A Record of Ash & Ruin: The Grieving Lands - Chapter 19Book 2: : Calm

Xiao Nanfeng has a deeply held secret: he retains memories of his past life on Earth. Trained as a scholar and wise beyond his years, he leverages his understanding to free himself from captivity and embarks on the path of cultivation. His goal is to find his missing parents, ten years lost. Loyal allies will accompany him, and fierce enemies will deter him—but talented cultivator though he might be, Xiao Nanfeng's greatest strength has always been his mind.

Original Blurb: Beneath the vast firmament, the brilliance of an era is but a fleeting moment, a flash of fireworks that vanishes in the blink of an eye. Look down upon the land, through countless ages, and witness the rise and fall of civilizations. Immortal sects, vast empires, sanctuary and holy ground—all are but specks of dust against the backdrop of the heavens; the glory of millennia, reduced to ashes. Yet from the depths of ruin, new sparks emerge. You and I, we strive to become towering trees that would pierce through the heavens. What lies beyond the celestial dome?

……………………………………………………………

Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

After a well-lived life on Earth, Kael never expected anything more than death and the sweet embrace of sleep and darkness.But fate had other plans. He was reborn in another world similar to Earth, where he grew up until he was ten, at which point his memories from his past life were reawakened.He was an old man trapped in a boy's body, but the mixture of the child's memories with his own made him feel more middle-aged than old.A few days later, the world he was in ascended into the realm of war, the battleground of all living beings. Kael was among the few awakened who had the chance to become the ultimate god of existence, based on the orbs of different paths presented before him.Kael was faced with three choices:Orb of ChaosOrb of NothingnessOrb of Void(Choosing any will make you undergo a trial that will change your very existence. Please choose wisely.)While in shock by these options and seriously pondering which one to choose, an unexpected event occurred.(Error detected... A new option has been created)(Be the wielder of the three — Chaos, Void, and Nothingness)(Answer picked by host, transporting...)Kael was in shock as he fell into darkness, with one swirling thought in his mind:“I didn't even pick any.”

Having opened his eyes once more, Chu Zheng found the world turned upside down. He had transformed from a Cultural Relic Restorer into a household slave.At the same time, a new feature had emerged within his body: a Repair Panel that refreshed daily, enabling his skills to continuously advance.【Incomplete Mantra (repairable)】→【Great Circulatory Breathing Guideline】【Ruined Temple Remnant (repairable)】→【Ancestral Dao Golden Body】【Damaged Spirit Root (repairable)】→【Superior Quality Immortal Bone】…………In an era of cultivating truth, heroes compete fiercely, and prodigies rise together.From ancient times, sages and wise men were buried by the sands of time; a lifetime of glory or disgrace turned to naught in a blink, and only a few names are recorded in the annals of history.Having lived this life a second time, Chu Zheng did not seek the arts of immortality, but merely wished to have his name remembered by future generations.

In this world, orphans or just anyone without any hope for this world can apply to become a “walking target”. Their sole purpose is to be a practicing dummy for the students of the sect who train to become “Demon Hunters”. These students need “walking targets” to test their training on living, walking beings of flesh and blood.
In exchange, they will be provided with food & shelter.
Their existence value is lower than a slave, but if they manage to survive a few years they can receive a life long pension.

Xiao Han is such a “walking target”. One time he witnessed a powerful Demon Hunter disposing a demon. When the demon died, a fragment of the demon that managed to escape entered Xiao Han’s heart. No one saw that, and even Xiao Han himself only felt some discomfort for an instant.

But that thing in his heart soon gave Xiao Han visions, and the first one is of a cultivation method which allows Xiao Han to absorb damage to enhance his body. A perfect cultivation method for a “walking target”.

- Description from Novelupdates