Myriad Dao Continent.
Azure Cloud Sect.
Chen Ye lay sprawled on a large, moss-covered rock, a blade of wild grass dangling from his lips. Beside him sat a gourd of half-finished plum wine. He watched the clouds drift by, his expression one of profound laziness.
High above, streaks of light shot across the sky. Disciples on gleaming swords and spirit cranes flew past, each exuding an air of otherworldly grace and ambition. They were a stark contrast to the motionless Chen Ye below.
A few disciples glanced down at him, their expressions a mixture of pity and disdain. "The Azure Cloud Sect is one of the pillars of the orthodox path. How did we end up with such an indolent disciple on one of our main peaks?"
Chen Ye...
The Eldest Senior Brother of Jade Bamboo Peak, one of the seven primary peaks of the Azure Cloud Sect.
This title was his by default. He was the only disciple on Jade Bamboo Peak. His master, Shen Ziling, the Lord of Jade Bamboo Peak, was renowned as the sect's number one beauty, a formidable cultivator who had one foot in the Transcendent realm.
However, Shen Ziling was known for her cold and eccentric nature. Though her beauty was legendary and her cultivation profound, she had few friends and a great many rivals.
Three years ago, she had found Chen Ye in the mortal world and brought him back to the sect.
She had accepted him as her one and only personal disciple.
Initially, the entire sect buzzed with speculation. They assumed Chen Ye must possess some legendary hidden physique or be a once-in-a-generation prodigy to have caught the eye of the famously selective Shen Ziling. But as time passed, they realized how wrong they were.
Chen Ye was no genius.
He possessed no special physique.
He was, to their astonishment, a completely ordinary mortal.
After three years of cultivation, he had yet to even breach the first major bottleneck and enter the True Qi realm.
In the world of cultivation, one's innate constitution was paramount. A powerful physique meant a higher starting point and limitless potential. Most sects would immediately reject anyone with a mortal physique.
A mortal physique was the lowest of the low.
While cultivation was technically possible, progress was agonizingly slow. A lifetime of effort might not even match the early achievements of a disciple with the most common of spirit bodies.
The realms of cultivation were divided as follows: Qi Gathering, True Qi, Spirit Spring, Golden Core, Soul Formation, Void Shattering, Divine Sea, Martial Sovereign, Transcendent, Saint, and Emperor.
Eleven realms in total.
Each step was exponentially harder than the last. Yet, after three years under the tutelage of a half-step Transcendent, living on a peak overflowing with spiritual energy, Chen Ye hadn't even reached the second realm...
His talent was, without a doubt, the absolute worst in the entire Azure Cloud Sect.
Chen Ye gazed at the cultivators soaring through the air and let out a soft yawn, feeling no particular envy.
"To be reborn once is already a blessing. One shouldn't ask for too much," he muttered to himself.
He wasn't a native of this world. He was a transmigrator from a place called Earth.
He vividly remembered that day. He was crossing the street when he saw an out-of-control delivery drone hurtling towards a small child. Acting on pure instinct, he shoved the child out of the way.
The next thing he knew, he was here.
As a former orphan, he was still trying to process his new reality when a fairy-like woman descended from the sky and asked if he wished to cultivate with her.
That woman was his current master, Shen Ziling.
In his previous life, Chen Ye had never seen anyone so breathtakingly beautiful. In a daze, he had agreed on the spot.
He thought he was about to embark on an epic journey, a legend in the making. It was only after arriving at the Azure Cloud Sect that he discovered the cruel truth: he was just an ordinary guy.
Three years later, he was still stuck at the first realm.
Barring a miracle, he would never form a Golden Core. He would live out a mortal lifespan of perhaps a hundred years and turn to dust.
At first, he held out hope. Surely he had some dormant, legendary physique? Why else would a powerhouse like Shen Ziling choose him, a mortal, as her disciple?
When he finally gathered the courage to ask her, her answer had left him speechless.
"Oh, that day. The Sect Master was nagging me about taking on my duties as a Peak Lord and accepting a disciple. I was flying by, saw you looked rather clean and presentable, so I grabbed you. Saved me the trouble of searching."
He looked… clean and presentable.
That was the reason?
Chen Ye was dumbfounded.
The rumors were true. His master really was an oddball.
From that day on, Chen Ye's ambitions withered.
He figured that living out his days on Jade Bamboo Peak wasn't so bad. The scenery was magnificent, food and drink were plentiful, and every so often, he got to feast his eyes on his stunningly beautiful master.
It was a far better life than the 9-to-5 grind of his previous existence.
Thinking this, his mood lightened considerably. He embraced his new life philosophy: lie flat. He spent his days drinking, reading scrolls, and enjoying the tranquility.
In the hyper-competitive environment of the Azure Cloud Sect, he was a true anomaly.
"It's about time for a meal. I think I'll make some stir-fried river snails with perilla today."
Chen Ye hopped off the rock, patting the dust from his robes.
He headed towards his simple bamboo hut to start cooking.
Most of the time, he was the sole occupant of Jade Bamboo Peak. His master was a recluse who often entered seclusion in her cave residence. A short nap for her could last ten days, half a month, or even several months at a time.
She was even lazier than he was.
He had no idea how she managed to reach the half-step Transcendent realm.
But today was different.
Creak.
The door to his hut was pushed open. A cool, fragrant breeze swept in, followed by a woman in pristine white robes. Her figure was graceful, her skin like flawless jade.
The woman's face was a masterpiece of creation, but her most striking features were her eyes—a pair of mesmerizing, luminous silver pupils that seemed to hold ancient secrets. This was his master, Shen Ziling.
Chen Ye blinked. What was the special occasion? His master, who he hadn't seen in months, had actually emerged?
He quickly bowed. "Greetings, Master."
He then noticed a young girl standing behind her. She looked to be about twelve or thirteen, with bright eyes and delicate features, but her posture and the set of her jaw carried a natural, ingrained arrogance.
"Ye'er, an introduction," Shen Ziling's cool voice sounded. "This is Xiao Qingluan. From this day forward, she is your junior sister."
A junior sister?
I have a junior sister?
Xiao Qingluan's gaze swept over Chen Ye, and a flicker of disdain slowly bloomed in her eyes. The corner of her lip curled into a barely concealed sneer.
Chen Ye's eye twitched. Was he just looked down upon by a little girl?!
He felt a spark of anger. He would have to put her in her place!
"By the way," Shen Ziling added nonchalantly. "Your junior sister has already reached the True Qi realm. If you have any questions about cultivation, feel free to ask her."
True Qi realm?
Her cultivation was already higher than his?!
Forget it.
A good senior brother must be magnanimous.
He wouldn't lower himself to bickering with a child.
[Ding!]
[Condition Met: Junior Sister Acquired.]
[The Peerless Senior Brother System is now activating!]
Chen Ye froze for a fraction of a second, before pure, unadulterated joy exploded across his face.
A system?
The legendary golden finger for all transmigrators?!
Sniffle… You're finally here!
Chen Ye was so overwhelmed he nearly burst into tears.
Shen Ziling saw his expression and couldn't help but reach out and gently pat his head.
"There, there, Ye'er. There's no need to be so moved just because you have a junior sister. You're crying with happiness. Sigh, it's my fault. I've neglected you, leaving you all alone on this peak. You must have been so lonely."
Shen Ziling felt a rare pang of guilt. She had brought him here and then essentially abandoned him to his own devices. Perhaps she should find him a few more junior brothers and sisters in the future.
Xiao Qingluan's disdainful expression softened as she watched him. "Hmph. Although this senior brother's talent is poor, he is still my senior brother in name. I suppose I should get along with him."
She stepped forward and patted his arm. "Senior Brother, don't worry. With me here on Jade Bamboo Peak, you won't be lonely anymore."
Chen Ye, now being comforted by both of them for entirely the wrong reason, blinked away his tears of joy.
What?
I'm crying because my cheat code finally arrived!
Do you guys have one of these?