Beginning of Cultivation
Chapter 167: Opportunity

Chapter 167: Opportunity

The sun sank beneath the horizon, but the once-glorious twilight had long since faded. The sky was now a murky shade of red, thick with clouds of ash that smothered the planet like a funeral shroud.

The wind howled like the mournful wail of Earth itself, carrying away the last remnants of civilization.

Above, the demon horde soared in endless waves, an unbroken tide of darkness blotting out the heavens.

Despair settled upon humanity like an iron shackle.

High above, the Demon King looked down upon the last survivors of mankind with arrogant amusement. As he conjured yet more demons into existence, his voice echoed through the desolation:

"Humans, do you now despair before my power?"

Nora raised his battered body, his eyes burning with defiance. Blood dripped from his wounds as he staggered forward, his voice a furious roar:

"You bastard! Why? Why have you condemned humanity to annihilation?"

The Demon King, pleased by the spectacle, chuckled—a deep, mocking sound that rumbled like distant thunder.

"Ha! Are you truly that foolish? Wiping out your kind makes me stronger. Why should I need any other reason?"

Their perspectives were worlds apart, their principles irreconcilable. No argument would bridge the chasm between them.

And Nora... he was spent. His strength had already faded, his body little more than a broken shell.

"Is this truly the end? Forgive me... I failed to protect humanity. If there is another life after this, I pray for the chance to stand and fight for mankind once more."

That final thought faded as cracks began to form across his body. From within, a radiant light seeped out, flickering like the last embers of a dying star.

The Demon King smirked, his voice thick with ridicule:

"Oh? How tenacious."

There was not a shred of fear in his tone. To him, a human self-destructing was no more than an insect bursting into flame—a minor inconvenience at best.

And then—

BOOM!

A cataclysmic explosion erupted, consuming the sky in blinding light. Countless demons were obliterated in the inferno, but the balance of power remained unchanged.

.....

Nora’s consciousness drifted in an abyss, lost in an endless void.

He didn’t know how much time had passed before his senses stirred once more.

Slowly, his eyes fluttered open.

As he gazed at the dimly lit surroundings, he murmured in disbelief:

"What...? I’m still alive? How can this be?"

Nora clearly remembered his final act—self-destruction, a desperate declaration of his unwavering resolve against the demons. There was no reason he should still be alive.

Yet, here he was.

Looking around, then glancing down at himself, he realized something was off. His body... it wasn’t solid.

"What is this? Why do I look like pure energy?"

His form shimmered with a faint purplish hue, like a flame given human shape.

Before he could dwell on it further, the space around him shifted. From the void, a mysterious tome materialized, its presence exuding an ancient, unfathomable power.

Then, it spoke:

"Greetings, chosen one. Are you willing to pay any price for the chance to return and save humanity?"

"I accept."

Nora didn’t hesitate for even a heartbeat.

The tome chuckled as if amused:

"Oh? You don’t even care what the price is?"

"As long as I can save humanity, I will pay any price. Because I... am a hero."

What was a hero? Someone strong? Someone who helped others? Perhaps. But those were mere fragments of the truth.

A true hero was one who existed for the world. A person willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of all.

"Very well." the tome intoned.

"Then hear the cost. You will try to become the owner of reincarnation, and for the next two cycles, your memories will be erased."

"That’s all?"

Nora was genuinely surprised. He had braced himself for something far worse—unimaginable suffering, an eternal curse—yet all he had to endure was a job and the loss of his memories?

The tome’s voice deepened:

"Do you truly understand what I’ve just told you?"

"Ah... not entirely. Could you explain the part about the two cycles again?"

Though he grasped the general idea, he knew he was missing the finer details:

"Your first reincarnation is now. I will erase your current memories and send you far enough back in time for you to change humanity’s fate. The second will occur at the end of your journey—whether you succeed or fail, all memories will be wiped once more, and you will begin anew."

Nora nodded in understanding, but a crucial thought suddenly struck him.

This wasn’t just a minor detail—it was something that could determine his success or failure. He couldn’t afford to ignore it.

"Wait a moment. If I lose all my memories, how am I supposed to change anything? Wouldn’t everything just unfold the same way as before?"

The tome’s voice carried a hint of amusement as it responded.

"You need not worry. I will allow you to retain certain core memories—such as knowledge of the world’s power hierarchy and a vague recollection of having failed once before. That alone should serve as enough motivation for you to push forward. Moreover, I have a gift for you, something to strengthen you on your path. So, there is no need for concern."

Hearing this, Nora felt a wave of relief wash over him.

Only now did he realize that, for all this time, he had been speaking to an unknown entity without even asking for its identity. Without hesitation, he inquired,

"Who... are you?"

"I am the Heavenly Book of Reincarnation, tasked with finding one who will bear the weight of reincarnation."

Nora paused for a moment, digesting the words before asking:

"So what you’re saying is... in the future, I will become the one who upholds the cycle of reincarnation?"

"That is correct. However, the exact moment when that will happen remains uncertain, even to me."

"Well, that’s not bad at all. Sounds like an important role for the world."

As a hero, Nora’s very nature was to help others.

Becoming the bearer of reincarnation—a guardian of one of the universe’s fundamental laws—was undoubtedly a role that could aid countless lives. The more he thought about it, the more he welcomed the responsibility.

Then, recalling the tome’s mention of a gift to enhance his strength, he asked:

"What exactly do you plan to give me?"

"By right, you should comprehend the Heavenly Book of Reincarnation yourself and master two of its core powers—Samsara Divine Art and Samsara Fist. However, since your memories will be erased as per our agreement, I will grant you temporary access to these abilities. The foundation can be rebuilt later when the time is right."

As the tome finished speaking, a radiant sphere of light emerged from its pages, shooting directly into Nora’s forehead.

The surrounding space began to warp and distort under the overwhelming power of the Heavenly Book of Reincarnation.

Moments later, everything settled.

Nora slowly opened his eyes.

New knowledge had been imprinted upon his mind.