Chapter 3 — Shattered Roots, Revealed Truths

"This situation is very likely a case of soul substitution." Master was struck as if by a physical blow to the chest. His face turned deathly pale, his eyes swirling with a mixture of agony and bewilderment. His pain did not stem from being deceived by a stranger, but from the haunting realization: if the person before him was not truly his daughter, then where was his real child? "If that girl has been usurped... then where is my own flesh and blood?" She had suffered so much, shouldered so many burdens, and yet, in her final moments, no one had come to save her. Her body stolen, her soul’s fate unknown—the mere thought of it made Master struggle for breath. If she were still conscious, would she be despairing as she watched her father dote upon the imposter inhabiting her skin?

Seeing his expression contort and the air around him turn sharp and frigid with murderous intent, I quickly reached out to restrain him. "Master, please, do not act rashly! Do not strike her down just yet! Perhaps we still have a chance to save the real little sister. We must force this creature to reveal the truth. If we allow her to continue using the sister's name to deceive the world, the true girl's reputation will be forever tarnished."

Master slowly began to regain his composure. He was a man who had always been the epitome of grace and tranquility, yet now, he wept openly like a child before me. Choked by grief, he began to recount the past—the story of himself and his late wife. "I first met her at a grand sect tournament. She was the rising star of all the great sects, while I was nothing more than an insignificant disciple from a minor school. Most disciples looked down on me, but she never did. When others bullied me, she drove them away and then tugged on my ear, scolding me: 'I can help you once, but not for a lifetime. You must learn to make yourself stronger!'"

I smiled softly, imagining that brave, righteous, and stern girl hidden behind a facade as radiant as the sun. Master continued, his voice heavy with nostalgia. "I was riddled with insecurity back then, and I could only bow my head and say, 'But my potential is so poor...' She wasn't angry; she just tapped my forehead and said, 'So what? As a practitioner, your heart must be still and your ambitions high. Even if your spiritual roots are dull and your talent ordinary, as long as you strive and act with kindness, you will not fall behind anyone else. If you look down upon yourself, then even the greatest talent in the world will amount to nothing.'"

A faint smile touched Master's lips, as if he were reliving that passionate youth. "Do you know? In that very moment, I fell for her. She was too wonderful—like a swallow in the spring—free, vibrant, and always carrying a clear sense of purpose. She was my guiding light."

"Later, I followed her advice, cast aside my distractions, and sequestered myself for fifty years. When I emerged, my cultivation had leaped two stages, entering the late Nascent Soul phase. The entire cultivation world was shocked. My reputation soared, and the first thing I thought of was to share the good news with her. On the way, I was consumed by a single fear—that she had forgotten me. Someone as brilliant as her must have had countless suitors. Yet, I had only met her once."

"I never expected that she would recognize me the moment she saw me. We eventually became the most renowned cultivation couple in the world." His gaze was filled with tenderness, yet marred by a hint of sorrow. "Later, I asked her why she chose me. She said it was because of my face, but she admitted that it was my steady heart and perseverance that truly convinced her I was worthy."

I suddenly understood and teased, "Oh! So it was love at first sight for her!" Master turned away, blushing, momentarily dispelling the heavy gloom. Of course, I knew the rest of the story. She was a genius who had saved countless lives, and when she passed, the entire cultivation world wore white in mourning. She had died saving a village from a blood-sacrifice ritual. Having just given birth to the little sister, her vitality was drained, yet she didn't hesitate. She descended from the sky to shatter the blood formation. When the evil cultivators turned their rage toward her, she chose to sacrifice herself to protect the innocent. When Master arrived, he found only ruins and a tattered piece of her robe.

The cultivation world had erupted in vengeance, and Master had led the charge to purge the Demonic Realm. It was only because of his wrath that the world was now at peace. The little sister's disappearance years ago had been the Demon Realm's final act of retaliation. Even after purging their lands, he had never found her. My master’s wife had been the white moonlight in everyone's hearts, which is why I hadn't blamed him for being so lenient with the imposter—he had always hoped she was the only piece of his wife left in this world.

Master forced a bitter smile. "Rest assured, my student. Tomorrow, I will settle this. That creature... will pay."

The next morning, the imposter entered the grand hall with a haughty air, greeting everyone as if she were truly the master's daughter. But as she approached him, she sensed something was wrong. His eyes were no longer filled with warmth, but with bone-chilling frost. She recoiled, unease rising in her heart, yet she forced a fawning smile. "Father, why are you looking at me like that? Have I done something wrong?"

Master struggled to contain the killing intent boiling within him. He took a deep breath, looked around the hall, and declared in a low, resonant voice, "Everyone, silence. I have a grave matter to announce."

The imposter reached out to pull his sleeve, her voice trembling. "Father, this is a great day. Can't this wait?" If this were the past, her show of vulnerability would have softened him. But now, he looked at her with pure disgust. "Precisely because this day is significant, I must speak. Tell me, girl, why have your spiritual roots been destroyed?"

The words struck the hall like a thunderbolt, and the entire assembly fell into stunned silence.