C3 War God Ruins

Even in the pitch-black night, illuminated by the bright moonlight, Shih Wen could still make out the indistinct and towering black silhouette ahead. He looked up at the moon, marveling at its immense size, easily ten times larger than Earth's moon. Though the lunar surface details were unclear, the moonlight bathed the prairie, softening the darkness. Shih Wen felt a resurgence in his strength, yet he dared not rest on the stretcher. The saying "chasing a mirage" applied here as well; the shadow loomed larger and taller, but he seemed no closer to reaching it.

He had been jogging for quite some time, earning the soldiers' utmost admiration. Despite the burden of their heavy gear, they had been running for five hours straight without a single person falling behind or calling for a break. As they drew closer, the War God Ruins came into clear view. The once vague shadow was now an enormous statue, towering like a mountain peak, depicting the War God in a half-kneeling stance. It took another three hours of running before they reached the base of the statue, where they found an expanse of ruins composed of black stones and columns, sprawling the size of a mid-sized city. The ruins were eerily silent as the soldiers charged in without a moment's hesitation.

After navigating the labyrinthine ruins for nearly half an hour, they settled on a relatively intact temple to serve as their resting spot.

A tent was erected within the temple, designated as Shih Wen's place of rest. While the others made do with what they had, Shih Wen, being a person of importance, received special attention. The soldiers had meticulously prepared his accommodations, making up a bed, lighting an oil lamp, and arranging four wooden cabinets. A small workbench was set up, adorned with an assortment of bottles and jars, while boxes were piled on the floor, their contents a mystery. A small table held various snacks and an elegant little kettle, all signs of the soldiers' diligent care for Shih Wen.

Now alone in the tent, Shih Wen could hear the calls of the young soldier outside, his chest armor emblazoned with a golden double-leaf insignia. The sounds of troops lining up, roll call, and the meticulous registration of names filled the air. The soldiers were reorganized into three squadrons, each led by a lance corporal bearing the double-leaf badge. Once the divisions were established, they arranged for rest and sentry duties. The young soldier with the double-leaf badge clearly commanded respect among the ranks, with all the soldiers following his directives without question.

Shih Wen was in no position to concern himself with external affairs; he was struggling just to keep himself together. Exhausted, he slumped onto the bed. A brief period of standing left his back sore and aching. He couldn't fathom how he had become so fragile, feeling like a patient with severe myasthenia gravis, barely able to twitch a finger.

Despite his curiosity about the small experimental setup, Shih Wen knew that establishing his identity was paramount. He rifled through the wooden cabinet and quickly unearthed a diary, which he began to read with great attention.

"Year 334 of Emperor Cheng's reign, July 7th, clear skies. My mentor suggested I gain experience in the army. I'm aware I've been a burden to him. Without a firm decision, my points will be depleted, and I'll be expelled from the Weaponry Pavilion. Losing my status as an inner disciple would relegate me to an ordinary person, devoid of any cultivation resources. For someone with my meager talent for cultivation, that's unthinkable. The army is my only option. A month's training there earns me a point, and I won't have to worry about being ousted from the Pavilion. I've resolved to join the military.

Year 334, July 8th, overcast. My mood mirrors the weather; it's hard to leave my dear junior sister. My heart aches, but I know that if I continue this lackluster existence, she won't give me a second look. Among all the junior brothers, I'm the least accomplished. Junior Sister may seem kind, but her eyes betray sadness, resignation, and pity. It leaves me feeling lost. I don't want to lose her, yet I'm aware that I already have. Thus, I've signed up at the Weaponry Pavilion's Logistics Office.

Year 334, July 9th, light rain. My spirits are low. The notice in my hand directs me to the newly formed 333rd Heavy Armored Infantry Brigade.

...

Year 334, July 13th, sunny. I reported to the Red River Division. It was my mentor who recommended me, and I've let him down. I watched him discreetly hand a red envelope to the lieutenant general, which secured my position as the deputy commander of the 333rd Heavy Armored Infantry Brigade."

On July 14th, the weather was fair, and I left my master's sect, taking all my belongings with me to join the 334th Heavy Armored Infantry Brigade. The brigade was full of new recruits from across the empire, each one well-trained. The rank of every soldier was at least that of a martial cultivator, with lance corporals being martial masters. Squadron leaders were at the peak of the Martial Master realm, and the brigade commander was at the pinnacle of the Grand Martial Master level. I was the only one carrying the title of Alchemist, yet I was merely an apprentice, not even having attained the level of a Martial Apprentice. Without my status as an inner disciple of the Weaponry Pavilion, I would have been looked down upon by all.

...

On the 25th of July, under clear skies, we set out urgently. I led a squadron as logistics support, carrying a substantial amount of supplies. We joined the main logistics convoy, which was so vast that one could neither see its beginning nor its end.

...

By the 29th day, the weather had turned overcast. Our forces had split, and I needed to locate my brigade to deliver the logistics supplies. However, we found ourselves lost on the vast grasslands.

Alright, this is the last entry. Today should be July 30th. Looking at the notebook, it turns out this alchemist is also named Shih Wen. Coincidentally, the two of them are identical in appearance. I've also learned that he is the deputy commander of the 334th Heavy Armor Infantry Brigade, a rather high-ranking position. A brigade consists of three hundred people, which is equivalent to a deputy battalion commander. It's quite a prestigious role to step into right away, and it feels pretty good, although the situation is incredibly perilous.

To become stronger, there's only one path—cultivation. From the diary, Shih Wen learned that this alchemist's talent for cultivation was exceptionally poor. In his fifteen-year career, he only managed to reach the second stage, which is to say his cultivation was a complete mess. Now, the twenty-two-year-old Shih Wen has taken over for that unlucky sixteen-year-old. With nothing else to do, Shih Wen rummaged through a chest and pulled out a book. This cultivation technique, though basic, was something only the inner disciples of the Weaponry Pavilion could practice, and its level was extremely high.

Shih Wen began to study it earnestly. The first stage of the cultivation technique was illustrated with a dense network of nodes and meridians on a human body chart. The red lines on the technique charted the circulation routes: one main route and twenty-three branches. It took Shih Wen a full three hours to memorize all the pathways. Setting the manual aside, he assumed an odd posture and commenced his cultivation.

The cultivation process involved absorbing two types of energy that permeated this world: Spiritual Qi and Universe Power. Both were crucial and indispensable. Shih Wen's initial cultivation cycle yielded no results, but during the second cycle, he entered a trance-like state, as if transported to a bizarre world brimming with colorful mists and luminous dots. The cycle's objective was to draw these light spots into his body, predominantly the white ones, followed by a spectrum of other hues, with gold being the most abundant and black the rarest.

With each cycle, Shih Wen felt a sensation akin to sipping a cup of sweet wine, leaving his body immensely refreshed. However, upon completing the seventh cycle, his body convulsed violently, and it felt as though someone had struck his head with a hammer, shattering it into pieces. The pain was so intense that Shih Wen nearly lost consciousness.

He ceased cultivating immediately and clasped his hands together, gasping for air. Opening his eyes, he surveyed the tent—it was pitch-black outside. Apart from the distant sentries' faint sounds and the snoring around him, it was silent. Time in this world moved sluggishly; he estimated a day lasted 36 hours, with 18 hours of night. Shih Wen couldn't tell the time. He felt his head; there were no signs of injury. He hadn't been attacked, so why the excruciating pain? Was it an illusion? Yet the pain had felt so real. And now, why did his head no longer hurt? This left Shih Wen utterly baffled.

At that moment, Shih Wen's spirits lifted as if he'd just had a restful sleep. He yearned to sit in front of a computer and delve into processor studies. A sudden epiphany struck him—if he could integrate this knowledge into the processor, it would significantly reduce energy consumption. Seizing the moment, Shih Wen quickly formulated a new logic module. Just as he stood to jot down this breakthrough in his notebook, he slumped back down, a wry smile on his face. In a world dominated by swords and spears, what good was designing a top-tier processor? Without modern industrial capabilities, how could he possibly manufacture it?

After his mind wandered for a bit, Shih Wen, with nothing else to occupy his time, resumed his cultivation. His spirits were high, and sleep was the last thing on his mind. Shih Wen was a consummate scholar; aside from the necessities of eating and sleeping, he devoted every possible moment to learning. His dedication was such that he even studied in his sleep. It was this relentless pursuit of knowledge that enabled him to independently clone the processor of an Apple phone at the tender age of 22. His mentor, astounded by his prowess, had considered recommending him to an academician. Had it not been for the overwhelming number of issues they were tackling in their current bootleg research project, Shih Wen might already have made a name for himself.

After completing several intensive cycles of cultivation, Shih Wen once again found himself in a peculiar, trance-like state. What was happening? Upon examining the flow of energy within his body, he was startled to discover a transparent orb nestled in his mind. It functioned like the root of a colossal tree, drawing in all the specks of light and mist that Shih Wen had laboriously gathered. The orb was split into two distinct layers: the upper one swirled clockwise, resembling a galaxy, while the lower one spun counter-clockwise, akin to a sea of clouds.

As Shih Wen observed this extraordinary and unfamiliar spectacle within the luminous orb, a dark, unsightly object caught his eye, floating amidst the cloud-like layer below. It was the very same bomb-like entity that had catapulted him into this world. Appearing within him like an apparition, it was a ticking time bomb that could, at any moment, blast him into another unknown realm. At that moment, Shih Wen couldn't help but feel that his luck had taken a turn for the worse.