"Child, it is time to tell you the truth." The old man looked at Qin Zhizhi with unprecedented solemnity in his tone. "The mystery of your birth is about to be unraveled, but this also means an even greater storm is coming..." The old man's words fell like a pebble into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand ripples.
Qin Zhizhi's heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicable premonition welled up inside her. Yin Sichen squeezed her hand tightly, giving her a reassuring look. "Senior, exactly what identity does Zhizhi possess?" Yin Sichen asked in a deep voice, his sharp gaze locked firmly on the old man as if trying to see through his thoughts. The old man sighed softly and slowly said, "Child, you are no ordinary mortal. You are the reincarnation of the Green Lotus Immortal Venerable of the Immortal Realm. A thousand years ago, the Immortal Venerable tragically perished while defending against the invasion of the Demon Race. Now, your return has shaken the Three Realms. The Immortal Realm hopes you will return to inherit the mantle of the Immortal Venerable, while the Demon Realm wants to nip you in the bud."
"The Immortal Realm? The Demon Realm?" Qin Zhizhi muttered to herself, feeling as though these terms were far too distant from her, yet they crashed into her so realistically that she could barely breathe.
"Then... what should I do?" Just as her voice trailed off, the wind and clouds in the sky suddenly shifted violently. Gale-force winds whipped around, and the previously clear sky was instantly blanketed in dark clouds. A beam of golden light tore through the clouds, and accompanied by snatches of celestial music, several figures slowly descended into the Qin family garden. The leader was dressed in gold, holding a long golden sword, and exuding a fierce aura that made people hesitant to look him in the eye.
"You are the reincarnation of the Green Lotus Immortal Venerable?" His tone was cold, carrying unquestionable majesty.
Qin Zhizhi's heart tightened, and she instinctively hid behind Yin Sichen. Yin Sichen shielded her behind him and looked coldly at the newcomer. "Who are you?"
"I am a disciple under the command of Star Lord Tianqu of the Immortal Realm, and I have come under orders to welcome the Green Lotus Immortal Venerable back to the Immortal Realm," the Golden-Armored Man said proudly. "If you know what's good for you, you will obediently come back with us, otherwise—"
"Otherwise what?" Yin Sichen interrupted him without a trace of fear. "She is my wife, and our child is only a month old. No one is taking her away from me!"
"Audacious!" The Golden-Armored Man flew into a rage. "A mere mortal dares to defy the decree of the Immortal Realm?! Do you know what kind of grave crime it is to obstruct the return of the Immortal Venerable?!" As soon as his voice fell, the few immortals behind him simultaneously summoned their magical treasures. In an instant, sword lights flashed and a murderous aura filled the air.
"Sichen, I..." Qin Zhizhi's face was pale. How could she not know the gravity of the situation? But the mere thought of leaving her husband and daughter, and leaving this warm home, tore at her heart like knives.
"Zhizhi, don't be afraid. I am here." Yin Sichen squeezed her hand tightly, his tone resolute. "I will never let you leave me!" He turned around, shielding Qin Zhizhi behind him, facing the aggressive messengers of the Immortal Realm without the slightest intention of retreating.
"I don't care what Immortal Realm or Demon Realm you are. All I know is that Zhizhi is my wife and Nianzhi is my daughter. Anyone who dares to harm them will not escape me!" Yin Sichen's voice was as cold and biting as if it came from the depths of the netherworld.
"What a steadfast lover!" The Golden-Armored Man sneered. "Since you are determined to remain deluded, don't blame this immortal for being impolite! Men, take this mortal down. Show no mercy to any resistance!"
"Let's see who dares!" Just as swords were drawn and bows strung, an elderly figure stepped in front of Yin Sichen.
"Father!" Qin Zhizhi cried out in surprise. The newcomer was none of other than Patriarch Qin, Qin Tian.
"Father, why are you here?" Qin Zhizhi hurriedly stepped forward to support Qin Tian, her eyes filled with worry.
"Silly child, how could Father bear to let you face all this alone?" Qin Tian patted her hand, his gaze turning firm as he looked at the Golden-Armored Man. "Immortal Envoy, Zhizhi is a daughter of the Qin family. Her affairs will be handled by the Qin family itself, so there is no need to trouble the Immortal Realm to intervene!"
"Insolent!" The Golden-Armored Man roared with rage. "A mere mortal dares to obstruct an immortal in the execution of his official duties?!"
"Official duties?" Qin Tian sneered. "My daughter has already married, helping her husband and raising children—what official duties are you talking about? If you truly want to take her away, you will have to step over my dead body first!"
Looking at her father's resolute back, Qin Zhizhi wept bitterly. On one side were her flesh-and-blood family, and on the other was the mysterious Immortal Realm. How was she supposed to choose?
Qin Zhizhi's heart was locked in a fierce battle. Yin Sichen's care, her daughter's attachment, and her father's protection all transformed into crushing weights pressing down on her chest. Returning to the Immortal Realm meant abandoning all of this and stepping into the unknown; yet if she stayed, how could she face the wrath of the Immortal Realm and protect everything she held dear?
Hiding in the shadows, Qin Jiaojiao took in every bit of this scene. The flames of jealousy burned fiercely in her heart. Why, why did Qin Zhizhi always get the best of everything!
"Immortal Envoy," Qin Jiaojiao suddenly emerged from the shadows, a pitiful expression on her face. "I know why my elder sister is unwilling to return to the Immortal Realm—it must be because she is greedy for the mortal world's wealth. Please investigate this, Immortal Envoy!"
The Golden-Armored Man frowned slightly, his gaze falling upon Qin Jiaojiao. "And who might you be?"
"This humble daughter is Qin Jiaojiao... Zhizhi's younger sister." Qin Jiaojiao lowered her head, her tone timid yet every word designed to cut to the bone. "My elder sister was spoiled by her family all these years, which is why she is acting so willfully. I beg the Immortal Envoy not to hold it against her."
"Stop talking!" Qin Zhizhi rebuked angrily. "Qin Jiaojiao, how much longer are you going to spout nonsense?"
"Sister, how can you say such things to me?" Qin Jiaojiao's eyes welled with tears, as if she had suffered the greatest grievance in the world. "I am only speaking the truth. With the boundless powers of the Immortal Envoy, surely you wouldn't fall for my lies, would you?"
Her words appeared weak and helpless, but in truth, they were sharp and calculated. She knew well that people of the Immortal Realm despised deception the most, and she deliberately painted Qin Zhizhi as vain and deceitful toward the immortals, attempting to enrage the Golden-Armored Man and use his hand to kill her.
Indeed, the Golden-Armored Man's expression darkened, and the pressure emanating from him surged again, an invisible force shrouding Qin Zhizhi and making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
"It seems you won't shed tears until you see your coffin!" The Golden-Armored Man gave a cold snort, the light on the golden sword in his hand flaring brightly as he prepared to strike.
At that critical moment of life and death, a scorching current suddenly surged from Qin Zhizhi's chest. This current rapidly spread through her entire body, finally gathering at the center of her brow to form a mysterious golden mark.
"What is this?!" Everyone was startled, and even the Golden-Armored Man could not help taking half a step back.
Qin Zhizhi felt a deafening roar in her mind, as if something had been unlocked. The next second, an indescribably powerful force erupted from within her body, blasting everything around her flying!
"Boom—" The Golden-Armored Man took the brunt of the impact. Struck by this force, he let out a muffled groan and was sent flying backward.
The rest of the immortals were also knocked flat to the ground by this sudden force, and for a moment, no one dared to step forward.
Qin Zhizhi slowly opened her eyes. Her once-clear pupils now flashed with a faint golden light, making her look like a deity descended to earth, too majestic to behold.
"This... what is this power..." Qin Zhizhi lowered her head to look at her own hands, her eyes filled with disbelief. What on earth was this power?
And right at that moment, a mechanical voice sounded in her mind: "System activated, binding host..."