The sun hung low over the tiny village of Yunxi, casting long shadows over the cracked cobblestone paths. Chickens clucked lazily in their pens, and the occasional bark of a mangy dog echoed through the air. To the villagers, this was just another ordinary day. But to Ling Fei, today would either be the end of his dreams or the beginning of something far greater.
"Get out of my way, trash!"
The sneering voice of Hong Wu cut through the chatter of the villagers like a blade. Ling Fei stumbled as a rough shove sent him sprawling into the dirt. Laughter erupted from the surrounding crowd.
"Still trying to enter the trial with a broken core?" Hong Wu scoffed, his lantern glowing faintly with a golden hue that marked him as a prodigy of the Sky Path. "Do yourself a favor and go back to feeding pigs."
Ling Fei gritted his teeth, his fists curling into the dirt. His core was indeed broken—shattered when he was just a child after an accident involving a wild beast. It had left him unable to cultivate like the others, unable to absorb the vital energies of the world. But that didn't mean he had given up.
He pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the snickers and jeers. His gaze locked onto the towering obelisk at the center of the square—the Trial Monument. This was where young cultivators tested their potential, a ritual that determined their future.
"You'll fail, Ling Fei!" one villager called out, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Why even bother?" another added.
Ling Fei ignored them all. He had waited sixteen years for this moment, and no amount of mockery would stop him.
As he approached the monument, the village elder stepped forward, his expression one of stern disapproval. Elder Zhang was a wizened old man with a long white beard that seemed to dance in the wind.
"You dare to step into the trial with a broken core?" the elder barked, his voice carrying an authority that silenced the crowd. "Ling Fei, you shame your ancestors!"
The crowd murmured in agreement, their voices blending into a wave of scorn.
Ling Fei met the elder's gaze, his voice steady despite the pounding of his heart. "Even a broken lantern can still hold a flame, Elder Zhang. I will not give up."
The elder's eyes narrowed. "Foolish boy. Very well, step forward and face the trial. But do not expect mercy from fate."
The crowd parted as Ling Fei approached the monument. The towering obelisk was made of black stone, its surface etched with intricate runes that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. A small alcove at its base held a glowing crystal sphere.
Ling Fei reached out, his hand trembling slightly as it made contact with the sphere.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a sudden surge of energy coursed through him, pulling him into darkness.
---
Ling Fei opened his eyes to find himself standing in an endless void. Threads of light stretched in every direction, weaving an intricate web that seemed to pulse with life.
"Where am I?" he muttered, his voice echoing in the emptiness.
"Welcome, host," a calm, mechanical voice replied, reverberating in his mind.
Ling Fei spun around, searching for the source of the voice, but found nothing.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
"I am the Sign-In System, a construct designed to assist you on your path to greatness. Do you accept the binding?"
Ling Fei frowned. "Binding? What are you talking about?"
The voice continued, unperturbed. "As the chosen host, you have been granted access to the Sign-In System. This system will provide you with daily rewards in exchange for signing in at specific locations or under certain conditions. These rewards will aid you in overcoming your limitations and ascending to the pinnacle of cultivation."
Ling Fei's heart raced. Was this real? A system that could help him cultivate despite his broken core?
"What's the catch?" he asked cautiously.
"There is no catch," the voice replied. "The system is bound to your soul and will evolve alongside you. Your only task is to sign in daily. Do you accept?"
Ling Fei hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I accept."
"Binding initiated. Welcome to the Sign-In System, Host Ling Fei. Your first reward is now available."
Before Ling Fei could respond, a surge of energy enveloped him, and a glowing panel appeared before his eyes.
---
Sign-In System
Day 1 Reward: Beginner Cultivation Manual (Universal)
Claim Reward? [Yes]
---
Ling Fei blinked in disbelief. A cultivation manual? He had spent years searching for even scraps of cultivation techniques, but his broken core had rendered them useless.
"Claim reward," he said aloud.
The panel vanished, and a stream of information flooded his mind. He gasped as knowledge of the Universal Cultivation Manual took root in his consciousness.
"This... this technique bypasses the need for a complete core!" he realized, his voice trembling with excitement. "It channels energy directly through the soul and body!"
The voice returned. "Congratulations, Host. You have unlocked the foundation for your journey. Additional rewards will become available as you progress. Your next sign-in location is the Ancient Lantern at the village gates."
Ling Fei frowned. The Ancient Lantern was a relic said to have been left behind by a wandering cultivator centuries ago. No one in the village dared to approach it, believing it to be cursed.
"Why there?" he asked.
"Fate has chosen this location as your next step," the system replied cryptically.
---
Ling Fei's vision blurred as the void dissolved, and he found himself back in the village square. The crowd stared at him in stunned silence.
"What happened?" one villager whispered.
"He's still standing," another muttered.
Elder Zhang's brows furrowed as he scrutinized Ling Fei. "Impossible. The monument accepted him?"
Ling Fei ignored their reactions, his mind racing with possibilities. The system was real, and it had given him a chance—a chance to prove everyone wrong.
He turned on his heel and strode toward the village gates, his heart pounding with anticipation.
---
At the gates, the Ancient Lantern stood tall, its surface weathered and covered in moss. The dim blue flame within flickered weakly, barely visible in the daylight.
Ling Fei approached cautiously, his hand trembling as he reached out to touch the lantern.
"Sign in," he whispered.
A wave of energy exploded outward, and the lantern's flame roared to life. A new panel appeared before him.
---
Sign-In Reward Claimed!
Reward: Spirit Foundation Pill (Heaven Grade)
Effect: Instantly restores and enhances the Soul Lantern, repairing damage and unlocking hidden potential.
---
Ling Fei's eyes widened as a brilliant golden pill materialized in his hand. He stared at it in disbelief.
"A Heaven-Grade Pill?" he whispered.
The system's voice echoed in his mind. "Consume it, host. Begin your journey."
Without hesitation, Ling Fei swallowed the pill. A surge of energy unlike anything he'd ever felt coursed through his body, mending his broken core and igniting a flame that burned brighter than ever before.
He clenched his fists, a grin spreading across his face.
"This is just the beginning."