Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 2

The instant Zhao Hai lost consciousness, a flood of foreign memories surged into his mind. It felt as if a massive wave of information was being forcibly injected into his skull, nearly causing his brain to short-circuit. While his mind didn't completely shut down, it remained in a frozen state as it slowly processed the data bit by bit.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Zhao Hai regained his senses. He felt the presence of a life story that wasn't his own nestled within his thoughts.

According to these memories, he was now Adam Buda. He had been born into a lineage of warriors within the Aksu Empire on the Ark Continent. For three generations, his ancestors had served the empire, earning the prestigious rank of marquis. However, the family’s glory had faded by Adam’s time. Adam himself was a degenerate youth; with his mother passing away early and his father constantly away leading armies, he had grown up without restraint. He was a lawless bully who committed numerous misdeeds, protected only by his father’s fierce reputation and military influence.

However, his father had committed a fatal error: he backed the losing side in the struggle for the Aksu Empire’s throne.

The 47th Emperor of the Aksu Empire had fifteen sons, but only five were true contenders for the crown: the first, third, fourth, seventh, and thirteenth princes.

By the laws of the empire, only the offspring of the empress or imperial concubines were eligible for succession. Furthermore, eligibility required holding the rank of grand duke. While imperial children were born as earls, they would remain landless earls for life unless they performed significant service to the empire to earn a promotion.

Naturally, the children of the empress and concubines were usually granted the title of duke quickly. Through minor achievements or simple excuses, they would be elevated to grand duke and eventually imperial prince, allowing them to join the race for the throne.

All five contenders were imperial princes. The first and fourth princes were the empress's sons. The third and seventh were born to Imperial Concubine Carlin. The thirteenth prince, born to Imperial Concubine Avril, was considered the weakest link and was largely ignored. Most believed the first prince was the rightful heir, and since the third prince supported him, many nobles rallied behind the first prince. Meanwhile, the fourth and seventh princes were allies, with the seventh prince enjoying the backing of the powerful Carlin family and great popularity. The thirteenth prince remained quiet and low-key, dismissed by everyone.

It was logical for Adam’s father to join the first prince's faction, as he was the frontrunner. The Buda family were not ancient nobility; they had risen to marquis status only during the time of Adam’s great-grandfather through military merit. Desperate to join the inner circle of the established elite, they bet everything on the first prince. They hoped that his ascension would finally allow the Buda family to become a true pillar of the empire.

On this continent, a sharp divide existed between "old" and "new" nobles. New nobles were often viewed as mere upstarts and were barred from the country's true power centers by the established families.

Over centuries, these old noble families had become so influential that they could dictate the fate of the nation. Some lineages had lasted a millennium, possessing power that even the throne feared. They were the true heart of the empire, and every new noble family craved their recognition.

To earn that respect, a family needed immense strength. The Buda family’s rapid rise was actually a strategy by previous emperors to check the power of the old nobility. However, after the 46th emperor passed away, the Buda family found themselves caught in a vice: the new emperor wanted to use them, while the old nobles sought to crush them. This forced the Buda family to constantly side with the throne to survive.

Unfortunately, Adam’s father picked the wrong prince. The first prince failed to take the throne, and the supposedly weak thirteenth prince emerged as the new emperor. The first prince was executed, and his supporters were purged. Adam’s father was thrown into a dungeon on trumped-up charges and died mysteriously. Adam’s past crimes were brought to light, but he was spared a death sentence thanks to Grimm and others. The empire was reluctant to provoke level eight experts without a very good reason, and the new emperor wanted to appear merciful. Consequently, Adam’s title was stripped down to viscount, and his family was exiled to the desolate Black Soil Wilderness. To ensure he was never a threat, Adam was forced to drink the Void Water, turning him into a total cripple.

Typically, nobles with a fief would leave the management to a butler while they stayed in the capital to navigate political waters.

Adam and his retainers were denied this luxury. After their lands were reassigned, they were banished from the capital within three days and forbidden from leaving their new territory for three years—a punishment of unprecedented severity.

The new emperor, Abajo Aksu, treated the Buda family this way to appease the old noble families who despised them. Having just taken the throne, Abajo needed to consolidate power by crushing the rival factions of the first and seventh princes while avoiding a direct confrontation with the ancient nobility. Sacrificing the Buda family was his way of satisfying the old elites.

The reason for forcing the Void Water on Adam was the Buda family’s secret technique: the Berserk Dragon Battle Aura. This legendary cultivation method, discovered by Adam’s great-grandfather, allowed one to cultivate three times faster than normal and possessed devastating power. Every major family craved it. If Adam were to master this Battle Aura and seek revenge, he would be a nightmare for the nobility. Thus, the emperor ensured he could never practice it.

Adam only lived because Grimm surrendered the secret of the Berserk Dragon Battle Aura to Abajo. Grimm swore a blood oath that no member of the Buda family would ever practice that Battle Aura again, which satisfied the emperor.

Grimm had delivered the technique personally during a late-night intrusion into the palace. This was a calculated move to both beg for Adam's life and demonstrate his own power, warning Abajo that killing Adam would come at a high price.

Wary of a master who could infiltrate his chambers so easily, Abajo agreed to the compromise. He spared Adam’s life, opting instead to demote him and seize his lands.

Grimm accepted the terms. He knew that while he was powerful, he couldn't take on the entire imperial house. His successful infiltration was partly due to his familiarity with the palace and the chaos of the recent transition of power. He knew his luck wouldn't hold forever.

Grimm hadn't tried to save Adam’s father because he assumed the emperor would keep him alive as a political pawn against the old nobles. He never expected Abajo would execute him just to please the established elite. By the time Grimm realized the truth, it was too late, and his only focus became protecting the last of the Buda bloodline.

The decision to hand over the Berserk Dragon Battle Aura was also influenced by the nature of the Void Water. On the continent, this substance was feared because it didn't just stop a person from using magic or Battle Aura—it altered their lineage.

Anyone who consumed the Void Water would pass the inability to cultivate onto their children. This curse would persist for ten generations.

Ten generations without the ability to use magic or Battle Aura was essentially a death sentence for a noble house. It was unlikely the family would even survive that long. Knowing this, Grimm realized the family’s secret technique was useless to them now. Using it as a bargaining chip for Adam's life was the only logical choice.

It was the right move. Without that trade, Adam would have never made it out of the capital.

Whether it was a reaction to the Void Water or some other interference, Adam had fallen into a deep coma after drinking it. He didn't wake up until they reached their new home. When his eyes finally opened, the soul of the playboy Adam had been replaced by Zhao Hai, an otaku from Earth.