"So, this is where fate has brought me... Qin Shi Huang's era," murmured the man. His voice carried a deep melancholy, an echo of countless years of solitude. This was no ordinary man—he was immortal, a being who had lived through millions of years, mastering every discipline the heavens could offer. Yet, despite his boundless knowledge and unparalleled power, he found himself stranded, stripped of control over his own destiny.
The incident that brought him here was still fresh in his mind. Standing on the precipice of breaking through to the ultimate realm—one that would place him on equal footing with the heavens themselves—he had encountered a resistance unlike anything he'd faced before. It was not the heavens that stopped him, but an error, a crack in the fabric of reality that had violently torn him from his ascension and cast him into the past.
Now, he was here, far from his original timeline, with no way to return.
He clenched his fists, his mind racing as he reviewed the events that had led to this moment. His invincibility meant little in this situation. Without his mastery over time, he was as trapped as any mortal.
"Ding! Detecting host," a crisp, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind, jolting him from his thoughts.
The man's eyes narrowed. He hadn't heard that voice in eons.
"Ding! Host has been detected in an ancient time period. Analyzing host data..."
"Analyzing? System?" he muttered, his voice tinged with both surprise and suspicion. This was the long-lost system that had awakened alongside his immortal body in the earliest days of his journey. It had been dormant for so long that he had nearly forgotten it existed.
A moment of silence passed before the voice resumed, "Ding! Host data contains an error. System is upgrading and recalibrating to match the host's current state."
The man furrowed his brows. He had far surpassed the capabilities of the system's original functions. Why was it resurfacing now? And what did it mean by an error?
"System upgrade complete. Welcome, host, to the 'Heavenly Secret Pavilion System.'"
"Heavenly Secret Pavilion System?" he repeated, his tone a mixture of curiosity and irritation.
"This system has been recalibrated to assist the host in navigating the unique circumstances of this timeline," the voice continued. "Primary mission: establish the Heavenly Secret Pavilion and fulfill the fated destinies of chosen individuals. Secondary mission: accumulate points by satisfying customer requests within the constraints of Dao laws. Points may be exchanged for access to higher realms and the potential to return to the host's original timeline."
The man's expression darkened. "You mean to tell me that even with all my power, I am bound by your rules?"
"Affirmative. The host's temporal powers have been restricted to preserve the integrity of the timeline. Noncompliance with system tasks may result in further penalties."
He sighed deeply, his frustration evident. "So be it. If this is the path I must walk to return, then I will walk it."
"Ding! First task assigned: establish the Heavenly Secret Pavilion in the capital of the Qin Dynasty. Task requirements: create a physical space that can host individuals of destiny and fulfill their needs. Reward: 100 points."
The man's lips curved into a faint smile, though it carried no warmth. "A pavilion, is it? Very well."
The next day, he walked through the bustling streets of the imperial capital. The city was alive with activity, merchants hawking their wares, soldiers patrolling the streets, and commoners going about their daily lives. To them, he was just another face in the crowd, his otherworldly aura carefully suppressed.
Finding an appropriate location for the pavilion proved to be a simple matter. He selected a secluded alley near the city's center, where the flow of Qi was particularly strong. With a single thought, he activated the system.
"Ding! Confirming the location for the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. Initiating construction..."
The air around him shimmered as an invisible force began to reshape the space. Within moments, a small, unassuming building appeared where there had been nothing before. On the surface, it looked like an ordinary tea house, but the man knew better. Stepping inside, he was greeted by an entirely different sight.
The interior of the pavilion defied logic. It was a boundless expanse, a pocket dimension filled with lush gardens, serene lakes, and majestic mountains. At its center stood a small pavilion, its elegant architecture radiating an ethereal glow. This was his domain, a place where the laws of the mortal world held no sway.
"Ding! Heavenly Secret Pavilion construction complete. Host may now accept customers. Note: only individuals with destiny may enter the pavilion without an invitation."
The man nodded, his expression unreadable. "Let us see who fate brings to my door."
Days turned into weeks as he settled into his new role as the pavilion's master. Few dared to approach the unassuming building in the alley, and even fewer were able to cross its threshold. Those who did were greeted by the man himself, their astonishment at the pavilion's interior matched only by their gratitude for the services he provided.
One such visitor was a young scholar, his face pale and gaunt from years of relentless study. The man listened patiently as the scholar poured out his troubles, his voice trembling with desperation. He sought knowledge, a way to pass the imperial examinations and secure a better life for his family.
The man closed his eyes, sensing the threads of destiny that surrounded the scholar. "You have potential," he said finally. "But your path is hindered by doubt and fear. If you wish to succeed, you must first overcome these obstacles."
With a wave of his hand, he conjured a simple talisman, its surface etched with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and shimmer. "Take this. It will grant you clarity of mind and strengthen your resolve. Use it wisely."
The scholar fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you, Master! I will never forget your kindness!"
As the scholar left the pavilion, the system's voice echoed in the man's mind.
"Ding! Task complete. Reward: 10 points."
The man's gaze followed the scholar until he disappeared into the crowd. A faint smile played on his lips, though it quickly faded. "This is only the beginning," he murmured. "If I am to return to my realm, I must do more than grant small blessings. I must reshape the destiny of this world."
He turned back to the pavilion, its glowing facade a beacon of hope for those who sought its guidance. For him, it was a prison and a path—a place where he would confront the weight of eternity, one destined soul at a time.
Little did he know, the first emperor of China would soon darken his door, setting into motion a series of events that would alter the course of history forever.