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It was said that beyond the "Three Eyes and Five Manifestations," by which the Adepti of Liyue could command the elements of the mortal realm, there existed three other secret arts: Alchemy, Talismans, and Sub-Space Creation.
Of these, Victor Wang had already witnessed Talismans. What remained were Alchemy and Sub-Space Creation. Yet Zhongli had insisted that he first study the art of Inner Space, and so Victor came to visit Granny Ping.
The time was a bright, sunlit morning. The place—Yujing Terrace.
"Granny Ping!"
"Mm? Ah, it's you, child."
"Granny Ping, back at the Jade Chamber, it was thanks to your help that we had the strength to keep fighting against the endless Fatui."
"Hehe, you've got it the wrong way around. That was our duty. On the contrary, it's us who ought to thank you young ones."
"Not at all, not at all."
After exchanging a few polite words, Victor produced the Dust-Cleansing Bell—Guizhong's proud creation. "I was entrusted with this, to return it to you."
"…To think it would find its way back to me through you. Has he truly grown so unwilling, he won't even come for tea anymore?" Granny Ping took the bell, gently stroking its surface, her thoughts drifting far away.
"No, no. It wasn't that he refused to come. Rather, he wished for me to bring this as a token, to ask your aid."
"Did that old friend of mine say anything else?"
"He said you excel in the Sub-Space Creation, and that I should come learn Inner Space from you."
"I see." She nodded slightly, then asked, "And what do you know of Inner Space and Sub-Space Creation?"
"I only heard that Inner Space is also called the 'Adeptal Mustard Seed,' a mystical art unique to the Adepti of Liyue."
"Then I'll have to explain from the beginning."
"…I trouble you."
"It's no trouble. At my age, time is the one thing I have plenty of. Idle or not, it passes the same."
Granny Ping lifted the teapot from her table and, quite naturally, placed the much larger Dust-Cleansing Bell inside its spout. Then she asked, "Leaving aside names like 'Inner Space'—do you know of other things similar to fitting a vast world into a mustard seed? Things that are larger within than without?"
Ah—so that's what 'Adeptal Mustard Seed' means?
Victor thought aloud: "A Vision, and Domains? A Vision can store weapons, and the interior of a Domain is impossibly vast."
"Correct. A Vision belongs to Inner Space, while a Domain belongs to Sub-Space Creation. Since you know examples, this will be easier."
"There's actually a difference between them?"
"Inner Space stores objects. Sub-Space Creation store people. Sub-Space Creation are a more advanced form of Inner Space. I won't draw this out—let me tell you the principle directly: one must treat 'space' not merely as space, but as an object. Then expand it from within."
I… don't think I really understand that principle at all… Victor scratched his head awkwardly, but Granny Ping continued explaining.
"The space may be any space. But if you wish to carry it with you, you must choose a movable vessel of space—such as a Vision, or this teapot here. These vessels are called 'anchors.'
For Inner Space, all you need is an anchor. For Sub-Space Creation, things are more complicated.
To let living beings survive within, the anchor must also have a channel connecting it to the outside—a 'door.' But this 'door' is also a 'flaw.' To prevent the Sub-Space from conflicting with reality, special materials must be used to stabilize its internal structure.
Complicated, yes, but with its benefits. Once stabilized, the Sub-Space can exist independently, even if separated from its master. Inner Space, by contrast—once its master is gone, the space is sealed forever."
Victor nodded in a daze. He could follow the part about anchors and doors, but the crucial principle still eluded him.
"By the way, my old friends and I were just preparing to gift that blonde girl with a Sub-Space. Bearing the power of six Adepti at once must have been terribly painful for her—but in the end, she succeeded."
"Of course not, Granny Ping. Lumine is my good friend."
"Oh? You know her? All the better. Next time you see her, send her my way."
"She lives right across from me. I'll be sure to pass along your words."
"I'm back, Grandma! Huh? And this is…?"
"Hehe, what a coincidence." Granny Ping introduced them: "This child is Yanfei, the one I asked to gather materials for the Sub-Space. Yanfei, this is the author of The Butterfly Lovers."
"I'm Victor."
"I know, of course I know! The Ministry of Civil Affairs has you in their files. Not only did you fight against the Overlord of the Vortex, but—more importantly—you're Ningguang's business partner."
"…That's the most important part?"
"Of course. Every move Ningguang makes is watched by tens of thousands in Liyue Harbor. Your name, along with chewing gum and bubblegum, has already spread among merchants. Even though those miraculous candies aren't yet on the market, the price of Slime Condensate has already tripled!
"Still, the one profiting most is Feiyun Commerce Guild. Word is, they began stockpiling Slime Condensate before your cooperation with Ningguang. Then someone dug up your friendship with the Feiyun young master. Now, several major guilds regret not getting to know you sooner."
"I never sought to compete in commerce. Who knew I'd end up unrivaled upon the seas of trade… Ahem, just kidding. Those were all coincidences."
"Here, take this." Yanfei handed over a name card. "It has my contact details and office address. Keep it safe. Even if you have no desire to 'compete,' many will come looking for you regardless. Whether it's plagiarism of your works or infringement of your inventions, I can handle it."
"Legal consultant?" Victor asked knowingly.
"That's right. If it's urgent, just leave a letter at that address. Oh, and the first consultation for new clients comes with a discount—"
"Enough, enough, Yanfei." Granny Ping cut her off. "Speak of business."
"Oh, right! Sorry, Grandma! Last time I left halfway through our talk because of work, and I still don't know how to find that Shimmersoil."
"For that, you'll need Ganyu's help. She's been watching wild Glaze Lilies for many years. With her guidance, digging up Shimmersoil should be no trouble."
"Got it. Then I'll head off!" Yanfei waved goodbye, not forgetting to flash Victor a smile before leaving in haste.
Watching her go, Granny Ping explained: "That child's always like that—once she starts talking about her affairs, she won't stop."
"I like her spirit."
"Hehe. Now, where were we? Ah yes. Sub-Space Creation are fine things. But since my old friend sent you to return this bell, and wants you to learn Inner Space, I suppose it's so you'll have another skill in hand. Once you've mastered it, you can craft Sub-Space Creation on your own."
"Mm, but… how exactly do I treat space as an object?"
"It's natural you can't grasp it yet. That old friend must have given you something else, yes?"
"…He gave me… a light?"
"Then that's the key. With it, you already possess the ability to treat space as an object."
So, this was what Zhongli had spoken of—the Adepti once received Rex Lapis's favor, granting them the "Three Eyes and Five Manifestations." And Sub-Space Creation were one of those gifts. The light Zhongli gave him was the same Divine Boon!
Seeing Victor's expression, Granny Ping smiled. "You've guessed it, haven't you? He does think highly of you."
"I'm truly honored by such kindness!"
"Alright then. Let me show you how. Take this Glaze Lily from the table, and repeat after me—"
Granny Ping uttered several strange syllables, like some ancient Liyue tongue, impossible to capture in ordinary script.
Victor didn't understand their meaning, but mimicking them was easy enough. He followed along, and suddenly the world went black, as though entering an alchemical crucible. Only the Glaze Lily in his hand stood out vividly.
Golden stamens, silver petals, a blue calyx—its colors were unchanged, yet far more vivid than in normal sight. He could clearly sense a 'boundary' encasing it, sharply dividing it from the darkness around.
"What is this?"
"This is the space occupied by the Glaze Lily," Granny Ping's voice carried through the dark. "Now compress your spirit, make yourself smaller and smaller—smaller than the anchor of this Inner Space, the flower itself. Then move your spirit inside it."
"Compress my spirit… But there's a boundary resisting me?"
"Break through."
Victor obeyed.
Passing into the Glaze Lily's space was like stepping into another dimension. It was just as dark, but now the space was cramped, without even the flower's shape remaining.
"Expand it from within. The larger your spiritual capacity, the more vast you can make it. But remember—if you hold multiple Inner Spaces, they all share the same limit. A person's total Inner Space can only be so large."
Victor stretched his will against the cramped void. At first it yielded easily, but soon resistance grew, and he stopped.
"Now repeat the Celestial Return Chant to return."
The Celestial Return Chant?
He repeated the strange syllables he had just learned. The darkness receded. The world cleared again.
"Mm. That's a simple Inner Space. To store or retrieve things, you need only focus your thoughts."
As she spoke, Granny Ping plucked a petal from the Glaze Lily. In Victor's perception, the flower's single space split into two—yet the Inner Space he had opened collapsed swiftly into nothing.
"If one day this flower withers… or you die, this Inner Space will perish as well. So—choose your anchors carefully."
"I understand. Thank you, Granny Ping."