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Sam stopped walking.
He stood at the edge of the dark forest.
The strange energy was very thick here.
It felt like a soft, invisible wall.
"This is it,"
Sam said.
"The Forbidden Land of Samsara."
Xing Tong looked at the tall trees.
"It is a barrier of pure light,"
Xing Tong explained.
"It keeps out all evil energy. It keeps out dragons, too."
"It won't keep us out,"
Sam said.
He walked straight through the glowing barrier.
The light didn't stop him at all.
Jean and the girls followed him easily.
Inside the forest, the dark trees changed.
They turned into a beautiful, bright garden.
There were thousands of colorful flowers everywhere.
The air smelled like fresh rain and sweet grass.
"It is very pretty here,"
Lily said.
She walked over to a blue flower.
"But it needs more fire,"
Sue added.
She created a tiny spark on her finger.
"Don't burn the flowers, Sue,"
Jean warned her.
"I won't,"
Sue promised, putting the spark away.
They walked slowly down a dirt path.
At the end of the path, there was a small bamboo house.
A woman was standing in front of the door.
She was a maid.
She wore a simple green dress.
She had clear eyes and a very soft face.
She looked at Sam and his family in deep shock.
"Stop right there,"
The maid said.
She held up her hands to block them.
"How did you get in here? No one is allowed inside the barrier."
"We just walked in,"
Sam answered.
"I am looking for the master of this place."
The maid shook her head quickly.
"My master doesn't see guests. She never sees anyone. Please leave,"
The maid insisted.
"My master likes quiet. She sent me to tell you to go away. If you don't leave, the Dragon Monarch will punish you."
Sam didn't move an inch. He didn't look angry. He just put his hands in his pockets.
"I am not leaving,"
Sam said.
"Tell your master I came to help her."
The maid looked very annoyed.
"My master doesn't need help from a human."
Sam looked past the maid.
He looked straight at the closed door of the bamboo house.
He spoke loudly so his voice would echo inside.
"I am here because your father asked me to come."
The garden went completely silent.
The maid gasped.
"What did you say?"
The maid asked, her eyes wide.
"Long Shenxi,"
Sam called out her full, true name.
"Your father, Long Yin asked me to help you."
The maid turned completely pale.
"You dare speak that name?"
The maid stepped back.
"You dare speak of the Azure Dragon?"
Suddenly, the bamboo door clicked open.
A soft, white light spilled out of the house.
A voice spoke from the light.
It was the most beautiful voice in the world.
It sounded like a quiet, perfect bell.
"Let them come in."
The maid bowed her head instantly.
"Yes, Master."
She stepped out of the way.
Sam walked forward.
Jean walked right beside him.
Sue and Lily flew behind them.
Xing Tong watched everything carefully.
They stepped inside the bamboo house.
The room was very simple and clean.
There was a wooden table and a few wooden chairs.
In the center of the room stood a woman.
She was covered in a soft, glowing white mist.
It was hard to see her face.
But her aura was completely pure.
She was Shen Xi.
The daughter of the Azure Dragon.
"Who are you?"
Shen Xi asked.
Her voice was calm, but there was deep shock hiding inside it.
"How do you know my father's true name? He died millions of years ago."
"I met a piece of his soul,"
Sam explained.
"I found his secret trial in a lower realm."
Shen Xi looked at Sam closely.
She tried to feel his power.
It was strange and impossible to read.
Then, she looked past him.
She noticed the two little girls floating behind him.
The white mist around Shen Xi suddenly shook violently.
"What..."
Shen Xi whispered.
She took a step back.
She stared at Little Sue.
She saw the bright red hair and the tiny wings of fire.
She felt the absolute peak of fire energy.
"That is..."
Shen Xi gasped loudly.
"The True God of Fire? The True Fire Phoenix?"
"I am Sue!"
Sue said proudly, puffing out her chest.
Shen Xi turned her head quickly.
She looked at Little Lily.
She saw the white hair and the pale blue dress.
She felt the absolute bottom of freezing cold.
"And the True Ice Phoenix?"
Shen Xi's beautiful voice trembled.
"How is this possible? The True Gods are all dead. The universe cannot hold their power anymore."
"They are very much alive,"
Sam smiled at her.
"And they are my daughters."
Shen Xi was completely stunned.
A human man claiming to be the father of two True Gods?
It sounded like a crazy joke.
But the pure power radiating from the girls was absolutely real.
Then, Shen Xi finally looked at Jean.
Jean stood quietly next to Sam.
She didn't say a word.
She just looked at Shen Xi with calm, warm eyes.
Shen Xi tried to sense Jean's power.
The moment Shen Xi's mind touched Jean's aura, Shen Xi froze completely.
Her eyes widened in pure terror and pure awe.
The white mist around her body vanished in a flash.
It revealed her incredibly beautiful face.
But right now, her face was pale as snow.
She fell to her knees on the bamboo floor.
"Master!"
The maid cried out, running into the room.
"What is wrong?"
Shen Xi didn't answer the maid.
She couldn't look away from Jean.
Inside Jean, Shen Xi didn't just feel a True God.
She felt the origin of all life.
She felt the Mother Flame.
She felt the Phoenix Force.
"You..."
Shen Xi whispered to Jean.
Tears formed in Shen Xi's beautiful eyes.
"You are the Mother Flame."
Jean nodded slowly.
"The entity above all primordial gods,"
Shen Xi bowed her head until it touched the wooden floor.
Her body shook with total respect and fear.
"The creator of the first spark."
"You don't need to bow,"
Jean said gently.
She walked over and held out her hands.
She helped Shen Xi stand up from the floor.
Shen Xi looked at Jean's warm hands.
"My father told me stories about you,"
Shen Xi said.
Her voice was full of deep wonder.
"He said the Mother Flame was a myth. He said it existed before the universe was even born."
"It isn't a myth,"
Jean smiled warmly.
"And I am here to help my husband keep his promise to your father."
Shen Xi looked at Sam again.
Her mind was racing.
This man had the True Fire Phoenix calling him Papa.
He had the True Ice Phoenix calling him Papa.
He had the Mother Flame standing by his side as his wife.
He knew her true name.
He knew her father's true name.
All of her doubts vanished instantly.
The Dragon Monarch outside was just a fake king.
This man standing in her room was a true ruler of reality.
"Please, sit down,"
Shen Xi said quickly.
"He Ling, bring them our best tea immediately."
The maid, He Ling, was completely shocked.
She had never seen her master act like this.
She had never seen her master bow to anyone in her entire life.
"Right away, Master,"
He Ling said quickly, running to the back of the house.
Sam sat down in a simple wooden chair.
Jean sat in the chair next to him.
Sue and Lily sat on the floor and started playing a quiet game with their hands.
Xing Tong stood quietly by the door, watching everything.
"Long Shenxi,"
Sam started.
"My name is Sam. And we have a lot to talk about."
Shen Xi sat across from him.
She looked at him with complete trust.
"Yes,"
She answered softly.
"I will listen to whatever you have to say."