Wudi sat on the exquisite bed and surveyed the room. Although it was fancy enough to fit a prince, it was rather bland. The space was adorned in opulent reds and golds, with symbols of five-clawed dragons deeply embedded into the wooden doors. It was clearly a room meant for royalty.
As he processed the details of his situation, he began to laugh uncontrollably, his face contorting into a bizarre mix of laughter and tears. He wasn't sure how it was all cosmically possible. Now, with the knowledge of this cultivation world rushing back, he realized he had been born with a natural Dao Bone. Dao Bones were extremely rare, but they certainly did not grant godhood.
It turned out that the mystical, warm sensation people felt on Earth whenever he touched them was just spiritual Qi leaking from his body, and the natural resonance of the Dao emanating from his hand. The truth was outlandish and completely absurd, and he couldn't help but feel a sudden wave of bitterness.
He remembered everything now. To think he had actually believed he was a divine being! Despite any negative connotations, Wudi really had believed in his mission on Earth. But the memories of his life in this world just made him feel stupid. On Earth, he had at least been hyper-aware of his dramatic flair, treating the cringe as a necessary part of his divine image. In this world, however, he had just been cringy all around. His memories as a young master were filled with arrogant, self-aggrandizing boasts. Having been handed everything on a silver platter, he was the quintessential "Heaven's Chosen". This sudden merger of his two existences was a clash of ultimate cringe; he absolutely despised how he looked on both ends of reality.
Looking down at his palm, a flurry of questions hit him. How did my Dao Bone's power manifest on Earth? To think cultivation is actually real... Perhaps because he had just spent an entire lifetime experiencing Earth, he felt like most of his core logic and thoughts stemmed from his modern side. How was a person even supposed to mentally balance a second life questioning the literal existence of the first?
Staring closer at his hand, Wudi realized he could feel a foreign, crackling energy. The tribulation lightning is still in my hand, but it doesn't seem to be killing me.
Testing the properties of the residual lightning, Wudi made a decision that would be considered utter madness in the eyes of any other cultivator. Anyone else who felt that this lightning wasn't actively harming them would immediately refine it into their core.
Hesitating no longer, Wudi actively forced the lightning out of his hand and completely dispersed the leftover heavenly Qi into the air. He hadn't refined a single drop of the lightning to become physically stronger, but he had gained something much more valuable: insight. Besides, he had no intention of relying on heavenly power anymore. After all, the heavens had literally tried to murder him twice now. Cultivating that energy felt like a trap.
Clenching his fist, he muttered, "This is the path." He then strode confidently toward the exit.
Stepping through the doors, Tian Wudi was greeted by an exquisite marble hallway. One side connected to the grand fence surrounding his courtyard, while the other featured towering pillars supporting a massive roof that spanned the length of the grounds. Vibrant light from the distant sunset spilled between each pillar, illuminating the open-air center of the courtyard.
As he walked down the hall, admiring the view, he caught sight of a sudden silhouette.
"Father," Wudi blurted out.
The silhouette moved instantly. The man grabbed Wudi's hand, closing his eyes to inspect his son's meridians, only to frown deeply after a long pause. "There is no heavenly Qi..."
Wudi smirked. "I dispersed it."
Looking completely gobsmacked, Wudi's father nearly fainted on the spot. "D-dispersed it?!"
Wudi knew this man well from his restored memories. Across both of his lifetimes, this was the only person he could truly consider a father. The Patriarch of the Tian Clan was a man completely unperturbed by the chaotic laws of the world. Seeing his face twist into a chaotic mixture of raw shock and utter incredulity was highly satisfying.
"Well, I did almost die to it," Wudi reasoned casually. "Plus, it's not my own power."
His father shook his head deeply, staring at his son as if he had grown a second head. "Wudi... do you think the Qi you absorb is your power? That heavenly lightning comes in a destructive form that can kill just about anything, but once it settles, it becomes a peerless cultivating panacea! You..."
The grand Patriarch simply stopped mid-sentence and sighed, turning away. "I am just glad you are okay."
With a slight shimmer in the air, his visage faded, and he disappeared from the hallway instantly.
Maybe I went about this completely wrong...
Thoughts spun wildly in Wudi's head as he tried to grasp the sheer scope of his new reality. The sudden realization hit him: he had just casually tossed away a legendary, once-in-a-lifetime heavenly opportunity out of pure, stubborn spite. He winced internally, but quickly shook his head to clear the regret. No, look on the bright side. At least I'm alive. In this world or the last, that's more than enough to be grateful for.
The open-air hallway finally came to an end, leading him into a different wing of the grand courtyard—the estate kitchens. The moment he stepped through the threshold, an intoxicating, mouth-watering aroma washed over him. An elderly man stood over a massive, steaming cauldron of soup, carefully tossing in a handful of glowing spiritual spices.
Turning around to grab another ingredient, the old man froze.
"Good evening, Young Master! I certainly didn't expect to see you out of bed so soon." Old Li's eyes went wide with shock. He knew better than anyone that the Young Master had been in a deep, death-like coma for several days after being blasted by literal tribulation lightning.
"You look a bit disappointed, Old Li. Should I have stayed sick?" Wudi let out a slightly awkward laugh, still getting used to his dual identities.
"Absolutely not, Young Master! I am merely... profoundly astonished," Old Li stammered, quickly bowing.
As a seasoned cultivator himself, Old Li understood the brutal laws of nature. The exact moment he had heard Wudi was struck by the raw wrath of the heavens, he had already mentally prepared a funeral arrangement. Frankly, he wasn't the only one in the Tian Clan who had been secretly measuring the arrogant young master for a coffin.
Smiling faintly, Wudi was about to respond when he heard a loud bang and swift footsteps.