From Death To Domination: I’ll Level up and Take My Revenge

Jiang Xuan's eyes snapped open.

His body was sprawled out on the cold stone floor, his senses disoriented. Dazed from the brutal attack. But as his mind cleared and he took in his surroundings, something felt entirely wrong.

The air was heavy with the scent of incense, Dimly lit torches flickered along the walls, casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance with a life of their own.

His heart thudded in his chest. 

Then, he heard it.

[Welcome, Host.]

The voice was calm, mechanical, yet somehow soothing. It echoed in his mind, sending an unnatural chill down his spine.

[The system has successfully bound to Host Liu Tang.]

The name sounded foreign. He furrowed his brows, trying to understand. ''Liu Tang? Who... was that?''

His memories, vivid and real, flooded back like a rushing torrent. The warm smile of his little sister, Li Mei, her laughter echoing in his ears. His mother's gentle voice, calling him home. His life as a soldier in the Chinese army, the wars, the battles, the blood. The quiet life he'd tried to build after leaving the military.

But then... the ambush. The gunfire, the screams. His mother, gone. His sister, taken.

He remembered dying. He remembered the shock of losing everything.

And now... he was in another world. A different body. A different name. Liu Tang.

His breath quickened. The anger that had been festering inside him since the ambush now bubbled to the surface, sharp and potent. ''No! This isn't right!''

[Host's previous life has been confirmed.]

[Reincarnation successful. Host now resides in the body of Liu Tang, the Red-Haired Devil.]

''Red-haired devil?'' He looked down at his hands, clenching his fists. The skin was pale but hardened, the fingers calloused from years of training. 

He looked up and his eyes widened as he took in the sight of the large weapon resting against the floor beside him. It was a sword, long and gleaming, with a crimson hilt. His breath caught in his throat as the reality of the situation began to sink in. The weight of it felt oddly familiar, like it had always belonged to him.

[The Red Devil is a unique weapon, a massive, wickedly curved pudao. Crafted from the finest materials, and designed for a master of both strength and speed. It is bound to Host, enhancing your combat capabilities.]

A weapon for someone like him. Someone who had been through countless battles in his past life, a soldier forged by the fires of war. But how could he use this weapon when he didn't even know where he was?

[Host has inherited the body and memories of Liu Tang, a once-powerful warrior. However, you must reclaim your strength. Cultivation is the path to true power.]

''Cultivation?''

The word echoed in his mind, foreign and strange. He stood up, shaking off the remnants of disorientation. His body felt lighter than it ever had, like he was filled with untapped potential. He could feel it deep within him, a dormant energy waiting to be unleashed.

He closed his eyes, focusing on the strange sensation building within. A power he could not describe. It felt like a burning energy, different from his past experiences. It felt like essence. Spiritual power.

[Host has successfully tapped into the first stage of cultivation: the Mortal Realm. You are now able to draw from the surrounding Essence to empower your body and mind. To progress, you must absorb and refine more Essence, cultivating it into internal power.]

The system's voice was unrelenting. He had to keep listening. There was so much to take in.

But something else weighed heavily on his mind. His family. Li Mei. His mother. They were still out there. And whoever had taken them was responsible for his death too.

The thought made his blood burn with fury.

He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to focus. The anger… it was powerful, but it had to be controlled. It had to be channeled into something productive. 

[Host is recommended to begin cultivating immediately to grow stronger. The path to power lies in mastering the Essence and advancing through the stages of cultivation.]

Jiang Xuan or rather, Liu Tang could feel the system's words urging him forward. But he wasn't ready to follow blindly.

He needed answers.

Where was he? What was this world? And more importantly…

How was he going to find a way back to his sister?

Liu Tang stood up, taking in his surroundings. Towering trees surrounded him, their deep red leaves rustling in the wind. Sunlight barely filtered through the thick canopy, casting eerie shadows across the forest floor.

This wasn't Earth. It felt wilder, more… alive.

[System Notification: You have entered the Scarlet Ash Forest.][Warning: Beast Territory. Danger Level: Medium.]

''Beasts?''

Before he could dwell on it, a low growl echoed through the trees. Liu Tang's grip on the Red Devil tightened.

From the bushes ahead, a pair of glowing yellow eyes locked onto him. The creature stepped forward, a massive wolf with dark red fur, its fangs bared and dripping with saliva.

[Scarlet Fang Wolf – Rank 1][Threat Level: Moderate]

Liu Tang smirked.

"Let's see if this body remembers how to fight."

The wolf lunged, but before it could reach him, Liu Tang moved. His body reacted on instinct, years of combat experience from both his past and this new life blending into one.

His pudao sliced through the air.

A single, clean arc.

The wolf's body collapsed before it even realized it was dead. Blood sprayed onto the grass as Liu Tang stood over its corpse, his blade humming with energy.

[Combat Proficiency: +1][System Notification: First Kill Bonus – Scarlet Fang Wolf Fur x1, Beast Core x1]

Liu Tang exhaled, his pulse steady.

This body… was quite strong.

Liu Tang moved cautiously through the forest, using his enhanced senses to detect any threats. Eventually, he reached the edge of the trees and spotted something in the distance—a towering wall of stone, stretching high into the sky.

A city.

From his memories, he recognized it.

Blackflame City.

One of the major strongholds in this world, ruled by powerful sects and warlords. A place where cultivators, mercenaries, and criminals thrived.

As he approached the massive gates, he saw a long line of travelers, merchants, and warriors waiting to enter. He pulled his hood over his red hair, keeping a low profile.

The moment he stepped closer, however, he felt eyes on him.

Whispers. Stares.

"...That weapon… could it be?""Red hair… no, it can't be him. The Red-Haired Devil is dead."

Liu Tang frowned. So his past life had quite the reputation.

Before he could react, a group of armored guards stepped forward, blocking his path. The leader, a burly man with a scar across his jaw, sneered.

"You've got some nerve showing up here, Liu Tang."

Liu Tang's grip on his weapon tightened.

So much for keeping a low profile.