Mingyao stood among the vast pagoda rows of books and manuals—shelves that towered far beyond her sight. She was finally back.
"Congratulations for completing your mission. You are now my new master," a pubescent female voice reverberated through the space.
Mingyao was still consolidating her nearly thousand years of memories.
The manual was still in her hand: The Eternal Empress of Origins.
Before all this, she had been in Fengdu City at the Three Lives Stone, about to send her sister over. Yet that memory now felt like a blur. One moment she had been flung through the air; the next, she found herself in a library with a young girl—perhaps twelve years old—with no way out.
The only path forward had been to enter one of the myriad worlds to which the pagoda was connected.
Now that her mission was over, could she leave? Even after visiting one of the many worlds and living under a new identity, she couldn't help but ask herself: why was she cultivating?
This question had surfaced many times throughout her journey, especially during her Nascent Soul tribulation, when she battled her heart demon in the Heavenly East Continent. Yet her answer always felt shallow—almost rehearsed, not truly her own. She couldn't help but relive her countless memories.
The only reason the pagoda could now call her master was because she had cultivated three authorities and achieved partial activation of the Grand Law of Duality. Yet… the lives she had lived there were no less real. After all, the pagoda's avatar had told her it was connected to the many myriad worlds that existed.
As she pondered this, The Eternal Empress of Origins manual began to vibrate, glowing with a brilliant light. A pink mist slowly engulfed the area, and from within it, a stunning figure—one that could bewitch all—revealed itself.
"Song Yu!" Mingyao uttered in surprise.
Seeing Song Yu materialize startled her, but before she could process anything, the girl shrank in an instant, transforming into a fox with nine tails of varying lengths. The fox seemed more mature, yet oddly familiar.
Mingyao couldn't help but trace back through her life and all the knowledge she had acquired.
She decided to check herself, only to discover that her immense cultivation—once at the level of deity kindling—had been reduced to Qi Refining Tier 13. She felt a flicker of disappointment, but at least she wasn't dead, and she still retained the knowledge she had gathered over centuries.
She turned inward, entering her inner world to see if there had been any changes after her visit. And sure enough, there were several—but the most striking was a book Mingyao had long forgotten.
A Legacy of a Girl from the 21st Century.
The characters gleamed boldly as it hovered within her sea of consciousness. It emitted a familiar aura—one Mingyao recognized—yet she couldn't grasp or interact with it in any way. It simply floated there.
Then, suddenly, a sweet female voice began to recite a poem.
It was the same poem that had been recited at the auction house.
Mingyao could easily decipher the surface meaning, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something deeper beneath it.
As she pondered, the spirit treasure she wore—one she hadn't seen in a long time—began to flicker. Characters formed before her, composed of holographic blue light.
"Foundation Establishment."
Mingyao stared at the words as her memories pulled her back.
"You must enter Foundation Establishment." That had been the goal her aunt, the Princess Royal, had set for her. Yet after touching upon the Law Acquisition Realm, this initial milestone now seemed trivial. Still, she found herself asking once more: why was she cultivating?
Was it because of the Grand Princess, or was it for something else? She had always been told what to do—by her mother, her father, her aunt. Was this path truly hers?
Mingyao looked again at the pulsing characters. They carried an imposing energy, as if the words themselves were a command.
Her memories reeled through the hundreds of years she had lived.
As this unfolded, the blaring characters began to dim. Her spirit treasure fell silent, and then the book vanished. She didn't understand what was happening, but she found she no longer cared.
"I will cultivate for myself—for my own Dao," Mingyao said firmly, as she felt her Dao heart solidify.
She turned back to the avatar.
"Can I use the Nine-Tripod Heavenly Cauldron now?"
"Do you wish to use it?"
"Yes. After all, having the three corpses flowing within me is a disaster lurking that I don't wish to deal with."
The young girl, who carried an air of innocence, raised her hands. The entirety of the library began to tremble as brilliant light burst outward. Books, manuals—everything within—dissolved into radiance. Then darkness swallowed the space.
From within it emerged a massive cauldron, forged of gold and bronze, etched with intricate signs and ancient sigils that radiated immense power. It towered over Mingyao, humming with a mystical energy, vibrating as it exuded an overwhelming, domineering presence.
"Again I ask you, Master—do you wish to use this cauldron?"
"Of course. How else would I be able to burn off the three lifebound gu?"
"But… there is no need. After all, your issue was resolved by yourself in the Heavenly East Continent. Also, if you insist on using this treasure, you might destabilize the Hell Realms."
"Destabilize the Hell Realms?"
"Indeed. This cauldron is meant to be a natal guardian (primordial spirit) treasure—one wielded by the guardian (primordial spirit) in charge of the Chaos Sea to manage its many aspects."
"Oh… that sounds interesting. Do these natal treasures work the same as normal natal treasures?"
"Yes. These treasures are bound to the nine primordial nether spirits, each possessing one of their own. Unfortunately, for the ruler of the Chaos Sea, his lifebound treasure was not fully refined, and thus it could only be used through my partial control."
Mingyao nodded, absorbing the new information as she turned inward, reflecting on her memories in the Heavenly East. One of the reasons she had gone there had been to gain the authority to use the Heavenly Cauldron—yet now, it seemed unnecessary.
She took a deep breath, letting a wave of anxiety flow outward as she steadied herself.
"I understand it better now, Aunt," she said softly, before vanishing into the outside world.
------
It had been two months since Bai Yue finished her closed-door cultivation. She had since sought to gain more battle experience, recognizing how poorly she performed against the bear before the recruitment. Now that the real stage was set, she would not disappoint.
Bai Yue now faced her final opponent. She'd been fighting for some time, making use of the two techniques she possessed—the Frozen Moon Empress and the Profound Nine Yin Arts. These allowed her to move fluidly through the battlefield, securing her a position to become an outer disciple under an elder.
If she only wanted to be an outer disciple, the first step—simply possessing spiritual roots—would have been enough. Not to mention, she was at Qi Refining Tier 13, while most participants ranged between Tier 8 and 11. Yet her goal lay beyond that. She needed to attract the interest of a particular cultivator.
After all, her ancestor, Bai Xing, had given her a direction. She needed to gain the favor of Elder Mo—a female elder and a direct disciple of Bai Xing. Through her, Bai Yue could not only get closer to where Bai Xing's body lay, but also obtain the ingredients necessary for her Foundation Pill, allowing her to advance into Foundation Establishment.
To even dream of becoming a disciple under any of the elders from the three sects present, she had to win the second trial. This would greatly increase her chances of catching the attention of the renowned Elder Mo. Better yet, it would give her full control over which sect she would ultimately join.
Bai Yue stood at the center of the arena, dressed in dark, muted shades of blue and black. A simple blue-veiled hat added an air of mystery to her presence.
"Pretty beauty, we meet again," a voice reverberated from the other end.
Bai Yue immediately recognized it. She was reminded of the lecherous young master she encountered shortly after leaving seclusion. At the time, she felt a bit hungry and wanted to enjoy some food. Even though she could sustain herself on Ling Qi, how could the energy of heaven and earth ever replace the simple joy of a well-prepared meal?
During her search, she found a fine restaurant in a bustling city. She entered to enjoy the food, dressed as she was now, wearing the same clothes and weimao. Yet rather than concealing her, it only made her more conspicuous.
That was when the young master appeared, flaunting his arrogance. He demanded that everyone vacate the restaurant so that he and his entourage could have it to themselves.
Most people, familiar with his antics, complied willingly. After all, they were compensated with spirit stones for the inconvenience. But one person, unfamiliar with such "rules," remained seated.
Bai Yue continued eating her meal, slowly savoring each bite, ignoring the commotion around her.
The young master, seeing someone defy him, was initially angered. Yet when he approached her table, that anger dissipated the moment he realized she was a woman.
His interest was immediately piqued by her audacity. When he probed further and confirmed she was a cultivator, his delight only deepened. Young Master Ye was well known for his fondness for pursuing female cultivators.
He began boasting of his family background and prestige, attempting to woo Bai Yue. But she grew increasingly irritated by the incessant buzzing of this pest disturbing her meal.
"I'm not interested," she said flatly, her words like cold water poured over his advances.
Though surprised at first, Ye persisted. This time, it stirred genuine irritation within Bai Yue—enough for her to unsheathe her blade.
Young Master Yi's entourage immediately moved into combat formation, ready to protect their master.
He gestured for them to relax before turning back to Bai Yue.
"You are a fiery one, but I don't like fighting women. Tell you what—if you can defeat my guards, I'll leave you alone and even pay for your meal. But if they defeat youcan I get a peek..."
Bai yue erupted her aura outward frigid ice crawling
Ye fan back tracked seeing the reaction,"Then you have to drink with me."
Bai Yue glanced up and noticed that everyone following Young Master Yi was a woman. She couldn't help but scoff at this lecher. Without giving him another chance to speak, she unsheathed her sword and struck directly at Young Master Ye.
Just as her blade was about to make contact, it was intercepted by one of the women. The clash erupted instantly, the area flooding with the destructive force of cultivators. What began as a one-on-one quickly turned into two-on-one, then three-on-one.
Yet Bai Yue easily overpowered them with her superior cultivation. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she realized the women were inadvertently helping her sharpen her techniques. Even so, her focus never wavered—her true target remained Young Master Yi.
But even after she defeated his guards, he fled in cowardice before she could do anything.
She was left chuckling at the sight. And now, seeing him once again standing before her, she didn't hesitate. Carrying all her previous momentum, she lunged forward.
Her strike carried the full force of her metal form, unleashing a barrage of sword strikes. Yet Ye Fan remained calm, standing still, seemingly unaffected.
Bai Yue couldn't tell whether it was arrogance or cowardice that kept him rooted in place—but she didn't care. She pressed on, her attacks landing—or so she thought—only to realize that Ye Fan was no longer where he had been.
She quickly channeled her divine sense, scanning the arena until she found him behind her. She immediately turned, locking onto his position as she activated her technique.
Seeing how swiftly Ye Fan could move, Bai Yue shifted tactics. She unleashed an area-of-effect technique, covering the entire arena in ice in an attempt to restrict his mobility and neutralize his movement skill.
But just as her sword struck the ground and a wave of ice surged outward, Ye Fan raised his still-sheathed sword. He began to move in a flowing motion like a serpent, radiating golden brilliance with the faint outline of a dragon-like visage forming around him.
The technique looked familiar to Bai Yue, but she couldn't place it. However, she had no time to dwell on it—battle required absolute focus. Yet her ice field was instantly incinerated by the warm, yang energy emanating from Ye Fan.
Bai Yue shifted to her shadow techniques, attempting to respond, but no matter what she tried, they seemed to weaken under the sheer brilliance of his aura.
Realizing her disadvantage, Bai Yue turned to swordsmanship. The two began exchanging strikes. At first, they were evenly matched, but as the fight continued, Bai Yue became acutely aware of her shortcomings. At times, it even felt as though her opponent was deliberately striking at the weaknesses in her techniques, as if showing her the flaws rather than exploiting them.
They exchanged sword strikes and slashes for what felt like an eternity. Only when Ye Fan suddenly aimed for her weimao did she erupt with force, blasting the area apart with ice to create distance.
Only now did Bai Yue begin to realize that Ye Fan was not the useless young master she had assumed. It felt as though he had been toying with her all along.
"My dear cold beauty, can I afford a peek? I am simply showing you how lacking you are in sword mastery."
Something in Bai Yue snapped. She stepped forward again, intent on another duel of blades—only to feel further irritation when she noticed his sword was still sheathed.
"Unsheathe your sword," she said coldly.
Yet Ye Fan remained unmoved. He finally released his cultivation, revealing his Tier 13 Qi Refining realm to her.
Ye Fan suddenly turned serious. "You have poor mastery over your sword. Where is your sword intent? Your sword heart? Your techniques haven't evolved beyond their basic forms." He then smiled. "When you can call upon your sword intent, only then will I unsheathe my sword."
Bai Yue felt insulted and moved to unleash another wave of ice, but before she could, a volley of arrows rained toward the arena.
Ye Fan immediately turned serious. His sword trembled before flying out of its sheath and landing in his grasp. The moment his hand settled on the hilt, he swung—releasing a wave of sword qi in the shape of a dragon.
It collided with the volley of arrows, burning most of them into cinders and devouring the rest. Bai Yue also responded, using her moonlight ability and ice techniques to shield herself.
Soon, the arena descended into chaos. Spectators outside of the elders' circle began fleeing in panic, while experienced disciples accompanying their elders formed defensive arrays. From the shadows, figures in dark clothing emerged one by one.
In moments, seven strangers—whom Bai Yue could sense were at the Foundation Establishment stage—surrounded them.
Bai Yue assumed a defensive stance, even though she knew fighting them would be futile.
"You two… how did you come to know the Nine Profound Arts?"
The leader of the group began, but before an answer could be given, Ye Fan moved. He charged toward the cloaked assailant, only for a formidable pressure to crash down on him, halting his advance.
Ye Fan struggled against it, forcing his blade forward.
"I… Ye Fan… will never submit to anyone!" he shouted, pushing against the suppression.
When the cloaked leader heard the name, the pressure eased.
"Are you the son of Senior Sister Han Yue?"
The mention of his mother caused Ye Fan to pause mid-strike, though he did not lower his weapon.
"And who are you supposed to be… wait, are you…" A cheeky smile suddenly replaced his earlier fury. "Are you members of the Jade Lotus Pavilion?"
At those words, an indescribable expression spread across the Ye fan's faces, making several of the women visibly uneasy.
"I learned the techniques from my mother. Doesn't that make me your junior brother, senior sisters?"
The cloaked figures immediately trembled at his words before the leader turned toward Bai Yue.
"Who might you be?"
Bai Yue, who was also enduring pressure from the Foundation Establishment cultivator, tightened her grip on her sword. Before she could make a move, she was forced to her knees, and her weimao was suddenly removed from her head, revealing her silver hair and delicate features.
Instantly, the arena fell silent, as though the world itself paused to appreciate her beauty.
Ye Fan, who was almost licking his lips, could not help but be enthralled.
"Goddess… have you finally descended?" he uttered.
At first, he had taken an interest in Bai Yue because of her resemblance to the beauty of his dreams. But now that he saw she matched that image so closely in appearance as well, he could not help but be completely captivated.
Yet the moment Bai Yue's face was revealed, the assailants became even more aggressive, killing intent flooding the area.
Just as they were preparing to strike, a streak of light cut across the group, leaving them with inexplicable wounds. A woman then descended into the arena.
The woman, dressed in flowing white robes, landed beside Bai Yue.
"Hello, little beauty. Would you like to come back with me to the Azure Cloud Sect?"
Bai Yue looked at the woman, who radiated a heavy, majestic pressure, then glanced at the seven wounded assailants.
At that moment, one of the women lunged toward her, unleashing a blazing dragon strike—similar in nature to Ye Fan's earlier technique. But before it could reach Bai Yue, the white-robed woman merely glanced at her.
Strikes of white light tore through the attacker. Yet the assailant seemed strangely unaffected at first. The calm expression of the white-robed woman turned slightly sour as realization dawned.
She formed hand seals, and a barrier enveloped the raging assailant. Moments later, the figure exploded within it.
She then turned her attention to the remaining six.
"It seems your master truly wants this girl dead. Unfortunately, I am here. Go back and tell her—if she wishes for my master's life, she should come face me at the Azure Cloud Sect."
The wounded women quickly activated their flying swords and fled the scene.
"Would you like to come with me to the Azure Cloud Sect and become my personal disciple?" the white-robed woman asked.
"And who might you be?" Bai Yue asked cautiously.
"You can call me Sister Mo."
"Are you Elder Mo Xian?" Ye Fan, now with a look of reverence, asked.
Mo Xian did not answer. Instead, she waited for Bai Yue's response.
"Do you truly wish to take me as your student… or as one of your many partners?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire area fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Everyone knew of the eccentric Mo Xian, who was infamous for her appreciation of beautiful people—men and women alike. Yet no one would have mentioned it so casually. After all, despite her eccentricities, she was still a sword cultivator with peak Golden Core cultivation.
Mo Xian merely chuckled at the words before turning to Ye Fan.
"I see you are also skilled with the sword. Would you like to follow me to the Azure Cloud Sect as well?"
Before the words had even fully landed, Ye Fan was already bowing.
"I, Ye Fan, take Elder Mo as my master."
Mo Xian then turned back to Bai Yue.
Bai Yue, seeing Ye Fan already kneeling, fell into deep contemplation before finally following suit and agreeing to become Mo Xian's disciple.
After gaining the two disciples, Mo Xian turned to the sect disciples she had brought with her, instructing them to lead the newly recruited disciples. She then activated her flying ship, and together they departed for the Azure Cloud Sect.
-------
It was now three months since Bai Yue's recruitment. She had finally obtained a Foundation Pill tailored to the law she was aligned with, and she was ready to form her foundation.
It typically takes anywhere between one month to a year of closed-door cultivation before breaking through to Foundation Establishment. This is due to the nature of the breakthrough itself: one must ensure their qi is thoroughly condensed, the body sufficiently tempered, and the mentality properly stabilized. Only then can the Foundation Pill be consumed to generate a strand of true spirit qi, which is used to open the primeval aperture holding the laws aligned with one's technique. From there, one draws the essence within this aperture to form one's foundation and establish the pillars of the Zi Fu. Once complete, qi naturally blends with the Zi Fu essence, forming liquid spiritual qi within the dantian. This marks the successful formation of one's foundation.
Bai Yue endured a grueling two months to break through to Foundation Establishment. It was a slow, agonizing process that felt both eternal and suffocating. Yet upon success, a massive wave of euphoria and bliss washed over her as she felt her abilities elevate, her divine sense strengthen, and her comprehension of techniques deepen.
However, the moment she completed her breakthrough, she encountered another problem.
Just as her foundation formed, she was struck.
Bai Xing, who had been silent for a long time, made her appearance. At first, Bai Yue thought she had come to congratulate her—but that was not the case.
Bai Yue couldn't help but chuckle as her life was being stripped away. During the two months she had spent with Ye Fan, she had come to realize something: Ye Fan had walked a path strikingly similar to her own.
He was a genius who suddenly lost his cultivation for nearly a decade. This caused him to lose standing within the Ye family, allowing his cousins to challenge his authority. His engagement was annulled because of it. Only when he was seventeen did he learn the truth—that his cultivation loss was caused by his own mother, who was using his cultivation to rebuild her foundation.
His mother later taught him the Nine Radiance Technique—a derivative of an ancient art—so he could regain his footing. And regain it he did. Yet he felt hollow, believing the cultivation path was no longer worth pursuing.
That was until his mother showed him her inspiration: a portrait of none other than Bai Xing, a cultivation master who had clawed her way from a poor mortal background to becoming a force to be reckoned with. This rekindled his will. He resolved not only to grow stronger, but also to find a partner as dazzling as Bai Xing herself. The more he learned, the more deeply infatuated he became.
Bai Yue, upon learning this, felt a faint sense of kinship. And now, just like Ye Fan had been used by his mother, she too had been used by Bai Xing.
She couldn't help but wonder what expression Ye Fan would have made had he known she would die by her own "ancestor's" hand.
Soon, Bai Yue's spirit body went limp, her form dissolving into specks of light that flowed back into Bai Xing as the two consciousnesses merged. Only then did Bai Yue understand: just as the bear had been a fragment of her soul, she herself was also a fragment of Bai Xing.
Bai Xing, now bearing both her 560-year-old memories and Bai Yue's twenty-year-old experiences, struggled to stabilize her consciousness. Lingering animosity toward herself still persisted, making the integration unstable. But it did not matter. She now possessed two authorities under the Law of Duality.
If she merged her two bodies, she could recover her Nascent Soul cultivation in preparation for the confrontation with her third soul fragment. She would also gain a second Nascent Soul—an immensely powerful advantage.
Bai Xing could hardly believe how profound the Nine Profound Arts truly were.
She rose and stepped out of her abode, where disciples of Moon Sword Peak were already gathered to congratulate her upon seeing the pillar of light that signified her breakthrough.
Mo Xian arrived as well, carrying a gourd of fragrant wine. But Bai Xing ignored the festivities. She approached Mo Xian and spoke a few words into her ear. Instantly, Mo Xian's cheerful expression turned serious. She led Bai Xing away toward a secluded area of Moon Sword Peak.
Bai Xing found it difficult to reconcile the two versions of Mo Xian—her master and her disciple. The two personas seemed to exist in quiet contradiction.
As Bai Yue, she once stumbled upon a painting of a man dressed in white, exuding a heroic aura that felt strangely familiar. Now, with Bai Xing's memories restored, she knew exactly who he was—and she could not help but feel a trace of embarrassment.
Soon, they arrived at a cave rich with spiritual energy. Within it lay a body identical to Bai Yue's, preserved flawlessly by powerful ice formations.
Bai Xing's eyes lit up. Her body remained pristine. Now, she only needed a Spirit Tempering Pill to assist in merging her two bodies and her two souls. This would restore her former standing and prepare her for her future confrontation with her third and final soul fragment—the Sect Master of the Jade Lotus Pavilion.
As Bai Xing organized her plans, Mo Xian received a transmission talisman summoning her to the main hall for an urgent meeting. She requested leave from her master and departed swiftly.
Bai Xing got to work preparing for the merge. She knew this would take anywhere from five to ten years at minimum to fully integrate both her souls and bodies. She could only hope the sect would hold on until she finished.
She took a Spirit Tempering Pill, sent a transmission talisman to Mo Xian, and began the refinement and merging of her forms.
Her mind turned inward to her inner world as she first dissociated into two parts—one Bai Xing, the other Bai Yue.
Bai Yue, carrying lingering grievances, resisted Bai Xing. Bai Xing had to carefully compromise, agreeing to take care of her family and allow that side of her to persist as long as she existed. This concession smoothed the merge, making it far more unified than before, the two identities beginning to feel like one being.
But just as the process stabilized, a third soul emerged.
Meng Mei—the Sect Master of the Jade Lotus Pavilion and Bai Xing's third soul fragment.
Soon, the inner world fractured further. The landscape split into a white ice expanse and a yellow-red desert stretching endlessly to the horizon. The two souls immediately clashed.
Bai Xing formed an array of nine flying swords, while Meng Mei's nine golden needles, embedded in her black hair, flew out and expanded into short spears, forming a matching formation. The two arrays collided as ice, wood, fire, poison, shadow, dragon, and countless blended techniques erupted across the battlefield.
The battle raged for some time, neither gaining a clear advantage. Their fighting styles were nearly identical, though Bai Xing held a slight edge in experience and cultivation.
Sensing this, Meng Mei summoned a black lotus that slowly devoured Bai Xing's attacks.
The Emptiness Devouring Lotus—a technique derived from the Law of Unity and Dissolution, part of the Return to Origin technique.
With it, she rendered Bai Xing's attacks increasingly ineffective. Yet Bai Xing was not discouraged. Instead, she grew excited—defeating Meng Mei would grant her a third authority under the Law of Duality, allowing her to ascend toward Deity Kindling.
She activated her own origin ability—a fusion of absolute stillness and night. Everything began to freeze, including the nascent soul of Meng Mei. It seemed she had won.
But just as victory was within reach, Meng Mei vanished.
Bai Xing awoke in the cave once more, her two bodies fully merged and her second Nascent Soul stabilized.
Five years had passed, yet a subtle dissociation still lingered within her body. Even her perception felt slightly off. It wasn't until she saw her reflection that she realized her male form—lost ever since her Nascent Soul ascension—had briefly returned, only to vanish the moment she focused on it.
Then she understood: Meng Mei had planted a fragment of her soul within Bai Xing's body. Meaning that every time she cultivated, an endless cycle of conflict would continue until one side eventually yielded.
"This will be tiring," she simply said, stepping out of the cave.