Why does this host keep pining for a newbie starter pack? System One felt as frayed as a banner in endless wind.

This System can only support your abilities; as for supplies, this System’s hands are bare as winter branches.

Then what good are you? Nana Toki eyed the bratty loli with knives in her gaze, cold as a steel moon. One show-off is enough on this peak; this Peak Master shines alone. You useless System—go back the way you came, like a stray sparrow shooed from the eaves.

System One: … Don’t be like that, Host! I’m not here to steal your spotlight; I’m here to make this plane’s cliff less steep.

Even as free labor, don’t kick me out. System One clung like a koala, ivy-twined to Nana’s thigh, fingers hooked like fishhooks. This System works great!

…

It’s not up to you to decide if you’re useful. Can you stop being so shameless? Her voice was a slap of cold rain.

Nana tried prying him off like barnacles off a hull, but failed; her smile twitched like a paper cut. Now that this chicken-tier System has a body, he’s more exhausting than before. How about this: tell me where the Nesting Phoenix is on this plane, then we’ll talk about throwing you out.

For once, Nana hadn’t triggered a hidden quest at the start; she stood in fog at a crossroads, short on clues to the Nesting Phoenix.

Eh, if I tell you where the Nesting Phoenix is, I can keep following you? The barnacle of a System hugged her leg, deaf as a rock to the rest.

Nana Toki: …

Say it, and we can negotiate; refuse, and there’s nothing to negotiate. Her tone slid like a blade across silk.

Host, that’s extortion! The freshly human newbie System chirped like sparrows startled from bamboo.

However—storm clouds gathered in a pause.

I am extorting you. What can you do about it? Nana’s smile curved like a crescent blade; devil glints lit her eyes like foxfire. This busted System has scammed her too often; this time she meant to square the ledger carved in stone.

…

Having shadowed Nana across many planes, the System knew the thunder behind his owner’s eyes. If he hid the Nesting Phoenix’s location, there’d be no bargaining, only storm.

Right then, the greenhorn loli left dew-bright, humiliating tears on Nana’s thigh and told her true, like a reed trembling in wind, where the Nesting Phoenix lay.

In the end—the curtain lifted like wind over a stage.

What? Blue Magpie is the Nesting Phoenix?! The shock cracked like thunder in a clear sky. That airhead really turned out to be the airhead?

This plane is special terrain, so in a way your survival ledge got steeper, cliffs slick with moss.

Still clinging, the System sweetened his pitch like honey over bitter herbs. So right now, you need a sharp, capable support teammate like me.

Daga, kotowaru! Nana’s face was cold as frost on slate.

Eh! Why?! My kit even got buffed! His complaint tugged like a kite against its line.

Because one idiot is enough; I can’t carry two stones in one small boat.

…

Well, letting you tag along isn’t impossible. If you promise to take care of Blue Magpie’s daily living, I’ll grudgingly let you stay for now, tossing a bone to a stray.

Nana didn’t truly mean to entrust Nesting Phoenix’s welfare to the System. She wanted a moving hawk’s eye to track Blue Magpie’s place; daily care she’d keep in her own warm hands.

Eh, that’s it? System One, still dangling, looked blank as a carp. Too easy, right? Blue Magpie was written as a disabled girl with deficits, yet in truth she’s easy to care for. The System eyed Nana’s sudden kindness like a cat eyeing fish, wary of hidden hooks.

What, it’s simple and you’re not happy? Nana’s brow arched like a drawn bow. Want me to swap in a harder condition?

No, no, Host! His hands flapped like startled sparrows.

He scrambled off and snapped a crisp salute, straight as a pine. This System guarantees the task.

…

Nana’s condition was generous, a warm shawl in chill wind. Blue Magpie was her little sister in spirit, though no blood bound them. Long ago, the former master of Majestic Peak picked them up like lost chicks at a roadside. After he passed, his closest, Blue Magpie and Azure An, became Majestic Peak’s new owners, snow settling into new patterns.

They stepped into a flat meadow behind Majestic Peak, a green quilt stitched with wildflowers. Among petals, Blue Magpie chased butterflies like drifting leaves. She saw Nana’s shadow, cool as shade, dropped her twig, and scampered in, colliding into Nana’s arms like a fawn.

Big Sis! Her voice rang like a silver bell.

Her face wore a pure, flawless smile; soft sunlight glazed her cheeks like warm tea, making them glow.

Blue Magpie was a few years younger than the original host; not a ripe peach’s allure, but a spring bud’s softness and guileless light.

How’s it? Did you cultivate properly today? Nana smoothed the cowlicks on her sister’s head, a breeze over reeds, and patted gently, her voice light as drifting mist, not the icy lash she used on Boundless Peak disciples.

Blue Magpie had deficits. The original host secretly taught her a method to draw qi into the body, mist into a jar, so she could protect herself one day. But Blue Magpie loved play, chasing fireflies across the rear mountain, and never succeeded.

At the question, Blue Magpie fidgeted, unable to lie. Her eyes darted like minnows in clear water; then she ducked her flushed head and blurted, Re—report to Sis, no!

Nana admitted the cuteness felled her like a blossom-laden branch. If not for the clueless lightbulb beside her, she might have kissed peach-petal flowers onto Blue Magpie’s cheeks.

It’s fine. If you didn’t train, Sis will teach you slowly, hand in hand. Nana folded her into her arms like a warm quilt and nuzzled those cute cheeks, thinking: this version of the Nesting Phoenix—bring me a dozen.

Beside them, the System was force-fed sugar like a goose for market and could only mutter, …

Meanwhile, wind shifted across the peaks.

On Boundless Peak, Li Qian led the trouble-makers back in a rolling black stream. As soon as he entered the spirit peak, he headed for the peak master; Azure An’s matter couldn’t wait, a coal too hot to hold.

Hey, Brother Qian, weren’t you going to Majestic Peak to settle accounts with Azure An’s foolish sister? Why are you back? The words were tossed like stones down a slope.

Before he reached the summit, a disciple stopped him on the path, ribboned along cliffs. The man had sword brows and starry eyes, bearing proud as a soaring hawk. Li Qian knew him: once a useless errand boy, then by some fortune he shot up like a meteor to Boundless Peak. Now his status was decent, a favorite topic for many sisters at rest.

Tianqi, perfect timing. I’m going to speak with the peak master—come with me. Li Qian was straightforward, seeing the dragon behind the drudge. If he built ties now, he’d gain a mountain at his back.

So he told Tianqi Yu what had just happened on Majestic Peak. Tianqi’s brows knitted like tangled pine roots; something felt off.

As far as I know, Azure An is only at Foundation Establishment, fifth stage. Our peak masters are half-step Golden Core, and countless disciples surpass her. On what grounds would she wager this? Could Azure An be hiding power, baiting you? His questions sparked like flint.

That’s unlikely. Benefits in the sect scale with strength; Azure An wouldn’t forsake winter grain that improves life for her and her sister just to hide power.

I think she found some astounding opportunity; otherwise, why wager like that? Li Qian added details about Nana Toki. The more Tianqi Yu heard, the stranger it sounded, a path bending into mist. They reached the summit, a white blade against the sky, and reported to Boundless Peak’s master, who stood stunned like a stag in torchlight.

Azure An truly said that? In the Heavenly Ascent Sect, seven spirit peaks rose like seven jade towers. Besides Boundless Peak, wolves’ eyes coveted Azure An’s Majestic Peak. How could she yield so easily?

Peak Master Zhao, it’s solid truth. Azure An said we could ask an elder to set ink on paper as proof, anchoring the agreement like ropes.

That is truly strange. Zhao Zhan paced the hall, steps ticking like a metronome over a stone lake, suspicion furrowing his face. I may not match Shen Zhankuang of War God Peak, but I’m half-step Golden Core, a top figure. Azure An just reached Foundation Establishment, fifth stage—how dares she set such a wager?

If it’s only to repay her sister for destroying a Spirit-Gathering Flower, that’s a single blossom costing a whole mountain—far too extravagant.

Peak Master Zhao, this isn’t hard to resolve. After long thought, Tianqi Yu spoke, drums beating in his tone. Let’s set a match: best of three, each side selects three disciples to duel. Even if Azure An gains heaven-piercing fortune and barely wins against our peak, do they have other disciples to match Boundless Peak?

This is a good plan, but Majestic Peak’s people aren’t fools. Why would they agree? Li Qian spread his hands, bowls empty as winter. Counting Azure An and Blue Magpie, they have only two disciples. Where will they find a third?

That’s not our concern. Peak Master Zhao, Brother Qian, don’t forget: they destroyed Boundless Peak’s Spirit-Gathering Flower first. By reason and rule, we set the duel’s terms, stakes driven deep; their opinions needn’t be considered.

Tianqi Yu finished, his smile hooking like a fishhook. Azure An may have opportunity, but the rest of Majestic Peak’s disciples likely don’t. Boundless Peak swallowing Majestic Peak will come like water flowing downhill.