Li Tianhan, the third incarnation of the soul once known as Han Feng, regained his memories at nine years old.
His current status was the Thirteenth Prince of the Azure Empire. On paper, it was a position of supreme nobility, but the reality was a grim shadow of that promise. He was the child of a palace maid, the result of a night where the Emperor had succumbed to a drunken lack of restraint.
The side palace he occupied was a ruin. The cracked walls and rotting timber felt like a different world compared to the shimmering gold of the central courts. The servants bringing his meals were always late, arriving only when the dining hour had passed. The contents of the box were invariably cold and frequently carried a sharp, spoiled odor.
"Thirteenth Highness, here is your food."
The eunuch dropped the wooden box onto the table with a loud bang, his face twisted in a look of blatant disgust. Li Tianhan showed no emotion as he picked up his chopsticks and moved the clumped, cold rice around in his bowl.
He had attempted to stand up for himself in the past. However, a young prince with a reputation for having a "Naturally Useless Body" held less value than the dirt under a servant's fingernails.
The high pitched laughter of children dressed in expensive silks echoed from the courtyard outside.
"Look at that, the little disappointment is eating scraps again." "Quiet. Don't let Father know we even stepped foot in such a cursed place."
Li Tianhan acted as if he hadn't heard them. Beneath his hollow stare lived an adult soul that was chillingly composed.
This makes no sense.
That single thought dominated his mind. When his second life ended, he had invested nearly all his Reincarnation Points into Family Background and Aptitude. Being a prince of the Azure Empire should have been a top tier starting point. Why was his life following such a miserable script?
His body was an even bigger mystery. Since regaining his memories, he had tried to cultivate every day. Yet, the spiritual energy he pulled into his veins was like a drop of water falling into an endless abyss. It disappeared instantly without leaving a single trace. This was the exact opposite of what his maxed out Aptitude should feel like.
What was the missing piece of this puzzle?
Later that day, the Seventh Prince and a group of eunuchs burst into the dilapidated palace with an arrogant air.
"Little brother, I heard you spent a few days making a wooden doll? Hand it over so I can see your craftsmanship." The Seventh Prince wore a cruel, mocking grin.
Li Tianhan tightened his grip on the carving hidden behind his back. It was a small figure of his daughter, Yue'er, shaped entirely from his memories of her.
"Are you ignoring me?"
The Seventh Prince laughed coldly and nodded to the eunuchs. Two men grabbed Li Tianhan and forced him down onto the floor. The carving slipped from his hand and rolled across the stone. The Seventh Prince walked over and crushed the wooden figure under his heavy boot.
The sound of the wood snapping was the only thing Li Tianhan could hear.
A terrifying rage surged from the bottom of his soul like a breaking dam. In that moment, a thunderous roar filled his ears and time itself seemed to freeze. His mind was pulled deep into the center of his own being.
Within his dantian, he finally found the answer.
A tiny, glowing golden vortex was spinning slowly. All the spiritual energy he had tried to gather was being consumed and refined by this vortex, converted into the most concentrated energy possible to feed its growth.
Li Tianhan was stunned. A second later, a wave of pure euphoria hit him.
Innate Spirit Body.
He possessed the legendary Innate Spirit Body that appeared only once in a million years. He wasn't unable to cultivate; rather, his starting point was so high that his body refused to settle for anything less than perfection. This spiritual body was still in its gestation phase, instinctively eating all energy to prepare itself. Once it was fully formed, his cultivation speed would be incomparable to anyone else in existence.
"So that's the secret! That's why!"
Li Tianhan laughed silently in his mind. He pushed himself up from the cold floor and looked at the Seventh Prince's sneer. For the first time, the blankness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a look of pity, as if he were observing a performing monkey.
This mockery meant nothing now. He just had to wait.
Armed with the patience of a predator, Li Tianhan began to dig into the mystery of his death at Sunset Ridge. He couldn't ask questions openly; for a nine year old boy, having such knowledge would be a death sentence.
He turned to Elder Wei, the only aging eunuch who treated him with any kindness. Elder Wei had been helped by Li Tianhan's mother years ago, so he would often sneak the boy a few warm buns.
"Grandpa Wei, can you tell me some war stories? I want to hear about how the Duke of the North was defeated!" Li Tianhan grabbed the old man's sleeve, sounding like a curious, innocent child.
Elder Wei sighed and patted the boy's head. "Well, if you really want to know, I suppose I can tell you."
The version Elder Wei told was the propaganda of the Azure Empire. He spoke of the brilliant Marshal of the Fifth Legion, Wei Yan, and how he was wise enough to spot the treachery of his own general, Li Ye. According to the story, Wei Yan outsmarted the traitor and saved the empire.
Li Tianhan looked up with wide, admiring eyes. "Wow! Marshal Wei is a real hero!"
His hands were tucked into his sleeves, his nails drawing blood from his palms. When the story ended, Li Tianhan gave the old man's arm a gentle tug.
"Grandpa Wei, what happened to that traitor Li Ye's family?"
Elder Wei didn't blink as he answered. "The traitor's kin? They were all put to the sword. Their heads were displayed at the gates of Azure Creek City for days to show the world what happens to rebels."
Li Tianhan felt as if his mind had been struck by lightning.
Vivid memories flashed before him: Su Qingxue's tearful goodbye, and the weight of his children clinging to his legs. Those beautiful memories were now being used to tear his soul apart. He fought with everything he had to keep his expression from cracking.
He managed a small, fake smile and tried one last time. "I heard other generals tried to help him?"
"A tragic waste," Elder Wei said, shaking his head. "That was General Lin Xue of the Third Legion. She was a genius, almost at the Spirit Tempering Realm. Sadly, she was lured into a trap by that traitor Li Ye and died at Sunset Ridge."
Li Tianhan's body shook with a violent tremor. Lin Xue hadn't made it out either.
The sun set and night took over.
Li Tianhan stood alone by his broken window. The cold moon illuminated his young face, leaving half of it buried in darkness. The grief and fury in his heart didn't explode; they settled into a deadly, freezing calm.
In a whisper that barely disturbed the air, he spoke their names.
"Su Qingxue... Tian'er... Yue'er..." "Lin Xue..."
With every name, the desire for blood in his heart grew more focused. Finally, he stared at the dark sky, imagining the face of the Marshal who lived in luxury while his family rotted in the dirt.
He hissed out the name through his teeth.
"Wei... Yan!"