The moon shone unusually bright, as if it refused to give way to tomorrow.
Li Hao stretched and rubbed his eyes. No wonder it's dark it's already night. Let's wrap up these notes; I'm beat.
He stacked his books, washed up quickly, and was about to crawl into bed when his phone chimed ring… ring…
"Hm? Who's calling this late?" He answered, "Hello?"
"Ah, son," his father's voice came through, a little rushed. "Can you pick up the car? I had to send it for service at noon it broke down. I'm still stuck at work, so could you bring it home?"
"Ehh? At this hour?" Li Hao groaned. "Fine, but you have to increase my allowance, okay, Dad?"
"You brat," his father chuckled. "Just pick it up. We'll talk about your allowance when I get home."
"Alright. Be safe at work," Li Hao said.
"Thanks. It's raining hard here maybe it'll reach home soon. Be careful on the road."
"I will, Dad."
The call ended. Li Hao pulled on his raincoat and sighed. Better make this quick.
The streets were slick and the wind cut through the drizzle as he biked toward the usual workshop. "This better be worth it," he muttered, dodging puddles.
But when he arrived, the shop was closed.
"What the hell? All this for nothing?"
A sudden crack of thunder split the night. The town lights flickered out. For a heartbeat, everything disappeared into pitch black.
When the world returned, his breath caught far off, a massive wall of water loomed, racing closer.
"A tsunami?!" Li Hao spun to run the other way only to see another monstrous wave surging from that direction too.
His heart pounded. "Is this how it ends? I haven't even gotten married… or rich yet…"
The twin waves crashed in from both sides. As the roar swallowed him, his thoughts blurred.
Is this… really the end?
Darkness claimed him.
A faint breeze brushed his cheek. Li Hao stirred. His head throbbed, but the sound of waves was gone.
He blinked. Vision's clear? He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Normally, everything beyond arm's length was a blur without glasses yet now the world was sharp.
"Where… am I? A hospital?" he murmured, sitting up. "But the interior's way too old-fashioned."
The wooden beams above him were carved with intricate patterns. His clothes were stranger still loose, dark robes that looked straight out of a martial arts drama.
"What the…" He scratched his head.
A sudden surge of memories slammed into him like a lightning strike.
"ARGHH!"
Images of a young man named Fang Tiansui an outer disciple of a sect called Bloodshed Hall flooded his mind. Cultivation, demonic techniques, endless battles…
"I'm… Fang Tiansui now?"
Stumbling to a small bronze mirror on the table, he peered in. A stranger stared back: long black hair, cold grey eyes, sharper features.
"Holy this isn't me! What happened to my hair, my eyes… my body?!"
A sharp knock rattled the door.
"Hey, you fool!" An elderly voice barked. "Stop shouting at dawn and get ready to train!"
"Ah! Sorry, I'll keep it down!" Li Hao no, Tiansui called back.
"No next time," the old man growled. "Disturb me again and I'll teach you manners myself."
"I… I'll remember!"
The footsteps receded.
Li Hao exhaled shakily. Is this… transmigration? But why me? I'm nobody.
He forced himself to breathe, to settle the chaos. Memories from both lives slowly aligned. So now I'm Fang Tiansui. An outer disciple. A cultivation world, just like those webnovels…
A crisp chime rang in his head.
Ding! Quest: Accept Reality — Completed.
Reward: One spiritual root upgraded by one grade.
Instantly advances to Qi Refining, 1st Layer.
Talent gained: Spear Body — grants exceptional affinity for all spear techniques.
Another chime followed.
Congratulations, Host. As a welcome gift, choose two of the following three options…
Tiansui snorted. "A system golden finger, huh? Figures."
Without hesitation, he selected options one and three.
Power rushed through him; his meridians thrummed as his spiritual root strengthened.
"Character Window," he said, testing the words.
Name: Fang Tiansui
Spirit Root: True Spiritual Root (Water, Metal)
Realm: Body Tempering — 7th Layer
Physique: Spear Heavenly Body
Talents: None
Skills: Blood Refining Art (Incomplete) — Minor Achievement; Blood Spear Art — Proficient
Lifespan: 18 / 79 years
"Dang," he muttered, half awed, half anxious. "That's… a lot."
A loud clang echoed from outside, followed by a deep voice: "Outer disciples, assemble at the training yard!"
Tiansui tightened the belt of his robe and stepped out. The morning air was crisp, tinged with the metallic scent of wet stone. Dozens of young men and women gathered in neat rows beneath the blood-red banners of Bloodshed Hall.
An elderly instructor with a hawk-like stare paced in front of them. His black spear rested casually across his shoulders, yet its presence radiated menace.
"Today," the instructor barked, "we temper both body and will. Ten laps around the mountain trail. Run."
The group surged forward. Tiansui followed, legs pumping. Surprisingly, his new body moved like water, each stride effortless. By the third lap, others were gasping for breath while he felt… alive.
"Not bad for a bookworm," a sneering voice said beside him.
Tiansui turned to see a tall youth with sharp brows keeping pace. Memories surfaced: Wei Ren, a fellow outer disciple notorious for bullying the weak.
"You've got spirit today," Wei Ren continued, smirking. "Don't think one lucky breakthrough makes you special. Bloodshed Hall chews up trash like you."
Tiansui smiled faintly. "Thanks for the warning. I'll keep that in mind."
The calm reply only deepened Wei Ren's scowl. He sped ahead, throwing a deliberate shoulder-check as he passed. Tiansui sidestepped with instinctive ease, his body almost moving on its own.
So this is the Spear Body's instinct…
When the laps ended, the instructor raised a hand. "Spear drills. Pair up."
As wooden practice spears were distributed, Tiansui's fingers tingled the moment he gripped one. The weapon felt as natural as breathing.
"Fang Tiansui!" the instructor called, eyes narrowing. "Show me the Blood Spear Form."
Memories of the art rose from his newly fused mind. Without hesitation, he launched into the stance feet rooted, body coiled. The spear whirled in a sharp arc, slicing through the air with a whoosh that drew startled murmurs from the crowd.
The instructor's gaze sharpened. "Interesting… your form is nearly perfect. Who taught you?"
"No one, Elder," Tiansui said truthfully.
Wei Ren muttered darkly from the sidelines, but the instructor only grunted approval. "Continue. You may have talent after all."
As the session ended, Tiansui wiped sweat from his brow, heart steady.
From a drowned nobody to a spear prodigy in a demonic sect…
He tightened his grip on the spear.
If fate wants me here, I'll carve a path of my own.