Still seated on the floor, Han Yun felt a giddy grin creep up on his face.
This—this was the dream, wasn't it? The moment every Xianxia fan imagined at least once. Cultivating, sensing Qi, building strength from nothing. He might not have been blessed by the heavens, but after living with garbage-tier talent and a future that looked like it had expired five years ago, this? This felt glorious.
"Alright... let's do this properly."
He summoned the system panel with a wave of his hand.
[System Menu → Shop → Basic Manuals]
He scrolled past dozens of overpriced, flashy titles that screamed "too early for you, loser" until he found something affordable.
[Beginner Qi Absorption Manual – 45 Destiny Points]
A simple, step-by-step foundational scripture for sensing, drawing in, and circulating spiritual energy. Suitable for those with newly awakened roots and no prior knowledge.
[Confirm Purchase?]
He didn't even hesitate.
[Purchase Complete. Remaining Points: 5]
A faint shimmer of light, and a scroll appeared in his lap.
Han Yun unrolled it, eyes scanning the contents. The moment he began to read, something clicked. The language made sense. The diagrams were clear. The logic flowed smoothly. It felt… natural.
"Wait…" he muttered, blinking. "Why is this all… easy?"
He had expected to struggle. After all, back on Earth, he wasn't exactly known for being a genius. Smart enough to pass, dumb enough to forget what he just studied. But now?
Every line in the scripture seemed to settle in his mind like it belonged there.
"Oh… right," he said, realization dawning. "That talent pill. It didn't just unlock my ability to absorb Qi—it boosted my affinity for this whole damn thing…"
He closed his eyes, straightened his posture, and followed the breathing method described in the manual.
And boom—on his very first try, he felt it.
Threads of Qi drifted into his dantian like water following a carved channel. It was gentle, but real.
He opened his eyes, face filled with awe.
"No way…"
He summoned the system panel again and checked his status.
Han Yun – Status Panel
Name: Han Yun
Age: 17
Race: Human
Realm: Mortal Realm — Silent Cloud Star
Background: Beggar Orphan / No Family Records / No Sect Affiliation
Cultivation: Qi Refining – Stage 1
Talent Grade: Awakened Spiritual Root (Rank: B)
‣ Capable of naturally absorbing and circulating Qi. Shows strong affinity toward comprehension of basic techniques and manuals.
Physique: Average Human Body — No Known Mutations or Physique Types
Lifespan: 75 Years (estimated)
Hidden Potential: High
Bloodline: Human (Low Purity)
Heavenly Fortune Level: Slightly Below Average
Fate Thread: Weak, Flickering (Latent)
Han Yun stared at the panel, stunned. His grin widened.
"From trash-tier mortal to… High potential."
He chuckled.
"I'll take that."
After tightening his belt, brushing the dust off his robe, and taking one last glance at his system panel just to reassure himself he hadn't suddenly died in his sleep, Han Yun stepped out of the inn and into the bright streets of Misty Spring City.
The usual scent of spices, cooked meat, and faint incense filled the air, blending with the constant murmur of hawkers, merchants, and the occasional sound of a cultivator flying overhead like a show-off. He tucked his hands into his sleeves like a proper wandering nobody and began walking with purpose.
Today wasn't about Ye Fan. Not yet.
Today was about business.
Ever since he wandered this city days ago, acting like a bum with half a soul, he'd noticed a certain market stall that caught his eye—one that sold basic talismans.
More specifically, exploding ones.
He arrived at the stall, where an old man sat fanning himself with what looked like a yellow paper talisman that had long since expired. The stall had talismans hung from strings like drying laundry—some had fire runes, some smoke, some lightning, but all of them were labeled with basic charm seals.
Han Yun bowed slightly. "Esteemed senior."
The old man squinted at him. "You again? Didn't you beg for scraps in this street last week?"
Han Yun laughed politely. "Ah, but time is like the flowing river, senior. People change. And so does their budget."
He casually reached into his sleeve and clink—dropped a medium-grade spirit stone onto the stall table.
The old man raised an eyebrow. "...Not bad."
Han Yun pointed to the stack of low-grade explosive talismans. "I'll take fifteen of those."
The old man picked one up, inspected it, then looked Han Yun dead in the eye. "Fifteen? For one medium-grade? I sell those at ten for that price."
Han Yun leaned in with the sleazy smile of a market veteran. "Senior, senior... come now. We both know no one actually uses these. You've been sitting here for hours and didn't sell a single one."
"I—"
"Also, look here—" Han Yun picked one up and held it to the light. "This ink's already starting to fade. The rune is lopsided. I mean, are these real seals or did you hire your grandson to scribble on toilet paper?"
The old man opened his mouth in indignation, but Han Yun kept going.
"I'll take the slightly defective ones off your hands. You save face. I walk away happy. Fifteen for one medium-grade. That's a good deal for both of us."
The stall owner stared at him.
"...Fourteen."
"Fifteen."
"Thirteen."
"Sixteen."
The man frowned. "Wait—that's more."
Han Yun smiled. "Exactly."
The old man stared at him for a moment longer.
Then sighed. "Fine. Fifteen."
He stuffed the talismans into a paper pouch and handed them over.
Han Yun bowed again, tucking the pouch into his robe with a grin.
"Thank you, senior. May your talisman business one day boom—figuratively and literally."
And just like that, Han Yun walked off, pockets jingling with explosives and the satisfied swagger of a low-tier cultivator who just out-haggled someone older than three dynasties.
"Fifteen explosive talismans…" he whispered, eyes gleaming. "Let's see someone call me a beggar now."
Han Yun strolled through the lively marketplace, head held high, the pouch of talismans tucked securely inside his robe like a treasure trove. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as the crowd bustled around him.
"I might not be the smartest cultivator out there… but when it comes to things like this? This mouth is my best weapon."
He chuckled to himself. "Silver tongue, shameless heart, and just enough acting to fool a spirit beast—truly, this is my Dao."
The system, naturally, said nothing. It had wisely chosen to ignore his self-glorifying monologues by now.
Han Yun rubbed his hands together as he scanned the crowd. Now... I just need a perfect idiot.
After a while down the path, walking with calm elegance, was a young man draped in refined, sky-blue robes trimmed with silver—silk, no doubt. On his waist hung a finely-carved spirit jade, and his posture screamed "spoiled but polite."
Beside him walked a girl. Beautiful, with a soft, graceful presence. She giggled lightly at something he said, brushing her hair behind her ear.
Perfect.
Han Yun approached with politeness, unthreatening, just the right amount of charm in his step. He gave a respectful clasp of his hands as he cut into their path.
"Ah, forgive the interruption, Young Master," Han Yun began with a warm smile, "but fate must truly be favoring this humble merchant to cross paths with a cultivator of such noble bearing—and one accompanied by such a graceful companion."
The girl blinked, pleasantly surprised. The young man straightened, clearly pleased.
"Such elegance," Han Yun continued, nodding toward her. "A beauty like this must attract all sorts of trouble when walking through the streets, I imagine?"
The young master nodded proudly. "Of course, which is why I never let her out of sight."
Han Yun chuckled knowingly. "A wise man. But even wiser is the one who comes prepared."
He reached into his robe and produced a talisman, fanned it out with a flick of his wrist like a master gambler showing a winning hand.
"Explosive talismans—middle grade. Slightly blemished in appearance, intentionally, of course, to prevent enemies from recognizing their value at first glance." He tapped the talisman. "Simple-looking. Deadly effective."
The girl leaned in with curiosity. The young man narrowed his eyes.
"Middle grade? Really?"
Han Yun nodded confidently while lying his ass off. "Crafted by a reclusive elder from the Western Sands Sect. I've only got a few. Normally, they'd go for one and a half middle-grade spirit stones each... but for you?" He leaned in slightly. "One stone each. Ten for ten. A special promotion for young lovebirds."
The young master blinked. "Promotion?"
Han Yun smiled. "Yes. Protection for the lady, prestige for the gentleman. A display of foresight and generosity. And," he added with a slight wink, "it might impress her more than another jade hairpin."
The girl giggled again, covering her mouth.
The young man hesitated only a moment longer before reaching into his sleeve and pulling out ten shining middle-grade spirit stones.
"Deal."
Han Yun bowed low, handed over the talismans, and accepted the stones with the reverence of a man receiving a sect inheritance.
"May they serve you well, Young Master. And may your relationship blossom with the grace of a thousand spirit blossoms."
As the couple walked off, Han Yun turned the corner and disappeared into the crowd, counting his stones one by one.
"Ten talismans. Ten middle-grade stones. No refund policy."
He grinned.
Today had been, without question, a success.
Han Yun walked the sunlit streets of Misty Spring City with a lightness in his step, his hands tucked casually behind his back and a grin playing at the edge of his lips. Ten middle-grade spirit stones sat quietly in his pouch—ten times what he started with this morning.
"One stone turned into ten…" he muttered to himself, almost in disbelief. "At this point, I might as well start teaching business at a sect."
He wandered through the marketplace, past vendors selling pills, weapons, beast hides, and more talismans he was now morally unqualified to judge. Children ran by, cultivators passed in flowing robes, and the scent of roasted spirit meat filled the air.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Han Yun didn't feel like background decoration. He had Qi in his body, coin in his pocket, and a grin that only a scammer could earn.
But his steps gradually took him away from the chaos of the market, toward the quieter edges of the city.
He was heading toward the outer district.
The part where banners flew above courtyards, training grounds echoed with shouts, and sect disciples came and went like characters entering and exiting a stage.
He'd been here before, back when he was just a walking skeleton in rags.
Back when he got kicked out so hard his soul nearly left his body.
But now?
Now he looked like a lean traveler. Maybe not powerful, but definitely not hopeless. And more importantly—he could cultivate now.
Sects, he thought to himself. They're not just about power.
They were a gateway.
To resources.
To techniques.
To recognition.
To connections.
And maybe, if fate was feeling spicy… to more Chosen Ones.
He glanced at the distant flags fluttering above training halls and courtyards, eyes narrowing with subtle calculation.
"Let's face it," he muttered, "in Xianxia, half the drama, power-ups, and life-changing events happen inside sects. If Ye Fan isn't the only protagonist on this star—and he isn't—then one of them is definitely holed up in some sects around here."
He straightened his robe, adjusted the pouch of talismans just in case, and exhaled.
"If I'm lucky… maybe I'll find my next jackpot."
And so Han Yun, the scammer with a dream and barely enough spiritual power to boil tea, walked confidently toward the very institutions that shaped fate in this world.
This time, he planned to walk through the front door.
Han Yun stood before the towering entrance gate of one of Misty Spring City's more prominent sects. The massive gate arched high above, carved from dark spiritwood, and etched with glowing gold characters that radiated pride, tradition, and more than a little drama.
[Everlasting Sun Sword Pavilion]
The characters shone brightly under the morning sun, practically screaming, "Only talented people may pass through these majestic doors."
Han Yun raised an eyebrow.
There were two sect guards posted by the entrance, both in crisp navy robes, swords at their waists, and expressions somewhere between bored and mildly constipated. Han Yun walked up casually, keeping his posture calm and humble—just a regular traveler with dreams of Qi and glory.
To his surprise, the guards didn't stop him. They glanced at him briefly and simply stepped aside with indifferent nods.
Apparently, he had finally evolved from "visible trash" to "harmless commoner."
"Progress, Indeed"
He walked through the outer gate and into a stone-paved courtyard with training platforms, pavilions, and disciples doing slow sword forms in the distance. The atmosphere practically buzzed with focused cultivation.
He approached the guards stationed further in and gave a polite clasp of his hands.
"Excuse me, seniors. I was wondering how one could apply to join the Everlasting Sun Sword Pavilion as a new disciple?"
One of the guards raised an eyebrow, then let out a short laugh—not mocking, just tired.
"You're a bit late," the man said, leaning on his spear. "We only open entry for new disciples once a year during the Spring Evaluation. That was two months ago."
Han Yun blinked. "Oh. Right."
The other guard chimed in. "You're not the first to ask lately. If you're serious about joining a sect soon, you might want to check with the Azure Mist Valley Sect or the Crimson Tide Blade Hall. They recruit more often. Not as big as this place, but good enough."
Han Yun nodded thoughtfully. "Understood. Thank you, seniors."
The guards offered brief nods, already turning their attention elsewhere.
Han Yun turned on his heel and casually walked out of the sect grounds, hands tucked behind his back.
"Well… that was unlucky."
Still, it wasn't a total loss.
At least he got some free info and wasn't immediately booted out. A clear sign he'd leveled up from "vagrant trash" to "disposable side character."
Now… time to visit these other sects.
And maybe just maybe he'd run into another walking cliché of a chosen one along the way.