"Little Feng, look what I have here, the game activator for 'The Grand Martial World'! You've always wanted this, right? Today is your nineteenth birthday, so Auntie is giving it to you."

  "Mom! You're so biased! I've always wanted the game activator for 'The Grand Martial World', but you never bought it for me, yet you got it for Lin Feng!"

  "Oh, Little Feng is still young, and he just recovered from an illness. It's his coming-of-age ceremony, so as his sister, you should let him have it."

  "Then for my birthday next month, can you buy me one too?"

  "This activator is too expensive. Right now, I only have enough money to buy one."

  "Hmph! Mom, you're just playing favorites!"

  In a three-story villa on the outskirts of Mingjiang City, a woman's voice echoed from an upstairs bedroom.

  Inside the bedroom stood three women, all gathered around the bed, each holding a gift, looking at the delicate young man lying there, seemingly celebrating his birthday.

  The young man appeared to have just recovered from a serious illness, his face pale and spiritless, but his eyes were exceptionally clear and bright.

  The young man's name was Lin Feng, a pitiful child who lost his parents six years ago. Fortunately, his mother's best friend, Yu Meixiang, took him in.

  ***

  For six years, Yu Meixiang treated him exceptionally well, even better than her own two daughters.

  Lin Feng, however, had a timid and self-deprecating nature, suffering from long-term bullying at school. He thought enduring three years would bring relief.

  Unexpectedly, when Yu Meixiang came to school to bring him clothes, she caught the attention of the blonde school bully.

  The bully threatened him to lure Yu Meixiang out for drinks at night.

  Though Lin Feng was timid, he would rather die than comply.

  The bully, enraged, beat him severely, not realizing he had gone too far and killed him.

  The Lin Feng alive now actually had a different soul. The soul's owner was also named Lin Feng.

  He was a retired mercenary from Earth, who, while traveling in the USA, accidentally killed a robber during a mugging.

  Though it was self-defense, the American police unjustly accused him of murder and wanted to imprison him for life.

  Being a rebellious and independent person, Lin Feng chose to fight back when he realized they wanted him dead.

  First, he killed a police officer, then seized his gun, emptied the magazine, and took down the police station. He then drove a police car into a military camp, stole an armed tank, and wreaked havoc across the USA, turning it into a real-life 'Grand Theft Auto', causing chaos and forcing the military to intervene.

  In the end, he was shot down in a one-against-hundred exchange, but after his death, his soul attached to another Lin Feng.

  From the original Lin Feng's memories, he learned that he had been reborn in a parallel world!

  This place was neither Earth nor China.

  This planet was called Mysterious Star, with technology and civilization similar to Earth. The country Lin Feng was in was called the Dragon Kingdom.

  However, this planet had an additional virtual game, a game world with a Wuxia civilization background, named 'The Grand Martial World'.

  No one knew how this world came to be, nor who created the game.

  All that was known was that ten years ago, this virtual game suddenly existed.

  On Mysterious Star, one is considered an adult at nineteen, and everyone can enter this world using an activator after turning nineteen.

  Once inside, the world is much like an online game, where you become a player, start monster hunting, complete tasks, level up, treasure hunt, battle, and grow.

  It seems like just a game, but it holds great mysteries, as it can synchronize game data with the real body!

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  This means that weapons, elixirs, secret manuals, and internal strength obtained in the game can be brought into reality!

  This is why the entire human race on Mysterious Star is obsessed with it!

  Because as long as you develop well in 'The Grand Martial World' and become a martial arts master, you can not only possess martial arts skills but also cure many severe illnesses.

  Most importantly, the higher your martial arts skills, the longer your lifespan.

  It strengthens the body, prolongs life, and grants a superhuman physique, a temptation that attracts everyone!

  But unlike other games, in 'The Grand Martial World', each player has only one life.

  If a player dies inside, they are forcibly logged out. Although the body doesn't die, they can never enter the game again.

  Many people die shortly after entering the game, gaining almost nothing.

  Thus, the game is also called 'One Life', and how far you can grow with one life depends entirely on yourself.

  What surprised Lin Feng the most was that the Wuxia stories in 'The Grand Martial World' were actually from classic Wuxia novels on Earth!

  For instance, there was Zhang Sanfeng from Wudang Mountain, Xie Xun the Golden-Haired Lion King, Qiao Feng the Beggar Sect Leader, Dongfang Bubai the Sun Moon Holy Cult Leader, Lu Xiaofeng with the Lingxi Finger, and Li Xunhuan the Little Li Flying Dagger.

  These game characters were unknown to the players on Mysterious Star, only that they were all incredibly powerful and not to be provoked.

  ***

  "Little Feng, are you still feeling unwell? Do you need to see a doctor?"

  As Lin Feng was lost in thought, a soft hand gently touched his forehead.

  Lin Feng snapped back to reality, looking at the woman gazing at him with concern.

  The woman appeared to be in her thirties, with delicate features. Though she had aged a bit, time seemed to have been kind to her, leaving no marks on her face but instead bestowing her with an indescribable charm, her skin like jade, her eyes full of emotion.

  Her figure was voluptuous, well-maintained despite having two children, though her side ponytail hairstyle seemed a bit out of place to Lin Feng. Madam, your hairstyle is a bit dangerous...

  This was Yu Meixiang, his mother's best friend, who had taken the initiative to adopt and care for Lin Feng.

  From the original owner's memories, Lin Feng knew that this boy secretly had a crush on Yu Meixiang, and not just her, but also the two beautiful girls behind her.

  However, this boy was too timid to ever express it, keeping it all hidden in his heart.

  "Damn, did I transmigrate into a hentai world..."

  Lin Feng couldn't help but wonder, as the plot and setting were too similar to those hentai comics, with the blonde school bully and the side ponytail madam... he dared not think further...

  However, Yu Meixiang's concern made Lin Feng, who had never experienced familial affection, feel a long-lost warmth.

  Not wanting her to worry any longer, he opened his mouth and said, "Aunt Meixiang, I'm fine, just really happy to see this gift."

  Yu Meixiang chuckled, affectionately ruffling his short hair, saying, "You, don't ever get into fights impulsively, okay? Nowadays, many people are martial arts masters, and they don't hold back. Your small frame can't take even a single hit."

  "I understand."

  "That's good, you're such a good boy. Little Feng, you should rest now. Auntie has to go to the store. If you need anything, just tell your two sisters. They'll take care of you."

  "Okay."

  Only then did Yu Meixiang feel at ease, giving a few more instructions to her two daughters before leaving in a hurry.

  With Yu Meixiang gone, only Lin Feng and the two beautiful girls remained in the bedroom.

  These two were named Fang Zhiqiu and Fang Hanshuang. Zhiqiu was the younger sister, and Hanshuang the elder, with just a year between them.

  Though they were sisters, they didn't look alike. Fang Zhiqiu was petite and delicate, with a baby face, cherry lips, and a curvy figure, a youthful beauty with a childlike appearance.

  Fang Hanshuang, on the other hand, was tall with impossibly long legs, a slim waist like a bee, perfectly proportioned, exuding a commanding presence like a queen.

  Their personalities were also vastly different, with the younger sister being lively and cheerful, while the elder was cold as frost.

  Besides Lin Feng, the outsider, the household consisted of just the three women, as their father had also passed away young.

  "Here, this is for you, a gift."

  Fang Zhiqiu handed Lin Feng the bag she brought.

  Lin Feng curiously took it and found a pair of shoes inside.

  "I spent the last of my allowance to buy these for you. How's that for sincerity?"

  Lin Feng smiled slightly and said, "Thank you, Sister Zhiqiu."

  "Hehe, no need to be so formal. How about this, let's swap gifts? You give me the activator?"

  Before Lin Feng could respond, Fang Zhiqiu received a flick on the forehead from Fang Hanshuang.

  "Ouch! Fang Hanshuang, what are you doing? That hurts!"

  "Hmph, do you really have the nerve to ask for the gift Mom gave Lin Feng?"

  "I was just joking, you emotionless block, hmph!!!"

  Fang Hanshuang didn't continue bickering and instead handed Lin Feng the gift she prepared, an electric shaver.

  "You're in your adolescence now, and your beard is starting to grow. It's best to shave this fuzz off, or it'll look awkward. You should also pay attention to your appearance in the future."

  Fang Hanshuang spoke in a calm tone, as if genuinely advising a younger sibling.

  Lin Feng didn't mind and still thanked her.

  Fang Hanshuang nodded and then prepared to leave.

  "You keep an eye on him. I'm going back to my room to read."

  "Hey, hey, hey, why do I have to stay here? Mom clearly said we should take care of him together."

  "Because I'm older than you." Fang Hanshuang said, not looking back as she left.

  "Where are you bigger than me? Mine are clearly bigger!"

  Fang Zhiqiu protested, puffing out her impressive chest, but unfortunately, Fang Hanshuang didn't see it.

  Despite her words, Fang Zhiqiu stayed in Lin Feng's room, sitting idly by his bed, her eyes fixed on the box beside Lin Feng's pillow.

  The item in the box was the activator for 'The Grand Martial World'.

  When 'The Grand Martial World' first appeared, many free activators were distributed.

  Unfortunately, they stopped distributing them five years ago, and now activators can only be obtained within the game.

  Activators are scattered randomly throughout the game, and only those with a bit of luck can find them. Players who find activators can bring them out to sell or gift.

  Although the number of activators isn't small, it's still insufficient for the population of Mysterious Star, leading to high prices that rise every year.

  Currently, an activator on the market costs at least 200,000 Dragon Coins, equivalent to a year's income for an average family.

  Yu Meixiang's husband was a small business owner before he passed, leaving some savings and a three-story house.

  Yu Meixiang herself runs a small beauty salon, with a decent income.

  But taking out 200,000 at once isn't easy, which is why Fang Zhiqiu and Fang Hanshuang, at 20 and 22, have never played 'The Grand Martial World'.

  The original Lin Feng always wanted this activator, and Yu Meixiang, not buying it for her daughters but for him first, showed how much she cared for him.

  Lin Feng silently decided that, having inherited this body, he would also protect this family, cherishing the rare familial bond, to honor the original owner.