"Where is this?" a man asked as he looked around the alien room. The last thing he remembered was crossing through the heavenly tribulation and finally becoming the ruler of the universe.
He had succeeded, there was a blinding flash, and the next time he blinked, he found himself in this dark room.
"Or did I fail, perhaps?" the man guessed, but then he noticed something strange within his soul. He saw stars first, and then the trillions and trillions of countless worlds in them that comprised the universe he was most familiar with.
"No. I succeeded," he reaffirmed as unimaginable strength rushed through his veins. He had reached the cultivation base of a true immortal and then broke through that to become the god of his universe.
He clenched his hand into a fist, and absolute power surged through every cell in his body.
With a thought, he could change the reality of the universe located in his soul and even destroy and recreate it at his whim.
He looked around and used his divine sense to scour this alien universe in its entirety. No true immortal, no owner to this universe, just like his last one.
"So there really is an infinite number of universes, I guess. Should I conquer this universe and add a second one to my soul?" He paused to think and immediately got his answer.
"Nah... one is enough. I'm tired already." He concluded and released a deep, deep sigh. He shook his head as he recalled the many sacrifices he made to conquer an entire universe.
He spent trillions and trillions of years planning, with countless eras, epochs, and eons leaving him drained.
In the end, he even became a god but remained a virgin all this time since he focused solely on mastering all the myriad daos in existence.
"This time, I'll take it slow and enjoy my life for a change." With this last thought, he closed his eyes and enjoyed a mortal sleep, something he knew he had not done for trillions and trillions of years.
* * *
Morning came, and our overpowered main character stood up, raising one brow when he saw his reflection in the mirror.
He was a handsome young man, tall and muscular, but this was not his original face at all.
He took a moment to gather the identity of this man, and a breath later, 20 years of this young man's memory flooded into his mind.
"Hmmm… fate can sometimes throw a joke or two." Our op mc smiled, shrugged, and welcomed the new day with an expectant heart.
He stepped into a huge luxurious courtyard, walking with a destination in mind. A minute later, he encountered the many slaves and servants of the house.
"Good morning, young master Julian!" The chorus of greetings and bowed heads filled the air, and in reply, our main character merely nodded at this epic show of respect.
Still, he could vaguely see notes of worry or ridicule randomly plastered on their faces. This was, of course, all too natural given what young master Julian had gone through.
He arrived at the dining hall, where the huge table was filled with all kinds of food. He ate and drank with gusto, unable to remember the last time he experienced mortal food on his tongue.
"Young master Julian! Are you okay?" A beautiful woman barged into the room and ran in panic toward our op MC.
This was, of course, our op MC's maidservant in this world, and it was normal for her to panic since her young master had not left his room for more than three months since the tragedy occurred.
"There's nothing wrong with me, Addison. Come, sit and eat," our MC said.
"…" Addison did as she was told, as she really could not deny the wishes of her young master. One should know that she was also 20 years old and had served her young master since she was merely 10.
The bond between them was as close as lovers, perhaps more. She picked some food and ate a little before she had to ask again.
"Are you really okay, young master Julian?" she asked in a soft voice. She hoped for the best but feared the worst.
Her young master's problem was not something that could be healed in just three months of closed-door cultivation alone.
"Yup. Why? Do you see something wrong with me, Addison?" our MC said.
Addison took this chance to look closely at her young master, and it did not take her long to notice that the handsome young man in front of her was exuding a peace and calmness she had never seen in him before.
This change was drastic and made her doubt more about the real feelings hidden behind this calm cover. Still, Addison really had no choice but to hope for the best.
"If you're really as you say you are, then I'm happy for you, young master Julian," Addison replied with a smile, and the atmosphere lightened up for the two.
They talked cheerfully, and the morning passed easily like that.
The sun streamed through the large windows of the dining room, casting a warm glow on the polished wooden table and the remnants of a hearty breakfast.
"Tell old Mason to ready the carriage for me, Addison," our OP MC said, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied sigh after the heavy breakfast.
"Where are you going, young master?" Addison asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I'm just going to buy me some nice wine. I feel like celebrating today," our OP MC replied with a mischievous smile.
This made Addison even more curious, as this was yet another change in her young master.
The original young master Julian had always been a staunch tea enthusiast, abhorring wine and any other spirits, believing that anything that fogged the mind was detrimental to the body.
He had always preached the virtues of clarity and discipline.
Still, Addison knew her place and continued to be a good maidservant, following the will of her young master without question.
She watched him for a moment, noting the new spark of excitement in his eyes. It was as if he had discovered a new side of himself, one that she had never seen before.
Ten minutes later, both she and our OP MC were the lone occupants of the expensive carriage.
The plush interior was adorned with velvet cushions and intricate woodwork, a testament to the wealth and status of the Julian family.
Outside, the city buzzed with activity, merchants calling out their wares and children playing in the streets.
Still, not everything was perfect in the city.
Despite its wealth and grandeur, there were many beggars on the streets. The stark contrast between opulence and poverty was evident in the crowded, bustling market district.
"Old Mason," our OP MC called out.
"Young master?" the old man's voice reached their ears loud and clear.
"Can you stop the carriage for a bit?" Julian asked. The request was promptly followed, and the carriage came to a gentle halt.