The faint creak of the door snapped Taryn from his thoughts. He turned his head to see a young maid entering the room. She was dressed in a simple but neat outfit, her expression gentle and caring. Her eyes immediately locked onto his, and her lips curled into a soft smile.
"Young master," she said, her voice tinged with concern as she approached him. "How are you feeling today? Are you okay now?"
Taryn blinked, still trying to adjust to this new life and body. But the maid's kindness was grounding, and he couldn't help but smile in return. "I'm good," he replied, his voice slightly hoarse but steady. "It's nice to see you, Lila."
Lila's expression softened even further, a flash of relief in her eyes. "It's a relief to hear that, young master. You've been so ill for so long..."
Taryn nodded, his gaze drifting to the window where the sun cast a soft glow on the unfamiliar landscape. The memories he had inherited were a jumble, but one thing was clear—this was a world unlike any he had ever imagined. It was a place of magic and power, of cultivation and ambition. And now, he was part of it.
"I... I want to know more about this world," he said, his voice quiet but filled with determination. "Tell me in brief what you know. About... everything."
Lila's eyebrows arched slightly, clearly surprised by the request, but then she nodded as if she'd expected it. She began speaking with a practiced ease, as though she had answered this question many times before.
"Well, young master," she began, "cultivation is a path, a journey toward the ultimate goal of reaching the peak. But it's not an easy path. Not even the ten-thousand-year-old monsters—those ancient beings—have reached the peak. It's a long and arduous process, filled with both challenges and opportunities."
Taryn listened intently, eager to understand the basics of this new world.
"There are various stages of cultivation," Lila continued. "As you pass through these stages, your lifespan increases, your spiritual and origin energy grows, and your body becomes stronger. You gain power that others cannot even imagine. But even then, few can truly say they've reached the peak, the final level of cultivation. The ones who have... they're legends."
Taryn's mind was already spinning with questions. He had so much to learn, so much to understand. "And... what happens when someone reaches this 'peak'? Is that the end?"
Lila's eyes seemed to darken a little, her gaze shifting toward the floor for a moment before meeting his eyes again. "Some say the peak is where you transcend the mortal world, where you achieve immortality. Others say it's a state of ultimate power, where you become a being of pure energy, beyond even gods. But... it's all speculation. No one truly knows."
Taryn absorbed her words, his thoughts racing. This world was so much more complex than he had ever imagined. But there was more to it, wasn't there?
"And the world itself... is it ruled by anyone in particular?" he asked, his voice quiet but curious.
Lila smiled slightly at his question, her expression becoming more serious. "Yes, young master. There are many sects in this world—both orthodox and unorthodox factions—each one wielding great influence over different regions. Some are focused on the pursuit of knowledge, others on martial power, and some even focus on forbidden techniques. Each sect vies for control, but the one that holds the most power is the Empire."
"The Empire?" Taryn repeated, intrigued.
Lila nodded. "Yes. The Emperor rules over the entire land, overseeing all the sects and ensuring that the world remains balanced, or at least, that's the idea. But even the Emperor has to tread carefully. The cultivation world is full of ambition, and many powerful sects would like to challenge his rule. The political games, the rivalries, and the schemes are endless. It's a world of power, where strength dictates everything."
Taryn leaned back slightly, his thoughts whirling. A world of power, of sects, of cultivation—it was a far cry from his peaceful, ordinary life in the modern world. And yet, he felt something stir inside him. An unshakable sense of purpose, perhaps? He had transmigrated into this body for a reason, and now it seemed like the world itself was calling to him.
Lila continued, unaware of the swirling thoughts in Taryn's mind. "But it's not just about power. There's also the pursuit of knowledge. Many cultivators seek enlightenment through study, meditation, and the honing of their skills. The path to cultivation is not one-dimensional. It's a journey that involves the mind, body, and spirit."
Taryn felt a stirring inside his chest. This is where I belong, he thought. There was no going back to his old life, no returning to his 9 to 5 job, no more sitting in front of a screen and reading stories of other worlds. He was in this one now, and the question was—what would he do with this second chance?
"I understand," he said after a pause, looking at Lila with a new determination. "Thank you for telling me all this. It's a lot to take in, but... I think I'm ready to learn more. To truly live in this world."
Lila gave him a reassuring smile, her eyes filled with warmth. "Of course, young master. Whatever you wish to learn, I'll be here to help guide you."
With that, Taryn allowed himself to sink into the bed, his mind still buzzing with possibilities. This was just the beginning, and he could already feel the weight of destiny pressing down on him.
As Lila left to prepare his breakfast, Taryn couldn't help but wonder what the future held. But one thing was certain—he was no longer just a spectator in someone else's story. He was the protagonist of his own.