After familiarizing herself with the three new family members—Ling Yuexin, Su Lianhua, and Bai Qingzhu—Seo finally retired to her room.
Lying in bed, she stared at the ceiling, thoughts drifting.
They couldn't rely solely on system sign-in rewards to survive forever.
As if hearing her thoughts—as it often did—a crisp notification chimed.
[Ding! Host, would you like to sign in?]
What perfect timing.
"Sign in," she said, unable to hide the anticipation in her voice.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have gained:
Space Ring ×3
Wheat Seeds ×10
Strawberries ×10
Chaos Sword Technique
Star Void Silk ×1
Star Seed ×1]**
Seo carefully examined her rewards, her gaze lingering on the Star Seed.
After checking its information, she discovered it would grow into a tree capable of producing divine-grade fruit. Not only that, but the tree itself would purify land and enhance soil fertility.
Her mind buzzed with possibilities, but exhaustion soon claimed her.
For the first time since transmigrating into this world, she slept deeply and peacefully.
The Next Morning, Bright sunlight streamed through her window.
Then came the sound of combat.
Seo rushed outside to find Choi and the other three battling a pack of giant wolves. Though they eventually won, Seo's expression remained serious.
Against beasts, brute strength was enough.
Against cultivators, they would lose.
They lacked techniques.
She silently blamed herself—she had been too tired yesterday to set up a defensive array.
Opening her domain map, she constructed a highly complex defensive formation. Wind howled through the area, forcibly ejecting the remaining monsters beyond its boundaries.
Only then did she gather the four of them.
She explained her plan: farming.
They exchanged glances—then nodded.
Using the domain map, she selected the most fertile location. With wooden tools she crafted herself, she taught them how to till the soil. Thirty minutes later, wheat and strawberries had been planted.
Back in the courtyard, Seo retrieved two Body Augmentation Pills and handed them to Choi.
[Ding! Companion Choi has gained Body Augmentation Pills ×2.Host has gained Body Augmentation Pills ×200.]
Seo blinked.
The return ratio was absurd.
Suppressing her shock, she used spiritual energy to inscribe the Supreme Current Transformation Technique onto bamboo slips formed from condensed spirit energy and handed them to Choi.
[Ding! Companion Choi has received Supreme Current Transformation Technique.Host has gained Skill: Supreme Alchemy.]
Her lips twitched.
The system's return mechanism was outrageously generous.
Ling Yuexin, Su Lianhua, and Bai Qingzhu stared at Choi, visibly pouting.
Seo sighed and gave them the same resources.
The system responded with another overwhelming return of pills.
Excitement bubbled over. None of them could wait.
They swallowed the pills and began cultivating.
_ _ _
Seo then remembered her first sign-in reward—the Guardian Beast.
She retrieved it from her inventory.
An egg the size of a tire appeared on the ground.
From the previous owner's memories, she knew it required spiritual energy to hatch.
She carried it to the domain fountain and began pouring spiritual energy into it.
An hour later—
Crack.
The egg split open.
A black serpent emerged, its body adorned with golden rune-like markings. It radiated majesty.
Because it was a system reward, its loyalty stood at 100%.
Seo pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto its head.
A brilliant flash erupted.
A crimson halo formed on the serpent's brow.
On Seo's arm, a serpent-shaped tattoo appeared.
The snake slithered up her back and coiled loosely around her neck.
She opened her system panel.
And froze.
[Name: Seo-Lin][Title: Deprived Soul / Harbinger of Misfortune / Universe's Chosen / Formation and Array Master / Spirit Master][Status: Healthy / Under Soul Pact / Cultivation Block]
Strength: 100Vitality: 500Agility: 200Spirit Energy: 500Cosmic Energy: 5000
Skills: Supreme Alchemy / Spiritual Architecture / Spirit Manipulation
Her once pitiful stats had transformed dramatically.
But what truly stunned her was the 5000 cosmic energy points.
It seemed her core had been operating exceptionally well over the past month.
She immediately opened the long-awaited Design Function.
Two sections appeared:
Skill
Artifact
She selected Skill.
The interface was sleek, minimal, and faintly technological.
She envisioned the skill she wanted.
Appraisal appeared, complete with customization options.
After carefully modifying its scope and efficiency, she finalized the purchase.
[Skill: Appraisal — Cost: 20 Cosmic Energy Points]
She barely felt the deduction.
Upon activation, countless translucent panels flooded her vision—detailed data on every plant and object around her.
She smiled.
This was going to be extremely useful.
Breakthrough
When she returned to the courtyard, dense spiritual energy swirled around her companions.
Moments later, it dispersed.
They opened their eyes—shocked.
Meridians cleared.
Impurities expelled.
What should have taken a week had taken only hours.
The seemingly ordinary bamboo slips had concealed a heaven-defying technique.
Bright smiles broke across their faces.
Seo laughed freely.
For the first time, Choi saw her genuinely happy.
Ling, Su, and Bai exchanged glances—then smiled too.
Warmth filled the courtyard.
This place… was healing her.
After dinner, they retired for the night.
_ _ _
The next morning, cheerful screams dragged Seo from sleep.
Su, Bai, and Ling practically shoved her toward the farm.
When she arrived, she stopped cold.
The wheat and strawberries had fully matured overnight.
Impossible.
Spiritual crops were supposed to take at least a week.
She activated Appraisal.
[Spirit Wheat: Grown under pure and potent spiritual energy with a trace of Origin Power.]
[Spirit Strawberries: Grown under pure and potent spiritual energy with a trace of Origin Power.]
"System, what is Origin Power?"
It was the energy emanating from the Heart of the Domain.
Seo looked at the three women.
Then at the golden wheat and glistening strawberries.
This barren place was transforming.
It was becoming a home.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, she felt they might not just survive here—
They might thrive.