Chapter 01
"Ah! What with this f****** dizziness?"
Sunlight pierced through the wooden window, casting delicate patterns all over the dark timber floor. The scent of sandalwood lingered in the room, where a low table and a bronze incense burner stood in quiet stillness.
On the wooden bed, a skinny youth was sitting up slowly, one arm holding his head and one supporting his body.
"Hah, why does the bed feel so hard?"
He paused and took a breath.
"Ah, sandalwood scent!"
He opened his eyes. His vision was a little blurry.
Narrowing his eyes, he focused until the blurriness withered, but his body became slightly stiff.
"What the… where am I?" A murmur left his lips.
Then he fell silent. His sharper gaze scanned every corner of this unfamiliar room.
Finding no danger, he took his gaze back.
Moving his fingers slightly on his chin, his mind started to analyze the situation.
"Is somebody doing a prank with me? But there's no camera… and if somebody is doing it… then who should it be? That bastard Lin Chan or somebody else?"
While thinking, his gaze fell toward his body. His eyes froze with shock, and for a moment he couldn't breathe.
"What—what the hell happened to my body?" His voice was slow and heavy.
His hands began to touch his whole body quickly, trying to confirm. It felt a little muscular.
After confirming this was not his body, his mind stopped working. He became totally silent.
Only his heavy breathing and birdsong echoed. Coming to his senses, he immediately stood up and started searching the whole room.
Some moments later, he found a bronze-colored token. "Finally found something useful." His expression improved a little, and his lips lifted slightly.
"Azar Phoenix Sect
Name: Ren Xuan
Status: Servant Disciple"
"At least the words are familiar," relieving a heavy breath, he thought to himself.
Seeing the name Azar Phoenix, he immediately understood his situation.
"So, this is a fantasy world and I'm Ren Xuan." After murmuring, he was lost in thought.
"Whatever, I didn't have anyone on Earth anyway." A tear fell from his eyes. Some images began to float before him.
While wiping away his tears, he said, "They never loved me. Why should I care?"
Taking a deep breath, he controlled his inner storm. His face became expressionless, not a trace of any emotion.
"It's not that bad, though."
The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
"In this life, I have the opportunity to become an immortal." His voice was a little shaky.
His mind wanted to go out and take a good look at this unfamiliar world, but he forcefully stopped himself.
Why? Because he didn't inherit this body owner's memories. If he went out and exposed himself, he would be in big trouble.
After thinking for some moments, his eyes became sharper, as if he had made a very dangerous decision.
He moved closer toward the table, picked it up, and walked back to the bedside. He put the table down near his wooden bed.
With determination, he stood up on the bed, took position, closed his eyes, and jumped.
His forehead fell toward the table corner.
The table shattered instantly after the impact. Blood and wooden fragments scattered on the floor.
"Ahhh!" He let out a loud scream.
"Damn it, this is f****** so painful."
He acted like he fell unconscious. He didn't move a muscle.
"Why is no one coming? Does he live here alone? If he does, then I'll be f****** dead from bleeding too much."
Some moments later,
Tap, tap.
Hurried footsteps echoed in his ears.
"Finally, some bastard came."
Outside his door, some servant disciples arrived.
"Did you hear a loud scream from Brother Ren's room?" Some began to murmur among themselves.
"Brother Ren! Brother Ren Xuan! What happened?" Some shouting came from outside.
He became motionless.
No answer came.
Seeing no answer, someone said, "Hey, why are you standing there? If something happened to Brother Ren, then how could he answer you?"
A muscular man ran toward Ren Xuan's room while shouting at the others.
Coming close to the room, he immediately broke the door.
"Brother Ren! Brother Ren!" Seeing Ren Xuan lying on the ground with blood beneath his head, they all rushed in.
That muscular man came faster.
He waved his hand to a small bag on his waist, and a pill came out. He crushed the pill and applied it to the wound, and the bleeding stopped.
Internally, Ren Xuan was a little shocked, and his pain was gone. He thought to himself, "If I had this thing in my previous life, I could have made a huge amount of money."
"Okay, everyone go to your work. I will stay with Brother Ren, and please give this message to Manager Chan."
The muscular man said to the others with a faint smile. Seeing his smile—
"Bastard, shameless. I was thinking he is a good person. No, this bastard only wants an excuse for not going to work." While murmuring, they left the room.
The muscular man's cheek twitched a little, but it was slight; he immediately became normal.
He picked Ren Xuan up and laid him down on the bed. The muscular man didn't leave; he waited there silently.
"Hmm, this man isn't that bad. I will remember him," Ren Xuan thought to himself. After some moments, he fell asleep. Yes, he fell asleep.
After two to three hours, seeing Ren Xuan was not waking up, the muscular man was going to wake him up. But before he could do anything,
Ren Xuan woke up from sleep. Opening his eyes and rubbing them, he said with confusion,
"Where am I? Where am I?"
"Hey, Brother, what happened? How did you get injured?" Taking his hand back, the muscular man asked Ren Xuan a little quickly.
Ren Xuan gazed at him with unfocused eyes and asked in a gentle tone, "Who is Brother Ren, and who are you?"
But in his mind, he was thinking, "Is this bastard a fool? What normal person throws a bunch of questions at the same time? And isn't he supposed to ask me how I am?"
"Brother Ren, it's me, Chan Meng, your childhood best friend. And you're Ren Xuan." Chan Meng furrowed his eyebrows and replied unconsciously.
"Ahh, it hurts, ahh!" Holding his head, Ren Xuan cried in pain. Of course, he was acting.
Chan Meng hurriedly came close and took out a healing pill. "Brother Ren, take it. Here, here, it's a healing pill."
Without Ren Xuan's approval, Chan Meng forced it into his mouth.
Ren Xuan grabbed Chan Meng's hand, but it was no use. I am sure this bastard is a fool, he thought to himself, and swallowed the pill.
Instantly, his head pain was gone. Ren Xuan wanted to shout, but remembering he was in another world, he calmed down.
"Brother Ren, how do you feel now?" Chan Meng asked.
"Who is Brother Ren? And I'm… I'm who? Am I Ren Xuan?" He asked while blinking his eyes repeatedly.
"Oh no, don't tell me you don't remember me." That man's eyes widened in shock, and his jaw dropped slightly. "Wait, wait, I will call help from Manager Chan." Hurriedly, Chan Meng left the room.
Ren Xuan fell silent and waited.
Soon, Chan Meng came with an elderly man with white hair and a beard, but his face was rosy like a baby's face.
"Hey, little Ren, what is going on? Chan Meng is saying you lost your memory." He stroked his beard without even gazing at him.
Ren Xuan looked at them with the same expression as before—an unfocused gaze.
After some examination, Manager Chan said, "It looks like little Ren lost his memory from the head injury. Oh well, Chan Meng, take care of little Ren."
After saying that, Manager Chan left the room. Then those two talked to each other.
After talking, Ren Xuan analyzed his situation.
Ren Xuan and Chan Meng joined the Azar Phoenix Sect together.
Their aptitude is low, so they are only at the seventh level, but if in three months they cannot become Qi Refinement cultivators, they will be expelled from the sect. Likely, Ren Xuan has a 90% chance of getting expelled.
"So I've been reborn in a useless body." Sitting on the wooden bed, Ren Xuan couldn't help but laugh lightly.
"So what? And this is better. If I was born as a genius like in my previous life, then wouldn't this life be as boring as before? Hehe."
Ren Xuan walked toward the window, looking outside. His eyes couldn't help but wonder.
Outside his window was a mountain like a colossal pillar piercing the heavens. Its peak was hidden beyond layers of drifting clouds, as if it refused to reveal its true height. Ancient stone cliffs stretched upward endlessly, carved by time and silence.
Dark pine trees clung to the steep slopes, their branches whispering under the cold wind. Mist coiled around the mountain like a living serpent, wrapping it in a veil of mystery. Waterfalls cascaded from unseen heights, falling like silver threads into the abyss below.
"Now I'm at the bottom, but in the near future, I shall be high above."
He took back his gaze and started to think about the future.
After many simulations in his mind, he finally came up with an idea to become the sect leader. What if he had no talent, but he could make talented people work for him?
To be continued.
Chapter 02
Soon, ten days had passed.
Damn it, I couldn't even sense spiritual energy, Ren Xuan murmured.
Spiritual energy is a kind of heaven and earth energy. Like oxygen—without oxygen, people cannot live; similarly, without spiritual energy, people cannot cultivate.
Now how am I supposed to absorb it? His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fist.
Oh well, after all, this is a useless body with mixed spiritual roots.
Spiritual roots are necessary for cultivation. Among every ten thousand people, one is born with mixed spiritual roots, and among every ten thousand, one has four spiritual roots. This ratio continues down to one spiritual root, then there are evolved or mutated spiritual roots, which are also rare. Spiritual roots determine how fast one can absorb spiritual energy.
I heard if I could take ten Qi Gathering Pills and refine them, I could become a Stage-1 Qi cultivator.
Qi Gathering Pills are like containers of spiritual energy. With the help of many herbs, alchemists can make many kinds of pills, and this is one of them.
But one pill sells for 25 spiritual stones, and I only get 5 spiritual stones daily. It's impossible to buy those pills. Ren Xuan sighed.
I have to find a way. His eyes became sharper, and a small curl appeared on his lips. Oh well, I have to do something evil. Hehe.
Outside his room, steady footsteps echoed as they came closer.
Hmm? Is someone coming to my room? Hearing footsteps, Ren Xuan murmured and started walking toward the door. Before he could get near, a knock came from the door.
"Open the door."
A steady voice spoke. It wasn't like a man's or a woman's voice, but it directly echoed inside his mind like thunder.
What the…? Sharp pain came from his brain. It felt like a needle piercing it.
"Ahh!"
His mind went blank for a moment, then he slowly came to his senses.
The room was silent except for his heavy breathing and fast heartbeat. His body could not help but tremble.
Immediately, he ran toward the door and opened it.
"Junior Ren Xuan pays respect to the senior."
He knelt down. His body trembled uncontrollably. Cold sweat fell from his forehead, though the weather was cold.
A mighty force pressed upon his body. Blood began to flow from his knees and forehead.
In his mind, he cursed: Why did this bastard come to my place? And if he came, why couldn't he behave like a normal person? Why must he release his spiritual pressure on me? Hurry, hurry, take it back, or I will be dead.
"Oh, you're Ren Xuan, who lost his memory? Well, well, you have good manners."
Again, the voice echoed inside his mind. He felt that same terrifying sensation. This time he was truly about to pass out, but remembering that if he passed out, this mighty figure might get angry and kill him on the spot, he tried his best to stay conscious.
A box and a bottle appeared before his kneeling figure.
"A few days from now, someone will give you an order to work at Li Na Chamber. When I give you a signal, mix that powder with something and give it to her. If you do well, I will give you rewards."
The voice spoke inside his mind before he could give any response. His mind went blank, and he passed out.
Seeing this, a faint smile left the figure's lips, and then his figure vanished.
Sometime later, Ren Xuan woke up. His face was full of worry.
What is the meaning of this? I only came to this world in a useless body, and now some mighty figure wants me to do some shit for him. Isn't this a hellish mood?
Why did he say this? Because he knew this was a death trap.
If he did what that figure said, something would happen to Li Na. As for Li Na's identity, he didn't know, but he knew only an inner disciple could have such status, so she was either an inner disciple or higher.
If something happened to her, the sect people would really investigate everything, and if they investigated, they would find him even if he left no evidence.
But if that figure knew his identity and did not erase all evidence, that figure would kill him.
And why did he choose Ren Xuan? That was very simple. If someone else did the work for him and he killed that person, the case would end. But if the investigation found that Li Na, one of the servant disciples, was missing, what would they do?
For that reason, he would let Ren Xuan take the mission, then come to kill him and say Ren Xuan had lost his memory, so Ren Xuan didn't know which medicine to mix.
Thus, he mixed it into Li Na's food unknowingly, and she died. Everything would look like an accident.
Being an exceptional genius, Ren Xuan understood everything, but soon a smirk appeared on his lips.
Hah, want to use me? Dream on. And how dare you bully me?
He thought angrily.
But every path was a dead end. However, I don't give a fuck. I was thinking life was going to go well. If it continued like this, it would be boring, but now it's interesting.
Let's see who dies in the end. Hehe.
Thinking that, he picked up the bottle and box, came to his bedside, and hid them under his bed.
Then he went outside to a nearby market to buy identical bottles and boxes.
More than twenty boxes and bottles were brought to his room and placed on different sides.
After doing everything, he locked his door and window.
Let's have a look at what that bastard gave me.
With that thought, he opened the bottle. Immediately, medicinal fragrance spread all over the room.
Hah, is this… great! I was badly needing this. All his earlier stress and tension decreased.
Inside the bottle were Qi Gathering Pills—ten of them. He couldn't help but shake his head.
What a cunning bastard he is. He even thought I wouldn't be able to become a cultivator within three months. And if I couldn't do his work or if I understood his plan and didn't cultivate and left the sect, this cunning bastard had sealed that path too, he thought.
Damn that bastard. If I knew who you were, after I became strong, I would cut you into thousands of pieces and feed you to a dog, he murmured with some anger. His brows furrowed unconsciously.
Whatever, I don't have plans to leave the sect anyway.
After much thought, he found Chen Meng and gave him a pill. With an unfocused look and some confusion, he asked, "Brother, what did I find in my room? Do you know what it is?"
Seeing the pill, Chen Meng immediately gave it back to Ren Xuan and said in a serious tone, "Do not slow it down; otherwise, expand its function."
Oh well, this Chen Meng is really a good person, so I could use him as a sacrifice, Ren Xuan thought.
After some present words, Chen Meng left.
After many thoughts, Ren Xuan went to the market again. He sold pills, then bought another. This process continued for ten days. He sold and bought from twenty different shops. After finishing all this, he came back.
Why did he do that? It was simple. He didn't believe that if that guy had done something with the pill, he wouldn't be in big trouble.
After coming home, he began to analyze everything that had happened. After that, he started forming a plan.
To be successful, he had to find out that figure's identity, but that was the big issue. Who could find out? He didn't even see the face, and that wasn't enough—he could even identify the voice.
To be continued…