Chapter 157 - Chief Guardian

A wide projection appeared on top of the scroll on the table. Xinyi saw a bright and colorful circle in the middle of the image. Twenty small objects of different sizes, colors, and shapes surrounded the bright circle, but they were not in parallel and far from each other. Blue lines of unequal thickness were connected from the bright circle to the different objects.

The late Sorceress continued. "This is the Alatheia System. There are twenty worlds in this system. In the middle is Vethilles, the major source of life of all creatures to prevail in the other nineteen worlds."

"The lines you see connected to Vethilles from each world are called power chains. The thicker and brighter the power chain, the stronger the transmission of power from Vethilles." She pointed to a tiny circle, second to the farthest from Vethilles. "This is Chiji and the connecting power chain is very thin."

Xinyi nodded in agreement. Compared to the other power chains, this was the least.

"That shows Chiji is slowly losing its connection to Vethilles. And once the power chain is gone, all living beings in Chiji will cease to exist."

Xinyi saw the world Chiji became grey and moved away from where it stood, as if a strong current swept it away. Her heart beat faster as she looked at this happening.

"Chiji will be nothing but a stone floating in space, away from the Alatheia System." The blue-haired lady stopped speaking, letting the truth sink in.

Xinyi gazed at her predecessor, wide-eyed. The Kore flew to Xinyi's hand. 

"In my death, you succeeded me as the Chief Guardian of Chiji. Your job is to rule the spirit guardians scattered in every land. And…" The predecessor gently gazed at Xinyi's eyes, somewhat digging deeper at her soul. "To restore the power chain and strengthen the Kore."

Xinyi opened her mouth to ask, but the blue-haired lady lightly tapped a finger on Xinyi's lips. 

"I'm not done yet" She pointed to the blue lines again. "That chain is actually powered up and run by the magical powers from the Chiangdas and spirit beings. The stronger the Chiangdas and spirit beings, the stronger the chain. The thicker the power chain, the stronger the power it absorbs from Vethilles. 

"By ancient tradition, the Chiangdas and powerful beings will make a ritual that will drain all of their magical powers from their bodies and send it to the power chain. But in the Chiangda clans, this tradition was not religiously passed down from generation to generation until it was forgotten. However, that is only one reason the chain is depleting. The other one is the greedy humans mining the stones from the power veins."

With the overloading information and piling questions in her mind, Xinyi couldn't help but interrupt. "Okay, I'm confused now. What is this power vein, and what does the power stones have to do with this?" 

Suddenly a bright light took Xinyi's attention to the Kore in her hand. She saw sharp points pop out from it. The Kore took the shape of an urchin. 

"Those points are the power veins. They are made of different power stones fused together, forming a tube toward the surface. Most of these are found in caves near where a clan of Chiangdas live. In fact, you have four in Cuxin Estate."

"In Cuxin?" Xinyi's forehead wrinkled. "You mean those caves with creepy ghosts?"

"Yes. Including Xionmao's cave."

"No way." Xinyi looked down at the urchin-shaped Kore as it flew away from her hand and went to her predecessor's hand..

"You must stop people from mining those stones or those veins will die. Lesser veins, lesser power the chain gets." As she spoke, the urchin points snuffed out one by one, until nothing was left and the Kore's light went off.

Alva passed back and forth in front of them, smiling wryly at Xinyi as she brought piles and piles of books onto the table. Some were even laid up on the floor. 

"Read these books about the Chiangdas, the spirit creatures, spirit lands and their rituals. Understand them fully. Ask Alva if you need help," the blue-haired lady said. 

Xinyi gulped hard, watching the stacks grow higher. The projection vanished.

"When you're ready, travel and teach this tradition to the Chiangda clans for Chiji's sake. You must also stop the killing of Chiangdas and other powerful beings. Keep the spirit lands safe."

A tip of a finger lifted Xinyi's chin. Their eyes leveled. "Use the painting to find my tomb and get the crown I hid for you. On your twentieth birthday, wear it with the other artifacts you now have and you will receive the power from the Great King." 

Xinyi swallowed a huge lump choking her throat after hearing the grand task she had to partake. It seemed too much to ask from a young girl like her, but she was duty-bound. How could she accomplish these in her lifetime? She might die young without finishing this task, like the two ahead of her. 

However, deep inside her, a gnawing desire to succeed sprouted. Her stubborn conviction would not allow her to see those she loved die because she lacked confidence. She wouldn't shirk in her responsibility. She also longed to see her biological parents. At least, she would see them before she dies. 

The predecessor seemed to understand her successor's heaviness and warmly embraced her like a mother does. Xinyi felt a warm sensation softly rushed throughout her body. 

"Take heart. You are surrounded by good people. Your family and friends are your strength. Don't worry about your husband. You will see him soon and don't give up from the hardsh.i.p.s you'll face." 

The love and care she received from the other moved Xinyi and couldn't help but embrace back. She closed her eyes and let the warmth fill her, sending her to sleep. Unknown to Xinyi, the warm sensation was from her predecessor's life essence permeating her body through her belly. A soft light enveloped her while she was unconscious.

A gentle voice lingered in Xinyi's mind as she slept. "You have a great power inside you. Use it wisely. Believe in yourself and you will accomplish more than the first Sorceress and I have accomplished." 

---- o ----

Back in Fengfu City.

Three men wearing a black robe and hood walked out from the hidden cave. The one at the right snapped a finger, and all three vanished. Then a wind circulated around where they stood. Swirling dust engulfed a small circle, but seconds after it went still and peace reigned again. 

Minutes passed, within the trees near the Fengfu City gates, strong winds disturbed the peaceful trees, sending the leaves to swirl in a small patch of land. In a glimpse of an eye, the three hooded men appeared in the middle of the whirring but slowly settling dust.

"Fu, please avoid dusty grounds for take-off or landing. I hate to ruin my clothes. This is my first time coming out. I want to be presentable when we enter the city," said one of them who took off the robe right away. He was young, good-looking, clean-shaven, and with black hair. His eyes were eye-catching, green-colored. This was not a common trait of any known country in Chiji.

"Wear something to cover your eyes, Luqat. It is too eye-catching," snapped Fu, taking off his hood and pushing it inside his backpack.

"Let's go," said Prime Minister Xian Lang, still wearing his black robe and hood. In his hand was a large bundle. They headed straight to the gate.