The Creator Is Unfeeling (Part 1)

"How can this be?" For the first time since they had met, Jean Grey, who had always presented herself with a mature and composed demeanor, saw her expression change.

The Phoenix Force was the source of Jean Grey's immense power, but it was also the greatest nightmare of her life. The Phoenix Force had spiraled out of control more than once; the most recent incident, occurring just a few years ago, had nearly destroyed the X-Mansion. At the time, even the Professor had been at his wit's end, and it was Xiang Qian who had managed to dissipate the overflowing Phoenix energy to bring the situation under control. That had been the beginning of the bond between Xiang Qian and Phoenix.

"I am in your Soul Realm right now, yet the Phoenix Force is incredibly calm. I can feel it—there is nothing abnormal about the Phoenix Force in reality, either."

Jean opened her right hand, and golden light flowed across her palm. The Phoenix Force, born from the convergence of all life energy in the multiverse, obediently flickered in and out of existence according to Jean Grey's will.

"See? They are completely under my control." Jean looked at Xiang Qian, puzzled.

Xiang Qian shook his head. "That is not necessarily true." He reached out as well, gently tapping the center of Jean's palm. It was like a ripple spreading across a calm surface; the previously docile and obedient Phoenix Force suddenly erupted into a frenzy. Under Jean Grey's horrified gaze, wisps of golden light began to leak from her palm.

Fortunately, before more power could overflow, Xiang Qian's palm gently covered hers, calming the violent surge of the Phoenix Force.

"What did you just do? Why was there a moment where I couldn't sense the Phoenix Force at all?" Jean was starting to panic. Every time the Phoenix Force went out of control, it brought her abyss-like nightmares and endless remorse afterward.

Xiang Qian held Jean's hand, soothing her. "Don't worry, they are still under my control. This is what I wanted to tell you: the Phoenix Force has the potential to slip out of your grasp within this Soul Realm."

"Is it because of your influence?"

Xiang Qian shook his head again. "No, it is this realm itself that is affecting it."

"Isn't that just you? This is your Soul Realm, controlled by your thoughts." Jean was even more confused.

Xiang Qian gave a wry smile. "That is not the case. Although this realm is rooted in my soul, my thoughts cannot fully control it."

Jean was greatly astonished. Ever since Xiang Qian first brought her into this realm, she had been shocked by the vast soul power he possessed. To shape a universe based solely on one person's soul—the intensity of such soul power was no less than the Phoenix itself—and she feared she hadn't even mastered one percent of the Phoenix Force yet.

Watching the elegant, mature beauty's look of shock and suspicion, Xiang Qian felt quite helpless. To ensure he could prevent the Soul Realm from having a negative impact on the Phoenix Force, he had to reveal his greatest secret to her.

"The universe you see here did not originate from my soul. It already existed. For some reason I have yet to discover, it became deeply entangled with my soul and merged into one. But at the end of the day, it remains an independent existence."

"My soul cannot fully control this universe. I can only control a portion of it; the so-called Soul Realm is actually just that controlled portion."

Jean felt as if she understood. "So, the relationship between this universe and you is the same as the relationship between the Phoenix and me?"

"Yes and no." Xiang Qian pondered his phrasing. "The Phoenix Force has substance but no form; it is not only an aggregate of energy but also an existence governed by established rules. This universe is different. I can confirm that it is an objective existence on a material level; it just happened to merge with my soul for some reason, eventually becoming a special product that exists between matter and consciousness."

"Then why does it affect the Phoenix Force?" Jean was an elite who had received a high-level education; she could roughly understand what Xiang Qian was saying through metaphysical philosophical concepts and some frontier physics conjectures, but she was more concerned about the issue of the Phoenix Force losing control.

"In the areas I can control, I can guarantee the Phoenix Force is stable. What I fear are the areas beyond my control." As he said this, Xiang Qian recalled some things that made him shudder.

"This universe was originally an objectively existing, real universe with its own established cosmic rules. The power of these rules encompasses all subjective metaphysics and physical laws; it is powerful, rigid, irresistible, and full of aggression. Everything in this universe, whether born here or entering from the outside, will be assimilated by these rules—including, of course, my soul and your Phoenix Force."

Jean realized. "Was it during the last time the Phoenix went out of control? You dissipated the leaking Phoenix Force—you didn't actually dissipate the power, you absorbed it?"

Xiang Qian nodded, then gave a wry smile. "But the Phoenix Force was still too powerful; even a small portion was more than I could control at the time. It raged violently within my Soul Realm, nearly shattering all the galaxies. I had no other choice but to drive it into the part of the realm I could not control."

"And after that, the Phoenix Force was assimilated. It became a part of the cosmic rules and was no longer under control."

"But why does it affect me in reality?" Jean could understand the concepts Xiang Qian was describing, but she was still puzzled.

"The Phoenix Force was originally gathered from the life energy of the universe. It does not have a perfect self-consciousness or logical thinking; all its actions are driven more by life instincts." Xiang Qian reached out to stroke Jean's face. "The one who truly calmed it down was you, Jean. The instinct of life is survival and reproduction. If we compare this instinct to divinity, then it is precisely because Jean Grey's humanity and the Phoenix's divinity reached a balance that the Phoenix became controllable."

"But this balance is fragile." Xiang Qian's words made Jean's expression dim.

Xiang Qian did not deny it. "Yes, because the Phoenix Force is, after all, an existence driven by instinct. When my Soul Realm—I mean the part I cannot control—absorbed and assimilated the Phoenix Force, it also released the Phoenix's natural instincts. Compared to the Phoenix Force remaining in you, which is restrained by humanity, the temptation of this freedom to pursue instinct is incomparably powerful."

"Its instincts will be awakened, letting the Phoenix's divinity overwhelm Jean Grey's humanity." Jean muttered to herself. "When that time comes, I will no longer be Jean Grey, but just the Phoenix?"

"The Phoenix's instincts have actually been eroding my personality all along; it will eventually replace me completely, won't it? James, tell me, is this my unavoidable fate?" Jean became despondent. Even worse, without her realizing it, the Phoenix Force within her began to rise again.

Xiang Qian sighed slightly and pulled the despondent, elegant beauty into his arms, using the advantage of his home turf in the realm to suppress the Phoenix that was on the verge of losing control.

"Don't worry, honey. I won't let that brainless Phoenix hurt you," Xiang Qian comforted her. "Actually, the Phoenix Force has its cute side, too. Want to go see it?"