Chapter 1

"Yang Dai, if you want to pursue me, you have to survive!"

Looking at the girl in her prime before him, who was encouraging him, Yang Dai was utterly bewildered.

"Little miss, who are you?"

Yang Dai couldn't help but look around. This was a high school classroom, with over fifty students in uniforms lining up between the desks. A calendar by the blackboard showed the countdown to the college entrance exam, with only thirty-six days left.

He couldn't help but look at his own body, which had become thinner and was also in a school uniform.

His mind was a mess.

Is this a dream?

Last night, he had been too tired from work, and before going to bed, he had seen a video on Douyin about someone dreaming of returning to their student days and suddenly waking up to continue working. Now, he had really been reborn?

This...

Is too good to be true!

Yang Dai pinched himself, and it hurt, making him even more excited.

He gradually recognized the classmates around him, realizing he wasn't in a different time but had been reborn. However, he didn't remember pursuing anyone in high school!

The girl in front of him didn't appear in his memory either. After observing for a while, he concluded that this was a parallel world, as many of the classmates he didn't recognize.

Wait!

Something's not right!

"May heaven bless me, I must draw a B-level talent!"

"B-level talent? You'd be lucky to draw a D-level!"

"I just want to survive..."

"Apparently, the survival rate for newbies in the Deep Realm last month was less than sixty percent."

"Does that mean twenty of our classmates will die?"

"Nonsense, shut up!"

...

Listening to the discussions around him, Yang Dai was confused. What is the Deep Realm?

He had never heard of it in high school.

Suddenly, his eyes widened as a boy in front of the podium disappeared, really disappeared, and he was sure he hadn't imagined it.

He saw a purple stone on the podium, as big as a basketball, and three teachers standing behind it, all with serious expressions. The teachers and students were not surprised by the boy's sudden disappearance.

Yang Dai couldn't help but pull the girl in front of him and asked, "Why did he disappear?"

The girl turned her head. She had fair skin, large eyes, and long eyelashes, with a single ponytail. To be honest, she could easily be considered the school's beauty. However, Yang Dai was too panicked to care about her looks and just wanted to understand the situation.

"Of course, he went to the Deep Realm. Yang Dai, being afraid won't help. Calm down, and once you're in the Deep Realm, try to survive. As long as you don't act recklessly, your chances of survival are still high," the girl said, frowning with worry.

Yang Dai weakly asked, "What is the Deep Realm?"

"The Deep Realm is the Deep Realm. What are you pretending for?"

"Cough, cough, just give me a brief introduction, at least I've pursued you."

"You never pursued me; some classmates just said you had a crush on me."

"Hurry up, it's almost our turn!"

Yang Dai was frustrated. The girl was still being stubborn at this moment.

The girl had no choice but to introduce the Deep Realm.

The Deep Realm is the second world of today. Humans entering the Deep Realm can gain extraordinary powers to combat disasters and demons in the real world. Three years ago, all high school seniors across the country were forcibly conscripted into the Deep Realm. Talented students can become cultivators, with a significant rise in social status, while those with average talent continue to take the college entrance exam and live ordinary lives. The premise of all this is surviving in the Deep Realm.

Demons?

The end of the world?

Yang Dai frowned. The girl gave a brief introduction, clearly very nervous and speaking quickly.

The girl was only one student away from the podium.

Yang Dai looked at the classroom doors, where two robust middle-aged teachers guarded each door. Escaping was impossible, and jumping out the window wasn't an option, as it didn't seem to be on the first floor.

"Since this parallel world is so dangerous, running away is not an option. I lived an ordinary life in my previous life; do I really want to repeat it?"

Yang Dai took a deep breath, his eyes becoming determined.

He was very interested in the transcendent powers that only existed in novels. Although the girl didn't say much, he understood that in this world, a person's social status depended on their achievements in the Deep Realm.

Yang Dai wanted to ask the girl more, but it was her turn. She raised her hands and placed them on the mysterious purple stone on the podium.

"Classmates, don't panic when you enter the Deep Realm. Remember, be cautious with everyone you encounter. If you meet ghosts or demons, run if you can!"

A middle-aged man in front of the girl spoke. He had a typical middle-aged teacher appearance, with thinning hair. Yang Dai recognized him as his high school homeroom teacher, Mr. Cao, whom the boys affectionately called "Officer."

Mr. Cao's words didn't calm the panicked students, but Yang Dai remembered them.

He didn't have time to gather more information, so he had to remember the teacher's advice.

The girl suddenly disappeared, and Yang Dai had to step forward. He mustered his courage, raised his hands, and placed them on the purple stone.

It was a bit hot!

But he didn't let go.

The three teachers behind the podium didn't say anything to Yang Dai. He could only wait nervously. Suddenly, a strong suction force pulled his hands, and he felt the world spin.

Soon, Yang Dai's feet touched the ground, landing steadily without falling.

He opened his eyes, and his vision began to clear. What he saw was a forest at night, with trees not too dense. He stood on a hillside, and looking around, he saw mountains stretching in all directions.

Yang Dai was stunned.

He instinctively checked his body.

[You have successfully entered the Deep Realm. Survive until dawn, and you will return to your original world.]

[Please name yourself in the Deep Realm.]

Yang Dai saw the two lines of text and thought it was a bit like an online game.

He didn't hesitate and thought, "Yang Dai."

[The name is already taken. Please choose another name.]

Real name won't work?

Then I'll use a nickname!

Yang Dai thought, "Sweeping Armies!"

[The name is already taken. Please choose another name.]

"Overlord Doesn't Cross the River!"

[Name successfully chosen.]

[Do you want to draw a Deep Realm talent?]

Yang Dai remembered that the students had discussed talents the most, which were clearly very important, determining their starting point in the Deep Realm.

Draw!

[Congratulations, you have drawn a C-level talent—Enhanced Speed II]

[Enhanced Speed II: C-level talent. Each breakthrough will double your speed.]

Just C?

Yang Dai frowned. He remembered a classmate wanting to draw a B-level talent, meaning C-level wasn't that impressive.

[Detected traces of two lifetimes. You can redraw your Deep Realm talent. Do you want to redraw?]

Yang Dai's eyes widened.

The Deep Realm can detect that I've been reborn?

Could my rebirth be related to the Deep Realm?

[Congratulations, trial participant 'Zhan Hu' from the Xia region has obtained an A-level talent.]

[Congratulations, trial participant 'Zhou Xing Ma' from the Xia region has obtained an S-level talent.]

...

A-level!

S-level!

Yang Dai was immediately stimulated by the notifications.

How can C-level compare to A-level?

The current talent is too low. Since there's a chance to redraw, if he gives it up, he will definitely regret it in the future!

Draw again!

If he draws a D-level talent, he'll just survive until dawn and never enter the Deep Realm again. He's not afraid of being a nobody.

Redraw!

Yang Dai silently thought, and text appeared before his eyes:

[Redrawing Deep Realm talent]

[Congratulations, you have drawn an SS-level talent—Lord of Ten Thousand Shadows]

[Lord of Ten Thousand Shadows: SS-level talent. You can absorb any soul as a shadow servant. The success of absorption depends on your strength. The strength of the shadow servant depends on the soul's strength in life. The number of shadow servants is unlimited. Each absorbed soul grants you partial benefits. Shadow servants will never betray you and cannot possess or take over a living body until they leave you.]

[Congratulations, trial participant 'Overlord Doesn't Cross the River' from the Xia region has become the fifth participant to obtain an SS-level talent in the Xia region.]