Zhu Xian

Faced with Ye Yun's question, the system explained, "In every world, the system arranges an ordinary identity for its host. By default, that identity is an orphan, with only the most basic background. The system does not implant memories of that identity, because doing so could affect the host's personality. Also, when the system transports its host to other planes, it simulates and transforms its energy into a force compatible with the world's story, then integrates directly into that plane. This consumes little energy. Most of the system's energy is spent arranging an identity for the host and imprinting the world's mark onto him, to keep the world's will from destroying him."

"The host's original body did not fit the identity arranged by the system. His meridians and bones had already set, and his potential was low. So the system used its remaining energy to completely strengthen the host's body and return it to the state it was in at six years old."

"I see. I understand. But why won't this world's will kill me once I have its mark? Doesn't the will of a story world hate it when the plot is disrupted?" Ye Yun suddenly understood, then asked the question that had been on his mind.

"The world's mark is imprinted on every being born from this universe's planes. Having this mark means the host has become an original being of this world. The world's consciousness is constrained by the rules governing the world's operation, so it cannot target its own inhabitants, much less attack them. Even if one of them tries to destroy the world, it can only guide the other inhabitants to oppose that being. Only when the native inhabitants cannot stop someone attempting to destroy the world can the world's consciousness restart it. Even then, it still cannot attack the world's inhabitants directly."

"Then what about lightning tribulations?" Ye Yun spotted a flaw in the system's explanation and quickly asked in his mind.

"Lightning tribulations are simply tests set by the world for cultivators. Only those who pass are entitled to enjoy more resources. Those who fail must return the resources they have used. After all, the energy available to any world is limited."

"I see. That makes sense. Now I can relax." Hearing this, Li Yun breathed a sigh of relief. Then he asked the system the two questions he cared about most. "System, which plane am I in right now? And how much energy will it take to fully recharge you? Don't tell me I'll grow old and die before I can fill you back up."

After asking, Ye Yun waited quietly for the system's answer. But, to his surprise, more than ten seconds passed without a sound. He began to panic. Then a possibility occurred to him, and he blurted out in alarm, "System, don't tell me I was right! I don't want to grow old and die here! I want to go home. I'm done with this!"

"Host, remain calm. Given this world's energy level, it is essentially impossible to fully recharge the system. However, reaching the first stage is feasible. According to the system's estimate, the energy for the first stage will be full once the host reaches the level of this plane's strongest experts. To reach the next stage, the host will need to cultivate to a higher level and travel to more advanced planes. Still, the first stage will be enough to let the host travel freely through lesser and middle thousand worlds. This plane is called Qing Yun Zhi, also known as Zhu Xian. The host is currently in Cao Miao Village. And now, the system's energy is officially depleted. It will enter standby mode. Good luck."

Ye Yun's face lit up at the system's first few words. As far as he was concerned, he had a system that could take him across the myriad worlds, and his body had already been cleansed and reforged by it. Becoming one of this world's top experts would be a piece of cake. But when he heard the rest, his expression darkened. This was the world of Qing Yun Zhi, and he was in Cao Miao Village. It wasn't that this world was especially dangerous—it was that Cao Miao Village was far too dangerous for him. He wasn't Zhang Xiaofan or Lin Jingyu. When Pu Zhi slaughtered the village, he wouldn't spare Ye Yun just because he was a child.

Thinking this, Ye Yun hurriedly called out, "System, don't go into standby yet! Can you send me to another world? If not, at least send me somewhere else! I'm just a kid! I don't want to die young!"

No matter how much Ye Yun called, the system did not respond. After all the commotion, he was tired too. His small body curled up on the thatch, and he slowly closed his eyes. Before long, he was fast asleep. In his dream, Ye Yun used the system's ability to travel across the myriad worlds, pursued the most beautiful goddesses in all creation, wielded the strongest divine artifacts, and cultivated the most powerful techniques. Then he woke up hungry.

After waking, Ye Yun rubbed his growling stomach and went to the doorway. Only then did he notice the sun sinking in the west, glowing red above the distant mountain peaks. It would probably be dark in less than half an hour. He had just taken a quick look around the thatched hut and found it completely bare. There wasn't even a bed, let alone any food.

Ye Yun pressed one hand to his rumbling stomach and frowned at the red sun on the horizon. With a miserable look, he muttered, "What am I supposed to do? It'll be dark soon, and I'm just a kid. I can't go find food. Do I have to go hungry tonight? Am I a failure as a transmigrator? I've been here one day, and I'm already starving. Maybe I should go beg at someone's house?"

Just as Ye Yun was about to swallow his pride and use his age to beg for food at another house in the village, a white-bearded old man carrying a large red-skinned sweet potato came into view and walked straight toward him.

The system was in standby, and before going into standby it hadn't told him anything about his identity or Cao Miao Village. So Ye Yun had no idea who the old man was. But it didn't matter that he didn't know the man's name—he still had the advantage of being a child.

When the old man came up to him, Ye Yun smiled sweetly and called out in a childish voice, "Grandpa."

The old man merely nodded, his expression calm, and handed Ye Yun the sweet potato. Once Ye Yun had taken it, he turned and left without saying a word. He hadn't spoken at all, and his expression hadn't changed in the slightest, as though Ye Yun were a complete stranger who had nothing to do with him.

Although the old man hadn't been very friendly, Ye Yun didn't mind at all. They didn't know each other, after all, and Ye Yun was already delighted that the old man had brought him a large sweet potato. It was cold and partly worm-eaten, but to Ye Yun, it was still a rare delicacy.