His consciousness slowly receded like a retreating tide, leaving behind an exceptionally clear sense of reality.
Shin sat on the edge of the bed, taking several full minutes to barely digest a small portion of the vast knowledge—enough for a scholar to study for a lifetime—as well as the transmigration experience that was powerful enough to overturn anyone's worldview.
He was no longer the twenty-two-year-old graduate who had been lost and confused about his future.
Now, he was Shin, eighteen years old—the final successor of a long-declined Eastern cultivation family—who had come alone to a place called Kuoh Town to enroll in Private Kuoh Academy.
"Kuoh Academy…"
He softly repeated the name.
Aside from the fragments of knowledge forcibly instilled by the System, he also held a vague impression of it from his own memories.
It was the main stage of an anime—a dangerous place filled with youth, lust (he vaguely remembered it being famous for its mature rating), and countless supernatural beings clashing in secret.
Devils.
Angels.
Fallen Angels.
Dragons.
Sacred Gear wielders.
These words flashed through his mind alongside scattered images, sending a chill through his body.
The System hadn't thrown him into a peaceful, everyday world.
Survival—this was the only directive left behind, and also the most critical challenge.
Shin took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
Panic solved nothing.
Since he was already here, his top priority was to understand his current situation and make full use of every resource available to him.
He stood up and carefully examined his room.
It wasn't large, but it was neat and clean, decorated in a typical Japanese style with wooden floors and sliding-door wardrobes.
On the desk were his identity documents, a brand-new school bag, and several basic textbooks. The System had been unusually "thoughtful."
The single bed he had woken up on sat quietly in the corner.
His luggage was minimal—only an inconspicuous, slightly worn suitcase, likely arranged by the System as well.
Opening it, he found a few sets of clothes inside. They were ordinary in quality but clean and well-fitting, perfectly matching the identity of someone from a "declined family."
Nothing else of value was inside.
His gaze finally fell on the black card inlaid with silver magical runes.
It rested quietly in the corner of the desk, looking like nothing more than an ordinary bank card. Yet Shin knew it held the foundation for his survival in this world.
One hundred million yen.
"Magic Bank Card…"
He picked it up. The surface felt cool, and the silver runes subtly flowed beneath the light, radiating a quiet sense of mystery.
"How do I use it… mental confirmation?"
He focused and thought, Check balance.
Instantly, an extremely faint magical fluctuation—imperceptible to ordinary people—emanated from the card. A clear digital projection floated above it.
100,000,000
A full one hundred million yen.
Even accounting for differences in currency value between worlds, it was still an enormous sum—enough to ensure he wouldn't have to worry about basic survival for quite some time.
The System had been generous when it came to "survival guarantees."
Carefully slipping the card into his pocket, Shin felt a subtle sense of reassurance.
Money wasn't everything, but no one could survive without it.
Returning to the full-length mirror, he examined the youth reflected there.
The eighteen-year-old body was filled with vitality.
His features were delicate, carrying a faint scholarly air. Perhaps due to the bloodline of a "cultivation family," his skin was unnaturally flawless, and his eyes were clear—though deep within them lingered a trace of caution and detachment born from his recent upheaval.
"From today onward… I am you."
He spoke softly to his reflection.
It was both a farewell to his past life and a declaration for the future.
A strong impulse rose within him, prompting him to close his eyes.
Recalling the Inner Elixir Breathing Technique, he cast aside distracting thoughts and focused on his Dantian. His breathing gradually slowed, becoming long and rhythmic, following a unique cadence.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
At first, there was no obvious sensation. But gradually, he felt that the surrounding air was subtly different.
Threads of extremely faint—yet undeniably real—energy slowly flowed into his body with each breath.
This energy was completely different from anything he had experienced on Blue Star. It was more active, with greater "substance," carrying a powerful life force. However, it also felt chaotic and difficult to control.
Spiritual Qi…
The faint warm current finally settled into his lower abdomen, resting within his Dantian and bringing an indescribable comfort and fullness.
Though it was only a trace, it noticeably refreshed his spirit. The lingering fatigue from last night—no, from the transmigration itself—was greatly alleviated.
"I really can cultivate…"
A wave of excitement surged through Shin's heart.
In this dangerous world, personal strength was the greatest guarantee of survival.
The Daoist cultivation system was his strongest reliance—his ultimate trump card.
He practiced the breathing technique several more times, until the sensation of Qi in his Dantian stabilized. Only then did he slowly open his eyes.
Outside the window, the sky was fully bright. Sunlight poured in, scattering warm patches of light across the wooden floor.
A melodious chime rang out, followed by a clear broadcast drifting in from outside.
"Good morning, students."
"Kuoh Academy is about to begin a new day of classes."
"Students who have not yet arrived, please hurry—"
The female voice was clear and pleasant, filled with the atmosphere of youthful academia.
Kuoh Academy.
The base of the devil noble Rias Gremory.
The location of the Occult Research Club.
The starting point of countless intertwined stories.
Shin took a deep breath and decided to head outside.
He needed to familiarize himself with Kuoh Town—and more importantly, gather information.
The System had given him an identity and knowledge, but it had told him nothing about the current timeline or the ongoing events of this world.
Intelligence was just as vital as power.
After changing into simple casual clothes, he tucked away the bank card and some loose change—thoughtfully prepared by the System and placed in a drawer—then pushed open the door and stepped outside.
He lived in an older apartment building located in a relatively quiet area with few residents.
Descending the stairs and stepping onto the street, he was greeted by a scene brimming with everyday life.
Kuoh Town in the early morning was peaceful and cozy.
The streets were clean, lined with cherry blossom trees—though the blooming season had already passed. Traditional Japanese houses stood neatly alongside modern buildings.
Students wearing identical uniforms walked in small groups, chatting and laughing as they headed in the same direction—toward Kuoh Academy.
Occasional vehicles passed by, but the streets weren't noisy.
Everything looked normal.
Peaceful.
Almost indistinguishable from any ordinary Japanese town.
Yet Shin quickly noticed subtle differences.
Perhaps due to his initial step into cultivation and the transformation of his soul, his perception had become far sharper than before.
Beyond the Spiritual Qi he could absorb, the air was mixed with extremely faint traces of energy of different natures.
Some felt cold and sinister.
Some were scorching and violent.
Some were holy.
Some were unmistakably evil.
They were too faint to clearly grasp, yet undeniably present—like undercurrents flowing beneath a calm surface.
He even noticed that some pedestrians carried auras entirely different from ordinary humans.
A suited man passing by exuded a faint trace of Devil Qi, vaguely similar to the impression he associated with Rias Gremory.
An elderly woman carrying groceries was surrounded by a gentle, peaceful aura—possibly connected to the Church.
There were even several students whose bodies concealed strange, foreign energy fluctuations.
Sacred Gears…?
"So this place really isn't as simple as it looks."
A chill crept into Shin's heart.
He immediately restrained his presence, subtly applying the rudimentary Qi Concealment Technique described in the formation overview, making himself appear like an ordinary, powerless human.
He was like a small beast that had wandered into a jungle—carefully hiding itself while observing everything around it.
Wandering aimlessly, his gaze swept across roadside shops: convenience stores, bookstores, cafés, electronics shops—everything carried the breath of modern life.
Then his eyes stopped.
A shop stood ahead, noticeably old compared to the rest.
The sign read:
"Specializing in Mysterious Ancient Texts and Rare Materials."
The display window showcased crystal balls, tarot cards, dried herbs, and faintly glowing ores and feathers he had never seen before.
The shop wasn't large, but it radiated a deep sense of age and mystery.
Shin's heart stirred.
In this world, a shop like this probably wasn't just scamming tourists.
After a brief hesitation, he pushed the door open.
Ding-a-ling.
The lighting inside was dim. The air carried a unique scent—a blend of old books, herbs, and faint incense.
Shelves were packed with strange goods, from thick parchment texts to peculiar liquids sealed in glass bottles.
Behind the counter, an elderly shop owner was dozing. He looked up at the sound of the bell, revealing a wrinkled face and unexpectedly sharp eyes.
His gaze swept over Shin, lingering briefly on his waist and hands—as if checking for weapons or magical artifacts—before a trace of doubt flickered across his eyes and faded.
"Welcome, young man. Looking for something?" the old man asked hoarsely.
Shin forced himself to look like an ordinary curious student. "Just browsing."
His gaze moved across the shelves—and his heart jolted.
He recognized many of the items.
Several basic auxiliary herbs recorded in the Classic of Hundred Herbs and Elixirs, such as Tranquility Flower and Silver Leaf Grass, were being sold here as finished dried products.
There were also ores like low-grade Mithril Fragments and faintly glowing Moonstone Powder—materials mentioned in the formation overview for setting up basic arrays.
These were real.
Genuine supernatural materials.
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Shin casually pointed at a packet of Tranquility Flower.
"Boss, how much is this?"
The old man glanced at it and quoted a price.
It was expensive—far beyond ordinary herbs—but still within an acceptable range.
Shin didn't buy it immediately. He continued to "browse," committing prices and materials to memory, while a storm raged inside him.
The knowledge given by the System was truly usable.
These materials actually existed.
That meant his Daoist techniques weren't just theoretical—he could draw talismans, refine medicinal pills, and set up formations in this world.
This discovery greatly strengthened his confidence.
After lingering for a while, he politely took his leave. The old man merely nodded, asking no further questions.
Stepping back into the sunlight, Shin felt his mood completely change.
The confusion and anxiety remained—but now they were accompanied by purpose and anticipation.
He looked toward Kuoh Academy.
The clock tower gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.
That place was the heart of the story.
Where danger gathered.
But also where answers awaited.
"Survive…"
He softly repeated the System's final instruction, his gaze gradually sharpening with resolve.
First, he needed to withdraw money, purchase materials, and attempt his first talisman or simplest medicinal pill.
Power had to be accumulated step by step.
Then, he would report to school, integrate into the environment, and quietly observe.
His otherworldly Dao path took its first substantial step—
On this morning in Kuoh Town.