As if responding to the storm in his mind, the air within the chamber thickened, the haze dissipating as if pulled away by a silent breeze. The golden light shimmering from the window began to solidify, coalescing into a figure of breathtaking beauty.
Ethereal and regal, she was bathed in radiant light that shimmered like starlight. Flowing robes, woven from moonlight, draped around her, and her eyes held the wisdom of countless eons. Yet, her smile held a warmth, almost…welcoming.
The air felt charged, vibrating subtly with her power, yet there was an odd familiarity in her presence.
"Greetings, Yu Cheng," she said, her voice like the music of the spheres. "I am your Celestial Guidance Overseer, and I shall guide you on your path. It seems you are adjusting…well, at least as well as one can under such unique circumstances.”
Tian Hao blinked at her, his confusion momentarily overriding his usual wit. "Adjusting? I feel like I’ve been hit by a cosmic sledgehammer, and then force-fed a lifetime of memories that aren’t even mine." He shook his head, trying to clear the dissonance.
The Overseer’s expression softened. “Ah, yes, the side effects of a full consciousness soul transfer. Few mortals survive it without scars, and fewer still do so seamlessly.” She waved a delicate hand, as though brushing away the weight of his concerns. “For your mind to accept its new reality, certain... unnecessary fragments of your old life and the journey from there, to here, were redacted. A... necessary sacrifice to ensure your well-being. Think of it as a cosmic cleanse—a fresh start!”
A cold knot formed in Tian Hao’s gut. ‘Redacted? Like, permanently deleted?’ He clutched the edge of the table, the fleeting sense of self slipping further from his grasp. Memories he didn’t recall clawed at the edges of his consciousness, begging not to be forgotten. His pulse quickened, fear threading through his fragmented mind.
“Not entirely,” she reassured. “Consider it more of an archive, tucked away for safekeeping, but inaccessible. The essence of who you are remains intact. For now, let’s focus on the present. You are Tian Hao, the young master of the Skyward Lotus Sect, and heir to a legacy of 'immense potential,' or so it's said.”
She gestured around the room, her gaze lingering on the remnants of Tian Hao’s predecessor’s indulgent lifestyle—the scattered wine cups, the rumpled silks, the decadent chaos. “Your predecessor, as you can see, had a certain…affinity for the finer things in life while abstaining from cultivation.”
Tian Hao's brow furrowed. "What about my predecessor? What happened to him for me to end up here? What happened to me?"
The Overseer tilted her head slightly, her eyes twinkling with a mysterious light. "Ah, yes. Your predecessor left this plane under rather... unique circumstances. Let's just say his departure was abrupt, leaving his body... conveniently available for new opportunities."
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She paused for a moment, her expression growing slightly more serious. "Your demise, Tian Hao, was... unexpected," the Celestial Guidance Overseer continued, her voice carrying an undertone of regret. "Reincarnation is usually standard procedure for such cosmic mishaps. However, given the... unique circumstances, certain liberties had to be taken."
"Unique being the operative word," Tian Hao muttered, a hint of bitterness lacing his tone.
The Overseer sighed softly, as though weary of the bureaucracy even she couldn't escape. "We can offer... adjustments. Though reversing the incident that led to your untimely end is beyond current capabilities, what we offer instead is an opportunity. A chance to reclaim your life, albeit under different terms."
Her expression softened, a flicker of cosmic guilt in her eyes. "Consider it compensation for the... inconvenience.""
The explanation reeked of cosmic red tape and interdimensional insurance policies.
Her lips curved into a smile. “You see, much like him, you lack the foundation for traditional cultivation methods—a poor proclivity for some of the foundational requirements of qi absorption and circulation. Instead, you will cultivate through pleasure.”
Tian Hao’s eyebrow twitched, his earlier confusion and worry giving way to incredulity. “Cultivating through pleasure? Are you serious?” He couldn’t help but let out a laugh, the absurdity of it all too much to process.
The disjointed thoughts lingered—cultivating through pleasure felt like a lifeline, something tangible to cling to amidst the chaos. Could this be his chance to live the life he'd always dreamed of? If his old identity was slipping away, perhaps he could build something new. This strange cultivation path could be his one shot at doing just that.
The Overseer’s smile broadened. “Indeed, cultivating through pleasure,” she affirmed, her voice laced with a mischievous undertone. “The Pleasure-Induced Nirvana Ascension method — PINA, for short, we find mortals appreciate brevity — is a peak heaven-tier cultivation technique.” Her words were both soothing and alarming, carrying the weight of immense power cloaked in nonchalance. “But do not mistake indulgence for mastery. True pleasure is not found in mindless excess. It is about balance, about mastering your desires, not being enslaved by them. You must learn to walk the line between indulgence and self-control.”
“Now,” the Overseer said, her voice drawing his attention back to the present, “close your eyes and focus inward. You should feel it—the connection to your inner state. It will be unfamiliar, yet part of you.”
Tian Hao hesitated, then obeyed. He closed his eyes, tuning out the remnants of the chaotic room around him, and concentrated on the sensations within. At first, there was nothing but the throbbing of his head. Slowly, a warmth began to spread through his body—a subtle, soothing hum that seemed to vibrate deep in his core.
Then it hit him.
A jolt shot through his body, as if lightning had struck the core of his being. His mind twisted, and suddenly, a crackling hum echoed in his skull. His vision blurred, turning inward until a glowing screen flickered to life before him—crisp, clear, and impossibly real. It hovered in his mind’s eye, each word blazing with energy as if carved into the very fabric of his soul.
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Name: Tian Hao
Cultivation Method: Pleasure-Induced Nirvana Ascension (PINA) – Mid-Mortal Tier
Cultivation Level: Body Refining Stage 1
Techniques: None
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