Chapter 001: Have I Time-Traveled? What on Earth Is This Wooden Box?

Ling Yun Peak, White Sword Sect, outside the sect's protective formation.

Two disciples lay sprawled in a pool of blood, their robes fluttering faintly in the autumn breeze.

Blood seeped through the cracks of the blue bricks, flowing into the drainage ditch, spreading vivid red ripples upon the water’s surface.

“Listen up, the White Sword Sect is about to change hands! No matter how much you struggle, it’s all in vain!”

“Your sect leader and elders have already been slain by a fifth-grade demon beast, hahaha!!”

The shouting echoed before the vast, empty hall outside the formation.

Dozens of disciples looked on anxiously, their eyes fixed on the stunned pillar of their sect, who stood dazed and motionless.

“Third Senior Brother, tell us—do we fight or surrender? Please say something.”

“The Blood Moon Sect intends to swallow the other three sects whole!”

“What difference does it make which sect we train in? With the sect leader and elders dead, how can we possibly resist?”

The chattering voices of the remaining disciples finally brought Liang Chuan back to his senses.

Before him stood a group of young men, graceful and poised, clad in white robes with white swords strapped to their backs—looking as if they had stepped out from an ancient costume drama.

Modern cultivators? Who dresses like this nowadays?

And why were they calling him “Third Senior Brother”?

Liang Chuan scanned the surroundings in a daze, feeling his head buzz.

Inside the ancient-style grand hall, a pale blue ripple barrier enveloped the entire sect.

The eerie blue glow resembled a vast lake, softening the oppressive atmosphere somewhat.

“Damn! Could it be I’ve traveled through time again?” he muttered, his face twisting.

No, heavens, are you playing a joke on me?

“Well, if I’m going through time, at least give me a moment to leave a farewell message!”

He had worked tirelessly, day and night, screwing bolts in a spirit artifact factory, finally saving half a million spirit stones. He hadn’t even had time to tell his daughter his bank password—he couldn’t afford to lose it all now!

Buzz—

Just as he cursed, a low hum resonated in his mind.

With a flood of memories from his original self pouring in, Liang Chuan couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

This was also a cultivation world, and he had transmigrated into the body of another Liang Chuan sharing his name.

Why say “also”?

Because this wasn’t the first time he had crossed worlds.

In his previous life, he had come from Earth to a modern cultivation world.

Though life was harsh, he had persevered to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

He had found a job in one of the top five hundred factories, using spiritual power to screw bolts.

He had married and had a child, living a relatively happy life.

Though his wife had left with some company boss, his daughter was obedient and lovely—most importantly, he had confirmed she was his own through paternity tests.

Just as he was about to see the light at the end of the tunnel, he was flung into this ancient cultivation world.

This world was called the Celestial Profound Continent.

He stood atop Ling Yun Peak, rich in spiritual veins, home to four sects shared among them.

Despite the number of sects, they had coexisted peacefully and often interacted.

Recently, the Blood Moon Sect’s leader informed the others that a rare fifth-grade demon beast had been discovered.

So the four sects’ leaders, elders, and elite disciples had left their sects to unite in attacking the beast.

After all, the corpse of a fifth-grade demon beast alone was worth half a sect’s entire fortune—well worth the risk!

But now, the Blood Moon Sect’s eldest disciple, with unknown reinforcements, had launched a sudden assault.

If not for a quick-thinking disciple who activated the sect’s protective formation, they would have been torn to shreds by now.

With the leaders’ fates unknown, as Third Senior Brother, Liang Chuan naturally became the pillar that everyone relied on.

He twitched his mouth, scanning the “loyal” White Sword disciples.

“Third Senior Brother, we are utterly devoted to the sect. Just give the order, and we will fight to the death.”

“But on the other hand, we can endure in silence, bide our time, and rebuild the White Sword Sect when the moment is right!”

“The protective formation won’t hold for much longer. Please decide quickly!”

“Besides, the other two sects have likely fallen; we have no reinforcements at all!”

What choice was there? They were practically urging him to surrender—so that when the leader returned and blamed someone, he would be the scapegoat.

Liang Chuan sighed, his right hand brushing against the rough, inferior sword sheath at his waist.

In the modern world, this sword was worthless—a mere teaching tool produced by any spirit artifact factory for high school students, worth no more than five hundred spirit stones.

He glanced back at the ragtag group behind him and for the first time felt what it meant for the enemy’s strength to be overwhelmingly superior.

Outside the formation stood eight Foundation Establishment cultivators!

Within the White Sword Sect, including himself, there were only two—and their combat effectiveness was questionable.

Although he had cultivated in a cultivation world before, that world was far more civilized, with little bloodshed, as everyone busied themselves earning spirit stones.

While Liang Chuan pondered, dozens of tall, imposing cultivators full of murderous intent watched them warily outside the protective formation.

At the forefront stood a man clad in a scarlet robe, his skin dark, hair blood-red.

From his wild demeanor and the skull-engraved ring-headed greatsword he carried, it was clear this was the Blood Moon Sect’s eldest disciple.

His expression was fierce, eyes dark as he swept over them.

“Don’t want to die? Then surrender now!”

The White Sword Sect’s only real strength lay in their leader.

But with his fate unknown, even if word reached him, he could not return in time.

Moreover, the Blood Moon Sect had summoned reinforcements from beyond the Ling Yun mountain range.

If not for fearing the sect’s protective formation, the White Sword Sect would have long since fallen.

The eldest disciple rested his bloodstained greatsword on his shoulder and said coldly, “You have until tonight to decide: die, or open the formation.”

“At dawn tomorrow, if the formation remains closed, we attack!”

As the enemy spat threats, Liang Chuan felt something nudging him beneath his robe...

Ignoring the Blood Moon Sect’s threats and the desperate gazes of his sectmates, Liang Chuan hurried back to his quarters.

Without a word, he pulled down his trousers.

Slap!

A pitch-black object dropped to the floor.

“What the hell is this?”

Liang Chuan glanced sideways and saw a jet-black wooden box.

Its surface was smooth and plain, without intricate carvings—only a symbol of intertwined triangles etched on the lid.

!!!

At that moment, his mind went blank.

He froze.

“How did this thing end up here?”

This was the black wooden box he had brought from Earth to his previous cultivation world, a constant companion through both cultivation and family life.

There had been two, but now only one remained.

“How did this black wooden box come along this time?”

He stood there, utterly bewildered.