Chapter 1 Awakening Part 1

Inside a Cultivation chamber, is where everything starts again. Inside the room, a foolish plan was foiled easily by the settings of the Reap System. It protected its partner as they both slept to get ready for the future and Ren's awakening.

Ren was not the same as the others within this place. His soul had been reborn countless times as he regathered his strength and fixed the damage of those who cause trouble over the Primordial Palaces.

The Reap System was something obtain from his original life while exploring the secret of his family. Its' ties to the Reaper Palace that Ren was a part of continue to become apparent with each rebirth.

Going through its sphere of influence setting up quests that were available, the Reap System came across a few issues that would not bode well in the mid future. It didn't help the current situation caused even greater issues.

Reap System: False Soul under attack from the formation. Has been rebuffed. Ren, under mental attack. Waking up now ahead of time and placing mental blocks.

Ren was an average-looking teen by all accounts currently. A certain look in his eyes that were playful and full of mischief shown throughout the years. Something that could never be hidden by the false soul.

"Ughhh why me?" Ren grumbled as he woke up from "Slumber" land. Looking around the chamber, he could see a few other "dead" people around. Ambient resources floated around the room for the taking., "Tch, not letting this go to waste. Good old criss-cross applesauce sitting." Placing his hands on his thighs, Ren engaged the Reap System. 'Reap System, do your thing.'

Reap System: Collecting Souls, Ion, and Languages. Back to calling me System again? Still mad about the last life-ending the way it did?

No answer was made regarding that just yet. In the previous life, Ren had settled into his role to much and no longer tried to surpass his previous attainments for that matter. Unfortunately, there was still much to do.

*Woom, woom, woom!* A Gray, Black, and White line left from Ren. The lines went through the bodies and the surroundings gathering the "resources" appropriately. The souls were snatched out and pulled inside to a certain internal dimension.

The Ion Energy was drained from the body's cores. Completely before they could dissipate returning to the natural surroundings. The still-functioning brain cells were stripped of thoughts and memories and stored away as well.

'So they tried to kill me eh? Jokes on them. They killed the false soul and set me free early. How nice of them.' Ren thoughts to himself as he rebuilt his cultivation back up. Slowly he went from the Basic Realm and Ranks of Ion Energy, Gathering Rank 1-12 with ease. 'Hah starting from scratch is always such fun. Reap System what is the scenario available this time for me to move through?'

With each Awakening, a set of rules was forced upon the Reap System. To keep those that caused trouble in the Primordial Palaces from finding Ren and those like him, lifestyle, fighting prowess, mental aptitude, and several other avenues had to be adjusted.

Reap System: It seems that you are an Inheriting Disciple. These people were paid off to kill you during this group Dual Cultivation. They succeed in killing your false soul for your Vessel, however, the memories are still intact. No boost to your soul this time. Additional awards have been given for the mess-up. Option 1 to be just an Inheritng disciple and take it easy still for a few months. Option 2 to take over the Sect and establish a new Order. Or...

'Or what?' Ren cut him off mentally quickly. After all, he was not supposed to be here as far as he understood things. Already able to tell that something was not right about this place. Hands flexing as the body responded in odd ways. 'The attack on the false soul is one thing, but this is extremely weird for the synchro rate.'

Reap System: Do whatever you want. You have earned it. I will push as needed of course.

The Reap System was going through the memories as it spoke with Ren. A few things had sent up flags in a few of the people's souls. The souls were not ordinary and needed to be taken care of delicately than normal.

'Let's do whatever we want.' Ren answered back mentally. A strange feeling as if he was currently spied upon kept him from speaking out loud just yet. He thought about just doing willy nilly for once could be fun. After countless millennia of doing other things, by other's choice and quest options, he felt just going with the flow would be the most fun before "Duty" weighed upon him. 'Take everything one at a time. It should be interesting, to say the least. Rando things sound fun and do keep me entertain.'

Reap System: Opening Random Package option.... 12 Gathering Pills, 12 Pillar forming Pills, 12 Realization Pills, 12 Reformation Pills, 12 Breaking Bond Pills, 12 Burning Elixers, 12 Frost Elixers, 12 Bolt Elixers, 12 Gale Elixers, 12 Stone Elixers, 12 Light Elixers, 12 Dark Elixers, Large Internal Space, 12 Random Skills.

'Hmm, thats nice. I guess it was designed to help me raise ''Followers'' this time quickly. Oh well, time for that later.' Ren cleaned out his body and opened his apertures wide to take in the Ion energy. Instantly several microscopic holes opened on his body. While he was at it, he pulled on a technique he couldn't use last time.

Apertures existed in every living organism as well as certain created constructs. 

"Unlimited Glands" the body Sweat Glands were repurposed to allow additional energy to be received. With the body having over 2-5 million already, he was able to create additional ones. With the current energy in the room still, the process was even easier to do so. He aimed for his back which already had the least amount as a normal individual.

"Ahh shit!" Slowly his skin and flesh underneath tore and reformed itself. An additional 2 million opened up and would allow for him to take in Ion energy twice as fast if not three depending on how his body shaped after this. 'Reap System, go ahead and return more of the Ion energy now.'

Reap System: Returning Ion energy now. Split evenly between Cultivation Base Network and.... Alert... The door is getting ready to open. Implementing safeguards to help fool the Sect members.

'Time to go night-night.' Ren thought right as the Ion energy flooded his body. He instantly dropped and started writhing uncontrollably.

When the others came inside, they would find his body convulsing in pain and twitching nonstop. The Reap System maneuvered everything in a way for the blame to fall on the Group Dual Cultivation Gathering going wrong.

*Crack!* The door opened as several seals flew out the way and the barrier dropped. A few disciples ran in and went to everyone.

"We have a survivor!" A disciple yelled. The others grabbing the other bodies. Checking them over to try and save any of the others if possible.

The only other surviving member happened to be the Servant boy that was there to take care of the food & drink needs. He could say nothing as he was out cold the entire time.

An Elder walked in fuming mad. He turned to look at the other three Elders behind him.

"Your little plan backfired! Now, look at us, out of several disciples now! Pray my nephew survives this. Or I will enjoy ripping you three apart!" His voice was unwavering as he spoke. "If he does not live... I Ranaldo swear to the heavens to eradicate your kin!" He followed behind Ren and the disciples that took him away.

"Hmph, you old fart. Soon you won't be able to threaten anyone." The Second Elder said darkly. Both he and the other two were a few Ranks lower and could not hope to match the man in combat. Ronaldo was in the "Broken Bonds Realm" Rank 12. In the process of the Second stage reforming the "Bonds" back.

Most Pure Warrior Cultivators were dangerous. Primary focuses tended to do that for most.

The other Elders focused on the more profitable paths. It did not help, that their focus was on multiple other paths sometimes. But they could hold him off long enough to escape. "Find out what went wrong!" The Elder orders one of the disciples.

"Haaa, be happy there is no l**k to us." The Third Elder said. He walked forward and surveyed everything over. "No struggle at all really. What "could" have gone wrong?" He walked and grabbed the plate in the middle. Eyes slightly narrowing. "But it was risky using this Strange Formation Plate we found in the tomb. The poison did not work either I am afraid." His eyes scanned the room once more, stopping on the errand boy in the room. A "plant" for their bidding and nothing more. Then again, something was different.

"What is the matter elder?" A disciple asked oddly. "That servant is just a mortal after all. He couldn't have done this."

"This boy has turned from a Mortal to the "Peak" of the Gathering Realm!" His thoughts running countless scenarios over. Ways to use this to his own advantage. "Just wild and uncontrollable energy inside him, any Primary Manual taught to him would most likely reveal key insights!"

"That is not worth the disciples we lost!" 1st Elder said. "I am done helping you fools. Consider our Alliance done with." Walking inside, he picked up his two daughters. Both of them still hanging on by a thread but would die any moment if something was not done. "Forgive this foolish old man. I only looked to end your suffering. I guess I have in a way."

Looking at their eyes that will never open again, hot tears fell down his cheeks. He turned into Ion energy in a flash and flew away to mourn. The thought of telling his other daughters far from his mind.

Unfortunately, none of them came across Soul techniques like this before.

"Well... there goes our help." Second Elder said. "He won't say anything else. Especially with fear of his other two daughters having the same disease advancing on them. Haa, this is a fine mess. How are we going to explain this to the others?"

"I.. do not know. Blame it on the Strange Formation Plate?" The Third Elder said. "We need to lay low for a bit anyway." The Elder grunted agreeing as the scene was cleaned up. "Hmm, we need to hurry before the neighboring Sects decide to change the power dynamics in the area."

A few disciples shivered when they heard that and worked even harder. Whenever there is a change-up in the power structure, they were the first to deal with the problems. Heading out to do missions for other Sects to appease them. Gaining no real resources. The Sect was going downhill even faster recently. Along with the Empire due to the increase in the "disease" going around.

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  - At Ren's house-

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"He is fine. Just his cultivation was destroyed." The Apothecary said. "However he has already rebuilt it. The basic Gathering Realm anyway. It is even stronger than before. I reckon he will be right as rain in a few days." Excusing herself, she left fearful of the information she now carried. Her thoughts focused on staying alive and away from power struggle issues. 'Time to pull some strings before those bastards come after me. I do not want to move to another Sect so soon.'

"Ahh, dear nephew.. what to do now?" Ren's uncle Ranaldo sighed. Not his Real uncle mind you. But the uncle of the False Soul that lived in this life. "If your father and mother didnt leave a few years ago, this could have been avoided. I swear Treasure seeking will be the end of them. That brother of mind cares to much for the Sect and not enough for his children."

Getting up, he wrote a missive and left the room. Sealing it behind himself to prevent any threats on Ren's life. He was no fool and would not risk that the Group Dual Cultivation Method was the problem. Only way it would open, is if Ren did it himself.

'I need to consolidate my Realm soon. Those fools might try something else.' Waving his hand, he sent two missives to his disciples to watch over Ren just in case. With that, he left.

"Ahhhh!" Ren stretched his arms waking up. "Much better." With a flick of his hands, his Ion energy swept the room for any bugs. talismans, rune entrapment, or probes. He found none.  'A pure Cultivator World? Man thats new for me. No major Tech here either. Oh well, glad I started Cultivating the basics only in that room. Reap how much energy is inside me?'

The little time spent allowed Ren to reconcile some of the anger he held from leaving the previous life.

Reap System: Enough to return to the bodies' former Realm. I have fooled the others as needed. You need only to choose your first Primary Cultivation Manual.

'Alright, you choose one this time.' Ren changed his clothes to something he was more comfortable with. A set of black cultivator pants and a thermal shirt with a button-down blue vest over it. No sleeves for now. He needed to make sure Reap did nothing to drastic and ruin the clothes. 'Do not pick one of the crazy ones either.'

Reap System: Very well then... selecting from new ones now... let's see...getting you some wings...and.. maybe..claws.. a little fur as well.

Ren stopped and grinned. Reap loved the dramatic scenes at times. A big fan of going big and crazy, over small and simple things at most times.  Whatever he decided would most likely turn weird at the end. One time he allowed it to pick, he gained big yellow feathers and a beak. Reminded him of a story his parents read to him back on Primordial Earth. If they were not in a world full of monsters, he would have been horrified at the time.