As his senses sharpened, fragments of another life merged with his own memories. This body belonged to a different Li Shen—a boy from the Li Clan, a minor noble family in the Lower Realm, known for their lineage of beast tamers. Compared to the towering powerhouses he once associated with, this clan's reputation was modest.
Now, with a clearer understanding of his situation, Li Shen pondered the mysteries surrounding his reincarnation. Had the divine egg somehow brought him into this new body? If so, how much time had passed? Was this even the same universe he had known before? He had countless questions but few answers for now.
Letting out a sigh, he took the medicine brought by one of the servants. Once she left, he carefully rose to his feet, wincing as sharp pain flared in his body. His left side was wrapped in bandages, indicating severe injuries.
The memories of the young Li Shen surfaced, revealing that he had nearly been killed by a bear-like beast. In an attempt to use his clan's beast-taming techniques, the boy had almost died in the process. Shaking his head, Li Shen sat back down, closing his eyes to assess his new body's condition. He began circulating Qi, hoping to evaluate his state. However, as the Qi flowed through him, a sharp pain pierced his chest, and he coughed up blood, collapsing onto the floor.
"Damn it!" he muttered, struggling to sit up and wiping the blood from his mouth. What he'd experienced was a Qi blockage—a severe one. Fortunately, he knew how to clear it, but now he understood why the boy had struggled with cultivation.
The previous Li Shen had been plagued by this blockage, which caused intense pain whenever he tried to cultivate. Yet, despite this, the boy had managed to reach the first stage. This realization gave Li Shen a sense of respect for the young man's perseverance. Although he hadn't known him personally, he felt a quiet admiration for his determination.
Just then, a servant entered and noticed the blood on the floor. "Young master! Are you alright?" he asked, rushing to Li Shen's side, who raised a hand to stop him.
"Yes. Just the usual, isn't it?" Li Shen replied with a faint smile.
The servant hesitated, then nodded. "I'll have this cleaned right away. Meanwhile, they asked me to check if you need anything."
"Oh? Actually, you arrived at the perfect time. Bring me a set of gold needles—the thinner, the better."
The man seemed puzzled by the request, but a quick snap of Li Shen's fingers brought him to attention, and he promptly left to fulfill the unusual order.
"Hmm... In my previous life, even in the Upper Realm, I was never part of a noble family. This is certainly different," Li Shen mused.
Now, he had to focus on removing the Qi blockage, though he was curious why it had formed in the first place. After a while, the room was cleaned, and the servant returned with a small box of gold needles.
"Young master, here's what you requested. But if I may ask... what will you do with them?"
The concern in his voice was evident. Li Shen took the box, inspecting the needles with a calm expression.
"Just watch. I'll need your help to clean up any mess that might result," Li Shen replied with a slight smirk.
"M-Mess?"
Ignoring the servant's startled response, Li Shen took one of the needles and channeled a thin layer of Qi through it. The discomfort from doing so was intense, but he persisted. Lifting his shirt, he pressed the needle into his stomach, grimacing at the pain.
"Young master!" the servant exclaimed, horrified.
"Just observe," Li Shen instructed, stopping him with a raised hand. He continued to insert more needles into specific blocked points on his body, enduring the searing pain.
The servant, a young man named Xi Huang, swallowed hard, clearly disturbed. But Li Shen knew he could trust him; Xi had been by his side for years, according to the boy's memories.
With the needles in place, Li Shen pressed a hand to his chest, forcing the stagnant Qi through his veins. In his past life, this type of acupuncture had been straightforward, but now he had to exert every ounce of his focus to avoid mistakes.
As the Qi reached the blocked points, the needles began to heat up. Li Shen felt himself losing focus, his vision blurring from the excruciating pain, but the process had already begun. He began to fall back, only to be caught by Xi Huang's steady arms.
He heard Xi's muffled voice, though it was drowned out by the searing agony spreading through his body. A brown liquid started to seep from the needles, slowly clearing the blockage within him.
"N-Now... Remove the needles..." he managed to say, his voice faint yet resolute. Xi obeyed, pulling out each needle, releasing a small spurt of blackened liquid with each one. The fluid gradually lightened until blood alone began to flow.
Li Shen was on the verge of losing consciousness when, at the last moment, he felt the true Qi surge through his veins like a waterfall. Strength returned to him, and something more—a presence, strong and powerful, resided deep within his Qi core.
Placing a hand on his stomach and gently pushing Xi away, he sensed the dormant being within him. Realization dawned, and a broad smile spread across his face.
"Those bastards! Even after everything they tried, I've come out on top," he laughed, loud and triumphant, leaving Xi staring at him in confusion and awe. But Li Shen understood now why this body's Qi had been blocked.
The creature from the egg was within him, dormant but alive. Its presence had likely interfered with the boy's beast-taming abilities, unwilling to allow such other beasts near it—even if subconsciously.
"Xi, bring me something to drink! Something strong! Tonight, we celebrate."