The sunlight pierced through the silk curtains of Li Wei's chambers, casting a golden hue across the room. As he sat before the mirror, his eyes, blue as the clearest skies, reflected back his determination. His short white hair, a stark contrast to his past selves, reminded him that this life was different—more final. The stakes were higher. He wasn't just any reincarnated soul. This was his last chance at life.
He had been reincarnated eleven times, each in a different world. He had lived as a warrior, a scholar, even a monk, but no matter how far he reached, death had always come for him. This time, there would be no next life, no escape.
The system's words echoed in his mind:
"This will be your last reincarnation. When you die in this new world, your soul will perish, and you will never be reincarnated again."
Li Wei smirked slightly as he looked at his youthful face in the mirror. He was sixteen, but inside, his soul carried the experience of countless years. This body was his final vessel, and it was filled with untapped potential. Unlike his previous lives, he had been born into a powerful family, the Li Clan. And even better, he had been granted access to the Immortal Ascension System.
The system was unlike anything he had encountered in his previous lives. It was a mysterious force guiding him, giving him tasks and rewards that would push him forward faster than any ordinary cultivator. It was his advantage, his key to achieving what had eluded him for so long—immortality.
He stood, his handsome face set with determination. This time, I won't fail.
A knock came at the door, breaking his thoughts.
"Li Wei, get up!" It was the voice of Li Jun, his childhood friend and fellow clan member. "The elders are waiting in the training hall. Don't keep them waiting."
Li Wei gave a final glance at himself in the mirror, admiring the fierce blue of his eyes. He could sense the Qi coursing through him, and for the first time in this life, it felt... easy. Gathering Qi had always been a struggle for his previous self, but with the system, it flowed naturally, like water filling a cup.
As he stepped outside, the Li Clan's estate sprawled before him—an impressive display of wealth and power. The main pavilion towered ahead, its walls adorned with carvings of ancient dragons and phoenixes, symbols of the clan's dominance. Disciples were training in the courtyards, their movements sharp, focused, but to Li Wei's eyes, they seemed... slow.
He walked with Li Jun toward the training hall, observing the younger disciples practicing with Qi techniques he had mastered lifetimes ago. It was strange. In his past lives, he would have been impressed, even envious of these young talents. But now, they felt beneath him. His advantage wasn't just the system—it was the eleven lives of cultivation experience that made him stronger than any ordinary sixteen-year-old.
Li Jun, a broad-shouldered youth with a carefree grin, looked sideways at him. "You seem... different today. I don't know what it is, but something's changed."
Li Wei smiled but said nothing. Of course, things had changed. He wasn't the same Li Wei who had been mocked for his lack of talent. He was a different being now.
The main training hall was a massive, open space, with towering pillars supporting a ceiling that seemed to reach the heavens. The floor was polished marble, reflecting the statues of ancient cultivators that lined the walls. Each statue depicted a member of the Li Clan who had ascended to greatness through cultivation. This was the Li Clan's pride—their heritage of producing strong cultivators.
At the far end of the hall, Li Tian, the leader of the Li Clan and Li Wei's father, stood with his arms crossed, observing his son's approach. His black robes rippled with power, and his eyes—dark, piercing—narrowed as they settled on Li Wei. Li Tian was a man of great expectations, and Li Wei, until now, had failed to meet them.
"You're late," Li Tian's voice was cold, echoing through the hall. His presence alone could make even the strongest disciples shudder.
Li Wei didn't flinch. He bowed slightly. "Forgive me, father."
Li Tian's stern face barely softened. The truth was, Li Wei had been a disappointment for most of his life. Born into privilege and yet stuck at Qi Gathering Stage 1, unable to advance. For years, the elders had whispered that perhaps Li Tian's only son would never reach the potential expected of him. But Li Wei knew better. Today would be different.
"Step forward," Li Tian commanded, gesturing to the center of the hall. "Show us your progress."
The air grew thick with anticipation. The elders—powerful cultivators who had seen countless disciples rise and fall—stood around the edges, watching with critical eyes. They had already dismissed Li Wei, labeling him a failure. But that only fueled his determination.
Li Wei took a deep breath, closing his eyes to focus on the Qi within him. Unlike before, he could feel the energy swirling in his dantian, the core of his power. It was rich, potent. And thanks to the system, it was perfectly aligned. His control over Qi was now flawless, far beyond what his body's age should allow.
[Qi Flow: Perfect.]
The system's cold, efficient voice echoed in his mind, but Li Wei ignored it. He was already focused on his goal: breaking through to Qi Gathering Stage 2. It was something that should have taken years—decades even—but with the system, it would take minutes.
The barrier between stages was something Li Wei had encountered in every life. It was a subtle force, like a wall that prevented cultivators from advancing. Some broke through with sheer talent, others through perseverance. But Li Wei had a system that bypassed such barriers. He simply had to focus.
As he gathered the Qi within him, he felt it building like a storm, swirling faster and faster. His body vibrated with power, and the Qi around him responded, gathering toward him like iron to a magnet.
The elders, who had been whispering among themselves, suddenly fell silent as they felt the shift in the air.
"He's... he's actually doing it..." one of them whispered, his voice filled with disbelief. "The Qi... it's so pure!"
The room buzzed with energy, and even Li Tian raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden change in his son's aura. The pressure in the room intensified as the Qi spiraled around Li Wei, wrapping him in a faint blue glow. His white hair seemed to shimmer in the light, and his blue eyes opened, glowing with power.
With a final push, Li Wei shattered the barrier.
CRACK!
A resounding crack echoed through the hall as Li Wei broke through to Qi Gathering Stage 2. The surge of power was immediate. The Qi in the room vibrated violently, and the force of his breakthrough sent a ripple through the marble floor beneath him. The elders took a step back, their expressions ranging from shock to awe.
Li Wei stood at the center of it all, his body still glowing faintly. He could feel the power coursing through him. His control over Qi had increased exponentially. This was what true progress felt like.
Li Tian's voice cut through the silence. "You've broken through."
It wasn't a question; it was a statement. A fact. Li Tian, the man who had expected nothing from his son, now stared at him with a mixture of surprise and something else—respect.
Li Wei turned to face his father, his blue eyes now brimming with confidence. "Yes, father. I have."
Li Tian placed a hand on his son's shoulder, his grip firm. "Good. But this is only the beginning. You've taken your first step, but the path to true power is long and treacherous. Don't let this breakthrough make you arrogant."
Li Wei nodded, though inside, he was already planning his next step. The system had proven itself, and now he had the tool he needed to reach heights no one could imagine. The road ahead would be difficult, but with the system guiding him, there was nothing he couldn't accomplish.
Li Jun, who had been standing to the side in stunned silence, finally found his voice. "Wei... how did you...?"
Li Wei smiled, his blue eyes glinting with mischief. "Perhaps the heavens have favored me after all."
But inside, he knew the truth. It wasn't the heavens—it was the system. And with it, Li Wei would achieve what he had sought for countless lives.