Without wasting another second, Qing Chen did exactly what he had been instructed to do.
He focused his thoughts and clearly imagined the word: "Inventory."
The system responded instantly.
The glowing blue screen above him shimmered—like sunlight dancing on water—before folding in on itself, forming a spinning vortex of radiant light. Without warning, Qing Chen felt a gentle tug, like being pulled into a dream.
He blinked.
When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his crib.
Instead, he stood—whole and unhindered—in a strange, tranquil space that defied logic yet felt incredibly personal. It wasn't a new world per se, but more like a dimensional warehouse built just for him. An infinite vault of potential.
All around him, shelves stretched into the distance—some brimming with glowing items, others empty but pulsing faintly as if waiting to be filled. The walls of the room weren't made of stone or steel, but of softly swirling energy: hues of gold, lavender, and stardust blue. The air smelled faintly of lavender... and something sharp, like ozone—like lightning just before a summer storm.
And then, at the center of the room—floating gracefully atop a polished obsidian pedestal—was it.
A chest.
Not just any chest, but a glowing, ethereal masterpiece wrapped in living ribbons of magic, each one curling and swaying as though dancing to a silent melody. Above it floated a title, glowing with warm golden light:
Starter Pack: "Chosen of Fate" Edition—Tailored for Qing Chen, the First of His Kind—
Qing Chen's breath caught.
He took a step toward it. Then another. Here, in this realm, he wasn't a helpless infant—his body felt free, agile, and real, like a mental projection in perfect harmony with his soul. And with every step closer, the chest's glow brightened, as if recognizing him. As if… welcoming him home.
A wide smile tugged at Qing Chen's lips.
There was something reverent—almost divine—about the chest. It shimmered with a smooth obsidian sheen, engraved with elegant runes of fate, illusion, and dominion. Golden vines traced the corners like veins of destiny, converging at the center where the emblem of the Goddess of Fate rested: a silver eye within a spinning golden ring.
"You're really spoiling me, aren't you?" he whispered, half-grinning.
As his hand reached out and touched the chest's surface, it pulsed with gentle warmth—like greeting an old friend. The magical ribbons unwrapped themselves with a flourish of starlight and vanished into sparkling motes. The lid slowly creaked open, and with a burst of soft light, a cheerful voice echoed inside the room:
Starter Pack Unlocked! Welcome, Master Qing Chen! Please enjoy your personalized blessings!
Supreme Martial Soul – "Illusion Sovereign Serpent" A unique dual-element martial soul combining Illusion and Poison. Born of a soul beast bloodline lost to history, it grants unparalleled stealth, spiritual control, and venom-based soul techniques. A snake that dances through minds and strikes through hearts.
Supreme Martial Soul – "Sun Devouring Guzheng" A divine-grade instrument martial soul born to control, support, and annihilate. Every pluck of the string can shift reality—bind enemies, bless allies, or rip through space itself. Grants enhanced sensory awareness and echolocation abilities, turning every battlefield into your personal stage.
Cultivation Manual – "Thousand Veins of Shadowlight" A yin-yang balanced cultivation art that channels shadow-light essence, amplifying compatibility with illusion, spiritual pressure, and feminine harmony techniques. Perfectly complements your dual martial souls.
Cultivation Technique – "Nine Strings of Heaven-Silencing Dao" Unlocks a mysterious avatar formed from your Guzheng comprehension. The more you understand your martial soul's music, the more powerful your attack, support, and control abilities become. At higher levels, it can summon a Heaven String Domain to silence all enemies in a radius.
Starter Outfit – "Fated Monarch's Robes" A soulbound outfit set that grows with you, offering enhanced defense, charisma, and stealth. Includes aura dampening, self-repair, and an optional illusionary appearance mode. (You know, for dramatic entrances.)
Qing Chen stood there, blinking, eyes wide with wonder—and no small amount of mischief.
This wasn't just a starter pack.
It was a divine blueprint for supremacy.
Carefully crafted. Sharpened with purpose. Wrapped in destiny.
And just as he began examining the contents more closely, the room filled with a familiar melodic giggle, followed by the ever-chirpy voice of his companion:
"You like it, Master~? Of course you do! I mean, who wouldn't? You're the first I've ever been assigned to, so I had to make it extra fabulous!"
"Take your time, go through each treasure, maybe give them a little pat or wink—I don't judge~ Let them become part of you, piece by glorious piece."
"Because from here on out... this world? This universe? It's all just waiting for your fingertips."
"The world is your playground, Master Qing Chen. Now go play~!"
The moment the voice faded, a soft glimmer of light spiraled around Qing Chen, slowly lifting each item out of the chest and gently placing it into the air around him. They hovered as if suspended in time, turning slowly for him to inspect.
He turned first to the twin martial souls, the Serpent and the Guzheng, their presence alone sending a subtle chill down his spine. It felt like looking at a piece of his very being—refined, powerful, ancient. The Illusion Sovereign Serpent pulsed with a dark emerald hue, its phantom form curling in and out of sight, whispering secrets he could almost hear. The Guzheng, meanwhile, shimmered like sunlight over black water, its strings humming with restrained energy, promising control, destruction, and salvation all in one.
He reached out his hand. As if recognizing its master, the Guzheng resonated with a low, harmonious tone. A pulse of energy surged through Qing Chen's body, and for a moment he felt himself not just seeing sound, but becoming it. Echoes. Rhythm. Flow.
And then the robes. The "Fated Monarch's Robes" unfurled mid-air, spinning slowly like a flower blooming in zero gravity. They shimmered with a subtle shimmer of black and silver, threadwoven with hidden runes that flickered in and out of view. Draping them over his projection-body, he felt an immediate shift. His posture straightened. His aura sharpened. A faint breeze picked up, making the fabric ripple as though reality itself respected the presence of royalty.
And then the cheerful voice of the system rang again:
"Looking good, Your Highness~! I told you the robes had dramatic flair built in. You wear them so well!"
Qing Chen couldn't help but chuckle.
He knew now, more than ever, that this wasn't just about survival. This was destiny unfolding. With every item granted, every power sealed into his soul, he was being molded not as a mere cultivator—but as a force.
A force that would one day stand shoulder-to-shoulder with gods.
And possibly surpass them.