The Rise Begins

Liu Shen died in the dumbest way possible.

He had always imagined he'd meet his end in some grand, dramatic way—maybe saving a kid from an explosion, stopping a robbery, or, at the very least, something cool enough to get a million views on TikTok.

But no. The universe decided he'd trip over his own feet like an idiot and die.

It started with him being a decent human being. An old woman was struggling to cross the street, so naturally, he rushed over to help. That's when a small dog—yes, a fluffy little menace—sprinted out of nowhere. Instinct took over. He moved to shield the old lady, heroically throwing himself forward…

…and tripped on the curb.

Face-first.

Hard.

The next thing he knew, darkness.

No hospital. No dramatic last words. Just Game Over.

And now? Now he was lying in an unfamiliar bed, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling, in an unfamiliar world where cultivation dictated power and business dictated survival.

This better not be some coma dream…

His body felt weird. Lighter, yet slightly weak, like he had never exercised a day in his life. Sitting up, he glanced around the small wooden room—old furniture, medicinal herbs on a nearby shelf, and a mirror in the corner.

The reflection made him freeze.

He was… younger. His face was still his, but sharper, with longer black hair and paler skin. But the real kicker was the flood of memories that slammed into his mind like a truck.

His name was still Liu Shen. But this Liu Shen? He had it rough.

No talent for cultivation. A failing family store. Zero business skills. Constantly looked down on.

Great, he thought dryly. I've been reincarnated into a broke loser version of myself.

And just as he was about to process everything—

The door slammed open.

A stern, middle-aged man stood there, arms crossed, his piercing gaze locked onto Liu Shen.

"Finally awake?"

Liu Shen immediately knew—this was his father, Liu Cheng. The man radiated a quiet but powerful aura, his strong frame hinting at years of cultivation. He wasn't some god-tier expert, but he was Qi Gathering 4th Stage, enough to be respected in their district.

Behind him, a woman rushed in, eyes filled with relief. His mother, Lin Mei. Unlike his father, she was gentle, with soft features and warm eyes, but the slight frailty in her movements hinted at lingering illness. She was Qi Gathering 6th Stage, yet even cultivation couldn't fully erase the toll sickness had taken on her.

Then came the menaces—his younger siblings.

A teenage girl with sharp, intelligent eyes—Liu Xue. At just 16, she was already showing signs of genius, her cultivation progressing at an alarming rate. Right beside her was their 12-year-old brother, Liu Fan, a little monster with endless energy and natural talent.

Both of them looked at Liu Shen with concern.

"Big brother, are you okay?" Liu Xue asked, frowning.

"You didn't hit your head too hard, right?" Liu Fan added.

Liu Shen opened his mouth, hesitated, then said the most logical thing given his situation.

"I... tripped."

Silence.

Their father sighed deeply, as if this confirmed his worst fears.

His mother patted his head sympathetically.

His sister shook her head in disappointment.

His little brother? The traitorous brat was already laughing.

"Pfft! Brother, you're the only person I know who can get knocked out by the ground!"

Liu Shen scowled. "Listen here, you little—"

"Ahem." His father's gaze shut them both up instantly. "Since you're awake, come downstairs. We need to talk."

Liu Shen gulped.

That tone? Yeah, that was the "we're about to have a serious family discussion" tone.

And in this world? He had a feeling it wasn't about grades.

Seated at the dining table, Liu Shen absorbed the full extent of his new life.

Their family ran a small business—the Spirit Jade Store. His mother used to manage it, but after falling ill, she had to take a better-paying job elsewhere. His father, though a cultivator, had no business sense. That left the previous Liu Shen in charge.

And he sucked at it.

The store was failing. Customers barely came in. Meanwhile, the Azure Pavilion, a massive corporate sect-run store, dominated the market.

"Shen," his mother said gently. "We don't expect you to turn things around overnight, but... if the shop continues losing money, we may have to sell it."

Liu Shen froze.

Sell the store? That meant losing their foothold in the city. Losing their independence.

Losing everything.

His father sighed. "I know you're not interested in cultivation. But if you can't run the business either, then what's left?"

Liu Shen clenched his fists.

Damn it.

No wonder the original Liu Shen had felt so defeated. No talent, no power, and now, even his family's livelihood was slipping away.

He looked at them—his strict but caring father, his gentle but hardworking mother, his brilliant sister, and his cheeky little brother.

He wouldn't let them down.

And just as that determination settled in—

DING![The Spirit Commerce System has been activated.]

Liu Shen froze.

A blue screen materialized in front of him.

[Welcome, Liu Shen. You have been selected as the host of the Spirit Commerce System.][Your path to business dominance begins now.]

Liu Shen blinked. Once. Twice.

Then, a slow grin spread across his face.

He wasn't doomed. He was OP.

[Starter Pack Available! Open Now?]

"Open it," he whispered.

DING![Congratulations! You have received:]

1x Spirit Gathering Array (Low-Grade) – Enhances spiritual energy in a small area, improving cultivation efficiency. 10x High-Grade Spirit Stones – Pure energy sources worth a fortune. 1x Beginner's Business Manual – Essential strategies for running a successful shop. 1x Mystery Item – ???

Liu Shen grinned wider.

A Spirit Gathering Array? That alone was worth thousands of Spirit Coins! This was huge.

Then, the mystery item revealed itself.

DING![You have received: Heavenly Brew Tea Leaves (Rare)][A spiritual tea that enhances mental clarity and slightly increases cultivation comprehension.]

Liu Shen chuckled to himself.

The world thought he was weak? A talentless failure?

Just wait.

===========

The next morning, Liu Shen stood in front of his shop, arms crossed, taking in its sorry state.

The wooden sign creaked, its once-bright lettering faded. The shelves inside were half-empty.

A group of passing cultivators snickered.

"That place is still open?""I heard the owner's a talentless hack.""Forget it. Let's go to Azure Pavilion instead."

Liu Shen's eye twitched.

Soon, that would change.

A fire burned in his gaze as he turned back to the shop.

It was time to rebuild. Time to dominate.

The Spirit Jade Store was officially back in business.