Ch 1: A New Start

Chen Wang was just an average high school student on Earth. With unruly hair and a perpetual look of distraction, he was hardly noticed among the throngs of teenagers. His true passion lay in the colorful pages of cultivation manga, where heroes soared through the skies and vanquished enemies with unparalleled power. Every night, he would lose himself in those fantastical worlds, dreaming of what it would be like to wield such strength.

One evening, as he strolled home from the local manga shop, his arms laden with the latest issues, fate intervened. A car, out of control and speeding, careened off the road and struck him down. As his life ebbed away, his last thoughts were not of regret but of the epic tales he so loved.

When he next opened his eyes, it was to a different world entirely. He was no longer Chen Wang. He was Feng Chen, a three-year-old boy in a world that mirrored his beloved stories. His heart leaped with joy at the realization, his past life memories mingling with the new, filling him with unquenchable excitement. This was his second chance, a dream come true.

Feng Chen grew up in the prestigious Feng Clan, one of the four major clans of the region. As the son of the patriarch, expectations were high. From a young age, he marveled at the cultivators around him, their displays of power fueling his ambition. However, no matter how hard he tried, he showed no talent for cultivation. His excitement turned to frustration as he watched his peers advance while he remained stagnant.

Days before his fifteenth birthday, the situation reached its breaking point. In a grand assembly within the clan's ancestral hall, his father, Feng Liang, stood before him, his eyes cold and distant.

"Feng Chen," he announced, his voice echoing through the hall, "you have brought shame upon our family. Despite our hopes, you have proven yourself worthless. You are hereby exiled from the Feng Clan. Leave immediately and never return."

The pronouncement fell like a death knell. The room buzzed with whispers, and the faces of his kin were masks of scorn and disappointment. The sting of his father's words cut deep, but Feng Chen, his jaw set and eyes blazing with unshed tears, bowed one last time before turning to leave.

He walked through the clan's courtyard, past the grand statue of Feng Hao, the legendary founder. He paused, looking up at the stone figure with defiance and determination. "I will prove you all wrong," he whispered, his voice a vow.

Feng Chen left the clan with only the clothes on his back and a small pouch of provisions. The vast, unwelcoming world stretched out before him, but he pressed on, his heart a tumult of emotions. Days turned into weeks as he wandered aimlessly, his spirit battered but not broken.

Unknowingly, he ventured into the heart of the most feared forest in the region—the Grave of Immortals. The forest, shrouded in mist and legends of lost souls, was a place where even the bravest hesitated to tread. Exhausted and driven by a flicker of hope, Feng Chen stumbled upon a hidden cave. Its entrance, concealed by thick vines, seemed to call out to him.

Relief washed over him as he stepped inside the small cave. The sun had set, and the full moon was at its peak, casting an eerie blue light across the landscape. He slumped against the cool stone wall, his body aching from days of walking, and let out a heavy sigh.

"Why do I have to go through all this?" he mumbled to himself, his voice barely a whisper in the stillness. "Why was I born with such misfortune? Why am I so... trash?"

As midnight struck, a sudden warmth enveloped him. He felt an inexplicable surge of energy, and a translucent screen appeared before his eyes.

**"Congratulations! You have turned 15! Activating Seclusion System..."**

Feng Chen's eyes widened as the screen's words sank in.

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