The moment Lin Yuan stopped choking on the potato, the blue window chimed again—like an impatient secretary.
DING!159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8po1NWOayJ
[Would you like a quick tour of the Celestial Orphanage System™?]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjB6SHQHHx
[Yes] — [No, let me painfully guess] — [Is there a refund policy?]
Lin squinted.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PwHH30SbZ
—"Do you come with customer service or just sarcasm?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfoNkLvVZA
[Yes.]
He rolled his eyes and tapped [Yes].
Immediately, new windows sprouted like weeds in a summer garden.
[Main Functions Unlocked:]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCg9ElPygj
• Celestial Store159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQlvqc3DiN
• Card Extraction & Fusion159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis1AKvMDUr
• Talent Gacha Roulette159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihtEV7Fyao
• Director's Inventory159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVhgscFPW9
• Beginner's Pack (Unopened, Procrastinator Detected)
The store caught his attention.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFhHCJonpd
He touched it. The window expanded with a glow that screamed You're broke, but window shopping is free.
Inside? Everything.
There were rice sacks. Smartphone batteries. Cultivation manuals with names like Heaven-Crushing Palm of the Lonely Sun God stacked next to self-help books like 7 Habits of Highly Effective Hermits.
"...Is that pepper spray?" Lin blinked. "Right next to Meteor Spell?"
The system pinged helpfully.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMNiraYeFp
[Everything you need to survive, thrive, or traumatize your enemies.]
Sure. Why not.
The Card Extraction and Fusion tab looked deceptively simple: a pair of glowing gloves, a circular altar, and a suspiciously dramatic chant in the background.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddaCWiJv12
[Extract Potential. Fuse Talents. Create Legends.]
It reminded Lin of a cheesy ad. But the explanation was... impressive.
Apparently, every being had buried potential—sometimes dormant, sometimes cursed. The system could extract those as cards. Think Pokémon, but with higher emotional trauma. Then you could merge them, refine them, or imprint them onto a kid like spiritual sticker albums.
Lin paused.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxVe1q6kXk
"Wait... so I can customize each orphan's growth like they're RPG characters?"
[Disclaimer: Please refrain from treating children like collectible cards. You are still legally responsible.]
Lin snorted.
Then he saw the Talent Gacha Roulette.
The interface was... flashy.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxSCyGYMhk
A massive wheel spun before him, icons ranging from low-level skills like [Quick Nap] to mythical ones like [Phoenix-Born Bloodline]. Right now, it was grayed out.
He figured he'd tidy up the shack first and go pick up the kids who had agreed to leave the city with him. Until he remembered...
"The Beginner's Box!"
He opened it.
DING!159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzYoaDMQv2
[Congratulations! You've received:]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3RKdKqqh1
• 1x Golden Roulette Ticket (High-Rank Talent Guaranteed)159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78ZZqlbxPq
• 3x Moderate Satiety Potatoes™159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQex6DRh3AA
• 1x Underwear of Resilience (Stain-Resistant)
Lin stared.
—"More potatoes? And... this is supposed to be my lucky underwear?"
[You don't get it. Stat bonus: +3 Endurance, +5 Dignity Recovery.]
He ignored the insult. For now.
But the Golden Ticket... that was different.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO9Uv0b4MY
The system grew theatrical as it hovered toward the roulette.
DING!159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLTlPbkgWD
[Activating Talent Gacha with Golden Ticket...]
The wheel spun. Faster. Brighter. So flashy it reminded Lin of those shady online slot ads.
Then it slowed.
Slower...
Tic...159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKPrZLO7gi
Tic...159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSOM9GdsCZ
PING!
[Congratulations! You've obtained:]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFq3gcr2Wt
Skill: Jade Emperor's Eye159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL9l5BVHv9
Type: Divine Talent / Cosmic Perception159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YMDfZ6xIy
Grade: ???159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9nV7hKMRT
Bound to Host
Lin blinked.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sXM66MqZ2
"...Do I have an eye now?"
The system unfurled like a proud parent at a science fair.
[Skill: Jade Emperor's Eye]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqpqanjWPz
Passive Effect: Vision of Potential159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslfDEuuCWH
You can see hidden talents, emotional imbalances, and cultivation affinities in anyone you directly observe.
Active Effect: Revelation of Destiny159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhbCKWvi5B
Once per day, through deep focus, glimpse fragments of a person's possible futures. Use sparingly. May cause headaches, emotional damage, or existential crisis.
Warning: Overuse may deplete mental reserves. The system is not responsible for accidental prophecy addiction.
Lin sat back, reading through the ability.
For the first time in seventeen years, he didn't just feel lucky.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX1isUOPAo
He felt... chosen.
He had always believed people could be more than they appeared.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HHF8Yghrr
Now he could see it.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP2AFHrlTQ
And more importantly—he could shape it.
But first, he gestured to finally inspect the Spiritual Technique from the beginner rewards.
[Spiritual Technique: Tranquil Willow Breathing]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6HwCi9m8L
Rank: Mortal Grade (Upgradeable)159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaH6e4L2Qr
Effect: Stabilizes spiritual energy. Improves focus, recovery rate, and sleep quality. Removes minor demonic influence and bad breath.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycHaLY7exH
[Note: A solid foundation for beginners. Also good for anxious orphans.]
Lin approved. Impressive.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rgCMNHl6i
He crossed his legs, tried the breathing for a few seconds—and immediately felt the potato digest smoother.
But this wasn't the time for enlightenment.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxIa14JGea
Not yet.
It was time to act.
He fortified the shack in the mountains—plugged holes, scared off pests, added a symbolic rock he declared "sacred" to make it look more mystical.
Then he stood, cracked his neck, and marched toward the city.
In the outskirts, a group of ragged children already watched him: three boys and a girl, half-starved and half-suspicious. One waved.
"Hey, Boss Lin! Did you really get the land?"
Lin grinned smugly.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE2CfEWJns
—"Better. I got a promise of change."
They looked confused.
He spread his arms.
—"Want food? A roof that doesn't try to kill you at night? Want to be more than just survivors?"
They stared.
"Then follow me. Welcome to Dawn's Refuge."
He turned and headed back to his little wooden shack.
Behind him, steps followed—curious, hesitant, but hopeful.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC8ahQ04Xv
After all, these were the kids he'd looked after for years, the ones who chose to come with him to the orphanage.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, the system hummed softly.
[Mission Progress: Recruit Your First Orphan – 1/1]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx42c7vovhd
[Reward: +50 Points | +1 Random Skill Unlocking Soon]
Lin Yuan smiled.
Ever since he had obtained the Jade Emperor's Eye, Lin Yuan could see it clearly.
The children were surrounded by a faint aura—one that no ordinary eye could perceive. From a distance, each one radiated a muted gray, except for the girl, Xiao Lian, who occasionally flickered with a deep violet when she thought no one was watching.
But the moment they saw him, all four were instantly cloaked in a soft blue.
It didn't take a genius—or even a divine system—to see it: these children cared.
And if the system had marked the mission "Recruit Your First Orphan" as complete, it could only mean one thing: at least one of them had potential. Something real. Something worth nurturing.
Lin turned to face them, a half-smile playing on his lips.
—"So… how have you been while I was away?"
They sat beneath the old crooked oak by the roadside, forming a lopsided circle. Between shy laughter and bursts of mischief, they began recounting their exploits: how Zhenglian had tried selling pebbles as "dragon eggs" to drunk merchants; how Roman had tricked a rooster into chasing the butcher across three streets. Xiao Lian had stolen bread—not for herself, but for a limping stray dog. And Ben… Ben had managed to get blamed for everything, smiling like it had been his plan all along.
Lin listened quietly, and then activated his skill.
DING.
Small blue screens unfolded before his eyes—one for each child. Only he could see them.
[Name: Zhenglian]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMEHTyL6oN
Race: Human159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQCK73EX1R
Profession: None159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwz9glABGx
Talent: —159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEABxWmoC2
Status: Restless / Loyal
[Name: Roman]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYU1jp3doy
Race: Half-Elf (Hidden)159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjA0KFoegZ
Profession: None159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzQuXvyA6V
Talent: —159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLspQalSi45
Status: Clever / Distrustful
[Name: Ben]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GBk8deVTa
Race: Human159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D2qc4BIgE
Profession: —159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoRFTCRzu8
Talent: [Elegance]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWhwSRI0UZ
Type: Social / Charisma159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfjj6E5jKi
Description: Enhances presence, persuasive speech, and adaptable behavior. Ideal for mediation, infiltration, or leadership.
[Name: Xiao Lian]159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYi8hIpGUI
Race: Veilblood/ Human159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJriz8iBg8Z
Profession: -Talent: [Deathweaver] (Dormant)An affinity for precision, silence, and threads unseen. The path has yet to open, but the seed is there. Latent traits suggest instinctual understanding of weakness and fate entanglement.
Lin narrowed his eyes.
—"So... a charming diplomat and a chaos artist."
He sighed. "Perfect."
Looking at them now, he felt something he hadn't felt in years—a sense of responsibility, and more than that, a calling. These weren't just orphans. They were possibilities. Pieces in a larger game. Seeds that might grow into something the world could never have expected.
And he... he was the gardener.
—"From today on," he said, the sun filtering through the leaves, "we're not just surviving. We're becoming something the world can't ignore."
The children's eyes sparkled—not just at the promise of food or shelter. But at something deeper.
A future.
The story of the slum boss was over.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIBxuP4ZhX
The story of the orphan master had just begun.
and then Add to home screen.