Lin Feng's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. His heart pounded in his chest, the remnants of fear and confusion still clinging to him. The unfamiliar room, the strange body, and the voice echoing in his mind—it was too much to process at once. But the reality was clear.
He was no longer on Earth. Somehow, he had been transported to a new world. The voice in his head, the Divine Path System, seemed to be his only guide.
"Survive the next 24 hours…" he muttered, repeating the system's message. It was a simple enough quest, but his instincts told him that the situation wouldn't be that easy.
As he stood up, the strange new body felt surprisingly agile, as though it had been made for movement. He stretched his arms and legs, feeling the strength coursing through them. Despite the initial shock, there was an undeniable sense of power building within him.
The room was simple, furnished with a wooden bed, a small desk, a chair, and shelves filled with what appeared to be scrolls and books. There was a window, though it was covered by a thin cloth, letting in little light. Lin Feng walked over to it, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar landscape outside.
The air was dry, and the land stretched out before him like an endless wilderness, with tall trees dotting the horizon. In the distance, a mountain range loomed, mist curling around the peaks. The scenery was both beautiful and intimidating. This was no place like Earth—this was a world where nature itself seemed more alive, more vibrant.
Lin Feng turned back to the bed, trying to calm his racing thoughts. The old man, the stab wound, the voice, the system—he needed to make sense of it all.
The voice spoke again, as if reading his mind.
[Ding! Quest Updated: Assess the situation and begin learning about your surroundings.]
"Assess the situation?" Lin Feng echoed, half in disbelief. "How am I supposed to do that?"
The voice responded without hesitation.
[The Divine Path System is equipped to assist in your quest. You may now scan your surroundings for useful information. Would you like to begin?]
Lin Feng hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, begin the scan."
Suddenly, a blue holographic screen appeared in front of his eyes, the letters glowing faintly. It displayed a list of options, all foreign to him:
• Scan Body
• Scan Environment
• Scan Memory
• Scan for Resources
His finger hovered over the options, uncertain. Then he selected Scan Body. The screen flickered, and a detailed readout appeared, revealing the current state of his new vessel.
Host: Lin Feng
Body: External Disciple of the Azure Sky Sect
Age: 16
Cultivation: None
Health: 95%
Physical Status: Optimal
Abilities: None
That was all. Lin Feng's brows furrowed as he processed the information. A disciple? Of the Azure Sky Sect? What was that? He had no memory of any such sect, nor of anything that would suggest he was a part of some kind of spiritual or martial arts order.
He selected Scan Environment, hoping for more clues. The screen updated almost immediately, revealing more details about his surroundings.
Room: Simple wooden hut, part of the Azure Sky Sect's outer disciple dormitory
Nearby: Azure Sky Sect Outer Disciple Training Grounds (5 miles away)
Warning: Host is located in a restricted area. Presence of hostile forces detected.
The last part made Lin Feng's blood run cold. Hostile forces? Was he already in danger?
He turned toward the door of the room, then froze as he heard a voice outside. A pair of heavy footsteps approached, growing louder by the second.
"Who's in there?" a gruff voice called out from the other side of the door. "You better not be causing trouble!"
Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. He had no idea who or what was out there, but the last thing he wanted was to draw attention. He quickly scanned the room for anything useful. On the desk, he spotted a short sword—a simple weapon, but it would have to do. He grabbed it and hid it behind his back, trying to remain as still and quiet as possible.
The footsteps stopped just outside his door.
The voice called again. "I said, who's in there?"
Lin Feng's mind raced. He could fight if he had to, but he wasn't even sure of his own abilities in this new body. What if he wasn't strong enough? What if he was just a target?
Taking a deep breath, he walked slowly toward the door, his hand gripping the sword tightly.
He reached the door and opened it just a crack.
A tall man, dressed in a simple robe, stood on the other side. He was younger than Lin Feng had expected, with dark, sharp eyes and an air of authority. His gaze shifted over Lin Feng, then narrowed.
"You're new here," the man said, his tone more curious than hostile. "I don't recognize you. What's your name?"
Lin Feng hesitated, his mind racing. He had no idea who this person was, or what kind of place this was. But he knew one thing—he needed to blend in, to not draw attention.
"Lin Feng," he said, trying to sound confident. "I was just… resting."
The man's eyes flickered with suspicion, but then he seemed to relax slightly. "Resting? You're not supposed to be here, you know. This is a restricted area. If you're an outer disciple, you're supposed to be at the training grounds."
Training grounds? So the system wasn't lying. This place was some kind of sect, and he was part of it.
"I didn't know," Lin Feng said, trying to sound genuine. "I must've gotten lost."
The man eyed him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Well, don't make a habit of it. Get to the training grounds. You'll need to prove yourself if you want to stay here."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Lin Feng standing in the doorway, his heart still pounding.
The danger hadn't passed. If anything, it had only just begun.
Lin Feng closed the door behind him and let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. The training grounds—he had to go there. It was the only way he would find answers.
"Looks like my survival depends on this sect," he muttered under his breath. "Let's see what this world has to offer."