Chapter 1: The Awakening
Liu Xian's eyes snapped open, the weight of an unfamiliar world pressing down on him. The first thing he noticed was the smell—the earthy scent of damp soil and the fresh fragrance of leaves in the air. He lay on the ground, surrounded by tall trees with thick trunks and sprawling branches. The dense canopy above blocked much of the sunlight, leaving the forest floor in partial shadow. The faint rustle of leaves and distant calls of wildlife filled the air, adding to the eerie sense of isolation.
His heart pounded in his chest as confusion washed over him. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was being somewhere else—a place that seemed far away and distant now. The faint memory of a world filled with machines, technology, and the constant hum of everyday life lingered in the back of his mind. But now, that world felt like a dream, something that had faded into obscurity.
He sat up, his hands pressing against the soft earth. His body felt strangely light, as though it had undergone some sort of change. There was an odd sensation within him, a hum that he couldn't quite explain. It wasn't physical pain, but rather a sense of awareness—his body felt stronger, sharper. But his mind was clouded, and his memories felt fragmented, slipping away before he could hold onto them.
"Where am I?" he muttered under his breath, his voice sounding foreign to his own ears.
His eyes scanned the forest around him. The trees were tall and majestic, their thick trunks twisting upward toward the sky. The forest seemed endless, stretching in all directions. There were no signs of civilization, no roads or structures to guide him. It was as though he had been dropped into this unfamiliar world with no explanation.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Xian steadied himself. He had to focus. His mind raced as he tried to make sense of his situation. He had been… somewhere else. Had he died? Was this the afterlife? No, it couldn't be. This felt too real, too physical. His senses were sharp—he could feel the cool breeze on his skin, smell the fresh earth beneath him. The world was too vivid to be some sort of dream.
Just then, a strange voice echoed inside his mind, cold and mechanical.
"Host detected. System online. Welcome to the cultivation world."
The words sent a jolt through his body. The voice wasn't spoken aloud but reverberated in his head, clear and precise. Cultivation world? The term felt vaguely familiar, but it was also foreign, like a distant memory trying to resurface.
Liu Xian froze, his mind struggling to process the words. Cultivation? Wasn't that something from stories, myths, and legends? The idea of people growing stronger through some mystical process, unlocking powers beyond ordinary comprehension. But those were just tales, weren't they? Fantasy.
Yet, now, the words seemed more real than anything he had ever known. And it wasn't just the voice. There was a strange energy swirling within him, a subtle power that he couldn't ignore. It was like the very air around him was alive, pulsating with life. He could feel it, like a low hum at the back of his mind, urging him to do something. But what?
"Host's current status: Unranked. Level 1 cultivation detected. Begin cultivation path?"
The system's voice was calm, unhurried, as though it were simply stating facts. No panic. No urgency. Just an offer, a suggestion. Liu Xian had no idea what it meant, but somehow, he felt that it was the key to understanding what had happened to him.
He closed his eyes, taking a slow, deep breath. His mind was still a blur, but something within him stirred, urging him to act. He wasn't sure why, but he knew he couldn't stand still and let this confusion consume him. He needed answers. And the cultivation path—the system's words—seemed to hold a promise of those answers.
"Yes," Liu Xian whispered, his voice firm despite the uncertainty in his chest. "Begin cultivation path."
The moment the words left his mouth, he felt a strange pulse within him—a gentle thrum that reverberated through his entire body. The energy that had been lying dormant within him stirred, responding to the system's activation. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was there—a subtle yet undeniable shift.
"Beginning cultivation path. System activated."
For a brief moment, nothing changed. The forest remained still, the sounds of distant wildlife continuing as if nothing had happened. Yet, Liu Xian could sense something had changed within him. He wasn't sure what it was, but he felt more... aware. More attuned to the world around him.
Liu Xian slowly stood up, his legs feeling steadier than they had moments ago. His body was lighter, as though it had been filled with a new energy. He could feel it pulsing within him, alive and ready to be harnessed.
The town he had seen in the distance was now visible through the trees, the faint smoke rising from chimneys in the distance. It looked like a peaceful place—ordinary, even. But Liu Xian knew better than to trust appearances. There was something about this world, about this place, that felt off. He could feel it in the air. There was a strange tension in his chest, a sense that something was waiting for him.
The system's voice broke through his thoughts once again.
"Host, it is advisable to explore the town and seek information about the cultivation world. The path forward lies in discovery."
Liu Xian nodded to himself. He had no other plan. His only choice was to move forward, to find answers, and perhaps discover what this strange cultivation world truly entailed.
As he made his way toward the town, his senses seemed to sharpen, his awareness expanding. The rustling of leaves became clearer, the scent of the earth stronger. Even the distant sounds of the town felt more vivid, as though he were hearing them for the first time.
With each step, he felt more certain that his journey had only just begun. And though he had no idea what awaited him, Liu Xian couldn't help but feel that this strange new world was where he was meant to be.
The town was only the beginning.