When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was the vast, soul-crushing emptiness.
For thousands of years, I had held galaxies in my palm, ruling over the birth and death of stars. I was Ye Feng; the absolute sovereign of the universe. But those wretched gods... Their cowardice gave birth to their betrayal. During my deepest meditation, they bound me with seals like chains and exiled me to this dusty, noisy world.
"This body..." I muttered, my own voice sounding foreign. Frail arms, shallow breath... My veins felt as if they were constricted by rusty wires. In my old world, a single breath could annihilate entire armies; now, I had to struggle just to stand up from a cold cave floor.
"I will find you," I whispered into the darkness. My voice was raspy but unwavering. "I will break my seals one by one and wash my throne with your blood."
Metal Heaps Called Technology
For three weeks, deep within the cave, I inhaled the wild and polluted Qi of this world. My veins felt like they would burst every second, but I did not falter. Finally, when I reached the Bronze 1 level, it was time to step out.
I froze as I stepped out of the cave.
Giant metal towers piercing the sky, steel birds floating in the air, and motorized monsters roaring on the ground... This place was nothing like the universe I had left behind. When I entered the city called Xuland, the number on the sign made me frown: 20 Million Population.
'Does a single tiny city here hold as many people as my entire former empire?' I thought. People lived so close, so suffocatingly crowded... It was clear now why the energy of this world was so foul.
First Blood and an Unexpected Encounter
As I walked through a narrow alley, a scream interrupted my thoughts. Three wretched beings had cornered a young girl.
"Hey, little rat! Let's see how that pretty face looks when you're crying," the leader of the thugs sneered, reaching for her.
My feet moved on their own. My body was weak, but thousands of years of combat instinct were still etched into my soul. When I caught the leader's punch in mid-air, the mocking smirk on his face turned into pure terror.
"It annoys me when ants make this much noise," I said in a voice as cold as death.
I squeezed his hand slightly. The sound of his bones shattering echoed in the alley. With a single strike, I brought him down. At that moment, I felt a small surge of Qi enter my body. So, the energy of this world was triggered by combat...
The girl I saved handed me a silver card with trembling hands. "My name is Ling Yue," she stammered. "Please... take this. My father will be grateful."
I stared at the card. I knew nothing about this world, and it seemed this girl was the key I needed. I pocketed the card and walked away without a second glance.
CHAPTER 2: THE PLATINUM PRESSURE
I spent the next three weeks in seclusion in a dilapidated factory on the edge of the city. The pain in my veins was unbearable, but I forced them to expand. When I finally reached the Bronze 3 level, I felt my body grow lighter.
"Still too slow," I thought. "At this rate, it will take a thousand years to spit in the faces of those traitorous gods."
Suddenly, the air grew heavy. The Qi in the atmosphere began to vibrate like a sharp blade. Two massive energy sources were approaching like meteors.
'This pressure... Platinum level!'
Being only at Bronze 3, facing two Platinum 1 warriors was suicide. I attempted a concealment technique from my old life, but this frail body couldn't keep up with my soul's intent. A sudden, heavy blow to the back of my neck plunged my world into darkness.
The Mansion and the Mountain-Like Man
I woke up not in a cave, but on silk sheets. A man stood at my bedside, dominating the room's atmosphere. He was as imposing as a mountain; his gaze as sharp as a sword. I realized who he was when I saw the two Platinum warriors standing by the door like obedient servants.
"My name is Ling Tian," the man said, his voice deep as thunder. "So you're the one who saved my daughter. It's surprising that a boy at Bronze level could paralyze an attacker in one move."
I sat up. Even before a Platinum Sovereign, I looked him in the eye with the pride of an emperor. "I only did what was necessary. Why am I here?"
Ling Tian smiled. "I don't like being in debt, Ye Feng. I have an offer. You will enter my academy. It is only for geniuses of Gold level and above, but I will make an exception for you."
"I give you one year. Reach Gold level and become my daughter's personal bodyguard. If you succeed, I will provide every resource you desire. But if you fail..."
I laughed internally. 'One year? If I can just unseal my veins, I'll bring this world to its knees in a month.'
"Accepted," I said. "But I have one condition. You will provide me with the rarest alchemy pills and the most intense energy stones. This body needs more than just time to break its shackles; it needs fuel."
THE HIERARCHY OF POWER
Ling Tian breathed deeply, tracing an invisible map in the air:
Bronze Warrior: "Your current level. You've slightly surpassed mortal limits. You can shatter rocks, but a modern bullet can still kill you. You are just a beginning."
Silver Guardian: "True cultivation starts here. Qi infuses your bones and skin. Bullets bounce off you, and your speed becomes faster than the human eye can track."
Gold Destroyer: "The minimum requirement for my academy. They are not just warriors; they are engines of destruction. A single punch can level a ten-story building."
Platinum Sovereign: "The level of myself and my guards. We whisper to the elements. We glide through the sky and can erase entire armies from history with a single strike."
Diamond General: "Walking natural disasters. A Diamond General in a rage can wipe a city off the map in minutes. they are the secret weapons of nations."
Ancient King: "Beings before whom millions kneel. Their names are carved in gold, and the fate of kingdoms rests between their lips."
Earthly Legend & Demi-Star: "This is where dreams end, Ye Feng. They can split oceans with a single move and breathe in the freezing void of space. They possess the power to destroy entire continents. There are fewer than five in the entire world."
Ling Tian paused, his expression darkening:
"Do you understand now? You are an ant, and I am throwing you into the heart of the furnace. If you don't reach Gold in a year, you will turn to ash."
I smiled to myself. 'Destroy continents? God-like beings? Compared to my true power, Ling Tian, these are but flickering candle flames in the dark. Just wait and see.'