Chen Tian looked at the Evil Spirit Orchid before him. Before the Evil Spirit Orchid transformed into a member of the Evil Spirit Race, Chen Tian needed to completely kill it. The current Evil Spirit Orchid's strength was enough to make Chen Tian fearful. The opponent had merged two origins just like Chen Tian. The Five Elements Longsword in Chen Tian's hand split into five different elemental longswords, coiling around him. Although the Evil Spirit Orchid possessed immense power, it lacked reason and the ability to think. Dealing with it would be a victory for Chen Tian with a little calculation.
The Evil Spirit Orchid gazed at Chen Tian, its mouth opening and teeth transforming into sharp fangs. A crescent moon mark served as its pupils. Its human appearance was gone as it let out a roar and charged straight at Chen Tian. The Evil Spirit Orchid knew only one thing: to kill Chen Tian. This will was ingrained in its very being, unmarred by its transformation into an Evil Spirit.
Chen Tian watched the charging Evil Spirit Orchid, his arm swinging. The longsword spun, forming a shield from six elemental swords. The Evil Spirit Orchid struck the shield with a claw, and cracks began to spread across the shield, threatening to shatter it. Chen Tian hadn't expected the Evil Spirit Orchid's strength to increase so terrifyingly. He unleashed a more powerful burst of energy into his arm, converging the elemental forces. With a boom, the shield exploded, sending both Chen Tian and the Evil Spirit Orchid staggering back a step from the blast.
Chen Tian stabilized himself. He had retreated a step with two-tenths of his strength unleashed, fighting at equal footing. This meant the Evil Spirit Orchid's strength was equivalent to his current full power. Chen Tian dared not delay. The opponent was not yet in its fully transformed Evil Spirit Race state. This was his opportunity while it was a half-Evil Spirit. Chen Tian unfurled five-colored wings from his back, infusing his body with the power of the stars to form Star Armor. The Chaotic Origin fused and connected the three types of energy. Chen Tian channeled all three energies at once.
The five-colored wings on his back flapped, soaring with a speed like extreme lightning. With a destructive glow, he instantly appeared behind the Evil Spirit Orchid. Clenching his fists, he unleashed his full power. As his fists swung out, the Evil Spirit Orchid, now no different from a wild beast, reacted instinctively. Its body twisted backward, and its claws lashed out. The collision of claws and fists sent waves of energy rolling, knocking Chen Tian away.
Chen Tian looked at the Evil Spirit Orchid, which had grown even stronger. He had to treat this seriously. His eyes turned gray and white, and his entire body was fully armed. Seeing Chen Tian, the Evil Spirit Orchid charged directly at him, disregarding everything else. Chen Tian, unwilling to be outdone, charged at it.
In a mystical space, Chen Tian and the Evil Spirit Orchid appeared like two streaks of light, their exact locations impossible to discern. One moment they were here, the next they were elsewhere, flashing four or five times in a single second. No one knew what transpired during this time.
When Chen Tian and the Evil Spirit Orchid reappeared, Chen Tian was covered in wounds, blood flowing from his body. A few drops of blood fell into the river below. Chen Tian didn't notice anything unusual within the river, nor did anyone else.
Chen Tian panted, "It has completely transformed into an Evil Spirit. What should I do?"
Chen Tian looked at the Evil Spirit Orchid before him. It was now a true member of the Evil Spirit Race, entirely different from before.
Its appearance was that of a complete Evil Spirit, its very origin blood and genes belonging to the Evil Spirit Race. Coupled with the Evil Spirit Orchid's previous cultivation and strength, Chen Tian was no match for it.
The Evil Spirit Orchid's eyes locked onto Chen Tian, and its form became a beam of light. Before Chen Tian could react, this light pierced through him. A concavity appeared on Chen Tian's chest, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
"No, I can't die yet!"
Chen Tian refused to die. If he died, what would happen to the world? To Earth? To his parents and sister?
He had responsibilities and obligations to fulfill. How could he end up here?
No matter how much power Chen Tian exerted, his body felt frozen, drifting towards the river below. With a splash!
His body fell into the river. Within the river, Chen Tian looked at the flowing water. It was beautiful, enchanting. It seemed this was to be his grave.
"Feng Chen, do you really have to go?"
"Why wouldn't I? I am the only one who can save this world and the universe."
"Can't you avoid reincarnation? I can't bear to part with you. I watched you grow up, and I can't let you go!"
"I know, Sister Shui Lu. You must wait for me. I will return to find you after I've completed my mission. I promise you."
"No, don't!"
Scenes flashed before Chen Tian's eyes. He watched them, his consciousness growing increasingly hazy. Memories from the river entered his mind, and countless points of light within the river flowed into his body. Chen Tian's injuries healed rapidly.
Chen Tian closed his eyes tightly, scenes flickering by. When he saw familiar people, a familiar village, a familiar place, Chen Tian opened his eyes. A majestic aura directly caused the entire river to tremble. The river seemed to fear Chen Tian. Chen Tian took a step and soared towards the heavens.
The river, no, this was the River of Time, containing all the memories of the universe, even the record of its birth. Chen Tian shot towards the sky. A colossal water curtain surged from the surface of the River of Time. The Evil Spirit Orchid, about to depart, turned to look.
Chen Tian stood before it, unharmed, his aura transformed. All heavens submitted, all paths bowed, like an emperor of the cosmos.
"So this was my first life."
Chen Tian's memories of his first life were restored. His first life was as someone from the Original Village, raised there. He had experienced much, but the Original Village had committed a transgression, and its people needed to atone. Chen Tian was the only one who could leave the Original Village.
Chen Tian had to undergo reincarnation. To save the world and the universe, he needed to complete eleven reincarnations, breaking the rules of ten reincarnations, and becoming an existence beyond them.
Heavenly Dao was nine, nine being the extreme; ten was completion; eleven was transcendence. He would not be recorded by the universe, nor exist in the River of Memory. The universe would have no record of him.
This was Chen Tian's goal. Only now did he recall the immense responsibility he bore.
The Evil Spirit Orchid, seeing Chen Tian, was about to attack. Chen Tian's eyes opened, and the Evil Spirit Orchid froze in place, its ability to act completely nullified.
Chen Tian said coldly, "Tian, whoever that person is, I will personally reclaim my family. Now, you shall die."
Chen Tian waved his hand, and a surge of immense power swept out. The Evil Spirit Orchid's body gradually dissipated.
Awakened to his first life, Chen Tian regained some of his power. His current strength was something the Evil Spirit Orchid could not contend with.
The Evil Spirit Orchid's form dissolved into countless fragments. This was not the end. Chen Tian extended his palm, and the countless fragments coalesced into a human figure. This would be the identity of the Evil Spirit Orchid in its next reincarnation—a mortal.
Chen Tian's first life was the Heavenly Venerable of Reincarnation. The people of the Original Village possessed the origin of the universe. Chen Tian mastered reincarnation. While Chen Tian reincarnated, Chen Tian existed. When Chen Tian no longer reincarnated, Chen Tian ceased to exist. The people of the Original Village could not die. This was the will of the universe.
For example, if a person from the Original Village mastered the Five Elements, and that person died, all Five Elements power in the universe would vanish, never to reappear. Everything related to the Five Elements would cease to exist.
The Original Village was of paramount importance, always hidden, and only its people could freely enter and exit.