Volume 1, Chapter 3: A Heart-to-Heart with My Parents

After returning, Gu Mingxi attempted to smear her blood onto the jade pendant once more. This space within the pendant was left by her ancestor for his descendants. As for the intentions of the Heavenly Dao, Gu Mingxi had no interest in complying; she was never destined to follow the fate laid out by the heavens. Even if she could not claim ownership of the Gu family’s heirloom, she would never hand it over to the female lead.

Just as Gu Mingxi thought she had failed again, the pendant suddenly emitted a soft, glowing light, and in an instant, it swallowed her whole. She was now certain that the space she occupied was indeed the one hidden within the jade pendant. Looking around, she discovered a pavilion. She stepped onto the first floor, found a jade slip on a table, and pressed it to her forehead. The contents flooded her mind, leaving Gu Mingxi, who had never touched the path of cultivation, filled with wonder.

The jade slip described the items within the space and stated that it could only be possessed by descendants of the Gu clan. It was obvious that in the book, this space was meant to be the fortuitous encounter for Mo Yuqing, the female lead. However, since she had become Gu Mingxi and had already successfully claimed the space, it was impossible for it to become Mo Yuqing’s destiny—not even if she were to die.

After reading the jade slip, Gu Mingxi knelt on the central cushion and kowtowed to the former owner of the space, her ancestor, in gratitude for his gift. Upon stepping out of the pavilion, she found a small, winged sprite waiting for her; it was the spirit of the space.

"Master!"

Gu Mingxi looked at the little sprite and couldn't help but reach out to stroke it. "Do you have a name?"

"Master, my name is Xiaohua!"

"Xiaohua? That’s quite cute." As she pinched Xiaohua’s cheek, Gu Mingxi added, "You don't need to call me 'Master,' just call me 'Sister.' I’m not used to being called 'Master'."

"Okay!" Xiaohua replied softly. "Sister, let me show you what’s in the space."

"Alright!"

"This is the Spirit Spring!"

"This patch of land is Spirit Soil!"

"These are all Spirit Fruit trees!"

...

"Finally, there is a time dilation between the space and the outside world. One day outside is ten days inside, and the spiritual energy density is much higher. You’ll understand once you start cultivating. As for the Spirit Soil, it’s even faster—one day outside is equivalent to one year inside. The previous master set it up specifically for alchemy."

After listening to Xiaohua’s introduction, Gu Mingxi marveled at her ancestor’s talent. To refine a space to such a degree, the ancestor must have mastered both the laws of time and space to the level of Great Vehicle perfection. What a genius.

"Xiaohua, how do I leave?"

"Sister, just silently think 'I want to leave,' and you will be out. To enter, just think 'I want to enter.' You can also communicate with me using your consciousness while you are outside."

"Understood. Xiaohua, is there a cultivation technique in the space suitable for a Heavenly Thunder Spirit Root and a Thunder Spirit Body?" Since her spirit root was confirmed, she naturally needed to find a matching technique.

Xiaohua was surprised. "Sister, you have the same spirit root and constitution as my former master! Before he ascended, he specifically left his techniques in the space. He once said that a descendant who could open the space might share his attributes—I didn't expect it to be true!"

With that, Xiaohua led Gu Mingxi to a shelf and waved a hand to conjure a jade slip. "Sister, open it and see."

Gu Mingxi pressed the jade slip to her forehead, and the name of the technique, *Thunder Falls from the Nine Heavens*, appeared in her mind. Once mastered, one could summon lightning at will, and upon reaching the peak, one could cultivate the Purple-Gold Lightning—the highest grade of heavenly tribulation.

The slip also noted that a copy of this technique existed in the Gu family’s library. Gu Mingxi didn't know whether to laugh or cry; her ancestor had truly anticipated her needs. Giving back to the family was standard practice, after all. She felt a twinge of shame; the ancestor’s legacy was meant for the entire clan, and yet she had kept the space a secret from her parents, perhaps showing too little trust in her family.

***

After exiting the space, Gu Mingxi thought about the book's ending. She had already changed the plot by claiming the space. She had taken the first step, and she would certainly not meet that same tragic end; she couldn't let Gu Moyuan and Lin Sheng suffer like that.

In her modern life, she had few friends. After her parents divorced, she was treated like a burden, unloved and unwanted by anyone. In this world, she felt the meticulous love of her Gu parents, and she couldn't bear to see them heartbroken. Now that she had claimed the space, everything was different. She would be the master of her own destiny; no one could define her life, not even the Heavenly Dao!

"Knock, knock!" A sound came from the door.

"Xiaoxi, your father and I are coming in," a voice called out.

Gu Mingxi hopped off the bed. "Father, Mother! Why are you here?"

She had assumed they were busy, as the talent testing had just concluded, and as the Clan Head and his wife, they should have been occupied.

Gu Moyuan and Lin Sheng invited Gu Mingxi to sit at the table. They poured three cups of tea, and Gu Mingxi realized they were ready for a heart-to-heart. It was the perfect time to tell them about the jade pendant.

Gu Moyuan and Lin Sheng exchanged a glance, and Lin Sheng spoke first. "Your father and I came to discuss your future path of cultivation."

Gu Moyuan continued, "There is a technique in the family library that is perfect for you. I discussed it with the Grand Elder, and we decided to give it to you directly. Take a look." He took a jade slip from his storage ring, placed it on the table, and slid it toward her.

After checking the slip and confirming it was indeed *Thunder Falls from the Nine Heavens*, Gu Mingxi said, "Father, Mother, do you remember the jade pendant you gave me on my first birthday?"

"We do. Why? Is something wrong with it?" Gu Moyuan and Lin Sheng were puzzled. The pendant had been passed down by the ascended ancestor, but no one had ever been able to claim it. For their daughter to suddenly bring it up...

The couple exchanged another look, both arriving at the same conclusion. "Did you claim the pendant?"

Gu Mingxi nodded, confirming their suspicion.

Gu Moyuan and Lin Sheng were pleasantly surprised but did not pry further. In the world of cultivation, fortuitous encounters were private matters, even among family. But Gu Mingxi didn't wait for them to ask. "The pendant is a mustard-seed space capable of sustaining life. It contains spirit springs, spirit fruits, herbs, artifacts, and cultivation techniques left by the ancestor—though I assume the family library has a copy of that technique."

They were astonished to hear it was a life-sustaining space, but they remained calm; having reached the Transformation stage, they had seen many treasures. The Gu family lacked nothing, but a life-sustaining space was incredibly rare.

"To think it is a life-sustaining space—our ancestor was truly generous. Since it has a bond with you, keep it safe. Do not speak of this to anyone outside these doors!"

Though moved by their daughter’s honesty, they had to warn her. Murder for treasure was common in the cultivation world; if this space were exposed, even members of the Gu clan might not be able to resist the temptation. Gu Mingxi nodded obediently; she had no intention of telling anyone else.

She silently thought, *Xiaohua, are you there?*

Xiaohua responded immediately, "Sister, I'm here!"

"Xiaohua, can my father and mother enter the space?"

"No, Sister. Except for you and any beasts you have contracted with, no one else can enter!"

"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Xiaohua. Go back to what you were doing."

"Yes, you're welcome, Sister!"

***

Gu Moyuan asked, "Xiaoxi, your talent is too great to be wasted just by training within the family. Do you have any plans?"

Gu Mingxi asked, "Father, Mother, do you have any suggestions?"

Having just entered the path of cultivation, she knew nothing and relied on their guidance.

Lin Sheng said, "Xiaoxi, we had considered keeping you here, but your talent is extraordinary. The family lacks a senior elder with a matching spirit root, but a major sect would be different."

Gu Moyuan added, "Sects have many powerful figures and are very comprehensive. There are those with the same spirit root as you there!"

Gu Mingxi understood that they wanted her to join a sect. That suited her perfectly; she wanted to observe Mo Yuqing, the female lead, firsthand. *Hehe, just observe, nothing more.* Since the girl was a child of destiny protected by the Heavenly Dao, she didn't want to provoke that kind of trouble.

"Alright, I’ll go to a sect. Which one?"

The couple smiled at each other and said in unison, "Tianyan Sect!"

***

After seeing off her parents, Gu Mingxi lay on her bed, thinking about the Tianyan Sect. It was ranked first among the five top sects and was known for its comprehensive development. Being comprehensive didn't mean it wasn't formidable; it boasted the only ninth-rank talisman master in the Qingyun Continent, one of the only two ninth-rank formation masters, and the continent's only master of both sword and law, the Venerable Yuchen.

Most importantly, Venerable Yuchen also possessed the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Root. His cultivation had reached the early stage of the Tribulation phase, and he was the Peak Master of the Xiaoyao Peak. When the ancient ancestors were in seclusion, he was the top combat power in the world.

Her parents had emphasized this Venerable Yuchen, clearly hoping she would become his disciple. She was curious—a master of both sword and law sounded incredibly powerful, fitting her childhood fantasies of cultivators.

In her past life, she had loved reading cultivation novels and dreamed of standing at the peak, doing as she pleased, unlike her life as a struggling recent graduate. Now, with loving parents and a rare talent, she would strive to realize those dreams and achieve true freedom.

As for Mo Yuqing, she would keep her distance—no enmity, no alliance, just a peaceful surface. If she happened upon Mo Yuqing’s fortuitous encounters, she would take them; if not, so be it. The Qingyun world was vast, and one shouldn't obsess over stealing opportunities. But if she *did* encounter them, it meant they were destined for her, and she would certainly claim them. If she couldn't even do that, she might as well stay in the family for the rest of her life.

She would eventually have to adapt to this world of "the strong prey on the weak." Even the modern corporate world was a battlefield of sorts. The only thing she might struggle with was the act of killing.

The next day, she received some news.