As space shimmered and swirled around him, Marcus was so excited and he asked to the system "so how I could go to a new world, [the system responded, "I the great supreme system will pick randomly for you for now, what you need right now is Death soul points, figure out everything yourself on the way there if you manage to collect."]
Marcus then asked again "can I pick where I want to be and which body talent I get "
[The system responded "yes but just focus first on the death soul points then unlock new features and upgrade"]
Before he could take step, the darkness of space began to fade, replaced by a white void. A mechanical yet soothing voice echoed in the emptiness.
["Initiating transfer to the Celestial planet of Swords. Choosing random body to possess and region..."]
["Success. Body selected: Yusup, age 14, native of the deserters of Turkestan"]
With a sudden jolt, Marcus's consciousness merged with his new vessel. The transition was disorienting, like waking from a deep sleep in an unfamiliar place. He blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light around him. As his vision cleared, he found himself lying on the ground in a dense forest, the scent of pine and the planet filling his nostrils.
Marcus struggled to his feet, his body feeling foreign yet strangely familiar. He looked down at his hands, calloused and strong, evidence of a life filled with hardship and wanting to seek revenge.
Marcus asked the system "why is the name and style quite similar to my native planet Earth"
[The system responded "there are similarities between everything and uniqueness and stuff out of the ordinary and unimaginable in the vast universe even I and the law of nature might not compare much to the vast universe"]
Then Marcus took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. His new body was lean but muscular, built for survival. Memories that were not his own started to surface—flashes of a life spent running, hiding, and fighting. Yusup, a deserter who had left behind the life of an Orphan Deserter Martial Artist to seek freedom and food and perhaps revenge.
Yusup had been training in the Desert Wind Slash technique since he was five years old. His instructor, a Uyghur named Aslam, had taught him and his five disciplines two girls and three boys, all under the age of seven. Sadly, they were all lost by the gang that ravaged their native city, Yultuz. His parents had been the sole survivors, managing to flee from the devastated city to Nuruqut, but on the way they sadly died.
As Marcus began to take in his surroundings, he was struck by the sight of people suffering from starvation. The city of Nuruqut, a stark contrast to the lush forest he found himself in, was a place of struggle and despair. He checked the body he now possessed and found a small sum of money 66 coppers, barely enough to sustain him for a few days.
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Determined to understand his new situation, Marcus searched through Yusup's memories. He discovered that the cultivator who had killed everybody in his native village Yultuz was named Xu Feng. And his fellow subordinates, Marcus attempted to check Xu Feng's cultivation realm but was met with intense pain, as his current strength was insufficient. The system intervened, easing his discomfort.
"Can Xu Feng know what I am doing now?" Marcus asked the [system].
["No," the system responded. "Xu Feng cannot detect your actions as you are being assisted by this system, which far surpasses his abilities, even if he have millions or billions of new life I the great System can't be compared to a weakling trash like that."]
Marcus, now Yusup, set off through the City of Nuruqut, the sun was barely rising over the city, casting long shadows through the narrow, grimy streets. Marcus, now fully inhabiting Yusup's body, wandered through the city's market district, his mind racing with the gravity of his new reality.
He clutched the small pouch of 80 coppers tightly. It was barely enough to buy a decent meal for a month and a half, thanks god the original body had also food and water that's enough for 2 months by his old merchant job, doing some low rank missions with nickname "The Deserter Slasher" The city's people, gaunt and hollow-eyed, moved with a resigned slowness that spoke of constant hunger and hardship.
Marcus's training in the Desert Wind Slash technique had given him both physical strength and an understanding of martial disciplines. But survival in this world required more than just skills; it required knowledge and connections and cultivation.
He decided to explore the market to gather information and see if he could find any clues about cultivation , and sects to join,
The tavern was dimly lit, with only a few patrons scattered around. Their eyes followed Marcus with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. He approached the bar and took a seat.
A grizzled old man behind the bar looked up, his eyes narrowing. "What do you want young man?" he grumbled, wiping a dirty mug with a rag.
"I'm looking for information," Marcus said, trying to keep his voice steady. "about Xu Feng and where to join a sect"
The bartender's expression darkened. "Xu Feng? Dangerous man. Not many folks dare to talk about him, especially in these parts."
Marcus placed a 20 coppers on the bar, hoping it would loosen the man's tongue. "I have more if you can help me."
The bartender glanced at the coppers and then back at Marcus. "Each information comes with a price but since you are a new customer here is what I know about Xu Feng, Xu Feng has not been seen around here for a while, but I've heard whispers. Some say he's been seen near the old fort outside the city of Lianzhou. gathering forces to attack it, and some say he's trying conquer a place far away and create his dream paradise city."
Marcus asked again "how about sect register?"
The bartender and then back at Marcus. ". I can give you details about sects registering but it'll cost you 30 coppers."
Marcus gave 30 coppers to the bartender, though in his mind he felt quite poor. At the very least, this original body had food and water with him. The bartender replied, "In the city of Lianhuo, located in the region of Zhangbei, nestled between deserts and lush greenery, quite far from here, you need at least 20 days to get there. you can register at various cultivation sects, ranging from powerful ones to lower and middle-tier sects. Among these, the Axe Sect ranks 10th on the best sect list. The Axe Sect was my dream sect to join in my younger days. I waited and tried to join it for six years, but I was neither talented nor suitable for cultivation. I hope all the best to you, young man, on your journey if you want to join a sect."