System Awakens

Six years passed in the blink of an eye.

By the time Lin Feng successfully graduated from the junior Soul Master Academy, he was already a bona fide Soul Elder!

However, in this world filled with powerful figures, a Soul Elder was still merely a weakling struggling at the bottom.

After graduation, his thoughts were clear and simple—keep lying low!

After all, he had no background whatsoever. To him, the academy was a relatively safe harbor amid chaotic times.

Before he possessed enough strength to protect himself, he needed to pursue higher studies to improve himself.

A twelve-year-old Soul Elder caused quite a stir within the academy.

Even Lin Feng could not help developing a bit of youthful pride.

He wanted to prove that even without the system, he could still carve out a place for himself!

Gradually, his obsession with the system faded away.

His Soul Ring Configuration was the most common: yellow, yellow, purple.

Without a powerful backer and without the resources of a Sect or clan, hunting higher-age Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings was practically an impossible dream.

Yet he had still persisted in reaching the theoretical limit, following this world's rules and absorbing Soul Rings at the very limit of what he could endure.

His graduation also marked the imminent official beginning of the main storyline he remembered from this world.

It was not as if he had never entertained other thoughts—such as the idea that had once flashed through his mind: intercepting that Hundred Thousand Years Shapeshift Soft Bone Charm Rabbit ahead of time.

But the instant that thought surfaced, he snuffed it out. The reasons were very practical:

First, on this vast continent, he had no way of knowing Xiao Wu's exact whereabouts. The only clue he was certain of was that she would appear at Nuoding Academy, but by now, she had most likely already caught the attention of that Old Schemer lurking in the shadows.

Second, if he really forcibly took her away from Tang San's side, it would be no different from courting death. What awaited him would inevitably be a thunderous interception and assassination!

In that Old Schemer's eyes, what did it matter whether a Soul Beast that could not be connected to his son lived or died?

At that time, Lin Feng simply did not have the strength to deal with a Titled Douluo.

Since she had chosen to integrate into Human Society, staying by the Protagonist Tang San's side was actually safer for Xiao Wu. At the very least, her life would not be in danger.

As for himself, of course he would continue lying low, accumulating strength, quietly developing, and waiting for the right opportunity!

Time flew by. Douluo Calendar, year 2643.

That year, Lin Feng was eighteen.

The once scrawny work-study student had long undergone a Transformed-like change.

Time had stripped away the childish immaturity and carefully sculpted the sharply defined, handsome features of a young man.

He had sword-like brows, starry eyes, and a high nose bridge. Most notably, his pair of Peach Blossom Eyes held a chill when calm, yet seemed to contain countless flowing stars when he smiled.

Beneath his well-proportioned, upright frame were muscle lines tempered through countless trials: eight standard abdominal muscles and a narrow, powerful waist. Even as he walked, he carried an air of calm restraint.

Twelve years were enough to let a boy grow and transform.

It had to be said, men really came into their own later!

This was displayed perfectly in him!

Even the grass growing atop his father's grave was taller than the grass atop his mother's grave.

The only thing that had not changed was that he still lived a simple life—in short, he was poor.

Over the years, he had squeezed nearly all of his time and energy dry, pouring it into cultivation.

After becoming a Soul Elder, even Spirit Hall stopped issuing him subsidies.

There were no chance encounters with Immortal Grass, nor any Deity's favor. Everything depended on the cultivation speed boost provided by the Seven-Orifice Lotus Seed.

At eighteen, Lin Feng had forcibly pushed himself to the realm of a level 79 Soul Saint!

Though he was also a Soul Saint, the power contained within him surpassed others of the same rank by more than seven times. Such progress was enough to leave countless Soul Masters far behind.

He only needed an opportunity to make a shocking breakthrough and reveal his edge!

Outside Suotuo City, on a dusty official road.

Lin Feng walked forward alone at an unhurried pace, muttering under his breath as though he were arguing with someone.

"You damned system, you broke your promise! Twelve years, a full twelve years! Do you know how I spent those twelve years?"

It was almost a habitual complaint, and certainly not the first time he had said it.

But unlike before, this time he received a response.

A long-lost voice exploded directly in his mind:

[Ding! Hello, Host! Your thoughtful little treasure has successfully restored its connection! (✧ω✧)]

Lin Feng stopped short. His entire body stiffened, and he nearly thought he was hearing things.

The system had awakened?

When he had almost cultivated to level 79?

What was the point of showing up now?

He had really just been bored out of his mind. Remembering the promise of the "Ten-Year Promise," he had habitually vented a few words without expecting anything at all.

Yet he had actually "woken" this thing up?

All of a sudden, an urge to prove himself surged up within him—See? Even without you, System, I, Lin Feng, have done just fine! I'm almost level 80!

He had already completely adapted to relying on his own Martial Soul and hard work. Whether the system returned or not, he no longer craved it as desperately as he had back then.

Still, he harbored an indescribable resentment over the system breaking its promise, like a bitter wife who had been stood up for years.

He bent down and, as if throwing a tantrum, pulled up a blade of grass from the roadside and clenched it tightly in his hand.

"Hey, System."

"Look at what I'm holding in my hand."

[Grass]

"That's right!"

"Grasping Grass!"

The system fell silent, and a trace of awkwardness filled the air.

"Hahaha~"

Lin Feng suddenly laughed. "It's good that you're here, but... it seems I don't really need you anymore."

[Host, you do need me! You still have enormous room for improvement. This system can provide you with unimaginable assistance.]

[For example: increasing the age of your existing Soul Rings!]

[Obtaining peerless Martial Arts from high-martial worlds, supreme mystic arts from fantasy planes, and immortal cultivation methods from immortal civilizations!]

Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly as his mouth fell open unconsciously.

Martial Arts? Mystic arts? Immortal techniques?

These terms stirred towering waves in his heart!

Though he did not know whether this was merely an empty promise, the temptation was damn intoxicating!

Especially increasing Soul Ring Age—it struck directly at his greatest current pain point!

His yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black Soul Ring Configuration was standard for a Soul Saint, but paired with his Seven-Orifice Lotus Seed Martial Soul, it always felt as though a pearl had been left in the dust.

Perhaps the system appearing at this moment was not completely useless after all?

Icing on the cake?

No! If it really could add that finishing touch, the cake might bloom into an entire sea of flowers!

Lin Feng's attitude quietly softened, and his tone took on a hint of inquiry.

"Oh? Then hurry up and explain in detail. What kind of system are you, exactly? What can you do?"

[Host, this system's purpose is to impart knowledge and cultivate disciples, achieving the status of a supreme Immortal Master! Its core function is: taking disciples!]

[As for breaking the promise, it was because this Realm's energy level is relatively low, which caused the connection to require a little more time...]

"Oh, I see. So how exactly does taking disciples work?"

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. He could not be bothered to care why it had broken its promise now; there was no point in dwelling on it.

[Each of your Soul Ring slots may be bound to one Direct Disciple you acknowledge! The final age of that Soul Ring will dynamically equal the total age of all Soul Rings possessed by the disciple bound to it!]

After hearing this, Lin Feng felt as though thunder had exploded inside his mind, leaving his head buzzing.

How was this function merely heaven-defying?

It practically overturned the rules of this world!

It was unquestionably a cheat!

He had previously felt somewhat regretful about his Soul Ring Configuration, but now, after the darkest moment came a sudden turn for the better.

Did that not mean that as long as he took in disciples with sufficiently monstrous talent, the age of his Soul Rings could soar on the spot?

Why keep lying low now? He had to get involved in the plot!

Take disciples! Take disciples as soon as possible!

And he could not just take anyone—he had to choose carefully and find those future Monsters!