In the quiet, ordinary bedroom of a residential building within the Rose District of Xuanhuangxing, a sudden shift in the atmosphere signaled an extraordinary arrival.
Whoosh!
A shimmering ancient bronze door materialized within the room, its edges glowing with a radiant, precious light. As the door creaked open, a lone figure stepped through—the one who had traversed worlds, Xia Chuan.
"Finally home," Xia Chuan exhaled, his voice filled with a mix of relief and excitement. He had just emerged from a mysterious miniature world, returning with two powerful world props—relics of immense power and potential. His heart raced with anticipation; this was an unparalleled gain.
But Xia Chuan was not of Xuanhuangxing's blood. No, he was a mere human from Earth. Upon his rebirth into this world, he found the world not so different from his own—its technological level comparable, its mysteries waiting to be unraveled. He adapted quickly, having few attachments to the world—no family, no close companions—no one would ever know the soul of Xia Chuan had changed.
"Is this the realm of the Primordial Gods, where the master resides?" The Book of Wisdom, a sentient artifact bound to Xia Chuan, spoke with an eager tone, its voice filled with a thirst for knowledge. This was the first time it had left its original world, and now it stood within the vast expanse of Xuanhuangxing, awed by the sight of its surroundings.
"It is," Xia Chuan answered, his voice calm, yet there was a glimmer in his eyes. He did not hesitate to share the secrets of this world with the Book of Wisdom. After all, the two were bound, inseparable in purpose and fate.
As Xia Chuan surveyed the room, his thoughts lingered on the future. He knew, instinctively, that the peace he felt now would soon shatter.
Yet the Book of Wisdom was not concerned with such thoughts. Its focus was on the grandeur of the surroundings. "This world is... vast," it marveled. "The space around us is far greater than even the combined territories of Chen Guo and Tang Guo. The scale here is unlike anything I have ever seen."
"Yes," Xia Chuan replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. "But I fear this world is on the brink of something far more dangerous."
He turned to the digital screen in his room, where the latest news flashed across his eyes.
"A massive sea monster has been spotted in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, sinking multiple ships. Rescue operations are underway."
"Vampire bats have descended upon the mountain ranges, draining the life from hundreds of sheep."
"Dozens of donkeys have mysteriously vanished in Shennongjia, suspected to be taken by savage goblins."
"The flames of Laojun Mountain have reached the heavens. Tens of thousands of locals have been evacuated due to the wildfire."
"A magnitude 7 earthquake shakes Sichuan, causing destruction across dozens of cities. Thousands are feared dead."
A chilling truth unfolded before Xia Chuan's eyes as he scrolled through the relentless stream of disasters. The world trembled with unnatural frequency, a clear sign of something amiss.
"There is a shadow lingering in the dark," he muttered to himself. "Something far more terrifying than mere natural disasters."
His fists clenched in resolve. While disasters such as these would normally pass with time, their sudden onslaught could not be ignored. A pattern was forming—unseen changes were creeping through the world, and though the common people remained oblivious, Xia Chuan could feel the shifting undercurrents of fate.
The Book of Wisdom's voice broke through his thoughts. "Master, the world you walk in is on the verge of a cataclysmic transformation."
"A transformation?" Xia Chuan asked, his brow furrowing. "What do you sense?"
The Book of Wisdom paused, then spoke again with its signature wisdom. "The aura of heaven and earth... is recovering."
"Aura of heaven and earth? What is this 'aura'?" Xia Chuan was perplexed. The words were unfamiliar, yet they stirred something deep within him.
"The aura of heaven and earth is a special life force, one that nourishes all things," the Book of Wisdom explained. "Life that absorbs this aura experiences a transformation, rising to a higher realm. Worlds rich in this aura give birth to extraordinary beings—powers beyond mortal comprehension. The world you inhabit now was once a land of great spiritual energy, but for some unknown reason, the aura was lost. Now, it is beginning to return."
Xia Chuan's eyes widened with understanding. The changes happening across Xuanhuangxing were no coincidence; they were the first stirrings of a grand resurgence.
"But why now?" he asked. "What has caused the aura to return?"
The Book of Wisdom was silent for a moment. "There are many possibilities. It could be the work of humans, a rift torn open by another world, or perhaps the world itself healing. I cannot say for sure."
Xia Chuan nodded slowly, digesting the information. "And what will happen when the aura fully recovers?"
"If the aura spreads across the world, the very fabric of reality will change," the Book of Wisdom warned. "Beasts will become powerful monsters, humans may awaken extraordinary abilities, and the land itself will transform. Xuanhuangxing, as you know it, will no longer exist. It will be a world reborn."
Xia Chuan's mind raced. The signs were clear—Xuanhuangxing was in the throes of a grand transformation. The world he had come to know would soon be shattered, replaced with something unknown and dangerous.
"The time to grow stronger is now," he murmured, his resolve hardening. "I need to become a transcendent. Only then can I navigate the coming storm."
With a firm grip on his future, Xia Chuan prepared to step into the unknown, knowing that the power to survive this world's transformation would require more than mere strength—it would require mastery over the very essence of the world itself.