Volume One: Small Town Turmoil Chapter Fifteen: Awakening the System

Can’t you just explain things clearly all at once? This rollercoaster of emotions is really unpleasant, Zhang Heng complained helplessly.

At last, after so much effort, after all those sacrifices, can I finally begin my cultivation?

As for the next realm, it still needs to be filled up (such filthy words weren’t mine). Ah, I’ll take things one step at a time.

Zhang Heng wanted to kneel once more to express his gratitude, but Qian Muyun reached out, dragging him up from afar.

With a face full of disdain, she said, “Little brother, you’re really pragmatic.”

Zhang Heng could only scratch his head and smile awkwardly. “This matter concerns my destiny, so I take it very seriously. Please forgive me for making you laugh, elder sister.”

“Since this is settled, Qingxue, let’s go,” Qian Muyun turned to Murong Qingxue.

Murong Qingxue nodded slightly. “Yes, Master.”

With that, the two departed.

Zhang Heng had wanted to ask them to stay. After all, the longer he spent with Qian Muyun, the closer he might become to someone so powerful. But her decisive actions left him no chance to speak, and she whisked Murong Qingxue away. They were probably already at the Murong estate by now.

Never mind, there’s plenty of time in the future. As long as I can cultivate, everything else can be resolved.

“Young master, young master! That person just now was incredible! She could traverse the void—that’s a divine power only possessed by super experts of the Heavenly Origin Realm!” Xiao Hong, who had just returned from outside, spoke with awe after Qian Muyun and Murong Qingxue vanished. Seeing Zhang Heng and the others gone, the little girl had gone out to purchase ingredients.

As Xiao Hong ran toward him, Zhang Heng felt embarrassed. He had been so focused on pleasing Murong Qingxue and her master that he’d neglected this adorable little girl. That was shameful—he would have to treat everyone with equal kindness in the future.

He reached out and gently pinched Xiao Hong’s cheek, speaking tenderly, “Little one, you’ve suffered a lot following me all these years, but that’s over now. Today, I’ve received a great fortune—I can finally cultivate. No one will bully us again.”

Zhang Heng knew that ever since Zhang Qingyu and his wife had left, it was Xiao Hong alone who had taken care of the previous Zhang Heng.

Xiao Hong’s cheeks flushed, and when she heard Zhang Heng say he could start cultivating, two tears slipped quietly from the corners of her eyes as she spoke with a choked voice, “Really? Young master, you can cultivate? That’s wonderful, truly wonderful. You’re such a good person, but Heaven has been unjust, forcing you to grow up amid ridicule and cold stares.”

She forced a smile and continued, “Now things are better. Heaven has finally opened its eyes. Young master, you can cultivate and won’t have to endure others’ scorn anymore. Master and Madam, wherever they are, must be happy for you too!”

After Zhang Qingyu and his wife left, because Zhang Heng lacked talent for cultivation, the Zhang family gradually neglected them, driving them from the main manor to this place, and giving them only a few jade stones each month—barely enough for daily expenses.

For three years, Xiao Hong cared for the young master who could not cultivate, and fought for a sliver of hope amid exclusion from their kin. To be less bullied, she desperately trained—without resources, guidance, or talent, she managed to reach the third stage of body refinement in just three years. Only she knew how hard it had been; after all, she was just a teenage girl.

Zhang Heng pulled the sobbing girl into his arms and thought to himself,

I, Zhang Heng, came from another world. In this strange land, you are the one who has treated me best. If I’d never been able to cultivate, so be it. But now, with strength, if anyone dares bully you in the future, I will slaughter their entire clan…

After a long while, Zhang Heng released her.

“All right, little one. If you keep crying, you won’t look pretty. Besides, I have to start my cultivation now,” Zhang Heng said gently.

In his previous life, it seemed as if fate had cursed him. Aside from Old Zhang, the scavenger, no one had ever cared for him. After Old Zhang passed away, Zhang Heng had never again felt the warmth of being cared for.

“Young master, you must be hungry. I’ll go prepare a meal for you—eat first, cultivation can wait,” Xiao Hong wiped her tears and said happily.

As long as Zhang Heng could cultivate, then even if the Zhang family didn’t value him, his status would improve, Xiao Hong thought.

A short while later, after eating his fill, Zhang Heng sat upright on his bed. Beside him lay a book titled “Body Refinement Manual,” an introductory text for body refinement. He guessed that after reaching the Clear Spirit Realm, he’d need to switch to the “Clear Spirit Manual.”

As for the naming conventions in this world, Zhang Heng had grown numb to them.

A brand new world—Zhang Heng has arrived.

Calming his excitement, Zhang Heng picked up the manual.

After a while, he had memorized the method for guiding qi. He sat cross-legged, hands resting on his knees, relaxed, and silently recited the guiding formula.

According to the descriptions in novels, one’s first cultivation session should take a long time, maybe even yield no results. But Zhang Heng wasn’t worried—he had plenty of time.

Yet, after only about ten seconds, he distinctly felt the air around him change. Threads of spiritual energy appeared, enveloping his skin. This energy seemed to have a weak suction, constantly pulling at his skin.

The sensation was fascinating.

Soon, the spiritual energy dissipated, and a layer of grime appeared on the surface of his skin. It must be the spiritual energy detoxifying him.

Zhang Heng was baffled—what was happening? Had he succeeded?

Others took months to reach the first stage of body refinement, but he—ten seconds?

Ha! Turns out I really am a cultivation prodigy. That fits the profile of a transmigrator.

Just as Zhang Heng was preparing to try again—

Beep, beep, beep. Congratulations, Host, you have advanced to the first stage of body refinement. The Super Patron System is now activated.

Hmm, an electronic mechanical voice. Zhang Heng was stunned. “A system?”

Beep. This system is custom-designed for the host, assisting you to defeat saints, marry saintesses, and quickly ascend to the pinnacle of life.

Damn, it even knows my wishes so clearly—it really is tailor-made for me.

System genre? Not bad, not bad. Among the cheat codes for transmigrators, this is one of the most user-friendly.

But what’s with this “Super Patron” thing? It sounds so bizarre. No wonder other systems go ‘ding ding ding,’ while yours is ‘beep beep beep.’

Beep. The Super Patron System, as the name suggests, the primary function is to help the host successfully latch onto the major figures of this world.

“Why is it that I haven’t spoken, yet you know what I’m thinking?” Zhang Heng asked in confusion.

Beep. This system resides in the host’s mind, so naturally, it knows the host’s thoughts.

So that means we can communicate mentally from now on?

Beep. Yes.

Damn, then I won’t be able to fantasize in my mind anymore…