Chapter 117: First Sign-in In Another Universe

The next morning.Liam’s eyes snapped open the moment the first sliver of sunlight slipped past the curtains. He immediately swung his legs off the bed, as his body moved on instinct, with his mind already buzzing with anticipation.

Today wasn’t just another day. Today was the day.

He strode into the marble-lined bathroom of Bellemere Mansion and turned on the shower. And by the time he stepped out, toweling his hair dry, his heartbeat had already quickened.

Minutes later, dressed in a clean set of clothes, he picked up his phone and the Gear Glass from the nightstand. He slipped the sleek device onto his face and Lucy’s voice greeted him almost instantly.

"Good morning, sir," she said.

"Morning, Lucy," Liam greeted back with a smile, as he adjusted the device against his temple.

"You seem... excited. Is there an occasion today?" Lucy said, when she noticed how high the biological readings the device was feeding her was.

Liam chuckled but didn’t answer. His excitement was impossible to hide, but explaining it wouldn’t make sense to her. Lucy doesn’t know about the system and he doesn’t have any plan of telling her about it. At least in the meantime.

Liam inhaled deeply, then exhaled, forcing his emotions into calm order. His pulse immediately slowed and hhis mind steadied.

Only when he was certain his excitement was under control did he leave for the cultivation world.

***

Great Yan Empire

The familiar comfort of Bellemere Mansion dissolved, replaced by the elegant jade-carved interior of his VIP suite in the inn.

Outside the window, the world was draped in night. Stars glittered like scattered gems, and a silvery moon hung heavy above the plains.

"Night here, morning there. Almost like back on Earth," Liam smiled, taking in the contrast.

He quickly sat down on the silk-draped bed, and said the word he has been dying so much to say: "System, sign-in."

This was followed by a wave of system messages.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host, on your first sign-in in another universe.]

[You received 10,000 Gold Coins.]

[You received 20 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.]

[You received a Top-Grade Spirit Rank Sword: Silverleaf.]

[You received a Top-Grade Spirit Rank Protective Talisman.]

[You received a Top-Grade Spirit Rank Offensive Talisman.]

[Note: All items have been stored in the Dimensional Space.]

***

Liam’s lips parted slowly into a small smile. The smile stretched wider and wider until he chuckled aloud.

"Now that’s what I’m talking about."

Ten thousand gold coins. He didn’t even need to think about the system’s exchange rate as he knew it by heart: one gold coin equaled $1,000. That meant his reward alone translated to ten million dollars.

"10,000 gold coins... Not bad at all," he said to himself, with the bright sunny smile, still on his face.

According to the little he knew about this world’s economy, gold coins, even though they are not as valuable as spirit stones, they are still worth a lot, as it’s highest domination of mortal currency. And since this is a mortal world, it’s extremely valuable too.

With ten gold coins, an ordinary family without a cultivator or anyone actively increasing their strength would be considered to be wealthy. The same level as having $1m back on Earth.he lifeblood of cultivation," he whispered.

He had read about them endlessly in novels. Spirit stones that cultivators used as currency, as energy sources, as cultivation fuel. They were worth far more than gold. Because gold could buy things, but spirit stones... they could buy power itself.

He closed his eyes, focusing on the energy & Qi — within the stone. With his enhanced senses, he could feel that there was something inside.

"I’d love to try absorbing it right now... But I don’t even know how. And even if I did, I don’t have a spirit root, or talent, or physique. No technique either," he muttered.

It was frustrating. Here was the key to cultivation resting in his palm, and he couldn’t even turn the lock. He sighed, shaking his head.

"One step at a time. If the system gave me this, it’ll give me the rest when the time’s right."

He placed the stone back onto the pile, then reached for the sword.

The blade was long and elegant, its body gleaming with a faint green hue, like a leaf shimmering in sunlight. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a system panel appeared.

[Silverleaf: A sword that can cut through metal like metal.]

"Classic cliché. But a good one."Liam laughed.

He has read this description countless times. It was one of the most used clichè descriptions used in cultivation novels but it was also one of the welcomed clichès.

He swung the sword experimentally. The blade whispered through the air, so sharp it seemed to cut the silence itself. His grip adjusted automatically, his body moving with practiced familiarity.

Thanks to Eternal Realms, and the Formless Combat Doctrine skill, the weapon didn’t feel foreign. His footwork was balanced, his strikes fluid. Each motion felt natural, like an extension of himself.

"Perfect. Finally, a weapon worthy of this world," He said, as he lowered the sword with a satisfied nod.

This world’s artifacts, talisman, and formation ranking, starts from Spirit, Earth, Heaven and Immortal.

And each rank is further divided into low, mid, high and top.

There’s also Mortal Rank but it’s often overlooked because items in that rank are no different from ordinary items.

Next, Liam’s eyes drifted to the two yellow talismans laid side by side. Rectangular slips of paper, their surfaces etched with intricate runes.

He picked one up and instantly, another system message appeared.

[Protective Talisman: Can create a barrier that can defend against the full-force attack of someone at the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment realm.]

"That’s... serious," He whistled softly.

The other talisman revealed its secret just as easily.

[Offensive Talisman: Can unleash a sword attack equivalent to the full-force strike of someone at the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment realm.]

Liam stared at the descriptions, his eyes narrowing in thought. He didn’t know exactly how his current strength compared to the realms of cultivators. Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment — these terms were still just words to him. But the fact that these talismans could contend with cultivators far above common mortals was more than enough reassurance.

"These two... they’re lifesavers," he muttered to himself.

He laid the talismans and sword back onto the table, casting a final look at the treasures and let out a long breath, satisfaction flooding his chest.

"Not bad at all, system. Not bad at all. Thank you."

With that, he willed himself back to Earth.

***

Warm morning sunlight filtered through the curtains again through the curtains of his bedroom.

Liam stretched, rolling his shoulders as he smiled.

"Alright. Time to start the day. Breakfast should be ready soon."

He turned and made his way downstairs, with light footsteps.