Ethan Black's world ended on a golden banquet hall floor.The crystal chandeliers above glittered like mocking stars. Laughter from the gathered young masters and heiresses echoed off marble walls. His fiancée, Aria Voss, stood over him in her snow-white gown, silver hair cascading like frozen silk. Beside her, his sworn brother since childhood, Caleb Reed, smirked with the easy cruelty of someone who had already won.Ethan's meridians burned. Poison—slow, insidious, the kind reserved for traitors. His cultivation base, painstakingly built over eighteen years, leaked out like blood from a slit throat. Every breath was fire. Every heartbeat a hammer blow of betrayal."Why…?" The word rasped from cracked lips.Aria tilted her head, beautiful face devoid of warmth. "You were useful, Ethan. A stepping stone. The Black Clan secrets you guarded so loyally? They're ours now. The young master of the Heavenly Sword Sect offered a better alliance. You understand, don't you? Power over sentiment."Caleb crouched, patting Ethan's cheek like a disappointed parent. "You really thought a trash like you deserved her? Look at you—dying on your own engagement day. Pathetic."Ethan's vision blurred. The last thing he saw was Aria turning away, arm linked with Caleb's, accepting congratulations as if nothing had happened.Darkness swallowed him.And then—DING!A cold, mechanical voice pierced the void.[Host detected: Ethan Black]
[Death confirmed. Soul intact.]
[Conditions met: Extreme grievance + Unwilling death + Heavenly anomaly]
[Ultimate SSS God-Tier Revenge & Harem Conquest System binding initiated…]
[Binding complete. Welcome, Host. Your second life begins now.]Ethan's eyes snapped open.He was still on the banquet hall floor.The exact same position. The exact same moment. Chandeliers glittering. Laughter ringing. Aria and Caleb standing over him—except now they hadn't noticed he was conscious yet.His body felt… different.No pain. No leaking qi. Instead, power roared through his veins like molten starlight. His dantian spun furiously, already at the peak of Foundation Establishment—no, beyond. The system interface hovered in his vision like transparent blue panels only he could see.[Current Cultivation: Early Core Formation (Hidden)]
[True Strength: Suppressed to Qi Condensation 9th Layer (for dramatic effect)]
[Special Privileges Unlocked:]
• 100,000x Cultivation Acceleration
• Instant Breakthrough on Command
• Status & Weakness Scan (Passive)
• Revenge Multiplier: Humiliation inflicted = Exponential power gain
• Harem Conquest Module: Affinity detection & forced bond opportunities
• First Quest Issued![Quest: Publicly Expose & Humiliate Your Betrayers at the Banquet]
[Reward: Divine Demon Sovereign Body (SSS-Rank Constitution) + First Harem Slave Contract Slot + 50,000 Revenge Points]
[Failure Penalty: None. Host is already dead once. What more can they do?]Ethan's lips curled into a smile that hadn't existed in his first life.He rose slowly.The hall quieted. Eyes turned.Aria frowned. "Ethan? You're… awake?"Caleb laughed. "The poison must be wearing off slower than expected. Guards, drag this trash out before he embarrasses himself further."Two burly Foundation Establishment guards stepped forward.Ethan raised a hand.Crack—BOOM!An invisible wave of pressure exploded outward. Both guards flew backward like ragdolls, slamming into pillars. Marble cracked. Blood sprayed from their mouths.Silence.Absolute silence.Ethan straightened his black robes. His aura—once weak and unremarkable—now pressed down like an ancient mountain. Guests staggered. Some weaker cultivators dropped to their knees without realizing why.He locked eyes with Aria."Scan," he whispered.Blue light flickered.[Aria Voss]
[Cultivation: Peak Core Formation]
[Hidden Traits: Dual Ice-Fire Constitution (sealed), Secret Affair with Caleb Reed (3 months), Plan to Harvest Ethan Black's Blood Essence tonight]
[Current Emotion: 47% Confusion, 32% Disdain, 21% Unease]
[Weakness: Left kidney meridian (old injury, poorly healed)]Ethan chuckled softly. The sound carried unnaturally far."Aria, my dear fiancée." His voice was calm, almost gentle. "Before the guards drag me away… would you care to explain why your status screen shows you've been fucking my best friend for three months while planning to harvest my blood essence tonight?"Gasps rippled through the crowd.Aria's face drained of color. "What nonsense are you—"Ethan waved a finger.Another panel appeared.[Revenge Multiplier Activated: Public Exposure initiated]
[+500 Revenge Points]He continued, louder. "Or perhaps you'd like to explain to the Voss Clan elders why you've been secretly trading Black Clan secret techniques to the Heavenly Sword Sect's Third Young Master in exchange for a marriage contract that doesn't include a 'useless son-in-law' like me?"Caleb stepped forward, face twisted. "Ethan, you've gone mad from the poison! Guards—""Scan."[Caleb Reed]
[Cultivation: Late Core Formation]
[Hidden Traits: Lightning-affinity body, Secret contract with Demon Sect spy handler]
[Current Emotion: 68% Panic, 22% Rage, 10% Fear]
[Weakness: Overconfidence, fragile ego, right shoulder old sword wound]Ethan's smile widened. "Caleb, brother. You sold me out for a Demon Sect favor? Impressive. Too bad your right shoulder still aches when lightning qi circulates. Must make dual-cultivation awkward."Caleb's face turned purple. "You—how do you know—"The hall erupted.Whispers became shouts. Elders from both clans stood up. Young masters who once mocked Ethan now looked at him like he had grown a second head.Ethan took one step forward.The floor trembled."I died once today," he said conversationally. "Begging. On this very floor. You two watched. Laughed. Now…" He spread his arms. "Let's see how you like it."DING![Revenge Multiplier surging]
[+2,000 Revenge Points – Public humiliation escalating]Aria recovered first. She raised a hand, ice-blue qi coiling around her fingers. "Enough! If you've somehow survived the poison, it changes nothing. You're still trash. Guards—kill him!"Dozens of Voss Clan experts surged forward.Ethan sighed theatrically."Instant Breakthrough."BOOM—His suppressed cultivation exploded outward.Core Formation → Nascent Soul → Void Tribulation → Half-Step Immortal Ascension.In one breath.The pressure flattened everyone below Nascent Soul. Tables shattered. Wine spilled like blood. Cultivators vomited blood.Only the strongest elders remained standing—barely.Ethan flicked his wrist.A black flame lotus bloomed in his palm—something he had never cultivated in his first life."New toy," he murmured. "System gift?"[Divine Demon Flame (SSS-Rank) – Unlocked via Revenge Points spending]He tossed it casually.The flame lotus expanded, swallowing the charging experts. Screams. Charred robes. The smell of burned flesh.In seconds, the attackers were ash drifting on the wind.Silence again. Deeper this time.Ethan turned back to Aria and Caleb.They were on their knees now. Not by choice. The aura forced them down.He walked forward slowly.Each step cracked marble.He stopped in front of Aria.She looked up, eyes wide with terror she had never shown him before."Ethan… please…"He crouched, tilting her chin up with one finger."You begged me for mercy once," he said softly. "In my memories. I begged too. Now…"DING![Quest Progress: 89%]
[Final Action Required]Ethan leaned closer."Get on your knees properly, Aria. Crawl. And beg."Tears welled in her perfect eyes.She resisted for three heartbeats.Then—slowly—she lowered her forehead to the cracked floor."I'm… sorry…" Her voice broke. "Please… forgive me…"The hall watched in stunned horror.Ethan stood.DING![Quest Complete!]
[Reward Issued:]
• Divine Demon Sovereign Body (SSS-Rank) – Granted
• First Harem Slave Contract Slot – Unlocked
• 50,000 Revenge Points
[Bonus: Affinity Manipulation – Aria Voss affinity forcibly set to 'Obsessed' (temporary)]A thin golden chain shimmered into existence, linking from Ethan's wrist to Aria's neck like an invisible collar.She gasped, body trembling—not entirely from fear.Ethan glanced at the new panel.[Aria Voss – Affinity: +999 (Obsessed / Bound)]
[Harem Member #1 – Contracted]He looked around the hall.Young masters who once sneered now averted their eyes. Beautiful noble daughters stared with flushed cheeks and shining eyes.One in particular—a veiled woman in the corner, silver hair peeking from under silk—watched with parted lips.[Scan initiated]
[Mysterious Veiled Beauty – Identity: Hidden Sect Saintess, Luna Frostveil]
[Affinity: +320 (Rising rapidly)]
[Opportunity Detected: Potential Harem Member #2]Ethan smirked."Day one," he murmured to himself. "And it's only just begun."He stepped over the crawling form of his ex-fiancée.The system chimed happily.[New Quest Issued: Conquer the Forbidden Heavenly Vault tonight – Reward: Immortal-grade artifact + Three new harem slots]Ethan laughed—a low, dark sound that sent shivers through the entire banquet hall.Betrayal had bought him godhood.And he intended to spend it lavishly.