The Final Preparations
In the dim silence of his hidden chamber, Zhen Wu sat cross legged amidst a grand array of glowing runes and intricate inscriptions. The room, carved from the blackest stone and veiled in layers of concealment techniques, resonated with an eerie hum of power. This sanctuary, buried deep beneath his kingdom, was a culmination of centuries of planning, experimentation, and paranoia, a place even the Universal Will itself could not penetrate.
Zhen Wu's expression remained calm, though a glint of anticipation sparked in his cold, ancient one-eye.
For countless years, he had postponed this moment, always wary of the dangers it posed. His body was irreparably damaged, his once-boundless vitality dwindling. Yet, the true hindrance wasn't his physical state but the shadow of the Universal Will and the paragons. They were tyrants who would never tolerate his ascension to the pinnacle of power, no matter how carefully he treaded.
He had considered leaving this region of the known universe, crossing into another domain ruled by a different Universal Will. But the idea felt futile. The void between universes was a barren wasteland where no life or energy could thrive, and another region's rulers would see him as either a threat or a pawn, perpetuating the cycle of suppression. No, staying here, within this region yet outside its immediate grasp, was the only option. He would reincarnate into the domain of the mages, a realm where cultivation gave way to arcane mastery.
"This life was meant to reach the Paragon level and failed," Zhen Wu muttered to himself. "The next will explore a different peak, a different way."
The chamber brightened as his hands formed a series of seals, activating the layered techniques and arrays. These were no ordinary tools of magic and cultivation. They were an amalgamation of his genius, blending forbidden arts and self-created methods. The room itself became a living organism, responding to his every thought, ensuring no loose ends were left behind. Even his lifeless body would be preserved, ready to be used again if his plans required it.
.....
At the chamber's center floated the void treasure, an ethereal blue orb pulsating with enigmatic energy. Void treasures were rare anomalies of the universe, born from the collision of laws and chaos. They defied understanding, wielding immense power yet governed by rules that often came with devastating consequences. Some void treasures bestowed invincibility but devoured the user's soul, While others simply summoned random galactical disasters.
The simulator, however, was different. Its rules seemed almost benevolent, allowing its user to foresee future possibilities, gain rewards, and grow stronger without immediate drawbacks. But Zhen Wu's instincts warned him otherwise. "Nothing in this universe is without a price," he murmured, gazing at the orb.
His right eye, now blind from his earlier use of the Eye of Reality, throbbed faintly. The sacrifice had been worth it to claim this artifact. Its previous owner, Jain, was nothing more than a pawn in a grander scheme.
Zhen Wu extended a hand, allowing a thread of his consciousness to probe the simulator. The orb resisted at first, as if testing his worth. But his sheer will and mastery of techniques forged over millennia overwhelmed its defenses. Slowly, the orb dimmed, its energy bending to his command.
"Bound at last," he whispered as the simulator integrated with his soul. A faint smile crossed his lips, calm, calculating, and lethal. With this treasure in his grasp, his reincarnation would no longer be a gamble. He would not merely survive; he would dominate.
...
Zhen Wu turned his focus to the grand array etched across the chamber floor. Its complexity was beyond comprehension, each line and rune infused with his blood, sweat, and soul. This array was his magnum opus, a blend of cultivation and magical principles designed to transfer his consciousness to a new vessel while preserving his memories and mental prowess . It was not reincarnation in the traditional sense but a rebirth of unparalleled precision.
In The core of the array floated a pitch black space ring, with a reservoir of treasures, elixirs, spirit stones, forbidden artifacts, and even fragments of ancient laws inside of it.
These would sustain his journey and ensure his new body reached heights unattainable by any natural means.
And the ring was simply the perfect container even though it wasn't him who made it, long ago after eliminating the Girl of Mystery or Secrets or whatever her name was, Zhen Wu wandered aimlessly, uncertain of his path.
His journey led him to a distant and unfamiliar region of the universe, where he encountered a peculiar creature. Through a Trading one of his techniques, he obtained this ring with the extraordinary ability to conceal itself flawlessly.
And Anticipating potential dangers in his weakened state following reincarnation, Zhen Wu imbued the ring with several safeguards, prepared as contingencies for any unforeseen mishaps.
He took a deep breath, his body flickering with a faint golden light as he activated the array. Runes flared to life, casting the chamber in an otherworldly glow. The air grew heavy, resonating with the power of countless dimensions folding onto themselves.
...
Zhen Wu closed his eyes, taking one last moment to reflect. His kingdom, his family, and even his adversaries, all would be left behind in this chapter of his existence. He had no regrets, only a burning desire to see what lay beyond the limits imposed by the universe.
As the array reached its crescendo, his body began to dissolve, threads of his soul weaving into the fabric of the array. A final command left his lips, instructing the hidden mechanisms of the chamber to safeguard his physical remains and ensure his kingdom remained undisturbed.
With a final burst of light, Zhen Wu's body fell lifeless to the ground. The once-brilliant glow of the chamber dimmed, leaving only the faint hum of residual energy. The array's mechanisms activated, sealing his body within a crystalline sarcophagus and sending it inside the space ring which soon disappeared following its owner.
His consciousness, carried by the array, embarked on its journey, a journey to a new body, a new life, and a new realm of power.
The chamber fell silent, a tomb of secrets and forgotten grandeur. Somewhere far away, a new Zhen Wu was about to awaken.