Re-birth: The Beginning after the End - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: WORLD KNOWLEDGE PART 3

Her mother’s smile deepened, her eyes twinkling with the same mysterious light that often danced in their father’s gaze. “Such questions,” she said softly, “are like the realms themselves—their answers reveal themselves only when we are ready to understand them. As you grow in wisdom and strength, many mysteries will become clear.” She raised her hand, and unlike their father’s water display, green tendrils of wood essence spiraled upward, intertwining with dancing flames that cast a warm, golden light across their faces. The combination created an enchanting display that seemed to pulse with life itself. “For now, shall we explore the Third Realm? The Profound Valley holds wonders that few have witnessed…”

Li Wei and Li Hao immediately leaned forward, their earlier question forgotten in their excitement to learn about the higher realms. Like father, like sons—both could apparently be distracted by something shiny.

Li Hua, however, noted the elegant deflection with silent appreciation. Her mother had managed to redirect their curiosity without dismissing it entirely—a masterful technique that Li Hua’s mind recognized as particularly skillful parenting.

Still, she allowed herself to be swept up in her brothers’ enthusiasm, playing her role as the attentive daughter while filing away this small interaction for future contemplation. After all, she didn’t become CEO of a multi-billion dollar empire—without learning to recognize a professional dodge when she saw one.

Their mother reached behind her, breaking off a slender branch from the plum tree with practiced grace. Laying it flat across her palm, she held it before the children, who watched in wonder as verdant spiritual energy began to suffuse the wood. The branch responded to her power, growing and twisting with deliberate purpose. Its transformation accelerated until it expanded to the size of Li Hua herself, sprouting legs that anchored firmly to the ground and developing a broad, flat surface that began to take shape into a spectacular display.

What emerged was a living map of the Profound Valley, and “profound” seemed an inadequate word to capture its majesty. Countless unlit lanterns adorned the miniature landscape, their delicate forms promising a spectacular display to come. They hung at varying heights—some mounted traditionally on buildings and posts, others suspended mysteriously in mid-air without any visible support, floating freely like earthbound stars.

As their mother traced delicate patterns in the air, each tiny lantern kindled to life in succession, their warm light reflecting off every surface. The siblings gasped in unison as the display transformed, mesmerized by the chains of light weaving between buildings and across vast spaces, each lantern connecting to the next until they formed an intricate web of light that resembled a constellation brought down from the heavens.

But it was the realm’s foundation that truly captured their attention. Through their mother’s mastery of wood essence, the living display showed how channels of deep, azure water flowed where one might expect streets or pathways, creating a network of liquid roads that connected the realm. These waterways, though crafted from animated wood, perfectly mimicked flowing water, their surfaces so still and clear they mirrored the lanterns above, creating an infinite dance of light that seemed to stretch endlessly in both directions.

Hovering gracefully above these liquid channels, elegant courtyard homes and shops defied gravity, each structure perfectly balanced on invisible foundations of spiritual energy. Ornate bridges of carved stone and polished wood connected these floating dwellings, creating intricate neighborhoods that seemed to dance above the flowing waters. At the heart of it all, suspended like a jewel in the realm’s crown, the Grand Market sprawled across multiple floating platforms—a magnificent bazaar where countless pavilions, their roofs adorned with swaying lanterns, offered treasures from every corner of the cultivation world.

Li Hua watched her brothers’ jaws go slack with amazement as they beheld this impossible city where water replaced earth as the foundation of daily life. Even she found herself genuinely impressed by the architectural audacity—a realm built entirely atop endless waterways, crowned by an eternal tapestry of light, where life itself seemed to float between water and sky.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” her mother’s soft voice carried a note of pride.

The siblings nodded.

“This,” their mother gestured to the living map before them, “is Profound Valley, the true middle realm.” Her fingers traced the flowing waterways as she spoke. “Here, spiritual essence flows like these rivers themselves—constant, deep, and ever-moving.” With graceful movements, she summoned rings of fire that illuminated eight distinct locations across the display. “Each realm follows its own path of governance,” she explained. “While Imperial families rule the Mystic Veil, and cultivation sects command the Ascending Plateau, Profound Valley is guided by the Eight Great Houses—families whose talent, prominence, and renowned mastery have shaped this realm for countless generations.”

One by one, she began to name them, each pronouncement extinguishing its corresponding circle of flame: “The Su Family… The Chen Family… The Liu Family… The Zhang Family… The Zhou Family… The Wang Family… The Yang Family…” Only one circle remained, burning brighter than all the others had. Her mother’s fingers traced its glowing embers, causing small sparks to dance in the air. “And then there is the Mo family,” she continued, her voice carrying both respect and wariness. “While other families hide their abilities, the Mo family’s power is impossible to conceal. They are the only family whose influence extends beyond Profound Valley itself. Their mastery over spiritual essence is so profound that even the immortals in the realm above acknowledge their authority.”

“One word of warning,” her mother’s voice grew serious, her fingers skimming just above the miniature waterways. “If you ever find yourself in Profound Valley, learn to walk on water or swim fast. The rivers may look appealing, but even the Eight Great Houses don’t dare to simply jump right in.”

Out of the corner of Li Hua’s eyes, she saw her brothers slightly shivering, their focus fixed on the water. She couldn’t help but smile.

“Little Firefly, are you taking this all in?” Li Hua asked in her thoughts.

“Master,” Little Firefly’s voice resonated in Li Hua’s mind with firm conviction, “these layered realms are truly fascinating, but quite different from my world. We had clear boundaries—the human realm stood firmly below, the heavens towered above, each absolute in its place. The dormant realms that occasionally revealed themselves were like hidden paths between the two, but nothing like this elegant arrangement before us. And then,” his mental voice took on a darker tone, “there was the realm of the dead. Not a place of mysteries, master, but a realm of absolutes—evil cultivators crafting their dark arts, ghost cultivators drifting through the void, and demons prowling their territories. Each knew their place, their purpose. But these realms here?” His presence brightened in her consciousness, “They stack upon each other like steps to the heavens themselves.”

Li Hua pondered Little Firefly’s words, feeling the weight of wisdom in his observations. Indeed, these realms were like a delicate dance of shadows and light, each layer bleeding into the next with subtle grace. Unlike the stark divisions of Little Firefly’s world, here the boundaries shifted like morning mist, requiring careful navigation and deep understanding.

“How about we take a break?” Her mother gently tapped Li Hua’s nose. “It’s still your birthday, after all. Let’s prepare a sumptuous feast to celebrate.”

Her brothers rose from their cushions quickly, smiles on their faces as they stretched their legs and arms.

“Come on, Sister!” Li Hao called out eagerly as he followed behind Li Wei and their mother, who were already making their way toward the kitchen.