Chapter 1 Anomaly in the Kachin Mountains

In the northern regions of the Shan State, within the Kachin Mountains, the once clear and sunny sky rapidly became overcast in a matter of minutes.

Water vapor rose swiftly from the forests and rivers, creating gusts of wind that even formed tornado-like columns, appearing and disappearing in the air.

Rumble—winding lightning flashed in the suddenly gathering dark rain clouds. A thunderclap accompanied the rain, which began to fall lightly at first, then heavily, along with the wind.

The sounds of branches thrashing and the panicked cries of the bewildered crowd echoed through the silent forest, the bustling scenic area, and the unprepared tourist town, but all were drowned out by the thunder.

Between the mountains, as the rivers flowed, a surge of water churned and crashed against the banks. If a true cultivator were present, they could faintly perceive luminous objects rising from these dragon-like mountains and serpent-like rivers. These objects transformed into light-like particles, disappearing into the depths of an ancient peak.

Rumble—

Another thunderclap. Something was brewing in the dark clouds, with countless lightning serpents crisscrossing within. It was clear that a rare thunderstorm was forming—and in the center of all the lightning, a dragon-serpent-shaped bolt of lightning crisscrossed the sky, stirring the heavens and the earth. Its azure light was as lustrous and sacred as jade, as if it came from beyond the heavens.

—Shan State.

In the city center of Pinmana, in front of a painting shop, an elderly white-haired man, who was smiling and offering clean water to thirsty tourists, suddenly changed his expression. He raised his head in confusion, looking north, his long beard trembling slightly.

"...The time of the Righteous Law has arrived?"

Before the words had even faded, he shook his head slightly, as if sighing, "No. Too early, too early. Too late, too late."

—Zheng Country.

Outside the city of Chun, in Dian Province, in a rural courtyard, a middle-aged man who was in the middle of an ink painting also paused slightly, his hand slowing. By the time he reacted, the once fluid painting was ruined, but he didn't care. A glint of spiritual light flashed in his eyes as he looked west.

"Opening the Heaven and Earth passage? How could it be so early, and how could it be there?"

"No, it isn't. But this aura..."

—Zhu Country.

"The Kali Yuga is drawing to a close."

In Manipur, meaning 'Land of Jewels', in the mountains, a gaunt old man meditating beneath a mountain waterfall slightly opened his eyes. He glanced at the shining spiritual light in the north, softly chanted a phrase, then closed his eyes again, continuing his meditation, leaving only his low murmur to carry through the rushing water.

"The end of the kalpa is approaching."

—Within the ancient sacrificial cave in the Kachin Mountains.

The leader of the Saint Serpent Litanies, barely maintaining his clarity, from Bedouin, stared blankly, his aged face full of confusion. He looked up at the black rock dome, watching the ouroboros shadow shatter. The violent spiritual energy impact was like the shockwave of a bomb, instantly knocking him and everyone else unconscious.

At the same time, a sacred sound, inaudible to ordinary people, rang out.

[No... the last chance of this era!]

The voice, filled with determination and rage, echoed in the hall.

[...Absolutely not giving up!]

And in that instant.

The sky shattered.

Accompanied by a deafening thunderclap, the thick clouds that had covered the sky in just a few minutes, obscuring the heavens, shattered. The dragon-serpent lightning cloud, visible even hundreds of kilometers away, burst apart—lightning serpents and scattered clouds intermingled, transforming into ethereal spiritual light, rapidly dissipating in all directions, revealing the clear sky once more.

In just one hour, the celestial phenomena changed, clouds and rain rose and fell.

Even if the Shan State government was slow to react, they were now shaken, aware that something was wrong—the nearest military forces had already begun to mobilize, preparing to seal off the border. Zheng Country was doing the same. The Dian Province Military Region began to mobilize, armed helicopters and ground forces heading towards the western border.

Whether it was the ruling party or the opposition in the Shan State, or interested parties in allied nations, everyone knew—

Something major had happened in this place!

At this moment, in the deepest part of the ancient Seven-Headed Serpent God sacrificial stone cave, next to the prayer hall, in the 'offering placement area.'

Dozens of 'offerings,' still in slumber, had not awakened even after the continuous explosions, spiritual energy impacts, and even the collapse of spiritual energy—they had even fallen into a deeper slumber.

In this unlit cave, there was only pure darkness—like the most terrifying nightmares that all those in slumber were now experiencing.

But now, in the pure, silent dream of darkness, a sound suddenly appeared.

[Awaken.]

In the dark dream, Shao Qiming heard a sound.

[Awaken.]

The deep, sacred voice came from a distant place, guiding the young man's spirit to gradually awaken, to leave the dream.

Shao Qiming gradually left the nightmare that had plagued him since childhood, a nightmare of being afflicted with illness, becoming a burden to his family, friends, and everyone else, a nightmare from which even death offered no release. He began to regain the ability to think.

[Someone needs you.]

—Who? Who would need me?

Hearing this voice, the first emotion that arose in Shao Qiming's heart was not confusion, but pure bewilderment.

Need? Haven't I always been a burden… a burden to my parents and family, a burden to my friends and teachers… Even when the whole class went on a field trip when I was a kid, Su Zhou had to carry my bag for me, otherwise, I would be panting and unable to move after walking a hundred meters.

So weak… I can only study hard, work hard in areas unrelated to my body, and use the best grades to bring a smile to my worried parents.

Who else would need him?

[Your friend.]

Su Zhou.

Hearing this voice, the first name that popped into Shao Qiming's mind was this one. But along with it came a deep sense of inferiority, and a deep sense of envy.

—What could he possibly need my help with…

Even though he thought so, this emotion quickly dissipated. At this time, Shao Qiming's spirit was a little clearer, and he would even joke to comfort himself: "At least he still has to copy my homework—although I think he could write it himself if he tried."

How can I help him?

[Only a friend can help him, and only a friend can save him.]

The sacred, deep voice sounded, the meaning of the words seeming to have a deeper significance.

[Awaken.]

And so, Shao Qiming awakened.

Leaving the nightmare, he instinctively got up from the ground and then looked around—even though the cave was pitch black, there were still scattered spiritual debris on the ground, releasing a faint light. Shao Qiming used this light to see clearly that he was now in a stone cave, and around him were all the sleeping tour bus passengers.

And all of these people who were placed here to sleep now had faces full of distress and unease, as if they were having nightmares… If it weren't for that mysterious voice, I would be one of them, right? But leaving that aside, where is this?

Also, why can't I see Su Zhou?

Wait… right! Su Zhou! Su Zhou needs my help!

Memorizing the general structure of the cave, the number of people inside, and the characteristics of each person in a few seconds, Shao Qiming stood up. He received a mysterious guidance in the dark, knowing that Su Zhou was not here.

And the guiding voice also sounded.

[Forward.]

[To the left.]

[Forward, until the door.]

If it were any other time, Shao Qiming would not be the type of person to obey mysterious voices, but because it was related to the missing Su Zhou, he could only patiently listen to the other party's guidance, turning through a series of narrow cave passages, arriving at an ancient, but now warped door.

At this moment, Shao Qiming could smell a very obvious smell of burnt wood, the smell of meat, and a nauseating, unknown if it was rotten or sweet, in any case, an extremely strange miasma-like bloody smell. He could hear that the guiding voice was calling him to open the door and enter, and that his friend was inside.

So he laboriously pushed open the door.

Then, he stood there in shock.

Manipur, the easternmost state of Zhu Country, borders Shan State. The name means "jewel, pearl" and originates from a legend that one day, a snake watched Shiva and Parvati dance, and the snake spat out many pearls, making the entire area dazzling and glorious. Records can be found in the *Mahabharata* and the *Puranas*.