Chapter 0: Prologue: I’ll Take a Disciple—Who Asked You?

Across the myriad realms, at the convergence of the Ten Sacred Lands…

High above where mortal eyes could not reach, a battlefield spanning a hundred thousand miles was engulfed in chaos.

A cataclysmic war between countless races raged for ten days and nights.

Mountains of corpses rose like peaks piercing the clouds, while rivers of blood flowed endlessly across the land.

At some point, rain began to fall from the sky, as if even the heavens were mourning.

Thunder and lightning accompanied the storm, washing the blood-soaked ground.

The will of Heaven dimmed.

Fate became obscure and unknowable.

This was the ancient clash of champions—a battle to seize the fabled Supreme Opportunity.

Humans, demons, beasts, fiends… even dragons, phoenixes, and qilins—no race was exempt.

All were pawns on the board of the mighty, their destinies no longer their own.

“This final battle… This era shall end with my victory.”

A white-haired youth clad in a holy robe laced with Daoist runes stood proudly, a golden phantom stretching a thousand feet high behind him.

Even the River of Time trembled in his presence.

As he walked forward, each step caused both friend and foe to vanish into motes of light, drawn into the golden phantom behind him.

He was a bearer of the Innate Virtuous Body—proof of a Dao Patriarch.

And yet, even he was not unchallenged.

Another overwhelming force stood in opposition, refusing to yield.

“The heavens shall fall to the Demon Realm! This throne belongs to me!”

As the voice rang out, lifeless demonic flames surged across the heavens and earth, greedily devouring all life around.

A demon with emerald vertical pupils radiated a chilling aura, showing not the slightest trace of fear.

He was the Overlord of the Demon World—an eternal Demon King!

Just as the two forces locked in a stand-off, a third figure entered effortlessly between them.

“I return bearing the destiny of the Ancestral Dragon. This age shall be mine to command.”

With a single step, a terrifying wave of power erupted.

The void cracked and splintered.

Even the domains of the Dao Patriarch and the Demon King trembled in response.

These three—without a doubt—were the hands behind the conflict that consumed the realms.

Now, the moment to decide the victor had finally arrived.

Yet none of the three wanted to make the first move and become the target of the others.

***

At last, someone couldn’t hold back.

“You’ve been standing around long enough. Are you going to fight or not?”

“…Hmm?”

“Who are you?!”

Startled by the sudden voice, the three almighty beings turned their piercing gazes in unison.

There, sitting comfortably, was a young man surrounded by melon seeds and snacks, as if he were simply… watching a show.

“A human? Never seen him before.”

“To withstand our presence without flinching… Just who are you?”

The youth stood up casually, his white robe fluttering in the wind.

He smiled harmlessly and spoke with utmost seriousness.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Su Chen.”

Then, as if making a polite request, he added, “I came here specifically to send the three of you—on your way.”

“…You dare court death?!”

For the first time, the three almighty emperors moved in perfect unison.

Their powers erupted, shattering the void itself.

Su Chen, however, merely yawned and lazily raised a finger.

“Come. Hit me.”

The provocation was beyond anything they had endured.

The three emperors could no longer tolerate his audacity.

***

“Annihilate the River of Time!”

The first to attack was naturally the most arrogant—Destined Dragon Sovereign.

His punch dimmed the entire time stream.

Following swiftly, the Demon King and Dao Patriarch struck without hesitation.

“Extinction Flame of Nothingness!”

“Three Thousand Universal Salvation!”

In that instant, all ongoing battles across the realms came to a sudden halt.

Countless powerful beings stared up at the sky in utter disbelief.

The light was blinding, divine… and deadly.

The oppressive might was so great that none could move under its pressure.

But… it was all useless.

CRACK!

Before the astonished eyes of the three emperors, their most powerful techniques shattered completely.

Su Chen stood where he had been, untouched, his posture as relaxed as ever.

He slowly clenched his jade-white fist and smiled gently.

“As a kind person, I only throw one punch.”

“Do you think you can survive it?”

Though his smile was kind, it sent shivers down the spines of the three emperors—beings whose hearts had not stirred in millennia.

That one punch… might kill them!

***

On that day, the prolonged war came to an unspoken end.

No one ever learned the outcome.

For the three emperors were never seen again.

Yet the silhouette of a fist etched into the sky remained—etched across the heavens for years to come.

From that moment forward, the myriad realms finally knew peace once more.

And as for Su Chen, the hero of this momentous event, he was anything but pleased.

“Boring!”

“If I’d known they were this weak, I wouldn’t have used my full strength.”

“Now there isn’t even a decent opponent left. What am I supposed to do?”

He glanced down at the scattered sects rebuilding below—once-glorious, now humbled.

As a solitary figure without disciples, he began to ponder…

‘Maybe I should—’

Before the thought could finish, the void around him began to twist.

Then, without warning, it suddenly shattered.

A beam of purple light shot straight at Su Chen.

Su Chen frowned and waved his sleeve, releasing a terrifying force to counter it.

But in the next second, the purple light pierced through his power and directly entered his body.

At the same time, a cold voice echoed in his mind.

[Ding! Host binding successful. The Myriad Worlds Imperial Master System is now at your service!]

“Oh?”

[This system was forged from the Primordial Origin at the dawn of heaven and earth. It possesses the power to defy the heavens and reshape fate itself.]

[Its sole purpose: to mold the host into the unparalleled First Imperial Master across all realms.]

[Note: This system is an invincible existence. Host must not disobey system tasks.]

“Invincible?”

Su Chen raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by that last part.

As a transmigrator, he naturally knew what a “system” was.

But what truly piqued his interest was… ‘could this thing be punched?’

Just then—

[Scanning host’s aptitude… Ding… Scan malfunction. Unable to determine host’s aptitude for now.]

[To save time, skipping initial procedures. Commencing first mission!]

[Initial Mission: Within three days, host must find the Heaven’s Chosen within a 100-mile radius and accept them as a disciple.]

[Rewards will be distributed based on mission completion.]

[Mission failure will result in the host being subjected to one of the Ten Supreme Tortures—randomly selected.]

[Please choose.]

“Sounds interesting. I refuse,” Su Chen replied crisply.

[Ding! Warning! Host will be obliterated if refusal is forced!]

“Oh? Now this is getting fun. I love a good threat~”

Su Chen’s interest was thoroughly piqued.

He clenched his fist and punched himself square in the chest.

In an instant, his strike stirred a ripple through his body, drawing threads of purple energy from all directions.

They gathered into a thick purple mist.

[Ding! Host hostility detected. System engaging defensive measures—Initiating Suppression!]

As soon as the voice fell, the mist morphed into a massive battle axe that slashed down toward Su Chen.

Su Chen’s eyes narrowed.

He clenched his fist and smashed it straight into the axe.

“Boom!”

The battle axe shattered instantly.

[Ding! Host’s power exceeds expected limits. System deploying Level 1 Absolute Defense—activating ‘Toxic Trash Talk Mode’!]

The purple mist trembled.

A translucent barrier formed silently around it.

“Heh…”

Su Chen almost burst out laughing.

“What a shameless move. Truly worthy of a system!”

Without hesitation, he punched again.

“Crack!”

The barrier shattered on impact.

[Ding! Level 2 Absolute Defense activated!]

Another punch.

“Crack!” Shattered again.

[Ding! Level 3—]

Boom! Smashed again.

***

[Ding! System is now in an enraged state. Activating Invincible Defense Mode. Executing ultimate move: KEY SMASH!]

A brilliant golden glow erupted around the mist, forming an ancient and terrifying barrier.

Even the power of the void couldn’t leave a mark on it.

Su Chen raised his eyelids slightly and casually threw another punch.

A seemingly ordinary fist struck the barrier—and the system’s smug voice fell silent.

Looking closely, the golden shield began to crack… inch by inch.

“First of all, I hate being forced.”

“Second, I need a disciple—and you want to teach me how?”

Boom!

With a loud crash, the system was completely dumbfounded.

‘What the hell?! I’m supposed to be invincible! How did I just get beaten into scrap!?’

Su Chen’s eyes darkened, black light swirling in his gaze.

He reached out and slowly clenched his hand.

The once-untouchable purple mist that made up the system was now trapped in his palm—struggling helplessly.

[Ding! Detected foreign interference… System integrity collapsing… 1%…]

“Where’s all that talk about being invincible now?” Su Chen smirked.

As his grip tightened, the system began to fall apart.

[System 70% damaged. Entering self-preservation mode…]

“Big brother, wait! I was wrong, okay? Please stop!”

“I’m a system! A very useful one! Don’t—”

Su Chen remained unmoved, utterly indifferent.

The system nearly burst into tears.

After traversing countless realms and raising countless elite Imperial Masters, building a legendary reputation…

‘Why did it have to run into a monster like this!?’

“You were looking for a disciple, right?”

“I can help you! With me, it’ll be effortless!”

“Just say the word, and I can identify any type of disciple you’d want!”

“Let me live, and I’ll—”

Su Chen pondered for a moment.

It did sound useful.

With a flick of his wrist, he compressed the system into a tiny humanoid figure that floated before him.

“Alright. You’re this shameless? Keeping you around might be entertaining.”

“…”

The system wanted to complain—but in the end, it could only respond obediently.

“At your service, Host.”

Desperate to prove its value, the system immediately got to work.

“Range set to 10,000 miles.”

[System scanning… Using destiny, talent, and bloodline as core metrics…]

[Scanning in progress… Scan complete!]

[Chu Tiange. Fifteen years old. Member of the Chu Clan in the Great Yan Dynasty. Possesses Berserker War Bloodline. Born for battle. Grows stronger in combat. Currently unawakened.]

[Lian Tianqiong. Fifteen years old. Outer disciple of the Medicine Heaven Valley. Born with the Desolate Medicine Body. Holds immense life force. Unparalleled talent in alchemy. Currently—]

“Stop. Who told you to look for those?”