Chapter 25

Da Zihan had already created time in his universe, along with all non-living things he could envision—grains of sand, stones, mountains, valleys, the sun, moon, and stars. Despite all this, there was no living creature to benefit from these creations. He gazed at the Tree of Life, which housed the human embryo and the lion cub at its center, wondering when they would come to life.

With nothing more left to create, Da Zihan realized he could only wait for nature to take its course and bring forth the two creatures safely. He sighed, realizing it was time to return to his body. With that thought, his spirit reacted instantly, and in a flash, he disappeared from his spiritual bead and returned to his corporeal form.

The library was bright in the daylight as Da Zihan emerged into the corridor of his residence. Initially, he considered entering the mysterious world to find Lien, as he had many questions for her. However, even though he was an emperor in title only, he knew he still needed to be present. Inexplicably, he now felt a surge of confidence, a belief that he could claim his authority without the seal's presence. He felt essence coursing through his body, yet lacked knowledge or experience in using it, having no combat skills at all. Besides, he had already entrusted Da Xia with full authority over court matters, so he was comfortable remaining a figurehead.

In the courtyard, he stretched and yawned. From a distance, he saw Meiling approaching. What a coincidence, he thought; had he entered the mysterious world, she would have missed him. He suddenly remembered that she had moved in with him upon Da Xia's orders—something he had forgotten due to his rare appearances.

"Little Highness!" Meiling called her tone as rude as ever. "I thought you'd stay in your room forever. Are you scheming something? I'd advise against any plots." She threatened.

Da Zihan smiled, unbothered by her tone. He mused to himself that if he truly exerted his power as emperor, would she still dare speak like this? But it was a fleeting thought.

"Meiling, we hardly see each other despite living in the same place. I'm stressed and need to relax. Come with me," Da Zihan spoke calmly but with a hint of command.

Meiling's face reddened, and she wanted to retort, but Da Zihan had already started walking, expecting her to follow—and she did.

After passing through a shallow forest, they arrived at a serene lake area, a few kilometers from his residence and a place unknown to many. The tranquility was palpable, with the soft breeze gently caressing the lake's calm blue surface.

Da Zihan sat by the bank, gathering pebbles and tossing them into the lake, causing splashes as each pebble sank. Meiling stood behind him, silent.

"Aren't you tired?" Da Zihan suddenly asked, not turning to face her as he continued tossing pebbles.

Tired? Did he mean tired of opposing him? Meiling wondered but remained silent.

"You should sit and toss pebbles with me," Da Zihan said, patting the ground beside him.

Oh, that's what he meant. She reluctantly sat a bit away from him, avoiding a showdown but staying within talking distance. She clutched her legs to her chest, resting her chin on her knees. Da Zihan continued tossing pebbles, making them skip briefly on the water before sinking.

"How is my mother?" he asked.

"She is not your mother," Meiling replied firmly.

"I've already seen her as my real mother, even if she doesn't acknowledge me. She gave me a name," Da Zihan shrugged.

After a pause, Meiling remarked, "You are a schemer at such a young age. You must be up to no good."

"Sigh, why do you think that?" he asked.

"Bringing me here to talk about my master while calling her your mother… You want me to feel sympathy and lower my guard to betray her," Meiling scoffed again.

Da Zihan shrugged once more. "Alright, think whatever you like," he said, continuing to toss pebbles.

"I might have to leave someday. Can you promise to take care of her for me and never leave her side?" he suddenly asked.

"Who? My master?" Meiling asked, her curiosity mixed with anger.

"Yes," Da Zihan replied indifferently.

"Hmph! Moron acting mysterious. I've been by my master's side for years. Who are you to tell me what to do?"

"Okay, okay… Pretend I never said anything," he responded calmly, continuing his pebble-tossing.

Meiling glared at him, then snorted and looked away, uninterested.

—---------------

Leaving the lakeside, Meiling escorted Da Zihan to Da Xia's residence for dinner. The usual corner table awaited him, a reminder of his frequent visits. Da Xia was already seated, leisurely sampling the array of delicacies that covered her table. In stark contrast, Da Zihan's table hosted a single plate containing a few slices of partially cooked potatoes. Clearly, Da Xia wasn't planning to make things easy for him; she intended to display the severity of her ruthlessness.

Despite this, Da Zihan smiled and offered a word of gratitude towards her. This behaviour consistently irked Da Xia. Each time they shared a meal, she would have been gratified to see him throw a tantrum or refuse the meal outright. Yet, instead, he would graciously accept whatever was given, thank her first, and then start eating immediately.

Unperturbed, Da Zihan began eating the contents of his plate. Bite after bite, he suddenly felt his strength waning, the essence of his universe dissipating with each swallow. Abruptly, he stopped eating, a frown creasing his face.

Noticing this change, Da Xia smiled. This was the reaction she had been seeking. If only she could feel the presence of essence, she might have understood the true reason behind his sudden pause. Because there was essence starting to flow out of his body.

Regaining his composure, Da Zihan cleared his throat, turning his gaze to Da Xia, who watched him with a mischievous grin. He wondered to himself, "How much does this woman hate me? She must have noticed my sudden change in expression moments ago."

"Mother, I have had my fill. I will take my leave," he announced, standing, bowing, and making for the door.

"Who do you expect would eat the leftovers of your remains?" Da Xia called after him.

Da Zihan halted and turned back towards her. It was clear he wouldn't get away so easily. He glanced at his plate, which still had a few slices of potatoes left. Grumbling under his breath, he hurriedly stuffed them all into his mouth at once. He then smiled at her courteously and exited the room.

The weakening he felt extended beyond his spirit; even his bones felt feeble. Thankfully, his residence was not far, merely a modest distance away. As he rushed off, Meiling followed closely, noting his haste with a light chuckle. She assumed Da Zihan's behaviour was merely a result of a sudden purge brought on by the ill-prepared potatoes.

As Da Zihan reached his quarters, the sensation of his dissipating essence pressed heavy on him. He needed to understand the cause behind this sudden weakness and ensure it did not compromise his responsibilities, in the universe he had painstakingly created.

He found himself back in the library, much sooner than he had intended after leaving. However, he had no choice now. Summoning the last bit of strength within him, he sprinted towards the wall, passing through it effortlessly.

Emerging on the other side, he stumbled into the open field by the waterfall. He staggered towards the almond tree and collapsed underneath it, doing nothing but lying still. He knew that Lien would sense his return and reveal herself as she had before.

With his eyes closed, he channeled his spirit into the spiritual bead. Everything in his universe seemed normal, though he noticed a small occurrence—a part of his creation had withered away. He felt a strange gratitude that the damage was minimal; any more could have been catastrophic.

How to fix this little mess, he pondered. He realized he needed to gather essence from the tree of life. Approaching the tree, still as tall and magnificent as ever, he inspected the two little embryos; they appeared unchanged.

He directed an amount of essence to his palm, ready to repair the damage. Suddenly, he felt a sharp sting, like a slap, resonating through his body. Despite his spirit being detached, the sensation was vivid and immediate.

Startled, he stopped abruptly. The gathered essence dissipated as he became aware of his physical surroundings. Opening his eyes, he saw Lien's white hair partly covering his face, a strong fragrance wafting past his nose. She was kneeling beside him but began to walk away.

Da Zihan stopped her. "Are you leaving like that?" he asked.

"Yes, I thought you were dead, so I came over," she replied.

"Why would I be dead?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Don't ask me. If you had died, I might have thought it was my fault; opening an immortal path isn't for everyone."

Da Zihan sighed, now understanding her concern. "I already successfully opened an immortal path. I have formed a spiritual bead," he said calmly.

Taken aback, Lien exclaimed, "Really? You were truly successful?"

"Yes, I was," Da Zihan confirmed. "It was challenging and scary. I could have been lost in the void and darkness of my mind."

"Then you would have become a devil instead," Lien said, unblinking.

"That's really frightening," Da Zihan admitted.

"How is your spiritual bead?" Lien asked.

"It is well. I've created many things; I only need to bring forth a living being."

"Hm. That might take a while," Lien nodded. "But you seem weak."

Da Zihan nodded. "I ate the food my mother prepared for me, and suddenly I felt a surge of essence leave my body, causing part of my creation to wither."

Interrupting him with a quick slap, Lien scolded, "Didn't I warn you about the consequences of becoming an immortal? Eating is no longer an option. Do you regret your decision now?"

"No, I don't regret it. I had to satisfy my mother. The food was not even of my choice and taste. Why would I regret choosing this path?"

"Very well," Lien conceded. "I will take you to a place where you can gather essence to repair your broken universe. After that, I will teach you the cultivation methods and martial skills I know."

As she stood up to leave, Da Zihan called after her, "Would you leave a weakened man to walk on his own?"

Scoffing, Lien retorted, "And who is this man you speak of? All I see is a boy."

"My body might be frail, but my mind is smarter than most adults," Da Zihan replied confidently.

"And how has that worked out for you? Doesn't that speak of your loneliness? No one would like a smartass," Lien said.