The Hidden Layer of Reality

Yi Lian followed Baoyu in silence, his footsteps soft and deliberate. The path they took wound through a dense forest, yet something felt different. It wasn't the scenery—the same towering trees, the same faint scent of pine and damp earth lingered—but everything seemed more vivid, more alive. Each leaf pulsed with life, the wind carried an almost musical rhythm, and the distant chirping of birds resonated in his chest like a gentle hum.

His gaze wandered, absorbing everything with newfound clarity. It felt as though a veil had been lifted from the world, revealing a hidden layer of existence. Colors were richer, sounds clearer. Even the air felt heavier, vibrating with energy he couldn't explain.

Lost in thought, Yi Lian's steps slowed. He marveled at it all—this newfound connection to the world around him. It wasn't something he could put into words; it simply was.

Baoyu's voice broke the silence, snapping him back to the present. "Why are you so lost in thought?" the serpent asked, his tone puzzled.

Yi Lian blinked, glancing at Baoyu. Strangely, he didn't feel irritated at being interrupted. Instead, he replied calmly, "Because... I'm seeing the world at a deeper level. It's like a hidden layer of life has revealed itself. Everything feels so vivid, so... fascinating."

Baoyu chuckled softly, his golden scales catching the dappled sunlight. "Fascinating, is it?" His amber eyes gleamed with curiosity. "What's so fascinating about the environment that it could draw you in so completely?"

Yi Lian hesitated, confusion flickering across his face. "Don't you see the world like this, at a deeper level, after advancing to the level you're at?"

Baoyu shook his head with a slight smile. "No. Not all who cultivate see the world the same way. Everyone has different dreams to pursue, different goals that guide them. Even the most ordinary traveler walking down a road may see a different world from the person beside him. What you're experiencing now is unique to you."

Yi Lian turned his gaze back to the path ahead, his mind still lingering on Baoyu's words. "Then… if it's different for everyone, does that mean cultivation alone isn't the answer to understanding the world?"

Baoyu let out a soft hum, as if pleased by the question. "Cultivation is just a tool. It sharpens your senses, strengthens your body, and expands your awareness—but it does not dictate what you see. That is determined by you." He glanced at Yi Lian, a hint of amusement in his golden eyes. "Perhaps, what you seek isn't power, but perception."

Yi Lian's breath stilled. Perception? The word settled in his mind like a seed taking root. He had always assumed that higher realms led to greater understanding. But if power alone wasn't the key, then what truly allowed one to see beyond the surface of the world?

He had much to think about. Yi Lian furrowed his brows as he listened to Baoyu's words, his mind grappling with their meaning.

"Perhaps what you see now is a reflection of your own path—your way of perceiving life shaping your reality. It happens to everyone, but not in the same way." Baoyu's tone was calm, contemplative. "Some may see the world as nothing more than a cage, trapping them in an endless cycle of suffering. Others may see it as a place of learning, where emotions and experiences teach them things that even death cannot. And then there are those who believe life is just a series of accidents, leading to their existence with no greater meaning."

Yi Lian remained silent, absorbing each word.

"That doesn't mean any of these perspectives are entirely right or wrong," Baoyu continued. "It's simply how they see the world at that moment. And like all things, perspectives change. Life has a way of giving us reality checks. If our beliefs are flawed, it shows us the truth gently at first. But if we ignore it, it forces us to face reality in much harsher ways."

Baoyu sighed, glancing at Yi Lian with an unreadable expression. "So don't confine your thoughts. Let them flow, let them shift. The way you see the world today may not be the way you see it tomorrow."

Yi Lian mulled over his words, a strange sense of understanding settling within him. Yet, something still bothered him. If what we see is real, why do we sometimes take the wrong path? He couldn't accept it fully. It seemed foolish—why would anyone willingly choose the wrong direction if they could see the truth?

But he held his tongue. Everyone has different experiences, he reminded himself. What may seem wrong to me might have been the only choice for someone else. He had no right to force his own understanding onto others, especially when he hadn't lived their lives.

With that thought, he simply followed Baoyu in silence.

After several minutes of walking, they arrived at a sight that made Yi Lian stop in his tracks.

A colossal tree stood before them, its bark an ethereal shade of silver, its leaves shimmering like molten gold. It stretched impossibly high, its massive branches weaving through the sky like the hands of an ancient deity. The air around it felt dense—charged with something beyond mortal comprehension.

Yi Lian's breath hitched. How had I never noticed this before? Even from the mountain, he had never seen a tree like this. He quickly scanned the surroundings, realization dawning upon him.

It's hidden.

The space around the tree was wrapped in powerful illusions. Unless guided here the right way, one would never even perceive its existence. It was as if the very fabric of the world had been bent to conceal this place.

Seeing Yi Lian's stunned expression, Baoyu smirked. "This is where I wanted to bring you. What do you think?"

Yi Lian blinked, still processing what he was seeing. "It's… incredible." Then, confusion set in. "Wait… you brought me all this way just to see a tree?"

Baoyu scoffed, giving him a look that practically screamed Are you an idiot? "Of course not. There's more to this place than meets the eye."

With that, he approached the tree and placed a clawed hand against its bark. Strange symbols flickered across its surface as he whispered something Yi Lian couldn't understand.

A faint hum filled the air.

Then, without warning, a portal opened in the center of the tree. A shimmering gateway of pure white light, pulsating with an otherworldly glow. Yi Lian instinctively stepped back, unable to see what lay beyond its threshold.

Baoyu turned to him, his golden eyes glinting. "Follow me." And without hesitation, he stepped through the portal.

Yi Lian hesitated. What is this place? Where does this lead? He didn't understand what was happening, but the portal's glow began to shrink.

No time to think.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward—crossing the threshold.

At first, he felt nothing. No pull, no pressure, no shift in space.

But then, as his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw what was waiting for him on the other side.

And in that instant, shock rendered him completely speechless.