Crossing into Spirit Source, the System Descends

[Fellow Daoist, please wait.]

Spirit Source Continent.

Eastern Region, Search Province, east.

The Seeking Dao Mountains rose in overlapping peaks, their slopes veiled in drifting mist.

Hidden Dragon Valley lay silent, without a trace of human habitation.

A lone grave stood in the valley. It had no proper upkeep, no headstone, and naturally, no name.

Dressed in white, Li Moqing stared at the grave in a daze and quietly poured the wine in his hand before it.

"Daoist Qi, forgive my helplessness. I may never be able to carry your dying message back to your Sect!"

Li Moqing spoke with shame.

Three years ago, he had crossed into this place called the Spirit Source Continent.

The moment he arrived, he stumbled upon Daoist Qi, who now lay in the grave, locked in a fierce battle with someone dressed in purple.

Light flashed in waves, thunderous blasts rang out, rocks flew everywhere, and trees were smashed to pieces!

Li Moqing hid behind a tree, his eyes wide with shock. He dared not make a sound, while inwardly crying out, Immortals!

Only after the purple-clad figure blasted Daoist Qi into a state of grievous injury, searched him, and left empty-handed did Li Moqing dare come out to check on him.

To his surprise, Daoist Qi left him only a Spatial Ring and a message cut short: "Young man, this poor Daoist is Qi... Carry word for me. Have my Sect avenge me!"

"Daoist Qi, the Spirit Source Continent is vast beyond measure, with seven regions in all, and your words were anything but clear."

"I have no Spiritual Wisdom and am no cultivator. I truly can't travel to the other regions to find your Sect!"

Sitting before the grave, Li Moqing murmured to himself.

It was not that Li Moqing had failed to ask around over the past three years, but he had never found a useful lead.

All he knew was that Daoist Qi could not have been from Search Province in the Eastern Region, because no cultivator there possessed a Spatial Ring!

Spatial Rings were forged by Spirit Transformation cultivators. Search Province ranked second to last in strength among the seven regions; it had no Spirit Transformation cultivators at all!

"Ah, Daoist Qi, that's all the time I can spend with you today. I'll head to Clearwind Town for some food."

Li Moqing was only mortal, after all. Having sat before the grave for so long, his stomach had begun to rumble in protest.

He rose helplessly, poured out the last of the wine, and prepared to leave.

[Ding! Congratulations, host. The three-year wait is over. Binding the Disciple-Recruiting Fabrications into Reality System!]

Just then, a mechanical voice sounded in Li Moqing's mind.

"A system?"

Li Moqing stopped short, his brows lifting.

"System, it's been three years. You've finally arrived!"

Li Moqing could barely contain his delight.

[Host, don't get too excited. This system actually came to the Spirit Source Continent with you three years ago!]

"What?" Li Moqing froze. "No wonder Daoist Qi and the person in purple didn't notice me when I watched their battle three years ago."

"System, if you were here three years ago, why are you only showing up now?"

Li Moqing asked, puzzled.

[Ding! That's a secret!]

"This..."

Li Moqing was speechless.

[Ding! Disciple-Recruiting Fabrications into Reality System bound successfully!]

Ignoring Li Moqing, the system delivered its notification.

Li Moqing's eyes lit up. "System, now that we're bound, shouldn't you give me a beginner's gift pack and grant me ninth-level Tribulation Transcendence cultivation?"

The Spirit Source Continent had seven cultivation realms: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Mahayana, and Tribulation Transcendence.

Each realm had nine levels. Reach the ninth level of Tribulation Transcendence, and one could ascend to immortality. Naturally, Li Moqing wanted to get there in one leap!

[Sorry, host. There's no such reward!]

[But this system will give you ten-star Spiritual Wisdom and an illusory realm that no cultivator can see through!]

[The illusory realm grants no actual cultivation, but it allows you to ride the wind through the sky!]

"Huh? Ten-star Spiritual Wisdom?"

Li Moqing paid no attention to the explanation of the illusory realm. All he heard were the words "ten-star Spiritual Wisdom."

The Spirit Source Continent was filled with Source Qi, which its cultivators used to cultivate.

But one first needed Spiritual Wisdom. Without it, one could not even sense Source Qi!

Spiritual Wisdom was rated from one to ten stars. The more stars, the greater the talent and, ordinarily, the faster one cultivated.

Ten-star Spiritual Wisdom is vanishingly rare. If I can have that, I can do without ninth-level Tribulation Transcendence cultivation.

And the cultivation I gain through ten-star Spiritual Wisdom will be more stable!

Li Moqing weighed it up in his mind.

[Ding! Ten-star Spiritual Wisdom and the illusory realm are ready to be granted. Host, will you accept?]

"Accept!"

Li Moqing nodded without hesitation.

Boom!

In an instant, Li Moqing's mind became perfectly clear. Heaven and earth and all things seemed to rest within his heart, while the stars and cosmos seemed to dwell within his body!

His power of comprehension had reached the pinnacle of the world, beyond anyone else's reach!

Meanwhile, the Source Qi in the valley flowed into his body of its own accord.

"Is this ten-star Spiritual Wisdom? I can absorb Source Qi even without a Cultivation Method?"

Li Moqing found it incredible.

Spiritual Wisdom alone was not enough for a cultivator. One also needed a Cultivation Method.

A cultivation method was the most basic art for setting foot on the path of cultivation. It taught one to breathe in source qi and use it to cultivate.

Such methods generally came from sects and other powers. In three years as a mortal, when had Li Moqing ever laid eyes on one?

But with Source Qi entering his body, Li Moqing saw no reason to worry about Cultivation Methods. He immediately sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began cultivating.

Whoosh!

The valley's Source Qi streamed into his body bit by bit.

Boom!

Half an hour later, Li Moqing's aura changed abruptly. A surge of force blasted apart the giant rocks within a ten-mile radius!

He had stepped into Qi Refinement and become a true cultivator!

"Ah, it's a shame the Source Qi in Search Province is so thin. Hidden Dragon Valley lies in its eastern reaches, where the Source Qi is thinner still!"

"No matter how much I cultivate here, I'm afraid the second level of Qi Refinement is the highest I'll reach."

"But my cultivation is still low. I can't go to another region and fight other rogue cultivators or powerful factions for land rich in Source Qi."

"Even with the illusory realm hiding my cultivation from others, I'd be dead if a real fight broke out!"

"Perhaps I should find a way to create a place rich in Source Qi where I can cultivate."

Li Moqing kept turning the problem over in his mind.

He stood up. "Come to think of it, system, you still haven't introduced yourself."

[Ding! This system is called the Disciple-Recruiting Fabrications into Reality System. It will assign you tasks to take fated individuals as disciples.]

[Complete the tasks as directed, and you will gain three chances to make a fabrication about each personal disciple come true, plus one chance to make a fabrication believed by everyone come true!]

[Each time a personal disciple advances one minor level, you gain one additional chance to make a fabrication about that disciple come true.

Each time a personal disciple advances one major realm, you gain one additional chance to make a fabrication believed by everyone come true.

The chances earned through advances in minor levels and major realms do not conflict!]

[If a personal disciple believes a fabrication made with a chance concerning that disciple, or if ninety percent of "everyone" believes one made with a chance concerning everyone, this system will make it real!]

[Special reminder: Each task has only one fated individual. Host, identify them carefully!]

"Making fabrications real, hmm... Not bad!"

After hearing the explanation, Li Moqing's brow furrowed slightly. "But the tasks involve personal disciples. Does the system want me to join a Sect, then become an elder or sect master?"

He shook his head almost at once. "No. That would put me under someone else's thumb and be far too troublesome. It's not what I want!"

[Ding! A fated individual is heading toward the Seeking Dao Mountains. Host, go and take them as your personal disciple!]

[As this is the system's first task, you are also receiving one chance to make a fabrication believed by everyone come true. Make good use of it!]

The system's voice sounded as Li Moqing pondered.

"A free chance to make a fabrication real? This system really is thoughtful!"

"Perfect. I can use it to 'found' a Sect. Not only will I answer to no one, I can make it a paradise for cultivation!"

"Fated one approaching the Seeking Dao Mountains, here I come!"

Li Moqing turned into a streak of light and flew out of Hidden Dragon Valley.