The Human Emperor's Herbal Codex!
Zi Linling had always believed that the wordless tome, the Human Emperor's Herbal Codex, was lost in the Human Emperor's Cave. She never imagined it was within her own body.
Moreover, the wordless tome was no longer wordless; it contained such wondrous cultivation techniques.
How could this be?
As Zi Linling pondered, her mind stirred, and she had no choice but to close her eyes again, immersing her soul within her sea of consciousness.
Opposite the miniature Zi Linling, a figure suddenly appeared.
This figure, or rather, this soul-shadow, was extremely ethereal, giving the impression that it could dissipate at any moment.
Upon closer inspection, Zi Linling was so startled she almost cried out.
The soul-shadow's face was nearly identical to Zi Linling's. If not for the difference in demeanor, Zi Linling would have mistaken it for her own clone.
She furrowed her brow and asked, "Who are you? Why are you appearing in my sea of consciousness?"
The soul-shadow bowed to Zi Linling and said, "Sister, haven't you already guessed?"
A flicker of shock crossed Zi Linling's eyes. "You are indeed the original owner of this body. Speak, why have you appeared so suddenly?"
The soul-shadow bowed again. "Lin'er is here to thank Sister!"
"Thank me?"
"Yes, my lifelong regret has been my inability to cultivate. Today, Sister has broken through this barrier, dissipating the obsession in my heart. Therefore, I must also leave."
"Leave? Where to?"
Watching the increasingly faint soul-shadow, Zi Linling's heart ached.
The soul-shadow smiled enchantingly. "Sister, you are more suited to possess this body than I am. I entrust this body to you with complete peace of mind, and I can depart to where I belong."
Zi Linling's brows knitted together as she looked at the fading soul-shadow, her heart aching even more.
She had a strong feeling that once this soul-shadow departed, it would completely vanish from existence, never to return.
The soul-shadow chuckled. "Sister, do not be sad. You and I share the same heart and origin; we were one to begin with. This is destiny, and it is also the end. However, I have one last wish. I hope Sister can help me one more time."
Zi Linling's tears were on the verge of falling. The words "this is destiny, and it is also the end" confirmed her fears.
Indeed, they shared the same heart and origin, which was precisely why her heart ached so much.
"Tell me, as long as I can do it, I will not disappoint you!"
The soul-shadow smiled faintly. "Lin'er's life was bitter. I never saw my parents after birth. Therefore, I beg Sister, when you are capable in the future, to help Lin'er find my parents and treat them well."
Zi Linling nodded solemnly. "I, Zi Linling, swear by my soul that I will do my utmost to find your parents and treat them well. Should I break this oath, I shall perish and my soul shall be scattered!"
As Zi Linling finished speaking, a Heavenly Dao mark suddenly appeared in her soul, signifying that the rules of the Heavenly Dao had left their imprint. If she failed to fulfill her promise, the Heavenly Dao rules would enforce the oath, leading to her demise.
The soul-shadow was greatly alarmed. "Sister, why must you make a Heavenly Dao oath?"
Zi Linling smiled gently. "You are willing to perish and not reincarnate for me. Why can I not make a Heavenly Dao oath for you?"
The soul-shadow paused, its translucent body trembling slightly. "Very well! Sister, this is something Father left me before he departed. Please keep it safe. It may save your life when necessary."
Saying this, she took off a blood-red pendant from her chest and handed it to Zi Linling.
Zi Linling took it and examined it closely, finding nothing unusual. She couldn't help but ask, "What is this?"
The soul-shadow gave a wry smile. "I do not know either. I hope Sister can unravel the mystery of this pendant."
She fastened the pendant around Zi Linling's neck. "Sister, I must go now. Are you ready?"
Zi Linling's heart tightened. "Does it have to be this way?"
The soul-shadow nodded. "Only this way can Sister's soul be complete, and in the future, you can..."
At this point, she seemed to hesitate and abruptly changed the subject. "Come, Sister, open your divine sense and accept it!"
As she spoke, the soul-shadow transformed into specks of light, seeping into Zi Linling's divine sense and becoming a part of her soul.
Zi Linling's sea of consciousness expanded further, forming a lake of soul power. The miniature Zi Linling seemed to grow slightly, sitting at the center of the lake.
Simultaneously, the spiritual energy around her once again formed a vortex, madly drawing in the surrounding spiritual qi.
Body Tempering Sixfold – Marrow Tempering, breakthrough!
Body Tempering Sevenfold – Blood Tempering, breakthrough!
Body Tempering Eightfold – Organ Tempering, breakthrough!
Body Tempering Ninefold – Viscera Tempering, breakthrough!
Even so, spiritual energy continued to surge into Zi Linling's body, but it no longer caused breakthroughs. Instead, it flowed towards a specific part of her body and was stored there.
The vortex of spiritual energy lasted for the time it takes an incense stick to burn before slowly dissipating.
Zi Linling did not open her eyes but instead focused on the location where the spiritual energy was finally stored within her body.
After a careful scan, she opened her eyes in shock and exclaimed, "So that's it! The Body Tempering realm is not just ninefold!"
Huang Yi and Yiran stared dumbfounded at Zi Linling, who had just broken through to Body Tempering Ninefold in one go. They were already at a loss for words.
Now, hearing her declare that the Body Tempering realm was not limited to nine levels, they were even more bewildered.
The Body Tempering realm having nine levels was common knowledge. Yet, Zi Linling claimed it wasn't, leaving them wondering what was happening. Was it a side effect of breaking through too quickly? Su Dan Novel Network.
Yiran furrowed her brow. "Mistress, are you alright?"
Huang Yi's eyes were welling up with tears. "Mistress, please don't frighten us!"
Zi Linling stood up and stated with certainty, "Body Tempering is not ninefold; breaking through to ten allows one to contend with heaven!"
Huang Yi and Yiran exchanged glances, both looking completely perplexed.
Zi Linling smiled mysteriously and changed the subject without explaining. "Yiran, can the Goddess Palace recognize me as its master now?"
Yiran nodded. "Mistress, please follow me."
With that, she led the way towards the bamboo house.
Zi Linling followed without pretense into the house.
The interior of the bamboo house was simple: a bed, a table, a painting, and a mirror, with no other decorations.
When Zi Linling's gaze fell upon the painting, she froze.
The painting depicted a person whose face bore a striking resemblance to Ye Lingyuan, nine parts out of ten.
This made Zi Linling frown. "What is going on?"
Yiran noticed Zi Linling staring at the painting and mistakenly assumed she was interested in the person depicted. She explained, "That is the Azure Emperor Fuxi."