Finally, on a certain night a month later, Gu Sheng suddenly sensed something. He abruptly opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the original stone. The rough surface of the original stone began to peel away, revealing a crystal-clear jade-like stone underneath. Within the jade, it seemed as if a tiny lifeform was writhing, exuding an overwhelmingly powerful aura.
"This is..." Gu Sheng exclaimed in shock, his face filled with disbelief.
In the poetic and picturesque garden of the Yaochi Secret Realm, radiant light flickered, and Immortal Energy swirled.
Gu Sheng stood with a sharp stone-cutting knife in his hand, deeply focused on analyzing a seemingly ordinary original stone.
This original stone was something he had recently stumbled upon in the ancient mining area. Though it appeared unremarkable on the outside, he had a persistent feeling that it hid an unfathomable secret.
As he carefully carved away the stoneâs outer layers, strange light suddenly surged within the original stone. The light grew brighter and brighter, as though something was about to break free. Gu Shengâs heartbeat sped up, and his hand unconsciously paused, the knife hovering still.
At that moment, the Yaochi Saintess arrived, having followed the sound. She wore a flowing white garment, appearing like a celestial being descending to the mortal world. Seeing the strange light emanating from the original stone, she gasped into her hand, exclaiming, "My heavens, itâs... a baby!"
Gu Sheng nodded solemnly, saying, "Exactly, this is what I was worried about. The aura from this infant is growing increasingly powerfulâI can even feel the oppressive might emanating from him. If we force him out now, it might trigger unforeseeable consequences."
The Yaochi Saintess furrowed her brows, hesitating for a moment before saying, "Iâve heard legends that the ancient mining area harbors secrets of the past. Could this infant be connected to those secrets?"
"Itâs very possible." Gu Sheng took a deep breath. "I once read in an ancient tome about the legend of the Ancient Divine Infant. Itâs said that once such an existence awakens, they will possess the power to upend heaven and earth. But now, itâs clear that he is not yet ready to cross into this world."
The Yaochi Saintess gently held Gu Shengâs hand, her eyes shining with determination. "Then we must do everything in our power to protect him until heâs ready."
Gu Sheng felt the warmth of her palm, and a sense of reassurance surged through him. He nodded, saying, "Yes, we cannot allow him to come to harm. But the question isâhow can we seal his power and ensure he doesnât awaken prematurely?"
The Yaochi Saintess pondered for a moment. Her eyes brightened with a sudden realization. "Perhaps we could use the power of the Yaochi Secret Realm to seal him. This realm is imbued with endless Immortal Energyâit should be able to suppress his power."
Gu Shengâs eyes lit up at her words. "Thatâs an excellent idea! Thereâs no time to loseâletâs begin immediately!"
The two exchanged a smile, their hearts filled with unspoken trust and understanding. Together, they began casting spells, carefully placing the original stone at the core of the secret realm.
As their Mana flowed continuously into it, a faint layer of Immortal Energy began coalescing around the original stone. The energy, like gentle ribbons, softly entwined the stone, firmly sealing the mysterious power within.
In that moment, the infant inside the stone seemed to sense something, letting out a faint cry. The sound was weak, yet it carried an immense sorrow and defiance.
Both Gu Sheng and the Yaochi Saintess felt their hearts tighten, but they knewâthey could not allow this mysterious being to descend into the world just yet.
With time, the seal gradually stabilized. Both Gu Sheng and the Yaochi Saintess finally breathed a sigh of relief, sharing a quiet moment of jubilance. They knew they had just accomplished something extraordinary.
"Thank you." Gu Sheng looked at the Yaochi Saintess, his eyes filled with gratitude and reverence. "Without you, I donât think I couldâve completed this seal."
The Yaochi Saintess gave a soft smile and shook her head. "It was our duty. Still... I canât help but worry about what kind of impact this mysterious being might bring."
Gu Sheng pondered for a moment, then said, "Whatever the future holds, we must face it bravely. For now, at least, weâve bought him the time he needs to grow."
Standing side by side, the two gazed resolutely toward the secret realm.
In the days that followed, Gu Sheng and the Yaochi Saintess visited the secret realm regularly to check on the condition of the original stone. Over time, they noticed that the aura of the infant within the stone gradually stabilized, as if slipping into a deep sleep.
Just when they thought everything was under control, however, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
One day, Gu Sheng went to the secret realm as usual to inspect the original stone, only to find that the Immortal Energy within the realm had suddenly grown chaotic. His heart clenched, and he immediately summoned the Yaochi Saintess.
When the Yaochi Saintess arrived, they saw that the Immortal Energy around the original stone had formed a massive vortex. The cries from the infant inside the stone had become incomparably loud, as if it might shatter the entire realm.
"This is bad! The seal is failing!" the Yaochi Saintess exclaimed.
Gu Sheng gritted his teeth and poured all his strength into stabilizing the seal. The power was so intense that it felt as though he might be blown away at any moment.
At that critical juncture, the Yaochi Saintess appeared by his side. She grasped his hand tightly, channeling her Mana into the seal without hesitation. With their combined effort, the seal gradually steadied.
Just as they exhaled a breath of relief, the infant inside the original stone suddenly fell silent.
"Swish!"
In the next instant, a brilliant beam of light shot out from the original stone, piercing straight into the heavens. As the light illuminated everything around it, the entire secret realm seemed to be bathed in golden radiance.
Once the light faded, Gu Sheng and the Yaochi Saintess were stunned to find a crack had formed in the stone.
And from that crack, a tiny hand stretched out! The hand was white and tender, as smooth and delicate as polished jade. Following it, an adorable infantâs face emerged from the crack, his dark, glimmering eyes brimming with curiosity as he observed the world around him with unbridled wonder.
"He... heâs out!" Gu Sheng exclaimed in astonishment.
The Yaochi Saintess was equally startled. "Whatâs going on? We didnât undo the seal!"
Yet as they carefully studied the infant, they realized he wasnât emitting any overwhelming aura. Instead, he appeared just like any ordinary babyâharmless and endearing. Both of them sighed in relief, only to be overcome by a deep and unexpected warmth. This mysterious and powerful being had chosen to enter the world in such an innocent and gentle manner.
They tenderly lifted the infant from the stone, wrapping him in soft cloth. In that moment, they felt as though they had become the happiest parents in the world, their faces shining with gentle and doting smiles.
"It seems he has chosen his own destiny," the Yaochi Saintess said softly. "Perhaps, this is the best path for him."
Gu Sheng nodded. "Indeed. Who couldâve imagined? This tiny life contains such immense power and wisdom. Now, he can finally grow and thrive freely in this world."
The two exchanged a look, their eyes filled with unspoken emotion. In their arms, the infant, freshly emerged from the stone, gazed up at the world with pure and innocent eyes.
"Papa!" the infant suddenly called out in a crisp, bell-like voice, leaving the two adults utterly dumbfounded.
Gu Shengâs eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the talking infant. "You... you just called me what?"
"Papa!" the infant repeated with a sweet, innocent smile. "Youâre my Papa, arenât you?"
The Yaochi Saintess was equally astonished. In a soft voice, she asked, "Little one, how can you speak? Where did you learn that?"
The infant tilted his head thoughtfully before replying, "I donât know. It feels like Iâve always known how to talk. As for where I came from... hmm, I think I come from a very ancient place."
"An ancient place?" Gu Sheng and the Yaochi Saintess exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion and intrigue. They both knewâthis child was anything but ordinary.