Chapter 1: Miracle

In March 2149, the nine major planets of the solar system unexpectedly aligned in the rare astronomical spectacle known as the "Nine Stars in a Row." All around the globe, public opinion was awash in talk of the "end of the world." In such an atmosphere of apprehension and unrest, perhaps only the appearance of another kind of miracle could overshadow this pervasive sense of despair.

The timely emergence of the Six Micro-Carved Cities provided just such a diversion, capturing the attention of many. Whether these were miracles or divine wonders, no one could say for sure. It seemed as though the six micro-carved cities appeared before the public all at once, each grandly exhibited by the national museums of six different countries.

A micro-carved city, as the name suggests, is an entire city painstakingly carved onto a minuscule medium—so tiny that only a powerful magnifying glass could reveal its intricate details.

First came the City of Yellow Sands, unveiled in the holy land of the Middle East, quickly becoming a sacred site to which descendants of nomadic tribes flocked in reverence. Under the lens of a high-powered magnifying glass, a condensed metropolis was etched onto a single grain of sand, perfectly embodying the phrase "a world in a grain." Within this City of Yellow Sands, vast ochre buildings, bustling marketplaces, lively streets, and playful youths chasing each other along the walls, as well as caravans setting out beyond the city gates—the leader already fading into the boundless desert—were all vividly rendered.

The City of Boiling Seas was exhibited by the Royal British Museum. A thriving, crowded coastal town was carved onto a shard of shark’s tooth: busy dockworkers, fish pouring from nets on ships, white giant birds soaring overhead, and a limitless horizon with its dark, oppressive sky, all foreshadowing an unparalleled storm soon to descend. Viewers couldn't help but feel anxious for those laboring by the harbor.

Then there was the City of Darkness… the City of Oasis… the City of Red Rocks… and the City of Violet Smoke…

Thousands upon thousands flocked to witness the marvels of these micro-carved cities. The media reported extensively on the phenomenon, displaying the cities magnified countless times on screens—so enlarged that the boundaries of each city blurred, yet so detailed that one could see the wrinkles on a character’s forehead, the dimples at the corner of a mouth, even the delicate strands of hair frozen in the moment, as if time itself had paused to capture life in miniature.

"This is so lifelike—whose masterpiece is this?"
"This is true micro-carving art! How many times must it have been shrunk?"
"Cities like this only exist in dreams. Have you noticed that only a small corner of each city is revealed, with so much hidden from view…"
"This will surely reorder the original Seven Wonders of the World—these six micro-carved cities are miracles in their own right!"

Speculation abounded. As people were deeply shaken by the appearance of the cities, all sorts of theories emerged.

"Why only six micro-carved cities? Usually, seven feels more complete. Is there a secret hidden in the seventh city?"
"Will gathering all seven micro-carved cities reveal a divine miracle?"
"Nine stars align, micro-carved cities appear—is there some special connection between the two?"
"…"

In early summer, Red Sea City was already nearing thirty degrees. It hadn’t rained for more than half a month, and the air was dry—a weather that made it hard to keep calm. This, Lin Zhan told himself, was the reason for his recent sour mood—to blame his troubles on the weather somehow made it easier to bear.

Lin Zhan, male, eighteen years old, was a fourth-year student at the Red Sea City Police Academy. At one meter seventy-eight, he was not particularly tall, his features just barely passable, with thick eyebrows and large, expressive eyes. His face was deeply tanned and overall, his appearance was unremarkable.

But his girlfriend, Ling Qier, would say that his rustic air was far too pronounced—in a word, "earthy."

When the city’s Special Police Unit came to the school to recruit new members, Lin Zhan was the first to sign up. He breezed through the preliminary and secondary rounds, but was ultimately eliminated in the political vetting stage. It was said that a distant relative—so distant they might as well be strangers—had once served time in prison, and so he was removed from consideration.

When Lin Zhan sought comfort from Ling Qier, he was stunned to learn that she was behind it. Ling Qier didn’t want him to join the Special Police, didn’t want him to pursue such a dangerous career. She had pleaded with her grandfather, a former prominent official in Red Sea, to call a former subordinate and have Lin Zhan excluded from the list.

This, Lin Zhan could not accept. He furiously demanded a breakup.

On this earth, even if I am but a speck of dust, I still have my dignity!

If she could so easily manipulate his choices before marriage, change his dreams at will, how could he expect any freedom afterwards?

"Break up!"

Upon hearing his resolute words, Ling Qier covered her face and ran away in tears.

Watching her retreating figure, Lin Zhan slammed his fist against the wall, his knuckles instantly bloodied.

Life is such a damn mess!

After half a bottle of spirits, Lin Zhan, his eyes red, went out into the street. He wanted to give Ling Qier one last gift—after all, years of affection couldn’t end so cruelly.

Ling Qier was the belle of the Red Sea Art Academy and loved collecting strange and unusual handicrafts. For this last farewell gift, Lin Zhan decided to browse craft or antique shops.

He entered a craft shop, where the only person was an old proprietor peering at his phone through reading glasses, not even bothering to greet him.

Lin Zhan wandered twice around the shop, finally pausing at an inconspicuous corner.

"Boss, this thing is covered in dust. Could I have a look at it?" Lin Zhan pointed at a brocade box tucked away. The accompanying picture suggested it contained a micro-carved piece called "Snow City."

The proprietor looked up, gazed over his glasses, took one glance, and returned to his phone, though his voice carried over, "Go ahead. Put it under that high-powered magnifying glass, but it’s hard to see the details inside."

Micro-carving was all the rage lately. Since the appearance of the Six Micro-Carved Cities, the market was flooded with pieces of varying quality, most featuring miniature cities. Lin Zhan wondered if this "Snow City" was just another imitation.

As for the global rumors about the planetary alignment and the micro-carved cities, Lin Zhan, like most citizens, kept up with the news and latest developments, but didn’t do much beyond that.

The end of the world? The destruction of the earth? No amount of worrying would help.

Could this "Snow City" micro-carving serve as a breakup gift?

That was Lin Zhan’s chief concern now.

He decided to take a closer look. It was odd, though, that the proprietor said it was difficult to see the details inside. Was the magnifying glass not strong enough, or was there another reason?

Lin Zhan carried the brocade box to the workbench near the register, where a high-powered magnifying glass was set up.

"Boss, I’m opening the box to take a look."

The proprietor showed no reaction. Lin Zhan shook his head, sat down, rubbed his hands together, and opened the box.

Inside was a delicate pendant—a round, hollowed medallion, forged and polished from gold. Encircling it was a ring of ice-blue gemstone, and at the very center, like stars surrounding the moon, was a single, sparkling white jewel.

"Huh. Nothing special—such an old-fashioned design. No wonder it’s gathering dust in a corner; nobody wants it."

Muttering to himself, Lin Zhan reached to remove the pendant from the box. It was firmly wedged in. He struggled, reopening the wound on his hand, smearing blood onto the pendant.

He quickly wiped the blood away with his sleeve, glanced at the proprietor—nothing amiss—stuck out his tongue, and placed the pendant under the magnifying glass.

"Wow!"

With just one look, Lin Zhan felt as though he’d been bewitched, stunned by the scene within the miniature Snow City.

A vast world of dazzling white, a city enveloped in snow and ice, spreading across an immense area: white walls, pale streets, frozen rivers, and tiny figures carved like ice sculptures…

In the distance, wind and snow swept the roads, snowflakes could be seen drifting in the air, making the mountains and rivers seem unreachable, their outlines ethereal.

Under the magnifying glass, Lin Zhan even caught a hint of vivid red.

He withdrew his gaze, embarrassed, realizing that the red must be the blood he’d failed to wipe clean.

This was truly exquisite—Ling Qier would surely like it.

He gently returned the pendant to the box, carried it to the counter, placed it before the proprietor, and nervously asked, "Boss, how much for 'Snow City'? I’m just a poor student—if it’s too expensive, I can’t afford it!"