Episode 1

The Golden Sky Realm was a vast realm, so vast that no one knew its true extent. Within this realm lay countless places yet untouched by human hands.

Five great continents graced the Golden Sky Realm: the Central Continent, the Western Continent, the Southern Continent, the Northern Continent, and the Eastern Continent. Each continent was separated by a vast expanse of ocean, traversable only by those possessing formidable power.

Among these, the Central Continent stood as the most formidable. It was home to countless powerful cultivators, and the natural energy there was far denser than in other continents.

Atop a mountain in the Central Continent sat a handsome young man, meditating. He absorbed the natural energy that permeated the mountain. This young man was Zhao Ling, a young cultivator in the Central Continent who had reached the esteemed rank of Saint Cultivator before the age of thirty. This accomplishment earned him widespread admiration throughout the Central Continent.

But Zhao Ling's reputation extended beyond his cultivation prowess. He was also renowned for his ferocity in battle, possessing three out of the one hundred Heavenly Flames: the Snow Flame (ranked 32nd), the Ocean Flame (ranked 23rd), and the Sacred Flame (ranked 9th). These flames earned him the moniker "Heavenly Flame Cultivator," for when combined, they granted him unparalleled might within his realm, even allowing him to challenge opponents three minor realms above him. This instilled fear and respect among his peers.

Moreover, Zhao Ling held the title of the youngest Seventh Grade Alchemist in the history of the Golden Sky Realm. This achievement garnered him respect even from formidable cultivators. Once, Zhao Ling commanded a Peak Sky Cultivator to obliterate a force that had offended him. To the astonishment of many, the Sky Cultivator readily agreed, a testament to Zhao Ling's influence and power.

At this moment, deep within the mountains, far from the Zhao Ling Kingdom, Zhao Ling absorbed natural energy into his body, striving to break through to the Earth Cultivator realm. He had lingered at the peak of the Saint Cultivator realm for far too long.

"Almost there. The natural energy within me is transforming into Qi energy," Zhao Ling murmured inwardly. Indeed, he was attempting the arduous task of converting the absorbed natural energy into Qi energy.

Qi energy was a power attainable only by those who sought to transcend from the Saint Cultivator realm to the Earth Cultivator realm. The conversion process was fraught with danger, for the slightest misstep could lead to the cultivator's Dantian exploding, rendering them nothing but waste. It was this perilous undertaking that caused many cultivators to remain stagnant at the peak of the Saint Cultivator realm.

Furthermore, upon ascending to the Earth Cultivator realm, one would face Heavenly Tribulation – a test from the heavens to determine their worthiness of wielding such power.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere around Zhao Ling began to shift. The once clear sky darkened as storm clouds gathered, accompanied by flashes of lightning that cracked through the air.

Zhao Ling rose to his feet and faced the heavens, a smile gracing his lips.

"Come! Let me witness the might of the lightning that terrifies all Saint Cultivators!" he declared, his voice booming across the mountaintop.

As if responding to his challenge, the lightning converged, forming a bolt as thick as a man's thigh that struck Zhao Ling with terrifying speed.

Jderr!

Jderr!

Jderr!

Boom!

Zhao Ling's body was engulfed in the blinding light, the impact throwing him back. When the light subsided, Zhao Ling lay on the ground, blood trickling from his lips.

"Arghh... I-it hurts! I-is it over?" he groaned, struggling to believe that a single bolt had inflicted such pain. But his hopes were dashed as the sky crackled with renewed energy, the clouds gathering to unleash an even larger bolt of lightning.

Fear flickered in Zhao Ling's eyes as he stared at the spectacle unfolding above him.

"D-damn it! Is the heavens toying with me?" he muttered, his teeth chattering. With effort, he pushed himself up, raising a hand toward the sky.

"Come! Unleash your lightning! I am ready!" he roared, his voice echoing through the mountains.

As if on cue, a monstrous bolt of lightning, as thick as a man's torso, descended from the sky with blinding speed.

Jderr!

Jderr!

Boom!

Argh!

The deafening roar of thunder shook the mountaintop, accompanied by Zhao Ling's scream. When the dust settled, Zhao Ling's body lay broken and scorched on the ground. His clothes were ripped to shreds, revealing his once pristine skin now blackened and burned. Blood flowed freely from his mouth, nose, and ears.

Zhao Ling lay there, helpless, his vision fading. "Am I dying like this? Hahaha, the heavens must be joking! The Heavenly Flame Cultivator, struck down by a measly tribulation lightning? How laughable!" he thought bitterly. With a final sigh, he closed his eyes, succumbing to his wounds.

As Zhao Ling's consciousness faded, far away, on the Eastern Continent, in a small town called Wunzen – a humble town under the rule of the Eastern Sky Empire – a strange event unfolded.

Deep within a dark and dense forest, in a secluded cave, lay the lifeless body of a young man. His body was riddled with wounds, his breathing shallow.

Suddenly, a crimson light enveloped the young man's body. Miraculously, his wounds began to heal at an astonishing rate. The gashes that had been spewing blood moments ago sealed shut. The young man's pale complexion regained its color, and his chest, which had been still moments ago, began to rise and fall with renewed life.

After what felt like an eternity, the young man's eyelids fluttered open. "Ugh... Where am I? Is this the underworld?" he groaned, clutching his head as a searing pain shot through his skull.

"Arghh! What is this? Do the dead feel pain too?" he cried out, his voice hoarse from disuse. For what felt like an hour, the pain raged on, relentless and unbearable. Finally, it began to subside, replaced by a wave of confusion and astonishment.

Images flashed before the young man's eyes, memories that were not his own. He saw glimpses of another life, of battles fought and victories won. And then, it hit him. He wasn't in his own body.

"Hahaha! I'm alive! Reborn into the body of this young man, even with the same name! How fortunate!" he exclaimed, a manic grin spreading across his face. This was the soul of Zhao Ling, the cultivator from the Central Continent. Having been struck down by the Heavenly Tribulation, he had somehow survived and been given a second chance at life.

"Hahaha, the heavens are truly just! They recognized my good heart and granted me another opportunity!" Zhao Ling laughed, a newfound zeal coursing through his veins. He then sat up, crossing his legs into a meditative position, and began to sift through the fragmented memories of the body he now inhabited.

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