The spiritual sea shimmered faintly as Li Yan looked between the celestial lady and Yan Tian’s soul, confusion clouding his gaze. "I don’t understand. Why does it depend on my decision?"

  The celestial lady’s voice softened, but her gaze sharpened; she decided to use her authority as a superior, knowledgeable being. "I vowed that any soul seeking to inherit Yan Tian’s body must fulfill his final wishes. Only then can I allow you to a new life here."

  Li Yan fell silent, pondering her words.

  He desperately wanted to live again. From just short words from the lady before him, he was sure this was a fantasy world like the ones he'd only read about in novels.

  A world where cultivation and adventure awaited him—a life unlike anything he'd known before.

  But his instincts as a businessman warned him—nothing came without a price. "Was fulfilling the wishes of a boy he had never met worth the chance to live again?"

  The answer came swiftly: "Of course it is."

  A smile spread across his face. "I will do my best to fulfill any wish he makes."

  Relief flickered in Yan Tian’s eyes. The celestial lady gave a single approving nod, her expression calm yet pleased. "Good. I will guide you through what must be done," she said. "But first, you must understand what happened here."

  She explained how children born with the darkness element were feared, hunted, and brought to this place.

  How the outside world feared and hated them for something they couldn’t control. She revealed her true identity as the Radiant Resurrection Flame, who is a heavenly flame that purifies these children and gives them a new chance at life.

  Unfortunately, during the ritual, Yan Tian's body was damaged. But before his soul faded away, she planned to seal it within this spiritual consciousness, allowing him to live a few more years without cultivation, as a normal human.

  Then came her final revelation—she intended to seal Yan Tian’s soul.

  Li Yan listened intently, his sharp mind absorbing every word. He compared her story to the novels he used to read in his previous life.

  Thanks to those novels, he understood some cultivation concepts—such as heavenly flames and spiritual seas—that he had previously thought were fantasy. Even though they varied from story to story. And yet… here they were real.

  His thoughts raced ahead: "How can a heavenly flame take human form… and speak like this?"

  When she finished, he asked quietly, "So, Yan Tian’s soul will remain within this body? He can see everything?"

  The celestial lady nodded. "Yes. His soul will stay here after I create a seal around it. He’ll watch but no longer control. This body is yours now."

  "As for its condition, it’s within my power to resurrect and restore it—but only if you promise to fulfill his last wishes."

  Li Yan was taken aback. Resurrect the body? He paused, processing her words.

  This was clearly beyond anything he had ever experienced. He reminded himself—this was a fantasy world, where gods, cultivation, and heavenly flames existed. Rebirth and resurrection were no longer fiction but his reality.

  After a brief pause, Li Yan nodded. "Then tell me. What are his last wishes?"

  The celestial lady smiled softly and began recounting Yan Tian’s final wishes. As she spoke, Li Yan mulled them over.

  Meanwhile, Yan Tian stood silently, watching the celestial lady address Li Yan.

  "So," Li Yan began, "the first wish is that he wants to see Yan Fei and his family one last time. I understand how important it is for him to see his family before he dies."

  He smiled faintly, warmth flickering in his chest. "Consider it done."

  Yan Tian smiled, relief flickering across his weary face, and the celestial lady nodded in approval. "And the second?"

  "This kid wants his name to live on in his family." Li Yan paused, then nodded firmly. "Consider it done as well."

  Yan Tian spoke with a smile. "Senior Li, thank you for promising to fulfill these two wishes. I feel happy."

  "As for the second one, I just ask that you use my name when you return to my family, and do something for them so they’ll remember me."

  Li Yan met his gaze without hesitation. "Don’t worry. From today onward, I’ll carry both our names—Li Yan and Yan Tian."

  "Also, call me Brother, after all, we are sharing the same body."

  Yan Tian's smile widened, and the celestial lady was pleased with Li Yan’s resolve. "And the third?"

  "He wants to change the fate of all darkness element holders, to ensure they’re no longer hunted in this world," Li Yan’s breath caught.

  That was no small request. His businessman’s instincts screamed that this was a mountain of a promise—an impossible fight against an entire world’s prejudice.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  But as he clenched his fist, fire burned in his eyes. "I’ll do my best to make sure they have the right to live their lives, just like anyone else."

  The celestial lady’s eyes gleamed with approval. "Very well, Li Yan. You have a noble spirit. If you can fulfill Yan Tian's third wish, you’ll not only complete his desire but also the dream of countless others."

  Li Yan nodded, a renewed sense of purpose burning within him. "I won’t let anyone down."

  Yet deep inside, he couldn’t help but think, "I’ve just agreed a deal bigger than any contract in my last life. But this time… the stakes are far higher."

  The celestial lady nodded in approval. "Good. Now comes the crucial step—you must gain complete control over this body. To do so, you’ll need to witness and memorize all of Yan Tian’s memories. Only then will you understand both his life and the ways of this cultivation world."

  Li Yan’s gaze firmed. He inhaled deeply, as though accepting the weight of destiny. "I’m ready."

  "Sit cross-legged," she instructed, her tone calm but carrying unquestionable authority. "I will assist you. Once you’ve taken full control, we will meet again in the real world—not this spiritual consciousness."

  "Meanwhile, I’ll place a seal around Yan Tian’s soul."

  Without hesitation, Li Yan lowered himself onto the tranquil sea and sat cross-legged. The celestial lady raised her hand, summoning a white flame.

  The fireball drifted toward him and sank into his body, yet it did not burn. Instead, it sank deep into his soul, igniting the process of merging him with Yan Tian’s body.

  The transformation had begun.

  The celestial lady’s attention then shifted to Yan Tian. "It’s your turn now. I’m going to create a seal around your soul. Be ready, and don’t resist."

  Yan Tian gave a solemn nod. His gaze lingered briefly on Li Yan, who was already absorbed in the merging process, before returning to the celestial lady. His face hardened with resolve.

  The celestial lady lifted both hands, her fingers wove through the air like a master painter, each motion birthing a luminous green circle filled with ancient runes.

  The circles slowly rotated around her, their glow intensifying as if her will had awakened them. The circles shifted and aligned, encircling Yan Tian’s soul.

  The runes glowed brighter, weaving around him until they became a radiant cage of light. Calm but unwavering, the celestial lady focused with precision, pouring her will into every symbol.

  Minutes passed before the glow solidified. A translucent, glass-like barrier of green light closed around Yan Tian, sealing his soul within a protective shell.

  Her voice softened, yet carried the weight of finality. "The seal is complete. Within it, you may rest for several more years without fear of dissolution."

  Before Yan Tian could answer, she shifted her hands once more. Several glowing runes emerged, fusing seamlessly into the barrier.

  A moment later, a luminous countdown appeared above the seal.

  8 Years, 3 Months, 26 Days

  Inside the seal, Yan Tian’s eyes darkened with complexity.

  After a long pause, he exhaled a faint sigh. "So… I have just over eight years to see my wishes fulfilled." His tone was calm, yet beneath it lay a quiet ache.

  He bowed deeply, cupping his hands. "Senior, thank you. I hope this is more than enough to see my family again."

  The celestial lady inclined her head but reminded him with firm patience, "Do not forget the rules I told you. Also, I left some energy within—it may strengthen your soul. Absorb it slowly—it will aid you, but recklessness may damage what little remains of your soul."

  "I understand," Yan Tian replied, his voice steadier now. He crossed his legs within the glowing seal, closing his eyes to enter meditation as instructed.

  Satisfied, the celestial lady raised her hand. With a single graceful motion, she dismissed the fifty-meter barrier that had cloaked the spiritual consciousness since her arrival. The sea rippled in silence once more.

  Then, with a final glance at the two souls, she vanished from the realm.

  In the real world, the celestial lady slowly opened her eyes. She floated back from Yan Tian’s body with a graceful motion, then turned her gaze to the last two children in line—a boy and a girl, both waiting for purification.

  She carefully examined their memories, then performed the purification ritual with perfect precision. This time, however, she chose an extra step.

  Before purifying them, she checked their elemental affinities—she refused to repeat the mistake she made with Yan Tian.

  Once finished, she returned to Yan Tian’s side, hovering quietly. Her eyes lingered on his body, waiting patiently for Li Yan’s soul to complete its integration with Yan Tian’s memories and form.

  She knew it would take time, yet curiosity kept her attentive, watching for the smallest ripple of change.

  Moments later, she felt it—a subtle but undeniable shift within Yan Tian’s body. Li Yan had taken control. A flicker of wonder passed through her eyes. This was her first time witnessing true soul transmigration, the merging of a soul from one world into the body of another.

  The faintest shift in Qi told her the transformation had reached its critical point.

  Unable to resist, she extended her hand and placed it gently on his forehead. Closing her eyes, her spiritual sense flowed inside, scanning every inch of him, comparing what she now felt against what she had observed earlier.

  At once, she noticed the change. The flow of Qi had grown smoother, stronger, as though the body had found its rightful owner.

  Li Yan’s soul had fused seamlessly with Yan Tian’s form, stabilizing the Qi Core. Even more surprising, the meridians she had previously sealed to restrain the darkness affinity had somehow been unsealed on their own—without her intervention.

  But then—she froze.

  Her senses caught something impossible. The meridians were no longer what they had been.

  Before, Yan Tian possessed fifty-three: the standard fifty-two that all cultivators shared, and the extra Elemental Vein tied to his darkness affinity.

  Now… there were sixty-one.

  The original 53 were still present, but eight new ones had appeared, pulsed faintly, their nature unfamiliar, their energy dormant yet undeniable.

  Her eyes flew open, shock flashing across her face. "How… how can eight new meridians be generated in this body?" she whispered, brows knitting in disbelief.

  She probed deeper, her spiritual sense combing through every channel, every vein, confirming again and again what she had sensed. Yet no clear explanation presented itself. Even with her vast knowledge, this was beyond her experience.

  Then, from the depths of memory, a fragment surfaced.

  "When a cultivator awakens their elemental affinity, an additional meridian manifests," she murmured, recalling ancient teachings. "The Elemental Vein… that’s how the total reaches 53."

  Her gaze sharpened as the thought struck her. "But… what if someone possesses more than one elemental affinity? Wouldn’t they also awaken more than one Elemental Vein?"

  She straightened slowly, her lips curving with realization. "If that’s true, then these eight unknown meridians must be additional Elemental Veins."

  A spark of awe lit her expression. "That would mean this body now holds the potential for all nine elemental affinities."

  She stepped back, her expression composed but her eyes alight with anticipation. Excitement warred with unease within her chest. To nurture such a vessel was to witness a miracle—yet also to invite calamity.

  "However… each one must still be awakened."