The Awakening and the Forbidden Blessing

As consciousness slowly seeped back from the encroaching darkness, Ziyao felt as though she had been trapped in an impossibly long dream.

It was as if a monstrous entity had dragged her into an abyssal chasm—a place where sunlight was an alien concept and only an oppressive, unending chaos reigned. Lost within that boundless, churning void, Ziyao’s consciousness began to fray, her very soul steeped in a profound, inky blackness.

“You’ve finally… returned…”

A chaotic, guttural murmur emanated from the nameless entity.

Yet, in the precise moment before her complete assimilation, a delicate thread of golden light pierced through the gloom, stirring her awake. The oppressive darkness retreated, and for the first time in an abyss that had known no glimmer of light for millennia, true illumination dawned.

Her soul gradually cleared, and that beam of light gently guided her upward, until her consciousness finally floated to the surface.

It’s you again… always you! But, one day, I will be free…

****

“Miss Ziyao, Miss Ziyao is awake… Quickly, inform Her Highness.” A hazy voice drifted into her ears.

Struggling, Ziyao opened her eyes, her gaze falling upon an unfamiliar ceiling. The opulent golden chandelier, the pristine white molding, and the pink quilt covering her all proclaimed that this was no place she knew.

A maid stood by the bed, appearing just as surprised as Ziyao felt.

“Could you please bring me some water?” Ziyao’s throat felt parched, as if it were about to ignite.

The maid hastily poured a glass of water, placed it on the bedside table, and then gently helped Ziyao sit up.

“Thank you.” The maid thoughtfully provided Ziyao with a straw.

Ziyao had intended to converse more with the maid, but a voice from outside the door abruptly shattered her plan.

“Ziyao!” Elena burst through the door, her face alight with palpable concern.

“Elena… Right, this must be your residence, then?” Ziyao quickly pieced together the situation after a moment’s thought. Her condition before falling unconscious had certainly made staying at Aiya’s villa unsuitable. Thus, there was only one other place she could be.

“It seems you haven’t become foolish.” Heaven knew how anxious Elena had been upon hearing of Ziyao’s incident. In Elena’s eyes, Ziyao was Aiya’s sole hope. Though cruel, it was the truth: if anything happened to Ziyao, Aiya would not escape. Thankfully, for now at least, Ziyao appeared to be out of danger.

“So, what exactly happened?”

When Ziyao had been brought here, her physical state was perilously close to death. Elena simply could not fathom how a Seven-Star alchemist could transform into such a ghastly state overnight.

“Ah, well, people sometimes act on impulse.” Ziyao offered a weak smile. “This time, I won.”

The magic array had been etched into her spiritual sea. Now, provided she had sufficient mana, she could unleash this forbidden spell in an instant.

“Blessing of the Flowing Lord” was the formal name of this forbidden spell. However, Ziyao secretly preferred to call it “The Lamb’s Sustenance.”

The effect of this forbidden spell was remarkably simple: as long as Ziyao’s mana was not depleted, all life within the magic’s area of influence would not perish. This included Ziyao herself. Furthermore, this forbidden spell possessed a passive ability: it would automatically activate, enveloping only her, if Ziyao sustained a fatal injury.

In essence, no assassin could now kill Ziyao before she could react. It was a simple, brutal, life-extending ability. Yet, it was incredibly practical. Had this magic not activated for a split second before she lost consciousness, Ziyao would likely be drinking Meng Po’s soup in the afterlife by now.

“I can now guarantee that Aiya will be safe until my dying breath.” A small, exquisitely crafted magic array flickered into existence in Ziyao’s palm.

“Heavens, is this… a forbidden spell?” Elena gasped, covering her mouth. “You were… creating a forbidden spell at that time?”

“Indeed.” Waving her hand, Ziyao dispelled the ethereal array, then coughed softly a few times. “It just came at a rather steep price.”

Her body was now riddled with countless internal wounds. Even after recovery, she might still be unable to engage in strenuous activities. In other words, she was now sicker than her own patients.

“But, Sage, how old are you, truly?”

“If I were to truly count, I might only be in my teens. But who can say for sure?” Ziyao herself was unsure of her exact age in this world. “Moreover, I am not yet a true Sage; my mana reserves are still insufficient.”

However, mana reserves were her only remaining hurdle. Her path to advancement was now unobstructed. Nevertheless, this future Sage-to-be still required ample rest.

Over the next few days, Ziyao experienced a taste of Aiya’s life herself. Someone fed her, someone carried her when she went out, and all she needed to do was call out if she needed anything.

“It seems you’ve been quite comfortable these past few days, my dear Sage,” Raphael remarked with a hint of playful teasing as she came to visit. However, seeing Ziyao in this state, her heart finally eased.

That day, when Ziyao collapsed with a smile, Raphael felt as though her world had crumbled. Not, of course, because she harbored any romantic feelings for Ziyao, but because Ziyao’s identity was far from simple. Such a young Seven-Star alchemist was the apple of the Alchemists’ Guild’s eye.

If Ziyao had perished in Aiya’s villa, Raphael felt she might have been torn to shreds by the furious Guild Master. After all, when Ziyao arrived in the Imperial Capital, the old man had personally sought her out. At that time, Raphael had confidently guaranteed that Ziyao would come to no harm.

“It’s just compounding a potion; there’s no danger. If anything happens to Ziyao, you can hold me accountable,” she had said.

Yet, that very night, something did happen.

Fortunately, the three powerful individuals guarding Aiya’s villa stepped forward to explain the situation, which finally placated the old man’s wrath. The old man had also experienced such breakthroughs himself, nearly dying during his own attempt to advance to Sage. So, after confirming that Ziyao was indeed out of life-threatening danger, the elder returned to the Alchemists’ Guild. He intended to personally concoct the restorative potions for Ziyao.

“You have no idea how much pressure I’ve been under these past few days.” Ziyao had been unconscious for four days. During this time, Raphael had to field inquiries from all directions daily. That morning’s frantic mana fluctuations made it obvious to anyone that something was amiss.

“Haha, that certainly sounds tough on you.” Ziyao offered an embarrassed smile. This incident was her doing, yet Raphael had borne the brunt of it.

“Don’t mention it. But, you should be a Sage now, shouldn’t you?”

“Yes, but Aiya’s situation will have to wait. I can barely even walk right now.” Ziyao gestured to her pale face.

“Ah, it’s fine; it wasn’t a major issue to begin with.” Raphael sighed helplessly. “It’s a chronic condition anyway; no need to rush.”

“By the way, do you want to see my forbidden spell?” Ziyao flashed a mysterious smile.

“Oh?” Raphael raised an eyebrow.

“This is my forbidden spell. Its effect is that as long as my mana isn’t depleted, no one within the magical area of influence will die.” Ziyao summoned the magic array once more, this time with an expression of profound pride.

Upon hearing Ziyao’s words, Raphael stood up in utter shock. Not dying? Was this not the domain of a deity?

“Blessing of the Flowing Lord—that is its name.”

“Blessing of the Flowing Lord… indeed, a fitting name for such magic.” Truly, only that particular deity could wield such a spell, Raphael mused.