The Western Desert was cruel.
During the day, the heat burned skin like fire. At night, the cold felt capable of freezing bones. Sandstorms appeared without warning, burying tracks, merchandise, and even people within hours.
But to Lee Hyun, all of that only confirmed one thing:
The heavens clearly had something personal against him.
"So I reincarnate... and I'm still poor?"
The black-haired boy carried two buckets of water hanging from a pole resting across his shoulders as he walked through the sandy streets of the settlement. His simple clothes were covered in dust, and the scorching sun made sweat drip down his face.
Sha Jing Oasis.
A small oasis connected to a branch of the Huang Clan, a minor force in the Western Desert.
In his previous life, Lee Hyun had finally begun becoming truly wealthy.
He had survived debt.
Poverty.
Hunger.
Years spent squeezing every coin to its absolute limit.
And then, just when life was finally improving...
He died.
Now he was here again, working since childhood just to survive.
Honestly, it felt like some kind of cosmic joke in extremely poor taste.
"They could've at least reincarnated me into a rich family..." he complained internally. "I didn't even need to be an empire heir. I would've accepted being born as a shop owner's son."
Unfortunately, the heavens seemed completely uninterested in his opinions.
From a young age, Lee Hyun worked nearly every job available.
Carrying water.
Setting up tents.
Sorting merchandise.
Guiding animals.
Repairing tools.
Helping caravans.
Even scavenging scrap in the desert.
Especially scavenging scrap.
Because regardless of the world, Weed was still Weed.
If something had value, then it could be sold.
And if it could be sold, then it definitely shouldn't be wasted.
The people of the oasis frequently saw the boy returning with bags full of broken metal pieces, damaged wheels, torn fabric, or abandoned tools left behind by caravans.
Other children thought it was strange.
Lee Hyun called it "extra income."
The first years of this new life were blurry in his mind. Maybe because of his child brain, or perhaps because of time itself, his memories before the age of ten felt fragmented and distant.
But one thing was certain:
He was an orphan again.
When he realized that for the first time, he had nearly cursed the heavens.
Again?
In two completely different worlds?
What kind of absurd bad luck was that?
But complaining didn't fill stomachs.
So he worked.
Just like always.
Fortunately, despite the poverty, he still possessed an opportunity most mortals would never receive.
He had been born within the Huang Clan.
Even a minor branch still possessed the right to hold an Awakening Ceremony.
Gu Masters.
Beings capable of using mysterious Gu to transcend ordinary mortals.
Over the last few years, Lee Hyun had learned much about this world.
He learned about cultivation.
About paths.
About resources.
About aptitude.
And most importantly, about one absolute truth of this world:
Without strength, wealth was merely an invitation to be robbed.
That realization made Weed quickly accept a new priority in life.
Money was still important.
Very important.
But strength came first.
Because someone strong could always earn money.
A rich person without strength merely attracted people who wanted to steal from them.
And Weed hated losing money.
Especially his money.
Now, at fifteen years old, the day of awakening had finally arrived.
The main square of the Huang Clan branch was crowded.
Teenagers of the same age waited nervously while relatives watched from afar.
Some tried to appear confident.
Others were obviously terrified.
Lee Hyun silently observed everything.
His eyes automatically analyzed the clothes, posture, and behavior of the other youths.
Who looked wealthy.
Who seemed influential.
Who would likely receive family support.
Old habits were difficult to abandon.
At the front of the square stood a middle-aged man wearing yellow Huang Clan robes.
A Rank 2 Gu Master.
Even standing still without doing anything, his presence alone made the teenagers tense.
Behind him rested several stone containers.
Inside them...
Small Gu emitted soft white light.
Hope Gu.
Even after years in this world, Lee Hyun still found it ridiculous.
Insects capable of controlling fire.
Creatures manipulating water, poison, and metal.
People strong enough to shatter stone barehanded.
Giant beasts crossing deserts.
Everything about this world felt absurdly dangerous.
And extremely profitable.
Lee Hyun's heart began beating faster.
Finally, it was his turn to enter that world.
Or fail completely.
"Next!"
A nervous boy entered the improvised hall.
A few minutes later, he emerged smiling.
Grade C.
The surrounding crowd immediately became noisy.
"Grade C is already good."
"At least he can become a Gu Master."
"Lucky..."
Lee Hyun crossed his arms silently.
According to everything he had learned, aptitude practically defined a cultivator's destiny.
Without talent...
Everything became dozens of times harder.
His mood immediately worsened.
"Don't tell me I reincarnated just to become poor in two different worlds..."
More youths were called.
Grade D.
Grade C.
Grade D.
Then a girl achieved Grade B.
Even the clan elder seemed satisfied.
The surrounding youths immediately looked at her with envy.
Grade B was already considered exceptional in a small branch like this.
Then finally—
"Lee Hyun."
His name echoed through the square.
For a moment, everything felt silent.
The boy slowly took a deep breath.
Then walked toward the hall where the Hope Gu awaited him.
He began walking, staring at the strange lights that, according to everything he knew, were literally alive.
1 step, 2 steps, 3 steps, 4, 5...
The lights — the Hope Gu — entered his body one after another, creating an aperture within him that slowly filled with green primordial essence, that mysterious substance.
10, 11, 12, 13...
He prayed to every god that existed or perhaps didn't exist for prosperity this time.
Buddhism.
Christianity.
Daoism.
Fortune.
Capitalism.
Anything worked.
"This time give me prosperity, you bastards..."
17, 18, 19...
His primordial essence continued growing and filling the aperture.
"Come on... you owe me this."
"I already suffered through two entire lives."
"TWO!"
"Is there any fate worse than being born poor and Asian twice in a row?!"
21, 22, 23...
...
...