The shack was quiet, save for the faint creak of its rotting beams. Lin Feng sat on the edge of his splintered bed, staring at the uneven floor stones. His mind wandered through the fragments of memory — the humiliation at the sect recruitment, the jeers of the crowd, the fists of the gang that had ended his predecessor's life. He thought of Earth again, of thirty years wasted in drudgery, of betrayal and exhaustion.
His jaw tightened. I will not live as trash again. Not here. Not anywhere.
Just as the thought solidified, a crisp sound echoed in his mind.
Ding.
Lin Feng froze. His eyes darted around the shack, but nothing stirred. The sound had not come from outside — it had rung directly inside his consciousness. Then, a mechanical line appeared before his eyes, glowing faintly in the air like words carved into reality itself.
[Suitable host found. System loading...]
[1%... 12%... 37%... 68%... 100%]
His breath caught. His heart hammered against his ribs. For a moment, disbelief rooted him in place. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face.
"So it's true," he whispered, voice trembling with excitement. "All those Earth novels… transmigrators always get a golden finger. And now… so do I."
He laughed, the sound raw and unsteady, echoing in the broken shack. The bitterness of his past seemed to peel away, replaced by a surge of joy. For the first time since awakening, he felt chosen.
The glowing text shifted, unfolding into a panel that hovered in his mind's eye. Tabs flickered into existence, each labeled with cold precision:
[Shop] [Inventory] [Appraisal Eyes] [Host Status]
Lin Feng's hands trembled as he reached out mentally, focusing on the first tab. The panel responded instantly, opening to reveal a blank screen. Then, a single line appeared:
[Permission not granted. Host cultivation insufficient.]
His excitement faltered, replaced by frustration. "Locked? Even the shop is locked?" He clenched his fists, but forced himself to breathe. No… this is how it works. Earth novels always made the protagonist earn their cheat. This is no different.
He moved to the next tab: Inventory. A grid unfolded, stretching endlessly into the void. Every slot was empty, but the sheer scale of it made his pulse quicken. Infinite space. He could store anything here, without limit.
The third tab: Appraisal Eyes. A faint glow shimmered, then dimmed.
[Function locked until cultivation improves.]
Lin Feng exhaled sharply. So even the eyes are sealed. No shortcuts. No hand‑holding.
Finally, he opened Host Status. The panel displayed his details with merciless clarity:
Host: Lin Feng
Realm: Qi Gathering – 2nd Stage
Roots: Five Spiritual Roots (Trash)
Potential: Low
The word "Trash" burned into his vision like a brand. His teeth ground together. "Trash? That's what they called me. That's what killed him. But now…" His gaze hardened. "Now I have this. And I'll prove them wrong."
He leaned back against the cracked wall, staring at the glowing panel. The system was silent, mechanical, offering no guidance beyond its pre‑loaded responses. It would not speak, would not comfort, would not explain. It was a tool, nothing more. And that made it perfect.
Lin Feng's mind raced. The shop unlocks at Qi Gathering 3rd Stage. That means I need to push cultivation harder. Once it opens, I'll see what treasures it holds. Pills, manuals, weapons… maybe even things this world has forgotten.
His lips curled into a determined smile. If heaven calls me trash, I'll use this shop to overturn heaven itself.
The shack creaked as he rose to his feet. His body was weak, but his spirit blazed. He stepped to the doorway, pushing it open. The market outside was alive with noise — hawkers shouting, gangs prowling, sect disciples strutting with arrogance. The same world that had spat on him yesterday now awaited his return.
Lin Feng's eyes gleamed. Hidden within him was a secret no one could see, a silent system waiting to be unlocked. He would cultivate, he would rise, and when the shop opened, he would wield its power like a blade against all who had mocked him.
The path ahead was merciless. But for the first time, he welcomed it.