Chapter 1: The First Fall into the Illusory Realm

"At the dawn of time, all things began to grow. During this era, countless creatures came into existence: those that soared through the sky, swam in the waters, and roamed the land. Among them was a group of beings covered in fur, walking on two legs, residing atop a towering mountain. This mountain, shrouded in celestial mist, seemed like a paradise on earth. It was said to have been formed from the skull of Pangu and was named 'Kunlun Mountain.' Thousands of years later—"

"Wait, why are we skipping ahead thousands of years again? And why is the mountain called Kunlun Mountain? What kind of nonsense are you writing? Flying, swimming, and crawling creatures—are you just listing the twelve zodiac animals? And those fur-covered, two-legged creatures—aren't they just humans? Why not just say 'humans' outright?" He Shengnan leaned over, staring at the draft on the screen, laughing and cursing.

"Kunlun Mountain fits the setting of an immortal fantasy story! And I'm basing this on the twelve zodiac animals, so there's a variety of creatures. Besides, the term 'human' wasn't always called 'human' from the start, was it?" Bai Letian raised an eyebrow, still confident in his logic.

"Then what were humans called before they were called 'humans'?" He Shengnan asked, exasperated.

"I have no idea." Bai Letian shrugged innocently.

He Shengnan shook his head slightly, looking at Bai Letian. They worked in the media department of a publishing group, a team of five. He Shengnan, the chief editor, was fond of classic gangster films and insisted everyone call him "Big Bro." Bai Letian, an editor in the department, had been working there for three years, starting as an intern. Now, he was beginning to write short stories independently.

"Jumping forward thousands of years makes the story easier to write. The earlier settings are just groundwork. Next, I can describe how they cultivate in this misty paradise and battle fierce demons!" Bai Letian said eagerly.

"Now there are demons too?" He Shengnan frowned.

"Of course! Without demons, there's no reason to cultivate! This way, we get adventure, action scenes, and a chance to showcase unique combat techniques. That way, the story won't feel dull." Bai Letian made a hand seal as he spoke, brimming with confidence. "Right, Big Bro?"

He Shengnan sighed and chuckled. "Fine, do whatever you want. Just edit it well."

With that, he turned and walked toward his office.

"Are we gaming tonight, my dear Bai?" Xu Yuhao slid his chair over, grinning.

"Sure! But maybe a bit later." Bai Letian thought for a moment before replying.

"Relax, it's just a short story. Big Bro won't rush you too much. Maybe if you loosen up, your thoughts will be clearer!" Xu Yuhao raised an eyebrow. "How about hotpot tonight? I found a new spicy place that's amazing. Let's invite Xiaoqing and Big Sis, make it a gathering."

"A department dinner without Big Bro? He loves hotpot too." Bai Letian asked, puzzled.

"Forget it, you already ticked him off today. If we drag him into a spicy hotpot feast, both of us will be in trouble!" Xu Yuhao lowered his voice.

"Alright then!" Bai Letian laughed helplessly.

After work, Bai Letian tidied up his desk and saved the day's work.

"I'll get the car first. See you downstairs." Wen Qingyi called out.

"Got it!" everyone responded.

Downstairs, Wen Qingyi's off-road vehicle slowly pulled up, and she waved them over.

"Yuhao, send me the address." Wen Qingyi asked directly.

"I'll send it to your sister. Check your messages." Xu Yuhao replied.

At the restaurant, a friendly waiter greeted them. "Table for four?"

"Yep!" Xu Yuhao answered quickly.

"Yuhao, why didn't you invite Big Bro? Did you piss him off again?" Wen Qingyi gave Xu Yuhao a curious glance.

"Not me! It was Bai! He started writing independently today." Xu Yuhao explained hurriedly.

Wen Qingyi turned to Bai Letian, who nodded sheepishly.

"No worries. Yuhao has been here for five years and still hasn't started independent writing. You're just starting now—take your time." Wen Qingyi reassured him.

"You're writing solo now?" Jiang Xianqing asked in surprise.

"Yeah! But you'll be next in line!" Bai Letian laughed.

Bai Letian and Jiang Xianqing had joined the department at the same time and often discussed work, making their relationship somewhat ambiguous.

Wen Qingyi had been part of the department since its inception. He Shengnan handled external relations, story outlines, and publisher collaborations, while Wen Qingyi managed internal details and document organization. Xu Yuhao had joined two years earlier than Bai Letian and Jiang Xianqing.

As they chatted, their food arrived. They enjoyed their hotpot while gossiping. Two hours later, they parted ways and headed home.

On his way back, Bai Letian walked along a quiet path. With few people around, he absentmindedly practiced hand gestures, thinking about his story. After showering, he played a few rounds of games with Xu Yuhao, then lay in bed, scrolling through his phone while discussing story outlines with Jiang Xianqing.

Before he knew it, sleep overtook him.

In his dream, a blinding light pierced through, causing Bai Letian to squint open his eyes. Sunlight streamed in. Rubbing his eyes, he reached for his phone on the bedside table, but oddly, he couldn't find it. It was then that he realized he was in an unfamiliar room. The furnishings were ancient, the windows and doors weathered, resembling a scene from a historical drama.

He jolted awake and pinched his cheek. "Ow!" He winced from the pain.

Bang! The door swung open, and a voice called out.

"What's wrong?"

Bai Letian looked up—it was Xu Yuhao, dressed like a sect disciple from a historical fantasy series.

"Why are you dressed like that? Where is this? How did I get here?" Bai Letian fired off his questions.

"Bai, are you still half-asleep? This is your room! Hurry and get dressed—you can't be late for sword practice today!" Xu Yuhao replied, exasperated.

Bai Letian froze, then asked the dumbest question he could think of: "What's your name?"

"What's up with you? I'm Xu Yuhao, your senior brother." Xu Yuhao said impatiently.

Same name, same face. Something was off.

Bai Letian quickly dressed and followed Xu Yuhao to the training grounds.

Standing on the vast training field, Bai Letian was speechless. It was as large as three football fields, filled with training dummies, targets, and weapons. Celestial mist drifted through the air. Looking down the mountain, countless smaller peaks stretched into the horizon.

"Am I really dreaming?" Bai Letian murmured, feeling a mix of emotions.

On the field, a disciple boasted loudly, "Who dares challenge me?"

Without thinking, Bai Letian raised his hand. "I'll do it!"

He figured that pain might wake him up. So he neither blocked nor dodged. Then he remembered—he had already tested this by pinching himself that morning. But it was too late. His opponent's sword struck his shoulder. The searing pain knocked him to the ground.

"Shit... this isn't a dream..." he muttered before losing consciousness.