At 3:30 AM.
The entire city remained shrouded in slumber, with only the tireless street-cleaning robots roaming through the streets, maintaining order in silence.
In the Hope Community of the southern district of Star City.
A young man, about twenty-five years old, wearing glasses, was still awake. He was hunched over his desk, illuminated by the glow of a desk lamp, diligently writing notes in his notebook.
From time to time, he would glance at the computer screen, fingers tapping away at the keyboard as he searched for information related to spellcraft studies.
His name was Hu Boyuan, and he wasn't a formally trained spellcraft scholar.
His journey into the field of spellcraft studies was entirely accidental.
Four years ago, after graduating from an ordinary high school, he had missed the admission cutoff for his dream university, Galaxy Academy, by a few points.
Faced with this setback, he had only two options.
One was to enroll in a lesser-known university, but without the resources and opportunities available to elite institutions, his academic pursuits would be significantly hindered. Any research ideas he had would likely have to be self-funded, and even after graduation, securing a position at a prestigious research institute would be nearly impossible unless he achieved something truly extraordinary during his studies.
The other option was to enter the workforce immediately, becoming just another cog in the machine of human civilization.
Neither option aligned with his aspirations.
Given that his parents were aging, continuing his education would have placed a heavy financial burden on them. After much deliberation, Hu Boyuan made the painful decision to forgo his studies. Instead, through a recommendation from his high school teacher, he secured a job as a resource auditor for a supply chain company.
Day after day, he found himself trapped in the monotony of routine work, his youthful dreams gradually fading into the background.
Occasionally, he would wake up from dreams of his school days, recalling the fiery passion with which he once declared his commitment to human progress. Those dreams would leave his blood boiling with excitement—until reality set in again.
Reality was no novel, and he had accepted the fact that he was just an ordinary person. He wasn't the protagonist of some grand story, nor did he expect to change the world. He only needed to focus on what was in front of him.
He had even imagined a future in which he would pour all his unfulfilled dreams into his children, guiding them down the path he could no longer take.
Once he had accepted mediocrity, the restlessness in his heart faded.
Still, his love for spellcraft studies never waned. It was no longer a driving ambition, but a quiet passion.
Every year, whenever major research institutes hosted spellcraft concept competitions or live-streamed academic discussions, he would tune in religiously.
What had once been a pursuit of knowledge had become a form of entertainment.
It was like watching a sports match—every evening, watching discussions on spellcraft had become his favorite pastime.
He had assumed that this peaceful, uneventful life would continue indefinitely.
But four years ago, during a spellcraft symposium, something changed.
The topic of discussion that day had nothing to do with advanced spellcraft techniques or theories. Instead, it was titled "From Nothing to Something."
The scholars at the symposium discussed the early pioneers of spellcraft studies—those who had paved the way for human understanding of magic, despite having no precedent to follow.
That symposium changed something in Hu Boyuan.
For the first time, he realized that spellcraft wasn't as distant and unattainable as he had imagined.
Even ordinary people could create miracles.
The development of spellcraft wasn't solely driven by elite scholars. Many concepts had originated from lesser-known academics, and even dedicated enthusiasts had made meaningful contributions.
After watching that symposium, a daring thought took root in his mind.
Why not try it himself?
Once the seed of an idea had been planted, it quickly grew out of control.
Eventually, Hu Boyuan took the first step.
Every night after work, he dedicated himself to studying, determined to rekindle the fire that had long been extinguished in his heart.
Passion is always the best teacher.
During his self-study, he found a group of like-minded individuals online and together, they formed a self-learning spellcraft community.
The members of the group, much like him, were enthusiasts rather than formally trained professionals.
Whenever a new concept emerged in the field of spellcraft, it would immediately become a hot topic in the group.
The discussions were vibrant and intellectually stimulating. Whenever someone encountered a difficult problem, the group would work together to find a solution.
Their greatest achievement as a community came when one of their collective ideas was actually adopted by the spellcraft department of Galaxy Academy, becoming part of a newly established theoretical framework.
That single contribution might have been just one small line in the broader system of spellcraft theory, but it was enough to send the entire group into days of celebration.
Even during their occasional in-person meetups, this achievement remained a cherished topic of conversation, filling them with a sense of pride.
For Hu Boyuan, this life was fulfilling.
To have a group of like-minded friends, to live a life full of purpose—apart from lacking romance, everything else felt complete.
Over the past four years, Hu Boyuan had become one of the most well-known figures in the community.
His progress had been remarkably swift.
From a mere spectator to an active problem-solver who regularly helped newcomers, he had established himself as a veteran in just two years.
And now, encouraged by his peers, he was finally taking the next step toward the professional world.
For the past two years, Hu Boyuan had actively participated in online spellcraft concept competitions, where he put forth numerous outstanding ideas and suggestions that left a lasting impression on many.
Some even speculated that he was actually a seasoned expert in spellcraft studies, disguising himself as a newbie online.
Recently, Hu Boyuan's reputation had skyrocketed.
This surge in recognition was tied to the increasingly popular concept in spellcraft studies—"Spiritual Energy Conversion."
The idea had originally been proposed by a renowned scholar from Galaxy Academy's spellcraft department.
After analyzing vast amounts of data related to spiritual energy, the scholar hypothesized that if humanity could master the free conversion of spiritual energy, it would revolutionize the field of cultivation studies.
To illustrate, spiritual energy served as the fundamental energy source in cultivation studies.
It could be transformed into various elemental attributes, such as fire spiritual energy, water spiritual energy, and even blood vitality energy.
The scholar from Galaxy Academy thus introduced the concept of free conversion of spiritual energy and invited the public to contribute insights, hoping to turn this theoretical framework into reality—paving the way for a new stage of cultivation where energy attributes could be switched at will.
This concept stirred up quite a sensation in the field of spellcraft studies, drawing in a significant number of professional scholars to refine and expand upon it.
Hu Boyuan was among those who contributed.
If anyone embodied the phrase "a slow accumulation leads to a sudden breakthrough," it was him.
Years of passion and relentless self-study had allowed him to amass a wealth of knowledge in the field. The countless discussions with his online peers had planted a multitude of innovative ideas in his mind.
Then, about three months ago, Hu Boyuan decided to take a bold step.
After a month of meticulous preparation, he published a research paper online outlining his theories and proposed refinements for the concept.
The paper was titled:
"Spiritual Energy Conversion—Analyzing the Feasibility of Attribute Transition Through Spiritual Energy Particle Rearrangement."
It contained over 50,000 words in total.
While the content primarily laid out foundational principles, it also introduced a host of groundbreaking concepts.
Even to professional spellcraft scholars, it was an exceptionally well-structured and insightful piece of work.
The paper proposed numerous innovative approaches to verifying the feasibility of free spiritual energy conversion, and several of its hypotheses were later validated through testing by professional institutions.
When the evaluation reports from research institutions confirmed the credibility of his proposals, Hu Boyuan became an overnight sensation in the field of spellcraft studies.
The internet was abuzz with speculation about his true identity.
At the same time, major research institutions also took notice of him.
Unlike the general public, these institutions had access to high-level city databases, allowing them to effortlessly retrieve Hu Boyuan's personal information.
It was much like how Feng Qi could pull up identity records within Star City Shelter—simply entering a name into the system would yield a detailed dossier.
As a result, numerous spellcraft research institutes began paying close attention to this hidden gem.
Upon reviewing his background and past endeavors, they quickly recognized his immense potential.
And without hesitation, prestigious research institutions started extending invitations to him.
Among them were Galaxy Research Institute, Tiger Soul Research Institute, and various elite cultivation research facilities.
For Hu Boyuan, this was an unexpected dream come true.
Especially the invitation from Galaxy Research Institute—this was his long-lost dream reigniting into reality.
The fire of ambition that had once flickered out had now blazed anew.
All of his efforts were finally paying off.
Without any hesitation, he accepted the invitation from Galaxy Research Institute.
However, before leaving, he was determined to further refine the concept of "Spiritual Energy Conversion" and invited his online study group to participate in the final stages of its development.
He knew that his fellow enthusiasts shared his love for spellcraft studies.
When they learned about his acceptance into Galaxy Research Institute, they celebrated his success and offered their heartfelt congratulations.
More than that, his achievement became an inspiration for them to continue pursuing their own academic goals, hoping that one day, they too might fulfill their dreams.
For the past two months, Hu Boyuan had fully devoted himself to perfecting the theories of spiritual energy conversion, having already resigned from his job at the energy company.
During this time, he had revised his original research paper multiple times, correcting its shortcomings and refining his ideas.
His progress was evident to everyone.
And now, tonight was his final revision session.
Once completed, he would officially leave for Galaxy Research Institute, stepping into the world of professional spellcraft research.
At 3:30 AM, he remained tireless, sketching out spell trajectory diagrams in his notebook.
From time to time, he would lift his head to type on the keyboard, searching for information or engaging in discussions with his online peers.
His entire study group was still awake, assisting him in refining the concept—witnessing the moment he transitioned from an enthusiast to a professional scholar.
As the clock struck 4:00 AM, he finally put down his pen.
He then uploaded his finalized trajectory diagrams and written explanations into professional software and saved them on his computer.
Once the revised work was posted in the group chat, his fellow members erupted in celebration.
[Brothers, get some rest! Thank you all for being part of this journey!]
After typing out this final message, Hu Boyuan shut off his screen.
He glanced at the neatly packed suitcase by the door, ready for his departure.
A smile spread across his face.
The dream he had since his school days had finally been rekindled.
From this moment forward, he would dedicate his life to this passion, contributing to the advancement of humanity's spellcraft studies.
At this thought, Hu Boyuan stood up and walked toward the bathroom.
Standing at the sink, he splashed cold water on his face before looking up into the mirror.
At that moment, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him. His body swayed involuntarily, and he nearly crashed headfirst into the mirror.
Bracing himself against the sink, Hu Boyuan struggled to lift his head. But to his shock, the reflection in the mirror began to distort. His vision spun, twisted, and realigned—only to spiral again into another distortion.
He shook his head vigorously, but his sight didn't clear.
Instead, an overwhelming sensation of suffocation began to creep in.
Somewhere deep in his mind, a voice was whispering—slowly, persistently—trying to corrupt his thoughts and alter his consciousness.
Hu Boyuan fought against it, shaking his head repeatedly, trying to drive away this eerie influence.
But no matter how hard he tried, the dizziness only grew worse. His mind grew increasingly sluggish, as if he was on the verge of losing consciousness.
Desperate, he turned unsteadily, reaching for his phone on the desk to call for help.
But just as his eyes landed on the doorway, his entire body froze.
A massive, towering figure stood at the entrance.
It was wrapped in layers of bandages, leaving only fragments of skin exposed—and that exposed skin was an unnatural shade of purple. It didn't look human.
Its eyes swirled like whirlpools, exuding a sinister aura that sent shivers down his spine.
Faint, near-invisible purple threads extended from the creature's body, weaving through the air like unseen shackles, slowly slithering toward Hu Boyuan.
At that moment, he realized—this was no ordinary threat.
He had encountered a Domain Transcender.
A creature capable of moving freely beyond domain fields.
Encountering such a monster in the real world meant certain death.
But Hu Boyuan refused to accept that his life would end here—not when he had just begun pursuing his dream.
He struggled to move, to resist, but his entire body was frozen in place, as though invisible chains bound him.
"What a pity... You could have chosen Tiger Soul Research Institute."
The purple-skinned figure smirked, its tone laced with mockery.
Hu Boyuan was momentarily stunned by its words—what did it mean?
With great effort, he forced himself to speak, his voice hoarse:
"Who... are you?"
The figure chuckled, unhurried.
"Your future master."
It paused, then continued, its voice filled with amusement.
"You have talent. Your spiritual energy conversion theory—if it truly succeeds—will fill a critical gap in my race's super spellcraft development.
How could we possibly allow a genius like you to join Galaxy Research Institute?"
Hearing this, Hu Boyuan finally understood.
They were here to take him.
He had unknowingly become a valuable asset in their eyes.
A necessary component for the advancement of their super spellcraft technology.
The realization sent chills down his spine.
The purple-skinned figure watched his reaction with mild amusement.
"Don't waste your energy resisting. Just come with me."
As it spoke, its mental suppression intensified.
Hu Boyuan's consciousness teetered on the brink of collapse.
But even now—he refused to give in.
He struggled against the invisible force gripping his mind, clinging to every ounce of willpower he had left.
Seeing this, the purple-skinned figure's patience finally wore thin.
With a swift motion, it delivered a sharp knife-hand strike to the back of his neck.
Hu Boyuan's vision went dark.
Unconscious.
Without hesitation, the creature slung him over its shoulder.
For a human with a weak body and no combat training, resisting mental control would have been impossible in the long run.
Still, this one was stubborn.
It decided to take him back to their specialized mind control chamber.
Once there, it could slowly break him down.
Carrying Hu Boyuan over to the open window, the purple-skinned figure glanced outside.
A nearby surveillance camera was shifting direction.
It waited.
The moment the camera turned away—it leapt.
Landing smoothly, the impact barely made a sound.
It straightened up and moved toward the shadows, careful to avoid the glow of the streetlights.
This wasn't the first time it had done this.
Everything was executed with practiced ease.
Carrying Hu Boyuan, it walked a hundred meters before stepping into an unlit alley.
As soon as it entered the darkness—something went wrong.
A force—unseen yet overwhelming—descended upon it from all sides.
In an instant, it was suspended in midair, unable to move.
The creature's mind reeled in shock.
It struggled violently against the invisible force, but it was utterly powerless.
It immediately turned toward the darkness, where the force had originated.
And there, in the shadows—a pair of glowing eyes stared straight at it.
Cold. Piercing. Unwavering.
A deep, eerie green flame flickered in those pupils, carrying an unmistakable, suffocating aura of killing intent.
The purple-skinned figure shuddered.
Its instincts screamed—danger.
"Who's there?" It forced out, trying to mask its growing fear.
From the darkness, a voice—calm and absolute—answered:
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you're about to die."
The creature felt its body lighten—Hu Boyuan had been lifted from its grasp by an unseen force.
An unknown power gently pulled the unconscious man into the shadows.
This was bad.
This was very bad.
The purple-skinned figure began thrashing violently, struggling with all its might.
But the force binding it was unbreakable.
Then—a phone rang.
A simple, ordinary cell phone ringtone.
A moment later, a voice answered the call.
"Qi-ge, I just handled the second one. What's your status?"
A response came through the speaker—calm, casual, and laced with amusement.
"So-so. I just got the fourth... No, wait—fifth one."
The purple-skinned creature barely had time to process the words before a fist—burning with dark green flames—rushed toward its face.
The sheer force distorted the air.
The intense wind pressure alone was enough to force its eyes shut.
And then—darkness.
Its vision cut to black.
Its thoughts ceased.