Azure Cloud Sect

Azure Cloud Sect was bustling with noise and activity. A long line of young people, each looking no older than eighteen, stretched through the sect.

"Have I transmigrated?"

In the middle of the line, a young man looked around in bewilderment.

Suddenly, a flood of memories surged into his mind. A moment later, the young man's eyes gradually brightened.

"Would you look at that? I actually transmigrated into a cultivation world, and I've just joined the Azure Cloud Sect as a lowly chore disciple?"

Ye Lin murmured to himself.

A cultivation world! The powerful could decide the life and death of billions with a single thought, while the weak could only eke out a living in the cracks.

A world where the strong preyed on the weak, through and through.

"Here, this is yours. Take good care of it."

Just then, a middle-aged man in a white robe handed Ye Lin a white pill and gave him a few instructions.

Ye Lin put the pill away and nodded before leaving the line.

Having inherited the memories, Ye Lin knew very well that the pills being handed out were the chore disciples' exclusive Qi Gathering Pills.

They weren't even graded, but for mortals, they could strengthen the body and improve health.

Apart from Spirit Stones, all treasures in the world were divided into the following grades: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, and Immortal.

Each major grade was further divided into low, middle, and high tiers.

Carrying the pill, the clothes he'd just been given, and his Identity Token, Ye Lin headed for his lodgings.

Just then, a burly man came toward him. Ye Lin glanced over curiously, then looked away.

But the burly man walked straight toward him.

"Have you collected your Qi Gathering Pill?"

The burly man stopped in front of Ye Lin and asked with a frown.

Looking at the man's well-defined muscles, Ye Lin couldn't help feeling a heavy sense of pressure.

"I have."

Ye Lin replied politely.

"Good. Hand it over. Consider it protection money for a new arrival."

The burly man held out a hand as big as a cattail fan and spoke to Ye Lin.

At his words, Ye Lin lifted his head and looked straight at him. Suddenly, a transparent panel appeared before his eyes.

Name: Zhang Liang

Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 3

Fate Rank: White (Unremarkable)

Fate Traits: [Small Fortune] [Heaven-Shocking Blade Technique]

Destiny: Three years from now, he will go down the mountain to gain experience, offend a disciple from a major sect, and be mercilessly killed.

Recent Opportunity: While cultivating in the Back Mountain at night, he will find a cloth bag beneath a Stone Stele. Hidden inside are ten Low-Tier Spirit Stones. After absorbing them, his cultivation will surge all the way to Qi Refining Level 5.

[Small Fortune]: He has a bit of luck and always manages to find something when he goes out.

[Heaven-Shocking Blade Technique]: He has a unique understanding of the blade and makes rapid progress along the blade path.

Staring at the transparent panel, Ye Lin's heart jolted. Could this be his cheat?

Ye Lin then lowered his gaze to the tips of his toes, and another transparent panel appeared before him.

Name: Ye Lin

Cultivation: None

Fate Rank: Black (Calamitous)

Fate Traits: [Cursed with Bad Luck] [Divine Comprehension]

Destiny: Unwilling to yield to Zhang Liang, he will refuse to hand over the Qi Gathering Pill in his possession, and Zhang Liang will mercilessly cripple him.

Recent Opportunity: None

[Cursed with Bad Luck]: He has terrible luck. For example, he's bound to trip while walking and get cheated on if he gets married.

[Divine Comprehension]: He has extraordinary comprehension and grasps all kinds of techniques extremely quickly. For the same technique, others need three months to understand it, but he only needs a few days.

Fate Ranks were divided into: Black, White, Green, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Red, and Gold.

A person's Fate Rank determined the course of their life. Those with a golden Fate Rank were favored by the Heavenly Dao.

But this Cursed with Bad Luck trait really was a bit absurd.

Looking at the panels had taken only a few seconds. Just then, another chore disciple approached from behind Ye Lin.

The disciple had just collected his pill and was walking along with a broad grin.

"I may be a chore disciple, but at least I get a pill. Not bad."

The disciple said cheerfully.

"Hand over the pill you're holding. It's the protection fee for new arrivals."

Zhang Liang, standing in front of Ye Lin, directly blocked the disciple's path.

"What gives you the right? This is a pill issued by the sect! And what protection fee? I've never heard of that."

The blocked disciple challenged Zhang Liang. At his words, Zhang Liang furrowed his brow.

Then he stepped forward, snatched the Qi Gathering Pill from the disciple's hand, and kicked him in the chest.

The disciple went flying and slammed hard into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"What gives me the right? My fists are bigger than yours."

Zhang Liang pocketed the Qi Gathering Pill and said coldly.

"Damn it! Listen here, I'm Li Ziming, the young master of the Li Family in Tianfeng City down the mountain! You dog, give my pill back!"

Li Ziming shouted furiously at Zhang Liang from the ground.

At his words, Zhang Liang sneered and walked over, then brought his foot down on Li Ziming's hand.

There was a crack, followed by Li Ziming's scream. Zhang Liang lifted his foot, revealing Li Ziming's hand, crushed into a bloody mess.

"Hmph. Don't forget where you are. Don't try to use your mortal-world connections to intimidate me. They're worth a damn."

With that, Zhang Liang walked over to Ye Lin.

"What about yours?"

At his words, Ye Lin reluctantly took out his pill and handed it to Zhang Liang.

"Not bad. At least you've got some sense. Remember, I'm the chore disciple captain. This pill is your protection fee."

"As long as you're in the Azure Cloud Sect and working as a chore disciple, you answer to me. Understand?"

"Understood."

Looking at Zhang Liang, Ye Lin nodded.

Seeing that, Zhang Liang patted Ye Lin on the shoulder and walked away.

Looking at Li Ziming, whose hand had been crushed with a single kick, Ye Lin's heart tightened. He'd only just transmigrated, and he clearly hadn't adjusted yet.

But that had just taught him a harsh lesson.

The cultivation world really was cruel.

Leaving Li Ziming's screams behind, Ye Lin hurried toward his lodgings.

Looking at the thatched hut before him, Ye Lin felt a little speechless. Then he slowly pushed open the door, and a cloud of dust blew into his face.

He set down the clothes and Identity Token and began tidying up his future home.

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, night fell. The sky had gradually darkened, and stars twinkled overhead, beautiful to behold.

Looking at his clean, tidy little hut, Ye Lin nodded in satisfaction, then changed into the clothes he'd just been issued.

In the Azure Cloud Sect, everyone had to wear their designated clothes and carry their Identity Token. Otherwise, you'd be caught in no time.

Besides, in the Azure Cloud Sect, a chore disciple's life barely counted as a life at all. If you got caught, you might simply lose it.

Watching the sky grow darker, Ye Lin didn't forget why he was here. He needed to get to Zhang Liang's opportunity before him.

Then he went outside and headed for the Back Mountain.

He was going now because the outskirts of the Azure Cloud Sect were sparsely populated at this hour, making him less likely to draw attention.

When he reached the Back Mountain, he saw weeds growing everywhere and no sign of people.

It had clearly been abandoned for a long time. The Back Mountain lay beyond the Azure Cloud Sect's borders and was left unattended, so Demon Beasts appeared there from time to time. Ordinary people who came here risked losing their lives.

Only a broken Stone Stele stood in the Back Mountain. Ye Lin pushed aside the weeds and made his way toward it, one step at a time.

Then he slowly crouched down, searching to the left and right. Suddenly, an orange cloth bag caught his eye.

"Found it."

Delighted, Ye Lin picked up the bag and opened it. Inside lay ten glittering crystals.

Ye Lin hurriedly took out the ten Spirit Stones and tucked them against his chest, leaving the bag where it was.

The bag looked like a high-end item. An ordinary person could never own one. If he took it, he might lose his life if someone discovered it later.

Just then, Ye Lin noticed a pile of Demon Beast dung beside the Stone Stele. It looked fresh.

The next moment, Ye Lin scooped the dung into the cloth bag and put it back where he'd found it, then hurried back to his lodgings.

The Back Mountain was too dangerous for ordinary people. Better not linger.

Cultivation Stages: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Dao Integration, Tribulation Transcendence, Mahayana.