Rebirth of Bi Gan: A Male Student Traverses the “Investiture of God”

In the depth of night, Zhang Hao fell into a deep slumber, his dreams transporting him to an ancient and mystical world.

"Where am I?" Zhang Hao wondered, gazing curiously at his surroundings.

Heavenly palaces floated in the sky, and the earth flowed with nectar, a grand feast unfolding before his eyes. Zhang Hao recognized many familiar faces, the deities from legends, indulging in merriment and poetry, a lively affair.

He spotted a stern middle-aged man twirling a gleaming pagoda in his hand, "Isn't that Li Jing?" Zhang Hao was taken aback, bewildered by the sudden appearance of these immortals.

His gaze wandered, settling on a figure radiating golden light—Lei Zhenzi, his mouth slightly askew as if voicing some discontent. Zhang Hao even glimpsed the kindly old man with a perpetual smile, whom he instantly recognized as the legendary Tai Shang Lao Jun.

In a corner of the feast, Zhang Hao overheard a conversation between two deities. A goddess, adorned in resplendent attire, chuckled and said to another, "How goes the governance of the mortal realm? I hear a few emperors lately dream of cultivating to immortality." The other deity, fanning himself with a playful grin, replied, "Indeed, they always aspire to eternal life, yet they're oblivious to the arduous path of cultivation."

Zhang Hao tried to call out to them, but they seemed to look right through him, as if he were a mere spectator, observing the entire banquet in the third person. Suddenly, time seemed to stand still; the deities froze in their actions. A mysterious purple light emerged from all directions, and Zhang Hao sensed something amiss. The luster in the eyes of these deities gradually faded, and they too noticed, but like statues, could only watch helplessly as their power ebbed away. The atmosphere of the feast turned eerie; the once bustling scene grew desolate, the figures of the deities blurred, and eventually, they turned to ashes, scattered by the wind.

What was happening? Zhang Hao's heart raced with alarm, his back drenched in sweat. He tried to commit every detail to memory, to discern the features of any deity, when he spotted a figure that shocked him. It was a young man, clad in radiant armor, majestic yet graceful. To Zhang Hao's astonishment, his face bore a resemblance to the mysterious little boy, yet carried an air of maturity. Zhang Hao's heart tightened; he wanted to approach and inquire, but like the others, the figure began to vanish into the void. As he disappeared, Zhang Hao thought he saw the young man looking at him, his eyes seeming to convey a message before he too became part of the ashes, liberated.

Zhang Hao jolted awake from the dream, his heart pounding as the vivid scenes played in his mind. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he took deep breaths to calm himself, but his mind was flooded with questions.

"What did that young deity's gaze mean, the mysterious purple light, and those deities turning to ash—everything seemed so real and yet so incredible. Who were they? Were they the deities I know?" He rose, walked to the window, and flung it open, allowing the morning coolness to caress his face. The sunlight on his cheeks brought a touch of reality, easing his unease slightly. Zhang Hao knew he must decipher the dream's significance; it might be related to his transmigration to this world, perhaps connected to the identity of the mysterious little boy.

"Zhang Hao, are you up?" Lin Yue's voice came from outside the door, interrupting his reverie.

He turned, opened the door, and saw Lin Yue and Li Bao already prepared, their faces etched with anticipation and tension for the new day.

"Did you sleep well?" Zhang Hao asked, trying to hide his inner turmoil.

Li Bao stretched, "Not bad, just had a dream."

Lin Yue seemed a bit shy, "I… I also had a dream."

Zhang Hao smiled, trying to lighten the mood, "What did you dream about?"

Lin Yue hesitated but decided to share, "I dreamed we passed the trials and became disciples of Qingchuan Sect."

Li Bao chimed in, "I had a dream too, that I refined a magical pill, and after taking it, I could fly and disappear at will."

Zhang Hao laughed, trying to ease the atmosphere, "Seems like we all had interesting dreams."

A flicker of complexity crossed Lin Yue's eyes as she softly said, "Yes, I hope our dreams come true."

Zhang Hao noticed Lin Yue's odd demeanor and gently asked, "Lin Yue, what's wrong? You seem uneasy."

Lin Yue lowered her head, her voice barely audible, "I… I don't know, just feeling strange."

Li Bao curiously asked, "Strange? Did you dream of something bad?"

Lin Yue shook her head, not elaborating further, and said, "Let's hurry to the trial site; we don't want to be late."

Her face slightly flushed, Lin Yue was puzzled, wondering why she dreamed of Zhang Hao again. In the dream, Zhang Hao held her as they soared through the skies, like a celestial couple, a feeling that unsettled yet warmed her. She dared not meet Zhang Hao's gaze, fearing he might see through her thoughts.

"Lin Yue, Li Bao, are you ready?" Despite the enigma in his heart, Zhang Hao knew they must focus on today's trials.

The trio left their guest quarters, sunlight bathing them as a new day dawned. Though filled with doubts about his dream, Zhang Hao knew they must face reality and embrace the challenge.

On their way to the trial venue, Zhang Hao suddenly stopped and turned to Lin Yue, "Lin Yue, no matter what the dreams suggest, I believe we can pass the trials and become disciples of Qingchuan Sect."

Lin Yue looked up, a glimmer of determination in her eyes, "I believe so too."

Li Bao patted his chest confidently, "The three of us will definitely make it!"