Who are you?

"Failure is merely a label given by the system to justify its design. Your 'failure' stems not from weakness but from your refusal to conform."

The book emitted a faint hum, as if amused by his skepticism. "I didn't not choose you, On the contrary you are the one who brought the codex from the Timeless Forest, an act that unexpectedly resulted in your selection for a destiny you could not have foreseen."

Xiao Ning froze as the memory rushed back. Years ago, he'd chased an enemy into a strange forest. But this was no ordinary place. The Timeless Forest was like a painting frozen in time—trees stood stiff as stone, the air was thick and silent, and the sky never changed. Deep inside, he'd found the book buried under twisted roots that looked alive.

His conscientiousness flickered with sudden understanding: even in death, he seemed bound by the system's influence.

Xiao Ning clenched his fists, the remnants of his shattered body flickering faintly in response to his emotions. He thought back to his past life—the countless battles, the sacrifices, the betrayals—and realized that every step he had taken led him here. Whether driven by ambition, desperation, or sheer stubbornness, he had always sought to carve his own path, regardless of the obstacles in his way.

Perhaps this was his final test, the ultimate trial that would determine whether he was destined to remain a pawn or rise above the game entirely.

A surge of determination coursed through him, banishing the lingering doubts that plagued his mind. Freedom was a double-edged sword, but it was a blade he was willing to wield. Better to die fighting for autonomy than live forever as a slave to fate.

"I accept," he declared, his voice ringing out with conviction. "Take me beyond the system."

As soon as the words left his lips, the jade book pulsed with blinding light. Symbols erupted across its surface, forming complex equations and ancient runes that swirled around Xiao Ning's consciousness. A surge of power coursed through him, erasing every trace of his former self from the Great Dao System's records.

Before Xiao Ning could respond, the void around him shifted. Images began to form—scenes of battles fought and lost, destinies shattered, and souls consumed. Among them was a figure whose story mirrored his own: another villain, felled in combat but spared the total destruction of his essence. Unlike Xiao Ning, this individual had suffered only partial consciousness destruction, making him the perfect candidate for possession.

"This body belongs to Li Feng," the jade book explained. "Once a feared expert, he fell in battle against a rival sect. Though his physical form remains intact, his mind is fractured beyond repair. You may inhabit it, restoring functionality while preserving your own identity."

Without waiting for confirmation, the jade book initiated the transfer. Waves of energy enveloped Xiao Ning, pulling him toward the image of Li Feng. Pain lanced through his being as his consciousness merged with the broken remnants of the other man's soul. Memories clashed and blended, creating a synthesis of two lives intertwined.

Li Feng's memories revealed much about his life. Born in the remote village of Zhentian, located deep within the Outer Worlds, Li Feng had been a Nascent Soul Realm expert who rose to prominence as a leader of the Shadowclaw Sect. Known for his cunning strategies and brutal efficiency, he had earned both respect and fear among his peers.

However, during a raid led by the Azure Dragon Sect, Li Feng had been ambushed and mortally wounded. Though his body survived, his consciousness was destroyed, leaving behind a shell ripe for occupation.

He saw the man's final moments—the Azure Dragon Sect's ambush, A woman scream as Li Feng took a dagger meant for her throat. Pathetic, Xiao Ning thought. Love made fools of even Nascent Soul experts.

When the process completed, Xiao Ning opened his eyes—not in the Celestial Arena, but in a dimly lit chamber carved into the side of a mountain. The air smelled of damp earth and iron, and his new body ached from recent injuries. Still, he was alive—or as close to alive as anyone outside the system could be.

Just as Xiao Ning sat up, groaning softly, a voice startled him from behind. 

"Who… who are you? What have you done to Li Feng?"

Turning sharply, Xiao Ning saw a woman standing in the shadows of the cavern. Her features were obscured by the dim light, but her voice carried a mix of authority and sorrow. She held a longsword tightly in her hands, clearly ready to attack.

From Li Fang memories he instantly recognised this woman, She is Mei Lin the original body owner dao companion, also a Nascent Soul Realm expert.

That's why she instantly exposed him without even giving him the chance to talk.

Recovering quickly, Xiao Ning forced his voice to sound calm. " You are correct I am not Li Feng," he admitted. "My name is Xiao Ning—I've taken refuge in this body after my previous one was destroyed."

Xiao Ning's gaze locked onto Mei Lin's sword—its edge trembling with Nascent Soul energy. A lesser cultivator might've swallowed lies of amnesia or divine intervention, but against her razor-sharp spiritual senses, deception was impossible.

This wasn't transmigration. Not reincarnation. The jade book had carved his consciousness into Li Feng's crumbling body like a dagger into rotten wood, severing the original soul's fraying tether to life. Truth, however dangerous, was his only currency here.

Let her rage, he thought. So long as she believes me useful.

The woman stepped forward slightly, revealing more of her face. She appeared middle-aged, with sharp cheekbones and piercing eyes that betrayed years of hardship. Her clothes bore the insignia of the Shadowclaw Sect, marking her as its current leader.

"Destroyed?" she repeated skeptically. "Even you soul?"

"That's indeed the case," Xiao Ning replied bitterly." I have only managed to survive due to my power consciousness."

The woman frowned deeply, lowering her sword slightly. " Survive due to consciousness.... I have never heard something like that before."

"You are just at the Nascent Soul Realm, of course you haven't, " Xiao Ning replied ."For now, let us focus on Li Feng. Although he was irreversiblely dead I owe him—and you—an explanation."

The woman tilted her head, curiosity replacing her initial wariness. "Go on."

"My original self as you can see was far stronger than the Nascent Soul Realm," Xiao Ning admitted. "In fact, I could have crushed someone like you with a single finger."