Shen Yue stood in the shadowed cave, his breath still uneven from his ordeal. The path to immortality, once a distant dream, now felt tantalizingly close. As if answering his unspoken ambition, the system's voice rang in his mind, clear and resonant like a celestial bell tolling his destiny.
"[Due to advancement in the Qi Realm, the host has embarked on the Path of Immortal Journey.]"
Shen Yue's pulse quickened.
"[System updates applied. Stat function replaced with Spirit Energy. New functions unlocked: Clone Ability, Detection, Soul World. To view status, host must mentally summon specific system functions.]"
*So many new tools…* Shen Yue's mind raced with possibilities. This wasn't just progress—it was a transformation. His heart thrummed with anticipation, a spark of excitement igniting in his chest. "Let's see what's changed," he murmured, his voice barely audible in the damp cave.
Mentally, he called, "System Interface."
[System Interface]
Name:*Shen Yue
Age: 14
Bloodline:
- Mid-Level Flame Scorpion
- High-Level Raging Wind Royal Wolf (Rare) – 43%
Cultivation:
- Qi Realm – 1st Grade (0%)
- Beast Qi – 2nd Rank Beast
Skills:
- Literacy & Knowledge (Great Success) – 9%
- Calisthenics (Small Success) – 13%
- Hyper Sense – 42%
- Raging Wind Wolf Steps (Beginner) – 0%
Spiritual Core:
- Low-Level Fire (Mixed) – 13%
- Mid-Level Ice (Rare) – 0%
Talents
- Mid-Level Sword – 17%
- Low-Level Spear – 9%
- Low-Level Archery – 0%
- Mid-Level Insight – 0%
- Demonic Heart (Sealed) – 0%
**Unique Traits:**
- Clone: 0
- Soul World
- Detection
Spirit Energy: 3.7
Shen Yue's eyes gleamed as he scanned the interface. The streamlined layout was a stark improvement over the cluttered mess of before. "Finally organized," he said with a faint smile. "No more digging through endless details." Satisfaction warmed his chest, but his curiosity zeroed in on *Unique Traits*. *Soul World… what are you?*
He focused, mentally selecting the function.
"[Soul World: A unique dimension created by the system, accessible only to the host. No other being may enter without permission. Current size: 1000 square feet. The world expands with each soul extracted. Within, the host can access memories, learn skills, summon souls for questioning, and command their obedience.]"
Shen Yue's breath caught. *A world inside me… filled with the skills and memories of those I defeat?* The thought was both exhilarating and chilling. "This is beyond anything I imagined," he whispered, his voice tinged with awe and a flicker of unease. Such power felt godlike—too vast, too dangerous.
Without hesitation, he activated *Soul World*. A surreal sensation enveloped him, like his soul was gently untethering from his body. There was no pain, only a strange, tranquil weightlessness. His vision blurred, and when it cleared, he stood before a towering, ancient gate. Its dark surface pulsed with an eerie, timeless energy, as if carved from the bones of the cosmos itself.
The gate creaked open, revealing a mystical landscape bathed in faint, ethereal light. A straight path stretched before him, flanked by mist that shimmered like liquid starlight. Shen Yue took a cautious step forward, his heart pounding with a mix of wonder and trepidation.
Small, glowing pillars lined the path, their surfaces rippling with faint energy. Before he could question them, the system's *Detection* function hummed to life.
"[Pillars of Memory: These store the memories and skills of extracted souls. The host may touch them to learn skills, review memories, or summon souls. Summoned souls will obey all commands and answer any questions.]"
Shen Yue's lips parted in disbelief. "Insane," he muttered, his voice echoing softly in the strange realm. He walked forward, his footsteps muffled against the path's smooth surface. The pillars pulsed faintly, as if whispering secrets of the souls they held.
Then, one structure loomed ahead, halting his steps. A massive black pillar, nearly a thousand meters tall, towered over the others. At its peak, a heart-shaped statue glowed with a demonic crimson light, its aura heavy and malevolent. Shen Yue's instincts screamed, urging him to turn away. *That's… not something I'm ready for.* His gut churned, a primal warning of danger. The Demonic Heart's shadow lingered in his mind, its power both a gift and a lurking threat.
He shook his head. "Not now." His physical body was still in the cave, vulnerable. With a mental command, he withdrew from the Soul World. The same weightless sensation returned, and seconds later, he opened his eyes to the cave's damp air and faint mossy scent. His body was unharmed, his breath steadying. "Incredible," he whispered, a mix of relief and exhilaration washing over him.
Eager to explore further, he turned to the next function: *Clone Ability*.
"[Clone Function: Allows the host to create clones with defined personalities, talents, and abilities. Clones can be resurrected within 24 hours of death by expending Spirit Energy. First clone creation is free. Subsequent clones require increasing Spirit Energy.]"
Shen Yue's jaw tightened. "Resurrection? Custom personalities?" He let out a low chuckle, tinged with disbelief. "This is like playing god." The power felt intoxicating, yet a sliver of caution lingered. Such abilities could reshape his fate—or invite unforeseen consequences.
Before he could dwell on it, *Detection* activated again, unprompted.
"[Hidden information: Peng Lei carried a Space Bracelet with 100 square meters of storage.]"
Shen Yue froze, his eyes widening. "A *Space Bracelet*? 100 square meters?" His voice rose with incredulity. In Luoxing County, even sect elders coveted space items of 5 or 10 square meters. A 100-square-meter bracelet was a treasure fit for clan heirs or prodigies. "Where did that bastard get something like this?" he muttered, his mind spinning. Peng Lei's origins suddenly felt shrouded in mystery, a puzzle he couldn't yet solve.
He clenched his fists, a grin tugging at his lips. "Doesn't matter. It's mine now." With a mental command, he said, "System, extract."
"[System has absorbed 1000 square meters of space from the Space Bracelet.]"
Shen Yue blinked, then laughed, the sound echoing off the cave walls. "A thousand square meters? I outsmarted the system itself!" His cleverness thrilled him, but he quickly checked the *Talents* section to confirm his gains.
---
**Talents:**
- Mid-Level Sword – 17%
- Low-Level Spear – 9%
- Low-Level Archery – 0%
- Mid-Level Insight – 0%
- Demonic Heart (Sealed) – 0%
- Low-Level Space – 0%
---
His grin faltered. "Low-Level Space? For a 1000-square-meter bracelet?" He shook his head, chuckling bitterly. "Those 10-square-meter trinkets must be worthless to the system." The realization hit him: the *Divine Clone System* operated on a scale far beyond mortal standards. Its judgment was absolute, its power otherworldly.
He noticed the system had overlooked several items within the bracelet's space. *Sloppy,* he thought, but his amusement faded as he reflected on his journey. The memory of his helplessness against the Demonic Heart surged back—the suffocating fear, the searing pain, the crushing sense of worthlessness. His fists tightened, nails biting into his palms.
"Never again," he vowed, his voice low and fierce. "I'll become so powerful no one can look down on me. I'll protect my family, my loved ones. No one will ever humiliate them again." His eyes blazed with resolve. "And if anyone dares stand in my way, I'll crush them—body and soul. Their descendants will tremble at the name Shen Yue, a nightmare etched into their bloodlines."
He exhaled, his boiling emotions cooling into steely determination. The cave's silence pressed around him, broken only by the faint drip of water in the distance. He refocused, his mind sharp. "It's time," he said softly. "Time to create my first clone."
The system hummed, awaiting his command. Shen Yue's lips curved into a determined smile. This was his beginning—the first step on the Divine Clone Path. Power, immortality, vengeance—they were no longer dreams but promises he would carve into reality.
*But what secrets does this bracelet hide?* The thought lingered, a quiet warning of mysteries yet to unravel.
---
**[To be continued…]**