Xian Yi's final moments were filled with pain and regret, a life lived in the shadows of mediocrity flashing before his eyes. He was just an ordinary college student—nothing special, no legacy, no fame. His days consisted of long hours spent hunched over textbooks, playing video games, and dreaming of a world far greater than his own. The world of cultivators, where power was everything, and strength could carve your destiny.
But destiny had no place for him.
The truck was too fast, and the screech of its tires on the wet road was the last sound he heard as it plowed into him. A sickening crunch, a blur of lights, and then… nothing.
For a moment, there was complete silence. The pain faded. His thoughts drifted, suspended in an endless void, until they were replaced by something else—a strange, unfamiliar presence.
"You have died."
Xian Yi's consciousness flickered, half-awake, half-asleep. Was this… the afterlife?
The voice echoed in his mind, neither male nor female, but utterly omnipotent. It was cold, detached, like the very force of fate itself.
"Your death was not by chance. You have been chosen."
"Chosen?" Xian Yi tried to speak, but his mouth felt distant. His thoughts were heavy, like they were being dragged under a thick current.
"Indeed. Chosen to carry out a purpose greater than your previous life. A new beginning awaits you, a world where power is not only coveted but earned. However, the price is steep."
Before he could ask what the voice meant, his consciousness was violently pulled in another direction, faster than he could comprehend. The world around him twisted, shattered like glass, and suddenly, everything was dark.
---
When Xian Yi opened his eyes, he was no longer in the void.
A brilliant light illuminated his surroundings, and his first instinct was to shield his eyes from the overwhelming brightness. But as his vision cleared, he found himself lying in a vast, empty space—a place that felt entirely otherworldly.
There were no stars, no sky, no ground. Just pure, untainted light stretching infinitely in every direction. And within this strange expanse, floating in front of him, was a translucent, glowing orb.
"Welcome," the voice returned, now filled with authority and power, "to the System Realm."
Xian Yi tried to sit up, but he found that his body felt… different. Lighter, almost weightless. His mind felt sharp, like every thought was instantly clear. But more than that, there was something inside him—a pulse, a presence that hadn't been there before.
The orb in front of him began to spin, its surface flickering like the reflection of a fire in a calm pond. The voice spoke again, as if acknowledging the confusion within him.
"This is the System—an ancient power that has chosen to bind itself to you. The System is now a part of your soul, granting you unparalleled abilities to cultivate both magical and physical Qi. You will learn to harness these powers, grow stronger, and unlock abilities far beyond your mortal comprehension."
Xian Yi tried to speak, but his voice was barely a whisper. "What… what does that mean? What do you want from me?"
"Everything has a price," the voice responded, its tone unwavering. "In this new world, women reign supreme—cultivating magical Qi that allows them to wield unimaginable power. Men, on the other hand, can only cultivate their physical form. But you… You are different. The System will allow you to cultivate both forms, magical and physical Qi. And through Dual Cultivation, you will gain their bloodlines, affinities, and powers."
Xian Yi's mind reeled. "Dual Cultivation? Bloodlines? What kind of world is this?"
"You will soon understand," the voice answered cryptically. "But first, I must ask if you are ready. This is your new life, and it will not be easy. Are you prepared to take on this power?"
For the first time, Xian Yi felt a sense of clarity—an overwhelming feeling that this new existence held more potential than anything his old life ever offered. But it was a potential that came with its own dangers, and his instincts screamed that there was no turning back.
"I… I don't have a choice, do I?" Xian Yi asked.
"No," the voice confirmed. "But you have something better: the chance to reshape your destiny."
A surge of energy shot through his body as the orb pulsed brightly, the light filling every inch of his being. He felt a strange heat radiate from within, and then it was gone, replaced by a deep, resonant power that hummed beneath his skin.
"You are now bonded with the System," the voice intoned. "The path ahead is yours to carve. You will grow, you will fight, and you will rise. But beware—the road is fraught with peril, and not everyone will welcome your existence."
Xian Yi closed his eyes, feeling the power coursing through him. His previous life seemed like a distant memory now, an insignificant flicker in the face of what lay ahead.
"I understand," he whispered to the unseen voice. "I'll make it. I'll survive."
"Good," the voice replied, its tone almost approving. "Prepare yourself, for the new world awaits."
---
With that, the light around him faded, and Xian Yi felt his body hurtle through space and time once more. The world around him warped, and in an instant, he found himself standing in a new, unfamiliar realm—a world brimming with magic, danger, and opportunity.
As the weight of his new life settled in, one thought echoed in his mind:
This is just the beginning.