1: Chapter 1 My dear master, I'll refine you into a furnace sooner or later!

Ohoho! Hand over your brains and let this seat smooth out those wrinkles for you~ Also, add this to your bookshelf so you don't lose it later!

Qingzhou, Hehuan Sect.

Inside a dilapidated wooden hut in the Outer Sect with drafts coming in from all sides.

Cao Kun looked at his own withered hands and muttered to himself.

"Only three months of Lifespan left..."

To his hollowed-out body, ordinary Spirit Medicine was no different from drinking plain water.

As for extending his life by achieving a Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage?

Heh, that was even more of a fool's dream.

In his current state, let alone Qi Induction.

Even walking a few extra steps required him to lean against the wall and rest for a long time.

Could it be that he transmigrated here without having done a damn thing,

Only to end this journey to another world so pathetically?

Cao Kun was unwilling.

The pent-up frustration churning in his chest caused a sickly flush to rise on his pale face.

If he hadn't fallen for the scheme of his dear Revered Master, Yu Linglong, how could he have ended up like this!

At the thought of that woman, Cao Kun's teeth itched with hatred.

Yu Linglong, an Inner Sect Elder of the Hehuan Sect, a Golden Core Stage Great Cultivator.

A famous beauty in the Qingzhou cultivation world, elegant and peerless, born with natural charm.

Back when he was still a little Genius in the Outer Sect, it was she who, with her Wisdom Eye, recognized his worth and took him under her wing as a Personal Disciple.

At that time, Cao Kun thought he was about to start a Heaven-Defying path, marry a Fairy, and reach the Peak of his life.

But what was the result?

He didn't reach the Peak of his life; instead, he was almost sent to the end of it.

Who could have imagined that the woman actually practiced an evil technique that forcibly absorbed the potential of others' Spiritual Roots!

In her eyes, his Top-grade Flame-Sun Spiritual Root was simply a walking, high-grade tonic.

Ninety-nine percent of his potential was sucked away, and his Foundation was completely destroyed.

His cultivation even plummeted from the Peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining down to the seventh level, and he was kicked back to this godforsaken place in the Outer Sect to wait for death.

The agonizing pain of having his spiritual power literally drained from his bone marrow still caused him to wake up from nightmares.

"Yu Linglong... my dear Revered Master..."

Cao Kun gritted his teeth, squeezing these words through the gaps.

"If I ever get another chance, I will definitely let you know the true meaning of Revered Master-disciple affection!"

"I'll have to turn the tables and give you a good training day and night!"

Just as he was acting ruthless and images that even censorship mosaics couldn't block flashed through his mind,

[Ding!]

[Detected that the host possesses an extremely strong Beast-Taming Talent, meeting the binding conditions.]

[Jade Beast Great Master System has been activated!]

[The host can obtain task points by binding, taming Jade Beasts, or completing System tasks!]

The mechanical voice that suddenly rang in his mind

Caused Cao Kun's half-dead heart to contract violently.

Systy?

Is that you, Systy?

You've finally arrived!

If you had come a few days later, you would've only been able to burn newspapers at my grave!

Cao Kun held onto the corner of the table, gasping for breath.

He was afraid that he might pass away from the excitement.

That would truly be the masterpiece of the year: the protagonist dies the second before the Golden Finger goes online.

Steadying his mind, Cao Kun whispered in his heart.

"Open the System panel."

A blue virtual light screen that only he could see unfolded before his eyes.

[Name: Cao Kun]

[Age: 99/100] (Critical!)

[Spiritual Root: Top-grade Flame-Sun Spiritual Root]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 7 (Foundation Damaged)]

[Number of Jade Beasts: 0]

[task points: 0]

Looking at the eye-catching "99/100" in the age column, Cao Kun's eyelids twitched wildly again.

This System really understands theatrical effects; it specifically marked the Lifespan in red, as if afraid I wouldn't realize I'm about to die.

And what on earth are Jade Beasts? What are task points?

So after all my effort, I just unlocked a whole lot of nothing?

[Ding! Detected that the host has activated the System for the first time, rewarding a First Recharge Gift Pack.]

[Open immediately?]

The electronic voice rang out in his mind again.

First Recharge Gift Pack?

There's such a good thing?

Cao Kun muttered to himself, this wouldn't be like a Pin-xi-xi price-slashing thing where you have to find eighty-one relatives to help you, only to be given a five-yuan coupon at the end, right?

"Open it! Now! Immediately! Right away!"

He couldn't care less now; whether it was a blessing or a curse, he had to try.

[First Recharge Gift Pack opened!]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining 1000 task points!]

[Hint: task points can be used to exchange for items in the Myriad Realms Mall!]

One thousand points!

Cao Kun's spirits were lifted, feeling like he could live again.

He immediately opened the Myriad Realms Mall, and the dazzling array of items almost blinded him.

Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, Talismans... everything was there.

Cao Kun was in no mood to look at anything else and directly typed "Longevity" into the filter bar.

The list refreshed.

[Ten-Year Lifespan Pill: 2000 task points]

[Hundred-Year Lifespan Fruit: 20000 task points]

[Thousand-Year Eternal Spring: 2000000 task points]

...

Cao Kun's gaze was fixed intently on the "Ten-Year Lifespan Pill" at the top.

Then he looked at his pitiful 1000 task points.

His mood instantly plummeted from the clouds to the bottom of the valley.

Half short.

Just half short!

Damn System! You're just dangling a carrot in front of me!

The path of directly exchanging for a Medicinal Pill was blocked.

Cao Kun didn't give up and could only think of another way.

Just then, the System's notification sound rang again.

[Ding! Detected a top-grade Spirit Beast approaching the host's location.]

[Newbie task has been activated!]

[Task: Successfully capture the Spirit Beast and become a qualified Jade Beast Great Master!]

[Difficulty Rank: Hell!]

Cao Kun frowned.

Top-grade Spirit Beast?

Hell difficulty?

This is a newbie task?

This is like throwing me directly in front of the final BOSS!

With his current pathetic state, let alone capturing a top-grade Spirit Beast,

Even a slightly fierce wild dog could have him for dinner.

Cao Kun seriously suspected this damn System was messing with him, thinking he wasn't dying fast enough and specifically sending a Spirit Beast to attend his funeral.

But on second thought, wealth is found in danger.

Since the System issued this task, it meant there was a possibility of completion.

This was his only chance to change his fate against the heavens; he couldn't just sit and wait for death.

Cao Kun's gaze turned back to the mall interface.

This time, he didn't look at those unattainable Lifespan pills but switched the category to the "Beast-Taming" column.

Soon, his eyes locked onto a certain Medicinal Pill.

[Soul-Tethering Spirit-Attracting Pill]

[Price: 1000 task points]

[Effect: The pill will emit a strange fragrance that possesses an irresistible attraction for Spirit Beasts.

When a Spirit Beast comes within three feet of the fragrance, its body will immediately stiffen and its spiritual power will stagnate, making it unable to move, attack, or escape for a short time.]

[Note: One-time consumable. Once the Spirit Beast consumes it, the capture is deemed successful. Ineffective against Spirit Beasts at the Nascent Soul Stage or above.]

Looking at the description of this pill, Cao Kun's heart couldn't help but race.

This effect... it was practically tailor-made for him!

Luring plus control, a complete all-in-one service.

And the price was exactly 1000 task points, squeezing every last bit of his assets dry.

Is the System hinting at something?

"Damn it!"

Cao Kun cursed under his breath, his eyes becoming fierce.

"I'm betting on it!"

Yu Linglong