It had been one and a half months since they started following the map's guidance. Through mountains, demon-infested lands, and cursed lakes—finally, they stood before the location marked by the ring.
A crumbling floating shrine hovered above a rift of blazing energy, sealed by divine chains.
Shaolin squinted at it. "Yo, system… are you sure your missing fragment isn't just a cursed ex trapped in a volcano?"
> [Host, shut it. That's my core processor, not a person!]
Just then—BOOM!
A blinding aura crashed down from the sky. Five figures descended, wearing robes embroidered with celestial fire and dragon marks. The air around them cracked with divine pressure.
Shaolin's smirk vanished. "Tch… those sons of heavenly hags are here."
Jinho whispered, "Heaven Rankers…"
Shaolin: "Yup. Smell like sanctified dog poop too."
> [Host! Focus! Retrieve the fragment!]
Shaolin raised a brow. "Yo system, they're here for your secret sister, huh?"
> [I DON'T HAVE A SISTER!]
BONK!
A transparent punch slammed his head again.
Shaolin stumbled. "Y-you… You corrupted scrap bin… always using fists first, words later!"
> [If you don't retrieve that fragment, then don't ever call me again, you IDIOT.]
"…Why are you so mad?" Shaolin muttered, rubbing his head. "Are you… embarrassed?"
> […System is updating emotional filters. Ignore this outburst.]
Suddenly, one of the Heaven Rankers shouted, "That flame shrine belongs to the Heavenly Alliance!"
Shaolin cracked his knuckles. "Too bad, I'm not part of your heavenly WhatsApp group."
The battle broke out like an explosion of divine art. Jinho protected Xiao and his sister, while Shaolin stormed into the battlefield—weaving through gods like a flame reaper.
In the middle of the chaos, a young girl with silver chains around her limbs was tossed into the lava pit by a rogue Heaven Ranker.
Shaolin, with no hesitation, soared in and caught her mid-fall.
"Hey, you okay? What's your name?"
She coughed and whispered, "Yue…"
> [New potential disciple detected.]
[Recruit Yue as fourth disciple – Bonus reward unlocked.]
Shaolin, mid-air, yelled: "You're in, kid!"
After a vicious clash, he stood in front of the shrine. With a roar, he unleashed his divine flame and ripped the seal open.
Inside, a floating cube of light shimmered—pure divine data radiating cosmic energy.
> [System Fragment Acquired.]
[Beginning Update…]
[System Store – Unlocking…]
[Flame Vault Access – Processing…]
[Warning: Host memories may begin recovering…]
Shaolin looked at the glowing fragment and smirked. "System, you better not come back with mood swings and a nose job."
> [Updating personality modules… please shut up.]