Journey to become a God

Ye Chen flew through the sky effortlessly, reaching his hometown in just over an hour. As he approached, his eyes fell upon an old wooden house. The structure was in a state of severe disrepair—its wooden beams cracked and splintered, as though the house could collapse at any moment. It was no longer suitable for anyone to live in.

This was Ye Chen's childhood home, the place where he had grown up under the care of his grandfather, Ye Hun. Despite its dilapidated state, it held countless memories. As he stepped onto the creaking porch and pushed open the worn-out door, the familiar sight of the interior greeted him. The furniture was exactly as he had left it, covered in thick layers of dust and cobwebs, untouched for years.

Walking into his old room, Ye Chen opened a drawer and pulled out a small, faded photograph. It was a picture of him and his grandfather—the only one they had ever taken together. Ye Hun was not his biological grandfather, but he had raised Ye Chen from childhood with unwavering care and love.

Ye Chen had always dreamed of making Ye Hun proud. He studied diligently, hoping to secure a stable job and provide his grandfather with a comfortable life. But fate had other plans. When Ye Chen was fifteen, tragedy struck. His grandfather slipped and fell into a deep abyss, leaving Ye Chen alone in the world. With no one else to rely on, he began supporting himself by foraging and selling fruits and vegetables from the nearby forest.

Fortunately, the forest behind his house provided an abundance of resources. Ye Chen survived, graduated from school, and even earned a scholarship to study in the city. However, as he stood in his old home, a sudden realization struck him.

"I've been gone for so long… Have I been expelled from school?" he muttered to himself. Although he had been away for nearly a year and a half, time in the Wheel of Time worked differently. In the real world, only about a month had passed.

Pushing aside his worries, Ye Chen decided to deal with his problems later. As a cultivator, he believed that trivial matters like these could be resolved easily.

He then ventured into the forest behind the house, searching for a specific flower. After some time, he found what he was looking for—a delicate bloom that he carefully picked and arranged. With the flowers in hand, he made his way to the village cemetery where Ye Hun was buried.

Upon reaching the grave, Ye Chen noticed something unusual. A fresh bouquet of flowers had already been placed under the headstone, likely within the last two or three days. This puzzled him. His grandfather had no known relatives, and as far as he knew, he was the only family Ye Hun had left.

Kneeling before the grave, Ye Chen gently placed his bouquet beside the other flowers. He ran his fingers over the cold stone and whispered, "Grandfather, I'm sorry I haven't visited you for so long. I hope you're at peace now. You don't have to worry about me anymore—I'm not the same weak boy I used to be. I promise to live a good and happy life from now on."

Tears welled in his eyes as memories of his time with Ye Hun flooded his mind. He sat there in silence, lost in reminiscence, until the sun began to set. Realizing how late it had gotten, he bid farewell to his grandfather and headed home.

Inside the house, there was no electricity—only old candles scattered around. Ye Chen took a crystal from his storage ring, channeling his energy into it. A soft, radiant glow filled the room, illuminating the worn-out furniture and cracked walls.

Instead of sleeping, Ye Chen instinctively began cultivating. It had become second nature to him by now.

Time passed in silence until—

Knock! Knock!

A sudden knock at the door broke his concentration.

"Who would visit me at this hour?" he wondered, rising from his bed.

Opening the door, he found himself face-to-face with an elderly man—the village chief, Huang Bao.

"Village Chief? What brings you here so late at night?" Ye Chen asked.

Huang Bao scrutinized him for a moment before speaking. "Who are you? Why are you staying in the Ye family's home?"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "You came knocking at my door and don't even recognize me? Did you get kicked in the head by a horse recently?"

Huang Bao's eyes widened in shock. "Ye Chen?! You look completely different! You've changed so much… You're even more handsome than those actors on television!"

Ye Chen smirked. "Yeah, yeah. So, what do you need at this hour?"

"May I come in? I have something important to give you," Huang Bao said.

"Sure," Ye Chen replied, stepping aside to let him in.

As Huang Bao settled into a chair—an old, rickety piece of furniture that creaked under his weight—he pulled out an envelope and handed it to Ye Chen.

"I came here to deliver this to you," he said, his expression serious.

Ye Chen took the letter, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "What is this?"