A Grand Journey Through the Splendor of the Tang Dynasty

“Beep beep... beep beep...” The number of participants displayed on the massive LED screen kept climbing higher. Li Chuanglai’s eyes were fixed intently on the flickering digits, holding his breath in anticipation.

This was the launch event for “Dream of the Tang Dynasty.” The crowd surged past Li Chuanglai, brushing against his shoulder without a second thought—no one noticed the presence of this twenty-eight-year-old young man.

“Ladies and gentlemen, ‘Dream of the Tang Dynasty’—making dreams come true today! This brand-new game is now open for enthusiasts to experience!” A middle-aged man, dressed in a sparkling blue suit that glimmered like scattered diamonds, hosted the event with a lively, almost greasy, variety show flair, his booming voice infecting the entire audience with excitement.

“What kind of childish game is this? Who would even play it?” Li Chuanglai mumbled, absentmindedly twisting the drawstrings of his white hoodie between his fingers.

Twenty-eight—a most unremarkable age. Still young, but already nearing thirty. Born into an ordinary family, he had ordinary friends, attended an average university far from home. By a stroke of luck, he’d aced his interview and landed a management trainee position at a reputable company, even managing to find himself a beautiful girlfriend, making others envious.

The story should have ended here—with Li Chuanglai as the envy of all, the so-called winner at life.

But life is no hundred-meter dash; it’s a marathon. At twenty-four, during his time at work, Li Chuanglai's abilities f