Mu Yiyi formed a hand seal, and a streak of rainbow light flew in from afar, landing beneath her and Zhang Yu's feet. It resembled a lotus leaf, swaying and dancing. It should have carried them into the heavens in an instant, yet it stalled for a moment before slowly rising, bearing the two of them outward.
Mu Yiyi suppressed her surprise and channeled her mana to guide the luminous lotus forward. After traveling for half a quarter-hour, it descended beside a vast lake.
Zhang Yu looked over and saw an enormous vessel moored on the opposite shore. It stood as high as a city wall, long, broad, and straight. Its surface was smooth, yet golden lines traced talismanic patterns across it. At first glance, they seemed fused into one whole, but on closer inspection, they could be divided into thirty-three separate talismans. If nothing unexpected had occurred, these represented Origin Xia's thirty-three ways.
Mu Yiyi said, "Exalted Zhang, Exalted Xing is waiting for you inside. Yiyi can only escort you this far."
Zhang Yu thanked her. After Mu Yiyi curtsied, she turned and departed.
Zhang Yu watched for a moment, then raised a Cloud-Ganoderma Jade Platform beneath his feet and drifted across the lake. As he neared the giant vessel, an incomparably narrow vertical gate, like a pupil, suddenly split open in its massive hull. A long passage revealed itself within, though the interior light was dim, carrying a gloomy, oppressive air.
With a sweep of his sleeve, he guided the misty jade ganoderma inside. Once he entered, light flickered ahead along both walls of the passage, seemingly guiding his way.
He followed the light. Several dozen breaths later, he entered a vast empty hall. A beam of light shone down from above, spreading throughout the chamber.
At the