I never expected a simple pendant to change my entire fate.
It was the night before everything went wrong. Rain lashed against the windows as Dad pressed the pendant into my hand. A jade-green stone, its surface etched with intricate lines that glowed faintly under the lightning.
"Take this," he said, his voice rough, as if he knew what was coming. "No matter what happens, this will protect you. And remember—your sister is your only family now. Look after her."
I promised. I always promised. But I never imagined that "what happens" would come so soon.
It happened on a cold winter night. My parents were returning from a business trip—Dad had insisted on driving despite the late hour. The roads were slick with black ice. A sudden swerve, a truck appearing out of nowhere, and then… darkness.
The police called it a tragic accident—no one's fault, they said. But I always blamed myself for not being there, for not telling them to take the train, for not being strong enough to stop the inevitable.
I was just a kid then. The pendant was all I had left—a final gift from Dad, a reminder of his promise.
---
After the funeral, it was just me and my sister. She was only a few years older, but she stepped into the role of parent without hesitation. She worked herself to the bone, taking care of me while balancing her own struggles. I tried to help, but deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was failing her.
Then came the second accident.
I was coming home from my part-time job, the pendant clutched tight around my neck. Another car, another flash of headlights—and then nothing.
---
When I opened my eyes again, the world had changed.
A screen hovered in front of me, glowing faintly like a hologram:
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ETERNAL PENDANT SYSTEM ACTIVATED ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ WELCOME, HOST. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
My heart raced. "What… what is this place?" I whispered, voice trembling. "Am I… dead?"
A mechanical voice, calm and emotionless, answered:
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ STATUS: DECEASED ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ CAUSE OF DEATH: VEHICULAR ACCIDENT ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ SOUL LINK DETECTED: FAMILY BOND WITH ║
║ SISTER IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITY VARIABLE ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ MISSION ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ 1. Achieve Level 7 Cultivation ║
║ • Each level contains 9 small tiers ║
║ 2. Earn the right to return to your ║
║ sister's side—or transcend fate ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SYSTEM FUNCTIONS ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ • Cultivation Path Guidance ║
║ • Skill Acquisition ║
║ • Resource Summoning ║
║ • Space-Time Manipulation (Progressive) ║
║ • Beginner Package Claim ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
A sudden warmth spread through my hand. The pendant glowed brighter than ever, filling me with a strange sense of hope.
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ BEGINNER PACKAGE CONTENTS ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ 1. Devouring Ability — Allows the user ║
║ to devour the cultivation experience,║
║ talents, and techniques of defeated ║
║ enemies or consumed treasures. ║
║ ⚠️ Use with caution—devouring ║
║ higher-level cultivators may be ║
║ dangerous! ║
║ 2. Starter Qi Pills x10 ║
║ 3. Basic Combat Technique ║
║ 4. System Guidebook ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
My hands trembled as I scrolled through the screen. "Devouring ability? Does that mean… I can grow stronger by devouring others?"
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SYSTEM RESPONSE ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ AFFIRMATIVE. ║
║ ⚠️ WARNING: The devouring ability is ║
║ considered a forbidden art by many ║
║ sects. Use discreetly. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
I clenched my fists. "If I'm dead, what will happen to my sister? She's all I have left. Will she be okay?"
The system paused, then answered:
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SYSTEM RESPONSE ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Her fate is uncertain without you. ║
║ But if you succeed in your mission, ║
║ you may return—and change her fate. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
Tears pricked at my eyes. Even in death, I couldn't abandon her.
"System," I said, my voice firm. "I'll do whatever it takes. I accept the challenge. Activate the beginner package."
The pendant's glow intensified, wrapping around me like a cocoon of light.
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ BEGINNER PACKAGE ACTIVATED ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Devouring Ability Unlocked ║
║ Starter Qi Pills Added to Inventory ║
║ Basic Combat Technique Added to Inventory║
║ System Guidebook Added to Inventory ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
A surge of power filled me—an unfamiliar energy that coursed through my veins. For the first time since the accident, I felt… alive.
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ WELCOME TO THE ETERNAL PENDANT ║
║ SYSTEM. ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Your journey to the Seventh Tier— ║
║ and beyond—begins now. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
---
🌌 End of Chapter 1