The mountain wind carried his laughter into the night, cold, sharp, and utterly unforgiving.
Ye Xian, now dressed in his clean blue robes, closed his eyes and took a deep, steady breath. Peace filled his chest for a brief moment, but then a sudden voice echoed inside his mind.
"Concentrate... concentrate more... focus!"
His eyes snapped open, and he looked around sharply. The courtyard was empty. Confused, he muttered to himself, "Was that my imagination?"
Curious, he closed his eyes again and focused, trying to repeat what had just happened. As he concentrated, the voice returned, clear and commanding.
When he opened his eyes, the world around him shifted. He now stood inside his own inner world. A thick mist surrounded him, swirling like a living fog. From deep within that mist, two golden orbs glowed faintly, like eyes staring straight at him.
At first, a chill of fear ran down his spine. But Ye Xian forced himself to calm down and think rationally.
'I was only focusing my mind... so what is this? Where did this come from?'
Then the voice spoke again, resonating from within the mist.
"It seems something went a bit wrong..."
Ye Xian was startled. "What went wrong? Who are you? Why are you in my inner world?"
The mist remained silent for a moment. The golden orbs only watched him, unmoving, before the voice finally spoke again.
"You must have received some memories when you woke up, right?"
Ye Xian nodded slowly. "Yes... but whose memories were they?"
The voice replied, calm and deep.
"They belonged to a man who once used a forbidden soul transfer ritual. He was at death's door. Betrayed and consumed by grief after his wife was killed, he wanted revenge and clung desperately to life. The ritual was meant to move his soul into another body—one that had no soul left inside. A freshly dead body... like yours was."
Ye Xian's breath caught in his throat. He listened silently as the voice continued.
"But there was an error. Instead of fusing completely with his new body, his soul was cast adrift, wandering aimlessly for nearly a thousand years. Over time, it weakened, until finally, by chance, it merged with you."
"So... our souls fused?" Ye Xian asked, his voice trembling.
"Yes," the voice confirmed.
"Because his soul had grown so weak, yours remained dominant. Some of his memories and experiences mixed with your own, strengthening your soul without overwhelming it. His knowledge, his cultivation experiences, and even his hidden treasures now belong to you."
Ye Xian stood stunned. He vividly remembered his assassination—the blade that pierced his chest, leaving a cross-shaped wound.
Yet somehow, he had opened his eyes again. He was alive, reborn through this strange fusion. Broken fragments of memories surfaced in his mind, and he caught the name of the man whose soul had merged with his: Adler.
Ye Xian took a deep breath, then asked cautiously, "And you… who are you?"
The golden orbs pulsed softly, and the voice became gentle, feminine, and melodic. She paused for a moment, as though trying to remember something lost in the depths of time.
"I am the spirit of the Reverse Taiji Treasure. My name is Sylphia."
Ye Xian blinked in shock. "A treasure? You mean like an artifact?"
"Yes," Sylphia replied. "In cultivation, treasures are powerful tools or weapons that help cultivators fight, defend, or grow stronger. Some are natural, like rare herbs or mysterious stones. Others are crafted by masters. But treasures like me, those with spirits, are extremely rare and far more precious than even the highest-grade techniques."
Her ethereal voice was like a soft song carried on the breeze. Hearing it stirred Ye Xian's heart, making him imagine how beautiful she must be if her voice alone was this enchanting.
Inside the quiet space of his mind, Ye Xian asked, "Why are you inside my consciousness?"
The golden lights flickered as Sylphia hesitated, her tone turning softer, almost sorrowful.
"I do not fully know. I too have suffered. When Adler's soul weakened over the centuries, I was bound to him and slowly lost most of my memories and power. What I can surmise is that when Adler's soul finally merged with yours, my bond shifted to you as well. Now, I exist within your mind. You can summon me at will by focusing, as you are doing now."
Ye Xian's eyes widened. "Then how are we connected?"
"We share a soul bond," Sylphia explained. "Because of this, you can speak to me directly whenever you concentrate. My powers are mostly sealed at the moment, since your cultivation is still very low. As you grow stronger, more seals will break, unlocking new abilities."
She paused, her voice becoming more serious.
"Right now, only the first seal has been released. It grants you a technique called Limit Release, which allows you to gather your energy into a single point and unleash it in a powerful burst. As your cultivation rises, the treasure will unlock additional abilities… and perhaps, in doing so, I may also recover my lost memories."
Ye Xian's heart raced. A living treasure spirit, bonded to him and growing alongside him, this was an opportunity beyond imagination.
But Sylphia wasn't finished.
"There is another skill within the Reverse Taiji. It is called Yin and Yang Harmony. If you train with a partner through dual cultivation, your progress will increase dramatically. The stronger your partner, the greater the boost to your strength."
Ye Xian froze. "Dual cultivation...?"
"Yes," Sylphia explained calmly. "This treasure converts your energy into a form that feels comforting and pleasurable to women. When you touch them, their bodies and souls will respond naturally, making dual cultivation easier, more enjoyable, and far more effective for both of you."
Ye Xian was stunned. Not only had he been given a second life, but he also now possessed a heaven-defying treasure capable of accelerating his cultivation through dual cultivation.
The stronger he became, the more seals he could unlock. Each seal would grant him new powers, bringing him closer to the peak.
A faint, confident smile curved his lips.
"I never imagined I'd come back to life with a spirit treasure and a skill like this. I have to make the most of this chance."
He and Sylphia spoke for a while longer, discussing the Reverse Taiji, its techniques, and the world of cultivation. When their conversation ended, Ye Xian slowly exited his inner world.
By now, the sky was dark. He walked toward the city gates, passing through the bustling streets filled with vendors, travelers, and townsfolk.
After walking for as long as it takes a stick of incense to burn, he reached his family's estate. The guards at the gate greeted him out of habit, their tone cold and without respect. Ye Xian paid them no mind. He had endured their contempt for years and no longer cared.
Inside, he headed straight to his room. The moonlight spilled through the window as he lay on his bed, deep in thought.
"Why were there two assassins sent to kill me?" he wondered. "Who gave the order?"
He thought back to every humiliation and attack he had suffered at the hands of Ye Shen over the years. A cold, sharp hatred filled his chest.
"Ye Shen," he muttered darkly. "Soon, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget."
For now, he let it go. There would be a time for vengeance.
As he began to drift toward sleep, a knock sounded at his door.
"Who is it?" he asked, rising to his feet.
When he opened the door, he froze. His second stepmother, Sheng Qianying, stood there in the moonlight.
Both of Ye Xian's stepmothers were sisters from the same clan. Unlike the first, Sheng Qianying had always been gentle and kind to him, treating him as her own son.
Her long, silky black hair flowed down her back, framing a swan-like neck and calm ocean-blue eyes. Her flawless pale skin seemed to glow under the moonlight. The soft white robe she wore clung to her curves, highlighting her full, supple breasts, narrow waist, and wide, shapely hips. Every step she took carried an unspoken grace that made the air feel warmer.
Ye Xian blinked, momentarily distracted by her beauty, before regaining his composure. A faint scent of jasmine drifted from her, filling the room.
"Second Stepmother," he said respectfully, "why are you here so late at night?"
She remained silent, her eyes calm but filled with a subtle relief.
Realizing something was wrong, Ye Xian quickly said, "Please, come inside."
She stepped in without a word and quietly closed the door behind her.
"Did you need something from me, Stepmother?" he asked gently, pulling a chair for her.
As she settled in, Ye Xian turned his back briefly, pretending to adjust something on the bookshelf. At that moment, he secretly activated the Reverse Taiji's hidden ability, the Blissful Ki Technique.
His profound ki shifted within him, transforming into a gentle, alluring energy that seeped into the room. The air grew warmer, subtly affecting Sheng Qianying without her realizing it.
Ye Xian's lips curled into a wicked smile. His thoughts turned dark.
"Now is the time. My first dual cultivation partner... will be you, my beautiful second stepmother."
The night was silent, the moonlight cold, as Ye Xian prepared to begin collecting the first of many debts.