Chapter 20

The world spun before my eyes in an instant.

Memories from my previous life flashed by like a lantern show, one scene after another.

In front of the unadorned Lotus Lamp.

Du’e gently urged me on, “Yunxi, your compassion is truly admirable. However, if this humble monk could borrow this Lotus Lamp to enter seclusion for a hundred years, by then, once I break through the Nascent Soul Stage, wouldn’t I be able to guide even more disciples of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect to save all living beings?”

I frowned slightly. “But, Zen Master, mortals only live for a few decades. I think this may not be right…”

Within the boundless karma fire, burning fiercely.

Mother, brother, uncles, cousins, and countless once-familiar faces lay in pools of blood.

The nine exalted Sect Leaders looked down upon me: “Yunxi, all of this is the consequence of your own ignorance and self-inflicted fate.”

“No, ‘Yunxi!'” Before being swallowed by the flames, my father desperately shouted at me, “Remember, this is not your fault. You have never been wrong. Do not blame yourself…”

At the bottom of the dark, eerie water dungeon.

A sharp sword pinned me to the wall through my chest.

Lynn said to Bixia, “Master, why don’t we shatter her Energy Core first, then destroy her Sea of Consciousness? No one could withstand such pain. By then, wouldn’t she have to reveal the whereabouts and use of the Lotus Lamp?”

As the pain cut to my heart and bones, my head throbbed so badly it felt like it would split apart. The scene before me shifted again.

Ten miles of peach blossoms. Seven-year-old Jay dear placed a pile of treasures in front of me:

“Yunxi dear, I really like you. Will you be my bride when we grow up? I’ll give you all my treasures!”

“Alright.” I was entranced, fiddling with the magical artifacts I had never seen before. “Then in the future, I’ll stay home refining artifacts, and Jay dear can go out and slay demons.”

The cicadas sang of summer. Twelve-year-old Jay dear, sweating hard, pulled me up beside a strange rock:

“Our names are carved now. This is a vow, you know! From now on, just like in the stories, we’ll be together for a lifetime!”

Blushing deeply, I nodded solemnly.

Under the swaying bamboo shadows, the incomparably handsome young Jay gently brushed the hair from my forehead:

“Yunxi, if I can have the divine sword recognize me as its master in Kunlun, I’ll finally be worthy of your Immeasurable Lotus Lamp. Then I’ll tell Master about us. Will you marry me?”

“Silly, whether you have the divine sword or not, I’ll marry you. I only want you to return safely…”

The chaos before my eyes faded away. Tears streamed down my face.