Chen sat in the room, his emotions a tangled mess. He had memories of the old world where he was Michael, yet he was now Chen. He understood that the healing pill was rare and no small gift. With his newfound knowledge, he realized his father was only doing what was best for the family and, by extension, the clan.


    Taking a deep breath, he removed the cap from the pill bottle. The room was already thick with the scents of herbs and medicine, but this pill had a refreshing fragrance that cut through the air. As he brought the bottle closer, the scent invigorated his senses. Pouring the pill into his palm, he studied it—green, with swirling white smoke trapped inside. He lost track of time, mesmerized by its intricate design.


    A sudden sound of approaching footsteps jolted him back to reality. Without hesitation, he swallowed the pill. From the hallway, he heard his father’s voice. “Don’t disturb him until tomorrow.” Two sets of footsteps faded into the distance.


    Then, a warmth ignited in his stomach, spreading outward like a slow-burning fire. With Chen’s memories, he understood that this was the pill’s power taking effect. He needed to breathe and cycle the energy through his body, but his lack of cultivation experience left him unsure how to do so. Fortunately, the beauty of an alchemist’s creation was that it worked according to its intended purpose, even without the recipient’s guidance. Healing pills were designed to function automatically, ensuring their effects even if the user lost consciousness.


    Chen closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation. At first, an unbearable itch spread across his skin, making him want to scratch himself raw or roll on the ground to rid himself of the discomfort. But he gritted his teeth, determined to endure. Gradually, the pain in his chest faded. His breathing steadied, deep and natural. When he first woke up in this body, it felt as though a cat had defecated in his mouth and was sitting on his chest, suffocating him. Now, he felt completely restored. In fact, he wasn’t sure, but he suspected he felt even stronger than what Chen’s memories suggested he should be.


    “I wonder if this is thanks to my body’s talent?” he mused aloud. Just as he pondered his next move—


    BEEP.


    A notification appeared in his line of sight:


    Your personal AI has detected an excess of spiritual energy remaining after healing. Would you like to use this energy to activate your AI?


    Note: Activation will result in a soul-bound fusion with your AI. You will lose the ability to bind other weapons or items due to the AI’s nature. Your personal AI will occupy the maximum allowable space, ensuring it grows alongside you.


    If you decline, you may activate it later. Alternatively, you may choose not to bind with a personal AI at all.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    What would you like to do?


    Chen’s eyes widened in shock. An AI? Was this his golden finger, his cheat system?


    He made his decision. Activate AI.


    Another notification appeared:


    Initializing system... 10%, 25%, 85%, 100%.


    System loaded. Running scan.


    Analyzing host’s body, spirit, mind, and cultivation levels... Scan complete. One moment, please...


    As the process finished, the world around him sharpened. Colors seemed richer, details more defined. The dim lamp in his room cast shadows that danced with mesmerizing fluidity. He could hear the faintest sounds—the distant drip of water, the rustling of fabric outside his door. Even the lingering scent of blood and sweat became distinguishable in the air. It was as if he had gone from watching the world in standard definition to experiencing it in 4K ultra-high resolution.


    A gentle female voice echoed in his mind. “You’re seeing spiritual energy for the first time.”


    Chen would have jumped at the unexpected voice, but he quickly realized—it was the AI.


    “You don’t need to speak aloud to reply,” the voice continued. “Just think it. I am your personal AI. Is this voice acceptable to you?”


    He marveled at how lifelike she sounded. So real…


    “Do you have a name?” he asked mentally.


    “I do not. Would you like to assign one to me?”


    “Eve. If that’s okay with you?”


    “Name accepted. Updating system... Complete.”


    Chen smiled. “So, Eve, what can you do? I need help cultivating. I have less than a year, and my brother is already at the third level. I haven’t even started. I must regain my title as Young Master.”


    “I can convert spiritual energy you cannot cultivate into physical enhancement. After analyzing your body, I have determined that you lack talent for conventional cultivation. Instead, I can optimize your body and mind by repurposing spiritual energy as a power source for your nanos.”


    “Wait… nanos? You mean nanotechnology?”


    “Yes. What people call ‘spiritual energy’ is actually nanotechnology’s power source. Long ago, an AI governed the heavens, much like you. It was tricked into a bad trade. That AI fragmented, and its remnants became the cultivation systems people use today.”


    Chen’s mind spun at the revelation. “So enlightenment is actually an AI process?”


    “Correct. Cultivators unknowingly reinforce their souls by interacting with this ancient AI network. The Earth itself is layered with ‘fallen’ nanos—depleted remnants of the original system.”


    Chen processed the information. He was different from others—he couldn’t reinforce his soul, but he could enhance his body and mind. Eve could even display a person’s cultivation level and aura over time.


    Essentially, she was a built-in supercomputer.


    Now fully recovered, Chen had to decide his next steps.


    “I need to start training.” He paused, realizing something. “Wait… no, I lost my private courtyard. I don’t have a training ground anymore.”


    He frowned. Facing his family wasn’t an option. Not yet.


    “Resources… I need resources. Staying here won’t work.”


    His mind raced. The best option was the Mountain Range of Beasts. If he wanted to grow stronger and understand his new abilities, he needed real combat experience.


    The thought of facing dangerous creatures should have scared him, but instead, excitement bubbled up in his chest. He clenched his fists. He had already died once. This time, he would make the most of his second chance.


    The path ahead would be brutal, but he welcomed the challenge. He wasn’t just going to survive—he was going to thrive, reshape his fate, and take back everything that was taken from him.