The human brain is a complex universe, a cosmos contained within a person, holding the power to guide and even challenge the greater universe itself. It is a universe in itself, distinct from each other. It is the only creation able to rival the universe, or perhaps it is truer to say that only the universe can rival a brain. If the two ever fought, the universe would surely win at first, yet if the brain were given enough time, it could create and destroy universes with a single, focused thought.
Even the people on Earth, working with limited tools and young technology, managed to look billions of light years away and witness distant galaxies. The reason behind that feat is simple: the brain. The brain is no joke. I am certain that even if I were granted millions of years, I would still fail to fully understand the countless complexities hidden within a single brain.
Knowing this, I would never take risks when my brain is involved. Even if only my soul were sent back in time, I would still need a working brain for normal thought and action. So… what went wrong?
I don't truly know if a soul has the ability to think or not, but after entering this body, I am sure both my soul and brain are working as one. Otherwise, my soul would be thinking of something and my brain of something else. But I am sure of one thing and that is that it has the ability to carry memories.
After all, only my soul came back, not my brain. So, the memories were surely carried by the soul. And I am sure my brain is involved in the thought function after coming back. But, as only my soul came back, I am certain this is the one that ended up messing with my brain, but exactly how?
Yang Zhai sat beneath a tree outside his room. Zuh Qil sat beside him as always, silent and steady, while the others remained inside the room.
When the others asked him what had happened after his return earlier, Yang Zhai gave them nothing. He ignored their questions and simply acted as though he were following Zuh Qil.
He sank into deep thought, trying to understand his situation from every angle. For the past year, from time to time, he examined his own body and reviewed his actions, examining each step in his mind.
I have already lost control of myself a few times. If this continues, I might stumble into a truly dangerous situation. I don't think I would do anything to myself, so whatever changed must be connected to the Desert of Time. It must have happened there. But what exactly? If I can understand it, I might still find a solution.
Or could it be that I allowed this to happen myself? Or… even did it myself?
Yang Zhai was confused. It felt unlikely, but he didn't dismiss any possibility. He was cautious, yet not conceited or arrogant to assume he was always right.
Overconfidence will only kill me. I have to consider every possibility. My heart is already the weakest part of my body¹; I cannot let my brain go awry as well.
Right now, any strike that directly harms the heart could kill me. And Mil Do Nim has already shown a sound path technique. I must move carefully. I suspected something like this to happen, so I have been searching for a way to handle it, yet I still haven't found one.
Mil Do Nim is only rank 5, and even he could kill me if he discovers my weakness. Even though his attacks might weaken before reaching my heart, but if he focuses the sound on a single point, it could still be fatal.
He is just a rank 5 cultivator; the danger will only increase if I face someone at a higher rank. I must be even more careful now that I am stepping into a world filled with stronger cultivators. I need to tread extremely carefully from here on.
"For a while, no big event will take place that interests me. I should use this time wisely to fill the gaps and cover the weaknesses I have," Yang Zhai contemplated.
But he had barely formed the thought when a voice interrupted the quiet.
"Mil Do Nim, what happened to you?" Jin Su inquired.
Yang Zhai opened his eyes and looked at Mil Do Nim. He was covered in dirt from head to toe, yet bore no injuries—only dust and grime.
"Nothing. I was trying to practice a technique, and this happened." As he spoke, he glanced briefly at Yang Zhai.
Mil Do Nim, both of us have our reasons now. It's about time I move on to our next step, Yang Zhai considered, closing his eyes again.
In the middle of the night, Yang Zhai's eyes opened. Everyone slept soundly except for Zuh Qil, who kept watch over him while pretending to cultivate.
Yang Zhai flexed his fingers, a small signal. In response, Zuh Qil leaned back and pretended to fall asleep as well.
Yang Zhai walked up to Mil Do Nim and woke him up.
"What do you want so late at night?" Mil Do Nim asked.
"Can we talk for a moment?" Yang Zhai replied.
Mil Do Nim whispered back,
"Do you want me to get beaten again? Are you set on sending me to hell?"
"No, Master Zuh is sleeping. I will only take a moment of your time."
Mil Do Nim looked past Yang Zhai and saw that Zuh Qil appeared to be asleep.
Hmm, this is a good chance. I don't know when I'll get another chance like this. Besides, I already wanted to pit Yang Zhai against Zuh Qil. Even if Zuh Qil finds out, he wouldn't dare kill me this close to the Iron Clad Sect's residence.
"Fine, but only for a short while. And we are not going far from the residence."
Yang Zhai nodded and led the way. They stepped out of the residence and stayed close, not wandering far at all.
"What is it?" Mil Do Nim asked with calm indifference.
"I was too impulsive this morning and ended up blaming you. I hope you won't mind it. I know it was my mistake; I shouldn't have been so impulsive," he said with a steady, serious expression.
He also had all of his Blue Lines activated. Knowing that Mil Do Nim possessed a sound path technique, he stayed cautious and kept his guard up.
"Let's not beat around the bush. Tell me directly, what exactly do you want? You are not as simple as you pretend to be, so there's no need to put up an act." Mil Do Nim said bluntly, his words sharp and straightforward.
Does he really take me for a naive fool? There must be an ulterior motive behind his actions. I rejected him clearly, and even after what just happened, he still dares to approach me? Nothing in this world comes free. Nothing at all. Mil Do Nim thought to himself, his expression unreadable.
"Sigh…you caught me. Since you have, I will be direct. I understand that you refuse to help me gain freedom, so I've decided to attempt it on my own. But…to do that, I still need your help. Remember, I did save you from becoming a slave. So, I hope that considering this debt, you might show me enough kindness to lend me your strength." Yang Zhai said, his eyes locked firmly on Mil Do Nim.
"Speak."
"Earlier this morning, I noticed something unusual. When you activated your technique, there was no visible toll on your body—no scar, no damage, not even the faintest mark. A technique of that caliber should leave behind some sort of trace, and yet, there was nothing. Moreover, you acted as though nothing had happened at all. It didn't seem like there was any hidden burden either. How could that be possible? At first, I was angry and ignored the matter, but after thinking about it, I realized the truth…I know I was wrong."
So, that was it. As I suspected, he did have ulterior motives. No wonder he still dared approach me after everything. Mil Do Nim's eyes narrowed as he fell into silent contemplation.
"So…" Yang Zhai trailed off, leaving his words unfinished.
"So, you want me to share some techniques with you, is that it? Fine. I will hand you three techniques. In return, I want your assistance in taking down Zuh Qil. Isn't that also something you have long desired? It will only serve to benefit you as well. What do you say?"
Yang Zhai remained calm outwardly, but inwardly he was confused. How could Mil Do Nim agree so easily? Even though I have already set the stage, given him reason and motivation, techniques like these are not something one simply hands away without hesitation. Something feels wrong. Tonight, my plan was only to plant the idea in his mind, allow it to settle, and then carefully move forward with the next steps. But…
Despite his lack of experience compared to Yang Zhai, Mil Do Nim still understood his intention and offered the techniques on his own.
"Thank you. I will certainly repay this favor. But how do I know these techniques truly come without a toll?" Yang Zhai asked.
"Simple. I will first show them to you. Watch carefully."
Mil Do Nim raised his hand forward, his tone carrying a quiet authority.
"Come forth."
The ground stirred. From all around, countless insects crawled out, swarming together.
Yang Zhai slowly stepped back, his eyes narrowing.
"Look carefully. These insects carry strength equal to rank three or lower. This is a rank five technique of the Earth Path—Insectification. You should have some way to see in the dark, right? Don't tell me you don't even have that?"
Yang Zhai crouched down, picking up a worm from the ground. He pinched it tightly between his index finger, middle finger, and thumb. Instead of blood spilling out, the creature crumbled into dust.
As expected, they are not alive. They are merely soil, given form. He lifted his gaze towards Mil Do Nim, examining his body carefully, yet saw no trace of harm.
"Now for the second technique."
Mil Do Nim parted his lips and blew out a stream of black smoke. It slithered forward, wrapping around the crawling insects. Slowly, the smoke consumed them whole until both it and the insects vanished, leaving only dark, corroded marks etched on the ground.
"Rotten Breath. Rank five as well. A technique of the Poison Path, capable of rotting away whatever it touches. Now, the final one. A rank five technique—Empty. Also from the Poison Path. This one is far more peculiar, and for body cultivators like us, it is immensely useful."
He strode towards a nearby tree and pressed his palm against its trunk. Fifteen long seconds passed before he stepped back. Then, with the faintest push, his hand slipped through the wood as if the tree were nothing but air.
Yang Zhai's eyes flickered as he observed carefully.
"See? Even though my hand pushed forward, it slid right through. The reason—the tree has been rotted away from the inside. This is the power of Empty, a devastating technique." With that, Mil Do Nim summoned three scrolls, tossing them lightly towards Yang Zhai.
Yang Zhai caught the scrolls, his gaze narrowing as he studied Mil Do Nim closely. Still, there was nothing unusual. Not a single mark marred his body.
"Why are you staring so intently? Are you still not convinced? If you like, I could even strip off my clothes to show you I truly have no toll on my body. Do you want me to?" Mil Do Nim asked with a teasing smile.
"Good. Please do."
!|!*****!*****!|!
1 – A kind reminder, if any of you have forgotten, the second life ka is currently acting as his heart, and it is only at rank three. His original heart has already disappeared. Surely, you can now grasp the gravity of the situation and the true severity of his condition.