Timeless Space, Unknown Domain
Souls floated in an orderly manner, lacking much consciousness, toward a mysterious spring. They shone with a faint white glow, but one soul stood out, its indigo color and shadowy aura distinct from the others.
Suddenly, every soul halted, except for the indigo-colored one. It drifted closer to the spring and, upon entering, a surprised voice resonated through the void, "Such deep sorrow, even in my eternal life I haven't seen such sadness."
A figure appeared, formed entirely of radiant light, its presence both comforting and imposing. It hesitated, gazing upon the indigo soul before speaking again, "I will take pity on you…" Waving its hand, it sent out a small light bulb into the spring and entered the indigo-colored soul.
Spring, Unknown Domain
As the light bulb entered the indigo-colored soul, it shook and trembled until finally, Noah's consciousness awakened. He looked around curiously as he tried to remember what had happened.
Feelings of shock, despair, and a tiny bit of hope filled his being. 'I should be dead by now. I took too many antidepressants. So why am I awake?!' Many thoughts flashed in his mind until a blue hologram appeared. It floated and followed his field of vision.
{Pity of Transcendent Being}
{Due to your overwhelming sorrow, your soul was so affected that it attracted the attention of the Transcendent Being. It took pity on you and gave you a chance to choose your life path.}
{Customization}
[Looks: Customizable]
[Race: Human, Demi-human, Dog, Cat…]
[Inheritance: Random]
[Root: One Element, Two Elements…]
[Physique: Expand]
[Background: Expand]
[Confirm]
{You have unlimited time to create your destiny. You can't choose to become immortal from the get-go.}
As he read the words, a deep impression formed in his mind, accompanied by a tad bit of gratitude towards this Transcendent Being. Then he slowly started to customize his appearance. 'If I can, why not go all out? Maybe this was what I needed, a fresh start. I wonder how Ethan, Lila, and Isabela are coping with my death.'
He looked out at the blank dark space, guilt surfacing in his heart. 'Maybe I shouldn't have done it, but I could no longer stay there. It was suffocating, so suffocating that I hadn't breathed in a long time.'
Shaking his head, he let go of the what-ifs and started to customize his appearance. The selection process was reminiscent of a video game interface, although he didn't play them much. 'It appears I'll be going to a cultivation world or a Chinese-themed one, so…'
Selecting long black hair in a half-up half-down style, black eyes, and the age of 18, he chose a steady build, but not too muscular. 'I don't want to be weak, ever again.'
For the first time in forever, Noah felt excited. He was ecstatic about the new beginning, the chance to start over and forget his terrible life on Earth. But as that thought flashed, so did his happy moments there, chatting with Clare, hanging out with Isabela, studying with Ethan, or joking with Lila. He missed them all deeply, but he knew there was no going back on what he had done.
He took a deep breath, letting the guilt and regret fade into the background. 'I have to look at the future,' he thought, something he hadn't done in a long time. For the first time, he felt a spark of hope, a small but significant step towards healing and finding his place in this new world.
Looking at what's next, [Physique], he clicked [Expand], and more than a hundred appeared, all of their names sounded impressive. He didn't know what the physiques did but by names, he could guess. Jade Body, Earth Titan Physique… but one that stood out to him was Harmonic Resonance Body. It sounded powerful while keeping the elegance. And that was Noah, he liked to be humble, but his parents turned it into extreme.
He selected the Harmonic Resonance Body, feeling a sense of calm and balance settle over him. His new physique symbolized his desire for harmony in both mind and body, a fresh start where strength and grace could coexist.
Next, he moved on to the [Background] section. Clicking [Expand], he was presented with numerous options that detailed different origins and stories. Each background offered unique advantages and challenges.
He scanned through the options:
[Noble Scion: Born into a powerful family with access to vast resources but high expectations and political intrigue.]
[Orphaned Prodigy: Raised in an orphanage, possessing natural talent but lacking formal training and support.]
[Wandering Sage: A lone traveler with deep knowledge and understanding of the world but haunted by past regrets].
[Village Protector: Hailing from a small village, strong ties to his community but limited exposure to the wider world.]
[Demonic Rebirth: Once a feared demon, now reborn with a chance to atone for past sins and build a new legacy.]
[Loving Family: Raised in a warm and supportive family, surrounded by love and encouragement, but with hidden struggles to overcome.]
Looking at his options, a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes. He immediately discarded the Demonic Rebirth, as a kindred spirit he couldn't be on the Demonic Path. Narrowing his choices further, he offed Noble Scion and Wandering Sage, because he would like to have a family, or community that supports him.
After everything he's been through, he thought he deserved a loving and caring family. That narrowed down his choices to two options: [Village Protector] and [Loving Family], and he fell into deep thought. Both of them have compelling and convincing aspects, but Loving Family is more attractive, at least to him.
The Loving Family background stood out to him. It offered the chance to experience the warmth and support he had always longed for, something that was missing in his previous life. He knew that this background also came with its own set of challenges, including the inevitable pain of loss, but he was ready to face them.
He selected [Loving Family], feeling a sense of peace and anticipation. This background promised the familial love and nurturing environment he craved, while also presenting opportunities for growth through experiencing sacrifice and resilience.
With his background chosen, he was one step closer to beginning his new journey. The final confirmation screen appeared, and he felt a mix of apprehension and excitement. He took a deep breath, ready to embrace his new destiny.
[Looks: Customized]
[Race: Human]
[Inheritance: Random]
[Root: One Element, Two Elements…]
[Physique: Harmonic Resonance Body]
[Background: Loving Family]
[Confirm]
Before he confirmed, he selected the Six-Element Root. Because from what little he knew, six elements in Chinese Myths represented harmony. It felt like the perfect complement to his chosen physique and the path he wanted to walk, 'It should be the most powerful roots, or they will be the weakest. Well no matter, I just want to enjoy life and be loved and appreciated.'
Looking at the [Confirm] button, he took an imaginary deep breath and finally pressed it. When he did so, another screen, green in color, appeared.
{Pity of Transcendent Being}
{As you have chosen the life you desire, I hope you live it well. - Transcendent Being}
With that, everything went black, like he had fainted.
Xiang Dynasty, Southern Continent
In a small courtyard, a man sat in a lotus position, his black hair danced with the wind. He could be considered handsome, as he had a scholarly aura around him making him appear mysterious and trustful.
Weeping willow stood behind him, and as its branches danced, a frown appeared on the man's face. Invisible lightning hit the area between his eyebrows and serene scene shattered as the man fell. Lying there he twitched and trembled until finally stopping after five minutes.
Opening his eyes he felt the heaviness of his eyelids, his heart beating like a drum, and his black eyes looked around in curiosity. He first spotted the weeping willow and bright weather above. A tingling feeling of happiness appeared in his heart, as he started to believe this wasn't just an illusion.
He looked around and saw he was lying outside, in some kind of backyard, 'I guess this isn't an illusion, it's too much of a real thing'
The calm sky and breeze that blew gave him a sense of peace, a thing he hadn't felt in forever. The rustling leaves of the weeping willow and the distant chirping of birds filled the air with a tranquil melody. The soft scent of fresh grass and flowers mingled with the faint aroma of incense, enhancing the serenity of the moment.
Feeling the peace and serenity of the place, he enjoyed the moment. 'I can't believe this is real,' He thought, a sense of disbelief mingling with his happiness, 'I should be dead. I took too many antidepressants... yet here I am, in a place that feels like a sanctuary.'
He took a deep breath, letting the tranquility wash over him. 'Maybe this is my second chance. A chance to live without the suffocating weight of my past.' Having absorbed his surroundings, he tried to get up, but as he was about to many memories flooded his mind, a lot of things he had to sort out.
The main thing he got from the memories was where and who he was. His current name is Zhi Hua - 志华, he's the son of Zhi Jian and Lian Hua, and he was currently in the Xiang Dynasty.
His father, Zhi Jian, was a cultivation genius of the White Cloud Sword Sect (白云剑宗), he quickly got promoted to an Elder position while still in his 100s. After he broke through the 4th level of Foundation Establishment and entered the 5th level, the Sect Leader at that time set him as his successor.
Now, however, after a hundred years, Zhi Jian had already formed his golden core and climbed to the 3rd level of the Golden Core stage. He was the current Sect Leader, as the previous one had gone into seclusion.
His mother, Lian Hua, was a member of the Lian Clan, renowned for their expertise in alchemy and other cultivation arts. She was the daughter of the patriarch of the Lian Clan and had married Zhi Jian fifty years ago, forming a powerful alliance between the White Cloud Sword Sect and the Lian Clan. Her talent extended beyond alchemy, her music was graceful and divine, unparalleled in its beauty.
Just then, he heard the familiar, strong voice of a man, "Hua'er, are you all right?" Zhi Jian approached, his eyes filled with concern. "You seemed troubled in your meditation."
Zhi Hua's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his father's voice. It was comforting yet strange, grounding him in this new reality. He looked up and saw Zhi Jian's familiar face, filled with concern. Despite the familiarity, there was a distance, a sense of not truly knowing each other.
"I... I'm fine, Father," Zhi Hua replied, still grappling with the flood of memories and the weight of this new identity. The rustling leaves of the weeping willow and the soft chirping of birds added a serene backdrop to the moment. He took a deep breath, feeling a mix of peace and disorientation.
Zhi Jian nodded, his eyes softening. "Good. Remember, balance in your cultivation is crucial. If you ever feel troubled, come to me or your mother. We are here to guide you."
Zhi Hua felt a surge of gratitude mingled with uncertainty. This was his chance to start anew, but the faces around him were still unfamiliar. He resolved to embrace this second chance, to learn and grow, and to forge new bonds with the people in this life.
Zhi Hua, although uncertain, asked the question that has been bothering him his whole existence, "Father, what is the meaning of life?" He felt strange calling the man in front of him his father, but also slowly started to feel more connected.
Zhi Jian looked stunned for a moment, repeating the question under his breath, "Meaning of life?" His eyes glittered, "It's meaningless."
A cold wind blew past Zhi Hua as he stood there, trying to process his father's words. 'Meaningless? If so, then what is the point?' He looked up into the sky, his hands trembling a bit. 'What is the point of living?'
As Zhi Jian opened his mouth to continue, a sweet and comforting voice filled the air, "Hua'er, don't listen to that old man. He always starts grim."
A woman entered the courtyard, her presence immediately soothing the atmosphere. She looked to be 25 years old, dressed in a white gold dress. Her long black hair was held by a delicate hairpin, and her eyes sparkled with warmth and wisdom.
Zhi Hua looked at the woman and waking from initial shock, mumbled, "Mother…"
As she walked, she continued with a gentle smile, "Your father's famous words, 'Life is meaningless', have a continuation, 'And that is okay, because not all life needs meaning, but all of them are important'. Isn't that right, honey?"
Zhi Jian's stern expression softened as he nodded, "Yes, that's right. Life doesn't need a grand meaning to be significant. It's the small moments and the connections we make that truly matter."
Lian Hua approached Zhi Hua and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Hua'er, life is a journey filled with many experiences. Some will be joyful, others challenging, but every moment is precious and shapes who we are."
Zhi Hua felt a warmth spreading through him as he listened to his parents. The weight of his existential questions began to lift, replaced by a sense of peace and understanding.
Zhi Jian added, "Remember, Hua'er, it's not the grand meaning that gives life importance, but the everyday moments of love, growth, and connection. Embrace these moments, and you'll find that life is anything but meaningless."
Lian Hua nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with warmth. "And no matter what, we're here for you, to support and guide you through your journey."
Zhi Hua looked at his parents, feeling a newfound connection and purpose. "Thank you, Mother, Father. I understand now. Life is about the small, meaningful moments we share."
His parents smiled at him, pride and love evident in their eyes. As the sun set over the courtyard, casting a golden glow, Zhi Hua felt a sense of belonging and hope for the future.
Lian Hua looked at her husband, "Jian, we have to discuss something important" Gesturing with her eyes to leave, Zhi Jian getting the hint coughed and nodded, "Yes, Hua'er if you're troubled come to either one of us. Let's go "
Looking at their departing figures Zhi Hua sat down collecting and sorting out his thoughts, 'I've been reborn, that being gave me another chance. My parents care for me, or do they care only for Zhi Hua and not Noah? Am I Noah or Zhi Hua, or both?'
Waking me up from my thoughts was the appearance of the familiar blue hologram, showing the last message.
{As you've chosen and accepted the fact you were reborn into your new reality, this is your final hint sheet - Transcended Being}
[Race: Human]
[Inheritance: Unparalleled talent in Music Arts]
[Root: Six Elements Root - Heavenly Grade Purety]
[Physique: Harmonic Resonance Body]
[Background: Loving Family]
Examining his attributes, Zhi Hua was surprised by his unparalleled talent in musical arts and pondered its significance. 'It can't be just for playing instruments. There must be a deeper meaning,' he thought.
A serene determination settled over him. 'Noah or Zhi Hua, I can be both,' he acknowledged, understanding that his past experiences would shape his future actions. He could honor Noah's journey while embracing Zhi Hua's new path, creating a harmonious blend of both identities.
Closing the hologram, Zhi Hua stood up, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. The courtyard around him seemed more vibrant, the air filled with possibilities. He looked towards the weeping willow, its branches swaying gently in the breeze, and felt a deep connection to the world around him.
'This is my second chance. I will cherish it, learn from it, and grow,' he resolved. With that, Zhi Hua took his first step forward, ready to embrace the destiny that lay ahead.