Ethan sat in stunned silence, He wasn't just in another place—he was in another body, in another world. The memories in his head—both his own and those of the previous Ethan Cross—collided. This was his new reality.
A sect. Disciples. Strength.
The previous Ethan had struggled, barely surviving in the outer sect. He had no powerful background, no extraordinary talent. Just a boy who had clawed his way into the Azure Sky Sect's outer ranks, only to be brutally beaten down by those stronger than him.
And now, Ethan had inherited that life.
He forced himself to move, wincing as his ribs protested. He needed information. If he was going to survive, he couldn't afford to be ignorant.
The small hut was sparse, he slowly made his way to a chipped mirror leaning against the wall. He hesitated before picking it up.
The reflection that stared back at him wasn't entirely unfamiliar. His face still had remnants of his old self—sharp jawline, sharp eyes—but there were differences. His skin was tanner, his hair longer and darker. His body, though lean, had wiry strength beneath the bruises. The old Ethan had trained hard, even if he had never truly excelled.
Ethan set the mirror down with a deep breath.
"Alright. I need a plan," he thought.
If the old Ethan had struggled, then the new Ethan couldn't afford to make the same mistakes. He needed to get stronger, fast. The sect clearly followed the law of the jungle—the weak were trampled, and the strong thrived.
But how did cultivation even work? The term itself was foreign to him, but the pieces of the old Ethan's memories gave him a vague idea—martial techniques, internal energy, breakthroughs. The problem? The old Ethan had been stuck at the lowest level of cultivation, unable to progress.
A creak at the door made him turn.
The boy whose name was Jarin stepped inside, carrying a bowl of steaming porridge. He looked surprised but relieved.
"You're up? I thought you'd be out for another day."
Ethan pushed himself forward, his body still sore, but he ignored it. He walked over to the small wooden stool near the table, where Jarin set the bowl down.
"I'm tougher than I look," Ethan said with a faint smirk.
Jarin snorted. "Eat. You'll need your strength."
Ethan picked up the bowl, letting the warmth seep into his hands as the steam curled up to his face. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Tell me about the sect."
Jarin gave him a sharp look. "You really don't remember?"
Ethan shrugged. "Humor me."
Jarin sighed, rubbing his temple. "Fine. The Azure Sky Sect is one of the four great sects in the empire. It's divided into three ranks—outer sect, inner sect, and core disciples. We're in the outer sect, the lowest level. We handle chores, get the bare minimum of resources, and have to fight for every opportunity. Only those who prove themselves can advance to the inner sect, where real cultivation resources begin."
Ethan absorbed the information, nodding. "And cultivation itself?"
Jarin shot him a wary glance. "You really hit your head hard."
"Just explain."
Jarin exhaled. "Cultivation is the path of strength—refining the body, mind, and soul through spiritual energy. There are multiple realms, each one a threshold of power. First, there's the Body Refinement Realm, where we temper our physique to withstand spiritual energy. Then, Qi Condensation, where we absorb and manipulate spiritual energy within ourselves. After that comes Foundation Establishment, where a true cultivator's strength begins."
Ethan listened intently as Jarin continued. "Higher realms like Core Formation and Nascent Soul turn you into a powerhouse. The old monsters in the sect? They're at the Soul Ascension stage or beyond. They could destroy mountains with a flick of their fingers."
Ethan exhaled. So it was that kind of world. Strength ruled everything.
Jarin hesitated before adding, "You always struggled. Your talent… it wasn't the best. That's why those bastards took their shot at you."
Ethan clenched his jaw. That was the old Ethan. He wasn't going to let history repeat itself.
"What's the first step?" he asked.
Jarin blinked. "What?"
"If I want to cultivate. What do I need?"
Jarin hesitated. "First, you need a cultivation method—a technique to absorb and refine spiritual energy. Everyone in the sect is given a basic one when they enter, but…" His expression darkened. "Yours was destroyed when they beat you up. Without it, you can't cultivate."
Ethan's grip tightened around the bowl. "And without it?"
"You're stuck."
A fire ignited in Ethan's chest. No. He refused to accept that.
Jarin scratched his head. "There's… one way. But it's risky."
Ethan leaned forward. "Tell me."
Jarin sighed. "The sect library. Outer disciples aren't allowed to take manuals freely, but if you sneak in… you might find something."
Ethan's mind raced. It was dangerous, but he didn't have a choice.
He set the bowl down, determination burning in his eyes. "Then I'll do it."
Jarin stared at him. "You just woke up from a coma, and now you want to risk getting caught stealing a manual?"
Ethan smirked. "You said it yourself. I can't afford to be weak."
Jarin groaned, rubbing his face. "You're insane."
Ethan stood up, his posture straighter than before and a new intensity in his eyes. "No."
Jarin blinked, looking at Ethan as if he were seeing him for the first time. "This... this isn't like you. You were always so laid-back, But now? You're acting like a different person."
Ethan met his gaze, with a clenched jaw. "Maybe I've been given a second chance. And I'm not going to waste it."
Jarin shook his head slowly. "You don't even know what you're getting into, do you?"
Ethan shot Jarin a cold gaze "Fine. You want to go through with this, I'll help you."
Jarin stood there for a moment longer, then muttered to himself, "You're not the same. But maybe... that's a good thing."
Ethan ignored him as his mind was already racing with plans. He wasn't the same person who had been beaten and humiliated. This time, He would rise from the bottom and he would survive.
The Azure Sky Sect would never see him coming.