And so, with curiosity surpassing any hesitation, Chun Xi turned [Astral Vision] onto herself. At that very instant, the milky, gossip-like voice echoed once again in her mind.
— "Lucky girl, isn't she? So many gifts… but someone's bound to run into misfortune soon…"
Once more, the corner of Tang Chun Xi's mouth twitched. For a fleeting moment, the image of tiny stars twinkling and whispering among themselves about her resurfaced. She shook her head, pushed aside the cosmic gossip, and focused on the information that appeared before her eyes.
[Status]
Name: Tang Chun Xi (14)
Condition: Healthy
Talent: Five Elements Root (Mutant), Lunar Imperial Physique, Lunar Umbrella (Natal Treasure)
Level: [Corporal: 7th stage of Body Strengthening], [Spiritual: 7th stage of the Tempering Realm]
Techniques: Harmonic Chaos Matrix, Phoenix's Winged Step
Abilities: [High Comprehension (passive)], [Phoenix Wings → ??], [Initial Energy Manipulation (passive)], [Instinctive Body Combat Perception (passive)], [Flexible Body (passive)], [Energy Projection], [Endless Will (passive)]
Innate Abilities: [Star Detection], [Luminous Concealment], [Emergency Teleportation], [Rising Gravity], [Yang Flame Sphere], [Astral Vision], [Stellar Refraction (passive)]
Pseudo-Abilities: Umbrella Handling (82/100), Lunar Energy Manipulation (30/100)
— "Wow… this is much more than Lin Xu! What does each one say?" — the Lunar Umbrella chimed in, with the eager curiosity of a child about to unwrap a gift.
Hearing this, she focused her mind on the first unknown ability.
[Energy Projection]: Grants the power to emit spiritual energy in the form of spells and energy movements beyond the body.
— "This ability… should only belong to practitioners of the Primary Origin Realm. Yet, I somehow gained it when I began practicing the Matrix." — She murmured in awe. Then she shifted to the passives.
— "And these here… must be the result of my past life."
[Instinctive Body Combat Perception (passive)]: Forged from the experience, tenacity, and instincts of countless life-or-death battles. Grants talent for physical combat and battle instincts that would stir envy in anyone.
[Endless Will (passive)]: Forged in the desolation and ruins of a dead universe. A mind that will remain true to itself in the best or worst of circumstances.
A chill ran down her spine upon reading the description of her own will. It was a grim reminder, but also a source of unwavering strength.
[Phoenix Wings → ??]: Evolved after absorbing chaos energy and became something more. Insufficient information! Test for further details!
— "That description was strange… What do you mean, 'test for more'?"
— "I also find it odd… I don't know exactly what these abilities are capable of. After all, they emerged in such bizarre ways…" — the Lunar Umbrella commented, until his voice suddenly perked up with a new idea, jolting Chun Xi from her thoughts. — "Master, try checking the description for [Astral Vision]! See if it matches the one I gave you!"
She did so. — "It still looks the same…" — she said, somewhat disappointed, but then her tone shifted. — "Wait, what's this?"
Beneath the basic description, new details appeared: "Created by a series of unusual factors, using the following components: the full knowledge of its master; the precise intuition of the Lunar Umbrella; part of the knowledge of the stars; and finally, the power of chaos to give it birth. The detected information depends on these components, which may be accumulated!!"
— "It seems it depends on these factors… So if I gain more knowledge, it becomes more accurate?"
— "And then there are the exclamation marks and the test requests… Could it be that the ability is based on those prior components and kind of 'reads' whatever it can from the target?" — the Umbrella mused. — "Also, the gossip from the stars that I hear—could that be part of their 'knowledge,' or is that already integrated into the status?"
Lost in theories, her mind was yanked back by the Umbrella's urgent cry. — "Master, I just remembered something!" — he exclaimed, and she felt a faint pressure on her wrist, as though he were pointing. — "We forgot your bracelet is a protection item that alerts your father when you're in danger! You were saved by it—he must have been notified!"
Chun Xi's blood froze. — "How could I forget? Where's the communication talisman?" — she muttered anxiously, frantically rummaging through her storage ring.
— "It was in the storage pouch… which was destroyed by the flame," — he completed, sensing her growing anxiety.
— "Right! But the bracelet is still with me. So he should know I'm safe, right? Or…" — Her voice trailed off as she lifted her wrist. The bracelet looked different. The plain green jade had vanished, revealing a smaller, bluish bracelet of unusual appearance.
Her worried expression shifted into inner discomfort.
— "The flame must have destroyed the jade layer that held the enchantment. This must be its true form!" — the Lunar Umbrella concluded.
— "We need to leave this place now!" — Chun Xi said, urgency overtaking her voice.
— "But this place may be dangerous. Your father may be worried, but he won't come after you. Besides the bracelet, he also has that spiritual lamp that works as long as you're alive." — he tried to reason with her, but it was no use. At least, she calmed down a little.
But what neither of them knew was that her father was in dire straits…
— "I can't wait. Lin Xu still seems far from waking, and I don't know how much time has passed… Don't worry, I have a plan. If anything happens, I can retreat into the ring, or you can teleport me far away! Now that you're here, it should be easier, right?"
— "Yes, now that I'm awake and the ability has improved, I can act faster and without… the mistake from last time…" — After a pause, he added, a bit embarrassed: — "When you were teleported before… that was my haste… Since you had the bracelet, it would have saved you anyway!" — his voice thinned, and Tang Chun Xi could swear the Umbrella in her hand felt slightly warmer, as if it were blushing.
She shook her head and reassured him, a smile softening her lips and dissolving her unease. — "No need to feel guilty. I'm not some heartless monster." — she tried to joke. — "I know you were only trying to save me, and you hadn't even fully awakened yet… And if you're still feeling guilty, you can make it up by helping me find the way out."
— "Leave it to me, Master! Worst case, I can force the teleport straight to the city!" — the Lunar Umbrella declared, confidence surging back as though puffing out his chest.
Chun Xi first felt warmed by his cuteness, then startled. — "Wait—you said 'force the teleport to the city'? Does that mean you can control the teleportation's destination?!"