The world turned dark once again for Wen Ran. His body floated weightlessly in an endless expanse of stars. When he opened his eyes, his head spun in dizzying circles, and a crushing pressure bore down on his mind, forcing him to gasp for air.
"Where am I?" he murmured, his voice calm despite the disorientation. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any clue about his location. "The last thing I rember is falling down the ladder… I must have hit my head hard enough to knock out." His countless years of experience ensured he never forgot the past easily.
This place feels… different. The energy here… it's strengthening my mind. His thoughts raced, piecing together the puzzle. Could this be connected to the system? It's the only explanation that makes sense.
With deliberate effort, Wen Ran steadied himself, twisting and turning until he managed to stand upright, though his body still floated amidst the stars. The space around him was ethereal as if he had stepped into the very fabric of the cosmos. Distant stars shone with a brilliance that radiated raw, unrestrained power, filling the air with an energy so potent that it made his mind hum with activity.
This energy was not unfamiliar to him. In his past life, after four thousand years of cultivation, he had touched a fragnt of it—a force revered as the key to ascending to godhood. But Wen Ran had turned away from that path. His hatred for the gods had driven him to reject their power outright. Instead, he had chosen a different route: refining the energy into a universe of his own creation. It was a transformation that granted him the strength of a god while allowing him to remain human.
As he drifted in this mysterious space, his gaze locked onto sothing in the distance. The tablet floated silently in the void, unassuming in its simplicity. It was roughly the size of a palm, carved from dull, weathered stone that bore no shine or glow. Its edges were uneven, as though it had been crudely shaped, and faint scratch marks marred its surface. At first glance, it seed no different from a discarded relic, unworthy of attention. And yet, the very stars seed to bend and pulse around it, as if the tablet was the source of their light and energy.
That ancient tablet… it's tied to this place. Wen Ran's heart stirred with newfound resolve. Its power is imasurable. Sothing like that could help slay the gods again.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move. His body felt bound, his strength too weak to bridge the vast distance between him and the tablet. Frustration simred within him, yet it also stoked a fla of determination.
I can't reach it yet, but that doesn't an I won't. For now, I'll use this opportunity to strengthen my mind.
He sat cross-legged, focusing on the potent energy surrounding him. In my old world, ntal power stemd from a secret technique. He inhaled deeply, letting the breath flow out slowly, calming his mind and seeking inner peace.
Training the mind with that technique could extend one's life and unlock abilities capable of bending reality with thought alone. This is my chance to cultivate secretly, to grow unnoticed, so I can catch my enemies off guard. Yet… his brow furrowed slightly, I don't even know what kind of techniques they possess here. The cultivation system might be entirely different.
Wen Ran closed his eyes, the crushing weight of the universe pressing down on him. Yet, beneath that imnse pressure, his resolve burned brighter—unyielding against the unseen force. Slowly, his surroundings began to shift. The faint hum of existence faded, replaced by an all-encompassing darkness.
This wasn't the previous void speckled with stars he had seen before. No, this was sothing else entirely—an endless expanse of shadow with no beginning or end, devoid of light or form. Yet, Wen Ran didn't panic. This darkness felt familiar, like an old companion from a life long past. He recognized it for what it was.
The Mind Pagoda Realm.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. So it's still with , even in this life.
Taking another deep breath, Wen Ran steadied his thoughts, focusing inward. He could feel it—the faint connection between this place and the vast universe beyond. Slowly, he began to draw in the energy around him, the ethereal force of creation itself flowing into the realm like rivers of light threading through the void.
At the heart of the darkness, a faint glow began to erge. It flickered weakly at first, like a dying ember, but as the energy converged, it grew brighter and steadier. The glow coalesced, forming sothing tangible—an ethereal platform hovering in the void, steady and resolute.
The first layer of the pagoda.
The energy surged within him, rushing like a tidal wave through every corner of his mind. Wen Ran clenched his fists as the power filled him, strengthening his soul, sharpening his focus, and reinforcing his ntal fortitude. The dim light of the newly-ford foundation pulsed gently, a testant to his progress.
For a brief mont, silence returned, broken only by the faint hum of the pagoda's foundation. Wen Ran opened his eyes, the weight of the universe still pressing upon him—but now, it felt lighter, as if the burden had been halved. He could feel the growth within, the surge of ntal power coursing through him like a blazing fire.
He stood in the vast darkness, his gaze fixed on the single, small layer of foundation glowing faintly before him. It wasn't large or imposing, but it exuded a quiet stability—and that was what mattered most to Wen Ran.
A strong foundation shapes a true warrior. A weak one may lead to rapid growth, but it will shatter the mont it hits an unyielding wall.
"Wen Ran!" A desperate scream echoed all around, jolting Wen Ran's mind. The vast darkness and endless void dissolved in an instant, replaced by the rough ceiling of the cave above him. Beneath his head, sothing soft supported him, it was a girl's lap.
He blinked, disoriented, as his gaze focused on the crying girl above him. Her golden eyes brimd with tears, and each one that fell onto his face seed to pierce his heart. For reasons he couldn't explain, a deep ache settled in his chest, as though her sorrow was his own.
"Yao'er…" he murmured, his voice soft and hoarse. "I'm okay…"
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