The iridescent light that had momentarily filled Li Tian's mind began to recede, not fading into nothingness, but coalescing, solidifying. A profound transformation had indeed taken place within the secluded cultivation chamber. The intricately carved jade pendant, once a tangible object held in his hand, had now transcended its physical form, evolving into a radiant orb of pure, incandescent light that pulsed gently in the air before him. Tendrils of raw, untamed energy and the subtle shimmer of heavenly laws radiated outwards, painting the chamber walls with fleeting patterns of light and shadow. This was no ordinary light; it thrummed with an otherworldly power, resonating with the very fabric of the universe, a contained cosmic force that felt capable of both creation and utter destruction.
Li Tian gazed at the luminous orb, a sense of awe and profound wonder filling the depths of his ancient eyes. He could instinctively sense the complex tapestry of heavenly laws woven within its radiant core, a cosmic force of such purity and concentration that even a cultivator at the threshold of immortality, a half-step immortal, would struggle to comprehend, let alone control. It was as if the unassuming jade pendant had finally shed its mortal guise, revealing its true, breathtaking nature.
Within the boundless sea of Li Tian's consciousness, a torrent of memories surged forth, directly linked to the glowing orb before him. His initial intuition had been correct. The pendant was indeed a vessel, a carefully crafted repository of the inheritance of a cultivator who had stood at the very pinnacle of existence – an Immortal Emperor realm being. And now, the full weight of that revelation settled upon him. Within this radiant orb lay the condensed essence energy of such an entity, a living being of unimaginable power, their wisdom and experience now accessible to him.
As he contemplated the staggering significance of this transformation, a deep surge of gratitude mingled with an overwhelming sense of responsibility washed over Li Tian.
He understood, with a clarity that resonated deep within his soul, that he had been chosen. Chosen to inherit not just power, but the accumulated wisdom and legacy of an Immortal Emperor, a destiny so grand that few in the vast expanse of the cultivation world would even dare to dream of it.
With a newfound resolve hardening his gaze, Li Tian reached out a hand, no longer trembling with uncertainty, but firm with purpose. His fingers brushed against the radiant surface of the orb, and he felt its potent energy flow into him, not as an external force, but as a seamless merging of his very essence with that of the departed Immortal Emperor. It was a sensation unlike any he had ever experienced in his long cultivation journey – a profound connection, a sharing of being.
As the Emperor's energy suffused every cell of his body, Li Tian knew, with absolute certainty, that he had embarked on a path of unparalleled growth and enlightenment, a trajectory that would lead him to heights he had only dared to imagine.
"So," Li Tian mused internally, the newfound knowledge echoing through the chambers of his mind, bestowed upon him like a sacred text. "This is an immortal inheritance… the legacy of an Immortal Emperor realm being." He marveled at the revelation, understanding now that the concentrated essence energy contained within the orb was not just power, but a catalyst, a potent fuel that would accelerate his cultivation at an unimaginable pace.
The inherited memories flooded his mind, revealing cultivation techniques that were considered mythical, unfathomable even by the ancient standards of the cultivation world. But the inheritance was far more than just cultivation methods.
It encompassed a vast trove of knowledge: intricate alchemy techniques, the recipes for legendary pills, the secret arts of crafting weapons of unimaginable power, and countless other arcane secrets that had been lost to the passage of time.
"This… this is more than enough," Li Tian thought, a surge of determined confidence coursing through him. "With this essence energy and the 'Scriptures of Void'… the cultivation technique contained within… entering the Immortal realm easily is no longer a distant dream, but an imminent reality."
Without a moment's hesitation, he initiated the absorption process, his will a powerful conduit drawing the radiant essence energy from the orb into his own being. He willed the luminous sphere into the depths of his consciousness, into the vast expanse of his mind's eye, where it would reside until its power and the intricate laws it contained were fully assimilated, becoming an inseparable part of his own strength.
The infusion of this potent energy was a transcendent experience, a merging of his soul with a power beyond mortal comprehension. As the orb descended into his mind's eye, it felt like a torrent of pure creation surging through his meridians, revitalizing every cell, reshaping his very physical form into something akin to an immortal body. Time seemed to lose all meaning as Li Tian immersed himself in this profound assimilation, his connection to the True Immortal realm strengthening with each passing moment, the essence energy becoming an intrinsic part of his being. The "Scriptures of Void," the Emperor's chosen cultivation technique, seamlessly integrated into his existing knowledge, expanding his understanding of the very fabric of reality.
As the final vestiges of the orb's energy merged with his own, Li Tian felt a transformation unlike any he had ever conceived. His cultivation had not merely advanced; it had undergone a fundamental shift. He knew, with an undeniable certainty that resonated deep within his soul, that he had crossed the threshold. He had entered the True Immortal realm.
A deep sense of accomplishment settled within him, a quiet satisfaction after centuries of relentless pursuit. Yet, there was no time for prolonged celebration. Li Tian immediately began another period of seclusion, his focus now entirely dedicated to solidifying the newfound foundation of his True Immortal cultivation. "The energies and insights I have gained from the Immortal Emperor's inheritance… they fill me with power beyond measure, and a determination that burns brighter than any star."
Yet, amidst this triumph, a persistent question continued to linger at the edges of his consciousness, an unresolved riddle that tugged at his thoughts like an insistent whisper. "Why? Why have the memories of my past life on Earth resurfaced with such profound and insistent clarity? What is the connection? What is the significance?" The answer remained elusive, hidden within the deeper layers of his being, a mystery waiting to be unraveled.
His existence in the True Immortal realm unfolded as a continuous process of solidification and growth. Guided by the inherited memories and the vast knowledge of the Immortal Emperor, Li Tian embarked on a new journey of discovery, delving deeper into the profound mysteries of this elevated realm, honing his newfound cultivation, and expanding his understanding of existence beyond the mortal coil. The celestial wonders that now surrounded his secluded sanctuary served as a constant reminder of the boundless possibilities that awaited those who dared to ascend.
One day, as Li Tian sat in serene meditation, focusing on anchoring his foundation in the True Immortal realm, a wave of memories surged forth with an unprecedented intensity, overwhelming his carefully constructed mental barriers. It was as though a floodgate had been breached, and the long-dormant recollections of his earthly life rushed back to him in vivid, visceral detail.
He saw himself as a young man, standing on the precipice of adulthood, the vibrant energy of a bustling modern city swirling around him. Towering skyscrapers pierced the clouds, and the streets below teemed with a chaotic symphony of life. His heart swelled with emotions he had long forgotten, feelings that had been deliberately suppressed in his pursuit of the Dao – joy, sorrow, the bittersweet pang of love, and a deep, yearning longing for something he couldn't quite name.
Then, the fragmented images coalesced, focusing on the final moments of that forgotten life. "Emm… what happened? Why are you all looking at me? Why… why is there blood everywhere?" Li Tian's internal voice was filled with confusion and a dawning horror. "I… I remember getting hit by a car… when I was crossing the road. Shouldn't I be in a hospital? Why… why hasn't anyone taken me to the hospital?"
The memories flooded back, no longer disjointed glimpses, but a torrent of images and raw sensations. The screech of tires, the blinding glare of headlights, the sudden, jarring impact that had sent his body reeling through the air. And then… darkness. A cold, all-encompassing abyss that had seemed to swallow him whole. It was an experience beyond description, a void where consciousness had flickered and died.
When Li Tian finally came to his senses, the sterile, brightly lit world of his final earthly moments had vanished. He found himself in a place… nowhere. A void where the laws of physics as he knew them on Earth seemed to have no meaning. It was as if he had been abruptly transported to another reality, a realm that existed beyond the very boundaries of what was known to his former world.
The realization struck him with the force of a celestial thunderbolt. "Reincarnation…" The word echoed in the silent chambers of his mind. "I… I have memories of a past life… my past life."
"Emm… what? Should I laugh at the absurdity of it all?" Li Tian wondered aloud, his voice echoing strangely in the surreal emptiness. The scattered pieces of the puzzle began to click into place, forming a picture he could scarcely comprehend. A maelstrom of emotions – disbelief, shock, a strange sense of detached curiosity – swirled within him.
"And perhaps…" Li Tian mused, a flicker of grim understanding in his thoughts. "Perhaps it was a necessary thing… this deliberate suppression of my emotions, this unwavering focus on cultivation. If not for that cold-hearted dedication, I might never have reached this level, never have unlocked these buried memories."
The vastness of this new world, the cultivation world, now stretched before him, no longer a distant concept but his undeniable reality. Millions of continents, each teeming with untold wonders and dangers, lay beyond the confines of the Li Clan's territory. "My entire existence… confined to a single sect, albeit a powerful one." The Great Li Clan, one of the three strongest forces in the Northern Divine Continent. "My home… and yet, a cage of my own making."
As he navigated this bewildering new layer of his existence, a sense of wonder began to bloom within him, pushing back the initial shock and confusion. Curiosity, long dormant beneath layers of discipline, stirred within his ancient soul. A longing for something more, a yearning to experience the vastness of this world for himself, to truly live in a way he never had before, began to take root. "Today…" he thought, a nascent sense of excitement tingling within him. "Today… is the beginning of it all."