The first sensation upon regaining consciousness was suffocation.
Ye Chen felt himself wrapped in a warm, viscous fluid, surrounded by pitch-black darkness. He tried to struggle, but his body was completely beyond his control—no, to be precise, this body was too small, so small that even opening his eyes was a luxury.
"What's going on?"
The moment this thought surfaced in his mind, an immense squeezing force pressed in from all sides. It was as if an invisible hand was pushing him through a narrow passage. The instant light pierced his eyes, a loud cry escaped his own lips.
"It's a boy!"
Ye Chen was vaguely picked up by someone. Through his blurred vision, he saw a tired but joyful face—a young woman gazing at him with tender affection.
"Madam, congratulations! The young master is very healthy," said the midwife with a smile.
Ye Chen's mind went blank.
He remembered being in the lab just moments ago, debugging that damned quantum collider. Then there was a flash of white light, and everything ended. Now, he had become an infant?
"Time travel?"
He had read about this concept countless times in modern web novels, but now it was truly happening to him. Ye Chen wanted to laugh bitterly, but all that came out were the cries of a baby.
Six years was enough time for a former quantum physicist to accept reality.
The world Ye Chen found himself in was called the Yuanling Continent, a realm where "Lingyuan" formed the core of its power system. Every child underwent an Awakening Ceremony at the age of six, during which their Lingyuan attribute was tested, determining their future path of cultivation.
In this life, Ye Chen was the only son of a declining noble family in Qingshi City. His father, Ye Haoran, had once been a renowned Lingyuan Master in the city, but a mission had left him severely injured and his Lingyuan destroyed. Since then, he had fallen into despair. His mother, Lin Wanqing, was gentle and devoted, barely managing to keep the household afloat with the family's remaining assets.
"Chen'er, the ceremony is tomorrow. Are you nervous?"
That evening, Lin Wanqing sat by his bedside, gently stroking Ye Chen's hair. Her eyes were filled with anticipation, but also a hint of worry she tried to hide.
Ye Chen shook his head. "Not nervous."
Lin Wanqing smiled. "You've always been calmer than other children. Your father often says you remind him of himself when he was young."
Ye Chen said nothing. He knew what his mother was worried about—in this world, one's Lingyuan attribute determined their entire future. There were nine basic attributes: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, Light, and Dark, each with clear distinctions of strength. And now, the family could not afford another blow.
"Mother, no matter what attribute I awaken, I will protect you and Father," Ye Chen said earnestly.
Lin Wanqing was momentarily stunned, then her eyes reddened as she pulled her son into her embrace.