A blissful, dreamless void. This was the life. No grinding, no streaming, just pure, unadulterated nothingness. It was perfect.
[Hey. Get up.]
A cheerful, digital voice pierced the silence of my mind. I mentally swatted at it like a fly.
Ugh. Five more minutes...
[He's coming! They're coming!] Z's voice was insistent, almost buzzing with excitement.
Who's... My brain, still sluggish from the best nap of my life—or any life—finally kicked into gear. Oh. Right. The whole family.
My eyes snapped open. The ornate wooden ceiling of the nursery came into focus. Uh, what's this? Did I die again?
[Why are you so obsessed with dying?] Z's text scrolled across my vision, laced with exasperation.
Oh, right. Reincarnated. Cultivation world. I stretched my tiny limbs. So, who's coming?
[Don't you remember? You called your whole family before you passed out for your 'Slumbering Dragon' session.]
Oh right, that happened. A slow, sly grin spread across my face. Before the circus begins, tell me about this world I'm in. I need the basics.
[Here's the description!] Z chirped, and a new screen materialized.
World: Azure Dragon Continent
A vast land governed by the principles of cultivation. Sects and Clans compete for resources, territory, and prestige. Power is everything. The strong rule, the weak serve. Standard xianxia stuff, really.
What's my clan's position in this food chain?
[The Yun Clan is currently ranked the third strongest clan on the continent. Your grandfather, Yun Tie, is the primary reason for this. He is one of the strongest sword cultivators of his generation, a legendary war hero who earned countless battle merits, elevating the clan's status.]
Oh, he's awesome. Show me his stats.
A new profile screen popped up.
Name: Yun Tie
Title: Grand Elder of the Yun Clan, The Iron Sword
Cultivation: Half-Step Sword Emperor Realm
Personality Type: Tsundere (Severe)
Weakness: Absolutely weak to his grandchildren. Will deny any and all forms of affection in public.
I couldn't help but chuckle. Oh, a tsundere grandpa. This is going to be fun.
[Don't exploit him too much, bro,] Z warned, though I could sense the amusement in his text.
You'll see, I thought back, my smirk widening.
The sound of approaching voices and footsteps echoed from the hallway.
"...impossible! How can a child even talk?" a woman's voice, laced with skepticism, asked.
A younger, brighter voice chimed in. "So my brother can talk already? He's awesome, isn't he!"
"That's what I've been saying!" my father's proud voice boomed. "You'll see when you see him! He's the very embodiment of a sword cultivator's spirit!"
Yeah, right, I thought dryly. The embodiment of "can I skip this cutscene?"
An old, gruff voice, like gravel being ground under a mountain's weight, cut through the chatter. "Are you sure you're not drinking again? How can my grandchild not have a core but talk? It defies the heavenly law!"
"Just go in the room and see for yourself, Father!"
A sliver of panic ran through me. Hey, Z. What if they find out? What if someone has a truth-detecting technique or something?
[Well, although they shouldn't be able to pierce the Celestial Official's reincarnation seal, there's always a small risk. A powerful soul-scanner could detect anomalies.]
Doesn't the shop have something? That old man said I could buy pretty much everything.
[Let's check!] A new, shimmering interface opened up, filled with countless icons and categories. Z highlighted one particular item. [Ah! Here's the perfect thing for you!]
The icon glowed with a mischievous purple light.
Item: The Dao of Gaslighting (Beginner Tier)
Effect: Passively increases the probability of others believing your lies and accepting your fabricated reality. Current success rate: +2%.
Cost: 80 Reputation Points.
Is this... the legendary... that...
[Yes! That legendary skill! The one every protagonist secretly uses!]
The Dao of Gaslighting!
Narration: It wasn't a combat art, but a subtle manipulation of social and spiritual perception. It didn't plant thoughts, but it gently nudged a listener's subconscious, making them more inclined to accept the user's words as truth, smoothing over logical inconsistencies. It was the ultimate tool for a con artist operating on a cosmic scale.
Hmm, 2% is low, but it's a passive. It'll grow as I level it up. I had 100 points after the initial bonus. Let's buy it.
[Transaction complete! Reputation Points: 20. The Dao of Gaslighting is now active!]
A faint, almost imperceptible purple aura shimmered around me for a second before fading. I felt... shiftier.
The door swung open. The family entered. My system automatically tagged them.
First, my father, Yun Zheng, beaming with pride. Then, a stunningly beautiful woman in her early thirties with kind eyes—Li Mei, Mother, Core Formation Realm. A boy, around eight or nine, looking at me with open curiosity and a competitive glint—Yun Feng, Older Brother, Qi Condensation Realm (Late Stage). And finally, the old man himself. He was built like a fortress, with a broad chest and a stern face that looked like it had been carved from granite. This was Yun Tie, Grandfather, Half-Step Sword Emperor Realm.
"Fei'er! We're here!" my father announced happily.
I looked at the assembled, powerful cultivators and gave a lazy wave. "Oh, you've come."
A collective gasp filled the room. Seeing it on a system screen was one thing; hearing a two-day-old infant speak with the cadence of a bored teenager was another.
The old man, Yun Tie, shot forward with speed that belied his age, scooping me out of the crib. "YES! FINALLY!" he roared, his voice shaking the room. He then proceeded to rub his coarse, bearded cheek against my soft baby face. "I can now shut those old coots from the other clans up! A legendary kid has been born in my family!"
"Yo, Gramps," I mumbled, my face being squished.
"Wh—what doting?!" he sputtered, suddenly holding me at arm's length, his face turning a faint pink. "You... you don't know how strict I am! Just you grow up and you'll see!"
My mother approached, her expression a mixture of hope and fear. "So... are you really our son?"
This was it. The first test of my new Dao. "Well, I am," I said, putting on a convincing face of innocence. "I died and was born here. It's not like I stole some kid's life. This body is yours."
Her face softened, and she gently took me from my grandfather's arms, pulling me into a warm, secure hug. It was... nice. Really nice. A lump formed in my throat. No one had ever held me like this. I had to fight back an unexpected urge to cry.
I looked over at my brother. He puffed out his chest. "So you're strong, hmm?"
"Well, I will be."
"I don't want to fight my brother for succession," he said, his brow furrowed with genuine concern.
A wave of relief washed over me. "Don't worry. I don't want such tedious things."
My father frowned. "You don't even have a core and don't want to do work in the future? What will you even do?"
"I'll sleep."
"Huh? Don't you want to cultivate or maybe try something new?"
WHACK!
Grandpa smacked the back of my father's head. "Idiot! He was an immortal! Do you think they do things like sitting and cultivating for days? They must have different methods! Right?" He looked at me, his eyes gleaming with expectation.
The Dao of Gaslighting hummed. I could feel it, a subtle pressure in the air.
"Ye...yes," I stammered, finding my footing. "That.. that's right. Different methods."
"SEE!" Grandpa bellowed, triumphant. "That's what I told you!"
[Our new Dao saved you!] Z cheered in my mind.
That's true, I conceded. This thing was worth every point.
I decided to push my luck. "So, when will the others come? The elders, the servants? I want to farm—" I caught myself. "—to learn more about my new family."
My mother blinked. "What was that? Farm... what?"
My father waved a hand. "It must be some immortal realm term. Don't worry about it."
"Ah, I see," my mother said, then her expression turned practical. "But wait, what about the breastfeeding?"
I felt my tiny face heat up. "Man, you guys! I don't even have a single memory of my past life! I'm as new to this as any other kid! All there is to it is that I can become stronger without a cultivation core, and I can speak. That's it!"
My father nodded slowly, the last of his suspicion melting away. "Oh, is that how it is..."
A slight, genuine happiness settled in my chest. They were weird, loud, and overwhelming, but they were... a family. A real, loving family. I'd always wanted a brother.
[Hmm!] Z 's text was suddenly tinted with green.
You're obviously my best friend, I thought, trying to placate him.
The text instantly turned a cheerful gold. [That's right!]
I sighed internally. So many emotions to manage.
I addressed the room. "Hey."
Gramps leaned in. "What is it, my dear grandson?"
"I won't fight unless it's absolutely necessary."
My father's face fell. "But you have to show the clan's prowess at the annual gatherings, or we'll decline in influence! Our trade agreements—"
The word "decline" sent a jolt of fear through me. Images of being a bankrupt noble begging on the streets flashed in my mind. No more lazy life! "Okay, okay! Once in a while! Fine!"
My mother smiled. "Maybe we should assign him bodyguards. To keep him safe until he... uh... 'levels up'."
My father nodded. "That's a wise idea."
Gramps stroked his beard, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Hoho! How about... the Crimson Troops?"
My father paled. "Wait, Father! That's too much!"
Even a servant by the door gasped. "Sir! Even the First Young Master only has ten personal guards! The Crimson Troops... they're a sixty-man elite unit! Ruthless veterans of the border wars! To assign them to protect a child... the expense, the message it sends..."
"That's exactly what we need!" Grandpa declared, his voice leaving no room for argument. "My grandson is no ordinary child! He deserves no ordinary protection!"
I was ecstatic. Sixty elite bodyguards? I'd never have to lift a finger! "That's right! Good one, Gramps!"
Gramps puffed out his chest. "Hmph!"
My father, seeing the unshakable alliance between the old bull and the new calf, finally relented. "Alright, let's do it. But Fei'er, you'll have to adapt to their training regimen. They are not nannies."
Training regimen? "Well, that will do," I said, already planning how to delegate any actual "training" to Z.
I turned to my mother. "Mother, let's go for a walk in the town later."
Her face lit up. "Oh! You want to explore the city?"
"Yes. Although this world is new, I want to live a happy life with my family." The words, though part of my reputation-farming scheme, felt surprisingly sincere.
Mother smiled, a beautiful, radiant thing. "Alright, let's go. But you mustn't talk outside the estate."
"I know, I know."
My father clapped his hands together. "Well, while you are still a child, you should sleep. It's good for growth."
I let out an exaggerated yawn. "Alright, you guys should leave while I sleep."
As they began to file out, I stretched my small arms, reveling in the comfort of my new life. My right arm, moving with a bit more force than I intended, swung out and smacked the solid sandalwood side of my cradle.
CRACK.
The cradle, a piece of furniture that had likely held generations of Yun babies, splintered and collapsed into a heap of firewood.
I stared at the wreckage. Wait, what?
Everyone in the doorway froze and turned back.
A beat of silence, and then...
"GENIUS!" Grandpa roared, his face alight with ecstasy. "HE'S A TRUE GENIUS! Such innate physical strength! Without a core!"
My father's jaw was on the floor. "How... how is a kid..."
My mother simply smiled, a proud, serene look on her face. "Well, he is my child, after all."
My brother, Yun Feng, grinned. "Hehe, Fei'er you're so strong! Maybe we should have a spar soon!"
"No! Not now!" I said, a little too quickly. "You guys can go now. I need to... meditate on my accidental destruction."
They finally left, closing the door behind them, their excited whispers echoing down the hall.
I looked at the pile of wood. Hey, Z. What was that?
[See that power? That's just from the passive EXP from your first 'Slumbering Dragon' nap and the stat boost from the newbie pack! Your strength stat is already far beyond a normal infant.]
So, it will get harder to gain stats?
[Not harder, but the amount of EXP you need to level up will increase. The growth is exponential, not linear.]
Well, we'll see, I thought, my mind already moving on. I still had 20 Reputation Points burning a hole in my pocket. I scrolled through the system shop, past the technique scrolls and the spiritual herbs. My eyes landed on a very specific, non-magical category.
Hey, Z... I thought, a mischievous idea forming. Do you have... an ecchi magazine in the shop?