Liang Chen woke up in the mortal world with a groan. His head of bai chen body felt heavy, his arms weak, and his chest so hollow he thought even a child could knock him over. He rubbed his forehead and muttered, "What kind of prodigy body is this? System, don't tell me I got scammed.
This isn't talent, this is… discount goods!"
He clenched his fist and nearly cried when it trembled like wet tofu.
"System!" he shouted in his mind. "Explain. Why is my body so weak? Didn't you say this Bai Chen brat was a cultivation prodigy? He's supposed to become immortal-level easily! Look at me—I can barely walk without panting like an old farmer!"
The system did not answer.
"Don't ignore me," Liang Chen snapped. "I'll keep asking until—"
Before he could finish, his vision blurred. His body slumped back against the bed, but his mind was pulled out like a string of light. The next instant, he was no longer in his small room. He stood in the Heavenly Realm, floating in midair.
The sky stretched endless above him, painted in rivers of stars. The ground below was not ground at all, but a sprawling expanse of worlds stitched together like a giant tapestry.
He blinked, dumbfounded. "…Eh? Did you just—system, did you seriously drag me here just to shut me up?"
The system's mechanical tone finally echoed: "Host wishes to understand? Very well. Observe."
Liang Chen squinted. "Observe what? Don't act like some master painter showing off his gallery—"
But then he saw it.
Far below, an entire ocean shimmered with silver light. Within it swam starfish the size of mountains, each one glowing faintly. Their arms stretched like islands, and smaller creatures danced upon them. The ocean waves rose so high, they glittered like curtains of liquid stars.
Liang Chen's jaw dropped. "…You're telling me you have a starfish farm here? What is this, a cosmic aquarium?"
The system did not respond, but the starfish spun gracefully, releasing beams of starlight into the sky. Liang Chen almost forgot his own complaints. Almost.
"Fine, that's pretty. But it doesn't explain my noodle arms," he grumbled.
The scene shifted. Suddenly, he was standing at the edge of a vast canyon. The earth below trembled, and when he looked down, he saw enormous wolves prowling in packs. Their bodies were so huge that a single paw could crush a mountain peak. Their howls echoed through the realm, shaking the air until Liang Chen had to cover his ears.
His lips twitched. "…So now you're showing me your wolf kennel? Let me guess—'Primal Wolf Breeding Grounds'? System, what are you doing with all these monsters, raising them as pets? Don't tell me there's a 'Heavenly Dao Zoo' in here."
One wolf leapt across the canyon, clearing miles in a single bound. Liang Chen stumbled back, his heart racing. Then he remembered this was only his consciousness. Still, his legs shook.
"Okay, fine, they're impressive. But I'm not impressed enough to forget that I almost fainted climbing a tree yesterday!" he shouted into the air.
The system ignored his whining. His vision blurred again, and this time he stood in a serene valley.
At the center grew an ancient tree so large it pierced the heavens. Its bark was etched with glowing runes, each one older than time. Golden fruits hung from its branches, each fruit radiating an aura that could make mortals kneel in worship. Around the roots, rivers of light flowed like liquid jade.
Liang Chen stared for a long time, utterly silent. Then he whispered, "…Alright, I'll admit it. That's beautiful."
A fruit dropped from a branch, hitting the ground with a soft thud. A shockwave rolled out, making mountains in the distance quake. Birds scattered from the treetops, their wings shining with rainbow feathers.
Liang Chen smirked. "Not bad. If I had one of those fruits, I'd probably become stronger instantly. Hey, system, be a bro. Pack me one to-go? Just a snack, I won't tell anyone."
"…Denied."
"Stingy bastard," Liang Chen muttered.
The system's voice finally grew more serious: "Host, understand this. These wonders—star beasts, ancient trees, primordial creatures—are all foundations of the Heavenly Realm. They exist because Heaven allows them to. But you, in your mortal body, do not start here. You begin at the very bottom.""
Liang Chen crossed his arms. "So you're saying… I'm weak because mortals have to start with the body?"
"Correct. A mortal cultivator must temper their blood, bone, and flesh before touching the qi of heaven and earth. It is a long, painful path, and many die before they ever reach the first step."
He frowned. "…But then what about those born geniuses?"
The system's tone sharpened: "There are some born with qi already flowing in their veins. They bypass the struggle of the body entirely. They step into qi cultivation from birth. Such beings are called heaven-favored, but they are only pampered children of fate. You, however, must climb from the mud. This is your trial. This is what defines true prodigy."
Liang Chen stared at his trembling hands, the same hands he had cursed earlier. He thought of those children born with glowing eyes, with clans showering them in treasures, with destinies laid before them like red carpets.
Then he thought of himself, weak and fragile, stumbling just to stand.
He laughed once—short and bitter. "So I'm the type who has to sweat blood for every inch, while others fly past me on golden wings? And you're saying this is supposed to make me stronger?"
"…Yes."
He shook his head and chuckled. "Heaven really is cruel."
But when he looked again at the vast tree, at the starfish seas, at the wolves that howled beneath the heavens, a strange fire lit in his chest..
"Fine then," he muttered. "If that's how it is, I'll climb with these weak legs. I'll break these bones, bleed this blood, and temper this body. When I stand at the peak, I won't owe heaven anything."
The system was silent, but Liang Chen felt its approval in the weight of the realm around him.
He smirked. "But seriously, system. Next time I complain, don't just throw me into a zoo. At least give me a warning—I nearly pissed myself when that wolf jumped!"
This time, he thought he heard the system make a sound very much like… a sigh.