In the heart of a bustling metropolis, Zhao Tian was nothing more than another cog in the ever-turning machine of life. At 22 years old, his dreams of making it big as a software developer had been crushed under the weight of unpaid bills and unrelenting expectations. The world had no room for dreamers, or so it seemed.
Rain fell in relentless torrents, obscuring the city streets as Tian hurried down the crosswalk. The glowing screen of his phone buzzed with a job rejection email, one more failure added to a growing pile. Frustrated and lost in thought, he never noticed the speeding truck veering out of control until it was too late.
The collision was instantaneous. Pain shot through his body, and then... nothing. His consciousness faded into an endless void.
When Zhao Tian opened his eyes again, he was no longer on the cold, rain-soaked streets of the city. Instead, a warm breeze brushed his skin, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass. Towering peaks and serene rivers stretched across the horizon in a world far removed from the gray, unyielding world of his past life.
"Where... am I?" he muttered, pushing himself to his feet.
A glimmering interface appeared before his eyes, startling him. The translucent screen displayed a series of glowing text:
[Welcome to the Boundless Ascension System.]
[Host successfully reincarnated in the Celestial Profound World.]
[Initiating system integration...]
Zhao Tian froze, his heart pounding. "System? Like those in novels?"
[Boundless Ascension System fully integrated.]
[System Function: The host's cultivation will rise one level higher than any higher-realm cultivator who attacks the host.]
The words took a moment to sink in. The implications were staggering. He didn't fully understand this new world he found himself in, but the system's promise was clear: he was no longer the weak, insignificant human he had been on Earth.
Zhao Tian surveyed the picturesque valley around him. Though he felt confusion, curiosity burned brighter. He clenched his fists, a determined glint in his eyes.
"If this is my second chance, then I'll rise to the top of this world—no matter what."