The world tilted, and Lin Yan's head spun like he'd just stepped off a roller coaster in reverse. When his vision steadied, he found himself lying on a hard, uneven surface. Overhead, the sun blazed mercilessly, and the air buzzed with the sounds of cicadas and distant voices.
This wasn't his bedroom.
"Where…?" Lin Yan groaned, his throat parched. He pushed himself up to a sitting position, only to feel a sharp stab in his ribs. Looking down, he noticed his once-modern clothes had been replaced with simple robes. His hands were calloused, his body wiry but malnourished.
Before panic could fully set in, a flood of memories surged through his mind, overwhelming him like a tidal wave.
He was no longer Lin Yan, a struggling office worker in a dead-end job. No, he was now Tian Yu, an insignificant servant in the outer sect of the prestigious Azure Sky Sect. Worse, he wasn't even a promising disciple or a hidden genius. He was, quite literally, cannon fodder in a xianxia world—destined to be an extra swept away by the grand tides of destiny.
"I… I transmigrated?" Tian Yu muttered, disbelief warring with rising dread. The Azure Sky Sect? The name sounded familiar. That's right, it was the very same sect mentioned in Path of Celestial Ascension, the web novel he'd been reading before falling asleep. He wasn't just in any cultivation world—he was in one with terrifyingly high mortality rates.
His memories from this new body were sparse but enough to piece together the dire situation. Lin Yan was a bottom-rung worker, tasked with mundane chores like fetching water and scrubbing floors for the more talented disciples. Cultivation? A pipe dream. He hadn't even unlocked his dantian, the essential prerequisite to start his path as a cultivator.
"This… can't be happening." He slapped himself for good measure. Pain flared, confirming the grim reality. He'd read enough xianxia novels to know the fate of nameless extras: cannon fodder in sect wars, background victims of scheming antagonists, or worse—forgotten entirely.
As despair clawed at him, a robotic voice chimed in his mind.
[System Initialization Complete.]
Tian Yu froze.
Welcome to the Growth System. You have been granted this unique opportunity to rise above mediocrity. Progress through life, cultivate your destiny and achieve greatness.
"A system?" Tian Yu's heart skipped a beat. Relief mixed with disbelief. Perhaps he wasn't completely doomed after all. Every protagonist in these stories had some cheat, and while he didn't expect to become an invincible deity overnight, a system could be his ticket out of cannon fodder hell.
"What kind of system are you?" he asked cautiously. "Are you like those overpowered ones that hand out legendary treasures and martial techniques?"
The voice responded flatly:
This is a Growth System. Your progress depends on your actions, choices, and efforts. No handouts.
His enthusiasm dampened. "So… no instant godly techniques or treasures?"
Correct. Growth requires perseverance. Initializing Starter Rewards...
A translucent screen appeared in his vision.
Starter Rewards:
Beginner's Breathing Technique (Tier: Low Mortal)Minor Body Strengthening Pill (1x)Beginner Guide: Path of Cultivation
He exhaled, managing a weak smile. It wasn't flashy, but it was a start. He quickly reviewed the items. The Beginner's Breathing Technique was the most basic cultivation manual but crucial for unlocking his dantian. The pill could help strengthen his frail body. And the guide… well, he'd take any help.
"Alright," he muttered, "better than nothing."
The sound of approaching footsteps snapped him out of his thoughts. A group of young men and women, clad in robes bearing the Azure Sky Sect emblem, emerged from the forest path. They carried themselves with the arrogance of true disciples, their gazes cold and dismissive.
"Tian Yu!" barked one of the men, a tall, sharp-faced individual with a whip coiled at his side. This was Liu Chen, an outer disciple infamous for bullying weaker servants. "What are you lazing around for? The east courtyard's water barrels aren't going to fill themselves!"
Tian Yu grimaced. In this world, hierarchy was ironclad. As a servant, defying even an outer disciple was tantamount to suicide. But Tian Yu felt defiant as Liu Chen smirked and the others chuckled mockingly.
"I'll get to it," he said curtly, standing up.
Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. "You'd better. If I catch you slacking again, I'll make sure Elder Zhou punishes you."
The group left, their laughter fading into the distance. Lin Yan clenched his fists. In his previous life, he'd endured plenty of office bullies, but this was on a whole new level. Yet, he wasn't entirely powerless now.
Returning to his shared quarters—a dilapidated shack at the edge of the sect grounds—Lin Yan sat cross-legged and opened the Beginner's Breathing Technique.
[Beginner's Breathing Technique: A basic method to sense and circulate qi. Requires concentration and a calm environment.]
Tian Yu followed the instructions meticulously, closing his eyes and focusing on the faint sensation of energy around him. Time passed slowly, and frustration began to mount. Just as he was about to give up, he felt a faint, warm current flowing through his body.
[Qi detected. Dantian unlocked.]
A surge of exhilaration coursed through him. He'd taken the first step toward cultivation! Granted, it was a tiny step, but it was a step nonetheless.
The system chimed again:
[Quest Unlocked: The First Spark]
Objective: Reach the first stage of Qi Condensation.
Reward: 10 System Points, Basic Martial Technique.
"Quests, huh?" He smirked. If he could string together enough progress, maybe he wouldn't just survive—he might thrive.
The next few days were gruelling. By day, he fulfilled his servant duties, enduring ridicule and backbreaking labour. By night, he trained relentlessly, cycling qi through his meridians and strengthening his body with the Minor Body Strengthening Pill.
His perseverance paid off. After a week of ceaseless effort, Lin Yan felt a breakthrough. On a quiet night beneath the stars, the warm current in his body intensified, flooding his dantian with a steady flow of qi.
[Qi Condensation Stage 1 achieved.]
[Quest Complete: The First Spark.]
Rewards:
10 System PointsBasic Martial Technique: Iron Palm (Tier: Low Mortal)
Excitement bubbled within him as the system screen updated. He opened the martial technique and skimmed its contents. Iron Palm was a rudimentary combat skill, but in his current situation, even a basic technique was a game-changer.
He practised the moves in secret, his strikes growing sharper and more focused with each repetition. The system offered subtle corrections, guiding him to perfect his form.
Tian Yu's newfound progress didn't go unnoticed. Liu Chen and his lackeys soon cornered him in the servant's courtyard.
"Servant boy," Liu Chen sneered, "I heard you've been slacking on your duties. Think you're too good for hard labour now?"
Tian Yu's hands itched to strike back, but he forced himself to remain calm. "I've done everything required of me."
Liu Chen's smirk widened. "Mouthy, aren't you? Let's see if you're still so confident after a lesson." He raised his whip, a cruel gleam in his eyes.
Instinctively, Lin Yan stepped back, raising his arms in a defensive stance. The memories of his past self screamed at him to run, but this time was different. This time, he had the power to fight back.
When the whip lashed out, Lin Yan moved. His newly strengthened body responded with surprising agility, sidestepping the strike. Before Liu Chen could recover, Lin Yan's palm shot forward, channeling the Iron Palm technique.
Smack!
The force of the blow sent Liu Chen stumbling back, his expression shifting from smugness to shock.
"You…!" Liu Chen growled, clutching his chest. The other disciples stared, dumbfounded.
Tian Yu's heart pounded, his palms slick with sweat. He wasn't strong enough to truly challenge someone like Liu Chen, but he'd sent a clear message: he wasn't an easy target anymore.
For the first time since his transmigration, Tian Yu felt a glimmer of hope. He was no longer a powerless extra destined to fade into obscurity. With the Growth System and his unwavering determination, he would carve out a path in this unforgiving world—even if it meant defying fate itself.
The Azure Sky Sect was vast, its dangers countless, but Tian Yu was ready. His journey had just begun.