"Liu Ruyan, you... your whole family is truly ruthless!"
"I did so much for you all! And now, to reach the rankings, you want to kill me? I almost want to rip open your hearts and take a look!"
"If there's a next life, I swear I'll make sure your family suffers endlessly!"
...
In a rundown rental apartment in the megacity of Mo, a young man suddenly awoke with a jolt.
Xue Que blinked in shock and scrambled up from the bed. He looked around with a mix of disbelief and confusion. The room was both familiar and strange to him.
"Isn't this... my rented room?"
A thought seemed to strike him, and he turned his gaze to the calendar on the bedside table. The date read: May 19, 2052, 7:32 a.m.
"Haha… Heaven has opened its eyes!"
Xue Que held his face in his hands and began to laugh uncontrollably, his laughter soon dissolving into painful tears.
Bang!
Xue Que slammed his fist onto the wooden table, his face twisted in a grimace of rage.
"Liu Ruyan! I'll make sure your whole family writhes in hell!"
A second chance at life is precious to anyone, but carrying memories and pain—now that's something entirely different.
Instead of rushing to get dressed for work, Xue Que turned on the television, an appliance he hadn't used in ages.
On this day in his previous life, the event known as "Tianyuan's Descent" occurred. The "Twelve Heavenly Rankings" appeared, and from that moment on, the fate of humanity on Blue Star was forever altered!
He tuned to a random channel and then made himself a fried egg—his last meal before the impending apocalypse.
For now, the doomsday catastrophe hadn't yet arrived.
All tragedies had yet to unfold.
"Fried Liu Ruyan, deep-fried Liu Guofu, steamed Xie Xiaoyun, grilled Liu Boda, stir-fried Ji Boda!"
"Mmm… so delicious!"
Xue Que squinted his eyes, smiling as he savored the egg.
Suddenly, an urgent news report interrupted the broadcast.
[According to astronomers from Country S, an unidentified celestial body is set to pass through Blue Star's atmosphere at noon today. Some coastal regions may experience a red-level hazard. Coastal residents are urged to prepare for evacuation…]
Xue Que tuned out the rest, knowing very well what was coming next.
He threw on some comfortable workout clothes and strode out of the small rental apartment.
He looked at the crowds of people bustling to work or school, sighing softly, for he had once been one of them.
Driving his car, Xue Que headed toward the eastern outskirts of Mo City. Compared to the challenges ahead, his first priority was to secure a position on the Twelve Heavenly Rankings!
For a human with ten years of survival experience in the apocalypse, luck is the most vital foundation. Without it, you're nothing more than a leaf adrift in the vast ocean!
As he waited quietly at a red light, his phone rang. Recognizing the caller, Xue Que's mouth twisted into a cruel smile.
The moment he answered, Liu Ruyan's voice barked through the line, "Damn it, Xue Que! Where the hell are you? Why isn't your car here yet? If you don't hurry, I'll be late for work!"
Holding back his rage, Xue Que clenched his fist and spoke in a calm tone, mimicking his former self's gentleness. "Ruyan, my car broke down. You'll need to take a taxi today."
"Damn it! Couldn't you have told me sooner? Whatever, just send me a thousand bucks for the taxi," she snapped before hanging up.
Xue Que clenched his phone tightly, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
In his past life, he had done everything for Liu Ruyan's family, thinking his sacrifices would warm her heart. But he was a fool—his "gifts" to her were mere fodder for Liu Ruyan to lavish on Ji Boda. Xue Que was nothing but a loyal dog, used and discarded.
Remembering it all now, Xue Que felt his anger boiling. He hung up, blocked Liu Ruyan and Ji Boda, and slammed his phone shut. Starting his car with newfound determination, he sped toward Metro Line 8.
In his past life, when Tianyuan descended, the first dimensional portal in Mo City had opened here, swallowing everyone inside. None had survived.
It took a year and a special task force to finally clear this portal at a tremendous cost. Among the treasures found were two artifacts that ranked among the top two on the Heavenly Rankings!
Leaving his phone in the car, Xue Que lit a cigarette, and walked toward the Line 8 metro entrance.
Watching the time display on the electronic screen, Xue Que spread his arms wide, his face serene as he awaited Tianyuan's descent.
Noon.
The clear sky suddenly darkened.
A massive celestial body slowly grazed Blue Star's atmosphere.
As the object eclipsed the sun and cast its shadow over the planet, golden beams of light erupted across the sky.
Twelve colossal monuments loomed above, each like a constellation in the heavens.
Below each monument, beams of light cascaded like waterfalls, forming golden rankings visible to all of humanity.
At that moment, everyone across the globe saw the Twelve Golden Heavenly Rankings.
"W-What... What is that?"
"Aliens? Is Blue Star being invaded?"
"Gods, save us all!"
Ignoring the confused chatter, Xue Que's focus was solely on the dimensional fissure in front of him. After all, he intended to be the first one to seize this new opportunity.
Since fate had granted him a second life, Xue Que was determined to seize every chance and carve his path in this brutal new world.
While others panicked, Xue Que knew the coming changes all too well. In his past life, he had been a weak-willed pawn, but he had risen to become an A-ranked warrior. Now, with his experience, he could get a head start over everyone else.
The characters on the rankings glowed, strange yet understandable to every human.
[Rank of Cultivation] [Rank of Divine Weapons] [Rank of Combat Power] [Rank of Wealth] [Rank of Honor]...
"What… this is straight out of a cultivation novel!"
"A heavenly opportunity! Forget school—time to claim my fortune!"
"Finally, my chance for revenge. This is my time!"
As the Tianyuan event plunged humanity into chaos, similar outbursts spread across the globe.
The hum of electricity filled the subway station.
A cold smile spread across Xue Que's lips.
"To my enemies... my vengeance begins now!"