No One Can Win, No One Can Lose

The Dao Tian Sect, the foremost sect in Qingzhou, one of its one hundred and eight main mountains, Yunju Mountain.

"Forty-odd years!"

"Do you know how I've spent these past forty-odd years?!"

By a lake on Yunju Mountain, a handsome young man in a blue robe faced the water, his expression filled with emotion.

The young man's name was Li Zhōujūn.

He was one of the one hundred and eight Mountain Lords of the Dao Tian Sect.

While this identity might seem impressive at first glance, Li Zhōujūn was, in reality, a complete cultivation trash. To this day, he remained an ordinary person.

His position as the Mountain Lord of Yunju Mountain was entirely due to the fact that when his master passed away forty years ago, he was his only disciple.

Consequently, he often became the subject of idle chatter among the Dao Tian Sect's disciples, from the lowest-ranking servants to the elders.

As for why someone as useless as him could join the Dao Tian Sect and even become a True Disciple of a Mountain Lord, it was all thanks to Li Zhōujūn, a transmigrator who had disguised himself as a child prodigy.

Back then, he started speaking at three months, learned to read at six months, walked at nine months, and at one year old, he was already full of knowledge.

He was hailed as a reincarnation of an immortal.

Thus, at the age of one, he was taken in by the previous Mountain Lord of Yunju Mountain and accepted as a disciple.

Although the previous Mountain Lord eventually discovered that Li Zhōujūn was a complete cultivation trash, he didn't say much. Li Zhōujūn still received all the benefits of a True Disciple.

He was merely contemplating starting a new account in his heart.

Unfortunately, before he could start anew, he perished in a great battle where the Dao Tian Sect suppressed a demonic cultivator rebellion.

Seeing that the previous Mountain Lord had sacrificed himself for the sect, the Dao Tian Sect naturally looked after his only disciple, Li Zhōujūn, allowing the then six-year-old Li Zhōujūn to inherit the position of Mountain Lord.

After all, since Li Zhōujūn couldn't cultivate, Yunju Mountain would be without a lord in a hundred years anyway.

It wouldn't be too late to plan for Yunju Mountain then.

This way, the Dao Tian Sect would also gain a good reputation for valuing loyalty and righteousness, attracting more prodigies to join.

Also, the reason Li Zhōujūn still looked like a youth in his forties was simply because he had consumed a Youth Preserving Pill.

But all of this, starting today, would be rewritten on an epic scale!

Because Li Zhōujūn's golden finger, the System that came with his transmigration, had finally awakened today!

"System, it's been over forty years! If you'd shown up any later, I would have already kicked the bucket!" Li Zhōujūn was teary-eyed.

[Ding: Host, please do not get overly excited. The System may be late, but it will never be absent.]

A mechanical, synthesized voice echoed in Li Zhōujūn's mind.

"Not absent is good! But System, look at me, I'm over forty, my youth is fading. Can I still start cultivating?" Li Zhōujūn asked eagerly.

[Ding: Cultivating?]

[Ding: Host, you think too little of the System. With the System, why would you need to cultivate?]

[Ding: Rewarding the Host with a welcome gift package!]

"Open it!" Li Zhōujūn said without hesitation.

[Ding: Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the special ability, 'Five-Five Split with All Things!']

"Five-Five Split with All Things? What does that mean?" Li Zhōujūn was utterly confused.

What a bizarre name!

[Ding: Simply put, no matter what or who the Host faces, you will achieve a 'five-five split,' meaning you can neither defeat them nor be defeated by them.]

"Uh, I think I understand..." Li Zhōujūn blinked, then drew a dagger from his boot and asked the System, "Can I achieve a five-five split with this thing too?"

[Ding: Yes.]

Hearing the System's reply, Li Zhōujūn gritted his teeth, placed his hand on the dagger's blade, and pulled it backward.

Screech!

A sound of metal friction rang out.

Li Zhōujūn incredulously found that his hand, which had been cut by the sharp blade, was completely unharmed, not even a white mark!

"This ability seems a bit overpowered..."

Li Zhōujūn gasped and asked the System again, "If I encounter a True Immortal level mighty being, can I achieve a five-five split with them too?"

[Ding: Of course, with 'all things' in the world.]

"This is truly amazing, like a cow stepping on a power line, a bull with lightning... I love it, I love it..."

Li Zhōujūn's eyes began to shine. With this five-five split ability, wasn't he virtually invincible in this world?

[Ding: This is just a welcome gift. If the Host completes System missions, you will receive more unexpected rewards!]

"System, don't just string me along!" Li Zhōujūn said, practically drooling.

[Ding: Fair and honest.]

"That's good then." Li Zhōujūn nodded, then seemed to recall something and asked the System again, "Is there an Attribute Panel?"

[Ding: Isn't that simple?]

[Ding: Host, please look at the big screen.]

As the System's voice fell, a transparent panel immediately appeared before Li Zhōujūn's eyes.

[Host]: Li Zhōujūn
[Identity]: Dao Tian Sect, Yunju Mountain Lord
[Age]: Forty-six years old (four years remaining)
[Cultivation]: None
[Ability]: Five-Five Split with All Things

"No way, System, what's this 'four years remaining' crap?" Li Zhōujūn felt a bad premonition looking at the age column.

[Ding: It means you only have four years left to live.]

Li Zhōujūn: "I'm really going to thank you..."

So even though he could do a Five-Five Split with all things, he was still just a mortal. Not only that, but a short-lived one, only reaching fifty years old.

[Ding: Please rest assured, Host. By completing System tasks, you can be rewarded with the cultivation realm of this world, and your lifespan will naturally increase.]

"Uh, didn't you just say earlier that cultivation was useless? Then why are you rewarding me with cultivation?" Li Zhōujūn complained.

[Ding: Interested in the AFK ability?]

"Yes, yes!" Li Zhōujūn's eyes lit up. "Can you give it to me now?"

[Ding: Heh heh.]

[Ding: Detected that your sect will be holding a Disciple Acceptance Ceremony in three days. You are required to recruit one disciple. Success will bring unexpected rewards!]

"Recruit a disciple?" Li Zhōujūn was instantly stunned.

His reputation was already infamous, earning him nicknames like "Trash Mountain Lord," "Parasite Mountain Lord"...

Simply put, only a fool would take him as a master!

"System, don't you think this task is a bit too demanding?" Li Zhōujūn said, tears welling up.

[Ding: A noble spirit should not belittle itself.]

"That makes sense, but System, I feel like even if I took a disciple, I'd just be misleading them. After all, I truly have no knowledge of cultivation. Taking someone as a disciple would be harming them, wouldn't it?"

On this point, Li Zhōujūn was self-aware.

[Ding: Host, don't worry, the System is here, what are you panicking about?]

"Right, what am I panicking about?" Li Zhōujūn stroked his chin. This System's abilities were quite strong, after all, it could let him do a Five-Five Split with all things. Teaching a disciple would be a piece of cake, right?

Next, he would just wait for the sect's disciple recruitment to begin in three days!