After Heaven's Court Went Bankrupt, I Started Over in Haoran World

[A Sword of Coming fanfiction]

Xu Zhang, in the late stages of cancer, dies on the operating table.

When he opens his eyes again, his soul has transmigrated into the ancient Celestial Court, where he has become one of its five supreme gods: the Great Emperor of Fengdu. He controls life, death, and reincarnation, and his magic is boundless.

There's just one small problem: his true identity is a public enemy of the Celestial Court, an otherworldly demon. If he's exposed, his body and soul will be destroyed.

The good news is that his predecessor was cold and aloof, always keeping to himself. No one dares even look at him for long.

He didn't get to live long enough in his last life. In this one, he only wants to stay alive.

He slacks off every day, flirts with fairies, and lives like he's in a dream.

Then the Water God and Fire God start fighting. He lies low and makes it through.

When the human race attacks the Celestial Court, he's ready to keep lying low.

His only friend is the guard at the Southern Heavenly Gate. That guy is usually the most afraid of death, has the foulest mouth, and is the one he gets along with best.

Xu Zhang says, "Stand with me. We can keep slacking off together."

The man is silent for a long time, then smiles. "I've never taken anything seriously in my life. I ought to do it at least once."

In the battle to ascend to heaven, three divine generals abandon their posts at four heavenly gates, letting the rebels through. Only the most easygoing guard at the southern gate refuses to retreat, even if it means death.

Of course, refusing to retreat means he dies.

He is pinned to the great pillar of the heavenly gate by a sword.

In that battle, Xu Zhang finally chooses not to lie low.

Some things aren't worth doing because they're worthwhile. You do them because otherwise, your life would have been wasted.

When he wakes again, he is reborn in the Vast World. He has no cultivation, no talent, and no backing.

A fallen phoenix is worse off than a chicken. But this chicken used to be the biggest bird in the sky.