In a mysterious realm, a delicate balance existed between heaven and earth. The heavens rumbled, and dark clouds teeming with lightning tore through the sky. Amidst the chaos, a woman's silhouette stood resolute, defying the passage of eons. Suddenly, she swayed and coughed up blood. As she spoke, the tempest stilled, as though the heavens feared to interrupt her.
With a sigh, she muttered, "Even in my last breath, I cannot escape this wretched place. Since those ancient fools believe they can imprison me here until I perish from old age, I might as well go out with a bang." Smirking, she produced an archaic book emanating a formidable aura. Her energy burst forth, engulfing the book until it vanished. As her melodious laughter echoed, she faded away as if she had never existed.
In the year 68 of the Candalin calendar, a foreboding forest lay near the bustling city of Candalin. At its heart was a bottomless pit emanating a horrifying suction force, which the city's inhabitants deemed forbidden ground. The pit concealed an icy world, divided by countless barriers and magical arrays. A chilling scene unfolded on the ice floor, strewn with dried, twisted bloodstains.
A frail figure, clad in a heavy, dark coat, huddled in the pit's center. Her disheveled hair could not conceal her elegant face. Arms encircling her legs, her exquisite visage remained serene and expressionless. She persisted in this position, unmoving, as if life had abandoned her.
Suddenly, the entire forest trembled. Frightened birds and beasts fled, while the fabric of space fractured with a resounding boom. An ancient aura cascaded from an infinite, starry sky above the pit, and a transparent soul was thrust toward the young girl's forehead.
The girl convulsed as the soul merged with her. After a month, a triumphant laugh pierced the silence. "I, Nian Zhen, have survived!" Before Nian could fully comprehend her situation, a golden book materialized in her consciousness. A burly old man appeared and began reciting its contents in a cryptic language.
Pain wracked Nian's body as she screamed. It felt as though an entire library was being forced into her mind, leaving her no room to breathe. The torment persisted for hours, her teeth gritted in an attempt to endure the agony. The old man's voice, devoid of emotion, droned on: "Primordial Heavenly Scripture, Space Scripture." This was the last thing she heard before succumbing to the pain.
In Candalin City, the ground shook as an overwhelming pressure descended. Mortals and cultivators alike were crushed to the ground, unable to resist. Even the most powerful beings trembled in fear, their gaze fixed on the forbidden forest. Though the pressure subsided after a moment, many remained motionless, fearing the wrath of the terrifying presence. Deep within the city, the city lord ordered an investigation into the cause of the calamity.
Back in the pit, Nian awoke feeling invigorated, her previous injuries healed to an extent that even the most skilled alchemist could not achieve. Her meridians and bones were cleansed, and her newfound strength was palpable. As she rose, a torrent of new memories flooded her mind, revealing secrets about her current body and its history.
Standing at 170cm (5.5ft) tall, with piercing eyes and sharply defined features, Nian Zhen gained a complete understanding of her current form. She realized that the new memories had merged almost perfectly with her own. The seamless connection between Nian Zhen's memories and the young woman's resulted from the body already containing a part of her soul, which left her emotionless and mute. After her memories merged, Nian Zhen still couldn't figure out who had brought her to this place, as the person's face remained indistinct. It seemed that due to trauma, she was missing that crucial part of her memory, leaving her with no clear indication of who had done this to her.