The last thing Li Tian remembered was the bright flash of headlights and the screech of tires. The crash had been sudden, violent, and all-consuming. He should have been dead, or at least that's what he thought. But instead of darkness, there was light—a soft, warm light against his skin.
His eyes fluttered open, and the world around him came into focus. He was lying on the ground, but it wasn't the cold pavement of a city street. Instead, there was soft grass beneath him and the smell of fresh earth in the air. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves of tall trees overhead. Birds chirped in the distance, and everything felt calm.
Li Tian sat up quickly, his heart pounding. He felt strange—small, weak, and light. His hands were tiny, like those of a child. Panic surged through him as he looked at his arms and legs. He wasn't in his old body anymore.
"What's going on?" he muttered, confusion swirling in his mind.
Before he could process what was happening, a voice called out to him.
"Li Tian! Come on! We're gonna be late!" A boy, about his age, came running up to him. He had black hair and a wide grin. "Today's the day! The awakening ceremony!"
Li Tian blinked, recognizing the boy as Aaron, his childhood friend—but something felt off. The name and the face were familiar, but the memories that followed weren't his. It was as if they belonged to someone else, but they were now firmly planted in his mind.
"What... What ceremony?" Li Tian asked, his voice shaky.
Aaron gave him a playful shove. "The awakening ceremony, of course! It's the day we get our martial spirits. Don't tell me you forgot!"
Li Tian's confusion deepened, but he decided to go along with it for now. He stood up and followed Aaron toward the village, feeling out of place in his new body. As they walked, fragments of memories began piecing together in his mind—this wasn't his old world. He wasn't even the same person anymore. Somehow, he had been reborn in a different place, a world called Douluo Dalu, where martial spirits determined a person's power and future.
The village square was buzzing with excitement when they arrived. Families had gathered, and children stood in line, waiting for their turn. At the center of it all was a man dressed in white robes, the Spirit Hall representative, who would help the children awaken their martial spirits.
Li Tian's heart raced. He didn't know much about this world yet, but he understood that today would change his life. In this world, everyone had a martial spirit—some were useful tools like farming equipment, while others were powerful beasts that gave their owners incredible abilities. His new life depended on what kind of spirit he would awaken.
The ceremony began, and one by one, the children stepped forward to awaken their spirits. Most of them got simple things—nothing too exciting. A wooden staff, a small animal spirit. The crowd cheered politely, but there was no real excitement.
Then it was Li Tian's turn.
He stepped forward, trying to calm his nerves. The Spirit Hall representative placed his hand on Li Tian's forehead and closed his eyes, focusing. A surge of energy rushed through Li Tian's body, and suddenly, he felt something deep within him—something powerful and ancient, stirring awake.
A blinding golden light exploded from him, and the crowd gasped. Behind Li Tian, a huge golden lion appeared, towering over everyone. Its fur gleamed like sunlight, and it had a third eye glowing in the center of its forehead, shining with a mysterious light.
The Spirit Hall representative stepped back in shock. "That's... That's the Three-Eyed Golden Lion!" he stammered. "A legendary spirit... It hasn't been seen in centuries!"
Li Tian felt the power coursing through him, stronger than anything he could have imagined. The lion roared, and the ground seemed to shake. The crowd stood in stunned silence, unable to process what they were seeing.
Li Tian didn't fully understand what was happening, but one thing was clear: this was no ordinary martial spirit. His life in this world was going to be anything but ordinary.
As the golden lion faded, Li Tian turned to Aaron, who was staring at him with wide eyes.
"Looks like you're gonna be something special," Aaron said, grinning nervously.
Li Tian swallowed hard, still processing everything. He had no idea what this power meant, but one thing was for sure—this was just the beginning of something far bigger than he could have ever imagined.