The misty rain enveloped the lake like a veil, its droplets slanting through the air, dampening the faces of passersby. Yet, the crowd only grew, meandering through the dreamlike scenery.
By the willow-lined shore, Meng Qi, clad in a blue robe and a scholar’s headscarf, crouched by the water, washing his hands while observing the bustling visitors. Behind him, Gu Xiaosang stood gracefully beneath a branch, dressed in a plain white dress, holding a red umbrella that shielded them both. Nearby, incense smoke curled from a Taoist temple, where offerings were made to the Heavenly Venerate Su Meng, who embodied the unity of the Three Pure Ones.
“Let’s go,” Meng Qi said leisurely, rising to his feet with hands clasped behind his back, exuding calm and ease.
Gu Xiaosang tilted the red umbrella against her shoulder, her dimpled smile playful as she teased, “Go where?”
“Just wander, to feel the mortal world. Staying too long above the clouds makes one lose their true heart.” As he spoke, Meng Qi brushed past several travelers, none aware that a Heavenly Venerate walked among them. “Being lofty is not wrong, but believing one must always remain lofty leads to delusion. Severing emotions is a path, but insisting it is the only path is also delusion.”
Gu Xiaosang pursed her lips, her eyes shimmering. “To me, the mortal world—men and women, young and old—holds no weight. Helping is not dull, nor is destruction unbearable. I simply refuse to let the Mother I resisted for half my life become another Golden Emperor.”
Her words were cryptic, yet Meng Qi nodded slightly, plucking a willow leaf and crushing it into a palmful of stardust, each speck gleaming brilliantly.
The stardust soared into the sky, piercing the misty rain and drawing countless gazes upward.
“What is this?” Gu Xiaosang asked with a hint of girlish curiosity.
Meng Qi smiled, his left hand behind his back. “Though I left a thread of hope for all things when shaping this era’s myriad realms, most mortals never encounter a chance to change their fate. I scatter these ‘opportunities,’ giving every being a dream to grasp.”
“Of course, if they refuse, it matters not. It is their choice—I will not meddle in their futures.”
As they walked, their voices faded, their figures dissolving into the mist.
Above, the stardust burst like meteors streaking through time.
—
The night was intoxicating, but Shen Cheng jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat from a nightmare he could barely escape.
Dreams reflect thoughts—in his, he witnessed his family destroyed by an impending calamity. Powerless to stop it, he was forced to abandon his privileged life, wandering the martial world, fighting for survival, until he was hacked to death at the gates of his own mansion.
“It’s just a dream… but what happens when that disaster comes in a year? I can’t let this happen…” Panting, Shen Cheng’s mind raced with chaotic thoughts.
Restless, he threw on a robe and paced to the window, gazing at the bright moon.
By the windowsill stood his desk, cluttered with his favorite novels and tales.
Then—a streak of light tore across the sky, landing on his desk as a thick, golden-glowing tome with dark red embossed characters.
“This is…” Shen Cheng stared, shock and suspicion warring within him.
Joy bubbled up—he’d read enough stories to recognize this: a protagonist’s fortuitous encounter!
His gaze dropped to the title:
**”A Decade of Qidian Anthology!”**
“A Decade of Qidian Anthology?” Shen Cheng muttered, baffled. What in the world was this?
Steadying himself, he carefully opened the book. The first page declared:
*”Flip to any page, and you shall receive the corresponding opportunity. Only once.”*
Below was a table of contents, each entry paired with a page number:
– *”Transmigration — Page 1″*
– *”Rebirth — Page 356″*
– *”Mastery of Poetry — Page 399″*
– *”Physical Stat System & Templates — Page 400″*
– *”Multiverse Marketplace — Page 701″*
– *”Superpowers — Page 702″*
– *”Main God Space — Page 1008″*
…
Shen Cheng gaped, even spotting entries like:
– *”Protagonist Aura (Lone Wolf Edition)”*
– *”Protagonist Aura (Harem Magnet Edition)”*
– *”Protagonist Aura (Enemy IQ Drop Edition)”*
– *”Protagonist Aura (NPC World Edition)”*
“What kind of nonsense is this?” It took him a while to recover. Pinching his cheek confirmed he wasn’t dreaming—the book was real.
“A real opportunity… Flip to a page, gain its power… Rebirth—does that mean starting over? Different pages, different timelines? This is control over time itself!”
But caution nagged him. “Could this be a trap? Why me? Is it just coincidence?”
Under the weight of impending doom, he took a deep breath and decided to gamble.
After deliberation, he flipped to *”Physical Stat System & Templates.”*
Transmigration meant abandoning his family—unacceptable. Rebirth might not fix his current crisis. Superpowers relied on luck. The *”Main God Space”* and *”Multiverse Marketplace”* were unknowns. The *”Protagonist Auras”* were locked. Thus, a stat system was the safest bet.
The page glowed, engulfing him. When the light faded, the book was gone, replaced by floating text:
**Name:** Shen Cheng
**Age:** 19
**Strength:** 16 (A decent strongman)
**Agility:** 12 (Average)
**Willpower:** 10 (Sentimental)
**Wisdom:** 16 (Caution is good)
**Stamina:** 15 (Well-trained)
**Intelligence:** 13 (Mediocre)
**Charisma:** 18 (13+5) (Admired, family bonus)
**HP:** 150 (No vital weaknesses)
**Attribute Points:** 3
**Reset Chance:** 1
**Template:** Divine Godhood
Shen Cheng allocated two points to Strength. Heat surged through him.
In the garden, he lifted a stone lock—once impossible—with ease.
Joy and dread warred within him. This power was real, but its origin…
—
Years later, a ship docked at an island amid roaring tides.
Shen Cheng, hands behind his back, ascended the steps, his aura profound. Ahead stood a gray-blue Taoist temple—renowned for divination. A question had gnawed at him for years.
—
Elsewhere, Ren Yunfei groaned, realizing he’d gotten lost again. He’d meant to visit a temple for a blessing charm but wound up at the Dragon-Tiger Monastery.
“Fine. Since I’m here…” He grabbed a fortune stick, muttering, “What *was* that ‘anthology’?”
—
“Priest, I seek a divination,” Shen Cheng said calmly to the white-haired Taoist.
“What do you wish to know?”
“Years ago, I encountered a fortuitous event. I wish to know the intentions of the power behind it.”
The old priest lifted a divination plate.
—
Ren Yunfei shook the stick tube, whispering, “What *was* that ‘Decade of Jinjiang Anthology’?”
A stick clattered to the ground.
—
“What does it say?” Ren Yunfei asked the old monk nervously.
The monk smiled. “Four words.”
“Which are?”
**”A Good Deed.”**
—
“And the answer?” Shen Cheng pressed.
The Taoist sighed.
**”Shooting Without a Target.”**
“Shooting… without a target?” Shen Cheng echoed, stunned.
Was this the answer he’d sought for so long?
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