Xiao Chen plummeted into the abyss below, his body weightless as the darkness enveloped him. The air was thick and heavy, as if the very cavern itself was holding its breath. His heart raced, adrenaline surging through him as he tried to make sense of the situation. The world around him blurred, and for a moment, he felt as though time itself had frozen.
The fall seemed endless. He could feel the wind rush past him, the sensation of free-fall both exhilarating and terrifying. The faint light from above faded as he descended deeper into the unknown.
Finally, with a sudden jolt, Xiao Chen crashed onto a soft but firm surface, the impact taking the wind from his lungs. He lay still for a moment, trying to catch his breath, the world spinning around him. His body ached, but miraculously, he was unscathed.
As his senses returned, Xiao Chen slowly pushed himself to his feet. He looked around, his eyes wide with disbelief. The cavern had been vast and seemingly endless, but what lay before him now was something entirely different. The space was unlike anything he had ever seen.
The walls around him were covered in strange glowing runes, faintly pulsing with an otherworldly energy. The air was heavy with spiritual qi, far more potent than anything he had encountered in the world above. The very atmosphere seemed to hum with ancient power, as if the cavern itself was alive, breathing with the pulse of the cosmos.
Xiao Chen could feel it in the air—this was no ordinary place. He had fallen into something far greater than a mere trial. But what was it? And why had he been brought here?
A soft voice echoed in his mind, as clear and distinct as if someone were speaking directly into his ear.
"Welcome, Xiao Chen."
Xiao Chen froze, his heart racing. Who was that? The voice seemed familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time. It wasn't the voice of a person; it felt... deeper, more ancient, as though it came from the very fabric of the world itself.
"I am the Primordial Life System. You have awakened me."
The words reverberated in his mind, and Xiao Chen's thoughts raced to keep up with the sudden revelation. He had no idea what the "Primordial Life System" was, but something deep inside him knew that this was the key to changing everything. The system—the voice—sounded like it was talking about him, as if his very existence had triggered something long dormant.
"You are the chosen one, Xiao Chen. Your fate is now intertwined with mine."
"What do you mean?" Xiao Chen whispered, half in awe, half in confusion. "Why me?"
"You are of the Xiao Clan. The bloodline you carry is special, though it has been buried under layers of failure and despair. But I am here to change that."
Xiao Chen's mind raced, trying to process the implications of the system's words. The Xiao Clan—his clan—had once been powerful, but it had fallen into ruin. His father, his elder brother, and the elders had all failed to prevent its destruction. Was the system telling him that his clan's fate was still in his hands?
"I will guide you, Xiao Chen. Through me, you will unlock your potential and rise above the mediocrity that has held you back. You will have the power to restore the Xiao Clan to its former glory."
A surge of energy shot through Xiao Chen's body as the words echoed in his mind. His qi, which had always been sluggish and hard to control, suddenly surged with newfound strength. It was as though the very fabric of his cultivation had been altered, reshaped by some unseen force.
The system's voice continued, its tone warm yet firm.
"You are now bound to me, Xiao Chen. Through this bond, you will receive gifts and powers far beyond your imagination. Your cultivation will grow at an accelerated rate, and you will master techniques that would take years for others to learn."
Xiao Chen gasped as he felt the system's presence grow stronger within him. It was as though his very soul had been touched by something ancient and powerful, something that transcended the mortal realm.
The cavern around him began to shift, the walls of stone melting away as if they were mere illusions. Before him stood a panel, glowing with vibrant symbols and markings that seemed to dance in the air.
"This is your System Panel," the voice explained. "It will track your progress and guide you on your journey. You will be able to increase your cultivation, master skills, and even unlock the powers of those who are bound to you."
Xiao Chen stared at the panel in awe. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, a collection of symbols and words that seemed to be in constant motion. At the top of the panel was a list of categories, each glowing with its own distinct energy.
1. Cultivation Level-Up Panel
2. Skill Upgrade Panel
3. Professional System Panel
4. 10,000 Returns Bind Function
5. Descendant Qualification Rewards
6. Quests and Rewards
System Panel:
1. Cultivation Level-Up Panel
Current Cultivation:
Qi Condensation Realm (Mid Level) [500/100]
Progress to Next Realm: 0%
Next Realm: Qi Condensation (Small Success)
Cultivation System Features:
Stabilization: Automatically handled by the system. No need for manual refinement or external aids to stabilize cultivation at each realm. The system ensures steady cultivation progress.
Cultivation Speed:
Accelerated by +1.5x due to the system's influence on Xiao Chen's progress.
Cultivation EXP Details:
EXP to Next Realm: 500 EXP required to reach Qi Condensation (Small Success).
EXP Gain Rate:
+10 EXP per day of focused cultivation.
+5 EXP for each breakthrough in a basic technique or combat challenge.
Cultivation Techniques Available:
Qi Flow (Entry Level): Basic control over qi flow in the body.
Qi Gathering (Entry Level): Technique to gather and concentrate qi in preparation for battles.
Qi Compression (Entry Level): Compresses gathered qi for more efficient combat use.
2. Skill Upgrade Panel
Active Skills:
Swordsmanship: Entry Level
Xiao Chen is still learning the basics of swordplay, needing more practice and refinement.
EXP for Swordsmanship: 20/100
Alchemy: Entry Level
Xiao Chen can brew simple potions but lacks the advanced knowledge to create powerful elixirs.
EXP for Alchemy: 15/100
Fist Techniques: Entry Level
Basic punches and strikes without incorporating qi energy.
EXP for Fist Techniques: 10/100
Skill Mastery Progress:
Entry Level → Small Success → Great Success → Perfection
EXP Gain Rate for Skills:
Swordsmanship: +5 EXP per sparring, +1 EXP per hour of focused training.
Alchemy: +10 EXP per successfully brewed potion, +2 EXP per identification of rare herbs.
Fist Techniques: +4 EXP per sparring, +2 EXP for successful qi integration in punches.
3. Professional System Panel
Professions Available:
Alchemy: Ability to craft potions and other elixirs.
Forging: Mastery of crafting weapons and armaments.
Formations: Creating spiritual arrays for combat and defense.
Beast Taming: The skill of subduing and forging bonds with spiritual beasts.
Current Mastery:
Alchemy: Entry Level
Xiao Chen has basic knowledge in potion crafting.
Forging: Unlearned
No knowledge of forging weapons yet.
Formations: Unlearned
Needs to study formation techniques.
Beast Taming: Unlearned
Xiao Chen has not started taming beasts.
Unlock Requirements:
Alchemy: Basic mastery of potions, ability to identify herbs.
Forging: Requires training from a skilled blacksmith.
Formations: Requires access to ancient texts or experienced formation masters.
Beast Taming: Needs to tame a low-level spiritual beast to begin learning.
EXP for Professions:
Alchemy: 30/100
Forging: 0/100
Formations: 0/100
Beast Taming: 0/100
EXP Gain Rate:
Alchemy: +10 EXP per potion brewed, +3 EXP for identifying rare herbs.
Forging: +2 EXP per failed attempt, +10 EXP for a successful weapon crafting.
Formations: +3 EXP per study session.
Beast Taming: +1 EXP per encounter with a spiritual beast.
4.Quests and Rewards
Main Task: Restore the Xiao Clan to its peak glory.
Current Subtask: Investigate the secret of the Ethereal Flame Cavern and uncover cultivation legacies.
EXP for Main Task: 50 EXP upon discovering ancient cultivation techniques or key information.
Side Tasks:
Explore Hidden Ruins to uncover lost techniques.
EXP for Exploration: +20 EXP per discovery.
Train Allies to help them achieve breakthroughs in their cultivation.
EXP for Training Allies: +15 EXP per successful training session.
Defeat Rival Clan Members to assert dominance.
EXP for Defeating Rivals: +30 EXP per rival defeated.
Refine Rare Materials for crafting or alchemy.
EXP for Material Refinement: +25 EXP per successful material refinement.
Side Task EXP Gain Rates:
Exploration: +5 EXP for each hour spent exploring.
Training: +5 EXP per successful mastery of a technique in allies.
Defeating Rivals: +10 EXP per defeated rival.
Material Refinement: +10 EXP per successful refinement.
Xiao Chen's eyes widened as he read through the features, each one more astonishing than the last. The system was offering him a chance to rise above his limitations, to become something far greater than he had ever imagined. The power to cultivate faster, to learn new techniques, to even bind others to him and gain their achievements—it was overwhelming, yet exhilarating.
"But first," the voice said, "you must prove yourself. The system's powers are not given freely. You must complete tasks, overcome challenges, and grow stronger. Only then will you unlock your true potential."
Xiao Chen's heart beat faster as he realized the magnitude of what lay before him. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger and uncertainty, but one thing was clear—this was his chance to reshape his fate, to rise from the ashes of his clan's fall.
He had no idea what trials awaited him, but he knew one thing for sure: he would not let this opportunity slip away. For the first time in years, Xiao Chen felt the spark of hope ignite within him.
The future of the Xiao Clan—and his own destiny—was now in his hands.