Chapter 1
In a small, shabby, clay hut dug into the valley's wall, a young man was covered in blood, and the stone ground surrounding him was stained a deep crimson.
He wasn't breathing. Not a single twitch. Dead silence.
Suddenly, the young man jerked to life, gasping rapidly and unevenly for air, as if he had just escaped drowning.
Looking around, he felt confused and shaken. "Didn't I die? Where am I?" he wondered, still in a daze.
Only a moment ago, Shen Yi was drowning in a river. Now here? Had he been saved?
Abruptly, he was assaulted by a terrible headache which made him wince in pain as he recalled memories he had never experienced.
The next moment, he had every answer he wanted about the current situation. It seemed absurd, but he had possessed a body belonging to another world.
"I actually transmigrated." Shen Yi was originally a NEET on Earth who was kicked out by his stepmother once his father died suddenly. "I'm even a cultivator!" He broke into joyful laughter, slapping his thigh in amusement. A moment ago, he had accepted his death; he had nothing and was surely going to die, but now? He had a chance! To live! A xianxia world, but he wondered, "Why would someone like me ever be given a second chance?! Are you blind, Heaven?! What's next? Are you going to give me a system?"
"Ding! Hello, host, I'm the aggravation system. I'm here to aid you in your quest for immortality! I'm not an AI, and I can't answer every question, but I can answer any question about the system you have." A blue message panel appeared, and with it a chirpy voice which annoyed him instantly, but he listened eagerly.
Quickly, he asked, "So, how exactly can I use it to increase my cultivation? What's the reward prompt? Is it aggravating?" Shen Yi had been an avid xianxia reader; he knew every trope and overused idea. A system wasn't an alien idea to him.
"Yes, you will receive rewards by aggravating people to a certain extent. The reward's level is based on the other's anger level and cultivation level. There is an anger cool down feature and various reward thresholds. I'm sorry, host, but the system is currently damaged, and bringing you here wasn't easy. So, I will have to go into sleep mode while the system is being repaired. Lastly, there's a system panel you can access by saying 'system' in your mind or out loud."
The voice disappeared as quickly as it appeared, leaving Shen Yi alone again. "That's annoying. I had a dozen more questions," he muttered. Irritated, he sighed helplessly. What else could he do? He might as well check the system.
"System." The blue panel appeared again; it looked like a video game stat panel.
Name: Shen Yi
Age: 19/100
Race: Human
Cultivation: Qi 4 34/100
Physique: None
Talent: Low-grade Fire Spirit Root
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He had a grim expression. The little hope he had was thwarted.
He couldn't disregard the system, which was a problem since he already knew how bottom-tier he was.
The second he heard the system's name, he knew trouble was around the corner. Why couldn't it be something silly or easy? He actually had to try…
Aggravating people! The system had actually helped him a lot. Knowing how difficult things could become, it selected a low-level region—the Whispering Desert—where no one above Nascent Soul resided, for him to start in.
Still, he couldn't simply insult and attack whoever he wanted unless he was a bandit out in the desert, but even then, he needed Golden Core strength. "What a headache this is going to be."
Bang! Bang! Someone was banging loudly on the door. "Shen Yi! Come out!" He glossed over it earlier, but he shared the same name as the body's original, which was odd.
He was unfazed by the man's rampant banging and threatening tone; he mumbled, "Jian Shi…"
Outside was a tall, skinny man with red hair. Jian Shi banged on the door, making it vibrate. He shouted, "Dog, come out! I know you're in there, Shen Yi. Are you really trying to disrespect Master Zhang? Don't try to avoid paying the protection fee again. You know how it'll end!"
Behind him were two other men, Li Hei and Dong Fang. Jian Shi's men.
Turning back, Jian Shi asked calmly, a stark contrast to a moment ago, "Li Hei, are you sure he's home?"
Li Hei was a stubby cultivator with not much worse cultivation than him. "I haven't seen him come out in over a week. He's cultivating; he doesn't have the wealth to move to a proper layer and leaving the city is too risky; it's not long until the annual great Qi storm."
Jian Shi nodded and resumed banging and threatening through the wooden door.
He was about to kick the door down when, suddenly, the dented door swung open. Shen Yi, still covered in blood, lounged lazily against the doorway, yawning loudly. "What do you want? You interrupted my nap," he said plainly but with a slight arrogance that Jian Shi caught immediately, which instantly enraged him.
Only Shen Yi could see it. The panel popped up, "Ding! Cultivation stage boost pill added to inventory." He smiled subtly. Jian Shi was incredibly easy to provoke! "Interesting," he said aloud.
"Why is Shen Yi covered in blood and acting so calm? It's an act, right? Did he experience Qi divergence? Why did he say it was interesting? Did he lose it?" He watched Shen Yi warily. "Such a change can't be good."
"Shen Yi, are you going to hand over the spirit stones?" Jian Shi spoke in a calm, cautious tone, even taking a step back.
Shen Yi's smile widened, saying mockingly, "And why exactly should I do that? You have no right to exploit someone like me, blessed with heavenly providence." The next second, he had used the pill; he didn't even need to swallow it, simply saying use was enough. The Qi inside him became chaotic and robust; the sensation was addictive; the power was exhilarating like breathing chilly morning air.
He didn't give Jian Shi time to reply, decisively closing the distance instantly like an arrow. Punching Jian Shi hard in the stomach.
Jian Shi had reacted too late and could only dodge the second blow, backing away. He was shocked, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a reasonable explanation.
"Had he actually gone crazy?! Why did he attack me? He couldn't even beat me alone; he's seriously trying now with those two here also?"
Dong Fang, beside Li Hei, looked at Shen Yi, who had a crazed expression. "I think Shen Yi actually lost it," he said grimly. "The aura around him is chaotic. Be cautious, don't let him push you back anymore," Li Hei said while scrutinising him.
They were on a wooden ledge high above the valley's ground. It was only five metres in width, and it was a precarious place to battle, especially since it was one kilometre above the ground. Shen Yi didn't care and charged at him, though, closing the distance between the two again.
One wrong move and Jian Shi knew he would be dead. Shen Yi threw a high punch, and Jian Shi countered with a palm block easily. He had a serious expression that quickly turned to shock. Jian Shi hadn't noticed the punch was a diversion, and a kick landed with no restraint. Shen Yi had been holding back until the decisive moment.
He had tricked him; he couldn't believe it! "The bastard was actually holding back!" He cursed internally. The kick's power knocked him into the air and over the edge in an instant; recovery was impossible!
Everyone there knew at that moment, Jian Shi was dead. "SHEN YI! EVEN FROM THE NETHERWORLD I'LL HAUNT YOU! YOU WILL NEVER LIVE ANOTHER PEACEFUL DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!" he screamed viciously and bitterly.
"Ding! Cultivation increased by one stage permanently." He smiled subtly, a new scheme forming. He said, "Thank you, Jian Shi." He bowed—without shame—where he'd kicked the poor man to his death, the scorching valley breeze blowing over him. He thought, Good riddance. You'll contribute to my rise.
Li Hei and Dong Fang stood behind him, frozen and shell-shocked. They were still processing it all. The event had happened too quickly, with no buildup. They couldn't intervene—it happened in an instant. Jian Shi, a Qi 7th-stage Qi cultivator, was dead just like that. They already knew Shen Yi was dangerous; he'd been a problem before. But Jian Shi's death was too absurd. How strong was he?
Shen Yi quickly turned around and smiled at the two, as if he hadn't just killed their boss. "Look at my cultivation level. Do you still not believe me, brothers?" Shen Yi's cultivation had actually increased to stage five in an instant. Li Hei looked on nervously, understanding the implication. Still maintaining his composure, he smiled. "Brother Shen—no, Senior Shen—we are truly sorry about the misunderstanding and Jian Shi's poor conduct." He did not hesitate to distance himself from Jian Shi; in this world, strength is everything. "Thank you, Senior Shen. You have dealt with the scum," Dong Fang said with a sincere expression.
"It's nothing truly, I do not deserve such praise. Please, call me brother Shen—I'm no senior expert, simply a humble man with some luck." Ridiculous. Of course, you're an expert. A moment ago, you claimed you were Heaven's chosen one! They wanted to say this out loud but restrained themselves. "Actually, I have a request. I don't mean to be rude, but could I meet Uncle Zhang?"
Immediately, they agreed, "Yes, we can take you there right now." They caught the implication.
Uncle Zhang's residence was a large house inside an underground district on the second layer. The underground district was spacious but sparsely populated. The district had been excavated and created by the Li clan. The ceiling was extremely high; even a five-story building wouldn't reach it. The ceiling actually imitated a starry night sky, and azure moonlight bathed the entire district. It was an ethereal scene. The roads were wide and simple, and each house looked the same but was grand. Shen Yi was amazed by it. Such ability and wealth, I need to get in contact with them; I can't believe that actually went so well, though. I don't have any combat experience at all; luckily, the body has ample. He had gotten extremely lucky; he knew that. Getting a cultivation realm pill wasn't originally part of the plan; it changed everything. Shen Yi knew he had little to no real ability and was relying completely on bullshit. He wasn't stupid, but he wasn't a schemer; he simply thought too much.
They were standing outside Zhang's residence, and the two didn't move. Shen Yi checked the panel. He had to be prepared. 21:00 was how long he had until the boost would end. He had to be quick and get what he wanted. He knocked on the door gently. The door opened. A cultivator came out. It wasn't Zhang, but instead a dashing young man in blue attire whose cultivation level he couldn't read. He had a gentle expression, and he smiled at them, acknowledging them. He walked past the three. Behind the door was the so-called Uncle Zhang, an old man with white hair; he was tall and thin with a sharp nose. He invited the three in without question. Entering the large courtyard, which was a lively garden, there was a shallow pond which surrounded a pavilion. Sitting down at the table, Zhang Cui finally spoke, "Who are you? Where's Jian Shi?" He spoke calmly, analysing Shen Yi.
Shen Yi also sat down without hesitating. He would treat Zhang Cui as an equal. He couldn't act the way he did previously with Jian Shi. Zhang Cui represented something much bigger, the Li clan, to be precise, he was an external member. "I am Shen Yi, a humble cultivator. It's an honour to meet you, Uncle Zhang, and about Jian Shi, he's dead. I killed him; he threatened me and attempted to extort me using your name. The two behind me saw everything. But I won't make you take accountability. The issue with Jian Shi is isolated; it's just a request." He spoke arrogantly and plainly with a slight smirk.
Zhang Cui was old and shrewd. He saw right through the blatant provocation; he was intrigued but wary. What could he want? Is he going to try to extort me? A mere stage five? No, he beat Jian; he's not normal. Could it be the physique that the elder mentioned? What Shen Yi said next caught him by surprise. "Which is more valuable here, strength or loyalty?" Zhang Cui thought a moment and then replied resolutely, "Strength. Loyalty cannot exist without strength." Shen Yi agreed deeply, especially in such a barren wasteland, strength was everything! He threw another question, "Well then, what is Jian Shi then?" "Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want."
Zhang Cui said coldly. He was a direct man. Shen Yi's smile widened. "Well, I have a solution to your manpower shortage. You already guessed by now, but I'm stronger than I appear. Allow me to demonstrate?" He stood up.
"Go ahead," he gestured, throwing something at Li Hei in the process. It was a paper turtle talisman charm. Li Hei looked a bit struck by the situation but put it on anyway. "The talisman charm is about to stop any attack below stage seven, negating any attack by a percentage based on the attack's level above that. Li Hei, don't attack," Zhang Cui said. The four went outside to the road. Shen Yi and Li Hei stood opposite each other. "Start." In an instant, Shen Yi shot over like a catapult. He threw a singular punch without restraint, which made the air around him stir. When it connected, a subtle gong sound could be heard. It glowed brightly. Li Hei was pushed a step back and wore a wounded expression; it had actually gotten through! Zhang Cui was shocked and struggled to accept it. "He's a monster, which shouldn't exist, he didn't use anything but raw power."
He had been watching Shen Yi sceptically, scrutinising him the entire time. Did he miss something? "How strong was it, Li Hei?"
Li Hei didn't reply, but the excruciating pain he was going through was a good enough answer momentarily. Shen Yi might actually have battle strength comparable to a stage nine. I need to rope him in; I would be rewarded handsomely! He nearly rushed over to Shen Yi and said energetically, "Brother Shen, I would gladly accept any request you have; your power is truly on par with mine."
Shen Yi laughed heartily. "Brother Zhang, you are too polite. I'm not on par with you in the slightest. I'm a simple brute with a lot to learn. Now, about my request: I want an amiable relationship with you, Brother Zhang, so it's quite simple: I would like you to put in a good word to the Li Clan." Zhang Cui's smile widened. He had already planned on doing that! Simply too easy. "I see, I'll put in a good word, brother. I have no doubt the Li Clan will accept you!" He patted Shen Yi on the shoulder warmly. Shen Yi reciprocated, "Thank you, brother Zhang. I actually have business to attend to, so sadly, I must depart, but it was a pleasure, and I hope we meet again soon."
"Goodbye, brother Shen, until we meet again."
With that, Shen Yi departed. What about killing Jian Shi, though? Water under the bridge, no one would care about the weak here.
The loose cultivation world was brutal. Eat or be eaten. Shen Yi thrived in such an environment, not having to rely on silly social etiquette and caring about people, unlike back on Earth, which exhausted him because he liked being honest. He couldn't be himself there.
He didn't care about killing Jian Shi, evidently; he looked down on such people, and he would have no guilt in killing such a person.
Shen Yi was a person with a strong conviction; he wouldn't say he was a good person. He wasn't that delusional, but evil wasn't the right word.
He believed in achieving his goal no matter the cost. Maybe that's why the system chose me. I can't believe the entire situation, though. The entire time he had been here and not here, partially dazed by the situation, even though he had complete clarity, it had only been a little over an hour.
He knew what he wanted, though: strength, power and most importantly, freedom more than anything else. He never wanted to be below someone again, to be helpless.
He walked along the wooden path, which creaked loudly as he descended the bloated, dense slum, the dry desert wind blowing against him.
Clay buildings piled into the orange valley wall without restraint made it a literal vertical city.
It was an insane place to live, but most people didn't have a choice since only so many people could live in the actual city; the desert would eat people alive, and humanity barely survived out here.
The scenery was stunning, though, truly otherworldly. He smiled subtly, "Shen Yi, I've been given the opportunity to chase eternity. Are you happy?"