Beside a lake on the outskirts of Wutan City.
"In ten years, one can watch spring depart and autumn arrive; in a hundred, witness birth, aging, sickness, and death; in a thousand, lament the rise and fall of dynasties; in ten thousand, see the stars wheel across the heavens."
Willows swayed in the breeze beside the lake, while a boy of fifteen or sixteen sighed beneath them. His eyes held a world-weariness that did not belong to someone his age.
"Sigh... It's already been a month since I came to this world..."
"Fuck! You damned heavens! Did you bring me to the Dou Qi Continent just to make me a useless cripple who can't cultivate, someone anyone can mock and bully?!"
Spitting out the blade of grass between his lips, Ling Feng pointed furiously at the sky and vented his frustration.
That was right. Ling Feng was not a native of the Dou Qi Continent.
Originally, he had come from the Celestial Empire on Earth, in the Solar System. His family was fairly well-off, with land, a house, and a domestically made ABC car. Life had been quite comfortable.
Who could have guessed that the moment he met the female "Douyin" influencer he had spent a hundred thousand to arrange a date with, he would suffer instant social death, then inexplicably transmigrate to the Dou Qi Continent?
Transmigration was transmigration. Having read countless webnovels and earned the nickname "Jade-Faced Bookworm" among their readers, Ling Feng quickly accepted this reality.
He had even been excited, believing himself to be the destined protagonist chosen by heaven, about to ascend to the pinnacle of life.
But of all the rotten luck, he had transmigrated into a commoner's family. Most frustrating of all, he was a cultivation dud. Even now, he had yet to reach the first stage of Dou Qi.
Although cultivation duds were hardly unique on the Dou Qi Continent, in this world where strength reigned supreme, weakness itself was the original sin!
The weak were destined to be oppressed, mere leaves serving to set off the flowers that were the strong. They had no rights whatsoever. The strong could kill them whenever they pleased, as though they were weeds. The original "Ling Feng" had been bullied to death, allowing the soul of Earth's "Ling Feng" to take over his body like a dove occupying a magpie's nest.
When he first transmigrated, Ling Feng had been confused, then excited. After learning of his miserable circumstances and useless constitution, however, he became utterly dejected.
He had dreamed of ascending to the pinnacle of life, only to find himself sliding downhill. He had become part of the lowest stratum of the Dou Qi Continent. Whenever he met someone of higher standing, he had to show the deference of a servant. Otherwise, he would suffer for it.
Having lived like a dog in peaceful times, Ling Feng believed everyone was equal. Yet what he saw on the Dou Qi Continent was a ruthless, rigid hierarchy.
Ling Feng refused to accept his fate, much less bow beneath others. He cultivated desperately, but his constitution left all his dreams like broken halberds buried in the sand. That was why he was now filled with such resentment.
He had spent his entire month on the Dou Qi Continent cultivating, yet gained nothing. Just like the original "Ling Feng," who had made no progress in over a decade.
This useless constitution left Ling Feng utterly hopeless.
"Sigh. Rather than venting helplessly, I might as well do something worthwhile and go for a swim."
Ling Feng shook his head helplessly and stopped dwelling on his troubles. He stripped off his clothes and left them beneath the willow, then plunged into the lake with the force of Mount Tai crashing down. He shattered its still surface, sending water splashing everywhere and waves rolling outward.
"Scrub-a-dub, scrub-a-dub, hey hey, ha hey... Wash away this salted-fish stink and let me turn my fortunes around and sing..."
Ling Feng sang a little tune as he washed, entertaining himself and casting his bad mood aside. He knew perfectly well that instead of blaming heaven and everyone else all day, he should strive to change things.
After washing, Ling Feng did not leave the lake. Instead, he swam underwater, thoroughly enjoying this little kingdom of his own.
This lake on the outskirts lay in the wilderness, and visitors were rare. It was a precious patch of peace.
Ling Feng knew about it because the original "Ling Feng," often bullied and afraid to return home lest his mother worry, had stumbled upon this place and come here to lick his wounds alone.
However, while Ling Feng was underwater, a graceful figure suddenly approached from afar. Upon reaching the lakeside, she glanced around, then began to undress.
As luck would have it, Ling Feng surfaced just then, facing directly toward the undressing woman. In an instant, a live-action portrait of a naked beauty unfolded before his eyes.
"Cough, cough..."
Ling Feng's eyes widened, heat surging through him. Of all the rotten timing, he choked just then and coughed aloud. Instantly realizing his mistake, he hurriedly covered his mouth.
But it was too late!
The woman had already noticed Ling Feng, even meeting his gaze. The next moment, a shrill female scream rang out.
"Ah!!!"
The woman hurriedly grabbed her clothes to cover herself and fled. For a moment, Ling Feng felt as though he had witnessed a turbocharged duck. He stared blankly, then could not help chuckling.
"Tsk, tsk... That woman really was a knockout! Even prettier than Widow Wang next door..."
He licked the corner of his mouth, his eyes unblinking, as though he had not yet had his fill. His expression held both amusement and a little regret.
"Huh?"
Just then, Ling Feng gave another startled exclamation, his lingering enjoyment turning into delighted surprise.
"I actually broke through?!"
Dou Qi had formed inside his body, a sign that he had reached the first stage. Ling Feng was both astonished and delighted.
"If I'd known one glimpse of a naked beauty would get me excited enough to break through, I would've sneaked a peek at Widow Wang next door bathing long ago. She might not be as pretty as that woman, but her figure's pretty good too..."
Recalling that tantalizing scene, Ling Feng felt excitement rise again amid his delight.
At the same time.
Ding! Congratulations, host, on reaching the first stage of Dou Qi. System officially activated. Beginning binding... Ten percent... Fifty percent... One hundred percent... System binding complete. Treasure Box Draw System officially online.
Immediately afterward, a status panel appeared before Ling Feng's eyes, visible to him alone.
Host: Ling Feng Constitution: Useless Strength: First-stage Dou Qi ...
Looking at the stats on the panel and listening to the distinctive system voice echoing in his mind, Ling Feng froze. Then wild delight spread across his face. "Hahaha... System, you're finally here! I knew it! What transmigrator doesn't get a cheat? So I just wasn't strong enough before. Now that you're activated, my rise starts today!"
What was a system?
Having read countless webnovels and earned the title "Jade-Faced Bookworm" among their readers, Ling Feng naturally knew that systems were the undisputed bosses of showing off, cheats that took you straight to the pinnacle of life.
With a system at his side, Ling Feng instantly felt capable again. He quickly accepted its arrival, no longer even savoring the tantalizing sight of that naked beauty.
"System, please begin your performance."
Yes, host.
Once his excitement subsided, Ling Feng could not resist learning about the system's functions. Still, as a spirited young veteran of webnovels, he remained fairly composed.
"System, are you saying that every time I go up one level, I get to draw a treasure box?"
Yes, host. As for the rank of treasure box you draw, that will depend on your luck.
After listening to the system's explanation, Ling Feng understood its basic operating rules.
This was a Treasure Box Draw System. Each time the host advanced one level, he could draw one treasure box.
The treasure boxes were also ranked, with eleven ranks in total: black iron, bronze, silver, gold, diamond, star glory, king, rare, epic, legendary, and mythical.
The boxes contained all sorts of miraculous abilities. The higher the rank of the box drawn, the stronger its ability would be. A single skill could even elevate him to godhood!
"Then, since I've just reached the first stage of Dou Qi, do I have one draw available?"
Yes. Would you like to draw now, host?
"Draw immediately."
Ling Feng's face brimmed with excitement and eagerness.
Beginning draw...
The system's voice rang out, and the status panel before Ling Feng abruptly changed. Three treasure boxes appeared in his view, resembling boxes from the game "Honor of Pesticides."
These three treasure boxes were assigned randomly, regardless of rank or ability.
They might all be black iron boxes, all mythical boxes, or one black iron box and two mythical boxes.
"Jade Emperor, Queen Mother, all you gods, bless me. Goddess of Luck, please fall for me and accept my confession..."
Rubbing his hands together, bowing, and performing a little prayer ritual, Ling Feng selected the second treasure box.
Two-clearly an auspicious number.
Amid a burst of flickering light, the second treasure box slowly opened. Then the system's voice rang out:
Congratulations, host. You have drawn a rare treasure box and obtained one-tenth of the bloodline power of the Ancient Ferocious Beast Taotie...
If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you can find it again next time.