The woman’s face faded away, like ripples vanishing in water, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
His view shifted again. Just like last ti, Chen Changsheng’s sight pierced through the clouds and mountains, landing on that familiar landscape.
The chaotic age of warriors had passed. Now, human dynasties had risen. Seven kingdoms ruled by different lords, constantly battling one another.
In a farr’s house in the remote Southern Region, a baby’s wail announced the arrival of a child.
“Waa…”
The exhausted mother held her newborn, gently playing with her tiny hands.
A smile touched the woman’s lips. Then, her eyes drifted to a sweet osmanthus tree just outside the window.
“We’ll na you Niangui. Li Niangui.”
Chen Changsheng’s heart skipped a beat. Unless sothing went wrong, this crying child should be Yu Xuan from the long river of ti.
This life… she was called Li Niangui?
As seasons cycled through spring, sumr, fall, and winter, the Li family girl learned to walk. Babbling her first words, she called for her parents.
In those days, many families would discard or drown newborn girls in rivers. But the Li couple cherished their daughter deeply, their hearts full of joy.
Li Niangui grew up safely under her parents’ loving care.
Everything unfolded without a hitch.
The change ca when Li Niangui turned sixteen.
She fell severely ill, no one knew why.
Her parents rushed to town in search of doctors, but none succeeded in curing her.
For over five days, Li Niangui lay unconscious. As her parents anxiously sought help, she woke on her own.
“Father… Mother…”
After thorough checks confirming nothing was wrong, her parents finally relaxed.
Yet after waking, Li Niangui seed like a different person. She beca unnervingly quiet.
At first, her parents didn’t pay much mind. Then, one afternoon, Li Niangui suddenly announced: “Father, Mother, I need to go outside. For a walk.”
“T-this… where would our girl go?”
“It’s… quite far…”
At only sixteen, she wasn’t permitted to leave. But a fierce determination settled in her heart, as if sothing was calling her to a specific place.
So, on the third night of her confinent, she slipped out the window. Before leaving, she kowtowed three tis towards her parents’ bedroom. Then, she walked off alone.
Under the hazy moonlight, Li Niangui reached a riverbank. Hesitating briefly, she called out a na.
“A… Ah Man.”
Monts later, the water began churning violently.
Li Niangui stumbled backward, her heart pounding with terror.
“Splash!”
A Flood Dragon surged from the river, its twin golden eyes fixing upon Li Niangui.
Overco by fear, Li Niangui flinched. Yet the dragon lowered its imnse head and spoke: “Ah Man pays respect to the True Lord.”
“T-True Lord?” Li Niangui stamred, confused.
The one called Ah Man offered no explanation. Instead, it beckoned, “Co, True Lord.”
It urged her to climb its head.
After several hesitant attempts, Li Niangui grasped the Flood Dragon’s horns and hauled herself up.
“Roooaaar!”
With a mighty roar, Ah Man soared skyward, carrying her towards an unknown destination.
Chen Changsheng frowned, murmuring in recognition, “That direction…”
“The Desolate Sea?”
The Flood Dragon carried her deeper into the Desolate Sea.
Surrounded by endless depths, Li Niangui’s worry intensified.
“Where are you taking ?”
Ah Man remained silent, pushing onward.
It halted abruptly above the waves.
“Hold tight, True Lord.” Ah Man spoke. A burst of Golden Light stread from its mouth, encasing Li Niangui protectively.
Li Niangui’s lips parted in mute confusion. She didn’t know what awaited her. But she obeyed, clutching the Flood Dragon’s horns tightly.
Descending rapidly, the dragon plunged beneath the sea. Li Niangui squeezed her eyes shut, too scared to look.
Chen Changsheng’s vision followed them into the dark depths.
“KRUMBLE!”
With a powerful sweep of its tail, the Flood Dragon scattered thick layers of silt, unveiling what lay buried beneath.
A vast Stone Gate materialized before Li Niangui’s eyes.
“So this is…”
A mory surfaced in Chen Changsheng’s mind, followed by a realization. “At this point, the Desolate Sea lacks the Borderlands… that wall doesn’t yet exist…”
Li Niangui stood stunned by the Stone Gate. Unthinkingly, she slid down from the dragon’s head.
The Runes inscribed on the door seed to pull her like a magnet. Her hand rose instinctively, pressing against symbols etched onto the stone.
[“Three”][“Ten”][“Three”]
But for the final press… her finger landed squarely on the character for “Sheng” – [“Life/Birth”].
“RUMBLE…”
The Stone Gate shuddered, swinging slowly open.
Snapping out of her daze, Li Niangui stared at the revealed entrance, then glanced back at the waiting Flood Dragon.
The dragon rely repeated softly, “After you, True Lord.”
Li Niangui stood deep in thought. Then, step by step, she crossed the threshold.
Lifting her gaze, she saw a na plaque hanging above. Two characters greeted her: [“Southern Garden”].
Chen Changsheng stared, astounded. “Both Sheng [Life] and Si [Death] can open this Gate?”
His viewpoint followed Li Niangui into the Southern Garden. He recognized the scene instantly – a simple courtyard dwelling, identical to the one he had entered before.
Except… this ti, sothing lay waiting in the Main Hall.
Upon entering, Li Niangui’s vacant gaze returned. Drawn like a puppet, she walked directly towards the unseen object.
Chen Changsheng looked up. Floating above the Main Hall’s altar was a shimring orb, pulsating with erald-green Dao Essence. Li Niangui was already stretching out a hand…
…and seizing the orb!!
Then, Chen Changsheng watched as Li Niangui opened her mouth wide…
…and swallowed the orb whole!
She entered a deep sleep lasting several days.
Chen Changsheng understood now.
“So that’s how…”
Just as he had suspected. Because the “Sutra of Rebirth” was still incomplete, as a precaution, Yu Xuan had left behind a secret chanism in her previous life – ensuring her future self could reclaim prior mories.
“That orb… it is the vessel Yu Xuan used to preserve her mories.”
As for why Li Niangui received the guidance to seek it… likely only Yu Xuan’s past self knew the answer.
When Li Niangui finally awoke… she was fundantally changed.
A profound weariness filled her eyes. An aura of ancient wisdom radiated from her being.
‘Li Niangui’ glanced down at her body, nodding with satisfaction. “Not bad at all. Much better than the last ti.”
She was no longer rely Li Niangui.
Yu Xuan thought for a mont, murmuring quietly. “Who knows where Fan Xiazi is this ti…” (Note: ‘Xiao Fanzi’ -> Fan Xiazi / Fan the Minor, implied nickna for a recurring character)
Currently, she lacked any Magical Power. After brief consideration, she decided against leaving imdiately. Instead, she settled down inside the garden, assuming a ditative posture as she began Cultivation.
“Ah Man, you may go now. I’ll remain here… for a while.”
Hearing this from beyond the closing Stone Gate, the Flood Dragon voiced its assent.
“RRRUUMMBLE…”
The Stone Gate ground slowly shut. Once more, the Desolate Sea returned to its eternal silence.
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