Two figures floated in a pitch-black expanse, a void so deep that it seemed to stretch infinitely in all directions. It was a place where time held no meaning, where existence itself flickered like a fragile candle in an unseen storm. The only source of light was a glowing golden wheel, etched with an intricate Yin-Yang symbol, gently rotating behind one of the figures—a stark contrast to the endless nothingness around them.
The first figure was a young man, seemingly in his early twenties, his form hazy and translucent. His features bore traces of both Asian and American heritage, but his body lacked true substance—because he was nothing more than a soul, stripped of flesh and bone.
The second figure was an elderly man, his long white hair flowing behind him like drifting mist. His robes were in tatters, torn as if he had just emerged from a battle that shook the very foundations of reality. His aura, though dimmed, radiated an unfathomable power—one that could collapse stars and reshape destinies with a mere thought.
The old man sighed, his voice tinged with both regret and weariness.
"I am sorry, child. It seems that during my battle against a Malevolent Entity, our clash accidentally... erased you. Your unexpected death disrupted the laws of your universe, expelling you into this void beyond existence."
The young man blinked. His reaction was eerily calm—no screaming, no panic, no desperate grasping at what was lost. Instead, he simply absorbed the information, accepting the truth for what it was.
"I see."
That was all he said.
The elder studied him for a long moment. Most mortals would have collapsed in despair at such a revelation. But this young man? He was different. His mind was sharp, calculating.
"So," the young man finally spoke, his tone steady, "will you reincarnate me into another world?"
The elder raised an eyebrow. "I could simply restore you to your original life. It would be as if nothing ever happened."
"No." The young man's answer was immediate, his voice resolute. "I want to be reborn in another world. A world I know. A world where I can control my fate."
A small smile played on the old man's lips. "Interesting. You do not mourn your death—you see it as an opportunity."
He stroked his beard, pondering the request. "Very well. I will grant your wish. Since this was my mistake, I will allow you two additional requests, so long as they are within my power."
For the first time, excitement stirred in the young man's translucent form.
He had always loved Xianxia stories. He had spent hours binge-reading Martial Peak, immersed in its ruthless world of cultivation, endless trials, and celestial conflicts. Now, given the chance to enter that world, he wouldn't squander it.
"I wish to reincarnate as Yang Kai—but with full knowledge of my past life and his memories, unaffected by his emotions."
He did not hesitate.
In his mind, Yang Kai's destiny was unparalleled, but the original character missed too many opportunities, ignored too many women, and wasted too much potential. If he could walk that path while making different choices, he would reach the peak faster, stronger, and with even greater rewards.
The elder's gaze turned unreadable. "You realize this means the current Yang Kai will cease to exist?"
The young man did not even flinch. "Yes. It's regrettable, but survival and ambition come first. If I hesitate, someone else will take what should be mine."
A sharp glint flickered in the old man's eyes, as if testing the depths of his resolve. But when he saw no hesitation, he merely nodded. "So be it."
The young man continued, "For my first additional request, I want absolute knowledge and understanding of all matters related to Dao and Cultivation."
A powerful request—one that could grant him insight beyond even the most ancient cultivators.
The old man nodded. "Granted."
"And my second request… I want a System—one that aids me in cultivating the Dao of Immortality, allows me to travel to other universes, and grants me absolute control over time within the original Martial Peak universe. Furthermore, it must be bound to me so that no force—no matter how powerful—can take it away."
This time, the elder's expression darkened slightly. "You are ambitious, but this request tests the very fabric of the multiverse. I can grant it… but I must place restrictions on the System. These restrictions will unlock as you grow stronger."
The young man smiled. "That's fine. As long as the power is mine to wield in the end."
A chuckle rumbled from the old man's throat. "You truly are a cunning one. Very well, tell me—what form do you want your System to take?"
The young man grinned."A lovely loli spirit."
The old man stared at him in complete silence.
"…Excuse me?"
"You heard me. A cute loli administrator! Don't get me wrong, I'm not a creep—I just think it would be amusing."
The old man massaged his temples, looking as though he regretted all his life choices leading to this moment. But in the end, he waved his hand. "Fine. If that is your wish."
The young man smirked. "Loli is justice."
"…Let's just get this over with."
The elder lifted his horsetail whisk, and a beam of pure knowledge surged into the young man's soul.
The moment it entered him, his very being expanded—his consciousness stretching across the vast mysteries of the Dao, the nature of energy, the truth of the multiverse itself. It was not painful, but the sheer magnitude of information was overwhelming, an ocean of enlightenment crashing into his mind at once.
After what felt like eternity, he finally regained his senses.
"Good." The elder raised his hand, sending a small orb of light into the young man's chest.
The young man felt something click into place—an invisible presence awakening within him.
His System.
"It is done," the old man declared. "Now, I will send you to your destination."
The young man bowed slightly. "Thank you for granting my selfish requests."
The elder simply shook his head. "Go forth, then. Seize your fate."
With a final wave of his hand, light engulfed the young man's soul, wrapping around him like a cosmic cocoon. He felt himself being pulled through the void, his very essence hurtling toward destiny.
A streak of light shot across the endless dark, vanishing into the infinite beyond.
Left alone, the elder gazed at the spot where the young man had disappeared.
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
"A most interesting soul."
And then, like mist in the wind, he too faded from existence—leaving only silence in the endless void.