Shanghai—towering glass skyscrapers reflected the neon glow of the city, but for Liang Zhen, it was nothing more than scenery. The Liang Conglomerate, his family's empire, spanned continents, controlled trillions in assets, and influenced governments. Yet, standing atop the world's wealthiest family brought him no excitement.
Tonight was different. Tonight was his 25th birthday, and as the heir to the richest dynasty on Earth, the elite of Shanghai had gathered at the Huangpu Grand Hall for the annual Summit of Giants. But wealth, power, and influence were no longer enough to excite him.
Liang Zhen stepped from the black Hongqi L5, the city's lights reflecting in the glass of the car. Heads turned, whispers passed, and respect tinged with fear followed him wherever he went. A single glance could silence the room.
He didn't need a crown.
He was already the ruler of the mortal world.
The Summit of Giants
The grand hall gleamed with golden lights and crystal pillars. Even the most powerful magnates of Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S. seemed like children in this palace of wealth.
"Liang Shao, happy birthday," said Livingston, the American tech magnate, carefully avoiding Liang Zhen's piercing gaze.
"We've been waiting for you," said Fahd, a Saudi royal investor.
Liang Zhen smiled faintly. "Please, continue. I'm here only to observe."
Nothing moved him. Not money, not power, not flattery.
Until a silence fell over the room.
Time seemed to stop. The chatter, the music, even the chandelier's lights froze.
A metallic chime echoed in Liang Zhen's mind.
DING!
——Activating the Immortal Fortune Villain System——
Liang Zhen blinked. The voice was cold, mechanical, yet full of authority.
System initialization complete.
Host: Liang Zhen
Identity: Villain of the World's Richest Family
Purpose: Suppress Protagonists and Devour Immortal Fate
Liang Zhen's lips curved into a smirk. "So I'm finally getting a system… not for the weak, but for a villain like me."
Affirmative.
Multiple Protagonist Halo individuals exist across China.
Their destiny threatens your immortal fortune.
"Destiny…" Liang Zhen murmured. A spark of interest lit his otherwise cold gaze. For years, life had been dull, predictable, too easy. But now… a challenge awaited.
First Mission — Mortal Spark
DING!
First Protagonist Detected
Target: Lin Yi
Age: 22
Background: Orphan, poor
Destiny Level: A+
Plot Core: Will save a CEO, gain wealth and martial talent, rise to threaten Liang Conglomerate
Liang Zhen studied the holographic image carefully. A young man with determination in his eyes.
"How pathetic," Liang Zhen muttered. "Yet, destiny favors him. Let's fix that."
Mission: Destroy Lin Yi's first opportunity
Reward: Immortal Fortune System Level 2, 500 Villain Points, 1 Immortal Destiny Fragment, 'Heaven's Breath Meridian' — extends lifespan, activates cultivation compatibility
Liang Zhen's eyes glinted with a cold light.
"Steal his opportunity, or crush it entirely. The more ruthless, the greater my immortal reward."
Warning:
Host lacks cultivation skills initially. Mortal interventions only. Power upgrades available post-mission.
Liang Zhen's lips curved into a faint smile. "Fine. Money, power, and strategy will deal with him. Immortality is worth far more than a mere human life."
The Old Man's Warning
Liang Haoran, the patriarch, appeared behind him. His aura radiated authority—decades of wealth, influence, and conquest condensed into a single presence.
"You seem… entertained," the old man said.
"Thinking," Liang Zhen replied lightly.
"Remember, Zhen'er, destiny can favor even the weak. Your power is supreme, but even the tiniest thread of fate can twist against you."
Liang Zhen's eyes darkened. "Then let me be the one who twists it first."
Haoran's gaze lingered for a moment before he withdrew. Even the richest man on Earth could not see the future. But Liang Zhen could feel it—the system had given him a chance at more than power. A chance at immortality.
Midnight Preparation
Alone in the penthouse, overlooking Shanghai, Liang Zhen activated the system interface.
System: Host, details of first mission prepared.
A detailed report appeared: Lin Yi was destined to save a powerful CEO from a traffic accident at Zhonghai Street tomorrow morning. That event would secure him wealth, martial skills, and influence—turning him into a threat.
Liang Zhen smirked. "A perfect first mission. And the reward? Immortality. Not a bad start."
Villain Intent acknowledged. Immortal reward multiplier increased.
He poured himself a glass of wine. This was no ordinary battle. It was a clash with destiny itself, and each victory would bring him closer to eternal life, unlocking powers beyond mortal comprehension.
Flashback — The Young Villain
At 14, Liang Zhen bought failing companies with his allowance, turning them into billion-dollar enterprises.
At 17, he manipulated social and political networks effortlessly.
At 20, he crushed rival business families quietly, then returned their wealth with a smile.
The world feared him, called him villain—but he didn't care. Villains weren't bound by morality; they bent reality to their will.
Now, the Immortal Fortune System promised to make him more than human. A villain not just in wealth, but in life itself. Immortality was no longer a distant dream—it was a reward waiting for his ruthlessness.
The Calm Before the Storm
The streets of Shanghai lay silent under the moonlight. Liang Zhen, accompanied by his loyal bodyguard Xu Ming, drove to Zhonghai Street to inspect the site. A seemingly ordinary intersection, but tomorrow it would become the first battlefield in his immortal journey.
System: "Host, destiny is fixed. Intervention is recommended."
Liang Zhen chuckled. "Money, influence, and strategy. That's all I need. Immortality won't wait."
He studied the intersection carefully, planning every possible angle to ensure Lin Yi would fail, without directly killing him. Every stolen opportunity, every disrupted fate would increase his Immortal Fortune Points.
He felt alive for the first time in years.
The Villain's Toast
Back in his penthouse, Liang Zhen raised a glass to the city.
"To fate.
To destiny.
To immortality.
To the role of a lifetime—the Villain who devours protagonists."