Ascension meant rising upward, being ushered in, heaven and earth telling you:
You are worthy. Come up.
But this time, they were falling downward, and Si Chen was telling heaven and earth:
I'm going back. Open the door.
After Jiang Ling stepped into the passage, she felt an intense falling sensation. Starlight stretched into long threads, streaking past her toward the space above her head.
Instinctively, she tried to steady herself, only to find the surrounding laws of space tangled into chaos.
"Don't be nervous."
A voice came from beside her, tinged with amusement.
"It's always like this the first time."
Jiang Ling turned and saw that Si Chen had somehow flown to her side, still looking as carefree as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze.
She couldn't help rolling her eyes.
What do you mean, it's always like this the first time?
Why does that sound so awkward?
But before she could speak, another voice drifted over.
"Don't be scared, Senior Jiang!"
It was Luo Hongyi.
She was holding Murong Li's hand. Murong Li really was a little nervous, her small face slightly pale as she clutched Luo Hongyi's sleeve without letting go.
Luo Hongyi patted the back of her hand, then nodded at Jiang Ling, her tone carrying the composure of someone who had been through it before.
"You'll get used to it. Though I was terribly nervous back then, too."
Jiang Ling: "..."
She took a deep breath and decided not to pick up that thread of conversation.
But Luo Hongyi clearly took this as another sign of nerves and continued reassuring her. "Fellow Daoist Si Chen has plenty of experience with this. Nothing will go wrong."
"Li, you relax a little, too."
The corner of Jiang Ling's mouth twitched. Plenty of experience?
Murong Li whispered, "O-okay...