Once Gu Qingli regained her senses, she felt a wave of weakness wash over her, her body limp and powerless, her mind foggy and disoriented. Around her, it seemed there was a thick, viscous liquid, and she could feel a constant, pressing sensation from all sides.
The chaotic noise around her seemed to mix with the pained groans of a woman.
Gu Qingli wondered to herself—had she already died?
"She's born!"
Just as she was mulling over this, a joyful shout pierced through her confusion.
This sound jolted her back to her senses, and with great effort, she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw being a room steeped in ancient charm.
It was then that Gu Qingli belatedly realized—had she crossed over?
A soul in her twenties, now inhabiting the body of a newborn?
Before she could ponder further, she felt her tiny body swaddled in soft blankets, her gaze wandering, only to meet a pair of gentle, loving eyes.
Gu Qingli observed the woman before her.
Though she appeared somewhat worn at the moment, her beauty and grace were undeniable—her ethereal charm and tender, motherly glow shone through.
Suddenly, Gu Qingli's heart jolted. She had crossed over, but what about her mother from her previous life, as well as Gu Qingyue and Gu Nanjian who had perished with her? Had they also crossed over?
At this moment, the door was flung open with a sudden force, and a tall, young, and handsome man hurriedly rushed in.
"Qianqian, are you alright? Does it still hurt?"
The man seemed at a loss, his hands unsure of where to rest, his face slick with sweat, as though he had just undergone the trials of childbirth himself.
Ouyang Qian immediately broke into laughter.
"Zhan Ge, I'm fine now. Come, see our daughter—she's so adorable."
Ouyang Qian turned the swaddled infant toward the man, leaning back into his broad chest, feeling the familiar warmth, and gazing lovingly at their daughter in her blanket with a smile full of happiness.
Gu Zhan's handsome face flushed slightly, his large hand uncertain of where to place it. His soft eyes, now filled with emotion, gleamed with tears.
Seeing his silly expression, Ouyang Qian couldn't help but laugh.
"Zhan Ge, feel her cheek."
Gu Zhan hesitated, staring at the soft, adorable child before him, worried he might hurt her. After a moment of hesitation, he gently touched her tender cheek with his rough fingertips.
Soon, Gu Qingli began to understand the world she now inhabited.
This was a world where martial prowess was revered above all else.
The continent was vast and boundless, with a history spanning thousands of years. It was divided into four powerful nations.
Each of the four great nations held dominion over a portion of the divine ancient continent, separated by impassable chasms. Only the most formidable of warriors could cross them.
Because of these natural barriers, the four nations had coexisted peacefully for generations.
Gu Qingli had been born in the smallest of these nations, the Eastern Saint Kingdom, located in the east of the divine ancient continent. Specifically, in the grand city of Loulan, situated in the northeast.
The Gu family was one of the six foremost families in this region.
Gu Qingli, a nobleborn child, was the esteemed sixth miss of this generation's direct line.
It seemed fated, for her life had been destined from the moment her name was chosen—Gu Qingli.
The current head of the Gu family was Gu Zhan's father, Gu Yifeng. After several years of marriage, Gu Zhan and Ouyang Qian had only one child—Gu Qingli—making her a much-cherished treasure.
Now that she was here, she would settle into her new life.
Gu Qingli had never been one to wallow in self-pity. She quickly adapted to her new life, behaving like a proper infant—eating, sleeping, and sleeping some more.
However, from the moment of her birth, Gu Qingli had begun cultivating the Phoenix Fire Technique.
In her past life, she had cultivated the technique for over a decade, embedding it deep within her bones. Even as a newborn, she did not neglect her practice.