In a realm unimaginably distant from Earth so far, in fact, that its location transcends both space and time, in a dimension unknown to human understanding, a strange pulse of energy rippled across the void. The fabric of space itself began to tremble, to crack, distorting like an illusion. Strange sounds echoed through the emptiness, as if reality itself was straining to welcome the birth of something great,
something new.
After a few seconds of rhythmic tremors, a booming sound reverberated through the dimension. With it, the fissure in space finally shattered, leaving behind a white, glowing orb suspended in the void. It pulsed rhythmically, like the beat of a heart, radiating an ancient and powerful energy. And then, a deep sound rang out:
Gong... gong... gong...
It echoed endlessly, as if the universe itself was announcing a birth, a beginning.
While this strange phenomenon unfolded in the unknown reaches of the cosmos, elsewhere in another world, one that looked as though a nuclear apocalypse had erased all traces of life, a lone figure sat still among the desolation. The landscape was scorched and dead, an apocalyptic ruin. Yet amidst this bleakness, a middle-aged man with a golden robe adorned in dragon embroidery sat in perfect stillness, meditating like an ancient tomb. His eyes remained closed, his posture regal and composed.
Suddenly, as though sensing something, he opened his eyes and gazed toward the sky. His gaze was deep, almost as if he were peering through the veil of the heavens themselves.
"Hmm... I have never felt anything like this," he murmured. "This... this is the birth of a treasure, and not just any treasure. If this truly is what I believe it to be, it will reach the peak of the God rank level."
His voice was calm but heavy with realization. Slowly, he rose to his feet. With a single slicing motion of his bare hand, the very space in front of him split open, as though yielding to his power. Without hesitation, he stepped through the portal, vanishing and leaving the dead, silent world behind.
---
Far away, nestled within a vast mountain range nearly twenty thousand kilometers wide, a young boy sat meditating beneath a massive waterfall, one over two thousand kilometers tall. He was bald and half-naked, revealing a lean, muscular body with a defined six-pack. Around his neck, a single, complete circular bead hung loosely. Though the roaring water crashed all around him, he sat on the surface of the water itself, floating with an unnatural stillness, undisturbed by the forces of nature.
Beside him, an old man also sat on the water, clothed in a simple robe. Around his neck hung a necklace composed of beads, six times the number of the boy's. In that moment, anyone from Earth witnessing the pair would instantly recognize them as monks.
The boy remained in deep concentration while the monk quietly counted prayer beads, murmuring ancient incantations under his breath. Suddenly, the old man stopped, pausing mid-chant. With a tranquil expression, he turned his eyes upward toward the sky.
"It seems the time is near," he said softly.
Hearing his master's voice break the rhythm of meditation, the boy stirred. Curious, he opened his eyes and tried to turn toward the monk, but in doing so, he lost his concentration and fell straight into the water with a splash.
The old man was drawn from his thoughts by the commotion. Glancing at the boy now dripping wet, he watched as the child quickly sprang from the water and knelt before him in apology.
"Please, Master. Correct me," the boy pleaded, bowing his head.
The monk stroked his beard thoughtfully, then nodded approvingly.
"Hmm," he muttered. "Without using your Qi as aid, perform five hundred thousand push-ups, seventy-nine thousand sit-ups, and run around the mountain fifty times... all while contemplating why you continue to let mundane distractions disturb your spirit."
The boy's eyes widened, then dimmed slightly, but to his master's surprise, a glimmer of relief shone through. He bowed deeply in gratitude.
"Thank you, Master," he said reverently.
"Run along now," the monk added with a kind smile.
Without wasting a second, the boy turned and dashed away, energized by purpose. Watching the young disciple's form grow smaller in the distance, the monk shook his head gently, his smile never fading.
"I wonder what role he will play in the coming of this new era," he mused.
Closing his eyes once more, he resumed his meditations, chanting quietly into the stillness.
---
Elsewhere, in another far-off place, a group of veiled women knelt before a throne. Seated upon it was another woman, also veiled, but her regal posture and flawless form suggested a beauty so devastating it could topple empires.
"Your Highness," one of the women said, bowing low. "The first sign of the prophecy of Zi... Is"
"I know," the woman on the throne interrupted softly, her voice calm yet commanding.
---
In another distant sector of the universe, within a grand palace, a cleaner sweeping the marble floor paused. He looked up at the sky briefly then, without a word, resumed his duties.
---
In a realm covered by a seemingly endless ocean, a massive sea creature emerged from the depths. Towering above the waves, its blue, shimmering scales sparkled in the light. Its aquamarine eyes radiated a power that seemed older than time, and atop its head sat a crown of coral, marking it as the undisputed ruler of the sea.
The creature lifted its gaze toward the heavens, muttered something under its breath, and then vanished in a ripple of water and energy.
---
In yet another remote realm, a lavish bedroom was bathed in warm light. A middle-aged man lay among six breathtakingly beautiful women, all naked and sleeping soundly. The man himself bore tattoos of swords on his neck, and his muscular frame was covered in old sword scars. If any of the women beside him were to appear on Earth, their beauty would likely render all who saw them speechless, perhaps even brain dead from shock.
Abruptly, the man opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
"Finally... a little entertainment," he whispered with a smirk, his eyes gleaming like a mischievous child's.
Scenes like this began to occur all across the universe, from realm to realm, as something ancient stirred.
---
Back at the location of the pulsating white orb, the deep gong echoed twelve times.
Gong... Gong... Gong... Twelve.
The orb began to spin rapidly, and in an instant, it vanished without a trace, as though it had never existed. The space it had occupied now trembled once more, and a deep cut appeared. From the spatial tear, the same handsome, middle-aged man in the golden, dragon-embroidered robe emerged. He stepped into the void, scanning the surrounding space carefully . With practiced precision, he performed a series of hand signs, then gave a faint smile and stepped back through the tear, which closed behind him.
Moments later, the surrounding space was flooded with powerful auras, scanning, sensing, searching and then, just as suddenly, they were gone.
---
On Earth, a crack silently split the air in front of an old man. A glowing, round, white orb appeared out of nowhere, then darted forward, piercing the man's forehead in the blink of an eye. It all happened in less than a second.
Before the man could even react, a translucent notification appeared in his mind:
[You have been chosen by **** as its Holder]
[System Syncing (1%)... ]
[Error, error... ]
[Error... err..]
[Error weak physique to synchronize with host]
[Searching for solutions... ]
[764,000 solutions found...]
[Choosing the most optimal solution... ]
[Transmigration commencing in 3... 2... 1...]