The sky was a sea of stars, with a radiant full moon hanging high above. A cool breeze rustled through the branches of lifeless trees, yet even those barren trunks seemed to whisper with hidden vitality.
Ye Feng walked along the vibrant, neon-lit street, surrounded by the glimmer of nightlife. Though the breeze was gentle, it still carried a sharp chill that bit into his skin. He tugged his jacket closer and glanced at his phone.
It was a message from his father, asking if he would be coming home for the New Year.
Ye Feng inhaled deeply, the cold air stinging his lungs. He looked up, his eyes catching the glittering stars overhead.
As a child, the words "New Year" had meant joy, long holidays, warm reunions, and those delightful red envelopes. Back then, there had been no awkward questions from relatives, no pressure about marriage, and no need to prove oneself with a respectable job.
"What should I do? I've been out for a year. Other than aging by a year, I haven't achieved anything at all. Should I even go back this year?"
His voice was soft, barely a whisper, a question thrown into the night—but really, it was a question for himself.
"Hey, what are you daydreaming about?"
A gentle hand, smooth as jade, tapped him on the shoulder. Ye Feng turned and saw a sweet-looking girl standing beside him, smiling brightly.
"How come you're here?" he asked casually, but his heart stirred slightly.
This was Xiao Ling'er, a colleague of his. Just like her name suggested, she was spirited and ethereal, like a fairy who had accidentally stepped into the mortal world. Ye Feng had always felt something for her.
"I'm going home. You know where my place is, right?"
She pouted a little, then tilted her head. Noticing Ye Feng's absent gaze, she frowned. "What's wrong with you today? You seem really out of it."
"My parents asked if I'll be going home for the New Year..."
"Oh..." Xiao Ling'er drew the word out slowly. Then she grinned mischievously. "I get it. You're afraid your parents think you've been a disappointment. You're worried about going home and embarrassing yourself. Am I right?"
"Come on!" Ye Feng rolled his eyes at her, but couldn't find a proper comeback. Honestly, she wasn't wrong.
Xiao Ling'er stuck her tongue out. "I was just joking. You're not actually upset, are you?"
"Joking? You're twenty-one already, aren't you? Only three years younger than me."
She snorted. "Ugh. No wonder you can't get a girlfriend."
With a playful humph, she turned away. "Anyway, I'm heading home!"
She trotted ahead of him, but just as Ye Feng stood frozen in place, still lost in thought, she turned back and gave him a radiant smile.
"Happy New Year! Telling you in advance!"
"Happy New Year." He waved back with a smile of his own. Watching her silhouette disappear into the distance, he realized that his heart felt lighter.
"Rich or poor, go home for the New Year. I know you want to bring honor back home... Rich or poor, go home for the New Year. There's always a New Year's dinner waiting at home..."
From a nearby store, a familiar song floated out. It was Wang Baoqiang's tune from the movie Lost on Journey. The lyrics were simple, but tonight, they struck Ye Feng like a fist to the chest.
Then, his phone rang.
"Hello, Xiaofeng?" his mother's voice came through, warm and soothing, instantly calming him.
"Yeah, Mom. You're still up?"
"Haven't gone to bed yet... Your dad sent you a message earlier. Did you see it?"
Ye Feng hesitated, then said, "I saw it... but I might not make it home this year. Work's got me tied up."
"I see... We haven't seen you in a year. Your father and I miss you a lot."
Her words were tender, but before she could finish, his father's voice came through the background.
"Why are you telling him all that? It's good he's busy. He doesn't need to worry about us."
Ye Feng's hand clenched tightly around the lone hundred-yuan bill in his pocket.
"I'll talk to my supervisor tomorrow. Maybe I can get approval to come back..."
"That would be nice. And Xiaofeng, make sure to stay warm, okay? I saw the weather report. It says there's a cold front coming to your area. Wear more layers."
His mother continued to fuss, her voice filled with concern. Usually, Ye Feng would have felt annoyed, but tonight, he listened all the way through.
"Mom... you and Dad take care too. And stop dragging him to dance in the square. His foot still hasn't fully healed."
"You child..."
After hanging up, Ye Feng exhaled slowly. A faint smile crept onto his face.
"Bzz... bzz..."
A text notification pulled his attention back to his phone. One glance, and he laughed.
"Dear user, congratulations on successfully registering as a member of the Heavenly Realm Club. You have earned one grand lottery chance. Reply with 'Grand Draw' to activate."
"Wow, scammers these days are getting creative," he chuckled, scratching his head.
"I'm broke anyway. Nothing left on my phone bill or bank card. Might as well see if I win a few billion."
Amused, he typed "Grand Draw" and sent the message.
Only after hitting send did he realize something strange. The message had no sender. The entire field was blank.
Just as confusion began to set in, the phone buzzed again.
"Grand Draw result: Naruto World."
Ye Feng's vision spun. A strange force twisted through his body, as if tearing him apart. He collapsed onto the ground, losing all consciousness.
Moments later, awareness returned. A pounding headache greeted him as he opened his eyes.
Blinding sunlight filled his view. Shielding his face, he slowly stood up, squinting until his vision adjusted.
He found himself in a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees and thick underbrush. It was no longer night. The sun was high, and this environment was completely unfamiliar.
"Where... where am I? Did I just... transmigrate?"
His mind reeled. Everything had been normal moments ago. How could he suddenly end up here?
Trying to recall the moments before blacking out: the dizziness, the strange sensation. Those were classic symptoms of transmigration, at least according to the novels.
Was it that message?
He instinctively reached for his pockets, searching for his phone, but it was gone.
Then, a grand and majestic voice echoed through his mind.
"Naruto World. Transmigration successful. Host has received one lottery draw."
"Huh?" Ye Feng flinched at the voice. But he clearly heard the words. "A draw? Another one?"
"No. The grand draw was for world selection. This draw is for ability selection."
"Oh..." He calmed himself and began piecing things together. Based on what he read in webnovels, this was clearly the beginning of a system awakening.
After a brief pause, he asked mentally, "Why was I chosen for transmigration? Am I special?"
"Host permission level insufficient. Question denied. Please initiate the ability draw."
The voice returned with mechanical clarity.
Suddenly, a massive wheel appeared in Ye Feng's mind. It shimmered with countless options, packed so densely he could barely read the labels. Among them, he caught glimpses of "Xuanyuan Sword" and "Merciless Heavy Cannon."
With no other choice, he took a deep breath and mentally shouted, "Draw!"
The wheel spun rapidly, turning into a blur of light. It continued spinning endlessly.
"Stop!" he shouted.
Instantly, the wheel ground to a halt.
"Congratulations. You have received an enhancement item: Eye of the World. Function: Unlimited redemption of ocular techniques. Increases visual ability power."
The moment the voice finished, a stream of light shot from his mind into his eyes.
Ye Feng rubbed his eyes, blinking and squinting, trying to activate the ability. But nothing happened. It seemed he needed to unlock specific eye techniques before it would work.
Then, the voice rang out again.
"Achievement unlocked: Apprentice Immortal. Ability unlocked: Divine Spirit Power."
"Buzz..."
Deep within the darkness of his mind, a river of golden light surged forth. It poured through his limbs and bones, transforming him. His entire body felt renewed, overflowing with energy. Every movement now carried a subtle strength.
Mouth agape, Ye Feng stood frozen in shock. Then, grinning wildly, he threw a punch into the air. Ripples shimmered before him.
"Initial lottery draw and transformation complete. Naruto World is now officially active."
"Mission received: Become a Genin. Reward: 100 All-Purpose Points."