Despite racking his brain, Lan An could find no way to escape his dire circumstances. Blind, gravely injured, and reduced to the lowest status, he was trapped in a hopeless situation. The sudden chime of the System's voice was like a lifeline to a drowning man, a warm hearth in a snowstorm. His excitement was entirely understandable.
Clang! "Binding successful. Congratulations, Lan An, on becoming the master of the Overlord System."
The mechanical voice echoed in his mind again. Without hesitation, Lan Nan spoke up, "I want to escape my current predicament. Is there a way?"
As his words faded, a translucent figure materialized, hovering beside him. Though Lan Nan was blind, the figure's image miraculously projected into his mind. It was a petite loli, no larger than an adult's hand, with glossy black hair, sparkling wide eyes, long lashes, a delicate nose, and a small, rosy mouth. Her fair skin glowed with a soft blush, accentuated by dimples on her cheeks. Clad in a golden robe that radiated nobility, she was undeniably adorable.
"Greetings, Master. I am the representative of the Overlord System, here to assist you from now on," the loli said, her voice sweet and clear as a babbling brook, resonating directly in Lan Nan's mind. The sound was so soothing that it eased some of the pain from his wounds.
"Are you the spirit of the System?" Lan An asked, recalling from his past life's xianxia novels that powerful artifacts often had guiding spirits.
"You could say that," the loli replied vaguely, her tone playful.
Lan Nan didn't press further, sensing that his current authority might not grant him deeper answers. "Do you have a name? It'd be easier to communicate with one, don't you think?"
"Please bestow a name upon me!" the loli chirped, her bright eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Your golden robe exudes nobility and grace. Let's call you Jin'er. And just call me Young Master; 'Master' feels too formal for me," Lan Nan said calmly. Having lived humbly in both lives, being addressed as "Master" by a little girl felt awkward.
"Thank you, Young Master, for the name! Heehee!" Jin'er beamed, her smile radiant with delight at her new name.
"Alright, let's get to the point. Is there a way to escape my current situation? How does the Overlord System work?" Lan Nan cut to the chase. His life hung by a thread, and the System was the golden opportunity of a transmigrator. He'd be a fool not to seize it. Whether the System had ulterior motives didn't matter—he had nothing left to lose.
Jin'er, sensing his urgency, responded seriously, "The Overlord System will stop at nothing to make its master a true Overlord. In a world where the strong rule and the weak perish, the only path to becoming an Overlord is to become the strongest. To grow stronger, Young Master can complete tasks issued by the System to earn rewards. In short, the System will pave the way for you to become an Overlord, but how you walk that path depends on your own efforts."
She continued, "The System has just awakened and is at Level 1, with limited functions. Young Master must grow stronger to upgrade the System. The higher its level, the more functions it unlocks, accelerating your journey to becoming an Overlord."
"That's more than enough," Lan An nodded, satisfied. He understood the importance of self-reliance and wasn't naive enough to expect the System to do everything, unlike the overpowered cheats in the novels he'd read.
Clang! "Main Quest activated: 'The Dawn of an Overlord.' Reward: Unknown. Penalty for failure: Death and System dissolution."
Quest Details: Within one hundred years, dominate the Bing Tian Continent, subjugate the two Ninth-Tier powers, and use the continent as the first stepping stone on the Path of the Overlord.
Clang! "Side Quest activated: 'Dragon Rising from the Abyss.' Reward: One designated summon of an Earth-Grade item. Penalty for failure: Imprisonment in the Lan Clan's dungeon for five years."
Quest Details: The host is under constant surveillance by Lan Wu, who views you as a thorn in his side. Escape the Lan Clan to evade Lan Wu's scrutiny and seize the chance to grow.
Clang! "First-time System activation bonus: One Newcomer Gift Package."
A series of mechanical prompts rang out. Lan Nan dismissed the quests for now, focusing on the Newcomer Gift Package. His ability to complete those daunting tasks hinged on what this package offered. As for Lan Wu's hostility, it wasn't surprising. As a prodigy, Lan Wu saw his "useless" elder brother as a stain on his reputation.
"Young Master, open the gift package!" Jin'er urged, her curiosity evident. As the System's representative, she facilitated communication, but the tasks and rewards were determined by the System itself.
Lan Nan nodded inwardly and thought, Open the Newcomer Gift Package.
Clang! "Confirm opening the Newcomer Gift Package?"
"Yes," Lan An affirmed without hesitation.
Clang! "Congratulations, host, for opening the Newcomer Gift Package. Rewards: One random summon of a Forbidden-Grade cultivation technique, one random summon of an Earth-Grade artifact, one random summon of a Mysterious-Grade martial skill, three Healing Pills, three Minor Teleportation Talismans, and one Basic Clairvoyance Talisman."
All items are stored in the System's inventory.
"Heavens! A Forbidden-Grade cultivation technique?!" Jin'er shrieked, her noble demeanor vanishing. Her small mouth gaped, eyes bulging, her tiny body trembling with excitement.
Lan An was stunned. According to the memories of this body, cultivation techniques, martial skills, and artifacts in this world were divided into five grades: Spirit, Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow, with Spirit being the highest and Yellow the lowest. But a Forbidden-Grade technique? What was that?
"Is a Forbidden-Grade technique that powerful?" Lan Nan asked, swallowing hard.
"Powerful? It's beyond comprehension! In the face of a Forbidden-Grade technique, Spirit-Grade and Heaven-Grade are mere trash!" Jin'er exclaimed, still reeling from shock. "The System is clearly determined to forge an unparalleled foundation for you, Young Master. You must strive, strive harder, no—immensely harder!" she babbled, her flushed face beaming with excitement. As a System representative, the prospect of serving a master with such potential thrilled her, though she knew cultivating a Forbidden-Grade technique would be extraordinarily difficult.
Lan An was floored. The Lan Clan's status as an Eighth-Tier cultivation force was partly due to its Heaven-Grade advanced technique, Luo Yue Bing Jing, passed down through generations. It was said to perfectly forge the foundation for Ice spiritual root cultivators and wielded devastating power, capable of freezing the moon itself. Once, when an assassin organization led by a Spirit Transformation expert targeted Lan Wu, Lan Po Lei, in a rage, unleashed the Luo Bing Palm from Luo Yue Bing Jing. The attack turned a thousand-mile radius into a frozen wasteland, reducing nearly three thousand assassins to shattered ice statues. Not one survived.
As for Spirit-Grade techniques, rumors claimed only the Ninth-Tier powers, Tian Shan Immortal Realm and Bing Xuan Empire, possessed them, though no one had confirmed it.
"Forbidden… Forbidden…" Lan Nan repeated, his heart racing. If Jin'er had no reason to deceive him, this technique was truly terrifying. He couldn't let this chance to soar to the heavens slip away.
"So, the summons are random? The rewards I get depend on luck?" Lan Nan asked, cautious about this critical step that could shape his fate.
"Yes," Jin'er explained. "For example, you have one summon for an Earth-Grade artifact. You might prefer a sword, but it could summon a saber instead. Artifacts are also divided into Low, Middle, High, and Supreme grades. What you get depends on your luck."
"What about the technique? If I summon an evil demonic technique, do I have to become a demon?" Lan Nan's expression darkened. He had no desire to become a bloodthirsty fiend.
"You don't have to cultivate it," Jin'er said, puffing her cheeks. "Besides, what's wrong with demonic techniques? Techniques aren't inherently good or evil—it's the user who determines their nature."
Lan Nan had an epiphany, realizing his perspective was narrow compared to the little loli's wisdom. Techniques aren't good or evil, he noted, etching the lesson into his heart.
"First, let's heal my injuries," Lan Nan decided. With a thought, a Healing Pill appeared in his palm. Without hesitation, he endured the pain and swallowed it. A surge of spiritual energy coursed through him, mending wounds inside and out. Bruises and swelling on his face faded, leaving his skin clear.
Spiritual energy was the fundamental resource for cultivation, absorbed from the heavens and earth. A spiritual root was required to harness it, which explained why a rootless Lan Nan had suffered such a tragic fate.
At this moment, readers would notice Lan Nan's striking appearance: sharp sword-like brows, a high, straight nose, and thick lips curved in a defiant smirk. As the son of Lan Po Lei, the distinguished patriarch of the Lan Clan, and a mother from a Fifth-Tier family whose beauty had captivated Lan Po Lei, Lan Nan's looks were naturally exceptional. Sadly, his mother had died too early for him to remember her face clearly.
"What a miraculous pill," Lan Nan remarked, standing with renewed vigor, though his blindness still prevented him from assessing himself or his surroundings. With another thought, two talismans appeared in his hand, their details flooding his mind.
Basic Clairvoyance Talisman: Allows the user to perceive everything within a 300-meter radius, detecting auras of cultivators up to the Nascent Soul stage, even if hidden. Duration: 24 hours.
Minor Teleportation Talisman: Teleports the user to a random location, ranging from a hundred to ten thousand miles. Single use.
"These are tailor-made for my situation," Lan An said, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. The System was proving reliable. Though the Lan Clan's territory spanned ten thousand miles, its core was within a thousand-mile radius. Escaping the core area would suffice for now.
"Of course the System is reliable!" Jin'er said, rolling her eyes. "But this is just the beginning, Young Master. Keep upgrading the System for even greater rewards."
Lan Nan nodded, brimming with anticipation for the future. With a decisive motion, he crushed the Basic Clairvoyance Talisman in his hand.