Pain.
A dull, throbbing pain dragged Lin Feng from unconsciousness.
His entire body ached, and the air tasted of dust and blood.
Where… am I?
He opened his eyes, squinting against the blazing desert sun. Cracked stones and endless sand stretched around him. A group of ragged-looking cultivators stood nearby, whispering nervously while poking him with a stick.
"Is he dead?"
"Shut up, idiot! What if he's a hidden expert testing us?! Look at his robes — so plain… it must be a disguise!"
"Yeah! Those powerful immortals always travel low-key! We should run!"
Lin Feng tried to speak, to explain that he was definitely not some immortal hidden master — in fact, he barely knew what was going on — but only a dry croak escaped his parched lips.
And then —
[DING!]
Welcome to the Rumorweaver System!
Mission: Become Legendary — (Accidents are Acceptable.)
Starting Bonus: "Mysterious Aura" (Makes you appear stronger than you actually are.)
Lin Feng blinked.
A glowing blue screen hovered before his eyes, as natural as breathing.
System?
Is this one of those novels where Earthlings get cheats?!
Before he could even react, the wind kicked up a swirling cloud of dust around him.
From the cultivators' view, the young man rose slowly from the ground, sunlight framing him in a blinding halo, dust twisting like phantom serpents around his form.
The ragged cultivators gasped.
"He's angry!"
"He's awakening his power!"
"Run! Before he annihilates us with a thought!"
Panic exploded.
They dropped everything — sacks of spirit stones, rusty weapons, even a half-eaten bun — and sprinted into the desert, screaming like frightened chickens.
Lin Feng just sat there, coughing as sand filled his mouth.
"…what the hell?"
[DING!]
You have been mistaken as a "Hidden Master" by 5 mortals!
Cultivation Speed +10% for 3 hours!
New Title Unlocked: "Desert Phantom"!
Title Effect — Desert Phantom
Passive: +10% Movement Speed when being observed by others.
Rumors Intensify: "He rides the winds of fate… an immortal among mortals!"
Lin Feng: "…?"
He waved his hand experimentally.
The wind seemed to whisper around his fingers — not powerful, but enough to make his sleeves flutter dramatically.
From a distance, it would look… well, pretty damn cool.
He collapsed back onto the cracked stone, sighing.
So let me get this straight, he thought. The more people misunderstand me as some bigshot, the faster I cultivate? And now I have a passive buff just from sitting here looking mysterious?!
It was absurd. It was ridiculous.
It was…
…the greatest cheat he could ever imagine.
A few hours later, after scavenging the supplies the panicked cultivators left behind, Lin Feng trudged across the endless sands.
The System helpfully provided a basic Status Screen whenever he focused:
Name: Lin Feng
Cultivation: None (Mortal)
Titles:
Desert Phantom (+10% Movement Speed when observed)
Rumors Active:
Hidden Expert Testing Mortals
"Desert Phantom": Mysterious Master Riding the Winds
Cultivation Boost: +10% Base (Additional temporary boosts from active rumors)
No cultivation base. No techniques.
Only a dumb System making people think he was someone terrifying.
But strangely, Lin Feng felt hopeful.
If he could keep the misunderstandings growing… he could really become strong!
As he trudged through the desert, he heard voices up ahead.
He ducked behind a boulder and peeked out.
A group of bandits — rough, tattooed men with cruel eyes — were threatening a small merchant caravan.
One of the merchants, a girl no older than fifteen, clutched her father's sleeve as the bandit leader laughed.
"Hand over everything — or die!"
Lin Feng grimaced.
He had no weapons. No cultivation. No power.
But if I walk away, I'll feel like crap.
The System chimed in helpfully:
Optional Quest: Intervene in the Bandit Attack!
Reward: Random Rumor Enhancement
Lin Feng took a deep breath.
"Screw it."
He stepped out from behind the boulder, trying to look tall and imposing.
The wind kicked up again — Desert Phantom's passive effect.
His loose robe fluttered, sand swirling dramatically around him.
The bandits froze.
One muttered, "Who's that?!"
Another hissed, "Look at the aura! He must be an immortal passing by!"
The leader narrowed his eyes. "Don't be fooled! He's just—"
Lin Feng raised one hand.
He didn't do anything.
But just at that moment, a stray gust of desert wind tore through the bandit camp, knocking over tents and sending sand into the bandits' faces.
They screamed in terror.
"He's controlling the elements!"
"He's a spirit master!"
"Run!"
They dropped their weapons and bolted, vanishing into the sands.
The merchants stared at Lin Feng in awe.
The girl clasped her hands together and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Great Senior!"
Her father followed, trembling. "Senior, please accept this humble offering!"
He shoved a small, cracked jade pendant into Lin Feng's hand.
Lin Feng opened his mouth to protest, but the System chimed:
Rumor Enhanced!
New Rumor: Spirit Master Who Commands The Desert Winds!
Cultivation Speed Boost: +20% for 6 hours!
Lin Feng slowly closed his mouth.
Maybe playing along isn't so bad…
That night, Lin Feng sat by a tiny campfire, roasting a piece of dried meat and studying the stars.
The merchants had traveled on, still whispering about the "Mysterious Senior" they had met.
Lin Feng checked his Status again.
Name: Lin Feng
Cultivation: Mortal (but Progressing)
Titles:
Desert Phantom (+10% Movement Speed when observed)
Rumors Active:
Hidden Expert Testing Mortals
Desert Phantom: Mysterious Master Riding the Winds
Spirit Master Who Commands the Desert Winds
Cultivation Boost: +20% Base (temporary)
A small smile crept across his face.
He wasn't strong yet.
But thanks to the rumors… he was getting stronger every moment.
Tomorrow, he would find a real sect.
He would enter the world of cultivation — and fake it until he made it.
After all, the Myth Maker was just getting started.