I stepped into an ostentatious golden room lit with glowing white pearls. Two massive pillars held up a high and dark ceiling. Behind those were stairs leading up to a marble coffin.

A translucent man in dark red robes stood arrogantly between the two pillars. He had symmetrical facial features, wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and long black hair that had turned white at the temples. A simple jade crown held part of his hair up.

He stared down at me as if judging a rare stone that he wasn’t positive he wanted.

“Congratulations! It’s good to finally see you in the flesh. And you’ve also passed all my tests... but one!” He held up a finger.

I narrowed my eyes at him, but, since it was polite, I bowed. “Greetings Senior.”

“So. You’re finally acknowledging my genius self’s existence?”

Using a trick I’d seen Lin use, I blinked up at him and tilted my head as if confused, “How can I acknowledge you if I don’t see you?”

He huffed and mumbled something about dumb kids who don’t know— “Alright! This is the last test!”

I nodded, ready to take on whatever he had planned.

“Your test is to choose an inheritance to suit you.”

He gestured and threw out a few items that started to float in front of each gold-covered pillar.

In front of the left hovered a massive book and a set of knives that appeared ordinary at first glance. Each blade was a different shape. The largest was very thick and heavy looking. It appeared to be a tool rather than a weapon.

In front of the right pillar, a stack of manuals floated behind the red sword that I’d seen pictured in the murals. The sword pulsed with energy as if it called to my blood and bones.

This had to be a trap. “That’s all?”

He nodded.

I looked around to see if I could find the exit and just leave. This guy was untrustworthy, and his inheritance was likely not worth the effort.

A vein popped in the ghost’s forehead. “What are you doing?”

“Looking for the exit.”

He sighed. “The exit is inside a pillar, and the pillar will only open once you choose an inheritance.”

“Tch.” Neither of them looked all that appealing. “Can you tell me about each one?”

“The one on the left is my friend’s inheritance. I owed him a great debt and told him that I’d pass on his skills to the next generation if I found a worthy talent. The book is his life’s work. They contain Immortal Cuisine Recipes and Knife Techniques.” He gestured to the shiny but mundane appearing blades. “These knives were his best toolset.”

Then flicked his sleeve and gestured to the right. “These, however, are my personal Sword Technique Manuals. It’s far more powerful than whatever nonsense you’ve been practicing on your own. Even that move that you used to break through my poor murals was nowhere near as powerful as mine.” He chuckled. “If you had used the positions that were in the mural then it would have only taken one slash instead of several. With my technique, you’ll be able to crush your enemies with unadulterated power.”

As he continued to tell me the virtues of his own methods, I was reminded of the lesson my sister gave me.

***

She tossed a sheathed sword at me and I caught it. “There are many things to consider when choosing the best sword technique. Since each body is different, you won’t find one that fits every cultivator. You’ll need to practice one that works for you and your cultivation technique.”

She paused. Her dark brown eyes scanned my body from the top of my head to the bottom of my robes, yet it seemed like she wasn't looking at me, but what I could become.

“Even if it works well with your cultivation, you also need to be aware of a technique’s four main attributes before you fully commit to learning it. Those are Accuracy, Precision, Speed, and Power.” She counted them with each finger. “Well, there is also size, and some subcategories but we’ll go over that later as they don't matter nearly as much.”

“But I thought you said that absolute strength is what matters most.”

She grimaced in irritation and pushed my glabella with two fingers, silently telling me to think. “Of course it matters most in this world!”

I rubbed where she pressed.

“But there is a lot more to strength than just having stopping power; though, that is important too. Strength comes in various forms and a variety of things contribute to it. There is no single overpowering strength type. Only ones that work for an individual against an opponent and those that don’t.”

“Like, the difference between a Sword Cultivator and a Medical Qi Cultivator?”

“That’s right!” She lifted her hand for the ‘high-five’ she taught me, and I reluctantly complied. “Of course, every opponent you’ll face will be different, so you’ll need to learn a variety of ways to attack, defend and retreat, but we’ll go over that later.”

I scowled while thinking about how much work that would be later. Would learning all this stuff really help improve my fighting capability?

She ignored me.

“Now, for a body like you’ll possess in the future, you’ll naturally want a technique with the best of everything. But you’re not going to find one.”

“Why not?”

She grinned. “Because perfection—”

“—Can only exist in a vacuum,” I finished the familiar sentence.

“That’s right! So, if you have one that is extremely powerful, chances are it will lack speed, precision, and accuracy. If you have one that’s extremely fast, then it likely lacks in the other attributes as well. If you find a Qillin of a technique that is both strong and fast, then you’re likely sacrificing precision and accuracy. It also won’t be as strong and fast as the ones designed specifically to emphasize those attributes.”

She took out the hairpin she borrowed from me and turned it into a sword. After dipping her blade in the tiny pond beside her she brought it up so it was horizontal to the ground, leaving a single drop of water to rest on the tip. “It’s all a balance. And while your own talent in those attributes can make up for your technique’s lack, it’s only to a certain extent. It will require a lot of practice to get good and overcome weaknesses. Plus it will take mental energy to constantly make adjustments so that it’s right for you and what you need.

“Of course, this is concerning when you’ve practiced it to the highest levels. Before that, you’ll be too imperfect for any of this to matter that much. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think ahead now.”

“Then what about the ones you’re about to teach me?”

Then she went through several simple movements as she spoke. Amazingly, she managed to keep the drop of water on the tip each time her sword went horizontal.

“These are the most basic of basics. And they will not work that well for your current body type. I mean, you’ll be able to use them just fine, but they’ll only show their worth once you’ve grown into your adult body and increased your cultivation.” She paused and then began a series of movements that looked more advanced than what she’d just shown. Again, she kept that same drop of water on her blade tip.

As I was, I couldn't pull those movements off, yet she was casually running through them like she’d practiced them a billion times.

“But, once you start to learn better and more advanced techniques, these will be the basics you’ll fall back on and knowing them will enhance your ability to practice and learn what will come next.”

I nodded. My stomach rumbled. The growls echoed through the courtyard.

Her eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you understood all that?”

With a shrug, I said, “It’s not that hard.”

She grinned evilly and flicked her sword at me. The water droplet flew forward and splashed onto my forehead.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I scowled and wiped the water away with a handkerchief.

“Then what are the four main attributes? And which one do you think is most important for you?”

***

The man’s laughter brought me out of my reminiscing.

“By that gleam in your eye, I can tell that you’ve figured out the right choice.”

I nodded. “How do I collect an inheritance?”

“Just grab it.”

I started toward the left pillar.

“Hey, you’re going the wrong way.”

“I don’t think so,” I said, as I reached for the recipe book and knives. As soon as my hands grabbed them, whatever had been holding them up vanished.

I jumped back as I heard a loud crack.

The pillar broke down the middle revealing a small chamber with the characters for ‘go out’ written in beautiful calligraphy on the inside.

I stuffed my new recipe book and knives in my spatial bag. Then, as I was just about to step into the hole, the ghost’s arm fell across my path.

I stopped and glanced into his cold eyes that seemed to stab down at me.

“Why didn’t you take my inheritance? Do you find it unworthy?”

I tilted my head confused. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s worthy of me or not, what matters is if it works for me. And I don’t know enough about it to be able to tell.”

“What do those things matter?! We’re talking about the Strongest Sword Technique! Overwhelming strength is all that matters!”

“If your technique was really that powerful, then why are you dead?”

He sputtered.

I rolled my eyes. “Besides, there is a lot more to strength than just being able to crush someone with pure power. While strength is important, it’s useless if you can’t actually hit the person you want with your attack.”

He opened his mouth like a fish drowning in air.

“So I chose based on what I wanted to learn. I want to cook for myself and my sister. Something we can both enjoy. So, I’ll take the recipes and knife techniques.” I bowed. “Thank you, senior.”

“Wait! You’ve passed my final test! You get to take mine too!”

I sidestepped him, but he kept stepping in between me and my exit.

Frustrated, I stopped and glared at him. “Are you saying that I have to take yours too?”

“You have the perfect bloodline to use my inheritance! You’ll definitely regret it if you don’t take it with you.”

There was no chance that I would trust this guy. I took a step forward, determined to walk through the translucent person... And I ended up hitting my head against something solid. I scowled up at the ghost and rubbed my forehead.

He smirked. “You’ll find that I won’t let you pass unless you bring my inheritance out as well.”

::Careful, kid! This guy is a real soul and not just a leftover will.::

I sent the Spirit in my consciousness the message, “What do you think?”

“This spirit is currently upgrading. Be cautious! Your space will not be available while this is happening.”

Well… that was upsetting. I also had no clue how long it would take to upgrade this time, but I had a feeling that it might take days or weeks. I couldn’t wait that long!

Well, technically I could, but I refused to let my sister wait that long.

::Senior Ghosty, do you think it’s safe?::

::This man was originally at the Immortal Ascension stage before he died and something prevented him from creating a new body. He is weak. I think he’s at the end of his life here. I think it’s worth the risk.::

::Okay!::

I stepped up to the crimson sword and the tomes. Very cautiously and wary of a trap, I rested the tips of my fingers against the pile.

Nothing happened.

I let out a sigh of relief then grabbed them.

A ghostly hand shot out from the books and shoved itself into my glabella. Pain like I’d never experienced before, in a place I didn’t even know I could feel pain sent sparks of torment through my mind. The edges of the world darkened.

“What?! Why is there no hole in your defenses? You’re just a child. This can’t be! Fine! Then I’ll just have to make one myself.”

Outside myself, I could see Ghosty leave his soul gem for the first time. And not just the image he projected to me and Fairy Lin.

Inside myself, I could feel the intruder pull up memories I had long forgotten. Or forced myself to forget. And he showed them to me.

... A new city loomed above me. My mom, her maids, and a few others walked beside me. Her warm hand engulfed my small one and stopped me from stumbling on the uneven ground. Other strangers walked down the street. They crowded us, making the maids nervous. Everyone nodded and turned left down a thin and deserted road.

A nearby maid suddenly dropped to the dirt road. Something black and needle-like stuck out of her neck. People fell from the sky and threw attacks at us. They wore black robes with an azure trim showing a vicious curling wave.

Within minutes most everyone died. But my mother somehow escaped, carrying me in her arms, keeping my head buried so I couldn’t see anything.

... I was a few years older sitting by my mother’s side as we rested on the side of the road. She coughed into a white handkerchief and swiftly hid it from me. But I’d seen it. Brilliant red that had stained the pale cloth.

“We’ll be moving again. But don’t worry. This is the last place. Family friends will be there to help us.”

... The friends she had thought would be in the small town had died a very long time ago, and their descendants had left for some distant city. But the people there were kind. Even to strangers like us. They helped us when we needed it. Like when we first moved in, or by teaching us how to plant the things we’d need to survive in this backwater village.

... My mother had once been so strong. I hadn’t understood how strong until she became weak. Now she needed me to help with everything. It wasn’t fair! The other kids played or helped with fun chores, while I had to take care of the yard, the chickens. Set traps in the forest to capture small game just to add a little more variety to our diets.

I even had to learn how to cook congee from what little rice we managed to bring.

And she would just lay in bed, not even trying to get up. Even though I still respected her... I hated her.

... I reached out to try and wake her up for breakfast. She... didn’t move.

“Mom?” I shook harder. I sometimes had to do this. She still didn’t move. “Mom!” Everything felt so unreal, but I remembered her once mentioning that this could happen. There was something... I had to get the local doctor or what passed for one.

I ran faster than I ever had before. We even returned quickly... but I was still too slow... They told me to say goodbye and that I had to help perform rites as the eldest son.

This didn’t feel real. Why didn’t this feel real?

I didn’t hate her. I promised I’d never feel hatred for her again. Please... Couldn’t I have her back?

... Everything in the world could burn, and I doubted that I’d care. But there was something nagging at the back of my mind. Those people I saw long ago. The ones in the black and azure. They’d poisoned my strong and beautiful mother. They had to have been the ones to kill her.

I wanted them all to die so their loved ones could feel the pain I was going through now. Maybe if I focused on revenge—

Knock!

... A new city loomed above me. My mom, her maids, and a few others walked beside me….

The memories repeated just like that. Always ending at that one familiar knock.

This evil ghost somehow forced me to relive my darkest memories, over and over. He was trying to do something. Manipulate me. Make me forget what mattered to focus on the dark depressing thoughts of my past.

But that knock kept me sane. Because I knew what came after, even if it was only for a brief moment before I relived everything. Over and over, faster and faster.

“Those people took everything from you. Forced you to go through a horrible experience. It’s all their fault.”

Pressure on that thing inside of me ached.

“I can help you find them and take your revenge! Just open yourself to me!”

No!

“Hurry! What are you waiting for?! This is your chance! You’ve seen how incredible I am. I could help you easily crush them beneath your heel. Just. Let. Me. Enter.”

Go Away!

“This is your last chance, boy! I’m not giving you a second one!”

Leave me alone!

“Hey! Your sister! Stop! NO!”

A sensation on my forehead, like lips sucking at my skin, sent creepy crawlies slithering down my back. Then it vanished. The pressure and pain I'd been experiencing too.

I opened my eyes to see Ghosty slurping down the arm of another soul. Then he burped.

::Hahahaha! Fairy Lin is great. If I hadn’t been practicing that technique she adjusted for me, I might not have been strong enough to easily swallow this Daoist Bloody Crimson Sword Edge.::

::That was his name?::

::Oh yeah. Devouring him came with some of his memories. Oof. Real piece of trash, that one. But his soul was a good meal!::

::How long have I been out?::

::Just a minute, kid... You okay?::

::Yeah. For some reason, it felt like a lifetime.::

He paused for a second and sent me a worried look. ::Make sure you tell Fairy Lin what happened so she can check you out. Though I was a bit slow there, I did get him in the end.::

I nodded.

::Now I gotta digest this, so I can grow stronger. Don’t contact me for a while. I’ll contact you.:: He slipped back into his soul gem, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

That had been, to put it lightly, a very rough experience. I was mentally exhausted. And I just... wanted to sleep. But I wanted out of this place first.

I grabbed the tomes and red sword that I must have dropped in my confused state and threw them into my bag. Then I stepped through the exit.

The first thing I noticed was fresh air. The second thing was a glowing night pearl pinned to the wall of a cave. It had a familiar spiritual signature. A paper was attached to it.

Then a warm body slammed into me, forcing me to stagger for a moment. Thin arms wrapped around me in a tight soothing hug. And I smelled the refreshing scent of my spring water.

“You’re back! Are you safe? What happened? Are you injured? Do you need rest? You didn't follow some weird cultivator down a dark tunnel because he promised you candy or treasure, right?”

There must have been some dirt or something in the air because my eyes watered. I buried my head into her shoulder and hugged her back. “I missed you!”

That hug made everything seem right in the world.

My sister didn’t tell me that she missed me too, but she did smooth my hair and briefly squeezed me tighter. “Good job coming back.”

At that moment, it didn’t matter that I’d gone through a horrible experience. It didn’t matter that I relived the most horrible moments of my past. As long as I came back safely to my sister’s side, I knew that everything would be alright.