Pain.
That was the first thing Ren felt.
Not the dull ache of a bad sleep. Not the sting of a minor injury. This was deep, crushing pain that seeped into his bones, as if his entire body had been beaten and thrown aside like trash.
He tried to breathe.
Air entered his lungs — sharp, cold, unfamiliar.
"…I'm alive?"
The thought formed slowly, like a rusty machine forcing itself to move again. His eyelids trembled before finally opening.
A wooden ceiling greeted him.
Old. Cracked. Covered in cobwebs.
This wasn't a hospital.It wasn't his apartment either.
A faint smell of incense mixed with dust filled the air.
Ren sat up abruptly.
Pain exploded through his ribs.
"Ghk—!"
Memories slammed into him like a tidal wave.
A different life.A different world.A different… body.
He grabbed his head as images flooded his mind.
Mountains that pierced the heavens.Flying swords streaking across the sky.Disciples in flowing robes.Ruthless competition.Power above all.
And at the center of those memories—
The Nine Heavens Immortal Sect.
Ren froze.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
He staggered to his feet and looked down at himself. Thin arms. Bruised knuckles. Torn gray disciple robes. His body felt light — too light. Weak. Malnourished.
He stumbled toward a cracked bronze mirror hanging on the wall.
A pale young man stared back at him.Black hair. Sharp but tired eyes.A face that would be handsome… if not for the exhaustion and faint scars.
"This… isn't me."
Or rather — it was now.
The memories settled.
This body's owner had the same name: Ren.
An outer disciple of the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect.Age: eighteen.Talent: nonexistent.Status: disposable.
A bitter laugh escaped his lips.
"So I died… and got reincarnated into a cultivation world?"
Fragments of his past life surfaced.A normal life. A normal death. Nothing heroic. Nothing special.
And now—
He was here.
Inside the body of the weakest outer disciple in one of the most powerful sects in existence.
Ren leaned against the wall and exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm.
"Alright… don't panic. Assess the situation."
He closed his eyes, organizing the inherited memories.
In this world, strength ruled everything. Cultivators trained to surpass mortal limits, seeking immortality and absolute power. Sects controlled territories. Clans fought endlessly. Weakness meant death.
And this version of Ren?
He possessed trash-tier spiritual roots.Could barely absorb spiritual energy.Had no backing. No family. No master.
Even worse—
He owed resources to several stronger disciples after being bullied and extorted for months.
"Fantastic," Ren muttered dryly. "I reincarnated straight into hard mode."
A sudden knock echoed on the door.
BANG.
Not polite.Aggressive.
"Oi, trash! You still alive in there?"
Ren's expression sharpened.
The voice was familiar from memory.
Zhao Kun.Outer disciple. Mid-stage Body Tempering.A thug who regularly beat this body for resources.
The door slammed open before Ren could respond.
A tall, muscular youth stepped in, accompanied by two others. All wore outer disciple robes — though theirs were clean and intact.
Zhao Kun sneered when he saw Ren standing.
"Well, look at that. The rat can still stand."
His gaze dropped to Ren's chest.
"You still owe me three spirit stones."
Ren said nothing.
Inside, his mind moved rapidly.
This body had already given everything it owned. The "debt" was fabricated — an excuse for continued abuse.
Zhao Kun stepped closer, eyes cold.
"Hand them over. Or I'll take payment another way."
The two lackeys behind him cracked their knuckles.
Ren slowly straightened.
He was weak. That much was obvious. His muscles lacked strength. His spiritual energy was nearly nonexistent.
Fighting head-on would be suicide.
So he did the only logical thing.
He smiled.
"…Give me three days."
Zhao Kun blinked, caught off guard.
"Three days?" he repeated.
Ren nodded calmly.
"The outer disciple elimination trial starts soon, right? If I survive, I'll receive resources. I'll pay you then. With interest."
Zhao Kun narrowed his eyes.
The elimination trial.
Every year, weak outer disciples were sent into a dangerous spirit forest. Many died. Few returned. Survivors received small rewards and the right to remain in the sect.
Most assumed Ren would die there anyway.
"…You think you'll survive?" Zhao Kun scoffed.
Ren met his gaze steadily.
"If I don't, you lose nothing. If I do, you get paid."
Silence stretched.
One of the lackeys whispered, "Senior Zhao, he's right. He'll probably die anyway."
Zhao Kun considered. Then smirked.
"Fine. Three days." He leaned closer, voice low and threatening. "But if you try to run… I'll break every bone in your body before killing you."
Ren held his gaze without flinching.
Zhao Kun snorted and turned, leaving with his followers.
The door slammed shut.
Silence returned.
Ren exhaled slowly.
"That buys me time… but not a solution."
He walked toward the small window. Outside, towering mountains pierced the clouds. Disciples crossed the skies on flying swords. Spiritual energy shimmered faintly in the air.
A world of power.
And he was at the bottom.
"If nothing changes," he murmured, "I'll be dead within a week."
As if responding to his thoughts—
A faint chime echoed in his mind.
Ding.
Ren froze.
A translucent panel flickered into existence before his eyes.
Glowing. Ethereal. Impossible.
Heavenly Bond System Initializing…Host confirmed.Soul compatibility: Perfect.Activation complete.
Ren stared.
"…You have got to be kidding me."
The panel shifted, lines of golden text forming.
Welcome, Host.Heavenly Bond System online.Primary function: Assist host in ascending beyond destiny through bonded cultivation.
His heartbeat quickened.
"A system… I actually got a system?"
Another notification appeared.
Scanning surroundings…Legendary fate target detected nearby.
A map formed in the air — a glowing dot pulsing just outside his dormitory building.
Then, new text appeared.
Target: Ice Sword FairyStatus: Inner Sect GeniusDanger Level: ExtremeAffection: -82Intent: Hostile
Ren blinked.
"…Hostile?"
Footsteps echoed outside his door.
Slow. Calm. Deadly.
A chilling pressure filled the air — like the temperature itself had dropped.
Frost crept across the wooden floor.
Ren turned.
The door slid open.
A young woman stood there, dressed in pristine white and blue robes. Long silver hair fell down her back like flowing moonlight. Her eyes were pale, almost crystalline — beautiful and utterly cold.
Spiritual energy swirled around her like a blizzard contained in human form.
Every memory in Ren's head screamed the same name.
Lin Yue.Inner sect prodigy.Known across the outer sect by a single title:
Ice Sword Fairy.
Feared. Untouchable.A genius destined for greatness.
And—
Someone this body had accidentally offended yesterday.
Her gaze settled on him.
Cold. Sharp. Lethal.
"I told you," she said softly, voice like frozen steel,"to stay out of my sight."
Killing intent flooded the room.
Ren's heart pounded — but his mind remained strangely calm.
Another system notification flashed.
Emergency Quest TriggeredSurvive 10 minutes in presence of Ice Sword FairyReward: Beginner Bond PackageFailure: Death
Ren stared at the text.
Then at the woman who could kill him with a flick of her finger.
He took a slow breath.
"…Well," he muttered under his breath,"This is one hell of a start."
The temperature in the room dropped.
Frost crept along the floorboards like living veins, spreading outward from the doorway. Each step the Ice Sword Fairy took left faint crystals forming in the wood beneath her feet.
Ren felt it instantly.
Pressure.
Not physical — not exactly.It was heavier than that. Suffocating. Like invisible hands pressing against his chest, squeezing his lungs, weighing down his bones.
This… was the difference between them.
An outer disciple who could barely circulate spiritual energy.And an inner sect genius who could freeze a room just by standing in it.
Lin Yue's pale eyes locked onto him.
"Why," she asked softly, "are you still here?"
Her voice was calm. Gentle even.
Which made it far more terrifying.
Ren's mind raced.
Ten minutes.He just needed to survive ten minutes.
Against someone who could kill him instantly.
Great.
He forced his breathing to stay steady. Panic would only make him freeze — literally.
"I live here," he replied, keeping his tone neutral.
A mistake.
The air snapped colder.
Frost climbed up the wall behind him, creeping like a spreading web.
Lin Yue stepped fully into the room. The door slid shut behind her without being touched.
"You were warned," she said. "Yesterday."
Memories surfaced.
Yesterday, this body's previous owner had accidentally bumped into her while carrying water buckets. Some had spilled onto her robe. Not enough to matter to most people.
But geniuses weren't "most people."
To someone at her level, being touched by a weak outer disciple was an insult.
"I don't like repeating myself," she continued quietly.
A thin sword of ice began forming in her hand. Not drawn from a sheath — created from pure spiritual energy. Translucent. Beautiful.
Lethal.
Ren's heartbeat pounded.
Nine minutes left.The system timer had appeared in the corner of his vision.
He raised his hands slowly, showing he wasn't reaching for a weapon.
"I'll move dorms," he said calmly. "You won't see me again."
Silence.
Her gaze sharpened slightly, as if studying him.
Most outer disciples would already be begging. Crying. Prostrating themselves.
He wasn't.
"…You're not afraid," she observed.
That was wrong.
He was absolutely terrified.
But terror wouldn't save him.
"Of course I'm afraid," Ren said honestly. "I just know begging won't change anything."
The ice sword in her hand solidified further.
"Correct."
A step forward.
Pressure doubled.
Ren felt his knees threaten to buckle. His body screamed at him to kneel — not out of respect, but pure survival instinct.
He locked his muscles.
If he collapsed now, he might never stand again.
"You offended me," Lin Yue said. "In this sect, that is enough reason."
Ren's mind moved rapidly.
Think.Think.Think.
He couldn't fight.He couldn't run.He couldn't beg.
So what was left?
"…You're injured," he said.
The words slipped out before he could second-guess them.
The room went still.
Completely still.
Even the frost stopped spreading.
Lin Yue's eyes narrowed by a fraction.
"What did you say?"
Ren swallowed.
Seven minutes.
He had noticed it the moment she stepped in — something subtle beneath the overwhelming aura. A fluctuation. A slight instability in her spiritual pressure. Almost imperceptible.
Almost.
"Your spiritual energy," he said carefully. "It's unstable. Cold… but chaotic underneath."
Silence.
For the first time, true killing intent surged.
The ice sword pointed directly at his throat.
One twitch and he would die.
"How," she asked softly, "would an outer disciple know that?"
Ren's brain screamed that he'd gone too far.
But he also saw something else.
A flicker.Tiny. Hidden.
Not rage.
Concern.
"…Lucky guess?" he tried weakly.
The sword pressed closer. A thin line of cold touched his skin. He felt it instantly — numbness spreading where the blade hovered.
"Wrong answer."
Five minutes.
His thoughts raced faster.
If he backed down now, she would kill him anyway. He had already crossed the line.
So he stepped forward instead.
Just half a step.
Enough to show he wasn't retreating.
"I can help," he said quietly.
The words hung in the frozen air.
For a moment, even the world seemed to hold its breath.
Lin Yue stared at him.
Then—
A faint tremor ran through her aura.
So subtle most would never notice.
But Ren did.
Pain.
She was in pain.
Her condition wasn't just instability. It was something worse — something eating away at her from the inside.
"Your meridians are freezing from within," he said slowly, trusting instinct more than knowledge. "If it keeps spreading, it'll reach your core."
The ice sword trembled.
Just slightly.
Her eyes sharpened dangerously.
"You speak as if you understand my cultivation."
"I don't," Ren admitted. "But I can feel it."
That wasn't entirely a lie.
Since waking in this world, his senses felt sharper. More sensitive to fluctuations. Maybe a side effect of reincarnation. Maybe something else.
Or maybe—
The system.
A faint notification flickered:
Hidden condition detected: Frost Vein DeviationCompatibility with host: Extremely high
Ren's pulse quickened.
So he'd been right.
Lin Yue said nothing for several long seconds.
Then—
Her sword vanished.
Not lowered. Not sheathed.
Gone.
But the killing intent didn't disappear.
It condensed instead, becoming something sharper. Focused entirely on him.
"If you're lying," she said softly, "you will die slowly."
Ren forced a calm expression.
"If I were lying," he replied, "I wouldn't bring it up."
Silence.
The timer ticked.
Three minutes.
Lin Yue stepped closer.
Close enough that he could see faint frost patterns beneath her skin — like tiny cracks of ice along her wrist. Beautiful. Terrifying.
Her gaze searched his face.
As if trying to peel him apart layer by layer.
"…Outer disciple," she said quietly. "What is your name?"
"Ren."
Another pause.
Then—
"Follow me."
He blinked.
"…What?"
"Follow," she repeated. "If you truly saw something… you will explain it properly."
The killing intent receded — not gone, but restrained.
The crushing pressure on his body eased just enough for him to breathe normally again.
A system notification flashed brightly:
Emergency Quest CompletedSurvived encounter with Ice Sword FairyReward: Beginner Bond Package (Locked)New Quest Triggered: Establish First Bond
Ren stared at the message.
Then at the terrifying genius standing before him.
She turned and walked toward the door without waiting.
Ren exhaled slowly.
"…Well," he muttered, heart still pounding,"I guess I'm not dying today."
He stepped forward and followed her into the freezing night —completely unaware that this single decision would change the course of his fate… and shake the heavens themselves.