You want to know one of the shittest things about being reborn? Apparently, the standard procedure was to wipe the memories and put you into a coma before punting you into the cycle of reincarnation, but what do you know, while not in any way actually required, asking and getting permission from some scrubs was apparently good for their karma when they wanted to do things in a nonconventional way. But no, I was... not really standing in front of the guy. Who was... well, not like anything that I expected. No, the 'god' was fatter and uglier than me.
Now, that said, I did in fact accept the chance to be born again, or rather, have the chance to be born again, with my mind and memories intact. Yes, I was working for the Supreme Chaos Sovereign of Incels ("look man, you think I got to choose my title? No, the bitches at the Celestial Court saddled me with the title because I focused on the grind instead of their petty asses and so they cursed me! Hell, I'm not even a virgin, I have the discount frequent customer cards for nine different brothel chains! I just you know, didn't stick my dick in the cray-cray') whose name was Neckbeard.
Before I was placed into my 'mothers' womb, fully aware and with a special Filth & Corruption Devouring Art gifted to me right off the bat. Which was... suspicious really. I had to do a few things, and my cheat was apparently a collection of techniques that I would find later, along with one rammed right into my head right off the gate. And something that I soon HAD to use as the poison flowed into me via the umbilical chord. The toxins and corruption started off not that bad.
As the onslaught continued over the next... however long, I was able to identify the nature of the toxins and dark energies that seemed to be damn near demonic as they twisted and writhed and clawed, trying to take bites out of me, the substances and energy filtering through my unborn body and back into my mother, none of it seemed to be trying to abort me. Well, not on purpose. Rather, as I screamed and thrashed, as I cultivated in the cauldron of darkness and filth that should have been some place safe, I was being used as a kind of filter, a strain to catch the darkness.
If I did not have a way to turn filth to strength, that could see me growing from drinking down the contents of a sewer, as the writhing toxicity and corruption increased, I would be dead, my body not able to handle the strain. But, would I melt or would I simply be a stillbirth... is not something that you want to be able to think while my mothers womb was almost literally churning like a power washer around me. There was... annoyance, a slap against the walls of my prison, as I just had to survive long enough.
He Hua
The simple truth was, even as her mother and aunts looked at her, their own stomachs having a baby bump, that the materials inside of her should have been processed by now. As it was, the Primal Refining Cauldron Art was both one of the simpler alchemical techniques that were in use among the sect, but one that simply did not fail for a number of reasons. The first being that it as paired with the Maternal Sacrifice Of The Filial Son Method to pass along the corrupting (physical, spiritual and mental) aspects of a range of medicines and toxins, but which would prove fatal in almost all cases.
It was simply a matter of who would pay the price. The Filial son... or his mother. And yet, she was surviving, instead of dying as the concentrated regents side effects took their toll on her, despite being two weeks past the date where she should be dead. However, the material in her womb was still alive, as she did not feel the distinctive readiness to produce the Unborn Potential Yang Elixir, one of the cornerstone treasures of the sect, and one that she needed to prove her worth.
There was fear in her heart, but not her face as Elder He Na poked her stomach with a long finger, a jolt of energy going inside of her. "The material is still alive." And then she scowled. "And indeed, it is healthier than one sired by breeding stock." There was a flutter, subtle gestures and silent communications as fans and eyebrows moved. "I'd place a spirit stone on some sort of poison eating physique activating by whim of the Heavenly Matriarchs in the womb."
There is a pause, before her mother spoke. "So, my daughter will not be producing a suitable elixir in time." Her heart sank, as her mothers cold eyes, green and venomous eyes looked over her, as Na shook her head, as the fan snapped close. "Very well, in that case honored mother?"
From her throne, her grandmother seemed to ponder this. "The heavenly matriarchs whims are as they are, even as they can be rather bothersome to work our plans around. However, while this in unfortunate, let us test your luck." The smile on grandmothers face is warm and friendly, and yet like a serpent licking its jaws, anticipating a meal. "If they have blessed you with a child, well, you will just need to work harder. On the other hand, if you are so unlucky to merely produce a resource?"
She lifted an eyebrow that was perfectly sculpted to convey amused distain. "Well, we shall see if you cannot replicate the feat with the breeding stock a few times. A few resources with a poison eating physique, something that would serve the family well." She paused a moment. "And of course, as you are untested, I shall be the one to prepare the resource for its eventual use and my own personal consumption."
A part of her rebelled, at the fact that if it was a male inside of her that she would not even be able to consume it to gain whatever allowed him to survive her womb, but she was a fifth daughter of the fourth, and so she kowtowed. "Grandmother is most generous, and this one thanks her for her generosity and understanding!"
There was chuckles all around, as all save for her mother are smirking at her, at her likely failure and punishment for something so simple. Her first time, and now? She would have given up her virginity and the power that would have come from such a sacrifice, for a mere child at best, a resource her grandmother would steal at worst. But, her grandmother clicked her tongue. "Do not fret my dear, you may still practice your mystic arts. You seem to have a greater foundation there than alchemy."
Soft tittering, as it appeared to be true. For while the mystic arts were useful... it was alchemy that was the most respected and earned the family and sect its prestige.
He Lan
Birth was a simple affair, as she looked over her granddaughter. How could it not be, when they had several techniques and a body refinement method to make sure of it. But, as she suspected, the joke the Heavenly Matriarchs were playing bore full fruit, as the male slipped free... and no twin. Amusingly, enough, as she nodded... well, little Hei needed to be disciplined, and losing face by what her grand daughters 'punishment' would be?
That would suffice, as she looked them over. "A resource." One that was quiet and not screaming, and covered in several layers of filth and impurities. Disgusting, as she mentally directed a puppet to take hold of it. "Take her to the breeding stocks." Ah, little Hua, you could have been one of the great sorceresses of your generation, even with the loss of Virgin Unborn Potential Yang Elixir. But, you will serve best as an example in some respects. "She has failed, and unlucky to boot. She will be in the stocks until she has repaid the costs of her training. Five similar resources shall do."
She grinned, as the girl wailed, as she was dragged off... and as she moved away, to secure the resource, and to make some plans for its use and development. And for testing the physique, so she could use it best after refining him.