The moment Lin Yuan stopped choking on the potato, the blue window chimed again—like an impatient secretary.
DING!128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7g7CfNBgz
[Would you like a quick tour of the Celestial Orphanage System™?]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM20ly44s3
[Yes] — [No, let me painfully guess] — [Is there a refund policy?]
Lin squinted.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwHe5lomoI
—"Do you come with customer service or just sarcasm?"128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr5JdTpqi8
[Yes.]
He rolled his eyes and tapped [Yes].
Immediately, new windows sprouted like weeds in a summer garden.
[Main Functions Unlocked:]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZpyvBE8xY
• Celestial Store128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt0eeXUhI4
• Card Extraction & Fusion128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbrNLMHSLe
• Talent Gacha Roulette128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeLCBTaWsj
• Director's Inventory128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjS9PjlBdG
• Beginner's Pack (Unopened, Procrastinator Detected)
The store caught his attention.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94n4Fs4bjU
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.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK33vP0ISy
[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.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4qE642rp2
[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.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdEGaG97Jy
"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.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dMZonbmS7
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!128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe4mf8KSbO
[Congratulations! You've received:]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMgIvHme3y
• 1x Golden Roulette Ticket (High-Rank Talent Guaranteed)128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEgdvZf4ia
• 3x Moderate Satiety Potatoes™128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzP9UDSuMn
• 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.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lPTTTUw10
The system grew theatrical as it hovered toward the roulette.
DING!128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRuOzMDglP
[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...128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAPI31U4w8
Tic...128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWXUGKEvF9
PING!
[Congratulations! You've obtained:]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OW0bAw1Ud
Skill: Jade Emperor's Eye128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90V94NgZRg
Type: Divine Talent / Cosmic Perception128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AfRXsx80L
Grade: ???128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPcMd4haJi
Bound to Host
Lin blinked.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xNwprBnI0
"...Do I have an eye now?"
The system unfurled like a proud parent at a science fair.
[Skill: Jade Emperor's Eye]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ3zbvEIvl
Passive Effect: Vision of Potential128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd0aXcKvNB
You can see hidden talents, emotional imbalances, and cultivation affinities in anyone you directly observe.
Active Effect: Revelation of Destiny128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCT8ppI9Dt
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.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys4wuocKDF
He felt... chosen.
He had always believed people could be more than they appeared.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmtkFritE6
Now he could see it.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdmRwpsP2y
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]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VSvTQNftj
Rank: Mortal Grade (Upgradeable)128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiGnkkIFEa
Effect: Stabilizes spiritual energy. Improves focus, recovery rate, and sleep quality. Removes minor demonic influence and bad breath.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lXmWHou2s
[Note: A solid foundation for beginners. Also good for anxious orphans.]
Lin approved. Impressive.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4rKJq9r6Q
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.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGTNk8HoA9
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.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53Cj2vd7BE
—"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.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMCs6skd4c
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]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK4n4fgYBa
[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]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtuuyXVfn7
Race: Human128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1vshAUOq0
Profession: None128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqN0bjC9Qa
Talent: —128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCGwlc1Zr6
Status: Restless / Loyal
[Name: Roman]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlTE9zuxXW
Race: Half-Elf (Hidden)128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNIsstK236
Profession: None128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSM3MFNiaLJ
Talent: —128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOXqBW2xud
Status: Clever / Distrustful
[Name: Ben]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJze2U9whNW
Race: Human128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqu6WoX1sV
Profession: —128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWQCwDNIBE
Talent: [Elegance]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9PTE4FwNT
Type: Social / Charisma128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4PPSQF5yA
Description: Enhances presence, persuasive speech, and adaptable behavior. Ideal for mediation, infiltration, or leadership.
[Name: Xiao Lian]128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxorlCPuuf
Race: Veilblood/ Human128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ382diGY8bj
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.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApMTbiVVwB
The story of the orphan master had just begun.
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