Xiao Ning's figure stiffened as he turned toward the shadows beyond the cavern. A faint rustling sound had caught his attention.
A moment later, a woman emerged from the darkness, her face illuminated by the flickering light of the spirit lanterns embedded in the stone walls. She held a longsword in her hand, its blade glowing faintly gold. The aura surrounding her was unmistakable—a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Xiao Ning immediately recognized her from Li Feng's memories.
Mei Lin, Li Feng's former Dao companion.
She had already realized that something was wrong with the man standing before her. Her gaze was sharp, and the sword in her hand remained pointed directly at him.
Xiao Ning sighed inwardly. There was little point in pretending.
"You're right. I'm not Li Feng. My name is Xiao Ning, and I've taken possession of this body after my own was destroyed."
Mei Lin remained silent, but the aura surrounding her sword grew stronger.
Xiao Ning could understand her reaction. She had just discovered that the man she knew was no longer the person standing before her. Given their relationship, she was bound to notice the difference.
He had no intention of wasting time on unnecessary lies.
"My physical body was destroyed, and only a fragment of my consciousness survived," he explained calmly.
"Even your soul was destroyed?" Mei Lin asked coldly.
"More or less. What remains of me is little more than consciousness held together by sheer will."
Mei Lin frowned. "I've never heard of anyone surviving in such a state."
Xiao Ning chuckled. "You've reached the Nascent Soul Realm, which is an achievement in itself. But the cultivation world is far larger than you imagine. There are methods beyond the knowledge recorded in the manuals of this continent."
He paused before continuing.
"As for Li Feng, his soul was beyond saving. Nevertheless, I owe him—and you—an explanation."
Mei Lin's expression remained guarded, but her curiosity seemed to outweigh her immediate hostility.
"Then explain."
Xiao Ning straightened slightly.
"In my previous life, I had long since surpassed the Nascent Soul Realm. Someone at your level would have posed little threat to me."
Mei Lin's eyes narrowed.
"You dare mock me? Whatever realm you once reached, you're now inhabiting a damaged body with an injured Nascent Soul. You're no stronger than I am."
"There's no need to get angry. I'm merely stating a fact," Xiao Ning replied indifferently. "This body is weak, but my knowledge remains. If you doubt my words, I can show you something that should put your suspicions to rest."
Mei Lin studied him for a moment.
"Prove it."
Xiao Ning smiled faintly and raised his hand. Golden light flickered above his palm, and a scroll materialized before them.
Ancient symbols covered its surface, each character glowing with a faint golden radiance.
"This is the Everlasting Nine Suns Sutra, a supreme cultivation technique from my previous life. Even cultivators at the Divine Enlightenment Realm would think twice before giving it away."
Mei Lin's expression changed slightly.
She cautiously extended her spiritual sense toward the scroll. The moment it touched the surface, she felt an overwhelming force and immediately withdrew it.
What she had glimpsed was beyond her comprehension: celestial flames, collapsing stars, and blazing suns colliding in an endless cycle of destruction and rebirth.
For the first time, her suspicion gave way to genuine astonishment.
"...What do you want in return?"
Xiao Ning considered her request before answering.
"I'll help you rebuild the Shadowclaw Sect and avenge Li Feng. In return, you must keep my identity a secret. If word gets out, it may attract powerful enemies I'd rather not deal with."
In truth, he cared little about the sect or its revenge. He had his own reasons for agreeing, and besides, with his current situation, he had few other options. For now, cooperating with Mei Lin was the most practical choice.
Mei Lin fell silent.
She already knew that Li Feng's consciousness was beyond recovery. Whatever remained of him, the man she had known was gone.
But if Xiao Ning's claims were true, this unexpected turn of events might be precisely the opportunity she needed.
With an expert like him assisting her, restoring the sect and taking revenge against the Azure Dragon Sect might no longer be impossible.
"Very well," she finally said. "But if you betray me, I'll kill you myself, regardless of what realm you once reached."
Xiao Ning nodded.
"Then let us seal the pact."
He drew upon the remaining spiritual energy within Li Feng's damaged Nascent Soul, condensing it into several golden threads. Mei Lin did the same, allowing her spiritual energy to intertwine with his.
A glowing rune appeared between them.
"I will keep your identity secret, and you will help me restore the Shadowclaw Sect and avenge Li Feng," Mei Lin declared.
"As agreed."
The rune flashed once before separating into two streams of light that entered their bodies, sealing the agreement.
Mei Lin continued studying him. His face was still Li Feng's, complete with the broken nose and scar on his lip, but the person behind those eyes was entirely different.
She then turned her attention to the scroll.
"Is this technique safe for me to cultivate?"
"The Everlasting Nine Suns Sutra can adapt to different cultivators," Xiao Ning explained. "It uses solar essence to refine the dantian through repeated cycles of burning and renewal. It isn't an easy technique, but if you can withstand the process, your cultivation will benefit greatly."
He proceeded to explain its foundational principles, including the breathing cycles, the methods for condensing sunfire, and the mistakes that could damage her cultivation during the early stages.
Mei Lin listened carefully, occasionally asking questions that demonstrated her considerable experience.
By the time Xiao Ning finished, the first rays of dawn had begun filtering into the cavern.
"I need time to stabilize this body," he said. "Its injuries are worse than I expected, and adapting to it won't be easy."
Mei Lin nodded.
"The sect is in turmoil. We'll discuss our next steps once you've recovered."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Xiao Ning watched her leave before finally sitting cross-legged.
He closed his eyes and directed his consciousness inward.
A faint screen appeared before him.
[Name: Li Feng]
[Lifespan: 450 / 567 Years]
[Cultivation: Nascent Soul Realm (Disabled)]
[Spirit Root: Dual Dark and Earth Root (Damaged)]
[Cultivation Techniques: Shadow Leaf True Scripture (Main), Myriad Shadow Thoughts Art, Shadow Teleportation Technique...]