Wu Ji Tian stepped out of his shop, momentarily dazed as he took in his surroundings.

  The eastern district of Clear Spring City was quiet at this hour, the fading sunlight casting long shadows against aged wooden buildings. The narrow streets near his shop were mostly empty, save for the occasional passerby—an elderly man carrying a basket of herbs, a pair of junior disciples in dull robes whispering as they hurried past. Unlike the main road at the city’s heart, this area had a secluded, almost forgotten atmosphere.

  Yet, as he moved further, the stillness dissolved into the hum of activity.

  Stepping onto the main street, Wu Ji Tian was met with the full bustle of the city.

  The streets stretched before him, lively and bustling despite the time of day. It was te afternoon, the golden glow of the setting sun casting long shadows across the stone roads. The scent of street food lingered in the air, mixing with the faint aroma of ink and parchment from nearby calligraphy stalls. Cultivators in various robes walked past, their conversations filled with discussions of techniques, recent sect news, and, of course, rumors of battles and treasures.

  Stalls lined both sides of the road, vendors loudly advertising their wares. A young woman in a pin dress deftly wove through the crowd, bancing a tray of steaming dumplings, while a group of children chased each other between the legs of pedestrians, ughing carefreely.

  Merchants called out, their voices overpping in a chaotic yet rhythmic harmony.

  "Fresh spirit peaches! One bite, and you'll feel rejuvenated!"

  "Handcrafted talismans, personally drawn by a third-rank inscription master! Protection, fortune, or even minor defensive arrays—take your pick!"

  "Rare herbs, freshly gathered from the Mystic Cloud Mountains! Limited stock!"

  Despite being an average city, Clear Spring City had its own charm. It wasn’t a powerhouse within the Vast Horizon Empire, but it had the presence of multiple cultivation sects, merchants seeking prosperity, and rogue cultivators hoping to make a name for themselves.

  Wu Ji Tian weaved through the crowd, listening to the various conversations around him.

  "Did you hear? The Azure Cloud Sect is opening an entrance test in a month."

  "Hah! What’s the point? Even if I get in, I’ll be stuck running errands for ten years before I get to cultivate properly."

  "That's still better than being a rogue cultivator. At least sect disciples get access to proper techniques and resources!"

  Further along, another group spoke in hushed voices.

  "I heard the Falling Leaf Sect just had an internal duel. One of their core disciples was heavily injured. Looks like their rivalry with Azure Cloud Sect isn’t going to calm down anytime soon."

  Wu Ji Tian absorbed the information but remained indifferent. He had no pns to get involved with either sect.

  Azure Cloud Sect, located in the northern part of the city, prided itself on its swordsmanship and discipline. Their disciples were known for their refined temperament, rarely meddling in worldly affairs unless necessary. While they weren’t tyrannical, their presence alone kept certain groups in check.

  Falling Leaf Sect, residing in the southern part, was simirly detached from worldly struggles. While their disciples leaned more toward combat-oriented techniques, they weren’t a wless bunch. Like Azure Cloud Sect, they maintained an air of superiority and rarely concerned themselves with common disputes.

  Both sects were overseen by their respective Sect Leaders, Core Formation cultivators whose power rivaled that of the City Lord. Their influence kept Clear Spring City in bance, ensuring no single power could cim absolute control.

  Despite the lively streets around him, Wu Ji Tian’s mind was elsewhere.

  He had once been a part of this world—no, more accurately, the previous Wu Ji Tian had been. A disciple of the Falling Leaf Sect, but not one of any importance. He had been mediocre at best, cking talent in cultivation and possessing neither remarkable combat skills nor strong connections. In a sect where strength dictated one’s worth, he had been nothing more than a burden.

  That Wu Ji Tian had spent his days performing menial tasks, from sweeping the training grounds to running errands for the senior disciples. He had endured ridicule, not out of resilience, but because he had no other choice. His cultivation had stagnated at the lowest levels of Qi Refinement, and no master had taken him as a direct disciple. When the sect deemed him a lost cause, he was expelled without ceremony.

  The current Wu Ji Tian, however, bore no resentment for that past. To him, it was nothing more than a discarded identity, an insignificant detail in the grand scheme of his new reality.

  For now, Wu Ji Tian had no interest in their affairs.

  His focus was Virtual Haven.

  The system had given him a mission, and if there was one thing he had learned from countless novels and stories, it was that ignoring a system’s guidance was never a wise decision.

  His first objective was clear: expand his business.

  At the moment, his store remained an enigma to the public. The true potential of the virtual cultivation world had yet to be revealed. The capsules and VR helmets were foreign concepts in this world, and while curiosity might draw in a few early customers, true success would require more than just novelty.

  He needed to make people desire it.

  Not just as a passing amusement, but as something they couldn’t ignore—something that could influence even the most rigid sects and the most powerful cultivators.

  ========

  Wu Ji Tian strolled at a rexed pace, heading toward the heart of Clear Spring City. His shop’s district had its charm, but it was nothing compared to the city's core.

  As he walked, the streets widened, the buildings grew grander, and the air itself felt richer with the scent of medicinal herbs, ink, and burning incense.

  This was where the real business of Clear Spring City happened.

  The Alchemy Pavilion, an imposing structure with curved green tiles and faint wisps of medicinal smoke rising from its rooftop, stood at the forefront. Even from a distance, Wu Ji Tian could pick up the thick fragrance of refined pills lingering in the air. A group of cultivators in white robes stood near the entrance, discussing the effects of a newly crafted pill.

  Not far from it was the Artifact Refinement Hall, a three-story building adorned with metallic inscriptions. Sparks occasionally fshed from its upper levels, accompanied by the rhythmic cng of hammers against metal. An elder with a long beard sat outside, casually polishing a half-finished sword that radiated faint spiritual energy.

  Further down the street, he passed a Talisman Shop, where stacks of glowing parchment were dispyed behind gss cases.A vendor demonstrated a basic defensive talisman, activating it with a flick of his wrist. A shimmering barrier formed, repelling an incoming strike from a iron dagger.

  The crowd murmured in interest, a few immediately stepping forward to purchase.

  Then there was the Auction House, a towering structure of dark wood and gold inys, guarded by armored cultivators at the entrance. It was quieter than the other shops, but its presence alone exuded prestige. Wu Ji Tian didn’t need to step inside to know that anything auctioned there would be worth a fortune.

  He took it all in.

  These establishments had stood for years, woven into the city's very lifeblood.

  If he wanted his shop to thrive, he needed to attract the same level of attention.

  But how?

  He found his answer in the murmurs of the crowd.

  Among the various discussions, he overheard talks about sect conflicts, rare materials, and upcoming tournaments. Yet, one recurring theme stood out

  Training and breakthroughs.

  Alchemy shops sold pills to aid cultivation. Refinement halls crafted weapons and artifacts for battle. Talismans provided defensive measures. Even the auction house primarily dealt in rare resources cultivators needed to advance.

  All of it revolved around growth. Strength. Progress.

  Wu Ji Tian’s lips curled into a smirk. If Virtual Haven could push cultivation beyond traditional methods, the city and cultivator wouldn’t be able to ignore it.

  But first, he needed to complete his scan.

  ============

  Wu Ji Tian spotted a small stone bench nestled beneath a ntern-lit pavilion and made his way over, settling down with a sigh. The evening breeze carried a faint chill, contrasting with the city's lingering warmth.

  "System," he murmured, his gaze idly sweeping over the passing cultivators. "How long will the scan take?"

  "Estimated time: approximately one hour."

  He frowned. "That long?"

  "Oh, I’m sorry, would you prefer a low-quality, pixeted rendering of reality?"

  Wu Ji Tian eyelid twitched as he let out a long sigh. "Just start the scan."

  A faint pulse of energy spread through the air—so subtle, it went unnoticed by those around him. No one else reacted, but Wu Ji Tian felt it. The scan wasn’t just gathering visual data. It was absorbing the textures of buildings, the scent of herbs, the density of spiritual energy in the air. Every minute detail of Clear Spring City would become a part of his Virtual Haven world.

  It wouldn’t just be a copy—it would be alive.

  A translucent interface appeared before his eyes.

  [Scanning in Progress]— 1%...

  Wu Ji Tian leaned back, fingers tapping idly on the stone bench.

  "What exactly are you scanning?"

  "Oh, you know, the usual. Buildings, roads, street vendors, the existential dread of that guy over there who's losing his st spirit stone in a bet."

  Wu Ji Tian followed the system's hint, spotting a young cultivator hunched over a gambling table, despair evident in his posture.

  He snorted. "So you’re reading emotions too?"

  "Obviously. What’s a world without authentic reactions? I’m collecting fluctuations in emotional qi, aura intensities, even subconscious spiritual signatures."

  5%... 10%...

  Wu Ji Tian narrowed his eyes. "Wait. Spiritual signatures?"

  "Yes. Some cultivators naturally emit different types of qi due to their elements. Fire cultivators unconsciously heat the air. Ice cultivators slightly lower the surrounding temperature. Some sword cultivators even leave faint sword intent in their surrounding"

  "That… actually makes sense," he admitted.

  "Gd to see your brain functioning. Do you want the advanced breakdown?"

  "Spare me the lecture. Just tell me if I can use it."

  "You can. The scan records aura fluctuations and spiritual imprints. That means NPCs can replicate a person's cultivation level, temperament, and even combat styles based on what they leave behind in reality."

  20%... 35%...

  Wu Ji Tian exhaled, watching the city breathe around him. Cultivators moved in small groups, their robes swaying under ntern-lit streets. Some ughed over cheap wine, others bartered for talismans, while a few simply walked in contemptive silence.

  The air itself was alive with qi. Now, he could see it.

  Rogue cultivators left chaotic, unstable qi trails. Sect disciples carried refined, disciplined signatures. A stall vendor unknowingly released traces of wood-element spiritual energy, probably because she cultivated alongside medicinal pnts.

  The city wasn’t just a pce. It was a living, pulsing entity of cultivation paths intertwining.

  50%... 65%...

  Then—

  “…the spiritual vein…”

  Wu Ji Tian’s fingers twitched slightly.

  A group of cultivators passed by, their voices hushed.

  “…something’s strange about it…”

  Spiritual vein?

  “…should we report it to the City Lord?”

  “…not yet. If it's real, we might have a chance to cim a portion for ourselves…”

  The voices faded into the night.

  Wu Ji Tian narrowed his eyes. He didn’t catch the full details, but if there was a hidden spiritual vein in Clear Spring City, it could change everything.

  A richer spiritual environment meant a more prosperous city—one that would attract even stronger cultivators.

  It also meant more conflict.

  He smirked. "This city's about to become a battlefield."

  "Oh, good. I was worried things were going too peacefully."

  Wu Ji Tian leaned forward, an idea forming.

  If tension kept growing, Virtual Haven could turn it into an opportunity. Instead of having cultivators fight in the streets, they could settle disputes inside the game.

  1v1 duels. Team-based battles. Faction wars.

  "5v5 MOBA matches," he muttered.

  "Excuse me? You want to turn ancient martial traditions into an esports tournament?"

  "Damn right. Better than letting them wreck the city."

  "You’re truly a visionary. I’ll be sure to inscribe your name in the annals of history—Wu Ji Tian, the man who made cultivators py League of Legends."

  Wu Ji Tian ignored the sarcasm, rising from the bench as the scan approached completion.

  75%... 90%...

  His gaze swept the city. The more he thought about it, the more he realized Virtual Haven wouldn’t just be a business—it would reshape the city’s entire power dynamic.

  [Ding! Scan complete. Would you like to receive your reward?]

  Wu Ji Tian exhaled slowly. "Not yet. I'll collect it when I get back."

  =========

  By the time he reached his store, the city had fully embraced the night. The once-busy streets had quieted, though a few cultivators still roamed, their robes fluttering under the dim glow of moonlight.

  His shop stood just as he had left it—silent, unassuming, yet brimming with untapped potential.

  He stepped inside, sealing the door behind him.

  If that spiritual vein rumor was true… his shop was about to become far more valuable.

  "Would you like to receive your reward?"

  A smirk formed on his lips.

  "Yes."

  A wave of raw energy flooded his body.

  His breath hitched.

  The system’s voice rang in his mind.

  "Reward Unlocked: Cultivation Art – Glitched Reality Absorption."

  Wu Ji Tian barely had time to process the name before a translucent interface appeared.

  "Reality Overwrite: Allows the absorption and refinement of qi at a distorted rate, compressing hours of training into minutes."

  "Desync Resonance: Qi signature fluctuates unpredictably, making it harder for enemies to gauge cultivation level or nd precise attacks."

  Wu Ji Tian’s eyes flickered with excitement. "This…"

  "Now receiving physique."

  Before he could react, searing pain tore through his meridians.

  His body cracked. Shifted. Rewrote itself.

  His knees buckled. Teeth clenched, he forced himself to stand even as his entire being flickered—like a glitch in reality.

  His vision blurred. His thoughts felt… desynced.

  And then—

  Darkness.

  System: "Good night."