Changes?*

After the Heavenly Tribulation passed, my mother hurried over and held me in a warm embrace as she continued to shove various pills and treasures into my mouth. She only stopped after she saw my visible injuries heal, but even then she didn't let go of her grip on me... for a whole hour.

...

After reassuring my concerned mother of my well-being, I proceeded to change out of my tattered robes and freshen up. With these tasks accomplished, I engaged in a discussion about my cultivation path with my grandfather, detailing the intricacies of my 'inner world' like foundation.

Following his examination of it, he displayed astonishment. He declared that if I could successfully form my nascent soul and merge my spiritual roots, my foundation in the Five Elements Dao would become immeasurable. Afterward, I returned to my residence.

Seated on my bed, I directed my attention to my dantian, inspecting the enigmatic illusory world. Comprising four out of the five elemental qi, these elemental forces coexisted without mingling, resulting in a stable yet incomplete equilibrium.

"With this, I should be able to merge my spiritual roots after entering the nascent soul realm," I mused, nodding in affirmation to myself as I pondered my future path.

As thoughts converged, a new inquiry emerged. "If I integrate the five-colored world essence jade while forming my core in the Core Formation realm, what type of core will manifest?" Memories of the properties and origins of world essence jade resurfaced. World essence jade, is a material used heavily for forming a 'secret realm', however, what if Jianyu used it to form an 'inner world'? Originating from the remnants of a world's ruined foundation, it should be capable of...

"Leaving this matter for another time is prudent. For now, having acquired different elemental qi, I should acquire techniques aligned with each element and adapt my sword art accordingly." With the prospect of impending tasks, I exhaled a sigh, my gaze unfocused as I contemplated the workload.

"Tomorrow, huh?"

In light of my successful foundation realm breakthrough, my mother organized a 'modest' celebration. Though attendance would be limited to a select few, the prospect brought a mix of stress and unfamiliarity.

Celebrating such milestones seemed redundant to me, as the Foundation Establishment realm was merely the dawn of a cultivator's journey. Moreover, cultivators could isolate themselves for hundreds, even thousands, of years. Celebrating an event that could transpire numerous times during one such isolation appeared superfluous.

"Lei Qiang," I called out. while being in my room by myself.

"Yes, young master," came Lei Qiang's prompt appearance as always.

'If she's going to watch over me perpetually, perhaps it would be simpler for her to remain at my side normally.' Putting this thought to the back of my head, I continued.

"Could you fetch some basic sword art manuals focusing on earth, wood, and metal qi?"

"Of course, young master."

As Lei Qiang departed, I returned my attention to my nascent 'inner world'.

...

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...

"Congratulations, young master Jianyu."

With a smile, I expressed gratitude to the elder who had extended his congratulations. Despite his seemingly amiable appearance, this elderly figure had earned notoriety for a ruthless purge that eliminated a traitorous subordinate clan overnight, leaving no survivors, not even infants.

Taking in the surroundings, I observed the celebration's ambiance – a relatively modest turnout, fewer people than I had expected. However, the banquet hall was opulent beyond my imagination, after all, it was supposed to be a 'small celebration'.

'Not that I mind,' I mused.

As I began to unwind, a presence stealthily approached me, soft hands covering my eyes. A familiar voice followed suit, breaking into my thoughts.

"Guess who?"

A playful smile crept onto my lips as I recognized the voice. I retorted in jest, "Who else but my audacious junior sister would dare such impudence?"

My teasing words drew a pout from Cao Meihui.

"Humph! Senior brother, why must you always be so mean to me?"

Her reaction was rather adorable, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Sorry, sorry. I can't help but tease you when you act so cute."

My comment led to an expected outcome. Cao Meihui's cheeks flushed a deep red, resembling a tomato on the brink of ripening. This sight, in turn, provoked genuine laughter from me.

Not one to be outdone, Cao Meihui seemed ready to launch a counterattack. However, before she could make her move, another presence graced the scene – Yin Xifeng.

Yin Xifeng's arrival was accompanied by a charming smile. Her attire, elegant white robes adorned with golden embroidery, exuded an air of grace. Her smile was captivating enough to incite admiration and spark envy.

Meeting the gaze of the person I had grown closer to over the years, I returned her smile with warmth.

"Congratulations to Sir Jianyu for attaining the Foundation Establishment realm at such a tender age," Yin Xifeng congratulated, her smile widening as she praised my achievement with a hint of pride.

"Haha, thank you for your kind words, but it's truly nothing," I replied, a sense of gratification blooming in response to her acknowledgment.

"Not at all. Achieving the Foundation Establishment realm at your age reflects exceptional genius and is a testament to your dedication and hard work. No one from our generation or the previous one has achieved such a feat at such a young age," Yin Xifeng continued her praise, seemingly aiming to elevate my self-esteem to the heavens.

However, her lavish acclaim...

However, Yin Xifeng's generous praise had an unintended consequence – it left me feeling utterly embarrassed.

"Alright, that's enough," I spoke, my face burning with a slight blush that refused to diminish.

In response, Yin Xifeng merely chuckled, her amusement evident. Meanwhile, Cao Meihui seemed to have an epiphany, her expression lighting up with understanding.

'This will get troublesome...' I mentally sighed in frustration, feeling as helpless as a jobless adult trapped in their parents' basement.

Little did I know that this day of celebration would ignite a series of such actions from my mother, grandfather, and especially Cao Meihui. The memory of this incident was sure to haunt me, serving as a regretful event that I would look back to and think 'If only I hadn't blushed...'.

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Finally, back in the comfort of my residence after the 'eventful' celebration, I collapsed onto my bed. Exhaustion washed over me, making me feel more tired than I had ever been in this lifetime.

"So tired!" I sighed aloud, my voice a reflection of my weariness.

Lying on my bed, I gazed up at the ceiling, my thoughts gravitating toward a matter I had been deliberately avoiding.

"I am no longer the same as before," I mused, grappling with the changes in my character over the years. I had often attributed these changes to my youthful body or the gaps in my memories.

However, it had become increasingly evident that something more profound was at play. I couldn't deny that I had undergone transformations. The 'me' now felt a far wider spectrum of emotions, I had grown far more... careless. The old 'me' would have capitalized on any situation for personal gain without a second thought.

'...Especially considering the lengths 'I' went to achieve the Dao...' I reflected, my eyes closing as I pondered this.

'To begin with my reincarnation in itself is dubious...'

Since I, a Dao realm being, who had reached the very extremities of the third step, didn't even possess a soul

'Then did I imprint my memories onto a soul before my demise? No that's also quite unlikely, considering that...'

I dwelled on these thoughts for a while, lost in contemplation as I stared at the ceiling. An overwhelming whirlwind of emotions churned within me.

Sighing in resignation, I admitted,

"There's no use obsessing over this at my current cultivation. Overthinking might only lead to creating unnecessary obstacles or perhaps even inner devils." With a heavy exhale, I decided to table these thoughts for the future.

"Haha... here I am, struggling with an identity crisis at this age..." I let out a self-deprecating chuckle as I surrendered to sleep.

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