The atmosphere in the manor was heavy and tense.
The physician bowed respectfully toward Victor Thorne and said in a calm, measured voice:
"Your Excellency, I will need to remain here. As soon as the young master regains consciousness, I must examine him at once."
Victor inclined his head slightly. There was a weary gravity in his tone:
"Very well."
He gestured to a maid standing quietly nearby.
"Iliana—see to it the doctor has proper accommodations. Prepare the guest chamber."
The maid bowed her head.
"As you command, my lord."
The physician and Iliana left the room together.
For a few moments, Victor and Selena Thorne stood in silence. Neither seemed ready to break the stillness.
At last, Victor turned to his wife and said softly:
"Let Adrian rest now. When he wakes, we'll come back to see him."
Selena nodded, her expression tired and hollow. Slowly, the two of them stepped out, and the door closed behind them with a gentle click.
The chamber fell into a deep, cold hush.
Suddenly—
Adrian Thorne found himself standing in complete darkness.
No sound, no walls—only a suffocating, endless void.
He looked around in confusion, his breath unsteady.
All he could see was infinite blackness stretching in every direction.
Then, before him—
A sphere of golden fire appeared, blazing brilliantly.
Its glow was so intense, it drove the darkness away.
Slowly, the golden sphere flooded the space with warm, steady light.
Beneath Adrian's feet, a limitless plain emerged as though conjured by some unseen will.
From within the orb, a resonant, tranquil voice spoke:
"Host, congratulations. You have been chosen. Are you ready for your Rebirth?"
Questions tumbled into Adrian's mind.
His voice shook as he whispered:
"Rebirth…? How did I come here? And that woman—who was she, calling herself my mother?"
The golden sphere replied:
"Your soul has been reborn. You have awakened inside the body of a young man in this world—whose age is nearly the same as in your previous life."
Adrian took a slow, ragged breath.
His heart was thundering in his chest.
"So…where am I? Am I destined to suffer again—to face the same loneliness, the same scorn as before?"
For a moment, the golden flame was silent.
Then the voice spoke again, calm and absolute:
"Host, in this world, strength decides everything. You have been given a second chance. Whether you suffer or triumph will depend on your own will, effort, and cultivation."
Adrian's lips parted. His voice was barely a whisper:
"Cultivation…? You mean like those novels I used to read…?"
The golden fire shimmered gently, as if in quiet confirmation:
"Yes, Host. In this realm, cultivation alone determines your destiny. The stronger you become, the safer and freer your life will be."
Adrian tried to form another question—but suddenly—
A blazing golden light rushed into his chest.
The brilliance sank deep into his soul, flooding every part of him.
His breath caught.
For a moment, he thought he might shatter—
But then—
Suddenly, Adrian's eyelids fluttered.
The soft glow of the room greeted him as his eyes opened slowly.
This time, he did not cry out.
He was calm—
He understood—
Everything had changed.
And then—
A strange voice echoed in his mind—
"Initiating body scan…"
For an instant, it felt as though an invisible energy swept through every vein and nerve in his body.
"…Scan complete. A residual toxin detected—Shaleman Poison."
His heartbeat surged violently.
Poison…? Inside my body…?
He hadn't even begun to process the shock when—
"Commencing detoxification process."
In the very next moment—
A savage, bone-rattling pain erupted through every inch of him.
It was as if hundreds of thin needles were being driven into his flesh and sinew all at once.
His eyes flushed red with agony.
He clenched his teeth by sheer force of will—
His hands trembled uncontrollably, his body shuddering in waves.
Every passing second felt as though his consciousness was about to splinter.
Three minutes later—which felt like an eternity—
The same voice returned:
"Detoxification complete. Host is now immune to all mortal-grade poisons."
The pain vanished in an instant.
His breathing turned ragged, unsteady.
Drenched in cold sweat, Adrian slowly let himself collapse against the bed.
For a while, he didn't move.
Then, with effort, he lifted himself and looked around the chamber.
It was as grand as a royal suite or a five-star palace.
Cream-colored velvet curtains billowed gently by the windows.
An ornately carved bed dominated the center of the room, surrounded by priceless furniture that gleamed in the soft light.
A massive mirror shimmered along one wall.
On unsteady legs, he walked to the mirror.
What he saw made his breath catch—
A thin, fragile body.
Eyes as blue as smoldering sapphires, skin smooth and pale like polished jade.
The face was so striking it would put any model in his old world to shame.
But all that beauty was overshadowed by the frailty etched into every line of it.
His fingers trembled as they brushed the glass.
The same question pressed into his mind again—
Is this real? Or some elaborate dream? Have I truly been reborn? What can this system even grant me…?
Suddenly, he remembered—
Those novels where the protagonist only needed to say "Status" to learn everything.
Drawing a shaky breath, he spoke in his mind:
"Status."
Instantly—
A golden panel materialized in the air before him, words flickering into view in a soft luminescence:
Name – Adrian Thorne
Cultivation Base – 0 (Dantian Severely Damaged)
Bloodline – ???
Fate Points – 2
Skills –
Cultivation Modes – Normal Cultivation / Dual Cultivation (Host can use both)
Cultivation Method – ???
Seeing it, Adrian's throat turned dry.
A bitter taste filled his mouth.
Even in a second life…this? A cripple? No strength, no cultivation…just an empty existence?
His lips trembled.
He closed his eyes.
And in a voice that was almost a whisper, he murmured:
"If this is how it remains…then this life will become an even worse hell than the last…"
Through clenched teeth, he asked:
"System…is there any way to heal my Dantian?"
The system's detached, resonant voice replied:
"Host should check the Welcome Package. If the system has brought you here, it has also provided a way to repair you."
Adrian's heartbeat seemed to halt in his chest.
He focused on the notification hovering in front of him.
A single glowing message awaited—
[Welcome Package – Tap to Open]
With trembling fingers, he reached toward the panel.
In an instant, golden light spilled across the room—
And as he opened the package, his eyes widened in sheer astonishment at what lay inside.