Li Xiaojun wasn't having the best day. Then again, that wasn't anything new. His days tended to blur together in an endless, monotonous cycle: wake up, deliver food, get yelled at by customers or his boss, sneak in a quick game of Murim Conquest, repeat.
Newer Borealis, with its towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, and endless sea of people, was a city that devoured dreams and spit out despair. Xiaojun could still remember when his family first moved here, bright-eyed and hopeful, thinking the city would provide opportunities. Instead, it swallowed them whole. His father lost his job in a factory automation sweep, his mother was constantly sick, and Xiaojun dropped out of school to work part-time jobs to support them.
Currently, he was stuck delivering noodles on his beaten-up electric bike. The cacophony of city sounds drowned out the faint whir of the bike's engine: blaring horns, the shouts of vendors, and the hum of a vending machine dispensing some sugary concoction in the distance. He sighed and pulled up the app on his phone, confirming the next delivery address.
"Ugh, another 5-star building," he muttered under his breath, eyeing the towering complex that loomed in the distance like some modern-day fortress. The rich folks living in places like these always tipped poorly, despite living in penthouses worth millions.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the small, bright red noodle shop mascot robot in his path. One moment, he was focused on the screen of his phone and the next, the world seemed to tilt as his bike collided with the robot. The mascot tumbled over like a fallen warrior, noodles flying everywhere, and Xiaojun went down with it.
The impact was swift and brutal. Xiaojun's head smacked into the vending machine on the sidewalk, the force of it knocking the breath out of his lungs. His vision swam as noodle broth splattered across his face, the sounds of the city fading into a dull, distant hum.
"Oh, great," he groaned, clutching his head as the world spun around him. "This is exactly what I needed."
And then, darkness.
Xiaojun's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he was sure he was still dreaming. The world around him was bright, too bright—far brighter than the dingy streets of Newer Borealis. He squinted, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. Towering mountains surrounded him, their peaks shrouded in mist. Lush forests stretched out as far as the eye could see, the sky a deep, endless blue with no trace of pollution or the neon lights that usually flickered above his head.
"Where... where the hell am I?" he muttered, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
This wasn't Newer Borealis. This wasn't anywhere he recognized. He pushed himself to his feet, feeling oddly light and... stronger? He glanced down at his hands, expecting to see the familiar cuts and calluses from his delivery job, but instead, his skin was smooth, unmarred, and his body felt... different.
Xiaojun took a tentative step forward, his mind racing. Did I die? Is this some kind of weird afterlife?
That's when a familiar sound rang in his ears—a chime he'd heard thousands of times while playing Murim Conquest. His heart skipped a beat.
"Welcome to the System, User," a robotic, feminine voice said, echoing in his head. "Please open your Status."
His eyes widened. No way. This can't be real. But, on instinct, he raised his hand, just like he did in the game, and sure enough, a translucent blue screen popped up in front of him.
[User: Li Xiaojun]
Level: 1
Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation, Stage 1
Skill Points: 0
Cultivation Points: 0
Xiaojun blinked in disbelief. This... this is like the game!
Suddenly, it all made sense. The lush environment, the mountains, the strange feeling in his body—he was inside the world of Murim Conquest! Or something suspiciously like it. He glanced down at the screen again, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and confusion. He had a system—just like in the game! A system that could give him skills, power, and maybe... just maybe... a way out of his crappy life.
But before he could even fully process what was happening, the robotic voice returned.
"Would you like to access your daily Gacha roll, User?"
Xiaojun's heart raced. In Murim Conquest, the Gacha system was notorious for being stingy. Most players rolled garbage rewards, and the ones who got lucky were usually rich kids who could afford to buy endless rolls. But here, in this world, it seemed like he got a free daily roll just for being alive.
"Hell yeah!" Xiaojun said, unable to contain his excitement.
The blue screen flashed, and a massive wheel appeared, spinning rapidly. Xiaojun watched as the wheel slowed down, inching past various rewards: "+1 year of cultivation," "Epic-grade Sword," "Healing Pill x10," and then, finally, it stopped on... "Mystery Box."
Not bad, he thought. In the game, Mystery Boxes could contain anything from garbage items to insanely powerful ones. He reached out to touch the screen, and with a soft ding, a small box materialized in front of him. It shimmered with a faint, golden light.
"Please open your Mystery Box, User."
Xiaojun's fingers trembled as he reached out and opened the box. There was a flash of light, and then, in his hands, appeared a glowing jade pill, radiating a powerful, almost intoxicating aura.
[Item Acquired: Supreme Cultivation Pill]
Effect: Increases cultivation by 5 years instantly.
"Holy crap," Xiaojun whispered, staring at the pill in disbelief. In the game, something like this would've been worth a fortune—players would have killed for it. Five years of cultivation in an instant? That would catapult him to the top of the ranks in no time.
Without hesitation, he swallowed the pill.
A surge of energy coursed through his body, so intense that he stumbled backward, gasping for air. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and he felt the raw power of cultivation flooding his veins. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before, a euphoria that made him feel like he could take on the world.
Another screen popped up in front of him:
[User: Li Xiaojun]
Level: 1
Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation, Stage 6
Skill Points: 5
Cultivation Points: 500
Xiaojun grinned. This... this is insane!
But before he could revel in his newfound strength, a voice echoed from behind him, sharp and condescending.
"Well, well, what do we have here? A mere Qi Condensation cultivator, and you're acting all high and mighty? Pathetic."
Xiaojun turned to see a tall, robed figure approaching him. The man sneered, his aura radiating superiority. He was clearly a higher-level cultivator, someone who had spent years honing his skills in this world.
"Looks like I'll have to teach you your place," the man said, cracking his knuckles.
But Xiaojun didn't flinch. For once in his life, he wasn't afraid. He smirked, rolling his shoulders as he prepared for a fight.
Let's see who's really pathetic.