Book

Reflections

Reflections is a book with 18 pages.

Reflections

Pages: 18

In-game description

The Thinker traveled throughout the Wulin, showing no bias and overlooking nothing, not even the smallest nameless sect. And when he departed as suddenly as he came, every mystery and every sect's hidden foundation had been recorded in this volume.

Pages

The Phantom World's WulinThe Phantom World meets a boundless sea to the east and fields of snow and glacial ice to the north; a vast desert borders it to the west, and volcanoes and marshland blanket its south. Its plains prosper on farmland; its rivers and coasts grow rich on trade. Its mountains and wastes, remote and barren, lie sparsely peopled - or in ceaseless turmoil. Yet wherever there are people, every walk of life follows, and with it all the dealings of the human heart. One walks alone; two join hands; three gather together - and there the Wulin is born. Thousands of sects great and small, tradesmen and laborers of every kind - together they make up the teeming multitude of the Wulin. The Wulin has never lacked for schemes and treachery, and no one has ever held its summit for long. But there will always be true feeling - the dignity and light that belong to being human - which no cruelty of the contest can bury.
The MandateA vast alliance made up of major sects in the Wulin. The Lóng Clan, at the time the ruling power of the Wulin, united eighteen major sects to form The Mandate. The alliance expanded into a massive collective, bringing over 170 different martial arts sects under its umbrella. However, since the fall of the Lóng Clan, the Mandate's influence has been in decline. Nine years ago, the Maskwalker crisis erupted, spreading fear and unrest throughout the Wulin. The Mandate rallied its forces against the Maskwalkers, but achieved little and suffered heavy losses, leaving the alliance on the verge of falling apart.
PangzhenAn eastern town that prospered on chilled wine. It is home to many taverns and restaurants, with pleasant scenery and local customs. Wealthy merchants came here in droves to buy property and settle down. Twelve local magnates even built a small merchant guild hall together, which was later expanded into the Mirage Estate, a venue for grand performances.
Outposts, Rare Places of RestWhen the "Maskwalker" uprising first broke out, the Mandate established outposts across the Wulin, giving weary wanderers, merchants, and travelers a place to stop and rest. But as the Maskwalkers grew ever more rampant and the righteous path declined, the outposts gradually fell into ruin. Even where the buildings still stand, no one remains to tend them. Those outposts that are still guarded by members of the righteous path have become rare places of rest.
Sha-Chi Tower RuinsAfter the fall of the Eleven, all the Sha-Chi Transcension Towers used to create Maskwalkers were destroyed. Only the furnaces within remained. With no one knowing how to shut them down, they were left to run idly day and night, their black smoke blotting out the sky. In recent years, however, strange changes have begun occurring within the furnace cores. Those who venture deep into the towers are easily corrupted by their influence, their bodies gradually hardening like metal. Certain monks, however, possess techniques that can resist this corruption and even turn its power to their advantage. Their wounds do not bleed, poison and flame cannot harm them, and only lightning can bring them down. As a result, large numbers of monks have recently been lured deep into the ruins. But what force is really behind it all?
What's Sealed Within the Lóng Pillar?The Lóng Pillar in this valley may seem close at hand, but you'll have to pass through a mountain cave to reach it. Long ago, Illusionists of the Phantom Arts acted without restraint, recklessly tearing open Rifts within the Phantom World that connected the Waking Realm and the Discordance. In the end, their actions brought about a devastating catastrophe. The cause and effect behind it all may somehow be connected to the Lóng Clan, which ruled the Wulin at the time. To ease public fears, the clan spared no expense, gathering skilled masters to construct "Mindseals" that sealed the entrances to these passages. These became the Lóng Pillars scattered throughout the Phantom World. Today, most of the Lóng Pillars lie in ruins, destroyed during the fall of the Lóng Clan and the Maskwalker uprising. Yet some of the remaining pillars have somehow been "awakened" by the very things they sealed away, showing signs of grave danger. Could that be why this Lóng Pillar is now overflowing with Sha-Chi?
The DiscordanceThe Discordance is a realm apart, where time and space operate by different rules from those of the Waking Realm. As countless Illusionists of the Phantom Arts continued to reach into and open the Discordance, its vastness and complexity gradually revealed themselves. Within the Discordance, human consciousness can project new objects and scenes into existence. Even the lingering consciousness of the dead can persist here. Though battles within the Discordance spill no blood, they are all the more dangerous. The defeated can become lost within the victor's illusions, their very minds falling under the victor's control.
Crimson ForestThe Crimson Forest was once a land of deep green. Two years ago, the Pillars of Kunlun led the Mandate in an ambush against the Maskwalkers here. The battle was brutal. Bodies from both sides piled high, with countless dead and wounded. Sha-Chi mingled with the bloodshed, seeping into the roots below and spreading through the veins of the leaves above, until the entire forest was stained crimson. Even now, bandits and marauders altered using the corrupted relics left behind still roam these woods. The red leaves have only grown more vivid, as though the forest itself were weeping blood.
Who Is Quick Hand Zhang?There was once a legendary wanderer who roamed the Wulin, assuming countless forms until none could tell the real from the false. He even had several Reflections of himself. He stole prized weapons and rare martial manuals from prestigious sects, yet never touched a grain of rice from the poor. Now, another curious figure has appeared in the Wulin. He has only five Reflections, but the unusual goods he carries cover just about everything: solvents, metal, incense ash, talismans... He has it all. Anything of value can be traded with him. Even in times like these, no one dares steal from him. Those foolish enough to try either fail to even catch his shadow, or end up hanging high from a tree, courtesy of his coin-strung throwing knives. Recently, he has taken on a new job: recovering several lost relics for a client of no ordinary standing. As for who he really is? Judging by his age, he cannot be that legendary wanderer himself. More likely, he is a son or nephew of his.
The Baishan SectFounded several centuries ago, the Baishan Sect was once one of the great sects of the Wulin and a pillar of the righteous path. That changed at a succession ceremony for the sect's new leader, when Dugu Linghe used the power of Transcension to slaughter her way through Baishan, avenging the death of her child years before. From that day on, the Baishan Sect never regained its former glory. With the sect on the brink of collapse, Bi Taotao took up the mantle of sect leader and rallied its disciples. She then led them in joining the righteous forces under the Three Pillars of Kunlun to fight the Maskwalkers.
A Mirrorwood JournalI strayed deep into the woods while wandering alone today. A thick haze rolled in and swallowed every direction, and then an ancient banyan stood before me, its gnarled bark twisting in patterns that belonged to no ordinary tree. In the cracks of its trunk, I swear, there had grown a human face - lifelike in its features, sinister in its expression, chilling me to the marrow. In an instant an evil air burst forth all around the tree, as if heaven and earth had turned inside out, and unnatural horrors came tearing through the empty air...Terror seized my heart, and I searched frantically for a way out.
Village of LuNestled between the mountains and the water, the Village of Lu lies close to Pangzhen. Years ago, smugglers secretly dug a tunnel between the village and Pangzhen, using it to smuggle illicit goods back and forth. Beyond the village, north of Meigu Lake, the Lu Clan Shrine stands atop the Mountain of Imprisonment, where generations of the clan's ancestors are enshrined. Even after the Maskwalker uprising, when remnants of the Maskwalkers continued to raid the area, many villagers refused to leave their home. Later, the Pillars of Kunlun came to hunt down the remaining Maskwalkers, giving the beleaguered village a measure of safety and hope. But after the costly victory a year ago, the Pillars of Kunlun never again stood together at the Mandate Encampment. The encampment itself was left gravely weakened, trouble began to spread within its ranks, and before long, the Mandate existed in name only. The villagers of Lu once again found themselves with no one to rely on. It seems they have since abandoned any thought of taking up arms in resistance. Over the past year, worship of The Merciful Lady of the Blossom Veil has taken a powerful hold in the village and has begun spreading well beyond it.
The Lóng ClanThe Lóng Clan stood at the head of the Mandate and was widely regarded as the foremost family in the Wulin. The clan began as merchants, gradually gaining control over much of the Wulin's wealth and trade. In time, they also developed their own unique martial arts, becoming renowned for their signature Golden Sword Qi. Yet the Lóng Clan commanded respect for more than its wealth and martial strength. Known for acting with honor and integrity, the clan also earned a reputation as a trusted arbiter of disputes throughout the martial world. As a result, many traditional Mandate sects respected their authority and willingly rallied behind them. By gathering allies and dealing ruthlessly with their rivals, the Lóng Clan remained powerful for generations. But beneath the height of its prosperity, infighting within the clan never truly ceased.
The Bastion of MóThe Bastion of Mó was once the only outlaw power in the Wulin capable of rivaling the Lóng Clan. The Bastion's forebears became embroiled in a feud with the Lóng clan by chance. From then on, the Bastion faced hostility and suppression from the orthodox forces of the Wulin, led by the Lóng Clan. Born of an unusual bloodline, the people of the Bastion were proud and aloof by nature. They had little interest in vying for power, but neither did they fear those who opposed them. In standing against their enemies, the Bastion gained the support of fringe sects and rebellious outcasts, and in turn became a refuge for those branded as "heretics." Unlike the Lóng Clan, the Bastion of Mó kept to itself and never formed a sect. Its numbers were few, but its people were united by shared ideals. Their distinctive martial arts and way of doing things gave the Bastion an air of mystery and a formidable presence throughout the Wulin. That all ended more than thirty years ago, when the Bastion of Mó was destroyed in a fire that had been planned long in advance.
Pavilion of KnowledgeThe Pavilion of Knowledge is the martial world's foremost source of information, with more than fifty branches scattered across the Phantom World. None of those branches is run by anyone called the "Child of Insight." In fact, no such person exists anywhere in the martial world. But take the heads of all fifty-odd branches together, and they become the so-called "Child of Insight." There is nothing under heaven the "Child of Insight" does not know.
Damaged "Mountain Path Map"(A simple sketch, drawn in rough strokes. The Lady's Temple is specially marked. It is about two incense sticks' journey away.)
Six Sights of MeiguA hundred years ago, armies clashed fiercely here, leaving white bones sunk into the mud. Years later, fishermen found the carp in these waters unusually plump and flavorful, far beyond those caught elsewhere. Plum trees also began to flourish along the shore, their blossoms a dripping crimson. In time, scholars and other men of refined taste began building retreats here. Avoiding the ominous name "Maigu," or "Buried Bones," they gave the place the more graceful name "Meigu," or "Plum Valley," and built song houses where they could admire the blossoms and listen to songs. Yet on rainy nights, the clash of weapons and the thunder of warhorses can still be heard lingering.
Soulrend Mountain GazetteerSoulrend Mountain lies in the northwestern corner of Meigu Lake. Its terrain is strange and perilous, with ridges rising one upon another. The highest and most treacherous among them is Soulrend Cliff. In years past, a strange phenomenon suddenly appeared atop the cliff. A baleful aura surged into the sky, and the snow that fell on that very day has not melted in all the years since, with few travelers now daring to pass through. Some even say, "When frost and snow descend, gods and ghosts perish!"