The moment Lin Yuan stopped choking on the potato, the blue window chimed again—like an impatient secretary.
DING!171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvagpbhtmWx
[Would you like a quick tour of the Celestial Orphanage System™?]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFaOiRnq3R
[Yes] — [No, let me painfully guess] — [Is there a refund policy?]
Lin squinted.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa5QcAPFP4
—"Do you come with customer service or just sarcasm?"171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGzIBrSlT5
[Yes.]
He rolled his eyes and tapped [Yes].
Immediately, new windows sprouted like weeds in a summer garden.
[Main Functions Unlocked:]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBovlYgjP7W
• Celestial Store171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexDm0BKL3T
• Card Extraction & Fusion171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpD6hNgssY
• Talent Gacha Roulette171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9VMjy5bPw
• Director's Inventory171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNITUwVz1v
• Beginner's Pack (Unopened, Procrastinator Detected)
The store caught his attention.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrLBl96PGG
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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qj1DK6qnS
[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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecmIQcOKLa
[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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8zrHtjJq0
"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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdFb7uh1YF
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!171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx2HoAkMje
[Congratulations! You've received:]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXFuZuR9TD
• 1x Golden Roulette Ticket (High-Rank Talent Guaranteed)171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcTl2cFrxp
• 3x Moderate Satiety Potatoes™171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlJV7HLiMm
• 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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIQmT3ly4H
The system grew theatrical as it hovered toward the roulette.
DING!171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibJSi3qI9c
[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...171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVR9iOot3s7
Tic...171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXUQX9ueVw
PING!
[Congratulations! You've obtained:]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15VUFhbnDO
Skill: Jade Emperor's Eye171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiJMuvrK4D
Type: Divine Talent / Cosmic Perception171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTWH0Jj3M8
Grade: ???171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUKOBixwUK
Bound to Host
Lin blinked.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjU72gnXRj
"...Do I have an eye now?"
The system unfurled like a proud parent at a science fair.
[Skill: Jade Emperor's Eye]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNGR5GKkH4
Passive Effect: Vision of Potential171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXVqJOoXtk
You can see hidden talents, emotional imbalances, and cultivation affinities in anyone you directly observe.
Active Effect: Revelation of Destiny171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCrQhYQnnO
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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0MasH9zd4
He felt... chosen.
He had always believed people could be more than they appeared.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyK63rJnGd
Now he could see it.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHPqucd7v6
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]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKuGzZU7jw
Rank: Mortal Grade (Upgradeable)171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9N8yw9jw4
Effect: Stabilizes spiritual energy. Improves focus, recovery rate, and sleep quality. Removes minor demonic influence and bad breath.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1gVHHPurU
[Note: A solid foundation for beginners. Also good for anxious orphans.]
Lin approved. Impressive.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOctmO6I83
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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAZNbwsdcM
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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujLhmvn9yM
—"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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMQWscDbzt
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]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5ieW1QPu1
[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]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJzeIMKjFX
Race: Human171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbNDjzwmWs
Profession: None171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh4ZgAhyMM
Talent: —171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViPOF7JQRE
Status: Restless / Loyal
[Name: Roman]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkzGDmtxZl
Race: Half-Elf (Hidden)171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjRdNmoROD
Profession: None171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjtz28csUO
Talent: —171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVY9lreIHY
Status: Clever / Distrustful
[Name: Ben]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1G2y0RlRE
Race: Human171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHBNv60cFd
Profession: —171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSqyeV7eqU
Talent: [Elegance]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWeR2tsrn3
Type: Social / Charisma171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRbiUPMkJl
Description: Enhances presence, persuasive speech, and adaptable behavior. Ideal for mediation, infiltration, or leadership.
[Name: Xiao Lian]171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD7s2GBtPJ
Race: Veilblood/ Human171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60R5w6zjkZ
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.171Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOQGI0Bfki
The story of the orphan master had just begun.
