Chapter 1: I

“Thirty days of hard work, a lifetime of happiness!”

“Strive for the Immortal Exam, live without regrets; conquer the Immortal Exam, pursue excellence!”

“Roam freely across the Nine Continents and Four Seas, master the Three Methods and Two Scriptures, your entire future begins here!”

“…”

Posters of Immortal Exam slogans were plastered everywhere in Nanshan No. 4 High School, and the tense atmosphere of the exam had clearly affected everyone on campus.

Not just the students—even their homeroom teacher was no exception.

At this moment, Li Xiang, homeroom teacher of Class 10, Grade 3, was lecturing his students with earnest persistence:

“Less than a month until the Immortal Exam—look at yourselves, do you even look like Immortal Exam candidates?”

“Some of you, don’t think you can’t get into the Dao Academy and just give up!”

“Even if you only excel in the written exam, you still have a chance to enter the Dao Academy.”

“Do you really want to spend your eighties watching your classmates remain eternally youthful, achieving immortality…”

Lin Mo reached out and wiped the saliva off his face, then looked up at his increasingly animated homeroom teacher, lips parting but words unspoken.

He silently opened his [Plum Blossom Divination: Required Textbook II], stood it upright to block Li Ban’s verbal barrage, and sighed inwardly.

Achieve immortality, eternal youth…

Those eight characters would have been fatally alluring to him when he first transmigrated.

Unfortunately, he had already lived eighteen years in this world, long since lost all hope for such vague, elusive things as “seeking the Dao and immortality.”

It’s not that “seeking the Dao and immortality” doesn’t exist.

On the contrary.

Ever since a thousand years ago, the xianxia game “After Honghuang” merged with the reality of Planet Diyuan.

In the Nine Continents, immortals were no longer legends or tales—they existed in truth.

In just a thousand years, Planet Diyuan became a world where technology and cultivation coexisted.

Here, seeking the Dao and achieving immortality was everyone’s ultimate pursuit.

Lin Mo, the transmigrator from a parallel world, was no exception.

But after drifting aimlessly through eighteen years in this world, he hadn’t drawn closer to his goal—he’d drifted farther away.

All because of two words—

Talent.

Even though nearly everyone possessed a cultivation system, those who could truly walk the Immortal Path remained as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns—one in ten thousand.

Clearly, Lin Mo was not that one in ten thousand—he was one of the ten thousand who made up the denominator.

His profile stats were roughly as follows:

【Name: Lin Mo】

【Dao Age: 18/108】

【Realm: Qi Refining 2nd Layer (249/300)】

【Spirit Roots:】

Metal (22%)

Wood (19%)

Water (20%)

Fire (20%)

Earth (19%)

【Bone Quality: 15 (no special physique)】

【Comprehension: 20】

【Appearance: 95 (as handsome as the reader, sir)】

【Cultivation Technique: National Standard 108th Five-Element Qi Refining Scripture, Layer 2】

【Spell Techniques:】

1. Basic Sword Art (Low Grade): 112/1000

2. Fire Control Scripture (Low Grade): 110/1000

3. Rain Summoning Scripture (Low Grade): 109/1000

4. Kui Star Stance (Low Grade): 320/1000

【Evaluation: A slightly attractive waste of space.】

…

This was his profile.

Not a single spirit root exceeded 60% purity—in short, he was pure mixed spirit roots.

All five elements present, all equally worthless.

Neither his comprehension nor bone quality was noteworthy.

After over a decade of cultivation, he’d barely reached Qi Refining 2nd Layer.

To pass the Dao Academy entrance exam with such talent? Without any miracle, there would be no miracle…

A self-mocking smile curled on Lin Mo’s lips.

Good news: he transmigrated.

Bad news: he wasn’t the protagonist.

Who was the “protagonist”?

Right then, his homeroom teacher Li Xiang called out his name:

“You all should learn from Ye Chen—he entered Nanshan No. 4 as a transfer student three years ago, ranked last in the entire grade.”

“But now, after three years of diligent cultivation, he’s reached Qi Refining 5th Layer, nearing 6th Layer, and ranks among the top three in the grade!”

“With this strength, admission to the Dao Academy is practically guaranteed—yet he hasn’t slackened for a moment. He’s still the first in the cultivation chamber and the last back to his dorm…”

Listen!

From last place to top three.

From waste to Dao Academy.

Isn’t that the textbook “protagonist template”?

Of course, if that were all, Lin Mo wouldn’t call him “protagonist.”

The real reason was that Ye Chen was officially certified by the system as a [Destiny Child]—a title even rarer than a cultivation genius.

Born of fate, defying heaven to rewrite destiny.

That was the nature of a [Destiny Child].

And that was why, despite mediocre talent, he had risen from the bottom to the top.

From last place to top three, becoming one of the most brilliant candidates in this year’s Nanshan No. 4 graduating class.

Lin Mo turned his head and glanced at Ye Chen, seated in the second-to-last row by the window.

Despite the envious glances from classmates and the homeroom teacher’s praise, Ye Chen remained unperturbed.

But Lin Mo, having lived two lives, still caught a flicker of smugness on his face.

He didn’t mind. Even if Ye Chen’s pride overflowed visibly—so what?

He had the right to be proud!

Lin Mo could only envy him—nothing but envy.

Cultivation talent was entirely out of one’s control, and his own was far worse than average.

He sighed inwardly.

Li Xiang’s earnest lecture ended abruptly with the bell signaling the end of late-night self-study; he tossed out one last phrase—“some people need to stop being rats with tails”—then left the classroom clutching his textbooks.

Left behind were a group of students with bitter expressions, murmuring and complaining to each other.

“Li Ban’s always spouting this nonsense—do you think I don’t want to get into the Dao Academy?”

“Exactly! If hard work worked, why would we need geniuses?”

“I’m so jealous of Ye Chen—a Destiny Child. His future achievements will leave us miles behind.”

“Miles? By the time you die of old age, he’ll still be enjoying his youth!”

“Damn! Too relatable—don’t say more, I can’t take it!”

“…”

In truth, the number of students who could pass the Dao Academy entrance exam was already extremely small.

Lin Mo’s talent was poor, but so were his classmates’.

Most students were like him—panels filled with mixed spirit roots, cultivation speed crawling like snails.

In Class 10, Grade 3, roughly 50% were at Qi Refining 1st Layer, 30% at Qi Refining 2nd Layer, and less than 20% at Qi Refining 3rd Layer.

Only five students in the entire class were above Qi Refining 3rd Layer.

Ye Chen, at Qi Refining 6th Layer, was the only one.

Even the most basic Dao Academy admission standard required Qi Refining Mid-Level—Qi Refining 4th Layer.

Students at the peak of Qi Refining 3rd Layer might, with great effort, barely scrape into the minimum cutoff.

Those below that? Don’t even dream of it.

That’s why everyone envied Ye Chen—they all knew that beyond the school gates, the gap between them would be unimaginable.

Watching the crowd cluster around Ye Chen as he left the classroom, his desk-mate Zhang Da muttered, unable to hold back:

"Ye Chen is really lucky—he actually awakened the title 'Child of Destiny'! Now he’s truly become a phoenix that flew out of the chicken coop!"

Saying this, Zhang Dahai suddenly remembered something and continued to Lin Mo:

"By the way, Mozi, I made plans with the guys in my dorm to visit Longtan Temple this weekend. Want to come along?"

Lin Mo shook his head:

"Qi Refining 2nd Layer—what good does praying to gods do? Can it get me into the Dao Academy?"

Zhang Dahai’s cultivation base was the same as his, both stuck at Qi Refining 2nd Layer.

But Zhang Dahai shrugged carelessly and said:

"What if it works? Maybe the Dao Academy elders will think I’m extraordinary, gifted beyond measure, ridiculously handsome… and admit me by special exception?"

Lin Mo glanced at his plain-looking friend and retorted:

"Extraordinary and gifted I can accept—but 'ridiculously handsome'? Isn’t that describing me?"

Zhang Dahai snorted:

"You don’t understand my charm!"

"Just answer me one question—are you going this weekend?"

Lin Mo shook his head: "No. I’d rather stay longer in the cultivation room."

Seeing he truly didn’t want to go, Zhang Dahai didn’t press him, only said:

"Fine. I’ll pray for you on my way—no need to thank me. It’s a father’s duty to care for his son."

Before Lin Mo could retort, he dashed out of the classroom in a flash.

Lin Mo chuckled. Little guy—I’ll deal with you tomorrow!

Unlike Zhang Dahai, who lived on campus, Lin Mo was a day student.

So he didn’t pull out his Seven Wolves belt and chase after the disobedient brat. Instead, he tidied his desk slightly and walked out of the classroom toward the school gate.

As soon as he stepped outside the school gate, his spiritual device vibrated in his bag—he knew without looking it was his mother’s message.

He pulled it out and glanced—it was indeed her.

He tapped the message and opened the interface—

【Mother】: "Little one, did you finish evening self-study? The peaches in the orchard are ripe—I picked a basket and mailed it to you. Remember to sign for it tomorrow."

【Mother】: "These were grown from a pseudo-spirit stone I spent last year. Supposedly a new variety—eating them helps cultivation. Eat more, don’t let them go bad."

【Mother】: "By the way, if they really work, tell me—I’ll save you two more baskets..."

Long strings of messages kept coming until Lin Mo replied with a single character: "Okay." Only then did his mother pause, belatedly.

But after a while, she couldn’t resist sending another: "Rest early if you’re tired. Take care of your health."

Lin Mo stared at the messages and sighed helplessly.

He remembered how once, he had been full of ambition.

Thanks to his early brilliance, he avoided the exorbitant school selection fee and entered Nanshan No. 4 Middle School—one of the top five schools in Xichuan Province—purely on merit.

His father even threw a three-day feast back home, convinced his son would become the village’s first student to enter the Dao Academy.

At that time, Lin Mo’s status in the village rivaled that of the village chief’s two-hundred-year-old goose, nearly a spirit beast.

Unfortunately, good fortune didn’t last.

The once-bright confidence was brutally crushed by harsh reality.

Every time his father returned home, he’d sigh heavily, only to be glared at fiercely by his mother, then retreat to the courtyard to sigh alone...

Thinking of this, Lin Mo couldn’t help muttering:

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west... forget it, cough cough."

He wasn’t the protagonist—saying that would invite humiliation.

Lin Mo shook his head, walking toward the school gate while skillfully opening a short-video app, ready to browse some human art.

But the moment he opened the app, the first video seized his attention—

"Like for blessings, Buddha will protect you..."

Damn! My smart device is being monitored again!

Lin Mo mentally cursed, rapidly swiping his fingers across the screen.

"You’ve stumbled upon this video—you’ll receive fortune in May..."

"Fated one, you didn’t randomly come across this book..."

"Leave your name—wealth will arrive within three days..."

"..."

Why are they ALL like this?!

Lin Mo was speechless—he hadn’t escaped the Great Surveillance even after reincarnation.

He didn’t know how many times he’d liked these videos.

He’d posted “Receive Good Luck” over a thousand times.

And what did he get?

No overnight fortune. No sudden ascension.

Even the “another bottle” prize on soda caps was rare; the highest prize on scratch cards was five yuan—and he always won first prize on the gold-wrapped-fake-gold scams...

He sighed, about to close the screen, when his finger slipped and accidentally tapped the ad beside the video.

A pop-up instantly appeared:

【Ding! Install the 'Tap 1 for Merit' game?】

Tap 1 for Merit? Does liking add destiny?

Lin Mo grimaced, mentally cursing this unethical little game.

He was about to tap the X when he suddenly remembered what Zhang Dahai had just said.

Offline prayer? No. Online prayer? Why not set one up?

He’d never believed in this stuff before—he’d liked countless videos, posted “Receive Good Luck” countless times, yet his cultivation base and wallet never changed.

But the Immortal Exam loomed near, stirring his long-dead heart once more.

Fine—this little game won’t use much data...

Thinking this, his finger moved from the X to the 【Yes】 install button.

The moment his finger pressed down, a flash of electricity surged across the screen.

Then—*click*—the phone went black.

Lin Mo froze, then his face darkened with anger.

"Damn! There’s a virus..."

Before he finished speaking, a bolt of lightning shot from the black screen straight toward his face.

Too fast to dodge.

Lin Mo instinctively shut his eyes—but no pain came. Instead, an electronic voice echoed in his ear:

【Ding! Player has installed and bound the 'Merit Woodfish' System.】