On the desolate peaks of Blue Star, a thin figure was struggling to climb to the top of the mountain.
"Haiz, damn it! Why the hell did I suddenly get the urge to climb this godforsaken mountain, where even birds don't bother to shit?"
Cang Lun cursed as he made his way up.
Why didn't he just go back down instead of climbing up?
Simple—he was a man of principle. Once he had said he would climb to the top, he would do it no matter what.
Fifteen minutes later, the peak finally came into view.
His expression brightened considerably, and he quickly rushed toward a tree at the summit, collapsing against its trunk.
"Ha, this feels great! I finally conquered this damned mountain. The way back down will be a breeze compared to this."
Feeling at ease, he sat on the peak, gazing at the scenery around him. As he absentmindedly turned his head to the right, something unusual caught his eye—a tattered old book, seemingly abandoned for ages.
"What the hell? A book? In a place like this? And from the looks of it, no one's touched this thing in forever."
Curiosity piqued, he leaned in for a closer look. Despite its worn-out appearance, there was something oddly captivating about it.
"Heavenly Book of Reincarnation?"
Muttering the words on the cover, he froze for a moment. A strange sensation welled up from deep within him, as if something unseen was guiding him toward this book.
"With a name like that, I should probably be laughing at how ridiculous it sounds. But for some reason, my instincts are telling me I have to open it. Ah, whatever—it's just a book. What harm could it possibly do?"
Having made up his mind, he reached out and flipped it open.
Suddenly, an ethereal glow burst forth from the pages. Before he could react, his consciousness grew hazy, slipping into a dreamlike state.
The peak fell silent once more. There was no one there—no book, no trace of what had just transpired.
It had returned to being just another mountain, so barren that even birds wouldn't bother to shit on it.
No one knew how much time had passed when Cang Lun slowly regained consciousness. With great effort, he pried his eyes open, only to find himself in an otherworldly, mystical space.
His body felt weightless for the first time in his life—almost as if he were floating. Yet, at the same time… he felt like something was missing!
That's right. His body was missing a lot of things. At this moment, his form was nothing more than a tiny, flickering purple flame in the vast, endless void.
"What the hell?! What the fuck is going on? Where is my body?!"
Saying he wasn't panicking would be a blatant lie. If someone suddenly lost all their limbs, how could they possibly stay calm?
Perhaps some people could manage it, but Cang Lun was not one of them. He wasn't some enlightened sage—just an ordinary person.
Suddenly, a glowing book emerged from the emptiness, and a voice echoed from within:
"Calm yourself, Chosen One. You have been destined by fate to bear the burden of reincarnation. The road ahead will be filled with hardship and trials. Do you accept this destiny?"
Although he had been panicked just moments ago, the book's words made him regain his composure.
He wasn't stupid. He understood that he had been dragged into something rarer than winning the lottery. This kind of extraordinary event wasn't something a person like him should have ever encountered.
Now that he had calmed down, his 'brain' was racing to analyze the situation. After a brief moment of contemplation, he asked:
"Who are you?"
"I am the Heavenly Book of Reincarnation—the very book you just discovered. My purpose is to find a worthy soul capable of carrying the burden of reincarnation."
Hearing this, Cang Lun nodded. As for how he nodded? Well, it turned out that this 'flame' form of his could shift its shape.
He had just realized this a moment ago and had already reshaped himself into a form resembling his usual appearance.
"So, what exactly does 'bearing the burden of reincarnation' entail? Am I even capable of doing that?"
"You are fully capable—because fate has chosen you. However, before you take on reincarnation's burden, you must first experience reincarnation. Consider it your trial."
Cang Lun frowned. Everything he was hearing sounded vague and baseless, but he could still piece together a rough understanding.
"So... what's in it for me?"
"Benefits? What do you consider a benefit?"
"For humans, simply being alive is happiness. So… can you make me immortal?"
The Heavenly Book of Reincarnation didn't take even a moment to consider before replying:
"If that is what you seek, then I can assure you one thing—the one who bears the burden of reincarnation shall never perish."
"Good. Then I accept this task. I am willing to abandon everything I have in this world to step onto this unknown path."
Cang Lun spoke with unwavering resolve. After all, immortality was an irresistible temptation.
Since ancient times, humanity had sought eternal life countless times. But each attempt ended in failure because they had either used the wrong methods or searched in the wrong places.
Yet, that wasn't the only reason he accepted. He knew the journey ahead would be extraordinary. That alone was enough to convince him to take on this vague yet enticing mission.
"Very well. First, you must comprehend the Heavenly Book of Reincarnation. Within it lies the Reincarnation Divine Art and the Samsara Fist. These two techniques will be invaluable in strengthening yourself—no matter which world you enter."
The moment he heard any world, Cang Lun's eyes gleamed with excitement.
He wasn't a fool. He immediately understood what this meant—his future would take him across countless worlds, where he would meet different people, witness strange events, and experience things beyond imagination.
Just the thought of it was exhilarating. The anticipation was almost unbearable.
"Other worlds, huh… Truly fascinating."
Muttering to himself, he wasted no time and began to comprehend the Heavenly Book of Reincarnation.
He started with the Reincarnation Divine Art, knowing that in bizarre new worlds, mastering such a technique would be crucial.
Time flowed without meaning in this spaceless void. Perhaps years had passed—there was no way to tell. And yet, Cang Lun himself had not changed in the slightest.
The only difference? He had now fully mastered the Reincarnation Divine Art—ready to apply it in any world he set foot in.