Echoes of a Shattered Memory

But there’s no time for formalities. Tell me everything that transpired while I was gone.”

Oni’s crimson eyes gleamed under the light of the dim barrier. “When you commanded me to monitor the eastern part of the central region for potential dangers, I felt a sudden disruption in your energy. In that instant, I lost all connection with you. I immediately abandoned my task and returned to the sect… but what awaited me there was a nightmare."

Oni paused for a moment, his voice carrying the weight of the memory. "Your sect was in chaos—a bloody war had erupted. The Western and Southern sects launched a surprise attack. Their forces were overwhelming, and the Eastern sect had merely been a diversion. Amid the carnage, your father stood resolutely,

battling nine intermediate immortal leaders from sects like Heaven’s Sky, Blue Demons, Spiro Wolves, and Chronologions. He held the line, pushing them back and ultimately thwarting their invasion. But… he vanished after the battle. I searched desperately for you, but…”

Oni clenched his fists tightly before reaching into his robes. “Master Nezu intercepted me before I could leave. He entrusted me with this,” Oni said, producing a shimmering golden page that seemed to hum with an ancient power. He offered it reverently, and Navrat’s shared hands took it.

“He said I was to deliver this to you when I found you, no matter the circumstances.”

Ruhi could feel Navrat’s interest spike as he examined the golden page. Though she couldn’t understand its full significance, she felt its power radiating through their shared connection.

Oni continued, his tone darkening. “Afterward, your body was discovered by a group of soldiers. You were declared dead by someone influential in the invasion. But when your best friends, Xia and Zanith, heard the news, they refused to believe it. They argued vehemently with the elders, claiming you couldn’t have died from such a weak attack.

“I watched from the shadows, Master, and your body… it was off. It didn’t look like the body you once had. Yet, I was certain you weren’t truly dead—my existence as your servant in this

world proved it. But the sect was in turmoil. A few days later, Akansh was made the new leader. However, after only a week, he abandoned the throne and disappeared without explanation.

“I began investigating, but before I could gather much, I was attacked by a phantom assassin. Their presence was unlike anything I’d encountered before. They moved as if from another realm, and I could not retaliate due to the restrictions you placed upon me. I had no choice but to retreat to your pocket domain, waiting for your call ever since.”

Navrat absorbed the information silently, his mind processing the implications. Oni tilted his head curiously and asked, “Master, what

happened to your body? This one seems… weak. Different.”

With a sigh, Navrat responded, “It’s a long story. This body isn’t mine, Oni. It belonged to someone else, and now I must navigate its limitations. After the pill I crafted earlier, its strength increased to Advanced Evolved Tier 3, which is where most of the elite humans in this world cap out. But it will be a grueling process to cross the next breakthrough to Intermediate Transcended Tier.”

Oni nodded, his expression unreadable. “What are your orders, Master?”

“I need answers,” Navrat declared. “You will investigate the other three sects. I will deal with

Heaven’s Sky myself. They owe me a reckoning, and I intend to collect.”

“As you wish, Master.” Oni bowed deeply before disappearing in a swirl of dark energy.

The barriers Navrat had erected shimmered and dissipated, and the world came rushing back into focus. A golden sunrise painted the horizon in vibrant hues of orange and pink, casting long shadows over the forest. Ruhi gasped at the beauty, momentarily distracted from her frustration. But her awe was short-lived as her voice broke through the shared silence.

“What was that all about?!” she demanded. “You cut me off! I was terrified! And who was

that… that thing you summoned? What were you two even talking about?”

“Calm down,” Navrat replied, his tone steady but firm. “That ‘thing’ is Oni, my servant. He’s handling his own mission. We have more pressing matters to focus on right now.”

“Pressing matters?” Ruhi’s voice was incredulous. “What could possibly be more pressing than summoning some horned demon and acting all mysterious?”

Navrat exhaled, his patience thinning. “I have personal business with Heaven’s Sky Sect, and I suspect you might have unfinished business as well. Now, if you’re done arguing, we’re heading to that city over there to gather information. After that, we move toward Cronolia, the capital of the Western Region.”

Ruhi grumbled internally but relented. The shared body moved forward, each step a reminder of their strange bond.

Navrat adjusted the black cloak, ensuring that no part of their body was visible. The hood cast a deep shadow over their face, making identification impossible as they neared the bustling town. The plan was simple—stay unnoticed and gather as much information as possible before making the next move. As they approached the gates, Navrat’s calm voice echoed in their shared mind.

“Ruhi, your soul is very weak at the moment,” Navrat began. “Even though I have control of this body now, it’s clear that you will need to strengthen yourself if you’re ever to regain full control. I’m soon planning to recover my own

body, but when that happens, it’s highly likely your body will struggle to handle its own latent powers. Here.”

Navrat produced a small, glowing pill. Its surface shimmered with vibrant hues of purple and gold, and an intense aura radiated from it, making it clear this was no ordinary creation. “This pill contains a significant portion of my transcendent energy,” he explained, holding it in the palm of his hand. “Absorbing it will be challenging, perhaps even painful. But if you manage to do it, your soul’s cultivation will reach the Intermediate Transcendent stage. This will not only strengthen you but also give you the tools you need to awaken your true potential. However, you’ll enter a deep sleep to train and refine yourself. You won’t be able to interact with the outside world until you emerge stronger.”

Ruhi hesitated for a moment, her silence heavy. Her emotions surged, unspoken and internalized, but Navrat could feel them—

doubt, despair, fear of inadequacy. Then, Navrat’s mind wandered, his consciousness touching upon a distant memory.

He was young, barely able to stand in the presence of the elders in his sect. They mocked him for his frail body, his inability to master even the simplest techniques. The words of disdain still lingered in his mind: “How can someone so weak even dream of being a cultivator?” But through all the jeers and laughter, his mother’s voice had been his anchor.

“Navrat,” she had said gently, kneeling before him, “the only way to truly win in life is to believe in yourself. The world may try to crush your spirit, but you must rise above it. If you believe in your heart and follow the right path, you’ll earn everything you desire. No power, no mockery, can take away your destiny if you fight for it.”

He had stared into her kind eyes, and she had smiled warmly. “Always follow your heart, my son. And no matter how hard the path may seem, never stray to the path of evil. You were born to serve a purpose far greater than you can imagine.”

The memory faded, and Navrat returned to the present. He took a deep breath, steadying his emotions. “Ruhi, you might not see it, but I do. Your soul holds immense potential, more than anyone around you has ever realized. There’s a presence within you, one so strong that even I can’t identify its true nature. But to reach that potential, you need to grow stronger. Your father saw it too; he always believed in you. Don’t let him down.”

Without a word, Ruhi took the pill. As it dissolved in her body, a brilliant light enveloped their shared form, and Navrat felt Ruhi’s consciousness being drawn inward. Her soul began to shift, cocooned in radiant energy that pulsed with power. The transformation

had begun. A layer of protective light surrounded her soul, isolating her completely as she entered a deep, hyper-sleep state.

“Good,” Navrat muttered. “While she’s training in her cocoon, I’ll focus on what needs to be done.”

With Ruhi’s consciousness dormant, Navrat fully assumed control of their shared body. His movements were precise and calculated as he stepped forward into the town. Adjusting the hood once again, he ensured no one could catch a glimpse of their face. The streets were lively, with merchants hawking their wares and townsfolk bustling about their business.

His first goal was clear: find a map. After wandering through the marketplace, he finally located a small shop tucked between two larger buildings. Its wooden sign creaked in the breeze, and the faint scent of parchment wafted from within.

The shopkeeper, an older man with a sharp gaze, glanced up as Navrat entered. Without a word, Navrat placed a gold coin on the counter. The shopkeeper’s eyes widened slightly before he nodded, retrieving a detailed map from the shelves. “Thank you,” Navrat said curtly, tucking the map away.

As he turned to leave, his keen ears caught fragments of a whispered conversation between two locals standing outside the shop.

“…Did you hear? The Life and Death Palace appeared again, just north of the capital.”

“Yeah, and they say this year’s tournament is going to be completely unpredictable with so many powerful groups heading there.”

Navrat’s interest piqued, and he returned to the counter. Sliding another gold coin toward the shopkeeper, he spoke in a low tone. “Tell me about the Life and Death Palace.”

The shopkeeper’s demeanor changed immediately. Leaning in as though sharing a secret, he whispered, “You’ve come to the right place. Three days ago, the Life and Death Palace appeared north of the capital city. It’s said to hold treasures beyond imagination—artifacts, techniques, and resources that can change the balance of power. The major sects and powerful individuals have already begun making their way there.”

Navrat nodded slowly. “A tournament, huh?” he murmured to himself before turning and leaving the shop

Once outside the city gates, Navrat opened the map, his gaze tracing the route to the Life and Death Palace. His mind wandered briefly to his past life, where he had encountered a similar palace. Back then, he had entered the treasure room—a space filled with priceless items that could elevate even the weakest cultivator to unimaginable heights. But what intrigued him most wasn’t the treasure—it was the

Annexure of Life, a small orb that contained the concentrated life energy of a perfect immortal being at the moment of their death. Such energy could restore him to his former glory—or perhaps even surpass it.

“This could be my chance,” Navrat thought. “If I retrieve the Annexure of Life, I can regain my full strength… or maybe even more.”

Without hesitation, he accelerated, channeling energy into his legs as he sprinted toward his destination. The wind howled around him, and the landscape blurred as he pushed himself to full speed.

Hours passed, and the moon rose high in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow over the landscape. Navrat finally slowed as the outline of a massive structure loomed in the distance. The Life and Death Palace stood tall and foreboding, its dark spires piercing the heavens. Surrounding it were dozens of camps—groups of cultivators and sect

members who had arrived ahead of him, each vying for a chance to claim the treasures within.

Navrat pulled his hood tighter, concealing his identity as he approached the outskirts of the camps. His focus sharpened, and his determination solidified. The Life and Death Palace was his next step toward reclaiming his destiny.