The morning sunlight slowly filled the small apartment.
Lin Tian sat quietly on the floor, his legs crossed as he continued practicing the simple breathing technique he had started earlier. His breathing was steady, calm, and controlled.
Inhale.
Exhale.
A faint thread of spiritual energy drifted through the air and slowly entered his body.
Compared to the powerful cosmic energy he once absorbed in the universe, the energy on Earth was extremely thin. But for someone starting from nothing, even a small amount was valuable.
After several minutes, Lin Tian slowly opened his eyes.
A small warmth lingered in his chest.
The energy he absorbed was tiny, but it had successfully circulated through his meridians once again.
However, something else was happening inside his mind.
A strange pressure had been building since he woke up.
At first it was just a faint feeling, like distant thunder.
But now it was growing stronger.
Lin Tian frowned slightly.
"What is this…"
Before he could finish the thought, a sudden wave of pain exploded inside his head.
"Ah!"
He grabbed his forehead as his vision blurred.
Memories rushed forward like a powerful flood breaking through a dam.
Images flashed rapidly across his mind.
Battles.
Explosions.
Galaxies burning.
His breathing became heavy as he struggled to stay conscious.
More memories appeared.
He saw a young version of himself standing on a training field many years ago.
A stern instructor shouted commands while dozens of warriors practiced combat techniques.
"This is the Human Star Defense Academy," the instructor's voice echoed in his mind.
"From today onward, you will train to protect humanity."
The memory shifted.
Lin Tian saw himself years later, standing proudly in a black battle uniform. Behind him stretched a massive fleet of human warships floating above a distant planet.
He had become a commander.
One of humanity's strongest warriors.
Another memory appeared.
A terrifying alien creature charged toward him across a battlefield filled with burning wreckage.
The monster was enormous, covered in thick armor-like scales.
Lin Tian raised his sword.
The blade glowed with blinding energy.
With one powerful strike, he split the creature in half.
The battlefield erupted with cheers.
But the memories did not stop.
More images appeared.
He saw distant star systems collapsing under the attack of the alien empire.
He saw planets being destroyed.
Cities burning.
Millions of lives lost.
The war had been brutal.
Humanity had fought desperately for survival.
Then came the memory of a turning point.
Lin Tian stood inside a massive training chamber surrounded by powerful energy currents.
An ancient technique scroll floated in front of him.
The title was written in glowing characters.
Star Devouring Technique.
It was one of the most dangerous cultivation methods ever discovered.
A technique that allowed the cultivator to absorb and devour cosmic energy at incredible speed.
But it also carried enormous risk.
If the body could not handle the energy, the cultivator would be destroyed instantly.
Lin Tian remembered the moment clearly.
He had accepted the risk without hesitation.
Because humanity needed stronger warriors.
The memory continued.
Years of cultivation followed.
Endless battles.
Relentless training.
His power had grown rapidly.
He had defeated powerful alien generals.
Destroyed enemy fleets.
His name had become legendary across the human alliance.
But every victory had come with sacrifice.
Friends lost.
Comrades fallen.
Entire planets turned into graveyards.
The memories kept flowing.
Until finally—
The last battle appeared again.
Lin Tian saw the shattered cosmic battlefield.
The endless alien fleet surrounding him.
The cold face of the emperor watching from his throne-like battleship.
He remembered his final attack.
The moment he unleashed the Star Devouring Slash.
The brilliant light that destroyed countless enemy ships.
And finally…
The massive cannon firing directly at him.
The explosion.
The overwhelming pressure.
The moment his body had been completely destroyed.
The memories stopped.
Lin Tian suddenly gasped and fell forward onto the floor.
Cold sweat covered his face.
His heart pounded violently in his chest.
For several seconds he simply lay there, breathing heavily.
Then slowly… he pushed himself up.
His hands were still shaking.
"So it's all real…" he whispered.
Before this moment, his memories had been somewhat blurred, like fragments of a dream.
But now they had returned completely.
Every battle.
Every victory.
Every loss.
They were all perfectly clear.
Lin Tian walked slowly toward the window.
Outside, the city continued its normal life.
People walked along the streets.
Cars moved through traffic.
Shops opened for the day.
No one could imagine the scale of the war he had experienced.
Lin Tian stared silently at the sky.
Beyond the peaceful blue atmosphere lay the endless universe.
And somewhere in that universe…
The alien empire still existed.
The emperor who killed him might still be alive.
A cold determination slowly appeared in Lin Tian's eyes.
"This time… things will be different."
He knew the future dangers.
He knew how powerful the enemy truly was.
But now he also had something valuable.
Knowledge.
In his previous life, he had needed many years to grow strong enough to challenge the empire.
He had made mistakes.
Trusted the wrong allies.
Wasted time on inefficient cultivation methods.
But now he remembered everything.
Every technique.
Every battle strategy.
Every secret location where powerful resources could be found.
This knowledge would allow him to grow faster than ever before.
However, Lin Tian also understood one important problem.
His current body was extremely weak.
Right now he could barely absorb a tiny thread of spiritual energy.
To reach his former level would take a long time.
But Lin Tian was not discouraged.
Instead, he felt motivated.
Because this time…
He could start much earlier.
He looked at his reflection in the window.
The young face staring back at him looked ordinary.
But behind those eyes lived the experience of a cosmic warrior.
Lin Tian clenched his fist slowly.
"I will cultivate again."
"Stronger than before."
"Faster than before."
His mind began forming a plan.
First, he needed to strengthen his body.
Then he needed to open all his blocked meridians.
After that, he could begin practicing the early stages of the Star Devouring Technique again.
Of course, he would need resources.
Energy crystals.
Medicinal herbs.
Special materials to help his cultivation.
Fortunately, he also remembered many hidden locations on Earth where such resources might exist.
Some of them had been discovered much later in his previous life.
But now…
He could find them earlier.
A faint smile appeared on Lin Tian's face.
The future had changed.
He turned away from the window and walked toward the desk.
His eyes fell on a calendar hanging on the wall.
The date caught his attention.
It was several years earlier than the time when the alien empire first appeared in his previous life.
That meant one thing.
Humanity still had time.
Time to prepare.
Time to grow stronger.
And Lin Tian intended to use every moment of it.
He looked up once more at the sky beyond the window.
The stars were invisible in the bright daylight.
But he knew they were still there.
Waiting.
Watching.
Lin Tian's voice was calm but filled with determination.
"In this life…"
"I will stand above the stars."
And deep within his body, the tiny spark of cultivation energy flickered slightly brighter.