Traveling Between Two Worlds: From Bread for Maids to Fantasy Overlord

The morning light of the Azure Realm pierced through the glazed tiles of the Great Ming Dynasty's palace, illuminating Huang Yiming's tall figure. He wore a black imperial robe embroidered with golden dragons, and stood beside him five women of distinct beauty—Qin Yuling in silver armor, her sharpness concealed; Yang Xiu in simple white, gentle and graceful, her eyes soft and tender; Su Qingyue in a magnificent brocade dress, exuding an air of elegance; Ling Xi in a flowing green dress, her spirit swirling; and Zi Yao in a cold, alluring black robe, her charm naturally captivating. "Having dealt with the trivial matters of the two realms, it's time to go back and see," Huang Yiming said gently, yet with an undeniable, supreme authority. These words were addressed not only to the five women but also to himself—the boy who, ten years ago, failed his college entrance exams and couldn't hold his head high on the streets of a small town.

The interdimensional warship pierced through the spatial barrier and arrived in Huang Yiming's hometown—a modern-day Jiangnan town—in an instant. Without any grand display, Huang Yiming, accompanied by five women, changed into ordinary modern clothes and strolled through the familiar streets like any other couple. The shops on both sides of the street were still bustling, but no one could imagine that this young man in a simple T-shirt was actually the supreme ruler who governed two realms and intimidated all others. Even fewer remembered Huang Yiming from ten years ago, the one who was gossiped about by neighbors and pitied by teachers for failing his college entrance exam.

"Yiming, our home is just ahead," Yang Xiu gently reminded him, a tender smile in her eyes. Years ago, she was sold into slavery in Black Wind Ridge, and Huang Yiming redeemed her with his last bread. Now, she had followed him from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of power; this bond was etched into her very being. Huang Yiming nodded, his steps faltering slightly as his gaze fell upon the old residential building not far away—the place where he had grown up, and also the place where he had once felt most wretched and ashamed.

Pushing open the door, Huang Yiming's parents were already waiting at the entrance. Although their hair had turned a few gray, their eyes were full of anticipation. When they saw the five girls behind Huang Yiming, the elderly couple were taken aback at first, then their faces lit up with joy. They took Huang Yiming's hands and chatted on and on, asking about his experiences over the years. Huang Yiming only gave a brief account, but they saw pride in their eyes. They might not understand what a dual-realm supreme being was, but they knew that their son was no longer the failed student who was ridiculed as "a failure."

When the news spread, former neighbors, relatives, and high school teachers all came knocking on his door. The first to arrive was Aunt Zhang, the neighbor who had mocked him the most back then, carrying bags of gifts and wearing a fawning smile: "Yiming, you've really made something of yourself! I told you back then, you're a bright kid, you'd be something special sooner or later, and you're right!"

Huang Yiming glanced at her indifferently, recalling how Aunt Zhang had loudly mocked him in the stairwell after he failed the college entrance exam, saying, "Failing the college entrance exam means you're a good-for-nothing, destined for a bad life." Looking at her now, so obsequious, he felt nothing. "Aunt Zhang, you're too kind. I'm just trying to make a living," he said calmly, without any intention of revenge or accepting the gift. This indifference, however, made Aunt Zhang's smile freeze, making her appear even more embarrassed.

Next, his high school homeroom teacher, Mr. Li, arrived. Mr. Li had placed high hopes on him back then, and after he failed the college entrance exam, he lamented, "If you had worked a little harder, you wouldn't have ended up like this." While his words contained regret, they also carried a hint of disdain. Now, seeing Huang Yiming, Mr. Li was filled with remorse: "Huang Yiming, I'm sorry for what I did to you back then. I shouldn't have looked down on you. I never imagined you would achieve so much."

"Teacher Li, you flatter me. It was my own fault for not working hard enough back then." Huang Yiming stood up to greet him, without holding a grudge or showing off. His composure and magnanimity made Teacher Li even more ashamed, repeatedly lamenting that he had been blind to Huang Yiming's greatness. Qin Yuling, watching this scene, had a smile in her eyes—she remembered how Huang Yiming had been looked down upon by a collateral branch of the Qin family back in Qin Family Fortress. Now, he was a supreme being in two realms, and those who had once looked down on him could only bow down in submission.

Su Qingyue stood by the window, gazing at the familiar street below, and said softly, "Back when I was doing business in the city, I heard your name, but no one could have imagined that this boy who failed the college entrance exam would become someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with me and lead the business world of both realms." Ling Xi, holding Huang Yiming's arm, added softly, "It's a good thing you didn't give up back then, otherwise, I wouldn't have met you in the Spirit Clan, and I wouldn't have awakened my bloodline." Zi Yao snorted coldly, "Those snobbish people, if they had known you would be where you are today, they would probably have groveled for you long ago, saving us the trouble of cleaning up those blind remnants later."

Huang Yiming held the hands of the five women, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. From failing his college entrance exam and awakening the [Interdimensional Communication System], to redeeming Yang Xiu with bread, to meeting Qin Yuling in Qin Family Fortress, to encountering Su Qingyue in the city, to saving Ling Xi from the Spirit Clan, to recruiting Zi Yao with the Demon Sect, and finally to ascending the throne and merging the two worlds, the five women had been by his side through thick and thin. He turned to his parents and said, "Dad, Mom, I'll take you somewhere and show you what I've done all these years."

With his parents and five daughters, Huang Yiming once again opened the spatial passage and arrived in the Azure Netherworld. When his parents saw the magnificent palace of the Great Ming Dynasty, the cultivators and modern soldiers coming and going, and the widespread availability of modern electricity and communication, they were completely stunned. Looking at everything before them, and then at their son, their eyes were filled with pride and joy. They finally understood just how extraordinary Huang Yiming's so-called "making a living" truly was.

Just as the family was enjoying a happy time, Huang Yiming's system suddenly sounded an alarm: [Warning! The aura of remnants of evil cultivators from the Hongmeng Realm has been detected. They have infiltrated the modern town, and their target is the student at the Urban Immortal Cultivation Academy who has awakened a special ability.]

Huang Yiming's face instantly darkened, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes. That student possessed the aura of a supreme treasure from countless realms, originating from the same source as the system's core, and was the key to unlocking higher-level realms. For this evil cultivator to dare to make a move at this time was simply courting death. He gently patted his parents' shoulders: "Dad, Mom, you two rest in the palace first. I have some things to take care of, I'll be back soon."

Qin Yuling immediately stepped forward: "I'll go with you!" Zi Yao followed closely behind: "Perfect timing, I haven't dealt with the evil cultivators in a long time, this is a good opportunity to stretch my muscles." Huang Yiming nodded, his gaze sweeping over the five women, and said in a deep voice: "Qingyue, Lingxi, Yang Xiu, you stay in the palace and protect my parents. At the same time, keep an eye on the movements of the two realms to prevent the evil cultivators from using a diversionary tactic." "Don't worry, Yiming," the three women replied in unison, their eyes resolute.

With a flash, Huang Yiming, along with Qin Yuling and Zi Yao, disappeared from the palace and sped towards the modern town. He knew that this hidden crisis not only concerned the safety of that student, but also the stability of the two realms, and might even uncover a larger conspiracy by the evil cultivators of the Hongmeng Realm—and he would never allow anyone to destroy everything he was protecting, nor would he allow the regrets of the past to repeat themselves.