Chapter 1: Reincarnation
Part 1:
The glow of the screen was the only light in the dim apartment.
Cang Yue Chen sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes locked onto the animated battle unfolding before him. Sword lights tore across the sky, mountains split apart, and cultivators soared like gods above the heavens.
He leaned forward, excitement rising in his chest.
"Come on… breakthrough already…"
On the screen, the protagonist of Spiritual Master unleashed a brilliant strike. Spiritual energy roared like a storm, shattering the battlefield.
Then—
Click.
Darkness swallowed the room.
The fan stopped spinning.
The screen went black.
Silence fell like a curtain.
"…Ahh man!" Cang Yue Chen groaned.
He stared at the dead screen in disbelief.
"Right at the climax too… seriously?"
Within seconds, the summer heat pressed in like a suffocating blanket. Sweat formed along his forehead.
He grabbed his phone.
Dead battery.
"Perfect. Just perfect."
With a frustrated sigh, he slipped on his sandals and pushed open the door, stepping into the humid night air.
A Strange Red Light
The street outside was unusually quiet.
Power outages weren't rare — but tonight felt… different.
The air felt heavy.
Still.
Oppressive.
Cang Yue Chen walked slowly down the road, hands in his pockets, hoping for even the faintest breeze.
Then he saw it.
A faint red glow flickered at the far end of the street.
It pulsed softly.
Like a heartbeat.
"…What is that?"
Curiosity tugged at him.
He stepped closer.
The glow reflected across the asphalt, spreading like liquid crimson.
A distant rumble echoed through the darkness.
Before he could react—
HOOOOONK!!
Blinding headlights exploded into view.
Time slowed.
The roar of an engine tore through the silence.
Cang Yue Chen's eyes widened.
"A truck?!"
The world turned white.
Impact.
Pain exploded through his body like shattering glass.
As he collapsed onto the cold asphalt, the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.
Warmth pooled beneath him.
His vision dimmed.
"…Truck-kun…?" he whispered weakly, a faint ironic smile touching his lips.
Darkness closed in.
Between Life and Death
Silence.
Then warmth.
Soft voices drifted through the void.
"…He's breathing."
"…Such a beautiful child…"
Cang Yue Chen struggled to open his eyes.
Blurry shapes hovered above him.
A man and a woman.
Their figures shimmered like dreamlike silhouettes.
The man possessed calm, dignified features and deep eyes filled with quiet strength.
The woman's beauty was gentle and refined, her gaze brimming with maternal warmth.
The woman's eyes brightened.
"Look at him, Sheng… he's so cute."
Cute?
He tried to move.
His arms felt tiny.
Weak.
He raised his hands slowly.
Small fingers.
Soft skin.
Impossible.
"…Am I… a baby?" He Thought
The world zoomed outward.
A swaddled infant with black hair and faintly shimmering blue eyes lay in her arms.
Footsteps approached.
A boy of about five peeked over the bed, eyes shining with excitement.
"My little brother," he said proudly.
Ten Years Later
Sunlight filtered through a wooden window.
A boy sat quietly on his bed, staring at his hands.
Black hair.
Calm blue eyes.
A face far more mature than his age suggested.
Ling Chen exhaled slowly.
"Ten years…"
"I never thought I would be reincarnated… as a baby."
He closed his eyes and felt the air around him.
The world pulsed with invisible currents.
Alive.
Breathing.
Filled with spiritual energy.
"…This world is filled with spiritual energy," he whispered.
He clenched his fists.
"But my spirit veins have been blocked since birth."
In this world, spirit veins were the gateway to cultivation.
Without them, one could never gather spiritual energy.
Without energy, one could never grow strong.
Without strength…
one could not survive.
"I cannot cultivate."
Memories of the Previous Life
Before his death, he had been watching an animated series.
Spiritual Master.
Ling Chen's eyes widened.
"…This world…"
He stood and walked to the window.
Outside, a boy floated mid-air, controlling a flying sword. Spiritual energy shimmered around him like rippling water.
Ling Chen's expression darkened.
"I am inside the world of Spiritual Master…"
"And this is Huang Shi City."
His fingers tightened against the wooden frame.
"The same city where Mu Bai lives."
Mu Bai.
The protagonist.
The destined genius.
The Difference Between Heaven and Earth
Outside, Mu Bai guided his flying sword with flawless precision.
Ling Chen watched silently.
"Mu Bai unlocked seven meridians at age ten…"
"He reached the peak of Spiritual Sensing."
Even without complete cultivation, Mu Bai could manipulate spiritual energy to fight.
He could gather energy around his body and wield it like a weapon.
A true genius.
Ling Chen coughed suddenly.
A sharp pain pierced his chest.
Blood stained his palm.
"…Dark River Profound poison…"
The toxin had remained in his body since childhood.
Weakening him.
Devouring his vitality.
Meanwhile—
"My brother Ling Hao reached Spiritual Gathering Sixth Grade at fifteen."
Ling Chen lowered his hand.
"In this world, cultivators awaken spirit veins at age ten…"
"Mu Bai opened seven meridians in two months."
"That is what they call a genius."
Ling Chen looked down at his trembling hands.
"And I…"
"…have none."
Arrival of Destiny
A deep rumble shook the air.
Ling Chen looked up.
A magnificent flying carriage descended from the sky, radiant runes glowing along its frame.
It landed in the city square.
The air grew heavy with pressure.
Three figures stepped out.
Their robes flowed with spiritual light.
Their presence alone suppressed the surroundings.
Ling Chen narrowed his eyes.
"Spiritual Manifestation Realm…"
"Middle stage… middle stage… late stage…"
He inhaled slowly.
"They are masters from Spirit Jade Dragon Academy."
Master Hun Jiang(Middle Stage)
Master Mu Fan(Middle Stage)
Master Bai Jun(Late Stage)
The city stirred with excitement.
Children ran through the streets.
Adults whispered with reverence.
Ling Chen watched silently.
"They are here…"
"…to take Mu Bai."
Part 2:
A gentle wind passed through the streets.
Ling Chen stood at the window, sunlight casting a long shadow behind him.
In a world ruled by strength…
he possessed none.
In a world overflowing with destiny…
he had been born talentless.
Yet deep within his eyes—
a faint glimmer stirred.
As if something ancient had begun to awaken.
A thin golden line flickered across his pupils…
and vanished.
Three masters stood before the old man at the center of the village square.
The crowd parted respectfully.
The old man's white beard reached his chest, his back slightly bent with age, yet his eyes were sharp like a hawk's.
Village Elder:
"Master Mu Fan, Master Hun Jiang, and Master Bai Jun… I welcome all of you."
He bowed deeply.
The three masters returned the greeting.
Behind them, villagers whispered in awe.
These were masters from Spirit Jade Dragon Academy, the most prestigious martial institution within thousands of miles.
Ling Chen stood nearby with his family.
His calm eyes watched everything.
Ling Chen:
"Spirit Jade Dragon Academy is known for their Jade Dragon Skin Technique."
Ling Wang glanced at him.
Ling Wang:
"Oh? And what does it do?"
Ling Chen:
"It tempers both body and soul… making them as tough as jade and as resilient as a dragon."
Master Bai Jun's ears twitched slightly — he had heard.
He smiled faintly.
Master Bai Jun:
"We should begin the tournament."
Small Village Arena
The arena was simple — packed dirt ground surrounded by wooden fencing.
Villagers gathered excitedly.
This tournament would determine which children might be recommended to Spirit Jade Dragon Academy.
Ling Chen and his family sat in the front row.
Children stepped forward nervously.
Then
A boy walked calmly into the arena.
Lean body. Clear eyes. Steely composure.
Mu Bai.
Whispers spread.
"That's Master Mu Fan's nephew…"
"He trains like a monster…"
"He never loses."
Fight 1 Mu Bai vs Stone Ox
A large boy stepped forward.
Barefoot. Thick muscles. Heavy breathing.
Stone Ox, son of the village butcher.
He slammed his fists together.
Stone Ox:
"I'll crush you!"
The referee signaled.
START!
Stone Ox charged like a raging bull, shaking the ground.
Mu Bai did not move.
At the last instant
He shifted sideways.
Stone Ox missed and stumbled.
Mu Bai struck his ribs with two precise palm strikes.
THUD! THUD!
Stone Ox roared and swung wildly.
Mu Bai ducked, spun, and swept his leg.
The ground trembled as Stone Ox fell.
Yet he stood again, angrier.
He grabbed Mu Bai's shoulder.
Gasps erupted.
Mu Bai twisted his arm, stepped behind him, and used his momentum —
Shoulder throw!
Stone Ox slammed into the dirt.
Dust exploded.
He tried to rise…
…then collapsed.
Winner: Mu Bai
The villagers erupted.
"That technique!"
"So precise!"
Master Bai Jun nodded approvingly.
Fight 2 Mu Bai vs Twin Blade Brothers
Two thin boys entered.
Brothers known for their coordination.
Each held a wooden short blade.
Whispers grew louder.
"This is unfair!"
"They fight together!"
Master Bai Jun did not object.
This was a test.
The brothers circled Mu Bai.
One attacked high.
The other low.
Mu Bai retreated, studying.
Wood blades sliced through the air rapidly.
He blocked with his forearms.
Stepped back.
Turned.
Avoided.
Their attacks grew faster.
Dust swirled around them.
Suddenly
Mu Bai stomped the ground.
Dust burst upward, blinding them.
He dashed forward.
Elbow strike to the first brother's chest.
Palm strike to the second's wrist.
A blade flew away.
He spun and kicked the second brother's knee.
He fell.
The first lunged again.
Mu Bai grabbed his arm, twisted, and pinned him to the ground.
The second tried to rise
Mu Bai's foot pressed him down.
Both immobilized.
Silence.
Then
Winner: Mu Bai
Even the masters looked impressed now.
Master Hun Jiang stroked his beard.
"Battle awareness beyond his age."
Fight 3 Mu Bai vs Iron Body Luo
The final challenger entered slowly.
A tall boy with calm breathing.
Skin faintly bronze.
Iron Body Luo.
He practiced body tempering since age five.
His defense was legendary.
The crowd quieted.
This would be difficult.
The match began.
Mu Bai attacked first.
Palm strike.
Blocked.
Kick to ribs.
No reaction.
Punch to chest.
A dull metallic thud echoed.
Luo did not move.
He countered.
A heavy punch grazed Mu Bai's shoulder.
The air shook.
Mu Bai slid back three steps.
His eyes sharpened.
He began circling.
Testing angles.
He struck joints.
Neck.
Knees.
Underarm.
Luo endured.
Then charged.
Mu Bai leaped aside.
The ground cracked beneath Luo's stomp.
Gasps spread.
Mu Bai's breathing slowed.
He changed rhythm.
Slow steps.
Soft footwork.
He waited…
…and waited…
Then
Luo attacked again.
Mu Bai pivoted inside his guard.
Two finger thrust to collarbone nerve.
Palm strike to diaphragm.
Heel kick behind knee.
Luo's body froze.
His breath stopped.
He dropped to one knee.
Mu Bai stepped behind him.
A final palm strike to the back.
Luo collapsed forward.
The arena went silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Then
Thunderous applause erupted.
Master Mu Fan smiled proudly.
Master Bai Jun nodded.
Master Bai Jun:
"This child… has true martial potential."
Ling Chen watched silently.
His eyes reflected neither excitement nor surprise.
Five Years Later
The village had changed.
Children had grown up.
Ling Chen was now 15 years old.
Yet he was still not a cultivator.
Inside a Dark Cave
Ling Chen swung his pickaxe.
CLANG.
Crystal fragments fell.
These spirit crystals were sold to support his family.
He wiped sweat from his forehead.
Suddenly
BOOM!
A blast of energy struck his back.
He slammed into the stone wall.
Dust filled the cave.
Ling Chen struggled up.
Ling Chen:
"…Who hit me?"
A youth stepped forward arrogantly.
Seven meridians glowing faintly.
Spiritual energy flowed around him.
Hua Yun.
Hua Yun:
"I — the great young master of the Hua Family."
His eyes gleamed with contempt.
silent.
Part 3:
Drops of water echoed from the ceiling.
Spirit crystals embedded in the stone walls glowed faintly blue, illuminating the narrow tunnel.
Ling Chen lifted his pickaxe again.
Before it could fall —
A violent force struck his back.
BOOM!
Pain exploded through his body as he crashed against the stone wall and fell to the ground.
Dust filled the air.
Pebbles rolled across the floor.
Ling Chen coughed, struggling to breathe.
Footsteps echoed slowly in the cave.
A figure emerged from the darkness.
Arrogant.
Confident.
Spiritual energy flowed faintly around him.
It was Hua Yun.
His eyes were full of disdain.
Hua Yun:
"Ling Chen… trash of the Ling Family."
Ling Chen wiped blood from his lip and slowly stood.
Pain shot through his spine.
Ling Chen:
"…What do you want?"
Hua Yun glanced around at the glowing crystals embedded in the cave walls.
His eyes glittered greedily.
Hua Yun:
"I want these crystals. You mined here for six months. These are worth one hundred thousand gold coins."
Ling Chen's hands tightened.
Six months.
Endless darkness.
Bleeding hands.
Hunger.
Cold nights.
Every strike of the pickaxe carved with hope.
Ling Chen:
"I will never give you my crystals."
For a moment, silence filled the cave.
Then Ling Chen charged forward.
His fist shot toward Hua Yun's face.
THUD!
His punch stopped mid-air.
It felt like striking solid steel.
Ling Chen's eyes widened.
His fist trembled against an invisible force.
Ling Chen (thought):
Spiritual barrier…
Hua Yun smirked.
Hua Yun:
"I can manipulate spiritual energy."
A faint ripple shimmered before him.
Invisible power surrounded his body.
Before Ling Chen could retreat —
Hua Yun gathered spiritual energy into his fist.
The air vibrated.
He punched.
CRACK!
Ling Chen's face snapped sideways.
He flew backward and slammed into the stone wall.
The cave trembled.
Blood burst from his mouth.
Before he could breathe —
Hua Yun rushed forward and struck again.
BOOM!
Ling Chen's body hit the wall once more.
Pain flooded every nerve.
Bones creaked.
His vision blurred.
Hua Yun grabbed his collar and slammed him to the ground.
Another punch.
Another.
Another.
Each blow echoed like thunder inside the cave.
Ling Chen's ribs cracked.
His arms twisted unnaturally.
His body stopped responding.
Finally—
Hua Yun released him.
Ling Chen collapsed like a broken doll.
Blood spread beneath him.
His breathing was faint and uneven.
The crystals glowed coldly around him.
Hua Yun:
"That is your punishment, loser."
He walked to the crystal pile and began stuffing them into his storage bag.
The sound of crystals clinking echoed like mockery.
He paused and glanced back.
Hua Yun:
"You gathered one thousand crystals."
He smirked.
"Each worth one hundred gold coins."
He leaned slightly closer.
"You wanted to sell them… and buy Meridian Opening Powder."
Ling Chen's fingers twitched weakly.
He forced his head up.
Blood dripped from his chin.
Hua Yun's smile widened.
Hua Yun:
"I want to tell you something…"
He leaned near Ling Chen's ear.
"...you're useless."
He laughed softly and walked out of the cave.
His footsteps faded.
Silence returned.
Only the dripping water remained.
Ling Chen lay motionless.
Blood covered his body.
His breath was shallow.
Coldness spread through his limbs.
Darkness crept into his vision.
Then… something changed.
His blue eyes flickered.
A faint glow appeared.
A lotus pattern slowly emerged within his pupils.
Six petals.
Rotating slowly.
Ancient.
Mysterious.
Otherworldly.
A New World
Ling Chen opened his eyes.
He stood upon an island.
Before him stretched a vast ocean without end.
The sky was dark yet filled with countless stars.
Six moons hung above:
Red.
Blue.
Green.
Yellow.
White.
Pink.
Purple.
Their reflections shimmered across the water like a dream.
Floating islands drifted in the distance.
Silence ruled this world.
Ling Chen looked down at himself.
No wounds.
No pain.
Only calm.
He turned —
And saw it.
A massive tree.
Its trunk was wider than mountains.
Its branches pierced the heavens.
Golden light flowed through its veins like rivers of sunlight.
Standing before it, Ling Chen was smaller than an ant before a peak.
A presence descended.
Golden radiance gathered.
A figure appeared.
A youthful body.
Ancient white hair.
Saint-like robes fluttering without wind.
A golden aura flowed around him like divine mist.
Ling Chen felt a pressure beyond comprehension.
Yet his mind remained calm.
Ling Chen:
"Who are you?"
Silence lingered.
The stars seemed to dim.
Then the man spoke.
His voice carried ancient authority.
"I am Jing Shen."
"Great Elder of the Celestial Pagoda… on Divine Elixir Planet… within the Astral Cloud Star System."
Ling Chen frowned slightly.
Ling Chen (inner thoughts):
I have never heard of such a place…
Jing Shen stepped forward.
Each step created golden ripples in the air.
He raised two fingers and touched Ling Chen's forehead.
A blinding light erupted.
Power flooded Ling Chen's mind.
Endless knowledge.
Endless energy.
Endless vastness.
Ling Chen trembled.
Ling Chen:
"He's… so strong…"
Inside his body —
Meridian pathways appeared like glowing rivers.
108 meridians.
One began to open.
A faint cracking sound echoed through his being.
Energy surged.
Jing Shen's body shone with a bright yellow radiance.
Jing Shen:
"I will tell you about the Eye later."
His figure dissolved into golden light.
Only glowing particles remained.
They drifted away like stardust.
Ling Chen stood frozen.
Confused.
Shocked.
Awed.
Back to Reality
He blinked.
His eyes opened.
Rocky cave ceiling.
Cold air.
The smell of blood.
He tried to move.
Pain returned like a tidal wave.
He struggled…
and struggled…
Finally —
He sat up.
The cave was empty.
The crystals were gone.
Ling Chen:
"…Was that a dream?"
He closed his eyes.
If my meridian opened… I should be able to sense spiritual energy.
Silence.
Then
He felt it.
Soft.
Flowing.
Alive.
Blue spiritual energy drifted around him like mist.
His breathing quickened.
Ling Chen:
"I can sense it…"
His voice trembled.
"I can sense it…"
Tears formed in his eyes.
"I CAN SENSE SPIRITUAL ENERGY!"
His fists tightened.
"I waited… fifteen years…"
"Finally… I can cultivate."
He drew the energy inward.
The spiritual energy surged into his body like a river finding its path.
Warmth spread through his limbs.
Bones realigned.
Bruises faded.
Internal injuries healed.
His breathing stabilized.
Ling Chen slowly stood.
This time —
He did not fall.
Ling Chen:
"My condition… is good enough."
"I can walk easily now."
He looked at his right palm.
A mysterious eye-shaped mark rested at its center.
Faint.
Ancient.
Alive.
Ling Chen stared in confusion.
Ling Chen (whispering):
"…What is this?"
The cave remained silent.
But the air around him seemed to pulse.
As if destiny had finally awakened.
[End of Chapter 1]