Ki Meets Qi: Murim Reborn in Cultivation World

Riu Xian stood in the opulent chamber, his eyes scanning every inch of the luxurious space. Spirit stones embedded in the walls shimmered with a faint glow, and the smooth jade floor reflected the kaleidoscope of light, creating an atmosphere of otherworldly beauty. Despite the awe-inspiring sight, an unsettling feeling prickled the back of his neck. He couldn't shake the sensation that he was being watched.

For a moment, he hesitated. His instincts from Murim screamed caution, but his curiosity urged him forward. Taking a deep breath, he walked deeper into the chamber, his steps echoing faintly. His gaze fell on the boat—a sleek, obsidian artifact engraved with intricate runes that pulsed with ancient energy. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, exuding an aura of boundless power and profound secrecy. His heart raced as he imagined the possibilities it held.

Then, his eyes caught the skeleton resting beside the boat. It leaned against the artifact, its golden-tinged bones glowing faintly. The sight sent a chill through him. "Is this the skeleton of the Supreme Elder? The one who founded the Cloudspring Sect over a millennium ago?"

As Riu Xian moved closer to inspect it, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. A sudden ripple of energy filled the air, and a figure materialized before him. It was a man with a dignified appearance, middle-aged with streaks of gray in his beard and hair. His azure robe flowed around him, and on his sleeve was a band that bore the word "CLOUDSPRING" in bold letters.

Riu Xian's heart pounded in his chest. He immediately clasped his hands and bowed respectfully. "Senior, are you the Supreme Elder of the Cloudspring Sect? The first sect leader who established this place?"

The figure nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yes, I am the Supreme Elder, though what stands before you is but my soul. My body has long since perished, and I am now bound to this place." He laughed lightly, though there was a trace of bitterness in his voice. "But now that you are here, you will not be leaving."

Riu Xian froze. The elder's words carried an ominous weight, and his instincts screamed that danger was imminent. He straightened, his voice steady despite the unease gripping him. "Senior, if I may ask, why can I not leave? Have I done something to offend you?"

The elder's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Offend me? No, young one. In fact, you have done me a great service by coming here. You see, it was I who guided you to this place."

Riu Xian's mind raced as the elder continued. "When you entered the forest to escape from the Bright Snow Sect, the cave abode that appeared before you was no coincidence. It was my doing. I have been watching you since you first stepped into the forest, and now you are here, right where I want you."

The elder's laugh echoed through the chamber, sending a shiver down Riu Xian's spine. "Now, give me your body, and I will grant you one wish."

Riu Xian's heart pounded as the gravity of the situation sank in. He was trapped, and the elder's words confirmed that this was no mere coincidence. Still, he forced himself to stay calm. "Senior, may I ask why you want my body? Surely there are countless others you could have chosen for this purpose."

The elder's laughter grew louder, filling the chamber. "Ha! You are sharp, young one. Very well, since you will not be leaving this place, I shall share some details before I take what is rightfully mine."

The elder's expression darkened, and his voice grew cold. "Do you have any memories from before you were thirteen?"

Riu Xian hesitated, the question catching him off guard. He thought back to his fragmented memories. Ever since he had reincarnated into this world, he had assumed that the original owner's memories were intact. But now that he considered it, everything before the age of thirteen was a blur, an empty void. "No," he admitted cautiously. "I only have memories from the age of thirteen onwards. I don't know anything about my parents or my life before that."

The elder's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Exactly as I expected. Let me tell you a story."

The elder began his tale, his voice filled with both pride and bitterness. "Twelve hundred years ago, I was an alchemist in the upper realms, a prodigy of my time. My master, a revered figure in the immortal realm, entrusted me with rare treasures—blood and a core from a dragon and a phoenix. With these divine materials, I sought to create a body that could host unparalleled power."

He paused, his eyes glinting with malice. "Then, I discovered your mother. She was pregnant with a child who bore the potential of a divine being—a Qilin and also with supreme eyes. Such a child would be the perfect vessel for my ambitions. So, I kidnapped her."

Riu Xian's breath hitched, but he remained silent, letting the elder continue.

"I used this very boat to carry her away. This is no ordinary artifact—it is a spatial treasure with the ability to travel underground, invisible to all but the most powerful cultivators. It can store living beings, herbs, treasures, and more, and it can even transform into a pendant or ring for convenience. I created a hidden abode beneath Riu family's residence to ensure no one would find us."

The elder's expression darkened further. "But one of my disciples betrayed me, revealing my location to Riu family in exchange for their favor. I was forced to flee, severely injured during the escape. To save my life, I descended to the lower realms, sacrificing my cultivation in the process. Here, I established the Cloudspring Sect, using it as a façade to bide my time until your birth."

Riu Xian's mind spun as he processed the elder's words. The revelations were staggering. This man had orchestrated everything, even from the moment he had fled to this world. Yet one question burned in his mind.

"Senior," he said, his voice steady but laced with suspicion. "You've told me so much, but there's one detail you haven't explained. If you kidnapped my mother twelve hundred years ago, how am I here now? How could I be born only recently? And why are my memories limited to after the age of thirteen?"

The elder smiled, his eyes gleaming with a calculating sharpness. "Ah, that… is a question I expected. And since you are trapped here, unable to escape, I suppose it would not hurt to share the answer."

Riu Xian tensed, his heart pounding as he awaited the elder's response. The mysteries of his existence and the missing fragments of his memories loomed before him like an impenetrable fog, and the answers promised to reshape everything he thought he knew.