Poverty has been Qimiao’s lifelong nemesis.

“Junior Sister Qi, yesterday we finished assessing the damage done to the Vermilion Bird Treasury. Here is the bill—please have a look.”

With trembling hands, Qi Miao accepted the thick stack of papers from the woman in violet.

The elegant handwriting listed every item stored in the Vermilion Bird Treasury, noting in detail the owner, value, and current degree of damage for each treasure.

The Soul-Summoning Mirror, the Yin-Yang Seven Treasures Hairpin...

Qi Miao didn’t recognize any of them, but that hardly mattered.

The point was that every single item was staggeringly expensive.

She drew a deep breath and turned straight to the last page. A long string of numbers leaped out at her like a blow.

She counted, digit by digit—ones, tens, hundreds... a billion, ten billion...

By the time she reached the final figure, her vision swam and darkness closed in on her eyes. This number was not only the total value of all the insulated flasks in the Vermilion Bird Treasury—it was also the sum she now owed.

Because she had destroyed every one of these treasures.

And all of it began two days ago.

Qi Miao had been the premier mechanical engineer of the interstellar age. Two days earlier, she was testing a new flight craft when she was caught in a spatial storm; when she awoke from unconsciousness, she had already crossed over into the world of cultivation.

With the craft’s energy depleted, she crash-landed—by some cruel twist of fate—straight into Cangwu Sect, and in the process, inadvertently demolished one of their treasure vaults.

The Vermilion Bird Treasury.

Today, Cangwu Sect had finished tallying the losses. They had come to settle accounts.

The woman in violet, standing before Qi Miao, seemed to sense Qi Miao’s despair and spoke gently, “After deliberation, the elders have decided to waive the small change. So, Junior Sister Qi, you only need to repay one billion, nine hundred and sixty-three million, seven hundred and eighty thousand spirit stones.”

Qi Miao fell silent.

Was the small change really the problem here?

It had been a long time since she’d known poverty. Her weapons and mechs were coveted across the stars; just selling a few design blueprints could easily have earned her the sum.

But this was a world without mechanical technology.

Once she accepted the reality of her transmigration, Qi Miao began to explore this strange land. At first, she had been optimistic—surely, with her skills, she could carve out a place for herself, no matter how different the currency. That was, until she realized that the laws governing this world were anything but rational.

Here, people devoted themselves to cultivation. Everyone could wield spells, soar through the sky, and dive into the seas. They called it the Realm of Immortals.

In this world, she, the interstellar genius engineer, was nothing more than a “mortal,” and her skills had no place here.

The shock of this new world had hit her hard. When the woman in violet came to find her, she was still lost in the haze, not even thinking of how to handle such an enormous debt.

The woman continued, “You needn’t despair, Junior Sister Qi. We’re not asking you to repay the debt all at once. We consulted the sect master, who has made an exception and admitted you as a disciple. From now on, you are a member of Cangwu Sect. All you need to do is cultivate diligently and contribute to the sect to pay off your debt over time.”

Qi Miao saw a glimmer of hope and looked at the woman with wide, eager eyes. “Really?”

“Of course,” the woman replied, her smile as radiant as a blossom but her words as sharp as a blade. “After all, Junior Sister, you don’t look like someone who could pay such a sum.”

Her gaze fell on Qi Miao’s attire. She was still dressed in her work uniform, a grayish-blue jumpsuit, closely fitted at the waist and cuffs, looking soft enough but stained with dark brown grease—little better than rags in the eyes of the woman in violet.

Qi Miao sensed the subtle pity in that look.

This was her combat suit! Did no one understand?

The woman added, “At first, a few of the elders wanted to kill you to vent their anger, but others stopped them. After all, even if they chopped you into a thousand pieces, the losses from the Vermilion Bird Treasury would still not be recovered. We decided to keep you alive simply because we want our debt repaid.”

“But let me make this clear,” she paused, her tone turning grave. “You’ve seen the accounts. The Vermilion Bird Treasury held both elders’ treasures and disciples’ belongings. The elders are willing to give you more time, but that doesn’t mean the disciples whose treasures you destroyed are so patient. You’d best repay the debt as quickly as possible.”

...

The woman’s words, though piercing, had indeed offered Qi Miao the best option available.

She pulled herself together and listened carefully, knowing that time was of the essence. Without trying to bargain for a respite, she raised her fist and made a solemn vow: “I will do my utmost to repay the debt.”

Seeing her resolve, the woman smiled more broadly and gestured outside. “Gather your things. I’ll take you to the inner disciples’ dormitory.”

Qi Miao hesitated. “I’ll be staying in the inner disciples’ quarters?”

“Of course,” the woman replied as if it were self-evident. “You are now an inner disciple of Cangwu Sect.”

Qi Miao made no attempt to hide her surprise.

While the sect investigated the damage, she had been staying in the outer disciples’ dormitory. In these two days, she had discovered that Cangwu Sect was the foremost sect in the northern realm—a sacred place for cultivators. The sect was filled with prodigies; she had seen outer disciples working themselves to the bone, waking before dawn, collapsing late at night, all for the hope of promotion to inner disciple and the chance to learn from great masters—or, if luck favored them, to become a personal disciple.

And yet she had become an inner disciple straight away?

The woman explained with a smile, “Having you enter the inner sect was the sect master’s idea. Your circumstances are unique. Mortals have short lifespans, and you have never cultivated before. If you began your path as an outer disciple, the journey would be fraught with hardship, and the road to success would be much longer. By making you an inner disciple, we hope you’ll grow quickly—and repay the sect sooner.”

The day the Vermilion Bird Treasury was destroyed, Cangwu Sect had determined that Qi Miao was an ordinary mortal. Only after much deliberation did the elders make this decision.

Qi Miao bowed her head. “Very well. I will do my best.”

What a heartbreaking truth.

She bent down and silently began to pack her belongings.

“Belongings,” she thought bitterly, amounted to nothing more than a thirteen-inch repair kit.

That was all she owned.

Her flight craft had been badly damaged in the spatial storm, and since it had destroyed the treasury, the sect had confiscated it.

The repair kit was filled with tools for fixing mechanical parts—now, most likely useless. Still, Qi Miao had used these tools for years; they had grown with her. Even if she never used them again, she couldn’t bear to part with them.

She carefully returned the tools she’d fidgeted with for comfort, arranged them neatly, and closed the kit.

She picked up the kit and told the woman she was ready.

The woman glanced at her meager belongings but said nothing.

As Qi Miao followed her outside, she asked, “Senior Sister, I don’t know what to call you yet.”

The woman tilted her head. “I’m Jiang Ran, disciple of the Beast Taming Valley. You can call me Senior Sister Jiang.”

Qi Miao obediently addressed her as Senior Sister Jiang. Just then, as they stepped outside, a magnificent white crane filled her vision.

The crane was enormous—four or five times the size of a grown adult. Its pure white feathers shimmered under the sunlight. When it saw Jiang Ran, it arched its slender neck and let out a clear, ringing call.

Jiang Ran strode to the crane, which bent its neck to let her stroke its head.

Qi Miao could only stare in awe. Jiang Ran turned and called to her from a few yards away. “Why aren’t you coming?”

She already knew this world was nothing like her own, but the magical sight before her still left her dazed. Like a country bumpkin, she hurried over and gazed at the crane, asking eagerly, “Senior Sister Jiang, what is this?”

Jiang Ran couldn’t help but laugh at her wonder. “This is my contract spirit crane, Ao Bai.”

The crane seemed to understand the introduction. It turned its bright black eyes on Qi Miao, which seemed to sparkle, then lowered its head and lunged at her, trying to nestle close and show its harmlessness.

Jiang Ran quickly pressed down on the crane’s head, preventing it from knocking into the fragile mortal, and turned to Qi Miao, whose eyes had gone wide. “Don’t worry, Ao Bai isn’t aggressive. It just loves to get close to those who are particularly good-looking.”

Qi Miao shook her head. “I’m not afraid.”

After a pause, she couldn’t help but add, “It’s so big—far larger than any white crane I’ve ever seen.”

Jiang Ran chuckled. “That’s because it’s a spirit beast.”

Qi Miao’s worldview was rearranged yet again.

The crane tilted its head, and Jiang Ran patted it, signaling it to behave. Then she nimbly swung herself onto its back and extended a hand to Qi Miao. “Come on up, Junior Sister Qi.”

Qi Miao accepted the help and climbed on. A voice at her ear said, “Hold on tight,” and she quickly grabbed Jiang Ran’s robes. The crane spread its wings, bearing them steadily into the sky.

!!!

Wind whipped past Qi Miao’s face as she fought back a yelp of amazement. When the crane stopped ascending, she immediately leaned out to look below.

She had been unconscious during her crossing and had seen nothing. While the sect tallied the losses, she hadn’t dared to wander, afraid they’d accuse her of trying to escape her debt. Only now, suspended in the sky, did she catch her first glimpse of this world.

Below was a vast, breathtaking panorama—mountains wreathed in mist, with Cangwu Sect nestled among them. She saw towering ancient trees, a lush bamboo forest, and bright flowers and grass bordering stone-paved paths.

Robed disciples hurried through the woodlands or meditated by waterfalls.

Down below, a commotion caught her eye—a platform, much like a martial stage, where two figures stood. Both wielded swords, their blades moving so swiftly she could barely follow.

Every sight overturned her understanding of reality.

Jiang Ran, seeing how fascinated Qi Miao was, let the crane slow its flight and began to explain, “That’s the Martial Arena, where disciples spar. See those disciples gathered around? Most are from the Body Arts Hall, the Martial Pavilion, and Sword Peak. They often come here to compete and hone their skills.”

How cool!

Qi Miao nearly blurted it out.

“Of course,” Jiang Ran covered her mouth with a soft laugh, her tone still gentle, “that’s just what those disciples say. In my opinion, it’s merely an excuse. What proper cultivator spends all day at the Martial Arena? Whenever they run into trouble, they propose to fight it out, as if everyone is as obsessed with brawling as they are.”

Qi Miao swallowed her exclamation, thinking, “People in this world sure know how to insult others with style.”

Jiang Ran continued introducing the sect’s various areas, and Qi Miao listened intently.

“The path of cultivation is as varied as the stars. Each person finds their own way. What I’ve shown you are just the sect’s famous branches,” Jiang Ran said, then changed the subject. “I heard you’ve been learning about cultivation these past two days. Have you thought about which path to pursue?”

Qi Miao scratched her cheek. “I have, but don’t I need a talent assessment first?”

She hadn’t been tested yet.

Jiang Ran answered readily, “Different paths require different assessments. If you already have a goal, I can take you for a talent test now.”

Qi Miao’s eyes lit up. After a pause, she said quietly, “I want to study artifact crafting.”

Jiang Ran turned and looked at her in surprise. “Artifact crafting?”

Qi Miao felt a familiar nervousness, just like when she’d first become a mechanic. “Is something wrong?”

“Most of the master artifact forgers are in the Eastern Realm. Cangwu Sect isn’t renowned for artifact crafting,” Jiang Ran replied thoughtfully. “If you wish to become an artifact forger, perhaps Cangwu Sect isn’t the best place.”