Reborn in Lingxi

Chapter 1: Soul Travel to Lingxi

In the world shrouded by the brilliant technological radiance of Blue Star, Ye Lingyun was undoubtedly one of the most dazzling existences. He was a genius in the scientific community, having achieved world-renowned success in multiple cutting-edge scientific fields at a young age. Especially in the cross-disciplinary research of quantum energy and consciousness science, his theories and experimental results led the entire scientific field toward a completely new, unknown realm.

That was a seemingly ordinary yet destined extraordinary day. As usual, Ye Lingyun devoted himself entirely to a crucial, top-secret energy experiment. In the laboratory, various high-tech instruments flashed with mysterious and faint lights, and complex circuits and pipelines intertwined, as if constructing the embryonic form of a future world. Wearing a pristine white lab coat, Ye Lingyun stared with focused eyes at the huge energy reaction device in the center, inside which an energy storm of the microscopic world was taking place-an experiment on the deep fusion and transformation of quantum energy.

As the experiment progressed, the energy readings began to show abnormal fluctuations. The data, which had originally been climbing steadily according to the theoretical model, suddenly lost control like a wild horse breaking its reins. With his brows furrowed tightly, Ye Lingyun quickly inputted a series of instructions on the operation console in an attempt to stabilize the energy reaction. However, everything seemed to be too late as a strong, blindingly dazzling, mysterious energy storm centered on the device erupted instantly. The light was so bright that it was impossible to look at directly, as if it were about to swallow everything around it into endless radiance.

At the instant the storm raged, Ye Lingyun only felt a force so powerful that it was impossible to resist wrapping tightly around him, his consciousness gradually dissipating at that moment like a flickering candle in the wind. When he recovered a trace of consciousness once more, he only felt a splitting headache, as if ten thousand needles were piercing his brain simultaneously. Noisy sounds drifted into his ears-some of cold ridicule, some of disdainful discussion-as if a group of ghosts were whispering beside him.

"Just him wanting to awaken a Martial Soul? Don't dream, he's simply the shame of the Ye Family!"

"Indeed, a collateral-branch good-for-nothing who still hogs the family's cultivation resources. They really ought to drive him out!"

Struggling to open his heavy eyelids, Ye Lingyun found the scene before him leaving him in a daze. He was situated in a quaint and slightly dilapidated courtyard, surrounded by a group of people in ancient attire with varied expressions. Some wore mocking looks, while others were full of disdain; their gazes were all focused on this "himself" lying on the ground. A sudden shock jolted through his heart, and he subconsciously lowered his head to check, only to discover that his body had become so small and slender, clearly the appearance of a child.

Before he could completely figure out the situation, strands of unfamiliar and chaotic memories surged into his mind like a tide. Only then did he understand that he had actually traveled across to the Lingxi Continent, possessing a collateral-branch member of the Ye Family who shared his name. This Lingxi Continent was a world that respected Martial Soul cultivation above all else. On this continent, whether a Martial Soul was powerful or not directly determined a person's status and destiny. Those who possessed powerful Martial Souls could split mountains and shatter rocks, traverse the skies in flight, win the reverence of others, and command endless resources and power; whereas those with weak Martial Souls or those unable to awaken a Martial Soul could only struggle bitterly at the bottom of society, enduring endless bullying and cold gazes.

The original owner, Ye Lingyun, was born from a collateral branch to begin with, and his status was humble. At the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony, he had suffered an even more devastating blow-the failure of his Martial Soul Awakening. This result caused his status in the Ye Family to plummet, reducing him to good-for-nothing status in the eyes of everyone, where he endured the cold mockery, bullying, and beatings of his clansmen on ordinary days.

Slowly standing up from the ground, Ye Lingyun still heard the mocking sounds of the surrounding clansmen lingering unceasingly. But at this moment, the cowardice and inferiority of the original owner were gone from his gaze; they were replaced by a world-weary composure and calmness, along with the steadfastness and resoluteness to face unknown challenges. He secretly vowed in his heart that since he had come, he would make the best of it. Since heaven had given him a chance to start over anew in this world, he was determined to rely on his own wisdom and effort to carve out a brilliant world of his own in this Lingxi Continent where Martial Souls reigned supreme.

"Hmph, look at that feigned calmness of his. Could he actually turn things around?" sneered a plump Ye Lingyun clansman with a fierce expression. This person was named Ye Biao, and he loved bullying the original owner Ye Lingyun most on ordinary days, running amok among the younger generation of the Ye Family by relying on his position as the nephew of a minor steward in the Ye Family.

Lifting his head slowly, Ye Lingyun shot a lightning-like gaze at Ye Biao and said coldly, "Whether a salted fish can turn over is not something a shortsighted rat like you can judge. Today's humiliation-I, Ye Lingyun, have recorded it, and I will surely return it another day." His voice was not loud, yet it carried an unquestionable majesty, as if possessing an invisible force that caused the surrounding mocking laughter to instantly subside somewhat.

Ye Biao was startled by Ye Lingyun's gaze and words, but quickly recovered and roared in embarrassed anger, "You little bastard, you still dare to run your mouth! Today I'll let you know that in the Ye Family, a waste like you will never turn things around!" As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and, waving his fat fist, charged toward Ye Lingyun.

Watching Ye Biao charge over, the corners of Ye Lingyun's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a trace of a disdainful smile. Although his current child's body was extremely weak, as a top scientist in his past life, he possessed agile thinking and responsive abilities far exceeding ordinary people. At the exact instant Ye Biao's fist was about to smash into his face, Ye Lingyun flashed his figure, cleverly dodging sideways. At the same time, targeting the opening revealed because Ye Biao used excessive force, he raised his knee and slammed it fiercely into Ye Biao's stomach.

"Ah!" Ye Biao let out a painful, miserable scream, his entire person collapsing like a deflated ball as he clutched his stomach and squatted on the ground. His face turned flushed red, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolled down from his forehead. Seeing this, the surrounding clansmen opened their mouths wide in astonishment; never had they imagined that the usually timid Ye Lingyun would actually dare to fight back, and moreover easily dodge Ye Biao's attack and counterattack successfully.

"You... you actually dare to hit me! Do you know who my uncle is?" Ye Biao groaned in agony while fiercely issuing threats.

Looking down at Ye Biao from above, Ye Lingyun said coldly, "I don't care who your uncle is. In this world, strength is everything. Today I'm telling you this: don't think I, Ye Lingyun, am still that same good-for-nothing you can bully as you please. If there is a next time, bear the consequences." Having said that, he ignored Ye Biao entirely, turned around, and walked toward the direction of the Ye Family Library. He knew that if he wanted to become strong in this world, he must first understand the world's Martial Soul cultivation system, and the Ye Family Library was undoubtedly his best choice for acquiring knowledge.

The Ye Family Library was situated in the northwest corner of the Ye Family estate, standing as a quaint and solemn structure. Built from huge bluestones, it had weathered the baptism of time, its surface already covered with mottled traces, yet it still emanated a mysterious and profound aura. The library was divided into three floors. The first floor housed the Ye Family's foundational cultivation techniques, books on the history and humanities of the Lingxi Continent, and was open to all Ye Family members. The second floor collected some middle-tier martial art secret manuals, insights on Martial Soul strengthening, and similar materials; only core members of the Ye Family or those with outstanding contributions to the family were qualified to enter. As for the third floor, legend had it that inside were kept the supreme treasures of the Ye Family-top-tier Martial Soul cultivation secret manuals and some mysterious records related to ancient Martial Souls-yet the conditions for entering the third floor were extremely harsh, and apart from successive heads of the Ye Family, almost no one could set foot there.

Arriving before the library, Ye Lingyun took a deep breath, lifted his foot, and walked inside. A faint bookish fragrance permeated the interior, where rows of tall bookshelves were neatly arranged, filled to the brim with all kinds of books and bamboo slips. Ye Lingyun walked straight toward the innermost corner, where books concerning the foundational theories of Martial Soul cultivation were kept. He knew that to build a tall building, one must first lay a solid foundation; only by gaining a deep understanding of the foundational theories of Martial Soul cultivation could he find a path of cultivation suited to himself.

Picking up a book titled Martial Soul Origin Theory, he sat at a desk nearby and began to read it attentively. The book detailed the origin, classification, awakening principles of Martial Souls, and their relationship with the human body's meridians and spiritual power. The more Ye Lingyun read, the more engrossed he became; the super-strong learning and analytical abilities cultivated as a scientist in his past life were brought into full play at this moment. While reading, he constructed a knowledge framework concerning Martial Soul cultivation in his mind, continuously comparing and integrating it with his existing cognition.

As his reading deepened, Ye Lingyun discovered that although the Martial Soul cultivation system of the Lingxi Continent had differences as vast as earth and heaven compared to the scientific theories he had studied in his past life, there were astonishing similarities in certain deep-seated principles. For instance, the awakening of a Martial Soul required stimulating the potential energy of the human body, which shared the same miraculous effect as the theory in quantum energetics concerning stimulating the potential energy of microscopic particles; furthermore, the fusion and manipulation of Martial Souls and spiritual power resembled the energy conversion and control technology he had researched in his past life.

Perhaps I can combine the scientific thinking of my past life with the Martial Soul cultivation of this world, and forge a unique path of cultivation, Ye Lingyun pondered secretly in his heart, his gaze flashing with excited radiance. He seemed to see a sliver of dawn in the darkness, and a unique path leading to strength was gradually unfolding before his eyes.

Unnoticeably, the sky had grown late, and the light inside the library had gradually dimmed. Closing the book, Ye Lingyun stood up and stretched his somewhat stiff body. Although today had only been a preliminary understanding of the foundational knowledge of Martial Soul cultivation, he had already reaped a rich harvest, and his heart held some preliminary plans concerning future cultivation.

On his way back to his dwelling, Ye Lingyun recalled everything that had happened today, feeling a myriad of emotions stirring in his chest. From a top scientist of Blue Star to a good-for-nothing of the Ye Family on the Lingxi Continent, this huge disparity did not make him feel depressed; instead, it ignited the fighting spirit deep within his heart. He knew that the road ahead would inevitably be fraught with hardships and challenges, but he felt not the slightest fear. For he firmly believed that with his own wisdom and perseverance, he would certainly awaken a powerful Martial Soul in this unfamiliar world and become an existence that stood at the pinnacle, looking down upon all living beings. And this was merely the beginning of his legendary journey...