Darkness.
Lin Xuan's final memory on Earth was the cold hum of hospital machines… then silence.
But when he opened his eyes again, the world had changed.
A golden sky stretched above him, vast and endless. Towering mountains floated in midair, their peaks wrapped in lightning and clouds. Giant beasts howled across ancient forests, and spiritual energy filled every breath.
He sat alone in a lush valley surrounded by misty cliffs and glowing flora. Strange symbols pulsed faintly beneath him on a moss-covered stone—like the remnants of an ancient formation.
> "Where… am I?"
His voice trembled, not from fear—but awe.
Then, a sound echoed in his mind.
> [Primordial Origin System Activated…]
> [Host: Lin Xuan]
> [Status: Soul Transferred from Lower Plane—No Karma, No Fate Bindings]
> [Detected: Host is an Anomaly. Immune to Destiny Threads and Great Dao Chains.]
> [System Function: Rewards Only. No Missions. No Guidance. No Constraints.]
> [Initializing Treasure Support…]
In that instant, warm light poured into his body. He felt no pain—but a flood of strength, clarity, and... stillness.
> [You have received: Heaven-Tier Perfect Physique: "Void Origin Body"]
> [You have received: Supreme-Grade Dharma Treasure: "Eclipse Sword" (Sealed)]
> [You have received: Ancient Natural Treasure: "Twilight Lotus Tree" Seedling]
> [Skill Unlocked: Favorability Detection | Lifespan Display]
Lin Xuan exhaled slowly, his senses sharper than ever. He could see the life force of the birds in the distance. He could hear the pulse of the earth beneath him. He could feel time move slower in the space around his body.
And then—he noticed something deeper.
A thread of karma, frayed and twisting, floated nearby… and passed right through him.
> "I'm not bound by fate," he murmured.
He looked up at the stars. They shimmered, but not a single one could recognize him.
> "I'm invisible to the heavens."
---
For hours, he sat still—watching. Learning. The system offered no direction, no shortcuts. Only power, sealed in silence, waiting for him to act.
And Lin Xuan chose patience.
> "I won't rush to chase strength," he said softly. "I'll grow in the shadows. I'll live… and protect."
He planted the Twilight Lotus Tree's seed beside him, feeding it with qi from a small spirit vein he found nearby. It glowed softly, roots spreading into the hidden soil like a secret promise.
From that moment, Lin Xuan's secluded life began.
He wandered the forgotten peaks, collected rare herbs, studied cultivation scrolls left behind in ancient ruins. Every few weeks, the system would reward him with a treasure—never excessive, always perfect.
He avoided sects, clans, and cities.
Yet slowly, unknowingly… fate began to move anyway.
---
Far away, a silver-haired fairy saw him in a dream.
A beast cub with divine blood smelled his presence in the wind.
A lonely empress felt her heart stir when her spirit touched his karma shadow.
And across the realms… one by one… sheaths opened, hearts awakened, and destinies trembled.
None of them knew his name yet.
But soon, they would.
He was Lin Xuan.
The Hidden Sovereign.