Liyang.

House Ashford.

In the main hall, a middle-aged man sat high above, exuding quiet authority. He held his teacup steady, gaze fixed straight ahead.

Beside him sat a dignified and graceful noblewoman, dressed in flowing white robes. Her eyes were cold as frost, yet there seemed to be a faint edge of sword intent flickering in them.

Below, a teenage boy stood tall like a pine tree. Sharp brows, piercing eyes, full of arrogant pride.

Ethan Ashford looked around, confused. Then suddenly—

“Holy hell.”

Did he… cross over?

Images burst through his mind.

That rainy night on the overpass.

A black Maybach sped past under the stormy sky, thundering and flashing above.

Like even the gods were whispering omens.

Then—the Maybach lost control, skidded sideways.

And rammed into a delivery scooter... his scooter.

His body got flung like a ragdoll, flying dozens of meters.

The Maybach crashed straight off the overpass.

Both gone, there and then.

No doubt about it—Ethan had been the delivery guy.

“Really? That counts as a transmigration?”

It was so sudden, even he couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Though thinking back… maybe not the worst trade.

“Alright, alright… After reading those cheesy power fantasy novels for years, it’s finally my turn to be the epic protagonist?”

He looked around the unfamiliar hall. Through the open windows, bizarre-looking ships occasionally flew by in the sky.

Flying ships. No mistake—this place was next-level.

“What the hell… Who needs a scooter anymore? I’m flying ships here now!”

Ethan, a seasoned web novel reader, knew the deal.

Every transmigration story? One word—power.

Whether it’s the Ancient Divine Physique or god-tier cheats or heaven-defying bloodlines...

Beatdowns, vengeance arcs, harems—the whole package.

And thinking back, maybe he didn’t hate the idiot who ran him over that much anymore.

Because truth was, his old life? A slog.

Multiple jobs a day, barely scraping by, drowning in debt.

Now he’s across worlds. No way it gets worse than before.

“I’m not asking for some mythical body or unbeatable bloodline, just give me a system. That’s all I want.”

“No? Then fine, I’ll take being some rich, spoiled noble brat who squanders gold and does nothing all day. Really, not picky.”

Rubbing his hands like a fly, Ethan soaked in the new memories that flooded his mind in this quiet, heavy hall.

As the memories settled, his smile started to fade.

“…Hold on.”

He frowned, brows tightening.

There was something in these memories that didn’t sit right.

He glanced up at the man sitting above.

That was his father—George Ashford.

One of the Seven Kings of the Northern Wastes, current patriarch of House Ashford, a titan among men.

He was a near-mythical figure.

Singlehandedly stopping an alien invasion, worshipped by the people, praised as a great hero—

A legend.

But…

In Ethan’s inherited memories, that man wasn’t so great after all.In his memory, he’d been left on the streets of Liyang since he was three, picked up by a kind farming couple.

Life was harsh. Cold, hunger, loneliness—his childhood was nothing but struggle.

When he turned eighteen, the old couple passed away. On their deathbeds, they handed over all their savings and told Ethan Ashford to head for the Butian Holy Land and seek the path of cultivation.

They told him, in this world, for someone from the bottom to change his fate, there was only one way—cultivation.

With their hopes on his shoulders, Ethan made his way to the Holy Land. Thanks to his talent, he passed the entry trial and began his path of cultivation.

But things weren’t easy after that either.

Being poor, he was often pushed around, looked down on. If he didn’t want to get bullied, he had two options—either join the bullies or become worse than them.

Over time, that wore down his spirit. He stopped caring, drifted with the current.

He thought that was it for his life—until one day, a young couple showed up and dropped a bombshell.

“Son, we’re your parents.”

He was stunned—and honestly, happy. So he wasn't an orphan after all. He had a mother and a father.

They told him during the chaos at the border, they were forced to leave him behind and head to Beihai to defend against threats from other realms. His father, George Ashford, was a big figure over there, surrounded by enemies. If Ethan's identity got out, they'd target him. With no time or bandwidth to protect him, they secretly left him in Liyang, under the care of that old couple.

That was twenty years ago. In all that time, they'd never come back, never checked in. He didn’t even know they existed until now.

Ethan tried to understand. Maybe it really was the only way back then.

But then he saw his younger brother—handsome, proud, raised like a prince of Beihai.

And suddenly, all his past suffering felt like a joke.

“Heh… I get it now.”

“No wonder I ended up in this poor bastard's body. His story really is pitiful...”

So-called protection? More like dropping him in a strange city with no backup.

Twenty years of misery. Not one visit. Not one word.

But the other son? Groomed with all their love and resources to be the shining talent of Beihai?

Now he could feel what the original host must've gone through. If there’s no hope, there’s no heartbreak.

But he had hoped—then watched it all burn.

In the end, the poor guy probably drank himself to death because he just couldn’t take it anymore…

No love from his parents. No respect from his brother. Just cold stares and resentment.

Bang!

While Ethan was still reeling from all those memories, George Ashford slammed his cup on the floor. The loud crack made everyone freeze in shock.

The nearby servants trembled.

“Disgrace! Bow!”

The voice snapped Ethan back. Violent pressure rolled across the room, ruffling his hair.

"My Ashford clan has defended the borders for generations, fought off countless enemies, carried a legacy across millennia. Every one of us—heroes worthy of song and story!"“Look at you now. Reeking of street scum, idling around, causing trouble, and even mixing with those filthy lowlifes in brothels?”

“How did I end up with a disgrace like you? You've completely shamed the Ashford name.”

Ethan Ashford’s brow tightened. He clenched his fists, holding back the rage boiling inside him.

For some reason, those words hit something deep. A fire ignited in his chest.

Just as he was about to snap, a cold mechanical chime echoed in his mind.

[Ding...]

[System is activating.]

[Activation complete. Entering Life Selection Interface. Please wait.]

“System?”

Ethan snapped to attention. A light sparked in his eyes.

“Finally, damn it! One second later and I would've decked him.”

The system’s voice calmed the storm raging inside him.

[Initiating Life Selection.]

[Option One: Apologize to your father. Explain everything. Earn his understanding. Promise to turn over a new leaf. Unlock: ‘Model Child Life Path.’ Reward: Supreme Sacred Physique.]

“Huh?”

Ethan blinked.

[Option Two: Swallow your pride. Endure silently. Don’t hit back, don’t talk back. Unlock: ‘Turtle Shell Life Path.’ You become the most patient coward in the world. Reward: Indestructible Body.]

“Seriously? You trash-talking me now?”

Ethan’s lips twitched. “Coward your damn self.”

In his past life, he’d eaten all sorts of crap from customers. Bad reviews, insults—he sucked it up all for a few coins.

Now you tell me to do it all over again just with a new face?

Hell. No.

He shut that option down without hesitation.

[Option Three: A man stands tall under the heavens. Why crawl under others? Break ties with your family, right here and now. Unlock: ‘Demonic Overlord Life Path.’ Reward: Bloodthirst Demon God Talent.]

[Once a choice is made, the Life Selection Grand Pack will be unlocked. Choose carefully.]

Ethan stared at the three options, silent for a long moment.

“Demonic Overlord Life Path? What’s that supposed to mean?”

That third one puzzled him. The other two, he more or less got.

First one? Be the golden boy. Quick cultivation, sky-high talent—but he’d have to kiss up to his parents like an obedient dog.

Second one? Skip it.

But the third...

He took a breath. Decision made.

“Hell with this. I’ve got nothing to owe you Ashfords. Twenty years in the gutter and not a damn speck of kindness from you. My conscience is clear.”

“I choose three!”

[Ding...]

[Congratulations! You’ve chosen wisely. ‘Demonic Overlord Life Path’ unlocked. You’ve obtained the Bloodthirst Demon God Talent.]

[Life Selection Grand Pack granted. Please check inventory soon.]

“Grand pack, huh? Guess that’s my starter kit.”

A trace of anticipation stirred inside Ethan as he prepared to inspect the reward.

But George Ashford’s furious roar cut right through.

“You ungrateful brat! Still defiant? Go to the ancestral hall and face the wall for a full month! No reflection, no return!”