Inside the small courtyard of the Mighty King's Mansion in the imperial capital, Yang Lei sat cross-legged on his bed.
"So this is the Martial Continent? I've transmigrated? The Mighty King, Yang You? I've actually transmigrated into the body of Yang You's third son, Yang Lei… and I'm a waste, unable to cultivate, even lower than the servants?"
Yang Lei was originally a college student in the 21st century, about to pursue his graduate studies at Huaxia University. However, an unexpected accident sent him into this world, inhabiting the body of the third son of the Mighty King—a person with zero innate talent, incapable of martial cultivation.
The Martial Continent was a land where the strong ruled. Here, if you had no strength, you couldn't survive; lives were as insignificant as grass.
On this continent, strength determined status. If you were powerful, you were a superior being, allowed to kill and rob openly without consequence. However, if you were weak, you were at the very bottom of society, living a life worse than pigs and dogs.
Being the third son of the Mighty King theoretically meant a noble status, but Yang Lei's lack of talent rendered him useless, earning him the reputation of being the waste of the Yang family. The entire continent knew that the prestigious Mighty King had a disgraceful, good-for-nothing son.
Yang You, the Mighty King of the Qianyuan Kingdom, had achieved the realm of Martial Saint at the age of thirty. His status was unparalleled, and his reputation shook the continent. However, his third son, Yang Lei, was nothing more than an accident from a drunken night. Worse still, he was a cripple in cultivation, a stain upon his father's name. Because of this, Yang You had no love for this son, neglecting him entirely. Even when Yang Lei was bullied, his father turned a blind eye.
Despite his unfortunate predicament, fate smiled upon Yang Lei, granting him the Omni-Cultivation System—a system that provided him access to cultivation techniques, martial arts, pills, divine weapons, and more.
"A novice gift pack? Let's see what's inside." Yang Lei stared at the system panel excitedly. This novice gift pack was a bonus for obtaining the system upon transmigration—a starter benefit.
"Would you like to open the novice gift pack?"
"Yes." Yang Lei rolled his eyes. What kind of dumb question is that? Of course!
"Congratulations, Player Yang Lei! You have received 100 points, the Body Refining Pill, and the cultivation technique 'Profound Origin Art.'"
Hearing this notification, Yang Lei was overjoyed. The Body Refining Pill was exactly what he needed. It was as if a pillow had been delivered just as he was about to fall asleep. He was born with a terrible physique, but this pill was an absolute miracle, capable of remodeling the body and improving one's cultivation talent. It was his chance to change his destiny!
As for the 'Profound Origin Art,' it was a divine-grade cultivation technique. Divine-grade techniques were extremely rare across the entire Martial Continent, and those who practiced them were absolute peak powerhouses.
"Would you like to consume the Body Refining Pill?"
Of course! Without hesitation, Yang Lei grabbed the milky-white pill and swallowed it.
The next moment, an intense heat surged through his body.
Then came the pain—excruciating, soul-crushing pain. It felt as if his entire soul was being ground into pieces, as though countless ants were gnawing at his flesh and bones. His meridians were torn apart and reformed repeatedly, undergoing extreme destruction and regeneration. The cycle continued endlessly, each time amplifying the pain.
Yang Lei had lost track of how many times his body had been shattered and rebuilt. Each cycle doubled the intensity of the suffering, pushing him to the brink of madness. The torment was so unbearable that he even considered death—but he couldn't move, much less end his life.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the agonizing process ceased.
"Huff..."
Yang Lei let out a deep breath, drenched in sweat. His entire body was covered in a thick, black, sticky substance—impurities expelled from his body. The stench was unbearable.
"Ugh!" Yang Lei immediately got up and ran to the small pond behind the courtyard. After scrubbing himself clean, he returned to his room, eager to check his stats.
Player Stats: Player: Yang Lei Level: 0 Root Bone: 5 Health: 20 Qi Power: 10 Points: 100 Free Attribute Points: None Cultivation Techniques: None Skills: None Weapons & Equipment: None
The biggest surprise was his Root Bone increasing to 5! Previously, his Root Bone was 0, making him an absolute waste in cultivation. Now, he had entered the realm of normal cultivators.
Ordinary people: Root Bone 1-3 Basic martial artists: Root Bone 4-6 Talented geniuses: Root Bone 7-9 Peak prodigies (monsters): Root Bone 10+
Those with Root Bone 10 or above were once-in-a-millennium prodigies. With proper guidance, they were guaranteed to become Grandmasters or even Martial Saints. The Mighty King, Yang You, had a Root Bone of 11.
Not only had Yang Lei's Root Bone improved, but his health and Qi Power also increased. Originally, his health was just 10, and he had no Qi Power at all. The Body Refining Pill had transformed him completely.
However, he noticed something strange—his cultivation technique slot was empty.
"Didn't I receive 'Profound Origin Art'? Why doesn't it show up?" Yang Lei wondered. Then, he realized—it must be because he hadn't officially cultivated it yet.
Taking out the 'Profound Origin Art' manual, a system notification appeared:
"Would you like to cultivate the divine-grade technique 'Profound Origin Art'?"
"Cultivate."
"Ding! Congratulations, Player Yang Lei! You have comprehended 'Profound Origin Art'!"
A surge of mysterious energy coursed through Yang Lei's body. It felt amazing, as if his entire being was brimming with newfound power.
"So this is the power of 'Profound Origin Art'?" Yang Lei quickly checked his updated stats.
New Stats: Cultivation Technique: Profound Origin Art – First Layer
'Profound Origin Art' had eighteen layers, each one exponentially harder to achieve. It was said that reaching the eighteenth layer would allow one to shatter the void and ascend beyond mortality. Achieving the sixteenth layer would already make one a Martial God, proving just how overpowered this cultivation technique was.
Qi Power: 100
His Qi Power skyrocketed to 100, while an average cultivator at Qi Refining Level 1 would only have 40 at most. And this was without even properly cultivating yet. The power of divine-grade techniques was truly insane!
A cold smirk appeared on Yang Lei's lips.
"A waste? Hmph. I will reclaim everything that was stolen from me. Those who mocked and humiliated me will regret it tenfold. As for my so-called father, the Mighty King... he will one day bow in regret for abandoning me."
From this moment on, he would carve his own path!