River Sage Lu had a very long, long dream. He dreamt of planting rice in the fields, dreamt of the clash of blades, dreamt of the Sect of the Ascended, of women, and of a great lake. <br><br>"Hand over the 'Moonlit Qi Absorption Technique' and 'The Moonlit Chronicle,' and we might only abolish your cultivation." <br><br>A melodious yet icy female voice echoed by his ears. River Sage Lu vaguely saw a hazy face, but nothing was clear. <br><br>...... <br><br>"Clang!" <br><br>A violent jolt roused River Sage Lu from his dream. <br><br>Vivid and dazzling colors swirled through his mind. River Sage Lu tried to open his eyes, to rise, but his body refused to obey him, as if paralyzed by some unseen force. <br><br>Suddenly, a radiant white light pierced through the dense darkness before his eyes. Though the darkness surged like waves, that beam of light stood resolute, eternal like the sun. <br><br>Countless golden incantations erupted from within it, stretching and twirling in the darkness, sprinkling across the sky like stars. <br><br>"So beautiful," River Sage Lu thought dazedly. <br><br>As the incantations grew denser, reaching what seemed to be a limit, he heard a sound like the shattering of glass. <br><br>The world brightened. <br><br>River Sage Lu gazed at a sky vast and blue as the ocean, an endless primeval forest, and, not far away, a crescent-shaped lake. Toward that direction, a streak of white light fell into the shimmering lake. <br><br>Below, there was a small cluster of huts topped with straw roofs surrounded by sprawling rice fields. <br><br>Amidst the chaotic perspective, he felt like a weightless sparrow, soaring past the small brown village and its rising smoke, skimming over a crystal-clear stream. <br><br>In a fleeting glimpse, River Sage Lu saw his reflection in the river. <br><br>"It looks like something round and shining..." River Sage Lu thought in confusion, a vague foreboding creeping into his mind: <br><br>"Am I no longer human?" <br><br>"Splash!" Another violent jolt struck. River Sage Lu sank quickly into the water. The shallow river could not cushion all the impact, and he gently bumped into a green stone at the riverbed. <br><br>The collision felt like a punch to his chest, leaving him short of breath. Yet, his body used the river's turbulent currents and the rebound from the impact to flip itself upright, now face-up, gazing at the sun rippling across the river's surface. <br><br>"Wasn't I staying up late revising a proposal in my rented apartment?" <br><br>River Sage Lu silently stared at the sun reflected on the river’s surface. The swirling water caused the light patterns below to twist and bend. <br><br>He tried to recall his past. His head throbbed intensely. All he could remember was collapsing onto his bed, utterly drained, with smoke and neon lights drifting past his rented apartment. <br><br>He had opened a beer, sat at a dim computer desk, and as dizziness overwhelmed him, his heart raced and his breaths grew labored. <br><br>"Did I... die?" <br><br>"This isn’t so bad, though, not worrying about the future or about life itself." <br><br>Perhaps it was the release of long-suppressed emotions, but such thoughts surfaced in River Sage Lu's mind, and he even felt a twinge of elation. <br><br>Surveying his surroundings, he noticed the dark green treetops suspended with aerial roots overhead, nimble fish darting swiftly past, and the faint sounds of water splashing. <br><br>River Sage Lu sighed: <br><br>"But this would surely drive me mad with boredom if it continues." <br><br>So, he stared blankly as the sun slowly descended from overhead, its radiant sunset spreading across the sky. The waters beneath the treetops grew dimmer and dimmer. <br><br>During this time, two fish curiously circled around him, and even a crab attempted to flip him over. <br><br>When the moon climbed above the treetops, its clear, gentle light spilled onto the river's surface. To his surprise, River Sage Lu felt a cool aura seeping into the riverbed, bringing with it a subtle comfort. <br><br>As he watched the moonlight gather above him, forming a soft, white lunar halo as if alive, River Sage Lu was stunned, his state of mind undergoing a drastic shift: <br><br>"What is this—Harnessing Cosmic Energy? Do immortals truly exist in this world, with mystical powers, demons, and spirits?" he thought in shock. "What have I become, The Soul of the Relic?" <br><br>A surge of curiosity and delight rose deep within River Sage Lu. That faint lunar halo seemed to have accumulated enough power, descending onto his body. <br><br>A chill enveloped him, and he fell into a state of semi-conscious meditation. <br><br>Time seemed to pass unnoticed as the aura grew thinner and thinner. Suddenly, River Sage Lu awoke with a start. The crescent moon had faded from the sky, and the sun had risen above the treetops, its warm morning light spreading across the river. <br><br>"That was fast." <br><br>River Sage Lu couldn't contain his joy. Carefully sensing, he indeed felt a faint airflow circulating within him, moving in a circular motion along the outline of his form. <br><br>Focusing his breath and mind, River Sage Lu could vaguely make out a gray-green mirror lying quietly at the riverbed beneath him, surrounded by colorful stones. A few fish were foraging nearby... <br><br>The river crab was busy digging at the side. His visible range extended around one meter, not very clear, reminiscent of watching an old, bulky television set as a child. <br><br>"So, this is what I am now," River Sage Lu chuckled bitterly. He deliberately directed the airflow to pause at the center of the mirror, which then emitted a faint glow. <br><br>"Other than glowing, it doesn’t seem to have much use." <br><br>"For now, I should focus on absorbing the Moonlight Glow. Maybe it will lead to some transformation." He devised a plan silently. "I don’t know the material of this mirror, and I have no idea how the outside world views sentient relics. I just hope I don’t get discovered by some cultivator and have my mind erased on a whim." )
