After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 50

The stone door slowly closed behind her, completely isolating all the outside clamor, jealousy, and prying eyes. Inside was not the expected luxurious palace, but a vast, boundless starry sky.

Ye Li found herself suspended in the void. Below her were flowing nebulae, and above her was the dazzling Milky Way. All around was silence, with only the grand, soundless rhythm of star birth and destruction echoing. The spiritual energy here was pure and concentrated, carrying an ancient and primeval aura, far more suitable for cultivation than any blessed land outside.

“Do not be surprised. This is the ‘Star Core Space,’ refined by me with immense power, intercepting a nascent star core. It is the core of the inheritance site.” The ancient and gentle voice rang out again, emanating directly from the starry sky itself.

Ye Li composed herself and respectfully bowed towards the void: “Junior Ye Li pays respects to Senior. Thank you for granting me the opportunity for the test.”

“No need for formalities.” The voice carried a hint of satisfaction. “Your performance far exceeded my expectations. Your temperament, divine soul, combat strength, and comprehension are all of the highest caliber. What is especially rare is that your cultivation technique’s foundation is of extreme Yin and extreme cold, yet it contains a subtle artistic conception of transcending Samsara, making it a perfect match for my Dao lineage.”

The starry sky shifted, condensing into a blurry, star-light formed elderly phantom in front of Ye Li. The phantom’s face was indistinct, but its eyes alone seemed to contain the wisdom of the universe’s birth and destruction.

“My name is ‘Xuan Huan,’ and the world may call me ‘Venerable Xuan Huan.’ This is a wisp of my divine thought left behind before my death, solely to wait for a fated person to inherit my ultimate techniques, so they would not perish in the river of time.”

Venerable Xuan Huan! Ye Li’s heart trembled slightly. This name, even in her previous life’s peak, she seemed to have only seen recorded in fragments in some extremely ancient texts. Rumors claimed he was a peerless mighty figure from the ancient era, astonishingly talented and having almost touched the origin of the laws of space and time. He had later mysteriously vanished. She never expected his inheritance to be found here.

“Do you know why the test conditions were set as ‘extreme Yin and extreme cold, pure divine soul, and carrying an obsession’?” Venerable Xuan Huan’s phantom asked, but without waiting for Ye Li’s answer, he continued, “Because my core inheritance uses the power of extreme Yin as a foundation to leverage the laws of space, making the requirements for the cultivator extremely stringent. An impure divine soul cannot precisely control spatial power, and a slight error can result in a backlash. Without obsession, it is difficult to persevere through the dull and arduous enlightenment of space, and even harder to unleash the laws of space to their maximum potential.”

Ye Li realized that this was similar to her cultivating the Profound Cosmos Emperor Sutra, both pursuing the extremes of cold and control.

“I observe that your movement technique and finger technique already have a decent foundation, but you still lack a top-tier movement technique capable of matching your potential and helping you roam the cosmos, as well as an offensive secret art that maximizes the power of extreme cold.” Venerable Xuan Huan’s phantom raised a hand and pointed.

Buzz!

Two brilliant rays of starlight, like fireflies, flew toward Ye Li, instantly submerging into her glabella.

Rumble!

A massive flow of information poured into Ye Li’s Sea of Consciousness. If not for her inherently powerful divine soul, fortified by the fragment of the Wheel of Samsara, she would likely have been instantly overwhelmed by this torrent of information.

The first ray of starlight transformed into countless profound movement trajectories and spatial insights, ultimately condensing into four ancient characters—The Boundless Cosmos Trace Step!

This was not merely a simple moving skill, but a supreme secret technique involving spatial travel and shrinking the ground to an inch! It was divided into three realms:

The first realm, “Star Flash”: allows for a near-instantaneous blink over a short distance. Its trajectory is elusive, like the flickering of stars, making it difficult to capture. When cultivated to mastery, it can be executed even in the Spirit Activation Realm, making it sufficient to move freely in front of a Meridian Condensation Realm cultivator.

The second realm, “Void Stroll”: allows for a brief initial blending into the void, evading most physical and energy attacks. A single step covers several miles. This requires at least the Spirit Mansion Realm cultivation to begin practicing.

The third realm, “Boundless Cosmos Trace”: legend says that when cultivated to the highest level, one can transform into nothingness, traverse star domains, and arrive wherever the mind wills, practically becoming the embodiment of the laws of space! This is unattainable by those without great divine powers.

Each realm was accompanied by corresponding spatial insights and energy circulation methods, complex and profound, far surpassing any movement technique Ye Li had seen in her previous life!

The second ray of starlight transformed into a set of aggressive and unparalleled finger techniques—The Glacial Soul Sealing Heaven Finger!

This finger technique was not merely about condensing cold Qi; it was about highly compressing the power of extreme cold and imbuing it with the characteristics of “sealing” and “annihilation.” It was also divided into three forms:

The first form, “Ice Trace”: the finger force condenses into a line, incredibly swift. Those struck by it find their meridians and spiritual energy cut as if by an ice trace, stalling its circulation.

The second form, “Seal Spirit”: with one finger, it freezes spiritual energy, and can even briefly freeze an opponent’s spell casting and connection to their spiritual artifacts.

The third form, “Annihilation”: the highest profoundness, the finger force contains the True Intent of Annihilation. The life force and divine soul of the struck are eroded by the power of extreme cold annihilation. Its power is terrifying.

This set of finger techniques perfectly compensated for the relative simplicity of Ye Li’s current offensive methods, especially the “sealing” characteristic, which could often be surprisingly effective when facing powerful enemies.

These two inheritances, whether the spatial profoundness of The Boundless Cosmos Trace Step or the ultimate cold power of The Glacial Soul Sealing Heaven Finger, made Ye Li’s heart surge. They were as if tailor-made for her, perfectly aligning with her cultivation technique, physique, and combat style. Their value was immeasurable!

“Thank you for the profound gift, Venerable!” Ye Li sincerely expressed her gratitude. This inheritance was enough to make her strength undergo a qualitative leap.

“This is the opportunity you have earned.” Venerable Xuan Huan’s phantom nodded slightly. “Besides the inheritance, the flow of time inside this ‘Star Core Space’ is different from the outside world. Ten days here is only one day outside. You may settle down here to comprehend. Furthermore…”

The phantom pointed again, and three items materialized out of thin air, suspended before Ye Li.

A token, neither metal nor jade, cool to the touch, engraved with the characters “Xuan Huan,” subtly radiating spatial fluctuations.

A crystal-clear jade vial containing three drops of liquid, resembling liquid stars, emitting magnificent vitality and soul energy.

Finally, a palm-sized piece of silver ore covered with natural star patterns—Void God Crystal! This was a top-tier material for refining spatial artifacts, exceedingly rare in the world!

“This token is the ‘Xuan Huan Token,’ a symbol of my Dao lineage. Perhaps it may resonate in certain ancient ruins in the future. This ‘Star Origin Liquid’ can help you temper your divine soul and consolidate your foundation; every drop refined is of immense benefit. As for this ‘Void God Crystal,’ keep it for your future artifact refining use.”

Ye Li solemnly stored the three treasures. This gift was truly too generous.

“The transmission of the inheritance is complete, and my mission is also nearing its end.” Venerable Xuan Huan’s phantom began to fade. “Remember, power is a tool, not an objective. I hope you make good use of this inheritance and do not disgrace the name of ‘Xuan Huan.’ The Great Dao is long; take care of yourself…”

The voice gradually disappeared, and the old man’s phantom ultimately transformed into specks of starlight, merging into the vast starry sky.

Ye Li bowed deeply again towards the spot where the phantom had vanished.

She knew that time was precious. She immediately sat cross-legged in the void and first picked up the vial of Star Origin Liquid. She pulled the stopper, and a refreshing aroma that soothed the divine soul permeated the air. She carefully poured out a drop and consumed it.

Boom!

The incomparably pure energy instantly dispersed, not only surging into her limbs and bones, strengthening her meridians and physical body, but also a cool sensation rushing straight into her Sea of Consciousness, nourishing her divine soul. Stimulated by this energy, the fragment of the Wheel of Samsara also emitted a softer, clearer light, helping her rapidly absorb and refine it.

She could clearly feel her foundation becoming more solid, her divine soul increasingly refined and transparent, and even her understanding of the Profound Cosmos Emperor Sutra seemed to have deepened.

After refining one drop of Star Origin Liquid, Ye Li began to seize every moment to comprehend The Boundless Cosmos Trace Step and The Glacial Soul Sealing Heaven Finger.

In the unique environment of the Star Core Space, coupled with the Wheel of Samsara’s boost to comprehension, Ye Li’s speed of enlightenment was extremely fast.

The core of the first realm of The Boundless Cosmos Trace Step, “Star Flash,” lay in the subtle perception of the surrounding space and the momentary burst of energy. Ye Li had some involvement with the laws of space in her previous life, so cultivating it now was doubly effective. Her figure flickered in the starry sky, appearing and disappearing. Each blink crossed tens of meters, and the trajectory was elusive, initially taking on the rudimentary form of “trace-less.”

The cultivation of The Glacial Soul Sealing Heaven Finger focused more on the precise control of the extreme cold power within her body. She pointed her fingers like a sword, striking out repeatedly. The cold Qi at her fingertip condensed, from initially dissipating, to gradually solidifying like a line, and then faintly carrying a trace of sealing power. In the void, lines of ice traces were left, persisting for a long time.

After an unknown passage of time (in the Star Core Space), Ye Li slowly opened her eyes. The sharp light in her eyes was withdrawn, and the aura around her became increasingly deep and cold.

The first realm of The Boundless Cosmos Trace Step, “Star Flash,” was initially mastered. Although not yet at full mastery, it was already astonishing enough for practical combat. The first form of The Glacial Soul Sealing Heaven Finger, “Ice Trace,” had also entered the hall of expertise. The finger force was condensed, and its power far exceeded her former cold ice finger strength.

She estimated the time; not much time should have passed outside, but the competition for the core area of the secret realm was probably heating up. It was time to leave.

With a thought, the starry sky flowed, and her figure gradually blurred. The next moment, she had already appeared behind the ancient stone palace gate.

…

At the same time, outside the stone palace, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

After Ye Li entered, two more people barely managed to pass the test and enter the stone palace. After that, no one succeeded. The light barrier remained stable, and the ancient voice did not reappear.

Gao Sheng, Shi Feng, and others had terribly gloomy expressions. They watched the “opportunity” slip right past their eyes, especially since Ye Li, whom they considered an ant, had also gone inside. This was even harder to bear than being killed.

“Senior Brother Gao, are we just going to wait here?” Shi Feng gritted his teeth, his eyes full of violence.

Gao Sheng’s eyes flickered, and he said coldly, “Wait? Of course not! The appearance of this inheritance cave mansion has caused quite a stir; the high-ranking members of the sect might not be unaware. But more importantly, that little bitch Ye Li must die! She obtained the opportunity, all the more reason not to let her live!”

He scanned the surrounding disciples from various sects who also failed to enter and were feeling resentful, especially a few rogue cultivators with shifty eyes and a small sect of the demonic path. He made up his mind.

“Everyone,” Gao Sheng said loudly, his voice carrying incitement, “The opportunity has found its master; it is indeed a pity that we are not fated. But does everyone know that the last female disciple from the Profound Cloud Sect who went in, named Ye Li, is merely an outer disciple of my sect’s Cloud Pill Peak in the Spirit Activation Realm! What virtue or ability does she possess to obtain such an inheritance? I suspect she possesses an exotic treasure that tricked the inheritance’s detection!”

These words were extremely malicious, instantly shifting everyone’s attention from “the inheritance has a master” to “Ye Li possesses an exotic treasure.” As jealousy flared, the eyes of many immediately turned greedy.

“What Senior Brother Gao says is true!” Shi Feng immediately chimed in. “This woman is extremely sly; she must have used an underhanded method! How can we sit by and watch the inheritance be sullied by her?”

Some people who were already ill-intentioned were immediately incited.

“That’s right! What gives a Spirit Activation Realm disciple the right?”

“When she comes out, she must hand over the inheritance and the treasure!”

“Sharing the spoils!”

The situation gradually spiraled out of control. Su Wanyun, Liu Yiyi, and others who were on good terms with Ye Li turned pale, their hearts filled with anxiety. Han Li shrank his neck and whispered, “It’s over, it’s over. Senior Sister Ye has become the target of everyone…”

Chen Mo frowned, clutching the talisman in his hand, but felt powerless facing the surging crowd.

On the Azure Water Pavilion side, Qin Yixuan had finished meditating. Although the inheritance she received was not the core one Ye Li got, it was a highly profound lost secret technique of the Azure Water Pavilion, and her gains were substantial. She watched Gao Sheng instigate the crowd with cold eyes, a hint of disgust flashing in her clear gaze, but she did not speak out. She and Ye Li were in a competitive relationship, so there was no need to stand up for her. Moreover, she also wanted to see how the young woman who had made her feel amazed and pressured would handle such a dangerous situation.

Just as the atmosphere was volatile, and many were rubbing their fists, waiting to rush Ye Li the moment she emerged—

Creak!

The heavy stone door slowly opened again.

Everyone’s eyes instantly focused on the doorway!

A slender and tall figure slowly stepped out. She was still wearing the simple Cloud Pill Peak disciple uniform, her face cold, and her eyes calm, as if she had just walked into an ordinary room.

But careful observers could notice that her aura seemed more contained and profound. There was an inexpressible coordination in her steps, as if she were integrated with the surrounding environment; though standing there, she gave the illusion that she could disappear at any moment.

“Ye Li! You finally came out!” Shi Feng was the first to jump out, grinning sinisterly, “Speak quickly! What inheritance and treasures did you get inside? Hand them over obediently, and perhaps we can leave you a whole corpse!”

Gao Sheng also stepped forward, his cold eyes locking onto Ye Li. He unreservedly released his Spirit Mansion Realm pressure, trying to intimidate her: “Junior Sister Ye, a person’s treasure is their own ruin. Hand over everything you obtained from the cave mansion, and let the sect elders decide. Only then can you avoid a deadly calamity!”

Dozens of gazes, filled with greed, malice, scrutiny, and schadenfreude, were like invisible sharp blades, trying to pierce through her.

Su Wanyun couldn’t help but exclaim, “Senior Sister Ye, be careful!”

Facing this predicament, which could be called a desperate situation, Ye Li’s gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on the faces of Gao Sheng and Shi Feng. The corner of her mouth actually hooked up into a faint, yet chillingly cold, arc.

“Hand them over?” Her voice was clear and carried a hint of mockery. “With just you people?”

Before her voice faded, her figure disappeared without any warning!

Not an afterimage relying on speed, but a genuine disappearance, as if she had truly merged into the void!

In the next instant, she appeared like a ghost right beside Shi Feng!

Shi Feng’s pupils instantly contracted, with no time to react!

Ye Li’s fingers were together like a sword, the extreme white cold Qi condensed to the maximum lingering around her fingertip. She pointed with lightning speed towards the Jianjing acupoint on Shi Feng’s right arm, the one holding the saber!

The Glacial Soul Sealing Heaven Finger’s first form—Ice Trace!

“Pfft!”

A slight muffled sound.

Shi Feng only felt an extreme cold instantly invade his arm. The meridians of his entire right arm were as if cut by an ice blade; the circulation of his spiritual energy instantly stagnated, and the saber in his hand fell to the ground with a clang. What was more terrifying was that the cold Qi was rapidly spreading along his meridians, making half of his body stiff and numb!

“Ah!” Shi Feng let out a cry of startled anger, stumbling backward, his face filled with terror and disbelief.

Fast! Too fast! And the power of that finger technique far exceeded his imagination!

Ye Li’s attack succeeded, and her figure blurred again, like a flickering starlight, easily avoiding a palm strike from the enraged Gao Sheng, and reappeared in her original position, as if she had never moved.

The entire cave was dead silent.

Everyone was stunned by the scene that unfolded in a flash of lightning.

That was… a spatial movement technique? And that bizarre finger technique…

A Spirit Activation Realm cultivator actually heavily injured the Meridian Condensation Realm Shi Feng with one move, right under the nose of the Spirit Mansion Realm Gao Sheng, and retreated calmly?!

How was this possible?!

Gao Sheng’s face completely changed, transforming from its previous coldness to an unprecedented seriousness and killing intent. The movement technique and finger technique displayed by Ye Li made him feel a genuine threat! This woman absolutely could not be spared!

Qin Yixuan’s beautiful eyes were also filled with surprise, her heart profoundly shaken: “The Boundless Cosmos Trace Step? No, it’s similar but not quite, but it is definitely a top-tier spatial movement technique! And that finger technique… what powerful sealing power! The inheritance she received is even more astonishing than I imagined!”

Ye Li stood alone within the crowd’s encirclement, her posture arrogant. Her gaze was cold as she scanned the entire area, like a queen surveying her territory.

“Who else wants my inheritance?”

Her clear voice echoed in the silent cave, carrying unparalleled confidence and dominance, looking down upon all the heroes!

At this moment, she was no longer the discarded Ye family daughter who had to endure, nor was she the outer disciple who had to be cautious. Having obtained the inheritance of Venerable Xuan Huan, she already possessed the capital to initially suppress the entire scene!

The true storm of the era will be stirred up by her own hands!