The little snake materialized from thin air, its sleek black scales glinting faintly in the hall’s light. It glanced around the room with what could only be described as contempt, flicking its tongue with a sharp zizzing sound.

“WOAH!” Gasps filled the hall as everyone stared at the small snake perched on the patriarch’s walking cane.

Several elders immediately dropped to their knees, bowing deeply in reverence toward the snake. Their expressions were filled with awe and respect, as if they were in the presence of something divine.

Far away, Wen Hao’s eyes widened in shock and confusion. ‘How did that snake appear out of nowhere?’ he thought. His gaze shifted between the snake and the patriarch, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

The hall buzzed with chatter as excited exclamations and congratulatory shouts echoed through the room. The crowd’s mood was electrified, and speculation ran rampant. Everyone was speaking at once, discussing how the Wen clan would undoubtedly rise to even greater heights with the patriarch’s breakthrough.

After a while, the patriarch raised his walking cane and struck it against the ground with a loud thud. The hall fell silent almost instantly.

“I know what everyone is thinking,” the patriarch began, his voice steady yet commanding. A faint smile crossed his lips as he reached out and rubbed the snake’s head. “But this is only the first step.”

The little black snake, which had exuded arrogance just moments ago, closed its eyes in apparent delight as the patriarch stroked its smooth head. The sight was so unexpected that many in the crowd blinked in disbelief. However, no one dared to underestimate the snake. They all knew what it represented.

Its presence signified a monumental shift. The Wen clan had broken through mortal limits and taken its first step toward becoming an immortal clan.

Wen Hao, however, remained baffled. ‘Why is everyone looking at this little snake like it’s some kind of divine being?’ he thought. He noticed how his mother’s grip on him had tightened slightly the moment the snake appeared. Her body trembled faintly, though he wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or something else.

The patriarch surveyed the crowd, his gaze firm as he continued. “As the largest clan in White Rings City, we already control most of the city’s operations. But with my breakthrough, the clan will enter a period of rapid growth and expansion.”

His words hung heavy in the air, and everyone listened intently. Heads nodded subtly, their expressions resolute as they hung on every word.

“This growth will require immense manpower, especially from martial artists at the Master and Unity realms. They will form the foundation of the clan’s strength as we expand.”

The patriarch’s tone grew sharper, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. “For now, our numbers are sufficient. However, as the clan’s influence grows, we will inevitably run out of hands. To address this, I have decided to invest heavily in the younger generation.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd at this declaration. Wen Hao glanced around, observing the reactions. Some people appeared excited, while others seemed tense, likely thinking about how their children might be affected by these changes.

The patriarch paused briefly, letting his words sink in before continuing. “Those who have demonstrated great talent will be prioritized. They will receive access to special medicines to accelerate their progress and quickly reach the Master realm. Furthermore, the youngest among us must grow stronger than their predecessors. All children five years old and younger will be allocated a share of the clan’s special nourishing bath. This bath will strengthen their foundations and ensure they have a solid start on their martial path.”

His voice carried weight, and everyone in the hall remained silent, their focus entirely on him.

After explaining the upcoming plans, the patriarch began delegating various duties to the clan members. Tasks were assigned swiftly, and his commands were clear and decisive. The process took no more than ten minutes before everything was settled.

Standing from his seat, the patriarch left the main hall without another word, heading toward the clan’s ancestral grounds. His calm demeanor seemed almost contradictory to the excitement bubbling among the gathered clan members.

The moment he exited, the hall erupted into loud cheers. Voices rose in celebration, the collective energy almost palpable. With the patriarch’s breakthrough, the Wen clan’s future seemed unstoppable.

Wen Hao’s mother and father left the main hall together, his mother still carrying him in her arms. His mind, however, remained elsewhere.

‘Martial arts? Immortality?’ His thoughts raced as he replayed everything he had witnessed. The snake, the patriarch’s aura, the clan’s ambitions. With everything he had seen so far, one conclusion became clear.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

‘This world is also special!’

The realization sent a jolt of excitement through him. On one hand, he had transmigrated into a world filled with mana and powerful magicians. On the other, he was in a martial arts world that spoke of the immortal path. Both possibilities were far beyond what he could have imagined.

As someone who had devoured hundreds of novels back on Earth, he could barely contain his excitement at the sheer potential of his situation.

…

On the other side.

Sitting at the dining table, Wen Hao worked to suppress the excitement bubbling inside him. He took a bite of the fish on his plate, savoring the rich flavor while forcing himself to appear calm.

To his right sat his mother in this world, Selene Veyne. She was short and slender, with curly brown hair that framed her well-defined face. Her dark green eyes were sharp yet warm, her small pointy nose and refined features lending her an effortless elegance. On Earth, she could have easily been mistaken for a model.

To his left was his father, Dorian Veyne. He was tall, and slightly lean, but radiated energy and vitality. His brown hair was neatly combed, complementing his sharp brown eyes. His straight nose and square jaw gave him a composed and confident appearance, though his easygoing smile added a layer of warmth.

The family ate in comfortable silence for a while, the clinking of utensils against plates the only sound in the room.

“How are your studies going, Rowan?” his mother asked with a warm smile.

“It’s going well,” he replied, keeping his tone steady to avoid raising suspicion.

“You need to focus on your studies. The placement exam is coming soon,” she added, her expression shifting to one of concern. “Are you sure you don’t need my help?”

Wen Hao shook his head. He was still adjusting to his new environment, and having his mother help him study would make it more likely for her to notice something unusual about him. Moreover, the previous Rowan Veyne had been a talented kid who genuinely didn’t need assistance with his studies.

After finishing his meal, he excused himself and quickly returned to his room.

“What’s up with him? He’s normally not that quiet,” his mother murmured, glancing at her husband.

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s just too focused on his studies,” Dorian replied with a shrug. They didn’t dwell on it for long. Their son had proven himself to be both talented and hardworking. Unlike many of their peers, who constantly complained about having to discipline their children or force them to study, they had little to worry about with Rowan. It was a point of pride for both of them.

Back in his room, Wen Hao sat down in the leather chair and resumed reading the papers scattered across the desk.

The information was basic, providing only surface-level explanations. It didn’t delve deeply into the underlying principles or mechanics, offering just enough context to introduce key ideas.

But to Wen Hao, these notes were like divine scriptures.

Concepts about mana manipulation, mana condensation, rune creation, the types of magic, elemental properties and effects, and even historical details about the world and its geography filled the pages.

He read with unbroken focus, entirely absorbed by the content. It reminded him of how he used to binge-read novels for hours back on Earth without ever feeling fatigued.

Time slipped by unnoticed. The sun disappeared beyond the horizon, and the soft glow of the desk lamp illuminated the room as he continued reading.

Eventually, he snapped out of his reverie and noticed how late it had gotten. With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair, letting the weight of everything he had learned settle in his mind.

By now, he had pieced together a much clearer understanding of this world. Based on the information in the papers and what he could recall from Rowan’s memories, he was living within the Infinite Sky Federation. It was one of the largest powers in the world, controlling nearly a fourth of the known territory. Despite its size, the federation was considered relatively young, with a history spanning only about a thousand years.

If this were Earth, such a federation would be regarded as one of the longest-standing civilizations. However, in this world, it was still seen as a new force.

He had also read about the other major factions: the Phokar Empire and the Myriad Tribes Union. The Phokar Empire was the oldest and most powerful entity in the world, with a history stretching back hundreds of thousands of years. Founded by the Great Magic Ancestor countless millennia ago, the empire had outlasted the rise and fall of countless civilizations, maintaining its status as the dominant force in the world.

The Myriad Tribes Union was an entirely different kind of power. As its name suggested, it wasn’t a single unified entity but rather an alliance of thousands of smaller tribes. They operated independently most of the time but came together in the face of external threats to protect their collective rule.

Together, these three factions controlled over ninety percent of the world’s territory. The remaining land consisted of desolate, barren regions or chaotic zones too troublesome to manage.

Standing up from his chair, Wen Hao stretched lazily. A wave of sleepiness began to settle over him as his body reminded him of the long day he had endured.

As he soaked in the warm bath, Wen Hao’s thoughts turned to the placement exam his mother had mentioned earlier. Searching through Rowan’s memories, he quickly pieced together what it was about.

‘Hmm, I still have two days before the exam,’ he thought, lathering shampoo into his hair. The fact that shampoo existed in this world was a small surprise, but he brushed it off.

Schooling in this world was quite different from what he was used to on Earth. Primary school lasted only three years, beginning when children turned five. By the time they were around eight, they faced a placement exam that determined the type of school they would attend next.

The exam evaluated a child’s natural talent in various fields such as magic, history, mathematics, or linguistic studies. Based on their results, students would be taught by experts in their strongest fields rather than wasting time on subjects they showed no aptitude for.

Wen Hao found the system fascinating. He couldn’t immediately decide whether it was better or worse than the broad approach of Earth’s education system, but he could see its advantages.

For him, this system was a stroke of luck. He wasn’t a real child and had the mental capacity to grasp concepts far beyond what was typical for someone his age. With the previous Rowan’s memories and his own studies over the next two days, he felt confident he could secure a place in a magic-focused school.

Finishing his bath, he stepped out, drying himself off before slipping into loose pajamas.

Tomorrow would be a busy day, and he needed to prepare himself thoroughly. Closing his eyes, he let his mind settle, ready to tackle whatever came next.