Jiang Fan's last memory on Earth was… tragic.
Not heroic.
Not noble.
Just tragic.
He had been celebrating the grand event of his life—buying a new gaming chair with "built-in massage and lightning-fast charging"—when fate decided to give him a full-course combo:
An electric shock from a faulty plug, a trip over his own power strip, and a bowl of instant noodles launched into his face like a scalding meteor.
His last words:
> "At least… let me finish the soup…"
---
When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was the sky.
A sky split by five-colored lightning.
"...Did I respawn in a DLC?" Jiang Fan muttered, sitting up from the grass. His cheap T-shirt was gone, replaced by a set of rough robes that smelled faintly of cabbage.
A ding! sound echoed in his head.
> [Welcome, Host! Initialization Complete.]
[System Protocol: Sect Master Ascension Online.]
Jiang Fan blinked. "…What now?"
> [Congratulations! You are now the Sect Master of… Error: Name Pending.]
[Please insert name for your sect.]
He rubbed his temples. "Wait, I just died. Shouldn't there be an angel, a fox spirit, something? Where's my starter pack?"
> [Starter Pack delivered: 1x Ragged Robes, 1x Wooden Sword (Bent), 1x Half-eaten Spiritual Pancake.]
A half-eaten pancake appeared in his hand.
"…Is this a scam?"
---
"Hohoho… not a scam, boy. A new beginning!"
A voice drifted into his mind like a warm breeze carrying the smell of tea leaves.
Jiang Fan jerked his head around. "Who said that?!"
Before him, a translucent old man appeared, beard flowing like a river of wisdom, wearing a robe stitched with clouds. He fanned himself slowly, as if this was all part of his afternoon nap.
"I am but a humble remnant, fated to guide you," the old man said, sipping from a cup that wasn't there. "Call me Grandmaster Li. I have watched countless lives rise and fall… yours was rather clumsy."
Jiang Fan narrowed his eyes. "…Are you my cheat code?"
Grandmaster Li coughed. "Cough… You may call me that. Think of me as… a guiding soul, tied to your destiny. Yes, destiny! Not fried noodles."
> [New Function Unlocked: Beginner Sect Territory – 10x10 meters of land.]
A ripple of energy spread under Jiang Fan's feet, marking a patch of barren hillside. One rock. One bush. One spiritual chicken staring at him with judgmental eyes.
The chicken clucked, then sat down as if claiming the land.
"…So this is my sect? I can already feel the heavens trembling."
> [Mission Generated: Name Your Sect.]
"Fine, fine… How about… Eternal Noodle Sect?"
> [Warning: Name engraved in Heavenly Dao. Irreversible.]
"…Wait, what?"
A beam of golden light shot into the sky. Far, far away, cultivators on mountain peaks opened their eyes.
> "The Eternal Noodle Sect? Who dares!?"
---
Grandmaster Li chuckled. "Well done, Sect Master Jiang. You have left your mark."
Jiang Fan covered his face. "I just wanted lunch…"
> [Mission Updated: Recruit 1st Disciple – Reward: Beginner Resource Pack.]
The bush rustled. Someone groaned.
Out from the bush rolled a young woman with messy hair, clutching her stomach. She looked at Jiang Fan, then at the golden beam fading in the distance.
"You… you're the sect master?" she whispered, dazed.
Jiang Fan pointed at himself. "Me? No, I'm just the guy with a pancake."
The System chimed:
> [First Disciple Detected. Binding in progress…]
---
End of Chapter 1