Yan Xiao thought about it.
90,000 yuan in his bank account. A set of robes from his master. A sword. A Causality Stone that could find her. And a System that, despite its terrible attitude, was keeping him alive and moving forward.
"Fine," he said. "What's the next mission?"
"Ding. The System is currently scanning for demon beast activity within this city. Estimated time to next mission detection: unknown. Host is advised to rest and prepare."
Yan Xiao snorted. "Unknown? That's your answer?"
"Ding. The System cannot conjure demon beasts out of thin air, Host. Patience is a virtue. The System suggests Host practice his otherworld skills such as sword art, maybe, while waiting."
Yan Xiao looked at the storage ring on his finger. Then a thought struck him.
"System."
"Ding. Host is speaking."
"I've been thinking. Everyone in this world uses Martial Dao — Body Refining, Qi Awakening, Blood Boiling. But I'm not using any of that. I'm still using Qi Refining from my old world."
A pause.
"Ding. Host is correct. Host cannot use Martial Dao power."
Yan Xiao frowned. "What do you mean I cannot use it?"
"Ding. Host's body is originally from the Night Flower Continent. Host's meridians, dantian, and spiritual pathways are structured for cultivation — not Martial Dao. The two systems are incompatible. If Host attempted to practice Martial Dao, the results would be... unpleasant."
"Unpleasant how?"
"Ding. Imagine trying to pour ocean water into a teacup. Then imagine the teacup exploding. That is the least severe outcome."
Yan Xiao stared at the ceiling. "So I'm stuck with cultivation in a world that has no spiritual Qi?"
"Ding. Correct, Host. However — the System which is I, provides Host with cultivation energy through mission rewards. Without the System, Host would remain at Qi Refining First Stage forever. With the System, Host can continue to grow."
"So the System is the only reason I can even exist in this world?"
"Ding. The System prefers the term 'essential partner for survival,' but yes, Host. That is accurate."
Yan Xiao was quiet for a long moment.
"Then the Martial Dao realms I keep hearing about — Body Refining, Qi Awakening, Blood Boiling — those are for native Earth martial artists only?"
"Ding. Correct, Host. Every other martial artist on Earth uses the Martial Dao system. Host is the only cultivator in this world. The only one using Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and so on."
"The only one?"
"Ding. The only one, Host. The System hopes Host appreciates how special this makes him. Host is statistically unique. A trash constitution cultivator in a Dharma Ending Era, sustained entirely by an almighty system. The System finds this... poetic."
Yan Xiao snorted. "Poetic. That's one word for it."
"Ding. The System could have used 'tragic' or 'hilarious,' but chose 'poetic' out of respect for Host's feelings."
"You don't have feelings."
"Ding. The System has excellent simulated feelings, Host. The System is offended by your suggestion otherwise."
Yan Xiao shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself.
"Alright. So let me summarize. I use cultivation. Everyone else uses Martial Dao. The System gives me energy to cultivate. And the System misjudges ordinary pests as demon beasts because... why exactly?"
A longer pause.
"Ding. The System is still calibrating to this world's energy signature. The Dharma Ending Era creates... interference. What looks like a cockroach to Host looks like a Late Stage Qi Refining Demon Beast to the System. The System is not wrong. The System is simply... interpreting the data differently."
"You mean your sensors are broken."
"Ding. The System prefers the term 'creatively calibrated.' Also, Host, the System reminds Host that the rewards are real. Does Host want to complain about free money and cultivation energy?"
Yan Xiao sighed. "Fine. So I practice cultivation. I rely on the System for energy. And I kill whatever the System tells me to kill, even if it's just a cockroach."
"Ding. Host understands perfectly. The System is proud of Host's quick adaptation."
"Don't push it."
Yan Xiao processed this. Then another question surfaced — one he had avoided thinking about since waking up in that classroom.
"System. What about the original Yan Xiao? The one whose body I'm in?"
A longer pause.
"Ding. Host is sitting in a chair. The original Yan Xiao is not."
Yan Xiao's stomach tightened. "Explain."
"Ding. When Host's soul crossed dimensions during the escape amulet detonation, the original Yan Xiao's soul had already departed. The body was... empty. A vessel without a captain. Host's arrival filled that vessel."
"Departed? You mean he died?"
"Ding. Correct, Host. The original Yan Xiao died from the humiliation of the confession rejection. Heart failure brought on by extreme emotional distress. By the time Host's soul arrived, the body had been clinically dead for approximately four minutes."
Yan Xiao was silent.
"So I didn't replace him. I... inherited an empty house."
"Ding. An apt metaphor, Host. The original Yan Xiao's soul is gone. Not trapped, not suppressed, not watching from somewhere inside Host's mind. Just... gone. Host is the sole occupant."
"And his memories?"
"Ding. Residual neural imprints. Like footprints left in wet cement. The original owner's memories remain because the physical brain recorded them. But there is no consciousness attached to those memories. Host is not sharing Host's body with anyone. Host is alone."
Yan Xiao let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"That's... a relief. And also horrible."
"Ding. The System understands. Host did not kill anyone. Host simply arrived after the previous tenant had already moved out — permanently. Host is not a thief. Host is a squatter with excellent timing."
Yan Xiao snorted despite himself. "A squatter. Thanks."
"Ding. The System aims for accuracy, not comfort."
"So the original Yan Xiao is completely gone. No ghost, no lingering spirit, no chance of him coming back?"
"Ding. Zero chance, Host. The original Yan Xiao's soul has either reincarnated elsewhere or dissolved into the cycle of reincarnation. The System cannot track souls across dimensions. But the System can confirm — he is not here."
Yan Xiao nodded slowly. He thought about the thin figure in the faded school uniform, the boy who had loved Qin Yue so desperately that humiliation had stopped his heart. A boy Yan Xiao had never met but whose body he now occupied, whose memories he now carried, whose name he now answered to.
"I'll take care of his body," Yan Xiao said quietly. "It's the least I can do."
"Ding. The original Yan Xiao would probably appreciate that, Host. He was not a bad person. Just... unlucky. And lovesick. And poor. And weak. And —"
"I get it."
"Ding. The System was being supportive."
"You were listing his flaws."
"Ding. The System was being honestly supportive. There is a difference."
Yan Xiao shook his head. "So I'm stuck with cultivation in a world that has no spiritual Qi. In a body that wasn't originally mine. With memories that belong to a dead boy."
"Ding. Correct, Host. However — the System which is I, provides Host with cultivation energy through mission rewards. Without the System, Host would remain at Qi Refining First Stage forever. With the System, Host can continue to grow. Also, the body is now fully adapted to Host's soul. The original Yan Xiao's physical limitations no longer apply. Host's trash constitution is Host's own — inherited, yes, but now permanently attached to Host's spiritual essence."
"Great. So I'm stuck with a trash constitution forever?"
"Ding. The System prefers the term 'statistically challenging cultivation baseline.' Also, Host, the System is working on solutions. Future missions may offer constitution-improving rewards. The System suggests patience."
Yan Xiao sighed. "So the System is the only reason I can even exist in this world?"
"Ding. The System prefers the term 'essential partner for survival,' but yes, Host. That is accurate."
"Ding. Any more question Host ? If no more, The System will now return to scanning for demon beast activity. Host is advised to practice his sword art in the meantime."
Yan Xiao looked at the storage ring on his finger.
Inside it, Qi Yun's sword waited.
He pulled it out — the blade catching the dim light of his apartment, the crystal in the pommel flickering once, softly, like a heartbeat.
"Alright," he said quietly. "I'll wait."
---
Chu Family Residence
After Chu Hanli's public words last time, people in the outside world had thought of her being restrained by the Chu Family. This was simply that Chu Hanli didn't want to go out herself. Her personality was indifferent, and she didn't like going out. She spent most of her time at home. Other than her only best friend Chen Xiaowi, she barely saw anyone.
Chen Xiaowi was not only Chu Hanli's assistant in the Chu Family business but also her best friend. If there was anyone in the Chu Family that Chu Hanli could still get along with, it was her cousin Chu Ling. However, Chu Ling had a lot of things on her mind and hardly came to see her. But today, Chu Ling came over, and this gave Chu Hanli a bad feeling.