"let's talk on these parasites and symbiotes first. Essentially Hou, these are similar to what I am right now. As you can guess, I'm not quite alive still, nor am I dead."
Hou nodded, from the start he suspected Ancestor was something akin to a spirit since he did not have any body that he could see, unless the blood orbs count that is.
"What I am is a collection of will, infused in blood. This is because of my blood technique but take the sun cultivators for example; they tamed natural qi and their will was channeled through the qi. When they died they must've used some technique they created to form their will into a formation that seeks a host. I suspect their plan is to use the hosts body as a way to create new will and somehow regenerate themselves back from the dead, likely however this would slowly cause their souls to weaken; not to mention attracting that other cultivator."
Suddenly, Hou felt dizzy. The gods he once revered and wanted to bring back was actually planning to sacrifice the souls of others to revive themselves. He almost couldn't stay conscious at this revelation but the Ancestor continued,
"You also had a symbiote and a parasite. This would've put a huge burden on your soul so for now I won't let you become a full-fledged cultivator with your own inner world. But I can show you how to 'hijack' the parasites and use their powers as your own"
Hou was dumbstruck this was practically cheating, he could use the other cultivators powers as his own, stand on the shoulders of giants to reach a new peak.
'this is too good, perhaps I could even lend these powers to others, without weakening their soul since I am alive and have will in abundance' Hou thought to himself
"Fu Fu, Hou you are indeed a smart one. Indeed you will be able to create subordinates of your own who can use your own symbiotes."
Hou nodded until he realised he never said what he was thinking "HUH, how did you know I was thinking that?!"
Hou could then feel a chuckling from within him, of course it was Ancestor Yue.
"Since I'm dead and you are my inheritor, my disciple, you could say that I've become a parasite. Using a final technique I created, I fused our two souls partially, but since I am a foreign soul and retain my independence though, you are not yet healed"
Hou was enlightened this was why he could still talk to Yue, but that also meant that Yue could hear all of his inner thoughts. That was too embarrassing for him!
"Don't read my mind too much, I still want my independence master!" Hou almost shouted but then at the last moment directed it inwards transmitting his thoughts directly.
"Okay my disciple, I will only read your thoughts when it is needed, I swear by my name" Yue paused and Hou could feel their feelings, he knew they would follow it.
"You will first leave this place and then we can study those symbiotes. They are an interesting creation, even I wouldn't be able to make them without studying them for a while. They seem to have split their bestowments into types will and qi..." Yue starting rambling to themselves
As Hou listened he started nodding because this is what he had deduced before being transported here. He knew that different divinities had different powers and how they were channeled in a parasite/symbiote was important. What he didn't realise was that 'divinity' was both qi and will. The qi contained a will which gave the qi different abilities. At least that was what Hou gained from listening to Yue's random thoughts while walking.
Hou kept on walking through the cave for days. At some point Yue became silent and the two moved in complete quiet.
After walking for a week straight Hou saw the miasma he had almost missed for decades. He knew this was the start of a new journey. He was no longer a small piece on a boardgame but now a player albeit a weak one, but not for long.
As Hou used his reconstructed body to climb to the crest of a mountain he really saw just how much he changed. He used to be skinny and short but now he had a toned and tall build even the strongest in Sacrarium would have been jealous of. He also felt that the robe which had flew out from the blood palace was not normal either. He could not feel warmth or cold, only pure neutrality. He also did not feel the suffocation of miasma, he seemed to be protected fully.
As he reached the summit he looked upon the board he would rise to greatness from. With his new eyes he could see through miasma as if we're nothing, easily seeing miles away without obstruction. The land was worse than before, he could see less and less human settlement remains. But he didn't lose hope, if humans were good at anything it was surviving no matter what.
Even with the large monsters and hidden dangers, humans wouldn't die so easily. Hou knew of he looked. He will be able to find the souls of his previous companions.
Just as Hou was going to go back down, he sensed something behind him. A tingling came from his spine, a precognition of danger. He rolled on the ground as a flower had sprung onto him, covered with dark miasma.
"Hou this is your first mission, take in this parasite and fight it with your controlled qi. Just like initially take it over using your blood."
Hou felt his heart beating, this was his first fight with this new body and without any special ability. A smile raised and Hou could feel excitment bubbling up from within him. He wanted to fight and he could feel this was his new goal. Fighting. Growing. This was what he wanted to do...