Swallowed Star Universe
Dutuo Starfield, Richie Galaxy
Where… am I?
Ethan Wynn slowly came to, his thoughts hazy and his head pounding. He blinked a few times, trying to focus, only to freeze at the sight before him.
Thick iron bars surrounded him on all sides, each one as wide as a bowl. They formed a crude but sturdy cage.
He was locked inside.
Nine other people sat slumped nearby, but what truly unsettled him was how they looked. None of them resembled humans from Earth. Some had three arms, others had strange physiques or unnatural features.
Soft sobbing echoed from nearby.
"Mom…"
"Why were we chosen for the Blood Demon Trial…"
Ethan's eyes widened.
The language was completely foreign, nothing he had ever heard before. And yet, he understood every word as if it were his native tongue.
He forced himself to stay calm and looked farther out.
Beyond his cage were countless others, packed tightly together. Each cage held exactly ten people, no more, no less.
From scattered conversations, Ethan quickly pieced together the truth.
They were being transported to a distant planet… to take part in the Blood Demon Trial.
Ten billion planetary-level participants.
Only one hundred would survive.
A chill ran down his spine.
This is the Swallowed Star universe? Am I in the Original Universe?
Last night, he had drunk himself unconscious. Now he had woken up in a place like this.
The contrast was almost absurd.
With his current physical condition, competing against planetary-level fighters was no different from walking straight into death. A casual sweep of someone's spiritual force would be enough to erase him completely.
How am I supposed to survive this…
Ethan glanced at the boys in the same cage. Their faces still carried traces of youth, but each of them was a planetary-level powerhouse. On Earth, they could flatten entire cities without effort.
His thoughts raced.
The only hope he could cling to was that the timeline matched the original story. If so, Luo Feng might arrive in time to stop this massacre.
"Which galaxy… are we in?" Ethan asked, switching instinctively to the universal language.
He needed to steady the people around him. Otherwise, the moment they landed, even the shockwaves of battle might be enough to kill him.
The boys ignored him, huddling in the corner as they continued to sob.
"Richie Galaxy."
The reply came from a bronze-skinned man in the cage. His voice was calm, almost detached.
"I've been to that trial planet before. At most, three hours until we land."
Ethan's heart skipped.
He knew the original story well. He knew exactly where Luo Feng had intervened.
And this… was not that place.
Which meant one thing.
Luo Feng would not come.
What do I do? What do I do?!
Ethan had always prided himself on staying calm, but now, even he felt panic creeping in.
Ten billion planetary-level fighters.
And overseeing the trial… a World Master.
He had no chance.
Then suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.
[Multiverse Simulation System loaded successfully.
Host has received one free simulation opportunity.
Would you like to begin the simulation?]
Start.
He didn't hesitate.
In an instant, he understood the system's function.
As long as he succeeded in the simulation, he could transfer the cultivated power back to his real body.
Within the simulation world, he would also gain a separate body. However, any further progress made by that body could not be transferred again.
Time in the outside world froze completely.
Ethan found himself standing in a vast void, a glowing panel floating before him.
[Selecting simulation world…]
[Simulation world loaded: Desolate Era]
[This is a standard simulation. Please select a random talent.]
Countless glowing spheres floated in front of him, each shimmering with different colors. Unable to see what they contained, Ethan reached out and chose a golden one at random.
[Congratulations. You have obtained a purple-tier talent: Noble Lineage.]
[Please select your objective.]
Survive the Celestial Tribulation and become a Celestial Immortal
Survive the Godly Tribulation and become a True God
Merge with the Dao and become an Eternal Emperor
Ethan thought briefly, then chose the first option.
Only by succeeding could he gain power. Choosing a higher difficulty would be reckless.
In the Grand Xia world, a Celestial Immortal might appear once in a million years.
True Gods were thousands of times rarer.
As for Eternal Emperors… that was a near-impossible dream.
[You are born into a cultivation clan known as the Wushan Clan. It is said that a Celestial Immortal ancestor resides within your lineage.]
[With memories from your previous life, you display exceptional intelligence. Through overheard conversations, you confirm that this is the world of Desolate Era.]
[You grow up carefree until the age of four. Even without cultivation, your physical strength already surpasses your previous life.]
[Your parents decide it is time for you to begin cultivating.]
A: Refuse
B: Accept
Ethan chose B without hesitation.
[Your parents explain that there are two paths in cultivation: Qi Refining and Body Refining.]
A: Qi Refining
B: Body Refining
C: Dual Cultivation
I need to survive the tribulation. Dual cultivation gives me better odds.
He chose C.
In this world, unless one reached the level of a Chaos Immortal, body refinement overwhelmingly surpassed qi refinement. More importantly, it offered far greater survivability.
[You begin cultivating the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens.]
[Your talent is solid. You successfully begin cultivation.]
[Your parents invest heavily in your growth, providing rare resources and visualization techniques to strengthen your soul. Your father trains you in combat daily, while your mother teaches you movement techniques.]
[At age eight, you achieve unity between yourself and your staff.]
[Your parents arrange life-and-death battles for you against acquired-stage beasts and condemned prisoners.]
[At age ten, your footwork and staff techniques reach the level of harmony with heaven.]
[At age ten, your Fiendgod body refinement reaches the innate level.]
[At age thirteen, you discover a sinister cave filled with dense killing intent.]
A: Enter
B: Inform your parents
Ethan chose B immediately.
There was no way he would risk walking into a death trap.
[The cave proves extremely dangerous. Your mother takes you away. The matter is handled without your involvement.]
[At age sixteen, your Qi Refining reaches the Zifu stage.]
[At age seventeen, you comprehend True Intent of the Dao. In the same year, your body refinement also reaches Zifu.]
[At age twenty-five, under your father's guidance, you comprehend a Dao Domain, astonishing many in your clan.]
[You decide your next step.]
A: Remain with your family
B: Join a sect
Ethan chose B.
Staying safe would not make him a Celestial Immortal.
[You join the Canghai Sect and become a disciple of Immortal Dustless, a Loose Immortal who has lived for four hundred thousand years.]
[Your cultivation progresses rapidly.]
…
Time flowed like water.
He trained, fought, survived, and grew stronger.
He found a Dao partner, cultivated a second soul, and walked step by step toward greater heights.
Centuries passed.
At the Immortal Destiny Convention, he defeated opponent after opponent, entering the top one hundred, then the top fifty.
Though he was ultimately defeated by a terrifying prodigy, his performance still drew the attention of powerful figures.
Three Celestial Immortals offered to take him as a disciple.
Without hesitation, Ethan chose Patriarch Dongyan.
Under his guidance, his strength advanced by leaps and bounds.
Years turned into centuries.
He broke through to the Void level, then became an Earth Immortal.
Still, he waited.
He cultivated. He accumulated. He refined his understanding of the Dao.
Until at last…
He stood before the heavens.
[You initiate the Celestial Tribulation.]
[The tribulation is the Five-Nine Lightning Tribulation.]
Thunder roared. The heavens tested him.
But Ethan endured.
He survived.
[You have successfully become a Celestial Immortal.]
[Simulation complete.]
Boom.
Time resumed.
Ethan Wynn opened his eyes once more, returning to the iron cage.
But now…
Everything had changed.