Qingyun Sect, Jiang Country.
On the hazy white jade square, suffused with dense spiritual energy, hundreds of boys and girls sat cross-legged, motionless.
Their eyes were tightly shut, their faces bearing a variety of expressions—rage, fear, joy, and inconsolable sorrow.
"Hiss..."
Among the crowd, a soft groan escaped Lu Changsheng's lips. His eyes snapped open, and he instinctively clutched his forehead.
Deep within his mind, memories surged like a tidal wave, crashing into his consciousness.
With those memories came clarity.
Many of the doubts that had haunted him were answered in an instant—and his Dao Heart became firm.
He had been reborn into a world of martial arts and cultivation.
At the age of five, he had experienced his first awakening of memories. At the time, he believed he had been reincarnated.
But the dreams that followed caused him to question his very existence.
On the night of his fifth birthday, he had dreamed of his previous life. That alone made him believe he was reborn.
But since then, once every month, he would dream of a different life—mortal lives.
So far, he had lived through 156 different lives in various eras.
In some, he had been an Emperor, Scholar, Politician, Martial Artist, or General. In others, a beggar, an assassin, a merchant, a businessman, even a carpenter.
These heavy memories—filled with diverse roles—shook his sense of identity.
But today, he found his answer.
No matter how many lives he remembered or who he had been, from now on, he was Lu Changsheng.
Simple as that.
Yet often, the simplest truths are the hardest to accept.
It's like someone asking, "Why does one plus one equal two?" You may not explain it, but once you accept it, everything that follows becomes easier.
This moment of clarity had solidified his Dao Heart beyond measure.
Only now—during the fourth stage of the Qingyun Sect's entrance assessment, the Trial of Heart—had he let go of the burden in his heart.
"Someone awakened so quickly? Their Dao Heart must be top-tier!"
Not far away, several Qingyun Sect examiners looked at Lu Changsheng in surprise.
The Trial of Heart tested one's state of mind and inner will.
Lu Changsheng's awakening was thanks to his moment of realization—making him the first to emerge from the trial.
"Lu Changsheng. Ninth-grade spiritual root. Eighteen years old. What a pity."
"With a Dao Heart like that… if he had a seventh-grade root, even at his age, he'd be considered a good seedling."
"But with a ninth-grade root, no matter how firm the heart, the potential is limited."
The examiners shook their heads with regret as they reviewed his profile.
Lu Changsheng, of course, couldn't hear any of this. He remained immersed in the sea of his mind.
Because, along with the awakening of his memories, something else had arrived.
A system.
The long-awaited system most transmigrators received had finally emerged.
Its name was:
The Family Blessings System.
As its name suggested, the more offspring he had, the greater the blessings he would receive.
And these blessings weren't just abstract good fortune—but tangible benefits.
According to the system's interface, it currently offered two major effects:
Achievement Rewards: Whenever his offspring accomplished something significant, he would receive system rewards.
Inherited Talent and Comprehension: The talents and comprehension abilities of his wives, concubines, and even descendants would be multiplied onto him.
His family's talent—was his talent.
Their growth, his growth.
Even the talent of his grandchildren would stack and enhance his own capabilities.
"Isn't this basically a family-building simulator? Raise kids, nurture them, unlock achievements, and get rewards?"
"And with this... does it mean I can even improve my Spiritual Root? If my wives or children have high-grade talents and reach lofty realms, I can ride the wave all the way to immortality—while lying down!"
Excitement surged in his heart.
In this world, cultivation began with Spiritual Roots—and they were ranked from Ninth to First grade.
Grades 9–7 were considered low-grade.
Grades 6–4 were mid-grade.
Grades 3–1 were high-grade.
Beyond that were special types—like Earth Spirit Roots, Heavenly Spirit Roots, and unique mutated ones.
Lu Changsheng had only a Ninth-grade Spiritual Root—the lowest kind.
His chances of ever reaching immortality were close to none.
But now, with the Family Blessings System, he felt like there was a chance again.
As long as he worked hard to build a family, raise powerful descendants, and unlock achievements—he could succeed.
"Dad! Mom! Don't leave!"
"It's fake—it's all an illusion!"
"Hahaha! I did it! I became an immortal!"
"No… no, this is fake! Don't trick me!"
Around him, the others were slowly waking up from the Trial of Heart. Some screamed. Others wept. Their cries snapped Lu Changsheng out of his thoughts.
"Lu Changsheng, when did you wake up?"
Several voices rose beside him.
"I just woke up a while ago," Lu Changsheng said casually, turning to the two young men and three women nearby.
They were:
Hong Yi, 16, Eighth-grade root, son of a marquis.
Han Lin, 15, Seventh-grade root, born to a blacksmith.
Li Feiyu, 18, Seventh-grade root, vice leader of the Crimson Whale Gang.
Xiao Xiyue, 15, Fourth-grade root, daughter of a scholarly family.
Zhao Qingqing, 16, Sixth-grade root, daughter of a physician.
Like him, these five had been scouted by the secular branch of Qingyun Sect and brought in for assessment.
Though they had grown familiar with each other on the journey, it was more camaraderie in unfamiliar circumstances than deep friendship—except with Han Lin and Li Feiyu.
Han Lin, coming from a modest background like Lu Changsheng, got along with him well.
As for Li Feiyu—she and Lu Changsheng had once been lovers.
She was the daughter of a powerful gang leader, an innate realm martial artist. Lu Changsheng, leader of a group called "Dawn," was also at the great innate realm.
They had met while wandering the Jianghu.
"I seem to be the first one to wake up. I wonder if I'll be accepted by Qingyun Sect..."
Even with a system backing him, Lu Changsheng hoped to be accepted.
He was born a farmer. And though he had created Dawn through careful planning and gained a cultivation opportunity, the path ahead was harsh.
Without the support of a major sect, cultivation would be ten times harder.
In this world, cultivation required wealth, companions, techniques, and land.
All were essential.
Wealth—self-explanatory.
Companions—those who walked the path with you.
Techniques—profound teachings and cultivation methods.
Land—spiritual grounds with Spirit Veins and dense energy.
Without these, progress would be slow. Qingyun Sect offered all of them.
That's why so many longed to enter.
"Those whose names are called, step forward."
An elder from the Qingyun Sect floated into the air, holding a jade scroll, and began reading names.
"Zhu San, Xiao Yuan, Han Lin... Xiao Xiyue, Zhao Qingqing…"
As names were called, those selected lit up with joy.
Those not chosen stood in bitter silence.
"Is that it?"
Li Feiyu looked up with disbelief.
"How could my name not be on the list!?"
Hong Yi bit his lip, face pale.
He had a noble background. His family had used money and connections—but none of it mattered now.
Lu Changsheng's name also wasn't called.
He sighed.
Thanks to the system, the rejection didn't hit him too hard—but it still stung.
"The rest of you—leave the sect gate immediately."
The examiner spoke indifferently. Those selected floated away on clouds of mist.
The remaining hundreds wore expressions of despair.
"Once we step beyond these gates… immortals and mortals part ways."
As they descended the mountain, some wept openly. Most knew the road of a rogue cultivator was a cruel one.
Hong Yi stared longingly at the mountain shrouded in clouds.
He had once courted Xiao Xiyue on the journey.
But now, with her Fourth-grade Spiritual Root, she had entered the sect—becoming someone he could only admire from afar.
Even Han Lin and Zhao Qingqing—people he once looked down on—had now surpassed him.
"What should I do now?"
Lu Changsheng took one last look at the majestic gate and inhaled deeply.
Although he had a system, it wasn't easy to use.
It required time, money, wives, children—and lots of nurturing.
All of it took effort.
He was only a great innate realm martial artist. Against Qi Refining cultivators, he could only hold his own up to the seventh or eighth stage.
Without joining a major power, he needed to think hard about how to proceed.
Just then, as the rejected disciples descended the mountain…
A man dressed in fine green robes, in his thirties or forties, appeared ahead of them.
Smiling, he raised his voice:
"Esteemed young friends! The Lu Family of Qingzhu Mountain is currently seeking twenty sons-in-law. We offer access to Spiritual Vein Blessed Lands and cultivation manuals. Is anyone interested?"