Hot ash and soot clogged his throat, forcing a violent, chest-racking cough from his lungs. Gasping for air, Jiang Chen forced his eyes open, only to be met with a searing burn that made his vision blur. Acrid smoke billowed around him, rising from the charred ruins of what once had been wooden homes. His fingers twitched, grasping a cold, notched hilt slick with a warm, viscous fluid that smelled heavily of copper. Lifting his hand, he stared at the dark red blood coating his palm, his mind spinning in a vortex of confusion. Calloused and scarred, these hands did not belong to him; they were leaner and bore the marks of relentless sword practice. Silence hung heavy over the wreckage, broken only by the crackle of dying embers. Faint, ghostly echoes of horrific screams still rang in his ears, though the voices had long since fallen silent. Slowly, he pushed himself up, every muscle in his back screaming in agony. Mud and soot clung to his skin, drying under the intense heat of the surrounding fires. "Where... am I?" he croaked, his voice sounding like dry parchment rubbing against stone. Memories of his past life as a powerless, overworked salaryman in a cold, indifferent city clashed violently with new, raw information. He had died in that cramped office, his heart giving out under the relentless pressure of a system that chewed up the weak and spat them out. Rage, cold and sharp, flared in his chest at the memory of his own pathetic demise. Such helplessness was a poison he swore he would never drink again. Looking around, the sheer scale of the devastation before him made his breath hitch. Shattered corpses lay scattered across the blackened earth, their limbs torn apart with savage brutality. Men, women, and children were reduced to mere piles of broken flesh, their final expressions frozen in absolute terror. Deep, jagged claw marks rent their bodies, suggesting a force far more monstrous than any human army. Blood pooled in the cracks of the dry earth, reflecting the dim, crimson glow of the dying fires. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird as a sudden, sharp pain pierced his skull. Memories not his own flooded his brain, forcing him back onto his knees as he clutched his temples. He was in a world of Xianxia—a brutal realm where cultivators sought immortality through blood and slaughter, and the weak existed only to be trampled. Belonging to a nameless orphan who had scraped by in this remote mountain village, this body was weak, fragile, and utterly defenseless. Now, everyone he had known in this new life was gone, butchered in a single night of terror. *Ziiing.* Imperial Clan System initialization sequence initiated... A cold, mechanical voice echoed directly within his consciousness, devoid of any human warmth. [Aligning host soul with local world laws... Progress: 100%.] [Welcome, Jiang Chen. You have been designated as the Prime Host of the Imperial Clan System.] Staring blankly, Jiang Chen watched as a crimson, semi-transparent screen materialized in front of his eyes. Ancient, jagged runes pulsed on the interface, radiating a dark, oppressive pressure that made his breath catch. Could this be his salvation, or a different kind of damnation? Having read countless web novels in his previous life, he recognized the phenomenon, but the sheer coldness of this interface promised no heroic path. Engineered to assist the Host in establishing the ultimate Demon Empire, the system demanded ruthless efficiency. [In a world governed by the hypocritical righteousness of the Nine Immortal Sects, only absolute terror can forge true order.] Discarding useless morality was the first step; the system made it clear that survival required becoming the predator. Dark ambition sparked in his chest, a black flame consuming the last remnants of his modern hesitation. If the world was a meat grinder, he would rather be the hand that turned the crank than the meat inside. Declaring his path, Jiang Chen whispered, "If righteousness leads to slaughter, then I will become the devil that rules them all." [Notification: Beginner's Gift Pack is available. Would the Host like to open it?] Before he could issue the mental command, the ground beneath him trembled. --- Pebbles rattled against the charred earth as heavy, rhythmic thuds echoed from the edge of the forest. Each step shook the loose debris, carrying a terrifying weight that made the air itself feel heavy. A sickening stench of fresh blood and wet fur washed over the clearing, so thick it made Jiang Chen's throat constrict. Wind howled through the ruined village, momentarily parting the dense wall of smoke. Out from the dark tree line stepped a towering figure, nearly nine feet tall and built like a mountain of twisted muscle. Its skin was a mottled, slate-gray color, covered in coarse, wire-like hair that bristled with malice. Grotesque wolf-like features defined its face, with an elongated jaw filled with rows of jagged, yellowing fangs. Saliva, thick and green, dripped from its jowl, sizzling as it hit the scorched grass below. Its arms ended in massive, obsidian claws that gleamed like polished daggers under the moonlight. Jiang Chen held his breath, pressing his back against the crumbling remains of a stone wall. His eyes narrowed as he observed the beast, his newly acquired memories identifying the threat immediately. Identifying the monster brought a surge of dread; it was a member of the Blood Fang Clan, a savage tribe of demon beasts. Savage killers of the night, they raided mortal settlements to feed on their flesh and core energy. Against such a monster, his broken sword was nothing more than a toothpick. [Warning: Hostile entity detected. Threat level: Lethal for current Host status.] [Strongly advised to open the Beginner's Gift Pack immediately.] Hearing the countdown of his demise, he did not hesitate. "Open it!" Jiang Chen commanded mentally, his pulse racing. [Beginner's Gift Pack opened successfully.] [System reward: 'Tianmo Blood Refinement Art' (Basic Grade).] [System reward: 10 Demon Energy Points.] [System reward: Demon Bone Cleansing Pill.] [Host is under immediate threat. Initiating instant integration of 'Tianmo Blood Refinement Art'...] Yes! Do it now! Suddenly, an icy current of energy erupted from his dantian, rushing through his meridians like liquid nitrogen. Agony tore through his limbs, as if his bones were being ground into dust only to be fused back together. Jiang Chen bit his lip, drawing blood as he forced himself to remain silent, refusing to let even a whimper escape. Black, foul-smelling impurities seeped out of his pores, carrying away the weakness of his mortal frame. Despite the pain, he felt an intoxicating rush of power surging through his veins. His senses sharpened dramatically; he could hear the wet, heavy breathing of the demon from yards away. Embracing this dark energy, he felt his muscles harden, his senses expanding to perceive the hidden currents of world Qi. However, the sudden surge of spiritual energy did not go unnoticed. Sensing the spiritual fluctuation, the Blood Fang demon stopped its sniffing, its massive head snapping toward the ruined wall. Glowing red eyes locked onto his position with predatory precision. A low, guttural growl rumbled in the monster's chest, shaking the loose stones around them. Jiang Chen knew he could no longer hide. Standing up slowly, he stepped out from the shadow of the broken wall, his posture straight and unyielding. Wreathing his broken sword in a faint, dark aura, he prepared to face his executioner. Shaking off the remaining pain, he focused entirely on the giant wolf-like beast looming over the clearing. He had died once as a coward; he would rather die fighting as a monster than cower in the dirt again. Heavy steps brought the demon closer, its claws scraping against each other with a terrifying, metallic sound. --- Every instinct in Jiang Chen's body screamed at him to run, but he stood his ground, anchoring his feet into the soot-stained earth. Running was useless against a creature that could outrun a horse in the dense forest. His mind raced, analyzing the beast's movements, seeking any vulnerability he could exploit with his current, limited power. Circulating at maximum speed, the 'Tianmo Blood Refinement Art' warmed his cold limbs and filled him with a strange, dark confidence. He could feel the 10 Demon Energy Points sitting in his system interface, ready to be utilized. "System, can I use the energy points to reinforce my strike?" he thought desperately. [Query confirmed. 10 Demon Energy Points can be converted into a temporary burst of Demon Qi, increasing physical strength by 300% for ten seconds.] "Save it for the exact moment of impact," he commanded, his eyes tracking the beast's tensed hind legs. Breathing heavily, the demon let out a sickening huff, its hot breath carrying the stench of decaying flesh across the clearing. It took another step, its massive weight causing the ground to dip slightly. With a sudden, explosive burst of speed, the beast lunged forward, raising its massive, obsidian claws to strike. As the System's voice fades, a massive, clawed shadow falls over him, and a guttural roar shakes the very ground: 'Another morsel for the Blood Fang Clan!'

Chapter 1: Awakening in Ash