Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Boss, two meat-stuffed buns, extra meat, please."

Standing before the meat-stuffed buns stall, Qin Han held a soda in his hand, his face brimming with anticipation.

"Don’t worry about that. Old Zhang here has been making meat-stuffed buns for twenty years—never skimped on the portions, always generous," said the stall owner, a man in his fifties, his face creased with a warm smile.

"Though there’s only one ready right now. You’ll have to wait a few minutes for the second one."

"Sure, but please hurry. I’m not sure if I’ll have time to eat it."

Qin Han checked the time on his phone before grabbing the ready meat-stuffed buns and immediately began eating it right there by the stall, unable to wait.

Between bites, he took sips of his orange-flavored soda, the refreshing taste making his eyes narrow slightly in satisfaction.

Once finished, he couldn’t help but sigh.

"It’s been so many years since I’ve tasted the flavors of home. Truly comforting!"

"If possible, I’d love to stay in my hometown forever."

"Unfortunately, time waits for no one. Who knows when I’ll be able to return again."

The stall owner, busy with his work, glanced at him curiously.

"Young man, you’re so young—why such melancholy? Are you a student who’s been studying abroad?"

Qin Han paused for a moment before chuckling.

"If it were just studying abroad, that’d be fine. You can always come back whenever you want. But some places… once you go, it’s nearly impossible to return."

The stall owner looked intrigued. "What kind of place is that? Somewhere so special you can’t come back?"

Qin Han pointed upward at the clear blue sky.

The stall owner’s expression shifted instantly, as if he’d realized something.

His face darkened with sorrow, and his gaze toward Qin Han became cautious, as if afraid of accidentally upsetting the young man.

He stuffed the second meat-stuffed buns with an extra-heavy portion of meat before solemnly handing it to Qin Han.

When Qin Han reached for his wallet to pay, the old man quickly put away the payment QR code, his weathered face softening into a kind smile.

"Kid, there are some things this old man can’t help you with. But you must stay strong. Believe that things will turn around."

"This meal is on me. If you ever make it back, come find me—I’ll treat you to meat-stuffed buns again."

Qin Han knew the old man had misunderstood, but he didn’t explain.

Instead, he smiled warmly.

"Uncle, I’ll remember your words. Don’t worry—I’ll definitely come back."

The stall owner’s smile widened uncontrollably.

"Good lad. I’ll be waiting."

With a polite nod of thanks, Qin Han walked over to a nearby lounge chair and sat down.

He unwrapped the last meat-stuffed buns and took slow, deliberate bites.

And just at that moment—

The once-clear sky suddenly churned with turbulence.

A golden scroll unfurled across the heavens, bearing a line of majestic, radiant script:

[By the decree of the Supreme Existence, the Game of Eternal Life begins!]

The golden scroll lingered for only a few seconds before exploding into countless golden particles.

These particles, as if alive, scattered downward—

And one of them landed squarely on Qin Han’s forehead.

In an instant, the golden particle projected a screen before his eyes.

The golden scroll bore a line of bold, forceful characters, accompanied by an ear-splitting voice that reverberated:

"You have been chosen to fight for your race!"

At the same moment, across the streets—no, the entire world—golden particles descended upon the foreheads of nearly everyone, sparing only the elderly, disabled, children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups.

Above the heavens, a massive countdown appeared, shrinking relentlessly from fifty.

Faced with this spectacle, people either panicked and ran wildly or stood frozen in shock. Only Qin Han remained calm, leisurely eating his meat-stuffed bun without a trace of fear.

As a former powerhouse who had once stepped onto the Final Battlefield, he knew exactly what this meant.

The Game of Eternal Life was a cosmic-scale event, encompassing the vast starry skies, countless realms, and infinite races. The number of participants was beyond measure—trillions upon trillions, more than the grains of sand in the Ganges.

This game treated the heavens and earth as its chessboard, and all living beings as its pieces. Whether it was supreme divine kingdoms, peak factions, or ordinary civilizations and humble laborers—none could escape its grasp.

Victors would attain eternal life.

Losers would fall into endless suffering.

However, the peak races, born mighty, had their strongest already assigned to the Final Battlefield from the start, towering above all like deities.

Humanity, in contrast, was as insignificant as dust, forced to begin from the lowest Novice Zone, struggling and scraping their way forward through brutal competition.

In his past life, Qin Han had pushed himself to the limit, coupled with extraordinary luck, to claw his way step by step to the Final Battlefield. Yet, against those ancient, dominant forces—those who had existed for eons—he still found himself outmatched.

And in the final battle for the Supreme Divine Throne, he suffered a bitter defeat, perishing with endless regret.

This was a completely lopsided contest.

Humanity was nothing but a backdrop in this game.

But now—

He had reincarnated!

Reborn with the invaluable experience of once reaching the Final Battlefield, he could foresee and seize every advantage.

This time, he was absolutely confident of becoming the ultimate victor of the Game of Eternal Life, standing above even the gods!

Perhaps...

He could go even further.

At this thought, Qin Han instinctively gazed at the sky, his vision seemingly piercing through to the distant cosmos.

A pity, though—his return had been too rushed. Otherwise, he could have savored more of his hometown’s delicacies and taken in more of its spring scenery.

Sitting back in his chair, Qin Han finished his meat-stuffed bun unhurriedly, even taking the time to toss the wrapper into a nearby trash bin.

The countdown was now in its final moments:

Ten!

Nine!

Eight!

Seven!

…

Standing on the street, Qin Han looked at the bewildered Dumpling Stall Owner, at the familiar surroundings, at the hometown that held his youthful memories—his eyes flickering with a trace of nostalgia.

"I will return."

As the countdown reached zero—

A flash of white light swept across the streets.

The once-bustling roads were instantly left nearly empty.

And in the heavens above—

Once again, icy words appeared:

["The chosen ones will fight for your race. When the last one dies, the entire race shall be erased!"]

Before long, the words vanished, and the sky returned to its clear blue, as if nothing had ever happened.

But looking at the empty streets, it seemed as though the entire world had suddenly aged into twilight.

At the meat-stuffed buns stall, the middle-aged man stood frozen, staring blankly at the azure sky, his weathered face filled with solemnity.