Chapter 5: The Omnipotent Support System

Luo Xingchen took out a lollipop—blueberry flavored and as big as a fist. Tie Pipi’s eyes gleamed as she received it, immediately opening her mouth to bite, only to find nowhere to start. She opened her mouth as wide as she could, but still couldn’t fit the lollipop inside. On the verge of tears from frustration, Luo Xingchen felt a hint of disappointment. He had thought the little girl, with her voracious appetite, would be innately talented at sucking on things as well; clearly, he had overestimated her. Sometimes, size is not always an advantage. He sighed inwardly and explained to the eager child, “This is called a lollipop. It’s not meant to be bitten, but licked. Stick out your tongue and lick it.”

Food lovers seem to possess a certain intuition when it comes to eating. Though it was her first time, after a brief explanation from Luo Xingchen, Tie Pipi was already skillfully licking the lollipop, savoring its taste. The little cat sitting on the sofa nearby stared wide-eyed. Luo Xingchen handed it a smaller lollipop—a cat food version. The kitten joyfully clutched it with both paws and began licking.

Tie Pipi, licking her lollipop, asked, “Master, when are we returning to the Supreme Qi Drawing Sect?”

Despite being expelled from the sect, Tie Pipi still felt attached to it. After discovering her insatiable hunger—needing to eat immense amounts to feel full—she found no ordinary place could accommodate her needs. The wages she earned weren’t enough to feed her, and places that provided meals and lodging couldn’t afford the expense. Thus, she set her sights on the cultivation sects, those mystical organizations ordinary people called the Immortal Gates. These sects, wielding superhuman strength, should surely be able to support a glutton like her.

It was no small feat for her to realize this, given her usual thinking. Cultivation sects were rich in resources, never short on food or clothing, so she joined the Supreme Qi Drawing Sect. However, after entering, she discovered things weren’t as she imagined. Her cultivation was low, making her a complete novice. Within the sect, whether Qi Refining disciples or Spirit Gathering disciples—anyone who hadn’t built their foundation—ate communal meals. Tie Pipi, as a rookie, naturally had to eat with the group. Her appetite, however, was extraordinary; a single meal for her equaled that of dozens.

Thus, a common scenario unfolded: she wasn’t full yet, others hadn’t even started eating, and the food was gone. Over time, the Qi Refining disciples who shared the meal with her grew intolerant. They were all disciples of the Supreme Qi Drawing Sect, all working hard in cultivation and contributing to the sect’s construction—why couldn’t they even have a full meal?

Eventually, under the collective protest of the perpetually hungry Qi Refining disciples, Tie Pipi, unmatched in eating but lacking in other skills, was expelled from the sect. Despite this, she bore no resentment. Before meeting Luo Xingchen, the meals she had in the Supreme Qi Drawing Sect were the tastiest she’d ever had. She felt grateful for the delicious food, regretting only that she might never find such flavors elsewhere.

Fortunately, the heavens favored the diligent eater. She met Luo Xingchen—a master who could provide her with delicacies she’d never dreamed of. Moreover, he was a senior from the Supreme Qi Drawing Sect. If she could return, she’d surely have more chances to enjoy such treats. Thinking this way, Tie Pipi grew impatient.

Luo Xingchen glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost six o’clock. “I had planned to return after the tribulation, but this time it took a bit longer. Night is almost upon us. Let’s rest for the night and set out tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Tie Pipi was puzzled by Luo Xingchen’s words. “But you’re a tribulation master, you could take me and the cat back in a flash—why wait until tomorrow?”

“Anyone else, perhaps. But not you,” Luo Xingchen replied, shaking his head.

Tie Pipi, crestfallen, asked, “Why not me? Are you displeased with me…”

Luo Xingchen explained, “You’re too special. Someone like you, once you start cultivating, is destined for smooth sailing, never facing any setbacks. But how can immortal cultivation always be smooth? Cultivating the character, tempering the mind—these are essential for those on the path to immortality. Without them, if your power grows rapidly but your mindset lags behind, you’ll face great trouble in the future.”

“So the master is thinking ahead for me…” Hearing that Luo Xingchen was concerned for her future, Tie Pipi was deeply moved.

Luo Xingchen continued, “There are plenty of empty rooms upstairs. Let Little Bu Liu show you around, and you can pick one to sleep in.”

“Thank you, Master. See you tomorrow!” Tie Pipi thanked him, grabbed the kitten by the scruff, and followed Little Bu Liu upstairs. She chose a room, and Little Bu Liu explained how to use various things—like the TV remote, the shower, the toilet flush… This girl, raised in a world like ancient fantasy, truly experienced the power of technology for the first time. Enthusiastic about all these novelties, Tie Pipi explored excitedly, only falling asleep late at night.

Luo Xingchen lay in his own room, not yet asleep. He was waiting—for midnight. Soon, the hour struck twelve, and, as expected, a voice sounded, one only he could hear, devoid of emotion, indistinguishable whether male or female, purely electronic:

“Detected that host’s cultivation lags far behind peers. Issuing [Daily Catch-Up Gift Pack]. Please continue striving, cultivate diligently, and ascend to immortality soon!”

This voice belonged to Luo Xingchen’s greatest golden finger—a system called “Universal Support.” It had activated when he first crossed over, aiding him in his path to immortality. Before reaching the tribulation stage, he had received many valuable items from the system. But after attaining tribulation stage, he could no longer claim support packs, except for the daily catch-up pack at midnight.

To get more and better items, he would need to ascend and upgrade the system to version 2.0. Yet Luo Xingchen was in no hurry to become immortal. What is the purpose of immortality? Eternal life. He now possessed the ability [Never die unless you become immortal], which already granted him eternal life. If so, why bother ascending? Unless, someday, he grew weary of this world, he might reconsider. For now, though, he was content—so immortality could wait.