Chapter One: Planetary Transformation Package

The walls of the Jiatong Pass stood thick and cold under the setting sun. This was the easternmost frontier outpost of the Dongli Dynasty; beyond it to the west lay the territory of humanity’s mortal enemy—the Celestial Demon Empire—whose own outpost was the Sunset Forest.

Unlike the towering, majestic Jiatong Pass, the Sunset Forest was a vast, boundless expanse of primeval woodland. The ancient trees, hundreds or even thousands of years old, soared into the clouds and blotted out the sky, shrouding the land in perpetual twilight. Within that darkness lurked countless spirits and monsters.

Between the two outposts stretched a buffer zone, several miles wide and of unknown length. From atop Jiatong Pass, this swath of land could be seen in its entirety.

Clang, clang, clang.

As dusk fell, two companies—each about two hundred men strong—marched in perfect step, crossing paths as they patrolled the ramparts.

“Halt!”

Just as the rearguards of the two companies brushed past each other, the commander of one shouted a sudden order. At his command, his troops froze in place. In less than three seconds, the entire unit had shifted into defensive posture.

“What’s going on?” the captain of the other company asked, stepping into the air three feet above the ground, his spear gleaming coldly.

“There’s someone outside the pass!” the first commander said, raising his regulation spear and pointing into the distance.

Following the line of his weapon, the soldiers saw, roughly five miles from the pass, a handsome young man in white with golden trim, hovering silently in midair. His gaze was lowered, and a look of mild surprise played on his face.

...

“So this is the college entrance examination site?” As his consciousness blanketed the entire Hope Star, Ye Han realized this planet was immense—the continent beneath his feet alone was comparable in size to all the land on Earth. And there were eighty-four landmasses of similar scale, not counting the scattered islands across the oceans, which together would make another twenty-three sizable regions.

Yet, despite such vast lands, they covered only thirty-seven percent of Hope Star’s surface; the remaining sixty-three percent was swallowed by endless, raging seas.

“The dynasty’s territory equals half of old China... but the population is low, only 370 million... Top combat power is eighth-tier... Ranks outside the top 100,000 in the world’s power index... Geographically isolated by sea, with two-thirds of its borders adjoining the demon race... Overall ranking: 79,521, with mid-to-low war potential.”

Ye Han quickly assessed the exam site. He had just memorized his “seat” assignment when his vision blurred and he was forcibly ejected by the world’s will.

Only twenty breaths were allotted for observing the exam site—how much you could remember depended on your own abilities.

“Han!” Just as Ye Han finished, a chubby youth beside him leapt up with excitement. “How’s it look? What’s the basic foundation of the faction you got assigned?”

This two-hundred-pound youth was Xu Wenya, Ye Han’s childhood friend and sworn brother.

“It’s not great,” Ye Han replied flatly. “Overall ranking: 79,521.” He brushed aside Xu Wenya’s thick, carrot-like fingers from his shoulder and glanced around at the noisy crowd, feeling a wave of irritation. He’d only just arrived in this world—the memories of his predecessor were still a muddled heap. Best to keep a low profile for now.

“Seventy-nine thousand five hundred twenty-one?” Xu Wenya was stunned, then, as if recalling something, lowered his voice and asked, “Is your faction within the Dongli Dynasty?”

Xu Wenya’s cautious manner piqued Ye Han’s curiosity. This guy, with his conspicuous ears, had always been a master of gossip and inside information. Had he learned something important?

Ye Han couldn’t quite guess, but he nodded anyway.

“Let’s go—to my place!” Xu Wenya’s face lit up with excitement. He summoned a spatial gate with a casual gesture, grabbed Ye Han’s arm, and pulled him through.

Behind the gate was a welfare apartment provided by the Pan-Human Alliance for its citizens. Ye Han had a unit of his own, too. The rooms were utterly private; only those with explicit authorization could enter.

Ye Han had Xu Wenya’s authorization, so he passed through unhindered. As soon as they stepped inside, the spatial door dissolved into the void.

“Han, we’re in luck!” As the door closed, Xu Wenya launched himself at Ye Han in a bear hug.

Ye Han, long used to this, kicked him away without even looking. “Get off me! Don’t you know how much you weigh?”

“Heh, just excited,” Xu Wenya said, unfazed by the kick. “Aren’t you curious what I found out?”

Smirking, he sidled up to Ye Han, who ignored him and strode over to the snack pile, grabbing a nutrient drink and gulping it down. Knowing Xu Wenya’s temperament, Ye Han didn’t bother to ask—he wouldn’t be able to hold it in for long anyway.

“Oh come on, can’t you at least show a little interest?” Xu Wenya whined, snatching the half-finished drink from Ye Han’s hand, only to see Ye Han already opening another bottle.

“Get to the point. I’ve got places to be.” Ye Han showed no mercy.

“All right, all right!” Xu Wenya gave in, glancing around the empty room out of ingrained caution before dropping his voice. “From what I’ve heard, Luan Shuangyu is also in the Dongli Dynasty.”

“Luan Shuangyu?!” The name made Ye Han’s eyes flash with a sharp light, and he crushed the bottle in his hand, splattering white liquid over Xu Wenya’s face.

“Heh!” Xu Wenya wiped his face, grinning slyly. “Isn’t it exciting? You’ve landed yourself the goddess! Bet you weren’t expecting that!”

“I definitely wasn’t,” Ye Han replied, his expression conflicted.

He was currently in the Pool of All Heavens, within the Pan-Human Alliance’s Ninth Sequence, the “Liyang Star Domain.” Aside from the main world, “Liyang Prime,” there were twenty-seven subordinate star realms. Because of administrative protocols, individuals assigned to the main world were each randomly bound to a life-bearing planet at birth.

Both Ye Han and Xu Wenya were bound to a planet in the 07th Star Realm—in fact, every student from Liyang Seventh High was bound to planets in the 07th Star Realm. Luan Shuangyu as well.

The only difference was that her planet’s privilege level had already reached Level 3.

Of the 3.2 million graduates from Liyang Seventh High this year, only six had reached Level 3 authority. Luan Shuangyu was one of them—the undisputed goddess of their school.

“Heh!” Xu Wenya, thinking Ye Han was about to be overwhelmed by good fortune, threw an arm around his shoulders. “With her planet’s power, Luan Shuangyu will take over the Dongli Dynasty within a year. All you need to do is ally with her, latch onto her coattails, and you could sweep an entire continent. Your college entrance score would skyrocket!”

Already envisioning Ye Han’s glory beside Luan Shuangyu, Xu Wenya’s hands waved with excitement.

His own exam site was the same as Ye Han’s, but on a different continent, making it impossible for them to help one another. Xu Wenya’s randomly assigned faction was on an island; with his Level 2 privilege, as long as he didn’t run into a Level 3, he’d be fine.

Watching his friend’s excitement, Ye Han said quietly, “I don’t think I can latch onto that coattail.”

“Huh?” Xu Wenya was puzzled. “Why not? You’re peak Level 2—sure, you can’t match a Level 3, but you’re a true main force. Teaming up with her would be perfect. Unless...?”

“No,” Ye Han cut him off with a wave, his face darkening. “I’ve dropped to Level 1 authority.”

“What?” Xu Wenya jumped up, aghast. “How is that possible? Did your planet get conquered?”

Normally, a downgrade only occurred if the intelligent population of the bound planet died in large numbers, the ecosystem collapsed, and civilization fell into chaos.

To drop from near-Level 3 to Level 1 at such a critical moment—Xu Wenya was frantic.

“What the hell happened? Which bastard attacked your planet? I’ll rally the troops right now—even if I flunk the exam, I’ll take them out!”

Ye Han patted Xu Wenya’s hands, signaling him to let go, then explained, “Yesterday someone gave me a planetary transformation package, claiming it would boost me to Level 3.”

“And you used it without asking?” Xu Wenya’s hands fell away in shock, then he punched Ye Han’s shoulder in anger. “How could you not consult me? You know how risky those packages are!”

Planetary transformation packages were custom products from the camp’s store, capable of overhauling a planet, but their success rate was always in question. If the package was compatible with the planet, there was a sixty percent chance of success; otherwise, it was as low as twenty percent—a huge gamble. With Ye Han’s abilities, there was no need to take such risks.

“I didn’t know it was a product from the Second Sequence. Once activated, it was too late.” Ye Han shook his head, expressionless.

He couldn’t be blamed for the recklessness of his predecessor.

The Liyang Star Domain—indeed, the whole Ninth Sequence—was a technological civilization, while the Second Sequence was shrouded in mysticism. His planet had been preparing for its sixth information revolution, but the package sparked an evolutionary crisis reminiscent of a spiritual energy resurgence.

When the transformation completed, civilization was knocked back to the primitive era. Mass extinction of intelligent life devastated the planet’s world-spirit. His predecessor hadn’t even left a final message before being replaced by Ye Han, a namesake from Earth.

Thankfully, all his predecessor’s memories remained, or else Ye Han wouldn’t know how to carry on.

“Who gave you the package?” Xu Wenya was furious, his breath ragged. “A package from another sequence—that’s murder!”

Only at the moment of activation could you tell a package’s origin. For safety, only the bound individual should ever use one. If it came from someone else, it had to be a parent or a friend you’d trust with your life.

Xu Wenya knew Ye Han’s parents were laborers off-world, unable to afford such a thing, and he had no other close confidants.

“Luan Shuangyu,” Ye Han said, spreading his hands with a wry, half-mocking smile. “Since ancient times, even heroes fall for a beauty’s trap. I let my guard down.”

“How can that be?” Xu Wenya was stunned, swallowing hard.

“At first, I couldn’t believe it either.” Ye Han glanced at his friend. “But when you said her faction was also in the Dongli Dynasty, it all made sense.”

He’d only arrived last night, and Luan Shuangyu’s family had influence in the education system. Ye Han didn’t need to think hard to see the logic. Of the hundred candidates assigned to the Dongli Dynasty, those with Level 2 authority likely all suffered similar “care.” The cake was only so big—there wasn’t enough to go around.