Chen Yu was having a typical Friday night. He lay sprawled on his bed like a king in his lair, surrounded by a graveyard of empty snack bags and soda cans. His phone screen glowed in the dim room as he furiously scrolled through the latest chapters of his favorite cultivation web novel. The cliffhanger was brutal—would the protagonist finally break through the next stage of his cultivation? And more importantly, would the antagonist get the face-smacking he deserved?
"Come on, just one more breakthrough..." Chen Yu muttered, his thumb hovering over the screen.
As he turned the digital page, a sudden, sharp pain stabbed through his chest, causing him to drop his phone. His vision blurred, and panic shot through him like a lightning bolt. "What the hell—!?"
Clutching at his heart, his breath came in ragged gasps. It wasn't like the chest pain from eating too much junk food; this was a thousand times worse, like someone had ripped open his insides and poured lava into his veins. His world spun, and the room—the sanctuary of snacks and novels—began to fade.
"Am I... dying?"
His mind flashed through a whirlwind of images: his messy room, the unopened chips by his side, and the long to-do list at work he had ignored in favor of binge-reading novels. Typical.
Just as quickly as the pain started, everything went dark.
When Chen Yu opened his eyes again, his body felt... cold. Not just regular cold, but bone-chilling cold, like he had been dumped into a freezer overnight. His fingers brushed against rough, damp stone, and the smell of earth and moss filled his nostrils.
"What in the world…" Chen Yu blinked rapidly, trying to adjust his vision to the dim surroundings. The air was heavy, and something dripped faintly in the distance. "This... doesn't look like my room."
He groaned and pushed himself into a sitting position, his muscles protesting. His head throbbed like someone had played a drum solo inside his skull. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he noticed the faint glow of crystals embedded in the walls, casting eerie light across the cave. He was definitely in a cave, not his cozy bed.
"Did I… die? Or am I dreaming?" he muttered, his voice shaky. He patted himself down. Everything felt solid, and the slight chill biting into his skin didn't feel dreamlike at all.
Chen Yu stood up, wobbling like a newborn deer, his body unsteady. His clothes—wait, what the hell was he wearing? The soft, comfy hoodie and pajama pants he'd been lounging in were gone, replaced by a coarse robe. He looked down, frowning at the ancient, martial-arts-style robe that made him feel like an extra in a low-budget kung fu movie.
"Alright," he said to himself, running a hand through his hair. "Either this is the weirdest lucid dream ever, or… I've been reincarnated. Or isekai'd. Great. Just great."
He took a shaky step forward, his feet slipping on the damp ground. The sound of dripping water echoed through the cavern, sending shivers down his spine. It was too quiet—no cars, no faint hum of electricity. Only the sounds of the cave and his own breathing.
Before he could process further, a strange robotic voice rang in his mind, loud and clear.
[System Initialization Complete.]
Chen Yu froze mid-step, his heart skipping a beat. "Wait... what? Who said that?"
He spun around, but there was no one else in the cave.
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[Welcome to the Cultivation World of Qi Xuan. You have been chosen as the host for the Heavenly Dice System]
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Chen Yu's eyes widened in disbelief. "Heavenly Dice... System?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "Am I... Am I in one of those system novels?"
He blinked a few times, waiting for something to make sense, but nothing did. His mind raced, and despite everything, one thought echoed louder than the rest: This is just like those web novels.
"Hold on a second," Chen Yu started pacing, trying to wrap his head around what was happening. "This can't be real, right? People don't just... get thrown into cultivation worlds. This isn't some kind of twisted VR game, is it?"
But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself otherwise, everything felt real. The cold air, the damp stone, the faint soreness in his limbs—it wasn't the kind of sensation you could just dream up.
Suddenly, the voice spoke again, cutting through his thoughts.
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[The Heavenly Dice System allows you to roll a divine dice once every month for a year. The outcome of each roll grants you abilities, skills, or items from different worlds, both fictional and real.]
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Chen Yu's jaw dropped. "You've got to be kidding me… A system that lets me roll for powers?" He paused, considering the implications. "This is straight out of a power fantasy! Am I... Am I actually the protagonist now?"
Then it hit him. His heart raced as excitement bubbled up. "Wait... Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying I can get any power from any world? Like, I could roll and get something ridiculous, like Goku's Ultra Instinct or... or the Sharingan?"
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[Affirmative. Abilities are ranked from F to EX, with EX being the highest and most rare. Your fate is determined by the roll of the dice.]
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Chen Yu felt like he was on the verge of hyperventilating. "So… I could roll something godly, or I could end up with a lame, F-tier skill?" His excitement was immediately tempered by anxiety. "That's like gambling with my life!"
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[Correct. The first roll is available now. Would you like to proceed?]
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Chen Yu's palms were sweaty, his heart pounding as he weighed his options. He was no stranger to gacha mechanics in games, and this sounded just as nerve-wracking. But what choice did he have? He was in some kind of cultivation world, and if all the novels he'd read were any indication, being weak wasn't an option.
"Alright," he muttered, steeling himself. "Let's do it. Roll the dice!"
A translucent panel appeared in front of him, hovering mid-air like something out of a sci-fi movie. At its center was a glowing six-sided dice, radiating a soft golden light.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Yu focused on the dice. "Here goes nothing."
The dice spun rapidly, faster than Chen Yu's eyes could follow, glowing brighter with each turn. His heart raced as he watched, holding his breath. After what felt like an eternity, the dice began to slow. Chen Yu's pulse pounded in his ears as the dice finally stopped, the number 4 shining brightly on its surface.
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[Congratulations! You have obtained the A-rank ability: Universal Eyes from a parallel world.]
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Chen Yu blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Universal Eyes? Never heard of that... What exactly is this ability?" His mind flashed back to his knowledge of various eye abilities from fictional worlds, but none of them sounded like Universal Eyes.
Chen Yu scratched his head, piecing it together. "Wait... you mean the Byak-"
[It is recommended for the host to stop speaking.]
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". . .Okay," Chen Yu shook his head. "Why is it A-rank here?" Chen Yu asked, confused. "In that world, it was a pretty powerful technique."
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
The system's voice rang out in its usual neutral tone.
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[Explanation: In other world, this ocular ability is revered for its wide-ranging perception and chakra sensitivity. However, in the world of Qi Xuan, where combat often centers around direct elemental manipulation and Qi reinforcement, such perception abilities, while useful, do not provide as much raw combat power. The Universal Eyes is considered A-rank for the following reasons:
Limited Direct Offense: While Universal Eyes offers exceptional vision and spiritual awareness, it does not directly increase offensive capabilities.
Defensive Advantage: The 360-degree awareness and Qi perception provide significant tactical advantages but are more reliant on the user's strategic skills rather than raw power.
Specialized Utility: Universal Eyes excels in recon and evasion, but is less effective in high-tier direct confrontations where physical or elemental prowess is key.]
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Chen Yu nodded as the explanation clicked into place. "Ah, I get it. So, it's useful for sensing and dodging, but it won't directly help me throw punches or blow things up with Qi." He grinned wryly. "Guess I can't complain—being able to see everything around me sounds pretty overpowered."
He focused on his new ability, trying to activate the Universal Eyes. Unlike his previous rolls, which granted more physical powers, this felt... different. Instead of brute strength or flashy energy, it was subtle. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the sensation behind them. Slowly, a strange warmth blossomed within his head, particularly behind his eyes, as if something was awakening within him.
"Alright, focus," he muttered. "Let's see what these Universal Eyes can do."
He opened his eyes, and the world around him suddenly shifted. His vision extended far beyond the immediate clearing, piercing through the trees like they were made of glass. He could see the flow of Qi in the environment, faint trails of energy weaving through the air. He could even feel the presence of distant creatures, their spiritual energy flickering like small flames in the distance.
Chen Yu blinked in awe, his heart racing with excitement. "Whoa… I can actually see through stuff! And I can see Qi too?" He marveled at the level of detail—he could make out the subtle movements of the wind, the energy flowing beneath the earth, and even faint spiritual signatures from the far side of the forest.
But just as he was getting used to this new sense of power, a sudden, sharp pain surged through his head. He cried out, clutching his temples as a blinding ache shot through his skull. His vision swam, and it felt like his eyes were on fire, as if they were being overloaded with information.
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[Warning: Your body is undergoing a transformation to adapt to the newly acquired ability. This process is necessary to align your spiritual pathways with Universal Eyes' requirements.]
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Chen Yu groaned, the pain intensifying. It wasn't just his eyes—it felt like his entire head was being reshaped, his mind straining to process the new flood of sensory data. He fell to his knees, gasping for breath as his vision flickered in and out of clarity.
The system's voice rang out once more, its tone calm despite Chen Yu's agony.
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[Your spiritual pathways are being realigned to accommodate enhanced sensory input. Please allow the process to complete naturally. Attempts to resist will increase the duration of discomfort.]
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"Well, that's... great," Chen Yu managed to grunt through gritted teeth. His hands clutched the sides of his head as the transformation continued, each second feeling like his brain was being torn apart and rebuilt. He could feel his spiritual pathways shifting, opening up to handle the influx of Qi perception that the Universal Eyes required.
Sweat poured down his face in torrents, soaking his robe as his skin flushed, burning hot one moment and freezing the next. The sensation was maddening. His bones stretched unnaturally, like they were being pulled apart, and then just as suddenly, they snapped back together with a sickening crack. He could feel his muscles tighten, fibers straining and tearing before knitting themselves back together stronger than before. Every joint popped with an audible snap, and for a fleeting moment, he thought his body might shatter under the pressure.
"Why. . .am. . .I getting a. . .body tempering too?" Chen Yu gasped, his voice hoarse. "This is what those xianxia novels always said... but damn, they didn't say it felt like getting crushed by a truck and then set on fire!"
He clenched his fists, fingernails digging into his palms as he fought to stay conscious. A searing heat burned in his veins, like molten lava replacing his blood. It coursed through his body, igniting every nerve, every cell, until he could feel the very flow of energy within him shifting. His heart pounded in his chest, erratic and desperate, as if it were trying to keep up with the sudden changes.
His mind screamed for relief, for the pain to stop, but there was no reprieve. Instead, there was an odd undercurrent to the agony—an unfamiliar sense of growth, of expansion. His muscles didn't just hurt; they felt like they were being filled with something new, something powerful. His bones ached as they stretched, thickened, and hardened, their structure shifting to accommodate... what exactly? His connection to Qi? He had no idea, but the feeling of being reshaped was undeniable.
His skin tingled, heating up one second as though he were standing under a scorching sun, then cooling just as quickly, like stepping into the shadow of a glacier. His senses were in overdrive, every shift in temperature, every ripple of Qi around him, amplifying the discomfort. Yet, amidst the pain, Chen Yu could feel something deeper—an awakening. It was as if the Qi within the cave, within the world itself, was recognizing him now, swirling around his body and fusing with him on a fundamental level.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the unbearable heat ebbed, and the icy chill that had gripped his bones melted away. The tightness in his muscles relaxed, and the bones that had shifted with such brutality settled into their new positions. He was left panting on the cold cave floor, his chest heaving with exhaustion, but the pain had dulled to a mere throb.
Chen Yu lay there, gasping, feeling the weight of his body pressing into the ground. His limbs were heavy, but in a strange way, they felt... sturdier. There was a new strength in his muscles, a latent power that hadn't been there before. His bones no longer ached, but instead, they felt denser, more resilient.
"Ugh… what... just happened?" he groaned, pressing a hand against his forehead. His skin was slick with sweat, but beneath the exhaustion, he could feel the hum of energy pulsing within him. It wasn't just his eyes —it was like his entire body had undergone a metamorphosis.
He slowly sat up, his head spinning. His fingers trembled as he looked at his hands. They looked the same, but there was something different about them. It wasn't just physical. It was as if his connection to the world around him had changed. He could sense the Qi in the cave, feel the dampness of the earth beneath his fingers, and even the subtle life force emanating from the nearby glowing crystals.
After what felt like an eternity, the pain finally began to subside. His body relaxed, and his breathing slowed as the overwhelming pressure in his head eased. He cautiously opened his eyes again, half-expecting another wave of pain—but instead, his vision sharpened, clearer and more precise than before. The world around him seemed almost... slower, as if his perception had sped up.
Chen Yu took a deep breath, his heart still racing. "Okay... that sucked," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
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[Congratulations. The Universal Eyes have successfully integrated with your body. You may now use enhanced perception, Qi detection, and near-360-degree vision at will. Use of this ability will require mental focus and Qi expenditure proportional to the duration of use.]
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Chen Yu grinned, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Alright, I've got eyes that can see everything and then some. Let's see how much trouble I can avoid... or cause."
He stood up, his senses now heightened, and took a deep breath, feeling the energy around him. The Universal Eyes weren't just a fancy power—they gave him a whole new way to interact with the world. And in this cultivation realm, that might be just what he needed to survive.
"Let's see how this works," Chen Yu said, taking a deep breath. His eyes tingled slightly, the sensation like a soft current of energy swirling behind them. He could feel the Universal Eyes waiting to be activated, a power now nestled within his consciousness, ready to be unleashed.
The air tasted cleaner, sharper even, and his senses seemed more attuned to the environment. His perception was different now—heightened in ways he hadn't fully grasped yet. Slowly, he focused, willing the power to awaken. As if responding to his intention, the energy behind his eyes flared to life.
His vision expanded instantly.
Chen Yu blinked in surprise. What had once been a dimly lit cave was now laid bare in front of him in crystal-clear detail. The individual cracks and textures of the stone walls came into sharp focus, and faint streams of Qi in the air became visible, twisting and winding like ethereal threads.
"There's so much I couldn't see before," he muttered, marveling at the clarity. It wasn't just vision—it was as if his mind was processing everything faster, seeing the world in a more comprehensive way. He could see through the walls now, the faint silhouettes of creatures deeper within the cave system, some radiating faint energy signatures.
Chen Yu raised his hand and waved it in front of his face, amazed at how smoothly the movement tracked in his enhanced field of vision. "It's almost like time's slowed down..." he whispered, feeling like he had all the time in the world to react.
He took a cautious step forward, eyes darting around, testing how far his sight could extend. It was almost overwhelming. He could see further down the cave, through the rocks, detecting Qi flows in the stone, and even the pulse of underground water sources.
"Let's push this a bit further," he said to himself, trying to focus on a more specific aspect of the ability. With a thought, he honed in on one of the Qi threads flowing through the air. His vision zoomed in automatically, allowing him to see the energy in incredible detail. He could see the ebb and flow of the Qi, almost like watching a river run through the air. He focused on it and traced it back, his eyes following its path deeper into the cave.
Chen Yu laughed in awe, running a hand through his hair. "This is insane! I can see everything around me—and it feels so natural." The Universal Eyes were more than just an upgrade to his vision; they connected him to the world's Qi, showing him the pulse of life and energy that flowed around him.
Curious, he turned his attention to his own body. He focused on his internal flow, and just like that, his Universal Eyes allowed him to see the Qi moving through his own meridians. The energy was vibrant, more vibrant than he expected. He could see the places where the Qi moved smoothly and the spots where it occasionally slowed, giving him a clear view of his internal state.
"I can even see my own energy pathways... This is unreal," he muttered. It wasn't just about perception—it was about understanding the energy around him and within him in a way that no normal eyesight could allow.
Still grinning, Chen Yu stepped back from the cave wall, deactivating the Universal Eyes for a moment. His vision returned to normal, the world duller and less defined than it had been just seconds ago.
"Alright, System," he said, stretching his arms as if preparing for a workout. "What's the best way to start mastering these eyes?"