The young girl glanced down at the luxurious shoes she was wearing golden leather slippers of fine quality, gleaming softly as if kissed by a sun that had yet to fully rise. With graceful composure, she bent down and carefully removed the slippers, placing them beside the door on a shelf made of golden wood, intricately carved and exquisitely adorned.
Her delicate hand reached for a pair of radiant white leather shoes simple, yet elegant and slipped them on in their place. A faint floral fragrance drifted through the air, while the directionless sunlight began to filter through the golden curtains, gently casting light upon the room's floor.
The young girl straightened herself, then reached out to slowly push open the golden door, which was engraved with auspicious cloud motifs. A soft creaking of the latch sounded as the morning light turned into the full brightness of day. In that instant, golden rays from outside poured into the room, revealing the glittering floor and the girl's glossy hair, lightly fluttering in the breeze.
She stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her with a gentle touch. The sound of gold brushing against the door frame rang softly, filled with tranquility. Then, she turned toward the front and met the sight of an elderly man.
He stood upon a golden balcony that extended toward the garden.
The aged man's gaze remained fixed on the crystal-clear fountain, its surface so still it reflected his image with clarity. Around the edge of the pool, premium jade stones were meticulously arranged, like nature's own art. Not far from there, a few trees were in full bloom their pale pink blossoms delicately adorning the branches. The fragile petals swayed gently in the breeze, as though dancing.
"Grandfather, I'm here. You said you had something to tell me, didn't you?"
The bright voice of Xin Tingting rang out as she stepped closer, her soft-colored dress fluttering with the wind.
She smiled faintly and continued, "I've finished changing my shoes, Grandfather. You may speak now."
Upon hearing the girl's voice, the old man slowly turned to look at her, smiling gently with kind eyes. His gaze was full of warmth, as if he had been holding onto certain words for a very long time, merely waiting for someone to arrive...
"Xin Tingting, do you know how old I am? I want you to guess," the elderly man spoke with a smile on his face, his eyes full of fondness as he looked at the girl.
"You want me to guess your age, Grandpa? How would I possibly know…" Xin Tingting said, furrowing her brows thoughtfully. But upon seeing the playful glint in the old man's eyes, she gave a small smile and continued, "But since you asked, I suppose I'll give it a try."
Though she had only been born for a little over five years, her thoughtful nature allowed her to make some rough estimations, even if not entirely accurate.
"I think… you might be around one hundred and twenty thousand years old," the girl finally said after pondering for a while.
The old man chuckled softly and shook his head with amusement. "Wrong. How could I be that youthful?"
"I know! You must be ten billion years old! Haha, did I get it right?" Xin Tingting laughed proudly.
"Still wrong," the old man shook his head slowly, his expression now calm.
"Then... are you a hundred trillion years old or something?" the girl guessed again, still spirited.
The old man stopped shaking his head and let out a long sigh. "Still not right…"
He paused for a moment before speaking in a steady tone.
"I am… one who was born alongside the first ancestors of the Grand Trillion Universes. I have traveled across all realms and universes, made countless companions, and everyone knew my name well."
Xin Tingting's eyes widened, but the old man merely gave a faint smile, his eyes lowering as if reminiscing the distant past.
"Hundreds of millions of years ago, I had three close companions… each one was a peerless master, emperors ruling over billions of universes individuals of unmatched might."
He took in a gentle breath, his eyes gleaming once more. "But now… I must move to an important matter. You must listen carefully."
"What I'm about to say is of great importance… In the Grand Trillion Universes, the power levels are clearly defined. Whoever trains to a certain threshold may rise steadily with no limits as long as they possess enough talent."
The old man spoke calmly, his gaze drifting to the clear spring before him, then turning back to the golden-haired girl who listened intently.
"But not just anyone can reach the highest point… Those with bloodlines or lineage from powerful, influential clans naturally have greater chances of ascending to heights others can never reach."
"Grandpa… I already know all that," Xin Tingting tilted her head with a sparkling grin. "I read your books in secret, remember? But if I want to reach the divine level within a single realm… how do I progress through the ranks? Do you have any secret methods?"
"Xin Tingting… You've hit the mark perfectly," the old man chuckled lightly, his eyes deep with meaning as he looked at her.
"Then I shall tell you everything… the truth I've kept hidden from you all this time."
His voice gradually turned calm and cool, like an ancient wind drifting through the canyon of time.
"In truth, you… are not my real granddaughter. You were born from the convergence of a cluster of stars a reborn soul meant to inherit the power of healing and restoration… the same power possessed by a woman who passed away hundreds of years ago."
He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing with solemnity.
"The day you opened your eyes to this world, I was merely the first person to find you… and I decided to raise you myself."
He glanced up at the empty sky and the distant shimmer of lights, his voice softening once more.
"But there's one thing… you must remember well. Your lifespan is not like that of ordinary people. And if possible… you should avoid forming attachments with anyone… especially in the role of someone 'special.' That would be best."
"And there's one more thing you should know," the old man said, sighing gently before slowly stroking his white beard with his large hand.
"Because you were born from the gathering of stars… you cannot ascend power levels the same way ordinary cultivators do."
He paused for a moment, gazing deeply into the girl's eyes.
"The power that resides within your body… is the power of healing and creation. It is not a power meant for destruction or killing. Thus, you cannot use it to fight or protect yourself in a true battle."
His tone was calm, but every word carried deep concern.
"And because of this… you are the most vulnerable living being when it comes to getting hurt. Should you face danger… your chances of survival will grow increasingly slim."
He paused again before speaking clearly and firmly.
"Therefore… you must stay away from those with ill intent be they demons or cultivators with dangerous motives. If you are careless, even just a little… it may cost you your life."
"Grandpa… I don't really understand what you're saying. What stars? And why do I get hurt so easily? I'm so confused…"
Xin Tingting tilted her head slightly, speaking with a puzzled and slightly sulky tone. Her grandpa had said so many long and complicated things who could possibly understand and remember it all? Especially someone like her, whose memory was shorter than some magical beasts!
"Right now, you're still just a little child. It's no surprise that you don't yet understand what Grandpa is saying,"
the old man spoke gently, his voice tinged with weariness and a faint smile in his eyes.
"But I wanted to tell you anyway, because a child's mind often remembers important things better than you might think... Someday, when you've grown up, you may recall these words and when that time comes, they might help you in some way."
He paused briefly before continuing in a softer tone:
"Before long, I'll have to set off on a journey to a certain universe, one that lies unimaginably far from here..."
The old man reached out and gently stroked Xin Tingting's head, his touch tender and light.
"So I came to say goodbye to you today… Now that you have Lian Yi by your side as a companion, I feel more at ease, knowing that you won't be alone anymore."
His voice held a warmth to it, with a trace of relief flickering in his eyes.
"There's something I want to give you a very old tome. It may prove useful to you in the future."
As he finished speaking, the old man flicked his fingers lightly toward the air to his left.
At once, an emerald light flashed in the air. A book slowly materialized, hovering and spinning gently in midair amidst a soft glowing aura.
The front and back covers of the book were hard as though crafted from ancient wood, its surface shimmering like a gemstone.
The old man caught the book delicately with the fingertips of his right hand and extended it toward the girl before him.
Xin Tingting carefully reached out to accept it. The moment her fingertips touched the book, it dissolved into bright green light and flowed into her wrist. A mark then appeared a six-pointed leaf-shaped sigil, exquisite and intricate, as if nature itself had drawn it upon her skin.
"If Lian Yi regains consciousness and you both agree that you wish to journey across the vast world, or to seek greater cultivation,"
he said, gazing deep into Xin Tingting's eyes,
"then pursue the sacred relics described in this book. If you can find them all, perhaps she will be able to ascend to an even higher level."
"Now then, give me your other hand."
"My hand? Okay, sure!"
the young girl replied brightly, obediently stretching out her small hand before her.
The old man looked at her for a moment, then something wondrous suddenly occurred.
A butterfly appeared its wings thin as silk, glowing faintly pinkish-purple, sparkling with delicate glimmers. It fluttered slowly, drifting out from the area around his shoulder, its beauty so enchanting it seemed magical. The soft light reflecting off its wings hinted at a hidden magical power.
The mysterious butterfly gently flitted toward Xin Tingting's other wrist.
The instant it touched her soft skin, the butterfly dissolved, transforming into a purple-pink butterfly-shaped mark so graceful and refined it looked like a master artist's painting etched into her skin, a hidden sigil like a secret seal.