Chapter 118 - Reflecting Upon Oneself (Part II) (Patreon)

Recalling his appearance, Lucian wasn’t surprised when the scholar’s face shifted. The eyes changed color, the skin tone shifted from pale to white to grayish-brown, while the nose and lips grew or shrank whenever he focused on them for too long.

He had long since forgotten his original appearance.

Watching the scholar descend into the underground stone temple using a rope, Lucian shook his head, altering the memory. He was sure things didn't go so smoothly.

As the scene corrected itself, the scholar failed several times while tying the rope and descending into the hole. In fact, he missed the temple twice, entering random dark and damp buildings before finally finding the correct route.

Even so, despite all the failures and the day that slowly turned into night, the scholar sat down happily to eat stale bread and cheese once he confirmed he had reached the right path.

Remembering his younger self, Lucian recalled how he had felt that night.

Relief? No, I think it was happiness, he thought.

It had taken months to locate the ruins and even longer to correctly research the possible routes leading there. That did not even account for the years he had spent studying the history of the ruins and what humanity might achieve if he found them.

He could no longer remember exactly how he arrived there, but he knew dangers had surrounded him constantly. Magical beasts and mutants roamed those forests, hunting weaklings. People like his past self.

During the trip, he felt more than once how it was just a fool's errand. Yet the moment he discovered the temple, he became convinced his name would enter history and forgot all dangers.

A hopeful, naive mortal. Lucian sneered, shaking his head inwardly.

For his past self, the research of his life about the ancient civilizations would provide humanity with a path to survival. Lucian remembered that he strongly believed that by uncovering the source of those ancient people’s power and bringing it back to his homeland, he would save mankind.

That thought gave him the urge to stop remembering everything. It was too ridiculous, and too disconnected from his current self.

However, he endured.

While reflecting on the feelings and motivations that had pushed him to become a scholar and seek out those ruins, he sensed his Qi flow accelerating on its own. Even without consciously controlling it, he suddenly grasped more efficient methods of circulating Qi throughout his body.

This meant the cultivation method of self-reflection was working. And this also meant he could never give up just because he was slightly annoyed.

Continuing recalling the events of a long, forsaken past, Lucian saw the scholar finish eating and begin organizing the archaeological tools to continue descending.

The ruins did not follow a straight structure, and the temple itself was enormous. The scholar had to take countless detours, avoiding fallen boulders and squeezing through narrow tunnels while abandoning some equipment behind so he could continue forward.

By the time he reached the main chamber, his bag contained only two books, a few snacks, water, rope, and several light stones, while another pale-blue light stone rested in his hand.

Despite the difficulties, the moment he saw the ruined murals, the scholar’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He caressed every faded mural and shattered pillar, his hands quickly being coated in dust. Within minutes, he reached the end of the chamber, and his mouth opened slightly before he burst into delighted laughter.

Lucian could no longer remember whether he had spoken or what else he had done afterward. His memories about his past self were fuzzy at best.

But he remembered exactly what he saw.

In the other end of the hall, seven crimson coins forged from an unknown metal were embedded within the temple wall. Unknown sigils surrounded each coin, and they all displayed a different image.

Though Lucian now understood those symbols intimately and recognized every image without effort, nothing of the sort happened within the memory itself. At the time, he had merely been an impatient scholar, mocked by both colleagues and family because of his ambitions, forced to venture alone into a deadly adventure.

It was only natural that the younger Lucian did not simply stand there admiring the coins.

Instead, he rushed toward them.

The moment he touched the first coin, the one depicting a hand plucking out an eyeball, the entire temple shook violently. Startled, the scholar should have attempted to flee. Everyone else would have, as far as Lucian was concerned.

But his past self took the coins.

Regardless of how long the metallic coins had remained embedded in the wall, they detached effortlessly the instant he pulled them, falling straight into his hands. As debris rained from the ceiling and pillars collapsed one after another, the younger Lucian secured all seven coins.

Afraid he might lose them if he stored them inside his bag, he instinctively shoved them into his mouth. That was not the first time he had done such a thing, as he had been robbed more than once in his life as a weak scholar.

Rushing toward the exit, he threw light stones ahead to illuminate the path.

Remembering the scene now, Lucian wanted to believe he had managed to escape farther than that, that perhaps he had at least left the main chamber before disaster struck somewhere inside the tunnels.

Alas, reality was far more pathetic. His past self had been too distracted and weak. A falling pillar crashed onto his back and pinned him against the ground. Of course, being nothing more than an ordinary mortal human at the time, Lucian’s spine shattered instantly, blood spilling from his mouth.

Even so, while pain overwhelmed him and unconsciousness crept closer, he clenched his teeth tightly to keep the coins from falling out.

During his final moments, buried beneath a collapsing temple while debris larger than his head crashed around him and a stone pillar crushed his back, Lucian still held hope.

Not hope about survival. That wasn't his goal. In fact, he had prepared himself to die.

But he had never prepared himself to fail.

His dream had always been to discover a way to empower humanity against the darkness consuming their world. Lucian remembered clearly how, as his vision blurred and sensation vanished from his limbs, he genuinely believed someone would eventually find his corpse, recover the coins, and uncover the power hidden behind them.

Facing death, he smiled faintly, convinced the clues he had left behind would guide someone to his remains. He covered his head as much as he could, so that his skull would protect the coins and keep them together for the latter to find.

Gritting his teeth, Lucian remembered his final breath. He remembered how every coin inside his mouth became drenched in his blood as his thoughts froze.

The truth was that the scholar named Lucian Gravelorn died that night.

And after his death, a crimson explosion erupted from the temple, blasting debris across the ancient city while nearby beasts fled in terror. Moments later, a naked young man with lean muscles, long black hair, and crimson eyes crawled out from beneath the destruction.

His pale skin contrasted against the blood he vomited with every step, as if his body were emptying itself of the red liquid. Powerless, he collapsed with eyes in a daze, his thoughts clouded and fragmented.

The seven coins that had once rested inside his mouth were long gone, dissolved into his flesh, mind, and soul.

Lucian Gravelorn had died, but the progenitor of a new race was born.

The Vampire Ancestor, the Blood Sovereign, and the Devil Prince.

As Lucian reflected upon that memory, enlightenment struck him. The recollection shattered apart, as he remembered that version of himself had not yet understood what had happened. Unfortunately, he had discovered much later that the process of becoming a vampire had never been simple, pleasant, or under his control.

That night, through those coins, he had formed a pact. He received boons in exchange for bearing curses. And that specific recollection resonated deeply with his Qi.

Memories surged through his mind, every instance in which he had unleashed a Devilish Art and suffered the corresponding curse. This happened under his control, guided by Qi. He dug through his memories without any outside influence, and felt he had discovered a path forward.

There was still something he could not fully grasp, something hidden within the relationship between gain and loss, cause and effect, sacrifice and reward. Something that hinted at the blood vessels he saw when he rescued Wang Chen.

Unfortunately, he had not cultivated deeply enough to comprehend what it was.

When his awareness returned to the present, he was surprised by his current state.

“This shouldn’t be possible…” he muttered in disbelief.

Sitting cross-legged, he could sense that his Spiritual Root had changed.

Before, he possessed a dual Spiritual Root aligned with Water and Wood Qi. Now, it had become a triple one, one that felt noticeably more difficult to cultivate, resonating with Fire, Earth, and Metal Qi.

Yet that was not the most alarming discovery.

Previously, all twelve meridians had been open, alongside two unlocked chakra points. But checking, he could sense only the first three meridians active, which meant he had fallen all the way back to the early stage of the Qi Gathering realm.

Suppressing his emotions to better grasp the situation, Lucian noticed another peculiarity.

My Qi flow, Lucian thought, his eyes widening. It’s no longer inverted.

Previously, his Qi circulation had resembled Qi deviation, its flow opposing the natural order. Now, it blended seamlessly with the surrounding environment, moving with the flow of every other cultivation.

Lucian felt that if he used the Two-Leaf breathing technique now, it would function perfectly.

Even so, concern filled him, prompting him to immediately activate the Rune of Lust and use his intent to gather Qi and recover his cultivation base. He didn't want to lose all his progress!

When he did so, like a switch flipping, his spiritual root changed again, reverting back to a dual root attuned to Water and Wood Qi. Not only that, but he once more sensed all twelve meridians and the two previously unlocked chakra points.

My cultivation improved, Lucian noted, observing the Solar Plexus Chakra. It opened slightly further.

Lucian would be lying if he claimed to understand what had just happened.

On instinct, he attempted to use the Two-Leaf breathing technique. Then, he felt his Spiritual Root shift once more, becoming a triple root attuned to Fire, Earth, and Metal Qi.

Which means I have complete control over the transformation, he thought. This cannot be normal.

As he repeatedly switched his cultivation flow between the natural and inverted orders to study the differences, he heard someone approaching.

He did not need his sense of smell to recognize who it was.

Leaving the corpse-filled room, he saw Wang Chen walking toward him.

“You told me to do whatever I wanted if you didn’t come back within a day,” Wang Chen grumbled before tossing a small bag toward Lucian.

Catching the bag, Lucian inspected the two rings and coin artifact inside, and nodded.

“I was busy,” Lucian said plainly. “You took longer than expected.”

“Why the hell would I trust some random man claiming to be sent by you?” Wang Chen scowled before shaking his head. “Whatever. Is what he said true?”

Lucian nodded, remembering the commands he had implanted into the worker.

“It is,” Lucian said, handing Wang Chen a scroll. “Find somewhere safe to read it and follow the instructions. Do not be foolish.”

Nodding with a frown, Wang Chen secured the scroll.

“I’ll help you cultivate after you settle your friends,” Lucian said, a crimson glint in his eyes. “Strength is necessary if you wish to accomplish your goals.”

Staring at Lucian, Wang Chen lowered his head slightly. “Thank you, Benefactor.”

After bowing, he turned to leave, lost in his own thoughts.

Lucian watched him silently for a moment before returning to his room. The more time passed, the more curious he became about Wang Chen.

Even if the young merchant suspected Lucian was plotting something, he was intelligent enough to understand that Lucian remained the only person capable of helping him rescue Bai Xiaomeng and guiding him along the path of cultivation.

As long as Lucian had something valuable to offer, Wang Chen would obey.

Besides, Lucian knew that whenever Bai Xiaomeng became involved, Wang Chen would quickly become manageable. Problems would only arise if Bai Xiaomeng had already died, but that was beyond Lucian’s control.

Returning to his room, he immersed himself in contemplation over the changes within his body. Meanwhile, deep within his soul, Resonant Sea Ancestor was once again submerged in memories.

This time, however, she had recovered enough awareness to move a fragment of her consciousness, ready to act the moment another opportunity appeared.