# Chapter 1: Luo Feng's Brother
The sky stretched endlessly above Jiangnan Base City—a brilliant expanse of blue unmarred by clouds. The afternoon sun hung high and bright, casting warm rays across the sprawling campus of Yian District Third High School. In the distance, the towering walls of the base city cut stark lines against the horizon, their concrete faces weathered but still standing firm. Those walls were all that separated the safe, civilized world within from the chaos and danger beyond—the hunting grounds of mutant beasts that prowled the wastelands.
Everyone knew the walls existed for a reason. Everyone knew that without the warriors who constantly patrolled and defended them, those barriers would crumble, and the beasts would pour in like a flood. The prosperity of the base city was built on the strength of warriors. Without them, there was only death.
"Ding, ding, ding…"
The school bell's metallic cry echoed across the campus, cutting through the stillness. Immediately, the entire school erupted into motion.
Students burst from classrooms and hallways, their voices rising in excited chatter as they headed toward the gates. Most had already forgotten about their afternoon classes. Friday had arrived, and freedom beckoned.
Luo Sheng carefully placed his textbook into his backpack and stood, stretching as his joints popped from hours of sitting. His frame was lean and athletic—1.78 meters tall with the build of someone who trained regularly but didn't possess any exceptional genetic gifts. He collected his things and made his way into the flow of departing students.
Sigh... it's been seventeen years, he thought, a wry smile crossing his face. I've been reborn into the world of Swallowed Star.
His mind drifted to that fateful moment in his previous life. He had been a trader in a bustling financial district of Earth—the original Earth, from a different world entirely. The work had consumed him: endless nights spent staring at price charts, analyzing market trends, making increasingly risky trades in pursuit of the big score that would change his life.
Then came the night that changed everything.
A particularly disastrous trade had wiped out a significant portion of his savings. Devastated and desperate, drowning in regret, he had retreated to his apartment and proceeded to drink himself into oblivion. Bottle after bottle of expensive whiskey disappeared as the hours blurred together. In his intoxicated haze, stumbling through his apartment in the darkness, he had misjudged the distance to his balcony railing. He fell several stories and died on impact—a pathetic end to a pathetic life.
And then... He was reborn into a family named Luo, living in the impoverished districts of Hanxia City's "303" sector. His new parents, Luo Hua and Pan Ling, were simple, hardworking people struggling to survive in a post-Great Nirvana world. Luo Hua labored as a construction worker, his back perpetually aching from dawn-to-dusk toil. Pan Ling worked as a seamstress, her fingers developing calluses from endless needle work. Together, they barely managed to keep their family fed.
The most shocking revelation came at age twelve.
His memories from his previous life had suddenly exploded back into his consciousness. Every moment, every experience, every regret from his first existence came flooding back in a tsunami of sensation. For weeks, he couldn't distinguish between past and present, between the child he was and the adult he had been.
But gradually, he accepted the truth: he had been given a second chance. A rare, impossible second chance.
However, unlike the transmigration stories he used to read before his death—tales of chosen ones blessed with systems and golden fingers—this second life came with no such advantages. There was no mysterious AI companion to guide him, no inherited treasures waiting to be discovered, no magical cheat ability to propel him toward greatness. He had only his memories and intelligence from his previous life, along with the brutal reality of the Swallowed Star universe.
This world was nothing like his original reality. Power here wasn't measured in money or influence but in raw martial strength. The Great Nirvana had fundamentally transformed humanity. Seventeen years before Luo Sheng's rebirth, a mysterious virus had triggered the emergence of mutant beasts that nearly drove humanity to extinction. Only through desperation and adaptation had humans discovered ancient ruins and learned to awaken martial potential within their own bodies—a combination of genetic enhancement and cultivated skill that allowed warriors to match and defeat these monsters.
In this world, the strong dominated. The weak perished. It was as simple and brutal as that.
After regaining his memories, Luo Sheng had quickly assessed his situation with the pragmatism his past life had taught him. He was intelligent—that much was certain. The memories and knowledge of an adult from another world gave him intellectual advantages that most sixteen-year-olds didn't possess. But intelligence alone meant nothing in a world where power was determined by genetics and martial cultivation.
And here lay his greatest disadvantage: his twin brother.
Luo Feng had been born just minutes before him, inheriting a rare genetic mutation. This genetic advantage made Luo Feng exponentially stronger, faster, and more resilient than ordinary humans. While Luo Sheng struggled to improve through sheer force of will, Luo Feng progressed at a pace that seemed almost supernatural by comparison. The difference between them was like comparing a normal human to a prodigy—vast and seemingly insurmountable.
But Luo Sheng had refused to surrender to despair. A second life was an unimaginable gift, and he wouldn't squander it on self-pity. At age twelve, when his memories returned and he finally understood what he was facing, he had made a crucial decision: he would join the Extreme Martial Club, the premier training institution in Jiangnan Base City, founded by the Hong himself. He would work harder than anyone else, making up through dedication what he lacked in natural talent.
For the past five years, his life had followed a rigid pattern. Every single day without exception, he trained. He spent hours perfecting techniques, conditioning his body, pushing himself to the absolute limits of his natural capabilities. He attended classes at the martial school, trained alongside his brother despite their vast difference in ability, and took part-time jobs to help support his struggling family.
The results?
He had reached the Junior Student rank. His punch power measured 288 kilograms. His running speed reached 9 meters per second. According to the martial classification system used on Earth, a Junior Student required punch power between 100 and 300 kilograms. He occupied the upper end of that range—respectable for an average person, but nothing remarkable in the world of warriors and cultivators.
Most people would never advance beyond this level. The majority lacked either the talent, the genetics, or the sheer willpower required to progress further. They would remain Junior Students their entire lives, neither particularly strong nor particularly weak.
His twin brother, conversely, had nearly reached the Quasi-Warrior rank—the first true tier of martial advancement—with a fraction of the effort that Luo Sheng invested. This was the reality of genetic advantage. This was what separated the talented from the merely dedicated.
But Luo Sheng harbored no resentment. He genuinely loved his brother and took pride in his achievements. What purpose would jealousy serve? Envying someone blessed with natural gifts only poisoned the soul. Instead, he had chosen a different path: he would carve his own way forward, advancing steadily even if progress came slowly, building something through persistent effort rather than raw talent.
He navigated through the crowded hallway toward the exit, dodging clusters of chattering students. Afternoon sunlight streamed through high windows, illuminating dust particles that drifted lazily through the air like snow. As he passed one of the bulletin boards, a notice caught his eye: "WARNING - BEAST SIGHTING NEAR SECTION 7. ALL CITIZENS ADVISED TO REMAIN IN BASE CITY PROPER."
The second such warning that month. The beasts were getting bolder, ranging closer to the city's boundaries.
At the classroom door stood a familiar figure. Approximately 1.74 meters tall with short black hair and a sharp jawline, he possessed an obvious aura of strength—the kind of confidence that came from genuine martial ability. This was Luo Feng, Luo Sheng's twin brother.
Luo Feng's face brightened when he noticed his brother approaching. "There you are. Ready to head home?"
"More than ready," Luo Sheng replied, falling into step beside him.
The two brothers walked out of the classroom together, their figures disappearing into the crowd of departing students.
Once they left, the classmates behind them immediately began whispering excitedly.
"That was Luo Sheng's brother Luo Feng, right?" a girl whispered to her friend.
"Yes! I heard he's one of only four people in our entire high school who have nearly reached the Quasi-Warrior level!" another responded, admiration evident in her voice.
"At only sixteen? That's incredible!"
A boy leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I heard their family used to live in public housing like everyone else in the lower districts. But then Luo Sheng started working part-time, invested his earnings in cryptocurrency, and made quite a bit of money through smart trading. He actually managed to get his entire family moved out of public housing! Can you imagine? At their age, having that kind of financial acumen?"
The gossip continued as the last students filed out of the classroom.
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Outside the school gates, the brilliant blue sky remained unmarred by clouds. The streets of Yangzhou District bustled with moderate foot traffic. Students headed in various directions—some toward their homes beyond the city proper, others toward the martial arts training centers scattered throughout the districts. Three distinct types of people populated the streets: ordinary citizens going about their daily lives, martial trainees making their way to practice, and occasional uniformed officers or warriors on patrol. The city's security network was always present, always vigilant, always ready to respond to threats.
Luo Feng and Luo Sheng walked together at a leisurely pace, their movements relaxed despite the underlying tension that permeated the city. A third figure jogged up beside them moments later—Wei Wen, a classmate and close friend of both brothers, slightly more acquainted with Luo Feng. He wore a gray tracksuit and possessed an athletic build with naturally friendly features.
"Luo Feng! Luo Sheng!" Wei Wen called out, grinning widely. "Finally escaped from school?"
Luo Feng smiled and raised an eyebrow at his friend's exuberance. "Wei Wen, you look like you've been running marathons. What's gotten into you?"
"What do you think?" Wei Wen spun playfully, ignoring the warning posters about beast sightings that decorated the streetlamps. "It's Friday! No more classes until Monday!" He patted his stomach dramatically. "Plus, I'm absolutely starving. I could devour an entire beast right now!"
Luo Sheng chuckled and shook his head. "I think you mean the meat from a beast. If you actually tried to eat a whole one, you'd explode into a thousand pieces."
Wei Wen laughed and flexed his arm mockingly. "With physique this amazing? I could probably manage it! Right, Luo Feng? Tell him how strong I am!"
Luo Feng smirked slightly, clearly amused. "Your stomach would probably have something to say about that decision."
Wei Wen clutched his heart dramatically. "Betrayal! Pure betrayal! Here I am, working so hard to reach Senior Student level, and you two just mock me mercilessly!"
Luo Sheng grinned. "We're not mocking you. We're just being realistic. Breaking through those student levels requires genuine dedication."
"That's the truth," Luo Feng said thoughtfully. "Most people plateau at the Student or Quasi-Warrior levels. Actually reaching Warrior rank means you possess real talent."
"My older cousin reached Warrior rank about a year ago," Wei Wen said with obvious pride. "He says the leap in power between Quasi-Warrior and Junior Warrior was absolutely massive."
Luo Feng's expression remained calm, but genuine interest flickered in his eyes. "Has he advanced beyond Junior Warrior since then?"
"No, he plateaued there," Wei Wen shrugged. "But I've heard rumors about the God of War ranks. Supposedly only a handful of people on all of Earth have ever achieved that level.
The three continued walking together, their casual conversation providing comfort against the ever-present awareness of danger lurking beyond the city walls.
Then Wei Wen suddenly stared ahead and called out urgently, "Luo Feng, look!"
Luo Feng's head snapped in the direction Wei Wen indicated. Walking along the roadside was a girl wearing the Yian District Third High School uniform. She had black hair that cascaded past her shoulders, moving gently with the breeze. Her face possessed delicate, refined features and natural grace. The uniform fit her well, emphasizing a slender, elegant figure. She walked with an unhurried pace, clearly lost in thought, apparently oblivious to the attention she was attracting.
Luo Sheng also looked in that direction and couldn't suppress a knowing smirk. He muttered quietly to himself, "Ah, so that's what caught his attention... I wonder if that's the Xu Xin everyone talks about?"
The girl was indeed Xu Xin—Luo Feng's romantic interest from the original narrative. Though in this moment, she was simply going about her day, unaware of the role she would play in shaping the brothers' futures. Unaware of the dangers that lurked beyond the walls, waiting to test the resolve and strength of everyone in the base city.
Luo Feng didn't stare for long. He glanced briefly and then withdrew his gaze, regaining his composure. But Luo Sheng could clearly see the faint blush coloring his brother's face and the slight distraction clouding his eyes.
Luo Sheng glanced at his brother, still visibly dazed, then looked up at the azure sky stretching endlessly above them. The brilliant blue was unmarred and perfect—much like the unlimited potential that this vast world seemed to offer. Yet even that perfect sky couldn't hide the walls on the horizon, couldn't mask the fundamental danger that governed this world and defined the lives of everyone in it.
A wave of emotions washed over him—nostalgia, gratitude, melancholy, resignation, all mixing together into a complex tapestry of feeling.
It's been nearly seventeen years since I was reborn into this world, he thought, his expression growing contemplative. Seventeen years since I died in that drunk stupor, pathetic and desperate, and was given this incredible second chance.
But unlike the transmigration protagonists from the novels I used to read on my original Earth, I have no system. No mysterious AI companion bestowing missions and rewards. No golden finger ability that activates at convenient moments. No sudden power-ups, no inherited treasures, no magical storage ring, no guaranteed path to greatness.
Just my memories from a past life, my intelligence, and the harsh reality of possessing normal genes in a world where genetic potential determines almost everything. A world where warriors matter. A world where the weak inevitably fall behind.
And yet... I'm still grateful. Because despite everything, I was given a second chance. Most people never get that opportunity. In this world, where mutant beasts hunt beyond the walls and death lurks around every corner, having a second life is a blessing.
And more importantly, he continued thinking, watching as Xu Xin disappeared around a corner, my brother is the protagonist of this Swallowed Star world. That gives me hope. When he will rise from earth and becomes truly strong in the future, perhaps there will be opportunities for me as well. Perhaps his ascension will carry me with it.
He looked back down at the street ahead. The afternoon sun painted long shadows across the pavement, and the clear blue sky seemed to promise endless possibilities—even if achieving those possibilities required blood, sweat, and tears beyond measure.
For now, his focus remained on training. His cultivation wouldn't improve without constant effort. He had body to strengthen, techniques to master, and a future to carve out in a world that showed no mercy to the weak.
Somewhere down the line, perhaps everything would change. Some opportunity might present itself. Perhaps, as he sometimes fantasized, some system would actually activate and grant him the edge he needed to accelerate his progress.
But until then, he would do what he had always done: work hard, train diligently, and extract every possible advantage from this second life in this dangerous, unforgiving world.
After all, he had already died once. The universe had shown unexpected kindness by granting him another chance.
He refused to waste it.
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