The assassin who was speaking before was now smiling with pleasure while tears of frustration welled up in Lian's eyes. He felt powerless in the face of the situation, about to lose everyone who was important to him without even being able to fight back... Then he looked straight into the eyes of the shadows. All their pleasure in feeling like gods above all was evident on their faces.
The leader of the assassins naturally noticed Lian's gaze before turning his attention back to Riria. "Don't die so quickly. You must watch this up close. I will kill him so you can enjoy it. Then, we can have fun together." He then began to make his way to Lian.
Lian's mind suddenly went blank. He was staring into the eyes of the shadow... an image overlapped with his own.
A middle-aged man...
Their gazes were the same...
His fate was repeating itself...
Hatred... Pain... Powerlessness...
Feelings and fragments of memories flooded his mind and spirit.
More hatred... more pain... more powerlessness... His mind was undergoing a tremendous shock... Soul energy, inherently powerful, erupted with force.
*Boom!*
The night turned into a day for a second. A wave of Qi spread for thousands of kilometers, causing every cultivator to feel their soul being compressed under the overwhelming weight of divine energy. The impact was terrifying, leaving everyone stunned and unable to move for a brief moment.
An attack alert resonated in all nearby locations, announcing the imminent threat. Sentinels from various clans and sects activated their alarm systems, preparing for a battle that would never come.
***
He was staring at the stars... It was unknown how long he had been there... hours, days, years, nothing was felt...
One day, a cry could be heard nearby. A woman, extremely young and beautiful with long hair and black eyes. Her clothes were stained with blood. But it wasn't her blood.
Her cry conveyed a feeling of unfathomable suffering, revealing that this pain seemed to have no end. He looked at her with great curiosity.
Amidst her sobs, she spoke the name of a man. He must be the owner of the blood, he thought.
She placed her hand on her belly intermittently. This action might indicate a connection between her emotional and physical pain.
"You're gone... our child... he will never be born either. The poison has invaded your body; he's already dead." Her crying ceased after she spoke.
"I will follow you soon..." She said sadly.
Upon hearing her words, he had an indescribable sensation. Memories emerged in his mind as if a fog had been cleared. 'Lyn...' He was Zeke once again. He thought of how Lyn died without having the chance to live a life together with him during the destruction of the small blue planet.
Suddenly, a pure green light enveloped the woman, the intensity of this light was overwhelming, illuminating everything with a celestial aura.
As the light expanded, his vision began to fade slowly. The world around him plunged into darkness along with his consciousness.
***
Lian gradually regained consciousness. 'What's happening... Am I not dead? There's no pain in my body... not even any discomfort? What's going on?'
He opened his eyes and attempted to sit up. Soon, he felt a weight on his arm as the face of a woman appeared before his eyes. Riria was sleeping beside him on the bed, tightly holding his arm.
"Riria... mother... Lian Albedo..." Memories of previous and actual lives overlapped in his mind, connecting the dots and leading Lian to a sudden realization.
'I've reincarnated?... how did I retain my memories? I'm Zeke Purplecloud. I am one of the four Overlords of my world. Leader of the 'Clarius Garden Sect.' The memories continued to flow nonstop. 'I remember everything clearly. I personally experienced it all!'
"Young Master! You... you're awake." Suddenly, Riri's voice echoed in his ears while her eyes were filled with tears.
"Sorry for waking you up, Riria. I'm much better now." Yet, Lian's voice was firm and calm, as if the previous events meant nothing to him.
Riria looked at him in astonishment, her eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and admiration. It was as if a new facet of Lian had been revealed before her. His eyes conveyed a depth and maturity never seen before.
The expression in Riria's eyes mirrored fascination at this new Lian, who exuded a commanding presence and an aura of unwavering confidence.
"Are you really okay?" Riria asked, her voice laden with deep concern. Her eyes stared intensely at Lian, searching for signs of any damage or suffering.
She then described what had happened, mentioning the immeasurable power that emanated from him and how all the assassins were defeated. Riria's genuine concern shone through her words, revealing the importance Lian had in her life and her desire to see him safe and sound.
"Lord Lemir gave me two recovery pills," Riria said with noticeable relief, her eyes meeting Lian's as she explained that he seemed fine physically but had been asleep for an entire week.
Lian just smiled. "I'm feeling great. Better than before, actually." He felt a sense of calmness as he realized Riria's tenderness and genuine concern. Right after, he got up, straightened his clothes, and continued to smile confidently at her as he pondered.
Realizing that he had reincarnated with the memories of his previous life, something considered impossible, Lian decided to put that question on hold for now. His priority was to find out where he was and how long ago his death as Zeke had occurred.
There was serenity in his gaze, revealing an understanding beyond his years. His determination was evident, reflecting the confidence he had in himself. Amidst all the uncertainties he faced, he emitted an aura of conviction and tranquility to Riria, showing that he was ready to overcome any obstacles that came his way. "Let's go to the Clan's library. I need to study a bit." Only Lian's 15 years of memories were not enough. He had to know more.