Eternal Rebirth: The System's Chosen Exile

The next morning, Lin Wei woke to the sound of birds chirping outside his hut. For a moment, he forgot where he was, the unfamiliar surroundings jarring him awake. The events of the previous day came rushing back—the car accident, the strange world, the glitchy system, and the ominous warning from Elder Zhang.

He sat up, rubbing his face. "Alright, Lin Wei," he muttered to himself. "Time to figure out how to survive in this crazy place."

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. Jiang Feng entered, carrying a bundle of clothes and a wooden staff. "Good, you're awake," he said, tossing the clothes onto the bed. "Put these on. You'll need them for training."

Lin Wei picked up the robes. They were simple but well-made, with a faint shimmer to the fabric. He changed quickly, feeling slightly self-conscious under Jiang Feng's watchful gaze. The robes fit surprisingly well, and the material was light and comfortable.

"Not bad," Jiang Feng said, nodding approvingly. "Now, follow me."

Lin Wei grabbed the staff and followed Jiang Feng out of the hut. The village was already bustling with activity. Villagers moved about, tending to crops, practicing martial arts, or meditating in quiet corners. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the sound of flowing water from a nearby stream.

Jiang Feng led him to a clearing at the edge of the village, where a small group of young cultivators were practicing basic stances. They glanced at Lin Wei curiously but didn't say anything.

"Alright," Jiang Feng said, turning to face him. "Before we begin, I need to assess your current level of Qi. Close your eyes and try to feel the energy around you."

Lin Wei frowned. "Feel the energy? How am I supposed to do that?"

"Just focus," Jiang Feng said patiently. "Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Try to sense the flow of Qi in the air and within yourself."

Lin Wei closed his eyes and took a deep breath. At first, he felt nothing but the cool breeze on his skin and the sound of his own breathing. But as he focused, he began to notice something—a faint, almost imperceptible warmth in his chest. It was like a tiny spark, flickering weakly.

"I… I think I feel something," he said, opening his eyes.

Jiang Feng nodded. "Good. That's your Qi. It's weak, but it's there. Now, let's see if your system can help you harness it."

Lin Wei's system screen flickered to life, displaying a new message:

**[New Quest: Cultivate Qi for the first time. Reward: Random Ability.]**

"Uh, my system just gave me a quest," Lin Wei said, reading the message aloud.

Jiang Feng raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Most systems give clear instructions, but yours seems… unpredictable. Still, this is a good opportunity. Follow the quest and see what happens."

Lin Wei closed his eyes again, focusing on the spark of Qi in his chest. He tried to imagine it growing stronger, pulling in energy from the air around him. The warmth in his chest grew slightly, but it was still faint.

Suddenly, his system screen flickered again:

**[Ability Acquired: Qi Burst (Glitch Variant).]**

**[Description: Release a burst of Qi in a random direction. Side effects may vary.]**

Lin Wei opened his eyes, staring at the screen. "Uh, I just got an ability called Qi Burst. But it says it's a glitch variant, and there might be side effects."

Jiang Feng looked intrigued. "Try it. Let's see what happens."

Lin Wei hesitated. "What if it blows up or something?"

"That's why we're in a clearing," Jiang Feng said with a smirk. "Go ahead."

Lin Wei took a deep breath and focused on the spark of Qi in his chest. He imagined it expanding, then releasing in a burst of energy. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a loud *whoosh*, a burst of Qi shot out of his chest—not forward, but straight up into the sky.

The force of the burst knocked Lin Wei off his feet, sending him tumbling backward. He landed hard on the ground, staring up at the sky as the burst of Qi dissipated into the air.

Jiang Feng burst out laughing. "Well, that was unexpected."

Lin Wei groaned, sitting up. "Yeah, hilarious. What if it had gone sideways and hit someone?"

"That's why we're being careful," Jiang Feng said, still chuckling. "But this is good. Your system may be glitchy, but it's giving you abilities. We just need to figure out how to control them."

Lin Wei stood up, brushing dirt off his robes. "Great. So, what's next?"

"Next, we work on your control," Jiang Feng said. "Let's try that again, but this time, focus on directing the Qi forward."

Lin Wei nodded, closing his eyes and focusing on the spark of Qi. He tried to imagine it flowing through his arms and out of his hands. The warmth in his chest grew stronger, and he felt it moving through his body.

But just as he was about to release the Qi, his system screen flickered again:

**[Ability Acquired: Qi Shield (Glitch Variant).]**

**[Description: Create a shield of Qi. Durability and size may vary.]**

Lin Wei opened his eyes, staring at the screen. "Uh, I just got another ability. Qi Shield."

Jiang Feng looked impressed. "That's useful. Try it."

Lin Wei focused on the new ability, imagining a shield forming in front of him. A faint, shimmering barrier appeared, but it was small—barely the size of a dinner plate—and flickered weakly.

"Well, it's something," Jiang Feng said. "But we'll need to work on making it stronger."

They spent the rest of the morning practicing, with Lin Wei cycling through random abilities as his system glitched and malfunctioned. By the end of the session, he had acquired a handful of abilities, each with its own quirks and side effects.

As they walked back to the village for lunch, Jiang Feng clapped him on the shoulder. "You're making progress. It's slow, but it's progress."

Lin Wei nodded, feeling a small sense of accomplishment. "Thanks. I just hope I can figure out how to control this system before it gets me killed."

Jiang Feng laughed. "Don't worry. We'll get there. But for now, let's eat. You've earned it."

As they sat down to eat, Lin Wei couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. His system might be broken, but it was also powerful. And if he could learn to harness its potential, maybe he could defy the heavens after all.