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"Why did you save me?" Chen Xing asked, still uncertain.
> "I am a unique existence in all worlds," the little girl's voice was calm, but carried the weight of age. "From the moment I was created, I slept. Only recently did I awaken, and I found my own world was in decline — its natural laws fading. My abilities alone couldn't stop it. So, I tore through space in search of a worthy holder. By chance, I awoke near you… and saw you risking your life to save someone. That is why I chose to give you this chance."
Chen Xing blinked. "That's… awfully lucky. I mean, sure, people who'd risk themselves for others aren't common, but still… you just happened to be there?"
> "Exactly. I woke nearby, saw you, and made my choice. Otherwise…" she paused, "what else did you think happened?"
Chen Xing gave a half-smile. "Fair enough. Thank you. Even if I don't know whether I can become your holder, I'm still grateful — after all, I'm alive now, aren't I?"
> "Let's be clear — I am a special artifact. I have no attack power. Even my defensive abilities are limited. I must tell you this first."
"Alright… then what do you do?" Chen Xing asked, curious rather than disappointed.
> "I am called the Seal of Worlds. My ability is tied to the multiverse. I can take my host to other worlds. Since I've only just awakened, I don't yet know the coordinates of many worlds — each one I send you to will be unknown to me."
> "However, I will mark the world you start in, so you can return at any time. When you do, you'll return to the same moment you left — the time here will remain relatively still. That doesn't mean the whole world revolves around you; it's just that no time will pass for it while you're away."
Chen Xing's eyes brightened. "If time doesn't move here while I'm away… then I could spend years training elsewhere and still come back without losing anyone important. For anyone like me, that's a blessing."
> "But remember — if you die in another world and your soul is destroyed, you will truly die. Even I cannot save you then."
"Naturally. Once the soul is gone, life ends." Chen Xing accepted it without complaint. Just having a second chance was already more than most could dream of.
> "There's something else — my greatest ability isn't travel. Have you heard of fate energy? Or destiny force?"
"I've read about it in novels. Something to do with cultivation and luck, right?"
> "Close enough. My other function is to preserve the fate energy of those under your control across the worlds you travel. If you can dominate multiple worlds, I can prevent their fate from leaking away — strengthening you in the process."
"So if I control enough worlds, my growth would skyrocket?"
> "That depends on how many worlds you control. Most hosts never manage more than one or two — the blessings are small in that case. But in theory, the more you control, the more you gain."
"Sounds powerful. What do I need to do for you to recognize me as your master?"
> "Since you are the first I've chosen, you must conquer at least fifty worlds before I will acknowledge you fully. Then you will truly be my master."
Chen Xing grinned. "Fifty sounds like a lot, but compared to all the worlds that exist, it's nothing. I accept."
> "Then our agreement is sealed. But understand this — you are still an ordinary human. I can give you a small opportunity to help with cultivation, but the rest is up to you. If you die before becoming my master, I will not save you again. Also, I cannot give you techniques or direct combat skills — I have none to give. I can only assist in easing cultivation obstacles."
"Understood. So… what's my condition now?"
> "I've placed your soul into the body of a child. His meridians were blocked, so I've repaired them and strengthened his physique. You cannot move yet because your soul is still merging. By tomorrow, you should be fine."
"That's good… but where exactly am I?"
> "I don't know this place precisely, but the natural energy here is dense — like the Senjutsu chakra of your anime's Sage Mode. That means this world has many strong people."
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> "From now on, unless I reach out to you, do not disturb me," the Seal of Worlds added.
"Alright. And… thank you again."
Silence followed. She had withdrawn.
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Suddenly, images and memories not his own flooded Chen Xing's mind. Pain stabbed at his temples as visions of a boy's life rushed through him — poverty, labor, and cruelty.
The next morning, heavy footsteps approached.
The hut's thin wooden door slammed open.
"Waste! Get up! Your brother needs breakfast!" a harsh voice barked.
A short, stocky middle-aged man entered, his clothes worn, his face mean. He strode to the corner and kicked Chen Xing's body.
No movement.
"Hey! I said get up!" Another kick. Still nothing.
The man muttered, "Hmph… maybe I kicked him too hard yesterday."
Indeed, from the boy's memories, the "yesterday" he spoke of was brutal — beatings were common. Had the Seal not strengthened the body, it might already be dead.
Finally, the man spat, "If you can't train, you're useless. Useless mouths don't deserve food. Might as well throw you to the wolves outside the village." He turned to fetch something — perhaps a sack.
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Chen Xing slowly opened his eyes. The pain was gone; he could move freely. His surroundings were a run-down cottage — the kind seen in poor settlements of the smaller shinobi villages.
From the boy's memories, the place was Hoshigakure — Star Hidden Village — a small, obscure ninja village far from the Five Great Nations. Here, chakra was life, and those who could not mold it were seen as worthless.
The boy whose body Chen Xing now occupied had been born unable to refine chakra — his meridians were blocked since age three. His father's disappointment had turned into cruelty. From that day, life became a nightmare:
Rising before dawn to haul water and chop wood.
Preparing meals for the family but never eating any himself.
Beatings for the smallest mistake.
Even at five or six years old, his labor matched that of grown men. His only wish had been to sleep peacefully — a wish denied every day. By six, he had even considered death an escape.
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Chen Xing's gaze hardened. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again — now cold and sharp.
"If this is the world of shinobi… then you'll regret treating this 'waste' like dirt."
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