Li Wei stood before the gates of the Azure Cloud Sect, his heart pounding with a mix of hope and dread. The massive doors, carved with celestial beasts and glowing with faint spiritual light, felt less like an entry to opportunity and more like an impassable wall. He had spent years preparing for this moment, dreaming of a future as a disciple of the sect.

But now, his dreams were shattered like fragile glass.

Before him stood an elder, dressed in resplendent azure robes, who looked down at him with an air of condescension. His voice was steady but cutting: "You lack the talent we seek. Begone, and do not waste our time again."

The crowd of hopeful disciples, who had gathered to witness the selections, burst into whispers. Some openly laughed.

"Look at him, in tatters, believing he could join the Azure Cloud Sect."

"Did he even finish basic cultivation techniques? What a joke!"

"Go home, peasant. Leave the path of immortality to those meant for it."

Li Wei clenched his fists, his nails digging into the palms until they almost drew blood. He yearned to scream, fight, and prove them wrong. But he could sense the elder's heavy weight of spiritual energy pushing onto him, making each and every breath a hard matter.

He turned and started walking down the mountain, shoulders slumped beneath the burden of shame. His footsteps echoed through the silent mountain, taunts falling behind him like a wolf pack.

"Don't hurt yourself falling off the mountain, loser!"

"Try again next life, schmuck!"

Each stone beneath his frayed sandals seemed to creak, mocking him, as his throat grew raw, burning with a heat that seared its walls. But he refused to cry.

The mountain air, once crisp and refreshing, now felt stifling. The forest stretched out to either side, dark and unwelcoming. He heard a rustling in the bushes and had to stifle an instinct to turn back. Where was he to go? To his sick mother at home? Back to the village that believed him to be a fool for even trying to dream?

Then he heard it—a faint, low sound, almost like a chant. His footsteps slowed as he narrowed his eyes and scanned the thick foliage. The sound was pulling him off the trail, drawing him in some unseen way.

He hesitated. The stories of wandering farmers stumbling into danger flashed in his mind. Hidden beasts, cursed grounds, malignant spirits—this was how many met their ends. But something about the sound tugged at his soul, an inexplicable pull that urged him forward.

He pushed off the path and through the brush, the branches clawing at his arms and legs. The chant grew louder, more defined, until he found himself standing before the ruins of an ancient structure. It was like nothing he had ever seen—a strange mix of elegance and decay. Stone pillars twisted with metal vines, inscriptions in an unfamiliar language glowed faintly in the dim light.

It came from deep within the ruins. No longer a chant, but a strange mechanical hum, rising and falling in a rhythm that made his heart race.

Caution gave way to curiosity. Li Wei entered the ruins, his steps echoing against the stone floor. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, as though the ruins themselves were holding their breath.

Amidst all that desolation, a metallic sphere half-buried within the debris lay at the center of the chamber, unlike anything else within that ruin. It gleamed as if untouched by time.

The hum grew louder, resonating in his chest. Before he could think, Li Wei reached out to touch it.

A flash of burning agony shot up his arm the moment his fingers grazed the surface, and he screamed. The world went dark around him.

He opened his eyes to find himself floating in an endless void filled with innumerable floating symbols and diagrams. A voice, detached and unearthly, echoed through the space:

"System initializing… Welcome, Li Wei. You are now the host of the Ancient Technological Interface."

"What is this?" he shouted, panic and fury creeping into his voice.

"You have been chosen to inherit the legacy of advanced technological artifacts, long forgotten by this world."

"Why me?" Li Wei sneered, still feeling rebuffed. "I was rejected, belittled, told I was of no use. Why me?"

"Your potential is unappreciated by those blinded by tradition. The system recognized traits in you-resilience, curiosity, and a desire to defy fate. You are the ideal host."

Li Wei's anger ebbed, replaced by a spark of hope. He had been told he was nothing, yet this. thing saw worth in him. "What happens now?"

"With my guidance, you will wield powers beyond the comprehension of this world. Together, we will rewrite your destiny."

Li Wei took a deep breath in, the weight of rejection still pressing on his chest, but now accompanied with a spark of determination. "Fine. Show me what I need to do."

The void shifted, and Li Wei felt himself falling. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the ruins, the sphere pulsing gently in his hands. The hum was gone, replaced by a faint voice in his mind—guiding, instructing, promising a future he dared not imagine moments ago.

For the first time since leaving the Azure Cloud Sect, Li Wei smiled. His journey was just beginning.

The walk back to his village was long and quiet, the metallic sphere cool against Li Wei's palm. The rejection from the Azure Cloud Sect still stung, but the strange encounter in the ruins had planted a seed of purpose within him. Every step brought clarity.

When the sun disappeared below the horizon, there was a glinting of long shadows over humble huts, and smokes curled languidly from chimneys, accompanied by the cooked millet stew. It is a wonderful sight, as it did once comfort him. For tonight, though, it felt small and confining.

Li Wei pushed open the door to his home. The faint light of the hearth illuminated the simple room. His mother, Mei Lin, was seated by the fire, mending a torn piece of cloth. She looked up as he entered, her weary face brightening momentarily before fading into concern.

"Li Wei," she said, her voice thin and fragile. "You're back. Did… did they accept you?"

For a moment, he thought to lie. But the burden of truth was too great to hide. He shook his head. "No, Mother. They said I wasn't good enough."

Mei Lin's hands shook and the needle dropped from her grasp. She reached out for him, her frail hand resting on his arm. "My son, you have always been enough for me. Those sects… they do not see what I see. You are strong, resourceful, and kind. It is much more important to me than their approval."

Her words, though well-intentioned, could not efface the bitterness. Li Wei knelt beside her, his eyes falling to the floor. "But I wanted to make things better for us. For you."

A spasm of harsh cough wracked Mei Lin's body, and she leaned heavily against the armrest, her face pale. Li Wei's heart clenched. She had been sick for years, and the villagers' remedies had done little to help her.

The sphere in his hand pulsed softly, a faint light catching his attention. A translucent screen appeared before him, startling him.

"Analyzing nearby individual… Profile complete."

Li Wei blinked, his gaze shifting to the screen. His mother's image appeared, accompanied by a detailed report:

Name: Mei Lin

Age: 38

Condition: Chronic illness caused by weakened internal energy flow. Symptoms include fatigue, chronic pain, and respiratory issues.

Solution: A medicinal tonic containing rare ingredients can stabilize her condition.

He stared at the display, his mind racing. This wasn't magic or a cultivator's technique. It was something far beyond his understanding—something from the ancient world.

"System," he whispered, careful not to alarm his mother, "can you help me cure her?"

"Yes. A medicinal tonic can be made from these ingredients: Red Lily Flower and Blue Cynthia Flower. Places marked."

A map fluttered before his eyes, marking two faraway spots: the forest outside the village and the misty hills.

"Li Wei?" Mei Lin's voice brought him back to the present. "What are you staring at?"

He shook his head quickly, forcing a smile. "Nothing, Mother. Just thinking."

Her weak hand touched his cheek, her heat laced with weakness. "You have always been a dreamer, my son. But don't push yourself too hard. We'll be fine, as we always have."

Li Wei swallowed hard. His resolve was solidifying. He could not allow her to live like this-not when there was an opportunity to save her before him.

It was such a night that Mei Lin slept restlessly, but Li Wei sat by the fire with his mind running furiously. He scrawled a note on a piece of parchment, placed it on the table, and said nothing further:

"Mother, I am going to find a cure for your illness. Please don't worry about me. I will return soon."

With a final glance at her sleeping form, he stepped outside, the cool night air filling his lungs. The path ahead was uncertain, but he couldn't afford to hesitate.

"System," he said softly, clutching the sphere, "guide me. I'm ready."

The map reappeared in his mind, the first location glowing faintly. The forest loomed ahead, dark and silent, but Li Wei's steps were steady. For the first time, he wasn't just walking aimlessly. He had a goal, a purpose—to save the one person who had never given up on him.