Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan smiled and said, "Master is mistaken. It's not that the blue space is hidden within the Sea Venerable's statue, but rather that the Sea Venerable's statue has merged into the blue space."
"What do you mean?" Zi Linling asked, confused.
"It's very simple. Sea Venerable Xuan Xuzi's memories were forcibly extracted and sealed by himself. Under fortuitous circumstances, they were absorbed by the blue space. Then, the blue space, based on those memories, conjured the Sea Venerable's statue. This way, Xuan Xuzi's memories are preserved, and the blue space can remain hidden." The thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan explained slowly.
"Hidden? Why would the blue space need to be hidden?" Zi Linling asked in surprise.
"To find you, Master!" Xiao Lan said with a smile.
"To find me?" Zi Linling was even more astonished.
"Yes! The Seven-Colored Space, also known as the Chaotic Space, is formed by the merging of seven spaces into one. It is a world manifested by the Goddess using her own body. Therefore, after the Goddess's death, the Seven-Colored Space split into seven and scattered across Azure Star, waiting for the Goddess's rebirth. And you, Master, are the reborn Goddess!" The thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan patiently explained.
"I am the reborn Goddess?" Zi Linling was utterly shocked.
A wisp of her remnant soul had traversed from another realm, merging into the body of a notorious waste. Then she became the Chosen One, and now she was the reborn Goddess. These layers of identities were so unbelievable, even to herself.
Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan smiled and nodded without speaking.
Though Zi Linling was greatly shocked, her capacity for acceptance was quite strong. She quickly calmed down and asked, "Then why did they all come in?"
"They," naturally referred to Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, Elder Du, and Shen Liuxing.
Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan was slightly taken aback, then understood Zi Linling's meaning.
She smiled and said, "Because they are your Nine Great Guards!"
"Nine Great Guards?" Zi Linling was bewildered.
Looking at Zi Linling's expression, Xiao Lan suddenly patted her tiny head and exclaimed in realization, "Oh dear, I forgot! Although Master has been reborn, she has no memories of her past until the Seven-Colored Space is fully assembled."
"The Nine Great Guards are likely what you call the Nine Great Guardians. The people of this planet have always believed that the Nine Great Guardians protect this planet, but in reality, they protect the Goddess, which is you, Master!"
Zi Linling sorted out her thoughts. She seemed to understand somewhat, yet remained puzzled, "The people of this planet? You mean, as the Goddess, I am not from Azure Star?"
Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan nodded.
Zi Linling continued to ask, "Then where did I come from?"
Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan smiled mysteriously, "Master naturally came from where she was meant to come from. Xiao Lan cannot say the specifics. Only when Master fully merges with the Seven-Colored Space will Master's past memories awaken."
Zi Linling raised an eyebrow. "Can't you just tell me directly?"
Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan shook her head. "I'm sorry, Master, I cannot tell you, as it would affect the awakening of your memories!"
"Alright then! Since you can't say, I won't ask. But I still have one lingering doubt."
Zi Linling paused, pointing at Shen Liuxing, who was floating in the seawater. "You said the Nine Great Guardians were originally my Nine Great Guards. Then, he is not one of the Nine Great Guardians, so why was he allowed to enter?" Su Dan Novel Network
Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan shook her head. "That's impossible, Master. If he weren't one of the Nine Great Guards, Xiao Nan wouldn't have let him in!"
Zi Linling frowned and carefully sensed Shen Liuxing. She asked doubtfully, "But he truly doesn't have the aura of a reincarnation of one of the Nine Great Guardians."
Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan smiled mysteriously. "Please be patient, Master. Once he fully merges with Sea Venerable Xuan Xuzi's memories, Master will be able to sense it."
"Oh?"
Seeing Xiao Lan's certainty, Zi Linling no longer doubted.
She smiled and said, "Since they are all my guards, then you should have them wake up from their dreams!"
Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan quickly explained, "Master, I can indeed let them wake up from their dreams unharmed. However, if I do, they will not be able to reawaken memories sealed for a thousand years, and their foundations will be damaged. Are you sure you want me to do this?"
Upon hearing this, Zi Linling shook her head. "So, you mean only if they wake up from their dreams on their own will their foundations remain undamaged?"
Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan nodded. "Precisely!"
Receiving an affirmative answer, Zi Linling said, "In that case, then forget it!"
With that, she closed her eyes and carefully began to sense the four primal elements and the five elements.
Within the Sea Venerable's statue, time ticked by, and a radiant glow continuously flowed around Zi Linling.
She unconsciously walked on the water, like an immortal treading on a light and elegant dance, enveloped in a sacred radiance.
Thumb-sized beauty Xiao Lan watched Zi Linling, who was surrounded by the glow, her eyes misting over.
Inside the Sea Venerable's shrine, it was exceedingly quiet. In the blink of an eye, more than three months had passed.
However, Zi Linling, Xuanyuan Xun, Shangguan Yulin, Shen Liuxing, and Elder Du had shown no signs of movement since being absorbed into the Sea Venerable's statue.
The old man who had been guarding the shrine opened his eyes, a hint of worry flashing within them.
Of course, it was only worry. He soon closed his eyes again.
Xi Jingran and Du Zihao had been meditating outside the shrine for three months, their hearts gradually sinking.
"Elder Du, waiting like this isn't a solution! I have no idea how Master and the others are doing, or if they are even alive. I'm so anxious!" Xi Jingran said with some impatience.
Du Zihao closed his eyes and said calmly, "Young Master Xi, please calm yourself. Miss Zi is the Chosen One and is blessed with good fortune, so she should be fine. And my elder brother and the others have also benefited from Miss Zi's good fortune, so they won't die so easily!"
Xi Jingran looked at the tightly closed door of the shrine and said anxiously, "That may be true, but I am still very worried."
"Calm your mind! Instead of worrying unnecessarily here, it would be better to take this time to properly digest the knowledge Miss Zi taught you. Lest Miss Zi gets angry when she sees you slacking off after she comes out!" Du Zihao advised unhurriedly.
Upon hearing this, Xi Jingran felt a pang of shame. "Elder Du is right!"
With that, he closed his eyes again, forced himself to calm down, and began to cultivate.
Du Zihao opened his eyes, glanced at the tightly shut shrine door, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and then closed his eyes once more.