Chapter 5: Renaming

Tao Ran quickly gathered his thoughts and refocused on the rather handsome face in the mirror.

In this world, mixed-race individuals often had striking features, and André's parents were both exceptionally attractive. Thus, the face of the original body owner was naturally fresh and handsome, far better-looking than Tao Ran's original body.

The only drawback was that the guy's complexion was a bit pale, hinting at possible malnutrition.

Tao Ran stared blankly, then used his wet finger to write "André" on the mirror before falling silent.

No matter what happened before, no matter his standing in Yuanchong, in this world, he could only be called André. Henceforth, the name Tao Ran would be hidden in his memories.

This was not only to better merge with André's residual soul and achieve seamless integration of body and soul but also to establish himself in this world.

When his soul entered this body, Tao Ran sensed the world's 'rejection' and 'pressure' on him. This was why he chose integration instead of the simpler 'devour and refine' method.

But this method could only provide a temporary solution. Until he and André's residual soul were completely merged, he would remain an outsider in this world.

Moreover, he needed to be wary of the numerous cultivators here.

According to the original body's memories, Tao Ran's Grand Ascension stage in Yuanchong was equivalent to this world's 'Legend' in the West and 'Lianxu' in the East.

It was hard to imagine so many powerful beings surpassing him in this world!

His title in Yuanchong was 'Immortal King of Shenxiao Wuji Zixu,' but this was merely an honorary title from the Langya Celestial Empire. However, in this world, true kings of immortals and gods existed.

Tao Ran guessed that outsiders like him wouldn't be welcomed by the cultivators of this world. Hence, he needed to be discreet to avoid being exposed.

To blend in seamlessly, he had to start with the small things, ensuring there were no lapses in his 'self-awareness.'

In this sense, his current situation was truly precarious, with threats from within and without.

"—André, André Lee Wildenstein? Fine, wish you a new life."

After sighing in an American accent, André began to brush his teeth and wash up. Without his Grand Ascension physique, he no longer had the pure, clean body. If he didn't wash his face for a day, it would get slightly oily.

Once he was clean, André started to inspect his living quarters.

The room was small, dark, damp, and cold. The walls were peeling with age, and the air was filled with a musty smell.

Just from the state of this room, it was evident that the previous owner of this body was living in extreme poverty.

This matched the situation in André's memories. Two months after the incident, the original owner could no longer afford the mortgage on his parents' house. Following the current laws in the USA, the bank repossessed the property but provided this room as temporary housing for a year.

Despite the dire conditions, André seemed to have been a diligent person. The room was spotless, and the bed linens were clean and fresh.

However, the refrigerator was empty, not even a crumb of bread left. The original owner had exhausted all food supplies before Tao Ran took over.

André touched his grumbling stomach, a helpless expression on his face.

Since reaching the fasting state in cultivation, he hadn't experienced hunger in a long time.

But there was no choice; this body was only a Level 3 Magus Swordsman, far from the fasting stage. Moreover, in the American cultivation system, there was no concept of fasting. Even in the Eastern civilizations here, it was uncommon.

People here believed that the more and better they ate, the faster their strength grew, and the stronger their bodies became.

This was probably due to environmental differences. In Yuanchong, resources were scarce and elemental energy weak. Cultivators emphasized harmonizing with nature, minimizing the use of elemental energy, and protecting natural treasures, avoiding excessive harvesting and killing.

In American terms, it was about integrating with nature, protecting the environment, and practicing sustainability in cultivation.

But in this world, material and elemental resources were so abundant it was hard to believe.

—At least, that was Tao Ran's perspective. Most cultivation systems in this world would be considered demonic in Yuanchong.

André wasn't conflicted about this and didn't feel he had the right to despise or criticize the cultivators here.

Different environments led to different perspectives. Besides, the people in this world were already aware of this issue.

He was prepared to adapt. The various treasures and elixirs of this world could help him quickly restore his strength.

But the immediate priority was to fill his stomach.

André searched his memories and moved the corner of a desk to reveal a hidden shallow pit with a stack of cash inside.

He counted the money, totaling 560 gold shields—everything the original owner had. According to current prices in the USA, this amount would last him a month. He was indeed poor.

At that moment, he heard a knock at the door, followed by William's voice. "André, are you awake? We need to get to work."

After a night, André didn't immediately respond. It took him twenty seconds to realize the person outside was calling him.

He quickly pocketed one bill from the stack and rolled the rest back up, preparing to hide it again.

But he frowned slightly, finding the hiding spot too insecure.

André looked around carefully, then gracefully leaped up the wall, placing the rolled bills behind the light fixture on the ceiling.

In the original owner's memory, the security in the USA was polarized.

In the affluent areas where André used to live, security was good thanks to frequent police patrols. But the 'Vagabond' district where he lived now couldn't enjoy such protection.

This was a poverty-stricken area in southern Atlanta, populated by unemployed blacks and illegal immigrants. Nearby were government housing projects for black residents. The streets were lined with prostitutes and drug dealers, with frequent robberies and thefts. Gunfights could break out anytime, or powerful 'outlaws' might flaunt their abilities.

The original owner had been robbed twice after moving here, losing everything he had.

André had trained in martial arts since childhood and had decent sword skills. But he was powerless against a gun to his head.

He eventually wised up, always going out with friends and never carrying more than ten gold shields. He left the rest at home.

But André felt this method was still too simplistic. For seasoned thieves, hiding money under the desk was unsafe. To be truly secure, he needed a better hiding spot.

In Yuanchong, André was known for being stingy. Now, having fallen on hard times, this trait was even more pronounced.

These 560 gold shields were his entire fortune and essential for his survival.

As André carefully checked the light fixture for any traces, the knocking resumed.

"Hey! André, André, why is it so quiet? Are you dead asleep?"