From star gatherer to leader of humanity

Hundred-Refined Star, Cloudstone City.

"The Thirty-Six Immortal Sects have once again jointly issued a statement, stating that spiritual energy is an important foundation for maintaining the Tianxuan Star System, and that the illegal mining and absorption of spiritual energy is prohibited. Every bit of spiritual energy in circulation must be legal and compliant."

"Ensuring that every civilian in the Tianxuan Star System can live in a healthy and stable environment, cultivate according to the law, and advance according to the law is the basic principle for every civilian in the Tianxuan Star System."

Tongtianyuan Residential Complex, 198 floors.

Four people live in a cramped house of less than 50 square meters.

Xu Bai was practicing the sixth form of the "Eighteen Forms of Body Refinement," the Fierce Tiger Crouching, in the cramped living room.

Xu Bai, lying prone on the ground, adjusted his breathing and blood circulation while listening to the news broadcast by the light and shadow on the wall.

Having lived in this world for sixteen years, every time he turns on the projection screen to watch the news, it gives him a sense of having his worldview refreshed.

"Son, stop practicing. Your father only has three thousand strands of spiritual energy a month, which is not enough to support your Qi Refining advancement." Xu Lang, who was smoking on the balcony, turned around and looked at his son in the living room, as if he saw his younger, more competitive self.

"You quit smoking! Our whole family has tightened our belts for ten years to save up spiritual energy, how can we not let Xiaobai advance to the Qi Refining stage!"

In a corner of the living room, a middle-aged woman dressed in white pajamas stood in front of the table, holding a talisman brush, calmly and quietly inscribing the most basic Qi-purifying talisman.

"Honey, I've given up the Red Tower cigarettes with three strands of spirit and switched to Lion King Mint cigarettes with one strand of spirit. I still smoke one pack every five days. I can't lose this only hobby of mine."

Xu Lang said pitifully, stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette, and carefully put the remaining half into the cigarette pack.

Zhang Wan, who was inscribing the talisman, glanced at Xu Lang and sighed softly.

"Dad, Mom, you don't need to worry about me."

After finishing the sixth form of body refining, Xu Bai got up, walked to the balcony where the smell of mint smoke had not yet dissipated, and looked up at the sky.

In this city, hundreds of high-rise buildings stand tall, and residents like them, who live on middle floors, can only see a sliver of sky through the gaps between the buildings.

The entire sky was controlled by the sixth-generation Lesser Heavenly Dao Formation, which absorbed any spiritual energy emitted from this planet.

Whenever a blue light flashes in the sky, it means that a node of the Lesser Heavenly Dao Array has absorbed enough spiritual energy and is transmitting it to the central core.

Another blue light flashed from the sky, and the spiritual energy belonging to this area was taken away.

Xu Lang looked at his son's eyes as he gazed at the sky, a hint of reluctance flashing deep within them.

"Son, it's your father's fault for being useless. You're only of average talent. If you had enough spiritual energy to cultivate, you might have a chance to get into a joint high school founded by a branch of the Hundred Refinements Sect." Xu Lang said, reaching into his pocket for the half-pack of cigarettes, then putting it down as if he remembered something.

"At No. 27 Middle School alone, there are 108,000 students in the third year of junior high school, but less than 2,000 of them can go to senior high school."

"I'm not that good, and you, Dad, can't earn that much spiritual energy either, so we're even."

Xu Bai took out the mountain scenery he had bought with his own savings and quietly handed it to Xu Lang.

Upon seeing the cigarette, Xu Lang was taken aback for a moment before quickly snatching it from Xu Bai's hand.

"You brat!"

Just as the father and son were enjoying a heartwarming moment, a young man dressed in ancient robes flew past them on a sword.

The flying sword trailed a brilliant trail of flame in mid-air, like a rainbow, illuminating the dimly lit place amidst the towering buildings.

As the young man in the ancient robe flew by, a whooshing sound came from afar. A group of young men dressed in various ancient robes and costumes swept past the father and son, leaving trails of rainbow-like flames between the buildings.

Xu Lang glanced at Xu Bai.

"Now that you've graduated from high school, what are your plans for the future? Will you come with me to work in a factory, or go to a vocational school to learn a trade?"

"The money we've saved over the years can barely cover your initial expenses."

"It would be best to learn talismans, so you can save on tutoring fees. Although your mother is an apprentice-level talisman master, her theoretical knowledge has already reached the level of a junior talisman master." Xu Lang said with a hint of pride.

"Let's preserve his spiritual energy. Xiao Jun is still in elementary school. Judging from his intelligence, he should be better than me. Let's nurture him properly with his spiritual energy."

"I've already signed up for the Star Gathering Team of the Hundred Refinements Sect. We'll be leaving in three days. The training will last for six months before we start working, and the monthly salary will be at least five thousand spirit stones."

Xu Bai looked at the dissipating tail flame of the flying sword outside the balcony. It was said that just activating it required several hundred strands of spiritual energy, and flying through the air once required at least several thousand strands of spiritual energy.

"Star-Picking Team, are you out of your mind?!" Xu Lang exclaimed, startling Zhang Wan in the living room.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Wan walked over, still holding a talisman brush in her hand.

"Your son signed up for the Star-Picking Team of the Hundred Refinements Sect!"

"That's mining outside the Tai Xuan Star System, fraught with danger, and there are hostile alien races watching us!" Xu Lang said anxiously.

"There's spiritual energy there that you can absorb for cultivation..."

"I don't want to be an ordinary person my whole life."

Xu Bai's gaze was firm. He had already transmigrated; if he were to remain an ordinary person, wouldn't it be a waste of his time?

Although he has been in this world for sixteen years and has no special advantages, and all the spiritual energy is still controlled by the Thirty-Six Immortal Sects, Xu Bai has not given up on cultivation.

When Xu Bai was about to graduate from high school, he signed a contract with the Bai Lian Zong Cai Xing team, who came to the school to recruit employees.

Although the area outside the Tai Xuan Star Domain is dangerous, the spiritual energy there is uncontrolled, and some cultivation techniques that can be bought anywhere among humans can be practiced in the outer domain.

Xu Bai's words silenced the couple. Just then, the door opened, and a ten-year-old child carrying a schoolbag skipped and hopped into the living room.

"Dad, Mom, Big Brother, are you planning to jump off a building? Please take me with you!"

Before Xu Lang and Zhang Wan could speak, Xu Bai slapped Xu Jun across the face, the crisp sound echoing on the balcony.

"Wow..." Although Xu Bai didn't use much force, Xu Jun immediately started his performance, his little eyes welling up with tears.

"Stop saying such unlucky things~" Xu Bai returned to the living room and sat on the sofa, looking at the news broadcast on the wall.

That night, after the family finished dinner, Zhang Wan sent Xu Jun back to his room.

The couple sat back down at the table and looked at each other.

"Xiao Bai, we know we can't stop you."

"I was in the same situation back then, and ended up severely injured and unable to cultivate." Xu Lang took out a small bag of spirit stones and handed it to Xu Bai.

"This is ten thousand strands of spiritual energy. Use this time to cultivate in the spiritual energy room and improve your strength. This will give you more confidence when you join the Star Gathering Team."

"When you're out and about, safety should be your top priority."

"I don't ask you to become a nobleman, I only ask that you come back safely." Zhang Wan grasped Xu Bai's hand, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"Dad, Mom, don't worry, I will definitely come back once I've raised enough money for my cultivation."

At night, Xu Bai returned to the room separated by partitions and took out the ten thousand strands of spiritual energy given to him by his parents, which was equivalent to ten spirit stones.

"I've finally received spirit stones after all these years."

Low-grade spirit stones are about the size of dice, and each spirit stone contains a thousand strands of spiritual energy.

Xu Bai held ten spirit stones in his hands, his gaze deep and mysterious.

"Under the rule of the Thirty-Six Immortal Sects, there is no spiritual energy and no cheat codes, so we can only rely on ourselves to fight for it."

Before he could finish expressing his feelings, Xu Bai's eyes narrowed slightly, and the ten spirit stones transformed into streams of light and merged into his body.