The afternoon sun filtered through the paper screens of his window, casting shifting patterns across the cultivation manuals scattered on his desk. Lin Moxuan sat in the lotus position on his meditation mat, outwardly appearing to be in deep contemplation, while inwardly conducting the most thorough examination of his spiritual condition since his rebirth.
His current body was... disappointing, but not unexpectedly so. The meridians were narrow and partially blocked—a common problem for young cultivators with poor spiritual roots who lacked proper guidance. His dantian was small and inefficiently organized, storing spiritual energy in crude, unstable formations that wasted nearly thirty percent of what he absorbed.
No wonder my original self grew frustrated and sought shortcuts, he mused, carefully probing a particularly stubborn blockage in his secondary wood meridian. Working with resources this limited would drive anyone to desperation.
But now he possessed something his younger self had lacked: knowledge. Thirty years of accumulated understanding about spiritual energy manipulation, meridian optimization, and foundation building techniques that transcended the limitations of any single cultivation path.
The question was how much improvement he could make without raising suspicions.
In his previous life, he had discovered the fundamental principles of demonic cultivation through trial, error, and considerable suffering. The core insight was elegantly simple: instead of slowly accumulating spiritual energy through meditation and natural absorption, a cultivator could accelerate the process by harvesting energy from other sources—plants, animals, and eventually, other cultivators.
The righteous sects condemned such methods as evil, claiming they corrupted the cultivator's spiritual foundation and led inevitably to madness and destruction. They weren't entirely wrong—crude demonic techniques did cause spiritual contamination and psychological instability. But they were incorrect about the fundamental nature of the problem.
The issue wasn't the harvesting itself, Moxuan realized as he began implementing a modified version of the Soul Nourishing Breath technique. It was the lack of proper purification and integration methods. Raw spiritual energy from external sources needs to be refined and harmonized with the cultivator's natural signature, just like any other cultivation resource.
He began with the smallest possible application—drawing minute amounts of spiritual energy from the potted plants on his windowsill. A thread of life force here, a whisper of wood-element qi there, carefully extracted and immediately processed through purification techniques he had developed during his later years.
The improvement was barely perceptible, but it was improvement nonetheless. His spiritual energy reserves increased by perhaps one percent, and the quality of his qi showed marginal enhancement. More importantly, there were no signs of contamination or instability.
A soft knock on his door interrupted his experimentation. "Young Master?" Old Chen's voice carried the respectful tone of a longtime family retainer. "Your father requests your presence in the eastern courtyard."
Moxuan quickly concealed his cultivation activities, arranging his desk to suggest he had been studying theoretical texts rather than practicing techniques. "I'll be there shortly, Uncle Chen."
The title of "Uncle" was an affectionate honorific—Old Chen wasn't actually family, but his decades of loyal service had earned him a place among the Lin household's inner circle. In his previous life, Moxuan had barely acknowledged the man's existence beyond accepting his services.
Now, as he made his way through the compound's covered walkways toward the eastern courtyard, he found himself studying Old Chen with fresh perspective. The man's cultivation was suppressed, but hints of his true level occasionally flickered through his aura—late Foundation Establishment at minimum, possibly early Golden Core. His movement patterns showed the unconscious precision of someone trained in combat applications, not just household management.
Interesting, Moxuan thought. A retired Golden Core expert serving as our family's head servant? That suggests either extreme loyalty to father, or...
His speculation was interrupted by the sight that greeted him in the eastern courtyard. His father stood near the practice area, observing his brother Shaoheng demonstrate sword forms with fluid precision. But it wasn't his brother's technique that caught Moxuan's attention—it was the figure providing instruction.
Liu Feng stood with the unconscious confidence of someone accustomed to being the most talented person in any room. Twenty years old, with the kind of classical features that attracted favorable attention from both sect elders and marriage-minded families, he carried himself with the quiet arrogance of natural genius.
The future Sword Saint of the Righteous Alliance, Moxuan's memory supplied. Currently an inner disciple of the Jade Mountain Sect, destined to become one of the most powerful cultivators of our generation. In my previous life, I never met him personally—by the time our paths should have crossed, I was already too deep into demonic cultivation for any righteous sect to tolerate my presence.
"Ah, Moxuan," his father called, noticing his approach. "Perfect timing. Young Master Liu was just demonstrating the Flowing Water Sword technique. I thought you might benefit from observing proper form."
Liu Feng completed his current sequence with a flourish that sent spiritual energy rippling through the air in visible waves, then turned to greet the newcomer. His assessment was quick but thorough—the kind of evaluation that experienced cultivators performed automatically when meeting potential allies or threats.
"Your younger son?" Liu Feng asked politely, though his tone suggested mild disappointment at what his spiritual senses revealed. "His foundation seems... adequate for his age."
Adequate. The faint dismissal in that single word spoke volumes about Liu Feng's personality. He wasn't deliberately insulting—simply stating what he perceived as objective fact. To someone of his talent level, a third-level Qi Condensation cultivator at seventeen probably did seem unremarkable to the point of irrelevance.
"Moxuan has shown renewed dedication recently," Lin Tianming said with paternal pride. "Though I admit his progress has been slower than we might have hoped."
"Late bloomers sometimes achieve the most impressive final results," Liu Feng replied diplomatically. "Steady cultivation often proves more reliable than early brilliance."
The platitude was delivered with practiced ease, but Moxuan could see the calculation behind Liu Feng's eyes. The young master was already categorizing him as a minor figure unlikely to impact future political calculations—useful information to file away but not worthy of serious attention.
Perfect, Moxuan thought with satisfaction. Let him underestimate me now. When our paths cross again in a few years, the surprise will be all the more complete.
"Brother Liu has offered to provide some guidance for both of you before the regional tournament," Lin Tianming continued. "His insights into competitive cultivation could prove invaluable."
"I'd be honored to learn from Young Master Liu," Moxuan said, bowing with exactly the right degree of respect—deep enough to show proper courtesy, not so deep as to suggest servility.
Liu Feng nodded approvingly at the gesture. "Your family has raised polite children, Uncle Lin. Very well, let me see what we're working with. Young Master Shaoheng, please demonstrate the opening sequence of the Jade Mountain Basic Sword forms."
What followed was a masterclass in subtle instruction and evaluation. Liu Feng guided Shaoheng through increasingly complex sequences, identifying weaknesses and providing corrections with the kind of casual expertise that only came from years of intensive training under master-level instructors.
Moxuan observed carefully, noting not just the technical aspects of the instruction, but the interpersonal dynamics at play. Liu Feng was genuinely trying to be helpful, but his advice was filtered through the lens of someone whose natural talent made certain aspects of cultivation seem effortless. He assumed that others could simply implement his suggestions through dedicated practice, not recognizing that some limitations were fundamental rather than correctable through effort alone.
Shaoheng, for his part, absorbed the instruction with the hungry intensity of someone who recognized a rare opportunity. His technique showed noticeable improvement even within the span of a single session, and his gratitude toward Liu Feng was both genuine and politically astute.
He's building connections, Moxuan realized. Even now, before he's made conscious contact with demonic cultivators, Shaoheng is instinctively positioning himself to benefit from relationships with rising powers. It's not necessarily malicious—just the natural behavior of someone ambitious enough to recognize opportunity when it presents itself.
"Now then, Young Master Moxuan," Liu Feng said, turning his attention to the younger brother. "Let's see your foundation work. Basic meditation postures first, then we'll evaluate your energy circulation patterns."
This was the moment Moxuan had been preparing for since breakfast—his first real test of how much improvement he could demonstrate without revealing the true extent of his knowledge. Too little progress would waste the opportunity to learn from Liu Feng's instruction. Too much would invite uncomfortable questions about his sudden advancement.
He settled into the standard cultivation posture with deliberate imperfection—maintaining the core elements correctly while introducing subtle flaws that suggested self-taught technique rather than advanced understanding. His spiritual energy circulation followed similar principles, demonstrating solid fundamentals mixed with minor inefficiencies that a talented instructor could reasonably correct.
Liu Feng's initial assessment was swift and thorough, his spiritual senses probing Moxuan's cultivation with professional competence. What he found clearly surprised him—not because of exceptional talent, but because of unexpected solidity.
"Interesting," Liu Feng murmured, his tone shifting from polite dismissal to genuine curiosity. "Your foundation work is actually quite good—better than I would have expected from someone at your current level. Who provided your initial instruction?"
"Primarily family techniques passed down from father," Moxuan replied truthfully. "Though I've been supplementing with independent study recently."
"It shows. Your meridian pathways are clearer than most cultivators achieve without formal sect training. However, you're making several efficiency errors that are limiting your advancement rate."
What followed was perhaps the most valuable hour of instruction Moxuan had received in either lifetime. Not because Liu Feng's techniques were superior to his own knowledge—quite the opposite. But because observing a genuinely talented righteous cultivator at work provided insights into the mindset and methodology that would eventually make Liu Feng one of the most powerful figures in the orthodox cultivation world.
Liu Feng's approach to cultivation was fundamentally different from the demonic methods Moxuan had eventually mastered. Where demonic cultivation focused on rapid accumulation of power through external means, righteous cultivation emphasized harmony, balance, and steady progression through understanding natural principles.
Neither approach is inherently superior, Moxuan realized as Liu Feng guided him through corrected energy circulation patterns. They're simply different tools suited to different circumstances. The mistake I made in my previous life was assuming that power obtained quickly was automatically more valuable than power obtained slowly.
"Much better," Liu Feng said approvingly as Moxuan demonstrated the corrected techniques. "Your spiritual energy density has improved noticeably even within this single session. With dedicated practice, you should be able to advance to the fourth level within the next month."
If only you knew, Moxuan thought with internal amusement. With the techniques I'm actually planning to use, I could reach peak Qi Condensation within two weeks. But that would rather defeat the purpose of maintaining my cover.
"That's very encouraging," he said aloud. "I've been hoping to participate in the regional tournament, but I wasn't sure if my cultivation would be sufficient."
"The tournament minimum is peak Qi Condensation," Liu Feng replied thoughtfully. "Ambitious, but not impossible if you maintain consistent progress. Though I should warn you—the competition will be fierce this year. Several families have been preparing their most promising juniors specifically for this event."
"Any particular competitors I should be aware of?" Lin Tianming asked, his parental concern evident.
Liu Feng considered the question carefully. "Wei Lian of the Merchant's Guild has been making impressive progress—she reached peak Qi Condensation two months ago and has been focusing on combat applications since then. Zhang Wei from the Iron Mountain family is solid but unimaginative. The real wildcards will be the independent cultivators and minor sect disciples looking to make names for themselves."
Wei Lian, Moxuan's memory supplied instantly. Future founder of the Continental Trading Consortium, one of the most powerful economic forces in the cultivation world. Currently unknown outside merchant circles, but destined to build connections with every major sect and family through strategic resource management. Someone definitely worth cultivating a relationship with.
"Independent cultivators?" Shaoheng asked with interest. "I thought the tournament was primarily for sect-affiliated families."
"The registration is open to anyone who meets the cultivation requirements," Liu Feng explained. "Most independent cultivators lack the resources to compete effectively, but occasionally someone with genuine talent and unique techniques emerges from unexpected circumstances."
The instruction session continued for another hour, with Liu Feng providing guidance to both brothers while Lin Tianming observed with the careful attention of someone evaluating potential investment opportunities. By the end, Moxuan had demonstrated enough improvement to justify his father's cautious optimism about the tournament, while avoiding any displays that might seem suspiciously advanced.
As the session concluded and Liu Feng prepared to depart, he offered a final piece of advice that struck closer to home than he probably intended.
"Remember, Young Master Moxuan—cultivation is not just about accumulating power, but about understanding yourself and your place in the world. The strongest techniques are useless if they conflict with your fundamental nature."
How ironic, Moxuan reflected as he bowed respectfully in farewell. In my previous life, my fundamental nature was apparently that of someone willing to sacrifice anything and anyone for personal advancement. This time, I intend to discover whether that nature was truly fundamental, or simply the result of choices made in desperation and ignorance.
As Liu Feng's figure disappeared beyond the compound gates, Lin Tianming turned to his sons with paternal satisfaction. "An instructive afternoon. I hope you both took his advice to heart."
"Of course, father," Shaoheng replied immediately. "Young Master Liu's guidance was invaluable. I plan to practice the corrected forms intensively over the next few days."
"And you, Moxuan?" their father asked. "Do you feel more confident about your tournament prospects?"
Moxuan considered the question seriously. His current cultivation was still pathetically weak by the standards of his previous life, but his understanding of proper technique had improved dramatically even in this single afternoon. More importantly, he now had a clearer picture of the political landscape he would be navigating.
"I think I have a better understanding of what needs to be accomplished," he said carefully. "Whether I can achieve it in time remains to be seen, but at least now I have a clear path forward."
Lin Tianming nodded approvingly. "Excellent. Realistic assessment combined with determined effort—that's the foundation of all worthwhile achievement."
As they walked back toward the main house together, Moxuan found himself studying his family with new appreciation. His father's wisdom might be limited by his honorable nature, but it was genuine wisdom nonetheless. His brother's ambitions might eventually lead to betrayal, but they also drove him toward legitimate excellence. His sister's innocent joy might seem naive, but it represented a strength of spirit that had sustained her through hardships his previous self had never bothered to notice.
These people shaped who I originally became, he realized. Not through deliberate malice or negligence, but through their own limitations and circumstances. This time, perhaps I can help shape who they become as well.
That evening, as he sat in his room planning his accelerated cultivation schedule, Lin Moxuan reflected on the strange duality of his situation. He possessed knowledge and perspective that made him arguably the most dangerous person in the compound, yet he was surrounded by people who still saw him as their youngest, least accomplished family member.
The challenge wasn't just concealing his true capabilities—it was deciding which aspects of his original personality to preserve and which to transform. His family loved the person he had been, but that person had been weak, lazy, and ultimately selfish enough to abandon them when they needed him most.
This time, he intended to become someone worthy of their love while still achieving the power necessary to protect it. Whether such a balance was actually possible remained to be seen, but for the first time in either lifetime, he felt genuinely motivated to try.
Three weeks until the tournament, he reminded himself as he began his evening cultivation session. Two weeks to reach peak Qi Condensation without arousing suspicion. And somehow, in the midst of all this, I need to begin building the foundations for everything that comes after.
The game was becoming more complex with each passing day, but complexity had never intimidated Lin Moxuan. If anything, it made victory all the more satisfying when it finally came.
Outside his window, the first stars were beginning to appear in the darkening sky. In his previous life, he had rarely taken time to appreciate such simple beauty, too consumed with immediate concerns to notice the larger patterns around him.
Now, as he settled into deep meditation and began the careful work of rebuilding his cultivation from stronger foundations, he allowed himself a moment to simply appreciate the peaceful evening sounds of his family compound. Tomorrow would bring new challenges and oppo