"UGH… IT HURTS!"


    Pain seared through me like wildfire, consuming every nerve, every thought. My body convulsed on the cold ground as I gritted my teeth, trying to endure the agony tearing me apart from the inside out. Then, without warning, a torrent of foreign memories flooded my mind.


    Faces I didn''t recognize. Names I''d never spoken. Moments that weren''t mine.


    The chaos was overwhelming, but somehow, amidst the onslaught, I clung to my sense of self. When the storm subsided, I lay gasping for air, drenched in sweat and trembling. My hands clenched into fists as the realization hit me: I had transmigrated.


    The fragments of memory painted a bleak picture. This body belonged to a nameless outer disciple of a powerful sect. No cultivation. No background. A nobody. I sighed, letting the weight of my new reality sink in.


    I''ve started from nothing before. I can do it again.


    The air around me was heavy with an unfamiliar aura. The world felt strange, distant, and dangerous. My grim thoughts were interrupted by a sudden awareness of my filthy state—sweat and grime clung to me like a second skin.


    I forced myself to stand, wincing at the lingering ache in my muscles. My modest dwelling was sparse—a single bed, a few chairs, and a bathroom tucked away in the corner. The emptiness mirrored the void I felt inside, but there was no time to dwell. I trudged into the bathroom and scrubbed away the dirt, the cold water shocking my senses back into focus.


    When I emerged, the memories I''d inherited gave me a grim understanding of this world''s rules: the strong ruled, and the weak were nothing more than stepping stones. If I wanted to survive, I needed power.


    Taking a deep breath, I murmured, "System."


    A flicker of light, and a translucent screen appeared before me.


    [SYSTEM ACTIVATED]


    [HOST: YI LIAN]


    [CULTIVATION: NULL]


    [PASSIVE ABILITIES: APPRAISAL, MENTAL LOCK]


    My gaze lingered on the words, their meaning sinking in. The system was my greatest weapon—but it wouldn''t carry me on its own. I needed time, effort, and resources to unlock its true potential.


    As exhaustion began to overtake me, I resolved to start anew the next day. The sect library would be my first stop. I needed knowledge—cultivation arts, techniques, anything to gain an edge.


    But as I drifted to sleep, unaware, the winds outside shifted.


    The courtyard was no longer empty.


    A woman stood beneath the moonlight, her robes flowing like liquid jade and her presence serene yet commanding. Her eyes glimmered with curiosity as they swept over the humble abode. With a graceful flick of her wrist, a chair and table materialized before her, and she seated herself, awaiting the moment I would wake.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    CHIRP. CHIRP.


    Morning broke with the sound of birdsong. I stretched and dressed, preparing to set out.


    CREAK.


    The door opened, and I froze. A woman sat in the courtyard, her robes shimmering like starlight. Her gaze was calm, yet it pierced through me with an intensity that made my blood run cold.


    Got it! Here''s the adjusted dialogue to let the protagonist make the decision to call her "Master" after some thought and internal struggle:


    Revised Dialogue


    "May I ask what brings you here, Senior?"


    I kept my tone respectful, masking the unease gnawing at me. My gaze flickered to the intricate patterns on her robes—celestial designs that shimmered faintly under the soft morning light.


    She tilted her head slightly, a small, unreadable smile gracing her lips. "May I ask something first?"


    Her voice was calm, almost melodic, but there was an edge beneath the surface.


    I nodded, straightening my posture. "Of course, Senior."


    Her eyes seemed to pierce through me, stripping away every layer of pretense. "Who are you, and why are you here?"


    The question was simple, yet it felt as if she were prying directly into my soul. My heart thudded in my chest as I weighed my response. She couldn''t possibly know the truth—or could she?


    "I am Yi Lian," I said cautiously. "A newly recruited outer disciple of the sect."


    Her smile widened, though it didn''t reach her eyes. "And?"


    My blood ran cold. She knows.


    Desperation clawed at my mind. Appraisal.


    [ERROR]


    [HOST IS TOO WEAK TO USE APPRAISAL ON HER.]


    [HOST HAS BEEN DETECTED.]


    Her expression shifted—a mix of amusement and intrigue. "So, you thought to pry into my identity?" she asked, her tone deceptively light. "Bold, considering your meager cultivation."


    I froze, my mouth dry. "I meant no offense, Senior—"


    "Enough," she interrupted, her voice sharp yet composed. "I saw everything, Yi Lian. You cannot hide from me."


    Her words struck me like thunder. My breath caught as I tried to compose myself. "Senior, I don''t know what you mean…"


    Her gaze hardened, the faintest glimmer of spiritual energy swirling in her eyes. "Don''t insult me with lies."


    Silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. Finally, she leaned back in her chair, her demeanor softening, though her authority remained palpable.


    "You''ve done well to adapt so quickly," she remarked, her tone almost casual. "Most would''ve been consumed by the process."


    Her words sent a chill down my spine. She had seen it. My transmigration.


    "How…?" My voice faltered.


    "I watched." Her answer was simple, yet the implications sent my mind spinning.


    I swallowed hard, my hands trembling. "Then… why are you here?"


    Her lips curved into the faintest smile. "Because you intrigue me. Your soul does not belong to this world, yet it fits this body perfectly. That alone makes you… unique."


    Her words hung in the air, and I couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more she wasn''t saying.


    Finally, she stood, her robes flowing around her like liquid starlight. "I''ve decided to take you as my disciple."


    Her declaration struck me like lightning. I stared at her, stunned into silence. Why would someone like her—a figure of obvious power and influence—choose me?


    I clenched my fists, my thoughts racing. I needed to survive in this world, and she offered an opportunity I couldn''t refuse. But there was also an undeniable weight to her words. Accepting this wouldn''t just mean gaining a master—it would mean binding my fate to hers.


    My heart pounded as I slowly knelt, lowering my head.


    "Disciple greets Master," I said, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.


    A flicker of approval passed over her face. "Good. Follow me, Yi Lian. From this day forward, your life will no longer be your own."