Not like anyone expected!
Death!
It might seem like the end for others, but not for him. When people ask, What comes after death? Many would answer: Heaven or Hell. Others would say there's nothing... just the end.
But for Long Chen, there was something. A second life. A new body. A new family and a new world. And it all happened in Tales of Demons and Gods!
Booooom!
[Glory City]
In the colossal Saint Ancestral Mountain range, sunlight shone through the gap between peaks, casting its light into the deep canyons. Along the slopes by the valley, there was still a touch of lingering snow.
Although summer had already begun, the snow hadn't yet melted. The cold here lasted far longer than normal. The occasional roars of beasts echoed in the distance.
The world beyond the Ancestral Mountains had been almost completely overrun by beasts. The inhabitants of the range had been isolated from the outside world for hundreds of years.
The people of the city were unsure of the world beyond. There were ancient records of humanity's golden era, when thousands of Legendary Fighters and Demon Spiritualists built empires across the vast continent—empires that had long since fallen.
On the surface of this valley stood a magnificent city, one that stubbornly defied fate.
This city was called [– Glory City –], one of the last remaining symbols of hope for humankind.
{Holy Orchid Institute, Fighter Apprentice Class}
Over thirty students sat in a large classroom, waiting to hear the teacher share her knowledge. These students were a group of Fighter Apprentices. All were part of the Holy Orchid Institute of Glory City.
Amid the background chatter, in one of the desks at the back of the room, a young boy rested his head on the cold wooden surface.
Ugh... my head... What happened? I remember crossing the street while playing on my phone and... a truck? No way. Don't tell me I got hit by the infamous Truck-kun…
The consciousness of Long Chen, a perfectly normal 14-year-old boy from the 21st century, came surging back. He lifted his head, blinking. The room… was made of wood? And old-fashioned. He looked at his own hands. Paler, softer. His clothes were weird, almost like linen.
"Where the hell am I?" he muttered in Portuguese, but the words that came out were flawless Chinese, a dialect he'd never learned.
Wait a second.
His brain, honed by endless hours of anime, manga, and web novels, started connecting the dots at lightning speed. The architecture, the clothes, the conversations around him…
"I heard the new teacher, Shen Xiu, is a 3-star Silver rank Demon Spiritualist from the Sacred Family!"
Long Chen's eyes went wide. Shen Xiu? Sacred Family? No way… Glory City?
His gaze swept across the classroom. He saw the faces that had once only existed in 2D illustrations. The cold, distant beauty of Xiao Ning'er, the noble elegance of Ye Ziyun. They were real. And somehow even more stunning in person.
Holy shit. I reincarnated into Tales of Demons and Gods! A chill ran down his spine, followed by a surge of exhilaration. I hit the isekai jackpot!
His teenage hormones, fully awake and ready to party, screamed in silent joy. So many goddesses in one place!
Before he could fantasize any further, a voice echoed—not in his ears, but directly in his mind. Calm, ethereal, like the echo of the universe itself.
[Host Awakening Complete.]
[Binding to Soul Realm…]
[Binding Successful.]
[Welcome, Host, to your Inner World: The Ancestral Spiritual Realm.]
Long Chen nearly jumped out of his seat. A system?! I got a system?! This is the full isekai package! He struggled to keep a straight face, but inside he was throwing a party.
The voice continued, explaining its functions like a game tutorial.
[The Ancestral Spiritual Realm is a sentient world forged within your Soul Realm. Within it, the Host will find unlimited opportunities—and deadly dangers.]
[Features:]
Exploration: Vast lands with ancient ruins, hidden treasures, and secrets from ages long past.
Legacies: Discover and master cultivation techniques, knowledge, and lost abilities.
Combat Trials: Battle fierce demon beasts to hone your skills and strengthen your soul.
[Core Rules:]
Safe Death: If the Host dies inside the Ancestral Spiritual Realm, only their consciousness returns to their physical body unharmed.
Accelerated Time Flow: One month of training and exploration inside the inner world equals just one hour in the real world.
Limited Access: Entry allowed twice per day—once at dawn, once at dusk.
Cultivation Transfer: All progress in Soul Realm and cultivation strength within the Ancestral Spiritual Realm is perfectly synced with the physical body.
The last rule made Long Chen's jaw drop. He looked down at his thin body. He was weak—probably a red soul realm, the lowest tier. But this... this changed everything. It's a cheat. The ultimate cheat.
The fear of the future demon beast horde still lingered, but it was now mixed with a wild, untamed excitement.
A wide, mischievous grin crept onto his face.
Alright, let's break this down, he thought, his calmer side taking over to assess things. I'm in a fantasy world I already know. I've got a ridiculously overpowered training system where I can't actually die and time flows faster. And most importantly… the waifus are real.
His eyes drifted once more to Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ning'er. A daring plan began to take shape in his teenage mind. To survive, he had to get stronger. To get stronger, he'd use his inner world to the max. And if he became absurdly powerful... well, saving the city and maybe winning a few hearts didn't sound like a bad endgame. In fact, it sounded like the best one.
"Heh," he chuckled softly, the sound filled with a new kind of confidence. "This is gonna be fun."
His playful, pervy side was in total agreement. Now, he just had to sit through class and wait for nightfall. His journey to becoming a legend—and maybe building a harem—was about to begin.