Gu Tianchen stands frozen.
He thought transmigrating into the Slay the Gods world with a golden finger was his big break, only to learn he was wiped out by [Shiva's Grudge] ten years ago.
What kind of garbage opening is this?
Wait—maybe the Pangu Temple has a solution.
Gu Tianchen sinks his consciousness back into the Pangu Temple and asks with a grin, "Anyone there?"
The vast hall echoes with nothing but his own voice.
"I really want to live another five hundred years. Any chance for me?"
The Pangu Temple remains silent.
"All-powerful Ancestral Witch gods, give me a shot! I'm dying to improve!"
Gu Tianchen talks until his lips are sore, but still, no response.
"Fine, I give up. Life's short, everyone dies eventually—early or late, what's the difference?"
Sprawling in a starfish pose at the hall's center, Gu Tianchen closes his eyes.
BOOM!
The dark-gold altar atop the hall trembles violently. A stream of dark-gold light shoots out, hurtling toward Gu Tianchen at the hall's center.
"In my name, reforge thy body!"
An ancient, weathered voice, as if traversing eons, reverberates from all corners of the Pangu Temple, brimming with supreme divine authority.
The next moment, the dark-gold light floods Gu Tianchen's body from head to toe, reshaping his form.
"P-P-P-A-A-A-I-I-I-N-N-N!"
"T-T-T-O-O-O-O-O P-P-P-A-A-A-I-I-I-N-F-F-F-U-U-U-L-L-L!"
Gu Tianchen feels his soul stuffed into a tumbling washing machine, spun wildly, then carved out bit by bit with a boning knife, before being compressed to its limits and forced into this new body.
"Huff… huff…"
Gu Tianchen knelt on the ground, gasping heavily, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead. His clothes were soaked through, as if he had just been fished out of water…
At this moment, Gu Tianchen felt as though he had died and been reborn.
Sensing the solidity of his new body, a grin spread across his face. "Being alive feels so damn good…"
Rising to his feet, Gu Tianchen bowed respectfully toward the dark-gold altar and the twelve statues of the Ancestral Witches.
"This junior, Gu Tianchen, offers profound thanks for the grace of rebirth."
His consciousness returned to his body, and he clenched his fists, feeling the surge of power coursing through him.
"This body is just too perfect. I've got to treat myself when I get home!"
Upstairs, Yang Jin, who was hunched over his homework on the balcony, suddenly sensed something. He glanced downward, but the ancient, mysterious aura flickered for only a moment before vanishing.
"The aura of the ancient Witch Clan?"
Yang Jin frowned. That couldn't be right. The ancient Witch Clan had perished entirely in that great war, and their surviving descendants, merged with humanity, had seen their bloodline grow so faint it was nearly extinct.
Must be hallucinations from too much homework.
"Jin, come eat!"
"Coming, right away!"
…
Blindfolded with black satin and dressed in a school uniform, Lin Qiye entered the classroom, scanning for his seat.
"You must be Lin Qiye, right? Your seat's ready. I'll take you there," said Jiang Qian, the class monitor, guiding him warmly to his spot.
"We meet again, Lin Qiye," came a voice from behind his seat—Gu Tianchen.
Lin Qiye noticed Gu Tianchen's presence. Did he seem… sturdier than he was a week ago?
"Thanks for walking me home the other day, Gu Tianchen," Lin Qiye said with a smile.
"No problem. After school today, we'll walk you home again," Gu Tianchen replied, grinning.
"We? Who's 'we'?" Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, the door's to your left-rear. The back door's locked, so it's unusable. If you need the bathroom, I can take you," chimed in Li Yifei, Gu Tianchen's desk mate and best friend, with a laugh.
Lin Qiye: (ー_ー)!!
"Oh, so you and Lin Qiye already know each other? That's great! Look out for him, okay?" Jiang Qian said.
"Of course. Those eggs weren't free," Gu Tianchen quipped.
"Eggs?" Lin Qiye asked, confused.
Li Yifei quickly explained how Lin Qiye's aunt had distributed eggs to classmates, asking them to look after her nephew.
Lin Qiye stood frozen, picturing his aunt handing out eggs to ensure he was cared for…
When the female teacher entered, she gave a brief announcement and began the lesson.
"Everyone, turn to page ninety-one…"
…
The moon shone brightly, stars sparse in the night sky.
The group escorting Lin Qiye left the school in a lively procession.
Lin Qiye's lips twitched. "Really, you don't need to walk me home. I can see—just not well in bright light."
"No need to argue, Lin Qiye. We promised your aunt we'd take care of you, and we will!" Jiang Qian declared righteously.
"Yeah, it's on my way anyway. No trouble at all," Li Yifei added with a grin.
Lin Qiye wasn't used to being surrounded like this, but since they were classmates, he couldn't bring himself to reject their kindness.
Gu Tianchen, carrying his bag in one hand, trailed quietly at the back of the group.
"See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, then. Stay safe."
One by one, the classmates peeled off, leaving only five.
"Alright, I'm turning here. Catch you later," Wang Shao said, waving.
"No, you don't want to leave."
Gu Tianchen suddenly slung an arm around Wang Shao's shoulder from behind.
Lin Qiye and the others: ???
"Something up, Tianchen?" Wang Shao asked, puzzled.
"Don't you smell something foul?" Gu Tianchen frowned.
"Foul? Who farted?" Li Yifei's gaze swept over the group like a searchlight.
"Definitely not me," Jiang Qian protested. A sweet girl like her, farting in front of everyone? She'd lose face as class monitor if that got out.
Li Yifei's eyes landed on Liu Yuan.
"Don't look at me—it's not me," Liu Yuan denied hastily.
"You guys… are you actually smelling something?" Lin Qiye asked, skeptical.
"It's fine, Qiye. It's normal if you can't smell it," Li Yifei reassured.
Lin Qiye's mouth twitched. "I just can't see clearly, not that I've lost my sense of smell."
"But I don't smell anything either… ugh!" Jiang Qian started, only to be hit by a nauseating stench that flooded her nostrils.
The others caught the overpowering odor too, gagging in unison.
Only Gu Tianchen and Lin Qiye held back from retching.
"Damn, what's that smell? Did someone's toilet explode?" Li Yifei grumbled.
"ROAR…"
A low, guttural growl echoed from a dark alley nearby.
A Ghost-Faced Creature, its pale, ghastly face gleaming, appeared before them.
Its scarlet tongue lashed out like a serpent, striking toward the group with lightning speed.
***
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