Chapter 2: Lost Hope of Enlightenment

Far beyond the Ten Thousand Miles of the Zhen Tian Sect, before a mystical water pool.

The soft, steady drip of water continued, and the golden silkworm at the pool’s center stirred as if awakened.

In an instant, the golden silkworm floated in midair, drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from all directions. Golden threads extended hundreds of meters, weaving and unraveling like silk being drawn from a cocoon, leaving streaks of electric light in their wake.

After half an hour, the silkworm finished absorbing the energy. A heavy force shattered from within, revealing a faint human figure.

A soft breath escaped—

Golden threads circled around the figure, eventually forming a black-and-gold garment wrapped about her.

The woman’s flowing hair fell casually, and only when her feet touched the ground did she open her eyes.

“Awake?”

The sudden voice made her instinctively alert. Just as she prepared to bow and retreat, an unseen force pinned her in place, rendering her immobile.

“Where are you running?”

“I have guarded you for three years. You should regard me as your benefactor.”

Three years?

Could it be that she was not only alive but had reached three years later?

The woman was none other than Song Junyu.

She gathered her scattered thoughts and cast her gaze toward the simple-clothed elder calmly seated on a green stone nearby.

His attire was plain, his hair and eyebrows pure white, eyes serene as still water—detached from worldly cares, indifferent to all.

Regaining composure, she spoke hoarsely after a long silence, “Thank you, elder. But truly, I do not recall the circumstances before or after.”

At that time, she only remembered her burning fury, unwilling to accept her fate, as if witnessing heavenly thunder, hearing the primordial sound within it...

Upon further thought, she felt a slight headache but gained no clarity.

Zhong Xi lifted his eyes to glance at her, understanding in his heart, then rose and motioned, “Follow me.”

The elder and the young woman passed through a forested ravine, before them appearing another mystical gate, flanked by two fierce beasts.

Song Junyu studied them quietly; locking eyes with the beast heads, she felt a chilling cold pierce through her heart.

“These are Ying You and Chi Yuan, guardian beasts established by the first ancestor of the Zhen Tian Sect when founding the school,” Zhong Xi explained calmly, tapping his curved finger on the gate, which responded by opening.

“Zhen Tian Sect?”

Hearing the familiar name, Song Junyu’s face suddenly turned pale.

Memories of the past surged within her; hatred churned fiercely in her eyes, her knuckles nearly crushing themselves.

The pain of her soul still lingered, like an inseparable imprint. If she did not strike at Baoluo Peak, the joy of her reconstitution would be—

“Do not become attached.”

A snap struck her forehead, instantly shattering the hatred in her eyes and bringing clarity to Song Junyu.

As she looked up, the mystical gate opened, releasing a faint ancient aura.

Zhong Xi stood with hands behind his back, his words sharp, “If your mind remains so unstable, then my use of the Snow Moon Divine Flower will have truly been wasted.”

“Do you really think that with only your resentment and obsession you can seize the heavenly opportunity and reconstruct your flesh and bones?”

Song Junyu clenched her teeth, lowering her head. After a long moment, she composed herself.

Though inexperienced and naïve, unaware of the vastness of heaven and earth or the divine flower’s wondrous uses, anything called a ‘divine flower’ must be exceedingly rare.

With a treasure that healed her flesh and nurtured her bones, and having guarded her for two years, she owed this kindness, both morally and logically.

In a brief instant, her spirit calmed, clarity restored: “I have wasted the elder’s kindness. When the golden thunder struck, it should have turned to dust. To now regain my bones and flesh, I am endlessly grateful.”

She bowed solemnly to Zhong Xi, then turned to look beyond him.

“Now that you have brought me here, what is it you want of me?”

“To lead you onto the path.”

With a rumbling sound, a small stone platform rose up. Zhong Xi beckoned, and Song Junyu quickly stepped onto it.

As light scattered, she realized this was a teleportation array!

When she opened her eyes again, a vast expanse of verdant hills stretched for miles, dotted with towering, staggered cultivation stones encircling a pavilion at the center.

The three soaring characters “Zhen Tian Sect” stabbed sharply at Song Junyu’s eyes, yet she remained silent.

Liu Gu once said, “If success is to come, it will come gradually.”

She would heed Liu Gu’s counsel.

Zhong Xi kept a close watch on her, noticing her deliberate calm and steady breath, pleased in his heart.

A straightforward young girl indeed.

Soon, they arrived at the courtyard behind the sect master of Zhen Tian Sect. A gust of wind swept by as a dark figure suddenly appeared, brimming with excitement.

“Old Zhong, what treasure have you brought today?”

“Snow Moon Divine Flower,” Zhong Xi replied, pushing Song Junyu forward.

Ji Rong halted and surveyed her up and down, then leaned in to sniff twice, his excitement turning quickly to disappointment.

“You actually gave it to her?”

“What a waste—a real waste—”

Before Ji Rong could finish grumbling, Zhong Xi interrupted coolly.

“Three years ago, your sect witnessed the descent of the golden thunder.”

“For a thousand generations, celestial thunder has been of three kinds: heaven, earth, and immortal, but never golden.”

Ji Rong raised his eyebrows, his expression growing serious.

“With your vast knowledge, you surely confirmed it as divine thunder. Now that you mention it again, is it related to this girl?”

Zhong Xi turned, smiling gently, “Yes, the divine thunder came for her.”

“But she was not refined by the divine thunder into an immortal body. Instead, it awakened the mystical gate power within her. As the second founder of Zhen Tian Sect, you should understand her present situation.”

“The mystical gate opens, but for a thousand years it has only been used for physical refinement, making it difficult to enter the Dao,” Ji Rong said slowly, taking over her words with gravity.

With just a few words, they had sealed Song Junyu’s fate.

Ji Rong felt it cruel to speak so bluntly before the young girl and was about to offer comfort, but she spoke calmly.

“I am already immensely grateful to have regained complete flesh and bones.”

Then she turned to the others.

“Old Zhong, you said you would lead me onto the path. Speaking now of these things means there is still hope, but the path to the Dao is perilous for me.”

“Indeed, there is one way to enter the Dao. It depends on whether you are willing.”

“I am willing.”

Those two resolute words startled Zhong Xi briefly, but he quickly regained his composed expression.

Boundless hatred, even restrained, does not vanish.

Perhaps this power would drive the young girl to carve out an immortal path unlike any other.

“Very well.”

“The divine flower was not given to you without reason. I want you to nurture an immortal spirit within five years. When the time comes, no matter what, I will seek you out.”

“Don’t die too soon.”

With that, his form dissolved into a mist and vanished without a trace.

“Gone quickly,” Ji Rong muttered, then looked at Song Junyu and smiled.

“Little girl, to be honest, even I do not understand the secrets of the mystical gate. Old Zhong brought you here mostly to buy you time to protect yourself.”

“From today, three paths in the back mountain lead directly to your true cultivation ground. I give you only one introductory manual—the rest depends on your choices.”

A glowing light flew toward her. Song Junyu raised her hand and caught it.

By then, Ji Rong the founder was already gone. She wasted no time, lifting the book overhead and bowing deeply.

As the wind swept past, she slowly lowered the book, revealing eyes swirling with golden-black energy.

“Baoluo Peak.”

She whispered softly, then sprang upward, flying toward the back mountain, leaving behind only a stone shattered by her toes.

Ji Rong, who should no longer be there, watched the broken stone and laughed softly.

“The sect is about to become lively.”