Wu Ji Tian stepped into the capsule, feeling the cool hum of energy vibrating beneath his fingertips as the hatch sealed shut. Unlike the VR helmet, which merely projected an illusion into his mind, this was full immersion—a complete synchronization between body and consciousness.

  A soft chime echoed, followed by a faint hum reverberating through the capsule. His senses dulled for a moment as his consciousness drifted…

  [Initializing…]

  [Scan Complete.]

  [Owner Detected.]

  [Welcome to Virtual Haven.]

  A brief pull.

  Then—nothing.

  Wu Ji Tian opened his eyes to the same endless void as before.

  A vast bck void stretched endlessly, swallowing everything in absolute nothingness. Wu Ji Tian found himself standing on invisible ground, feeling weight beneath his feet even though there was nothing there.

  His footsteps made no sound, his presence leaving no trace.

  He sighed.

  “…Still just a void.”

  A familiar voice chimed in, crisp and ever-so-slightly amused.

  [Of course. You haven’t built anything yet.]

  Wu Ji Tian crossed his arms. “Alright, System. How does this work?”

  [A simple process. As the administrator, you control the fundamental yout of this world. You can generate terrain, adjust ndscapes, and define environmental properties.]

  Wu Ji Tian’s eyes lit up. “…So I’m basically a god here?”

  [That would be an exaggeration. But within system limits, yes.]

  Wu Ji Tian smirked. Now we’re talking.

  The first thing he needed was a ndmass.

  “Alright, System. Generate a world for me—random terrain.”

  [Understood. Generating randomized topography…]

  The void shuddered.

  Suddenly, an explosion of light rippled outward from his feet. The darkness peeled back, repced by towering mountains, vast rivers, and rolling pins. The nd stretched endlessly in all directions, easily three to four times the size of Clear Spring City.

  Wu Ji Tian’s jaw dropped.

  “…That’s a lot of nd.”

  The problem? It wasn’t exactly finished.

  Some mountains were awkwardly shaped, rivers cut off abruptly, and there were even floating nd chunks defying gravity. The sky didn’t exist yet, leaving the world trapped in an eerie, unnatural twilight.

  Wu Ji Tian pinched his nose.

  “…System, did you just give me a half-baked world?”

  [It’s called procedural generation. You’re welcome.]

  Wu Ji Tian exhaled. Fine. At least now he had a base to work with.

  ==================

  As he adjusted the terrain—smoothing hills, widening rivers, fixing the broken parts—a thought struck him.

  He had been so caught up in creating the city that he never stopped to ask an important question.

  “…Wait. How does all of this even run?”

  [Crify your question.]

  “This world. This expansion. The qi density. It all costs something, right? Where’s that energy coming from?”

  [Spirit stones.]

  Wu Ji Tian froze.

  “…Come again?”

  [The system extracts energy from the spirit stones spent by customers. That energy is used for world expansion, maintenance, and overall system functionality.]

  Wu Ji Tian narrowed his eyes. “Wait. So… I’m not getting 100% of the spirit stones?”

  [Correct.]

  His face darkened. “How much are we talking?”

  [60%.]

  Wu Ji Tian staggered back. “SIXTY PERCENT?!”

  [Correct.]

  He clutched his chest like he had just been struck by lightning. “T-That’s daylight robbery!”

  [Incorrect. It is a necessary operational cost.]

  Wu Ji Tian broke into a cold sweat. “Wait, wait, wait. Let’s negotiate here, System. How about 20%?”

  [No.]

  “30%? I’ll even settle for 35%!”

  [Still no.]

  Wu Ji Tian’s eye twitched. “Come on, at least let’s split it 50/50! That’s fair, right?!”

  [You are welcome to request an appeal.]

  Wu Ji Tian’s expression brightened. “Oh! So there’s a process?!”

  [Yes.]

  [Processing appeal…]

  [Appeal denied.]

  Wu Ji Tian staggered again. “YOU DIDN’T EVEN PRETEND TO CONSIDER IT!”

  [Efficiency is key.]

  Wu Ji Tian colpsed onto a nearby stone bench, gripping his forehead.

  60% gone… just like that.

  A thought struck him. “Wait… That means I only get 40%?”

  [Your math skills are impeccable.]

  Wu Ji Tian groaned. “What am I supposed to do with 40%?!”

  [You can either compin, or you can attract more customers and increase your profits.]

  “…This is extortion.”

  [This is business.]

  Wu Ji Tian sighed in defeat. The system had him completely cornered.

  Still, there was one silver lining.

  If this world kept expanding, the business would grow. More cultivators would flock to it, and eventually, that 40% would be worth more than he ever imagined.

  Even if it still stung.

  “…I’m never going to financially recover from this.”

  [Then work harder, Host.]

  Wu Ji Tian massaged his temples. This system was ruthless.

  Wu Ji Tian let out a deep sigh, shaking his head as he turned his attention back to the vast, unfinished nd before him. The system’s shameless cut still weighed heavily on his mind, but there was no use crying over it. If he wanted this world to thrive, he had to build something worth expanding.

  “…Alright, let’s focus.”

  He swept his gaze across the barren ndscape.

  Satisfied with the ndmass, he moved on to the most important part—the starting city.

  “This will be the center of everything,” he muttered. “A hub for cultivators.”

  [Understood. Generating base structures…]

  Golden light flooded the area.

  Buildings rose from the ground, forming wide streets, meditation halls, and training arenas. But Wu Ji Tian wasn’t satisfied with just a basic yout—this was going to be the foundation of something revolutionary.

  He rolled up his sleeves (figuratively) and got to work.

  With a thought, he manually refined the details, adding a mix of modern aesthetics with traditional cultivation architecture:

  Stone-paved roads with engraved formations, designed to subtly guide spiritual energy through the city, ensuring a harmonious flow.

  Floating nterns drifting zily along invisible paths, casting a soft, mystical glow at night. Some were designed with talismanic inscriptions, giving off faint protective auras.

  A central pza, wide and open, built around a massive, towering statue of an ancient cultivator in deep meditation. The base of the statue was engraved with glowing runes that would ter serve as teleportation nodes.

  Marketpces, not just simple wooden stalls but multi-level pagoda-style buildings, each designed to house vendors, auction halls, and trade hubs for future pyers.

  Training arenas, constructed with reinforced stone and spiritual formations to absorb damage from duels. Elevated viewing ptforms surrounded them, perfect for spectators.

  Rivers and bridges, elegantly arching over the waterways that snaked through the city, lined with cherry blossom trees that shed luminescent petals in the wind.

  The city now had a unique fusion of cultivation-era grandeur and subtle modern convenience.

  In the residential areas, houses were built with cssic sloped rooftops, decorative wood carvings, and courtyards filled with spirit pnts—but they also had soft glowing street mps, spirit-powered water systems, and neatly arranged pathways resembling a well-pnned modern district.

  “…Now that’s better.”

  Wu Ji Tian took a step back, admiring his work.

  The city had transformed into something extraordinary—a fusion of ancient cultivation aesthetics with just enough modern influence to make it feel unique. Wide stone-paved roads, elegant bridges arching over shimmering rivers, glowing nterns floating zily above the streets… It was everything he envisioned.

  But as he gazed at the empty streets, an idea struck him.

  He smirked. “Hey, System. Since I’m basically a god here, do you think it’s possible to add more modern things? Like…” He tapped his chin. “Cell phones? TV? Banks? Maybe even cars?”

  The system’s reply was immediate.

  [Of course. You can add anything. The only problem? You’re poor.]

  Wu Ji Tian’s expression twitched. “…Excuse me?”

  [Generating and maintaining modern features requires immense energy. You don’t even have enough to fully optimize this city, and you’re already dreaming of luxury? Work harder, Host.]

  Wu Ji Tian sighed. “Figures. So basically, when I expand, I can unlock more?”

  [Correct.]

  “…But I can get something now, right?”

  The system hummed in thought before responding.

  [You wish. But since I’m feeling generous, here’s a little preview of what you could have]

  Suddenly, golden holographic projections flickered across the city, giving Wu Ji Tian a glimpse of what could be:

  Spirit-Powered Vending Machines – Selling cultivation pills, snacks, spirit-infused beverages, and temporary buffs for in-game use.

  Floating Information Kiosks – Holographic boards where pyers could check maps, missions, events, and tournament schedules.

  Holographic Communication Panels – Instead of scroll messages, pyers could send and receive 3D holographic transmissions in real time.

  Giant Floating Spectator Screens – Public dispys broadcasting duels, tournaments, or major announcements.

  Wu Ji Tian watched in fascination as the phantom structures hovered for a few moments before fading away.

  “…That was just to mess with me, wasn’t it?”

  [Correct. But now you know what you’re working toward.]

  Wu Ji Tian sighed, rubbing his temples. “This system is merciless…” But despite the teasing, his excitement grew. If he could expand enough, if he could draw in enough spirit stones—this world could become something beyond anyone’s imagination.

  But before that…

  Of course, a city wasn’t complete without people.

  [Would you like to generate NPCs?]

  Wu Ji Tian cracked his knuckles, his grin widening. “Let’s test the improved version.”

  The void rippled.

  Just as figures began to emerge—

  [Incoming Transmission: Customer Requesting Attention]

  A floating translucent screen appeared beside Wu Ji Tian, — A familiar, frustrated voice rang out.

  “Tian! Wake up! Are you dead or something?”

  Wu Ji Tian rolled his eyes. “So dramatic.” With a sigh, he logged out.

  The moment the capsule hissed open, Guo Xiong took a step back, watching in awe as Wu Ji Tian casually sat up and stretched.

  “Whoa…” Guo Xiong’s jaw dropped. “That was smooth. You popped out like one of those high-css spirit tools coming out of its case.”

  Wu Ji Tian smirked. “Impressed?”

  Guo Xiong snapped out of his amazement, remembering the reason he had called.

  “Tian! I was suddenly forced out, and the screen said my five hours were up! What the hell?! It even told me, ‘Please come back tomorrow!’” He filed his arms, looking genuinely betrayed.

  Wu Ji Tian leaned back zily. “Yeah? You’ve been pying for five hours straight. Look outside, it’s already getting dark.”

  Guo Xiong turned toward the shop’s entrance. Sure enough, the sun was already sinking below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple.

  “What the—?! I feel like I was only in there for an hour!”

  Wu Ji Tian chuckled. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

  Guo Xiong turned back, looking hopeful. “Can I extend my time? Just one more hour? You know we’re best friends, right? Remember when I covered for you that time you pissed off your grandpa?”

  Wu Ji Tian gave him a deadpan look. “Bringing up old favors, huh?”

  Guo Xiong grinned sheepishly. “Worth a shot. But seriously, I was about to fight the st cultivator! I even got the loot from that treasure box that fell from the sky! Do you know how rare those are?! I have a super powerful weapon, and now I can’t even use it!”

  Wu Ji Tian remained firm. “Rules are rules.”

  Guo Xiong tried again. “I’ll double the payment! Just let me py a little longer.”

  Wu Ji Tian hesitated. “Double, huh?”

  For a split second, Guo Xiong looked hopeful.

  Wu Ji Tian then crossed his arms. “Still no.”

  Guo Xiong groaned dramatically. “Can’t we do anything about this? I’m your childhood friend, you know.”

  Wu Ji Tian sighed. Honestly, Guo Xiong’s persistence was impressive. And money was money…

  (Hey, System. Can’t we let him extend just this once? He’s willing to pay double.)

  The system’s response came instantly.

  [No.]

  Wu Ji Tian frowned. (Why not? It’s more spirit stones for expansion, right?)

  [And what happens when every customer demands an extension? What happens when you have a line of angry cultivators demanding more time? Will you reject them or bend the rules?]

  Wu Ji Tian opened his mouth—then closed it.

  Damn. The system had a point.

  He sighed. (Fine. You win.)

  Turning back to Guo Xiong, he patted his friend’s shoulder. “Sorry, can’t do it. If I make an exception now, I’ll have to do it for everyone.”

  Guo Xiong huffed. “Tch. Stingy shop owner.”

  Wu Ji Tian shrugged. “Rules are rules.”

  Guo Xiong stared at him for a long moment, then let out an exaggerated groan. “Fine… but I’m coming back first thing in the morning!”

  Wu Ji Tian smirked as he watched Guo Xiong leave.

  This is the effect of a truly addicting game…

  Turning back, he stepped toward the capsule once more.

  “Alright. Time to get back to work.”