Camera flashes exploded through the golden-lit hotel room like lightning splitting a storm-dark sky as the reporters surged forward in one writhing mass, shoving their mics and cameras toward the young man at the center of it all.Their shouts collided and overlapped until the words dissolved into meaningless noise, and Jasper could only stand there, numb, while the ringing in his ears and the strobing lights became the entire world.He remained frozen in place, feet rooted to the carpet that squelched beneath him—wet, red, and wrong—while his hands hung at his sides, stained with something he couldn’t bring himself to look at.A knife lay discarded on the floor nearby, its blade catching the camera lights with an obscene gleam, and on the bed behind him his girlfriend lay motionless in a pool of her own blood.“Jasper, did you kill her?”“Why did you kill her?”“Look at the camera! Give us a statement!”“Did you do it, Jasper? Did you murder her?”The questions came faster and faster,

Chris cleared his throat gently, pulling Jasper from his spiraling thoughts. “Young Master, perhaps we should get you inside and let you rest. You’ve had a difficult day.”Jasper looked at the two men—his attendants now, apparently—and nodded slowly, because what else could he do? He had no idea how this world worked beyond the vague recollections of a novel he’d read for escapism, no clue how to navigate the politics and dangers of a cultivation society, and no plan for how to survive the fate that awaited the Stonehart Family.The two attendants supported him on either side as they slowly made their way out of the training arena and through the courtyard toward the Stonehart estate. Jasper’s new body felt weak and unsteady, every step requiring conscious effort, while his mind raced through everything he knew about the story he’d apparently been dropped into.So I’m really inside Path of the Heavenly Sword Emperor. I’m the weak third son of a doomed noble family. The protagonist will

The room was spacious and lined with dark wooden shelves that stretched from floor to ceiling, each one crammed with scrolls, bound texts, and artifacts that hummed with faint spiritual energy.A large desk dominated the center of the room, its surface cluttered with papers and a single ornate lamp that cast warm light across the space, and behind that desk sat a man Jasper recognized from the borrowed memories—his father, Lord Aldric Stonehart.He was a stern-faced man with graying temples and eyes that held the weight of decades of responsibility. His robes were simple but finely made, and his posture spoke of a man who had spent his entire life carrying burdens he never asked for.“Jasper,” his father said, his voice neutral. “Sit.”Jasper didn’t move.The man might be his father, and Jasper might have his memories, but to the current Jasper this was a stranger—a powerful stranger at that. If his borrowed memories served correctly, Aldric was a Master Phase expert, and for someone l

A gentle warmth spread through Jasper's chest, slowly flowing into every part of his body. For the first time, he truly understood the power of this world. It wasn't just about swinging a sword. It was about understanding the truth behind it.His eyes drifted back to the parchment lying before him."The river does not resist." "The river does not chase." "It flows because flowing is its nature."Before entering the Still Water Realm, those words had sounded like meaningless poetry. Now… they were a guide.Most beginners tried to force spiritual energy into their bodies. They pulled at the Qi around them with everything they had, trying to cram it through their meridians by sheer will. That was why so many failed. Broken meridians, unstable foundations and permanent injuries.The Silent River Breathing Method took a completely different path. A quiet river never chased the water flowing toward it. It simply remained still. And because it remained still… everything naturally flowed in

Jasper remained seated in the center of the cultivation chamber, his breathing slow and even. The silver rune hovered inches before him, shining with a soft, steady glow. Thin streams of pale light drifted from its surface, flowing into the space between his brows. Every strand disappeared into his consciousness, feeding the vast black sea suspended above his inner world.Clear Sight Realm — Shallow Stage.His expression remained calm. He guided the energy inward without resistance. He wanted to see farther. To understand more. The ancient rune still held an incredible amount of power. Even now, it pulsed with a quiet rhythm, like the heartbeat of something that refused to die.Jasper reached out with his consciousness once more. The flow of energy immediately intensified. The silver glow brightened, casting pale shadows across the stone chamber. He closed his eyes and surrendered himself to the endless stream of clarity.Nearby, his system interface remained open. Inside the invent