Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds

Strange, I feel like my head isn't dizzy or heavy anymore...

Many forgotten old things are now reappearing in my mind, one by one.

Wang Wenzhen got out of bed and habitually thumped his old leg.

But his old leg seemed much stronger. Unlike before, when he had to massage it for a while after waking up just to regain feeling.

At the same time, he found that his head seemed much clearer at this moment, as if he had drunk from a sweet spring. A warm force at his brow was constantly nourishing his limbs and body.

Is it because of reading and cultivating my character? Wang Wenzhen speculated.

He didn't think this was a matter of ghosts and gods. Reading and cultivating one's character could also nourish one's inner light, thereby leading to enlightenment.

"Light the lamp," Wang Wenzhen ordered. "Bring me the books from my book box. I want to read by lamplight tonight."

He instructed his servant to come in, help him wash up, light the lamp, and fetch the books.

He was a book lover, never without a volume in hand. Now that his head wasn't dizzy and his mind wasn't muddled, he naturally wanted to seize the time to read and not leave any regrets.

「The next day.」

The Wang Family's master and servants left their old mansion, leaving behind only a new lock. The courtyard was much emptier than yesterday; only the Mulberry Tree in the corner remained unchanged.

"Break off a mulberry branch," Wang Wenzhen said. "When I am laid to rest, place it in my coffin."

Midway, the Wang Family's Horse carriage returned. Wang Wenzhen, standing on tiptoe on the carriage shaft with his hand resting on the wall, broke off a branch from the Mulberry Tree that stretched out over it.

"Get a top-quality wooden box to hold it," Wang Wenzhen instructed the housekeeper, patting the dust off his robe as he returned to the Horse carriage.

This mulberry branch was the soil of his hometown.

The Horse carriage rumbled along and soon disappeared up the slope.

「One and a half years later.」

A thunderbolt struck from the sky, illuminating the entire Shangjiang Village. It hit the Mulberry Tree at the Wang Family's Old Mansion.

Neighbors living nearby witnessed this scene. They believed the Mulberry Tree had transformed into a demon and attracted a Heavenly Tribulation.

The next day, villagers gathered at the Wang Family's Old Mansion, looking at the Mulberry Tree, which was on the verge of death after being struck by Heavenly Thunder.

The Mulberry Tree was entirely charred black, a stark contrast to its lush, leafy appearance from the day before. Not a single mulberry leaf remained. On its bark, traces of scorching from the Heavenly Thunder still lingered, emitting black smoke.

"This Mulberry Tree belongs to Lord Wang's family. If you want to cut it down, you must ask Lord Wang in the Capital City, and furthermore..." an official began.

"The National Dynasty has stipulated that for those who illicitly cut mulberry wood, the leader shall be beheaded, and their accomplices banished three thousand li!"

The village head of Shangjiang Village hurried to the Wang Family's Old Mansion. Seeing a few superstitious old men clamoring to cut down this large Mulberry Tree, he immediately stepped forward to dissuade them and, in front of everyone, recited the law of the Li Dynasty.

("Those who fell mulberry and jujube trees for firewood shall be punished: for stripping mulberry bark equivalent to three days' labor or more, the leader shall be put to death, and accomplices banished three thousand li; for less than three days' labor, the sentence is reduced from death to penal servitude, and accomplices sentenced to three years of hard labor." – *History of the Song Dynasty, Records of Food and Money, No. 126*)

Daring to cut down Mulberry Trees and strip their bark was a major crime under the laws of the Li Dynasty.

"This Mulberry Tree is demonic! Last time Dog Boy passed by here, he climbed the Wang Family's wall and almost fell to his death. But when he turned around, he found himself at the entrance of the alley..."

"Yes, this Mulberry Tree is demonic! Last time, Little Ya..."

The villagers chimed in one after another.

Although they didn't believe the Mulberry Tree had harmed anyone—and no one who had died in the village had done so under bizarre circumstances—they felt this demonic Mulberry Tree would eventually bring harm. By then, they wouldn't be able to control it.

Furthermore, Heavenly Thunder only struck the most heinous sinners. Since the Mulberry Tree had been struck by Heavenly Thunder, it proved the Mulberry Tree was very likely an 'evil entity'.

"Nonsense!" the village head retorted. "This Heavenly Thunder merely struck this Mulberry Tree by accident. This tree was planted by Lord Wang. If this Mulberry Tree is demonic, wouldn't that imply that Lord Wang..."

He saw that these ignorant villagers still wouldn't give up, so he let out a cold snort and continued with his sharp words. After he finished speaking, his eyes swept over the crowd, his face full of menace.

Even though Wang Wenzhen hadn't returned to Shangjiang Village for a long time and hadn't provided much assistance to his kinsfolk, the village had still enjoyed his protection after he became a high official.

Regarding taxes, corvée labor, and the like, the county authorities were willing to show Wang Wenzhen deference, granting Shangjiang Village various exemptions.

Once rumors of demonic entities in the Wang Family's Old Mansion spread, officials in the Court who were dissatisfied with Wang Wenzhen would undoubtedly seize upon the matter to criticize and attack him.

If Wang Wenzhen were to lose his official post as a result, the benefits Shangjiang Village received from the county would surely cease. Even if Wang Wenzhen didn't lose his position, upon learning of this situation, he would likely grow resentful towards his fellow villagers and withdraw his future support.

Under the village head's coercion, the villagers, though disgruntled, could only disperse dejectedly.

To reach the Approaching Yang Realm signifies achieving Return to Yang from the body of a Ghost Immortal. In addition to the Dao Tribulation of Heavenly Thunder, a human tribulation will also descend. However, this human tribulation is controllable by oneself, allowing one to seize a sliver of true destiny from the unseen...

Inside the pitch-black Mulberry Tree, Xu Xing curled up within the Golden Crow Egg. He felt the Golden Crow Bloodline nourishing his Approaching Yang Realm Ghost Immortal body as he murmured softly to himself.

After shedding the fleshly shell and becoming a Ghost Immortal, one's fate becomes like rootless duckweed. Beyond the Elixir Mark Realm lie the Ghost Immortal Three Realms: Approaching Yang, Returning to the Netherworld, and Fate Determining. Apart from reconstructing a Physical Body, the most crucial task is to once again plunder "true destiny" from heaven and earth, thereby achieving transcendence.

Upon breaking into the Approaching Yang Realm, one will face the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation and also a human tribulation. This human tribulation is orchestrated by the Approaching Yang Realm Ghost Immortals themselves. They deliberately subject themselves to the calamity of mortal blades and weapons, nurturing a "true destiny" from within this ordeal.

As for the Returning to the Netherworld Realm, the number of tribulations is largely similar to that of the Approaching Yang Realm, except the human tribulation transforms into an Earth Tribulation.