The next two days, I focused on hunting new dark water spirits to try and surpass my rank. After defeating dozens of mid-level spirits, my progress hit a wall. No matter how much energy I absorbed from the kills, I couldn't break through.
I considered asking Wong to kill a high-level dark spirit for , but finding one would be a challenge. Plus, I'd have to stay close to him during the fight, which would distract him. And from the baboon's stories, I knew high-level spirits were full of nasty surprises—they might pull sothing desperate if cornered. I didn't want to put Wong at risk, especially since he'd helped so much without asking for anything in return.
During the battles, I honed my mastery over water to a level most mid-level spirits couldn't match. My favorite trio of techniques beca second nature, and I even developed a new one: *Cutting Armor*. It creates moving streams of water that both protect and deal damage on contact. Even for , it's exhausting to use—I have to focus entirely on it. But its power is unmatched. In one fight against two strong mid-level spirits, it shredded them in two seconds.
The biggest problem was the gradual, subtle change in my mind. I kept suppressing foolish impulses, and thinking beca harder. Even Wong noticed, but he didn't know how to help. He suggested I visit the Spirit of Knowledge, a being who rarely lacks answers and helps peaceful spirits without hesitation.
Deciding not to waste ti, I said goodbye to Wong, who looked a little sad. It was unclear when we'd et again. I thanked him for everything and filled a vessel with water while he drew rough maps and symbols in the dirt to guide to Wan Shi Tong. The journey, he said, would take about a week. He offered to escort , but he had spirits under his care who'd be vulnerable without him.
I assured him I'd be cautious, avoiding strong spirits and handling mid-level or weaker ones easily. After a firm handshake, I set off for the library.
Knowing a place is extraordinary is one thing; seeing it is another. Along the way, I encountered over a hundred spirits—I stopped counting after that. It felt like there were spirits for everything. I had to detour around so areas to avoid high-level dark spirits. Staying focused on my thoughts and actions was crucial; one wrong impulse from my lower spirit nature could be fatal. I'd only recently "co to life," and I wasn't eager to die.
After eight days, I finally reached the library. It was stunning—or would have been, if it weren't in the middle of a desert, with only its tower visible. As I approached, I wondered about giant owls and their love of burying libraries in sand.
Inside, endless rows of books seed to stretch into the sky. This was the Spirit of Knowledge's domain. If I wanted to solve my problem, I needed to find him quickly—ti was against . I was about to call his na when my voice caught in my throat. Before I could speak, Wan Shi Tong stood before . A massive owl with no hint of hostility in his eyes, yet his gaze felt like he'd dissected and was ready to study further. I couldn't move until he finished examining .
"It's been a while since outsiders appeared in our world," Wan Shi Tong finally said.
"Huh?" I froze, terrified, but when nothing happened and he remained calm, I relaxed. "Greetings, Keeper of Knowledge Wan Shi Tong. My friend Wong suggested I seek your advice," I blurted out.
"Ah, that insufferable boy Wong," he said warmly. "Enough formalities. I've t spirits like you before. You all share one curse—or gift, depending on how you see it. Follow ."
As I trailed behind him, Wan Shi Tong explained what was happening to . Occasionally, spirits from other worlds appeared here. I was the sixth he'd known of, but he'd only t three in person. The other two were aggressive and attacked indiscriminately, eting their end quickly.
He observed that our gift was absorbing residual energy left by spirits, assimilating it harmlessly. We also had imnse compatibility with the absorbed elent, mastering it far faster than native spirits. In theory, if we kept growing, we could acquire more elents. But our curse was incompatibility with this world—our origins made it impossible to rise above a lower spirit unless we beca part of the world itself.
There was a small chance, though. A second birth was required, and that could only happen in a more material world—the human world. While in a human mother's womb, a process of energetic binding or initialization would occur, making part of the world. He'd helped other spirits like , which was why he had so much confird information.
"Why do you help us so freely?" I asked, puzzled. "I'm grateful, but I'm curious."
"It's simple," he said, turning his piercing eyes on . "As an ancient spirit, I can see much that's hidden in you, even things you don't know yourself. And if you were a threat, the world would have removed you. Think about it: why did those two aggressive outsiders appear near a high-level dark spirit's lair, forcing him to interrupt his sleep? Too many coincidences, don't you think?"
"I hope you're clever enough to piece it together," he said, flapping his wings and continuing. "The world has no consciousness as we understand it, but it's still the law here. Rest assured, if it wanted you gone, you wouldn't be talking to now."
"Another world ans new knowledge," Wan Shi Tong said excitedly. "You're an investnt in the future. I hope you'll visit in the human world soon, with books about your world. It's not hard, and you'll fulfill my small request, won't you?" he finished, squinting at .
I could only nod nervously.
"Good," he said, satisfied. "Ask your questions."
"What happened to the other three? Did they succeed?" I asked, curious about my chances.
First, he explained the process of sending spirits to the material plane. Preparation was key. I needed to strengthen my energy source and send my consciousness into one of my sources—the most crucial step. In the human world, my energy would deplete quickly, so minimizing loss was essential. Then, Wan Shi Tong would open a passage to the other plane and send my body to find a suitable host.
This was where the real gamble began. To be reborn, I needed an embryo matching my energy, unoccupied by another soul. The world wouldn't allow stealing a body with a soul. While searching, my energy would drain, and if it ran out, I'd dissolve and vanish. My luck would be tested, especially since few waterbenders were born, and my energy required a potential waterbender. With the Fire Nation attacking the Southern Water Tribe, such births were rare, limited to the Northern Water Tribe.
Even then, children weren't always healthy. Diseases could kill during birth if my soul was already bound to the body. It would have been easier if I were an earth or fire spirit, as most humans had those elents. But I couldn't complain—at least I hadn't absorbed a rare spirit with a non-primary elent. Then I'd be stuck as a lower spirit forever. Mixed-elent humans were rare, almost exceptions. To ancient spirits, humans were still children learning magic, so more non-traditional benders were expected in the future.
What about the three who made it to the human world?
The first, a fire spirit, found a body but died of illness in his first week. It was an era of human expansion, with high mortality from diseases and no healers among earth, fire, or airbenders.
The second never got a chance. He searched too long for a host and dissolved.
The third, relatively recent, beca known as Chin the Conqueror or Chin the Great.
"Yes, he did great things, but don't be like him," Wan Shi Tong said. "As a young man, he realized he was the strongest earthbender around, and being a spirit gave him advantages. But his arrogance made him neglect his growth, and he t a challenge he couldn't overco."
During Chin's ti, the Earth Kingdom was fragnted, with constant wars and a weak king. Chin seized power, united the kingdom, and left a strong foundation that still resisted the Fire Nation. His last battle was against Kyoshi's peninsula, where he ignored the Avatar's warnings and lost his life.
In a room with a few scrolls on a table, the spirit stopped.
"These scrolls teach how to strengthen your energy and send your consciousness into your source. Once you master them, call . For now, I have other matters," he said, gesturing to the scrolls with his wing.
"Can I request other knowledge?" I asked quickly.
"There's every piece of knowledge from both nations here," he said confidently. "Speak freely."
"Then I'd like to learn about chakras and how to open them," I said eagerly. From the show, I'd always wondered about the untapped potential of chakra mastery, and I hoped these scrolls would reveal sothing useful.
"Good choice," Wan Shi Tong approved. "I'll send my assistant with the books. Unfortunately, you shouldn't stay longer. Finish reading and practicing, and we'll begin your journey."
As soon as he left, I started reading the scrolls. They were detailed. Strengthening my energy source seed straightforward, but sending my consciousness between my two sources was tricky. I'd need to bring them closer and maintain control over both. Losing control during the search for a host could an losing a source.
Practicing these skills consud for hours. I only stopped when I felt gentle nudges. Looking down, I saw a small fox spirit holding books in her mouth.
Thanking the Spirit of Knowledge's assistant, I began reading. The books were packed with useful information, but after eight sleepless days and constant tension, exhaustion set in.
I'd mastered strengthening my energy sources today, which was good. In two days, I'd morize the chakra books and perfect sending my consciousness. For now, sleep was essential.
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