Immortal light suffused the cave, sacred and serene, like an immortal paradise in the mortal world. The vital essence within was so dense that it had become liquid. Anyone standing inside would have felt as though they were about to sprout wings and ascend.
The white immortal cocoon was not very large. Its surface gleamed softly, and it resembled an egg that any grown adult could cradle in their arms.
Countless fine threads sprouted beneath the immortal cocoon, sinking into the earth's veins like the roots of a great tree, drawing in the essence of heaven and earth to nourish it.
Unlike ordinary roots, these were covered in countless runes that seemed to form a great formation, allowing the world's natural bounty to flow toward this place without end.
"Good people die young, but scourges linger for millions upon millions of years. You really are hard to kill, surviving even that!" The woman in snowy robes parted her red lips. Though she was impossibly beautiful, her tongue was rather sharp, mixing praise with mockery in a way that hardly suited her fairy-like appearance.
She walked with light, graceful steps, her slender figure wreathed in an ethereal aura. Unusually, the formation here did not stop her as she passed through it. The great formation seemed alive, able to recognize the beings who approached.
The woman in snowy robes was beautiful, with bright eyes and pearly teeth, and few in the world could compare with her. She approached the immortal cocoon and carefully examined the egg-like chrysalis, observing everything-or, more precisely, the infant inside the egg.
"Oh my, you're actually trying to wrest heaven's will away and give birth to an innate rune-based divine ability. You certainly don't lack ambition." The woman in snowy robes clicked her tongue in wonder, circling the immortal cocoon and studying it ceaselessly, her lively eyes seeming intent on seeing right through him.
This was a miraculous feat, and a pioneering undertaking as well.
Everyone knew that certain beings were born with innate divine arts. They were stronger than others of their kind, possessing something extra, but these gifts were bestowed by heaven and could not be obtained through one's own efforts.
Yet now, the being within this immortal cocoon was trying to seize the privilege The Heavens granted only to a select few. It was simply inconceivable. Word of it would shock every race.
Since when could someone manufacture a First Generation? Had Supreme Techniques become wholesale goods?
"But it's still lacking a little. The transformation is too slow. It'll take centuries." After examining it, the woman in snowy robes murmured to herself, pondering the process and finding it far too slow.
Suddenly, she smiled instead and said, "Lucky you. You can have this Treasure Medicine I just picked!"
A blade of grass appeared, radiating an aura of supreme yang. Its golden light blazed brilliantly, instantly raising the cave's temperature considerably, like a miniature sun.
This grass was extraordinary. Even its roots and stem were golden and intensely radiant. It had nine leaves, each resembling a great star, brimming with vitality and in no way inferior to divine medicine.
Most remarkable of all, the supreme yang aura it emitted alone could strengthen a person's primordial spirit. Even someone with only a wisp of soul remaining could return to life and regain their vitality.
Had anyone else been there, they would surely have recognized the Nine-Turn Reviving Grass. It was so rare that scarcely a single plant could be found anywhere in the world, rarer even than divine medicine. It could strengthen a living being's fundamental essence, possessed endless wondrous uses, and was incomparably precious.
The woman in snowy robes ground the Nine-Turn Reviving Grass, rarer even than divine medicine, into powder and scattered it over the immortal cocoon like golden dust. The cocoon absorbed all its essence, accelerating the transformation of the being within.
"Hum!"
After absorbing the medicine's full potency, the immortal cocoon immediately trembled. Myriad rays of light shone forth, radiant mists swirled, and auspicious colors soared skyward. Its aura of life grew even richer.
Green spiritual liquid filled the cave, instantly filling the surrounding dozens of miles with vibrant life. Countless flowers, grasses, and trees sprouted and grew at astonishing speed, becoming a primeval forest in no time.
Innate runes also condensed upon the immortal cocoon. Myriad divine rays shone, all manner of extraordinary visions appeared, and laws intertwined across its surface, carrying a mysterious resonance of the Dao.
"Crack!"
Several days later, the woman in snowy robes grew excited. The immortal cocoon was splitting open, and the being within was about to emerge. It rather felt as though she were watching her own baby come into the world.
The young woman had stayed there all these days without leaving. Though she appeared casual and unconcerned, worry showed in her eyes.
At last, the immortal cocoon split open completely, revealing a tiny infant within. He was pink and soft, his skin fair and flawless, as pure as an angel and utterly adorable.
"Whoosh!"
Just then, the cocoon's shell suddenly transformed into countless runes of the Great Dao. Like a wisp of white smoke, they gathered at the newborn infant's chest, where immortal light blossomed and auspicious radiance billowed.
A moment later, the gleaming white cocoon shell vanished, having flowed entirely into the tiny body's chest, and everything grew still.
Yet an additional bone could be seen at the infant's chest, concealed within his body, with runes inscribed upon it. This was an innate rune bone.
"You really did seize the bounty of heaven and earth and become a First Generation!" The woman in snowy robes smiled at the porcelain-doll-like infant, who was luminous and translucent, brimming with vigor and vitality.
She picked up the little fellow and poked his soft, smooth cheek with a jade-like finger. It felt like a sponge, as though water might drip from it.
"What an adorable little fellow. Nothing like that annoying grown-up version of you. Hehe..."
The woman in snowy robes grew playful and kept teasing him, pinching his cheeks as though taking revenge, mercilessly squishing the little baby. Laughter kept spilling across her lovely, luminous face. Graceful and radiant, she was full of spirited charm.
She did not notice that his tiny face was now filled with anger and hostility.
But he was too little for any of it to show. All anyone could see was an adorable baby who made them want to kiss him and play with him like a piece of fine jade.
"Waa, waa..."
At last, the infant could bear it no longer. He let out a loud, bright cry, babbling to express his displeasure.
Yet to the woman in snowy robes, watching with her great jewel-like eyes, this only made things more exciting and amusing. She said teasingly, "I don't have any milk for you. This fairy is still an unmarried maiden. Just suck your fingers."
"Waaah, waaah..."
The little baby cried even louder, utterly helpless, his gaze fixed on the stunning woman. If looks could kill, he would already have stabbed her tens of millions of times.
To him, this was an unspeakable humiliation. Not even the fact that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in this life made it acceptable.
"Oh my, all your strength is gone. Are you starting over from scratch?"
The woman in snowy robes mischievously examined him inside and out and made an astonishing discovery. He really was just like a newborn infant, only slightly stronger than an ordinary baby, so he would not break easily from being played with.
The little baby was mortified and furious. This was far too humiliating. What secrets could he possibly have left after this? He waved his little hands and struggled.
"Heh, now you're getting shy!" The woman in snowy robes spoke in a melodious voice, the corners of her mouth curling upward.
"Pew, pew..."
A stream of water shot out with a splashing sound, like sweet dew descending from heaven, falling from the Silver River through the nine skies.
"Ah!"
Sprayed across the face, the woman in snowy robes let out a scream that nearly split his eardrums. Furious, she ground her teeth and glared at the little fellow with her great eyes, looking ready to devour him.
"You little brat, I'm going to slaughter you!" To think that she, Ye Qingxian, a dignified immortal, granddaughter of the Heavenly Emperor, brilliant beyond compare and unrivaled in talent, had actually had filth fall from the sky and cover her face...
Smack, smack!
"Waa, waa, X﹏X"
Afterward, wave upon wave of crying echoed endlessly through the cave, until dawn...