Two years had passed since Alex awoke in this enigmatic world.

The Azure-Jade Continent stretched vast and untamed, a land shaped by the echoes of legends. Towering mountains pierced the skies like celestial swords, rivers glimmered like silver threads under the sun, and sprawling cities thrummed with the rhythm of human ambition. Yet beneath the beauty lay a harsh truth: power ruled all. The strong ascended toward immortality, leaving the weak to wither as mere dust on the wind.

For Alex, every day felt like navigating a labyrinth of awe and frustration.

In the modest courtyard of his family’s home, Alex sat cross-legged beneath a jade willow tree. Its soft rustling leaves provided some solace as he struggled with cultivation. His breathing was steady, his posture resolute—a testament to countless hours spent in this position.

“Breathe in… gather the energy… guide it into the dantian…” he muttered, his words a mantra of focus.

For a fleeting moment, it worked. A faint current of qi seeped into his body, cool and ephemeral, like morning dew brushing against his skin. Yet the moment he tried to refine it, the energy lashed out, scattering violently. A sharp pain shot through his chest, forcing him to exhale in frustration.

“Damn it,” Alex hissed, rubbing his temples. Sweat beaded on his brow, but he ignored it, glaring at the ground as though it had wronged him.

“You look like you’re about to punch the tree, big brother,” a playful voice called out.

Alex glanced up to see Elsa, her petite figure framed by sunlight. She balanced a wooden bucket on her hip, her bright eyes gleaming with amusement. At just eight years old, Elsa was already dabbling in cultivation and, to Alex’s eternal annoyance, progressing far faster than he was.

“Don’t tempt me,” Alex replied with a groan, leaning back against the tree trunk.

Elsa set the bucket down with a mischievous smile. “You know, at this rate, I’ll reach the qi refinement stage before you. Maybe you should leave cultivation to the talented and stick to helping Mother in the kitchen.”

Alex scowled, though her teasing grin was hard to stay mad at. “Very funny. Maybe I’ll take that bucket and dump it over your head.”

She laughed, flopping onto the grass beside him. “But seriously, Alex. You’re… different. Not in a bad way—just… different. Do you ever think about why?”

His heart skipped a beat.

She didn’t know how right she was. The memories of his past life—a world ruled by science, reason, and technology—were a secret he kept buried. In this mystical land of qi and ancient tradition, he felt like a puzzle piece jammed into the wrong picture.

He forced a laugh, ruffling her hair. “Maybe I’m just special.”

“Special?” Elsa tilted her head, her expression curious. “That’s what Father says when he doesn’t know what to say.”

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Despite himself, Alex chuckled. For all her mischief, Elsa’s innocence had a way of lightening the heavy weight in his chest.

As the sun began its slow descent, Elsa left to finish her chores, leaving Alex alone beneath the willow tree. His gaze wandered to the distant city walls, their towering forms etched against the horizon. Beyond them lay the immortal sects—the apex of cultivation, where ambition burned brightest and the strong thrived.

“Alex.”

The familiar voice of his father snapped him out of his thoughts. The older man approached with deliberate steps, his frame lean but sturdy from years of labor.

“Father,” Alex greeted, bowing slightly.

“Walk with me,” his father said, his tone gentle yet firm.

The two strolled through the family garden, their steps slow and measured. The scent of blooming flowers hung in the air, a reminder of the fleeting beauty of the mortal world. For a while, neither spoke, the silence stretching between them like an invisible bridge.

Finally, his father broke it. “The Lidra Sect’s annual selection is approaching.”

Alex froze.

The Lidra Sect was one of the city’s most prestigious sects, its name revered by all. Each year, they held a selection to recruit young talents. It was a chance to escape the mundane, to ascend into a world of power, resources, and immortality.

“You’ll be ten soon,” his father continued, his voice calm but edged with gravity. “The right age to participate. But understand this: the path of cultivation is not for the faint-hearted. It is a road paved with blood, betrayal, and sacrifice.”

Alex nodded, his mind a storm of emotions. “I’ll think about it.”

His father placed a firm hand on his shoulder, his gaze steady. “Good. Take your time, but remember—indecision can be as dangerous as recklessness.”

That night, Alex lay awake on his straw mattress, staring at the wooden beams of the ceiling. Thoughts churned in his mind like a restless tide.

The golden cube haunted him still. Two years ago, it had brought him to this world, its presence lingering like a shadow at the edges of his consciousness. Sometimes, when he meditated, he felt it faintly—an elusive whisper, a pulse of something ancient and unfathomable.

It wasn’t gone.

Exhaustion eventually claimed him, pulling him into a deep, dreamlike state.

He floated in an endless expanse of starlight. The sky stretched infinitely, its vastness both awe-inspiring and unsettling.

“What… is this place?” Alex murmured, his voice swallowed by the void.

Then he felt it—a pull, gentle at first but growing stronger with each passing moment. It tugged at him, urging him forward.

A brilliant light appeared in the distance, warm and radiant, like a beacon in the darkness. Alex’s breath hitched as recognition struck.

The golden cube.

It hovered there, spinning languidly, its surface gleaming like molten gold. Intricate patterns swirled across its faces, shifting and reforming with mesmerizing fluidity.

Before he could react, the cube began to shrink. In an instant, it transformed into a streak of golden light and shot toward him.

“No—wait!” Alex shouted, raising his hands in a futile attempt to shield himself.

The light struck his chest with an explosion of heat and energy, sinking into him like a stone into water. His vision blurred, and his mind was consumed by searing brilliance.

Alex jolted awake, gasping for breath. His heart thundered in his chest, and his skin was slick with sweat.

“A dream?” he whispered, pressing a trembling hand to his chest.

But the faint warmth lingering beneath his palm told him otherwise.

Sitting upright, Alex crossed his legs and closed his eyes. He steadied his breathing, pushing his thoughts aside as he focused inward. Slowly, his consciousness was drawn into that endless, starry expanse once more.

This time, he was calm.

The golden cube floated before him, its presence pulsing with an almost sentient awareness. As he approached, fragments of knowledge flooded his mind.

The cube had been the cause of his arrival in this world. When the explosion tore his old life apart, it had acted on instinct, merging with him in a desperate bid to survive. Together, they had been pulled into this higher-dimensional realm—a random gamble that fate had somehow allowed them to win.

More revelations followed, but it was the cube’s abilities that left Alex breathless.

The first was Quantum Insight—a power that allowed him to perceive and analyze the flow of qi and energy with unparalleled clarity.

With this ability came incredible perks:

• He could see the pathways of qi within himself and others, identifying inefficiencies and flaws with precision.

• Techniques, no matter how basic, could be refined and optimized to suit his needs.

• His past life’s knowledge of science and logic could blend seamlessly with this mystical world, allowing him to create strategies and hybrid techniques.

Though limited by his current strength, the potential was boundless.

Excitement surged through Alex as he stepped closer to the cube. He reached out, and the moment his fingers brushed its surface, he felt a connection—an acknowledgment of sorts. The cube’s brilliance intensified, and in a single, fluid motion, it merged with him completely.

Alex opened his eyes, his heart steady but his resolve burning brighter than ever.

His path was clear now. For the first time since arriving in this world, he had an edge. And he intended to use it.

His journey had only just begun.but for now sleep was necessary.