Chapter 1: New World

Swoosh!

Creeak!

An old, wooden door swung open, emitting a drawn-out creak that echoed throughout the dimly lit room. The air inside was cool and still, with a hint of dust motes dancing in the shafts of natural light that seeped through the nearly translucent curtains. Though the room was shadowed, the soft sunlight filtering in provided just enough visibility to make out the sparse furnishings. A young man stepped through the doorway, his face flushed and his clothes drenched in sweat. His breath came in short, ragged bursts, and dirt clung stubbornly to his dark attire and tanned skin—a testament to the hard labor he’d just endured.

Without a backward glance, he slammed the door shut with a force that rattled the nearby windows. His eyes, bright with anticipation and a hint of desperation, darted around the room before locking onto a desk nestled in the far corner.

The room itself was modest but spacious enough to accommodate a few pieces of furniture: a simple desk with a computer, a plain wooden chair, and a patterned rug lying in the center. The walls were lined with various flower pots, each filled with blossoms of different shapes, sizes, and colors—an unexpected burst of life and vibrancy amidst the otherwise subdued decor. A wooden cabinet stood to the side, flanked by two other doors that led to separate rooms. The entire house exuded a serene and rustic charm, its wooden construction reminiscent of a countryside retreat, far removed from the bustling city outside.

Lester, the young man, strode toward the desk with determined steps. His fingers trembled slightly as he reached out and pressed the circular button on the CPU. The machine hummed to life, and the monitor lit up with a soft glow, accompanied by a familiar, welcoming chime. He plopped down into the chair, his knee bouncing in a rhythm that betrayed his excitement. His eyes never left the screen as it flickered and came to life, displaying an array of icons set against a background image of a celestial figure—a god-like being with wings spread wide against a starry sky.

His fingers flew across the keyboard as he opened the browser and began typing furiously. Windows popped up one after another until his eyes widened, a gleam of excitement flashing in them as he found what he was looking for. The screen now showed a live video stream of a shirtless man speaking directly into the camera. At first glance, it seemed like just another video of an online fitness guru or martial artist. But Lester knew better—this was the biggest livestream in the world, watched by millions, and the man on the screen was a legendary figure looked up to by countless cultivators around the globe.

With a few quick clicks, Lester maximized the video to full screen. He reached to the side of the desk and picked up a small booklet labeled "Lester" on the cover. The booklet was well-worn, its pages filled with notes, observations, and hurried scribbles. Pulling a pen from his pocket, he poised it over the page, ready to capture every word spoken by the man on the screen.

“I have spread the Qi string through my body as the cultivation book says, and if I have done it correctly, we should be able to see its effects. There were many intricate steps and designs that I had to follow from the cultivation book, and with the assistance of lady luck, I was able to reach this stage. Please do not try this at home,” the man spoke with a calm, assured voice, stepping back slightly from the camera.

His words carried a weight that could not be easily dismissed. The cultivation technique he referenced was a forbidden art, locked away in the pages of ancient, otherworldly tomes salvaged from the alien wreckage years ago. Most people could only dream of attempting it. Watching someone actually practice it was both enlightening and inspiring.

The man on the screen was Asian, his tanned torso rippling with muscle. His physique was herculean—broad shoulders, chest like a brick wall, and arms that looked thicker than Lester’s legs. His legs, like twin pillars, rooted him firmly to the ground. Despite his intimidating build, his face carried a warm, almost paternal smile that made him seem approachable, even friendly.

“The cultivation that I practice, called the [Four Armed Bashi Technique], has many missing pages,” he continued. “Therefore, the future for me will be very difficult after the second stage. There are over fifty pages in the book, but it only guides me through two stages. Although there are some leftover pages that lightly touch upon the third stage, it will still be difficult. The future is up for me to figure out... But let's focus on the second stage right now. I need to try and pass that to think about the future!” A determined look flickered in his eyes as he took several steps back.

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Preparing to sit in a lotus position, he added, “Thanks to all of the 28 million people watching this and following me throughout this journey! Maybe you will learn something from this!”

The setting around him was serene—a secluded bamboo forest deep in his homeland of China. The tall, swaying bamboo and the distant rustling of leaves created a peaceful atmosphere that seemed to belong to another era. It was a stark contrast to the high-intensity aura of the cultivator himself. In this new world of cultivation, places removed from society were now the most sought-after, providing sanctuary to those who pushed beyond the limits of human capability in their pursuit of power and enlightenment.

After the day of the contact, human life was never the same again. Eight years ago, a colossal spaceship crashed into the Pacific Ocean, sending shockwaves throughout the world. Powerful nations like the United States, China, Japan, and Russia were the first to respond, converging on the scene with their fleets and aircraft. It took nearly three years of tense negotiation and collaboration, but they managed to reach an understanding. Given that China was the first to reach the site, they secured a significant portion of the debris, yet the other countries didn’t leave empty-handed.

This unprecedented event surprisingly united the world's superpowers. For the first time, humanity had to face the reality that they were not alone in the universe. Earth's fate seemed bound to a singular path—cooperation in the face of an uncertain cosmic future. The brightest minds from every corner of the globe gathered to study the wreckage, aiming to unlock the secrets of the advanced alien technology, understand its purpose, and unravel every detail of the incredible, otherworldly discovery.

From their research, it became clear that this was a cargo ship carrying a vast assortment of items, many of which were lost to the sea. Despite the coordinated efforts of the world's most powerful nations, some of the cargo had either been destroyed in the crash or scattered across the ocean, floating away to unknown locations.

The most valuable of these items by far were the cultivation books, mystical texts that began washing up on beaches around the world about a year later. Some contained only a few pages, others were more complete but often missing crucial parts. These books were unlike anything humanity had ever encountered. Within their pages lay the secrets to harnessing Qi, a mysterious energy source that could elevate humans beyond their natural limits and open the path to cultivation—a concept once relegated to the realms of fantasy.

Lester glanced back at the livestream. The cultivator was now seated cross-legged, eyes closed, in a deep state of meditation. His breathing had slowed to an unnatural rhythm, his chest rising and falling in slow, deliberate intervals. Knowing that this part of the stream could take hours, Lester minimized the window and opened another tab.

He navigated to a forum famously known as “Cultivation Hub,” a sprawling online community where cultivators from around the world gathered to share insights, discoveries, and theories. Forums like this began springing up almost immediately after the crash. Over time, "Cultivation Hub" grew in popularity, becoming the largest and most trusted site for discussions about cultivation. Its origins were shrouded in mystery; no one knew who created it, though many suspected it was run by a group of experienced cultivators due to its strict moderation policies.

Initially, many fake cultivation books and techniques flooded the internet, leading to numerous tragic accidents as people attempted these flawed methods. In time, however, the community became more vigilant. Posts and threads were rigorously scrutinized, with only about 2% of submissions making it through the peer-review process. This filtering system helped ensure that only credible information or genuine fragments of cultivation knowledge were shared.

Lester, an avid reader but a cautious participant, scrolled through the latest threads. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a dubious title: “Fangs of Ethereal Dogs? Another fake cultivation book? Where are the mods?” He sighed in frustration, dismissing the thread without a second thought.

World Qi—the energy source that enabled cultivation—was not something to be taken lightly. A single mistake in its manipulation could lead to severe consequences or even death. The complexity of cultivation techniques made replication nearly impossible unless one possessed a profound understanding and exceptional skill. Despite these dangers, countless people around the world were willing to risk everything for the chance to cultivate and transcend human limitations.

Hours passed as Lester continued to browse the forum, absorbing as much information as he could. Suddenly, a soft chime broke his concentration—the sound of the livestream alerting him. His heart raced as he quickly closed the forum and reopened the stream.

“Oh my God! It's happening!” Lester gasped, his eyes glued to the screen.