The world went white.
Lian Zhen felt his consciousness drifting, as if his body had dissolved into endless light. There was no sound, no breath — only the faint hum of something mechanical, something ancient and alive.
> "System Initialization — Complete."
"Dimensional Anchor established."
When the voice faded, Lian opened his eyes.
The sterile laboratory he remembered was gone. In its place stretched vast mountains, draped in clouds so pure they shimmered with spiritual energy. Ancient pines towered like pillars of heaven, and the scent of immortal herbs lingered in the air.
He touched his chest. His pulse was steady, but his heart raced.
This wasn't Earth.
"System," he muttered, his voice hoarse from disuse. "Status."
> [Dimensional Traveler System Online]
Current World: Azure Sky Realm
Starting Identity: Outer Disciple Candidate — Cloud Mist Sect
Energy Core: Dormant
Abilities: Temporal Awareness (Locked), Dimensional Shift (Locked)
A translucent panel hovered before him, like the interface of a game. Lian studied it quietly, his eyes calm and analytical.
The air was thick with spiritual essence — a cultivation world. He'd read thousands of webnovels that began like this, but reality was colder and far more vivid.
He took a step forward. The earth beneath him responded with a pulse of energy. His instincts whispered of power — of paths unseen, of choices that could shape existence.
A group of robed disciples appeared on a nearby path, their laughter echoing through the mist. They glanced at him briefly, then dismissed him as just another lost wanderer.
Lian said nothing. He merely watched — the slope of the mountain, the direction of the wind, the faint shimmer of qi gathering around the sect gates. His mind began to weave plans — slow, deliberate, inevitable.
> "Mission Generated: Enter Cloud Mist Sect and awaken Spiritual Root within 7 days."
"Failure will result in dimensional instability."
Lian's expression didn't change. He adjusted the torn sleeve of his modern jacket, exhaled softly, and walked toward destiny.
Each step was silent.
Each movement measured.
The beginning of his new existence — and the birth of the one who would shake countless worlds — started not with a declaration…
…but with silence.