C33 Codex of the Peacock

As the peculiar starlight pierced into Hanyu Xiaotian's mind, his consciousness once again ventured into the cosmos within his thoughts. "What's going on? How did I end up here so suddenly?" Hanyu Xiaotian was perplexed.

He glanced upward, focusing on a swath of cosmic dust to his west. Something there felt amiss, as if an element was clashing with the universe in his mind.

To Hanyu Xiaotian, this cosmos was infinite yet intimately familiar—his home. The three months spent in the Library had deepened his connection to the illuminated stars, enhancing his perception. He could now traverse each region with ease, his thoughts arriving in the blink of an eye.

Upon closer inspection, Hanyu Xiaotian identified the source of his unease: a Star, distinct from those in his "home."

This Star appeared disoriented, having followed a mysterious pull to a person's side. It had confirmed the attraction emanated from this individual before decisively ending its long vigil, merging into the person's mind. Yet, how had it ended up in this odd place? Surrounded by stars, it still possessed the capacity to discern that these were not its kin—they bore the essence of true Stars!

Hanyu Xiaotian sensed a subtle tremor in the entity before him, a sign of its anxiety.

The "peculiar entity" took notice of Hanyu Xiaotian's conscious presence, shifting slightly as they faced each other. Hanyu Xiaotian couldn't shake the absurd sensation of a silent confrontation.

"What are you? And how did you pop up in my mind?" Hanyu Xiaotian inquired, his tone a mix of curiosity and bewilderment.

The celestial body rotated once more, giving the impression of a dismissive glance toward Hanyu Xiaotian, who sensed its newfound composure.

It seemed the Star had indeed entered the human's mind as intended, albeit with unexpected results. With no error in its course, it proceeded to dissolve. How this peculiar human would assimilate it was now his concern. The Star was ready to fulfill its purpose.

The once-dim Star began a slow rotation that steadily quickened, radiating an intense light that forced Hanyu Xiaotian to step back.

As the Star dissolved at an incalculable speed, it released a resonant boom that echoed through the entire cosmos of Hanyu Xiaotian's mind, then vanished. In its place, an ancient scripture emerged — the Codex of the Peacock.

Legend held that the Peacock Ming Wang was one of the five great Ming Wangs of ancient Chinese Buddhism, also known as the Great Peacock Ming Wang or Maha. This deity symbolized the eradication of all poisons, fears, calamities, and vexations, wielding supreme magical power.

As Hanyu Xiaotian gazed upon the enigmatic text, he began to piece together the recent events. In his meditation on the movement of the stars, he had inadvertently drawn an ancestral Star to himself, prompting its voluntary integration into his mind. This explained the extraordinary occurrence he had just witnessed.

"The Great Peacock signifies boundlessness in every dimension, its magnitude surpassing that of dust and sand, embodying the utmost supremacy... The term 'Ming Wang' denotes the essence of brilliance; it is also referred to as a Mantra or sacred word..." Hanyu Xiaotian recited the scripture slowly. As he did, the stars within his consciousness that had already ignited grew increasingly luminous, their rotation accelerating. Suddenly, Hanyu Xiaotian felt a shift; the once cumbersome and cryptic verses became clear and comprehensible...