What is it that is making me feel so uncomfortable all over?!

  Huh?! That's not right.

  How could a tree yaokai have the feeling of being "jolted"?!

  My consciousness, which had floated far into the clouds, gradually gathered back together, urging me little by little to open my eyes—

  From the moment I could remember, I had never looked at the ground beneath me from such an intimate perspective.

  The yellowish sandy soil, holding rge and small dark brown stones, y right before my eyes; every inch of my skin could vividly feel the roughness and warmth emanating from the earth.

  What a peculiar sensation—something I had never experienced before.

  But in an instant, the fleeting confusion and excitement were repced by overwhelming astonishment.

  Propping myself up, I sat upright.

  The pebbles pressing against my palms stung sharply.

  I hurriedly pulled my hands back, gently rubbing them.

  Ah?!

  Hands?!

  When I realized that what y before me were not my slender, graceful tree branches but two living, human hands, I panicked.

  Lowering my gaze further, I saw fair, smooth skin, full breasts, long limbs, and the graceful curves unique to a woman extending across every part of my body. Wavy, dark green hair cascaded down in a messy tangle, trailing on the ground.

  Heavens, have I transformed into human form?

  Impossible! This must be an illusion born from the moment of death!

  Springing to my feet, I frantically looked around, trying to find a reason to convince myself that everything I was seeing was nothing but a mirage.

  The moonlight flowed like water, the mountain breeze whispered as always—everything was as it had been.

  It was still the familiar Mount Fulong, without the slightest difference.

  "This mountain is rich in spiritual energy; I intend to stay here for cultivation." The voice behind me was as calm as ever; yet to me, it was like a thundercp.

  Turning around, my vision was momentarily veiled by a pale green haze—a beautiful green gauze robe descended from the sky, gently wrapping around my bare body.

  "I grant you a human form, first because I cannot bear to see another vengeful spirit born and second because I do not wish for you to meet a tragic end. From now on, stay by my side as a maid," he said, his smile unwavering from beginning to end.

  He stood right before me, less than a step away. The strands of hair on my forehead swayed slightly from the breeze of his breath.

  In utter shock, I tilted my face upward to look at him, towering a head taller than me.

  My lips parted like those of a mute, but no words came out.

  "Your true form will no longer be visible to mortals. On Mount Fulong, there will no longer be a sacred tree to shelter the living. From now on, every year on this day, you must return to your true form and remain there for twelve hours before you can leave.

  Remember this well!" He turned to look at my "true form"—a tree now devoid of any extraordinary qualities—and solemnly warned me.

  I believed him. I was not in an illusion.

  "Who... are you?" I finally asked my first question in this entirely new identity.

  "Do you have a name?" He didn't answer but instead asked me in return.

  A name? I shook my head. I had never needed such a thing.

  "No?!" His brows furrowed slightly, as if deep in thought.

  Soon, he rexed, fixed his gaze on me, and said, "From now on, I'll call you Sha Luo."

  Sha Luo... Sha Luo...

  (T/N: 裟椤 (Shāluó): This is a transliteration of "Sā" (沙罗), referring to the Sal trees (Shorea robusta), which are significant in Buddhism.)

  I repeated those two words in my mind: Sha Luo. Why this name? It sounded so strange.

  But I liked it.

  He had fulfilled my dream and even given me a name.

  In just one night, I had been granted such an extraordinary miracle.

  "Who are you?" I asked again, this time while I could still contain the overwhelming joy in my heart.

  "In the presence of the Heavenly Emperor, I serve as the Water Lord of the Four Directions. My name is Zi Miao."

  The Water Lord of the Four Directions? What kind of god was that? A minor immortal or someone of high rank and great authority? Unfortunately, I knew very little about the matters of the celestial realm. His brief and straightforward response only added more questions to my mind.

  "Hehe, don't just stand there in a daze. Come with me," he said, gently patting my head like a kindly elder. "From now on, train alongside me. Strive to have your name inscribed in the records of eternal life in the celestial realm and achieve your destiny. Don't let your innate spiritual energy go to waste."

  With that, he began walking toward the far side of the mountain peak.

  Cultivation? The Record of Eternal Life?

  I couldn't fully grasp his meaning, but I understood one thing—I was important to him.

  So, I carefully lifted my foot and took the first step I had longed for, filled with joy and anticipation as I followed him.

  From now on, there would be one less captivating tree yaokai on Fulong Peak, and one genuine immortal would be present, along with a bewildered little servant girl following by his side.

  On that quiet, fleeting summer night, the unfathomable fate had already started to shift subtly...