Illusion of reality

Mars made his way back home.

Once he returned home, Mars walked into his personal cultivation chamber and locked himself inside.

He took out the book he gained moments ago and carefully examined it.

He moved his fingers over the cover, tracing every detail on the book cover.

The cover was black with golden-red spider lilies decorating the surface.

Mars tried opening the book only to spot a seal on the fore-edge of the book.

Mars's mouth fell agape as he realized what he was holding.

"HA HA HA HA" Mars laughed wildly.

"I can't believe my fortune." Mars grabbed his face and pinched his cheeks.

"Ow, it hurts. I guess I'm not dreaming." Mars smiled.

"To think I'd get an inheritance book here."

"At least I don't have to worry about picking up the demonic inheritance I got in my first life."

Mars was currently holding an inheritance book. The real reason for the existence of these books is unknown.

The general belief is that these books are gifts from the heavens.

They can vary wildly. In Mars's first life he picked up a demonic book from within a cave.

It saved his life and gave him a powerful ability but no ability is without its drawback.

The demonic book while a powerful ability made him bloodthirsty. While Mars managed to curb the cravings, a weaker willed individual would go on a rampage until their last breath.

Mars wanted to avoid this ability at all costs. Fortunately, he had received a rare book like this from his mother.

Because the book alters the owner's mind and body, only a single one can be used by an individual.

Meaning that even if someone tried to force Mars to use the demonic book they would fail no matter what they'd try.

The only way to receive the knowledge within the book is to drop a drop of blood onto the seal.

Once the blood touches the seal. The book will disappear while the person who unsealed it goes into a meditative state.

Only one user of a specific book can exist at a time, but once the current holder dies the book will reappear in a pre-destined spot.

Plenty of clans and sects were built around various places around the world just due to such books.

Some fortunate clans and sects have multiple ones in a single location.

But for every single ability book that is controlled by a sect or a clan, there are countless books in various dangerous locations.

Some locations are known while the large majority of them are still veiled in mystery even for someone like Mars who had lived an unimaginable amount of time in this world.

"Seeing how the cover matches my robes this must have something to do with mothers clan."

"I know they are supposedly powerful but other than that I know nothing about them."

"I wonder why she had this though. Shouldn't an ability book like this stay in the clan?"

Mars couldn't help but feel like something more was going on behind the scenes but it wasn't important as of now.

Right now there were only two things important enough for Mars to think about.

The first was to unseal the book and learn whatever it held. He has no doubts that it will be useful as no ability from an inheritance book is weak.

It all depends on how you use it. While some may be more powerful out of the box, all abilities evolve as the user gains strength and masters his ability.

The second and more pressing matter was to plan his future movement.

Gaining the ability book could prove extremely useful but it depends on what it is.

"Alright before I unseal this, let's think about my next steps," Mars muttered to himself

'I have two months before I leave for the lower heavens'

'I will be poisoned sometime before I leave, I could even be poisoned already and not know it so gaining a poison body is a must'

'I don't have time to gain it the natural way so there is only one way. I do remember a few individuals with poison bodies in the past but there is only one here in the upper heavens that can be taken'

'My fiancee's younger sister has one. If I'm not mistaken she even had the immortal poison body which would be ideal'

'She gets on with her half-sister and step-mother quite well which is unfortunate'

'She is being treated as a golden goose because that is what she is to them.'

'In the future, they plan to sell her off to whoever can benefit them the most.'

"Heh, and I thought I was the Villain..." Mars chuckled to himself.

'I recall her being a formidable fighter due to her obsession but after she got sold her end wasn't a happy one.'

'The person she got sold to did receive what he paid for, but that same night he got slaughtered in his sleep alongside many others'

'In the end, she died and lived for nothing'

Mars could empathize with what this girl went through. He also lived and died for nothing.

This time things would be different.

Having thought back on what happened to his future sister-in-law.

Mars decided to gain her help. If he can marry her instead of his original fiancee he would be able to get the support of the poison clan.

While she currently doesn't have a standing within her clan, Mars has a way to change this.

The original reason for his journey to the lower heavens.

The Alchemical Hydra inheritance.

A mythical inheritance is only said to exist in legends. With it the user is said to gain the ability to shed their skin, staying permanently youthful in appearance.

They gain the ability to use various poisons, chemicals and other substances through serpents.

Nothing more is known about it. Somehow Mars had found it in his past life but he had never managed to get his hands on it.

In his first life, Mars planned on giving it to his Fiancee to increase her standing within the family.

Once her power would increase she would support him in the fight for the position of clan head.

But now that Mars knows for a fact that she is more interested in helping his half-brother, he has no reason to pass it on to her.

Instead, it would be a better idea to give it to her younger sister.

If he can exchange the promise of the inheritance for her first time and an engagement would be ideal.

But Mars knows she would say no to both propositions.

The first step is to gain her trust and friendship while slowly sowing seeds of mistrust between her and her stepmother and half-sister.

If he can somehow drive a huge wedge between them then everything else would be downhill.

Driving a wedge between them might be tricky while inside the clan. But gaining her trust shouldn't be too hard.

She was a unique existence within the poison clan. While most members focus on either assassination techniques or long-range poison arts.

She focused on mixing poison and assassination techniques into her unique in your face battle style.

The best way to get on good terms with her would most likely be through sparring in that case.

No one would find it weird that Mars is spending time with her then. While she may be his future sister-in-law she is still a woman.

So being alone together within the poison clan grounds would be a big no.

But if it is for sparring then it's a whole other story.

He can fight her in private while learning how to use his new ability.

She shouldn't leak his ability to others allowing Mars to improve the mastery of his newfound power and general strength while also gaining the trust and friendship of an important chess piece.

After he gains some of her trust, he will have to slowly sow discord in the family.

As she starts to depend on him more and starts to loathe her family he will offer to help her gain the Alchemical Hydra inheritance.

He will promise it to her on the condition that she will become the poison clan family head and support him.

With the poison clans' support, Mars would be able to cleanse the Asura clan overnight.

But even now they wouldn't do it when he is engaged to their young lady.

While they aren't completely against the marriage, they know for a fact that Mars has a horrendous standing within his clan when compared to his half-brother.

They still find him as a suitable marriage prospect due to his bloodline, but they would never support him as the risks outweigh the rewards.

So why would they do it if the young lady changes?

Mars would need to first prove himself. He would need to prove that he isn't lesser than his brother when it comes to cultivation and battle prowess.

Once he can get their support, he would make sure to clean both clans overnight. Only those loyal to him would get to keep their heads.

While those who opposed him while he was weak will forever disappear from history.

Not a single mention of them would be left in the world.

Taking in a deep breath Mars calmed himself and steeled his nerves.

He pointed the sealed side of the book upwards.

Mars brought his thumb towards his mouth and bit it, releasing a handful of drops of blood.

DRIP

DRIP

DRIP

DRIP

DRIP

The blood droplets fell one by one onto the seal. As the final drop hit the seal a bright flash of blue, violet and red lights flashed within the room.

Mars was instantly blinded by the phenomenon.

He could feel his consciousness fading, while he went through this experience once. It isn't something one can get used to.

He instinctively tried to fight back against it as it invaded his mind, body and soul however that was impossible.

Mars slowly lost consciousness and fell into a meditative trance as all the knowledge invaded his mind while changes occurred within his body and soul.

The last thing that passed through his mind before he completely lost consciousness was the name of the inheritance "Illusion of reality"