Hirun sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of his bedroom, staring at the ceiling. The fan hummed lazily, the smell of old books filling the air. Everything looked normal. Too normal.
And yet, he wasn't normal. Not anymore.
He flexed his fingers—and felt it. The pulse. The energy coursing through every fiber of his being. Not the faint heartbeat of an ordinary mortal. Not even the frail, limited power of peak human potential. No… this was divine energy, flowing like rivers of light within him.
"Huh… so this is Heaven's gift." Hirun murmured. A small smirk tugged at his lips. "Let's see what we can do with it."
...
The System Awakens
As he sat, a sudden voice echoed—not in the air, but in his mind. Calm. Clear. Precise.
"Heavenly Immortal Hirun Savidya, your system is now online."
Hirun blinked. "System?"
"Yes. The Dao Guidance System. Functions include:
Enlightenment assistance
Cultivation optimization
Destiny evaluation
Disciple suitability analysis
Multi-path Dao support"
Hirun's eyes sparkled. A system that would guide him, calculate his path, and manage disciples? Perfect.
"Let's start simple. Options?" he thought.
"You may choose:
1. Self-attainment—enlightenment and cultivation support
2. Disciple recruitment and guidance
3. Exploration of hidden realms"
Hirun grinned. "I'll do all three, of course. But first… disciples. I hate walking alone."
The system confirmed. A list appeared in his mind—a glowing holographic scroll, endless as the stars. Names, faces, potential, and destiny markers.
"Fated individuals detected in your vicinity," the system said. "Priority recruitment recommended."
...
First Steps
Hirun stepped outside. The world was unchanged—children playing, cars passing, teachers shouting—but he saw it differently now. Every human was a potential Dao path, a hidden destiny. Some were small sparks, others raging flames.
"Interesting…" Hirun muttered, scanning the streets. The system pinged again.
"Candidate detected. High destiny probability. Name: Kael Arvan. Age: 17. Protagonist template from local myth."
Hirun raised an eyebrow. A "protagonist template"? This was exactly the kind of person he wanted. Someone who could walk the Dao, grow under his guidance, and face the world's trials with destiny on their side.
"You like music, right?" Hirun thought to himself, smirking. "Or chess? Or maybe both."
The system responded with a soft glow, suggesting cultivation alignment. Chess mastery aligned with Dao of Strategy, music with Dao of Sound. Perfect.
"Let's see what kind of genius you are," Hirun murmured, already imagining the possibilities.
...
A Taste of Power
Hirun raised his hands, and the air shimmered around him. He flexed his spiritual energy—Qi, flowing like silver liquid beneath his skin. It was fast, precise, and controllable. He felt the world bending slightly to his awareness.
A single thought, and a leaf from a tree nearby floated upward, spinning slowly in the air. A flick of his fingers, and it split into perfect halves.
"This… is going to be fun," Hirun said, his carefree grin returning.
But he knew the truth. Power alone was not enough. Knowledge, strategy, and companions were the keys to walking the Dao properly.
...
First Recruitment
By evening, Hirun had identified three initial disciples, all with fated destinies, all ready for guidance.
Kael Arvan – protagonist template, sharp mind, destined for Dao of Strategy.
Liora Sun – a former villain in a mythic timeline, untapped spiritual power.
Tian Yue – artist, musician, body cultivator, with a talent for bending energy into illusions.
Hirun smiled. "Three to start. Not too many, not too few. Enough to test the system… and enough to make my path fun."
He leaned back against the wall. The sun dipped below the horizon. Warm orange light flooded the room.
"Let the Dao games begin."
💥 End of Chapter 2