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Heroic Death System

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“I curse you to never die in peace!”

Thus, Shang Ke started a never-ending (forced) cycle of constantly throwing away his miserable life.

He would always show himself as a martyr while letting others cry over his death.

It was because of a woman’s curse that Shang Ke was hit by a car and turned into a human vegetable. This led to him becoming bound by an unlucky system in which he was cursed to die. The most unfortunate part was that he never cheated on anyone’s feelings. The reason for why he was cursed by a woman was because of a guy named Qi Chen. Qi Chen was a ladies man, and he would always use Shang Ke as an excuse to break up with any woman that he was with. As a result, Shang Ke was always blamed for the breakups. Since then, the main character could only be forced to cross into different worlds. He would thus experience for himself, the hero’s “thrill”.

It’s HE.

3323 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2016

55 people are currently reading
353 people want to read

About the author

Associated Names:
* 雪原幽灵 (Chinese)
* Xue Yuan Specter / Xue Yuan You Ling (English)

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5 stars
112 (45%)
4 stars
81 (32%)
3 stars
35 (14%)
2 stars
11 (4%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Inn Auni.
1,090 reviews24 followers
June 30, 2025
BEWARE of SPOILER

Shang Ke met with an accident and ended up bound to a system that sends him into different worlds to complete missions. Each successful mission extends the life of his vegetative body in the real world. The catch? He must die a heroic death every single time.

A fellow reviewer on NovelUpdates summed up the arc structure perfectly, because—let’s be honest—it follows the same formula almost every time:

Shang Ke enters a new world

Shang Ke meets the ML

Shang Ke helps the ML

Shang Ke dies a tragic, noble death

The first two arcs? Absolutely gut-wrenching. You will cry for Shang Ke, no matter how emotionally detached you think you are. But as more arcs rolled in, the emotional impact started to wear off. The tragic tone was diluted by an influx of side characters, many of whom were more annoying than meaningful.

Right now, only half of the 275 chapters are properly translated. The rest? Good luck MTL-ing—though it’s bearable if you can overlook how much the character names change from chapter to chapter.

That said, it's still a decent attempt. The format allows the author to dabble in multiple genres without committing to full-length stories for each. Don’t expect deep character development outside of Shang Ke, though. The ML, unfortunately, is a one-track possessive machine who really needs a wake-up call (or a slap, depending on your mood).

All in all: good if you're here for the feels, but don’t go in expecting narrative depth or variety after the initial arcs. Read for Shang Ke—he carries the whole thing.
Profile Image for catie 🧿.
118 reviews5 followers
February 27, 2021
dropped.. minor spoilers.

TW:

the love interest is literally a rapist i’m not exaggerating and the scenes are not ambiguous i mean he is genuinely a rapist. i hate this book with a passion especially since i waited since 2018 for the translation to finish and in the end this is the bullshit i got. the translator did a good job i have no idea why they didn’t end up rage quitting like i’m doing. i ended up skipping to the end when i decided to drop this just to sate my curiosity and what i got was the love interest meeting the mc for the first time then 3 days later breaking into his house and when the mc asks why are u here the love interest genuinely says “to rape you” then proceeds to do that.

even if i were to ignore that bullshit (which i literally can’t he rapes him in multiple arcs/lifetimes/words, whatever u wanna call them) the book just genuinely isn’t good. i like world hopping it’s fun i like seeing multiple stories within one big story. and the premise of this is that he ends up in a coma before the book starts and has to “die heroically” in a bunch of different worlds to get enough points to wake up in real life. ofc like majority of these type of books he meets the love interest over and over again throughout the worlds falls in love blah blah blah. the worlds are rly boring. it’s the same shit over and over and the death scenes aren’t meaningful at all to a reader. it’s just boring. you are like ok he died again let’s move on. i saw someone say that they cried when he died in one world and i just don’t get it. like i’m literally a sensitive crybaby cancer ok i cry genuinely over anything but he dies like idek 8-10 times? and not a single one made me feel any emotion. he goes back to some worlds to make a HE but literally i couldn’t bring myself to care at all. the MC literally admits the ML is scum. the author has terrible taste in men if she thinks that overbearing sociopath rapists are sexy.

oh i almost forgot that there’s an arc where the author refers to autistic people as not normal just over and over again idk how that arc goes bc i only read like the first two chapters

tldr: -10/10, do not recommend. don’t waste ur time. this shit is over 250 chapters long and it’s just excruciating to read. i’ve been reading it for like over a week (which is a long time for me) and i’m finally putting myself out of my misery and dropping this book. i am genuinely shook by how many positive reviews this book has

if u choose to read this for any reason my condolences and ig good luck with that... ur in my thoughts and prayers xoxo
Profile Image for Daisy.
156 reviews21 followers
September 9, 2022
ANOTHER GREAT QT WEBNOVEL I LOVE IT 😭

Aso v much satisfied with the smut 🥳 Like it not directly written with details about the s*x instead kind of foreshadowing? kinda. Good tho. Appreciated it 👏🏻
Profile Image for yel ᰔ.
635 reviews199 followers
July 16, 2022
★★★★☆ [3.5/5 stars]

I enjoyed reading the 'process' of this novel but to be honest, I'm quite unsatisfied and disappointed with the execution of the ending. It's so abrupt for me that I was actually shocked to see that it already ended just like that. For those who have loved or enjoyed reading FOD, you might also like this, but personally I have a bit of issues with this in some aspects compared to FOD. It's funny because I think FOD has more unpleasant and triggering tropes than this. Also in this novel, the MC actually recognized his ML easier that the MC in FOD (which was frustrating when I was reading FOD because I felt cheated whenever the MC recognized the wrong guy)

I enjoyed reading Shang Ke (MC) and his journey of sacrifing his life 'heroically' but my issue is mainly with the ML. I really have a soft spot for devoted and doting lover (thanks to Lan Zhan and Hua Cheng for that), and the ML is exactly that. Though I don't really love an absolute domineering characters, I also don't hate them. But the ML is just on another level. He did as he pleases without asking for the MC's permission. Maybe the MC tolerated his actions, but I just don't like the fact that he forces his desires on him, especially when he's having a negative emotions, such as jealousy, anger, fear etc. Most of the time in their pleasure time, the ML just penetrates the MC dry! That last arc, he just straight up rapes the MC, and they even used that term because that's what really happened. 

It's actually upsetting because I really love to see devoted and doting lover, and I also loved to see that 'whatever world we are in or whoever you become, I will always fall in love with you' kind of trope. The ML's tyranny personality kinda ruined that. Though I actually felt bad for him in every arc's ending because, you know, MC died 'heroically' (tragically) and he was always left devastated and lived on his own in despair and grief. 

I've already mentioned the aspect you should be aware before reading, but overall, I don't regret reading this novel. If you survived the FOD, you might want to try this because I'm pretty sure you'll survive this. 
Profile Image for Mixeura.
276 reviews9 followers
September 21, 2021
Reading this felt so long...
It took away 3 years off my life...
Profile Image for twotothreepastthebell.
36 reviews
December 6, 2022
3.65/5

“Shang Ke, wearing a mushroom face, was thoroughly dumbfounded.”

“Sitting on top of the mountain of bug corpses, dangerously close to the radiation of the bugs, while half-naked from the top and eating a roasted bug leg. Did he have to be so sexy and domineering?”

“This was the first time Shang Ke had a dolphin so he has no experience.”

“Any living being in the world could turn out to be his potential rival, the most dangerous of all being aquatic mammals.”

“Mating is gender-neutral!”

“Dipson’s mutated gene can force humans to irreversibly assimilate other organisms. Here is an image of Dipson’s current appearance— (:◎)≡ .”

“Alas, if you thought selling lunch boxes was a sad profession, you were wrong. “

“Yonis looked at Waves, and the dolphin immediately cocked his tail and swung his pelvic fins, indicating absolute reliability!”

“Shang Ke had arrived at the scene before him because he found the opportunity to die.”

“His lover has become a thumb sized baby and was sitting on the steering wheel, waving at him.”

“Just now, his tongue got bitten off by a certain zombie king… Such an unprecedented brutal kiss!”

“He killed all the people in the world and his hands became stained with blood, only to realize in the end that all he wanted to have was a small mushroom…”

“Your fork has taken away my tenderloin, and your left leg is molesting my right leg.”

“Wen Jingrong fetched a handkerchief and gently wrapped Shang Ke up.
Shang Ke raged: Do not wrap, let me go naked!”


Very effectively plotted and well thought out. I was I bit confused at the end regarding the matter of Wu Du, the mole, and the reincarnation lamp, as well as if the flaming red sky flower was still in effect, but overall very comprehensive for such a complicated concept. The short episodic style was wonderful in the face of a degenerating attention span, and while I wasn’t a major fan of any arc in particular (really didn’t vibe with the sentinel and the guide one), compiled as one, it was very entertaining.
Profile Image for TofuBao.
483 reviews5 followers
January 2, 2023
Rating: 4/5- As a person whose least favourite genre of novel is Quick Transmigration and World Hopping, this book was captivating and kept me glued until the end, albeit finishing off disappointingly.

(Bearing in mind that I have not read QWTFOD as yet) I thoroughly enjoyed all the arcs and especially the MC Shang Ke. He was spectacular and steadfast and made this story so unbelievably great.

I must say the worst arc by far is the final arc. I feel like this really well told story has a very weak ending. It does no justice to a rather solid plotline. Almost as if the author didn’t know how to create an overarching plot outside of the mini arcs.

If more detail and a solid framework was given about the 3 characters in question- those who started the status of cursed reincarnations- it may have given the whole story a proper ending. Unfortunately the weak ending will sorely disappoint you.

If you ignore that failure from the author and simply read the arcs and mini missions, it will be quite enjoyable.

QT novels are truly my absolute last choice when it comes to genres; and reading this was due to boredom but it was a good choice overall. It reads quite quickly and you will love the MC. The ML is not the greatest but he’s not horrible either and in many ways the MC really compensated for his very 2D nature. In fact if his back story was better elaborated by the author, I feel like readers may have connected better with him.

Unfortunately this novel is what it is, so go in fully aware that there is a massive plot hole (actually a complete lack of plot) regarding the origins of the characters. This will mess up the reading experience towards the end of the book (and potentially between arcs as the author does rush many ideas which gets confusing), but use your imagination to fill in the spaces.
Profile Image for Melissa.
528 reviews16 followers
March 23, 2021
I was originally interested in this because a lot of people said that you'd like Heroic Death System if you liked Quickly Wear the Face of the Devil. I can see the similarities since the main characters do a lot of counterattacks and white washing, there are a lot of unique arcs, and the male lead is the same person in every arc.

However, I really didn't like the some of the male lead's behavior in this book. It's one thing to be possessive of the person you like, but it's a completely different thing to rape the person you like just to stake your claim. It doesn't matter that your rapist is your lover from your previous transmigrations and you know it's because he loves you and can't f*cking communicate or think properly like a normal person. In some of the worlds, Shang Ki was still in the process of figuring out if he was his lover before he got raped! This is not okay.

I really did like Shang Ke's growth throughout the novel though. He had the most changes, and his relationship with his system was hilarious. His internal thoughts were always entertaining as he roasted his lover and every disadvantaged situation he was in.

There were a lot of unique arcs I had never read about before that I really liked such as the faith arc, the god arc, and the pen arc lol. Shang Ke's heroic deaths were pretty tragic, so be prepared for the feels in between all of the humor and action.

If you can get over the male lead's scummy behavior (even Shang Ke acknowledges it), I think this is a pretty good quick transmigration novel.
Profile Image for Janna.
6 reviews
August 26, 2023
"Heroic Death System" by Xue Yuan Specter is a web novel that truly took me on an unexpected journey. At its heart, it's a unique blend of fantasy and adventure, and I found myself thoroughly engrossed in its pages. It was also my first on the concept of the main character traversing different worlds to attain their heroic deaths. It adds a refreshing twist to the usual narrative of face-slap-and-leave system novels, and the author's execution of this premise is commendable.

What truly sets this novel apart is its character development. The protagonist's growth throughout the story is not only tangible but also emotionally resonant. As they navigate various lives and challenges, you can't help but become invested in their journey. The interactions between characters are well-crafted, lending authenticity to their relationships and evoking genuine emotions. Additionally, the vivid descriptions of the worlds they inhabit paint a clear picture in the reader's mind, making it easy to immerse oneself in the story.

While "Heroic Death System" certainly shines, a minor drawback is that at times, the pacing can feel a bit rushed. Some arcs could have benefited from a little more depth and exploration. Nevertheless, this doesn't significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the novel. If you like "Quickly Wear the Face of the Devil", this is a good choice. It's a captivating read that keeps you eagerly turning the pages, and its inventive premise coupled with strong character dynamics make it a solid choice for fans of the fantasy genre.
Profile Image for elli elli.
273 reviews3 followers
September 29, 2021
Olha...essa foi uma novel boa. Realmente, ela tem tudo que eu gosto, um uke maravilhoso, cheio de atitude, boca suja, que é inteligente e age de forma esperta. Os arcos tinham um tamanho bom, gostei de haverem retornos a eles, e as histórias de cada arco eram (a maioria) boas. Algumas tão boas que até poderiam ser uma novel a parte. Agora, críticas: achei a explicação do porquê de tudo muito mal feita, uns flashbacks jogados aqui e ali e muita dedução do protagonista, sério autora? Honestamente... mas enfim, o nosso ML era perfeito em alguns arcos, maravilhoso mesmo, enquanto em outros eu gostaria que ele não existisse, porque fazer ele ser um babaca? não tenho ideia. Achei também alguns furos no história, como em alguns retornos do protagonista, a autora as vezes confundia a ordem dos fatos da história original do arco, mas nada que não possa ser ignorado. Agora meus arcos favoritos, que eu leria uma novel inteira só deles são: Arco 1(Eu só preciso de 72 horas para me apaixonar por você), Arco 3 (Você é minha fé), Arco 9 (Tornando-se seu deus), Arco 11 ( A primavera chega sobre uma árvore murcha), Arco 13 (Assistente Fantasma) e por fim, Arco 14 (Vamos Correr, Raposa). Aqueles que honestamente...UGH, são: Arco 16 (Esta vida), Arco 12 (Eu sou uma caneta do mal) e Arco 2 (Meu coração bate por você)
Profile Image for Hols.
41 reviews
August 26, 2025
I really enjoyed the earlier arcs (the arcs that happened before the first series of re:arcs). The earlier arcs were so refreshing and high stakes because Shang Ke didn't realize that he could re:arc, which makes the tension and emotions so raw. Later on in the series, Shang Ke gains more knowledge of the system so the later arcs become kind of repetitive to me... :(

But I like how the arcs all tie back to one overarching story like all the other quick transmigration novels out there. I would definitely give this novel a shot (especially the earlier arcs because those were SO good)

My favorite one is the second arc (My heart beats only for you). I could not get over that arc and the way it ripped my heart out at the end
Profile Image for Irissska.
399 reviews
April 20, 2022
I would say it is 1.5 out of 5 stars.
Sometimes the author had really interesting ideas which made me think "hm, good imagination" but all in all the overall plot was quite messy and inconsistent. And the main complaint is ML especially in the last arc, where he was simply terrible. I cannot understand how you can love someone like this unless you are his mother maybe? Also sometimes i honestly was so bored and looking forward to the end not for good reasons. The ending was dull and anticlimactic. But I did finish it so... it is not very good but it is ok if you have some time to waste.
Profile Image for juuree.
325 reviews21 followers
January 25, 2021
i'm so glad i didn't read this when it was an ongoing translation. i couldn't imagine the torture. thankfully, i discovered this when it was almost done and i waited to read it when it was all complete. i'm the type to binge through books once it's got my attention.

really loved the MC here. the ML is not always so lovable but i am 100% loyal to the MC. lots of smut and i love most of the arcs. it really covers a lot of different types that i'm used to. i haven't really read omegaverse books, though, so that arc was new to me.
155 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2023
I have to admit, before reading this book I read a review that mentioned that he/she hated the last chapter. I remember thinking to myself - how bad could it be?? FAMOUS LAST WORDS

I am so so angry with the last chapter I'm dropping 2 stars. The book in general is really, really interesting and captivating to read.

Unfortunately for Heroic Death System, I read QWTFOTD/ FOD first and it was definitely much better.
Profile Image for Thisgirl.
25 reviews
June 2, 2023
Read this a while back so don't remember much. But what I can say it that the ML is really good at finding was to die heroically. It always amazes me how he meets his target for the deaths every time. It's funny and a good read.
Profile Image for Isabella Contreras.
7 reviews1 follower
November 27, 2021
Me encantó. Gracias a esta novela conocí las otras que eran de transmigración rápida y me quedaron gustando mucho. Sufrí con esta novela, pero también reí y amé a su protagonista.
Profile Image for Dev.
6 reviews
January 10, 2025
La verdad es una muy buena novela pero la deje de leer por que mire spoilers y era un final que no soportaría leer
Profile Image for Jule.
4 reviews
July 29, 2025
Almost at the ending... But got bored.
The story was good and enjoyable!!!
Profile Image for Soren.
132 reviews
October 10, 2025
Most storylines were great. ML def has mental problems. Hated the plot twist at the end of the story
Profile Image for Mia.
508 reviews18 followers
April 2, 2022
Awalnya ragu2 mau baca, banyak yg bilang ceritanya terlalu "angst" tapi setelah memberanikan diri buat baca ternyata bagus banget. Vibenya ala2 quick wear the mask of devil. Bedanya disana MC puas banget face slapping para protagonis yg ternyata jahat nah disini MC misinya harus mati secara heroik. Di awal2 arc MC fokus sama penyelesaian misi, nggak mikir yg aneh2, cuma mikir gimana caranya bisa mati secara heroik secepat mungkin, di awal2 arc ini ML yg aktif ngedeketin MC, walaupun MC masih cuek. Makin lama MC makin OP menyelesaikan misi, MC mulai aktif ngedeketin ML, mulai mikir gimana caranya selain mati secara heroik dia juga bisa memperpanjang waktu bersama ML. Walaupun ceritanya "angst" tapi dont worry be happy, MC dapat kesempatan untuk mengulang arc untuk mendapatkan HE. Secara keseluruhan ini bacaan yg menarik banget, sayangnya cuma aku kurang puas sama endingnya walaupun bagus dan HE aku ngerasa ceritanya kurang panjang..

~read for the 3rd time and still luv it
Profile Image for Nina.
177 reviews
March 24, 2024
3! No puedo creer que no pudiera terminar los arcos finales, a pesar de que estuve semanas obligándome a leerlos, UF! Estuvo muy interesante y divertido los primeros capítulos, me hicieron muy feliz... Pero a medida que transcurrieron los arcos se fueron volviendo más aburridos y sin sentido... Pero voy a extrañar esos primeros capítulos que me hicieron sentir tan bien...
Profile Image for Ren.
3 reviews
October 5, 2021
Very cute and good. It is interesting and hard to put down when you start reading.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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