Chapter 1

In the Jijun Continent, atop the Thunder Accumulation Mountain.

Dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. Bronze-colored heavenly thunder flickered amidst the clouds, like dragons and snakes crawling behind the dark clouds, appearing both divine and ghostly. The overwhelming power of the heavens pressed down like a mountain, making people tremble with fear.

The rumbling thunder sounded as if drums were being beaten right next to the ears, deafeningly loud.

The vast heavenly thunder slanted down, transforming into plasma and surging toward the figure standing with his hands behind his back atop the Thunder Accumulation Mountain. The figure remained unmoved as the heavenly thunder struck him.

After the thunderous tribulation, Jiang Li looked up at the sky with great anticipation.

However, the sky was only clear after the dark clouds dispersed, and there was no golden ladder to ascension that he had been hoping for.

"Indeed, it's impossible to ascend," Jiang Li said to himself, filled with melancholy. This was his fifteenth time facing the tribulation of ascension.

The tribulation of ascension was not a mere legend but had clear evidence. The Jijun Continent still had the traditions of immortals, immortal artifacts, immortal techniques, and the ancient relics who had seen the golden ladder to ascension.

According to those ancient relics, thousands of years ago, the Jijun Continent often had great cultivators who could ascend to immortality. As long as they passed the heavenly tribulation, the immortal realm would send down the golden ladder to welcome them.

However, for some unknown reason, the immortal realm no longer sent down the golden ladder, cutting off the path of ascension, causing countless great cultivators to sigh in frustration and die in despair.

Jiang Li had traveled to the Jijun Continent five hundred years ago, without any special advantages, and through hard work, wisdom, and luck, he rose from obscurity, overcoming various difficulties and obstacles, finally reaching the highest realm of the Jijun Continent, the Great Ascension stage, and becoming the current Human Emperor, the undisputed first person of the Jijun Continent.

Not being able to ascend in a world of cultivation was indeed a regret.

Jiang Li had once thought that if he had a special advantage, such as a system or a grandfather-like figure, he might have taken fewer detours.

But then he became resigned, thinking, "What's the point of thinking about these things now? Whether I had a special advantage or not, I've still reached this position. And looking back, weren't those detours a kind of enjoyment?"

[Host information detected, Reversal System activated.]

[Name: Jiang Li]

[Age: 518 years]

[Identity: Current Human Emperor]

[Cultivation: Great Ascension stage]

A mechanical voice sounded in Jiang Li's ear.

Jiang Li subconsciously expanded his divine consciousness, becoming alert, but as he heard the voice clearly, he was stunned, a mix of excitement and helplessness welling up in his heart. He scolded, "You system, aren't you a bit late in coming!"

Despite his scolding, he still decided to open the system.

[This system is the Reversal System, assisting the host in defeating all those who look down on the host.]

[Please accept the beginner's gift package.]

Hearing the word "reversal," Jiang Li felt a deep sense of unease, but he suppressed it and said, "Accept."

As soon as he spoke, a large pile of items appeared in front of Jiang Li.

He sat cross-legged and began to inventory the items.

Opening a small medicine bottle, he could smell a fragrant aroma that improved one's mental state, a characteristic of top-grade elixirs.

Twenty top-grade Qi Gathering Pills, highly effective for the Qi Cultivation stage.

One top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, which could help a cultivator reach a perfect Foundation Establishment stage.

Ten low-grade talismans, including two Strength Talismans, two Speed Talismans, two Concealment Talismans, and four Calm Mind Talismans.

One hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones.

A damaged cultivation technique, "Four Ounces to Move a Thousand Pounds," with a note from the system.

[The "Four Ounces to Move a Thousand Pounds" is a secret technique of the Dao Sect. Learning the damaged version makes one invincible at the Qi Cultivation stage. It can be fully restored for 100,000 Origin Points.]

[Current Origin Points: 0]

Jiang Li looked at the pile of items in silence.

Isn't this beginner's gift package a bit too beginner?

Jiang Li carefully examined the items, and the most valuable one seemed to be the damaged cultivation technique, which was not only damaged but also incomplete.

"And the 'Four Ounces to Move a Thousand Pounds'..."

Jiang Li pondered for a moment and took out a brand new book from his storage ring, which was also titled "Four Ounces to Move a Thousand Pounds."

This was a copy personally made by the Dao Sect's Sect Master and given to Jiang Li, with the insights and annotations of the Dao Sect's predecessors.

Generally, powerful cultivation techniques have cultivation level thresholds. For example, the "Ding Zhen Zhongyuan" of the Hou Tu Sect can only be activated with the power of the Golden Core stage, and the "Butterfly Transformation of Yin and Yang" of the Heart Demon Sect also requires the power of the Golden Core stage.

The "Four Ounces to Move a Thousand Pounds" has the advantage of not being limited by spiritual energy, emphasizing the movement of force according to one's will, using weakness to overcome strength, and is very suitable for fighting against higher levels. It is a rare technique without a cultivation level threshold.

After carefully comparing the two books and confirming that their contents were the same, Jiang Li was puzzled: "They are indeed good items, but why are they all for the Qi Cultivation stage?"

"System, what is my cultivation level?"

The mechanical voice sounded.

[Great Ascension stage.]

"Is your beginner's gift package given to the wrong person? It should be a Great Ascension stage beginner's gift package, not a Qi Cultivation stage one."

[After inspection, there is no error.]

"What is my cultivation level?"

[Great Ascension stage.]

"What level of people is your beginner's gift package suitable for?"

[Qi Cultivation stage.]

"Is it given to the wrong person?"

[After inspection, there is no error.]

"My level..."

[Great Ascension, no error.]

"Alright." Jiang Li was speechless, "You're already answering questions."

Jiang Li didn't know whether to call the system rigid or intelligent.

[Beginner's task issued. This task cannot be refused or avoided.]

[Failure penalty: Unable to activate the system's remaining functions.]

[The system's functions include: Store, Spirit Energy Infusion, Avoiding Heart Demons, Spatial Movement...]

[Beginner's task: Jiang Yixing, relying on his status as the son of the clan leader, has repeatedly bullied you. Please defeat Jiang Yixing.]

Jiang Li was full of questions.

Jiang Yixing, a familiar name, who is he?

Recalling his initial memories after traveling, Jiang Li remembered who Jiang Yixing was.

Jiang Li's father was the previous clan leader. After his father's death, only his mother and him were left. His mother died of a serious illness, leaving Jiang Li an orphan.

After his parents' death, Jiang Yixing, relying on his father's status as the current clan leader's son, bullied everyone, especially Jiang Li, which gave him a sense of achievement. Jiang Yixing was the most talented in the clan, and no one could say anything about it. Jiang Li, being a weakling, did nothing after being bullied, complaining every day, and eventually died from a heart attack.

He traveled to this world at that time.

After traveling, Jiang Li judged that staying in the clan was harmful and left home.

This happened five hundred years ago.

From the current perspective, Jiang Yixing, the so-called most talented in the clan, would at most reach the Foundation Establishment stage and then slowly advance to the late Foundation Establishment stage, with a very slim chance of reaching the Golden Core stage.

The natural lifespan of the Foundation Establishment stage is the same as that of ordinary people, 140 years, while the natural lifespan of the Golden Core stage varies between 200 and 300 years.

Regardless of whether Jiang Yixing reached the Foundation Establishment or Golden Core stage, he was now dead!

And the most crucial point was that this beginner's task didn't seem suitable for his current self!

"System, what era is it now?"

[Year 4300 of the Yan Era.]

"It's Year 4800 of the Yan Era now!"

Jiang Li finally understood the source of his unease and discomfort. This broken system had started five hundred years late!

[Please follow the system's recognized time.]

Jiang Li was so angry that he trembled.

"I request a change in the task."

[The task cannot be changed.]

"Jiang Yixing is already dead!"

[Please follow the system's recognized time.]

"I am at the Great Ascension stage. Fighting a Jiang Yixing who is either at the Qi Cultivation or Foundation Establishment stage, is this called a reversal?!"

[Please complete the beginner's task.]

"Restart the system."

[Please complete the beginner's task.]

"Uninstall the system."

[Please complete the beginner's task.]

Jiang Li almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

When he first saw the word "reversal," he should have guessed. What a damn reversal system! As the current Human Emperor and the strongest person in the Jijun Continent, who was he supposed to reverse against?

"What a broken system, what use do I have for you!"

Jiang Li decided to ignore the system, which had started five hundred years late and was now asking him to defeat a dead person. How was he supposed to defeat a dead person, with mental victory?

...

At the foot of Thunder Accumulation Mountain, countless powerful cultivators waited for the Human Emperor to pass the tribulation. These people were either leaders of major sects, emperors of kingdoms, or ancient monsters who had lived for thousands of years.

These sect leaders and patriarchs had cultivation levels that could shake the heavens and the earth. If the immortal realm were still active, they would have long been in seclusion, striving to pass the tribulation and ascend, and some had even passed the tribulation of ascension, though far fewer times than Jiang Li.

They were not there to see if Jiang Li could pass the tribulation but to see if there was any possibility of ascending after the tribulation.

However, this tribulation was destined to disappoint them, as there was no golden ladder to ascension after the tribulation of ascension.

The thought of immortality being out of reach inevitably appeared in the minds of the sect leaders and patriarchs.

Although they had expected this, a faint shadow of disappointment still clouded their hearts.

Jiang Li flew down from the mountain peak, and even those who were not good at reading people's expressions could see the disappointment in his heart.

If it were just one tribulation without ascending, Jiang Li would not have been too disappointed, but the sudden appearance of the system made him think there was a special advantage to help him ascend, only to find out it was a useless one.

The sect leaders and patriarchs naturally noticed Jiang Li's unusual state but still put on a joyful expression to congratulate him.

"Congratulations, Human Emperor Jiang, for passing another heavenly tribulation."

"Thank you, thank you."

"Just watching from the side is enough to make one tremble with fear, yet Human Emperor Jiang passed it safely. Your cultivation must have improved!"

"Just lucky, just lucky."

"If Human Emperor Jiang can ascend, he will be a dominant figure in the immortal realm!"

"The path to ascension is long and arduous, and we must all work together."

"Human Emperor Jiang, please come to my sect and give a lecture on cultivation insights to the unaccomplished juniors. Please give me this honor."

"Senior Zhang, your guidance to me is deeply appreciated. I will share my cultivation experiences with you and the juniors in the future."

"Unfortunately, the immortal realm is too far away, and the boundary is too thick. Otherwise, with Human Emperor Jiang's cultivation, breaking through the boundary would not be impossible!"

"Who doesn't know that your Sumeru Mountain lineage is the best at spatial techniques? If anyone can locate the immortal realm, it would be you!"

Jiang Li was very polite to these sect leaders, thanked them one by one, and promised to go to their sects to share his cultivation experiences, which made them very pleased.

After bidding farewell to the sect leaders, Jiang Li summoned the system again, inspired by the old monk from Sumeru Mountain.

"System, can you send me to the immortal realm?"

[The system will later open the spatial teleportation function, which can take the host to the immortal realm.]

"Can you send me there now?" Jiang Li was delighted, thinking the system was still useful, a true special advantage.

[Please complete the beginner's task first.]

Jiang Li patiently explained to the system: "Send me to the immortal realm first. Through the immortal realm, I can reach the underworld, find Jiang Yixing in the underworld, and defeat him, thus completing the task."

[Please complete the beginner's task first.]

"Make an exception, can I owe you? You can't make me fight a dead person."

[Please complete the beginner's task first.]

"Broken system!"

Jiang Li felt this was not a special advantage but a middle finger from heaven.

While cursing the system as useless, he thought about how to complete the system's task.

For example, find someone named Jiang Yixing and beat him up, or find someone and force them to call themselves Jiang Yixing and beat them up, or dance on Jiang Yixing's grave...

Of course, these were backup plans. The first plan was to go back to his hometown and see if Jiang Yixing was still alive. Perhaps he had obtained a longevity pill, or several longevity pills, which could help him live to the present day, or received enlightenment from a high-level cultivator and advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, with a natural lifespan of about 500 years, which would also allow him to live to the present day...

In short, talent is not the only determining factor. For example, he, Jiang Li, was a good example. Without his hard cultivation and the slight help of his Heavenly Spirit Root and the Boundless Dao Body, he would not have reached the Great Ascension stage.