Godslayer: Reincarnated with SSS Rank Cultivation System

He had learned that Chenxi was about his age, a brash boy who seemed to view Wen Ran as a role model—a leader to be impressed. And then there was Yulan, the older sister, four years his senior, who often tried to act as the authority in the group. They were the grandchildren of the village chief and held the highest rank within the group, which, to Wen Ran, only added to the pressure.

And the pressure was beginning to wear him down.

"Brother Wen Ran, tell us, what does the outside world look like?" Feng Chenxi's questions came at him in rapid succession. "What do the cities look like? Are there many strong opponents? Did you ever find someone strong? Are you strong?" His words tumbled out one after the other, each question more persistent than the last.

"Xiaoxi!" Feng Yulan scolded her younger brother, her voice firm. "You shouldn't ask so many questions. What if our friend here finds you annoying?" She glanced at Wen Ran, her gaze softening for a moment as her curiosity mirrored her brother's. She, too, wanted to know about the outside world, the very place that seemed so far beyond their quiet village life.

Wen Ran sighed, half-amused by their relentless questioning. "How about you pay me up first if you want answers?" he joked, his tone light. But he hadn't expected what happened next.

Without a moment's hesitation, Feng Yulan pulled out another scroll, handing it to Wen Ran with an almost businesslike precision.

Wen Ran's eyes widened for a brief second. Jackpot.

The scroll felt heavy in his hand, and as his fingers brushed against the edges, he could sense the power contained within. These techniques had to be high-grade, possibly some kind of cultivation art or secret knowledge—things that would be immensely valuable. They would certainly help him, especially when it came to masking his true strength.

His gaze flicked up, and he gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. I've found my golden goose.

For a full day, Wen Ran chatted with the two siblings, telling them stories—all of them from his past life. Of course, he didn't tell them that, and he certainly didn't mention the fact that he had no good stories from this life. They hung on his every word, eager to hear about a world beyond their village, a world that seemed like a distant dream to them.

They listened intently, their admiration for him growing with each tale. They had no idea that the very man they were getting so close to was the one who had caused the destruction of their village.

Days passed, and the group continued on their journey. The further they went, the more the tension seemed to build. Soon, they reached the mountain range—a towering series of peaks that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky. The air was thick with an eerie energy that gave Wen Ran an odd feeling, a sensation of being watched by something beyond the mortal realm.

Suddenly, as they walked, a group of figures appeared in the sky, descending as if they were floating down from the heavens. Their light yellow robes glistened in the sunlight, and each of them exuded a powerful aura.

Wen Ran stopped in his tracks, his instincts flaring as they landed before him. The young woman at the front was in her twenties, strikingly beautiful, and her aura was formidable—a clear indication that she was no ordinary cultivator.

"Name your purpose." Her voice was clear and commanding, her eyes scanning Wen Ran and his group with sharp calculation.

Wen Ran bowed respectfully, his demeanor calm as ever. "We're here to join the Heaven Shattering Sect." He extended the token he had received, along with the cloth containing instructions on how to find this place.

At the sight of the token, the group's behavior shifted instantly. Their previously serious expressions transformed into warm smiles.

"Follow us," the young woman said, her voice softening slightly as she turned on her heel. Without waiting for a response, she began heading toward the direction of the mists surrounding the sect's domain.

Wen Ran followed, a faint smile on his lips. He had played his part well, and now the path to his next stage was open.

The moment the group passed through the mist, it felt as though they had stepped into a completely different dimension. The atmosphere shifted, the air felt heavier, and everything around them seemed to pulse with a strange, almost mystical energy. Wen Ran's eyes flickered—and for the first time in a long while, a wave of panic washed over him.

Suddenly, a notification appeared before his eyes:

[Congratulations]

[You have successfully completed your quest.]

His heart dropped. The realization hit him like a tidal wave—the reward was about to be revealed. If the system began to shine now, if the bag of spiritual herbs appeared in his hands, it would expose him. His carefully laid plans would be in ruins.

This was bad.

His thoughts raced. The last thing he needed was to attract attention by showing off his reward—especially in front of these people who, while they trusted him now, would become suspicious if they saw him receiving anything out of the ordinary. His plans to remain under the radar would be ruined, and his journey would turn into a nightmare.

He had to think fast.

Well, this is great... Wen Ran thought to himself, still feeling the lingering tension as his eyes scanned the surroundings. But to his surprise, the system didn't send him the reward as it usually did, leaving him in a state of confusion. Had he been conned? Or perhaps the reward hadn't been issued yet? He wasn't sure, but for now, he felt the tight knot in his chest loosen a little. His heart calmed down, and the rush of panic he had felt earlier subsided.

Thank heavens, he thought, not yet.

Wen Ran's eyes darted around, cautiously observing the people leading the way. Their auras were hard to read, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were stronger than he initially thought—probably at a level above Spirit Refinement, but he couldn't be sure. Their energy felt different from anything he had sensed in his past life, and he didn't want to risk exposing himself by snooping around too much.

As they moved further into the sect's territory, Wen Ran noticed the many caves nestled within the towering mountain peaks. That made him smile.

At least some things remained the same, no matter how much time passed.

Those were the immortal caves. In some sects, these caves were personal spaces—places where cultivators could live, train, and mediate in isolation. Wen Ran's past life had been spent in places like this. He had never had the luxury of a sect, but he had carved out a decent-sized cave of his own with his sword, where he could meditate and disappear from the world for years, even decades.

It had been the perfect place to go unnoticed.

And right now, disappearing from sight seemed like the best option. The longer he could stay in the shadows, the better.