Cold.
That was the first thing Lin Chen felt.
Not the gentle chill of a winter morning, nor the refreshing coolness of rain.
This was a biting, merciless cold—one that seeped into his bones, gnawed at his flesh, and slowly dragged his consciousness into darkness.
He couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't even feel his own heartbeat.
For a brief moment, he thought—
So this is death.
A faint memory surfaced.
A narrow alley.
Rotten garbage piled against cracked walls.
The distant neon lights of a bustling city that never cared about people like him.
He had been lying there, starving for days, his body too weak to stand.
No one stopped.
No one looked.
No one cared.
And in the end—
He died.
Just like that.
Silently.
Meaninglessly.
Forgotten.
…
"Is this hell?"
A faint thought flickered through his mind.
But suddenly—
Warmth.
A strange, unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest.
Then came the pain.
Sharp.
Violent.
Overwhelming.
It surged through his body like a tidal wave, forcing his consciousness back from the abyss.
Lin Chen's fingers twitched.
His breathing became uneven.
Air rushed into his lungs as if they had been empty for years.
"Hah—!"
He gasped, his eyes snapping open.
Light flooded his vision.
Blinding.
Harsh.
Real.
He instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes—
—and froze.
His hand.
It wasn't the hand he remembered.
Gone were the cracked skin, the dirt, the scars earned from years of struggle.
This hand was…
Smooth.
Clean.
Strong.
Young.
"What…?"
His voice came out hoarse, unfamiliar even to himself.
He slowly pushed himself up, his movements clumsy, as if he had forgotten how to control his own body.
His surroundings came into focus.
A simple room.
Wooden furniture.
A narrow bed.
Nothing luxurious—but clean, organized, livable.
Not the filthy alley he died in.
Lin Chen's heart began to race.
"This isn't…"
Fragments of memories suddenly exploded in his mind.
Images. Voices. Experiences that didn't belong to his past life.
A different world.
A world ruled by strength.
Where powerful cultivators could shatter mountains, split rivers, and decide the fate of countless lives with a single thought.
A world where—
The weak were nothing.
Lin Chen's breathing grew heavier as the memories settled.
"This body…"
"...is also mine."
Same name.
Different life.
Different fate.
But one thing remained unchanged.
He clenched his fists.
Still weak.
Still insignificant.
Still someone who could be crushed at any moment.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"So even after being reborn…"
"I'm still at the bottom."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then—
A strange calm settled in his eyes.
Because he understood something clearly.
This time…
He still had a chance.
Unlike his previous life, where he struggled blindly until death—
This time, he knew how the world worked.
Strength was everything.
And he had been given a second opportunity.
"…I won't waste it."
Just as that thought formed—
A sudden, mechanical sound echoed in his mind.
Cold.
Emotionless.
Unmistakable.
[Ding!]
Lin Chen's body froze.
"…What was that?"
Before he could react, lines of translucent blue text appeared before his eyes.
Floating.
Unreal.
Yet undeniably present.
[Lifespan System Activated]
His pupils shrank.
"A… system?"
Even in this world, systems were nothing more than myths.
Legends whispered among desperate people who longed for miracles.
And yet—
Here it was.
Right in front of him.
[Host: Lin Chen]
[Lifespan: 72 Years]
[Strength: 1]
[Speed: 1]
[Talent: Low]
Every number looked painfully ordinary.
Pathetically weak.
But Lin Chen didn't feel disappointed.
Because his attention was locked onto the next line.
[You may consume lifespan to upgrade any attribute]
Silence.
The room felt heavier.
Lin Chen stared at those words, his mind racing.
"Consume… lifespan?"
"…to become stronger?"
A laugh almost escaped his lips.
Ridiculous.
Absurd.
Terrifying.
Yet—
Perfect.
In his previous life, what had he valued most?
Time.
If he had more time, he could have worked harder.
If he had more time, he could have changed his fate.
But he never had that luxury.
And now—
Time itself had become a currency.
A resource.
A weapon.
Lin Chen slowly stood up.
His expression turned cold.
"If I don't become strong…"
"I'll just die again."
Different world.
Same outcome.
That was the truth.
He stared at the floating interface, his gaze unwavering.
"…System."
"Can I upgrade talent?"
A brief pause.
Then—
[Yes]
Simple.
Direct.
No hesitation.
Lin Chen's heartbeat accelerated.
Talent.
The very thing that determined one's limit.
The invisible wall that separated geniuses from trash.
If he could change that—
Everything would change.
"What's the cost?"
[Upgrade Talent: Low → High]
[Cost: 10 Years of Lifespan]
Ten years.
Not a small number.
For ordinary people, that was a heavy price.
For someone who had already died once—
It meant nothing.
Lin Chen closed his eyes.
For a moment, the image of his previous life flashed in his mind.
Hunger.
Cold.
Helplessness.
Despair.
Then—
His eyes snapped open.
Filled with resolve.
"…Do it."
No hesitation.
No regret.
Because he understood something deeply.
A long life without power…
Was worthless.
[Processing…]
The moment the system responded—
Pain exploded within him.
Not ordinary pain.
It felt as if his bones were being shattered and reforged.
As if something deep within his very existence was being rewritten.
Lin Chen's body trembled violently.
His nails dug into his palms, drawing blood.
But he didn't scream.
Didn't beg.
Didn't resist.
Because he knew—
This pain…
Was his path forward.
Seconds felt like hours.
Hours felt like eternity.
Then suddenly—
Everything stopped.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
[Upgrade Complete]
[Talent: High]
Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes.
And in that instant—
The world changed.
He could feel it.
Energy.
Invisible yet everywhere.
Flowing through the air.
Breathing with the world.
For the first time—
He could sense it clearly.
Control it.
Absorb it.
"…So this is talent."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Not excitement.
Not joy.
But something far more dangerous.
Confidence.
He raised his hand slightly.
The air trembled.
Energy gathered.
Responding to his will like a loyal servant.
"This…"
"…is power."
Lin Chen stood there, silent for a long time.
Then—
He laughed.
A low, controlled laugh.
"This time…"
"I won't die like before."
His gaze turned sharp.
Cold.
Determined.
"I'll stand at the top."
"No matter the cost."