"Why am I so unlucky..."
"This world even has Heavenly Tribulation, that's not scientific at all!"
"Damn, I never thought I'd die in such a spectacular way..."
Zhong Shenxiu was a transmigrator, and a highly successful one at that.
After reincarnating into this world, he discovered the "Golden Finger" he possessed.
This "Golden Finger" was quite rigid and not very useful, only allowing him to gather energy points from the shocked praise of bystanders.
Every energy point could be used to enhance his own skills.
Zhong Shenxiu was pretty calm about it; after all, what transmigrator doesn't have some sort of system?
These energy points, which could be called skill points, shock points, or show-off points, were named by Zhong Shenxiu as Heavenly Show Points.
With these Heavenly Show Points, the initially mediocre Zhong Shenxiu suddenly became the first person in the history of Martial Arts World and the most talented Supreme Grandmaster of all ages.
Unfortunately, the Martial Arts in this world were too weak, so Zhong Shenxiu prepared to develop the Innate Qi Cultivation Method—basically, it involved stealing secret manuals from east to west, weeding out the chaff, integrating them, and then boosting them with Heavenly Show Points, hoping to force a path in this End of Dharma era.
But he shamefully failed.
"It's not my fault; it's the world's fault! That world doesn't allow anyone to surpass a Great Grandmaster..."
Zhong Shenxiu expressed his helplessness, "Well... no matter what, I still died. After all, I wasn't cultivating immortality, and who wouldn't die after being struck by so many bolts of lightning? I just hope that my arrangements before death will be effective and eliminate many hidden dangers..."
"Huh? Why is my consciousness still here?"
In the dim environment, Zhong Shenxiu noticed something unusual.
His consciousness hadn't plunged into chaos but was rather active. "Interesting, is this what it's like after death? It's a pity no one who has died and come back to life has written about it... or is it just because of the Golden Finger?"
Thinking this, Zhong Shenxiu subconsciously sensed his Golden Finger.
The Golden Finger, which he named 'Heavenly Show System,' was actually a quirky system, incredibly rigid, like a gyroscope that wouldn't move unless flicked.
This flick brought up a pale blue light screen in his consciousness.
Lines of strange text appeared, but he understood them at a glance:
"Achieved achievement [Even in Death, I Show Off]!"
"Reward - Transmigrate once!"
"So... I've achieved another accomplishment?"
Zhong Shenxiu muttered to himself. This broken system also had some hidden achievements, the rewards for which were not small, but they were extremely difficult to achieve and there were no hints.
In the Jiulong Continent, the only achievement he had ever completed was forcefully pairing up the nunnery that claimed to possess the true dragons, resulting in a bustling collective wedding, and eventually earned an [Outstanding]achievement, rewarding him with ten Heavenly Show Points all at once, and then nothing more.
Unexpectedly, arrangements before death had this effect!
"But... I really don't want to show off!"
Zhong Shenxiu complained with a full face of grievance, "What does showing off mean? Doing what others can't, playing the hero, and, simply put, courting death! Aren't they just forcing me to provoke stronger opponents when I'm not strong enough?"
"If possible, I'd rather stay low-key and level up to godhood quietly!"
"Unfortunately... as soon as I was born into Heavenly Show Villa, a bunch of troubles flew my way, like concubines wanting me dead, a bunch of unruly brothers, forcing me to show off, fighting and smacking faces all the way..."
"In the next world, I definitely won't show off anymore; I just want a peaceful life!"
...
Being in the darkness, one could lose track of time.
Zhong Shenxiu didn't know for how long his consciousness had been enveloped in darkness.
Finally, he sensed his body.
Snap!
Like falling from a high place in a dream, his body twitched all over as he opened his eyes.
Pain!
Heart-wrenching pain!
Intense agony struck him, and even with Zhong Shenxiu's well-tempered nerves, he couldn't help but cry out.
He fell to the ground, his body convulsing violently, as if every inch of bone had broken, with even more severe pain coming from within.
—It was as though a demon was endlessly gnawing at his insides.
If it were an ordinary person, such pain might be enough to make one faint or even commit suicide.
But Zhong Shenxiu was different!
He gritted his teeth and persevered.
After a long time, his panting gradually calmed down.
Zhong Shenxiu got up, examined his body.
He lifted his hands and noticed a pair of thin yet youthful palms, his voice tinged with a trace of doubt. "Not reincarnation, but possession?"
"That pain just now, what was that about?"
Zhong Shenxiu stood up, took a look at himself—apparently, it was the body of a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy, fortunately still male, not missing any important parts.
Darkness surrounded him, with only strands of moonlight seeping through the window, illuminating the cramped wooden cabin environment.
The furnishings inside were old, the bed covered with a straw mat, with no chairs or stools, and just one object, uncertain whether it was a stool or a table, on which sat a clay bowl.
The bowl contained a pool of clear water; Zhong Shenxiu took it to the window, and saw his reflection vaguely mirrored inside.
The nose was straight, the lips slightly thick, the eye sockets sunken, the cheeks gaunt...
"Just average looking..."
Zhong Shenxiu rubbed his chin with his right hand: "Not as handsome as in my previous life."
After a tongue-in-cheek remark, seemingly stimulated by seeing his own face, a series of memories surged in his mind:
Second Yan Han Empire, Fufeng Protector Mansion...
Third of February, Blood Moon...
Different tribes, Quanrong...
Western countries, demons, Black Fog...
A flood of disparate memories surged, bringing with them life-and-death contracts, oceanic schemes, continuously assaulting Zhong Shenxiu's mind, making him stagger back several steps and sit down on the bed.
After a while, having digested some of the memories, Zhong Shenxiu took a deep breath. "Su Daoshi, huh? A man who died tonight... So, I obtained your body after your death, I didn't kill you, that reduces my guilt quite a bit... but even so, if it's within my power, I will help fulfill your wishes..."
"Lastly, your body, I'll unapologetically take it..."