What This Life Gains Is Only the Prologue

He disliked wearing this black dress every day.

From now on, should I put more effort into my clothing choices?

The thought had barely formed when it was interrupted by a movement behind me.

She groaned softly, leaning forward until her forehead hit the mattress, her thoughts shattering into countless fragments of glass.

Like a small boat, tossed about in the wind and rain.

He grabbed the steering wheel and pulled it back.

Her upper body was forced to rise, her neck forming a graceful arc.

It lasted only a moment.

And then, under that undeniable force, they were trampled into the mud.

I don't know how much time passed.

It's over.

Long Yue got up, picked up the scattered pieces of her black scale dress one by one, dressed herself neatly, and combed her long hair.

When she looked up again, her face had returned to its usual cold and Fate Warden expression.

It was as if nothing had happened.

"Long Yue takes her leave."

Her voice was calm, and the ending notes were even more steady than usual.

Qin Wangchuan leaned against the couch, watching the black figure disappear outside the palace gate.

Her black dress trailed on the ground, her steps were unhurried, her back was straight, and every step seemed to have been measured precisely, without the slightest deviation.

But he knew there was nothing beneath that long, black, scaled dress.

Although it was somewhat daring, Long Yue's palace was located within the Divine Son Hall.

No one else would know this except him.

Recalling that wanton scene just now, Qin Wangchuan couldn't help but smile.

It seems like nothing is enough.

As expected of the Dragon Clan.

A few more days passed.

These past few days, Qin Zhaoer has been bringing that bronze furnace over every day.

She said it would be fine to leave it here, but she wouldn't.

They insisted on carrying it in their hands, taking it everywhere they went, as if afraid it would be stolen.

Qin Wangchuan let her do as she pleased.

On the sixth day, he sat cross-legged by the pool, closed his eyes, and looked inward.

That Heaven-Opening Intent circulated within his body for several days.

Those who can understand have already understood most of it; staying any longer will only add to their troubles.

Please, elders, disperse them and return them to nothingness.

The next day, Qin Wangchuan Ye Jianwei to his side.

"I'm going into seclusion for a while. You can handle the trivial matters yourself."

Ye Jianwei nodded, without asking any further questions.

Qin Wangchuan returned to his room and sat cross-legged on the couch.

Close your eyes, and a semi-transparent panel unfolds before you.

The [Start Trial] button was quietly lit up, emitting a faint glow.

Without hesitation, I clicked it.

The next moment, the system announcement sounded.

[Ten Lives Trial, Part One: Mortal]

[Mission Objective: To experience a mortal life, to live, to grow old, to be sick, and to die.]

[Initial points: 3]

[Task Reward: None]

[WARNING: Once the trial begins, voluntarily withdrawing will result in failure, and the subsequent nine trials will be permanently closed.]

[Confirm to start?]

"Sure."

The moment you clicked "OK".

Qin Wangchuan's vision went black, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a gray and white space.

There was no sky, no earth, only him standing alone in the void.

The ground beneath my feet shimmered faintly, like the surface of water, yet I didn't sink.

A semi-transparent panel appeared out of thin air in front of me.

[Please start adding points]

Every choice leaves a mark. This body, this home, this land, this bloodline, this destiny—they will make you.

[Physical Strength: 0] -- The strength or weakness of one's physical body.

If the number is less than 1, there is a congenital disease, requiring medication.

[Family Background: 0] -- Born into wealth or poverty.

If the number is less than 1, one will not have enough to eat or wear.

[Birthplace: 0] -- The prosperity or desolation of one's homeland.

If the number is less than 1, the homeland is lost, and people are displaced.

[Family Affection: 0] -- The warmth of blood ties.

If there are fewer than 1, the person is without father or mother, and utterly alone.

[Fortune: 0] -- Born in a prosperous era or a chaotic era.

If the number is less than 1, the world will be in turmoil, and life will be as worthless as grass.

Qin Wangchuan stared at the five attributes, lost in thought.

Shift your gaze downwards.

[Remaining points: 3]

"In other words, it's not completely random... No, that's also true."

"After all, I was born at the top, but some people are born in the mud. If it were completely random, someone could die instantly at birth."

"Five attributes, only three with a value of 1, will have negative effects..."

He didn't rush to add points, but asked, "System, are these points awarded for every trial?"

[This system cannot view the trial content...]

"Get lost!"

The simulation is unsure, the trials are unsure, and all the tasks are wrong.

Qin Wangchuan finally understood: this Dog System knew nothing except for its mouth.

Let's return our attention to the control panel.

"Choose three out of five..."

There's no need for much hesitation.

Add one point each to physical fitness, family background, and place of birth.

It's just a trial anyway; family ties don't matter.

As for luck, as long as the starting birthplace is safe, turmoil in the world is not out of the question.

[Please confirm]

"Confirm."

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene before him suddenly began to change.

[World generating...]

[Start with random age... Random number: 17]

You will begin this chapter of your life at the age of seventeen.

[Your hidden attribute - Luck: 0]

You will live a very ordinary life.

[Start confirming attributes.]

[Physical Strength: 1]

You were not born strong, but you were not weak either.

When I was a child, I would occasionally catch a cold, and a few bowls of medicine would be enough to make me recover.

Aside from that, your health is pretty good; you haven't caused me any major trouble.

[Family background: 1]

Your father is Martial Practitioner in town; he's not extremely wealthy, but he provides enough for you to eat and stay warm.

There is a brick house with two courtyards, and a Jujube Tree in the yard.

My mother is skilled at embroidery, and all the neighbors praise her craftsmanship.

You wore every piece of clothing she made when you were a child; the stitches were fine and the clothes fit you perfectly.

[Birthplace: 1]

You were born in a small town under the jurisdiction of Qingzhou Prefecture, called Willow Creek Town.

The town is small, with about a hundred households. It is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with a small river flowing through it and willow trees lining both banks.

There is a market in the town, which is open on the 3rd and 8th of each month, and people from all around come to the market.

[Family Affection: 0]

Your mother passed away when you were three years old.

You don't remember what she looked like, you only heard your father say that she was a gentle woman whose eyes curved like crescent moons when she smiled.

Your father never remarried and raised you all by himself.

But he's not good with words and never tells you what's on his mind.

There's something between you, something hard to describe, like a thin sheet of paper in winter, yet impossible to break through.

[Fortune: 0]

When you were seventeen, the world was in chaos.

Rebellions broke out in the north, and the imperial court failed to suppress them effectively, leading to the spread of war across most of the country.

Taking advantage of the situation, bandits rose up and looted everywhere.

My father was attacked by bandits while escorting goods and never returned.

The fighting grew fiercer, and more and more people died.

Later, even Martial Practitioner went to the battlefield. Those who could fight ten against one and leap across rooftops were placed into this chaotic situation like chess pieces.

This world contains a large number of "Martial Practitioner," a small number of "Cultivator," and a very small number of "masters."

"Martial Practitioner, Cultivator, and spirits? Demons?"

[Generation complete]

[Loading...]

I'm looking at these descriptions right now.

The next instant, Qin Wangchuan felt himself being sucked in by something.

My vision spun, and light and shadow swept past me like flowing water, as if I had fallen into an abyss with no end in sight.

He vaguely heard a voice.

The voice, its gender and origin unknown, seemed to come from a great distance, yet also as if whispering close to his ear.

All that we gain in this world is but a prologue.

Eight characters.

As the sound faded, all things fell silent.