Tianchi Lake, China
A man walked while holding his phone in his hand, "News about a mysterious island in the middle of the lake has become the headline everywhere."
"Tianchi Lake is called the Lake of Heaven, the most famous lake on the entire mainland. Of course, the media would not miss something like this."
A young woman walked beside him, her eyes fixed on the surface of the lake.
They arrived at the lakeshore and saw the mysterious island. The water level of the lake had dropped over the past few years.
Mu Chen, the leader of the archaeology team, took out his binoculars and looked toward the island. Even though it felt mysterious, tourists were still coming.
"The appearance of that island has become a new attraction for tourists," Mu Chen said. "Let's go."
Ying Mei and Han Luo nodded.
Mu Chen was not alone. He came with ten other expedition members to investigate the island.
They rented a boat and departed from the shore, traveling across the lake until they fully arrived at the island.
The reason the archaeology team was sent was because of reports from villagers. They discovered a mysterious cave that appeared at the same time as the island.
No one dared to enter it as they feared poisonous gas. That fear was reasonable, and Mu Chen understood it.
He, along with Ying Mei and Han Luo, entered the rocky area where the entrance to the mysterious cave was located.
Mu Chen stopped walking, "Ying Mei, check the carbon dioxide level inside the cave."
"I'll do it."
She opened her backpack and assembled a drone. Once it was ready, Ying Mei put on her VR goggles and held the control console with both hands.
"Han Luo, you and the others start setting up the tents."
Han Luo nodded and walked toward the other research staff to help. Mu Chen stayed near Ying Mei, waiting for the investigation to finish.
"This cave is pretty deep," Ying Mei said.
"Is the slope steep?"
She shook her head, "No, it just twists a lot."
Ying Mei pulled the drone back and shut it down. She removed the VR goggles and stood up.
"The carbon dioxide level is around 2.3 to 2.5 percent."
Her attention shifted back to the cave, "I'm worried that the deeper we go, the level will keep rising and become dangerous for the whole team."
Mu Chen knew how dangerous increasing carbon dioxide could be. But he also could not return without results.
The SCBA tanks would only last for one hour, especially considering the cave could be long and exhausting.
"So?"
"We're still going in. Because of the oxygen limits, only you, me, and him will enter," Mu Chen said, pointing at Han Luo.
"Alright."
The tents were successfully set up, the research equipment was stored, and the other staff stayed outside on watch.
The sun set and night fell. Cold air from the lake pierced the researchers' bodies.
Mu Chen was ready, as were Han Luo and Ying Mei. The three of them wore special suits, with SCBA tanks mounted on their backs and oxygen hoses connected to their mouths.
Mu Chen turned around and looked at Ying Mei and Han Luo seriously, "Stay alert. Do not touch anything."
"Yes, Leader Mu."
The three of them entered the cave, with Mu Chen walking in front. Each of them held a flashlight and pointed it ahead.
The inside of the cave felt colder than outside. That was normal, since carbon dioxide had been trapped inside for many years.
"The walls are damp and cold. The ground is rough and rocky."
Ying Mei called Yun Ling, the research assistant, "Are you recording everything, Ling'er?"
"What kind of place is this? It's different from natural caves we usually study," Han Luo said.
"This island was submerged at the bottom of the lake for many years, maybe even hundreds," Ying Mei replied.
"No," Mu Chen said, "Thousands of years."
Ying Mei and Han Luo instinctively turned their heads, observing the cave walls. The surface looked smooth, dull, or faintly glossy.
Mu Chen's prediction was correct. Although he was only 23 years old, he knew a great deal, even for a senior archaeologist.
They stopped when they reached the edge of a deep chasm. Mu Chen took out a light stick, activated it, and dropped it down.
Ying Mei and Han Luo stayed silent.
Three seconds later, the sound reached them. Yun Ling immediately reached the same conclusion as Mu Chen.
"40 meters."
Mu Chen turned to Han Luo, "Give me the rope."
"Okay."
Han Luo took out a rope and long pitons. He drove three pitons into the cave floor and wall, then attached a one hundred meter rope.
After everything was secured, Mu Chen slowly descended, with Han Luo guarding from above. It did not take long before Mu Chen reached the bottom.
He took out a carbon dioxide detector. It showed 4.6 percent, much higher.
"Come down, Ying. You stay up there, Luo."
"Yes, Leader Mu."
Ying Mei descended using the rope and reached the bottom, then looked at the detector in Mu Chen's hand.
"The deeper we go, the higher the CO2 level."
Mu Chen held his flashlight again, "Take deep breaths. Save your oxygen."
The two of them walked deeper into the cave. There was nothing suspicious and no living creatures in this place.
Their steps stopped in a wide chamber with a mysterious circular altar.
"What is this?"
All around them stood many large statues resembling gods, ones never recorded in Chinese history.
"Wow. Who built this place?"
Mu Chen did not speak. He gathered his courage and stepped into the center of the altar, while Ying Mei was drawn to the structure of the mysterious god statues.
"I'm recording everything. Analyze what kind of statues these are, Ling'er."
Unlike Ying Mei, Mu Chen stood before a circular stone table fused with the altar. On top of it, mysterious fragments were scattered irregularly.
What are these fragments?
Mu Chen grew curious and picked one up. It had engraved images and strange ancient characters. All the fragments shared similar markings.
Without turning around, Ying Mei spoke, "How is it over there, Mu Chen?"
"There are mysterious fragments. We'll take them back and assemble them outside."
"Have you recorded everything?" Mu Chen asked. Ying Mei nodded.
Ying Mei walked over and took out a large bag to collect all the fragments.
There was no other path beyond the hall, and their oxygen supply was almost depleted.
Mu Chen decided to return and continue the investigation the next day.
They climbed back up using the rope and left the cave. Outside, the research staff came to help them.
Ying Mei handed the large bag to Yun Ling, "Store this carefully. Do not throw it."
Yun Ling nodded and left, while the others began discussing and summarizing the expedition results.
As the night grew deeper, Mu Chen and the others rested. However, a mysterious voice whispered to Mu Chen.
Help me… unite all the fragments.
Mu Chen jolted awake, his heart pounding, sweat covering his face.
He tried to calm himself and looked toward the wooden table inside the research tent. The mysterious fragments were still stored there.
What… was that just now?
That voice sounded like it wanted me to assemble all the fragments.
Mu Chen lost to his curiosity. He walked to the table, took out glue, and carefully began piecing the fragments together.
Ying Mei woke up and saw Mu Chen busy with the fragments. She got up and walked over.
She arrived with a half sleepy expression, "What are you doing?"
Mu Chen put down the glue, "This… is a cauldron?"
After three hours, Mu Chen successfully assembled all the fragments into a cauldron. He narrowed his eyes while Ying Mei looked stunned.
Ying Mei's eyes widened in curiosity, "A cauldron? Why would there be a cauldron in that place?"
Even so, she noticed there was still a hollow section. The cauldron was not fully complete.
Mu Chen kept staring at the hole. For some reason, its shape felt familiar, similar to his family heirloom necklace.
Why does it look… like my necklace?
He took out the necklace and fitted it into the hole in the cauldron. The shape and size matched perfectly.
"Could it be… the final piece?"
When it locked into place, mysterious energy exploded outward, shocking everyone awake.
The furnace glowed blue and floated into the air, surrounded by swirling energy. Mu Chen and Ying Mei panicked.
Han Luo rushed into the research tent and froze at the sight of an ancient cauldron floating in the air.
"What's going on?" Han Luo asked.
Before they could react, the mysterious cauldron flew erratically and suddenly entered Mu Chen's body.
Mu Chen gasped in shock. His eyes widened as his knees hit the ground. He felt intense heat and pressure in his chest. His breathing became ragged, his mind in chaos.
"MU CHEN?!" Ying Mei shouted.
In a fleeting vision before his eyes, Mu Chen saw one thing.
A massive bolt of lightning.
Thunderclouds roared overhead. Violent winds swept away research equipment. People panicked and called for evacuation.
But before they could leave the island, a huge blue lightning strike shook the land, striking the entire archaeology team and leaving them critically injured.
Mu Chen was among the victims. He closed his eyes, believing death was right in front of him.
No.
This was the beginning of something new.
***
"Mu Chen! Wake up, Mu Chen!"
Ying Mei's voice rang painfully in his ears. Mu Chen opened his eyes and realized he was not dead.
He turned his head while holding his aching temples, "What happened?"
Why am I still alive? That lightning… it should have been impossible to survive.
Ying Mei suddenly hugged him, burying her face against his shoulder.
Mu Chen looked forward and saw Han Luo standing nearby, talking to someone.
"We're refugees, not enemies!"
Ying Mei helped Mu Chen stand up. His eyes widened when he saw dozens of people in hanfu robes surrounding them.
What is this… those clothes?
Many of them were flying on swords, blue light radiating from their bodies.
After considering every possible explanation, Mu Chen finally reached a conclusion.
Ying Mei looked terrified, "What exactly happened to us?"
"Xianxia."
"Xianxia? What do you mean? Are we in a xianxia world? Wait, isn't that fiction?" Ying Mei asked.
Mu Chen shook his head, "Apparently not anymore."
One of the cultivators stepped forward aggressively, "You're not one of us. You're demonic cultivators!"
"There's only one fate for demonic cultivators. Death!" he shouted.
Just as Mu Chen was about to act, a mysterious panel appeared in front of his face.
[Ninefold Heaven-Defying Cauldron has fused with the soul]
[Summoning the first tribulation lightning]
Mu Chen looked up at the sky and saw black clouds rumbling.
The same scene as before they were sent to this world.
"Lightning… again?"
All of the cultivators looked up with pale faces filled with fear. "What?! Tribulation lightning?!"