A massive thunderclap echoed through the mountains, shaking the skies above the Peerless Sect — the leading sect of the empire, hidden deep within the secluded peaks. The sect's main peak trembled, and on its summit, the sect master's expression turned grim as he watched lightning strike Elder Mountain.
Clutching a communication stone etched with spirit-powered runes, he channeled his energy into it and spoke solemnly:
"Sword Elder, come to my valley."
After setting the rune stone down, his gaze narrowed as another bolt of thunder tore through the clouds and struck the mountain again.
A moment later, a figure descended beside him, stepping gracefully off a flying sword before sheathing it. Clad in pristine white Daoist robes, the Sword Elder clasped his hands in greeting.
The sect master's eyes didn't leave the mountain as he asked,
"Sword Elder, is Elder Zhi… about to ascend?"
The Sword Elder nodded with a calm expression.
"Yes, Sect Master. Elder Zhi is on the verge of ascension."
The sect master frowned in thought, then turned to him and asked,
"Didn't she enter the Mahayana Realm only three hundred years ago?"
The Sword Elder gave a wry smile.
"We can't fathom the world of a true genius, Sect Master. You know her talent is monstrous. If she didn't spend all day lying around, sleeping, and only thinking about food when she wakes up… she would've become an immortal long ago."
"..." The sect master sighed. "You're right. She really only cares about food."
The Sword Elder blinked at him.
(That wasn't the main point, Sect Master. I was trying to tell you—her talent is truly unparalleled.)
On Elder Mountain, where thunder raged and clouds churned ominously, a young woman sat lazily in the grass, her robes slightly wrinkled, her posture completely relaxed. Her half-lidded eyes sparkled with boredom as she stared up at the stormy sky.
"When will it end…? I just wanted to sleep," she muttered, voice soft and languid.
In one hand, she held a piece of bread, and without any urgency, she took a slow bite.
Suddenly, the thunder above shifted — no longer just a blinding white, but now swirling with brilliant hues of violet, crimson, and gold. The sky danced with color, the divine tribulation descending like a celestial painting come to life.
A bolt of multicolored lightning struck the peak where she sat.
Her vision blurred.
As she began to lose consciousness, her gaze fell upon the charred remains of her bread, now smoking slightly in her hand.
(Ah… my bread is burned… what a pity…)
And with that final thought, she passed out.
The thunder in the sky suddenly turned pure white again—silent, unnoticed by even the keenest cultivators.
{Initiating host scan…}{Host match with Mission: 99.99% compatibility detected.}{Commencing host awakening sequence…}
A strange, mechanical voice echoed faintly in her ears.
Zhi Yan's eyes twitched as she stirred, still lying on the ground. A lazy yawn slipped from her lips.
She blinked and slowly sat up, only to find herself surrounded by absolute darkness.
Rubbing her eyes, she muttered groggily,
"What is this? I thought ascending meant going to some beautiful paradise where I could sleep peacefully… But this is just a dark, empty void."
She scratched her chin, thinking for a moment.
"Who was the bastard that told me becoming immortal meant endless peace…?"
A beat passed before she blinked.
"Oh, right. That was my brother… What a liar."
{Host, you have been selected for a mission to save trillions of lives. Do you accept?}
She looked around, trying to spot the voice's source. Seeing nothing, she called out dryly:
"No, sorry. I just want to sleep."
{…Ehh?}
The voice hesitated as she lay back down with no shame.
After a pause, it spoke again—this time more urgently:
{Host, if you accept, you will gain access to foods from countless worlds, infinite wealth, rare cultivation techniques, and unimaginable skills. Please reconsider.}
Zhi Yan's eyes shot open. She stood up without thinking and casually dusted off her robes.
"Wait. Why me? What mission? And how can I believe you actually have food I haven't tasted? I've already tried every dish in the entire empire."
Zhi Yan tilted her head as the space in front of her suddenly tore open with a faint ripple. From the crack in the void, a small, fluffy white kitten padded out gracefully, its eyes gleaming with intelligence as it stared at her.
{Host, believe me—so far, you've only tasted the food of your world. There are countless other realms, each with their own unique cuisines. I chose you because your aura has the highest compatibility with the energy signature of the multiverse.}
Zhi Yan's eyes widened at the mention of food she hadn't tasted. She swallowed hard, her mouth instinctively watering. Quickly wiping the drool off with her sleeve, she stared at the kitten with new intensity.
"Kitty… what's the mission? I'll do it."
The kitten's face lit up with a bright, proud smile.
But then—
"—But if I don't find the food you promised, I'll kill you."
The kitten froze.
"And I'll also kill the trillions of lives you said I'm supposed to save."
Her eyes gleamed with an eerie seriousness, her tone flat yet chilling as a dark aura momentarily leaked from her body.
The kitten's smile twitched.
"…U-understood. I'll make sure the food is worth it."
Zhi Yan's expression returned to normal, the dark aura vanishing like it was never there. She looked at the kitten curiously and asked:
"So… what exactly is this mission? What do I have to do?"
The kitten raised its tiny paw with a smug look.
"I'll show you."
With a flick of its paw, space twisted around them.
In an instant, the scenery shifted.
When Zhi Yan opened her eyes, she found herself in a strange, glowing chamber bathed in soft blue light. The air hummed with energy. In front of her stood a large, floating mirror that shimmered like water, displaying a moving image—a scene from another world.
Beneath the mirror was a floating slab, covered in glowing buttons etched with runes she didn't recognize.
Zhi Yan blinked.
"…This doesn't look like a kitchen."
The kitten coughed.
"This is the Mission Interface, Host. From here, you can select worlds, view mission details, and receive rewards."
Zhi Yan stepped closer, eyeing the buttons suspiciously.
"Hmph. If there's no food menu, I'm not impressed."
The kitten's tail flicked nervously.
"You'll receive gourmet-level world-specific food rewards after completing each mission. Plus, some worlds are basically giant food festivals in disguise!"
Her eyes lit up.