The night rolled on without disturbance. The spirit horses pulled the carriage steadily. The road stretched beneath the stars like an endless ribbon of silver.
Inside, Xuan Yuan leaned lazily against the window, watching the constellations twinkle above. His fingers tapped idly against his knee as though keeping time with the sky.
The Codex pulsed.
Ding!
Special sign-in location detected: Southern Road under Starlit Canopy. Would host like to sign in?
Yuan blinked. "Hey Codex! Didn't I already sign in today? Did you forget?"
"Ding! This is why host was asked explore the system functions. Sign in reward will be obtained by daily sign in or sign in at a special location, both mutually exclusive."
"I see, sorry for that. Hehe, but this is awesome. Also, I can sign in to the sky now? Well, Codex, never let it be said that you lack imagination!"
"Do you wish to claim?"
"Yes, of course!"
Sign-in successful. Reward: Divine-grade Artifact — Heavenly Constellation Compass.
A silver glow flared in his consciousness, coalescing into the shape of an ancient compass. Its frame was etched with star maps, constellations flickering faintly like living light. At its center, a needle of pure astral essence spun before locking firmly north.
Information flooded him.
The Heavenly Constellation Compass:
Reveals hidden paths and points towards concealed opportunities. Dispels illusions, distortions, and false terrains. Can detect fluctuations in qi, treasures, and secret realms within a certain radius. At night, aligns with the constellations to guide toward fated encounters.
Yuan stared at it, dumbfounded. "…You gave me a navigation tool. I've basically been handed a cheat-sheet GPS for the cultivation world. And a divine grade at that!"
It must be noted that only imperial family is rumoured to have a Divine grade artifact. All Xuan Yuan know is that even his family only has peak Heaven artificats placed under the strict vigilance of several elders, but nothing of Divine grade!
He turned the compass in his mind, watching constellations flicker across its rim. "Not flashy, not explosive… but ridiculously useful. Perfect for my coming exploration."
A grin tugged at his lips. "Imagine everyone else stumbling around ancient ruins, falling into death traps, fighting over scraps… Meanwhile, I'll be strolling through secret doors with a personal tour guide. Beautiful."
He tucked the compass safely into his inventory and leaned back with a sigh of satisfaction.
Across from him, Aunt Lan cracked an eye open. "What happened? Your heart rate spiked, you seem excited for some reason"
"Nothing," Yuan said smoothly, masking his grin with feigned innocence. "Just appreciating the scenery amazed at the immensity of sky"
She narrowed her gaze, clearly unconvinced, but said nothing.
Yuan smirked inwardly.
Outside, the stars shifted, the constellations gleaming brighter than usual—as though acknowledging the artifact's awakening.
Yuan glanced at them once more before closing his eyes, his thoughts steady.
South. Secret Realm. Rebirth.
Everyone believed this journey would be his chance to rise from trash to genius. But he had already risen. Now, with the Codex at his aid and the compass in hand, he would carve his path—not just to genius, but beyond what anyone in this continent could imagine.
The carriage rolled on through the night, quiet and unbothered, the stars themselves seemingly watching his steps.
Day one passed in peace. Next day, Yuan leaned against the carriage window, humming tunelessly, when the Codex pulsed.
Ding! Daily Sign-In Reward: Yellow-Grade Bottle of Detoxification Pills ×2
He blinked, unimpressed. "...Detox pills?, how cheap if you, codex. Nevertheless, I hope they help me"
Day Three brought little more excitement. The carriage rolled on through forest paths and valleys. At noon, when the Codex pulsed again, Yuan perked up, hopeful.
Ding! Daily Sign-In Reward: Low Earth-Grade Movement Technique — Phantom Steps
Yuan's grin faded almost instantly. "Low Earth-grade? What is this, a consolation prize? What happened to my peak Heaven-grade Starfall Bow skill? Was that a one-time special event?"
He skimmed the technique, sighing. "Fine, Phantom Steps lets me move like a shadow, harder to track, harder to hit. Good for sneaking off. I'll allow it."
"Did you say something?" Aunt Lan asked, not even opening her eyes.
"Just praising your cooking," Yuan said innocently.
She narrowed her eyes for a second, then let it drop.
By the dawn of the fourth day, the carriage passed through rolling hills into the outskirts of a bustling kingdom city. Tall gates stood open, guarded by cultivators in matching armor. Farmers, traders, and even minor cultivator families streamed in and out with carts piled high with goods.
The guards who were collecting entry price stiffened at the sight of their carriage, before letting them through. Golden Core spirit horses weren't something guards of a backwater kingdom could afford to offend.
Inside the city, the streets were wide and lively. Hawkers cried out about spirit fruits and talismans, blacksmiths hammered glowing metal, and children ran between the stalls with candied hawthorn skewers in hand.
Yuan leaned halfway out the window, grinning. "Finally! Civilization. Aunt Lan, let's stay here for the day. I need a break from staring at trees."
She raised a brow. "This is a minor kingdom. What do you expect to find here?"
"Street food," Yuan declared solemnly. "Maybe some some local specialties."
Aunt Lan sighed but relented. "Very well. One day. But stay close."
They checked into the best inn the city had to offer, its upper floor reserved for cultivators. The innkeeper nearly fainted when his Aunt Lan exerted a little aura of her, tripping over himself to arrange their rooms.
"What was that for?"
"Nothing! Just a warning to those who are eyeing us. Let's move on."
Interesting, there are nascent soul cultivators in this city. Not our business, though. Aunt Lan gave another look before going upstairs.
Yuan sprawled comfortably across the inn's bed before wandering into the city with Aunt Lan in tow. He sampled candied fruits, browsed weapon stalls with an exaggerated air of disdain, and watched a street performer balance on flying swords for coin.
By evening, they dined in a private room of the inn, spirit lamps casting a warm glow. Aunt Lan mostly ate in silence, while Yuan recounted his "achievements" of the day.
"I tried eight kinds of snacks, scared three stall owners by over-haggling, and found out the local noble writes poetry so bad the bards are crying. A productive day, if you ask me."
"Mm," Aunt Lan said, sipping her tea. "At least you didn't cause trouble."
Yuan raised a brow. "Give me some credit, Aunt. Causing trouble requires effort."
She smiled faintly at that.
"I did not see you cultivating these days. It's like your usual dedication and determination are no longer there. What happened, brat?"
"Nothing happened. Just a realization, cultivating with my talent is pure waste. Instead it is better to enjoy current peace while it lasts. Let's talk of cultivating when my talent increases."
She just stared and stayed silent.
That night, when the city quieted and the stars scattered above, Yuan sat by the window of his room, the Codex pulsing softly in his chest.
No Divine-grade surprises today. Just detox pills and movement techniques. Still, the road ahead stretched long, and he had time.
The Codex pulsed once more, steady and silent.
And beneath the peaceful hum of the city, somewhere in the shadows, whispers moved. News of the Xuan clan's "exiled" young master has already spread far and wide and, those with motive are gathering in this small city.
While Yuan slept peacefully, blissfully unaware of this, nothing went unnoticed by his Aunt, who decided that this night is perfect for clean up.