Several days after the incident, Xiao Qing and Kong Yu Shui were sitting in a private garden at a palace belonging to the United Righteous Sect.
The weather was perfect for an outing—clear skies and a pleasantly warm temperature—as if the world itself were trying to offer them a small gesture of kindness.
"Xiao Qing, I have to ask: why do you want to go to the Great Versalkin Academy?" Kong Yu Shui's tone was calm, as always, though tinged with a hint of bewilderment.
"I want to visit someone there. I've missed him." Xiao Qing's voice was soft, carrying a touch of longing for someone.
Kong Yu Shui narrowed her eyes as she looked at Xiao Qing. For a fleeting moment, she caught a glimpse of vulnerability in Xiao Qing's expression, before it vanished, replaced once more by her usual calm and enigmatic demeanor.
"You want to visit your daughter, Xiao Yoshiko, don't you?" Her tone held no confusion or interrogation; it was a simple acknowledgment of the truth behind Xiao Qing's desire to go to the Great Versalkin Academy. Yet, she sensed there was something else Xiao Qing might be seeking—though she couldn't be entirely sure.
"Yes, I want to see her. Even though she isn't my daughter by blood, I truly love her."
Xiao Qing's voice was gentle and lovely. As she gazed up at the sky, a beautiful smile graced her face. The following day, at 8:18 AM, Xiao Qing, Kong Yu Shui, and the latter's daughter, Kong Ming He, stood before the carriage that would transport Xiao Qing to the Great Versalkin Academy.
The carriage was a vivid, striking red, adorned with pure gold and intricate golden engravings. These engravings were, in fact, specialized runes designed to smooth the path for Xiao Qing and her companion, Ming He, throughout their journey.
"Saintess Xiao Qing, and my daughter Ming He, take good care of yourselves on your way to the Great Versalkin Academy for Cultivation..." His tone was calm—to Ming He, it sounded ordinary, indifferent, and cold—yet, unlike Xiao Qing, she managed to detect a subtle undercurrent of concern in Kong Yu Shui's voice, a worry that they might come to any harm.
Three hours later, Xiao Qing and her companion, Kong Ming He, were inside the carriage, bound for the Great Versalkin Academy.
Xiao Qing gazed out the window, a beautiful smile gracing her face as she contemplated the plains belonging to the United Sect of the Righteous.
The Great Versalkin Academy lay about two weeks' travel away from the United Sect of the Righteous. Nevertheless, Xiao Qing was in no rush to arrive; she was certain that Xiao Yoshiko—or rather, Beatrice—would be doing just fine.
After all, Xiao Yoshiko was one of the incarnations of Beatrice. However, unlike Zao Li and Alessandra, Beatrice would lose the memories of her past lives for some mysterious reason. Upon each rebirth, her power would be completely sealed, only for that seal to begin breaking away gradually.
Xiao Qing had realized this after several incarnations.
She cast her gaze toward Kong Minghe, who sat directly across from her, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Kong Minghe's features were unnervingly composed—a sign that the entity had returned once more, inhabiting her body.
"So, you've both become capable of detecting my presence. You, Tom Fragelsen, are my favorite among all the entities I've subjected to tests within the realm of the 'Library of Infinite Everything.'" The entity's tone carried a hint of mockery as he fixed his gaze upon Xiao Qing.
"Xiao Qing, you know full well what I'm about to tell you. This is the third test—just as autumn follows summer. You've completed the first and second; now, half of the third remains, followed by the fourth and fifth." He spoke with a calm, matter-of-fact tone, offering no praise for her achievements—merely stating the facts.
Then, his expression shifted, taking on a slightly derisive edge.
"You know something? The 'Clinical Tunnels' test consists of thirty-two chapters." "If we count Chapter 21—'A Journey into Clinical Tunnels'—according to Wattpad, and Chapter 32 on Webnovel, then this particular arc spans 33 chapters. However, the story of your quest to regain your power won't conclude until well past Chapter 300—or perhaps not until the novel itself exceeds a thousand chapters. The author is quite eccentric and rather lazy; he even includes the insults I hurl at him. Isn't that a bit odd?"
Xiao Qing's expression remained calm as she gazed at the mysterious entity. She let out a deep sigh.
"I'm well aware of that; there's no need to tell me. But what is this 'Library'—this 'Library of Everything'?" Xiao Qing's tone betrayed a hint of bewilderment. She recalled nothing about it—much like 90% of Ji Yao Li's other memories. Even with her status at the level of 'Irrelevant Layers into Boundless,' she remained unable to recover her memories or achieve a state of existence independent of Zao Li or Fong Li Wu. For now, it is as if an unknown force is preventing this, imposing its own will upon both her and Fong Li Wu.
She turned her gaze toward Kong Ming He—the vessel currently inhabited by the mysterious entity—her expression blank.
"Master of the Five Trials, I have a question for you: who is stronger—me, back when I was a part of Ji Yao Li, or you?" Xiao Qing's tone was not that of a question; rather, it was an attempt to verify whether her intuition was correct.
The entity remained silent for several minutes before speaking in a calm tone, tinged with a faint mockery of Xiao Qing's inquiry.
"Of course I am stronger than you—whether you go by Ji Yao Li or Tom Fragelson. I am one of the entities that exist outside the narrative of the novel—that ridiculous novel—or, to be more precise, outside the 'Library of Everything.' I, too, must eventually leave it. And don't worry; there are still about four chapters left until the third trial concludes. For your information, the 'Clinical Tunnels' arc was originally intended to be only three chapters long, but that fool changed his mind and stretched it to 33 chapters—or perhaps even more. It might increase, or it might not. I wish you success, Tom Fragelson—or rather, half of you."
Kong Ming's features returned to their natural state.signaling that the entity had departed from her body.
Xiao Qing sighed and turned her gaze back toward the window, realizing that she had arrived in Xinghai Li—the city that houses the Great Versalkin Academy.
"He manipulated the concept of space to get us here this quickly. Truly impressive." Her tone was devoid of any actual admiration, as if the feat were entirely mundane and hardly worth praising. Nevertheless, she felt a sense of satisfaction at having spoken with that entity once again—and for quite a long time, at that.
At the Great Versalkin Academy, the carriage carrying Xiao Qing and Kong Myeong-hee pulled into the grounds.
Upon their arrival, they were met by key officials and staff members of the academy—five women and seven men, most of whom were middle-aged, in their forties.
"How are you, Saintess of Sacred Creation?"
"How was your journey? May the heavens have blessed your travels here."
After several minutes of being greeted by the officials, Xiao Qing left Kong Myeong-hee to wander the academy's expansive campus.
Xiao Qing then made her way toward Xiao Yoshiko's private quarters.
Upon arriving, she cast her gaze into the room, which featured a traditional Chinese aesthetic blended with modern touches.
On the southern side of the chamber, Xiao Yoshiko sat in a rocking chair, staring blankly out at the garden—seemingly indifferent to everything around her. As soon as Xiao Qing caught sight of Xiao Yoshiko, she let out a deep sigh before approaching her with steady, light steps.
Step... step... step...
Xiao Yoshiko felt a touch on her shoulder, which took her by surprise; yet, her calm expression remained entirely unchanged.
She looked up to find Xiao Qing gazing at her, a faint smile gracing her face.
A subtle glimmer appeared in Xiao Yoshiko's gray eyes as she looked back at Xiao Qing.
"You've come to visit me. It has been such a long time." Her tone was composed, though, deep down, it carried a profound sense of longing.
Seeing Xiao Yoshiko's reaction, Xiao Qing let out a laugh.
"Yes, it truly has been a long time. I have missed you dearly—but the time has come to bring this phase to an end and move on to the next. Autumn always follows summer, and ruin always follows prosperity." Xiao Qing's voice remained calm as she gazed into the void.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yoshiko's expression stayed serene, tinged with a hint of sorrow and a touch of mockery toward the absurdity of fate. Despite being one of the most powerful entities on this path, she found herself unable to wield even 0.00001% of her true strength.