A 24-year-old man lay in a hospital bed, his breaths shallow and fading.
Alone in the sterile white room, he whispered weakly,
"I just wanted to live a long life… if only I had one more chance."
He wanted to live—he truly did.
But in the end, he died alone in that cold hospital bed.
Yet fate had other plans.
He was reborn as Jin Chi, a baby boy in a seemingly ordinary, happy family.
When Jin Chi opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a bright, unfamiliar world.
He understood nothing at first—only that he was surrounded by warmth and light. Hovering above him were a beautiful man and woman gazing down at him with eyes full of love.
"Huh? Was I… reborn? Is this ancient China? Who are these people? Are they my parents? Wow… they're both stunning," Jin Chi thought, blinking in disbelief.
The man looked at the baby and frowned slightly.
"Why isn't he crying?"
Jin Chi blinked again. Cry? Why would I cry? I'm observing my new environment.
The woman chuckled softly.
"He's strange—just like you."
The father sighed, but soon both parents laughed together, staring at Jin Chi with quiet wonder.
---
A Day Later
Relatives came flooding in to meet the new baby. An elderly man lifted him proudly, another played peekaboo, and two old women fussed over baby clothes that looked… questionably frilly.
Six people surrounded him, smiling brightly.
Wow, Jin Chi thought. I didn't have this many people visit me in the hospital when I died.
The whole day was spent being passed around, dressed up, and cooed at. By nightfall, Jin Chi was utterly exhausted.
As he drifted off to sleep, he thought, Maybe this time… I'll actually have a good life.
---
Six Years Later
Time flew by like a leaf in the wind. Jin Chi could now read, write, and talk fluently—though sometimes he wondered if his vocabulary was a little too advanced for a six-year-old.
One afternoon, his mother mentioned a word that made him stop mid-sentence:
"Cultivation."
She explained that it was the path toward strength and even immortality.
That night, Jin Chi couldn't sleep.
Immortality? Qi? Energy control? I've literally respawned in an RPG world.
---
First Day at School
His father owned a small shop, and his mother was a housewife. When it was time for school, they both came to drop him off. His mother cried as if he were going to war, while his father awkwardly patted her shoulder.
"It's just school, Mom…" Jin Chi said, embarrassed.
The school—Neo Academy—was enormous. Jin Chi's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Maybe this is where I'll start my path to immortality," he thought.
The classroom was filled with laughing children and strange, toy-like contraptions—one even launched kids gently into the air.
He tried to join them, but they pushed him away.
"Rude," he muttered, crossing his arms.
The teacher entered—a calm woman with an elegant air.
"I am Xai Li, your class teacher," she said.
Then, to Jin Chi's shock, she levitated a piece of chalk and began writing her name on the board. Notebooks and pencils floated into the students' hands.
"Copy this into your notebooks."
The class gasped in amazement, but Jin Chi was frozen.
She just used telekinesis like it's nothing?! What kind of world is this?!
"Are you okay, Jin Chi?" she asked kindly.
"Y-yes, ma'am…" he squeaked.
He began copying the timetable—and froze at a single word.
Cultivation.
His heart thumped wildly. It's real. It's actually real!
---
Cultivation Class
Time dragged through math and literature—basic addition, basic reading. Jin Chi had never been so bored.
Finally, the last class of the day began: Cultivation.
A tall young man walked in, surrounded by a faint, mysterious aura.
"I am Loch Raal," he introduced himself.
The students, already half-asleep, barely reacted. Loch Raal didn't seem to care. He moved to the board—and started writing without touching it.
---
Cultivation Realms – Basic Definitions
Qi Gathering – Beginner stage; learning to sense and control Qi.
Foundation Establishment – Strengthens the body and spirit.
Core Formation – Condenses energy into a "core."
Nascent Soul – The soul becomes strong and independent.
Soul Transformation – The soul gains advanced abilities.
Dao Realm – Aligns with natural laws; can manipulate elements.
Immortal Ascension – Transcends mortal limits.
Saint / Celestial – True immortality.
True God – Peak power.
World Lord – Rules entire dimensions.
Chaos / Origin Realm – Mastery of primordial energy.
Divine / Transcendent – Beyond all cultivation.
---
"These are the basic realms," Loch Raal said. "Memorize them. Don't worry—it'll be easy once you start cultivating. For now, we'll study only up to the Golden Core stage."
The class groaned. Jin Chi's excitement deflated slightly.
So I'm stuck memorizing stuff again? This is just school 2.0!
---
After School
As he packed his bag, Jin Chi sighed.
"How can it be so boring? Is it the school system—or the teachers?"
He ran to meet his parents at the gate. His mother hugged him tightly, and his father smiled.
On the way home, they bombarded him with questions:
"How many kids were there?"
"Did you make friends?"
"Was it fun?"
He answered everything politely, then struck back:
"What stage are you two in? Why didn't you tell me about cultivation before?!"
His parents laughed at his curiosity, amused by their overly serious little boy.
---
A Year Later
Time flew by again.
"Congratulations! Your son passed with 98 percent!" the teacher beamed.
Jin Chi's parents nearly cried with pride.
But Jin Chi just frowned at his report card.
"Ninety-eight? Why not a hundred? It's first grade, not rocket science."
At home, his parents celebrated like he'd just saved the kingdom. He smiled—he couldn't deny it felt nice.
When summer vacation began, Jin Chi quickly grew restless.
With little technology and boring TV, his mind wandered.
"Is this what geniuses do on vacation?" he muttered. "I can't even cultivate until I'm twenty. What am I supposed to do—nap until enlightenment?"
Just then, a loud thud echoed from outside.
Curious, Jin Chi peeked through the window. His father was in the courtyard, moving with graceful precision—each step cracking the ground beneath him.
Jin Chi's eyes widened.
His father turned, sensing his gaze, and smiled faintly.
"Boy," he said, his voice calm but powerful, "would you like to learn real strength?"
Jin Chi froze, his heart pounding.
A grin crept across his face.
"Oh, this vacation just got interesting."
---
End of Chapter 1
Next Chapter: The Path of Martial Arts Begins!