Jinan City — Afternoon
Yang Fen slowly rose from the bed, the light in the room flickering slightly as a soft breeze passed through the half-open window. His breathing was steady, his body beginning to regain a fraction of its old strength.
I'm already at the Qi Refining First Layer, he thought, stretching his limbs. Only because of the Six Path Reincarnation Technique. In this world, reaching even this level would be nearly impossible for an ordinary person.
He stepped out of the room and into the hallway. The wooden floor creaked faintly beneath his bare feet.
If I can reach the Golden Core stage, I'll be able to create gold itself using the Six Paths. Money won't be a problem anymore.
His lips curled into a sly, shameless grin.
Then I'll enjoy myself. Beautiful women, wine… this time, I'll have it all—on my terms.
He cleared his throat and called out, "Mom, I'm going to pick up Yang Shui."
His mother's voice came faintly from the bedroom. "Be careful."
Yang Fen nodded to himself and slipped on a pair of shoes by the door. With casual steps, he made his way into the hallway, the door clicking shut behind him.
He walked toward the elevator, shoulders relaxed, mind already plotting his future cultivation path.
Her school should be nearby. Junior Middle School... I remember the route clearly from this body's memories.
The elevator dinged as the doors opened. He stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor. The walls around him reflected his faintly glowing expression—half calm, half ambition.
Once I master Golden Core, this world will be mine to enjoy. And nothing, not even the heavens, will stop me.
The lift descended with a soft hum.
When the doors opened again, Yang Fen stepped out and headed toward the exit, blending into the flow of the afternoon crowd.
Yang Fen walked down the bustling street, his footsteps light, his gaze curiously scanning his surroundings. The world was noisy—filled with the honking of cars, the chatter of pedestrians, and the hum of daily life. Skyscrapers towered above him like metal mountains, their glass windows reflecting the pale blue sky.
As he moved along the sidewalk, he noticed something peculiar.
Almost everyone around him was holding a small, rectangular metal device in their hands. Some stared into it while walking, others tapped it quickly with their fingers, laughing or frowning depending on what they saw.
The memories of this body stirred.
A mobile phone, he recalled. Used for communication, work, entertainment… even sending messages across great distances. Quite impressive for a world without spiritual artifacts.
He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a similar device. It felt cold and slightly damp in his hand. The screen was black.
He pressed the button to turn it on.
Nothing happened.
Frowning, he tried again—holding the power button for several seconds.
Still nothing.
Then it clicked in his mind.
It must have been damaged when the real Yang Fen jumped into the water…
With a soft sigh, he looked around. On the left side of the street, nestled between a tea shop and a convenience store, he saw a small sign: "Mobile Repair & Accessories."
Without hesitation, he walked in.
The air inside was cool. Rows of mobile accessories lined the walls—cases, chargers, earbuds. At the counter, a man in his late thirties sat slouched in a chair, watching something on a small monitor.
Yang Fen stepped up to the counter and held out the phone.
"Excuse me, can you check what's wrong with this?"
The shopkeeper looked up, blinked, then took the device from his hand.
"Sure, give it here."
He examined it carefully, turned it over a few times, then looked back at Yang Fen.
"Did it fall into water?"
Yang Fen nodded calmly. "Yes. By mistake."
The man let out a low whistle and set the phone aside. "Water damage, alright. It'll take around two hours to fix. Cost will be… 83.75 yuan."
Yang Fen closed his eyes briefly and searched the remnants of the old Yang Fen's memories. He recalled the bank account linked to this identity.
Only one hundred yuan… That's all I've got.
He looked at the shopkeeper. "Alright. I'll pay when I come to pick it up. The money's in my account."
The shopkeeper gave him a nod. "Okay, no problem. Come back in two hours."
Yang Fen turned and stepped back out onto the street.
Two hours.
Enough time to pick up his sister, maybe buy some bread if the leftover money allowed.
He looked up at the sky, narrowed his eyes, and whispered to himself.
A cultivator in a world ruled by machines. Let's see what I can make of it.
And with that, he continued walking toward his sister's school.
After nearly half an hour of walking through the city streets, Yang Fen arrived at a large, U-shaped building painted in pale cream and blue. The courtyard in front bustled with students pouring out of the main gate, their chatter and laughter filling the air as the school day came to an end.
He paused at the edge of the road, gazing at the structure.
"So this is what a school looks like," he murmured.
In the Immortal World, sects floated in the skies, rested on mountain peaks, or drifted above vast oceans. They were grand, sacred places of cultivation… but this world's training ground is filled with noise, concrete, and uniforms. How amusing.
Students passed by him in groups, some riding bicycles, others calling out to friends. But among the sea of uniforms and backpacks, he didn't see Yang Shui.
He stepped through the school gate, ignoring the curious glances from a few teachers and students.
Inside the courtyard, his sharp eyes quickly caught an unpleasant scene unfolding not far ahead.
A young girl stood surrounded—three boys and two girls had formed a circle around her. The girl in the middle was visibly smaller, her figure stiff, her head slightly lowered.
Yang Shui.
One of the girls stepped forward her name was Ko Ni and slapped Yang Shui across the face with a loud crack.
"Hey! Didn't we tell you to bring pizza today?" the girl snapped.
Yang Shui flinched but didn't resist. Her lips trembled, and she nodded silently, eyes wide with fear.
Yang Fen's expression darkened.
He took a step forward.
Then another.
Each stride filled with quiet fury.
By the time he reached the group, the air around him had changed—subtle, but sharp.
"Hey," he said calmly, his voice cutting through the courtyard noise like a knife through paper. "What do you think you're doing to my sister?"
All five of them turned in unison, startled by the sudden presence of an older boy standing behind them. Their bravado wavered.
Yang Shui's eyes widened. Tears welled up the moment she saw him.
"Brother!" she cried and rushed forward, throwing herself into his arms.
Yang Fen caught her gently, wrapping his arms around her small frame as she began to sob into his chest.
He looked over her shoulder at the group of bullies. His gaze, once casual, now gleamed with a silent threat.
The street outside bustled with noise, but inside that moment, silence reigned.
And for the first time in this life, someone had dared lay a hand on his family.