The wind howled through the jagged peaks of the mountain, its eerie whistle cutting through the cold mist that clung to the ground. In the heart of the desolate expanse, a figure lay still, half-buried in the dark, damp earth. She had been sleeping for what seemed like an eternity, but now, something stirred within her.

Lin Xi opened her eyes.

The sky above her was a murky gray, and a chill hung in the air. She inhaled deeply, feeling the weight of her body pressing down on her. Power hummed faintly beneath her skin, but it was distant, like a fire not yet stoked. She rose to her feet, steadying herself as the cold wind whipped through her hair.

Her memories were fragmented—flashes of battles, faces, and moments of pain. Yet something else pulled at her consciousness, a sense of purpose, though it remained frustratingly out of reach.

As she took her first steps, the ground beneath her felt unstable, as if the mountain itself was rejecting her presence. The silence was suffocating, and for a brief moment, Lin Xi wondered if she was truly alone.

Lin Xi sat down on a nearby rock, the cold seeping through her clothes. The silence of the mountain was unsettling, but her thoughts were louder. Her memories were fragmented, pieces of her past lives flitting through her mind like ghosts. She remembered battles, victories, defeats—but nothing was clear.

Why had she reincarnated this time? What was her mission?

She reached into her robes and pulled out a small, ancient jade pendant. Its surface was smooth, etched with symbols she barely understood. It had been with her through countless reincarnations, a constant reminder of her purpose. The pendant pulsed faintly in her hand, as if sensing her confusion.

The Nine Heavens System Jiǔ Tiān Xìtǒng governed her world—a vast network of realms connected by the threads of fate. The system was responsible for maintaining balance, and it had brought her back once again. But something was different this time. The world was on the brink of chaos.

She closed her eyes, focusing on the pendant. A soft voice echoed in her mind, the voice of the system itself, reminding her of her objective: "You must level up. Unlock your power. The Nine Heavens are in peril."

Lin Xi opened her eyes, determination flashing within them. She knew she needed to grow stronger—much stronger. And she had to do it fast. The world was changing, and a great darkness loomed on the horizon. The Black Dragon Emperor Hēilóng Dì had returned, and with him came the promise of destruction.

Her destiny was clear, even if the path ahead wasn't.

But then, from the shadows, she felt it—an unsettling presence. Her sharp gaze flickered to the side as a low growl rumbled through the mist. A massive beast, its form shrouded in darkness, emerged from the shadows, its red eyes locked onto her.

Without hesitation, the Shadow Beast lunged.

Lin Xi reacted on instinct. She sidestepped, her body light despite the weight of her sluggish powers. Her hand crackled with energy, but it was weak, barely enough to summon a simple burst of force. She raised her palm, firing off a blast that barely grazed the creature's side.

The beast turned, enraged, and charged again. Lin Xi's heart raced. She needed to end this quickly, but her abilities weren't fully unlocked. She clenched her teeth, focusing on the faint power within her.

Just as the beast closed in, a blur of motion appeared before her. A figure materialized between her and the creature, his blade gleaming as he swung it in a graceful arc. The sword cut through the air with precision, striking the Shadow Beast directly in its chest. The creature howled in pain, disintegrating into nothingness as its body collapsed.

Lin Xi blinked, surprised at the sudden intervention.

The man stood tall, his figure cloaked in dark robes. His face was sharp, his eyes cold and unreadable. He sheathed his sword in one smooth motion, not sparing her a glance as he turned to leave.

"Wait," Lin Xi called out, her voice cutting through the silence.

The man stopped but didn't turn around. "You were reckless," he said, his tone neutral, though there was a hint of disapproval.

Lin Xi narrowed her eyes. "I didn't ask for your help."

He glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Whether you asked for it or not, you would have died if I hadn't stepped in."

There was a moment of tense silence before Lin Xi crossed her arms, studying him. "Who are you?"

He finally turned to face her fully, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Su Qinghe," he said simply, "and I have no interest in being your savior."

Lin Xi raised an eyebrow, her frustration clear. "Then why intervene?"

Su Qinghe's gaze flickered with something she couldn't quite place, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. "It's my duty," he said. "Your presence here is... disruptive. I'm tasked with ensuring that disruption doesn't throw the balance into chaos."

Lin Xi's frown deepened. There was something off about him. His words were formal, his demeanor cold, yet she could sense there was more behind his intentions than he was letting on.

"And what if I don't need your protection?" Lin Xi asked, her voice edged with defiance.

Su Qinghe stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Then prove it."

The challenge hung in the air between them, thick with unspoken tension. Lin Xi wasn't sure if it was a threat or a test, but she didn't back down. There was something about Su Qinghe, something familiar, though she couldn't quite place it.

Before she could respond, a sudden vision flashed in her mind—flames, destruction, and a man standing at the center of it all. It was Su Qinghe, but not the one standing before her. He was different, yet the same.

The vision vanished as quickly as it came, leaving Lin Xi slightly disoriented.

Su Qinghe's gaze sharpened, as if sensing the disturbance. "You saw something," he said, his voice quieter this time.

Lin Xi shook her head, trying to clear the fog from her mind. "It's nothing."

"Nothing doesn't look like that," he replied, his tone soft but firm.

Lin Xi remained silent, unwilling to reveal more. Whatever connection existed between them would have to be explored later. For now, she needed answers. She needed to understand why she had reincarnated, and why her powers were still dormant.

Su Qinghe turned, walking away. "I'll be watching," he said over his shoulder, his voice carrying through the wind. "But don't expect me to interfere again."

Lin Xi stood still, watching him disappear into the mist. His presence left more questions than answers, and she had a feeling their paths would cross again soon—whether she liked it or not.

With the Shadow Beast gone and the eerie silence of the mountain returning, Lin Xi set her sights ahead. Her journey had just begun, and she knew that whatever lay ahead, Su Qinghe would somehow be part of it.

And she wasn't sure if that was a blessing or a curse.