"Lingxi, it's time for you to wake up."
The voice was as gentle as water, like the warmest breeze in spring, softly and gently brushing against Li Xi's heart.
Like a warm, clear spring, it slowly flowed into the long-dormant corner of her heart, awakening the precious memories hidden there.
With this call, Li Xi's originally chaotic consciousness began to gradually gather together, like countless scattered starlight slowly converging to form a bright ray of light.
At the same time, a powerful force quietly awakened within her, like a seed buried deep in the ground finally breaking through the soil and beginning to grow strong.
This power originates from within her; it is a potential that has been deeply suppressed for a long time.
At this moment, everything in the dream begins to distort and deform.
Those heavy chains that once bound her tightly seemed to sense their owner's strong will to awaken.
They trembled and struggled, but eventually succumbed to the pressure and broke apart, turning into shimmering golden specks that drifted into the air until they disappeared without a trace.
As the fog gradually dissipated, Li Xi's vision became clearer.
To her surprise, she found herself in a quiet and beautiful bamboo forest.
This bamboo grove is lush and green, with the emerald green bamboo leaves swaying in the wind and making a rustling sound, like a beautiful movement played by nature.
In the center of the bamboo forest, an antique-style pavilion is faintly visible.
The melodious sound of a guzheng drifted from the pavilion, its notes gentle and lingering.
Sometimes it is as clear and melodious as a mountain stream, and sometimes it is as mournful and lingering as a lament, captivating listeners and making them unable to extricate themselves.
She went inside and saw a man in a white robe sitting there playing the zither.
The man was strikingly handsome, with an ethereal air about him, his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. He saw Li Xi enter, and his fingers gently pressed the strings of his zither, abruptly stopping the music.
"You're finally awake," the man said softly, his eyes filled with joy.
"Who are you? Why am I here?" Although Li Xi had many questions in her mind, she inexplicably felt a sense of closeness to the person in front of her.
"You've forgotten me so quickly?" The man in white snapped his fingers.
A light mist suddenly filled the air, and then, images slowly unfolded in Li Xi's mind.
After a long while, she raised her head, a hint of realization in her eyes, "Master, your disciple has returned..."
Those long-forgotten memories surged back into my heart like a tide.
Bai Yichen is the guardian of the spirit world and also her master.
She remembered everything!
"Now that you're back, stay here and focus on your cultivation. Don't let the past disturb your peace of mind." Bai Yichen's voice was gentle and deep.
He slowly stood up from his seat and walked to her.
Upon hearing this, Li Xi felt a surge of warmth in her heart, but she still had unfinished business.
“Master, I…I want to go back. If we let that person run rampant in the mortal realm, then what about the lives of those who sacrificed themselves a thousand years ago? I want to return to the mortal realm. If we just let that person continue to act recklessly and wantonly, then wouldn’t those innocent lives that bravely sacrificed themselves for justice and peace a thousand years ago have been wasted? So, please allow me to leave this place and go back to stop this disaster from happening.”
Bai Yichen looked at her silently for a long time before saying, "Even if it costs you your life? You'd be willing to do it?"
Li Xi's eyes were firm and unwavering. She tilted her head slightly and met Bai Yichen's gaze.
“Yes, Master. The tragedy of a thousand years ago should not be repeated. If my life can be the key to stop this catastrophe, then I am willing, without regret or resentment.”
Bai Yichen sighed softly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "Since you have made up your mind, I will not stop you. Now that you have lost your inner core, if you also lose your essence blood, I'm afraid you will... Never mind, keep this jade pendant safe. It can protect you in critical moments."
As he spoke, Bai Yichen took out a jade pendant from his sleeve, its surface smooth and lustrous, engraved with intricate runes and faintly emitting a spiritual light.
Li Xi accepted the jade pendant with both hands, feeling the warm power contained within it. "Thank you, Master, for bestowing this treasure upon me. I will certainly live up to your expectations."
"I'll see you off on your way!"
As he spoke, with a flick of his finger, Li Xi was enveloped in a mist...
Over there, not long after Qin Xiaolin entered the dream, he felt as if his body was being torn apart.
An indescribable force surged through his body, as if something was trying to break free.
Qin Xiaolin gritted his teeth, sweat streaming down his face and soaking his clothes.
This force was both unfamiliar and powerful, filling him with both fear and curiosity.
He tried to guide this force, but found it to be like a wild horse, completely out of control.
"Ah—" Qin Xiaolin finally couldn't hold back any longer and let out a painful roar...
The ghostly spirit occupying Li Xi's body was actually a demon beast that was destroyed by cultivators a thousand years ago.
He preserved a wisp of his soul using a secret technique at the moment of his death.
By sheer coincidence, it possessed the body of Lingxi, who was then a young red-crowned crane, and the two miraculously merged together.
With the help of the ghostly spirits of demonic beasts, the young red-crowned cranes were able to awaken their intelligence. After decades of cultivation, they easily transformed into human form and gained the power of being half-demon and half-immortal.
Now, it has finally been resurrected. As long as it obtains Yinglong's inner core, it will be invincible, the entire demon realm will grovel at its feet, and all its former enemies will be dealt with one by one.
It sensed the spiritual energy within the spirit rhinoceros's body surging, resonating with its ancient and powerful demonic soul, as if the entire world was trembling in anticipation of this moment.
As it awakens, the sky gradually darkens, dark clouds gather, and thunder roars, as if nature is filled with awe and unease at the awakening of this ancient power.
When it completely erodes the spirit's will and takes over this body.
A sudden gust of wind swept across the land, whipping up dust and fallen leaves, forming a vortex that engulfed all living things in the surrounding area, causing everything to lose its color.
Trees bent, mountains and rivers trembled, and even time seemed to stand still at this moment.
Even the Crimson Flame, hidden beneath the underground palace, was shaken by this unease, muttering to itself, "Has an earthquake occurred outside?"
His heart clenched as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and an indescribable panic surged through him like a tidal wave.
The feeling was as if some ancient and indescribable terrifying being, slumbering in the abyss of darkness, was slowly opening its bloodshot eyes and awakening from endless chaos.
With each slight tremor, it exuded a chilling aura, as if it were about to completely devour this once peaceful and tranquil land.
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