"Where am I…?" he murmured.
The atmosphere was light, hazy—almost ethereal. A blinding radiance swarmed his eyes, distorting his vision into a fog of white. Everything felt unreal.
"*&*&&^*(^^…"
"What…?" he muttered, frowning as his ears were assaulted by a series of incomprehensible sounds.
"*&^#^#&…"
As the strange, garbled noise continued to pound against his senses, his thoughts slowly began to reassemble themselves.
"Why can I see…? Why… why am I alive?" he whispered.
He was certain he had died. He remembered it vividly—the screeching tires, the impact, the cold embrace of the pavement as blood pooled beneath him, and his breath became heavy and short. Yes… he had died.
Yet…
Suddenly, his stomach churned violently, as if rebelling against his confusion. Hunger? The sensation was sharp, unmistakable.
Then he noticed it—he was being carried in someone's arms. A giant figure loomed over him, blurry and unknown. His thoughts, still fogged, tried to make sense of it.
*WAAHHH!*
-----
"The heavens will be angry? Elder, what do you mean by that?" the patriarch asked, bewildered.
But his voice echoed into silence. The centuries-old man had vanished without a trace, leaving only mystery behind.
"Honey… did you understand what the Supreme Elder said?" the patriarch turned to the woman lying on the bed.
She simply shook her head.
And then, as if on cue, the toddler in her arms let out a loud cry. The patriarch gently handed the child to her, and she looked down at her son, eyes soft with affection.
"Lin Chen, you must be hungry. Here, drink."
"Honey, I need to step out for a bit. There are some minor issues I need to resolve."
His wife nodded quietly.
With that, the patriarch disappeared like a gust of wind.
-----
During this momentous event, countless powerhouses across the world began their own speculations and rituals. The mighty Canglan World was in unprecedented turmoil. Rivalries were paused, enmities forgotten—for a moment, all was still.
Poets and storytellers became the center of attention, their words capturing the wonder of the era. Inns overflowed with people hungry not just for food, but for tales—tales that would explain the phenomenon that had shaken their reality.
In one such inn, a storyteller raised his cup. His voice, smooth and commanding, began to spin a tale.
"It is said that the Chen Family, throughout countless years, has remained the behemoth of the cultivation world. Commoners revere them. Nobles kneel before them. No one dares disobey their might. Even the most powerful dynasties could not compare.
"Especially their Supreme Elder—he stood at the pinnacle of the realm, wielding a power said to touch the heavens themselves."
The storyteller paused, letting the weight of those words settle in the hearts of the listeners.
"They remained unrivaled for countless years… yet perhaps the heavens were still not satisfied."
The inn grew quieter, ears strained toward the man. Though many had heard the tale before, none could help but be drawn in again.
"Why did you stop?" someone finally asked.
"Ah," the storyteller rasped, touching his throat. "Feels like it's getting dry. I may need to rest a moment."
"Here, take this." A glittering object was tossed his way.
Catching it, the storyteller chuckled. "Heh. Maybe it was just my imagination." He held up the sparkling item with a grin.
"On that day, beneath a normal blue sky—suddenly, the heavens darkened. A purple aurora descended. Legend says that when the emperor's aura graces the world, it signifies a grand destiny. Cultivation will come easier to the one chosen. Fortune will follow them wherever they go.
"But that wasn't all… a great golden bell descended from the heavens."
The inn fell into a hush.
"With each toll, something within the world shifted. No one truly knows what it meant… perhaps only the Supreme Elder can grasp its full significance. But from what I've gathered, the name that echoed across the world that day was Lin Chen... As you all know..
He… he will change the world.
I don't know how… but mark my words—this is the start of a new era. An era for Lin Chen."
He lifted his gaze to the ceiling, eyes distant. The birth of Lin Chen had helped him break through a bottleneck he'd struggled with for over a decade. For that, he was truly grateful.
Many listeners sat in awe, lost in the gravity of his tale. Yet in the shadowy corner of the inn, a figure cloaked in a dark robe slowly sipped their drink, a subtle smirk curling on their lips.
-----
"Hurry! Prepare the gift and head to the Chen Manor!" a man barked, urgency in his voice as he watched his servant scramble.
"Be careful! That's a heritage treasure—passed down for generations. We mustn't let it be damaged!"
His heart ached as he looked at the artifact, but he gritted his teeth.
"This is for the future of our family. Sacrifices must be made."
"Where's my precious daughter? Make sure she looks perfect—no blemishes, no flaws."
Similar scenes played out across the continent. Powerhouses and sects from every corner of the world prepared to visit the Chen Family—each with their own purpose and hidden intentions.
For a moment, enemies became allies. Wars paused. The world embraced a rare, fleeting peace.
All of them, preparing…
For the one and only—
Lin Chen.