Within the narrow passage of the Path of Abundance, Theresa watched life rise and fall, comprehending the state of mind behind birth, aging, illness, and death.
She watched plants and spirits live through prosperity to decline, then decline to prosperity, endlessly cycling through life and death, just like the rise and fall of civilizations.
She seemed to understand, yet not fully. The feeling was somewhat like Yaoshi's understanding of life. They only wanted to display a world brimming with vitality, yet no matter what They did, what They cultivated never proved satisfactory—whether it was the Abundance People twisted by immortality, the Buli Ren, or the Xianzhou people.
Yaoshi showed Theresa all of this and awaited her answer.
What was life?
Theresa watched as all the illusions faded away, pondering how she should answer Yaoshi's question.
"In my view, both organic and inorganic things count as life. It doesn't mean only plants are alive."
"Humans, animals, insects, plants—even bacteria—all count as life."
"And not only that. Things constructed from inorganic matter also count as life. As long as they possess their own thoughts and consciousness, they should be considered life."
"In my view, existence is reason enough."
Theresa simply answered Yaoshi candidly according to her own thoughts. Her words made Yaoshi ponder for a moment. They smiled and shook Their head, neither saying whether Theresa was right nor wrong. They pointed at Theresa, and a rich Light of Abundance blossomed around her.
Her consciousness sank into slumber, while Yaoshi wished to see what Theresa would do after gaining this power.
I grant thee the rank of Envoy; I shall observe thy words and deeds, judge thy resolve, and illuminate what thou protectest.
After Yaoshi left behind those four cryptic lines, They vanished. Theresa, meanwhile, awoke from the emerald Cocoon of Light