Joining the Mercenery Organization.

A groan escaped the young man's lips as he stirred on the wooden bed. Wrapped in bandages from head to toe, he resembled a mummy more than a survivor. 

Blinking twice, he slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the sudden ray of light filtering through the single window of the ordinary wooden house.

Confusion clouded his gaze as he took in his surroundings. The memory of what transpired hit him like a tidal wave, prompting a low groan and a deep breath.

"I'm not dead?!" he rasped, shock lacing his voice. "I… I passed the trial?"

A joyous laugh bubbled up, momentarily eclipsing the dull ache of his injuries. It didn't matter; he had achieved what he set out to do. Everything else could wait for his recovery.

Grinning, he thought, "Seems those Dark Beasts are confined to their precious forest after all."

A frown creased his brow as he attempted to rise. "Where am I, and who brought me here?" 

Suddenly, a sound echoed in his head, and a panel materialized in his vision.

[Ding!]

[Insufficient lifespan. Host will die in 1 hour]

His breath hitched as he scrambled backwards, heart pounding against his ribs. "Who are you?!" he cried, desperation tingeing his voice.

[I'm the lifespan system.]

"Lifespan System?"

"What are you doing in my head?!" he hissed, darting his eyes around, searching for the source of this eldritch intrusion.

Silence greeted his repeated call. The panel remained, a mocking reminder of the cryptic message. Gradually, he reined in his racing heart and addressed the mysterious voice in his mind.

"System?" he repeated, a crease of confusion etching itself on his face.

[Ding!] 

[Welcome to the lifespan system] 

[Name: Jun Caleb Li] 

[Lifespan: 58 minutes.] 

[Spiritual Root: Low Grade-9 Five Elemental Spirit Root.]

[Physique: Ordinary] 

[Cultivation: None] 

[Cultivation Technique: None] 

[Martial Art: Basic Military Boxing.] 

Caleb Li's mind reeled as the Bio-data materialized on the panel in response to his mental call. 

Taking a deep breath, he scanned the rows of new information, slowly grasping the implications. 

He'd been granted a cheat code, something he'd only heard of in web novels, thought to be mere fantasy. Now, here he was, living it!

As he pondered the system's potential, the wooden door creaked open, revealing a girl in a traditional Chinese robe, her brow furrowed. 

Glancing up, she met Caleb's gaze and let out a surprised gasp, jumping back in fright.

"Are you the one who rescued me?" Caleb inquired, curiosity lacing his voice.

"You're awake!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at him. With a sudden burst of movement, she darted out of the room, leaving Caleb bewildered. 

"Shouldn't I be awake?" he muttered, shaking his head.

More pressing concerns pushed the girl's odd reaction aside. His lifespan, according to his web novel knowledge, was at stake. 

He hurriedly grabbed a piece of cloth from the bed corner, its size insufficient for his athletic frame, but enough for now. Escape and answers needed to be found.

He pushed the door open, greeted by a dazzling sun and emerald pastures. The air, fresh and invigorating, filled his lungs like never before. 

As he prepared to move, the sound of approaching footsteps made him pause.

A group of young people, led by a strikingly beautiful woman, emerged into view. Silence hung in the air as their eyes bore into him, studying him like a curious specimen.

"Is it true you're awake?" the beautiful woman finally spoke, her voice laced with cautious confirmation.

"Who are you?" Caleb countered, meeting her gaze head-on.

"Who are you to question the Young Miss?" a haughty voice interjected from behind the woman.

Ignoring the outburst, the woman introduced herself. "I'm Fu Lin, Young Miss of the Fu clan. And you, I presume, are an outsider?"

Caleb nodded. "Yes, and I owe you my gratitude for saving me."

Fu Lin maintain her calm and proud demeanor. "I didn't save you out of pure kindness." She said casually 

"Rather, I've heard a lot about the outsiders and I want you work for my clan. What do you think?"

While the inhabitants of their world held their own, it was undeniable that outsiders possessed a certain edge.

 They were resourceful, hardworking, and often possessed remarkable talents. It was precisely this talent that Fu Lin gambled on. Perhaps, she'd struck gold with this rescued outsider.

Caleb Li, oblivious to the calculations swirling in the pretty lady's mind, grasped the opportunity before him.

"Alright," he nodded, his voice firm with resolve.

A radiant smile blossomed on Fu Lin's face as she gestured for him to follow. 

Excitement thrummed within her. She couldn't wait to gauge his potential, to test her own luck. 

 Leading her group, she marched towards the elder tasked with talent evaluation.

Minutes later, they stood before a two-story building guarded by stern figures clutching menacing spears. Recognizing the Young Miss, the guards bowed deeply and granted them passage.

Inside, an old man sat in meditative stillness, exuding an aura of seasoned wisdom. 

He opened his eyes upon Fu Lin's arrival, a fond smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Young Miss, what brings you here?"

"Old Man, I wish to test the talent of an outsider," Fu Lin replied, her smile mirroring the man's warmth.

Their easy rapport was evident, a testament to their close bond. The elder sighed, a hint of exasperation coloring his voice. "Still harping on that, Young Miss?"

"Yes," she insisted, eyes sparkling with unwavering belief. "This time, I have a good feeling."

"Very well," the elder conceded, "What harm in indulging you?" He gestured towards Caleb. "Where is he?"

Stepping forward, Caleb met the elder's gaze, his primal instinct warned him of hidden danger. 

Despite the prickling unease, he stood his ground.

The elder scrutinized him for a moment before summoning a translucent white stone. 

 "Touch it," he commanded.

With a steady hand, Caleb complied. Every pair of eyes in the room burned with curiosity, eagerly anticipating the stone's reaction.

In a sudden burst of light, the stone flared red, then yellow, then… finally settling on a breathtaking fifth color. The air crackled with tension as everyone in the room absorbed the revelation.

The elder and Fu Lin exchanged silent glances, their faces etched with conflicting emotions. 

It was the old man who broke the silence, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "The most useless Spirit Root"

"Trash!"

He unleashed a surge of power, sending Caleb hurtling through the air in a violent expulsion.

Dusting himself off, Caleb Li rose from the ground outside the Fu Clan, his face betraying no anger despite the rejection. 

"Joining a clan is out," he muttered, eyes scanning the bustling street. 

He glanced at the countdown on his system: 30 minutes left before his lifespan expired. With a newfound urgency, he merged into the throng of people.

After wasting ten minutes for seeking directions, he finally found the Mercenary Organization. 

Despite his ill-fitting, worn clothes, the people entering the building paid him no mind. Grateful for their indifference, Caleb rushed to the counter, where a bald middle-aged man sat.

"What can I do for you, kid?" the man asked gruffly.

"I want to join the Mercenary Organization."

The man's eyes narrowed, but he pulled out a form and handed it to Caleb. "Don't know why you'd want to join without any cultivation, but I won't stop you."

"Thank you," Caleb said, his voice thick with gratitude. Joining the mercenaries was his only hope. He filled out the form and returned it.

"Come back in three days for your badge," the man said.

"Please," Caleb pleaded, his voice desperate, "I need your help. I'm homeless and dying. Please, help me."

The man stared at him for a long moment before reaching out to take Caleb's palm. He channeled a stream of Qi, his expression changing. "Your life force is almost depleted! What happened?"

"I don't know," Caleb cried, urgency lacing his voice. "Please, help me!"

The man sighed, a flicker of sympathy in his eyes. "Fine, follow me."

He led Caleb out of the lobby to a private courtyard and into a small, bare room. "Take this pill," he said, offering a blue pill. "It should buy you some time."

Caleb swallowed the pill with shaking hands and sat down to meditate. The man looked at him for a moment before he silently departed, leaving him alone with his flickering life force. 

Suddenly, a notification echoed in his mind:

[Ding!]

[Source of vitality detected.]

[Lifespan increasing.]