Back in the quiet of his room, Chen Xuan couldn’t help but shake his head.

’It seems a tragic backstory isn’t enough to make one a Destined Protagonist. Perhaps they need other, less noticeable traits,’ he mused, recalling the system panel he had just closed.

...

[Name: Chi Yao]

[Physique: Mortal Body (Low-Grade)]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining (Late)]

[Technique: Basic Water Control Art (1st Level)]

[Talent Rating: 1 Star]

[Evaluation: The target’s talent is woefully inadequate! Accepting them as a disciple is heavily discouraged!]

[Secrets: An ordinary, low-tier cultivator with a tragic past. No hidden potential detected.]

...

Looking at the evaluation, Chen Xuan felt a wave of disappointment.

A cultivator with a destroyed hometown, mourning her parents’ death, and living only by a stroke of luck.

Such a story was practically the blueprint of a legendary epic.

Of course, such a tale would normally include future events, such as the awakening of a dormant Physique, a meteoric rise through the cultivation realms, and a bloody revenge against the culprits.

’Unfortunately, Chi Yao lacks the potential to do this.’

No matter how much hatred she harbored, her meager talent doomed those ambitions from the very start.

With a sigh, Chen Xuan pushed this matter aside.

He had merely brought her back to the mine out of a sudden impulse. Whatever she chose to do now was her own concern, and he would not interfere.

His mind soon drifted back to the demonic raid on the Spirit Stone mine. Specifically, to the warning Luan Yi had sent via Luan Langyi.

’Luan Yi’s status in the demonic faction is comparable to Qian Lingxue’s in the righteous path,’ Chen Xuan thought before correcting himself.

’No. Since Qian Lingxue has been concealing her true strength, Luan Yi’s status is significantly higher, more akin to an ancestor of a righteous sect.’

’If even she claims the demonic faction’s ambitions are too grand and she can’t guarantee my safety...’

Chen Xuan’s expression grew grim.

The memory of the razed border cities resurfaced in his mind.

The ruins, the blood, and the mountains of corpses.

For a moment, he wondered how he would react if such a thing happened to the Jade Pure Sect.

He knew his own nature. He certainly felt a sense of belonging to the sect, but he would always choose survival if the sect’s doom was certain.

However, would those close to him make the same choice?

Su Ying and Huo Ling’er surely would.

But would Qian Lingxue and Tang Yuechen really abandon the place where they had lived for centuries just to flee with him?

Chen Xuan shook his head, knowing the chances were slim.

And that was just the Jade Pure Sect.

His companions spread across the entire Tianxuan Domain. If the domain descended into total chaos, many of them would likely perish.

’This is why I have to increase my strength...’

’My peaceful life was only disturbed because I lack power,’ Chen Xuan thought, clenching his fists.

’If I were a Soul Transformation expert or even stronger, why would I fear the demonic faction? I wouldn’t even need to act. Just by showing my strength, I would suppress all dissent.’

Realizing this, Chen Xuan ran through every possible method he had to grow stronger quickly.

His first thought was to rely on the System.

Unfortunately, Huo Ling’er required a certain opportunity to break through the Foundation Establishment realm.

As for recruiting new disciples, it was entirely a matter of luck.

He had used Heavenly Insight Eye thousands of times, yet he had found no one who satisfied the System’s absurd requirements.

’It seems that I can only rely on this...’

He exhaled slowly, pulling out the item Mu Xuanyin had left to Qian Lingxue, which eventually arrived in his hands.

It was a small, fist-sized rock.

It possessed no outstanding aura and seemed to hold no functional value.

If one had to say, its only remarkable feature was its beautiful appearance. A rainbow-colored sheen covered its surface, absorbing all light and shimmering with an elegant glint.

To anyone else, it was just a beautiful trinket. But to Chen Xuan, it triggered a flood of almost-forgotten memories.

--

Although Chen Xuan now dealt with cultivators daily, they were far from common.

In fact, most mortals would never encounter a single one in their entire lives.

Chen Xuan had been no different when he first transmigrated to this world. As an ordinary mortal, he had no connection to any sect or to any cultivator.

But having the memories of Earth and listening to the legends of immortals, he became determined to become one from the very first day.

As such, he had embarked on a grueling journey, hoping to meet a cultivator who would accept him as their disciple.

Dangerous forests, areas where cultivator sightings had been reported, even rumored ghost towns... Whatever place was extraordinary, Chen Xuan had visited it.

Yet, despite months of trying, he had failed to find a single lead.

Until a fateful day, when a beautiful accident occurred.

--

Many mortal men dreamed of stumbling upon a bathing fairy. The story of a mortal man encountering a fairy and soaring to the Immortal Realm was a classic legend in the cultivation world.

Yet for Chen Xuan, who had the luck to experience this event, that encounter was the start of a nightmare.

Looking down at the colorful river where he and Mu Xuanyin first met, and where his Master’s naked body had been revealed to him, Chen Xuan didn’t feel any joy.

Instead, he gritted his teeth, full of fury.

’Damn it! Old hag, you tricked me!’

’You’re a powerful cultivator beyond the Nascent Soul realm! How could I, a mere mortal at the time, possibly catch you bathing and peep at you?!’

Recalling how Mu Xuanyin had displayed terrifying killing intent at the time, only willing to spare his life if he agreed to become her disciple, Chen Xuan cursed her ancestors.

’That woman must have planned the whole thing! Had she been thirsting over my body since then?!’

’Being too handsome and outstanding its truly a curse!’