Meeting Li Shushang is an eye-opener. She is the Vill-V equivalent of martial arts. Her talent extended to immortal cultivation, too.
Most importantly, her assets are the pride of Shenzhou. It wasn't as noticeable as seeing her three-dimensional character inside a screen, but in real life, it's almost spilling out. Add to that her elegant yet childish personality and we'll get the perfect Young Miss in martial arts novels.
I talked about her with Kiana when I woke up from IX's battle. I didn't expect she would deeply remember it.
"No matter what, I will love you. There is no need to compare with others."
Her eyes stared directly at mine. It took a while for her to come to a resolution.
"Alright. I won't make you worry. I tried them out for a new experience." She paused before giving me a teasing look. "...but it's what she would like."
"Sirin..?"
"Her… Her situation is worse than mine. I hope you can understand her."
She looked apologetic while explaining things. Everything clicked inside my mind.
"You did it for her?"
"How will we get you to use them if not for it?"
Kiana knew I didn't like the fetishes that harmed others. The problem is that… Sirin works around those fetishes. Kiana must have predicted I will not use them on Sirin during our first time. Hence, she used this dual cultivation to make me adapt to them.
So that's how it is…
I understood something. It won't work if only my preferences are considered. Things will remain fine at other times, but during dual cultivation, we should be able to reach a common ground.
How can I give my partners the best dual cultivation session when I overlooked something as simple as this?
"Got it. But I have something to ask."
"Hm..?"
"Did you like it?"
Kiana's smile turned sheepish as she replied:
"Yeah."
They truly are two sides of the same coin.
*****
Venus and Mars, represented by Phosphorus and Oxia/Langqiu, exist within Bubble Worlds. Earth's existence did not cause much change in Mars. It was different in Phosphorus, however.
Sa's main gameplay is for the Bubble Worlds' inhabitants to manifest wishes. These 'wishes' inevitably lead to the Bubble Worlds' destruction, turning into a great boon for Sa herself. Her system was extremely similar to modern civilizations' development. By leaving them with a potent power (i.e., wishes), it will destroy itself.
Sa's defeat spelled the end for their brutal loop. Earth's delegates negotiated with their officials, the Seven Vitas. The people inside this Bubble World suffered a similar affliction as Seele's Bubble World, however.
Their souls are incomplete. Their physical body could not be maintained outside the Bubble World. It closed the possibilities of immortal cultivation for them.
Mars was a different case. The humans inside the supercomputer are 'real humans', save for a few special cases. They possess a complete physical body and a soul. The Project STIGMA of Mars maintained the humans' state while being able to make deliberate changes within the simulated world.
This situation brought a dilemma for Phosphorus—for the inhabitants of Salt Snow Holy City.
What happens next?
"You don't need to continue probing. The Sect Master does not have any arrangements yet. You don't need to worry about your civilization's safety, either…"
"I did not come for that."
In the vast expanse of space, two women faced each other. Hei Xuanyuan eyed the gray-haired woman with a sharp look.
"I have heard of Earth's Awakening Hall. Can I drop by?"
'She's only asking this now? But he mentioned she is special…'
Despite her doubts, Hei Xuanyuan properly attended to her question.
"There is no problem with it."
She did not waste any time. She enveloped the two of them with her spiritual consciousness.
Hum-!
Their surroundings turned into a melted art canvas. The backdrop of a starry sky rippled as it changed into a highly urbanized city. The space manipulation—teleportation—is but a basic operation readily available to Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.
Hei Xuanyuan transferred the quiet Vita to one of the staff members. The said staff was shocked to see the high and mighty Lord of the Law Enforcement Hall. It was his instincts to keep this high-paying job that made him lock-in, effectively leading Vita to the Awakening Hall.
Two minutes later, a wide-scale phenomenon appeared on Earth. The presence of spiritual qi is a conduit to the so-called 'Heavenly Phenomena'. It occurs with the awakening of a high grade Spirit Root and Tao Body. Earth's environment is drastically different from eighteen years ago. Every nook and cranny is flowing with spiritual qi.
Hence, Vita's awakening of her high grade Spirit Root took everyone by surprise. The skies thundered with countless lightning. The distant stars shone, causing rays of starlight to rain down on Earth.
This Heavenly Phenomena gave the entire Earth yet another opportunity for a collective breakthrough.
Hei Xuanyuan, watching all of this occur, sighed.
'Why do I have a feeling she will qualify for that criteria..?'
*****
I made sure Kiana was fine before leaving for the Sect. I had several ominous feelings from my only student, Mei. She skipped so many major events and secluded herself for seventeen years. No matter where I look at it, her prolonged seclusion is a bad thing.
Mei is my student, yet I wasn't able to guide her well. I wasn't there during the Bubble World incident; and so was I after settling the Honkai. The best form of teaching I left to her are mere video recordings—up to the Golden Core Realm, at that.
I can be compared to an irresponsible college professor who only had classes once in an entire semester.
I heard from Kiana that Rita, Durandal, and Senti broke through the Nascent Soul. I can already guess Queen Mei's current mental state, more so Mei herself. The former must've been crashing out. She is the prideful version of Mei, basically the Mei with a stronger personality. She couldn't bear to get outclassed by newcomers.
As for Mei…
Lament of the Fallen answers that question… but much worse. The Mei at that time joined World Serpent. She was able to do something for Kiana. My intervention changed the original events. Mei remained as an ordinary high school student. Her power was subpar compared to the other mainstays now.
She wasn't able to do anything.
My chest tightened at the thought of it. I saw such cases from Seele and Sirin. I saw how hard it was for them. There is also Senti. I haven't met her, but I have a strong feeling she has a strong internal conflict.
Just as I thought about her, she appeared. Senti is completely identical from Fu Hua, save for the white highlights on her hair as well as her crimson red pupils. She wore the aura of haughtiness, as opposed to Hua's reticence.
I met her gaze.
…
Wait, no.
She's not Senti.