Chapter 1 - Reborn!
The Endless Void—a realm of boundless nothingness that stretches between all creations, universes, and realities. Untouched by time, substance, or form, it has remained an eternal constant. But now, this ageless stillness quakes as a battle of unfathomable power unfolds, each clash shaking the very foundation of existence.
BOOM! BOOM!
Two transcendent beings collide in a struggle that bends the fabric of reality. One, a humanoid figure enshrouded in a radiant grey-silver aura, commands the void with terrifying authority. His raised hand shines with blinding light, concentrating into a beam of power that surges forward, unstoppable in its wrath.
Opposing him is a colossal red orb, vast enough to dwarf entire universes. Pulsing with chaotic energy, it resists with all its might. Yet, despite its immense form, the orb falters, cracks spreading across its surface as it endures the relentless onslaught.
The grey-silver light cuts deep into the red orb, erasing chunks of its essence with every strike. The orb trembles, its core burning with a singular instinct—to survive. For eons, it has existed as a manifestation of chaos, thriving in the lawless expanse of the void. But now, the inevitability of its destruction looms closer.
BOOM!!!
The orb fractures into trillions of fragments, each piece scattering across countless universes in a desperate bid for preservation. Yet, even this act of survival is thwarted. With a mere gesture, the grey-silver figure obliterates the fragments, reducing them to nothingness.
A mournful growl echoes through the void, raw and wordless, as the red orb's existence flickers. It cannot bear the thought of ceasing to be. But its opponent has already seized its essence core, the very foundation of its being. Life and death now rest entirely in the hands of the grey-silver figure.
The orb's desperation swells. It transmits a final plea, offering servitude, humiliation—anything to avoid annihilation.
The grey-silver figure pauses, his radiant form betraying a trace of intrigue. "So, you're little more than a human infant," he remarks, his tone sharp with both curiosity and disdain.
The red orb, humiliated and enraged, gathers its last reserves of power. In a final act of defiance, it launches a suicidal attack, seeking to bring its opponent down.
The attempt is futile. With an effortless motion, the grey-silver figure seals the orb's movements entirely, locking it in place.
He speaks again, his voice quieter now, laced with understanding. "You share the fate I once did—a mere existence striving to defy the inevitable. Though our paths differ—you embrace the law of the jungle and I have overcome it—I will grant you a chance."
Without hesitation, he begins dismantling the red orb. Its memories, power, and existence are stripped away, leaving only its essence core—the true soul—intact. Suspended in the void, the core shines dimly, awaiting its uncertain future.
MC POV
I don't want to die! I need to breathe! Why am I in water? Where's the surface? Why can't I feel my hands? Someone, help me! I'm in pain!
Countless questions filled my mind, but no answers came. Only an endless, searing pain in my head. Time stretched endlessly, and it felt like an eternity had passed before I was finally free from the suffocating, wet environment.
I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn't see anything. Everything was blurry, and my body felt... strange. Desperately, I tried to call for help.
"Waaaaa! Waaaaa! WAAAAA!?"
What the heck? A baby's cry? Wait… that's my voice. Did I just... cry like a baby? No, no, no! This can't be happening! Did I become a baby? How? Why?
Before I could process anything further, unfamiliar voices filled the air. A man and a woman, their tones warm yet foreign, spoke rapidly.
I strained to understand them, but the language wasn't English. Their words were completely alien to me, but the rhythm of their voices carried a strange, comforting familiarity.
"Lan Hengsheng….."
What's going on? Where am I? My mind raced, but my tiny body betrayed me. Exhaustion overwhelmed me, and despite my spiraling thoughts, my eyes slowly closed. Darkness claimed me once again.
5 years later
"Young Master, Mistress is calling you," the young maid said in a polite tone, but the smirk tugging at her lips betrayed her true thoughts. Lan Hengsheng noticed immediately—mockery hid behind her courtesy. He couldn't blame her. Just yesterday, the talent-identification ceremony had upended his life.
Lan Hengsheng hailed as a prodigy since birth, had been the pride of the clan. He spoke his first words at one month old, walked by the second, and was reading books at six months. Such accomplishments made him the clan's shining hope, destined to bring honor and glory. Expectations for his future soared to impossible heights.
Yet, the ceremony's result crushed those dreams. The truth struck like a bolt of lightning: Lan Hengsheng was born without a spirit core, the very foundation of cultivation. Without it, he could not step onto the path of immortality, and the gates to cultivation were forever closed to him. The clan's joy turned to scorn, and disappointment spread like wildfire. His parents' rivals in the clan, long waiting for an opportunity, would undoubtedly seize this chance to attack their standing.
The world Lan Hengsheng found himself in was nothing like Earth. Back on Earth, he had been a highly successful investor, a multi-business owner whose financial empire guaranteed him a life of ease. With wealth so vast he could spend millions daily without concern, he had retired young, ready to enjoy the fruits of his labor. But one moment, he had everything, and the next, he found himself reborn into this strange world.
At first, Lan Hengsheng thought he had traveled back to ancient China. The architecture, customs, and Eastern landscapes all pointed to it. Yet this world contained wonders beyond anything his previous life could fathom. Here, immortal cultivators soared through the skies, wielding powers that bent the laws of nature. He vividly recalled watching his father rise into the sky, a spectacle that shattered his assumptions and confirmed he was in a realm of cultivation—the kind of world he once thought existed only in novels.
The Lan Clan, into which Lan Hengsheng was reborn, was a prominent family situated in the heart of the Golden Pillar Continent. The clan boasted a massive network of more than ten thousand members living together, a testament to their strength and influence. However, in this world, strength was everything, and Hengsheng's lack of a spirit core made him a weak link in their mighty chain.
Hengsheng rose from his study seat and followed the servant to his mother's chambers. They passed through the lush garden, fragrant with blooming flowers, before arriving at the entrance to her room. The servant stepped aside and lowered her head respectfully as a calm, feminine voice called out from within.
"Come in."
Hengsheng pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside. His mother her name is Wang Lianxue, a woman with long, flowing black hair and a poised demeanor, sat gracefully within the room. She radiated elegance, her youthful appearance belying the wisdom she carried. A member of the Wang Clan—long-standing allies of the Lan Clan—she had come from a powerful lineage that shared territory under the Golden Sword Sect, the overlords of the continent.
"Mother." Hengsheng greets her with a polite posture.
"Sheng'er," she began softly, her voice carrying warmth and understanding, "I have heard about what happened yesterday. But do not let the words of others discourage you. The way of the heavens is mysterious. Even someone without a spirit core, like you, can achieve immortality. It has happened before."
She spoke with a gentle, reassuring tone, weaving tales of ancient immortals who, like him, were born without spirit cores yet defied all odds to ascend to greatness. Such figures achieved immortality not only through unyielding determination but also extraordinary luck and rare opportunities—like discovering a legendary treasure capable of transforming a mortal into a cultivator.
Hengsheng listened quietly, absorbing his mother's words. He understood the immense difficulty of the path she described, but unlike others who might feel helpless in his situation, Hengsheng did not despair. He was not reborn empty-handed.
"Thank you, Mother, for caring about me. I will not let others' opinions close my path," he said, his voice calm yet resolute.
Hearing this, Lianxue felt a surge of pride at her son's unshaken will, though her heart ached knowing the difficult road that lay ahead. The thought of her son growing old and frail, unable to break free from mortality, made her chest tighten painfully. She stepped forward and embraced him tightly, as if trying to shield him from the trials he would inevitably face.
After releasing him, she sent Hengsheng back to his study with a warm smile.
Hengsheng left his mother's chamber with a heart full of warmth. At least in this world, there was someone truly on his side. He muttered to himself, "Not like those brats from yesterday. They called me 'Big Bro' all this time but flipped on me the moment they found out I didn't have a spirit core. I'll make them regret it someday!"
He clenched his fists briefly, but then let the anger go. They were just five-year-old kids. What did they know?
The real reason Hengsheng wasn't discouraged by the talent identification ceremony yesterday lay in a secret only he knew. During the ceremony, when spiritual qi surged into his body to identify his core, it found nothing. But instead of merely failing, the process triggered something far greater—something that had followed him through his reincarnation.
Returning to his room, Hengsheng firmly closed the door and instructed his servant not to disturb him. He quickly sat down, his gaze fixed on an invisible screen only he could see.
It had been loading since yesterday.
A short while later…
[98%… 99%… 100%]
Ding!
[Make a wish.]
Chapter 2 - More Wishes!
That's it? Hengsheng stared at the words before him, disbelief etched across his face. Make a wish? He had envisioned a powerful system descending upon him, granting him a cheat-like ability befitting someone who had been reincarnated. Instead, it wanted him to... pray to some higher power?
Hengsheng frowned, frustration bubbling within. What am I even supposed to wish for? The possibilities swirled in his mind like an endless storm. Can I wish to be the strongest in the world?No. This was a cultivation world—there was always a higher realm lurking somewhere. If I'm the strongest here, someone from a higher realm could just come and slap me into oblivion.
He scratched his head, thinking harder. Then what about wishing to be the strongest in the universe? But even that didn't feel right. He didn't know whether this world had a multiverse, and if it did, his wish would still fall short.
Frustrated and overwhelmed, Hengsheng threw caution to the wind. Fine. Can I just wish to have... more wishes?
Ding!
[The wish is made.]
Hengsheng froze, his eyes widening. The system had accepted it. Wait, what? It actually worked?!
Before he could fully process what was happening, a sudden pressure engulfed his body. His vision blurred, and the world seemed to spin out of control. He stumbled backward, falling off his chair and collapsing onto the floor.
A sickening wave of nausea crashed over him, his body trembling violently. It felt as if he were caught in the throes of a severe flu, every inch of his being screaming in discomfort.
I... I can't... Hengsheng's thoughts began to fragment as the overwhelming sensation pulled him deeper into the abyss. His consciousness flickered and then faded entirely.
A while later, Hengsheng didn't know how much time had passed, but he slowly opened his eyes. His body ached all over from the earlier incident, and confusion clouded his thoughts. What happened? What about my wish?
He sat up, rubbing his temples, and decided to test it. "I want to be the strongest!!" he shouted. Nothing happened.
"I want to be an adult!!" Silence.
"I want to have a spirit core!!" he yelled in frustration, waiting for any sign. Yet, nothing came.
Hengsheng's face twisted in disbelief. "Did I just get scammed? Damn it!"
Desperation clawed at him as he tried again. "System!? Status! Status window!" His voice echoed through his room, but still, there was no response.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Hengsheng screamed, slamming his fists against the floor in frustration. He had convinced himself that his lack of a spirit core would be a temporary setback, that the so-called "cheat" he had expected would eventually make up for it. But now, his hopes seemed crushed.
He lay on the ground, staring at the ceiling, despair washing over him. Life as a mortal in a prestigious cultivation clan was worse than being an ordinary mortal. Without cultivation, he would be seen as trash for the rest of his life. His father, the son of the Lan Clan Patriarch, might shield him to some extent, and his mother, a key figure in their allied Wang Clan, could protect him from outright death. But beatings and humiliation? Those would be unavoidable.
Most of all, Hengsheng yearned to cultivate. To be immortal. To transcend the limits of life itself. Who wouldn't want that?
"Ughhhhh! Ahhhhhhh!" Hengsheng cried pathetically, rolling on the ground like a helpless child. Sucking on his finger out of frustration, he imagined his bleak future.
Even if a treasure that could turn a mortal into a cultivator existed, it wouldn't fall into my hands. The stronger forces out there would never allow it. Even if by some miracle I obtained it, it would bring destruction to my clan. We'd pay the ultimate price for possessing something beyond our capability to protect.
Just as he was about to lose all hope, a strange warmth began to radiate from his chest. The sensation was foreign but oddly comforting, like a flicker of hope igniting deep within him. Hengsheng sat up abruptly and closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation.
Suddenly, his consciousness was pulled inward. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a vast, endless white space. The emptiness stretched in every direction like an infinite blank sheet of paper.
"What… what is this?" he muttered, looking around. When he glanced at his hands, he realized they were translucent, ghostlike. Panic gripped him. "Am I dead?"
He quickly closed his eyes again, and the moment he did, his consciousness snapped back into his body.
'Woop.'
Hengsheng gasped, sitting upright in his room. The warmth in his chest still lingered, faint but steady. Determined to understand, he closed his eyes and focused on the feeling again.
'Woop.'
He was back in the white space. This time, excitement bubbled within him as realization dawned. "This… this must be my cheat!"
Hengsheng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Questions began swirling in his mind. How does this work? Is this some kind of tool for cultivation? Could it give me extra time to practice?
But if that were the case, it wouldn't help him anytime soon. He recalled the teachings of his clan—cultivation could only begin properly at the age of 15 when the body matured into adulthood. Starting too early risked an unstable foundation when one reached the Spirit Body Stage.
As he pondered, Hengsheng decided to explore. He moved his 'spirit body' around the vast white space. To his amazement, he found that he could float, even fly, in this peculiar realm. "It must be some kind of mind space," he murmured, assuming it existed within himself.
He flew forward, but no matter how far he traveled, the scenery didn't change. The space was endless, an infinite void. Frustrated, he paused mid-flight, a thought suddenly striking him. My wish… maybe this is where I should start.
Stopping in place, Hengsheng took a deep breath and declared boldly, "I want to be the strongest!"
Immediately, a surge of power flooded his 'spirit body,' filling him with strength he'd never imagined. Excitement bubbled within him as he raised his small palm, aiming forward. With a single thought, the energy gathered into a glowing sphere and shot out into the void.
Boom!
Far away, an explosion erupted, its shockwave rippling through the white space. Hengsheng laughed with satisfaction. "Hahaha! It worked!"
Drunk on power, he made another wish. "I want to be an adult!"
His spirit body transformed before his eyes, growing taller and more muscular. Gone was the frail, 5-year-old form, replaced by a commanding adult figure. He laughed again, this time with a sense of omnipotence. "I'm a god! Omnipotent!"
Consumed by a sense of power, Hengsheng made another wish. "Turn this place into Earth!"
Suddenly, the blank white space began to shift. Stars appeared, filling the vast void, and the ground beneath him solidified into the familiar blue-green planet. He stood on Earth, taking in a deep breath of imaginary air, basking in the illusion of pleasure and control.
But doubt crept into his mind. Is any of this real?
Hengsheng froze. The fear that all of this was just an illusion gripped him. His chest tightened. What if it's all fake?
He steeled himself and opened his eyes.
Back in his room, Hengsheng glanced at his body. He was still a 5-year-old child. The overwhelming power he had felt moments ago was gone. The wishes, the Earth, the stars—all of it vanished, as though it had never existed.
"Hahaha…" His laugh was hollow as he mocked himself. "Stupid. I actually thought everything would be okay just like that."
This world was nothing like the one he had come from. On Earth, success came to those who worked smart, and who found the right way to the top. But here? Here, the fight was over before it even began.
Still, Hengsheng gritted his teeth. At least I have something—a super-reality simulation, a place where I can escape and forget about this harsh reality, even if only for a while.
For now, he resolved to retreat into the mind space whenever the world became too much to bear. If nothing else, it would be his sanctuary away from the cruel world outside.
Hengsheng closed his eyes and returned to the mind space. Everything he had wished for earlier still existed—the earth, the people, and the bustling world he had shaped. With no hesitation, he resumed playing god, molding the simulation further.
He populated the earth with people who resembled those from his old world, but something was off. They stood blankly, lifeless, like mannequins waiting for commands. Frustrated, he made a new wish: "Let everything here be like the real earth."
At once, the simulated world sprang to life. The blank stares faded as the people began to move. Streets filled with activity. Cars honked, workers bustled, children laughed. The world flowed seamlessly, as if this day was no different from any other. Hengsheng hovered above it all, watching with satisfaction.
As he focused, a strange sensation overtook him—his awareness expanded, and he could feel the thoughts and actions of the simulated 7 billion people below. His mind brimmed with their collective knowledge and creativity.
A sudden idea struck him: What if I use these simulated people to solve my problem? Could I create geniuses to think outside the box for me? The thought excited him, but it also raised another question: Why not just wish for my own intelligence to increase instead?
Careful not to overreach, Hengsheng made his next wish: "Make me smarter without losing myself."
Instantly, he felt his mind sharpen. Memories from his past life—conversations, books he'd read, details he had long forgotten—came flooding back. His thoughts flowed faster, clearer. It was as though the fog in his brain had lifted, leaving behind crystal clarity.
"This feels... amazing," Hengsheng whispered, marveling at his newfound mental acuity. I never realized how much a sharper mind could change the way I see the world.
But curiosity gnawed at him: Does this intelligence stay when I leave the mind space?
Opening his eyes, Hengsheng returned to reality. The dull ache of his mortal body reminded him he was back, but his mind still felt sharper. He decided to test it with some mental math, solving equations far beyond what his five-year-old self should manage.
"So it works!" he laughed triumphantly. Even if it's not as strong as in the mind space, I've still become smarter. About 10% of what I gain here carries over... but it's real!
Then another question rose: Why can intelligence transfer, but not physical changes? Does it only apply to things I think in my mind?
His newly enhanced intellect prodded him toward a bold, if insane, experiment. Without hesitation, Hengsheng reentered the mind space, made a wish, and then immediately opened his eyes again in reality.
Ding!
[Status]
Name: Lan Hengsheng
Level: ??
??????????????
???????????????
For a moment, Hengsheng stared in disbelief, then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Ha hahahahahhahaaaaaa!"
For the first time since his rebirth, Lan Hengsheng's heart swelled with real, unshakable hope.