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Return to His World
Jin Shang stepped out from the portal, the air of the real world rushing into his lungs. His senses tingled as he took a deep breath. After everything he had endured—facing gods, titans, and ascending to godhood—he was back in his own world. The familiar surroundings felt strangely alien now, almost like a distant memory.
"Finally, I am back," Jin muttered to himself, feeling a strange sense of relief mixed with unease. He had been away for so long, but now he had unfinished business to attend to.
It wasn't long before he realized something was wrong. As he walked down the street, he noticed the strange way people were looking at him. It wasn't just men or elders; even the women—especially the women—were staring at him with wide eyes. Jin frowned, feeling the weight of their gazes on him. What was going on?
His gaze drifted to a nearby reflective glass, and what he saw made him freeze in surprise. His reflection was unfamiliar—his hair, once a striking red, had turned jet black, and his eyes, once golden, were now a piercing blue. He had grown taller, his face more chiseled and handsome. Jin blinked, running his hands through his hair as if to check if it was truly his own. He couldn't believe it—his appearance had completely changed.
It hit him then—this was the result of his transformation into a god. The power of the Abyss had not only altered his abilities but his physical form as well. Jin sighed, realizing why everyone had been staring at him. "Guess I stand out now…" he muttered under his breath.
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Homecoming Gone Wrong
Jin made his way home, the familiar path now feeling strange beneath his feet. When he arrived at his house, the sight shocked him. His home, the one he had worked so hard to maintain, was no more. The walls were reduced to rubble, the foundation cracked and broken. It was as if a wrecking ball had smashed through the building without mercy.
Jin's heart sank, and a surge of anger washed over him. He clenched his fists, his body trembling with barely contained rage.
Just then, a young woman passed by, noticing his distress. She paused and said, "The owner of the house was dead. So, the construction company destroyed the building. They're planning to build something else here."
Jin blinked in disbelief. "Dead?" he repeated, his voice low and cold. He could feel his power threatening to leak out of him in his frustration, but he forced himself to stay composed.
The girl, sensing his mood, quickly continued on her way, but Jin wasn't listening anymore. He stood there for a moment, processing the information. If the news of his death had spread that far, it would only cause trouble if he revealed he was alive now. A plan began to form in his mind.
"I'll need a new identity," he muttered.
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ID Card Creation
Jin made his way to the Ranker Association, hoping to resolve his situation. The building was as grand as ever, a symbol of the power and prestige held within. Inside, a young woman behind the counter greeted him.
"What's your name, Mr.?" she asked politely.
"Jin Shang," he replied smoothly, though inside he was already calculating the best way to manipulate the system for his needs.
"Okay, Mr. Jin, please place your hand on this orb," she instructed, gesturing to a small, glowing sphere on the desk. "This orb will determine your rank. It's a routine procedure."
Jin placed his hand on the ball, feeling a strange pulse of energy as the orb began to glow. The ball shimmered brightly at first, but then its color shifted to a deep, inky black. The woman behind the counter frowned in confusion.
"What's going on?" Jin asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
The lady hesitated, her brows furrowed as she examined the orb. "I think there's a system error… Don't worry, sir. If you could return in five days, we'll resolve this matter," she said, trying to mask the unease in her voice.
Jin, sensing the woman's discomfort, simply nodded. "Fine," he said, turning to leave.
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An Unsettling Revelation
As Jin exited the Ranker Association, the woman quickly notified her boss about the anomaly with the orb. The supervisor, upon hearing the details, froze in shock, his face going pale.
"Where is he now?" the boss asked, his voice trembling.
"He left… He seemed to be unaware of the problem," the woman replied, confused by the boss's reaction.
The boss clenched his fists in fear. "We need to inform the chairman immediately." His voice dropped to a whisper. "If what I think is true, we're dealing with someone whose power level is beyond anything we've encountered—he's stronger than national rankers."
The woman gasped in disbelief. "Impossible…!"
But the fear was evident in the boss's eyes. "It's true. His power is immeasurable. If the system cannot even detect his rank, then we're facing someone far beyond ordinary rankers. I… I need to inform the chairman before it's too late."
The woman, unable to process the gravity of the situation, accidentally spilled her coffee in shock, her hands trembling as she realized the magnitude of the situation.
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The Alchemy Guild
After leaving the Ranker Association, Jin made his way to the Alchemy Guild. It was a renowned establishment where powerful alchemists and craftsmen dealt in rare and magical items. Jin had several crystals from the labyrinth he had cleared—rare and valuable resources he needed to offload, and the guild would be the perfect place for that.
The guild itself was a sprawling complex, filled with shelves of potions, materials, and enchanted artifacts. Jin entered, the air thick with the scent of herbs and elixirs. He approached the counter, where a burly man greeted him.
"Welcome to the Alchemy Guild. What can I do for you?" the man asked, his voice deep and rough.
"I've got some crystals for sale," Jin said, pulling out the shiny fragments of Abyssal power he had collected. The crystals glowed faintly with dangerous energy.
The guild master examined the crystals closely, his eyes widening in recognition. "These… these are rare! Where did you get these?"
Jin smiled slightly, the glint in his eye a reminder of the labyrinth's horrors. "Let's just say I've been somewhere no ordinary person should go."
The guild master, still astonished, nodded. "I'll give you a fair price for these… but be careful. Those crystals aren't something to be trifled with."
Jin's thoughts were elsewhere, though. "Fair price is good enough. But there's something else I need."
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The chapter closes with Jin exchanging his rare crystals, the Alchemy Guild dealing with the artifacts' strange power. As Jin prepares for what lies ahead in the real world, he knows that things are about to change in ways he can't yet fully predict.
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