At the same time, across various lands in the Upper Realm be they grand sects, exalted clans, ancient families, or even the sacred grounds that normally remained sealed off in silence an uproar had erupted. Spiritual energy surged in reverse, mystical beasts soared away in panic, and the very atmosphere across the skies seemed to shift in an instant.
All of it stemmed from a single source: the emergence of the Body of Time.
This was no trivial matter. Even the gods of antiquity had once spoken of this physique with dread. It was entwined with the power of time itself a force no ordinary person could awaken. Ranked among the top three most powerful physiques, there would only ever be one person in an era who could possess the Divine Body of Time. Furthermore, it could not be stolen, nor could its origin be extracted from its host by any means.
Every power across the realm was stirred into a frenzy, yet when it was confirmed that this immense force was radiating from within the Immortal River Holy Land, all movements ceased immediately.
No one dared to take a single step closer to that place, not even the leader of the Ten Thousand Heavens Alliance himself would act rashly when it came to that sacred ground.
Within a hidden dimension nestled in the crevice between time and space, a woman's scornful voice broke the stillness. Her tone was thick with irritation and envy.
"Hmph… that Immortal River Holy Land is getting far too powerful. Damn it, what a cheat. Every era, it's packed with monsters. I'm so sick of it."
In a mysterious valley guarded by divine-level formations, another voice rang out.
"Oh? How interesting. Guardian Elder, prepare to journey south with me at once."
…
…
A few hours later, within a small eatery that had become the center of the storm, Mu Sishan slowly opened her eyes.
She immediately sensed that the Body of Time within her had been completely awakened accidentally. She had tried to stop it, but her body had reacted uncontrollably to Han Ming's words.
Originally, she had planned to spend a few more days reaching the peak of her readiness before awakening it on her own terms. Yet all of that had unraveled, destroyed by just a few simple words.
Han Ming's voice still echoed endlessly in her mind. Gritting her teeth, Mu Sishan muttered bitterly to herself,
"Master, you told me not to swim in the water… but what you did today was kick me straight into the river."
She rolled her eyes and feigned confusion, lifting her gaze to the sky beyond the ruined roof of the eatery. And in that very moment, several faces emerged amid the drifting clouds.
Some of them were faces she had known in the past. Some were people she respected. Others were the ones she wished to avoid more than anything.
In the sky above were leaders of sacred lands, grandmasters of the Ten Peaks, high-ranking principal Elders, and even a few ancestors who were thought to have long vanished from existence. And among them… stood the one she least wished to see Mu Nansi.
The woman who had always cast a shadow over her life in her previous incarnation now floated beside an elderly man, none other than the second-ranked principal Elder of the Immortal River Holy Land.
Mu Sishan drew in a deep breath and knelt down without the slightest hesitation, without sparing a thought for the fact that she had once been a god in her former life.
Han Ming's voice echoed once again in her mind, this time steeped in arrogant disdain.
"Gods never gave wings to humans…"
Mu Sishan shook her head at once, trying to drive that voice out of her thoughts as quickly as possible.
"Enough already…" she grumbled inwardly, then closed her eyes and steadied her breath before speaking in a soft yet resolute voice.
"Respectful greetings to all honored Elders."
As soon as her words fell, she was no longer alone in her gesture. Every disciple inside the restaurant, along with those gathered around the building, all knelt in unison with practiced reverence.
A moment of silence passed, then a voice rang out from the sky.
"What is your name, young one…"
The voice was calm, yet carried such overwhelming weight that it made the hearts of many disciples falter.
Mu Sishan, still bowing, glanced left and right like a hesitant child unsure whether the question was directed at her.
The white-haired man hovering above smiled faintly before speaking again.
"Yes, you, young lady. Don't look around. I'm speaking to you."
Mu Sishan clenched her teeth lightly, took a deep breath, and slowly lifted her head, answering with a trembling voice that she struggled to keep steady.
"I… I am but a servant disciple. My name is Mu Sishan, sir."
Her voice was soft, but clear enough for everyone to hear. And in that very moment, the restaurant fell into such silence that one could hear their own breath.
The handsome white-haired man finally spoke again. "Very well… then come with me to the main hall. It will be easier to talk there."
With that, the man summoned his spiritual power and gently lifted Mu Sishan into the sky, flying directly toward the residence of the leader of the Immortal River Holy Land. At the same time, a spatial ring dropped down through the broken ceiling of the restaurant. The owner of the eatery quickly rushed over to pick it up and spoke out with excitement,
"Many thanks to the leader of the Immortal River Holy Land!"
....
....
Not long after, within the Celestial Palace of the leader of the Immortal River Holy Land, in a special dimensional space where even core disciples had no hope of entering lightly, the air grew heavy with overwhelming pressure from some of the realm's most formidable figures.
Principal Elders, leaders of vital peaks, and grandmasters seasoned by countless wars were all gathered here, each seated upon their own lavish spiritwood chairs. Soft conversations mingled with the subtle exhalations that only cultivators at the highest level could perceive.
Amid this oppressive atmosphere, a single man raised his hand slightly, and every voice fell silent at once. His face was calm, yet authority radiated from his very presence. This was Si Tian, the current leader of the Immortal River Holy Land.
Si Tian turned his gaze to the young woman standing before him and spoke in a quiet, measured tone. "I'll begin by introducing myself, as you may not know who I am… My name is Si Tian, current leader of the Immortal River Holy Land."
Just that name alone caused the entire space to fall utterly silent.
"Greetings, Lord of the Holy Land," Mu Sishan knelt down deeply, her voice soft yet firm with sincerity.
Si Tian waved his hand gently, signaling for her to rise. "You may stand. Make yourself comfortable."
She stood with a complicated mix of emotions swirling inside her. The man before her was not merely the ruler of the Holy Land. In her past life, he had been someone she was deeply familiar with no different from a fellow disciple, whether senior or junior.
More importantly, during the time when the Immortal River Holy Land fell into internal conflict and division, he had been one of Han Ming's sharpest blades. No matter what mission Han Ming entrusted to him, Si Tian carried it out flawlessly, without a single failure.
Just then, Si Tian raised his hand once more and traced a few swift sigils into the air. A pattern of power appeared before him, distorting slightly before solidifying into a bright crimson portal that shimmered faintly, exuding a menacing aura, as though it could devour Mu Sishan's very soul.
He looked at Mu Sishan and spoke in a calm, even tone. "Do you wish to take the test to advance your rank? If you're interested, then step inside."
His words didn't come out as a public announcement. Instead, they entered directly into Mu Sishan's consciousness.
The surrounding Elders said nothing. No objections, no interruptions. Their expressions were calm and composed, yet within their eyes swirled a storm of conflicting emotions.
Mu Sishan smiled faintly. She understood this was the trial for the position of Holy Daughter a test of identity, loyalty, ability, and more. And at this moment, she had no choice left. Without hesitation, she stepped into the blood-red portal.
…
…
…
…
Just one minute later, a brilliant crimson light flared once more. Her figure stepped out from the other side of the portal, her expression composed and unshaken. There was not a single wound or even a scratch on her.
The entire meeting hall fell into complete silence.
The eyes of many Elders widened, and some even rose slightly from their seats in astonishment.
Even Si Tian paused for the span of a breath before the corners of his lips curled into a satisfied smile.
With firm conviction in his voice, he declared, "From this moment onward, Mu Sishan shall be one of the contenders for the position of Holy Daughter."
His voice did not remain confined to the room. It was instantly transmitted through high-level communication sigils to the outside world, spreading across the entire Holy Land to great peaks and small, to every significant place, even to the floating city where Mu Sishan once lived, and far-off forests and valleys.
The news that Mu Sishan had passed the Holy Daughter's trial sent shockwaves through the land.
Not just the core disciples. Not just the true disciples. Even the other contenders for the position of Holy Daughter themselves were left in stunned silence.
Some refused to believe it. Some laughed. Some began to feel that this new rival might be one they could no longer afford to underestimate.
In a quiet restaurant on the outskirts of the Immortal River Holy Land, Mu Nansi stared at a sheet of paper listing someone's information, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
"Mu Sishan…"