While in Battle Through the Heavens, one can pre-appoint oneself as an emperor.

Chapter 447 Lingxi

Many years later, when I stand above the sea of ​​clouds at Zixiao Palace, looking down at the vast world below and feeling the warmth and laughter of my senior sisters, I still occasionally think back to those years filled with darkness and coldness.

That was the initial foundation of my life, and it is a past I will never forget.

I can't remember where I came from, who my parents are, or where my home is.

From the time we can remember, the world has been a place of ruins, war, hunger, and cold.

Like an unattended weed, I eked out a living in a smoke-filled corner, witnessing too much killing and too much indifference and ruthlessness.

Back then, I was skin and bones, dressed in rags, and always covered in indelible dust and blood.

I could only huddle among the rubble, afraid to make a sound. The rain often fell without warning, icy cold, piercing my thin body like countless needles.

I had no food, no shelter, and not a shred of warmth.

Everyone around was struggling to survive, and no one cared about a little girl who was on the verge of death.

I have personally witnessed many children like myself die quietly in hunger and cold. Their bodies are soaked by rain and buried by sandstorms, silent and unnoticed, as if they had never existed in this world.

I knew then that I would be one of them.

I am not afraid of death, because for me, death is nothing but a release.

I'm just unwilling to accept it. I'm unwilling to accept that from birth to death, I never felt a single bit of warmth, never was ever treated well, like a lonely soul wandering in the world, not even worthy of being remembered.

My consciousness gradually faded, and my body grew colder and colder.

I huddled deep within the ruins, quietly awaiting death.

Everything was gloomy and gray, and all I could hear was the howling of the wind and rain.

I thought my life would end like this in that cold, torrential rain.

But just as I was about to sink completely into darkness.

The rain suddenly stopped.

A shadow fell over me, shielding me from the raging wind and rain.

I struggled to lift my heavy eyelids, and through my blurred vision, a tall yet gentle figure appeared.

He stood in the wind and rain, as if surrounded by a faint halo, keeping out all the cold and filth.

He showed no disgust, no condescending pity, but simply looked at me quietly, his eyes as gentle as the warm spring sun.

A warm hand gently landed on my head.

In that instant, an unprecedented warm current slowly flowed from the top of my head to my limbs and bones.

He put down the warm food, and the aroma instantly filled my nostrils.

He gently patted my head again, then turned to leave.

I don't know where I got the courage from; it was the first time in my life that I acted impulsively without any regard for the consequences.

I grabbed the food from the ground and, with the last bit of strength in my body, staggered after them.

I don't want to go back to that darkness, I don't want to endure the cold and loneliness alone anymore. I just want to follow this figure, even if it only brings me a moment more warmth, I'm willing to do it.

Stumbling and staggering, he chased after the enemy for an unknown distance until his legs gave way and he collapsed heavily to the ground.

The hard ground I expected didn't appear. He steadied me, his voice so gentle it could melt ice and snow: "Little one, do you want to come with me?"

And so, I arrived at Zixiao Palace.

When I first entered Zixiao Palace, I was still timid and humble, not daring to look up at people or take an extra step, for fear that my dirty past would taint this pure place.

But the elders here treat me very well. They never ask about my background and never show any disdain.

They taught me to read and write, led me into the path of spiritual practice, and finally allowed this dying weed to find fertile soil to take root.

After embarking on my cultivation journey, my path was unbelievably smooth. In my early twenties, I broke through to the Earthly Supreme Realm in one fell swoop.

In this vast world, the Earthly Sovereign is already a hegemon, an existence that countless people look up to. Many people spend their entire lives without ever reaching this realm, yet I have reached this point so smoothly.

I often think that if that figure hadn't stopped during that torrential rain, I would be nothing but dust under the ruins by now. How could I cultivate, how could I ascend to the Heavenly Supreme, how could I stand on the Purple Cloud Palace revered by all living beings?

He never formally accepted me as his disciple, but in my heart, he has long been the teacher I respect, remember, and follow throughout my life.

I dare not call myself his disciple, for fear of dishonoring his status. I can only regard him in my heart again and again as the light that illuminates my entire life.

I met two senior sisters, Qinghuan and Xingyao.

They look exactly alike; when I first met them, I couldn't even tell them apart.

But after spending more time with her, I realized that Senior Sister Qinghuan was gentle and calm. She always patiently guided me when I was confused about cultivation and gently comforted me when I was uneasy.

Senior Sister Xingyao was bright and cheerful. She would take me to every corner of Zixiao Palace and secretly slip the rare and exotic fruits she found into my hands, dispelling the lingering timidity and inferiority complex in my bones.

They were of one mind, and for the first time, I, an orphan who crawled out of the ruins, experienced the warmth of siblings relying on each other.

I have also seen Qingyan Jingzhu's wife in the palace.

In a daze, I felt a sense of familiarity.

I don't know why, but that night, I had a very long dream.

In the dream, Master did not appear; instead, Aunt Jing appeared.

In my dream, that's how I called her.

When I woke up, I understood the origin of that feeling of familiarity and cherished everything I had even more.

I never envy others' backgrounds, nor do I regret not having a bloodline or family connections. Now, I have elders who protect me, senior sisters who cherish and care for me, a stable and smooth future, and the peace of mind to cultivate myself.

Home!

I came from darkness, yet I have been enveloped in light all my life. I once had nothing, but now I possess the most precious warmth and protection in the world.

The years of cultivation flowed by like water, and my spiritual realm steadily improved through daily diligent practice.

On that day, when I finally broke through that barrier and truly stepped into the realm of the Heavenly Sovereign, vast spiritual power flowed around me, and the world changed color.

Standing in the glow of breakthrough, I think of that little girl who huddled in the ruins many years ago, that child who didn't even dare to hope for tomorrow, now has the power to protect others.

Now, I stand amidst the sea of ​​clouds at Zixiao Palace, the wind blowing my robes, and vast spiritual energy flowing around me. I am no longer that little girl shivering in the rain, waiting for death. I have gradually gained the power to protect myself and the ability to protect those around me.

Looking back on the journey, it has been fraught with hardship and darkness.

But in the end, it couldn't resist that touch of tenderness.

The hardships of those years did not break me; instead, they made me cherish every bit of warmth I have now. The experiences in the ruins have never truly left me; they have become the deepest imprint in my heart, reminding me that everything I have today is hard-won and reminding me to always remember who led me out of that darkness.

In this life, I do not seek to be famous for eternity, nor do I seek to be awe-inspiring throughout the world.

My only wish is to stay in Zixiao Palace, by their side and my senior sister's side, and to live the new life he gave me in the way he hoped I would.

Peace, prosperity, and light—

warmth.

I will not let down that encounter in the rain, nor the light that illuminated my entire life when he reached out his hand.

ps

I'm just writing whatever comes to mind. Tomorrow will be the last day of writing, marking the end of this month, and then the application process will be complete.