Chapter 4: Understanding

“Heavenly Dao, if this world is real, and you pulled me here to occupy the body of Lin Lingshu from the Lingjian Pavilion, then where is the real Lin Lingshu of this world?”

Lin Lingshu stared at the Heavenly Dao orb floating in midair as she asked.

“She has been preserved by me.”

“What do you mean?”

A pale-blue soul orb detached itself from the pale-white Heavenly Dao sphere. It hovered in the air, images flickering within it. Eventually, the images coalesced into the form of a young girl—the original Lin Lingshu.

“For the sake of the world, someone must make a sacrifice.”

…

Lin Lingshu found herself utterly unable to feel any sense of guilt. After all, she too was a beneficiary of this arrangement.

“Otherworld Visitor, would you like to fuse with the soul orb to gain cultivation experience?” The Heavenly Dao slowly guided the orb closer to Lin Lingshu’s forehead.

“No need!”

Lin Lingshu refused resolutely.

If the soul were like a scoop of water, and two scoops merged, they would still be water—but no longer the same as before.

Just as a human from the 21st century would never believe that a clone who looked exactly like them was their true self.

(Well, if you seriously claim you’d believe that, go ahead and slit your throat, letting that new individual live your life in this world.)

If she agreed to fuse, would she still be herself afterward?

No!

When reading novels in the past, Lin Lingshu had always wondered about those transmigrators who instantly recognized their new parents, felt a warm sense of attachment from the smallest of interactions, and swore to honor them like their real parents.

Especially those who transmigrated directly into adult bodies. They seemed less like transmigrators and more like natives with transmigrator memories and personalities.

Otherwise, how could a grown adult possibly accept you, a usurper, and raise the original parents?

You’ve already usurped their child. What sense is there in family reunions? If the original parents knew the truth, who knew if they wouldn’t kill you for revenge?

Of course, over time, one could gradually integrate into the original family. But to instantly feel moved just because your new “parents” offered you a bowl of rice at noon, mere hours after transmigrating?

That wasn’t transmigration. It was probably a fusion… or worse, a reverse usurpation.

The first reaction should always be caution, not some so-called heartfelt gratitude.

So Lin Lingshu decisively rejected the idea.

The Heavenly Dao made no further attempt to persuade, and simply prepared to absorb the soul orb back into itself.

“Wait a moment, Heavenly Dao. I won’t fuse with the soul orb, but I need its information. Only with that can I better assist the Child of Destiny and save the countless lives of this world.”

Though the line sounded shameless, Lin Lingshu delivered it with complete calmness, even adding a grand and righteous reason. Truly a testament to how solid mental resilience is built.

“Very well, Otherworld Visitor. What exactly do you wish to do?”

“I need you to convert this soul orb into an information extractor… uh… into a book that can be read by anyone, but without any subjective emotions embedded in it.”

“Accepted.”

The Heavenly Dao’s mechanical voice replied. A pale-white beam of light extended from its smooth surface toward the soul orb. The orb transformed into a book, which gently dropped from the air.

Lin Lingshu extended her left hand and caught it.

The book wasn’t thick, but as she turned to the first page, the story of the original owner began to emerge in first-person narrative—from the moment the original possessed willful memories up to being preserved by the Heavenly Dao.

Lin Lingshu sat cross-legged on the warm jade bed. Now, she needed to carefully study the original’s information. Although she had read Inquiring Immortality, it was just a novel—it didn’t contain much useful content and was mostly told from the male lead’s perspective.

“Otherworld Visitor, if you need me, just call.”

“Mm.”

The Heavenly Dao orb slowly disappeared before Lin Lingshu’s eyes, but she made no response. Instead, she shifted to a more comfortable position and continued to study the original’s information.

Half a month later, an origami crane flew into the secret chamber. Lin Lingshu read the message written on it.

It was an invitation from Water Moon Immortal Aunt—an invitation meant for the original Lin Lingshu.

Lin Lingshu smiled to herself.

“Perfect timing. I also need to pay this Master a visit.”

During the half-month, Lin Lingshu had thoroughly read through the original’s memories. Though she couldn’t claim to remember everything perfectly, she had memorized most of the important information.

Lin Lingshu summoned Han Li, stepped onto the sword blade, controlled her spiritual power to flow into it, and concentrated her will.

Han Li lifted her, hovering in the air. Then Lin Lingshu began controlling the release of Han Li’s sword hilt power. Han Li transformed into a long rainbow, carrying her as they flew toward Water Moon Immortal Aunt’s secluded retreat.

Lingjian Pavilion

A number of Qi Condensation level one and two disciples practiced sword techniques in the training area.

“Look, isn’t that a Senior Brother or Sister flying on a sword?”

“Wow, such a pity. Sword flight is only used from Qi Condensation level five and up.”

An eagle-eyed disciple shouted, “Look, isn’t that the Senior Sister?”

“What? The Senior Sister? She has emerged from seclusion?”

“That means the Senior Sister must have broken through Qi Condensation ninth layer!”

“Ahhh, Senior Sister is so amazing!”

“Yes, indeed. Worthy of being recognized by the Supreme Elder as an unparalleled talent of a millennium.”

“I wonder who the Senior Sister will form a Dao-pair with in the future?”

“…………”

Lin Lingshu paid no attention to the chatter of the crowd below. Her focus was entirely on sword flight.

High… really high—probably one or two hundred meters above the ground.

Lin Lingshu pretended to stay calm, but inside, she was a complete mess.

After flying for the time it took to burn an incense stick, she finally arrived at her destination—Water Moon Tower, the secluded retreat of Water Moon Immortal Aunt.

Having reached the Nascent Soul realm, cultivators typically detached themselves from worldly affairs, leaving sect matters to the Golden Core Realm masters.

Lin Lingshu stared at the magnificent Water Moon Tower, suppressing the nervousness in her heart. She strode forward and pushed open the doors.

Inside, Water Moon Immortal Aunt sat at the main seat, her eyes lightly closed, a virtual image of a moon reflected in water floating behind her, shifting constantly.

Lin Lingshu naturally walked in front of her and performed the proper master-disciple bow as per the original owner’s behavior—as if the original Lin Lingshu were still present.

Of course, the reason Lin Lingshu dared to approach without fear of being discovered was because the Heavenly Dao shielded her… more precisely, disguised her soul.

During the half-month prior, Lin Lingshu had asked the Heavenly Dao if there was a way to disguise a soul. After all, souls in this world could be observed.

The Heavenly Dao promised without hesitation: as long as she seriously assisted the Child of Destiny, it would help her in any way.

Well… the hidden meaning was obvious: if you dared slack off or the Child of Destiny ran into trouble, you’d better prepare to have your soul inspected by the so-called pure and kind-hearted cultivators of this world.