After spending some time with Lee Gang, Meng Zhao, and Meng Jiao, Li Jian bade the three good night as they departed.

Wang Bei began cleaning up while Li Jian walked towards his bedroom.

“Thank you Little Bei, I’ll be going to sleep. I hope there isn’t a lot to clean.”

“Not at all big brother, have a good night!”

In reality, there wasn’t that much of a mess. Only a few plates and cups that had to be washed.

The group didn’t want to burden Little Bei so late in the night, especially since she was just a mortal.

Li Jian went to his bed, allowing the exhaustion from training to relax.

The moment he went to lie down, he fell into a pit of darkness.

With the shock of falling and confusion, Li Jian flailed his arms attempting to grab ahold of anything.

He continuously fell, but after some time it felt like Li Jian was floating.

Li Jian observed his surroundings trying to make sense of the situation.

‘This shouldn’t be a dream..? This is too real! What the hell is happening?’

A speck of light shined from the distance and Li Jian started to gravitate towards it.

Li Jian’s breathing and heart rate sped up as he moved closer and closer.

After a few hours, Li Jian came up to a small, white crystal that was floating gently.

‘A crystal..?’

Li Jian’s hand reached out slowly, as if possessed.

When his finger had touched the crystal, a wave of white light vibrated outwards.

Li Jian’s eyes glowed white while the intense vibrations coursed through his mind, body, and soul.

When the vibrations stopped, the crystal faded and dimmed, revealing not a shed of light.

Li Jian’s eyes returned to the usual state after blinking.

‘...’

Li Jian stood there in a daze.

A tear of blood streaked down from his eye.

‘Betrayal… Wang Jing why?’

Li Jian screamed out his pain, suffering, and agony.

When Li Jian was engulfed by the light, the crystal had poured out everything that was contained within itself into Li Jian.

What was once sealed was now released; memories.

An aged voice spoke into Li Jian’s mind.

“...You and I are the same…”

“...the beginning of my reincarnation…”

“...these memories, our memories, will awaken you…”

Time drifted backwards and Li Jian found himself in the Ancient era.

A time that had been ruined by war and greed.

Li Jian stood above all other martial cultivators as the most powerful being.

He had been bathed in blood the moment he was born into this war-ridden world.

Battle after battle, Li Jian continued to fight and survive.

He strived for peace, but learned the world would not change without force at a very young age.

Thus began his conquest and legend.

Li Jian gathered a group of his closest friends and conquered much of the grand world with unbearable strength.

However, his legacy came to a halt when he was murdered and betrayed.

Rumour had it that there was to be a marriage, but there was no news of it after the death of Li Jian.

Time didn’t wait for anyone and the era had reached its conclusion, shifting towards the next.

Welcoming the new era, remnants and old memories of the Ancient era were wiped away for the new generation.

Li Jian witnessed his whole past life from beginning to end and began connecting the bits of fragmented memories with his newly acquired.

‘So my memories leaked into my dreams. It seems I’m still too weak to comprehend much of my abilities from the past.’

Sifting through his memories, Li Jian wiped the sadness from his face, from which turned to anger and then gloom.

One thing Li Jian learned, or was reminded of, was that the world functioned on the cycle of life, death, and reincarnation.

The white crystal was a unique treasure from his past life believed to allow the holder to pass on memories.

‘Xiu’er… I will find you in this life and keep our promise…’

A warm sensation spread all over Li Jian’s body, which soon radiated a bright light causing Li Jian to close his eyes.

When the light disappeared, Li Jian found himself in bed with the morning sun sneaking through the curtains of the window.

Groggy and slow, Li Jian sat up feeling like he had awoken from a long dream.

He was still the same 12 year old Li Jian, but different. He now had access to a vast array of knowledge and experiences.

He closed his eyes to peer into his dantian.

The white crystal wasn’t hidden anymore and was floating soundly.

‘The crystal hasn’t given me all of my memories yet..?’

*Knock, knock*

“Come in.”

“Big brother, I’ve brought you your morning tea and breakfast.”

“Thank you Little Bei, set it to side. I have to get ready soon.”

“You’ll be leaving?”

“Yes, I’ll be gone for a little while… By the way, have you thought of becoming a martial cultivator?”

Wang Bei’s hand began shaking slightly.

“I-I’m content with my life as is, big brother…”

“Very well then, you may take your leave.”

Li Jian accepted her answer even though he had seen clearly how she had reacted to the words martial cultivator.

Li Jian drank his tea and ate his breakfast before changing into his jade robes.

Exiting his home, Li Jian didn’t care for any of the amenities the inner sect had to offer and instead went out to find the mission board.

Asking some random disciples, Li Jian had found the mission board (which was quite close to his home).

The mission board looked the same as it did in the outer sect, with the exception of the missions, rewards, and difficulty.

However, looking at the large mission board, there was only one mission listed:

“S rank mission: 1. Investigate the recent killings outside of Jade Moon City”

‘Recent killings…’

Li Jian’s heart froze for a second as he thought back to when he had only seen his cousin Li Mu pass the Jade Moon disciple recruitment exam and none of the ‘geniuses’ of the Li clan.

‘Li Mu’s personality change, his huge boost in cultivation… Something doesn’t feel right.’

Li Jian immediately went to accept the mission.

There was an inner sect shop like the one in the outer sect, but had a larger variety and better quality items.

Li Jian chose not to visit the shop because to him, time was of the essence.

‘Too many disciples have already accepted this mission. I’ll need to begin and solve this investigation as soon as possible.’

Time was short and Li Jian had many things he needed to accomplish. One way to quicken the pace was to reap the benefits of free rewards.

The man handling the inner sect missions looked at Li Jian and had already brought out a piece of parchment.

“I take it you’d like to accept the S rank mission?”

“Yes sir.”

‘Not like there was any other mission..’

“Since you’ve read the mission board post, the only task is to investigate the recent killings.”

“I understand.”

“You must report your findings, if any, in one week.”

The man looked down at Li Jian and noticed he was only in the 6th level.

“Just a fair bit of advice, many disciples have accepted this mission and not that many have returned. Watch yourself.”

“Thank you for the warning, senior.”

Li Jian bowed and left.

---------------------------------

Outside of Jade Moon City

---------------------------------

Leaving the city, Li Jian carried doubts and suspicions.

‘I’ll start by travelling along the same path Li Mu had taken to get to the city.’

There was one main road that began at Jade Moon City and would split at the Veiled Mist forest.

Li Jian walked towards the road that split towards Falling Leaf Village.

He had a full seven days to travel and investigate.

Looking around, there was not a single traveler or merchant.

‘Looks like this threat is serious enough to scare off everyone..’

---------------------------------

6 hours later

---------------------------------

‘I haven’t seen a single person, not even another disciple… Have I come to the wrong area?’

Time flew by and it had already become dark.

Li Jian found himself a small, abandoned home that showed signs of deterioration.

Pulling out a piece of bread and some water from his bag, Li Jian ate his meal and went to sleep.

---------------------------------

Far off into the distance, a boy and a girl, both in jade green robes, were running desperately.

---------------------------------

“AHHHHHHHH…”

A loud scream echoed out throughout the forest.

With the alarming sound, Li Jian woke up instantly.

Looking in the direction of the forest, Li Jian sprinted forwards.

‘I don’t like this…’

A few minutes later, Li Jian spotted a girl laying down.

Her face couldn’t be seen due to the bush, but the robes she was wearing was quite distinguishable.

‘An inner sect disciple!’

Approaching cautiously, Li Jian moved towards the bush and laid eyes on a beheaded body of a girl.

Li Jian focused spiritual energy into his fists as he surveyed the surrounding area.

Sensing no danger, Li Jian calmed down.

He looked down once more, staring at the detached head and was able to recognize her.

This girl was the third rank disciple of the recruitment exam who had red hair.

Her lifeless body emitted the strength of a 7th level.

‘May your soul find its place in reincarnation.’

Pitying the girl, Li Jian moved deeper into the forest to find the culprit; since this was his first lead into his investigation.

Within a few seconds, Li Jian slowed down as the air was permeated with a scent of death.

‘Blood.’

Li Jian looked down and saw pools of blood.

Beyond the pools were more headless bodies.

These bodies were also wearing jade green robes.

To Li Jian’s surprise, he recognized another face: the rank one disciple from the recruitment exam. His body emitted the strength of a 7th level like the other girl.

‘It hasn’t even been a full day since I accepted this mission…’

Li Jian didn’t spend anymore time in this area and began collecting the dead disciples' sect badges.

As he was doing so, a pair of cold, dark eyes fell upon Li Jian.

Li Jian jumped backwards avoiding a cloaked man walking out behind the trees.

“Who are you?”

“You do not need to worry about that, my child.”

This man’s cultivation couldn’t be determined.

‘A Spirit realm cultivator… I need to get the hell out of here.’

The man crept closer, slowly pulling out two sickles.

“Come, my child. Come sacrifice yourself.”

Rather than waiting to die, Li Jian turned around and sprinted as fast as he could.

As he ran, he checked behind him constantly, but did not see the man chasing after.

‘With his cultivation, he should be able to catch up to me? What’s he planning…’

After reaching the halfway mark towards Jade Moon City, the man appeared in front of Li Jian.

‘Fuck.’

“You cannot escape from the Great Divine, my child.”