Chapter One: Reborn as the Eldest Daughter of the Immortal Sect

Where is this place? Didn’t I… die already?

Drip… drop…

Lian opened her eyes and looked around. Clumps of weeds and dead branches were piled in the corners of the walls. Bloodstains and the charred remains of corpses on the ground were stark evidence of a recent battle.

“Hiss—”

She tried to rise, only to find her arm and calf dislocated and fractured. Dragging her broken body toward the corner, she half-reclined on a bed of dried grass. This body was clearly not her own; even these simple actions left her forehead beaded with sweat.

“Could it be that the Divine Tribulation split my soul?”

[This is the northern region of the Xuanming Continent, in the Dark Moon Forest. You are in the lair of the Xuan Serpent.]

A cold, mechanical voice echoed in her mind.

“Who’s there! Who’s speaking? Don’t play tricks—come out and show yourself!”

[Master, my name is Zero. I was created by the gods, residing within your sea of consciousness. I know all things and mean you no harm.]

“Gods? Which one?” Lian had cultivated for a hundred years in her past life. Had it not been for that final tribulation, even the world would have called her Goddess.

Suddenly, a voice far more human—and far cheekier—chimed in:

[Master, that was the system speaking just now. You are now automatically bound to Number Zero. From this moment on, we shall travel through countless worlds, stirring up trouble!]

“Stir up trouble? Is that what I think it means?” Lian frowned, then relaxed. Stirring up trouble—she was no stranger to that. If not for her devotion to cultivation in her last life, she’d have lived as a terror to the world.

“If the previous voice was the system, then you must be the spirit it produced?”

[Exactly, Master! You are truly worthy—unparalleled beauty and wisdom, clever and resourceful! I actually have a name, too!]

“Speak.”

[The Invincible Little Rascal of the Universe! Master, isn’t it amazing? Aren’t you stunned?]

A crow flew through the cave, leaving three black droppings behind.

Three black lines appeared on Lian’s forehead. This rascal lived up to its name.

[Master, your current body is very weak. Its spiritual energy was scarce even before, and in order to slay the Xuan Serpent, it's nearly depleted. But with your cultivation from your previous life, this would’ve been as easy as a wave of your hand!]

Lian sensed that a wisp of white mist in her consciousness seemed to be swinging its stubby legs, observing everything outside.

[That’s right, Master. Little Rascal can see everything outside, unless you seal off your sea of consciousness. Otherwise, Little Rascal will always accompany you!]

“…”

Lian really didn’t know what to say. For now, she might as well treat her injuries.

Her soul was powerful. In no time, most of her internal and external wounds were healed. Yet the body’s own spiritual energy was limited; no matter how strong her soul, she couldn't wield powerful spells without it. Helpless, Lian could only set out on foot.

In the Dark Moon Forest, a woman in bloodstained azure robes walked slowly by, but not a single beast dared block her path. Lian released pressure from her soul, keeping the distant beasts at bay, while questioning Little Rascal about this new continent.

She knew there were three thousand small worlds; apart from one exception, almost no one could cross between them. From this, it seemed likely that Little Rascal was created by that very individual.

The body she now inhabited belonged to Bai Ruo, the most respected young mistress of the most authoritative sect on the Xuanming Continent. Everyone showed her deference.

Bai Ruo, however, was infatuated with an inner disciple named Baili Ce. When she learned he was close to death due to a mission, she rode a bluebird alone into the Dark Moon Forest in search of the Xuan Serpent’s gallbladder.

She spent all her strength to slay the beast, but as she retrieved its gallbladder, the serpent’s poison took hold, and she left this beautiful world.

At that moment, her junior sister and rival, Shen Miao, arrived. Also seeking the gallbladder for Baili Ce, she took advantage of the situation, snatched the prize, and hurried back to the sect, presenting it to the elders to save Baili Ce.

As for Bai Ruo’s heroic sacrifice, Shen Miao didn’t spare her a glance, and soon became Baili Ce’s savior and beloved.

After Little Rascal’s explanation, Lian felt nothing but pity for Bai Ruo. Not only had she paved the way for others, but her death passed unnoticed.

Alas, it seems my next mission is to deal with Shen Miao and that so-called Baili Ce.

Lian rubbed her hands together. This was her specialty—dealing with white lotus types. In her previous life, she loved reading storybooks about such schemes during her breaks from cultivation. They were filled with tricks for handling these delicate flowers.

[Master, your smile is so wicked—I love it! Hehehe…]

Lian smoothed her expression—no, she was Bai Ruo now.

“I was merely considering how to avenge Bai Ruo. Don’t overthink it.”

After several days’ journey—walking at first, then capturing a spirit bird as a mount—she finally returned to the sect.

With a few days of rest, Bai Ruo’s spiritual energy was fully restored. With Lian’s help, her cultivation even rose by two levels.

At the foot of the sect, Bai Ruo released the spirit bird and prepared to ascend on foot, only to be stopped by two gatekeeping disciples.

“Senior Sister Bai Ruo, please show your token.”

Bai Ruo’s expression stiffened. Little Rascal hadn’t mentioned a token was necessary.

[Uh—sorry, Master, I forgot. Don’t worry, I’ll replicate one for you right away!]

A token instantly appeared in Bai Ruo’s palm. With it, she entered the sect without trouble.

Bai Ruo breathed a sigh of relief. After all, with a new soul in this body, there was always the risk of being discovered by some cultivator and having to resort to violence.

How amusing—I'm no thug! Why fight when you can use your brain?

Back in the so-called immortal sect, she first took a stroll under Little Rascal’s guidance to familiarize herself with the environment.

Bai Ruo’s father, the sect leader, was a mysterious figure. The real Bai Ruo hardly ever saw him, so there was no point seeking him out now.

Once she’d learned her way around, the system issued her first mission: [Go to the library pavilion and “accidentally” meet the protagonist, Shen Miao, and Baili Ce.]

Bai Ruo raised her right eyebrow. The show was about to begin!