During the era of the Investiture of the Gods, countless heroes emerged—some became immortals, some became Buddhas. Never again in later generations would so many immortals and Buddhas walk the mortal world at once. Yet even so, who dares to say that I, King Zhou, am not the protagonist of the Investiture? That I am not the most noble lord of the human realm! Now, with time still left before the Investiture, since I have traveled here from the future, how could I let my life be controlled by those so-called sages again? I am King Zhou, and I shall overturn fate and defy the Investiture!

　　Author Bio:

　　Pixie, male, writer on Qidian Chinese Network, author of "I Am the Proud Roaring King Zhou of the Investiture of the Gods" and "Son-in-law of the Demon Realm."

Chapter 1 Collapse! The Antimatter Energy Shield

　　Jessica Bolton is a Chinese scientist, thirty years old. In the highly advanced technological era of the 24th century, where human lifespans have greatly increased, this age is considered just the beginning of youth. Yet this "young" genius scientist has achieved feats that many renowned predecessors can only dream of, especially his breakthroughs in the field of antimatter, which the scientific community hails as "epoch-making."

　　In a remote and secluded laboratory, before a massive and peculiar machine, Jessica Bolton was intently observing a semi-transparent floating display screen, occasionally making gestures in the air, causing the data and graphics on the screen to change accordingly. His research target was the strange disc suspended in the central container of the experimental apparatus. The disc was dark gold, neither wood nor metal, with a concave center, covered in intricate and mysterious characters and patterns, giving off an ancient and enigmatic aura.

　　"Amazing... The data shows that the structure of this energy is unprecedented. If proven accurate, it would far surpass all known antimatter systems. Even more incredible, the way the energy moves inside is somewhat similar to the existence of life..." Jessica Bolton muttered to himself as his fingers flew across the controls, running various tests and calculations on the computer, while several assistants bustled nearby.

　　Suddenly, the changes on the screen began to slow, and a voice sounded: "You have been working continuously for twelve hours. The forced rest program is about to activate. Please stop your work immediately, rest, and replenish your nutrition."

　　The voice came from a semi-transparent orb floating in midair, about the size of a fist, emitting a faint glow. At first glance, it might be mistaken for a lighting fixture, but it was actually the most advanced super-intelligent computer in existence. Interrupted, Jessica Bolton was naturally displeased and frowned, saying, "Superbrain, immediately cancel the forced rest program. I need to conduct further in-depth research on this energy."

　　The superbrain's response was odd: "The forced rest program has already been canceled three times in a row... Special reminder program is about to activate."

　　"Special reminder program? Wait! Superbrain!" Jessica Bolton suddenly realized what was happening and tried to stop it, but it was too late. A soft light flashed, and a three-dimensional image of a young woman appeared in the laboratory. The woman was exceptionally graceful and beautiful—if not for the strict regulations on cloning and genetics, her appearance would surely become the standard template for all beauty-loving women.

　　"Honey, you want to overwork yourself again? No way! You're not a robot!" The woman put on a mock-serious face with a hint of playfulness, her voice charming: "This special reminder program was added to the superbrain by me personally. You have five minutes to back up your data! I’ll be home soon to settle accounts with you!"

　　In the past, Jessica Bolton would have scrambled to back up his work, but now he simply stood there quietly, watching the virtual image gradually fade, a deep, indescribable sadness in his eyes.

　　"Rain Fairy..." Jessica Bolton slowly closed his eyes. Though his wife had passed away long ago, her voice and smile remained vivid in his memory, unforgettable.

　　Rain Fairy was a renowned scientist in the computer field. The laboratory's control core, "Superbrain," was originally a failed prototype, but under her skillful hands, it was transformed into the world's most advanced super-intelligent computer. Unlike Jessica Bolton, who was always buried in the lab, she had a wide range of interests, including archaeology and history, and often traveled for research—though they each had their own careers, their deep understanding and support for each other made many friends envious. Unfortunately, eight years ago, Rain Fairy died in an accident. Although Jessica Bolton could use genetic and cloning technology to create someone identical in appearance, the unique human soul could not be replicated. Even if cloned, it would only be another stranger in her likeness—the Rain Fairy he loved would never return.

　　In the first two years after Rain Fairy's death, Jessica Bolton was like a walking corpse, drowning his sorrows in alcohol every day, collapsing drunk on the streets countless times, no matter how his parents and friends tried to persuade him. If not for the greatly enhanced constitution of 24th-century humans, he might have already died from alcohol poisoning. The entire scientific community lamented the fall of this genius.