After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 49

“Utmost Yin and frigid cold, pure soul, heart harbors profound obsession!”

Ancient characters flickered and vanished, like three invisible shackles instantly shattering the hopes of the vast majority in the cave. The air was thick with disappointment, anxiety, and a palpable… targeted scrutiny and hostility.

Gao Sheng, Shi Feng, and others who cultivated fire-attribute and masculine martial arts had ashen faces, their eyes so dark they looked like they might drip with water. They had gone to great lengths to reach this place, only to be disqualified from even participating in the trial! This sense of frustration and jealousy turned their anger towards those disciples who might meet the conditions.

Disciples cultivating Yin-cold attributes such as water and ice instantly became the focus of everyone’s attention. The disciples of Azure Water Pavilion were naturally the first to be scrutinized, and Qin Yixuan, due to her outstanding strength and demeanor, attracted the most attention. From the Profound Cloud Sect, Su Wanyun’s cultivation method leaned towards gentle water-wood attributes, partially meeting the conditions. Han Li’s methods were mixed, and Chen Mo primarily cultivated the Dao of Talismans, with no obvious attribute. As for Ye Li, her icy temperament and the rumored ice-attribute finger technique put her on the list of suspects.

Ye Li’s heart was turbulent, yet her expression remained impassive, like frozen ice. The conditions of this inheritance aligned so perfectly with her; it could not be a coincidence. The stirring of the Samsara Mirror further pointed clearly to this location. She had to enter!

But how to enter was the question. Rushing forward now would undoubtedly make her the target of everyone’s hostility.

Just as the atmosphere grew tenser, and some people conceived malicious intentions, contemplating whether to “eliminate” potential competitors, the word “Inheritance” on the stone hall’s great door lit up again!

This time, the light was softer, yet carried an undeniable majesty. An ancient and tranquil voice, as if traveling through eons, directly resonated in everyone’s Sea of Consciousness:

“Fortune is determined by the heavens; do not force it. Those who meet the conditions may step forward and place their hand upon the light barrier; the result will be revealed. Those who forcibly interfere with the trial shall be expelled from the cave and never allowed entry.”

The voice was calm but contained the supreme power of rules. Those who were restlessly contemplating treachery were instantly drenched with a bucket of ice water, their wicked thoughts extinguished. Before such rules left behind by ancient Great Experts, their meager strength was utterly insignificant.

With the rules made clear, though the crowd was unwilling, they dared not disobey.

From the Azure Water Pavilion side, the leading female cultivator nodded slightly to Qin Yixuan. Qin Yixuan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and, under the scrutiny of countless complex gazes, slowly walked up to the transparent light barrier. She extended her delicate hand and lightly pressed it onto the barrier.

Buzz!

The light barrier trembled slightly, and a soft white light enveloped Qin Yixuan. Moments later, the white light dissipated, and Qin Yixuan remained standing in place, but a thoughtful expression appeared on her face, as if she had received some kind of information. Immediately, she stepped forward, and the barrier that had blocked everyone else rippled like water, allowing her to pass through without any obstruction, vanishing before the stone hall’s great door!

“She went in!”

“It truly is her!”

A hubbub arose in the cave! Sounds of envy, jealousy, and surprise were incessant.

Following Qin Yixuan’s example, other disciples who believed they met the conditions also stepped forward to try.

Su Wanyun advanced, her jade hand touching the light barrier. After the white light enveloped her, a hint of joy appeared on her face, and she also successfully entered.

Another female disciple from the Azure Water Pavilion, who cultivated an ice-cold technique, stepped forward. However, after the white light enveloped her, a look of struggle and pain appeared on her face. Eventually, the white light faded, she staggered backward, shaking her head with a pale face, evidently failing the assessment of “pure soul” or “heart harbors profound obsession.”

Following her, a few more disciples with Yin-cold cultivation methods attempted the trial, but successful entrants were few. Only two barely passed and entered the light barrier.

It was Ye Li’s turn.

Virtually everyone’s gaze was focused on her. Gao Sheng and the others had sinister eyes, wishing they could tear her to shreds with their stares.

Ye Li was expressionless, walking step by step to the light barrier. She could feel the scorching, malicious stares behind her, but her heart was like an ancient well, undisturbed.

She slowly raised her hand and pressed it onto the icy barrier.

The moment of contact—

Boom!

A burst of white light, far more intense and pure than anyone before, suddenly erupted from the light barrier, completely engulfing Ye Li! The brilliance was so strong it illuminated the entire cave, dimming the luminous pearls at the ceiling!

“What’s happening?”

“Why is her light so strong?!”

The crowd gasped. Even Qin Yixuan, who had already entered the hall, seemed to sense something through the door and looked back.

Ye Li, at this moment, had fallen into a wondrous state.

Her consciousness felt as though it had been pulled from her body, entering a vast, boundless white space. The ancient voice spoke again, no longer announcing rules, but directly questioning her soul!

The first question was a question of the heart!

“Why do you cultivate?”

The scene before her shifted. She was back to the moment of her demise in her past life. Ling Hao, Mo Shang, and Xuan Cong’s treacherous faces were vividly clear. Endless hatred and unwillingness surged in her heart. Immediately following were the humiliations suffered in the Ye family in this life, the mystery of her parents’ disappearance…

Revenge! Powerful strength was for revenge against the betrayers, for uncovering the truth, for controlling her own destiny!

This thought was incredibly resolute, but at this moment, the fragment of the Samsara Mirror subtly stirred, and a trace of coolness flowed, slightly calming her surging murderous intent. Was cultivation merely for revenge? After reaching the pinnacle in her past life, what did she gain besides power? Having been reborn in this life, was she only to repeat the old path?

A deeper intention surfaced: to seek the true meaning of the Great Dao, to explore the secrets of reincarnation, and to transcend the shackles of life and death! Revenge was a driving force, but not the destination!

“To control destiny, to seek transcendence!” Ye Li’s soul gave a silent yet firm reply. The thought of revenge had not disappeared, but it had merged into a broader path.

The white light gently rippled, seemingly acknowledging this answer. Her resolve was firm, her obsession deep, yet her mind had not been completely clouded by hatred.

The second question was a trial of the soul!

The scene shifted again! Innumerable grotesque phantoms of inner demons lunged at her, roaring with temptation and fear!

“Useless! You will always be useless!”

“Hand over the Samsara Mirror! You are not worthy to possess it!”

“Join us, and we will grant you supreme power!”

“Give up. To be reborn once is already a stroke of luck. Why struggle further?”

All sorts of soul-piercing words, accompanied by terrifying illusions, frantically assaulted her Sea of Consciousness!

For ordinary cultivators, even with the firmest willpower, under such targeted scrutiny of the soul, it would be difficult to avoid wavering or even collapsing.

But who was Ye Li? She was the Respected Li who had gone through reincarnation and once stood at the apex of all realms! How strong and resilient was the essence of her soul! Furthermore, with the Samsara Mirror fragment stationed in her Sea of Consciousness, emitting a clear radiance, stabilizing her mind, all evil was repelled!

Facing the surging inner demons, her soul was like an unmoving bedrock! Her eyes were icy and clear, as if watching a clumsy farce!

“Mere inner demons, dare to shake my Dao heart? Disperse!” A powerful divine sense swept out like a sharp sword. The phantoms of inner demons melted and scattered like ice and snow under the sun!

The purity and resilience of her soul far exceeded the expectation of the trial!

The third question was a test of skill!

In the white space, three energy phantoms condensed, representing three different attack patterns: one heavy and powerful, one swift and strange, and one long-range spell. The energy fluctuation emitted by each phantom was comparable to a mid-stage Conduit Realm cultivator!

“Defeat them and demonstrate your path.”

This was the ultimate test of combat power, comprehension, and combat wisdom!

Ye Li’s eyes narrowed, and she fearlessly met them head-on!

Facing the power-type phantom, she did not clash directly. Employing the Shadowy Step, she moved like a ghost, seeking openings, striking at points to break the whole, a finger of chilling energy penetrating its energy core!

Facing the agility-type phantom, she met speed with speed, her timing exquisite, even anticipating its movements, striking first though moving later, her short sword drawing a deadly arc!

Facing the spell-type phantom, she directly activated a Profound Ice Blast Talisman, using an area attack to offset the long-range bombardment, while simultaneously using her movement technique to close the distance and engage in close combat!

Her combat style was ruthless, precise, and highly efficient, maximizing her advantages! There were no fancy moves, only the most practical killing techniques! This was not just a competition of techniques, but a display of battle instincts honed by countless battles and a combat awareness that surpassed her realm!

The three energy phantoms did not last long in her hands before successively dissolving!

However, the trial was not over!

After the three phantoms dissolved, their energy did not vanish but condensed in the air into an incredibly complex, constantly changing rune trajectory!

“Comprehend the changes in this trajectory, and within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, deduce at least three possible variations!”

This was the ultimate test of comprehension! The rune trajectory was profound and arcane, involving the essence of energy and the nascent form of laws. An ordinary cultivator would feel dizzy just looking at it!

Ye Li focused her gaze. At first glance, it was indeed obscure. But when she concentrated, the Samsara Mirror fragment stirred again, and the cool sensation that enhanced perception and comprehension flowed through her!

In an instant, the trajectory, which had seemed chaotic, appeared to slow down and deconstruct in her eyes. Many subtle energy flows and structural changes became clear! Fragments of advanced techniques and formation principles she had encountered in her past life, like ignited stars, lit up and corroborated the trajectory before her!

Her mind operated and deduced at an unprecedented speed!

One variation… two variations… three variations!

In less than half the time it takes an incense stick to burn, she had deduced five entirely different variations that were still consistent with the laws of energy!

When she transmitted her deduction results with her divine sense, the entire white space fell silent for a moment.

The ancient voice spoke again. This time, it carried a trace of undisguised appreciation and… relief?

“Willpower like iron, soul clear as crystal, combat skills divine, comprehension extraordinary… Good! Excellent! You are worthy to inherit my Dao tradition!”

As the words fell, the white light receded like a tide.

Ye Li’s consciousness returned to her body. She found herself still standing before the light barrier, her hand still pressed against it. The trial, which had felt long, had actually only lasted for a few breaths of time in the outside world.

Under the shocked, bewildered, and disbelieving stares of the crowd, the solid light barrier was now as if it did not exist to her. She could even feel a subtle sense of affinity emanating from the barrier.

She withdrew her hand, stepped out without hesitation, and, as naturally and easily as coming home, passed through the light barrier, walking toward the ancient stone hall’s great door.

Behind her was a deathly silence, and the twisted faces of Gao Sheng and others, contorted by extreme jealousy and rage.

They couldn’t understand why this female disciple, who seemingly was only in the Spirit Awakening Realm, had caused the most brilliant light and seemed to pass the trial most easily.

Only Qin Yixuan, already inside the hall, watched Ye Li’s composed entry. A trace of extremely complex emotion flashed in her cold eyes. She had not passed the trial easily and knew its difficulty well. Ye Li’s performance far exceeded her expectations.

“Ye Li…” She silently repeated the name in her heart, for the first time truly regarding her as an opponent requiring her full attention.

Ye Li paid no attention to the gazes behind her. She gently placed her hand on the stone hall’s door.

Creak—

The heavy stone door let out a drawn-out sound, slowly opening inward.

Beyond the door lay the unknown inheritance, and a new starting point for her ascent to greater heights.