Chapter One: Awakening of the Flame

Morning Star Principality, Golden Shark Star Domain, White Tower Floating Continent.

Jiangyuan City, outskirts, Ultra-Long-Range Starsea Deployment Platform.

With a thousand-meter pillar of light shooting skyward, the hundred Spark Firecrafts that had been neatly parked on the platform vanished in an instant, dispatched to the unknown reaches of distant stars.

At the same time, a thousand kilometers away, in Jiangyuan’s sister city, Jiangyuan City—one of the five major cities of the White Tower Floating Continent.

Jiangyuan First Spark Academy, Boys’ Dormitory Building No. 3, Song Chi removed his virtual helmet and exited the White Tower network.

Tension was etched on his face; he had just watched the live broadcast of the Starsea deployment for the graduates of Jiangyuan Spark Academy. Next in line after Jiangyuan was his own city, Jiangyuan. As a graduating student of Jiangyuan First Spark Academy, he knew the scene he’d just witnessed would soon be his turn.

Ultra-long-range Starsea deployment, exploring the unknown starfields—how could his heart not be anxious at the prospect of soon experiencing both firsthand?

Yet beneath the nervousness, a flicker of anticipation shone in his eyes. This was a rare opportunity—if seized, soaring to greatness was not out of reach.

This was an age of the Starsea. Millions of years ago, the multiverse shattered, leaving countless fragments of universes scattered across the void of the Starsea.

With that, the era of the multiverse ended, and a new age was born. All remaining civilizations named it—the Era of Shattered Starseas.

These lingering fragments became known, over the eons, as Starsea Floating Continents.

Soon, the various civilizations discovered that, as the ultimate crystallizations of the shattered multiverse, most Starsea Floating Continents harbored countless rare resources.

To seize these resources, the remnant civilizations vied fiercely, plunging the Shattered Starsea into endless war.

For millions of years, across the boundless Shattered Starsea, civilizations have perished ceaselessly, fading into the long river of time. Yet, just as many new civilizations have sprung up like bamboo shoots after the rain.

The Spark Humanity was one such civilization.

Within the Spark realm, every citizen at age thirty could undertake ultra-long-range star deployment via Spark Firecraft, embarking on their journey of Starsea exploration.

Of course, thanks to advances in genetic engineering, the average lifespan of Spark citizens had reached one hundred forty years; these days, thirty was barely considered adulthood.

Since the Spark Source Seed ignited over three hundred thousand years ago, this has become an inviolable rule for all Spark Humanity—every legal citizen above thirty may attempt to awaken the Spark Seed, bind their Spark Firecraft, and begin their star exploration.

Scouring alien starseas for resources, strengthening their Firecraft, ascending the ladder of life—all to stand against increasingly powerful neighboring alien civilizations, safeguarding Spark Humanity’s territory.

Awakening the Spark Seed and mastering a Firecraft is the most pivotal opportunity in a Spark citizen’s life. Success means instant elevation, the chance to become one of the elite.

If one can further enhance their Firecraft to higher tiers, territorial lordship, longevity, and entry into the ranks of Spark nobility are within reach.

Suppressing his uneasy thoughts, Song Chi stood, legs parted in a horse stance, hands raised with palms open upward.

It was the standard posture for practicing the Guide Technique.

According to the Spark Humanity’s official data, this Guide Technique, developed over thousands of years, not only strengthens the body and elevates one’s life tier, but also significantly increases the probability of successfully awakening the Spark Seed. The higher the Guide Technique level before age thirty, the greater the chance of awakening.

As for why awakening was set at thirty—it was simple. With an average lifespan of one hundred forty, awakening the Spark Seed at thirty and mastering a Firecraft allows ample time to practice the Guide Technique, greatly boosting the odds, while not neglecting foundational starsea knowledge, thus lowering the mortality rate in subsequent explorations.

And the remaining century is more than enough to further enhance one’s Firecraft and ascend the life ladder—a threefold benefit.

...

Three hours later, Song Chi finished his practice.

With over twenty years of uninterrupted cultivation, his Guide Technique had already reached level four; further advancement would take time.

Night had fallen outside. He felt no urge to continue; after a quick wash, he went straight to bed.

Tomorrow was the day of Spark Awakening. Rest was paramount.

...

The next day, Jiangyuan First Spark Academy’s sports field.

The awakening ceremony had already begun.

“Zhang Lili, Spark Awakening successful—quality: ‘Colorless.’ Next, Zhou Pengfei.”

As the White Tower Spark Bureau agent’s voice rang out, the hundreds of students below the platform reacted in various ways.

Some murmured regretfully, but more had envy in their eyes.

Though every legal Spark citizen at thirty was eligible to attempt awakening, the success rate was far from high. By the academy’s average, four out of ten students succeeded—a remarkable figure.

This was the elite Jiangyuan First Spark Academy; elsewhere, the rate was even lower.

Among the crowd, Song Chi was like most, both envious and tightly clenched, nerves taut.

“Thirty years—everything hinges on today.”

As he pondered, the announcement resumed.

“Zhou Pengfei, Spark Awakening failed—next…”

“Zhao Yunfeng, Spark Awakening successful—quality: ‘Colorless.’”

...

As each student succeeded or failed, it soon came to Song Chi’s class, Year Ten, Class Five.

“Next, Sun Hao.”

At the call, the figure beside Song Chi—nearly two meters tall and bear-like—shuddered.

Song Chi patted his shoulder lightly, urging him to relax.

“Hao, go for it.”

Sun Hao, a burly man, was one of Song Chi’s few close friends at the academy.

Sun Hao nodded and strode to the awakening platform.

Moments later—

“Sun Hao, Spark Awakening successful—quality: ‘White.’”

Instantly, the student body erupted in gasps.

It was well known: though all awaken the Spark Seed, its quality varies. Colorless is lowest, followed by White, then Blue, Purple, and so on.

Don’t be fooled by White being the second lowest—among dozens of awakeners, a White quality is rare. Blue and Purple are exceedingly scarce.

A smile bloomed on Song Chi’s face, genuinely happy for his friend.

As expected, Sun Hao was soon surrounded by congratulatory classmates—even those who’d barely spoken in ten years came forward to deepen ties.

It was hardly mercenary—Sun Hao was now a hot commodity.

With a White Spark Seed, outside investors—small consortiums, chambers, families—would happily invest. If Sun Hao agreed and signed a legal investment contract, he’d soon receive a generous resource package to enhance his Firecraft, allowing him to outpace his peers in upgrades.

After all, every Firecraft starts at level zero; subsequent upgrades require substantial resources. Without financial backing, progress is painfully slow.

“Next, Song Chi!”

After four consecutive failures, Song Chi’s turn came at last.

Sun Hao sent him a look of encouragement.

Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Song Chi stepped onto the awakening platform.

Under the Spark Bureau agent’s guidance, Song Chi extended his right hand toward the black flame before him.

The black flame was called the Spark Source Seed—not the original core flame of Spark Humanity, but derived from it, aiding the awakening process and improving success rates.

Song Chi felt warmth envelop his palm. It seemed to last a mere moment—or perhaps an eternity—until a sharp, needle-like pain pierced his hand, prompting his tightly shut eyes to open.

Before he could react, the announcement rang out.

“Song Chi, Spark Awakening successful—quality: ‘Colorless.’”

Descending from the platform, Song Chi was awash in mixed emotions—joy and worry.

He was glad to have awakened the Spark Seed, smoothing the road ahead and vindicating thirty years of effort.

Yet the Spark quality troubled him. The colorless Spark Seed was the lowest tier, with limited potential. Early progress might be fine, but without improving its quality, his Firecraft’s advancement would stagnate, blocking the path forward.

“Hiss!”

Lost in thought, a sudden burning sensation flared in his chest. Song Chi’s gaze sharpened as he realized—

“The Starsea Market Token is heating up. What’s going on? Thirty years, and this is the first time.”

Puzzled, he returned to his class’s ranks; to others, his demeanor appeared dejected.

“Chi, don’t worry—the Spark Seed quality can be improved. Colorless isn’t so bad…”

Sun Hao assumed Song Chi was upset, and hastened to comfort him.

Song Chi shook his head, indicating he was fine—not merely putting on a brave face, but genuinely unconcerned.

He had felt some disappointment at first, but quickly recovered.

As Sun Hao said, the Spark Seed’s grade can be raised. Though difficult and requiring rare resources, as a transmigrator, Song Chi was confident he could improve it in time.

Yes, he was a transmigrator—and not just that, he had been reborn before birth.

What truly piqued his curiosity was the Starsea Market Token hanging from his neck.

The very artifact responsible for his transmigration from his previous world, Blue Star, through these thirty years he had become certain this token was his golden finger.

With his golden finger undergoing unknown changes, how could he not care?

Nevertheless, curiosity had to be curbed in public; he couldn’t simply take out the token for inspection. Fortunately, the burning sensation gradually faded.

Half an hour later, the awakening ceremony for all graduates of Jiangyuan First Academy concluded.

Out of over six hundred students, fewer than two hundred had successfully awakened the Spark Seed.

Cries, laughter, exclamations, wails—the plaza erupted in chaos, joy and sorrow intermingled.

From this day forth, the paths of these two groups would diverge completely.