"I... crossed over?"
Arid Origin Continent, Sacred Nine Regions.
Capital of Qianlong Kingdom, Qianlong City—Lin Family.
In a secluded courtyard, a scruffy, drunken young man staggered upright from the bed. His eyes, lifeless and dazed, scanned his surroundings.
The next moment, a flood of chaotic voices and memories surged into his mind.
"Amadeus Bryant? Is that this body's name?"
"But this strength... seriously?"
Amadeus's gaze swept over his frail frame with a hint of curiosity.
This was a world where martial power reigned supreme, a world built on a comprehensive cultivation system.
The Martial Apprentice rank consisted of nine stars. Beyond that lay the Houtian realm.
From the memories now swirling in his mind, Amadeus understood that these nine stars served as preparation for the Houtian stage—a phase of body refinement.
Even a Martial Apprentice at the third star could wield terrifying strength, tearing wild tigers apart with bare hands.
As for a Houtian martial artist? Their power was monstrous. One punch alone could destroy a small hill miles away!Above the realm of the mundane martial artist lies the mysterious Innate stage, a realm whispered about in legends and myths. Those who reach it supposedly transcend mortality itself—reborn into ageless, godlike existences. They can soar across the skies, bend life and death to their will, and, if provoked, obliterate the entire continent in the blink of an eye.
In his past life, Amadeus Bryant carried the same name, but he was everything this world's Amadeus was not. If this body in Arduous Origin Continent was a disgraced failure, then his past self was an unparalleled prodigy. By eleven, he'd apprenticed under a legendary master, and by seventeen, he returned triumphant, carving his name into history. It took him only three years to defeat rival after rival, standing on the summit as the unrivaled champion.
Now, this new Amadeus was little more than a second-rate offshoot of the Bryant family. His parents were ordinary people—resigned to scraping by with a meager piece of land they inherited from the clan. But if humble origins weren't bad enough, the reputation of this current body was utterly wretched—he was the butt of everyone's jokes in Dry Drake City.
Three long years he trained at Heaven Martial Academy. Under normal circumstances, even the least talented would have ascended to the rank of a two-star martial artist by now.Amadeus Bryant had been stuck at the very start—never moving past the one-star beginner stage as a martial artist.
For three years, he'd lived aimlessly, drifting through life. Then, just before graduating, he got dumped without mercy by the girl he'd liked for three years, treated like trash.
"Amadeus Bryant, you're just a pathetic toad lusting after a swan!"
"From the start, you were nothing but a backup. Useful when I needed you, disposable when I didn’t. Just a worthless loser!"
The cutting words from that radiant beauty tore at him. Just remembering them sent a sharp pang through his chest, a reminder of his shattered pride.
Anguish and fury drowned his senses, driving him mad enough to shove her into the lake during an argument. Then he fled from the Heavenly Martial Academy, found a hole to hide in, and drank himself to oblivion.
His weak body eventually gave up; he died of exhaustion, drunk and broken.
This tragic end, however, gave the current Amadeus the chance to step into this body, to live again in this strange world.
Mulling over the memories of his predecessor, he couldn’t help but sigh with regret. Heartbroken, losing everything for love—was it worth it?Such a pitiful death.
Thinking about it, realizing he now owned this wasted body, Amadeus Bryant's face darkened.
That meager one-star early-stage strength—wasn't even on par with the Bryant family's hired hands!
"Not long from now, the martial sects under Lincoln Young will start recruiting across the land."
"With this sorry strength and weak constitution, even the worst sect wouldn't accept me!"
If he couldn't join any sect, how could he dream of climbing to the peak of martial arts and earning the world's respect?
The thought alone made his head throb.
"Ding!"
Suddenly, a crisp sound snapped his train of thought.
"System successfully activated, initiating host's physique evaluation..."
"Ding!"
"Evaluation complete, system restarting..."
"Ding!"
"System restart successful! Recycling panel activated!"
"Newbie gift package awarded, granting the host 300 achievement points!"
The cold, mechanical voice in his mind stunned Amadeus Bryant, leaving him wide-eyed and speechless. Amadeus Bryant barely had time to react before a glowing screen abruptly appeared before his eyes.
[Host]: Amadeus Bryant
[Realm]: One-star Martial Artist, Early Stage
+
[Technique]: None
[Weapon]: None
[Combat Skill]: None
[Achievement Points]: 300
[Lottery]: Spend 100 Achievement Points for a chance to draw!
[Storage]: 1 cubic meter, can store small items
+
...
Staring at the translucent screen in front of him, and hearing the voice ringing in his ears, Amadeus slowly grasped the truth of the situation.
"System!"
The word slipped from his lips in a burst of shock and excitement. A faint smirk began to spread across his face.
As someone who had crossed over into this world, he knew all too well what such a thing meant. A system. That was the golden ticket, the legendary cheat tool every transmigrator dreamed of having.
"Recycle and Reform System?"
He repeated the name in disbelief, a flicker of confusion flashing across his face.
"What... just what exactly can you do?"