Previous owner of this body was quite a diligent kid his name was Harry. He started cultivating at the age of six and seeing his interest towards cultivation the clan leader saw him as future prodigy.
The thing was not many kids go all in the cultivation from such young age, everyone loves to play around during childhood but this guy was totally mad for cultivation.
While other children were just starting to cultivate he had already crossed body refining realm and reached first stage of Qi replenishment realm.
The first realm was to just prepare everyone to cultivation. In Qi replenishment realm person forms a dantian ready to use Qi and different martial arts.
Many people didn't like that their kids were overshadowed by a side family kid. Though he was backed by clan leader so no one made any move on him.
In his memory he had one name who could be responsible.
'Grand elder'.
He was responsible to provide him with cultivation resources and everything was going smoothly but he needed a body cleaning pill to breakthrough to stage 2.
His fast cultivation had lead impurities to accumulate in his body and it had become a hindrance in his cultivation.
He didn't get a pill from the grand elder but after consuming it all the things lead to this point.
Clan leader himself had investigated the matter but the pill was a rare time and no one inthe clan could make it so it was imported.
And as they couldn't testify anything from the maker because he had a terrifying background. The grand elder shifted the blame to the Alchemist.
And with the time people forgot his presence. He now lives in the outer proximity of the clan's main family.
The clan leader still blamed himself to ruin such talent so he still took pity on him and kept him as part of the main family.
Ash in the body of Harry realised how badly he was fucked. He had no cultivation, no backing, no parents and strongest of the clan member was his enemy.
He couldn't live like this, he wasn't as naive as previous owner. He had seen his share of malignant people and he was nonetheless less.
He looked at the system conquest.
[First Conquest]
[Condition: Stablish a bond with a pure woman.
Reward: Gets Meridian healed
Bonus: Unlock First Bond Skill
Penalty: Soul collapse]
At least he had a cheat. There was a way to heal his meridians back.
He was curious about bond skill but he didn't think this will be anything significant but healing his meridians was the best prize he could get for now. It alone was motivation enough to complete the quest.
Ash went through Harry's memories to lock on a target. He needed to be more precise, finding a pure woman in this world was hard.
He thought of everyone whom he can remember but all of them were out of his league. They were freinds with him before sickness but now none of them spared a glance to him anymore.
His mind stopped at the door opening. Lyria came inside without asking for permission. Hot steamy food in her hands.
Then his eyes sparkled, who could be better than lyria. She had been with him from childhood and cares for her.
He didn't want to be pushy so he needed to take it slow. They had shared many intimate moments together but the Harry had never paid attention to her.
"Let me feed you" Lyria said seeing him wore clothes she comfortably sat beside him.
Her eyes were full of excitement.
"I have made your favourite chicken soup" She said taking a spoon full and putting it in Harry's mouth.
Ash swallowed the soup, savoring not just the warmth but also the effort behind it.
"You've gotten even better at cooking, Lyria," he said suddenly. His voice carried a steadiness that hadn't been there before.
Her hand froze midair, spoon trembling slightly. "Eh? You… never said that before."
Ash chuckled. "Guess I was too blind back then." His eyes softened, lingering on her flushed cheeks. "All this time, you've been taking care of me. Staying when everyone else turned their backs. I should have noticed sooner."
Lyria's heartbeat quickened. She bit her lip, lowering her gaze. Was this really Master Harry? He had always treated her kindly, yes, but distantly—like one treats a servant, not a woman.
She scooped another spoonful. Her trembling hands messes his face.
"Ah! I'm sorry, Master—" She wiped the extra soup with her fingers.
Ash caught her wrist gently. "Don't apologize." His grip was warm but firm, he took her fingers to his mouth eating the soup on her fingers.
Her breath hitched. She looked up, meeting his gaze—and for the first time, she felt it. That fire in his eyes. A confidence she hadn't seen since before his fall.
"…You've changed," she whispered.
"Maybe," Ash admitted with a smirk. "Or maybe I'm just finally seeing clearly."
The silence stretched, filled only by the soft steam rising from the bowl between them. Lyria's cheeks burned hotter than the soup itself.
Harry didn't go overboard and completed the soup.
After finishing the last sip, Harry placed the bowl aside and stretched.
"I've been lying in this room long enough. If I stay still, I'll rot before I even start cultivating again."
Lyria blinked, startled. "Master, you've only just recovered! Shouldn't you rest a little more?"
Harry shook his head. "No. If I keep hiding in here, the clan will forget me completely. I also needs to get my resources for this month.
He wrapped another one, the simple light-blue robe around himself, tying the sash firmly. The cloth was plain, rougher than what he remembered from Harry's memories. Once, he had silk-embroidered robes as a favored junior of the clan leader, now, he wore the garments reserved for everyonr. A clear demotion.
Stepping outside of his small one story house with a kitchen and two bedrooms Ash saw sprawling Silverleaf Clan compound.
Stone pathways wound between training fields, spirit gardens, and wooden pavilions. The clan crest—an etched silver leaf—decorated banners fluttering in the wind.