Still, her mind steadied around the idea, resolved to form. "When he wakes, I’ll test my theory."

  "And if my guess is right…"

  "…then this soul and body together may walk a path no cultivator has ever dared to walk." She drew back, her expression serene but filled with anticipation. For now, she would wait for Li Yan to awaken, and for a new chapter of his existence to begin.

  A chapter that might mark him as one of the rarest cultivators in all creation. A fate that might shake the heavens.

  An hour later, Li Yan stirred—his soul settling fully into the borrowed flesh. He had delved deep into Yan Tian’s memories, absorbing every detail of his past, his struggles, and his emotions.

  The transition had been smoother than expected. Though the body still felt foreign, Li Yan now felt firmly in control.

  Slowly, he opened his eyes.

  He found himself floating in the air. The atmosphere around him was dim and heavy, suffused with murky darkness, as if buried deep underground.

  A faint, unseen light source flickered in the distance, casting vague outlines across the pit. Directly ahead stood the celestial lady, her calm, ethereal glow brightening the gloom.

  Li Yan’s sharp gaze swept the dark pit. Eleven children of similar age to Yan Tian’s body lay unconscious on stone beds, their breathing steady, their faces peaceful.

  Looking upward, he noticed a round opening high above—a narrow circle of sky peeking through the darkness. Instinctively, his senses sharpened, clearer than ever before.

  His sight, his hearing, even the rhythm of his breath—it all felt heightened beyond what he’d known as a mortal. A faint smile tugged at his lips, but it faltered as an alien sensation spread through his body.

  Something was wrong.

  He looked down—then froze.

  His heart shook—his limbs were gone. Panic flared, but Li Yan forced himself to be calm, the trained composure of a man who had survived countless negotiations in his past life taking hold.

  He steadied his breath, then fixed his gaze on the celestial lady.

  His voice was low, controlled. "Senior, what is this? In the spiritual consciousness, you said the body was damaged. But this…" His eyes darkened. "This isn’t damage. This is… crippled."

  The celestial lady’s expression remained gentle as she nodded. "You’re right. Yan Tian’s body suffered severe injuries during the purification ritual. Look around—those children are safe and sound even after the ritual. But Yan Tian’s case was different. Something went wrong with him."

  Li Yan’s eyes narrowed, but he asked calmly, "Can you still resurrect this body, even in such a condition?"

  "Of course I can," she answered without hesitation.

  Her assurance steadied him. But then, her tone shifted, soft yet deliberate. "But before I resurrect your body, I must ask—did you learn from Yan Tian’s memories how to cultivate?"

  Li Yan chuckled softly, his confidence returning. "Of course. I understand the basics. But I still have to perform it practically to check it."

  The celestial lady nodded thoughtfully. "Good. Then let’s begin. First, you practice cultivating, then I have something to confirm. Because after your soul’s transmigration, I detected… changes in this body."

  Her eyes glimmered with intent. "If I’m correct, it could unlock a perfect path for you—one that makes you stronger than anyone else. And then I also have a new agreement to offer you."

  Li Yan’s brows lifted in surprise. His instincts told him she wasn’t exaggerating. After a moment’s silence, he inclined his head. "Senior, please guide me."

  The celestial lady smiled, her gaze calm yet wise. "Very well. Let’s begin."

  Extending her hand, she summoned a soft blue flame that danced on her palm like a living spirit. With a graceful flick, she sent it drifting toward Li Yan. The flame glided through the air, flowing like water until it wrapped gently around his body.

  In an instant, the flame solidified. Slowly, transparent limbs of shimmering blue formed—arms and legs sculpted from pure flame.

  Li Yan stared in disbelief. He flexed his new hands, lifted his legs, watching as they moved as naturally as flesh and bone. For the first time since awakening in this broken body, he felt whole again.

  "These are only temporary," the celestial lady explained softly. "They will allow you to cultivate like any other cultivators of this world."

  Li Yan flexed his arms and legs, testing the movements once more.

  Inwardly, awe surged within him at the sheer power of the Heavenly Flame. How could such a being create limbs from nothing? How many different flames did she command?

  But he swallowed his questions. Now was not the time.

  Keeping his expression calm, he simply nodded, hiding the storm of wonder within his heart.

  Li Yan sat cross-legged in midair, hovering only because of the celestial lady’s support. From Yan Tian’s memories, Li Yan already knew his cultivation level was far too low for him to fly on his own.

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  Closing his eyes, he focused inward.

  Drawing upon the knowledge he learned from Yan Tian’s memories, he began the process of cultivation. His awareness centered on the lower dantian, where a Qi Core—a pitch-black orb—resided.

  A smaller orb of the same color, known as a Qi Node, orbited around the Qi Core like the moon around Earth.

  Li Yan reached out to sense the surrounding energy. His first attempt to absorb Qi failed—the energy slipped from him like water through cupped hands.

  He frowned, steadying his breath, and tried again. Still nothing. On his third attempt, however, he finally managed to seize a thin wisp of energy from the air, guiding it through his meridians into the Qi Core.

  A flicker of satisfaction stirred within him as the energy began to swirl inside. Next came refining.

  Thrice he failed, the process slipping from his control. On the fourth try, however, he succeeded, and though the pace was slow, it filled him with determination.

  The celestial lady observed quietly, her serene eyes never leaving him. She did not interfere; she simply watched with patient calm.

  Twenty silent minutes passed before she finally spoke. "That’s enough, Li Yan. Stop cultivating."

  He opened his eyes, confidence glimmering in them after his small success. He looked to her, awaiting her next words.

  "Now it’s time to test a theory I’ve been considering," she said, her voice carrying a spark of anticipation.

  "This time, you won’t actively cultivate. Instead, I want you to sense the Qi Essence around you and let it naturally merge with your body. You just have to guide it through your meridians into your Qi Core, but don’t refine it."

  Though puzzled by the unusual instruction, Li Yan nodded in agreement. If she was guiding him, there had to be a reason.

  The celestial lady lifted her hand. A flame blossomed in her palm—white at its heart, laced with delicate hues of pink, green, and blue. It radiated warmth and purity, more beautiful than any fire he had ever seen. With a graceful motion, she sent it forward.

  The flame enveloped him completely.

  Li Yan braced for pain, but instead, a soothing warmth spread across his body, like sunlight after a long winter.

  He let out a quiet breath of relief, closing his eyes again, and he focused on sensing the Qi Essence within the flame. His first attempt brought nothing, as if the Qi Essence itself rejected him.

  Seeing this, the celestial lady increased the flame’s intensity. Power surged around him twentyfold, the air humming with energy. Heat pressed against his skin, yet it did not burn.

  This time, Li Yan pushed with greater determination. Finally, he felt it—the flame’s Qi slipping into his veins. He gasped softly as fire coursed through his meridians, vibrant and alive. It wasn’t just Qi. It was the essence of fire itself, fusing with his body on its own.

  But almost immediately, the darkness already within him surged, clashing with the invading element.

  His body trembled, "Not good…" he muttered, then instinctively pushed harder, accelerating the absorption.

  The conflict steadied. Minute by minute, he drew more in, guiding it with all his will.

  Until finally, Fire Qi Essence merged into his Qi Core. A sharp glow pulsed within him.

  The once pitch-black Qi Core now swirled with streaks of fiery orange, a strange duality of darkness and flame.

  The cyclone of fire around him roared, twisting violently, before dispersing all at once, leaving only silence in its wake.

  The celestial lady’s lips parted slightly, and her eyes gleamed. "Li Yan, did you feel any change in your body?" she asked, her voice tinged with expectation.

  Still catching his breath, Li Yan nodded. "I felt fire running through my veins. And my Qi Core… it’s now two colors—black and fiery orange. Though the black still dominates."

  The celestial lady’s lips curved into a smile. "Incredible—my estimation was correct."

  Floating closer, she placed a hand gently on his forehead, her spiritual sense probing his meridians. Her eyes snapped open moments later, alight with excitement. "One of your eight unknown meridians now holds the fire element affinity."

  Li Yan was surprised by her words as she stepped back, her expression radiant. "Congratulations, Li Yan. You now possess fire element affinity as well."

  Li Yan froze, his surprise deepening, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief. "Unknown Meridians? Fire element? But… Yan Tian’s memories were clear—this body had only a darkness affinity."

  "And cultivators are supposed to have only one element, aren’t they?"

  The celestial lady nodded. "You’re correct. Normally, a cultivator possesses only one element. And those who can cultivate two are considered geniuses, one in a million."

  "But your case… is even more unique."

  Li Yan’s eyes narrowed, his thoughts racing.

  "Even more unique?" he echoed, trying to grasp the weight of her words.

  "Yes," the celestial lady continued, her tone serious. "When your soul merged with Yan Tian’s body, it changed its very foundation. Other cultivators could never touch such possibilities, but you… you are different."

  "You now carry the potential to awaken all nine elemental affinities—not just darkness and fire."

  Silence stretched between them as Li Yan absorbed her declaration.

  But she wasn’t finished. "However," she continued, her tone heavy, "such power comes with a price. The more elements you awaken, the harder your cultivation path becomes."

  "Each element brings resistance, complexity, and the demand for balance within your core. The higher you climb, the greater the struggle. To control them all, you’ll need to forge harmony where most cultivators never face such a struggle. Your path will demand far more than anyone else’s."

  Li Yan lowered his gaze, thoughtful.

  In this world, most people could never dream of even a second affinity. Yet here he was—told he could awaken them all. The price? Endless hardship. But hardship was something he knew well—something he had endured all his previous life.

  After a pause, he lifted his head, eyes clear and unwavering. "So, what comes next?"

  The celestial lady’s blue eyes shimmered with an unreadable emotion. "Before we move forward, let me remind you of our original agreement. As you know, I promised to resurrect your body in exchange for your oath to fulfill Yan Tian’s final wishes."

  "That promise still stands."

  Her expression shifted, calm yet edged with intrigue. "However, now that my theory about your body’s potential is proven correct, I offer you a new agreement."

  Li Yan’s brows rose slightly. "And what is this new agreement?"

  She stayed quiet for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts carefully. Then she spoke with steady conviction. "If you accept, I will not only resurrect your body but also reshape it into something greater. A vessel strong enough to bear all nine elements, and granting you potential, one that will allow you to reach heights cultivators can’t even imagine."

  "And more than that… I will personally guide you on a path to strength that defies even the heavens themselves."

  His heartbeat quickened; outwardly, nothing changed.

  A superior body. Guidance from a being who could bend heaven’s laws. The offer was enough to make any cultivator kneel in gratitude. It was tempting—dangerously tempting.

  But he was no fool. Deals were never free. His life as a businessman had taught him the first rule of negotiation: always know the other party’s price.

  Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, his sharp mind already processing the details. "And what do you want in return for this offer?" he asked, voice steady.