Chapter 1: The Triplets are Born

"What in the Immortal Realm is taking so long? It's been over two hours!" a man cursed as he paced back and forth.

"Relax, my son. Your wife should be giving birth soon. I sensed more than one child in her womb and the first childbirth is always the most excruciating. After all, something beautiful is always born under extreme pain. That beautiful thing is called life," an old man answered.

"Congratulations, my son. You are the father of a girl and two boys," an old woman smiled as she entered from the doors as the father-to-be paced back in forth as if he were walking on hot coal.

"Three?" the two men cried and rushed into the room, the old woman sighing as her husband and son rushed into the room.

They saw blood on the sheets between a pale, sweaty woman who had lost consciousness. The first man sighed as he could feel her breath steadying and knew she would be alright. They turned to see three crying babies, eyes shut tight, as they wailed atop a smaller bed. The blood had been cleaned from their bodies, but their hair was too bloodied to tell what color it was.

"They are arranged in the order of their birth, from left to right. The girl was born first, five minutes before the second child. The last child was born seven minutes after the second as we had to turn him around, inside her womb, as his head was not in front. She lost much blood and will need to stay bedridden much longer than usual," the new grandmother smiled. "Triplets. The Heavens are truly smiling on the Guo Clan. I previously sensed only twins. What a nice little miracle."

"I finally join my brothers and sister as being a grand parent," the old man laughed. "My Guo Clan finally has three more members of the main branch. What will you name them?"

"Perhaps mother can ascertain their potential?" the man asked.

"Strange. Very strange," the grandmother said after lifting her hand and releasing a gentle light on the babies, causing them to enter a blissful sleep.

"They lack any attributes? Is there none they have the possibility to learn?" the old man asked.

"You old coot! You know those are impossible to determine. A practitioner has no affinity until they turn seven. I guarantee that they should be able to become practitioners," the old woman snapped at her husband. "We'll name them Guo Mei, Guo Lin, and Guo Yang."

As the men left, the grandmother tended to her daughter-in-law. She did not notice Guo Yang act abnormally, already attempting to open his eyes. Guo Yang used to be a giant, gold snake with jade eyes and sand colored feathers. Within his chest, a neidan that used to be in his old body was there.

Memories of his past life flashed before it, a giant snake controlling water and earth as if it was a sovereign under the Heavens. Oceans could not hide prey from it. Mountains became the domains of its hunt and terror. By turning water into ice, not even phoenixes could burn it and kill it as they did many other snake magical beasts.

Even the bones and lungs of dragons were crushed and exploded while its body coiled around them. Humans fled before its poisonous jade mists and the baby boy felt the same fear the snake did as it had the option of ascension. After a thousand years, the snake had been reborn a human. At last, it gained a fresh start and hoped its new life would not be as treacherous and dangerous as the last.

Maybe, in this life, he did not have to fear birds. He really, really hated birds.