Earth, 2020
On a bright and clear day, a sudden rift tore open in the sky. Monsters poured out of it, flooding the world.
Within hours, humanity had fallen. Major cities across the globe crumbled one by one.
But in the midst of despair, a glimmer of hope appeared—humans who could fight monsters with their bare hands. They were cultivators, just like the ones you'd read about in fantasy novels.
After driving the monsters back, these cultivators finally revealed themselves to the world. They began recruiting new disciples and training them.
In just five years, humanity reclaimed several cities from the monsters. During this time, human civilization slowly began to recover. They formed the Martial Arts Association.
The Earth also underwent a transformation. It began to awaken spiritually, becoming more suitable for cultivation. By the age of 7, children started to awaken their Spiritual Roots to begin their path as cultivators.
---
Earth, 2025
Smack!
"Useless brat! You're a disgrace to this family for being born without a Spiritual Root!"
Lu Chen stayed silent, not fighting back.
His mother glared at him one last time before turning around and walking away.
He watched her leave, the distance between them growing—just like the emotional gap that had widened over the years.
Lu Chen stepped outside, hoping to clear his head. He walked aimlessly, eventually reaching a cliff overlooking the ocean.
The timing was perfect. The sky glowed orange with the sunset, casting a breathtaking light across the sea.
"So beautiful..." His eyes sparkled. No matter how many times he had seen this view, it always left him in awe.
As he took in the sight, a wave of memories came rushing back—back when his family was still full of warmth and love.
---
Beyond the Universe
Two figures were locked in a fierce battle. Who knows how long they'd been fighting?
"Hahaha! Just give up already, Gu! You'll never defeat me!" roared a terrifying figure with black horns and a deathly aura—Tarnus, Lord of the Abyss.
"Tarnus… I'll admit you're strong. But don't forget—we're not in a favorable place for you."
"I don't care!" Tarnus had already been consumed by his own greed.
"You haven't changed," Gu said, calmly forming an ancient and complex pattern in the air.
Tarnus instantly sensed the terrifying energy radiating from it.
"Sh*t, I need to get out of here!" He tried to escape, but suddenly his movements were sealed.
"You b*stard, Gu! Let me go!" Tarnus shouted, thrashing in fury.
Gu simply smiled. "If only I could use even 1% of this stone's power..."
A black stone etched with strange glowing patterns emerged from Gu's chest.
"Looks like… I wasn't the one meant for this," Gu murmured, placing a part of his consciousness into the stone.
"After the explosion... I hope it finds the one destined for it."
"You son of a—let me go, Gu!" Tarnus's furious screams shook space itself.
Then, strangely, Gu released him.
"Still too soft, even at the end," he said with a gentle smile.
Tarnus was stunned, but delighted. Just before escaping, he looked back at Gu's calm, smiling face.
"That damn face of yours—I've always hated it!" he spat, then vanished at light speed.
"This is my final effort... to protect everything," Gu whispered.
And then—BOOM!
A massive explosion tore through space. Even Tarnus, who had fled light-years away, was caught in its shockwave.
"Argh! Damn it!" It had been millions of years since Tarnus last felt pain, but now... he was burning.
Half his body had been blown off, and to his shock, it was healing slowly.
"What the hell...? If I hadn't run, I'd be... gone."
And with that, Tarnus disappeared into the void.
---
Back on Earth
Night had fallen, but Lu Chen remained on the cliff. Now, instead of watching the ocean, his gaze drifted upward toward the starlit sky.
Suddenly, something caught his eye—a flash blazing through the atmosphere, crashing down nearby.
BOOM!
"What was that?" Lu Chen rushed toward the impact site.
After some searching, he found a strange black stone, glowing faintly with intricate patterns.
As he reached out to touch it, everything around him fell silent. The chirping of insects, the rustling of leaves—all gone. Time itself seemed to freeze.
"Don't be afraid."
"Aaah! A ghost!!" Lu Chen jumped at the sudden appearance of a handsome man.
The "ghost" was none other than Gu. "Ghost?! You dare call this handsome man a ghost?!"
He examined Lu Chen for a moment and sighed. "No Spiritual Root what a shame."
Lu Chen shivered a bit. This guy was a bit much.
"Alright, back on topic," Gu said, brushing it off. "Kid, I'm just a soul fragment. I'll fade away soon, so listen carefully. My name is Gu, and I was the previous owner of this stone. It's called the Origin Stone."
He spoke proudly, though in truth, even he couldn't control 1% of the stone's power.
"Origin Stone?" Lu Chen frowned. Was this a scam? Earth did have pretty advanced hologram tech now.
"Don't worry, I'm no scammer," Gu said, somehow reading Lu Chen's thoughts.
"Sorry, senior," Lu Chen bowed slightly. It was clear the man in front of him was once incredibly powerful.
Gu just smiled. "What's your name, kid?"
"Lu Chen."
He looked at Lu Chen for a moment, then muttered, "I hope you're the one it's waiting for, even if you don't have a Spiritual Root."
Lu Chen immediately stepped back, covering his body with both arms.
"You brat! I like women, okay?!" Gu shouted, clearly irritated.
"Uh senior, your body" Lu Chen pointed Gu's form was fading fast.
"My time's almost up," Gu said. He floated the Origin Stone toward Lu Chen and began fusing it with his body.
Then, something unexpected happened.
"W-What?" The Origin Stone lodged itself where Lu Chen's Spiritual Root should have been. A massive surge of power erupted from him, so intense that Gu had to help suppress it.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
In an instant, Lu Chen reached Qi Refinement Level 4.
Gu was shocked and thrilled. What will this kid become? I hope he makes it there…
But channeling the power took a toll on him. Gu was fading even faster now.
"S-senior?" Lu Chen asked, a little emotional. This man had just given him everything.
"It's okay, Lu Chen." Gu gestured him closer.
He whispered something to Lu Chen that left him stunned.
"I see then I'll do my best to get there." Lu Chen said firmly.
Gu smiled, and with that, he vanished completely.
Time slowly resumed. The wind returned. The sounds of waves and creatures filled the air once more.
Lu Chen picked up a stone and carved something into it, placing it where Gu had appeared.
"Rest in peace senior."
He knelt there for a whole hour, paying respect to the man who'd saved him.
Finally, he stood up. His legs didn't ache anymore. His body had changed. He was now a cultivator.
"This is the beginning of my destiny." He clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes.