To eat or not to eat, Li Si pondered seriously for a long moment before resolutely deciding: fortune comes with risk. Since she had the chance to obtain this heaven-defying space, she decided that her life would follow an extraordinary path! To be a strong person, there must be trade-offs between gain and loss!
Sitting cross-legged on the green land, taking a deep breath, Li Si swiftly placed the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit into her mouth. It melted instantly, and she felt an intense fragrance of mixed fruits burst across her taste buds. Shortly after, a surge of overwhelming heat waves enveloped her entire body, her meridians enduring its baptism. Her cold, aching body was instantly repaired.
As the heat waves rushed into her Dantian, the dense Spiritual Energy within the space surged toward her like a storm. Intense pain spread through her, as though all the meridians in her body were shattered and her bones fractured inch by inch. She couldn't help but cry out in pain, using memories of her previous life to distract herself from the agony.
The pain intensified until it was unbearable, and Li Si eventually lost control and slipped into unconsciousness.
In her dreams, she seemed to return to the past—a time when she wore Li Fei's old clothes and endured the isolation and rejection from those around her. Her second uncle and aunt's countless schemes, yes, and how could she forget her "dear boyfriend" Meng Zijun? He had once seemed like her salvation, the sun in her life, yet he turned out to be the one who hurt her the most. Only her best friend Bai Shasha had always treated her with genuine kindness.
As images flooded her mind, she finally understood how she had been sucked into this space through a rift. Thus, she obtained the space, though she wasn't sure whether to call this a blessing or misfortune.
If any cultivator were present at this moment, they would surely curse her wastefulness—squandering a priceless treasure. For a child without even a cultivation foundation to attempt bone marrow cleansing! Any cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Stage who consumed this fruit could easily advance three levels at the very least. Even a Qi Condensation Perfectionist couldn't use the fruit to reach Foundation Establishment but would still gain considerable cultivation progress.
Much, much later, black greasy filth began to ooze layer by layer from Li Si's body, encasing her entirely, making her resemble a black clay figurine. Slowly regaining consciousness, she opened her eyes to find the blue sky filled with drifting white clouds, lush green land stretching around her, and the gentle breeze stirring ripples across the river.
But the stench in the air nearly caused her to gag. It seemed that these were the impurities from her body. The Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit truly deserved its title as the king of sacred fruits.
She hastily headed to the riverbank, removed her clothing, and looked at the sticky black grease smeared on her garments. Covered entirely in foul-smelling black mud, Li Si silently stepped into the river.
After washing for a long time, her skin finally emerged smooth and translucent, glowing white. Staring at her reflection in the water, Li Si was stunned for a long while. Was this really her?
She felt as though she had transformed into a completely different person—flawless white skin, soft and delicate, now devoid of visible pores. Her eyebrows curved like crescent moons, her sparkling eyes reminiscent of stars, her dainty nose and rosy lips perfectly complemented her sharp chin. Even her previously rough and coarse black hair now reached her waist—silky, shiny, and flowing like a waterfall.
Looking again at the river, she was surprised to find it still clear and pure as before.
There was no way to wear her old clothes anymore, and she wasn't sure where she currently was outside this space. Regardless, her first task was to find new clothes.
With that thought, she immediately murmured in her heart, "Exit."
The sunshine outside was dazzlingly bright. Squinting slightly, Li Si found herself in a spacious room with a girlish décor—pink walls, a simple white wardrobe, a bed covered in pink bear-themed sheets. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the space warmly.
Opening the wardrobe revealed an array of pink dresses and skirts, but she opted for a pair of denim jeans and a white puff-sleeved top instead.
The reflection in the mirror seemed to carry an ethereal elegance. Li Si knew that going outside like this would surely invite attention. Such drastic changes often led to trouble. From the wardrobe, she finally found a pair of plain black glasses to obscure her glowing eyes and tied up her waist-length hair. Now, though still beautiful, her appearance was less astonishing.
Looking around the living room, with its familiar sofa and coffee table, she realized this was undoubtedly her old home. Although the apartment on the third floor, originally provided by her father's workplace design institute, was an old building, it remained her safest, warmest childhood memory. However, after her father Li Guoqiang passed away, this home was sold by her uncle Li Guofu, who handled the transaction for her aunt's brother.
Her thoughts suddenly struck her—she really had been reborn! A sharp realization dawned. "Dad," she murmured. If her father hadn't yet faced his unfortunate accident, she could seize this chance to change the past and prevent it from ever happening!
Rushing to the living room calendar, her excitement quickly turned to despair. Upon seeing the date: July 28th, 2004, she broke down crying. The 28th—Heavens above, if you've allowed me to be reborn, why not bring me back to a time before my father's accident? Then, she could stop him from going out that day, and the tragedy would never occur.
Recalling what happened later, she let out a bitter laugh. After her father's death, her aunt's family unveiled one vicious scheme after another.
First, citing her young age and need for schooling, they took her in "to care for her." Then, claiming it was unwise to leave the old apartment vacant too long, they sold it to her aunt's brother—for only 20,000 yuan.
Thinking back to those muddled days, tears welled up in her eyes. If the events that followed hadn't unfolded as they did, she would've still held hope for familial affection. Losing her mother at an early age and being raised solely by her father, she had always craved love and care.
But those people were ungrateful wolves unable to appreciate kindness. This time, Li Si vowed with determination—tit for tat, an eye for an eye. Never again would she be a fool!
"That's right, I need to check Dad's room."
Entering her father's bedroom, it felt simple—a bed and a cabinet. Many professional books lay on the bookshelf, while the desk was cluttered with her father's design plans. She gently touched the books he had read before, her heart aching as if he were still by her side.
Sorting through as she looked, she tried opening the desk drawer but found it locked. Her father never had a habit of locking drawers—could there be something inside?
Looking around in puzzlement, she searched for a key and noticed a white ceramic pen holder. Taking it into her hands, she discovered a small key hidden at the bottom. Inserting it into the drawer lock, she twisted it, and the drawer opened.
The first-tier drawer contained various diagrams, a seal, and a thick stack of cash; the second tier held some documents; and the third tier revealed an archive folder. Inside were the property deed for this apartment and the deed for a three-story villa.
The name listed was Li Si—wasn't this the home that had later belonged to her uncle's family?
Could it be?
She discovered a bankbook issued by the Industrial and Commercial Bank, along with a round jade pendant of bright green hue. Opening the bankbook, Li Si's breath hitched upon seeing the balance: 1.3 million yuan. Since when did her father have so much money?
In North City during 2004, even a monthly wage of over a thousand yuan was considered high income. Could it be? She delved deeper into her memories.
She recalled the chaos and grief during her father's funeral in her previous life. Rushed and distracted by Li Fei and her aunt's persuasion, she had gone to her uncle's house without even examining what her father had left.
No wonder when she returned a few days later to collect her clothes, all valuable items were already gone—only a few hundred yuan remained in the drawer. Her uncle and aunt must have taken advantage of her absence to clear out the valuables ahead of time! When asked about the money, they firmly stated that only those few hundred yuan had been found.
She also remembered how, one night before the tragedy, her father had excitedly told her about selling stocks for a profit, promising to buy her whatever she wanted.
This time, she wouldn't let them hurt her again. She wouldn't be a pushover. Packing everything from the drawer into the archive folder, she stored it in the space before turning to organize her father's books and design plans.
"Knock, knock, knock." A sound came from the door. Who could be here? Confused, she walked toward the entrance.