THE SYSTEM IS NOT MINE

"Interesting! A sick looking guy like him is also a Cultivator?"

"Let's see what he can do"

The crowd murmured as their eyes fixed on the fight happening right in front.

The opponent moved first with his wooden sword.

It struck Yan’s ribs. Yan staggered backward as his ribs vibrated with the pain.

The second strike did not wait for Yan to recover, it followed immediately, the wooden sword moved at his face, Yan raised his hand to block.

The wood hit his hand

His guard broke as his hand was pushed back.

The wooden blade cracked against his shoulder.

Pain shot through his arm.

A third strike came down.

The wood was already at his chest.

Yan reacted late. He tried to block the strike with his sword.

But the blow landed across his chest, his mouth puffed with air and opened.

Air left his lungs and his feet slipped against the packed dirt.

Then the final strike came.

The wooden sword slammed against the side of his head.

The world tilted.

Yan collapsed into the dust.

Laughter spread across the training field.

“Foundation cultivator?”

Someone snorted.

“Looks like a farmer who picked up a stick.”

One Day Earlier

The road to Sunset City stretched long beneath the afternoon sun. Yan and Tan Suzi walked side by side.

The sect mountains had already disappeared behind the hills, Neither of them spoke for a long time.

Then Yan stopped.

Spiritual qi gathered quietly within his body.The thin line inside his soul responded.

A stable pulse formed.

Yan exhaled slowly.

White text appeared at the edge of his vision.

Resonance: Ground–Mind Resonance

Compatibility: 8%

Function Unlocked: Memory Recall(Inactive)

Yan sighed, no change in compatibility after he broke through.

Tan Suzi had already noticed “You broke through.”

Yan nodded “Spiritual Qi Foundation.”

“First layer.”

She studied him briefly.

Tan Suzi turned back toward the road.

“Good but don't think you can play tricks with me again just because you got stronger"

Yan did not say anything and continued walking.

"The mission we have got was to investigate a General of Noir, who secretly bought a lot of green liquid from the sect" Tan Suzi said.

"I will be joining as a scholar " and "You" she looked at Yan "Join their military " .

Yan did not say anything and continued walking.

By evening the walls of a city rose ahead of them made of tall stone gates.

Then they crossed the giant gate of the city a wooden board containing a map of the city with the words "Welcome to Sunset City" greeted them.

The city was densely crowded.

"Fresh fruits"

"High quality grain"

Merchants were shouting as the people gathered around them..

Carts loaded with grain and livestock kept arriving.

Tan Suzi led Yan to a wooden board at the centre, there were paper posters attached.

Wine seller! Come and get the best wines at my Cart! I will be moving every nook, Old Wei cart Wine.

A two bedroom and a courtyard house available for rent at the outer market..the owner can be contacted at the house next to Nobel Ura's Restaurant.

Gain the Glory ! Han Defu private army recruitment tomorrow at Academy Grounds, seeking abled men, women, including cultivators.

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"Come with me" Tan Suzi moved, Yan followed behind, they arrived at the Nobel Ura's Restaurant.

It was a decent place, well maintained and well cleaned, it was not that large but had two floors.

There was only one home next to it..Tan Suzi and Yan arrived at it.

"Knock"

Tan Suzi knocked on the door..it did not take long for the door to be opened. " Who are you? " A slender white hand came out from the doorway followed by a woman in her thirties.

"We would like to rent your house at the Outer Market" Tan Suzi stated immediately.

The girl did not reply immediately, she looked at Tan Suzi and Yan, "Are you two couples?"

Before Tan Suzi could deny "yes, we are " Yan replied...Tan Suzi turned towards Yan and looked at him with open eyes

"Well, young couples these days often fight, couples shouldn't fight" The woman said when she looked at Tan Suzi glaring at Yan.

"Now, now, please do a handshake" the woman requested.

Tan Suzi glared at Yan, both raised their hands and did the handshake.

At the moment, Yan grasped for his breath, his forehead was sweating and he looked over only to see Tan Suzi smiling at him.

"That's good, you can come inside, we will discuss the specifics" The woman interrupted.

Yan and Tan Suzi moved inside the place..

The room was well lit with multiple windows, the interior was made of wood, and marble floor, there were chairs arranged in the room for guests.

There was a black cat roaming here and there.

Yan and Tan Suzii sat beside each other while the owner sat not too far away to the left of Yan.

"My name is Shannon, people call me Lady Shannon"

"And about the place that you wanted to rent belongs to my friend..."

" He lives in Golden Eagle City. Their family migrated because of his enlistment as a soldier with the kingdom"

"And pardon my question from before since he specifically instructed that not to rent his home to single people"

Tan Suz looked over to the cat for a moment, and then turned towards Shannon, "no issues, can we talk about rent? "

The conversation continued..the deal was sealed.

After they left the place.

They walked towards their new "Do you like cats? " Yan asked.

Tan Suzi did not answer and continued walking.

The smell of iron and smoke filled the air.

The rented house near the outer market with a courtyard was small with two narrow rooms surrounded by thin walls.

Night descended sooner than expected.

That night, they did not speak much.

Their paths had already separated.

Morning arrived early, and Yan left the house before sunrise.

Tan Suzi remained behind.

Her destination lay within the academies of the city.

Yan walked toward the western training fields.

A line of men already stretched across the yard.

They are a mix of Farmers, Mercenary, and Loose cultivators.

Yan joined the line and waited.

When his turn came, Yan entered the raised platform on the arena, the instructor looked up while carrying two wooden swords in his.

One of which, he picked up after defeating the person from before Yan.

“You here for the cultivator unit?”

“Yes.”

“Foundation?”

“Yes.”

Another wooden sword rested casually on his shoulder.

“Show me” the instructor threw the other sword at Yan's feet.

Yan lifted the wooden sword he had been given.

The weapon felt unfamiliar in his hand.

The instructor stepped aside.

“Let's see what you have got” The instructor moved.

.

.

.

Back to present

“Looks like a farmer who picked up a stick.”

Yan lay still for a moment as the surrounding dust filled in his eyes.

Pain spread slowly through his ribs.

He rubbed the eyes and opened them slowly.

He pushed himself halfway upright.

Something felt strange, his eyes looked at the ground beneath him.

The soil felt closer than ever

For a brief moment his awareness seemed to sink into the earth itself.

He focused.

A single grain of sand trembled.

Barely.

So small it could have been imagination.

Yan watched it.

The particle vibrated once more.

Then the wooden sword struck his back.

Yan collapsed again.

The sand returned to stillness.

"Haha...weakest cultivator"

The laughter grew louder.

The first lesson had been given.

Yan had not yet learned how to fight.

But the ground beneath him had already begun to listen.

After the failure.

Yan returned to the small house near the outer market only to find the door still unlocked.

He stepped inside and looked around. No one was there.

A quiet breath escaped him.

The rooms were empty; Tan Suzi had not returned yet. For a moment, he stood in the center of the house, listening to the silence. Then he lowered himself onto the wooden floor and lay flat on his back.

The boards felt cool beneath him.

Yan closed his eyes.

The ground beneath the house seemed distant, muted by layers of wood and packed earth. He slowed his breathing and let his awareness drift downward.

At first, there was nothing but the faint pressure of the soil below.

Then he felt a thin connection.

Yan focused.

The sensation trembled faintly, like a thread stretched to its limit. In his mind, the Ground Letter appeared—the character he had studied before leaving the sect.

He traced it silently.

Stroke by stroke.

The connection responded.

Barely.

Time passed, and the room gradually darkened. Nearly two hours later, the connection had deepened, though only by a little.

Enough for Yan to notice.

He opened his eyes.

Still insufficient.

The wooden floor was interfering with his connection to the earth.

Yan sat up and waited. Some time later, the door finally opened.

Tan Suzi stepped inside carrying several thin books. She stopped when she saw him sitting on the floor.

"Look at your bruises. You failed. Ha. Ha."

"I—"

Yan barely managed a word before she cut him off.

"I won't be teaching you how to fight. I'm busy."

"Doing what?"

"The city library." She set the books on the table. "The scholarship examinations are approaching. I need to prepare."

Yan studied her for a moment.

Then he asked quietly, "You told me you'd explain what lies beneath the drainage soil if I took the blame."

Tan Suzi paused.

"Is that more important to you right now?" she asked. "And did you really take the blame?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Besides, I don't remember saying that."

Her expression remained calm.

Yan held her gaze for a few seconds before looking away.

"Forget it."

Silence lingered between them.

Then Yan spoke again.

"Help me with a small thing."

"Didn't I just tell you I don't have time?"

"Just a small thing."

Tan Suzi sighed.

"What's it?"

Another moment passed.

Then Yan answered calmly.

"Bury me."