Murim's Weakest Princess-Chapter 259: Lady Mang Yuan’s Final Wish

For the next few months, Anji explored the crypt with local guides. Her injury had recovered more quickly than expected with the spiritual mushrooms and the healing hot spring. Apart from the shrine keeper, most followers were unable to communicate in the same way. They merely shimmered and guided Anji physically, unable to assume a proper form or transmit messages. Yet, Anji could understand them better now that her eyesight had somewhat evolved after integrating the two unique worlds in her progressive vision.

While Anji made new friends in the afterlife, Grandpa Jin observed nervously. The eyes of light and darkness usually do not mix. Yet, Anji had somehow managed to harmonise them and use them effectively to see through the real world and the spiritual world to guide lost souls. Although she was unable to open a crack in the barrier between the two worlds by herself, Anji was proficient enough to understand where she needed the least amount of force to create a small crack in the barrier where strong natural energy on the other side remained, instead of waiting for two large forces over there to collide.

According to Anji, opening a crack in the rift was similar to acupuncture. The moment she found the right spot, it was effortless. Just like that, Anji managed to help guide many lost souls and followers cross over to the other side.

Something must have happened while Anji was playing ferryman for the lost souls because the two separate worlds started to merge in her mind. Anji started to see the two worlds as one integrated space instead of the dizzying, separate visions. Now, she did not need to focus only on one eye to differentiate whether that was the energy of a rock or a spiritual vortex. Anji just seemed to know. There was a different colour and energy signature between the spiritual and physical realm that she could now easily identify. This made moving through the labyrinth much easier.

One new discovery that shocked Anji was seeing her own soul and meridians. No, Anji did not need a mirror. If anything, it was almost as if she were floating during soul arts training. Except that she was fully awake while it happened. There was no need for Anji to meditate to see outside her body. It was almost as if Anji could see everything that happened in a radius of her own body all at once. The new ability was confusing, but Anji no longer stumbled as she knew where every rock would be in advance.

What a strange ability.

Slowly but surely, Anji recovered from her back injury. The daily soaks in the healing spring and great nourishing herbs helped to not only heal her but also increase her golden core’s strength. Anji spent a lot of time strengthening her weak Solid Core foundation. Under the guidance of the wandering souls, Anji reached the intermediate stage of the Solid Core and felt a resonating hum that enhanced her new sight.

It was finally time to pay respects to Lady Mang Yuan. When she brought it up to the shrine keeper, Anji could see how the shrine keeper quivered with delight and something more. Like the other lingering souls of villagers buried here, Anji could tell. Her time was near.

"Lady Mang Yuan’s secluded chamber is located in the deepest recess protected by a large barrier of spells that only he successor of the Mystical Qilin Sect can detect. Please visit her and check in on her for us before you leave. I can guide you to the exit whenever you wish to leave. You have most definitely passed the successor’s trial with your mastery of your second sight. I can tell by the way you move with certainty in this darkness." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Ready to finally meet the mysterious fallen dragon guardian of this underground shrine, Anji felt awkward visiting a great ancestor spirit without bringing gifts. Hence, with the help of all the remaining shrine followers, they gathered a gift basket of rare herbs and spiritual flowers for Lady Mang Yuan.

With a shoddy bouquet in her hand, Anji set off to locate the secret chamber where the great snake spirit resided. It was not difficult to sense the flow of energy. However, Anji could not do so while walking. Hence, she sat down and meditated, willing herself to manifest the soul art technique Grandpa Jin had taught her previously.

Emerging in her soul form felt almost as natural as breathing. Anji was surprised by how easily she manifested in this form. If anything, the world in her spiritual form seemed much clearer than before, thanks to her new evolved sight.

Curious, Anji floated through the labyrinth, exploring it with the new vision that appeared almost as clear as day in her spiritual body. She could finally see just how beautiful the ruins were and could imagine what they would look like in their prime glory. Lady Mang Yuan’s traces and trails led to a rather deep but narrow cavern that only a child could pass through. An adult would have to crouch or crawl through it. Perhaps it was what she travelled through using her snake form. Anji thought it was the perfect secluded chamber for a great snake spirit.

Having seen enough of the crypt’s layout, Anji ignored all the strange secret spaces she discovered in her soul form. She had a promise to keep and a bouquet to gift.

After almost three hours of walking, Anji finally found the secret narrow tunnel and had to squeeze through it, dragging her heavy backpack while minding not to crush the bouquet.

Lady Mang Yuan’s isolation chamber was definitely full of spells. Anji recognised many of them. Her shifu made sure to teach Anji many advanced barrier spells. However, she had no idea how to undo the one spell that was used in the sect’s array and the forbidden library’s memory crystal chamber. In other words, Anji could only do as much as request an audience with Lady Mang Yuan from the outside, but not barge into her chamber. It was the equivalent of knocking on one’s door as a salesman, and Anji hoped the fallen dragon guardian was in a generous mode.

As politely as she could, Anji released the seals for the spells she knew and left the last two complex arrays in place. Lady Mang Yuan definitely knew someone had tampered with the spells outside. Not wanting to sound rude, Anji introduced herself with an apology for disturbing and stated her reason for visiting.

"I’ve also gathered a few spiritual herbs and flowers for you with the help of your followers. Everyone seemed to be very concerned for Lady Mang Yuan, so won’t you speak with me briefly so that I may convey your well-being to them?"

...

Anji could sense a shift in energy in the sealed chamber. However, there was no immediate reply.

Zzing!

Even if Anji had the blindfold over her eyes, the flash of bright light in front of her still hurt her. It happened only for a brief moment, but Anji’s retinas burned so badly that she failed to realise just what happened.

"Come in," an ethereal voice that sounded neither male nor female replied.

Anji barely recovered from the sudden pain when she realised the last two seals from the ancient array had been completely removed. Stunned, Anji wondered if Lady Mang Yuan had done it herself.

Still, thrilled to receive a grant for an audience, Anji bowed politely and thanked the great snake spirit loudly. Gathering her belongings, Anji cautiously approached the narrow cave opening and crawled through.

Inside the cave, Anji found herself getting transported to what felt like a wooden floor. She stood up cautiously and noticed how spacious it was inside. The strong scent of sandalwood incense filled the air, and it did not seem like a space deep underground in an enclosed area. Using her second sight, Anji quickly understood they had crossed over to a different pocket dimension. Many things in here were an illusion created by Lady Mang Yuan. It was her personal dimension.

According to her shifu, pocket dimensions and small worlds can only be created by masters above the Transcendent Core stage. Her shifu has a personal world that reflected her deep cultivation level. Anji’s father had one as well. However, they have never invited Anji into it. It was not because they did not want Anji to peer into their inner world. It was because they were not proficient enough to anchor the soul of another person, who might cause havoc and destroy their inner world. Letting someone else into a personal dimension was akin to allowing a person to stick their hand into someone’s heart. One wrong move and it could mean death. Yet, Lady Mang Yuan did not hesitate to invite Anji into her own world.

"Lady Mang Yuan..." Anji was speechless. "This is..."

Although Anji could not see Lady Mang Yuan, she imagined the great snake spirit to be a beautiful lady.

"Welcome to my personal world, child of the prophecy. It’s nice to finally meet you. Bi Yao told me that a child from the legends would eventually arrive if I guarded her sect. You are the one chosen by the Golden Dragon, aren’t you?"

Dumbfounded, Anji nodded and fumbled for a reply. Bi Yao? That name sounded familiar.

Unhurriedly, Lady Mang Yuan chuckled and examined the small child before her. There was nothing particularly special about the child from the prophecy. Yet, something about Anji set her heart at ease. The gift bouquet seemed shabby, but of all the successors that came to visit before, only Anji brought her gifts to convey the feelings of her followers. How could Lady Mang Yuan not be moved? Such sincerity can only be repaid with kindness.

"You must have visited all my remaining followers. I saw that you helped the poor villagers return to the cycle of reincarnation too. Speak, what wish do you have? I might no longer be as powerful as I once was, but I might still be able to grant one final wish."

Surprised, Anji shook her head and quickly denied. She knew Lady Mang Yuan was a wish-granting blind snake. However, she was not here to have her wish granted. If anything, she was simply here to help the followers of the shrine fulfil their wishes.

Hearing Anji’s answer, the great snake spirit finally understood why the founder of the Mystical Qilin Sect had made that wish to her all those years ago when she was at her lowest.

"Then, could you grant me a wish instead?" Lady Mang Yuan smiled. "I’ve been here for too long, neither able to ascend nor descend to hell. It’s nothing too difficult for you, ninth successor of the Mystical Qilin Sect."

Surprised, Anji agreed almost instantly, leaving the gifts near Lady Mang Yuan when the great snake spirit beckoned her closer.

Using her cold, scaly hands, Lady Mang Yuan felt for Anji’s face to study how the child looked physically. Her soul glowed innocently like a beautiful firefly. Her face was small and cute like a fairy. Anji must be a very lovable child. It was a shame this child would never live to become a flower in full bloom. Even so, Lady Mang Yuan gave the child her blessings.

"My final wish is to have all my followers re-enter the cycle of reincarnation. You might have already noticed, but my spirit is growing weaker. Soon, I will fade and become part of the mountain as a guardian bound to earth. Unlike spirits like me, my followers are humans who will lose their souls completely once they fade. Before that happens, I wish that they could move on and forget their pledge to duty."

Anji’s heart sank. She knew that reunions were only happy endings in disguise. Whenever there was a reunion after a long time, it would always be met with a swift parting. Lady Mang Yuan had been waiting for a long time, drawing out the inevitable while being unable to free her followers. It was now up to Anji to help the remaining followers cross over, but it was not a simple matter. The shrine keeper and the other followers were bound to duty more than self-preservation. Unless they see Lady Mang Yuan in person, it would be difficult for them to give up their promise and abandon their posts.

"I, Zhao Anji, courtesy name Ci Wang, ninth successor to the Mystical Qilin Sect and fourth daughter of the Celestial Dragon Sect, vow to carry out Lady Mang Yuan’s last wish to the best of my abilities."

It was difficult. However, Anji wholeheartedly agreed with Lady Mang Yuan. It was better for those who were human to return to the cycle for their own sake.

Patting Anji softly, Lady Mang Yuan wished Anji well and told her to return when her task was completed.

Anji had no time to respond and found herself returning to the familiar stony ground of the narrow cave where she had previously stood. Sighing heavily, Anji took comfort that the gift had at least been delivered safely. Now, it was time to report Lady Mang Yuan’s last wish to the followers who eagerly awaited news.