Chapter One: The Supreme Ancestor System

“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight will surely be a sleepless night!”

“The Nine Stars Alignment is about to occur, and with it comes the Night of Reversion—an event that will determine the fate of this year’s graduating students.”

In front of the camera, a female field reporter from CCTV, dressed in a light blue blouse and wearing a practiced smile, turned her microphone toward a male teacher standing beside her.

“Mr. Yu, as the homeroom teacher, how many martial artists do you expect to emerge from your class tonight?”

The teacher’s face was alight with excitement. “The more, the better! I estimate over fifty percent!”

“Is there any secret to becoming a Reversion Martial Artist?”

After a moment’s thought, the teacher replied, “First and foremost, it’s about bloodline—the interwoven heritage of both father and mother, passed down over centuries. In theory, anyone has the chance to revert to the ways of a martial ancestor.”

“The second is a robust constitution—only a strong body can withstand the martial spirit of one’s forebears.”

“And third, well, that comes down to luck.”

“In short, it’s a harmony of timing, environment, and people. None can be lacking.”

The reporter nodded earnestly. “Let us all wish the students the very best tonight!”

…

At the school gates, many parents were giving their children heartfelt advice.

“Child, the family’s glory rests on your shoulders!”

“Last year, Old Wang’s family next door produced a National Martial Artist. He’s been so smug since, it’s as if the whole world belongs to him!”

“Remember, our ancestors were a family of martial arts masters, with experts in every generation. Don’t let the family name down!”

…

Amid the crowd, a boy in a white T-shirt and jeans, clean-cut and handsome, walked with his head bowed, a sigh escaping his lips.

Half a month ago, Xiang Nan had arrived in this world.

At first, he thought it was just like the Blue Star he’d come from. Yet, everywhere he looked—on the news, on the bustling streets—there were people in outlandish clothing, and supernatural beings leaping across rooftops.

Xiang Nan was stunned.

“This world is utterly insane!”

Fifty years ago, the phenomenon of the Nine Stars Alignment first appeared.

Bathed in starlight, countless humans who had reached the age of eighteen, as well as mature animals and plants, underwent bizarre transformations overnight.

Reversion.

Reversion didn’t contradict biological evolution; in fact, it enhanced it. Those who reverted gradually inherited the talents and powers of their ancestors.

However, society teetered on the brink of chaos.

Animals reverted into monstrous beasts, threatening humanity’s safety. Underground organizations sprang up like weeds, lawlessness multiplied at a geometric rate. Nations openly and covertly vied for dominance, tensions ever high.

One by one, countries established spiritual martial academies to train a new generation of Reversion Martial Artists, going so far as to make reversion part of their national college entrance exam.

The first reversion was crucial—it set the direction for every reversion that followed.

For instance, if one’s first reversion was toward martial artistry, future reversions would likely lead to higher martial prowess, spiritual cultivation, even immortality…

The greater the achievements of the ancestral figure, the higher the talent of the one who reverts.

The universal law governing all life’s reversion:

The first reversion connects to the National Martial Arts era, one to three centuries past.

The second reversion reaches back three to ten centuries—to the Age of Wuxia.

The third reversion draws from a millennium to three millennia ago, the High Martial Age.

Thereafter, one enters the Age of Decline, then the era of cultivation…

And tonight is the moment of destiny.

Xiang Nan took a deep breath.

His palms were slick with sweat.

“System, come out!”

Still, there was no response.

He was about to enter the examination arena, yet the system every transmigrator relies on had yet to appear.

Xiang Nan was growing frantic.

He dragged his feet toward the testing area.

The so-called examination hall was actually a wide open platform built specifically for the Reversion event, a field saturated with star energy.

At this moment, the place was ablaze with light.

All around, spiritual energy collectors gathered and condensed the surrounding moonlight and star power.

Meditation cushions were neatly arranged in the center for students to sit and focus during the reversion process.

At the front, a Reversion Testing Device awaited. Once the process was complete, students could instantly assess their ancestral connection, strength, and compatibility.

Already, many students had gathered on the platform.

Some were red-faced with nerves, fidgeting anxiously.

Others remained calm, confident in their preparation.

A few seized the last moments to stretch in the corners, hoping to eke out a final boost to their physical condition.

No one could be absolutely certain of their reversion.

“Hoo—”

Xiang Nan let out a shaky breath, found his name, and took his assigned seat.

He looked up at the sky.

In the pitch-black heavens, eight brilliant planets and the luminous full moon hung together in the night.

At midnight, the nine celestial bodies would align, forming the legendary configuration.

That was the window for reversion.

“Students, ten minutes remain until midnight. Please find your seats and prepare for the Reversion.”

The supervising teacher rapped the table, voice carrying across the hall.

Several assistants were already verifying student information.

“Verification complete. Everyone, center your mind and spirit…”

“Students, your moment of glory awaits!”

Click—

All the lights went out.

At that instant,

The clock at the back of the hall showed all three hands pointing straight up.

“It’s begun!”

Everyone drew a deep breath.

Beneath the vault of the sky, darkness reigned.

Yet, in the night above, stars and moon gleamed, spiritual energy surging.

Xiang Nan closed his eyes, regulated his breathing, and entered a state of sensory clarity.

The arena, holding nearly three hundred students, fell so silent it resembled a vast, empty wilderness.

A gentle breeze whispered through.

Above, clouds and wind churned.

The nine brilliant planets subtly shifted in their courses.

Slowly, they fell into perfect alignment.

Finally,

A beam of golden light shot from the easternmost star, slicing straight through the second, third, fourth…

“The Nine Stars are aligned!”

Xiang Nan felt the temperature around him plummet, a chilling cold seeping into his very pores.

At that moment,

A mechanical voice rang in his mind.

[Ding! The Supreme Ancestor System has successfully bound! Activating… 100%.]

!!!

A system? His cheat? It had finally arrived!

With the system’s help, all his worries dissipated like smoke.

[Host detected in the process of Reversion. Transmitting ancestor candidates… 100%!]

Boom—

Within his mind, a burst of white light exploded.

Hundreds of figures flickered in and out of existence, appearing before his inner eye.

Scholars clutching scrolls, merchants adorned with gold and silver, officials draped in jade sashes, and robust martial artists—they all stood before him.

Xiang Nan’s vision swam, his indecisiveness flaring up.

[Please select your ancestral figure.]

“I want the strongest martial artist!”

[Ding! The system has filtered out the five strongest candidates.]

In an instant, the multitude of shadows narrowed to five towering figures.

Xiang Nan focused on one—a middle-aged man in a white coat, radiating authority and piercing gaze.

[Ding! Host has selected the ancestral figure: Generation One National Martial Arts Grandmaster Wong Fei-hung.]

The next second, a powerful surge of moonlit star energy flooded through his breath and filled every fiber of his being.

Within his mind, countless martial techniques flashed before his eyes, etching themselves indelibly into his memory.

…