The endless Saint Ancestor Mountain Range stretched on, the sunlight piercing through the gaps in the mountains, shining into the deep gorge.
Even on the mountainside by the gorge, some snow still remained.
Though it was early summer, the cold here was especially long-lasting, and from time to time, the roars of demon beasts echoed between the mountains.
A magnificent city stood steadfastly on the plain within the gorge.
Beyond the Saint Ancestor Mountain Range, the world was already overrun by demon beasts, and the people here hadn't had any contact with the outside world for hundreds of years.
What had become of the outside world, no one in the city knew.
There were legends of humanity's most glorious times, possessing thousands of legendary demon spirit masters and martial artists, establishing grand empires across the vast continent.
But those empires had long turned to dust, vanished.
This city, due to its hidden location, became the best-preserved city from the Dark Era.
Though it occasionally faced assaults from powerful wind and snow demon beasts of the Saint Ancestor Mountain Range, it had been rebuilt again and again after facing near-destruction.
The mottled city walls stood as an immortal monument.
This city was called Glory City, symbolizing the hope of humankind.
At Saint Orchid Academy, in the beginner martial arts class, over thirty students sat upright, listening to a female teacher impart knowledge about demon spirits.
They were all martial artist apprentices and students of Glory City's Saint Orchid Academy.
"I heard the new Instructor Shen is from the Divine Sacred Family and is a Silver three-star demon spirit master!" Some students whispered among themselves.
All their eyes were fixed on Instructor Shen.
She was tall, wearing a light purple dress that hugged her curvy figure tightly, her ample chest high and proud, her long legs smooth and white.
Her face was adorned with exquisite makeup, making her appear beautiful yet noble.
However, her slightly slanted phoenix eyes exuded cold aloofness, and her every move seemed to keep others at a distance.
Her gaze was filled with seductive arrogance.
The Divine Sacred Family was one of the Three Peaks Families in Glory City, and Shen Xiu's noble background, along with her status as a Silver three-star demon spirit master, naturally granted her much pride.
As a Silver three-star demon spirit master, if not for her nephew Shen Yue being in this class, she wouldn't have come to teach.
"A demon spirit master stands above a martial artist, truly a noble existence. A demon spirit master can form a Soul Realm within the dantian, integrating captured demon spirits into it. In battle, they can summon the power of the demon spirit, wielding unmatched strength, a power far beyond that of a martial artist of the same rank," Shen Xiu said arrogantly with a slight tilt of her chin.
"Just like me, my demon spirit is the Flame Fairy Fox!"
As she spoke, Shen Xiu's face and hands started changing drastically.
Her eyebrows became longer and thinner, her face more pointed, her teeth extremely sharp, and her nails turned into claws, with a fiery red tail sprouting behind her.
"After fusing with the demon spirit, I gain the power, agility, and flame abilities of the Flame Fairy Fox. Among all demon spirits, the Flame Fairy Fox is a Gold-level beast, which means I can train up to a Gold-level demon spirit master! Of course, after reaching Gold-level, I can always change to an even stronger demon spirit."
Speaking of her own cultivation, Shen Xiu's face was filled with pride.
The students were awed by her words.
A Gold-level demon spirit master was a level many of them couldn't even dream of reaching in their lifetime.
While Shen Xiu lectured, sitting at the back row, Nie Li was in a daze, his soul wandering aimlessly in the void.
A sliver of piercing sunlight slowly made Nie Li open his eyes, and the sight before him left him bewildered and confused.
"Where am I?" Nie Li muttered in surprise.
He was astonished to find that his hands were smaller and his skin had become very delicate.
Instructor Shen was speaking with enthusiasm from the podium.
Nie Li clearly remembered that it was his first year at Saint Orchid Academy, and this female instructor was a Silver demon spirit master, extremely arrogant and rude.
Because of Shen Xiu, Nie Li didn't want to study diligently for a long time.
"Could it be that I've been reborn?" Nie Li was thoroughly shocked.
He had fought to the death against the Saint Emperor and six god-level demon beasts, only to be reborn back to when he was thirteen!
Nie Li turned his head, seeing familiar faces like Lu Piao and Du Ze, those brothers who had shared life and death with him, all still alive though looking very innocent.
And then there was her.
Nie Li turned to the left, just a few meters away, and a flawless, beautiful face came into his view.
Her name was Ye Ziyun, and though she looked just thirteen or fourteen, she was already blooming gracefully.
Her purple locks cascaded like a waterfall down to her waist, her arched eyebrows and bright, wise eyes sparkled with intelligence, and when she smiled, a pair of deep dimples appeared on her cheeks.
She still had a hint of childishness on her face, but Nie Li knew how enchanting she would become as she grew older.
She wore a white silk skirt, exuding a quiet and elegant aura.
From the time he was a teenager in his previous life, Nie Li was filled with deep admiration for her.
She had survived too.
Nie Li was incredibly excited, almost choking with emotion.
"I actually traveled back to the past, is this real? Not a dream?" Nie Li pinched himself hard, the sharp pain confirming this wasn't a dream.
He suddenly remembered something, "Right, it's the Temporal Demon Spirit Book, it must be the Temporal Demon Spirit Book!" He quickly looked around for it but couldn't find the Temporal Demon Spirit Book.
Nie Li couldn't believe such a bizarre event as rebirth happened to him, and it was definitely related to the mysterious Temporal Demon Spirit Book!
The Temporal Demon Spirit Book, who knew who created it, was an enigmatic object that Nie Li had always carried with him.
He distinctly remembered that during his battle with the Saint Emperor and the six god-level demon beasts, his blood had soaked the Temporal Demon Spirit Book.
It must be the Temporal Demon Spirit Book that brought him back to when he was thirteen again.
Seeing these familiar faces, Nie Li was lost in deep memory.
If it hadn't been for the fall of Glory City, if it hadn't been for that near-fatal escape, with Nie Li's awful talent and declining family background, he could never have gained Ye Ziyun's favor.
But afterward, they were again attacked by demon beasts, and Ye Ziyun sacrificed herself protecting him, dying at the claws of the demon beast.
That moment was one Nie Li couldn't forget.
After surviving countless near-death experiences, Nie Li lived on, crossing the Endless Desert.
Despite his poor talent, relying on his keen survival instincts, he traveled throughout the Saint Spirit Continent, meeting many people who fought against the demon beasts, encountering mysterious events, and, of course, the miraculous Temporal Demon Spirit Book.
Without it, Nie Li wouldn't have been able to return.
The mysterious Temporal Demon Spirit Book actually let me return to the past!
With Glory City destroyed, his parents, clansmen, and brothers were killed one by one.
Ye Ziyun also died on the road to escape.
"Since I've come back, given another chance by the heavens, I will never let the destruction of Glory City happen again!" Nie Li bit his lip, his heart resolutely determined.
He vaguely remembered, this was the year he had just enrolled, he should be thirteen.
Nie Li suddenly wished to laugh out loud, being back was so wonderful!
Saint Emperor, next time we meet, I will definitely defeat you to avenge old grudges!
In his previous life, if it hadn't been for the fall of Glory City, he and Ye Ziyun would have been from two different worlds, impossible to be together.
They bonded deeply during their time escaping together, otherwise, with Ye Ziyun's status as the daughter of Glory City's City Lord, it would have never been possible for her to be with someone from a declining family like his.
Furthermore, Ye Ziyun's grandfather was the legendary demon spirit master, Master Ye Mo!
Nie Li found out about all these things later.
When Ye Ziyun first enrolled, no one in the class knew her true identity.
Glory City had three major families: the Sacred Nether Family, the Divine Sacred Family, and the Snow Wind Family.
They represented the supreme authority in Glory City and were among the Three Peaks Families.
The City Lord usually hailed from one of these three families.
Following those were the seven prestigious families and beyond that were twenty noble families.
Nie Li's family, the Tianhen Family, was at the bottom of the noble families.
Though it still had some status, it was worlds apart from the Three Peaks Families and the seven prestigious families.
Given Nie Li's social standing, being with Ye Ziyun was seriously reaching too high.
However, Nie Li's eyes gleamed with determination.
Now that he had been reborn, would all this remain a problem? Although he had a poor foundation, with the knowledge from his past life, enhancing his talent wasn't impossible!
"Nie Li, why are you smiling?" asked Lu Piao, who sat beside him, puzzled.
He wondered if Nie Li had become a bit crazy as he had been grinning stupidly ever since, casting gleeful glances at Ye Ziyun.
"Just happy! It's so good to see you, my dear brother!" Nie Li excitedly wrapped an arm around Lu Piao's neck, a gesture they had been used to in their past lives.
Caught off guard by Nie Li’s sudden hug, Lu Piao grumbled discontentedly, "Hey, Nie Li, who’s your dear brother? You weirdo, let go of me!" He struggled in annoyance.
They had only known each other for a few days after enrolling, far from reaching such familiarity!
But Nie Li didn’t let go, laughing cheekily, and looked at Lu Piao with earnestness, "No matter what you think, in my heart, you are my darn good brother!" Of course, Nie Li couldn’t share the life-and-death past experiences they had endured together with Lu Piao.
Seeing Nie Li’s genuine expression, Lu Piao paused, Nie Li really wasn’t just saying it.
He couldn’t help but mutter, "Weirdo!" Still, Nie Li's words had touched him a bit.
Lu Piao gave Nie Li a side glance and muttered quietly, "I know you must be some noble scion from Glory City, but I have to advise you, don’t get any ideas about that girl. She’s very high-born and mysterious. It was the dean himself who arranged her dormitory when she enrolled."
Nie Li smiled lightly.
Lu Piao didn't yet know Ye Ziyun's identity, but he already knew.
However, Nie Li suddenly remembered that both he and Ye Ziyun were just thirteen!
This little girl Ziyun, when will she grow into that enchanting and beautiful woman? I will protect you as we grow up together!
In the distance, seemingly sensing something, Ye Ziyun glanced over at Nie Li, lightly furrowing her brow, her clear eyes showing a hint of impatience.
To her, Nie Li must have been a conceited noble scion who had been shamelessly eyeing her since earlier.
If Nie Li dared to make any advances, she would certainly make him pay!
Ye Ziyun didn’t wish to reveal her identity and wanted to make friends with her classmates, but that didn’t mean she would tolerate being bullied!
(End of Chapter)