Lord of Eternity [Fantasy Thriller Adventure Novel]

The dense canopy above wove into a vast green dome, with sunlight filtering through the gaps, casting dappled shadows that danced across the ground.

The scene before Chuyang was almost too surreal to believe.

Surrounded by towering ancient trees, each with trunks thick enough for three or four people to embrace, vines glowing like faint blue flames clung to the bark, emitting a soft, ethereal light.

Rubbing his forehead, Chuyang's mind flashed with the blurred image of a mysterious woman.

She was like an angel descended from the heavens, elegant yet distant, her eyes—seeming to peer into everything—were too overwhelming to face directly.

Her voice still echoed in his mind, but now, all that remained was the eerie silence of the forest.

"Where am I? Could it be... I've really... been reborn?"

Chuyang muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings, feeling a mix of wonder and unease.

Struggling to rise, he patted the dirt off his clothes, noticing he was still wearing the delivery uniform from before the accident.

Looking down at himself, he realized there were no injuries anymore. Remembering the woman's wave before parting, he felt a vague understanding, yet still found it hard to believe.

After taking a few steps, a low rumble echoed from the distant forest.

At first, he thought it was the wind rustling through the trees, but soon realized it was a low tremor coming from the ground.

Chuyang's heart skipped a beat. Holding his breath, he cautiously moved toward the sound.

Pushing aside a patch of tall bushes, the sight before him took his breath away.

A gigantic creature, at least five meters tall, was drinking from a stream. Its body resembled a deer but with six legs, and its skin was covered in translucent scales.

A faint aura of spiritual energy radiated from it, making it clear this was no ordinary creature.

Chuyang held his breath, frozen in place.

Each gulp from the beast sent vibrations through its throat, causing his heartbeat to quicken.

He dared not move, not even blinking.

"What is this place...?"

His mind was flooded with questions, but at the same time, a strange excitement stirred within him.

Just hours ago, he was a hurried delivery man in the city, racing between towering buildings.

Though he longed to change his life, he had always been powerless.

And now, a strange world unfurled beneath his feet—unknown, dangerous, but also… perhaps a chance for rebirth?

As he prepared to quietly retreat, the creature seemed to sense his presence.

It slowly raised its head, its massive eyes locking onto Chuyang's. Yet, there was no hostility in its gaze, only a deep, respectful authority.

Chuyang felt an invisible pressure settle over him. His breath grew shallow, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead.

"Don't panic, don't panic..."

He repeatedly reminded himself, but his legs betrayed him, trembling ever so slightly.

Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out from afar, and the beast slowly turned its head, seemingly distracted by the sound.

Seizing the opportunity, Chuyang spun around and fled.

He ran with all his might, his heart almost leaping out of his chest.

Panting heavily, he glanced back and saw that the creature wasn't chasing him. He let out a sigh of relief but knew in his gut—this forest was no ordinary place.

After a brief rest, Chuyang pressed on.

Though a newfound determination gleamed in his eyes, every rustle in the trees still sent a jolt of tension through his nerves.

He knew this unfamiliar world was filled with danger, but it also held endless possibilities.

He had to find a way out, or perhaps… find his own path.

As he walked, he discovered a narrow path winding into the distance.

The trail was lined with strange flowers and plants. A pure white flower bloomed quietly, its petals trembling slightly, emitting a soft glow, and a faint herbal fragrance filled the air.

He knelt down, gently touching the petal, and instantly, a warm, soothing energy coursed through his fingers and into his body.

"What is this?"

Surprised, he pulled his hand back, realizing his strength had been somewhat restored, and his fatigue had lessened.

He sensed that this world, while strange, did not seem entirely hostile to him.

Just then, a faint whisper drifted to his ears, like someone speaking from afar.

Instinctively, he tensed, carefully moving toward the sound.

Pushing aside the last leaf, the sight before him stunned him once again.

A dilapidated stone tower stood in the forest, its surface covered in vines, clearly abandoned for years, yet a faint, mysterious glow surrounded it, indicating it was no ordinary structure.

After a brief hesitation, Chuyang decided to approach it.

The door of the tower was half open, and a weak light emanated from within.

He stepped inside, finding the tower eerily empty except for a stone slab glowing softly in the center.

The slab was etched with ancient runes. Chuyang, though unable to read them, felt an inexplicable pull toward the stone.

"What is this place? Could it be...?"

Before he could finish his thoughts, the stone slab suddenly erupted with a blinding light, illuminating the entire tower like daylight.

Chuyang's vision blacked out, and he lost consciousness.

In the moment before he fainted, a deep, resonant voice seemed to emanate from the very heavens, ethereal yet filled with undeniable force.

"The wheels of destiny have begun to turn."

The voice faded, and it felt as though some invisible rule had awakened in the world...

Time passed, and eventually, Chuyang slowly regained consciousness in the dim light. The low, commanding voice still echoed in his mind, as if it had pierced his very soul.

His disoriented mind struggled to differentiate between reality and dream, but that intense light seemed to linger in his heart, refusing to fade.

Struggling to open his eyes, he found the surroundings still blurry.

He was still inside the ancient stone tower, but now the light had faded, leaving the same shadowy, silent atmosphere.

Chuyang's hands braced against the cold stone floor as he gradually rose to his feet, his gaze scanning the room.

The tower was still deserted, and the air was thick with the scent of age, as though time had stood still here for centuries.

The light filtered through the cracked walls and windows, casting mottled shadows that made the place even more mysterious and elusive.

Chuyang carefully approached the stone slab. The faint light still emanated from it, drawing his intense interest.

The runes remained, complex and intricate, filled with unknown power.

He reached out, and as his fingers brushed the stone, a warm and powerful energy surged through him, flooding his body.

The sensation made his head spin, as if a storm was rising within him.

His hands trembled involuntarily, and soon the stone slab lit up with lines of glowing runes, responding to his touch.

"What is this?"

Chuyang was filled with questions but couldn't stop himself from continuing to touch the stone.

He sensed that there was an undeniable connection between him and this power, though he couldn't explain it.

Suddenly, a blinding light exploded from the slab, illuminating the tower as if it were noon.

Chuyang instinctively closed his eyes, feeling his body being pushed upward by an unseen force.

Just as he was about to lose consciousness again, the light abruptly vanished, and the surroundings returned to their original state.

Chuyang opened his eyes and found himself still standing in the tower, but something seemed different.

His gaze was no longer blurry; it was clearer, as though the answers to everything around him were starting to reveal themselves.

He looked around but found the tower still empty, filled only with cold stone walls and shadows.

Chuyang walked to each corner of the tower, his heart heavy with curiosity and confusion, but also a strange sense of peace.

Perhaps, he thought, his fate had truly changed, but the path ahead was no longer his to control.

Still, he was now intimately connected with this mysterious world.

Returning to the starting point, his exhausted body could no longer process the complexities swirling in his mind.

The starlight outside, accompanied by the occasional chirp of insects, mixed with his hunger and weariness, overwhelmed him with drowsiness.

His eyes scanned the corner of the tower, where scattered hay and a few worn cloth strips lay, remnants of someone who had once been there.

Chuyang walked toward the corner, weary and burdened, gently grabbing a piece of cloth and draping it over himself.

But just as he was about to close his eyes and fall into a deep sleep, a strange sensation surged in his mind—

It seemed that, in the silent night, he was not alone.

In the depths of the darkness outside the tower, there appeared to be a gaze—cold and oppressive, silently watching his every move.

Chuyang took a deep breath, forcing down the fear that welled up inside him, and closed his eyes, the overwhelming fatigue pulling him into a restless sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, when Chuyang woke up, all was eerily silent.

A breeze swept by, and as he gradually regained consciousness, he desperately wished that everything from the previous day had been a dream.

But when he opened his eyes, the crushing sense of loss made him want to cry—he had not left the stone tower.