Chapter 1

As spring warms and the ice melts, all things begin anew.

At the foot of the continuous green mountains, a people stretches for miles. The sound of chanting rises and falls, blending with the simmering noise of the gathering.

“Bone age: seventeen, wood: thirty, metal: seventy. Next!”

Lin Du opened her eyes as she was jostled from behind, a wave of unease causing her to furrow her brow involuntarily.

“Hurry up in the front! Why aren’t you moving?”

“Keep it down. That person looks unwell, like they’re feeling faint.”

“Why would someone so frail join in? Which sect would even accept them? Hurry up and don’t hold us back.”

“Silence!” A cultivator maintaining order shouted with a stern face.

The people in front quickly fell silent.

The cultivator conducting the spiritual root test noticed that the person hadn’t moved and reminded them, “Place your hand on it and silently recite your birthdate.”

A pale, slender hand was placed in front of him. The bones were prominent, and the blue veins were as clear as glass. The cultivator paused and looked up at the owner of the hand.

The person appeared young, with a delicate and slender build, dressed in a shabby green robe. Her hair was casually tied at the back, with messy strands falling over her forehead, some of which looked slightly yellow, perhaps from malnutrition.

Despite her sickly appearance, she possessed a face of pale beauty, with downcast eyes and a cold, distant demeanor, like withered branches covered in snow during winter, fragile enough to crumble into mist at the slightest touch.

She was sickly, but undeniably beautiful—what a pity.

The five-element spiritual root tester spun continuously, finally stopping at a certain angle. Suddenly, it radiated a bright light, causing the person registering behind the counter to widen their eyes in shock.

“Born during Minor Cold, with water penetrating the frost—this is a full-value ice attribute, a pure ice spiritual root.”

A pure ice spiritual root, with a pure and determined nature, is an excellent candidate for cultivation.

The cultivator behind the counter, as if having found a rare treasure, shouted, “Bone age: thirteen, and a full-value ice spiritual root!”

The people behind her erupted in astonishment. Today was the rare grand selection day in Zhongzhou, where sects and schools from the three major sects, six factions, and ten clans had all gathered to select new disciples.

Everyone is born with five-element attributes. Some have conflicting spiritual roots, making cultivation difficult, while others have complementary roots, making it easier to absorb spiritual energy. A single spiritual root leads to rapid cultivation, especially if it’s a rare variant root, making it a blessing and a rarity.

Although one’s natural aptitude doesn’t determine everything in the pursuit of the Great path, it remains a key factor in joining a prestigious sect.

After all, with such outstanding aptitude, one can absorb spiritual energy so quickly that ordinary sects wouldn’t dare to take them in—they might drain their sect’s spiritual veins dry. That’s why young geniuses often emerge from the top sects.

Who would have thought that this sickly, slender figure in front would possess such incredible talent?

The cultivator quickly noted Lin Du’s attributes and handed her a wooden token. “Wulian Fu, young their selections, friend. Take this and proceed to the plaza at the mountain peak. Wait there for the sects to make and report according to the number on your token.”

Lin Du nodded in thanks, feeling the uneasy pain in her heart, and the smile on her lips grew more bitter.

This body was not just simply sickly—it felt like it could give out at any moment.

The spiritual root testing was done at the foot of the mountain. Those with cultivation potential stepped forward with their tokens and, in an instant, it was as if they had traveled through time, arriving at the broad stone steps before them.

Lin Du looked up curiously at the mountain peak shrouded in clouds.

So this is the cultivation world? It’s a bit more interesting than I thought.

Once again, a thought that didn’t belong to her appeared in her mind.

【So, Host, have you made up your mind? You know, you only have one day left to live.】

Lin Du stepped onto the stone stairs without changing her expression. “According to the usual plot of cultivation novels, spiritual energy can extend one’s life, right?”

Unyielding.

The system was at its wit’s end—what kind of host is so uncooperative?

【But is there any chance—just a slight chance—that you might not live long enough to start cultivating?】

Lin Du walked slowly. This body was indeed very frail, making even Lin Daiyu seem healthier in comparison.

She was an emotional blogger, one whose private messages and live streams were filled with people pouring out their hearts about their obsessive love issues.

Lin Du’s parents divorced when she was young, leaving her to grow up without guidance. Along the way, she witnessed the fickleness of human nature, drifting through a world of ambiguity and selfish interests. She became so perceptive about human emotions that she eventually turned to becoming an emotional blogger. Her sharp and brutally honest style quickly gained her a massive following.

Unfortunately, no matter how gentle her guidance or how harsh her criticism, she couldn’t save the vast number of people blinded by love.

Lin Du’s hair grew thinner by the day, and her face aged rapidly—out of sheer frustration.

Finally, she gave up trying to help and resorted to sarcastic mockery as her way of coping.

Little did she know, after one late-night live stream, she would suffer a sudden heart palpitation and find herself here.

Yes, Lin Du had transmigrated—more precisely, she had entered a book.

She found herself in a series of cultivation novels filled with obsessive love stories. As Lin Du ascended the mountain, she reviewed the newly acquired summary of the book in her mind.

There was the senior brother who had his spiritual bones taken by his beloved, the senior sister who was pregnant and had her unborn child cut out and used as medicine to resurrect her lover’s old flame, the junior sister who was deceived by a demon lord into stealing the sect’s treasure and then cruelly abandoned, and the master who silently sacrificed for three thousand years only to be offered up to the Heavenly Dao by her beloved…

Finally, Lin Du stopped in her tracks.

The system eagerly awaited its host’s response.

The host… The host clutched her chest, took a deep breath, and then sat down, too weak to stand.

System: …Okay.

Lin Du flipped to the end of the summary. “And they all get a happy ending? What were these cultivators thinking about, if not cultivation? Even Wang Baochuan would offer to give you her wild vegetables.”

【It’s precisely because these misguided relationships were mistaken for true destiny that the rules of the cultivation world became unstable, which is why you were brought in, Host.】

“And what does that have to do with me?” Lin Du lazily raised her eyelids, her cold eyes betraying a hint of mockery. “Respect, sarcasm, rejection. Thanks.”

【But don’t you think you might not make it much longer, Host?】

Lin Du clutched her painfully uncomfortable heart. “It does feel that way.”

【That’s because you only have one day left to live. You died of a heart attack in the real world, and even if you wanted to go back, you can’t.】

【For each love-obsessed character you save and sever their misguided ties, the system will reward you with corresponding pills based on the severity of their obsession, allowing you to extend your life~】

【And you, my dear Host, have a congenital deficiency that requires extremely rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Ordinary sects won’t be able to provide for you. And even if you wanted to rely on cultivation to extend your life, haven’t you considered that your poor health might hinder your progress?】

Lin Du remained silent, with no thoughts passing through her mind. It was as if she had completely zoned out. The system anxiously waited for her response.

She sat casually on the cold stone steps, her lips already turning purple from lack of oxygen. Her exquisite face showed a gloomy pallor, and the messy strands of hair hanging over her forehead only emphasized her androgynous appearance, given her young age.

People passed by the strange, frail-looking youth, but she paid them no mind, seeming almost content.

“Du Shao, Qingqing, listen to me. My spiritual root’s aptitude is probably only good enough for a small sect to accept, but your spiritual root is exceptional. You’ll likely be accepted into a major sect. We’re engaged to be married, and we’ll be spending our lives together. How can we be separated…”

A young man spoke rapidly, glancing at the woman beside him as they ascended the steps.

“I don’t want to be separated from you either, but how can I decide who the sect chooses to accept?” The woman sounded conflicted.

The young man grabbed her hand, pleading, “Come with me to a small sect. I really don’t want to be apart from you. Once we both reach the Foundation Establishment stage, I’ll marry you.”

The woman hesitated, then looked troubled. “But… let me think about it.”

“Qingqing… I really want to be with you forever. Besides, how can I feel at ease with you alone in a major sect…”

The two were so absorbed in their conversation that they didn’t notice the person slumped by the roadside.

Lin Du suddenly spoke, “Sure.”

【Host, what do you mean?】

Lin Du tilted her head slightly, her gaze following the pair as they climbed the steps, her lips curling into a faint, ambiguous smile. “I’m the perfect person for this job. Satisfaction guaranteed.”

——————

Author’s Note: This is a female protagonist story, where each female character has her own unique qualities and is an outstanding individual in her own right. Lin Du’s character just happens to lean towards a youthful vibe.

I like to use the term “youth” as in “If the youth are strong, the country is strong,” referring to those in the 10 to 15 or 16-year-old range, encompassing both boys and girls. Please refrain from giving writing advice.

Thank you, dear readers, for your support and love. Wishing you all the best and sending you lots of love.

In Taoism, gender doesn’t affect titles, so the terms used for disciples and elders are the same for both genders. Although this is just a cultivation novel, many elements are inspired by Taoist traditions. Hence, Lin Du is referred to as “Little Uncle.”

There is a romantic subplot, but it doesn’t overshadow or delay the main plot. It’s a strong-strong pairing, with the female protagonist always being the dominant one. Besides love-obsessed characters, there are also normal romances. For more details on the romantic pairing, please refer to Chapter 59. The most important thing about reading is to enjoy it, so if the story isn’t to your taste, please leave quietly. Respect the author’s outline and the readers who enjoy the story. I hope you find a story you love, and thank you for your understanding and support.*