My Celestial Ascension Chapter 1 Rebirth After Death

"Why do I feel so incredibly drained?"

A slender, eighteen-year-old young man voiced this question, feeling an inexplicable exhaustion despite having done nothing strenuous.

Yuan, a young man whose emaciated physique contrasted sharply with his remarkably captivating and heartwarming countenance, was suffering from a frail state of health.

During a widespread pandemic, he received the devastating news of being diagnosed with terminal leukemia, already in its blast phase, with only a mere four years left to live if immediate treatment wasn't administered.

Initially, despair had consumed him, and he struggled immensely to accept the grim reality of his short existence.

However, he eventually came to terms with his limited time and resolved to make the most of it. This was despite being a destitute orphan who relied on part-time work to survive, earning a modest $45,000, which felt like a fortune to him.

ραпdα nᴏνa| сom Despite his earnest attempts to cherish his remaining years, his health continued its relentless decline, often confining him indoors for extended periods.

Nevertheless, Yuan maintained his resolve, determined to treasure every moment and create lasting memories.

"Is... Is it already time... Why is my life so unfair?"

Sigh!"

"I need to get some sleep." He walked towards his bed and sat down, murmuring to himself. He had been fighting to stay awake the entire time, so as soon as he finally gave in to sleep, his eyes promptly closed.

As he drifted off, thinking of her, a tear escaped his eye. "It seems I won't be able to keep my promise, Lulu... I hope you can forgive me."

Lulu, a girl from the same orphanage, had grown up alongside him until a wealthy man visited and adopted her when they were both ten years old.

She cherished their time together, and he equally enjoyed her company. At that age, several other boys from the orphanage were envious of Yuan because Lulu paid them no attention.

Although he regretted never seeing her again, a lingering question remained: Did she still remember him?

In truth, he hadn't even tried to find her, as his life had been consumed by the struggle to make ends meet while juggling part-time jobs and attending school for those eight years.

He had vowed to search for her in the future but was unable to fulfill that promise.

Upon discovering his terminal leukemia, he had already abandoned his studies. Instead, during the subsequent three years, he worked, socialized more, and generally savored life more, having ample free time after leaving school.

Just a few days prior, his world had been irrevocably altered. An old album, hidden away for years, surfaced, unveiling a treasure trove of childhood memories from the orphanage.

However, one particular photograph arrested his attention. It depicted a young girl, her smile radiating warmth, standing beside him with their hands clasped.

Lulu, his childhood sweetheart, immediately sprang to mind. Regrettably, it was far too late to search for her as his condition worsened.

As he reached for the album, a torrent of memories washed over him. His fingers trembled as he opened it, revealing a snapshot of them during a happier time.

But as he gazed at the photograph, a sharp pain pierced his heart, and tears streamed down his cheeks, soaking his pillow in sorrow.

"I-I wish I could see her one last time before I pass away..." His sentence remained unfinished as he succumbed to the encroaching darkness, his final breath fading into the abyss.

——

Yuan's body felt devoid of weight, as if he were a feather adrift on the wind. Upon opening his eyes, he found himself enveloped in darkness, suspended in mid-air.

This surreal experience left him utterly stunned; he had never encountered anything quite like it. It felt as though he had been transported to another realm, defying all logic and reason.

An unfamiliar fear began to stir within his chest, yet he made every effort to maintain his composure and avoid succumbing to panic. He started to ponder.

As he contemplated the unknown, a chilling thought crossed his mind. He had read that upon death, souls were dispatched to the afterlife, compelled to begin anew with their memories wiped clean. Was this his destiny? Would he lose all he cherished and become an entirely different person?

Lost in the void, he questioned his own mortality: "Am I dead?" Yet, unlike the narratives he had encountered, there was no radiant light or celestial chorus. Instead, an eerie unknown loomed, so dense that he couldn't even see his own hands.

"Yes, indeed! You are dead now, and I find it utterly pitiful and shameful. Such a tragic end for one so full of life!"

From the midst of the darkness, Yuan's ears were assailed by a majestic voice, carrying a divine aura that sent a shiver down his spine and left him spellbound.

Intriguingly, the voice felt strangely familiar, as if he'd heard it every day of his existence. He strained to pinpoint the source of this godlike voice, which had sent such a profound chill through him.

"W-Who are you? Why don't you introduce yourself?" Yuan's heart pounded furiously as he demanded the voice reveal its identity. He trembled, feeling minuscule before the divine being behind the godly voice, acutely aware that a single misstep could spell his doom.

As the darkness pressed in, a peculiar presence seemed to lurk nearby. Then, as if by mystical intervention, a pair of resplendent golden eyes materialized before him, their intense glow piercing through the oppressive gloom.

He found himself unable to tear his gaze away from the captivating spectacle, for those eyes felt as though they could penetrate his very essence, leaving him utterly exposed and defenseless. Indeed, nothing could escape the penetrating scrutiny of those immense, otherworldly orbs.

"Tsk. How heart-wrenching it is to meet one's end by the cruel hand of mortal illness, a true tragedy! Alas, it is such a pity that despite possessing the power to forge one's own destiny, you succumbed to your fate like a helpless chicken awaiting slaughter."

The voice continued its somber pronouncement, "Is it not true that you desperately yearn for a chance at rebirth? In my profound empathy, I extend my aid to you."

As the divine voice imparted these words, a radiant golden light materialized, slicing through the abyss and infusing Yuan's being, coursing through him with ethereal power.

"It is with great anticipation that I await our next encounter, a meeting that will undoubtedly occur in the future. As for the present, grieved am I to inform you that my departure approaches. Before we part ways, I implore you to dedicate all your effort to strengthening your physical and mental fortitude... Hahahah!" As the divine entity's laughter echoed through the void, the colossal pair of eyes slowly closed.

Yuan's voice quivered with uncertainty as he voiced the question, "What do you mean by destiny?"

His very soul seemed adrift, at the mercy of the blinding radiance that enveloped him, leaving him with a multitude of unanswered questions. Despite his earnest quest, the elusive truth of destiny remained just out of his reach.

—

Yuan stirred from his deep slumber, his senses instantly sharpening as he drew in the crisp, pristine air that filled his lungs. It was a stark and refreshing contrast to the polluted atmosphere he had known on Earth.

As he slowly opened his eyes, a profound sense of familiarity washed over him, despite the unfamiliarity of his surroundings. The room exuded a warmth that felt deeply comforting, akin to a loving embrace from "Mother".

Turning his gaze to the right, his eyes landed upon a vision that stole his breath away.

There stood a girl of breathtaking beauty, radiating a luminescence that rivaled the sun. Her youthful elegance and exquisite features were a sight to behold; he knew with certainty that he had never before witnessed such unparalleled loveliness. Her stunning allure far surpassed even that of the most celebrated supermodels and actresses.

Truly, she was a vision of loveliness that left him utterly spellbound.

Thump! Thump!

As his eyes remained fixed upon the captivating woman before him, his heart began to race, beating with the intensity of a wild drum. Despite the surge of nerves, a curious smile touched his lips, for her mere presence seemed to calm him like a tranquil sea during a raging storm.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to cease its flow, a silent exchange of a million unspoken words passing between them. Yuan became lost in her gaze, but suddenly, he jolted back to awareness as he noticed the tears tracing paths down her cheeks.

Without a moment's hesitation, she covered her lips with her hand, and the raw emotion shining in her eyes pierced his very soul. As if compelled by an unseen force, she surged forward, launching herself into his arms, seeking refuge in his embrace.

"Oh, my dear little brother! Thank the heavens above that you're finally awake! My heart, along with our mother's, was heavy with worry, fearing we had lost you forever. We believed you were gone, vanished into the abyss, but you have returned to us! Promise me, you'll be more careful from now on. If I hadn't arrived precisely when I did, they would have extinguished your precious life, and I cannot bear the thought of losing you. Please, promise me you will stay safe!" As tears streamed freely down her face, she spoke words that left a haunting imprint on his mind.

The body he now inhabited seemed to conceal a profound, deeply rooted animosity towards some unknown adversary. Her sobs reverberated through the room as he held her close, leaving him to contemplate the hidden secrets within the vessel he now occupied.

'Brother? What is she saying? What is this situation I've found myself in, and more importantly, where am I? Why is she calling me her little brother when she is so incredibly gorgeous?' Due to the circumstances, a cascade of doubts flooded his mind.

"Aghhh"