《Runes of Acession》 A Fresh Beginning **Rain City, Holy Empire.** A solitary figure sat at a wooden desk, the soft glow of candlelight flickering against the yellowed pages of a thick tome. The youth, Seorong, traced a finger along the intricate characters of the book, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Such a fascinating subject to delve into," he muttered quietly, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief. "Who would have imagined that I, of all people, would come to experience something like this?" Seorong''s mind lingered on the strangeness of his situation. Born on Earth, he had once lived a simple life as a civil servant¡ªuntil a landslide had claimed his life, casting him into the void. Now, he found himself in an entirely new world, one governed by strange forces and ancient practices. The book he was currently immersed in was a manual on crafting Talisman¡ªan art revered in this world of cultivation, where the strong wielded unimaginable power, and the weak struggled to survive. The language was foreign to him, but the principles were clear enough: symbols of great potency, inscribed with precision, capable of turning the tides of fate itself. The body he inhabited belonged to someone else¡ªa youth from a distant, larger city. This young man had come from a prestigious family, one known throughout the land. But despite his noble lineage, his mediocre talent in cultivation had marked him as a failure in the eyes of his kin. Cast out from the family, he had been left to fend for himself in the shadow of Rain City. But fate had been cruel to him. With little more than a handful of Talisman manuals and meager savings, he had ventured into the wilds in search of materials to craft his way to a better life. It was there, among the dense forests and treacherous mountains, that he met his untimely death¡ªgiving Seorong the rare and improbable chance to take his place. Sighing, Seorong placed the book down and scanned the small, dimly lit room. He could feel the weight of his new life pressing against him. This world was harsh, and it was clear that survival here would require more than just knowledge¡ªit would demand strength, cunning, and an unyielding will. But for now, he was content to study the mysteries of the Talisman, savoring the novelty of it all. There was much to learn, and in a place where only the strong survived, knowledge could very well be his greatest weapon. --- The next morning, Ji Seorong woke up and went about his usual routine, opening his small shop as the city slowly stirred to life. The streets were quiet, and business was slow¡ªonly a few passersby glanced inside before moving along. With nothing better to do, he settled back into his seat, flipping through a worn manuscript on talismans. Talismans were divided into nine ranks, from the lowest, Rank One, to the highest, Rank Nine. Each increase in rank brought a considerable leap in power. A Rank One talisman contained a single pattern inscribed on the talisman paper, its energy rudimentary but stable. Rank Two talismans, however, bore two interwoven patterns, complementing and amplifying each other to produce a much greater effect. This pattern continued up to Rank Nine, where the talisman paper could hold nine intricate patterns, each reinforcing the others to harness an immense force in perfect harmony. Seorong, at present, was merely a Rank One Talisman Master. His cultivation was still at the Ninth Layer of the Body Refining Tier¡ªthe very foundation of a cultivator¡¯s journey. Advancing further required stepping into the Qi Gathering Realm, the next crucial stage. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He could feel himself nearing a breakthrough, his body gradually absorbing and refining Qi, but he remained cautious. A premature attempt could lead to failure, even regression, undoing his hard-earned progress. "Here in Rain City, being at this level at sixteen is still considered impressive," he mused, exhaling a quiet sigh. "But at this guys home city¡­ this would be nothing more than mediocrity." Even after spending so much time here, he still struggled to fully accept his circumstances. As ten more days passed, Ji Seorong realized the time for his breakthrough had finally come. "If I keep selling only Rank One talismans, I''ll soon be begging on the streets," he muttered to himself, frustration flickering in his eyes. "I have the knowledge to create Rank Two talismans¡ªI just need the cultivation to match." Determined, he prepared to cultivate through the night. Seated in meditation, he focused inward, assessing the state of his body with precision. The Body Refining Tier was the very foundation of cultivation¡ªa realm where a cultivator strengthened their physical form by absorbing Origin Qi from the surroundings. With each breakthrough, the body became more resilient, gradually reaching its peak at the Ninth Layer. However, true Qi cultivation only began at the Qi Gathering Realm. This stage was more than just physical enhancement¡ªit was the gateway to a deeper understanding of energy. Here, a cultivator would open their Dantian, the core of Qi storage within the body. The Dantian was a peculiar existence, forming a vast, mysterious space within oneself. Some likened it to a miniature universe, a world hidden within the body, where Qi could be gathered, refined, and controlled. In the Body Refining Tier, Origin Qi could only be stored in the flesh and bones, limiting the amount a cultivator could harness. But upon stepping into the Qi Gathering Realm and unlocking the dantian, the volume of Qi a cultivator could retain would surge tremendously. This breakthrough was crucial¡ªonly after reaching the Qi Gathering realm could one begin to wield true Martial Arts Techniques. Seorong took a deep breath, steeling himself for the transformation ahead. Soon, the Origin Qi within Ji Seorong¡¯s body began to converge, drawn toward the navel region like rivers flowing into a vast sea. Strike after strike, the energy compressed and collided, refining itself into something denser, more potent. Then, after what felt like an eternity, a subtle shift occurred¡ªa faint rupture, almost imperceptible at first. But Seorong felt it. A hole had formed. Relief washed over him as he exhaled slowly. This was the most crucial moment of the process. The hardest part was over¡ªnow, all he had to do was nurture and expand this newfound void until it stabilized. Only then would it fully take shape as his dantian, officially marking his entry into the Qi Gathering Realm. Time passed as Seorong carefully refined the space within him, guiding the surging Qi to settle and solidify. At last, his dantian stabilized, forming a structured core within his body. In that instant, a flood of Origin Qi poured into him, rushing into the newly formed dantian like a tide breaking through a dam. He felt it swirling, condensing¡ªuntil, at its center, a small cloud of Origin Qi took shape. This cloud was proof of his advancement¡ªthe First Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. It held nearly ten times the amount of Origin Qi he had possessed at the peak of the Body Refining Tier. Opening his eyes, Seorong flexed his fingers, channeling his newfound power. A wave of strength coursed through him, far beyond anything he had felt before. "Incredible..." he murmured, marveling at the transformation. "Back on Earth, I would have never believed something like this was possible." A smile tugged at his lips as determination flared in his eyes. "But enough of that. It''s time to try crafting a Rank Two Talisman." Excitement burned within him. With this new power, a whole new world of possibilities had just opened. --- Over the past few days, crafting talismans had become a routine for Ji Seorong¡ªalmost a meditative ritual. Today was no different. Seated at his wooden table, he dipped his brush into ink infused with rare spiritual materials, the deep reddish liquid gleaming faintly under the light. Before him lay a small talisman paper, pristine and untouched. With steady hands, he began. His brush moved fluidly, each stroke deliberate, precise. A familiar pattern began to take shape on the paper¡ª''the Earth Shield Talisman'', a Rank One defensive talisman capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a Ninth Layer Body Refining cultivator. But this time, he didn¡¯t stop. Without lifting his brush, he guided the ink seamlessly into a second pattern, the strokes merging in perfect harmony. This was the point where he had failed countless times before¡ªwhere the energy flow would destabilize, ruining the talisman. But not today. Seorong¡¯s focus was razor-sharp, his Qi perfectly synchronized with his movements. The second pattern bloomed into existence, its structure reinforcing the first. His breath was steady, his hands unwavering. And then¡ª It was done. Lifting the talisman, he studied his work, a deep sense of satisfaction washing over him. "Finally¡­ I''ve done it. All those days of failure, of effort, weren¡¯t in vain after all." In his hands was a Rank Two Strengthened ''Earth Shield Talisman''. By integrating a supplementary Plant Essence Pattern, he had successfully enhanced the Earth Shield¡¯s defensive power. Now, instead of merely blocking strikes from Body Refining cultivators, this talisman could withstand attacks from mid-tier Qi Gathering Realm experts. Seorong couldn¡¯t help but smile. He had struggled, endured losses, and pushed himself beyond his limits¡ªbut the reward was worth it. " But the spirit power drain is quite large compared to rank 1" He calculated but that was bound to be. He could finally sleep and start a new dawn from tomorrow. --- Ch 2 : The Rain City, The internal struggle The night passed and the awaited dawn came but not in a way he could have predicted. Ji Seorong had finally achieved Rank 2 Talisman Master, a goal that had driven him relentlessly since his arrival in this world. But now, standing at the threshold of this accomplishment, he felt an unsettling emptiness. The burning determination that had pushed him forward, the hunger to grow stronger¡ªit had always felt natural. Yet now, as the flames settled, a troubling question rose in his mind. "Was that truly my desire? Or was it the lingering will of the original Ji Seorong, the one who lived and died in this world?" The thought struck deep. Since waking up in this body, he had been carried forward by an invisible momentum, as if following a path that had already been set before him. But now, as he stood at this checkpoint of progress, he realized¡ªthat momentum was gone. "The emotions, the instincts, the purpose that had been driving me¡­ Were they truly my own? Or were they just echoes of a soul that no longer existed?" Seorong sat in silence, his fingers lightly tapping against the worn wooden table of his shop, trying to identify the emptiness in his heart. " If it was the echo before, what now that his influence has faded¡­ What do I truly want?" "Everything I know about this world, everything I had pursued up until now, had been shaped by the memories of another Ji Seorong¡ªone who had grown up here, lived here, and ultimately perished here." Their views could differ. He was someone who had come from a world of laws, structure, and reason. The most fundamental change was that he had no deep ties to the clans, no ancestral grudges, no grand ambitions of power, now that he truly thought about it power was required here but how would he approach it. ¡­ what was his purpose in this world? A slow exhale left his lips. He had no answer. Not yet. "The path to walk on¡­ can be decided later, what truly is important right now is to clear my mind " He could sit here, lost in questions, or he could go out and find the answers himself. For too long, he had been relying on borrowed knowledge¡ªon the perspective of the Ji Seorong who came before him. But if he was to carve out a place in this world, he needed to see it with his own eyes, think with his own mind, and decide with his own will. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. "Before anything else, I need to experience this world for myself." No longer as the old Ji Seorong. But as himself. So with a new found claritt, he stood up and stepped forward¡ªtoward the unknown, toward the real world beyond the walls of his shop. ___________ For the first time since his arrival, Ji Seorong took a proper tour of Rain City. He had spent too long confined to his shop, caught between survival and his pursuit of Rank 2 talismans. But if he was to truly understand the world he lived in, he had to start with his own surroundings. The streets were alive with the usual bustle of merchants shouting their wares, customers bargaining fiercely, and wandering cultivators moving with an air of quiet arrogance. He also came to know of some new information, His shop was situated on Silver Market Street, one of the many streets branching out from the Azure Moon Pavilion, the largest commercial hub in Rain City. The Azure Moon Pavilion was a branch of the Golden Sun Pavilion, the dominant trading organization of the Holy Empire. Unlike ordinary merchants, they had deep connections, making them an untouchable force within the city. A single recommendation from the Azure Moon Pavilion could elevate a business overnight. Similarly, offending them could mean financial ruin¡ªor worse. Ji Seorong glanced at the towering building of the pavilion, its golden sigil glistening under the sun in his view. " It seems quite grand," He was still fascinated by the architecture of this world, it was traditional Chinese architecture and seeing it on such a huge scale was also quite an experience. As he continued his walk talking to some shopkeepers here and there and finally he was complete on the situation of Rain city. The Li Family and the Zhao family were the two prominent families here, Though these two families were the dominant forces, several other well families existed , forming an intricate web of alliances and rivalries. But above all of them were two absolute authorities: The Alchemists Association(Rain City Branch) ¨C Alchemists were revered across the empire, and even the most powerful families treated them with caution and respect. Their potions, pills, and elixirs were vital to both cultivators and merchants. And, The Governor¡¯s Mansion ¨C The official ruling body of Rain City, representing the Holy Empire. Though the noble families controlled the city¡¯s economy, the Governor ensured that none of them gained absolute control. Ji Seorong finally came back to his shop where he lived on the second floor. " True enough, history changes with the perspective and so does the view " He was feeling it first hand, although some things were normal in the memories of his predecessor after seeing them himself he found them hard to digest. Ji Seorong had always believed in the power of rules, of order¡ª as no matter the exceptions still large part of Earth had law governed society, ensuring some buffer between the strong and weak. " With such actual disparity in personal strength here those things cannot work at all " After all there were experts who could decimate cities in anger single handedly. In this world, there were no human rights, no true justice¡ªonly strength. The strong did as they pleased, and the weak either served or suffered. " Such a terrifying environment to live in".Seorong struggled to accept this. It was a fundamental clash of perspectives¡ªhe thought with the logic of a modern man, but he was in a land where actions were dictated by primal dominance. _________