1 Chapter 1: The New World

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

At this moment, a gentle sea breeze caressed Luke's face as he lay on the deck of a luxurious yacht, basking in the sun. The yacht was cutting through the vast ocean, heading towards a continent called Australia.

In reality, Luke was a time traveller. In his previous life, he had been a Chinese immigrant living in Australia. Struggling under immense academic pressure, he had failed many courses and eventually was expelled from university. Desperate and unable to cope, he climbed to the roof of a building and prepared to jump to his death.

"Is this really how your life will end?"

Suddenly, a mysterious voice echoed in Luke's mind. Startled, he asked, "Who are you? What do you want from me?"

"I am the Universe Conscious, and you are the chosen one," the enigmatic voice replied, devoid of emotion.

At that moment, Luke realised that his situation resembled the plot of a web novel he used to read. With a hint of a smile, he cautiously asked, "Why have you chosen me?"

"Do you wish to simply drift through life, or would you rather travel to another plane of existence and create a new world of your own?"

"I would definitely choose the latter; otherwise, life would be so dull," Luke determinedly answered.

The Universe Conscious, sensing Luke's enthusiasm, materialised as a radiant human figure in his subconscious mind. "Very well," it said, pleased. "I will send you to another plane, where I will grant you a continent to call your own. There, you must create all manner of natural and cultural landscapes, as well as architectural marvels, in order to fulfil your ultimate dream."

Luke's eyes sparkled with anticipation. He had always been fond of strategy games like the Civilization series, where he could construct wonders and plan cities. The prospect of doing this for real was thrilling. "What reward will I receive for completing this task?" he asked.

"Patience," the Universe Conscious responded. "Once you have succeeded, you may continue to oversee your world and even return to your original life."

"Truly?" Luke's eyes widened in amazement. He never imagined that the Universe Conscious could possess such power, even granting him the chance to return to his former life.

"And if I refuse?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

"Then you shall be erased," the Universe Conscious warned, its tone grave.

Luke panicked and quickly surrendered. "I'll do as you say."

Transforming back into a beam of light, the Universe Conscious entered Luke's mind once more. "Come with me, then. I shall grant you the entire continent of Australia to build your dream. But first, draw your beginner's gift."

A gigantic wheel materialised in Luke's mind, each of its segments featuring a different building. Among the images, he recognised famous structures such as the Shanghai Tower and the Temple of Heaven, as well as several renowned international landmarks.

"Spin!" Despite his shock, Luke decided to take a chance.

Moments later, the pointer on the wheel halted on a segment displaying the words "Forbidden City."

"Unbelievable! Such a powerful beginning!" Luke exclaimed.

"Congratulations on obtaining the Forbidden City!" the Universe Conscious said. "This will serve as your administrative centre and residence, located by default in the city of Melbourne."

Luke knew the significance of the Forbidden City, a unique and priceless relic in China. Having this incredible wonder at the very beginning of his journey was a fantastic stroke of luck.

After a short while, the Universe Conscious spoke again, saying, "Now, let us begin your journey. Remember that I shall always be with you, ready to assist you in times of difficulty."

Suddenly, everything around Luke came to a standstill, time itself frozen. A massive black hole materialised before him, its powerful pull drawing him in without warning.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Luke screamed, unable to control his terror as he plunged into the endless abyss of the black hole.

About five minutes later, light flooded his vision, and he found himself lying on the deck of a yacht once more. It was then that he realised:

He had truly travelled through time.

Luke spotted a control panel on the deck, with a navigation system displaying the yacht's location. He could see that the vessel was heading towards the familiar Australian continent.

He lay back on the deck, resting for an hour. Eventually, he noticed the familiar outline of a city on the horizon. It was Melbourne, the same place where he had studied in his original world.

And so, the adventure began.