Qingshan Village lay at the foot of mountains veiled in a thin mist every morning. Simple wooden and stone houses were scattered among lush green terraced fields. In one of the houses on the far edge, the cry of a newborn baby rang out.
"Congratulations, Ye Chen. Your son is healthy and strong," said the village midwife, cradling the tiny infant.
Ye Chen, a burly hunter with a rugged face, gazed at his child with tearful eyes. Beside him, his wife Lin Mei smiled weakly after a long labor.
"Ye Lin," Lin Mei whispered. "His name is Ye Lin."
However, from the night of his birth, strange things began to happen. A storm that should have struck the village suddenly changed course. Wolves that usually descended from the mountains in search of prey stayed away that night. Even the elderly midwife remarked that she had never seen such a smooth delivery.
"This child is blessed," muttered the village elder when he saw Ye Lin the next day.
---
Twelve years later…
Ye Lin trotted down a narrow path toward the forest. The twelve-year-old boy, with messy black hair, carried a woven basket—his task today was to gather mushrooms and wild fruits for dinner.
"Don't go too far, Lin-er!" his mother called from a distance.
"Yes, Mother!" Ye Lin replied, waving back.
As usual, small strokes of luck followed Ye Lin, though he never realized it. When he was about to step into a deep hole, a small rock rolled over and covered it just before his foot came down. When a venomous snake was about to strike him, a hawk swooped in and carried it away.
"Hah, lucky me," Ye Lin mumbled innocently as he continued gathering mushrooms.
But his greatest luck that day came when he found a decades-old wild ginseng. The rare plant grew right under a large oak tree, as if waiting to be picked.
"Wow! Father will be so happy. This could sell for a high price at the city market," Ye Lin exclaimed in delight.
As he headed home with his basket full of forest goods, Ye Lin suddenly felt dizzy. His vision blurred, and his body swayed. He caught sight of something strange—transparent letters floating in front of his eyes—before he collapsed.
---
"Lin-er! Lin-er, wake up!"
Ye Lin slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was his father's worried face. Beside him, his mother was wiping his forehead with a damp cloth.
"Thank goodness you're awake. You fainted in the forest for two hours," Ye Chen said in relief.
"I… I'm fine, Father," Ye Lin replied weakly. His head still felt heavy, but what confused him more was… those strange letters were still there.
In the corner of his vision, a transparent panel floated:
[STATUS]
Name: Ye Lin
Cultivation: Mortal Level 1
Age: 12 years
Luck: 987/1000
Life Potential: 67 years
Ye Lin blinked, thinking it was just the remnant of a fever hallucination. But the panel remained, following his line of sight.
"Are you hurt, Lin-er?" Lin Mei asked worriedly.
"No, Mother. Just… a little dizzy," Ye Lin answered. He decided not to mention the strange panel. Who would believe him?
"Rest for now. Tomorrow, your father will go to the city to sell the ginseng you found. Lucky boy, finding such a big ginseng," Ye Chen said, patting his son's head.
Lucky. That word echoed in Ye Lin's mind all night. He stared at the status panel still hovering in the corner of his eyes. The number "987/1000" in the Luck column made him curious.
What does this number mean? And why is it almost perfect?
Unbeknownst to him, Ye Lin's simple life as a village boy was about to change. The status panel was the beginning of a long journey that would lead him to discover his own Dao.
Outside the window, the night wind blew gently, whispering of the destiny awaiting the child protected by heaven.
---
Three months had passed since Ye Lin first saw the strange status panel. At first, he thought it was just a fever dream. But the transparent panel remained, following his gaze wherever he went.
Stranger still, the numbers sometimes changed. His Luck once dropped to 983 when he almost fell off a cliff—though a sturdy tree branch saved him in the end. It rose again to 989 when he rescued a baby bird that had fallen from its nest.
What's the connection between good deeds and luck? Ye Lin wondered as he gazed at the evening sky from his rooftop.
"Lin-er! Come down! We have an important guest!" his father called.
Ye Lin hopped down nimbly. In the living room, he saw a middle-aged man in a white robe embroidered with clouds. His aura felt… nobler than any villager's.
"This is your son, Ye Chen?" the man asked, studying Ye Lin closely.
"Yes, Elder Zhang. His name is Ye Lin," Ye Chen replied respectfully.
"Hmm," the man, called Elder Zhang, nodded. "An interesting child. His bones are suitable for cultivation."
Ye Lin was puzzled. Cultivation? He had heard stories from traveling merchants about cultivators, but thought they were just legends.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Zhang Wei, Elder of the White Cloud Sect. Our sect is holding an entrance examination for new disciples. I've been traveling to remote villages in search of hidden talent."
The status panel in Ye Lin's vision flickered. He glanced and saw his Luck rise to 991.
"What kind of examination, Elder?" Lin Mei asked politely.
"It's simple. A spiritual root test and a few basic skill trials. If your son passes, he will become an outer disciple of our sect. His life will be far better than in this village," Zhang Wei explained.
Ye Chen and Lin Mei exchanged looks. They knew this was a golden opportunity, but…
"We'll lose Lin-er," Lin Mei whispered sadly.
"But it's for his better future," Ye Chen replied softly.
Zhang Wei smiled faintly. "The choice is yours. But the test will be held tomorrow morning at the village square. Anyone may participate, without coercion."
After Zhang Wei left, the Ye family felt conflicted. Ye Lin himself was curious. Cultivation… perhaps it had something to do with the strange panel?
---
The next morning, almost the entire village gathered in the central square. Zhang Wei stood on a makeshift stage, accompanied by several similarly dressed people.
"Alright, the examination will begin!" he announced. "First is the spiritual root test. Place your hand on this crystal stone. If it glows, you have spiritual roots."
One by one, village children stepped forward. Most made the crystal dim or not glow at all. Occasionally, it emitted a faint light—those were marked as "low talent."
"Ye Lin, your turn," Zhang Wei called.
Ye Lin stepped forward nervously. He glanced at his panel: Luck still 991. Carefully, he placed his hand on the crystal.
WUSH!
A dazzling white light burst from the crystal, stunning everyone. Zhang Wei even stepped back.
"Incredible! High-grade spiritual roots!" Zhang Wei exclaimed in disbelief. "This boy… this…"
Ye Lin's status panel flickered:
[STATUS]
Name: Ye Lin
Cultivation: Mortal Level 1
Age: 12 years
Luck: 995/1000
Life Potential: 67 years
[NOTIFICATION]
Spiritual root detected: Grade A+
A new notification? Ye Lin was shocked. This was the first time the panel had given extra information.
"The second test," Zhang Wei continued, still in awe. "You must take a leaf from that tree without damaging it." He pointed to a tall tree with leaves swaying in the wind.
Others struggled. Some fell, some tore the leaf, some succeeded but took a long time.
When Ye Lin's turn came, he looked at the tree in confusion. How could he take a leaf without harming it?
Suddenly, the wind blew stronger. A perfect leaf detached and floated directly toward Ye Lin. Without thinking, he reached out and caught it gently.
Everyone fell silent. Zhang Wei stared at him wide-eyed.
"That… that's coincidence," someone murmured.
"An extraordinary coincidence," Zhang Wei replied quietly.
Ye Lin's Luck rose again: 997/1000.
"The final test," Zhang Wei said, his voice trembling slightly. "Walk through this simple formation without stepping on the red lines."
A complex pattern with red lines was drawn on the ground. Others had to think hard to find a safe path. Some got stuck and had to be rescued by the elders.
Ye Lin stared at it blankly. He didn't understand the pattern or strategy. Innocently, he stepped into the formation.
Strangely, whenever he was about to step on a red line, something distracted him—a butterfly flying past, a bird call, or even a pebble bouncing. Unknowingly, he followed these "distractions" and reached the end without touching a single red line.
"Impossible…" Zhang Wei whispered. "That formation is designed for Qi Condensation cultivators. No mortal could pass it so easily."
Ye Lin's panel now showed a heart-pounding number:
Luck: 999/1000
"Ye Lin," Zhang Wei asked, his voice trembling. "Have you truly never studied cultivation before?"
"Never, Elder. I don't even know what cultivation is," Ye Lin replied honestly.
Zhang Wei was silent for a long time, staring at Ye Lin as if seeing an invaluable treasure.
"Very well," he finally said. "The exam is over. Those who pass are…" he pointed to several children, "…you three. But Ye Lin," his gaze focused on the boy, "you will not be an outer disciple. I will take you directly as an inner disciple of the sect."
Gasps of shock erupted from the crowd. Inner disciple? That was an incredibly prestigious position!
"Wait," Ye Lin raised his hand. "May I think about it? This is a big decision."
Zhang Wei was taken aback. Most people would accept such an offer instantly.
"Of course. You have until tomorrow morning to decide."
---
That night, the Ye family gathered around their simple dining table. The air was heavy with thought.
"Lin-er," Ye Chen said softly, "this is an opportunity that will never come twice."
"But I don't want to leave you and Mother," Ye Lin replied sadly.
Lin Mei stroked his hair. "Son, sometimes in life we must choose the hard road for a better future. We will always support you."
Ye Lin glanced at his panel. Luck was still 999/1000. That nearly perfect number made him wonder: what would happen if it reached 1000?
Perhaps it's time to find out what's truly happening to me, he thought.
He looked at the "Life Potential: 63 years" column. If he stayed a normal villager, that might be his limit. But with cultivation…
"Alright," Ye Lin finally said. "I'll go."
The decision was heavy, but somehow it felt right. His status panel blinked once, and for the first time, his Luck reached perfection:
Luck: 1000/1000
At the same time, Ye Lin felt something strange. The world around him seemed sharper, more vivid. He could sense a subtle flow of energy in the air, hear the whispers of the wind more clearly, even see faint patterns of light dancing among the stars.
This is only the beginning, his heart whispered. My journey to find my Dao has just begun.
Outside the house, Zhang Wei stood on the roof, his expression filled with interest. As a high-level cultivator, he could feel the strange wave of energy radiating from the Ye family's home.
"An interesting boy," he murmured with a faint smile. "Truly… fascinating."