Han Rui's phone buzzed again.
He glanced at the notification bar, half expecting another job rejection email.
Nope.
It was that strange group again.
[Heavenly Path Discourse Group].
The app logo didn't look familiar — a glowing ring with faint cloud patterns drifting inside it. Probably one of those new social apps trying too hard to be "aesthetic."
He should've deleted it.
Instead, curiosity — that academic curse — made him open it.
[Heavenly Path Discourse Group]
[AzureHeavenSword]: Fellow daoists, I have returned from seclusion! The tribulation clouds have finally dispersed!
[ThousandPetalMonk]: Amitabha, congratulations, Brother Azure. May your path to the Ninth Realm be free of inner demons.
[SpiritFoxQueen]: Hmph, another show-off. At least someone succeeded this century.
[SilentPeakHermit]: …wait. Who is The Wandering Historian?
[AzureHeavenSword]: Eh? New member? Impossible, entry requires direct approval from the Heavenly Will.
Han Rui blinked.
The messages scrolled faster than he could read. Half the words didn't even make sense — tribulations? Ninth Realm? Heavenly Will?
Definitely some elaborate roleplay group.
He typed cautiously.
[WanderingHistorian]: Uh… hello? I think I joined by accident.
Silence.
Then, one by one, the dots appeared.
[SpiritFoxQueen]: "Joined by accident"? Bold words, mortal.
[ThousandPetalMonk]: Such calmness… truly, the dao of speechless enlightenment.
[AzureHeavenSword]: To admit error without fear — such honesty. This one's heart is pure.
[SilentPeakHermit]: Could it be… a test from the Heavenly Will itself?
Han Rui stared, dumbfounded.
Were they serious?
[WanderingHistorian]: Uh… no test. Just… wrong link, maybe?
Another long pause. Then the messages resumed — slower this time, reverent.
[SpiritFoxQueen]: So humble… to call the path itself a "wrong link." The Dao truly hides in plain sight.
[ThousandPetalMonk]: Indeed. Even a mortal tongue can carry wisdom.
Han Rui frowned. He re-read his message — "wrong link."
They thought that was… profound?
He almost laughed.
[AzureHeavenSword]: Senior Historian, forgive our earlier insolence. We did not recognize your vast presence.
[WanderingHistorian]: …what.
Han Rui's phone chimed again. A private message this time.
[System Notice]: Welcome, new member. Spiritual Link Synchronization: 1%... 5%... 12%...
The phone flickered, faintly humming in his hand. For a heartbeat, he swore the air smelled of ozone and… rain?
He yanked the charger out, heart pounding.
Then — nothing. The glow faded.
"Okay," he muttered, "that was weird."
He tossed the phone onto his desk, trying to convince himself it was some viral ARG or AI prank. But as he turned away, the screen lit up once more.
[System Notice]: Synchronization complete. Spiritual Awareness Link established.
*[You have gained temporary permission to access the Heavenly Network.]
And somewhere far above the mortal world — beyond clouds, satellites, and reason — a group of cultivators looked toward the mortal realm in awe.
[AzureHeavenSword]: The Wandering Historian has descended.
Han Rui sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Great. First, no job. Now I'm in a cult."
He had no idea that from that moment onward, his name would echo across realms he didn't even believe existed.