Ki Meets Qi: Murim Reborn in Cultivation World

Riu Xian's heart pounded as the Supreme Elder's sinister smile widened. The golden hue of his spectral form shimmered faintly in the opulent chamber, casting an eerie glow over the skeletal remains beside the boat. Despite the grandeur of the space, an oppressive aura hung heavy in the air, suffocating any thoughts of escape.

The elder leaned against the obsidian-black boat, his expression amused as he began to speak.

"It's no secret, young one. When a mother is pregnant with an extraordinary child like you—one born with the powers of a Qilin and supreme eyes—the pregnancy doesn't follow normal rules. The longer the mother carries such a child, the more powerful the child will become."

Riu Xian's breath hitched as the elder's words confirmed his worst fears. This was no coincidence. His existence, his struggles, his very being—they had all been orchestrated by the man standing before him.

"When I kidnapped your mother, she had already been pregnant with you for three years," the elder continued, his voice calm, almost nostalgic. "At the time, I was a renowned alchemist in the upper world. I had knowledge and treasures that others could only dream of, but I wanted more—more power, more influence, more immortality. You were my solution."

The elder gestured toward the sleek, rune-covered boat beside him.

"This spatial boat was my prized possession, capable of traveling underground, storing living beings, and holding immense resources. I used it to escape to the lower realms with your mother. She was essential to my plans, so I ensured she had every comfort and facility she needed."

He chuckled, a hollow sound that echoed through the chamber.

"Do you understand, boy? I didn't kidnap her out of malice but necessity. You were to be my perfect vessel. But things did not go as planned."

The elder's expression darkened, and his spectral aura flickered ominously. "Your father's family—the Riu family—was not ignorant. They discovered my actions far sooner than I anticipated. One of my own disciples betrayed me, revealing my plans in exchange for their favor. They attacked me with everything they had, sending their elites to hunt me down."

Riu Xian's fists clenched as the elder continued, his tone bitter.

"The Riu family was formidable, even by upper-world standards. Their lineage carried the blood of the Qilin, and their patriarch was a cultivator far beyond my realm—his power was immense and terrifying. When they found me, I was forced to fight for my life, knowing escape would come at a great cost."

The elder's spectral form shifted, as if reliving the events. "The battle was fierce. I used every artifact, every technique I possessed, to hold them off. But their strength was overwhelming. I was gravely injured, my soul damaged, and my body riddled with wounds. Yet I refused to surrender. Your unborn potential was too valuable to lose."

He gestured toward the boat. "In my desperation, I used this spatial treasure to flee. It was my lifeline, my escape. But descending to the lower realms required a heavy price. To survive, I sacrificed my cultivation, reducing myself to a mere shell of my former self. It was a humiliating defeat, but it was necessary to preserve my plans."

The elder's gaze turned distant as he continued. "One hundred years passed, and your mother's pregnancy progressed. By then, she was nearing her labor. But there was a problem—my soul strength wasn't fully recovered, and you weren't ready for the transfer. To successfully occupy your body, you had to reach the peak of the Qi Gathering realm, and I needed my soul to be in its prime. I realized I had to delay your birth."

He paused, his spectral form glowing faintly as he spoke. "It was then that I decided to use the core and blood of the Dragon and Phoenix that my master had gifted me. I infused them into your unborn body, enhancing your potential. But the process had an unintended consequence—it increased your mother's pregnancy by another seven hundred years."

Riu Xian's eyes widened in disbelief. "Seven hundred years? That's…" He trailed off, struggling to comprehend the sheer scale of time.

"Yes," the elder said, his voice calm. "During those centuries, I ensured she had the best conditions. I built this underground cave as her sanctuary, providing her with everything she needed. But as the years passed, I realized my soul still wasn't fully healed. I needed more time."

The elder's tone grew somber. "After nearly a millennium, the time of your birth finally arrived. I was ecstatic. You were the culmination of all my efforts—a child born after a thousand years, with the powers of the Qilin, Dragon, Phoenix, and Bixi combined you. With such strength, you would be unrivaled within the same realm and capable of defeating cultivators above your realm. But the heavens did not smile upon me. Your birth attracted a divine tribulation, a punishment from the heavens for tampering with the natural order."

The elder's tone grew somber. "After nearly a millennium, the time of your birth finally arrived. I was ecstatic. You were the culmination of all my efforts—a child born after a thousand years, with the powers of the Qilin, Dragon, Phoenix, and Bixi combined. But the heavens did not smile upon me. Your birth attracted a divine tribulation, a punishment from the heavens for tampering with the natural order."

He shook his head, his spectral form flickering. "The tribulation was unlike anything I had ever seen. It was vast, powerful, and relentless. I took you and your mother outside the cave to face it, thinking I could resist it. But I was wrong."

Riu Xian's throat tightened as the elder continued.

"The lightning struck us with unrelenting fury. Your mother died instantly, shielding you with her last ounce of strength. Before she passed, she named you 'Riu Xian.' Her final act was one of love, even after everything I had done."

The elder's voice softened, a rare trace of regret coloring his words. The elder's voice softened, a rare trace of regret coloring his words. "I fought with everything I had, but the tribulation left me mortally wounded. I tried to escape, but it was futile. With what little strength remained, I used my boat to bring you back to this underground cave. My body was destroyed, leaving behind only my skeleton, but my soul endured, bound to this place. The technique I possess to take over a body can only be used once, so I refrained from using it before. But now, with you here, I can finally perform it and claim your body as my own."

The elder's gaze sharpened as he spoke of the years that followed. "You remained in a coma for thirteen years. During that time, I used the last of my resources to ensure your survival. When you finally woke, I used a teleportation talisman to send you to the Cloudspring Sect. I also sent a transmission jade slip, instructing the sect to take you in as a handyman disciple."

Riu Xian frowned, remembering the hardships he had faced in the sect. "They treated me like an outcast," he muttered. "They said I had no talent and stopped giving me resources."

The elder smirked. "Of course they did. None of them realized the truth—that your meridians were blocked, sealing your true potential. I intended to unblock some of them, but due to the essence of the Bixi, I was unable to do so. The essence formed a unique seal that can only be undone as you improve your cultivation. In a way, this worked to my advantage—it kept you humble, hungry, and most importantly, alive. Had they known your true potential, they might have tried to exploit or eliminate you."

The elder's spectral form seemed to grow brighter as he finished his tale. When the Bright Snow Sect attacked, you fled toward the forest in a desperate attempt to escape. Unknowingly, you were drawn directly toward the direction of my cave. It seems fate was on my side.

He spread his arms, his laughter ringing through the chamber. "And now, here we are. My soul is stronger than ever, and you are at the perfect stage (peak of Qi Gathering stage) for me to transfer into your body. All my preparations, my sacrifices, my patience—they have all led to this moment."

Riu Xian took a step back, his heart pounding as the elder's laughter grew louder. The weight of the elder's gaze bore down on him, and he knew there was no escape.

"Now that you are here, your body will be mine!" the elder declared, his voice echoing with power and malevolence. "Hahaha!"