The Origin of Everything

In a lavish hotel, several high school students were chatting away.

One of them, with a thoroughly sleazy-looking face, was named Liu Xiaoxiao. He was in an exceptionally good mood today because he had achieved outstanding results in the most important exam of his first year of high school, so he was celebrating with some of his dubious friends.

Beside him was someone slightly shorter and somewhat chubby, named Little Fatty. His sleazy appearance was no less impressive than Liu Xiaoxiao's.

The tall, skinny guy beside them, with the most ordinary-looking face imaginable, was named Lin Bo. He looked utterly bewildered, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Nearby was Wang Haochen, who wore a crazed expression. Though he appeared mad on the surface, he was actually wise beneath his foolish exterior.

After a while, an exceptionally handsome young man arrived. His name was Da Bao. He was tall and handsome, with outstanding physical fitness as well.

"Are they not here yet?" Da Bao asked.

"Don't rush. We agreed on noon, and it's only eleven fifty now," Little Fatty replied.

Then, an extremely muscular person walked over. His name was Fan Yihuang, and his body was covered in muscles. One glance was enough to tell that he exercised regularly.

Not long afterward, three more people arrived. One of them was reading a book. His name was He Qiang. Though he seemed out of place among the group, he somehow also felt as though he had naturally belonged with them all along.

The person beside him was discussing something with him, occasionally pointing at parts of the book. This person was Chen Long. Though he looked no different from an ordinary person, a closer look revealed a gleam of wisdom in his eyes.

The man walking on the left was Zheng Bei. Wearing black-framed glasses, he gave off an air of knowledge and wisdom.

"Is everyone here?" Zheng Bei asked.

"A few are still missing," Wang Haochen said. "Who knows whether they'll even come."

"Of course we came." At that moment, two more people approached side by side. The speaker was Li Hong, whose curly hair was as soft as clouds in the sky.

The person beside him could be called the largest-built person present. His name was Chen Fang. True to his name, his whole body was practically shaped like a square, broad and thick.

"Qi Xiaomin still isn't here?" Li Hong asked. "He still owes me a few yuan from yesterday."

"Forget about him. Let's get the food, get the food," Liu Xiaoxiao said.

The group ate and chatted for quite some time. More than ten minutes later, a sleazy figure suddenly emerged through the entrance, looking around in every direction.

"Stop checking out girls over there and get over here. We've been waiting for you forever," Little Fatty shouted.

"Lying through your teeth," Qi Xiaomin said. "You all look like you've been eating quite happily to me."

"Hey, Liu Xiaoxiao, why didn't Zhang Shiwen come?" Little Fatty quickly changed the subject.

"How would I know?" Liu Xiaoxiao shook his head. "I invited her, but she didn't agree."

The group continued eating and chatting.

"Oh, right," He Qiang suddenly said. "I heard a new antique shop opened nearby."

"What's fun about that?" Wang Haochen said. "Are you going there to buy something or wreck the place?"

"It's always good to broaden our horizons," Chen Long said.

"Fine, let's go. It won't take much time anyway," Fan Yihuang said.

Thus, they quickly reached a decision to visit the antique shop.

After they finished eating, the group followed their earlier plan and entered the antique shop one by one.

All of a sudden, the space around them completely changed. The air twisted, and then everything turned a deep, ghostly blue.

"What's going on?" Liu Xiaoxiao cried out in panic.

"Don't worry. I mean you no harm." At that moment, a person entirely shrouded in a black robe appeared before them.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" He Qiang asked bluntly.

"Me... you may call me Chaos. As for why I am here, it's very simple. I hope you can take part in a game."

"What game?" Zheng Bei asked excitedly.

"A transmigration game," Chaos said with a smile. "You've heard of virtual reality, haven't you? The so-called VR technology. The game we'll be playing next is similar to that."

Chaos's words left everyone shocked. Chaos continued, "Next, you will travel to different worlds. But they are not worlds that exist in reality—they are worlds from web novels. The world I have chosen for you is Douluo Continent. Before each game begins, I will first let you read the original work of the corresponding world. Once you have finished reading it, I will randomly send you there. Each game lasts one hundred years. In that world, cultivating to godhood counts as victory. If you fail to reach that goal within one hundred years, it will count as a failure. And if you fail too many times, there is only one outcome—"

"Death. Am I right?" Chen Long said.

"You're quite clever." Chaos smiled. "Then please enter the Simulation Pods behind me."

"What should we do?" Da Bao asked softly.

"What else can we do? We can only do as he says," Little Fatty said.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing." Chaos suddenly added, "I'm a rather merciful person, so I've decided to loosen the conditions a little. You will play three games in total. The first will take place in Douluo Dalu Part 1, the second in Part 2, and the third in Part 3. Each part is separated by ten thousand years. Those who fail to become gods in all three will be eliminated. But if anyone becomes a god all three times, the deaths of everyone else can be waived. Also, do not lose yourselves in the illusory worlds. If I discover that anyone shows signs of becoming lost in one, I will immediately pull them out and declare their failure."

After hearing Chaos's words, everyone's expressions turned grave, and they entered the Simulation Pods one after another.

In this strange space, there was no concept of time. At some unknown moment, Chaos said, "Everyone has now finished reading the original work. I will now explain the rules of the game. Your reincarnations will be completely random. Although I have made some adjustments, situations such as dying during childbirth or being reincarnated as a soul beast may still occur. If you make it through the birth stage, you can communicate by calling out in your hearts—telepathy, in other words. You may communicate at any time, and you may also review the original work in your minds whenever you wish. I look forward to seeing what the future Douluo Continent will become in your hands. All right, that's all. Reincarnation begins!"

As Chaos's words fell, everyone felt their souls tremble, and then they lost consciousness.

"Chaos, isn't this asking too much of these youngsters?" At that moment, a young man carrying a sword on his back walked over.

"God Slayer, there's no need to worry. After all, we're selecting fellow travelers," Chaos said with a hearty laugh.

"By the way, are you really going to let them reincarnate at random?" A man carrying a long saber on his back walked over.

"Of course not, Phantom." Chaos smiled. "This game will be quite interesting."

"Let's go take a look at the God Realm over there. Come on, come on." As he spoke, God Slayer was the first to vanish.

Chaos and Phantom exchanged a glance, then vanished as well.

The street seemed as though nothing had happened at all. Yet no one knew that twelve high school students had disappeared without a trace.