"It's not like you to be this way, Kailen."
A young man stepped into the tent where someone was crying.
"Not now, Serin. I'm not in the mood to talk."
"I know what happened to your little brother is tragic. But you need to pull yourself together. Your sister is still blaming herself. Go to her before you lose more than one brother."
Kailen sighed, but the tears kept falling. His eyes were burning from crying. He hated himself for being so helpless.
"Come on, get up."
Serin grabbed Kailen's hand and helped him stand. Then he brought a bucket of water and helped him wash his face.
A few minutes later, they both left the tent.
The search had ended. It was time to return.
In the end, they found nothing. It seemed Rayne had died due to misfortune.
But one thing was certain—his death would cause a huge stir once the news spread.
A member of the Ten Great Families dying like a pig?
Impossible. The story had to be changed. Fortunately, there was a secret organization to take the blame and give Rayne an honorable death as a warrior.
The area was cleared, and everyone returned to the city.
Days later, the news was announced:
Rayne Stoneheart was ambushed by dozens of men. He did not run. He fought to the very end to protect his sister.
All ten kingdoms buzzed with excitement, fear, concern, and grief.
Mixed emotions—but everyone agreed on one thing:
Rayne was a hero.
The man who had lived his past life as a tyrant… died a hero in this one.
The Stoneheart family held a grand funeral. The family head and Rayne's grandfather, Althera Stoneheart, was present.
Rayne's sister, Ellie, cried uncontrollably. She seemed the most affected, along with her brother Kailen. As for their father—his eyes were empty, but inside, he was hurting more than anyone.
Other families sent representatives to offer condolences. Even some of Rayne's old friends came.
---
On the other side, Lucian was decorating his new cave. It looked quite pleasant: a plate of fruit in the center, animal skin as a mat, a water pot, and clean clothes hanging nearby.
He wore a mask and head cover while sweeping the cave. He had sprinkled water on the floor first to keep the dust down.
He stepped out to throw away the dirt. A pot was cooking over a fire near the entrance. When he opened it, a rich aroma of fresh meat filled the air.
He removed his mask and tasted the soup.
"Mmm… perfect!"
He carried the pot inside, enjoyed his meal, and changed into more comfortable clothes.
"Hoo… what a long week. Thank God I knew about this cave, or I would've died in the forest."
"Now it's time to refine. I won't leave this cave until I finish strengthening my body. I already have enough food."
---
Time flew by, and a year passed.
The incident was forgotten. Life returned to normal. The investigation was closed, and people moved freely again.
However, a new rule was enforced: anyone leaving the city had to show ID and take a ticket. Upon return, they must present it—otherwise, they'd be questioned or even arrested.
This was to prevent another case like Rayne's—being killed by unknown assailants.
As for the secret organization, it was destroyed. It turned out to be a vast network of powerful cultivators. When this information was made public, it caused even more shock than Rayne's death.
Some noble families who supported the group were also arrested.
It was a full-scale purge. No one was spared. The Stoneheart family led the operation.
By the end of the year, peace was restored.
Except for one little girl, who sat staring at the sky through the window, sadness on her face.
"Just wait, brother. I will become stronger and fulfill your dream of becoming the family head."
Lucian didn't realize that after removing the thorn from his back… a nail had taken its place.
---
Back in the cave, Lucian had successfully refined his tendons, organs, and skin. The transformation was greater than anything before.
He was now unrecognizable.
Only one step remained:
Merging body, soul, and dantian. This would make him whole.
Usually, this stage changed a person's appearance into a more refined form.
But strangely, Lucian had already undergone those changes during earlier stages.
Now, he wasn't sure what would happen next.
Also, this was the stage where the System would awaken, marking the start of his journey as a cultivator.
Would he get the same skills as in his past life?
He was about to find out.
...
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