Lei Jin's lips curled into a natural smile. A surge of fierce loyalty and protectiveness, a feeling he rarely experienced in his previous life, blossomed through his very soul.
His tone was calm, imbued with a newfound sense of worth for Lei Ya as he spoke, "Take it easy, now. I was just a bit startled after waking up. And this sleep… I feel like it's done something amazing to me. Though, my mind is a bit frazzled."
"Frazzled?" Lei Ya furrowed her brows, her sharp gaze scrutinizing him. She clicked her tongue, a familiar sign of her impatience. "See? Li Hua...ugh that silly girl is too trusting of her family. But those venomous bastards are just itching to see us, specifically you, fall. That drink that so-called saintly Senior Sister gave you? That wasn't to help you, Jin. Now I'm seeing she could be the very reason why you're frazzled. She did something!"
'Li Hua…' That name struck a chord within Lei Jin's mind. Bits and pieces of the original Lei Jin's memories rapidly coalesced, merging into his new consciousness.
'This is… Li Hua, from a minor noble family in this Beloved Sky Sect. And Long Tian is from a stronger, more influential family… hm…' Thoughts flowed through Lei Jin's mind, clear and sharp.
Trouble was already here upon his awakening, a tangled web of petty jealousies and insidious schemes. But fearing trouble, backing down, never once crossed his mind.
Since trouble was already here, Lei Jin knew the first thing to do was plan and act. Hesitating would only lead to defeat.
He slightly narrowed his eyes, his voice low and deliberate. "That drink that woman gave me, did you know what I was doing after? I can't seem to specifically recall." Naturally, Lei Jin wouldn't needlessly complicate the situation by revealing his transmigration.
Lei Ya, accepting his memory lapse as a natural consequence of his "frazzled" state, nodded. "Well, you got increasingly sluggish throughout the day until you finally said you needed to take a nap. And then I didn't see you for the rest of the day! You could only imagine how annoying it was to fend off Long Tian's annoying minions without you around."
A long sigh escaped Lei Ya's mouth, a rare moment of vulnerability. She gripped her small fist, hope and fierce determination blazing in her eyes. "This is why we need that pill, Jin. No matter how small the advantage, we need it. And truthfully, you need it more than me. Those bastards want to lock me in a cage while they only see you as a troublesome ant to be stomped on. And I refuse to accept that!"
Such overwhelming care, such raw, unfiltered loyalty, made Lei Jin pause for a moment. That passionate speech reinforced what he needed to do.
That woman who gave them that tea…Lei Jin didn't have much doubt that it was meant to poison, possibly kill him outright.
For what reason?
It didn't matter at this moment. What did matter was that people already wanted him dead. And it was evident how this Long Tian fellow would utterly waste him if he had the prime opportunity to get to his sister.
All of this, plus seeing his sister so worried, was unbearable to Lei Jin. He had lived a life of quiet desperation on Earth, a life of hesitation. He wouldn't do so here.
Thus, to clear up all worry, to start his new life with an undeniable statement of power, Lei Jin focused. He would face every challenge head-on!
An instinct that was like second nature to him, a profound understanding of his new body and its inherent power, allowed Lei Jin to do everything perfectly.
Deep within, Lei Jin used his sixth sense, or what he now accurately remembered as his Spirit Sense, to pull upon a power within his blood and soul, a force waiting to be awakened.
A thunderous aura instantly bloomed out of his body!
'Chi!'
Rumbling lightning, multi-colored and vibrant, roared within his very being. The overflow of lightning seemed overwhelming, an aura that wanted to drown existence itself, making the air crackle and hum with raw energy.
And yet, Lei Jin stayed perfectly calm, his mind a still pond amidst the tempest. His Spirit Sense, precise and absolute, pulled a portion of this unfathomable lightning, akin to him simply stretching out his hand to pluck a fruit.
He used that lightning stream to pour into his dantian, directly striking that restrictive force that had plagued him!
Sounds akin to glass shattering echoed, not outwardly, but deep within his spiritual core. The seal within Lei Jin's dantian completely shattered into dust before evaporating completely, leaving no trace.
Lightning crazily swirled in his dantian, the Essence Energy within rapidly converting into a vortex of pure, vibrant energy, a brilliant core that seemed capable of blinding an entire city.
'Chi!'
The shattering unleashed a blinding, multi-colored lightning flash that filled the entire room!
"Ah! Hey!" Lei Ya's indignant shouts erupted. She was forced to shield her eyes, subconsciously taking several steps back, stumbling over her own feet. "What the hell, Jin?! What's going on?!"
In that instant, Lei Jin felt lighter, clearer, as if he was floating on air. Thoughts, insights, and solutions were coming to him at light speed, his mind working with unparalleled efficiency. He waved his hand, and the blinding flash of lightning cleared away, revealing the opulent room once more.
"Eh? You…" Lei Ya trailed off, unable to formulate her thoughts, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and awe.
Lei Jin calmly smiled at her. He had a certain feeling that the restriction upon his dantian was something that came from someone more powerful than a mere sect disciple. Perhaps it would've been a better idea to gain more information about the situation then instantly react.
And yet…that thought.
Keeping his head down to an unreasonable degree, living a life of endless caution and hesitation, it simply didn't sit right with Lei Jin's very being.
Naturally, he knew not to do something instantly outrageous that would cast immediate, undeniable suspicion upon him. But in a new world with endless possibilities, and with an ability evidently powerful beyond measure, why the hell should he limit everything?
He knew about the pitiful fates of other transmigrator protagonists, either always staying cautious and gathering strength at a snail's pace, or recklessly charging ahead and being saved only through sheer plot armor.
Lei Jin didn't want to simply fall into either camp. He would stay cautious, yes, but he would take necessary, calculated risks that were within his control. He was done living a life of hesitation. And with his foes already making their play, he knew it was time to act.
Thus, with a mind smooth as water, Lei Jin gently patted Lei Ya's shoulder, his touch firm and reassuring.
"Calm down, Ya," he finally spoke, the shortened name feeling natural, a sign of their deep bond. "Everything will be more than fine from now on. My sleep has enlightened me to a new breakthrough. The same enlightenment that will now help you."
"Eh?" Lei Ya confusedly uttered again, her eyes still wide, trying to comprehend his words.
Lei Jin didn't verbally respond. Instead, he smoothly sent a wisp of his blue, radiant lightning, now purified and controlled, into Lei Ya's body. His Spirit Sense smoothly controlled the radiant lightning, flowing it directly into Lei Ya's dantian.
That weaker restrictive force on her dantian, the same one he had sensed earlier, was once again completely shattered by the purifying power of his radiant lightning.
'Chi!'
A glorious, oceanic shine completely encased Lei Ya for a brief moment, making her glow like a beacon. Refreshing waves of sensation rippled across the room, a palpable feeling of purity and liberation. When Lei Ya blinked her eyes, the gentle aura vanished. A large gasp exhaled out of Lei Ya's mouth, a sound of pure astonishment. "Jin… this—I… I feel so light, so clear! The blockage… it's truly gone!"
"Good," Lei Jin smiled and nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Now, calm your breathing and begin absorbing a small bit of Essence Energy. Feel the difference in your cultivation."
"Right!" Lei Ya was still a bit confused, but she didn't refuse her brother's word. She sat cross-legged on the floor, closed her eyes, and began to meditate, drawing in the ambient spiritual energy.
Lei Jin repeated the same process, as if he'd done so his entire life. His Spirit Sense expanded, reaching out, feeling the very pulse of the Essence Energy in the room. His soul stirred, a faint sensation of lightning accompanying his every move, a part of his very essence.
He pulled a sliver of Essence Energy from the air like a magnet, flowing straight into his dantian. In that instant, the stream of Essence Energy was encased by a vibrant stream of lightning that flowed out from his blood and soul, purifying it.
A second later, the stream of Essence Energy turned even more vibrant, more potent than before. It flowed into the swirling vortex of lightning-attuned Essence Energy swirling within his dantian, becoming one with his nascent power.
The process was extraordinarily simple for Lei Jin. A simple pull gathered the Essence Energy, and his lightning instinctively purified it to a greater level. Just simply utilizing his lightning brought about this boundless power, filling him with sensations like never before.
His eyes flung open, a spark of multi-colored lightning faintly shimmering within his pupils.
Lei Ya flung her eyes open at the same time, her expression a mix of awe, boundless hope, but also a growing worry for the future.