章 2: Reincarnation?*

Amidst a world ensnared by ruin, where the heavens themselves seemed to mourn under a shroud of malevolent clouds, resounded the relentless roar of thunder, while cracks appeared in the very fabric of reality.

In the heart of this desolation stood a lone figure, encircled by the remnants of what once thrived as his sect—a realm now reduced to remnants by the hands of those who had sought its destruction.

Clad in robes marred by the stains of blood, the man bore the wounds of battle across his body, and his right arm had been cruelly severed from him. Yet, remarkably, his visage retained an unsettling serenity—a testament to his unwavering perseverance even in the face of annihilation.

"Sigh, is this the epilogue of our tale? Just as the tales that spoke of the Primordial Phoenix's rebirth from the ashes and the forests' resurgence, breathing life into barren lands... Perhaps our remains, too, shall lay the cornerstone for a new beginning," the tone of his voice reflected an acceptance of the imminent end, tinged with a touch of resignation. "Though, truth be told, precious little shall remain of us when all is said and done."

A bow of his head was followed by a deliberate gaze upward, directed at the heavens.

"Fuck, I should have gone to ▇▇▇▇that day!"

The somber ambiance was shattered as uncensored profanities escaped his lips—an incongruous contrast with the gravity of his surroundings.

Then, with an abrupt shift, reality itself seemed to crack open, as if birthing a portal to the enigma that lay beyond the 'great chaos' itself. Beside the man, a 'crack' appeared a breach to a plane that defied comprehension. Yet, the man's hollow eyes registered the anomaly with detached serenity; his bearing bore no transformation as if he had resigned himself to this fate. Or perhaps, weariness had claimed him wholly, rendering him unfazed by the looming peril.

The 'crack,' however, cared for neither his condition nor his peculiar behavior, for it expanded perpetually, swallowing the man whole. As it did so, it was as though he had never existed, absorbed without resistance into the voracious maw of the expanding void

***

Divine Jade realm,

The central continent, the Xin clan

"Wah! Wah! Wah!"

Within the expanse of the Heavenly Star Palace, a colossal structure that dwarfed the combined proportions of numerous cities, the cries of an infant resounded, intermingling with the relentless onslaught of raindrops amidst the raging storm outside.

"Congratulations to Lady Yingyue; it's a healthy boy."

"Bring him to me."

The voice, although sweet and tender, carried an undercurrent of fatigue. The handmaiden carefully brought the newborn to Lady Yingyue.

Lady Yingyue possessed an ethereal fairness reminiscent of freshly fallen snow, her hair as dark as the depths of the night sky, and eyes as azure as the cerulean skies.

The newborn, his hair as dark as his mother's own, blinked open his eyes while nestled in the embrace of his mother. For a brief moment, his gaze traveled his surroundings before finally settling upon his mother's form. His amethyst eyes were akin to precious gemstones, brimmed with curiosity, carrying within them a mysterious allure.

"Such beautiful eyes..."

A radiant smile illuminated Lady Yingyue's exquisite face as she held the child cradled in her arms.

"This child's name shall be Jianyu."

With an affectionate smile, Lady Yue bestowed upon her son the name Xin Jianyu.

As if in response to his mother's words, the young boy's eyes widened.

"Fufu looks like the young master likes the name~" the handmaiden chimed, a courteous smile adorning her features as she tried to butter up to Lady Yingyue.

"Is that so?" Lady Yue's visage carried a hint of pride, though her keen intuition, honed by her status as an Immortal expert, didn't fail to discern the handmaiden's intentions through her physical demeanor.

Unbeknownst to all those gathered to witness this heartwarming scene, young Jianyu, despite having come into existence mere minutes ago, found himself consumed by an overwhelming sense of disbelief and confusion.

'D-did I get reincarnated? '

*** 5 years later ***

Amethyst Peak of the Xin Clan,

This mountain was renowned for sheltering the young geniuses of the main lineage, embraced by an abundance of violet-leaved trees nurturing the very qi of heaven and earth.

"Yu'er, come here, the ceremony is about to start," said the man who despite his advanced age, looked to be in his early 30s, his lustrous black hair exuding an aura of formidable presence.

In front of him, a boy sat beneath a tree, his gaze fixated upon the various flowers adorning the enchanting garden before him

The boy turned to face the man, and a subtle crease adorned his brows.

"Grandfather, would it not be more fitting for you to prepare for the ceremony rather than attending to escort me?"

"Ah, my dear child, your mother diligently attends to the preparations. Should I, as your venerable grandfather, not have the honor of accompanying you to the hallowed ceremonial hall?"

The man responded with a touch of gentle wisdom.

"Forgive my frankness, but it seems you might have entrusted all responsibilities to Mother and ran away from your duties, have you not?" The boy's eyes narrowed, and his tone took on a sharper edge.

"Ugh... I find myself graced with the wisdom of age, and a moment of relaxation becomes essential for my well-being!" Xin Dongyang spoke in a hurried attempt to rationalize his seemingly juvenile behavior.

"Sigh... Very well," Xin Jianyu sighed in resignation, recognizing the futility of arguing with his grandfather, Xin Dongyang, who might as well have reached the Dao realm using his dao of shamelessness.

He knew any protest would be in vain.

"Let's go then!" Xin Dongyang beamed with youthful enthusiasm, his eyes gleaming like stars, as he took hold of Jianyu's hand.

...

I, Xin Jianyu, am a reincarnated soul. Yet, before you dismiss my tale as a mere cliche, allow me to tell you about my unique journey. Once, as a disciple, I transmigrated into one of the most esteemed sects in an immortal realm. However, please refrain from painting me as the archetypal heaven-blessed protagonist, for my role was that of a key side character, imparting relevance to the unfolding story. As a sage teacher or the esteemed sect ancestor, I granted my approval to the fervent, hot-blooded youth who graced the center stage.

Curiously, as I lived in this unfamiliar new world, I remain uncertain whether it is the same as the one I once lived in. While different from my home in the distant past, familiar echoes persist, with spirit roots and myriad cultivation paths making me question if...

Well, anyhow, in my previous life, I embarked on my journey as a humble outer disciple, struggling my way through the ranks. In a display of unwavering determination, I fused the paths of spiritual, soul, and will cultivation, birthing a unique technique. Carving my path through the intricacies of the Dao, I ascended to the esteemed rank of an elder, entrusted with overseeing one of the sect's peaks.

But the tale did not end there. As destiny's symphony carried on, I scaled even greater heights, assuming the venerable mantle of the revered ancestral lord who would emerge from seclusion when the sect faced peril. Ah, those clichéd lines I spoke—the classic 'Junior, you dare!'—or the mysterious and cryptic proclamations, complete with the obligatory beard-stroking and a profound gaze into the horizon. Sounds pretty awe-inspiring, doesn't it? Well, not really.

The weight of responsibility, the burden of expectations, and the repetitive nature of it all tired me. Yet, I marched on, fulfilling my role, even if I secretly longed for a simpler existence.

Before becoming the grand elder I had to do a lot of work since I had triple spiritual roots (also known as false roots), I only became an outer disciple because the roots were of pure quality and my comprehension was extremely strong.

In a realm fraught with treacherous murder hobos, legendary Long Aotians™, and questionable blessings from the heavens akin to those bestowed upon Chen Fans, I knew I had to strengthen myself against the odds.

It was a life marked by dedication, perseverance, and a relentless quest for power.

I had neither a family nor any loved ones.

And then, just when fate seemed intent on leaving me on a lonely path, a fortuitous encounter—one might even call it a 'happy little accident'—happened, altering the course of my life. Without it, I might have lived that life without knowing the warmth of companionship, perhaps even facing the absurdity of dying a virgin at an age that would have made it a more embarrassing tale than a mother sharing her child's naked pictures with their girlfriend.

My memories may be hazy, but glimmers of my past life emerge, revealing the unmistakable differences between this world and the one I once lived in.

In this world, a multifaceted division exists, with diverse realms sorted by the highest cultivation possible within each. As one ascends to the pinnacle cultivation realm allowed in a realm, they transcend to higher realms, all interconnected through the celestial threads of the Heavenly Dao. Similarly, my previous world also had a heavenly Dao.

However, in contrast to this, in my past world, all worlds were linked to a central main world through a labyrinth of spatial pathways akin to a sprawling spider's web, the closer a world was to the center the better the world's resources and talents.

Another remarkable dissimilarity lies in the awakening of spiritual roots, necessary for absorbing the omnipresent spiritual qi of heaven and earth. In this realm, they utilize a "spiritual root nourishment seal," carefully placed on young children, primarily from affluent backgrounds. This seal cocoons the budding spiritual roots, providing optimal conditions for their development while safeguarding them, so that-.....

"We have arrived, Yu'er, hmm...what were you thinking about so intently?" Xin Dongyang asked, his voice soft and accompanied by a gentle smile.

Xin Jianyu replied with a dismissive shake of his head and a helpless smile.

"Nothing really, just a bit nervous," he admitted.

As Xin Dongyang observed his grandchild, he couldn't help but muse inwardly,

'No matter how mature he acts, he is still a child at heart, huh?'

With unwavering confidence, Xin Dongyang reassured his young grandchild,

"There's no need to worry. You will be fine; after all, you are my grandchild!"

He accompanied his words with a proud smile, shamelessly boasting while tenderly petting his grandson's cute, amethyst eyes.

'I suppose being a young master holds more appeal than being a random nobody.'

...

Within the ceremonial hall of the illustrious Xin Clan, the sounds of countless whispers and murmurs resonated.

"So, it's finally the day, huh?"

"I wonder if he will inherit the Xin family's flame spiritual roots."

"Perhaps he would have mutated spiritual roots like Lady Yingyue's moon frost spiritual roots."

"What if he has talent inferior to others?"

"Shhh-! Don't speak of such topics here! But... The power balance of the clan will definitely shift if that was the case..."

In an instant, the door to the hall swung open, and all the whispers dissipated like ephemeral shadows, vanishing into the minds of the gathered individuals.

Emerging amidst the silence, entered a man with long black hair and fiery crimson eyes that exuded the arrogance befitting a ruler. Beside him stood a young boy, a mere five years old, with shoulder-length ink-black hair, amethyst eyes, sword-like eyebrows, and long eyelashes. His countenance brimmed with unwavering confidence, as though all those present were beneath him. Despite his child-like round face and diminutive stature, he seemed to radiate the aura of an indifferent immortal.

As they strode through the hall, the sole sound that reverberated was the echo of their footsteps, prompting everyone to instinctively seal their lips.

"Yu'er..." Lady Yingyue's caring voice broke the silence, as she called out to her son with a gentle yet stiff smile.

-*-*-*-*-*--*-*-*-*-*-*--*-*-*-

"Yu'er..." My mother, Xin Yingyue, renowned as the greatest talent of her generation, had a soft yet stiff smile as she called my name.

I walked alongside my grandfather to meet her, paying no heed to the obvious stares from the adults and children around me.

"Ahem, are the preparations completed?" Grandfather cleared his throat, his voice exuding authority, evoking reverence in the eyes of others.

"Well, someone had to complete the preparations since a certain someone just ran off, pushing all his work onto me," my mother retorted, playfully tarnishing grandfather's glorious appearance as she glared at him.

"W-well... someone had to escort Yu'er to the ceremony..." Grandfather answered shamelessly, turning his gaze away.

'Seriously, this guy has no shame.'

"Sigh... Whatever, let's begin the ceremony," my mother sighed, relenting as she, too, knew of grandfather's shameless nature at the Dao emperor level, and thus, she asked him to proceed with the ceremony.

"Well then, let the ceremony commence!" Grandfather declared, regaining his composure as he initiated the proceedings.

The ceremony proved to be surprisingly simple, with an array formation laid on the ground, centered around a crystal ball. One by one, each child stood near the crystal as the spiritual seal on their roots was removed, allowing the gathered qi to flow out. The array then harnessed this qi, projecting a display of the children's spiritual roots and physique through the crystal.

'Well, most of the elders here could check such details on their own... I guess it's a way to showcase their lineage's talents and boost the family's morale,' Jianyu speculated, pondering the underlying purpose behind the seemingly over-complicated and stupid ceremony.

'Or it might simply be an old tradition,' he mused, shrugging his shoulders as he observed the ceremony apparatus and the elders present.

Lost in his thoughts, Jianyu attentively watched as one by one, the children of various elders underwent the ritual. While most of them left no lasting impression, two participants stood out prominently.

The first was a girl with emerald eyes, brown hair, and a cheery smile that adorned her round face. She possessed highly pure wood spiritual roots and a Life-granting peach physique, marking her as a remarkable talent.

The other notable participant featured light blue hair and eyes, sporting mutated yin-ice spiritual roots—an attribute that caught Jianyu's attention, indicating the possibility of her becoming a disciple under his mother.

'In my former sect, such individuals would have become inner-court disciples or, if their comprehensive abilities were remarkable, even core disciples,' Jianyu contemplated, wondering about the potential futures awaiting these two gifted individuals.

'Probably.... maybe I am not sure since I don't know much about their physique and nor do I understand how pure their spiritual roots are... '

Yet, without a thorough understanding of this world's physiques and spiritual roots' purity, his thoughts remained as mere speculations.

Finally, as the other kids completed their turns, it was my time to step forward. Unperturbed by the piercing gazes around me, I approached the crystal and placed my hand over it.

With the opening of my spiritual seal, the crystal unexpectedly glowed in a dazzling mix of bright blue and light green—a water spiritual root, an astonishing revelation as the Xin family's main lineage was renowned for their flame-based cultivators. The revelation stunned everyone, but the shock escalated when a great elder, known for his discerning eye, gasped in awe.

"Dao of life... the spiritual root contains fragments of Dao itself!"

The proclamation sparked fervent discussions among the elders. However, before the conversation could take its course, the crystal illuminated once more, and to everyone's amazement, violet-crimson flames danced around the water with fragments of Dao, neither element extinguishing the other. This time, it was my grandfather who stood dumbfounded.

"..Dao of death and relentless sword Dao heart," he murmured in disbelief.

An uproar erupted throughout the hall as the elders fervently discussed the bright future of the sect, marveling at the unparalleled genius displayed by their young master.

Yet, amidst all the excitement and exultation, I found myself harboring rather unique thoughts about my situation.

'Shit... I am fucked!'

[AN- Me Stooooopid]