"I really don't know what realm this woman was at during her peak."
"Back then, I accidentally saved her by the waterfall, but just her waking up caused such a terrifying scene…"
The white-clothed girl stared blankly at the scene, her clear eyes widening in shock.
She didn't approach the white jade bed but stood at a distance, remaining vigilant.
Strands of chaotic light swirled around the white-clothed woman, causing the void to show signs of collapse.
Each strand of chaotic light collided, then silently annihilated, causing the space there to shatter into large pieces. This showed just how terrifying the energy contained within those chaotic lights was—it seemed that even a single strand could destroy heaven and earth.
At this moment, she didn't dare to recklessly approach, risking her life.
The big red bird followed behind her, craning its neck to look forward, cautiously saying, "While you were away from the cave, I didn't dare to come near here. This woman, even in her severely injured and unconscious state, is incredibly terrifying. There's a terrifying energy stored within her body. Anyone who dares to approach or touch her would likely be annihilated in an instant, both body and soul."
"When I picked her up by the waterfall, she was covered in blood, almost lifeless. I hesitated for a long time before deciding to bring her back, or rather, to save her."
"I just hope she's not the kind of person who repays kindness with evil."
"However, judging by her appearance, she's almost as beautiful as me, so she probably isn't a bad person."
The white-clothed girl frowned, her delicate brows furrowing as she muttered softly.
Hearing this, the big red bird almost rolled its eyes. At a time like this, who would still be vain and praise themselves?
It remembered clearly that Gu Xian'er had initially insisted on just picking her up and letting the white-clothed woman fend for herself.
Whether she survived or not would depend on her own fate.
Of course, a terrifying existence like the white-clothed woman, who had suffered such severe injuries, was beyond Gu Xian'er's ability to help.
Even if she used up all her private stash of precious medicines, it probably wouldn't make a difference.
Just as Gu Xian'er and the big red bird were whispering to each other, the white-clothed woman lying on the white jade bed suddenly moved slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering.
A pair of clear, bright eyes, like the moon, suddenly opened, staring straight at the ceiling of the cave.
Her expression still seemed somewhat confused and disoriented, as if she hadn't fully regained consciousness. Her gaze was unfocused, appearing empty and dazed.
Seeing this, Gu Xian'er and the big red bird quickly fell silent, cautiously watching and waiting for the white-clothed woman's next move.
"Ugh…"
"My head hurts…"
"Where is this?"
The white-clothed woman didn't seem to notice the girl and the bird in the cave. She raised her slender, fair hand to her forehead and sat up from the white jade bed.
Her voice was cold yet melodious, like a gentle drizzle, refreshing and slightly cool.
Her dress, though still stained with blood, did nothing to diminish her beauty and grace. She was peerless, stunningly beautiful, capable of toppling cities and kingdoms.
Even Gu Xian'er had to admit it.
This was the most beautiful woman she had encountered since coming to the vast expanse, without a doubt.
Her face was like a flawless work of art, her brows like emerald feathers, her nose straight and delicate, her eyes clear and bright, her lips naturally red and glossy, as if crafted by the heavens themselves, a perfect masterpiece without a single flaw.
Just a smile or a frown from her could likely captivate countless men, making them willingly fall for her.
"Such a beautiful woman, yet she suffered such severe injuries and nearly died. I wonder who her enemy is, to have been so ruthless."
"Even I feel a bit of pity for her."
Gu Xian'er muttered softly, examining the white-clothed woman with an expression of appreciation for something beautiful in the world.
Her demeanor, however, made the big red bird roll its eyes, feeling that Gu Xian'er was somewhat admiring herself in the mirror.
She was just an unbloomed bud—how could she compare to someone in full bloom, radiant and dazzling?
"Who are you?"
The white-clothed woman seemed to finally notice Gu Xian'er and the big red bird, her gaze filled with confusion and doubt.
Gu Xian'er stared at her, gradually letting go of her earlier wariness.
She could tell that although the white-clothed woman had woken up, her condition seemed off, as if her soul had been injured and she had forgotten some things.
She cleared her throat, regaining her composure, and placed her hands behind her back, pretending to be solemn. "This is my cave. I saved you and brought you back from the waterfall."
"Huh?"
The white-clothed woman looked at her, her expression growing more puzzled.
She felt a sharp pain in her head, as if it were about to explode. Many things were simply beyond her recollection.
Including her origins, her identity, her name, and why she was here.
"You saved me?" the white-clothed woman murmured.
Suddenly, some fragmented memories flashed through her mind like flowing water.
A shattered sky, an endless expanse of giant black lotuses, fragments of the heavens falling, terrifying and surging black mist, and the owner of those cold, indifferent eyes.
Who was that? Why did just looking at those eyes fill her with an icy fear and dread?
The white-clothed woman clutched her head in pain.
She did recall some images, but they were only of her being struck by a palm from that blurry figure and then falling into endless darkness.
As for who that blurry figure was, she couldn't remember. Nor did she know why, upon seeing him, she felt waves of helplessness, fear, and an indescribable despair.
"Senior, you've likely injured your soul. You've just woken up, so it's best not to try to recall the past. Wait until your injuries have healed a bit more before attempting to recover your memories."
Gu Xian'er hadn't expected that just a few words would plunge the white-clothed woman into such pain.
Feeling a bit of pity, she stopped pretending and softly advised her.
"Thank you…"
"I will find a way to repay you for saving my life."
The white-clothed woman's beautiful face was pale. Trying to recall the past had indeed caused her unbearable headaches, forcing her to give up.
She took a deep breath, calming her emotions, and managed a faint smile as she thanked Gu Xian'er.
Gu Xian'er shook her head. "I didn't really do much, Senior. I just happened to pick you up by the waterfall."
"Regardless, you did save me. Otherwise, I don't know how long it would have taken for me to wake up."
The white-clothed woman smiled, looking at the white-clothed girl before her. Perhaps because she had saved her, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness.
Gu Xian'er, who had been on guard, finally relaxed.
If the white-clothed woman had been the kind to repay kindness with evil, she would have activated her trump card and fled immediately.
"Senior, is this something important to you? I noticed that even while severely injured and unconscious, you were clutching it tightly."
Gu Xian'er suddenly picked up an ancient, rust-stained bronze mirror from the jade table nearby and handed it to the white-clothed woman.
The mirror wasn't very large, its edges even somewhat blurred. The mirror's surface seemed to have dulled with age, stained with a rusty yellow hue.
The patterns on the back were also nearly worn away, but one could vaguely make out that it wasn't from this era. There were depictions of ancient people offering sacrifices to the heavens, as well as totems of various ancient ferocious beasts—mythical creatures like the Pixiu, the Taotie, and the Xie Niu.
"What is this?"
The white-clothed woman looked at the bronze mirror Gu Xian'er handed her, still confused and disoriented.
She felt that the mirror was familiar, that it was important to her, but she couldn't recall its origins at all.
However, after some thought, she still reached out and took it back.
Although Gu Xian'er didn't know the mirror's origins, since this senior had kept it so close even in her severely injured state, it must be extraordinary.
At first, she was curious, but after examining it, she lost interest and didn't think of keeping it for herself.
On the other hand, the big red bird kept urging her, saying that the mirror was definitely a treasure. But while Gu Xian'er was greedy for wealth, she had her own principles and wouldn't take someone else's treasure for herself.
Afterward, Gu Xian'er explained to the white-clothed woman where they were currently.
The white-clothed woman's origins were mysterious, and she was severely injured. It was clear she had encountered some powerful enemy, so Gu Xian'er hadn't informed the Crescent Moon Sect about her, fearing unnecessary trouble.
Now that the white-clothed woman had lost her memory, she was even less likely to reveal her presence to the sect.
The white-clothed woman felt somewhat guilty and embarrassed. Her injuries would take a long time to heal, so she naturally couldn't leave this place.
Thus, for the time being, she would have to trouble Gu Xian'er.
Gu Xian'er was currently using the alias "Gu Xian'er" and hadn't revealed her real name, so she didn't tell the white-clothed woman her true identity either.
Over the next few days, the white-clothed woman rested in the cave, recovering from her injuries.
Gu Xian'er, meanwhile, digested the benefits she had gained from her recent training, preparing to condense her sword Dao seed.
Although the white-clothed woman had lost her memory, her insight and cultivation experience remained intact. While Gu Xian'er was cultivating, she could pinpoint her flaws and shortcomings with a single remark.
This delighted Gu Xian'er.
Since coming to the vast expanse, she had been forging her path alone, with no proper guidance. It had been like crossing a river by feeling the stones.
Now, with just a few pointers from the white-clothed woman, she felt as if a fog had lifted, and everything became clear.
In just a few days of cultivation, she had made more progress than in the past few years. The two of them grew closer, their relationship becoming more harmonious.
However, just a few days later, on a certain midnight, dark clouds rolled in, blotting out the stars and moon over the mountains and valleys.
The earth was plunged into darkness, utterly silent, with no light to see even a hand in front of one's face.
A mournful, weeping sound suddenly echoed through the dead silence of the night, reverberating through the empty mountains, startling birds and beasts alike. The mountain spirits and deer trembled in fear, the atmosphere chilling and eerie.
An indescribable, cold, and sinister aura spread through the mountains.
In the void, it seemed as if invisible doors had opened, and unseen figures emerged, wandering through the mountains, crossing rivers and waterfalls, their mournful sobs filling the air.
Inside the cave, the big red bird, curled up in its nest and fast asleep, suddenly bristled, all its feathers standing on end.
"Xian'er, Xian'er, that sound is back…"
It flapped its wings, its face filled with fear and panic, shouting repeatedly.
Gu Xian'er, sitting cross-legged on a cushion, also heard the noise. She looked toward the cave entrance, her delicate brows furrowing.
Though she wasn't as terrified as the big red bird, she still felt uneasy.
During her time at the Crescent Moon Sect, she had heard this eerie, mournful weeping many times, and it always made her heart race with fear.
It was no wonder the area was considered an ominous place by the sect.
"Wait a few hours, and the sound will fade. Just don't leave the cave during this time."
Gu Xian'er whispered, as if worried that speaking too loudly might attract the attention of the "unseen" figures outside, causing them to linger.
"This area… it seems to have been tainted by something sinister…"
At this moment, the white-clothed woman in the cave stood up from the white jade bed and walked to the cave entrance, seemingly peering through the barrier at the scene outside.
However, outside was pitch black, with no stars or moonlight, and no visibility at all.
Gu Xian'er approached her and asked softly, "Senior, have you noticed something?"
The white-clothed woman frowned, thinking for a moment, then shook her head. "No, but it feels like a summoning, calling ancient spirits back to the mortal world."
"Calling ancient spirits back to the mortal world?"
Gu Xian'er was stunned.
Hearing this, she suddenly felt less afraid.
The white-clothed woman smiled slightly and said, "How about we go out and take a look?"
Gu Xian'er's courage surged, and without hesitation, she agreed.
The white-clothed woman waved her sleeve, and the two of them vanished from the cave, reappearing in a dark, desolate, and cold ruined site.
By the faint outlines, they could see that the area was filled with broken ruins and structures—pavilions, pagodas, ancient temples, and palaces, as well as collapsed and decayed pillars, tiles overgrown with moss and weeds.
In some places, they could even see shattered bones, broken weapon fragments, exploded alchemy furnaces, and shattered cauldrons…
Gu Xian'er tightened her dress, feeling a chill as if unseen figures were passing by her, and as if someone was watching her from behind.
A cold, eerie wind brushed past her ears, giving her goosebumps.
At that moment, the mournful, weeping sound returned. Gu Xian'er's pupils constricted slightly as a gap opened in the dark clouds, allowing a cold moonlight to spill through.
A hunched, ragged figure with disheveled hair appeared on a distant hill, its pale, bloodless face obscured by messy locks, weeping under the moonlight, tears falling like drops of water.
"Granny…"
Gu Xian'er nearly cried out, recognizing the figure.
It was the same figure who had saved her life and brought her to Crescent Moon Mountain.
She hadn't expected that the granny, whom the entire Crescent Moon Sect regarded as an ominous, insane figure who often disappeared, would appear in this ruined site at this moment, weeping under the moon.
At that moment, as if noticing their presence, the hunched, ragged figure suddenly vanished, as if it had never been there.
The white-clothed woman standing beside Gu Xian'er also narrowed her eyes slightly.
"A hidden gem in the deep mountains… It seems that until my injuries heal, I should avoid leaving the cave. Otherwise, I might attract too much attention," she murmured to herself.
Gu Xian'er, still reeling from the shock, didn't pay attention to the white-clothed woman's words.
The next morning, as the sun rose over the misty mountains, Gu Xian'er left the cave early and headed to the ruins, hoping to find the granny from the previous night.
However, the vast, desolate ruins were filled with nothing but rubble, devoid of any signs of life.
After circling the area several times and finding no trace of anyone, she reluctantly gave up.
Dong… Dong… Dong…
Suddenly, the deep, ancient tolling of a bell echoed throughout Crescent Moon Mountain.
Gu Xian'er, who had just returned to the cave and hadn't even sat down, had to leave again, rushing toward the Crescent Moon Sect.
This was the sect's ancient bell, only rung during major events to summon the elders and disciples.
Any disciple or elder within Crescent Moon Mountain, upon hearing the bell, had to respond immediately without delay.
In the main square of the Crescent Moon Sect, streams of light and rainbows flew in from various mountains and islands, quickly landing in the area. Many elders and disciples had already gathered upon hearing the bell.
The vast square was large enough to accommodate countless cultivators and beings, its space seemingly boundless.
When Gu Xian'er arrived, the area was already filled with fellow disciples. The middle and older generations, as well as disciples from other eras, were gathered further ahead.
"Junior Sister Xian'er."
"Over here."
A gentle, soft voice called out to her.