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 stone’s 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 Sheng’s 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, it’s... a baby!"
Gu Sheng nodded solemnly, saying, "Exactly, this is what I was worried about. The aura from this infant is growing increasingly powerful—I 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, "I’ve heard legends that the ancient mining area harbors secrets of the past. Could this infant be connected to those secrets?"
"It’s very possible." Gu Sheng took a deep breath. "I once read in an ancient tome about the legend of the Ancient Divine Infant. It’s said that once such an existence awakens, they will possess the power to upend heaven and earth. But now, it’s clear that he is not yet ready to cross into this world."
The Yaochi Saintess gently held Gu Sheng’s hand, her eyes shining with determination. "Then we must do everything in our power to protect him until he’s 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 is—how can we seal his power and ensure he doesn’t 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 Energy—it should be able to suppress his power."
Gu Sheng’s eyes lit up at her words. "That’s an excellent idea! There’s no time to lose—let’s 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 knew—they 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 don’t think I could’ve completed this seal."
The Yaochi Saintess gave a soft smile and shook her head. "It was our duty. Still... I can’t 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, we’ve 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.
Yet as they carefully studied the infant, they realized he wasn’t emitting any overwhelming aura. Instead, he appeared just like any ordinary baby—harmless 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 could’ve 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 Sheng’s 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. "You’re my Papa, aren’t 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 don’t know. It feels like I’ve 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 knew—this child was anything but ordinary.

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