Wu Meng’s eyes fluttered open, taking in his surroundings as if for the first time. The room was simple—a plain bed, bare walls, and a single shelf with neatly folded white robes. Shafts of sunlight filtered through a small window, illuminating a badge on the shelf with a strange, soft glow.

“Where… am I?” he murmured, rubbing his temples. He got up slowly, his mind foggy. Fragments of the previous day flickered through his head: strange encounters, faces he vaguely recognized, and the nagging feeling he’d missed something important. But even more importantly, he could still piece back his last day together.

For the days before though, he still had no idea.

Wu Meng approached the shelf, his gaze drawn to the badge. It was crafted from a material he’d never seen before, and the Half-Phoenix insignia gleamed in the morning light. He picked it up, feeling its odd weight in his hands.

“This must’ve been left here by Lin,” he mused, slipping the badge into his robe. “But what happened after I blacked out? Did they leave me here to… what? Join them? Do i need to become a disciple?”

Just as he began to lose himself in thought, a sharp knock echoed from the door, startling him.

“Uh… come in?” he called, unsure if that was the right response.

The door opened, and Lian Hua stepped inside, her expression both guarded and curious. She nodded to him, then got straight to the point, “I’ve been asked to check on you, Wu Meng. Specifically, I need to know about the people you met yesterday and what was discussed.”

Wu Meng blinked, trying to process her request. “Right, um, well…” he scratched his head, feeling the day’s events crowding back. “It started with this massive frog…”

Lian Hua’s eyes widened. “A… frog?” She raised an eyebrow but gestured for him to continue.

“Yes,” Wu Meng replied. “It didn’t seem all that strange at the time, but now that I’m saying it out loud…” he trailed off. “Anyway, after that, I met someone called the Protector. She… well, she ate the frog.”

At this, Lian Hua let out an audible gasp. “The Protector? You mean *the* Lin Feiyan?”

He nodded, sensing her shock. “She introduced herself as Lin. We spoke for a bit, and then she performed some kind of test on me. Apparently, I either have a rare affinity or none at all. And then—oh, right. She mentioned something about a soul imprint.”

Lian Hua’s hand flew to her mouth. “A soul imprint? That’s… that’s legendary. Something I only heard about in old stories and legends.”

Wu Meng’s eyebrows knitted together as he watched her reaction. The events of the previous day were starting to feel heavier, somehow more important than he’d first realized.

“Well, there was more,” he said cautiously. “After Lin, I met another person—Jiang Yan, I think her name was? She’s, uh, apparently the top soul cultivator on the continent.”

Lian Hua’s eyes widened even further. “*The* Jiang Yan?” Her expression was a mixture of awe and disbelief. “And she… she interacted with you?”

Wu Meng nodded. “She held my hands at one point,” he added, as he recalled the moment.

Lian Hua almost choked on her own breath, staring at him with astonishment. “This is… unprecedented. I can hardly believe it.” She took a step back, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him, as if seeing him in a new light. “You realize, Wu Meng, that these aren’t ordinary encounters? You’ve interacted with people of unimaginable status.”

Wu Meng nodded, swallowing. Her reaction was making him feel the weight of it all, a gravity that he hadn’t sensed until now.

“Lian, I was wondering…” he ventured hesitantly. “During one of those encounters, there was mention of something called the ‘collective consciousness.’ Do you know anything about it?”

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She tapped her chin, her gaze thoughtful. “The collective consciousness… I can’t say I’ve heard much about it. That term is certainly beyond my understanding, but if such a place exists, there’s bound to be some record of it somewhere in the sect’s archives.”

“Where would we find something like that?” Wu Meng asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

Lian Hua’s face brightened. “The library! The sect has an extensive library filled with ancient texts and scrolls. If there’s any place that could hold an answer, it would be there.”

Wu Meng’s heart quickened. The thought of uncovering this mystery, of getting closer to understanding himself, fueled him with a sudden eagerness.

“Could we go there?” he asked, barely able to contain his excitement.

Lian Hua seemed to hesitate, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. “The library is typically reserved for disciples,” she explained slowly. But then, as if making up her mind, she nodded. “Given your unique situation, I think I can make an exception for you.”

Wu Meng’s face broke into a grin. “Thank you, Lian. Really.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” she said with a small smile. “Only certain areas are accessible without special permission, and some knowledge is restricted to those of higher standing. So tread carefully.”

They left the small room together, making their way through the bustling sect. Wu Meng noted the curious stares of the other disciples, and it wasn’t long before he realized why: he stood out among them, missing the distinctive Half-Phoenix robes. Some disciples cast envious glances his way, clearly jealous of his proximity to Lian Hua, while others looked more intrigued.

Lian Hua leaned in, murmuring quietly, “Don’t worry about them. They’re just surprised to see someone new.”

He nodded, feeling both self-conscious and a little amused by the attention. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being an outsider.

The library building loomed before them—a massive structure nestled against the mountain, its stone walls adorned with ancient carvings and symbols. Wu Meng’s mouth went dry as he took it in.

“Wow…” he whispered, awe evident in his voice.

Lian Hua smiled at his reaction. “The inside is even more impressive. Let’s go.”

They entered the library, and Wu Meng’s eyes widened as he took in the rows upon rows of shelves, filled with scrolls, books, and tablets. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and something almost electric, as if the walls held centuries of accumulated knowledge.

“It’s amazing,” he breathed, his gaze flitting from one ancient text to the next.

Lian Hua gave him a few instructions, explaining that he’d only be able to access basic cultivation texts and that he should avoid restricted sections. “Stay focused,” she advised. “The basics might seem dull, but they’re essential.”

Wu Meng nodded, glancing around as she left him to explore on his own. However, as he wandered through the aisles, he noticed the disciples’ stares had only intensified. Some of the males seemed especially annoyed, casting resentful looks his way, while a few female disciples watched him with open curiosity. He wondered if his lack of a disciple’s robe was the cause, or if they were simply baffled by his presence here.

His hand drifted to the badge tucked into his robe. Could it give him access to more than he thought? Unsure, he decided to ask someone who might know.

He approached the reception desk, where an elderly man sat, surrounded by a stack of scrolls. The man had a long, wispy beard and eyes that were sharp despite his age. Wu Meng stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

“Excuse me, Elder,” he said politely, “I was given this badge, and I’d like to know what sections of the library it grants me access to.”

The elder looked up, his gaze immediately drawn to the badge Wu Meng held. His eyebrows rose slightly as he reached out, taking the badge in his hands. He examined it carefully, turning it over with a discerning eye.

“Where did you get this badge, young man?” the elder asked, his voice even but tinged with curiosity.

Wu Meng hesitated, unsure of how much he should reveal. “It was given to me… by someone named Lin,” he replied.

The elder’s eyes flashed with recognition, though his expression remained neutral. After a moment, he nodded and handed the badge back to Wu Meng.

“This badge grants you full access to the library, young man. You may explore not only the general and restricted collections but also the inner archives, typically reserved for the sect’s most accomplished disciples and elders. Use this opportunity wisely. The inner archives contain knowledge that many spend lifetimes aspiring to understand. But remember, the higher the knowledge, the greater the responsibility it demands.”

Wu Meng nodded, clutching the badge a bit tighter. “Thank you, Elder.”

The elder’s gaze lingered on him for a moment, as if weighing him up, before he returned to his scrolls. Wu Meng turned away, his mind buzzing with anticipation.

“What did you ask the Elder?”