Reborn in a cultivation world with my Ex girlfriends

When Wang Li woke up, everything hurt.

His ribs ached, his head throbbed, and he was almost certain a few internal organs were in open rebellion. Groaning, he tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in his abdomen reminded him of Lin Ruoyan's last punch.

"Ow… okay, note to self," he muttered. "Never ask the fire goddess to go easy on you. She won't."

The sound of faint laughter reached his ears. Wang Li blinked, his vision clearing to reveal the familiar training field. Mu Qingling and Feng Yuling were standing nearby, both of them smirking.

"He's alive," Mu Qingling said. "I owe you five spirit stones, Yuling."

"I told you he was too stubborn to die," Feng Yuling replied smoothly, though there was an amused glint in her eyes.

Wang Li groaned louder. "You two were betting on whether I'd survive?"

"Of course," Mu Qingling said, walking over and crouching beside him. "It's how we show affection."

"By gambling on my life?"

"You did well," Feng Yuling said, folding her arms. "I thought Ruoyan would break you within the first ten exchanges. You lasted thirty."

Wang Li sighed, lying back down. "Great. Next time, I'll bring a shield. And maybe some armor."

Lin Ruoyan chose that moment to make her entrance, her crimson robes flowing behind her like a blazing inferno. She tilted her head at him, her lips curling into an infuriating smile. "Awake already? Impressive."

Wang Li glared at her weakly. "I'm considering filing a formal complaint with the Sect Elders. This was assault."

"Oh, please," she scoffed, sitting down next to him. "I held back. Besides, you needed the training."

He groaned again but didn't argue. As painful as it was to admit, he had learned a lot during the spar. Lin Ruoyan didn't just fight with overwhelming power; she was unpredictable, fast, and relentless. Facing her was like facing a natural disaster with a wooden stick.

"You still have a long way to go," Lin Ruoyan said. "But… you did surprise me a couple of times."

That was high praise, coming from her.

"Thanks, I guess," Wang Li muttered.

"You need to refine your techniques," Feng Yuling added. "And work on your footwork. You waste too much movement."

"More training," Mu Qingling agreed cheerfully. "Isn't this fun?"

Wang Li rolled his eyes. "So, do I get to eat before you drag me back into another life-threatening spar?"

Lin Ruoyan stood and stretched. "Fine. I suppose you've earned a break."

Relief flooded through Wang Li. He was certain if he had to fight anyone else today, they'd be carrying him away in a wooden box.

"Come on," Mu Qingling said, tugging him up. "Let's get food. You need energy if you plan to keep up with us."

###

The dining hall was bustling with disciples. Despite the constant undercurrent of rivalries and cultivation ambitions, the scent of food seemed to soften the competitive edge. Wang Li loaded his tray with enough food to make a mortal weep in jealousy.

As he sat down with his three companions, he felt an odd sense of normalcy. If he ignored the fact that they had all, at one point, been his ex-girlfriends and that they could individually destroy him in combat, it almost felt like a casual group of friends having a meal.

"So," Lin Ruoyan said, biting into a spicy meat skewer, "what exactly are your plans, Wang Li? Are you going to spend your time barely keeping up, or do you actually have ambitions?"

Wang Li paused mid-bite. "Ambitions?"

"Yeah," Mu Qingling chimed in. "Every cultivator wants something. Power, immortality, revenge. What do you want?"

He chewed thoughtfully. "Well… I want to stay alive, first and foremost."

Feng Yuling gave him a disapproving look. "That's not an ambition. That's basic survival instinct."

Wang Li shrugged. "Hey, when you're surrounded by people who can set you on fire, freeze you solid, or cut you in half, survival is an ambition."

Lin Ruoyan leaned forward, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. "That's not enough. If you're serious about staying with us—and keeping up with us—you need more than just survival. You need a goal."

Wang Li sighed. "Fine. I want to become strong enough that none of you can push me around anymore."

The three women exchanged glances. Then Mu Qingling burst into laughter.

"Well, that's honest," she said between giggles.

"Ambitious," Feng Yuling admitted. "If a little reckless."

Lin Ruoyan smirked. "I like it. But you've got a long way to go, Wang Li."

"Then I guess I better get started," Wang Li said, more to himself than to them. Because deep down, he knew they were right. Survival wasn't enough.

If he wanted to carve out a future in this insane cultivation world, he needed to be stronger—not just for himself, but to face the unknown challenges that lay ahead.

And somehow, he had a feeling things were about to get a lot more complicated.

###

Later that night, Wang Li returned to his quarters. His body still ached, but his mind buzzed with determination. He sat cross-legged on the floor and began to circulate his qi, focusing on repairing the internal damage from the sparring session.

The faint glow of moonlight cast soft shadows across his room when a quiet knock interrupted his meditation.

He opened the door cautiously, expecting trouble.

Instead, Feng Yuling stood there, her expression unreadable.

"Can I come in?" she asked softly.

Wang Li blinked in surprise but stepped aside. "Uh, sure. What's up?"

She entered, closing the door behind her. For a moment, there was silence.

Then she turned to face him. "You weren't lying back there, were you?"

"About wanting to get stronger?" Wang Li shook his head. "No. I meant it."

Feng Yuling studied him closely, her icy demeanor softening slightly. "Good," she said. "Because if you're serious… I might be able to help you."

His heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

She stepped closer, her voice low. "There's a secret technique my family guards closely—it accelerates cultivation, but it's dangerous. If you want to take the next step, you might need it."

Wang Li's mouth went dry. "Why would you offer that to me?"

For the first time that day, Feng Yuling hesitated. "Because I… don't want you to fall behind," she admitted.

His heart pounded in his chest.

Things were definitely about to get more complicated.