Chapter 1: How Am I Any Different from the Infamous Cao?
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Blue skies, white clouds, a boundless stretch of clear weather.
Beneath this magnificent land, a boy of fourteen or fifteen lay sprawled on an expanse of grass. A sprig of foxtail grass dangled from the corner of his lips.
The youth's features were strikingly handsome—rosy lips, white teeth, and a complexion as fair as porcelain. His straight, sword-like brows and bright, starry eyes shone with an ethereal luster, as if borrowed from the moonlight on earth, naturally drawing attention. His face seemed sculpted with exquisite care; the bridge of his nose was both elegant and strong, and his lips held the delicate hue of cherry blossoms. The curve of his mouth was perfectly shaped, as though he were always on the verge of smiling.
Such a smile seemed capable of parting the clouds, letting sunlight pour through to warm the world—gentle and at ease—yet in the depths of his obsidian eyes, there lingered a hint of irreverent detachment, as if he stood at a distance from all things.
This young man was none other than Cao Kun—or rather, in this life, he was called Cao Chengyu.
His family resided by the Luo River, in Immortal Tower City, one of the three great clans of the city, the Cao family’s young master.
This wild patch beyond the city, where water plants grew, was his secret refuge for relaxation, rarely visited by others.
“Ah, when will these days ever end?” he sighed.
He often found himself longing for the comforts of his past life—cell phones, computers, lavish meals...
In this world, he had lived more than a decade since his rebirth; aside from the legendary path to immortality, nothing here truly captivated him.
At first, he believed the so-called path to immortality was no more than a myth conjured by charlatans.
But on his tenth birthday, an immortal as described in legend descended from the sky, selected several children from Immortal Tower City, and took them away. Only then did he realize this world was indeed shrouded in mystery.
The chosen children were all around six years old. According to his father, one must begin accumulating knowledge of cultivation from that tender age.
At ten, he was already too old to start formal training.
The immortals would not accept him, no matter how much gold was offered. This had always been a source of deep regret for him. After all, wasn’t it said that every transmigrator stirred up storms in other worlds and lived with unfettered freedom?
Yet just yesterday, after abandoning such dreams for over four years, Cao Chengyu suddenly unlocked a peculiar ranking system.
According to its rules, as long as he could successfully court the individuals on the ranking list, he would be rewarded with all sorts of treasure chests. The path to becoming an immortal would no longer be out of reach.
[Character Ranking]—Immortal Tower City.
No. 1: Lin Yunjiao
Profile: Age 35. Aunt to the Cao family’s young master in Immortal Tower City. Fond of the color purple, a lover of fine food. Her husband Cao Donglai passed away five years prior, leaving her lonely. Fortunately, her nephew Cao Chengyu often visits her for conversation, easing her solitude.
Current Affection Level: 60
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No. 2: Currently Vacant
...
At present, the only person listed on the rankings in Immortal Tower City was his aunt, Lin Yunjiao.
The so-called courtship didn’t necessarily require physical intimacy, but rather winning a confession of affection. The affection level served as an indicator of whether the timing was right.
But harboring romantic intentions toward his own aunt—how was he any different from the infamous Cao Thief? Was his grandmother right in the past life? Not only did he inherit the bloodline, he even picked up the infamous system as well?
Yet if he didn’t at least attempt it, he would never step onto the path of immortality.
Frustrated, he had come to this wild patch to clear his mind.
“Ah...”
“Cao Thief, Cao Thief, even if you truly are my ancestor, must you leave behind such a deep obsession...?”
Such a golden finger, and look at what it had come to—should he use it or not?
As the sun slanted westward and dusk crept in, Cao Chengyu mounted his beloved little steed, a sudden thought occurring to him.
“System, do I have to completely conquer a target to obtain a treasure chest?”
“No. Courtship is divided into three stages: mutual affection, hearts in accord, and formal union.”
“A treasure chest will be awarded upon reaching each stage.”
“I see.”
With this, he could aim for only the first stage without violating his conscience.
He could only hope that the first treasure chest would grant him a cultivation technique to set him on the path of training at last.
As the sun finally set, Cao Chengyu returned to the Cao residence.
He handed his little horse to a servant for care. First, he would pay respects to his parents, then devise a detailed plan for his conquest.
His father was in the study, attending to family affairs and contemplating strategies for expansion—in essence, business planning.
His mother sat nearby, brewing tea and reading, keeping her husband company. Their relationship had always been harmonious, never a quarrel between them.
When Cao Chengyu entered, his father glared at him sternly.
“Do you know nothing of manners? Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Go out and knock before coming in! And look at you, covered in colorful mess—where have you been loitering this time?!”
With a sheepish touch to his nose, Cao Chengyu obediently exited and knocked before re-entering.
His mother, Tang Shiwan, said nothing, but smiled quietly, watching as his father lectured their son.
Such was his status in the family—the lowest rung of the household hierarchy.
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Cao Chengyu grinned, pouring tea for both his parents before announcing, “I just took Little Wind for a ride outside. Now that I’ve served you both tea, I’ll head back to rest—I haven’t eaten yet, I’m starving.”
“Hmph, then go on. Tomorrow, you’re not to leave. Mr. Yang from the private school has come looking for you several times, and you’re never there. How am I supposed to entrust the vast Cao family to you if you’re so unreliable?”
“Ah, well... I was thinking, you two could still have another child. Why must all the responsibility fall on me? You know I’m not cut out to be the family head.”
No sooner had he spoken than Cao Di, his father, threatened to throw his bamboo scroll at him. Cao Chengyu dashed away at astonishing speed.
“This child is getting out of hand!”
His mother soothed, “Husband, don’t worry yourself. Chengyu is indeed a little wild now, but he’ll settle down in a few years. Although...”
“Although what?”
“Perhaps we should consider having another child.”
Seeing the blush on Tang Shiwan’s cheeks, Cao Di, rarely embarrassed, could only laugh heartily...
...
Meanwhile, after fleeing the study, Cao Chengyu began planning how to win over his aunt.
His starting affection level was already sixty. According to the system’s three stages, rewards would trigger at eighty, ninety, and one hundred points. In other words, he needed to reach at least eighty points for mutual affection.
The information provided by the system noted his aunt’s fondness for gourmet food and the color purple—an ideal place to start.
Back when he found the local cuisine bland, he had purchased many exotic spices from the food merchants in Immortal Tower City. Over the years, he had discovered several flavors similar to those he remembered from his previous life.
Through experimentation and blending, he had created a variety of sauces, and with regular practice, his cooking skills were quite respectable.
Since he hadn’t yet eaten, he figured he’d seize the opportunity to make some crab soup for his aunt.
As for himself, he could settle for whatever was on hand.
Entering the kitchen, he found several cooks still waiting, probably because they knew he had not eaten and were expecting him.
“Young master, you’re here! Supper’s been ready for a while: black chicken soup, steamed bear’s paw, roast duck, glutinous corn cakes, diced mushroom and pork, braised pork ribs with sauce—all piping hot and waiting just for you.”