The earth's sky split open
Stormy winds swirled wildly, sweeping away the ruins of the once majestic city. A sea of fire engulfed everything, while purple lightning struck relentlessly, creating cracks in space itself.
Amidst the destruction, Andrian Lancaster stood with his body covered in wounds. His rupture blade, vibrating in his hand, was covered in black blood that dripped to the ground. His breathing was heavy, his chest rising and falling heavily, but his eyes remained sharp, staring at the creature standing before him.
The demon king of hubris.
The figure towered over him, its body made of dense shadow that blazed with hellfire. A pair of black horns adorned its head, and its eyes glowed red full of contempt and a sense of superiority.
"Human... You really dare to fight me to this point?" The demon lord's voice boomed, filling the entire sky.
Andrian grinned, fresh blood flowing from the corners of his lips. "I don't care who you are.... What's clear is that I'm going to finish you right here."
The demon lord chuckled. "Good! Then let's end this!"
Without warning, he raised his hand to the sky, the space around began to shake violently, as if the world was about to shatter.
"Demonic singularity."
A Black vortex formed above the sky. The overwhelming gravity began to pull everything into it. Buildings, the ground, even light itself was sucked into the absolute void.
Andrian did not stay still. He stomped the ground hard, holding his sword with both hands.
"Doom slash!"
The sword shone brightly, filled with destructive energy. In an instant, he slashed forward a giant slash shot out, splitting space and striking the Black vortex, the energy blast exploding violently, collapsing parts of the sky!
But the demon king wasn't done yet. He spread his arms.
"Abyssal Cataclysm!"
A wave of black destruction shot out from his body, spreading with a ferocity that would swallow everything.
Andrian gritted his teeth.
"Sword wave!"
He swung his sword repeatedly, creating dozens of sharp energy waves that clashed with the dark energy, explosion after explosion occurred, creating an earth-shaking earthquake.
But when the dust settled, the demon king was standing right in front of him.
"Hellstrom Annihilation!"
A storm of hellfire exploded all around them!
Andrian twisted his body quickly.
"Blade Strom!"
Hundreds of blades shot out of the air, spinning like a tornado of death, crashing directly into the hellfire!
The world seemed to collapse.
Andrian felt his body torn apart by the overwhelming heat, but he still moved forward. His sword flashed brightly one last time.
"Final Rupture!"
One last slash.
Light filled the sky.
By the time the demon king realized what was happening, it was too late. His body split into two, then exploded in black flames.
VICTORY....
However, Andrian's body had also reached its limit. His vision blurred, there was no remnant of strength to move, and he fell into silent darkness....
When his consciousness returned, the first thing he felt was... A gentle breeze.
Andrian opened his eyes slowly, he was no longer on the battlefield. Instead, he was lying on a vast green meadow, the blue sky stretching above him.
"I'm .... Still alive?"
He got up with a body that felt much lighter. At the sight of his own hands, he was shocked. Her body was younger!
Before she could think further.....
[Welcome, host.]
A voice echoed directly in her mind.
[You have been integrated with the absolute Providence system.]
A transparent window appeared in front of him.
Absolute Providence system
Level: 1
Function:
- Provides quests with item rewards and system points
- system points can be used to purchase weapons, techniques, or summon mysterious creatures.
Andrian was silent for a moment.
"System... Like in the game?"
Before he could take it all in, something caught his attention.
In the distance, there was a little girl sitting under a large tree.
She had long silver hair that glistened in the sunlight, with large violet eyes that looked empty. Her clothes were tattered, and her body looked thin, as if she had gone days without food.
[Quest available: save the little girl.]
[Reward: 100 system points.]
Andrian was silent for a moment before sighing.
So this is how it started..."
He got up, walking towards the little girl.
"I just wanted to take life easy... But why does it feel like I'm going to get so involved?"
She smiled bitterly.
Not knowing that this encounter would change his life forever.
Andrian stepped slowly towards the little girl. His footsteps were almost silent on the green grass that swayed in the gentle breeze.
The girl seemed motionless, just staring blankly at the ground with violet eyes that had lost their shine. Her silver hair moved in disarray, and the tattered clothes she wore showed how difficult her life had been.
As Andrian got closer, the girl's body trembled slightly.
"Hey," Andrian's voice sounded soft, but the girl still didn't react.
He crouched down in front of her, staring at her face covered in dust and small cuts. Up close, the girl's body was really thin.
Her stomach suddenly rumbled.
Andrian sighed softly.
He opened the inventory system, a virtual window appeared in front of him, and inside were various starter items he got from the system.
[Warm bread x5]
[Fresh drinking water x3]
Without hesitation, Andrian picked up a loaf of bread and a bottle of water, and offered them to the girl.
"Eat this."
The girl finally raised her head, looking at him with wary eyes.
"..."
She remained silent, just staring at the bread without taking it.
Andrian smiled slightly. "If you don't want it, I'll eat it."
He pretended to take a bite of the bread.
However, before he could put it in his mouth, the girl's small hands moved quickly, snatching the bread from his hands and devouring it immediately.
Andrian raised his eyebrows. "So fast."
The girl ignored him, continuing to chew with incredible speed.
After a while, the bread was gone without a trace. The little girl finally raised her face again, looking up at Andrian with expectant eyes.
Andrian chuckled. "I don't have any more, you know?"
The girl looked a little disappointed, but remained silent.
Andrian scanned the surroundings. The vast grasslands stretched on with no other signs of life. There were only sparse trees and a gentle breeze.
He looked back at the girl.
"What is your name?"
The girl was silent for a few moments before finally speaking in a very low voice.
".... Yuechan."
Andrian smiled. "Yuechan, huh? Nice name."
The girl lowered her head slightly, as if not used to receiving compliments.
Andrian rose to his feet and extended his hand.
"Want to come with me?"
Yuechan stared at his hand for a long time. Her violet eyes reflected confusion, fear, and a hint of hope.
After a few seconds that seemed so long, her small hand finally moved.
Hesitantly, she took Andrian's hand.
Andrian smiled.
Just then, a notification appeared in front of her.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest: save the little girl.]
[Reward: 100 system points have been awarded.]
Andrian stared at the system window that appeared in front of him, then smiled slightly.
"Life is relaxing, huh..." He sighed. "Somehow it doesn't feel like it's going to be that easy."
He carried Yuechan on his back, then started walking down the path, towards his new life without knowing that fate had prepared many surprises for him.
Andrian walked slowly along the cobblestone streets of the village, carrying the sleeping Yuechan on his back. The little girl seemed to be very exhausted after eating, and unknowingly fell asleep on his shoulder.
The night air was cool, and the Longshen sky was filled with sparkling stars. There was no pollution, only the sound of crickets and the soft wind blowing through the trees.
Andrian sighed. "This world... Much more peaceful than earth."
But he knew that this murim world was not as beautiful as it seemed.
Based on the information provided by the Absolute Providence system, this world was inhabited by powerful sects, martial arts experts, and large clans that possessed extraordinary power. The law of the jungle prevailed here, the strong ruled, the weak were trampled on.
But he didn't care.
After years of fighting against monsters and enemies on earth, he just wanted to live a quiet life.
He glanced at his status.
[Name]: Andrian Lancaster
[Level:] 1
[Power: restricted
[Ability: absolute Providence system
[System points]: 100
Andrian clucked his tongue. "Damn, even my level was reset."
As a former S-ranked hunter, losing his power felt like a nightmare. But he knew this system must have a way to restore his power.
He scrolled through the list of items that could be purchased with system points.
-[cheap sword] - 50 points
-[basic martial arts technique] - 100 points
-[starter food pack] - 30 points
-[body strengthening pills] - 200 points
"Hmm..." Andrian thought for a moment.
Since he had no intention of fighting again, buying swords or martial techniques was not very useful.
"Alright, let's start simple first."
He selected the starter food pack, and instantly, a wooden bundle appeared in his hand.
The [starter food pack] contained:
- 5 whole wheat buns
- 3 bottles of fresh water
- 1 piece of grilled meat
His stomach rumbled. "Well, not bad."
Andrian took a sip of water, then walked back towards the small village where he planned to settle down.
Qinghe Village
After walking for some time, he finally reached a small village at the foot of the mountain. Wooden houses stood in a row, and some farmers could be seen still working in the fields despite the late night, the village looked peaceful. With dirt roads decorated with softly glowing paper lanterns.
Andrian paused for a moment, adjusting his vision to this new environment. Yuechan was still asleep on his back, her breathing regular.
"A small village like... Might be a good place to start over," he murmured.
She stepped inside, passing the villagers who looked at her with wary gazes. An old man with a beard and changed hair, wearing a simple robe, approached him.
"Young man, are you a stranger in this village?" He asked in a low but alert voice.
Andrian nodded. "That's right, I'm a traveler. This boy and I are lost and exhausted. Can we stay here for a while?"
The old man squinted, observing them. He then looked at Yuechan who was still asleep on Andrian's back, her face dirty.
"Tsk, the world out there is cruel...." She muttered under her breath before looking back at Andrian. "Alright, you can stay at the village inn. But remember, don't make trouble here"
Andrian smiled slightly. "I just want a quiet place and won't cause any trouble I assure you."
The old man nodded before pointing to a simple building near the village center. "That's a small inn owned by Madame Wu. She's kind, but don't try to default on your payment."
Andrian chuckled. "Thanks for the warning."
He then stepped into the inn that was shown to him. As soon as he entered, the smell of wood and herbal tea greeted him. Behind a wooden table, a middle-aged woman with her hair in a bun was counting copper coins. She turned her head when she heard the sound of the door opening.
"Room for two?" She asked while looking at Andrian and Yuechan.
"Yes, please."
"Do you have money?"
Andrian was silent for a moment before glancing at his system.
[Balance: 0 silver coins]
"Damn, I forgot about this," he thought.
However, as if reading his mind, the system beeped again.
[Ding! Quest available: Get a job or source of income in Qinghe village]
[Reward: 200 system points]
Andrian sighed. "Well... Looks like I'll have to work first before I can get a good night's sleep."
He turned to Mrs. Wu and smiled. "I don't have any money right now, but.... Is there any other way to pay?"
The woman raised an eyebrow. "You can work in the kitchen or help lift things. If you are strong enough, there is work in the village woodshop."
Andrian considered for a moment.
"Joinery is not my thing... But working in the kitchen sounds interesting." He muttered to himself with a smile.
Without much thought, he nodded to Madame Wu. "Alright, I'll help in the kitchen," he said, trying to show his sincerity.
Madame wu smiled and gave her a series of simple tasks. Washing the cooking utensils, preparing the fresh ingredients in the kitchen, and helping to set the table for the guests. Although it felt unfamiliar, Andrian accepted the task with enthusiasm, considering he now had to start a new life in a world far different from the battlefield he had known.
The next morning, as the sun began to appear in the Qinghe sky, Andrian was already in the inn's kitchen. There, he learned how to skin fish, chop vegetables, and sauté herbs with a skill that slowly grew despite the blood and wounds of the past still lingering in his memory.
Every movement in the kitchen was done with care-the hands once trained to swing a sword now learned to stir a pot and pour oil carefully. Although martial arts and combat skills are a part of his past, here he feels a peace that he never felt in battle. However, beneath the simplicity, the system in his mind kept reminding him:
[Quest Completed: Get a job in Qinghe village]
[Reward: 200 system points have been added]
The virtual screen displayed his new status, and Andrian frowned at the number of points that had now reached 300. Although his body felt light and his mind was slightly comforted, he could not shake the image of the brutal battle he had just experienced.
That afternoon, as Andrian was washing dishes in the kitchen, a young village man with a friendly face approached him.
"You're new here, right? I'm Rendi, and I usually help in the kitchen too. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask," Rendi said with a smile.
Andrian nodded, smiling slightly back. "Thank you, Rendi. I'm still learning, so maybe I'll ask more questions later."
Meanwhile, outside, the cool night breeze carried the scent of wildflowers from the fields. Yuechan, who had been sound asleep on Andrian's back, woke up briefly to the low boisterous voices of the guests who had come to enjoy a simple meal. With eyes beginning to brighten, the little girl peeked into the inn, then fell back asleep with an innocent smile on her face-as if finding warmth in the midst of a harsh world.
In between working in the kitchen, Andrian occasionally opened the system window to look at the list of upcoming quests. There were some interesting quests, such as collecting rare foodstuffs from the surrounding forest or helping Mrs. Wu organize a small party in the village. While his new life is a far cry from the brutal battles on Earth, these tasks begin to instill hope that he can build a more peaceful life - even if the shadows of the murim are full of intrigue.
That night, after a hard day's work, Andrian sat on the veranda of the inn looking up at the stars in the clear Longshen sky. He clutched a small book from nowhere, mission notes and a little guide to the Absolute Providence System. Inwardly, he made a promise to himself: although he only wanted a leisurely life, fate had chosen a path full of surprises.
"May this time of my life indeed be in line with my wishes," he whispered as he looked far into the horizon.
However, deep in the darkness of the night, a shadow watched Andrian's every move. The mysterious figure - originally seen at the edge of the meadow - reappeared, staring with determined eyes. Was the shadow's presence a sign of new trouble, or the beginning of a greater adventure?
Andrian doesn't know yet, but one thing is certain: his new life in Qinghe Village has just begun, and every step will take him in directions he never imagined.