Upon hearing Pei Yan's words, the young girl remained silent for a moment before murmuring, "Indeed, we were not vigilant enough back then. I never expected that man to have ulterior motives, but I have never been one to regret past actions. Now, you should know my true identity, right?"

"The source of another plane?"

"Yes, that's correct. I am the source of the Daoist Plane; you may call me Lin Ruxue. Consider it a privilege I've granted you." As she spoke, the young girl casually tossed the peach pit in her hand, which promptly disappeared into the air.

"Lin Ruxue?" Pei Yan was stunned upon hearing this name, also surnamed Lin. Could it be a coincidence? Or is there some connection between the sources? Could the sources of other planes also share the surname Lin?

Seeing the confusion in Pei Yan's eyes, Lin Ruxue spoke up, "How do you feel? Isn't it strange that I share the same surname as that person inside you? It's not as complicated as you think since I was the one who named her. It's a matter between the two of us and has nothing to do with the sources of other planes."

"You named her?" Pei Yan exclaimed in surprise, unable to comprehend the link between two seemingly antagonistic individuals.

"Yes, that's right." Lin Ruxue spoke while crossing her legs and resting her chin in her hand, as if recalling memories. She slowly said, "In worldly terms, during that initial period, I was both Lin Junzhao's friend and her mentor. I discovered her and guided her to learn and master her abilities." As she spoke, Lin Ruxue looked at Pei Yan, spread her palms, and smiled wryly, "You know, as beings of energy, our lives are practically infinite. To discover a young one of our kind in such a vast time span, there's an..." At this point, Lin Ruxue paused to consider her phrasing.

"Maternal instinct?" Pei Yan gently prompted.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruxue was momentarily taken aback, then pondered before smiling, "Yes, let's call it maternal instinct. It drove me to care for her and guide her to avoid taking the wrong path."

After hearing this, Pei Yan rubbed his chin in thought for a moment before asking in return, "So you two were very close, but she never mentioned you when she told me her story. How did your relationship deteriorate to this extent?"

Lin Ruxue sighed, rubbing her temples regretfully, "Of course, she wouldn't mention me; she probably hates me deep down. Just like with human children, there's a rebellious phase. When Lin Junzhao reached a certain age, she developed a rebellious attitude towards me. Initially, I thought it was an inevitable stage of growth. After all, I, too, had experienced such emotions in the distant past. But things developed beyond my expectations and out of my control."

Hearing this, Pei Yan finally showed interest. He enjoyed listening to the tales of such powerful figures having misfortunes. Watching Pei Yan's eager look, Lin Ruxue inquired, "You've heard Lin Junzhao's take on her relationship with you superhumans, right? What do you think?"

"A god?" Pei Yan hadn't expected the question to be thrown back at him. After pondering for a moment, he frankly replied, "According to her narrative, calling herself a god isn't entirely inaccurate."

"And are you aware of the event regarding the first invasion from another plane?" Lin Ruxue continued to press.

Faced with this leap in topic, Pei Yan furrowed his brow and continued, "Of course I know. On the first day I joined the Investigation Bureau, I was told this story—how a disaster was caused by powerful figures from another plane tearing through space barriers in a bid to surpass their limits."

"That's right. That's the widely known version of the story—the events are largely similar, with the main difference being that the truth is, the invasion wasn't launched by those powerful cultivators but was secretly instigated by us, the sources."

Seeing Pei Yan's unruffled expression, Lin Ruxue was taken aback, "Aren't you surprised?"

"Not really. I've suspected as much by now, and your words confirm my thoughts. But what I don't understand is how this relates to the breakdown of the relationship between you and Lin Junzhao. According to your story and hers, it was your invasion that facilitated her birth. She should be grateful to you. Or do you think she's become too powerful, potentially threatening your world, and decided to strike first?" Pei Yan shook his head and asked in return.

Lin Ruxue waved her hand, and a soft cushion appeared behind her. As she lay straight back and stretched out, she began to explain, "This is a long story that needs to be told from the beginning. Actually, those who thought they'd reached a bottleneck back then were none other than us, the sources. After gaining consciousness through the eons, we achieved powers akin to the divine, commanding the elements at will." Saying this, she lightly lifted her pale wrist, and the surroundings changed once again. The two found themselves in an expansive meadow. With a snap of her fingers, distant clouds began to gather, soon accompanied by thunderclaps. In the blink of an eye, heavy rain poured down beside the two, yet not a single drop touched them.

Pei Yan reached out to touch the falling raindrops, feeling the cool, refreshing touch. The fresh, post-rain air filled his senses, bringing a soothing feeling. Just then, Lin Ruxue snapped her fingers again, and the torrential rain halted abruptly. As the clouds dispersed, the dazzling sunlight bathed the earth, rapidly raising the temperature around them.

"As nature thrives!" With Lin Ruxue's words, the soil around them loosened and one sapling after another sprouted like bamboo shoots after a rain. Before long, the saplings had grown into towering trees, their thick canopies blocking the sun overhead. The specks of hot sunlight filtered through the foliage, falling on Pei Yan, while all around, the sound of birds and the fragrance of flowers painted a scene of serene delight.

"Even to the point of resurrection!" As the words left her lips, a small bird landed in Lin Ruxue's hand at her summon. Before Pei Yan could react, Lin Ruxue gently twisted the bird's neck, ending its life. She then presented the lifeless bird to Pei Yan for a closer look before blowing on it. The previously still bird flapped its wings and took flight again.

"Or bestow tremendous power upon it!" Having said this, it was still the same little bird in Lin Ruxue's hand. She gave it a mighty toss into the air, and the bird's form grew increasingly larger. By the time it reached the canopy, it had transformed into a brightly luminescent Fire Phoenix, letting out a cry as it soared through the canopy to the sky.

Watching the girl's grandiose display, Pei Yan commendably performed all the expressions a spectator should—astonishment, shock, awe, and reverence played in turns on his face. Seeing Lin Ruxue's satisfaction with his reactions, Pei Yan found it amusing. Indeed, this approach worked on them.

"As you've seen, this is but a fraction of my abilities. With such power at that time, our world truly swelled to unprecedented levels until we made that fateful mistake." Lin Ruxue said, sweeping her hand to restore the scene to the previous living room, her face showing a look of regret and remorse.

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