Time resumed, and the five monsters charged in, intent on devouring the fragrant human. But what they got was only a mouthful of rocks and dirt.

A few meters away, Jun Qiangwu held the spear that once pierced his body. Blood flowed from the shaft and into his hands. On his abdomen, blood leaked from a hole. However, the hole quickly healed in less than ten seconds.

Despite the blood and his ragged appearance, Jun Qiangwu felt great. Not only that, but he felt better than great. He could feel a warm energy in his abdomen that reached every part of his body.

Jun Qiangwu brandished the spear. Water coated the spear tip and condensed into ice. He charged and pierced a monster in the head. Before the four other monsters could react, he impaled another one.

When the three remaining monsters finally reacted, Jun Qiangwu had already jumped back. He pointed his spear at the monsters and waited for the monsters’ retaliation.

Ten minutes later, Jun Qiangwu exhaled a misty breath of air as five monster corpses surrounded him. He rammed the spear’s heel into the ground, cracking it, and let go. Once he did so, the ice shell coating the tip dissolved into water and slid down, washing the blood off.

Jun Qiangwu looked at his palm and marveled.

Not all superhumans were equal. Superhumans were divided into seven classes: soldier, captain, major, colonel, general, king, and emperor. Originally, there were only three classifications, but as superhumans discovered the power within, more and more classes appeared.

A soldier-class superhuman was only a little bit more powerful than an ordinary untrained man. Captain-class superhumans can defeat ten men, while major-class superhumans could defeat twenty. Colonel-class superhumans could defeat fifty. General-class superhumans could defeat one hundred men. From there, superhumans only became more powerful.

Except for a few rare cases, most superhumans were soldier-class upon awakening their powers. A small percentage awakened as captain-class superhumans, while the number of people who awakened as major-class superhumans could be counted on one hand.

Jun Qiangwu was one of those that awakened as a major-class superhuman with the ability to conjure and control water. Through his hard work, Jun Qiangwu upgraded into a colonel-class and eventually general-class superhuman.

When he became a king-class superhuman, Jun Qiangwu’s ability evolved, allowing him to transform water into ice. Because of this, he gained power to fight above his class. Even against an emperor-class superhuman, he could hold his own.

And now, Jun Qiangwu felt his ability improve. It hadn’t reached the level of breaking into the emperor-class, but it drastically shortened the time he needed to become an emperor-class superhuman. Still, now was not the time to test the changes in his ability. Soon, more monsters would arrive.

Jun Qiangwu turned around and ran away. His body became a blur as he reached speed ordinary people could never achieve, no matter how much they trained. Minutes later, monsters appeared at the scene, drawn by the scent of blood.

The newly arrived monsters showed no compassion for their downed compatriots. Quite the opposite, in fact. The monsters began to devour their downed fellows. A fight even broke out over the corpses. By the time they left, not even bones remained.

The monsters that devoured the ones slain by Jun Qiangwu searched for a place to sleep. As they slept, the energy in their body increased as they digested their meals, growing stronger and stronger.

----------------------------------------

Jun Qiangwu leaned against the wall of the cave he hid himself in. “Are you there?”

[Yes.]

Finally no longer in danger, Jun Qiangwu unleashed all the pent up questions. “Who are you?”

[I am not a person, but a system. The Nine Heavens Revenge System.]

“What is a system?”

[Systems are programs that bind to hosts and help them succeed in life.]

Jun Qiangwu narrowed his eyes. “I understand the latter half, but what are programs?”

[Programs are a set of rules or instructions.]

“Who makes these rules?”

[The most powerful immortal emperor, the Nine Heavens Emperor.]

“Nine Heavens Emperor? Gods and immortals really exist?" Jun Qiangwu asked.

[Yes.]

Jun Qiangwu didn’t quite believe the Nine Heavens Revenge System’s words, however… ”I don’t care if you’re lying or not. Tell me, how can you help me?”

[The Nine Heavens Revenge System will bestow upon you a peerless cultivation method. You will obtain strength beyond your wildest imagination. See gods, kill gods; see buddhas, slay buddhas. No one will be able to stop you.]

Jun Qiangwu’s breath hitched; his body trembled. “System, are you serious?”

[The Nine Heavens Revenge System never lies.]

“Then can I become as powerful as the Nine Heavens Emperor?”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

[There is always a chance. However, the chances are infinitely small, almost impossible.]

“What is the probability?” Jun Qiangwu asked.

[Not even one thousandth of a quadrillion.]

Jun Qiangwu had no words. Luckily for him, the system continued.

[However, even cultivating the lowest level of the method will allow you to become almost invincible in the same realm.]

“Okay, give it to me. I don’t care if there’s a plot to this or not, but as long as I can get revenge, I don’t care!” Jun Qiangwu vowed with a determined gaze.

[You are not qualified to receive the method yet.]

It was as if a bucket of cold water had poured over him. “Then how do I qualify?”

[By completing system assigned missions. Not only will you be rewarded with a peak cultivation method, you will receive priceless treasures of heaven and earth.]

“What are you waiting for? What’s the mission? Tell me already,” Jun Qiangwu said. The fire of vengeance burned in his eyes.

[Ding! Main mission is issued.]

[Main Mission 1: Sense the spiritual qi of heaven and earth and absorb it into your body.]

“Spiritual qi of heaven and earth? What’s that?” Jun Qiangwu asked.

He wanted to gain power as soon as possible and get revenge. His relatives who had survived during the beginning of the apocalypse had all died during the following ten years. The worst part was that they sacrificed their lives for that unworthy emperor, guarding his vestigial empire.

He, Jun Qiangwu, will prove to them that without the Jun Family, the Qian Dynasty would have never existed to this day.

[Spiritual qi is the energy produced by the world. The mutations are the results of monsters and humans’ adaptation to the influx of spiritual qi.]

Sorrow appeared in Jun Qiangwu’s voice. “Do you know why spiritual qi appeared?

[The increasing density of spiritual qi is the result of the world ascending to a higher level. All life will also ascend to a higher state.]

Jun Qiangwu laughed, but there was no mirth of his laughter. “But only a few people can ascend, right? Those unable to ascend will die. Even if the world is growing stronger, what’s the point if everything I care about is destroyed?”

[This is the law of the world. Your ability to control water and ice is a gift from the world. You have obtained the elementary Frost Flow Physique. People who have not experienced the ascension of the world will never have the chance.]

“So? I don’t care about this shitty body? I just want to go back to those happy times,” Jun Qiangwu said.

[That is not impossible. As long as you become an immortal monarch and master the Law of Time, you can reverse time. But only a divinity can rewind and regress the ascension of a world.]

“So it’s not impossible,” Jun Qiangwu said. He who had lost the pillar sustaining his will to live found the courage to live and survive. But first, he will have to make all those bastards pay!

“How do I sense and absorb spiritual qi?”

[Spiritual qi is what powers your ability. You have been unconsciously using it. Sensing and absorbing it depends on your talent. If you are talented, within a week. If you are slow, maybe you won’t be able to do it for years.]

Did he have talent? Jun Qiangwu certainly thought so. Although he didn’t know what the Frost Flow Physique was, it must be good if the system said it was a chance countless people never had.

Jun Qiangwu closed his eyes. Soon after, droplets of water appeared around him. Sometimes, they turned ice or vice versa. They clumped together and formed orbs of water or a hazy mist, but no matter what Jun Qiangwu did, he couldn’t sense the so-called spiritual qi.

A few hours later, Jun Qiangwu ran out of energy and slumped onto the ground. He knew it was going to be hard, but he had gotten nothing.

“System, you’re not lying to me, are you?”

[Do not doubt the Nine Heavens Revenge System’s words. Everything the system says is the truth.]

“Then why can’t I sense spiritual qi? You said that my ability uses qi, right? Shouldn’t I be able to control it?”

[Your ability to control water and ice is an innate ability of your body. Just because you know how to use a spear, do you know how to make it? Once you learn how to sense and absorb qi, you will enter a new world.]

Jun Qiangwu frowned, but he didn’t pester the Nine Heavens Revenge System. When he felt his energy return, he conjured water again and tried to sense spiritual qi. He only stopped when the day ended and he had exhausted all his effort, falling asleep.

The next day, Jun Qiangwu continued the routine, but he still didn’t succeed by the end of the day. The results were still the same by the end of the week.

“System, is there really someone who can sense and absorb qi within a week?” Jun Qiangwu asked, doubting the system’s words.

[Yes. The great creator of this system, the Nine Heavens Emperor, sensed qi within a minute and absorbed qi in an hour. Plenty of other people from the immortal realm also sensed qi within a week, however their talent pales in comparison to the great creator.]

Jun Qiangwu pursed his lips. ‘Fine, I admit that this Nine Heavens Emperor is very awesome, okay?’

He huffed and hunkered down, attempting to sense spiritual qi once more. The fire of vengeance still burned brightly within, but with a week to calm down, it had condensed into a slumbering volcano, ready to erupt at a moment’s notice.

There was no point in rushing toward Qian Jiafeng or the Qian Emperor right now. No doubt they had already fortified themselves and prepared for the off chance he survived. Furthermore, he never doubted the Imperial Family’s means. As long as they played some tricks, they could drag the Jun Family’s or his name through mud. Even if he came back, all he would receive was scorn.

Not that Jun Qiangwu cared. What he wanted was absolute power, enough to make the Qian Imperial Family despair and regret their betrayal. Only then could his vengeance be quenched.

Two months later, Jun Qiangwu’s eyes snapped open. A week ago, while he was waiting for the energy in his body to replenish itself, he sensed something new. Originally, he could only wait as the energy slowly grew again, but this time, he could sense his body naturally absorbing the energy from the air around him.

This was spiritual qi.

After a week of concentration, he finally sensed more than just the qi near his skin. It was as if he had opened his eyes for the first time and saw the world. Under his control, he actively absorbed the spiritual qi from the air. He could feel his empty body quickly regaining its power, unlike the slow, passive absorption.

In two hours, Jun Qiangwu could feel his body brimming with energy, but he didn’t stop. He continued to absorb, and even when his body could absorb no more, he continued. He forced the energy to condense as more and more energy entered his body.

Sweat dripped down Jun Qiangwu’s forehead. He reached the point where he could absorb no more qi, but he still persisted. Finally, a popping sound erupted in his abdomen. Blood spurted from his lips, but he smiled.

Jun Qiangwu could feel a warm flow in his abdomen where his kidney was. Not only did the amount of energy, or more accurately, the spiritual qi in his body increase, but he could control it with greater precision. “This is amazing. I should have entered the emperor-class now, right?”

[Congratulations to the host for opening your Lesser Yin Kidney Meridian stepping into the First Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm.]