Ali is an older man working as a courier for Trendyol in Turkey. One day, while delivering a package, a pitch-black cat crosses his path. To avoid hitting the cat, he swerves, but a truck from a side road crashes into him, and Ali dies.
When Ali comes to, his entire body aches. Unconsciously, he looks at his hands and notices they've become smaller. He rushes to the riverbank and looks at his reflection. To his shock, he sees a 16-year-old boy staring back at him. As he tries to comprehend what's happening, the memories of the body he now inhabits flood his mind like a raging river. Ali realizes this world is filled with demons, devils, monsters, and divine beings with supernatural powers. These divine beings can pierce mountains with a single hand, travel through the skies at the speed of sound, and even bend the void itself.
The most powerful figure in the plain he finds himself in is the chief of the Akdoğan Tribe, Akdoğan Baybars Bey, who possesses the following cultivation stages: Body Pinnacle, Dragon Heart, Flame of Eternity, Khan of Souls, Lord of the Void, and Null Vizier-i-Azam. For now, this is all Ali knows. Every five years, an official from the Khanate arrives to assess the cultivation qualities of the children aged 5 to 9 in the tribes. Cultivation qualities are ranked as follows: Ordinary, Mundane, Celestial, Elemental, Legendary, Cosmic, Padishah, and Sultan. The Süleymanşah Sultanate, to which this region belongs, governs 10 khanates, hundreds of sanjak beyliks, thousands of beylerbeyliks, tens of thousands of nahiyes, and millions of tribes.
Ten years ago, Ali's cultivation quality was tested and found to be low-tier Ordinary. Since body refinement would take 50 years, and he had no family, he survived by occasionally begging on the streets. After absorbing the memories of his new body, Ali is initially overjoyed, but his face falls when he recalls his low-tier Ordinary talent.
Suddenly, Ali wonders if he's dreaming, as a voice in his mind announces the activation of the "Immortal Sultan" system, followed by a message: "Congratulations, host." As the name suggests, the system will help him build the most powerful sultanate. According to the system's information, first, the higher the cultivation quality of his children, the more achievement rewards he can unlock, including special physiques and bodies. Second, a portion of his children's cultivation qualities and progress will transfer to Ali, the host. He can also inherit a fraction of his grandchildren's talents, though at half the rate of his children's. The further removed the descendant, the less talent is transferred. Still, it's better than nothing. Ali begins to ponder whether his children's and grandchildren's talents will stack onto his own. "If my children and grandchildren have great talents, I could become immortal directly," he thinks.
Overwhelmed with excitement after understanding the system, Ali jumps into the river to cool off, fearing he might die from the thrill. Despite having the lowest cultivation quality, Ali now believes his path to immortality isn't as difficult as he thought, as long as he has many children and grandchildren. By building a large family, he could become a sanjak bey or even a great sultan.
Suddenly, Ali hears someone calling him. It's an old man named Hasan, who earns a living making and selling straw slippers. Hasan has helped Ali many times, preventing him from starving. Hasan loves Ali dearly and keeps an eye on him. Though Hasan is frail and constantly coughing, Ali holds great affection for him. Hasan's family consists only of himself and his granddaughter, whom Ali has never met. Hasan is frugal and has never invited Ali to his home, but he occasionally gives him food to get by.
Today, Hasan finds Ali and tells him he has someone to entrust to him. Realizing his death is near, Hasan has decided to marry his beloved granddaughter to Ali. Overjoyed at the news, Ali feels incredibly lucky, knowing it would be nearly impossible for a beggar like him to marry without the system's help. Hasan is pleased with Ali's response but demands a promise: "If you mistreat my granddaughter or fail to care for her, I'll curse you even as a ghost." Ali swears to treat her well.
Hasan takes his saved copper coins and buys a red fabric for his granddaughter and a white outfit for Ali. He leads Ali to the tent where his granddaughter resides. Nervous about his first marriage, Ali wonders, "Is she beautiful?" As they enter the tent, a stunning young woman with black hair and dark eyes is cooking by the fire. Since it's a special day, she's preparing deer meat. Seeing Ali beside her grandfather, she notes that, despite his dirty appearance, Ali has a well-proportioned physique and a handsome jawline. She decides he's good-looking.
Hasan calls his granddaughter, Ayşe, and has her and Ali hold hands. He makes them swear, "No matter what, in sickness or health, you will remain loyal and love each other." As Hasan coughs, feeling his time is short, he asks Ayşe to heat water for Ali. That evening, Ali and Ayşe decide to marry.
An hour later, Ali has bathed, and Ayşe is wearing her red wedding dress, nervously holding hands. Hasan urges Ali to hurry and dress. When Ali puts on his white outfit, he looks strikingly handsome, causing Ayşe's heart to race. Hasan, noticing the moment, coughs lightly to break the tension and declares they must wed. In this era, marriage is a simple ritual: the bride wears red, the groom wears white, and they bow three times to the family and then to each other. The marriage is complete.
Once Ali and Ayşe are married, Hasan pulls a wooden ring from his pouch and hands it to Ali. Ali carves their names into the ring, making it a symbol of their union, and places it on Ayşe's finger.
Though initially nervous, they enter the tent together and spend the night alone. Ali takes a jug of rice wine from the table, and they drink together. It's Ayşe's first time tasting rice wine. As they talk, they slowly get to know each other. After getting slightly drunk, they blow out the candles and spend the night together.
The next morning, Ali wakes first and sees Ayşe still sleeping. As he tries to get up, Ayşe suddenly sits up to help him dress but collapses from pain in her legs. Ali tells her to stay in bed, but she insists on getting up. Playfully tapping her forehead, Ali says, "Be a good girl and stay in bed. I'll bring you some rice porridge for breakfast. Don't get up today—rest and recover."
Six Months Later
Ayşe is pregnant, and Ali is thrilled, as it's his first time becoming a father in either of his lives. He immediately thinks of names: Osman if it's a boy, Hürrem if it's a girl. Ali wants his children to grow up happy and safe. When Hasan hears the news, he's ecstatic, grinning widely with his worn-out 32 teeth, creating a somewhat eerie smile. He gives Ali an intricately carved rosewood chest, a family heirloom, and begins sharing his past.
Hasan reveals that their nahiye is one of the four great beylics, the Tuluoğlu Beylic. Years ago, the son of their beylic's leader harassed a family from a beylerbeylic, and that night, the entire family was massacred. Even Ayşe didn't know this story, but Hasan shares it with Ali, asking that if someone from his family ever reaches the Flame of Eternity Realm, they take revenge on the Kızılbıyık Beylic, whose leader was at the 7th level of the Flame of Eternity.
Ali listens carefully, vowing silently that if he ever reaches that power, he will take revenge. Hasan hands Ali the chest and heads to the market to sell shoes. Ali opens the rosewood chest and finds the Green Orchid Technique book, a low-grade Mundane-level technique (treasure book levels align with cultivation qualities). Overjoyed, Ali knows that cultivation books are closely guarded by families and beylics as the key to power. Without one, progress is much slower. Ali sits cross-legged and practices the Green Orchid Technique, noticing his perception is ten times sharper. At this rate, he estimates reaching Body Pinnacle Level 1 in seven months.
Seven months after Hasan's gift, Ali's persistent efforts pay off, and he reaches Body Pinnacle Level 1. Ayşe, now eight months pregnant, is nearing delivery. Ali stays home instead of going to the market to care for her. Though Hasan still coughs, he refuses to die before seeing his great-grandchild. Ali takes him to a healer a few times, but old wounds make recovery unlikely.
While Ali is making flatbread with the remaining grains, he hears Ayşe scream. Realizing she's in labor, he sprints to fetch the village midwife, carrying her on his back to the tent. The midwife sends Ali out and tells him to wait for good news. Hasan returns from selling shoes, sees Ali's panic, and grows anxious. Ali explains, but Hasan remains nervous.
Soon, a baby's cry echoes from the tent. The midwife emerges with a swaddled boy. A system voice rings in Ali's ear: "Congratulations, the host is rewarded with special prizes for their first son. Please claim your rewards."
Ignoring the system, Ali rushes into the tent. Ayşe is drenched in sweat but safe. He tells her to rest, takes Osman, and places him in the cradle. After Osman falls asleep, Ali walks to the riverbank, ensuring no one is around, and checks his system rewards.
System Rewards:
Congratulations on the host's first son. The host's talents are enhanced. Congratulations, the host has acquired the Sword Drawing Art. Congratulations, the host has gained 30 years of cultivation experience. For the first son, the host receives a special reward: a Celestial-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill. Congratulations, the host has received a high-tier Ordinary Red Rose Sword. Congratulations, the host has received an Ordinary-level Encyclopedia of All Herbs.
Ali hadn't anticipated such generous rewards. He claims them, and two books, a sword, and a vial appear before him. Taking the magnificent sword, he instantly advances to Body Pinnacle Level 3. He places the items in a sack, estimating that reaching Level 4 will require 40 years of experience, highlighting his poor cultivation talent. Without the system, he'd still be an ordinary mortal.
Ali returns home with the sack. Osman is asleep, and he quietly passes Ayşe, who opens her eyes and hugs him before falling back asleep. Hours later, Osman wakes crying from hunger. Ali brings him to Ayşe to nurse, and afterward, they move to the tent's living area, separated by a cloth. Hasan sleeps in the main area.
Ali tells Ayşe he has a surprise and hands her the vial, claiming it's a hidden cultivator's legacy. When Ayşe learns it's a Celestial-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill, she nearly faints from shock, knowing even a Khan of Souls would fight for it. She refuses it, believing Ali needs it more due to his low talent. But with the system, Ali insists she take it to avoid losing her early. Reluctantly, Ayşe consumes the pill, and black impurities ooze from her body, cleansing her completely. Already beautiful, she becomes even more radiant. Ali can't check her cultivation quality without a testing artifact, but Ayşe can estimate it through practice.
Ali hands her the Green Orchid Technique book, urging her to practice. Five hours later, Ayşe reaches Body Pinnacle Level 1, astonishing Ali. His own progress took seven months, but Ayşe's speed suggests near-Cosmic talent. Ali is overjoyed, regretting not having the pill before Osman's birth, as the rewards would have been even greater.
Hasan wakes, sees their joy, and asks what happened. When Ayşe explains, he weeps with happiness, saying the Tuluoğlu ancestors would be ecstatic in their graves. Seeing the black impurities on her, Ayşe blushes and rushes to bathe. Hasan and Ali burst into laughter together.