1: It's better not to take this class!

Li Muchen stood in waist-high weeds, gazing at the plaque of "Qingfeng Temple" before him. He felt the last flicker of hope in his heart extinguished by the mountain wind.

The wooden plaque was peeling so badly it looked like it had a severe skin disease. The characters for "Qingfeng" were barely legible, while a large chunk of the "Temple" character was missing from its bottom-right corner, revealing the blackened, rotten wood core within.

The plaque hung askew, held up only by a single rusted wire. It groaned "creak—creak—" in the mountain wind, looking as if it might fall at any moment.

He lowered his head and glanced once more at the final WeChat message on his phone screen from Director Wang of the Human Resources Department.

"Little Li, the organization has considered that you are the only graduate from Taoist University willing to go to the grassroots level, so this glorious and arduous task is being entrusted to you. Qingfeng Temple on Yuntai Mountain in Jin Province. It’s a legitimate government-affiliated position. Work hard!"

The text was followed by a cartoon thumbs-up emoji.

Glorious? Arduous?

Li Muchen looked up, his gaze passing through the dilapidated mountain gate to look inside.

Half the tiles on the three main halls were missing. The exposed rafters were pitch black, and several had snapped, jutting out toward the sky like jagged teeth.

One of the side halls on either side had completely collapsed, while the door of the other was missing, making it look like a monster with a gaping, dark maw. In the courtyard, weeds grew higher than knees from the cracks in the bluestone slabs. A dusty gray rabbit, startled by his footsteps, darted into the ruins of the collapsed side hall with a "swoosh" and vanished.

The nearest village was at the foot of the mountain, five kilometers away. Aside from the whistling of the wind through the broken tiles and crumbling walls, and a few listless caws from crows, there was no other sound.

"It really is... the middle of nowhere," Li Muchen murmured, his voice dry.

He recalled the meager graduation assignment assembly at the Taoist University three days ago.

"Senior Brother Liu, further studies at the Celestial Master Mansion on Longhu Mountain! Congratulations!"

"Senior Sister Zhang, Secretariat of the Taoist Association on Mount Qingcheng! A limitless future!"

"Junior Brother Wang, Cultural Exchange Center at the White Cloud Temple in Beijing! Impressive!"

As name after name was called, his classmates accepted their transfer orders with either excitement or feigned composure, congratulating one another.

Although the Taoist University was a niche institution, graduating from a legitimate program meant that going to a famous mountain, a major temple, or a prosperous shrine was considered a decent job with some hidden perks.

Only he, Li Muchen, had his name saved for last.

The Class Teacher held the final transfer order with a somewhat complicated expression and gave a light cough. "Student Li Muchen... Abbot of Qingfeng Temple on Yuntai Mountain in Jin Province. Um... you'll be independently responsible; it's a rare Opportunity for growth."

The classroom fell silent for a moment, followed by stifled snickers that leaked out anyway.

"Yuntai Mountain? I've never heard of a temple there."

"Qingfeng Temple? The name sounds elegant enough, but where is it?"

"In Jin Province... isn't Buddhism more prosperous there?"

"Abbot? Sounds impressive, but he's probably the only person there, right?"

Amidst gazes mixed with sympathy, pity, and schadenfreude, Li Muchen walked up and took that flimsy piece of paper. The Class Teacher patted his shoulder and whispered, "Tough it out. There might be a chance to transfer later."

Tough it out?

Li Muchen’s lips twitched into a bitter smile. In his previous life, he was an ordinary corporate slave. He had saved some money by working late and doing overtime, but before he could enjoy life, a truck running a red light sent him here. He thought that by being reborn with his past memories, he could at least do better than his previous life, especially since he was a legitimate university graduate.

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As it turned out, during his four years at the Taoist University, he had come to understand that in this circle, family background, lineage, and connections were far more important than actual talent. He had no background or connections; his family was just ordinary working class, and it hadn't been easy for them to support him through this niche university. Naturally, when it came to graduation assignments, he was the one exiled to the frontier.

Before coming, he had held onto a sliver of hope. Yuntai Mountain—the name sounded nice, didn't it? Qingfeng Temple—maybe it was a good place for quiet cultivation?

Reality had dealt him a crushing blow.

This wasn't quiet cultivation; this was exile!

He dragged his suitcase—a semi-worn canvas bag with one wheel already broken from the bumpy mountain road, making a discordant "clunk, clack" noise—and struggled through the weeds into the courtyard.

The door to the main hall was ajar. With a push, there was a "bang" as the hinges snapped completely. Half the door fell over, kicking up a cloud of dust. Li Muchen covered his nose and mouth, waiting for the dust to settle before he could see the scene inside.

In the center stood a clay deity statue, its painted colors long since peeled and faded, making it impossible to tell which god it originally represented. The statue was missing half its head and an arm, exposing the straw and wooden frame inside. The altar table was crooked, covered in bird droppings and a thick layer of dust. Giant cobwebs hung in the corners, shimmering slightly in the beams of light leaking through the broken roof.

A heavy smell of mold and dust hit him.

Li Muchen’s heart went completely cold.

He placed his suitcase by the relatively clean threshold and walked to the side hall—the one that hadn't completely collapsed. Inside were piles of junk: chipped clay pots, a rusted hoe, several bundles of rotting firewood, and a wooden bed with a crooked leg, its straw mat having rotted into shreds.

Was this where he was supposed to live? Was this his "glorious and arduous" career?

"Abbot?" He chuckled self-deprecatingly. "More like a commander without an army."

His stomach gave a "growl." From taking the long-distance bus to the county seat in the morning, transferring to a dilapidated minibus to the town, then hitching a ride on a local's tractor to the foot of the mountain, and finally hiking up, it was already past three in the afternoon. The water in his canteen was long gone; he was both hungry and thirsty.

He walked over to the relatively intact water jar and lifted the broken wooden lid. At the bottom was only a layer of turbid mud, with a few withered leaves and the corpses of unknown small insects soaking in it.

"..."

The last of his patience was exhausted.

Li Muchen turned and walked back to the entrance of the main hall, picking up the suitcase with the broken wheel. The suitcase wasn't heavy; it only contained a few changes of clothes, some toiletries, a few professional books, his graduation certificate, and his reporting documents.

The mountain wind blew, and the plaque let out another ear-piercing "creak," as if mocking his futility.

He looked at the precarious plaque, the dilapidated hall, the weed-choked courtyard, and the distant, rolling, equally desolate barren mountains.

The 996 "blessing" of his past life at least came with a salary, a rented room, and takeout. What about this life? Guarding this nearly collapsed ruin of a temple as an "Abbot" who might not even have water or electricity? Waiting for that remote "chance to transfer"?

To hell with it!

Forget this job!

I'm not doing this!

A strong impulse surged within him, a mixture of the frustration accumulated since his Rebirth, despair for his future, and anger at this unfair arrangement. Better to turn back now than to rot away here. Even working in the city or delivering food would be better than this godforsaken place!

He no longer hesitated. Gripping his suitcase, he turned and strode toward the mountain gate he had come through.

His footsteps crunched on the weeds and gravel. The mountain wind seemed to pick up, blowing his thin shirt tight against his body.

One step, two steps, three steps... Just as his left foot was about to cross the threshold of the half-collapsed mountain gate, with the sole of his shoe less than an inch from the bumpy mountain path outside—

[Ding!]

A clear, cold, emotionless mechanical voice rang out without warning from the deepest part of his mind.

[Detected that the host has formally succeeded the position of Abbot of "Qingfeng Temple." Binding conditions met.]

[Heavenly Mandate Opportunity System, activation successful.]

Li Muchen froze instantly, his raised left foot hanging in mid-air, as if he had been struck by a binding spell.

Wha... what?

A hallucination? Or tinnitus caused by low blood sugar?

He instinctively looked back.

The dilapidated "Qingfeng Temple" plaque was still groaning in the wind.

The collapsed halls still stood there in silence.

The weeds were still swaying with the wind.

Everything was the same as before.

No, something seemed different.

The moment he looked back into the depths of the temple, his vision seemed to pierce through the dilapidated surface, and he vaguely "saw" a faint, almost illusory "light."

That "light" wasn't visible to the naked eye; it was more like a sensation. From the very core of the temple's leyline, a faint, ancient, and warm aura seemed to emanate, creating a subtle connection with him.

[In this temple, one exclusive Opportunity can be obtained daily. The type of Opportunity is random and related to the host's state of mind, location, and actions. Consecutive check-ins and accumulating opportunities can unlock more possibilities.]

[Beginner's Guide starting: Please complete your first check-in today.]

The mechanical voice rang out again, clearer this time, with an unquestionable quality.

System?

Li Muchen’s heart skipped a beat, then began to throb wildly. Blood rushed to his head, and his eardrums buzzed.

As a former corporate slave from the information explosion era and a graduate of Taoist culture, he understood all too well what the word "System" meant!

A Golden Finger! A cheat! A chance to change his destiny!

Plots from countless novels and movies flashed through his mind. Could it be that his true Opportunity in this Rebirth was here? In this dilapidated temple that looked like it could collapse at any moment?

He slowly withdrew his outstretched foot, turned around, and faced the lonely temple on the barren mountain.

The mountain wind remained, and the occasional caw of a crow could be heard.

But in his eyes, every tile and every blade of grass in this dilapidated temple seemed to be shrouded in an indescribable layer of mystery.

"Once a day... exclusive Opportunity?" he repeated in a low voice. He pursed his dry lips, his heart vibrating powerfully in his chest, dispelling his previous despair and coldness.

He set down his suitcase and took a deep breath. The air was still full of dust and mold, but at this moment, he seemed to catch a faint, almost nonexistent... freshness?

How do I check in?

He moved his mind, tentatively asking in his head.

[Simply think "Check-in." Available check-in locations for today: Anywhere within the vicinity of Qingfeng Temple. Recommended location: Inside the Hall of the Three Pure Ones (Main Hall); the quality of the Opportunity may be improved.]

There's a location bonus?

Li Muchen immediately picked up his suitcase and walked back to the main hall with the fallen door. He crossed the threshold and stood before the dust-covered deity statue.

He looked at the battered, unknown statue, and his heart suddenly grew calm. No matter where this System came from, it seemed to be his only and greatest hope right now.

He closed his eyes, cast aside distracting thoughts, and solemnly chanted in his heart:

"Check-in."

[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Newbie Opportunity Rewards!]

[Reward 1: "Basic Guidance Technique" × 1 (An introductory Taoist Qi Refining technique; can guide Qi into the body to strengthen the Foundation and nurture the origin.)]

[Reward 2: Ten years of pure Origin Qi × 1 (Can be directly infused to enhance cultivation and stabilize the Foundation.)]

[Reward 3: Spirit Spring Eye. Can be placed into an underground water source or spring to slowly purify and generate spring water rich in faint Spiritual Qi, improving the surrounding local Qi.]

As the notification ended, Li Muchen felt a cool stream of air surge into his mind. A vast amount of subtle information regarding breathing, intent, and the movement of Qi channels emerged naturally, becoming incredibly clear as if he had studied it thousands of times. It was the Basic Guidance Technique!

At the same time, another gentle yet majestic warm current poured in from the Baihui point at the top of his head, rapidly flowing through his entire body and limbs. Wherever it passed, fatigue vanished, and his hunger disappeared instantly, replaced by a sense of fullness and weightless power.

Something dormant within his body seemed to be awakened, and his five senses became much sharper in an instant—he could clearly hear the faint sound of the mountain wind blowing through pine needles, smell the extremely subtle scent of soil and plant roots beneath the dust, and even feel the warmth of his own blood flowing through his veins.

Ten years of pure Origin Qi had allowed him to bypass the initial and most time-consuming accumulation phase!

Li Muchen snapped his eyes open, a flash of unbelievable shock in his gaze, which was quickly overwhelmed by immense joy.

He instinctively clenched his fist, his knuckles making a slight "crack" sound, feeling an unprecedented sense of power. He tried to adjust his breathing according to the Basic Guidance Technique he had just received.

Between each breath, he clearly felt that there seemed to be extremely thin, almost imperceptible "things" in the surrounding air that were being drawn into his body with his breath, merging into the newly acquired warm current and slowly circulating.

Though faint, it was real!

This wasn't a hallucination! The System was real! Cultivation... was also real!

He slowly turned his head and looked at the dilapidated main hall once more, his gaze sweeping over the broken statue, the dusty altar, and the roof where light leaked through.

Everything was still dilapidated.

But in his current perception, this temple and this barren mountain no longer seemed to be just a place of desperate exile.

Dry wells, weeds, broken halls, barren mountains... Basic Guidance Technique, ten years of pure Origin Qi, daily Opportunity check-ins... The corners of Li Muchen’s mouth slowly curled upward. The smile was a bit stiff at first, with the daze of having survived a disaster, but it soon turned into a calm and determined expression.

He let go of the handle of his suitcase, leaving it standing by the door.

Then, facing the nameless and broken deity statue, he followed the Taoist etiquette in his memory and solemnly cupped his hands, bowing slightly.

The mountain wind blew through the holes, fluttering the stray hairs on his forehead.

The young, newly appointed Abbot of Qingfeng Temple straightened up and looked at the sun gradually setting in the west, his eyes clear and bright.

"It seems..." he whispered to himself, his voice carrying a strange sense of calm, "I still have to work this job."

"And, I have to do it well."