Central State Holy Region, Taiyi True Sect.
Ning Fan woke up from the hard bed, his face filled with a sense of hopelessness.
He wasn't hit by a car, nor struck by lightning.
He just climbed Mount Tai, and suddenly found himself in another world.
That's right, a physical transmigration.
This realm is a fantasy world where mountains can be moved, seas filled, and stars plucked by hand.
The place he arrived at was an outer peak forest ocean called the Taiyi True Sect.
At that moment, Ning Fan, holding a freshly bought sausage in one hand and a bottle of soda in the other, looked bewildered at the grand and imposing mountain gate before him.
"Not bad! You, a mere mortal, managed to cross the boundless forest ocean and arrive at our sect's gate. It seems your heart directed towards the Dao is unbreakable. You're a good seedling, come, follow me into the sect."
Before Ning Fan could gather his thoughts, an elder guarding the mountain gate appeared, snatched the half-eaten sausage from his hand, and sincerely praised him.
And just like that, Ning Fan was muddled into the sect.
It was only much later that he learned the Taiyi True Sect was one of the top sects in this world, known for its principle of "teaching without discrimination."
It was a holy land that countless cultivators yearned for!
Apart from holding a disciple recruitment ceremony every ten years, the Taiyi True Sect usually remained hidden within the boundless forest ocean, extremely difficult to find.
However, if one's heart directed towards the Dao was firm enough to traverse the forest ocean and reach the mountain gate, they were considered fated and could be accepted into the sect.
***
After entering the sect, Ning Fan became an outer gate preparatory disciple according to the rules.
Only when he reached the first realm of the cultivation path, the "Body Tempering Realm," could he be promoted to a true outer gate disciple.
Unfortunately—
Ning Fan's body, which had been through the baptism of processed foods, was really not suitable for cultivation.
Half a year after joining the sect, he still hadn't stepped into the Body Tempering Realm.
However, he did manage to lose his belly fat, build a nice set of muscles, and even improve his looks quite a bit.
But the problem is... being handsome doesn't fill the stomach!
***
"My life is like walking on thin ice; can I still become a cultivator?"
Ning Fan sighed deeply, numbly getting out of bed.
After a simple wash, he went out to start his day of cultivation.
First, he went to the outer peak dining hall to buy a bowl of spirit rice porridge, then trained for two hours in the martial arts hall, and finally went to the quiet room to meditate and digest the day's gains.
This was his plain and simple daily life.
You could say it was predictable at a glance.
Yawning, Ning Fan walked listlessly towards the dining hall.
However, as his range of activity expanded, his expression grew more puzzled.
Today, the outer peak... was so quiet.
So quiet it was eerie.
At this time of day, the sect, spanning hundreds of miles with its towering peaks, would usually be bustling with noise.
The sound of sword energy slicing through the air, disciples shouting as they practiced, and the cries of spirit beasts would fill the air.
The seventy-two main peaks would be shrouded in mist, immortal cranes flying together, presenting a thriving immortal manor atmosphere.
But now.
The mist remained, the immortal palaces unchanged, yet all the sounds had vanished.
Not a single person in sight!
"What’s going on?" Ning Fan wondered, alarmed.
He quickened his pace, searching around.
However, whether it was the outer gate disciples' residences, the dining hall, or the martial arts hall...
They were all empty!
"Could it be... everyone has disappeared?"
With the situation clear, a terrifying thought emerged in Ning Fan's mind.
The Taiyi True Sect, this top sect that dominated the region.
From the Holy Sons and Holy Maidens high above the nine heavens, to the seventy-two true inheritors, the three thousand six hundred inner disciples, and the one hundred and twenty thousand outer disciples, all vanished!
The elders were nowhere to be seen either!
As expected, the entire sect was left with only Ning Fan as the sole living person.
[Ding! Strongest Self-Salvation System successfully bound!]
[Detected that the world the host is in will undergo a Great Catastrophe of Heaven and Earth in 1024 days, causing the tragic death of billions of beings. Only by reaching the Heavenly Venerable level can one have a slim chance of survival!]
[This system will fully assist the host in surviving the Great Catastrophe of Heaven and Earth!]
Just as Ning Fan was deep in thought, a cold mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
Listening to the introduction, Ning Fan was dumbfounded.
Good news, the system finally arrived.
Bad news, the world will fall into catastrophe in 1024 days!
Calculating it, that's roughly three years!
Ning Fan was stunned.
Then he thought of something even more absurd.
Could it be that the entire sect didn't disappear but ran away in advance?
Otherwise, it was hard to understand why such a large sect would be empty overnight.
"Damn it, if you were going to run, you could've taken me with you!"
At this moment, Ning Fan's heart was filled with turmoil.
He really wanted to shout out Uncle Da's classic line—I'm not on the bus yet!
"Relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself, luckily I have the system."
Coming back to his senses, Ning Fan shook his head and then asked:
"System, what functions do you have? Let me be clear, my modern body doesn't have much cultivation talent, if you rely on me, we're both doomed."
[Host, the main function of this system is to assist in cultivation, guiding the host step by step to become a strong cultivator!]
[Now issuing an entry-level guide, head to the sect's Scripture Library to check-in. This guiding quest is quite difficult, but upon completion, you will receive a reward of a ten thousand-fold increase in your innate talent!]
"How much?"
Ning Fan was shocked.
He didn't expect the system's reward to be so extravagant!
A ten thousand-fold increase in talent right off the bat!
As for the Scripture Library, he knew it was indeed a core area of the sect.
The sect rules clearly stated that outer gate disciples were not allowed to approach without reason.
Even inner gate disciples needed to apply in advance to enter.
As an outer gate preparatory disciple, he normally wouldn't have access to such a high-end place.
So the system's assessment of "this guiding quest is quite difficult" was reasonable.
"Alas, that was before, this is now. Although the Scripture Library is a core area of the Taiyi True Sect, for me now, it's just an uninhabited place!"
Ning Fan clasped his hands behind his back, speaking to himself.
Then he leaped into action, hurrying down the mountain.
***
Meanwhile.
Above the Taiyi True Sect, in the endless void.
A small world floated like a transparent bubble.
Inside the bubble, immortal mountains and pavilions stood, a miniature version of the Taiyi True Sect.
This place was called the "Taiyi True Ruins."
It was a spatial supreme treasure refined by the sect's ancestor, the Taiyi Daoist Venerable, in ancient times.
Within it was a secret realm with the ability of "Taiyi Returning to Truth, Illumination of the Mind."
Those within could see their true nature, greatly benefiting their cultivation and breakthroughs.
The ancestor decreed that the "Taiyi True Ruins" was the foundation of the sect.
Every ten years, the Taiyi True Sect must organize its disciples to enter and seek opportunities.
And it was this sect iron law that allowed countless disciples to be baptized within, enhancing their overall talent and strength over the long years from ancient times to the present.
Passed down through generations, the Taiyi True Sect not only didn't fade with time but grew more prosperous.
Ultimately becoming one of the top sects in this world.
Now, it was another ten-year period.
Within the "Taiyi True Ruins," numerous disciples gathered according to their status as outer or inner gate disciples, sitting from the outside to the inside.
The closer to the center, the more prestigious the position.
In the innermost circle were only the true inheritors, Holy Sons, the sect master, and many elders.
At this moment, these high-ranking members of the sect were all looking at each other, worry etched in their brows.
The sect master paced back and forth, sighing:
"We came in just fine, so why can't we get out now?!"
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan