Chapter 6: The Truth Behind the Transmigration

The selection test continued until dusk, with thousands of candidates gathered in the square all completing their trials. Yet only a scant few passed through the test gates—fewer than a hundred in total.

These few dozen were merely provisional disciples of the Xuanyuan Sect for now. Only those who could channel qi into their bodies within three months and reach the first level of Qi Refining within a year would become official disciples.

Within the disciples, there was a distinction between inner and outer sect members. Those fortunate enough to be taken under the wing of a peak master or elder became inner disciples; the others were outer disciples. Those failing to reach the first level of Qi Refining within a year could choose to leave or become menial disciples.

Two cultivators presiding over the test raised their hands, and white light flashed between everyone’s palms. Each person received two translucent white stones and a blue-covered book. The two then briefly outlined some sect matters and important notes before activating a teleportation array, transporting everyone to a sprawling courtyard nestled in a mountain corner.

“You may cultivate here for three months. Each of you may choose a room to move into,” the two Xuanyuan Sect cultivators said before promptly turning and leaving, leaving the bewildered newcomers behind.

Only Qiu Ci, preoccupied with thoughts of the system, barely listened to the disciple’s explanations. After greeting Feng Ting, she pushed open the first room on the right and entered.

She carefully closed the door and windows, ensuring no one was inside. Outside, others were busily selecting their quarters, paying her no mind. Quietly, she summoned the system in her mind once again.

Strangely, there was still no response.

Could it be she was summoning it incorrectly?

Without hesitation, she immediately did over a dozen deep squats.

Still, no reaction.

Had she accidentally bound a counterfeit system?

But she had clearly heard a voice moments ago, and the virtual antlers on her forehead were still intact—obviously the work of the system.

Calm down!

There must be another way.

She took a deep breath and thought carefully. The first time the system appeared, it seemed to mention something about activation.

Could it be like a claw-machine game, needing activation before use?

Who knew how to activate it, though?!

Wait! Claw-machine?

Then...

"Student Xiao Yi?"

[Command correct. Activation successful: Xiao Yi is present! My great master!]

Whoa, it really activated! No way your surname is Lei, right?!

[Master, master! Ah, my most magnificent master, you have finally awakened me, wonderful! Xiao Yi has been missing you so much it’s scrambling my data, wail wail wail...] Suddenly, a glowing orb burst forth from her body, swirling around her.

At the same time, a clear electronic voice played in a 360-degree surround sound in her mind, full of excitement and grievance, like a sudden loudspeaker announcement on a playground, making her dizzy.

Okay, this Lei fellow is a bit noisy!

[My great master, you don’t know how long I have waited for you, wail wail... I was so bored I started eating data. Without you, my existence is incomplete. If you don’t awaken me, all my beauty, my talents, and all my perfect qualities will be wasted, wail wail... Without you, my life is hopeless, master, you...]

“Stop!” Qiu Ci had to cut off the 360-degree surround sound—this was just too loud!

[Yes, yes, wail wail...] The little glowing orb obediently stopped midair.

Qiu Ci rubbed her forehead and scrutinized the orb. “What kind of system exactly are you?”

[Oh~ My great master, Xiao Yi is an intelligent AI system, full name: Intelligent AI Cultivation Aid Ascension System.]

“Cultivation!” Qiu Ci’s eyes lit up. “You can assist me with cultivation?”

[Of course!] The orb proudly expanded, brimming with confidence. [Whether pills, talismans, arrays, swords, theory or practice, tribulation crossing or great ascension, rare materials, spirit pets, bestiary—our system has it all, providing comprehensive and considerate service, with ascension guaranteed!]

Qiu Ci was overjoyed. Was this power-up really this generous?

“You helped me earlier at the test gate, right? And the antlers on my forehead—those are yours too?”

[Yes indeed, those are basic bionic holograms, a virtual aid skill built in at the factory. A piece of cake.]

“Thanks!” She really owed it to the system; otherwise, she might have been exposed.

[Hehe, helping my great master is the very reason for my existence.] The orb blushed and turned red.

“By the way, why were you hiding in that stone stele before?”

[Stone stele?] The red orb tilted slightly, puzzled. [My great master, Xiao Yi can only bind to advanced intelligent lifeforms, not minerals.]

“Didn’t you awaken and bind to me from the stone stele?” Qiu Ci was momentarily stunned. That wasn’t right—she clearly first heard the system’s voice in the Spirit Testing Hall.

The orb thought she didn’t believe it and grew anxious, circling around her. [Since factory activation, Xiao Yi has only ever bound to my great master, and only to you.] It was not the fickle type.

“So you’ve actually been with me all along.” It had just awakened in the Spirit Testing Hall, coincidentally. “Could it be that I crossed over into this world because of you?”

[Crossover?] The orb paused, full of confusion. [Do you mean time-space travel? Xiao Yi hasn’t loaded that module yet. If you want, I can update!]

It actually could have that function!

“After you update, can you take me back to Blue Star’s time-space?”

[Blue Star time-space?] The orb flickered, more puzzled. [Xiao Yi and my master have always been in this time-space.]

“That’s impossible. I mean…”

Wait!

Qiu Ci froze, a foreboding suspicion rising in her heart.

“Don’t tell me we are actually here…”

[At Blue Star’s time-space!]

“…”

(╯>д) You’ve got to be kidding me!

“Come on, look outside at all the horned demons and say again, this is Blue Star?!”

Even an alien invasion wouldn’t make Blue Star this weird!

[Of course not!]

Thank goodness!

But before she could relax, it added another line.

[According to positioning, master, your current location is Huiyang City, Azure Domain, Linyuan Continent, New Universe. Coordinates: E5784, Y1543. Distance from Blue Star’s official coordinates: 45.78 million light years.]

“What does that mean?” She was confused.

[It means, master, you are still in the same universe, just extremely far from your home planet.]

So she had merely crossed to the other side of the universe?

“Good, good. I still have a chance to return! Blue Star still exists, and everyone is still there!” Qiu Ci breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t a time-space crossing; she still had hope of going home.

[Not exactly, master.] The orb wobbled and continued. [According to my data, to pursue a higher level of life evolution, Blue Star planned a universal dimensional migration on January 1, year 1125 of the Covenant Calendar. After migration, the original home planet would enter a ‘hidden star’ state, leaving its original orbit and entering a concealed space. This is also known as the “Ascension” plan.]

“Ascension?” Qiu Ci’s eyes widened. “All Blue Star people?”

[Yes, all human races on Blue Star are included.]

“What year is it now?”

[Today is January 12, year 21,489 of the Covenant Calendar.]

“So… Blue Star people ascended over ten thousand years ago?”

[Indeed!]

“All of them?”

[All.]

“No restrictions? Gender, race, or anything else?”

[Even the deceased have been excavated and included.]

“…”

Then…

Why am I still here?!

It was supposed to be universal! Why wasn’t I on the ship?!

Am I not considered human?!

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