NOVEL WEB Chapter 1: Betrayal and Rebirth
The Jade Tomb – A Forgotten Relic of Legends
A vast underground ruin lay hidden beneath a desolate mountain range, its existence whispered only in forgotten legends. The air inside was thick with the scent of damp stone and decayed offerings, remnants of explorers who never returned. Eerie green lanterns flickered along the ancient stone corridors, their unnatural light casting shifting shadows that danced along the walls. The silence was overwhelming, broken only by the distant echoes of dripping water.
At the heart of the tomb, a grand chamber awaited—a towering vault of obsidian walls and gilded murals depicting celestial battles. In the center stood a pedestal of blackened stone, upon which rested the Jade of Eternal Dawn, a relic of immeasurable power. Its soft green glow pulsed like a heartbeat, illuminating the chamber with an ethereal light.
The air carried an oppressive weight, pressing against the skin like unseen hands. Something ancient lingered here, watching, waiting.
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The Final Stretch – Li Tian Senses Something is Wrong
Li Tian moved cautiously, his sharp silver eyes scanning the chamber with the instincts of a seasoned warrior. His long black hair, streaked with faint silver strands, framed a face hardened by battle, a jagged scar running from his temple down to his cheek. His crimson battle robe, embroidered with golden dragons coiling along the sleeves, was tattered and stained with dust and blood. Twin swords rested at his waist, their hilts worn from years of combat.
Beside him, Xiao Chen walked with the grace of a shadow. His dark auburn hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, complementing his sharp, fox-like features. His emerald eyes gleamed with an unreadable expression. Unlike Li Tian, his robes—deep green with silver lotus embroidery—remained pristine, as if untouched by the grime of the tomb.
For hours, they had ventured through deadly traps and collapsing pathways, but now, as they stood before the relic, an unsettling silence fell between them. Xiao Chen, usually talkative, had been uncharacteristically quiet.
Li Tian's grip on his sword tightened. Something was wrong.
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The Jade of Eternal Dawn – A Treasure Worth Killing For
The relic was within reach. Li Tian extended his hand, his heartbeat thundering in his chest. As his fingers brushed the jade, a surge of warmth spread through his palm, raw power coursing through his veins. Visions flooded his mind—kingdoms rising and falling, empires consumed by war, hands drenched in blood.
He staggered back, gasping.
Xiao Chen took a slow step forward, his smirk returning. "Incredible, isn't it?"
Li Tian's instincts screamed at him—move, now!
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Betrayal – The Blade That Ends a Life
Pain. Blinding, searing pain.
Li Tian choked as a sword pierced through his back, cold steel driving through muscle and bone. Blood dripped from the tip of the blade, pooling onto the ancient stone.
Xiao Chen's voice was eerily calm. "I can't let you have it, brother."
Li Tian stumbled forward, gripping the pedestal for support. His breath came in ragged gasps as he turned, locking eyes with the man he had called his sworn brother.
Xiao Chen's expression held no remorse, only quiet amusement. "You always trusted too easily. That's why you were never meant to reach the top."
He withdrew the blade, and Li Tian collapsed onto the cold floor. His strength ebbed away with every heartbeat.
Above him, Xiao Chen stepped past his body, reaching for the jade.
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The Tomb's Wrath – A Death Beyond Death
The moment Xiao Chen touched the relic, the entire chamber trembled. The golden murals ignited in eerie flames, casting the chamber in an infernal glow.
A deep, ancient voice resonated through the air, its wrath shaking the foundations of the tomb.
"The unworthy shall perish."
The floor beneath Li Tian cracked. Darkness swallowed him whole.
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The Fall into the Abyss – The System Awakens
Li Tian plunged into a void of endless darkness, weightless and freezing. His body was numb, yet his consciousness remained. Whispers filled the abyss, voices of the long-dead murmuring secrets beyond mortal comprehension.
Then, a mechanical voice echoed within his mind:
"Eternal Rebirth System initialized… Locating suitable world… Synchronization in progress."
Blinding light consumed him.
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New World: The Withering Woods – A Place of Curses and New Beginnings
A sharp gasp tore from Li Tian's throat as he awoke, lungs burning as if he had been drowning. The ground beneath him was no longer stone but damp earth. He struggled to his knees, disoriented. Gnarled, cursed trees loomed overhead, their twisted branches whispering in an unknown language. A thick fog curled around the forest, its presence unnatural.
His robes were gone, replaced by tattered gray fabric, rough against his skin. His long black hair clung to his damp face, and his hands trembled as glowing foreign symbols pulsed across his skin—markings of something ancient, something powerful.
A translucent screen flickered before his eyes:
"Welcome to your second life."