Boom!
The golden elixir exploded. Defenseless people were hurled away. It was clearly the self-detonation of a cultivator at the Golden Core stage, but it shook the heavens and changed the world.
Pain. Heart-rending pain.
"Do you regret it?"
A soft sigh echoed. Jin Baoer's eyes flew open. Regret? How could she not regret it? Her once lifeless gaze ignited with fury—rage that could shatter the world. Why? Her life had been a puppet show controlled by Su Xianzhi. She gave away treasures, was set up, hunted down endlessly… Even her final golden core could only be used for self-destruction.
But why?
She was a genius with pure ice spiritual roots, yet was ruined by the hypocrisy and cruelty of Su Xianzhi. Her fingers were cut, her eyes gouged, her face disfigured—a cruel, bitter irony.
"Sign a contract with me. Remember! You must find me again and reclaim my power."
The voice was low, urgent. A flash of light surged. Jin Baoer had no time to think.
Consumed by resentment and torn by the explosion of her spiritual roots and golden core, blood-red tears fell. She used the last of her strength to let out a roar of unrelenting fury.
"Ahhh!"
Anger and unwillingness erupted. The pearl around her neck turned scorching hot.
In that moment, time froze. Even Immortal Lou Yun could not escape its grip.
Then, the immortal cultivation world began to rewind. Smoke reversed, ashes returned, time spun backward.
When she opened her eyes again, a small hand tugged at her sleeve.
"Hello, sister. My name is Su Xianzhi. I'm from the Bixiao Continent."
A girl of seven or eight with delicate features, soft voice, and an innocent expression. She radiated a beauty that stirred instinctive protectiveness.
Jin Baoer's expression darkened. Her body stiffened. This face—she would never forget it even in death. Su Xianzhi, the woman who seduced Immortal Lou Yun and destroyed her life.
Killing intent surged. Jin Baoer turned to attack but found her spiritual energy completely sealed. Her cultivation at the Golden Core stage—gone.
Before she could panic, a familiar hall came into view.
The main hall of Piaomiao Sect? Why was she here?
Just then, a vigorous voice rang out.
"Congratulations on passing the entrance test. The apprenticeship ceremony begins now!"
Jin Baoer's head snapped up. Her black and white eyes scanned the peak masters and elders on stage. Her gaze locked on the sect leader's face—Xiao Baishan.
He died in the seventh year after she joined the sect. That was the beginning of her living nightmare.
Because… she had stood beside his corpse, holding the life weapon given by her master. But it was Su Xianzhi who called her there. The blame fell on her, and she was branded the sect's greatest traitor.
But now? What was this?
"Sister, which peak master do you want to follow? I like you. Can I choose the same one?"
That soft, innocent voice sounded again. Jin Baoer frowned instinctively, eyes narrowing as realization dawned.
She had been reborn. Returned to the day she entered the sect—the very beginning of her tragedy. Her heart raced, body trembled, fists clenched beneath her sleeves.
Was it the pearl? The residual heat still lingered on her neck. She had picked it up in secret because Su Xianzhi had taken every other magic weapon. Only this one, plain and seemingly useless, was left to her.
That voice—had it come from the pearl? Who was he? A being sealed within?
In just moments, her fate had changed. Her eyes sharpened as she looked at the innocent girl in front of her, sarcasm curling her lips.
"I don't remember my mother giving birth to a sister. Fellow cultivator, stop trying to get close."
With that, she turned and left. Her powerful aura stunned everyone.
She wasn't stupid. Su Xianzhi's luck was unnaturally high. If she attacked now, she might be suppressed instantly.
That was the truth she realized only after seven long years of being used. They had faced beast tides, mortal peril. Su Xianzhi had effortlessly obtained a divine beast cub in the Nascent Soul realm. In secret realms, Su Xianzhi entered ancient ruins while others fought for scraps.
At first, her blessings could be chalked up to luck. But then a new theory spread across the cultivation world: pure ice-type single spiritual roots could compensate for other elemental deficiencies. If such a cultivator's golden core was extracted and refined at its peak, the one who used it would gain overwhelming power—both offensive and defensive.
From that moment, she was hunted. Even Su Xianzhi joined in.
Su Xianzhi's smile froze. Her expression twisted in confusion and grievance. If one didn't know better, they would think Jin Baoer had insulted her.
"Tsk. Trying to flatter the top scorer by calling her sister? She doesn't buy it at all, haha!"
A plump boy nearby snorted mockingly, disdain thick in his voice. In the cultivation world, strength reigned supreme. Jin Baoer had placed first in the entrance test. Naturally, many wanted to befriend her. But her cold expression had kept them at bay—except Su Xianzhi.
Jin Baoer had once been deceived by that face, foolishly protecting her and ending up isolated. She paid with everything.
Now, as her thoughts returned, Jin Baoer looked down at her soft, unscarred hands. The memory of Li Yan, the demonic cultivator, cutting off her ten fingers to punish her for Su Xianzhi's mistakes burned in her mind.
The pain had been unbearable. But now, her fingers were whole. Tender. Untouched.
She drew a long breath, forcing down her hatred.
She was alive.
This time, she would change everything. She would rise to true power and crush those two traitors completely.
"Immortal Venerable… It's Immortal Venerable!"
Suddenly, the crowd stirred. All eyes turned to the sky where a figure floated. Even the sect leader and elders stood up in shock.