The Gift of the Boundless Ascension System
When Zhao Tian first encountered the words "Boundless Ascension System" flashing in his mind, it felt as though the universe had pulled a cosmic prank on him. Back on Earth, this kind of absurdity only happened to protagonists in web novels. Yet, here he stood—alive in a world where the line between myth and reality blurred, and power spoke louder than any law.
The memory of that fateful battle replayed in his mind often. A mortal, trembling before a beast far beyond his ability to defeat, seconds from death. Then came the awakening: his body surging with a strength so foreign it made him question if he was still himself. The Thunderclaw Wolf's claws, inches from his heart, never reached their mark. His rusty blade—the same one he clutched now—had found its way into the beast's neck as though guided by an unseen hand.
The System had saved him.
Seated by a pristine lake that reflected the endless heavens above, Zhao Tian fingered the edge of his blade, lost in thought. The stillness of the scene belied the chaotic whirlpool of his life and this new reality. The trees whispered in the breeze, their words soft but warning, as if nature itself had no pity for mortals who dared climb beyond their station.
A thought summoned the System's interface into view:
[Host: Zhao Tian]
Cultivation Realm: Peak Qi Gathering
Skills: None
Inventory: Starter Robes, Basic Sword (Rusty)
Quests: [Ascend to the Spirit Awakening Realm]
His lips curved into a faint smirk, though his eyes remained cold.
"Ascend… It sounds almost poetic," he murmured to no one. The sound of his voice made the scene less lonely. "But poetic or not, it's a challenge—a climb that others waste decades or centuries perfecting. Let's see how long it takes me."
He leaned back, gazing at the calm water. Beneath the surface of this serene world hid monsters both literal and figurative. Demonic beasts prowled the wilds, and sects hoarded power, treating human lives like grain in their vast mills of war. Yet Zhao Tian couldn't summon fear. Not when the System had gifted him the keys to the heavens.
To ascend is to rule. To stop is to fall.
The very idea burned in his chest.
---
The Celestial Profound World
The Celestial Profound World was both a blessing and a nightmare. It stretched endlessly, filled with floating mountains and Qi-infused rivers, realms where natural beauty intertwined with unparalleled danger. Mountains that soared higher than clouds housed ancient sects whose origins were lost to time. Beneath these giants, golden deserts shimmered like vast oceans of light, hiding treasures and deadly mirages.
This world's skies were no mere ceilings of blue. No, they were battlegrounds of history, still scarred by the echoes of fallen gods and their apocalyptic wars. Floating islands cast moving shadows over valleys below, serving as paradises—or graves—for cultivators.
For Zhao Tian, who barely scratched the surface of this world, it was hard not to feel insignificant. Yet even as his mortal side feared the unknown, a darker part of him, honed by his second chance at life, demanded that he carve his mark here.
In fragmented memories stolen from his body's previous owner, Zhao Tian pieced together the ruthless hierarchy of cultivation:
Qi Gathering Realm: The beginning. Farmers, grunts, and expendables.
Spirit Awakening Realm: A cultivator's first taste of true transcendence. Control over Qi was achieved, but mastery? That was still far ahead.
Foundation Establishment Realm: A turning point. Sect disciples fought with real stakes, rivalries growing deadly in the struggle for resources and recognition.
Core Formation Realm: Legends were made here. Or shattered.
Further realms loomed in legends whispered in sect halls, tales spoken beneath stars, and the desperate prayers of those who dreamed to stand among the immortals.
"The heavens hide treasures in plain sight," Zhao Tian mused, recalling lines from one of the ancient scrolls the memories granted him. "And I intend to steal every one of them."
The System's soft chime rang like a gentle wind:
[New Quest: Hunt 3 Tier-1 Demonic Beasts.]
[Reward: Beginner Cultivation Technique – Boundless Origin Qi Manual.]
Zhao Tian cracked his knuckles, stretching as he stood. "The hunt begins."
---
Hunting the Beasts
The forest loomed large and restless, its twisting roots and dark canopy casting eerie shadows. Here, even the smallest noise could spell danger—or an opportunity. Zhao Tian moved deliberately, his eyes darting to every shifting leaf and trembling branch.
The first trial came swiftly: a Black-Fanged Leopard, its lithe body moving through the shadows with lethal precision. It gave no warning before lunging, its claws flashing like obsidian knives.
Before Zhao could react fully, the familiar jolt of energy surged through him.
[Host under attack. Cultivation upgraded to Initial Spirit Awakening Realm.]
The transformation wasn't just in power—it was in awareness. Zhao Tian suddenly felt everything: the rustle of leaves above, the rhythm of the earth beneath, the breath of the leopard's feral hunger. When it lunged again, he moved like water, his body fluid and swift. His rusty blade slashed in an upward arc, slicing deep through fur and muscle.
The leopard crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
[Beast defeated. Experience points gained. Advancement: Mid Spirit Awakening Realm.]
Blood coated his blade and stained the ground. Zhao Tian let out a breath, not of relief but of exhilaration.
He pressed forward.
The second beast, a Flame-Tailed Fox, made its presence known with a sudden flare of fire. The air thickened with heat as the fox launched its Qi-infused attack, scorching the surrounding vegetation. Zhao Tian rolled to the side, dodging the flames, his breathing steady despite the danger. His rusty sword wasn't ideal for precision, but he didn't need elegance—just resolve.
"Overconfidence," Zhao murmured as the fox lunged, its fiery tail blazing.
Timing his strike perfectly, he plunged the blade straight into the beast's heart, extinguishing its fire in an instant.
---
A Turning Point
By the time he faced the final challenge—a Stonehide Boar with its impenetrable armor-like skin—Zhao Tian could feel the transformation within him. His movements were sharper, his focus more refined, and the System's continuous presence was a whisper in his mind, guiding him.
The boar charged with a bellow that shook the trees. Zhao Tian didn't face it head-on but used the environment, leaping between trees and over boulders to stay ahead of its crushing weight. Patience was key. Finally, as the beast slammed into a trunk and momentarily faltered, Zhao Tian struck. He drove his blade down with all his might, piercing the thinner armor behind its skull.
[Quest Complete! Reward Received: Boundless Origin Qi Manual.]
[Skill unlocked: Boundless Origin Qi – Stage 1.]
Zhao Tian sank to his knees, his body trembling not from fatigue but from sheer adrenaline. The knowledge of the manual unfurled in his mind like an ancient scroll, filling every corner with insight. Meditating beneath a large tree, he allowed the flow of Qi to settle in his body, purer and stronger than before.
---
The Arrogance of Man
The sun began to wane as Zhao Tian exited the forest, his mind calm yet sharp. Near the clearing, he spotted a small group—three figures in matching green robes bearing the emblem of the Verdant Flame Sect.
One of them, a tall and burly man, stepped forward. Lin Fu's gaze raked over Zhao Tian with disdain. "Well, look what the outer lands dragged in."
Zhao Tian held his ground, his expression unchanging.
Lin Fu smirked. "This isn't your territory, stray dog. Drop your spoils and crawl back to whatever ditch you came from."
The words didn't anger Zhao Tian. What was anger, after all, but wasted energy?
"Out of my way," he said simply.
The smaller disciple laughed. "Bold words from someone with a rusty toy for a weapon."
The smirk faded from Lin Fu's face. With a flick of his wrist, flames surged along the length of his blade. "You want a fight, you've got one."
The System was quicker than Zhao Tian's thoughts:
[System Alert: Host under attack. Cultivation upgraded to Peak Spirit Awakening Realm.]
The clash was over before it began. Lin Fu's fiery blade descended with lethal speed, but Zhao Tian sidestepped with ease, his own sword intercepting. The strike shattered Lin Fu's weapon, and a single kick sent the disciple sprawling.
The remaining two disciples froze, their confidence evaporating like morning mist. Zhao Tian stepped closer, his blade glinting.
"I gave you the option to walk away. Your friend should've taken it."
Lin Fu groaned, clutching his broken blade. "What… are you?"
Zhao Tian didn't answer. He didn't need to.
The disciples fled, leaving Zhao Tian alone under the blood-red sky.
---
A Heaven for the Taking
Standing atop a hill, Zhao Tian let the vastness of the world stretch before him. He hadn't merely survived—he had changed. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade, its rusted edge catching the dimming light.
[New Quest: Prove your strength against a Foundation Establishment cultivator.]
[Reward: Boundless Combat Skill – Heaven-Defying Sword Intent.]
A slow, confident smile spread across his lips.
"They'll all bow eventually. Whether it takes days or decades, this world… no, this heaven, will belong to me."
He took his first step forward—toward his next trial, his next conquest, and his endless ascension.