Xue Yunxue managed to leave the Forbidden Forest safely.
Inside her storage space were numerous monster soul cores—harvested from the weak creatures she had encountered along the way. Low-level mutants, easy to kill. The soul cores shimmered faintly, still carrying remnants of life energy. She had also collected several magical items from the forest that, according to Moa, could be exchanged for a considerable amount of money.
With these resources, she no longer had to worry about survival—at least for the near future.
She had gathered some edible fruits as well. Although Moa encouraged her to hunt properly, the truth was… she had no idea how to cook.
Her destination was a small settlement not far from the forest's boundary. She planned to trade some of her belongings for currency.
The moment her foot crossed the village gate, the atmosphere subtly changed.
This place was larger than she had expected—more like a small town. There were many residents, and economic activity was thriving. As she walked forward, countless eyes turned toward her. Some gazes were filled with curiosity, others with hesitation… and some with unmistakable disgust.
Whispers arose—soft at first, then increasingly clear.
"Is that… the cruel princess?""Didn't the Cruel Princess die long ago?""I think she just looks similar," another voice scoffed. "Look at her appearance—dirty and plain. Her aura is weak too. Her level must be low. I heard that Cruel Princess was above level fifty.""Princess Hu Shui always dressed strangely anyway. Compared to her, this woman looks normal."
Yunxue's steps slowed.
The Cruel Princess?
The title echoed in her mind. Yet no memories responded to it. No recollection of cruelty. No pleasure in tormenting others. What she felt was only emptiness… and a growing determination to become stronger.
Had she truly been someone like that?Or were they mistaking her for another person?
Inside her mind, Moa was silent for a moment before speaking.
"I doubt it," he said calmly, with quiet certainty. "I don't believe you're the princess they're talking about. This is most likely a misunderstanding."
Yunxue listened intently.
"The Immortal Peach Tree would never aid someone with a cruel heart," Moa continued. "It only bestows blessings upon those it deems worthy. If your heart were truly dark, you wouldn't have been able to approach the forest's core—let alone receive a healing peach from it."
His words soothed her, though they didn't completely erase her doubts.
Yunxue inhaled slowly and straightened her posture as she continued walking.
Whoever she had been in the past—whatever title the world had given her—she would uncover the truth herself.
And if a misunderstanding had truly stolen everything from her…then the one responsible would eventually be forced to answer for it.
From the villagers' whispers, Yunxue gradually pieced together the figure known as Princess Hu Shui.
The name was widely known—not admired, but feared.
Princess Hu Shui was infamous for her cruelty and lack of compassion. She delighted in tormenting the weak, even slaves who had no means to resist. Her cruelty was not mere rumor; many claimed to have personally witnessed her cold gaze and mocking smile—expressions that shattered human dignity.
But she had not always been that way.
The change began when Hu Shui was sixteen years old. She had joined a military expedition to the border regions to suppress rebels. During the chaos of battle, she was captured.
For ten full days, Princess Hu Shui was held by the enemy.
No one knew what happened during that time.
Only one thing was certain—she was rescued by her savage husbands: five powerful beings from different races, bound to her through marriage bonds.
But the girl who returned from the battlefield was no longer the same Hu Shui.
She had changed completely. Her eyes were wild, her emotions unstable, her temperament violent and erratic—as if she had lost all control. The palace she once lived in became a place of terror, and those who had once been close to her slowly drifted away.
Her savage husbands, burdened with deep disappointment and anger after the incident, ultimately chose to leave her. Harboring resentment, each of them went into seclusion, isolating themselves from the world to cultivate and grow stronger—abandoning the palace that had become a source of pain.
Not long after their departure, shocking news spread through the palace.
A long-lost princess had been found.
Her name was Hu Lian—beautiful, elegant, and gentle. Her arrival was like a ray of light piercing the palace's gloom. In a short time, she captured the hearts of the king, queen, and the people. Her smile was soothing, her voice soft, her presence the perfect contrast to Hu Shui.
From that moment on, Hu Shui's name sank deeper into the shadows.
The last rumor claimed that Princess Hu Shui had fallen gravely ill. She lost her sanity, her body weakened day by day, until she eventually died alone.
Her funeral was held with grandeur—filled with rituals and luxury—as if to close a dark chapter in the kingdom's history.
Yet one detail did not escape notice.
Not a single one of her five savage husbands attended.
As if… even in death, Princess Hu Shui had been abandoned.
After hearing the story, Xue Yunxue chose not to draw conclusions too quickly.
Though the tale of Princess Hu Shui sounded suspicious, she considered the possibility of coincidence. In the Beast World, women were far fewer than men. It was not unusual for a woman to have multiple husbands—even five or ten. That similarity alone proved nothing.
For now, Yunxue decided to focus on reality.
She exchanged the magical items she had obtained from the Forbidden Forest. With Moa's guidance—his deep understanding of each artifact's value and function—the transactions were far more profitable than she had expected. Items she had acquired with little effort turned out to be worth a great deal, leaving her pouch heavy with coins.
A sense of security slowly settled in.
At the very least, she was no longer on the verge of starvation.
That was when Moa's cheerful voice rang out in her mind.
"My dear, I've detected something interesting," he said excitedly."At the old well at the far end of this village… there's a magical object."
Yunxue stopped walking.
"A magical object?" she asked, intrigued. "What kind?"
"This artifact can enhance your spiritual energy," Moa explained eagerly."By absorbing it, your leveling speed will increase dramatically. It will also significantly strengthen your physical power."
After a brief pause, he added with certainty,"After killing those weak mutants, your current level is five. If you absorb that object's energy, you could jump directly to level fifteen."
Yunxue's eyes shone.
An opportunity like this was too valuable to ignore.
Without hesitation, she decided to stay in the village longer. She rented a simple, inexpensive inn room for several days—enough to rest and recover without drawing attention.
Her plan was clear.
She would take the artifact at night, when the village slept and suspicion was low.
Beneath her calm expression, Yunxue's resolve hardened.
Her path to power…had just accelerated.
That night, Xue Yunxue slowly released her human form.
Under the faint moonlight, her true shape emerged—a jet-black fox, its fur absorbing the darkness of night. The tip of its tail was white, stark and fated in contrast. A cold aura flowed around her, calm yet dangerous.
Her appearance was utterly ordinary—bordering on ugly. Her body was small, barely the size of a real fox. Normally, beast-humans were far larger than their animal counterparts when transformed.
"Wow… your true form is really unexpected," Moa commented lightly."A bit… ugly, I'd say."
Yunxue snorted softly.
As with all creatures returning to their original form, clothing became useless. She stored everything in her storage space and slipped into the night, her movements light and soundless. Her pitch-black body blended seamlessly into the darkness—like a living shadow gliding between trees.
She followed Moa's guidance.
Soon, they reached the northern outskirts of the village—nearly ten kilometers from her inn. She climbed a small hill and stopped before a remote cave, exactly where Moa sensed the energy.
The air felt heavy and oppressive.
A tilted warning sign stood before the cave entrance:
HIGH RADIATION AREA — Residual Contamination from Past Wars
"Relax," Moa said confidently."I've already protected your body. You won't be exposed… much less turn into a savage mutant."
The place was silent.
Too silent.
An eerie, oppressive presence seeped from within the cave, as if the darkness itself were breathing. Without hesitation, Yunxue entered.
The cave was dark and damp. Wet stone walls were lined with stalactites hanging like massive fangs. Hidden deep within the shadows stood an ancient well.
Dense energy radiated from it—dark, cold, and malevolent. Black mist shrouded the well completely.
Yunxue stopped at the edge, her instincts screaming danger.
"Should I approach…?"
"This well is sealed with evil magic," Moa said calmly, then chuckled lightly."But such seals are meaningless to me. Watch closely, my dear."
Moa began chanting.
The ground trembled softly. From cracks in the stone, glowing vines burst forth—wrapping tightly around the well. The living tendrils devoured the swirling darkness, absorbing the evil energy until the oppressive aura gradually faded.
"What is that?" Yunxue asked in awe.
"Tendrils of the Immortal Peach Tree," Moa replied casually."The Forbidden Forest isn't far. I simply borrowed a little energy from the main tree to neutralize this place."
Yunxue stared, eyes shining.
"Incredible…"
Moa laughed softly.
"Don't get your hopes up. If we were across the sea or on another continent, the main tree wouldn't be able to help at all."
Grateful nonetheless, Yunxue returned to her human form and dressed again.
Steadying her breath, she descended into the ancient well, gripping the glowing tendrils along its walls. They were cold yet firm—supporting her as if guided by living will.
The well was nearly a hundred meters deep and long since dry.
"There," Moa said excitedly. "I can feel it."
Soon, Yunxue's feet touched the bottom.
The space below was far larger than expected—a hidden chamber, more like an endless water tunnel carved by time. The air was heavy, but no longer lethal.
At the center lay a small chest, no larger than a thick book.
She released the tendrils and landed lightly, approaching cautiously. With both hands, she opened the chest.
Soft light spilled out.
Inside lay a glowing crystal—clear, pulsing with living energy. The moment Yunxue touched it, a wave of power surged into her body.
Her blood vibrated. Energy rushed through her veins and spiritual meridians, as if her body were being reforged from within.
"Excellent!" Moa exclaimed joyfully."Your level has surged! Your spiritual strength has risen to level fifteen, and your physical power increased by five percent!"
Yunxue clenched her fists. She could feel the change—steadier breathing, lighter movements, stronger energy pulsing inside her.
"Truly… amazing," she murmured.
"Wait," Moa said seriously."I'm still sensing another source of energy. There's another artifact here—very weak, but present."
Yunxue frowned. With her enhanced perception, she felt it too—faint, nearly hidden, yet real.
"Yes… I feel it as well."
She focused, following the subtle vibration.
"There!" she exclaimed.
In the corner of the chamber, half-buried beneath dust and moss, lay a dull-framed object.
A mirror.
Moa cried out in delight.
"This is… the Spirit-Seer Mirror."
"The Spirit-Seer Mirror?" Yunxue asked. "What does it do?"
Moa hesitated.
"This artifact reveals who you were before reincarnation," he said carefully."But its energy is nearly depleted. I believe… it can only be used once."
After a pause, he asked gently,"Do you truly want to try?"
Yunxue fell silent.
She wanted to know who she was now—why she was here, why this body felt foreign. But perhaps knowing the past wasn't entirely bad.
At last, she nodded.
She raised the mirror toward her face.
In the next instant—a blinding light erupted.
Her consciousness was pulled away. The world vanished.
When her vision returned, she stood in an endless expanse of white light.
Then—scenes began to change.
She saw her childhood in an orphanage, sleeping crowded together. The image shifted to her school years, memories of classmates resurfacing. Then a vast city appeared—skyscrapers piercing the sky, streets filled with vehicles, people walking by with cheerful faces.
She saw herself laughing with friends.
They were all human.
Not beast-humans.
Suddenly—
The sky tore open.
A colossal beam split the heavens, followed by meteors the size of houses crashing into the earth. Explosions rocked the city. Fire and destruction consumed everything.
Screams. Panic. Death.
Yunxue saw her own body flung away, burned in flames. As her final breath left her, her soul burst free—streaking like light through the sky, racing across the cosmos.
Until finally…it fell.
It fell beneath the Peach Tree of Life.
The ancient tree caught her soul, wrapped it in warm energy, preserving its flame from extinction. The soul slept within the tree… for nearly ten thousand years.
Until one day—
A mad beast-woman, more like a walking corpse, collapsed beneath the tree—her body broken, her life on the brink of extinction.
The Immortal Peach Tree made a decision.
It dropped a healing peach into the dying woman's hand. She bit into it and collapsed—life completely extinguished from her beast body.
The tree then injected the long-sleeping human soul into that body.
The body awakened.
But the soul still slept—too long dormant to awaken immediately.
The light faded.
Yunxue staggered as her consciousness returned to the bottom of the well. She gasped and collapsed, her head pounding as fragments of her past life slowly surfaced.
Now she understood.
She hadn't merely lost her memories.
She was a human soul from a world destroyed ten thousand years ago—reborn into the body of a beast-woman once branded mad and cruel.
Xue Yunxue remembered.
She did not belong to this world.
Xue Yunxue was her true name—from her previous life.
Her fate…was far more complicated than she had ever imagined.