**Chapter 20: Reyana, Is It You?**

The term "Little Immortal" naturally corresponds to the strength of Leo, the young prodigy. In the hearts of many self-cultivators, Leo's mastery of Dao techniques should reach the ninth realm of the immortal path, and at such a young age, calling him "Little Immortal" is not an exaggeration. As for "Huang Tao," it naturally refers to the content of the residual image sphere, which was incredibly powerful and left everyone stunned.

Leo was still unaware that he had been given such a nickname. He was inside his room, guarding the light cocoon of Reyana. For him, nothing was more important than Reyana's awakening at this moment. Her celestial spirit talent could absorb the rules of the Great Dao, and her future achievements were unimaginable.

From what Leo had observed so far, he simply couldn't understand how, in his previous life, he and Yani managed to defeat Reyana. She should have been strong enough to defy the heavens; she was someone this world could hardly contain. How could two beings of Earth Immortal cultivation like Leo and Yani lead her to her demise? Leo felt confused yet determined to unravel the secret behind it.

In this life, he had to protect Reyana, ensuring she could grow normally and smoothly. Leo tried to infuse a little spiritual power into the light cocoon to help Reyana awaken, but the moment that spiritual energy made contact with the cocoon, it instantly dissipated and escaped, as if snow met lava. This did give Leo some reassurance; at least it proved that Reyana was safe and that ordinary people would struggle to harm her.

However, the food at home was running low, and Leo needed to buy some supplies, but he wasn't at ease leaving Reyana alone at home. Right now, Reyana felt like a silent little pet, only able to express her emotions through the changing brightness of the light cocoon.

When Leo was by her side, the cocoon radiated warmth and peace. However, if he went out to practice or cook and didn't return for a while, the cocoon would dim and even tremble slightly. It looked like it was getting anxious, calling for Leo to return. Seeing Reyana like this, Leo couldn't bear to leave her at home, not even for an afternoon. He could only eat a little less every day, hoping to last until Reyana awoke.

A week had passed since Reyana had entered the cocoon. Leo infused the formation of Absolute Cloud with some spiritual power again and glanced at the yard door, still no sign of movement. It had already been two days since they ran out of food, and that damned Qin Jiuyao had not come to visit even once. Leo had hoped to ask him to bring some provisions.

Not just Qin Jiuyao, but any other sect or force hadn't come knocking since then. Leo estimated that his initial plan had already been realized. In the eyes of those great powers who viewed him as a threat, their assessment of him must have diminished.

Compared to this, going hungry was trivial; after all, he was a Qi Refinement level cultivator and could withstand hunger for ten to fifteen days without much issue. But what about Reyana? She hadn't eaten for so many days either; she would surely be hungry when she woke up!

After cursing Qin Jiuyao and Liu Zhi Yue a few more times in his heart, Leo secured the wooden door and returned to the bed inside the small house. He held the light cocoon that Reyana had formed in his arms, covered it with a blanket, as if cradling a little moon. "Sleep well, Reyana," Leo whispered, closing his eyes.

Just as sleep was about to take over him, Leo suddenly felt a strong light shining in front of him.

He opened his eyes, but everything seemed normal; only Reyana's light cocoon remained quietly lying there. Just as he thought he had misperceived, the light cocoon emitted a powerful glow again! The bright light of the cocoon flickered in and out! It started slowly, then sped up, becoming more anxious, as if someone kept turning the lights on and off.

Leo stared at the light cocoon, feeling incredibly excited. The final awakening was coming!

Finally, at a certain moment, the cocoon stopped flickering and maintained a brightness like daylight. The entire room was illuminated, even the little yard outside was clearly visible. Fortunately, there was the Absolute Cloud formation to block such phenomena.

Waves of warmth spread from the light cocoon, a sensation that was ancient, deep, and sacred descended upon this little house. At first, Leo only felt warmth in front of him, but soon the heat gradually intensified to the point of feeling scalding on his face! Yet, Leo didn't step back at all, determined to stand guard before the light cocoon.

(Crack—) A crisp sound echoed as several cracks appeared on the light cocoon, with brilliant light piercing through. Then, the cocoon began to shatter piece by piece, collapsing inward, revealing a brighter source of light within, almost pure white. Leo saw the pieces of the cocoon being drawn into the light source, consumed by Reyana.

Leo held his breath. In his more than five hundred years of cultivation, this spectacle before him was definitely among the top few he had ever witnessed.

Until the light cocoon completely shattered and fell away, the scene inside became fully unveiled. It was a curled figure, a woman still radiating a holy glow. However, the contours of this woman seemed somewhat different from Reyana...

The previous Reyana was just a six-year-old little girl, with short arms and legs, petite and adorable, her hair done in a bun, with a big round head.

But the girl before him had completely shed the definition of "child"... Should he say she was now a young woman? Her long hair flowed freely, and she wore nothing at all, glowing with a pure white light as if she had a hazy filter of a fairyland. Her body was slightly curled towards him, already possessing long legs and a delicate figure, looking almost like a girl of Leo's age.

Leo stared in astonishment at the unfamiliar young girl, feeling a bit dazed. Where was his Reyana? His little and adorable, obedient and well-behaved Reyana?

Leo was certain he had locked the door when he went to capture the images that day. The little yard in the Hidden Valley also had its own barrier; without a token, no one could enter. It should... not be possible for someone to sneak in and swap out his Reyana! He swallowed hard and gently reached out to touch the girl's shoulder.

"Reyana?" At the moment his finger touched the girl's shoulder, the light around her abruptly converged. After a second or two of visual adjustment, in the dim room, Leo could immediately see the girl's body laid out in front of him.

Smooth, delicate, and slender. Leo instantly turned his head away— "Out of sight, out of mind."

His heartbeat began to quicken, feeling a dryness in his throat. Was this truly Reyana? Had her celestial spirit talent accelerated her maturity? He closed his eyes and slowly turned his head to face Reyana's direction, while his hands fumbled to grab the blanket.

"Reyana, is it you...? You should put on the blanket first."

As he spoke, Leo heard slight rustling sounds. It seemed the girl was sitting up. Not only that, she leaned closer towards him, and Leo caught a whiff of her youthful fragrance mixed with a hint of lingering milk scent. It should indeed be Reyana...

"Leo?!" The girl in front suddenly spoke, but her tone caught Leo off guard. It was cold and ruthless, filled with anger and resentment, even containing a hint of dominance that transcended her age!

Before Leo could react, he felt a heavy strike on his throat, a pair of delicate, warm hands clutched tightly around him! Not only that, the girl pounced onto Leo, straddling him!

With this sudden movement, Leo had no choice but to open his eyes.

This was Reyana, although she had transformed into the figure of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl. The baby fat on her face had disappeared; her nose had become more defined, and her eyes looked longer.

But Leo could recognize it at a glance; she was indeed Reyana! Only now her features were more mature, more beautiful than before. Yet now, Reyana's beauty seemed to carry a cold and menacing aura, completely devoid of her previous soft and adorable demeanor.

Leo felt somewhat chaotic inside, not only because he was desperately trying to control his gaze, only daring to wander over Reyana's snowy white and tender shoulders, but also because this reunion scene was far from what he had imagined.

Where was the warm embrace? Where were the tears of joy after a long separation? That little girl had always been so attached to him; surely she missed him, right? Why had she suddenly transformed into such a fierce young girl?

"Reyana, what's wrong with you?" Leo's expression was innocent and stunned as he looked at the cold and proud beauty before him.

She truly resembled a queen, sitting on him without regard for her lack of clothing, as if entirely unconcerned with Leo's gaze.

(Slap!) A hard slap struck Leo's face with such force that he spat out a mouthful of blood! The young Reyana slowly leaned down, getting close to Leo's face, staring sharply into his eyes.

"Leo, if you dare to harm me, when I fully awaken, I will make sure you die a death without a grave!"

"If I die, this world will likewise be destroyed, and then you will no longer be so lucky as in your previous life!"

Leo was stunned, listening to her somewhat unfamiliar words while looking at the familiar face before him. He understood... this girl was definitely not the childhood Reyana.

She was Reyana from his past life! The Empress of the Devil Path, Reyana!