The sun shone brightly over the world, but it was only a fleeting moment before dark clouds gathered, covering the sky. Thunder roared intermittently as raindrops relentlessly pounded the ground below.
In Star City, despite the rain, everyone continued with their work. For those struggling to make a living, wasting a day was like losing a chance to earn more. While the poor toiled away, the rich rested in their luxurious beds.
In a small, luxurious mansion in the northern part of the city, Yin Zhen stood by the window, gazing at the stormy sky. He muttered to himself, "So I did transmigrate. I couldn't believe this happening to me."
There was no joy or excitement in his voice. For some, transmigrating to another world might be a dream come true, something that would send them over the moon with excitement. But for Yin Zhen, it was just another life to live—one that seemed even more uncomfortable and difficult than the one he had on Earth.
Reflecting on his life back on Earth, Yin Zhen realized how good it had been, at least on the surface. His mother was wealthy, owning a large real estate business, and his father was a politician with significant authority. By all accounts, he should have had an easy life, free from the struggles that others faced. But despite their status, his parents were rarely around. They were always too busy to spend time with him.
Throughout his childhood, it was his grandmother who raised him. As far back as he could remember, he saw his parents no more than ten times a year. When his grandmother passed away, they didn't even come to her funeral. Instead, they sent someone else to handle the arrangements.
It was at that moment that Yin Zhen felt his life lose its color. His existence had become empty, devoid of warmth or meaning.
He thought of ending his life but he remembered his grandmother's words.
"But dying is not an option," his grandma had always said.
Yin Zhen sighed as he leaned against the wall, for some reason he suddenly saw his grandma's image in the sky smiling at him, and he shook his head.
"What should I do now?" he muttered to himself.
Just then, lights began to flicker before him, forming glowing characters in the air.
[Welcome to the Superpowers Gacha System!]
[For more info, please click below.]
He narrowed his eyes and whispered, "A system?"
Intrigued, he clicked to view the information, and immediately, a flood of details surged into his mind.
The Superpower Gacha System, as the name suggested, allowed him to acquire various superpowers. But it wasn't limited to just superpowers—there were items and other benefits as well. It was simple enough to understand, so he didn't dwell on it too much.
"Open status," he commanded.
[Name: Yin Zhen
Strength: 6th Layer Body Tempering, F-
Superpowers (2): (none)
Items: (none)
Gacha Points (GP): 0
Gacha (LVL 1):
- 1 Star (99%)
- 2 Star (1%)
- 3 Star (0%)
- 4 Star (0%)
- 5 Star (0%)
- 6 Star (0%)
Augment Shop (LV 1)]
The screen displayed his current status, revealing that he had nothing of value—no superpowers, no items, and zero Gacha Points. The odds of getting anything beyond a basic 1-star item were almost nonexistent.
Yin Zhen stared at the screen, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation. The system was easy to understand, but the journey ahead seemed anything but simple.
He went to his bedroom, locked the door behind him, and waved his hand. Glowing crystals materialized out of thin air, tumbling onto the bed. They were Spirit Stones.
In this world, acquiring Gacha Points required money, and the universal currency of the cultivation world was Spirit Stones. For ordinary people, obtaining Spirit Stones was nearly impossible. However, due to his powerful family connections, he could acquire them with ease.
[Detect 100 Low-Level Spirit Stones?]
[Do you wish to convert them to Gacha Points?]
"Yes," he nodded.
[You gained 100 Gacha Points.]
[Do you wish to draw?]
He didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, he drew a card. A burst of golden light erupted in front of him as a golden chest appeared, shaking briefly before opening.
[Congratulations! You've gained a Superpowers Awakening Potion (Medium Laser Vision)!]
[Superpowers Awakening Potion – Medium Laser Vision
Effect: This potion grants the drinker the ability to project basic laser beams from their eyes. These beams can cut through objects and be used in combat. While the power starts simple, it can be developed further.
Rank: ⭐]
A potion with yellow liquid appeared in his hand. Yin Zhen stared at it for a moment before bringing it to his nose. It smelled like banana juice, and he smiled slightly. As a martial artist, his senses were sharp enough to identify any ingredient in a dish. Given the familiar scent, he drank it with relief. Warm energy flowed through his body, enveloping him in a comforting sensation before dissipating.
He couldn't wait to test his new power but quickly hid the potion under his pillow and closed his eyes.
A loud bang sounded from the door. An elderly man rushed in and, seeing the young master meditating, quickly kneeled.
"Apologies for my rudeness, Young Master, but you must come to the family hall immediately!"
"What happened?" Yin Zhen asked, his brow furrowing.
"It's the clan leader. He's been seriously injured and is in critical condition. I'm afraid he won't last much longer!" the elder said, barely pausing to catch his breath.
"Father is injured?" Yin Zhen muttered. Though the clan leader was the father of the previous owner of this body, the memories he had absorbed made it feel personal as if his own father were in danger. The newly formed bond was strong enough to stir a deep sense of urgency within him.
Yin Zhen stood abruptly, his mind racing. He had just obtained a superpower, but what good was it if he couldn't protect those he cared about? The situation was dire, and he needed to act quickly. He glanced at the pillow where he had hidden the potion and then back at the elder.
"Take me to the family hall," he commanded.
Along the way...
"Tell me what happened! I want exact details. How could my father, such a powerful person, be injured?"
Yin Lingtian was the most powerful martial artist in Start City. No one could defeat him on Ten Thousand Star Island, except for immortals. However, immortals rarely intervened in the mundane world, focusing more on achieving eternal life rather than concerning themselves with mortals who would only live for a hundred years.
"Apologies, Young Master," the old man said, trying to catch his breath. "But the patriarch went out alone. He left at night, and in the morning, the elders found him sitting in the family hall, injured. No one knows what happened, and the patriarch didn't tell anyone. He only said to bring you."
"The clan leader wants to see you. He probably has last words to explain."
Yin Zhen nodded slightly, not pressing the old man any further. Everyone knew his father rarely went out, precisely because he was the strongest pillar holding the family together.
If the patriarch did go out, he would usually have powerful bodyguards, especially given the many competitors and enemies of the Yin family. One never knew what might happen if they fell into an enemy's scheme.
As Yin Zhen stepped into the main hall, he immediately felt the heavy atmosphere, thick with a sense of impending loss. The guards outside usually relaxed, now stood at attention, their faces tense and vigilant. Inside the hall, the dim light from a few flickering candles cast long shadows, deepening the somber mood.
Yin Zhen's eyes immediately locked onto the figure of his father, Yin Lingtian.
The once formidable and powerful patriarch of the Yin family now looked frail and sickly, his face pale and his body slumped in the main seat. His labored breathing and the occasional cough that brought up blood were clear signs that he was in a critical state.
Beside him stood a middle-aged woman, Yin Zhen's mother. Although she tried to maintain her usual calm and composed demeanor, the small cloth in her hands, damp from wiping away her tears, betrayed her deep sorrow.
In front of them, six old men stood silently. They were the elders of the Yin family, respected and wise figures who had guided the family through many challenges over the years. Their faces were etched with sadness and concern, and the occasional sigh broke the silence.
"Father." Yin Zhen walked forward, "I'm here."
Yin Lingtian opened his eyes, struggling to focus on his son. Despite his weakened state, a faint smile crossed his lips. "Zhen'er... you came."
As Yin Zhen was about to speak, his father raised a hand to silence him and said, "Zhen'er, as my only child, you will naturally inherit my position. I want to see you become a great leader who can elevate our family to new heights. However, I never expected that I would face such an accident..."
"I will not waste everyone's time, so from now on, Yin Zhen, my son, you are now the head of the family. As your father, I hope you can lead the family through these difficult times."
He then looked at the six elders. "Elders, please do your best to assist him. Don't spoil him too much. Our Yin family must not fall here."
"Father..." Small tears fell from Yin Zhen's eyes. He wiped them away and said, "Father, it's not important right now. Tell us what happened!"
Yin Lingtian gazed deeply into his son's eyes before shaking his head. "I didn't expect to encounter a powerful beast. But no matter, you are now the family head." He then waved his hand, and a silver token appeared, landing in Yin Zhen's grasp. It was the symbol of his new position as family head.
He stared at the token with a complicated expression. So, this is what it feels like to have a father? In his entire life, he had never experienced true parental love. The memory of his parents' last smiles was slowly fading. How long had they smiled? He had nearly forgotten them, but upon transmigrating here and integrating the memories of the previous owner of this body, he felt a strange connection.
He felt a familiar emotion stirring within him.
"Father, I won't let anything happen to you. Please, trust me."
He turned to one of the elders, he asked, "Elder Ming, how long can my father last?"
"Young Mas—ah, I mean, Patriarch, your father's injury is severe. If he were in the Body Tempering Realm, he might have already died. But since he is in the Peak Spiritual Unification Realm, he can hold on for a few more minutes," Elder Ming responded. "We have exhausted all our medicinal resources and tried everything we could. It seems that only an immortal could heal him now."
In martial arts, there are three main realms: Body Tempering, Innate Realm, and Spiritual Unification Realm. Each represents a significant progression in a martial artist's development.
The Spiritual Unification Realm is the pinnacle of martial arts, where practitioners achieve a fusion between their physical body and spirit. In this realm, the strength of the body is directly tied to the resilience of the spirit. As long as the spirit remains strong, the body will endure. Conversely, if the spirit is broken, the body will collapse. In essence, the body's strength depends on the robustness of the spirit.
His father's decision to relinquish his position hinted at the decline of his spirit, suggesting that he believed his time was running out.
"A few minutes? That's enough," he mumbled but everyone could hear it.
"Zhen'er, what are you planning to do?" Yin Lingtian asked.
"Trust me, father," he said before rushing to the family treasure vault. As the new patriarch, he now had the authority to access the vault at will.