Mist rolled in from all directions, condensing into the outline of a palace. Ten thousand colorful ribbons hung down from above, swaying in the wind.
Ling Zhuzi recognized the place. It was Wa Huang Palace.
A woman stood in the center of the hall, her palace attire flowing elegantly. With a dignified face, she looked down at a pearly white bead in her palm.
The bead was the size of a fist, faint Spiritual Light flowing across its surface. Something moved inside it, curled up like a tiny embryo.
The woman extended her right hand and lightly touched the bead with her index finger.
A gentle Golden Light flowed from her fingertips, entered the bead's surface, and enveloped the tiny thing inside.
"From this day onward, your name will be Ling Zhuzi."
Ling Zhuzi stood at the entrance of the hall, watching the scene as his eyes reddened.
That had been the first world he saw when he opened his eyes, the first voice he heard, the first warmth he felt.
He remembered that hand, that light, and that name.
"From this day onward, your name will be Ling Zhuzi."
Tears fell from Ling Zhuzi's eyes.
The white space shattered.
Ling Zhuzi found himself standing at the end of Heart Questioning Path. Sunlight poured down from overhead, warm against his face.
His eyes were red, as was the tip of his nose. Droplets clung to his eyelashes, glinting in the sunlight.
Footsteps sounded behind him.
A disciple in a blue-and-white Daoist robe walked over, holding a registration ledger. He gave Ling Zhuzi a glance.
"Your Jade Slip?"
Ling Zhuzi wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and took out the Jade Slip for him.
The disciple checked the information on the Jade Slip once more.
He made a