Calamity of Tomorrow

Towering skyscrapers rise amid the bustling modern city, brimming with the flow of traffic.

In an office at the top of a building, an elder's face is covered with clouds as he gazes at the prosperous city outside, his brow deeply furrowed.

Behind him, a television is broadcasting one news item after another.

"…The newly appointed National Security Advisor for the United States publicly stated that the US should be ready to sacrifice ten million people to initiate and win the next nuclear war…"

"…Russian Foreign Minister: a third party cannot create discord between China and Russia…"

Listening to the news, the elder let out a deep sigh. Just then, as a knock sounded, he turned off the television and spoke up, "Come in."

A young man bearing some resemblance to the elder entered and said to him, "Grandpa, everything is ready at the Heavenly Court; I'll head to Kunlun Mountain tomorrow."

Looking at the youth before him, the elder said, "Li Tai, the matters of the Heavenly Court are of great significance. But you are my grandson, and if you do not wish to pursue the path of cultivation, I will not force you."

The youth shook his head and replied, "I am the key link between the government and the Heavenly Court. I am a man of intelligence, yet capable of practicing Daoist arts; I will strive for peace between the intelligent and the Spiritual People. Haven't you always said? Being your grandson, I was born to contribute to this nation by virtue of my very position."

The elder patted his grandson's shoulder, reassured, "It's good that you remember these things. I will wait for your return in the capital."

Watching the young man's retreating figure, the elder sighed. There were far too few among modern intelligent people who possessed the aptitude for Immortality cultivation, and it was even more difficult to select from these few those who were loyal to the nation, loyal to the people, and not easily corrupted by the Heavenly Court.

Even if they did return, there were likely to be concerns about their change of heart, possibly displeasing both sides.

"Hopefully, this generation of youth will learn the immortal arts from the Heavenly Court and then bring them back to the nation."

…

After arriving at Kunlun Mountain, the young Li Tai joined other carefully selected children to commence their pursuit of Daoist arts under the guidance of the Immortals.

Day after day, he engaged in arduous cultivation, meditating and breathing, studying Daoist scriptures, learning Daoist arts — absorbing the knowledge of the Daoist way with more intensity than anyone else.

One day, Li Tai stood on a mountaintop, trying to gather the morning's first qi according to the methods of Daoist arts.

A young girl standing by his side asked curiously, "Li Tai, why do you work so hard? Your achievements are already better than everyone else's, right?"

Li Tai offered a slight smile, "I want to see what the end of the world looks like."

"Ah?"

Li Tai spoke earnestly, "Where does the Primordial Spirit originate from, how did Daoist arts come to be, what exactly is the Heavenly Dao... I want to know these things, I want to thoroughly understand the Heavenly Dao."

At the same time, the government also intensified its cooperation with the Heavenly Court, embarking on an in-depth exchange of current human technology and the immortal techniques of the Heavenly Court.

With the wide application of immortal techniques in human physiology, disease management, life extension, and the military, nations vied to cooperate with the Heavenly Court, which gradually became a transcendent international organization, its power penetrating all aspects of each country.

The conflicts between the Spiritual People and intelligent people, between cultivators and ordinary people, were eclipsed by the rapid, mutually beneficial development between the two groups.

Those first youths, over the span of more than a decade, achieved successes in their cultivation. Most returned to their respective countries, managing the technological exchanges of immortal ways between the Heavenly Court and their homelands, and after numerous trials, they occupied increasingly high positions.

However, the inability of intelligent people to wield the highest levels of immortal power, to grasp the core technologies of the immortal ways, remained a constant concern for major governments.

Thus, to enable modern humankind, for nations and governments to seize more of the immortal methods, to have more talents skilled in these immortal ways, to cultivate more powerful practitioners, a project concerning the adjustment of the Primordial Spirit was conceived.

Looking at the young man before him, the elder said, "Tai, regarding the Primordial Spirit adjustment project, I hope you can join as the overall person in charge from the side of the intelligent people."

Li Tai responded in surprise, "Me? There are surely better choices, I…"

The elder stopped him from going on, "Tai, you are the cultivator we trust the most. This matter concerns the future of our nation, the future of the world, and we all need you to take on this responsibility…"

Following this, the Heavenly Court and the nations of the world invested huge resources in initiating the Primordial Spirit adjustment project, hoping to transform the Earth's Primordial Spirit environment, to make the environment conducive to intelligent people, allowing more modern humans the qualifications to pursue the path of cultivation, also allowing governments to have more powerful practitioners and to master more of the immortal techniques.

Rune Towers rose in city after city.

Arrays that span across continents and oceans gradually enveloped the entire planet.

First, second, and third phases of the Primordial Spirit adjustment experimental regions were developed.

All experimental results demonstrated the feasibility of the project.

And with the help of immortal techniques, human technological levels soared at an unprecedented rate. Even lunar development had started, and plans to colonize Mars were underway.

Humankind's confidence inflated like never before, as a belief in controlling the mountains, rivers, and the sun and moon surged within the hearts of the contemporary people.

…

Twenty years after the initiation of the Primordial Spirit adjustment project.

Tai stood at the center of a massive laboratory, looking at the dense array of runes and circuit boards, a satisfied smile on his face.

And behind him, countless individuals manipulated Primordial Spirit forces, controlling the Arrays, runes, and various communication networks before them.

"Initiation of the Asian-Pacific Spirit Vein hub…"

"Primordial Spirit stability, no anomalies…"

"Void Pulse has increased by 0.12%, within normal range…"

"Activation of the Kunlun Mountain node…"

"Primordial Spirit fluctuation detected, it's increasing…"

"Void Pulse has risen by 1.5%…"

In the command center, as the elder stood on full alert, he took a deep breath and then revealed a surprised expression as, for the first time, he sensed the existence of the Primordial Spirit.

"The Primordial Spirit in the Eastern China region has entered a range perceivable by ordinary people…"

"The Primordial Spirit in the Northern China region has entered a range perceivable by ordinary people…"

"Void Pulse has risen by 3.1%… still within the controllable range…"

"We've succeeded!"

One cultivator after another cheered, a vision of an era where everyone could cultivate the Daoist arts, approaching the Heavenly Dao, seemed to be appearing before them.

"Yes." Li Tai bowed his head, his hands clasped together, slowly forming one Daoist gesture after another, "We've succeeded."

As his hands formed the gestures, cultivators cried out in shock, "Void Pulse has escalated to 15.3%!"

"The growth of the Primordial Spirit exceeded the safety margin!"

"The Void Pulse is still increasing! 20%… 30%… it has surged past 50%!!!"

"Shut down the Asian-Pacific Spirit Vein hub!"

"It's no use! The Array has malfunctioned."