From the highest balcony of the Gu Clan Palace, the city lights spread out below like a fallen sea of stars.
Red, gold, and blue lights filled every street, reflecting off the black tiled rooftops unique to Song Kingdom architecture. Yun Tian stood quietly, looking down at the scene.
Whether he realized it or not, he had already accepted reality. The body he now occupied belonged to Gu Qinghe, the son of the Gu Clan's second wife. A branch member, not part of the main lineage.
In other words, nobody.
And yet, ironically, he had returned to a time even earlier than his previous life.
Regression, transmigration, and body possession all happening at once. Even for someone who had lived for thousands of years, it still felt unreal.
While he was lost in thought, a gentle voice broke the silence.
"It's rare to see you enjoying the night view, Qinghe."
Light footsteps followed. A woman in a gold white gown stepped out from behind a marble pillar.
Her long black hair flowed neatly down her back, adorned with a small crown. The night lights seemed to trail her movements, making her presence stand out effortlessly.
She was Gu Yanxue, the second daughter of the first wife. Her status was far above his.
Yun Tian turned toward her, and the memories he had absorbed from Gu Qinghe surfaced naturally. Yanxue's personality, habits, family ties, cultivation strength, all of it appeared clearly in his mind.
"I got bored staying in the room," he replied briefly.
Yanxue raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I heard there were two women waiting for you inside."
"Yes."
"You're not interested?" she asked with a faint smile, her tone slightly teasing.
Gu Qinghe fell silent for a moment. In the original memories, the owner of this body was infamous for being lustful, foolish, drunk, and emotionally unstable.
An annoying and pitiful young master. If he suddenly acted wise and restrained, it would immediately draw suspicion.
"They can't satisfy me anymore," Yun Tian said with a hint of arrogance, deliberately imitating Gu Qinghe's usual behavior.
"Heeh… is that so."
"Ordinary women get boring quickly. You should try seriously pursuing cultivators. They can offer more than simple pleasure."
Women…
In my previous life, I practiced dual cultivation countless times. But the road to immortality ultimately demanded solitude.
After thousands of years alone, this body is not worth indulging in such low level desires.
"I'll think about it later," he said calmly.
Yanxue nodded, but her gaze lingered on Qinghe. Something about him felt subtly different. More composed and more restrained.
"Father has ordered us to attend the Royal Palace Hall tomorrow," Yanxue said.
"The elders from various sects and clans will conduct a summoning ritual."
"A summoning ritual?" Gu Qinghe repeated softly.
He knew that ritual. He had even witnessed its outcome in the future before his regression.
A ritual that summoned people from another world, often from Earth. Those individuals were chosen based on certain qualifications that locals did not possess.
Could it be… my companions will be summoned again?
The thought caused his heartbeat to speed up slightly.
Yanxue continued, unaware of the subtle change in Yun Tian's expression.
The summoning ritual was meant to strengthen the Song Kingdom. Those summoned would become key forces in future conflicts.
"Elder Brother Yanxing is currently exploring a treasure cave, so only the two of us will attend as representatives of the clan," Yanxue added.
After that, Yanxue took her leave. Her gown fluttered lightly as she disappeared beyond the palace gates.
Yun Tian remained where he was. Gu Sheng City was beautiful, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
He was thinking about the future. If the ritual truly summoned people from Earth, he might meet familiar faces who had once fought alongside him.
If everything repeats… I cannot make the same mistake again.
After a while, Gu Qinghe turned around and returned to his room.
Inside, two lightly dressed women were entertaining each other, waiting for orders as they had on countless previous days.
Gu Qinghe, or rather Yun Tian, almost laughed.
This body carried powerful impulses and deeply ingrained bad habits, constantly pressing against his mind.
But Yun Tian suppressed them. Such low desires were unworthy of someone who had once stood at the peak of the heavens.
"Leave," he said flatly.
"But Young Master—"
"Leave before I kill you," he snapped, a surge of qi leaking out unconsciously.
The two women turned pale and fled at once.
The room fell silent. Yun Tian locked the door, sat cross legged on the wooden altar, and took a slow, deep breath.
Golden light gradually emerged from his body.
His consciousness sank into his dantian.
There, Gu Qinghe's original soul lay dormant. Fragile, faint, and completely unaware that his body had already been taken.
Yun Tian could not allow two souls to coexist in one body. That path led only to destruction.
He formed ancient hand seals and struck down Gu Qinghe's soul barrier.
Cracks spread.
The barrier shattered.
Gu Qinghe's soul awoke with an enraged scream.
"WHO ARE YOU?!"
"I am Yun Tiansheng. The one who owns this body now."
"No! You can't—AAARGH!"
The scream turned shrill as red light shot from Yun Tian's hand and pierced the soul's forehead. Gu Qinghe's soul body cracked like glass smashed by a heavy hammer.
BLAST!
Gu Qinghe's soul shattered into countless fragments. Its essence surged toward Yun Tian and was absorbed completely.
Childhood memories, teenage years, foolish actions, shameful moments…
All of it merged into one.
Why did my primordial soul choose a body like this? Of all people, why Gu Qinghe, this pathetic existence?
That thought vanished the moment the qi within his body surged violently.
[Congratulations. You have broken through.]
[Cultivation: Mid Foundation Establishment]
[Qi: 20,000 / 40,000]
[Do you wish to activate automatic attribute enhancement?]
He agreed without hesitation.
This system is convenient, but dangerous. Absorbing too many souls would damage my own, eventually turning me demonic.
When the process ended, this body was no longer Gu Qinghe.
It was Yun Tiansheng, once at the peak of the heavens, now reborn for a second life.
With thousands of years of experience and mastery over techniques, pills, formations, and history, he knew the path to the peak would be far smoother this time.
He stood up. A new aura spread from his body, calm yet sharp, like an ancient blade.
There were things he had to do. Enemies he had to kill. Powers beyond the stars he had to challenge.
"I, Gu Qinghe, swear from this moment on to walk a dao that defies the heavens."
"Anyone who dares to stand in my way… will die."