Chapter 1, Evil Dragon Pool

Since childhood, she has practiced the art of strengthening the body with her master. Even when soaking in the cool stream, she does not feel cold. Looking at her delicate, fair arms, Hong Ning smiles bitterly. In a certain era, she was already twenty-two, but now, she is only twelve years old. Over the course of twelve years, she has grown from an infant into a girl, while her master and senior brother have hardly changed. It must be acknowledged that cultivating immortality has its benefits for beauty. If a beauty salon were to be established in modern times that focused on fasting for beauty, where one does not eat, it would not only help in weight loss but also enhance beauty, while saving money. It is likely that many women would be willing to visit such a place.

Since the time she began recording her experiences before the time travel, she has been having this absurd and strange dream, continuing into her current life after the time travel, occurring almost once a month. Sometimes she even suspects that this dream has been haunting her since previous lives. What is the relationship between that woman and herself? Who is the Divine Lord? Unfortunately, she can never clearly see their appearances in the dream

The man paused for a moment and sighed: "This is the water of the Yaochi; if consumed, it can transform one's original form, allowing the spirit to reincarnate together with him."

Water surged in from all directions, flooding into the mouth, nose, and ears. Hong Ning was choked and immediately regretted it, thinking that had she known earlier, she should have recited the water-avoidance incantation first. Now that water had entered her mouth, she could not recite any incantation at all.

Hong Ning regained her composure and turned her face to clearly see the black dragon. It was entirely pitch black, with its scales shimmering faintly as they opened and closed. Its eyes shone like lamps, and it had long horns on its head, giving it a very fierce appearance

In an instant, that object had already fallen to the bottom of the pool, seemingly shattered into countless tiny fragments, and the bottom of the pool, which was about four to five zhang deep, resembled the vast night sky of summer, adorned with countless stars.

Then let us pursue immortality

It was a large and beautiful red camellia, cradling her feet as it carried her to the shore before vanishing, and then a pair of hands caught her in an embrace

In the night, drenched in excessive sweat, feeling sticky all over, Hong Ning set down the basket filled with herbs and jumped into the pond after undressing

On the table were two dishes and a soup, quite plain and simple. Three people sat around the table, but only Hong Ning was eating. The other two sat beside him, with only a cup of plain water in front of them. One was a young man in his thirties dressed in blue, and the other was a cold and handsome youth of about seventeen or eighteen.

I never expected that there would truly be a malevolent dragon in this pond. It is said that the malevolent dragon preys on humans, using their souls to cultivate spiritual orbs. Not to mention that I currently lack any tools, even if I had them, I would definitely be unable to subdue it on my own. Wenxin and Bailin are both in the midst of their cultivation, and the communication talisman is unavailable. What should I do? It is only now that Hongning begins to regret not having taken the practice of spells seriously back then

With a roar, the restraints on the body suddenly loosened, and immediately the surrounding waves surged.

A heart of an ordinary person is born naturally

A figure stands out prominently among them, adorned in a brocade robe with embroidered ribbons, exuding a divine nobility, as if everything around exists solely for him, yet his visage remains indistinct.

The cold pond's azure waves ripple gently, the water is clear yet unfathomably deep. It is said to be named Evil Dragon Pond. As for whether there is truly a dragon at the bottom of the pond, Hong Ning has lived in this mountain for over ten years and is no longer afraid, for even the master has not sensed any demonic energy within. It is likely just a name; even if there were a dragon, it would have long been taken by someone or met with heavenly tribulation.

In the distance, a faint voice came through, slightly anxious: "Lord Divine Sovereign! Lord Divine Sovereign!"

Fortunately, Hong Ning was naturally bold; although fearful, she still opened her eyes wide—clearly, her master had already checked this place and found no demonic energy, so how could a vile dragon suddenly appear!

Laughter erupted

Where is the snake

Hong Ning was solely focused on eating: "I had a nightmare"

Hong Ning shouldered the burden and then muttered, "What is the point of practicing the Dao all day long"

The master invites you to dine

Her whole body felt as if it were being pulled apart by cramps, and Hong Ning let out a hoarse scream of agony. It was not until the pain woke her up that she suddenly sat up in bed, her back drenched in sweat. She touched her skin, finding it intact, and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, staring blankly as usual

The master is named Wenxin, and the senior brother is named Bailin

... ...

Thank you, esteemed deity

The starlight twinkles, and unexpectedly, it begins to sprout!

At last, the evil dragon, in extreme pain, rolled and burrowed into the cave in the stone wall to escape

"Hong Ning! Are you awake?" The sound of knocking on the door

The dragon also sensed that something was amiss; after all, it was reluctant to part with the delicacy it had obtained. Therefore, it decided to resolve the matter quickly and raised its head to bite down.

Drinking this water, from henceforth you will no longer belong to my kin, merely exchanging it for a lifetime of companionship. Is that truly more important than becoming a goddess?

No regrets

Hong Ning rolled her eyes and said, "No matter what you say, I will not repair it."

At that moment, the dragon's body suddenly coiled around her waist and forcefully pulled her down.

"This is not of the same kind. If you insist on this, it is against the heavenly principles and you will surely face divine retribution," the man's voice remained gentle and pleasant. "Humanity has six paths of reincarnation, but you do not. If you sever the root, you will only end up with the fate of complete annihilation of your spirit and soul."

Amidst the laughter and noise, he noticed that when he waved his hand, the surroundings immediately fell silent

Silence

"Hong Ning, you don't look well"

Oh my, I actually encountered this thing! Hong Ning screamed in fright: "Master—Senior Brother—"

Just come

She could clearly feel the tremor of the scales around her waist, a wave of nausea and fear washed over her, and the sensation of suffocation grew stronger. She couldn't help but struggle desperately, but how much strength could a twelve-year-old child possess? The dragon was dragging her down towards the bottom of the pool.

Frequent exposure to certain things can make one particularly sensitive. Hong Ning suddenly sensed something was amiss. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the water in the center of the pond had actually begun to boil, as if it were being cooked. At the same time, a surge of malevolent energy shot up into the sky, causing her to be greatly alarmed, and she immediately prepared to leap onto the shore.

She has yet to understand how she crossed over; all she knows is that she fainted while wandering among the camellias and woke up as a baby abandoned by the roadside, who was subsequently rescued by her current master

The water snake that has transformed into a spirit? Red goosebumps rose on my skin as I hurriedly lowered my head, unable to see the head or tail of that creature in the deep pool; all I could see was its body, which was as thick as a water barrel, pitch black as ink, and covered with hard scales!

Seeing his concern, Hong Ning quickly smiled and said: "After all, it has been so many years, and nothing has happened, so what is Master worried about?"

Ah, it is done

Is there something? The voice is gentle

Will this journey through time be related to that strange dream? She had privately asked her master, Wenxin, about this matter, but Wenxin was also unclear about the specific reasons, only stating that her past life might be closely connected to that woman

No regrets

Hong Ning was puzzled, as something was supporting her feet, lifting her upward

In fact, if someone had told her in the past that there were dragons in the world, Hong Ning would have certainly laughed and dismissed it as superstition. However, ever since she arrived in this world and witnessed countless incredible events over the course of ten years, her faith in science has long been overturned

In the water, a faint, gloomy, triumphant laughter echoed, like thunder.

The mountain stream cascades down, converging into a pool. It is now April, yet the water in this pool emanates a chilling coldness. The left bank is a steep cliff.

In a moment of desperation, her survival instinct was instead ignited; she tried to remain calm and opened her mouth to recite the escape incantation

In the blink of an eye, the scene has changed; the clouds surge and roll, vast and boundless. Among them, two figures appear quite indistinct, one is perceived to be tall and slender, while the other seems somewhat shorter.

Hong Ning was immersed in thought while submerged in water

Hong Ning was astonished

Knowing, knowing, every time I have to say these things, Hong Ning complained, then pointed at the dishes on the table and laughed, "You all practice immortality, one always takes medicine, and the other only drinks water, where can I find such good fortune as I have?" After saying this, she picked up a chopstick full of vegetables and deliberately sighed, "Master's cooking skills have improved more and more!"

"Then what does it matter! I only seek to repay him for a lifetime." The words are filled with arrogance

Hong Ning closed her eyes

The Black Dragon also seemed puzzled and halted its movements

Eternally trapped in the cycle of reincarnation, severing ties with immortality, you ... ...

Fragrant breezes waft gently, celestial music drifts through the air, a riot of vibrant colors intertwines, and the sound of cheerful laughter is unceasing

What are you laughing at! I admire the Divine Lord, I just want to be the Divine Empress! Half in embarrassment and half in anger

About one zhang below the water's surface, there is unexpectedly a hole half a person high in the stone wall

It seems as if the wind has blown, causing the flowers to undulate.

Yes, before the crossing, she was called Hong Ling, and she was a complete modern person

Cold, slippery, and somewhat hard

The man nodded: "Today is the fifteenth, the yang energy is waning, your senior brother can just absorb the essence of the sun, and I also need to enter seclusion. Since you do not practice the Dao, it would be better for you to go gather some herbs and return."

Not seeking the path of immortality, I wish to live as a mortal for countless generations

It is already somewhat difficult to accept becoming a baby, and even more difficult to accept that the seemingly delicate and refined master, who appears to be in his thirties, is actually one hundred and thirty-three years old! Moreover, Senior Brother Bai Ling is even more "aged" at three hundred and ninety-six years; he is an ice demon.

Hong Ning felt strange; upon opening her eyes, she saw the dragon desperately shaking its head and tail, its eyes red like torches, as if something had entered them. Its entire body was covered in scales that had opened up piece by piece, with countless petals stuck in the gaps, each standing upright like sharp needles and blades

Not just one flower, but a hundred flowers blooming together

Can I be your goddess? " Shyly, with anticipation

The resplendent peonies, the vibrant peach blossoms, the delicate apricot flowers, the elegant hibiscus, the serene chrysanthemums, the proud winter plums, the exquisite red lotuses... Almost all the flowers of the seasons bloom simultaneously here, in a riot of colors, one after another, creating a splendid scene that brightens the dark depths of the pond, radiating golden light and exuding auspicious energy, as if it has transformed into a garden of a hundred flowers

"May the esteemed deity grant fulfillment." A delicate feminine voice.

The man advised: "Every fifteenth day, the yin energy is at its peak, and those wood spirits will emerge to absorb the essence of heaven and earth. You must not wander far, be cautious in all matters, and be sure to return after noon."

The sound outside the door faded away, and Hong Ning quickly turned over, got out of bed, changed her clothes swiftly, and ran out the door

I am merely a small demon, with no connection to the path of immortality; the divine lord is... too far from me

Ten years have passed, and the memories of that era have become vague; the only thing that can be commemorated is the name that sounds similar.

The young man coldly said: "Living long is naturally good, we are still young, yet you are already an old woman."

At that moment, not far from her, the originally dark and tranquil pool of water suddenly began to ripple, growing larger and gradually starting to emit a "gurgling" sound

The left leg is entangled by something

The thatched eaves and wooden table are exceedingly simple

Hong Ning was indifferent: "Every day I cultivate with a clear mind and few desires, yet there are so many wonderful things in the mortal world that I cannot enjoy. What is the benefit of immortality? In this lifetime, I am not destined to become an immortal, so I might as well assist you both. In the future, when you two achieve enlightenment and become immortals, do not forget about me."

The young man beside him let out a hum.

The man in the blue robe shook his head and smiled: "The art of fasting can lead to longevity, yet you are always unwilling to practice it"

Although the dragon's body is slippery, its legs are always tightly bound and cannot be retracted

Just like the fast-paced scenes in a television drama, the branches and leaves spread rapidly, soon producing flower buds, which then bloom into large and beautiful flowers

Hong Ning suddenly understood that this cave must lead to some other place. The evil dragon usually does not reside in the pool; it must have come out today to absorb the essence of the sun, which is why she encountered it. No wonder there was no demonic aura earlier!

With the dim light of dawn, she finally discovered the reason

In a moment of despair, a beam of golden light fell from above like a shooting star

The man frowned: "Another nightmare?"