I Refused To Be Reincarnated
Chapter 603: A Voice from the Void

Chapter 603: A Voice from the Void

The sword Adam stood on trembled, the power fueling its flight dissipating with its owner’s death.

Without wasting a second, he shoved it inside his spatial ring as he fell. With a flip, his feet burrowed into the soft soil below. Though the impact should have shattered most legs, he shrugged and shook the dirt from his muddy shoes. After all, his tendons were indestructible, and his bones wouldn’t groan even if a tier seven magical beast struck him.

He took a deep breath, the fresh air making him smile as he crouched.

BOOM

The soil beneath his feet exploded, motes and herbs flying as the wind roared in his ears and whipped his robes against his skin. The scenery flashed in his eyes as he rocketed toward the mountains. Yet, no sound came from his powerful steps despite his incredible speed as if a stealthy shadow was running, not a human.

He reached the mountains in the blink of an eye and jumped to the highest wooden bridge. Qi rushed to his legs, the muscles bulging like balloons as his natural jumping prowess increased.

The sturdy wood cracked like a ship caught in a storm beneath his feet as he leapt at the void. His heart hastened, the clouds approaching, while his momentum waned. But he still smiled. He had covered enough ground to use his technique.

His fingers cracked, taking the shape of a Chinese dragon’s claws. He gripped the corona of clouds as if it were a tangible support and spun around it, recovering his momentum. Then, he let go, shooting inside the void and toward the island like a comet.

He even laughed as he passed a few stunned core disciples riding their swords. Well, the only thing they saw was a white and blue streak and the raging sound of the wind flapping his robes.

A few seconds later, he crashed into the island’s river with a deafening splash. After all, the last thing he wanted was to damage the gardens. More importantly, he used the powerful currents to hide his movements and swam upward like a triton.

He emerged through the moats before the forbidden city a moment later. Gazing left and right, he ensured no one was nearby before leaping on the immaculate bridge.

"Wow." A whistle escaped his lips now that he stood before the formations carved on the walls.

Characters and squarish symbols glowed in a perpetual attraction that purified and expelled life force in shimmering waves, making him wonder if he should learn this art.

’My plate’s already full with alchemy, enchanting, and Qi smithing.’ He chuckled, dismissing the idea and stepping toward the closed door.

’Am I the first? Strange, knowing Xian Yunxu can bend space. Did she bypass it?’

As he pushed the door, a formation brightened at his feet, and then a regal voice, gentle yet commanding, echoed in his mind.

"Welcome to the sacred domain of the void emperor."

His eyes widened. How did he step on a formation without noticing it?

’Shit! Tianlong said this blessed land owner might have been a tier nine Dao ancestor. Of course, I wouldn’t feel a thing.’ His lips twisted as he remembered the sect leader’s suspicions.

No, it was worse. If the name reflected the man’s affinity, he was in for a troublesome spin since it was a branch of space—a domain he always feared to explore without proper guidance. Even after eight years of stumbling and a rough mastery over gravity after learning from Thurin’s book, he could only fold space. So what could a man who mastered void, the hardest spatial discipline, do?

"Hahaha." The emperor suddenly exploded into laughter. "A smart kid? No, we both know you’re not one. Around twenty, I’d say. Reincarnated? Mhh. You’re by far the most interesting one today. Very well, I judge you worthy of competing in my trials."

’How does he know so much?! Does he read my mind? Get out if you do!’ Adam gasped, his mind rumbling with mana without care of being exposed anymore.

Shimmering barriers rose one after another in an impregnable fortress.

"Too late, little one. But this energy..."

Adam trembled, dread’s icy fingers clutching his heart. Panic had made him react too fast. Cultivators hated mages, and now, not only did the emperor bypass his defenses as if they didn’t exist, but he knew about his origins.

As sweat dripped down his brow, the voice rumbled.

"It’s interesting. Where does it come from, and why did I never see it?"

Adam almost fell to the ground, not knowing if he should laugh or cry at the false alarm. Still, he clutched his pounding chest and breathed in relief. The Dao ancestor had probably lived before the mages appeared in the cultivation realm.

’I’ll explain later, ancestor. Could you let me in or send me to the trials you mentioned? Using this energy alerted the others, and I don’t want them to discover I can use it for personal reasons.’

"Sure. I’ll watch you closely, little one."

As the emperor answered, each stroke of the formation sparkled like a star.

He closed his eyes to protect them from the radiance, the world dissolving around him.

And when he reopened them, a room filled with ethereal beings draped in luxurious silky robes met his narrowing eyes. Ghosts? No, they looked more like projections of the past with their ancient crowns and forehead tattoos.

’Is the ancestor one too?’ The question struck him. After all, even if cultivators enjoyed long lives, this one seemed extremely old.

Before he could take his surroundings in, the voice echoed again.

"Forget what you saw outside. My palace abounds with riches that would make kings look like beggars. Defeat the guardians to claim them." A hint of amusement laced his tone. "They’re all in the spiritual ascension realm, so don’t even think about holding back, little one."

Adam drew a sharp breath, remembering the magus. Tier eight beings were a bit too much, especially ancient ones. No, they’d crush him...

But the emperor didn’t give him time to despair.

"There is a less dangerous method, but much harder. Subject yourself to the projections tests and gather clues from them. If you can find and grant me my wish, you’ll inherit this blessed land and everything it holds. But you only have six hours before the blessed land closes."

Adam’s eyes sparkled, a greedy smirk splitting his face as he raised his fist.

"Everything will be mine!"