There were no stars this time.
No sounds.
Only the immense presence of pure thought stretching infinitely around him.
A silent current pulled at his being, and he let himself be carried—
as easily and naturally as a leaf on a river.
The flow quickened.
A roaring sound filled the space between thoughts—
then, in an instant, he plunged into existence again.
The world solidified.
Shen Li gasped as his senses returned.
He lay in a hospital bed, the sterile scent of disinfectant heavy in the air.
Fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead.
An IV drip was attached to his arm.
Outside the window, he glimpsed a bustling city:
normal cars honking in traffic, people hurrying down the sidewalks, neon signs flashing for noodle shops, gyms, and martial arts dojos.
It looked just like Earth... modern Earth.
Not some futuristic fantasy.
Not the ancient world of his last life.
"This... this is almost identical to 2025," Shen Li thought, his heart pounding.
Then, the memories struck.
A flood of foreign thoughts and emotions surged through him.
His name: Xiao Zhan.
Second son of the Xiao family, owners of a vast martial arts business empire.
Wealthy. Spoiled. Aggressive.
A minor villain in a story—
a story Shen Li had read in his first life.
"Chronicles of the Invincible Martial King."
He remembered it clearly:
Lu Feng, a poor but talented young man, would rise through the martial arts ranks to challenge the corrupt elites. Xiao Zhan—the body he now inhabited—was one of the stepping stones Lu Feng would defeat early on.
"But... how can a novel I once read now be real?"
Bewilderment flooded him.
The answer whispered to him from deep within his consciousness:
Consciousness precedes material reality.
Belief creates worlds.
If enough minds imagined and believed... entire realities could spring into existence.
Shen Li, who had once traversed ancient worlds, felt awe stir within him once more.
Sitting up slowly, he tried to process it all.
"Alright... Understand the situation first. Act second."
Xiao Zhan’s Background (from memories):
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Father: Xiao Ren, head of the Xiao Martial Holdings. A strict, no-nonsense businessman who respected strength and status.
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Mother: Madam Bai—a graceful, dignified woman, proud but fiercely protective of her family.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
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Older Brother: Xiao Rui, the family's golden child—handsome, brilliant, universally admired.
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Status: Rich kid attending one of the city's elite martial arts academies.
In the novel, Xiao Zhan was the classic "young master" trope:
spoiled, prideful, humiliating others until karma caught up.
Just as Shen Li gathered his bearings, the door burst open.
Madam Bai rushed in.
She was beautiful—around forty, with elegant features and a composed, noble air. She wore a tailored white blouse and dark trousers, her long hair tied back neatly.
But right now, her usual sternness was cracking under worry.
"Zhan'er!" she cried, hurrying to his side. "What were you thinking? Fainting during sparring practice?!"
Her voice was sharp, but Shen Li could hear the fear behind it.
Before she could continue, he bowed his head respectfully.
"Mother... I apologize. I made you worry."
Madam Bai froze mid-step.
Her mouth hung slightly open.
She stared at him like he was a stranger.
"You... apologized?" she said incredulously.
"Yes," Shen Li said sincerely. "You have cared for me deeply. I was unfilial to make you worry."
Madam Bai blinked, then looked at him suspiciously.
"Are you feeling alright? Should I call the doctor again? Maybe you hit your head harder than we thought?"
Just then, Xiao Rui entered, holding a coffee cup.
"Mother, what's going on—" he began, then paused, eyeing Shen Li.
He arched an eyebrow. "Is he... being polite?"
Madam Bai crossed her arms. "That's what I was just asking."
Xiao Rui shook his head in mock sadness. "Maybe he really is possessed. Should we bring Master Zhao to perform an exorcism?"
Madam Bai gasped. "Good idea!"
Shen Li laughed softly. "No need, Mother, Brother. I am simply... growing up."
Madam Bai narrowed her eyes, still suspicious—but her hand lightly brushed his forehead, checking his temperature with surprising gentleness.
"...Fine," she huffed. "But if you start acting crazy, we're calling Master Zhao immediately."
Over the next few days, Shen Li observed this world carefully.
The World Background:
The city, called Donghai City, was a bustling coastal metropolis.
Life looked almost identical to 2025 Earth:
smartphones, social media, modern cars, busy coffee shops and shopping malls.
Children rushed to school with backpacks; workers grumbled about commutes.
But martial arts were woven into everyday life.
1- Martial Academies operated like prestigious private schools, teaching both academic subjects and martial techniques.
2- Tournaments were major events—broadcast on television and packed with cheering fans.
3- Qi Practitioners were rare but revered—individuals who had trained their bodies beyond normal limits, achieving feats of strength and agility ordinary people could only dream of.
4- Common people lived normal lives, practicing martial arts more as a fitness trend than a path to power.
Enhancements were subtle—people weren't shooting fireballs or flying—but elite martial artists could smash concrete with their fists, run faster than Olympic athletes, and shrug off minor injuries.
In other words, it was still Earth.
Just... slightly sharper, more intense.
One day, walking through Donghai Academy's campus, Shen Li spotted Lu Feng in the distance.
Lu Feng was exactly as he remembered from the novel:
sharp-eyed, disciplined, wearing plain training clothes despite his rising fame.
He sparred with another student, moving with a grace and ferocity far beyond others his age.
Spectators gathered, whispering:
"That's Lu Feng! They say he might win the Donghai Martial Cup this year!"
"I heard he comes from the Lower Districts. Incredible!"
Watching quietly, Shen Li felt a strange emotion:
not jealousy... but admiration.
"A rare seedling indeed. But even he has not glimpsed the true heights of cultivation."
That evening, Shen Li sat in the Xiao family's quiet courtyard, beneath a sprawling old banyan tree.
Cool wind stirred the leaves.
Crickets chirped softly.
He reflected.
"If I follow the novel's script... I become a stepping stone."
"If I resist... chaos will follow."
But Shen Li was no longer bound by narratives.
He had crossed death itself.
He had seen the endless sea of thought beyond existence.
This life... he would walk his own road.
No schemes.
No hatred.
No obsession with proving himself.
He would live quietly, simply, seeking peace over power.
He would master martial arts—not for fame or conquest—
but for inner fulfillment.
Under the vast, starlit sky, Shen Li smiled.
"I will not be a puppet of fate."
"This time... I live for myself."
[End of Chapter 3]