Wang Yi

Jiangnan Base City, Jiujiang City, Guqing District, No. 1 High School

In a dim classroom where the curtains were drawn tightly, a multimedia presentation was playing scenes of a brutal war between monsters and humans. The students' youthful faces reflected the flickering light, their emotions fluctuating with the intensity of the video.

A deep, resonant male voice accompanied the images on the screen:

"At the start of the 21st century, several viral flu outbreaks occurred across the world..."

At the second-to-last table, near the back window, a boy was sound asleep, seemingly unaffected by the narration. His soft, rhythmic snoring was the only sound coming from him. His classmates, accustomed to the scene, paid him no mind. Only the girl next to him, her long hair falling to her waist and thick black-rimmed glasses framing her face, glanced over with slight concern.

Meanwhile, the voice on the screen grew more intense:

"In September 2015, countless monsters emerged from the ocean, transforming into birds and beasts, and began attacking human settlements!"

"During the war, many powerful warriors rose to protect humanity. Their stories have become legends!"

"The large-scale war between monsters and humans lasted from September 2015 to March 2021."

"Those eight years, from 2013 to 2021, marked humanity's Nirvana."

Just as the narration came to a close, the school bell rang.

Suddenly, the curtains were drawn back, flooding the room with bright sunlight. The boy at the back shot upright instinctively, quickly organizing his books and belongings. A small puddle of drool on the table betrayed his nap, but as he searched his pockets for a tissue, he found none.

At that moment, a small hand extended a packet of tissues toward him.

Looking down, he saw it was his quiet desk mate.

Unbothered, he flashed a smile, showing his bright white teeth. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," she replied softly, her hand trembling slightly as she withdrew it.

The boy swiftly cleaned up and returned the tissue packet, then clapped his hands together and stood to leave. Before exiting through the back door, he turned to his table mate of nearly two years. "See you, Lin Youyu."

The girl, Lin Youyu, opened her mouth as if to say something, but the boy had already disappeared. She looked down, somewhat dejected, her lips moving as if she regretted not speaking sooner.

After a moment, her gaze wandered back to the boy's seat, landing on the damp table. Her face flushed slightly as an unknown thought crossed her mind.

Elsewhere, Wang Yi, now fully rested after the relaxing film session, walked out of the teaching building. Clad in a gray tracksuit, his well-proportioned figure blended into the crowd of students, making him appear unremarkable. However, the occasional girl passing by would glance at his face, her eyes lighting up.

Some students who recognized Wang Yi made way for him, nodding respectfully as he passed. Wang Yi, used to this, barely noticed.

After all, he was one of only five senior martial arts students in the entire high school.

Wang Yi was no ordinary student—he was a "traveler" who had been reincarnated into a world he knew well: the world of Swallowed Star.

Born into a modest family in a cramped apartment within the base city, Wang Yi had a sister two years older, already married and working. He still lived with his parents in their small, rundown apartment, a place that had been his home for 18 years.

When he reincarnated, Wang Yi's soul fused with the embryo his mother was carrying. From a young age, he had been unusually mature and intelligent, excelling in academics and earning praise for his hard work.

Besides studying, he had been training tirelessly from childhood, impressing his family with his discipline. By the age of 16, he had joined the Extreme Martial Arts Hall in his community, and within a year, he earned the title of "Senior Student," becoming the only one out of more than 4,000 students at Guqing District No. 1 High School to do so.

This achievement made Wang Yi somewhat of a celebrity at school, admired by many. But deep down, no one knew the burden he carried.

"Eighteen years... No special talents, no cheat codes. What am I supposed to do now?"

As he walked out of the school gate and into the busy streets, his straight posture and striking appearance still caught some attention, despite his plain attire.

"It's April 2056 now," Wang Yi thought, "just one month into the second semester of high school."

He knew the story was about to begin.

In the original plot, the protagonist, Luo Feng, would soon awaken his innate spiritual power and begin his legendary journey—fighting foes and achieving greatness.

Wang Yi, however, felt far from such greatness. Though considered a genius by his peers, he knew that his achievements had come only through relentless effort over more than a decade. Compared to Luo Feng, a freak of nature, Wang Yi's accomplishments felt insignificant.

"Without some sort of hack, you're not even worthy of being called a genius in this world," Wang Yi thought bitterly.

Despite his efforts to get closer to Luo Feng over the years, they remained little more than acquaintances. His best friend, Wei Wen, had a much stronger bond with Luo Feng.

As Wang Yi walked, his thoughts consumed him. After a short while, he arrived at a luxurious neighborhood known for its beautiful surroundings and grand villas.

Staring at the opulent homes, Wang Yi took a deep breath, filled with hope.

"One day, I'll live in a place like this with my family."

But before that...

"Miss Gao? Xiao Wang is already here."