C1 The Asura Returned.

As dusk descended, Huaxia Country was bathed in brilliant lights, transforming it into a terrestrial fairyland.

In an underground casino in Qingzhou City, the noise was deafening, and the air hung heavy with an oppressive atmosphere that seemed to suffocate those within.

A group of more than a dozen menacing men, their arms emblazoned with fierce tattoos, watched two men and a woman with derisive amusement. The woman commanded the attention of all present, her beauty ethereal, as if she were a celestial being.

"Here's a million yuan! I'm taking him with me now!"

Wang Ziqiong cast a complex look at the young man seated weakly on the ground. Her stunning visage was etched with a chilling indifference that sent shivers down the spine.

The young man on the floor bore severe facial injuries. His complexion was ashen, his hair slick with grease, and he reeked of sour unwashed days. He sat there, lost in a daze, utterly still.

"The esteemed president of Qingzhou's Mighty Eagle Security, your generosity knows no bounds!"

Across from Wang Ziqiong stood a bald man with a brutal countenance. He snatched the check with a rough hand and snapped it with a flick of his fingers. His gaze, lecherous and malevolent, roamed over Wang Ziqiong's statuesque figure.

"President Wang, I could forgo this million yuan. Why stay with such a worthless man when you could be with any of us? Each one here surpasses your good-for-nothing husband! You know what I'm suggesting."

The bald man's words were barely out before the casino erupted in raucous laughter. The ruffians ogled Wang Ziqiong's impeccable form and features with burning desire, their comments vile and crude.

Amidst the tumult of the underground casino, no one noticed the once unfocused eyes of the severely injured young man on the ground begin to shine with a newfound intensity.

Pei Junlin sat in silence, motionless. His mind was a whirlwind of chaos.

He was the Asura General across thousands of worlds, the one to whom countless extraterrestrial races had bowed. Engaged in battle with the formidable Dragon Clan, he sought to dominate the mightiest beings of the cosmos.

But suddenly, he was assailed by a strange memory. The owner of this memory shared his name, Pei Junlin, yet lived a life starkly different from his own.

The man in question lived off his wife's wealth, possessing no notable talents. He was fond of boasting, drinking, and gambling—a combination that led to his downfall when he was caught in the act by a group of people.

After what seemed like an eternity, Pei Junlin let out a soft sigh. Lifting his head, his pupils appeared unusually dark. With a tone tinged with unexplainable excitement, he whispered to himself, "I've actually been reborn!"

"Xu Kun, don't push it too far!"

Standing next to Wang Ziqiong was a strikingly handsome and formidable man, seething with anger.

His name was Jin Tai, the chief instructor at Mighty Eagle Security, holding a prestigious position within the organization.

"What if I've crossed the line? You're nothing but a guard dog. You have no right to speak here. Say one more word, and I'll make sure you won't be able to walk out of here today!"

Xu Kun, however, remained unfazed by Jin Tai's presence, fixing him with a menacing and sinister stare. The previously smiling faces of the dozen muscular men surrounding them turned cold and grim.

Under the intimidating stares of the men, Jin Tai's expression darkened significantly.

"Enough! Jin Tai, help him up. We're leaving," commanded Wang Ziqiong, her stunning features set in an expression of cold detachment. With that, she turned on her heel and exited the underground gambling den.

The car ride home was steeped in silence. Jin Tai was at the wheel, with Wang Ziqiong occupying the passenger seat, and Pei Junlin the only one in the back.

This suited Pei Junlin perfectly; he was desperate to sort out his thoughts.

Firstly, he had indeed been reborn into another person's body and found himself in Qingzhou City, where he had lived three years prior. He was a man who had depended on his wife's fortune for survival—the very woman now sitting in the passenger seat.

Secondly, Pei Junlin recalled the massive gambling debt of one million yuan was not his doing but a setup. The original owner of his body had been left in a vegetative state, paving the way for his rebirth.

The third and most crucial realization was his desire for vengeance. Now that he had a second chance at life, he was determined to retaliate against those who had covertly wronged the Pei family three years earlier. He vowed to exact a severe toll on the Luo, Xie, and Zhou families—especially the woman from the Zhou family who had left an indelible mark on him. The Pei family of Jiangbei, the orchestrators of the entire scheme, would not be spared his wrath.

Unknown to many, Pei Junlin had been residing in Qingzhou City for three years. Yet, he was far superior to another with the same name. He shone as Qingzhou's Pei family's brightest prodigy, blessed with extraordinary talent and striking looks.

At three, he embarked on his martial arts journey, mastering the Clear Force by seven, and by twelve, he had harnessed a hidden power. By eighteen, he had ascended to the rank of Grandmaster, celebrated as the most likely to breach the Innate Stage within the Martial Arts World.

Tragically, three years prior, Pei Junlin's trusted fiancée, with whom he had grown up, betrayed him with poison. She then conspired with shadowy figures to launch a fatal assault, stripping him of his Grandmaster bones and Blood Essence, leaving behind nothing but his skin.

Yet, unbeknownst to all, Pei Junlin's spirit endured, bearing witness to the treachery and uncovering a staggering truth.

The Qingzhou Pei family was merely an offshoot of the formidable Jiangbei Pei clan. His Blood Essence and bones had been savagely harvested by the Jiangbei Pei to empower their own heirs.

Furthermore, the Qingzhou Pei had manipulated Qingzhou's leading forces to eradicate their own kin, scattering the Pei survivors to the winds.

Overwhelmed by vengeful fury, Pei Junlin's soul caught the attention of his master, Goddess Linglong, who serendipitously saved him and granted him a new body.

Thus, Pei Junlin seized his chance. With unmatched aptitude, he rose to become the renowned Asura General across countless realms in a mere three centuries.

His Divine Ability Arts reverberated through the Myriad Worlds, aiding Goddess Linglong in subjugating numerous cosmic races.

However, during a campaign alongside Goddess Linglong against the formidable Dragon Clan, an unexpected event triggered his rebirth.

"Stop the car!"

A crisp, cool voice cut through the air, snapping Pei Junlin out of his reverie. Regaining his bearings, he realized the vehicle had halted at the entrance of the opulent Warren Hotel.

Wang Ziqiong, seated in the passenger's side, turned to Jin Tai and instructed, "Take him back home! I've got another job to handle tonight!"

"President Wang, I should come with you! Luo Cheng is vicious and underhanded. He's clearly up to no good, asking to meet you here tonight to discuss business," Jin Tai pleaded anxiously.

Wang Ziqiong dismissed him with a wave of her hand, "Relax! I'll be cautious. Just make sure he gets home safely."

With that, Wang Ziqiong stepped out of the car briskly. Throughout this exchange, she hadn't once glanced at Pei Junlin in the back seat, highlighting his lowly status.

Once Wang Ziqiong entered the grand doors of the Warren Hotel, Jin Tai, still behind the wheel, abruptly turned to address Pei Junlin with undisguised contempt, "Mr. Pei, I've got places to be. Kindly get out of the car."

Pei Junlin's eyebrows arched, hinting at an unspoken retort, but ultimately, he remained silent and exited the vehicle.

Observing Pei Junlin's meek exit, Jin Tai's disdain grew. He scoffed through the car window, "Mr. Pei, a word of advice—divorce President Wang sooner rather than later. You're simply not a match for her."

Unseen by the scoffing Jin Tai, Pei Junlin, now enveloped in a mysterious aura, walked into the night. This aura healed his wounds at an astonishing rate as it moved over him.

A quarter hour later, a massive fire broke out at the underground casino, sending plumes of smoke skyward and lighting up the night for miles around, leaving onlookers in shock.

While the crowd scrambled to combat the blaze, a black shadow, heavy with an ominous presence, slipped away from the casino.

His eyes fixed on the towering Warren Hotel, he murmured, "Luo Cheng of the Luo family, you're the puppeteer behind all this. You've sought out this trouble, so it's time we settled our past and present debts."