1: Chapter 1: Eight Years of Transmigration in a Fantasy World, Humble as an Ant!

In a corner of the valley where Utility Disciples of the Tianyan Sect resided.

The afternoon sun should have been warm and gentle, but as it shone onto Chu Xiao's face through the sparse thatched roof, it only brought a lingering chill.

He sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, eyes tightly shut, struggling to circulate the pitifully thin Spiritual Qi within his body.

The Spiritual Qi was like a thin stream in a dried-up creek, laboriously washing through his clogged Meridians.

Every circulation cycle felt like a dull knife scraping against his bones; not only was it barely effective, but it also brought waves of soreness, numbness, and swelling pain.

"Huu..."

He let out a long breath of stale air, tinged with a sense of unwillingness and dejection.

Chu Xiao slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with disappointment, devoid of any vitality belonging to a young man.

It was entirely the air of an old man who had resigned himself to his fate.

Eight years!

He had been in this world for exactly eight years!

As a glorious transmigrator, he had originally thought that, just like in the novels, he would have a perfect start—exceptional Aptitude, possessing a System, from then on advancing triumphantly, surrounded by beauties, stepping on Prodigies, and eventually attaining immortality through the Dao.

But reality had slapped him hard in the face.

His body's Aptitude could be described as "abysmal," and even that would be an overstatement.

In these eight years, the Disciples who had joined at the same time, even the most mediocre in terms of Aptitude, had mostly broken through to the Late Stage of the Qi Refining Realm, and some had even successfully achieved Foundation Establishment and promoted to the inner Sect.

Yet he, Chu Xiao, after eight years of bitter cultivation and countless efforts, was still stuck at the awkward level of the fourth layer of Qi Refining, neither up nor down, becoming a laughingstock of the entire Tianyan Sect outer Sect.

Just yesterday, the outer Sect deacon issued an ultimatum: if he could not break through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining by the Sect's minor competition in one month, he would be told to pack up and get lost, expelled from the Sect.

One month, from the fourth layer to the eighth layer of Qi Refining?

Chu Xiao curled his lips in self-mockery, revealing a smile uglier than crying.

This was simply a fantasy.

With his snail-like cultivation speed, let alone one month, even if he were given another year, he might not be able to touch the threshold of the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

It seemed that his journey of Transmigration was destined to end as a joke.

He had already begun to seriously plan his life after being expelled from the Sect.

Should he go to the town at the foot of the mountain and become a blacksmith?

Or go be a bodyguard for a wealthy family?

With this meager cultivation of the fourth layer of Qi Refining, dealing with a few ordinary hooligans shouldn't be a problem; he could at least manage to earn a living.

It was just… he was unwilling to accept this.

Having come to this Xuanhuan world capable of flying through the sky and escaping into the earth, moving mountains and filling seas, yet ultimately ending up like a Mortal, exhausting his life in the mundane trivialities of daily existence—this was more painful than death.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Just as Chu Xiao felt utterly desolate, his dilapidated wooden door was gently knocked upon.

"Senior Brother Chu, are you there? I am Chen Xu, here to deliver this month's Medicinal Pill."

A slightly youthful voice came from outside the door.

Chu Xiao sighed, stood up from the prayer mat, stretched his somewhat stiff limbs, and went over to open the creaking wooden door.

Standing at the door was a youth wearing the clothing of a Tianyan Sect Outer Sect Disciple; he looked a few years younger than Chu Xiao, but his spirit and demeanor were completely different.

He stood tall and straight, his aura was steady, and his eyes were bright and spirited; clearly, his cultivation was not low.

"Junior Brother, thank you for your trouble."

Chu Xiao responded listlessly, reaching out to take the small porcelain bottle he handed over.

Seeing Chu Xiao's decadent appearance, a trace of sympathy flashed in Chen Xu's eyes, but he still politely said: "Senior Brother Chu, you are too kind; this is all part of my duty. Senior Brother must step up your Cultivation; what the Deacon said…"

He did not continue, but the meaning was already very clear.

Chu Xiao smiled bitterly in his heart, but his face remained expressionless, only nodding: "I understand."

The moment his gaze landed on Chen Xu, a sudden change occurred!

Before Chu Xiao's eyes, without any warning, a semi-transparent azure light screen appeared out of thin air, like a floating panel that only he could see.

On the light screen, several lines of strange text were shining brightly.

[Name: Chen Xu]

[Realm: Sixth Layer of Qi Refining]

[Fate: Mediocre]

[Recent Opportunity: At dusk, in a hidden rock crevice at the southern foot of Wuyue Mountain, he will accidentally discover a Vein-Cleansing Pill left behind by a predecessor. After taking it, it will help him break through the Bottleneck in one go and advance to the seventh layer of Qi Refining.]

"!!!"

Chu Xiao's brain buzzed, as if a thunderclap had exploded, and his whole person froze on the spot.

He blinked hard, then rubbed his eyes vigorously, thinking that he had made a mistake in his Cultivation and was hallucinating.

But when he opened his eyes again, that azure light screen was still clearly floating above Chen Xu's head, and every word on it could be seen clearly.

Chen Xu? Sixth layer of Qi Refining?

Dusk... Wuyue Mountain... Vein-Cleansing Pill?!

This... what is this?

Just as Chu Xiao's mind was shaken, almost unable to think, a cold, synthesized electronic voice rang out deep in his mind.

[Ding! Detected the host's strong unwillingness and will to survive, meeting the conditions for System binding.]

["Opportunity Plunder System" is binding... 10%... 50%... 99%...]

[Ding! Binding successful!]

System?!

Chu Xiao's breathing stopped instantly, his heart pounding wildly.

Golden Finger!

The Golden Finger that had been late for a full eight years had finally arrived!

Eight years! Do you know how I have spent these eight years!

The oppression, pain, and despair of the past eight years were transformed into sheer ecstasy at this moment.

He could barely control himself, looking up to the sky and letting out a hearty, unrestrained laugh.

"Senior Brother Chu? Senior Brother Chu? What is wrong with you?"

Chen Xu watched as Chu Xiao stood dumbfounded, his face turning green and white, his expression extremely strange, and couldn't help but ask with some concern.

"Ah? Oh, it's nothing, nothing."

Chu Xiao suddenly snapped back to his senses, took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the raging waves in his heart, and squeezed out a stiff smile: "Thank you, Junior Brother, I... I was just thinking about some problems with my Cultivation and got distracted for a moment."

"I see."

Chen Xu did not doubt him, only kindly reminding him: "Senior Brother, do not get stuck in a rut; the path of Cultivation sometimes requires a balance of tension and relaxation. I still have tasks to attend to, so I will take my leave."

"Alright, Junior Brother, take care."

Chu Xiao almost impatiently sent Chen Xu out the door, then with a "bang," closed the door, his back tightly pressed against the door panel, gasping for breath.

Quiet.

The whole world seemed to have quieted down, leaving only the sound of his "thumping" heart.

After the ecstasy, he immediately thought in his heart: "System, introduce your functions."

[Ding! This System is fully named: Opportunity Interception System.]

The cold mechanical voice rang out again, explaining to him in detail.

[Function 1: Insight into Heavenly Secrets. The host can view the Opportunities that others will soon obtain.]

[Function 2: Plunder Opportunity. The host can use various methods to seize the Opportunity before the original owner.]

[Function 3: Opportunity Return: After the host successfully plunders an Opportunity, there will be a certain chance to trigger an Opportunity Return reward, with reward multipliers ranging from two times to ten thousand times, all depending on the host's luck.]

After hearing the System's introduction, Chu Xiao's eyes became brighter and brighter.

Finally, in those eyes that had been dead silent for eight years, an unprecedented, brilliant light burst forth.

Insight into Heavenly Secrets, Plunder Opportunity, Opportunity Return!

This System is simply unreasonably overbearing!

Others' Opportunities are my Opportunities!

After snatching them, I can also get a reward of up to ten thousand times the Opportunity Return!

What a Heaven-Defying ability this is!

His gaze fell once again on Chen Xu's information from earlier.

[Recent Opportunity: At dusk, in a hidden rock crevice at the southern foot of Wuyue Mountain, he will accidentally discover a Vein-Cleansing Pill left behind by a predecessor...]

Vein-Cleansing Pill!

Chu Xiao was all too familiar with this name.

That was not some trash Medicinal Pill like the one in his hand that could barely replenish blood and Qi, but a Rank 2 Spirit Pill capable of cleansing the Meridians and marrow, widening the Meridians, and assisting a Martial Artist in breaking through a Realm Bottleneck!

A single Vein-Cleansing Pill, in the Sect's Exchange Hall, required at least over a hundred contribution points, and it was often in a state of being unavailable even if one had the money, far from something an Outer Sect Disciple at the bottom like him could touch.

If Chen Xu obtained this Vein-Cleansing Pill, he would be able to smoothly break through from the sixth layer to the seventh layer of Qi Refining.

Then what if... this Medicinal Pill was obtained by himself?

He was currently at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, his Foundation far less solid than Chen Xu's; with a Vein-Cleansing Pill in his stomach, the immense medicinal power contained within would be enough to let him break through two or three barriers in a row, rushing directly to the sixth or even seventh layer of Qi Refining!

This was just the original medicinal effect!

What if... what if he triggered the Opportunity Return?

Even if it was just the lowest level two-times return!

That would still be two Vein-Cleansing Pills!

What about a ten-times return? A hundred-times return?

Even... a ten-thousand-times return!

That would be ten thousand Vein-Cleansing Pills!

Thinking of this, Chu Xiao's breathing became rapid.

Break through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining within a month?

Is that even an issue!

The ultimatum to get lost that had originally weighed on his heart and made him unable to breathe, now seemed, it didn't seem so difficult after all!

Eight years of effort and sweat!

Isn't this easily achievable!

"Chen Xu... my good Junior Brother, I am truly sorry."

A cackling laughter came from Chu Xiao's mouth: "Your Opportunity, Senior Brother... I will gratefully accept it!"

He no longer had any hesitation.

This world was originally one of the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak and the fittest survive.

He had been a weakling for eight years, suffering all kinds of cold looks and mockery, and he had long since had enough of that feeling.

Now that he had the capital to turn things around, he would absolutely not have even a shred of mercy.

If a man does not look out for himself, heaven and earth will destroy him!

Chu Xiao quickly stuffed the bottle of inferior Blood-Qi Pills into his bosom, and pulled out a rusty iron sword from under the bed—this was his only weapon.

Then, he pushed open the door and looked up at the sky.

The setting sun was slanting west, and the clouds on the horizon had been dyed a brilliant orange-red.

Dusk, it was about time now.

He must arrive at the southern foot of Wuyue Mountain before Chen Xu!

Without a moment's delay, Chu Xiao's figure turned into a breeze, rushing out of his dilapidated courtyard, and sped toward the direction of Wuyue Mountain.

The eight years of repression and lying dormant were all transformed into unstoppable momentum at this moment.