I Started With an Orphanage and Accidentally Raised a Legion of Peerless Empresses - Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: 999-Fold Cultivation Boost

Right after Bai Xiaoxue agreed, the system’s voice rang out in Lin Yun’s mind.

[Congratulations! You have completed the newbie mission.]
[Living Hall has been unlocked!]
[Congratulations on opening the beginner’s gift pack. You have received three innate talents that can be granted to orphans.]
[Innate Sword Body: Increases sword cultivation speed by 999 times!]
[Innate Demon Body: Immune to side effects of all demonic techniques!]
[Innate Dragon Blood: Grants the bloodline of the Dragon God!]
[Note: These must be granted through energy transmission. Once the orphan receives the talent, the host will also gain the same bonus.]

Hearing the system’s explanation, Lin Yun inhaled sharply.

“Damn! The newbie reward is insane!”

Although he didn’t fully understand this world’s cultivation system yet, just the 999-fold boost meant that cultivating for a day would be equal to three years for others.

That was completely overpowered!

“Senior, why are you smiling?”

Beside him, Bai Xiaoxue looked at him in confusion.

“Nothing, I just thought of something happy.”

Lin Yun returned to his senses and glanced at her torn clothes, then smiled.

“Come on, let’s get you something to eat first and buy a couple of new outfits.”

Bai Xiaoxue was still a bit timid, but she nodded cautiously.

“Okay… thank you, senior.”

“Don’t call me senior.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Call me Director.”

“Okay, Director Senior.”

“…”

Lin Yun was speechless. This little girl was doing it on purpose, wasn’t she?

After that, he took Bai Xiaoxue to a restaurant in the city. Both of them hadn’t eaten in a long time and wolfed down the food.

Then they went to a clothing store, where he let her pick out some new clothes.

Once done, he planned to take her back to the orphanage.

Suddenly, the sky rumbled with deafening thunder!

Lin Yun looked up and saw what seemed to be a powerful sword cultivator flying across the sky on a sword. As he passed, thunder and lightning followed, and his aura was overwhelming.

“Showing off like that… not afraid of getting struck by lightning?”

Lin Yun muttered, then turned to look at Bai Xiaoxue. She was still gazing at the sky, seemingly mesmerized.

Seeing this, Lin Yun asked, “Xiaoxue, do you really like sword cultivators?”

Bai Xiaoxue came back to her senses and nodded lightly.

“Yes, I do.”

“Then do you want to become one?”

“Of course I do, but…”

She lowered her head with a sad look in her eyes.

“My talent is very poor. I could never become a real sword cultivator.”

“Talent isn’t a problem. As long as you want to, I can make you one.”

She looked up in surprise. “Really?”

“Of course. I can even make you the strongest sword cultivator in this city—no, on this entire continent!”

Lin Yun’s tone was firm and sincere, not at all like he was lying.

Shocked, Bai Xiaoxue couldn’t help but ask, “But why would you help me? And treat me so well…”

He not only took her in, but also fed her, bought her clothes, and now promised to teach her cultivation.

He was being far too kind to her.

Lin Yun simply smiled. “Why? You’ll understand one day.”

“One day, huh…”

Bai Xiaoxue pursed her lips. She seemed to have thought of something but kept it to herself.

She might look young and naive, but clearly her imagination was very active…

Just then, two nearby passersby started talking.

“That sword cultivator just now… wasn’t that the Thunder Sword Emperor of the Zhao family from Azure Dragon City?”

“Judging by the commotion, probably. He’s likely still hunting for that Bai family orphan.”

“You mean the one from Misty Mountain’s Bai family that the Zhao family nearly wiped out a few years ago?”

“Yeah. The whole household, thousands of people, slaughtered. Only a little girl escaped. They say it was because she accidentally brought home some ancient relic.”

“Tsk tsk… what a tragedy.”

After the two men walked away, Bai Xiaoxue stood still, her head lowered, fists clenched tightly.

Lin Yun noticed droplets of water hitting the ground.

He instantly understood a lot, but he didn’t try to comfort her right away. Instead, he gently took her hand and said, “Come on, let’s go home.”

…

Outrealm City Orphanage.

When Lin Yun returned, he noticed a large building had appeared out of nowhere on the empty grounds.

A sign hung over it—Living Hall!

Inside was a complete set of living facilities.

Private bedrooms, even with bedding. There was also a kitchen, a hot spring, and everything else one could think of—complete and luxurious!

“Not bad at all.”

Lin Yun was very satisfied. Then he glanced at the still-nervous Bai Xiaoxue and smiled.

“Xiaoxue, no need to be so tense. From now on, this is your new home.”

“Got it, Director.”

Though she said that, she still looked around nervously. It was only natural to be uneasy in a new place. Lin Yun didn’t mind. Seeing how dusty and dirty she was, he said, “Xiaoxue, go get cleaned up, change into your new clothes, and then come to this room to find me.”

He smiled at her. “I have something important to tell you.”

Of course, what he meant was granting her an innate talent.

But to Bai Xiaoxue, the meaning was entirely different.

“I… I understand…”

Clean up, change clothes, go to his room—he had something to say.

She had no other choice now, so she obediently went to bathe.

“Sigh… such a pitiful girl.”

Lin Yun watched her thin back and sighed.

From what she said earlier and what the bystanders mentioned, she was clearly the last survivor of the Bai family from Misty Mountain.

Who knew what kind of ancient relic had brought such a calamity upon her entire clan?

He decided not to ask for now. If the Bai family’s fate was as tragic as described, pressing her about it would just tear open her wounds.

Lin Yun waited in the bedroom. Soon, the sound of light footsteps came from outside.

“Director, I’m done washing.”

“Mm, you—”

Lin Yun responded, but as soon as he looked up, he froze.

Standing in front of him was a delicate, stunningly beautiful young girl.

Her long hair was still wet and draped behind her. The white dress she wore made her look like a porcelain doll—a true beauty in the making.

It was hard to believe this was the same dirty little girl from before. Lin Yun was stunned.

“Director?”

Bai Xiaoxue bit her lip and looked at him cautiously.

Lin Yun came back to his senses and cleared his throat.

“I didn’t expect you to be this pretty. What were you doing looking like that before?”

Bai Xiaoxue lowered her head slightly. “If I didn’t, bad people would notice me…”

“That’s true. You’re pretty clever.”

Lin Yun nodded. With her looks, if she didn’t disguise herself, she’d definitely attract trouble.

“Well, let’s set that aside for now. Let’s talk about the important matter.”

Lin Yun smiled again, his expression kind.

Bai Xiaoxue’s body trembled. As expected, it was happening.

“W-what is it?”

She was still trying to hold on. Lin Yun, sitting by the bed, said with a smile, “It’s like this. I can grant you an extremely powerful cultivation talent.”

Bai Xiaoxue looked at him in shock.

“How… how could that be possible?”

A person’s cultivation talent was determined at birth. Improving it later was nearly impossible. She had never heard of anyone who could just give someone powerful talent.

“You don’t need to ask how. Just know that I can pave the path to strength for you.”

“But whether you succeed depends on your performance from here on out…”

Lin Yun looked at her with a warm smile, trying to gain her trust.

But what he didn’t know was that his smile and words, in Bai Xiaoxue’s ears, sounded like a veiled demand.

“My performance? I understand…”

Bai Xiaoxue clenched her fists tightly. She knew she had nothing of value to offer him—except her body.

But if that’s what it took to become stronger and avenge her family, she would give everything without hesitation!

Lin Yun was still smiling. “Good. Now then… wait, what are you doing?!”

Bai Xiaoxue blushed and whispered shyly, “Director… please be gentle later…”