Chapter 13: Inheritance

Lester felt like a child who had just comprehended a new subject for the first time. Although he only had access to the teenage years of the Evil Monarch, the information contained within those memories was revolutionary. The knowledge he now possessed could completely transform the cultivation landscape of Earth, turning it on its head. The secrets, the techniques, the theories—these could change everything.

His mind buzzed with excitement as he hurried over to his computer, eager to compare some of the understandings he'd gleaned from the memories with the theories and hypotheses put forward by Earth’s scholars and cultivators.

He needed to see just how far off—or how close—they were to the true nature of cultivation. His fingers flew over the keyboard as he navigated to some of the most prominent cultivation forums and online communities. He wanted to understand how his newfound knowledge aligned or clashed with what Earth had managed to decipher from the fragmented alien cultivation books.

Ting!

A notification sound pulled Lester’s attention away from his frantic research. His eyes shifted to the corner of the screen where a new message icon flashed. It was from Patrick. Lester clicked it open and was taken aback by the length of the message. It was long, and clearly, Patrick had poured his frustrations and thoughts into it.

Patrick elaborated on his recent progress. His martial arts training had been going exceptionally well; he was making leaps and bounds in his physical abilities through working out and combat skills. However, when it came to cultivation, he was stuck in a rut. Without a proper cultivation manual, his progress had stalled completely. He was frustrated, and it was becoming harder for him to keep turning down the tempting offer from the American Cultivation Association (ACA), who promised him one of three cultivation books if he joined.

Lester understood Patrick's predicament. Anyone would be tempted. Here was a well-funded organization offering three complete cultivation books to choose from. And Patrick was desperate—he needed a way forward. Lester could sense his friend's growing impatience. The ACA’s offer seemed more valuable with each passing day, especially for someone stuck at a crucial point in their cultivation journey.

But now, with the memories of the Evil Monarch flooding his mind, Lester was privy to countless foundation-building cultivation books, each one unique and more profound than anything available on Earth.

The Evil Monarch had considered filling one's core with World Qi to be nothing more than a preliminary step, a foundational stage in the long and arduous path toward immortality. On Earth, achieving such a feat would place one at the top of the food chain, a pinnacle that few ever reached. For the Evil Monarch, it had been just the beginning.

Lester recalled how the Evil Monarch had taken merely a week to nearly fill his entire core with World Qi, thanks to the perfect foundation he had laid. In his early years, Visil Fajin had roamed his small, war-torn planet, defeating countless warriors and gathering their cultivation knowledge. The depth of understanding and the level of cultivation on his world were beyond anything Earth had seen. Lester felt as if he was glimpsing a higher realm of possibility.

Lester considered his options carefully. He could offer Patrick any number of the foundation-building manuals from his newfound trove of memories. But translating even one of them into a comprehensible format for Patrick would take time—time he didn’t have. The [Black Sand Zu Lizard Cultivation] book he already possessed was a solid choice. Though not as profound as the manuals within his mind, it was complete, and it could help Patrick lay a strong foundation regardless. Besides, Patrick’s patience was wearing thin, and Lester could tell that his friend was on the verge of caving in to the ACA’s persistent offers.

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“It’s settled!” Lester muttered to himself with resolve. He knew what he needed to do.

He quickly opened his messenger app and typed a brief message to Patrick: “Hey man! Good news!”

Moments later, Patrick responded with a barrage of messages. Their conversation was brief but filled with excitement. Lester explained that he had a cultivation manual for Patrick, and although Patrick was initially skeptical—after all, how could Lester have a complete cultivation manual out of nowhere?—his trust in Lester prevailed. They had been through so much together, and Patrick knew Lester wouldn’t lie to him about something this important.

They quickly came to an agreement. Patrick would travel to Lester’s remote home to receive the [Black Sand Zu Lizard Cultivation] book and possibly train together. The news came at the perfect time for Patrick, who had been under increasing pressure from the ACA. He confided in Lester about his fears of being plotted against by the ACA for repeatedly refusing their offer. Such things weren’t unheard of; rumors and conspiracy theories swirled around organizations like the ACA, and some believed these stories had grains of truth.

Patrick also mentioned his interest in joining Cultivation Island, a new organization that was rapidly gaining popularity. From what he had heard, it was much more transparent than other groups, and its primary goal seemed to be the protection of humanity from all threats, not just the beasts but rogue cultivators as well. Lester, who had been buried in his newfound knowledge, hadn’t kept up with recent developments and promised Patrick he’d look into it when he had a chance.

With the decision made, Patrick hurried off to prepare for his journey to the Philippines, while Lester dove back into the vast sea of memories he had inherited from the Evil Monarch.

As he sifted through these memories, he began to piece together more of the Evil Monarch’s identity. Born as Visil Hojki Fajin, he had started as a notorious figure on his home planet, known from a very young age for his ambition and drive. He wasn’t naturally gifted in cultivation, but he made up for it with sheer determination, ingenuity, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Through hard work and a unique perspective on cultivation, he became idolized by many.

Visil Fajin’s rise began with his fascination with the intricacies of cultivation. He trained relentlessly, pushing his limits at every turn. But more than that, he was an explorer—a seeker of truth. He traveled across his planet, defeating formidable opponents and taking their cultivation manuals as spoils. His exploits earned him the title ‘Black Fiend’—a name that sent shivers down the spines of cultivators everywhere on his planet.

But Visil Fajin wasn’t interested in simply amassing a collection of manuals for personal use. Instead, he studied them meticulously, scrutinizing every technique, every law, every insight. For years, he analyzed and synthesized these teachings, driven by a singular goal: to create a cultivation manual that could adapt to different talents while allowing for unmatched manipulation of Qi. For Visil, control was everything. His genius mind sought to master Qi manipulation to such an extent that he could mold it into any form he desired, becoming a jack-of-all-trades, and simultaneously fortifying his foundation and understanding of Qi’s deepest mysteries.

Through this relentless pursuit, he created the [Thousand World Qi Manipulation Manual]. It was a groundbreaking work that allowed for an unparalleled level of Qi control and versatility. However, his success didn’t go unnoticed. The major powers of his planet, threatened by his growing influence and his penchant for pillaging cultivation knowledge, declared him a fugitive. Visil Fajin became a wanted man, constantly pursued by those who feared what he might become.

Lester's exploration of these memories ended abruptly at that point, but even this limited window into Visil’s early years contained a wealth of information. The sheer volume of knowledge was overwhelming, but Lester felt exhilarated. He had access to the [Thousand World Qi Manipulation Manual] in its entirety, as clearly as if he had penned it himself. And that was just one of many. Though some manuals were incomplete or vaguely remembered due to not being very powerful to Visil, Lester now had an arsenal of cultivation techniques at his mental fingertips—collected from Visil’s defeated enemies and betrayed friends.

Lester’s eyes slowly opened, his heart brimming with relief and exhilaration. He smiled softly, thinking about the incredible journey ahead. With all these manuals in his mind, he felt like he was standing at the precipice of a new era in cultivation. He closed his eyes again, diving back into the memories, carefully analyzing specific sections to deepen his understanding.

Time passed quietly, his thoughts serene and focused.