In the stifling darkness of the night, Ryan's destiny loomed inexorably. The pale glow of the moon barely illuminated the darkness that enveloped the sleeping city. He felt his pulse throbbing in his temples, an irregular rhythm that seemed to herald the inevitable. Around him, the distant murmur of city life continued, unaware of the silent agony gripping him.
Ryan lay there on the cold asphalt of a dark alley, his body bruised and his mind clouded with pain. Flashes of memories swirled in his mind, fleeting moments of his earthly life flashing before his eyes in a kaleidoscope of sensations and regrets.
He remembered the tumult of his youth, the carefree laughter and unfinished dreams. But those memories seemed so distant now, overshadowed by the cold reality of his impending end. Destiny, this undisputed master, had reserved a final test for him, a confrontation with his own mortality.
Ryan is a 22-year-old young man who has lived his entire life in New York City. He studied, engaged in activities, and got into trouble there. Unfortunately for him, life has not been kind to him; he has been an orphan since birth. In fact, his mother died just after giving birth to him. He therefore had to live a life without support, without example. It was really hard; he was always rejected by others, his existence was compared to that of a plague. As for his father, he never knew him, and he never wanted to meet him because he did not consider the individual who had abandoned his pregnant mother, left to fend for herself.
Today he does what he used to do every day since his childhood to survive, organizing bets on sports matches. He didn't have the chance to go far in his studies because of the financial costs and also because it didn't interest him that much. So he started organizing bets, and gradually, he began to make a name for himself in his neighborhood and then in the city.
However, the more he became known, the more people became interested in his business. He started working with some unsavory people for exorbitant amounts of money. Some may find this greedy, but who would not join forces with rich people for a joint business knowing that there would be more than zero on their salary.
Unfortunately for him, he had become the scapegoat in a conflict between his allies and their rivals, ultimately ending up in this dark alley, battered to the brink of death.
The searing pain that ripped through his body felt like a mere echo compared to the internal turmoil raging within him. Faced with a critical decision, he experienced a moment of clarity where the past merged with the present, and regrets mingled with acceptance.
"And damn... I knew better than to trust them."
Rage surged within him as he reflected on the recent turn of events that had led to his current predicament. Yet, he knew he had only himself to blame.
As the night slowly consumed his fading thoughts, a glimmer of hope emerged amidst the darkness. A glimmer that transcended the boundaries of life and death, opening the path to a new existence. In that moment of agony, teetering on the brink of eternal oblivion, Ryan lay there, his mind inundated with fragments of his past life, like shards of broken glass. He witnessed moments of joy and sorrow, the faces of loved ones, and the choices, both good and bad, that had shaped his life. Each memory pierced his soul, already bruised by physical pain.
Suddenly, a strange sensation enveloped him, as if his entire being were being drawn into an invisible vortex. A whirlwind of light and shadow engulfed his consciousness, transporting him to an unknown realm. In this semi-conscious state, he felt an irresistible pull away from his dying body, as if an unseen force were guiding him toward a new and uncharted destiny.
The sounds of the city gradually faded, replaced by an oppressive silence. The flickering streetlights dimmed, giving way to a profound, soothing darkness. Ryan floated in this abyss, suspended between sleep and wakefulness, life and death.
Then, abruptly, a brilliant radiance burst forth before him, illuminating the darkness with a golden glow. He felt his entire being drawn toward this light, as if pulled by an invisible force. A potent energy seemed to propel him, directing him toward a mysterious destination.
As the light intensified, the blurred contours of his form began to solidify, taking shape in this unfamiliar realm. A comforting warmth enveloped him, dispelling the shadows that had enveloped him. His mind cleared, his consciousness sharpened, as if a veil had been lifted from his thoughts.
And in an instant, he found himself lying on a bed, bathed in a warm glow. Opening his eyes, he beheld a room that was both strange and captivating. The colors were vivid, the sounds crisp, the scents rich. He felt a mix of awe and confusion at this new reality unfolding before him. Rising from the bed, he took a seat, ready to explore his unfamiliar surroundings.
"Where am I? Just a few minutes ago, I was being beaten to death by those people, and now I'm lying on a bed."
His thoughts raced as he tried to make sense of his situation. Suddenly, a pain unlike any he had ever felt before surged through him, eliciting a piercing scream from the room.
"AAAAAAAAAH!"
This pain brought forth the memories of the new body in which Ryan had been reincarnated. Moments later, a woman rushed into the room, her face pale with fear.
"Patriarch, are you okay? I heard a scream. Is your wound still hurting?"
she exclaimed, clearly alarmed.
But it was Ryan who felt the most frightened. He had just received all the memories of this body. This body belonged to Di Sheng, an integral figure in the Di family as its patriarch. Armed with this newfound knowledge, Di Sheng (Ryan) quickly composed himself.
"I'm fine, Yu'er. Just a bit exhausted and sore from my injury. Don't worry about me,"
he reassured the servant in a soothing tone.
The woman who had entered the room was Di Yu, a young member of the Di family. She had been an orphan welcomed into the family by Di Sheng's father, Di Yutian, and had served as Di Sheng's maid since childhood. Completely loyal to the family, she expressed relief as she left the room.
After a moment, Di Sheng began to organize the memories he had acquired. The Di family was a declining lineage from Lingtai City in Yan County, located in the southern mainland. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, the Di family had been prosperous and boasted powerful cultivators among its ranks. However, due to unknown reasons, the family had been attacked by various forces and had since lost its former glory. Di Sheng, now the young patriarch, had been thrust into leadership two years ago when his father succumbed to poisoning by a rival family in the city, at the age of only 70. His mother remained a mystery to him, as his father had never spoken of her during his lifetime. Despite his youth, Di Sheng had taken on the responsibility of leading the family before its complete collapse.
"This entire situation is quite complex. Nonetheless, it mirrors the stories I read back on Earth in every detail. But since fate has granted me a second chance, I will live without regrets and strive to restore this family, even if it takes thousands of years,"
He declared, determination gleaming in his eyes as he prepared to face the unknown risks of this world. However, there was still one obstacle to overcome before embarking on his journey his internal injury.
Indeed, a few days ago in the mountains near the city, Di Sheng discovered a small spiritual mine. It was filled with spiritual stones, it was an opportunity not to be missed for him and his family but unfortunately the Feng family, a rival family from the city was passing by and before he could inform the people of his family he fought against an elder of the Feng family.
Unfortunately this elder is at the tenth level of body strengthening while he is still at the sixth level. So he had no chance, so he was injured but managed to escape in time.
"Feng family, wait until I recover, you will be the first ones I will exterminate."
Anger can be seen on Di Sheng's face as the pain intensifies. But suddenly a strangely mechanical noise calls out to him and immediately confuses him.
[Ding]
[System Binding]
[The system is now completely linked to the host. The system is called: The Strongest Family System.]
"The strongest family system. It's amazing, it seems like the heavens are on my side. In the stories I read the characters with a system were very strong and were destined to do great things. If it is indeed a system as I think it is then my future is unlimited!"
Stunned, Di Sheng realizes how lucky the heavens have given him to be able to rise with his family in this world. He didn't have time to finish his monologue before the mechanical voice spoke again.
[The system is here to help the host and their family become the most powerful in the martial universe. The system will only give quests and rewards over time but the system will not intervene in the decisions and choices of the host or their family.]
[Without further delay in view of the host's situation, the system will immediately deliver a gift box to the host for the connection]
[Ding! The gift box is opened, you get an imperial rank body, the Longevity Body, you get a harmonious essence pill, your cultivation is raised to the peak of the body strengthening realm, you get a pair of pupils, the eyes of primordial eclipses, you obtain the imperial rank body strengthening technique, Harmonic Fusion of the Nine Heavens, you obtain the imperial rank cultivation technique, Primordial Solar Incandescence.]
"It's… I can't believe my eyes, just by reading the name of these techniques you can feel the incredible aura they give off. Not to mention this pair of pupils and this body. I finally have the opportunity to live a life I won't regret."
[Do you want to receive the rewards?]
"Obviously! System, give me all the rewards!"