The sun had barely risen when Zhao Shang stepped out of the small house that had become his temporary refuge. The air was crisp, carrying with it the earthy scent of the forest that bordered the village. As he inhaled deeply, Zhao felt a new sense of purpose settling in his chest. The events of the previous night still played on his mind, the exhilaration of using the Super Extraction System for the first time fueling his determination. This world was harsh, unforgiving, and filled with dangers, but Zhao was no longer powerless. He had a weapon now—a secret that could change everything.
The village, now illuminated by the soft morning light, was coming to life. Smoke curled lazily from the chimneys of the few scattered houses, and the sounds of early morning activity began to fill the air. Farmers prepared their tools, women fetched water from the well, and children chased each other through the narrow, dirt-packed streets, their laughter mingling with the occasional cluck of chickens.
Zhao observed them with a newfound intensity, his gaze sharper, more discerning. The villagers seemed ordinary enough, but he knew better now. This was a world where strength was everything, and appearances could be deceiving. As he looked more closely, he noticed the subtle differences in the way people moved, the way they carried themselves. Some had a spring in their step, their movements fluid and graceful, while others were slower, more laborious. It was clear that strength and cultivation played a significant role in determining one's status here.
He needed to understand more about this world—about cultivation, about the social structures, and most importantly, about how he could use the Super Extraction System to survive and thrive. Zhao had inherited the memories of the previous Zhao Shang, but they were fragmented and incomplete, leaving him with more questions than answers.
As he wandered through the village, Zhao's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of loud, boisterous laughter. He turned his head towards the village square, where a group of young men were gathered, their voices carrying across the open space. They were dressed in simple yet distinct robes, each adorned with the insignia of a local cultivation school. The designs were unfamiliar to Zhao, but he could tell they were not ordinary villagers. Their confident, almost arrogant demeanor set them apart from the others, marking them as people of importance—at least in their own eyes.
Zhao moved closer, his curiosity piqued. He kept a safe distance, not wanting to draw attention to himself, but close enough to hear their conversation. The young men were engrossed in their discussion, seemingly oblivious to the world around them.
"Did you hear? The old Zhao Shang finally woke up," one of them sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. His voice was rough, with a hint of derision that made Zhao's blood boil. "I wonder how long he'll last this time."
Zhao's heart skipped a beat as he realized they were talking about him—or rather, the person whose body he now inhabited. The memories of the original Zhao Shang flashed in his mind, unbidden. The years of ridicule, the isolation, the constant whispers behind his back—he had been the weakest in the village, a boy who couldn't cultivate, a disgrace to his family's name. Zhao clenched his fists at the thought, the bitterness of the past mingling with the resolve of the present.
Another young man, taller and more muscular than the first, laughed loudly, drawing the attention of passersby. "He's a lost cause. He should have just stayed unconscious. It's not like he can ever become a real cultivator."
The group erupted in laughter, their mocking tones grating on Zhao's nerves. It was clear they had no respect for the former Zhao Shang. In their eyes, he was nothing more than a joke, a weakling who didn't belong in the world of cultivators. But Zhao was no longer the same person they remembered. The boy who had lived in this body before might have been powerless, but Zhao wasn't. He had the Super Extraction System, a tool that could make him strong—stronger than any of them could imagine.
Zhao's mind raced as he listened to their taunts. The memories of the original Zhao Shang, combined with his own experiences, fueled his anger. He knew that confronting them might be dangerous, especially since his cultivation level was still low, but he couldn't just stand there and take their insults. He had to make a stand, to show them that he was not the same weakling they once knew.
Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Zhao stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. The group didn't notice him at first, too caught up in their mockery. But as Zhao approached, his presence finally caught their attention. The laughter died down as they turned to face him, surprise flickering in their eyes.
The leader of the group, a tall boy with sharp features and a smug expression, was the first to speak. He looked Zhao up and down, his gaze filled with disdain. "Oh, look, it's the weakling himself," he sneered, his voice oozing with condescension. "What's the matter? Feeling brave all of a sudden?"
Zhao met his gaze without flinching, his eyes cold and unwavering. "I'm not the same as I was before," he said, his voice steady and filled with quiet determination.
The leader's smirk widened, clearly amused by Zhao's newfound confidence. "Is that so?" he said, his tone mocking. "Then why don't you prove it? Show us what you've got, if you can."
Zhao knew he couldn't match their cultivation levels—not yet, anyway. The memories he had inherited told him that these young men were students of a local cultivation school, their training far more advanced than his own. But he had something they didn't: the Super Extraction System. It was a secret weapon they knew nothing about, and Zhao was determined to use it to his advantage.
"I don't need to prove anything to you," Zhao replied calmly, his voice betraying none of the turmoil he felt inside. "But if you want a demonstration, you'll get one soon enough."
The leader of the group laughed, clearly not taking Zhao seriously. The others joined in, their mocking laughter echoing in Zhao's ears like a cruel symphony. "We'll be waiting for that day," the leader said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But until then, try not to get yourself killed."
With that, the group turned and walked away, still chuckling to themselves. Zhao watched them go, his resolve hardening with each step they took. He felt a mixture of anger and frustration bubbling up inside him. The original Zhao Shang had endured years of this kind of treatment, and now Zhao was expected to do the same? No. Things were different now. He was different.
As the group disappeared from view, Zhao unclenched his fists, realizing only then how tightly he had been holding them. His nails had dug into his palms, leaving small, crescent-shaped marks on his skin. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging within him. He couldn't afford to lose control—not now. He needed to focus on what mattered: getting stronger.
Zhao continued his walk through the village, his mind churning with thoughts of the encounter. The memories of the original Zhao Shang were a constant reminder of what he was up against. The village might have been small and relatively peaceful, but the world beyond it was harsh and unforgiving. Strength was the only currency that mattered, and without it, Zhao knew he would be nothing more than a footnote in someone else's story.
But Zhao wasn't content with being a background character in his own life. He was determined to forge his own path, to rise above the ridicule and scorn. The Super Extraction System was his ticket to doing just that. It had already shown its potential, enhancing his agility in a way that felt almost miraculous. And that was just the beginning.
He needed more power, more abilities. The system's voice echoed in his mind, reminding him of its capabilities. The ability to extract talents, skills, and powers from other beings was something that could tip the scales in his favor. But Zhao knew he had to be careful. The system might give him an edge, but it wasn't a substitute for hard work and strategy. He couldn't rely solely on it; he needed to hone his own skills, to learn more about cultivation, and to find the right opportunities to grow.
As he walked, Zhao noticed a small group of villagers gathered near a wooden notice board in the village square. They were whispering among themselves, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Zhao approached cautiously, blending in with the crowd as he tried to get a closer look at the board.
The notice was simple, written in bold, clear characters that even someone like Zhao, with his limited knowledge of this world's script, could read. It announced the upcoming visit of a delegation from the nearby cultivation school, the very one that the young men from earlier belonged to. The delegation was coming to the village to assess potential new recruits, looking for those with the talent and determination to join their ranks.
Zhao's heart skipped a beat. This was an opportunity—a chance to prove himself, to show that he was more than just the weakling everyone thought he was. But it was also a risk. If he failed, it would only cement the villagers' low opinion of him. But Zhao knew he had to take that chance. He couldn't afford to let fear hold him back, not when the stakes were this high.
As he read the notice, Zhao felt a surge of determination. The Super Extraction System had given him a glimpse of what he could become, and he wasn't about to let that potential go to waste. The original Zhao Shang had lived in fear and shame, but Zhao refused to let that be his fate. He would train, he would learn, and he would find a way to tap into the full power of the system.
The villagers around him continued to whisper among themselves, speculating on who might be chosen by the delegation. Some mentioned the names of those young men Zhao had encountered earlier, speaking of them with a mixture of admiration and envy. It was clear that being chosen by the cultivation school was a great honor, one that could change the course of a person's life.
Zhao listened to their words, his resolve only growing stronger. He might not have the years of training that those other boys had, but he had something they didn't: the Super Extraction System. And with it, he would carve out his own place in this world, one step at a time.
As the crowd began to disperse, Zhao turned and walked away, his mind already racing with plans. He needed to prepare for the delegation's visit, to find a way to stand out and catch their attention. But more than that, he needed to grow stronger, to prove to himself and to the world that he was not the weakling they thought he was.
The sun had risen fully by now, casting its warm light over the village. But Zhao barely noticed the beauty of the morning. His mind was focused on the challenges ahead, on the steps he needed to take to achieve his goals.
Zhao Shang was not the same person he had been before. And soon, the world would know it too.