Manifestation Cultivation!
In an instant, the sky changed dramatically, beams of golden light descended from the sky, so densely packed that it was impossible to tell on whom they shone.
It seemed like a golden rain was falling.
Chen Lan was enveloped by the golden beams, feeling a powerful and immense force coursing through his body, filled with strength from head to toe.
As if he could destroy a star with a mere gesture, extinguish the sun and moon with a flick, and crack the earth with a breath!
[Ultimate Great Emperor Cultivation Completion, Please Use Your Power Carefully]
At the same time, a surge of memories not belonging to him flooded his mind!
"Transcend the mundane, achieve immortality, cultivate the true self"
"You were a first-tier mortal, but through relentless efforts, you have finally become the Supreme Great Emperor, your cultivation is the highest, as well as your power"
Scenes from the game he once played reappeared in his mind.
The BOSS he killed during the Body Refining stage.
Surviving the Thunder Tribulation, transforming and advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Forming a Dao partnership with Misty Fairy for the first time.
Then surpassing the top players on the leaderboard, eventually crushing them.
A billion years of the game character's experiences all rushed into his mind, as if he had lived through them himself.
In a short time, Chen Lan mastered his cultivation, understanding the extent of his power.
If he wished, he could destroy the planet beneath his feet with a mere thought.
...
Meanwhile.
Cultivators appeared all over the country.
Due to the game "Cultivation Life" being incredibly popular ten years ago, in Huaxia's population of over 2 billion, at least half a billion, if not a billion, had played it.
There was no choice; it was too popular back then, so anyone who saw it would give it a try, and anyone who played could manifest their cultivation.
In Longdu, a certain prison.
A heavily shackled criminal sat quietly, awaiting his execution.
His name was Wang Zhengguo, a notorious criminal who had murdered a family of seven. He was caught a few days ago after being on the run for ten years, and finally apprehended.
But at this moment, a golden light fell upon him, enveloping his whole body.
In an instant, his entire body was filled with power.
Memories emerged in his mind.
"Cultivation Life?" Wang Zhengguo was first taken aback, then overjoyed.
"Hahaha, I'm at the Quasi-Saint stage, I'm invincible, invincible!"
Ten years ago, while on the run, this game was at its peak popularity. He admired the cultivation lifestyle in the game immensely; with such power, he wouldn't have had to flee.
Those days, he played extensively, spending lots of money, and the game accompanied him throughout.
He played until he reached the Saint King stage when the police discovered him, and he had to flee again, leaving the game behind.
To his surprise, the game had manifested, granting him Quasi-Saint power!
The next second, he shattered the handcuffs and shackles, punching through the prison wall, and boldly walked out.
"Xiao Yao Celestial Venerable, you ruined my cultivation, I will find you!"
In his newfound memories, he noted that during his absence from the game, someone named Xiao Yao Celestial Venerable kept challenging him.
This caused his cultivation to decline continuously until he fell off the leaderboard, down to the current Quasi-Saint level.
Without Xiao Yao Celestial Venerable, his power would still be at the Saint King stage, far beyond his current level.
"Stop, go back!" Some prison guards saw Wang Zhengguo escape, bewildered and at a loss.
With the prison wall blown out, how could the person before them still be an ordinary human?
"Get lost!" Wang Zhengguo shouted, unleashing an overwhelming pressure that sent the officers flying into the walls, knocking them out.
Bang!
Wang Zhengguo leaped and smashed through the ceiling, leaving the prison behind with no one knowing his destination.
...
"Holy crap, Chen Lan, look!" Luo Tao suddenly shouted.
Chen Lan looked over to see Luo Tao crushing a 40-kilogram dumbbell with one hand until it turned into powder!
"I'm only in the Body Refining stage, yet so strong—those in the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages must be even mightier!"
Hearing Luo Tao's words, Chen Lan almost laughed.
The realms in "Cultivation Life" are divided into Body Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, Mahayana, Transcending Tribulation, Ascension, Human Immortal, True Immortal, Earth Immortal, Profound Immortal, Celestial Immortal, Daluo Golden Immortal, Daluo Celestial Immortal, Quasi-Saint, Saint, Saint King... all the way up to the Ultimate Great Emperor, spanning dozens of realms.
Body Refining is the most basic stage, essentially the entry-level for cultivation; most players begin the game at this stage.
Only upon reaching Foundation Establishment does one truly undergo metamorphosis; below Golden Core, all are mortals.
Boom!
Suddenly, a loud noise came from the neighboring dormitory.
Chen Lan and Luo Tao hurried out to see what had happened.
"Holy shit, someone just punched through the wall—is that Foundation Establishment stage power?"
"That's insane, why didn't I play that game! I really want to cultivate too!!"
"Waa, if I knew this, I wouldn't have focused so much on studying—I could have been an Immortal Emperor by now."
"Same here, I regret it so much. Now I'm only in the Foundation Establishment stage; if I continued playing, I'd at least be at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stage."
"If Foundation Establishment is this powerful, can't the higher-ups destroy Blue Star with ease?"
Turns out, a boy in the neighboring dorm had manifested a Foundation Establishment cultivation, punching through the dorm room.
"Amazing, I can't imagine punching a dorm wall to pieces," Luo Tao said enviously.
Seeing this, Chen Lan felt apprehensive.
Everyone was gaining extraordinary powers, indicating the world was about to change.
At that moment, the school broadcast suddenly sounded.
"This is Principal Li Chun. All students and staff, please gather at the playground immediately!"
The principal's voice sounded urgent; the manifestation of the game must have startled him.
"Let's go check it out," Chen Lan said to Luo Tao.
They should hear what the school had to say first.
"Okay."
The two left the dorm, heading to the playground.
Along their way, they noticed some students weren't just walking but flying.
"Chen Lan, didn't you play that game?" Luo Tao asked curiously.
"I did. I'm like you, Body Refining stage," Chen Lan replied casually.
He didn't like standing out, being even more low-key than others, which explained why he had few friends besides Luo Tao at school.
Until he had a clear grasp of the situation on Blue Star, he wasn't planning to reveal his cultivation.
"I see," Luo Tao nodded, no wonder Chen Lan walked with him—both were in the Body Refining stage.
After receiving the game memories, he knew about the stages: those in the Body Refining stage couldn't walk on air, only those in Foundation Establishment could briefly walk on air.
Golden Core cultivators could stand in the void.
Upon arriving at the playground, there was already quite a crowd.
The principal and vice-principal stood anxiously on the podium, awaiting the students' gathering.
Once everyone was present, the principal took the microphone and began to speak.
"I believe everyone has heard the voice and some of you have gained extraordinary power, but I urge you not to use that formidable power recklessly and to honestly report your cultivation level— we need to conduct a survey."
...
Meanwhile, in Longdu.
In a certain secret base.
Conference room.
An elder slowly walked in, and everyone, young and old, stood up.
"Elder Li!" they all exclaimed in unison.
This elder was none other than Li Long.
"Is anyone here a cultivator?"