In an endless expanse of void, where darkness reigned supreme, an ethereal being floated, its form indistinct and fluid. It bore no discernible features—no eyes to see, no limbs to grasp—only a silhouette shimmering faintly, as though the void itself struggled to define its presence.
All around, streams of energy coursed through the emptiness, vivid yet intangible, each bearing a distinct hue and intensity. These energies converged upon the being, threading through its incorporeal form like whispers of light in a sea of shadows. Though most of the energies passed through it unimpeded, a curious phenomenon occurred: fragments of their essence lingered, sinking into the being's core as if drawn by an unseen force.
With each fragment absorbed, the ethereal form shifted and pulsed, subtly reshaping itself. The void remained silent, but a sense of potential stirred within the being—something ancient, something primal—growing stronger with every pulse of energy it consumed.
"Huh!" The sound escaped the ethereal being, raw and unrefined, as if it had only just learned to vocalize. For as long as it could recall—or perhaps longer than memory itself—it had been drifting in this dark, featureless void. Time had lost all meaning here, and the concept of light was foreign, almost mythical.
Yet now, before it, something different had appeared. A speck of light, faint and distant, shimmered against the oppressive darkness. It moved toward the being with an agonizing slowness, like a beacon daring to defy the void.
Compelled by an instinct it couldn't comprehend, the ethereal being reached out. Its right hand—or what passed for one in its amorphous form—extended forward, trembling with anticipation. The closer it came to the light, the more it felt a strange warmth radiating from the tiny speck, a sensation entirely new.
As its fingerless hand made contact, the light flared briefly, like a dying star's last burst of brilliance. In an instant, the warmth vanished, replaced by a cold so intense it felt like the void itself had come alive.
Without warning, the space around the being twisted violently. A black hole, impossibly small yet infinitely powerful, tore into existence. Its gravitational pull was irresistible, and the ethereal being had no time to react. It was drawn in, its entire form spiraling into the singularity with a silent cry, its final trace vanishing as quickly as it had come.
Then, silence. The void returned to its undisturbed stillness, as if nothing had ever occurred. But elsewhere, something had changed.
_ _ _
Lin Shen opened his eyes slowly, his gaze falling on the dimly lit ceiling above. The room was shrouded in shadows, faint streaks of light slipping through cracks in the walls. For a moment, he lay there, his thoughts a chaotic blur.
"Am I... free now?" he murmured, his voice low and hoarse, as if it hadn't been used for an eternity. The words barely escaped his lips before a searing pain erupted in his head, sharp and all-consuming.
"Aargh!" Lin Shen clutched at his temples, his body writhing as memories—foreign and fragmented—flooded his mind. It was a deluge of information, emotions, and sensations, none of which felt like they belonged to him. Faces he'd never seen, places he'd never been, and names he didn't recognize came rushing in, like a dam had broken within him.
The pain receded eventually, leaving his chest heaving and his mind racing. As clarity returned, so too did an unsettling realization. He had transmigrated—his soul had left its prison of darkness and been reborn into a new body. And not just any new life—this was more than three thousand years after his death.
The weight of the revelation hit him hard. 'I'm free'... He sat up slowly, his hand instinctively pressing against his chest to feel the rhythm of an unfamiliar heartbeat. It wasn't his original body, but it was alive, warm, and real. For the first time in millennia, Lin Shen felt hope stirring deep within him.
But as his thoughts settled, a memory from the void resurfaced, sending a chill down his spine. 'The light'... His eyes narrowed as he recalled the speck of light that had approached him in the endless darkness.
"Was it because of that light?" he murmured, his voice trembling with equal parts fear and curiosity. 'If it was... then how?'
The light had been unlike anything he'd ever experienced—a glimmer of warmth in the cold, desolate void. Yet its touch had brought chaos, tearing the fabric of that nothingness and drawing him into the black hole. But why? What was that light, and why had it chosen him?
Questions swirled in his mind like a storm. Was it an accident, or had something—someone—deliberately sent the light to free him? And if so, to what end?
His gaze hardened as he clenched his fists. Whatever the answers were, he couldn't shake the feeling that the light wasn't just a random occurrence. It had brought him here for a reason. Now, it was up to him to uncover the truth.
'The light, the black hole, this new life... Are they're all connected?', Lin Shen thought, his determination growing. 'But what lies ahead? And what am I meant to do in this world?'
From the fragmented memories of his predecessor, Lin Shen pieced together the grim history of humanity's struggle. After the robot invasion, the world he now inhabited had plunged into a dark era, one that spanned nearly 2,000 years. It was an age marked by chaos, despair, and unrelenting battles for survival.
During this time, humanity faced countless trials, often teetering on the brink of extinction. Civilizations rose and fell, entire regions were lost, and the remnants of humanity clung to survival with sheer grit. But even in the darkest moments, when hope seemed like a distant memory, there were those who rose to the challenge.
Young and strong individuals, driven by determination and unwavering courage, stepped forward to lead the remnants of humanity. These leaders became beacons of hope, rallying the scattered survivors and guiding them through an age of turmoil. Many of them perished in their efforts, sacrificing everything to protect what little remained of their people.
Among these countless heroes, twelve stood above the rest—the 12 Great Sages. They were the strongest humans ever known, their powers unparalleled, their wisdom unmatched. Through their immense strength and strategic brilliance, they led humanity's resurgence, defending against relentless waves of threats.
These 12 Great Sages weren't just warriors; they became legends. They carved humanity's future out of the chaos, pushing back the tide of destruction and establishing strongholds on the borders of human territory. Even now, thousands of years later, the 12 Great Sages still hold their posts, guarding humanity from any looming dangers.
They are the unshakable pillars of this world, revered by every human from the depths of their hearts. Their names are etched into history, their deeds passed down through generations. To many, they are not just leaders but symbols of hope and perseverance.
As Lin Shen absorbed this knowledge, a sense of awe filled him. The scale of their achievements, the sacrifices they made—it all left him wondering about his place in this new world.
'The 12 Great Sages... If they're still alive after all this time, what kind of power sustains them? And what dangers still loom beyond humanity's borders for such beings to remain on guard?'
The weight of the memories pressed heavily on him, yet they ignited a spark within. He had inherited this knowledge for a reason. Whatever purpose the light and the black hole had for him, Lin Shen was determined to uncover it in this era shaped by legends and untold struggles.
As for his predecessor, his name was—strangely enough—also Lin Shen. What were the odds? This Lin Shen, however, was an entirely different breed: a cultivation freak. And that freakish obsession with cultivation was also the reason for his untimely demise—he literally over-cultivated himself to death.
"Seriously? How can someone die from cultivation?!" Lin Shen's mind reeled. "Buddy, you had one job—one job—and you fumbled it because you couldn't take a break?! Unbelievable."
Returning to the topic, his predecessor was a 17-year-old boy, soon to turn 18 in nine days. He lived a relatively good life in a well-off family. His father, Lin Wei, owned a spacecraft engine manufacturing company called Steller Drive Dynamics, and his mother, Yan Yue, helped manage the family business. Rounding out the family was his younger sister, Lin Mei, who was just shy of a year younger than him and now 17.
So why the over-the-top obsession with cultivation? Well, as a kid, Lin Shen had been hailed as the top talent of Celestial Dawn City. Everyone had been singing his praises, calling him the future of cultivation, and comparing him to prodigies from the history books. But as he grew older, things changed. His brilliance began to fade, and soon enough, he was just another face in the crowd. The once-envied talent had become painfully average.
Desperate to reclaim his former glory, he dove headfirst into an extreme training routine. With the high school graduation exam—a life-defining event in literally every sense—just a month away, Lin Shen was determined to excel and secure a spot in a top-tier college. He figured a dazzling performance would prove to everyone, including himself, that he still had what it took.
And, well, it might have worked... if he hadn't pushed himself to the point of imploding. Rest in peace, Cultivation Freak Shen.
Now, as Lin Shen 2.0 absorbed these memories, he couldn't help but feel amused. "What an intense guy! But hey, not bad for a backstory." For the first time, he genuinely wanted to give the mysterious Transmigration God—or whoever orchestrated this—a solid 10/10.
"Great body, good family, no oppressive clans trying to kill me over an artifact... and an easy name to remember? Perfect setup. Thank you, Transmigration God!"
As Lin Shen pieced together his predecessor's life, one thing became clear: the original Lin Shen had talent, drive, and some serious baggage about fading into obscurity. Now, it was up to Lin Shen 2.0 to decide how to handle this second chance—and maybe to avoid the pitfalls of over-cultivating himself into oblivion.
---
"But what the hell was that speck of light?" Lin Shen frowned, his thoughts lingering on the mysterious event that had led to his transmigration.
Then, with a sigh, he shook his head. *Well, thinking about it won't change anything. Might as well leave it for future me to deal with.* He had just come back from an eternal abyss, inherited a new life, and absorbed a flood of memories. If there was anything he needed right now, it was a good sleep.
With that, he slowly closed his eyes.
[Ding!]
Lin Shen's eyes snapped open.
A crisp voice echoed directly in his mind.
[Soul Binding Process... 100%]
[Soul Binding Process completed! Congratulations, The Origin Dimension System is now completely bound to your soul.]