Lý Thành Thiên felt a chill down his spine. His eyeballs twitched slightly, and he struggled to open his eyelids. “Oh, the air feels nice!”
“What the hell, where am I?”
“Oh no, not again, I’ve transmigrated again!”
At this, Lý Thành Thiên yelled out, sitting bolt upright, only to realize he was lying right in the middle of a grand avenue.
The avenue was precisely made of stone blocks. He didn’t know what material it was, but it was exceptionally cold.
Lý Thành Thiên scratched his head. What was he thinking about the material for? Why was he here, and lying in the middle of the road? Wasn’t he afraid of getting run over?
He then noticed both sides of the road. They were all old-style houses, with lanterns hanging. What kind of world had he transmigrated to this time?
It didn’t look like there would be any cars to run him over.
Standing up and stretching his limbs, Lý Thành Thiên looked up at the sky. He was so startled he almost fainted. The sky didn’t look like the one from “that place” either.
Layers of dark clouds swirled into terrifying vortices in the sky. It was as if demons and monsters were wreaking havoc, a place where no human could survive.
No, wait, Lý Thành Thiên had just met some immortals.
Before that, he was from Earth, a poor guy trying to woo the school’s most beautiful girl.
He got rejected. He persisted and walked closer. Unexpectedly, the girl was a bit too aggressive and pushed him.
And so, completely unprepared, he tumbled over the railing. Gravity pulled him down ten stories. There were no obstacles along the way, making his demise obvious.
Women these days sure have fiery personalities.
Lý Thành Thiên heard her panicked scream. Then his head hit the ground, shattering. His memories became completely blurred.
Luckily, heaven had eyes. An 18-year-old boy, with good conduct, dazzlingly handsome, no social vices, no prostitutes. How could he just end like that?
When he woke up, he found himself in a completely different world. Recalling what he’d read in novels, he realized he had transmigrated.
At that time, Lý Thành Thiên was a cultivation genius. With extraordinary talent, representing justice, he subdued countless demons and monsters.
But the last time, he was struck by lightning. His remnant soul only had time to scan the sky, muttering, “I wasn’t planning on undergoing tribulation yet.”
And now, his second transmigration was to this place.
What "extraordinary talent, rare in a thousand years," what "bright future"? The scenery he saw was like worlds apart.
Or perhaps he had truly fallen to the bottom of an abyss.
When he cultivated, he saw beautiful scenes like paradise. But this looked no different from the hell he imagined, as contrary as could be.
[Detecting host's extreme confusion and lost state. Automatically activating the Underworld Emperor System (Di Phu De Vuong). Full name: Underworld Emperor Among Emperors, Hero Above Heroes System (Di Phu De Vuong Trong De Vuong Anh Hung Tren Anh Hung). Objective: Revitalize the Underworld, bright future ahead.]
Lý Thành Thiên heard the familiar tone. He was startled and cursed.
“Holy crap, is that you, System?”
[…]
“Last time you met me, you also said ‘bright future’. The result was a lightning bolt out of a clear sky. But you forgot I was flying, and that lightning bolt sent me straight here. Is this also a ‘bright future’?”
[The System truly does not understand what the Host is saying. Has the Host encountered a System before?]
“That’s right!”
[Then perhaps that was a different System!? The Host truly has unparalleled luck, encountering two Systems at once!]
“Cut it out! The previous System ran off the moment I died!”
[That was an unreliable System. I am ashamed on behalf of all Systems.]
Hearing this, Lý Thành Thiên was not a little shocked. “You mean there are many Systems?”
[That is correct! But the probability of a System landing on someone is extremely low, like a grain of sand in a desert, and even a component within that grain of sand, very small within very small.]
Lý Thành Thiên nodded, unable to suppress his curiosity.
“I have a question for you! Who created the System?”
“[No one did! To maintain the balance of the universe and fulfill a grand mission, the System was formed by the universe itself, adapting to the needs and preferences across all realms.]”
“Huh! But that doesn’t make sense. With your incredibly advanced science, you should have been created by some civilization! Or perhaps you weren’t programmed with this information?”
“[Host, what nonsense are you spouting! Science and spirituality are concepts coined by Earthlings; their essence is both about building and developing the world, existing in parallel. You can’t say one being more advanced makes it inherently better!]”
Lost in conversation, Li Cheng-tian had forgotten, and rubbed his stomach.
“Last time, when I was hungry, I was crying for my mom and dad, but not this time?”
“[Host, you absorb spiritual energy to exist. And who is the Host? None other than the Emperor of the Underworld! How could you possibly...]”
Realizing something was off, Li Cheng-tian cut the System off.
“Are you saying I’m King Yama now? But my name is Li Cheng-tian, and this is my first transmigration; I still have ideals to strive for.”
“[Here, Host is the Boss. You can change your name at any time. The System humbly suggests: Li Cheng-di.]”
“Di, your Di, you bastard!!! Wait a minute, is this the Underworld?”
“[Host is indeed intelligent; it only took a few tries to understand. It is indeed the Underworld!]”
Li Cheng-tian’s face darkened slightly, but he didn’t have time to argue. Suddenly, a chill ran down his face, and he muttered.
“I died twice, so I really did come to the Underworld! Am I really dead? But I absorb spiritual energy to live, does the Underworld have spiritual energy?”
“[Host, having experienced cultivation, you should know this well! Spiritual energy exists everywhere, from scarce amounts to so much you choke on it. Why wouldn’t the Underworld have spiritual energy? Lands of yin and yang, immortal lands, ghost lands, demon lands – everything has spirit. If the System wants it to have spirit, it has spirit!]”
He felt this System was arrogant, but Li Cheng-tian didn’t dare show too much emotion. What if it left him like the previous one? Who would he rely on then?
However, the promise of a “brilliant future” was just an advertisement.
Li Cheng-tian thought about it and decided it wasn’t so bad, he said.
“So I’m King Yama, I’m the Boss. That’s right, where are Ox-Head and Horse-Face? Where are Black and White Impermanence? And what about Lady Meng? Some say she’s ancient, others say she’s a peerless beauty. I want to see for myself!”
“[Host, please jog your memory! The System already said Host would revitalize the Underworld.]”
After thinking about it again, Li Cheng-tian realized he’d been tricked.
Does the Underworld need to be revitalized, meaning it’s currently in decline?
“System, please brief me on the current situation of the Underworld!” Li Cheng-tian broke out in a cold sweat, which was then dried by the chilling yin energy. All in all, he had a bad feeling.
“[Three hundred years ago, the Heavenly Palace, allied with all its clans, attacked the Underworld, leaving nothing behind. At that time, Host was probably just a tadpole!]”
Li Cheng-tian realized how quickly time had passed. Two transmigrations had already taken nearly 300 years. He had still planned to seek revenge on that endlessly sinful girl, but it seemed she wouldn’t be there anymore.
What was important was the matter at hand.
The Underworld utterly destroyed?
Li Cheng-tian involuntarily recoiled and quietly looked around. Sure enough, it was desolate, not a single soul in sight.
Meaning he was the only one existing here.
Li Cheng-tian immediately grew furious.
“What’s the point of making me King Yama? I’m a king, but I see no officials, no generals, no Ox-Head soldiers or Horse-Face cavalry! There’s no taste of being an emperor!”
Before the System could reply, Li Cheng-tian muttered.
“Let’s see! The Heavenly Palace and all its clans destroyed the Underworld. Three hundred years later, I transmigrated here. If other forces know there’s still one person alive, then...”
He couldn’t help but shiver, his breathing hitched.
It felt as if he alone was standing against the entire world. No, that’s not right, the Three Realms sounds more appropriate.
“I don’t want to revitalize anything, I want to go home! It’s too cold here, I want a warm coat!”