Reincarnation of the Celestial Bastard

Chapter 2: A Bastard's Fate

When Li Tian opened his eyes again, he was alone. He lay on a simple, worn-out bed in a cramped, dimly lit room. The wooden walls were cracked, and the floor was coated with dust. It was a pitiful existence, but not unexpected for someone of his status—or rather, the previous owner of this body's status.

As the memories of the boy named Li Tian flooded his mind, Li Tian took a moment to gather his thoughts. Li Tian had been born a bastard to Li Wen, the patriarch of the powerful Li family. But being born outside the legitimate line meant his life was destined to be one of ridicule and neglect. His mother, a lowly servant, had died when he was still a child, leaving him at the mercy of a family that hated his very existence.

He was weak, fragile, and utterly despised. Even the servants treated him like trash. In the end, the constant bullying and abuse had led to his untimely death at the age of 14.

Li Tian sat up, rubbing his temples as the full weight of this reality sank in.

"So, this is how it begins," he mused, glancing around the filthy room. Despite the miserable circumstances, he wasn't the type to wallow in self-pity. If anything, this was a golden opportunity—an underdog with nothing to lose. He'd rise again, but this time, with a different approach.

He had all his memories from his previous life, the knowledge of cultivation techniques, strategies, and most importantly—his calm indifference. But this time, he wouldn't rush for power. He'd take his time, enjoy life's pleasures, and use his newfound freedom to its fullest.

Just as he was pondering his next move, a knock came from the door.

"Li Tian!" A voice hissed from the other side. "Get up! The second young master wants to see you!"

Li Tian recognized the voice. It belonged to Liu Xiang, one of the family's more arrogant servants who delighted in bullying Li Tian.

Taking a deep breath, Li Tian rose from the bed, brushing off the dust from his clothes. His body was frail, and even moving felt like a struggle. But he knew that wouldn't last long. With his knowledge of cultivation, he could strengthen this weak frame in no time.

Opening the door, he found Liu Xiang standing there, his face twisted in a sneer.

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"Hurry up, bastard. The second young master doesn't have all day," Liu Xiang spat, his tone dripping with disdain.

Li Tian's eyes flickered with amusement. He'd dealt with worse in his previous life—much worse. Bullies like Liu Xiang were nothing more than insects to him now. But for the time being, he would play along. There was no need to reveal his true strength just yet.

"Lead the way," Li Tian said calmly, stepping past Liu Xiang and into the dimly lit hallway.

The Li family's estate was massive, a sprawling complex of courtyards, halls, and training grounds. Everywhere Li Tian looked, he could see the wealth and power of the family on full display. Yet, despite being part of this powerful lineage, Li Tian had always been an outcast.

As they walked, Liu Xiang continued to hurl insults under his breath, clearly enjoying the opportunity to vent his frustrations on someone weaker. Li Tian ignored him, his mind already working on how to navigate this new life.

They arrived at a large courtyard where several figures were gathered. At the center stood Li Wei, the second legitimate son of the Li family and one of Li Tian's worst tormentors.

Li Wei was 18 years old, tall and broad-shouldered, with the unmistakable air of someone used to getting what he wanted. His smug expression only deepened when he saw Li Tian approach.

"Ah, if it isn't our worthless half-brother," Li Wei said, his voice dripping with mockery. "You know, Father still refuses to acknowledge you as part of the family. I suppose that's to be expected, considering you're the result of a servant's mistake."

The group of young cultivators behind Li Wei snickered, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Li Tian, however, didn't flinch. He stared at Li Wei with the same indifferent expression he'd perfected over his years as a powerful cultivator in his previous life. Li Wei's taunts felt hollow—childish even.

"What do you want, Li Wei?" Li Tian asked, his voice steady.

Li Wei blinked, surprised by the lack of fear in his half-brother's tone. Normally, Li Tian would have stammered, cowered, or tried to avoid eye contact. But today, something was different.

"You little—" Li Wei's eyes darkened as he stepped forward. "Do you think you can speak to me that way? Have you finally lost your mind, bastard?"

Li Tian suppressed a smirk. It was amusing how easily these people could be riled up. He wasn't interested in a confrontation just yet—he had other plans. But there was no harm in stirring the pot a little.

"I asked a simple question," Li Tian said, his tone casual. "What do you want?"

Li Wei's face twisted in anger, his hand twitching as though he was about to strike. But just as he raised his arm, another voice interrupted.

"Enough, Li Wei," a calm, authoritative voice said.

Everyone turned to see Li Ru, the eldest son of the Li family, approaching the courtyard. Unlike Li Wei, Li Ru had a much more composed demeanor. He was 21, already a respected cultivator within the family, and unlike his younger brother, he didn't waste time on petty squabbles.

"Father will hear about this if you keep causing trouble," Li Ru said, his eyes locking with Li Wei's.

Li Wei clenched his fists but lowered his arm. Even he wasn't foolish enough to challenge his elder brother. With a final glare at Li Tian, he spat on the ground and stormed off, his group of lackeys following close behind.

Li Tian watched him go, his expression unreadable. He knew that Li Wei's hatred would only grow, but that didn't concern him. He'd dealt with far more dangerous enemies in his past life.

"You're lucky Li Ru arrived when he did," Liu Xiang muttered under his breath, clearly disappointed that the confrontation hadn't escalated.

Li Tian said nothing, his mind already working on his next steps. His body was weak now, but that wouldn't last. He had the knowledge and skills to rise again—and this time, he'd do it at his own pace.

As he turned to leave the courtyard, a sudden notification appeared before him, the familiar transparent window from the system.

New Task: Defy Your Half-Brother Reward: Minor Strength Boost (Level 1)

Li Tian chuckled under his breath. So, the system responds to my desires, he thought. It seemed the subconscious thrill of standing up to Li Wei had triggered the task. It was an interesting feature, and one he could certainly take advantage of in the future.

As he walked back toward his room, Li Tian felt a sense of calm settle over him. He may have been reborn as a weak, despised bastard, but that was only the beginning. With the system and his past-life knowledge, this new world was his playground.

And he would enjoy every moment of it.