Re-birth: The Beginning after the End

Their father smiled warmly at their enthusiasm. "Very well. Let us venture beyond our realm, through the Mystic Veil and into what lies above." His hands moved with practiced grace, and the watery display shifted. The inverted pyramid representing the five realms reappeared with its second level illuminated in a soft red glow.

As the children leaned closer, the water transformed, painting a new landscape before their eyes. "This is the Ascending Plateau," their father explained, his voice taking on a tone of familiarity. "Unlike our realm below, it is not governed by imperial capitals and imperial families, but by cultivation sects—six great powers that have maintained their territories for countless generations." The liquid coalesced into distinct regions, each glowing with a different intensity, like stars in an evening sky.

"Four great sects and two lesser ones divide dominion over the realm," he explained, as the water formed miniature representations of their distinct sanctuaries. The massive compounds of the two combat sects dominated the eastern and western peaks, their training grounds echoing with the clash of weapons and surges of inner power. To the north, vast ranges housed the Beast Taming Sect, where mighty spirit beasts roamed freely alongside their human partners. While the southern peaks held the fourth great sect, their disciples mastering both martial arts and the taming of flying mounts.

His fingers traced the smaller territories between these mighty powers. "Two lesser but equally respected sects complete this realm—the Healing Valley Sect, whose disciples have mastered the arts of medicine and spiritual healing, and the Heavenly Smith Sect, whose master smiths craft weapons and armor that channel spiritual energy itself." The water shimmered, showing smaller but equally elegant compounds nestled in protected valleys, their positions strategic between their more militant neighbors.

The floating display shifted again, and dense forests sprouted from the liquid surface, their canopies seeming to pulse with an inner light. "The Ascending Plateau is blessed with far denser spiritual essence than our Mystic Veil. This abundance manifests in the very vegetation—ancient trees draw spiritual energy from the earth itself, their leaves shimmering with power."

"But with greater power comes greater danger," their father cautioned, as forms began to move through the floating forests. "Spirit beasts roam freely in these lands, creatures of remarkable strength and cunning. Some can match the wisdom of humans, while others exist purely as forces of nature." The water formed the shape of a massive tiger, its liquid form rippling with suggested power, before dissolving back into the landscape.

Li Hua noticed her brothers' eyes grow wide as their father manipulated the water to show various spirit beasts moving through the dense forestland—each one more fantastic than the last.

"Do you all have any questions so far?" Her father asked.

Li Wei raised his hand tentatively, his eyes still fixed on the spot where the water-tiger had vanished. "Bàba, have you ever encountered such beasts yourself?"

The question made their father smile, his hands weaving through the mist to create new shapes. "Indeed, I have," he replied, as the water coalesced into scenes of his past journeys. "Each encounter taught me valuable lessons about respect and caution in the higher realms. Even the gentlest of spirit beasts commands tremendous power."

The water swirled into the form of a fox with eight tails that sparkled like starlight in the mist. "This one," their father continued, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper, "dwells in a place few dare to speak of—the forbidden lands beyond the borders of the Ascending Plateau. She guards an ancient boundary shrine where the very laws of cultivation begin to... change." He paused, as if catching himself from saying more. "Even the mightiest sect leaders avoid her territory." The fox's eight tails swayed hypnotically in the water display, seeming to bend the light around them in impossible ways.

The siblings leaned forward in unison, mesmerized by the ethereal beauty of the eight-tailed fox.

"Bàba." Li Hua looked up at her father, her head tilting slightly. She carefully crafted her question with childlike grammar, matching her speech to what was expected of a four-year-old. "Bàba and Māmā come from which place?"

Her father's smile faltered for a moment, his water display wobbling precariously as he suddenly shouted, "Wife! Did you call me?" When no response came, he leapt to his feet with surprising agility for someone who'd been sitting cross-legged for so long. "I'm certain I heard your mother calling! My little warriors, perhaps we should continue this lesson another time—" The magnificent floating map collapsed into a light shower of droplets, accidentally dousing Li Hao, who yelped in surprise. Their father was already halfway across the courtyard, his dignified teaching demeanor completely forgotten in his hasty retreat.

The siblings looked at each other for a moment before they rolled on the ground laughing, Li Wei still dripping from their father's impromptu water shower, Li Hao clutching his sides, and even Li Hua joining in genuinely—adult mind or not, there was something irresistibly funny about watching their dignified father flee from a simple question like a startled cat.

The sound of approaching footsteps made them pause in their mirth, wiping tears of laughter from their eyes. Their mother stood over them, an amused smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she regarded her giggling children.

"Apparently," she said with a knowing twinkle in her eye, "it's my turn to teach the three of you. Your Bàba is..." she cleared her throat delicately, "...in need of some rest to collect his thoughts. Perhaps we should let him compose himself for a bit, hm?"

Li Hua exchanged knowing glances with her brothers, still trying to stifle their giggles.

"Come. Sit up straight." Her mother took her seat on the cushion before them, each movement as gentle and graceful as a morning breeze, her robes settling around her like silk falling through still air.

The siblings composed themselves as best they could, though occasional snickers still escaped as they remembered their father's hasty retreat. They arranged themselves on their cushions before their mother, each attempting to mirror her proper posture. Li Hao fidgeted on his cushion as water continued trickling down his neck, his dignity battling with discomfort. Li Wei kept shooting sideways glances at his damp brother from his own cushion, his shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter. Only Li Hua managed to achieve something close to their mother's serene demeanor as she settled gracefully onto her cushion, though her eyes still danced with mischief.

"Good. Your Bàba told me he had already taught you about the two lowest realms?" Their mother asked, smoothing her robes as she settled more comfortably on her cushion. Her eyes held a spark of wisdom that suggested she might share secrets their father had carefully avoided. "Shall we continue where he left off, or would you like me to explain anything about the lower realms that wasn't quite clear?"

Her brothers turned to her, their smiles wide and eyes gleaming with shared curiosity about the question that had sent their father fleeing.

Li Hua matched their expressions perfectly, her thirty-two-year-old mind knowing exactly how to mirror a child's innocent enthusiasm. With careful deliberation, she repeated her earlier question. "Bàba and Māmā come from which place?"