Rain.
Heavy drops lashed against Chen Fan's face, a biting chill seeping into his bones. He lay curled on the sticky ground, his white shirt soaked through, clinging to his scrawny frame. Blood. Fresh blood mingled with rainwater, spreading beneath his head, staining the puddles crimson.
Pain. A searing agony that not only wracked his body but tore at his very soul. He stared up at the pitch-black night sky, streaks of lightning tearing across the heavens as if mocking him.
"Useless! You're nothing but a good-for-nothing!"
"Don't ever let me see you again!"
"Get lost! You idiot!"
Every insult, every scornful glance, every punch that felt like a hammer blow... it all flooded back, vivid and distinct in his mind. He remembered the contemptuous face of his stepfather, his mother's disappointed eyes, the fake smile of his "best friend," and the cold, dismissive glance of the girl he once thought was his everything.
What did he do wrong? He just wanted to be recognized, to be loved. But this life... it never gave him a chance.
He tried. He tried his best to study, to work, to prove his worth. But he was always the one who failed. Swindled out of money, robbed of opportunities, framed, and finally, beaten within an inch of his life on this very familiar street. Dying from exhaustion, from hunger, from despair.
Chen Fan's breath grew weaker with each passing moment. His vision blurred, only black spots dancing before his eyes. He wanted to scream, to struggle, but his entire body was stiff, without an ounce of strength left.
"Why... Why treat me like this...?"
His faint whisper was swept away by the storm. His eyes slowly closed, his body trembling one last time.
Am I dead? Is this finally freedom?
A profound silence enveloped him. No more pain, no more cold. Only an absolute, suffocating darkness.
In the boundless darkness, a blinding flash of light suddenly erupted.
"Ding! Detecting Host with extremely powerful resolve, meeting activation conditions!"
"God-Tier System initiating... 1%... 10%... 50%... 100%!"
"Welcome, Host, to the God-Tier System!"
A robotic voice, emotionless yet authoritative, echoed in Chen Fan's mind. He jolted, his fading consciousness instantly pulled back.
What voice is that? I'm dead, but I can still hear? Is this hell?
He struggled to open his eyes.
His eyelids felt heavy. A dazzling light shone directly into his pupils. The familiar scent of antiseptic stung his nostrils. He was lying on a soft bed, the sheets pristine white.
A hospital bed.
Chen Fan was stunned. He quickly sat up, his trembling hands reaching to feel his body. No injuries! No blood! His white shirt was perfectly clean, not a single stain. He looked down at the floor; there was no puddle of blood, no mud.
Where was this? Was he still alive?
He quickly looked around, his eyes landing on the wall clock.
8:15 PM, June 15th, 2025.
Chen Fan froze. June 15th, 2025... This was the day he was fired from the convenience store, the day he argued with his mother, the day he received news that his ex-girlfriend was marrying the man he hated most!
It was five years ago!
He abruptly stood up, rushing towards the nearby mirror. A youthful face, his eyes still holding a hint of innocence and resignation, but it was his own face, from five years ago! When he was still a 20-year-old full of aspirations, before life had ground him down to nothing.
I... I've been reborn?
Chen Fan's heart pounded like a drum. An unbelievable yet incredibly real sensation surged through him.
Just then, the robotic voice spoke again:
"Ding! Main Quest: Awaken Immortal Physique!"
"Description: Host has been reborn, but your mortal body is too weak to bear the power of the God-Tier System. Use the Immortal Spirit Dew granted by the System to cleanse your meridians, awaken your Immortal Physique, and open the path of cultivation!"
"Reward: Awaken Supreme Spirit Root, obtain God-Tier Cultivation Technique - Heavenly Dao Decree, First Layer."
"Time Limit: None."
Immediately, a shimmering gift box appeared before his eyes, floating in mid-air. Inside was a small jade bottle containing a clear liquid, exuding a faint, soothing fragrance.
God-Tier System? Immortal Spirit Dew? Awaken Immortal Physique?
Chen Fan reached out and touched the jade bottle, an instant coolness spreading through him. The suffering, the despair of his past life now suddenly transformed into a burning rage. He had been given a chance! A chance to redo everything, to take revenge on those who trampled him, to protect those he loved!
His eyes, once filled with resignation, now blazed with a cold, resolute light.
"Good! I'll do it again! This time, I will make everyone tremble beneath my feet!"
He gripped the bottle of Immortal Spirit Dew, as if holding his own new destiny. The path of revenge and urban dominance, from this very moment, officially began!