Reincarnation Of The Strongest Sword God Chapter 1 - Starting Over

Chapter 1 - Starting Over

The night was silent in the elite Green Bamboo district of Jin Hai City.

Shi Feng sat motionless on a leather couch, a folder of papers clutched in his hand. Looking out the floor-to-ceiling window at the shimmering pool, his heart was a chaotic mix of bitterness and indignation.

As the captain of [Shadow], a top-tier Workshop in Jin Hai City, he had once commanded a legion of tens of thousands. He was the legendary Sword Magician, a name known to all. Yet now, he was reduced to drowning his sorrows in solitude within his own four walls.

A full decade had been poured into the world of gaming.

Ten years of bloody conflict and relentless struggle.

He had endured countless hardships to lead Shadow to glory, establishing ten City States within the world of God’s Domain. They were finally on the verge of standing toe-to-toe with First-Rate Guilds. But before he could taste the fruits of his labor, a single legal document turned his decade of achievement into nothing more than drifting smoke; once vanished, it could never be reclaimed.

It was inconceivable that ten years of sacrifice would end like this. He had given everything to the game, only to realize he had merely been building a throne for others to sit upon. It all stemmed from his refusal to let Shadow be absorbed by the Super-Guild, [World Dominators]. Lan Hua Financial Group didn't wait even twenty-four hours to issue their cold response. He was forced to delete his Level 200 Sword King—the character that held ten years of his life—and report to the finance department for his severance.

His reward was a mere 5,000,000 Credits and a single property. Compared to the wealth generated by ten City States in that virtual empire, it was a pathetic pittance.

Shi Feng reflected on his immense contributions to Shadow and how his toil had transformed Lan Hua Group into a financial titan. To be discarded like common trash sparked a burning vow for vengeance in his soul.

"This isn't the end. If I have to, I’ll just start from scratch."

A sharp light of determination flickered in Shi Feng’s eyes as he shredded the termination papers. He grabbed a wine bottle from the table and took several heavy gulps.

His Sword King account was gone, and his team was no longer behind him, but the mastery and secrets he had gathered over a decade remained. So long as his expertise was intact, he could rise again within God’s Domain and forge a new kingdom of his own making.

The first rays of dawn eventually broke through the darkness.

Di! Di! Di!

A phone alarm blared incessantly.

Waking with a groan, Shi Feng reached for the device by his bed, his head still throbbing from the previous night's drinking.

"Hello, what is it?"

"Brother Feng, it’s Blackie! What do you mean 'what is it'? Didn't we plan to go pro? Shadow Workshop is holding recruitment at school today. I thought your dream was to become a core member of Shadow?"

Shi Feng felt a wave of confusion wash over him.

Lan Hua Financial Group had just cut him loose; why would he ever return to Shadow for an entrance exam?

"Brother Feng? You there? The testing starts at ten o'clock sharp. If you don't move now, you're going to miss your chance!"

"Blackie, cut the crap. I was just fired from Shadow."

"Fired? Brother Feng, exactly how much did you have to drink last night? Are you still dreaming? How could they fire you when they haven't even hired anyone yet? Just get over here, fast."

Before Shi Feng could argue, Blackie ended the call.

Staring blankly at the phone, Shi Feng realized the battered iPhone 6 in his hand wasn't his. He should have been holding an iPhone 12.

He quickly scanned the room.

He was in a cramped, cluttered space no larger than fifteen square meters. Gaming strategy guides were scattered everywhere. An ancient laptop sat on a desk in the corner, and a wardrobe was stuffed with a mess of clothes. On the wardrobe door hung a mirror, reflecting a face he hadn't seen in years.

Shi Feng bolted upright, staring at the youthful reflection in disbelief.

"How am I young again?" He rushed to the mirror, examining every detail of his face until he was certain—he had truly returned to his youth.

He had fallen asleep in a sprawling luxury bedroom and woken up in this dilapidated hole. Most importantly, he was young again.

Flickers of memory returned. He had lived in this exact spot ten years ago. He had spent six months renting this room during university so he could play God’s Domain. It wasn't until he started making a profit in the game that he moved into a high-end condo.

Shi Feng remembered the struggle of those early years. His family's finances were precarious back then. To put him through school, his parents had taken on significant debt. Despite their own suffering, they never failed to send him living expenses every month.

He had been desperate to fix his family's situation. However, in a world flooded with graduates, high-paying jobs were scarce. This led him to the lucrative world of Virtual Reality gaming. Aiming to be a professional, he bought a Virtual Gaming Helmet and trained tirelessly to sharpen his playstyle.

In those days, he survived on bread and instant noodles. He skipped every social event to save money, becoming a ghost to his classmates. The guys looked down on him, and the girls ignored him. There were times he went to buy cup noodles with less than 10 Credits to his name, unable to afford even a single Credit for a ham sausage. Even when a sympathetic cashier offered him a discount, his pride and his empty wallet forced him to decline.

"Is this some kind of elaborate prank?"

Shi Feng looked at his younger self and the familiar squalor. He shook his head; the explanation was impossible.

Not even the most advanced nations possessed technology capable of de-aging a person. Besides, who would waste such resources on a washed-up gamer like him?

He checked the date on his phone.

April 19th, 2129.

"Could I actually have been reincarnated?" A wry smile touched his lips.

He clearly remembered it being August 5th, 2139. It shouldn't be April 2129, back when he was still a student.

He tried to shake off the feeling, yet a spark of hope flared within him. He desperately wanted this to be real—to have returned to a decade ago. He sat at the desk and booted up the old laptop.

A phone's clock could be manipulated, but the global internet could not.

After a few minutes of searching...

Shi Feng was stunned. Every site confirmed the date: April 19, 2129. Even the official God’s Domain website featured a massive countdown—only six days remained until the grand opening on April 25th.

"I've really come back! I'm really back ten years in the past!" Shi Feng stared at the screen, tears of raw emotion welling in his eyes.

His heart was a whirlwind of regret, sorrow, and overwhelming relief.

It felt like a dream.

And yet, the hum of the air conditioner and the distant sound of insects proved that this was his reality.

He looked at a family photo on his phone from his freshman year. He hadn't noticed back then how gray his parents' hair had become or the wrinkles forming around his mother's eyes. They had aged so much while supporting him.

In his previous life, it took eighteen months after the launch of God’s Domain for him to realize how frail his parents had become. The weight of debt and hard labor had led to severe illness. The medical bills totaled millions of Credits. At that time, as a mere squad captain in Shadow, he couldn't possibly afford the treatment.

He had scrambled for the money, but he was too late. His parents passed away only a few months later.

He had failed them in his first life. He hadn't understood their pain until it was too late.

Even after he became a millionaire, that guilt had haunted him every day.

Now, fate had given him a second chance, returning him to the very beginning.

"Fantastic! This is incredible! Hahaha! Since I’m back, I’m changing everything. I’ll make enough to take care of my parents and ensure they never have to worry again," Shi Feng vowed, wiping his eyes.

As he began to strategize, Blackie called again, frantically telling him to get to the university for the recruitment test.

Shi Feng didn't panic. He dressed calmly and tidied his appearance before making his way to Jin Hai University.

He knew Shadow's history better than anyone.

Lan Hailong, the son of the Lan Hua Group’s chairman, had founded Shadow Workshop to capitalize on God’s Domain. He had poured money into recruiting the best talent from Jin Hai University. In his past life, Shi Feng had passed the test and become a core member, while Blackie remained on the fringes. Back then, Shi Feng had been thrilled by the opportunity.

Under Shi Feng’s leadership, Shadow had turned Lan Hua Group into a titan. And yet, Lan Hailong had been the one to personally discard him.

With his knowledge of the future, Shi Feng held an incomparable edge. He had no intention of joining Shadow to be someone else’s pawn. He would forge his own path, fighting for his own future. He would relieve his parents of their burdens and pay off every cent of their debt. He would build his own Workshop, his own company, and his own virtual empire.

Arriving at Teaching Block 1, he spotted a lanky, tanned youth pacing nervously. It was Blackie.

"Brother Feng, there you are! Registration is still open, let's get in there and sign up," Blackie urged the moment he saw him.

Shi Feng shook his head and looked at him seriously. "Blackie, I’m not signing with Shadow. I’m starting my own Workshop. Are you in?"

Blackie was a friend Shi Feng had met in a previous VR game; he was skilled and loyal. They were like brothers. While Blackie wasn't the best gamer, he was a genius at administration. In their past life at Shadow, he had managed a hundred thousand members with perfect precision. Having Blackie’s help would be a massive advantage, but Shi Feng would respect his choice. He knew Blackie’s family was also struggling and that he needed the steady pay Shadow offered.

Blackie stood frozen, his head dropping in silence. This was unexpected. Moreover, the Shi Feng standing before him seemed different—steadier, radiating a quiet confidence he’d never seen before.

After a long silence, Blackie looked up.

"Brother Feng, don't talk crazy. Do you know a Virtual Gaming Helmet costs 8,000 Credits? A Workshop needs at least six people. Then there's the office, salaries, and overhead. You’d need eighty thousand just to start, plus more to keep it going. Do you actually have that kind of money?" Blackie knew Shi Feng was broke and tried to talk some sense into him.

"You're right. I don't even have enough for a single helmet right now," Shi Feng admitted. Blackie was being realistic. Even eighty thousand was a small estimate; Lan Hailong had spent 5,000,000 just to get Shadow off the ground.

"Then wouldn't it be smarter to just join Shadow? At least they provide the gear. Without them, we can't even get into the game, let alone go pro." Relieved that Shi Feng saw the logic, Blackie tried to pull him toward the registration hall.

Shi Feng pulled his hand away and looked Blackie in the eye. "I'm still starting my own Workshop. I won't be a slave to others. So, Blackie... are you with me?"

Shi Feng couldn't give him guarantees or explain the reincarnation. He simply had to rely on Blackie’s trust.

Blackie stared at him, sensing the weight behind his words. It was madness. No one made money in the early days of a new game. Did Shi Feng have a secret? Even if they profited eventually, it would take months. They didn't have months.

After a long struggle, Blackie finally sighed. "Fine. You're the boss. I'll do it. But what about the helmets? We can't play without them."

Shi Feng’s tension vanished, and he clapped Blackie on the back. "That’s the spirit! Don't worry about the gear. God’s Domain has a trial program for students. Every campus has a booth where you can get a helmet for free for ten days just by showing your ID. Let's head there."

"And what happens after ten days?" Blackie’s face paled. He felt like his future was disappearing. Why did he agree to this? Was it Shi Feng’s strange new aura? Could they really pull this off?

Ten days was nothing in a game like God’s Domain.

By the time the trial ended, all the big Workshops would have finished their hiring. They’d still need to buy the helmets, and the money wouldn't just appear.

No one, not even a top pro, could earn 16,000 Credits in the first ten days of a launch.

"I'll handle the money."

Shi Feng gave a confident grin and patted his friend's shoulder again.

To anyone else, earning that much in ten days was a fantasy. But Shi Feng possessed the soul of a man who had seen the future. He would shatter every obstacle. The launch of God’s Domain would be the moment he claimed his destiny.

After they picked up their trial helmets, Shi Feng spent his last bit of cash on two boxes of instant noodles to survive the next week and a half. He gave Blackie some brief pointers about the game and then sat in his quiet room, waiting for the clock to strike.

April 25th, 9 PM. In the darkness, the console lights flickered to life.

Shi Feng lay back, pressed the start button, and closed his eyes.

"God’s Domain, I’m back."