Wu Ji Tian stepped through the massive sect gates, his heart weighed down by the reality of his situation.

  The path before him stretched endlessly, leading toward a city nestled in the distance. It wasn’t a grand metropolis with towering structures, nor was it a crumbling ruin of poverty—it was an average city, a pce where merchants traded, borers toiled, and cultivators of varying strengths walked the streets.

  The familiar stone roads beneath his feet had been traveled by countless before him, yet they felt strangely foreign now. The city’s heartbeat was steady, filled with the sounds of clinking coins, street vendors hawking their goods, and the occasional heated argument. The aroma of grilled meats and fresh bread drifted from the marketpce, momentarily reminding him of the simple pleasures he could no longer afford.

  Wu Ji Tian barely spared the bustling center a gnce. His goal y elsewhere.

  Navigating through side streets, he arrived at a quieter part of the city. Here, the buildings were modest but well-maintained, their wooden exteriors showing signs of age but not neglect. His destination stood at the end of a slightly worn street—a small shop, one he had not stepped into for two years.

  The sign above had long since faded, its name erased by time.

  With a deep breath, he pushed the door open.

  Inside, dust clung to the air, swirling in the dim sunlight filtering through the windows. The wooden floor was stained, cracked in some pces, a testament to years of wear and neglect. Unsteady wooden shelves lined the walls, mostly empty except for a few forgotten trinkets.

  The counter remained untouched, a silent reminder of the man who once stood behind it.

  Wu Ji Tian moved deeper into the shop, his steps slow, almost hesitant. Then, he turned toward the back, where a door led to a small living space.

  His grandfather’s room.

  Wu Shun had never been a great cultivator, nor was he particurly wealthy, but he had provided Wu Ji Tian with warmth and wisdom. He had lived humbly, never compining about the hardships of life. His death had not been sudden—old age had simply caught up with him—but Wu Ji Tian had been away, too preoccupied with the sect to be by his side in his final moments.

  Regret gnawed at him as he scanned the sparse room. A wooden bed, a single chair, and a small table. On the table, a folded piece of parchment rested, untouched by dust.

  With trembling fingers, he picked it up and unfolded it.

  **"Ji Tian, if you're reading this, it means you've come home.

  I never had great expectations for you, nor did I want you to be a hero.

  I only ever wanted you to find your own path, one that makes you happy. You don’t need to be the strongest cultivator. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.

  You only need to live well.

  This old shop may not be much, but it is still a pce you can call your own. Take care of yourself, my boy. That is enough for me."**

  Wu Ji Tian’s hands clenched around the letter. The weight of failure pressed heavily on him. He had lost his chance at the sect, and now, he had nothing left.

  His eyes drifted across the room, dull and unfocused.

  What do I do now?

  Then—

  [Ding!]

  A crisp chime echoed in his mind. His body jerked in shock.

  [System Activating…]

  A translucent screen materialized before his eyes, its glowing text shimmering.

  [10%…]

  [30%…]

  [50%…]

  [69%…] (…Nice.)

  [80%…]

  [99%…]

  [100% - Activation Complete.]

  [Welcome, Host, to the Cultivator’s Virtual Haven System.]

  Wu Ji Tian staggered back, his breath catching in his throat.

  A system?!

  Before he could even process the absurdity of the situation, the interface flickered again.

  [Binding Host to Registered Establishment…]

  [Shop Located. Status: Abandoned.][Renovation in Progress…]

  A sudden tremor shook the building. Wu Ji Tian turned sharply as the unsteady wooden shelves rattled, the cracked wooden floor groaning beneath him. His pulse quickened. Was the shop colpsing?!

  But instead of destruction, transformation took pce.

  The dust vanished. The faded walls regained their luster, shifting into polished wood and smooth surfaces. The old counter, once chipped and worn, reshaped itself into a sleek, modern design. The damaged floorboards gave way to pristine, polished tiles that reflected the warm glow of ceiling lights.

  Wu Ji Tian rushed out, only to see the shop’s exterior undergoing the same miraculous change. The faded, nameless sign above the entrance disappeared, leaving a bnk ste. The windows cleared, gleaming as if freshly cleaned. Even the door, once creaky and unreliable, now stood firm, exuding an air of quiet dignity.

  [Renovation Complete.]

  Wu Ji Tian exhaled slowly, his mind struggling to keep up.

  This was real.

  [Congratutions, Host. Your shop has been restored. To proceed, please complete your first task.]

  [Mission: Name Your Shop]

  Wu Ji Tian blinked.

  A name?

  He looked at the empty sign above the entrance.

  This was the first step. The beginning of something new.

  And for the first time in a long while, Wu Ji Tian felt a flicker of something unfamiliar.

  Hope.