The System!A term synonymous with grandeur.A symbol of wealth, an incarnation of power.The ultimate divine artifact for the lowborn to rise, for the downtrodden to defy fate.
In the eyes of transmigrators, the system isn't just important—it's more vital than parents themselves.
Think about it—how many predecessors in the grand art of transmigration have collapsed into existential despair, broken beyond repair, just because their system was a few minutes late?
Leaf Han had wandered this world for over fifty millennia, longing for the stars, praying to the moon, yearning day and night…Until finally—his system arrived.
But because of one stray complaint… Boom!That glorious, awe-inspiring system—exploded.
In that moment, he truly wanted to die.
As the ringing in his head slowly faded and the stars before his eyes scattered like wind-blown petals, Leaf Han looked at his beloveds—his wives. His human form reconstituted at last, he threw himself into their arms, bawling like a child.
"Wuuu… my life is too bitter, Xue'er! I don't want to live anymore!"
He howled without shedding a single tear, trying desperately to squeeze out even a drop. But alas, he was like a crocodile—no tears to offer.
Snow Empress's face flushed crimson. She cast him a sidelong glance, her delicate hand reaching behind her to catch the wandering hand that was kneading her endlessly. Her resistance was soft, half-hearted—a temptation all its own.
"Wuuu… Bing'er, I don't want to live anymore! Xue'er won't do… why don't you give me an heir, so I can pass on in peace?"
Leaf Han looked down at the green-clad beauty nestled in his arms, still sobbing dramatically even as his hand crept beneath her collar.
"Ying~!"
He couldn't help but gulp. He didn't dare tease her further and instead turned his gaze outward through the frosted glass, polished over millennia from divine ice.
"If you truly want a child…" Snow Empress said softly, watching him. Her voice trembled with sadness. "Then… let Bing'er bear them for you."
Born of the world itself, Snow Empress had no parents. It was Leaf Han who had given her warmth, who taught her what it meant to be loved, to be cherished. He made her cold, isolated world come alive with feeling.
She wished more than anything to give him children—but alas, the gulf between their races was insurmountable. It simply wasn't possible.
Smack!
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Leaf Han lightly slapped her pert backside, feigning anger. "You really want me to die, huh?"
"No! Xiaohan, you know that's not what I meant!" Snow Empress panicked.
Leaf Han lowered his head, gazing into her breathtakingly beautiful face. Slowly, he leaned in, the soft brush of her lips intoxicating, impossible to resist.
Of course, he understood Snow Empress's intent. The knot was in his own heart.
After all, his soul was human. If he were to sire a brood of scorpion-children, even he wouldn't be able to accept it.
The world of Douluo was utterly cruel to soul beasts. To take human form, there were only two paths:The first—become a beast of terror, surpassing 100,000 years of cultivation.The second—forsake all cultivation, abandon the beast form, and transform into a human directly.
Neither path was easy.
For the first, mere longevity wasn't enough. Only those who surpassed 200,000 years and survived a heavenly tribulation could be considered true dread beasts.
With Leaf Han's talent, even with relentless cultivation, reaching such a level would take at least twenty to thirty thousand years.
The second path was even harsher.
To shed ten thousand years of cultivation was to relinquish power, and even then, one had to infiltrate the human world and cultivate anew to the level of a Six-Ring Soul Emperor to be considered truly human. During this time, any discovery meant instant annihilation—treated like a rat scurrying across the street.
But none of that was what truly bothered Leaf Han.
No—what tormented him was the disparity in lifespan.
Soul beasts lived nearly forever. Humans… did not.If one couldn't ascend to godhood, no matter how mighty a human might become, they would still end up as nothing but bones in a grave.
That was what Leaf Han could never accept.
"I. Will. Transform!"
After a long, lingering kiss, Leaf Han's voice rang out—calm but resolute.
He had hesitated, unsure whether to risk it. But now, with the explosion of his last hope—the system—his indecision shattered.
Even if it took him thirty thousand years to cultivate into a dread beast…Even if he could survive the lightning tribulation…
What about Snow Empress and Ice Empress? According to his memory…They wouldn't survive.
For his own future. For his two beloveds.He had to take the risk.
There's a saying—even if the odds are slim, dreams must be pursued. What if… they come true?
Caught off guard by his sudden madness, the two empresses tried everything to stop him.
But what met them… was the unrelenting force of the family discipline stick.
Halfway through administering his own brand of justice, Leaf Han's body collapsed again into a storm of scattered energy.
And yet… this only strengthened his resolve.
Six Years Later
Douluo Continent. Frozen Forest.
In the crystalline halls of an ancient ice fortress, a young boy, no more than seven or eight, stood within a six-pointed awakening array.
It was Leaf Han—now reborn, in human form.
As the array lit up, searing pain flooded his body—like being torn apart.
Power surged through him—raw, overwhelming, just like in the prime of his soul beast days.
Before he could process it, his left hand opened instinctively.
A shard of blue ice shot out from his palm, shimmering with deadly beauty.
His right hand opened next—and with it, a miniature humanoid figure clad in sky-blue armor appeared, gripping a gleaming spear.
Twin Martial Spirits.
The latter especially relieved the strain on his body.
But it wasn't over yet.
Unable to contain the pressure, Leaf Han threw back his head and let out a long howl.
From his mouth burst a gray orb, and only then did the agony subside. His body returned to normal.
All of this happened in a blink. The array activating, the spirits emerging, the pearl flying from his mouth…
Yet in that instant, Leaf Han was soaked in sweat as if pulled from a lake. His face pale as death, body trembling like he'd been tortured for decades.
"Xiaohan! Are you alright?!"
Snow Empress and Ice Empress appeared at his side instantly, supporting him. Ice Empress spoke first, worry etched across her face.
"Just… a little drained," Leaf Han managed, forcing a smile through bloodless lips.
Snow Empress didn't trust that for a second and began a meticulous inspection. Only after finding nothing wrong did she relent.
"If anything feels off, promise me you won't hide it."
"I swear I'm fine," he chuckled weakly.
It was a pained smile—but his eyes gleamed with excitement.
That gray orb… was the Ten Thousand Realms Law Pearl.
As its name implied, it allowed travel across the myriad worlds.
Back then, when the system exploded, he remembered its name clearly:The Ten Thousand Realms Traversal System.
Leaf Han now suspected that while the system had blown up, two things remained—First: this Law Pearl.Second: the source power that now resided within his own soul.
That power had slumbered within him, quietly merging with his being. Today, during Martial Spirit awakening, it had been triggered—and everything made sense.
Seeing his expression, Snow Empress and Ice Empress finally relaxed.
They'd been together for so many years—just a glance was enough to tell if he was lying.
"What is this?" Snow Empress pointed at the armored figure in his palm, eyes full of curiosity. "Is that also… a Martial Spirit?"
"Congratulations, you guessed right! Now, come give your husband a kiss for your reward," Leaf Han grinned cheekily.
"You cheeky little brat, let big sister give you a reward instead!"
A cool voice rang out—and before he could react, Leaf Han was plucked off the ground and pulled into a soft, warm embrace. A loud smooch landed right on his cheek.
Snow Empress giggled behind her hand, eyes sparkling with laughter.
In that moment, the dignity of the head of the household was shattered into a million pieces.
Leaf Han's pale little face turned dark. He opened his mouth wide and chomped down on Snow Empress's cheek in retaliation.
In his heart, he vowed:One day, I'll become strong enough to restore my honor and show them who's truly in charge here!
(End of Chapter)