Nüwa, Have You Ever Considered Another Self?

The moment she stepped through the door.

Nüwa immediately sensed something different.

How to put it.

Two words.

Ordinary!

Far too ordinary.

There was no need to compare it with the Immortal Mountain outside the Academy, or that Willow Tree.

Along the path Nüwa had traveled.

Every single place she had passed through in the Primordial Wilderness.

Was more extraordinary than this!

In contrast.

This place was simply...

Ordinary to the point of being terrifying!

It made one can't help but wonder if their perception was malfunctioning.

An illusion?

Nüwa was a bit bewildered.

Or perhaps, that Willow Tree was the real focal point?

Thinking as she went.

Nüwa continued forward.

Walking deeper into the Academy.

The Academy was not complex.

It had pavilions and towers.

As well as Mountain Stone and flowing water.

What Nüwa first focused on was the stream arranged within the courtyard.

Instinctively.

She felt this place was far from simple.

Because within the stream, faint traces of some mysterious light swirled.

Just like that Willow Tree.

It too was impossible to see through.

"Another divine object?"

Nüwa's heart trembled slightly, her gaze dropping into the water.

She saw.

A golden Swimming Fish appeared in her field of vision.

Suddenly.

Nüwa's vermilion lips parted slightly, utterly astonished.

"Chaotic Qi!"

"An ordinary Swimming Fish, yet it has Chaotic Qi swirling around it?"

"This fish must also have an extraordinary origin!"

Just as Nüwa was marveling.

She suddenly froze.

In that instant, she clearly sensed an immense pressure suddenly descending around her.

This pressure was incredibly profound.

To draw an analogy, it seemed even greater than the peak of the Immortal Mountain?

And that Willow Tree.

It was a match for it!

Hiss~

Nüwa sucked in a breath of cold air.

She discovered the source of this pressure.

It was actually...

This Swimming Fish in the stream?

Does that mean...

This Swimming Fish also possesses Hunyuan cultivation?

For a moment.

Nüwa was dazed.

What left her even more speechless was that, for an instant, the fish seemed to "side-eye" her.

It didn't intend to acknowledge her either.

With a flick of its tail.

It vanished into the water.

"Confirmed!"

"It's definitely Hunyuan!"

Because after the fish left, the oppressive pressure that had weighed on her heart disappeared.

Nüwa breathed a sigh of relief.

But her mind couldn't settle.

Yet.

Before she could think further.

She suddenly felt that something was off.

Her heart tightened.

A chill ran down her spine.

She even...

Swallowed hard.

Her heartbeat quickened, a clear sign of nervousness.

Nüwa realized a problem.

"Ordinary might just be a facade!"

"Or rather, maintaining an ordinary state within the Primordial Wilderness is itself an extraordinary display!"

"So..."

"These seemingly mundane things could all harbor the extraordinary."

"Just like that Swimming Fish?"

Upon realizing this.

Nüwa grew tense.

This meant.

Beings like that Swimming Fish might not be alone!

For example...

Any random Spirit Plant in the courtyard could be just like the Willow Tree! Thinking this.

Nüwa scanned her surroundings.

But then.

The scene around her made Nüwa's pupils sharply contract.

At some point.

A large circle of beings of all forms had gathered around her.

There were Spirit Beasts, Flying Birds.

Also Spirit Roots, Spirit Plants.

Even grass, trees, Mountain Stone!

But without exception, all emitted ripples of consciousness, and...

Terrifying, overwhelming pressure.

Clearly.

These beings all rivaled Hunyuan!

At this moment.

Nüwa was stunned.

Her worldview was challenged.

How could there be so many Hunyuan in the Primordial Wilderness?

A rough count...

All three digits.

That's right.

There were hundreds of Hunyuan cultivators here!

This number...

Was beyond imagination.

Even with Nüwa's steady mindset, she couldn't remain calm at this moment.

Inside the courtyard...

Could it be...

All of them were Hunyuan?

At this moment.

A purple Nine-Tailed Fox walked over from that imperceptible area behind.

The cultivators instinctively parted a path.

Allowing it to come forward.

Following that.

A strange force snapped Nüwa back from her astonishment.

Coming to her senses.

Nüwa quickly bowed.

"You must be the master of this place, Senior!"

"This junior is Nüwa! Greetings, Senior!"

"If I have disturbed you, I beg your forgiveness, Senior!"

Nüwa could clearly sense.

Compared to the other cultivators.

This Nine-Tailed Fox's aura was a cut more terrifying than the rest.

Coupled with the scene of the other cultivators making way.

Clearly.

Its status surpassed the others.

From these factors.

Nüwa concluded that this Nine-Tailed Fox was the master of this courtyard.

And quickly expressed her apologies.

Unexpectedly.

This Nine-Tailed Fox shook its head and spoke softly. "Seeker of the Dao, welcome to the Seeking Dao Academy."

"I am Zi Ling, not the master of this place! The master here is Lei Jun Tianzun!"

"Follow me, the Tianzun has been waiting for you in the courtyard for some time now!"

Hearing this.

Nüwa was first stunned, then startled.

What?

This divine fox, with such high cultivation.

Wasn't even the master here?

There was someone else beyond?

And...

That existence was waiting for her to arrive?

For a moment.

Nüwa felt some worry, yet also some surprise.

But the former outweighed the latter.

After all...

Being watched by such an existence was quite stressful.

But no matter the pressure.

She couldn't retreat. After taking a deep breath.

Nüwa followed Zi Ling.

Walking into the courtyard.

As she left, Nüwa didn't forget to keep an eye on her surroundings.

She let out a slight sigh of relief.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Nüwa noticed that these beings, whose cultivation she couldn't even begin to match—

Actually seemed to hold some...

Envy toward her?

So... then...

Was this an opportunity?

Following behind Little Fox, Nüwa's heart was uneasy.

Even though she had a hunch.

That this might be a stroke of fortune.

She still couldn't help but feel nervous.

No helping it.

After all, who else but her, Nüwa, was the weakest one in this courtyard?

Point at anything on the ground.

Even a single blade of grass.

She wouldn't be a match for it.

It was utterly absurd.

So much so that now, Nüwa felt a sense of unreality.

Nüwa had originally thought that with her current cultivation, returning to the Primordial Wilderness would at least make her a major power.

The kind who had few opponents below the Hunyuan realm.

Never did she expect.

That the Primordial Wilderness held such a place.

One could call it...

Da Luo everywhere!

Passing through several pavilions.

Before long.

Their destination arrived, also a pavilion.

But compared to the others.

It was much larger.

The one with the largest footprint in the entire courtyard.

"Celestial Venerable, the person has been brought!"

Little Fox called out.

At that moment.

A voice came from within the pavilion.

Though gentle, it carried an undeniable authority.

"Zi Ling, you may withdraw now."

Little Fox nodded upon hearing this.

First, she performed a bow.

Only then did she step back.

But before leaving, she couldn't help stealing another glance at Nüwa.

Yet just that one look.

Left Nüwa even more puzzled.

Downright bewildered, even.

What was going on?

This Nine-Tailed Fox, whose cultivation was a cut above the others, was also envious of her?

Nüwa didn't dwell on it for long.

Because the next moment.

The pavilion doors opened.

As if guided by fate, she stepped inside.

Before she could even think it through.

The supreme Dao Sound rang out once more.

But the words it spoke.

Left Nüwa utterly astonished.

"Speaking of which."

"This is technically the first time I meet you; last time, you were still the Origin!"

Hm?

Nüwa froze.

When had she ever come into contact with such an existence?

Just as she was puzzled.

With a crack, it seemed some shackle in her heart was unlocked by a mighty force.

In an instant.

A segment of erased memory resurfaced in Nüwa's mind.

Boom!

It happened in a flash.

Nüwa went from dazed to enlightened.

She even jolted in shock.

Extremely startled.

"Senior!"

"What exactly is going on?"

"Why have I..."

Nüwa didn't finish.

But Lei Jun understood her meaning perfectly.

What else could it be?

Nothing more than the issue of "missing memories."

But to be precise.

What was missing wasn't memory, but the traces of Lei Jun's existence in the Primordial Wilderness.

The inability to recall Lei Jun.

Was merely a side effect.

The reason Nüwa was so shocked was simple.

Because even though she had only briefly interacted with Lei Jun back then.

That thread of opportunity, she had never let go.

And using it, after she took form.

Her cultivation had left Fuxi far behind.

Clearly.

Without that thread of opportunity, this would have been impossible.

So.

Logically speaking.

She should never have forgotten Lei Jun, who had granted her that chance.

Lei Jun didn't explain much.

He just smiled slightly.

And said.

"Why don't you try guessing?"

Nüwa didn't hold back.

Earlier.

She had thought this was an unfamiliar great power, but now it seemed they weren't completely unacquainted.

At least...

She had secretly admired him for a long time.

Nüwa ventured a guess.

"Sage Hongjun?"

No sooner had she spoken this guess than she herself dismissed it.

Because it was utterly impossible.

How long had Hongjun even been a sage?

Besides...

Did he truly possess such power?

He couldn't do it either.

Then in the entire Primordial Wilderness, aside from Hongjun, there was probably only...

"The Heavenly Dao!"

Nüwa's delicate brows furrowed.

This was the only possibility.

Having said that.

She looked at Lei Jun, hoping for his confirmation.

In truth.

Aside from the Heavenly Dao, she couldn't think of any other existence.

But at that moment.

Lei Jun shook his head.

"It is and it isn't!"

"The Heavenly Dao indeed erased the traces of I's existence in order to correct the trajectory of Fate."

"But do you know..."

"Who wrote this trajectory of Fate in the first place? And why must it be corrected?"

"Even if it was formed innately, there should be clues to trace, shouldn't there?"

"What do you think?"

Hearing Lei Jun's words, Nüwa was utterly bewildered.

The sheer volume of information was too great.

So much so that at first.

She couldn't even digest it.

What was the trajectory of Fate?

Above the Heavenly Dao...

Could there be another existence?

And then there was Lei Jun's final line, "What do you think?"...

Nüwa fell silent.

She had no way to respond.

What was she supposed to say?

Was this a topic she could even touch upon?

She wasn't even a Hunyuan yet!

On this point.

Nüwa had clear self-awareness.

Her tone was humble.

She spoke directly.

"Nüwa is dull-witted and cannot fathom the mystery within the Celestial Venerable's words!"

"I beg the Celestial Venerable for guidance!"

Lei Jun pondered for a moment.

Then spoke again.

"Nüwa, have you ever considered..."

"That there might be another you?"

Hm?

At these words.

Nüwa was instantly frozen in place, her beautiful eyes wide.

Far from gaining insight.

She was even more confused.

Even...

Panicked.

Because this information was too shocking.