What changes can happen in the span of twelve years?
In my previous world, it was a huge transition. Though there weren't flying cars, there were self-driving cars. Artificial Intelligence has also become the trend. Nobody would've expected that the likes of Skynet would come true in a decade.
Earth's changes went beyond that.
The lengthy line behind me showed everything. The processing speed was fast. Once it was my turn, I received a packaged rice bowl.
I chose from one of the available benches and sat down. The moment I opened the bowl's lid, I was greeted by warm air.
Omelette, pork strips, and rice. The first two are ordinary. It was the third one that differed from them.
These are genuine first grade spiritual rice. It was given as food subsidies to the homeless. A single serving of it can keep a mortal filled for five days.
After gobbling it up, I heaved a deep sigh. I looked upwards and saw the concentrated spiritual qi gather above. The vibrant blue skies are enhanced by its existence.
Unsurprisingly, this small city had a second grade spirit vein. Every populated city is like this.
For the first five years, they focused on training the next batches of immortal cultivators. The first candidates came from those with military experience. Only they could "cram" as much immortal cultivation knowledge swiftly.
While this happened, the Federation shifted its focus on solving real-world problems using cultivation's extraordinary means. They produced first grade spiritual rice, formed a proper chain of command, and solved world hunger.
Pollution? Cleansing spells would do.
Destroyed natural landscapes? A single elemental spell would do.
Building houses in hours? A single earth control spell would do.
In the face of immortal cultivation, all of the previous world problems turned out to be a trifle.
So long as there are people maintaining order, nobody can take advantage of it. Most of those unhinged people were either dead or imprisoned, all thanks to Bronya's purge.
With these problems solved, the Federation dropped one policy after another regarding immortal cultivation.
Spirit Root Awakening, Immortal Cultivator Registry, Food Subsidies, Immortal Academies, Sponsored Privileges and its Return of Service…
In short, Welt Yang and Theresa cooked very hard.
In the short span of ten years, they transformed Earth from a planet distraught of the Honkai to an emerging cultivation civilization.
The awe I had of the others' hard work left me sitting for a long while.
"You must be new here."
Someone greeted me before he sat down. It was a middle-aged man. His light gray hair was unkempt. A trace of youth could be seen on his face.
A sudden urge to conduct a divination appeared. After completing it, I looked at the middle aged man again.
I had no scruples interacting with others as I used my previous life's appearance.
"Is it rare to see someone like me?" I asked.
"Here? Most of the capable youngsters enrolled in the academies long ago. Those without Spirit Roots work in menial jobs at the Federation's spiritual gardens and lakes. Only a few would choose to live leisurely."
I looked around and saw less people on the benches.
"Everyone wants to be an immortal these days."
"Wouldn't you be the same?"
My words are met with a sigh.
"Twelve years. Can you imagine how huge the changes are in a decade? The crisis from twelve years ago…"
The Earth Federation never hid the general history from the public. Back then, the majority's obliviousness to the Honkai was met with mixed opinions. Many honored the unnamed heroes who died fighting behind humanity's back. Some are outraged at the "incompetency" that caused the Project STIGMA.
Naturally, the latter died down quickly. The Federation's actual competency and their achievements made everyone hold them in high regard.
The man beside me also looked at them that way.
"Life was difficult back then. It is hard to have ambitions when you are busy fighting for your livelihood. Being financially strapped with no money left for food… There are the honkai, to add. It's no wonder my sister preferred living in her dream world. I… failed her."
The Project STIGMA's aftereffects converted physical substances to energy fueling the Spiritual Adam. Though we forcibly halted it, the damage had been done.
"The world is progressing fast. Everyone is trying to catch up. That is why most of the youth are filled with ambitions."
"The hope for a future."
The man agreed with my words.
"I am telling you early on. Look for something worthwhile to chase for. To be an immortal cultivator or pursue the more arduous martial arts… it won't do good being stuck with old guys like me."
All I can see in his eyes is helplessness. He is determined to be left behind by the current era.
"You must have heard of the cultivation realms, no?" I asked him.
He nodded and said, "The nine steps to immortality."
Nine realms, nine checkpoints, nine blockades. That was how the techniques granted to me described the nine realms of immortal cultivation. I had it easy due to hacks, opportunities, and talent. The others aren't necessarily like me.
"The Void Refinement Realm breaks free of all restraints, causality and time alike. They possess the ability to go back in time and resurrect someone."
"..!"
From his looks, this wasn't in the general knowledge, though I can understand why the others wouldn't make it common knowledge. Knowing too much on the higher realms could lead to mental issues.
"Who are you..?"
"Someone surnamed Shi."
The change in his expression was immediate.
He knows me.
"Go and have your spirit roots tested. This is your chance, Chen Tianwu."
With that, I disappeared from his sight. I did not bother waiting for his reaction, either. My [Encompassing Eyes] noticed something unusual on him. A quick divination revealed his latent high grade spirit roots.
He was the Owl of the World Serpent. The events of the canon never happened. He did not become a member of World Serpent, but a downtrodden middle-aged man instead. His sister did not die out of the Honkai, but of Project STIGMA.
This time, I appeared inside the Awakening Center. A huge office lobby greeted me. There are reception desks, waiting chairs, and the typical vending machines.
It is where the Spirit Root Awakening and the Immortal Cultivator Registry occurs. The latter are particularly important.
Mortals and immortal cultivators are distinguished to make a lot of things easier—tracking down crimes, proper manpower allocation, and the likes.
The people lined up are noticeably young, at most eight years old.
One of the staff members walked towards me.
"Excuse me. Are you also…"
"Yes."
"Please follow me."
For the past ten years, the majority of Earth's population were tested. The children I am now seeing should be the ones born after the Honkai's disappearance.
I used some little tricks on this staff member to get my process done. Having untested people beyond their teens do exist in this world. Chen Tianwu is one. The Federation never forced anyone to undergo Spirit Root testing, anyways.
Just then, a pair of acquaintances entered my sight.
"I told you. I wanted to accept a student today! You actually accepted one behind my back..!"
"Rozaliya does not have what it takes to teach a student. I am afraid you will mislead them."
"We'll see about that!"
Their hushed whispers could be heard loud and clearly by my ears.
The twins, having grown up, did not differ much from what I expected. Their tall stature added a hint of grace on the two of them. They possessed an aura that could leave everyone in awe.
Just then, Rozaliya happened to meet my gaze.
Under her breath, she muttered:
"That man will be my student!"
…
Say what?
*****
A/N: It's twelve years. Ten years for coma. One and a half for snu-snu. Half a year for a thorough inspection of his current state.
PS: Bonus chapter.