Chapter 1: Rebirth in the Forest of Beasts
Leon Drake's last memory of Earth was a blur of screens, blinking lights, and the aching exhaustion of a body pushed too far. One moment he was staring at code on his laptop, energy drinks littering the desk, and the next… darkness swallowed him.
When he opened his eyes, it wasn't the familiar glow of his dorm ceiling. Instead, sunlight streaked through towering trees, casting long shadows over a dense, mist-shrouded forest. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, moss, and something wild—alive. Somewhere distant, a low growl rolled across the underbrush, a vibration that rattled his chest and made every instinct scream danger.
Leon sat up, flexing his fingers. Muscle tone… sharper, stronger, more responsive than anything he'd ever felt. *This body… it's mine, but not mine.*
A faint glow above his left wrist caught his eye. Hovering in the air was a line of text, ethereal yet undeniable:
> [Daily Sign-In System Activated]
> Welcome, Lin Tian. You have entered the World of Martial Qi.
> Sign in to receive your daily reward.
"Lin Tian…" Leon muttered. The name felt strange yet natural. His mind raced, piecing together the impossible: he had died on Earth. He was in a cultivation world. And he had a system—a *Sign-In System.*
> [Sign-In Available]
A rustle in the underbrush froze him. A massive, scaled beast lunged from the shadows, fangs bared and claws outstretched. Hunger glinted in its eyes.
Leon's gaze softened, almost bemused. *Really? First day in a new world, and I get a tutorial level threat?*
> [Sign-In Successful]
> Reward: Spirit Core Fragment ×1
> Martial Foundation Increased: +∞
> New Technique Unlocked: Gale Palm
A surge of power pulsed through him. Muscles, nerves, and aura flowed together in perfect harmony. The beast froze mid-leap. Time seemed to bend around him, a subtle tremor in reality itself.
Leon extended a hand. A sharp gust of wind erupted from his palm, striking the creature. It was flung backward, crashing into a tree with bone-shattering force. Silence fell over the forest.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the raw energy thrumming through his body. *This is… ridiculous. I'm too strong.*
Every blade of grass, every swaying tree, every living thing around him seemed to bow to the presence of someone whose strength defied reason. He could sense the qi flowing through the forest, the dormant spirits, the hidden predators—and not one of them posed a challenge.
For the first time in centuries, perhaps, a being entered the World of Martial Qi without fear, without struggle, without limits.
> [System Message]
> Daily Sign-In Complete.
> Spirit Core Fragment absorbed. Martial power magnified exponentially.
Leon chuckled, the sound sharp and confident. "I guess the tutorials are over."
He rose to his feet, stretching, feeling the wind hum around him as if acknowledging his strength. The forest that could devour a hundred cultivators at once bowed subtly to his presence. Yet even in his supreme confidence, curiosity tingled at the edges of his mind. *How many of the 20 cultivation realms exist in this world? How fast can I ascend? How many beasts and warriors will kneel before me before lunch?*
A distant sound of water—perhaps a stream—drew his attention. Ancient stone ruins half-swallowed by vines lay scattered, remnants of a long-dead sect. Leon smirked. *Perfect for a warm-up.*
He stretched, fingertips brushing the air. The Sign-In System pulsed, and new techniques whispered in his mind. He experimented, unleashing the Gale Palm on a nearby rock. It shattered instantly, the force sending dust swirling into the air. The ground itself seemed to respond to his aura.
> [Warning: Nearby Threat Detected. Estimated Combat Power: Subpar]
Leon laughed, the sound echoing through the trees. "Subpar, huh? I'll keep that in mind. For future reference, nothing here is worth my full effort."
He walked forward, each step confident, the forest parting slightly under his aura. Birds scattered, small beasts froze, and even the whispering wind seemed to acknowledge his presence. *Too strong. Way too strong.*
Hours passed—or maybe minutes. Time in this world felt pliable. He explored, flexing his newfound abilities, testing limits, and enjoying the sheer thrill of overwhelming power. Every system notification, every new technique, every fragment absorbed magnified his dominance. By the end of the day, he could sense dozens of layers of qi in the forest, trace the latent energy of spirits, and anticipate threats before they even moved.
Leon sat atop a hill as the sun dipped low, golden light spilling across his form. The forest stretched endlessly, wild and dangerous, yet completely subordinate to him.
> [Hint: The World of Martial Qi bows to those strong enough to shape it. You are now at the apex of all threats in this region.]
He smirked, gaze sweeping the horizon. "Looks like I'm not just surviving… I'm rewriting the rules."
Somewhere deep in the shadows, unseen eyes watched—a hint of curiosity, a flicker of alarm. But for Leon Drake, now Lin Tian, the world was his playground. Dangerous beasts? Already crushed. The wild forest? Merely scenery. And the cultivation realms? Only the beginning.
A soft wind whispered around him, carrying a faint promise: greatness, danger, power, and a hundred challenges waiting. But he, Lin Tian, would face them all alone—for now.
And he would win. Effortlessly.