Chapter 5
The Wishing Star had never appeared among previous rewards.
“Why does completing his task grant a Wishing Star? What is a Wishing Star?” While the system was awake, Jiang Jitang asked every question he had.
[The Wishing Star is the ‘fortune’ of the human race, but acquiring it requires two conditions: first, a person with destiny; second, that person’s sincere and unblemished gratitude.]
Jiang Jitang thought of that child in the dilapidated temple, and his eyes softened unconsciously. “That child is the one with destiny?”
[The cowherd boy received a full set of paints and tools, successfully bowed to his master. He grabbed that fleeting chance and became a great master of traditional painting. His peak work—the Chronicles of a Hundred Crafts series—combines artistic value and cultural record, and is the best material for studying the trades and people of that time.]
“So that’s how it is.” A painter whose works were passed down through the ages—truly impressive.
But then the system’s tone shifted suddenly.
[There has never been someone born with destiny. Without you taking on that nearly impossible task, he would’ve returned to that barren home, accepted punishment, bent his back for life, faded into the crowd—a speck of dust in history.]
[But at the turning point of his fate, you gave him support and helped him take that crucial step. His destiny was shaped by his efforts, but also by the help of a benefactor—you are his benefactor.]
Jiang Jitang understood.
“Are people with destiny common?”
[Not common. Although our task targets are all resilient and worth supporting, those who break free from destiny’s cage are one in ten thousand.]
The cowherd boy possessed talent, temperament, and ability to succeed. The only thing he lacked was opportunity. As the saying goes, “Gifted steeds are common, but discerning mentors are rare.”
If not for the system being unable to intervene in daily tasks, it would seek out more of these. It sounded utilitarian, but helping those with potential escape hardship and misfortune would naturally bring greater returns.
Good people should be rewarded. This applies to others—and to the host.
Having learned the origin of the Wishing Star, Jiang Jitang gently touched the small floating star with his fingertip.
The golden eye, previously asleep, suddenly opened. Its golden pupils turned into a black vortex and instantly swallowed the star.
[Ah!] the system shrieked.
[Spit it out! Spit it out!]
As the system roared in fury, Jiang Jitang pried at the now-closed eye with his fingernail. “Don’t eat everything. What if you get diarrhea?”
System: “……” A magical item shouldn’t get diarrhea.
Seeing Jiang Jitang truly wasn’t angry, the golden eye cracked open a tiny slit—its curve looked like it was smiling. The system nearly short-circuited with rage. Such blatant arrogance!
It was already like this with the system present. Once the system went back to sleep, wouldn’t it become completely lawless?
Just imagining leaving this troublemaker outside while it was asleep made the system’s chipset almost combust.
This uninvited bastard!
Unable to retrieve the Wishing Star and with its consciousness slipping, the system reluctantly returned to the earlier topic.
[The set of painting tools you prepared has been carefully preserved all these years. He even painted a Peddler Picture for you—‘To carve the shadows of all trades and recount their stories. Grateful to the gentleman for the kindness of rebirth.’]
“He painted something for me?”
He had only run errands and cooked a bowl of cheap porridge.
“He followed his heart, expressing gratitude toward the ‘peddler’ he met as a child. Such sincere gratitude will be received, and this kind of gift will be duplicated by headquarters and presented to the task taker as a reward.”
As the system finished speaking, a scroll appeared before Jiang Jitang.
He opened it. On the scroll was a colored painting of a peddler carrying a shoulder pole full of trinkets, teasing children. In the lower-left corner were the painting date, artist’s name, and seal.
The little peddler wore a headscarf, a flower tucked by his temple, a sweat cloth on his shoulder, and carried a pole packed with colorful items—like a walking miniature supermarket.
In the image, he held a rattle drum and turned sideways, smiling at the children gathered around him—vividly lifelike.
“Not realistic enough. How does that look like me?”
His lips were clearly curling upward, but he pretended to be reserved. Still, to hang the painting, he hammered a nail into his flawless diatom mud wall.
It was the first nail he ever hammered into the wall after buying the house.
[Host, I don’t have much time left, so I’ll be brief. You now have fifteen points. Although you’re in debt, I still recommend spending some—either to improve your physique or to get self-defense weapons. There are newcomer dis—]
Before the sentence finished, the system’s voice cut off abruptly.
“System? System?” Jiang Jitang called twice, but there was no response. He checked the time—exactly five minutes.
Improve physical fitness…
From the system’s tone, this physical body had its time forcibly halted just to survive, at the cost of one hundred million points in debt. To stay alive, he must repay 300 points per month.
Even if he could earn fifteen points a day, after deducting 300, he’d only have 150 points left per month to use.
…One hundred and fifty points. Sigh.
Still, he opened the store. Rather than hesitate and cling to hope, better to look, then give up fully.
Once he had fifteen points, the store unlocked.
As the system said, newcomers had a one-week discount period: most items were 30% off, some even 50%. Unfortunately, items below 100 points were mostly disposable and not very useful.
He flipped through a few pages—not what he needed—he was about to close it when a “Special Offer” item caught his eye.
[Secret Study Room (Trial Version)]
A private space belonging only to one person. During activation, one may temporarily access any previously encountered books or materials. Can be activated two hours per day. Does not consume real-time.
This is a trial version, valid for one month.
From the National Learning Empowerment System.
Original price 3,000 points. Trial version special price: 10 points.
Jiang Jitang thought of a certain treasure of an artifact—perhaps this would work?
“Confirm purchase.”
After automatic deduction, he entered a small classroom enclosed by six walls. Other than a desk and chair, there was nothing.
Jiang Jitang surveyed the room and sat down.
“Bring me the Book of Life of the Elves.”
As soon as he spoke, the bright room instantly plunged into darkness. Then the light flickered on and off erratically, like a faulty circuit, accompanied by storm-like sounds.
Jiang Jitang pressed his lips together.
So it doesn’t work?
Suddenly, a sliver of light split the darkness—blinding white flooded the world. He raised his arm to shield his eyes.
“—whoosh—”
Wind. It swept across his face, laden with the damp fragrance of soil.
He lowered his arm, his dark pupils contracting in astonishment.
Before him stretched a desolate wilderness. In the sky above ran a golden stag beneath the moon. Wherever it passed, springs burst forth, grass grew, and all life revived.
It stopped beside a fresh spring, roots spreading beneath its hooves, its antlers sprouting.
Its body elongated, transforming into a colossal tree that blotted out the sky.
It was a strange tree—its lower leaves were emerald, exuding green points of light that seemed to breathe in rhythm with the world.
The middle leaves bore black veins and golden runes—the mysterious temporal magic pattern, holding the laws of life, time, and space. Named Pages of Epochs. Legend says each leaf marks a historical turning point—grasp it, and one can traverse time and space.
The uppermost canopy stretched into the nebulae—unseen by any living being—an endless sea of magic, the origin of the world.
The earth, the wind, the moist air, life itself—everything was connected to the roots and branches of this tree. It was the world, and the world was it.
The Elven Mother Tree of Life?
He had purchased this limited-time item hoping for the appearance of the Book of Life.
The elves possessed a Book of Life—each page crafted from an original leaf of the Tree of Life, imbued with the law of life. The first time anyone touched the Elven Book of Life, they would trigger the Mother Tree’s blessing: The Hymn of Life.
Given his current condition, no life magic could help. But Jiang Jitang believed that the Elven Hymn of Life might ignite a miracle.
He simply hadn’t expected—the Mother Tree of Life itself would appear.
Did it respond to the summoning?
His summoning?
“Long time no see, human mage.”
Jiang Jitang returned to his senses. Like greeting an old friend, he smiled. “Long time no see. But I’ve reincarnated and retrained, so technically I’m someone else. Don’t shortchange me on my Hymn of Life.”
The leaves of the giant tree rustled—as if it too were smiling.
Its lower leaves shed a layer of green light—like rain—gathering upon him. Jiang Jitang stood at the center of the glow and opened his arms to embrace the baptism of life.
The blessing descended, but his depleted life force felt separated by a barrier. He extended his hand—the green light passed through his palm. Even when he closed his fingers, he couldn’t grasp anything.
“‘The Hymn of Life’ is the highest reward for life itself.”
He suddenly remembered the line, his expression turning blank. After a while, he forced out a laugh. “I forgot. My body’s time is frozen. How can I be considered alive?”
The green light faded. Everything returned to what it once was. He stood in the vast wilderness, gazing up at the great tree, wind blowing through his heart.
Yet he did not show disappointment. He remained calm and composed.
Ten points had tested a possibility—it couldn’t be called a loss.
Thinking back… the last time he stood here was with Parsons.
He had represented the rebel army to seek alliance with the elves—Parsons didn’t know. The elves had poor relations with humans. That person, worried he’d suffer here, awkwardly insisted on coming with him.
The elves treated them as friends but refused the alliance. They never interfere in other races’ affairs—whether good or evil.
He had also seen the Elven’s Tree of Life back then.
“Did you choose this path because of my prophecy?” the Tree of Life asked.
“Even without that prophecy, I would have chosen the same path and met the same end. A person’s fate is shaped by their character. I made my choice, so I must accept its outcome, whether good or bad.”
He smiled.
Life is a long journey—you won’t know the absurdity of once-solemn vows until you reach the end. That’s the courage of youth—always believing we can decide our destiny.
“How is the child who came with you?” The Tree of Life’s life span was so great, yet brilliant souls still remained in its memories like stars falling across a night sky.
And those two… were dazzlingly bright stars.
“Him?”
Jiang Jitang had already resolved to sever the past—to live only as Jiang Jitang. But upon seeing the Tree of Life again, across galaxies and a century of time, his thoughts stirred, bringing him back to the past.
“Him…”
