"Earthly fire reflects the moon, all spirits return to their divine form, break!"

The final word "break" was extremely loud, as if it had crashed down from the sky with the force of thunder. A dazzling golden light suddenly shone from Nan Xian's body, instantly filling the entire ward.

The light was blinding, and she instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. When she opened them again a moment later, she found herself no longer in the ward.

Before me lay only pure white, so vast it seemed to stretch to the horizon.

She felt a soft, elastic touch on her palms as she braced herself against the ground. She looked down but couldn't make out what the ground was made of.

Where is this?

Could this be the black snake's lair?

Can--

Nan Xian carefully stood up, looked around, and rejected the answer in her heart.

Although she didn't know exactly where she was, she could vaguely sense a gentle atmosphere, like a mother's embrace, warm and healing.

"Is anyone there?" she asked tentatively.

The answer she received was her own echo.

She tried to walk forward again, but all she could see was white, and she couldn't see anything else. Her outstretched hand could never touch the barrier.

It's like we'll never get out of here.

Nan Xian began to panic. She could hear her own rapid breathing, and her steps unconsciously quickened.

"Is anyone there? Is anyone there?" she kept repeating.

Suddenly, caught off guard, she tripped over her own untied shoelace and fell forward abruptly.

"Be careful."

A pair of extremely beautiful hands supported her arm.

Nan Xian looked up, and when she saw the owner of those hands, she gasped in surprise.

A face exactly like your own appeared before you, with a warm smile, quietly watching you.

"Who...who are you?" Nan Xian was so shocked that she stammered.

The woman who looked exactly like her didn't speak again, but instead extended her right index finger and gently touched Nan Xian's brow.

"I am you, the you from before."

Only then did Nan Xian belatedly realize that the woman had not actually spoken, but was communicating with her through thought. Her voice was like her own inner voice, except that it would play automatically.

"In the past...were you me in my past life?" Nan Xian's gaze shifted downwards, scrutinizing her attire—

She wore a suit of dark gold armor, and her long red hair was tied into a high ponytail at the back of her head, making her look extremely dashing and capable.

“I’ve never had this look before,” Nan Xian shook her head.

She chuckled, then a helpless smile curved her lips.

"It seems you haven't fully grasped the secret of that animal skin scroll... Well, since I've already been awakened, it's only fair that you know the whole truth in advance."

She touched Nan Xian's brow with her fingertip again, and Nan Xian felt a refreshing coolness rush into her mind.

In an instant, drowsiness overwhelmed her, and she couldn't help but yawn. As the person in front of her murmured goodnight, she closed her heavy eyelids.