Dragon Continent — Wai City
Wai City was vast and bustling, home to many mid-grade clans — the Su Clan, Chu Clan, Bai Clan, Tian Clan, and the Gao Clan.
Each of these clans held a moderate level of power and influence within Wai City.
The Gao Clan, however, had recently suffered a tragic blow.
Their eldest son, Gao Tian, only fifteen years old, had been assassinated.
No one knew who killed him.
But everyone knew why.
Gao Tian had been a prodigy from birth, a talent the heavens seemed to envy. When he was just five years old, he began cultivating—and in only three days, he broke through to the Qi Refining First Layer.
His cultivation speed was monstrous. Too monstrous.
That was the reason he was killed.
---
Gao Clan Residence — Clan Garden
A heavy silence blanketed the Gao Clan's garden.
A crowd had gathered, standing around a black-lacquered coffin. Some were ordinary citizens, others cultivators from various clans of Wai City.
Near the coffin knelt a woman, Gao Chi, Gao Tian's mother. Her eyes were bloodshot, swollen from crying. Tears poured endlessly down her cheeks.
Beside her stood her husband, Gao Hai—his face expressionless, but his heart shattered. He wanted to weep, but he forced himself to remain composed.
The atmosphere was suffocating, filled with sorrow and unspoken grief.
Then Gao Chi spoke, her voice trembling.
"Why… Why did this happen to my child? What did he do to deserve this?"
Gao Hai didn't answer. He simply nodded, as if trying to acknowledge her pain.
Suddenly, four men stepped forward, dressed in mourning robes.
The first one spoke gently, "Sister Chi, it's time. Let us carry Tian's coffin."
Gao Chi stood up, staggering backward. She turned and ran toward the residence, unable to bear the sight any longer.
Gao Hai remained where he was, silent.
The four pallbearers lifted the coffin with solemn care. Gao Hai stepped in to help.
But just as they were about to move—
CRACK—BOOM!
A thunderbolt split the sky and struck the coffin!
The four bearers were blasted back, thrown to the ground.
The crowd erupted in panic, scattering in fear.
The coffin tumbled over and hit the ground with a loud thud.
More lightning rained down in a fury, striking the coffin again and again. The upper panel splintered apart.
And then—Gao Tian's body began to float.
His corpse slowly rose, hovering a foot above the shattered coffin.
With one final, earth-shaking thunderstrike, the entire garden was destroyed—trees uprooted, the ground torn apart.
Gao Hai stood frozen in shock.
From the residence, Gao Chi emerged and witnessed the unbelievable scene. Her legs trembled. She collapsed to her knees.
Then—
Gao Tian's eyes snapped open.
He looked around, dazed.
"Where... am I?" he thought. "What is this place? This world feels different… and why... why am I not a god?"
He clutched his head in pain as a torrent of memories surged through him.
His legs shook. His vision blurred.
And then, he collapsed.
His parents rushed to him. Gao Chi held him tightly.
"Tian! My son! Wake up, please!"
Gao Hai placed a hand on his son's back and sent his Qi into Gao Tian's body.
He sighed with relief. "Chi... he's alive. He's stable."
Gao Chi wept tears of joy and held her son close.
They carried him gently to his room and laid him on his bed. Though they were overjoyed, they made a difficult decision—they wouldn't tell anyone just yet.
His life was in danger once. They wouldn't risk it again.
They set up a protective barrier around the room and quietly left.
---
Inside Gao Tian's Spiritual Sea
In the vast sea of consciousness, a different soul floated at the center.
The soul's eyes snapped open.
"This… this isn't my spiritual sea."
Suddenly, Gao Tian's memories began flooding into the sea, like streams of light.
The soul watched them all—childhood, cultivation, assassination...
After absorbing everything, he realized the truth.
His own soul had taken over this body.
The name of this boy had been Gao Tian.
"So… I've been reborn."
Soul Started to Tell about him–
"My name is Huan Li. I was once an Immortal Emperor, the strongest in the Immortal World. I was on the verge of ascending to godhood…"
His voice darkened.
"...but my body shattered. It was a rare poison — Body-Shattering Poison. I don't know who gave it to me. But when I next opened my eyes, I was here..."
---
Days Later — Gao Clan Residence
Days passed, but the room remained unchanged.
Gao Tian's parents visited him regularly. His mother, Gao Chi, would wipe his face, feed him soup, and whisper words of comfort. His father, Gao Hai, silently checked his condition and reinforced the protective barrier.
He had not stirred since the lightning struck.
Until today.
---
Inside the Room
The sunlight filtered through the window.
And then—Gao Tian's eyes slowly opened.
He sat up, confused, and looked at his hands.
He clenched his palm into a fist, feeling the weak flow of energy.
"So… this is my new body."
He scanned himself with his divine sense.
"The meridians are damaged… but this boy was truly a genius. To reach the Nascent Soul Realm at fifteen... it's no wonder someone killed him."
He shook his head slowly.
"Such talent—wasted. But now, it belongs to me."
Just then, the door creaked open.
Gao Chi entered, carrying a bowl of soup. Her gaze met his.
She froze. The bowl slipped from her hands and shattered on the floor.
"T-Tian…?"
She rushed toward him in a blur.
Gao Tian blinked in confusion.
*Why is she running at me?*
She reached him and threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
Gao Tian stiffened, completely caught off guard.
*W-What is happening?*
*Oh… right. She's Gao Tian's mother…
Gao Chi was trembling as she hugged him, sobbing uncontrollably.
"My son… you're awake… my child… thank the heavens…"
Tears soaked his shoulder.
Gao Tian, or rather Huan Li, the Immortal Emperor, was red-faced and completely flustered.
"Ah—Mother… c-could you not… cling to me like this?"
Moments Later — Gao Clan Residence
Still flustered in his mother's embrace, Gao Tian didn't notice the door creak open again.
Gao Hai stepped inside.
He froze.
For a moment, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Tian…?"
His voice was low and trembling.
Gao Chi turned toward him, tears still falling from her eyes. "Hai! He's awake! Tian's awake!"
Gao Hai walked forward slowly, as if afraid it was all a dream that might vanish if he blinked.
Gao Tian looked up at him. "Father…"
That one word broke the dam inside Gao Hai.
He stepped forward and wrapped both his arms around his son and wife, pulling them into a tight embrace.
"You're alive… my son… you really came back…"
For a man who always seemed strong and silent, Gao Hai's voice cracked with emotion.
Even Huan Li, the mighty Immortal Emperor within, couldn't help but feel moved.
*I had no parents in my past life... no family. Only power and endless cultivation. This warmth… it's strange.*
Gao Chi wiped her tears and smiled through her sobs. "You've been asleep for so long… We were so afraid we lost you forever."
Gao Hai nodded. "That day... when the thunder struck your coffin, I thought the heavens were punishing us. But now, I see... they gave you back to us."
Gao Tian lowered his head slightly, trying to play the part of the son he now was.
"…I don't remember much. Just… pain. Then darkness."
Gao Hai looked into his eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You don't need to remember. You're back, and that's all that matters."
Gao Chi added, "We haven't told anyone yet. No one outside knows you're alive. It's better that way."
Gao Tian nodded. "Yes… Don't tell anyone. It's too dangerous. Someone… someone might still want me dead."
His tone was calm but firm, his mind already sharp.
*If I'm to rise again… I need time. I must rebuild this broken body, fix the meridians, and then... find out who killed Gao Tian.*
Gao Hai exchanged a glance with his wife and nodded. "We'll keep your survival a secret. Until you're strong enough to protect yourself again."
Gao Tian smiled faintly. "…Thank you."
Gao Chi brushed his hair gently. "Rest, Tian. We'll bring you medicine. You're still weak."
As his parents stood to leave, Gao Hai paused at the door.
"Tian… No matter what happens, you are our son. Always."
The door closed behind them, leaving Gao Tian alone.
He sat there, eyes deep with thought.
*So this is what it feels like to be truly cared for…*
He clenched his fists.
*But I can't afford to be weak. Whoever gave me that poison in the Immortal World… may still be watching. And whoever killed this boy... might try again.*
*I must rise again — for both Gao Tian… and for Huan Li.*