The moment Lin Yuan stopped choking on the potato, the blue window chimed again—like an impatient secretary.
DING!158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhvzBdXwtF
[Would you like a quick tour of the Celestial Orphanage System™?]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr15uahhZqm
[Yes] — [No, let me painfully guess] — [Is there a refund policy?]
Lin squinted.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtx5WWNBs9R
—"Do you come with customer service or just sarcasm?"158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jN0ATF7Bv
[Yes.]
He rolled his eyes and tapped [Yes].
Immediately, new windows sprouted like weeds in a summer garden.
[Main Functions Unlocked:]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Low5jjfN5
• Celestial Store158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2htKoLFWM
• Card Extraction & Fusion158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVHQhITox5
• Talent Gacha Roulette158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmO4bmVrdF
• Director's Inventory158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D5YgmFOmT
• Beginner's Pack (Unopened, Procrastinator Detected)
The store caught his attention.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2U9x8Sena
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOAcCejWmm
[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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggu9yuCKXN
[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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVxdXpzx3O
"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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSpUFE1371
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!158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cqKwDx0Qf
[Congratulations! You've received:]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DaY0umib7
• 1x Golden Roulette Ticket (High-Rank Talent Guaranteed)158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFOQAh49mJ
• 3x Moderate Satiety Potatoes™158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqCsMGm6OS
• 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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaylArO4YR
The system grew theatrical as it hovered toward the roulette.
DING!158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81fIdrf2hz
[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...158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAfR6K8MMG
Tic...158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1ALK3GTC1
PING!
[Congratulations! You've obtained:]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHLIPonEsW
Skill: Jade Emperor's Eye158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5qCt1soD4
Type: Divine Talent / Cosmic Perception158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ha9YBwiJW
Grade: ???158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDV5WcFqbI
Bound to Host
Lin blinked.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJ9FqQHidx
"...Do I have an eye now?"
The system unfurled like a proud parent at a science fair.
[Skill: Jade Emperor's Eye]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsV7iY2OA1
Passive Effect: Vision of Potential158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8NZHl29oZ
You can see hidden talents, emotional imbalances, and cultivation affinities in anyone you directly observe.
Active Effect: Revelation of Destiny158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV85jtjN24
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2CxYCW5iv
He felt... chosen.
He had always believed people could be more than they appeared.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V3vUE1bks
Now he could see it.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHfugBBVfH
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]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRQJlXtnxi
Rank: Mortal Grade (Upgradeable)158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4uwPxArtL
Effect: Stabilizes spiritual energy. Improves focus, recovery rate, and sleep quality. Removes minor demonic influence and bad breath.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFuDjl1tV3
[Note: A solid foundation for beginners. Also good for anxious orphans.]
Lin approved. Impressive.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IOYeOPlJB
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblKKNwrFH0
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaBQge2l4h
—"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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKvBHARrOu
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]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv68qrPVcb
[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]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz4kmWteON
Race: Human158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF6tZvNBX1
Profession: None158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYxDP3gxBZ
Talent: —158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYeCzM6E4J
Status: Restless / Loyal
[Name: Roman]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKE6XMOZ4P
Race: Half-Elf (Hidden)158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvB5y8a03t
Profession: None158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MY8GYgrWS
Talent: —158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCq1v5aaqD
Status: Clever / Distrustful
[Name: Ben]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VxVnT2rvx
Race: Human158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdiol2jKhV
Profession: —158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl9xbae2LK
Talent: [Elegance]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXKHs8fO6T
Type: Social / Charisma158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32q4iMhkCH
Description: Enhances presence, persuasive speech, and adaptable behavior. Ideal for mediation, infiltration, or leadership.
[Name: Xiao Lian]158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoDAIjqjgi
Race: Veilblood/ Human158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNzJhwYrkJ
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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhm5VcWd0F
The story of the orphan master had just begun.
