Chapter 2: Echoes of Forgotten Memories
The shards of glass crunched under Lao Xie's bare feet as he rose from the bed. The cold breeze slipping through the shattered window seemed to soothe his nerves, but there was no anger in him. Only curiosity, that strange, biting sensation clawing at the back of his mind.
He stood there, staring at the broken pieces for a moment longer, as if expecting an answer from them. A faint smile curled at the edge of his lips, more out of reflex than emotion.
"Another one," he muttered softly, his fingers tracing the outline of the windowsill. "Another dream."
With a flick of his wrist, the rock that had shattered the window flew into his hand as though pulled by an invisible string. He studied it for a moment, turning it over with cold precision, before letting it slip through his fingers.
"Those fools again," he whispered to himself, eyes narrowing at the night sky beyond. "It's not that I care, but replacing the window... what a hassle."
He shook his head, the memory of his life before this pitiful cabin pulling at him like a nagging itch. "This place, this life," he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "An orphan with no talent for cultivation. What a joke."
He turned from the window, pacing slowly. "That old sect master," he continued, "why did he bother keeping me here? No talent, no prospects... just a boy to be mocked by the other disciples. Tch." He scoffed, shaking his head as if to rid himself of the thought.
"Ah, no point dwelling on it," he added as he stretched, preparing to rise.
But just as he was about to stand, a strange, sharp noise cut through the silence.
[Shriingg~]
Lao Xie's eyes darted around the room, instinctively searching for the source of the sound. And then, as if from nowhere, a glowing panel materialized before him, hanging in the air like a ghostly apparition.
System is booting . . .
His breath hitched, eyes narrowing as the glowing text flickered in the air.
10 % . . .
35 % . . .
69 % . . .
99 % . . .
Lao Xie watched, his curiosity piqued but tempered by a rising sense of caution. Then, suddenly..
99 % . . .
99 % . . .
ERROR ! ERROR ! SYSTEM ERROR !
SYSTEM IS REBOOTING !
The panel began to glitch, the once-fluid text now jerking and breaking apart.
"What in the..." Lao Xie muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. He stepped forward, reaching out instinctively toward the flickering display.
SYSTEM REBOOTING !
And with that, the panel vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only an unsettling silence in its wake.
Lao Xie stood frozen, his mind racing as the pieces began to click together.
"What... the hell is happening?" He whispered, more to himself than anyone.
And soon a few seconds later, the very same panel popped up in front of him once again.
SYSTEM LOADING . . .
50% . . .
75% . . .
100%. . .
[Ting~] . . . "Welcome !"
A new panel blinked into existence, this time more detailed, and a strange reflection caught his eye.
"Is that my face?" he murmured, his brows knitting together. His reflection stared back at him from the screen.
"Information..." Lao Xie muttered aloud, narrowing his eyes.
INFORMATION
Name : Lao Xie
Age : 15
Cultivation Stage : N/A
Physique : Heavenly Cursed Physique
Race : Human
Luck : ???
Spiritual Root : None
"What... the hell?" he muttered out loud. "Is this me?" he said, narrowing his eyes towards the panel. The cursed physique bothered him.
Aside from the Information, there were a few other tabs beside it. "Technique? Affinity? Shop? What the heck is all this?" he added, his voice dripping with suspicion.
"Is this some kind trick ... but who ?"
Before he could make sense of the tabs labeled "Technique," "Affinity," and "Shop," the screen flickered, and a new message appeared.
[TING~]
System: "The criteria have been met, initialization complete. The system has been set to suit your preference. Welcome, Host."
Lao Xie blinked, his heart skipping a beat. "Host? What are you talking about? Who are you?"
The system remained silent, its cold, clinical words hanging in the air as if waiting for his next move.
"I'm your system, and you are my host."
Lao Xie narrowed his eye, "What the hell? what do you mean ? system? host ?"
"Yes, just as I stated. I'm your system, and you're my host. I'm here to help and assist you."
"As this is your first time awakening me, you have been given a gift. Please check your mail, it is the small mail icon right beside your avatar."
"Huh, avatar? Is that it?" Lao Xie gestured towards the mail icon, curiosity driving him.
YOU HAVE AN UNREAD EMAIL. PLEASE CLICK TO OPEN IT.
Without further ado, curiosity forced him to click the mail, and poof.. A new message panel appeared.
"WELCOME HOST. AS THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME AWAKENING THE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED A FIRST-TIMER HOST REWARDS. YOU CAN CLAIM THE REWARDS BY SIMPLY CLICKING THE BUTTON BELOW."
Lao Xie's heart raced as he read the email. A first-timer host reward? What kind of trick was this? He glanced around the dimly lit cabin, half-expecting someone to jump out from the shadows and laugh at him.
"Claim it," the System urged, its voice devoid of emotion, echoing in the silence of the room.
"Fine," he muttered, half-convinced he was speaking to a figment of his imagination. He clicked the button labeled CLAIM REWARD, and instantly, a series of images flickered across the screen.
Reward: First User's Package
1. Cultivation Manual
2. Healing Pill 2nd Grade(x5)
3. Essence Restoration Pill (x1)
4. Spiritual Root (Random)
"What.. the..." As he read through the rewards, excitement surged within him. "This is actually... impressive?.." he muttered, disbelief tinging his voice.
However despite that, a clear sense of carefulness could be seen from him as he still hesitated to truly accept the rewards.
"Accept your rewards, Host. They are vital for your growth." The system urged.
Still, Lao Xie remained skeptical, thinking that someone might be pulling the strings behind the scenes.
"There's no need to be on guard," the system continued, sensing his reluctance. "You're just a normal mortal for now. Even if someone is watching, there's little you can do. Accept your rewards, Host."
"Huh..." Lao Xie's skepticism wavered. After all, what the system said was true. "Well.... it shouldn't hurt, I guess."
Cling~
REWARD RECEIVED
1. CULTIVATION MANUAL - HEAVENLY ECHOING SWORD ARTS
A cultivation manual specifically tailored to maximize your full potential in the art of
swordsmanship.
2. HEALING PILLS 2ND GRADE (x5)
Low-grade pills that can help you recover from light injuries. Formulated from rare herbs and infused with spiritual energy, these pills are essential for any cultivator.
3. ESSENCE RESTORATION PILL (x1)
A lost pill used for reshaping one's physique. The result of the reshaping process will guarantee a physique that benefits you the most, enhancing your physical form and capabilities.
4. SPIRITUAL ROOT (RANDOM)
Host will be granted a random spiritual root. Host might even receive more than one spiritual root.
Lao Xie stared at the glowing panel, his heart racing with a mix of anticipation and skepticism while his face shows no expression.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone