The first thing Yohan noticed was the absence of pain. No gnawing hunger, no sharp stabs of agony in his ribs, no lingering soreness from bruises that never seemed to heal. Just... calm.
His eyes fluttered open, and he was met with an unfamiliar ceiling—ornate, with intricate carvings of mythical beasts. Soft sunlight filtered through sheer curtains, bathing the room in a golden glow.
This wasn't the slums.
He sat up abruptly, his heart pounding. His hands were clean, his nails neatly trimmed—nothing like the cracked and dirt-stained hands he remembered. A strange sensation of strength coursed through his body, as if he were someone entirely new.
A polished silver mirror rested on a nearby table. Yohan staggered to his feet, his movements shaky but instinctive. When he caught his reflection, he froze.
The boy staring back at him wasn't the same frail, broken figure he'd been his entire life. His face was sharp and defined, with piercing red eyes that seemed to burn with intensity. Long black hair cascaded down his back, framing a pale but flawless complexion. He looked... powerful, even if his frame was still somewhat lean.
"What the hell?" he whispered, his voice hoarse yet smooth.
Before he could make sense of it, a sudden wave of memories hit him like a tidal wave.
This body belonged to someone named Long Yohan, the youngest son of the Long Clan, a prestigious family known for their martial prowess. But unlike his siblings, this boy had been born with a feeble constitution and zero talent for cultivation. He was ridiculed as "trash" and treated as an embarrassment. Even the servants whispered behind his back, and his peers openly mocked him.
Yohan's fists clenched, the faint echoes of humiliation and scorn from the previous owner igniting a spark of anger within him.
"Even in a new life, I'm starting at the bottom," he muttered bitterly.
Then, it happened.
"Welcome, Host. The Adaptive System is now active."
The voice was clear yet mechanical, resonating directly in his mind. Yohan stumbled backward, nearly tripping over the edge of the bed.
"What... who's there?"
"I am the Adaptive System, designed to assist you in achieving your desires and overcoming your weaknesses. The system evolves based on your needs and strongest desires."
"A system?" Yohan whispered, his confusion slowly giving way to curiosity. His mind raced, recalling the light novels he used to read back in the slums—the stories of heroes and systems that made them invincible. Was this his second chance?
"Analyzing current desires... Primary need identified: Strength. Initiating first quest."
A glowing screen materialized in his mind's eye:
Quest: Prove Your Worth.
Defeat a member of the Long Clan in combat.
Reward: Basic Combat Techniques Manual.
Before he could fully process the quest, an idea struck him. He had read about systems in novels. Most of them had a "status" feature.
"Status," he said hesitantly.
The air around him seemed to shimmer, and another glowing screen appeared before his eyes:
Name: Yohan Long
Age: 17
Adaptive Points: 0
Cultivation: First Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm
Cultivation Technique: None
Skills: None
Bloodline: Dormant
Physique: Dormant
Spirit: ???
Weaknesses: None
Yohan stared at the screen, his heart racing. "First stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm?" he muttered. "What does that even mean?"
"Spirit Transformation is the foundational stage of cultivation. It allows the host to sense and utilize spiritual energy," the system explained.
"And what's with these dormant statuses? Bloodline? Physique? Spirit?"
"These elements are currently inaccessible due to the host's lack of cultivation progress. Unlocking them will require further growth."
Yohan's gaze lingered on the Spirit: ??? line. Something about it felt... strange, like a puzzle waiting to be solved.
He clenched his fists, a spark of determination igniting within him. "If this is my second chance, I won't waste it. I'll take control of my life, and I won't let anyone look down on me again."
As if in response, the quest screen reappeared, its glowing text a reminder of the path ahead.