A black crow flew over a hill. A glint of light from the ground caught its attention.
Amidst the bushes, Dao Tian's body was no longer an ancient metal lump but had gradually taken on a more lustrous appearance.
Be it coincidence or perhaps fate's arrangement, the crow swooped down into the bushes, snatched him up, and flew toward the city.
---
After being taken away by those men, Lin Hao arrived at his original location and said he wanted to walk home on his own. Of course, Su Shen's bodyguards had no reason to trouble him further and readily agreed.
Just as he stepped up to his front door, a strong gust of wind blew dust and sand everywhere, forcing him to squint.
A crow's caw echoed from the sky. The strong wind had caused it to drop Dao Tian.
Thump!
Dao Tian fell straight onto Lin Hao's head. Lin Hao didn't even let out a cry before collapsing unconscious, a large wound on the crown of his head bleeding profusely.
Dao Tian's soul consciousness abruptly awoke, filled with intense confusion.
'What? I haven't been asleep for long and already run into someone with trash-tier cultivation talent? Ah, damn. Why is his life force fading so fast? I wonder if this metal lump has any ability to save people?' Dao Tian thought to himself, feeling a bit panicked.
People with trash-tier cultivation talent were a dime a dozen in this world. He didn't necessarily believe Lin Hao possessed great willpower or determination.
But this was, after all, the first person he had been fortunate enough to encounter early on. He couldn't just let him die like that.
A stream of unfamiliar memories surfaced in his mind, and he immediately knew what to do next.
'So I just need to make him a host vessel to save him.' Dao Tian thought, then acted without delay.
The metal lump now moved like a slime, lunging onto Lin Hao's right arm and enveloping it.
Its form rapidly changed, finally transforming into a platinum-colored 'watch'. It's just that this 'watch' looked very strange, resembling more like a superhero transformation device.
The wound on Lin Hao's forehead also healed rapidly as a result, but he still did not regain consciousness.
---
In a dazed state, Lin Hao saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
He took a soft breath. The scent of 'sickness' in the air made him freeze.
"Damn, my head hurts so much. Why does this place look like a hospital?" Lin Hao held his forehead, squinting as he looked around.
"You're awake?"
The strange voice made Lin Hao jump.
He looked left and right, sweat starting to bead on his forehead.
'My head hurts this much, and now I'm hearing strange sounds. Could it be... I fell and damaged my brain?' The thought flashed through his mind, but he immediately shook his head.
"Not logical. If my brain were damaged, how could I think normally? What on earth is going on?" he muttered while looking around in the direction he thought the sound came from.
A slight heaviness on his wrist made him freeze for a moment. Glancing down, he saw it was a very cool-looking 'watch' that resembled a toy more than a timepiece.
"What's this? Why is this on my hand?" Lin Hao frowned, muttering, and prepared to take it off.
He didn't have a habit of stealing; he wouldn't use things that weren't his.
???
Lin Hao gritted his teeth, his face contorted as he pulled hard on the 'watch', but it seemed fused as one with his body. No matter which direction he tugged or how hard he pried, it didn't budge an inch.
"Save your effort. I've chosen you as my host... So you can't escape." Dao Tian said, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance.
Even without a physical body, the initiative still belonged to him. This was somewhat something to be proud of.
Lin Hao's eyes widened as he stared at his arm, his gaze as bizarre as seeing a ghost in broad daylight.
Now he no longer thought it was his imagination. Clearly, the thing on his hand was no ordinary object.
"What on earth are you? Why did you say I'm your host?"
Though wary, deep within his eyes flickered a spark of hope. In this world that had only been exposed to cultivation for a hundred years, something strange could very well be a great opportunity.
"Wait a second, seems I have a new ability." Dao Tian didn't answer the question but instead focused his mind.
He had just discovered that after Lin Hao woke up, he had awakened a new ability.
'This feeling... seems I have more initiative now,' he thought to himself while willing the metal body to move.
The 'watch' twisted and contorted like a wobbly water balloon, then fell off Lin Hao's hand.
From its liquid-like form, it slowly rose to a height of just over a handspan before stopping. But more detailed features began to appear.
A total of three colors—platinum, gold, and blue—emerged and gradually became more distinct. The metal lump is now transformed into a small robot with a head half the size of its body.
"Ha ha ha, fantastic!" Dao Tian raised his little fists to the sky and laughed heartily.
Compared to being stuck as a watch or a lump of metal, being able to move freely in this robot form was indeed a huge improvement.
He ran back and forth on his short little legs, his speed as slow as a child's toy.
"Too slow. Seems like I can fly, I think." Dao Tian muttered, then closed his eyes to sense the space around him.
It was very different from using spiritual power to fly in his previous life. It felt easier, as if his harmony with the world had skyrocketed.
He gently made a few circles around Lin Hao before landing on the bed.
"Ha ha, this speed is acceptable. Not so fast, but still ok." Dao Tian nodded in approval, then looked towards Lin Hao.
"Little friend, it's time for us to have a talk."