Ye Ju finished her Sky-Splitting Sword dance, her spiritual mind clear. She understood why she had come and why she was born. Her spiritual realm, once chaotic and veiled by thick fog, was now illuminated. The green spiritual energy had parted the mist, infusing her with the energy of life – a true rebirth!
Sky-Splitting Slash, slashing the azure sky, slashing all injustice, slashing all illusion, bringing clarity to the three thousand worlds. This was her sword technique, a technique she herself had created. The Divine Wood Guardian was her protective divine sword, having been with her for a million years. Back then, she had faced a tribulation of life and death. If she had not survived, she would have been trapped in the cycle of reincarnation for all eternity…
If the wielder of the Sky-Splitting Sword could not see through the cycle of life and death, discern past karmic connections, and sever worldly ties, then this island would be annihilated and cease to exist. This was because the island was her spiritual essence space, the spiritual essence space of a divine sovereign. The Heart of the Divine Wood and the Spiritual Spring had merged by chance within her spiritual essence space. Her existence meant the spiritual essence space persisted, and the Heart of the Divine Wood and the Spiritual Spring’s spiritual energy would not be depleted. If she perished, the spiritual essence space would collapse and vanish, and the Heart of the Divine Wood and the Spiritual Spring would also be annihilated…
Although she had forcibly separated her spiritual essence space during her tribulation of life and death, it was to no avail; the bond was too deep. Without Ye Ju, the Divine Wood sealed itself, locking the Spiritual Spring pool with a barrier. Severed from its companion Spiritual Spring, the Divine Wood and its accompanying spring would slowly deplete their spiritual energy. Only the master’s return could undo this. The Heart of the Divine Wood was gambling… a near self-abusive vigil, a million years of searching, finally discovering its master as its spiritual energy was exhausted.
As for Ye Ju, by separating her spiritual essence space, her soul had become unstable. During the tribulation of life and death, one soul and one spirit were left behind in this cultivation world. The remaining soul was drawn by the void currents to Earth, where spiritual energy was depleted…
Lacking one soul and one spirit, Ye Ju in Huaxia endured the suffering of reincarnation. Her five elements clashed with her relatives, her luck was dim and unpropitious. She was as miserable as one could be! However, the divine sovereign’s life force was powerful, ensuring she never lacked food or shelter.
Now she had returned. The Guardian, risking the burning of the Divine Wood’s heart, had brought her back! Her body, now reunited with a soul and a spirit, was finally whole, remembering her origins.
Ye Ju touched the Divine Wood Guardian accompanying her. No, when it was a sword, its name was Sky-Splitting Sword! It was a pity her cultivation was still too low, and her memories had not fully resurfaced!
Ye Ju turned around, a soft smile gracing her lips. Three green sprouts appeared on her forehead. She had always known they were there. Little Bai, the mischievous fox, had been reborn. How wonderful!
Ye Ju walked towards them barefoot. With each step, lotuses bloomed. Her fair jade feet trod upon lotuses, and the blooming flowers on both sides bowed their heads in deference to her…
Little Bai and the others felt that their sister had changed. She was their sister, yet she was not entirely their sister…
Ye Ju approached Zhao Yangzi and softly called out,
“Qing Yang~”
Upon hearing the name, Zhao Yangzi’s heart trembled! Memories flooded his mind…
The Green Wind Sword hummed, as if in response!
He remembered he was the foremost of the Seven Star Generals, Qing Yang. His second brother was Qing Yin, the Seven Star Generals’ mechanist… Zhao Yangzi’s head throbbed violently as memories replayed, a million years of searching, of battles, of slaughter… the divine sovereign had fallen while investigating the truth behind the annihilation of the Divine Wood Realm…
In the blink of an eye, ten thousand years had passed. He knelt on one knee, his gaze lifted, tears streaming down his face:
“Divine Sovereign, Qing Yang has returned!” He now understood who the goddess he was waiting for was!
The Green Wind Sword vibrated. The long sword drew itself from its scabbard, emitting a dazzling green light. The weathered blade shed its years, a flash of silver revealing its imposing sharpness! It hung suspended in the air!
Ye Ju extended her hand, and the Green Wind Sword flew into it. She twirled it in a sword flower, her finger tracing the blade. The familiar aura. This sword was crafted by her, a reward for victory…
“Qing Yang, your Green Wind Sword is showing its edge. War is coming… and I am no longer a divine sovereign. Call me Ju Xun! (xun, first tone)” Ye Ju’s expression was indifferent, devoid of joy or sorrow. She hadn’t used this name in a long time. Her mother was a chrysanthemum fairy, a celestial chrysanthemum in her father’s garden. Her mother, carrying her, could not withstand the divine fetus of her chaotic constitution.
Her father wished to abort the divine fetus and protect it with his divine power, but this would have caused some damage to the divine fetus. Fearing it would harm her unborn child, her mother refused to abort. However, she absorbed her mother’s spiritual energy too quickly in the womb. On the day of her birth, her mother, having exhausted all her remaining life force, passed away… leaving only a chrysanthemum petal on her shoulder.
Her father loved chrysanthemums and her mother. He gave her the surname Ju and named her “Xun.” When she missed her mother and heard other fairies say she had caused her mother’s death, her father told her that her mother had used her life to love her, not to abandon her…
Chrysanthemum fallen, brewed as tea, to be drunk from the cup.
Celestial chrysanthemum conceiving a child, vanishing on the Dao!
Chrysanthemums are hermits among flowers, noble in character!
Zhao Yangzi’s throat constricted. This name had been lost in the river of time.
Zhao Yangzi took the Green Wind Sword. The familiar hilt, the familiar sharpness. No wonder the Green Wind Sword’s spiritual energy was suppressed when sparring with the divine sovereign, unable to unleash its full power! It turned out the Green Wind Sword had recognized the divine sovereign long ago. Because he had no memory and his cultivation was low, he could not connect with the Green Wind Sword’s intent! Thus, how could the Green Wind Sword point towards its creator!
“Sister!” Little Bai looked at Ye Ju with sparkling eyes. This was her sister, just like the sister in her memories.
“Long Hu Hu, you little white fox, you mischievous one!”
Ye Ju felt a sense of relief seeing the lively Hu Hu standing before her. She had finally hatched.
This little one, daring to defy the heavens during her tribulation of life and death, had used her Nine-Tailed Divine Art to reverse time, attempting to save her.
She had almost been erased by the laws of the Great Dao. Ye Ju had exhausted her spiritual energy to rewind time, saving the little fox’s soul and placing it within the barrier of the Divine Wood’s Heart. She had used a piece of the Divine Wood’s bark to create a shell for her soul, hiding it from the aura of the laws. The Divine Wood’s vitality was strong, capable of nurturing the little fox’s soul. She hoped that one day she could break free and be reborn!
The little one was truly spirited, growing so big already…
Her cultivation was still a bit lacking. She would have to urge her to train properly, not to be as lazy as before!
Ye Ju walked past A You and Little Wang You, touching their foreheads and imparting a cultivation technique to each.
When their eyes cleared and their consciousness returned, Ye Ju asked gently,
“Is there anything to eat? Your master is hungry!”
Ye Ju paid them no mind and headed towards the bamboo house restaurant. By the time A You and the others returned, Ye Ju was already sitting on a stool under the table, waiting.
A You and Little Wang You were overjoyed that their master had not changed. They quickly served the breakfast that had already been prepared.
Watching their immortal master still so approachable, eating heartily, they finally felt at ease.
Just a moment ago, the fairy master’s coldness had made her seem like a noble deity detached from the mortal world, distant and unfamiliar! In this life, they wished only to prostrate themselves before her.
A You now felt that their master eating was even better, more human, capable of smiling and laughing. If only she could always be this happy…