[According to astronomical experts, the "Seven-Star Alignment" will fully form at 8 PM tonight.]
[This phenomenon is extremely rare—between 1 AD and 3000 AD, it has only occurred 39 times.]
[Astronomy enthusiasts around the world are eagerly preparing for it.]
Because of its rarity, the internet was unusually lively today.
It wasn't just astronomers or hardcore stargazers—people who normally had no interest in astronomy were also paying attention.
Not for any serious reason.
In countless web novels, a "Seven-Star Alignment" often symbolized opportunity—a turning point. What if… just what if someone could transmigrate? Or awaken some kind of supernatural ability?
Of course, everyone knew it was just wishful thinking.
But life was already hard enough. People needed something—anything—to dream about.
"I didn't get to see a Seven-Star Alignment before transmigrating… and now I might finally see one after."
"…Though whether I'll actually get the chance is another story."
Bai Xuan turned off the TV and let out a faint, self-mocking laugh. His gaze drifted into the distance, unfocused, as if lost in thought.
He wasn't originally from this world.
The planet beneath his feet was still called Earth. His parents were the same as in his previous life. Even his experiences growing up were nearly identical.
And yet—
He knew, with absolute certainty, that this world was different.
Because here… something was missing.
The anime industry felt incomplete.
Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece existed.
But Detective Conan, Crayon Shin-chan, and Pokémon… did not.
The same went for other franchises.
Ultraman—like Tiga, Dyna, and Gaia—existed.
But Kamen Rider and Super Sentai were nowhere to be found.
And it wasn't just Japanese media. Even works from other countries, including China, had similar gaps.
Well… Hu Tutu would probably be happy. Without Crayon Shin-chan, his life would be a lot more "peaceful."
As for the rest of the entertainment industry, Bai Xuan didn't pay much attention.
Back in his previous life, once the entertainment industry started heading in a direction he didn't like, he had gradually stopped watching TV dramas, movies, and variety shows altogether.
And once a habit forms, it's hard to change.
The only thing he could confirm was music.
Aside from a few missing anime theme songs, nothing much had changed.
Though… that might also be because he didn't listen to that many songs to begin with.
At least, everything he liked was still there.
History, too, was completely unchanged.
From the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, to Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han—even modern wars—all of it remained exactly the same.
It seemed that before him…
No transmigrator had ever appeared in this world.
Was that a good thing?
Or a bad one?
Bai Xuan shook his head.
That wasn't something he needed to worry about.
He picked up his phone and checked the time.
Only three hours remained until 8 PM—the moment of the Seven-Star Alignment.
But outside the window…
A light drizzle had already begun to fall.
"…Of course."
He shrugged, unsurprised.
Ever since childhood—whether in his past life or this one—whenever a rare astronomical event occurred, his city was either overcast or rainy.
The transit of Venus, total lunar eclipses, meteor showers…
Every single time.
At this point, he almost suspected the heavens were targeting him personally.
When he first saw the news about the Seven-Star Alignment, he had already expected this outcome.
And sure enough—
"Figures."
Clicking his tongue, Bai Xuan leaned back in his rocking chair, slowly closing his eyes.
To the soft rhythm of falling rain, he gradually drifted into sleep.
---
Time passed quietly.
In his dreams, the hands of the clock moved silently toward 8 PM.
Above the sky, the dense clouds began to dim.
At that very moment—
Within the solar system, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune aligned in a straight line along the ecliptic.
Boom—!
At the instant of alignment, a mysterious energy—existing somewhere between illusion and reality—silently shot toward Earth, unnoticed by any person or nation.
[Ding. Detected keyword from a fantasy construct—Earth.]
[Analyzing planetary energy… No extraordinary phenomena detected. No significant disparity in fate among living beings. Does not meet invitation criteria.]
[Detected traces of World Consciousness. Initiating communication.]
[Communication successful.]
[Spiritual Energy Revival initiated.]
---
Hangzhou, Earth.
Bai Xuan, who had been deeply asleep, suddenly felt something strange.
The hazy dream he was immersed in… became clear.
But the scene had changed.
An ancient, boundless land stretched before him.
Lush forests, vibrant yet solemn with life.
Towering mountains pierced through the clouds.
A completely new world unfolded before his eyes.
Somewhere deep within his soul—
An indescribable emotion surged forth.
A feeling so profound it left him lost.
The sky… the clouds… the forests… the mountains… the oceans… the streams…
They were right in front of him—so close.
And yet, utterly out of reach.
His vision blurred.
His chest tightened.
He wanted to cry.
At some unknown moment, an enormous eye appeared in the sky above—vast, ethereal, overlooking the entire world.
With its arrival, countless strands of golden light gathered from every corner of the world.
They condensed into laws—into the very fabric of heaven and earth—
As if bowing in submission.
No—
Not just submission.
There was joy.
Love for the world.
Reverence.
Worship… toward a creator.
Bai Xuan didn't know why he could understand these emotions.
But at this moment, he didn't want to think.
He only wanted to watch.
To keep watching…
Forever.
Never in his life had he felt so… complete.
The impurities within his soul seemed to be washed away.
The burdens within his body dissolved.
Deep inside him—
A seed formed.
Under the gaze of that eye, it began to sprout… to grow.
He didn't understand what it was.
Nor did he know what kind of fortune had befallen him.
He only felt—
That the world, once distant and untouchable, was now drawing closer… welcoming him.
Crack—!
The world shattered.
Bai Xuan's eyes snapped open.
He shot up from the rocking chair, gasping for air.
"What… was that just now?"
"A dream? Or… something else?"
"A dream doesn't make sense… it was too real."
"There's no way I could imagine something like that."
"…Then if it wasn't a dream… why me?"
"Because I'm a transmigrator?"
He frowned.
If it really had something to do with his identity…
Then why now?
Why not all those years before?
What was special about today?
…The Seven-Star Alignment?
Could it be connected?
He glanced at the clock.
10 PM.
Outside, the drizzle continued to fall.
"…Maybe not."
No—
Wait.
Why was that feeling still there?
As he stared at the raindrops beyond the window, that same overwhelming emotion from the dream surged within him once again—
As if it were about to burst out of his chest.
This loss of control over his own body…
Didn't feel comforting.
It felt terrifying.
Bai Xuan clenched his fists.
He needed to know—
What exactly had happened while he was asleep?