Her back stung making her wince in surprise. Why did her back hurt? Curiously, she tried to move a pair of aching arms to her back and felt her raw flesh, torn and soft. She realized that those were a mix of fresh wounds and few days old wounds that have slowly began to heal on its own. But that was only the beginning because she wore nothing but her birthday suit! She gasped anxiously feeling invisible gazes all over her little being. At least her hair was long and thick enough to stick on her grimy skin to keep her warm.

Waking up lying naked and wounded was the last thing she expected. Moreover, her surrounding stunk. The repulsive smell of rotting flesh and blood flooded her nostrils thus have sent her gagging and start yearning for fresh air. "My wounds are going to be infected!" Her stomach churned in both anxiety and repulsiveness from the very thought of her open wounds touched by corpses. Worse, the worms! "What if some have already crawled into my skin?" She asked her self if she had the courage to blindly look for a small, slimy thing that's busy wiggling itself and burrowing a hole into her flesh. There wouldn't even be just one worm but worms! Plural! "I'd rather stab myself and join the dead—-no!"

This was such a nightmarish place! It oozed in the aroma of rotting flesh, worse than dead, rotting toad nor a skunk's fart; plus if she loathed the smell of fish alone back in her world, how much more can she handle this? She had to get out of the hole right this instant! "But how?" For a while, she wandered in the dark without moving too much. But who knew what inevitable dangers were lurking around? She tried to be cautious.

One surprise however came after another but nothing went to the better end of the stick, only going worse.

Once her eyes have adjusted in the dark, she found herself on top of a huge pile of dead bodies. To make things worse, they were not all in one piece as she just recently threw away a torn arm out of reflex. Not that she had not already antic.i.p.ated such thing, where else can she lay naked and half-dead in a new dark place that stunk like h.e.l.l? Judging from the different types of rotting states and freshness of each body, she came to a conclusion that it was an unmarked grave.

She was not the biggest fan of screaming nor having too much reactions with horrific events. In fact, back in her world, horror films were sort of her soap operas aside from crime and medical shows. But her jaws still locked tightly, teeth grinded against each other as she tried to gather courage to find herself clothes from the freshest, cleanest or at least, lesser b.l.o.o.d.y bodies. Each were cold and slimy. Her hands trembled every time she reached out to untie and pull the robes away. Not a thought of reaching deeper into clothes for undergarments and such fearing worse outcomes. Every time she came across a face, she instantly sucked her breath in and closed her eyes tightly because eyes were the windows of the soul, many always remarked. They all used to be full of life but now, those eyes were wide open, staring back at her with dark emotions; be it regret, fear, anger, mockery or something worse. Rarely did she see any closed eyes or happy gazes. She found it nerve-wrecking to be a grave robber at this very moment in this type of grave. Every single body had evidences of horrible deaths from bashed skulls, decapitated bodies, lost limbs, broken and crushed bones, pieces of the body to even a baby frozen or starved to death! Her heart trembled in pity. Despite that, she gathered the best clothes as fast as possible before looking up at the dark night sky to see the moon slowly getting uncovered and the skeletons of tree branches peeking over the hole.

She briefly reminisced about her time as a military cadet. Those long, rainy nights did her well after enduring those summers. She had to climb over a steep wall in under a minute! Worse were the marine training program that she had to partic.i.p.ate in every summer for straight five years just to meet the conditions of her country's scholars.h.i.+p program in university. At least that did not require her to write essays. She punched her chest. "All your training is finally going to be used!"

So, a few minutes later, the woman growled and shouted in joy as she desperately inhaled and exhaled for fresh air once she was able to pull herself out of the d.a.m.ned hole that if she could estimate between the present height of the ma.s.s of dead bodies to the top, it'd be at least twenty feet high! It was a difficult feat because it was not the simple rock and roots climbing! It was disgusting as intestines, blood, eyeb.a.l.l.s, tongues, heads and whatever else have been stuck on those! Under her nails were pieces of flesh and soil. It was unbefitting for a former hospital employee who worked in one of her world's cleanest, sterile environments. For five days straight every other week, she was spotless and almost cleaner than a disinfectant. Right now, she found herself a ruined mess. Not that she could do anything about it. . . Yet.

Given her former career, it was inevitable for her to start vomiting after realizing that her nightmare was finally over. She wanted to shower and scrub all her dead skin cells for a hundred times! She wanted to grow out new hair, new nails and rip her skin out for a new one. Nonetheless, the woman clenched her fists and punched the air in joy. It was done and she's quickly recovering. Bathing was going to be her first goal at the very moment she feels all settled. Firstly, she had to figure out her current situation.

n.o.body had to tell her that she transmigrated into an alternative fantasy world set in a historical, magical era. She was very aware of the fact as soon as some voice sent her away to the ma.s.s grave situation plus her injured body and long hair. She always had short hair and would really love to cut it but not yet. What if the girls in this era were only allowed to have long hair? She had to blend in to avoid trouble.

Upon such thoughts, she closed her eyes to try and recall the memories of the previous owner only to be awarded with a temporary headache and a flabberghasting terror that ate on her consciousness! Unconsciously, she dropped on her b.u.t.t then she pulled her knees to her chest right after. Not only does she have a body that felt broken and a bit paralyzed from exhaustion, a terrible migraine sprouted in her head as well. She let her new body collapse on the ground, lying on her stomach as not to press on her wounds.

Her name was Hez Park in the real world. She was a mixed race person who enjoyed her liberty. The owner's previous name was Yue'er Lan. A pure bred, white lotus raised in a strict family of warriors and n.o.bles. Hez was previously a pharmacist who enjoyed compounding drugs and had a hobby for cooking. The previous owner was an unpredictable white lotus trained to be a full-pledged war commander on the side. She had constant hunger for souls and wars were her kitchen and dining table. It was inevitable for her to commit war crimes. She became one of the main bounty and target of every enemy country and a.s.sociations. Her own kingdom was no exception. But she was a very strong warrior, martial artist, pill master and a talented cultivator who was also hard-working. The new owner felt admiration and fear for the original owner. Now as her predecessor, she feared that death was just around the corner if she maneuvered her path wrongly and be discovered.

Hez wanted to beg whoever sent her here to take her back. Were her fujios.h.i.+ days enough to send her to this torturous place? But she remembered the voice from awhile ago, where was that being after all this?

Unexpectedly, a searing pain began to burn like fire inside her! It crawled all throughout, leaving no inch spared! After all she went through, was this another punishment? She grinded her teeth together to m.u.f.fle her scream.

Just then, a voice mumbled, "Hold on!" Yet it was too low to enter her hearing.

With everything happening all at once, her senses dulled rendering her vulnerable. "Why did this have to happen? Someone, somebody help me. Please," she spoke weakly. Hearing her, a pair of small hands pressed on her shoulder blades. Those small palms were so cool and relaxing that Hez was able to let out a sigh of relief. The smallest of help was appreciated.

Unknown to her, her surroundings had been frozen beginning from the floor to the trees and even the tree leaves that were blown away. If she could open her eyes and take a look, she would probably describe it as a winter wonderland that reminded her of home. Later, the burning sensation weakened allowing the lady to return to consciousness. She felt febrile illness given her burning body and the contrasting negative temperature surrounding her. Her mouth gasped in awe and disbelief, "where did all those ice come from?"

Unfortunately, the ice was slowly melting and no longer as gorgeous as it was few hours ago. Then she sneezed though she felt very hot. Hez was so sure she was going to contract a flu after this, a supernatural flu! But if somebody knew better, the body's previous powers were simply trying to revive itself by forcibly clas.h.i.+ng against the seals that explains the unimaginable heat. It should be extremely painful as the power tries to force itself to be absorbed back into every single muscle fibre, vein, bone and cell then into her DNA. The coldness surrounding her body was reducing the pain. It also just so happens that the original owner and the predecessor both had higher tolerance to physical pain than an average human so a pain like this should feel like a gun shot wound if Hezekiah could describe it. A grave, multiple gun shot wound, maybe from a shot gun that left her miraculously just gravely wounded and almost dead.

From a hidden dimension, the owner of the voice watched over her for days and days until she finally regained her consciousness. Her body felt so light and healthy that her hands swiftly touched her back and felt nothing. Hez did not expect to feel so fresh in the very least. A smile plastered on her face. Next, she stood up and tested herself with a few jumping jacks. No pain! But like an old man with a temporary relief from his arthritis, her knees shook making her fall back on the ground. Her lower back ached as well. Not to forget the cramps on her arms and legs. "Okay not as much as before. But.. . Alright, I'm good as new! What the heck was that pain? I don't want to feel it again! Phew," her stomach grumbled. "Now that I think about it, I am so hungry but I cannot move my body." She cried invisible tears.

Out of nowhere, a voice giggled mischievously forcing the lady to stop her drama. She knew who the adorable voice belonged to and did not bother to look around. "Hi Hez, do you like your new body?"

The lady did not bother to respond and tried to pull herself up on her own two feet instead. "What happened?" If anyone had an inkling or two about her experiences, it would just be this person.

So the voice coninued, "You have too much power, no, Yue'er Lan had too much that if I unlock it all now? You are going to burst from the overwhelming power, let alone the aura. In your present state, you are barely even a Martial Warrior. You are a million years away from accessing Yue'er's real power."

Hez sighed. "But if I get caught under such ident.i.ty, I am dead meat!"

The voice snorted. "That's where I come in! I give you advice on cultivation. You are lucky this body is of a genius'!"

She snorted back, unconvinced. "I don't even know anything---" before she could finish, the voice cut her off by opening Hez's dimension. The predecessor herself initially jolted her arm away in surprise. Invisible hands touched the back of her left wrist and pulled some old, antique books out of it before throwing it at her. "I thought I was done studying in pharmacy school? Oh who knew?"

"Hey, at least yu did not have to totally memorize this! Just understand and then it will come into your head. Will stay there forever then bam! Photographic memory, amnesiproof!" She could remember all the times she prayed to have those power ever since middle school. This much already satisfied her.

Hez smiled. "That's what I wanted to hear! So what stage am I? Just an average human in this world?"

"First stage."

"of what?"

"Qi Collection."

"Huh?"

"In this world, cultivation is a part of life. And it begins from the Qi Collection phase with eight stages to achieve under it. Beyond that is a Martial warrior then Martial Knight then Martial General then Martial King then Martial Emperor then Martial Honour then Martial Supreme then Martial Saint then Martial G.o.d. Under each rank is another process to achieve which goes from low ranked , mid-ranked and high ranked. Martial Saint and Martial G.o.d is another level but heh, with a lazy woman like you, I doubt we even need to discuss about this!" If the owner of the voice could show their self, he would be rolling and guffawing on the ground. "Nope! At least every being here is at third stage qi gathering by the age of nine on average!"

"So you are saying I'm the weakest yet also one of the strongest beings here?"

"Don't even dream of being strong at this state, first, you have to take an herbal bath!" The sterile compounding pharmacist shook in rage. Her hands clenched into fists all of a sudden. Though quiet, her sudden display of killing intent alerted the voice's owner. "What's wrong?"

"What herbal bath? I need soap, warm water, conditioner, shampoo, scrubbies, bath salts, body lotion, shaver, uhh and face cleansers and foams. A toothpaste and brush too!" after being thrown into this world without a clue, she felt like she deserved a bit of her wants. Especially that she was here for the entertainment of one being. If it was a man, she was going to deliver him a killing blow once she obtain Yue'er Lan's power. If it was a child, oh she's going to discipline him and lecture him about respect. If it was an elderly, she's yet to decide what she should do.

"Such worldly needs!" The voice retorted.

"At least make sure the herbal bath has to make me a hundred percent clean!"

"Obviously, this is a world of magic!"

"But my electric brush, toothpaste, mouthwash and floss-- I need them. Nothing can be of 100 percent guarantee!"

"Whatever, here."