The Endless Void—a realm of boundless nothingness that stretches between all creations, universes, and realities. Untouched by time, substance, or form, it has remained an eternal constant. But now, this ageless stillness quakes as a battle of unfathomable power unfolds, each clash shaking the very foundation of existence.
BOOM! BOOM!
Two transcendent beings collide in a struggle that bends the fabric of reality. One, a humanoid figure enshrouded in a radiant grey-silver aura, commands the void with terrifying authority. His raised hand shines with blinding light, concentrating into a beam of power that surges forward, unstoppable in its wrath.
Opposing him is a colossal red orb, vast enough to dwarf entire universes. Pulsing with chaotic energy, it resists with all its might. Yet, despite its immense form, the orb falters, cracks spreading across its surface as it endures the relentless onslaught.
The grey-silver light cuts deep into the red orb, erasing chunks of its essence with every strike. The orb trembles, its core burning with a singular instinct—to survive. For eons, it has existed as a manifestation of chaos, thriving in the lawless expanse of the void. But now, the inevitability of its destruction looms closer.
BOOM!!!
The orb fractures into trillions of fragments, each piece scattering across countless universes in a desperate bid for preservation. Yet, even this act of survival is thwarted. With a mere gesture, the grey-silver figure obliterates the fragments, reducing them to nothingness.
A mournful growl echoes through the void, raw and wordless, as the red orb's existence flickers. It cannot bear the thought of ceasing to be. But its opponent has already seized its essence core, the very foundation of its being. Life and death now rest entirely in the hands of the grey-silver figure.
The orb's desperation swells. It transmits a final plea, offering servitude, humiliation—anything to avoid annihilation.
The grey-silver figure pauses, his radiant form betraying a trace of intrigue. "So, you're little more than a human infant," he remarks, his tone sharp with both curiosity and disdain.
The red orb, humiliated and enraged, gathers its last reserves of power. In a final act of defiance, it launches a suicidal attack, seeking to bring its opponent down.
The attempt is futile. With an effortless motion, the grey-silver figure seals the orb's movements entirely, locking it in place.
He speaks again, his voice quieter now, laced with understanding. "You share the fate I once did—a mere existence striving to defy the inevitable. Though our paths differ—you embrace the law of the jungle and I have overcome it—I will grant you a chance."
Without hesitation, he begins dismantling the red orb. Its memories, power, and existence are stripped away, leaving only its essence core—the true soul—intact. Suspended in the void, the core shines dimly, awaiting its uncertain future.
MC POV
I don't want to die! I need to breathe! Why am I in water? Where's the surface? Why can't I feel my hands? Someone, help me! I'm in pain!
Countless questions filled my mind, but no answers came. Only an endless, searing pain in my head. Time stretched endlessly, and it felt like an eternity had passed before I was finally free from the suffocating, wet environment.
I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn't see anything. Everything was blurry, and my body felt... strange. Desperately, I tried to call for help.
"Waaaaa! Waaaaa! WAAAAA!?"
What the heck? A baby's cry? Wait… that's my voice. Did I just... cry like a baby? No, no, no! This can't be happening! Did I become a baby? How? Why?
Before I could process anything further, unfamiliar voices filled the air. A man and a woman, their tones warm yet foreign, spoke rapidly.
I strained to understand them, but the language wasn't English. Their words were completely alien to me, but the rhythm of their voices carried a strange, comforting familiarity.
"Lan Hengsheng….."
What's going on? Where am I? My mind raced, but my tiny body betrayed me. Exhaustion overwhelmed me, and despite my spiraling thoughts, my eyes slowly closed. Darkness claimed me once again.
5 years later
"Young Master, Mistress is calling you," the young maid said in a polite tone, but the smirk tugging at her lips betrayed her true thoughts. Lan Hengsheng noticed immediately—mockery hid behind her courtesy. He couldn't blame her. Just yesterday, the talent-identification ceremony had upended his life.
Lan Hengsheng hailed as a prodigy since birth, had been the pride of the clan. He spoke his first words at one month old, walked by the second, and was reading books at six months. Such accomplishments made him the clan's shining hope, destined to bring honor and glory. Expectations for his future soared to impossible heights.
Yet, the ceremony's result crushed those dreams. The truth struck like a bolt of lightning: Lan Hengsheng was born without a spirit core, the very foundation of cultivation. Without it, he could not step onto the path of immortality, and the gates to cultivation were forever closed to him. The clan's joy turned to scorn, and disappointment spread like wildfire. His parents' rivals in the clan, long waiting for an opportunity, would undoubtedly seize this chance to attack their standing.
The world Lan Hengsheng found himself in was nothing like Earth. Back on Earth, he had been a highly successful investor, a multi-business owner whose financial empire guaranteed him a life of ease. With wealth so vast he could spend millions daily without concern, he had retired young, ready to enjoy the fruits of his labor. But one moment, he had everything, and the next, he found himself reborn into this strange world.
At first, Lan Hengsheng thought he had traveled back to ancient China. The architecture, customs, and Eastern landscapes all pointed to it. Yet this world contained wonders beyond anything his previous life could fathom. Here, immortal cultivators soared through the skies, wielding powers that bent the laws of nature. He vividly recalled watching his father rise into the sky, a spectacle that shattered his assumptions and confirmed he was in a realm of cultivation—the kind of world he once thought existed only in novels.
The Lan Clan, into which Lan Hengsheng was reborn, was a prominent family situated in the heart of the Golden Pillar Continent. The clan boasted a massive network of more than ten thousand members living together, a testament to their strength and influence. However, in this world, strength was everything, and Hengsheng's lack of a spirit core made him a weak link in their mighty chain.
Hengsheng rose from his study seat and followed the servant to his mother's chambers. They passed through the lush garden, fragrant with blooming flowers, before arriving at the entrance to her room. The servant stepped aside and lowered her head respectfully as a calm, feminine voice called out from within.
"Come in."
Hengsheng pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside. His mother her name is Wang Lianxue, a woman with long, flowing black hair and a poised demeanor, sat gracefully within the room. She radiated elegance, her youthful appearance belying the wisdom she carried. A member of the Wang Clan—long-standing allies of the Lan Clan—she had come from a powerful lineage that shared territory under the Golden Sword Sect, the overlords of the continent.
"Mother." Hengsheng greets her with a polite posture.
"Sheng'er," she began softly, her voice carrying warmth and understanding, "I have heard about what happened yesterday. But do not let the words of others discourage you. The way of the heavens is mysterious. Even someone without a spirit core, like you, can achieve immortality. It has happened before."
She spoke with a gentle, reassuring tone, weaving tales of ancient immortals who, like him, were born without spirit cores yet defied all odds to ascend to greatness. Such figures achieved immortality not only through unyielding determination but also extraordinary luck and rare opportunities—like discovering a legendary treasure capable of transforming a mortal into a cultivator.
Hengsheng listened quietly, absorbing his mother's words. He understood the immense difficulty of the path she described, but unlike others who might feel helpless in his situation, Hengsheng did not despair. He was not reborn empty-handed.
"Thank you, Mother, for caring about me. I will not let others' opinions close my path," he said, his voice calm yet resolute.
Hearing this, Lianxue felt a surge of pride at her son's unshaken will, though her heart ached knowing the difficult road that lay ahead. The thought of her son growing old and frail, unable to break free from mortality, made her chest tighten painfully. She stepped forward and embraced him tightly, as if trying to shield him from the trials he would inevitably face.
After releasing him, she sent Hengsheng back to his study with a warm smile.
Hengsheng left his mother's chamber with a heart full of warmth. At least in this world, there was someone truly on his side. He muttered to himself, "Not like those brats from yesterday. They called me 'Big Bro' all this time but flipped on me the moment they found out I didn't have a spirit core. I'll make them regret it someday!"
He clenched his fists briefly, but then let the anger go. They were just five-year-old kids. What did they know?
The real reason Hengsheng wasn't discouraged by the talent identification ceremony yesterday lay in a secret only he knew. During the ceremony, when spiritual qi surged into his body to identify his core, it found nothing. But instead of merely failing, the process triggered something far greater—something that had followed him through his reincarnation.
Returning to his room, Hengsheng firmly closed the door and instructed his servant not to disturb him. He quickly sat down, his gaze fixed on an invisible screen only he could see.
It had been loading since yesterday.
A short while later…
[98%… 99%… 100%]
Ding!
[Make a wish.]