Three hundred years earlier.
Jade Qiong Heaven, the Murong Lineage.
That night, radiant clouds blazed above the Murong Residence.
Murong Yuan held his newborn daughter, gazing at the little face in her swaddling clothes, as exquisite as carved jade. His smile was so broad his eyes disappeared.
"My daughter will be called Murong Li."
He wanted to give her the very best of everything in the world.
And Murong Li truly deserved all that love.
She learned anything after being shown once, and made twice the progress with half the effort in every cultivation technique she practiced.
Clever, beautiful, and as fair and adorable as snow-white jade.
Rarer still was her gentle disposition. She greeted everyone with a sweet, dimpled smile, the pearl everyone in the Murong Lineage cradled in their palms.
Only...
After she turned three, Murong Li occasionally said things that made no sense.
"Tomorrow, Second Uncle's Flying Boat will hit a meteor."
The next day, Second Uncle's Flying Boat really did have an accident and was smashed to pieces.
"The pot of Purple Spirit Flowers in Third Aunt's room will wither tonight."
That very night, the spiritual plant they had tended for years wilted without warning.
At first, the family thought it was childish nonsense that happened to come true.
The real turning point came when Murong Li was eight.
The old steward, Uncle Zhong, had watched her grow up and doted on her most of all, always slipping her sweets in secret.
That evening, Uncle Zhong smiled and patted her head. "Young miss, this old servant is going on a long journey tomorrow. I'll bring you some jade flower cakes when I return."
Murong Li raised her head and looked at him, her lips moving slightly.
"Grandpa Zhong."
"Don't go tomorrow."
Uncle Zhong froze. "Why?"
Murong