Chapter 6: Memories

POV

LU KUN

When Elyan Albon first came to this world, he suffered from a migraine so intense he thought his brain might explode; well, actually it did, several times in fact. Each time he experienced that excruciating pain, he woke up in a different body, each time suffering from the same migraine until he finally possessed the body of a person named Lu Kun.

He didn't know what was so special about this body, but the moment he entered it, he knew it fit him perfectly. He found nothing extraordinary about this body except that it had power equivalent to a transcendent in his previous world. Even then, it was nothing special compared to everything else he eventually learned about the world he transmigrated to.

Elyan still couldn't believe the absurdity of his situation! One moment he was half dead, his body in ruins after his failed attempt at closing the great rift, and the next he woke up in this strange land where actual godlike beings flew in the skies and mythical creatures were considered commonplace. His memory was fuzzy, his head still suffering from a dull pain, although it wasn't nearly as great as the migraines he suffered before.

He received small chunks of memories from the previous owner of this body, and as he continued to live in it, he absorbed more and more until he had nearly a complete picture of where exactly he was and who the original owner was.

As of right now, Elyan Albon knew that in this world, the overabundant mana made it incredibly easy to gain power. The natives of this land didn't call it mana though; they called it "Qi." They considered Qi the energy that fueled the world, the essence of all things.

The mana here was so dense and pure; if Elyan had been able to train here during the last few years of the war, he was certain he could have finally reached the legendary realm beyond transcendence. He was already halfway there; he just needed one last push. There were no such things as Aspirants, Acolytes, or Exalted, nor even Transcendents here, though.

The natives here used different metrics of power, but it was eerily close to his homeland's. Here they called Aspirants "Qi Refining," they called their Acolytes "Foundation Establishment," and their Exalted "Golden Core."

The similarities in power ended after transcendence, though. After Nascent Soul, there was a stage named soul formation. Elyan suspected that this was the stage he had so desperately tried to claw towards in his previous world.

Elyan knew he desperately needed to return home immediately, but he just couldn't remember the exact reason why. The great rift was threatening, but it should have been sealed by all the other transcendents after what he did.

Perhaps his old self just really wanted to talk to his old friends one last time before he suddenly transmigrated here?

Although worrying, Elyan had bigger concerns right now. Currently, he was on the northwestern side of a large landmass surrounded by water known as the Profound Luminary continent, inside a small grassy region governed by the Tang Clan.

Here inside the Tang Clan, Elyan Albon had assumed the position as a caretaker of their young master, Tang Shimin. As a caretaker, Lu Kun had been instructed to obey, watch over, and personally train the young master, yet the previous Lu Kun had been quite negligent and just watched as the young master became lazy and carefree.

As Elyan digested more memories, he also inherited more and more of Lu Kun's personality. The guy was an absolute slacker! He was lethargic, slothful, and self-indulgent. How did someone like him even get into such a position within the prestigious Tang Clan?

Although the body's previous owner's talent wasn't bad, it wasn't exceptional either, yet somehow Lu Kun made it to Nascent Soul despite merely being 32. Elyan had a feeling it had something to do with Tang Shimin.

Elyan was a hardworking magical swordsman who trained until his hands bled since the day he was born. Yet he started to notice how supine he's been unconsciously behaving. He suspected that Lu Kun's memories and personality were slowly starting to affect him. He simply couldn't allow his willpower to be whittled down just because of a good-for-nothing's personality slowly integrating into him!

Yet despite his best efforts, every now and then he has an urge to simply grab some wine and laze around to forget his worries. On the topic of lazing around, perhaps he should take a short afternoon nap today too.

'No! No! No! Stay on topic, Elyan!'

The major concern besides his personality being slowly intertwined with the previous Lu Kun was the fact that Tang Shimin's parents were going to come back soon, perhaps even in a year or two.

Tang Ying, his mother, is an expert apparently at the Mortality Severing stage, and Tang Zixin, his father, is a continental-level powerhouse at the Undying Radiance stage. Lu Kun didn't know much about stages above Void Opening, so he could only roughly guess the power of those two.

Mortality Severing was an entire stage above Void Opening, and Undying Radiance was a stage above Mortality Severing. Elyan already knew a Void Opening level cultivator could level a medium-sized nation to smithereens, so Elyan assumed if those two wanted, they could probably turn this continent into an utter wasteland if no one of the same stage stopped them.

If Elyan were ever to encounter and talk to such powerful people, would they notice their servant's body being overtaken by a different soul? From Lu Kun's memories, apparently such things weren't all that rare in this world.

Shimin's father should be at the island named Inanis, and his mother should be busy handling the ongoing demon excursion. Elyan wondered if he should escape before they came back.

Elyan suddenly started to feel his dull headache starting to worsen again. Perhaps he's been overthinking for too long. He'll take care of his tasks for today and go take a light nap to recover.

'Oh right! Lu Kun had gotten a message from Tang Ying last week, which he needed to address. Just what was it again?'

Elyan concentrated to remember the short message that was delivered to him. It arrived on the claws of a giant raven-like bird. He still remembered the way the nerve-racking thing stared at him.

The message said something along the lines of, "To my subject, Lu Kun. The closing of the demonic gate has been developing nicely. If all is well, I am to return earlier than expected. I hope the same good fortune shines upon you and all others in my humble residence. Inform me of my son's progress, the number of medicinal pills he has taken, as well as the current state of the household. Be sure to notify me if my little trouble-maker has missed me or caused any more disturbances. Do not disappoint me."

Elyan's head suffered from another headache again, remembering the contents of that letter. "Demonic "gate"—what familiar words.

Trying to ignore his pain, he began to write a response back until he realized Lu Kun had given absolutely zero training nor pills to Tang Shimin. Tang Ying isn't going to be happy about that.

Elyan sighed. He was going to need to change that before sending this letter. There was so much to be done, and he also had to contact the administrator of the region just to ask him to deliver the message to Tang Ying. If the report he's going to send Tang Ying somehow doesn't make her upset, the time it took to send it definitely will.

***

As Elyan walked towards the young master's room, he looked at the box filled with high-grade pills and alchemical reagents he brought. If he understood the young master, Tang Shimin, well enough, he was going to reject them immediately or threaten him somehow.

The previous owner of this body, to his credit, actually did once try to convince the young master to at least consume a few pills, only to be scolded by Tang Shimin, saying, "You impudent servant, I brought you into this household to serve me. Have you forgotten who you belong to? You have no right to dictate my actions!"

Elyan still didn't know why Tang Shimin was so adamant about refusing to cultivate. Elyan knew Tang Shimin wasn't diligent, but it was as if he outright hated the concept.

Perhaps Elyan needed to take a more forceful approach if it turned out the same way as the last time this body's previous owner tried.

***

To Elyan's surprise, Tang Shimin actually did accept the high-grade cultivation pills. Although he had a strange request of asking for another person to watch him cultivate, Elyan didn't mind.

What surprised Elyan even more was the sheer mana control Tang Shimin displayed. No, the more appropriate term would be considered Qi control in this world. Elyan couldn't believe Tang Shimin had such talent, but Elyan didn't show it on his face.

It took him merely 2 hours to break through to the 8th stage of Qi Refining. Even with high-grade pills, it was a truly great feat. Elyan had expected to stay here for the whole day. Such talent but such a strong resolve to refuse to use it? Why?

Though when Miss Ruyun spoke, some things felt clearer. "That was quite the feat, young master, with how fast your cultivation was. Your qi control was flawless as well. Just what did your parents feed you before they left?"

Oh, did Tang Shimin get gifted a treasure that allowed him to use such exceptional Qi control? The original Lu Kun didn't think very highly of the young master's innate talent, did he?

Lu Kun didn't know of any treasures that could do such a miraculous thing, but then again, Tang Shimin's father was an Undying Radiance stage cultivator who controlled a third of this continent. He probably could get such a treasure if he were willing to pay the price.

Elyan let out another small sigh. Back in his home world, he always envied those with powerful backgrounds. It seems some things will never change.