Chapter 248: This Maiden, You Wouldn't Want To

Chapter 248: This Maiden, You Wouldn’t Want To

Awakening, Shackles, Unrestrained, Mental Visualization, Dining on Rosy Mists, Form Shaping, Golden Body, Sub-Sage, Sage, and Reflection of All Heavens—these were the cultivation realms of this universe.

Of course, even Shaohua, who had recovered most of her past memories and whose insights rivaled those of a Dao Ancestor, was still at a loss when it came to that so-called ‘Reflection of All Heavens.’

Just who was the divine being who had walked this evolutionary path and established such a cultivation system, to create such a realm in the human domain?

Is this realm even appropriate?

As she pondered this, Shaohua suddenly felt a stir within her, as if something inside her was transmitting a sense of dissatisfaction.

"Can it be you?" Her beautiful eyes widened slightly.

Clearly, within her body, apart from those few intangible Shackles, only ‘Lu’ remained in a state of slumber.

Regarding ‘Lu,’ she had not harbored any strange thoughts after recovering her memories. She still allowed ‘Lu’ to sleep within her.

Without a doubt, ‘Lu’ was an absolute powerhouse, not weaker than her in her previous life. ‘Lu’ had been saved by her in the final moments of her previous life, making ‘Lu’ trustworthy. Moreover, Lin Nuoyi was closely related to ‘Lu,’ being the manifestation of ‘Lu’ in this world.

Reflecting on it, there weren’t many evolutionary paths in the world. Those who could reach the pinnacle must have walked their own unique path. Perhaps, in her previous life, she had chosen to save ‘Lu’ to bring back a significant cultivation system.

She didn’t mind ‘Lu’ resting within her. If ‘Lu’ could return, that would be even better.

The long past had not overshadowed her brief experiences in this world. To Shaohua, those were all memories worth remembering and cherishing, with no distinction between them.

Whether in the past, present, or future, she was always herself!

"Is it you, Little Flower?" Shaohua murmured to herself, a teasing smile on her face.

Then, her smile faded.

Pew!

A small, ordinary yet vivid red flower appeared out of nowhere on her head.

Shaohua’s moon-like, fair face was adorned with a few dark lines.

Reaching out, she plucked the small red flower, only to find another small orange flower growing in its place.

She plucked it again, and another grew. After repeating this several times, as if in a fit of pique, she ended up holding a handful of colorful flowers.

"Stop it", Shaohua said, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

Before she could finish speaking, more flowers sprouted from her head, even more vigorously than before.

.

After all, ‘Lu’ had been in a deep slumber, even when Shaohua recovered her memories and her strength rapidly increased, it didn’t wake ‘Lu.’

This reaction was actually the result of someone being mentioned.

Persistent thoughts would inevitably resonate, especially when Shaohua was teasing.

"Never mind, this isn’t so bad", she quickly regained her composure.

A few flowers on her head were not enough to disturb her peace. Sometimes, looking at a problem from a different angle could lead to a different solution.

She wove the flowers into a wreath, like a floral crown, and surprisingly, the ordinary flowers became vibrant and beautiful when adorned on her.

After casually dealing with the Sages who had caused the Earth’s great ice disaster, Shaohua’s figure gradually dissipated. The one who appeared in outer space was merely her manifestation.

The true her still stood atop Mount Tai, her feet unmoved.

Of course, there was now a floral crown on her head.

"So weak, such power, if placed in the past, would barely be considered a Great Sage, let alone a Saint", she sighed softly.

In her previous life’s era, this place didn’t even have Sages, let alone the so-called Reflection of All Heavens, which probably wouldn’t even qualify to explore the universe.

"I’m overthinking this, letting the word ‘Reflection’ cloud my mind. What is this Reflection of All Heavens? It’s just because this universe is broken, and the heavens have withered, allowing certain powers to manifest."

Different worlds led to vastly different displays of power, even at the same cultivation realm.

Yellow Bull had once said that the realm after Shackles was Unrestrained. On some planets, it meant flying and roaming freely, but on powerful planets, it was just a ‘minor demon’ that couldn’t even fly.

The same principle applied, just on a larger scale, with the universe as the reference point.

The entire universe was decayed and broken, sinking into silence, making everything fragile, like a piece of rotten wood that would shatter with the slightest force.

A powerful world, on the other hand, was like a sturdy tree trunk or even a piece of metal, robust and unbreakable. The creatures that grew in such an environment were inherently much stronger.

This was why, with her strength only partially restored, her manifestation could easily destroy several Sages of this world with just a breath.

The fundamental difference in life force was too vast!

After all, even at the peak of the Mortal Realm, one wouldn’t have become a Saint in her previous life.

What was the Mortal Realm? Literally, it meant being unable to leave the planet, confined to a small corner of the world, no matter how powerful, one could only wander within the earthly realm.

After the Mortal Realm came Unbound Soaring, indicating the ability to traverse the star seas without being confined to one place, unlike the Unrestrained realm after breaking Shackles.

Then came Vital Nourishment, equivalent to Supreme Sovereigns, capable of traversing the universe.

These three realms led directly to the pinnacle of the human domain, followed by the ascension to immortality, a path of utmost simplicity.

Shaohua shook her head, no longer dwelling on these thoughts.

She turned and looked eastward, watching the sun rise, casting golden light, and the sky filled with morning glory, as purple qi surged forth.

"Purple qi surging three thousand miles, a Sage has appeared, a sign of great fortune!" Many people near Mount Tai witnessed this miraculous sight, amazed.

While purple qi had appeared before, mutants had already detected that the newborn dawn contained a certain high-level purple energy.

But today, the purple qi had gathered into a cloud, vast and majestic, like a purple dragon roaring through the sky, an exaggerated sight.

Especially after the recent apocalyptic ice disaster, which suddenly halted, followed by this auspicious sign, who wouldn’t be bewildered?

"A Sage has appeared, calming the disaster, a sign of revival!"

Photos and videos spread rapidly, and the whole world knew about it. Mutants and mutant beasts nearby rushed to Mount Tai, thinking that the place of enshrinement held great opportunities.

Who would have thought that it was all because someone had glanced eastward?

A golden bird swooped down, landing on the mountain peak.

It was the Golden Crow King, who had sensed the presence of a pure-blooded golden crow egg at the place of enshrinement and had been lingering nearby. When Mount Tai showed signs of anomaly, it was the first to arrive.

It was then that it discovered, to its horror, that it was suddenly immobilized, its body shrinking uncontrollably until it was grabbed by someone.

"Familiar face, you’re back", Shaohua didn’t torment the hybrid golden crow. Instead, she plucked a large piece of purple qi cloud, refined it, and infused it into its body.

"Go to Kunlun, bring a few people here for me", she instructed, then released the golden crow.

The Golden Crow King didn’t dare refuse, nor did it think about the treasures and pure-blooded golden crow egg on Mount Tai, fearing it would be casually killed by this mysterious person.

Shaohua watched it leave, feeling a sense of familiarity.

Once upon a time, she had raised a golden crow on Earth. Later, that golden crow ascended to the rank of an emperor and embarked on the path to immortality, flying to even greater heights.

"A remnant spirit reincarnated, but it’s not the same as the old friend", she sighed, even the vibrant flowers on her head drooping slightly.

With her memories and strength restored, she could sense the presence of many reincarnated spirits on Earth, but she didn’t actively seek them out.

For the true friends had long passed, and only the scattered remnants of their spirits and blood had reincarnated, drawn together by some unseen force.

Perhaps these people would possess some traits and powers of their former selves, but they were not the same. What was the point of seeking them out?

Boom!

With a wave of her hand, the mist on the mountain peak dissipated, and all the fields and formations vanished.

Not only did the place of enshrinement open, but other sealed sacred lands also appeared.

For a moment, Mount Tai radiated with a sacred glow, and the sound of ancient sacrifices could be heard.

"Jade unpolished is not a treasure, a person unrefined is not a talent. Many external forces are eyeing Earth. Grow quickly, I won’t protect you for long."

Shaohua said this calmly, having learned about this world’s cultivation realms and many other things from the exterminated external Sages.

But she wouldn’t interfere too much, unless someone used taboo means to affect Earth, causing countless ordinary beings to die, then she would act.

"I’ve interfered in many things before, and most outcomes were good. But now, looking back, wouldn’t some things have been better if left alone? Their lives might have been more colorful", she whispered to herself.

Then, her slender figure vanished, leaving behind a handful of bright flowers that fell to the ground, transforming into countless particles of light and merging into the mountain.

Boom!

Mount Tai welcomed a new era of revival, with nine-colored divine light shooting into the sky.

It grew taller, more majestic, and the mountain’s volume increased tenfold, towering over the land.

Waterfalls and streams flowed, ancient sacred trees took root and sprouted, and while they wouldn’t bear sacred buds immediately, that day wasn’t far off.

A slender, emerald figure appeared on each famous mountain.

After she left, the spiritual energy on each mountain surged, and the ancient sealed lands were opened.

The Taihang Mountains, with Shaohua’s arrival, became even more magnificent.

From a distance, silver waterfalls cascaded down the thousands of feet high cliffs, like roaring silver dragons, with mist and clouds adding to the spectacle.

Of course, the folded space behind the famous mountains was still sealed by rainbow light, preventing the various wild raptors and the celestial princes and princesses from other star systems from entering Earth.

"Emerald Waters and Vermilion Cliffs Roar Tiger Dragon, Caveaven Caverns of Hidden Immortals."

This was how Earth’s ancients described Dragon Tiger Mountain, one of the most revered Daoist holy sites, known as the Dao Capital.

Bathed in the morning light, Dragon Tiger Mountain appeared sacred, with a pale golden hue. As one approached, a special pulse could be felt.

"Sealing Aberrations?" Shaohua arrived, paused at the base of the mountain, and made this assessment.

This was of no use to her and held no significance.

She climbed the mountain, walking leisurely, and the ancient evolutionists’ formations and Secret Realms were easily dispelled.

Though there was nothing particularly noteworthy along the way, it was like opening blind boxes, with a sense of the unknown, making it somewhat interesting.

For her, that was enough.

"Hmm?"

In an old, dilapidated temple, Shaohua opened a sealed Sacred Land, raising an eyebrow in interest.

Rarely did she stay, but this time, she entered the Sacred Land.

The Sacred Land was not vast, and she reached the deepest part in moments. Her gaze, like X-ray vision, pierced through the soil, revealing something buried beneath, a smile appearing on her face.

Boom!

With a light stomp, the earth cracked, revealing a massive Azure Gourd, as tall as a mountain.

The Azure Gourd was covered in cracks, making a crackling sound, and vital blood energy rose in wisps.

The next moment, the gourd exploded with a thunderous roar, and vital blood energy shot into the sky. Amid the earthquake, a breathtakingly beautiful woman emerged from within.

She was bound in Divine Gold Chains, her first step out was pristine, like white jade, exuding a transcendent aura.

Then, a snow-white arm emerged, bathed in holy light, and a serene energy. She raised her hand, releasing a powerful energy wave, striking at an intruder in the Sacred Land.

Shaohua blinked, surprised and intrigued, and extended a white, crystalline hand. She thought for a moment, retracted four fingers, and then pointed.

With a light tap, she easily dispelled the other woman’s attack, then spread her fingers and grabbed the woman’s wrist, pulling her over with a gentle tug.

"How is this possible?!" the woman exclaimed, startled awake and instinctively attacking, only to find herself in this situation.

How could such a powerful being exist on Earth?

Shaohua smiled, examining the woman she had captured, even her discerning eyes showing a hint of admiration.

The woman had a transcendent aura, barefoot, her feet delicate and perfect, and as she stumbled forward, her long, flawless legs were visible beneath her skirt, exuding a sense of beauty.

"Who are you?" the woman quickly regained her composure, not showing any weakness, and asked Shaohua directly.

"Before that, why don’t you introduce yourself?" Shaohua smiled and countered.

"I am unique, the best in the world, the supreme in this realm!"

The woman’s confidence was evident, her demeanor unshaken even as she was held by an unknown powerful being.

"I once said the same. Not bad, if it were in the past, I might have taken you as a disciple, but alas, times have changed."

Shaohua’s eyes flickered, and she released the woman’s wrist. When she opened her hand again, a Mother Gold appeared.

"Elixir of Eternal Life!"

The woman’s face changed; her true form was long gone, and only a sliver of her essence remained in the Elixir of Eternal Life. She hadn’t expected(End of Chapter)

Chapter end