A column of light poured down from the top of the stone cave, linking the cold air above the pool to the still depths below.
Mist clung to the walls, glowing faintly from the light, and beside it lay a thick pool of dark mire, rippling as if alive.
Without hesitation, Yun Qianyue stripped off her drenched robes and stepped in.
The cold mud swallowed her slender frame inch by inch.
She only prayed this time, she wasn't too late.
If her Spiritual Root vanished again, there would be no point to this second life.
The moment she sank fully into the mire, all the pain and tension bled away. The sharp chill numbed her nerves, turning agony into a strange peace. Her lashes fluttered. Before she knew it, her breathing steadied, and her mind drifted into a hazy sleep.
A warm current rippled through her veins.
It was soft, almost gentle, like unseen hands brushing over her skin, tracing the lines of her face and shoulders. She shivered; goosebumps rose on her arms. A wave of tingling warmth spread from her core, twisting into something foreign something alive.
A soft, startled sound escaped her lips.
"Such a vulgar mortal… and yet a thousand-year-old soul weapon."
Her eyes snapped open.
That voice it was deep, faintly amused, yet ancient.
Who said that?!
The cave was silent. Only the echo of dripping water answered her. Her heartbeat thudded too loudly in her ears.
Suddenly, the mire beneath her erupted with violent energy, dragging her down.The mud swallowed her whole.
Yun Qianyue gasped and thrashed, but the harder she struggled, the deeper she sank.
"Ah!"
The mud sealed over her head.
Crack!
A sharp, tearing pain exploded inside her chest. Something deep within her snapped, sending agony through every limb. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Her Spiritual Root!
No… no, not again!
She tried to scream, but no sound escaped her lips. Her lungs burned; her vision blurred.
Even after rebirth, even after clawing her way back from death's grasp… could she still not escape her fate?
The world faded to black.
When she next opened her eyes, she lay beside the pool, gasping as air rushed into her lungs. The cold cave was silent again, as if nothing had happened.
"When… when did I get out?" she murmured.
She pressed a trembling hand to her chest and focused inward. A faint, golden glow pulsed weakly in her dantian.
Her Spiritual Root was still there.
A laugh tore from her throat half sob, half relief as tears blurred her vision.
In her past life, she had lost everything her beauty, her cultivation, her family's honor. The world had spat on her name.
But this time…
Yun Qianyue clenched her fists, eyes blazing with new resolve.
As long as my Spiritual Root survives… I can take everything back.
Outside, the earth trembled.
The mountains groaned, birds scattered from the trees, and beasts fled in terror.
A thousand miles away, atop a high peak, a man paused his meditation and smiled faintly.
"My Devil Soul… has awakened once more."
Yun Qianyue was about to leave when a faint sound reached her ears soft, rhythmic, coming from the depths of the cave.
Her brow furrowed.
"What is that?"
She hesitated. This place was already strange enough but curiosity won. Step by step, she followed the echo into the tunnel.
A dim red glow flickered ahead.When she reached the end, her eyes widened.A ruby the size of her fist pulsed with a heartbeat-like rhythm, illuminating the walls.
And beside it something moved.
Her breath caught.
A dragon egg.
Hairline cracks spread across its glossy surface. A faint cry echoed.
Then with a sharp snap the shell broke open, and a tiny head poked out.
"Mom."
Yun Qianyue froze.
Before she could react, the little creature leapt from the egg straight into her arms, knocking her backward.
"I finally found you, Mom! Boohoo!" the tiny being wailed, hugging her tightly.
Yun Qianyue blinked, utterly speechless.
She looked down half-dragon, half-boy, with soft silver scales and eyes brighter than gemstones.
"You're so beautiful, Mom!"
"…Beautiful?" she muttered. "I'm already disfigured. Are your eyes broken?"
Instinctively, she touched her cheek—and froze.Her skin was smooth. Soft. Perfect.
Her face… restored.
Her heart skipped.
That mire… what exactly was it?
In her past life, she had come here only to lose her Spiritual Root but this time it had healed her.
The little dragonling blinked up at her with admiration.
"I always wondered what my mother looked like," he said proudly. "Didn't expect you to look like a fairy!"
Yun Qianyue sighed. "You get off me."
"Mom, am I ugly?" His silver tail drooped pitifully. "I know I'm not as pretty as you…"
She exhaled. "You're just… heavy."
"I don't eat much! I swear!" he said quickly, face turning red.
She pressed her fingers to her temple. "Are you planning to call yourself 'baby' forever?"
"I don't have a name yet," he said eagerly. "Mom should give me one!"
"Fine… how about Little Yun?"
He pouted. "Too plain!"
"Then think of one yourself," she muttered.
"Wait, Mom!" He suddenly darted toward the ruby. "There's treasure here—we can't leave it behind!"
With surprising strength, he tugged it free. It wasn't just a gemstone;it was a ruby chain, glowing faintly with sealed energy.
Yun Qianyue sensed its pulse and slipped it around her neck.
The warmth it radiated made her skin hum.
The little dragon turned again, tail flicking. "Mom, look!"
A click echoed.
He had triggered a hidden mechanism.The stone wall slid open, flooding the chamber with dazzling golden light.
Mountains of gold and spirit stones filled the hidden room.
The dragonling dove in, rolling gleefully. "Mom! All this gold is mine!"
Yun Qianyue's lips twitched.
"You're… a greedy dragon?"
He puffed his chest. "No, Mom! I'm Xuanji!"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"The Xuanji Dragon?!"
In her previous life, she'd only heard of it once an ancient divine beast whose power could shatter realms.
And this silly creature was that?
"I'll grow strong, Mom," Xuanji said proudly, hiding the treasures away with a flick of his tail. "You'll see!"
The light dimmed as the treasure vanished, the cave falling silent again.
Yun Qianyue looked at him this strange, ridiculous, yet endearing creature and sighed.
"Let's go."
Xuanji grinned, tugging at her sleeve.
"Let's go home, Mom."
Together, they stepped out of the cave.
The air shimmered, and in the blink of an eye, they stood once again beneath the open sky outside Mu City.
For the first time in two lifetimes…
She wasn't alone.