The aftertaste of the dream had yet to dissipate, and the existence of dimensions remained. The disorienting feeling of becoming someone else, the heart-stopping dread of facing death, and the exhilarating satisfaction of delivering a fatal blow, all were carved deeply into the soul. The searing pain of being flooded by corrupted blood—everything was etched into the deepest parts of his being.
The three souls and seven spirits had not yet returned to their rightful places, and the boiling blood had not yet settled. With the mind unable to suppress its instincts, when Si Nuocheng reached out his finger toward the switch, a mysterious, almost mystical state suddenly erupted!
Pale golden lines flashed across the veins, and light gathered at his fingertips at the speed of light. The speed of his awareness bursting forth was matched by the speed at which it materialized.
Si Nuocheng didn’t even have time to react. Power erupted suddenly, like the golden great blade in the dream, it slashed fiercely into the smooth wall of the suite, leaving a heavy mark!
With a loud crash, jagged cracks diagonally sliced through the mural, and the wall rapidly splintered, leaving behind a scar shaped like a centipede. Starting from the light switch, it pierced through to the corner of the ceiling. When the light outside shone through the hole into the room, Si Nuocheng finally seemed to wake from his daze.
He stared at his hand in shock, a storm raging in his mind. A thousand thoughts surged forth at once, but it felt as if nothing had truly crossed his mind.
Until, the phone at the front desk of the Qing Ding Hotel rang inside the room.
“Mr. Si, hello! Sorry to disturb your afternoon rest. May I ask if something happened in your room?” The tone of the receptionist was somewhat anxious. “The five-star suite is equipped with an abnormality alarm, and just now, the indicator light in your room turned from green to red. May I ask if…”
“I’m fine, the wall of the suite just cracked.” Si Nuocheng pressed his forehead.
“Mr. Si, the walls of the five-star suite in Qing Ding Hotel are of high quality. We conduct regular safety inspections every year to ensure every guest’s stay is safe!”
“Your walls are fine, but the crack happened because of me.” Si Nuocheng spoke calmly, “Please give me a new suite. Also, ask the manager to come up and assess the damages. I will pay for it at full price.”
“Alright, please wait a moment.”
The receptionist wouldn’t delve into the cause, and the hotel manager wouldn’t ask unnecessary questions. They only needed to ensure that their big clients were comfortable, paid promptly, and that any damage was compensated according to the standards. They wouldn’t interfere with anything else, nor were they obligated to.
Even when staff members entered the suite and saw the menacing cracks on the wall, they were only surprised, muttering to themselves quietly but not considering calling the police.
After all, in the mindset of ordinary people, as long as the money is settled and the matter is resolved privately, there’s no need to involve the police. Moreover, if a bunch of police were called to a business, people would think a murder happened!
Considering all the factors, even though Si Nuocheng had awakened, he was safe as could be. Unfortunately, his suite was opposite an undercover cop…
Qi Xinli searched the upper floors and the parking garage but didn’t find any trace of the male ghost. Having found nothing, he turned back, only to see a crowd gathering outside the door to his room, with a somewhat noisy atmosphere.
His heart skipped a beat, and his steps quickened. But his strong sense of reason suppressed his anxiety, and he simply showed the usual surprise: “Excuse me… Has something happened here?”
The receptionist turned around.
Qi Xinli took out his room card and opened the suite door. “I’m staying across the hall, and this situation caught my attention.”
“It’s nothing serious, sir. The gentleman in this room enjoys punching the wall, and accidentally damaged it.” The receptionist explained politely. “We’re currently verifying the damages and will send the bill to that guest shortly.”
“Punching the wall and breaking it?” Qi Xinli smiled innocently, curiously stepping forward. “That’s rare. How much force must he have used? Don’t mind me taking a look. Don’t worry, I won’t take photos.”
Not taking photos meant that the story of “the hotel walls having quality problems” wouldn’t spread. And guests on this floor were usually either rich or influential—just a glance wouldn’t hurt. No need to offend anyone unnecessarily.
The receptionist smiled and stepped aside: “No problem, please go ahead.”
Qi Xinli entered the room, bypassing the entryway, and walked into the spacious living room, then into the luxurious bedroom.
Looking up, his gaze was immediately drawn to the menacing scar on the wall. The middle section was smooth, but the two sides were cracked, resembling a centipede, and it looked strikingly similar to the marks left on a ruined road!
“Sir, sir… Please return…”
Qi Xinli brushed the receptionist aside, striding toward the crack, and raised his hand to touch it. His gaze extended from the light switch to the corner of the ceiling, and a string of data popped into his mind: a length of over 5 meters, a depth of 10 centimeters.
The crack was even, the interior smooth, as if it had been carved with a blade, while also eroded by flowing water.
The exact same marks!
But, the hand that left these scars on the wall was far weaker compared to the one that scarred the road. If one were to describe it, it would be like comparing the strength of a baby to that of an adult.
However, how many “babies” could there be?
“Sir!”
Qi Xinli smiled: “Sorry, I’m just shocked. May I ask, where is the guest who stayed here now? To be honest, I’m very interested in boxing.”
“He’s still in the hotel, but has moved to a new suite.” The receptionist subtly implied, “Even though he broke the wall, he didn’t leave. Our hotel’s quality really isn’t the issue!”
Moments later, Qi Xinli honestly grabbed his phone.
“Captain Chen, I’ve got a lead.” He noticed the deep breath on the other end and immediately said, “What I’m about to say, you must not be scared!”
“I’m professionally trained… Pfft! Forget that. Talk about your stuff!”
“I’ve seen someone with superpowers.” Qi Xinli spoke the truth. “One of the three people you asked me to follow has superpowers. You know what superpowers are, right? The kind where someone lifts their hand and the wall cracks open.”
Captain Chen: …
“Qí family boy, I asked you to do something, not to tell me a story. If you keep making a fuss like this, I won’t approve any public funds for your tasks,” the old senior scolded.
“I’m telling the truth. If you don’t believe me, you can come to the scene. If you don’t pay, I’ll cover it myself. Do I look like someone who’s short a few thousand for a night?”
One sentence shut down the old senior.
Since their conversation had gone nowhere, the senior angrily hung up the phone. Qi Xinli adjusted his clothes and finalized the schedule to meet with his target tonight.
……
Si Nuocheng changed into a new room.
He had planned to send a message to Ji si, but as soon as the chat window opened, a flash of white appeared in front of him. It was Ji si, who had vanished for a long time, appearing out of nowhere. He descended gracefully, his white robe flowing, and the spatial barriers seemed to have no effect on him, allowing him to come and go freely.
“Where have you been?” Si Nuocheng sighed. “I’ve got a lot of questions for you.”
“I had a feeling I would meet someone fated today, so I left for a bit,” Ji si sighed as well. “I didn’t expect the traffic to be so bad. No matter how deep the fate, it was still blocked on the road.”
Si Nuocheng: ……
“But you’ve awakened, which is quite a pleasant surprise.” Ji si’s gaze softened a little. “I expected you to have decent talent, but for you to awaken so quickly is really rare.”
From what he knew, many Chosen Ones aimed to become “High Priests,” but most of them got stuck at the “awakening” stage. If the Chosen Ones had such difficulty, what about ordinary humans?
Only those with great willpower could succeed, and only those with strong character could enter the gate. He originally thought that even though Si Nuocheng’s energy was abundant, it would still take him at least a month to awaken. But unexpectedly, this person had high comprehension and, in an environment where thoughts were stagnant and spiritual energy exhausted, experienced an instant awakening.
Such talent, if placed in the world of immortality cultivation, would probably lead to refining Qi for one day, establishing a foundation in two, and reaching the Golden Core on the third day?
Ji si’s mood was a bit complicated.
“But now, I can’t seem to find that feeling anymore…” Si Nuocheng clenched his hand. “By the way, how did you know I was here? And how could you tell I had awakened? Did something change in me that made me seem unlike an ordinary person?”
Ji si smiled and casually waved his hand towards the bathroom.
In the next moment, two beautiful glass cups floated in midair, filled with water. Ji si picked up a finely crafted spoon and gently tapped it on the surface of the cup. The sound spread, and ripples appeared on the water.
“Because the ‘vibration’ is different now.”
“The energy I get from ordinary people feels like the water in this cup. Though ripples appear when it’s tapped, it can never go beyond the edge of the cup. They’re trapped in the ‘ding’ vibration, with very weak frequencies and little energy.”
“But awakened ones are different.”
Ji si increased the force. With a “dong,” the cup rang loudly. The sound resonated throughout the spacious room, and the water in the cup formed a higher arc, with ripples at the center even lifting the water droplets.
“This is the feeling you give me now.” Ji si smiled lightly. “You’re now in the ‘dong’ vibration, with a higher frequency, more energy. To my senses, you’re like a newborn flame, visible at a glance.”
Si Nuocheng stared at the cup, slightly distracted. “Vibration? Frequency?”
“The vibration of sound can stir the water in a cup, and the vibration of energy is the same.” Ji si continued tapping the cup, each strike making the ripples grow larger.
“Vibration connects vibration, and energy moves energy.”
“The vibration of sound causes the cup to vibrate, and through the transmission, the air vibrates too, even the dust vibrates. You can’t see or touch it, but it definitely exists.”
“You are this cup, and others are another cup.”
Ji si lightly turned his hand, and the two cups slowly moved closer. With the vibration of one cup, the other cup followed the same rhythm, creating the same ripples.
“This is ‘energy moving energy.’” Ji si smiled, seemingly anticipating something that would make him happy. “Your awakening will fill your surroundings with energy. Then, your energy will move theirs, and they will start vibrating together.”
“One cup, two cups, even—”
The rhythmic vibrations continued. In the crisp sounds of the cups vibrating, the cup by the bed also rippled. Ancient and mysterious powers filled the space, and slowly, the water in the warm pool rippled too.
The influence of a single cup on the others was all it took. Just as the energy of one person can trigger the awakening of a group, as long as they have enough comprehension, they can change everything—like the butterfly effect.
The sound bounced back and forth, and Si Nuocheng didn’t find it disturbing at all. Instead, he felt incredibly comfortable, like he was soaking in a hot spring, with every pore of his body eagerly opening, wanting to absorb something from the surrounding energy.
It was so relaxing, so peaceful, as if all the noise of the world had vanished…
Suddenly, the sound stopped. He snapped his eyes open. Immediately, his gaze met Ji si’s dark eyes, deep like the vast sky, as if they contained the ancient stars.
“You will become very powerful, Si Nuocheng.” The words of the High Priest naturally flowed from his mouth. “You will become the starting point of this world’s turning.”
“Ah, I see…” The High Priest closed his eyes. “The child of fate.”
Unfortunately, destiny does not return.
If he hadn’t chosen to descend on the Earth just before the Day of Destruction, not interfering with its development, Si Nuocheng would still have walked the path of awakening. But by that time, he would have already lost far too much. So much… that he would rather sink into the darkness with the world and let the gears of time restart the future.
A single word of fate, a single moment of foresight, and Ji si snapped back to reality.
“What are you saying?” Si Nuocheng asked. “What’s the child of fate?”
“Ah, just complimenting your luck,” Ji si replied.
Before he could finish, there were two loud “cracks” as the glass cups finally couldn’t withstand the force of the vibrations and shattered into pieces. The next second, the porcelain cup by the bed exploded as well!
“Ka…” There was a soft crack from the edge of the sink.
Water and fragments mixed on the carpet, and the atmosphere in the room turned eerily quiet.
Ji si mumbled to himself, “…I meant to say your luck is particularly bad.”
[I meant to say your luck is particularly bad.]
Si Nuocheng: …You’re making a good point, no need to emphasize it anymore.
Soon, the phone at the front desk rang urgently: “Mr. Si, hello! We’ve changed you to a voice-controlled suite. The moment something abnormal happens, it will automatically trigger the alarm. Your room’s indicator light has changed from green to red. May I ask…”
“Compensate me according to the price!” Si Nuocheng rubbed his temples. “Change my room again. Money isn’t the issue.”
After hanging up, Si Nuocheng thought for a moment, then dialed his secretary’s number. “Five minutes. Buy me the Qing Ding Hotel in Hulu Port by the coast. Even if the hotel collapses, don’t let the front desk call me again. Tell them we’ve got a new owner, understand?”
“Understood…” Today’s boss still seemed as terrifying as “Si.”
Ji si: …
Well, your financial “vibration” is influencing a lot of people.
……
Night fell silently, with less than a day remaining until the “Gate of the Realm Opens on January 9th” as foretold in the prophecy.
The authorities had ignored Ji si’s prophecy, seemingly adopting a laissez-faire attitude, but their “bodies were particularly honest.” Shortly after the prophecy was released, they were already on high alert. The crowds were evacuated, artillery was prepared, and they stood guard at the gate, swearing that anything that emerged from there would be obliterated into pieces.
The airport, outskirts, and city center were all sealed off. Not only were the crowds kept out, but even an ant wouldn’t be allowed to enter—complete lockdown!
The atmosphere in the war zone was solemn, and the civilians who had been relocated to shelters were also on edge. They weren’t soldiers and couldn’t wait calmly for a day. If they slipped away, it would only slow things down. They couldn’t help, so at the very least, they didn’t want to be a burden.
The tension in the air, combined with the growing unease, led to an odd topic of conversation being raised among the gathered people.
“By the way, that ‘High Priest JS’ is a bit mysterious! Look, even though the authorities haven’t acknowledged it, their actions are clearly following along with it.”
“Yeah, I saw the prophecy earlier, and right after, the community broadcast announced that we needed to go to the shelter. All the people from other provinces were evacuated. It’s freaking me out.”
“What do you think will emerge this time?”
The conversation dwindled, and everyone remembered the chaos caused by the monster in Lingdong, their faces pale with concern. Eventually, the older ones spoke softly: “May our forces be victorious, and Lingdong must not fall…”
All they could do now was pray.
At the same time, the elite team from the Qu Kàng unit, having been stuck on the road for four hours, finally arrived at their destination, with a young girl in tow. They were famished, their hunger unbearable.
Steel Soldier grumbled: “The traffic in Hulu Port wasn’t that bad, how did it get blocked like this?”
“The roads in the outskirts are closed, the entire area’s locked down. There are only three roads left open—how can it not be jammed?” Jiang Zǐyíng, carrying the girl, got off the vehicle and gently fed her some crackers. “I’m taking the child to a hotel to settle. She can’t go hungry. What about you all, are you heading to the hotel first or to the Hulu Port police station to clock in?”
“Hotel! I’m starving!”
“The squad’s feeling generous and booked us a hotel room. We can’t let this money go to waste! We’ll eat first, then meet up with the comrades. I don’t want to spend the whole day stuck in traffic.”
Speaking of traffic, everyone’s expressions soured.
“The squad really is generous,” Shen Yún tīng said. “But there’s a reason… Most of the public housing in Hulu Port is taken by the military. With the current situation, there are a lot of outside tech personnel and scientific groups. Apart from the Qing Ding Hotel, there’s basically no other place to stay.”
“Let’s go, Captain Shen, I’m about to pass out from hunger!”
After three stops, Shen Yún tīng took the girl from Jiang Zǐyíng’s arms and led his team, dressed casually, toward the hotel.
……
Qing Ding Hotel, 8th Floor Buffet Area.
After finishing their sparring session, Laki and Si Nuocheng were about to eat. Laki, holding his phone, spoke to Si Nuocheng, “A senior I’m close to asked me to meet his friend.”
“Hmm?”
“He’s called Qi Xinli, a PhD student from Di Da University, studying physics.” Laki scratched his head. “He came to Hulu Port recently to give a lecture at ‘Morning Star University,’ but things have gotten a bit chaotic. For safety’s sake, he wants to find someone to accompany him.”
Si Nuocheng nodded slightly. “Where is he?”
“He’s already at the Qing Ding Hotel. WeChat notified me that he’ll be coming down to the 8th floor… Looks like he’s here.”
Laki looked up, and Si Nuocheng turned to see a tall, handsome man approaching, exuding a cold, reserved air. He pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose and offered a polite yet distant smile. “Excuse me, are you Vladimir?”
Laki was instantly excited. “That’s me!”
Holy cow, someone finally remembered his name! He made eye contact, recognizing the man as his brother who definitely needed protection from his “Bear Shield Eighteen Moves!”
Just hearing the name made Qi Xinli instantly earn Laki’s favor. He turned back to Si Nuocheng and smiled. “Hello, I’m Qi Xinli.”
“I’m Si Nuocheng.” Si Nuocheng extended his hand to shake, and once their hands briefly touched, he added, “Let’s eat together, feel free.”
“Thank you.”
It had to be said, when Qi Xinli deliberately tried to fit into a group, the group never rejected him. He was knowledgeable, well-read, and could easily talk finance with Si Nuocheng or discuss Ural customs with Laki.
The culture around the dinner table was perfect for building rapport. They didn’t follow the rule of “no talking while eating,” and they enjoyed the conversation immensely. Before long, Laki had already considered Qi Xinli one of his own.
“By the way, where’s Ji si?” Laki asked Si Nuocheng. “Does he really not eat?”
Now came the main topic, and Qi Xinli stayed calm.
“When he’s interested, he’ll eat a bit. When he’s not, he won’t.” Si Nuocheng immediately changed the subject. “What about Jiang Qining?”
Ji si had told him that someone fated to meet him would come find him today, and that they would be heading downstairs soon. Could it be Qi Xinli?
Ah, the fated one!
“Ah, him…” Laki looked disgusted. “He’s imitating Ji si, wearing a white robe, saying he’s looking for some ‘feeling.’ I don’t know where he’s been wandering, but he should be coming to eat by now.”
Indeed, it was time to eat. After standing on the hotel rooftop for half an hour in the cold wind, Jiang Qining, terrified of heights and freezing cold, straightened his wig and slowly headed downstairs, his white robe trailing behind him.
Along the way, he stepped on his own wig three times, tripped over his robe twice, and accidentally knocked himself on the back of the head with the wooden stick… By the time he entered the elevator, he felt like he had already lost half his life.
Jiang Qining both admired Ji si’s ability to handle such challenging costumes and despised his own lack of skill. It was too much! If he couldn’t even imitate the appearance of a powerful person, how could he ever become a true strongman?
A strong person begins with their mindset.
Don’t be afraid! You have to walk confidently through the strange looks of others! Haven’t you seen how Ji si walks down the street with his white robe, long hair, and staff, completely unfazed by the people staring at him?
Ji si can do it, why can’t he?
A man should never say he can’t do it!
Jiang Qining exited the elevator and walked towards the restaurant. Three minutes later, the door marked “Emergency Exit” opened. Ji si’s energy fluctuations surrounded him, wrapping him in layers of illusory dimensions.
The fated one had arrived. Someone who could find him… but their fate was shallow, not yet fully formed, feeling more like a child than an adult.
Who could it be?
Ji si melded into the space, like a drop of water merging with the sea, seamlessly blending in. Following the guidance of fate…
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
He walked toward the buffet area, and as the sounds of chatter grew louder, he couldn’t help but look ahead.
Then, he heard the voice of the little girl: “Police Uncle, it’s this person!”
PS:
Jiang Qining: Aaaah! I can’t do this, I really can’t! Let go of me, I don’t want to be a man anymore! I don’t want to be dissected!
Laki: …You go ahead. I’ll bring offerings for you on Qingming every year.
