The soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm light on the cozy living room. The faint scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air.
Zhen sighed contentedly, sinking into his favorite armchair. He picked up the remote, feeling the familiar buttons beneath his fingertips, and turned on the TV, the screen flickering to life with vibrant colors. Ready for a relaxing evening of binge-watching his favorite show.
"It's the perfect time for some downtime," he murmured, a relaxed smile forming on his lips.
He took a sip of his coffee, savoring the rich, bitter flavor that warmed him from the inside out. A bowl of popcorn sat on the side table, beckoning him to indulge. The soft shine of the fleece blanket draped over the back of the couch caught his attention.
"Ah, almost forgot my blanket." Zhen stood up, the cool air hitting his skin as he moved away from the warm spot he'd created in the armchair.
He walked over to the couch, the soft carpet beneath his feet cushioning each step. Grabbing the blanket, he felt its plush texture against his fingers, a comforting reminder of the high end price he had paid. Worth every penny.
He wrapped the plush blanket around himself and sat back down, a sudden, sharp pain exploded in his chest, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred, the room tilting alarmingly as the colors around him blended into a chaotic swirl.
As his consciousness faded, his last thought was a desperate wish.
No, no, not now. Damn it, I just wanted to watch my show!
The last thing he felt was the remote slipping from his grasp, clattering to the floor with a sound that seemed to echo endlessly in the darkening room.
— — — — —
His eyelids were tightly shut, and his body felt heavy, like he was submerged in a dense fog. Instead of soft fabric, rough stone scraped against his skin. Wherever he was, it wasn't the carpet or the hospital bed he was expecting.
Lying on a hard surface, and a metallic tang filled his mouth, accompanied by a sticky liquid on his left side.
Cough Cough.
He tasted the iron flavor of blood. Panic flared within him. Blood?
Wait, no, no, no, no— He couldn't die yet. He still had to watch that show.
Then suddenly, a cool chill washed away his dizziness as he struggled to sit up.
Opening his eyes, he took in the unfamiliar surroundings. A couple more glances revealed that he was lying in the center of a strange circle etched into the stone floor, glowing faintly with an eerie blue light. The walls around him were rough, unchiseled stone, reminiscent of the trip to the caves in the Whispering Hills. There was also a simple mat and a small fire pit with faint embers glowing, providing the room with some dim light.
What had happened?
Where was he?
His heart pounded in his chest, his breaths coming in shallow, rapid gasps. He tried to keep his panic at bay, focusing on calming down.
Deep breath in, deep breath out.
He knew better than to act impulsively. He had learned enough from his Boy Scout training to know that panicking would only make things worse. Rash actions could lead to severe consequences, especially in such a startling situation.
It felt like all the built-up pressure was suddenly released, a dam bursting inside his head. Along with the pain came a flood of memories that didn’t belong to him.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
He saw flashes of another life, another person’s experiences melding with his own.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed back onto the hard stone floor, his eyes rolling back as he lost consciousness once more.
— — — — —
A sharp jolt of pain shot through his skull, dragging him back to consciousness. He blinked rapidly, disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. Panic surged through him as fragmented memories of another life flooded his mind.
Amidst the barrage of memories, he strung together a couple of memory snippets that explained his situation.
Transmigration. He had somehow crossed over into another world.
It felt like the plot of a novel he’d once scoffed at, but the weight of the memories in his head was undeniable. The realization hit him like a freight train: he was no longer in his own body.
"Seriously? I didn't even watch the intro! How did I end up here?" he muttered, bewildered. His new surroundings were a stark contrast to his previous life – gone were the comforts of modern technology, replaced by the rustic charm of a natural cave.
The rough stone walls were dimly illuminated by the embers of a small fire pit and the blue glowing circle, casting flickering shadows that danced eerily around him.
Rubbing his aching temples, he took a deep breath and tried to focus. The memories swirling in his mind began to settle, revealing the life of the body’s former occupant.
"The original owner was also called Zhen. How creepy..." he muttered a bit eerily before shaking off the discomfort.
Li Zhen, born into a family teetering on the brink of poverty; his childhood was a patchwork of mundane struggles and simple joys. But fate, with its twisted sense of humor, had other plans. When debts mounted, and choices dwindled, his parents made the desperate decision to sell him to the nearby demonic sect— the Abyssal Harmony Sect.
Luckily, Li Zhen had a natural affinity for cultivation and two years after he started cultivating, he had already reached the seventh realm of Qi Condensation was a nominal disciple.
The Abyssal Harmony Sect was considered a first-rate sect in the region, and only those who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage could become its outer disciples.
His rapid ascent was fueled not just by talent but by a lucky encounter during a mission—a forgotten shrine where the air thrummed with ancient energy, allowing him to break through the eighth realm of Qi Condensation and firm up his foundation. As Li Zhen advanced rapidly through the realms, he caught the eye of a greedy inner disciple.
Eager to become an outer disciple before his nineteenth birthday, Li Zhen had secured a ten-day retreat in the coveted Qi Cave, a sanctum saturated with dense spiritual energy. His plan was meticulous—fasting pills to sustain his body and undisturbed meditation to refine his qi.
However, destiny, ever capricious, had one more twist in store. On the first day of his retreat, an explosive surge of energy overwhelmed him as he pushed for the ninth realm. The balance of qi within spiraled out of control, throwing his cultivation into disarray and reducing him back to the seventh realm.
Now, he was in his place, with weakened strength. Although Abyssal Harmony Sect had some weird rules, it didn't take a genius to see that his future was miserable.
His boy scout training from his previous life kicked in—a habit of adaptability that had served him well during childhood. Since he was in this situation anyway, panicking would do no good. It was best to adapt and play it by ear.
First things first. Assess the situation. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady his racing heart. The cave was silent except for the faint crackling of the dying embers.
He focused on calming himself, deep breath in, deep breath out. The sense of panic that had gripped him began to subside, replaced by a growing curiosity about this new world.
From his brief memory, he realized that this world was very similar to the novels he used to read. There were many dangers in this world, whether it be abnormal creatures or humans themselves.
This world revolved around 'strength' or the law of the jungle.
After a while, he didn't feel as panicked as he thought he would be, nor was he so scared that he would lose his mind. Of course, he did feel a slight panic, but it was overshadowed by his interest in cultivation and this new world.
The thrill of adventure and the prospect of discovering new abilities ignited a spark of excitement within him. He had already set his mind to become a cultivator. Well, it's not like he had much choice regarding this.
And the first step to do that is to accept his new identity.
Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "From this moment forth, I am Li Zhen, disciple of Abyssal Harmony Sect."
There was a brief moment of stillness, and just as he began to feel a bit foolish posing alone in the cave, golden words burned in the air before his eyes.
Sage’s Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights.
Target: None
He looked to the side to see the exact words still burning in the air, not matching up with his reality at all. What did they mean? He had no clue. He could certainly use some sage insights, though.