Heh heh heh!

Some people died, but they weren't completely dead...

After an endless stretch of darkness, Ning Chen abruptly sat up in bed and gulped in fresh air.

Then, an unfamiliar scene came into view.

Where was he?

Ning Chen looked around, growing even more bewildered.

The room was steeped in old-world elegance, with carved wooden windows, an elegant folding screen, and darkwood tables and chairs... The layout was nothing like his bedroom—not even remotely.

His clothes had changed completely, too. His familiar pajamas were gone, replaced by a black robe made of an unusual fabric that felt cool to the touch.

"What the hell? What movie set have they dumped me on? Is this still... Earth?"

Confused, Ning Chen got out of bed and looked around once more. At last, his gaze landed on the bronze mirror on the wooden table.

It reflected his current appearance.

His long, ink-black hair cascaded over his shoulders. His features were exceptionally handsome—so handsome he could make people commit crimes.

Aside from his longer hair, everything else was unchanged. Good.

Ning Chen nodded in satisfaction. Unless someone had played a malicious prank on him, there was only one possible explanation!

He'd transmigrated!

Just then, the unhurried sound of footsteps approached from a distance. A moment later, someone opened the tightly shut door from outside.

A solemn-looking middle-aged man in a dark red robe embroidered with patterns strode inside. He stood tall, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze steady as a mountain.

"Sir, you're awake?" Seeing Ning Chen standing beside the bed, the man spoke in an even voice, betraying little emotion.

"Uh... Yeah. I just woke up."

Ning Chen suppressed the turmoil in his heart and tried to keep his expression calm, though inside he was ranting furiously.

Damn it! The transmigration service was terrible! Where was the beginner's guide? The identity and memory package? One star!

He cleared his throat and asked tentatively, "Pardon my asking, but... where is this? And who are you? Why am I here? I seem to... be missing a part of my memory."

"Ha." A faint smile crossed the man's face. He waved a hand.

"Sir, there's no need to be nervous. The Xiao Clan means you no harm."

He then turned to gesture at the table and chairs. "The story behind it is a long one. Why don't we sit down and talk?"

Ning Chen's gaze flickered. He nodded, went to the table, and sat opposite the red-robed man.

The man picked up the warm purple clay teapot and poured two cups of tea at an unhurried pace. He slid one across to Ning Chen. The fragrant steam rose, soothing and refreshing.

"This is Wutan City. I am Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Clan's patriarch," the man said slowly.

"Last night, you suddenly appeared in the back courtyard of the Xiao Clan and were unconscious. We Xiao Clan members have always valued peace and treated others with kindness, so we let you stay."

Ning Chen froze when he heard this.

Wutan City... the Xiao Clan... Xiao Zhan...

Wasn't this the world of Battle Through the Heavens?!

"Let me ask you one more thing," Ning Chen said, trying to steady his racing heart as he sought confirmation. "Do you have three sons? Is the youngest called Xiao Yan?"

"Hm? How did you know?" Xiao Zhan asked, puzzled. A sudden wariness rose in his heart.

He had appeared out of nowhere in the Xiao Clan, yet knew the details of the clan... Could this man have come with ill intentions?!

He really had!

Ning Chen was now completely certain that he had transmigrated into the world of Battle Through the Heavens!

If that was the case, where was his system?

He could accept getting no cheat for transmigrating to ancient times, but in a fantasy world like this, it was unthinkable!

Just as he was thinking that, a cold, genderless mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind.

[ Ding! The host's strong desire has been detected. The Everything 50-50 System has been bound successfully! Welcome! ]

A translucent blue panel, glowing faintly, appeared before his eyes:

[Host: Ning Chen]

[Age: Eighteen]

[Cultivation: None]

[Technique: None]

[Dou Technique: None]

[Items: None]

[Current Status: Indiscriminate 50-50 Domain (passive)]

[Surprise Points: 0]

As Ning Chen stared blankly at the system's sudden appearance, a flood of information poured into his mind, clearly explaining the rules of the Everything 50-50 System.

In short, no matter what he faced, he could force things to a 50-50 outcome.

However, it only worked against people or things stronger than him. It didn't apply to those weaker than him, so he wouldn't end up trading blows with some stray dog by the roadside.

The last stat, Surprise Points, was easy to understand, too. If something he did surprised people, he could earn Surprise Points and use them to buy things in the shop.

"I... I can't believe it!"

After processing the information, Ning Chen's heart was rocked by a tidal wave of shock, far greater than when he'd first confirmed he'd transmigrated!

This system... was downright heaven-defying!

What did this mean?

It meant that an ordinary person with no cultivation could, in theory, go toe-to-toe with the strongest beings in the world—like Hun Tiandi in the future!

Below him, ranks were strict. Above him, all beings were equal!

And with Surprise Points that could be exchanged for anything, he was destined to spend the rest of his life showing off and humiliating people... no, maintaining world peace!

Joy, absurdity, disbelief... all kinds of emotions surged through Ning Chen. He could barely stop himself from laughing aloud.

"Heh heh heh!"

Just then—

"Bang!"

The doors to the meeting hall burst open. A Xiao Clan guard rushed inside in a panic and cried out,

"Patriarch! This is bad! The patriarchs of the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family have brought a large force to block the entrance to our marketplace. They've slandered the Xiao Clan, claiming we used underhanded means to seize a share of the medicinal herb market. They're pressuring us together and demanding that we hand over half the profits from our marketplaces immediately. Otherwise, they'll tear off all pretense and make this a fight to the finish!"

Xiao Zhan's face darkened at the news. He slapped the table and rose to his feet.

"Bastards! When they colluded to drive prices down and compete dirty, why didn't they mention 'fair play' then? Do they really think I, Xiao Zhan, am made of mud?!"

As he roared, the powerful green Dou Qi around him swept out uncontrollably. The imposing aura of a five-star Da Dou Shi surged toward them, making the doors and windows creak and the candles in the hall flicker violently.

Yet when this pressure, enough to leave even a Dou Shi expert gasping, reached Ning Chen, who sat calmly in his chair, it vanished without a trace, like a spring breeze melting snow. It didn't even stir a single strand of his hair.

So it had already taken effect?

Ning Chen understood. It seemed this 50-50 effect operated on a conceptual level. It wasn't giving him the cultivation to match his enemy and then making him fight on his own.

If that was the case, this would be easy...

Nearby, Xiao Zhan saw the whole thing, and his heart jolted!

In his fury, he'd released his aura without meaning to target Ning Chen, but no ordinary person without a trace of Dou Qi could have endured it so effortlessly!

This man... was hiding his true abilities! Could he be far stronger than me?!

[Surprise Points from Xiao Zhan: +200, +100, +49...]

Seeing the system prompt, Ning Chen raised an eyebrow.

Oh? Points already? That was quite a generous haul. He just hoped the things in the shop weren't too expensive...

After one upheaval after another, the atmosphere in the hall instantly dropped to freezing.

In the oppressive silence, a calm voice rang out, breaking the stillness.

"Patriarch Xiao."

Ning Chen set down his teacup and slowly rose. The confusion and uncertainty had vanished from his face, replaced by composure. The faintest hint of a smile played on his lips.

"It seems the Xiao Clan is having a bit of trouble?"

Ning Chen walked over and stood beside Xiao Zhan, his tone casual and relaxed.

"I've only just arrived, and the Xiao Clan has kindly taken me in. I suppose I owe you a favor."

He paused, met Xiao Zhan's puzzled gaze, and smiled.

"As repayment, those noisy flies who came knocking..."

"Shall I swat them away for you?"