The Abduction
"Brother… why are you pretending to be a mortal?"
Karma stared at Su Liana in utter confusion, clutching his burning cheek. The pain was real, a fiery sting that ignited a flicker of rage he had long suppressed. It had been years since anyone had dared to lay a hand on him.
Around him, a terrifying silence reigned. His colleagues were still frozen, unable to process the surreal scene of a goddess-like figure striking a humble hotel worker. Finally, Karma managed to stammer out, "I… I don't know what you're talking about."
Su Liana's brows furrowed in a flash of impatience. "Still pretending, huh?"
She moved swiftly, her hand a blur as she pressed the pressure point at the back of his neck. A strange, invisible energy surged through her fingers and into Karma's body. His vision blurred, his muscles stiffened, and he collapsed into unconsciousness without a sound.
"Take him," she ordered coldly.
Karma's limp body was a weightless burden as two of her guards lifted him. They moved with a silent, unnatural grace, their steps making no sound on the polished marble floor. The chaos and confusion of the hotel lobby faded behind them as they stepped out into the night, the woman leading them not bothering to spare a glance for the horrified onlookers.
Chaos in the Foyer
Chaos erupted the moment they were gone.
"What the hell just happened?" Sajid whispered, his face pale. "Did anyone… did anyone else see that?"
Anthony, the manager, pinched the bridge of his nose, his hand trembling slightly. "I don't… I don't know. But keep your mouths shut. This is way beyond us."
Kiki, Karma's quiet crush, bit her lip, her voice shaky. "Why him? Why Karma? He never even… he's just… normal."
"No one's normal if people like that are after him," muttered Iryna, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Speculation swirled among the staff, but fear bound their tongues. They all knew—some things were better left unspoken.
Within hours, William's influence swept in like a cleansing wave. Security cameras were erased, eyewitness accounts silenced with hefty payouts, and official reports sealed by higher authorities. The media was fed a fabricated story: a disruptive guest was escorted out, and the matter had been resolved.
To the world, nothing had happened. But to those who worked that shift, the memory of a goddess descending and taking away their colleague would haunt them forever.
A New World
At the Williams residence, Master Hu approached William with a rare smile. "Patriarch William, you've done well. Because of your efficiency and foresight, we've secured the Young Master without incident."
From his sleeve, Hu produced a jade box and handed it over. Inside, nestled on soft velvet, lay ten shimmering pills, each radiating a faint glow.
"These are Vitality Restoration Pills. Each one can extend life by fifty years, heal injuries, and strengthen the body. In our world, they're common among cultivators, but in yours… they will make you untouchable."
William's hands shook as he accepted the box, his heart racing with newfound greed. "Such treasures… a thousand thanks, my Lord! I will dedicate all my strength to serve you."
Master Hu gave a dismissive wave, though his eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Mortals were always so easy to bind—with promises, with treasures, with fear.
Later that day, Elder Zuo returned, his expression grave.
"Disciple Su," he said, "I've confirmed my suspicion. The coordinates of our arrival align with a hidden portal. It connects this mortal world to the Astral Vein World."
Su Liana's gaze sharpened. "So it really is connected…"
"Yes," Zuo nodded. "I must report this to the sect. Since it concerns your family, I'll inform Patriarch Su as well. For now, this must remain secret. If word spreads, enemies will come sniffing."
"Understood. I have no reason to linger here either," Su Liana replied. "Once you are ready, let's return."
Awakening
In a hidden location far from the hotel, the woman and her two guards stepped through a shimmering portal, into a world with a sky unlike Earth's—a firmament dotted not by one sun, but by countless blazing stars, each one a miniature sun, orbiting like guardians around a massive world.
This world itself was colossal—its size rivaled that of Earth's sun, perhaps even greater. Towering mountains pierced the heavens, their peaks said to brush against the stars. Seas stretched into abysses so deep they could swallow multiple Jupiters as a whole. Rivers glittered with spiritual light, and forests teemed with beasts whose mere presence could shake continents.
This is the Astral Vein World, where spiritual energy surged like veins of molten gold, nurturing civilizations for billions of years. Here, mortals had long since transcended their limits, forging paths to immortality.
It was within this boundless, perilous world that the fate of Karma Hi was about to unfold.
Meanwhile, within Karma's subconscious…
Darkness.
Then—
Ding!
A crisp, mechanical voice echoed in the void.
"Congratulations, Master. I have finally awakened."
Karma stirred faintly, though his body lay motionless.
The System had awakened. And his journey was about to begin.
Ding!
A surge of energy pulsed in Karma's mind as the voice continued, a single line burning into his soul:
[Quest Initiated: Survive in the Astral Vein World.]