Not only did Yan Lingji’s mental fluctuations spread out, but so did those of Past Life Zi Xunyi from her previous existence.
“I heard Sister Cai Lian and the others’ voices too,” she said.
No sooner had the words left her lips than two avatars, condensed entirely from spiritual power, appeared before the group. One was clearly a mature version of Zi Xunyi, while the other resembled a younger version of her—the manifestations of Past Life Zi Xunyi and Yan Lingji.
Back at the Holy Land Academy, Past Life Zi Xunyi had been able to manifest herself through her own spiritual power. Yan Lingji possessed a divine soul talent that didn’t come from her father emperor or mother concubine, allowing her to manifest in the same way by borrowing her mother’s spiritual power. However, she couldn’t maintain it for long.
The appearance of the mother and daughter pair hushed everyone in the booth. They soon stared in astonishment, the same thought flashing through all their minds:
How could there be two Zi Ji?
Yan Yan exclaimed in surprise, “Another Aunt Zi… Ling’er, what’s going on?”
Yan Lingji’s appearance bore some resemblance to Zi Xunyi’s. She looked about ten years old and was noticeably taller than both Yan Yan and Long Ying.
“Sister Yan Yan, you’re mistaken,” Yan Lingji explained timidly. “This is Mother Concubine, and that one is Mother Concubine from her younger days. They’re the same person.”
Unlike the outgoing Yan Yan, Yan Lingji had a shy personality. Her voice was soft and delicate, stirring pity in those who heard it.
“Oh, I see. No wonder the two Aunt Zis feel so similar yet somehow different~” Yan Yan didn’t quite grasp the details but quickly brushed it aside. “Ling’er, it’s been so long since I last saw you. You seem a little smaller than before.”
“I-I can only restore myself to around ten years old. And Sister Yan Yan, you actually look smaller than me now.”
“That’s because I was reborn~ When you get reborn, you’ll be even tinier.”
“Oh, right.”
“I was born first, so I’m still your big sister, okay?”
“Mm…”
While the two little girls chatted, Past Life Zi Xunyi swept her gaze over the group. Her beautiful eyes lit up with delight.
“Everyone’s actually here… Husband, did you come to the Heavenly God Clan to pick up your concubine?” she asked happily.
Yan Zhen nodded vigorously. “I brought Cai Lian and the others along so you all could catch up.”
Yan Lingji also came back to her senses. Facing the group of elders, she greeted them politely. “Ling’er pays respects to Father Emperor, to Mother Concubine, to Aunt Cai, to Aunt Xian’er, to Aunt Ya, and to Sister Long Ying.”
The moment Long Ying heard that form of address, she raised her little hand, signaling Yan Lingji to hold on. “Ling’er, you got it wrong. I’m an auntie too, you know. You have to call me Long Ying Auntie, or I won’t pay you any attention. Hmph~”
Yan Lingji panicked and quickly corrected herself. “Sorry, Sister Long Ying—ah, no, Long Ying Auntie.”
Only then did Long Ying nod her little chin in satisfaction. “It’s been a while, Ling’er.”
“Mm, it’s been a while… Um, and who might this be?”
Yan Lingji turned her gaze to Jiu Youyue, finding her unfamiliar yet somehow vaguely familiar.
Jiu Youyue smiled faintly, trying her best to adopt the demeanor of a kind elder in hopes of making a good impression on the child. “Hello, Ling’er. I’m Jiu Youyue, and I’m your auntie too. You can call me Aunt Jiu You.”
“Aunt Jiu You—ah!” Yan Lingji suddenly remembered. She was the one singled out in the ancestral hall, the figure who so often brought a nostalgic look to her father emperor’s face. “So you’re Aunt Jiu You. Ling’er was rude.”
“Little Ling’er is as lovely as your mother concubine,” the demoness said. She glanced at Past Life Zi Xunyi beside Yan Lingji, who smiled warmly in response.
“Sister Jiu You, I’ve finally met you.”
Jiu Youyue’s expression turned a bit strange. Those were the exact words she’d just heard from Zi Xunyi moments ago.
“You’re the consciousness from Zi Ji’s previous life? Haven’t you two fused?”
Past Life Zi Xunyi looked a little embarrassed at the question. She was probably the most pitiful reincarnator ever—rejected by the golden finger within her own body and unable to merge with it.
“It’s a long story,” she replied. “For now, we have no plans to fuse. We’ll do it when it’s time to advance to the Divine Soul Mystic Realm. Who knows, it might bring some unexpected benefits.”
The women exchanged puzzled glances, not fully understanding their choice.
Past Life Zi Xunyi felt even more awkward. “It’s not important anyway. Whether we fuse or not doesn’t make much difference. I’ve already transferred all my memories to my younger self; our consciousnesses just haven’t merged into one… This way, I can still look after Ling’er’s consciousness in the womb. It’s not a bad thing.”
Yan Zhen stood up and opened his arms to his younger daughter. “Ling’er, come to Father Emperor.”
Yan Lingji blinked, a faint blush coloring her little face—she was clearly shy. But after so long apart from her father emperor, she missed him dearly. With a gentle leap, she floated into his embrace.
Yan Zhen caught his little daughter steadily. The touch of a spiritual power avatar was naturally different from flesh and blood, but with Zi Xunyi’s cultivation in the Divine Soul True Realm, the difference was minimal.
“Ling’er, endure it just a bit longer,” he said. “Once the wedding is settled, you won’t need to keep suppressing yourself. You can grow and develop normally, then be born.”
Nestled in her father emperor’s arms, Yan Lingji savored the familiar warmth. “It’s fine for Ling’er. We can take it slow. Ling’er doesn’t want to trouble Father Emperor or Mother Concubine.”
“Silly child, what trouble is there? You’re Father Emperor’s precious treasure, just like Yan’er. Seeing you both grow up healthy and happy is my most basic duty and responsibility.”
“Father Emperor…”
Yan Lingji pressed her face to her father emperor’s chest and closed her eyes in bliss.
“Ah, Ling’er’s so sly. I want Father Emperor hugs too!”
Watching her little sister enjoy their father emperor’s embrace, Yan Yan leaped over lightly and squeezed in. She wrapped her tiny arms around Yan Zhen’s waist and rubbed her face against his chest to show how good she was being.
Surrounded by his daughters’ affection, Yan Zhen beamed with joy. He held one in each arm, gently patting their little heads. It truly felt as though he had slipped into two little padded jackets—warming both body and heart.
Cai Lian and the two Zi Xunyi watched them with gazes full of maternal tenderness, their hearts swelling with sweetness and emotion.
Yi Xian’er, Ji Ya, Jiu Youyue, and Long Ying felt a twinge of envy. They wondered if they gave birth to daughters, could they enjoy such family bliss too?
After holding his daughters for a good long while, Yan Zhen finally released them. Yan Yan immediately took Yan Lingji’s little hand and declared she wanted to take her little sister to play. She even invited “Sister Long Ying” to join.
Long Ying was about to agree but caught herself. She raised her hand in refusal, insisting she was a grown-up who didn’t play with children, and sternly corrected the form of address once more.
Unfazed, Yan Yan led her little sister off into the depths of the Fire Refining Starry Sky for some adventure.
Yan Lingji actually wanted to chat more with her father emperor, but her big sister was too enthusiastic to refuse.
The adults watched the two little girls depart, all of them smiling knowingly.
Past Life Zi Xunyi took the initiative to ask, “Husband, how does the clan feel about our wedding?”
Yan Zhen grew serious. “They’re not optimistic, but don’t worry. I’ll pass the Heavenly God Clan’s trials and make them change their minds.”
“The circumstances are different from your previous life,” she warned. “The trials are sure to be different too. Please be careful, husband.”
“I understand.”
Jiu Youyue asked curiously, “What exactly were the trials like in your previous life?”
Zi Xunyi explained, “There were three trials in total: the First Test of Aptitude, the Second Test of Temperament, and the Third Test of Strength.”
