Bai Long's voice thundered, his eyes narrowing as he glanced around the room.
Lin Tao stumbled backward, his face pale. "W-Who is this?!"
Lin Feng couldn't help but grin. "He's my summoned cultivator. And he's here to deal with you."
Bai Long turned to Lin Feng and gave a respectful nod. "Master, what are your orders?"
Lin Feng pointed at Lin Tao, his confidence surging. "Teach him a lesson."
Without hesitation, Bai Long flicked his sleeve, sending a wave of Qi that slammed Lin Tao into the wall. Lin Tao crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain. His lackeys fled in terror.
Lin Feng felt a rush of satisfaction as he watched his tormentor writhe on the floor. "Looks like the tables have turned, brother."
As the system chimed, Lin Feng's cultivation surged, breaking through to the 1st stage of Qi Condensation. For the first time, he felt the flow of Qi within his body—a sensation he had only dreamed of.
"Starter quest complete. Reward: Breakthrough to Qi Condensation Realm."
Lin Feng clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with determination. "This is only the beginning. With this system, I'll become the strongest cultivator in the world."
Bai Long smiled faintly. "Master, where shall we begin?"
Lin Feng smirked. "Every journey starts with the first step. Let's show this world what a 'waste' can do."
And with that, Lin Feng's rise to power began.