"Ding! The gears of destiny have officially begun to turn. System loading complete. Host, please receive!"
"This is the Wish-Fulfilling System. The host may make exactly ten distinct wishes. Once all ten are fulfilled, the system will enter permanent dormancy."
Beneath the towering, sun-bleached stone of the testing platform, Xiao Tian stood perfectly still. The cold, mechanical cadence echoed directly within his soul. For two and a half agonizing years, he had endured the mundane crawl of time, waiting for this single moment. To his ears, that emotionless voice sounded sweeter than the celestial chimes of heaven.
He wasted no time on hesitation. Before the countdown could even register, he began articulating his desires with absolute clarity in his mind.
System, record my ten wishes:
First Wish:
Grant me the complete Power of the Nine Supreme Great Laws—Fire, Water, Lightning, Wind, Earth, Darkness, Light, Space, and Time. These nine laws become nine veins on my body, and I can control these Nine Laws, and I can absorb and manipulate all of the laws. And I will have a Devouring bone on my body that will give me the power of devouring, and this power will create the supreme, most powerful primordial Venis.
Second Wish:
My second wish is for the system to create a new supreme Primordial Dragon God Power. Let it be the Primordial Golden Dragon God—the true ruler of all beasts, the ruler of heaven and earth. With this power, I shall stand above every dragon, every magical beast, and every living being. I will be the most powerful Dragon God in existence, and even heaven and earth themselves shall acknowledge my supremacy.
Third Wish:
The complete legacy of the Yellow Spring Demon Saint from the Dou Qi Continent, including his cultivation Qi Method, his storage ring, and the Yellow Spring Stone Tablet.
Fourth Wish:
I want the system to make it so that Elder Shennong never obtained the Life Spirit Flame, but that it was unowned, and that the system gives it to me and no one else who has the Life Spirit Flame.
Fifth Wish:
My fifth wish is for the Heaven-Punishing Ancestral Sword, the Heavenly Poison Pearl, the World Piercer, the Myriad Manifestations Devouring Gourd, the Myriad Soul Flag, and the Heaven-Slaying Sword.
Sixth Wish:
I want the system to create a separate world linked to my soul. Unlike the miniature realms created by Dou Dis, this world will be a true, independent reality with its own laws and powers. It will expand and grow stronger along with me, existing as a genuine parallel world under my absolute dominion.
Seventh Wish:
I want the system to merge the Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning, currently slumbering in the depths of the Void Lightning Pool of the Void Dragon Clan. It shall be fused with me, making me its master. Within my separated world, the system will create another Void Lightning Pool, permanently bound to me, allowing me to summon and control its power at will. And I also want the Black Demon Lightning along with Nine-Colored Pill Lightning.
Eighth Wish:
I want the Burning Heaven Spiritual Fire, the second-ranked Divine Flame of the Great Thousand World.
Ninth Wish:
I want the Burning Heaven Divine Cauldron, ranked second among the Divine Cauldrons of the Great Thousand World.
Tenth Wish:
Heaven-Punishing Ancestral Sword Art: The Heaven-Punishing Ancestral Sword Art is the supreme art of heaven and earth—the most powerful technique in existence. No other art can compare. Born with the first sword of the Primordial Universe, it carries the will of Punishment, Creation, and Destruction, capable of smiting gods, tearing laws, and annihilating entire universes with a single stroke.
The system paused, as though calculating the sheer weight of the karma being invoked, before replying softly:
"Wish acknowledged. Your rewards are stored and may be claimed individually at your command."
The mental pressure dissolved, and Xiao Tian's awareness snapped seamlessly back into the waking world.
High on the stone platform, the middle-aged examiner stared down at his register, his voice echoing across the training grounds with practiced indifference:
"Next: Xiao Yan!"
Xiao Yan exhaled a quiet, unsteady breath and stepped forward into the glaring afternoon sun. He reached out, pressing his palm flat against the chilled surface of the Magic Testing Stone. A faint, fragile light rippled through the black rock, barely illuminating the carved runes.
"Xiao Yan—Dou Qi, Three Segments! Rank: Low!"
A wave of smothered chuckles and subtle sneers flickered through the younger crowd below. Xiao Yan lowered his hand, a self-deprecating curl touching the corner of his lips. Yet, as he turned and looked toward the shade of an ancient oak tree nearby, the bitter chill in his chest softened.
There stood Xiao Tian, leaning casually against the trunk, his eyes dark and sharp as he casually swept his gaze across the crowd. Anyone who had dared to mock Xiao Yan too loudly over the past three years had felt the bone-crushing weight of Xiao Tian's fists behind the training hall. Because of that unyielding shield, the whispers today were merely hesitant mutters rather than open cruelties.
Xiao Yan stepped down, his head slightly lowered.
Xiao Tian caught his younger brother by the shoulder, giving it a firm, grounding squeeze. "Xiao Yan-zi, lower your head to look at the road, not to hide your face. A true gem isn't ruined by a bit of dust. Your three-year trial is almost at its end."
Xiao Yan met his brother's calm eyes, feeling a spark of warmth in his chest. "I know, Tian-ge. Thank you."
"Next: Xiao Mei!"
A young girl with bright eyes and a sweet, charming countenance darted up the steps. She laid her small hand on the stone, which lit up with a clear, vibrant glow.
"Xiao Mei—Dou Qi, Seven Segments! Rank: High!"
With a delighted step, Xiao Mei trotted down the platform, walking straight toward the trio beneath the tree. "Cousin Xiao Tian, Sister Xun'er, Cousin Xiao Yan!"
She offered Xiao Yan a genuine, encouraging smile before leaning in to chatter with Xun'er. In this life, under Xiao Tian's watchful presence and stern warnings against snobbery, the clan's younger generation had not abandoned Xiao Yan in his low point—and Xiao Mei remained as affectionate as she had been in childhood.
"Next: Xiao Xun'er!"
"Brother Xiao Tian, it's my turn," Xun'er murmured gently, stepping out from the shade.
As her slender fingers touched the tablet, the black stone ignited. A brilliant, radiant glow burst outward, painting the courtyard in golden light.
"Xiao Xun'er—Dou Qi, Nine Segments! Rank: High!"
Surprised gasps rippled through the gathering. "Nine Segments of Dou Zhi Qi at her age?! Miss Xun'er's talent is simply frightening!"
Xun'er ignored the astonished gazes, returning directly to Xiao Tian's side. He met her with a slow grin, giving her a brief thumbs-up. "As expected of our Xun'er. Blessed by heaven with both beauty and unparalleled talent."
A faint blush dusted Xun'er's cheeks, though a fond smile curved her lips.
"Next: Xiao Tian!"
Xiao Tian reached out, lightly brushing a stray strand of hair from Xun'er's forehead, before stepping forward with unhurried grace. He mounted the stone steps, looking at the dark slate of the Magic Testing Stone with calm detachment.
He placed his hand flat against the cold surface.
*Rumble—!*
The stone didn't merely glow; it burst into a blinding, suffocating glare that forced the front row of disciples to shield their eyes. Four massive, sharp characters burned into the surface like molten gold:
Dou Practitioner: One Star!
Crack!
In the high pavilion, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan's hand tightened instinctively, shattering his porcelain teacup into fine powder. Beside him, the three elders sprang from their seats, their eyes wide with shock as they stared at the stone in absolute disbelief.
The examiner swallowed hard, his voice faltering as he announced: "Xiao... Xiao Tian... Dou Practitioner, One Star!"
The training ground erupted into chaotic noise.
"A genuine Dou Practitioner?! He hasn't even reached fifteen yet!"
"He bypassed the condensation barrier entirely?! What kind of monster is he?!"
Xiao Ning stood frozen among the crowd, his knuckles white, muttering, "No way... this has to be a mistake..."
Xiao Tian paid no mind to the clamor. He retracted his hand, swept his robe back, and walked down the platform as casually as if he had merely taken a morning stroll. Returning to Xun'er, he tilted his head with a slight smirk. "Surprised?"
Xun'er offered him a lingering glance, her soft voice tinged with quiet awe. "Brother Xiao Tian... You really hid it well."
Nearby, Xiao Yan offered a warm smile of genuine pride for his brother, though a hint of melancholy remained in his eyes. Nodding quietly, he turned to head toward the quiet back hills to process his thoughts. Xiao Mei murmured a quick farewell to go practice, inspired by the high standards set before her.
Watching Xiao Yan's solitary back as he walked away, Xun'er whispered, "Brother Xiao Tian, Xiao Yan still seems heavy-hearted..."
"Let him be for a moment," Xiao Tian said gently, taking her hand in his as they turned toward the quiet pathway of the estate. "Pain brews strength. It won't be long before his dragon spirit awakens once more."
They walked together under the shade of the willow trees, chatting softly until they reached the inner court, where they parted ways toward their respective quarters.
Back inside his private courtyard, Xiao Tian shut the heavy wooden doors, slid the bolt in place, and sat cross-legged upon his bed. Taking a deep breath to settle his surging pulse, he summoned the system interface into his mind.
Looking at the glowing icons waiting to be claimed, his eyes sparkled with sharp ambition.
"System... claim the first, second, and tenth wishes, and impart my Qi Method!"