Dr. Shen carefully placed the ancient artifacts on the bench, her movements deliberate and filled with caution.
Shen Ren and Dr. Yi leaned in closer, their eyes scanning the old papers, but neither could make sense of the intricate, ancient-looking symbols etched into them.
"What do they say, Aunt? Can you read them?" Shen Ren asked, turning his gaze to Dr. Shen Lin with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.
Dr. Shen's expression hardened, her brows furrowing as she studied the symbols. After a moment, she shook her head.
"No, Shen Ren. I couldn't fully decipher them," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "But from what I can make out, the inscriptions mention something about 'Heaven Awakening' and 'New World.' Beyond that... it's difficult to say."
Shen Ren's brow furrowed in thought. "Is that so?" he muttered, contemplating the meaning of those words. After a brief pause, he asked, "Where did you find these, Aunt? Maybe there are more clues to help us understand."
Dr. Shen Lin sighed softly before replying, "They were discovered by your grandfather. You know how passionate he was about antiques and ancient artifacts before he passed away. On one of his expeditions, he found these inside an ancient tomb. I learned some of the symbols from your father, which is why I was able to decipher just those two words."
"Heaven Awakening? A new world? What could it all mean?" Shen Ren muttered absentmindedly, his fingers grazing the tattered pages as if drawn to their mystery.
"Careful, Shen Ren!" his aunt, Dr. Shen Lin, warned sharply, her voice full of concern.
He nodded but couldn't tear his eyes away from the worn pages. The symbols seemed to pulse with life, and as he held them, a strange sensation gripped him—his very soul felt inexplicably drawn to the ancient script.
And then, the unthinkable happened.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE!
CRACK, CRACK!
The ground trembled beneath them, and the sky darkened as bolts of lightning tore through the heavens. A deafening, earth-shattering sound reverberated across the world, as if something colossal had broken apart.
"What's happening? What was that sound?!" Dr. Shen Lin shouted, her voice barely audible over the chaos. Both she and Dr. Yi instinctively covered their ears, wincing as if their eardrums were about to burst.
But Shen Ren stood frozen, lost in a trance. His eyes widened in disbelief as the ancient pages in his hands disintegrated into shimmering golden light. The light engulfed him, brighter than the sun, and the pages melted into his body, fusing with him.
DING!
A voice echoed within Shen Ren's mind, clear and undeniable:
[ The final stage of Heaven Awakening has been initiated! ]
[ Congratulations to all who have been chosen by the Heavenly Dao to Join in the Heavenly Mandates.]
[ Congratulations! You have obtained scripture of Ancient Wellspring Physique ]
[ Name: Shen Ren ]
[ Lifespan: 22 / 56 Years ]
[ Cultivation Rank: Mortal ]
[ Cultivation Manual: None ]
[ Cultivation Techniques: None ]
[ Legacy: None ]
[ Bloodline: None ]
[ Physique: Ancient Wellspring Physique ]
[ Spiritual Qi: 10 ( >100 breakthrough to next stage) ]
[ Physical Strength: 7→ 9 ]
[ Physical Defense: 8 → 11 ]
[ Soul Strength: 5 → 8 ]
[ Soul Defense: 7 → 9 ]
[ Achievement Shop ]
[ Heavenly Mandates: Currently None (7 days to go before you receive your first Mandate) ]
As the golden glow faded, disbelief etched across everyone's faces—though the reasons varied.
"R-Ren, what just happened? Where did those pages go?" Dr. Shen Lin asked anxiously, her voice unsteady. "And what was that golden light just now?"
Shen Ren, still transfixed by the strange panel hovering before him, slowly turned to face his aunt.
"Aunt... did you not hear what I just heard?" he asked cautiously, trying to confirm whether the voice was audible to him alone.
"What voice?" Dr. Shen Lin adjusted her glasses, looking thoroughly confused.
Shen Ren frowned, his mind racing. "Did I... hear that alone?" he muttered under his breath, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
"Actually," Dr. Yi spoke up nervously, "I heard the voice too."
Shen Ren's eyes snapped to Dr. Yi, intrigued. "You heard it as well? Can you also see a holographic panel in front of you?"
Dr. Yi nodded, still shaken. "Yes... I can see it. There's something about 'Heavenly Mandates' and 'Cultivation' written on it," she replied, her confusion mirroring his.
Shen Ren let out a slow breath, relieved. He wasn't losing his mind. He wasn't alone.
But Dr. Shen Lin stood there, more bewildered than ever, watching the exchange. She glanced back and forth between them, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"What are they talking about? Did I miss something?" She wondered.
"Aunt, it's like this..." Shen Ren began, sensing her growing confusion.
He proceeded to explain the strange holographic display panel, detailing every notification that had appeared before him. Dr. Shen Lin listened intently, her sharp mind quickly piecing things together. Though she understood the gist of it, a pang of disappointment flickered in her eyes—she couldn't witness this phenomenon firsthand.
"So... it seems you two have been chosen for the cultivation path by the Heavenly Dao," she mused thoughtfully. "There are some ancient records of cultivation in our history, although they've always been regarded as myths—until now."
Her gaze shifted between the two, curiosity sparking. "Have either of you noticed any changes in your bodies?" she asked, her voice measured but intrigued.
Dr. Yi, clearly brimming with excitement, was the first to respond. "Yes, Dr. Shen! I can feel it—my body feels stronger, healthier. It's incredible! I feel so light!"
Shen Ren nodded in agreement, the changes undeniable. "I can feel it too," he added, his voice filled with awe. The newfound vitality coursing through him was undeniable—it was as though the very essence of the world had fused with his being.
Slightly curious, Shen Ren turned to Dr. Yi. "Dr. Yi, what does your panel say about your physique?"
Dr. Yi hesitated for a moment, unsure. "It says my physique is... common, Shen Ren. I'm not sure if that's good or bad," she replied, her uncertainty clear.
Shen Ren glanced at his own panel, noticing that his physique was distinctly different from hers, something much more unusual, but before he could delve into the details, his aunt interjected.
"So, the real question now is whether this phenomenon happened just to you two, or if it's affecting the entire world?" Dr. Shen Lin muttered thoughtfully, her mind racing. "And if it's worldwide... what kind of changes will we see on Earth? What kind of chaos could this trigger?"
Her expression darkened with concern as she pondered the potential consequences.