Chapter 2: Heavy Rain

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“If you were born among the tens of thousands of ordinary families in Liuyue City, relying solely on yourself, could you have reached the heights you stand at today?” The faint voice of Bai Ling echoed through the void once more.

Ji Jiu’er slowly opened her eyes and turned toward the door, trying to peer inside to see the young man within. After a moment’s contemplation, her lips parted, about to speak... but was interrupted again.

Bai Ling stepped out of the room as he spoke, dressed all in white. Gazing toward the endless sky, he took a deep breath. His eyes then returned to Ji Jiu’er’s figure, twin rays of sharp light shooting from them as he continued:

“Though I, Bai Ling, have yet to awaken my bloodline and remain but a mortal body, I believe that in the future, I shall need no patron. I will walk a path never before trodden. Even if the strongest sects or powers in this world actively extend their olive branches, inviting me to join them... I might not even spare them a glance. The future me will soar above the clouds, ruling the world with pride and looking down upon the heavens!”

“Ji Jiu’er, do not regret this!”

Ji Jiu’er’s beautiful eyes fixed unwaveringly on Bai Ling, her gaze sharp and steady. After a moment, she smiled.

Above Liuyue City, countless clouds suddenly gathered, swirling rapidly. At the very instant Bai Ling finished speaking—

A fierce wind howled, lightning flashed, and thunder roared!

Boom!

Crash!

A bolt of lightning tore through the clouds like a tree root, descending abruptly, shrouding the entire sky above Liuyue City.

It was as if the heavens themselves raged, intent on striking down this youth who dared speak such bold words...

Crackling!

One bolt shone dazzlingly, like a sharp sword imbued with the will of heaven and earth, aimed directly at the Bai family estate.

Boom! Crash!

The clouds roared deafeningly.

When the lightning was but a hundred meters above the Bai estate, an invisible giant hand seemed to grasp its hilt, halting it abruptly.

The lightning emitted a blinding white light, trembling violently.

In a moment, it vanished without a trace.

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In an instant,

Raindrops the size of walnuts suddenly fell from the void, splashing on the ground and quickly gathering into small pools.

Countless bolts of lightning streaked across the sky. Liuyue City was engulfed in thunder and lightning, and a torrential downpour began. Raindrops slid down Ji Jiu’er’s face, soaking her clothes instantly.

A smile appeared on Ji Jiu’er’s face as an overwhelming surge of primal energy burst forth from her. The aura of a peak Spiritual Origin Realm cultivator instantly sealed out the rain, and she radiated the noble aura unique to the prodigious disciples of the Sacred Origin Immortal Palace. She spoke clearly and deliberately:

“Bai Ling, perhaps in these three years, I have never truly understood you. It seems within your heart lies a sharp, unyielding will. I await the moment it breaks through the earth, be it three years... thirty years... or even a hundred! I will wait for you to prove the pride within your heart. I am always ready for your challenge!”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Bai Zhentian watched Bai Ling’s lone, desolate figure outside the door with a sigh. Then, hearing Bai Ling’s bold declarations, he slammed his hand on the table, his face glowing with excitement. Clapping his hands, he laughed heartily, exclaiming “Good! Good! Good!”

Just as he stepped outside, thunder rumbled in the sky, and a torrential downpour began, startling him so that his expression changed drastically. Then he heard Ji Jiu’er’s words, furrowed his brow, and seemed lost in thought.

Outside the Bai family estate, Ji Kun overheard the conversation between his daughter and Bai Ling. A painful, shameful expression crossed his face as he bitterly mocked himself: “Alas, what have I done...?”

Ji Kun’s wife, dressed in elegant garments now soaked by the rain, hurriedly sought shelter. Anger flashed across her face as she cursed under her breath. Seeing her husband’s predatory gaze, however, she fell silent.

“Jiu’er...” Ji Kun watched his daughter stride away through the rain toward the Bai family. He wanted to speak but the words caught in his throat. Since his daughter had been accepted into the Sacred Origin Immortal Palace, she had changed. Even as her biological father, he could do nothing. The cold rain soaked his face as he murmured bitterly, “She’s grown up...”

Bai Ling stood in the courtyard like a wooden stake. Walnut-sized raindrops fell on his head and slid down his cheeks. He did not raise a hand to wipe them away; his clothes were already soaked through. At that moment, he wished only for silence.

Behind Bai Ling, Bai Zhentian’s expression was grave. Holding an umbrella, he raised it then lowered it again, shaking his head with a sigh. After a while, he quietly left, leaving Bai Ling alone in the courtyard.

Three minutes before, above the clouds, a woman glided through the void. She wore a flowing purple silk gown bordered with gold embroidery. On her left chest was the emblem of the Sacred Origin Immortal Palace. Her beauty was celestial, like a goddess, and even the loose clothing could not conceal her slender waist.

She looked down at Liuyue City with a look of surprise and spoke softly: “I never expected the Immortal Jade Bloodline, unseen for thousands of years, to be born in such a remote place.”

Suddenly, the wind howled, lightning flashed, and a heavy rain fell.

She widened her beautiful eyes, gazing towards the Bai family across the vast skies, fully aware of everything happening there.

She saw the lightning stop abruptly above the Bai family estate and frowned in puzzlement: “Strange... could it be a coincidence?”

Then she murmured, “Junior Sister Jiu’er, Master sacrificed a hundred years of his lifespan to foresee the calamity in your fate. Cause and effect—only by severing the root cause will the consequence be avoided.”

...

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Night had fallen; the early morning stars shone brilliantly. The air was filled with the crisp scent of rain-washed freshness.

Bai Ling slumped on the rooftop, his thoughts in turmoil.

Alone, he gazed silently at the radiant stars.

The mandarin duck embroidered incense pouch in his hand was squeezed until it creaked.

Memories surged like tides.

Bai Ling recalled Ji Jiu’er’s hand-made mooncakes from last year and her nestling against him, calling him her husband, vowing to love only him for life, to stand by him no matter what the future held.

At that time, he and Third Uncle had just moved to Liuyue City and were neighbors with the Ji family, often visiting one another. The Ji couple had been very fond of him.

Back then, Third Uncle was the strongest in Liuyue City, a formidable Spiritual Origin Realm expert. He personally guided Ji Kun through his cultivation troubles, leading to Ji Kun’s rapid progress.

Ji Kun’s wife had come bearing gifts, requesting a familial tie, hoping that the two childhood sweethearts would marry when they grew up.

Ji Kun had just returned from advanced studies in the Imperial Capital, stepping into the Spiritual Origin Realm and was appointed Lord of Liuyue City.

He was second only to one, commanding the respect of thousands.

Until that fateful night...

Third Uncle Bai Zhentian’s cultivation vanished overnight, plunging from peak expert to an ordinary man.

Though barely in his forties, from afar he resembled a man in his sixties. His once sharp features had grown worn and aged.

Ji Kun honored his promise: as long as uncle and nephew remained in Liuyue City, he would protect them forever. No one dared bully them in Liuyue City, and the betrothal remained unchanged.

Ji Jiu’er had awakened her bloodline at the tender age of ten, stepping into the Initial Origin Realm. By thirteen, she had reached its peak level, displaying astonishing talent. Rumors even said that in a few years, Liuyue City might gain another Spiritual Origin Realm expert, possibly even stepping into the legendary Celestial Origin Realm!

...