Phei's ascent halted for a single heartbeat as the innermost petals peeled apart, layer after white-gold layer drew back with agonizing slowness to reveal a deeper sanctum within the flower, a place so saturated with radiance that the World Essence blazing in Phei's body dimmed beside it. The brilliance there had depth, layer upon layer falling inward toward something that felt both infinitely far away and directly above his head.
The curtains lifted him toward it.
Phei's eyes widened. "You're actually putting me insideyou?"
He crossed the threshold, and white-gold light devoured him.
From outside, his figure simply vanished into the heart of the celestial flower.
