Crossing the Two Realms: From a Trader to an Immortal Emperor - Chapter 1

Chen Le’an lay on the hospital bed, his face haggard, his eyes filled with confusion and helplessness. The doctor stood by his side, flipping through the medical records with a serious expression.

“Mr. Chen, after a thorough examination, we can confirm that you have a brain tumor. It’s still growing and has become life-threatening.”

“A brain tumor?”

“Doctor, could there be a mistake?”

“We’ll conduct further tests to confirm, but for now, you need to stay calm and cooperate with our treatment. If a Nascent Soul cultivator is willing to help, there might still be a chance,” the doctor reassured him.

Chen Le’an felt like his world had collapsed in an instant.

This was an era of declining spiritual energy, where cultivation had become increasingly difficult. Even a Qi Refining cultivator was considered a master, highly respected by society.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator was revered as an elder, a powerful figure capable of ruling a region.

And Nascent Soul cultivators? They were like living gods, only heard of in legends.

Now, in this age of dwindling spiritual energy, the miraculous treasures of ancient times are long gone. Even basic medicinal materials were becoming less effective year by year.

Thus, all industries had started researching ways to maximize the potential of these materials.

Chen Le’an was a technical supervisor at a pharmaceutical company.

His job was to analyze medicinal properties and combine ingredients to enhance their effects, developing numerous pill formulas.

Unfortunately, modern herbs were weak. The medicines he created could only improve general health. If rare spiritual herbs still existed, he could have crafted Qi-Gathering and Foundation Establishment pills with ease.

For the past three years, he had noticed something wrong with his body—weak knees, dizziness, tinnitus, declining stamina, frequent night urination…

Recently, he had been fainting more often.

And now he found out it was a brain tumor.

In this world, a brain tumor was nearly impossible to cure—unless a Nascent Soul cultivator personally intervened.

But Chen Le’an was just an ordinary man with no background or connections. He hadn’t even stepped into the Qi Refining stage, just one among millions of common folk.

In a world where spiritual energy was nearly gone, how could a legendary Nascent Soul cultivator waste their power saving him?

After completing his discharge paperwork, he reluctantly returned to his company.

There were still a few tasks left unfinished.

He didn’t notice that his colleagues were subtly keeping their distance from him.

“Supervisor Chen, the boss wants to see you.”

The secretary, usually warm and cheerful, was strangely cold today, speaking in an indifferent, businesslike tone.

Sitting in his office, his face as pale as a sheet, Chen Le’an listened as his boss announced his dismissal.

Looking up weakly, he pleaded, “Boss, I… I know I’m sick, and my health isn’t what it used to be. But I’ll work hard—I’ll do extra hours, take fewer breaks, even accept a pay cut… Just please, don’t fire me. I really can’t afford to lose this job.”

But his boss simply shook his head, his voice as cold as iron.

“Chen Le’an, this is company policy. It’s not my decision. You’re sick, which means you can’t perform your duties. The company has no room for idle employees. You should handle your resignation as soon as possible and stop wasting time here.”

Without a hint of hesitation or sympathy, the boss turned and left.

His retreating figure was cold and heartless, as if Chen Le’an was nothing more than a disposable tool.

Chen Le’an lowered his head, his eyes dimming with despair.

Returning home, he slowly pushed open the door.

The house was a mess. His wife, Bai Fengjiao, was rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

Without even looking up, she said, “Oh, you’re back. Perfect timing—I need to talk to you.”

“You have a brain tumor, lost your job, and now the household depends on me alone. This isn’t going to work. Let’s get a divorce.”

The light in Chen Le’an’s eyes dimmed instantly, and his heart clenched in pain.

“Fengjiao, how can you say that? We’ve been together for so many years… Just because I’m sick, you’re leaving me?”

Bai Fengjiao glanced at him coldly, her voice devoid of warmth.

“Love? Can love put food on the table? Can it buy me designer bags? Can it get me a big house? A luxury car? If you were still a technical supervisor, I might have considered staying, but now? Hah, forget it.”

“A sick man like you is just a burden. I won’t let you drag me down for life.”

With that, she began throwing his belongings out of the house, as if they were nothing more than unwanted trash.

Chen Le’an’s eyes reddened, his voice trembling.

“Fengjiao… how can you be so heartless? I’ve done so much for you…”

“I worked hard, earned money for you, never once spent on myself.”

Bai Fengjiao remained emotionless.

“Hah, and what does that count for? I wasted my youth on you! I must have been blind to marry a loser like you!”

“Now get lost. I don’t want to see you anymore. I won’t spend my life with a broke, dying man.”

Chen Le’an stood in silence, looking at the scattered clothes and books—memories of his past life.

His voice was hoarse as he muttered, “Fine… I’ll leave.”

He picked up a few clothes and walked away, his heart heavy with sorrow.

At the street corner, he glanced back one last time.

A car had just pulled up in front of his house.

It was his former boss’s car.

Chen Le’an let out a bitter laugh.

He had probably been betrayed long ago.

Aimlessly, he wandered to a small motel, emptied his pockets for a cheap room, and collapsed onto the bed.

Cancer.
Unemployment.
Divorce.
Betrayed.

Everything had fallen apart.

Unwillingness surged in his heart.

Why was fate so cruel?

A sudden wave of dizziness hit him—just like the times he had fainted before.

Damn this tumor!

As he lost consciousness, he used the last of his strength to raise his middle finger to the heavens.

If there was a chance…

He would grow stronger.

He would take control of his own fate!

In his hazy state, his consciousness seemed to drift, drawn toward the tumor in his brain.

But as he neared it, he saw something else—a strange, gray substance hovering beside it.

In the next instant, he was pulled inside.

Chen Le’an found himself in a vast, chaotic space—filled with an endless, lifeless gray mist.

He had no idea how long he wandered.

Suddenly, a bright light appeared.

Huh?

Why did the air here feel so fresh?

Taking a deep breath, a cool sensation spread through his body, making him feel noticeably better.

He slowly stood up.

Surrounded by farmland.

And then memories flooded into his mind.