Chapter 63: The Path of Rebirth (III)

"The price?" Lin Fan curled his lips slightly, his gaze becoming profound.

He knew that Bai Youyou was forcing him to make a choice.

The three-day time limit was like a sharp sword hanging over his head.

"What do you want me to trade with? Would you really name a price for the cost of my fate so casually?"

Bai Youyou withdrew her hand, her gaze flowing like water, carrying a hint of teasing and mockery:

"Lin Fan, there has always been an unfinished fate between you and me.

Don't you understand yet? I can give you a chance to live, but whether this life is worth continuing depends on your own performance."

She walked to Lin Fan's side, her lithe figure circling him slowly, like an elegant leopard circling its prey.

Her voice was like a gentle breeze brushing past his ear: "You once obtained my body, but what about my heart?"

"What do you want, Bai Youyou? Power? Authority? Or—me?" Lin Fan suddenly stood still, turned to face her directly, his gaze like a torch.

Bai Youyou stopped, lifted her head slightly, and a strange light flashed in her eyes. She smiled radiantly, the corners of her lips curling up slightly:

"You certainly have self-awareness. That's right, what I want is indeed related to you. However—"

Her smile gradually became meaningful.

"It's not this current appearance of yours."

Lin Fan's heart sank suddenly; he realized that what Bai Youyou truly wanted was likely not just a one-time surrender or a fleeting dependence from him.

"What do you want me to do?" he finally spoke, asking straightforwardly.

Bai Youyou smiled lightly, her eyes carrying a trace of imperceptible danger:

"Lin Fan, if you can take something from me, perhaps you can obtain the power to truly live. As for what that thing is, you have to discover it yourself."

Lin Fan frowned slightly, an uneasy premonition rising in his heart: "What do you want me to take?"

Bai Youyou's voice was like a gentle breeze, drifting over:

"My power, or—my heart."

The moment her soft words fell, the entire mountain forest seemed to fall into an eerie silence.

Lin Fan's heart jolted; he knew that the choice Bai Youyou gave was by no means a simple matter.

To take power from her meant facing an incomparably difficult challenge; as for taking her heart, it was even more unpredictable.

Just as Lin Fan fell into a brief contemplation, Bai Youyou suddenly waved her hand, the surrounding air instantly became heavy, and an invisible force enveloped the entire space.

Her bright eyes fixed steadily on Lin Fan, her tone no longer gentle, but revealing a trace of coldness:

"Lin Fan, three days is a very short time, and I don't want you to waste it on meaningless hesitation."

Her voice was like an alarm bell, striking directly at Lin Fan's heart.

Lin Fan took a deep breath, his inner struggle intertwined with a clear goal.

He knew that time waits for no one, Bai Youyou's challenge had already begun, and he had to find the answer within these three days.

"Fine," he said in a low voice, "I will find what you speak of and prove that I am worth living."

Bai Youyou's lips curled up slightly, seemingly satisfied with his determination:

"I look forward to your performance."

Bai Youyou let out a bewitching laugh that faded into the night, gradually moving away.

As the laughter faded, the surrounding space twisted again, instantly wrapped by an invisible force. Lin Fan felt a wave of dizziness, and when he could see clearly again, he was standing in a strange environment.

This was a vast bamboo forest, with a clear breeze blowing, bamboo leaves rustling, accompanied by a faint scent of bamboo that was refreshing and delightful.

However, Lin Fan did not relax due to this beautiful scenery; he knew that he must find what Bai Youyou expected in this unknown place.

"First, find a clue."

Lin Fan muttered to himself, thinking secretly in his heart. He looked around; deep in the bamboo forest, there seemed to be some flickering light and shadow, perhaps that was where the information he needed was.

As he stepped deeper into the bamboo forest, Lin Fan's heartbeat gradually accelerated.

He knew he was walking towards an unknown Domain, which might hide challenges or opportunities.

Suddenly, he felt a strong fluctuation of spiritual energy, as if something was attracting him.

"Following this power might lead me to a clue." He decided inwardly, then quickened his pace, heading towards the direction where the light and shadow flickered.

Passing through a dense bamboo forest, the view ahead suddenly opened up. What came into view was a clear blue lake, the surface like a mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, like a fairyland on earth.

In the center of the lake floated a dazzling spiritual flower, emitting a strong light, which was the source of that spiritual energy.

"This is the nirvana flower!" Lin Fan was surprised, turning his head slightly to gaze at the spiritual flower on the lake surface.

It was like a brilliant star, flickering with mysterious radiance.

Lin Fan was overjoyed; this nirvana flower could help people achieve Nirvana and Rebirth, it was definitely the key item for his resurrection.

Just as he was preparing to pick it, ripples suddenly surged on the lake surface, as if something was rising from the bottom of the lake.

Lin Fan's heart instantly tightened; his intuition told him that a new challenge might be appearing before him.

"Come on, let's see what you really are." He said in a low voice, slowly stepping closer to the lake, his gaze fixed on the water.

Under his gaze, the lake water gradually churned, and then revealed a silver Spirit Beast, elegant in posture, its whole body emitting a gentle radiance.

Its eyes were as bright as stars, revealing endless wisdom.

"Are you a Spirit Beast, or a guardian?"

Lin Fan asked, calculating in his heart that if it were a Spirit Beast, he would have to obtain it through battle, but if it were a guardian, perhaps fighting wouldn't be necessary.

The Spirit Beast floated on the water and spoke: "I am the guardian of the nirvana flower, the Star Silver Beast. If you wish to obtain the nirvana flower, you must pass my test."

Lin Fan smiled slightly, thinking to himself: "A test? Come on, I am ready."

The Star Silver Beast's voice was clear and solemn: "Your test will be a challenge of the heart.

Only by truly understanding your own heart can you pass this hurdle. Please answer my question: What do you desire most in your heart?"

Lin Fan's heart jolted, his thoughts instantly carried back to the past.

He had experienced countless battles and struggles, pursuing power and fame, yet at this moment he realized.

His deepest desire was actually simple and real—what he wanted, perhaps, was just a peaceful life that he could share with his beloved.

"What I desire is to be able to live peacefully with the person I love, no longer troubled by the disputes of the past." Lin Fan responded in a low voice.

The Star Silver Beast nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with his answer.

"Very well, having faced your desires, the next test is to face your past. Please be prepared, you will see your own memories."

Following the Star Silver Beast's words, the lake surface suddenly surged with waves, and scenes flickered in the water.

Lin Fan watched intently; the scenes contained his various past experiences, laughter, tears, pain, and struggles all replaying before his eyes.

He saw himself in his youth, sparing no cost for power, and also saw the tears shed for him by the woman he loved, and even saw his own lonely and helpless figure in a desperate situation.

All of this surged like a tide, causing an unspeakable pain to rise in his heart.

"Lin Fan, what do you really want?"

The Spirit Beast's voice came from the water surface again, seemingly probing his true inner desire.

"I want to go back." Lin Fan said in a deep voice, "I want her to know that I have never forgotten her; Lin Chen, Cuier, Meng Li, I will not give up on any of them."

A trace of sternness flashed in the Star Silver Beast's eyes, "What about Bai Youyou? What does she count as? Are you just playing with her?"

Lin Fan frowned, "It's clearly her playing with me! I was forced."

The Star Silver Beast continued to press, "What about Meng Li? Instructor Liu Qingwan, and those young female Disciples of the Xuanyin Sect, which one of them wasn't forced?

Does their fate have nothing to do with you? Do you really think you can stay out of their lives?"

Lin Fan's expression changed slightly, "Hmph, as a villain, this is my nature. Kill me or slice me, do as you please!"