Chapter 1

  Heart-Stitching Art (I)

  Oh boy.

  I am not entirely sure whether that's the most appropriate response, but it was the first one to shoot through my head when I opened my eyes and recognized I wasn't flying through the windshield of my car and into the front fender of a massive truck. Rather, I was seated in front of the sea of kids, ages ranging from six to thirteen, from what I could see. They were all lined up rather haphazardly, expressions of excitement flooding their faces, and all I could surmise from it was... that I was in hell.

  That's right, hell.

  I disliked kids even when I was one. Never had any in almost forty years of my life. Had two nephews and one niece—hated them too. Loud, snotty, filthy, annoying—khm, anyway. My first instinct was that it was a purgatory.

  But that wasn't it, either.

  It's not a purgatory. It's hell.

  I've reincarnated into hell—positioned precisely where it would hurt me the most: an Elder of a Sect. That's right--I've reincarnated into the Elder of a Sect in a strange world that was an even stranger blend of eastern and mildly western fantasy per the books (at least according to the memories of the body I've possessed).

  And these stories, as it goes, would not be complete without a system—which was there, floating like a free-spirited bird on the periphery.

  So, to go back.

  Oh boy.

  [Cultivation Creation System is initialized!]

  [Host: Lu Qi]

  [Cultivation Realm: Spirit Manifestation Realm]

  [Host Talent: Mortal (Abysmal)]

  [System Stage: Spirit Manifestation Realm (mirroring Host's)]

  [Maximum Creation Points Allotment: 100]

  [Created Cultivation Methods: 0]

  [Created Martial Arts: 0]

  [Created Movement Arts: 0]

  [Created Weapon Arts: 0]

  [Created Special Arts: 0]

  [...]

  [Creation Points: 0]

  [...]

  [Quest: A New Path!]

  [A New Path: Disciple at least 1 kid from the newest batch]

  [Reward: 1 creation point]

  [...]

  [New talent unlocked: Creator's Eyes]

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  [Creator's Eyes -- inspect a person below your cultivation realm and assess their talent and traits, as well as what methods and arts they are most suited for. Can be used 3 times a day]

  [...]

  [Please survive and thrive to unlock more functions! Good luck!]

  And that was all. The entire rhapsody.

  I'm not (entirely) stupid; I figured that, as an Elder, I'd have to take in Disciples, system or no system, yet I still wished I was a vagrant wandering about. Not sitting here, seated against other old stooges... no, wait, not other. Comparatively, I was young. From the memories of this body,' Lu Qi' was only forty-two years old as of three months ago, the youngest Elder of the Spirit Sword Sect.

  You'd think that meant much, but it meant nothing. He was your classic nepo hire. His father happened to save the Sect Master of the Spirit Sword Sect a long, long time ago, and the Sect Master repaid the favor by taking in the kid who had barely any talent and utilizing whatever means necessary to push him to the Spirit Manifestation Realm, the minimum requirement to make someone an elder.

  Thus, Lu Qi became an Outer Sect Elder, talentless though he was.

  Because of that, even four-years-ongoing, no Disciple has ever chosen him as a Master. Not that the previous Lu Qi wanted Disciples; he was a petty, angry drunkard who wanted nothing more than to lord his status over others, take bribes, and drink spirit wine.

  "Hm, this batch is rather weak," the chatter of the surrounding Elders finally entered my ears.

  "Indeed. There are only four or five talents worth nurturing."

  "Tsk. Damned Fire Sun Sect..."

  "Hush. They may have ears here..."

  As always, nobody paid any attention to 'Lu Qi'. It was sort of understood that he was merely a 'passerby' who'd drift through the Sect that had stood for over 500 years, his name only ever engraved upon the tombstone somewhere.

  But—!

  I can't be like the guy who spent nights wrestling with—I mean, I could be that guy... no, no, I can't be that guy. I have a system, and something tells me if I choose to ignore it and go my merry way, I wouldn't be long for this world. If the pattern holds, my 'arrival' here indicates the beginning of the 'Age of Change' (I am not arrogant, just observant), and if I'm to survive it... I gotta recruit some kids and, apparently, create some arts.

  That seemed to be the concept, at least; as for how that'd change me directly, who was to say? Maybe it wouldn't at all, maybe it would in minor or major ways, but regardless, I had a quest to fulfill: recruit at least 1 disciple.

  You'd think it was easy, but I knew better. With requirements so pathetically low, it'll likely take a herculean effort to swindle—I mean, convince—some kid to join me. And I couldn't just take any which kid, either; I had means of discerning their talents, albeit only 3 of them.

  A bit tempted, and for experimental purposes, I decided to use one instance of it and use it specifically on the kid being eyed by seemingly all other elders.

  He was a young boy, no older than ten, lined up at the very front of the scrum. Short, black hair, determined eyes, rather lavish robes... yeah, there was no way I was recruiting him, but at least he would be the baseline.

  [--Creator's Eyes used]

  [Target: Yu Chen]

  [Age: 10]

  [Talent: low-Earth (Mortal -> Earth -> Sky -> Heaven -> Jade -> ???)]

  [Traits (Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, ???)]

  [Savant Body (Rare) -- picks up Body Cultivation Arts more easily; resistant to backlashes]

  [Arrogant (Common) -- arrogance seeped deep into his bones. Can lead to unwanted outcomes]

  [Determined (Common) -- if he sets his mind on something, there's a good chance he will do it]

  [...]

  [Assessing suitability...]

  [...]

  [No Special Root found. Ordinary-level talent with no particular leanings.]

  [Recommended: foundational Body Cultivation Method of at least mid-Earth rank. Additionally, peak-Mortal rank Fist Arts focusing on explosive power over speed]

  [Final assessment: ordinary talent with slight proclivities toward Body Arts. Estimated final realm: Early Spirit Manifestation Realm]

  I winced for a moment as I read through it all.

  This was it?

  This was what the other Elders were drooling over? Well, in their defense, this was the backwater, as it went, so even a boy like him likely stood out. Ah, what the hell am I saying? Like I wouldn't take him in a heartbeat if he wanted to. Others probably didn't even have any leanings toward anything and were 'blank slates' as it went, with nothing of importance. Aah. Blast me.

  Just as I was considering my tactics, a strong voice boomed out on a platform further behind me.

  "Everyone, calm down." It was the voice of the current Sect Master, Spirit Sage. "You all are children talented enough to be accepted into my Sect. You have also now had enough time to observe the Elders. You may approach the ones of your choice and request that you be Discipled. Let the Selection begin."