Chapter 1: 1 Experience Point
The prison cell was dimly lit.
Chen Ming had just regained consciousness and felt unwell all over.
He had no strength at all, and his throat felt like he had swallowed razor blades.
He thought to himself, "Did I catch COVID again?"
Then, a foul stench surged into his nose, nearly knocking him out.
Who took a dump on my bed?
It was a complex stench of damp mold and excrement—absolutely revolting.
Chen Ming's stomach churned, and he nearly vomited.
"This kid’s awake."
"Kid, what did you do to end up here?"
The sudden voice startled him.
He turned his head instinctively and, through the dim light, saw two people with messy hair and ragged clothes.
Who were they?
No—
Where was this?
Chen Ming was utterly shocked and realized this wasn't his room.
It seemed to be a jail cell?
How did I end up here?
Buzz—
It was like something pricked Chen Ming's brain.
Amid the piercing pain, he let out a scream as countless unfamiliar memories surged into his mind.
"Ming'er, you've studied martial arts under Master Huo for four years but haven’t achieved anything. Our family can't afford it anymore..."
"You're already seventeen. It's time you find some work. Starting tomorrow, go work as a clerk at Jinyuan Prosperity Trading. Grandpa is an old acquaintance of their shopkeeper, so you must be cautious, speak less, do more, and never cause trouble..."
"Kid, if you dare ruin my plans..."
"It was Chen Er. He drugged my tea and tried to assault me, Master, you must uphold justice for me..."
...
"I’ve transmigrated?"
No one knew how long had passed before Chen Ming finally recovered, his mind still somewhat numb.
This was a world with an ancient imperial backdrop and martial arts.
It was said that cultivators existed, though the original host had never seen one—just rumors from others.
The original host was twenty years old, from a moderately well-off family running a small shop.
They had some assets, but weren’t wealthy.
He was the second son in the family and had liked martial arts since childhood.
At thirteen, he apprenticed under a martial artist surnamed Huo.
He trained for four years but was dismissed due to lack of talent.
Then, using family connections, he joined a trading firm called Jinyuan Prosperity Trading as a clerk.
He was diligent and responsible, earning the trust of the shopkeeper.
After three years, he was promoted to a junior manager.
The problem was that the original host was too responsible.
Soon, he discovered someone embezzling funds and secretly gathered evidence.
He directly reported it to the shopkeeper.
That corrupt individual was immediately dealt with.
A few months later, revenge came.
On the old master’s seventieth birthday, the original host was drugged.
In a daze, he stumbled into the back courtyard and was grabbed by a half-dressed maid who accused him of attempted assault.
On such a joyous occasion, this scandal infuriated the old master.
He not only ordered the original host to be beaten severely but also had him thrown in jail.
Thus, the original host died wrongfully.
At that moment, Chen Ming was filled with intense resentment.
So young, and he actually treated the firm like his own career?
Modern companies already treat employees like beasts of burden.
Ancient firms really treated clerks like dogs.
Chen Ming didn’t believe that cunning old master and the shopkeeper couldn’t tell he’d been set up.
But one vented his anger on him, and the other didn’t say a word in his defense.
The human world is not worth it.
...
Chen Ming quickly discarded his sympathy for the original host and began thinking about his own situation.
"System?"
"Old grandpa?"
"Golden finger?"
"..."
He tried all kinds of things but couldn’t summon any interface or cheat.
That made him a bit panicked.
With such a hellish start, how was he supposed to turn things around without a cheat?
No family background, no talent.
Still in jail, with a ruined reputation...
"Kid, stop playing dead."
Just then, someone kicked him.
Chen Ming turned and saw the two prisoners from earlier glaring at him fiercely.
"Don’t lie here. That’s your spot over there."
This was a show of dominance.
An obedience test by seasoned inmates on the newcomer.
Chen Ming lowered his gaze and struggled to get up from the ground.
"Hurry up!"
That man kicked him again, knocking him back down.
Chen Ming said nothing, gritted his teeth, and silently crawled to the corner to sit.
Right next to him was the chamber pot, reeking of excrement.
The two prisoners, seeing that he didn’t dare say a word, laughed triumphantly.
Chen Ming closed his eyes, endured the disgusting smell, adjusted his breathing, and slowly conserved his strength.
A wise man does not fight when he's weak.
His body was too weak right now—he couldn’t afford a conflict.
"Kid, we asked you a question earlier..."
At that moment, a jailer came over, and the two immediately shut their mouths.
The jailer glanced at Chen Ming, who was sitting in the corner, and seeing that he was still alive, gave a warning, "You two, don’t touch him. If anyone dies, I’ll kill you both myself."
The two prisoners quickly said they wouldn’t dare.
The jailer turned and left.
Having just been warned, the two didn’t dare trouble Chen Ming for the time being.
Chen Ming couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief—he could now focus on regaining his strength.
...
No one knew how much time had passed, but the cell had gone completely dark.
Night had fallen.
One of the prisoners spoke, "Kid, what did you do to end up here?"
After waiting a moment and seeing the kid stay silent, he became angry, "Don’t think that guard will protect you. He just doesn’t want any deaths causing trouble. At this hour, they’re all asleep—even if you screamed your lungs out, no one would come save you..."
At that moment, the kid finally spoke, "Hearing that line come out of your mouth is fucking disgusting."
"You little—"
The prisoner flew into a rage, rolled up his sleeves, and moved to teach the kid a lesson.
Just as he stood up, a powerful gust struck him—he had already taken a punch to the chest.
It hit so hard his vision went black; he nearly passed out.
Then came two sharp slaps across the face—smack, smack.
"Spare... me..."
Only then did he realize he had kicked an iron wall.
This guy was trained!
He quickly begged for mercy.
Chen Ming stared at the sudden notification that popped up before his eyes and froze on the spot.
【You defeated a Level 0 enemy and gained 1 experience point.】
Was this... the golden finger?!
His heart blazed with excitement.
Before him, a panel appeared.
【Name: Chen Ming】
【Level: 2】
【Current Points: 1】
【Cultivation Method: Iron Horse Stance (Level 1: 98/100+)】
【Martial Arts: Three Talents Fist (Proficient: 21/200+), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Beginner: 12/100+)】
It really was a system.
Everything on the panel was crystal clear—he didn’t need a manual to understand how it worked.
Point allocation system!
With a thought, Chen Ming placed his single point into the cultivation method Iron Horse Stance.
Instantly, a warm current surged through his body.
He could clearly feel himself becoming just a little bit stronger.
Still not enough—just one more point!
He suddenly turned to the other prisoner and kicked him.
"Don’t hit me... I didn’t do anything..."
The prisoner was thinner and weaker, curled up covering his head, crying and begging for mercy.
【You defeated a Level 0 enemy and gained 1 experience point.】
"It really works."
Seeing the notification, Chen Ming was overjoyed.
He immediately placed the new point into Iron Horse Stance.
In an instant, a searing heat burst forth from within.
He felt like his body was burning, a surge of power rushing through him.
He had successfully broken through.