A 24-year-old man lay in a hospital bed, the faint beeping of machines echoing in the sterile white room.
His breaths came shallow, each one weaker than the last. The air smelled of disinfectant and fading hope.
He stared at the ceiling through half-closed eyes, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
> "I just wanted to live a long life… if only I had one more chance,"
he whispered, his voice trembling between regret and longing.
Moments later, the sound of the monitor flattened into silence.
He wanted to live—he truly did.
But in the end, he died alone in that cold, white room.
Yet fate… had other plans.
When Jin Chi opened his eyes, the world was bright and unfamiliar. Sunlight streamed through a window, painting golden streaks across soft wooden floors. He blinked rapidly, trying to process the sensation of warmth and the strange light around him.
Hovering above his cradle were a man and a woman, their expressions full of gentle wonder. Their eyes glimmered with affection, and Jin Chi felt an odd mixture of comfort and confusion.
Huh… was I reborn? Is this… ancient China? Who are these people? Are they my parents? Wow… they're both so… perfect, he thought, marveling.
The man, Jin Haoran, frowned lightly, tilting his head.
> "Why isn't he crying?"
Cry? Why would I cry? Jin Chi's tiny body felt odd, but he was more interested in observing his new surroundings.
The woman, Jin Lianhua, let out a soft chuckle.
> "He's… strange. Just like you."
Jin Chi's eyes flicked between them. Strange? He liked the sound of that. Maybe this life would be more interesting than his last.
The father sighed, then both parents laughed together, their joy filling the room like sunlight. Jin Chi felt a strange warmth spread through him, even if he didn't quite understand why.
---
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
Foundation establisnlsment – 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.
Low Transcendent.
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 had flown by in the blink of an eye.
"Congratulations! Your son passed with 98 percent!" the teacher beamed.
Jin Chi's parents nearly wept with pride.
But Jin Chi frowned at his report card.
> "Ninety-eight? Why not a hundred? It's first grade, not rocket science."
At home, his parents celebrated as if he had conquered a kingdom. Jin Chi smiled quietly — he couldn't deny it felt… nice.
When summer vacation arrived, restlessness gnawed at him. With no technology, no internet, no distractions, his mind began to wander.
> "Is this what geniuses do on vacation?" he muttered.
"I can't even cultivate until I'm twenty… am I supposed to nap my way to enlightenment?"
Then — a loud thud echoed from outside.
Curiosity piqued, Jin Chi peeked through the window. His father moved in the courtyard with precise, graceful steps, each one cracking the stone beneath him.
Jin Chi's eyes widened.
His father's gaze met his, and he smiled faintly. Calm, powerful, unshakable.
Chi said "I want learn martial arts dad!" With eyes flickering
Jin Chi froze. Heart hammering.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
> "Oh… this vacation just got interesting."
Next chapter:the first step towards martial arts.