I could not help but recall a strange occurrence.
When I returned from Su's Bubble World to the real world, the mix of honkai energy and Sea of Quanta caused chaotic reactions. It is my spiritual qi that calmed down the Sea of Quanta.
I did not mind it much back then. It is but one of the strange occurrences I faced.
Now…
The Sea of Quanta is actively helping Seele cultivate.
Spiritual qi attracted the attention of the Sea of Quanta. It remains unknown whether they have an independent will of their own—perhaps it was an instinctive action. I cannot judge given my limited knowledge.
The Sea of Quanta and the Imaginary Tree extended far beyond honkai impact 3rd. Its "secrets" were not yet unveiled when I died. The furthest I saw was the existence of the Scepter System that attracted the attention of three Aeons. If the Trailblazer hadn't entered that world, it is suggested that something big will occur.
This became my concern after the Cocon of Finality. I cannot leave Earth to be like Belobog: powerless, without status, and easily trampled with. Even if there is a semblance of "order" in the world of Star Rail, it is best to have strength as a guarantee.
My gaze turned to the Sea's influence surrounding her.
It is the purest pile of "data". Most of its power was dispelled under the [Two Phase Art], being considered legible to be converted. The remaining ones pulled Seele's awareness—mind—into a special simulation. It is a simulation of her life. Seele is living it day-by-day, cultivating while she does so. Its exact details remain to be unknown.
Her rapidly ascending realms are associated with it. I could also sense the overall improvements of her techniques and heart alike.
{Qi: Early Purple Mansion > Middle Purple Mansion}
{Body: Middle Purple Mansion > Late Purple Mansion}
{Mind: Early Purple Mansion > Middle Purple Mansion}
I gave away the backlogs of experience potions two months ago. She successfully crossed the breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Realm on her own.
Just as I was about to ask Veliona for the details, I felt a tight hug from my back. A pair of softness pressed onto me.
"Fu…"
I turned my head around and saw Kiana silently inhaling. Her clear eyes began to get intoxicated.
Oh shit.
Knock-!
"Ow!"
I knocked some sense into her with a finger flick to the forehead.
"Who's the pervert now?" I asked her.
"You…"
Kiana could not reply. She knew the answer inside her.
"Aren't you one too?!"
"Yeah? I can control mine, unlike yours."
Two months of "fighting" gave me a complete grasp of her character. Kiana is destined to lose verbally every single time.
"...You smell good."
Her voice went as low as a mosquito's. She could not help but to bury her face on my back.
"It's better than before. Tian…"
My heart skipped a beat.
Her tempting and sincere voice almost defeated my self-control.
"Wait for a while. You can go outside and do your usual patrols…"
Under my suggestion, I managed to separate Kiana from me. She went off to her usual patrols. Guilt flashed in her eyes after not being able to help for two entire months.
Before she went away, I asked her to envelop the entire Earth with [Two Phase Art]. It will effectively prevent the minor honkai eruptions without disrupting the Proportionality Law much—if it is present in this world.
People of this world have fragmented souls. They cannot cultivate. I also wanted to test something out…
{"Tsk. It's even worse than I thought."}
A disdainful voice echoed.
"Oh, Veliona."
{"W-what's with that name?!"}
Oops.
That slipped out of my mouth.
I forgot "Veliona" isn't her true name. It is a flavor text from Seele's battlesuit. The fans liked that interpretation, which led to her being called "Veliona" despite the lack of official sources doing so.
"Well, you and Seele remind me of a mythology…"
I briefly told her about the Baltic goddesses of life and death—Saule and Veliona. She seemed caught up with the story and did not respond for a while.
{"I will keep this name. Veliona."}
I nodded to her.
"I got something useful. You might be interested in it." I stated. "It can restructure a complete physical body."
{"What..?!"}
I took out a nine-petaled white lotus. It has countless golden seeds in the middle. Its existence increased the sensation of life.
{Nine Purity Celestial Pond Lotus}
Grade: Middle Fourth Grade
Traits: Recreation of a soul's physical body; imbue the physical body with the Dao of Life; slight enhancement of spirit roots…
It is one of the five spiritual plants I got. Golden Core Realm ensures that even with the destruction of the physical body, one can still live within the Golden Core. The destroyed physical body can be recreated. With enough time, it can go back to its original realm—even break through one minor realm if it is at the early Golden Core Realm.
I haven't figured out a lot of things yet. Seele and Veliona do not share the same soul. They are like Kiana and Sirin—two extremely identical souls.
It just so happened that there is an auxiliary technique for two identical souls. They can feed back cultivation progress to the other, something reminiscent of my [Xiutian Art].
If one of the twins has reached the Golden Core Realm, the other twin will also reach the Golden Core Realm rapidly.
All that's needed for this technique is a strong "connection" between the two, nothing else. This characteristic is extremely rare between "twins", yet it happened thrice in this world.
Truly, what a treasure this world is.
Anyways, giving this lotus would help both Seele and Veliona.
I wouldn't mind doing so. Kiana is progressing fast with dual cultivation. Around one year later, she can ascend to the Golden Core Realm.
If Seele's situation continues like this, we'll have three Golden Core Realm cultivators facing Kevin. Four if I am included.
Success is 70% guaranteed once it happens. Golden Core Realm cultivators are simply built different, more so when there are honkai energy and Sea of Quanta to further serve as hacks.
{"Are you sure..?"} She asked hesitantly.
"Yes. Do you want it or do you want it?"
{"..."}
*****
The Previous Era's machinations gave birth to the Natural Stigma. It existed within a Stigma Space as a form of "information" to be inherited by the current humans given the requirements are met. Its nature of being stored inside the Sea of Quanta as a Stigma Space seemed contradicting, yet the Sea came to accommodate its existence. It is precisely an artificial creation that resulted in a mutation.
Quantum entanglement will take place and the stigma will attach itself to the most suitable host.
Fifty thousand years passed before it "met" Seele Volerei.
When it was partially awakened, it got to meet Seele, the designated successor to the Previous Era's pinnacle masterpiece. It developed its identity and purpose based on Seele, taking on her form.
She watched over the scaredy-cat, coward, and incompetent girl. The will to protect her gradually arose. She wants nothing but Seele's safety. She wanted Seele to rely on her protection, yet she also wanted Seele to grow stronger herself.
This dilemma ended that day.
A blinding light cut through her kidnappers, defeating them as fast as thunderstrikes. The boy was unnaturally kind. He did not ask anything in exchange for his help. He did not mind Seele's initial reaction of mistaking him as the real kidnapper. It was as if he acted on his own will—with genuine intent.
Things are supposed to end there. That was until the boy arrived.
Just as Seele wanted to know more about him, the other Seele also felt curious towards him. Everything developed up to the point where Seele fell hard for him.
Her other self wanted to deny it. But, the memories of that day flashed. The fact he wanted to guarantee Seele's safety aligned with the other Seele's interest. He felt like a comrade-in-arms, one whom she can deeply trust.
She fell hard too.
All of these memories flashed in Veliona's mind.
When she opened her eyes, the physical world greeted her sight.