Chapter 1: Newly Reborn, and Already Betrayed by My Fiancée?

Southern River, Yun Prefecture.

A splitting headache assailed him as Chen Yang slowly opened his eyes.

He saw a seductive woman undressing before him—she was about to remove the last piece of clothing.

“Wasn’t I killed by the Ninefold Celestial Tribulation?”

“What on earth… is going on?”

Chen Yang rubbed his temples. He had originally been an Earthling, but by a twist of fate had transmigrated to the world of cultivation. In just two centuries, he had ascended to the rank of Tribulation-Transcending Immortal. Yet, his foundation was weak, and in the end, he was utterly destroyed by the Ninefold Tribulation.

“No, I’m not dead. This is a hotel room. I’ve been reborn!”

His mind gradually cleared, memories flooding back.

He recognized the woman undressing before him. Her name was Liang Meina.

In his previous life, he hadn’t known Liang Meina for half a day before she began making all sorts of suggestive advances toward him. Back then, Chen Yang was still innocent, utterly oblivious to the malice of the world.

After they slept together, the room’s door was kicked open. Liang Meina burst into tears, falsely accusing Chen Yang of assault.

Thus, Chen Yang earned himself a silver bracelet and three years at the sewing machine—prison labor.

And that was not all. The Xu family, to whom Chen Yang had been betrothed since childhood, immediately annulled the engagement.

Not long after, his parents, driven to despair, ended their own lives.

A good family, destroyed without a trace.

“Since I’ve been given a second chance, I won’t let tragedy repeat itself!”

Chen Yang’s gaze was icy.

By now, Liang Meina was completely naked, crawling toward him in a most enticing manner.

Chen Yang remained unmoved.

In the next instant, a beam of white light shot from his pupils.

Liang Meina froze, motionless as a puppet.

“Though my cultivation has dropped to only the fifth layer of Qi Refinement, casting a Soul Enchantment on a mortal is still child’s play,” Chen Yang murmured with a wicked smile. “Liang Meina, put your clothes back on. Soon, a wretch will come in—you’ll act as if nothing at all happened.”

“Yes, Master,” Liang Meina replied stiffly, as lifeless as a walking corpse.

“Xu Qing, aren’t you tired of eavesdropping outside the door?” Chen Yang called out from the bedside, the corners of his lips curling faintly.

Xu Qing was his fiancée. In his past life, when his family fell to ruin, she had contributed her fair share.

This very Liang Meina had been sent by Xu Qing to frame him.

Three months ago, Chen Yang’s father invested in real estate, but fell into a commercial trap, teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

Once the family went under, Chen Yang would be penniless, saddled with enormous debts—his life utterly destroyed.

Xu Qing didn’t want to live in poverty, but dissolving the engagement unilaterally required a hefty compensation.

Unwilling to pay, yet determined to break the betrothal, she orchestrated this honey trap to destroy Chen Yang.

The door swung open. Xu Qing strode in, face cold as ice.

She was not alone—a tall, handsome man followed her.

Chen Yang recognized him as well.

His name was Wang Mingyuan, the infamous playboy of the Wang family of Yun Prefecture.

The Wang family had stopped at nothing to swallow up the Chen family’s assets; the so-called business trap had been their handiwork.

Xu Qing glanced at Liang Meina, then fixed her gaze on Chen Yang. “Didn’t expect you to be so clever, Chen Yang. You didn’t fall for it!”

“But it’s pointless. If you don’t sign, you’re not leaving this room!” she threatened viciously.

Wang Mingyuan stepped forward, sneering. “Chen, I advise you to cooperate, or I’ll break your legs!”

Wang Mingyuan was a black-belt in Taekwondo; normally, even three or five men could barely approach him.

It was this Wang Mingyuan who, in his past life, had been the architect of Chen Yang’s family’s destruction.

Chen Yang’s eyes glinted with murderous intent.

“What are you staring at, you worthless piece of trash?” Wang Mingyuan snarled, raising his hand to teach Chen Yang a lesson.

This hotel belonged to the Wang family; even if something happened, Wang Mingyuan had nothing to fear.

He struck with lightning speed.

But to Chen Yang, his movements seemed frozen, entirely unthreatening.

With a casual swipe, Chen Yang slapped Wang Mingyuan across the room.

Wang Mingyuan crashed heavily into the wall, blood spurting from his mouth, staining the floor red three feet ahead of him. He could not move.

Xu Qing was stunned.

She could hardly believe that the man she considered useless could actually hurt Wang Mingyuan.

After all, Wang Mingyuan was a black-belt master.

“Chen Yang, you bastard, you trash! How dare you hurt Mingyuan? The Wang family will never let you go!” Xu Qing screamed, pointing at him. “Since we’re being honest now, let me tell you—within a month, the bank will repossess your family’s failed real estate project. Not only will you lose the billion you invested, you’ll be saddled with four or five hundred million in debt. The Chen family is finished!”

“So what?” Chen Yang replied, utterly unfazed.

“Are you stupid? You think someone will help your family now? Don’t waste your time. You and your family are doomed!” Xu Qing retorted coldly.

“Are you barking like a dog because you want to lie down too?” Chen Yang’s voice was low and threatening.

Were it not for his current lack of power and the laws of Earth, Xu Qing and Wang Mingyuan would have already been dealt with.

Meeting his icy gaze, Xu Qing felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively took two steps back.

The Chen Yang before her was terrifying—like a demon from the depths of hell.

She didn’t realize it was merely the killing intent of a cultivator.

Xu Qing swallowed nervously, her voice trembling. “Chen Yang, what are you trying to do? You wouldn’t hit a woman, would you?”

Chen Yang advanced slowly, extending his right hand. “Hand it over.”

She blinked in confusion. “What?”

He sneered, “Even if a cheap woman like you stripped naked, I wouldn’t feel a thing. Even if you refuse to annul the engagement, I’ll divorce you myself, just to keep you from disgusting me.”

“You…” Xu Qing trembled with rage, slapping at him.

Chen Yang easily dodged.

“You wretched woman, you’re looking for death.”

In the next moment, his hand closed around her neck. A flick of his finger and her slender neck would snap in two.

She choked, her face flushing red, desperately pounding at his hand. The arrogance had vanished, replaced by sheer terror.

After a few seconds, Chen Yang released her.

He snatched the contract, signed his name, and added two bold words: Divorce.

He flung the contract into Xu Qing’s face. “From this moment on, there’s no connection between the Chen and Xu families. You two dogs can get out!”

With that, he turned and left. His first priority now was to restore his cultivation.

Once he reached the Golden Core realm, the Xu and Wang families would be nothing but ants.

Twenty minutes later, Chen Yang returned to his home—a luxurious standalone villa, A18 in the Guanlan Estate.

This was his home.

As he opened the door, the aroma of freshly cooked food washed over him.

A warm, familiar voice called from the kitchen, “Yangyang, you’re back! Hurry and wash up for dinner!”

A middle-aged woman emerged—it was his mother, Liu Mei.

Liu Mei had graduated from an elite university in the capital, her future once bright.

Yet, for Chen Yang’s father, she had willingly become a housewife.

“Mom, I missed you so much!” Chen Yang’s nose stung with emotion as he threw himself into her arms like a child.