Chapter 1: The Devil Awakens
The battlefield was a scene of complete destruction. Tens of thousands of cultivators clashed in a chaotic frenzy, their powers reverberating through the air like thunder. Blasts of spiritual energy shattered the earth beneath their feet, sending shockwaves that swept through the war-torn landscape. Every inch of the battlefield seemed to be a testament to destruction—this was not a fight for glory, but for something far more precious.
And amidst the devastation stood a lone figure—Li Zhen. His face was emotionless, his eyes cold as stone. While the war raged around him, while others fought desperately for the treasure they all sought, Li Zhen was not concerned with power or wealth. His heart was not in this battle—his mind, however, was a different story.
In his previous life, Li Zhen had been a novelist. He had spent his days immersed in stories, in fictional worlds he had created and brought to life with his words. But fate had a different plan for him. He was torn from the world he knew and thrown into one of cultivation, where power, strength, and status determined everything. This world was unforgiving and ruthless—a world where only the strong survived.
The war was triggered by the discovery of an artifact—a book said to contain the ultimate cultivation techniques, the key to surpassing all cultivators and becoming the strongest. Whoever controlled the book would control the fate of the world. Li Zhen wasn't interested in power. He didn't care about becoming the strongest. His goal was different. This book, he knew, was tied to something far greater than the mere treasure it was believed to be.
It was said that those who were worthy could awaken the book's full potential—an awakening that only occurred with the right mind, the right intentions. And Li Zhen, though just a mere mortal in this world, had awakened the true power of the book. But the book was not simply an object—it had merged with him, with his very consciousness. Every time he opened the pages, he felt its weight in his mind. It had become part of him, and through it, he gained unparalleled insight into the techniques and secrets of cultivation.
For a month, he had fought in this war. And though his enemies saw him as a mere mortal—someone with no cultivation or natural ability—Li Zhen had proven them wrong, outwitting them at every turn with his knowledge, tactics, and strategy. But even the greatest minds have limits. The toll of the battle had worn him down. The fatigue, the constant fighting, and the unrelenting attacks finally broke him. Despite his brilliance, he was human. And there were limits even to what his mind and body could endure.
As the battle reached its final stages, the top ten strongest cultivators surrounded him. They had seen through his intellect, his tactics, and realized that he was the only one capable of standing in their way. They decided to eliminate him. Together, they unleashed their combined might—spells, techniques, and attacks all targeting Li Zhen.
The final blow was swift. Exhausted and wounded, Li Zhen collapsed to the ground, blood staining the earth beneath him. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought it was over. The pain, the exhaustion, it all faded away as darkness closed in around him.
But then, something strange happened.
The book, which had been lying next to him throughout the battle, began to glow faintly. It wasn't just a physical glow—it was as though the book was resonating with his very consciousness. He could feel it, deep within him. The book wasn't just a tool; it had become part of his very essence. It was awakening, not through some external force, but from within.
And with that surge of energy, the world around him began to shift. It wasn't a bend in time or space, but something more subtle. It was as if the book had unlocked a hidden potential in his mind—a connection that transcended the physical world. The memories, the knowledge, and the teachings within the book began to flood into him, merging with his very thoughts.
Li Zhen didn't understand it at first. He didn't know how it was possible. But the feeling was unmistakable. The book had become part of him, and in doing so, it had granted him something more than just knowledge. It had given him a chance. A second chance.
Suddenly, the battlefield was gone. The noise, the bloodshed, the chaos—all of it was replaced with an eerie silence. Li Zhen found himself standing in a peaceful, untouched world. The landscape around him was calm, serene, and unfamiliar. He could feel the weight of time pressing on him. This was not the place he had just been—it was a different time, a different world.
But the book—no, the knowledge within it—remained with him. As he stood there, the truth began to unfold. The book had not merely allowed him to survive—it had brought him back, not to change the past, but to give him a second chance. This time, however, he would not be the same. He would not fight like the others, driven by power or greed. He would fight with the mind, with knowledge and strategy that no one could ever predict.
Li Zhen's journey had only just begun.