Luo Zheng thought, "Cloud path — I never read any novel where the main protagonist had this path. It was disappointing. While other protagonists got water, fire, yang, star or similar inheritances, I got the Cloud Path. But this old man said he had reached the 7th stage in cultivation when he was alive. I don't get it. According to the main Luo Zheng memory, he only knew about the 6th stage, which was called Immortal Ascension. Is there any higher realm? Is this person from there and left his inheritance in this world? Maybe this was just a small world, and the upper world should be the Immortal World."
He took the pendant and, one last time, greeted the spiritual figure. He thought, "It would have been better if I had reincarnated in a world similar to the novels I read. But misfortune followed me — I don't have that. Still, I am not sure. First I will get out from here."
As he prepared to step back, the figure said, "You are just a mortal. You do not know much about cultivation."
Luo Zheng thought, "This will have some consciousness. I thought it was just like a tape recorder, but I must focus — this is a cultivation world where everything was possible."
Luo Zheng did not get a system to tell him where he had been reincarnated. He had even been reborn into a body that had jumped from the mountain edge. He lay in a pit and searched for a way out. He did not know that he had been reborn in a world similar to the Martial Peak novel. The original Luo Zheng had only been a mortal and had been thrown out by his clan because of a weak constitution. He had not lived where strong cultivators gathered. In short, he still remained in a place where most people were mortals who could not break through to Initial Stage. Even the most powerful within ten thousand li were only at Separation and Reunion stage.
As a mere mortal and a simple clan member, he knew little about the larger cultivation world.
The figure said, "I will give you some cultivation guidance that will help you reach higher stages."
As the figure spoke, he placed a finger on Luo Zheng's head and said, "This is my Qi Gathering Technique; it is heaven-grade." He transferred more cultivation knowledge into Luo Zheng's mind.
Luo Zheng — who had been completely ignorant about such things — received a flood of new information. He was shocked when he learned the names of every realm of cultivation and finally understood the true name of this world.
Tong Xuan Realm.
A place where Yang Kai had spent ten years — how could he forget it? In that moment Luo Zheng realized he had been reborn in a world similar to the novel he had already read. It felt like fate had made a path for him. Yet many questions remained.
He thought, "I am reincarnated in a place whose history I already know. But why have I been reincarnated here? I still do not have a guiding system."
He shrugged the thought away. "Forget it. Who cares. Now that I am here, my goal will be to gain strength and lengthen my life through cultivation."
He showed his gratitude toward the figure. The figure then dispersed into the air.
Luo Zheng thought, "Now I have better cultivation and martial methods. If that person's words were true, I could reach his level in thirty years. That was not too long. He had achieved his level after seventy years of hard cultivation. I needed forty fewer years, and with that cultivation I could live about two hundred years. But that still was not much. If Yang Kai had not been born, I would have tried to use his fortune to advance my cultivation."
He scanned the surrounding area. Because of the crack, he could climb out of the pit easily. The crack had formed not as a smooth split but with small notches and stone ledges that made climbing possible.
Luo Zheng did not delay. He climbed out at once.
Outside the pit, he climbed up and began walking toward the place where the original Luo Zheng had lived.
Outside the mountain range
Tai Chi City
Three disciples of the Water Spirit Pavilion had arrived. Their gazes fixed on the mountain. They were three in number. The youngest, Chen Longwei, said, "Senior brothers, we have arrived. In this mountain deep down a 7th stage cultivator's inheritance is hidden. If we get it, our next cultivation journey will be smooth."
Another, also named Chen Longwei in the memory, spoke with surprise. "Why would a 7th stage cultivator hide his inheritance in a place like this? There is almost no danger here. What if a normal mortal finds the inheritance? That would be a waste."
Zhao Mingxuan, the eldest among them, said, "Do not waste time here. We should return to the sect after we secure this inheritance. We are already late."
Zhao Mingxuan thought inwardly, "Almost there. Li Tianchen — a great lone cultivator. Now your inheritance will be mine."
He did not know that the inheritance he desired had already been taken by Luo Zheng.
They entered the mountain at the same time Luo Zheng passed by them. They did not notice that this poor-looking mortal had the very thing they sought.
Luo Zheng wasted no time. He decided to return to his small hut first. The pursuers who had chased him for the stolen pill had not seen his face, so he had no immediate worry.
Luo Zheng's house was a small, abandoned hut near the city. The mountain lay to the west of the city, but his hut stood in the north. The clan had not been cruel enough to kill him; they had left him a small hut and some spirit stones so he could survive.
He thought, "The original Luo Zheng did not hold much hatred toward his clan. He was righteous. He did not seek revenge. He did not know the real truth: his weak constitution was not natural. Some clan members had slowly poisoned him, making his body weak. I found this in his memories. He had ignored the day he drank tea with his uncle. He did not understand the uncle's sweet words nor notice his body growing weak day by day because of the poison's effects."