Chapter 4: Dongliu Xue and Liu Hechuan

In the Judgment Hall, a beam of light appeared in midair, within which scenes unfolded: a young girl playing with elders, a maiden fleeing in panic, the fully grown Yuchi Xue and Ji Yichuan gazing at each other, roaming the North Sea, giving birth to Ji Ning, teaching Ji Ning footwork...

Scene after scene.

"It's her past life," Ji Ning murmured, watching intently.

Though this minor reincarnation left behind a先天 spirit treasure, allowing one to view the past lives of countless souls, there was no 'Book of Life and Death.' The judge merely glanced at the scenes and then wrote: "Yuchi Xue, of the Yuchi clan in Dongyu Commandery, Great Xia World, with some merit, sentenced..." A thought naturally arose in the judge's mind.

Sentenced to be reborn as a human, in the Dongliu clan of Huashan Commandery, Wuqiong World, named Dongliu Xue, with a lifespan of two hundred years!

This thought was a natural manifestation of the Heavenly Dao!

After all, serving as a judge and assisting the proper functioning of the Six Paths was already part of the Heavenly Dao. However, the judge could forcibly alter the verdict, but doing so would affect his merit. The more drastic the change, the greater the impact on merit, and some verdicts could not even be written. For instance, if he forcibly sentenced Yuchi Xue to a thousand years of torment in the Eighteenth Hell, the verdict would likely not even be written before the minor judge would be burdened with sin and immediately stripped of his position!

"Sentenced to be reborn as a human, in the Dongliu clan of Huashan Commandery, Wuqiong World, named Dongliu Xue, with a lifespan of two hundred years!" The judge naturally followed the Heavenly Dao. For an ordinary soul, he would not interfere in the slightest.

...

Watching his mother being escorted out, Ji Ning murmured, "Indeed, it's the Dongliu clan of Huashan Commandery, Wuqiong World. They didn't deceive me."

"Do you want to see Ji Yichuan's as well?" King Yan asked from the side.

"Yes, of course I do." Ji Ning nodded, then said, "King Yan, I trouble you."

"No trouble. If I were in your situation, I would be anxious too. But... without becoming a Celestial Immortal, one will forever struggle in the Six Paths of Reincarnation. With luck, one might transcend, but that is one in a billion; the rest sink, even to the point of death and soul annihilation." King Yan looked at Ji Ning. "You must accept this."

Ji Ning nodded lightly.

"Come, let's go to another Judgment Hall." King Yan led the way.

...

In another Judgment Hall, the continuous judgments were interrupted. The judge and ghost soldiers, terrified, hurriedly exited, leaving only Ji Ning and King Yan in the hall. King Yan once again cast the Time Reversal technique, viewing past scenes, and saw the scene of Ji Yichuan's judgment.

"Father." Ji Ning watched the white-robed Ji Yichuan and listened to the verdict. "Indeed, it's Huashan Commandery, Wuqiong World."

"I need to go to the Wuqiong World," Ji Ning said.

"Alright, I'll accompany you. I'm afraid you'll still need me to perform the Time Reversal technique." King Yan nodded, then cautioned, "But Ji Ning, you must be careful. The Wuqiong World is not like the Great Xia World. Its foundation is not as deep as ours, so the Abyss Gate is even more frenzied. We go only to investigate your parents' reincarnation; it's best not to meddle in the conflicts."

Ji Ning said softly, "I understand. King Yan, rest assured. I'm no longer a hot-headed fool."

"Mm." King Yan nodded.

Immediately, the two left the Judgment Hall and then tore through the void, heading directly to the Wuqiong World.

...

The Wuqiong World was one of the dozens of major worlds under the command of Daoist Redbright. Among his worlds, the Great Xia World was in a relatively good state; many were worse. For example, the Beishan Great World was almost entirely under the rule of the Abyss Gate.

The Wuqiong World was also engulfed in the flames of war between immortals and demons.

"This is where the Dongliu clan of Huashan Commandery is located." In the night sky, King Yan looked down. Below, a city was infested with numerous monsters.

"The Dongliu clan is finished?" Ji Ning frowned.

"Some remnants are barely surviving." King Yan looked down. "Now the entire Wuqiong World is in chaos. The great sects and large clans might still resist, but in many small places, slaughter is constant. The Abyss Gate cares little for order; instead, it stirs up trouble, as if the more chaos, the better."

Ji Ning nodded.

He had noticed this too.

Human rule emphasized order.

But the Abyss Gate encouraged slaughter and instigated conflict—the more chaos, the better!

"The Dongliu clan's city was breached by monsters, who now occupy it. The remnants of the Dongliu clan have fled." King Yan said. "I'll perform the Time Reversal now."

"Alright." Ji Ning nodded.

Ji Ning glanced at the city below, and an invisible wave from his divine soul spread downward.

All the monsters in the city, as well as some humans opposing them, went limp and collapsed. In an instant, every monster and human in the city fell into a deep sleep.

"Time reversal." King Yan looked down and cast the spell.

...

"Waa."

With a cry, a baby was born.

"Haha, I'll name this daughter Dongliu Xue." A tall man said happily.

Dongliu Xue grew up gradually. She was clever and obedient, learning qi-refining techniques from her father, playing with children her age...

Ji Ning watched silently from the side.

"So similar."

"She looks so much like Mother." Ji Ning murmured. In this life, Dongliu Xue, having lived carefree, was full of vitality, whereas Yuchi Xue in her past life had always carried a hint of melancholy.

Dongliu Xue grew up. After turning sixteen, she ventured out like other clan members.

While wandering outside...

She met another youth who saved her.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Liu Hechuan."

Sixteen-year-old Dongliu Xue and the still-immature youth Liu Hechuan became acquainted.

"Mother? Father?" Ji Ning and King Yan watched silently from the side.

They wandered together. Liu Hechuan gradually grew taller. Though a few years younger, boys shoot up quickly, and as a divine-body cultivator, Liu Hechuan soon surpassed Dongliu Xue in height. During their two-plus years of wandering, they were naturally drawn to each other and grew close. In the process, both broke through to the Xiantian lifeform level! Liu Hechuan also broke through in divine-body cultivation, while Dongliu Xue only advanced in qi-refining.

"Brother Chuan, Father has summoned me. I must return this time."

"Sister Xue, I will come find you. I'll make your father agree to marry you to me."

"I'll wait for you."

"Mm, I will definitely come."

...

"Haha, Xue'er, you have good judgment. Liu Hechuan becoming a Xiantian lifeform shows he's a genius of the Liuhe clan. But the Liuhe clan... is a small tribe, incomparable to our Dongliu clan."

"Father!" Dongliu Xue grew anxious.

"Haha, just teasing you. Since you've taken a liking to him, I won't stand in the way."

...

A few months later.

"Chuan, don't worry. Father actually agrees; he's just testing you." Dongliu Xue sneaked to the guest residence where Liu Hechuan was staying and told him.

"So that's it. I was too impatient." Liu Hechuan scratched his head. "Sister Xue, since your father doesn't object, I'll go back and prepare the betrothal gifts. According to tribal custom, I'll prepare the nine-tripod betrothal."

"Mm." Dongliu Xue nodded lightly, a little shy.

...

The nine-tripod betrothal was a very high standard. However, Liu Hechuan, having become a Xiantian lifeform early, held a high status in his tribe and quickly prepared the gifts. Though the Dongliu clan was much more powerful, they did not obstruct the matter. Soon, a good day was set for the wedding in the spring of the following year.

Inside the Dongliu clan estate.

"Liebing Zhenren, these three lads, after joining the Huashan Immortal Sect, will need your guidance. This is a token of respect; please accept it."

"Teaching disciples is my duty; there's no need for such gifts. I've been at your Dongliu clan for some time and should return. Have the three lads come out; I'll take them to the Huashan Immortal Sect."

"Yes, Zhenren."

The Dongliu clan chief carefully attended to Liebing Zhenren of the Huashan Immortal Sect. The Huashan Immortal Sect was the top sect in all of Huashan Commandery, rumored to have a Celestial Immortal within. The sect was strict in teaching; disciples burdened with sin would be directly expelled, showing its rigorous rules.

Naturally, many wished to join such a righteous and powerful sect.

"This was left behind by the Zhenren; please pass it to him." The Dongliu clan chief quietly gave the gift to one of Liebing Zhenren's attendants, who accepted it directly.

Soon, three young men came out.

"Once you enter the sect, work hard."

"You are the pride of our Dongliu clan's younger generation; the clan's future depends on you."

"Uncle, remember to come back and see me."

"Second brother, take care."

Relatives of the three young men saw them off, including Dongliu Xue.

Liebing Zhenren, watching from afar, swept his gaze and suddenly fixed on Dongliu Xue. He sent a voice transmission: "Clan Chief Dongliu."

"Zhenren." The clan chief responded immediately.

"That girl in white is not bad." Liebing Zhenren transmitted. "I happen to be in need of a maidservant. She looks obedient and suitable. Help me ask; if she is willing, send her to me. If not, let it be."

Then Liebing Zhenren, along with his attendant and the three young men at the early Zifu stage, boarded a dharma boat and left the Dongliu clan.

The Dongliu clan chief hesitated for a moment, then spoke to Dongliu Xue's father.

"Clan chief, you want to send Xue'er to that Liebing Zhenren? How can this be? Xue'er is to be married in just over a month. Can't we refuse?"

"How can we refuse? Don't you know Liebing Zhenren's nature? He appears a perfect gentleman, but in secret, he is greedy and lecherous! It is precisely because of his greed that our Dongliu clan could send three people into the Huashan Immortal Sect. If we don't send Xue'er, he might become furious and harm 'Fujiang' and the others. They are the future of our Dongliu clan. For the sake of the clan, sacrificing a girl like Xue'er is worth it!"

"What about the Liuhe clan?"

"The Liuhe clan has only two Zifu cultivators. How dare such a tribe offend our Dongliu clan? Ignore them. For the clan, I can sacrifice myself, let alone Xue'er. I'm just informing you. I'll speak to Xue'er myself. I believe she knows the stakes. From today on, you are not to see Xue'er. Don't cause any trouble. I'll handle everything personally."

...

"Clan chief, you, you want me to... No, no... I want to see Father, I want to see Father."

"You should know the stakes. Guards, take her away. I'll escort her personally tomorrow."

...

In the vast wilderness.

"Sister Xue, why did you crush the message talisman? What happened?"

"I escaped using a minor teleportation talisman. We have no time. I want you to abandon everything and leave with me, even leave Huashan Commandery. Let's be together, okay?"

Torn between love and family.

Liu Hechuan simply knelt and kowtowed in the direction of his tribe: "Father, Mother, let Eldest Brother and Second Brother take care of you in my stead. Forgive me for being unfilial. When I have the chance in the future, I will return."

"Let's go."

That night.

Liu Hechuan and Dongliu Xue left their hometown, eloping.

...