[Ding! Congratulations on successfully completing your second reincarnation.] [Please choose one of the following three skills to inherit: Explosive Flame Pillar, Scorching Palm, Blackflame.]
Xiu Yuan was once again transported to a place that was white in every direction.
This time, all three skills the system offered were fire-related, but he was unfamiliar with every one of them.
He had at least used his previous skills, whether Eight-Sided Fire or Flame Flash Body Flicker, but he knew next to nothing about these.
Fortunately, he could try them out.
He had been uncertain before trying them, but afterward, choosing became even harder.
The first, Explosive Flame Pillar, released an enormous pillar of fire centered on him. After lasting five seconds, it detonated, dealing immense damage.
The second, Scorching Palm, attacked from within. It could melt internal organs directly, striking at the heart.
The third leaned more toward concealing one's strength to catch an enemy off guard. It was a tiny black flame, only slightly larger than a lighter's flame, but once it struck an enemy, it instantly spread over their entire body.
After weighing his options, Xiu Yuan chose the third.
Blackflame.
Although the other two were by no means inferior, Xiu Yuan preferred the third when he considered everything.
[You have chosen: Blackflame. Your next reincarnation will begin shortly.] [Successfully initiated!] [Mission: Help Shenhe adapt to human society.] [Transporting you...]
As a flash of white light engulfed Xiu Yuan, his third life officially began.
"Shenhe..."
Xiu Yuan murmured her name, his brow furrowing slightly.
He was not frowning because the mission was difficult. On the contrary, it was fairly simple.
The real issue was...
Shenhe's past was no less tragic than Qiqi's or Hu Tao's.
In fact...
It was even worse.
Shenhe had been born into a family of exorcists, and her life had been fraught with hardship.
When she was young, her mother had fallen ill, growing ever more haggard in both body and mind.
Shenhe's father had always loved his wife deeply. Watching her waste away tormented him, and despite seeking out every physician he could, nothing helped.
He could only turn to ancient texts himself, hoping to find a way to save his wife.
Like a man possessed, he searched through ancient texts from across the world, yet never found anything that could save her. Just as despair overwhelmed him, he happened to spot the very book he had dreamed of finding in the hands of his neighbor, Mingjun!
That book contained a way to save his wife!
Consumed by obsession, Shenhe's father snatched it straight from Mingjun's hands.
Having read its contents, Mingjun knew that the book required summoning a god and sacrificing a life.
Something like that...
Could it really be trusted?
But Shenhe's father no longer cared. He wanted to bring his wife back to life!
No one could stop him!
And so, following the book's instructions, he summoned a god.
"I am willing to give my life to bring my wife back!"
Upon seeing the "god" he had summoned, he hurriedly dropped to his knees before it and explained his purpose.
The "god" gazed at him, then pointed at the young Shenhe and said:
"She was born under the Lone Star Calamity. Even if she remains in this world, she will only hurt those around her. Her curse may even kill you. Wouldn't it be better to..."
Shenhe's father could be considered a good husband, but he certainly could not be called a good father.
After hearing the "god's" words, Shenhe's father turned his cruel hand against her.
He personally cast Shenhe into a cave filled with God Remains, then turned and left.
The young Shenhe kept hoping her father would come to take her home.
At her most helpless moment, she received a Vision. Armed with a dagger, she fought desperately against the monsters.
One day, two days, three days...
Even when Shenhe finally collapsed, her father still had not come.
The one who saved Shenhe was Cloud Retainer.
As Cloud Retainer passed the cave, she sensed a trace of malevolent power and discovered the young Shenhe battling the God Remains.
Shenhe was small, frail, and helpless. She must have gone days without a morsel of food, yet she still refused to give up, fighting those monsters through sheer force of will.
Even after Cloud Retainer rescued her, Shenhe refused to lower her guard and pointed her blade at her rescuer.
Only after confirming that Cloud Retainer would not harm her did she faint.
Afterward, Cloud Retainer sought out Moon Carver to divine Shenhe's fate. They eventually learned that she was destined to bring death to her kin, a fate born of the Lone Star of Calamity.
Thus, Cloud Retainer gave her the Red Ropes to bind her fate and prevent her from harming the innocent, but they also restrained Shenhe's true nature.
As Shenhe progressed in her training with the adepti, her temperament grew increasingly cold.
Having spent years cultivating in the mountains of the adepti, with birds and beasts for company, she knew nothing of worldly affairs and could not understand mortal life. On top of that, her blunt nature left no room for negotiation in her tone.
As a result, some even called her the White-Haired Witch.
And Xiu Yuan's mission...
Was to bring Shenhe, who had lived so far removed from the mortal world, back into human society.
Humans were social creatures, after all. Unless they had no other choice, who would want loneliness as their constant companion?
Then where should I go to find her...?
With that thought, Xiu Yuan wandered idly through the forest.
Just then, several Hilichurls leaped out, swinging wooden clubs straight at Xiu Yuan's head.
Xiu Yuan was about to turn and retaliate when a gust of icy wind suddenly swept in.
An ice-crystal puppet drifted past Xiu Yuan and instantly blasted the two Hilichurls away.
"Seal script, Frost Puppet Escort, Shenhe..."
Speak of the devil.
The two Hilichurls had only just scrambled to their feet when Xiu Yuan seized his spear and charged at them.
His fierce spearplay left the two Hilichurls utterly unable to fight back.
Xiu Yuan's attack naturally startled Shenhe a little. She had assumed he was an ordinary person, never expecting him to be such a capable fighter.
Just as she was thinking this, an enormous Mitachurl King appeared behind her.
Shenhe had only just noticed the enormous shadow on the ground and had yet to turn when a spear flew past her cheek.
"Flame Flash Body Flicker!"
BOOM!!!
A deafening crash erupted behind her, and the powerful shock wave sent her flying. Shenhe landed with a backflip and turned to see Xiu Yuan already holding his spear, blocking the Mitachurl King's attack.
When did he get over there!? His sudden appearance left her utterly bewildered.
He had clearly been some distance away, finishing off two small Hilichurls, yet he had reached her back in an instant-and even protected her?
The two forces erupted in a violent clash. Xiu Yuan landed in front of Shenhe, while the Mitachurl King was driven several steps back.
Shenhe immediately summoned her power. Countless seal-script symbols appeared around her as icy currents surged.
But a large hand stopped in front of her.
"This started because of me, so I'll be the one to finish it."
Xiu Yuan glanced back and said this with a faint smile.
Shenhe froze for a moment. Before she could say anything, Xiu Yuan had already walked forward.
Before you continue