Anji panicked. Although she had never heard of anyone drowning in the spiritual world, she thought for a mont she might be the first until she realised she did not have to breathe in this strange water.
It took a few minutes for Anji to regain her bearings. However, when she tried to swim back up to the last soul lantern, she felt as if she were trapped beneath the water’s surface by an invisible barrier.
Left with no choice, Anji looked around in the strange space. There were no other energy traces, unlike in the usual chaotic spiritual realm. Here, it felt as if the emptiness dragged on for all eternity. It was peaceful in a frightening way.
Thankfully, after wandering around for a while, Anji spotted a familiar small glow in the distance. Making that her new objective, Anji made her way over. As she grew closer, she realised it was yet another soul lantern. It was far, and Anji wondered if the trail had not truly ended. Still, she was glad to find a lead.
After what felt like ten years, Anji reached the furthest soul lantern. Touching it, she almost scread when the floor dropped beneath her. No matter how many tis it happened, Anji would never get used to gravity tossing her around unexpectedly in the spiritual realm.
Once more, the scene changed. This ti, into sothing more stable than an empty ocean with one obscure soul lantern. Anji thanked the heavens as she studied the green grass beneath her. The new world felt too real. She could hear cicadas and sll the moist earth in this new space. If Anji did not know any better, she would think she was truly back at the forest behind the Celestial Dragon Sect’s hut, where she spent most of her ti with Yan Ping as a child.
"Welco, Anji," a voice greeted behind her. "I’ve been waiting for you."
Startled, Anji whipped around and saw a lady who seed unfamiliar at first glance. However, the strange, blue glowing eyes struck a chord of familiarity. Anji rembered reading about them before. Although there were no portraits of previous sect leaders in the Mystical Qilin Sect, there were records describing them and their unique clairvoyance. Anji knew that Bi Yao, the founder, had striking blue eyes like the glacier. She was a person with Healing Eyes, and the description matched perfectly.
"Anji greets the sect founder," she clasped her hands in front of her and bowed low. Even in the spiritual realm, it did not hurt to show respect.
If Anji were not mistaken, this must be Bi Yao’s personal world. It would explain the lack of chaotic energy that frequented the spiritual realm. It was the first ti Anji experienced a small world with a gateway in the spiritual realm. Without enough information, Anji only knew how small worlds worked, similar to rifts from the physical world into the spiritual realm, contained by a cultivator’s core. Bi Yao’s knowledge must far surpass theirs even after thousands of years.
"Sect founder, huh?" Bi Yao mused. "Forget the formalities. You’ll soon understand why I brought you into my personal world. In a way, it is my small world. In a different way, this is a completely separate realm from everything else. Think of it as a different dinsion I created specially for us. I knew this day would co as soon as I saw the prophecy. You have no idea how happy I am to et you at last."
Oh, yes. Anji rembered why she went through the tedious journey of following soul lanterns. According to Lady Mang Yuan, Bi Yao had a prophecy and wanted to et the ninth successor candidate.
"I heard from Lady Mang Yuan that you had a ssage specially for ?"
Making herself comfortable in the exact replica of the private hut at the back of the Celestial Dragon Sect, Bi Yao beckoned Anji over. She did not seem to be in a hurry to talk, and it puzzled Anji even more how everything in this small dinsion was the sa as her mory of this place. If there was one place Anji thought of fondly, it would be this place where she spent the most ti with her teacher.
"This place is a replica of your favourite mory," Bi Yao confird, as if reading Anji’s mind. "I had it created to make you feel most at ease. After all, you would be spending more ti here than you normally would. I believe you’re almost ten years old. It must not have been easy to defy fate, but I’m glad you did."
Although it was unsurprising that Bi Yao knew this much about her on their first eting, Anji felt a strange disconnect while interacting with Bi Yao. She had no issues socialising with strangers, ghosts and demons. Sothing about Bi Yao caused Anji’s insides to twist uncomfortably. She was not a bad person. Or at least, Anji did not feel she was evil by nature. However, her very presence caused Anji to feel discomfort.
"You must have many questions," Bi Yao acknowledged. "I understand if everything feels strange to you right now. However, you will soon understand everything. I called you here in advance because I thought you might like to be acquainted before receiving all your answers. From the reason why the Mystical Qilin Sect existed to why we were the only sect to survive the changing tis, I can answer any questions you might have."
Mystery after mystery, Anji realised how evasive and cryptic Bi Yao’s words were. She had many questions, of course. However, none of those questions made sense. The sect founder, unlike Lady Mang Yuan, did not seem to see Anji as an individual. Anji had no idea how to feel with soone who looked at her as if she were talking to her own reflection. It was uncomfortable.
Yet, she only had one question to ask. If she were soon to understand everything, then there was only one thing that mattered.
"Does my shifu know about this?"
Bi Yao smiled, as if expecting Anji’s question.
"No. Not Lady Mang Yuan. Not this small world that I’ve created. You were the only one who had to clear the successor’s trial in such a manner. All the previous sect leaders rely had to navigate through a complex illusion crafted from their heart demons and the mories of past sect leaders to remind them about the founding of the sect and our purpose."
As expected, Anji thought the level of difficulty in clearing the trial chamber was too simple. It might be tedious, but it did not match her shifu’s warning. Things were finally starting to co together.
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