Thunder roared in the vast clear blue sky as Li Ming stood on the high concrete platform that was built in the Lotus Manor's courtyard.

People watched in awe as the thunder essence kept channeling into the bracelet that was wrapped around her wrist.

Those who were still not aware of the fact that she was the owner of the legendary Lightning Whip, now were fully aware of this truth.

"Li Ming, just wait and watch. I'm going to ruin your fake reputation and confidence. You will be nothing more than just a topic of mockery after today." Tiao Chen said as he laughed out loudly.

Li Ming just silently kept watching the young men. With a small now at the elder's signal, she was fully prepared for the upcoming battle.

The rule was simple. Both Tiao Chen and Li Ming were needed to build an array formation to trap the other. The first one who succeeded in destroying their trap would be the winner.

Li Ming called out her snow, water, air, thunder, and wood essence to combine it with her qi and started creating the formation.

Within five minutes, her formation was ready and so was Tiao Chen's.

At the elder's signal, both Li Ming and Tiao Chen launched their formations. However, by the time Li Ming and others noticed the black mist covering Tiao Chen's array, it was already too late to react.

***

Li Ming watched as the city lights twinkled at a distance. The small stream that separated the city into nearly two equal parts was connected by a beautiful bridge.

Right at the current moment, she was standing on that exact bridge which was completely empty, unlike the usual rush.

She was shocked to such a level that for quite a long time she was unable to move her limbs as they totally refused to coordinate with her mind which was in equal shock.

"What the hell is going on here?" 

She asked out loud to no one in particular as she stared at the city, her own world.

Who knew how long it took her to cross the bridge and reach the west end. A huge billboard was displaying a commercial for one of the most successful automobile brand endorsed by the biggest and most popular band of their world.

It was not until her eyes caught a glimpse of a certain person that her mind finally started functioning.

Her feet automatically started following that person and as she reached the corner of the street, she collided with a huge bulky person.

However, she did not receive the impact that she was expecting. It took her a few seconds to realize that rather than a physical body, she was present there in a soul like state.

She was completely invisible to the eyes of the people around her and she watched in amazement as the bulky man passed right through her body.

"Wait...!" 

Due to this short but sudden interruption, she lost track of the man whom she was following.

She closed her eyes to find if she still had excess to either of her magical or spiritual energy.

But unfortunately, she could not find any kind of energy in her body. To be fair, she could feel nothing except thin air.

"Damn it!" 

She cursed out loud as she tried to stomp her feet on the concrete floor. 

'You are only here to witness a part of your last life that has been kept hidden from you. You will understand everything by the time you will reach the end of the formation.' 

A cold but light voice spoke out of thin air and made Li Ming stop in her tracks and out of the blue, she found herself standing in an alleyway within a blink.

"The King is going to announce her banishment today. There's no way this is going to end in a good way." 

A man who was wrapped up in a long fur coat muttered as he tried to keep his body warm in the chilly wind that was blowing.

"I'm still unable to understand the reason behind her banishment. Killing her would be far easier, but if she is banished, then who knows what chaos she will bring in the future." 

The second man, who was clad in leather robes and was carrying two sharp katanas with him, said as he worked on the heater that was sitting between the two of them.

"Banishing her means giving her a future full of sanity. She will lose her control over both her mind and her powers, leading to a blood bath and violence." The first man added with a soft sigh.

Before Li Ming could understand exactly what was going on, she once again found her surroundings changing, and in the next blink, she was standing in a familiar hall.

She had been there once. When she was in her late teens, her father let her enjoy a short experience of the Valkyrie court.

She was currently standing in that exact palace hall where she first got the chance of witnessing a Valkyrie wedding. It's one of her most beautiful memories.

As Li Ming was busy in remembering her past, figures finally started appearing in front of her eyes.

It took her mind a few moments to realize that she was watching the banishment ceremony. She stared at the scene as the King declared the banishment and ordered someone to destroy her wings.

The hall was filled with shrieks and cries of the Valkyrie as she begged for mercy. However, it was soon over as she lost consciousness because of the unbearable pain.

Next, Li Ming found herself in some dark forest, and after taking a good look at her surroundings she realized that she had seen this forest before, in the dreams that had been haunting her for years by now because of the black mist. 

It was the same black and white forest with a foul smell filling the air, making it hard for her to breathe properly.

And then she was witnessing something that made goosebumps appeared on her body.

There was a young girl, around seven years old, standing there in front of a shadow. And only after taking a closer look did she recognized that shadow.

It was the same Valkyrie, the one who got her wings cut and was banished from the land of Valkyries.

The same black mist that had taken over the demon realm, was surrounding the Valkyrie. She looked nothing less than an evil insane woman with black powers.

The little girl approached the Valkyrie who was seething in anger as she glared at the girl.

"Hello, aunty..."

The little girl started speaking but immediately stopped as the Valkyrie grabbed her right wrist in her tight clutches.

"No one is allowed to have this. No one is allowed to enjoy this pleasure. No one can be this lucky when I am not!"

The Valkyrie shrieked in anger as her sharp dirty nails pierced into the smooth milky wrist of the little girl, making blood appear on the surface.

"Aunty, y-you a-are hurting me...!"

The little girl cried out in a very low tone as she tried to get her wrist free from the painful grip that would probably turn her bones into crumbles.

"Let me destroy you just like I was destroyed. Won't you like to spend the rest of your life in my company, little dear?" 

The Valkyrie asked as she pulled the little girl closer to her.

Li Ming watched as the mad Valkyrie started channeling her dark powers inside the soul mark that was carved on her small wrist.

She watched as that black mist-like thing seeped inside the soul mark and started turning it black.

The little girl was writhing in pain and so was Li Ming. Even though she was not feeling the pain physically, but watching that scene caused pain to erupt not only in her heart and soul but it was like her soul mark was too going through the same thing.

However, before the entire soul mark could turn black, someone appeared. Someone too familiar to Li Ming to not recognize in just a glance.

A huge ball of red spiritual qi hit the Valkyrie and caused her to flee seeing that her opponent was far too powerful than her.

The man in black and red brocade robes did not spare a single more glance to that evil woman, rather he rushed towards the little girl who was now lying on the ground, writhing in pain. 

The man pulled the girl securely in his arms as he carefully observed her wrist. His eyes then looking up at the woman that was standing a few feet away from them.

"It's too late and at the same time it is not." 

The woman spoke as she looked at the little self of Li Ming lying in the arms of that man.

"What are you talking about? Just tell me if there is a way I can save her." 

The man said through gritted teeth as he glared at the banshee who just lightly nnodded her head in reply.

"Actually, there is.........."