Void Absorption: Rise of the Martial God

Lowgate District, Ironveil City — Ironveil Kingdom

"Sorry, Dorian, we're just not right for each other. Give it up already!"

"Lyra, I've been there for you every step of the way these past few years—attentive, devoted. If you didn't like me, why did you let me keep doting on you?"

"Pfft, don't flatter yourself. I just enjoyed being worshipped, that's all. Three years at the academy, and you're still stuck at the early stage of One-Star cultivation. Pathetic! You'll never amount to anything—just a worthless loser for life!"

"What do you even matter? You were nothing more than my worst backup option!"

"Ah—Dorian! What the hell are you doing?! You bastard, don't you dare run!!"

"......"

A cacophony of voices, shrill and chaotic like sparrows squabbling, jolted Dorian awake.

He bolted upright in bed, his eyes darting around the unfamiliar surroundings.

Fragmented memories surged into his mind like a flood, and as they pieced themselves together, a flicker of astonishment crossed his face.

"Did I... just transmigrate?"

He had crossed over to the Aethermoor Continent—a world where strength reigned supreme.

Unlike his past life, this world operated on a structured cultivation system.

Martial artists progressed from One-Star to Nine-Star, and after tempering their bones, they could reach the Postnatal Realm.

From Dorian's memories, even a Three-Star martial artist possessed the raw power to tear apart tigers and leopards barehanded. As for those in the Postnatal Realm? A single palm strike could shatter a small mountain from a distance!

Rumors spoke of an even more legendary realm beyond that—the Innate Realm. Those who reached such heights could soar through the skies, shift mountains, and part oceans, wielding power akin to immortals!

Dorian's eyes lit up with excitement!

In his previous life in Valdris, he had been a martial arts fanatic, utterly obsessed with combat techniques. At just twelve years old, he had climbed Mount Ashenveil to seek out a master and train. By eighteen, he had mastered his skills and descended the mountain to challenge fighters far and wide—emerging undefeated in every battle! Through constant combat, he refined his techniques, broke through his limits, and grew stronger, eventually becoming unrivaled across the land. In his homeland, he was revered as the Grandmaster of Combat, the undisputed number one.

He had resigned himself to a life of lonely supremacy, with no worthy opponents left to face—until fate intervened, sweeping him up in the tide of transmigration! Now, he found himself in the Aethermoor Continent, a world teeming with formidable warriors. Was this destiny's way of pushing him toward new martial heights?!

But then—

A flood of memories crashed into his mind like a bucket of ice water, dousing his enthusiasm. The body he now inhabited also bore the name Dorian Ash, but this version was a mere collateral descendant of the Ash Clan in Ironveil City, the capital of the Ironveil Kingdom. His parents were ordinary folk, managing a small family-owned grocery store with meager earnings.

Worse still, this Dorian Ash was infamous in Ironveil City's Duskfall Academy as the ultimate loser. After nearly three years of training, his cultivation level still lingered pathetically at the initial stage of One-Star Warrior, while most of his peers had already broken through to Two-Star. Mocked and looked down upon daily, he had mustered the courage to confess his feelings to the girl he'd adored for three years—only to suffer a soul-crushing rejection.

In a fit of rage, he had kicked her in the backside—sealing his reputation as both a failure and a fool.

He then stormed out of the academy, locked himself in his rented room outside the campus, drowned himself in alcohol day and night, and ultimately died suddenly!

"Ah, what was the point?"

Dorian shook his head faintly, his expression indifferent.

A simp to the end—truly left with nothing.

Then, as Dorian realized he had inherited this utterly useless body, a hint of exasperation flickered across his stern face. He frowned and muttered,

"If I remember right, these next few days, martial academies from across the Ironveil Kingdom will be sending recruiters to local institutions. With this pathetic physique, I probably wouldn't even qualify for the weakest one!"

"If I can't even get into a martial academy, how can I pursue the martial path? Let alone reach its pinnacle!"

Beep!

"System scan complete. Integration in progress..."

"Beep beep!"

"System scan complete. Integration in progress!"

"Beep beep! Void Absorption System successfully integrated. Attribute panel generated!"

"Beep beep! Newbie bonus—300 enhancement points awarded!"

Suddenly, a robotic voice echoed in Dorian's mind, followed by the appearance of a holographic attribute panel before his inner vision.

[Host]: Dorian Ash

[Cultivation Level]: Initial Stage, One-Star

[Lottery]: 100 points per draw

[Storage Space]: 1 cubic meter

Huh?

A system?!

At this sight, Dorian's heart skipped a beat.

Even his usually impassive face couldn't help but betray a flicker of excitement.

As someone who had lived in Valdris in his past life, he naturally knew exactly what a "system" was.

The perks of being a transmigrator had finally arrived!

A void absorption system?

Dorian arched an eyebrow slightly and asked coolly, "System, what functions do you have?"

No response.

He tried a few more questions, but still, there was nothing.

"Guess I'll have to figure it out myself," he muttered, frowning.

Now that he was awake, Dorian instinctively tried to get out of bed.

The moment his hands pressed against the wooden bed frame—

Beep!

Ordinary wooden bed detected — Absorption yields 0 enhancement points. Proceed?

The prompt in his mind gave him a vague idea of how this system worked.

Eager to test his theory...

Dorian got out of bed and walked over to a wooden table, placing his hand on its surface.

Beep! Ordinary wooden table detected. Absorption will yield 0 enhancement points. Proceed with absorption?

Just as expected!

The system's prompt had appeared again!

After conducting various tests, Dorian concluded that the system's voice only activated when his hand made direct contact with an object's surface.

This discovery sent a jolt of excitement through him!

However, none of the items in his room provided enhancement points when absorbed. Was it because they were all too ordinary?

At that moment!

His gaze fell upon the attribute interface.

Hmm? 300 enhancement points? It seemed the system had gifted them as a starting bonus.

And these points could even be used for a lottery draw?

Wait a minute...

Why were there '+' signs next to both his cultivation level and storage space?

Almost instinctively, Dorian tapped the '+' sign beside his cultivation level.

Beep!

"Cultivation level upgraded to One-Star Warrior mid-stage. Enhancement points deducted: 100."

A surge of scorching energy coursed through his veins in an instant!

Dorian could distinctly feel his power level skyrocketing.

Hell yeah!

His eyes sparkled with excitement.

This was just like leveling up in a game!

Which meant—as long as he had enough enhancement points, even if his talent was utter garbage, his cultivation could still skyrocket like a damn rocket!

Heart pounding with anticipation, Dorian tapped the '+' symbol behind his cultivation level again.

Beep! Beep!

"Insufficient enhancement points. Unable to upgrade cultivation."

A quick glance confirmed he still had 200 points left.

Not enough, huh...

Oh well. No point forcing it.

At least 200 points meant two spins at the prize wheel!

Dorian shifted his focus to the [Prize Draw] option.

After a moment of contemplation, using the enhancement points on the lottery seemed like the most cost-effective choice right now.

After all, he couldn't level up at the moment, and expanding his storage space wasn't a priority either!

But if he could win some cultivation techniques or martial skills from the lottery—wouldn't that be a jackpot?

Without hesitation, Dorian tentatively chanted in his mind:

Initiate lottery.

"Beep!"

"100 enhancement points deducted. Lottery initiated."

"Congratulations, Host. You've won... absolutely nothing."

Dorian: "..."

What was there to congratulate if he got nothing?

Grimacing, he frowned and unwillingly chanted again:

Initiate lottery!

This time, he had to get something—anything would do!

"Beep!"

"100 enhancement points deducted. Lottery initiated."

"Congratulations, Host! You've drawn the martial arts manual — Nine Solar Sovereign Art!"

Enhancement points remaining: 0.

Thud!

A blue-bound manual landed squarely in Dorian's palm.

A cultivation technique?!