Riu Xian awoke to the sensation of soft grass beneath his hands and the warmth of the sun on his face. The air around him felt alive, pulsing with energy. He sat up slowly, his head throbbing with unfamiliar memories.
"This... isn't Murim," he murmured, glancing at the vast, golden sky overhead and the serene hills stretching into the distance. The sheer richness of the Qi in the air was overwhelming, a stark contrast to the sparse Ki of his previous life.
As he struggled to make sense of his situation, fragmented memories flooded his mind—memories that were not his own. They belonged to this body's former owner, also named Riu Xian, a low-ranking disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, a minor sect overshadowed by greater powers in this cultivation world.
"So, I died… and was reborn here," Riu Xian whispered, piecing it together. The memory of Hae Min's sword piercing his chest flashed before him, and a pang of bitterness shot through his heart. "Even in death, I'm not free from struggle."
Riu Xian's thoughts were interrupted by the faint scent of medicinal herbs nearby. Following the aroma, he discovered a rare, vibrant plant nestled in the grass—a Scarlet Meridian Herb, known for its ability to purify meridians and enhance cultivation.
The memories of the previous Riu Xian explained its significance. This body's meridians were blocked and damaged, rendering him nearly incapable of cultivation. "So that's why this boy was so weak," Riu Xian muttered, examining his hands. "But why were his meridians blocked?"
Before he could ponder further, heavy footsteps approached. Turning, Riu Xian's eyes met those of a tall, arrogant young man, flanked by two lackeys. His ornate robes marked him as someone of status within the sect.
"Riu Xian," the young man sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "What's a failure like you doing here?"
Riu Xian's memories supplied the name: Lu Hao, the son of the sect leader and a notorious bully. He was known for tormenting weaker disciples, and the former Riu Xian had been one of his favorite targets.
"I found this herb," Riu Xian said calmly, standing his ground. "It's mine."
Lu Hao's eyes flicked to the Scarlet Meridian Herb, greed lighting up his face. "Yours? Someone like you doesn't deserve something so valuable. Hand it over."
Riu Xian tightened his grip on the herb, his newfound resolve refusing to bow to this tyrant. "I won't."
Lu Hao's expression darkened. "You've grown bold, haven't you? Perhaps I need to remind you of your place."
Without warning, Lu Hao lunged forward. Despite his memories of Murim martial arts, Riu Xian's current body was weak and untrained. He managed to dodge the first strike but was quickly overwhelmed. A punch to the stomach sent him sprawling to the ground, the herb slipping from his grasp.
Lu Hao snatched the herb, holding it up with a triumphant smirk. "You should've known better. Trash like you doesn't deserve anything of worth."
Riu Xian coughed, blood staining his lips as he glared up at Lu Hao. His body was battered, but his spirit burned with defiance. "You'll regret this," he hissed, though he lacked the strength to back up his words.
Lu Hao laughed. "Regret? The only one regretting anything here is you." He kicked Riu Xian one last time for good measure before turning to leave with his lackeys. "Let this be a lesson. Know your place."
As their laughter faded into the distance, Riu Xian lay on the ground, his vision blurring. Pain wracked his body, but his mind was sharper than ever.
"This boy was beaten like this his whole life," Riu Xian thought bitterly. "No wonder his spirit had faded. But not anymore."
Clenching his fists, he pushed himself up, ignoring the searing pain. His Murim training resurfaced—the discipline to endure, to persevere. "You took the herb, but I'll find another way," he muttered. "I won't let this world crush me."
Riu Xian closed his eyes, focusing on the Qi in the air. He began a breathing technique from his Murim memories, something that required no herbs or external aids. The energy around him stirred, flowing into his body. Though his meridians were blocked, he could feel a faint trickle of Qi seeping through, starting the long process of purification.
"This is only the beginning," he whispered, determination hardening his voice. "Lu Hao, this sect, this world… they'll all see what I'm capable of."
Under the golden sky, Riu Xian meditated, drawing on his past life's strength and knowledge to forge a new path. For the first time, he felt the stirrings of power within him—a power that would one day shake the heavens.