1: Chapter 1: The Test of a Useless Student, the System Awakens!

Taixuan Sect Outer Sect plaza, high noon.

Thousands of blue-robed Disciples stood solemnly on the plaza, silent, with only the faint sound of sleeves fluttering in the wind.

In the center of the plaza, that white jade high platform glinted coldly under the blazing sun, like frost or snow, but without any warmth; instead, it exuded a murderous intent that made one's heart turn cold at the sight.

The annual Outer Sect assessment began in such an atmosphere.

This was the day of judgment that decided resource allocation, status, and even whether one stayed or left.

For those whose cultivation had progressed, this was a moment of triumph; but for those with inadequate cultivation, it was a sharp blade hanging over their heads, liable to fall at any moment.

For Su Changge, today's high platform was his execution block.

He huddled in the furthest corner of the plaza, his figure thin, appearing exceptionally lonely and despondent compared to the spirited or anxious fellow Disciples around him.

His entire being seemed shrouded in an impenetrable haze; he even breathed cautiously, for fear of drawing more attention from others.

Three years, and still only at the Qi Refining First Layer.

Su Changge thought bitterly in his heart, his teeth clenched so hard they nearly shattered.

Three years ago, he was just an ordinary high school student on Blue Star; he woke up one day to find his soul had undergone a Transmigration into this body with the same name.

At that time, he was full of hope, thinking he was the child of destiny who would soon trample over Prodigies, sleep on the laps of beauties, and begin a legendary path of Cultivating immortality.

However, reality slapped him hard, knocking him from the clouds into the mud.

This body's Spiritual Root Aptitude was rotten to the core, arguably the trashiest of Trash.

Three years of hard Cultivation, day and night without ceasing, yet his cultivation showed not the slightest progress, stuck firmly at the Qi Refining First Layer.

Every time he meditated and breathed, the Spiritual Qi entering his body was like a clay ox entering the sea, unable to condense within his Meridians at all. While other Disciples could feel their True Qi grow after an hour of Cultivation, his body remained empty even after ten hours.

That invisible chasm lay before him; no matter how hard he worked, he could not cross it.

Looking across the entire Taixuan Sect, even the fire-tending servants had cultivation levels a few points stronger than his.

"Look, that 'connected guy' is here again."

Low whispers drifted from nearby, yet they pierced precisely into Su Changge's ears.

"Quiet! His parents were once great benefactors to the Sect," another person reminded, though no respect could be heard in their tone; instead, it held a hint of mockery.

"What great benefactor? When people die, the tea grows cold. I heard the Law Enforcement Elder spoke personally today—if he fails again, he has to pack his bags and get lost!"

"Serves him right! A pure piece of Trash, wasting the Sect's resources for three years for nothing."

"Do you think he'll cry on the spot?"

"Ha, that would be interesting."

The gazes from all directions were a mix of disdain, mockery, and schadenfreude, completely undisguised. These looks and words were like invisible mud, wrapping around him layer by layer, almost suffocating him.

Su Changge subconsciously clenched his fists, his nails sinking deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain.

This body's parents were originally Loose Cultivators. During a beast tide, they both perished in the mouths of Yao Beasts while saving a Sect Elder who was only a deacon at the time.

To repay the debt of saving his life, that Elder broke protocol and took the young boy into the Sect, giving him a place to settle down and make a living.

Unfortunately, three years ago, that Elder failed his attempt at Foundation Establishment and his Dao vanished as he died.

Su Changge's last protection vanished into thin air.

He became a well-known joke in the Taixuan Sect, a "connected guy" in name only, a loser everyone was waiting to see kicked off the mountain.

In these three years, he had endured too many cold shoulders and taunts, but he could only suffer in silence because he knew he had no capital to argue back.

"Silence!"

A voice exploded out of thin air, cold and devoid of emotion, piercing everyone's eardrums like ice.

A middle-aged man wearing black iron armor and a rigid expression stepped through the air, his figure steady and his Aura imposing.

He did not intentionally release pressure, but the heavy scent of Foundation Establishment Perfection weighed on every Disciple's heart, making the thousands of Qi Refining Disciples present catch their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Law Enforcement Elder, Wang Tiemian!

His gaze slowly swept across the field; wherever it passed, Disciples lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

Finally, that gaze, like an unsheathed sword, pinned itself straight onto Su Changge in the corner, sharp and cold.

"Su Changge!"

Wang Tiemian called him out directly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching every corner of the plaza.

"Sect rules: any Outer Sect Disciple who fails to reach the Qi Refining Second Layer after three consecutive years of assessment will have their status revoked and be expelled from the Sect."

"Today is your last chance."

"If you fail again, get off the mountain yourself."

Those cold words were the final judgment. Every word was like a heavy hammer, smashing into Su Changge's heart.

Shua!

Thousands of gazes from the entire field instantly focused on Su Changge alone. Some were gloating, some were cold observers, and some showed pity, but most were excited to watch the drama unfold.

It's over, completely over.

Su Changge's heart pounded wildly, his palms instantly soaked in cold sweat.

Wang Tiemian was famously impartial and firm, never showing favoritism. These words today were the final ultimatum. If he failed again, he would truly be expelled from the Sect.

Expelled from the Sect, with his Qi Refining First Layer cultivation, could he survive three days in this world of the strong preying on the weak? He probably wouldn't even last three days before becoming a ghost under the blade of a Yao Beast or another Cultivator.

Beg for mercy? Cling to someone's thigh?

But now, whose thigh could he cling to? That benefactor was long gone, and he was isolated and helpless in the Sect; even if he wanted to beg for mercy, he didn't know whom to ask.

Su Changge's mind was a mess, countless thoughts flashing by, but not one could save him from his predicament.

However, the expressionless face he had developed from years of being scolded and mocked by others became his final disguise. He even forced himself to slightly lift his chin, refusing to collapse under the mountain-like pressure and thousands of gazes.

At least, he couldn't let these people see him as a joke.

"Next, Su Changge, take the stage!"

The deacon Disciple's announcement rang out like a death warrant, echoing over the plaza.

Under countless mocking, sympathetic, and cold gazes, Su Changge took a step.

Every step was heavy and difficult. He walked step by step toward the high platform that would decide his fate, his back looking exceptionally lonely.

On the platform was embedded a head-sized pitch-black stone, its surface smooth as a mirror but exuding a cold Aura.

spirit measuring stone.

It could precisely measure the cultivation of a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator without the slightest error.

Su Changge stood before the spirit measuring stone, his heart filled with nothing but dead silence. He knew his cultivation hadn't progressed at all; this test was a dead end.

If I die, so be it; in eighteen years, I'll be another Transmigration hero!

He thought despondently, reaching out his hand, his fingertips trembling slightly as he slowly pressed toward the cold stone.

Just then—

At the very moment his palm made contact with the spirit measuring stone—

[Ding!]

A crisp, mechanical synthesized voice that did not belong to this world exploded in his mind!

[Host detected to be in a desperate situation, startup conditions met...]

[god-level special effects system, officially Awakening!]

[Binding Host... Binding successful!]

[Newbie Gift Pack being distributed... Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the passive effect: Myriad Laws Immunity (Pseudo)!]

[Effect has been automatically loaded for the Host!]

Su Changge's palm froze on the spirit measuring stone, his entire being struck as if by lightning, completely petrified.

Sys... System?

My Golden Finger?

You motherfucker... you're three whole years late!