Earth
Tim gasped awake on the couch, his entire body shaking as consciousness snapped back to his male form like a rubber band stretched too far. Sweat had soaked through his shirt, and his head felt like someone had been using it as a drum for the past several hours. The dual-awareness nausea hit him in waves, but it was manageable now—his body was starting to adapt to the constant shifting between worlds.
"Damn," he muttered, pressing the heels of his palms against his temples. "That was intense."
His phone buzzed with a cheerful reminder about tomorrow's class schedule, the mundane notification jarring after everything he'd just experienced. Right. Earth. Teaching English to college students who had no idea their professor was secretly living as a teenage girl cultivator in another dimension.
The irony wasn't lost on him that his biggest concern used to be whether his students would notice if he showed up hungover. Now he was worried about whether he could focus on grammar lessons while simultaneously fleeing from magical assassins.
He exhaled slowly, still feeling the phantom sensation of Lia running at superhuman speeds. His earthly body felt impossibly heavy and sluggish by comparison, like trying to move through thick honey after experiencing the liquid grace of Foundation Establishment cultivation. "Definitely need some anti-nausea meds," he decided, already reaching for his keys.
But first, he needed to make sure Lia got home safely. That body had been through enough trauma for one day.
Tim made himself a strong cup of tea and settled back onto the couch, closing his eyes as he shifted his primary awareness back to the cultivation world. The transition was getting smoother with practice, though it still felt like diving into a different person's skin.
Cultivation World
Lia's legs burned as she climbed the familiar stone steps leading to the sect's main complex. Even with Foundation Establishment enhancement, the desperate flight from the ruins and the emotional trauma of losing Ami had taken their toll. Every muscle in her body ached, and her qi reserves felt depleted from the massive techniques she'd been forced to use.
The sect looked exactly as she'd left it—serene mountain peaks wreathed in mist, elegant buildings perched on impossible ledges, and the constant sound of flowing water that gave the sect its name. It was home, or at least the closest thing to home that the original Lia had ever known.
"Disciple Lia, where are your manners?"
The stern voice cut through her exhausted thoughts like a blade. Lia turned quickly, her heart sinking as she spotted Elder Cho standing beside one of the meditation pavilions. The older woman's expression was thunderous, and her spiritual pressure pressed down like a physical weight.
Lia immediately dropped into the deepest bow she could manage, her body protesting the formal posture. "Ten thousand apologies, Elder Cho. This disciple was distracted by her injuries and failed to show proper respect."
Elder Cho's sharp eyes swept over Lia's bedraggled appearance, taking in the torn robes, the dried blood, and the exhaustion written across her features. Her expression softened slightly, though her voice remained stern.
"You look like you've been through a meat grinder, child. What happened out there? That spatial fracture was reported as unstable—as soon as we realized someone had gone missing inside, I sent a rescue team." Her voice grew grimmer. "They found three other disciples dead at the entrance before they even made it inside."
Lia's stomach clenched. Other disciples had died because of the same greed that had driven the original Lia to enter the ruins alone. "I... I was fortunate, Elder. The fracture collapsed shortly after I entered, but I managed to find another exit."
It wasn't entirely a lie—just a careful omission of the parts involving corpse-eating cultists and ancient battlefields. Those details could wait for a more official debriefing.
Elder Cho studied her for a long moment, her experienced eyes noting details that most would miss. The way Lia favored her left side, the slight tremor in her hands from qi depletion, the haunted look that spoke of violence witnessed and lives lost.
"Go rest," she said finally, her tone gentling. "Clean yourself up, eat something substantial, and report to my quarters tomorrow at dawn. We'll discuss what you found in there, and what it cost you to escape."
Lia bowed again, relief flooding through her. "Yes, Elder. Thank you for your mercy."
"And Lia?" Elder Cho's voice stopped her as she turned to leave. "Next time you're tempted to investigate dangerous phenomena alone, remember that sect resources exist for a reason. Pride has killed more promising disciples than any enemy ever could."
The words hit harder than any punishment could have. Lia nodded mutely and hurried toward the disciple quarters, Elder Cho's warning echoing in her mind.
The residential section of the sect was built into a series of terraced platforms, with individual rooms carved directly into the living rock of the mountain. Lia's quarters were modest but comfortable—a single room with a narrow bed, a simple wooden desk, and a small altar for meditation. Incense hung in the air, a blend of sandalwood and something floral that the original Lia had favored.
She collapsed onto the bed without even removing her ruined outer robes, exhaustion hitting her like a physical blow. Through Tim's perspective, the sensation was remarkable—even bone-tired, he could feel the qi flowing through Lia's meridians like warm honey, slowly replenishing her depleted reserves. The sensation was intoxicating in a way that no earthly experience could match.
Then her bladder decided to make its presence known.
Tim's consciousness recoiled in horror. "Oh god, not this. Please, not this."
He'd lived thirty years in a male body with straightforward plumbing. The mechanics were simple, familiar, and entirely predictable. This... this was going to be a learning experience he definitely wasn't prepared for.
Lia groaned and forced herself upright, her body protesting every movement as she made her way to the small washroom behind a decorative screen. The facilities were typical for the sect—a carved stone basin, a mirror of polished bronze, and a traditional squat toilet that looked more like a porcelain torture device than a bathroom fixture.
"Of course it's an Asian squat toilet," she muttered, staring down at the thing with a mixture of confusion and dread. "Because why would anything about this situation be simple?"
The logistics were... complicated. Hiking up the flowing robes while trying to maintain balance over the unfamiliar toilet, all while fighting exhaustion and muscle soreness. Tim tried to mentally distance himself from the experience, but there was no escaping the awkward reality of learning to use entirely different equipment.
"Okay," Lia whispered to herself, positioning carefully. "Just like camping, right? Can't be that hard..."
It was that hard. The first attempt resulted in a wild stream that went everywhere except where it was supposed to go, splashing off the sides of the toilet and onto her robes. The second attempt wasn't much better.
"What the fuck—how is this even functional?" she hissed, grabbing cleaning cloths and trying to manage the disaster. "This is like trying to aim a garden hose with your eyes closed!"
The cleanup operation took longer than the actual attempt, and by the time she'd sorted out the mess, Lia was ready to cry from frustration and embarrassment. The wiping was another adventure entirely—navigating completely unfamiliar anatomy while trying to figure out which direction to wipe and how much was necessary.
"This is going to take some serious getting used to," she sighed, finally emerging from behind the screen with her dignity somewhat intact.
The emirror reflected her bedraggled appearance—tangled black hair, dirt-streaked face, and robes that looked like they'd been through a war zone. Which, technically, they had. She made a mental note to learn some basic grooming techniques before her meeting with Elder Cho tomorrow.
Lia barely managed to strip off her outer robes before collapsing onto the narrow bed, pulling the simple cotton blanket over her exhausted form. Within moments, she was dead to the world, her breathing evening out as healing sleep claimed her.
Earth
Tim snapped back fully into his own body, groaning as the jarring transition hit him like a freight train. The abrupt shift from Lia's exhausted but qi-enhanced form to his own mundane flesh felt like falling off a cliff. He rolled off the couch and stumbled toward the bathroom, his legs unsteady as nausea overwhelmed him.
He barely made it to the toilet before vomiting violently, his body rejecting the stress of maintaining dual consciousness for so long. The retching continued for several minutes, leaving him weak and shaking as he gripped the porcelain bowl.
After cleaning up and rinsing his mouth, Tim looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. The reflection was alarming—dark circles under bloodshot eyes, pale skin with an almost grayish tint, and the general appearance of someone who'd been through a medical emergency. Yeah, he definitely needed medication to get through tomorrow's classes without looking like a walking corpse.
The only overnight pharmacy was in the wealthy district across town, so Tim found himself driving through quiet streets at nearly midnight, soft music playing from the radio to distract from the absolute insanity his life had become. The familiar routine of driving, the hum of the engine, the glow of streetlights—it all felt surreal after experiencing supernatural battles and qi cultivation.
At the pharmacy, the fluorescent lighting was harsh against his tired eyes. An older pharmacist was helping a young woman who looked to be around 20 to 22, petite with short blonde hair and an oversized sweater that seemed to swallow her small frame. She was complaining of nausea and double vision, asking for medication in hesitant Japanese.
Tim waited patiently behind her, noting how she swayed slightly even while standing still. When she finished her transaction and moved away from the counter, he approached the pharmacist.
"Excuse me, do you speak English?" Tim asked, rubbing his temples where a persistent headache was building.
The older man nodded politely. "Yes, how can I help you?"
"I've been having severe motion sickness and nausea," Tim explained, trying not to sound as desperate as he felt. "Something to help with that?"
The pharmacist studied Tim's haggard appearance with professional concern before selecting a package from behind the counter. He handed over a Japanese equivalent of Dramamine and carefully explained the dosage in accented but clear English. After paying, Tim headed back to his car, dry-swallowing two pills immediately, hoping they'd kick in soon.
As he was getting into his car, he noticed the young woman from earlier had stopped walking and was leaning heavily against a wall, looking distinctly unsteady. Her oversized sweater made her look even smaller and more vulnerable under the harsh streetlights.
Concerned despite his own exhaustion, Tim rolled down his window. "Hey, are you—"
"I have a bf, old pervert!" she shouted with surprising volume, her voice echoing off the empty buildings. "Leave me alone!"
Before Tim could even process the response, she sprinted off down the street with unsteady steps, stumbled over her own feet, scrambled back up, and kept running like he was chasing her with a weapon.
Tim sat there stunned for a moment, watching her disappear around a corner. "Okay, fair enough," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He probably did look like hell—pale, exhausted, and approaching random women at midnight. Maybe trying to help strangers wasn't the best idea when he looked like he'd crawled out of a grave.
Back home, Tim stripped off his clothes and stepped into the shower, turning the water as hot as he could stand. The moment the scalding spray hit his skin, it felt absolutely amazing—like all of him, not just his physical body, was being cleansed of the day's trauma and stress.
Remarkably, even Lia shifted restlessly in her bed miles away and dimensions apart, somehow feeling the warmth and comfort through their connection. The way sensations crossed between worlds was becoming more frequent and more unsettling, but right now Tim was too exhausted to care about the implications.
He stood under the spray until the hot water began to run cold, then dried off and collapsed into bed wearing only boxers. As his head hit the pillow, he felt Lia's breathing synchronize with his own across the dimensional divide.
Cultivation world
Lia woke first, her consciousness emerging from a swirling maze of fragmented dreams where her memories and Tim's blended together in confusing ways. She'd dreamed of teaching English to a classroom full of cultivators, of fighting monsters with a whiteboard marker, of trying to explain grammar while dodging flying swords. The bizarre mixing of her two lives was disorienting, but it did give her unexpected insights into the sect's structure.
Through the original Lia's inherited knowledge, she understood that there were three elders who specifically taught Foundation Establishment students. Elder Cho was one of them, having reached the lower Golden Core stage but never progressed beyond that threshold. Rather than ascending to the inner sect where true power resided, she'd remained in the outer sect, dedicating herself to nurturing young talents who might one day surpass her own achievements.
Lia sat up slowly, working the stiffness out of her neck as she stretched. The flexibility of this body never ceased to amaze her—she could practically fold herself in half without effort, her spine bending in ways that would have put Tim's earthly form in the hospital. The enhanced physique of Foundation Establishment cultivation was remarkable.
Then came the moment she'd been both dreading and anticipating since taking over this body—she needed to truly understand what she was dealing with. With Tim's mental barrier in place, she felt more comfortable exploring the feminine form without the constant internal resistance that had plagued her before.
Stripping down completely, she stood before the bronze mirror, taking careful inventory of her new form. Long black hair cascaded past her shoulders like silk, catching the morning light filtering through her window. Her eyes were the most striking feature—bright purple irises that seemed to glow with their own inner light, a mark of her exceptional spiritual energy. Her skin was pale and unmarked, cultivation's healing properties having erased any scars or blemishes from her previous life.
The overall effect was... breathtaking. A slim waist that curved into wider hips, legs that seemed to go on forever, and proportions that belonged in classical artwork rather than reality.
"Jesus," she muttered, turning to examine different angles. "This is like winning the genetic lottery while simultaneously getting the most complicated prize possible."
Her figure was the kind that would make men walk into walls and crash their cars. Tim's memories supplied plenty of comparisons—this was better than any woman he'd ever seen in person, on screen, or in his wildest fantasies. And now it was hers to inhabit.
"I would have sold my soul for a girlfriend with a body like this when I was younger," she thought with dark humor. "Now I've got the best pair I've ever seen permanently attached to my chest."
She cupped her breasts experimentally, surprised by their weight and the immediate sensitivity. "Holy hell, these things are massive. How do women fight with these bouncing around everywhere?" Even that light touch sent unfamiliar sensations racing through her nervous system, making her acutely aware of just how different this body's responses were.
Moving lower with scientific curiosity, she examined the completely foreign territory between her legs. "Well, there's definitely no little Tim down here anymore," she muttered, spreading her legs slightly to get a better view. The smooth, hairless surface was both alien and intimidating. "This is going to take some serious adjustment."
The whole situation felt surreal—examining a body that was technically hers while simultaneously feeling like she was being a complete pervert. The dual perspective of inhabitant and observer was more complex than she'd anticipated.
After her thorough self-examination, she washed quickly in the basin of cold water and dressed in clean robes. The sect's standard attire consisted of flowing red robes with white trim that marked her as an outer disciple. The fabric was surprisingly comfortable and practical, designed to allow for the full range of motion required by cultivation techniques.
Her memories remained frustratingly fragmented, like trying to piece together a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing. Hopefully, they would return with time as she became more integrated with this form.
Taking inventory of her storage rings, she was pleased to discover quite a collection of useful items. The rings themselves were marvels of spatial compression technology, each one containing a pocket dimension accessible through qi manipulation.
Her current assets included: a low-grade spirit weapon sword, two sets of spare robes, five different medicinal herbs, three healing pills that could mend serious injuries, dried meat and fruit rations preserved through cultivation techniques, a self-refilling water jug that drew moisture from ambient qi, twelve gold coins for mortal transactions, forty-three spirit stones for cultivation purposes, two books written in an ancient script she couldn't read, and a staff of unknown material that hummed with latent power.
Not bad for someone who'd technically been looting corpses. Distasteful perhaps, but survival had to come first in this dangerous world.
She noticed one final ring on her index finger and tried injecting a small amount of qi into it, the technique feeling surprisingly natural. The original Lia must have done this thousands of times. Instantly, a holographic interface materialized in the air before her, glowing with soft blue light.
"What the hell—this is like having a smartphone made of pure energy!" she exclaimed, staring at the floating display in amazement.
She realized then that this world had seamlessly blended advanced technology with ancient cultivation techniques in ways that defied easy categorization. The interface responded to both her thoughts and finger gestures, displaying everything from cultivation manual downloads to what appeared to be social media feeds. A quick check revealed dozens of unread messages from friends asking if she was okay after disappearing for three days.
One message made her blood run cold: "Lia, you better show your face soon or I'll break your legs. - Your loving brother Jin"
Her heart sank as the implications hit her. She had an older brother who knew her well enough to notice personality changes. She'd have to be extremely careful around family members who might detect that something fundamental had changed about her.
Exploring the interface further, she discovered her public social media profile and nearly choked. Five hundred thousand followers. Her stomach dropped as she scrolled through post after post featuring her image, her cultivation achievements, and speculation about her potential.
"Damn," she whispered. Cultivators were apparently celebrities in this world, and she was one of the most promising rising stars of her generation. Not only did she need to master alien cultivation techniques and navigate a dangerous world, she had to maintain a public persona and reputation she knew absolutely nothing about.
She checked the trending topics, finding news about the spatial fracture incident and how the Flowing Water Sect had lost several disciples but successfully secured the site before rival sects could claim it. There was rampant speculation about what treasures might have been discovered inside.
Lia quickly closed the interface, not wanting to deal with the social media pressure on top of everything else. She needed to focus on her immediate situation first.
She headed toward Elder Cho's pavilion, mentally preparing for whatever interrogation awaited her. This was going to be far more complicated than just surviving—she had an entire life to maintain, complete with relationships, expectations, and a reputation built over years that she had no memory of creating.
The morning view of the sect took her breath away as she walked through the complex. It was massive beyond her previous comprehension, built into multiple mountain peaks with countless buildings connected by bridges, platforms, and pathways that seemed to defy gravity. Some structures were suspended by massive chains, while others floated freely, held aloft by formations that made the air shimmer with contained power.
The air itself felt alive, charged with qi and smelling faintly of ozone from the countless active formations. Disciples moved between buildings in every conceivable way—some walked along traditional paths, others flew on swords with practiced ease, and a few rode spirit beasts that ranged from elegant cranes to powerful tigers with crystalline fur.
As she approached Elder Cho's pavilion, a tiered structure that floated serenely above a pond filled with enormous koi, two senior disciples spotted her and bowed slightly.
"Junior Sister Lia," one said with a carefully neutral expression. "Glad to see you alive and well."
His tone suggested otherwise. There was something calculating in his eyes, a measuring quality that spoke of sect politics and hidden agendas. She was clearly valuable enough to warrant false politeness, but not trusted or liked.
She nodded curtly and continued walking, remembering that politics in this world were apparently brutal. Showing weakness or uncertainty would invite predation from those looking to advance their own positions.
Elder Cho's pavilion was a masterwork of architectural beauty and practical design. The interior was spacious but not ostentatious, with clean lines and subtle decorations that spoke of refined taste. Elder Cho herself waited inside, seated behind a low table made of polished spirit wood.
The elder appeared to be around sixty years old, though Lia knew that Golden Core cultivators could live for centuries while maintaining relatively youthful appearances. Her sharp features and penetrating gaze spoke of someone who had seen decades of sect politics and dangerous missions.
"Sit," Elder Cho commanded, her voice carrying the authority of absolute command.
Lia knelt opposite her on a cushion, keeping her back straight and her expression respectfully attentive. Every instinct told her that this conversation would determine her immediate future within the sect.
"You entered the spatial fracture alone," Elder Cho stated. It wasn't a question or an accusation—just a simple statement of fact delivered with the weight of disappointed authority.
"Yes, Elder," Lia replied, keeping her voice steady despite her nervousness.
"Why?" The single word carried layers of meaning—disappointment, concern, and the demand for complete honesty.
Lia hesitated, weighing her options. The truth was that the original Lia had been driven by greed, ambition, and the arrogance of youth. But admitting such base motivations would likely earn severe punishment or even expulsion from the sect.
"I sensed unusually strong qi fluctuations from the fracture," she said carefully, crafting a lie that contained just enough truth to be believable. "I thought it might represent an opportunity for the sect if I could verify the situation quickly and report back."
It was a half-truth at best, but elders appreciated disciples who could think strategically, even if their execution was flawed.
Elder Cho studied her for a long, uncomfortable moment, her experienced eyes seeming to peer directly into Lia's soul. Finally, she sighed deeply, the sound carrying disappointment and resigned acceptance.
"Reckless," she said simply. "Talented beyond measure, but absolutely reckless." She leaned forward, her expression growing more serious. "You're extraordinarily lucky that your soul wasn't completely shredded by those corpse-eating cultists. Whatever defensive artifact or protective technique saved you, cherish it and never take such foolish risks again."
Lia kept her expression carefully neutral, though internally she was screaming. Elder Cho somehow knew about the Corpse Cleansing Sect's involvement, but she was attributing Lia's survival to protective measures rather than divine intervention and soul replacement.
"You will be confined to sect grounds for one month," Elder Cho continued, her tone brooking no argument. "No missions, no external cultivation expeditions, no leaving the mountain complex for any reason. Use this time to focus on recovery and stabilizing your foundation. You've grown too quickly and taken too many risks. Slow, steady progress will serve you better than flashy breakthroughs."
She gestured dismissively. "Go. Rest, train, and reflect on the value of caution. Dismissed."
Lia bowed deeply, relief flooding through her system. A month of confinement was practically a gift—it would give her time to adjust to this body, master her new abilities, and figure out how to maintain her dual existence without arousing suspicion.
"Thank you for your mercy, Elder," she said formally before backing out of the pavilion with appropriate deference.
As she walked away, Lia realized that this was actually perfect timing. One month to train intensively, stabilize her foundation, and learn to control both forms simultaneously. She could work on her cultivation techniques, practice with her new equipment, and most importantly, figure out how to be Lia without constantly feeling like an impostor.
The real challenge would be maintaining her secret while living under the watchful eyes of the sect's elders and her supposed friends and family. But for now, she was safe, and that was enough.