“Reborn with the Violet Bloom”

Chapter : 5 The demon seed within my dantian

Morning light crept through the thin window curtains as Aerin Vale slowly opened his eyes.

Before his consciousness fully settled, a familiar sound echoed in his mind.

“Aiya… aiya…”

The voice was soft, childlike, and undeniably impatient.

Inside the sealed pool of dark green blood within his Emerald Nexus, the small sprout stirred restlessly. Compared to the night before, it had grown slightly taller, its tender leaves trembling as if alive.

A single, unmistakable emotion reached Aerin.

Hunger.

Aerin yawned and stretched his arms lazily.

Since isolating the corrupted blood from his bloodstream, his body felt lighter than it had in years. His breathing was steady. His limbs were relaxed. For the first time since arriving in this world, he had slept deeply and without pain.

If not for the noisy little creature in his body, this morning would have been perfect.

“Aiya… aiya…”

The urge grew stronger.

“Alright, alright,” Aerin muttered. “I hear you.”

Ever since absorbing his blood and forming a bond, Mira was no longer a dormant relic or cold remnant of something ancient. It behaved like a living infant now, driven by instinct, emotion, and an insatiable appetite.

Aerin sat upright on the bed and lit a candle.

Golden light flickered as he began circulating the Ninefold Resonance Needle Art once more. His fingers moved with practiced precision, guiding the invisible currents within his body. A soft hum filled the room as the needles resonated in response.

The lingering medicinal residue in his meridians was exactly what Mira craved.

As the first wave of dissolved energy flowed toward the Emerald Nexus, the restless cries ceased instantly. The small sprout greedily absorbed the energy through the faint crack in its bud.

Its consumption rate was terrifying.

In less than fifteen minutes, nearly half of the remaining medicinal residue from the previous night was gone.

Aerin slowed his movements, breathing a little heavier.

“Unbelievable,” he murmured. “You’ve only just awakened, and you already eat like a monster.”

If it continued growing at this rate, what would happen when it developed proper leaves… or even bloomed?

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the fissure in the bud closed.

Aerin paused and sensed inwardly.

The sprout had gone still.

Sleeping again.

Eat, then sleep. Sleep, then eat.

“…You really are shameless,” he said with a helpless smile.

Even so, he didn’t stop cultivating.

Smoothly, he transitioned into the second cycle of the Ninefold Resonance Needle Art.

This time, his focus shifted inward.

The condensed spiritual energy accumulated within his meridians over the past decade.

He chose the Ren Meridian as his starting point. It was one of the Eight Extraordinary Channels, directly connected to the core spiritual apertures that governed cultivation. It also linked several hidden nodes within his body, making it the most stable foundation.

Aerin activated the Five Constellation Flow Technique.

The three spiritual apertures within his core began to vibrate in response.

Guided by his control, spiritual energy gathered at his fingertips and surged into the needle array. This time, he held nothing back.

The reaction was immediate.

The golden needles trembled violently, as if struck by a sudden storm. Waves of resonance surged through Aerin’s meridians, flooding his body with unbearable heat.

His skin flushed red. Steam rose faintly from his pores.

Then, something loosened.

From deep within, condensed spiritual energy began to melt, dissolving like ice under sunlight. One strand unraveled, followed by another, until the flow became unstoppable.

Pure emerald-hued energy surged upward.

As it poured into the three spiritual apertures like a rushing river, Aerin finally understood how vast the accumulation from ten years of hardship truly was.

The previous owner of this body had never been lazy.

He simply never had the chance to succeed.

Now, that effort belonged to Aerin.

The apertures swelled rapidly, approaching their limits. A subtle resistance formed ahead, invisible but unmistakable.

A threshold.

Aerin’s eyes lit up.

“So soon…”

He accelerated his movements.

The dissolved energy surged forward, crashing against the barrier again and again.

A deep rumble echoed within his body.

Then—

The resistance shattered.

Aerin’s body trembled as a wave of clarity and exhilaration washed over him. His senses sharpened. His strength surged.

Spirit Gathering Realm — Second Rank.

The breakthrough felt effortless, intoxicating. Confidence flooded his chest.

He understood, at that moment, why cultivators chased advancement so obsessively.

Suppressing the urge to rush further, he continued refining.

When the energy reached deeper points within the Ren Meridian, another barrier emerged. This one was stronger.

Aerin paused.

Instead of forcing it immediately, he gathered energy patiently, compressing it within the apertures.

When control reached its limit, he released it.

The restrained power surged forward like a beast freed from its chains.

Impact after impact tore through the barrier.

Pain erupted.

His fragile body creaked and strained. His bones screamed in protest.

Still, Aerin did not stop.

Minutes later, the final resistance collapsed.

Energy flowed freely once more.

Spirit Gathering Realm — Third Rank.

The Ren Meridian opened completely.

Aerin slowed his movements and stabilized his breathing. After a long moment, he removed the needles and exhaled deeply.

Less than half an hour.

Two breakthroughs.

Using the energy from a single meridian.

An astonishing result.

Yet the cost was clear.

His body was far too weak.

If advancing further with this physique, the consequences would be deadly.

“I need recovery,” he muttered. “Immediately.”

Unfortunately, time was not on his side.

Yesterday’s confrontation would not be ignored. Eldon Frost would never let it end quietly.

“I need Rejuvenation Dew,” Aerin thought. “Before he finds another excuse.”

The price alone was enough to give anyone a headache.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” Aerin replied.

The door opened slightly, and Liora Vale peeked inside.

The moment she saw him bare-chested, she yelped in shock and slammed the door shut.

Aerin blinked, then laughed softly as he hurried to dress.

A moment later, her voice came from outside, shy and flustered.

“U-Uncle… breakfast is ready.”

When he stepped out, Liora was setting dishes on the table, her cheeks still flushed. She avoided his gaze completely.

Aerin smiled.

Her innocence was rare.

And precious.

Later that morning, at the Arcane Apothecary Hall—

“Third Rank Spirit Gathering?” Eldon Frost froze. “Impossible.”

The crystal clearly displayed the result.

There was no mistake.

Master Rowan chuckled beside him. “Well done, boy. Truly impressive.”

Aerin nodded calmly and walked past without another glance.

Inside the Apothecary Hall, the scent of rare herbs filled the air.

For Aerin, it was intoxicating.

This was where his next step would begin.

And fate was already watching.

🔥 End-of-Chapter Hook

If a single meridian could push him to the third rank, what would happen once his body was fully restored?

And what exactly was Mira becoming…