"Let's begin."

Michael murmured to himself as he pushed open the door to the underground chamber. His steps were steady as he approached a sleek, two-meter-long nutrient tank that dominated the room. The metallic sheen of the tank reflected faint light from the overhead fixtures, giving it an almost ominous glow.

Standing before the tank, Michael let out a slow breath. The memories of his first journey flickered through his mind. Back then, he had no choice. The looming threat of forced conscription had cornered him, leaving him with only one desperate option: to travel through the Otherworldly Passage.

It had been a leap of faith, one fraught with uncertainty and danger. To his immense fortune, he had spent twenty-five long years in the martial arts world. When he returned to the main world, barely an hour had passed.

But this time, things were different. This time, Michael had the luxury of preparation.

The nutrient tank was no ordinary device. Of military-grade quality, it had cost Michael a fortune to acquire. It was an investment he considered invaluable. Once activated, the tank could sustain his physical body for no less than a hundred years.

Michael ran his hand over the tank’s surface, its cold touch grounding him in the present. "With this, I can rest easy," he thought. The last thing he wanted was to return to the main world only to find his body starved and emaciated, or worse—dead.

He visualized the process once more, ensuring he missed no detail. The tank would provide his body with all necessary nutrients while he was away. As long as he didn’t exceed the century-long limit or voluntarily exit the tank, his physical form would remain stable and untouched.

Satisfied, Michael opened the hatch, a soft hiss escaping as the tank depressurized. The interior glowed faintly, a pool of translucent liquid rippling gently within. Without hesitation, he stepped in, submerging himself fully. The liquid was cool and viscous, enveloping him in a cocoon-like embrace.

Michael closed his eyes, steadying his breathing as his body relaxed into the tank’s cradle.

“Time to travel,” he whispered.

His consciousness plunged inward, delving deep into his mind where the towering Otherworldly Passage awaited. The monumental gateway stood as it always had—majestic and awe-inspiring, its edges now fully illuminated, signaling it was ready for another journey.

The moment Michael’s mind connected with the passage, an invisible force tugged at him. It felt like the ground beneath him had vanished, and his consciousness began to fall, spiraling downward through an endless void.

The sensation was overwhelming yet exhilarating, as though every fiber of his being was being unraveled and reassembled.

Michael surrendered to the pull, a faint smirk crossing his lips. "Let’s see what lies beyond this time."

And with that, his consciousness was swept away, disappearing into the unknown.

..............

Michael eyes fluttered open, greeted by the soft glow of early morning light filtering through a cracked wooden window. The scent of aged wood and faint incense hung in the air. He blinked a few times, disoriented. His body felt unfamiliar, his limbs weaker, smaller, as though he had shrunk.

"Where...?" Michael murmured, his voice scratchy and youthful.

Memories surged into his mind like an unrelenting tide, not his own but belonging to someone else—a boy named Yu Xuan.

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Yu Xuan, a young boy from Azure Haven City in the Silver Horizon Kingdom, was burdened with a Low-Grade martial talent, the lowest classification.

In a kingdom where the vast majority of citizens lacked martial talent entirely, even Low-Grade talent was technically a step above the rest. But it was far from enough to rise above mediocrity.

In Silver Horizon Kingdom, those with Mid-Grade or High-Grade martial talent could dream of a future on the martial path, perhaps even entering the prestigious Azure Cloud Combat Sect. For Yu Xuan, however, this dream was a distant star—beautiful but unreachable.

The Azure Cloud Combat Sect represented the pinnacle of martial prowess in the kingdom, boasting centuries of martial skills and resources.

Entry into the sect was a gateway to strength, status, and prosperity. Those who reached the Marrow Refinement Stage, the turning point in the martial path, gained increased lifespans and noble titles, ensuring comfort for themselves and blessings for their descendants.

Yu Xuan's heart burned for the martial way despite his limitations. He dedicated himself with a fervor unmatched by his peers, training relentlessly to reach the Flesh Forging Stage of Body Tempering. His parents, managing a small restaurant under the Yu Family’s ownership, supported him with what little they had, sacrificing their savings for his dream.

Michael sat up slowly, the memories settling in his mind like dust after a storm. He gazed down at his calloused hands, smaller than he was used to. The body was wiry, hardened by labor and relentless training, yet it lacked the strength Michael had grown accustomed to in his own form.

"So, this is Yu Xuan," Michael muttered, the boy’s feelings and ambitions intertwining with his own. He could feel the desperation, the yearning to rise above his station. A surge of respect welled within him for the boy’s unyielding determination despite the odds stacked against him.

Michael swung his legs off the narrow bed, his feet landing on the cool wooden floor. A faint ache pulsed through his limbs—a sign of the countless hours Yu Xuan had spent pushing his body to its limits.

He crossed the room and stood before a cracked mirror. The reflection staring back at him was that of a fifteen-year-old boy with sharp features, tanned skin, and piercing black eyes filled with grit and resolve. Strands of unkempt black hair framed his face, giving him a slightly disheveled appearance.

“I’ll take it from here, Yu Xuan,” Michael whispered, a wry smile forming on his lips.

Michael took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts. Yu Xuan’s memories painted a bleak picture. The boy’s family depended on the Yu Family’s favor to survive, and their livelihood hung by a thread.

The upcoming entrance test for the Azure Cloud Combat Sect was Yu Xuan’s only hope to escape mediocrity. Yet with Low-Grade talent and no resources for auxiliary herbs or advanced martial skills, his chances were slim to none.

But Michael was not Yu Xuan. He had decades of experience from his first journey, where he had climbed from nothing to the peak of the martial path of that world.

“Talent is important, but it’s not everything,” Michael muttered, his eyes narrowing.

.............

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

In the Black Fang Mountain, a lone figure moved within a serene glade. The wind howled, carrying the scent of pine and earth, but it was the rhythmic sound of fists cutting through the air that dominated the environment.

“Bang!”

Yu Xuan’s fist collided with a sturdy tree trunk, the impact echoing sharply through the forest. Though the tree had weathered decades of storms, it splintered with a single punch, breaking in half. Before the debris could settle, Yu Xuan’s leg descended like a whip, splitting the fallen trunk cleanly in two.

His chest rose and fell with exertion as he steadied his stance. "Although I haven’t reached the Heavenly Ascension Stage, I’ve advanced to the peak of the Stone Core Stage. That should be comparable to this world’s Marrow Refinement Stage."

Yu Xuan wiped the sweat from his brow. Over the past two weeks, he had trained relentlessly, pushing his limits in this secluded mountain range. The memories he had inherited from the original Yu Xuan painted a clear picture of this world's martial path.

The Body Tempering Stage marked the foundation for martial artists, divided into six grueling stages: Power Conditioning, Flesh Forging, Vital Essence, Muscle Transformation, Bone Strengthening, and finally, Marrow Refinement. Beyond that lay the Primal Assemblage Stage, further separated into the Post-Celestial and Pre-Celestial stages.

However, Yu Xuan’s progress was hindered because he lacked resources. Without herbs, pills, or elixirs to aid his cultivation, he relied on the spiritual energy of the mountains. "If I continue like this, it’ll take at least another month to break into the Heavenly Ascension Stage," he muttered. "But I don’t have that kind of time. The Azure Cloud Combat Sect’s entrance exam is tomorrow."

"I’ve done everything I can. Passing the exam shouldn’t be a problem."

He picked up his worn clothes from a nearby rock and made his way to the river. The water was crisp and cool, washing away the grime of his training. As the sunlight danced on the surface, it illuminated his body.

His muscles, though lean, exuded a coiled power, and his youthful skin gleamed with vitality. It was hard to believe that this was the frame of a fifteen-year-old boy.

After dressing, Yu Xuan prepared to leave the mountains. He launched himself forward, his movements fluid and precise, like a falcon diving for prey. His figure blurred as he dashed through the forest, until he vanished into the endless expanse of trees.

The Azure Cloud Combat Sect’s entrance exam was a beacon of hope for countless young martial artists in the Silver Horizon Kingdom. Held twice a year, at the turn of spring and fall, it was the ultimate dream for those seeking to carve a future in the martial world.

For the youths, the sect represented an unparalleled opportunity. Resources were valuable, but what truly made the Azure Cloud Combat Sect legendary were its martial manuals. These tomes, crafted through generations of accumulated wisdom, were priceless treasures.

Without such guidance, cultivating the martial path was akin to groping in the dark. The manuals condensed centuries of trial, error, and success, and they formed the backbone of the sect's dominance. However, these manuals were not freely given. Each was heavily guarded, and the sects imposed draconian punishments for leaking their contents.

The lightest penalty for betrayal was the destruction of one’s cultivation base; the worst was execution without trial. This ironclad enforcement ensured the manuals’ secrecy, making them all the more coveted.

It was no wonder the Azure Cloud Combat Sect inspired such fervent ambition. Yet the path to entering the sect was treacherous. Every year, countless hopefuls flocked to the exams, but only a select few ever succeeded.

Yu Xuan follows his own martial arts path, so the Azure Cloud Combat Sect’s inheritance held no allure for him. His purpose for entering the sect lay elsewhere. He sought to uncover any insights or techniques that might help him comprehend the stage beyond Heavenly Ascension.