Chapter 106: The Mystery of Origins

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The curtain of the left side chamber suddenly flipped up with a soft snap. Before Lei Xiang could react, a white light struck his forehead. Amidst the chaos, Lei Xiang focused his gaze and seemed to recognize the object as a jade slip. Remarkably, it had penetrated the Blue Lotus Plate’s defense—truly incredible. That was his final thought before he fainted.

In a daze, Lei Xiang found himself stepping into the painting on the wall, transformed into the child holding an umbrella. “Xiao Wu, come home quickly, it’s time for dinner,” a voice called. Following the sound, Lei Xiang turned to see the small village behind him, smoke curling from chimneys—dinner time. Unwillingly, he crossed the little bridge and headed back.

Entering a thatched cottage, he noticed the furnishings matched those of the immortal residence exactly: a long table, an Eight Immortals table, a grandmaster’s chair. But the ink painting was gone. There were two side rooms; the curtain on the left was also lifted. Unconsciously, Lei Xiang stepped inside and saw a young woman he didn’t recognize sitting beside the bed, sewing a child’s garment.

Unexpectedly, Lei Xiang blurted out, “Mother!” Yet the young woman did not respond, continuing her sewing. Suddenly, thunder roared outside, rain poured in torrents, lightning flashing fiercely. Amid the storm, a figure darted through the center of the lightning like a dragon.

Had he gone mad?

The lightning was several times more powerful than the spherical lightning he had once formed during his own alchemical breakthrough. The figure seemed unfazed, almost purposefully seeking the lightning, weaving through it. A tremendous explosion erupted in the sky, a blinding white light so intense that Lei Xiang could not look directly at it.

When the blast subsided, the storm had cleared; no lightning flashed, and the figure was gone—dead or hidden, no one could tell.

Turning back to the young woman by the bed, she suddenly rose and rushed outside. The scene had changed: the bridge and flowing water, the smoke and village, all vanished, replaced by a vast void where sky and earth could not be distinguished. Everything was shrouded in gray mist. Hesitating, the woman threw the child’s small jacket and a red bellyband into the emptiness. The jacket transformed into a swaddled infant.

The baby tumbled into the void, disappearing without a trace. Tears streamed down the woman’s face as she whispered softly, “Xiao Wu, it is not that your mother is cruel. Your father could not give me a name, and my time is near. I can only let you fend for yourself…” Before she could finish, thunder cracked once more, lightning struck with overwhelming power, and torrential rain fell. Among the rain, shining objects scattered randomly across the earth.

In the distance, a group flew low, chasing after the sparkling items. Suddenly, a young man stopped near the swaddled infant. After hesitation, he wrapped the baby in the red bellyband and held him close, then resumed pursuit of his companions.

In the flashes of lightning, Lei Xiang caught a clear glimpse of the young man’s face and cried out in shock, “Old Master Lei?!” The moment he spoke, darkness engulfed his vision and he collapsed.

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When Lei Xiang awoke again, he was back in the main hall of the immortal residence. The furnishings were unchanged, but the painting on the wall had been rolled up and placed flat on the Eight Immortals table. Rubbing his throbbing head, he pondered the events that had just unfolded.

A jade slip had struck his head and transported him into the painting. There, a man confronted the heavenly lightning, the young woman discarded the child’s clothing which became an infant, and the shining objects in the sky were likely a meteor shower. The young Old Master Lei had saved the infant. All of this seemed to hint at the origins and parentage of the body Lei Xiang now inhabited. He pulled a piece of red cloth from his pocket—the same bellyband the woman had wrapped the baby in during the vision. Everything matched perfectly.

Had he received some form of inheritance?

Lei Xiang quieted his mind and delved inward. In his spirit sea, he found something new, automatically segregated into a corner by the boundless divine sea. As he tried to explore it deeper, a voice echoed in his mind:

“Xiao Wu, my son, that you have found this place is both coincidence and fate. It proves you have stepped into the world of cultivation, no longer a mere mortal. Only two people can break this residence’s seal: you and your father. Hearing my voice means you are truly my son.

“Before your father left, he used innate alchemical materials to forge this jade slip. It seeks its true heir only among direct bloodline relatives. No matter how powerful others are, they cannot read my words.

“By the time you hear my voice, I have already perished in both form and spirit. Do not grieve. Though my cultivation was low, I understood the impermanence of cultivation. Over the countless millennia, millions have trod this path, but few attain the ultimate way. My only wish is for your safety on your cultivation journey.

“Your father’s status was special, so he could not accept us. He left us unwillingly. I, weakened by my body and childhood injury, knowing my days were numbered, wrapped you in the Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasure— the Universe’s Origin Bag—and threw you into the Blood Severance Void during a meteor shower, hoping a capable soul would find you and raise you.

“In my room are several treasures your father left to protect me. They are valuable in this realm, but I cannot wield them. Take them and study.

“Lastly, remember this: if you become a mighty sovereign, you may meet your father again. Never make things difficult for him. He has his reasons.

“Remember well!

“My prayers will follow you always, wishing you a smooth and safe life.”

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Though Lei Xiang knew this was not his biological mother, but rather the mother of the world’s “Lei Xiang,” he was deeply moved by the genuine love conveyed in the words. Maternal love—the most selfless, greatest love in the world. This young mother deserved the highest respect.

After his reflection, Lei Xiang composed himself and faced the red bellyband with a wry smile. “This unremarkable thing is actually a Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasure. Searching my mind for the inheritance, this Universe’s Origin Bag can contain all things and mask aura—truly a marvelous auxiliary treasure. I wonder what other treasures my ‘mother’s’ chamber might hold. This is worth looking forward to.”

Calmly, he entered the side room with the lifted curtain and was stunned. An ordinary boudoir, yet on the bed sat a frail young woman. She was motionless, her expression both solemn and tender. This must be his “mother.” Lei Xiang made up his mind: since he had accepted this body, he would accept this mother as well.

He straightened his clothes and bowed deeply three times. As he rose, the woman on the bed dissolved into the wind, leaving only a delicate makeup box. Lei Xiang sighed heavily and gently opened the box.

Inside were: a small bottle, a beast-hide-bound book, a pouch of sandy material, and a jet-black orb.

Also within the box was a jade slip. Pressing it to his forehead, Lei Xiang understood their uses. The small bottle, made of an unknown material, contained three breakthrough pills. When cultivation hits a bottleneck, taking one might raise the chance of breaking through by three to five levels—suitable for Nascent Soul and below. The booklet was a rare manual titled “Jade Maiden’s Heart Classic.” His “mother” had only managed to cultivate its beginning due to her constitution. The pouch contained “Tailwind Sand,” an innate-grade alchemical material that could be forged into magical tools to enhance wind attributes, increasing their speed several times over. The jade slip did not mention the purpose of the jet-black orb. Outside, the landscape painting that had previously captured Lei Xiang was also a treasure—the “White Mountains and Black Waters Map.”

At the jade slip’s end, a warning urged Lei Xiang to leave quickly. Someone had entered the immortal residence, triggering its defense. Within eight hours, it would sink underground and reseal. With his current cultivation, Lei Xiang had no strength to break such a seal and must depart swiftly.

Blue light flickered in Lei Xiang’s eyes as he surveyed the other rooms, gathering all useful items into his storage bag. After all, this was his “mother’s” immortal residence, and he was its master now—taking what he wished was only natural.

As he closed the main hall’s door firmly, Lan Xi rushed over, holding a small water basin excitedly. “Lei Xiang, look what treasure I found!”

Lei Xiang smiled faintly. “Yes, a fine treasure indeed. But time is short. We must leave within half an hour. You and Tian Rui split up and gather whatever treasures you find. Meet back here at the hall entrance in half an hour.”