Jack was a hardcore Minecraft fan. He spent countless hours playing in virtual reality, building vast cities, fighting mobs, and exploring infinite worlds. But his life took an unexpected turn when, during a session in VR, the ceiling above him suddenly collapsed. In an instant, everything went dark.
Jack woke up on a lush green meadow. The sun was warm, and the gentle breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers. Birds chirped in the distance. He sat up, rubbing his head.
"Where am I?"
Not far from where he lay, a dirt path stretched toward a massive wall. The architecture struck him immediately—this wasn't some medieval European fortress. The towering walls and the grand gate were built in the style of ancient China, reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty. The stone walls were massive, decorated with intricate carvings of dragons and celestial beings. The wooden gate, reinforced with golden studs, bore a plaque inscribed with elegant calligraphy. Soldiers clad in lamellar armor stood guard, their weapons glistening under the sunlight.
Jack furrowed his brow. His last memory was playing Minecraft in VR… and then dying.
At that moment, as if responding to his thoughts, a translucent blue menu appeared before his eyes. The interface was familiar—exactly like his Minecraft VR menu.
[Creative Mode] [Survival Mode] [Hardcore Mode] [JAVA Modding] [OFF]
Jack's eyes widened. This was his Minecraft interface! Instinctively, he reached out and switched from [OFF] to [Creative Mode]. The moment he did, new options became available. However, before he could pull any items from the menu, a message appeared:
You are currently in a foreign world. Without permission from this world's administrator, you may not create or modify objects. However, Creative Mode features such as immortality and flight remain enabled.
Jack smirked. "So, I can't build or destroy things, but I can fly and I'm immortal? Sounds like a good deal."
To test it, he leaped into the air. His body floated effortlessly. He laughed as he did flips, soared high above the meadow, and darted through the air. Five minutes later, he descended back to the ground, still grinning.
"Okay, this might not be so bad."
He turned towards the path and followed it to the grand city gate. Many people, all appearing to be of Asian descent, passed through the entrance. Some carried baskets, others led ox-drawn carts, and merchants shouted prices to potential buyers. Jack followed the crowd into the city.
The sight before him was breathtaking. The streets were bustling with people. Stalls lined the road, selling silk, spices, exotic fruits, and mystical trinkets. The buildings had curved rooftops with golden accents, resembling the grandeur of historical Chinese cities. Red lanterns hung from shop signs, fluttering gently in the wind. The aroma of sizzling meat, fragrant teas, and freshly baked buns filled the air.
Jack noticed something else—he could understand everything people were saying, even though they spoke an old dialect of Chinese.
At a nearby stall, a merchant with a long, thin mustache was haggling with a customer.
"Ah, good sir! This silk is finest from the Western regions! Only ten silver taels for such luxury!"
The customer, an elderly man in scholar's robes, shook his head. "Ten taels? Are you trying to rob an old man? Five taels, not a coin more."
The merchant waved his hand dramatically. "Five taels? Might as well give it for free! At least eight taels, otherwise, my children starve!"
A young woman in elegant robes passed by, scolding a servant carrying a basket of herbs. "Foolish boy! Do you not know the difference between ginseng and wild root? Master Li will punish us if we bring low-quality medicine!"
Further down the street, a butcher yelled at his apprentice. "Why you cut meat like blind chicken? Look! Knife must be steady, clean cuts! You mess up again, I chop your wages!"
Jack chuckled. "This really is like an ancient Chinese city."
Then, something caught his eye. In the sky, several figures were soaring on swords, their robes flowing behind them like celestial beings. Their expressions were serene, yet their presence commanded awe. The people below barely reacted—this was normal for them.
Jack stared in amazement. "Flying swords? Oh yeah, this is definitely a cultivation world."
From above, the city revealed its true splendor. The streets were laid out in a perfect grid, divided into districts for merchants, scholars, nobles, and warriors. In the city center stood a massive pagoda, likely the residence of an influential sect or noble family. The city walls extended far beyond Jack's vision, encircling a realm filled with untold possibilities.