The overwhelming surge of power in Chen Luo's body felt like it could tear the void itself apart. Every breath he took seemed to distort the air, and the slightest flick of his finger could rend the space around him.
Though he hadn't practiced any cultivation technique yet, the sheer weight of his Saint Realm cultivation was enough to crush most ordinary cultivators like ants. It was a feeling of absolute power—of dominance.
So this is what true strength feels like.
With power coursing through every vein, Chen Luo brimmed with confidence. Even without techniques, even without a faction, just his current strength alone was enough to hold up the legacy of Celestial Spire Peak.
"Master, rest in peace... from now on, I will uphold the name of Celestial Spire Peak," Chen Luo murmured quietly before he respectfully buried his late master, Wang Lixuan, atop the mountain and erected a simple but dignified tombstone. It was his way of honoring the one who brought him here.
The next few days passed in peaceful silence.
Chen Luo remained atop Celestial Spire Peak, adjusting to his newfound power and collecting daily sign-in rewards from the system. Pills, treasures, techniques, formations—every day brought something new, and his strength only soared higher.
Twenty-Five Days Later – Celestial Spire Peak
Under the vast sky, Chen Luo lay lazily beneath a thousand-year-old peach tree, one of his sign-in rewards. The air was filled with the fragrance of spiritual fruits, and heaven and earth spiritual energy flowed like rivers.
He casually took a bite of a plump peach that radiated a warm glow.
Crunch. Crunch. Gulp.
"Mmm... spiritual fruits really do hit differently after reaching the Saint Realm," he mumbled in satisfaction.
This thousand-year-old spiritual peach tree was his reward on the seventh day. Even cultivators at the Saint Realm could benefit from its rich essence.
In the past three weeks, Celestial Spire Peak had undergone a complete transformation. With the help of the system's rewards—heaven-grade panaceas, powerful techniques, and even top-tier sacred artifacts—the once-neglected peak now flourished like a celestial paradise.
From protective formations that could rival sect-level defenses to holy energy flowing in the air like mist, the mountain had been completely reborn. If his master came back to life now, he probably wouldn't recognize his own peak.
Chen Luo now sat at the third level of the Saint Realm, and had mastered several formidable saint-level techniques. It was an absurd rise in power by any cultivation standard.
And yet, there he was—lounging under a tree, looking like he hadn't a care in the world.
"Master! Master! When are we going down the mountain? It's so boring up here!" a soft, sweet voice called out.
From the dense grove nearby, a white blur shot out and jumped into Chen Luo's arms.
A soft little white fox—fluffy, elegant, and sparkling like a celestial snow spirit—nestled comfortably against his chest. Her eyes were large and intelligent, her fur immaculate and glowing with spiritual energy.
"Xiao Bai, give it a few more days," Chen Luo said as he patted her silky fur. "Let your master lie down in peace a little longer."
He exhaled in bliss.
Ah… the joy of petting a fox.
This little white fox wasn't ordinary. She was his sign-in reward from the tenth day—a Nine-Tailed White Fox of the Creation Realm, a divine being among the demon clan. She was bound to Chen Luo through the system and showed unconditional loyalty and affection toward him.
Though she often stayed in her small, cute form, she possessed terrifying power.
"Master…" Xiao Bai pouted, her voice filled with grievance. "If we don't recruit a disciple soon, Celestial Spire Peak will be dissolved!"
Chen Luo sighed lazily. "It's only been twenty-five days. We've still got time. On the thirtieth day, I'll go down and casually pick someone up. That should keep the sect elders off our backs."
He didn't take it seriously. With a system like his, why rush? The life of lying flat, signing in, and passively growing stronger was far more appealing.
As a game developer in his past life, Chen Luo had slaved away under deadlines and pressure. Now, with a cheat system that practically begged him to be lazy, he had no interest in working hard anymore.
Xiao Bai rolled her eyes, but didn't argue. Honestly, she enjoyed the peaceful days too.
Boom—!
Suddenly, a panicked cry rang out from within the valley mist.
"Help! What is this place?! Somebody, save us!!"
Chen Luo's ears perked up. Hmm? Intruders?
He smirked. The Saint-level Formation Array he had placed around the peak was no joke. Even fellow Saint Realm cultivators would struggle to enter. The formation alone was enough to kill or trap most uninvited guests.
"Xiao Bai, go check who's trying to trespass on our turf."
"On it~"
She vanished like a shadow into the mist.
Outer Perimeter – Celestial Spire Peak
Fog coiled thick around the mountain paths, swirling unnaturally with a life of its own. Spiritual light flickered and vines slithered through the ground like lurking serpents.
"Senior Brother Shen! What the hell is going on?! Are there ghosts on this peak?! Why is this place suddenly so terrifying!?"
A bloodied disciple in white trembled as he leaned against a jagged rock. His robes were torn, and his body was riddled with cuts.
"I thought this place was abandoned!" he cried.
Shen Lian, the leading disciple, was equally disturbed. His expression was grim, his aura flickering wildly as he tried to shield himself from the formation's attacks.
They had come here under orders from the sect—Tian Dao Sect's leadership wanted to officially reclaim Celestial Spire Peak, assuming it had been deserted after Wang Lixuan's death.
Shen Lian was no ordinary disciple. At just twenty years old, he had reached the Ninth Level of Nirvana Realm and was hailed as one of the Enlightenment Peak's most gifted prodigies. His physique was special, his talent monstrous.
The other two disciples, also from Enlightenment Peak, were powerful in their own right.
Yet now, these proud geniuses were being reduced to scared children.
"What is this...?! Formation traps?! Spiritual beasts?! I thought this was an empty mountain!"
"Senior Brother Shen! It's coming again!!" a disciple screamed as thorn-covered vines surged toward them from the fog.
They braced themselves for impact—
And then, silence.
The vines stopped mid-air, quivering for a moment before retreating into the mist. The oppressive energy suddenly lifted.
A cold, commanding voice rang out like thunder in their ears.
"Who dares trespass upon my Celestial Spire Peak?"
They turned.
There, from the mist, emerged a massive white fox—easily over twenty meters long—with nine tails swaying behind her like a divine waterfall of snow. Her aura was boundless, her eyes glowing like stars.
"Th-That's a Nine-Tailed Fox! A demon beast at the Creation Realm!?"
Even Shen Lian, a renowned genius, felt his knees buckle. Fear washed over them like a tide, numbing their senses.