Chapter 1: Death is Only the Beginning
Alex Li never believed in fate, much less reincarnation.
He was just another exhausted soul in a gray city, a twenty-three-year-old factory worker who barely scraped by. No dreams. No family. No future. Only long hours, oily hands, and the endless hum of machines. On a rainy night, after a double shift, his body gave up before he made it across the crosswalk.
Tires screeched. Metal crumpled. And then, nothing.
But death was not the end.
When Alex opened his eyes, he was lying on a bed of soft grass, surrounded by towering trees whose leaves shimmered faintly with silver light. The sky above was deep violet, dotted with stars he had never seen before—larger, brighter, and somehow… alive.
Before panic could take hold, a voice rang inside his head.
"Initializing Supreme Cultivation System…"
"System successfully bound to Host: Alex Li."
"Congratulations. You have been granted the highest cultivation level: Peak Immortal Emperor."
"All future purchases from the System Shop are free of charge."
Alex blinked. "What…?"
A glowing panel materialized in front of him, hovering midair:
[Status]Name: Alex LiRealm: Immortal Emperor (Peak)Age: 0 (Reborn)Body: Immortal VesselEnergy: InfiniteWeapon: NoneSystem Shop: Unlocked (Unlimited Access)
He sat up, dazed. His body felt lighter, stronger, cleaner—as if he had shed every pain he'd ever known. With a single breath, he could sense the wind a mile away. The soil beneath him whispered. The stars above pulsed with rhythm.
"Your soul has been reborn in the world of Xuanlong. A realm of cultivation, war, and power."
Alex rubbed his temples. "So I'm in a fantasy world… with a cheat system… and I'm already the strongest?"
"Affirmative."
He looked around at the towering spirit trees, the pulsing qi in the air, and the surreal beauty of this alien realm.
Then he stood up, brushed off his pants, and said flatly:
"I don't want to fight."
The system paused.
"Error: Host possesses Peak Immortal Power. It is customary to pursue ascension, form a sect, or dominate a region."
"I don't care. I'm done with chaos. Done with struggle. You gave me all the power I could ever need, right? Then I'll live a quiet life."
"…Rewriting directives. Passive Life Mode engaged."
Alex took a deep breath. The wind felt gentle. The sun peeked through the trees.
"First," he muttered, "I need a place to call home."