You know what's terrifying? Waking up from a nightmare where you actually died, in a world with two suns, while so cosmic horror cosplayer turned everyone into pretty red mist. And the worst part? It wasn't even a nightmare.
I ca to gasping like a fish that had just discovered water wasn't all it was cracked up to be. My hands shook as I patted myself down - sa cultivation robes, sa ditation cushion, sa small room in Azure Peak Sect. No blood-stained miller's apron or rusty sword in sight.
"Master! We’re back!" Azure popped into existence, looking like a kid who'd just broken mom's favorite vase and was trying to act casual about it. "So... how did you find our interdinsional vacation?"
"Azure," I wheezed, still trying to rember how lungs worked, "please tell I hallucinated everything about the past few hours. The two suns, the raiders, the floating death wizard..."
"Oh no, that was all quite real! Though I must say, your combat performance was surprisingly adequate for soone who'd never held a sword before. Well, that body had never held a sword. You technically have, but not really, since—"
"Azure."
"Yes, Master?"
"How long were we gone? Because it felt like hours of running and fighting and generally trying not to die in creative new ways."
Azure shifted uncomfortably, his usual know-it-all deanor flickering like bad wifi. "Ah, about that... Would you believe if I said three seconds?"
I stared at him. "Three. Seconds."
"Give or take a millisecond! Think of it like binge-watching an entire Netflix series, except you did it in the ti it takes to sneeze and there was way more deadly radiation!"
"Wait," I sat up straighter, montarily distracted from my existential crisis. "Netflix? Since when does my spiritual guide know about streaming services?"
"Oh!" Azure brightened, looking pleased I'd noticed. "I’ve had ti to process so of your mories, they provided with a complete Earth cultural database! Though I'm still not sure I completely understand all of it. For instance, I understand the concept of 'streaming wars' but fail to see how they compare to actual sect warfare. Far less spiritual energy involved!"
"Can we focus on the whole 'three seconds' thing? Are you telling I just... collapsed for three seconds while experiencing several hours of trauma in murder-world?"
"Exactly! Though we're not entirely sure if the ti ratio is fixed. Could be different for each world! The System's still crunching the taphysical numbers on that one." He paused. "On the bright side, at least you didn't miss morning ditation?"
"Great. So now I have to worry about randomly passing out AND possibly dying in alternate realities. Any other fun side effects I should know about?"
He conjured up a status window that made want to cry:
Status Update:
Soul Essence: 10/300 (Critical Depletion)
Spiritual Essence: 246/246 (Stable)
Physical Essence: 215/215 (Unchanged)
New Ability Unlocked: Worldwalker's Sojourn
Description: Hop between realities like a taphysical grasshopper!
Cost: Your soul essence, apparently. Like, a lot of it.
Warning: Maybe don't do that again until we figure out how to not die?
"So," I said with all the calm of soone who'd just discovered they were an interdinsional tourist with terrible luck, "want to explain why you didn't ntion this whole 'reality-hopping' thing was possible? Or maybe why it burns through soul essence like Wei Lin through his father's credit at the sect store?"
Azure shifted uncomfortably, his usual know-it-all deanor replaced with what I can only describe as spiritual foot-shuffling. "I... may have only just found out about this myself. The System kind of just... dropped this update on ?"
"Aren't you the System?"
"Not... exactly?" He brightened, clearly hoping enthusiasm would distract from the awkwardness. "Think of more like your friendly neighborhood UI! I was just a baby spirit before the System gave an upgrade package. Now I'm like Siri, but for cultivation! With better jokes."
"Your jokes are terrible."
"They're systematically optimized for maximum groan value!"
I flopped back onto my bed, every part of aching in ways I didn't know were possible. "Great. My spiritual guide is having an identity crisis. Any other bombshells you want to drop? Secret cultivation techniques? Hidden boss battles? A tendency to accidentally conquer other dinsions?"
"Well, about that last one..." Azure brought up another window. "The Worldwalker ability is fascinating! Though we should probably wait until you're not about to pass out to experint with it."
"Good call. Any idea how long that'll take?"
"At your current recovery rate? About two months. Though we might be able to speed that up with proper soul cultivation techniques..."
"Tomorrow," I mumbled, already feeling consciousness slipping away. "We'll figure everything out tomorrow..."
I dread of Maya and Henrik, of their final stand against impossible odds. Could I have saved them? Done sothing differently? All my systematic cultivation hadn't ant much in a world without spiritual energy. I'd been worse than useless - I'd been normal.
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The morning gong dragged back to consciousness way too early. I cracked an eye open to find Azure hovering over with his usual too-cheerful expression.
"Good morning, Master! Your soul essence has recovered by six whole points during your rest. At this rate, you'll be ready for another potentially fatal interdinsional journey in... approximately never!"
"Thanks, Azure. Very helpful."
Status Update:
Soul Essence: 16/300 ( 6 from rest, still pathetic)
Spiritual Essence: 246/246 (Show-off)
Physical Essence: 215/215 (At least sothing's normal)
"You know," Azure mused as I tried to rember how legs worked, "for soone who died tripping over their shoelaces, you handled yourself pretty well in that other world. The System's combat assistance helped, but still..."
"I got lucky. And then I got very unlucky." I managed to stand, though the room took a few seconds to stop spinning. "We need to figure this out. The soul essence, the world-hopping, all of it. Because next ti? I might end up sowhere even worse."
"Worse than a world with reality-warping sun radiation and psychotic raiders?"
"Given my luck? Definitely."
A knock at my door interrupted whatever witty response Azure was cooking up. Wei Lin's voice drifted through the wood: "Ke Yin? You missed morning practice. Senior Sister Liu is not happy."
"Great," I muttered. "Because I needed more problems today."
I opened the door to find Wei Lin looking unusually concerned. "You look terrible," he announced cheerfully. "Like you spent all night wrestling with profound cultivation mysteries. Or possibly a bear."
"Thanks. That's exactly the ego boost I needed this morning."
He invited himself in, already pulling cultivation supplies from his seemingly endless pockets. "Fortunately for you, my family has an excellent redy for spiritual exhaustion. Only fifty contribution points, and it cos with a free consultation on proper cultivation techniques!"
"Still focusing on basics," I said automatically, then paused. "Actually... what do you know about soul cultivation?"
Wei Lin's eyes lit up like it was spiritual resource discount day. "Finally asking the interesting questions! Though soul techniques are pretty advanced. My family has so excellent beginner manuscripts..."
"Library first," I cut him off. "Sales pitch later."
"You're no fun anymore." But he was already heading for the door. "Co on then. Let's go find you so proper cultivation thods before you actually collapse. Because if you die, who's going to buy all my overpriced techniques?"
"Your concern is touching."
"I know! I've been practicing my sincere rchant face."
As we walked toward the library, I couldn't help but wonder what other worlds were out there, waiting to try and kill in new and exciting ways. At least this ti I'd have so warning.
Probably.
Maybe.
...I was so dead.
***
The Azure Peak Sect library turned out to be less "mystical repository of ancient wisdom" and more "that one university library where students go to cry during finals week." Towering shelves carved into the mountain itself held everything from basic ditation guides to what looked suspiciously like cultivation self-help books. "Top Ten Tricks to Breakthrough Success!" probably wasn't the profound knowledge the sect founders had in mind.
"Soul cultivation thods are usually restricted," Wei Lin explained as we navigated the labyrinth of knowledge. "Too many disciples trying fancy techniques they weren't ready for. Apparently, having your soul explode is bad for sect recruitnt."
"You don't say." I scanned the shelves, trying not to feel overwheld by the sheer volu of information. "Any chance they have a 'Soul Cultivation for Dummies' section?"
"Actually..." He reached up and pulled down a dusty to. "The Azure Soul Nourishnt thod is pretty close. Basic, reliable, and most importantly - free."
"Free? In this economy?"
"The sect figures if you're going to ss with soul techniques, better to start with the safe ones." He grinned. "Though if you're interested in more advanced thods, my family—"
"Still focusing on basics!"
We spent the next few hours combing through the library's soul cultivation section. Most of the techniques were way beyond my level - things like "Grand Soul Dominion thod" and "Path of the Eternal Spirit" that probably required more cultivation progress than I'd make in ten lifetis.
"Found another one!" Wei Lin called from behind a particularly precarious stack of scrolls. "The Gentle Soul Nurturing Guide. Says it's good for... recovery and stability?"
Azure popped up in my inner world, already analyzing. "Compatible with your current cultivation base. Modest benefits, but low risk of catastrophic soul implosion."
"Always a plus," I muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing! Just... thinking out loud."
Wei Lin gave that look again - the one that said he knew I was hiding sothing but couldn't quite figure out what. "You know, most people don't suddenly develop an interest in soul cultivation without a reason."
"Maybe I'm just thorough?"
"Right. And I'm secretly the Sect Master's long-lost son."
"Are you?"
"No, but the fact that you had to ask hurts my feelings." He dumped another stack of books on the table. "Here. Basic soul theory. You'll need to understand the fundantals before trying any techniques."
I picked up the top volu, "Understanding Your Spiritual Core: A Beginner's Guide to Not Exploding." Charming.
"Master," Azure chid in, "I've been analyzing the soul cultivation texts. Most focus on gradual enhancent rather than rapid recovery. However, combining multiple thods might—"
A commotion from the library entrance cut off whatever optimization strategy he was about to suggest. Senior Sister Liu's voice carried through the stacks: "The monthly evaluation requirents have been updated. All outer disciples must demonstrate significant progress in their chosen cultivation path."
"Oh good," I sighed. "More pressure. Just what I needed."
Wei Lin was already shoving books into my arms. "Take these. Study fast. The evaluations are in two weeks, and trust - you don't want to fail."
"What happens if we fail?"
His expression turned serious. "Rember Yuan i? Failed his evaluation last month?"
"Yeah?"
"He's cleaning spiritual beast stables now. For the rest of his life."
Well, that was motivating in a terrifying sort of way.
Back in my room, I spread out the soul cultivation manuals and settled in for a long night of study. Azure hovered nearby, providing his usual comntary.
"The Azure Soul Nourishnt thod seems promising," he reported. "Though the diagrams are rather... artistic. I don't think souls actually look like happy little clouds."
"Focus on the important parts. How long to learn it?"
"Basic proficiency should take about a week. Unless..."
I knew that tone. "Unless what?"
"Well, the System could optimize the learning process. Might cut the ti in half. Though it would cost so spiritual essence to process..."
Status Update:
Soul Essence: 16/300 (Still pathetic)
Spiritual Essence: 246/246 (Available for optimization)
Physical Essence: 215/215 (Unchanged)
"Do it," I decided. "Better to take a temporary hit to spiritual essence than risk another world-hop with no way to recover."
"Excellent choice! Initiating optimization protocols. Warning: Side effects may include mild existential dread and a sudden appreciation for taphysical mathematics."
"Your warning labels need work."
As Azure began processing the soul cultivation thod, I couldn't help but wonder about the other worlds out there. What if next ti I landed sowhere even worse than the Two Suns world? What if I couldn't bring my cultivation? What if—
A knock at my door interrupted my spiral of paranoia.
"Ke Yin?" Lin i's voice. "Senior Sister Chen is looking for you. Sothing about missing your herb garden duties?"
Right. Because interdinsional travel wasn't an excuse for slacking off on regular sect responsibilities.
"Coming!" I called back, then thought at Azure: "How long until the optimization is done?"
"Approximately six hours. Though I should warn you about potential side effects of rushing soul cultivation techniques—"
"Later. Right now I need to go convince Senior Sister Chen not to turn into fertilizer."
Sotis I missed the simplicity of my old life. Sure, it had ended with an embarrassing death-by-shoelace, but at least I hadn't had to juggle cultivation politics, soul essence managent, and the constant threat of accidentally falling into other realities.
Then again, my old life hadn't co with supernatural powers and a snarky spiritual AI assistant. So maybe it balanced out.
Sort of.
Probably not.
...I really hope this dying thing isn’t a reoccurring the.
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