After nearly a day of soaring through the clouds, Flint found herself approaching the Chasm of Abyss aboard an ethereal canoe with Lenient and Serene. As they drew closer, a colossal structure emerged from the mists - a tower that seemed to pierce the very heavens. Each of its fourteen floors was an octagonal chamber, rising higher than the surrounding cliffs. Flint studied the architecture with keen interest, noting how each level stood nearly the height of four men.

The building commanded attention against the backdrop of the chasm's darkness, its eight-sided floors creating an imposing silhouette that somehow managed to appear both ancient and timeless.

"You haven't reached Master Level yet, have you?" Serene's question came unexpectedly, breaking the contemplative silence.

"Of course not!" Lenient interjected before Flint could respond, his voice bright with enthusiasm. "My little stone is still waiting for my Natural Essence Pill!"

"No..." Flint answered politely despite Lenient's interjection. "Why do you ask?"

"Because of the Abyssal Pavilion's defense formation," Serene explained, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "It detects any outsiders at Master Level or above and shatters their meridians if they're not one of us."

"Meridians?" Flint tilted her head slightly.

"They're the channels that transport natural aura through your body," Lenient chimed in cheerfully, as if discussing something as mundane as the weather. "But don't worry! If someone genuinely wants to join us, we'll heal them right up!"

"We only target Master Level cultivators and above because an Adept Level would likely die instantly from the formation," Serene explained carefully, trying to make the intimidating defense system sound more reasonable. "Masters at least have a chance to survive until we can heal them. It's primarily to prevent hostile intrusions into the Abyssal Pavilion."

"Besides, if any Adept Level cultivators try anything, they're easy enough to kill anyway!" Lenient added cheerfully, completely undermining Serene's attempt to soften the topic.

"I see." Flint nodded, beginning to grasp the Abyssal Pavilion's stark worldview - absolute loyalty and protection for their own organization, and ruthless indifference to all others.

"Serene," Lenient suddenly called out, his voice bright with childlike excitement, "where should we take our little stone to play?"

"I don't think there's anywhere particularly entertaining here," Serene responded flatly, adjusting his glasses with a slight sigh.

Lenient slowed the ethereal canoe, turning back to glance at the Terminal in Flint's hands. His eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Do you like the Abyssal Terminal that much?"

"Well... 'like' isn't quite the right word," Flint chose her words carefully, fingers hovering over the device. "It's just a tool."

Wait... Something clicked in Flint's mind. "Abyssal Terminal?"

"Eh? Isn't that what you're holding? We have loads of them at the Whisper Exchange!" Lenient gestured enthusiastically, his robes fluttering in the wind.

"But this is from the Mystic Enigma Pavilion... it's called a Mystic Terminal..." Flint's brow furrowed in confusion. "The Abyssal Pavilion has these too?" Though thinking back to her conversation with Felicity who mentioned watching Terminals all day, perhaps it wasn't so strange after all.

"They must have copied us!" Lenient declared with exaggerated indignation, puffing up his cheeks. "Come on, let me show you the Abyssal Pavilion's superior technology!"

"You're going to the Whisper Exchange?" Serene's voice carried a hint of nervousness. Suddenly self-conscious at the prospect of seeing Felicity, he straightened his collar, adjusted his cuffs, and pushed his glasses up with slightly trembling fingers.

"That's right," Lenient replied cheerfully.

The ethereal canoe accelerated towards the cliff's summit. As Lenient dismissed the vessel, they found themselves on a narrow bridge connecting the cliff edge to the twelfth floor of the Abyssal Pavilion. Flint peered over both sides - below, the tower's lower levels seemed to emerge from the swirling mists like a living thing growing from the bottomless chasm.

What would it feel like to fall from here? The thought drifted through Flint's mind as she recalled her previous fall from the sky. That height had been nothing compared to this abyss. A fall from here would likely mean instant death.

Lenient led them into the Whisper Exchange, with Flint taking in every detail. Abyssal Terminals filled the space, some operated by puppets, others by mysterious figures in black or deep colored hooded cloaks. Each human operator wore masks and gloves, as if desperate to conceal their identities.

"Felicity!" Lenient's cheerful shout echoed through the chamber, causing a young woman at one of the terminals to wrinkle her brow in visible annoyance.

Flint followed the sound of Lenient’s voice and looked forward, where a strange and startling sign read: “No killing inside this exchange.”

Lenient bounded up to the counter where Felicity sat. She lifted her head slowly, her voice barely above a whisper: "Why are you shouting? This is trading hours."

Flint caught a glimpse of Felicity's screen - "GAME OVER" flashed prominently across it. She suspected Felicity's irritation stemmed from Lenient's shout causing her game loss.

"It's not like you're doing anything important anyway," Lenient said with a playful grin.

"This is work!" Felicity protested, her fingers drumming impatiently on the desk.

"Let me introduce our new family member!" Lenient pulled Flint forward with enthusiasm. "This is Flint!"

"Full name?" Felicity asked abruptly, her attention suddenly sharp and focused.

"Flint Winter," she replied, watching as Felicity's fingers began dancing across a scroll covered in characters. Flint noted the absence of keystones like those used by the Mystic Enigma Pavilion.

"Oh," Felicity's eyes remained fixed on the Abyssal Terminal's screen as she spoke, giving Flint a cursory glance. "She can't join the Abyssal Pavilion though. She's absorbed souls."

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The air suddenly grew thick with tension. As Felicity's gaze swept across Lenient's face, she found him still smiling - but now his expression carried an unsettling chill beneath its warmth.

Both Flint and Serene tensed simultaneously, though for different reasons. Through the cracks in her mental barrier, Flint sensed a surge of raw fury beneath Lenient's placid smile, like magma churning beneath a deceptively calm surface.

Serene's anxiety stemmed from a more intimate understanding of recent events. He knew all too well how Lenient had obsessively spoken of "his little stone" after failing to capture the Inferno Wolf prince. The thought of Flint being denied entry to the Abyssal Pavilion over this matter could only lead to conflict.

"What's wrong?" Felicity broke the heavy silence, her voice slightly uncertain. "This has always been the Abyssal Pavilion's rule... Though I've always found it strange. I also talked with Serene about it - we accept people who've committed far worse crimes, yet soul absorption is where we draw the line..."

“Yes, yes.” Serene immediately echoed. He did remember Felicity mentioning it, but he agreed at the time without paying more attention.

Lenient's smile suddenly lightened, the menacing edge vanishing like morning frost. "Exactly, exactly! So let's just abolish that rule. The Abyssal Pavilion should welcome everyone!"

"What?" Felicity stared at Lenient in disbelief. "Would that old Patio even agree? I heard this rule was set by his master, the Bamboo Sovereign..."

"The Bamboo Sovereign?" Lenient's smile deepened, taking on an almost secretive quality. "Well, now it's the Pine Sovereign!"

Felicity had heard this pine tree rambling about being the reincarnation of the legendary Bamboo Sovereign, and oddly enough, old Patio never contradicted him. Still, she couldn't reconcile this childish tree before her with the powerful figure who had dominated the cultivation world five hundred years ago.

After all, the Bamboo Sovereign and Obsidian were her favorite romantic pairing. How could the Sovereign possibly be someone like... this?

"Fine, we'll ignore that rule. She doesn't have any resentment force now anyway," Felicity conceded, deciding it was easier to humor the pine tree. As long as Elder Blackwood and old Patio didn't make a fuss, it wouldn't be an issue.

"Yes, yes!" Lenient clapped his hands together gleefully. "Now Flint is part of our family!"

Sensing the tense atmosphere dissipate, both Flint and Serene visibly relaxed. Through her mental barrier's cracks, Flint could feel Lenient's mood brightening, returning to that same carefree joy he'd exhibited during their journey here.

Suddenly, a deep bell tone resonated through the hall. The screens displayed: "Trading hours ended. Terminals will shut down in 15 minutes. Please save all important information."

The puppets and cloaked figures began filing out through the main doors. Felicity rolled up her scroll, her voice brightening considerably. "Time to clock out!"

"Just because you say Flint is family doesn't make it so," Felicity said, stuffing items into her bag. "We've always been about voluntary membership." She lifted her gaze to meet Flint's eyes. "Do you want to join the Abyssal Pavilion?"

More like voluntarily forced, Serene thought silently.

Being family must mean a lot to her... Flint considered carefully. "Yes, I do."

Worried her answer might seem insufficient, Flint began to explain, "The reason is that in my past life..."

But Felicity cut her off with a wave of her hand. "Why do we need reasons? Isn't wanting to join enough?"

A bright smile spread across Felicity's face as she extended her hand. "Hi, I'm Felicity Whitehood!"

Flint grasped the offered hand. "Flint Winter."

While still holding Flint's hand, Felicity suddenly processed what she'd heard. "Wait, what did you just say about past life?"

Flint nodded. "I was Obsidian in my past life, probably one of the Abyssal Pavilion's founders, though my contributions weren't as significant as the Bamboo Sovereign's..."

"How could you say that!" Felicity dropped Flint's hand, clenching her fists against her chest in indignation. "Everything in the Abyssal Pavilion was Obsidian's design! The Bamboo Sovereign was just Obsidian's public face! Even someone like Lenient could have been the Bamboo Sovereign if they'd met Obsidian back then!"

"That's right, that's right! My little stone is amazing in both lives!" Lenient cheerfully agreed, completely unfazed by the clear mockery in Felicity's tone.

"Wait..." Felicity's voice slowed as realization dawned. "What did you say... you're Obsidian's reincarnation?"

"Um... yes." Flint confirmed awkwardly.

Felicity's eyes widened dramatically. She reached out, almost in a trance, and began touching Flint's face, making Flint shift uncomfortably under the unexpected attention.

Serene tensed inwardly, knowing Felicity's devotion to Obsidian and her tendency to find fault with everything. He braced himself for a fight between Lenient and Felicity - at least the Whisper Exchange was empty if they came to blows.

But to Serene's surprise, Felicity merely stared into Flint's eyes, her voice filled with wonder. "Oh... eyes like obsidian indeed."

"You must be Obsidian. No one else has irises so completely black..." Felicity lowered her hand, her voice trembling with emotion.

What? Flint realized she'd never even noticed this about herself. After all, it’s hard to distinguish between black eyes and brown eyes at first glance.

Suddenly, Felicity grabbed Flint's hands, her breathing quick and uneven, but no words came.

"Are you alright?" Serene asked with concern.

Felicity shook her head, "It's nothing," then shook it again, "No, that's not true. I just... I don't even know where to start asking questions."

"Let's have a drink on the first floor!" Lenient suggested cheerfully. "I'll mix the drinks!"

"Using yourself as an ingredient?" Felicity released Flint's hands to tease Lenient.

That sounds rather gruesome... though I suppose it's normal for a fast-regenerating pine tree, Flint mused silently.

"Yes, that's exactly what I had in mind!" Lenient nodded enthusiastically.

As the group headed toward the transfer formation to the eleventh floor, Felicity suddenly stopped. "Wait, Flint hasn't been added to the identity database yet, has she?"

"What's the identity database?" Lenient asked curiously.

"It's a database that stores information about our members," Serene explained to Lenient. "And no, she hasn't been added. She just arrived today," he added.

"Then she can't access the eleventh floor..." Felicity furrowed her brow. "The twelfth floor only connects to the eleventh for security, and the defense measures activate for anyone not in the database who tries to enter."

"Well, anyone can go to the first floor!" Lenient brightened. "We can just take the ethereal canoe down there."

"Hmm... that works," Felicity nodded, and the four headed toward the exit.

The ethereal canoe couldn't descend vertically, so Lenient guided it in a zig-zag pattern, dropping gradually with each turn. Felicity rested her elbows on the canoe's edge, staring intently at Flint.

Feeling Felicity's gaze, Flint glanced over, then awkwardly looked away when their eyes met. After pretending to study the surroundings for a moment, she looked back only to find Felicity still fixed in the same position, watching her.

In the midst of their silent eye contact, Felicity finally spoke: "Do you think Lenient is really the Bamboo Sovereign's reincarnation?"

"Of course I am!" Lenient chimed in eagerly.

"Nobody asked you!" Felicity snapped back.

"Well... I think he probably is..." Flint answered hesitantly.

Before Flint could explain why, Felicity cut her off: "If even Obsidian acknowledges it, then it must be true."

"Ah!" Felicity let out an exaggerated sigh. "How did the mighty Bamboo Sovereign end up like... this?"

"What's wrong with me?" Lenient asked with mock indignation. "Anything the Bamboo Sovereign could do, I can do too. Any spiritual herb he could grow, I can grow. I can make them grow just as fast."

"Oh yes, yes," Felicity replied with exaggerated disinterest. "You're amazing."

Serene watched their bickering with practiced indifference - he'd learned to be a quiet observer when tensions weren't running too high.

"I just always imagined the Bamboo Sovereign as someone..." Felicity gestured expansively in the air, "elegant, gentle, composed, sophisticated, powerful, cunning, deeply strategic, and absolutely devoted..."

"That's exactly what I am!" Lenient called back without turning, focused on steering the ethereal canoe.

"Not some silly pine tree," Felicity concluded pointedly, undermining Lenient's claim.

The ethereal canoe touched down, and Felicity suddenly grabbed Flint's hand with nervous energy. "You haven't reached Master Level, right?"

Flint had barely shaken her head and mumbled "No" when Lenient cut in, his voice carrying a hint of playful mockery: "Actually, my dear, we've already passed through one defense formation, and Flint has been through two. The airspace below the eleventh floor is all within the formation's attack range."

Felicity shot Lenient a withering look, choosing to ignore his taunt. She turned back to Flint, curiosity brightening her voice. "So, what level are you at now?"

"Just reached Late Initiative," Flint replied, scratching her head sheepishly.

"Oh." There was a note of disappointment in Felicity's voice. "I always imagined Obsidian was at Deity level."

She then shifted her attention back to Lenient, her tone turning accusatory. "And where are all your miraculous pills and elixirs? Why aren't you giving them to Obsidian?"

"Little stone just arrived!" Lenient protested cheerfully. "We were just checking out what's fun at the Whisper Exchange. Besides, little stone already knows all about your Terminals and such!"

Flint was about to shoulder her bag containing the Mystic Terminal when Lenient's words made her pause. She brought the bag to her front, hesitating. "Oh, it's in this bag... I know a little... I learned a programming language called..."

"Stop right there!" Felicity cut her off with a wave of her hand. "We're off duty, and I don't want to see anything work-related unless it's for gaming." She turned to Lenient, her voice taking on a defensive tone. "Of course Obsidian knows programming! Even the language I use is called Obsidian! She was the Abyssal Pavilion's first programmer."

Flint swallowed the words "called Soulweaver" that had been on the tip of her tongue. It seemed different places had different programming languages. The irony wasn't lost on her - she should probably hurry up and learn the programming language she had apparently invented in her past life.

They passed through one of the eight doors into a dim corridor bathed in twilight shadows. At a corner, Lenient channeled his natural aura, bringing life to the space as lights flickered to life across the bar counter and shelves. The soft illumination created an inviting, almost nostalgic atmosphere.

Felicity guided Flint to one of the round bar stools, her enthusiasm still evident in her grip. Serene settled quietly beside Felicity, adjusting his glasses with practiced precision. Meanwhile, Lenient slipped behind the counter with a flourish, his movements fluid as he began gathering bottles and glasses.

The warm light played across Flint's features as she took in the scene, each detail simultaneously new and hauntingly familiar. Lenient's voice cut through her reverie, bright and sincere: "Welcome home, little stone!"

Home. The word hung in the air, both strange and profound. Flint turned it over in her mind, feeling its weight and possibility. Perhaps this place, despite its dark reputation and shadowy corners, could become more than just another shelter.