Chapter 1 From Heaven's Opposition, Did You Lose Your Mind?
Bái Qiāndào's eyes fluttered open. He awoke from his coma to a dazzling spectacle of iridescent light, a riot of colors that shone before his eyes.
It was a crystal house, resplendent and magnificent, its style of construction immediately reminiscent of Jinguang Star. Jinguang Star was rich in natural crystals, agate, and gemstones, leading to a unique and grand architectural style.
He felt a searing pain and groaned, looking down at his abdomen. The wound was still there, healing, but it had nearly cost him his life.
He inhaled a fragrant scent, pushed himself up from the soft, fur-covered bed, and looked out the crystal pane window. It was daytime.
In the last moment before losing consciousness, a flash of white light seemed to have occurred. What was that? Why was I brought to Jinguang Star?
He walked towards the crystal door, which was inlaid with dozens of gemstones, making it look very beautiful.
He reached for the doorknob, pushed, and it didn't budge. He pushed harder, but it still wouldn't open.
This was a door that was difficult to open, he concluded. It wasn't a fingerprint, password, or gene-locked door either. Could this be a prison cell?
His mind raced, a sense of dread creeping in. He considered many possibilities, the most likely being that he had been imprisoned by criminals to have his genes harvested.
Though he was merely a humble human, he was born on Tuzang Star, one of the five great planets, a high-tier species within the Five Elements Alliance. His genes were considered noble compared to those from smaller planets. Nowadays, some wicked and ruthless criminals engaged in heinous acts, using high technology to strip people of their genes and transfer them to lower-tier species for immense profit.
The more he thought, the more fear gripped him. He shouted for help desperately, but only silence answered.
Exhausted from shouting, he wearily looked at the crystal pane window, which was over three meters high. He walked over and tried to jump, but couldn't reach it. His own jumping ability wasn't particularly high for someone who was almost 1.9 meters tall.
After a moment's thought, he dragged over a crystal chair, stood on it, and jumped again. His hands grasped the window ledge, and with a slip, he fell to the ground with a loud thud, groaning in pain.
Lying on the floor, he clutched his abdomen, enduring the pain, and looked upwards, his face etched with bitterness. Why was the window built so high?
The crystal walls were smooth, making it difficult to grip. It seemed he could only grab the lowest pane.
He tried again and again, his backside sore from falling, but finally managed to grab a pane and look outside.
What a familiar street! Wide and bright, with people walking along. Surrounding it were buildings over a hundred stories high, and flying vehicles darted through the air like flocks of birds.
He could now be certain that he was still on Tuzang Star. Most people on Jinguang Star wore long robes and flowing garments, and the architecture was like jade palaces, maintaining an ancient aesthetic, not this modern style. The crystal house had deceived him. Those who could afford to live in such houses in a bustling city were either wealthy or noble; without money, one couldn't afford such high-class housing.
To be trapped in such a busy area, these criminals were truly audacious. They must know that the police on Tuzang Star were not to be trifled with, and capture meant severe punishment.
Through the crystal glass, he shouted for help loudly. A few people stopped, looked up with questions, and then left with expressions of surprise and apprehension.
How cold-hearted! It was a profound disappointment to the justice-minded Bái Qiāndào. Why were people so different?
"What are you doing?" a woman's voice called out.
Bái Qiāndào looked in that direction. The door had been opened, and a woman in a white trench coat walked in, frowning at him.
"Huh?" Bái Qiāndào exclaimed, his strength nearly depleted. He could no longer hold on and slid down, his feet slipping, causing him to fall to the ground again with a groan.
He suddenly jumped up, ran to the door, opened and closed it several times, then stared blankly, feeling foolish and incredibly slow-witted.
The door opened inwards, not outwards. He had been fixated on pushing it; it was no wonder it wouldn't open.
"Who are you?" Bái Qiāndào asked, looking at the woman with her frosty demeanor yet exquisite beauty and exceptional aura.
The woman, radiating a chilling allure, walked to a crystal chair and sat down, fixing her gaze on Bái Qiāndào. Her posture was regal, her gaze commanding, full of dominance.
She said, "Bái Qiāndào, twenty-seven years old. Your parents passed away when you were young, and you raised your sister alone, relying on each other until now. Two years ago, after your sister got married, you worked three jobs simultaneously, often helping with her living expenses..."
At this point, the woman studied Bái Qiāndào, her gaze holding a peculiar intensity. She continued, "Your love for your sister is selfless, to the point where you haven't considered your own life or future... Your IQ is only ninety-five, within the normal range. You are just an ordinary person. Why have you appeared beside me?"
Bái Qiāndào stared at her blankly, astonished by her knowledge of him and bewildered by his current surroundings. He had only argued with two men, been stabbed, seen a flash of white light before losing consciousness, and then woken up in this place. What could he possibly answer?
The woman mused, "From a young age, I've had an extremely keen sense for people and events. Your appearance, and now sleeping in... my bed, I already have the right to kill you. Yet, a voice in my heart tells me this is very abnormal, that there seems to be an inexplicable connection between us. I've investigated your background and am perplexed. How could someone like you have any intersection with me that would move me?"
Bái Qiāndào couldn't help but glance at the bed. This was her bedroom, her bed. No wonder it smelled so fragrant. But why had he come here and ended up sleeping in her bed?
It was too bizarre. Logically, he should have woken up in a hospital, not in this strange place, encountering this strange woman.
He lifted his shirt again, looking at the almost-healed wound on his abdomen—a faint, flesh-colored scar. With a look of confusion, he asked, "What time is it now?"
The woman frowned again, looking at his indecent behavior. She replied, "Five Elements Calendar, Year 562, July 21st. You've been unconscious for two days."
Bái Qiāndào was surprised and even more bewildered. Two days ago, he had been stabbed and then brought here. Even the wound was almost healed. This was too inexplicable; what was going on?
"Cough... cough..." Bái Qiāndào coughed twice, walked over, moved the crystal chair from the window back to its original position, sat down, and said, "Can I say... I don't know how this happened?"
The woman's eyes sparkled as she stared at him. "Tell me the truth. Your sudden appearance is too unusual; I need detailed information."
"Two days ago, I was very upset and went to a bar for the first time to drink myself into oblivion. I saw two men trying to drug a woman and intervened. Then, one of the men stabbed me. I fainted, and when I woke up, I was lying in this bed... That's the truth. I don't know anything else..."
The woman asked, "What bar?"
"Landi Bar."
The woman took out a communicator and searched. After a moment, she looked up and said, "That's correct, there's a news report about it. You suddenly disappeared while you were unconscious. It's suspected you are a special kind of demon hiding among humans..."
She stared at Bái Qiāndào again and asked, "Are you?"
Bái Qiāndào gave a wry smile. "I'm a pure human. I've just encountered something inexplicable, and I can't explain it myself."
The woman pondered, "I've already verified it, and you show no abnormalities. But this is too strange. Demons cannot enter my Red Dust Pavilion. People with spiritual power also find it difficult to enter without my permission, and you... seem to have no spiritual power..."
Bái Qiāndào listened, startled. A strange feeling arose. Demonic beings couldn't enter, and even those with spiritual power found it difficult. What kind of place was this Red Dust Pavilion? It was too terrifying!
Most importantly, in such a place, he had unknowingly slept for two days, as if in a dream. This matter was becoming increasingly bizarre.
"Who are you?" Bái Qiāndào asked again, fear mingled with curiosity.
"Master of Red Dust Pavilion... Lán Dānyān."
Alright! Bái Qiāndào had never heard of her. He assumed this woman must be very powerful, and those who were so powerful likely commanded significant influence.
He was just a very ordinary civilian. There was no way he would know such prominent figures. At most, he had seen some celebrities on TV or in movies; they were public figures. He had seen a few well-dressed high officials and tycoons in videos and pictures.
"Are you... also a spiritual practitioner?" Bái Qiāndào asked again.
Lán Dānyān's eyes turned cold. "Don't ask too many questions... You might think you're ordinary, but you managed to enter the Red Dust Pavilion. I won't treat you as a common person. I will uncover the truth. No matter what you are, you will be destroyed."
Bái Qiāndào was stunned. "Are you always this domineering?"
Lán Dānyān's lips curved slightly, as if smiling, yet her expression remained cold. "Lán Dānyān is synonymous with dominance."
Bái Qiāndào said bitterly, "I don't care who you are or how domineering you are; you can't disregard the law, can you?"
Lán Dānyān sneered again. "You trespassed into the Red Dust Pavilion and violated my territory. I have the right to kill you."
Bái Qiāndào was dumbfounded. If she killed him for this, there would be no justice. Besides, he would already be dead; who could seek redress for him?
"Don't kill me! I'll leave right now..." Bái Qiāndào was thoroughly terrified and quickly walked towards the door. Facing a terrifying woman who wanted to kill him, he didn't want to die so meaninglessly.
At that moment, a voice echoed in his mind: "Ding-dong! Lucky Draw Bonanza! Buy one, get one free! Grab your good luck!"
"Who? Who's there?" Bái Qiāndào shuddered, looking around. He then looked at Lán Dānyān; it couldn't be her voice. Who was speaking?
"Ding-dong! Omni-Personality Grand System Lucky Draw Bonanza! Buy one, get one free! Grab your good luck!" The voice in his head sounded again.
"Who is speaking?" Bái Qiāndào shouted in panic, looking left and right.
Omni-Personality Grand System? What the hell was that? Why was this voice sounding in my head? Am I really this unlucky? Why do I always encounter bizarre things? Is this auditory hallucination? Have I lost my mind?
"Did you lose your mind?" Lán Dānyān stood up, looking at him in surprise.