《Pathway to Eternity》


 1 Primordial origin

    "Existence is beyond the power of words. To explain it, different terms may be used, but none of them is absolute. In the beginning of the universe, there were no words. Words later came out of the womb of matter. And whether a man dispassionately sees to the core of life or passionately sees the surface, the core and the surface are essentially the same. Words made them seem different, but words only express appearance. If name be needed, wonder names them both. From wonder into wonder, existence opens." - Dao of the way.


    At first there was the ''VOID''.


    A single existence of temporal infinity. The infinity of space or formless matter of infinitude energy. The void from which the first forms of creation were made, from its infinitude energy.


    The "ALPHERON" and the "OMINU". The ultimate Yin and Yang of existence.


    The Alpheron was the essence core of the primordial universe. It was the ultimate existence of order and harmony. A creative harmony that was the ultimate order of the universe.


    The Alpheron was the force, the source of all universal energies, the force underlying everything that existed or happened. Immeasurable mighty force that was a unifying, creative, harmonious essence core, the true origin of everything in the universe. Everything in the universe received its energy from the ''Source'' in order to exist.


    Without the energy from Alpheron, an existence would ceased to be in the universe.


    It was the essence life force of the Alpheron that expanded the spacetime of the primordial universe in an intrinsic expansive way whereby the scale of space itself changed. That act, made the primordial universe to rapidly evolved. Cosmos, galaxies and planets were formed. The created cosmos was made up of galaxies and the galaxies were made up of planets.


    But, the universe kept on expanding, its expansion was forever infinite.


    Due to the universe possessing a core, every other existence with perpetuity had a core.


    The planets, as part of the universe, had "Nerons", smaller essence cores. These essence cores were connected to the Alpheron, the mother core of the universe. The Alpheron absorbed and refined the infinitude energy from the void of infinity to create cosmic energy or cosmic spiritual energy. Then, the Nerons absorbed the cosmic energy and released the energy on the planets. This energy released was often refered to as heavenly spiritual energy.


    Then, the OMINU, the second essence core, created from the void of infinity. The primordial chaos was a spacetime of complete disorder the very exact opposite of Alpheron. The ominu, the life force, the essence core of the primordial chaos. It was the life force of all existence in primordial chaos. The Ominu core absorbed infinitude energy from the Void, to form the chaos energy which was the vital energy of life in the primordial chaos.


    The primordial chaos was also infinite in existence.


    Though they were different in every form of existence, the primordial universe and the primordial chaos literally coexisted like a twin existence. One could not be without the other despite their complete differences, hence, they were connected through the primordial holes. The primordial holes were gates of infinitude energy, of total darkness, that joined the primordial universe to the primordial chaos. Homes of the primordials.


    The primordials.


    First of their kinds, these were powerful entities created from the cores'' essence energies during the spacetime expansions. They were divided into two groups according to their creation, the primordial divines and the primordial beasts.


    Primordial divines were creation of the universe from the essence of the ultimate order existence of pure cosmic energy refined from the void infinitude energy. They were pure divine beings of immense powers seeing to the well-being of the universe in relations to the laws of creation.


    On the other hand, the primordial beasts were created in the primordial chaos from the core essence of Ominu, the life force of chaos energy that was refined from the infinitude energy. They were powerful beasts at the pinnacle of existence in the chaos.


    Primordial entities were constantly at war against one another right from the time of creation.


    The great wars.


    For billions of years after the creation, many great wars were fought between the primordials divines and primordial beasts. The primordial beasts desired the materials in the universe. Many times, they invaded the universe, but, their efforts were thwarted. Always, they were pushed back. Many primordials died, both the divines and beasts, but the beasts always suffered great losses.


    The last great war, the war that led to the primordial beasts'' greatest loss, proved costly and the remaining beasts were pushed back into the primordial holes.


    Finally, the divines created the cosmic wall seals and the gates were sealed, to be forever guarded by the Nefrims, the cosmic golems.


    Billions of years, after the great wars, life took forms in the cosmos, different living entities sprang to life in the worlds. Among them, were the immense sentients of nature.


    The primordial titans.


    The mighty titans. Forces of nature that gained sentience. Powerful forces of nature in the forms of rivers, seas, mountains and so on, forces who gained the knowledge of awareness. They realised their existence and became sentients. Living entities,that could materialized in mortal forms.


    After the titans came the cosmic beasts.


    The cosmic beasts were different from the primordial beasts. The primordial were from chaos whereas, the cosmic beasts were creation of the universe. Animal creatures much more intelligent than mundane animals. They were capable of speaking in mortal languages, transforming into mortal forms and practicing cultivation. Creatures of sentience, of great strength and power.


    They were into three categories, the divine beasts, sacred beasts and demonic beasts.


    The divine beasts were innate bloodline creatures. They grow stronger over the course of time. Awakening their bloodline powers could lead them to immortality. But, they couldn''t transform into any mortal forms, they remained in their animal forms.


    Whereas, the sacred beasts didn''t have innate bloodline, but they were born with primal evanesce cores. The cores made them very strong from birth. They were capable of cultivation, though, their cultivation was very slow.


    And lastly, the demonic beasts. Creatures, born when an animal or plant, absorbed cosmic spiritual energy over a long period of time and then gained spiritual awareness. They formed essence cores after gaining sentience. Demonic creatures existence were based on their Karmic virtues. There were good karmic demons. They protected and maintained the laws of creation. And, there were many demons with bad karma too.


    Millions of years after the cosmic beasts came the mundane animals. Although, some of them started to exhibit magical traits, they neither had nor gain sentience. These were the magical beasts. The bodies of these animals contained great benefits to both mortals and immortals.


    Millions of years, later.


    Mortals came into existence. They were created from the vital essence of life of the Alpheron, the Chi essence of life, according to the law of creation. Mortals were created on different planets, worlds, of different sizes, divided into minor worlds and major worlds. Among the mortals, were the humans.


    The humans, mortals of high intelligence.


    Many mortal worlds belong to humans, there were other worlds for other species too.


    For millions of years, mortals were living difficult lives, very short lives. Short life, death and reincarnation. Mortals were reluctant to accept these forms of living. They started the search, the search for immortality. The ability to gain eternal life, to live forever.


    The cosmic divines decided to give mortals a chance to achieve eternal life. Immortality through cultivation. Cultivating Chi and practicing martia and mystical arts. They created methods of cultivating chi, collections of techniques, martial and mystical arts.


    The first of the cosmic divines, the three pure ones; lord of primordial origin, lord of luminous treasure and lord of true way, decided to teach the ''Dao'' of the universe, the way, to mortals, The teaching, Dao produced Taiji; Taiji produced Yin and Yang; Yin and Yang produced Yin, Yang and Chi; was spread throughout the motal worlds. Luminous treasures from them, were scattered all over the cosmos to aid cultivators.


    Cosmic divines, the Adi-Buddhas, lord Buddha Bhavana and lord Buddha Bodhisattva, added the "Dharma" of the universe, the path. They taught the Eight-fold path and the Bodhisattva path. The enlightenment and awakening of the mortal self to reach immortality.


    The roads were opened for mortals cultivating these formulations to have eternal lives.


    The mortal body had a dantian. The center of oneself.By sensing the heavenly spiritual energy and absorbing the energy to form Chi, the life force, in the dantian, mortals were capable of improving health, increasing longevity, and growing powerful. Mortals were able these, through the cultivation methods of Chi and its circulation through their meridians. The cultivation of Chi in the dantian, was the root of the immortality tree.


    Manuscripts were created. Scriptures and manuals containing detailed instructions on training in cultivation methods or mystical martial arts styles. Over the course of millions of years, many mortals had used these manuscripts to achieve immortality. These manuscripts became being regarded as extremely valuable treasures. Thus, they were secretly kept and well-guarded by clans, sects or schools and loose cultivators who were in possession of them.


    Treasures of magical and divine nature were created during creation of the universe and primordial chaos and located all over the universe and primordial chaos. Treasures of immense powers. And there were treasures forged by the cosmic divines too, placed all over the mortal worlds, which helped them in their cultivation.


    The path of cultivation was a hard, tedious and dangerous one. It required obtaining a cultivation method, method, for Chi cultivation, for breathing techniques, for meditation, for martial and mystical arts. More importantly were the availabilitybof spiritual energy and resources for advancement.


    There were stages of advancemet for a cultivator.


    The first stage was the Juchi, the gathering of Chi.


    The second stage was Lianchi, the refining of Chi.


    The third stage was the Ningchi, the condensing of Chi.


    The fourth stage was the Zhuji, the foundation establishment from the condensed Chi.


    The fifth stage was the Miechi, the evanesce core formation.


    The sixth stage was the Jindan, the golden core formation.


    The seventh stage was the Yuanying, the forging of the nascent soul.


    The eight stage was the quangtian stage, the hegemon soul. Immortal ascencion stage.


    The ninth stage was the Shenxian, the hegemon soul reaching godhood.


    The tenth stage was the Tianshang, the deity soul becoming celestial.


    The eleventh stage was the Shensheng, celestial soul becoming cosmic divine.


    Every stage of advancement had further stages.


    From the first stage [Juchi] to the third stage [Ningchi], there were three further stages, the early stage, the middle stage and the late stage.


    From the fourth stage [Zhuji] to eight stage [quangtian], there were four further stages. The early stage, the middle stage, the late stage and the peak stage.


    For the heavenly plane, it was a different matter entirely.


    For the ninth stage [Shenxian], there were three initial stages. The lowgods, the highgods and the puregods. And four further stages of early, middle, late and peak stages.


    The tenth stage [Tianshang] had three stages. Lowcelestials, highcelestials and purecelestials.


    For the cosmic plane.


    The eleventh stage [Shensheng] had only one. The cosmic divines. Total universal emptiness.


    The essence of the Universe was Oneness. Harmony was the underlying nature of the Universe. Oneness, Unity and Harmony were the basic qualities that the Universe operated on. Those who know that were enlightened.


    The more one was able to understand oneness and creative harmony in all areas of life and situations, the more enlightened one was in viewing and interacting with reality.


    Cultivation was an act of defiance against the laws of creation. Mortals lived, died and reincarnated. That, was a mortal law of creation. For mortals to be immortals, was going against the natural order of creation. This also applied to sacred and demonic beasts that practiced cultivation. The wrath of creation was the heavenly tribulations. Every major steps into immortality brought heavenly tribulations.


    But surviving the tribulations meant immortality.


    The pathway to eternity.

 2 Reincarnation

    Acheron cosmic realm.


    A realm of lights, lights of beautiful colours. One of the cosmic realms on the cosmic plane. There were four planes in the universe; the nether plane; the mortal plane; the heavenly plane and the cosmic plane.


    These planes were the work of creation, created during the time of universal existence. But cosmic realms were created by the universe in locations of importance regarding the order and harmony of the universe.


    The Acheron realm, the realm of reincarnation, was the first stop for departed souls. The realm where the fates of the souls were determined in regards to their reincarnation. The forms the souls would take in their next lives, it might be animals, humans, halflings, demigods(asuras), daemons, deities or celestials. Their destination, whether it would be the nether plane, the mortal plane or the heavenly plane.


    All of these were determined on the Acheron cosmic realm. On this realm was located the Acheron palacium.


    The Acheron palacium .


    A grand landmark of space. A place where, in the light of Radia, souls experienced reincarnation. Souls of mortals and immortals alike. The gates of the palacium were incredibly massive. They were made of cloudstone. At the entrance of the gates were the ''malecs'', stone-living giants created by the universe from the primordial cloudstones.


    There were wide and massive walls of cloudstones leading from the gates to the center of the palacium. The top of the palacium was covered in cosmic arrays. The floors, the pillars, the sculptures and carvings were made of rare lucent moonstones. The gleaming stones reflected the lights of the realm to produce a serenely beautiful landscape of flowing lights. At the center of the palacium were the three wheels of incarnation.


    The wheel of time. The wheel of fate. The wheel of destiny.


    These wheels were being spun by the ''Cordae'', the three divinities. The primordial cosmic divines assigned by creation to preside over the palacium. It was their task to preside over the souls, preserving the laws of creation. Maintaining the order and harmony of the universe involving incarnation.


    They welcomed the arrival of souls, directed their pathways toward the mirror of deeds at the center of the palacium and toward the light of Radia. This, they had been doing from primordial creation and continued to do.


    Divine Arta, lady of time. She was in charge of the wheel of time, It determined the time period for the reincarnation of the departed souls. At the center of the wheel was a mirror, the divine myriads mirror that showed the past deeds of souls.


    Divine Asha, lady of fate. She spun the wheel of fate to decide the inevitable mighty hands of creation on the lives of incarnated and reincarnated souls. At the center of the wheel was a large orb of pulsating fibres of yin yang lights. The fibres of lights that threaded the fates of incarnated souls.


    Divine Amra, lady of destiny. She controlled the wheel of destiny according to the laws of creation. The forms and destination of souls based on karmic merits. At the center of the wheel was a large golden bell. The bell of finality, the sound of which confirmed the certainty of a soul''s destiny.


    Reincarnation.


    The wheel of existence. There was birth, there was death, there was issuing forth, there was entering in. The cycle of life, death, and rebirth, without beginning or end. The samsara''s cycle of existence. Existence without limitation, continuity without a starting-point. The spacetime law of existence.


    Reincarnation began when departed souls entered the light of Radia. Light of Radia, one of the laws of creation, part of the essence core of creation. The very essence of life, of the universe, spawned from the infinitude energy.


    All living entities were in subjectivity to reincarnation except the cosmic divines. Attaining the stage of a cosmic divine, the only true way or path of breaking free of reincarnation. The complete oneness with existence. Complete emptiness of a soul and totally becoming one with creation.


    And on this particular day.


    "The order and harmony of the universe, laws of creation, all are bounded."


    "Yes, though, we are not under incarnation, we are still part of the universe, still under the laws of creation."


    "We don''t have souls. We don''t die. We only have cosciousness that exists all over the universe. We can only go into limbo."


    "Limbo of a billion years. And, another billion years to return to former state of existence."


    "Whereas, it takes a mortal a hundred years to reincarnate and immortal, a million years."


    "It''s like death, but we do keep our consciousness and awareness of what''s happening in the universe. But powerless."


    "For two billion years! The balance of creation is truly beyond wonderful."


    "But we have a very good odd of avoiding limbo. DON''T OBSCURE."


    "Yes, not to obscure"


    The three divinities conversed as they carried out their tasks. They wore the same signature robes, jade white robes crafted from rare primordial stones, Khepri bark spider silk and other materials. The robes were majestic, a sight to behold. The three divinity were powerful divines and their powers were legendary. When they combined their powers to form the Divine Cosmic Wheel, they became a universal force of nature. They had fought in all the great wars alongside the other primordials.


    They were carrying out their works when they felt Karmic connections. They looked at the souls waiting for reincarnation and discovered that the connection was coming from two newly arrived souls. The rainbow halo sorrounding the two souls was radiating brightly.


    "Oh, Celestial merits. Surely, the universe rejoice at your rebirths. You have my welcome." lady Asha spreaded her arms, grinning widely and easily.


    "How beautiful for souls with good merits after the sadness of death. How beautiful." Lady Amra smiled bitterly, her glance shifting between the two souls.


    "Yes, not the same with karmic sins. True, the universe reincarnate them, only for the balance of natural laws. Good and bad. Order and chaos. But, not the same. Can never be the same." Lady Arta slowly nodded with a furrowed brow.


    Then, she turned to her sisters. "The more the heavenly souls, the stronger the pillars of the universe."


    "Mhm."


    "True."


    The divine cordae continued their work as they remotely watched the two souls until it was their turn to stand before the mirror. The other two divine cordae directed their gazes towards the mirror, and watched with great interest as lady of time, divine Asha, spun the wheel of time, of their past lives, which started to appear in streaks on the myriads mirror.


    The divine myriads mirror.


    A primordial treasure of creation. It stored all the deeds of souls before their death. But, it only revealed the deeds of a soul, only the scenes where the soul accrued good karmic virtues or bad karmic virtues, when the soul stood before it. Souls with good deeds and Karmic virtues were bounded to be reincarnated in the light of Radia as mortals, demigods(asuras), deities or celestials. Souls with bad deeds and karmic sins were bounded for reincarnation as animals, halflings, fiends or daemons. Merits accrued meant they were bounded by the laws of karma.


    "Hmm, reincarnation is a big effect of the laws of karma."


    "And laws of karma are a part of the laws of universe."


    "Yes, they are."


    The Cordae were staring at Myriads Mirror. The past karmic deeds of the human souls in front of them, mother and child were being replayed on the mirror.


    [The mother was a mortal, her name was Eloise Yin. She had been born on one of the mortal worlds, Earth, a world of six continents, ruled by a human emperor. She came from the Red eagle clan, living in the fountain-spring village on the Aksan continent. Her clan was the smallest in the village. Her family lived on the outskirts of the village. Her parents were mortals, they had given birth to her after they had passed their prime. They had to wait for a long time before they had her.


    She had been their miracle.....


    She had worked on the pig farm in the morning and the chicken farm in the evening. It was on one of such evenings that she had been attacked by reavers, creatures of the nether region. A rare portal had opened on her farm. A portal that connected to the nether region. It was simply an unfortunate situation. War had been raging on between the reavers and fiend factions in the nether region when the portal had been opened. An unstable portal that was opened randomly. It was really unjust, the odds were unfair.


    But fought she did. Holding a short sword, her son tied to her back, she had fought like a berserker. She had fought tooth and nail, but she had knewn it was a loosing battle. She hadprayed to the gods she knew and didn''t knew. It was at this moment that the crystal had been triggered, the karmic merits that was stored in the crystal had been transfered to the mother and child.]


    "Awww, they were mortals before, and mother and child for what it takes."


    "They were fated to have the crystal, and more so, to activate it. It was really good fate"


    "A celestial''s merits assured a reincarnation in the mortal worlds as a demigod, an Asura, half deity, or in the heavenly realms as a full deity or even as a celestial. It is really rare for a celestial to pass on full accrued merits."


    "Can we see their past lives? I''m a bit curious. Arta?" Lady Asha tilted her head slightly, eyes crinkling.


    "Yes, Arta. These mortal souls really piqued my interest too."


    "Uh, it piqued your interest? So what? You two know that i will need the Cosmic Pith Fetter seal to do that. And, i have none. Besides, if i have, i won''t use it to see their past lives. Too precius for that. If any of you have one, you will see their lives."


    "I have one, it was meant for something different, but, we can use it." Amra flicked her hand and a seal appeared in her hand. A cosmic treasure, crafted from cosmic essence crystal, obsidian crystal from the void, yin yang spirit leaves and a ray of Radia''s light.


    She gave the seal to Arta.


    Arta performed the seal formation hand''s movement and it activated.


    They shifted their attention back to the mirror and watched it keenly.


    [At the age of nine, she had lost her mother. Her mother''s death was sudden, no sign of sickness. It was a massive blow to the family, but on they had gone. One year later, at the age of ten, her had father suffered total paralysis. He had been bed-ridden. As the only member of her family that could work,she had to work extremely hard on their farm. Daily, she had collected and sold chicken eggs from the their farm to cater for herself and her father. She had done this for the following six years. In one of those six years, while she had been working on her family farm, she had found a sapphire crystal. Her very own treasure, first of a kind for her. She had used a string to craft a necklace of sapphire blue crystal.


    Happiness out of madness.


    Five years later, her father had died.She had been twenty years of age, she had decided to get married for her family line to continue. At that time, only two members remained of her clan. Eloise and her niece, Scarlett. Scarlett had died the following year.


    The last of her clan. She had married at the age of twenty. Her husband, a good man, had a pig farm. They had been tending the two farms. Their hardwork had started to be fruitful. Then, the husband had died, when she was five months pregnant.


    She had given birth to a son and called him Haider. It had been difficult for her raising him alone, but she had been extremely happy. The second person of her clan, aside herself, alive. And he was her son, her family line would continue. Happiness in a world of sadness. She had been working hard on one of the farms when they were attacked leading to her death and that of her son.]


    They contemplated as they focused on the two souls.


    "Laws of karma are laws of creation. Fate and reincarnation are effects of laws of karma."


    "All are bounded by them, until a soul attains total emptiness, complete oneness with creation, can the soul be free."


    "Even we, the divines are bounded by the souls'' karmic merits."


    "In accord with the laws of karma and their karmic merits. You could reincarnate them in the same world, Amra."


    "Yes, i could. It is the least i can do. And a reincarnation in a mortal world as an Asura for the mother, would be more safer and more fortuitous."


    "Should i make them be together as mother and son?"


    "We think you should, but you will have to delay the reincarnation of the son until the mother is of age, Arta."


    "That, i will do with a joyful heart, Asha."


    "What about the son?"


    "Amra, I think you can reincarnate him as a mortal but with his half of the merits. What do you think Asha?."


    "Yes, with the blessings of the universe because of the merits, he will be able to gain enlightenement more easier, temper his heart earlier and gain more insight from the view of a mortal."


    "Indeed, his path will be more beneficial to him." Lady Amra stretched out her hands and turned the wheel of destiny.


    "To their karmic merits, I, Divine Amra, will give each of them a moment of destiny in their next lives. You will be born in the world of Lorra with the blessings of heavens."


    "To their karmic merits, I Divine Arta, will give each one of them a moment of time in their next lives." Lady Arta spun the wheel of time.


    "To their karmic merits, I, Divine Asha, will also give each one of them a moment of fate in their next lives." The wheel of fate started spinning.


    All the three wheels for the souls of the mother and son.


    "You will be born an Asura. After you become full Asura, your destiny will be in your own hands."


    "You will be preserved from all, for a period of time until when you become a full Asura."


    "Your fate will be in the hands of the universe, but with the cosmic blessings."


    They shifted their views and focused on the soul of the son.


    "After a period of time, you will be reincarnated into the world of Lorra as a mortal but with a boon in your destiny."


    "Your soul has been bounded to your mother, you will be together with her."


    "On the account of the merits on you, you will be born with the blessings of the universe on your fate."


    When they were through, they ushered the soul of the mother into the light of Radia. The divine myriads mirror flashed brightly. The Orb released fibre lights that encircled the souls. And the golden bell of destiny sounded.


    They started humming to themselves.


    "Luminous cosmic-breezes, touching you soft,


    Like as fingers when skillfully, Wakening harp-strings.


    Pure retained, Like unopened blossoms,


    Flowering ever, Joyful their souls."


    It had already began.

 3 A Reena in time

    The paasage of time was like a brisk wind. It flew over us but left only its shadow behind.


    It was like yesterday, but five hundred years had gone by since the wheels of reincarnation were turned.


    A young woman was sitting in a lotus position in a cultivation chamber inside a cave, her home, located inside a knoll, a small hill. This knoll was located close to the Skyspring village, a large village in the southern province of Ankhora. Ankhora was one of the three continents in this world called Lorra.


    She was using the ancient Astral primal technique to circulate the Chi in her body. The astral primal technique was a rare primordial cultivation technique and very difficult to cultivate. The technique absorbed two different types of energy into the body; the heavenly spiritual energy and the stygian, dark energy.


    The heavenly energy is the energy needed to form and to replenish Chi in the body. It was necessary for cultivation advancement. The stygian energy was the sparse dark energy that caused the acceleration of the expansion of the universe. The astral primal technique combined these energies to expand the dantian and the meridians in the body. Then, these energies would form a large amount of highly condensed Chi in the dantian. It was excrutiatingly painful on the meridians and the dantian, it also made breathing extremely hard when practicing it. But there were great benefits derived from it. The meridians were greatly enlarged making the Chi flowed freely and in large amount. The dantian would be bigger, storing more Chi energy.


    The breathing and meditation methods of the technique was similar to the rhythms of the universe. It was a true treasure of her family.


    This woman was Reena, an Asura, a demigod. She was born five hundred years ago, a matter of reincarnation, in a village known as White fountain. A village on another side of the world, on the continent of Xuanpu.


    Planet Lorra was a major mortal world of humans. A world of three monarchies.


    There were three continents or mornachies on this planet, they were; Ankhora, Xuanpu and Yimachi. A continent was ruled by a monarch, an hegemon soul immortal who had achieved immortal ascension but failed to ascend to the heavenly realm to become a deity. If an immortal ascended to the heavenly realm, neither the immortal''s main body or avatar would be able to come back to the mortal world. Only a god''s image can be sent back to the mortal world, but with little power. The monarchs didn''t want to part with the mortal world with their physical bodies, they prefered their ruling power in mortal worlds.


    And, an immortal without ascension, would forever be at the quangtian stage, an hegemon. The stage of transformation to become a deity.


    Each continent was divided into four provinces; the northern, the southern, the eastern and the western provinces. Each of these province was under the controls of a marquis or marquess. A province had many cities, and, each city was controlled by a city lord.


    Reena was a young beautiful pregnant lady when her parents moved here with her. They had bought this land from the owner, a young man, who had been eager to move to the city. The bargained price was steep, costing half of their ancestral money, but they loved the quiet location and the vast land. The property they bought had large areas of land, ideal for the farming of millet and rearing of animals. And it was located outside the village area, which made it more perfect.


    They, being farmers, had settled in perfectly. They had divided the land into four parts, two large parts and two smaller parts. The two large parts are for farming millets and rearing goats. One smaller part was a practice area for martial and mystical arts. The last one was where a pond was.


    Her father, was Aodh Amynthas, a swordman of the Eagleblade clan and a second stage golden core. While her mother, Euanthe Amynthas, flaming claws, of the Phoenix clan, was a first stage golden core.


    They had been unaware of the cultivation chamber located under the knoll, until her father made the discovery when he was creating underground storage in the building. The cultivation chamber had been secretely carved out from the rich deposit of emerald green jadeite and emerald blue nephrite, under the knoll. The walls of the cave were all emerald green jadeite, the large area at the center was all emerald blue neprite with a stream of water flowing through the large area of the emerald blue nephrite. The sides of the floor were of white marbles. Attached to the cave ceiling were red rubies. This was a marvel of a cave. A wondrous immortal cave. This was a heavenly blessing.


    Since her pregnancy had manifested, she had been absorbing vast amount of spiritual energies inside the cave. She was also consuming large amount of Chi, in the forms of blue crystallines. These were edible crystals formed on the surface of the emerald blue nephrite, due to the crystallization of vast amount of highly dense spiritual energy, streams of water and the emerald blue nephrite which occupied a very wide area at the center of the cave.


    Too many crystallines had been formed ove the course of hundreds of millions of years that the cave had stayed hidden. The whole cave was filled with crystallines when they discovered it. They had spent many years mining secretely and created safe storage rooms for them underground. Still, there are many left in the cave.


    She had advanced from the Jindan stage to the nascent soul stage within hundred years at the age of five hundred. Her nascent soul was the mini avatar of herself, with white feathered armour and flaming wings. She had grown into a full Asura, born with the divine evasion power, she had become a demigod that could survived on her own.


    "Mastery of the mind. Order and harmony within oneself, only by this can one''s conscious awareness be free to understand the laws and nature of the universe and become harmonized with the universe."


    Reena took another blue crystalline and put it in her mouth. Strong Chi energy stormed her dantian, she circulated the Chi from her dantian through her meridiansand back into her dantian. She continued her breathing exercise and meditation using the astral primal technique.


    "Understanding true mortal self, is the beginning of understanding the true nature of our universe."


    After cultivating for some time, she exited the chamber taking more blue crystallines with her. She went to the training area to practice her Aetherel phoenix mystical art with her feather blade, athrix. The feather blade was her mother''s family heirloom, crafted from the tail feather of a primordial phoenix. Her mother had decided to give her the blade because of her rapid advancement, she could only be a genius. It would be safe and properly used in her hand.


    She was slowly swinging the feather blade. Her sword technique was already at the sixth stage of the Aetherel phoenix ''s nine stages, but she was at a bottleneck.


    "Both mind and body must be cultivated to understand true self. The rhythm of a sword and dynamics of fire nourish the body and soul. But, they can also be destructive. It takes a true self discovery in making a sword, constructive and fire, protective. Intent of the heart determines the nature of a martial and mystical art. Peace, yes, inner peace, to be one with nature."


    She thrusted her sword forward and flaming ribbons spreaded out covering the training area in spirals without burning anything. A beautiful scene.


    "Art is nature. Nature is art. "


    "Gently, Reena, you know you are seven months pregnant. You have been practicing your sword arts and meditation for hours everyday since you became pregnant. Don''t you think you should take it easy a bit?"Aodh looked slightly concerned at his daughter as he walked up to the training area.


    "Father. I''m being very careful. It''s just a little practice. Besides, remember what the physician said, to exercise regularly. The more i practice, the more healthier the baby will be."


    "Yes, you are right. Just worried about the fire arts. Can you focus on sword art for now? Alright then, let me join you for a little more practice."


    They started moving their swords in a perfect rhythym.


    "Understanding the laws of nature, the principles of sword arts. To attain perfection, the heart of a sword and force of a blade must become one. A heart of Dao. It''s really difficult, but for you, it''s only a matter of time."


    "You flatters me father." Reena smiled appreciatively at his father. Her parents had been very supportive of her, right from her birth. She couldn''t have wished it any other way. She was happy with her life.


    They continued practicing for a period of time.


    "Reena, let''s stop the practice for the afternoon. Let''s go inside, you need to have a nourishing meal and a rest. Your mother is preparing the yellow coloured mountain goat, it is a rare and magical animal, truly, it will nourish your body and the baby further."


    "With all this magical animals, by the time i give birth, i would have turned to a magical animal."


    "That would be a sight, a magical phoenix, flying through the sky with wings of inferno, a sight indeed."


    Reena''s mind wandered off to the image of her nascent soul. A mini avatar of herself with feathered armor and flaming wings. A flaming bird? She laughed dismissing it from her mindand her father laughed too.


    They left the practice ground and headed inside.


    Inside the cottage, they sat round a wooden table at the center of the living room. With pots of steaming goat meat on it..


    "Oh mother! this is truly delicious. I never knew animal meat can be this tasty. Thank you mother and you too, father." Reena savoured the meat.


    "it is really amazing" Reena said smiling


    "This is a rarity, the density of the energy in the meat will strengthen the bones in the body and nourish the blood. Even the baby will benefit from it, that''s why you need to eat a lot."


    "Eh? Father, do you want the baby to have goat horns and goat hooves?"


    They all exploded in laughter.


    One hour later.


    Euanthe left for the market to sell some of the goat milk from the farm.


    "Reena, I will be in the farm if you need me."


    He left the cave and headed towards the farming area of the land. On his way, he glanced back at his daughter apprehensively, she was their only daughter. He remembered her husband, Huan Longwei, had died when a portal had opened in their village and an army of fiends had passed through the portal from the nether plane and attacked them. They had managed to vanquish them, but many of the villagers had died. It was a sudden attack. Many of the villagers were just foundation stage and evanescent core cultivators, only two elders were nascent souls at that time. The family left the village after that. To raise a child without a father is really difficult. He would try his best to ease the burden as much as he could.


    The good thing? Reena was pregnant. The family line would go on.


    He remembered when he had gone to the Sunset Hills village in the northern province to look for an alchemist, Tau, an immortal cultivator of the peak stage golden core inorder to buy the Heavens Spring spirit pill. Alchemist Tau had lived for over five million years. Golden core cultivators had a lifespan of 100 million years. He had seen all forms of life on planet Lorra, he wanted to ascend to the heavenly world. So, he had decided to live a simple life to practice his alchemy and cultivate in seclusion in order to reach the Nascent soul stage for his immortal ascension.


    "Welcome to my humble place, fellow Daoist. I am Tau, but, you already knew that." Said Tau, looking at Haider.


    "Greetings Daoist Tau,name is Aodh, from the Skydome city in the southern province, here on Ankhor continent."


    "Long way from home. What bring you all the way to my place, fellow Daoist Aodh?" Tau had furrowed her brow.


    "Thank you alchemist Tau. I have heard about your pills, the wonders of your pills. I came to see if i can buy the Rainbow womb spirit pill for my wife. I heard it''s especially good for the baby. I will be grateful if it''s available" Aodh had sought assurance from the alchemist.


    "The spirit pill, yes, it is really good for a baby in the womb. It only contained the refined essence life energy from some sources, although, the materials were very rare and a little difficult to gather. The essence energy in the pill, then, combines with the womb nourishments to form the cloud of life around the baby. It naturally flows through the meridians of the baby. The effectiveness of the pill depends on the child, how much of the essence energy child can absorb. The womb nourishments is left to the mother, so, the outcome is not on me." He uttered nonchalan.tly


    "All i can tell you about it, is what it does and that, it''s safe. I do have one. Only three were ever made on this planet. Two were made by my father before his ascension. One was sold, but the outcome of it was not that effective. The result and the materials needed, made my father to abandon it. When i came across some of the materials, i decided to give it a go. I searched for the other materials for hundreds of thousands of years, i had to use some alternative materials but the effect should be the same. Still, it will cost you one million spirit stones."


    "Uhh..... i will take it." It was verycostly, but he had taken it.


    Remembering the effect on his daughter after she had taken the pill, had brought joy to his heart.


    He happily went to the farm.


    In the village market, Euanthe saw a road antique collector. Euanthe was looking for something nice but cheap.


    "Greetings mistress, do you want to take a look at my collections? Maybe, you can find something fancy that can catch your eyes? I have all collections of antiques. Magical, devorative, talismans, seals, i have them all."


    Euanthe went through the collections and saw a small white crystal pagoda. This was something he could give Reena''s child when the child grew up. It looked beautiful as a gift for a child.


    "I would like to get this little crystal pagoda. How much will it cost?"


    "Oh, the gate of seven realms. This is the best. There''s a myth about it. This is a gate that leads to seven ancient realms. There are all forms of treasures there. You see the layers of the pagoda? They are layers of treasures. Even, just having it can bring you good fortunes."


    "And, why are you not keeping it for yourself? If it has all sort of treasures?"


    "Ah, fate mistress, fate. We are not fated to be together. But you, you are fated to have it. Destiny is on your side."


    "Hah, very funny. How much is it?"


    "With a heart full of sorrow, i will take ten thousand pure grade spirit stones from you."


    "Eh? I don''t have that amount, but i can give you one thousandpure grade stones."


    "Make it two thousand then, and it will be."


    "Two thousand it is." Euanthe paid the money in crystals. Twenty crystals was equivalent to two thousand pure grade spirit stones. She left the market with the pagoda in her spatial sac.


    Their quiet life in the cave went on without disturbances.


    Two months later, Reena gave birth to a boy and named him Haider.


    Reincarnation completed.

 4 Coming of age I

    Time. Like an arrow, it flies. Time. Like a petal in the wind, Flows softly by.


    For five years, she had been watching his son grew. Even now, the cruel time was fleeing


    "Haider, now, time for you to practice your meditation. Yes, that is good. raise your feet a bit. Very good, now continue breathing in and out like that until i tell you to stop."


    Reena watched the way her son was sitting down with his eyes closed, breathing in and out, practicing the astral primal breathing technique, her heart was filled with abundant joy and a bit of sadness. Their beautiful moments together seemed to be accelerated, time flew by too quickly. Haider was already five. Five! How quickly days passed by. And he even looked twice his age.


    His strength was immense for his age. He was growing up fast and strong, too fast and too strong. The amount of Chi in his body is really frightening. He needed to be properly nurtured. An astrayed mind was a sickness to the body and danger to the sorroundings. They had decided to only teach him meditation, basic Chi sensing and farming until he was six before teaching him martial arts, mystical arts and cultivation technique. His mind needed to be tempered from a very young age. The mind held the power of imagination, recognition, and appreciation, and was responsible for processing feelings and emotions, resulting in attitudes and actions.


    The mind was what we were, the body was the tool.


    Tempering the heart attuned it to the universe. A true oneness with the universe was to stimulate and adjust the mind to embrace the truth of the universe. The Dao of the universe, the very dharma of the cosmos had one simple, yet, complex truth. Only a tempered heart or mind could gain this knowledge. Tempering the heart to be humble.


    Humility. A demeanor of humility was exactly what was needed to live in oneness and harmony with oneself and all entities. The apprehension that you had nothing special that made you better than the others, just a grain in an ocean of sand, not even a speck in the universe, would greatly help towards being one with the universe in the true way.


    "With the way he''s growing fast in strength, his heart needs to be framed to be free of pride and arrogance. They are destructive distractions."


    Reena closed her eyes and continued practicing her meditation. As an Asura, she could see what was happening around their hill-cave and the village, she could see her son still closing his eyes and breathing in and out. She decided to leave him for a while.


    Aodh was preparing to go to the farm when he saw his daughter and grandson. He was a grandfather, yes, a grandfather.


    "How''s my grandson doing? Good?"


    "Grandpa! Yes, good. I was meditating."


    "Brilliant." Aodh picking up his grandson in a swirl. "i can''t even stand properly carrying you. Very soon, you will be the one carrying me."


    "Grandpa!"


    "Hehe." Aodh laughed with his head thrown back. Turning to his daughter who was grinning widely.


    "How''s my daughter too? "


    "I''m well, father. You look great yourself, especially in those old farm clothes."


    "What''s better than the joys of a simpler, farming lifestyle?" He asked while putting down his grandson.


    "The joys of your daughter and grandson?"


    "I was talking about lifestyle Reena, not my daughter and son." Aodh answered with a long suffering sigh.


    He shook his head at Reena''s broad happy smile.


    "Do you want to follow me to the farm today, Haider?"


    "Yes, grandpa. I want to go. See you later, mother." Haider happily followed his grandfather outside.


    "See you too." She looked at their back and shook her head. "Time is really moving fast. He''s growing up very fast. He spends less and less time with his mother, no longer his mother''s alone. Sooner or later, he will leave to explore the world. Life. I need to spend more time with him before then."


    She went looking for her mother.


    Meanwhile.


    On the farm, Aodh and his grandson, Haider were putting straws over the millet.


    "Out here in the farm, i gain more enlightenment into the nature of the universe. Everytime i''m here, i view same thing from different perspective. When you achieve different perspective, you can arrive at a true perspective."


    "Haider, look at the millet. What do you see?"


    "I see crops, grandfather.


    "Anything else? Look closely."


    "Grains?"


    "Mhm. Crops, grains, when you look at their appearance. Now, if you don''t look at their appearance, what do you see?"


    "Hmmmm, i''m not really sure about that, grandpa."


    "Life, Haider, life. These crops you see, are living things. When they are planted and nurtured, they grow. After a time, they are harvested to serve as food. Source of life. They live to serve as source of life to the living. When you walk through them, you feel the peace coming from them. But, they never raised their heads towards creation to beat their chests. What do you see from this?"


    "Ahh, yes grandpa. I understand now. They are humble "


    "Aha. You are wiser than your age. Yes, humility. It takes an humble mind to open itself to the universe and accept the knowledge of the universe. Yes, we eat the crops, but does that mean we are more significant than them? We are all part of one universe, no live is greater than the other. Pride, arrogance, greed, prejudice, malice are diseases of the mind. Their cloud shrouds the mind from the true nature of the universe."


    He beamed inside and continued.


    "I am truly blessed to have you as my grandson. Always remember this, although this universe is infinite, it values an humble mind."


    "Grandpa, i promise, i will always remember."


    Aodh stopped mulching the millet, regarded his grandson and smiled. "Good, that''s my grandson. Now let''s wrap up the work here and check the goats."


    As the sun was disappearing below the horizon,they were walking towards the cave.


    After cleaning their bodies, they sat down to eat. They had plenty to eat and plenty goat milk to drink.


    "How is your day in the farm with your grandpa?" Asked Reena,


    "It was great mother, grandpa taught me many things."


    "I trust him to do that. Your grandfather is the wisest man i''ve ever seen. His words are treasures. Don''t forget what he taught you. Anything you might want to teach me too?" Euanthe


    "To be humble."


    "Oh yes, you need to be. Before you start thinking you are the primordial king of the universe."


    Euanthe laughingly joked.


    They all laughed heartily


    After they all had their fills of the food and the table tidied.


    "Haider come with me."


    "Yes, grandma."


    Haider walked with her grandmother to the outside of the cave. Euanthe held Haider''s hand and with two steps arrived at the top of the knoll. It was a flat top knoll. There were four stone stools placed here. Sometimes, the family gathered here to spend their time together in the grace of nature. To the front right part of the land was the millet farm, to the front left part waa the goat farm, to the small rear right part was the practice area and to the other was the pond.


    "I know you''ve been here many times and you have seen the landscape many times. Today i want you to enjoy the scenery in a different way. Your grandfather already taught you about humility. The farms showed you to claim nothing about your talents or any other benefits you have above others, but rather consider them to be the grace and gifts of creation."


    Euanthe looked at her grandson compassionately


    "There are three things i want you to keep in your mind. Humility, courage and discipline. It takes courage to show humility. Courage to know when you are wrong, courage to ask for help, courage to seek advice, courage to open your heart to learn. Courage to know when, how and why to stand up for yourself and for others. Courage to help you respect the lives of others. Look at the practice area, that is where we train in martial arts and mystical arts. We practice them to be able to defend ourselves and people we care about, still, they are arts that can take lives. It takes courage to NOT take lives of people even your enemies. All lives are precious. Discipline will let you keep these in your mind. Discipline your mind not to forget all these."


    "Thank you grandma, i won''t forget them, i promise."


    Moving towards one of the stone stools, Euanthe glanced at her grandson and gestured towards the stools.


    "Come and have a seat."


    She took out a mug of milk and two cups from her spatial sac. The mug was inscribed with runes to prevent milk from getting spoilt. She filled the two cups and gave one to him.


    "Thank you grandma, that''s why i love you." Said Haider, eyes and nose crinkling.


    "Aha." Euanthe grinning widely with eyes on her grandson.


    "I have a gift for you, i bought it for you in advance before you were born." She took out the crystal pagoda and gave it to her grandson.


    "This is beautiful grandma, what is it?" Haider asked curiously.


    "A crystal pagoda. Pagodas are used for meditation. They calm the mind to frame it for meditation. But, this one is different or told so. It''s a gate to seven realms. They are filled with different amazing treasures. All you need to do is to continue meditating in the prescence of the pagoda, anywhere you are, and the gate to the seven realms with treasures will open to you."


    Haider was jawed. He was staring with raised eyebrows at the pagoda. He couldn''t believe what he was hearing. Seven realms! Treasures! He was only five years old, but his grandma already placed a huge responsibility on him. He set his jaws tight and with a grim, determined face, he raised his head, He gleamed at his grandmother and fell to his knees and bowed his head.


    "Thank you grandma, i won''t disappoint you. I promise to work hard."


    "I know. A step at a time. I''m already very happy with you."


    Time flew fast.


    Before they knew it, they had spent two hours on the knoll top. It was time to back. They left the top and arrived at the cave entrance in a blink. iHaider went to his room, sat in a lotus position, crunched a blue crystalline in his mouth and started meditating with the crystal pagoda placed in his front.


    Euanthe went to look for the others. She found them in the cultivation chamber.


    "He is ready." Euanthe nodded her head.


    "His mind istruly remarkable. A very patient and recieving heart, ahead of its normal capacity." Aodh smilingly agreed.


    "You are my parents, if you agreed, i agreed too. And his body is so full of Chi already."


    They all agreed to start his training the following day.


    That night, Haider dreamt of lights. Aetherel lights of many colours


    The following morning, he woke up with his hand holding the crystal pagoda firmly to his chest. He couldn''t remember when he fell asleep and how he was still holding the pagoda in his hands.


    He cleaned his mouth with a willow twig soaked in salt water, washed his face and dressed up.


    "Good morning mother, grandma, grandpa."


    "Good morning son."


    "Good morning to our grandson." His grandparents responded in unison.


    "Did you sleep well?" Asked Reena with a raised brow and amused look


    "I slept well, i even dreamt of light, beautiful lights."


    "That was a peaceful mind, a clear mind."


    "Meditation unlocks the mind. It''s truly like beautiful lights. Very peaceful indeed."


    "We have something important to tell you, your training will be starting today." Said Aodh with a bright smile.


    "We will be taking turn to train you on Chi cutivation, martial art and mystical art." Euanthe quipped in.


    "After eating your breakfast, you will follow your grandpa for your martial art training. After your martial training, you will follow your grandma for your mystical art training. When you are through with your grandma, you will come with me for your Chi cultivation."


    Haider felt like his heart would explode. He looked at his mother and grandparents with teary eyes. He tilted back his head with a yell.


    "YES!"


    Then fell to his knees. He too would one day be like father, flying on a sword. He would be like his grandma, walking on air. And he would be like his mother with flowers of feathers.


    "I will work very hard. I won''t disappoint you."

 5 Coming of age II

    "Martial arts."


    Aodh, with arms clasped behind his body, fixed his gaze on his grandson standing in front of him, who was bare-chested and had a serious face on.


    "Ways to follow for combat. Training systems that have been arranged for combat. Martial arts really demand a unique and great sense of physical, spiritual and mental control to avoid inflicting harm to yourself or to your training partner, this will also let one understand and determine how to adequately employ such techniques to its full advantage when necessary.


    This is the reason why the Dao training philosophies of martial arts place a great amount of emphasis on things such as mental tranquility and anger control as a response to aggression, pain, or even fear; so because of this, martial arts has been regarded as a mental sparring competition with one''s inner opponent. Haider, if you are able to control your emotions and reactions by being rational during situations where your opponent is executing an attack such as throws, punches, or stabs, you will then be able to easily face any variant of it. The training philosophy of the arts includes moral codes that exhibit these philosophies as a way of life."


    Aodh raised three fingers up.


    "There are three Dao training philosophies. Every individual who has not trained in all of the three philosophies is not considered as a complete or true martial artist. These philosophies are spiritual, mental, and physical.


    They are divided into basics, forms, weapons, stances, meditation, Chi and applications.


    The basics are the beginning steps. A vital part of any martial training, you cannot progress to the more advanced stages without them. They will enhance your upper body, lower body and core strength. In turn, these strength training exercises will help to improve your punching power, kicking power and others."


    Aodh walking up to his grandson, put a hand on his shoulder.


    "You will start on basics."


    Haider nodded vigorously, his eyes on his grandfather who looked at him with an easy smile and continued.


    "You have great strenght in your body, we will start by gradually bringing out your true strength. You will be using the Trueworld bodyweight technique. And today, we will focus on your Upper Body Strength Training. This technique will help your upper body to generate stronger punches and grappling power.


    Let''s start."


    Aodh taught Haider the trueworld bodyweight technique. Aodh started him on his body mass as the source of weight before gradually increasing the weight by adding external masses of stones to his body weight.


    "This will strengthen the muscles in your chest, shoulders, back and arms."


    Haider continued the training of his upper body strength without resting. His strength was unbelievable for such a young age. Aodh added twice the stone mass for his grandson''s age level, but he kept on practicing the technique without much worries.


    "So much power, so much strength. By the time...."


    After training for four hours Aodh stopped him and gave him one blue crystalline. Since he had not started sensing and gathering Chi, the crystalline Chi flowed through his body, replenishing and strengthening his body. He felt like he could carry the world on his head, his exhausted body fully restored.


    "Grandpa, i feel like walking on my head."


    "Hehehe, let''s continue your training for a bit more time then."


    He continued training for another two hours.


    "We stop here for today, we will continue tomorrow. For daily balance, you need to train with your grandmother and mother."


    "Okay, grandpa. Thank you." Cupping his hands in respect,he bowed to his waist.


    Aodh smiled and nodded. He was happy with his grandson frame of mind.If a mind was at the right path, cultivation would be easier and faster.


    They returned to the cave and after some time, Euanthe took Haider to the pool side. It was her turn to train her grandson. The pool was peaceful and its area is quiet too. She did a quick spun and smiled brightly. All forms of nature are wonderful.


    Looking at her grandson, she gleamed happily.


    "Mystical arts are essence fundamentals."


    "Essence is the ultimate nature of a body or any other entity. It''s simply, a body''s fundamental. Without it, plainly, you cannot exist."


    Mortal soul is always in a limbo. Short existence and reincarnation over and over again. The only way to stop short existence is to bring the soul out of limbo into manifestation. A true manifested soul. The soul essence."


    "Because the soul is in limbo, the essence energy, Chi energy, the true life force of a body, is scattered all over the body. And being in disharmony, they continually leak into the sorroundings."


    Euanthe, who had been gesturing with her hands, then, pointed a finger at her grandson.


    "There is Chi in your body Haider, but not organized. This is because you are still a mortal, not a cultivator. Since you have started the path of cultivation, you will be able to gather your Chi into your dantian. A step into forming nascent soul.


    "In the world of cultivation, cultivators strive to form a nascent soul. A stage of immortality. No more short life spans naturally, unless somebody or something kills you. The soul in your body must transform into a true immortal form. There are some elemental energies in our bodies. Four of them are the primary states of matter. Do you know what the four elements are, Haider?"


    "Fire, air, terra and water." Came the quick answer.


    "Good."


    "Fire. Igneous in nature."


    "Air. Gaseous in form"


    "Terra[soil]. It''s nature is solid"


    "And, Water. In liquid state"


    Euanthe spreaded her hands to encompass her sorrounding.


    "Likethe body, the soul also is made up of elemental energies. Elements are the basic constituents of all matter.Look around you my grandson, everything in the universe is composed of the Four Elements, in varying proportions and amounts."


    "Everything. Even your body is composed of the four elements."


    "These four elements formed the foundation of the Dao conception of the universe."


    Euanthe tapped gently on the floor with her foot.


    "At the center of our world is the terra, as the planet we live on, the ground and support beneath our feet.Because of terra''s great heaviness and density, all things gravitate towards it. Running over and around the soil is Water, in the form of lakes, rivers, and oceans.Water nourishes the terra, giving it Life. Over the spheres of soil and Water is the sphere of Air, the atmosphere in which we live, move and have our being.Air''s essence is exchange, contact and movement.All living things need Air to breathe."


    "And finally"


    Euanthe turned her palm upward and a tongue of fire manifested.


    "Fire lights up the Sun, Moon, and stars in the celestial firmament.Fire has brilliance and spirit, and symbolizes the Life Force within us."


    "The human body, your body, and each of its constituent parts is also composed of the Four Elements, in varying proportions.The basic distribution and arrangement of the elements in the human body, reflects that of the bigger part of Nature. All souls are in affinity to elemental energies. The Chi energy and elemental energies in the dantian formed the essence fundamentals. These are the fundamentals that transform the state of the soul into a mystical one."


    "Your grandmother is still in the evanesce core stage, i have a long way to go before i can form a true soul. But, i know my elemental affinity is fire, i can draw on the power of fire but no true soul. Your mother already did, maybe she can show you what a true soul looks like."


    "But today."


    Euanthe touched her grandson on the head and chest.


    "I will teach you soul serenity. Although, your soul is in limbo, you are still connected to it. I want you to realize that although our universe appears to be ever reaching, ever expanding, out of reach, and ever so far, we are cosmically connected and thus this connection has an impact on the very reason that we are who we are.


    Serenading the soul will put it in a state of peace. Calmness. With this, comes enlightenment of the soul. Your soul taking the first step of realizing it''s in limbo, and then gradually coming out of it through all these training we are giving you. I will teach you the soul pith technique. It''s simple but very effective. Our ancestors have all used it before us. Let me show you how it work."


    Euanthe showed her grandson the technique who quickly sat down to start practicing it. Euanthe watched him, it was like a dream. She remembered the time she thought she would never had a child much less a grand child. Her daughter was even a deity, half deity, a deity nonetheless. A full immortal. She recalled the nascent soul of her daughter when she showed them, white feathered amour and wings of fire, phoenix wings? It was a sight.


    She was beaming with joy with teary eyes. How could she not be happy, from hopelessness to one filled with great potentials. A grandmother! And he was growing really fast and strong. This must be the heavens. Surely, or how could you explain all these? Heavens did favoured her.


    Lost in thoughts, it was evening before she realized it. Haider was still practicing. She decided it was time to leave, they still had the following day and many days ahead. They arrived at the cave to see Aodh returning with jars of fresh milk from the farm.


    They all gathered in the main chamber. It was the day Haider started his long road of cultivation. Her mother made a special food for them, roasted yellow-green spirit grass spiced deer and millet coated in the honey of the cloud honeygourd bee. Goat milk in variants. They ate to their content. It was a good day. One of their own had started cultivating, hard, dangerous, but a thing for celebration. The drink they toasted to Haider after their meal.


    "Mother, can i come with you?"


    "Don''t be impatient, Haider. Do you think i forgot about you?" Looking at her son''s face, she patted his back and smiled.


    "Follow me."


    They went inside the cultivation chamber, sitting in lotus positions facing each other, Reena took out a bottled elixir and gave it to his son.


    "Take a little drink out of it. It will help sooth your veins."


    "Cultivation is a way for the soul to be eternal, without natural death. To be free of reincarnation. Immortality is the reason why all cultivators practice cultivation. I can assure you that cultivation is a true way."


    Taking back the bottle after haider had a drink, Reena said.


    "For generations, our family has been keeping the sky sapphire manuscript safely secured.. It has techniques for cultivation, martial and mystical arts. The astral primal technique it contains is a great benefit for us. It''s a bit painful when practicing but you can imagine the advantages it brings. You need to see it for yourself to understand.


    Before we start, i want you to remember that martial arts, mystical arts andimmortal cultivation can be used to compliment one another. True martial artists use Chi from cultivation to enhance the power of cultivation. They also use mystical arts to give their martial abilities, essence elemental energies for great advantages. About mystical arts, they rely on body and soul to be performed. Because of these they need martial artists and immortal cultivators.. But, since they deal with the spirituality of the soul, they help in enlightening the soul to be one with the elements of nature. They help in cultivation. So, a true cultivator will know the three."


    "Let''s start. Since you are already familiar with the breathing technique, let''s begin, with you sensing the Chi energy in your body."


    Reena, still glancing at her son, started talking in a quiet tone.


    "Close your eyes, now, start breathing the way i showed you."


    Haider shut his eyes and started using the astral fetal breathing technique. Like all embryos, he had been using the fetal breathing technique when he was in the womb. This was a welcomed continuation, much appreciated.


    "As you continue to breathe, you will feel a sensation in your body, like energy. Let me know when you feel it."


    Few hours later.


    "Now that you can sense the Chi in your body, just let the energy flow in your body.


    Haider training continued diligently at a steady pace for the following three years. He was growing fast in strength and power. His physique was not getting bigger like the first four years after his birth, but for an eight year old, he was big.


    In martial arts, he had finished learning the basics. And, he was almost done with the stances.


    In the mystical arts, he discovered that he had traces of affinity to light and wind, though, he couldn''t use them.


    In immortal cultivation, he was at the middle stage of Juchi, gathering Chi. The Astral primal technique was gradually and unceasingly enlarging his dantian and meridians. The blue crystalline he was consuming kept on supplying his body with Chi that was circulated through the meridians and absorbed into the dantian.

 6 Coming of age III

    Haider had just finished learning the stances of martial arts from his grandfather. He was moving on to swordmanship. He walked up to his granfather who was checking the defensive arrays protecting the caves. As he walked, he looked grown. His physique at eight years old was like that of a twelve year old. He was over five feet tall, bones as strong as a cave bear and skin, thick as a bark hide. His eyes, nose and ears senses were growing keener as he trained.


    Hewas already at the practicing area doing some body exercises when his grandpa arrived.


    "Good morning grandpa."


    "Haider, good morning. I guess that means you are ready for your morning training."


    "Yes grandpa, I even woke up ealier today to prepare."


    "Mhm. I can see that. Then, let''s begin."


    Aodh produced a sword shaped wooden stick, and gave it to him.


    "Swordsmanship means the abilities of a person to use the sword properly."


    Aodh materialised his sword, Skyfire, a beautiful white sword made from white nephrite with the core of a white wyvern. He performed a few rhythmic swings.


    "Sword is a weapon of blade. It can look beautiful and delicate, but in the hand of a swordsman, it''s a deadly weapon. The reason why we mentally and spiritually prepared you through proper training to be a true swordsman. Know this Haider, it takes a true swordsman to know when to and not to, draw a sword. You do not draw sword for every little arguments and issues. You draw your sword when it''s absolutely necessary, left with no alternative."


    Aodh stared at him with his brows furrowed.


    "Haider which one is easier, to destroy or to make?"


    "To destroy something is easier, grandpa."


    "Yes, it is easier to destroy. But to make? It can take forever. This is where the nature of a heart comes in. How can a violent and easy to anger heart understand the true nature of the universe? It takes a calm and patient heart."


    "Let''s start. I will need your extra focus and seriousness."


    His eyes on his grandson with unyielding stare.


    "The basic defense moves involve blocking and stepping."


    Aodh started displaying the moves and guided Haider on the proper moves.


    "Defense Moves. This move is voiding. It''s a defensive move used to step either forward, backward, or sideways, out of the sword''s attack range like this."


    Aodh moved according to the steps.


    "Voiding a slash involves the same concept as voiding a thrust, with the added element of the arc of attack instead of the line of attack. Uppercuts are voided by dropping the blade to your side."


    Moving his feet back and forth, he checked to see if his grandson followed.


    "Moving to stepping. If your back foot passes your front foot in a passing step, it''s a burst. If your front foot passes your back foot in a passing step, it''s a lunge."


    Aodh putting himself in different positions, directed his grandson into proper positions.


    "Stances. The ox ward is a stance. You put the left foot forward, and the sword held close to your face and aimed towards the upper regions of the opponent''s body. Another stance is the the plow ward. A stance done by putting the right foot forward, and placing the sword near the knees, with the blade aimed at the opponent''s chest. And the third one, is the the fool ward. It''s executed by beginning in a left foot forward stance, with the sword aimed towards the ground in front of the left foot."


    Aodh slowly changed his posture so Haider would grasp it.


    "Now attack moves. The first one is the high blow. A vertical blow against the opponent''s head. The second is the wrath blow. You swing the sword from above, and diagonally aimed towards the opponent''s ear. The third one is the middle blow. This you do horizontally, either from left to right or right to left. The fourth one is low blow. Swinging the sword from below, and aimed towards the opponent''s arms. The fifth one is the overhead thrust. A move in which you jab the opponent with the sword, single-handedly.


    Aodh continued to show Haider all the sword moves. They were so immersed in training that they didn''t notice the flight of time. It was already eight hours ago when they started. Aodh stopped the training and they left the practice area. On their way back to the cave, Aodh side-glanced his grandson.


    "Physical training develops bodily strength and health, it will surely provide you with hardness and toughness of physique, greater mobility and agility, wider opportunities for activity, the ability to perform what you do and the capacity to survive and thrive in a crisis. Truly, every man should be physically strong."


    Minutes later, Haider went to the pool area. He sat down on a mat beside the pool, eyes closed, feeling his inner peace as he waited for his grandma.


    "As long as humans have lived on this planet, we have relied on water to nourish and replenish our systems physically."


    Haider sharply turned his head to the source of the voice to the sight of his grandma. He heaved a sigh of relief, he didn''t know when she arrived.


    "But it also provide mental and emotional benefits as well. It is a natural progression that we feel so at peace when we are near to water. It is part of who we are.The sound and sight of water is not only soothing but can directly affect your mood and environment. The sight of a pleasant water feature can also be a source of healing and relaxing."


    Euanthe indicated the pond with a nod.


    "These energies are released from water by the power of nature and found in high concentrations virtually anywhere water flows. We absorb these energies with each breath we take. When you are around a pond, the air will affect your mood and heighten your ability to concentrate, clean the air and promote a sense of tranquility and inner peace."


    Euanthe produced a mat and sat down opposite his son.


    "Spiritual training develops the health and strength of the soul, increasing its ability to delay gratification and deny lower impulses in favor of higher ones, conquer weaknesses and temptations, make weighty decisions with dexterous wisdom, and, willingly serve other people."


    Euanthe moved her hand to form the shape of a human as she was speaking.


    "Your character is built in the course of your soul spiritual training, inner confrontation. Character is a set of dispositions, desires, and habits that are slowly engraved during the struggle against your own weakness. You become more disciplined, considerate, and loving through a thousand small acts of self-control, sharing, service, friendship, and refined enjoyment. If you make disciplined, caring choices, you are slowly engraving certain tendencies into your mind. You are making it more likely that you will desire the right things and execute the right actions. If you make selfish, cruel, or disorganized choices, then you are slowly turning the soul inside yourself into something that is fragmented. You can do harm to your soul with nothing more than ignoble thoughts, even if you are not harming anyone else. But if you do behave with habitual self-discipline, you will become constant and dependable."


    "Which brings us to Karma."


    With compassionate eyes, she observed him.


    "Do you know what karma is, Haider?"


    "Good and bad?"


    "Close." Euanthe nooded with a bright smile.


    "It''s the principle behind the good and bad things we do or say. Everything you do now will have effect on your life in the future. Law of karma is a law of creation. It affects everybody in the universe. Good karma will bring good effects and bad karma will bring bad effects. We cannot escape it. That''s why having a proper frame of mind will help in cultivating good karma. Remember that every thing you do, good or bad, you will face the consequences in the future."


    Euanthe pointing to the fish in the pond, said.


    "Look at the fish in the pond. Do you see the way they move about in the water peacefully? It''s in their mind to do that since they were born. Now they do that as part of their living."


    Euanthe


    "Everything you put in your mind from young age, will continue to grow there if you continue to nurture it. A seed will germinate and grow if properly nurtured."


    "Free your mind as before, let your mind be at peace. Then start the soul pith technique."


    Haider closed his eyes. He freed his mind of any distractions. Just like the peaceful pond, he felt his mind at peace. He started practicing the soul pith technique. He had discovered that his soul was getting more and more stronger, when he practiced this technique followed by the astral fetal breathing technique. The two techniques were from the same manuscripts, no wonder they complimented each other.


    The more stronger his soul, the more clearer he was seeing the universe. He continued to practice, sparse threads of positive energies continued to stream into his soul. Gradually, he was lost in meditation. He saw himself being sorrounded by a faint white light and flickers of lightning. The astral sphere.


    After he regained his awareness, he told his grandma about his experience.


    "Your astral sphere. Those are your elemental energies. Light elemental energy and air elemental energy. There are four primary elements as you are aware of, but these four have many other secondary elementals. For instance, Ice is a secondary element of water and lightning is a secondary element of air. In your case, you have lightning and light, which means that you can use light but not fire, because you need heat and light to make fire. But, your affinity is not attuned to heat, so you can only use the light. Same thing with lightning, you can use lightning but you can''t conjure the mystic power of air. Light and lightning are really great energies. I''m really proud of you."


    "But no fire grandma."


    "No fire. But you have two affinities, that''s a blessing. None of us has two affinities, not to mention lightning. It means you are special, very special. And it''s not the affinity you have that matters, it''s your heart that does. Now, lighten up and appreciate the gifts."


    "Okay, grandma. Thank you." Haider nodded his head and smiled at his grandma.


    Oh, how he wanted to be able to make ribbons of fire or fire birds like his mother. But light and lightning it is. He had to make do with them. And he had two. He was lucky indeed. His smile brightened.


    They left the pond area. Euanthe told him she wanted to check the farms, so he decided to follow her. They collected some goat milk and went back to the cave.


    Inside the cave,Aodh was in the small book chamber, going through some manuscripts. Euanthe and Reena were discussing about the upcoming village event. He quietly left for the cultivation chamber. He sat down and started to practice the astral primal technique. His meridians were wide and his dantian was extremely large.


    The heavenly spiritual energy was always needed in large quantity to advance in cultivation stages. Cultivators looked for places rich in heavenly spiritual energy to cultivate. It helps in supplying the needed energy.


    But he had the blue crystallines. Crystals containing pure refined chi that could replenish an exhausted dantian at a go.


    His dantian was so large, but was still absorbing the crystals'' Chi continuosly. The amount of Chi in his dantian was ridiculously high. He only needed his connection to his elemental energies to keep getting stronger. As he connected to his affinities, he would be able to advance in stages. His mother found him in the cultivation chamber just as he was breaking through to the Chi refining stage, the Lianchi stage, some minutes later.


    "Congratulations son, It was about time. You are now at the Chi refining stage."


    Reena sat down in front of her son, gently staring at him.


    "As you refine the Chi in your body, you can continue to gather Chi into your dantian. We are still gathering Chi into our dantian. My soul avatar is still benefitting from the Chi i''m still gathering. So, you can continue with your gathering."


    "Okay mother."


    "Tomorrow, there will be antique sellers and buyers displaying their goods in the market place. I want you to com with me."


    "Yes mother, i have not been for some time. Thank you mother."


    They continued to cultivate together. His mind was on the antique goods.


    That night when he slept after meditating with the pagoda in his hand, he dreamt differently.

 7 Antiques in the marke

    He dreamt of a gateway, with two closed gates. The gateway had rune inscriptions on it. The runes were emitting different types of light colours. The gates were like diamond stones, sparkling bright lights in their dazzling glory.


    These light were too bright to look at for too long. What was this place? What were these gates? Where did they lead to? Other worlds? Maybe, even heavens. It worth the try to see what was on the other side.


    He tried to take a step towards the gates, but couldn''t lift up his legs.


    "You are just a childling, you will simply die."


    "Who''s there?"


    "Now, begone."


    He woke up startled.


    It was a dream, but felt so real. What kind of dream was that? Too much to take a peek? Even if i had entered and died, it was just a dream. All i needed to do was to wake up. Tah dah, safe and sound, smiling to the farm to drink some fresh goat milk. Anyways, i''m just a child, probably too young to die. No need for me to worry much about it.


    He relaxed his mind, washed his face and went to search for his mother. He learnt that she was in the cultivation chamber, hence, he resolved to go and practice his martial arts. When he got there, he started repeating the steps for the basics, stances, formations and weapons. He was working himself so hard that he didn''t know when his grandpa arrived.


    His grandpa watched him for some time, before he interrupted the training.


    "A-hem."


    "Grandpa! I didn''t see you there. I was trying to practice while i wait for you."


    "Mhm,that''s very thoughtful of you. I have been watching you for quite a time now. Your moves are more precise and the forcefield much more stronger. It showed you are really getting into the mindframe of a martial artist. To be the best you can be at martial arts, practice! Practice! Practice! Continous training will engrave it in your heart becoming intuitive. Helping you hone the skills you have. That is how martial masters are made. Always realize that you can get better and practices will definitely make you the better."


    Aodh uttered as he stared admiringly at Haider. Then, he moved to where the stone dummies for practice were placed, turned to regard his grandson.


    "Today, i will start by showing you how powerful your martial art can bewhen you power your moves with your Chi. These stone dummies are protected by talismans. That''s why they could be used to do training successfully. They can withstand training attacks."


    He removed the talisman from one of the dummies and hit the dummy. There was a loud muffled sound from the impact which only rocked the stone dummy.


    "That was brute strength, you can see that there was little to no effect, right? But when you now add your inner force, your Chi energy to the move, it becomes very powerful. Cultivators use their Chi to power all their martial arts in combats."


    Aodh hit the dummy again, but this time, his palm was powered with his Chi. The dummy exploded into dust.


    "Although, It''s true that there are spirit pills that can replenish the Chi in the body, but the body can only get raw Chi from them. The body still need to refine and condense the Chi. In combat, it will be difficult, if not impossible to refine and condense Chi. The cultivator will have to use raw Chi. You have advantage there. But i tell you this, unless in absolute combat, try not to use Chi. Karma is on everything you do. Do you understand?"


    "Yes grandpa. I do. I won''t forget that."


    Aodh producing a manuscript, gestured for him to come over.


    "These are copies of martial techniques we have in our family."


    Holding a golden manuscript in his right hand.


    "This is our ancestral manuscript, it contains both hand and sword techniques. There are two hand techniques. The seering flame and the shifting heavens hand techniques. The shifting heaven is not affinity related. As for it''s sword technique, it''s called the beasts inferno technique. I use the [Dragon Inferno], your grandmother uses the fire [Eagle Inferno] and your mother uses the [Phoenix Inferno]. We all have the fire affinity. Although, you don''t have fire affinity, i will still show you the techniques. They need to be in your memory, permanently engraved."


    Aodh placed the golden manuscript to one side. Then holding the remaining manuscripts for Haider to read.


    "These are techniques bought, given or exchanged. Let''s check them and see ones that suits you for now."


    They went through the techniques one by one and found the ones that suited him most after testing them out. Since he couldn''t use the Flaming cloud hand technique, they settled for the shifting heavens palms as the hand technique.For the sword technique, Lacking fire affinity and lack of any lightning technique, they chose the Sky Light as the sword technique for him because of his light affinity and it was the only light elemental technique they got.


    "When the techniques are powered by Chi, their true powers will be displayed. The sword techniques take longer to master, you will neee to train harder and be very patient. The thing with any weapon technique is the elemental affinity of the owner."


    Aodh produed his sword, Skyfire, he faced the dummies and used the beasts stormfire, the first stage of the beasts inferno technique. Raging storm of pressing fire attacked the dummies.


    "This sword was made from white nephrite and a white wyvern core was used. Wyverns and dragons are fire beasts. There are different sources where elemental cores can be obtained. Apart from mundane animals and normal plants, everything has a core. For an immortal cultivator of a particular affinity, a weapon of that particular affinity must be made for the cultivator to be able to bring out the full power of the element or elements if he has more than one. You as a light and lightning affiliate, will need a sword made of light, lightning or both energies. They will serve as the core of the sword when it''s being forged. "


    He stopped to see the expression on Haider''s face, then smiled.


    "There''s a good thing going for you, though, you have plenty Chi. The benefit we get cultivating the astral primal technique is the effect it has on the dantian and meridian. When you cultivate with the astral primal technique and the dantian becomes enlarged, the amount of chi it can contain becomes many times greater than that of normal cultivator''s Chi. You see, in the world of cultivation, martial art move on it''s own is just a simple move when you are facing another cultivator. Your opponent will just shrug it off. Now, let me show you the moves. The hand technique first."


    Aodh transmitted the ancestral techniques to his grandson and showed him the moves. Haider already grasped the fundamentals of the moves because they were engraved in his brain. He could practice them later af any time.


    But, for the following two hours, he continued to practice the Skylight. It wasn''t their family line technique, his grandpa didn''t learn it either because he was fire affiliated while the technique was light elemental. Thus, he had to learn practicing it on his own. The technique had four steps.


    [The white flare], [The golden pillar], [The rainbow vortex] and [The skylight].


    And, after training for a while.


    "Haider, we stop here for now. The market would be opened for the antiques. Your mother and grandma willbe waiting for us. We have decided to follow the two of you to the market, maybe, we can find interesting things too. You will continue the training later."


    Leaving the training center, they headed towards the cave. They found the two of them by the entrance to the cave.After, they left for the market place. Their home was at the extreme outskirt of the village. They could have flown but decided to walk using the generally popular light steps. Walking made them felt the peaceful nature.


    The market was already setup in stalls of antique dealers. It was the time for their own village to host the antique dealers. People enjoyed buying and selling of things, therefore, it was a welcomed event in villages and cities.


    As they passed through the village, they were exchanging greetings with the rest of the villagers. Most of the other villagers knew them and some who didn''t know them in persons had heard their family name before, Amynthas. The people that bought the land at the very outskirt of the village. It could even be said to be outside the village. It would take few kilometers from their cave to the next house.


    People who couldn''t wait, came from other villages and cities. They flooded the market area, buying, selling or just looking. It was a lively and busy place.


    The Amynthas decided to split up to make it more fun and easier looking for things.


    Haider was checking the stalls when he came upon a stall of talismans. When he saw the owner, an elderly man who wore a blue and white robe, he raised his cupped hands to him.


    "Senior."


    The man nodded in response.


    "Welcome young mister. Please take a look, all are ancient items. All good values, my words on them."


    Haider looked through the items as his brows knitted in a frown.


    "Anything you might need in particular, young mister?"


    "Senior, i''m looking for some technique manuscripts. I need light affinity hand technique, lightning affinity hand technique and lightning affinity sword technique."


    "Alright, slow down mister. You must be light and lightning double elemental affiliate. Good hand technique is difficult to get,but you can still get it. But, sword technique? Either your clan have one or you have a sword master. On the probability that your clan don''t have the one you need and no sword master, you can only join a sect. You look for a sect with what you need. That''s the best and safest option for you."


    "Senior, a sect?"


    "Yes, a school where they teach you martial arts and weapon techniques. Some of them have ancient techniques too. It''s the best place for you to learn, if you really want to." He stroked his beard with a thoughtful face. "But, i do have a light palm technique, the starlight technique. It''s an ancient technique, but i do not know the origin. If you want, i can give it to you with this talisman. The mountain bark talisman. The best protection you can find on me."


    "Okay senior. How much for them?"


    "For you, it will only cost two thousand high grade spirit stones."


    "I will take them."


    Haider paid for them and left the stall with a slightly lifted mood. Atleast, he got a light technique. He was happy with himself. He kept on searching the stalls, but couldn''t find any more techniques related to him. He traversed the market looking for his family. His mother, who had her divine sense on, already knew that he was looking for them. With light steps, she appeared beside him.


    "Did you manage to find anything for yourself."


    "Yes mother. I found a light hand technique and a talisman."


    "Hm, you are really having a great time. Aren''t you?" Reena shook her head, it was a really lively place, the busiest she had ever seen the place in a while.


    They called it a day, since they''ve seen the items on the stalls and bought the ones they wanted to buy. Later, they found Aodh and Euanthe talking to the village head, headman Huan Yu.


    Headman Huan Yu was a middle stage golden core cultivator. He reported to the lord of Oak city, lord Bao Wang, since the village was under him. When headman Huan Yu saw Reena with her son, he gave her a slight bow.


    "Lady Reena."


    "Headman Huan." Reena nodded in return.


    He knew Reena was at nascent soul but he had never seen her true power before, even her aura was always masked. So much power at such a young age. He shifted his glance to Reena''s left to regard her son.


    "Young mister Haider."


    "Headmaster, sir." Haider replied with a bow.


    "Hm.....very well. I hope you are having a good."


    "I''m trying to sir." He beamed with a bright smile.


    "That''s good enough."


    Huan Yu nodded with a smile on his face. He turned towards Reena.


    "Lady Reena, i was just now telling your parents about the Lunar festival. It''s a thousand years next month from the last festival, our village is compulsed to participate in it. We will need your presence and the other nascent soul cultivator, at the lunar plain when the time comes"


    "Oh. Alright, that won''t be a problem. Just let me know when the time comes, headman Huan."


    "I will."


    After saying their goodbyes they returned to their cave.


    The lunar festival. Celebration of the lunar alignment. It happened every thousand year. When there was an alignment in the lunar cosmic system. The nine villages sorrounding the lunar mountain, will send their lunaries, participants, to climb the mountain and get one of the lunar stones. The festival was to promote unity and harmony among the villages.


    After they had all settled.


    "Mother, what do you think about me joining a sect?"


    "A sect?" Reena adoringly stared at her son. He has grown really fast. How time flies.


    "Me and your grandparents have also talked about. It is really good for you. You need to socialize with other kids from different parts. Seeing the difference in human nature will gain you more experience. You have the foundation already. As long as you can keep them in your heart, you will be fine. Moreover, these sects have access to ancient manuscripts, you will really learn a lot. Knowledge is power."


    She continued.


    "We will look for a relevant one for you after the festival. You need to train harder than before because you need to pass their tests"


    "Thank you mother."

 8 The lunar festival

    For the following month, Haider was cultivating and practicing very hard. He would not disappoint his mother and grandparents. In all things, he would make them proud. He practiced martial arts in the morning till the afternoon, mystical arts from the afternoon till evening and cultivation technique till late in the night.


    In martial arts, he was focusing more on the shifting heavens hand technique, it''s not an element affiliated technique, it''s a technique that used the Chi, inner force, in the body.


    In the mystical art, he continued training the soul pith technique. His soul was gaining more awareness and getting more connected to the affiliated elements.


    In cultivation, he was still at the early stage of Chi refining, but using the astral primal technique, the quantity and quality of Chi in his body was alarming.


    As the festival dates got nearer, the villages were gripped in celebration mood. There was happiness, joy and laughter in the air. People were preparing the food and drinks to be shared with others. Lunar dumplings made of rice, lunar cakes of millet, lunar grubs of moonbugs and lunar milk from the mountain yaks.


    The next day would be the beginning of the lunar festival. The villages headmen, designated village elders and the nascent soul cultivators would be there. Any villager who could make the trip was also welcomed.


    Haider was very anxious to see what a festival looked like. He had never seen one before. He had prepared properly for the next day. He had folded to one side of his room, the new robe from his mother. He tried calming his mind through meditation, after a while, he slept off.


    For some time now, he had not dreamt of the gateway with the diamond gates. Dreams were still dreams.


    He woke up very early, cleaned himself and put on his new robe. The day was special, no training on this day. His mother and grandmother were preparing the morning food and the one they would take to the festival.


    "Good morning mother, grandmother."


    "Good morning son."


    "Good morning Haider. What a beautiful new robe you have on. I can see, you are ready for the festival."


    "Yes grandma. I just couldn''t wait for a good festival." He smiled gleamingly.


    "And lovely shoes too." Euanthe pointing to his shoes with a wide smile.


    "That''s the last one." Reena set the cake on the table and reached for the basket.


    They packed the food into the basket and placed the covered mugs of milk inside the basket before covering it up.


    Along with Aodh, the three left for the lunar plain.


    The plain was at the center of the nine villages. The distance from their village was a little bit over a hundred kilometers. They rode their swords which turned to streaks of lights and in a matter of seconds they arrived at the lunar plain. Alighting from their swords, they quickly located headman Huan and the section of the skyspring village cultivators and other present villagers.


    As they headed in the direction of headman Huan, they exchanged greetings with the people they met.


    Standing beside headman Huan, was the other peak-stage nascent soul cultivator in skyspring village. Gaius, the terra bane, a terra elemental cultivator. They exchanged greetings with him too. Everybody was in great spirit, this only happened every thousand year. They gave out food and other gifts prepared. They collected from others too. Really, it was a happy ocassion.


    "Let me introduce you to the other villages according to the tradition. Please follow me"


    Headman Huan said to the two nascent cultivators, Reena and Gaius, as he moved aheadof them.


    They followed him and caught up to him as he continued talking to them.


    "Lady Reena, this is your first time witnessing this festival but i believe you''ve heard of it before. Nevertheless, i will reiterate to you about it." Headman Huan side glanced at Reena.


    "This festival is a way of promoting unity and harmony among the nine villages, at the same time making them work harder in preparing the future generations. These nine villages were formed by nine siblings of the same ancestral lineage. Skyspring, Redeagle, Rainwater, Windfall, Fountainfox, Icebay, Sunpeak, Wallmount and yellowcrust. Since they were siblings, they looked for ways to stay united.


    He stopped for a second before continuing.


    "They created the lunar festival. Every thousand year, the nine orbital stars aligned with the moon, it was discovered that this would cause a reaction at top of the lunar mountain. It creates the floating lunar stones, radiant stones that shone for a thousand years. They were just light stones. But these stones determine the ranking of the nine villages. The first lunary to come back will make his or her village to be number one ranked village and it goes on like that. Last time, we were ranked fourth."


    Headman Huan looked sideways with a bright smile.


    "The first day of the festival, like today, will be a friendly competition among the villages. Before this day, each village will have a series of events to determine the one that will represent it out of the numerous competitors. The chosen ones are called the lunaries. They must be at the Zhuji stage. Each of them will gather here at the lunar plain. At the sound of the gong, they will race to the top of the mountain to collect one lunar stone and return here. But at the top of the mountain, there''s a mist that affects the mind of lower cultivators. The Zhuji stage cultivators can withstand it but they will be slowed down. That''s why we prepare our lunaries properly for our villages'' honors."


    He stopped for a few seconds.


    "And as part of the tradition, you may be asked for some friendly spars. It''s really good because it will raise your prestige as a nascent soul cultivator and the honor of our village."


    "I can manage with that." Reena with a nod of her head.


    Gaius was following the conversation without any words.


    First was Fountainfox. The village headman was Chen, a peak-stage golden core cultivator. And with him were two nascent soul cultivators. One was Cato, a late-stage nascent soul cultivator of and an air and ice elements affiliate. The other was Horatio, also a late stage nascent soul cultivator and a water element affiliate.


    They were introduced to the other village headmen and their nascent soul cultivators or otherwise. Four of the villages; Fountainfox, Rainwater, Skyspring and Redeagle, had two nascent soul cultivators each. Another four villages; Windfall, Icebay, Sunpeak and Yellowcrust, each had one nascent soul cultivator and one golden core cultivator. Wallmount had no nascent soul cultivator but came with two peak stagegolden core cultivators. Pleasantaries were exchanged and they delighted in the consumables.


    After a while, it was time for the lunar competition to begin. The lunaries were stationed at the starting points with some distance among them. At the sound of the gong, they took-off up the mountain. As the rules went, no teleportation talismans and portal seals were allowed, only steps movement techniques or talismans were to be used.


    Some lunaries used quick steps and light steps techniques, others used mirage steps talismans.


    Remus, the lunary from Skyspring was using the lightning steps talisman making him climbed the mountain at a very fast pace. Others too were at the same level, some were even above him. It took them few minutes with some seconds'' interval, but they all reached the top almost the same time. Once they entered the mist, they lost sight of one another. They all knew what was involved, thus, they''ve prepared adequately beforehand.


    Some distance from the base of the mountain, all the delegates from the nine villages were monitoring the situation with the lunaries. The headmen, nascent soul cultivators and golden core cultivators were using their divine and spiritual senses. They could see clearly what was happening around the mountain and at its top. They monitored the situation to avoid any foul play and to handle any danger that could arose.


    They were watching the proceedings when a portal suddenly opened and two legions of twenty four demons led by four daemon kings came through. They were not like the normal demons, they were different. They were taller and bigger than normal demons. Their bodies, covered in atrament, blankets of shimmering blackness, were emitting corrupted dark energies.


    "Hahaha. We love celebrations too. Let''s celebrate together. ATTACK!!!." One of the four daemon kings screamed at the demons.


    The demons, brandishing obsidian sabers, started to move in the direction of the delegates with great speed. Their movement with the shimmering blackness was terrifying. Atrament, total blackness attack, was not from this universe. Shouldn''t be here. Seeing the demons speeding in their directions, the cultivators launched their own attacks. Under unrelenting attack, the demons were destroyed.


    Second set of demons was sent forth. Demon chiefs. Much more powerful than demon warriors. But instead of attacking individually, they formed formations. Each formation of the demons moved in spiraling wave of atramentous, vortex of blackness.


    The delegates quickly engaged them in battle trying to stop them before they could gain momentum. It was a terrifying battle. The demons'' formations were very difficult to break, they were strange formations.


    Euanthe tried to use a teleportation seal to take Haider away with her from the place, but she couldn''t activate it. The whole mountain area was locked down. Aodh who was with Euanthe protecting Haider, tried to involve himself in the battle since his daughter was already battling the demons. He knew she couldn''t leave the battlefield as a nascent soul cultivators. It was worse than dishonor.


    "Father! Please stay with mother to protect Haider." Reena shouted over the noise of the pandemonium.


    Reena with her phoenix sword in hand, turned her attention to where Gaius was already engaging one of the demons'' formation with headman Huan.


    Gaius brandishing his large war hammer, hit the ground and launched a massive terra wave towards the spiraling atrament. The atrament was blasted apart but slowly reformed but with less tenacity. The demons sent a vortex of blackness towards him. He raised his war hammer, pillars of terra were formed in front of him. The vortex collided with the pillars and with a loud bang, they both dissipated in a blast. He launched another attack, terra beam blast, the blast covered the area of the spiraling blackness.


    Immediately, Reena arrived beside Gaius, she released her most powerful attack. The fourth stage of the beasts inferno technique, the phoenix stream. An attack of river of liquid fire. The attack complemented the earth beam blast and disintegrated the atrament. The six demon chiefs were badly injured. Before they could crawl back to where the daemon kings were, they were destroyed by blasts of terra and fire.


    Around the area, the demons were suffering the same fate. The four daemon kings seeing what was going on, quickly formed the Void Cube, an ultimate formation of unknown origin. Mass of atrament sorrounded the vast area and was closing in on them. They launched attacks at the mass of blackness with all their might but their attacks were rebuffed, with no or little effect.


    "Hahaha. Stop trying. No mortal of this world can break this, not even your deity. We could have continued celebrating together but time is not on our side. Hahahaha."


    One of the daemon kings said as he laughed heartily and the other three joined him.


    "We must bring this to an end now."


    The four daemon kings raised their staffs and the obsidian skulls at the top of their staffs shone with intense blackness. The massive mass of atrament had increase in speed and the energy coming from it was overwhelming.


    There was no way they could survive this. They had given it their all but it seemed their all was lacking. Reena contemplated about their lives. Her regret was bringing her son to the festival, but she couldn''t leave him at home in the first place. Afterall, it was a festival. Well, she would give it everything she got, last of her breath before she would succumb to the demons.


    She prepared herself to use her true nascent soul. She would manifest her soul''s avatar. It was a huge risk, she was still at nascent soul, therefore her true soul was still too young and weak. It could backfire on the her. But she was ready to risk it. As she was preparing to use it, everything was solidified in place.


    Terra force-field. Everything stopped.


    A bald, tall and muscled man with thick eye brows, yellow pupils, wearing a yellow robe came out through an opening that suddenly materialised at the base of the mountain.


    "Atrament? In human world? This is truly strange. Energy so powerful, it manifested in physical form."


    He stared at the massive mass of atrament. He shook his head.


    "This shouldn''t be here. It doesn''t belong to this universe, moreso, a human world."


    He waved his hand and a massive terra wave covered the blackness. He took out a seal, activating it, the seal flew into the terra wave and the atrament dissipated into nothingness. He flipped his hand and one of the demon kings appeared immediately in front of him.


    "Daemon kings and yet, not daemon. There''s atrament energy in you, your souls and bodies have been corrupted. How? Why are you even here in a mortal world with atrament, energy from the void? Speak up."


    "You can''t even imagine. I will never tell you anything."


    "Very well then."


    He flicked his hand and with a release of earth bust, the daemon king exploded. He continued this until he was on the last one.


    "We are here for that woman culitivator and that boy coltivator too."


    "Why?"


    "We only have our instructions. We don''t ask why."


    "Mhm, and whatever the reason behind it, surely it''s of no good."


    He walked towards Reena. Standing in front of her, again he shook his head and released his force-field on the area.


    "A demigod. Your life force is extremely powerful and solid. You should be stronger than this. I don''t know why the daemons were after you and the boy, but if you don''t get stronger, you will die. There are extremely powerful entities in the void. I don''t know much about what exist in the void, but the atrament was from the void. Energy of total blackness, strong enough to physically manifest. Know this, when you are attacked by the atrament, inside of the body will decompose into black liquid and the soul will be ripped from the body becoming part of atrament."


    He flipped his sleeves and produced two white stones. He gave one to Reena.


    "Terra''s breath. It will drive away atrament and other total dark energies for a period of time. When these energies near you, it will warn you by flaring brightly. A gift to you as a demigod."


    He looked around the area, glancing at the faces of everyone. Few villagers were killed, but no nascent soul or golden core cultivators was killed. He shrugged and looked at the boy. There was something about the boy. Something. Although, he couldn''t say in particular, he knew it was of a good thing. He could see threads of virtues around him. Why were they after him? Surely something in this.


    "Who is the boy?"


    "He''s my son." Reena replied mildly, despite slightly trembling inside. They should have been dead by now. But they were saved by this man. Definitely an immortal cultivator. Maybe a god? There was surely an ancient aura about him. "Senior, thank you so much for saving us. We are all in your debt."


    He waved her words off.


    "You are not in my debt. I was around and i did what was necessary."


    He took one step and apeared in front of Aodh, Euanthe and Haider. He watched Haider for some seconds, then gave him the other stone.


    "Terra''s breath. Terra''s light against the black energy and the likes. Take it. A gift to you for your virtues."


    "Thank you senior, sir." Haider bowed deeply from waist.


    "Hm. What you are all against is extremely dangerous. It''s true nature is unknown, but the energy is very deadly. At the least, ancient as the primordials. Train harder, be stronger. Gain more knowledge. Only by knowing what you are really facing can you truly confront it. Come visit in the future."


    "Senior, forgive me for asking. Who are you?" Asked one of the village headmen respectfully.


    "You can call me Primus. For billions of years, this place has been my home. I was here when there was no living soul in this world. When the nine siblings came."


    A TITAN LORD!!!


    "Thank you lord Primus."


    "No need. It was necessary." Primus sighed and turned to Gaius.


    "Impressive terra force. Maybe we can exchange pointers in the future."


    With that, he disappeared back into the mountain.


    Ten minutes later, the lunaries started to descend the mountain, holding the lunar stones high in their hands.

 9 Titan lord Primus I

    The Ankhora continent had never seen atrament attack before. The attack by the lunar mountain was the first time they witnessed it. They had heard of atrament before, an energy that existed in the void. They knew that the void was the place from where their universe came into existence. And that, there were many unknown entities and energies in the void. They knew all these but never witnessed one before.


    If left unchecked, the fear of such an attack happening again would affect the minds of the villagers. They wouldn''t be able to carry on their daily lives as usual. The titan lord decided to remove the memory of the daemon attacks from their minds. Only the nascent souls were with the memory of the event. Primus had used his mindvoice to transmit his words to them. His words were for the villagers to continue with their celebration. He had already notified the other titan on Terra, titan Urdith, a blue lake, many kilometers wide. He had also informed the three monarchs as well as the ''conclave'', a gathering of entities in the heavenly plain.


    The festivity continued for the following two days after the demons encounter. The atmosphere was bubbly, very lively. Food and milk continued to be shared in a joyful manner. The delegates that returned from the lunar plain joined their respective villages in the celebrations.


    A week later, Gaius was planning a visit to the titan lunar mountain, but before that, he decided to check on the Amynthas. He was aware that the daemons were after the Amynthas, but didn''t know the reasons. He was hoping he could learn more about what was happening from lord Primus. He sent out his divine sense and quickly came across the familiar divine sense. He sent out his words through the divine sense connection.


    "Lady Reena?."


    "Greetings lord Gaius. I meet you well."


    "I meet you well too, lady Reena. I''m just on my way to find lord Primus. Do you mind if i stop by?"


    "Not at all. You know you are always welcome in our place. I will meet you at the entrance."


    "Alright then, i will see you soon."


    Few minutes later, Reena was flying in the air to welcome Gaius. After landing on the ground, Gaius turned to Reena.


    "The defensive arrays in this place always impress me. It would have been impossible for me to enter without you. You wouldn''t even know that you already turned back. For it to always affect me thus, it''s truly impressive."


    "So i was told." Reena smiled gently. "Indeed, the one you are talking about is the divine oriental array. It''s an ancestral treasure. We are just lucky to have them. Besides, they can''t compare to yours, lord Gaius."


    "You flatters me lady Reena."


    They entered the cave abode. The rest of the family were already waiting for them in the living chamber. They were already informed by Reena that lord Gaius would be coming, hence they had prepared.


    "My greetings master Aodh, mistress Euanthe and young master Haider."


    "Greetings lord Gaius. We meet you well."


    "I meet you well too." He noddingly regarded them.


    Aodh quickly gesturing towards a chair.


    "Please have a seat and accept a little refreshment from us, we insist on this."


    "Alright, please don''t mind the trouble then."


    After being offered the refreshments. Gaius took one bite millet cake and looked extremely surprised.


    "Delicious, how can i even remember who i am after eating all these, when i already forgot my own name?"


    They all laughed at this. A moment passed before Reena talked.


    "You said you were going to find the titan lord." She paused before continuing.


    "I still couldn''t believe we have been living very close to a titan, a titan lord! Legends of old. Some even existed during the great wars too."


    "Yes lady Reena. And he''s a Terra elementalist. So much to know from him."


    "We should follow you. We want to know more about the atrament and learn everything we could. If he will see us that is."


    "Let''s see what he thinks then."


    After a little deliberating, they all left for the lunar mountain. Shortly after, they arrived at the base of the mountain. They were very cautious in their approach, afterall, this was the dominion of a titan lord. As they moved closer, a voiced boomed out from the mountain.


    "I''ve been expecting you."


    And the next moment, they were all standing at the top of the mountain. They quickly realized they were in a dominion. Looking around they saw a huge man sitting on a meditating mat,wearing a simple yellow robe. He looked like an ordinary villager having concealed his aura and his halo light too.


    "I knew you will come sooner rather than later."


    Realizing it was the titan lord, Primus.


    "Greetings, titan lord Primus." They said in chorus raising their cupped hands.


    Haider who was caught in the moment became aware of his situation, quickly raised cupped his hand too and bowed.


    "Greetings, titan lord Primus."


    "My greetings too fellow immortals." He replied with a quick assessment of them.


    "I believe you have already figured where youare. Yes, you are in my dominion. This mountain was my mortal self before my transformation and this plain was my dominion by right of existence. Laws of creation."


    "Please, do sit down." He indicated the mats in a semi-circle in front of him.


    "I was born a mountain from creation, with no awareness. No mind, no thoughts, no soul. But during the rapid expansion of the universe, there was so much cosmic energy that was released. This had great effect on some things, not many, but the few recieved the powering effects of the energy. Billions of years ago, with the passage of time, the effects on me started to show. I slowly started to gain awareness, started to reason. I started to ask myself questions. What i was, where i was and why i was. Gradually, i began to understand. Gradually, i became i sentient being."


    He temporarily stopped. Looked from one face to the other before continuing.


    "After gaining awareness, i continued to absorb the energy. Billions of years later, i realized i could transform into a mortal form. This was my immortal attainment. Titans have their own way to eternal life, it takes longer time and it''s very difficult but we do have titan sovereigns, titans who have reached eternity. We don''t cultivate like you do and we don''t attune to elemental affinities like you either, we are already elementals. But we do meditate to gain soul enlightenment. The more the meditation, the more the awareness. The more the awareness, the more advancement towards eternity."


    He rummaged through some information in his head.


    "Many years after the great war, a titan king entered the void looking for the pollonyx black star. A black core from the void. Why There are three kinds of ultimate cores in existence. The [trucent beryl stellar] from our universe , the [formless sapphire orb] from chaos and the [pollonyx black star] from the void. The titan king was looking for the pollonyx black star in the void. He knew there were dangers in the void and he was prepared. Unfortunately, he came across one entity he couldn''t properly describe. He said it was of pure black energy, in different forms. They fought for a long time but he couldn''t do much damage to it. He managed to escape with his soul''s avatar leaving his immortal body behind in the void but his soul''s avatar was gravely injured during escape. His soul''s avatar disintegrated upon entering the universe back, but not until he put the information in the memory stone. The Nefrims guarding one of the primordial gates were the one that saw him and called for the celestials since they are in charge of parading the universe checking for irregularities."


    He paused. There was a rift in the space beside him and a small golden jar of dew of heaven, a soul relaxing and nourishing elixir and six golden cups flew out from it. Automatically, the elixir was poured into the cups and they were served. After taking a drink, he continued.


    "When the celestials saw the information on the memory stone, they quickly informed the divines. The divines quickly identified it as another threat to this universe. They called it the shimmers antramental and the black energy as antrament. That was the energy that attacked you."


    This was a lot of information to process. Haider was thinking very fast. He knew atrament was from the void and the antramental was trying to kill him and his mother. Why? He knew a titan went into the void and died on coming back. Did he even find the core?What were the cores for?He had so many questions to ask, he didn''t even know where to start. While delibrating on the questions.


    "Titan lord Primus, do you know why they are after us?" Asked Reena concernedly.


    "Unfortunately, i don''t know. But whatever the reason, it must be very important to them and that''s dangerously alarming."


    "But can they still come back here?"


    "Oh, they won''t. Now they must have known more powerful people are involved. I have informed the conclave in the heavenly realm, the three monarchs and Urdath, the other titan on the Yamachi continent. They would be destroyed before they even started. You have not too much cause for concern."


    Titan lord Primus sighed before glancing at Reena.


    "Lady Reena. You need to realize what you are truly capable of. You are a powerful demigod."


    "Titan lord primus, pardon me for asking this, how can we fight them?" Asked Aodh with a little bit reservation.


    "Absolute power or powerful elemental lights. The more powerful the light, the more powerful the attack on them. With that, you simply need to be more powerful. If you are, you won''t fear that in this universe. You live in the quadrant cave, don''t you? Make use of what you have." Primus said smilingly.


    They looked at him with faces full of bewilderment.


    "Senior, you know about our home?" Euanthe asked still with wide eyes and opened jaws.


    "As a matter of fact, yes. I built the place. The initial owner is a friend of mine. But he has long ascended. How do you see the place?"


    "It was a perfect place. We have been wondering about it. It is an amazing place."


    "If i don''t go into meditation seclusion or not too busy with stone smithing, can i come by to say my greetings?"


    "Yes lord Primus. We would be honored to welcome you to our home." Aodh quickly answered.


    "Please do come, titan lord Primus. As a matter of fact, we insist that you come." Euanthe quipped in expectantly.


    "Alright then. I appreciate it."


    "Thank you for saving us the other day, lord Primus."


    "Yes, thank you lord primus, if not for you, we would have all died."


    "No need to thank, i was available at the right time. It''s what i''m obligated to do anyways."


    Haider had been keeping quiet about the questions bothering him. He had been looking for opprtunity to ask lord Primus the questions. When his family were through with their questions and were preparing to leave, he decided to ask.


    "Titan lord Primus sir, i have a question sir, no, two questions sir." He bowed bending forward.


    "Oh, please go on."


    "The cores, what are they for? And did the titan find the pollonyx black star?" He asked in a respectful manner.


    "I will tell you. They are used for absolute crafting. Absolute items can be crafted from the cores. I can craft from one too. Although, there are legendary craftsmen and smith that can use two, they are extremely rare. For the three cores? None in existence as far as i''m concerned. That''s why there were not many of these cores in existence."


    With a slight pause, he slowly turned his head sideways to observe his guests.


    "As for the core the titan king went looking for, we are not quite sure. Though, he mentioned it in the information stored in the memory stone, we don''t know if he only saw it, brought it with him or lost it. But when he came through the primordial gates, there was no black star core with him. The Nefrims confirmed it. Would that be all, young master Haider? Very well then." Said titan lord Primus before turning towards lord Gaius.


    "Lord Gaius, i believe you are ready to share the pointers with me?"


    "I believe it''s the other way round, titan lord Primus. i''m here to learn from you, titan lord Primus."


    The Amynthas took their leave and riding their sword lights, quickly arrived at their home. Every one went on their work.


    Haider went to his room. He sat in lotus position, contemplating the information he had just acquired. The atrament. The cores. The titan king. The void. Only one thing he could make from all these. He needed to become stronger, very much stronger. From today onward, i would train extremely hard. How can i protect when i''m weak? He remembered his grandparents defending when the demons attacked them. How his mother sent the raging inferno destroying the demons. Lord Gaius with the Terra vortex. And the titan lord with so much power.


    He must become powerful!


    He stood up, removed his robe, folded it to one side in his room and headed towards the training area. He started practicing the trueworld bodyweight technique and the shifting heavens hand technique at the same time. They were ordinary techniques but quite efficient. He was practicing nonstop, no Chi, just the body weight. When he was feeling tired, he sat in the lotus position and switched to the soul serenity technique. After some time, he continued the training again. In the evening, he practiced the astral primal technique.


    His training was continuing in this pattern. Trueworld bodyweight and shifting hand techniques in the morning and he would practice the astral primal technique in the evening after consuming a blue crystalline. Already, his dantian was extremely large, his meridians were enlarged hugely and his Chi quantity was monstrously massive. But he continued to cultivate nonstop.


    Time was flying by as he continued to train nonstop. It was already six months when he started on this particular road. His strength had increased substantially, but it was his dantia and Chi that had almost doubled.


    It was at this time, that they recieved the visit from titan lord primus.

 10 Titan lord Primus II

    Haider had continuosly been training hard for the six months that went by. The trueworld bodyweight technique was constantly using his own body nutriments to develop his body strength. His body had gained more strength in the course of the training from the nutriments in his body from birth due to the rainbow spirit pill but he was still feeling like he was not doing anything at all. He was focusing more on building his body strength.


    The more the body strength the more the power he would have. Wouldn''t he?


    The more he trained his body, the more he trained in his martial art, the shifting heavens. Since that was the only one available from his family treasury for him to learn because it was not affiliated to any element. He had abandoned his training in sword technique, the skylight technique, for a while now. He already learnt the fundamentals of swordmanship, the moves and the stances. He was still young, besides, not that he had to be cutting people for him to breathe, anyways. He would have ample time to continue with them later.


    For now it would be his body strength.


    He was practicing one morning when titan lord Primus arrived at their place. He didn''t know of his arrival until he saw him approaching the training area with the rest of the family. His heart was racing rapidly while his brain started to process different scenarios.


    What would he say ofhis training? Wouldn''t he say too weak?


    He immediately increased the tempo of his training, while keeping an eye on them approaching. He waited for them to come closer before stopping. He hoped the titan lord would see him as doing his best in training. He quickly bowed raising his cupped hands.


    "Greetings, titan lord sir. I didn''t know you will be coming today. Forgive me for not welcoming you sir."


    "En." Lord Primus smiled with a slight shake of his head and with a glance he took in the whole area.


    "I was coming from a place and being on the same route, i decided to check on everybody here. Nothing there to forgive. It''s you who shouldn''t mind me disrupting your training."


    "Nothing for me to mind about sir. It''s a big honor having you here." Haider again bowed low.


    "Hm, alright then, if you say so. I saw your training and i have to say i''m really impressed. You are really training hard. And your body strength is miles ahead of your age. Truly remarkable. That technique, would be the bodyweight technique. Right?"


    "Yes, titan lord sir."


    "Mountain titans naturally have innate abilities similar to your technique methods. Although it''s the reverse of your techniques. Our bodies naturally comes with massive weight, therefore, we gradually transfer the massive weight into massive strength for our nascent soul''s avatar. The same weight and strength but with different appearance. Now, as you can see, i''m not in a mountain form but a human form and, with the same strength."


    He knitted his brows together in thoughts for some seconds.


    "For you it''s a bit different. You are a human mortal. You don''t have any physicallyhuge source the weight for your body to transfer. But, that''s where your blood comes in. As human, you have blood that contains nutrients. This you will transfer outside. If you have no nutrients in your blood, you transfer nothing outside. This is different from Chi in your dantian. The Chi in your dantian is your life force, your life essence. The Chi is for your soul to be able to reach eternity. Although, you can use it to fortify your body strength or to infuse into objects, it''s only when you need it. And the strength will revert when you stop the Chi flow or you run out of it. It''s temporary. For your strength to be parmanent, you have to use the nutrients in your blood.."


    He looked thoughtfully at Haider before continuing.


    "First, Let me show you all the method the best i can, the rest will be on you."


    He spent some minutes showing them how his ability works and how they can reverse it to work for them. They quickly grasped the concept of it as they practiced it a bit further.


    They all expressed their deep appreciation.


    Lord Primus noted their gratitudes and nodded in reply. He turned towards the pond and smiled.


    "Fortunately for you, you have the pond."


    He turned to look at their surprised faces. He was grinning widely.


    "The pond?"


    "What pond?"


    "Lord Primus, please forgive us for not understanding. But how are we fortunate to have the pond?" Aodh asked after recovering a bit from the effect of the words.


    "Oh, so you don''t really know about the pond. How about that? Well, won''t be your fault. There''s divination arrays on the pond, divine sense or spiritual sense can''t see anything inside the pond. Unless, you are a truegod or celestial. It will just be like a plain pond. Let''s check it out together then."


    Primus turned and started walking towards the pond with everyone of the Amynthas family following him. Reaching the pond area, he stood at the edge of it and whirled around to face them.


    "The Artham pond. The water is a natural elixir, a body and soul nutritioner."


    He paused, still enjoying the looks on their faces.


    "The main treasures are at the bottom of the pond. The yellow-white transparent lilies and the white-striped armoured turtles. The yellow-white lilies have leaves, flowers and tubers that can all be eaten raw or cooked if you prefer. Mind the turtles though, they can be difficult but nothing you can''t handle. They are delicacies for humans and a true source of body strength."


    Despite the pond being deep, lord Primus reached into the pond and removed a stem of a yellow-white lily. He removed a flower, put in his mouth and started to chew. He offered the remaining flowers to them to try.


    Haider could feel the tingling effect inside his body. This felt like a dream to him. He was thinking about how to truly develop his body strength.


    Now this?


    It was simply too much for him to contain. He raised his head up to the sky and felt his eyes welled up. These were the food his body had been asking for. He didn''t know the time he spoke.


    "Thank you titan lord sir."


    Seeing the effect on him and hearing his words, lord Primus decided it was time to let the family be. He changed the topic as he moved away from the pond.


    "I will take my leave now, there are some important things i need to take care of."


    "We promised you our hospitality lord Primus, please come and dine with us." Euanthe said expectantly.


    "True, i think i can do that. Don''t mind the trouble then." He replied with a soft smile.


    Lord Primus joined the family to dine. They talked about how excellent the food was, food varieties, farming and others. Moments later, lord Primus took his leave. They all started to talk at once.


    "I can''t believe the pond was actually a treasure."


    "No wonder the pond area was always calming and relaxing the soul. It was actually magical."


    "This place is more amazing than we thought."


    Aodh changed his robe and together with the rest, went back to the pond. He went into the water and searched the pond floor. There were many giant white-striped turtles furrowed deep into pond floor. He went for the one closer, he remembered titan lord''s words, thus he was very cautious. He found out the reason for that when he realized that the turtle was a snapping turtle with armored teeth. For him. It was no threat. He took the turtle and some Yellow-white lilies. After going back, Euanthe and Reena went to work on the turtle and the plants with their tubers preparing a meal out of them.


    Haider, after eating the prepared meal felt his body was undergoing drastic changes. Feeling sleepy, he decided to go inside his room to rest. Lying in bed, he immediately fell asleep.


    He dreamt of a wprld, a world full of water. He was sleeping in a bed of cloud floating in the sky and below him, the world was filled with turbulent water. Suddenly, there were sounds of thunder that seemed were coming from all around him. He dreamt of himself startled awake from his sleep. As he blinked his eyes open, he saw, rising from the water, was a beast, the devonian armored fish. Above it was a raging gigantic cloud emitting thunder and lightning. The devonian armored fish was looking up at the raging cloud with burning defiance. The cloud was gathering more strength, thundering more loudly and lightning bolts as thick as a giant''s torso started streaking down, striking the devonian armored turtle, but the armored turtle just continued to look on with a deadpan face. It was not even bothered when they hit its body, they had no effect on its body. It continued loooking at the raging cloud with complete defiance.


    The cloud started to spiral. It gained so much momentum that it formed a vortex of typhoon over the armored turtle. The lightning bolts started to combine together to form a single lightning bolt. The turtle''s armored shell started to radiate golden light, the golden light proceeded to gain in brilliance and soon became an epic fortress of golden light. The single lightning bolt began to gather the energies of the heavens, it was an enormous pillar of bolt, the type that had the might to disintegrate worlds. It streaked down causing colossal spatial rifts and struck the armored turtle.


    There was a deafening sound , with impact that caused gigantic water waves and the lightning created an aurorablinding blue-white light. The surface of the water was turned into a steaming fury.


    It took several hours for a little normalcy to return.


    The devonian armored turtle, raised its head, looked at the cloud and shook its head.


    "Is that the best you have to show, Fotios?


    The turtle squeezed its eyes shut, contemplated in his head.


    How long do you plan doing this, Fotios?"


    "As long as it takes, Zothikos." Fotios, a terrifyingly massive wyvern emerged from the cloud.


    "Stop wasting my time, Fotios. After a billion years, still, you are no match for me. I don''t even need to strike you. Go away, you can try to find something good to do. It will do you good."


    The armored turtle turned away from the cloud, about to return to his place at the depth of the turbulent water.


    "Don''t you dare turn your back on me, Zothikos."


    "Or what? Strike me with lightning? Pfff, go away. I have important things to do."


    "Important things? Like sleep? Mhm, important your head."


    The cloud started to rage again, gathering in strength. The devonian armored turtle, with a great bellow, spiraled out of the water, instantly creating two vortexes of water and golden light. The vortexes combined and compressed into a disc of tranluscent gold light that was speeding in the direction of the cloud.


    "The divine sphere?


    Fotios shouted with wide alarmed eyes. It quickly retreated back into the cloud and used its defensive items. At the same time, it took out the ''heavens fetter seal'', a one time life saving seal and activated it.


    When the disc neared the cloud, it exploded into a massive wave motion attack. The collision knocked the cloud several meters further back into the sky and the surface of the water was in turbulent waves.


    "You foolish turtle! You want to kill me! I will be back for you, you stupid useless turtle." Fotios voice boomed out from the cloud as he sped away from the area.


    "How is that my fault?Every time you always disturb my peace. Why come here looking for a fight when you are not strong enough?


    The turtle shrugged and went back into the water.


    Haider woke up from his sleep one hour later.


    This dream. He remembered clearly. But, why armored turtle? Couldn''t it be about yellow fish? Dreams, you just couldn''t understand them.


    He stretched, his body felt different. He felt his body teeming with energised strength. With a broad smile on his face, he went to the training area. He started training in the method the titan lord showed them. He could feel the difference in his body. He had great strength and strong body before, but since eating the meal and practicing the new method, his body was getting stronger and his strength growing more powerful.


    Every member of the family recieved the same effect on their bodies from the meal, though none of them dreamt of the armored turtle and the cloud wyvern.


    It quickly became a routine, Haider would wake up in the morning, chewed some lily flowers and tubers, used the new method to train his body, trained in martial arts using the shifting heavens and sky light techniques, eat his meal with some turtle meat, cultivate using the astral primal technique and would sleep meditating using the soul serenity.

 11 The Crystal Pagoda

    Haider had been training for two years, two good years of hard training, following a set of ways that gradually became his routine. His body strength and power had grown beyond measurable for his age and level of cultivation. Without the use of Chi, his strength far surpassed that of a cultivator of the Zhuji stage.


    How could a child of ten years old, of Lianchi stage, have the strength of a grown adult?


    This knowledge had to be preserved. There were things that must be kept quiet, there were many people that would cause him troubles justfor the awareness of it. One of the reasons why people always kept their silence.


    The most alarming was his spiritual aura. Although he didn''t have divine aura because he wasn''t born a divine neither was he a divine being, his spiritual aura was still imposing for his age. The energy coming off his body was tremendous for his level.


    The level of Chi in his dantian was of high amount. He had not been using Chi in his training, yet, the amount of Chi he was absorbing daily was terrifying for his age.


    He couldn''t have asked for a better cultivation method. The astral manuscript was indeed a divine treasure or what other reason could be for it being so powerful.


    The continous effect of the astral primal technique on him had been tremendous. It really amazed him that he could feel his own dantian and meridians expanding. He could also feel a vast amount of Chi flow through his own meridians whenever he circulated Chi in his body. It was even significantly different from two years ago. Indeed, the technique had further enlarged his dantian and meridians. He would have been worried about these developments but he had calmed down after assurance from his mother and grandparents. They were born into the family lineage of cultivators using the astral primal technique, thus, they knew everything about it.


    Still, it felt to him like the phase of his Chi cultivation was a bit more than average. It scares him a bit.


    In the space of two years, he had advanced to the middle stage of Chi refining, although advancement at the early stages were faster naturally. True immortal cultivation would start from the Zhuji, the foundation stage. From there, advancement would be much more slower and would require enlightenment, insight into the universal existence. In the mortal plane, for many cultivators, it could take hundreds of years to millions of years to advance from an early stage to middle stage of Zhuji. The most difficult was the completion of the nascent soul formation, it could take several millions of years.


    From ascension stage, the Shenxian stage, that was the stage of the myths. From the early stage of Shenxian to middle stage could take hundreds of millions of years to billions of years.


    Creation really had a stronghold on godhood.


    Although he was happily thinking about his cultivation, his mind had been greatly worried lately.


    He was worried about his mother. He knew his mother had things bothering her lately. He couldn''t say exactly what they were, but it was starting to worry him too.


    Would it be the rite of judgement? Or, the fact that we are target of the daemons''attack? It could even be something else.


    He was also worried about himself too. Unlike other kids, he had neither friends nor foes. Then, the thoughts of the daemons quickly crossed his mind which caused him to recoil a bit. He truly had bad foes. Mortal foes for that matter, foes who wanted him dead!


    Whoa. What kind of world would the very life of a child be in mortal danger ? Marked for death? Insanity.


    He had discussed with his mother and grandparents about him joining a sect, a learning school where he would be able to associate with kids from other places. They too had already thought about the same thing and had agreed with him. It would be a great experience for him to see the bigger outside worldIt would be a great pportunity for him to have friends for once and he would also be able to gain more knowledge more knowledge. He remembered the words of the titan lord which he had been keeping in his memory.


    "knowledge is the key to true power, learning and opening of the heart to knowledge gained is the foundation of true power."


    On a very beautiful and bright day, Haider woke up as before and after washing his face, he went to the training ground to train in martial art. He had finished mastering the basics of the shifting heavens hand technique. Although it was a simple technique, it''s efficient enough in combat. He decided to resume his sword technique training, the mystical art of skylight technique. With weapons, mystical art is the pinnacle. All mystical arts are affiliated with the elements therefore cultivators must be attuned to the elements to use mystical. A weapon without mystical arts is of little or no use.


    He started training the sword technique, he was on the first level of the technique, sundering heavens. He tried to focus his mind on the training, but his mind keeps wandering. He made the decision to let his mind wander freely. With his mind not on his traning, thoughts so occupied. He didn''t noticed when the edge of the the sword nicked one of his left finger, but because his body was so strong, it took some time for traces of blood to show.


    When he finished his sword training, he left for the cultivation chamber.


    He needed to calm his is mind. The raging thoughts in his mind were distractions to him.


    How could he find peace in his heart?


    He arrived to find his mother in the cultivation chamber deep in cultivation. Looking at his mother''s face, he could see worry on his mother''s face. He didn''t want to disturb her, hence, he decided to cultivate in his room. Inside his room, he sat cross-legged and started breathing in and out using the soul serenity method. His mind started to calm down and he closed his eyes to meditate. He suddenly remembered the crystal pagoda, his grandmother had said it was good for meditation. He took out the pagoda and placed on the floor in front of him. Adjusting the position of the pagoda with his left hand, he didn''t see the trace of blood that touched the pagoda. Yet, he felt a tingle in his hand which he casually shrugged off. He sat in a lotus position, closed his eyes and started to meditate.


    He didn''t know when he fell into a trance. The pagoda started to give off a faint glow, still in trance, he reached out his hand. He touched the pahoda and he simply vanished.


    He must be dreaming after falling asleep. Or not? Should be dreams.


    He looked around him, the place seemed familiar yet very strange.


    He had seen this place before in his dreams, the sparkling gates, the runic gateway. He had been here before. How he wanted to take a peek inside the gate and now, he wasn''t keen on the idea.


    "What is this place?"


    "The childling is back again."


    "Who''s there?" Haider asked in a quivering voice.


    "Oh. The crystal mark. That changes everything."


    "Please, who are you? where am i?"


    "You do have the crystal mark, that can only mean one thing. Mhm, that you are the holder of this gateway. Under this condition, necessity is placed upon me to attend to you, childling." Sighed the voice.


    With a shrilling sound, a figure appeared in front of him. A frail old man, of average height, wearing a white robe of distorting ripples.


    "My name is Hypatios. The keeper of this crystal gates to the planes of existence. I''m one of the ten Ouranias, the keepers of the gates to all planes."


    Haider, lost for words, glanced nervously at the gatekeeper.


    "The gateways were created at the begining of creation and we were created to watch and guide them. The gateways are our domain, that''s why we have absolute power over them. No one can cross into any plane without the right of passage. It''s very important that we do so.This is because, the gateways are direct passages to all the planes of creation. It leads to twelve planes of existence. There are four planes in this universe, two planes in the primordial chaos and one known as the conjecture, the place where the paths of all entities from the three existence meet. This gateway is one of the passages to all of them."


    "Senior, the planes of existence? Am i dreaming?"


    "It depends on the perspective of it. If you are talking about this place being a dream place to be, i believe it is. Entities from all over existence would be happy to be here, i guess. There is benefit of travelling around, may sound great to you. Other benefits out there if you are strong enough to take them. But, if you are talking about you having a dream of this place right now, then the answer is no. This place is very real."


    "Senior, forgive me. How did i get here? This must be a mistake."


    "You have the mark of the pagoda, which can only happen if you have been accepted by the pagoda. A gateway can be activated by the holder through his will or to a new holder by trance, as in your case. You unconsciously activated the pangoda when you were in trance and you entered the door to appear here. Maybe a mistake, maybe not, i don''t make the choices for people, i only make sure there''s law and order in the use of this gateway. Anyway, after today you won''t be able to come here through trance anymore."


    When Hypatios saw that Haider was speechless, he continued.


    "You see, these gateways were created differently. There are many gateways in existence that connects one plane to another, but there were fewer numbers of gateways connecting all planes. There are ten in the whole existence. This one had been holderless until now."


    "Senior, Is this like a portal?"


    "It is like a portal, but there''s no portal like these gateways. These gateways work differently from portals. Unlike portals, they don''t need arrays or formations to work. There''s no need for the worries of getting lost due to destination alignments, you get to where you are going and back, if you dont die before coming back. And we, the gatekeepers are always here to maintain order. Can you see the difference now?" Hypathos smiling asked.


    "Yes, senior. I can see it." Haider replied. He was still lost in the moment.


    "There are worlds out there, worlds without numbers, both major and minor worlds. Planes to see. But you are not strong enough yet, you must wait until you are much more stronger to survive out there before you attempt any use of the gateway."


    "Thank you senior, i will remember that." Haider bowed towards Hypathos


    "And remember this too, others will desire what you have if they know you have such a treasure. How you do it, is left for you."


    "I will, senior. Many thanks. Senior, if i want to go back, what do i do?"


    "You can''t go back on your own for now, i will send you out this time. You won''t be able to come in through the trance anymore, you will have to enter through the doors. Not to worry, once you are strong enough to power the pagoda, a door will appear that leads to my place and when you are through, you will leave through the same door. When you can power the pagoda to open a door, then you will be strong enough to see the worlds out there. Here is thetoken of authority as the holder of this gateway. It''s the right of passage."


    "Thank you senior, it''s an honor to have met you." Haider was having thoughts of waking up later to find all these are a dream.


    Oh, how much he really wanted to wake up now.


    "Farewell childling."


    Moments later, Haider found himself in his room. He was relieved after confirming he was really in his room. He was about to collapse in his bed for a deserving sleep when he noticed that the pagoda was still radiating a faint light. Remembering the encounter with the senior, he quickly checked and found the token he had hidden in his robe. Suddenly, he felt very light-headed.


    It wasn''t a dream. The whole encounter was real. That means the pagoda was really a gateway. This made him happy and frightened at the same time. The thought of having such a means frightened him


    Why was he even happy? To see other places? Maybe. Why would he even wanted to see other places? To be food for demons? No way. No, he wasn''t that happy but frightened. Who knows what is out there? He might even find himselfin the void mistakenly. I''m fine here, thank you.


    He decided he didn''t need to disturb his mother and grandparents about his encounters for the time being. He went back to sleep, it was still a long time till day break. He immediately fell asleep.


    "ZOTHIKOS! Come out and face me!" Bellowed the voice of the wyvern out of the cloud.


    "Do you think you can threaten me with some useless moves? Come out. I will sit on your stupid ugly face andtrample your more stupid and ugly body. You stupid turtle."


    Fotios was raging furiously in the cloud. He was here to finally put the turtle in his place which is, under his arse.


    "Zothikos! Where are you? Show your stupid face."


    "Go away Fotios." Came a deep mellowed voice in reply.


    "Show your face Zothikos, i''m up here waiting."


    "What do you want, Fotios? Why are you disturbing my peace?"


    "Come out and find out for yourself, Zothikos."


    Zothikos slowly rose from the water sending ripples down the surface of the water. His gravely eyes set on the wyvern in a silent fury.


    "Aha, finally, the turtle raised his ugly head. Zothikos, give me what is rightfully mine and we can avoid any unnecessary fight over it."


    "If it is yours, how come i have it? Doesn''t that make it mine, Fotios?"


    "You stupid turtle, if you don''t hand it over then don''t blame me for what happens next."


    He finally had the chance to get his revenge on the stupid turtle. Five hundred million years it took him to prepare for this day, it was time to show the ugly turtle what true power means.


    He took out a seal, the cosmic void rift and activated it. The destructive power of the seal was so terrifying that its use was forbidden in the universe. The seal was last use during the great war and was one of the items that ended the war.


    "What are you doing, Fotios?" Shouted Zothikos with wide frightened eyes.


    "What i''m doing? Can''t you see? I''m trying to kill you. Why is it so hard for you to see?"


    "Are you insane? You used a forbidden seal! It will destroy everything here."


    "Oh yes it will. Oh, how wonderful will it be to finally sit on what remains of your ugly head, Zothikos. Good bye my friend."


    Fotios took out another seal, the greater teleportation seal that could be used to move from one world to another. He activated the seal but he didn''t teleported, he checked again nothing. He used another one, the same result.


    "What''s happening?" Fotios asked in alarmed voice.


    "If the place was to be destroyed, you are not going anywhere too. That was the heavens on earth pentogram technique. Yes, it was a forbidden technique, my old friend."


    "Noooo. You stupid turtle. I will kill you."


    Zothikos smiled as he was looking at the raging wyvern. Lonely life, miserable life, all coming to an end. His soul willbe free from it all.


    Haider woke up with a terrifying feeling. Another dream vivid and intense dream of the turtle and wyvern.


    What are they? Sacred beasts, divine beasts or even primordial beasts? If i even know what any of them looked like.


    Calming himself down. He washed his face and headed towards the training ground.

 12 Rite of Judgemen

    Reena had been on the training ground since early morning practicing the beasts inferno technique with her parents. Since they all practiced the same fire technique though with different beast manifestations, it was much easier for them to practice together. Except for Haider, who was not fire affiliated, but still watched their training. They had been engaging in mock combats for two years.


    It was already two years ago they had the visit of the titan lord. He had told Reena during the visit about her true nature. Reena knew she was already Asura because she has reached the demigod stage, she had formed her nascent soul. But, she wasn''t expecting what the tittan lord told her, she recalled clearly.


    "Lady Reena, it''s true we met not long ago. But i see you as someone i know for ages, that''s why it seems i''m taking you as a long lost relative, if you don''t mind."


    "Well, i don''t have many relative in the first place. So, it''s welcomed by me and besides, who will turn down being a relative of a titan lord. Totally good by me." She had replied.


    She could feel trustworthiness and honesty in him. And since saving their lives, he deserved the trust in him.


    "Mhm. That''s settled then. Now, let me ask you this, what do you know about yourself?"


    "What about myself, lord Primus?"


    "Just call me uncle Primus, Reena."


    "What do you know about yourself becoming a demigod? Anything you know?"


    "I know demigod is a stage one reach after forming a nascent soul before ascension. Isn''t it, uncle Primus? And i formed my nascent soul some ten years ago."


    "Indeed. And i''m very proud of you. Your divine powers, did they manifest before you became a demigod?"


    "Yes. Since i was in evanesce core stage."


    "Please allow me to do a little confirmation."


    "What confirmation, uncle Primus?"


    "I will tell you in a moment, be patient,Reena."


    He had taken out a small talisman and after activating it, had burst out golden light.


    "Mhm. As i thought. Your nimbus light is gold. You were born a demigod and yes, you were already a demigod when you started cultivation. Even without cultivating, you would have still become a demigod. Cultivation simply made it faster.But you didn''t know all this. That''s a bit strange but not impossible. It doesn''t really matter anyway, but being a born demigod, there is something important for you to do."


    He had looked at her with a trace of pity. "Do you know about the rite of judgement?"


    "The rite for the true demigods, yes i do know of it."


    "It''s a rite you need to undergo. Every true demigod will awaken their divine self after passing the rite of jugement. As you are aware there''s no harm in the rite for a demigod, just a little test which you can stop at anytime. It''s a creation''s trial to see if a demigod truly deserves the divine powers of becoming a deity. If you pass the trials, you will have divine awakening, your divine powers will truly come to fore. But if you fail, you will never have true divine powers when you become a god. You will only keep the level of divine powers you have. trial here''s no harm in it. But, its better to do it before ascension. If you ascend before awakening your divine self, your godhood divinity foundation will be shaky. Think about it, will you?"


    "I will, uncle Primus. Thank you."


    She had immediately discussed it with her family. At first they had expressed concern about the whole rite thing but they eventually concluded that if Reena was fine with it, they were too. It was her decision to make. But since there was no harm in doing it, it was manageably agreeable by them. She had finally decided to pass through the rite.


    If uncle Primus believed it was important for her, she would trust him on it. But she was not in a rush yet.


    Snapping back to the present. Reena nodded to herself. She would be taking the rite in a month''s time. She had been preparing for it for the past two years, she would be ready for it by then. She looked at her parents and her son, who was training on his own by the side, and she wondered about her ascension that was still far away.


    What if she ascended sooner than she anticipated? Who will take care of her family? And if she refuse ascension, she would not be able to ascend to the heavenly realm in the future. For her family, she wouldn''t mind staying in a mortal world, but what if her family members ascended, especially her son. She won''t be able to follow to the heavenly realm, that would be heart-wrenching.


    She would decide when the time comes.


    For now, she had to give everything to truly be stronger to be able to protect her family.


    She went into the cultivation chamber to meditate, inner peace was needed.


    Two months later, Reena was ready for the rite of judgement.


    She either be stronger or weaker and she chose to be stronger.


    She could directly communicate with titan lord Primus through the communication stones. Her family members had followed her also to give encouragement.


    After meeting lord Primus


    "Reena, as i said before, since you are a fire element affiliate, your rite of judgement would be at the valley of gods. There are three phases to the rite. Who you are in this universe [Manifestation], where you are in the universe[Discovery] and why you are here in this universe [Existence]. They will test your strength, metality and spirituality. But, you are much more stronger than you look. Look inside yourself, you have much strength in there."


    "Thank you uncle Primus."


    Lord Primus activated the portal to the valley of gods. He went with Reena leaving Haider with his grandparents waiting patiently in the cave.


    This was the first time Reena had left her home world and journeyed to a different place entirely. She had never even used a portal before. The sensation of using a portal was a bit intimidating at first but she instantly grew into it, it was just like taking a step with a blast of warm air to the face.


    They exited to a place of true magical and landscape masterpiece. There were magic colors everywhere from white to gold to rainbow colors. Statuesque formations sculpted from Lucid whitestone from the Primordial era, billions of years ago lined the valley. The whitestone was carved into the unique statues of gods holding different weapons, giant monoliths and mighty pinnacles. And at the center was the massive whitestone hallway.


    The valley of gods.


    "We are here, Reena. Behold! The valley of the gods."


    Reena was lost for words. The scenery was truly a beauty to behold. And for a moment she forgot about her up-coming rite. She continued to take the whole place in without any disturbance from lord Primus who only continued smiling.


    After some time has passed, lord Primus pointed to the long building of whitestone at the middle.


    "Tha''s the judgement hallway. You will enter at the front and exit at the back. I will be at the back waiting for you."


    Reena after regaining herself, proceeded towards the hallway. Halfway forward, she glanced back at the titan lord.


    "Don''t worry Reena. Everything is all good."


    Reena gave a confirmation nod and continued forward. When she reached the entrance, Reena felt a tinge of apprehension. She looked at the massive white entrance, took a deep breath and entered the hallway.


    The moment she entered the hallway, the whole place turned eerie.


    "We know who you are, Reena Amynthas." A loud voice boomed in the hallway, a deafening sound. A pause before the voice continued.


    "But do you?"


    The god''s statues in the hallway started to come to life. The statues had their strength reduced to that of an early stage demigod but with the fighting skills of a late stage demigod. The statues holding different weapons were staring at Reena with bright golden eyes.


    "Reena Amynthas, please step forward. All you have to do is to pass through this passage to the exit at the other end. And of course, if you depleted that you can''t carry on, just say ''demigod'' and everything will stop and return back to normal. No harm done. Please proceed."


    Reena sorrounded herself with pillars of fire. She took out her sword made from the tail feather of a primordial phoenix and prepared the third level of the phoenix inferno, the phoenix vortex. She launched the attack immediately she stepped over the line. Huge spiraling vortex of flaming phoenixes expanded in high speed towards the watching gods. The moment the attack was launched, all the gods launchedtheir own defensive techniques. Pillars of fire. The attack nocked them back a few steps but relatively no harm done.


    Fire element gods.


    They came at her like a blur causing her to be blocking so fast she became a blur too. So many of them, she had recieved many cuts from their attack but she had managed to ward them off. They raised their weapons which started to glow bright blue and pointed them at her. A massive fire attack in the shape of Chimera attacked Reena. The size of the fire beasts was like a hill, three heads emitting blue fire. Reena quickly responded with fire wave emission.When the Chimera collided with the wave emission, the impact was so powerful that Reena was knocked flying.


    Then they came at her again before launching the Chimera attack.


    So many gods


    Everytime she advanced towards they would push her back to the starting line. She tried to use light step to reach the exit but she was quickly cut off, same with her evasive steps.


    She had to go all out.


    She switched to her nascent soul, the avatar of a true demigod soul. Her avatar was in her white phoenix feathered armor with two large flaming wings on her back. Swinging her flaming sword in a circle, she propelled the heavenly fire emission attack. This was the fifth level of the beasts inferno technique. She hadn''t mastered it yet, to be precise, she was at the midstage, but it was her most powerful technique.


    The gods were just statues, how could they manifest soul avatars. They initiated their defensive moves but were sent flying several yards in different directions from the collision.


    "I am a true demigod."


    And with one step using the divine evasive technique, she was out of the passage but found herself in another section.


    "Reena Amynthas, yes, a true demigod. We know of you, how you are who you are. We know of your becoming. Do you?" The voice boomed out again.


    Heaviness descended on Reena the moment she entered the hallway. Everywhere around her turned dark except a spot at her front and she saw a replica of herself on the spot. The white armor, fiery wings and blazing sword. Quickly, she put her sword away.


    "Reena Amynthas. We show you something about yourself and you will tell us what you see."


    Her image fast backwarded to a cluster of billions of bright stars connected by pulsating threads. A single ray of white light entered the clusters of stars and fell upon a particular star. The star started to shine brighter than the rest, broke away from the cluster and entered a place where the stars were not just bright but blazing. The blazing stars completely ignored the dim star. It left that place and came to another where the stars were massive with blazing light. Here also, it was put aside. The star was taken from there to a place, from there it couldn''t see the clusters of stars, couldn''t see the light from the second set of stars and could only see specks of light from the third set of stars. The star looked up and billions of star clusters bigger and brighter than the last set of stars it came across.


    The star became dejected and went back the way it came. It was there for a long time staying on its own when a single ray of white light entered the cluster again. But the star was not interested in the light entering the cluster but in the direction where the ray of light came from. It left on a journey to find out the source of the light. It travelled days without end, but kept travelling. It passed the beautiful pond of yellow light, but kept going. It came to the amazing river of green light and kept going. Next it passed the mesmerizing sea of red light but didn''t stop. Going, it came across the ravaging ocean of blue light but didn''t give up.


    And one day, it came to a place where it met a tiny little star. It told the tiny little star that it was looking for a place where a single ray of light was coming from. The tiny little star told the curious star that it was its job to send out the light. But the curious star was not convinced that the tiny little star could do such a thing. Then the tiny little star showed its true might and its size covered half of the heavens. The curious star was frightened but the mighty little star told it that itself still had many stars bigger and brighter than it.


    At that point, the curious star asked itself where it really was among the stars. When the mighty little star saw the curious little star''s dejection, it said.


    "I was once like you, i had to come here to find out like yourself. For you to be here, you are deserve to be a heavenly star. Why don''t you enter and see where you can truly be."


    The star entered a mortal womb where it became a true star shining brighter than ever. The image reverted back to Reena.


    "Reena Amynthas, where are you in the universe?"


    "I am here with you." Reena with eyes full of tears, answered.


    "Hahaha. Clever, very clever. Where the universe put you yet more with us. You may proceed."


    Reena exited the place only to find herself outside at the entrance to the valley of gods.


    The voice then asked her.


    "Reena Amynthas. Why are you here in the valley of the gods?"


    "I want to be a heavenly demigod."


    "Your wish is in the hand of the universe, Reena Amynthas.


    A light of thousand colors descended on Reena.


    "This is the light of manifestation. The universe gift to you, Reena Amynthas. You may leave now."


    Reena found herself back in the hallway and left through the last exit. Lord Primus was waiting.


    Lord Primus was really proud of her. He was beaming with smiles, sometimes grinning or laughing.


    "Let''s go home Reena, let''s go home."

 13 A Delightful Day

    Since returning from the valley of gods, Reena had changed drastically. The power of her newly acquired divine aura[energy released from the body] had become overpowering if not masked, showcasing the increase in her level of power. It was an heavenly advancement of her demigod aura. She could generate divine force from her aura and release the force through divine body blasts. She could cause great damage through the use of the divine force alone without using element of fire.


    A glimpse of full godhood


    And her divine evasion? She no longer needed to switch to her nascent soul, divine avatar, to use teleportation. She could directly use her human body to teleport over an area of tens of millions square kilometers in size in the likeness of Ankhora continent, without leaving a trace behind, unless the one tracing it was another divine demigod or a daemon king and above.


    But the best part of her universal gift was the newly acquired glimpse of divine sight. She could see the presence of all spirit beings and their actions in the area of fifty million square kilometers around her, half the size of Ankhora continent.


    Haider looked at her mother in full delight.


    His mother had become a legendary figure just like his newly acquired uncle. Now, he wouldn''t need to worry about things that much, only thing in his mind now was making friends. Not that he was weird or strange, he sees and greets kids like himself whenever he went to the village market. The thing was that, his mother and grandparents prevented him from having any close friends and since they too didn''t associate with anybody in the village apart from the village headman and lord Gaius on village duty, he didn''t worry about it much. He had concentrated on his cultivation.


    But, after the attack on them at the lunar plain, they had told him the reasons for them keeping to themselves and asking him to do the same.


    They were from the White fountain village on the Xuanpu continent. It was a small village but the people had lived peacefully and in harmony. The clans were hardly differentiable, they had interwoven through their family ties of marriages.


    But one day, they were attacked by demon fiends with shimmering black energy, that entered through a portal that suddenly opened. The energy they now knew as atrament.


    Majority of the villagers had died including his father. They had seen him fighting the demons and amidst the envelope of black energy, they didn''t see him again. They couldn''t find any traces of him or his corpse, even Reena could no longer connect to him. They knew of attacks that could disintegrate a body into vapour or ashes, maybe the black energy was one of them but they didn''t want to accept that. They had searched everywhere for him, maybe there was a shine to find him but all to no avail. which made them concluded that he was killed too.


    They had been wondering about what happened and why it did when their village headman and the two nascent soul elders appeared at their residence. One of the elders had a divine beast, an abyssinian cat, one of the extremely rare divine beasts that had innate divination. The cat had made it known to the elder the very cause of the attack, the Amynthas, the demons attacked the village because of them, with the name of their daughter on the demons'' death list.


    The Amynthas, upon hearing these words decided to leave what remains of the village behind and moved to another continent. After searching, they found this quiet place to live and farm, they had shunned all associate with the people of the village because of the fear of the demon''s finding out their whereabouts. They even had to use their ancestral defensive arrays.


    And they had been successful until recently when they were attacked by the daemon kings at the lunar plains.


    How they found out where and when to get them baffled them. Since a quiet life provided no assurance to a secured life, they had told Haider of the whole situation. They no longer needed to live a quite life if they didn''t want to, they had the protection of the more powerful entities, hence they had told Haider he could make friends. It no longer mattered how they lived.


    When Haider was recieving all this information, he was having some enlightenment too. He couldn''t totally lay his hand on it, but there was something in it, he could almost taste it. It made him took the information in strides without experiencing the tragic emotion of loosing someone. He was actually having inner peace, the feeling that things would come to be. He needed to trust his childling instict, whatever that was, thus he pushed his father''s thought to the back of his mind.


    Looking at how his young life has panned out so far, he really felt content.


    He had spent his years, ten good years, cultivating and practicing martial arts. He had everything he needed growing up. His loving family, the blue crystalline, the delicious magical beasts, he had them all. How could he not appreciate them? But now, he needs to make friends or learn how to make friends. FRIENDS! Stuff of legends. When he made friends, he would become a legend of his own.


    His face lit up in smile. It was time for him to take a walk though the village.


    His mother saw him approaching and waved him over.


    "Can you hold this for me?" She handed him a large empty granite jar as she prepared to milk one of the goats.


    "Yes mother."


    "What brings you, my son? And don''t tell me it''s nothing."


    "Mother, i was thinking, maybe i can take the milk to the market today. You know mother that i''ve been following you before. So, maybe i should try today by myself"


    "I think that will be very good of you. Then, let''s finish milking the goats so you can be on your way."


    They continued milking the goats. Reena knew her son just wanted to take a walk in the village but must be a bit nervous. She understood that but wasn''t worried about Haider going alone to the market. She could monitor his movement anywhere in the village with her divine sight and if there''s any problem, she could be there in a fraction of a second. She was also very sure that uncle Primus was also monitoring the entire area.


    They quickly finished with the goats, makIng two large jars filled with milk. They packed the two jars into the back basket and Haider carrying the basket on his back left for the market.


    He was a very strong boy by the standard of an adult cultivator, but much stronger than they could even imagine. How could they even believe his nature as human if they see his full strength. He comfortably carried the large basket of jars of milk on his back as he smilingly hummed to himself enjoying the scenery of the landscape beauty.


    It was quite a walk to the market since their cave house was at the extreme end of village outskirt. And due to the location of the market in the village, he had to walk a bit longer with more road turns heading towards the market.


    He was turning the road that entered the village when he noticed a boy of his own age staring at something on the floor with teary eyes and at the same time trying to scoop something off the floor. Haider was a bit cautious but steadily approached since it was the same road leading to the market.


    Instinctly, he uttered some words of greeting.


    Who knows who or what he is? Better to say something before reaching him to know if he would stay or quickly run.


    "Uhm, Hello there."


    The boy just kept on looking at the thing on the floor without paying any attention. As Haider was getting much closer, he disvovered that the thing on the floor was a broken jar. Looking, more closely, he realized that the thing on the floor was honey. It was honey from the broken jar on the floor, the bottom half of the jar was in pieces.


    "Hello there, is that yours?" Haider asked as he was almost by the boy''s slde.


    This time, the boy raised his head to look at him and nodded.


    "My name is Haider. May i ask how you come by a broken jar of honey?"


    "We-..... we collect wasp... honey....to sell. Myy mother was sick, so my father was attendingto her and..... they asked me to collect it. Now look at it."


    "How much do you sell a jar, if i may ask again?


    "Five gold coins."


    "Alright then, i will pay for it. No need to worry yourself to death."


    "Really? You will?"


    "Yes i will. Here, have it. Five gold coins as requested." Haider removed five gold coins from his savings of ten gold coins.


    "Than- thank you. Thank you." He stuttered for words, not quite believing what was happening.


    "My name is Klotho. Thank you for this favor. I won''t forget this." He said happily as he hurried off.


    "You don''t need to worry about that, Klotho." Haider shouted gently at his back.


    It wasn''t that easy to make friends and not too hard trying to make friends. As he walked along the major road towards the market, sometimes he would wave or say hello. He delivered the milk to the merchant who paid in gold and he left the market place.


    He reached home later in the afternoon feeling satisfied. He had been in a good mood since morning and he had been happy since coming back from the market. His mother and grandparents didn''t want to ask him about it, they just went along with it.


    He went to the quietly peaceful pond area to train his sword mystical art, the skylight. There were four stages to this technique.


    The first one was the sundering heavens.


    The second one was the ethereal world.


    The third one was the fey radiance.


    The fourth one was the skylight.


    He was still at the first level of skylight, the sundering heavens. This level involved drawing in the heavenly lights and compressing them to form the golden yellow light. Releasing this golden yellow light will bring the wrath of heavens in the form of rains of golden yellow sword light.


    He sat by the pool and was about to close his eyes to meditate with the soul serenity technique when he noticed the movement of the gentle wave ripples on the pond surface caused by a butterfly. Several wavefronts were approaching the stone arc at the edge of the pond, upon reflection off the stone arc at the edge of the pond, the water waves changed direction and headed towards a point. It was as if all the energy being carried by the water waves was converged at a single focal point. After passing through the focal point, the waves spread out through the water.


    This was a total comprehensive insight.


    He closed his eyes, calmed his mind with soul serenity and started to dwell on the insight from the wave ripples. Two hours later, he had discovered the secret of the sundering heavens.


    "YES." He shouted with his fist in the air.


    He went to the training area to test out the sundering heavens. He took one of the bronze sword and performed a little sundering heavens. Golden yellow sword light started falling from the sky like rains, it was really a beautiful scene. He had mastered the first stage of the skylight technique. It was turning out to be a really good day.


    His mother who had been watching him came over to congratulate him.


    "Congratulations my son. I''m truly proud of you."


    "Thank you mother. After so many years, i finally finished first stage. I still have three more to go."


    His grandparents who were working in the farm also came over to check the situation after seeing golden yellow sword light rains.


    "We saw the golden lights that''s why we came over. Is everything alright?


    "Yes father. Haider was only trying out the first stage of his skylight technique he recently mastered. It''s all good."


    "Ah, I guess it is." Euanthe glanced at her husband smilingly before focusing back on her grandson.


    "Congratulations Haider, you deserved it."


    "Thank you grandma."


    "Indeed. You deserved more than a big congratulations, this calls for a celebration, the making of a young man." Aodh grinned widely.


    They celebrated Haider''s achievement that evening with a great deal of magical delicacies.


    After the celebration, Haider went to the cultivation chamber and started cultivation using astral primal technique. His dantian and meridians had enlarged to their maximum capacity but his dantian had started to go deeper in depth. When he reached the Chi condensing stage, the ocean of Chi would be compressed into a sphere of energy preventing the leakage of Chi energy from the body.


    He popped one crystalline into his mouth, cultivated for a time before popping another one into his mouth and continued his cultivation. Nothing better than a good cultivation.


    He exited the cultivation chamber and headed towards his room smiling brightly.


    "What a great day."

 14 The Last-Sword Sec

    "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here." - Dao of the way.


    Ealier in the year, Haider had reached the age of ten. Age ten was the maximum a young cultivator must be to be successfully accepted into any major sect. They were very particular about the age because it was much more easier for the soul foundation of the young cultivator to be molded in a properly suitable way for the sect. Therefore, he could no longer delay in finding a sect.


    Haider''s grandfather, Aodh, who had been in charge of looking for a suitable sect for Haider had located the three most powerful swords sects on Terra. The Sword Saints sect on the Yamachi continent, the Infinite Sword sect on the Xuanpu continent and the Last Sword sect on the Ankhora continent.


    The most famous was the Sword Saints due to the noble and wealthy families patronizing them. The largest in number of cultivators and biggest in size among the three was the Infinite Swords. The debatably most powerful in terms of strength and manuals was the Last Sword sect. All these sword sects were backed by powerfull figures, hegemons and ancestral gods who had ascended to the heavenly realms. Even legends had it that, the Sword Saints were backed by a puregod.


    After a little discussions, the choice had been obvious, it could only be the Last Sword sect. Firstly, It was located on the same continent they live, with great reputation as a powerful sect. Secondly, they wanted somewhere closer to home, where they could reach quickly. Decision had been made, it would be the Last Sword sect.


    Haider woke up very early. The day had finally arrived. It was the day for young cultivators to undergo trials for sect admission.


    He cleaned his mouth with the willow twig before chewing some mint leaves, washed his body and put on his new robe. He quickly joined his family for breakfast, they would be accompanying him to the place.


    They had been told that it would be a single day trial.


    They arrived on time to see the entrance full of young cultivators seeking admission. Lots of cultivators had left by the look of things and thousands were still arriving. Kids were coming from different parts of the world, majority from the same continent of Ankhora. Obviously, Ankhora was a big continent, second only to Xuanpu in size. It had more than five billion people, of which hundreds of millions were general cultivators, but majority of these numbers were just cultivators that would die still sensing Chi talkless of gathering Chi. True cultivation started from gathering Chi, of which population were only few millions.


    Out of these few millions, were the thousands of young cultivators who were still trooping unto the sect premises for the trials.


    The setting of the sect premises were impressive. The cultivators didn''t need to enter inside the sect premises for trials because at the entrance to the sect premises was a stone pillar.


    An ancestral monolith! The stone of paths.


    It was a marble monolith and on the monolith were three crystals; red[body], yellow[spirit] and blue[element]. Any cultivator of level lesser than Lianchi would be automatically pushed back by the monolith.


    The red crystal was used to measure body strength, the yellow for the Chi energy level and the blue for the elements in general. As long as the three reached the brilliance level required, the monolith would give off a sound of acceptance, then the cultivators would proceed towards the mainhall where the sect elders were waiting.


    That was everything required. Simply getting the monolith to accept.


    As the young cultivators were arriving, they were placing their palms on the stone, thousands were leaving dejectedly because of their failures in meeting the requirements.


    By the end of th day, the numbers would have been reduced to final numbers for admission.


    Haider was in line waiting for his turn to face the monolith. He was nervous, anxious and expectant of what the results would be.


    By the time it was his turn, only a few hundreds of people were left. He approached the monolith and placed his palms on the imprints. Immediately, all the stones lit up and the monolith gave the ultimate sound of acceptance. He felt calmness descended on him and was very happy when the acolytes directed him towards the main hall of the sect.


    By late afternoon, all the one hundred disciples that passed the trial were all in the main hall. On the podium of the hall, were the sect elders who were all nascent soul cultivators of early to middle stages and the grandelder who was a peak stage nascent soul cultivator.


    The grandelder raised his head to look at the new disciples and nodded his head.


    "We welcome you all to the Last Sword sect. Here at Last Sword, we work towards the progress and welfare of all our members especially new members. It is always our sect''s ideology to behave ourselves. As ethics is a very important thing we should have."


    He broke off to make sure they are all following his words as he spoke.


    "We all know that you all are from different parts of the world and are abiding with different rules. I believe they all share a common vision: to help young cultivators get used to outside rules. It''s a fact that all of you would eventually acquire the necessary knowledge, leave this place and enter the life outside, in which it is ruled by laws, of which survival of the strongest is paramount. It is important for you to have a sense of what they are, not only for the benefits of the sect, but also for the establishment of good values for yourselves."


    He paused, allowing that to sink in.


    "To give you more words showing showing the importance of this. There is a rule that needs students to be courteous and compassionate. It is easy to comply with this rule, but seldom do discciples know the underlying meaning of it. Some of you may manifest stronger strength or higher cultivation level than others, you don''t need to be too boisterous about it. You are all working towards the same goal, to be better than your best. You will need to get in contact with people of different groups when embarking on the road to workforce therefore you need to find ways to get along with other disciples, sect acolytes and sect elders. Being courteous and compassionate leaves them an impression that you are a disciple with good and decent wisdom. Friendly competitions are accepted and welcomed as long as they don''t threaten the lives of others and with the supervision of at least, a sect master. Once again, we welcome you all."


    Spreading his arms around his sides.


    "These are our sect elders, each a great leader of his or her own field. They will be guiding you attaining the necessay knowledge."


    After the grandelder''s speech, the sect elders introduced themselves one after the other.


    "Wang Xiu, house of light. Walk the way of light and see its true glory. I welcome you all."


    "Li jing, house of flora. Always take a time to smell the flowers, purest sensation. Welcome."


    "Bambang, house of terra. Embrace terra and feel a mighty and binding power. Welcome ."


    "Callidora, house of water. Nothing can resist water, it contains the truths. I welcome you."


    "Diona, house of wood. The loveliness of the woods is before sunrise. You are all welcome."


    "Aegeus, house of fire. Be courageous like fire, burn away impurities. Welcome to the life."


    "Nereus, master of shadow. Shadow is part of life, it only like its privacy. Welcome all."


    "Ming Yue, house of air. Don''t forget to breathe, good for the body and soul. Welcome you all."


    "Lixue, house of ice. Everyday is an ice day, always have it. Nice welcoming you all."


    "Ju Long, house of lightning. See the full flash of lightning and be dazzled. Welcome."


    "Pangfua, house of dreams and illusion. Dream and disguise the emptiness. Welcome."


    "Hesiod, house of metal. Discover metal and discover the power of becoming. Welcome."


    "Koshing, house of Necrosism. All things are poison and nothing without poison. Welcome."


    "Manchu, house of Spacetime.Distort space and it affects time. I welcome you."


    The grandelder continued his welcome speech after the sect masters finished their introduction.


    "Simplicity, patience and compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself and you will reconcile all beings in the world."


    The grandelder directed the new disciples towards the center of the hall where there was a circular ring on the floor with himself at the front of the ring. The disciples would stand in the middle of the ring to determine their element affiliate in the view of others and they would say their names to the grandelder. Then, the grandelder would call out their names and elements affiliation for the houses''acolytes to register. And sects badges would be handed to the disciples by the acolytes.


    When it was Haider''s turn, he stepped into the circular ring and it flared softly.


    "Haider Amynthas. Light and lightning."


    The disciples continued to step into the circle to fully determine their affiliates. House of air, house of terra and house of fire had thirteen disciples each. House of water, house of light, house of ice, house of woods and house of metal had eight students each. House of lightning and house of shadows had five students each. House of dreams and illusions, house of flora and house of necrosism had three disciples each and the house of spacetime had two disciples.


    There were eighty five disciples of one element affiliation, thirteen disciples with two elements and two disciples with three elements affiliation. Although the disciples with two elements were also hard to come by, disciples with three elements were the most revered and coveted in the sect, their potential were limitless.


    Wow, three affinities. What would happen if he could add fire to his own? Fire, lightning and light, he would be able to create ribbons of fire with some lightning and light. Hehehe, that would have been a pretty sight. He could even create a fire dragon, head of fire, body of light and tail of lightning. Hahaha...pretty stuff.


    Haider broke away from his daydreams in time to hear the grandelder''s words.


    "Now, that you have all registered for the admission, the sect doors will be opening a week from now. Go and make necessary preparations, you will be here for five months from admission date. You will be given two months break after which you are expected to return for second phase of another five months. And, when you are coming, bring twenty five gold coins for the first phase and after the break, another twenty five gold coins which makes fifty gold coins every year. If you are having trouble payjng, see your house master. Once again, you are all welcome. You can all leave orderly now."


    Haider was eagerly happy to inform his mother and grandparents about it. They were already waiting for him near the entrance when he came and quickly joined them.


    "Mother, grandpa, grandma, i have been accepted." He said with a big smile.


    "Congratulations." They chorused happily in support.


    "And we will start a week from now."


    "This is good news. Let''s celebrate this when we get home. It''s already getting late."


    "Yes, we will celebrate it at home."


    They rode swords ligths out of the area before Reena used teleprtation to transport them home. She was keeping her nature quiet.


    In minutes, they have reached home. They celebrated his admission in the usual way of magical turtle''s meat cooked with lily tubers and ground lily leaves. Added on top of the meat was the delicious wasp honey. It was a true celebration all night.


    The following morning, Reena informed lord Primus through the communication stones of Haider''s admission.


    "Oh, that''s good news. This will benefit him a lot, Reena. I will come over in the evening."


    "Okay, uncle Primus."


    Since waking up, he had been checking everything he would need before he leaves for the sect.


    Robe, his mother would take care of a new robe for him, not that he would need much since they will give them sect robes. These personal robes would be for informal ocassions. He would need some wrriting parchmenets and quill. He would need many things and a big bag.


    He couldn''t think properly enough of what he needed, hence he decided to train his body using the no name technique they recieved from his uncle, lord Primus. His body had become ectremely strong and powerful, his strength could rival that of a evanesce core cultivator. He continued training until late afternoon before leaving for the pond side.


    On the way to the pond, his mind wandered off again to what he needed to take with him. He would surely take his two robes, he would pack some turtle meat, some lily tubers and leaves. What more could he take?He wanted to take many things but there was nothing much to take. Maybe, he would have to think properly.


    Reaching the pond area, he sat down in lotus position to clear his mind. What if he could pack a whole turtle''s meat with him? That would have been better. Or, his mother could be bringing him more meat. No, not ideal. He had to look for a bigger bag. He closed his eyes and clear his mind to meditate. He couldn''t meditate for long before deciding it was enough. He was on his way back to the cave when lord Primus.


    "Uncle Primus!"


    "Haider, good to see you. How is my nephew doing?"


    "Very good, uncle. Uncle, i was accepted into the Last Sword sect."


    "Yes, your mother told me. I''m very proud of you Haider. That''s why i brought you a gift." Lord Primus flicked his hand and a small bag appeared in his hand, the size of his palm.


    "Here, take it. Go ahead."


    Haider took the small bag from his uncle and continued to look at it totally dumbstruck.


    "Yes, it''s a spatial sac. I thought you might need something like that to pack the things you need."


    Haider''s mind was in ecstasy, he didn''t know when he fell on his knees in front of his uncle with teary eyes and bowed.


    This would cost a big fortune. How could he recieve this for nothing?


    "Aww, no need of that now, you are my nephew. I should be doing this for you anyway. Now, stand up, come on, stand up."


    Haider as if in a trance, stood up slowly.


    The rest of the family met them this way and were a bit curious.


    "Lord Primus, we meet you well. Welcome."


    "Lord Primus, we welcome you."


    "Uncle Primus. You are here." Reena looked from lord Primus who was smiling to Haider who had tears of joy.


    "Is everything okay, uncle Primus?"


    "Nothing Reena, Haider was just too excited that i brought him a spatial bag. You see, nothing wrong."


    "..." Reena.


    "...." Aodh.


    "...." Euanthe.


    "Hehehe. I told you, it was nothing."

 15 Acquiring Early Knowledge

    Haider, alongside his mother and grandparents, arrived at the entrance of the Last-Sword sect premises.


    It was the day the Last-Sword sect officially set for their admission with the teaching and learning process to start the following day. There were two sect acolytes standing in front of two metal golems, welcoming and directing the new disciples what to do and where to go.


    Several minutes later, after his continuos delaying conversation with his mother and grandparents, he finally bade farewell to them and entered the sect premises.


    He noticed that the monolith was no longer there, but, terra''s might, how had he forgotten about how big the premises of this sect was until now. Anyways, he had only entered once before, that was the day of the trial and had been anxious that day. But now, he actually had the chance to observe it and it was extremely big. Hundreds of kilometer in size, covering mountains, hills and valleys.


    Entering the premises, he was directed towards the main hall by the acolytes who were having a good but busy day.


    He was very apprehensive by the time he reached the main hall. It was the first time he would be living away from home, he was feeling the anxiety of missing his family but he was acting relaxed on the outside.


    He had to maintain inner peace. He who was not everyday conquering some fear had not learned the secret of life.


    He would pretend he had been doing this since he was born. Since he was born? That didn''t really sounded sane but still sounded good. He would take the words.


    When he reached the main hall, he was sent in the direction of the acolyte scribe who was scribbling off on a parchment.


    "Your identificaion badge, please."


    "Yes, senior. Here it is."


    Haider presented his badge and his identity was confirmed.


    "You will need to swear the blood oath of allegiance, of justly fair actions and of good conduct and behaviour. If this bode well with you and you accept, we will proceed. If not, you may turn back now and forget about this."


    "Blood oath.... okay. If those are the words involved, i can live with that, i accept."


    "Please, place your hands on the stone of oath and repeat after me."


    Subsequent to the swearing of the oath, he paid his twenty five gold coins for admission andrecieved a welcome bag containing two sect''s robes and a manual of conduct before he was sent to the dormitory. More robes could be purchased from the sect at a bit expensive price. The reason for this? Disciples would be able to appreciate what they have in life and maintained it.


    Fair enough. He wouldn''t need more than two anyway. He could even live on one.


    On his way to the male disciples dormitory, he checked the manual of conduct and he was fine by what he saw. They were reminder of the oath of allegiance he swore. He could definitely live with this, no problem for him at all.


    Trust and truthfulness, as long as you have them, life will be much easier and better. He sighed and continued towards the dormitory.


    He came to the desk of the senior acolyte in charge of the general dormitory.


    "Can i have your badge, please."


    "Yes senior, here."


    He gave him the badge he was already holding in his hand.


    "Haider Amynthas. Section two, room sixty eight. Welcome, young man."


    "Thank you senior."


    The male disciples dormitory was divided into four sections with huge corridors, with each section containing one hundred rooms. Acolytes were assigned to supervise each section in maintaining orderliness and cleanliness on the section. The acolytes would also be dealing with the issues an problems of the disciples directly before informing the elders if it was too big to handle.


    He saw an acolyte on the corridor who directed him to section two. It took a few minutes to locate his room. As a new disciple of two elements affinity, he would be having the room all to himself.


    He entered the room, closed the door behind him and laid in the bed to relax his apprehensive mind.


    At long last, he was here. HERE! He was very happy yet a bit sad, quite sad. Life away from home, his mother, his grandparents, his uncle Primus, all of them, but he knew he had to do this. If he wanted to be strong enough, then, he would have to live with this types of sacrifices.


    After resting his mind a bit, he sat up. Left for his body, not much things could make him tired.


    He looked around the room and could see the whole place clearly then. Apart from the bed, it had only a single chair and a single table. That was all. Well, that would do just fine by him.


    He removed the new sect robes from the bag, folded them and put it to the sides by the corner of the room. Then he sat in a lotus position to meditate for few hours, when he open his eyes it was getting towards late afternoon.


    He decided to check the sect library to see if he could find any manual to study. The libraries in the sect were divided into two, the opened library for general and the closed library for the sect elders and core disciples. Although, there were good technique manuals for martial arts and cultivation in the general library, The most powerful manuscripts were inside the closed library, only for the chosen ones.


    He arrived at the opened library an hour before the library time was over and he quickly went to the book shelves. He was only trying to see if he could find anything to study that night. If not, he would come back another day, maybe the following day. He didn''t want to just leave empty handed. And as he was glancing through the shelves, he saw the book captioned, "ANCIENT SWORDS". This would be general knowledge but for him, he didn''t know much about this history, he needed to read it.


    He informed the librarian who made a copy for him.


    That night he was planning on reading the book but was lost in meditation after eating two blue crystalline rocks. His dantian had meridians had been expanding painfully rapidly, he had to quickly circulate the Chi. He was circulating and meditating that he forgot about himself and slept in that position.


    The following morning, all the houses'' elders would be giving their first lecture to the new disciples. After getting dressed in the sect robe, he headed towards the study hall of the house of light. Arriving at the big area, he searched for some time before locating it with a sigh of relief.


    There were five disciples in the hall already, with him making six. Only two other disciples remained to arrive.


    "Hello." He said as he looked for a seat


    "Hello." They replied him one by one.


    He was doing great. He only needed to continue keeping his calm. With time we would all come to know ourselves more. That was what his family told him. Isn''t it?


    The other two disciples arrived few minutes later and was soon followed by the house of light''s sect leader, elder Wang Xiu.


    She was a tall, beautiful and powerful woman, wearing a white silk robe. Looking at her, any cultivator would feel the knowledge and wisdom radiating from her.


    She looked calmly with a trace of smile at the new disciples, from one face to the other.


    "As you are already aware, my name is elder Wang Xiu. I am the leader of the house of light. Now, as i welcome you all to the house of light, i want us to be friendly and corteous to one another by standing up one by one and introduce yourselves to your fellow disciples. Let''s start from the right."


    "Dishi, house of light."


    "Photine, house of light."


    "Origen, houses of light and ice."


    "Harmonia, house of light."


    "Chenric, house of light."


    "Da Xia, house of light."


    "Haider, houses of light and lightning."


    "Holea, house of light.


    "Excellent. You all represent the house of light, let your light shine brighter together. Learn from the others, plan with the others begin with what they have, build on what they know. Of the best leaders when the task is accomplished., everybody will remark that they have done it themselves together. Who understands others has great knowledge; one who understands himself has wisdom. Mastering others requires patience; mastering the self needs strength. You are all welcome once again.


    Elder Wang Xiu stared at them thoughtfully.


    "Let me start by asking you this, what is a sword?"


    "Okay, you Da Xia." She pointed at the girl with bright blue eyes, who was eager to answer.


    "A sword is a bladed weapon longer than a knife for cutting, slashing or thrusting." Replied the girl with the blue eyes, Da Xia.


    "Yes, Da Xia. Considering the physical meaning, you are very correct." Beaming with smile, she nodded.


    "But, what if you now look at it spiritually. What is the true meaning of a sword?" She asked with a raised brow.


    "I will tell you. Sword is a symbol of purification. It pierces the spiritual soul of physical bondage to release a path to ethereal and enlightened freedom. Sword as an extension of our beingness, cut away the contamination of ignorance from a soul in order for the soul to achieve universal insight. The very power of life and death, heavens and lorra. When your soul is purified by the sword you wield, you will become one with your sword, then, you will become one with the universe."


    She paused, watching their faces, smiled and continued.


    "Remember, sword is a part of our existence as sword artists, it purifies our soul in order for us to gain enlightenment. Now let us see what we know about light."


    "Light is the first phenomenon of existence, it was with light that the Alpheron, the core of the universe was formed. Light means true life, it purifies our beingness, removing contamination from our entities.


    "Now, when we combine sword with true light, what becomes? When you combine two sources of purification, what exists? When you combine two forms of life and death, What do you get?


    Elder Wang Xiu materialized her sword. The sword was hanging in midair in front of her radiating brilliant white light. The brilliance was gradually increasing untill the whole study hall was filled with blinding white light making the disciples to cover their eyes in fear. The brilliance then started to decrease and the sword eventually returned to its original form before disappearing again.


    "That was the combination of sword intent and true light. And it was just a tiny little fraction of what i can make it produce."


    "What?" They shouted at once.


    "You will see for yourselves sooner than you think. Study hard and practice harder, and you will find it easier than you imagine."


    "We will stop here for today and continue three days from now. There are manuals and texts in the library, you can check them out if you want. See you then."


    Leaving the class, Haider didn''t pay much attention to his fellow house of light disciples. His mind was on the spectacle of the sword and true light that elder Wang Xiu displayed. If that was a tiny part, what would the full one be. It was already scary. It reminded him of his mother''s fire display. True powers.


    When he got back to his room, he took out his parchment and started writing.


    Sword enlightenment, sword purifies, one with sword, one with the universe. True light enlightenment, purifies, first of existence, its the universe core. Become one with it, you become one with the universe. Combine the two?


    He stopped writing and took out one crystalline. Crushing it in his mouth, he began to cultivate. His dantian was getting deeper and deeper but he continued to cultivate. Although, he was still at the early stage of Lianchi, his Chi was now at a ridiculous amount and quality. The astral primal technique had expanded and deepened his dantian making him gather and circulate many times the amount of Chi he would have needed.


    If it was another technique, he would have advanced to the Zhuji stage already.


    He left his room for the evening class of elder Ju Long, of the house of lightning.


    They were three new house of lightning disciples. The other two had already arrived when he arrived just before the arrival of elder Ju Long.


    The other two students had introduced themselves.


    "Callidora, house of lightning."


    "Horacio, house of lightning."


    Elder Ju Long


    "If i ask you, what do you understand of sword. You will say for slashing for killing. But, under the Dao of sword. Sword is a symbol of righteousness and justice. It''s a discipline used for conquering, reckless passion, ignorance and aggression. We wield a sword with a calm and peaceful mind. That is why the heart of a sword artist must be filled with compassion and humility, without that the sword will be recklessly dangerous. We don''t see the sword as a killing weapon, but a source of energy that flows through our body parts like the Chi energy. The sword is a way of gaining enlightenment.


    Elder Jun Long raised one finger.


    "Lightning on the other hand, is a symbol of the might of creation. It''s beautiful yet destructive. That''s why we wield it with calm and peaceful mind, without that, lightning will be recklessly drangerous. Lightning is the image of our countenance, it strikes away the impurities in our spiritual advancement. Accepting lightning, understanding it, will the consciousness shift move you forward into more personal and spiritual freedom, clearing inner violence and living in a state of inner peace."


    He stoppd for a minute. Then materialised his sword and it started to produce blue lightning that started to expand making the disciples fearful. Returning to normality, he continued.


    "The caveat is that sword is a mighty weapon and lighning is the manifestation of the true power of the universe. Combination of the two?Understanding this will unravel the deeper truth so that you can rise out of not knowing to being enlightened. Embrace the opportunity to expand your consciousness and see things in your life, and your place in the Universe in a totally new way."


    He rounded up his lecture.


    "Put my words in your hearts. I will see you in the next class,"


    After the evening lecture of elder Ju Long, Haider went back to his room. He sat down in lotus position, lost in thoughts.


    There was no other choice, no other words for it. He had to get more powerful. He would study hard and practice harder. He would meditate hard and cultivate harder.


    Snapping back to the present, he popped another crystalline into his mouth and started cultivating using the astral primal technique.He was eating two blue crystalline a day. He could feel that with the way he was getting more chi, he could break to the late stage of Lianchi sooner than he thought before.


    He continued doing that for the following two weeks. One of the nights, he felt that the Chi in his dantian was about to explode. His dantian had refined so much Chi and was still refining Chi. With the dantian gathering and refining more Chi, his dantian exploded and golden light emanated from his body.


    He had reached the Ningchi stage, the Chi condesing stage. He had pushed past the late stage of Lianchi which had affected the blue crystallibe he had. He only had a few remaining. The blue crystalline of hundreds of millions of years, even at home, not many were left. He had pushed himself hard for the past few weeks, but he had done it.

 16 Last-Sword Sect? Oh Yes.

    He had spent a whole week pushing his dantian to the extreme and he had finally suceeded. What he did would have been fatal for any other cultivator of his age and level. Even an adult cultivator with levels lesser than middle stage Zhuji would have been in a seriously damaging situation. But, he had done it due to the fact that, the astral primal technique had enlarged and deepened his dantian to an alarming degree. Hence, he could absorb that much Chi without any visible side effect.


    Finally, he had time to read the book about ancient swords.


    After locking his door, he brought out some dried and well preserved turtle meat and lily tubers. He had packed more than enough for the duration of his stay here. He started to read and eat the meat at the same time. He couldn''t even remembered the last time he had been to the cafetarea to eat. He had his turtle meat to sustain and nourished him.


    Was he going to have amored body like the turtle shell? It would have looked really good on him but with the turtle''s shell, others might call him MONSTER! While they ran away from him. Okay, no shell, just a strong normal body.


    Returning his thoughts to the present, he started reading the book on the ancient swords.


    ANCIENT SWORDS.


    There were tales of gods and mortals, swordmasters of their kinds, tales of myths and legends. Swordmasters who performed incredible acts with their swords, acts that were later told in tales as mythical acts and legendary acts.


    Mythical swords were the blades of primordial swordmasters, the immortal sword celestials and gods, who lived during the time of the primordial origins and thereafter. They fought in the great wars, wars with the primordial beasts and after the great wars. These were the mythical swords heard of from different sources both known and unknown.


    He started glancing through the mythical swords. He didn''t need to check their deeds, but could make do with what make them as powerful as they were.


    ZAGAROTH. The mythical sword of the immortal celestial Zhang Li. A sword of unknown origin and of unknown materials composition. The sword that severed the armored head of one of the nine arch primordial beasts war generals, the primevals.


    BLAIZ. The mythical sword belonging to the immortal celestial Stelios. The flaming sword that set the Deragor realm on the heavenly plane on fire burning half of the realm. Unknown origin and unknown materials.


    AZAMARR. The mythical sword of the immortal god Phadria. The sword that split the immortal world of Starspark into two seperate halves. Unknown origin and unknown materials composition.


    He continued reading at a glance, these tales of the mythical swords of the immortal gods. They were all made of unknown materials and even their origins were unknown. It took him less than thirty minutes to finish with the mythical swords.


    Afterall, they were gods, they had unfathomable powers. Those were godly achievements, how could mortals like himself relate to such?


    He turned to the pages about legendary swords of mortals.


    Legendary swords were used by ancient swordmasters lived in the ancient days in both major and minor worlds with their tales spreading throughout the universe. Especially, tales of their swords. To these swordmasters, their swords were an extension of their beingness. Swords that became symbols of universal existence.


    OBSIDA. The legendary sword belonging to the human cultivator Caohong.A sword made from the obsidian rock retrieved from heart of the Dawnfire volcano on nether plane and the core of a fardark star. The sword that killed the nether titan, Bracoda.


    KETRA. The renowned sword of the mortal cultivator Lynx. A sword made from a metoerite and the core of a forgarth, a divine beast.


    There was a war between a twin worlds. Two worlds joined together by the same core. The war was about the right to sovereignty. The two worlds had been fighting furiously with their fights threatening to destroy the mortals living in these two worlds.


    Mortal cultivator Lynx, upon seeing the danger of the situation decided to settle that permanently. He raised his sword and the intent of the sword was like the weight of the heavens causing the two worlds to fall on their knees.


    And with a single downward slash, he divided the core of the two worlds into two equal parts. From then on, each of the two planets was having its own core. That act ended a war of total destruction.


    As he continued checking the pages for the swords origins and materials used in making them, he came to the page of swordmaster Dingbang. That was a tale he had heard before, he could check if there were things missing in the stories he had heard before. The sword, the tale sounded unbeliavable.


    VIXRA. The mythical sword of the legendary swordmaster Dingbang. A sword of pure silver from the heart of the deepfreeze star and made with the core of the mighty primordial ice creature, Vascera.


    Planet Eira.


    The daemon invasion led by the daemon supreme, Deracles, had threatened the survival of the human race in the minor world. The immortal cultivator, Dingbang was the last line between the extinction of the human race and the daemon supreme, Deracles.


    The daemon supreme had come with two hundred thousand demon soldiers, twenty thousand daemon lords and two hundred daemon kings. They were marching through the Snowfox valley from the north to the south after decimating the northern part but were met by the immortal cultivator Dingbang leading an alliance army of cultivators over a hundred thousand warriors of cultivators from Zhuji to nascent souls.


    It was a desperate time and it called for desperate measures.


    The battle was fierce and furious. The army of Dingbang had been having the upper hand despite their smaller number, the cultivators were fighting without fear or hold, until the demons initiated the Burning demon triangle, an absolute formation. A formation that required fifty thousand demons, five thousand demon lords and five hundred daemon kings, a formation that brought hellfire to the mortal world. Any cultivator touched by the hellfire would instantly disintegrate into ashes.


    Dingbang army of cultivators were dying left and right. They couldn''t retreat, retreat meant the destruction of their world hence, they made their final stand. His men continued to die in numbers. With nothing left for him anymore, he called his sword to be with him one final time and the sword heard his voice. His voice made the sword to break the final barrier of gaining sentience becoming a divine sword.


    On that day, Vixra, the legendary sword of ice made its name known throughout the universe. With the aid of the freezing valley, the sword started generating massive ice energy, the likes never seen before and was trasmitting part of the energy into Dingbang making his body trembled uncontrollably.


    Dingbang was filled with unprecedented ice energy, his whole body was radiating a massive freezing energy like a cultivator who had reached godhood. He raised the sword up and slashed down diagonally and the formation rumbled. Slashing down two more times and the fomation crumbled making the demons to panick. Swinging the sword left and right, many demons died. All their attack were repelled by the walls of ice energy radiating from his body. He continued to cut them down until only one remained.


    Deracles. The daemon supreme.


    They battled nonstop for two days, it was a brutal battle. Mountains were leveled, seas were vapourised, destruction everywhere but they fought on.


    Then, on the third day, the sword made a sacrifice to bring an end to the daemon supreme. It gathered all the ice energy from the sorrounding, from the universe and formed a deepfreeze dome around the daemon supreme. Then, the sword pushed all the essence energy from its primordial core to its tip combined with its sword intent to generate the total deepfreeze sword intent.


    The move damaged the sword''s core but destroyed the defense of the daemon supreme, piercing his body directly to his soul, freezing and shattering it to pieces. It damaged its own core but it ended the war of daemons.


    One hour later, Haider put the book down and started thinking about the power of the swords


    The legendary cultivators were mortals, something a mortal like him could relate more to. They were known mortal cultivators and their legendary swords had known origin and the materials used in making them. He was able to gain ideas from them, though not that he would just start looking for a deepfreeze star or something. The information was precious, nonetheless.


    He brought out his parchment and began writing down permutations of materials.


    Only if he could actually make his own legendary sword. He remembered the phoenix feather sword of his mother and white wyvern sword of his grandfather.


    Letting out a deep breath, he put his parchment away and finished the rest of the turtle meat and lily tubers.


    Then, he closed his eyes and started meditating using soul serenity technique making his heart to activate the inner peace. The following day, the grandelder would be addressing the new disciples at the main hall, he would sleep earlier to wake up earlier.


    The next day, all the new disciples gathered in the mainhall where they would be addressed by the grandelder. They just finished exchanging greetings among themselves when the grandelder arrived.


    "Goodmorning to you all. It''s been around a week since you became a member of the Last-Sword sect. It''s our tradition to give each new disciple one heavenly root spirit pill and two golden fountain medicinal pills, a week after the admission. This is to allow any new disciple with a change of mind time to leave, any disciple who stayed after a week has all the possibilities of staying, that''s our belief. These pills are the traditional welcoming ceremony for new disciples. You are now true Last-Swords"


    He signalled the elders of the houses who then monitored the acolytes in distributing the pills accordingly.


    "These pills are some of the treasures of our sect for you to use. This is the reason we asked for our new disciples'' levels to be from the Lianchi stage to the Ningchi stage. It is very important that you take the heavenly root spirit pill before you reach the Zhuji stage. It will help you to form a perfect foundation for your subsequent advancement. These were just a sample of what we have in store for you.


    The grandelder nodded after seeing their happy faces.


    "And, as you already know, more greater benefits await those who endeavor to carve a path for themselves. Every step you take is on the path. Hence, i ask you, are you ready to take the steps? Study hard and train harder and everything will be in your hold."


    He raised a finger to calm them down.


    "Now that we have that settled, there is a sect competition, once every three months from sect resumption. This competition determines the members of the inner and core disciples. Don''t get me wrong, there''s no difference among our members, all our members are very important and unique, this competition is only extra motivation for you. Already, there are many great benefits of being a last-sword, but if you want to go extra mile for yourselves and for the sect, then you need to be ready to participate."


    He paused for a moment, then continued.


    "And in general, as a sect, we will be assigning some tasks to you after completion of which, you will rewarded accordingly. As we prepare you in the study hall for the conjecture , we will also prepare you in the field out there. Out there, is where you put all you have learned in the study hall to the use. Remember, there are many benefits you get from doing all these, thus i say again, study hard and train harder."


    After recieving a loud shout of aknowledgement, he concluded his speech.


    "Go and enjoy the day."


    The new disciples were streaking out of the massive main hall, when two of the new house of light disciples came up to Haider.


    "Haider, hold up."


    "Da Xia, Chenric."


    "We are going to the cafetaria, do you care to join in?" Asked Da Xia.


    "I guess i can do that, i''m starting to get hungry by the way." He laughed in reply.


    As they were about to leave for the cafetaria, he noticed one of the other two new disciples of the house of lightning.


    "Horacio, are you in a hurry?" Haider asked.


    "Not really."


    "We are going to the cafetaria. Do you want to join us?"


    "Okay."


    At the cafetaria, they chose a spot at the corner and settled on their food.


    "The heavenly root pill is enough for any disciple to join the Last-Sword sect."


    "I heard other sects have pills for the foundation stage too, but the Last-Sword sect have the best foundation pills."


    "I also heard that they have the pills for every stage of advancement."


    "If you become a core disciple, you will even have your own immortal cave"


    "True, there are tens of immortal caves for the disciples at the valley of immortals. The elders have their caves at the Haze mountains and the acolytes at the Shroud River plain." Horacio who had been quiet since they arrived, indicated.


    "I have decided to participate in the competition. I want to enjoy those benefits." Chenric looked around the table with a knitted brow.


    "Maybe i will participate, not sure yet. I will thik about it." Da xia put in.


    "I will be happy to participate. There''s no harm in participating, afterall, it''s a friendly competition."


    Haider uttered with a smile, then turned to Horacio.


    "What about you, Horacio?"


    Horacio just shrugged.


    "Well, no matter what happes in life only one thing comes out of it, friendship."


    They all laughed at that.


    They finished eating their food and departed to their different ways. Haider left for his room with his heart full of joy. Finally, he had friends, he could now relax his mind.


    Inside his room, he took out the white colored heavenly root spirit pill, swallowed it and sat in lotus position to meditate.


    Within few minutes, different colors started radiating from his body like a cosmic display. His dantian was experiencing a cosmic transformation. The big orb of condensed Chi formed in his dantian after reaching the Ningchi stage, started to change in appearance. The big orb was already many times bigger than that of normal cultivator. The big orb started to expand until it reached gigantic size.


    The transformation had also advanced him to the late stage of Ningchi.


    He opened his eyes and laughed.

 17 After Yesterday

    There were three levels of dantian in the body. The lower dantian, the middle dantian and the upper dantian. These were the energy centers in the body, energy needed by cultivators to achieve eternal life.


    The lower dantian levels started from the gathering of Chi, Lianchi level, to the golden core forming, Jindan level. All the Chi energy were stored in the lower dantian. And the lower dantian was located near the navel and it opened for true cultivators.


    The middle dantian level began from the Nascent soul, Yuanying level to the Celestial soul, Tianshang level. The middle dantian was located near the heart and can be assessed by true immortals.


    The upper dantian level initiated at the Shensheng level, the cosmic divinity level till infinity. It was located at the center of the head and could only be attuned to by the true cosmic divines.


    Chi was the vital force, the vital energy necessary for immortality. Any mortal cultivator aiming to achieve eternal life must have Chi in his or her dantian by gathering, refining and condensing it. Afterwards, the Chi would be changed into an orb or a ball, from there to a golden core and from there to a nascent soul, all the way to a celestial soul.


    Absolute immortality would be achieved when a cultivator reached the level of emptiness, one with the universe.


    From creation, mortal soul was placed in permanent limbo. Blind to the light of enlightenment.


    One of the laws of creation. A mortal soul lived, a mortal soul died to live again. Forever subjected to the wheel of reincarnation, the samsara circle.


    It was Chi, the vital force, that could bring out the mortal soul from limbo, placing it around the navel area. After that it would transform the mortal soul into the orb of Chi essence energy or soul energy that would travel to the heart area, changing into a nascent soul. Then the nascent soul would leave for the upper dantian where it would transform into emptiness.


    There were no level of measurements to the amount of Chi a cultivator could gather into the dantian. The amount of Chi was determined by the size of the dantian and the availability of the Chi energy.


    For Haider, he had been fortunate from womb, his mother had used the rainbow womb spirit pill when he was a foetus, since he was a young child, he had been using the astral primal technique and he had blue crystalline to supply Chi energy available in numbers. And then recently, the heavenly root spirit pill.


    Haider was very happy about everything and he had advanced to the late stage of Ningchi. What more could he ask for?


    He gathered himself and walked towards the hall of the house of light. Arriving there, he quickly exchange greetings with other disciples before moving to his seat.


    Shortly after, elder Wang Xiu entered the study hall holding a small box.


    "Sorry everybody, i had to quickly tend to this." As she placed it on her table.


    "Today-." She started to say when she broke off.


    "Oh, i see. Interesting, very intrresting." She looked at Haider, smiled and nodded.


    "Today, It''s all about sword intent. How it relates to a sword artist. Please follow me, all of you."


    Elder Wang Xiu took them through the back of the study hall to the house of light training field. Stationing herself at the opposite front.


    "Sword intent. What does it mean to a sword artist?" She asked, then continued.


    "Everything is within your power and your power is within you. This is will. Every cultivator has it. The power to choose your own actions or assert your own volition.We know we have this power, but why do we have to use this power? You may ask. Because, there are things that propel it."


    She raised one finger to indicate.


    "The first is the desire. Desire is the strong wish for something to happen or to do. Will is easily associated with desire, it is the fuel that propels will."


    Elder Wang Xiu added another raised finger.


    "The second is the ability. Ability is the power that enable you to do things yo do. With ability comes the will. They go hand in hand."


    Then, she had three fingers raised up.


    "The third is Perseverance. This means persistence or resolution to do something. The trait of not giving up, the will of forging ahead no matter what."


    She looked from one face to another.


    "But the question is, why? Why do we have all these?


    Hitting her fist in the palm of her hand.


    "All these things are compelled by the need to survive, the need to live. The innate driving force. This is the intent of a cultivator. And just like a cultivator, every weapon has an intent, the innate driving force imbued during its smithing. Since swords are extension of a sword artist, a swordmaster will give specific details of the needed sword to the swordsmith. And, a swordsmith will be in the specific frame of mind when making a sword to imbue the necessary intent into it."


    Elder Wang Xiu paced up and down, then stopped at their front.


    "You see, there are many intents that can be imbued into a sword. Evil intent, bad intent, specific intent, good intent and so on. Most swordmasters prefer the general intent with more of a specific. Pay attention to how you make your sword. The intent of your sword will reflect on you and your intent will reflect on your sword too. Because your sword is an extension of you, a part of you.


    She materialised her sword and held it slightly to the front.


    "This is my sword, lightflex, i can simply use it to heal the heart of my enemies if he or she has a tormented heart. Not all your enemies deserve death, as a matter of fact. And, i can easily draw healing energy from it in extremely critical times. The reason being that it was made based on the healing intent and coupled with the items used in making it. Nonetheless, it can easily kill if it is really needed."


    She turned from them and with a step arrived near a giant dummy used for mystical training and cut it into two with a single stroke.


    "We will continue next time. Study hard and practice harder."


    After the lecture, the group of friends gathered together at the cafetaria again. They all talked about new things since they last met. They didn''t always had time to gather together unless after lectures. Only Haider was living in section two of the boys dormitory, Chenric and Horacio were staying in section three, while Da Xia was staying in the girls dormitory.


    "The pill was AMAZING!My whole body was vibrating in colours, it was like i could see the foundation of Jadeite pillars in my dantian. Hehehe.... i even advanced to middle stage Ningchi. Amazing."


    "It truly was incredible, Da Xia. Like i told you before, last-sword is the sect to be in."


    "I advanced too. It was really was a wonderful feeling."


    "Yes it was."


    "I''ve made my decision regarding the competition, i will be participating." Da Xia resting her hands on the table, leaned closer.


    "That''s good news Da xia, welcome on board."


    "What about you, Horacio?


    "Don''t know. Maybe."


    "Well, there''s still plenty of time to decide, don''t worry, take your time."


    "Yes, we still have time."


    "By the way Haider, why did elder Wan Xiu said "interesting" when she looked at you this morning?."


    "Wish i knew too." Haider shook his head.


    He saw and heard her too, but what would he say? He didn''t know the reason himself and he couldn''t just go up to her and ask anyways.


    "Horacio, something wrong? It seems something is not right or it might just be me." Said Chenric, with a concerned look on his facel


    "You seemed worried, Horacio. Anything bothering you."


    "Maybe another time."


    They all agreed to another time. Horacio needed time to come to a decision wether to tell them or not. They continued talking in generality and after finishing with their lunch, they went their seperate ways.


    Haider made his way to the library where he spent his time reading about the Dao of the universe. He realized that he knew simply nothing about the Dao and the universe. The more he read about it, the bigger it gets. It was a true profound mystery,


    How could he truly understand something so grand?


    He read for a bit more then left for the house of lightning''s study hall.


    Elder Ju Long adjust the sleeves of his robes.


    "Sword arts. Like every beautiful aspect of the universe,are beatiful arts. Through the arts of swords, many swordmasters have had glimpses of the universe giving them enlightenment and insight. They had become legendary swordmasters.


    He clasped his arms behind his body and slowly paced up and down.


    "Simple sword arts can contain profound mysteries. Sword arts can look simple but complex and they can look complex but simple. Like the beauty of sword arts, lightning displays are the true beauty of nature, mortal eyes are mesmerized by their dazzling beauty. And when you combined sword art with lightning display, you have sword lightning"


    He suddenly stopped in front of them.


    "Sword lightning is like a poetry, it lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the universe."


    He continued teaching them for the next one hour before calling it a day.


    After the lecture, Haider quickly caught up to the other two in the study hall.


    "Callidora, Horacio, free moment?


    "Not now." Replied Callidora. She always kept to herself in the study hall.


    Maybe she didn''t like keeping many friends. Don''t blame her anyways.


    "Horacio?"


    "Have something right now, Haider."


    "Tomorrow? We can meet at the training center. What say you?"


    "Okay, tomorrow morning."


    He departed from Horacio and headed towards his room. He entered and locked the door. Took out some meat to eat and started reading the Dao of the universe. He was ocassionaly writing down on his parchment as he was reading. An hour later, he put down the book and put the parchment back into the spatial sac.


    He removed his robe and started practicing the shifting heavens hand technique. He didn''t need to worry about disturbing or causing any damage to the room, he had not been practicing with Chi for a very long time. He only practiced with his body strength.


    Putting one blue crystalline in his mouth, he sat down in a lotus position and started to cultivate.


    It had only been one week and few days since he arrived at the Last-Sword sect, he could already see the benefits of the sect.


    The next day, he would go to the training ground to train his body in the Spine Swift technique he found in the library. A speed and agility technique. It was a second grade technique but it would do just fine by him. No grade was a loss, any grade available must be cherished with a good heart.


    He freed his mind and immersed himself in cultivation. He was soon completely lost in a trance. He had the true feeling that he could actually see himself sitting down cultivating, like he was sitting in front of himself.

 18 Horacios Nightmares

    Horacio entered his shared room. He sat in his bed looking far into the distance. His mind had been scrambled lately. He couldn''t concentrate during the lecture period and had been having difficulty sleeping lately. He tried to calm his mind by meditating, but he couldn''t. He took out the dream caller leaves and started chewing them.


    Not long after, he was fast asleep and the same nightmarish dream.


    He was only eight years old. His family had been returning from a journey to a village when they were attacked by a small army of demons led by two demon masters who were associates of a powerful clan, the Hantian clan. His parents were true Daoists upholding justice and righteousness as part of the nine golden stars.


    Their travelling group had fought very hard but they had been killed by the demons. His father who was at the peak stage golden core level, was trying to use his ultimate move when one the demon lords threw a talisman at him, a highgrade portal talisman. But it worked on him, his father was transported to a different continent.


    But his mother was only at the early stage golden core level and facing two peak golden core demon lords.


    All their own travelling group members were killed and all of the demon lords army had been killed too except the two demon lords; Demon lord Worm Blood, leader of the Worm Wolf clan of Blood Moon sect and Lord Black claws, leader of Black Wolf clan, Demon Claws sect.


    With his mother holding him, they tried to flee but they were being pursued relentlessly. They were pursued to a nearby cave. When she realized that there was no other way except to fight, she turned to face them.


    His mother took out her white obelisk staff, it grew into a size of six feet and started to radiate brilliant gold light. The staff flew to the front and it split into nine staffs . The nine formed nine walls of golden light blocking the entrance to the cave. She didn''t know for how long it will hold. The white obelisk staff was her clan heirloom, an ancient magical treasure from the primordial era, given to her by her grandfather, sage of a thousand lights, her clan grand patriarch who had ascended. She cultivated the Radiant Heavens sacred art.


    Her power was still lacking, she was only at early stage golden core, she couldn''t fully use the power of radiant heavens.


    "Husband, where are you? What''s delaying you?" His mother had asked through the communication pearl.


    "Please hold on, I''m already rushing over." Replied his father.


    He had heard the voices outside the cave.


    "Give up Golden Lights, we only need your hearts." Worm Blood mocked brandishing his saber.


    "Oh, those tender human hearts, how nourishing, how succulent and how delicious. They are already causing me to forget who I am, no, I meant who I was. I can''t even think properly anymore." Black Claws licked his lips while holding his two flying claws.


    "Why are you two looking for the trouble of the Nine Worlds clan? We don''t have any problem with the beasts'' clans. Why are you doing this?" His mother had asked them.


    "You don''t? Then, let me remind you, five years ago, your husband killed two of my "Red Moon" family members and didn''t even bothered to send them to us for proper burial. Those two are my sons or have you forgotten? The dishonour your husband brought us was overwhelming. It should be sons for sons, but since he has one son, I will settle for his son and his wife. That''s fair enough, or not?" Worm Blood asked with his head tilted.


    "In this lands, it is forbidden for beast kinds to kill humans without a just cause. It''s all because of the nature of your kind. Your kind enjoyed killing innocent people for fun. Those two sons of yours nearly caused a massacre of mortal humans. Still, they killed many. Is that just? Their body were burned, their souls could not be allowed to linger and they were sent straight to the Nether realm. We don''t have problems with the demonic beasts'' clans, but we don''t condone evil of such. It was against the Dao of the universe."


    "Dao of the universe? Alright, such evil, fair -." Worm Blood was saying.


    "Aha, big evil is coming, really big evil, scary evil-." Black Claws interrupted.


    "BLACK CLAWS!."


    Shouted Worm Blood through mind voice.


    "Can you allow me to talk?" He looked at Black Claws with furrowed eyebrows. "Thank you."


    He had turned his attention back to his mother.


    "As I was saying, fair enough, I understood. Don''t I also have a just cause for killing the two of you? Your husband killed my sons, I killed you. I believe that is also fair enough."


    "Can you please give us your hearts? We don''t have to fight unnecessarily today, it''s a beautiful day. The deed might even give you good Karma in afterlife." Black Claw impatiently pleaded.


    "Alright, if you don''t want to cooperate that means we are done talking." said Worm Blood.


    "Blood fangs sabre." The sabre light formed massive head of a red wolf with blood red teeth, it collided with the flame walls, the head''s attack caused the flame wall to shake.


    "Dear wife, I will soon be there. They used the "eyeless shutter" arrays to conceal your place, hold on a bit more" trasmitted Hu


    "I''ve been holding on but i can''t hold on any longer, hurry up." She transmitted back.


    "You know, this can''t stop us for long. Why are you acting this way? Alright, what about you giving us only your own heart and we leave your son alone. Better?"


    "Are we?" asked Black Claw with his eyes turning bright red.


    "Of course not." replied Worm Blood using mind voice.


    "Yes, we will do exactly so. What say you, fiery feathers?" shouted Black Claw.


    "No? Okay then, if you can withstand my ultimate move "ghost shadow claws", I will let you be. On the honour of my name." He said. "Is my name even honourable?" He asked himself "If I say it is, then, it is."


    "Be careful then."


    He flicked his flying claws and giant claws of dark flowing river attacked the flame wall.


    Seven of the light walls crumbled, His mother spat out blood and swallowed one rootsooth pill. The pill started repairing her internal injuries. She knew she couldn''t take another attack like that head-on. She had already used the only lifesaving treasure on her, the heaven otherworld talisman.


    "Am I going to die like this?"


    "Golden Lights, I must admit, your foundation is really strong. You have suffered internal injuries, how long can you hold? Withstand my ultimate attack and I, also, will let you be."


    He thought to himself "At last, vengeance for a just cause."


    "Blood moon rite." The sabre light turned into a huge red moon emitting blood streams and headed towards the flames walls covering the entrance of the cave.


    Just before hitting the flames wall, the red moon was blocked by a yellow wave of terra''s light from a warhammer, the wave in the form of yellow stars.


    "Wife, I''m here. Where are you?" Boomed his father''s voice.


    "I''m inside the cave, I''m relieved and happy you are here. I thought I was going to die." She looked at her son and tears rolled down her face.


    "You dare attack my family, "DIVINE JUDGEMENT"." Shouted His father.


    His father''s ultimate hammer move, a rainbow hammer light formed a rainbow coloured wyvern that soared towards the two demon lords.


    "Blood moon rite." shouted Worm Blood as he quickly used a life saving treasure.


    "Ghost shadow claws." Shouted Black Claws using his own treasure too.


    Their defensive moves shattered instantly when they collided with the rainbow wyvern hammer''s light. The pressing intent of the hammer''s light was very intense and it continued towards the demon lords.


    "Trying to face my ultimate move from a divine warhammer head-on? Are you seeking death? If not, you would have thought otherwise."


    But before the rainbow wyvern could reach the demons, everything froze in place.


    Horacio woke up breathing heavily, his mind was startled and body was shaken.


    When will it stop? He would do all he could, even if it cost him his life.


    He dressed up and left his room. His destination was the training field.


    *****************


    It was a bright beautiful morning. Haider woke up feeling great. After taking care of his body, he headed out to the training center.


    He was feeling good.


    The training area was incredibly wide, the size of a small village. And was divided into three sections,Zhanshi , Guanjun and Youxiu. The Zhanshisection was for the disciples from year one to two, the Guanjun section was meant for disciples from year three to four and Youxiu for those from year five to six.


    Upon arrival, Haider stood on a spot for several minutes just looking at the training disciples.


    There were hundreds of disciples on the training ground practicing different types of techniques and moves.


    As he walked towards the Zhanshi section of the training ground, he could see the Youxiu section not too faraway and he decided to get a little bit closer.


    These were the exceptional disciples that had been in the sect for a minimum of five years. Some of them were training together in groups while some were training individually. But the most amazing thing was the execution of their techniques and moves, it was a thing of beauty to behold. These techniques were high techniques at the least.


    He was so lost in joyous trance that he wasn''t aware of Horacio coming up behind him.


    "Amazing, isn''t it?"


    "Horacio, sorry, i didn''t notice your arrival."


    "These were truly great to see. The power of Zhuji level and high techniques, truly formidable. But if you think you''ve seen them all, wait till you see the geniuses of Last-Swords. Their power...." Horacio trailed off.


    "Yes, the beauty of seeing young people perform such acts, truly beautiful. I can''t wait to see the geniuses, i can already imagine it. Uhm, not that i haven''t seen powers before, even my mother is a nascent soul demigod with really scary power, but this is us. The young ones."


    Hearing Haider called his mother a nascent soul, a demigod! Horacio''s heart skipped and beat very fast. A demigod! Should he ask for help? Could there be a way for his own family now? Could they be saved? How true were Haider words? He was in deep thoughts as they moved to the Zhanshi section.


    "This is a second grade agility technique, the Swift Spine technique. Maybe it will help me move a lot easier and faster instead of crawling like a worm all the time." Haider laughed, patting his own leg.


    Despite the fact that it was a second grade technique, it was better than nothing. It was a difficult technique and would take him quite a long time to master but he would learn it.


    He was practicing the swift spine technique for a time before switching to shifting heavens hand technique. He kept rotating his training between the two techniques.


    Horacio decided to joined Haider for a little training too to keep his mind clear.


    They started to train together.


    As Haider was practicing the swift spine technique when he took one step only to find himself several yards from the initial place he was. He tried the taking the swift steps and was very happy when he realized that he had already learned the basics of the swift steps.


    He decided it was enough for the day, the following day he would continue again afterall he didn''t have any lecture for the next two days.


    "Truly remarkable"


    Elder of the house of light, elder wang Xiu nodded, beaming with smile. She would wait a bit and observe some more before taking the next course of action.

 19 Becoming A Premier

    Titan lord Primus was an existence from the primordial time. From the time of his creation as a mountain to the time of human appearances, billions of years had passed. Billions of years of absorbing spiitual energy making everything about his existence screamed primal.


    And, just as it was for all titans, he was created with primordial innate techniques. One of the innate techniques was the mountain bodyweight technique which allowed the physical manifestation of a primordial mountain before transformation to be mighty in strength and immovable. It was a mountain thing.


    Like every other primordial mountain, lord Primus too was created with primordial techniques. He was a physical mountain before his transformation which had been practicing the mountain bodyweight technique. Thus, it was of no surprise that the reversed trueworld bodyweight technique initiated by titan lord Primus, was an imitation of the titan lord innate technique.


    Since he had been practicing the reversed technique for a time now, Haider''s body had been undergoing true transformation. His bones were solidifying and his body getting stronger at an alarming rate from the practice and the turtle meat mixed with the water lilies he was consuming. Despite that, he didn''t stop eating the turtle meat and the water lilies. In fact, once in his room, he ate them at every available moment.


    What was the point of having plenty meat if not for eating? Eat the turtle and eat the lilies.


    Inside his room out of prying eyes, he would eat and practice. At least, the room he resided in, was big enough for him to practice the reversed trueworld bodyweight technique.


    Although, the reversed bodyweight technique was a very difficult and tiresome technique to practice, it came with great benefits which made the difficulty bearable.


    He made use of every free opportuned time to practice. Especially, every morning that he had no lectures, he would clear the center of the room and practiced the reversed bodyweight technique along with the shifting heavens hand martial technique. Afterwards, he would go out to the training ground to practice the swift spine technique.


    On his way to the training ground the next day, he decided to check the geniuses of the Last-Sword that were practicing in the Youxiu section of the training ground. The last time he was here, he had been amazed by the techniques and moves that he saw, the displays of true disciples.


    He inched closer to have a wider view of the area. He saw that, on the training ground, some of the disciples formed a parallel lines on the two sides of two disciples who seemed to be having a showdown. One was a tall and heavily built boy and the other was a boy of average height and built. But the most striking aspect of the boy was his long white hair, it was like a flowing stream of snow. And by the second look of the situation, it seemed they were engaged in a mock combat.


    Martial art, mock combat or not, it guaranteed optimum entertainment. Suddenly, the heavily built boy moved, too fast for his stature as he sent forward a thunderous fist that caused spatial warping as it moved towards the white haired boy. The white haired boy didn''t move, but at the last second, he extended his palm that seemed to be humming slowly and successfully blocked the thunderous fist with the impact knocking both of them back several steps.


    "I told you i could take your moves head-on, Li Qiang. Any more moves?"


    "Don''t be so sure, Wang Lei."


    With that he moved like lightning, reaching the white haired boy before the blink of an eye. His hands blurred as he delivered hundreds of thundeous fists from all angles. But before the fists could connect, the white haired boy appeared to turn in a circle. It was like a slow circle movement but it was actually a false image, a mirage, the actual image was like a vortex of palms blocking the fists. Before Haider could bat an eyelid, the heavily built boy was already back to his original position.


    "Impressive Wang Lei, your speed technique is truly impressive. In martial combat, speed can determine the outcome of battle."


    "You flatters me Li Qiang. My speed wasn''t greater than yours and your martial art technique is not inferior to mine either."


    The combat had been too fast for Haider to follow, he could only see a streak of light when the heavily built boy moved, but for a second, during their combat, he caught a glimpse of afterimages. Their movements, one was many yet one, the other was one yet many and he remembered his mother''s portal steps movement.


    With vivid imagination, he tried his own swift spine technique but with a little difference, he adjusted his movement and tried the technique again. He tried five more times and had a great success on the fifth attempt. Heavens might, he had just mastered the first level of the swift spine technique, the swift steps and gained insight into the second level, spine steps.


    He pumped a fist in the air.


    "Yes."


    The geniuses who were closer to where he was, had stopped training and were looking at him wondering what was going on with him. Realizing there were eyes on him, he quickly smiled and slowly moved towards the Zhanshi section.


    In the Zhanshi section, he happily practiced the movement technique for a time before stopping. As he relax, he watched the Zhanshi disciples trained and shook his head.


    The difference in levels is simply too big but he would bide his time.


    Soon, he left the training ground and walked towards his dormitory. On his way there, he changed his mind and headed towards the marketplace of the sect. He had never been there before but since using a pill that could drive him a whole level, he would check it out.


    The marketplace was indeed a big place with a number of large stalls organized to sections according to their products. One section had large stalls of alchemy products, another had magical artifacts and like that, the rest were arranged.


    Moving around the marketplace, from one section to another, he checked the available products until he came to the alchemy section. This section seemed the busiest with disciples coming and going. Cultivation was truly the epitome of mortal existence.


    The first stall he entered was quite big and was divided into two parts. The front part was with row of shelves filled with lower grade pills and plants while the back was where the higher grade and above products were stored.


    The alchemist was a middle aged man who was wearing a pristine white robe. He was busy attending to disciples who were looking for one form of product or another. Haider out of their way and started checking the shelves since their names were on the bottle stickers. He saw stickers with intriguing names, solemn star spirit pill, heartflame spirit pill, purple dream illusion and others like that.


    The stall was a bit too busy for him therefore, he went to the next stall and met the same scenario. He kept trying the stalls until he came to one that was fairly quiet and entered. The stall owner was an old man of the golden core stage. The other disciple in the stall had left after buying the product he came for leaving only Haider in the stall with the stall owner.


    "Greetings senior."


    "Greetings young one, how can i help you?"


    "Uhm senior, do you by any chance have a heavenly root spirit pill?"


    "Hmm. The heavenly root spirit pill, the heavenly foundation pill. Well, it''s not that difficult to get as long as you have your money afterall, its usefulness stops at the Zhuji stage."


    "Senior, please forgive me for asking. Why did you say "afterall its usefulness stops at the Zhuji stage"?"


    "Oh, ok. It looks like you are not truly aware. You see, the heavenly root spirit pill is only a perfect foundation pill good for any disciple less than the Zhuji stage, it no longer has any effect after that. So, it''s not that scarce for people to buy though its expensive. Let me tell you, there are some spirit pill that could take your cultivation level directly to the golden core stage from the Zhuji stage, even from the Ningchi stage. You see?"


    "What? A pill from Ningchi to Golden Core? Senior, can that really happen?"


    "Yes, the white diamond spirit pill. A single pill could cost between twenty thousand to fifty thousand gold coins. These pills were concocted by the Hegemon alchemists, as you can see, they are very expensive but they do their jobs effectively."


    "Senior, there must be something to it. It can''t just be that good. Or, can it?"


    "Well, it has one major flaw which is the foundation of the user. It will be shaky, not as solid as that of a normal cultivator and could make most to be stuck at the golden core stage. The pill is mainly good for people with less chances of cultivation, but make no mistake, it may have flaws but it gives them the immortality of hundreds of millions of years if they survived their tribulations."


    "Oh, it is truly a formidable pill. But, i think the heavenly root spirit pill will be just fine for me, senior."


    "Yes, the heavenly root pill. Although you are a Last-Sword, it will still cost you five thousand gold coins."


    "That''s fine senior. Senior, can you please take a look at this?" Haider produced a blue crystalline from his pocket.


    The alchemist eyes went wide and wild as he stared at the blue crystalline with opened mouth.


    "Is that crunchy spirit crystal? Do you know how much this can cost if it''s pure grade? Well, i will need to check the level of the spirit energy condensation to determine how much it can cost. Do you mind?"


    "Of course not, senior. I completely trust you."As he sent the crystal to the alchemist master.


    The alchemist master took out a small transparent mirror, a small transparent bottle and a talisman. After setting them on the table, he put the crystal into the bottle and placed it on the talisman.


    "This mirror is a scale of time, the transluscent scale, it tells how long an alchemist product or a plant has been existing. The bottle is to contain the potency and aura of the thing being tested from leaking or contamination. And, the talisman is time seal on the product to prevent time effect on the product."


    A few seconds later, the crystal started to give off a brilliant radiance with the bottle slightly vibrating. Then, the translucent mirror started to glow with a faint changing lights before stopping on the rainbow light.


    "A total grade spirit crystal?" He asked in absolute shock.


    "How? Do you know this can make more powerful evil hearted ones to seek your death? How do you come by this? No, don''t tell me, it''s better for me not to even think about it talkless of knowing. You don''t just sell this, you have to auction it anonymously."


    "Senior, i think i will manage by. But, is there any chance i can exchange this for the heavenly root pill?"


    "You really want to exchange it? Alright, though I don''t know how much this can sell for but i guess we can do that. I only need to find a suitable auction event for it, i have to check with neighbouring cities to see which one will be hosting an auction soon."


    Watching Haider with a mixture of fascination and bewilderment.


    "Do you have any more crystals?"


    "Yes senior, i do have five more. And, we will share the money equally if you can sell them. What do you think, senior?"


    "Hmm, no problem. Let me handle it, i''ll see what i can do. But, keep this quiet, okay? I will inform you when i have some information."


    He gave Haider the heavenly root spirit pill and quickly transfered the crystal into his spatial sac. He had to be cautious since he didn''t know who the boy''s family were, he could even have an hegemon as an ancestor. He would try his best to sell the crystals, who knows what other items the boy may want to sell?


    Leaving the marketplace, Haider went directly to his room and locked the door from the inside. Sitting down in the lotus position, he took out one blue crystalline and chewed it before swallowing it. Closing his eyes, he started to cycle the Chi energy by moving it from his dantian through the meridians and back to.


    Soon after that, he removed the heavenly root spirit pill from his robe pocket and swallowed it. The pill melted upon entering his body and the energy from the pill flowed into his dantian. The moment it mixed with the Chi energy in his dantian, the explosive interaction made him collapsed and fainted.


    When he finally regained consciousness, he noticed that his body was still radiating faint rainbow lights and that his body had undergone a massive transformation.


    His body was still radiating a faint rainbow lighthe strength and power of his body had increased and all his senses are sharper and keener than before.


    The lower dantian which was the root of the spiritual tree had transformed into a large square palacium with four massive rainbow corner pillars that extended to the middle dantian.


    The most wonderful change was the transformation of the giant sphere of Chi energy into a massive orb of liquid rainbow light. Liquid energy was the true form of condensed Chi energy not the solid energy and liquid light energy was the true begining of primordials.


    His body felt weirdly strange, it was as if he was looking at himself through a stranger''s eyes. The sensation, the feeling.


    So this was the Zhuji stage. The stage where heavens defying cultivation truly started from. Powerful. It seemed he would be the first of the new disciples to undergo heavenly tribulation.


    The next time he tried to gather spiritual energy would bring down heavenly tribulation.


    His family had toldhim to prepare for heavenly tribulation once he reached the Zhuji stage. There would be three stages where a cultivator would experience heavenly tribulation.


    The Zhuji stage, the embryonic defiance phase. The cultivator having ideas about defying the heavens.


    The Jindan stage, low defiance phase. The cultivator would be defying the heavens by forcefully gathering spiritual energy from the heavens.


    The Yuanying stage, half defiance phase. The forming of the nascent soul by the cultivator in an attempt to be a true immortal showing heavens defiance.


    And, the Shenxian, total defiance phase. Where the cultivator would be attempting to finally escape tribulation by becoming a god.


    But that wouldn''t be the end of tibulations, there would be the cosmic tribulation for any cultivator on the way of becoming a divine.


    Haider stood up, flexed his muscles and executed the shifting heavens hand technique. Without using Chi, the force of the hand technique was so powerful he had to stop the execution mid way.


    Wondering how his Chi energy would be like, he released a bit of energy from his body, it was so powerful that the energy vibration was felt throughout the section.


    Moments later, he felt a vibration on his body, he was trying to locate the source of the vibration when he felt the vibration once again. It looked as if it was coming from the spatial sac. Still trying to be sure, he felt the vibration the third time and he was sure it was coming from the spatial sac.


    He cautiously opened his spatial sac and discovered that it was the pagoda causing the vibration. Then, he removed the pagoda from the sac and placed it on the floor in the middle ofroom. Immediately it touched the floor, the pagoda grew to the size of a small door.


    The pagoda? Could it be the same door that senior was talking about? Maybe a door to the belly of a beast. He was having mixed thoughts but after much deliberation, he finally made up his mind to enter through the door.


    "I''m impressed childling. How long has it been? And here you are."


    "Senior Hypathos, you flatters me."


    "That means you have advanced to the Zhuji level, you are now a premier cultivator."


    "I just advanced, senior, not even up to ten minutes."


    "You should have enjoyed your moment longer, anyways, do you want to take a look at any world in particular? The worlds are at your fingertips."


    "Senior, now? I''m not sure senior, i''ve never been outside our continent before. I don''t know what another world will be like."


    "No harm in trying. You can even check a smaller world, what do you say?"


    "Okay senior, i guess i can try. But how will i leave the place?"


    "There will be a door like this one on the other side, when you want to come back you only need to enter the door and you will be back here. The door will be a portal for you."


    "Senior, what if i can''t find the door back?"


    "Then make sure you know where the door is. Now, let''s try the Charet Planet."


    "Senior, maybe we should check the worlds carefully before- nooooo."


    Before he could finish his words, he was sent out through the door to Charet planet.

 20 The Flying Stars Sec

    The free sky blazes blue. Haider who was already disoriented from the use of the portal, had to cover his eyes for the sun light was too bright. Once he got adjusted, he let out a soft gasp as he smelled the fresh air around him and let out a genuine smile. He looked at the green trees standing proudly, strongly, free and healthy. He could spot some juicy red fruits hanging above on the trees.


    He looked around in amazement.


    The flowers were radiant and beautiful swaying with the wind. Oh the wind, that nice breeze against his face with the wonderful smell of roses met his nose. He heard the faint sound of chirping above and saw birds soar across the sky. The warm gentle sun shone on him, filling his body with warmth but he took no notion of it for the beauty was to great.


    Lost in the sad enjoyment of the scenery,he nearly collided with the three sect Savants, the enlightened ones. They were the school safekeepers roaming the internal premises of the school, constantly checking for the safety of the sect and security discrepancies.


    "You! Stop right there."


    Realizing they were addressing him, he quickly glanced at where he came from but there was no door there. Then, he knew he was in some sort of troubles and his mind rang. "Senior Hypatios."


    "Why are you sneaking around in a restricted area?"


    "And, why are you not in your school attire?"


    "You are one of the outer disciples, aren''t you? Oh, i see. Are you trying to hide from participating in the competition?"


    "Or, do you think these Ten Cloud spirit fruits will help you? Foolish boy you are."


    "Please forgive me seniors, i didn''t mean to enter this place intentionally. It was by accident." Haider pleaded with them."


    "Accident? Accident your head. As it is with the rules of the Flying Stars sect, sneaking around in the restricted area, trying to steal some Ten Cloud spirit fruits, trying to dodge the upcoming competition."


    "You will be cutting fifty bamboo trees that must be arranged in rolls of ten each."


    "One week of solitary solitude, to think of your actions and ask for forgiveness."


    "And, one week of sweeping the school premises. Now follow us."


    They led him to the outer hall of the sect which was pretty big with many sect stewards busy preparing and arranging the outer disciples for the competition that would be starting on the same morning and handed him over to one of the sect stewards. The learned ones. Some of them were graduates of the sect while some were inducted into the sect based on their quality strength and skills.


    "Find him a robe, then take him to the bamboo forest and make sure he cut fifty bamboo stems. We will be checking later."


    The steward acknowledged the Savants and waited for them to depart before turning to Haider. He looked him with eyes being given to a serial trouble maker. He had been having a relatively hard day already, now he had to stay in the bamboo forest supervising an idiot trouble maker.


    "Follow me. And, for heavens tears, no talking and no stupid sound making."


    Haider really wanted to ask some questions but he had just been told to maintain his peace, so he cautiously sighed and followed him.


    The place they came to wasn''t just a bamboo forest but a bamboo planet. Covering hundreds of acres of land, the bamboo forest was densely populated with big bamboo trees. It spreaded in all directions like an ocean of bamboo trees, it really deserved to be a world on its own.


    They navigated the forest for a time before they came to an area where there was a recent bamboo cutting activity. They surely had a pattern of cutting the bamboo trees.


    "We are here now, you can start cutting from the right side and if you finish on time maybe you can participate in the competition and i can get to watch. So please, hurry up."


    There was no other option for him than to cut the bamboo trees. The steward was at the early stage of evanesce core, hence, he didn''t fancied his chances of escaping, so he wouldn''t risk it. Particularly when he wasn''t sure if the door would open for him even if he managed to reach it. It would only bring more punishments anyways, more dire punishments.


    He took his mind of it and concentrated on the task at hand. The bamboo trees. He looked at the bamboo trees again. How in heaven''s tears, would they call these things bamboo trees?


    The bamboo trees were no simple or ordinary bamboo trees, they were extremely thick and strong like timber. These were no bamboo trees, these should be called oak trees. For a Juchi or a Lianchi cultivator, it would have been seriously challenging. But, he was a Zhuji cultivator of the early stage, he should be able to breeze through the bamboo with ease despite all these obstacles.


    Or so he thought.


    It would be the first time he would actually use his Chi energy to accomplish a task, thus, he pumped enoungh Chi into his body. With complete focus, he raised the axe and it fell on the bamboo tree with a clean swing. But to his surprise, the moment the axe touched the bamboo tree, it sent back a reflective shock that spread through his body making him sprawled on the floor.


    After recovering back from the little shock, he carefully and thoughtfully looked at the bamboo trees. These were serious foes that deserved proper attention. He started to analyse what could be wrong in his mind without allowing the steward to know that he had no idea of everything going on.


    Did he tried to cut a bit too high? It must be, he would try to cut low next.


    He swung the axe low hoping it would be fine the next time around but, he recieved the same shock that made him staggered a few steps back.


    "What is wrong with this boy? Is he sick in the head or trying to properly waste my time?" He looked on in bewilderment before


    "Hey you!Why are you behaving this way? I still have a lot to do, get on with it and stop wasting my time. I warn you."


    "Senior, i assure you, i''m really trying to cut the bamboo trees. But, they are too strong."


    "How can you be using your Chi to cut the Ten Triagram spirit bamboo trees?. If you are really trying, you will use your natural strength and not your stupid Chi. Now, can you carry on so we can leave here on time?"


    "I will give it my all senior, you can count on that."


    Body strength. Well, he should be able to relate to that, his bones was already strong like that of silver snow bear and his body like that of a mountain.


    Knowledge was truly the key to success. Having known how, he landed his stroke on the bamboo stem with greater success. There was no reflective shock or any repercussion. He continued to land his swing on the bamboo and chips started to appear on the bamboo stem after every swing. He continued to swing the axe and after ten minutes, he finished with the bamboo tree then moved to the next one. It took him three hours to finish cutting the twenty bamboo tree and arranged them into rolls of tens..


    "Heaven''s tears, thank you for putting my life and maybe yours, into consideration. Maybe you are not that stupid. I believe you can stil participate in the competition afterall. Let''s go."


    They returned to the outer hall where sect stewards were dividing the outer disciples into groups. Haider quickly joined the disciples on the instructions of apprentice. There were five groups of twenty disciples each, all together and he was in the fifth group. The were lined up according to their group as they walked towards the sect''s arena. The sect''s grand master, the masters, the associate masters, sect stewards and the sect''s disciples were already at the arena when the outer disciples marched in.


    The grandmaster raised his magnified voice which filled the whole arena.


    "I welcome you all to the annual Bloodgrit competition. It is our tradition to welcome new disciples into the inner sect through this competition where they would be directly under school masters after being successful. We know it would have been difficult for you to enter this sect directly to become inner disciples due to different reasons, but you have the chance to do that through this competition and you must grab it with both hands."


    He stopped to look around, there was total silence in the arena as he continued.


    "We have a total of twenty masters who are assisted by their associates, masters with great abilities and powers that will surely further your development and advancement in leaps. After successfully completing the competition, the masters will choose ten of you to be directly under them, to learn from them. So i tell you, give it your sweat and blood and maybe you can be one of the choosen. We will start with the collection of the magical beasts'' cores from the dale of beasts. Let the competition begin."


    Ah, Charat planet. Heavens tears, how did he get himself involved in all these? This world wasn''t his birth world in the first place, would he turn to beasts'' food himself in a foreign world? How ironic would it be, for him to be eaten by a magical turtle. Really ironic. His mother, grandparents, uncle primus and his friends at sect. Heavens tears.


    Having no idea where the dale of beasts was, he decided to stay in the middle of the group of disciples. He couldn''t ask any disciple for help or direction since it was every disciple to himself or herself. Pretending to know his way around, he increased his pace to match that of the speeding disciples. He couldn''t even use the swift spine technique not to give much away, the generally known light steps was enough for him to keep up.


    Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the dale of beasts. The haven of the magical beasts was a wide area that stretched for miles and sorrounded by mountains and hills. Although, the dale mostly contained less powerful magical beasts, it was not a place to be taken lightly. It was the beasts a cultivator couldn''t detect that were most dangerous. But the good thing was that, the magical beasts were not sentient animals, they could not reason or strategize. They only knew either to attack or to run away.


    Since it was a very wide area, the disciples spreaded out looking for magical beasts. Some of them were combing the outside perimeters while some ventured a bit further into the dale. Before long, many disciples have started engaging some beasts in gruelling battles. But one thing he could see was their strength, they were on par and some were even stronger than him.


    Are these people eating rocks and metals? They were not even Zhuji yet. How come?


    Glancing ocassionaly at them, he too, would try to engage the beasts head on like them, though he would have prefered to have a weapon but he had no weapon. His thought went to the training sword, he should have kept one sword in his spatial sac for times like this. But who would have thought?


    He had drifted away to the mountain side looking for something to use when he felt a deep sense of danger coming from the behind. He didn''t need to turn for him to know that it was a really big dangerous animal and was very close behind him. He quickly used the swift spine technique to move forward several yards before swiftly turning around. A second after leaving that spot, a mighty paw of fourteen inches iron claws raked the empty air. Those claws might have cut him into four pieces. He could see the beast clearly now, it was the rare white longdan tiger.


    The white longdan tiger was watching with him with keen dead eyes, growling as it inched forward.


    Watching the beast drew nearer, Haider started to contemplate. He had never used the shifting hand in a true combat before and definitely had never used his Chi in combat. He quickly came into conclusion to use only the Shifting Heavens hand technique without using Chi. Though, he was stronger, the white longdan tiger''s claws and teeth were the dangerous weapons he would try to avoid.


    How powerful were they? He slowly took backward steps watching the white longdan tiger with complete focus. Though, he wasn''t sure about the power of the tiger, he was sure about its speed. It definitely wasn''t faster than him.


    The white longdan tiger attacked with very fast speed, Haider who almost had his back to a tree, waited agonisingly until the last moment before he quickly used the swift spine technique to evade the attack. As he was moving past the tiger, he used the tiger''s momentum to twist its right arm under it. With the force of its flight, it collided with the tree, the force impact drove the nail of its claws into its own guts, disemboweling it totally. The longdan tiger tried to move but finally collapsed.


    It was a really big longdan tiger. Haider looked at the corpse of the longdan tiger and wondered how he was going to remove the core from the it.


    "It looks like you need some help."


    "Uhm, hello. Didn''t see you there. I guess i do, a knife or something to remove the core. Didn''t bring mine. Silly me. Name is Haider by the way."


    "Genji. Here have it." She said and handed him a long knife.


    "I saw your fight with the tiger, your strength is good for an outer disciple but, your speed? No outer disciple can move like that."Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him.


    "Don''t thinkn like that, there''s nothing to it, i''m just naturally fast. Thank you for helping me out anyways."


    He removed the core, cleaned the knife and returned it to her.


    "Hm."


    "What about you? Have you gotten one?"


    "Yes i have. And, are you not taking the hide and the claws?"


    "If you want them, you can take them. I don''t want to burden myself with loads, too lazy for that."


    Since you''ve finished, time for me to go then. See you."


    She placed the removed hide and claws on her shoulder and disappeared with flash steps.


    Tracing his path back, he left the dale of beasts with his acquired core and returned to the flying stars school with few minutes to spare on the original time and delivered his core. The core''s strength was measured and entered it to his name. They did the same to other disciples too, the strength of their cores were registered to their names accordingly.


    Afterwards, the sect grandmaster addressed the audience again.


    "The first round of the competition has finished and the names of all the successful disciples have been recorded. Tomorrow, the successful disciples will move on to the second phase of the competition, martial combat. The life of a cultivator is a hard one, you will face foes and opponents, if your martial combat is lacking, you will die. This competition is not to primarily show your combat skills but your combat hearts. A heart willing to learn is a heart worth teaching. Prepare for the second round, tomorrow morning we''ll continue. Good day to you all."


    What would happen now? He didn''t even know what he was supposed to do now. The Savants wanted him to go on solitary solitude, who knows where?


    He would just follow the other outer disciples away from prying eyes.


    He followed them to the outer premises of the sect where he saw a sect steward and quickly approached him. Twenty minutes later, he was assigned to a room he would be sharing with three others, Jiang, Fa and Chaun.


    He wouldn''t be able to practice any martial or mystical techniques because of his new room mates. He wouldn''t be able to cultivate because of heavenly tribulation that would descend the moment he tried to. He wouldn''t be able to use his spatial sac too and no meat.


    With sagged shoulders, he shook his head.


    Time to prepare for the following day.

 21 Becoming A Disciple of The Flying Stars Sec

    In order to learn something about where he was, Haider had been feigning total memory loss. Something he said he had been suffering from despite all the medicinal plants and spirit plants he had been using. They had believed him and even sympathized with him. It was just the situation he found himself, afterall, the need to survive was a fundamental force of life.


    And he had learned a lot from his three room mates Jiang, Fa and Chaun.


    The planet, Charat, was a major mortal world of humans which was located in the sameOclegus galaxy as the planet Lorra, the homeworld of Hader. Charat was a massive giant planet with a surface area of over five billion square kilometers and a population of over twenty billion people.


    Planet Charat was under the rule of an supreme sovereign who went by the name emperor Qing Yuan. Emperor Qing Yuan was an hegemon cultivator who had reached the stage of immortal ascension but refused to ascend to the heavenly realm. Though, he would never be able to reach godhood, he had already attained natural immortality, unless he was killed, he would live for eternity.


    Supremacy in a mortal world was determined by the level of cultivation and artifacts. Therefore, any ruler with a divine atifact was regarded as a supreme. Emperor Qin Yuan was a supreme sovereign in the possession of the Stellar Star divine armour. A water affinity armour with the total power of the universe, one of the divine artifacts created by the universe during the primordial creative expansion period. This made him a ruler of a massive planet with almost non existing opposition for hundreds of millions of years.


    The planet he ruled, planet Charat, was divided into ten massive continets. Maferion[The Fotune Empire], Tioborat[The Etherel Yonder], Amuzan[The Jade Sanctuary], Cholinica[The Golden Lands], Nutipia[The Scarlet Empire], Vlethora[The Azure Nexus], Solicia[The Sacred Vale], Chilador[The Eclipse Domain], Emmirim[The Infernal Territory] and Palitara[The Undying World]. Each of these continent was being ruled by an Overlord.


    Each continent was divided into ten Kingdoms with each of these kingdoms being ruled by a king. Each kingdom was made up of many cities and villages. The cities were gorverned by the lords and the villages by the chiefs.


    His three room mates were from the same continent, Maferion but from different villages.


    Jiang was from the Cloud Sea village.


    Fa was from the Spring Moon village.


    And Chuan came from Oracle Reach village.


    The Flying stars sect that he found himself in, was regarded as one of the smallest sect on the Maferion continent despite being bigger than the Last-Sword sect on his home planet. Sects were ranked according to the size of the sect, the levels of the cultivators in the sect, the types of artifacts and manuscripts they possessed.


    With all the recieved information, he had a proper idea of the planet and how things worked in the world.


    Despite being one of the smallest sects on the planet, the premises of the Flying Stars sect was already extremely large and wide. It had more than five hundred disciples and over twenty masters and forty associate masters.


    If the sect was one of the smallest sects on the planet, how will the biggest look like?


    The light of the morning was already seeping into the room which signified that daybreak was happening. By the look of it, the day had the potential to be a very bright and beautiful one.


    He reached for the water basin and quickly washed his face. He used some of the water to clean his mouth before he quickly put some mint leaves in his mouth. He checked his robe to make sure it was in good condition before glancing at the other boys who he saw had already finished preparing themselve and were standing beside their beds. He hurriedly followed suit by standing beside his bed of woven bamboo mats..


    There were rules and regulations that every sect followed. For the Flying Stars sect, one of the regulations was that, every morning at daybreak, the sect stewards in charge of the outer sections of sect premises, will entered the rooms to check their states. Then, they would marched outside ahead of him where they would be assigned their tasks for the day.


    Some disciples would be sweeping and maintaining the premises, some disciples would be cutting the bamboo trees after which they would be arranging them in rolls, meanwhile, some disciples would be attending to the farms and gardens and others would be following stewards hunters to hunt


    But today was different.


    They would be following the sect stewards to the sect arena where the names of the successful disciples would be disclosed.


    After they had all assembled together, they were arranged into groups of ten. Their faces were radiating their anxiousness, the anxiety of anticipation that was mostly affecting the outer disciples. Not knowing if you are successful in becoming anninner disciple or not.


    With the stewards leading them, they marched towards the arena. Audience were still streaking into the arena in numbers.


    Not long after they arrived, the grandmaster putting on a white robe arrived alongside the masters and associate masters all in white robes.


    He raised his hands to gain silence from the audience.


    "I welcome you all to the second and final day of the Bloodgrit competition which started yesterday. Today, you will be engaging in the Twenty Golem Steps. There were twenty sinkable bamboo sticks erected on the ground of the arena, these bamboo sticks are guarded by iron golems. You will need to move from the beginning to the end on these bamboo sticks. If you stay on a bamboo stick for too long, it will start to sink. If your feet touched the ground, the arena will be locked down and you will be attacked by dark steel golems for five minutes before the lock is removed. You have the maximum of fifteen minutes to navigate the arena, if you didn''t get to the other side, your time will be up. "


    The grandmaster halted his speech as he looked from one face to another.


    "Intelligence and strength. These are needed to achieve success in this competition. If you are successful, you will be accepted by a master. Put your heart into it and success is yours. Wish you all well. Now, let''s commence."


    There were fifty outer disciples left after the first phase of the competition. They formed ten lines of five near the entrance of the arena from where they will be entering one after the other.


    Intelligence with strength was truly the nature of the game. There were twenty sinking bamboo sticks arranged on the ground at irregular pattern from one end of the arena to the other. The bamboo sticks were continually changing in pattern according to the star movements making it difficult to navigate.


    Temporarily imbued in the ground, was the Space Seal array, a formation that would activate when a cultivator stepped on wrong bamboo stick and the cultivator''s leg touched the ground.


    Navigating the arena is all about the stars movements. But, the problem was the ever changing pattern.


    Talismans were imbued into the core of these golems that were going to be facing. Talismans that made them recognize and follow the rules and regulations of the ground. Any wrong step on the part of the cultivator and they would instantly be sorrounded by dark steel golems of the same level and strength.


    One by one, they started undergoing the heavenly mammoth dance.


    The first disciple to enter the arena moved with great determination, he was navigating the transverse when something happened to him that made him lost his focus and triggered the arrays. He was with incredible strength that made him fought his way out of the array two times but the time was his undoing. The time had ran out while he was about to advance to the last four bamboo sticks after battling the second set of humanoids.


    With great agony, he admitted defeat and exited the arena..


    One by one, they continued to enter the arena.


    Not too long after, it was Haider''s turn to pass through the transverse of the arena. He could have navigated the arena by using the swift spine technique for a much more faster speed steps but the audience, especially the elders, would have noticed that the technique wasn''t something an outer disciple would have known. Something an outer dsciple couldn''t have learned..


    It was either the generally available flashstep or quickstep. Not that there was any difference, but he decided to stay with the flashstep. He enforced his body with a bit of Chi energy since the humanoid levels would automatically transform to the same level of strength and speed like him because of the talismanic seals in their cores.


    With his body strengthened with a small amount of Chi, he stepped on the first bamboo stick which immediately started to sink.


    He had never been in a competition like that before. It was exhilirating yet concerning.


    The moment he stepped on the, the humanoids attacked him. Since he wasn''t using any weapon, they too didn''t use any weapon. He didn''t know the pattern to use to navigate the transverse but he had been watching the disciples as they stepped onto the arena. He had a vague idea of their movement but the bamboo pattern was always changing.


    He was using the shifting heavens technique to battle the humanoids, he was mainly using it to block their attacks then he would quickly used the flashsteps to move to the next bamboo stick. Too many blows were landing on his body but he didn''t stop. Whenever his strike landed on a humanoid, he would quickly use its body to launch himself to the next bamboo stick.


    Luckily for him, he was getting nearer as he continued using that method. He was almost through to the Cloud spirit fruit when he stepped on the wrong bamboo stick triggering the arrays.


    Arena lockdown and dark steel golems.


    And they attacked him in their numbers. He was blocking, he couldn''t even land attacks of his own because of their numbers were telling on him. Whenever he used the flash steps, they would use the same. He tried the quick steps with the same results and he was sure that they will reciprocate if he used the swift spine technique.


    If only he could use swift spine technique, maybe he would have left the arena since.


    The time was winding down and they kept on attacking him until one of them got in the way of a blow meant for him. Seeing that it was shaken by the blow, he quickly hit it with the shifting heavens in the chest which sent it sprawling on the floor. He quickly used the golem''s body as a support to clevely cross to the other side snatching up the spirit fruit.


    That was close.


    The competition continued until the fifty disciples had participated in the Twenty Golems Steps dance. The twenty disciples that were sucessful were ushered to the front where one of the sect stewards was standing with the element affinity detector.


    The detector was a pure metal scale that could determine the element affinity of a cultivator. If the cultivator had more than one affinity, it would display the one that was most dominant or major in the cultivator. The masters will use the results to select their disciples and the disciple would be taught on the dominant affinity.


    The way of Charat planet, all cultivators specialized in one affinity. Any other affinities were side effects.


    The disciples were expressing their happiness as they were being lined up in front of the masters for their affinity detection. Haider was among the last twenty along with his room mate, Fa and Genji.


    When it was his turn, Haider stepped forward and stood at the front of the metal scale.


    "Light and lightning. Lightning the major."


    It continued until all the successful disciples had finished determining their element affinities.


    Then again, the sect grandmaster raised his voice which covered the arena.


    "Well done to all of you that participated in the competition, you all performed very well. Big congratulations to the twenty of you that made it successfully through the stages. Those of you that fell short, continue to practice and prepare properly for the next competition. I hope this will serve as a motivation for you. Those of you that were chosen, will now join the other direct sect disciples under your masters. Your sect master will provide you with your own acre of land to farm. There are seeds, stems and roots of different crops. That incude some plants. Yes, you can also rear approved farm animals. What you produce, you can sell at the sect''s market place or exchange with others. Remember, you work for your wellbeing. Alright, don''t relent in learning and training. Aim to bring honor to this sect and yourself. I bid you Welcome."


    Thirty minutes later, he was at the mainhall of the inner sect together with the other nineteen disciples where they were being attended to by the sect stewards. They swore oath of allegiance and good behaviour before they were given the sect disciples tokens, two new sets of blue robes and a Red Beryl spirit fruit.


    After collecting their items, they followed the steward to the Flowing Sanctum hill range, hundreds of hills chained together, the place they would be living as inner disciples.


    As they started to walk towards the place, he was joined by Fa.


    "Hello Haider."


    "Hello Fa, i didn''t know you were that good. You were like a flowing river."


    "You flatters me. It was my second time participating in the competition, been preparing for it a long time. Although, the golems still made it very difficult. What happened to you in there?"


    "I couldn''t remember both the alignment and the movement of the stars. I suffered a complete memory loss, it really affected me."


    "But you managed to pass through, you are really good too. And i saw you are lightning affiliated, really impressed. Anyway, try not to electrocute me. Hehe. "


    "Hahaha, you flatters me. You know it was nothing compared to yours, Air affinity. You controll everything. By the way, try not to suffocate me. Haha"


    "Hehehe, now you flatters me beyond my heart''s hold. We should be grateful for passing. If not, it would have been another year waiting."


    "Yes, we should be grateful. Ah, look!" Haider pointed to the caves that appeared in their views.


    "The Flowing Sanctum!"


    "Truly wonderful."


    The hills were chained together in a beautiful manner with each hill having an acre of land located at the back for farming, they would be able to plant everything they would need for their wellbeing and cultivate without disurbance.


    Heavens tears.

 22 Heavenly Tribulations

    The flowing sanctum was the official residential area of the sect. The flowing sanctum was divided into three parts. The first set of the flowing sanctum was the artificial range of hillocks for the disciples and sect stewards. The second range was a set of hills for the masters, assistantsand savants. The third one was a group of mountains for the grandelder, the grand patriarch and the ancestral hegemon. These ranges were seperated by large valleys.


    The hillocks for the disciples contained a personal cultivation chambers for solitary seclusion without any form of disturbance. At the back of the hillocks were the acres of land for the disciples to farm and rear animals.


    He sat crosslegged inside his cultivation chamber. The hillock had two small chambers, the first one was the small storage chamber and the second one was the smaller cultivation and sleeping chamber.


    Farming! He would have his own farm to plant crops and rear animals in a new world.


    Anyways, his ancestral family line was that of peasant farmers and he was born a peasant farmer. He would readily adjust to the new way of life at the sect.


    Still, it felt really strange and weirdly funny.


    He had entered this world by chance when senior Hypatios had sent him off, mistakenly? But two days later, he was having a small hill, a cultivation chamber and farm to himself in the space of two days.


    Really strange.


    Two days from his current time, he would have to go back to his home world because of his lectures that would happen in the Last-Sword sect. As a beginner, he only had the two houses'' lectures twice a week. The lecture time would increase as he advanced in learning.


    For the time being, he wouldn''t worry about that. He had to decide the place for his tribulations which would come if he tried to absorb spiritual energy.


    He decided to undergo his tribulations there and then. It would be better in this world than his home world. The elders and acolytes would know he had advanced the moment they saw him in his homeworld anyway.


    He stood up, leaving the cultivation chamber, he exited to the outside where he used the Swift Spine technique to reach the cleared bamboo area. While there, he sat crosslegged, took out the Red Beryl Spirit fruit and had a bite.


    They said it was a foundation establishment fruit, one of a kind. On this planet, it was all about fruits and plants. From the primordial times before the cultivators started concocting pills, natural existences in fruits, plants and trees were the sources of spiritual and medicinal vital forces.


    The sensation of the Red Beryl fruit in his mouth was amazing. He looked at it the rest of the fruit and shook his head. How could a child like himself measured the extent of the wonder of the universe? He finished eating the rest of the fruit, closed his eyes and started circulating the energy of the fruit. He moved the energy from his dantian through his meridians and back to his dantian.


    Within few minutes, the effect kicked in. His dantian started to absorb the spiritual energy in the fruit in waves, the massive giant liquid orb started to shrink in size due to its condensation. All these were happening in his dantian, but his mind was on a different issue.


    He was thinking about the aftermath of the heavenly tribulations.


    When the heavenly tribulations struck a cultivator with the corresponding numbers of lightning, the lightning wouldn''t strike the body but the soul of the cultivator. The soul of the cultivator that wanted to achieve immortality since it was the soul that achieved immortality not tge body.


    Right from the Zhuji stage, the soul of a cultivator would be out of the limbo and into the dantian forming a orb of light. By the time the soul of the cultivator reached immortal ascension, it would have formed a true immortal nascent existence according to the nature of its cultivation, a soul that could manifest outside the body. The nascent soul was the true power of a cultivator, the body was just a living shell.


    Jufeng''s mother, Reena, had a nascent soul of herself in white feather armor and flaming wings. That was the true existence of Reena, her true immortal self. When she would reach godhood, her soul would be able to live on its own outside the body. As long as the soul was alive outside the body, the body would continue to live and function perfectly. This was a way the gods and celestials protected their true souls. They would be using their bodies in everyday activities but keeping their true soul secured in a safe place. Although, the body was not as powerful as the true soul in a long shot, most prefered it that way.


    The body could never live without the soul but the soul could live without the body. An immortal only needed to nurture a new body for the existing soul, tho it was difficult and time consuming.


    That was the reason why the tribulations would attack the soul instead of the body of the cultivator.


    During heavenly tribulations, if a cultivator was at the Zhuji, the lightning would strike the orb in the dantian. If the cultivator was at the Jindan stage, the lightning would strike the core in the dantian. For a nascent soul, it would strike the formed soul avatar in the dantian.


    When a cultivator advanced to the Zhuji stage to become a premier but later failed the tribulations that came with the stage, the orb of light in the dantian which was the combination of the soul with the Chi energy, would start to dissipate. The cultivator would become a loose cultivator with a lifespan of ten million years before shaking hands with death followed by reincarnation. The same thing with the remaining four stages that attracted tribulations.


    But, immediately after the completion of a heavenly tribulations, a nimbus will descend on the cultivator marking the full advancement onto the stage. This nimbus is the indication of a cultivator true advancement to the next stage. His powers with his aura would manifest fully as a premier cultivator, that was the thing with tribulations. Without undergoing the tribulations, without recieving the nimbus, a cultivator would never truly advance to the next stage. The cultivator could only see glimpses of the next stage powers if he didn''t experience both the tribulations and the nimbus.


    The nimbus.


    It was the universal circle of light that descended on cultivators that survived tribulations.


    At the Zhuji stage, the nimbus had four colors; red, green, yellow and blue, the colors of the four primary elements of the universe. They represented the four primary elements of life; red[Fire], green[Air], yellow[Terra] and blue[Water].


    At the Jindan stage, the nimbus had five colors; red, green, yellow, blue and orange. The four primary colors with the addition of orange[Wood].


    The nascent soul formation stage had six colored nimbus; red, green, yellow, blue, orange and indigo. The indigo[Illusions and dreams].


    The immortal acension stage had seven colors to it. Red, green, yellow, blue, orange, indigo and violet. The color violet[Spacetime], completed the rainbow nimbus.


    The nimbus at the cosmic ascension stage had only one color, the polychromatic white light. The combination of all the colors, true light of creation.


    Jufeng had recently advanced to the Zhuji stage as a premier but he hadn''t become a full premier. He had to go through the tribulations and should have recieved the nimbus to become a full premier of the Zhuji stage.


    He decided that it would be better to advance in this world due to the fact that most of the outer disciples were at the Ningchi stage already, it wouldn''t draw attention to him. The problem would be after the tribulations. Eyes would be on him, how would he have the chance to get back home on time for his lectures? He needed to think carefully about it.


    Then, the sky began to change.


    Raging cloud started to gather overhead and spiraled with thundering sounds. There would be five lightning strikes of the heavenly tribulations at the Zhuji stage. The first lightning strike would be fire lightning, the second would be air lightning, the third would be terra lightning, the fourth one was the water lightning and the last one was the combination of all these four lightning.


    The cloud started to gather in strength.


    Throughout the sect premises, the gathering cloud could be seen. Cultivators started to gather to observe, disciples gathered together in groups, masters observed from their hills, even the eyes of the grandmaster observed. The only exceptions were the grand patriarch and the ancestor who were meditating in seclusion.


    "Heavenly tribulations."


    "At the bamboo forest?"


    "Is it a disciple?"


    "A disciple? At the bamboo forest? I don''t think so."


    "A disciple would have used the cliff fall."


    "Maybe an elder."


    "Mhm, must be an elder."


    The disciples were speculating as they gathered and continued to watch from afar. Some of the masters also gathered near the bamboo area to observe.


    The raging cloud reached its crescendo and a powerful bolt of lightning the size of a child''s torso streaked down from it striking Jufeng''s orb of soul. The more powerful a soul was, the more powerful the lightning. From womb till then, Jufeng''s soul had been acquiring so much energy that his soul had formed a massive condensing orb of liquid light. After the lightning his soul, the high voltage spreaded around his soul making him scream in agony before it dissipated.


    The second lightning struck him, followed by the third and the fourth. The raging cloud started gathering strength for the last time, the cloud was booming with thunderous sounds before it released a lightning that combined all the previous four. The shockwave from the lightning made his mortal body collapsed but his soul was battling the lightning in the dantian.


    "Five lightning strikes. At the bamboo forest?"


    "That must be a Zhuji cultivator who became a full premier."


    "Had to be one of the new disciples."


    "Surey, a new disciple."


    "Strange. Truly strange."


    "I wonder whose disciple was that."


    "It''s a pity we couldn''t see through the walls of heavenly tribulations."


    "We''ll find out soon enough."


    The cloud cleared after the last lightning and the nimbus descended on Jufeng''s body after his soul had successfully passed the heavenly tribulations. The nimbus entered his soul making it transformed into a true premier soul. Even his aura had become manifested.


    Regaining himself, he was full of unctrollable joy. He never knew the trial would be that powerful, but thankfully, he had passed it. He thanked everybody he knows, everybody in his life, for seeing him through.


    He knew all the sect''s members would have noticed his heavenly tribulations, thus he decided not to use the swift spine technique but the flash steps. As he was using the flash steps to return to his hillock, he saw the elders and stopped.


    "Are you the one that was undergoing the tribulations?" Asked one of the elders.


    "Yes elderly masters, i just finished." Jufeng replied bowing very low.


    "Why did you use the forest instead of the Cliff Falls? Don''t you think about other''s safety?"


    "Forgive me elderly masters, i only used the place that came into my head. Please forgive me."


    "Are you a new inner disciple?"


    "Yes elderly masters, i was accepted from the outer section today sir."


    "And you already underwent the tribulations same day? How can that even be?"


    Elder Zhou Lin, who had been watching from the side cleared his throat and looked at the elders.


    "Fellow elders, this is my new disciple, Jufeng."


    "I remembered him now."


    "Yes, me too. Truly impressive of him."


    "It looks as if you have yourself a new genius, Zhou Lin."


    "Indeed, Zhou Lin."


    "Fellow elders, i believe we are done here. Zhou Lin, we''ll take our leave now."


    "Enjoy yourself young Jufeng. We hope we''ll be seeing you in good health later."


    The elders departed and left Zhou Lin alone with his disciple. The two of them slowly walked back towards the hill range.


    "You''ve had a long day Jufeng, go and have a rest. We''ll talk tomorrow."


    "Yes master."


    Finding himself alone, Jufeng sighed and used the flash steps to arrive at his cave. He ate some turtle meat and collapsed in the bamboo bed. He would be meeting the rest of the lightning disciples the following day, it would be a long day.


    He closed his eyes and he dreamt.

 23 The Third Charats Day

    "As i peered into the darkest of darkness, a void of no light, where no mere mortal or weak immortal ever dared to look, i saw eternal emptiness. Knowledge and wisdom were the two things standing between me and the void."--- Dao of the universe.


    He dreamt of place of creation that was as beautiful as a heavenly palacium of beautiful crystal gems with a beautiful garden and lovely fruit trees. The fruit tress of different kind lined the palacium garden with a river of heavenly elixir that was rich in sweetness flowing through it and lovely birds singing beautiful songs.


    The scenery was a delightful one to watch and experience. And he was living this dream to the full. He was relaxing by the river, eating heavenly fruits, drinking heavenly elixir and listening to the birds sing making his mind peaceful and calm, a perfect mood. He was having a wonderful time enjoying the place.


    Then, he realized that he was alone in this place.


    Where was everyone? How did he get here in the first place? This couldn''t be right. Definitely, something must be wrong with this place. The solemn sense of danger with being the only one or last one in a seemingly beautiful world.


    His mind was fastly processing all these when everything suddenly changed.


    Pure black tendrils of powerfully dangerous energy started to crawl all over the world turning it into a pit of terrible darkness. He quickly materialised a light energy. The darkness was extremely strong but he had enough Chi to maintain the light energy for the time being. It was like a faint candle light in the sphere of darkness but he kept it going. He tried to move but he couldn''t raise his legs, the weight of the black tendrils was weighing him down.


    Is this a dream?


    Just as he was wondering, a dark treble voice boomed out of the darkness.


    "Child, we know who you are. And nothing can save you."


    A pair of large shining black eyes, appeared out of the darkness.


    Jufeng woke up with a jolt from his sleep. What kind of dreams was that? The black tendrils resembled the atrament energy maybe with a little difference? He couldn''t say in totality. But this was simply a dream. What we fear, sometimes, appear in our dreams. He wouldn''t dwell on it for what it was. He remembered the words of his uncle, titan lord Primus that he needed to be much more stronger and powerful to be able to live without that kind of fear.


    The feeling of water as he splashed it on his face was refreshingly soothing and it had a little calming effect on his mind. As he was putting on his robe, he heard a knock on the door to his cave. He quickly fastened his robe and opened the door to find a disciple smiling at him.


    "Greetings brother Jufeng, my name is Yan Zhihao. First disciple of master Zhou Lin." Yan Zhihao gave a slightly cupped hand gesture.


    "I greet you senior brother Yan." Jufeng also extended a cupped hand forward with a slight bow.


    "I welcome you to the Lightning Reach. That''s the name of our faction by the way." Yan Zhihao beamed. "If you are ready, kindly follow me."


    "I''m ready senior brother Yan."


    Yan Zhihao led Jufeng to the faction hall where other fifty disciples were waiting. In the flying stars sect, all the disciples of a master would train together, the top disciples would help in training the new disciples. The strength of a faction was the strength of the sect as a whole. He quickly introduced them to Jufeng and vise-versa.


    Fifty disciples of lightning, this was much more than that of his home world''s sect. The thought of this being one of the smallest sect in this world is really hard to believe. How many disciples would the biggest sect have? Frightning.


    Couple of minutes later, master Zhou Lin entered the hall and slowly walked to the front of the hall facing the disciples. He was wearing a pristine white robe laced with gold threads.


    "Good morning master." They all chorused at once.


    "Hm." Master Zhou Lin nodded in acknowledgement.


    He glanced at their faces. His disciples were apprehensively watching him. They had been training very hard for the upcoming selection, they didn''t want to disappoint their master and the sect. He could understand their plight and deeply appreciated it. A true disciple was the one who put everything into practice not because of anxiousness of success but because of apprehension of failure. He commended that in them. While still looking at them, his mind strayed to the source of their predicament.


    Ozoros, the transient dominion.


    On every plane, there were , dominions of different sizes. It was inside these dominions that artifacts of different levels of power were hidden. One of these dominions was Ozoros, the transient dominion. A place located on the same planet, Charat. It was rumored to be a place where a powerful artifact was hidden, a divine or luminous artifact at the least.


    There were two types of dominions. They were the wake dominions and the fallen dominions.


    The wake dominions were dominions still had masters, their masters could be divine beasts, ancient sacred beasts, primordial titans or even demigods.


    The fallen dominions were ancient ruins. Once great and powerful dominions but had become tombs and catacombs.


    These two domininions were of the same regulations when it involved cultivators'' entrace into their premises. There were some that had no restrictions, all cultivators could enter. There were some that only golden core cultivators and above could enter. Yet, there were some ruins that golden cores and above couldn''t enter, only Zhuji level and below could enter. But the issue with the third type was that, these ruins were too powerful and dagerous for anyone below golden core level yet they were the only that could enter.


    That was where a peak stage nascent soul or an hegemon came in.


    After a spacetime premier would have located the area of the transient dominion, the hegemon or a peak stage nascent soul would have to open and hold a rift for the premiers to enter. After the premiers were inside, they would have to locate the entrance and activate at least two heavenly hold seals enabling the hegemon or peakstage nascent soul to enter the dominion for a period of time.


    But the difference? The supreme sovereign was in possession of five heavenly seal that could steadily hold the rift opened for a period of time before disintegrating. Five of the premiers would hold a heavenly seal each that they would locate by the gates of the ruins which would be easier for them to locate from the inside. And they would activate the seals once they were placed.


    Acquiring some divine or luminous artifacts was really extremely difficult and the Ozoros ruins was as diificult as any. For thousands of years, emperor Qing Yuan had been trying to get hold of the artifact inside Ozoros but had been unsuccessful. Every thousand years, sects would send chosen premiers to the emperor for this purpose.


    To be part of the chosen meant the sect would gain immeasurable recognition throughout the world and the cultivators would be important personalities if they could survive.


    Oh, how he wished he could provide a disciple that would represent the flying stars sect in front of the emperor. His name as a master would forever be legendary. But, their sect was one of the smallest, how could they compare to the top sects?


    Zhou Lin rested his eyes on Jufeng.


    Could he be the difference he had been waiting for?


    "Today, we have a new disciple in our midst, a new disciple from the outer section. I know you''ve already met him but i want to formally bring him to your awareness again as tradition stated. Jufeng, come forward."


    "Yes master." Jufeng voiced from the back as he hurried to the front.


    After having Jufeng beside him at the front, he continued.


    "You are all once a new disciple and you know what it takes. As a new disciple, we want to make sure that Jufeng here, feels welcome and comfortable to be with us. We all want to do everything we can to help him and guide him. Every member of our faction is valuable and precious. I know you all have your eyes set on the upcoming event but we want to train and prepare every member of our faction, together. We want to show everybody that our Lightning reach can be a main anchor of the sect and we can only do that together. Especially, as we want our faction to present representative to the sovereign domain."


    He flicked his hand in the air and it stirred a bit of lightning streaks.


    "Jufeng, here, underwent his triubilations last night same day he was accepted. I don''t know what that means, but i hope it''s something for the better.He will be with Yan Zhihao but all of you have the same responsibilities."


    He turned to Jufeng with a mild smile on his face.


    "Jufeng, watch, listen, learn and practice. Don''t discard their words, you could always learn from them. As a cultivator you wouldn''t go wrong on this."


    He whispered to his assistant, Su Ming, a golden core cultivator who had mild temper but her eyes were like lightning hawks to take over the martial art session before turning to Jufeng.


    "Jufeng, Come with me."


    "Yes, master." He quickly fall behind his master.


    Master Zhou Lin took Jufeng to the open area near his hill and sat down.


    "Jufeng, i tell you this, in this world of cultivation, its all about power. The artifacts, items, techniques and your level of cultivation determine who you are and where you are in this world. You may believethat you have the higher cultivation level than your opponent but if your opponent had more powerful artifacts or items, you could be dead. Likewise, if you have powerful artifacts and items but you don''t have a high enough cultivation level to use them against your opponent who had higher cultivation level than you, you might easily die too. You may even have powerful artifacts, items and a very good cultivation level but if your opponent has a higher cultivation level and higher technique, you may also die easily. You do not think because you have a divine weapon as a premier, you could face a nascent soul. You will simply die. Wisdom makes you discern what is and what is not"


    His gaze fell and he shook his dejectedly.


    "We have lost many fine cultivators who fell into the illusion they could achieve what wisely couldn''t be done."


    "Master.. ." Jufeng stammered when he saw the expression of his master.


    "Its alright, Jufeng. The important thing is for you to be strong in all aspects, if it takes time, so be it. Be sure to have all what it takes to prevent burns and heat before walking into an inferno . All the aspects must be strong for you to truly walk without watching your back or slipping. If not, you will simply die. It''s the simple truth."


    Master Zhou Lin stared at Jufeng keenly before suddenly smiling.


    "Jufeng, just yesterday you joined the inner sect and you underwent your Zhuji tribulations same day. I have to tell you, i''m really proud of you. I do hope it''s a beginning of good things for you, all you have to do is continue working harder and get stronger. We will try our best to make sure you have the best support you need."


    Master Zhou Lin walked to the side of the clearing, with his furrowed eyes seemingly set on the future.


    "Lightning is a powerful cosmic element, Jufeng. Like lightening, all elements are universal affinities and they were not things to be wielded by a mortal or immortal body. They could only be manifested in traces or sparks through a physical body. A true nascent soul could manifest these element to a certain degree. But for the elements to be fully manifested, it must be chanelled through something connected to the soul of a cultivator and also to the elements in the universe. A medium between the two."


    He paused for a moment which seemed forever.


    "A weapon! A weapon is connected to the soul of a cultivator and when it''s made with materials of the same element affinity as the cultivator? A weld. The only thing that can provide a full manifestation of elements. That''s why cultivators pay more attention to their weapons. The make of a weapon, the composition of a weapon can easily determine the outcome of a battle."


    He turned his head to the side and looked at Jufeng.


    "I tell you the truth Jufeng, to a cultivator, weapon means everything. A divine weapon will not look at your body technique before cutting you into pieces unless you have a divine body which might withstand it. A fire element divine weapon in the hand of a Ningchi cultivator will cut you into two talkless of incinerating you into nothingness despite you having higher level. Do you know why?


    Master Zhou Lin slowly walked back to where Jufeng was still standing and sighed softly.


    "Because of the weapon''s divinity. Even if the Ningchi cultivator don''t have the level to use its fire element against you, it will still cut you into many pieces if you meet it headon."


    He flicked his hand and manifested his weapon. A glaive.


    "This is Mujithar. I spent hundreds of thousands of years gathering the materials. It''s about not being in a rush as you make decisions on your weapon. Your weapon is part of your soul, part of your existence. Take your time. In the mean time, you can check the market, there are minor weapons you can get to be using. It makes you familiar with all these."


    The weapon disappeared and master Zhou Lin turned towards the mountains.


    "You can go now, i will see you later."


    "Yes master. Master please can i ask for something?"


    "Mhm. Go ahead."


    "Master, i want to be in seclusion to meditate a bit since i just advanced to Zhuji."


    "Hm. Thoughful of you. Yes, you can. You have the time needed. See you later then."


    "Thank you master, thank you."


    He told Yan and the other disciples quietly before heading towards his hillock. He would wait for a moment before making his way to the door without suspicion.


    Time to see his homeworld.

 24 Back To Lorra

    "Well, here you are childling. Safe and sound. Much more better than before if you ask me."


    "You flatters me, Senior Hypatios."


    "A full premier, that means you''ve undergone your heavenly tribulations. You now have the silver aura though too bright. Not bad for a childling."


    "Yes Senior Hypatios, i did two days ago but was a bit difficult."


    "Of course it was. I can see you as clear as water. Look at the size of your dantian and the make of your soul orb. A soul orb of liquid light, don''t you know that the stronger the power of your soul, the stronger your tribulations will be."


    "Oh, i see. I didn''t know that before senior Hypatios."


    "Well, now you know. Anyways, tribulations for Zhuji level wouldn''t tend to kill you, unless you have seriously bad karmic deeds. At least, you can prepare properly for future one if you are still alive till then."


    "Senior Hypatios, the planet you had mistakenly sent me to, the Charat''s planet, it''s a very wonderful world. I''m very grateful."


    "Mistakenly indeed. You really have no idea, do you, childling? Alright, since you are grateful, do you plan on going to another world?"


    "No senior, thanks for asking but my home world will be fine for now. My home will be just fine."


    "Farewell then."


    Before he could answer, he was already in his room in the Last-Sword sect. He looked back to where the door was but no more door was there only the crystal pagoda. He quietly turned his attention towards the room and moved slowly around the room checking everything including the wall.


    He heaved a big sigh of relief after he was satisfied in going through the place. He was finally home.


    The past three days had been exhilaratingly nervy for him. It made him understood more about life and had wider perception of the universe in his own minor ways. He knew quite well that there were worlds out there, different types of worlds but he never knew he would experience going to them at all talkless of being on one so soon in his life. How could he anyway? The people that went to another world were extremely powerful people that could use powerful teleportation items or the transportation portals. To come by a powerful teleportation item was very rare and the cost of transportation portals were enormous.


    He could only have dreamt of all these happening yet he had gone to another world and lived in another world. What would his family, especially his mother, say when they heard about it? How would grandma react when she found out the pagoda was really a gateway?


    Yes, this was fortunately more than he deserved. Opprtunities and priviledges that he didn''t deserved more than others but fortunate to have.


    He remembered his granfather''s words, "the circumstances sorrounding cultivator''s birth was not as important as the opprtunity to live the life the cultivator could only dream of". Senior Hypatios had also told him before that powerful cultivators would kill to have opprtunities that he was having.


    Yes, these were oppirtunity he wouldn''t let slip from his grasps.


    "Thanks to the heavens, thank you grandma, grandpa and mother."


    A little thank you to his father even though he never met him and to everybody he had met. He would also have to say a thank you to senior Hypatios when they meet next time.


    His mind felt a bit more peaceful. He sat down in a lotus position, closed his eyes and started to meditate. Before he would endeavor in anything, he would first free his mind completely through meditation using the soul serenity technique. A completely cleared mind would approach things in a more meaningful way.


    An hour later, his mind was completely refreshed. He took out some dried turtle meat and started to chomp on it. He was delibrating on going to the library when he remembered the senior alchemist and resolved to take a walk to the sect market to see him. Maybe he would have some information for him.


    Reaching the market place, he realized that there were more disciples and merchants at the place than the last time he was there. The area attracting more cultivators was the alchemist section. He managed to navigate and wriggled his way through to the senior alchemist stall quietly without drawing much attention to himself. Once inside, he stayed to the side as the alchemist attended to the sect disciples in front of him. When he caught sight of Jufeng, he hurriedly finished attending to them and closed the door after the last one left. He turned to Jufeng wth big smile on his face.


    "Hello young one."


    "I greet you, senior alchemist."


    "You are well on time. Come follow me."


    He led Jufeng to the back of the alchemist shop. At the back, was a small door leading to another inner room. He opened it and entered followed by Jufeng. Once inside, he closed the small door and bring out the blue crystal.


    "You can simply call me alchemist master Luo Peng, young one."


    "Uhm, my apologies senior alchemist master Luo Peng, my name is Jufeng."


    "Okay Jufeng. I did as we talked about the last time. I went into the nearby cities to find out if any one of them would be hosting an auction soon and i found one. The city of Rifethra. It will be holding an auction tomorrow. Here''s the thing, you know there are many spirit stones out there and of different quality grades. So, when an alchemist want an item auctioned, he would have to submit it for quality testing despite the alchemist''s words for it. Now, the interesting part. After i submitted your crystal stone for testing of which many tests were performed, the appraisers determined the crystal to be around eight hundred million years."


    He regarded Jufeng with a curiously amused look before continuing.


    "It''s a total grade crystal stone. In reference to their words, the likes of this stone don''t exist anywhere in this world. This brought some bewildered looks from them. These are dangerous roads that must be walked cautiously. According to the appraisers, the equivalent of this crystal spirit stone to normal crystal spirit stones is one to one hundred of pure grades, one to one thousand of high grades, one to ten thousand of medium grades and one to hundred thousand of low grades."


    He shook his head with a bit of slumped shoulders.


    "The price could have been more. Although, the concentration of the condensed spiritual energy in the stone is higher than the thousand pure grades combined, the face value is equivalent. Because, the spirit crystals contained traces of water element, assuming it was neutral it would have cost much more. I think it must have been created where there was too much water and the likes. But, it is still quite a fortune, it''s good enough to cover any loss of value."


    "One to hundred pure grades? It would have been better to be higher but that''s still fine by me, senior alchemist Luo Peng. We can go ahead and the proceedings will be shared equally as discussed."


    "One more thing Jufeng, there''s a request in advance for four total grade spirit stones, four of any kind in total. The potential buyer will also give some extras on the deal. There are people who want to buy it, if you have more we could easily dispose it off. You just need to let me know, okay?"


    "Okay senior alchemist Luo Peng. I will inform you if i have more. For now, these are the remaining three crystals."


    He gave alchemist master Luo Peng three more blue crystals and left the marketplace. He knew that Senior Luo Peng would do his best to be honest due to the fact that he didn''t know how much crystals he, Jufeng, had. He didn''t even know who was giving Jufeng, maybe it was an hegemon. Who would risk anything like that?


    Since the day was still a long way from dusk, he made a resolve to go for a little practice. He still needed to master the second stage of the swift spine technique and he only knew the first phase of the Skylight Technique, the Sundering Heavens. He simply had to keep practicing.


    And just as he was getting to the Zhanshi training area.


    "Jufeng?"


    Chenric who was at the other side of the training area, quickly moved to where Jufeng was.


    "Jufeng, we have been looking for you. Where were you? Meditating?"


    Meditating in seclusion? Jufeng''s mind suddenly went to the past events on Charat''s planet and to the Savants of the Flying Stars sect who wanted to put him in solitary solitude. Solitary Solitude they called it, for him to reflect on his wrongdoings and seek redemption of his heart. Or was it his soul? Yes, they found him in a restricted area but they gave him three wrongdoings he didn''t committed in the first place. How could he have proved otherwise since he was caught in the place? Well, fair enough.


    "Hey Chenric, uhm, about that, let''s say i was in solitary solitude. You know, secluded meditation and stuff like that."


    "Yes we know, but at least you could have informed us about it beforehand instead of us looking for you everywhere." Said Da Xia who had caught up to them, in a little displeased tone.


    "Sorry about that, it only escaped my mind. Next time, i promise to tell you." Jufeng with a bit of remorse in his voice, looked at the two siblings.


    "We want to show you something, come with us."


    They took him to a quiet area, away from the eyes of others and after looking around for some time concluded it was a good place. Then, Chenric took out a small wooden box painted in red. Inside the box were a journal, a map and a big red Jasper ring.


    "I must say, it''s a beautiful ring."


    "It''s not the ring you needed to see, it''s the journal." Da Xia rolled her eyes and slightly shook her head.


    "Yes, the journal. What about it?"


    "The journal belonged to our grandfather, grandpa Ye Tian. We have red it and it was about a place our grandfather came across. He wrote that it was a place he found by chance when he was looking for the Heavenly Jade spirit fruit."


    Chenric removed the journal from the box and offered it Jufeng.


    "Read it and you will see whst i''m talking about."


    "Maybe you can quickly go through it, we''ll wait while you do." Da Xia added.


    Jufeng quickly opened it and started to read.


    "....... I left JinJin village and entered the plain of Ivory Yonder. I was looking for the Jade Dragon spirit fruit when i came across the place. The Jade Dragon spirit fruit was the only thing in existence that could totally amend a cracked soul if three was eaten. One Jade Dragon could add ten million years to that of any cultivator, with cracked soul or not .......


    I had on my finger, the red ring i had bought by chance from an antique dealer with most of my fortune. The ring the dealer had told me would locate the place where the spirit fruit was. Nearing the place, the ring i had on me started to glow bright red, it resonated with the gates of the place which appeared right in front of me. This gate, i didn''t notice there before, it wasn''t there.


    There was no problem in me entering the yard where i saw a statue of what looked like a ruler. Upon checking closely, i realized i must have found the recreational forsaken palace of the ancient Jade Emperor, Wan Bao. It was the secret palace of Jade emperor Wan Bao, the place where he would sometime relax and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.


    The huge outer garden was filled with fruits and plants. My soul was overjoyed beyond words with this disvovery. I patiently checked the garden to see if i could find the Jade Dragon spirit fruit, but i couldn''t. I found many other spirit fruits, some i didn''t even know about but later found out.


    I took many but my aim was the Jade Dragon spirit fruit. It could only be inside the closed palace, i tried but couldn''t enter the palace at that time. I left the place and marked the spot down for future references. I will be going back later when i become much stronger than i was.


    My evanesce core had been damaged when i was attacked by Headman Deng Bai, of the Wonsong village due to a dispute between me and his brother He Bai.


    Without the spirit fruit, i will surely die if i face the heavenly tribulations.....


    .......I''m going back inside the palace yard now to see if i can enter the palace or not. Until then..."


    Jufeng was captivated after reading the journal and curious at the same time. It was a true journal of a true cultivator who wanted to survive and lived. He could only give his respect right then. But how did they come by something like this?


    "Heaven''s tears, how did you get hold of this precious box? I know it belonged to your grandfather but i guess he wouldn''t just give this to you."


    "Yes you are right. He didn''t give it to us, i found it in the place he was hiding it. There was a day i was hiding behind the tree when i saw him hiding something in a place close to it by chance but couldn''t check what it was. For the trouble it would have brought me. But after he died, i checked the place and found this box."


    Chenric looked at his sister who nodded in acknowledgement.


    "Anyway, we have already located the Ivory Yonder and the plain is not too far from here. We are planning on finding the palace next week during the sect''s luminary week and we are thinking maybe you will like to join us. So, what do you think?"


    "Of course, i''m in. How can i let you enjoy the adventure without me?"


    "Perfect. And we''ve already informed Yingjie. He is coming too."


    "Good. Shall we, then. There''s so much i need to learn."


    Jufeng with a smile gestured towards the training ground as he used his flash step to move towards an empty section of the area followed by Chenric and Da Xia.

 25 Encounters

    "The radiance of light contained the eternal qualities of wholeness, purity, wisdom, courage and love. When you strive to nurture these things in you, the light within you is on its way of becoming one with nature and thereby becoming one with creation. This is the true way of light affinity cultivators to achieve eternity. This is immortality ascension. It''s totally different from martial combat. When you have the radiance of light in you, it means you are light element affiliated. It means you have the capacity to call on the power of light. For martial combat, you will still need a martial technique. It''s through these martial techniques that you can display the various manifestation of the power of light element."


    Elder halted her lecture, walked to the side of the hall and turned her head to gaze at them.


    "Do you remember the radiant light i showed you when i first began to teach you? That was called Glory of Heaven. It was part of a martial technique that belongs to the elders of the house of light. The strength level of your cultivation will determine the strength level of your light element manifestation and it will be difficult for you to master a martial technique without a good level of cultivation. Although, your physical body can only manifest a little amount of element affinity, that little amount is highly significant."


    Elder Wang Xiu raised one finger as she continued to watch her disciples.


    "Don''t get me wrong. The nascent soul or weapon still remain the best way to fully manifest the affiliated element. But, both still rely on the on the cultivation strength of a martial artist. The level of your cultivation dictates how strong your nascent soul will be. Same with your weapon, your level of strength will determine how strongly you bring out the power of your weapon."


    She clapped her hands together making a thunderous sound jolting the disciples back to the reality.


    "There are three things i have mentioned that made a cultivator. First one is element affinity and in our case is the light element. The second one is cultivation. And the third one is technique. Remember this clearly, the road to eternity is a difficult one. Even with all these, you will need luck. The least you can do, is to be adept in all these areas. I will see you the day after tomorrow. Study and practice well. Till then."


    She turned to Jufeng who was about to leave with Chenric and DaXia.


    "Jufeng. Wait behind."


    Jufeng who was fretfully confounded, stared around the hall to confirm he heard correctly and the stares he recieved from others confirmed it. He was the only one bearing the name among the new disciples of the house of light anyway. He patiently waited until everyone had left remaining only him ans elder Wang Xiu.


    "Don''t worry, you are not in trouble of any kind. If that will ease your mind."


    Elder Wang Xiu with a smirk on her face, inspected Jufeng.


    "How does it feel to be a true premier? Wonderful?"


    Jufeng nodded respectfully before he replied.


    "Yes, elder Wang."


    "I remebered my own too, truly wonderful. You see everything with a different view. You can now use spiritual sight to see many things, including vibrant energy of plants, trees and animals. You can even see the aura of other cultivators if they decided to manifest it or you have higher levels than them. Which brings me to you. It''s about your aura. You need to know how to control your auric light. Your aura is getting stronger and brighter everyday. Very soon it will be drawing too much attention to you, mostly evil intended attention because you will be like a beacon of target. To show you what i''m talking about, i will teach how to use spiritual sight. Come."


    She gestured towards the other side of the hall that had mats for meditation.


    "Sit down and cross your legs in the lotus position, close your eyes. Now withdraw your sight into your consciousnes, keep withdrawing it into your consciousness untill you see a part of your consciousness that seemed to be watching you back. That''s your spiritual sight, let the two merged together, now open your eyes. What do you see?"


    Jufeng who opened his eyes to see the difference, immediately had to cover his eyes. The light coming from the body of eder Wang was blinding.


    "What you are seeing is my aura. I intentionally manifested it so that you can see it. With my full aura, you can easily determine my level of cultivation and strength level. In combat, you don''t want to underestimate your opponent or attack blindly because your opponent might be surpressing his or her aura. That means you are dead meat. Your aura too has manifested, Jufeng and that shows you are a premier which is good. But, with the radiant silver light, your opponent will know that you are a true premier which can be really bad for you. That''s why i want to show you how to surpress and control it."


    Elder Wang examined Jufeng and shook her head with a sigh. She remembered her older sister, Lu Xiu, who had wanted to take revenge for their mother but had been killed because her opponent was actually a golden core cultivator who had been surpressing his aura. She wasn''t arrogant, but the anger had made her ignorant of combat possibilities.


    "Close your eyes and free your mind. Now breathe in and breathe out. Breathe in and hold it. Wait a bit, now let it go and continue like that for a time. Now, when you breathe in, follow the movement of the air into your body until you can see threads of silver light. Now, follow the threads to the source, where the silver threads are coming from. Can you see the source? That''s your soul orb. Now let your consciousness merge with your soul. Very good. That is the true you, though still in the begining form, but can you feel the power? Take it easy, let your awareness cover the silver light. Now draw the silver light to yourself as much as you can until you have few threads left. Very good. Now let your awareness return to your body."


    Jufeng opened his eyes with tears of joy and appreciation in his eyes. He tried to look up but couldn''t. His emotion was still getting the best of him.


    Elder Wang Xiu walked to his side and patted him on his back.


    "I understood. The feeling of seeing and being one with the true soul. It was truly an unforgettable experience. You see, the Soul Budding technique is only taught to the genius core disciples but you are very different. I could sense your soul the first time i saw you. Your soul is different, i could sense it swimming in a large pool of Chi energy. Never seen that before but i''ve heard of such, so i decided to watch and wait. When i saw you this morning, i knew i was right, the soul of a premier shouldn''t be that powerful. I could sense the power of your soul and it''s drawing more energy.


    Seeing the facial expression of Jufeng, elder Wang smiled widely.


    "Are you wondering how i knew all this? It''s my ancestral bloodline, that''s all i can tell you. The truth is that, If you hadn''t learned to control your aura, you would have been like a beacon drawing all sorts to yourself. But now, it''s alright."


    After some minutes, Jufeng regained his faculty and bowed to elder Wang Xiu.


    "This disciple thank you elder Wang Xiu. I am in your debt."


    "Debt can be too great to pay, Jufeng. Afterall, you are my disciple. But, if i need your help on a good course in the future, will you consider it?"


    Jufeng was more bewildered. How could he help an elder of a nascent soul in the future? That was weirdly funny. He didn''t even know if he should laugh at himself or at elder Wang or even at the universe.


    "On the essence of creation, i will consider it."


    "Very well then. Continue focusing on your training. You can go now."


    "Thank you elder Wang." Jufeng uttered as he bowed low.


    It was like watching himself through the eyes of a god. A god! That was the word for it despite the fact that he had no idea how the sight of the gods worked. But for him, that was the feeling. This encounter was an eye opener, the embryonic true existence of a cultivator''s soul.


    DaXia and Chenric had been waiting outside the hall since they came out. They were wondering why elder Wang Xiu told Jufeng to stay behind. Could it be that she found out about their grandfather''s box? Is she after the treasures too? If not, then why?


    They were still questioning themselves when Jufeng came out.


    "Jufeng. What happened?"


    "Did elder Wang found out about the box?


    "Did she want you to bring the box?"


    "No, not at all. You can both relax your minds. She doesn''t know anything about the box."


    "Then, why did she asked you to stay behind?"


    Jufeng looked at the two siblings with an easy smile.


    "It was about my spiritual aura. She said it was getting too bright and that i could surpress it to the minimum."


    "Why would she say that? Have you become a full premier?"


    Jufeng not wanting to affect the mood of the two, shook his head. He couldn''t tell them at this time.


    "Not yet. But i think it will be next week too."


    "Yes, we are all looking forward to next week for the crazy tribulations. The elders said we will know when we are having your tribulations and we have few minutes to get to the Dragon Hide valley where it would be easier and safer for us."


    "Leave the tribulations alone for now, Da Xia. You know what Jufeng, when i became a full premier, i would never want to surpress my aura, i would make it shine brighter."


    "You are right Chenric, especially if we want to become a core disciple."


    They arrived at the cafetarea to find Yingjie already waiting at one corner.


    "Hello Yingjie." They all chorused at the same time.


    "Hello Da Xia, Chenric, Jufeng. What took you so long?"


    "Sorry about that. It''s because of Jufeng. Elder Wang was telling him why he need to surpress his aura after advancing probably next week."


    "Aura surpression has advantages and disadvantages too. But it will be too early at the Zhuji stage. Anyway, i''m still processing the energy in the pill too and I should be able to finish that by next week."


    "Tribulations and aura aside. Now, let''s make our plan concerning the forsaken palace."


    "If we leave very early on the first day of the luminary week, we should be able to be back same day, i believe."


    "I think we should prepare for more days in the mind of uncertainty. It''s possible to stay longer than anticipated."


    "So we should prepare for the uncertainty. How safe is the place by the way?"


    "Grandpa said it was a safe place. But we still need to get ourselves ready for any danger."


    "Yes, we should. That''s settled then."


    "Where should we meet?"


    "I think outside the gate will be fine, not too many eyes."


    "Okay, outside the gate it is."


    After they all agreed to meet outside the sect gates early in the morning in two day''s time, they went their seperate ways.


    Jufeng headed towards the market. He would have to get a sword, he didn''t have any weapon to use if he needed one. Although, he wouldn''t want the situation where he would have to use it, the situation might be looking for him. Even, if he was not using it, it was better to know he had a weapon in his possession.


    He arrived at the market and found the stalls for weapons and armours. He chose one and entered. The stall was full of different weapons of different sizes to one side and armours of various forms to the other side. He didn''t need any armour since he wasn''t going to battle, he was only going to a place full of fruits and plants. Would he be using armour to defend against fruits and plants? But the armors looked great, nevertheless.


    The merchant noticed Jufeng looking at the weapons and raised his voice a little.


    "Are you in need of a weapon, young man?"


    "Yes senior. I need a good sword."


    "Alright. It depends on the type and grade you want. I have iron swords, bronze swords and steel swords. And either low grade or high grade."


    "I want a good one that is a bit cheap?"


    "The iron swords are the cheapest at ten gold coins, the bronze swords are twenty gold coins and the steel swords are fifty gold coins. Those are the arranged prices for sect disciples, they are more expensive outside."


    All the money on him totalled twenty two gold coins, the combination of his own savings, money from his mother and grandparents for his time in school. Should he put all of it on the purchase of a sword? Very soon, he would have more money than this if everything turned out fine.


    "Okay senior. I will take a bronze sword."


    He paid twenty gold coins for the sword and left the market place. His mind was on the forsaken palace of the Jade emperor Wan Bao. What kind of a place was it? A place that contained many spirit fruits and plants.


    With his mind still occupied with these thoughts, he didn''t pay much attention to where he was going, walked into an invisible powerful force field and vanished.


    The force-field''s attack on him was a devastating one. His body and soul were almost ripped apart that he had to push a massive amount of Chi energy into his body to strengthen it. An average Zhuji cultivator would have been fatally wounded and a weaker one would have died.


    It only lasted for some seconds but he was already vomitting blood by the time he materialised flying from the impact of the force-field. He appeared just couple of feet from a group of disciples who were coming out from one of the sect buildings. This group was of core disciples and at the front was Shao Cheng. A spacetime element cultivator who had already formed his evanesce core, he was the number one genius of the Last-Sword sect.


    Instinctly, Shao Cheng contorted the space just before Jufeng collided with them allowing them to move out of the way. This also slowed down Jufeng''s flight making him hit the ground a little bit softlier, few feet behind them but was still vomitting blood.


    "Who are you?"


    "Where do you come from?"

 26 Revenant among us

    "Who is he? Where did he come from?"


    "Look at his robe, he''s an inner disciple."


    "So you are one of the inner disciples. How dare you barge into us?"


    "Wait. Think. How can a disciple of the inner section just appeared from nowhere? From the thin air."


    "Maybe it''s a disguise. An enemy?"


    "Enemies can''t enter these premises without the elders and acolytes knowing."


    "Must be a disciple then. But how?"


    "Let''s check on him first, i don''t think he''s in a good condition. We''ll find out soon."


    They slowly approached the place where he was still lying on the ground with blood streaking from the corner of his mouth. When they have neared him enough to see clearly, one of them, a female disciple from the house of water, quickly moved to Jufeng side to assist him.


    "Be careful Su Ming, we still don''t know if it''s a trap or not."


    "I know him. He''s one of the inner disciples."


    "Are you certain, Su Ming?"


    "Yes i am. He was the disciple watching the combat training between Li Qiang and Wang Lei. He was the one acting weirdly outside the training area."


    Su Ming answered as she put a yellow medicinal pill into Jufeng''s mouth and guided it down his throat.


    "Okay then. I think we can all relax now."


    "So, how did he turn out from thin air?"


    "Not now Quan Zhi, he''s seriously injured. We should inform the elders"


    Then, all of them started to feel the presence of a vigorous force-field. Slowly, they began to brandish their weapons. They had the urge to run but they knew they couldn''t outrun whatever it was that was approaching them.


    "Who is there?"


    "Are you a friend or an enemy?"


    "Show yourself."


    "Really? Show myself? How commanding. Hmm, i like that. Alright, i will show myself."


    The force-field cotracted and a transparent image of a mutated human appeared.


    "Okay, this is the best i can do. I had to drop the acolyte body i was using. You see, i can''t show the real me even if i want to. Though i doubt you wil like the look anyway. Hehehe."


    The audible sound of laughter emanated from the vibrating energy field.


    "A friend or enemy? Let me see, since I''m looking forward to killing you, i believe that makes me an enemy? Hahaha. Yes you should also inform your elders but of course, you can''t because you are already inside my force-field. They can''t even see you or hear you no matter what you do. Do you want to know why? The Golden Phantom Seal. Yes, the heavenly level seal. Do you even know how many years it took to make it? You will sympathize with me if you do. But at least, there was joy in its making. Do you want to know why? It was made using the heavenly ghost seeds, golden cores of murdered Jindan cultivators, cores and jellies of the invisible deep sea worms, the core and blood of the mirage hare and some other stuffs you can''t find in your world. What? Why are you all looking as if you''ve seen a Revenant? Oh, ok. I am a Revenant. So what? Are you not humans too? You see, you are humans and i''m a revenant. No big deal. Hehehe."


    More sound of laughter from the force-field.


    "I was in a good mood all day, not trying to kill any cultivator today i guess. I was only trying to locate the exact position of the Sinnughar core. The core of a primordial beast you can''t even imagine inside your little heads. The core belonged to the mighty Foremost, Kamirhia, the ultimate ruler of the Phantom realm but was stolen by a filthy thief. I was finding it when that foolish boy walked into my force-field, stepped on the seal and disrupted my force-field. What a pity, I should have killed him with my own hands. He''s dead anyway. Back to the business on hand, where was i?"


    Quan Zhi was a core disciple of the house of fire, hence he had the opportunity to choose a powerful fire technique from the sect ancestral fire mystical techniques. He had chosen and was learning the Meteor World fire technique. Fire was already violent and angry in nature. This fire technique took violence and anger of fire to the another level especially if completely mastered. Quan Zhi stared intently at the area of the force-field and initiated his most powerful move.


    "From heavens above comes the blaze and from the crust below comes the fire. Meteor World."


    Immediately, circles of fire enclosed the area of the force-field, from up and down. Hundreds of flaming meteorites battered the force-field endlessly from the inside of the circles for few seconds before being torn apart.


    "Are you disappointed? Aww, don''t be, you are just a Presider, an evanesce core cultivator afterall. How can you, in this obviously insane universe, compare to me? Oh, are you wondering how i know? The light of your aura is green gold, which means you are not yet a Jindan. Which means that i don''t need your filthy core. Next person? Nobody? Okay then, my turn."


    But before he could finish his words, everything seemed to freeze in place. The space around the force-field was contorted.


    Shao Cheng was using all his might to hold the spacetime in place. Being the number one genius of the Last-Sword sect and a disciple of the house of spacetime, he was given the chance to choose the very best technique and he had gone with the Woven Dimensional technique. It was a difficult and time consuming technique to learn. But, it was a very powerful technique.


    Shao Cheng had used his most powerful move, the Two Dimensional Steps. With one step, the opponent will enter the frozen space, another step and the opponent''s soul will be stuck in time becoming a living statue. The soul will forever be in continuum until the body is shattered.


    Few seconds after, the space was shattered and the force-field area returned back to normal.


    "How intriguing. You must be a late-stage Presider, an evanesce core, yet you can almost display the strength of an early Jindan, the weakest Jindan by the way. How can you compare to the wonder called myself? But, it was still interesting to see. Maybe i will take your core afterall. You, come to one side and stay. Not that you have any other choice, or do you?"


    Shao Cheng moved to the right side and stayed like a statue.


    The revenant turned to the others and found himself holding the Sinnughar core. Smile broke over his face and held the core high up.


    "At last, i have the core. Now i can go home to a befitting welcome and many rewards. Hahaha."


    Li Ling couldn''t hold the move any longer. How could she? She was only an evanesce core cultivator of the house of dreams and illusion. As a genius core disciple, she had taken the Ultimate Mirage technique. Now, she was using her most powerful technique, the Dream Life. But she was using it against a much more powerful opponent. Blood was streaking down the corner of her mouth and her strength was leaving her.


    The Dream Life sorrounding started to flunctuate.


    "Ahhh. What? An illusion? Incredible. I''ve heard about the power of your kinds, now, i have witnessed it for myself. Truly magnificent. Are you sure we are not related? Is your father a revenant? Or is it your mother? No? Such a pity. We could have been friends, dreamcaster. Ah. That''s me sighing. For me to be remembering you, i will take your core with me. I believe that''s good enough or what do you think? You can come to the side too."


    Li Ling was invisibly dragged to Shao Cheng side and remained like a statue too.


    Su Ming couldn''t think properly. Why was this happening? Where are the elders? What of the sect''s security? Was she going to die like this? Her parents. Her clan. They''ve all contributed for her to be in this sect. How would they take her death? No, she could not afford to die.


    While the revenant was still dealing with Li Ling, Su Ming took out her ancestral heirloom, the Arroros needle. She knew she wasn''t at the level of using it but she couldn''t simply wait to be killed without doing anything. She also removed a seal from her bag, imbued all her Chi energy and her intention into the seal. She put the Arroros needle on the seal, put some of her blood on the needle and seal before launching it in the direction of the revenant.


    The moment the revenant turned, it was surprised to see a giant, dangerous looking needle flying towards him because he wasn''t expecting another sudden attack. He could feel the power and intent behind the needle. Definitely, a nascent soul level at the least or an ascendant. This was a formidable opponent. How could a Presider use a nascent soul attack? SEAL! A seal. She must have used a seal.


    In an instant, he took out his weapons too. Two transparent saber swords made from the fangs of a primordial dragon-like beast. The force-field grew stronger and was vibrating with a buzzing sound. He sent a wave of invisible attack towards the aprroaching needle.


    The giant needle with an immense power that was causing the space to flunctuate collided with the invisible attack and the sound of the impact was like that of a dragon thunder.


    Su Ming was knocked flying to the side but was still inside the Golden Phantom Seal locked area. She could feel her legs paralyzed, hands twisted and was vomitting blood profusely. She knew she had come to the limit of herself and couldn''t take any more attack. The revenant too was knocked few steps back.


    The needle had splitted into one thousand needles and formed the Thousand Water Cycle. But the Chi energy had run out of the seal causing the needle to shrink and return back to Su Ming.


    But the disruption caused by the needle was enough for the grandelder to discover the location of the disturbance and sent his sword in the direction. Asenys, a luminous sword, was one of the several artifacts created by the first of the Cosmic divines, the three pure ones and was only inferior to a divine weapon. A spacetime weapon that it was, it locked the position of the disturbance and immediately appeared inside the golden phantom area. It warped the space and shattered the seal making the whole area visibly manifested.


    The disciples who had been passing through the place without noticing anything had to scramble away when they saw the area manifesting out of thin air.


    The luminous sword continued towards the revenant causing space rifts to appear arround.


    The revenant expression changed when he saw what was happening.


    "A luminous treasure?"


    How is this even fair? How many cultivators he had to kill before he could have these pair of sabers? And they are only heavenly treasures.


    He quickly used the his teleportation seal. But he wasn''t teleported beyond the sect''s premises.


    "Hm, why am i still here?"


    "You can escape from this place, revenant. The whole place is under Heavens Gate lock. I believe you never saw that coming. How can you think of leaving after what you''ve done?"


    "Phantom Whispers."


    Without waiting for more words, the revenant took out his sabers and sent out his attack. Thousands of whispering phantom heads raced towards the grandelder.


    The grandelder brandishing his luminous sword launched his own attack.


    "Space Walls."


    Pillars of emptiness manifested and collided with the phantom heads to produce a wailing screams. The phantom heads dissipated into nothingness and the space walls disintegrated too.


    "Revenant, i don''t have the time to play hide and seek with you."


    The grandelder let go of the sword in his right hand. He clasped his right hand over his left hand that had been holding a seal.


    "End Time."


    The revenant could feel something was wrong. He tried to teleport again but it wasn''t working. He knew his life was in danger so he quickly took out his life saving talisman. He was activating his life saving talisman when the sword had appeared at his front locking him in place but he had managed to activate the talisman.


    "I hate this stupid world."


    The sword started to rotate and like emptiness passed through the revenant. Totally obliterating him but his soul managed to escape into limbo. He would have millions of years for his soul to find a way out before his soul enter reincarnation. He would take the chance. When he comes out, he would do his own ''end time'' on that stupid human. He only hoped the souls here don''t drive him crazy before escaping.


    Meanwhile, at the other side of the premises.


    Elder Wang Xiu was the first to appear in front of them. They didn''t even know if it was teleportation or steps. They only saw him appeared from the thin air. Why was everybody appearing out of the thin air?


    She bent down to check on Jufeng who was still lying on the ground. She put one hand on his forehead and the other on his chest and started sending healing energy into him. She moved to attend to Su Ming who was also unconscious. She was doing this, when the other elders started to arrive.


    "Wang Xiu, what happened?"


    "What caused the disturbance?"


    "I just arrived too and saw this."


    They brought all the disciples to the haven and placed both Jufeng and Su Ming on the large mat at the center of the haven.


    As they were placing them on the mat, the grandelder suddenly appeared. He was in meditative seclusion when he felt the slightest energy vibration. The energy that was sent out when Jufeng walked into the force-field and was sent out flying. It was so minute that he almost missed it but it''s resonance with his Jumping Spider talisman, a heavenly artifact, made him to detect it. He had left his seclusion to look for the source but couldn''t locate it. He knew something was wrong but couldn''t put his fingers on it but he had waited on top of his mountain with his spiritual sense covering the whole premises. He had hoped for another slightest vibration.


    He knew that it couldn''t be a cultivator inside the sect premises that initiated the course of the manifestation of this energy. He had seen this type of energy before. It had to be a Revenant. He had prepared the seals in case of confrontation because revenants were very difficult to deal with. Especially those at the Hegemon level. He could loose his life if he wasn''t careful hence he had prepared more than necessary.


    He looked gravely concerned at Jufeng and Su Ming that were being placed on the mat. With one step, he appeared beside them. He quickly checked Jufeng''s condition, took out a pill and pushed it into his mouth before doing the same with Su Ming.


    "Wang Xiu, take the girl into the Seven Spirit pool. Give her the bloodroot pill every hour. She''s lucky to be alive."


    Elder Wang Xiu carried Su Ming to the pool room and placed her inside the pool. She sat beside her holding the medicinal pills she would be administering every hour.


    In the haven, the grand elder look at Jufeng and sighed.


    "We are fortunate we didn''t loose any cultivator today. We have to be extra vigilant from today onward. Good things there are energies working inside his body to repair the damage already. The damage was serious enough to be a mortal wound, as a Zhuji cultivator, he should have been dead. He''s surely stronger than he looks and the Crust Yellow pill really helped him at that time if not he could have died."


    "Crust Yellow pill?"


    "Su Ming gave him the yellow pill."


    Shao Chen who had found his voice, said slowly.


    All the elders turned to look at the other three disciples. They had forgotten about them.


    "Well, she really saved his life."


    "He will live. Take him to the misty fountain. Keep giving him a drop of the life elixir every hour."


    The grandelder glanced at Jufeng again. He was wondering how a Premier, a Zhuji cultivator, could survive a Revenant force-field. It wasn''t something that a Premier should be able to achieve in the first place.


    He turned to the other three remaining disciples.


    "Did you see what happened?"


    "Yes grandelder. We tried our best but he was too strong."


    "He said he was looking for the Sinnughar core."


    "The Sinnughar core? I see."


    "We thought we were going to die."


    "We are truly sorry for what you went through. Take these pills and go wash yourselves in the lake of streamlight. I will see you all after that."


    "Yes grandelder." The three of them replied at the same time and left the haven.


    The grandelder with his hands behind his back and a shake of his head turned to the remaining elders.


    "We are truly fortunate."


    "What happened grandelder?"


    "It was an ascendant level revenant."


    "What?"


    "How?"


    "It was a long story. I should have told you this before now."


    Then, grandelder started to narrate the events that took place.

 27 The Forbidden Dominion An Echo From The Pas

    There were different ways to know the tales of the epic events of the past. The most common was the words of mouth passed down the generations. But with the passage of time, some important details could be omitted, exaggerated and muddled up.


    Records could also be accessed at the market place. There were stalls that were selling records and information of the past events. Even though their records were not totally completed, they were good sources of memories of the past.


    There were secret sources that were selling records and informations. But these were at exhurbitant prices and carried a degree of risks.


    Then, we had the clans and the sects who had more complete records in their archives.


    Before the sect elders became elders they were, they had known about the Forbidden lands'' tales from the words of mouth passed from generations to generatios. They had also read the vague records written in books that were sold in market stalls. Therefore, they had become acquainted with the mythical tales. But after becoming Last-Sword elders, they had accessed the complete archives of the past.


    An archives where records of legendary and mythical acts and events were kept. They had read the events of the past events recorded in this book from the copy that belong to the sect. This had given them a complete details of the events leading to the establishment of the Phantom realms in the Forbidden Domonion and the nature of the revenants.


    Records of the Revenants.


    The records of the revenants commenced with the Forbidden Dominion. The area that was once known as the Ageless Dominion with beautiful terrain and lovely grasses..


    The Forbidden Dominion was a vast space located between the Nether plane and the spacetime of the Void. Now, a giant landmass of broken terrain smattered with gigantic shrubs and foul-smelling grasses. A nightmare of what it was before the changes.


    There were many different realms in the Fobidden Dominion, realms with distinguished appearances and qualities. These realms were the homes of the mutated cultivators who were banished to the dominion by the cosmic divines.


    Once normal immortal cultivators before they were blinded by greed for power and quick path to immortality. Greediness that made them to leave the path of the universe. They abandoned the orderliness, oneness and harmonious laws of creation and followed the chaotic path fueled by the corrupt nature of greed.


    Twisted ambition to be at the pinnacle of the universe overnight. Without the proper and gradual steps of advancement. They craved the power and strength of the Cosmic Divines. Their thoughts were only on what they would have if they could rule the universe not on what was expected of them. All these they desired without working for them. Many immortals had tried to make them reason on the true meaning of immortality and eternal life. They put effort into making them see that with greater power comes more responsibilities, responsibilities they were not even ready for.


    But these immortals didn''t listen to words of reasoning. Their minds were already set on the path of destruction. If only they could find a way to harvest powerful traits from the divine beasts through their bloodline powers. There was practically no way they could learn any true way of achieving that in the universe. There were no manuscripts in the entire universe on methods for cultivators to harness the bloodline of beasts for themselves. It was simply against the meaning of cultivation put in place by the cosmic divines. Since they had no means at that time, they could only dream on.


    Then, their Utmost leader, Kemurah, a celestial of the giant race, came across a gourd.


    Definitely, It was not an ordinary gourd. Although the nature of the gourd was not very clear, it was a divine artifact. From all the facts gathered, it was a divine artifact that served as an ultimate portal to all the planes of existence. A prime divine artifact.


    After many years of using the gourd, he developed a destructive idea that he believed would make them achieved their dreams. He had mapped out where to find the ultimate bloodline powers.


    The primordial chaos.


    In possession of a divine artifact that could open portals to anywhere he wanted to go. He would go for the bloodlines with extreme powers that would enable them to take up the position of ultimate rulers of the universe. The ultimate bloodlines?


    The primordial beasts.


    But the problem was how to harness ultimate bloodline powers. After delibrating on the issue, all his fingers pointed to the primordial chaos. The only solution left.


    Determined to risk it all, utmost leader, Kemurah, had used the gourd to travel to the primordial chaos. He had met and formed alliance with a powerful group of primordial beasts who regarded themselves as the Primevals. How did he do it? That was a question with no answer till these days but he had truly met them. The group was led by a primordial called Kamodi. The records were not certain whether it was the same ancient Kamodi or not. The supreme primal that fought against the cosmic divines in the great wars leading to the death of a number of them.


    But for the fact that the leader of the Primevals was believed to be controlling a section of the primordial chaos proved how big a threat they were to the universe.


    The primevals couldn''t believe their fortune. An enemy tresspassig into their territories and asking for help. Seeing a door of opportunity opening before them for their own benefits, the primevals made a pact with him. They would teach him how to harness the power of primordial bloodline, they would even give him the bodies of powerful primordial beasts from the chaos to harness. They would help him and his cohorts in ruling their universe. Only one simple thing they required.


    The essence cores of Jindan cultivators. Only their golden cores.


    This pact led to the death of many Jindan cultivators in the mortal worlds . Several millions of golden core cultivators were killed before the cosmic divines noticed the trend and intervened.


    Restraints were promptly placed on them and they were justifiably incapacitated. The auric lights of their Karmic sins were densely intense showing the level of their sins. Their utmost leader and the other leaders involved were brought into the white hall at the valley of the gods. The cosmic divines had convened their avatars to give their judgement on the events that took place. The divines could see through the immortals'' lies and their driving motives. Some of the cosmic divines in their fury were about to destroy the offenders when they were reminded of the laws of creation.


    Following the laws of creation, the cosmic divines decided against totally eliminating them.


    Yet, they couldn''t be allowed back into the midst of the immortals disregarding any punishment they would be subjected to. Many immortals had died in their hands in a act of defiance. It was a gross sin to be committed. How could they allow them back into civilization without it affecting the balance of the universe?


    The cosmic divines took into consideration the fact that they had become many in numbers over the years, numbering hundreds of thousands. The only place furthest from civilization was the Ageless Dominion. With great reluctance, the cosmic divines agreed on the place and banished them to the Ageless Dominion located between the Nether plane and the void terrain of Ogonia. The extreme end of the universe.


    The banished immortals were then given the cursed marks that would be from generations to generations. With authoritative declarations, they were forever cut off the cosmic energy and the essence of life from the core of the universe. They would recieve no communicative aids or help whatsoever from all mortal and immortal entities. They would be that way until they entered reincarnation.


    They would forever be marked outcasts.


    Their utmost leader, Kemurah, who was the sole reason behind the depressing events was imprisoned in Uvothanis, the Black Yonder water. He would be there for the total of five immortal reincarnation time to reflect on the grevious sins he made others to partake with him.


    The Forbidden Dominion was truly a terrible place to be living in but they couldn''t be forgiving or given leniency for the crimes they had committed. The place would forever be their home.


    With the passage of time, their terrible fates should have made them lived a more sober lives and contemplated their live decisions. With no contact with the cosmic energy and no aid from any source. Devoided of the means of cultivation.


    But their greed for power soon manifested again. They were still dreaming of ruling the universe hence they pursued all means to continue gaining power and to advance in their levels. It took them hundreds of thousands of years but they found a way to continue their cultivation.


    The demons of nether plane.


    The Nether plane is a vast space that contained so many demon worlds. A demon world could be under one or more top powers called Daemon Supremes depending on the size and relationship of the Daemon Supremes. A demon world was divided into various regions known as Demesnes. Each demesne was under the rule of a Daemon King. Each demesne was splitted into smaller sections called Demeanors and they were under the rules of the Daemon Lords.


    Since the Nether plane was bordered by the Forbidden Dominion, there were some demon worlds that were very close to the bordered region. These demon worlds had been scavenging materials from all around the border regions and into the Nether plane. Scavenging was a major part in the survival of these demon worlds.


    The immortals of the Forbidden Dominion made use of this opportunity towards achieving their plans.


    It began with the demonic reavers.


    The ultimate Nether scavengers. The reavers were burrowers, land animals who gained sentience after absorbing so much heavenly spiritual energy on the Nether plane. Thus, they were naturally of the terra element. When a group of Nether army were to be sent out to scout and salvage any form of items or materials, it would be the reavers.


    Some demons living in the worlds on the border region had discovered a particular material in the ground of Ogonia. Transparent soil grains that they generally refered to as the Demon Dust. A very valuable material that was gaining prominence among the demons giving the worlds in the border region a way to rebuild their dying worlds.


    These demon worlds had a sort of hope against extinction although it would come at a massive cost. Crossing the border walls of energy of the Nether plane. Finally, they discovered the way to cross to the other side. The reavers. They had laid their hands on greater teleportation talismans and were given to the reavers to try out. Many reavers died from the trials but after thousands of failed trials, they had found a way to perform it.


    A reaver had succeeded in teleporting to a region in the ground area under the walla of energy and burrowed over to the other side where it laid a teleportation array that it had on a secret place. From then on, the reavers could teleport to the region under the energy and burrowed their way to the other side.


    A huge sigh of relief to great beginning of good tidings.


    For many years, the reavers had been mining the transparent Demon Dust peacefully untill the arrival of the banished immortals. This made things complicated and dangerous for them. Mining began to come at a great cost. Whenever they had burrowed their ways to the void terrain of Ogonia to mine the Demon Dust, they would be hunted and killed for their cores that contain Chi energy. The cores contained more Chi energy than their body in a thousandfold.


    The cores alone were not enough to satisfy the greed of the banished immortals. They started thinking of harnessing the bloodline of the reavers despite the fact that they were not primordial beasts or divine beasts. The banished immortals commenced using the method they learned from the primordial beasts to harness these bloodlines. They were also taking their cores which contained Chi energy at the same time. Gradually, they started to capture more reavers for various trials to have more powerful bloodlines.


    After thousands of years, their trials started to yield results, they started developing unchecked bloodline powers. But it was different from their original thoughts. They also began manifesting a changed traits. Their physical bodies was undergoing mutation. A terrible mutation. Their physical forms were distorted to the point of not resembling humans anymore. But they didn''t stop, they continued in their pursuit of ultimate power.


    Then one day, everything changed again.


    One of the reavers had discovered a hove of transpsrent item, the Lucent Phantom stone but was captured before it could escape with the information. On the verge of being killed, the reaver had told them about the phantom stones. The Lucent Phantom stones contained powerful energies of different kinds.


    With the lucent phantom stones, their mutation took another turn. Their bodies started to loose physical manifestation and began to be transparent in appearance. Neither reflecting nor absorbing light.


    From the reavers in captivity, they started to learn of the ways the reavers had been transporting themselves from Nether plane to the void terrain. It had taken the demons thousands of years to find a way and the immortals knew that it would be a while before they could do the same. But they had learned the method and its concept.


    As time passed by like flowing river, ther increasing power, the banished immortals embarked on the journey of sending powerful immortals into the nether plane to continue hunting for cores..


    Gradually, they began to enter the mortal plane.


    They would enter the mortal planes then killed as many cultivators as they could before disappearing into the thin air. These acts of killing innocent cultivators made them mortal grave enemies.


    The grandelder looked at the elders around him with sadness and shook his head.


    "One day, a certain revenant entered our world. He was a very powerful revenant. With the look of it, he would be at the immortal ascension level but he was displaying extremely powerful level of strength. He appeared to know about this world from his spoken words which meant he had been coming here before. He had already started killing cultivators before he came into the premises of the Last-Sword sect."


    Tinge of sorrow was showing in his voice as he paused in his recollection of the events.


    "I was only a senior elder at the middle stage of nascent soul formation and the other elders were early stage nascent soul cultivators. The young patriarch was already on a journey of oneness outside the sect premises deep into mortal civilization. Grand patriarch was undergoing his immortal ascension''s heavenly trbulations at that moment. Only the old grandelder was available. We were fortunate that he was around if not, all of us could have died before grand patriarch arrives. But when he discovered the revenant, he had immediately engaged him in a terrible combat. The old grandelder who was at the peak stage of the Yuanying stage, had fought bravely but couldn''t hold up to the revenant who was more powerful than an ascendant stage cultivator. On the verge of defeat which would have meant death, the old grandelder used the ancient forbidden technique in order to use the ultimate Last-Sword move."


    The new grandelder lost in his own memories had his eyes looking back into the past.


    "He had used the forbidden Lifeless God technique to power the Divine Edge. The forbidden technique from the primordial time that belonged to our sect not to be used under any circumstances, but he had found it necessary to do. The hundreds of million of years he could have spent in life was wrenched from him and pushed into the Divine Edge move. This ultimate Last-Sword move had made his sword passed through the revenant causing the revenant to turn into ash instantly, body and soul. The grandelder too had died on the spot. A bitter taste in my mouth. I couldn''t help but only watched. But after the revenant''s death, we checked his spatial sac and found many items including the Sinnughar core."


    The grandelder produced a big core that was transparent in appearance and vibrant with chaos energy.


    "The Sinnughar core."

 28 The Forbidden Dominion A Clear And Present Danger

    The elders were surprised and shocked by the item in front of them that was called the Sinnughar core. Their facial expression was that of amazement, a complete display of wonderment as their gazes were fixed on the core. They had seen many items or artifacts before, heavenly and luminous treasures. Those were expected appearances with some degree of surprises. But this was a different thing entirely. What they were seeing wasn''t what they were expecting. They were expecting to see a normal core with a different color but they were seeing a wonder of its own.


    "The Sinnughar core!"


    "Yes. I was like you too when I first saw it, surprised and bewildered by its look."


    The grand elder watching their faces, nodded with a wry smile.


    "How can this even be a core?"


    "Yes. Looks more like a heavenly artifact."


    "More like a luminous treasure."


    "How did you come by this core, grand elder?"


    Words were coming from the elders in a flurry and directed towards the grand elder.


    "Immediately I saw it, I started asking myself many questions too. "what type of core could this be? Where did it come from?".


    He paused, he was still enjoying their facial expression.


    "At that time, none of us had the answer to these questions. Hence, we could only find out from the grand patriarch who was undergoing his immortal ascension tribulations. We knew the dangers and the risks he was facing. Any form of distraction or disturbance could be very costly. So we patiently waited for his return although we were anxious to know about the core. But at that time, we could only hoped the grand patriarch was successful and return to us in good health."


    The grand elder put the core back into his spatial sac, walked over to the stone stool and sat down on it.


    "After several weeks, grand patriarch returned back to us alive and in good health. He had successfully completed his tribulations and would soon be ascending to the heavenly plane. We were extremely happy and joyful that he had succeeded. We waited for many days before telling him about the incident. When he heard of what happened, he was extremely furious to the extent that the ground he was standing on was starting to dissolve. He was angry with us too for not telling him when he got back despite the fact that there was nothing he could do at that time."


    With his eyes staring at the ground, he let out a deep breath.


    "For many weeks, grand patriarch was furious. We had to wait for many more weeks before we could show him the core. "Primordial beast", that was his response. Not just any primordial beast but a powerful ancient one due to the size of the core and the amount of power of the chaotic energy exuding from it. The sect defensive arrays were tightened and redoubled. Grand patriarch continued to be alert to any danger but he was also preparing for his ascension. The excitement of joining his ancestor was evident in him despite the threat of the Revenants. His ascension was only two weeks away when he received a need of urgent help from his friend, Targom."


    He paused for a time as he ruminated on his thoughts.


    "Targom was the demon supreme of the Urgorod planet. He was a very good and kind man. Targom and the grand patriarch had been friends for millions of years without a single form of dishonesty between them. It showed the level of trustworthiness and reliablity between the two."


    He raised his head to look at them.


    "Urgorod was one of the planets by the border of the Netherplane and the Forbidden domain. He said there were some extremely powerful Revenants killing many cultivators in his world. He had been trying to recover his world from the brink of extinction only to be facing new form of threat."


    He opened his spatial sac and brought out a Red Cloud seed which he deposited in his mouth.


    "When he took hold of the message, the anger in him escalated. "The Revenants couldn''t just be coming to kill us and disappeared." Those were his words which were totally understandable and accepted. Grand patriarch made up his mind to go and help his friend in his time of need. He tediously journeyed to the Netherplane and arrived at the time when the situation was getting dire for Urgorod. With the death toll mounting, Grand patriarch had fought fiercely with his mighty sword, Astoroth. An ancestral heirloom of incredible power used at critical times. Whenever he took the heirloom, you knew he was planning on doing something drastic. He also took the Dead God seal, the luminous treasure of the sect only to be used in an extremely critical time. Although, it saved his life, he also broke the heavenly rule of forbidden items because the seal is a forbidden one. He was concerned about the powers of the Revenants. The Revenants were god level Revenants with unbelievable powers. They had been killing demonic cultivators in the surrounding worlds, either looking for something extremely unusual or indiscriminately collecting demonic cores."


    He shook his head as he remembered grand patriarch''s words.


    "The battles had been intense. Grand patriarch''s first surprise attack had mortally injured one revenant, he wasn''t involved in the battle for a while. But more Revenants had joined the battle against him. He was quickly exhausting most of the items he took with him. Afterall, he was just entering godhood but he could only enter full godhood after he ascended. His godhood powers were greatly limited which was totally different from that of the Revenants. They had been been cut off from immortal cultivation but they had been consuming various sources of power. Though they couldn''t advance in levels anymore, their power kept on increasing. A godlevel revenant possesses the power in the region of a god, he could face a god in battle depending on the level of the god anyway. But they don''t have the aura and divinity of gods.


    He stood up and glanced at them.


    "He was fighting the two godlevel Revenants when he realized that he couldn''t match up to them on his own and his life was on the line. The other three including their leader was streaking towards him like lightning, thus, he used the Dead God seal. A forbidden luminous seal that shouldn''t be used in a mortal world. All the immortals around during the use of a God Scroll will be locked inside the scroll and the scroll will appear inside the White hall at the valley of gods.They will be locked for the period it takes the bell of the judgement room to sound and that is one million years.


    Then he turned around with his back to them and stared ahead.


    "One million years of total agony for everyone in the immediate surrounding when it was being used. The reason it was forbidden. Yet, grand patriarch had used it making the Revenants and many demons to be locked inside it before it disappeared and reappeared in the valley of the gods. The injured one who was staying far-off was the only one to survive among the Revenants when he quickly used teleportation seal. Grand patriarch will face the heavenly consequences for using a forbidden item when he ascended to the heavenly plane."


    He slowly turn around raising one finger.


    "But, it was during the battle that grand patriarch learned some valuable information about the circumstances surrounding the Revenants and the Sinnughar core."


    The grand elder raised an indicative finger.


    "Firstly, during his battle with them, he discovered that the Revenants are much more powerful than we think. He had gone there to find out in person the danger level of the Revenants. He found out that heir average power level is that of an ascendant. Most of them are at god power level. How? Either they are still possessing their old god powers or they found a way to achieve godlevel powers on their own. And we know their powers were diminished to nascent soul level when they were banished which means they had found a way to increase their powers. And the fact that they are still increasing them. This made them a grave danger to immortal cultivators in mortal worlds."


    He raised the second finger making two.


    "Secondly,That the cosmic divines would not intervene in any conflict or battle that doesn''t threaten the balance of the universe. Cultivators in the mortal worlds, especially the ones below nascent soul, need to always protect themselves against a present danger. The Revenants know this now and they are planning their attacks accordingly".


    The third finger joined the raised two.


    "Thirdly, that the cores of the primordial beasts are like divine artifacts and they do exist. Many others might be in the hands of other cultivators or Revenants. Sinnughar core was as powerful as a divine artifact, therefore the reason to protect it more."


    Raising four fingers up.


    "And lastly? That dimensional domains exist and that one can be containing a body of the fallen primordials. It can be a beast or it can be that of a divine."


    He stopped again and put another seed in his mouth. He chewed a bit before he continued.


    "The Revenants had discovered one of the dimensional domains of the dead primordials. After the great wars, the cosmic divines had been dealing with the primordials bodies both the divines and beasts. But some of these bodies had entered dimensional domains. These domains are discovered by chance and pure luck. The Revenants had discovered the one belonging to a primordial beast."


    He adjusted the folds of his robe.


    "The foremost leader of the Phantom realms had sent a group of Revenants led by his general into the domain to retrieve the valuables that were inside the domain including the body of the primordial beast or the core and any part they could take. The group of ten Revenants had entered but only two survived the implosion of the domain. The leader of the group had the core with him and was at the other end with another revenant when the implosion occurred. They had quickly used the teleportation seal before the complete implosion but the implosion altered their destination. Unfortunately for them, their teleportation portal had appeared on Urgorod just at the same time and the same place the demons were opening their own portal. The portals energy had collided on a massive scale and exploded outward with a loud bang. The explosion caused many around to be teleported to different places."


    With his hand folded behind his back, he paced up and down.


    "The revenant general was transported into our world. It was after he arrived in our world that he had that encounter with our sect grand elder."


    He stopped for a moment to think.


    "The other revenant must have found his way back to the Phantom realm and reported to their foremost leader. He sent more powerful Revenants to the demon world of Urgorod to find out where they were hiding his general and the core to recover them by all means. The first world they entered was a neighbouring world to Urgorod, not the right world they were looking for. But this had already alerted them at Urgorod and that was when Targom called for help."


    Before continuing his pacing.


    "The Sinnughar core wasn''t with me before, it was kept secured in the sect''s inner safe. But, when the grand patriarch returned from the Netherplane, he asked me to keep this on me at all time. He said i should never let it get into the hands of the Revenants."


    The elders started to quip in.


    "True. Who knows what they plan to do with it?"


    "Especially, their foremost leader that he wants it at all cost."


    "Maybe another bloodline power harness."


    "Or he would just consume the chaos power inside the core and mutate more."


    "Perhaps to make a divine wespon?"


    "Imagine the power he will have."


    "The core can''t be allowed to fall into their hand."


    "Yes, we can''t allow them. That''s why the grand patriarch embarked on having a heavenly golem made that will be protecting the sect and the Sinnughar core will be infused into it. It''s construction had been going on ever since and will soon finish. I wanted to show you all as a surprise but the circumstances have changed."


    They continued discussing for a while before the elders left to attend to their daily duties. Theywould come back to check later.


    Few hours later after the remaining elders had left, the three core disciples Shao Cheng, Quan Zhi and Li Ling returned from thelake of streamlight. Their bruises and cuts had disappeared. Their nerves and veins were relaxed and settled. They were no longer their jittery old selves.


    The grand elder smiled tenderly after seeing them.


    "How are you all feeling now?"


    "We are feeling much better, grand elder."


    "We are sorry for looking very bad be-"


    "No need. You don''t need to say anything about it."


    The grand elder cut them off with a gentle swipe of his hand.


    "We understood your plights and the conditions of your predicaments. Few disciples of your levels could stood up and performed the way you did in the face of true mortal danger. We greatly admired your efforts."


    He raised his hand in a gesture.


    "Come, follow me. I have some small gifts for you."

 29 The Thresholds Twiligh

    Jufeng opened his eyes to see endless light from the sky that appeared diffused and pinkish. It was twilight, a time of day between daylight and darkness. That time after sunset or before sunrise when the sun was below the horizon.


    He looked around and realized the magnitude of the place. Vastness with no sign of the living nor the dead, only filled with endless light from the sky. The eeriness of the place was too unnerving for him. This was no place of comfort for him to be. This was no normal twilight period. He had read something like this before, if only he could remember. Yes, he finally remembered.


    The threshold''s twilight.


    It was suppose to be a myth. It was recorded in the ancient mythology. He had thought it was a form of fear instilled in the heart of cultivators.


    "Welcome, young mortal."


    Jufeng turned to the source of the voice in apprehension. He saw, floating in the mid-air in a lotus position was an old man in pure white robe with long flowing white hair. The sight was that of an ancient entity. He appeared to be harmless but Jufeng knew instinctly that this was an existence above everything he had seen, combined. His eyes were closed but Jufeng could feel their soul piercing gaze. The feeling of his soul being seen through a light glass that could cause his soul to explode if he got too close.


    He instantly felt a primal fear. A cosmic divine?


    He quickly knelt down and bowed his head low.


    "Greetings senior."


    "Rise up, young mortal. I don''t indulge in your ways. Nonetheless,I''ve been waiting patiently for you to finally wake up."


    The old man opened his eyes to look at Jufeng. A little fragment of the weight of the past dead souls caused his legs to become undone and he collapsed on the ground.


    "Ahhhh."


    He raised his head towards the direction of the old man and could only see his eyes. The terrible things he saw in those eyes. Things that shouldn''t be seen by mortals like himself. He began to have the feeling that his eyes were on fire and started clawing his own eyes when he couldn''t take it anymore.


    "Senior, please help. My eyes. They are burning."


    "Don''t worry. You''ll be fine."


    With the sway of a strand of his hair, the old man relieved Jufeng''s pain.


    "Mortals."


    Jufeng quickly stood up and bowed deeply.


    "Thank you senior. Thank you."


    "Nothing against you, young mortal. It is the law of creation for a soul at the threshold to experience a strand of the burden of the past deeds. It''s a beacon of Karma on your soul. If you happened to leave this place and you go back your world to induce yourself in more Karmic sins. This beacon will be a witness that you have experienced the burden, been warned yet you decided on your own to do more Karmic sins. The consequencies will be on your head not on mine. You only experienced a strand of the burden for the level of your strength."


    "Senior, how can i stand things so terrible."


    The old man shook his head slightly.


    "Mortals. Very fragile yet what a burden they bring. It''s alright, young mortal. This is the reason why I have always been using the shadow scales. Without the shadow scales, how can you stand a strand of reflections of the threshold''s truth? The truth of the burden of inumerable number of souls, gods and mortals alike? Even the gods can''t withstand it."


    "Even the gods?"


    "Yes, even the gods."


    "Senior, am I dead?"


    "Are you dead? The ultimate question every soul ask me eventually. Well, you are at the threshold of death and I believe that will be me. You are not dead but you are dying."


    The old man pointed to a ball of light hovering a distance away from them.


    "Can you see that light? That is your life force. If it fizzles out, it means you, I prefer using "you" by the way since your soul is the true you, it means you can''t go back into your body. The life force is the link between your soul and your body. So, once the life force is severed or broken, your soul must simply leave your body. And you will enter reincarnation or limbo. I know it''s hard for many people to take but it''s the truth."


    The old man glanced at Jufeng who was still standing nervously.


    "I tell you young mortal, life can be cruel but with me, you be at peace with yourself and the world. You will have your solitary solitude to reflect on your deeds until your reincarnation if it comes to it. Come, sit down and let''s continue talking while we wait."


    Jufeng slowly went to sit beside the old man. Solitary solitude again! He would forever be wary of the words and anyone saying them.


    "Senior, what do we wait for?"


    "We wait to see if your life force will fizzle out or get stronger."


    Seeing the utter fear and apprehension in Jufeng''s eyes, the old man let out a near silent breath.


    "There''s nothing I can do to help you, young mortal. Life is trying to hold on to your life force but there''s little she can do. Maybe if you have woken up earlier before coming to my presence, it might have been different. But you are here now. If it fizzles out, I will have to guide your way into the cosmic array that will take you to the Acheron realm for your reincarnation. But, if it gets stronger, the force of attraction will get stronger between the two of you. Then, I will have to bide you farewell and we will go our seperate ways."


    Jufeng cautiously glanced at the old man. He cautiously observed the old man and found that there was no aura or light of any sort coming from the old man but Jufeng knew this was an entity beyond imaginable existence. This was a terrifyingly powerful entity. Since they were still waiting after what seemed like forever, maybe he should ask who he was. But, was that not courting death? He was dying anyways.


    "Senior, please forgive me for asking. Are you a cosmic divine?"


    "A cosmic divine? No, young mortal. I''m no divine. Your immortal gods and your cosmic divines are entities created from the universe. I am a law of creation. Anywhere there is creation, I exist there. This universe, the chaos and the void. My existence is in all. Entities call me, Death, with disdain but they call my sister, Life, with pleasure. This I accepted because they know no better. Young mortal, if I tell you my name, your spirit will explode and you will cease to exist. Let me tell you something young mortal, we are two siblings. Me and my sister, Life, are laws of creation."


    The old man looked at Jufeng with closed eyes. How could this young mortal know the shadows that trailed his soul at a distance? Shadows that had gone through length and will go through longer length. He felt a bit of sympathy for Jufeng which made the lids covering his eyes glowed fervently.


    Jufeng staring at the lidded eyes, realized that this was an existence beyond the universe. He couldn''t control the chills that ran down his spine in qiuck succession.


    "Let''s talk about life, young mortal. Do you think life is truly beautiful? And I don''t mean my sister."


    Is life truly beautful?


    He remembered his mother and grandparents. The faces he knew from birth. The love they''ve been showing him, the beautiful things they''ve shared together and the near-death experience they also shared together.


    How could he ever forget uncle Primus, the powerful titan lord who had bought him his spatial sac.


    The memory of his friends at the Last-Sword sect, the concern he felt with the troubled Yingjie, how seeing the faces of the two siblings Chenric and Daxia made him smile, the feeling of weirdness he recieved when observing the strange Callidora. Not to mention elder Wuxia, the ever gentle speaking light Daoist or the grand elder who would say "Remember , study hard and train harder" and would look at them as if they were about to face the gods. That was awesomely funny.


    Or when he had been sent to Charat planet by senior Hypatios. Ah, senior Hypatios, the ancient gatekeeper. He remembered participating in the trials as if he was a member of the outer sect. Although it was by accident, it was fun all the way despite the threat of solitary solitude. He had meet his three roommates, the beautiful Genji and had his own hillock.


    Life was indeed beautiful.


    True, we are exquisitely aware of the terrible, threatening and scary things in life. The enormity of all these terrible awful things could make the universe seemed to be devoided of light. The awareness is just our ability to survive. The beauty in life could never be denied.


    "Senior, I believe life is truly beautiful."


    "And why is that?"


    "Because I have people who love me."


    "What about people who don''t have anyone to love them?"


    "We have people or things we love in life."


    "Mhm, true. But what happens when the people or things you love were taken from you? Do you still find beauty in life?"


    Jufeng bowed his head in thought. If he was to loose everyone who loved him and he loved? How could he even think of living? Would there be beauty in life then? Part of him screamed "there would be debt to be paid" while the other part shouted "peace with the world". A crossroad.


    "Senior, It''s so difficult to answer with honesty but I still think the ultimate beauty in life is the gift of it."


    "Yet you are here."


    "Senior, I believe it was an accident. Sometimes accident happens."


    "Oh yes, you walking into the force-field and stepping on the heavenly seal was an acident. I agreed. I mean, If you find so much beauty in life, why are you still here in this threshold?"


    "Because I''m dying?"


    "Do you really want to die?"


    "No senior, I don''t want to die. Please."


    "Then, why are you still here?"


    "I don''t know what to do, senior. Please help me."


    "Isn''t that funny? You want me to help you against death? But, I will help you. Your attitude and your Karmic virtues intrigued me."


    The old man turned mid-air to face Jufeng.


    "I know who you are Jufeng Amynthas. I know about the shadows that trailed you. It''s true that i don''t get involved in these matters because of my creation, but as long as I don''t go against creation itself, none of these entities have anything over me. So I will tell you this once, I have a sister and we are laws of creation. The understanding of this is left to you. As for your current predicament, think about all the reason you find beauty in life and push them into the thread of your life-force. Only the thread, if you still want to live."


    Jufeng did as he was told and his life-force started to get stronger.


    "Farewell young mortal, may we meet in the future if you are strong enough."


    Jufeng slowly opened his eyes to see elder Ju Long sitting very close to him with his eyes closed. He slowly turned his head around to find out where he was. Alright, he was at the Misty Fountain. His injury must have been a severe one at the least. He tried to move and the sound made elder Ju Long to open his eyes.


    "You are awake, Jufeng. Stay for now, let me quickly inform grandelder first."


    Elder Ju Long quickly located the grand elder through his spiritual sense and informed him about the development through the mind voice.


    In an instant, the grand elder appeared at the Misty Fountain and arrived beside Jufeng in one step. With an easy smile on his face, he restrained Jufeng who was trying to bow his head with difficulty while still lying down.


    "Grrrand elder."


    "No need Jufeng, I''m happy to see you have recovered. How are you feeling?"


    "I''m fine grand elder. Only having an headache."


    "That''s fine, it will go with time. At least, the worst is over."


    "How long have I been here?"


    "Four hours without moving a muscle." Answered elder Ju Long who was still attending to him.


    "I remembered walking into some sort of energy and was trying to get out when i stepped on something and I though I saw myself flying. That''s all I remembered, grand elder."


    "That will do. I believe you stepped on a seal which is why you are still alive. Although, you could have died easily, it gave you a chance at survival. If you were stuck inside the force-field with the revenant, you would have been dead by now. We are fortunate you are still alive. Get some rest, when you are feeling better, elder Ju Long will bring you to the haven."


    "Yes grand elder. Thank you, grand elder."


    He turned to elder Ju Long.


    "Thank you elder Ju Long"


    He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

 30 We Are Adventurers, Are We Not?

    It was around six hours after his encounter with the Revenant that Jufeng was able to leave the haven. According to the words of the grand elder, the attack on him was a soul based one. When he stepped on the heavenly seal, It directly attacked his soul bypassing his body. The only effect on his body was when he was thrown flying from the force-field. After regaining full consciousness, he had been checked thoroughly and was declared fit to return to his dormitory. The banging headache he was having when he first woke up had subsided too after resting.


    Heavens tears.


    He was not dead and had neither broken bones nor damaged dantian. He had been fortunate, on this, he would agree with the elders. After he had recovered, he had learned about Su Ming, the female cultivator who had saved his life. She had given him the expensive yellow pill after he was thrown into their midst. He wanted to thank her for saving his life but he was told she was still recuperating. He would thank her later, he was in her debt for that.


    As he was going towards his dormitory, he tried to remember the past event but he could only remember stepping on something that felt like a thunderbolt. He couldn''t remember what the revenant''s force-field looked like or what happened after he saw himself flying away from it due to the impact. Nothing at all.


    In many ways he could have been dead during the encounter. The Revenant could have beaten him into a pulp and then turned him into ash. Even from the effect of the heavenly seal, he could have died so easily. But thanks to the timely intervention of disciple Su Ming, of elder Wang Xiu and the grand elder.


    Yet again, he was in the debt of elder Wang Xiu.


    Not that he wasn''t happy for her help, he was worried about dying before paying his debt. He couldn''t afford to die with debt tied around his neck. He didn''t want the Karma of debt to tag his soul in the afterlife on the road to reincarnation. The most important thing was for him to be alive and he was grateful for this. As long as he was alive, he would have the chance to pay his debt.


    Sighing, he continued walking towards the male dormitory.


    He arrived at the male dormitory, went straight into his room and locked the door behind him. He took out some turtle meat and lily tubers from his spatial sac and started chomping down on them.


    Oh, how much he missed the turtle meat in what was less than a day. Maybe that was what death experience brought to his body and soul. After having his fill, he sat in the lotus position and began to meditate.


    The Soul Pith technique his grandmother taught him was invaluable. He began attuning his breathing to the rhythym of the technique. Few hours later, his mind had become peaceful enough for him to think with clarity.


    He had to be ready for their adventure to the forsaken palace the following day. Adventure or their demise? Why were they so much in a hurry to their death? He couldn''t back out now, that would be a disappointment to himself and his friends. Besides, he really wanted to see what a place like that would look like.


    His curiousity won over.


    He checked his items. Food, water, milk, bronze sword and rope. What would he even do with a rope? To tie himself? After what happened to him recently, he should be getting an armor of solid steel or something. Then, he remembered the mountain bark talisman he bought at the market from the antique dealer. He quickly rumaged through his spatial sac and found it. He put it near the other items in a matter of future need.


    He closed his eyes and commenced his cultivation. He was at the early stage of Zhuji but the amount of spiritual energy that he would need to advance to the next stage would be ridiculously high. This was due to the vast size of his dantian and his soul orb of liquid light. The effect of the astral primal cultivation technique.


    By the time he opened his eyes, it was the earliest period of the following morning. This was the day that commenced the sects free events week.


    The luminary week.


    The Last-Swords luminary week would be starting on that very day. The week when the disciples, the acolytes and the elders would be having all the days of the week to themselves to enjoy as they deemed fit. They could organize events, competitions or anything else they wanted as long as it was in accord with the rules and regulations.


    But for Jufeng and his friends?


    Adventure week.


    All their planning led to this day, the day that began their journey into the world outside. They had all agreed to meet near the gate where they would cautiously exited the sect''s premises. Being new disciples, they were not allowed to go outside on their own without the supervision of a senior disciple or an acolyte. The rules of the sect. Only disciples from the third level could go out on their own because by that time, they would have what it takes to survive out there at the least.


    But Chenric and DaXia had no intention of bringing any senior anyways. They had already planned it out.


    He checked his items again before departing his room. He arrived at the gate to find the siblings were already there, waiting. Did they even slept at all?


    "Hello DaXia, Chenric."


    "Hello Jufeng."


    "You came earlier than me. I hope I didn''t keep you waiting for long. Where''s Yingjie?" Asked Jufeng looking around.


    "He''s yet to arrive."


    "We still have ample time for him to be here."


    "You see why we came early? So we don''t keep you all waiting."


    Few minutes after that, Yingjie rushed over to them using the flashsteps.


    "Hello Daxia, Chenric, Jufeng. So sorry, got caught up in some things. All good now."


    He looked at them apologetically.


    "Don''t worry, we are still on time."


    They quickly arranged themselves and headed towards the gates. They came to the gates and Chenric showed the acolytes the level three token showing he was a senior disciple. The token he had bought from one of his sources. They were ushered through the sect identity array that confirmed they were true disciples of the sect before they were allowed to go outside.


    Once outside, Chenric brought out the map, checked it again and pointed to his far right..


    "That direction will take us to JinJin village according to the map."


    "This is it. Everybody be watchful and be careful."


    "We need to stay closer and move swiftly."


    "True. We don''t know what''s out there."


    "Okay, let''s go."


    Fairly equipped, the four young cultivators, three who were about to enter the Zhuji stage and one who had already become a Zhuji cultivator embarked on the journey to find the Forsaken palace. The dimensional palace of the ancient Jade emperor Wan Bao.


    Their journey at the beginning was easier, they would move rapidly with flashsteps, slowed down for few minutes and took off again. They were doing like that for few hours when they came to a clearing where they found another group of kids around their age. Three of them were struggling with some things in the clearing while the fourth one, a girl, was crouching at the side looking worried.They stopped when they saw the kids who immediately notice them too making the girl spoke out in low voice.


    "Stop. Don''t come any closer. We don''t want you scuppering our efforts."


    The four of them cautiously approached the other kids. DaXia lowered her voice too.


    "We need to pass through the clearing. We are going to JinJin village."


    The other kids looked at them and started laughing quietly.


    "JinJin? And why do you want to pass through here to JinJin?"


    "And why not?"


    The girl among the other kids shook her head staring at them.


    "After this clearing is the Eleros shivering river which you don''t want to enter. The river will take you to the Akeros wolf creek where you will find the Akeros wolves which you don''t want to do. Why do you want to do that when you can take the normal road? Isn''t that foolishness? If you help us, we''ll show you the way and take you half-way."


    "Foolishness your head. We can take any way we want."


    "Satisfy yourselves."


    "Calm down DaXia."


    Chenric tried to restrain his sister.


    "What is it with the clearing?"


    "We are trapping the Eddaros hare"


    "What''s with the hare anyway? Why is it so important to you?"


    "Let''s do it like this, if you help us to catch it, we will tell you the reason."


    "Why should we do that?"


    "Sorry, we are not interested. Thanks for the offer but we''ll like to be on our way?"


    One of the boys gestured for them to stop.


    "Okay wait. There are golden crystals inside the hare. Nine mythic crystals."


    "How do you know there''s a magical hare with nine golden crystals?"


    "Yes, how do you know and the adults don''t know?"


    "We over heard them talking about it. Then, we started tracking the hare, for four months we were doing that with little sleep. We tracked its movement, how it appears and when it appears. We saw it appeared two times. Do you know when? Half solar alignment at a place filled with the lucent spirit grass and the honey bud seeds. We spent one month gathering the items and we planted them here early this morning. Going by the past events, the hare should be appearing very soon."


    "Wow, you did all that? That''s insane."


    "And how do you intend to catch it or kill it?"


    "Xuan Tu here has a space lock talisman that needed seven people minus the shooter. That''s why we are struggling to make a way but we couldn''t. We were thinking of taking a risk when the hare appears. Before he activate it, six of us with these empty spirit tablets need to be at the six points we already marked. When he activate the talisman, we need to infuse the stones with Chi just enough to hold the hare in place for Shi Xiang to shoot her arrow."


    "Okay, give us a minute."


    The four of them put heads together, delibrated on the matter and agreed to help them as long as they get something from it. Although DaXia prefered for them to be on their way.


    "What do we get from it if we help you?"


    "We give you two of the crystals."


    "Four and we help you."


    "Okay, four then."


    They hurriedly introduced themselves. Apart from Shi Xiang, each of the remaining six took an empty spirit tablet and got into position. After waiting for over one hour, the hare appeared so suddenly that it looked as if itteleported. The hare''s level of speed was truly frightening.


    Xuan Tu quickly activated the talisman and the others infused their Chi into the spirit tablets. The hare sensing something was wrong tried to leave but was locked in place. This allowed Shi Xiang to kill it with one shot.


    That was it? Jufeng couldn''t belive the hare was dead just like that. If only everything was as easy as this, life would be wonderful. They finished sharing the crystals when a voice suddenly sounded.


    "Fair or not, I need those crystals."


    They turned towards the voice and saw a middle aged man wearing a thick black robe.


    "Do you think you are the only one tracking the Eddaros hare. The reason why we allowed you to finish killing it was because the hare could smell anyone from evanesce core and upward several miles away. Now that you know, give me those crystals and I will consider letting you go before others arrive."


    "They belong to us, our spoilt. We are not giving them up."


    "Alright then, don''t blame me for being vicious."


    "Run." Screamed Shi Xiang.


    With a wave of his, threads spawned from him and spiraled towards the running kids. The threads locked them in their tracks in webs.


    Shi Xiang shouted in terror.


    "It''s the Recluse black spider. The demon spider."


    "Yes, it''s me. Do you think it was some ordinary boy? I warned you before."


    The demon spider was reaching Lai Chun, the youngest boy among the other four, when two other voices echoed in.


    "Effidel, do you think we''ll simply allow you to take those crystals?"


    "In your dreams, black spider."


    Two ladies in red robes streaked into the area riding two giant needles. They belonged to the Red Lories Circle, a circle of sacred beast of the bird family.


    "Even though we want those crystals, those kids earned it fair and square. The crystals belong to them. We cant allow you to take them."


    "You two? Why are you always a thorn in my flesh, you cursed red birds?"


    He stared at them with a wry smile.


    "Good thing then that I came with some friends."


    Two more figures materialised from the cover of the trees. They wore black robes and looked more ancient than Effidel. They were holding a pair of dangerous looking fang shaped weapons.


    "Oh, how touching."


    Five men in green robes carrying green staffs descended from the sky. They had arrived quietly on a cloud.


    "The Brotherhood?"


    "I believe the Emerald Brotherhood will not get involved in this little matter."


    Effidel looking worriedly at the men in green robes. The situation was getting more complicated than anticipated. Why were they all after some little red crystals? He only wanted to use it for his advancement, he had been stuck at the peak golden core stage for tens of millions of years. Was that too much to ask for?


    "Oh no. We are only here for the crystals. You all can carry on with your disputes."


    "And if we say no?"


    The leader of the Brotherhood hit the base of his staff on the ground and a gust of wind rushed towards one of the back-up demons. As it neared him, the wind turned to mighty sharp teeth biting down on him. The demon blocked it with his own move but was knocked back hard against a tree.


    "Your choice. But we don''t have the time for words."


    They all raised their staffs and raging storm started to gather around them.


    The Red Lories immediately fled the area. It was already out of their comfort zones. They were only late stage golden core sacred beast cultivators who love monitoring their environment. How could they face four late stage golden core cultivators led by a peak stage golden core who was at the edge of forming a nascent soul. Their lives were more precious to them.


    Reena who had been watching from an undetectable distance was about to send in her phoenix sword when she noticed another light blazing sword streaking towards the storm. She held back her sword and spreaded her divine sense. In an instant, she discovered the source. It was one of the elder of the Last-Sword sect. Alright, she would stay back and continue to watch from a distance.


    The blinding sword collided with the force-field shattering it to pieces.


    "What?! A middle stage nascent soul? Run!"


    The Emerald Brotherhood quickly ascended and disappeared on their flying cloud.


    "Run!"


    The demons hurriedly streaked away too like lightning.


    "Disciples."


    "Elllllder Wang Xiu?"


    They quickly bowed as they greeted her after being freed from their web bondage.


    "We can explain, elder Wang Xiu."


    She looked at them and began to laugh.


    "I know you can. But for now, we need to focus on where we are going next"


    "..." DaXia.


    "..." Chenric.


    "..." Jufeng.


    "..." Yingjie.

 31 The Xue Ku Introduction

    Reena sat in a lotus position with her eyes closed in meditation inside an abandoned immortal cave some miles away from the JinJin village. Her awareness through the divine sense was covering the whole area including JinJin village.


    Earlier that morning, she had been notified of Jufeng''s presence through her divine sense that she spread over their side of the continent. As an Asura, her divine sense could cover a vast distance especially on their part of the world.


    She didn''t just wanted to be monitoring her son all the time but as a mother, she had been a bit worried when Jufeng was leaving for the sect but as long as Jufeng was inside the sect boundaries, it was fine with her. Therefore, she had spread her divine sense to know if and when Jufeng would be outside the premises.


    Immediately she sensed her son, she had used her divine evasion to arrive at a safer distance from Jufeng''s position in order to first determine the situation of things. After close examination, she had come to the conclusion that her son was in a group of something resembling adventurers.


    Although she didn''t want to appear to be obtrusing on the union, she still wanted to keep an eye on the situation since they were only young cultivators. She hadn''t been aware of their sect elder who had been following them until that attack. She had overlooked the possibility of that probably because she hadn''t sense any form of danger in the vast area her divine sense was covering.


    Now that the sect elder was with them, their group was well covered. She would wait for a bit more time before returning home. She relaxed her mind and continue to meditate.


    **********************


    Their journey had no disturbances since that event with the crystals. The presence of elder Wang Xiu gave them confidence but also brought reservation too. They had only planned on finding the forsaken palace on their own but now, they had an elder''s eyes on their back. Although, elder Wang Xiu tried to mingle, they could still feel the intimidating discomfort afterall, she was a nascent soul elder of the Last-Sword sect.


    But Jufeng was extremely happy for elder Wang Xiu joining them. At the least, anything seeking their death would have to pass through her. His mind felt much more peaceful and relaxed. He didn''t know why he had been courting death lately.


    Led by the group of the other kids, they came to an open area where they could see the outskirt of the village in the far distance and stopped.


    "Is that JinJin?"


    Asked DaXia as she pointed in the direction of the village.


    "Yes, that is JinJin."


    Replied Shi Xiang as she glanced at her group.


    "This is where we stop. We need to go and make our own arrangements."


    They had only promised to take their group half-way towards the village which they had done anyways. They thanked elder Wang Xiu for saving their lives. They offered her the extra crystal which she refused saying it had no value to her since she was already at the nascent soul stage. They thanked Jufeng and others for their help before disappearing into the distance.


    After the kids had gone, the group gathered themselves and happily intensified their steps knowing their journey was on course. As they got closer to the village, it became obvious that it was a rice farming village. Several farms of rice could be seen some kilometers away from the road leading to the village.


    They reduced their speed as they were approaching when elder Wang Xiu noticed the steller straits eagle flying in their direction. The eagle was making a muffled sound like a plea for help. This was a magical bird with no awareness or reasoning therefore it couldn''t be making a plea on its own. And Chi cultivators wouldn''t use magical beasts intricately like this. For a Chi cultivator, magical beasts were only pets. But this was no pet and it could only mean one thing.


    Xue Wu.


    The blood cultivators.


    Xue Wus, blood cultivators, were powerful mortals that used the mystical life-force power of the blood to gain powers. They were mainly diviners that used this blood essence to power their oracle bones for seeing the past and future. Unlike Chi cultivators that formed cores in their dantians, blood cultivators didn''t formed cores. They formed core bonds with magical beasts with the magical beasts serving as their cores. The more powerful among the Xue Wus would make pacts and then formed bonds with the divine beasts making the divine beasts their cores. Their power grew as the beasts grew in power.


    The blood cultivators generally draws from the blood of their bonded magical beasts. But for them to grow in power and advance in their level, they had to draw from the life-force infused blood of the divine beasts the reason being that they were innate bloodline beasts.


    Although, the divine beasts and magical beasts made them more powerful due toThey would continue to live their lives in the mortal worlds.


    This was the only way for them to attract the heavenly tribulations. And both the blood cultivator and the beast would have to undergo the tribulations together.


    Over the years, the heavenly tribulations had been incredibly strong against them especially the ascension tribulations . Most of them had died from the effects of the tribulations, only a handful had ever made it to ascension.


    Due to the fact that here was no other way for them, many blood cultivators had decided against attracting the tribulations. This had led many blood cultivators to avoid making pacts with the divine beasts but to obtain the much less powerful magical creatures. No ascension tribulations meant no sudden death and no fright of death over their divine beasts dying.


    Due to their scrying oracles, they had been an integral part of the cultivation world.


    Elder wang Xu sent out her awareness to intercept the bird.


    "Who are you?"


    "Immortal elder, my name is Yan Dai. Please help me."


    "Where are you from?"


    "JinJin village, immortal elder."


    "Why do you need my help?"


    "They are blaming me for what I didn''t know about. First, they accused me of being Xue Ku and now they said I''m responsible for the disappearances of many children in JinJin and the surrounding villages."


    "Are you? And you better don''t tell lies. These crimes are serious offenses in a mortal world."


    "No, immortal elder. I''m not lying. It''s not me but I believe the one responsible is still here in JinJin?"


    "How did you know?"


    "Before my parents died, I heard them talking about something they discovered. There''s a powerful Xu Ku who has a connection to the villages allowing children to be taken from them. They were about to expose the roots of the disappearances when they were killed."


    "Continue."


    "Something powerful and extremely fast entered our house. But before he could enter, it had to pass through the defensive array. Although it took seconds for it to break the defense, but while trying to do that, my father used our ancestral heavenly artifact on me and I couldn''t remember anything from there. By the time I came around, I found them decayed. Please immortal elder, I can no longer hold the connection."


    "Okay go. If what you say it''s true, I will see what I can do but if you are lying about the crimes, you must face their consequences."


    A Xue Ku in the village?


    A Xue Ku, rogue blood cultivator was the forbidden side of Xue Wu, true blood cultivator.


    Rogue blood cultivation. Completely draining the life-force of innocent mortals thereby turning them to Spectres before bonding them. This gave Xu Kus more power than the Xue Wus due to the pure karmic virtues in innocent souls. The power of the spectres could also make the rogue blood cultivators to launch powerful soul attacks.


    Elder Wang Xiu recalled her awareness, turned to the waiting group and explained what was happening to them.


    "Elder Wang Xiu, should we be involved?"


    Asked Chenric worryingly. They were only out for the forsaken palace and should be on their way. Why should they complicate things in this way?


    "Something is extremely wrong here. Follow me, stay quiet and leave everything to me."


    As they entered the village, they saw a young girl being tied to an Etcher tree with the spectral chains by the side of the village. A large number of the villagers were gathered in front of the three being held back by the guards.


    Jufeng and the rest of the grouo were distraught by the scene. Who could tie a young girl to a tree like this? Was she the one elder Wang Xiu was talking about? This was truly an unfair and a strange world.


    Elder Wang Xiu examined the girl with her ancestral inherited sense but she couldn''t detect any form of Karmic sin in the girl. With her aura masked, elder Wang Xiu approached one of the gathered villagers.


    "Excuse me, do you know what''s going on here?"


    The man turned to see who was talking to him. When he saw the scholarly robe of elder Wang Xiu, he respectfully replied with a slight nod.


    "Yes Xiansheng. The girl is a rogue blood cultivator."


    Another villager who was close to them also quipped in.


    "She''s a Xue Ku. Xiansheng."


    "A Xue Ku?"


    Asked elder Wang Xiu as she acted to be contemplating on the situation.


    "Yes, xiansheng. Her name is Yan Dai. She was the daughter of the old village diviner, Wen Dai, a true blood cultivator and Wang Dai, an evanesce core cultivator."


    "Where are they now?"


    "They are both dead. They died in mysterious condition on the same night, their bodies decayed and disintegrated before morning. She was the only survivor. At that time, many villagers were wondering if she was the cause of their death or not. But because she was too young then, the suspicion was overlooked. But now, with the happenings around now, all fingers pointed to her."


    "What happenings?"


    "There have been many disappearances and death of children in this village and sorrounding villages."


    "Are you certain she''s a rogue blood cultivator?"


    "Yes xiansheng. The village headmen came together and consulted their diviners but they couldn''t locate the problem. It continued like that until our village diviner confirmed it through her oracle bones that she was the one behind them."


    "The village diviner?"


    "Yes xiansheng."


    The man pointed to the woman in black robe with half mask on her face.


    "That''s her over there in black robe. Wu Yu Cui, a true blood cultivator."


    Behind the woman was a grim-faced man wearing a heavy grey robe. There was a dangerous presence with him that radiated sinister. She turned her attention back to the man who was addressing the gathered villagers.


    "Is that the village headman?"


    Elder Wang Xiu asked as she gestured toward the man wearing the yellow silk robe.


    "Yes xiansheng. That''s headman Xu Xinyi. He lost a son too."


    "Alright. Thank you."


    She left the villager''s side and walked towards the center where the headman was still addressing the crowd.


    "We have found her guilty of these crimes. As with the laws of the land, she would have to be put to death inside the infernal chamber."


    "Greetings headman Xu Xinyi. Please forgive me for intruding but I believe we are a bit rushing things? I think we thoroughly investigated the matter before making that decision."


    "We have checked and confirmed it. And who are you?"


    "I am Wang Xiu."


    As she said that elder Wang Xiu dropped the Oculus Reaver seal she was holding in her hand and the light from the seal covered the whole area.


    "Into the light and let it be revealed."


    The shield surrounding the grim-faced man shimmered and quickly faded revealing the true sickening aura of the man. Aura that had been moulded by karmic sins.


    "You?"


    Asked headman Xu Xinyi.


    "Yes, me. And? Can you can be quiet for now? Thank you."


    The grim faced man replied as he turned his attention towards elder Wang Xiu smiling.


    "Now you have my attention, nascent soul Wang Xiu. I''ve been watching you since you arrived."


    The grim-faced man shook his head a bit.


    "Please forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Blood Blade."


    The grey-robed man still smiling stared fixedly at elder Wang Xiu.


    "Shall we?"

 32 The Xue Ku Can You See Me?

    Since the manifestation of Blood Blade, the village center had gone distinctly quiet. All the gathered villagers had since disappeared from the vicinity of the area. Some, in their little understanding, had barricaded themselves in their homes while the most discerning had simply left the village in high speed and were watching from afar.


    The situation was already beyond the height of mere mortals, these were immortals. Immortals that could easily cause the destruction of a whole place resulting in the death of innocent mortals. Any bystander would simply be a part of casualties.


    This was a major reason why only the images and not the physical bodies and the avatars of the heavenly gods were permitted by the universe to enter the mortal plane. The utter destruction that could occur from exposure to their conflicting powers would be too devastating for any mortal world.


    Blood Blade keenly observed elder Wang Xiu for few seconds before smiling.


    "Wang Xiu, I''ve been patiently waiting for you for some time now owing to the fact that I knew you will come eventually."


    Elder Wang Xiu trembled slightly when she heard these words. Why in heavens tears would an extremely dangerous immortal be waiting for her here? Oh, why her? She knew from the records of The Dominants, what the name of this black robed man meant. Peril and death. That''s what and she was now staring into his eyes.


    The legendary Blood Blade.


    An Immortal at the peak of cultivation on the mortal plane named after his luminous red sword. A sword made from the mythical red primitium and the core of the ancient Spada beast.


    He had somehow managed to pass the stage of an hegemon yet he had not ascended. The mortal plane was beginning to reject his presence. He was a double elements affiliate representing the dream and illusion and lightning. He had already reached the gates of the heavenly precinct of mystical arts. He could manifest a higher degree of dreams and illusions than before without holding his weapon. And the red lightning from his sword was almost compressed into a single streak. These were the traits of the gods and celestials.


    He had been recorded as a high tempered danger. His battles had been terrifying according to the records. During battles, his anger always took hold of him hence he wouldn''t recognize friends from enemies. Although, he tried to control his temper especially during a normal mortal dealings, his temper would still come to the fore every now and then.


    His planet of origin was not quite clear but some fingers are pointing at a major human world known as Sagor, a world of predatory cultivators.


    The information from the archives of the dominants started flooding into her head.


    Every plane had records of exceedingly powerful figures and their deeds. Entities that other cultivators needed to be watchful and careful of. Some of them were peaceful and easy going but tremendously deadly while others were petulant in nature and intensely dangerous. It would be easier for cultivators with adequate knowledge of who they were to avoid courting death if they were mistakenly came across.


    The Dominants.


    They were the extremely powerful figures from the mortal plane. Though they came from different mortal worlds, their names were known throughout the mortal plane due to their displays of powers. Some of them were in possession of divine treasures while some had luminous treasures but one thing was certainly clear, a cultivator must have at least two total grade luminous treasures and displayed tremendous power to be considered as a dominant out of trillions of people on the mortal plane.


    The deeds of these entities were recorded in the archive of The Dominants.


    There were some dominants that were peaceful in their daily dealings but extremely deadly when crossed while there were some that were dangerously hazardous whether they were crossed or not. The second group of dominants were to be avoided at all cost for the simple reason that involved their petulant nature.


    In this second group was Blood Blade, a dangerously hazardous cultivator. Many an immortal cultivator who had died in his hand.


    Elder Wang Xiu stared apprehensively at Blood Blade.


    Even his robe was a luminous treasure. It was said to change colour according to the state of his heart. When in battle, it would change to red the colour of his heart and at that time, he could only see red.


    "Many children have died due to rogue blood cultivation."


    Blood Blade grimaced at Elder Wang Xiu before shaking his head slowly.


    "How can you belittle me with that thought, Wang Xiu? Who do you even think I am? How can you, in your silly little head, compare me to those crazy blood cultivators? Or is it because of what they call me, Blood Blade?"


    He continued shaking his head dejectedly.


    "Ah, maybe you don''t really know or you know but you can''t really comprehend. It''s truly sad how this life is changing wrongly."


    He glared at her.


    "Now keep quiet and listen. Those death were not due to my actions. If I was in a not so good mood, I would have thrown you off this planet but today I''m actually in a good mood. You see, if you had paid more attention, perhaps you could have seen it. But no, silly you didn''t. You were more focused on me despite me being the one drawing your attention. You should have seen through it as a nascent soul, you fool."


    Blood Blade realizing he was loosing his temper, stopped and smiled.


    "Wang Xiu, you should be careful next time. Don''t loose focus on the details of your surroundings. Do you even know you are inside my force-field?"


    Seeing the expression on her face, he gave a bitter smile.


    "Aha, I thought as much. Focus Wang Xiu, focus. You are in my force-field of illusion. From outside, they would be seeing the two of us having a standoff. I will hold this only for few minutes to avoid any suspicion."


    Elder Wang Xiu was contemplating furiously in her head. What suspicion? What was he talking about? Was he not the Xue Ku? Was he trying to take her for a fool? She had used the light reaver and he had reacted. That made him guilty.


    He furrowed his eyebrows as he looked intensely at elder Wang Xiu who was having a confused look.


    "If it was me, you would have been dead already, Wang Xiu. You already had the culprit in front of you. Yes, the one that called himself Yan Dai. To create a good condition between me and you, I will tell you what you failed to see. The girl you are seeing tied to the tree was actually a male cultivator at the peak stage of nascent soul and the chains were total grade heavenly weapons. There''s also the Thousand Wraith seal here that was meant for you. I don''t know what connects you two together but it was to death by the looks of it. Not that it matters but if not for me, you would have been dead by now. I can''t allow that to happen. Not that I really care, okay, maybe I care a little bit. You see, me and you have a settlement to make."


    Seeing the expression on elder Wang Xiu''s face, Blood Blade''s face wrinkled into a frown.


    "Don''t worry, I told you already, it was not for combat, not at all. Since I have no dispute with you before, why would I pick up a fight with you? It''s just that, you have something that I really need. The Soul-forged Light Reaver. I knew you have it before you came here and I made you used the Light Reaver seal just to be absolutely certain."


    He gazed at her with dead seriousness.


    "I have searched different planets, looked far and wide for this, Wang Xiu. The many hardships and dangers I''ve faced looking for it, you don''t want to know."


    Elder Wang Xiu contemplated the situation in her head. Although the Soul-forged Light Reaver was a heavenly artifact that belonged to her ancestors, it wasn''t worthy of being dead for. She was looking at an extremely dangerous cultivator who was trying his best to control his temper and maintained his patience.


    "Yes, I do have the artifact and I believe it has to be given voluntarily."


    "That is true."


    "And do I have any other options?"


    "We always have options in life, Wang Xiu. The problem is choosing the right one. You can name your price or ask for something in return. If you do want something in return, I have heavenly artifacts that you can choose from, you can even choose two if you want."


    " What if I say no?"


    "Then I can only hope you reconsider."


    Elder Wang Xiu continued to look at the black robed man in front of her known as Blood Blade and came to the realization that he could be nearing the edge of his patience with her. How could she even measured up to him? She didn''t need the reaver that much anyways, why would she kill herself for such? But there was something that might be needed by her in the future.


    "This reaver belonged to my ancestors hence the value. But I will need the Eye of Stormlight in return."


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    "Hm. The Eye of Stormlight. An artifact that can make owner extremely powerful when facing many enemies. It''s a pity I don''t have that artifact but I do have something you might like."


    Blood Blade flicked his hand and produced a round bright orb.


    "The Heavenly Light-Carver!"


    Elder Wang Xiu exclaimed.


    "I''m afraid this is the best I can do in regards to what you asked for. I hope it can satisfy your need."


    Blood Blade slowly uttered with a wry smile.


    Elder Wang Xiu quickly composed herself and cleared her throat.


    "A-hem. I have considered the offer senior Blood Blade and I''ve made a decision. Taking into account how much you really need the Soul-forged Light Reaver, I have decided to make the exchange with you. You are more than deserving of it."


    She quickly flipped her hand and produced the artifact.


    "Here it is."


    With a swerve, she sent the artifact towards Blood-Blade.


    "Don''t you think once I have the artifact, I can change my mind and simply kill you?"


    "It did crossed my mind to speak the truth but then I told myself that you could have killed me before now nonetheless and that you are a man of your word. You put honour before anything else."


    Blood-Blade looked at the artifact, then looked at Wang Xiu and nodded his head.


    "Maybe you do know me after all but for the fact that you talked reasonably and showed trust in me, I will help you out. But, what you do after that will be on you. Okay?"


    "Yes."


    He flicked his hand and the Orb flew towards elder Wang Xiu.


    "As I said earlier, the Xue Ku that was trying to kill you was a peak stage nascent soul and his eagle you saw was a divine beast with enough awareness to reason on its own. They would be undergoing their heavenly tribulations together sooner than expected but as a Xue Ku with so many innocent death on his hand, the tribulations can definitely kill him. The innocent souls he was gathering was to prepare the artifact he will use to face the tribulations. And I believe he could also be looking for the soul-forged light reaver just like myself. This mortal plane is already pushing me out and soon I will have to face the tribulations. This artifact will greatly help during the tribulations."


    He looked worryingly at the illusion he had set around them.


    "It''s almost time for me to dissolve the illusion. Let me quickly tell you this then. For me, the problem isn''t him but his ancestral father who is watching after him. You see, he''s a puregod. Can you imagine how powerful a Xue Ku has to be to become a puregod? Even me, I can''t imagine either. I don''t want to go into the tribulations with another burden on my shoulders. And if I manage to pass the tribulations, I don''t want to go to the heavenly plane to face the wrath of a puregod. His image can appear any time from now."


    He stared at elder Wang Xiu and shook his with a sigh.


    "Take out your weapon and act as if you are attacking me. When I remove the illusion, I will send a wayward blast towards the spirit seal to remove it in what will look like a mistake. After that, you will be by yourself. Is that fair?"


    Elder Wang Xiu''s mind was occupied as she was furiously thinking about the situation. How could she cope with a peak stage cultivator? With a puregod at his back? It''s impossible, unless she could call for help. But that would take them time to arrive. It was not looking good.


    Blood Blade was looking at her as she contemplated. Why couldn''t people understand the need to get more powerful? He simply shook his head.


    "Take this seal, it''s the Ten Tirade seal. Use it when the illusion is off, it will protect you for the time period you need to get away from here."


    "Thank you senior Blood Blade."


    "Don''t worry about it, It''s nothing. How good fated we are that we wouldn''t be facing each other in combat though I think you wouldn''t have fared better. But destiny brought us together. If we both live till then, maybe we can share a cup of heavenly elixir. Farewell Wang Xiu. Now go ahead and send your most powerful attack."


    Blood Blade removed the illusion just as elder Wang Xiu''s attack was reaching him, parried it and with the same fluid movement, sent a single arc of compressed lightning towards the Thousand Wraith seal causing it to crack into many fractures. With that, he streaked off in a flash of red lightning.


    Elder Wang Xiu intentionally looked around before walking towards the group of Jufeng who were already coming back to join her.


    The group couldn''t believe a dangerous situation was over in an instant. They were very happy as they used flashsteps to move towards elder Wang Xiu.


    Jufeng was totally relieved that it was over. This adventure was turning out to be a walk in the shadow of death. Ever since his encounter with the revenant, his life seemed to be on the road to reincarnation. He would have to be extremely careful henceforth.


    As they almost reached where she was, elder Wang Xiu turned back to take a look at the girl only to find her standing few yards from her.


    "Hello Wang Xiu, I know you couldn''t recognize me. How could you anyways? I could have finished with you if not for that mad man who made the situation to be about him and you. He couldn''t even wait to finish it, pathetic. Now it''s all about me and you."


    The area around the girl vibrated and the energy flunctuated before gathering together. The appearance of the girl had changed to that of a tall and averagely built man in dark blue robe. His eyes were dark blue and his long hair was a mixture of blue and black. In his hand was a silver glaive.


    Elder Wang Xiu glared at the man standing few yards from her.


    Her memories returned to her birth village. The village where all her ancestors grew up before the painful incidents that led to her leaving the village. The bane of her misery.


    "Wonyong."

 33 The Xue Ku Lang Hai

    Wonyong.


    A relatively large village in the northern province on the continent of Yamachi. The village was located near the legendary Anji sea to the front and Zhoudao city to the back. The curve of the Anji sea also connected Zhoudao city. Opposite Wonyong on the other side of the sea, was a small city formed by the three villages of Fushui, Darsa and Sinsan.


    The vast body of water of the Anji sea was the home of three different groups of the thalassics[Water sacred beasts]. These three thalassics were the fishfolk, the dragonblood and the lionkind. After millions of years of disputes, an agreement was finally reached and the Anji sea was equally divided among them.


    The agreement created a free region of the sea where all the sea sacred beasts could come together without barging into each other''s territories. Trades, meetings among others, could be carried out in this region.


    Wonyong village was situated at the free region of the sea where the three thalassics came together. In the immediate waters of Wonyong were three tribes from these thalassics. They were the White Sybils of the fishkind; the Ruby Crowns of the sea dragons and the Grey Runes of the sea lions.


    Due to them living closer to the free region, there was a close interaction among them. The Frozen Ember pearl, a total grade luminous treasure, was divided into three fragments and each was given to the three tribes. This act consolidated the unity among the three thalassics.


    These three tribes also made an agreement with Wonyong village in regards to the region and depth of the water to fish.


    As a sea-village, Wonyong was having a fair amount of visitors, cultivators, traders and merchants.


    Due to the availability of vegetation towards the other side of the village, half of the villagers were farmers. The various farm produce along with the mundane sea creatures caught in the water, would be sold to buyers including merchants and traders.


    But the true value of the village was the luminous pillar, the Righteous World.


    The Righteous World was a total grade luminous treasure of high importance located at the end of the village in the valley before the chains of mountain that separated them from Zhoudao. This valley area of the village had no building or any other things but had been reconstructed with many bamboo mats covering the floors. The cultivators would sit on them to meditate and practice their cultivation. The effective power of the pillar covered the whole area of the valley.


    Due to all these, cultivators were coming from far and near to cultivate under the Righteous World. Among them were the sacred beasts who could transform into mortal forms. They would often visit Wonyong to trade or to practice cultivation under the Righteous World.


    A relatively peaceful harmony ensued among all. Gradually, the older members of the water sacred beasts were coming out to join the meditating cultivators.


    Among them was Liqiris from the White Sybils of the fishkind. He was a sacred beast at the early stage of the nascent soul who had already reached the cultivation levels of total transformation. In his possession was one of the fragments of the pearl, the one belonging to the White Sybils of the fishfolk. It was the responsibility of his clan to keep the fragment and produced it when required.


    It was around the same time that a Xue Wu named Hou Hai came in from the Zhoudao city. He was an extremely powerful peak stage nascent soul cultivator of hegemonic level of power. His core beast was a divine red eagle who had gained complete awareness of its existence. With him was a young Xue Wu cultivator of the early stage of nascent soul who happened to be his son, Lang Hai. They would come to the Righteous Valley to meditate for long hours. It was there they met Cao Xiu.


    Some workers were assigned to see to the upkeep of the valley, to regularly attend to it. They were the Righteous Keepers. One of these keepers was Cao Xiu who had been carrying out his daily task efficiently. He was a late-stage golden core cultivator who had been looking forward to breaking through to the nascent soul stage after reaching a bottleneck for a quite a long time.


    Cao Xiu had noticed them due to their long hours of meditation thus they had come to know one another. He had learned about them and they had learned about him. Sometimes, they would provide some assistance for him in his bid to breakthrough to the next stage.


    Gradually, he became relaxed with them and would relate with them on many things of interest whenever he had the moment. They would talk about many things including cultivation, artifacts and treasures.


    Although Wang Xiu was young girl of Lianchi stage, she understood everything they were talking about. She would join her father at the Righteous Valley and practiced her cultivation too whenever she had the chance to.


    Wang Xiu couldn''t have been more proud of her father. Ever since the death of her mother, her father had been the one taking care of them. Oh, how much they missed her. She had died in a strange necrosis attack. Though the perpetrator was killed too, the pain was still enormous to bear.


    The weight on her shoulders had been massive but she had been trying her best. Wang Xiu remembered being at home one day preparing the evening meal when her father suddenly barged in staggering.


    "Wang Xiu!"


    She ran to her father and was extremely afraid when she saw the blood on his father.


    "Father!"


    She knew something was very wrong and started crying.


    "Father."


    She tried to stop the bleeding with her shaking hand but couldn''t. There were many deep cuts on his body.


    "Wang Xiu, take.. this spatial sac."


    Wang Xiu couldn''t stop herself from crying as she continued to look at her father.


    "Nooo father, noooo."


    Cao Xiu coughed up blood as he tried to speak.


    "Listen to me, my daughter. What is inside the sac I gave you is very important to the sea sacred beasts, especially the White Sybils of the fishfolk. It''s a fragment of the Frozen Ember pearl. Please keep it safe. Don''t let it fall into the wrong hands..."


    He coughed more blood as he took out a seal.


    "This teleportation seal will take you away from here. It''s the last one I have. After you leave here, go to Ankhora continent. Look for the Last-Sword sect and show them this token."


    Cao Xiu produced a golden token and gave it to his daughter.


    "Hurry up and leave. You don''t have much time."


    Cao Xiu activated the teleportation seal and sent his daughter into the opened portal.


    As Wang Xiu was sent flying into the portal, she turned her head to take a last glance at her father. It was at this time that she saw the young looking man with blue-black hair, a dark blue eyes and was holding a silver sword suddenly appeared. The young man that had mortally wounded her father. How could she forget his face? He and his father had been friends with her own father. They betrayed her father and were even ready to kill him. How could she forget this?


    Elder Wang Xiu stared at the man in front of her.


    "Lang Hai."


    "Mhm, so Wang Xiu, you remembered who I am. I''m highly honoured."


    Lang Hai happily nodded before he continued.


    "Many a million year it took me to locate you after searching far and wide, It was very painful to see you escaped that day. Fortunately, my path was directed towards you."


    "Why?"


    He looked at elder Wang Xiu with knitted brows.


    "What?"


    She returned the look with burning anger and slowly shook her head.


    "You killed my father, Lang Hai."


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    He watched elder Wang Xiu with a bitter smile on his face.


    "Cao Xiu? His death was on him. I had nothing against your father, after all, he was a valley keeper. He should have faced his own work. But no, he had to get involved in our matter and he paid for it. His fault."


    He shrugged and extended his left hand.


    "Hand over the artifact, Wang Xiu and I will consider letting you leave."


    With eyes burning with anger, elder Wang Xiu took out her sword, Light-Flex, and with two downward swipes, sent two blades of radiant blue lights towards him. He raised his glaive and blocked them in quick succession. Using eternal light steps, she appeared in front of Lang Hai who hurriedly raised his glaive. For several minutes, they exchanged numerous deadly swords moves as their swords clashed ferociously.


    They separated, but before he could follow her position, numerous images of elder Wang Xiu came at him from different angles. All with different sword moves. He quickly summoned the power of his divine fire eagle and released rings of red liquid fire. The rings collided with the sword moves creating massive energy field. His glaive was also moving with ferocious speed as he continued to block the images that passed through the rings. By the time the energy receded, only two images of elder Wang Xiu were left attacking Lang Hai. But he managed to hold them off and dispersed the last image. The true elder Wang Xiu streaked back to her original position.


    "The Thousand Heavenly Immortals?"


    Asked Lang Hai as he looked at elder Wang Xiu in utter disbelief.


    "It was truly remarkable for you to have learned such a move. It really caught me off guard. If it was the old me, I could have been in mortal danger. You even forced me to use my mystical arts, the Two Worlds Liquid fire."


    Elder Wang Xiu didn''t answer but lifted her sword over her head and released it. The sword shot into the sky and projected downward with a massive red light that spread around the sword from its pointed edge.


    The Vermilion Divine Judgment.


    This was her most powerful mystical art. Once the sword started to descend, the opponent would never be able to hide from it but to face it.


    Lang Hai couldn''t believe a cultivator at the Yinlong stage of the martial art and nascent soul in cultivation could be that powerful. He raised his glaive which was making loud throbbing sounds with red veins visible inside it and hit the base of the glaive on the ground. The base of the glaive entered the ground with the bladed side facing upward.


    He clasped his hands together and the glaive turned into a massive pillar of liquid fire with veins of runes. And almost instantly, he opened his hands and the massive pillar shot upward to meet the downward massive red light.


    They collided and the impact was extremely frightful. If it had happened on the ground, the whole village and its vicinity would have turned to dust. Still the effect had dangerous effect on the village. Many houses were knocked down and the whole village was turned red. Even the vicinity of the village was affected.


    Both the sword and the glaive returned to their owners.


    He shook his head slowly with a sigh.


    "I never saw that coming. The Vermilion Divine Judgment. Two powerful arts you have shown me and twice you have forced my hands. Now, I can no longer hold back."


    Lang Hai took one giant step and disappeared.


    "Oath Of The Fallen Souls!"


    Elder Wang Xiu exclaimed in utter alarm.


    The Oath of the Fallen Souls was a martial arts move that could only be executed by an artist of a Qingzhong [world master] level at the least. This move would make its executioner pass through the body and soul of the opponent. By the time the martial artist appeared behind the opponent, the opponent''s would have been dead with his body still standing. Although, it consumed high amount of Chi energy and a level of body strength.


    Elder Wang Xiu realised that her opponent must have reached the Qingzhong[world sovran] level as a martial artist while she was at the Yinlong[silver dragon] level. She knew it would mean her death to take this attack head-on. This was a martial move that only a few martial artists on the mortal plane could master. Hence, she took out the Jade Life heavenly seal, a life saving seal and immediately activated it. She raised her sword and used her most powerful mystical arts technique, the Timeless Guardians Light.


    The Jade Life heavenly seal was supposed to be used twice but by the time Lang Hai appeared behind her, it had been disintegrated.


    Elder Wang Xiu was on one knee with blood trickling down the side of her mouth.She couldn''t defeat him in martial arts.Maybe she should have used the escape seal given to her by Blood Blade. But at least, she now realised the power level of her opponent. He wasn''t a cultivator she could face with her current level of power.


    She doubted she couldn''t withstand him in both martial and mystical arts but her anger wouldn''t let her be. They had betrayed her family and killed her father.


    She raised her and looked at the man behind her.


    "Why?"


    "Are you asking me why?"


    Lang Hai laughed as he took out the other two fragments of the Frozen Ember Pearl. He made the hand gestures and the two fragments ascended into the midair and started to vibrate. Shortly, the third in the hand of elder Wang Xiu flew out and joined the other two to form a whole pearl.


    "The Frozen Ember Pearl."


    He flew up and caught it before descending.


    Elder Wang Xiu stared at him with more burning anger.


    "You and your father killed my father because of this?"


    "No Wang Xiu, my father wasn''t after this. He was after what was under the pillar. The Legacy Of Dawn. He managed to get it and people won''t know it''s gone anyway."


    He shook his head as he gave a faint smile.


    "It was all me, Wang Xiu. Do you even know what this is, Wang Xiu? It doesn''t matter, I will tell you. You will die soon anyway. They said this pearl was an ice luminous treasure, that it was an artifact only for the water element cultivators especially the ice element affiliated. Oh, how wrong they are."


    He looked at the pearl in his hand smiling.


    "This is as good as divine. This is my way through the heavenly tribulations."


    He glanced at her, frowning.


    "I can''t let you live Wang Xiu. You are this powerful now, what will in the future? I can''t allow you to come after me. I can''t be watching my back because of you, Wang Xiu."


    He jumped into the air and spun his glaive as he descended to deliver the killing blow.


    Jufeng who had been knocked flying from the impact of the collision, tried to do something to help but knew that there was basically nothing he could do. He was simply incapacitated. Another death knocking on his door.


    Elder Wang Xiu looked at him with defiance and activated the seal given to him by Blood Blade just as a flaming sword was colliding with the throbbing glaive.

 34 A Dangerous Time

    The flaming sword collided with the descending glaive creating a loud banging sound. The high sonic sound that resulted from the impact of the collision, vibrated throughout the area leaving a thunderous echo of chimes.


    The sudden appearance of the sword that blocked his glaive had surprised Lang Hai as he returned to the midair. He keenly stared as the flaming sword returned to its owner who was standing a distance from him. This new entity that was using a divine presence that blanketed her vicinity and this could only mean one thing.


    A demigod!


    Oh, how much he hated those demigods. Yes, they were powerful but thinking the universe belongs to them? Annoying. Thinking they were deities, maybe, due to the traces of divinity they possessed. Pathetic. But as annoying as they were, the main problem wasn''t them but the exceedingly powerful figures behind them.


    The heavenly gods.


    How could he know which demigod was related to a powerful god and which one wasn''t? He had been trying to avoid encounters with them to the best of his capabilities yet they would seek him out. Disputes with a demigod could only mean big troubles for any cultivator if an opposing demigod was related to a mighty god. Even if he could avoid ascending to the heavenly plane, the involved gods could employ a more powerful cultivator on the mortal plane to deal with him. Oh, how much he hated all of them.


    And here was one, not minding her own bugwax but was interfering in his dealing.


    He quickly scrutinize his sorrounding and realized that Wang Xiu was no longer where she was and the kids had vanished too. He could have pursued and located her, if not for this new development. The demigod''s divine aura was covering Wang Xiu''s after-images and traces. This could only be a delibrate attempt on the part of the demigod to aid Wang Xiu. Was the demigod trying to be his enemy?


    He knitted his brows tightly together as he carefully observed Reena with his eagle eyes. He was irritated to find out that although she was a demigod, she was still at the nascent soul. But how would he know about her ancestral heritage. Maybe she was even having a highcelestial as an ancestor.


    With a scowl, he used his mindvoice.


    "Why do you interfere in my matter, demigod?"


    His brows became tightly knitted together in a slight frown.


    "Leave now and I will let this be."


    Reena stared at the blue-robed man standing in the midair a distance from her. A Xue Ku! A rogue blood cultivator, nonetheless, an extremely powerful and dangerous one. She had seen a bit of his power and realized that fact. But, how could she leave when it involved her son?


    But, where were they? She had seen the group of the disciples including her son, knocked back from the impact of the collision. She had also seen elder Wang Xiu kneeling as the blood cultivator was descending to deliver what seemed to be the killing stroke. She had used her divine presence with the intention of masking their visibility and to shift the focus of the blood cultivator to herself. But all of a sudden, they were no longer where they were.


    She used her divine sight and discovered their after images that followed the direction behind her. How did they manage to do that? It must be the work of the sect elder, she was definitely prepared for that but couldn''t have escaped him for long without help arriving. She left her divine aura in place which would make it difficult for the blood cultivator to see beyond her unless she was no longer in .


    Reena knew she couldn''t leave yet, if she did, the blood cultivator would be able to trace them eventually. She would have to delay him for as long as possible despite the considerable danger it entailed.


    "Leave? How can I leave when you are taking advantages of the situation? She''s already defeated, why do you seek her death?"


    "Do you think this was an act of sparring or who was a better fighter? For the last time, stop interfering and we''ll be on neutral terms."


    With a worried look on her face, Reena shook her head.


    "I really can''t do that."


    Lang Hai''s eyes started to dilate in anger as his glaive began to throb aloud.


    "Then, this is on you."


    With a swift forward thrust of his throbbing glaive, Lang Hai sent out a myriad of fiery blood wraiths towards Reena. These were powerful angry souls that were captured and harvested immediately after their death using the forbidden rogue blood cultivation art originated in the primordial chaos. An immensely dangerous mystical art.


    Vengeance of the Fallen Stars.


    Reena immediately jumped into the mid-air and initiated her mastered fourth stage of the Phoenix Inferno technique.


    The Phoenix Stream.


    She used a vast amount of Chi energy to make it more powerful. And a river of liquid fire flowed speedily in the direction of the coming wraiths.


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    They collided and the impact knocked the two of them backwards.


    Reena was just recovering from the knockback when Lang Hai appeared in front of her with his glaive aimed at her shoulder. She quickly raised her sword to deflect it and slashed upward as their weapons clashed frantically in what turned out to be a blur before she was knocked back several yards again.


    "Though I sense your disadvantage in martial arts, you are strong in mystical arts. So, I will give you the honor you deserved by sticking to mystical arts. But make no mistake demigod, in the mortal plane, only a few can truly threaten me. I have already ascended the level of the mortal plane. But if you leave now, I will reconsider and not hold this against you."


    Reena remembered how the female elder of the Last-Sword sect, the one called Wang Xiu, had saved her son and his group earlier and how they all related with one another like one group of friends. How could she turned her back on her after that? And moreso, she had done nothing wrong that deserved death.


    She stared at him indifferently and shook her head. She would hold a bit longer but had no plan of dying here. When she could no longr delay, she would definitely had to flee.


    "I can''t do that."


    "So be it."


    Lang Hai buried the pointed tip of his glaive, which now had a color of a blood red, in the ground causing a rumble, then raised it up to the sky making a thunderous sound before slowly thrusting it forward creating a wailing sound. A single drop of red liquid flew from tip of the glaive towards the direction of Reena and was gradually expanding.


    "Tear of the Sorrowful Heaven."


    Reena''s eyes went wide from the knowledge of the executed move. From the moment the red drop was released, the strong baleful aura coming from its direction was an acknowledgement of its power. Even a weaker lowgod would find it impossible to face it head-on. This could only be from a true mystical ascendant.


    Covered in nimbus light, Reena quickly manifested her true nascent soul. A replica of herself cladded in white phoenix feather armor and two large flaming phoenix wings on her back. She twirled in mid-air, pushing a vast amount of Chi essence containing fire element and divine aura she could muster into her sword and slashed it horizontally forward. It released a gigantic flaming phoenix that covered the sky as it flew towards the expanding red drop.


    The Phoenix Flight.


    This was her best mystical art''s attack, the fifth stage of the Phoenix Beast Inferno. It was just at the early stage since she just finished mastering the fourth stage of the phoenix inferno, the phoenix stream. Though it was at the early stage, it was the best move she knew.


    The two mystical attacks collided and created a deafening sound. The force of the impact spread in the air and extended upward creating a burning sky.


    Reena was knocked hard to the ground as Lang Hai was sent several yards back. She managed to stand up but her stomach was roiling uncontrollably. She spat out a handful of blood as drops of blood streaked down her eyes.


    Lang Hai looked at Reena with bloodshot eyes.


    "I can''t be held for your predicament. Or have you forgotten the oath that bounds you as a demigod? That you can''t interfere in matters that don''t directly involve you in a mortal world as a demigod? You should have left, demigod."


    Reena spat out more blood before asking.


    "How could I have left when it involved my son?"


    Lang Hai still with bloodshot eyes, shook his head.


    "Do you think I''m here to kill your son? What would I gain from that? I never had any animosity against you or your son. I''m only here for the nascent soul. Many times I asked you to leave but you stayed."


    "The nascent soul is with my son. How can I simply turn my back?"


    "You should have left, demigod."


    Beyond reasoning and with total bloodshot eyes, Lang Hai manifested his nimbus light which covered his whole body for an instant. When the light disappeared, Lang Hai appeared in his true nascent form. He was much more taller and bigger and was covered from head to toe with blistering red armor shimmering with dark energy. The red armor had shrank and fused with his nascent soul.


    The baleful killing intent coming from his direction was unbelievable.


    Reena was watching him carefully. His nimbus light was powerful for a blood cultivator of his level that was already high. But the shimmering dark energy that was blistering on the red armor got her thinking. Realization dawned on her as she recollected the knowledge of it.


    "Chaotic blood armor?"


    She had only heard of the legend. Only a cultivator with a primordial legacy could manifest something like this. Whether he had mastered it or not, he was a true living danger.


    Time to leave.


    She could have used teleportation but Lang Hai would have followed easily in his current state of power. Thinking quickly, she formed an image with a portion of her life-force and Chi essence. Pouring her divine aura into the image, she was able to hold it in position while she used the divine evasion to flee. By the time he realized that it was just an image, she wouldn''t be anywhere near the vicinity. She would''ve been long gone.


    Using her divine sight, she saw the faint traces of the after images of elder Wang Xiu and the rest of the group. She could have used the flight teleportation but she wouldn''t have been able to follow their traces. An after-image must be traced and followed. She quickly used the divine evadion steps to follow them and arrived at the plain of the Ivory Yonder.


    "Ivory Yonder?"


    Addressing her question to no one in particular. She turned her head to look at the direction she was coming from as the echoes of Lang Hai''s voice boomed to her location.


    Some miles away from where she was standing, she could see what appeared to be massive red gates that were about to close. The after-images that she was following passed through the gate hence she quickly intensify her divine evasive steps that took her to the outside of the gates.


    She looked at the massive gates and beyond the gates was a landscape different from the scenery outside. What in heaven''s tears was this place? She was thinking about it when her mind wandered back to the closing gates and she quickly entered.


    As the gates were closing, she could hear the echoes of the booming voice of Lang Hai that was getting louder as he was getting nearer. She kept watching the gates until they were completely closed before turning towards the scene inside with a sigh of relief.

 35 The Forsaken Palace

    Jufeng, Chenric, Yingjie and DaXia, were standing in a safe distance from the area where elder Wang Xiu was confronting the blue-robed blood cultivator. The four of them were watching the developing scenario with intense concern. Some moment ago,they had thought the danger was over when the grey-robed man had suddenly left. In their joyful state, they had been flash-stepping towards elder Wang Xiu.


    They were about to reach her position, when the blood cultivator appeared behind her making them stopped in their tracks. They had slowly but steadily backtracked their movement and left the area to a safer distance.


    As a full premier, a true Zhuji cultivator, Jufeng could see the vastness of the chromium red aura emanating from the rogue blood cultivator using his spiritual sight.


    Although, cultivators below the Zhuji stage wouldn''t manifest a full aura, they still had traces of aura of copper. The Zhuji stage was where manifestations of full aura began. After a cultivator reached the Zhuji stage, the aura displayed would be silver. At the Jindan stage, the aura would be gold. While that of the nascent soul was chromium. A nascent soul cultivator could manifest the chromium aura in relation with the elements of the Chi essence in the dantian.


    The aura of the Lang Hai was a pure chromium red and the element of blood essence. It was truly a sickening sight.


    He glanced at elder Wang Xiu and saw the blinding chromium white aura she had manifested. He quickly switched from his spiritual sight to the normal sight which couldn''t see any aura manifestation. From the way her aura was exuding, the extent of her killing intent was glaring.


    This was becoming a dangerous situation. He was trying to envision the thoughts of elder Wang Xiu to no avail. But he was certain of the fact that, the rogue blood cultivator too was out for blood which could result in mortal harm to any of the two. Thpugh, it was elder Wang Xiu he was worried about. Would she be able to take care of herself? From the little he had seen of her, he knew she had the power to hold her own against such cultivator. Yet, something kept nagging at the back of his mind that this blood cultivator was extremely dangerous.


    This was a grievious situation but with great optimism, he held the resolute conviction of elder Wang Xiu holding her own if the need arose.


    With his mind occupied, he didn''t pay much attention to the worried conversation that was going on around him. Especially to Chenric who was trying to get his attention with his words.


    "Jufeng. Jufeng!"


    "Eh?"


    "What is with you? We are facing a serious situation and you are here daydreaming?"


    "Sorry, just thinking. What were you saying?"


    Chenric shrugged while staring at him.


    "Anyway, what do you think we should do? We were thinking of what to do if it escalate."


    Chenric leaned closer towards them as he glanced at their faces.


    "As for me, I think we should flee if it comes to that."


    Yingjie who was looking at the unfolding event in silence, suddenly voiced.


    "There''s nothing we can do here to help. Maybe some of us should go and look for help while the rest stay to keep an eye on the situation?"


    "Why don''t we wait a little bit more before deciding. We don''t want to do anything that will put elder Wang Xiu in a more difficult situation."


    Jufeng nodded as he contemplated the words of Daxia.


    "Mhm. I will go with DaXia. I think we should wait and see first before doing anything that will jeopardise the whole thing."


    After much delibration, they agreed to wait at a distance where they would be watching the proceedings.


    Jufeng continued watching the two nascent soul cultivators as they were having a confrontation. He held a faint hope of them settling their differences amicably with no need for a fight but the moment elder Wang Xiu took out her sword, he knew his hopes were simply a mirage. Reality quickly dawned on him, this were differences that had gone beyond reconciliation for the two nascent soul cultivators.


    He watched on as elder Wang Xiua sent two blade lights towards the blood cultivator. A fight between two nascent souls was always grave news for the bystanders and their surroundings. He still had vivid memories of the legendary swordman and swords he read about that had caused utter destruction in the mortal worlds. Afterall, they were all nascent soul cultivators even if they were hegemons or ascendants.


    He looked around his surroundings and wondered whether they were safe at the distance they were standing. They would simply disintegrate if they were hit by an attack from a nascent soul cultivator. They might walked the path of reincarnation if they only died. But if their souls were to be obliterated in the course of the attack? That would be their existential oblivion.


    He snapped out of his thought just as the two nascent souls were in a blur as they exchanged swords in clashes. This was on a different level of power compared to the one he witnessed displayed by the two genius core disciples at the sect''s training ground. He tried to follow their movement but his eyes became dizzy and his head turned heavy. He closed his eyes as a banging headache arose in his head.


    He opened his eyes at the same time as elder Wang Xiu was sent flying backwards.


    "We can''t just stay here, let''s help."


    "How can we help? We will simply die if we try to intervene."


    "We would have died in the hand of the demon spider if not for her anyway."


    Although his mind was not on the conversation, Jufeng still got wind of it. He too, had been thinking of ways they could help but knew there was none. No matter how it seemed, they had to help. At least, they would have tried even if they didn''t succeed.


    He looked at them and sighed inwardly. No matter how hard he tried, he was always walking in the shadow of death. If that was the way it was, that was the way it would be.


    "Yes, we can''t just stay here. We need to help out."


    "By doing what exactly? Cutting him up with your bronze sword? You will simply die."


    DaXia observed her brother as she ruminated on his words.


    "You have a point Chenric, but we can''t stay here without doing anything. Maybe we can even take him by surprise if we approach with caution."


    With a sad expression, Yingjie nodded his head in agreement.


    "We are who we are, both in life and in death. We can''t just stand still and it''s too late to look for help. We do whatever we can to help."


    Not long after, they headed in the direction of the two nascent souls. They were cautiously moving towards the two fighting cultivators when elder Wang Xiu executed the Vermillion Divine Judgement that was blocked by the move of the blood cultivator. The impact launched them in a flight several yards backwards leaving them in a disoriented scramble.


    Jufeng, partially recovered in time enough to see Lang Hai executed the Oath of the Fallen Stars. He tried raising his hand but knew there was practically nothing he could do to help elder Wang Xiu as she spat out blood. He kept looking on as the rogue blood cultivator lept into the air and was bringing down his glaive only for the scenery to change.


    They tried but the end was inevitable. He closed his eyes as he waited for the killing blow to land on elder Wang Xiu only for him to feel a breeze of air on his face.


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    He opened his eyes to find himself inside the powerfully encircling right hand of elder Wang Xiu. Beside him was DaXia while Chenric and Yingjie were on the other side of elder Wang Xiu who was moving in high speed away from the battle ground. Somehow, she was literally carrying them as she moved in breathtaking speed despite the injury she sustained in the fight.


    It was quite after some time that they suddenly stopped and elder Wang Xiu released her hold on them making them crashed on the valley grass. She reached insider her spatial sac and took out some medicinal pills which she quickly put in her mouth as she tilted her head backwards.


    DaXia sat very close to elder Wang Xiu with a disoriented frown on her face. She was totally lost for words as she rumaged through the events of the recent past in her head. She had been sent flying from the impact of the collision and was thinking it was over. Only to find herself next to Jufeng speeding away from the village vicinity. After gaining more composure, she examined her surrounding before


    Yingjie was only staring at elder Wang Xiu with raised eye brows as utter disbelief was written all over his face. He remembered scrambling on the ground from the impact but moment later, found himself being held by elder Wang Xiu alongside others as she sped away. How could he explain that? His mind wandered to his parents and the thoughts of asking her for help crossed his mind. How could he even think about that? It wasn''t her duty to see to the safety of his family anyway. He pried his eyes away from her and stared hard at the floor. Lost in his thoughts.


    Jufeng was sitting with Chenric who had quickly composed himself and was holding the map. They were trying to check their location and which direction they should be heading when they suddenly heard the voice of elder Wang Xiu.


    "Ivory Yonder."


    "Huh?"


    They all voiced in unison as they turned towards her position.


    "Ivory Yonder."


    Elder Wang Xiu balanced her from the tilted position and glanced at them.


    "That''s where we are if you are wondering and we better get going now."


    They all stared at her as if she was a talking statue.


    "Now!"


    Her word quickly brought them out of their trance as they hurriedly arranged themselves and were about to move when Chenric suddenly stopped them.


    "Wait."


    They turned to him as he opened his structural bag and removed the red box before placing it on the ground. He opened it revealing the large red Jasper ring that was making soft vibrant sound.


    "Careful. That''s a powerful magical item. It must have been created by a true Soul-Forger."


    Said elder Wang Xiu as she examined the item with her spiritual sight.


    "But I can''t see any ill-intent from it. Since you said it''s from your grandfather, you can try it on."


    He slowly removed it and put it on his finger. As he was slowly moving his hand around, the ring flared bright and increased its buzzing sound when it faced a particular side of the valley.


    "Maybe the forsaken palace is nearby?"


    "It''s possible."


    Answered elder Wang Xiu while she glanced at the direction they came from.


    "Let''s get moving. We need to leave this place now."


    Chenric, who was beaming happily, quickly extended his hand that was holding the red ruby, forward towards the side of the valley as they all headed towards the direction.


    As they approached, they saw the red light of the ruby getting brighter as it started to resonate with the side of the valley. The side of the valley started to turn to red as two massive gates began to materialise out of the thin air.


    "We found it!"


    Chenric shouted happily as he grabbed his sister and Yingjie who were beside him.


    "The forsaken palace? Are you sure?"


    Asked Yingjie in surprise.


    "The forsaken palace of the Jade Emperor Wan Bao. A legendary tale that turned myth."


    Elder Wang Xiu smiled apprehensively as she scrutinized the runes on the massive gates.


    "So, it''s real."


    Jufeng uttered in a low voice as he too gazed at the massive gates. He never thought they would find it so easily after coming to the valley of the Ivory yonder. But here were the gates of the forsaken palace, right in front of him. How fortunate.


    "That confirmed it. Grandfather was right. It does exist."


    DaXia nodded joyfully before turning her attention to elder Wang Xiu.


    "Elder Wang Xiu, what do you say we do now?"


    "Are we still not on adventure? If we are, then, forward we go but we must approach cautiously."


    Yet, none of them moved as they continued to look at her. After everything that had happened, why would any of them take the lead? Wouldn''t it be better for her to lead and they to follow? The strongest would stay at the front to ward of attack while the weaker ones would follow. That was a principle of survival provided danger didn''t come from the back. Anyways, as far as this was concerned, they would stay behind her.


    Seeing their reactions, elder Wang Xiu nodded and moved forward.


    "Alright follow me but stay alert."


    They reached the closed gates where they discovered a key hole on one of the pillars of the gates that fitted the size of the Jasper ring on Chenric''s finger. They placed the ring on the key hole and was sucked inside.


    Slowly, the massive gates started to open. When they finally opened, the scenery inside, was one of a magnificent sight. The long entrance led to a large emerald Jade palace flanked by two statues of Luduans [wise but deadly divine beasts with the bodies of lions and paws of bears] and a row of metal golems on each side.


    To the right and left side of the palace were trees of different varieties of fruits, sections of variants of plants and a glowing river flowing through the landscape. It was truly a beautiful scene.


    The large red Jasper ring was floating in the air in front of them which elder Wang Xiu plucked from the air and handed over to Chenric.


    "Keep it in the box."


    They continued to revel in the beauty of the place as they slowly walked up the long entrance.


    They had just started when elder Wang Xiu suddenly stopped and turned around with her msterialised sword. They all did the same in time to see the back of a woman who was staring at the closing gates. High on alert, they moved behind elder Wang Xiu as they waited for the gates to finally close prompting the woman to turn towards their direction.


    Jufeng rubbed his eyes to see if he was seeing clearly or it was just an hallucination. He couldn''t help but look in total disbelief and shock at the woman in front of him.


    "Mother?"

 36 The Forsaken Palace The Garden

    "Jufeng?"


    Reena pretended as if she was just seeing him for the first time with a look of shock and surprise.


    "Mother! It''s really you."


    Jufeng ran to his mother and gave her a hug. Momentarily, he forgot about the situation they were in as he continued to hold his mother. After taking control of himself again, he looked in bewilderment at his mother.


    "Mother you are here too. Did you also know about the palace? How''s grandma, grandpa and uncle Primus?"


    "Easy now. They are all fine. I heard about the location of the palace from some merchants and decided to come and check it out. Sometimes, it''s good to see the world outside. Luckily for me I found it just as described with the gates opened and I entered."


    With her head lowered, she continued to feign suprise as she looked on at her son affectionately.


    "But, what are you doing here? Are you not suppose to be learning right now?"


    Reena raised her head and glimpsed the other disciples.


    "It seems we have a little group here. Are you out on adventure too?"


    "Uhm.. yes mother. This is our luminary week. So, we decided to go out on a little adventure. These are my friends, Chenric, Daxia and Yingjie. Together with our sect elder, elder Wang Xiu."


    Voiced Jufeng as he introduced them to his mother who acknowledged them one by one but changed to her mindvoice as she communicated with elder Wang Xiu.


    "I greet you, elder Wang Xiu of the Last-Sword sect."


    "My greetings too, demigod. Thank you for your intervention back there. I appreciate it."


    "Didn''t mattered much. You would have escaped the place like you did anyways."


    "Greetings elder Wang Xiu."


    Reena uttered as she extended her cordiality towards elder Wang Xiu and recieved one in return.


    "Greetings demigod."


    "Reena, call me Reena."


    Reena switched back to her mindvoice as she continued to address elder Wang Xiu.


    "You could have left once that seal was broken but you stayed. You would have escaped but your disciples might not have been so lucky, hence you decided to stay behind. You are a true elder. I commend you, elder Wang Xiu."


    "Thank you lady Reena. Unforseen dangers occur sometimes."


    "Yes, they do."


    They turned their attention back to the scenery in front of them. Truly, the forsaken palace was a glorious place to behold. The place was so peaceful and serene that a cultivator could meditate without any disturbance. This was a place truly befitting a Jade emperor and emperor Wan Bao was as ancient as they could get.


    After a moment of delibration, they decided that the best course of action was to continue moving forward. Since they didn''t know who or what could be outside the gates were they to leave especially with Lang Hai still trailing them.


    They gradually began walking down the entrance path that led to the palace. They had only taken a few steps down the path when they heard a voice.


    "Stop. Show me your pass."


    A huge figure in a large black drape suddenly but silently, appeared from the thin air right before them. His exceedingly large frame could only mean one thing, a giant. White, curly hair tight in a ponytail with a furrowed face of hollow brown eyes that were set firmly within their sockets. Half dead eyes that seemed to watch cautiously over the soul they''ve been isolated from for so long. A large ragged beard that matched his eyes and would leave a haunting memory of his former glory. But, what really caught the eye were the golden seal around his neck and the golden rune on his forehead.


    A residuum [a remains of an existence].


    Residuum was a fragment of an entity''s previous self containing part of the consciousness necessary to function, diminished life-force that would dissipate if the seal and rune were removed and the soul that was entrapped inside the broken shell of the entity''s own body at the point of death. The entity was no longer dying or completely dead and wouldn''t be able to die completely and to reincarnate until being freed from the bondage. This was a forbidden practice. When an entity was subjected to death, the soul had to undergo a reincarnation. That was the law of creation. Preventing a soul from reincarnating was against this law of creation.


    "Your key."


    Chenric quickly fished out the large jasper ring and showed him.


    As soon as he saw the ring, the giant waved his hand and the ring appeared in his hand. He examined the ring before lifting his head to gaze at them with a short nod of his head in cognizance.


    "Welcome to the grand palace of the eternal Jade emperor, Wan Bao. I am Dargehk, the caretaker of this palace. Since you were having the ring which showed your right to be here, I will treat you fairly. But, you won''t be getting the ring back. The alignment is right and all the five keys are now here which meant the palace would cease to be accessible after this period. This palace is a domain world created with rules. Obey the rules while you are here."


    With his gaze still fixed on them, he paused for an instant before he continued.


    "You are entitled to a fruit each as a welcome gift. If you are ready, follow me."


    Dargehk moved to a location on the right side of the walkway that overlooked the garden and made a hand seals gestures. A path appeared before him and gestured for them to follow.


    They moved to the opened entrance leading to the garden. They expected to see what they already saw from the outside but what they were seeing was a different scenery from the one they saw from the outside.


    The first sight was that of a path of marble stones that looped around the garden. Ruby beds of grass that were accompanied by what seemed to be mutated ruby flower bushes and shrubs. There was a runic fountain of mist that stood near the back of the garden, spouting mist high up into the air. Behind the ruby flower bushes and shrubs were the plants and different types of spirit grasses. After them were the ancient huge trees with single fruit each. Most of them had no fruits since they had been plucked.


    Jufeng and the other three disciples could only look on in utter alarm at the scenery in front of them. What had appeared to be a peaceful and beautiful garden turned out to be the exact opposite. They need to thread carefully.


    "This is different from what we saw from the outside?"


    "Doesn''t look the same garden?"


    "What''s with the place?"


    Reena and elder Wang Xiu observed where they were carefully with their divine and spiritual sight respectively but didn''t see any sign of deception.


    "What did we missed?"


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    Degarhk turned to look at them with indifference.


    "This is the true state of the garden. The ruby beds are ancient death beds that would entrap anyone who forcefully enters or disobey the garden rules. The same thing with the misty fountain. But how could you have seen it from the outside? This is a godly domain. True, it exists here but it''s not part of the mortal plane. Afterall, you are just a demigod and you, only a nascent soul. How could you have known?"


    "Are you an ascendant or hegemon?"


    The highest a cultivator could go in the mortal plane before being forcefully ejected from it into the heavenly plane through the heavenly tribulations was an ascendant. Ascendant were nascent soul cultivators who had reached the gates of godhood and had traces of godhood traits. If an ascendant didn''t want to be sent out of the mortal plane, the ascendant would have to let go these traces of godhood and would be able to undergo a different tribulations from that of ascension.


    The abate tribulations.


    This tribulations made an ascendant a permanent hegemons with no possibility of future ascension. Hegemons were ascendants that refused ascension into the heavenly plane.


    "Ascendant or hegemon?"


    Dargehk asked as he glared at Reena in dismay.


    "Ah, what a pity."


    He shook his head as he gazed at an unseen past.


    "I, mighty Dargehk of the giant race. I was once a renowned genius from the planet Zorda. My fame and prestige were known throughout my birth world and different parts of the mortal plane. So mighty I was in those days that few cultivators ever confronted me."


    He looked at the them before shaking his head.


    "You have no idea who I am, do you? Hm, I thought as much. I don''t fault you. How could you know anyway, you definitely had never seen me before now. I became a lowgod when most giants were still trying to form a nascent soul. After that, It never took me long to become a highgod. But my ego took a hold of me and I under-estimated my opponent. I Dargehk, how many could face the wrath of my Oblivion?"


    Elder Wang Xiu remembered a text about an axe called Oblivion, owned by a giant. The giant that had caused destruction in the Mightybound realms that caused the intervention of the celestials.


    "Dargehk the barbarian?"


    "Aha, so you have heard of my name."


    Elder Wang Xiu, in utter alarm, could only nod her head but kept her mouth shut. The others didn''t know who Dargehk was but from the expression of elder Wang Xiu, knew the extent of the power of the giant in front of them.


    Seeing their tensed state, Dargehk made a gentle laughter.


    "Hahaha. You don''t need to worry. In here, you are totally safe with me as long as you maintained the rules of this place. So, relax yourselves and enjoy the place. Now, back to the garden. There are many trees you can choose from, each tree as you can see only have one fruit which had taken hundreds of millions of years to ripe. You choose a tree or a plant that connects to you and you place these tokens under it before taking the fruit or the plant."


    With a swipe of his hand, he sent six golden tokens to them before continuing.


    "You are allowed to choose only one fruit tree or plant. Anything you choose depends on how fortunate you are. You can start."


    Jufeng watched as everybody started contemplating on Dargehk''s words and the whole event. The state of apprehension had receeded and they were already warming up to him. But they were still cautious of the place. This was a godly place afterall.


    Despite many fruits being taken over the years, there were quite a number of coloured fruits still left in the garden. He moved around cautiously as he examined the fruits. Some had started placing their tokens under the tree of their preferred fruits.


    He continued until he came to a tree with a yellow fruit freckled in red. He observed the tree and the fruit for a time before deciding to move on. He had started moving when he suddenly changed his mind and stopped. He turned back and placed his token under the fruit tree. The tree lowered its fruit enough for him to pluck it. The fruit seemed a bit weird with the freckles but looked robust.


    He joined others who were holding their own fruits and examining them as they waited for elder Wang Xiu who arrived shortly afterwards. With all of them back with their fruits, they turned their attention to Dargehk who had been patiently waiting where he was standing.


    "Now that you all have your gift, would you like to know what you each have?"


    He asked them as he glanced from one face to the other and recieved nods in return.


    "Alright then. You, young cultivator."


    He pointed at Chenric.


    "What you have is the River Root spirit fruit. The River Root tree was taken as a seed from the ever dangerous Crimson realm due to a fortunate encounter. Though it was here on the mortal realm, the Crimson realm was an extremely dangerous place. The fruit you are holding can easily take you to the Jindan level, if not to the threshold of nascent soul, from your current stage. Even a mortal could reach evanesce core, at the least, from eating that fruit. You are inbetween the Lianchi and Zhuji stage as I can see. You need not worry, with that fruit, you will easily form your golden core. The quality of your golden core is left to you by the way."


    Beside Chenric was Daxia who had been apprehensively waiting for her own turn.


    "Your own is the Twin Soul spirit fruit. One of the rarest fruit you can find on any plane. This particular tree seed was found in the Million Dream realm. With that fruit you are holding, you can form your mortal image. A second you with all your features but only with a fragment of your will-power and soul. How wonderful it is to have another you in the mortal realm although your image wouldn''t be able to cultivate. How you protect your image is left to you."


    Yingjie got the Wyvern Scale spirit fruit.


    "The spirit fruit that you are holding was a powerful one. The fruit tree was grown from a seed of a tree that grew on the spot where a dragon-like primordial beast was found by the divines after the last primordial war. How fortunate you are. It would make your body almost indestructible when facing an opponent of Jindan level and below. Though, a nascent soul would incinerate your body nonetheless."


    Flame essence spirit fruit was in the hand of Reena.


    "The flame essence. The tree of which could only be found in the Fiery Abyss after the Seven Inferno realms. As a demigod of the nascent soul stage, if you eat that fruit, your ascension could be very near. The fruit will transform the fire element in your Chi. Your mystical art would be displaying a compressed fire of the ascendant level at the least. It might even remove your mystical art''s physical manifestation just like the godly level. Know this, demigod, when you eat the fruit in your hand, your mystical art would transform and with that would come tribulations and ascension."


    Dargehk looked at the fruit in elder Wang Xiu''s hand.


    "Your fruit is called Godly Valor spirit fruit. You can''t even phantom the power of the fruit you are holding. Although, it has good sides and bad sides. When you eat the fruit, it will give you a godly power for a day. The type of the godly power, lowgod, highgod or truegod depends on you. Only for a day. And the day after, you will be weak to engage in any form of fight. So, day after you eat it, stay faraway from fight as far as possible. If not, you may die."


    When it finally reached Jufeng''s turn, he stared expectantly at the terrifying giant who was standing a few yards away from him. He extended his hand forward properly for him to see it clearly.


    "Yes, the Heavenly Solitude spirit fruit. In the world of cultivaton, few things compare to soul meditation. Every cultivator needs meditation to advance the soul. This fruit tree was from the Slumber Monks mountain in the Bodhi realm on the heavenly plane. A fruit of this kind would take hundreds of millions of years to be like this. It''s only when you eat it that you will see with your own eyes."


    After watching their reactions for a while, Dargehk raised his voice.


    "Time to leave the garden. Follow me."


    He moved towards the way they came from and they all followed him.


    Jufeng who had been quiet since they recieved the description of their fruits continued to wonder what he did to deserve this particular fruit out of all the ones in the garden. Everybody in the group got a great fruit apart from him. Heavenly Solitude! Soul meditation! Sounded more like solitary solitude fruit. He had been meditating from his childhood. Why is everybody looking for a way for him to die in meditation?


    They left the garden and returned to the walkway leading to the palace.


    Dargehk turned around to face them with eyes firmly on them.


    "You have all recieved the welcome gifts. Now, I ask you all, do you want to go back or you want to proceed to the palace?"


    His gaze was still on them as he continued.


    "If you decide to go back now, the gates will be opened for you to leave. If you proceed to the palace, you will have six hours in this place before you are all ejected. Everything you get, you keep. If you can''t continue, say ''Dargehk'' and you''ll be ejected to the portal archlit where you will have to wait for the others."


    They looked at one another and after thoughtful delibration, they decided to proceed. Why not? They would just say his name. Moreover, they wouldn''t be able to come back in the future.


    "Continue along the walkway until you come to the palace. There you will come to the presence of the outer palace guards. If you are able to pass them, you will meet me inside."


    With that, Dargehk disappeared silently and the group continued to walk on. As they neared the front of the palace doors, two voices suddenly boomed out.


    "Well, well, well. Femara, What do we have here?"


    "Oh Neviria, we have a new set after the treasures. Emperor treasures. Hehehe."


    "Six treasures hunters from five no-gods to a demigod, very interesting."


    "All of you, come forward and stand in front of the Emerald eye."


    The group slowly stepped forward and a large emerald eye appeared in front of them.

 37 The Forsaken Palace The Entrance Trials

    The sudden appearance of the large emerald eye right in front of them, caused the disciples to panick. They tried to control their fear but the powerful oppresing aura that the eye enforced was putting a seemingly massive pressure on them which made them to scramble on their knees. The two nascent souls were not spared from the effect of the aura either, as their hearts lurched in primal fear as they maintained standing on their feet. Afterall, this was a total grade luminous artifact.


    The Divine Crucible.


    A treasure of immense power. It''s power was so extreme that it could gaze into the depth of the mind of a god. Even celestials would find it difficult to resist.


    Jufeng was fighting the extreme pressure that was emanating from the eye pushing him into unconsciousness. The other disciples had already succumbed to the pressure and were about to pass out. This wasn''t their fault. How could they resist the immense pressure from a divine artifact when they were yet to step fully into the Zhuji stage. Their cultivation level was simply not strong enough at this time to withstand the vast amount of pressure from the emerald eye.


    He was nearing his limit when the voices started again.


    "Weak, too weak. Couldn''t even withstand a little immortal pressure. Yet, you want to enter the Jade palace? I''m bewildered, Femara."


    "Indeed, Neviria."


    "But the nascent souls seemed to be holding their own, Femara. They seemed to withstand the eye with no visible effect on them. Interesting."


    "Why wouldn''t they, Neviria? They are nascent soul cultivators compared to the others who haven''t even formed a core. Can the two nascent souls withstand a godly glare? A celestial glare? Not to mention a divine stare. Well, maybe they can. Do you want to find out, Femara?"


    "Let them be, Neviria. That would be unnecessary oppression. We are not oppressors. Are we?"


    "Are we not? Of course we are not, Femara. Now, let''s focus on the matter before us."


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    With that, the pressure coming from the eye receeded much to their relief. A green-gold mist was released from the eye that made Jufeng recovered his full composure while the other disciples quickly regained their consciousness. Reena and elder Wang Xiu were also restored from the fatigue of the fear of the mind.


    "We humbly welcome you all to the ancestral palacium of the mightiest of the emperors, the Jade emperor himself, Wan Bao. Welcome."


    "You must be wondering what kind of palace is this after your visit to the garden. Well, you are right to wonder if that is true. As you can see, this is not your traditional kind of palace, just to confirm your thoughts."


    "This is the mythical Jade Realm."


    "A place that has transcended the mortal plane to the heavenly plane. The outer premises of the palace is a gift from the Jade emperor to all that enter this place. There are fruits and plants that would not be found in many other places but exist here. Even if you are to turn back without entering the palace, you would have recieved a worthy little gift in return."


    "But inside the palace? It''s a different matter entirely."


    "A true immortal domain beyond mortal comprehension. You may easily die in there that''s why the Jade emperor designed the following trials to see how able your cultivation levels are and to possibly prepare you ahead."


    "Since you are here, it means you must have reached the conclusion of moving forward."


    "Well enough, but you will have to pass our trials, only two of them, for you to be able to enter the Jade palace. And of course, you can stop at any time during the trials with the safe-word which I believe you already know."


    "First of the trials is for you to face the truth of the Divine Crucible."


    "After that, you''ll face the the Golems Might."


    "Do not worry treasure hunters, the trials will be according to your levels and capacities."


    "If you are all ready, then let it begin."


    "Starting from the left."


    As soon as the Luduans finished talking, the large emerald eye settled in front of Yingjie who held his head with both hand as a new powerful voice sounded in his head.


    "Yingjie! What a beautiful name you have. Ying-Jie. Do you even know the meaning of your name? Yes, of course you do know. How brave you are meant to be, yes, how heroic. Born on a beautiful solar morning, the path of greatness was set. Yet, when you suppose to live up to your name, you proved to be a disappointment. You were there on that day. You watched your parents being captured and you did nothing about it. Oh, you actually did something. You ran! What? You were young? Mhm, you are right. You really were young when that happened. How old are you then? Five? Six? Some were that age when they performed unbelievable things. You were a coward and a weakling. Do you admit that you are still one?"


    By the time the Emerald eye left Yingjie, he was already sprawling on the floor. He had tears flowing down his face as he continued shaking his head.


    The Emerald moved to elder Wang Xiu as she stood transfixed in her stare at the eye.


    "A true nascent soul. Wang Xiu Ying or should I simply say ''elder Wang Xiu''? What a beautiful child you were born. Friends and foes revered your parents after your birth. The elegant jewel in the eyes of her parents, Wang Xiu Ying. You were a brilliant child, yes, I would have been proud of you if I was there too. I have to agree that you came into cultivation a bit late, I give you that. You have even become a nascent soul. But at what cost? Your parents died because of you. When your father was dying, you ran away instead of saving him. How pathetic was that? Cowardice is one thing but to add weakness to it? Truly pathetic. You had the chance to take revenge on the cause, but you were too weak to do that. Admit it, you are a curse and not a jewel, to your parents. You miserable coward and a pitiable weakling."


    The words made elder Wang Xiu screamed with tears.


    "Nooo."


    "Denial? That won''t work with me Wang Xiu Ying. Face the truth and let your mind readjust itself. Now that''s better. Nothing relieves more than the truth."


    The emerald eye moved from one to the other as the truth hidden in their mind was brought into bear for them to confront.


    Da-Xia was holding her head sobbing as she sat on the floor crawled up and shaking after her own encounter with the eye.


    Chenric was kneeling down with his head bowed as tears dropped from his eyes.


    Reena was already manifesting fire in anger as if she wanted to burn her pain. She had faced the truth before and she readily admitted it when the emerald eye brought it out again. But so many painful hidden truth that really wanted her to burn something.


    "Jufeng, the one who comes with the wind. The immortal storm. True, you are not like many. Your name is even more unique than you can imagine. Do you want to know? Alright, I will tell you. You are not the one who comes with the wind, you are the one who comes with death. Yes, you are. Your father suffered because of you, a whole village suffered near destruction because of you, your folks left their birth place because of you. How many people are still going to die because of you? It''s good you already admitted that you are walking in the shadow of death. That''s so thoughtful of you for the fact that it''s true. I commend you for also admitting that you are a lamentable weakling. You are just too weak to save yourself, talkless of saving others."


    Jufeng was staring into the unseen future and showing no sign of movement after the eye left him. He was completely lost in his own mind.


    The emerald eye released another green-gold mist that restored their frames of mind to the normal state. This was truly a divine artifact. If the Crucible trial was of their levels, how would a godly one be like? Jufeng couldn''t help but shook his head at the thought.


    "That was the moment of truth. The ultimate burden that we love to hide or that was hidden by forces beyond us. The eye has done it''s part."


    The large emerald eye suddenly disappeared leaving behind a faint mist of green-gold mist.


    "The second trial will commence now. All you have to do is withstand and fend off the golems. It will be within a time limit."


    The second trial, the Golems Might commenced with each of them facing the golems starting from one golem.


    A giant time scale appeared in the mid-air, a little distance from their position.


    They had difficulty passing this trial, but they all managed to pass it.


    The timescale disappeared and the golems returned to their statue state. The statues of the Luduans turned into their true living selves. They stared at the bedraggled group in front of them and made audible sighs.


    "The world inside the palace is a dangerous and deadly one albeit many benefits. It''s a many facet domain created by a group of immortal friends. The friends came across a divine artifact on a quest for the emperor."


    "A Jade monolith."


    The Luduans, Femara and Neviria uttered to the group of cultivators standing in front of them as the two of them started their anticipatory transitions of talks.


    "A spacetime treasure of the utmost power. The friends are of different mystical elements of fire, water, terra, air and dream and illusions. They knew that if they only had one artifact and there was no way to divide it among themselves."


    "And besides, any one holding a divine artifact without the power level to support it, was only seeking death considering more powerful cultivators that will come after it if known. So, they delibrated on what they should do with it and they all agreed to present it to the emperor as a gift."


    "When they returned with the artifact and presented it to the emperor and told him about their idea of creating an illusion into the traditional palace of the emperor, the emperor was joyfully pleased. He compensated them handsomely."


    "But, instead of creating illusion into the traditional palace, the emperor decided to make a domain. As a spacetime ascendant, he could manage to create a domain to an extent while he was still on the mortal plane. With the help of the five friends, he created this palacium. The palace you are looking at, is the divine artifact."


    " A divine spacetime domain. Where you find yourself on entering is always different from time to time, but there are treasures to be found inside."


    "One thing you need to know though."


    "There are two more entrances leading into this palacium. This is only one them. There''s one from the Nether plane and one from the heavenly plane. Those two were added after the Jade emperors ascension. Which means, you could meet others from the other planes in there."


    "After today, there wi?l be no more access entrance from the mortal plane. Make use of the chance you have. Just be cautious in there."


    "Or else, you might just die in there."


    "That means, we may never meet again. So, farewell hunters."


    "Yes, farewell. Now, you may enter the palace."


    After finishing their admonishing talks, the Luduans returned to their statue form.


    There was a sigh of relief among all the members of the group as they took a moment to regain their composure. After that they contemplated the course of action.


    Jufeng and the other disciples ruminated on what was reasonable for them to do. According to the Luduans, the palace was a dangerous place to enter but with treasures. The best thing would be for them to just give up now since they already had the spirit fruits. But the allure of treasures was there and the safe-word which they could use immediately they enter. Hence, they made their decisions to enter first and to use the safe-word immediately afterward if the situation was looking grim.


    "We proceed cautiously and we shouldn''t forget the safe-word. Immortal Dargehk said he would be waiting for us inside. Let''s go in and meet him."


    Elder Wang Xiu looked at Reena who nodded in return.


    Since they have reached this point, they would simply forge ahead. They entered the palace through the two opened massive doors. With half a step into the palace, time appeared to freeze as Dargehk addressed them from within the palace.


    "Remember, the palace is a spacetime. You will find yourselves in different places and if you find yourselves in difficult positions, simply exit. May fortune smile on you."


    Things returned to normal immediately after that and as his foot landed on the palace''s floor, Jufeng found himself alone in a snowy place yet not too cold. He looked around to observe his immediate sorroundings when he heard a voice.


    "Eh you, over here."

 38 Aculum Divinis I

    "Eh you, over here."


    Jufeng turned towards the direction of the voice in apprehension but couldn''t see what or who was making the utterances. A single voice in a plain of snow and ice was really un-nerving.


    "Who''s there?"


    High on alert, he strained his eyes in his attempt to detect the exact location of the voice when his mind struck him to use his spiritual sight. He switched to his spiritual sight and discovered that the whole area to his front was devoid of any living entity. Every direction on the open plain was of the view of the falling snow and snow-filled ground. The area was giving off the normal ice auric light except for one particular thing.


    A single small grey tree.


    The small grey tree wasn''t radiating any auric light. Although it looked strange in the snow, it was a beautiful small tree in the large area of falling snow. Moreso, it appeared to be generating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.


    "Over here."


    "Uh?"


    It couldn''t be the tree making the utterances. Could it?


    He focused on the tree and keenly observed it from the distance. He waited for a time to be sure whether it was the tree that was talking or not. After being satisfied, he heaved a sigh of relief.


    A small tree like this couldn''t be the one talking. Just looking at it, he felt at peace, though, the existence of a single tree in a place like this looked strange.


    "For a moment, I thought the tree was actually talking to me. Such a strong illusion."


    "Illusion? What illusion? I''m surely talking to you. Have you not seen a talking tree before?"


    "Demon!"


    Jufeng shouted as he jumped back in alarm.


    True, he had seen some strange occurences before. From alking statues to large emerald eyes among others, but for a lone talking tree to be in a place like this, it must be either be an extreme illusion or immense danger. As he had learned in the ancient Book of Findings, apart from illusion, the only type of trees that could talk and reason were the cognizant daimonic trees? Or demonic trees as appropriately applied.


    The daimonic trees were the trees that gained sentience and awareness due to vast amount of spiritual energy that they had absorbed over hundreds of millions of years to billions of years. Although, their emerging awareness was slow, they would become powerful entities upon transformation. This was the reason why their cultivation was slower than that of mortal and immortal cultivators. Cultivation was an added advantage since they had absorbed a lot of heavenly spiritual energy before gaining sentience.


    The demonic trees on the other, were once daimons that had turned due to the amount of karmic sins they had accrued. These were the daimonic trees that were reincarnated as demonic trees in the netherplane.


    Karmic sins and karmic virtues determined what a daimon would become and where it would be reincarnated after experiencing death.


    "Demon is a strong word, young one. You can''t go around and be calling every talking tree you see, a demon. As a young one that you are, some may overlook it while others may still find it extremely rude and could kill you for that, you know. Don''t let ignorance be the end of you? Do I really look like a demon to you?"


    An audible sigh could be heard coming from the direction of the tree.


    "Because I''m a talking tree doesn''t mean I''m a demon. Even as a child, you should know that. You can''t see any demonic aura on me and this is not netherplane. That should have given you the idea of what I am. I am a daimonic tree. Do you see the difference?"


    Jufeng nodded his head in confirmation while he continued to gaze at the grey tree with a mixed expression of fright and curiousity. Whether it was a daimon tree or demon tree, he would be weary of them all. No matter the glaring differences.


    "I do. Not trying to be rude. I''m just wary of all demons. That''s all."


    "What is it with you and demons? Do you have grievious disputes with them?"


    "Not that I have with them, but I think they have with me and my family. They did tried to kill us before."


    "Why go straight into killing? Makes little sense. You should try to resolve your differences amicably at first before deciding to kill each other if you don''t succeed. Let me check you."


    The tree twisted slightly before returning to its original state.


    "I can''t seem to find any demon mark or sign on you, so, I think you should be fine. Nevertheless, you can still die if you are not careful enough."


    Jufeng appeared to be having a more clearer perspective of the daimon tree that was starting to emanate a gentle but powerfully deadly aura. He had seen powerful demonic auras before when the demon army led by the daemon kings attacked them by the lunar mountain. But this small grey tree was starting to generate a different aura that made the atmospheric condition of its sorrounding rang a primal danger alarm in his head.


    Yes, he had felt extreme fear from powerful entities before, but this was on a primeval level. With all indication, this was a tree that appeared neither to belong to the mortal plane nor to the nether plane. It could only be one thing.


    Godly daimon tree.


    "Come closer. I''m not going to bite you now. Am I? Not that I have the teeth anyways."


    Jufeng took a couple of steps towards the tree before mindfully checking the sorroundings again to be sure he wasn''t walking into a trap of illusion or the ever deadly trap of dreams.


    "Don''t stress yourself, young one. If I want you dead, you''ll be dead by now. Not reaching transformation doesn''t stop me from killing you where you stand."


    He continued to observe the grey tree with extreme caution as he contemplated maybe it was time for him to use the safe word and bade farewell to the place instead of facing another revenant-like situation.


    "Are you just going to stand there while my poor soul wallows in sadness? A lonely tree like myself can do with a little company. It''s been a long time since I last saw a living soul, though, never seen one pitiable like yourself."


    Jufeng closed his eyes and continued to ruminate on the situation. It would be reasonable and just for him to call it a day and to return to others. But, from the little he had seen of the small grey tree, he could truly have been dead already. What''s the point of standing where he was if it didn''t make any difference? Hence, he decided to move closer to the tree and to find out more about the place.


    "My name is Jufeng. What is this place? Is it even real?"


    "Is this place real? It''s like you asking me if I am real. Do you want me to show you by killing you for you to find out?"


    "Uh?"


    "Hehehe. Relax your mind, young Jufeng. That''s only for a good laugh. But you should be able to know the difference between an illusion and reality. Maybe you are too young to know which is fair to you, although, you are definitely too weak which could have also affected you."


    The tree changed its voice to a more serene one before continuing.


    "Can you see me?"


    "Mhm."


    "Can you hear me?"


    "I can."


    He replied with a thoughtful nod.


    "And you can also feel the snow. That''s real enough for you, young Jufeng. Now that we have settled that. Welcome to Aculum Divinis. The unending frosty space between illusion and reality."


    "This place has no end?"


    "It''s the effect of this place that affects the space and time creating traps of illusion and dreams. You could be lost in illusion or dreams of this place forever if you are not strong enough. The time in here is very much different from that of the outside space. This I have come to know. Do you understand what that means?"


    "This is a dangerous place."


    "Yes. You see, I don''t care how got here or why you came here. But, ignorance could easily get an entity killed. Maybe you wouldn''t have come if you had known what this place is. But, here you are and I don''t mind a little company either. And if I were you, I would try to make the best use of my time here. Although, this place is filled with illusion and dreams, many are the great things hidden in here. Great things like treasures, if you know where to look."


    "I guess you know where to look."


    "So true, young one. So true. For billions of years I have been existing here. At first, I wasn''t the only one here. There were others but they gained transformation before me and they went after most of the treasures. Some were fortunate enough while others were not so fortunate, but most left with one item or the other. Then, I came to be, at this side of the Divinis, all by myself. One thing is that, It takes a very long time for divinis daimon trees like myself to gain awareness talkless of any form of transformation. During all this time, I have been gathering more information about some valuable things especially treasures. Treasures you wouldn''t even imagine. It may look like saddened life, solitary life has its advantages too. I guess you also want to know where to look, don''t you?"


    "Well, if it''s not too dangerous. It''s worth a try."


    "That''s the spirit of an adventurer. We all know that every adventure carries an amount of danger. It is left for you to use your own initiative to survive them. I will give you the location of the treasures you need to know and are much more safer for you, their specific directions and steps. The rest is left to you. Is that alright by you? "


    "It''s alright."


    "But first, you have to bargain for the information you are going to get. What do you have?


    "Bargain?"


    Jufeng stared at the tree in surprise. What bargain was it talking about?


    "Yes. Life of a daimon is about give and take, young one. It is just what it is."


    Jufeng started to think about the situation. How could he tell whether the grey tree was telling the truth or not? And, if he was telling truth, what was the assurance that he wouldn''t die trying to get the ''so-called'' treasures? Moreover, what treasures did he even have to make a bargain for the information?


    He decided it was worthy of a try. What was to gain if there was nothing to loose?


    "I have a top grade spirit crystal containing spiritual energy."


    "A top grade spirit crystal? Even a thousand will have no effect on me."


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    "A magical Eddaros treasure?"


    "One has no true value. How can you make an heavenly array with just one? Such a pity."


    Jufeng contemplated harder. He had no more treasures apart from the recently acquired heavenly solitude fruit. Should he use that also? Who knew what the tree would say again? He never liked the fruit anyways.


    "I also have the heavenly solitude fruit."


    "Is that all you have?"


    "I have nothing of value apart from all these."


    "Hm. You tell the truth and I like you as a reasonable young one. I have thought very hard about it, so, I will take the Eddaros crystal, the heavenly solitude fruit and the spirit crystal. Also, you will bring back a particular item for me. That should be a fair bargain. Don''t you think?"


    All his three treasures for some treasures he didn''t know if they even exist? How could that be called fair? More to loose, more to gain? He wouldn''t miss any of them anyways. Or would he?


    "Don''t know if it''s fair enough but I accept."


    He replied as he sent the treasures floating towards the tree.


    "Wise decision nonetheless. Afterall, your little treasures means little to me but you still gave them up not knowing what you are getting in return."


    The grey tree recieved the treasures which entered an opening at the side of its trunk.


    "There are five treasures I will tell you about. It''s left for you to choose the three you want and after that I will tell you the specifications, directions and steps. Alright?"


    Jufeng nodded in acknowledgement.


    "Perfect. First, there''s the Soul Banishing Seal. From what I managed to gather, this is an ancient heavenly treasure that could send the soul of an entity into the samsara cycle. Even the gods couldn''t escape the power of it if it was used by another powerful god. Although, it should be one of the forbidden seals."


    "The second one is the Ring of destruction. It''s a magical treasure that belonged to a fallen primordial necrosist celestial during the primordial wars. The ring could raise a powerful army of daemon gods from the netherplane. The ring is powerful enough to conjur them and open a portal for them to pass through. This is a truly terrifying item."


    "The third one is a spatial sac. It''s no longer in good shape, so if you are fortunate enough, you may find it whole. What it contains? I have no idea. But since it''s a spatial sac, it means it didn''t belong to any god since the gods use spatial dimension."


    "The fourth one, Mystic Order. A small crystal spark. I figured it should be either a heavenly or luminous treasure. Though, it might also be a powerful magical item."


    "And lastly, a big lump of Primodium. I don''t know if you know about it but it''s a valuable metalline."


    "These are the five treasures and I know you are not disappointed by them. All you need to bring back to me, is the Script of Sentience. It''s even the easiest to find. So, what do you say, young one?"


    Jufeng stared at the grey tree lost in thoughts before asking.


    "What if I couldn''t find the script?"


    "Then you will leave one of the items you find. But, I don''t really want to take from your spoils, hence, it''s better to just try and bring back the script."


    "Fine. I accept."


    "I truly admire your will spirit, little one. Very well then, let me give you the directions and steps you need to take."

 39 Aculum Divinis II

    The snow was falling more heavily when Jufeng came to an area specified by the grey tree.


    Frost had gathered on his face and streaked his robe. He was beginning to grow acustomed to the dense frost due to his mind being occupied by the task at hand. He had to be very careful, if not, he could easily walk into a dream or illusion he wasn''t prepared for. This was why he couldn''t use the flashsteps but rather walked slowly and steadily.


    The words of the tree was still sounding in his ears.


    "Follow the direction I''m giving you and you will come to a place where the snow falls in a spiral. From the edge of the spiraling snow, turn and face the eastern side. For you, twenty feet forward will take you to a small snow mound. Three steps to the right before taking three steps to the front, followed by three steps to the left will take you inside the dream."


    These were the clear instructions given by the tree that he needed to keep to the letter in order for him to enter the right dream for the Script of Sentience. This was the one the tree asked him to bring for it.


    He looked at the one of the four dream crystals the grey tree gave him. It had told him that whenever he was about to enter the dream or illusion field, he should put one crystal in his mouth. This would be a remedy against forever succumbing to the effect of the dream and illusion. Afterall, he was still an infant immortal at the Zhuji stage and he was only ten mortal years of age. How could he even fight off the simplest of the dreams and illusion?


    After giving a careful thought to his recent life, he sadly laughed aloud.


    "He he he."


    Although, it appeared he had been courting death, this particular endeavor was like having a romantic kiss of death. He didn''t looked as if he would escape his fated path afterall, therefore, why not cautiously followed it courageously?


    He needed to rephrase that. How about the courage it takes not to die? Whether it''s in your hands or not, it takes courage not succumb to death. He prefered that, it fitted in perfectly.


    He put the crystal in his mouth and as the the sweet burning sensation of the crystal erupted in his mouth, he took a step forward into where the dream field would be. The moment he stepped into the unseen field, he found himself in narrow way between two huge walls. At the other side of the narrow passage stood a small house.


    The walls'' surface were smooth and perfectly patterened. But the most striking aspect of the walls were the types of the stones used to make the walls. A beautifully polished and smooth quartz walls blending to the perfectly crafted hypnotizing patterns on them that could make a soul gazing on them, lost in the moment of time forever. He didn''t know the time his right hand started caressing one of the walls.


    Oh. It felt soothing and relaxing. He could simply lie down here and revered in this heavenly place. As he was closing his eyes, he felt a sharp bust of burning sensation in his mouth which transmitted into his brain and jolted him awake. He quickly removed his hand from the wall and withdrew to the middle of the narrow passage.


    "This is truly a terrifying place."


    If not for the dream stone he put in his mouth, he would be trapped in dreams forever. That means the words of the grey tree were true.


    He continued walking towards the house and noticed the details of the houss. It was made of dull quartz stones with runes all over it. As he stepped on the large cobblestone in front of the entrance, the door immediately swung open. It was as if the house was alive and there was no need for attendants.


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    What did he expected in a dream in the first place?


    There was something about the dying glow that made him not to like the place, but his courageous will and determination were pushing him forward.


    Colorful light, though it was faint, but was still brighter than he had seen in this dream, flowed out to encompass him. This light was coming from the walls inside the houss, it was as if the white runes on the walls were giving off a dying radiance.


    There was a large oak table at the center of the room along with an oak chair. They were smoothly polished and giving off a shining glow. There was a large opened book to the left side of the table and to the right was another larger golden scroll. Behind the table and chair was a large oak shelf filled with scrolls and manuscripts.


    Sitting at the table was an elderly man in a light golden scholar robe. His hair was golden, his eye brows were lightly trimmed and golden and his beard was long and also golden in color. He was holding a golden feathered pen and appeared to be lost in thought.


    From his first glance of the elderly man, Jufeng could tell he was looking at an ancient scolar. The wisdom and knowledge they possessed were a thing of unparalleled pride in the world of cultivation. In here, he knew he had to maintain his silence until being told otherwise.


    Few moments later, the old man raised his head to observe Jufeng.


    "Young scholar, welcome to the House of Riddles."


    "Greetings, senior."


    "En. You must be here to help me with some of the riddles."


    Without waiting for any reply, he continued.


    "Very well then, come closer. Young one, these riddles are a thorn in my robe. I just couldn''t find the right answers to them. Since you are here, maybe you can help me solve them. But there is a little problem if you call it that. Young scholar, you see, with the importance of what I''m doing here, you can only give me wrong answer a total of two times. The third wrong answer will create a bring problem for you. But, you can leave or continue after the second wrong answer only if you substitute with five Iradium gold coins. Do you understand that?"


    "Yes, senior."


    Jufeng replied with a nod of his head. What else could he say? He had a telling comfort in knowing that hewas having the Iradium gold coins given to him by the tree. The tree had truly prepared for all these.


    "Excellent. Here are the riddles."


    And here we go. Jufeng knew the trial had started. He could only miss the answers twice, missing them three times meant he would be in serious trouble. The tree already told him that the questions would be on his level of understanding and reasoning. The tree better be right. If not, then it would be on the tree for not getting the script.


    The elderly man gently raised the feathered pen as he stared at Jufeng with a slightly raised eyebrows.


    "The first one.


    "I never was, am always to be,


    No one ever saw me, nor ever will,


    And yet I am the confidence of all,


    To live and breathe on this creative existence.


    What am I?"."


    Jufeng scratched his head as he mused on the riddle. He had done a few riddles before but nothing close to this. This was a hard riddle. If the first one could be this hard, he wondered what the other two would be like.


    The time was gradually passing by and he had yet to come up with an answer.


    "Young scholar, why do you ponder so long on something that never comes?"


    "Ah, I see. Tomorrow! That''s it!. The answer is ''tomorrow''."


    Jufeng voiced in delight after recieving the hint from the elderly scholar. The joy of getting the answer right was satisfying despite the situation of things.


    "Thank you senior."


    "Aha. Though, not just you, young one. I give hints on every first question but the rest is on you. Now, for the second one. This second riddle is no better than the first. Here it goes.


    "I''m the beginning of eternity,


    The end of time and space,


    The beginning of every end,


    And the end of every place.


    What am I?"."


    The beginning of eternity and the end of time and space? It could only be one thing. The Void. The beginning of every existence. Everybody knew that. Could the answer be that simple? Jufeng was musing very hard in thoughts as he tried to resolve the riddle. He came to the conclusion that it had to be the void.


    "The Void?"


    "That is a wrong answer, young one. Do you want to give another try?"


    Okay. If it wasn''t the void. What could it be? Could it be the Alpheron then? That was the beginning of everything in the universe. He had to be careful especially now that he only had one more wrong answer left. After thinking hard for what seemed to be a long time, he cleared his throat as he drew the attention of the elderly scholar.


    "The Alpheron?"


    He had just said those words when something flashed through his mind and it instantly dawned on him that he gave a wrong answer. But before he could make adjustment, the elderly scholar gave his remarks.


    "Wrong again, young one. You know what that means. Five Iradium gold coins, then you will decide whether you want to leave or continue."


    Jufeng removed the five Iradium gold coins and gave them to him. He heaved a sad sigh of relief. Heavens tears, now that he had used the precious Iradium gold coins he had no substitute left. Only if he had waited a bit longer. It didn''t matter anymore and with a bitter smile, he answered.


    "I want to continue, senior. You are ''E''! Letter E!."


    "That''s correct. I''m letter E. And don''t be too hard on yourself. Though it took you time and missed chances, you are still wiser for your age. You should take pride in that. Just one more riddle for you to help me with. Here it is.


    "Three men are standing, each is holding a box. In only one of the boxes there is a treasure, the other two are containing evil. The men know what is in their respective boxes. Each man will say only one sentence. Only one of them is telling the truth about the treasure and the other two are lying.


    The first person says: The treasure is not in my box!


    The second person says: The treasure is in third person''s box!


    The third person says: The treasure is not in my box!


    In whose box is the treasure?"."


    Jufeng closed his eyes as he pondered on the riddle. This was a difficult riddle. How would he answer this one when he couldn''t tell from their responses? After thinking for some time, he opened his eyes only to discover that the elderly scholar, the table, the chair and the shelf, are all gone. The room had grew darker and the only source of faint light was the runes on the walls. At the center of the house were three boxes labelled from first to third.


    Why did he had the feeling that this was related to the third riddle of the elderly scholar? That would mean that one of these boxes was containing the script he was looking for while the remaining two contained stark evil. Who knew what kind of evil would be inside them? What was the possibility of him surviving any of the evil?


    "Which one of them is even telling the truth? First one said plainly that it wasn''t in his box. Second one indicated that it was in third one''s box. The third one straightly denied that it wasn''t in his box."


    As he continued to think about the riddle, a scene that happened back at the sect flashed in his mind. The more he compared the two, the more he could see the similarities. Moments later, he stepped forward and opened the first box slowly with caution. He held his breath as he raised the lid cover of the box and inside it was a sealed bamboo script.


    The Script of Sentience.


    True joyful relief washed over him as he took the script from the box and turned it over in his hand as revelled in acquiring it. He put it in his spatial sac as he looked around the room. The closed door had opened again. Hence he made his way to the door as he kept an eye on the remaining two boxes.


    He left the house and walked back through the passage while avoiding making contact with the walls. He stepped out of the dream and into the frosty plain. Good to be in the open again. He took his time to relax as he brought out some turtle meat and preserved goat milk. An adventure inside another adventure. The sense of it was frightening enough, it would be better not to delibrate on it.


    Ah, the wonder of the magical turtle meat and finest homely made goat milk. He thought happily as he consider the next place he was heading next. That would be entering a real illusion to acquire the Mystic Order, the first one had chosen. In the Aculum Divinis, reality is but an illusion and illusion is nothing but reality.


    He followed the directions he was given and he came to an area where the snow appeared to be gravitating upward. He was told to use his spiritual sight to examine the area. He would see a particular place, a single line of bigger levitating snow. That was where he would have to enter the illusion. After locating the place, he put another dream and illusion crystal in his mouth and enter the levitating snow field.


    He nearly stepped into the path of a passing blade-light that would have splitted him into two. He quickly sidestepped and dodged behind a huge fallen statue.


    What situation did he just walked himself into?


    He raised his head to take a peek and saw that there were powerful battles going on at every corner. Some of the cultivators fighting were around his age while others were older. He quickly dodged back after confirming he was in the right illusion.


    Did he even come at the right time? It looked as if he had just walked into a battle arena where a fierce battle was going on.


    This called for careful observation. As he raised his head a second time to take a look, a flaming arrow that was blazing like a meteorite, streaked past his head prompting him to quickly ducked. From the power of that arrow, the shooter was definitely more than that of a Jindan cultivator. Which signified that these people were either nascent souls or ascendants. Could they even be demigods just like the tree told him?


    The route he needed to take was through the left side of the battle into the valley of mountains that were scattered in broken chains. The mountain he was looking for, had a white patterns on it. He had to enter the mountain through a hidden opening on its side. At the heart of the mountain was the Mystic Order.


    He slowly took out his sword but wasn''t really sure of how effective a bronze sword could fare facing powerful attacks. It''s all he had on him anyways.


    He was just leaving his position behind the fallen statue using flashsteps when the statue exploded into ashes. The impact of the explosion knocked him forward but he didn''t stop, instead, he used the momentum to increase his speed. He had to leave this battlefield if he didn''t want to be turned into ashes.


    He was almost out of the battle area when an alarm sounded in his head of an incoming mortal danger to the right. He quickly pushed as much as possible, a vast amount of Chi energy into his body as he raised his sword in a blocking position and turned towards the approaching danger. In a lightning speed, the battle axe appeared right in front of him and collided with his sword.


    The impact broke his right hand and was almost torn off his shoulder''s socket while his left hand was twisted awkwardly. The bronze sword was shattered into fragments and laced his body as he laid on the floor semi-conscious with air was knocked out of his lungs. The axe was fastly descending on him when a hand suddenly thrust into the arena and pulled him out.


    "Thank you."


    He managed to say before drifting into uncosciousness and was carried off to a distance before he was settled on the floor. It was after couple of hours that he regained full consciousness. He looked around as he tried to see where he was when his gaze fell on the boy who was sitting in a lotus position, watching him without making any sound.


    "Thanks for saving me back then."

 40 Aculum Divinis III

    "Why, Asura?"


    "Uh?"


    Jufeng uttered after he was taken aback by the sudden question. Coupled with the fact that he was still feeling a little bit groggy as he recovered from the damage sustained from the impact of the collision back in the arena.


    Asura? A demigod? He never knew he resembled a demigod. Could it be his looks? But surely, it couldn''t be his aura. It was just recently that he reached the zhuji stage of immortal cultivation. Even immortal nascent soul cultivators didn''t have the same aura as demigods. Oh, how he wished that could be true about him. An Asura, just like his mother? Surely, his life would have been much more easier.


    Jufeng quickly gathered himself together and tried to mask his confused expression as he put on an appreciative smile.


    "Thank you for saving me?"


    "There''s no honor or glory in being suicidal, Asura."


    With his gaze that was displaying annoyance, fully fixed on Jufeng, the demigod continued.


    "We all seek glory here but not in a senseless manner."


    "I''m not trying to get myself killed, by the way."


    "Pff, If you are not carelessly courting death, then, why are you participating in the Eternal-legacy?"


    "Eternal-legacy? The rite of glory?"


    Jufeng asked in surprise as his stomach churned in primal fear.


    "So, are you telling me you are just realizing that now?"


    The demigod shook his head lightly as he examined something on the floor.


    "That''s a mockery of the rest of us, you know. Or don''t you realize that?"


    Jufeng looked at the demigod but he couldn''t find any word in response. He recalled the words of uncle Primus to his mother before she attended the rite of passage for the demigods. About a deadly demigod''s trial that happened in a dimensional place of spacetime known as the Deathkeep. A trial so dangerous that it would take thousands of years for the young demigods to prepare before being approved for the trials. Even with that, there was no assurance of them surviving the trials.


    Eternal-legacy. The rite of glory.


    The extremely dangerous customary act designed for all young, coming of age, demigods. Participating demigods would have to do battle in the Deathkeep arena where they would be eliminated, one by one. Any demigod that stepped outside or thrown out of the arena, would be eliminated from the first trial. No eliminated demigod could get back into the arena until it was all done and only one was left.


    The champion, the last remaining demigod in the arena, would get the Dew of Heavens and a token. The token was a pass to the first tunnel which contained more treasures and lesser amount of danger. He would also be having a period of time ahead of the other demigods to look for the Sacredcrest stones, as an advantage over them.


    The Sacredcrest stones were used to exchange for a universal gift. The universal gifts were the divine traits bestowed on the demigods after the conclusion of the trials of the rite of passage. The Sacredcrest stones would be presented after the conclusion of the rite of passage at the valley of gods.


    The rules and regulations of the eternal-legacy were set in stone by the laws of creation. They couldn''t be altered or changed by any living entity. All must follow the rules.


    This trial was a great benefit to true demigods from the dimensional plane between the mortal plane and heavenly plane. Though, it''s more closer to the heavenly plane. True, there were demigods all over the mortal plane, but the true demigods resided in this dimensional plane.


    The Lumence dimensional plane. The home of the true demigods.


    There were five realms in this dimensional plane and each realm was made up of a different kingdom of demigods. Every ten thousand years, young demigods from these five realms that were seeking heavenly glory in the Eternal-legacy sojourn, would be sent to the Deathkeep. The young demigods would have to fully prepare and must be approved by their respective gathering of elders.


    The Deepflow realm which was the home of the Yaksha demigods.


    The Windglade realm belonging to the Rakshasa demigods.


    The Crystalsky realm, the place where the Laksha demigods called home.


    The Frozenfire realm that served as the habitat of the Asura demigods.


    And the Cloudfall, home of the Deva demigods.


    Out of all the kingdoms of demigods, only the Asuras fully resembled human mortals. They also had no remarkable birth marks associated with other demigods.


    "Mm. So, that''s why he thought I was an Asura."


    Jufeng thought to himself as he examined his body for any sign of lingering injuries. He had sustained serious injuries back then, but right now, he couldn''t find traces of them any longer.


    "I had to fix you up since I couldn''t bear the look."


    "I''m very grateful for everything. I really thank you. My name is Jufeng in case you are wondering."


    "Mm."


    Jufeng changed the path of the discussion when he noticed the eyes of the boy were still locked on him with all seriousness.


    "I guess I was out for a time."


    "Obviously."


    With a softer gaze, the boy still sitting in the lotus position, continued to observe Jufeng.


    "Why did you have to come here, Asura? Why did they even allowed you to come here?"


    He shook his head before turning towards the arena.


    "I don''t understand. You could have died in there had I not saved you, you know. Despite the fact that I''m a Laksha and you are an Asura, I still save your live. Do you know why? Because, you reminded me of an Asura I met, many a year ago. I was in a difficult situation back then too...."


    The young Laksha demigod trailed off as the memories of the past kept flooding in. Jufeng, noticing the change, quickly quipped in.


    "Don''t forget, we all have our teleportation seals. We can leave at anytime if we are in danger."


    He still remembered the details from the words of uncle Primus and decided to raise it maybe it could make a difference.


    "Mm. Still, you shouldn''t be here, Asura. I know the one who attacked you was a Terra Deva, nevertheless, no demigod here should take injuries like that from his blow. Do you know how long I was locked in combat with him for? Many hours, trading blows with him before I was eventually out of the arena. I would have entered back if I could but that''s the past now. Do you know what I come to realize while I was trying to patch you up?"


    He turned his attention back to Jufeng.


    "You are far from being ready for this. Your soul is weak and your body is even weaker. Forgive me Asura, but I''m finding it really hard to believe that you have trained for a thousand years talkless of ten thousand."


    Thousand years? He wasn''t even more than ten years old. Was that a joke on him or on the Laksha demigod?


    "You are right. I haven''t trained for that long and I truly shouldn''t be here."


    "Even with our teleportation talismans, they are only useful, if we are alive long enough to use them. Unless you have a large amount of life saving talismans, which I doubt, you will simply die."


    As they were talking, a loud chiming sound went off which indicated the end of the arena trial. It would soon be the time for them to enter the tunnels for the Sacredcrest stones and other treasures.


    The Laksha demigod gave him a sympathetic look.


    "If I were you, I wouldn''t enter the tunnels. You don''t want to rely on other Asura demigods. In there, it''s all demgod to himself or herself. Others might not be that kind to you as I am. But, if you decide to enter the tunnels, please, don''t get in my way."


    "I will be heading towards the mountains, the tunnels are not for me."


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    "Your choice."


    The Laksha produced a silver-grey longsword made from the rare thorne steel, out of his spatial sac and offered it to Jufeng. Thorne steel contained chromium, nickel and vanadium.


    "I noticed your sword was shattered. Take this sword, though it has no core, there''s a sharpness runes embedded in it. It was forged by my father''s own hands. Consider this a gift from me to you."


    He appeared to be in thought before continuing.


    "Fang Zedong, that''s my name."


    "Thank you Fang Zedong."


    Jufeng cupped his hands and gave a curt nod.


    "Be watchful of the armored critters. Remember, demigods do die. Farewell, Asura Jufeng."


    "Farewell. Laksha Fang Zedong."


    Jufeng watched Fang Zedong blurred towards the arena before turning his attention towards the longsword he just recieved. Despite not having mystical core, the sword was made from the finest thorne steel. The craft work on it could only have been made by a master Swordsmith. The runes of sharpness also indicated a master Soulforger. He couldn''t contained his joy knowing the sword now belonged to him. To him, this was a perfect sword.


    He heaved it in his hand and performed some sword moves. It was of the right feel. Now off to the scattered mountains to find the mystic order.


    As he headed towards the mountain, he noticed many blurred afterimages streaking past him and heading towards the opened tunnels. The many numbers of demigods that had been eliminated from the arena were now going for the tunnels.


    He could only observe and shook his head in silence knowing that some of them might not even return. How happy he was that he wasn''t heading in the same direction as them.


    After the streaking figures were gone, he looked at the scattered mountains in the far distance. Hoping to reach them on time, he decided to make haste. Jufeng started using the quicksteps as he made his way to the first of the scattered mountains. Nearing the base of the mountain, he slowed down and approached cautiously.


    He saw what looked like a loose boulder with bright glitters on it at the other side of the rocky mountain. He was trying to examine it with a strained eyes, when a voice sounded near him.


    "That''s a mountain critter."


    A young human girl materialized out of the thin air beside him and streaked off towards the tunnels before he could say anything. Going by what he had recently learned, she must be an Asura demigod.


    "Thanks."


    Jufeng shouted to her disapperaing back. He hadn''t seen a critter before. He switched to his spiritual sight and saw the death aura coming from the critter. Not wanting to attract unwanted attention to himself, he quickly adjusted his steps. He went round the other side of the mountain towards the white patterned mountain at the far distance.


    As he finally arrived near the patterned mountain, he approached it cautiously, wary of any lurking danger.


    After waiting for quite a time at the base of the mountain and didn''t hear or noticed anything out of place, he proceeded towards the place on the mountain where the sealed opening was located. He put the talisman given to him by the tree on the spot of the sealed opening which allowed him entrance through the invisible opening.


    As a zhuji cultivator, his eyes were fairly sharper than before and he could see more clearer in darkness. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Jufeng saw a black narrow passage with runic inscriptions in front of him. He touched the black passage and inspected it more closely.


    "Black diamond."


    Jufeng muttered to himself.


    Black was one of the various colors of a valuable type of rock stone known as carbonado. Although it was one of the hardest rock stones in the universe and extremely precious, its true value lied in its ability to contain defensive runes. Carbonado was one of the two known types of rock stones that could take the Total-Fortress runic inscriptions without dissipating. The other being the emerald-cloud stone.


    Extremely rich cultivators used it to build safe rooms containing their treasures vaults.


    For it to be used here with runic inscriptions that he suspected to be defensive runes made the situation clearer to him. Whoever made this measures was either trying to keep something much more larger from getting out or going in. But he had the notion that it must be to keep something big from getting out. This was an ancient mountain without a shadow of a doubt.


    The passage was about big enough for him to squeeze through. He managed to drag himself forward, though slowly, for a few yards before he finally exited into an open space facing a large tunnel. With the look of the tunnel, it was leading downward in a spiral.


    He removed the new silver sword that the demigod, Fang Zedong, gave him and examined the tunnel and the darker path that winded downward to the unknown.


    This illusion was already a danger to his life. He had nearly died inside the heavens'' forsaken arena and now, he was having a sense of alarm of him walking in the shadows of death. He didn''t like the idea of him getting used to it. If he continued living like this, he could die without him knowing he was dead.


    "From the shadows of death, straight to the light of reincarnation."


    He was only ten. He only joined a sect recently and yet to achieve any meaningful thing in his life.


    "No. I''m too young to die."


    He shook his head and contemplated turning back now that he was still alive. Life was too precious to throw away, reincarnation or not.


    It was at this time that reality dawned on him and he knew that come what may, he couldn''t turn back.


    The urge of knowing the unknown was simply too much for him to ignore. The free life to explore the wider expanse. He knew the immensely inevitable dangers that were seeking his death from the time of his birth. He knew the extreme dangers of looking for the things hidden. But, he was who he was.


    An adventurer.


    A soft sigh of resignation escaped from him. He looked at himself and the sword he was holding and smiled.


    "At least, I have a better sword."


    In that, there was comfort but he needed to be extra careful all the same.


    He entered the more darker tunnel and paused in order for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. A source of light would have been a welcome sight but it could also put him in the spotlight. He continued to follow the downward path of the tunnel slowly but steadily as it was much better in navigating the darkness.


    Some meters downward, the spiralling tunnels stopped and Jufeng could now see a levelled open area that led to another three tunnels. There were lunar bugs that were giving off a faint light, scattered all over this area. These were delicacies. Though they were not magical, they were of excellent taste as lunar grubs. He was inclined to pick up some but decided against it. That could be a terrible idea in a place like this.


    Thinking, he was beginning to notice that the layouts inside the mountain were more than that of average tunnels.


    He could easily get lost while looking for the mystic order talkless of getting killed by whatever monster was down there. Better than the Eternal-legacy tunnels, anyways. What did they called the spiders in those tunnels again? Yes, nephilia spiders and critters. Wouldn''t be too nice to be eaten by those. What about the ancient killers, the Death-Eaters. How many demigods they had killed in those tunnels.


    No. Even thinking about was already making his heart palpitated.


    Jufeng entered the first tunnel and found himself inside a dense black mist. Realizing that he was beginning to loose consciousness, he quickly retraced his steps back into the lunar-bug lighted area. That was a scary experience. He wouldn''t be going back inside that one for sure.


    The second tunnel, he would try. He entered it slowly and after walking for several minutes, he found himself looking at a wide area of chanels of water streams. Walking cautiously along a channel of stream, he found a radiance coming from a part of the stream. Upon closer look, he discovered that it was coming from a small orb-like source in the shallow stream.


    "Waterglade."

 41 The Star-Tide

    Waterglades.


    These were rare crystal-clear and transparent water shells. They were not the real treasures but what was inside them. The ever magical and translucent water jellies. Apart from the fact that they were magical and could purify and fortify the power of the soul, they were one of the best delicacies on the mortal plane. He had seen one before when the antique dealers came to their village, but never tasted one. His mother had also told him about their unique They were simply too expensive due to their rareness.


    He was already relishing the delicious taste and couldn''t wait to have a taste. As he was cautiously and gradually approaching the source of the radiance, he was certain he could not be anything more than a waterglade.


    As he peered into the shallow and clear water, the size and the shell-like shape of the source of the radiance couldn''t make it more obvious.


    "Yes. Waterglade."


    With a face full of joy and anxiety, he picked it up and bring it closer to his face. It looked a little bit different from the glade that he saw at the market, but not enough to make any big difference. Once they are removed from the water, it would be best to consume them instantly. The famous taste would be at the peak. Or to keep them in a runic container of the same water.


    Jufeng quickly sat down in a lotus position and put his sword across his lap. He pried it open easily and slurped it into his mouth. He chewed a bit before swallowing it. Oh, this ws truly magically unique in taste. Even tasted better than the striped magical goat. His soul, instantly recieved a pure energy surge. Five of these jellies, and he could advance to the middle-stage of the zhuji level.


    He closed his eyes and started to meditate for several minutes in order for his soul to fully process the energy of the jelly. After some minutes, he stood up and checked the water channels for more waterglades. While checking for the waterglades, he saw a water lily like the magical lily in their pondback at home. He pulled the lily tuber and was checking it, when his eyes caught a faint blue glow from where the lily tuber was. He found the source and remove the item. It was like a waterglade, same shell and size. The only difference was the blue blow instead of white. Maybe it was an ancient waterglade. That would be more powerful, even better.


    He found a spot and sat down crossed-leg and tried to pry it open but he was of no success. How could it be so hard to open? Well, probably because it''s an ancient one. He decided to use his sword to open it. Cautious of not making a mess of the jelly, he delicately and gently applied force as he continued to pry it open. He kept on increasing the pressure on it but he still couldn''t open.


    What if he push chi energy into his sword? Maybe, he could force it open. As long as it wouldn''t affect the jelly.


    Jufeng continued to push chi energy into his sword as he tried to force open. After several minutes, he noticed the shell was beginning to loose its closed grip and pressed ahead with renewed vigor. Almost there. He was so happy to hear the sound of the shell opening. Phew. He had used a vast amount of Chi energy, more than he had ever used. He could manage to do that due to the large amount of chi energy in his dantian.


    If not for the large amount of chi energy in his dantian, he would have found it impossible to open. Any cultivator of his age would have found it impossible to open. Maybe with the exception of the young demigods. He remembered the powerful display of the young demigods. Yes, apart from them.


    The importance of the vast amount of the Chi energy available to him in his dantian, couldn''t be emphasized enough.


    He pried it opened and seeing what was inside, the smile disappeared from his face.


    "A coral?"


    This was no edible magical jelly. How could he eat this? He turned the round coral around in his hand as he felt the smooth surface. He almost missed the tiny and transparent symbol on the coral and quickly inspected it.


    "The STAR-TIDE!"


    Jufeng shouted in surprise alarm as he bolted upright. A water Cosmic-Conchi shouldn''t be here. It should be at the heart of a deep dangerous waters. Not in a shallow streams like this one. And he had actually forced a Cosmic-Conchi open. A Cosmic-Conchi! He could have seriously injured himself, if not death, from the effect of the shell if he had continued trying to force it open.


    Every cultivator knew about the legend of the Cosmic-Conchis. There were various books and scripts that mentioned them along with many other luminous and divine treasures. These Cosmic-Conchis, were the orb-like shells that were radiating a variety of brilliant colours according to the elements affiliated with them. The radiant colours were not coming directly from the shells, but from the true treasures inside the shell-like orbs.


    These were total-grade luminous seeds. They were often refered to as the Immortal Beads. They were one of the treasures or artifacts, created by the Adi-Buddhas. They were to give the mortal cultivators, the chance to achieve immortality.


    There were fourteen of these beads crafted by the divine Adi-Buddhas.


    Lord Buddha Bhavana created eight luminous beads according to the ways of the Eight-Fold path. When the eight luminous beads were aligned, they formed the Dharma Wheel.


    The Star-Tide bead, crafted from a primordial coral seed of pure essence of water element


    The Wooden-Spire, a bead made from a prehistoric lotus seed of virtous wood element.


    The Thunder-light bead, from the ancient silver-moon seed of pure lightning element.


    The Light-Flare bead, a product of an archaic amber seed of pious essence of light element.


    The Flowing-Flame, made from an ancient redwood seed containing pure fire essence.


    The Wind-Storm, from a primal Saffron seed housing virtous air element.


    The Whispering-Void, a bead made from the Empty-Wood seed of absolute spacetime element.


    The Terra-Vale, from a primordial Peach seed of pure terra element.


    Lord Buddha Bodhisattva crafted six luminous seeds in accordance with the Bodhisattva path. Their alginment would form the Bodhi Tree.


    The Dusk-Shadow bead was made from a primeval ebon seed of pure element of shadow.


    The Frozen-Ember bead was from an ancient crystal-moon seed of pure ice element.


    The Woven-Dream, from the primal rudrahska seed of virtous dream and illusion element.


    The Metal-Peak bead was made from an ancient bronze-cactus seed of pure metal element.


    The Flora-Meadow bead, from an archaic rosewood seed of pure metal element.


    The Bone-Gore bead was made from a Titan-Nacre seed of pure necrosis element.


    Each of these artifacts, was a powerful high grade luminous treasure. And when all the fourteen were combined together, they formed a total-grade divine treasure. The World of Buddha.


    "Not good."


    The words regarding these shell-like orbs, struck his mind like a lightning. Where ever a Cosmic-Conchi was opened, the fundamental essence of the guardian protecting it, would be released. These particular ones were guardians of extreme powers created by divine Adi-Buddhas, who had access to the true essence of the universe.


    The Conchi Principals.


    Immortal entities of pure essence of the same nature as that of the beads inside the crusts. They were only formed due to the true knowledge of the principles of the laws of creation.


    Aside from the principals created by the universe itself, only cosmic divines could also create a pure essence principal. Celestials could create temporal principals that would loose their potent powers with the passage of time. Gods couldn''t create principals, but they could confine an existing principal for later purposes.


    Jufeng knew he was in trouble and must leave the place at once. There was no way he could face a water principal at this point in his life. He was only at the zhuji level in cultivation and yinying level in martial arts. He had only learned the Shifting Heavens martial hand technique, a one way hand technique of low level. He had only learned the basics of sword technique and only learned the first stage of the Skylight sword technique.


    How could he face any type of principal? Was that not like knocking on death''s door?


    Suddenly, a danger warning echoed in his head. With high amount of chi energy fortifying his body, Jufeng turned to flee towards the tunnel using flash-steps. One step forward, he saw a large blade of water almost at his face. He instictly reacted by quickly bending backward and used his sword to slightly redirect the direction of the blade. Though he was majorly unscathed, the impact still knocked him flying into one of the water channels.


    He hadn''t even seen the appearance of the principal that attacked him. But, from the direction of the blade, it was to the right side of the area. He would have to take the left side and hoped he made it to the tunnel. No other way.


    Realizing he was still conscious, he checked his body and to his relief, his bones were still intact. At least, for the moment. He tried to remember the safe-word but couldn''t. It was at the tip of his tongue but couldn''t remember it. So, he decided to move.


    Jufeng pushed the maximum chi energy his body could take into it. Although, there was strain on his soul since his soul hadn''t reached the Jindan stage to form a core. But, his body was much more stronger and lighter. This made the flashsteps much more faster than before.


    He was almost at the mouth of the tunnel, when he saw his life flashed before his eyes. He had a premonition of a death. Was it his own death? Primal danger was on him. He turned his head towards the right side and at that moment, his right leg slipped.


    A moment of fate.


    The words of divine Asha, came to the fore at the moment of true primal danger.


    Just as he slipped, a massive clawed hand passed the spot where Jufeng head was a moment before and collided with a giant sword made of true essence of water. The sound of the impact was like a thunderous storm. The whole mountain shook which made Jufeng''s body trembled.


    After crawling away from the spot quietly, Jufeng could now see clearly, the look of this cosmic-crust principal.


    A giant body of water in the shape of a Nefrim. Its body detail was so clear that it almost looked like a real Nefrim. Dense water was flowing all over its body like a thick body armor. The massive broadsword in its hand, was like being made from solid water. It looked like a glass sword that was reflecting pristine water. The pure water aura coming from it was exceedingly overpowering.


    This wasn''t something a mortal cultivator below nascent soul should be facing. He would have been dead had the sword made contact with him. The sword would have cut him into two diagonal parts. Its expressionless face was now focused on the mighty beast that was now stalking it. Maybe it could sense the power of the beast or not, it abided its time.


    The beast looked at the water principal, unchallantly, before glancing at Jufeng like the most tasty meal.


    "I smelled the rich and succulent aroma of death on you, mortal. A mortal who dared walked where immortals died. No wonder the death on you smelled so good. Your web of death was so strongly threaded that it actually pulled me out of my slumber. I can even taste it. You can really go a long way in satisfying my hunger. Oh, how long it has been."


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    Death-Eater.


    A beast of the deep. A demigods killer. Jufeng, now clearly saw the level of the danger he was in. He knew he could have died from the sharp massive claws. They could have easily cut off his head like a thread.


    Just as it was turning his attention towards the water principal, the water principal made its attack move on the death-eater. As the water principal neared the death-eater, it splitted into two. With the two prrincipal holding identical large water blades. The death-eater raised its green glowing paws and moved in a blur.


    They collided and a great battle ensued.


    Jufeng quickly stood up and fled the area through the tunnel. He decided it was time to leave the mountain, Mystic Order or not. As he exited to the open area outside the tunnels, a giant leg of a large multiple-eyed venomous spider, almost slammed into him before he could even see it. The nephilia spider was fighting with a nephilia critter.


    Nephilias? Where did they even came from?


    This place should be having mountain spiders and critters. Not nephilias.The nephilias were so fast that he wondered if he could actually outrun them. And, more of them were blocking the spiralling tunnel. His only way up.


    He would have to fight his way out. And he had to do that quickly. He was about to engage the nephilias who hadn''t yet noticed him, when he heard the shrieking sound of a death-eater almost at the mouth of the misty tunnel. He quickly turned and made his way into the third tunnel with fortified flashsteps before they would be aware of his presence.


    Inside the tunnel, he could hear the nephilias battling the death-eater. It would take more than their numbers to stop a death-eater.


    The third tunnel was a dead end. But he noticed a small hole at the base of the dead end and he quickly started digging .

 42 Deathkeep

    Jufeng sat down with his back to the wall of the tunnel, smiling bitterly. He had seen a premonition of a death and he was certain that it was his. Yet, here he was, still breathing. Maybe, the heavens didn''t want a soul to enter reincarnation on this day or death was simply too busy to bother.


    Either way, he knew he had by-passed a disastrous outcome.


    Jufeng stared at his raw and dirty hands. Oh, how fast and hard he had dug in order to escape the many deadly claws. It was good that his body was strong from birth and that he grew up stronger. The energy from the magical pills and beasts that his mother had took when she was pregnant was showing on his body. Moreso, he had fortified his body with chi energy. How else could he have managed to do this?


    He looked at the hole he had dug through the base of the tunnel but there was no hole there. It had disappeared.


    "Uh?"


    No way was that an illusion. He had dug meters long hole. Alright, it was a collapsed hole and that he had the sharpness runic sword. Still, he had spent long time digging the collapsed hole and his hands would testify to this.


    He placed his hand on the spotbtgat the hole should be and his hand actually passed through the space.


    Though, it was only big enough for him to crawl through, the orginal hole wouldn''t have only allowed more than a fully grown man to squeeze through.


    After cleaning up his hand as much as he could, he decided to check his body for further sustained injuries. He was doing that, when he felt a lump through his robe. He opened his robe and dug out the lump casually. When he saw what the lump was, he sprang up in utter shock and joy.


    "The Star-Tide!"


    The broad smile on his face could dampen the brightness of the sun. He had thought he had lost it the moment he jumped up from his lotus position. Fate was definitely on his side here.


    A luminous treasure! Even if it had no value to him at the moment or in the nearest future, it was still an extremely precious luminous treasure. He wrapped the bead in a parchment before keeping it in his spatial sac.


    As he was putting away the bead, suddenly, he remembered the talisman he bought at the market. The Mountain Bark. He should have used this since arriving at the Aculum Divinis. Maybe he would have suffered less than he was recently. He didn''t even know if the talisman was working. Nevertheless, he put it on himself. Any little form of diffense was important in this place.


    To regain expended strength, he took out some turtle meat and a jar of preserved goat milk as he revelled in the moment. As he relaxed and waited, Jufeng could still hear the banging sound of battle that was still on-going, on the other side of the tunnel.


    After waiting for several minutes, he decided to check the tunnel he was in. He kept in mind, not to venture deep but to only check his immediate vicinity. Heavens knows what other dangers were there in the tunnels.


    This area was totally different from the area he was in before.


    He continued walking slowly forward until, suddenly, a thick stone wall sprang up in the passage behind him, cutting him off from the hole.


    Heavens'' tears! A tunnel trap?


    He must have triggered an unseen hatch or.... .


    Jufeng was still examining the wall, when large areas of the two sides of the passage walls, suddenly sank. Two large passages were revealed to Jufeng, from where he heard low screeching sounds approaching from the other end of the three passages.


    "Shifting tunnel."


    He had tried his best to check out for tunnel traps, yet, he was caught in a more dangerous one. Jufeng could vaguely see the bodies of the creatures in the darkness of the passages as the got nearer.


    Critters.


    Smaller than nephilia critters. They should be mountain critters. He switched to his spiritual sight and was temporarily relieved when he saw their aura was also not as strong as their giant neighbours. Nevertheless, he was dismayed to discover a large number of them coming from the three passages. No matter how it looked, he knew trouble was coming.


    From the spot he was standing, he would be at a disadvantage when fighting. He decided to shift forward, thereby, narrowing it down to two smaller directions.


    He tried to test out the White-Flare, the first stage of the sword technique he had learned, the Skylight. But with the sword he was holding, he could only manifest a faint white light. Not that it could do much anyways, it wasn''t really an attack move. It might be useful against Nether plane entities but it had no use against other entities.


    Although, the silver-grey sword had no core, it still possessed a sharpness rune. He would have to do with that and tried not to die. He circled vast amount of Chi energy through his meridians and into his body.


    Feeling his body stronger and lighter, Jufeng went on the attack before they could totally back him to the wall.


    The critters were fast, but with his flashsteps, he was faster than them. And the blade? It was truly a thing of beauty. It was cutting into the critters like threads. This was why soul-forgers were revered in the cultivation world.


    Albeit taking some minor injuries, he kept on cutting them down as they kept on coming. It was actually a good way for him to practice and improve his martial arts. He was beginning to enjoy the killing also. The strange sensation. So, this is how a continous killing felt like. No wonder many demons had so much karmic sins since they couldn''t stop. Or wouldn''t? When their minds were already corrupt.


    He remembered the words of his grandfather. To defend one''s life and others, killing would be justified if it couldn''t be avoided. And would surely be justified if it concerned creatures with no awareness or sentience. Creatures like these critters.


    The battle continued until the nephilia critters appeared with fury and the mountain critters withdrew back into the large pasages. The good thing? Only one could occupy the smaller passage at a time. One stayed at the front ready to confront Jufeng while the second one stayed at the back, screeching.


    The nephilia critter was much more faster than their mountain counterparts and more or less faster than Jufeng. How could it be so fast? It must be a magical beast.


    More Chi energy into his body.


    With the nephilia critter, he was on equal footing. The longsword was not doing much damage to it due to its strange carapace that was acting like a defensive armor. Its claws are extremely sharp too. it was attacking with so much rage that Jufeng had to be in defensive stances most of the time. Although, he suffered minor cuts, he managed to avoid any mortal injury.


    Those cuts should have resulted in serious wounds, yet, he couldn''t even feel them much. Maybe, the talisman was really working, and together with his Chi fortified body? Maybe, he actually had a chance.


    He continued to block and backtracked until he found the opening he was looking for. The critter was expecting the same routine. It would slash with its claws while Jufeng would block. But when Jufeng saw the opening, he stepped into the beast''s left and rolled under its left hand. He swung the longsword in a low blow, slicing the softer under-arm of the critter.


    The critter, instinctively, swiped the back of its claws at Jufeng. The force of the impact, sent Jufeng flying further back into the tunnel where he was sprawling on the ground. It was as if he was hit by a titan''s hammer. He thought he was fortunate it wasn''t the razor ends of the claws. Those would have been fatal to him, talisman or not,.


    He quickly staggered upright as he regulated his laboured breathing. He looked at the place his sword had made contact on the critters'' body. He had managed to inflict one cut on the critter.


    Yes, his sword had drawn blood. How did that felt, critter?


    But the trickling of the blood, further infuriated the critter and its claws began to glow in a sizzling hunter green color. The death and rotten aura coming from it was exceedingly overpowering.


    Organic poison.


    A form of necrosis. There are some creatures that were created with some portions of the elements in their organs. These nephilia critters and spiders, were created with poison glands in their bodies. They could harnessed these various poisons into their claws. This made them extremely dangerous.


    Jufeng watched the sizzling green claws. How could this, even, be fair? Before, the fight with the critter was on a less foot, and now, it was on survival. His survival. Since the talisman couldn''t prevent cuts, he musn''t allow the poisonous claws to mark him. The poison could be deadly.


    Despite not knowing the dangers that could be lying further into the tunnel, he agreed with himself that it was time to flee in that direction.


    He contemplated using the second stage of the quicksteps, the swiftsteps. But decided to stick to the flashsteps, since he didn''t know what sort of trap or creature, he could run into. The less faster flashsteps would allow him to adjust his tranjectory in the shortest notice.


    He took off and the two nephilia critters followed. They were as fast as lightning, really fast. He was carefully watching the passage as he ran by. The critters were almost on him when the passage shifted again which threw them off balance as they came to a halt. They were in a lighted circular area with symbols and signs of various letters and designs.


    There was nowhere to go now. The critters sensing blood, went in for the kill. They attacked him together.


    Jufeng was preparing to defend himself when the ground of the circular room, opened. The two critters couldn''t control their momentum and they were caught in it. As they were falling, the last one of the critters, reached out with his right claw and caught the robe of Jufeng.


    Jufeng, who was still struggling at the edge of the opening to retain is footing, was dragged down the through the opening into the chasm beyond.


    It was as if he had been falling for a thousand years, though it took seconds. An ancient mystical art. The main effect wasn''t even the eerie feeling of forever falling, it was the force of impact. The impact knocked the air out of him making him to loose consciousness for an instant.


    When he came through, he discovered he was lying on top of one of the critters. The claws of the one he was on, was inches away from his face. Any closer, they would have entered his head. The two critters had been impaled on the obsidian spikes that were protruding out of the ground. How fortunate he was to land on one of them. If not, he would have been more than dead.


    He managed to sit up and looked around. He needed to leave obsidian traps. Using the bodies of the critters as cushions, he jumped out of the area. Upon landing, he checked himself for any sizzling wound from the poisonous claws but couldn''t find any. But, his robe was torn in many places and was quite dirty while his body had the normal cuts .


    Relieved, he removed one bloodroot medicinal pill from his sac and put it in his mouth. He found a place close-by and rested for a moment. After regaining most of himself, he carefully checked where he was.


    This place was just getting stranger by the passing time. The rocks in this place were not Carbonado or topaz but Palladium. He knew right away that he was no longer in the mountain. This was a very different place. The tunnels here were larger and were made of Orbash Palladium. And more noticeably, there were orbs of eternal fire located higher on the tunnels.


    He decided to take the one on the left. He had walked a short distance when he saw two kids battling one death-eater and quickly turned back. The kids were like ones of those demigods. How could this be? Did it meant he was now inside the deathkeep tunnel? It couldn''t and shouldn''t be.


    All the tunnels he tried were filled with kids battling various creatures. Only one was free from the sound of metals clashing but was too silent for his comfort. He was contemplating what to do when a death eater suddenly appeared to his far right. Decision made for him. He quickly took the silent one. If only he could find a spot to hide in here. He hadn''t gone far when a hand suddenly pulled him into a space.


    "Uh?"


    He found himself staring at young kids like himself. He only saw empty space there just now. Invisibility? Force-field? The kids had a deadpan seriousness on their faces. Though, they''ve surpressed their auras, but from their looks, he could guess they were Asuras.


    Did it meant he was now in deathkeep tunnel? How could that even be possible?


    He was looking at them with questions written all over his face when one of them, the same girl he saw at the mountains, held a finger to her lips and pointed in the direction Jufeng was heading.


    What could be at the front? He was much more concerned about the death-eater. There was no way he would want to face one. He followed her finger''s direction and soon saw what she meant.


    "A plane-drifter."


    There were powerful entities in the Lumence dimensional plane who had transcended ascension but refused to ascend, hence, became a Plane-Drifter.


    Now, this was a true walking death.


    Upon getting to the edge of the silent tunnel, the death-eater stopped and made a calling sound. Only for it to be hit with one massive and lightning-fast blade light.


    Jufeng stared at the corpse of the death-eater who was cut into two. He was turning his attention towards the plane-drifter, when the figure turned and looked straight at them.


    "You three are in my force-field, you know. Drop the little cover and step closer. Now."


    The plane-drifter looked at the two demigods with pure contempt.


    "You two should know better than entering this tunnel. You should. I was going to kill you but I will let you live, for now. Don''t ever come back here. Leave."


    Turning away from the asuras, he pointed at Jufeng.


    "You, stay."


    After the two asuras had diappeared in a flash, with the death-eater ignoring them, the plane-drifter observed Jufeng keenly.


    "You have a message for me, mortal. Speak before I change my mind."


    Jufeng ruminated on the words the grey tree had told him, carefully. If the plane-drifter was not in the mood, either he oblitrate him or let him live, for now. Nevertheless, he needed to speak.


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    "Senior, where should I go if I''m lost in the tunnel?"


    "Emberless grove."


    "Senior, who am I going to ask for?"


    "Regallash. Now speak.


    "Senior, he wants me to show you this scroll."


    Jufeng produced the scroll of sentience and handed it to the plane-drifter before continuing.


    "And to tell you that, "when the sun and the moon sings, eternity dances."


    The plane-drifter was quiet for a long time as he was lost in thought. Then, he turned and directed his gaze at Jufeng.


    "What do you seek in return, mortal?"


    "Senior, this young and humble one seek the Mystic-Order."

 43 We Met Again

    "Mm. The Mystical Order."


    The Plane-Drifter was glowering expressionlessly at Jufeng.


    "You seek the Mystical Order. Though a strange stone, it was an heavenly treasure, nonetheless. But, do you even know what it does? Why it''s called the Mystical Order?"


    He shook his head before shrugging.


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    "Not my concern, anyways. Nevertheless, I can point you in the right direction in return for the services rendered. Take this tunnel, you will come to a place of boiling liquid. Keep going forward until you come to a path of three. Don''t take the right or left ones. Take the one in the middle and it will lead you to a place of mist. Look for a shadow cave. There, you''ll find what you seek."


    Jufeng cupped his hands and bowed.


    "Thank you, senior."


    He really wanted to ask the plane-drifter about the mystical order. But he could be stamped to death or disintegrated for being an irritant.


    "En."


    The plane-drifter glanced at him as if he had enough of people for the day, then he entered an opening on the side of the tunnel.


    Jufeng heaved a sigh of relief. He stared at the tunnel path in front of him before taking a look at the place he was coming from. Backward, didn''t feel like that. Just like he had guessed, forward was much more like it, so forward it was. Although, the silence in the tunnel was disturbing, he entertained the notion of not facing a death-eater in the tunnel.


    He knew the tunnel would indeed be quiet. But, extremely long? He didn''t factored that one in. He continued walking for many meters, cautiously using flashsteps as he neared the large opening indicated by the plane-drifter.


    While still inside the tunnel, sounds of hard battles could be heard, coming from the open area. As he slowly exited the tunnel, Jufeng could see different battles going on between demigods and death-eaters. And, not too distant from where he was, Jufeng could see that there were two other tunnels leading to the large opened area.


    But what really caught his eyes was the landscape of the area.


    There were different areas on the ground bubbling with hot yellow liquid which continued at intervals throughout the area. The place would have been a plain of levelled bubbling yellow liquid if not for the huge shafts on it. Palladium rocks in the form of large shafts were protruding out of the ground. Each of these shafts were like massive boulders of pillars.


    Despite the place looking colossal and strangely weird, the yellow boiling liquid really looked terrifying. It could be corrosive by its appearance. He would be exceedingly cautious of falling inside one, medicinal pills or not.


    Jufeng who was lost in the reverie of the landscape, quickly snapped out of it as the two battles intensified. On one side, two demigods were battling one death-eater while on the other side, another two demigids were battling another death-eater.


    The two battles were of epic proportions.


    But, the two demigods on the other side, were battling a much bigger and different death-eater. Jufeng was transfixed on that specific battle as he watched the battle details in wonder. One of the two demigods, the one covered in thick twirling vines, was sent sprawling on the ground as he held his injured side. He quickly took out a pill from his spatial sac and crushed it in his mouth.


    The other demigod was still fighting the death-eater. He was covered in light black metal armor and was holding a largesword. Although, his armor was withstanding the battle, he was fastly loosing his ground.


    He raised his largesword and slammed it on the floor. A large black round metal enclosed the death-eater in a cocoon which started to shrink. It appeared as if it would continue to shrink but, then, suddenly stopped and exploded outwards. The death-eater emerged from the from the roiling energy with is body giving off a raging dark energy.


    The other demigod that was lying down, whom Jufeng suspected to be a flora or wood demigod, had now rejoined the battle. He appeared to have recovered considerably. He was holding a dark brown staff which was constanly changing shape and was radiating a green gold light. He engaged the death-eater in close combat at the same time as the metal armored demigod.


    It was a fierce battle. They exchanged hundreds of blows in minutes as they all blurred into apparitions. They couldn''t do much damage to the death-eater due to the scale covering it. It was a powerful defense mechanism.


    After a moment of continous exchange, the demigods withdrew few yards and launched their mystical arts. It seemed their martial arts wasn''t going anywhere and in turn, decided to use their mystical arts.


    The flora or wood demigod made his most powerful move as he hit his staff''s base on the floor creating a chimera-like creature of great power made of flora element. A Flora Curiosa. A creature of the essence of flora. Surely now, he was a flora demigod. And at the same time, the metal armored demigod made his own attack move. He slashed his sword forward, diagonally, creating a Nether-Blade.


    Both the Curiosa and Nether-Blade, attacked the death-eater simultaneously.


    Running out of essential energy, trickles of blood could be seen on them as they strained to hold their own. The shadowy dark energy on the body of the death-eater was now a raging storm. If they could hold on, maybe, they could surpress the dark energy enough to attack its head. The only weak area on its body.


    The flora demigod was the first one to run out of essential energy. The reverse effect of the counter-reaction, threw him backwards in collision with a protruded palladium shaft. He was trying to take an essential spirit pill from his spatial sac when he saw a frightning dark energy of shadow, coming in his direction. He looked at the other demigod in a sorrowful way before activating his teleportation seal. And in a flash, he disappeared making the shadow attack to hit an empty space.


    Fang Zedong noticed the slightest shift in concentration from him to the other demigod by the death-eater. So, he quickly took out a seal and put it on the largesword before launching it, horizontally, at the death-eater. This move would self-destruct the sword and would have adverse effect on him.


    The largesword made a mourning sound as it expanded while speeding towards the death-eater. The core of the sword was moving to its pointed tip. The death-eater''s black eyes suddenly turned bright. Dark shadowy light was emitting from its eyes like a luminence obsidian. It raised its claws, and massive shadows of claws formed a defensive barriers to the sword.


    The impact was enormous.


    Since a weapon with a core would be connected to the soul of the owner, the repercussion knocked him against of the protruded shaft where he was vomitting blood. Although, It was a bone-cracking collision, his body wasn''t affected much.


    The real injury was sustained by his soul. The soul was everything to any immortal cultivator or god. Inside the dantian, the soul connected the life-force to the body.


    Even with the gods that could form their avatars and images, it was a single soul that controlled all of them. With the necessary materials, a certain godly ritual would allow the gods to create threads of souls for their avatars and images. The ritual was called, the Threading of Parallel Souls. But, everything came with a price. If any of the avatars or images suffered destruction, the real gods would suffer greatly from the repercussion.


    This was due to the loss of the parallel souls associated with them.


    The same with the weapons with cores or as they were generally refered to, soul weapons. Due to the fact that they were connected to the owners'' souls.


    Since the largesword was on a self-destructive path and was powered by the seal, it managed to shatter the massive claws. It struck the death-eater at the center of its heart or where its should be.


    The core of the black largesword that was at the tp of the sword, struck and pierced the hard body of the death-eater.


    The death-eater was straining to pull the sword out of its body, when Jufeng, who had crept up behind it, pierced its skull through the opening at the back of its head. He had been watching their battle since he arrived at this opening and he had noticed the death-eater protecting the back of its head. It must be its vulnerable place.


    Jufeng had wanted to quietly pass the area and continued looking for the mystical order but had stopped for unknown reasons. Maybe to look at the might of demigods or to see the dangers of death-eaters. Both had been right in their dues.


    The creature fell face down on the largesword breaking it into two. A shining white oval crystal, dropped from the death-eater''s mouth and rolled forward.


    The demigod slowly removed his helmet, thereby, revealing his face.


    "Fang Zedong? Heavens tears!"


    Jufeng looked at him in a surprisingly bemused way.


    "Hey, Jufeng."


    With cold eyes, he looked at the stone and at Jufeng, who quickly nodded his head in agreement.


    "It''s all yours, Fang Zedong. No question about that. I only helped out and your sword did the work. As long as you are alright, that''s fine by me."


    Fang Zedong nodded and picked up the white stone.


    "Sacredcrest stone."


    He found a spot and sat down, resting his back on the remains of the shard he had collided with. He put the stone in his spatial sac and took out a pill which he put in his mouth.


    Jufeng leered at the shining stone before it was put away. So, that was the Sacredcrest stone that demigods would fight for in order to gain an extra divine ability? Well, if it was a divine ability, then, it probably worth it. But for him, it had no use and his mother was already through with demigods'' trials. He practically had no need for it. Even if he had use of it, would he be chasing a death-eater for one. Or try to take this one? Definitely no. He would surely be dead.


    "I saw the battle, well, part of it and you were really good. With the black sword and black armor? You were like a death god."


    Jufeng was demonstrating with his sword.


    "Death god? You are having a laugh, aren''t you? I could have died if you hadn''t come, you know."


    Jufeng stopped his sword display and gave a shrug.


    "Well, you could have left this place like the other demigod. Why didn''t you? I remembered you told me it wasn''t worth dying for, didn''t you?"


    Fang Zedong stared at the empty space for a time before turning his gaze at Jufeng.


    "For us Lakshas, it''s very different. You Asuras don''t worry that much about the Sacredcrest stones, do you? Maybe, you don''t want to accept that, but it''s true. For us, especially me, the honor of my family depends on this. It''s even worse going home without it than not coming at all."


    "The traditions we follow. You have the stone now, so, be happy? By the way, sorry about your sword. It was a true beauty."


    "Once belonged to my grandfather. Made with the core of an ancient Huli-jing. It''s a sad one."


    Fang Zedong sighed as he peered at his broken sword with the hilt, still protruding out the death-eater''s chest.


    "Been preparing for this a very long time. This armor, the sword and the seals, all belonged to my family. Lost the sword and a seal. Will be bad but I do have the stone. It''s all that matters."


    He raised his head towards Jufeng.


    "What about you?"


    "I need to go forward towards the rising path. There''s something I must find."


    As they were talking, three Asura demigods streaked into the area in a blur. There were two or three bodies of demigods and equal numbers of death-eaters. They were still checking, when they noticed Jufeng and Fang Zedong, sitting in front of the corpse of a giant pure black death-eater. The two decided to come over to see what was going on.


    "An Asura and a Laksha. How often do you see that?"


    One of the Asuras said with a devilish smile.


    "And you, how good it is too see you alive. Thought the drifter was having you for dinner."


    "Hello."


    Jufeng gave them a curt nod before turning his attention to the first Asura.


    "Thanks for your help back there. I''m very grateful."


    "Oh, pfff. Come off it. We are Asuras, aren''t we? We are not like some other demigods that don''t understand this."


    She turned her gaze on Fang Zedong whom Jufeng was quick to defend.


    "He actually saved my life at the arena. If not for him, I would have been dead. I owe him much."


    "How about that? A Laksha saving an Asura. I never saw that coming."


    She raised an eyebrow at Fang Zedong before glancing at the death-eater.


    "An ancient death-eater? And you two managed to stay alive. That''s truly insane."


    "Well, we are heading towards the rising path. There should be a cave of death-eaters there."


    "I''m heading towards there too. Maybe, we walk together?"


    "Hm..... Just a minute."


    She consulted with her friends for few seconds before returning.


    "Okay. You two can join our group. But, the first stone comes to us. Is that okay?"


    After recieving confirmation of agreement, she smiled widely.


    "I''m Fan Xinyi."


    She indicated the girl in bronze breast plate standing beside her.


    "This is Kang Ya."


    And, pointing to the boy in pristine white robe who was standing further back.


    "And that''s Liu Luoyang."


    Jufeng introduced himself and Fang Zedong as the five of them headed towards the rising path.

 44 The Mystical Order

    They continued walking the upward path while they remained cautiously alert. A couple of Nephilia spiders and critters were met but were effectively disposed off by the group. As the five of them neared the outskirt of the mist, Fan Xinyi stopped them. She opened her spatial sac and brought out some red flowers and seeds.


    "Red-mammoth flowers and Serpent-fang seeds."


    She beckoned to them as she handed a red flower and a seed to each demigods. First, to the other two demigods that came with her. They collected theirs without questions and quickly started to consume it. After which, she gave to Jufeng and Fang Zedong.


    "I know what they are. Though they are rare, I have to admit. But why do we need them?"


    Fan Zedong looked curiously at Fan Xinyi and the other demigods.


    "If you don''t want your mind to capitulate and die in the mist, then you''ll need it."


    Fan Xinyi who was still gazing at the flower and seed on her hand, raised up her head to stare at him.


    "Ten thousand years ago, my brother was here to participate in the trial. They took this particular path and they made it to the mist. They couldn''t go much further in the mist due to what he called ''Wraith-Mist''."


    "The Wraith-Mist?"


    "Yes. That''s what he called it. He said that it was the mist itself. It was as if it was alive. I recalled him saying the mist could wrench at the mind of demigods making them an easy target for the death-eaters."


    "Sounds like poisonous mist."


    "Yes it is. A poison so powerful that, it renders the mind of demigods, void. When I learned of it, I started looking for the best possible ways to prepare. I began searching different scrolls and books that could provide materials to positively negate the effect of the poison. Do you know what I found at last?"


    She gave them a self-applauding smile and continued.


    "Red-mammoth flowers and Serpent-fang seeds."


    Some answered her with sighs while others simply smiled.


    "Mhm. Mind you, these items used to be common in the Lumence dimension but they are now getting more and more difficult to find. Although, they are still common in the Nether-Plane. But, that''s not the point. You see, the Red-mammoth is a soul poison while the Serpent-fang is a mind poison."


    "Poison on poison?"


    Asked Fang Zedong.


    "Extreme poisoning."


    Uttered Kang Ya, as she gave Fang Zedong a wink.


    Liu Luoyang, who had finished swallowing his portion after he had chewed it, turned in Fang Zedong''s direction.


    "Gu necrosis."


    Fan Xinyi rolled her eyes as she nodded with a faint smile. She had been reveling in their bemused faces.


    "Yes, you are right. Gu necrosis. One of the advantages of being a necrosist with many books. When this two are consumed together in this proportion, they neutralize each others poison."


    She raised one finger to indicate her point as she continued to look from one face to another.


    "Then, they form an invisible defensive cloud around the body. Thereby, protecting the mind. Should be able to work efectively for the Wraith-Mist. Probably."


    Jufeng watched Fan Xinyi put her own portion in her mouth and began to chew. He quickly throw his own portion into his mouth as he clamped down on it. For him, it was easier to believe. He had seen the effect of the mist on him when he first entered the mountain. Provided it was the same mountain. Back then, he had only taken a few steps in before running back.


    The moment he swallowed them, he could feel the effect, deep down in his soul. He could sense the energy seething through the pores of his body. Through a spiritual or divine sight, a transparent cloud would be seen on him. This was a welcome additional protection.


    Although, he had the put the crystal, given to him by the grey-tree, in his mouth, it had melted. He wasn''t sure if it was still effective or if it could even work against mind poisoning. But, he got a little assurance from the event at the runic walls of the house of riddles. The burning sensation of the crystal that woken up his mind from going into slumber. It was good to know.


    And, with these materials from Fan Xinyi, he could only wish for the best possible outcome.


    Jufeng glanced at the faces of the demigods as they prepared. These were demigods, true demigods. They were born as demigods in the Lumence dimension, a plane created for them. Yet, here he was. In their midst where he was being treated like a demigod. It didn''t matter if it was illusion, dream or reality, the effect on him was already unforgetable.


    "Remember, no aura manifestation. Only, divine sight."


    "And we stay together."


    And together, they entered the mist.


    Jufeng, switching to his spiritual sight, could see that the mist was truly alive. The way it moved, like nether wraiths. He could see why they called it Wraith-Mist. Jufeng could feel the mist, probing at the cloudy defense to see the weak point. It was a relief to him that the mist couldn''t affect his mind. For now, he felt he was safe and that was good enough for him.


    Slowly and cautiously, they approached. As they neared the center of the mist, they saw two bodies of death-eaters. They carefully approached the spot and quickly checked them for any sacredcrest stone. There was none on them.


    Cautiously, they continued their forward movement. There were four death-eaters that made up a cave. Meaning, two more death-eaters were still out there. High on alert, they continued scrutinizing the area as they tried to locate the remaining death-eaters.


    Towards the other side, they saw quite a number of dead nephilia spiders and critters. They easily killed off the weakened and dying ones as they continued to search for remaining death-eaters or their cave.


    It took them several long minutes to locate the entrance of the cave.


    But, near the entrance of the cave, they saw one body of a gigantic ancient death-eater. They stopped on their track to observe it carefully.


    Could it be a primal death-eater?


    After confirming that it was dead, they cautiously approached it to check further. The death-eater was like none they''ve seen before. Much more bigger than the ancient one. Even its dark scale was giving off a blue glow. But, what really caught their attention, were the massive clean slashes on the death-eaters.


    They found one Sacredcrest stone beside the head of the death-eater. But the slashes. Who or what could have done them? This couldn''t be the work of powerful demigods, could it? Demigods who had been preserving their powers until now? How could demigods leave a Sacredcrest stone behind after killing a death-eater? And an exceedingly large one for that matter?


    Definitely not. It couldn''t be demigods. What could it be then? They continued to press forward into the cave, cautiously.


    The inside of the cave was bigger than they thought showing the size of the cave. There was nothing that caught their eyes inside the cave except for some inscriptions on the cave walls. But, there was a large passage at the back of the cave.


    After reaching an accord, they cautiously entered the passage and waded forward. Remains of nephilia spiders and critters could be seen littering the passage. It could possibly be that they were serving as a source of food for the death-eaters.


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    Deeper into the cave, they went, until they reached a massive area that resembled a colossal dragon''s chamber. No matter how it was seen or percieved, this was the lair of a powerful death-eater or death-eaters. As they proceeded to examine the chamber. They saw large sword marks and claw marks all over the place.


    Whatever or whoever killed the death-eater by the entrance, had been here too.


    The chamber seemed void of any other living creature until they turned to the other side of the colossal lair. They nearly jumped off their skin, save for Liu Luiyang who continued to observe calmly.


    There, reclining on the dais, was an extremely huge death-eater. This one was totally different from the massive one by the entrance. The dark colour of its scale was gleaming with gold radiance. Although, there were many deep slashes and wounds on it, the death-eater was still giving off immortal danger signal.


    Jufeng recognized it immediately. The same death-eater that almost cut off his head with its giant claws. Oh, this answered the two questions that had been bugling his mind. He now knew that the Conchi Principal was here and that the mist was the same mist he first entered.


    The death-eater raised its head and leered at them, one by one .


    "Death-Walker."


    It''s eyes rested on Jufeng with burning anger.


    "At long last."


    Immediately, the demigods stepped back except for Liu Luoyang. He continued to watch the death-eater with furrowed brows. Only one type of death-eaters could speak the Ortal language. A primal death-eater. A death-eater who had gained sentience or awareness after many millenia of absorbing spiritual energy. This was a death-eater that could claim divinity. A true immortal danger.


    This was a crossroad. They looked at one another and they all nodded their heads in agreement to engage. No turning back and no running, for now.


    Kang Ya''s bronze breast-plate started to give of faint blue-white glow as the fiery glow covered her body like an armor. In a swift movement, she produced a bronze bow and fired a runic arrow at the death-eater.


    "Breath of fire, flames of destruction."


    The arrow burst into flames as it neared the death-eater. From where they were standing, the could feel the burning and destructive power of the arrow. Swiftly standing up, the deayh-eater raised its massive claws that was roiling with immense dark energy. The arrow collided with it, creating a deafening sound before dissipating. But, the effect could stil be seen on its claws and scales that were glowing in red light.


    "Do you think you are a match for me?"


    The death-eater made a gurgling sound of a laugh.


    Fan Xinyi quickly flung her hands and tens of poisoned needles, flew straight at the death-eater.


    "Fangs of death, a rotten world."


    The needles hummed as they sped towards the death-eater. Sizzling in dark green glow, the needles combined together to form one needle. The dark green needle began to expand as it continued streaking forward. The rot and death aura coming from the needle was exceedingly overwhelming. The things around the needle appeared to suffer from it as they turned rotten green.


    The death-eater''s gold glow became thicker and the roiling dark energy also became stronger. It formed a barrier with his giant claws. The impact from the collision was astonishing. Green glow covered the body of the death-eater for an instant before vanishing. The golden glow returned to its scale.


    "Now, I look forward to killing you all, you little, pitiful demigods."


    Fang Zedong looked at the new blade in his hand and shook his head. This was no heavenly sword like the black largesword of his family that was broken. This was a worldly sword. How could avworldly sword do much damage to a primal death-eater? He didn''t even have any more seal on him. He would still do his best anyways. He raised his sword, pointing the sharp tip upward.


    "From the heavens above, the forged steel descend."


    An enormous largesword made of pure metal essence energy appeared above the death eater. The death-eater could feel the low-level of the pressure of the descending sword. It knew this was weaker than the previous two, hence, he raised one massive claw hands. Although, the impact was incredible, the essence sword was easily blocked.


    Jufeng was still thinking about what to do when the death-eater attacked. It moved with so much speed that it look like a phantom lightning. It attacked all of them at the same with one swift move. The other three demigods anticipated the attack, thus, they were ready. Only Jufeng was caught a bit off-guard. The attack threw him backward a few yards where he was sprawling on the floor.


    Definitely this fight was too much for him. He watched the three of them as they exchanged blows with the death-eater but knew they were loosing. Despite its weakened state, the death-eater was much more stronger than the three. He quickly decided to join them, at least, he had to try. Even with the good intention, he was careful not to get in their way.


    The death-eater was now moving in a massive dark energy and it had already reached a stage of Shadow-grazing. The four of them were on the floor, injured and not far from them was the death-eater who was speeding towards them. They were about to use their teleportation seals when Liu Luoyang, who had been watching and waiting, made his move.


    He had been holding two concealed seals. The Gloomy-Sky seals. A pure grade luminous treasure. He activated it and threw it skyward in the direction of the death-eater and other demigods. The death-eater was about to deliver an immortal blow to Fan Xinyi when it froze. The other demigods too were frozen in place.


    All their element manifestation, disappeared.


    Kang Ya''s flame, Fan Xinyi''s necrosim and Fang Zedong''s metallisk, all vanished. The death-eater''s roiling dark energy also ceased. It could sense the danger at hand. It tried to manouvre his way but the seal was already locked in. The call of terra, made the ground beneath the death-eater to rumble.


    Although, they were frozen in place, they could move their eyes and their hearing was still functioning.


    "Three Luminescent Light Steps, I take."


    "Two Luminous Gloomy Skies, I walk."


    "One Luminant Sword, I wield."


    They heard the words of Liu Luoyang. Atbthe same time, they saw him in pristine white robe and blazing white light as he walked on lucid steps of cloud. They watched as he arrived in front of the death-eater and thrusted his radiant longsword into its mouth before cutting of its head. Its head landed on the ground and a large Sacredcrest stone rolled out.


    Just like that, it was over. Jufeng couldn''t believe what he saw. He had seen a few grand moments but nothing compared to this. This was true power in its majestic form. And to think it was displayed by a demigod kid like himself, he realized how little he was. Although, he took comfort from the fact that the demigods were thousands of years old. If not more. He waited patiently, hoping the demigod wouldn''t decide to leave him here. He would simply die.


    Liu Luoyang landed softly in front of them and looked at their faces with a wicked smile. He went to where Fan Xinyi was staying and waved his hand in front of her eyes. His smile continued to broaden as he saw the anger in the eyes of Fan Xinyi and Kang Ya.


    "Easy now. Just checking on you. Easy now."


    He made some hand signs and retrieved the seals. The lock on them was removed and everything returned to normal.


    "How could you made fun of me?"


    Asked Fan Xinyi angrily as she sent a fist made of necrosis essence at him.


    "What''s wrong with you?"


    Fan Xinyi continued to glare angrily at Liu Louyang.


    "You could have removed it right away instead of rubbing it in our faces. In my face!"


    "I''m sorry. Fan Xinyi? "


    Liu Luoyang looked pleadingly at her. The two of them, together with Kang Ya, had been preparing for this trials together. As a matter of fact, their friendship started from their childhood. Hence, they knew one another very well.


    "Didn''t know you could do that."


    "What was that, Liu Luoyang?"


    Liu Luoyang thpughtfully peered at them before answering.


    "The two seals combined are total grade luminous treasure. They are my ancestral treasures. The longsword is also a high-grade luminous treasure. It belonged to my grandfather. They gave them to me like safety measures. But, the Three Light Steps, are my martial arts. Don''t forget, I''m already at the Yinlong level."


    "You could have killed it before we started fighting it. Why didn''t you? It could have killed us?"


    "Sorry about that. I had to make sure its power wasn''t above luminous treasures. Else, the seals would have disintegrated and would have been a dire situation."


    "Anyways, it paid off. It''s dead and we are all safe."


    "So this Sacredcrest stone belongs to one of you two, as agreed."


    Fan Xinyi flicked the stone towards Fang Zedong who passed it to Jufeng.


    Liu Luoyang was checking the death-eater, when he remembered something. When he was using the light steps, he had seen something like a crystal at the helm of the dais.


    "Wait a minute."


    He leapt into the air and landed behind the dais. He reached out and pried something out of the vale of the dais. A large yellow gold crystal. He examined it before giving a shrug. Didn''t look like a treasure of great value but keeping it wouldn''t do any harm.


    When Jufeng saw it, his face lit up. He quickly controlled himself in order not to give it away. This was what he was looking for. The reason why he was here.


    After they had searched the chamber and other parts, they found a few other treasures. But Jufeng already know what to do. The other group still needed one more Sacredcrest stone. He turned towards the direction of the demigod who was folding his hands behind himself.


    "Liu Luoyang, do you mind if I tempt you to trade this Sacredcrest stone for that yellow gold stone you have in your hands?"

 45 Springflame I

    Wth a happy smile, Jufeng took a deep breath of fresh air. Ahh, the snowy plain. What a welcome sight to behold. He slowly exhaled the air as a relief sensation washed over him. He bent down and scooped up a handful of snow. The feel of the snow gave him assurance that he was truly back to the snowy plain.


    He looked around and found a moundy spot to sit. He looked around and smiled mildly, as he patted his spatial sac. The mystical order was safe and sound in his spatial sac.


    Nevertheless, he opened his sac to check, just to be sure. He brought out the golden colour stone and his smile broadened. The mystical order. That was the only thing he knew about the crystal. He didn''t even know what power the crystal held. Even the demigods had thought he was going mad for asking Liu Luoyang to exchange the stones.


    The grey tree had said it was a heavenly treasure. But was it truly a heavenly treasure? And not simply a worldly treasure or no treasure at all?


    Liu Luoyang hadn''t even wasted any time in agreeing to the exchange. True, his group still needed one more Sacredcrest stone. And the luminous lock seals he had, could only be used three times. His grandfather had used it once before and he too had used it again recently. It only had one use left.


    Why would he waste the seals on another primal death-eater they might come across?


    That was the question he had asked Jufeng while they were exchanging the stones. Maybe, that was the reason he hadn''t even worried much about the mystical stone. The allure of an extra divine ability. Probably, too much for a demigod to resist.


    Divine evasion, divine projection, divine emission, divine sight, divine craft, many divine abilities they could choose from. The advantages of being a true demigod. It was a good thing that only one stone could follow any demigod out of the Deathkeep. He was fairly sure that if not for that, many demigods would attempt more Sacredcrest stones. More Sacredcrest stones would have meant more divine abilities.


    Even with one stone, how was it fair?


    Jufeng shook his head as he contemplated what he could do with a divine ability. Divine evasion. Before they could look for him, he was already gone. Or a divine craft. Like a divine soulforger or a divine farmer.


    He sighed as he recollected that he wasn''t a demigod. He remembered watching them bid their farewells, as they disappeared in an instant white flash. They would be returning to the Lumence dimensional plane while he, would be returning to the mortal plane. They were from different planes. No matter how they might look, half gods or not, he knew he was only fortunate to have been among them. He had no reason to question the fairness in their ways.


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    Regaining his thought, he looked at the crystal again. With a sudden strange feeling, he knew the grey tree was telling the truth. It was indeed, a heavenly treasure. He would only have to ask the tree about the crystal''s power again.


    His mind returned to his peaceful state after the thoughts. He looked at himself and his torn robe. Only his robe was torn in many places but knew he could have died many times in there. Somehow, he had managed to survive them all. Probably, death was allowing him to enjoy a little more of life.


    He freed his mind and closed his eyes.


    After resting for a time, he decided to proceed towards the next entry point. What he would be searching for? The spatial sac. Just like the Mystical Order, he couldn''t remember why he chose it. But, he knew he must have had a reason for choosing them.


    Reaching the place, he took out a dream stone and put it in his mouth. Also, he removed his sword from his spatial sac and held it ready. He would be prepared going in. He didn''t want to be looking at his body from the eyes on his cut off head. He had learnt that every first step into the unknown was of the utmost importance. The memory of Deathkeep was still fresh.


    After confirming his readiness, he stepped into the space.


    Upon entering, he found himself in the woods, staring at two yellow eyes. Instinctly, he raised his sword as he quickly recovered from the shocking surprise of the two yellow eyes. Swiftly, he took in the shape of the creature. Serpent-like heads and a whip-like tail. They were not of heavily builds, but were still of considerable stature. Their red and black scale of spotted patterns, could not be mistaken.


    Scavens!


    Ultimate scroungers. Descendants of the black dragon, Heilong. One of the four ancestors of the dragonblood. These were creatures driven by their lust for the blood of the living. Even the sacred ones among them would be hard to reason with. Anywhere Scavens appeared, death would follow.


    Jufeng slowly raised his left hand with his palm facing the creature.


    "Easy. You go your way and I go my way."


    Maybe, due to it being surprised, the sight of the sword or both, it sent out a big roar as he, speedily, charged at Jufeng.. Definitely, this one was not a sacred one. It could neither reason nor talk. Using the SwiftSpine technique, he moved out of the way as it sped by, lashing out with his tail.


    If it was only this one, Jufeng knew it couldn''t do anything to him. But, where there was one Scavens, there would be several others.


    He knew the direction he had to take to find the spatial sac. The words of the tree were still ringing in his ears. He changed to the SwiftSteps technique and in a blur, he left the area. He was in no mood to be having a fight with the Scavens when he could simply leave.


    Though, he was avoiding the road, he stayed close to it. He continued moving in high speed towards the intended direction. The Scavens could follow scents to a great distant. But with this, they should have lost the scent by now.


    After swift stepping for several minutes, he came to a place full of large shrubs. From there, he could see a small town in the distance. Dropping the steps, he slowed down and moved onto the road. He decided he would stop by the town. Though, his journey would take him pass the front of the town, he wanted to find out more about this place.


    From its appearance, this was a human city, quite alright. It must have been a remarkable city before but now, it a ghost of its former glory. There were a number of guards at the entrance along with a white-robed cultivator who was holding a scrying orb.


    Jufeng wondered why there would be an arrangement like this here. As he neared the entrance, one of the guards called out to him.


    "Halt!"


    He stopped as he saw the scrying orb flying towards him. The orb circled him before returning to the cultivator who said some words to the guards.


    "Approach!"


    As he passed them, he heard the white-robed cultivator.


    "Go and report to the village council."


    Without another word or look from them, he proceeded into the town. After walking for few minutes, Jufeng quickly veered off the main road onto a more quieter street. Some of the buildings had been abandoned. It looked like a place that had suffered attacks over many years.


    As he was passing by a tavern, he saw three men talking in whispers. He could barely hear what they were saying but looked an important matter. He was about to be moving on, when he heard the word ''Scavens''. With his acutely improved hearing, he strained his ears to get more meaning of what they were discussing.


    "The Scavens will be all over the place."


    "I say, we hire some mercenaries."


    "Mercenaries?"


    "Mercenaries is not a good idea. They can''t be trusted not to turn on us."


    "If we don''t, we could die on our own."


    "I agreed with the two of you. It will be extremely dangerous to cross the Argonian traits. If we are unfortunate, we could come across the Scavens and the Argonians. We could easily loose our lives."


    Whispered the one at the center, who appeared to be the leader. He paused for a second before continuing.


    "Also, if we manage to cross and get some Iradium coins, the mercenaries are still dangerous. They could ambush us on our way back. And then, the cavalry going north. I don''t think we could afford to join them. It could be a bloodbath at the traits."


    His voice trailed off.


    "I will try to figure something out."


    Jufeng quietly left the area as he proceeded down the street. It seemed the Argonian traits would be a dangerous place to pass. And his way, happened to pass through it.


    Since it was getting dark, he found a shaded spot at an abandoned house and settled down. After checking to make sure he was alone, he brought out some turtle meat and started eating.


    Halfway through his food, he sensed an approach towards his position. Using his spiritual sight, he watched as the figure move quietly and slowly from one shadow to another. A shadow affiliate. But, he was a little bit concerned about the weak aura coming from the source. Either the person was truly weak or extremely powerful to conceal his or her aura. Either way, he had to stay watchful. If it''s an extremely powerful person, he could be dead without knowing it.


    He waited for the figure to come a bit more closer before raising his voice.


    "No need to hide. I can see you in the shadows."


    Few seconds later, he heard a shaky voice to his right.


    "Don''t move. Give me everything you have, now! Or else."


    Jufeng turned to the source of the voice. To his surprise and relief, he found a boy in tattered robe with a short sword in his hand. His tattered robe made the one Jufeng was wearing felt like royalty. The way he was holding the sword showed someone who hadn''t had a formal martial arts training. He was only a weak and starving boy.


    "Stop brandishing a sword like that, unless you mean it."


    Jufeng shook his head as he watched the boy with pity. He took some of the meat and lilly tubers and offered them to the boy.


    "Take. You look starving yourself."


    "I''m warning you. You better give me everything you have. Now!"


    "Put that sword away before you injure yourself."


    The boy looked at his shaky hand and at the food offered. He shook his head and sighed before taking the food.


    "I am a laughing stock. No matter how hard I tried, it never worked. I couldn''t even threaten you to give up what you have. You even saw me in the shadows."


    He found a spot opposite Jufeng where he settled down.


    "How can I take care of my family if I can''t even take from people like you."


    "Taking from people like yourself, is not the right thing."


    "For people like me, around here, no other way."


    He divided his food into two and kept one half in his loin sac. He started munching the other portion of his food.


    "Which village are you from? I saw you entering the village and I know all the faces here."


    Jufeng who had been observing the boy keenly, swallowed the meat in his mouth before answering.


    "Two villages from here."


    "You mean, Haidong?"


    Asked the boy in surprised as he expressed his shock.


    "Yes, Haidong."


    "I thought Haidong was overwhelmed by the Scavens."


    "Well, some of us are not dead, yet."


    "I guess so. This village too has been suffering from the attack of the humanoids too. We have been holding them off but many villagers are dying."


    "Any help from the city?"


    "The fortified city? Pfff. Sometimes, they would send a couple of warriors that meant little to the scavens. I guess they are pulling their resources into one place."


    The boy stared at Jufeng as he pointed at the floor.


    "This city can''t afford to hire true mercenaries. High level cultivators to fight off the Scavens. Me and my family, could have moved to the fortified city. We love to, but we can''t afford the money to move. That''s why I''m also going to the Springflame tomorrow. "


    "Must you go when you have a family that relies on you?"


    "I have to. This place has turned to an outland. Not much here to survive on and the Scavens are ambushing us outside. If we stay, we''ll just die. I''ve already bid my farewell."


    "Hm. I see your point. I will be going too."


    "Till tomorrow then. I need to rest now."


    The boy put his loin sac under his head and slept off.


    Jufeng continued to watch attentively until he had confirmed the boy was asleep. He could relax his mind. He slowly sat in lotus position and began to meditate. His spiritual sense created an awareness around him. Just not to be caught off guard, if someone had decided to sneak up on him.


    He was like that until the following morning, when the sound of the cavalry rang through the town.

 46 Springflame II

    "The calvary is getting ready."


    The boy picked up his sac and quickly tied it to his back.


    "Getting ready for what, exactly?


    "Springflame, of course."


    The boy looked at Jufeng in bewilderment before moving towards the exit of the abandoned building.


    "If you are coming. I reckon we get going. We should be at the town center for the processing. We don''t want to miss this. Definitely, I don''t."


    "What processing? To join the cavalry?"


    "We are soul cultivators. We are already part of the cavalry. The processing is for us to be accounted for, provided we don''t make it back. Our names will be in remembrance."


    "Tell me something."


    "Sure. If I can."


    "Why is the calvary going to the Springflame?"


    "Why? For the Iradium coins, of course."


    "And, why should the town council care about that?"


    "You seem to have lost quite a bit of your memory. I understand. Atimes, tragedy can be difficult to cope with. You have gone through so much already."


    With a sad look, the boy let out a soft sigh.


    "Well, don''t worry about it. It''s temporary, your memories will come back in no time. But for now, I will tell you the things you''ve forgotten."


    Jufeng listened as the boy started to explain. From the words he heard, Jufeng came to know more of the place.


    Planet Aalag.


    A prepotence sphere of three nerons fusion. A conjecture of three major planets. It was one of the first planets of its kind that were created during the intrinsic expansion of the universe. Three planets coming together to form a conjecture planet. The uniqueness of planet Aalag, didn''t stop there. Before the creation of mortals of any kind, planet Aalag had been hosting an open dimensional dominion.


    Springflame.


    Dominions are one of the places that the cosmic divines hid luminous treasures and artifacts for mortals to find. They were also the homes of other numerous treasures. Some dominions even had divine treasures in them. They were divided into wake dominions and fallen dominions.


    Springflame had changed its status twice due to unforseen problematic situations.


    It was once a wake dominion. A dominion that was controlled by a mighty guardian, a divine gold dragon. Over the years of its acclaimed manifestation as an open dominion, many cultivators had explored it, in search of the hidden treasures. True to the course, a number of treasures had been found and carted away. But, there was a particular treasure hidden in this domain. The one that led to the death of the dragon guardian.


    The Shadow-rage spear.


    A total grade luminous treasure taken by a nameless black-dragon. A dragonblood who was a direct descendant of their ancestral black dragon, Heilong. A sacred beast who had reached ascendant stage and attained total transformation. An ascendant who had already surpassed the mortal plane and immortal dimensional planes. The black dragon had turned on the gold dragon after acquiring the shadow-rage spear.


    The death of the gold dragon had an adverse effect on Springflame and planet Aalag.


    Springflame became a fallen dominion after the death of the dragon. With no one to oversee it, all the regulations of the dominion broke down. Everything inside the dominion became active, including the deadly traps. Many, a treasure seeker that perished inside the dominion during this period until, suddenly, a new guardian appeared.


    A Dawn-Gazer.


    Since his appearance, new regulations had been introduced. Springflame became a wake dominion again. And, it was no longer an open dominion, it became a close dominion. Only Zhuji and Jindan level cultivators could enter it. This made it more difficult for treasure-seeking cultivators but still maintained the regulations of the dominion.


    Of all the cultivators that came to planet Aalag to explore the Springflame dominion, only three mortal races beared the difficulty and stayed behind. They stayed behind due to some specific treasures that could be found in the dominion.


    The Iradium coins.


    Coins, produced by the soul-forger purecelestials at the heart of the eternal cosmic-flames. This they performed in accordance with the laws of creation under the watchful eyes of Divine Caishen. The primordial lord of fortune and wealth. These coins, served as monetary means for the immortals, gods and celestials alike.


    These coins proved to be the pillars of planet Aalag. Why? Planet Aalag had limited resources to sustain any potential inhabitants. From the daily materials needed, to the spiritual energy needed for cultivation. But, due to these coins, potential inhabitants could purchase necessary things to make it a better world, from other worlds. Spirit stones and crystals could be purchased from other worlds due to the availability of these coins.


    In no time, these races quickly formed the three powerful kingdoms of Aalag. That was why Aalag became known as the world of three kingdoms. The human kingdom, the scaven kingdom and the argonian kingdom.


    THE HUMAN KINGDOM.


    The human kingdom was under the sovereign rule of Yin Qiang, an ascendant of extreme powers. Under him were the marquis and marquess of the nascent souls, who were in control of the fortified cities. Each of these mighty fortified cities was a conjecture of many cities. These cities were under the power of the city lords. Then, we had the villages that were being supervised by the village chiefs.


    The most intriguing thing about the human kingdom, was not the cities, but, the humans. The human kingdom was an immortal kingdom, quite alright. Since all the humans on this planet could sense and gather Chi right from birth. Which meant that, all the humans were born a cultivator and no mortal human actually existed here.


    But, all of them were not the same despite the fact that all of them could sense and could gather Chi energy. This was where the differences and divisions came into fore. The human cultivators were divided into three types on this planet. They were the body cultivators, the soul cultivators and the dual cultivators. Although, there were a fewer number of humans who were cultivating both. It was possible for a soul cultivator, to cultivate the body to the undying stage with the necessary items and procedures.


    While for the body cultivators, it wasn''t possible for them to cultivate the soul.


    Why?


    Because, they couldn''t gather Chi energy into their dantian. They could only gather it into their physical bodies. Therefore, they couldn''t transcend planet Aalag. Since, the nascent soul formation was necessary to undergo ascension divine tribulations. That was why they were training their bodies rigorously in various techniques. Once their bodies reached the undying stage, they would become true immortals. They wouldn''t be dying from any other cause, unless they were totally killed. And, they would be given an elusive martial arts technique making them become top martial artists to rival that of any world. Afterwards, they would be moved to the fortified cities.


    Their importance couldn''t be emphasized enough, especially when facing the threats of the Scavens and the Argonians. They were the pillars of the human kingdom for two main reasons. Firstly, they had undying bodies. Secondly, they wouldn''t be leaving the planet for ascension in the future. So, they would always be around to defend the human kingdom.


    The fusion of the three planet cores, really affected the spiritual energy''s presence on this planet. The formed large Neron core, wasn''t much connected to the mother core of the universe. Hence, spiritual energy was scanty on this planet. And, due to this and lack of other needed resources on planet Aalag, cultivation was extremely difficult. This was also affecting the welfare of the minor cities and villages at the outskirt of the human kingdom.


    Lack of necessary resources meant that these minor cities and villages couldn''t properly defend themselves against the scrounging Scavens from the south-eastern part of Aalag.


    THE SCAVEN KINGDOM.


    The scrounging scavens. Creatures of extreme violence. They were the variant descendants of the mighty black dragon, Heilong. There were three types of scavens. The standard scavens, the sole scavens and the sacred scavens.


    The regular scavens hadn''t achieve any form of awareness. They were the first ones in the line of fire on the battle fields. They were the workers and they were the onee sent out on marauding raids on the humans. They were led by the sole scavens.


    The sole scavens had achieved awareness and half-transformation. They could reason properly and applied logic. But, they remained in their beastly form until they could achieve total transformation. They were the next in the chain of command.


    While the sacred beast had attained soul awareness and total transformation. They could transform into mortal forms including that of the humans. Although, it could only be one form. Once they chose one mortal form, they would stay with that very form. And, the advanced sacred beasts, could veil their beastly aura.


    Hence, the reason why the humans used the scrying orb to identify humans from the sacred beasts


    The Scaven kingdom was divided into various colonies. Big colonies and small colonies. The big colonies were controlled by sacred scavens refered to as, gerents. While the small colonies were under the sole scavens called onliests.


    But the whole kingdom, was ruled by the Scaven king, Nargoa. An hegemon-level sacred beast who had achieved total transformation and lived in human form.


    Their kingdom was also affected by the limited resources on the planet. The standard and sole scavens needed spiritual energy to attain full transformation. While the sacred scavens would need it to continue advancing in their cultivation. They would also need materials and items to make their kingdom stronger and sustainable. Thus, the reason for most of their raids on humans.


    THE ARGONIAN KINGDOM.


    The ultimate survivalists. Huge hominid mortals, with green-gold scales, narrow waists and broad shoulders. They were like a race made of humans, giants and scaled beasts. They were extremely formidable and deadly, which made them an exceedingly feared race. The reason why the scavens made a lasting pact with them.


    The argonian kingdom was ruled by the argonian highest, Giraq. An exceedingly powerful ascendant. The argonian kingdom was made up of four territories. The northern territory, the southern territory, the western territory and eastern territory. Each territory was ruled by an argonian prevalent. The territories were made up of terrains which were under the supervision argonian regnants.


    The argonians were fully, true cultivators too. Therefore, they were also affected by the scant resources.


    The fusion of the three planet cores, had seriously affected the spiritual energy''s presence on this planet. The formed Neron core, had lost most of its connection threads. Thus, it wasn''t much connected to the mother core of the universe.


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    Hence, spiritual energy was scanty on this planet. And, due to this and lack of other needed resources on planet Aalag, cultivation was extremely difficult. This was also affecting the nature of the three kingdoms.


    The only hope of the three kingdoms, was the Spingflame. An agreement was reached among the rulers of the three kingdoms to maintain peace at large. There could be minor wars and disputes, but the higher hierarchies would never get involved.


    One of such means was the Springflame. Only the strongest cultivators would survive. The same applied to all cultivators participating from other worlds too.


    Jufeng, quickly gathered his wandering thoughts as they neared the town center.


    The city lord was about to address the cavalry when the two of them arrived. They quickly joined them as they listened to his words. After his talk, the cavalry began their processing.


    "Hm."


    The white-robed scholar looked at Jufeng in total recognition. He was sitting with two other white-robed cultivators who seemed like scribes with writing scrolls in front of them.


    "I remembered you. You came here yesterday, right?"


    He asked with one eye brow raised.


    "Yes, senior."


    Jufeng answered politely.


    "From one of the destroyed villages?"


    "Yes, senior."


    "Terrible fate. Truly terrible. Nonetheless, do you know what this journey we are taking is all about?"


    "Yes, senior."


    Jufeng nodded gently as he spoke.


    "Hm. Come to this side, then."


    After testing Jufeng''s affinity and confirmed he was an affiliate, they began his processing. He was registered as an orphan after making the native oath as a denizen of the city.


    Several minutes later, they were on their way to Springflame as part of the cavalry.

 Chapter 47 - Springflame [III]

    Jufeng was lost in thoughts as he percolated on what lay ahead before him. They would soon be entering the argonian pass. Although it was an outland, it was still part of the scaven and argonian territories. The pass started in the scaven kingdom and ended in the argonian kingdom. Every now and then, the scaven and the argonian scouts would patrol the outland for any discrepancy.


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    But on this day, the pass was peaceful and quiet. No sign of any form of aggressive alerts or dangerous auras.


    And they had an invisibility array arround them. At the least, it was a form of protective assurance. Unless they would run into a planned ambush, they would pass through the place without any sort of problem. Ambushes and other sorts of attack were allowed, as long as a nascent soul and above, were not involved. That was the reason why they had nascent soul cultivators observing from all sides of the kingdoms.


    They were constantly monitoring these types of encounters with their awareness and other scrying seals.


    His mind wandered off to Springflame. According to the information, Springflame was located at the center of the planet. The island was sorrounded by two oceans. The Iling ocean covered a diameter to the other side of the springflame which fell in the territories of the scavens and argonians. The Tagau ocean was covering the other diameter to the territory of the humans. Which meant that, the outland calvary could have passed through the human territory of the planet.


    But then, they would have to fly over the dangerous waters of the Tagau ocean. Even if they wanted to, they couldn''t do that with flying clouds or flying weapons. This was due to a very extreme gravitational anomaly in the fused cores of the planet. This dangerous anomaly, happened in the Tagau ocean. Thus, they would have to use the fortified flying ships that were specifically built for transportation to the Springflame. But these ships, were exceedingly expensive despite not being big enough. The cost of using them as transportation means to the Springflame, were simply too high for the outland territories.


    Although, the ocean provided a great defense to the human kingdom in regards to other kingdoms, it was also a great hindrance in terms of Springflame. But, just like Iling, the Tagau ocean had a safe zone for other kingdoms too. Part of the agreement made mong the three kingdoms. Any form of permitted attack, must not be carried out in a safe zone. So far, the pact was still standing.


    Therefore, for the outland territories, the only reasonable way, was through the argonian pass. Once they were about to reach the other side of the pass, they would have to cut out to the Ralat river before reaching the mainland of the argonians. The Ralat river would link them to the Iling ocean. The Iling ocean was a much more less dangerous than the Tagau ocean. The dangerous pull was not happening in its waters. Hence, this was the best possible route for them to take.


    Gathering his thoughts, he looked around himself.


    Sorrounding him, were dozens of cultivators. All from the same city of Chanuan. They were all a mixture of soul, body and dual cultivators. They were led by a golden core dual cultivator named Shi Jian. A cultivator of the water affinity. They said he had cultivated his body to the third level of the nine-level Undying-Immortal body. Only heaven''s knew what type of technique he was using. With his level of cultivation, he could have moved to the fortified cities, easily. Like the other golden core cultivators among them, he was flying on his weapon''s light. A large titanium broadsword.


    Jufeng, along with the rest of the zhuji cultivators, were standing on a flying cloud. The flying cloud would be at the level of the mountains peaks, according to the reports. And for him, the flying cloud was better than flying on weapons or walking on the ground. It provided the experience of a solid ground, though softer.


    Several hours later, they came to an open plain. Ahead, they could see the mountain ranges on both side of a road that extended for miles without end. The rocky mountains heights which were covered in some eerie mist, produced a captivating scenery.


    "The argonian pass."


    Whispered the tattered clothed boy seated by Jufeng''s side, moments before they came to a halt in total silence.


    "We are now entering the argonian pass. Stay alert and in formation at all times. The invisibility array should provide us some covers."


    The golden core dual cultivator''s voice sounded in their mind through the mindvoice. With a body emanating a dangerous aura and a deadpan face, he glanced at them.


    "But maintain your silence."


    As they proceeded, Jufeng, keenly observed the road ahead. The ever dangerous road that the outland humans dreaded to take. Even from the sight of the place, he could feel the deadliness of the place. Though, they were flying inside an invisibility array, he knew it might not be enough to shield them. What if the scavens or the argonians had a much more powerful array too? Battle. That would be the outcome.


    He gently shook his head as he continued to focus on the pass ahead.


    Why, grey tree? Was this what it wanted him to come and face? What if there was no calvary going to the Springflame? Well, he could simply go back, couldn''t he?


    They met a few scaven and argonian scouts who didn''t detect their presence. They continued their forward journey without any disturbances. Yet, they could feel a watchful presence observing them. They couldn''t place the feeling but they knew something or things were out there in the covers of the misty mountains biding their time.


    After several hours of flight, they reached the Ralat river to their brief relief. They had reached the place without any battle and without loosing any member of their calvary. This was unusual. Very unusual. Upon reaching the safe zone of Iling ocean, the invisibility array that was cloaking their presence, was removed. The sorrounding scavens and argonians, were a bit startled by their sudden appearance. This was a little annoyance to them. Humans, taking their route always caught them off-guard. Although, they were aware of people using the invisibility array to come to the dominion. Most of them used it too, anyways.


    As annoyed as they could be, this part of the Iling ocean, was a safe zone. There wouldn''t be any fighting on this part of the Iling ocean. Not until they would reach the Springflame.


    Jufeng, couldn''t but took in the account of what was happening around him. And in regards to the tale he heard about the Iling ocean, there was a slight pull in its waters. This didn''t disturb them from continuing their flight, safely, towards the Springflame.


    Several hours later, they saw from afar, a large mass of land that could be a world of its own. There appeared to be no structures on the massive island. Just an empty plain that stretched far and wide into the great beyond. But they knew that this was the result of the cosmic array that turned Springflame into a close dominion. The Springflame dominion was there without a doubt. A place of fiery fire.


    Once they arrived at the Springflame, the golden core dual cultivator leading their cavalry raised his hand to draw their attention. His voice sounded in their minds through the mindvoice.


    "We are here. Everything we are, comes to the fore here. As we can see, this an extremely large area. To cover more area quickly, we will be divided into groups of six. Two Jindan cultivators, one dual cultivator and three zhuji cultivators. Each of you will be given a presence stone. If you are seperated from your group, it will lead you back to them and to us. But, try not to seperate from your group. Remember, once inside, it''s every kingdom for itself. This place is full of dangers and you could be attacked by the other kingdoms at any time. You must be alert and ready at all times."


    After they were grouped accordingly, the golden core dual cultivator''s voice, sounded in their mind, again.


    "Be cautious. No glory in death in this place. There''s only remembrance and samsara, when you are dead. Hence, if any group finds a springster, inform the other groups. And together, we will engage the circle of spingflame. Do we understand?"


    He brought a seal and with a swift movement, made a simple hand seal. The seal turned to runic symbols which flew to all the cultivators and attached to their robes.


    "Fire seals. It will protect you and your robes, or what''s left of it, from fire, to some extent. But, make sure to fortify yourselves with your elemental powers."


    Jufeng had been hoping he would be in the same group with the tattered clothed boy. In the end, it didn''t matter which group, all the groups were strong enough. Moreover, getting the Iradium coins and other treasures, was what really mattered.


    To enter the Springflame, they had to manifest their elemental energy and spiritual aura. This would show, they were all elemental affiliated and within the entrance cultivation levels. After confirmation, they cautiously entered the dominion before splitting up into groups.


    Once inside, Jufeng could see the reason why they called it Springflame. It was a place of fiery nightmare. It was like a desolate ruin of a dying world of fire.


    His group would have to find a springster. After finding the springster, they would be able to open a circle of springflame that was still guarded by a fire beast. Not a true living beast but a fire Principal. These principals, were the creation of the universe, but, they were on Jindan level of elemental powers. Although, their strength was on the level of a peak-stage nascent soul and their fiery bodies were on the level of a world treasure.


    They would be extremely hard to kill. Yet, they had to be killed in order to get the treasures in the circle of the springflame, beneath the ground.


    While they were looking for a springster, they would have to be wary of the springing vortexes of flames and the roaming fiery beasts. But, the most dangerous of all, were the contingents from the scaven and argonian kingdoms. They could attack at any time. All were allowed under the rules of the dominion.


    Two times it was, that they encountered the vortex of flames. The second time, they almost lost two members of their group. Fortunately, the Jindan cultivator leading their group, brought a seal that dispensed the vortex. The group had been so fortunate not to have lost any member of their group until they had been surprised by two packs of giant dire fire-wolves. Fire wolves on the Jindan level of elemental but nascent level of strength. They could have ran, but, there was no way they could outrun these fire wolves.


    The surprise and sudden attack, had caught the group off-guard. They had lost a zhuji cultivator before they could rally themselves together. It was the might of the body cultivators that limited the casuality to one cultivator. Jufeng saw the mighty power of the body cultivators, both their undying bodies and martial arts. It was a true display.


    The intense battle, had also seen all of them displayed their combat powers. Being creatures of pure fire elements, the fire wolves couldn''t be dispersed so easily.


    Jufeng, heard the strong words of the golden core cultivator while they were battling the wolves.


    "Keep cutting at them until they loose their strength."


    The battle against the fire wolves, had taken bigger effort on their part. The body cultivators did most of the fighting and were supported by the soul cultivators. Jufeng''s knowledge of some forms of martial arts and his slightly fortified body, raised a few eye brows. He knew they would be thinking if he was a body cultivator too. Only if they knew about his use of Chi energy to fortify his body. That, he had a massive amount of it. Only if they knew that he had trained in the basics and stances of martial arts and swordmanship, as a beginner. Only if they knew, they wouldn''t be surprised about him.


    Jufeng''s group continued searching the dominion for some time before coming to a shallow flaming lake. There were many charred bodies of scavens on the floor which indicated a great battle had been fought there. On the lake, they could see a springster. Which means that a circle of Springflame was still there. And with the circle, would come a principal.


    Was this a result of a peak principal?


    The Jindan cultivator, quickly used the communication stone to contact the other groups. But, it was at this time that another group also communicated to have seen another springster. The golden core dual cultivator had quickly made a decision to divide them into two main groups. Each group to head towards a springster.


    Jufeng''s group waited for the fire-power before going after the springster. Though, it wasn''t the full calvary, they were still looking highly formidable. They slowly approached the lake and as they got near enough, the lake came alive. Tens of massive fire snakes came out of the shallow lake and a battle ensued with the cultivators. The lake kept on producing more fire snakes. There was no way they could stop them without getting the springster first.


    Heavens tears! How could a shallow lake produced such monsters.


    Ripples of fire was already forming around the springster which meant that it was about to sink.


    "We will get the springster."


    One of the golden core cultivators, transmitted to all of them. He wheeled around and pointed at Jufeng and one other cultivator.


    "You and you. With me."


    After affirmation, the three of them streaked like lightning towards the springster. The other cultivators provided cover for them as they battled the fire snakes out of their way.


    The springster was the key to the fire snakes. Once the springster had been acquired, the fire snakes would cease to exist and the guardian beast would emerge. That would be when the true test would surface.


    Jufeng, hoped the mountain bark talisman on him, would still hold up against the attacks as much as possible. He would have to fight, just as it was intended. Though, the body cultivators would engage the fire principals and they would be supported by the soul cultivators.


    This was a situation where water and ice cultivators would prove more useful. For him, he would have to make do. Nowhere to hide inside the Springflame, especially, not here. He continued pushing as much Chi energy as possible, into his body, fortifying it more as they streaked towards the location of the springster.


    "We all have a period of a second. Once I jumped to freeze the lake, immediately, one of you must make a move to grab the springster before it sink into the lake. The other must cut off the one retreating fire snake before it touches the springster. The frozen seal can only hold for a second before I run out of energy. Make it count. Okay? Now, on me."


    The golden core cultivator made a hand seal before leaping in the air, high above the flaming lake.

 Chapter 48 - Springflame [IV]

    Jufeng was sprawling on the floor from the impact of the fire pulse, emitted from the flaming lake. The air grew hot around him and wisps of smoke was appearing from the slightly churned ground. As he groggily tried to stand, he remembered being hit by a massive energy blast that felt like a titan''s hammer. The intense fiery heat and shock waves, had hit the area like a cosmic comet.


    The impact had hit him from the back as he was facing a fire snake that was approaching him from the front. It had sent him flying like a fickle straw, several yards backward.


    He remembered hitting the ground with a bone cracking sound while the fire snake that was advancing towards him had been dispersed. And that was it. He couldn''t remember much after that. How long was he out? He managed to stand up and hurriedly checked himself for any sort of injury. Fortunately, his body was still intact and his torn robe was holding up, also. That meant the fire seal was still working, if not, his robe would have turned to ashes by now. If not himself too.


    What could cause a blast like that, exactly?


    Then, he tried to remember what events led to the energy blast.


    He was guarding against any returning fire snake while the other cultivator was aiming for the springster. His back was to the lake but he was ocassionally looking back towards it, in order to monitor the event with the springster. It was one of the moments of him glancing towards the lake, that he saw the other cultivator''s hand closing in on the springster.


    And he remembered that it was at this time that the waters of the lake, started gathering together in a lightning speed. But his attention had been drawn back towards the advancing fire snake. Yes, the cursed fire snake. He didn''t want the fire snake to catch him off-guard. So he had faced the fire snake and turned his back to the lake.


    He had prepared to engage the snake, but the next thing he felt, was a forceful blast to his back. It was as if the heavenly gods were in immortal disagreement with him.


    It must be the lake or the guardian of the circle that caused the blast. Had to do with either of them.


    No other reasonable explanation for what happened. While on this, Jufeng''s mind struck back to the springster, making him panicked. He couldn''t recall seeing the springster sank into the lake or if it was claimed before the pulse. Quickly, he looked around himself. A number of cultivators were also struggling to get up from the impact of the blast. But, many others, who he knew could only be body cultivators, were already engaging a raging vortex of liquid fire.


    As he regained his full body strength, Jufeng felt something else ahead, something growing with ferocious speed and burning with a pure fiery anger. It was coming from the vortex of liquid fire. Suddenly, the raging vortex exploded outward in another deafening blast and a shape, orange and white, burst into life out it. A nightmarish and deadly creature of pure liquid-fire.


    A gigantic ten-headed liquid-fire hydra!


    They would be facing a pure liquid-fire principal? As Jufeng gasped, he felt scorching heat run down his throat. He staggered back and held his left arm to protect his exposed eyes as swirling hot trails danced in the air. He could also felt a slight weight pressed in on him from the overwhelming auric presence on the level of world artifact and nascent soul. Although, its element of liquid-fire is on the level of a golden core cultivator.


    Titan''s torso!


    As if a pure liquid-fire hydra wasn''t enough, they would be dealing with ten of its deadly heads. Already, one head would be difficult to deal with and now, they got ten to deal with. What had they gotten themselves into?


    He quickly located his sword, just as the voice of the dual golden core ice cultivator, sounded in his mind.


    "Dragoncrag defensive formation!"


    The golden core cultivator threw a talisman in his hand towards the hydra. His voice continued to sound in their minds as he leapt into the air.


    "Two single-heart formations. One with me, the other with Yi Zemin!"


    Five body cultivators quickly moved to the front and aligned into a formation to the right as the golden core cultivator, landed in their midst. Another single-heart formation was formed to the left and led by Yi Zemin. The formation to the right was spear-headed by the ice affiliated golden core cultivator who wasted no time in moving the formation straight into attack.


    They were moving like single giant but with many blade phantoms as they engaged the hydra. The soul cultivators inside the defensive formation were using elemental projectiles to attack the hydra and support the blade phantoms. The air was roiling with various elemental energies in essence blades, essence darts, elemental orbs and other forms.


    But, the battle was mainly being fought by the body cultivators as they drifted in and out of different attack formations. Despite the strain, their bodies were resisting the fiery flames of the hydra. Jufeng wondered what could cause them to panick or even affect their undying bodies. They were only in their early stages, yet they were this strong.


    He quickly located his sword and rejoined the battle.


    They were intensely, fighting the hydra, when the army of scavens and argonians, attacked. The attack came from the back. It put them, right at the middle of the assaults from the two sides. The hydra to the front while the scavens and argonians were to the back.


    The first sight of the might of the argonians, had Jufeng''s jaw hitting the floor. Really, they were terrible foes to have. Jufeng had thought the human body cultivators had the ultimate impenetrable bodies, but the display by the argonians, was on a different level. Their bodies were like that of an ancient dragon''s scales. It was almost impossible to injure them talkless of defeating them. The most disturbing thing about them, was their battle prowess. Despite the ones here being Jindan at most, they could stand toe to toe with nascent soul cultivators from Jufeng''s world.


    The argonians didn''t attack in formation but individually. They had so much trust in their individual might. Together with the scavens, they could have overwhelmed the human calvary, if not for a golden core dream and illusion cultivator. He used half of his life-force to power an ancient talisman and projected a dream into the minds of the argonians and scavens. They were locked in battle with their inner demons as they remained frozen in place.


    The calvary quickly sneaked in-between the argonians and scavens and retreated to the other side, away from the fire hydra. This changed the battle scene. The argonians and the scavens were now inbetween the fire hydra and human calvary.


    But the dream only disrupted them for a moment before it was shattered. Fortunately, the respite was enough to allow the other group of the human calvary, led by the golden core dual cultivator, to join them in battle.


    The moment the dual cultivator arrived, hundreds of spears made from pure shadow essence, were already hitting the argonians and the scavens. The shadow spears were hitting their bodies and souls. Though, their bodies were on another level, their souls were affected by the shadow essence spears. Every time he moved his hand, tens of this spears would be manifested.


    This drew the attention of the leader of the argonian army. He turned to face the incoming threat with a primal hatred. He was holding a lightning infused glaive which denoted a lightning affiliated cultivator. With a loud roar, he turned to a streak of lightning.


    The air was shimmering with dangerous energies as the two faced each other in a deadly battle. The thunderous sound generated from the collision of their weapons was causing ripples in the spacetime fabric. In the space of a second, they had exchanged hundreds of weapons'' strikes. At this time, the remaining cultivators on both sides, stepped away from the battle area.


    "That''s shadow-lance."


    Uttered the tattered clothed boy who was now standing beside Jufeng.


    "Huh?"


    Asked Jufeng absent mindedly as he kept his eyes on the battle going on.


    "Name of the spear. It''s a total-grade heavenly weapon."


    The dual cultivator was moving like a shadow god. It was nearly impossible to follow his movement if not for the light coming off the fire hydra.


    "He''s incredible."


    "Shi Lingxin. He''s the son of the city lord. They are the true descendants of the founder of the city of Chanuan, Shi Guanting. He''s already a world sovran in martial arts and with his spear, he''s a real immortal threat."


    There was no lie in the boy''s words. Shi Lingxin, had already reached the Yinlong stage of martial arts and soon, it woulde be the Jinlong stage. He could call himself a grandmaster in martial arts.


    As he was fascinated by the unfolding action, he was being pulled forward by its alluring force. The sheer beauty of powerful displays of martial and mystical arts, made him forgot about the space-rippling energies that were being manifested, all around. He was already standing on the same line as the watching golden core body cultivators who were the closest to the battle.


    When the spiralling energies of the weapons of the two Jindan cultivators collided through their tips, the impact emanated a massive shockwave of uncontrolled energies that knocked the cultivators on both sides flying.


    Since he was having a front view, there was no way for Jufeng to avoid the force of impact. He was sent flying, like a divine eagle, towards an area of fiery rocks and into a waiting dimensional force-field. He stood up and checked his body. His body was intact to a welcome relief. Nevertheless, he should have landed much more harder than he did. Then, he noticed the place was peaceful, no sign of the ongoing battle, at all. No sign of flames too. Where was he?


    "You are in my dimensional space, mortal."


    Jufeng wheeled around at the sound of the voice to the sight of an old man in orange robe. Despite the distance, there was a powerful aura coming from the direction of the old man that depicted heavenly essence.


    "In here, existence is me."


    Quickly, Jufeng cupped his hand and bowed deeply.


    "I meet you well, senior."


    "Depends. Might not be for long."


    Suddenly, the old man appeared in front of him like a


    "What message do you have for me?"


    Still deeply bowed, Jufeng realized from the question that, the old man must be the new guardian of this dominion. The Dawn-Gazer! Swallowing hard from utter apprehension, he managed to continued.


    "Senior, where should I go if I''m lost in the fire?"


    "Emberless grove."


    "Senior, who am I to ask for?"


    "Regallash. Any more question?"


    "No, senior. He wants me to show you this scroll."


    Jufeng produced the golden scroll and handed it to the old man.


    "Hm."


    He gave it back to Jufeng after reading it.


    "What is it you look for?"


    "Senior, this one search for the lost spatial sac."


    "Hm. The spatial sac once belonged to a nascent soul known as the Wanderer. Very well. Take that path, it will take you to a small stream of fire. Cross it and you will see a small flaming mound. It''s a worldly illusion, no cultivator of Jindan level can see through it. Inside the mound, you''ll find what you seek."


    "Thank you, senior."


    The old man looked at Jufeng for a time before shaking his head slightly. He had never liked people with a load of virtues in the first place. He, himself, was here as a guardian of this dominion due to his karmic sins. He remembered clearly how the four of them, the Cuboid, had been found guilty by the heavenly palace''s puregods headed by the Jade Emperor. The four of them had been sent out to different dimensional places as their guardians for the adjudged equivalent duration of their sins. What a pity. They, that used to roam the heavenly plane in a moderate, not too chaotic, way, were now confined to dimensional prison. Though, they had free movement in the dimensions, they were still incapacitated.


    The old man sighed and flipped his hand.


    "Take this."


    Jufeng caught the token that was sent towards him.


    "Show it to him when, or if, you get back."


    "Okay senior, I will do accordingly."


    The old man disappeared as Jufeng bowed. Jufeng looked at where the old man was standing for a moment before realizing he was alone there. Quickly, he took the path that was indicated by the old man. The path led him to the mound where he found the crumpling spatial sac and quickly emptied the content into his own spatial sac. He would be checking the content later. He took the same way back and when he reached the place where he first found himself inside the dimension, the dimensional space disappeared.


    Dodging two blade-lights that headed his way, Jufeng realized that the battle was now raging hotter than before.


    Heavens tears!

 Chapter 49 - The Dew Sky

    Jufeng quickly surveyed the situation. The intensity of the battles unfolding before him, was of unassailed proportion. The amount of uncontrolled elemental energies in the air was truly frightning. On one hand, the Shi Lingxin was in a raging showdown with the argonian leader, while on the other hand, the argonian and scaven army were in a fiery face-off with the gargantuan fire hydra. The argonians and the scavens who were out of that region were fighting the human cavalry on this side of the location. It was a chaotic situation.


    On the other side, the colossal fire hydra was having a field day with the argonians and scavens. The massive hydra''s body was at the level of a total-grade worldly artifact, despite being a pure fire principal. Since they couldn''t do much to its pure elemental body, the hydra was proving impossible for the army facing it, to defeat it. But the most dangerous thing of all, was its speed. The speed of its movement and attack, would rival that of a peak stage nascent soul.


    At this stage, only two of the hydra''s head had been destroyed. Though, this drastically reduced its power, the hydra was fighting with more burning rage. It was now looking more of the annihilation of the argonians and the scavens. Already, more than half of their army had been destroyed by the hydra. The sheer display of power by the hydra, testified to its terrifying might and significance.


    This was no ordinary, circle of Springflame, guardian. Whatever it was or they were, that the hydra was guarding, would be of top values. The more reason for the humans to get their hands on the treasures.


    The hydran battle was huge, but, it was the battle between the two contingents'' leaders, that drew Jufeng''s attention. The quality of the attack moves being displayed was staggering.


    Jufeng continued to watch on, as the argonian blurred forward in a blue lightning shimmer. The green massive body armour on the argonian body, started to disintegrate and was cascading from its body as it moved with impossible lightning speed. He had covered the ground between them less than a heartbeat, thrusting forward, in a thousand in one move, a glaive that was shimmering, violently, with blue lightning bolts. Shi Lingxin shadowed himself back in a blinding speed, but the argonian followed, exceedingly fast for a Jindan level cultivator, his lightning glaive distorting and causing spatial ripples as they continued to exchange strikes. In a mirage of movement, they traded thousands of blade strokes as they broke, and moved again, and again.


    Jufeng could hardly follow the blurring speed of their movement. He couldn''t believe what he was looking at. They were supposed to be Jindan cultivators, but from what he was seeing, they were not in a making of Jindan. How could that even be? Straining his eyes, Jufeng continued to follow their movement in a valiant attempt.


    The argonian had made a named martial arts move.


    "The Lightning-glide."


    This was a master level devastating martial art.


    Shi Lingxin was blocking with total comprehension of the deadly outcome if he lost focus and make mistakes. Their weapons were moving too fast for other cultivators to clearly see. His defensive robe, turned a glancing lightning thrust in a shower of shadow sparks. The glaive continued to cause giant spatial ripples in the air as it passed.


    Suddenly, the argonian''s move changed without disrupting his initial attacking move. Staying in the blue lightning blurr, there were massive lightning pulse and bolt webs, spiralling out of it. With every, thousand in one, thrust of the glaive, the spatial ripples were now burning the air and scorching a wide area of the ground.


    Shi Lingxin went briefly onto the attack with a giant shadow burst and an array of eclipsing shadow spears in an attempt to disrupt the move. His attack would have caused mortal injuries to any low level cultivator, but each of the spears was met and blocked, and the sound of their blades came like a thunderous shattering glasses.


    The argonian pressed his glaring opportunity. Like a blurring ancient caster, he dipped and weaved his way through the shadow burst, cutting through the shadow spears with his pulsating glaive. He spun in a double circle before releasing his glaive. The glaive turned to a thousand raging blue-white lightning bolt that sped towards Shi Lingxin, covering the whole area and causing spatial rifts.


    Apprehension dawned on Shi Lingxin as he recognize the move executed by the argonian. A mystical art.


    "The Rift-World."


    The argonian had used two named move in succession. Shi Lingxin decided, he would have to use a named move of his too, otherwise, he would be in dire trouble. He made a firm hold on the ground with his feet and slightly shifting, he executed his own defensive move.


    "The Silent-Shade."


    He was still thinking of how powerful the argonian leader was, when the argonian appeared in front of him with a glaive meant to pierce Shi Lingxin''s heart. Shi Lingxin was to turn with his spear and deflected the glaive to the side. The deflected thrust strike caught Shi Lingxin across the ribs. It didn''t do much damage to him but his robe was giving off large amount of shadowy smoke. A sign that the robe was loosing its potency.


    Shi Lingxin whirled around and hurled gigantic shadow wraiths forward, but the argonian cut through them like water. Shi Lingxin was aware of the fleeing time. He knew they had limited time before the dawning of the Springflame for another hundred thousand years on the side of the argonians. The humans and the scavens already had their own periods. They would wait the dawn of time until it was their turn to explore the Springflame again. That was the traditional ways of things in Aalag.


    This was the last day of the argonian period in Springflame and it was only a limited time now until the dawn of Springflame. No time to waste.


    Then the argonian split into two images and one of the images flew forward to the left of Shi Lingxin while lightning bolts danced on the ground all around them. Shi Lingxin twisted with a powerful swift grace, parrying the lightning blow with his spear and filling it with more shadow essence as he swiped a mournful shadowy trail down the image''s c.h.e.s.t, but his blow was turned by an eloquent slide of the glaive. The image had already pivoted out of the way when Shi Lingxin caught a glint of enormous red bolt in the air, from the right side, and quickly manifested a shadow dome of energy.


    The impact was a deafening thunder. Jufeng, who had been achingly following the battles was on his knees, holding his head. With the pain in his head subsiding after a time, he looked around himself. There were few cultivators affected by the impact, but to his total astonishment, there were many cultivators still standing and watching.


    The heaven''s forsaken body cultivators and the cursed argonians. Why couldn''t he have a body like that too? He had been practicing the Trueworld bodyweight technique since childhood. And the reverse one too. He looked at them again and observed their bodies.


    "Tremendous bodies. They must have been practicing a great technique for thousands or millions of years."


    He sighed and turned his attention towards Shi Lingxin.


    The golden core dual cultivator had been, agonzingly, biding his time, as he battled the argonian leader. He had thoughtfully, observed what it would take for his ultimate move to be successful. They had two major obstacles. The hydra and the argonians alongside the scavens. He had waited for half of the hydra''s head to be destroyed before he finally decided to act.


    He knew the argonian was stronger than him physically. Though, he wasn''t sure about the mystical arts, he knew that the argonian wasn''t better than him in martial arts. Although, he was aware of the argonian''s glaive as a low-grade heavenly treasure. He couldn''t delay any longer. It was time to leave the Springflame. Since he didn''t know the number of argonian contingents heading their way. The battle energy here would have resonated far into the distance.


    Shi Lingxin had been relying on the Shadow-Lock to make his ultimate move. But the issue was to align the lock in a correct pattern around the argonians and the hydra. And now, the Shadow-Lock stones were in place. The last stone had been aligned correctly by a Jindan cultivator who managed to get behind the hydra after great difficulty. He threw six pellets of shadow into the air. Pellets that had taken hundreds of thousands of years to pack with refined shadow essence. His power at the Jindan level, couldn''t activate the Shadiw-Lock, but with six pellets holding hundreds of thousands of years of shadow essence, he could activate it. The pellets would be serving a greater purpose now.


    With that, he activated the Shadow-Lock.


    Jufeng watched as the whole place in front of him was quickly engolfed in a devastating shadow world. He couldn''t see through the shadows and the people inside, couldn''t come out either. This was a nascent soul level of mystical attack. Shi Lingxin had done this due to the shadow energy he had been storing inside the pellets. Genius. Jufeng took a glance towards the golden core cultivator in time to see him spun his spear overhead before slashing it down in an arc.


    Jufeng continued to stare at the standing figure of Shi Lingxin while admiring his brilliant thinking. He was slowly nodding his head when he saw the figure of Shi Lingxin, disintegrated into nothingness.


    "Uh?"


    He looked around only to see others looking at the Shadow-Lock area without paying attention to the dissipated figure of Shi Lingxin.


    "Am I missing something?"


    He asked to himself silently, but his expression was that of bewilderment.


    "Order Of The Afterlife."


    "Only his uncle, the hegemon, has mastered the art. But he''s on his way to. This is a supreme martial art. Only two other confirmed martial arts of its kind, I know of. Pride of the True Glory and Oath Of The Fallen Souls."


    He slowly turned his gaze towards Jufeng and spoke gravely.


    "If you know a supreme martial art, then, you may be on your way to become a true legend."


    Jufeng was still lost in thought, when the shadowed area became visible. The whole place was filled with the bodies of the argonians and the scavens. But the most disturbingly unusual thing, was the bodies of the standing argonians and the scavens. They were still standing with their eyes opened, but were long dead. The leader of the argonian was covered in transparent white stone. Or was he turned to a transparent white stone statue? Shi Lingxian was standing at the other end where the hydra was few minutes before. But the hydra was no longer seen.


    This reminded Jufeng of Lang Hai and Liu Luoyang. The remarkably powerful martials arts he had seen them displayed. Truly, beyond words.


    Shi Lingxin assigned some of the body cultivators to stay guard while he arranged a few to himself. He opened the secret entrance to the large area under the circle of flame wirh the springster and turned to the few cultivators.


    "Come with me."


    This circle of Springflame was literally, a lake of Springflame. Inside the large area that resembled a conjecture of chambers, they found a relatively high amount of Iranium gold and silver coins. The place was not short of artifacts too. One low-grade luminous artifact, one pure-grade heavenly artifact and two high-grade worldly artifacts. This was more successful than they had anticipated. Together with the Iradium coins they found in the other circle of flame, it was a heavenly blessed voyage.


    "We are out of time here. We leave now."


    It was a risk they had to take.


    Under the cover of the invisibility array, they silently left the area. Few hours on the Iling ocean, they arrived at the they arrived at Ralat river where they diverted towards the argonian pass. As they neared the mountainous region of the pass, they could feel the eerie atmosphere that enveloped the whole area. Since they couldn''t turn back, they forged ahead silently. The invisibility formation was still active.


    They were at the middle of the mountainous area, when they were all frozen in place. The cloudy mountain tops became clearer. Ten golden core scaven cultivators, led by two peak stage golden core cultivators, were at the top of the mountains. They were accompanied by two green robed argonian cultivators. Large white orbs of ice were floating around them.


    Frozen Stars lock.


    No escaping this one from the inside. Once it''s locked, everything inside including the spacetime, would be frozen. The Orbs would then start to come together, hence, shrinking the spacetime inside the lock. This would eventually cause the spacetime to implode, thereby, killing all that was inside.


    As the orbs were getting dangerously closer, a golden colored portal suddenly opened. The energy released from the opening of the portal, swiftly dispersed the orbs, thus, releasing the spacetime of the area.


    Jufeng and the other cultivators, apart fron Shi Lingxin, were not aware of entering the frozen lock. It was as if nothing had happened, that the spacetime was flowing naturally the way it should be. Except, they had stopped moving at the middle of mountainous region and were sorrounded by an army of scavens and two argonians.


    And a portal, that was opening in front of them.


    A white robed elderly man with a flowing white hair, white eye brows and long white beards, came out of the portal. He was holding two small bags with intricate designs of pure beauty.


    Almost simultaneously, two more portals opened and two men stepped out of the portals respectively. One was wearing a gold-lined emerald green robe while the other was wearing a glowing midnight black robe. Their ancient and powerful presence, couldn''t be mistaken in any circ.u.mstances.


    Despite masking their auras, the divine presence of the three rulers had caused the cultivators to fall on their knees and bowed deeply. How could they even look at the faces of their mighty rulers? They could suffer grave consequences despite not knowing who the rulers were.


    The white-robed elderly man gave the two men a curt nod as he spoke.


    "Highest Giraq, King Lhunox. I meet you two well."


    "Sovereign Yin Qiang. We meet you well."


    Highest Giraq and king Lhunox returned the curt nod.


    "And I believe your visit here is not interfering with these juniors'' affair, sovereign Yin Qian."


    "Sovereign Yin Qian wouldn''t intentionally do that, would he?"


    "King Lhunox, don''t you know me before now? But since you mentioned it, wouldn''t they be spoiling this beautiful day and the gift I brought, as promised? If they continued disrupting this lovely peace?"


    Sovereign Yin Qiang displayed the two bags as he smiled at the two rulers.

 Chapter 50 - The Tale Of Yins

    Jufeng stepped out into the snowy plain and looked around before lifting his head up as the snow flakes gently c.a.r.e.s.sed his face. Standing on a spot with his eyes closed, he took in a lungful of air before exhaling, slowly. The feel of the freshness in the air, was beginning to have the traces of comfort to him.


    "Ah, my snowy plain."


    Having confirmed he was truly back at the beautiful snowy plain, he crashed down on the ground. He planted his face on the snow filled ground to his much needed respite. Oh, the calming solace of the snow. The feel of the snow had become a soothing relief from the apprehension of these recent events.


    Several minutes later, that seemed like hours, he stood himself up and quickly located a moundy spot where he sat down heartedly. He rumaged through his sac and brought out some preserved turtle meat and goat milk. He chewed the meat and washed it down with the milk as he ruminated on the events of the recent past. He had found the crumbling spatial sac before its total disintegration. If the spatial sac had completely crumbled before he could access it, its content would have been lost to the dimensional space of its creation.


    Only the cultivator that crafted the spatial sac, could locate and retrieve its content, if the sac was destroyed.


    He put the remaining meat and milk to one side, as he retrieved the content of the sac. A white medallion, a scroll and one copper coin. That was all. He decided to examine them closely before he would start cursing the forsaken tree or not. The white medallion was like a coin in shape, but bigger. There were intricate designs on the two sides of the medallion. On one side, it resembled the face of a woman but with a godly touch. While on the other side, there was a delicate pattern in the semblance of a bird.


    He couldn''t determine the material that was used in the making of the medallion. One thing he was certain of, the medallion was definitely not an artifact, since there was no form of energy radiating from it. Could it be a token? A token of prestige or recognition? Or, something that belonged to someone who lost it?


    He put the medallion away and continued to the scroll. The scroll was giving off a faint yellow gold light. From the look of it, this would be a treasure. He slowly opened the scroll and almost had a combustion. The scroll was blank. There was nothing written on it. He tried to push Chi energy into the scroll but nothing was happening. Even the faint yellow-gold light, had disappeared. Maybe, it was a bloodline scroll or something like that, which meant he would never be able to read it.


    With a long suffering sigh, he glanced at the two copper coins.


    "And one copper coin. Great."


    After observing the items for a time, he decided to put them back in his spatial sac. Although he was a little bit angry with the findings, he accepted the fact that, anything or nothing, could be inside a spatial sac. At least, he got a medallion. And his own share of the Iradium coins from the sojourn to the Springflame. His mind trembled slightly as he recalled them being sorrounded by an army of scavens and two argonians, without them knowing. coupled with the sight of the three rulers of Aalag.


    From the words of Shi Lingxian, they had unknowingly entered the Frozen Stars lock. A time freezing lock. They would have been destroyed if not for his uncle, sovereign Yin Qian who was the ruler of the human kingdom. He had, coincidentally or intensionally, opened a portal that had destroyed the frozen lock. From the sound of it, the portal alone shouldn''t have destroyed the lock, which meant that sovereign Yin Qian had intentionally destroyed the lock. On the soil of the scavens!


    This was a major breach of the pact. A nascent soul and above must not get involved in the affairs of lesser ones.


    Jufeng remembered his conversation with the tattered clothed boy, who he later learned his name to be Tan Wu.


    "As you already know, the sovereign had intervened because of his nephew."


    "Mhm. Such a great risk."


    "True. That was why sovereign Yin Qian had brought those gifts. Their values could only be imagined."


    "He must truly be fond of his nephew."


    "Very much. You see, Shi Lingxin''s mother, Yin Ying Hui, was the elder sister of Yin Qian, the sovereign. Long before the foming of the fortified cities, there was only one human city. This human city was founded by their father, Yin Xinyi. It was the first human kingdom. Despite being a turbulent time, the human city was holding fort. Yin Xinyi came to have two children, Yin Ying Hui and Yin Qian. Two geniuses of the human kingdom. But since Yin Ying Hui was born way before Yin Qian, she was given the first-born spirit pill. Her cultivation kicked off in a bang. She was growing up very strong in mystical and martial arts. There was a great expectation of her being the future pillar of the kingdom."


    "So it seems."


    "Thousands of years after the birth of Yin Ying Hui, Yin Qian was born. He turned out to be a genius of his kind. Despite being born several thousands of years after Yin Ying Hui, he reached Jindan stage only few years after his sister. But, he was too impatient and too eager to impress their father. After both reach the golden core stage, they decided to have outland cities in expansion of the human kingdom. Yin Qian moved to the right of the city towards the argonians while Yin Ying Hui, took the left on the side of the scavens."


    "Please, continue."


    "Although there was no pact then and the kingdoms were just few in population, there was regard shared among the rulers. But in his eagerness to expand the human territory, Yin Qian was systematically infringing on the argonians. One of the outland territories of the argonians, infringed, was gorverned by a member of the argonian highest. Yin Qian thought at the Jindan level, he was at the top to prove himself. But, he was wrong."


    "Was he?"


    "Absolutely. There was a first son of their founding Highest. His name was Khutam. He was much stronger and powerful than Yin Qian. He had gone a great length too, to prove himself and avenge their member. He had been, patiently, planning his attack. And masterfully, he had attacked Yin Qian when Yin Xinyi was undergoing his ascension heavenly tribulation."


    "How did he survive it?"


    "Yi Ying Hui. That was how."


    "Uh?"


    "Have you totally forgotten? Oh, okay. You see, Yi Ying Hui, had used the Chains Of Targarsus."


    "Chains Of Targarsus?"


    "Yes. The ancestral heirloom of the house of Yi. As the first child, it was hers by right to maintain but with an acknowledgement. She couldn''t use it anytime soon, if at all. It was only to be in her care. If it was absolutely necessary, it would be used by a nascent soul at the least."


    "Why was that? I''ve seen cultivators used higher level weapons before. Even a luminous one, I believe."


    "You are probably right. Though, I''ve not seen one before, I''ve heard of such, also. But, the Chains Of Targarsus was different. It was an errant weapon. Created by a shadow soul-forger, a highcelestial refered to as, Thudom. A true-born Natthada dwarf. As you know, Natthada was a heavenly shadow realm created on the Abyssal Shadow Deep."


    "Very true."


    "Myths had it that, Thudom was plagued by shadows of his own demons, hence, he had proceeded to the depth of the abyssal shadow core to forge his heart manifestation. And his heart manifestation?"


    "The Chains Of Targarsus?"


    "That''s right. Chains Of Targarsus. According to the tales, some claimed he was already lost in his own shadowed mind before he began to forge the chains. While others said he had totally lost his mind to the shadows of his own demons while forging the chains. But, one thing they all agreed was that his demons had fed on the abundance of shadow element at the abyssal depth."


    Errant weapons!


    Jufeng''s mind trembled in primal fear at the potential existence of an errant weapon on the mortal plane talkless of being in this world. Errant weapons were totally different from other weapons. Divine weapons, luminous weapons, heavenly weapons, worldly weapons and terran weapons[weapons with runes], were definitive in their creation. A luminous treasure would forever be a luminous treasure. It''s power would never increase further. Same went for the others. But errant weapons were completely different.


    Errant weapons would continually and greedily devour the soul elements of the owner when in use, making them progressively dangerous. Once an errant weapon was brandished with the intension to use, soul demons would be manifested, plaguing the owner. A cultivator''s soul could be lost in its own shadows, if the cultivator couldn''t control the streaming of the soul elements and the soul demons.


    Errant weapons could only be forged by celestial soul-forgers at the depth of an elemental core. But most importantly, the soul-forger would be totally lost in the elemental soul. Only soul-forgers plagued by their mind demons could ever undertake the forging of an errant weapons. Since the primordial beginning, only a few had ever found their way out of their soul elemental bondage. And they were the ones that managed to leave the depth of the elemental core with their souls in their bodies. Any forger that left the soul behind, would never find the way out. Forever lost.


    This was why errant weapons were not common on the heavenly plain talkless of the mortal plane. Unlimitedly powerful but extremely self-hazardous.


    "True immortal danger."


    "It is. As I was saying, Yin Ying Hui, who was trying to locate her brother due to some development, had came upon the dangerous scenario. Realizing that if she didn''t do anything, her brother would die, Yin Ying Hui had used the chains."


    "I''m listening."


    "Granted, the chains had shattered the mind of Khutam and chained his soul in eternal shadows, still, the shadow energy of the chains was too much for her to manipulate. It had spiraled out of control, making her soul lost in its own shadows. She was only at the Jindan level at this point, how could she withstand the backlash."


    "Terrible."


    "Yes, terrible fate. Two first-born, nothing more than living corpses. It could have led to war, but due to the fact that it happened to the two of them of the same cultivation level, the two rulers made a pact. Any disputes between two cultivators of the same level, must not be intervened by a higher level cultivator. And, unless a kingdom is threatened, no nascent souls and above should engage in any form of battle. Only Jindan and below could indulge in battles. Any loss must be taken in good faith."


    "A good-will pact."


    "Absolutely. The pact still delicately stands till this day."


    "What about Yin Ying Hui?"


    "She resides in the shadow-Maw cave, under the lord manor of Chanuan city. She had never been seen outside the cave since that battle."


    "Hm. So, Yin Qian had intervened to save Shi Lingxin for the reason that, his own sister and the mother of Shi Lingxin, had lost her own soul to save him too."


    "Indeed."


    The kingdoms of Aalag that was sitting on a fragile pact of good-will. Also his world as a citizen of Chanuan city.


    Jufeng recollected his thoughts as he snapped back to the present. Not all doom and gloom. He looked at the single piece of Iradium gold and silver coins in his hand as he smiled broadly. His own share from the sojourn to Springflame. He looked around satisfactorily, he had Iradium coins of his own. Coins of the immortals and gods. How about that?

 Chapter 51 - Sayong

    Blue-white lightning played along the black ridges in the sky above him, as Jufeng found himself in a dark and what appeared to be a desolate plain. The appearance of this place was already living up to his name. The absence of thunder made the silence of the lightning-filled sky, extremely mind saundering. With no sound coming from the night and no sign of the whistle of wind over the arid plain, the silence here was profound. It was only interrupted by the interminent faint break of a wave on the protruded rocks and his own heartbeats.


    Sayong.


    A worldly heave-domain. Heave-domains were spirit domains. Souls of more powerful opponents that couldn''t be defeated in battles, could be forcefully evicted from their bodies through soul banishing scrolls and seals. They would be sent to a heave-domain directly but their true bodies would be permanently destroyed. The nature of the heave-domain depended on the scroll or seal that was used. There were soul banishing worldly god-scrolls, heavenly god-scrolls, luminous god-scrolls and divine god-scrolls.


    A soul banishing worldly god-scroll could only be used on the mortal plane and could banish any cultivator''s soul from Lianchi to Nascent soul, to a worldly heave-domain. Except an hegemon soul, which would require a heavenly god-scroll. The souls of ascendants, hegemons and demigods would require the heavenly god-scrolls to be banished to a heavenly heave-domain. Whereas, gods'' souls on the heavenly plane would need the luminous god-scrolls to be vanquished to a luminous heave-domain, while the souls of the celestials would ask for the divine god-scrolls to be evicted to a divine heave-domain.


    Though, the divine god-scrolls had never been seen since the great war of the primordials.


    In the eerie dark condition of his sorrounding in this night-world, the only sources of light were from the dancing lightning in the shadowed sky and his own nimbus light. His nimbus light of red, blue, green and yellow which confirmed his identity as a zhuji cultivator. According to the grey tree, this was one of the disadvantages of this domain. A nimbus light was visible to all, which determined a soul''s ranking on the ladder of a heave-domain.


    This was truly a strange and unnerving world. Things never appeared to match up in a heave-domain. On a night like this, there should be deafening sound already, rather, there was an absolute silence. And, no signs of any night creatures? What creatures was he expecting in a spirit world in the first place? Spirit birds?


    As Jufeng was still observing the strange world and contemplating on it, he heard two angry voices behind him.


    "A-ha."


    "We found you, mortal rogue. Do you think you can escape us?"


    Jufeng whirled around to the sources of the voices. He saw two large phantom figures with diffractive gold-yellow nimbus light which made their white halo light to refract. Heave-Spirits. He had never seen one before, but from the words of the tree, he knew that all entities in this world were heave-spirits. Entities whose souls were now trapped in this dangerous and deadly world. A world where souls would be in constant and continous extreme difficulties, with little, to no possibility of escape. Souls of immortals and gods alike.


    He had to make sure he didn''t die in this world if he wanted to see the physical worlds again.


    Jufeng was having a dreadful feeling as he watched the two entities. Upon closer observation, their look was like that of human-dragons. Huge human-like bodies with golden scales covering covering them from head to toes like armors. Gold scales of wings folded behind their backs.


    True nascent souls.


    The true existence of an entity. Even if a body was destroyed but the true nascent soul survived, the life force would stay with the nascent soul. This would make the nascent soul to continue its existence but their appearances and lights, couldn''t be masked or disguised. Everybody would see a true nascent soul for what it was. Though, true nascent souls were much more powerful than the original bodies.


    And going by these two''s nimbus light''s diffraction, these were powerful immortal nascent soul demigods at the least.


    To be faced by two angry demigods upon entry, this wasn''t a situation he wanted to be in at all. Why was he even here? He knew he was here to obtain the Soul Banishing Scroll, but, what did he even need that for, exactly?


    "Or you mean, immortal rogue? I can smell something of immortality in him."


    "What immortality? I can even taste the mortality in him."


    "Are you sure you are not tasting the memory of your own rotten flesh?"


    "Are you questioning my power of judgement, brother?"


    "Since you are also doubting my discernment power, I guess I am."


    "What did I do to deserve this? You are like a thorn in my rotten flesh."


    "I beat myself in sadness all the time because of you. You are like a rotten flesh in my thorn."


    "A crossroad we are, then, brother."


    "Yes, a crossroad we are."


    With the two spirit entities having a concentrated stand off, Jufeng silently walked backwards a few yards. With a side eye on the situation, he slowly turned and was about to use the swiftsteps when the two entities, swiftly appeared before him. Their sudden appearance made him staggered backwards in alarm. He tried to use his swiftsteps in fright, but he was glued to where he was standing. He looked at his legs but couldn''t see what was holding him. What could be happening to him? He raised his head to the sight of the two entities, staring at him with cold, disturbing eyes.


    "Forgive us, immortal mortal."


    "It seems we didn''t introduce ourselves properly to you."


    "Demigod Rorrom, nascent soul sky gold-dragon."


    The first of the identical heave-spirits uttered with his hands spread to the sides.


    "And, I am Demigod Dorrom, nascent soul sky gold-dragon."


    The second spirit indicated with his burning eyes firmly set on Jufeng.


    "You see, we gold-dragons, we are naturally content with what we have. And what we have, we protect. As the same with everybody. Can you see those markers? It means this our territory."


    "What we keep in our territory belongs to us. Ours. Do you understand that?"


    Jufeng nodded in fear as he continued to watch where the two heave-spirits were going with their words.


    "We don''t like when dubious ones come into our territory uninvited."


    "Especially, ugly one that would steal our treasure."


    The two demigods'' souls glowed in anger as their eyes turned blood red and their nostrils flared smoke.


    "Wait, what treasure? I didn''t steal your treasure."


    "Really? Denial is even detrimental to your own soul."


    "Either you return our treasure to us right now or we rip your soul off your body."


    "Woa! On eternal flame, it truly wasn''t me."


    "On eternal flame? Really? Then why is your heart beating faster?"


    "And your very soul frightened."


    These entities were getting more frightful and going beyond reasoning. He had to think faster. They were gold dragons and they were looking for a treasure.


    "This treasure you are looking for, what does it look like?"


    "A-ha. The guilty one confesses before death."


    "Something shining. Something golden. Do you remember seeing it now?"


    "Something golden? I think I have something you might like in place of your treasure."


    Swiftly his hand movement to the spatial sac fastly tied to his waist and brought out the Iradium gold coin. His share from the Springflame sojourn.


    "Iradium coin? That''s not our treasure."


    "Are you trying to buy our treasure?"


    "Well, that might do, brother. One treasure for another. Besides, I like his voice. It''s soft."


    "Not soft. You mean pleasant."


    "We will agree to disagree, brother."


    "Immortal mortal, this is a hard bargain but we accept. One gold coin it is."


    The two gold dragon recieved the Iradium gold happily and moved out of his way.


    "If you want to buy more treasures, you know where to come."


    "We already noted you as a patron of ours, immortal mortal."


    "Until then, farewell."


    Phew that was really close.


    Jufeng also bid his farewell and quickly left the area of the two dragons towards the direction of the Gloomvale. He was moving extremely fast using the swiftsteps. He couldn''t afford anymore encounter like this one before reaching his destination. He might not survive it.


    He was about to reach the outskirts of the Gloomvale, when he stepped into a formation trap. Stopped on his tracks, he looked around and saw a group of five heave-spirits. Gold-green nimbus light coming from giant human bodies with heads of lions. Terran lions. Sacred beasts of the early stage of nascent soul. Their nascent souls were easier to identify. Out of all the lionkinds, the heavily long mane of the terran lions, made them stood out.


    "Stranded soul? What a blessing. Hehehe."


    "Take him."


    Jufeng shook his head as he tried to wriggle free from the force-field he had just walked into. This was not what he envisaged. The situation in this place was getting more dire for him than anticipated. He had recently escaped one that looked grim, only for him to walk into this one. Heavens tears. Why? As he was ruminating on the circ.u.mstances at hand, he heard two familiar voices.


    "Why should we allow that."


    The two sky gold dragons voiced aloud as they streaked into the area.


    "Gold dragons, this is our matter. It doesn''t concern you."


    "Actually, it does. He''s our new patron. Our own prospect."


    Replied Rorrom as Dorrom quipped in.


    "So, how about that, huh? We simply can''t allow it. Look for another soul, not this one."


    "The two of you won''t fare well against the five of us, if it comes down to it."


    "Why don''t we find out then."


    The two groups were having a stand-off, when a massive heaviness descended on the area. The pressure was like weight of a thousand mighty mountain. Everybody involved was knocked in different direction. Jufeng was knocked hard to the ground, with his head taking the brunt of it. Flat on the ground, he struggled to breathe as blood was streaking down his eyes, ears and corners of his mouth.


    "In my terrace?"


    A colossal voice boomed out of the shadow energy that had materialized overhead in the midair.


    "Who dare?"


    The faint shadow gathered together to reveal a shadow figure clothed in a shadow black robe. Two large red eyes could be seen in the hooded shadow face. The shadow energy sorrounding the figure was raging with incredible force. The force of an ascendant who had reached the gates of godhood.


    "White lions and gold dragons?"


    The shadow figure raised its hand and a huge shadow palm appeared and swinged in a circle. Despite the lions and the dragons blocking the palm, they were knocked flying in different directions.


    "If not for the ones you serve."


    Looking around, the shadow figure saw Jufeng lying on the floor with a bloody face and struggling for air.


    "Pathetic."


    The hooded figure made a flick motion with his fingers that sent Jufeng flying towards the Gloomvale. He landed hard on the ground, knocking the wind out of his lungs and twisting his left arm. The pressure on him had disappeared but he had suffered greatly. Yet, he couldn''t stay here. How could he knew where he was or whose territory he was right now? With great difficulty, he readjusted his twisted arm and managed to pop one bloodroot pill into his mouth.


    With the remaining strength he got, he crawled towards the large hallway of the Gloomvale at the nearest distance. He knew that, if not for the crystals which the tree gave him, he would have been dead already. Though, his own soul of liquid orb was an added advantage, they meant little in this spirit world.


    Jufeng compelled himself to enter the hall before collapsing.


    When he came around, he found himself in an immense hall that resembled a keep or a dominion. There were large incomprehensible runic inscriptions carved into the floor. The profound scripts winded slowly in from the entrance of the dark hallway to the foot of two closed massive doors, the only other features of the strangely dark place. The massive doors rose up from the floor, in the expanse of several meters up through the air, then stopped before it could meet the hall''s rooftop. Stopping with some yards short. The space between the rooftop and the massive doors was occupied with dark cloud that was filled with silent dancing lightnings.


    This was a stranger place than the outside.


    He remembered the words of the grey tree as he followed the oblique path of runes. Each step he took towards the massive doors, was of agonizing pain as the runes flared with each step. Every flare would travel to his dantian and wrench at his soul. He would take one step and waited for a long time to recover himself before he continued at a slow pace until finally he reached the immense doors. After a moment of pause, he placed his feet squarely on the large rune at the front of the closed doors before inserting the last Iradium gold coin given to him by the tree, into the gold slit on one of the massive doors. The air was getting denser in the hallway as lightning were streaking down the massive doors


    The massive doors made a thunderous snapping sound before it gradually began to open.


    Beyond the doors was a sight of nightmares.

 Chapter 52 - Gloomvale

    Total darkness, extending for miles without end, was the scene that was displayed before him. Ju Feng watched in apprehension as the massive doors slowly closed behind him. The darkness was soul disturbing in its complex entirety. Only the vicinity where he was standing, which was of a few yards, had some sort of light. After the small region of the light, was the complete darkness.


    As he watched the darkness and listened closely, he decided to use his spiritual sight to have more grasp of the situation. Within seconds, Ju Feng quickly backed up towards the closed doors as he gasped in primal fear. The complete darkness was not the source of that fear, but what he could faintly detect that resided in the darkness. He couldn''t see or hear the source of his fear but he could sense a powerful force in the darkness.


    There was definitely a colossal raging shadow in the darkness. There was no way in this reeling existence, he would enter this darkness. He knew he would simply die the moment the darkness enveloped him. He might think he was on a sojourn to acquire an artefact, but rather, he would find himself on a sojourn into the light of Radia. Straight into reincarnation. Not an ideal path to take at any moment in time.


    Ju Feng was still contemplating on the disturbing scene before him when a soft voice sounded beside him.


    "The Soul-Phantoms."


    "Uh?"


    Ju Feng swirled to his right side in the direction of the voice. A small figure, dressed in luminance white robe was floating in the air, right beside him. He took a few steps back as he cautiously examined this new entity. How did he even get beside him without his knowledge? And that solemnly ancient face. Ju Feng could already sense a dreadful alarm radiating from the entity. Upon closer observation, Ju Feng saw a faint mark in the shape of a full-lunar circle on the entity''s forehead. He swallowed hard as comprehension dawned on him.


    A Rakshasan god!


    The lunar circle was the symbol of the Rakshasans. As demigods, they were born with the half lunar circle''s symbol on their foreheads. This symbol would later turn into full circle after their ascension into the heavenly realms. Rakshasans were renown for their wildly erratic mentality. And here was one, hovering silently in the mid-air, not too far away from him. Caution! His attention shifted back to the eyes of the Rakshasan god. Pitiless, solemn and refractive. These were the eyes of a silent but extremely deadly entity.


    There was something about the figure that made Ju Feng felt like digging a hole and buried himself inside it.


    Despite appearing in his demigod form and masking his aura, the feel of the energy coming from the figure was exceedingly frightful. Necessity was laid upon him to bow in the face of such enormousness.


    "Greetings, senior."


    "Hmm."


    The Rakshasan god nodded his head as he continued to examine Ju Feng, closely.


    "The Soul-Phantoms, that''s what''s inside the darkness. They are the manifestations of Sammar, one of the guardians of the Rembulum realm on the cosmic plane. A shadow entity that fell during the great wars. So sad. As long as you have no reason to take the path, you need not fear."


    With a soft sigh, he gave Ju Feng a solemn smile.


    "Enough with that already. Coming here, is a dangerous path to take, young one. A dangerous errand for a mortal who just started the path of immortality to embark. I guess you agreed to a bargain. Is that right?"


    Receiving Ju Feng''s nod as a confirmation, he continued.


    "To make a bargain blindly, not wise, young one. Not wise. Yet, little you could have done in a face of a power far greater than yours. How fortunate of you to still be alive. Truly fortunate. Anyway, I could smell the scent of the others on you the moment you appear in this world. I guess that means they are still alive. Ah, so long, indeed."


    The god slowly shook his head before gazing into the past beyond the darkness. After a moment of silence, he turned to Ju Feng and asked.


    "Well, what do you have for me, young one?"


    "Please forgive this young one, senior. I''m to ask you where to go if I find myself in the dark and who to ask for."


    "You can only go to the Emberless grove and ask for Regallash."


    "Thank you senior for your patience with me. I''m to show you this scroll."


    "En."


    After reading the scroll of sentience and had it returned to Ju Feng, he turned his attention back towards the direction of the total darkness ahead. His gaze was fixed on them for a long time before his voice sounded in a soft but firm tone.


    "Several millions of years ago, there were four demigods. The Frost-Dreamer. A Yakshasan who was adept in manipulating the energies of ice and dream and illusion. The Plane-Drifter. A Lakshasan who could conjure the energies of air and shadow. The Dawn-Gazer. An Asura who was a master of fire and light energies. And a certain Soul-Carver."


    There was a soft sigh followed by a short pause that seemed eternity.


    "Yes. The Soul-Carver is myself."


    He took an expressionless glance at Jufeng before focusing on the scene ahead.


    "They called us geniuses of the martial and mystical arts. It didn''t take us long to pass the trials of the demigods. Though we were new lowgods on the heavenly plane, we could survive most highgods and could even match some of them in power."


    "Young one, open your ears. For an unchecked mind, power brings out its full ignorance. With that comes the dangers, both intentional and unintentional. You see, knowing our power levels, we were defiant of the heavenly ways. We abandoned the universal laws and made our own ways. Lost in time, dangerous intentions crept into our hearts. Many were the havoc we wrecked. And indeed, souls died due to our actions. "


    He nodded his head, non-nonchalantly, as he glanced towards Ju-Feng.


    "Many souls, to be sincere. Though, we didn''t attract the attention of the divines or the celestials, the gathering of the gods noticed and got involved. The consequences? Either to be imprisoned or have death-fights. Fight would have been futile, we would just be killed in the end. Surrendering was the better option, none of us wants to face the sisters for reincarnation. Hence, where we are now. But we are still grateful that we are made guardians of different dominions. This was an easier way out for us, despite the fact that my soul is here and my body is chained somewhere else. Extreme danger I was, that, I acknowledged."


    The nimbus light surrounding the Rakshasan god dimmed as he descended from the mid-air.


    "As the guardian and gatekeeper of the Gloomvale, I''ve had enough time to reflect on the past deeds. My soul is much more enlightened and at peace now. Nonetheless, I have seen the content of the scroll and this I acknowledged. Now to you. What do you seek in return, young one?"


    "Senior, this young one seek the Soul Banishing scroll."


    "That''s an audience with the Worldly Oracle. Only from her can you get what you seek. Get ready to take the path through the darkness then."


    The Rakshasan god floated a bit higher of the ground and his light flared as he flicked his fingers. A narrow path materialized out of the darkness. The path extended all the way to the other side.


    "The Path Of Sorrow. This is yours to take if you want to, young one. Do you?"


    "Yes, senior."


    Ju Feng answered in a sad tone as he nodded his head. He looked at the darkness again, with a feeling that he couldn''t stop himself from walking in the shadows of death. Deep down he knew death was always holding his hand.


    Another bright flare from the god attracted his attention. He turned on time to see the god made a hand seal as a thread if light streaked out of him and into the hand of the god. The hand of the god continued to glow brightly as a light orb started to materialize. In an instant, a veined light orb had been formed and handed to Ju Feng.


    "This is the Orb of Vale. The light indicates your life-force. Don''t let it fizzle out. Many are the souls lost to the darkness. If you are ready, you may proceed."


    Ju Feng was about to step onto the path when he was signalled to stop.


    "Oh, by the way, take this bamboo strip and give it to Frost-Dreamer. That is, if you make it back to him. At least, you''ll know that I repaid your effort even if you loose your life here. Don''t beat yourself, young one, there''s nothing you could have done otherwise. You may now proceed."


    "Thank you senior."


    Holding the orb of light, tightly in his hand, Jufeng stepped onto the narrow path.


    "En."


    The moment his feet touch the ground of the path, the voice of one of the manifestations sounded in his mind.


    "Ju Feng! Or isn''t that your name? Yes? Aha, let me introduce myself. I''m the Heckler. The manifestation that sits on the tip of your nose. Thank you for coming to my haven. I''m honoured. But that your name, Ju Feng, is a curse. You don''t know that, do you? Just mentioning your name wants to make me rip my heart out. What kind of a soul would b.a.r.e a cursed name like that? Ju Feng. Sounds more like a heavens curse. Are you a cursed soul? No? How do you know you are not a cursed soul? Even pronouncing your name makes me want to cut my tongue out. Born cursed and given a cursed name. Totally cursed."


    Ju Feng couldn''t help but shook his head in grievance. He knew there was a curse about himself he couldn''t name. To hear it now, but confirmed this realization.


    "But, I don''t blame you. I mean, look at your life. It''s a cursed life. What? You have a say? Do tell me. Ah, this is worse than sadness. Your parents must have despised you to a great extent. To give you that name and added to your curse, they really hated you. No? Can''t you see for yourself? Well, how can you see for yourself? You wake up in the morning, you do a little puny exercise, you eat some puny turtle meat, drink some puny goat milk and sleep as ignorantly cursed as you are. Have you forgotten how you were kept in isolation with no friend, living under a little hill? Now you know why. You are cursed. Your family understood that some curses do spread. They tried to keep others safe from you, yet, here you are. Trying to curse me too. Don''t you agree with me that you should have killed yourself?"


    The manifestation disappeared, bringing a much needed relief to Ju Feng as he felt like sitting down and be lost in thought. But he knew that if he stopped, he would never be able to carry on. As he was relishing the brief respite, another voice sounded in his mind.


    "Death-bringer! Surprised? Oh, I know who you are. If I may introduce myself, I''m the Soul-Taunter. So, let''s talk, soul to soul. If I were you, death-bringer, I will gladly feed my soul to the wraiths and let it be done with. End to your wretched and miserable life. Do you even know how many death you have caused, knowingly and unknowingly? Directly and indirectly? Ah, you will cry as I''m crying for you right now, if you do. Xuanpu! Hundreds of people died because of your stupid ignorant self. Many innocent children were killed because of you, death-bringer. It doesn''t matter if you were still in the w.o.m.b or nor, it was because of you. Ankhora! Many are the numbers of the dead, also because of you."


    "Nooo."


    Ju Feng screamed out in pain. Despite hearing this before, the pain was still too much to bear.


    "And if I mention those that have died without having any knowledge of you, you will jump into my hand and beg me to take your soul. How many souls are you willing to destroy? Not all of them even had the chance to reincarnate. They are on you. Your soul is tainted, death-bringer. Can you see the life you live? Won''t you agree with me that you should have killed yourself?"


    As the manifestation vanished, Ju feng stared at the light orb in his hand. Its light is getting dimmer as the time flew. The distance was still a long one . He knew he was in dire situation and could easily loose his life. Just as he was ruminating on this, he heard another voice.


    "Hello, Death-Walker. You can call me, Soul-Mocker. The eternal mocking shadow."

 Chapter 53 - The Ways Of Fate

    "Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don''t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality and fate be fate. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way the universe designed and the light within you will make you see clearly"- Dao of true existence.


    Ju Feng awoke with a start to find himself in a large garden with the solar high in the heavens. Solar? That was strange. He expected to see the raging darkness. It was just now, few seconds ago, that he was with the phantoms. How did he now found himself staring at the solar? Was he actually seeing the light of heaven''s solar or the solar of Radia? Or, a dream inside the belly of the darkness?


    He remained motionless as the thoughts went through his mind. He need a to have the true feel of what was happening and where he was. He slowly raised his head as his eyeballs darted madly in their sockets.


    Despite his state of bewilderment, he was in deep appreciation for the freshest of air that was invading his nostrils. He took a savoury moment to breathe in and out, in order for his lungs to have a fill of this freshness. Softly, he muttered to himself.


    "I think I''m alive."


    There was a trace of life essence in the air. Indication of being alive. Still sitting down, he patted himself in quick examination. His robe and spatial sac were also still intact.


    "I''m alive!"


    He continued to fill his lungs with the fresh air as he smiled inwardly. This was the true meaning of fresh air. Surely, the air in this place was totally different from the other areas of this Heave-world, if he was still in one anyway.


    After having his fill of the air, he examined his surroundings. He was sitting on a large garden leaf that resembled a fluffy fishing boat. Some sort of leaf indeed. On the ground to the right of where he was sitting down, was a small mortar containing some mixture of spirit grass and certain medicinal plants. To his left, was his orb of vale,on a heap of straw. This meant someone or some people were here with him while he was sleeping.


    Realizing he couldn''t be alone in this place, he quickly rolled to his feet, glaring around wildly. Not seeing or sensing anyone at his vicinity, he quickly picked up his orb of vale. The light of the orb was now down to few threads of faint pulsating fibres.


    This was the evidence of how close he was to dying. Close wasn''t the right word. He knew he should have been dead by now. Whether he had the crystals given to him by the grey tree or not, he knew he should have been dead in the darkness.


    How did he manage to escape the universe forsaken manifestations?


    He cracked his brain in recollection as he desperately attempted to have a clarification of what happened and where he was. He recalled his encounter with the Rakshasan god and being given the orb of light. The narrow path that opened across the complete darkness, and himself grasping for air from soul suffocation as his legs became deadly heavier. He had a fleeting recollection of a light he saw, but he recalled no detail of the light as he was trying to lay hold of it. It was in an act of desperation. But after this, he had no memory of what happened as he fell into unconsciousness.


    After gathering his thoughts together, he surveyed his surroundings more buoyantly. The mortar of mixed medicinal plants, indicated that someone or something was definitely here with him. With his back in a downward arc, Ju Feng decided to take a closer look at the mixture in the mortar.


    "The Sailing Spirit."


    Ju Feng whirled around as a voice sounded behind him. He took a few steps back as he watched the empty place beside him shimmered. From the shimmering energy, came the true nascent soul of a half-dwarf covered in a refractive nimbus light. The first striking aspect of the half dwarf, was his head. It was as if there was a yellow-gold light inside his head. This made the half-dwarf eyes and braided yellow hair and beard, glowed softly. Wearing a Varthorian battle armour that was glowing brightly, he truly protruded a terrifying figure.


    Varthorian battle armour. Definitely, a terran cultivator.


    The nature of the battle armour of any true nascent soul varied. It depended on the type of mystical arts embedded in the core of a soul before reaching nascent stage.


    Although he presented a mixed aspect, the aura coming from the dwarf was that of a peak stage nascent soul at the least.


    "Greet... Greetings senior. I thank you for saving my life."


    Ju Feng stammered in appreciation as he bowed with his cupped hands.


    "Had to give you. Your spirit was departing."


    "It''s incredibly foolish of you to come here, kid. You could have died in there. How could you decide to face the darkness. Are you that eager to reincarnate?"


    "No, senior. I''m happy to be alive. To you, I owe this."


    "En."


    Grunted the dwarf, setting down some items before the circle he drew on the ground.


    "But let it be known, I didn''t save you intentionally from the manifestations. Didn''t know you were clinging on to me until I reached here. Your path of sorrow was yours alone to take. In no way would I have interfered."


    He croaked.


    "I only take responsibility for saving you here, in this garden."


    "I understand, senior. And for that, I thank you greatly."


    "Mm. Since you are here, I can make good use of you."


    As they were talking, they were joined by two other entities. One was a blurring slim and tall true nascent soul, appearing to be that of a human lady. Despite being covered in nimbus light, the brightness of her true features were visible. Long white hair and white eyes that were dancing like lightning''s bolts. Her whole body was covered in White-Fortress, a very rare skin armour of the lightning cultivators.


    The other was a massive dark figure with scaled boulders covering his body. The big red eyes and a large single horn on his head that curled to his back, was a simple enough evidence of his nature. A demon. The demonic aura coming from him could only be that of a demon lord. For him to be able to manifest his true nascent soul in this spirit world, he must definitely be a demonic cultivator. But Ju Feng had no idea what his mystical nature was.


    The three of them appeared to be familiar with one another as they exchanged pleasantries.


    "Yu Guiying! Kugau! Thought I won''t see you two again."


    "Hehehe. You should know we don''t die easily, Barang. Hehehe."


    Said Yu Guiying as she firmly clasped arms with the half-dwarf, Barang. Her happiness couldn''t be suppressed as she continued laughing.


    "So good to see you again too."


    "Great to see you alive too, my friend."


    The demon, Kagau, uttered as he took his turn in clasping arms with Barang. He was nodding his head as he smiled broadly.


    "Knew you''ll surely make it. You truly have undying soul."


    He decided to maintain his silence until they would acknowledge his presence.


    Removing some items from her spatial storage, the human lady flicked her hand and a bamboo-padded stool appeared. She sat down and set down the items beside the drawn circle. Using one hand to grab some medicinal herbs from a little container beside her chair before dumping them in her mouth. She was closely examining the circle as the others joined her.


    "The square?"


    "Yes, Yu Guiying. You know with the square formation, we have the utmost chance."


    "Yes, I know that, but the square formation requires four of us. There''s no short way to it, unless we risk our lives."


    The demon, who was sitting on a rise on the floor, also observing the circle, quipped in his agreement.


    "That won''t be good, Barang. We could die in the process."


    "Wait... Wait. I understand your concerns. I know this too. Before, I wouldn''t have indulged in this, but now, I can."


    "And why is that?"


    "You failed to notice the fourth person when both of you arrived."


    "What?!"


    "Where?!"


    They stood up and looked around until their gazes fell on Ju Feng who had already moved to a far corner of the place.


    "Oh... Didn''t see you there, young one. My bad. Come closer."


    "Must have escaped my sight too, kid. I guess you are right to indulge big, Barang. Four we are, indeed."


    Agreed the demon as he turned his gaze towards the half-dwarf.


    "Though he''s extremely weak for such formation, we can actually make it work."


    "Yu Guiying, Kagau, meet Ju Feng."


    "As you already noticed, he''s a zhuji cultivator. Your expectation of him shouldn''t be too high."


    "Don''t worry, Barang. In our situation, I don''t think we can have too high expectation of anybody. Though, he''s extremely weak, I believe he can do."


    Yu Guiying waved the concerns away before focusing on Ju Feng.


    "Well kid, it doesn''t matter why you embarked on this journey... Why you want to see the oracle. Right now, you are here and you have to be ready. See the light of your vale? It''s faint. If you don''t leave this place, you''ll die. If you leave this place on your own, you''ll die. Be ready when we are."


    "Fate beckons, kid."


    Kagau beamed at Ju Feng before voicing more louder.


    "Audience with the oracle."


    The dwarf who was making some additions to the circle drawn on the floor, paused.


    "Patience, Kagau. Patience. You''ll have your audience with the oracle soon. We just need to survive the Valley of Retribution."


    "Yes, Kagau. Patience."


    Yu Guiying nudged the demon as she smiled brightly.


    "Hope you are not that eager to ask if you have a chance with me. You''ll be so disappointed Kagau."


    "Ah, my poor soul is fully broken and bleeding. I guess I will drown myself in it now. Goodbye everyone."


    Kagau removed a jar from his spatial storage and downed the content in gulps.


    "Finest nectar wine. Now, I''m reborn."


    "Hehehe."


    Everybody bust into laughter as they continued to watch the big demon. Ju Feng realized this was a true friendship these three entities had and a high level of closeness. He already knew this place was different to others he had been. He could easily die in here. They could be his only chance at survival and there was no way he would stay behind. With them, he would go.


    After making necessary adjustment to the circle, Barang finally achieved the best arraignment for the formation.


    "This is how we will arrange ourselves once we enter the valley. Then after the third bell, we move to this. When we reach the outskirts of the palace of the oracle, that''s when we will activate the Four Soul Diadem. Everything we have laboured for together, will go into use here. Let''s make good use of it."


    After going through the plan, they gave Ju Feng some medicinal pills. The pills would raise his strength, almost a level, for few hours. He would have the strength of almost a Jindan cultivator, albeit only for some hours. Now, his chance of survival had increased and he couldn''t contain his delight as he moved around.


    "This will be a death battle as we already know, my friends. Are we ready?"


    Uttered Barang with a grim face, receiving nods in confirmation.


    "To fate, we go."


    They all affirmed in response.


    "To fate, we go."


    ***


    Ju Feng''s soul, stepped out of the Heave-world and into his body n the snowy plain of the Aculum Divinis, before collapsing on the snow. The feel of the frosty air and the falling snowflakes, were both soul and body soothing. He had left his body behind in this snow while his soul had journeyed into a spirit world. How happy he was to be alive, at least for the moment. He pulled himself up and started to chew some spirit plants he could find in his spatial sac.


    The words of the oracle echoed in his mind as he headed towards the direction of the grey tree.


    "Ju Feng. Son of Ju Huan and Reena Amynthas. As far as death is concerned, YOU WILL CERTAINLY DIE!"


    He was only ten and just reached the Zhuji stage, yet, he already had a death utterance on his head.


    Ah, such a life.

 Chapter 54 - Farewell, The Forsaken

    As Ju Feng continued to walk towards the direction of the grey tree, his mind was occupied with his encounters in the Gloomvale. Oh, many were the times he could have died in that heavens forsaken place. More time than the previous two places combined.


    The Gloomvale was as dangerous as a place can get. He recalled their fights with the dread-beasts at the valley of retribution. He should have been dead many times over, but somehow, he had managed to survive them all. No small thanks to the three true nascent souls, surely. The organized battle formations they displayed were a sight to behold. And when he was starting to think that his luck could actually keep him away from death, he encountered the world oracle.


    His only intention was to find the Soul Banishing scroll which he didn''t even know why he would need such. But the words of the oracle turned everything on its head. She had told him true things about himself and the certainty of his future death. No matter the way taken, the outcome would be the same. That wasn''t even what was troubling his soul, it was the last words of the oracle. She had whispered to him in cryptic words. Possibilities of the ''hows'' of his death.


    He knew he would have to accept the fact that he would die, but could there be a possibility of...


    "Is that really you, child or my ageing sight is deceiving me?"


    The voice of the grey tree sounded as Ju Feng neared its location. He quickly snapped out of his troubled thoughts and refocused his mind. He had been lost in his own mind, not knowing when he even reached the vicinity of the tree. Seeing the grey tree, he remembered the words of the Soul-Carver.


    "You must be very careful, young one. You don''t want your presence to anger or annoy the Frost-Dreamer in any way. You could easily loose your life."


    Ju Feng quickly cupped his hand and bowed. Why wouldn''t he be careful in the propinquity of an entity like this. Frost-Dreamer, a Yakshasan god that pretended to be daimon tree. The more for him to extremely careful. He knew the Frost-Dreamer was already aware of his presence and knew exactly who he was the moment he appeared back in this place. He just had to maintain his countenance if he wanted to live.


    "Senior, I meet you well."


    "Titan''s torso! It is you! All good and well despite your gloomy face. I believe you can agree with me that treasure hunting is really good for you, young one. So can I say that I did you a good favour? That I''m a generous soul?"


    "You are indeed very generous, senior. I''m very grateful."


    Ju Feng responded while still bowing down. Generosity? Sure. But, the many times he could have died, how generous was that? But, could he even blame the Frost-Dreamer for all that? Maybe or maybe-not, but left for him, why would he decide to go into the realms of immortals. Was that not like seeking death? Why did he even exchanged his items in the first place? Surely, it must be the Frost-Dreamer.


    Then, he remembered some scenes from his encounters in the realms and sighed before smiling inwardly. Well, the adventures were not all doom and gloom. The good memories flooded his mind as he continued to muse over the past.


    "Don''t beat yourself, child. Though, I gave a nudge to your thoughts, you already had the d.e.s.i.r.es to go on adventure. That was acceptable within the immortal rules of dealing with mortals. Since I couldn''t force you to go to the places you went, I gently stoked your thoughts. Your going was on you, so, wipe the gloom of your face and cheer up. True, I''m bound by rules in this place, but make no mistake child, I can easily kill you. I just have to find a reason to blame it on and there are many I can think of. But as far as you are concerned, with me, you are good. Come and have a sit beside me."


    "Yes, senior."


    "Child! No experience is a waste. I surmised you''ve had an encounter with the oracle. It''s yours to keep, not mine. Words of advice, child. Take both the good and bad things from your experience, and make good use of them. They could save your life. Right, enough with yours. Can I predicate you are with my scroll?"


    "Yes senior. I do have it."


    Ju Feng reached the grey tree''s side and sat down on the mould beside it. He reached into his spatial sac and produced the Scroll of Sentience, showing it to the tree. The scroll floated to the space before the tree and spread itself. Their was a silence as the scroll continued to hover before the tree. After some long minutes, the scroll folded up and entered the opened space on the trunk of the tree.


    The air started to get heavier as the energy began to roil strongly. The energy contrasted before exploding lightly outwards. An elderly man wearing a snow white robe with long flowing white hair and grave icy eyes, emerged from the centre of the exploding energy. The aura and icy energy coming from the man was that of a god, no doubt about that.


    Despite the slight explosion, Ju Feng, who was sitting down, was knocked scrambling several feet away. He quickly recovered himself but remained on his knees as he cautiously and deeply bowed before the elderly man.


    The Frost-Dreamer.


    A Yakshasan god. The fourth member of the dangerous circle of gods. The powers that made a number of damages on the heavenly plane. From the words of the Soul-Carver, the Frost-Dreamer was definitely an exceedingly powerful figure among them. He was a clear and present danger.


    "Long last. Sentients we evolve. So it begins."


    The Yakshasan god gave a wry smile as he looked at Ju Feng''s alarmed face.


    "Stand up, young one. Great service you rendered, you need not worry. As I said before, if I wanted you dead, you''ll be dead already. And yes, as you can see, the tree was an illusion. But, since you''ve met the others, there''s no longer need for me to maintain the illusion. By the way, how are they doing? My friends."


    "Senior, the last time I saw them, they were all doing wonderfully well, I suppose."


    "Yes, I know. I already saw their marks on you. Just wanted to ask you."


    Ju Feng suddenly felt a compulsion on his soul as he was replying the Yakshasan god. His hands searched his spatial sac and produced one Arthurian cube of silver and a runic branch of redwood tree. He offered them to the Yakshasan god as he bowed low.


    "Senior, if it''s well with you, Can I make a demand."


    "A demand? As long as I can afford it, why not?"


    "Senior, I would like to invoke the Divinis Ordis."


    The moment he said it, Ju Feng knew he could be in dire trouble. This was not his making, definitely the work of the Soul-Carver. Ju Feng was certain of that. He recollected that upon seeing him in the Gloomvale, the Soul-Carver had told him he had made an unfair agreement coming there. He had told Ju Feng he would do him a little favour when next he would see the Frost-Dreamer. Ju Feng never liked this idea that could get him killed but the Soul-Carver had dismissed it as nothing. Since an Order between immortals must be just and fair, even more so was an Order between an immortal and a mortal. As long as he was careful not to be annoying, he would be fine.


    "The Divine Order? Why is that? Is it that I didn''t treat you right, child?"


    "No, senior. You treated me well. This little one was only thinking maybe you can render a favour regarding the heaven''s trade."


    "Hm, I see. Favour of the equal ground. What is given, what is taken. "


    "If I treated you fairly, why should I follow such rule with you then?"


    "Senior, maybe to show I''m just a mortal beneath your feet?"


    "Hehehe. Smart words you speak but they can also get you killed, child. Hehehe."


    The Frost-Dreamer laughed gently as he gave a slight shake of his head.


    "Though, I wasn''t expecting you back so soon, if at all, it''s good to see you''ve made such progress in a short time. Nonetheless, I could have killed you, you know. But I''ve seen the effect of the others on you. They must have liked your person. Strange."


    He turned towards the direction of Ju Feng and asked.


    "Do you believe in fate, young one?"


    "I do, senior."


    The elderly god gave a soft sigh before snapping his fingers. The illusion covering the whole place appeared to have disappeared. The falling snowflakes and the frost, seemed to have vanished too. There were portals everywhere, hundreds of them. Portals of different nature, reeling with powerful energies. The amount of energy in this place was scary.


    "Uh!"


    "Now that you can see through the illusion, seeing this place for the first time can be intimidating for any mortal, I know."


    The Yakshasan god swiped his hand around, gently.


    "This place is truly known as Aculum Divinis which means, Time Divinity. This conjecture was an artefact that belonged to the Jade emperor. It was a divine artefact for minor spacetime teleportation. Teleportation to and from specific places on the three planes of mortal, heavenly and nether. As time passes, the Jade emperor had friends who are spacetime artists, to work on this place. Celestials and gods alike. Using different rare techniques, portals to realms, dominions, domains and hidden places, were added. The energies and elements expended during the rework of this place, changed this place drastically. It became a conjecture of portals. Where we are right now, is the heart of the conjecture. The portals in this place are only used by true immortals. Ascendants, hegemons, gods and celestials. Mortals or evanesce immortals, use the outer conjecture. The outer conjecture was the one that leads to places where mortals reap various rewards. Unlike this place."


    With a nod of his head, the god observed Ju Feng, keenly.


    "You are now getting the sense of it. Yes, you shouldn''t be here in the first place, child. With the illusion uncovered, you can see where you entered from. It''s a broken gateway, never been used since I''ve been the guardian of this place. Hegemons and ascendants from the mortal plane, use the gateway on the opposite side. When I saw you arriving, I started asking myself different questions. Then I realized it must be fate."


    The Yakshasan god tilted his eyes as he reminisce in the past. After a long pause, he directed his gaze to the far distant.


    "You see. To enter the house of riddles for the scroll of sentience, would have killed someone like myself. The scroll was the missing piece in the four of us. I have asked a number of ascendants and gods to help out but they either gave up or met bad fate. The Karmic string in the house of riddles was a divine threat. No possible way for me. As I was contemplating of what could be, there you were. Out of the thin air. A mortal cultivator of the Zhuji level with a glowing halo of Karmic virtues. Immediately, I came to the realization of your importance. There were no treasures here as you can see. But for you to be of service, I gave you personal destinations of few items that were no part of any conjecture rewards. And with a little cajoling, here we are with the Scroll. Agreed, you could have died in there but your journey coming here, was fate. Fate brought you here, child. Whatever you get from your adventure, I believe, is the reason why you came. Me making use of the opportunity? Call it what you may, we are who we are. Now, back to the present issue."


    Said the Yakshasan god as he swirled around, facing Ju Feng.


    "Divinis Ordis you invoked, Divinis Ordis you get. Three you gave me before and one you brought me now. Only of the three that were yours can you ask. So, what would it be?"


    "Senior, this humble one ask for the Heavenly Solitude spirit fruit."


    "Heavens tears. I was hoping of getting to keep that one. You have no idea what it is, do you? Assuming you said this moment ago, I could have killed you. But now, I see why others liked you. Strange isn''t it? Yes, existence can be strange sometimes. Anyway, here is the fruit."


    The Frost-Dreamer flicked his fingers, sending the fruit towards Ju Feng.


    "I hope you have your means of leaving this place, child. Don''t tempt me by lingering around. I will close my eyes to meditate now, by the time I open them, I don''t expect to see you. Fate brought you here but don''t tempt it child."


    Ju Feng fell on his knees and bowed deeply.


    "Thank you senior. Thank you. I won''t forget your kindness."


    "En."


    The moment the Yakshasan god closed his eyes, Ju Feng looked around the place once more. Aculum Divinis. He slowly uttered the safe word and was immediately transported to the safe place. Some of the members of his group were already there, waiting.


    "Hello, Ju Feng!"


    "Hey, Ju Feng."


    "You are back. How was your time in there?"


    "You must have been enjoying yourself like Da Xia, for you to stay longer."


    The sight of Chenric, Da Xia, Ying Jie and elder Wang Xiu, was a soothing relief to Ju Feng. Oh, how much he missed them. Instead of replying, he hugged them one by one to strange looks in return.


    Though elder Wang Xiu was a little reserved of the hugging reunion, she allowed with utmost curiosity.


    "Ju Feng, you were only gone for few minutes. Few minutes."


    "I''ve been gone for eternity, elder Wang Xiu. Been gone for eternity."


    They conversed among themselves as they await Reena. After another minute, she finally came out.


    Dargehk looked at them all with unconcerned and emotionless eyes.


    "This will be the last time on the mortal plane. Farewell to you all."


    After a brief conversation with the two a.d.u.l.ts, the giant residuum made some hand seals and a massive portal was opened under an archway. They all returned their farewell and entered the portal. They emerged on a clearing, a few kilometres from the Last-Sword premises.


    "And from adventurer, we returned."


    Elder Wang Xiu beamed from the sight of a familiar terrain.

 Chapter 55 - Dilemma Of A Demigod [I]

    Lord Gaius was moving like lighthing, as he retraced the direction of the voice-cryer back to the last-possible position of Reena. He hadn''t been at home since the night before. He had left for a self-attuned journey inside an immortal cave near the border of Ankhora continent. He was returning from the journey when he discovered the voice-cryer sent by Reena. She must have been trying to get in touch with her, but since she couldn''t, she had decided to send the voice-cryer.


    Voice-cryers.


    Messages of high importance and urgency, sent through the mind force. They were only sent when mind-voice connection couldn''t be made with the entity intended. No immediate connection was needed to send a voice-cryer but their must be a previous connection between the sender and the receiver. The mind-force containing the message, would travel through spacetjme until it reached the receiver. Provided that it wasn''t intercepted by a more powerful force.


    Depending on the time and distance, these cryers were extremely dificult to make and highly tasking. The more powerful the sender, the more difficult and tasking the voice-cryer. The reason voice-cryers were not used frequently.


    Lord Gaius continued to move at maximum speed as his mind was anxiously occupied. This particular voice-cryer, was sent to him by Reena. It was Reena we were talking about here. Reena, the nascent soul demigod. Who wouldn''t like her? A very beautiful soul in every possible ways. Moreover, she was the second nascent soul of their village. And as nascent souls, they were bound to help one another in their time of needs, as long as it was justified.


    The message he recieved was short.


    ''Trouble. Xue-Ku.''


    A Xue Ku? That was justified.


    With a deadly grim face, he intensified his flight. Retracing the direction of the voice cryer, he was led into the JinJin village. From there, he follwed the after-sense of Reena''s divine aura into the Ivory-yonder, using his spiritual sight. Since he already had a mind connection with Reena before, it was easier for him to trace her after-sense aura. As soon as he entered the plain, he saw a dense blood aura with traces of dark blood essence, surrounding a cultivator in a red armor, walking towards the direction of closed gates. The same direction of the after-sense of Reena''s divine aura.


    It didn''t matter if he was the same Xue Ku that Reena was talking about or not. A Xue Ku was a rogue blood cultivator. A rogue blood cultivator, killed innocent mortals and immortals alike. As simple as that.


    Descending to the ground in full force, lord Gaius raised his massive war hammer and hit the ground with great force.


    The Raging Abyss.


    A powerful terran cyclone that would grind anything caught inbetween, unless the opponent was more powerful. This was a move that lord Gaius, recently learned from lord Primus. Oh, how wonderful to use it against such a rogue cultivator, even if he wasn''t the one Reena was talking about.


    "Uh?"


    Sensing an impending martial arts move, Lang Hai stopped and quickly created a force-field around himself. As the tremor passed through the ground and headed his way, he floated into mid-air and retreated backwards. The terran abyssal energy dispersed with great force, out of the ground, between the blood cultivator and the forsaken gates.


    "Argh!"


    He twirled around with a face full of grievous anger. Who or what, could be the source of such a display? He cast a quick backward glance at the Raging Abyss that was still in effect, before focusing on the streak of light, blurring towards his position. Why did everyone like interfering in his dealings? He squinted his eyes as he examined the new entity before him. An immortal of the middle-stage nascent soul. Even if he was sent by the gods, he should know better than to confront him.


    "Why?!"


    With his eyes on Lang Hai, Gaius digested the details of the body-infused red armor that Land Hai was wearing. A chaotic blood armor? Could it be? An ascendant? Gaius knew this was trouble, definitely more than his power level. But, he would just act as if he was unaffected.


    "You are a Xue Ku."


    "Another righteous defender. I know I''m a Xue Ku! So what?!"


    "Only Xue Wu is permitted under the laws of this land."


    "Laws of this lands?! I follow no mortal law. If they are not from the heavenly gathering of the gods or the council of the celestials, they are not for me."


    "Easy way to power, using innocent lives. Not abiding by the laws. Detestable."


    "Think what you may. We are not for you to judge, creation will decide that when we face the sisters. And that, is not in any of my plans. Immortality is what we all seek. Isn''t that what you also seek, fellow immortal?"


    Lang Hai stared dangerously at Gaius, as if daring him to contradict. When he didn''t receive any answer, he continued.


    "Life is what it is, no space or time for regrets. Now I employ you, to go your own way while I go on mine. We can still maintain our peace on this day."


    "And if I say ''no''?"


    "Then, it can end up a sad tale."


    Lord Gaius continued to observe Lang Hai, as he thought about his next step. The powerful aura emanating from the blod cultivator, was an indication of his cultivation''s level as a late-stage nascent soul. But in the world of combat, lord Gaius knew that it depended on both the nature of the martial and mystical arts techniques, and the cultivation level. If the rogue blood cultivator was an ascendant as he thought, then he could have a better technique than him, putting him in mortal danger.


    Lang Hai glanced back just as the gates of the Forsaken Palace disappeared from view.


    "Argh!"


    This time, his anger was echoed by his mighty divine eagle that was circling overhead. Suddenly, his chaotic blood armor gave a blast of flaming blood before lighting up. He was slowly materialising his glaive, when a lady''s voice sounded as she descended from the cloud.


    "Why are you two fighting? You don''t want to do that."


    She was dressed in a pristine white robe, lined at the helm with glistering gold threads.


    "Have you two fogotten the rules of the Forsaken palace? Better you settle your disputes another time."


    Seconds later, other nascent soul cultivators started to arrive from different angles.


    With his chaotic blood armor rescinded, Lang Hai looked at Gaius with deadly pale eyes before shaking his head. He was well aware of the rules of the vicinity of the forsaken palace. Who would, in their right mind, offend the Jade emperor. Still staring at Gaius, he sent a mindvoice across.


    "There will be another day."


    He looked at the gathering nascent souls before streaking off into the sky.


    After a moment, Gaius was standing on a small hill, overseeing the plains of Ivory-Yonder. That was so close to a battle. He later realized that he wouldn''t fare well against the blood cultivator. And the death-gaze, he still remembered the looks on the face of the rogue blood cultivator before he left. That was the look of a deadly predator. He would have to be on guard, always, to protect himself from such a dangerous cultivator.


    Snapping out of his troubled thoughts, his mind wandered back to the present.


    Ah. The plains of Ivory-yonder. One of the places that used to be the homes of the ancient ivory magical beasts. The mighty white Mastodons and the powerful golden saber-toothed tigers. Beasts with immense strength to rival that of some land divine beasts. Of them, there was even an ancient mythos. That these beasts with ivory tusk, could only be found in places of abundant terran energy. This was the reason for their incredible body strength. A pity it was now a shadow of its former self.


    But, who could''ve known that an entrance of the Jade emperor''s forsaken palace, would be here. Why here? Though, he could sense traces of heavenly spiritual energy but not that much for any significant cultivation. Gaius remembered that the after-sense of Reena''s aura had indicated she had entered the forsaken palace. The mythical palace of fortune. How he wished for it to be opened again now. He looked around, at the many nascent souls waiting for the gates to appear and open for them.


    They were still waiting, when Gaius felt a faint familiar connection. Instantly, he sent out his mind voice.


    "Lady Reena?"


    "Yes it''s me, lord Gaius."


    Quickly, he disappeared in the direction of the connection. Forsaken palace could wait, if it was still there. He would have to find Reena, to see if she was alright.


    Not long after, he found Reena standing under a mighty oak tree.


    "Lady Reena! Joyful heavens, you are alright."


    "Indeed, lord Gaius. Joyful heavens."


    "I received your message as soon as I returned from my journey of self-enlightenment and came as quickly as possible. I guess it wasn''t quick enough. I only saw traces of your divine aura, entering the forsaken palace."


    "I came across the forsaken palace by chance. I was running from the blood cultivator while tracing the direction of my son and his friends."


    "I had an encounter with one, possibly the same one. Blood aura and chaotic blood armor."


    "Yes, he''s the one. His name is Lang Hai. An ascendant with great powers and techniques. You should be more careful of him in the future. He''s much more powerful than you think."


    "I will do that. By the way, what are they doing this faraway from their sect? I mean your son and others."


    "It''s their luminary week, so they decided to go on an adventure. There was an elder with them also."


    "Good enough. Glad you are safe and sound. I will probably join the other nascent souls at the Ivory-Yonder to wait for the next gate opening, lafy Reena."


    "No need to worry yourself, lord Gaius. The entrance is gone. It''s no more."


    "Ver well then. Any thing you still want to take care of, lady Reena?"


    "No, lord Gaius. We are done here. I give my thanks, for coming."


    "En. Nothing to it, lady Reena."


    On their way back to the Skyspring village, Reena''s mind wandered back to the forsake palace. At the least, she would be needing the help of lord Gaius, soon. Lord Primus would have been the obvious choice but he already left on a sojourn. Order of the gathering of the gods and would take years for him to return at the least. Or, Urdith, the other titan on the Yamachi continent, if she would be available. Reena decided she would wait to see the best way to go about it when it would be the time. Maybe, lord Primus would have returned by then.


    She hoped it wouldn''t be a sorrowful taking.


    ***


    Euanthe was pacing restlessly, as she casted frequent glances at Aodh who was standing with his sight set on the far distance. A look of anxiety and apprehension on their faces as they contemplated the situation on hand.


    It''s been over half a-day since they lost the contact with Reena. Reena always maintained her contact with her parents anytime she''s outside, though she never went outside the Ankhora continent. Nothing on the other continent to warrant a voyage from her, away from her family. At the least, she would inform them of this if she planned on taking one. And they knew as a true demigod of the nascent soul, Reena''s mind connection, could cover the whole of Ankhora continent if stretched. Thus, the reason for the concern of the sudden disconnectionin of their minds contact with her.


    What could possibly have caused the disconnection?


    Deep in thoughts, Aodh stroke his beard.


    "It seems strange. Not like Reena."


    "A demigod like our daughter wouldn''t have lost connection like that."


    Said Euanthe, still pacing up and down.


    "The distance was within her range, unless she''s gone to another continent."


    "Would she do that without informing us?"


    "I don''t think so. Something seems off. I can feel it."


    "What do you think of it?"


    "I don''t know what to think of it,


    As Aodh and Euanthe continued to conversed outside their cave with worried expressions, their connection to Reena was restored. They couldn''t contain their joy as they shouted in chorus.


    "Reena!"

 Chapter 56 - Dilemma Of A Demigod [II]

    As the sun began to set at the horizon, spreading its largess into a grateful sky, rich hues of red blended with oranges, purples and crimsons. They turned the sky into a wonder of a creation that cast an eerie beauty on the landscape .


    Reena stared at the beautiful sky, captured in its serenity. This was no time to reminisce about the events of the past or think about the future. This was a moment in time for a soul to experience the harmonious peace of the universe. Lost in the wonder of the sky, she closed her eyes as the serene feeling encased her nascent soul. But immediately, her closed eyes flew wide open. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but closed it, quietly. The moment was gone but not before Reena could grasp a thought. Though, it was for a fraction of second, she laughed softly.


    ''Hehehe.''


    Reena was still laughing while staring at the sky, when she heard her mother''s voice to her to her right.


    "Beautiful, isn''t it?"


    Still smiling herself, Reena turned to the sight of her mother''s own beautiful smile. She nodded in answer before turning her gaze towards the sky as her mother continued.


    "The true joy of a sunset is something we no longer understand. Only the mind of the discerning ones, when there were no lights, could understand the true joy of a sunset."


    "True words, Euanthe. True words."


    "Sunsets and sunrises are the moments of transitions. Though they are beautiful to behold, they carry with them hidden secrets, obscured information and aspects of the universal truth. When a soul discerns any of these, it attains some form of enlightenment. This is a step closer to being one with the universe. A complete oneness with the universe brings the true immortality."


    Lowering his gaze from the sky, he watched his wife and daughter for a time before letting out a long breath of sadness.


    "This discernment and insights are the most difficult parts of a cultivator''s life. The reason why many cultivators focused on immortality instead. I do not blame them. Immortality without anyone killing you, is good enough for any cultivator. And as you know, Reena, immortality starts from the nascent soul. That is why your mother and I, are also striving towards forming our nascent souls."


    "True, and we are on the right path. The crystallines have been a great help to us since we came to this cave. I''m already a middle-stage golden core while your father is a late-stage golden core. Surely, we are on the right path."


    Reaching where his wife and daughter were standing, he put a hand over Reena''s shoulder while holding Euanthe with the other.


    "Indeed, we are. But we must always keep this in mind, immortality doesn''t come into account when facing a more powerful entity. Even a celestial, can easily go into reincarnation."


    "Yes, we know. Before any combat, always know your way out. If there''s none, you run."


    Said Reena, resting her head on her father''s shoulder. Her son could have been here too, enjoying this with them, but he had now gone back to his sect. Let him continued to learn, knowledge was too important to ignore anyway. Moreover, the sect premises was more safer for him for now, especially when uncle Primus wasn''t around. Her mind would be peaceful if she should undergo the taking, knowing her son would be protected in the face of any attack, as much as possible.


    Her thoughts were disrupted by the voice of her father.


    "Not really running, Reena. It''s simply ''staying alive''. Staying alive to enjoy the beauty of nature like this."


    They continued to enjoy the scenery, until Euanthe brought them back to reality.


    "We should go inside now, before the food looses its aroma."


    "The smell of the food can''t even let me concentrate on the beauty of the sky."


    Bem.o.a.n.e.d Reena jokingly, as they all laughed while walking back into the cave.


    She had a perfect family. Loving parents and a loving son. Her family was once bigger than this. She used to have a loving husband too. Ju Huan. Though not from their clan, he had been a really good husband. Until, he died during the attack of the antramental demons on their village.


    Could it?


    Not now. She took her mind of it as she looked at her parents before turning to the contents on the table.


    Sitting on the table, was a large pot of steaming mountain fowl meat. One of the ocassional change in meat since the discovery of the pond turtles. Accompanying it, were one smalk container of goat milk and two large containers of grubs and lily tubers layered with wasp honey. The aroma of the food, filled the whole interior of the knoll. This was due to a new cooking recipe that Euanthe bought from a food merchant, a week before.


    As she sat down at the table, taking her time to relish the aroma of the food, Reena couldn''t help but be appreciative outwardly.


    "Hmmmm, smells soooo good."


    "I agreed with you, Reena. Ever since your mother brought home that recipe, I often smell her food in my dreams."


    "Hehehe."


    The two of them bust into soft laughter as Euanthe smilingly shook her head.


    "Are you two going to eat or you''ll just continue smelling the food?"


    "We wil, mother. The aroma of a good food must be properly appreciated, inorder to prepare the body and soul for the incoming food."


    Answered Reena, to more laughter from her father.


    Since her mother brought back the cooking recipe from the market, she couldn''t have enough of her mother''s cooking. Where in titan''s torso, did the recipe even came from? Well, no matter where, it was really a divine blessing.


    Reena took a bite of the fowl meat and exclaimed with delight.


    "Hm,hm,hm. Soo delicious."


    She closed her eyes as she savoured the taste of the food. She couldn''t believe she had only been gone for around twelve hours in Lorra''s time. But due to the Forsaken Palace, she knew she had missed several days of her mother''s cooking. Several days! How could that be? There was no doubt in her mind that she had spent several days in the palace.


    But, after remembering the palace being a divine spacetime artefact that had been reworked over the years by many including the celestials, she sighed inwardly.


    ''The extreme power of Spacetime.''


    They continued to eat as they relished the moment together. After they''ve had their fill of the food and had the rest put away, Reena called the attention of her parents.


    "Father, mother, there''s something I want to show you."


    Reena sat down at the table and her parents followed suit. She reached into her spatial sac and retrieved the Flame Essence spirit fruit. She placed at the center of the table as she glanced towards her parents.


    "A spirit fruit?"


    Aodh and Euanthe stared curiously at the red fruit. They could sense the high energy coming from the red fruit. As farmers, they knew the differences among the fruits. Back in their home village, White-fountain village on the Xuanpu continent, they were, once, farming medicinal fruits. The low-grade Red-Water medicinal fruits, used to nourish the blood''s life-force. And this, was nothing compared to the lowest-grade Spirit-Fruits.


    "Yes. It''s the Flame-Essence spirit fruit."


    "I''ve never seen one with this high energy before."


    "Me neither."


    Spirit fruits were much more rarer, expensive and consomed more significant time and effort than medicinal fruits. Medicinal fruits could take between five and twenty years to be ready while spirit fruits could take hundreds of million of years to ripe. But one thing about the two types of fruits was that, each type was grouped according to their gradings. With this high energy coming from the fruit, it would be nothing short of a high-grade spirit fruit.


    "I believe it''s because of its pure essence of fire."


    The two continued to stare in abject shock at the red fruit. This was no common fruit that could be found easily on the mortal plain. Euanthe, recollecting herself, turned to her daughter in utter surprise.


    "How did you come across this, Reena?"


    "It was only by chance."


    Reena recapped what happened to them. From the moment she sensed Ju Feng to the moment she picked the fruit in the garden of the Jade emperor''s forsaken palace. Everything he relayed to them including what happened inside the spacetime palace, except a tiny little part.


    "Since I''m now a peak-stage nascent soul, I have no need for the fruit. So, I want the two of you to have it."


    Recollecting the words of the fairy as she left the forsaken palace, Reena knew she couldn''t afford to advance any further if she wanted to avoid early tribulations. It was true that demigods didn''t undergo heavenly tribulations, but that was only true for demigods born on the Luminence Dimensional plane. But for Reena, she was born on the mortal plane. Her life essence was connected to the mortal plane until she attain ascension to the heavenly plane.


    "Is that really necessary, Reena?"


    "I mean, we can make do with a spirit fruit but you need it more than us."


    "Don''t worry about it, mother, father. As I said earlier, I no longer have use for it. Please, accept it from me."


    After staring at Reena for a moment, Aodh nodded his head in agreement.


    "If it''s as you said, then we accept. We cannot thank you enough, Reena."


    "It''s alright, father. It''s only a spirit fruit."


    Euanthe, lightly squeezed Reena''s hand as she looked at her.


    "Thank you."


    "Nothing to it, mother. It''s the least I can do."


    After much hesitation, her parents finally divided the spirit fruit into two, each taking a half. In great anticipation, they ate their shares of the fruit before proceeding towards the pond area. They sat down in lotus position and started meditating, using the Soul-Pith technique which was a mystical technique. Mystical techniques focused on the elements inside the Chi essence. The Flame-Essence fruit was a fire element fruit, hence, they had to use the Soul-Pith technique instead of the Astral-Primal technique.


    The importance of mystical elements couldn''t be emphasized enough. They had direct connection to the soul of a cultivator through the Chi essence. The nature and appearance of the nascent soul would reflect the mystical elements of the cultivator. The more a cultivator advances in the mystical arts, the more conditioned the soul would become for cultivation.


    As they continued to meditate, they started to feel the power of the fruit''s energy growing stronger in their core. Then, all of a sudden, a red flaming essence materialized around Aodh. The essence continued to get denser and thicker until it finally encased Aodh in a cocoon. Few minutes later, Euanthe too was covered in a cocoon of flaming essence.


    Reena, who was sitting on the knoll-top, looking at her parents, smiled widely at their transformations. This would make their mystical arts much more stronger than before. Their ancestral mystical art was the Beast-Inferno technique. Reena, remembering her own nascent soul creation of a tall figure cladded in feathered armor with large flaming phoenix wings, could only wait in anticipation. They wouldn''t form their nascent souls this day, they would have to advance to the nascent soul stage first. Their conditioned souls would make that easier.


    However...


    She frowned at the thought of their impending tribulations inorder for them to reach the nascent soul immortality. For now, they would have to take their cultivation slowly until they are fully prepared for the heavenly tribulations.


    "They would be ready."


    Reena spoke out softly into the dark night, nodding her head. She was about to lowered her head when she saw the flaming essence converged on her father before dispersing outwardly.


    Her father floated into the midair before executing the Heavenly Dragon Stance move of his Dragon-Inferno technique. A bit surprised, Reena was still staring at the manifested move when her mother''s cocoon of flaming essence was dispersed too. Reena''s sight was grazed by powerful energy coming from the manifested flaming giant eagle claws.


    Titan''s torso!

 Chapter 57 - Dilemma Of A Demigod [III]

    Filled with joy from the events of the evening, Reena lay In bed as she softly hummed to herself. Soon, her parents would become immortals when they formed their nascent soul. She wouldn''t have to worry much about their eternal being anymore. As long as they endeavor to stay out of trouble and harm''s way, they would be able to live for eternity.


    Immortality!


    Deep in thoughts, Reena let out a soft breath as her mind wandered back to the proceedings of the forsaken palace. The godly palace she came upon by pure luck due to her keeping a reasonable awareness on her child''s whereabouts. His safety was of utmost importance to her. This decision had been proven right. Or else, how could she have been there for him and the rest, when they were in difficulties. On that, it was a right decision.


    It was through this way, that she encountered the forsaken palace.


    Ah! The forsaken palace. She closed her eyes as she recollected the events from them leaving the Luduans. With one leg half-way in, she heard the voice of the giant residuum, Darghek.


    "Remember, this palace is a spacetime. You will find yourself in different places and if you find yourself in difficult positions, simply exit. May fortune smile on you."


    As her right foot landed inside the palace, cold wind rushed to meet her face. The wind was, mildly, plucking at her hair as she stepped into the open valley. Her light yellow robe, made from an ember spider''s silk and embedded with the lower-grade defensive runes, danced to the rhythm of the cold air.


    Quickly adjusting to her surroundings, she slowly looked around, in detail examination of the place.


    The place was a small valley yet it felt large to Reena. The medium-sized path she was standing on, led to an old-looking cave at the other end. Even though she didn''t feel herself at any risk, she could sense the valley''s air had traces of immortal elements.


    Suddenly, she had the feeling of being vividly alive and anxious. It was as if her immortal soul was being weighted on a divine scale.


    "Immortal transient."


    A moment in immortality. Reena thought to herself as she lowered her head and indulged herself in the feelings. Briefly, she had the moment of seeing herself through the eyes of the universe.


    "All souls can be immortal but not all souls can be divine."


    Reena raised her head as she continued to stand in place, staring at the old cave. Though she was a nascent soul and a demigod for what it meant, she knew a place like this valley, could only be a true immortal place. Should she turn back now or go ahead? Coming to the conclusion of the significance of a place like this, she walked towards the cave. What harm was there to see what was on the other side of the cave? Especially, when there was a certain name she could call to take her to safety.


    "Welcome to Suorang!"


    A chiming voice sounded out from all directions, stopping Reena on her track. The echo of the voice continued over the cacophony of the valley, creating a vibrating world of sounds. In a flash, Reena looked around but couldn''t find the location of the voice, only a gathering energy field. From the field, emerged a four-feet tall entity with four gossamer wings, hovering in the air.


    A Saladar fairy.


    Fairies! Extremely powerful entities of the Starstride dimensional plane. Their powerful immortal nature was due to the fact they were born as innate bloodline entities like the divine beasts and with a golden core. That was the reason why they were directly used by the celestials to carry out deeds and errands.


    "That was a loud voice, right? Yes, I know. I had to put some effect on it to sound like that. It''s first-time effect is impressive. You should have seen your face. Hehe."


    "Al-right, now back to you, Who are you, and why are you here?"


    Just as Reena was about to reply, she was quickly and swiftly cut off.


    "Just joking with you. I know who you are, Asura. And, I knowvwhy you are here. A demigod looking for her share of the legacy of the Silent-Seeker. I know that too well but don''t get me wrong, that''s fine by me and by you too, I guess. If not, you wouldn''t be here. Right?"


    The fairy stared at Reena in expected confirmation of his words. After recieving a shrug from Reena which he took as an agreement, he continued.


    "Very well then. Kindly follow me, demigod."


    The Saladar fairy made some hand seals before ceading Reena into the immortal cave. The sight of the interior made Reena smiled in surprise. The inside of the cave reminded her a little bit of their own cave-house. It was a cave, no doubt, but the inside was an open space that led to two massive stone doors. The place could have passed for a plain if not for a mildly glowing pond to the right of the cave and a designed area to the left.


    "I welcome you to Suorang, Asura. This was the immortal cave of the highcelestial Silent-Seeker. He left behind many treasures for worthy souls. Most of his treasures had been claimed over the years but some still remain. Which one are you here for, Asura? Are you here for his martial arts legacy?"


    With gleaming eyes, the Saladar fairy asked Reena in anticipation.


    "Yes."


    "The Symphony of the Soaring Sky? At last, after many years, a demigod is here to claim the martial legacy. If only you could see how happy I am for you, Asura. But there''a little problem, Asura. This legacy is behind those doors. All you have to do, is just to pass through those doors to the other side. If you don''t mind this, then you need not worry much."


    The fairy spread his hands around as he gave a nod to Reena.


    "As you can see, this is a spacious area. You can replenish your lost energy and quickly recuperate here, if there''s need for it. You have the energy pool to the right and training area to the left. It''s possible you might not need them, though I doubt that. But if you need them, as I know you will, You can make use of them as much as you want."


    "What is this about, fairy?"


    "High treasures come with some obstacles. This one is no difference. You see, for you to get to the legacy yo seek, you have to face a little obstacle. Don''t worry, it''s just a little one. But if you try to pass and you manage to, you can come back here to replenish yourself in the energy pool and then do some practise, if you want. No need, if you don''t want."


    He waited as he keenly observed Reena.


    "Or rather, you can just go back and leave this place behind you. No harm done."


    After waiting for couple of seconds and no response from Reena who had her eyes fixed on the doors with grim determination, the fairy nodded his head.


    "I see you have made up your mind. Proceed when you are ready. And please, try not to die in there. I''ve had enough of demigods who thought they could make it in fastlight to the other side but ended up in Radar''s light. You will have a fixed time to try your luck, Asura. When the time runs out, you will have to leave this place. There will be three warnings that your time is running out, if you are inside, you should leave immediately. If not, you will certainly die."


    Though the energy were not posing any known threat to her, she could feel its intense power. They had to be inscribed and embedded with an heavenly grade rune-maker, at the least.


    Inside the doors of the Saurang cave, Reena found a wide path in front of her. They led to an opening at the other end. That must be the exit out of this place.


    To her instict, everything seemed too quiet and too peaceful. Using her divine sight, Reena could see traces of powerful essence but couldn''t detect what was causing them and why. She didn''t wait for long before she had her answers. There was a shimmer of energy and entities started to manifest on the two sides of the path.


    Invisibility array. Had to be heavenly grade too. She should have thought about that possibility. Her attention was quickly drawn back to the present. She couldn''t afford to be lost in focus in a place like this with this entities.


    Heavily built mortal-like entities with arms and legs that resembled oak trees. With their pebbly dark skin, wide mouths with sharp pointed teeth. Large and dark unblinking flat eyes, showing no emotions. Their large bodies were covered by big throbbing veins, sparsely covered by obsidian armor plates.


    Dreads.


    Just like the demigods, the revenants and many other dimensional entities, the dreads were also located on a dimensional plane. The Dark Sumara dimensional plane.


    Naturally, they were more powerful than mortals and some immortals. They were ones of the most powerful entities on any dimensional plane.


    And these were not just dreads, these were the mutated dreads. Without their mutation, dreads were already powerful immortals. Adding mutation to that, increased their power level beyond their natural limits without ascension.


    And there were tens of them standing there, lining the path. Reena could feel the cold stares and the twisted divine auras coming from the dreads. A demigod she might be, but she also knew the indications of true forces when she saw one. And these dreads? They were true forces. With the look of things, she would have to pass through them to get to the other end.


    How would she do that?


    She knew she couldn''t defeat even one at this level of her stage, talkless of a double figure. Alright, she would have to rely on her divine evasion to get to the other side or to flee.


    "If you are ready Asura, you may step out of the array and proceed towards the cave. Remember, you have limited time. You can come back outside and prepare yourself again if you need to."


    Few minutes after entering, Reena returned to the outside in a rush. Looking very uncomfortable, she had come to realize that the dreads are more powerful than she thought. True, she had faced the godly golems at the valley of the gods, but these ones, they were totally different. These were deadly opponents who were ready to cut her into little pieces. Unlike the golems, they were not reducing their strength rather, they were happy to get rid of her as quickly as possible.


    She had tried to use her phoenix inferno mystical arts but was not even effective against one dread. She had also used the divine evasion but realized that they were as fast as she was. There was no way she could face them in martial or mystical arts, she would have to outrun them. The only possible way to stsy alive.


    Where was the fairy, anyway?


    Quickly checking her sorroundings, Reena couldn''t locate the whereabouts of the fairy. If he was here, maybe he could tell which way to go. Heaven''s forsaken Salader. Reena decided to replenish herself from the energy pool before trying again.


    Every day, Reena would attempt the the dreads path and would come back to the pool to replenish herself. Though, she noticed the water of the energy pool was fast depleting, she continued making use of it.


    After few hours, Reena began to feel the roiling of the energy in her soul. Deep into her own soul, Reena could feel her soul being covered by a nimbus of chromium yellow-blue fire. It was forming a cocoon around her soul. She could feel her nascent soul undergoing transformation which made her smile broadly.


    Several hours later, the nimbus dissipated and Reena stood up smiling. Her nascent soul had advanced from the middle stage to the gates of the late stage of nascent soul.


    "Hehehe."


    Her joy knew no bounds. Advancement like this, was the dream of all cultivators. Divine favour on the the highcelestial Silent-Seeker.


    She continued doing this and trying the dreads passage, for the remaining days. By the end of the fourth day, Reena wal already knocking on the doors of the peak-stage nascent soul.


    With the energy pool drained, Reena decided to try the dreads passage. With a stronger flaming force-field, she proceeded towards the massive doors.

 Chapter -1 - Authors Note

    I welcome you all to my immortal cave where you can indulge yourself in the spiritual energy derived from the elixir I''m concocting, generally refered to as ''The Pathway''.


    This is a piece of work I hold dearly. It''s a xianxia novel of the eastern fantasy genre. It''s a serial work that portrays the primordial entities, ancient gods, immortal beings, cultivation and mystical and martial arts.


    Is it a work of reality of illusion or illusion of reality? This I can no longer explain in words. It is left for you as the discerning and enlightened readers to conclude.


    As the great Laozi once said, "Existence is beyond words. To explain it, different terms may be used, but none of them is absolute.".


    But the best possible thing to do, is to let our minds be lost in the infinitum of the tale. Thus, we will live the tale and tell the story.


    Your comments, reviews, votes and other forms of support and encouragement are welcome by this humble soul. Their importance couldn''t be emphasize enough.


    Please, share your adept knowledge with me as we walk the path of true understanding together.


    May we all continue to share the elixir of ascendancy.


    Yours immortally.


    k_k_b.

 Chapter -1 - Primordial Origin [A Glossary Of A Prologue 2]

    Millions of years later.


    Mortals came into existence. They were created from the vital essence of life of the Alpheron ¡ª the Chi essence of life ¡ª according to the laws of creation. Mortals were created on different planets ¡ª worlds of different sizes. These worlds were divided into minor worlds and major worlds. Among the mortals, were the humans. Many mortal worlds belong to humans while other species occupied numerous worlds too.


    For millions of years, mortals were living extremely short and difficult lives. It was a circle of short life, death and reincarnation. But mortals were reluctant to accept these forms of living. Hence, they started the ultimate search, the search for immortality. The ability to gain eternal life, the capacity to live forever. The cosmic divines seeing the mortals predicament, decided to give mortals a chance to achieve the eternal life they had been craving.


    The answer? Cultivation!


    Immortality through tribulations and trials. Cultivating chi and practicing martial and mystical arts through the created methods.


    The first of the cosmic divines, the three pure ones ¡ª lord of primordial origin, lord of luminous treasure and lord of true way ¡ª decided to teach the ''Dao'' of the universe[the way] to mortals. The teaching ¡ª Dao produced Taiji; Taiji produced Yin and Yang; Yin and Yang produced Yin, Yang and Chi ¡ª was spread throughout the mortal worlds. Luminous treasures from them, were scattered all over the universe to aid mortals in their cultivation and other arts.


    Cosmic divines, the Adi-Buddhas ¡ª lord Buddha Bhavana and lord Buddha Bodhisattva ¡ª added the "Dharma" of the universe, the path. They taught the Eight-fold path and the Bodhisattva path. The enlightenment and awakening of the mortal self to reach immortality. Luminous artifacts from them were also created and placed all over the universe.


    The roads were opened for mortals cultivating these techniques, to have eternal lives. This was due to the fact that the mortal body had a dantian ¡ª the centre of oneself. By sensing the heavenly spiritual energy, and absorbing the energy to form Chi in the dantian, mortals were capable of improving their health, increasing their longevity and growing more powerful. Mortals were able to achieve these through the circulation of Chi through their meridians. The cultivation of Chi in the dantian, was the root of the immortality tree.


    In order to record and preserve these techniques, manuscripts were created. These were scriptures and manuals containing detailed instructions on different techniques in cultivation, mystical arts and martial arts. Over the course of millions of years, many mortals had used these manuscripts to achieve immortality. Therefore, these manuscripts became being regarded as extremely valuable treasures and were well-guarded by clans, sects[schools] and loose cultivators who were in possession of them.


    Various treasures of magical and divine nature were also made during creation of the universe and primordial chaos. Natural treasures of immense powers that could be harnessed to further the path of cultivation and martial arts. All over the universe and primordial chaos, these treasures were secretly located.


    The path of cultivation was a hard, tedious and dangerous one. It required obtaining a Chi cultivation methods and other techniques for meditation, martial and mystical arts. More importantly were the availability of spiritual energy and resources for advancement.


    There were various stages of advancement for a cultivator.


    The first stage was the Juchi ¡ª the gathering of Chi.


    The second stage was the Lianchi ¡ª the refining of Chi.


    The third stage was the Ningchi ¡ª the condensing of Chi.


    The fourth stage was the Zhuji ¡ª the foundation establishment from the condensed Chi.


    The fifth stage was the Miechi ¡ª the evanesce core formation.


    The seventh stage was the Yuanying ¡ª the forging of the nascent soul.


    The eight stage was the quangtian stage ¡ª the hegemon soul. Immortal ascension stage.


    The ninth stage was the Shenxian ¡ª the hegemon soul reaching godhood.


    The tenth stage was the Tianshang ¡ª the god soul becoming celestial.


    The eleventh stage was the Shensheng ¡ª celestial soul becoming cosmic divine.


    Every stage of advancement had further stages.


    From the first stage[Juchi] to the third stage[Ningchi], there were three further stages¡ª the early stage, the middle stage and the late stage.


    From the fourth stage[Zhuji] to eight stage[Quangtian], there were four further stages¡ª the early stage, the middle stage, the late stage and the peak stage.


    For the heavenly plane, it was a different matter entirely.


    The tenth stage[Tianshang] had three stages¡ª lowcelestials, highcelestials and purecelestials.


    For the cosmic plane.


    The eleventh stage[Shensheng] had only one. The cosmic divines. Total universal emptiness.


    The essence of the Universe was Oneness, and harmony was the underlying nature of the Universe. Oneness, Unity and Harmony were the basic qualities that the Universe operated on. Those who knew these insight facts, were truly enlightened. The more one was able to understand oneness and creative harmony in all areas of life and situations, the more enlightened one would become in viewing and interacting with reality.


    Nonetheless, cultivation was an act of defiance against the mortal laws of creation. Mortals lived, died and reincarnated. That, was a mortal law of creation. For mortals to be immortals, was going against the natural order of creation. And that immortality, would not come easily. This also applied to sacred and demonic beasts that practiced cultivation.


    Though cultivation was not a forbidden act, it was still an act of defiance and would bring immortality trials. The immortality trials were the wrath of creation which came as the heavenly tribulations. This also applied to sacred and demonic beasts that practiced cultivation. Every major steps into immortality brought heavenly tribulations. But, surviving the tribulations meant immortality.


    This is the pathway.

 Chapter -2 - Primordial Origin [A Glossary Of A Prologue 1]

    "Existence is beyond the power of words. To explain it, different terms may be used, but none of them is absolute. In the beginning of the universe, there were no words. Words later came out of the w.o.m.b of matter. And whether a man dispassionately sees to the core of life or passionately sees the surface, the core and the surface are essentially the same. Words made them seem different, but words only express appearance. If name be needed, wonder names them both. From wonder into wonder, existence opens." ¡ª Dao of the Pathway[Truth Of Existence].


    At first, there was the void. This was the true beginning. A single existence of temporal infinity of space ¡ª formless matter ¡ª of infinitum energy, from which, the first two forms of creation were made. The Alpheron and the Ominu. The two essence cores that represented the ultimate Yin and Yang of existence.


    It was from the Alpheron, that the primordial universe was formed. It was the essence core, the source of life, of the universe. All universal energy originated from this essence core, since it was the force that underlay everything that ever existed or happened. The Alpheron was the ultimate existence of order and harmony. Truly, a creative harmony that displayed the ultimate order of the universe.


    The immeasurable mighty force of the Alpheron was truly unifying, creative and harmonious. And since the Alpheron was the true origin of life in the universe, every existence in the universe was created from its essence core. As the true source of life, all things received their energy from the Alpheron in order to exist. Without the energy from Alpheron, an existence in the universe would simply cease to be.


    After forming the embryo of the primordial universe, the life essence of the Alpheron began to expand the space-time of the primordial universe. This happened in an intrinsic expansive way which caused the scale of space itself to change. This significant act, made the primordial universe to evolve rapidly which allowed the cosmos, galaxies and planets to be formed. The created cosmos was made up of many galaxies and the galaxies were made up of countless numbers of planets.


    Yet, in spite of the magnitude of its creation, the universe kept on expanding infinitely. Thereby, creating space for more galaxies and planets to occupy.


    The harmonious force of the Alpheron was evident in the fact that, since it was an essence core, every other existence with perpetuity had a core. The planets as part of the universe had Nerons. These were smaller essence cores connected to the Alpheron, the mother core of the universe. The Alpheron would absorb infinitum energy from the void of infinity and refined it, in order to create the cosmic energy or cosmic spiritual energy.


    It was only after then, that the Nerons would absorb the cosmic energy and release it on the planets. This released energy was often referred to as the heavenly spiritual energy.


    Then, the Ominu. The second essence core that was created from the infinitum energy of the void. The essence core of the Ominu was the life force of the primordial chaos. It was the source of life of all existence in primordial chaos. The Ominu core absorbed infinitum energy from the Void and refined it, to form the chaos energy which was the vital energy of life in the primordial chaos. The primordial chaos was a space-time of complete disorder ¡ª total disarray ¡ª which was the exact opposite of the order and harmony of the universe.


    Nonetheless, like the universe, the primordial chaos was also infinite in its gradual expansion. Although they were different in every terms of existence, the primordial universe and the primordial chaos literally coexisted. Despite their differences, one could not exist without the other. Hence, they were connected through the primordial holes. These holes were passages of total darkness made of infinitum energy that passed through the void and joined the primordial universe to the primordial chaos.


    The habitual significance of the primordial universe and primordial chaos, couldn''t be emphasized enough. They were the homes of the mighty primordials.


    The primordials.


    First of their kinds, they were the extremely powerful entities, created from the energy of the essence cores during the space-time expansion of the primordial universe and the primordial chaos. They were divided into two groups according to their origin of creation. They were; the primordial divines and the primordial beasts.


    The primordial divines were the creation of the universe from its pure essence energy. Entities of total cosmic energy, refined from the void''s infinitum energy. Pure divine beings of immense powers that were seeing to the well-being of the universe in relations to the laws of creation. While on the other hand, the primordial beasts were created in the primordial chaos from the essence of the Ominu''s core. The very life force of absolute chaos energy that was refined from the infinitum energy. These were powerful beasts at the pinnacle of existence in the chaos.


    Order and chaos, would always collide despite their co-existence and would always co-exist in-spite of their collision. This was evident in the fact that, these two primordial entities were constantly at war against one another, right from the time of creation. Many vicious battles had been fought as a result of this simple truth.


    The great wars.


    The divines who fell inside the universe, would only enter into limbo[a dormant state] for billions of years before starting on their road to recovery. This, they could achieve due to the Alpheron core which would absorb their life-essence. Whereas, any divine who fell inside the primordial chaos, could be in dire danger if the primordial''s essence didn''t make it back to the universe. It could become a mutated essence, or simply cease to exist permanently. The same thing with the primordial beasts.


    Although there were losses on both sides, the divines suffered fewer losses than the beasts. The reason for this being that the primordial beasts were always trying to invade and conquer the universe. The last great war ¡ª the war that led to the primordial beasts'' greatest loss ¡ª proved very costly. And the remaining beasts were pushed back through the primordial holes, into chaos. Finally, the divines created the cosmic wall seals and the gates were completely shut. These gates were forever guarded by the Nefrims ¡ª the cosmic golems.


    Although the primordial beasts would occasionally intrude through a temporary tear in the cosmic walls, they were quickly and efficiently rebuffed. Once again, peace reigned supreme in the universe. Billions of years after the great wars, life took forms in the cosmos. Different living entities sprang to life in the worlds. Among them, were the immense sentients of nature.


    The primordial titans.


    The mighty titans. Powerful forces of nature that gained the knowledge of awareness and started to reason. They realized their existence and became sentients. These were living entities that could materialize in the mortal forms as they advanced in their spiritual existence. They evolved from various existence of nature, in the forms of rivers, seas, mountains and others.


    After the titans, came the cosmic beasts.


    The cosmic beasts were different from the primordial beasts in their existential manifestations. The primordial beasts were from the chaos, whereas, the cosmic beasts were the creation of the universe. As animal creatures much more intelligent than mundane animals, they were capable of speaking in mortal languages, transforming into mortal forms and practicing cultivation. These were sentience creatures of great strength and power, and were divided into three categories ¡ª the divine beasts, the sacred beasts and the demonic beasts.


    The divine beasts were innate bloodline creatures. They grew stronger and more powerful over the course of time. The epitome of their powers, was when they awakened their bloodline which could lead them directly to immortality. Despite all these traits, they couldn''t transform into any mortal forms. They remained forever in their animal forms.


    Whereas, the sacred beasts didn''t have innate bloodline but they were born with primal evanesce cores. These cores made them particularly strong and powerful from birth. They also had the benefits of being capable of cultivation. Although, their cultivation was quite slow due to their level of adaptation.


    Then, millions of years after the cosmic beasts, came the mundane animals. Although some of them started to exhibit magical traits, they neither had nor gained sentience. They were never aware of their existence since they had no reasoning abilities. These were the magical beasts, and their bodies contained great benefits to both mortals and immortals alike.

 Chapter -3 - Primates Note

    I welcome you all to my immortal cave where you can indulge yourself in the spiritual energy derived from the eternal heart-flame. This is the name of the elixir I''m concocting which was generally referred to as ''The Pathway''.


    This is a piece of work I hold dear to my heart. It''s a xianxia novel of the eastern fantasy genre. It''s a web serial work that portrays the primordial entities, ancient gods, immortal beings, cultivation, mystical arts and martial arts.


    Is it a work of reality of illusion or illusion of reality? This I can no longer explain in words. It is left for you as the discerning and enlightened readers to conclude.


    As the great Laozi once said, "Existence is beyond words. To explain it, different terms may be used, but none of them is absolute.".


    But the best possible thing to do, is to let our minds be lost in the infinitum of the tale. Thus, we will live the tale and tell the story.


    Your comments, reviews, votes and other forms of support and encouragement are welcome by this humble soul. Their importance couldn''t be emphasize enough.


    Please, share your adept knowledge with me as we walk the path of true understanding together. May we all continue to share the elixir of ascendancy.


    Kindly join me on discord: discord.gg/k7AnccE


    Yours immortally.


    Primate.

 Chapter 1 - Reincarnation [1]

    "Whatever you bring in death, you''ll get in life."


    Those were the words that rang out to the arriving souls at the gates of the Acheron palacium which was located in the Acheron realm on the cosmic plane.


    It was the final destination of all departed souls where the fates, destinies and the time of souls were determined in regards to their reincarnation. The forms the souls would take in their next lives, which could be that of beasts, mortals, Halflings, demons, demigods, daemons, gods or celestials. Their destined planes ¡ªnether plane, the mortal plane or the heavenly plane. And the moments of time in their next lives in respect to their reincarnation.


    And right at the centre of the palacium, were the three wheels of incarnation. The wheel of time; the wheel of fate; and the wheel of Destiny,  spun by the Carnates ¡ªthe three primordial sisters. The divines assigned by creation to preside over the palacium and the dead souls. Welcoming the arriving souls and directing their paths toward the mirror of deeds, at the centre of the palacium and the light of Radia.


    Lady of time, Divine Arta, was in charge of the wheel of time which determined the time period for the reincarnation of the departed souls. At the centre of the wheel was a mirror, the divine myriads mirror that showed the past deeds of souls.


    Lady of fate, Divine Asha, spun the wheel of fate to decide the inevitable mighty hands of creation on the lives of incarnated and reincarnated souls. At the centre of the wheel was a large orb of pulsating fibres of yin yang lights that threaded the fates of incarnated souls.


    Lady of destiny, Divine Amra controlled the wheel of destiny that determined the forms and destination of souls based on their karmic merits according to the laws of creation. At the centre of the wheel was a large golden bell. The bell of finality, the sound of which confirmed the certainty of a soul''s destiny.


    Then, one day, the sisters were busy carrying out their task when they suddenly felt strong Karmic connections. They gazed at the souls waiting for reincarnation, and discovered the connection was coming from two newly arrived souls. The golden halo surrounding the two souls was giving off a faint radiation, enough to cover their souls.


    "Another dead celestials."


    Lady Amra said, eyes fixed on the two soul orbs. Squinting her eyes, she continued.


    "Deaths that weaken the pillars of the universe."


    "Nevertheless, the universe welcome their impending rebirths."


    Lady Arta voiced with a trace of sadness.


    Lady Asha spread her arms as she smiled bitterly.


    "Yes, after the sadness of death."


    Lady Amra gave a slight nod as she glanced at the two souls.


    The divine Carnates continued their work as they remotely watched the two souls, until it was their turn to stand before the mirror. The rare occasion attracted their undivided attention and interest. The other two divine Carnates directed their gazes towards the mirror and watched with great interest, as divine Asha spun the wheel of time for the two souls past lives.


    The divine myriads mirror was a primordial treasure of creation, storing all the deeds of souls before their death, but only revealing the scenes where the soul accrued good or bad karmic virtues.


    [The mother was a mortal, and her name was Dai Yi Min. She was born in one of the mortal worlds, earth. A world of six continents ruled by a human emperor. She came from the Red eagle clan, living in the fountain-spring village on the Aksan continent. Her clan was the smallest in the village. Her family lived on the outskirts of the village. Her parents were mortals, they had given birth to her after they had passed their prime. They had to wait for a long time before they had her, and she had been their miracle.


    She worked on the pig farm in the morning and the chicken farm in the evening. It was on one of such evenings that she was attacked by reavers, creatures of the nether region. A rare portal had opened on her farm. A portal that connected to the nether region. It was simply an unfortunate situation. War had been raging on between the reavers and fiend factions in the nether region when the portal had been opened. An unstable portal that was opened randomly. It was really unjust. The odds were unfair.


    But fought she did. Holding a short sword with her son tied to her back, she fought like a deranged berserker. She battled tooth and nail, but realized it was a loosing battle. Then, she prayed to the gods she knew, and didn''t know. It was at that moment that the crystal she hung around her neck was triggered. The celestial karmic merits, stored in the crystal was then transferred to the mother and child, just as the shadow of death fell over them.]


    "A mother and child mortals for what it takes."


    "And a mixed fate at the end of it all."


    "Let''s see more of their past lives, Arta. I''m a little curious of their past deeds"


    Lady Asha turned towards divine Arta as the light in her eyes shone brightly.


    "It piqued my interest too, Arta."


    Lady Amra voiced with a grim face, displaying a trace of sympathy.


    "You two know it will need the Cosmic Fetter seal to do that. Which I have none."


    Lady Arta said as she looked lovingly at her sisters. They meant everything to one another. Many, were the situations they''ve been through together. Especially, during the great wars. She felt a surge of happiness in herself and knew the other two were aware of it. Covering it in acting pretence, she asked.


    "Alright, do any of you have one?"


    "Here''s one, Arta."


    Lady Amra flicked her hand and a seal appeared in it. A cosmic treasure, crafted from a cosmic essence crystal, obsidian crystal from the void, yin yang spirit leaves and a ray of Radia''s light. The rarity of the items meant the universe only wanted them to see few deeds of the dead souls. Lady Amra gave the seal to Arta, and they watched as she activated it.


    Then, they all shifted their attention back to the mirror, and continued observing it keenly.

 Chapter 2 - Reincarnation [II]

    [The planet was known as earth. It was a mortal world of six continents under the supreme reign of the human emperor Zhu Tao. On one of the continents called Aksan, in the large village of Fountain-Spring, a girl was born. The few remaining members of the Dai clan rejoiced in the miracle since the parents of the child had long passed their prime to give birth and they couldn''t afford a potent spirit pill.


    With the hope of bringing happiness to the hard-ridden family and a dying clan, they named her Dai Yi Min. Since the death of the only nascent soul in the clan, the family, alongside the remnants of the clan had been living on the outskirts of the village.


    Despite the severe hardship facing the family, she was growing up well as an adept in farming, and the future began to look fine for the family.


    But when she reached the age of nine, her mother suddenly died with no sign of sickness. It was a massive blow to the family which they never recovered from, but on, they went. And then, one year later when she was at the age of ten, her father suffered total paralysis and became bed-ridden. With no means to seek the aid of an alchemist, and as the only member of her family that could work, she started working extremely hard on their farm.


    Daily, she collected and sold chicken eggs from their farm to cater for herself and her father. She was doing that for the following six years. In one of those six years, while she was working on her family farm, she had found a sapphire crystal. Her very own treasure, first of a kind for her. She had used a string to craft a necklace of sapphire blue crystal. Happiness out of madness.


    Five years later, her father also died. Since her clan was dying out, and she was twenty years of age, she decided to get married for her family line to continue. At that time, only two members remained of their clan. Dai Yi Min and her niece, Dai Da Chun. But sadly, Dai Da Chun died the following year.


    The last of her clan. She married at the age of twenty, and her husband who had a pig farm, was a good man. Tending the two farms, their hardwork appeared to be bearing fruit with the farm produce. Soon after, she became pregnant, and her grim fortune seemed to have taken a good turn. All of a sudden again, her husband died when she was five months pregnant.


    Yet, she forged ahead. Four months later, she gave birth to a son and called him Jianyu. It was difficult for her raising him alone, but she had been extremely happy. The second member of her clan, aside herself, alive. And he was her son, meaning her family line would continue. Happiness in a world of sadness.


    She worked on the pig farm in the morning and the chicken farm in the evening. It was on one of such evenings that she was attacked by an army of reavers, creatures from the nether region. An extremely rare portal, connecting to the nether-plane had opened on her farm. It resembled an unfortunate situation. Was it? War had been raging on between the reavers and fiend factions in the nether region it appeared, when the portal opened on her farm.


    Then, she prayed to the gods she knew, and didn''t know. It was at that moment that the crystal she hung around her neck was triggered, and the celestial karmic merits stored in the crystal was transferred to the mother and child.]


    The three divinities contemplated on the information while they focused on the two souls.


    "Laws of karma are laws of creation."


    "Laws of creation compel reincarnation."


    "All souls are bound."


    "Amra, you can consider the same world for them."


    "As mother and son, probably."


    "Yes. They do have the merits, anyway."


    "Arta, that will need you to delay the reincarnation of the son, until the mother is of age to give birth to him?"


    "That won''t be a problem, Amra."


    "And a reincarnation in a mortal world as an Asura for the mother."


    "And the son?"


    "Half of the merits as a mortal will do. Or what do you think Asha?."


    "Yes, and with the hands of the universe on him for a time."


    "Hm."


    Lady Amra stretched out her hands and turned the wheel of destiny.


    "To their karmic merits, I, Divine Amra, will give each of them a moment of destiny in their next lives. You will be born in the world of Lorra with the blessings of heavens."


    "To their karmic merits, I Divine Arta, will give each one of them a moment of time in their next lives."


    Lady Arta said as she spun the wheel of time.


    "To their karmic merits, I, Divine Asha, will also give each one of them a moment of fate in their next lives."


    The wheel of fate started spinning.


    As all the three wheels for the souls of the mother and son began to spin very fast, they turned their attention towards the mother.


    "You will be born as an Asura. Your destiny will be protected until you become a full Asura. After that, your destiny will be in your own hands and the hands of the universe."


    "You will be preserved from all for a period of time until when you become a full Asura."


    "Your fate will be held until you become a full Asura, Afterwards, your fate will be in the hands of the universe but with the cosmic blessings."


    After that, they shifted their views, and focused on the soul of the son.


    "After a period of time, you will be reincarnated into the world of Anyang as a mortal but with a boon in your destiny."


    "Your soul has been bound in time to your mother, you will be together with her in the next life."


    "On the account of the merits on you, you will be born with the blessings of the universe on your fate."

 Chapter 3 - A Xiu Ying In Time [1]

    The passage of time was like a brisk wind. It flew over existence but left only its shadow behind. And before its presence was realized, it had already gone. It felt like it was onky yesterday, but five hundred years had gone by since the wheels of reincarnation were turned.


    A young woman was sitting in a lotus position in a cultivation chamber that was located inside an ancient cave. This was the place she called her home. It was located inside a knoll [a small hill] which was situated at the outskirt of Sky-Spring village. This was a large village in the southern province of Ankhora, one of the three colossal continents in this world called Lorra.


    The young lady was using the ancient Astral primal technique to circulate the Chi in her body. The astral primal technique was a rare primordial cultivation technique and extremely difficult to cultivate. The level of difficulty would only get worse as the cultivator advanced in stages. This technique absorbed two different types of cosmic energy into the body. These were the heavenly spiritual energy and the stygian energy.


    The heavenly energy was the energy needed to form and to replenish Chi in the body which was necessary for cultivation advancement. While on the other hand, the stygian energy was the sparse dark energy that caused the acceleration of the expansion of the universe. The astral primal technique combined these two energies, to expand the dantian and the meridians in the body. Then, these energies would form a large amount of highly condensed Chi in the dantian.


    This technique was excruciatingly painful on the meridians and the dantian. It also made breathing extremely hard when practicing it. But there were great benefits derived from it. The meridians would be greatly enlarged making the Chi flowed freely and in large amount. More importantly, the dantian would be bigger and able to store larger amount of Chi energy.


    The best thing about this technique? Its breathing and meditation methods were similar to the rhythms of the universe. It was a true treasure of her family. Though, not many cultivators would embark on its painful journey.


    This young woman was Zhang Xiu Ying, an Asura[demigod]. Her father was Zhang Li Qiang . He was a swordsman from the Eagle-Blade clan and a middle-stage golden core. While her mother was Zhang Wang Jing, the flaming claws, an early-stage golden core from the Phoenix clan. Zhang Xiu Ying was born five hundred years ago ¡ª as a matter of reincarnation ¡ª in a village known as White-Fountain. A village on the continent of Xuanpu, on the other side of the planet.


    Planet Lorra was a major mortal world of the human race. A world of three continents and monarchies. Ankhora, Xuanpu and Yimachi. Each of these continent was ruled by a supreme monarch [A monarch was an immortal of the hegemon soul who had achieved immortal ascension but failed to ascend to the heavenly realm to become a god]. Why? It was due to the general knowledge that every cultivator in the cultivation world had come to acquire.


    If an immortal ascended to the heavenly realm, neither the deity''s main body nor avatar would be able to come back to the mortal world. The laws of creation that protected the fabric of the mortal planes from being destroyed by higher powers. Only a deity''s image could be sent back to the mortal world due to its limited power.


    This was unbearable for some mornachs. They simply didn''t want their physical bodies and nascent souls, to part with the mortal worlds. Hence, they refused ascension. For some hegemons, it was due to their families, while for others, they preferred their ruling powers in the mortal worlds. But in accord with the laws of the universe, an immortal without ascension would forever be at the quangtian stage of the hegemon soul. The stage preceding the transformation into godhood.


    Due to the massiveness of these continents, they were divided into four smaller provinces. The northern, the southern, the eastern and the western provinces. Each of these provinces was under the control of a marquis or a marquees. Every province was further categorised into cities that were controlled by the city lords. The headmen ¡ª villages heads ¡ª were given the supervision of the villages under the direction of the city lords.


    Zhang Xiu Ying was a young beautiful pregnant lady, when her parents moved here with her. They had bought this land from the owner, a young man who had been eager to move to the city. The bargained price had been very steep, costing them most of their ancestral inheritance. However, they loved the quiet location and the vast land.


    The large areas of land would be ideal for the farming of millet and the rearing of animals. Furthermore, it was located outside the village area which made it more perfect. They, being farmers, had settled in perfectly.


    The land was divided into four parts of two large parts and two smaller parts. The two large parts are for farming the millets and the rearing of goats. One of the two smaller parts was designated as the practice area for martial and mystical arts. The second smaller part was where the dark-water pond was. They had been unaware of the cultivation chamber located under the knoll. Until her father made the discovery while creating underground storage in the building.


    The cultivation chamber had been secretly carved out from the rich deposit of emerald green jadeite and emerald blue nephrite that were located under the knoll. The walls of the cave were all emerald green jadeite while the large area at the centre was all emerald blue nephrite. There was a clear and peaceful stream of water flowing through it. The circular sides of the floor were of white marbles, and attached to the cave''s ceiling were the red rubies. This was a marvel of a cave that could only be a heavenly blessing.


    Since her pregnancy had manifested, Zhang Xiu Ying had been absorbing vast amount of spiritual and stygian energy that were continually trapped inside the cave. She was also consuming large amount of Chi, in the form of blue crystallines. These blue crystallines were edible transparent essence rocks formed on the surface of the emerald blue nephrite. This was due to the crystallization of vast amount of highly dense spiritual energy with streams of water and the emerald blue nephrite.


    These were materials that occupied a very wide area at the centre of the cave. The effect of one blue crystalline in the dantian could last from several weeks to few months, and a number of these powerful crystallines had been formed over the course of hundreds of millions of years that the cave had stayed hidden. The inside of the cave was littered with these crystallines when it was discovered.


    They had spent an amount of time mining these crystals secretly and created a safe storage room for them underground. But a handful of these crystals were left on the floor of the cave to create a serene atmosphere.


    Zhang Xiu Ying''s advancement in cultivation had abounded in leaps. She had advanced from the Jindan stage to the nascent soul stage within one hundred years. At the young age of five hundred. The avatar of the nascent soul she formed was the mini replica of herself. An avatar in white feathered armour and flaming wings. Having been born as a half demigod with the divine evasion power, she had quickly grown into a full Asura[demigod] that could survive on her own.

 Chapter 4 - A Xiu Ying In Time [2]

    "Mastery of the mind. Order and harmony within oneself. Only by this can one''s conscious awareness be free to understand the laws and nature of the universe and become harmonized with the universe."


    Zhang Xiu Ying put a blue crystalline in her mouth and closed it with a crunch, as strong Chi energy stormed her dantian. She commenced the circulation of the Chi energy from her dantian through her meridians and back into her dantian. As a demigod, she could handle the storming effect of the crystallines without any difficulty. She didn''t stop, but continued her breathing exercise and meditation using the astral primal technique.


    "Understanding true mortal self is the beginning of understanding the true nature of our universe."


    After cultivating for some time, she exited the chamber taking one blue crystalline with her and headed towards the training area. She would be practicing her Phoenix Inferno mystical art with her sword, Navaris. This was an ancient ancestral heirloom of immense value belonging to her mother''s bloodline. The feather blade alone, was crafted from the single tail feather of a primordial phoenix at the heart of the Eternal Rest. Certainly, it was a lowgrade heavenly weapon.


    After becoming a full demigod as a result of her rapid advancement and development, her mother had decided to give her the heirloom. What was the point in her keeping it? She couldn''t bring out the full power of the sword, and by the way things were going, it would take her forever to reach a stage of using it fully. Who else could she even give it to?


    Before she left her birthplace, there was no member of her clan that could even wield it properly talkless of utilising its full powers. And if her daughter could become so powerful in a short time as a demigod, what prevented her from having it? She could only be a heavens sent to do that. Therefore, her mother had decided that the sword would be safe in her hand and would be properly used.


    She was slowly swinging the feather blade. Her martial art was already at the Yinhu[Silver tiger] level, where she could call herself a young master. Her swordsmanship was still at the expert level. Also, she knew she had a long way to go before reaching the legend level. She had to become a master and then a grandmaster before becoming a legend.


    Although not much of a difference and she was at a bottleneck, her joy was in her mystical arts. She was at the fourth stage of the Phoenix Inferno technique.


    "Both mind and body must be cultivated to understand true self. The rhythm of a sword and the motion of fire. They nourish the body and soul, yet they can also be destructive. It takes a true self discovery to bring out the constructiveness of a sword and the protectiveness of fire. Intent of the heart determines the nature of a martial and mystical arts. Peace is needed, yes, inner peace, in order to be one with nature."


    She thrust her sword forward and flaming ribbons spread out from it. They covered the training area in spirals of flame without burning anything. The spirals of the flaming ribbons was truly a beautiful scene to behold.


    "Art is nature and nature is art. "


    Zhang Xiu Ying smiled appreciatively at her father who was joining her for training. Her parents had been exceedingly supportive of her right from her birth. Ah, what a wonderful parents she had. In this life or another, she couldn''t have wished it any other way. She was perfectly happy with her life and the direction she was going. They continued practicing for a period of time before her father waved her down.


    "Xiu Ying, let''s stop the practice for the afternoon. Let''s go inside. You need to have a nourishing meal and a rest. Your mother is preparing the yellow coloured mountain goat. As a rare and magical animal, it will surely nourish your body and the baby further."


    "Father, with all this magical animals, by the time I give birth, I would''ve turned to a magical animal."


    "That would be a sight to behold, Xiu Ying. A magical phoenix flying through the sky with wings of inferno. A magical sight indeed."


    Zhang Xiu Ying''s mind wandered off to the image of her nascent soul after the words of her father. Her nascent manifestation had been a mini avatar of herself with feathered armour and flaming wings. A flaming bird? She laughed, dismissing it from her mind as her father joined her in laughter too.


    They left the practice ground and headed towards the direction of the cave. Once inside, Zhang Xiu Ying could help but aroma she was smelling took over her mind. Her mother was a genious immortal when it was about magical food. By the time she set her sight on the food, she was already floating in a dreamlike world. Setting themselves around a wooden table at the centre of the living chamber, with pots of steaming goat meat on it, they beamed in delight as they went for their share.


    Zhang Xiu Ying savoured the meat with her eyes closed after taking a bite.


    "Oh mother! This is truly amazing. I never knew animal meat can be this tasty. Thank you mother for this wonder and you too, father, for finding this meat."


    "This is a rarity, Xiu Ying. The quality of the energy in the meat will strengthen the bones in your body and nourish your blood. Even the baby will benefit from it. That''s why you need to eat a lot of it. Even if you can finish it all, that will be better. Please go ahead."


    "Huh? Father, do you want the baby to have goat horns and goat hooves?"


    "I love you so much, father, mother."


    "We love you too, Xiu Ying."


    "Never forget that."


    Zhang Xiu Ying nodded in response. How could she ever forget that? Their existence had been mostly about her. They had given a lot for her welfare right from her childhood and are still doing so, now that she was pregnant. How can their love for her, ever escaped her memory? It would never happen.


    An hour after the magical feast, Zhang Wang Jing left for the market to sell some of the goat milk from the farm leaving Zhang Li Qiang and Zhang Xiu Ying in the living chamber. Few minutes after Zhang Wang Jing left, Zhang Li Qiang went into his room and changed into his new farming attire. He turned to Zhang Xiu Ying as he was passing the living area.


    "Xiu Ying, I will be in the farm if you need me."


    "Okay father."


    Zhang Li Qiang left their cave and headed towards the farming area of the land. On his way, he glanced back at his daughter apprehensively. After all, she was their only daughter. Only the three of them left now after the death of her husband when a portal had opened in their village and an army of fiends had passed through from the nether plane to attack them.They had managed to vanquish them, but many of the villagers had died from the sudden attack. Many of the villagers were just foundation stage and evanescent core cultivators. Only two elders of nascent souls, were present at that time. Such a sad memory. His family had left the village after that.


    He could still, clearly, remember his daughter''s husband, Zhang Long Wei. A good natured man of the evanesce core stage from the Meadow-Wood village who happened to bear the same ancestral name as theirs. He was a good husband and always looked for the interest of their child when he was alive. But since he was no longer here, raising a child alone in a deadly world of cultivation without a father would, have been very difficult for any mortal mother. Although their daughter was a demigod, they wouldn''t take the risk. Hence, they had decided to try their best to ease the burden as much as they could.

 Chapter 5 - A Xiu Ying In Time [3]

    The pregnancy didn''t come easy but he was grateful he had helped before the sudden death of Zhang Long Wei. He remembered when he had gone to the Sunset-Hills village in the northern province to look for a senior alchemist named Huang Fu ¡ª an immortal cultivator of the peak stage golden core ¡ª in order to buy the Heavens Spring spirit pill. Alchemist Huang Fu had lived for over five million years which was a reasonable years of experience. Not minding that, golden core cultivators had a lifespan of hundred million years.


    He had seen all forms of life on planet Lorra and decided there was nothing left for him in the mortal world. So, he had chosen a simple life to work towards his ascension to the heavenly plane. He had been focusing on his alchemy and cultivating in seclusion to gather the necessary items needed during and after his ascension. He had long concocted a transcendence pill that could easily take him to the ascension stage but was taking his time to prepare further.


    "Welcome to my humble home, fellow Daoist. I''m Huang Fu but I believe you already knew that."


    Said alchemist Huang Fu as he looked jovially at Zhang Li Qiang.


    "Greetings Daoist Huang Fu. My name is Zhang Li Qiang. I came from the Skydome city in the southern province, here on Ankhor continent."


    "That''s a long way from home. What bring you all the way to my place, fellow Daoist Zhang Li Qiang?"


    "Thank you alchemist Huang Fu. I have heard about your pills and the wonders they can perform. So, I came to see if I can acquire the Rainbow-W.o.m.b spirit pill for my wife. I heard it''s especially good for the unborn baby. I will be very grateful if it''s available for me to buy."


    He had pleadingly sought assurances about the pill''s availability from the alchemist. He knew alchemists were not under any pressure to sell their products unless they wanted to. Some alchemist would even send the buyer away without even listening to the buyer''s words. Alchemists were at the center of proceedings in the cultivation world. Their position was highly coveted and mostly secured.


    "Hm, the Rainbow-W.o.m.b spirit pill. Yes, it''s really good for a baby in the w.o.m.b. However, the pill only contained the refined life essence energy from some notable sources. Although I have to admit that the materials were very rare and a little difficult to gather. And once consumed, the essence energy in the pill will combine with the w.o.m.b nourishments to form the Cloud-Of-Life around the baby. It naturally flows through the meridians of the baby."


    Alchemist Huang Fu had stopped for a moment and contemplated before continuing.


    "But I need to tell you this, fellow daoist. The effectiveness of the pill will depend on your child. On how much of the essence energy the child can absorb and retain inside the body. While the w.o.m.b nourishments is left to the mother. So, the outcome is not totally on me."


    He had slowly uttered as he stared keenly at the thoughtful face of Zhang Li Qian .


    "However, I can tell you that the pill is safe and works accordingly. And yes, I do have one. Only three were ever made according to my memory and two of those were made by my father before his ascension. One was sold but the outcome of it was not that effective. The result and the materials needed made my father to abandon it. When I came across some of the needed materials, I decided to give it a go. I searched for the other materials for hundreds of thousands of years. I also had to use some alternative materials but the effect should be the same. Nonetheless, if you want to buy it, it will cost you fifty thousand high grade spirit stones."


    "Uh?"


    Zhang Li Qiang had been caught off-guard with the steep price before he quickly gathered his thoughts together. The price was majority of his ancestral inheritance which put him in a difficult situation. However, if the pill worked accordingly as he believed it would, the high price would be justified.


    "Okay, I will take it."


    It was very costly but he had taken it with a hopeful heart. Now, remembering the effect on his daughter after she had taken the pill and now tgat she was pregnant, was bringing abundant joy to his grateful heart. With a wide smile on his face, he continued his walk to the farm.


    Whereas, somewhere in the village market, Zhang Wang Jing saw a road antique merchant and branched to check his products. Not frequently would someone see an antique dealer, so, she might just use this opportunity to find something nice. She was looking for something good but also cheap.


    "Greetings, Nu-Shi. Do you want to take a look at my collections? Maybe, you can find something fancy that can catch your eyes? As a matter of fact, I have all existing collections of antiques. Magical, decorative, talismans, seals ... I have them all."


    Zhang Wang Jing went through the collections and saw a small white crystal pagoda that caught her eyes. This was something she could give Xiu Ying''s child when the would child grow up. It really looked beautiful as a gift for a child.


    "I''ll like to get this little crystal pagoda. How much does it cost?"


    "Oh, you have great eyes, Nu-Shi. This is the gate of the seven realms of fortune. You may see this is empty bragging, but this is the best antique you can find and there''s a myth about it too. This pagoda is golden gateway that leads to seven ancient realms with all forms of treasures. You name it, Nu-Shi, and it''s there. You see the layers of the pagoda, Nu Shi? They are layers of treasures. Even just having it can bring you good fortunes."


    "And why is it not bringing you fortune? I believe you would have kept it for yourself if it has all sort of treasures. Wouldn''t you?"


    "Ah, it''s fate, Nu-Shi. Fate. Me and the pagoda are not fated to be together. But you Nu Shi, you are fated to have it. Destiny is on your side and I can feel it."


    "Hehehe, very funny. You merchants have ways with words. How much is it anyway?"


    "Nu-Shi, with a heart full of sorrow, I will take five thousand pure grade spirit stones from you."


    "Eh? Five thousand high grades? Am I buying a graded treasure? I don''t have that amount but I can give you one thousand high grade stones, if you agree."


    "Make it two thousand then, Nu Shi, and it will be."


    "Hm. Okay, two thousand it is."


    Their quiet life in the cave went on without any disturbance. Two months later, Zhang Xiu Ying gave birth to a boy and named him Ju Feng.


    Reincarnation completed.

 Chapter 6 - Coming Of Age [1]

    Time! Like an arrow, it flew. And like a petal in the wind, it flowed softly by. By the time a thought of a glimpse of it was made, only a memory of it that was left behind, would be caught.


    "Son, it''s now time for you to practice your meditation."


    For five good years, Zhang Xiu Ying had been watching the growth of her son. Even now, the cruel time was still fleeing from her. Their beautiful moments together seemed to be accelerating away at an exceedingly fast pace which was making her grimaced in sadness. More time, was all she wanted but knew that, more time, she wouldn''t get. She would have to make the best of the present time.


    "Yes, that is good. Raise your feet a bit more like this... You now need to continue breathing in and out the way I taught you... Very good. Continue like that until I tell you to stop."


    Zhang Xiu Ying continued to watch her son who was sitting down in a lotus position. Eyes closed, while breathing in and out like an unborn foetus. He was practicing the astral primal breathing technique which filled her heart with abundant joy and a bit of sadness. Sadness of the passage of time. Oh, how quickly the days passed by. Her son ¡ªJu Feng ¡ª was already five. Five!


    More so, he almost looked twice his age which even added to his frightening state of growth. He was growing up fast and strong, and probably too fast. The amount of Chi in his dantian and his strength''s level, were truly alarming for his age. With this rate of development, his mind would need to be properly nurtured to prevent it from collapsing on itself. Just as the ancient saying, an incongruous mind was a sickness to the body and a danger to the surroundings.


    Due to all these developments, the whole family came to a decision. For the mean time, they would only teach him meditation, basic Chi sensing and farming. They would wait until he was six before teaching him martial arts, mystical arts and cultivation technique. They believed his mind needed to be tempered from a very young age to balance his reasoning with his Chi and strength levels.


    The power of the mind could not simply be described. It held the power of imagination, recognition, appreciation and the responsibility for our feelings and emotions which led to our attitudes and actions. The mind was what we truly were while the body was merely the tool. Therefore, tempering the heart would attune it to the way of the universe.


    A true oneness with the universe, was to stimulate and adjust the mind to embrace its truth. The Dao of the universe ¡ª the dharma of the cosmos ¡ª had one simple, yet complex truth which only a truly enlightened mind could grasp. A heart tempered with humility.


    A demeanour of humility was exactly what was needed to live in oneness and harmony with oneself and all entities. The apprehension of a soul, that it had nothing special that made it better than the others, and that a soul was nothing but a grain in an ocean of sand. This knowledge of the simple fact that it was not even a speck in the universe, would greatly help the soul towards being one with the universe in the true way.


    With the way he''s growing fast in strength, his heart needs to be framed to be free of pride and arrogance. These two attributes are destructive distractions to all cultivators. Their outcome is always death.


    Zhang Xiu Ying closed her eyes and continued practicing her meditation. As an Asura, she could see what was happening around her and their hill-cave clearly. But for the whole village in its entirety, she couldn''t see the events vividly. And now with her eyes closed, she could, clearly, see her son still closing his eyes and breathing in and out, in utter concentration. So, she decided to leave him for a while to avoid causing any form of distractions. Moments later, they left the cultivation chamber and headed towards the living area.


    Zhang Li Qiang was preparing to go to the farm when he saw his daughter and grandson. He still couldn''t believe that he was a grandfather. Yes! A grandfather. If he had been asked about being a father a thousand years ago, he would have answered otherwise. But now, it was a different story. How could he not be happy?


    "How''s my grandson doing? Good?"


    "Grandpa! Yes, good. I was meditating."


    "Brilliant."


    Zhang Li Qiang picked up his grandson in a swirl.


    "I can''t even stand properly carrying you. Very soon, you will be the one carrying me."


    "Grandpa!"


    "Hehehe."


    Zhang Li Qiang, with his head thrown backward, laughed heartily. Afterwards, he turned to his daughter who was also grinning widely.


    "How''s my daughter too? "


    "I''m well, father. You look great yourself, especially in those old farm clothes."


    "What''s better than the joys of a simpler, farming lifestyle?"


    He asked smilingly while putting down his grandson.


    "The joys of your daughter and grandson?"


    "I was only talking about lifestyle Xiu Ying, and not my daughter and son."


    Zhang Li Qiang answered with a long suffering sigh and shook his head at Zhang Xiu Ying''s broad happy smile.


    "Do you want to follow me to the farm today, Ju Feng?"


    "Yes, grandpa. See you later, ma."


    Ju Feng happily followed his grandfather outside as they both headed towards the direction of the farm.


    "See you too."


    Zhang Xiu Ying looked at their back and shook her head.


    "Time is really moving too fast and he''s growing up even faster. He spends less and less time with me, his mother. He''s no longer his mother''s child alone. Sooner or later, he will have to leave to explore the big world. Oh, life. I need to spend more time with him before then."


    She looked around the quiet place and went looking for her mother.


    Meanwhile, on the farm, Zhang Li Qiang and his grandson were putting straws over the millet.


    "Out here in the farm, I gain more enlightenment into the nature of the universe. Every time I''m here, I view same thing from different perspective. When you achieve different perspectives, you can arrive at a true perspective. Take a look at these millet. What do you see?"


    "I see crops, grandpa."


    "Anything else? I want you to look closely."


    "Grains?"


    "Mhm. Crops, grains, when you look at their appearance. Now, if you look pass their appearances, what do you see?"


    "Hmm, I''m not really sure about that, grandpa."


    "Life, Ju Feng, life. These crops you see, are living things. When they are planted and nurtured, they grow. After a time, they are harvested to serve as food. Source of life. They live to serve as source of life to the living. When you walk through them, you feel the peace coming from them. But, they never raised their heads towards creation to beat their c.h.e.s.ts. What do you see from this?"


    "Ahh, yes grandpa. I think I understand now. They are lowly?"


    "Aha. You are wiser than your age. Yes, humility. It takes a humble mind to open itself to the universe and accept the knowledge of the universe. Yes, we eat the crops, but does that mean we are more significant than them? We are all part of one universe and no life is greater than the other. Many things like pride, arrogance, and greed are only diseases to the mind, making their clouds shroud the mind from the true nature of the universe."


    He beamed inside and continued.


    "I am truly blessed to have you as my grandson. Always remember that, although this universe is infinite, it values a humble mind."


    "Grandpa, I promise, I will always remember."


    Zhang Li Qang stopped mulching the millet, regarded his grandson and smiled.


    "Good, that''s my grandson. Now let''s wrap up the work here and check the goats."


    They finished doing the remaining work for the day as the sun was disappearing below the horizon, and they made their way in the direction of the cave. After refreshing themselves, they joined Zhang Wang Jing and Zhang Xiu Ying for dinner. They surely had enough to eat and plenty of goat milk to drink.

 Chapter 7 - Coming Of Age [2]

    "How''s your day in the farm with your grandpa?"


    Zhang Xiu Ying asked as she glanced at her smiling son.


    "It was great, ma, and grandpa taught me many things."


    "I trust your grandfather to do that. He''s the wisest man I''ve ever seen. His words are heavenly treasures so don''t ever forget what he taught you. They will surely make you wise in your dealings. Okay, anything you might want to teach me too?"


    Zhang Xiu Ying stared at her son with a wide smile.


    "Ma. What can I teach you that you don''t know already? But, I can repeat what grandpa taught me and that''s to be humble."


    "Oh yes, you need to be. Before you start thinking you are the primordial king of the universe."


    Zhang Wang Jing laughingly joked as she clutched her c.h.e.s.t, which caused the rest of them to join her in laughter.


    After they had all had their fills of the food and the table had been tidied, Zhang Wang Jing turned to her grandson.


    "Ju Feng come with me."


    "Yes, grandma."


    Ju Feng walked with her grandmother to the outside of the cave. Zhang Wang Jing held Ju Feng''s hand and with two steps arrived at the top of the knoll. It was a flat top knoll containing four stone stools. Sometimes, the family would gather here to spend their time together in the grace of nature.


    To the front right part of the land was the millet farm, to the front left part was the goat farm, to the small rear right part was the practice area and to the other was the pond.


    "I know you''ve been here many times, Ju Feng, and you have seen the landscape many times. Today I want you to enjoy the scenery in a different way. Your grandfather already taught you about humility. The farms showed you to claim nothing about your talents or any other benefits you have above others but rather consider them to be the grace and gifts of creation."


    "There are three things I want you to keep in your mind, Ju Feng. Humility, courage and discipline. It takes courage to show humility. Courage to know when you are wrong, courage to ask for help, courage to seek advice, courage to open your heart to learn. Courage to know when, how and why to stand up for yourself and for others. Courage to help you respect the lives of others."


    Pointing her finger towards the right side, she continued.


    "Look at the practice area, that is where we train in martial arts and mystical arts. We practice them to be able to defend ourselves and people we care about, still, they are arts that can take lives. It takes courage to NOT take lives of people even your enemies. All lives are precious. Discipline will let you keep these in your mind. You have to discipline your mind not to forget all these, Ju Feng."


    "Thank you grandma, I won''t forget them, I promise."


    Moving towards one of the stone stools, Zhang Wang Jing glanced at her grandson and gestured towards the stools.


    "Come and have a seat."


    She took out a mug of milk and two cups from her spatial sac. The mug was inscribed with runes to prevent milk from getting spoilt. She filled the two cups and gave one to him.


    "Thank you grandma, that''s why I love you."


    Said Ju Feng, with eyes and nose crinkling.


    "Aha."


    Zhang Wang Jing grinned widely, her eyes set on her grandson.


    "I have a gift for you, Ju Feng. I bought it for you in advance before you were born."


    She took out the crystal pagoda and gave it to her grandson.


    "This is beautiful grandma, what is it called?"


    Ju Feng asked curiously.


    "A pagoda. They are used for meditation. They calm the mind and frame it for meditation. But, this one is different or told so, anyway. It''s said to be a gate to seven realms. They are filled with different amazing treasures. All you need to do, is to continue meditating in the presence of the pagoda, anywhere you are. And the gate to the seven realms with treasures will open to you."


    Ju Feng was totally jawed. He was staring with raised eyebrows at the pagoda. He couldn''t believe what he was hearing. Seven realms! Treasures! He was only five years old, but his grandma already placed a huge responsibility on him. He set his jaws tight and with a grimly determined face, he gleamed at his grandmother and fell to his knees with his head bowed.


    "Thank you grandma, I won''t disappoint you. I promise to work hard."


    "I know. A step at a time. I''m already very happy with you."


    Meanwhile, Zhang Wang Jing went to look for the others to discuss the developments. They had laid a foundation ¡ª a receiving heart ¡ª that they hoped would help him to discern for himself in the future. When a child was growing up, many other things would snake their ways into the young heart. Only a good foundation could, probably, help. From now on, they could only hope his mind stayed unyielding to life''s negativity.


    Seconds later, she found the others in the cultivation chamber.


    "He''s now ready."


    Zhang Wang Jing nodded her head in confirmation as she looked at them.


    "True. His mind is really remarkable for his age."


    Zhang Li Qiang smilingly agreed.


    "He has a very patient and receiving heart. It''s the perfect time to commence his training. What do you say, Xiu Ying?"


    "You are my parents. If you agreed, then yes. His body is so full of energy and the Chi energy in his dantian is already more than the average. Yes, we should commence his training."


    They all agreed to start his training the following day.


    That night, Ju Feng dreamt of a world of ethereal lights of many colours. The following morning, he woke up to his hand holding the crystal pagoda firmly to his c.h.e.s.t. He couldn''t remember when he fell asleep and how he was still holding the pagoda in his hands. He quickly cleaned his mouth with a willow twig soaked in salt water and washed his face before dressing up.


    "Good morning ma, grandma, grandpa."


    "Good morning son."


    "Good morning to our grandson."


    His grandparents responded in unison.


    "Did you sleep well?"


    Asked Zhang Xiu Ying with a raised brow and amused look.


    "I slept well, ma. I even dreamt of beautiful lights."


    "That was a peaceful mind, son. A truly clear mind. That''s why you need to meditate more."


    "Yes. Meditation unlocks the mind, Ju Feng. It''s truly like beautiful lights. Very peaceful indeed."


    "We have something important to tell you, Ju Feng."


    Voiced Zhang Li Qiang with a bright smile to the anxious look of his grandson."Your training will start from today."


    "We will be taking turn to train you in Chi cultivation, martial arts and mystical arts."


    Zhang Wang Jing quipped in. She smiled at her daughter who followed queue and moved closer to her son, placing a hand on his shoulder.


    "After eating your breakfast, you will follow your grandpa for your martial art training. After your martial training, you will follow your grandma for your mystical art training. And when you are through with your grandma, you will come with me for your Chi cultivation."


    Ju Feng felt as if his heart would explode into a million fragments. He looked at his mother and grandparents with teary eyes before tilting his head backward with a yell.


    "YES!"


    Then fell to his knees. He too would one day fly on a sword like his grandpa, walk on air like his grandma and be like his mother with flowers of feathers.


    "I will work very hard. I won''t disappoint you."

 Chapter 8 - Coming Of Age [3]

    "Martial arts."


    Zhang Li Qiang clasped his arms behind his body as he stood firmly on the ground, contemplating the difficulties and obstacles that a cultivator would face to become a true martial artist. His gaze was unwaveringly fixed on his grandson who was standing in front of him, bare-c.h.e.s.ted and with a display of absolute seriousness on his face. He knew about the massive effort and energy that martial arts really required.


    Total tranquility and control of the inner aggression, pain and even fear, were needed by a cultivator in order to become a true martial artist. This was the reason why the Dao principles of martial arts placed greater importance on complete tranquility and control.


    Emotions and reactions were major problems facing a martial artist. That was why martial arts had been regarded as a mental sparring competition with the inner opponent. Once a martial artist was able to control the emotions and reactions in a rational way during combat, the opposition''s variant attacks would be much more easier to face. The Dao principles of the martial arts included moral ways that showed these principles as a way of life for all martial artists.


    "These are guides you must follow when you are preparing for a combat, and during a combat. They have been arranged in systems that will make it much more easier to learn. Ju Feng, you must know one important thing about martial art. All these systems, although they made it easier, martial arts still demanded complete control and focus."


    Zhang Li Qiang observed the state of his grandson keenly before nodding his head in approval. He turned towards the direction of the combat dummies that were stationed on the right and sighed softly, before continuing his talk.


    "In combat, they will let you understand and determine how to take full advantage of any situation, when it''s necessary. And they will also help you to avoid inflicting harm on yourself and others when practicing."


    Zhang Li Qiang raised up three fingers as he glanced at his grandson.


    "There are three Dao martial arts principles. Any martial artist who has not trained in all of these three principles is not considered as a complete or true martial artist."


    With his raised fingers, one after the other, Zhang Li Qiang indicated the numbers.


    "They are spiritual principle, mental principle and physical principle. Although they are divided into basics, forms, weapons, stances, meditation, Chi and applications, they must be learned together. For you to be a true martial artist, your body must learn the physicality while your soul must learn the mental and spiritual aspects of it. Martial arts must flow freely without you being conscious of it. A true heart of martial art, a true heart of Dao. That''s the level I want you to reach, Ju Feng."


    Zhang Li Qiang who was walking towards one side of the training ground, suddenly turned around sharply.


    "Back to the basics!"


    He stared at his grandson who was readjusting himself to stand firmer and be more focused.


    "The basics are the beginning steps and very important part of any martial training. You cannot progress to the more advanced stages without them. They will enhance your upper body, lower body and core strength. In turn, these enhancement will help you to improve your punching power, kicking power and others."


    "You will start with the basics."


    Jufeng nodded vigorously with his focused eyes on his grandfather who looked at him with an easy smile.


    "You have great strenght in your body, we will start by gradually bringing out your true strength. You will be using the general trueworld bodyweight technique. And today, we will focus on your upper body strength training since it will help your upper body to generate stronger punches and grappling power. Let''s start."


    Zhang Li Qiang taught his grandson the trueworld bodyweight technique. He started his grandson on his body mass as the source of weight, before gradually increasing the weight by adding external masses of stones to his body weight.


    "This will strengthen the muscles in your c.h.e.s.t, shoulders, back and arms."


    Ju Feng continued the training of his upper body strength without resting. His strength level was unbelievable for such a young age. Twice, his grandfather added more stone mass that surpassed his grandson''s age level, but his grandson kept on practicing the technique without stopping under the weight.


    "His strength is rather high for his age. So much strength. By the time..."


    Zhang Li Qiang trailed off smiling as he nodded his head in acknowledgement. All their past efforts were coming to fruition. It had been costly and time consuming but worth every bit of it. After training for four hours, Zhang Li Qiang stopped his grandson and gave him one Bloodroot medicinal pill. Since he had not started sensing and gathering Chi, the blue crystalline would not make any difference on his strength recovery.


    As soon as he consumed the medicinal pill, soothing energy from the medicinal pill flowed through his body, replenishing and strengthening his body. He felt like he could carry the whole world on his head after his exhausted body had been fully restored.


    "Grandpa, my body! I don''t feel tired anymore."


    "Hehehe, let''s continue your training for a bit more time then."


    After training for another two hours, his grandfather gestured for him to stop.


    "We''ll stop here for today and continue tomorrow. For daily balance, you need to train with your grandmother and mother."


    "Okay, grandpa. Thank you."


    Cupping his hands, Ju Feng bowed to his waist in deep respect to his grandfather and martial master. Zhang Li Qiang only smiled and nodded his head in satisfaction with his grandson frame of mind. If a mind was on the right path then cultivation would be easier and faster.


    They made their way back to the cave, where Zhang Wang Jing and Zhang Xiu Ying were preparing the goat milk for sale at the market. Zhang Li Qiang made his way to his chamber, leaving Jufeng with his mother and grandmother. After finishing with the milk, Zhang Xiu Ying left for the market while Zhang Wang Jing took Ju Feng to the pool side, since it was her turn to train her grandson.


    The pool was in its peaceful state and the area sorrounding it was quiet too. She did a quick spin-around and smiled brightly. All forms of nature are wonderful. Looking at her grandson, she gleamed happily as she recollected the memories of the past. She had thought she would never have a child in her life, but somehow, she did. And when she had believed she would never set her eyes on a grandchild, here stood one in front of her. How could nature not be wonderful?


    "Mystical arts are essence fundamentals. Do you know what that means, Jufeng? It means without essence, there would be no mystical arts. Essence is the ultimate nature of any existing entity. Simply, it''s your life-force and you cannot exist without it. Since you cannot practice mystical arts without your Chi essence, I will tell you more about it."


    "Due to the laws of creation regarding incarnation, mortal soul is always in a limbo. Because of this, the essence energy is scattered all over the body and because of this, it continuously leaked out of the body into the surrounding. The only way to stop this essence leakage and the short existence of the mortal body, was to gather this essence together in a place in your body called the dantian. This will also gradually bring your soul out of limbo into manifestation."


    "There is Chi in your body, Ju Feng. But it''s not organized. This is because you are still a mortal and not a cultivator. But now that you have started on the path of cultivation, you will soon be able to gather your Chi into your dantian. This is a step into knowing the power of essence and you will be able to form a nascent soul in time. In the world of cultivation, cultivators strive to form a nascent soul which was the true stage of immortality. Unless somebody or something kills you, you will live for eternity."


    Zhang Wang Jing observed her grandson as she contemplated.


    "Now Ju Feng, I will explain to you how Chi essence which is your life-force, connects to mystical arts. There are elements in our Chi essence and these elements are used to produce mystical arts. Although we manifest different types of these elements, there are four basic elements from which others stemmed out. These four are the primary states of matter. Do you know what the four elements are, Ju Feng?"


    "Fire, air, terra and water."


    Came the answers in quick succession from Ju Feng who continued to look at his grandmother with a grim seriousness.

 Chapter 9 - Lunar Festival

    Throughout the month that followed, Ju Feng was spending more time cultivating his soul and vigorously practicing his martial arts. He had resolved not to disappoint his mother and grandparents, but rather, to make them proud in all things.


    Everyday, he practiced martial arts from morning till the afternoon, mystical arts from the afternoon till evening and cultivation technique till late in the night. These extensive trainings were having a massive effect on his development.


    In martial arts, he was focusing more on the Shifting Heavens hand technique since It was not an element affiliated technique, but a technique that relied on the chi energy inside the body. Although he was still at the initial stages of swordsmanship, he shifted his attention to hand combat which was more easier to learn.


    His training in the mystical arts had continued with him using the Soul Pith technique making his soul gained more awareness and got more connected to his affiliated elements.


    Meanwhile, he was still at the early stage of Chi refining in cultivation, but using the astral primal technique had increased the quantity and quality of Chi in his body to an alarming state.


    As the festival date got nearer, there was great happiness in the air as the villages were gripped in the celebration mood, preparing food and drinks to be shared with others. Lunar dumplings made of rice, lunar cakes of millet, lunar grubs of moonbugs and lunar milk from the mountain yaks, were some of the treaties that were being arranged for the festival.


    Ju Feng was extremely anxious to see what a major festival would look like as the following day would be the beginning of the lunar festival. The villages headmen, designated village elders and the nascent soul cultivators would all be there. However, if there were no nascent souls in a village, golden core cultivators would be representing the village. And since it was an open festival, any villager who could also make the trip was a highly welcomed.


    He had never seen a major festival before talkless of one involving all the nine villages, hence, he had been preparing for the day. At one corner of the room, was his folded the new robe, given to him by his mother. All these were creating enxiety in him which he tried to aleviate through meditation, but after a while, he slowly slept off.


    The following morning, he woke up very early and cleaned himself before putting on his new robe. As a special day, there would be no form of training on this day. He arrived in the living chamber as his mother and grandmother were preparing the morning food, and the ones for the festival.


    "Good morning ma, grandma."


    "Good morning, son."


    "Good morning, my grandson."


    Zhang Wang Jing smiled before pointing to her grandson''s robe.


    "Is that a new robe you have on?"


    "Yes grandma. Ma just got them for me."


    He smiled gleamingly while patting his robe. His conversation with his grandma was cut short by Zhang Xiu Ying who set the prepared food on the table before reaching for the basket.


    "That''s the last one, ma."


    The lunar plain was at the center of the nine villages which was over seventy miles from their village. As a special ocassion''s day, they decided to ride their swords which quickly turned to streaks of lights as they sped towards the plain.and in a matter of seconds, they arrived at the lunar plain.


    Alighting from their swords after arriving in a matter of seconds, they quickly located headman Huan Yu and the section for their village containing needed cultivators and other villagers. As they headed in the direction of headman Huan, they continued exchanging greetings with the people they met from other villages who were happy to be there.


    It was a joyful day and everybody was in great spirit. Afterall, this only happened every thousand year. And all the villagers continued to exchange numerous food and other gifts they had prepared, as the festivity''s happy mood kept on increasing. Really, it was a special ocassion.


    "Let me introduce the two of you to the other dignitaries according to our tradition. Please follow me."


    Voiced Huan Yu before moving ahead of the two nascent cultivators ¡ª Zhang Xiu Ying and Chu Shang Wu ¡ª who easily followed and kept up with him, as he continued to address them.


    "Lady Zhang Xiu Ying. I know this is your first time witnessing this festival, but I believe you''ve already heard about it before. Nevertheless, I will reiterate it to you. This festival is a way of promoting unity and harmony among the nine villages, and at the same time, making them work harder in preparing the future generations. The nine villages were formed by nine siblings of the same ancestral lineage. Skyspring, Redeagle, Rainwater, Windfall, Fountainfox, Yellowbay, Solarpeak, Wallmount and Mountaincrust. Being siblings, they looked for ways to stay united."


    He stopped for a second and glanced at Zhang Xiu Ying before smoothing the sleeves of his robe.


    "So, they created the lunar festival. The siblings discovered that every thousand years, when the nine orbital stars aligned with the moon, it would cause a reaction at top of the lunar mountain. It creates the floating lunar stone ¡ª radiant stones that shine for a thousand years. Although they were just ordinary light stones, they determine the ranking of the nine villages. The first lunary to come back will make his or her village to be the number one ranked village and it goes on like that. Just to let you know, we ranked fourth the last time."


    Huan Yu looked sideways with a bright smile.


    "The first day of the festival, like today, is for a friendly competition among the villages. Before this day, each village will determine its representative known as lunary who must be at the Zhuji stage. Each of these lunaries will gather here at the lunar plain. At the sound of the gong, they will race to the top of the mountain to collect one lunar stone and return here. The main test is at the top of the mountain where there''s a mist that affects the mind of lower cultivators. However, the Zhuji stage cultivators can withstand it, but they will be greatly slowed down. That''s why we prepare our lunaries properly for our villages'' honors."


    He halted for a few seconds when he saw some recognizable faces before speaking rapidly.


    "And as part of the tradition, you may be asked for some friendly spars. It''s really good because it will raise your prestige as a nascent soul cultivator and the honor of our village."


    "I can manage with that."


    Voiced Zhang Xiu Ying with a nod of her head as she glanced at Chu Shang Wu who was following the conversation without any words. His gaze was keenly set on the nascent soul cultivators ahead.


    First was Fountainfox. The village headman was Jiang Bin, a peak-stage golden core cultivator, and with him were two nascent soul cultivators. One was Tu Yun Fan, a late-stage nascent soul cultivator and an air and ice elements affiliate. While the other was Yun Wu You, also a late stage nascent soul cultivator and a water element affiliate.


    Away from Fountainfox dignitaries, they were introduced to the other village headmen and their nascent soul cultivators or otherwise.


    Four of the villages ¡ª Fountainfox, Rainwater, Skyspring and Redeagle ¡ª had two nascent soul cultivators each. Another four villages ¡ª Windfall, Yellowbay, Solarpeak and Mountaincrust ¡ª each had one nascent soul cultivator and one golden core cultivator. Whereas, Wallmount had no nascent soul cultivator, but came with two peak stage golden core cultivators.


    After a while, it was time for the lunar competition to begin. The lunaries were stationed at the starting points with some distance among them. At the sound of the gong, they took-off, racing up the mountain. As with the rules, no teleportation talismans and portal seals were allowed ¡ª not that they could afford to use any here, anyway. Only movement techniques or talismans were allowed to be used.


    Some lunaries used quick steps and light steps techniques, others used flash steps talismans. Zuo He, the lunary from Skyspring was using the lightning steps talisman, making him climbed the mountain at a very fast pace. Despite this, others too were at the same level with him while some were even above him.


    Although it took them few minutes ¡ª with some seconds'' interval, they all reached the top almost at the same time. Once they entered the mist, they lost sight of one another which caused them not much panick. They all knew what was involved, hence, they had all prepared adequately beforehand.


    Some distance from the base of the mountain, all the delegates from the nine villages were monitoring the situation with the lunaries, using their divine and spiritual sights. They could, clearly, see what was happening around the mountain and were monitoring the situation to avoid any foul play, and to handle any danger that could arose.


    "Hehehe. Celebrations! We love celebrations too. Let''s celebrate together! ATTACK!!!."


    One of the four daemon lords screamed the command at the demon warriors. The demons, covered in shimmering dark energy and brandishing radiant obsidian sabers, started moving in the direction of the delegates with terrifying speed. Atrament energy was not from this universe and shouldn''t be here. Seeing the demons speeding in their directions, the nascent soul and jindan cultivators launched their own attacks.


    Under unrelenting and superior attack, the first wave of demons were quickly destroyed.


    The second set of demons ¡ª demon chiefs ¡ª who were much more powerful than the demon warriors, were sent forth. But instead of attacking individually, they morgued into dangerous formations of spiraling wave of atrament energy. Sensing the danger of the formations, Tu Yun Fan glanced at Chu Shang Wu with grave eyes.


    "Chu Shang Wu, I know you are looking forward to the friendly spar after the last time, you''ll probably have your chance. But for now, we have to stop those attacking formations before they find their ground."


    "Fair enough, Tu Yun Fan."


    Just like lightning mirage, the delegates engaged the demon chiefs in battle as they tried to stop them before they could gain battle momentum. It was a terrifying battle due to the demons'' strange formations being extremely difficult to break.


    With the need to protect her grandson, Zhang Wang Jing tried to use a teleportation seal to transport herself and her grandson away from the place, but she couldn''t activate it. The whole mountainous area appeared to be in a lock-down. She looked at her husband who was standing with them like a shield but had his eyes on his daughter was already battling the demons.


    They all knew she couldn''t desert a battlefield as a nascent soul cultivator. It would be a grevious dishonor to abandon her village in any serious battle.


    "Pa, please stay with ma and protect my son."


    Zhang Xiu Ying sent a booming mindvoice to her father as the noise of the pandemonium continued to escalate. With her phoenix sword in hand, she turned her attention towards Chu Shang Wu was already engaging two of the demons'' formation, along with Tu Yun Fan. She saw Chu Shang Wu, brandishing his large war hammer, smashed the ground with it as he launched a massive terra wave towards the spiraling atrament. The atrament was blasted apart, but slowly reformed with less tenacity.


    As the demons sent a vortex of dark energy towards him, he raised his war hammer, forming pillars of terra force in front of him. The vortex of raging dark energy collided with the pillars, creating a loud bang before they both dissipated in a blast. Zhang Xiu Ying arrived beside him as he was launching another attack ¡ªterra beam blast. She swiftly released her most powerful attack ¡ª the phoenix stream ¡ª the fourth stage of the phoenix inferno technique.


    The river of liquid fire joined the terra beam blast and covered the area of the spiraling darkness, disintegrating it into nothingness and badly injuring the six demon chiefs. The injured daemon chiefs were quickly destroyed by blasts of terra and fire, before they could crawl back to their masters.


    Around the mountainous area, the demons were suffering the same fate. The four daemon lords, seeing what was going on, quickly brought out some items and seals. After activating the seals, they raised their staves and formed the Void Cube. For it to be powerful enough to warp the fabric of the space-time, it was an ultimate formation, although of an unknown origin.


    Colossal mass of atrament energy, quickly sorrounded the vast area and started closing in on them. They launched counter attacks at the mass of dark energy but their attacks were effectively rebuffed. They had little or no effect on the atrament.


    "Hahaha. Stop trying. No mortal or immortal of this world can break this lock. Not even your heavenly deities. Sad, we could have continued celebrating together, but time is not on our side as you can see. Hehehe."


    Said one of the daemon kings, laughing heartily as the other three joined him.


    "We must bring this to an end now."


    The four daemon lords raised their staves higher and the obsidian skulls at the top of their staves, shone with intense blackness. The massive mass of atrament had increase in speed, and the energy coming from it was becoming incredibly overwhelming. There was no way they could survive this after giving it their all, but was still lacking.


    Zhang Xiu Ying contemplated about their lives and what could have been. She was beginning to regret bringing her son to the festival, but she couldn''t have left him at home in the first place. Afterall, it was a festival. Anyway, she would give it everything she got, even her last breath, before succ.u.mbing to the demons. She prepared herself to use her true nascent soul ¡ª her avatar. Although it was a huge risk ¡ª her true nascent soul was still young and weak ¡ª which could backfire on the her, she had no other choice. As she was about to use her avatar, everything stopped, freezing space-time in place.


    A godly force-field?


    Slowly, a tall, seemingly muscular man who was wearing a thick yellow robe, came out through an opening that suddenly formed at the base of the mountain. His shining bald head would make the solar hide. And on closer look, he had thick eye brows and yellow pupils which moved like that of an ancient predator. He was taken aback in shock when he saw the dark shimmering energy.


    "Atrament? In human world? This is not right. Energy so powerful to manifest in physical form. Not right at all."


    He continued to stare at the massive mass of atrament, slowly shaking his head.


    "This shouldn''t be here. Not in this universe, talkless of a human world."


    He waved his hand and a massive terra wave covered the dark energy in its entirety. Taking out a seal and activating it, the seal flew into the terra wave and the mass of atrament dissipated into nothingness. With eyes emitting anger, he flipped his hand and one of the demon lords appeared immediately before him.


    "Daemon, yet not daemon. There''s atrament energy inside you. How? Why are you even here in a mortal world with an energy that came from the void. Speak up!"


    "You can''t even imagine it, can you? I will never tell you anything."


    "Very well then."


    The bald man flicked his hand and with a release of earth bust, the daemon lord exploded. He continued this act until he was on the last daemon lord.


    "We are here for those two."


    The daemon lord voiced, pointing to Zhang Xiu Ying and Ju Feng.


    "The boy cultivator, in particular."


    "Why?"


    "We only have our instructions. We don''t ask why."


    "Mhm."


    Whatever the reason behind this, it was surely of no good. He contemplated as he took a step forward and appeared in front of Zhang Xiu Ying. Standing in front of her, he shook his head as he released his force-field on the area.


    "A demigod. Your life force is really powerful and solid, however, you should be stronger than this. I truly don''t know why the daemons were after you and the boy, but if you remain like this, you will simply die. Whoever is after you must be a very powerful entity. It could be from any of the planes or could be from the void, although, I doubt that. Why would an entity from the void be after you? Anyway, atrament is one of the deadliest energy in the void, and it''s used by extremely dangerous entities. Know this, when you are attacked by the atrament, the inside of your body will instantly decompose into black liquid, and your soul will be ripped from the body becoming part of atrament. Avoid this at all cost."


    He flipped his sleeves and produced two white stones, giving one to Zhang Xiu Ying.


    "Terra''s light. It will keep atrament and other total dark energies, away from you for a period of time. When any of these energy nears you, it will flare brightly and that''s a warning to you. This is a gift to you as a true demigod."


    With a glance around, he discovered that few villagers had been killed, but no nascent soul or golden core cultivator was killed. He shrugged before looking at the boy with the threads of karmic virtues around him. Although he couldn''t say what exactly, there was something about the boy that drew his attention. His virtues? Surely something.


    "Who is the boy?"


    "He''s my son."


    Zhang Xiu Ying replied mildly, despite slightly trembling inside. They should have been dead by now, dead. But somehow, they were saved by this exceedingly powerful man. Although he couldn''t be a god ¡ª since no god''s image could be that powerful ¡ª he was definitely an immortal beyond the mortal plane. There was surely an ancient aura about him.


    "Senior, thank you so much for saving us. We are all in your debt."


    He gently waved-off her words.


    "No. You are not in my debt. I was around and did what was necessary."


    He took another step and apeared in front of Zhang Li Qiang, Zhang Wang Jing and Ju Feng. He watched Ju Feng for some seconds, then gave him the other stone.


    "Terra''s light against the dark energy and the likes. Take it. A gift to you for your virtues."


    "Thank you senior, sir."


    Receiving the stone, Ju Feng bowed deeply from his waist, receiving acknowledgement from the bald entity.


    "Hm. Be stronger and gain more knowledge. Only by knowing what you are really facing can you truly confront it. Come visit in the future."


    "Senior, forgive me for asking. Who are you?"


    Asked one of the village headmen respectfully.


    "You can call me Primus. For billions of years, this place has been my home. I was here when there was no living soul in this world. When the nine siblings came."


    A titan lord!!!


    "Thank you, lord Primus."


    "No need. It was simply necessary."


    Primus let out a soft breath and turned to Chu Shang Wu.


    "Impressive terra force. Maybe we can exchange pointers in the future?"


    And with that, he disappeared back into the mountain, leaving no traces behind.


    Ten minutes later, the first of the lunaries started to descend the mountain, holding the lunar stones high in his hand.

 Chapter 9 - Coming Of Age [4]

    "Good. Fire is igneous in nature. Air is gaseous in form. Terra[soil] has nature that''s solid. And Water which is in liquid state. The root of life-force is made up of these elements. Since the life-force connects the soul to the body, the body and soul shared these elements. But because of the laws of reincarnation, the mortal soul is only connected to the life-force, which is scattered all over the mortal''s body, by a few thread. But with cultivation, the life-force can be gathered and the soul brought out of limbo making the life-force, the body and the soul, become one."


    Zhang Wang Jing spread her hands to encompass her sorrounding.


    "Look around you, my grandson. Everything in the universe is composed of the four elements in varying proportions and amounts. I tell you this Jufeng, elements are the basic constituents of all matter. Everything. These four elements formed the foundation of the Dao conception of the universe. The first creation was made out of the elements of matter. Even your body is composed of the four elements.


    She placed her hand on Jufeng''s shoulder and smiled as she tapped gently on the floor with her foot.


    "At the center of our world is the terra, as the planet we live on, the ground and support beneath our feet. Because of terra''s great heaviness and density, all things gravitate towards it. Running over and around the soil is Water, in the form of lakes, rivers, and oceans. Water nourishes the terra, giving it Life. Over the spheres of soil and Water is the sphere of Air, the atmosphere in which we live. Mortals relied on this air to breathe while the immortals use the air for mystical arts. And finally."


    Zhang Wang Jing turned her palm upward and a tongue of fire manifested.


    "Fire lights up the Sun, the moon and the stars in the celestial firmament. Fire has brilliance and spirit and it symbolizes the Life Force within us. The mortal body, your body, is made up of the four elements in varying proportions. Some elements are more dominant in our bodies than others. For some cultivators, it can be one element that''s more dominant than the rest while in others, it could be more than one dominant elements. While in some cultivators, it''s the variants of the four basic elements. Like the lightning element. However, one thing is clear, all souls are in affinity with the elements. The Chi energy and elemental energies in the dantian formed the essence fundamentals. These are the fundamentals that transform the state of the soul into a mystical one."


    Zhang Wang Jing shook her head and sighed.


    "Your grandmother is in the evanesce core stage and still have a long way to go before forming a true soul. I know my element affinity is fire and I can draw on its power but not as a true nascent soul. Your mother already formed her nascent soul, maybe she can show you what it looks like, one day."


    Zhang Wang Jing touched her grandson on the head and c.h.e.s.t while looking at him affectionately. She knew the road ahead was going to be difficult, but she couldn''t wait for her grandson to begin his path towards immortality.


    "But today, I will teach you the serenity of the soul. Although, your soul is in limbo, you are still connected to it by few threads. I want you to realize that although our universe appears to be expanding, we are cosmically connected. This connection has an impact on the very reason that we are who we are. Serenading the soul will put it in a state of peace. With this calmness, comes enlightenment of the soul. The first step is for your soul to realise that it''s in limbo. Then, to gradually come out of it and that''s the reason for all these training we are giving you.


    Zhang Wang Jing stopped and watched the reactions of her grandson who was standing as if he was in a delicate dream. She gave an easy smile and a gentle shake of her head.


    "Ju Feng, I will teach you the soul pith technique now and then the soul serenade technique later. It''s simple but very effective. These techniques are different from the astral foetal breathing technique. Unlike astral foetal used for cultivating meditation, these ones are used for the mystical arts. The elements. Our ancestors have all used it to good results. Now, let me show you how it work."


    Zhang Wang Jing showed the technique to her grandson who quickly sat down and started practicing it. He was just like his mother, strong and powerful. Her thoughts quickly went to her daughter, a full demigod with a true nascent soul immortality. She vividly recalled the nascent soul manifestation that her daughter had shown them. A taller and stronger replica of herself in a white feathered amour and two flaming wings on her back. Phoenix wings? Couldn''t be sure but it was a sight.


    She was joyfully beaming with teary eyes in this recall. How could she not be happy? From hopelessness to one filled with great potentials, it was definitely a source of happiness. A grandmother! And her grandson was growing really fast and strong too. Surely, this must be the heavens. Or, how could she explain all these? Heavens did favoured her.


    Lost in thoughts, it was already evening before she realized that time had swiftly passed by. Although Ju Feng was still practicing , she decided it was time to leave. They still had the following day and many days ahead to practice.


    Leaving the area, they arrived at the cave to see Zhang Li Qiang returning from the farm with jars of fresh milk to celebrate the beginning of Ju Feng''s long journey to immortality. His mother had already made a special food for them. Roasted yellow-green deer and a large bowl of millet, coated in the honey of the cloud honeygourd bee. These went along with the goat milk in its variants and they ate to their satisfaction. It was truly a good day, for one of their own had started his immortal cultivation. It would be hard and dangerous but surely a thing for celebration.


    And after the meal, they all raised the drink to Jufeng''s future.


    "Ma, can I come with you?"


    "Don''t be impatient, Ju Feng. Do you think I forgot about you?"


    Looking at her son''s face, she patted him on his shoulder and smiled.


    "Alright, follow me."


    They went inside the cultivation chamber and sat in lotus positions, facing each other. Zhang Xiu Ying took out a bottled elixir and gave it to his son.


    "Take a little drink out of it. It will help sooth your veins."


    After taking back the bottle from Ju Feng, Zhang Xiu Ying continued.


    "Cultivation is the way for a soul to reach eternity, without natural death. The path for a soul to be free of reincarnation. Immortality is the reason why we all practice cultivation and I can assure you that cultivation is a true way. For generations, our family has been keeping the Sapphire Sky manuscript safely secured. It has techniques for cultivation method, martial and mystical arts. The astral primal technique in the manuscript is a great advantage to us, although it''s extremely painful when practicing it. You can''t even imagine the pain as well as the advantages it brings. You need to feel and see it for yourself to understand."


    Zhang Xiu Ying observed her son and her heart was filled with compassionate affection. The road ahead for her son who was just starting cultivation, would be in the extremity if the words of the oracle were to be followed. It had been a story different with her. She had been fortunate to be born on the path of cultivation as a demigod. So, for her son who wasn''t as fortunate, she would definitely do her best to make it a lot easier for him.


    "Before we start, I want you to remember that martial arts, mystical arts and immortal cultivation can be used to compliment one another. True cultivators use their Chi essence from cultivation to perform their mystical arts. And in turn, they use mystical arts to provide the power of elementals for their martial arts. Mystical arts deal with the life-force by bringing out the elemental energies hidden in it. Hence, a true cultivator will know all the three aspects. Let''s start. Since you are already familiar with the fetal breathing method from the w.o.m.b, let''s begin with you sensing the Chi energy in your body."


    Zhang Xiu Ying glanced at her son and started talking in a quieter and slower tone.


    "Close your eyes, now, start breathing the way I showed you."


    Ju Feng shut his eyes and started using the fetal breathing method of the astral primal technique. Like all embryos, he had been using the fetal breathing method when he was still in the w.o.m.b. This was a welcomed continuation which was much appreciated.


    "As you continue to breathe, you will feel a sensation in your body, like energy. Let me know when you feel it."


    Few hours later.


    "Now that you can sense the Chi in your body, just let the energy flow in your body.


    Ju Feng continued to train diligently at a steady pace for the following three years. Physically, he was growing stronger, although he was not getting bigger like the first four years after his birth. In martial arts, he had reached the Yinying level of the silver eagle and had finished learning the basics and was almost done with the stances. In the mystical arts, he discovered that he had traces of element energy but couldn''t determine them yet. And in immortal cultivation, he was at the middle stage of Juchi, the gathering of Chi.


    The Astral primal technique was gradually and unceasingly enlarging his dantian and meridians. The fragments of blue crystalline he was consuming kept on supplying his dantian with Chi energy that he was circulating through the meridians. The heart of his path of cultivation.

 Chapter 10 - Coming Of Age [5]

    Ju Feng had just reached the martial arts'' Yinying stage after three years of intense training. Although this was just a level above the beginner, it was the silver eagle stage of the martial arts. He had just finished learning various stances of hand combats from his grandfather. Despite having a long way to go in his hand martial training, he would be moving on to swordsmanship to have a balance.


    With all readiness, he steadily walked up to his grandfather, who was checking the defensive arrays that were protecting the cave. He looked a little grown as he walked, probably due to his physique which resembled that of a twelve year old. His stature was over five feet tall with bones as strong as a cave bear, and skin as thick as a bark hide. The senses in his eyes, nose and ears, were also growing keener as he engrossed himself in hard training.


    "Good morning grandpa."


    "Ju Feng!. A very good morning to you too. I guess that means you are ready for your morning training?"


    "Yes grandpa, I even woke up ealier today to prepare."


    "Mhm. I can see that. Then, let''s go."


    Arriving at the training center, Zhang Li Qiang produced a sword-shaped wood replica and gave it to his grandson.


    "Swordsmanship means the abilities of a martial artist to use the sword properly."


    Zhang Li Qiang materialised his own sword, the Skyfire. Made from white nephrite with the core of a white wyvern at its centre, this was a beautiful white sword. He glanced at his grandson as he performed a few rhythmic swings.


    "True words I tell you, my grandson. Sword is a weapon of blade that can look beautiful and delicate, but in the hand of a swordsman, it''s a deadly weapon. This is the reason why a martial artist must be mentally and spiritually prepared. Proper training must be taken by a cultivator to be a true swordsman. Know this Jufeng, it takes a true swordsman to know when to draw a sword and when not to. You do not draw your sword for every little things. You draw your sword when it''s absolutely necessary and you are left with no other alternative."


    With his brows furrowed tightly together, Zhang Li Qiang stared extensively at his grandson and slowly asked.


    "Ju Feng, which one is easier, to destroy or to make?"


    "To destroy something is easier, grandpa."


    "Yes, it is easier to destroy. But to make? It can take forever. This is where the nature of a heart comes in. How can a violent and easy to anger heart understand the true nature of the universe? It takes a calm and patient heart. Now, let''s start and I will need your extra focus and seriousness. Alright?"


    His unyielding stare on his grandson who quickly replied with a focused gaze.


    "Yes, grandpa."


    "The basic defense moves involve blocking and stepping. This move is voiding. It''s a defensive move used to step either forward, backward, or sideways, out of the sword''s attack range like this. Remember, voiding a slash involves the same concept as voiding a thrust, with the added element of the arc of attack instead of the line of attack. Uppercuts are voided by dropping the blade to your side."


    Zhang Li Qiang started displaying the techniques by moving his feet back and forth, while watching his grandson to see if he was following his moves according to the steps. After confirming his grandson''s grasp of the moves, he nodded and changed his posture.


    "Now, we proceed to stepping. If your back foot passes your front foot in a passing step, it''s a burst. If your front foot passes your back foot in a passing step, it''s a lunge."


    Zhang Li Qiang continued to put himself in different postures as he directed his grandson into the proper positions.


    "Stances. The ox ward is a stance. You put the left foot forward with the sword held close to your face and aimed towards the upper regions of your opponent''s body. Another stance is the the plow ward. This one, you put your right foot forward and place the sword near your knees, with the blade aimed at your opponent''s c.h.e.s.t. And the third one, is the the fool ward. For this one, you put your left foot forward with the sword aimed towards the ground in front of your left foot."


    Satisfied with the progress of his grandson, Zhang Li Qiang swiftly changed the position of his sword and waited for his grandson to do the same. Seconds later, he continued with his words.


    "Now attack moves. The first one is the high blow. A vertical blow against the opponent''s head. The second is the wrath blow. You swing the sword from above, and diagonally aimed towards the opponent''s ear. The third one is the middle blow. This you do horizontally, either from left to right or right to left. The fourth one is low blow. Swinging the sword from below, and aimed towards the opponent''s arms. The fifth one is the overhead thrust. A move in which you jab the opponent with the sword, single-handedly. I need your total focus, Ju Feng."


    Zhang Li Qian continued to show Ju Feng all the sword moves. They were so immersed in training that they failed to notice the flight of time. Being eight hours ago since they started, Zhang Li Qiang stopped the training and both of them left the practice area. On their way back to the cave, Zhang Li Qiang glanced at his grandson.


    "Physical training develops body strength and health. It will surely provide you with the hardness and toughness of physique, greater mobility and agility. You will have wider abilities to perform to your strength, and the capacity to survive and thrive in a crisis. Truly I say to you Ju Feng, every man should be physically strong."


    Few minutes after getting back to the cave, Ju Feng made his way to the pool area. He sat down on a bamboo mat beside the pool with his eyes closed, feeling his inner peace as he waited for his grandmother.


    "As long as humans have lived on this planet, we have relied on water to nourish and replenish our systems physically."


    Caught off-guard, Ju Feng turned his head, sharply, to the source of the voice. Seeing his grandmother, he heaved a sigh of relief knowing she was the one. Heavens tears! He didn''t know when she arrived. It was as if his grandmother always walked on air.


    "But it also provide mental and emotional benefits as well. It is a natural progression that we feel so at peace when we get near to water. It is part of who we are. The sound and sight of water is not only soothing but can directly affect your mood and environment. The sight of a pleasant water feature can also be a source of healing and relaxing."


    With a nod of her head, Zhang Wang Jing indicated the pond to her grandson.


    "These energy are released from water by the power of nature and found in high concentrations virtually anywhere water flows. We absorb these energy with each breath we take. When you are around a pond, the air will affect your mood and heighten your ability to concentrate. It also clean the air and promote a sense of tranquility and inner peace."


    With a light energy pull, Zhang Wang Jing drew another bamboo mat and placed it opposite her grandson before sitting down in a lotus position.

 Chapter 11 - Coming Of Age [6]

    "Spiritual training develops the health and strength of the soul. It increases its ability to delay gratification and deny lower impulses in favor of higher ones. Weaknesses and temptations, are conquered by spiritual training. And most importantly, Ju Feng, it helps you to make weighty decisions with dexterous wisdom, and to willingly serve other people."


    Zhang Wang Jing moved her hand to form the shape of a human as she was speaking.


    "Your character is built in the course of your soul spiritual training, inner confrontation. Character is a set of dispositions, d.e.s.i.r.es, and habits that are slowly engraved during the struggle against your own weakness. You become more disciplined, considerate, and loving through a thousand small acts of self-control, sharing, service, friendship, and refined enjoyment."


    Waving her hand gently, Zhang Wang Jing manifested fire in the shapes of beautiful fire-flies that captured the attention of her grandson. She watched the mesmerized look on her grandson''s face as the fire-flies settled on his body without burning him.


    "If you make disciplined, caring choices, you are slowly engraving certain tendencies into your mind. You are making it more likely that you will d.e.s.i.r.e the right things and execute the right actions. If you make selfish, cruel, or disorganized choices, then you are slowly turning the soul inside yourself into something that is fragmented. You can do harm to your soul with nothing more than ignoble thoughts, even if you are not harming anyone else. But if you do behave with habitual self-discipline, you will become constant and dependable."


    With compassionate eyes, she continued to observed her grandson.


    ""Which brings us to Karma. Do you know what karma is, Ju Feng?"


    "Good and bad?"


    "Close."


    Zhang Wang Jing nooded her head with a bright smile.


    "It''s the principle behind the good and bad things we do or say. Everything you do now will have effect on your life in the future. Law of karma is a law of creation. It affects everybody in the universe. Good karma will bring good effects and bad karma will bring bad effects. We cannot escape it. That''s why having a proper frame of mind will help in cultivating good karma. Remember that every thing you do, good or bad, you will face the consequences in the future."


    Pointing to the fish in the pond, Zhang Wang Jing smiled assuringly at her grandson and continued with her words.


    "Look at the fish in the pond. Do you see the way they move about in the water peacefully? It''s in their mind to do that since they were born. Now they do that as part of their living. Everything you put in your mind from young age, will continue to grow there if you continue to nurture it. A seed will germinate and grow if properly nurtured. Now, free your mind as before and let your mind be at peace. After that, start the soul pith technique."


    Ju Feng quickly closed his eyes and freed his mind of any distractions. Gradually, just like the peaceful pond, he felt his mind at peace as he started practicing the soul pith technique. He remembered what he had discovered before, his soul was getting more and more stronger whenever he practiced this technique followed by the astral fetal breathing technique. The two techniques were from the same manuscripts, and no wonder why they complimented each other.


    The more stronger his soul, the more clearer he was seeing the universe. He continued to practice as sparse threads of positive energy continued to stream into his soul. Gradually, he was lost in meditation and saw himself being sorrounded by a faint white light and flickers of lightning. After regaining his awareness, he narrated his experience to his grandma who responded mildly.


    "That''s your astral sphere, Ju Feng. What sorrounded you are your elemental energy. Light element energy and lightning element energy. Although there are four primary elements as you are aware of, these four have many other variant elements. In your case Ju Feng, you have lightning and light, which means that you can use light but not fire, because you need heat and light to make fire. But since your affinity is not attuned to heat, you can only use the light. Same thing with lightning, you can use lightning even if you can''t conjure the mystic power of air. Light and lightning are really great energy. I''m really proud of you, my grandson."


    "But no fire grandma."


    "Yes, no fire. But you have two affinities, that''s a blessing. None of us has two affinities, not to mention lightning. It means you are special, very special. And it''s not the affinity you have that matters, it''s your heart that does. Now, lighten up and appreciate the gifts."


    "Okay, grandma. Thank you."


    Ju Feng nodded his head and smiled at his grandma. Oh, how he wanted to be able to make ribbons of fire or fire birds like his mother. He would have prefered fire to a thousand other elements. But light and lightning it is and he had to make do with them. And two of them? His smile brightened as he considered himself fortunate.


    Leaving the pond area, they walked slowly while enjoying the gift of nature. Halfway back, his grandmother told him she wanted to check the goat farm, so he decided to follow her. They collected some goat milk and headed back towards the cave.


    Several minutes later, Zhang Li Qiang was in the small book chamber, going through some manuscripts while Zhang Wang Jing and Zhang Xiu Ying were discussing about the upcoming village event. Seeing that everyone was occupied, Ju Feng quietly left for the cultivation chamber where he sat down in a lotus position and started practicing the astral primal technique. Already at this stage, his meridians were exceedingly wide and his dantian was extremely large.


    The heavenly spiritual energy was always needed in large quantity to advance in cultivation stages. Cultivators would always look for places that were rich in heavenly spiritual energy to cultivate, considering that these places helped in supplying the needed energy. But he had the blue crystallines containing pure refined chi that could replenish an exhausted dantian.


    His dantian was exceedingly large, yet, it was still absorbing the crystals energy, continuosly. The amount of Chi in his dantian was ridiculously high for a cultivator of his age and cultivation level. Right now, he only needed his elemental energy to get stronger. For in as much as he continued to connect to his affinities, it would be easier to advance in stages, he had learned.


    Not long after that, his mother found him in the cultivation chamber just as he was breaking through to the Chi refining stage ¡ª Lianchi stage ¡ª some minutes later.


    "Congratulations son, It was about time. You are now at the Chi refining stage."


    Zhang Xiu Ying sat down in front of her son, briefly staring at him with her divine sight. She watched the ripples of energy coming from his body and smiled.


    "As you refine the Chi in your body, you can continue to gather Chi into your dantian. Your grandparents and I, are still gathering Chi energy into our dantian also. My soul''s avatar will continue to benefit from the Chi that I''m still gathering. So, you can continue with your Chi gathering too."


    "Okay ma."


    "Tomorrow, there will be antique sellers displaying their goods in the market place. Do you want to come with me?"


    "Yes, Ma! I''ve not been at the market place for some time now. Thank you, ma."


    They continued to cultivate together but his mind was on the market place and the antique goods. After calling it a day, Ju Feng went to his room and crashed on his bamboo bed. He was about to sleep when he remembered his white pagoda and quickly brought it out. Still holding the pagoda in his hand, he slept off without knowing any better.


    That night, he had a strangely weird dream.

 Chapter 12 - Road To The Antiques [1]

    Ju Feng dreamt of an ancient gateway that had two, closed, stone gates. The likes he had never seen before in his eight years of existence. Both the gateway and the gates, had various runic inscriptions and symbols on them that were emitting different types of radiant colours. The exceedingly forceful runes made the gates dazzled in sparkling bright lights like the primordial solar stones, too powerful for a mortal''s n.a.k.e.d eyes.


    How could a place be like this? Giving off such a powerful radiation of lights. What, even, was this place? And these gates, where did they even lead to? Probably other worlds. Maybe, the heavenly realm itself? Could be. It would certainly worth seeing what was on the other side, as long as it wasn''t a road to his reincarnation. Pushing the thoughts to one side, he tried to take a cautious step towards the gates, but realized he couldn''t lift his legs. Caught in a fright, he was desperately trying to free his legs when a voice suddenly rang out.


    "You are just a childling, you''ll simply die."


    "Who''s there?"


    "Now, be gone."


    Ju Feng woke up frightfully startled as he hurriedly checked his body to see if it was still intact. Satisfied, he looked at his surroundings. Discovering he was still in his room inside their cave, his shoulders sagged in a soothing relief. Ah, It was just a dream, yet it felt so real. What kind of a dream was that? Too much to take a peek in his own dream? That was totally strange. Even, if he had entered and died, all he had to do was to wake up and everything would be fine.


    Anyway, a dream was still a dream. With his mind relaxed, he washed his face and went to look for his mother. Learning that she was in the cultivation chamber, he resolved to go and practice his martial arts. When he got there, he started repeating the steps and moves he had learned for the basics, stances, formations and weapons techniques.


    He was so engrossed in his hard training that he didn''t realize the arrival of his grandpa, who had watching him for some time before interrupting his training.


    "A-hem."


    "Grandpa!"


    Ju Feng beamed joyfully before realizing he was on the training ground and standing before his martial arts master. He quickly cupped his hands and bowed deeply.


    "Good morning, grandpa. I was only trying to do some practice while I wait for your arrival. I didn''t know you are already here."


    "Mhm. That''s very thoughtful of you. I have been watching you for quite a time now. Your moves are more precise and your force-field much more stronger. It shows you are really getting into the mind frame of a martial artist. You see, to be the best you can be at martial arts, you must know what it involves. Practice! Practice! Practice!"


    Zhang Li Qiang punched his palm with his right fist to mirror his emphasized words as he continued.


    "Continuous training will engrave the arts in your heart, becoming intuitive which will help you to hone the skills you have. That is how martial masters are made, Ju Feng. No matter the level you reach, always realize that you can get better, and practices will definitely make you the better."


    Uttered Zhang Li Qiang as he stared admiringly at his grandson. Afterwards, he moved to where the practice stone dummies were placed and turned to regard his grandson.


    "Today, I will start by showing you how powerful your martial art can be when you power your moves with your Chi energy. As you already know, these stone dummies are protected by talismans. That''s why they could be used for training purposes successfully since they can withstand great attacks."


    Zhang Li Qiang removed the protective talisman from one of the dummies and hit the dummy with a powerful looking strike. There was a loud muffled sound from the impact, which only rocked the stone dummy with no other visible effect.


    "That was brute strength. You can see there was little to no effect, right? But when you now add your inner force, your Chi energy, to the move, it becomes very powerful."


    "This is what cultivators do in combat. They use their Chi to power their martial arts. Although It''s true that there are spirit pills that can replenish the Chi in the body, the body can only get unrefined spiritual energy from them. The body still need to refine and condense the Chi for use, and in combat, it will be extremely difficult to refine and condense Chi when facing an opponent. The cultivator will have to use raw energy which will have effect on his dantian and meridians, or have to wait and refine the energy. And that''s where you have the advantage. But I tell you this, unless in absolute combat, try not to use your Chi. You can easily injure someone with it, especially a mortal. Do you understand?"


    "I do, grandpa."


    Zhang Li Qiang, producing a golden manuscript and some white manuscripts, gestured for his grandson to come closer.


    "This golden manuscript is our ancestral manuscript, and it contains both hand and sword techniques we have in our bloodline. There are two hand techniques. The Searing-Flame and the Shifting-Heavens hand techniques. The Shifting Heavens is not affinity related, so you can learn that one. As for it''s sword technique, it''s called the beasts inferno technique. I use the [Dragon Inferno], your grandmother uses the [Eagle Inferno] and your mother uses the [Phoenix Inferno]. We all have the fire affinity, hence we could learn it. Although you don''t have fire affinity, I will still show you the technique. They need to be in your memory, permanently engraved."


    Zhang Li Qiang placed the golden manuscript to one side and displayed the remaining manuscripts for Ju Feng to see their contents.


    "These are techniques bought, given or exchanged. Let''s check them and see the one that suits you for now."


    They went through the techniques one by one, and found the ones that suited him most after some minor tests. Since he couldn''t use the Searing Flame hand technique, they settled for the Shifting Heavens hand technique. For the sword technique, due to his lack of fire affinity and no available lightning technique, they chose the low-tier Mortal Blade as the sword technique for him because of his light affinity and it was the only light affinity technique they got.


    "When these techniques are powered by Chi, their true powers will be displayed. The sword techniques take longer to master, so, you will need to train harder and be very patient. The thing with any weapon technique is the elemental affinity of the owner."


    Zhang Lu Qiang produced his sword, Skyfire, and facing the dummies, he used the beasts'' Dragonfire ¡ª the first stage of the Dragon Inferno technique. Pressing storm of raging fire attacked the dummies in scorching flames.


    "This sword is made from white nephrite and the core of a white wyvern. As you already know, Ju Feng, wyverns and dragons are fire beasts. Therefore, I could use the core of a wyvern to make my sword. There are different sources where elemental cores can be obtained. Apart from mundane animals and normal plants with no sentience, everything else has a core. For an immortal cultivator of a particular affinity, a weapon of that particular affinity must be made for the cultivator to be able to bring out the full power of the element or elements, if he has more than one. You as a light and lightning affiliate, will need a sword made with the core of light, lightning or both energy."


    Zhang Li Qiang stopped to see the serious expression on Ju Feng''s face, then smiled.


    "There''s a good thing going for you with the level of the Chi in your body. This is the benefit we get from cultivating the astral primal technique, the effect it has on the dantian and the meridians. When you cultivate with the astral primal technique, the dantian becomes enlarged and the amount of chi it can contain becomes many times greater than that of normal cultivator''s dantian. You see, in the world of cultivation, martial art move on it''s own without chi is just a simple move when you are facing another cultivator. Your opponent will just shrug it off. Now, let me show you the moves. The hand technique first."


    Zhang Li Qiang transmitted the ancestral techniques to his grandson and showed him the moves. Immediately after the transmission, Ju Feng could already grasp the fundamentals of the techniques as they were permanently engraved in his soul. Nevertheless, for the next two hours, he continued to practice the basics of the Mortal Blade technique on his own since it wasn''t their bloodline technique.


    After training for a while, Zhang Li Qiang raised his hand to halt his grandson''s practice.


    "Ju Feng, we''ll stop here for now. The market will be opened for the antiques now. Your mother and grandmother will be waiting for us. Me and your grandmother have decided to follow the two of you to the market, maybe we can find interesting things too. You will continue with the training later."


    Leaving the training centre, they headed towards the cave where they found Zhang Wang Jing and Zhang Xiu Ying by the entrance to the cave. Few minutes later, they all left for the market place which was quite a distance due to the fact that their cave was at the extreme outskirt of the village.


    With their stage of advancements, they could have flown but came to a decision to walk using the generally popular flash-steps. Walking made them felt the comforting peace and harmony of nature.

 Chapter 13 - Road To The Antique [2]

    The market was already setup in folding stalls by the antique dealers since It was the time for the village to host the antique dealers. People enjoyed buying and selling of historic things, therefore, it was a welcomed event in villages and cities.


    As they passed through the village, they were exchanging greetings with the rest of the villagers, most of whom already knew them. Although there were villagers who didn''t know them in persons, they had heard their ancestral name before. Zhang. The people that bought the land at the edge of the village. It could even be said to be outside the village since it would take some kilometres from their cave to the next villager''s house.


    The village was buzzing with a high number of people, with many coming from other villages and nearest towns that couldn''t wait for their turn to host the antique dealers. Flooding the market area with activities, most people were either buying or selling, while some were just looking. It was really a lively and busy place.


    The Zhangs decided to split up, to make it more fun and easier looking for interesting things. Ju Feng was checking the stalls when he came upon a stall of archaic talismans. Seeing the owner ¡ª an elderly man who wore a blue and white robe ¡ª he swiftly raised his cupped hands to him with a slight bow.


    "Senior."


    The old merchant nodded in response.


    "Welcome young master. Please take a look. All are ancient items and of good values, my words on them."


    With brows knitted in utter concentration, Ju Feng slowly rummaged through the items.


    "Anything you are looking for in particular, young master?"


    "Senior, I''m looking for some technique manuscripts. I need light affinity hand technique, lightning affinity hand technique and lightning affinity sword technique."


    "Alright, slow down young mister. For you to be looking for those ones, that means you must be light and lightning double elements affiliate. You see, although good hand technique is difficult to get, you can still get it, but sword technique? Either your clan have one or you have a sword master. On the probability that your clan don''t have the one you need and you have no sword master, you can only join a sect. That''s the best and safest option for you, anyway."


    "Senior, a sect?"


    "Yes, a place where they can teach you martial arts and weapon techniques. Some of them even have ancient techniques too. It''s the best place for you to learn, if you really want to. A pity young man. But I can give you this mountain bark talisman for a low price. The best protection you can find on me. It''ll help you as a new cultivator."


    "Okay senior. How much for them?"


    "For you, it will only cost one earthian gold coin. A gift from me.."


    "Alright senior, I''ll take it."


    Ju Feng paid for it and left the stall with a slightly lifted mood. At least, he got an antique which made him happy with himself. After searching the stalls for more techniques to no avail, he began to traverse the market looking for his family. His mother who had her divine sense on, already knew that he was looking for them and with a few light steps, appeared beside him.


    "Did you manage to find anything for yourself."


    "I did, ma. I found a talisman."


    "Hm, you are really having a great time. Aren''t you?"


    Zhang Xiu Ying shook her head as he looked at her happy son who appeared to be having a good time. This place was really livelier than the previous periods, the busiest she had ever seen the place in a while. After several minutes of walking around, the two of them called it a day. They''ve seen enough of the items on the stalls and had already bought the ones that caught their interests.


    With her divine sight, Zhang Xiu Ying quickly located her parents who were talking to the village headman, Huan Yu, who was a middle-stage golden core cultivator. As with the proceedings, all villages headmen were golden core cultivators due to them being under the city lords who were nascent souls. Once a village chieftain reached the nascent soul stage, he would have to leave the village and move to the city for further arrangements.


    Although he was under the command of the dangerous and wicked lord Bao Wang, the supervisor of the Oak city, Huan Yu was a leader of good nature. His adorable character was the reason why he was much loved by the villagers. When Huan Yu saw Zhang Xiu Ying came up beside him along with her son, he smilingly gave her a slight bow. She was one of the people he held in high esteem.


    "Lady Zhang Xiu Ying."


    "Chieftain Huan Yu."


    Said Zhang Xiu Ying with a smile of her own, giving a slight bow in return.


    Huan Yu nodded in acknowledgment. He was aware of Zhang Xiu Ying nature as a demigod of the nascent soul stage, but he had never witnessed her true power before. Even, her aura was always masked. A demigod. So much power she wielded at such a young age. He shifted his glance to Zhang Xiu Ying''s left and regarded her son.


    "Young master Ju Feng."


    "Chieftain Huan Yu, sir."


    Ju Feng replied with a bow.


    "En. And I hope you are having a good day, young one."


    "I''m trying to, sir."


    Ju Feng replied, beaming with a bright smile.


    "That''s good enough for me."


    Huan Yu nodded with a smile on his face before turning towards Zhang Xiu Ying.


    "Lady Zhang Xiu Ying, I was only now telling your parents about the upcoming Lunar festival. Next month, it will be a thousand years from the last festival and our village is under compulsion to participate in it. You are one of us now, and as with tradition, we will need your presence at the lunar plain when the time comes."


    The lunar festival. Celebration of the lunar alignment in the cosmic system, an occurrence of every thousand year. The nine villages surrounding the lunar mountain, will send their lunaries ¡ª participants ¡ª to climb the mountain and get lunar stones for their villages. The festival was to promote unity and harmony among the nine villages.


    "Oh, that won''t be a problem, headman Huan Yu. You only need to let me know when it''s time."


    "That I will do, lady Zhang Xiu Ying."


    After saying their goodbyes, they left the marketplace and returned to their cave. Reaching home in great moods, they all went through their bought items, displaying them before putting them away. After they had all settled down from the excitement which lasted for several hours, Ju Feng looked at his mother and asked.


    "Ma, what do you think about me joining a sect?"


    "A sect?"


    Zhang Xiu Ying stared adoringly at her son and smiled. He was really growing up fast. How time flew!


    "Hm. Me and your grandparents have also talked about this. We believe it will be good for you to socialize with other kids from different parts of the world. Seeing the difference in human nature will gain you more experience in life. You have the foundation already. As long as you build on the foundation, you will be fine. More over, these sects have access to many manuscripts that we don''t have. You will learn a lot from them, we assure. But Ju Feng, you have to be careful there. Alright?"


    "Yes, ma."


    "We will look for a relevant one for you after the festival. However, you need to train harder for it, because you''ll have to pass their trials."


    "Thank you, ma. I will."


    Truly, how time flew.

 Chapter 14 - Lunar Festivals [1]

    Throughout the following month, Ju Feng was spending more time cultivating his soul and vigorously practicing his martial arts. He had resolved not to disappoint his mother and grandparents, but rather, to make them proud in all things.


    Everyday, he practiced martial arts from morning till the afternoon, mystical arts from the afternoon till evening and cultivation technique till late in the night. These extensive trainings were having a massive effect on his development.


    In martial arts, he was focusing more on the Shifting Heavens hand technique since It was not an element affiliated technique, but a technique that relied on the chi energy inside the body. Although he was still at the initial stages of swordsmanship, he shifted his attention to hand combat which was more easier to learn.


    His training in the mystical arts had continued with him using the Soul Pith technique making his soul gained more awareness and got more connected to his affiliated elements.


    Meanwhile, he was still at the early stage of Chi refining in cultivation, but using the astral primal technique had increased the quantity and quality of Chi in his body to an alarming state.


    As the festival date got nearer, there was great happiness in the air as the villages were gripped in the celebration mood, preparing food and drinks to be shared with others. Lunar dumplings made of rice, lunar cakes of millet, lunar grubs of moon-bugs and lunar milk from the mountain yaks, were some of the treaties that were being arranged for the festival.


    Ju Feng was extremely anxious to see what a major festival would look like as the following day would be the beginning of the lunar festival. The villages chieftains, designated village elders and the nascent soul cultivators would all be there. However, if there were no nascent souls in a village, golden core cultivators would be representing the village. And since it was an open festival, any villager who could also make the trip was a highly welcomed.


    He had never seen a major festival before talk-less of one involving all the nine villages, hence, he had been preparing for the day. At one corner of the room, was his folded the new robe, given to him by his mother. All these were creating anxiety in him which he tried to alleviate through meditation, but after a while, he slowly slept off.


    The following morning, he woke up very early and cleaned himself before putting on his new robe. As a special day, there would be no form of training on this day. He arrived in the living chamber as his mother and grandmother were preparing the morning food, and the ones for the festival.


    "Good morning ma, grandma."


    "Good morning, son."


    "Good morning, my grandson."


    Zhang Wang Jing smiled before pointing to her grandson''s robe.


    "Is that a new robe you have on?"


    "Yes grandma. Ma just got them for me."


    He smiled gleamingly while patting his robe. His conversation with his grandma was cut short by Zhang Xiu Ying who set the prepared food on the table before reaching for the basket.


    "That''s the last one, ma."


    The lunar plain was at the centre of the nine villages which was over seventy miles from their village. As a special occasion''s day, they decided to ride their swords which quickly turned to streaks of lights as they sped towards the plain. And in a matter of seconds, they arrived at the lunar plain.


    Alighting from their swords after arriving in a matter of seconds, they quickly located headman Huan Yu and the section for their village containing needed cultivators and other villagers. As they headed in the direction of headman Huan, they continued exchanging greetings with the people they met from other villages who were happy to be there.


    Standing beside Huan Yu, was the other peak-stage nascent soul cultivator in Sky-Spring village, Chu Shang Wu ¡ª the terra bane ¡ª a powerful terra element cultivator. He cordially greeted Zhang Xiu Ying due to their non-competitive relationship as nascent soul cultivators before extending greetings the other family members.


    It was a joyful day and everybody was in great spirit. After all, this only happened every thousand year. And all the villagers continued to exchange numerous food and other gifts they had prepared, as the festivity''s happy mood kept on increasing. Really, it was a special occasion.


    "Let me introduce the two of you to the other dignitaries according to the tradition. Please follow me."


    Voiced Huan Yu before moving ahead of the two nascent cultivators ¡ª Zhang Xiu Ying and Chu Shang Wu ¡ª who easily followed and kept up with him, as he continued to address them.


    "Lady Zhang Xiu Ying. I know this is your first time witnessing this festival, but I believe you''ve already heard about it before. Nevertheless, I will reiterate it to you. This festival is a way of promoting unity and harmony among the nine villages, and at the same time, making them work harder in preparing the future generations. The nine villages were formed by nine siblings of the same ancestral lineage. Sky-Spring, Red-Eagle, Rain-Water, Wind-Fall, Fountain-Fox, Yellow-Bay, Solar-Peak, Wall-Mount and Mountain-Crust. Being siblings, they looked for ways to stay united."


    He stopped for a second and glanced at Zhang Xiu Ying before smoothing the sleeves of his robe.


    "So, they created the lunar festival. The siblings discovered that every thousand years, when the nine orbital stars aligned with the moon, it would cause a reaction at top of the lunar mountain. It creates the floating lunar stone ¡ª radiant stones that shine for a thousand years. Although they were just ordinary light stones, they determine the ranking of the nine villages. The first lunary to come back will make his or her village to be the number one ranked village and it goes on like that. Just to let you know, we ranked fourth the last time."


    Huan Yu looked sideways with a bright smile.


    "The first day of the festival, like today, is for a friendly competition among the villages. Before this day, each village will determine its representative known as lunary who must be at the Zhuji stage. Each of these lunaries will gather here at the lunar plain. At the sound of the gong, they will race to the top of the mountain to collect one lunar stone and return here. The main test is at the top of the mountain where there''s a mist that affects the mind of lower cultivators. However, the Zhuji stage cultivators can withstand it, but they will be greatly slowed down. That''s why we prepare our lunaries properly for our villages'' honours."


    He halted for a few seconds when he saw some recognizable faces before speaking rapidly.


    "And as part of the tradition, you may be asked for some friendly spars. It''s really good because it will raise your prestige as a nascent soul cultivator and the honour of our village."


    "I can manage with that."


    First was Fountain-Fox. The village headman was Jiang Bin, a peak-stage golden core cultivator, and with him were two nascent soul cultivators. One was Tu Yun Fan, a late-stage nascent soul cultivator and an air and ice elements affiliate. While the other was Yun Wu You, also a late stage nascent soul cultivator and a water element affiliate.


    Away from Fountain-Fox dignitaries, they were introduced to the other village chieftains and their nascent soul cultivators or otherwise.


    Four of the villages ¡ª Fountain-Fox, Rainwater, Sky-Spring and Red-Eagle ¡ª had two nascent soul cultivators each. Another four villages ¡ª Wind-Fall, Yellow-Bay, Solar-Peak and Mountain-Crust ¡ª each had one nascent soul cultivator and one golden core cultivator. Whereas, Wall-Mount had no nascent soul cultivator, but came with two peak stage golden core cultivators.


    After a while, it was time for the lunar competition to begin. The lunaries were stationed at the starting points with some distance among them. At the sound of the gong, they took-off, racing up the mountain. As with the rules, no teleportation talismans and portal seals were allowed ¡ª not that they could afford to use any here, anyway. Only movement techniques or talismans were allowed to be used.


    Some lunaries used quick steps and light steps techniques, others used flash steps talismans. Zuo He, the lunary from Sky-Spring was using the lightning steps talisman, making him climbed the mountain at a very fast pace. Despite this, others too were at the same level with him while some were even above him.


    Although it took them few minutes ¡ª with some seconds'' interval, they all reached the top almost at the same time. Once they entered the mist, they lost sight of one another which caused them not much panic. They all knew what was involved, hence, they had all prepared adequately for the situations beforehand.


    Some distance from the base of the mountain, all the delegates from the nine villages were monitoring the situation with the lunaries, using their divine and spiritual sights. They could, clearly, see what was happening around the mountain and were monitoring the situation to avoid any foul play, and to handle any danger that could arose.


    They were watching the proceedings when a portal suddenly opened, and two legions of twenty four demons led by four daemon lords came barging through. Unlike the normal nether demons, these ones were totally different. They were taller, bigger and stronger, and their bodies were covered in blankets of atrament ¡ª shimmering blackness of corrupt dark

 Chapter 15 - Lunar Festivals [2]

    "Hehehe. Celebrations! We love celebrations too. Let''s celebrate together! ATTACK!!!."


    One of the four daemon lords screamed the command at the demon warriors. The demons, covered in shimmering dark energy and brandishing radiant obsidian sabres, started moving in the direction of the delegates with terrifying speed. Atrament energy was not from this universe and shouldn''t be here. Seeing the demons speeding in their directions, the nascent soul and Jindan cultivators launched their own attacks.


    Under unrelenting and superior attack, the first wave of demons were quickly destroyed.


    The second set of demons ¡ª demon chiefs ¡ª who were much more powerful than the demon warriors, were sent forth. But instead of attacking individually, they morgue into dangerous formations of spiralling wave of atrament energy. Sensing the danger of the formations, Tu Yun Fan glanced at Chu Shang Wu with grave eyes.


    "Chu Shang Wu, I know you are looking forward to the friendly spar after the last time, you''ll probably have your chance. But for now, we have to stop those attacking formations before they find their ground."


    "Fair enough, Tu Yun Fan."


    Just like lightning mirage, the delegates engaged the demon chiefs in battle as they tried to stop them before they could gain battle momentum. It was a terrifying battle due to the demons'' strange formations being extremely difficult to break.


    With the need to protect her grandson, Zhang Wang Jing tried to use a teleportation seal to transport herself and her grandson away from the place, but she couldn''t activate it. The whole mountainous area appeared to be in a lock-down. She looked at her husband who was standing with them like a shield but had his eyes on his daughter was already battling the demons.


    They all knew she couldn''t desert a battlefield as a nascent soul cultivator. It would be a grievous dishonour to abandon her village in any serious battle.


    "Pa, please stay with ma and protect my son."


    Zhang Xiu Ying sent a booming mind-voice to her father as the noise of the pandemonium continued to escalate. With her phoenix sword in hand, she turned her attention towards Chu Shang Wu who was already engaging two of the demons'' formation, along with Tu Yun Fan. She saw Chu Shang Wu, brandishing his large war hammer, smashed the ground with it as he launched a massive terra wave towards the spiralling atrament. The atrament was blasted apart, but slowly reformed with less tenacity.


    As the demons sent a vortex of dark energy towards him, he raised his war hammer, forming pillars of terra force in front of him. The vortex of raging dark energy collided with the pillars, creating a loud bang before they both dissipated in a blast. Zhang Xiu Ying arrived beside him as he was launching another attack ¡ªTerra Carver. She swiftly released her own most-powerful attack ¡ª the Phoenix Descent ¡ª the third stage of the phoenix inferno technique.


    Around the mountainous area, the demons were suffering the same fate. The four daemon lords, seeing what was going on, quickly brought out some items and seals. After activating the seals, they raised their staves and formed the Void Cube. For it to be powerful enough to warp the fabric of the space-time, it was an ultimate formation, although of an unknown origin.


    Colossal mass of atrament energy, quickly surrounded the vast area and started closing in on them. They launched counter attacks at the mass of dark energy but their attacks were effectively rebuffed. They had little or no effect on the atrament.


    "Hahaha. Stop trying. No mortal or immortal of this world can break this lock. Not even your heavenly deities. Sad, we could have continued celebrating together, but time is not on our side as you can see. Hehehe."


    Said one of the daemon kings, laughing heartily as the other three joined him.


    "We must bring this to an end now."


    The four daemon lords raised their staves higher and the obsidian skulls at the top of their staves, shone with intense blackness. The massive mass of atrament had increase in speed, and the energy coming from it was becoming incredibly overwhelming. There was no way they could survive this after giving it their all, but was still lacking.


    Zhang Xiu Ying contemplated about their lives and what could have been. She was beginning to regret bringing her son to the festival, but she couldn''t have left him at home in the first place. After all, it was a festival. Anyway, she would give it everything she got, even her last breath, before succ.u.mbing to the demons. She prepared herself to use her true nascent soul ¡ª her avatar. A


    lthough it was a huge risk ¡ª her true nascent soul was still young and weak ¡ª which could backfire on the her, she had no other choice. As she was about to use her avatar, everything stopped, freezing space-time in place.


    A godly force-field?


    "Atrament? In human world? This is not right. Energy so powerful to manifest in physical form. Not right at all."


    He continued to stare at the massive mass of atrament, slowly shaking his head.


    "This shouldn''t be here. Not in this universe, talk-less of a human world."


    He waved his hand and a massive terra wave covered the dark energy in its entirety. Taking out a seal and activating it, the seal flew into the terra wave and the mass of atrament dissipated into nothingness. With eyes emitting anger, he flipped his hand and one of the demon lords appeared immediately before him.


    "Daemon, yet not daemon. There''s atrament energy inside you. How? Why are you even here in a mortal world with an energy that came from the void. Speak up!"


    "You can''t even imagine it, can you? I will never tell you anything."


    "Very well then."


    The bald man flicked his hand and with a release of earth bust, the daemon lord exploded. He continued this act until he was on the last daemon lord.


    "We are here for those two."


    "The boy cultivator, in particular."


    "Why?"


    "We only have our instructions. We don''t ask why."


    "Mhm."


    Whatever the reason behind this, it was surely of no good. He contemplated as he took a step forward and appeared in front of Zhang Xiu Ying. Standing in front of her, he shook his head as he released his force-field on the area.


    "A demigod. Your life force is really powerful and solid, however, you should be stronger than this. I truly don''t know why the daemons were after you and the boy, but if you remain like this, you will simply die. Whoever is after you must be a very powerful entity. It could be from any of the planes or could be from the void, although, I doubt that. Why would an entity from the void be after you? Anyway, atrament is one of the deadliest energy in the void, and it''s used by extremely dangerous entities. Know this, when you are attacked by the atrament, the inside of your body will instantly decompose into black liquid, and your soul will be ripped from the body becoming part of atrament. Avoid this at all cost."


    He flipped his sleeves and produced two white stones, giving one to Zhang Xiu Ying.


    "Terra''s light. It will keep atrament and other total dark energies, away from you for a period of time. When any of these energy nears you, it will flare brightly and that''s a warning to you. This is a gift to you as a true demigod."


    With a glance around, he discovered that few villagers had been killed, but no nascent soul or golden core cultivator was killed. He shrugged before looking at the boy with the threads of karmic virtues around him. Although he couldn''t say what exactly, there was something about the boy that drew his attention. His virtues? Surely something.


    "Who is the boy?"


    "He''s my son."


    Zhang Xiu Ying replied mildly, despite slightly trembling inside. They should have been dead by now, dead. But somehow, they were saved by this exceedingly powerful man. Although he couldn''t be a god ¡ª since no god''s image could be that powerful ¡ª he was definitely an immortal beyond the mortal plane. There was surely an ancient aura about him.


    "Senior, thank you so much for saving us. We are all in your debt."


    He gently waved-off her words.


    "No. You are not in my debt. I was around and did what was necessary."


    He took another step and appeared in front of Zhang Li Qiang, Zhang Wang Jing and Ju Feng. He watched Ju Feng for some seconds, then gave him the other stone.


    "Terra''s light against the dark energy and the likes. Take it. A gift to you for your virtues."


    "Thank you senior, sir."


    Receiving the stone, Ju Feng bowed deeply from his waist, receiving acknowledgement from the bald entity.


    "Hm. Be stronger and gain more knowledge. Only by knowing what you are really facing can you truly confront it. Come visit in the future."


    "Senior, forgive me for asking. Who are you?"


    Asked one of the village headmen respectfully.


    "You can call me Lord Primus. For billions of years, this place has been my home. I was here when there was no living soul in this world. When the nine siblings came."


    A titan lord!!!


    "Thank you, lord Primus."


    "No need. It was simply necessary."


    Primus let out a soft breath and turned to Chu Shang Wu.


    "Impressive terra force. Maybe we can exchange pointers in the future?"


    And with that, he disappeared back into the mountain, leaving no traces behind.

 Chapter 16 - Titan Lord Primus [1]

    The Ankhora continent had never seen an atrament attack before. The attack by the lunar mountain was the first time the energy attack was witnessed on the continent. Although they had heard of atrament before, an energy that existed in the void, they simply had never seen its nature until then.


    The utter fear it had created in the mind of the villagers, could be detrimental, if left unchecked. There would always be the fear of such an attack happening again, which would affect them from carrying out their daily activities. Hence, the titan lord had decided to remove the memory of the daemon attacks from their minds. Only the nascent souls were left with the memory of the event.


    Primus had used his mind-voice to transmit his words to them. The villagers were to continue with their celebration. He had already notified the other titan on Lorra, Urdith and the three monarchs, as well as the Conclave ¡ª a gathering of entities on the heavenly plane.


    The festivity had continued for the next two days after the demons encounter. The atmosphere remained one of happiness, as food and milk continued to be shared in a joyful manner. The delegates that returned from the lunar plain joined their respective villages in their celebrations without raising the issue of the demons attack.


    A week later, Chu Shang Wu was planning a visit to the titan lunar mountain, but first decided to check on the Zhangs. From the events at the lunar mountain, he had become aware that the daemons were after the Zhangs, but didn''t know the reasons. He was hoping he could learn more about what was happening from lord Primus, and maybe the Zhangs would also want to know. He sent out his divine sense and quickly came across a familiar divine sense.


    "Lady Xiu Ying, I meet you well."


    "I meet you well too, lord Shang."


    "Thank you, lady Xiu Ying. I''m just on my way to find lord Primus. And I want to know if you don''t mind me stopping by your place?"


    "Not at all, lord Shang. You know you are always welcome in our place at anytime. You only need to inform me, and I will welcome you. If you are ready now, I will meet you by the entrance."


    "Alright then, lady Xiu Ying. I will see you soon."


    Few minutes later, Zhang Xiu Ying was in the air to welcome the arriving Chu Shang Wu. After landing on the ground, Chu Shang Wu turned to Zhang Xiu Ying.


    "The defensive arrays in this place always impress me. It would have been impossible for me to enter without you. You wouldn''t even know you already missed the place. I tell you this, lady Xiu Ying, this place is truly impressive."


    "If you say so, lord Shang."


    "But we all know our Divine-Oriental arrays can''t compare to your Thousand-World, lord Shang."


    "Hehehe. You flatter me, lady Xiu Ying. The Thousand-World formation is not as powerful as you tend to believe. After all, it''s only an heavenly treasure."


    Chu Shang Wu replied with a joyful face as his mind wandered-off to his own ancestral treasure, the Thousand-World formation. A pure grade array with tremendous capacity of trapping any soul inside a shifting deadly world with each step.


    "A heavenly treasure? Why do I have a feeling it''s as powerful as a luminous treasure?"


    "Probably just a feeling, lady Xiu Ying. Although its power is almost at a luminous grade."


    "Aha. I thought as much. A luminous treasure in the making."


    "Hehehe. If you say so, lady Xiu Ying. If you say so."


    Entering the cave abode, Zhang Xiu Ying introduced the Terra-Bane to the rest of the family who were already waiting for them in the living chamber. They had been informed by the demigod about the imminent arrival of the other nascent soul in their village, hence, they had quickly prepared.


    "My greetings master Li Xiang, mistress Wang Jing and young master Ju Feng."


    Chu Shang Wu''s gaze lingered on the young Ju Feng as his mind momentarily wandered off in thoughts. Ah, the distressed child who had been carrying an enormous weight of sorrow, right from his birth. He had wondered why they named him Ju Feng without their ancestral name, until he was later told of the words of a powerful oracle in regards to the boy. Even now, the boy was being followed around by the many shadows of death. He sighed inwardly before shifting his attention to the others.


    "Greetings lord Shang. We meet you well."


    "I meet you well too, and thank you for welcoming me."


    He nodded his head as he regarded them while Zhang Li Qiang quickly gestured towards an empty chair.


    "Please have a seat, lord Shang, and accept a little refreshment from us. We insist on this."


    "Alright then, please don''t mind the trouble."


    After receiving the refreshments, the nascent-soul took one bite of the millet cake, and his facial expression was of utter amazement.


    "Delicious! How can I even remember who I am after eating all these? I''ve even forgotten my own name already."


    "Hehehe."


    They all laughed at Chu Shang Wu''s funny complimentary words. Zhang Xiu Ying waited for a moment to pass, before turning her attention towards the Terra-Bane.


    "Lord Shang, you said you were going to pay a visit to the titan lord."


    She stared at the other nascent soul who nodded in return. After a quick recollection, the demigod shook her head slightly in disbelief as she gazed in the direction of the opened doorway.


    "I still couldn''t believe that we have been living very close to a titan. A titan lord! Legends of old! Do you even know some of them existed during the great wars too?"


    "Yes, lady Xiu Ying. And he''s even a Terra elementalist. So much I could learn from him."


    "We''ve agreed to follow you. If he will see us, that is. We want to know more about the atrament and learn everything we could from him."


    "Let''s go and find out what he thinks then."


    After a little deliberation, they all left for the lunar mountain. Shortly after, they arrived at the base of the mountain. Remembering the lunar incidents, they were very cautious in their approach. After all, this was the domain of a titan lord.


    As they moved closer, a voiced boomed out from the mountain.


    "I''ve been expecting you."


    And the next moment, they found themselves standing at the top of the mountain. From a quick observation of their new surroundings, they quickly realized they were in a personal domain. Further examination revealed a huge man sitting on a meditation mat, wearing a simple yellow robe. This huge man looked like an ordinary villager after concealing his aura and his halo light.


    "I knew you will come sooner rather than later."


    Realizing it was the titan lord, they quickly raised their cupped hands with a respectable bow.


    "Greetings, titan lord Primus."


    Ju Feng, who was caught in the moment, suddenly became aware of his situation and hurriedly followed suit, bowing deeply. He knew his body and soul, could be disintegrated by an angry titan lord, before he even realized what he had done wrong.


    "Greetings, titan lord Primus."


    "My greetings too, fellow immortals."


    Lord Primus replied as he swiftly glanced at them, making a quick assessment of their various states.

 Chapter 17 - Titan Lord Primus [2]

    "I believe you''ve already figured out where you are. Yes, you are in my personal domain. This mountain was my natural self before I gained sentience and could transform into mortal forms. And this lunar plain you see, is my dominion by right of existence. It could have been a domain but the lunar stones made it a dominion. Laws of creation. Oh, pardon my overlook."


    Realizing they were still standing, the titan lord gestured towards the mats that were in a semi-circle in front of him.


    "Please, do sit down."


    After waiting for them to have their seats, he continued.


    "From creation, I was born a yellow mountain. No awareness, no mind, no thoughts, and surely, no soul. Just a simple mountain. But during the rapid expansion of the universe, there was so much released cosmic energies with great effect on some natural things. Although not many experienced the effects, but the few that did, received the powering impact of the energies. Billions of years ago, with the passage of time, its effects on me started to manifest. I slowly began to gain awareness, and began to reason. I started asking myself questions. What was I? Where was I? And why was I? Slowly, I began to understand, and gradually, I became a sentient being."


    Stopping temporarily, Primus looked from one face to the other. Registering their devoted attention, he nodded and continued.


    "After gaining awareness, I continued to absorb the energy nonstop. Billions of years after gaining sentience, I realized I could transform into a mortal form. This was my immortal attainment. Unlike immortal mortals like yourselves, we titans don''t cultivate. We are natural elementals, but we have our own way to eternal life nevertheless. It takes longer time, and it''s very difficult, but we do have titan sovereigns who have reached eternity. And we do meditate to gain soul enlightenment. The more the meditation, the more the awareness. The more the awareness, the more the reasoning."


    With furrowed brows, the titan lord stopped and rummaged through some stored information in his memory.


    "Many years after the great war, a titan king entered the void looking for the Irolon black star. A powerful black core formed inside the void. Why? Up till now, we still don''t know. But one thing we do know is that, there are three kinds of ultimate cores in existence. The [Icaros Red Stone] from our universe , the [Ideria Blue Orb] from chaos and the [Irolon Black Star] from the void. The titan king was looking for the Irolon black star in the void. He was well aware of the dangers inside the void, and he was well prepared."


    The titan lord paused for a second as a sad distant memory came into fore.


    "Unfortunately, he came across one entity he couldn''t properly phantom. He said it was of pure black energy, but in different forms of manifestation. The battle between the two of them was a deadly one. They fought for a long time, but the titan king couldn''t do much damage to the entity. On the verge of destruction, the titan king manages to escape with his soul''s avatar leaving his immortal body behind in the void but his soul''s avatar was gravely injured during escape. His soul''s avatar disintegrated upon entering the universe, but not until he put the information in the memory stone. The Nefrims guarding one of the primordial gates were the one that saw him first, and called for the celestials who were in charge of parading the universe, checking for irregularities."


    A rift appeared in the space beside the titan lord Primus. It was indeed a spatial dimension. They watched as a small golden jar of Dew-Of-Heaven, a soul relaxing and nourishing elixir, and six golden cups flew out of it. Automatically, the elixir was poured into the cups, and all were served without them leaving their positions.


    After downing his drink in one gulp, the titan lord continued.


    "When the celestials saw the information on the memory stone, they swiftly informed the divines. The divines quickly identified the void entity as one of the manifestations of the Chasm Atrament. An entity that had been declared a threat to this universe due to its destructive existence and the extremely deadly atramental energy. That was the energy that attacked you."


    This was a lot of information to process for the fast thinking Ju Feng. From the information received, he now knew that the atramental energy was from the void, and the Chasm Atrament was trying to kill him and his mother. But why? He had also come to know about a titan king who went into the void and died on coming back. Did he even find the core? What were the cores for? He had so many questions to ask that he didn''t even know where to start. While deliberating on the questions, he heard the voice of his mother.


    "Titan lord Primus, do you know why they are after us?"


    Asked Zhang Xiu Ying concernedly.


    "Unfortunately, I don''t. But know this, whatever the reason they have, it must be very important to them, and that''s dangerously alarming."


    "But can they still come back here?"


    "Oh, they can, but they won''t. By now, they must have known more powerful people are currently involved. I have already informed the conclave in the heavenly realm, the three monarchs, and Urdath, the other titan on the Yamachi continent. They would be destroyed before they even start. You don''t need to have much cause for concern on this."


    Glancing at Zhang Xiu Ying, the titan lord let out a short breath before shaking his head.


    "Zhang Xiu Ying. You need to realize what you are truly capable of as a demigod. You should be much more powerful than you are now."


    "Titan lord primus, pardon me for asking this, how can we fight them if it happens again?"


    Asked Zhang Li Qiang with a little bit reservation as he quipped in.


    "Absolute power is all you need. Although powerful elemental lights will be needed to fight an enemy like this, you simply need to be more powerful. If you are, you won''t need to fear any of that in this universe. You live in that ancient cave at the outskirt of the village, don''t you? Make good use of what you have."


    Lord Primus replied before smiling at their bewildered faces.

 Chapter 18 - Titan Lord Primus [3]

    "Lord Primus, you know about our home?"


    Zhang Wang Jing asked in complete shock. Did the titan lord knew about the crystals in their found cave? Nobody aside them knew about their cave''s cultivation chamber. They too had bought the place without previous knowledge of the chamber. How could the titan lord know about it?


    "Yes, I do. I built the place. The initial owner is a friend of mine. He has long ascended but I will e seeing him soon, if everything works out well. Anyway, how do you see the place?"


    "It''s a beautiful place, lord Primus."


    "We''ve been wondering about the place, all this while."


    "Hm, I understand. Well, if I don''t go into seclusion, or not too busy with stone carving, can I come by your place to say my greetings?"


    "Yes, lord Primus. We will be more than honoured to welcome you to our home."


    Zhang Li Qiang quickly answered before the titan lord could even finish. A titan lord? Yes, it was true she was from a demigod bloodline, but titans were a different kind entirely. From the records, no titan was that friendly to mortals. Hence, to find a titan lord who could freely relate with them was more than she could''ve ever expected. Who wouldn''t want such a titan lord in their homes?


    "Please, do come, titan lord Primus. We greatly insist on it."


    Zhang Wang Jing quipped in expectantly.


    "Alright then. I hope you won''t mind the trouble."


    "Thank you for saving us the other day, lord Primus. We are very grateful."


    "Yes, thank you lord primus. If not for you, we would have been dead by now."


    "No need to thank me, I was simply available at the right time. It''s what I''m obligated to do anyway."


    Ju Feng had been keeping quiet about the questions bothering him, had also been looking for opportunity to ask lord Primus these questions. After his family were through with their questions, and were preparing to leave, he decided to ask his questions.


    "Titan lord Primus sir, I have a question, no, two questions sir."


    He bowed deeply and waited for lord Primus to reply. He kept reminding himself the presence of who he was sitting. The titan lord might look mortal, but they all knew he was a titan lord.


    "Hm? Please, go on then."


    "Yes, lord Primus. The cores, what are they for? And did the titan find the Irolon black star?"


    He asked in a respectful manner, albeit with a shaky voice. He didn''t even know why he asked about the cores, only the feeling he had.


    "Titan king."


    Lord Primus gently corrected before he continued. To titans, differences in their titles meant a whole lot. Titles were not gained merely, they were achieved through years of complete total awareness and universal attainment. They had to be respected accordingly.


    "Nevertheless, I''ll tell you. They''re used for absolute crafting. Absolute items can be crafted from the three core-stones. I can craft from one too. Although there are legendary craftsmen and smith that can use two, they are extremely rare. For the three cores? None in existence as far as I''m concerned. That''s why there were not many of these cores in existence."


    With a slight pause, he slowly turned his head sideways to observe his guests.


    "As for the core the titan king went looking for, we are not quite sure. Although he mentioned it in the information stored in the memory stone, we don''t know if he only saw it, brought it with him or lost it. But when he came through the primordial gates, there was no black star core with him. The Nefrims confirmed this. Would that be all, young master Ju Feng?"


    "Chu Shang Wu, I believe you are ready to share some pointers with me?"


    "I believe it''s the other way around, titan lord Primus. I''m the one here to learn from your vast knowledge."


    The Zhangs took their leave, and riding their sword lights, quickly arrived at their home. Still reeling from their short journey to the titan''s abode, everyone decided to take a personal moment to ruminate. Without saying much, Ju Feng went to his room and sat in a lotus position, contemplating the information he had just acquired. The atrament. The cores. The titan king. The void. Only one thing he could make from all these. He needed to become stronger, much more stronger.


    From the day onward, he would train extremely hard. How could he protect himself if he was weak? He remembered how desperately, but mightily his grandparents defended them when the demons attacked. How his mother sent the raging inferno that destroyed the demons. Lord Chu Shang Wu with the Terra vortex. And the mighty titan lord with so much power. There was no denying what had to happen.


    He must become powerful!


    He stood up, removed his robe, folded it to one side in his room and headed towards the training area. He started practicing the trueworld bodyweight technique, and the shifting heavens hand technique at the same time. They were lower grade techniques, but quite efficient. He practiced nonstop. No Chi energy, just the bodyweight technique. When he was feeling tired, he would sit in the lotus position and switched to the soul serenity technique. After some time, he would continue his training again. While in the evening, he would indulge himself in cultivation with the astral primal technique.


    At this stage, his dantian was already larger than his average. His meridians were also greatly enlarged, allowing his massive Chi quantity to flow freely. Still, he continued to cultivate nonstop as the time flew by. Although it was already six months when he started on this particular road, his strength had increased substantially. But it was his dantian and Chi that had almost doubled in size and quantity respectively.


    It was at this time that they received the visit from titan lord primus.

 Chapter 19 - Titan Lord Primus [4]

    Ju Feng had continuously been training hard for the six months that followed, showing on his body which had gained more strength. The trueworld bodyweight technique was constantly using his own body nutriments to develop his body strength. The nutriments he had stored in his body from birth due to the rainbow spirit pill. The more the body strength, the more the power he would have.


    Wouldn''t he?


    He had been focusing more on building his body strength, yet, he was still feeling like he was not doing anything.


    Again, he increased his training. The more he trained his body, the more he also trained his martial art''s hand combat technique, the shifting heavens¡ªthe only non-affiliated technique in his ancestral treasury.


    For a while now, he had abandoned his training in sword technique, the skylight technique, since he had already learned the fundamentals of swordsmanship; the moves and the stances. Besides, he was still young and had ample time to continue with swordsmanship in the future. In the meantime, he would be developing his body strength and hand combat technique.


    On one beautiful morning, he was practicing martial arts when titan lord Primus arrived at their place. He wasn''t aware of his arrival until he saw him approaching the training area with the rest of the family. The titan lord? He was here? His heart raced rapidly as his brain processed different scenarios.


    What would the titan lord say of his training? Wouldn''t lord Primus say he was too weak?


    Immediately, he increased the tempo of his training while keeping an eye on their approach. He was hoping the titan lord would see his hard display. He waited for them to get closer before stopping, and quickly bowed, raising his cupped hands.


    "Greetings, titan lord sir. I didn''t know you will be coming today. Forgive me for not welcoming you sir."


    "En."


    Lord Primus smiled with a slight shake of his head. And with a glance, he took in the state of the whole area.


    "I was coming from a nearby place, and being on the same route, I decided to check on everybody here. Nothing there to forgive, young one. It''s you who shouldn''t mind me disrupting your training."


    "Nothing for me to mind about, sir. It''s a big honour having you here, sir."


    Again, Ju Feng bowed low.


    "Hm, alright then, if you say so. I saw your training and I have to say I''m really impressed with it. You are really training hard, young one, and your body strength is miles ahead of your age. This is truly remarkable. Hm, that technique you are using, would be the bodyweight technique. Am I right?"


    "Yes, titan lord sir."


    "Good. You see, Terra titans have natural innate abilities similar to the methods of your technique. Although it''s the reverse of your techniques. Our bodies comes with natural massive weights, therefore, we gradually transform these massive weights into massive strength for our nascent souls avatars. The result is the same weight and strength, but with different appearance. As you can all see with me now, I''m no longer in the form of a mountain but in a human''s. However, with the same strength."


    Lord Primus knitted his brows together in thoughts for some seconds as he glanced at them.


    "For you, it''s a bit different. You are all human mortals on the path of immortality. Physically, you don''t have huge sources of weight for your body to transform. But as a human, that''s where your blood comes in. You have blood that contains nutrients. This you will transfer outside. If you have no nutrients in your blood, you transfer nothing outside. And this is different from the Chi in your dantian which is connected to your life force, your life essence. The Chi is for your soul to be able to reach eternity. Although you can use it to fortify your body strength, it''s only when you need it. And the strength will revert back once you stop the Chi flow or you run out of it. This strength is temporary. So, for your strength to be permanent, you have to use the nutrients in your blood."


    Looking thoughtfully at them, the titan lord raised his hands as he demonstrated.


    "First, Let me show you the method the best way I can, and then, the rest will be on you."


    The titan lord spent some minutes showing them how his ability works, and how they can reverse it to work for them. He watched them as they continued trying it out until they grasped the concept of the reverse method, making them expressed their deep appreciation in a joyful state. Lord Primus noted their gratitude and nodded his head before turning towards the pond, smiling.


    "Fortunately for you, you have the pond."


    He turned to look at their surprised faces while grinning widely.


    "The pond?"


    "What pond?"


    "Lord Primus, please forgive us for not understanding. But how are we fortunate to have the pond?"


    Zhang Li Qiang asked after recovering a little bit from the effect of the titan lord''s words.


    "Hm, I see. So you don''t really know about the pond. Well, it won''t be your fault. There''s divination arrays on the pond, divine sense or spiritual sense can''t see anything inside the pond. Unless you are a true god or celestial, it will just be like a plain pond. Let''s check it out together then."


    Primus turned and started walking towards the pond with the Zhangs family following him. Reaching the pond area, he whirled around to face them while gesturing towards the pond.


    "The Orpham pond. Natural elixir, body and soul nutrition."


    He paused, still enjoying the looks on their faces.


    "However, the main treasures are at the bottom of the pond. The yellow-white transparent lilies and the white-striped armoured turtles. The yellow-white lilies have leaves, flowers and tubers that can all be eaten raw or cooked, any how you prefer. Mind the turtles though, they can be difficult, but nothing you can''t handle. Despite being delicacies, the effect of a small portion on humans can be highly significant."


    Despite the pond being deep, lord Primus reached into the pond with a phantom hand, and removed a stem of a yellow-white lily. He removed a flower, put in his mouth and started to chew. He looked at them with a smile and offered the remaining flowers to them to try.

 Chapter 20 - Titan Lord Primus [5]

    Immediately he swallowed the chewed portion of the flower, Ju Feng felt the effect inside his body. It was like a dream to him since he was only recently thinking about how to truly increase his body nutrients and strength.


    Now this?


    It was simply too much for him to contain. He raised his head up to the sky and felt his eyes welled up. These were the food his body had been asking for. Lost in his own thoughts, he didn''t know when he spoke up.


    "Thank you, titan lord sir."


    Seeing the effect on him and hearing his words, lord Primus decided it was time to let the family be. He changed the topic as he moved away from the pond.


    "I''ll take my leave now. There are some important things I need to take care of."


    "We promised you our hospitality lord Primus. Please, we insist you come with us."


    Zhang Wang Jing said expectantly.


    "Hm. I can do that. Don''t mind the trouble then."


    Lord Primus responded with a soft smile as he joined the family to dine where they talked about how excellent the food was, food varieties, and farming among others. Moments later, lord Primus took his leave.


    When they were alone, they all started to talk at once.


    "I can''t believe the pond was actually a treasure."


    "No wonder the pond area was always calming and relaxing the soul".


    "It is actually a magical pond."


    "This place is more amazing than we thought."


    Zhang Li Qiang changed his robe and together with the rest, went back to the pond. He went into the water and searched the pond floor. There were many giant white-striped turtles furrowed deep into pond floor. Remembering the words of the titan lord, he was very cautious as he went for a closer one. He quickly found out the reason for that, when he realized the turtle was a snapping turtle with deadly teeth and armoured shell. Although it''s no threat to him as a Jindan cultivator, he could still loose an arm if caught off-guard.


    After they got back, Zhang Wang Jing and Zhang Xiu Ying went to work on the turtle and the plants, along with the tubers. Few hours later, they had prepared a sumptuous meal out of the materials.


    In his dreams, Ju Feng was sleeping in a bed of cloud, floating in the sky. Below him, the world was filled with turbulent water. Suddenly, there came sounds of thunder, coming from all around him. Startled awake in his bed of cloud, he blinked his eyes open and saw rising from the water, was a gigantic black beast.


    The Devonian armoured turtle!


    And above it was a raging massive cloud, emitting thunderous sounds and lightning.


    The Devonian armoured turtle was looking up at the raging cloud with burning defiance. The cloud raged more fiercely, gathering more strength as it thundered more loudly, raining down lightning bolts as thick as a giant''s torso. They were striking the Devonian armoured turtle all over its body, but the armoured turtle just continued looking on with a deadpan face. Not even bothered when they hit its body, they had no effect on its body as it continued looking at the raging cloud with complete defiance.


    Then the cloud began to spiral. It gained so much momentum, forming a vortex of typhoon over the armoured turtle as the lightning bolts started combining together. At the same time, the turtle''s armoured shell started radiating a golden light which proceeded to gain in brilliance, and soon became an epic fortress of a yellow-gold light.


    The lightning bolts formed a single lightning bolt which began to gather the energy of the heavens before transforming into an enormous pillar of bolt, the type that had the might of disintegrating worlds.


    Colossal spatial rifts were formed as the bolt of lightning streaked down and struck the fortress of light created by the armoured turtle. There was a deafening sound as the impact caused gigantic water waves and an aurora of blinding blue-gold light. The surface of the water was turned into a steaming fury. It took several hours for a little normalcy to return to the steaming world.


    The Devonian armoured turtle raised its head, looked at the cloud and slowly shook it.


    "Is that the best you have to show, Fotios?


    "How long do you plan doing this, Fotios?"


    Fotios, a terrifyingly massive white wyvern emerged from the cloud. With eyes filled with rage to the point of insanity, its nose began to flare dark smoke.


    "As long as it takes, you stupid turtle."


    "Stop wasting my time, Fotios. After a billion years of trying, still, you are no match for me. I don''t even need to strike you. Just go away and try finding something worthy to do. It will do you good on the long run."


    The armoured turtle turned away from the cloud, and was about to return to his place at the depth of the turbulent water, when the voice of Fotios boomed out again.


    "Don''t you dare turn your back on me, Zothikos."


    "Or what? Strike me with lightning? Pfff, go away. I have important things to do."


    "Important things? Like slumbering sleep? Mhm, important your head."


    The cloud started to rage again, gathering in more strength. The Devonian armoured turtle, with a great bellow, spiralled out of the water, creating two whirlpools of water and golden lights. The whirlpools combined and compressed into a disc of translucent gold light, taking off in a lightning speed in the direction of the cloud.


    "The divine sphere?"


    Fotios shouted with wide alarmed eyes. It quickly retreated back into the cloud, and used its defensive items including the Heavens Fetter Seal, a one time life saving seal.


    When the disc of translucent gold light neared the cloud, it exploded into a massive wave of motion attack. The collision dissipated half of the cloud and knocked it several meters further back into the sky, while turbulent waves covered the surface of the water.


    "You foolish turtle! You really want to kill me! I will be back for you and you better be prepared, you stupid useless turtle."


    Fotios voice sounded out from the half-cloud as he sped away.


    "How is that my fault? Every time you disturb my peace. Why come here looking for a fight when you are not strong enough? Your fault, not mine."


    The turtle shrugged and went back into the water.


    One hour later, Ju Feng woke up from his sleep and spent few minutes thinking about this dream which was clearly engraved in his memory. But, why armoured turtle? Why turtle at all? Couldn''t it be about yellow fish? Dreams, you just couldn''t understand them at times.


    He stretched his body and instantly noticed the difference in strength. With a broad smile on his face, he went to the training area and started training in the reverse method the titan lord had shown them. The more he trained, the more he smiled. Although he had great strength before, but since eating the meal and practicing the new method, his body was growing stronger and more powerful.


    Every member of the family received the same effect on their bodies from the meal, though none of them dreamt of the armoured turtle and the cloud wyvern.

 Chapter 21 - The Crystal Pagoda [1]

    Ju Feng had been training intensely for two solid years, following a set of ways that gradually became his routine. His body strength and power had grown beyond weighted measures for his age level of cultivation. Without the use of Chi, his strength could easily surpassed that of a cultivator of the Ningchi stage.


    This very knowledge had to be preserved since there were quite a number of cultivators who could cause him troubles just for their awareness of its existence.


    There was great effect on his spiritual aura which was more than imposing for his age, and on the level of the Chi in his dantian which was of high amount. It really amazed him that he could feel his own dantian and meridians expanding, and felt a vast amount of Chi flowed through his own meridians during circulation. This was significantly different from that of two years ago. He couldn''t have asked for a better cultivation method. To him, the astral manuscript was indeed a divine treasure.


    In the space of two years, he had advanced to the middle stage of Chi refining. Although generally, advancement at the early stages was more faster than the later stages. True immortal cultivation would start from the Zhuji, the foundation stage. From there, advancement would be much more slower and would require enlightenment¡ªinsight into the universal existence. For some cultivators on the mortal plane, it could take hundreds of years to advance from an early stage to middle stage of Zhuji.


    On the mortal plane, the most difficult was the completion of the nascent soul formation which could take several millions of years. From the ascension stage¡ªthe Shenxian stage of the myths¡ª it could take hundreds of millions of years just to advance from the early stage of Shenxian to its middle stage.


    Creation really had a stronghold on godhood.


    Although he was happily thinking about his cultivation, his mind was greatly worried due to his mother''s predicaments. He knew his mother had things bothering her lately, but couldn''t say exactly what they were. Nonetheless, those things were beginning to worry him too. Could it be the rite of judgement? Or, the fact that they were the targets of the daemons'' attack? It could even be something else entirely.


    Ju Feng had been less worried about himself. He thought he had neither friends nor foes, until the events of the lunar plain crossed his mind which caused him to recoil a bit. He truly had dangerous foes who wanted him dead. Immortal foes for that matter!


    What kind of world would the very life of a child be in mortal danger? Marked for death?


    He had to get stronger to be able to defend himself and his family. Here at home, despite all the benefits of their ancestral cultivation technique, there were less things for him to learn. His family were fire affiliated cultivators, while the titan lord was a terra elemental. He had to go to where he would be able to learn more about his own affinities.


    He had discussed with his family about him joining a sect where he would be able to learn and associate with kids from other places. They had readily agreed with him since they too had already thought about the same thing. They had decided it would be a great experience for him to see the bigger, outside world, and gain more knowledge. As he stretched himself on his bamboo bed, getting ready to sleep, he remembered the words of the titan lord.


    "Knowledge is the key to true power. Learning, and opening the heart to the knowledge gained, are the foundations of true power."


    On the beautiful and bright morning of the following day, Ju Feng woke up as before, and after washing his face, went directly to the training ground. He had finished mastering the basics of the shifting heavens hand technique. Although it was a simple technique, it''s efficient enough in a lower-level combat. Hence, he decided to resume his training on the sword technique¡ªthe Skylight.


    With weapons, mystical art was the pinnacle. All mystical arts are affiliated with the elements of nature, thus, cultivators must be attuned to their elements to use their mystical arts. A weapon without the mystical arts is of little or no use.


    Ju Feng started training the sword technique but he was lacking the focus. He was still on the first level of the technique¡ª Heavens Asunder¡ª so he tried to concentrate on the training, but his mind kept wandering off. Not wanting to stop the training, he decided to let his mind wander freely. With his mind off his training, he didn''t notice when the edge of the sword nicked one of his left finger. But due to the state of his strong body, it would take some time for traces of blood to show.


    After finishing his sword training, he left for the cultivation chamber. He needed to calm his mind from the raging thoughts that were distracting him. How could he find peace in his heart? He arrived to find his mother in the cultivation chamber deep in meditation. Looking at his mother''s face, he could see signs of anxiety on her face. Having decided not to disturb her, he made his way to his room where he sat in a cross-leg, and started breathing using the soul serenity method.


    As his mind began to calm down, he closed his eyes to meditate. Then suddenly, he remembered the crystal pagoda his grandmother said was good for meditation. Ju Feng took out the pagoda and placed on the floor in front of him. Adjusting the position of the pagoda with his left hand, he didn''t see the tiniest trace of blood that touched the pagoda. Yet, he felt a tingle in his hand which he casually shrugged off.


    Closing his eyes, he began to meditate and didn''t know when he fell into a trance. Still in trance, he saw the pagoda giving off a faint glow, and reached out his hand. As soon as his hand touched the pagoda, he vanished. Finding himself in a very strange place, he looked around in confusion and panic. He had the feelings he knew this particular place, but from its appearance, was totally unfamiliar.


    "What is this place?"


    "Childling, you are back again."


    "Who''s there?"


    Ju Feng asked in a quivering voice, but was met with extreme silence that stretched for minutes before the voice sounded again.


    "The crystal mark. That changes everything."


    "Please, who are you? where am I?"


    "You do have the crystal mark, and that can only mean one thing. You are now the holder of this gateway. Under this condition, necessity is placed upon me to attend to you, childling."


    Sighed the voice, and with a shrilling sound, a figure appeared in front of Ju Feng. A frail-looking old man, of average height, wearing a white robe of distorting ripples.


    "My name is Hypathos. One of the ten Ouranias, and we are the keepers of the gates to all the planes of existence."


    "The gateways were created at the beginning of creation, and we were created to watch and guide them. They are our domains, that''s why we have absolute power over them. No living entity can use our gateways to cross into any plane without the right of passage. It''s very important that we maintain this."


    With his ancient yes observing Ju Feng, the old man continued.


    "Do you ask why? You see, childling. The gateways are direct passages to all the planes of creation. It leads to twelve planes of existence. There are four planes in this universe, four planes in the primordial chaos and one known as the conjecture, the place where the paths of all entities meet. This gateway here, is one of the passages to all of them."

 Chapter 22 - The Crystal Pagoda [2]

    "Senior, the planes of existence? Am I in a dream? This has to be a dream."


    "It depends on the perspective of that. If you are talking about this place being a dream place to be, I believe it is. Entities from all over existence would be happy to be here, I guess. There is benefit of travelling around which may sound great to you. Other benefits are out there too, if you are strong enough to take them. But, if you are talking about you having a dream of this place right now, then the answer is no. This place is very real."


    "Real? Ah, I''ve lost my mind. Senior, please forgive me, but how did I get here?"


    "You have the mark of the pagoda, childling. This can only happen if you have been accepted by the pagoda. A gateway can be activated by the holder through his will or to a new holder by trance, as in your case. You unconsciously activated the pagoda when you were in a trance and you entered the door to appear here. You have been here before, but that was outside. Anyway, maybe a mistake, maybe not, I don''t make the choices for people. I only make sure there''s law and order in the use of this gateway. By the way, after today you won''t be able to come here through trance anymore."


    Seeing the speechless Ju Feng, Hypathos shook his head and continued.


    "You see, these gateways were created differently from others. There are many gateways in existence that connects one plane to another, but there were fewer numbers of gateways connecting all planes. There are ten in the whole existence. This one had been holder-less until now."


    "Senior, Is this like a portal?"


    "It is like a portal, but there''s no portal like these gateways. These gateways work differently from ordinary portals that need arrays or formations to work. There''s no need for such things with this, and no worries of getting lost from wrong destination alignments. You get to where you are going and back, as long as you don''t die before coming back. And we, the gatekeepers are always here to maintain order. Can you see the difference now?"


    Smilingly, Hypathos asked.


    "Yes, senior. I can see it."


    Ju Feng replied. Although he was still lost in the reverie of the moment.


    "There are worlds out there, childling. Worlds without numbers, both major and minor worlds. Planes to see. But you are not strong enough yet, you must wait until you are much more stronger to survive out there before you attempt any use of the gateway. Or else, you''ll simply die."


    "Thank you senior, I''ll remember that."


    Ju Feng said, bowing towards Hypathos.


    "And remember this too, others will d.e.s.i.r.e what you have, if they know you have such an item. How you keep it safe, is left to you."


    "I will, senior. Many thanks. Senior, if I want to go back, what do I do?"


    "You can''t go back on your own for now, I will send you out this time. You won''t be able to come in through the trance anymore, you will have to enter through the doors. Not to worry, once you are strong enough to power the pagoda, a door will appear that leads to my place. And when you are done, you will leave through the same door. Once you can power the pagoda to open the door, that means you are strong enough to see the worlds out there. Until then, here is the token of authority as the holder of this gateway. It''s the right of passage."


    "Thank you senior, it''s an honour to know you."


    Ju Feng with cupped hands, bowed deeply. But deep in his mind, he was desperately thinking of waking, and to see that all these were nothing but a dream. Oh, how much he really wanted to wake up now.


    "Farewell childling."


    Moments later, Ju Feng found himself in his room, and was greatly relieved after confirming he was really in his room. He was about to collapse on his bed for a deserved sleep, when he noticed the faint light the pagoda was still radiating. Remembering his encounter with the old man, he quickly patted himself and found the token given to him, hidden in his robe. Suddenly, Ju Feng felt very light-headed.


    It wasn''t a dream!


    The whole encounter was real. That means the pagoda was really a gateway. This made him happy, and frightened at the same time. The thought of having such a means frightened him. Why was he even happy? He had no idea. To see other places? Maybe. Why would he even wanted to see other places? To be food for daemons? No way. No, he wasn''t that happy but frightened. Who knows what is out there? He might even find himself in the void by mistake. Uh-uh, he was perfectly fine where he was.


    Having decided not to disturb his mother and grandparents about his encounters for the time being, Ju Feng went back to sleep since it would still take a while till daybreak. Collapsing on the bed, he immediately fell asleep.


    "ZOTHIKOS! Come out and face me!"


    The voice of the wyvern bellowed out of the raging cloud.


    "Do you think you can threaten me with some useless moves?! Come out! I will sit on your stupid ugly face, and trample your more stupid, and uglier body! You stupid turtle!"


    Raging furiously in the cloud, Fotios was determined to finally put the turtle in his place, which is under his arse.


    "Zothikos! Where are you?! Show your stupid face!"


    "Go away, Fotios."


    Came a deep mellowed voice in reply.


    "Show your face Zothikos. I''m up here waiting."


    "What do you want, Fotios? Why are you disturbing my peace, this time?"


    "Come out, and find out for yourself, Zothikos."


    Zothikos slowly rose from the water, sending ripples across its surface. His deadly eyes set on the wyvern in a silent fury.


    "Aha, finally, the turtle raised his ugly head. Zothikos, give me what is rightfully mine, and we can avoid any unnecessary fight over it."


    "If it is yours, how come I have it? Doesn''t that make it mine, Fotios?"


    "You stupid turtle! If you don''t hand it over, then don''t blame me for what happens next."


    Fotios finally had the chance to get his revenge on the stupid turtle. Five hundred million years it had taken him to prepare for this day. And now, it was time to show the ugly turtle what true power means. He took out a divine seal, the Cosmic Void Rift, and activated it. The destructive power of the seal was so terrifying that using it was totally forbidden in the universe. The seal was last use during the great war, and was one of the items that ended the war at a great cost.


    "What are you doing, Fotios?"


    Shouted Zothikos with wide, frightened eyes.


    "What am I doing? Can''t you see? I''m trying to kill you. Why is it so hard for you to see?"


    "Are you insane?! You used a forbidden seal! It will destroy everything here!"


    "Oh yes, it will. How wonderful will it be to finally sit on what remains of your ugly head, Zothikos. Good bye, my friend."


    Fotios took out another seal, the greater teleportation seal, that could be used to move from one world to another. He activated the seal, but realized he couldn''t teleport. After checking again to no effect, he quickly used another one to the same result.


    "What''s happening?"


    Fotios asked with alarmed voice, staring at the smiling turtle.


    "If the place was to be destroyed, you are not going anywhere too. That was the Heavens-On-Earth Pentagram talisman. And yes, it was a forbidden item, my old friend."


    "Nooooo! You stupid turtle! I will kill you!"


    Ju Feng woke up with a terrifying feeling. Another vivid and intense dream of the turtle, and the wyvern. What were they? Sacred beasts, divine beasts or even primordial beasts? If he even knew what any of them truly looked like.


    After calming himself down, Ju Feng washed his face and headed towards the training ground.

 Chapter 23 - Rite Of Judgement [1]

    Zhang Xiu Ying was on the training ground early than usual one morning, practicing the Beasts Inferno technique with her parents. Since they all used the same fire technique, albeit with different beast manifestations, it was much easier for them to practice together. Except for Ju Feng, who was not fire affiliated, but still watched their training. His family had been engaging in mock combats for two years now.


    Already, it was two years ago since they last had a visit from the titan lord. Lord Primus had told Zhang Xiu Ying during his last visit about her true nature. Zhang Xiu Ying already knew she was an Asura. She was born a demigod, and had already reached the full demigod stage. And she had also formed her nascent soul. But she wasn''t expecting what the titan lord had told her. She recalled their conversation, clearly.


    "Xiu Ying, it''s true we met not long ago. However, I see you as someone I''ve known for ages. That''s why I''ve been taking you as a long lost relative. If you don''t mind being one, of course."


    "Really?"


    Zhang Xiu Ying asked as she looked at the titan lord, who was radiating honesty and trustworthiness, in disbelief. Lord Primus, who had saved their lives, wanted to be her relative? Of course, she would agree. He deserved their trust in him.


    "Well, I don''t have many relative in the first place. So, it''s welcomed by me and besides, who will turn down being a relative of a titan lord. Totally good by me."


    "Alright, that''s settled then. Now, let me ask you this. What do you know about yourself?"


    "Myself? What about myself, lord Primus?"


    "Just call me uncle Primus. Alright?"


    Primus gently swivelled her off, displaying an easy smile on his face.


    "Yes, Uncle Primus."


    "Very well then. Tell me, Xiu Ying. What do you know about yourself becoming a demigod? Anything you can tell me?"


    "Well, I know I was born a demigod is a stage one reach after forming a nascent soul, before ascension. Isn''t it, uncle Primus? And I formed my nascent soul some ten years ago."


    "Indeed. And I''m very proud of you for forming your nascent soul. Tell me this, your divine powers, did they manifest before you became a demigod?"


    "Yes. When I was in evanesce core stage. Why?"


    "Please, allow me to do a little confirmation first."


    "What confirmation, uncle Primus?"


    "I will tell you in a moment. Be patient, Xiu Ying."


    The titan lord had taken out a small talisman, and after activating it, the talisman had burst into golden light.


    "Hm, as I thought."


    "Your nimbus light is golden-white, which means you were born a true demigod. And yes, you were already a demigod when you started cultivation. Even without cultivation, you would have become a demigod still. Though it''ll take longer time. Cultivation simply made it faster for you. Xiu Ying, demigod is not what you become if you reach a certain stage in cultivation. Demigods are born as demigods which you already knew. However, since you were born a true demigod, there''s something important for you to do."


    The titan lord had looked at her with a trace of compassion before continuing.


    "Do you know about the rite of judgement?"


    "The rite for the demigods? Yes, I do know of it."


    "It''s a rite you need to undergo. Every true demigod will awaken their divine self after passing the rite of judgement. As you are already aware, there''s no harm in the rite for any demigod. Just a little test which you can stop at anytime, I later learned. It''s a creation''s trial to see if a demigod truly deserves the divine powers of becoming a deity."


    Lord Primus took a few steps away from Zhang Xiu Ying, and lifted his head, gazing into the distant future.


    "If you pass the trials, you will have your divine awakening. Your divine powers will truly come to fore. But if you fail, you will never have true divine powers when you become a god. You will only keep the level of divine powers you have when you ascend. Only, if you fail the trials, Xiu Ying. But its better to do it before ascension. If you ascend before awakening your divine self, your godhood divinity will be on a weak foundation. Think about it, will you?"


    "I will, uncle Primus. Thank you."


    Zhang Xiu Ying had immediately discussed it with her family. At first they had expressed concern about the whole rite thing, but eventually, they had agreed as long as their daughter herself was fine with it. This was her decision to make. Zhang Xiu Ying had finally decided to undergo the rite. If uncle Primus believed it was important for her, she would trust him on it. But for now, she was not in a rush.


    Snapping back to the present, Zhang Xiu Ying nodded to herself. She would be taking the rite in a month''s time. She had been preparing for it for the past two years. She would be ready for it by then. Zhang Xiu Ying looked at her parents, and her son who was training on his own by the side, and wondered about her ascension that was still far away.


    What if she ascended sooner than she anticipated? Who would take care of her family? And if she was to refuse ascension, she would not be able to ascend to the heavenly realm in the future. For her family, she wouldn''t mind staying in a mortal world. But what if her family members reached ascension, especially her son. She wouldn''t be able to follow to the heavenly realm, and that would be heart-wrenching.


    She would decide when it was time. But for now, she had to give everything to get stronger, and be able to protect her family. She made her way to the cultivation chamber to engage in meditation for her inner peace.

 Chapter 24 - Rite Of Judgement [2]

    Two months later, Zhang Xiu Ying was ready for the rite of judgement, and was faced with two choices. Either to be stronger or to remain weak. Choosing to be stronger, Zhang Xiu Ying communicated with titan lord Primus and arranged the preceding''s with him. Her family members also followed her to meet lord Primus, before bidding farewell, and returned home.


    "Xiu Ying, as I said before, since you are a fire element affiliate, your rite of judgement would be at the valley of the gods. Remember, there are three phases to the rite. Who you are in this universe [Manifestation], where you are in the universe [Discovery], and why you are here in this universe [Existence]. They will test your strength, mentality and spirituality. But don''t worry about all these, you are much more stronger than you look. Look inside yourself, and you will see that you have more than enough strength in there."


    "Thank you, uncle Primus."


    Lord Primus activated the portal to the valley of the gods, and into the portal they went. Himself and Zhang Xiu Ying, leaving Ju Feng and his grandparent in the cave, waiting patiently and anxiously. This was the first time Zhang Xiu Ying had left her home world, and journeyed to a different place entirely. She had never even used a portal before. The sensation of using a portal was a bit intimidating at first, but she instantly grew into it. It was just like taking a step with a blast of warm air to the face.


    They exited to a place of true magical and landscape masterpiece. There were magical colours everywhere, ranging from white to gold, to rainbow colours. Statuesque formations that were sculpted from Lucid Whitestone of the Primordial era, lined the valley in a beautiful way. The Whitestone was carved into the unique statues of gods holding different weapons, giant monoliths, and mighty pinnacles. And at the centre was the massive Whitestone hallway.


    The valley of the gods.


    "We are here, Xiu Ying. Behold! The valley of the gods."


    Zhang Xiu Ying was lost for words. The scenery was truly a beauty to behold, and for a moment, she forgot about her up-coming rite. She continued to take the whole place in, without any disturbance from lord Primus who only continued smiling.


    After some time had passed, lord Primus pointed to the long colossal building of Whitestone at the middle of the valley.


    "That''s the judgement hallway. You will enter at the front and exit at the back. I will be somewhere at the back waiting for you since I can''t get too close"


    After regaining herself, Zhang Xiu Ying deftly proceeded towards the hallway with assured strides. Halfway forward, she glanced back at the titan lord who nodded with a smile.


    "Don''t worry, Xiu Ying. Everything is fine. It''s all good."


    Zhang Xiu Ying gave an acknowledgement nod, and continued forward. When she reached the entrance, she felt a tinge of apprehension. Looking at the massive white entrance, Zhang Xiu Ying took a deep breath, and entered the hallway.


    The moment she entered the hallway, the whole place turned eerily strange.


    "We know who you are, Zhang Xiu Ying."


    A loud, deafening voice boomed in the hallway, halting Zhang Xiu Ying on her track. There was a long pause before the voice continued.


    "But do you?"


    The gods'' statues in the hallway began to come alive. The statues had their strength reduced to that of an early stage demigod, but with the fighting skills of a late stage demigod. The statues holding different weapons, stared at Zhang Xiu Ying with bright golden eyes.


    "Zhang Xiu Ying, please, step forward. All you have to do, is to pass through this passage to the exit at the other end. And of course, if you decide that you can''t carry on, just say ''demigod'', and everything will stop, returning back to normal. No harm done. Now, please proceed."


    Zhang Xiu Ying surrounded herself with pillars of fire as she brandished her sword, Navaris, made from the tail feather of a primordial phoenix. With the third level of the phoenix inferno prepared, the Phoenix Whirlfire, Zhang Xiu Ying stepped over the starting line and launched the attack.


    Huge spiralling maelstrom of flaming phoenixes, expanded in high speed towards the watching gods. The moment the attack was launched, all the gods launched their own defensive moves of the same technique. Pillars Of Fire. The collision knocked them back a few steps, but no relative harm was done.


    They came at her in numbers, forming mirage phantoms which caused her to block rapidly as she became a blur herself too. After numerous exchanges, she had received many cuts from their attack, but had managed to ward them off temporarily. Then, the statues pointed their glowing weapons at her, and a massive flaming beast with three blue-fire emitting heads, set off in the direction of Zhang Xiu Ying who quickly responded with another Phoenix Whirlfire.


    Zhang Xiu Ying was sent flying from the thunderous collision. Before she could find her footing, they came at her again in repeat of their previous moves.


    Too many godly statues.


    Every time she advanced forward, they would push her back to the starting line. She tried to use the light steps to reach the exit, but she was quickly cut off. The same thing with her evasive steps. With that, she knew she had to go all out to have a chance of making it through.


    The demigod swiftly switched to her nascent soul. The avatar of her nascent soul white phoenix feathered armour, and two large flaming wings on her back. Swinging her flaming sword in a circle, she propelled the Phoenix Ash-fire move. This was the fourth level of the Phoenix Inferno technique, a variant of the Beast Inferno technique. Although she hadn''t mastered since she was still at the midstage, it was her most powerful move.


    The godly statues were statues after all, how could they manifest soul avatars? Despite initiating their own defensive moves, the statues were sent flying several yards in different directions from the powerful collision.


    "I am a true demigod."

 Chapter 25 - Rite Of Judgement [3]

    And with flaps of her wings using the divine evasive technique, she was out of the passage. Only to find herself in another section where she was met with the booming voice, teasingly.


    "Zhang Xiu Ying. Yes, a true demigod. We know of you. How you become, and who you become. We very well know of your becoming. But do you?"


    Heaviness descended on Zhang Xiu Ying the moment she entered the hallway. Everywhere around her turned dark, except a spot at her front where she saw a replica of herself. The white armour, fiery wings, and blazing sword. She had a dreadful feeling about the sword she was holding, and quickly put it away.


    "Wise indeed, Zhang Xiu Ying. In here, we will show you something about yourself, and you will tell us what you see."


    Her image reverted backward to an image of a cl.u.s.ter of billions of bright stars connected by pulsating threads. As she watched, she saw a single ray of white light, entering the cl.u.s.ters of stars, and fell upon a particular star. The star started to shine brighter than the rest, breaking away from the cl.u.s.ter and entered a place where the stars were not just bright like itself, but were blazing.


    The blazing stars completely ignored the little bright star whose light appeared too dim compared to them. Feeling left out, the little star departed from that place and came to another place where the stars were massive in sizes, and with blazing light. Here also, the little star was put aside. The star then journeyed from there to a different place. At this place, the little star couldn''t see the former cl.u.s.ters of stars, also couldn''t see the light from the second set of stars, and could only see specks of light from the third set of stars.


    The star looked up, and saw billions of star cl.u.s.ters, bigger and brighter than the last set of stars it had come across. The little star realized that he was even less than a speck here and became dejected before heading back the way it came. It was there for a long time staying on its own, when a single ray of white light entered the cl.u.s.ter again. But the little bright star was not interested in the light entering the cl.u.s.ter, but in the direction where the ray of light came from.


    Thus, it left on a journey to find out the source of the light. It travelled days without end, but kept travelling. It passed the beautiful pond of a yellow light, but kept going. It came to the amazing river of a green light, and kept going. Next it passed the mesmerizing sea of a red light, but didn''t stop. Still forging ahead, it came across the ravaging ocean of a blue light, but didn''t give up.


    Then one day, it came to a place where it met another tiny little star. It told the tiny little star that it was looking for a place where a single ray of light was coming from. The tiny little star sighed, and told the curious star that it was its job to send out the light.


    But the curious star was not convinced that the tiny little star could do such a thing. Then the tiny little star showed its true might, and its size covered half of the heavens. The curious star became frightened to its core, but the mighty little star told the little bright star not to be. That itself still had many stars bigger and brighter than it. At that point, the curious star could only, but asked itself, where it really was among the stars.


    When the mighty little star saw the curious little star''s dejection, it said consolingly.


    "I was once like you, little star. I had to come here to find out like yourself, what I was. For you to be here, you are deserving of being a heavenly star. So, why don''t you enter and see where you can truly be."


    "Zhang Xiu Ying, where are you in the universe?"


    "I am here with you."


    With eyes full of tears, Zhang Xiu Ying answered.


    "Clever, very clever. Where the universe put you, yet more with us. You may proceed."


    Zhang Xiu Ying exited the place, and found herself outside the entrance to the valley of gods.


    Then, the voice proceeded to ask her.


    "Zhang Xiu Ying. Why are you here in the valley of the gods?"


    "I want to be a heavenly demigod."


    "Your wish is in the hand of the universe, Zhang Xiu Ying.


    "This is the light of manifestation. The universe''s gift to you, Zhang Xiu Ying. You may leave now."


    Zhang Xiu Ying found herself back in the hallway, and quickly left through the last exit. She came out at the other side of the valley of the gods, not far from where lord Primus was waiting.


    Beaming with smiles, sometimes grinning and laughing, the titan lord couldn''t contain his joy as he stared at the face of Zhang Xiu Ying.


    "Let''s go home, Xiu Ying. Let''s go home."

 Chapter 26 - A Delightful Day [1]

    Since returning from the valley of the gods, Zhang Xiu Ying had changed drastically. The power of her newly acquired divine aura[energy released from the body], could become overpowering to any lower level cultivators if not masked. That showcased the increase in her level of power. It was an heavenly advancement of her demigod aura.


    The demigod could now generate divine force from her aura before releasing it through the divine body blasts. It could cause a great deal of damage.


    A glimpse of full godhood


    And her bloodline''s divine evasion? Zhang Xiu Ying no longer had a need to switch to her divine avatar to use minor teleportation. She could directly use her human body to teleport over an area the size of the Ankhora continent, without leaving a trace behind. Unless the one tracing her, was another divine demigod, a nascent soul of equal power, or a daemon king and above.


    But the best part of her universal gift was the newly acquired glimpse of divine sight. She could see the presence of all spirit beings, and sense their actions in the area of nineteen million square miles around her. That was half the size of Ankhora continent.


    Ju Feng looked at her mother in full delight.


    His mother had become a legendary figure just like his newly acquired uncle. Now, he wouldn''t need to worry about things that much. The only thing on his mind now was about making himself better, starting with making friends. Not that he didn''t have friends due to him being weird or strange, not at all. Actually, he exchanged pleasantries with kids like himself whenever he went to the village market.


    It was his mother and grandparents that had prevented him from having any close friends. And since they too didn''t associate with anybody in the village apart from the village headman and lord Gaius on village duty, he hadn''t worry about it much. Ju Feng believed they must have had their reasons for that, and had removed his mind from that thoughts to concentrate more on his cultivation.


    But after the attack on them at the lunar plain, they had told him the reasons for them keeping to themselves. And why they had asked him to do the same.


    His family was from the White fountain village on the Xuanpu continent. It was a relatively large village, but the people lived peacefully and harmoniously. The clans were hardly differentiable since they had interwoven through the family ties of marriages. But one day, the peaceful village was thrown into utter chaos. They were attacked by an army of demon fiends who had entered their village through an open portal at the centre of the village.


    Those demons were manifesting a shimmering dark energy. The energy they now knew as atrament.


    Majority of the villagers had died or vanished from the ensued battle, including his father. The last they had seen of him was his fights with the demons amidst the envelope of the black mass. After that, they hadn''t seen him again. They couldn''t find any traces of him or his corpse. Even Zhang Xiu Ying could no longer connect to him.


    They knew of deadly attacks that could disintegrate a body into vapour or ashes. Maybe, the shimmering dark energy was one of them, but they didn''t want to accept that. They thought, maybe, there was a chance to find him. They had searched everywhere for him to no avail. That made them concluded that he was killed too.


    After a long wait, ruminating on what happened and what next, their village chieftain, two nascent soul elders and the village''s Xue-Wu, appeared at their residence. The Xue-Wu had consulted the oracle bones. And one of the elders had a divine beast, an Abyssinian cat, one of the extremely rare divine beasts that had innate divination. The cat had also made it known to the elder, the very cause of the attack.


    The Zhang family of the Zhang clan.


    The fiend demons had attacked their village because of them, with the name of their daughter, Zhang Xiu Ying, the only one on the demons'' death list. The village council had made their decision. Based on the divination of the oracle bones, the family couldn''t be allowed to remain in the village. If they were to stay, they would bring death and ruin to the whole village.


    Hence, they would have to leave the village. The Zhang clan were not banished, but the Zhang family responsible for the attack was no longer allowed to stay.


    The Zhangs, upon hearing these words, decided to leave the village and its continent behind, and they moved to another continent. The continent of Ankhora. After searching different villages for a time, they found this quiet place to live and farm. They had shunned all association with the people of the village due to the fear of the demon''s finding out their where-about. They even had to use their ancestral defensive arrays to mask their location.


    And they had been successful, until recently, when they were attacked by the daemon kings at the lunar plains.


    How the demons found out where they were, and when to get them, baffled them to no end. Since a quiet life provided no assurance to a secured life, they had told Ju Feng of the whole situation. They no longer needed to live a quite life, now that they had the protection of more powerful entities. And it came with an assurance of safety from further attacks from the nether-plane. Hence, they had encouraged Ju Feng to make friends since it no longer mattered how they lived.


    When Ju Feng was receiving all the information, he was having a faint insight too. He couldn''t totally lay his hand on it, but the feeling was there. It made him took the information in strides, without experiencing the tragic emotion of an abject loss. He was actually having an inner peace that came with the feelings of things sorting themselves out. He needed to trust his childling instinct, whatever that was. Thus, he pushed the thought about his father and his birth place, to the back of his mind.


    Looking at how his young life had panned out so far, he really felt gratified. He had spent his past years, ten good years, cultivating and practicing martial arts. He had everything he needed growing up. His loving family, the blue crystalline, the delicious magical beasts, he simply had them all. How could he not appreciate them?


    So for now, he wanted to make friends or learn how to make friends.


    This was quite a task, but when he would eventually make friends, he would become a legend of his own. Ah, stuff of legends. Ju Feng''s face lit up in smile as he decided it was time for him to take a walk though the village. Seeing her son approaching, Zhang Xiu Ying waved him over.


    "Can you hold this for me, son?"


    She handed him a large empty granite jar as she prepared to milk one of the goats.


    "Yes, ma."


    "By the way, what brings you here at this time? And don''t tell me it''s nothing."


    "Ma, I was thinking, maybe I can take the milk to the market today. I know the procedures, mother. You know I''ve been following you before. So, maybe, I should try today by myself?"


    "Hm. I think that will be very good of you. Then, let''s quickly finish milking the goats so you can be on your way."


    Lost in their different thoughts, they continued milking the goats. Zhang Xiu Ying knew her son just wanted to take a walk in the village, but she was still a bit nervous about it. But due to the new developments, she understood there was no need for her to be worried about him going alone to the market. She could monitor his movement anywhere in the village with her divine sight, and if there was any problem, she could be there in a second.


    They quickly finished with the goats, making two large jars filled with milk. They packed the two jars into the back basket, and Ju Feng carrying the basket on his back, left for the market.


    It was quite a walk to the market since their cave house was at the extreme end of village outskirt. And due to the location of the market in the village, he had to walk a bit longer with more road turns, heading towards the market.


    Ju Feng was turning to the road that entered the village when he noticed a boy of his own age staring at something on the floor.

 Chapter 27 - A Delightful Day [2]

    The boy was with teary eyes as he tried to scoop the thing off the floor. With caution, Ju Feng steadily approached him since it was the same road leading to the market. Instinctively, he uttered some words of greeting.


    Who knows who or what the boy was? Better to say something before reaching the boy. He needed to know if he would have to stay, or make a quick run for it.


    "Uhm, Hello there."


    The boy just kept on looking at the thing on the floor without paying any attention. As Ju Feng got much closer, he discovered that the thing on the floor was a broken jar. Looking more closely, he realized that the liquid spilled on the floor was honey. Seeing the bottom half of the jar in pieces, Ju Feng knew the honey on the floor was from the broken jar.


    "Hello there. Is that yours?"


    Ju Feng asked as he was almost by the boy''s side. This time, the boy raised his head to look at him, and nodded.


    "I''m Ju Feng. What happened?"


    "We... We collect wasp...honey...to sell. My mother was sick, and my father was attending to her... he asked me to collect the honey. Now look at..."


    "If I may ask, how much do you sell a jar like this one?"


    "Five gold coins."


    "Five gold coins. That''s a lot, but I''ll pay for it."


    "Really? You will?"


    "Yes I will. No need to worry yourself to death. Here, have it. Five gold coins as promised."


    Ju Feng removed five gold coins from his entire savings of ten gold coins.


    "Ah, than- thank you. Thank you."


    He stuttered for words with a happy face, not quite believing what was happening.


    "Name is Tao Cheng. Thank you for this favour. I won''t forget it. One day, I''ll repay you."


    He said happily as he hurried off.


    "You don''t need to worry about that, Tao Cheng."


    Ju Feng shouted gently to his departing back. It wasn''t that easy to make friends, and not too hard trying to make friends either. As he walked along the major road towards the market, sometimes, he would wave or say hello. All in good mind. He delivered the milk to the merchant who paid in gold, and he left the market place.


    Ju Feng reached home later in the afternoon feeling satisfied. He had been in a good mood since morning, and he had been happy since coming back from the market. His mother and grandparents didn''t want to ask him about it, they just went along with his joyful flow. With a thought, Ju Feng went to the quiet and peaceful pond area, to train his sword mystical art, the Skylight.


    There were four stages to this technique.


    The first one was the Heavenly-Asunder.


    The second one was the Ethereal-World.


    The fourth one was the Eternal-Sky-Light.


    He was still at the first level of skylight, the Heavenly-Asunder. This level involved drawing in the visible lights, and compressing them to form the radiant rainbow light. Releasing this rainbow light will bring the bust of vanquishing rainbow lights in the form of rains.


    Inner peace! Ju Feng sat by the pool and was about to close his eyes to meditate with the soul serenity technique, when he noticed the movement of the gentle wave ripples on the pond''s surface caused by a single beautiful butterfly. Several wave fronts from the ripples were approaching the stone arc at the edge of the pond. Upon reflection off the stone arc at the edge of the pond, the water waves changed direction and headed towards a single point.


    All the energy carried by the water waves converged at this single focal point before spreading out through the water.


    The profound unity and harmony of the scene was a total comprehensive insight. Ju Feng closed his eyes, calmed his mind with the Soul Serenity technique, and began to dwell on the insight from the wave ripples. Two hours later, he had discovered the basic secret of the Heavenly-Asunder.


    "YES!"


    He shouted as he pumped his fist in the air, and performed a little jump around. He went to the training area to test out the White-flare. He took one of the bronze sword, and performed a little form of Heavenly-Asunder. Rainbow sword light started converging at the tip of the sword before busting outwards in an encompassing rainbow light. It was really a beautiful scene. He had uncovered the knowledge of the first stage of the skylight technique.


    Now, he need to start practicing it which could take many years before mastering it. Nonetheless, it was turning out to be a really good day.


    His mother who had been watching him came over to congratulate him.


    "Congratulations, my son. I''m truly proud of you."


    "Thank you, ma. After so many years, I finally learned the basics of the first stage. I still have many years of practice to master it, but only three more to go now."


    His grandparents who were working in the farm, also came over to check the situation after seeing the bright bust of rainbow sword lights.


    "We saw the rainbow lights that''s why we came over. Is everything alright?"


    "Yes father. Ju Feng was only trying out the first stage of his Skylight technique he recently learned its basics. It''s all good, father."


    "Ah, I guess it is."


    Zhang Wang Jing glanced at her husband smilingly before focusing on her grandson.


    "Congratulations, Ju Feng. You have worked so hard for it, you deserved it."


    "Thank you, grandma."


    "Indeed. You deserved more than a big congratulations, this calls for a celebration. The making of a young man."


    They celebrated Ju Feng''s achievement that evening with a great deal of magical delicacies.


    After the celebration, Ju Feng went to the cultivation chamber and started his soul cultivation, using the astral primal technique. His dantian and meridians had enlarged to their maximum capacity with focus now on their depth. His dantian had began to get deeper in depth. When he reached the Chi condensing stage, the ocean of Chi would be compressed into a sphere of energy. That would prevent the leakage of Chi energy from his body.


    He popped one needle-edge sized crystalline one into his mouth, and controlled the energy safely without collapsing before continuing his cultivation. Nothing better than a good cultivation. He exited the cultivation chamber, and headed towards his room smiling brightly.


    "What a great day."

 Chapter 28 - The Last Sword Sect [1]

    Earlier in the year, Ju Feng had reached the age of ten. Age ten was the maximum a young cultivator must be, to be successfully accepted into any major sect. They were very particular about the age due to the fact that, it was much more easier for the soul foundation of the young cultivator to be molded in a properly suitable way of the sect. Therefore, he could no longer delay in finding a sect.


    Ju Feng''s grandfather, Zhang Li Qiang, who had been in charge of looking for a suitable sect for him, had located the three most powerful swords sects on Lorra. The Sword Saints sect on the Yamachi continent, the Infinite Sword sect on the Xuanpu continent and the Last Sword sect on the Ankhora continent.


    The most famous was the Sword Saints due to the noble and wealthy families patronizing them. The largest in number of cultivators and biggest in size among the three, was the Infinite Swords. The debatably most powerful in terms of strength and manuals was the Last Sword sect.


    All those sword sects were backed by powerfull figures. Hegemons and ancestral gods who had ascended to the heavenly realms. Even legends had it that the Sword Saints were backed by a puregod.


    After a little discussions, the choice had been obvious. It could only be the Last Sword sect. Firstly, It was located on the same continent they live, with great reputation as a powerful sect. Secondly, they wanted somewhere closer to home, where they could reach quickly. Decision had been made, it would be the Last Sword sect.


    Ju Feng woke up very early. The day had finally arrived. It was the day for young cultivators to undergo trials for sect admission.


    He cleaned his mouth with the willow twig before chewing some mint leaves, washed his body and put on his new robe. He quickly joined his family for breakfast, they would be accompanying him to the place.


    They had been told that it would be a single day trial.


    They arrived on time to see the entrance full of young cultivators seeking admission. Lots of cultivators had left by the look of things and thousands were still arriving. Kids were coming from different parts of the world, but the majority are from the same continent of Ankhora.


    Obviously, Ankhora was a big continent, second only to Xuanpu in size. It had more than five billion people, of which, hundreds of millions were general cultivators. But majority of these numbers were only cultivators that would die while still sensing Chi, talkless of gathering Chi. True cultivation started from gathering Chi, of which population were only few millions.


    Out of these few millions, were the thousands of young cultivators who were still trooping unto the sect premises for the trials.


    The setting of the sect premises were impressive. The cultivators didn''t need to enter inside the sect premises for trials because at the entrance to the sect premises was a stone pillar.


    An ancestral monolith! The Stone of Paths.


    It was a marble monolith and on the monolith were three crystals; red[body], yellow[spirit] and blue[element]. Any cultivator having a level that was lesser than Lianchi, would be pushed back by the monolith, automatically.


    The red crystal was used to measure body strength, the yellow for the Chi energy level and the blue for the elements in general. As long as the three reached the brilliance level required, the monolith would give off a sound of acceptance, then the cultivators would proceed towards the mainhall where the sect elders were waiting.


    As numerous young cultivators were arriving, and were placing their palms on the stone, thousands were also leaving dejectedly due to their failures in meeting the requirements. By the end of the day, the numbers would have been reduced to final numbers for admission.


    Ju Feng was in line, waiting for his turn to face the monolith. He was nervous, anxious and expectant of what the results would be.


    By the time it was his turn, only a few hundreds of people were left. He approached the monolith, and placed his palms on the imprints. Immediately, all the stones lit up and the monolith gave the ultimate sound of acceptance. He felt calmness descended on him and was very happy when the acolytes directed him towards the main hall of the sect.


    By late afternoon, all the one hundred disciples that passed the trial were all in the main hall. On the podium of the hall, were the sect elders who were all nascent soul cultivators of early to middle stages. And, the grandelder who was a peak stage nascent soul cultivator.


    The grand elder raised his head to look at the new disciples and nodded his head.


    "We welcome you all to the Last Sword sect. Here at Last Sword, we work towards the progress and welfare of all our members especially new members. It is always our sect''s ideology to behave ourselves. As ethics is a very important thing we should have."


    He broke off to make sure they are all following his words as he spoke.


    "We all know that you all are from different parts of the world and are abiding with different rules. I believe they all share a common vision: to help young cultivators get used to outside rules. It''s a fact that all of you would eventually acquire the necessary knowledge. You''ll leave this place and enter the life outside."


    The grand elder looked from one face to the others.


    "Outside is ruled by laws, of which survival of the strongest is paramount. It is important for you to have a sense of what they are, not only for the benefits of the sect, but also for the establishment of good values for yourselves."


    He paused, allowing that to sink in.


    "To give you more words showing showing the importance of this. There is a rule that needs students to be courteous and compassionate. It is easy to comply with this rule, but seldom do discciples know the underlying meaning of it. Some of you may manifest stronger strength or higher cultivation level than others, you don''t need to be too arrogant about it."


    The grand elder made an encompassing gesture with his hand.


    "You are all working towards the same goal, to be better than your best. You will need to get in contact with people of different groups when embarking on the road to workforce therefore you need to find ways to get along with other disciples, sect acolytes and sect elders."


    The grand elder turned his head towards the location of the elders and acolytes who all nodded in return, before returning his gaze to the new disciples.


    "Being courteous and compassionate leaves them an impression that you are a disciple with good and decent wisdom. Friendly competitions are accepted and welcomed as long as they don''t threaten the lives of others and with the supervision of at least, a sect master. Once again, we welcome you all."


    Spreading his arms around his sides, the grand elder continued.


    "These are our sect elders, each a great leader of his or her own field. They will be guiding you attaining the necessay knowledge."


    After the grand elder''s speech, the sect elders introduced themselves one after the other.


    "Cao Wang Xiu, house of light. Walk the way of light and see its true glory. I welcome you all."


    "Tang Li Jing, house of flora. Always take a time to smell the flowers, purest sensation. Welcome."


    "Bai Bambang, house of terra. Embrace terra and feel a mighty and binding power. Welcome."


    "Lin Li Mei, house of water. Nothing can resist water, it contains the truths. I welcome you."


    "Luo Jiu Li, house of wood. The loveliness of the woods is before sunrise. You are all welcome."


    "Zhu Huojin, house of fire. Be courageous like fire, burn away impurities. Welcome to the life."


    "Fu Manchu, master of shadow. Shadow is part of life, it only like its privacy. Welcome all."


    "Qin Ming Yue, house of air. Don''t forget to breathe, good for the body and soul. Welcome you all."


    "Xia Ming Yu, house of ice. Everyday is an ice day, always have it. Nice welcoming you all."


    "Liang Long, house of lightning. See the full flash of lightning and be dazzled. Welcome."


    "Wu Pang Fua, house of dreams and illusion. Dream and disguise the emptiness. Welcome."


    "Ren Chao, house of metal. Discover metal and discover the power of becoming. Welcome."


    "Kong Shan, house of Necrosism. All things are poison and nothing without poison. Welcome."


    "Hou Yusheng, house of Space-time. Distort space and it affects time. I welcome you."

 Chapter 29 - The Last Sword Sect [2]

    The grand elder continued his welcome speech after the sect masters finished their introduction.


    "Simplicity, patience and compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, and you will reconcile all beings in the world."


    The grand elder directed the new disciples towards the centre of the hall where there was a circular ring on the floor with himself at the front of the ring. The disciples would stand in the middle of the ring to determine their element affiliate in the view of others, and they would say their names to the grand elder. Then, the grand elder would call out their names and elements affiliation for the houses'' acolytes to register. Afterwards, sects badges would be handed to the disciples by the acolytes.


    When it was Ju Feng''s turn, he stepped into the circular ring, and it flared softly.


    "Ju Feng. Light and lightning."


    The disciples continued to step into the circle to fully determine their affinities. House of air, house of terra, and house of fire, had thirteen disciples each. House of water, house of light, house of ice, house of woods, and house of metal, had eight students each. House of lightning and house of shadows had five students each. House of dreams and illusions, house of flora, and house of necrosism, had three disciples each. And the house of space-time had two disciples.


    There were eighty five disciples of one element affiliation, thirteen disciples with two elements, and two disciples with three elements affiliation. Although the disciples with two elements were also hard to come by, disciples with three elements were the most revered and coveted in the sect, their potential were limitless.


    Lost in his own mind, Ju Feng began to wonder. Wow, three affinities. What would happen if he could add fire to his own? Fire, lightning and light, he would be able to create ribbons of fire with some lightning and light. Hehehe, that would have been a pretty sight. He could even create a fire dragon, head of fire, body of light and tail of lightning. Hahaha...impressive stuff. Jufeng broke away from his daydreams in time to hear the grand elder''s words.


    "Now that you have all registered for the admission, the sect doors will be opening a week from now. Go and make necessary preparations, you will be here for five months from admission date. You will be given two months break after which you are expected to return for second phase of another five months. And when you are coming, bring twenty five gold coins for the first phase and after the break, another twenty five gold coins which makes fifty gold coins every year. If you are having trouble paying, see your house master. Once again, you are all welcome. You can all leave orderly now."


    With all eagerness, Ju Feng was happy to inform his mother and grandparents about it. They were already waiting for him near the entrance when he came out, and quickly joined them.


    "Ma, grandpa, grandma, I''ve been accepted."


    "Congratulations."


    They chorused happily in support.


    "And we will start a week from now."


    "This is good news. We will celebrate this when we get home. It''s getting late now."


    "Yes, we will celebrate it at home."


    They rode swords lights out of the sect''s area, before Zhang Xiu Ying used minor teleprtation to take them home. This way was necessary for her to keep her nature quiet. And in minutes, they had reached home. They celebrated his admission in the usual way of magical turtle''s meat, cooked with lily tubers, and ground lily leaves. Added on top of the meat was the delicious wasp honey.


    It was a true celebration all night.


    The following morning, Zhang Xiu Ying informed the titan lord through the mind voice of Ju Feng''s admission.


    "Oh, that''s good news. This will benefit him a lot, Xiu Ying. I''ll come over later in the evening."


    "Okay, uncle Primus."


    Since waking up, he had been checking everything he would need before leaving for the sect. Robe. His mother would take care of a new robe for him. Not that he would need much robe anyways, since they would give them sect robes. These personal robes would be for informal ocassions. He would also need some writing parchments and a quill. The more he prepared, the more he realized he would need many things, and a bigger bag.


    Since he couldn''t think properly enough of what he needed, he decided to go and train his body using the no-name technique they recieved from his uncle, lord Primus. Ju Feng''s body had already become extremely strong and powerful, and his strength could rival that of a zhuji cultivator. Despite this, he continued training until late afternoon before leaving for the pond side.


    On the way to the pond, his mind wandered off again to what he needed to take with him to the sect. He would surely take his two robes, he would pack some turtle meat, some lily tubers, and leaves. What more could he take? He wanted to take many things but there was nothing much left to take, except more turtle meat and lily tubers. Maybe, he would have to think properly.


    Reaching the pond area, he sat down in lotus position to clear his mind. What if he could pack a whole turtle''s meat with him? That would have been better. Or, his mother could be bringing him more meat. No, not ideal. He had to look for a bigger bag. Ju Feng closed his eyes, and clear his mind as he began to meditate. However, he couldn''t meditate for long before deciding it was enough. He was on his way back to the cave when lord Primus arrived.


    "Uncle Primus!"


    "Ju Feng, good to see you. How is my nephew doing?"


    "Very good, uncle. You know what, uncle. I was accepted into the Last Sword sect."


    "Yes, your mother told me. I''m very proud of you Ju Feng. That''s why I brought you a small gift."


    Lord Primus flicked his hand, and a small bag appeared in his hand, the size of his palm.


    "Here, take it. Go ahead."


    With shaky hands, Ju Feng took the small bag from his uncle, and continued to look at it totally dumbstruck.


    "Yes, it''s a spatial sac. I thought you might need something like that to pack the things you need."


    Ju Feng''s mind was in ecstasy, and didn''t even know when he fell on his knees in front of his uncle with teary eyes, and bowed. This would have cost a big fortune. How could he recieve this for nothing?


    "Aww, no need for that now. After all, you are my nephew. I should be doing this for you anyway. Now, stand up. Come on, stand up."


    As if in a deep trance, Ju Feng stood up slowly as the rest of the family arrived at the scene. Meeting the two of them this way, the rest were a little bit curious.


    "Lord Primus, we meet you well. Welcome."


    "Lord Primus, we welcome you."


    "Uncle Primus. You are here."


    Zhang Xiu Ying looked from lord Primus, who was smiling, to Ju Feng who had tears of joy.


    "Is everything okay, uncle Primus?"


    "Nothing Xiu Ying, Ju Feng was just too excited that I brought him a spatial bag. You see, there''s nothing wrong."


    "..." Zhang Xiu Ying.


    "..." Zhang Li Qiang.


    "..." Zhang Wang Jing.


    "Hehehe. I told you, it was nothing."

 Chapter 30 - The Last Sword Sect [3]

    Ju Feng, alongside his mother and grandparents, arrived at the entrance of the Last-Sword sect premises. It was the day the Last-Sword sect officially set for their admission, with the teaching and learning process to start the following day. There were two sect acolytes standing in front of two metal golems, welcoming and directing the new disciples what to do and where to go.


    Several minutes later, after his time delaying conversation with his mother and grandparents, he finally bade farewell to them. Upon entering the sect premises, he noticed that the monolith was no longer there, but took in the sheer size of the area.


    Heavens tears!


    How did he forget about the utter size of the premises of this sect? Probably due to the fact that he had only entered once before, and that was the day of the trial when he had been too anxious to notice everything. But now, he actually had the chance to observe it keenly, and it was extremely big. Hundreds of miles in size, covering mountains, hills and valleys.


    Entering the premises, Ju Feng was directed towards the main hall by the acolytes who were having a good, but busy day. He was very apprehensive by the time he reached the main hall since it was the first time he would be living away from home. He was feeling the anxiety of missing his family, but was acting relaxed on the outside. Ju Feng knew he had to maintain his inner peace after remembering the words of his grandfather.


    "Who was not everyday conquering some fear had not learned the secret of life."


    He would pretend he had been doing this since he was born. Since he was born? That didn''t really sounded sane, but still sounded good. He would take these words. When he reached the main hall, he was sent in the direction of the acolyte scribe who was scribbling on a parchment.


    "Your identifications badge."


    "Yes, senior. Here it is."


    Ju Feng presented his badge, and his identity was confirmed.


    "You will need to swear the blood oath of allegiance, of justly fair actions, and of good conduct and behaviour. If this bode well with you and you accept, we will proceed. If not, you may turn back now, and forget about this."


    "Blood oath?"


    Ju Feng paused for a second to think about the oath of blood. He would forever be bound to any blood oath taken. But after thinking about the words included, he nodded.


    "Okay, if those are the words involved, I can live with that. I accept."


    "Place your hands on the stone of oath, and repeat after me."


    Subsequently to the swearing of the oath, he paid his twenty five gold coins for admission, and received a welcome bag before he was sent to the dormitory. It contained two sect''s robes and a manual of conduct. More robes could be purchased from the sect at a bit expensive price. The reason for this? Disciples would be able to appreciate what they have in life and maintained it.


    Fair enough. He wouldn''t need more than two anyway. He could even live with one.


    On his way to the male disciples'' dormitory, Ju Feng checked the manual of conduct and was fine by what he saw. They were reminder of the oath of allegiance he swore. He could definitely live with this. No problem for him at all. Trust and truthfulness, as long as you have them, life will be much easier and better. He sighed, and continued towards the dormitory.


    He came to the desk of the senior acolyte in charge of the general dormitory.


    "Your badge."


    "Yes senior, here."


    Ju Feng replied, giving the acolyte the badge in his hand.


    "Ju Feng. Section two, room sixty eight. Welcome, young disciple."


    "Thank you senior."


    The male disciples dormitory was divided into four sections with huge corridors, with each section containing one hundred rooms. Acolytes were assigned to supervise each section in maintaining orderliness and cleanliness on the section. The acolytes would also be dealing with the issues and problems of the disciples directly before informing the elders if it was too big to handle.


    He saw an acolyte on the corridor who directed him to section two. It took a few minutes to locate his room. As a new disciple of two elements affinity, he would be having the room all to himself.


    Ju Feng entered the room, closed the door behind him and lay on the bed to relax his apprehensive mind. At long last, he was here. HERE! He was very happy, yet a bit sad. Quite sad. Life away from home, but he knew it was something he had to do. If he truly wanted to be strong enough, then, he would have to live with minor forms of sacrifices.


    Heading towards the sect library, Ju Feng decided to see if he could find any manual to study. The libraries in the sect were divided into two. The opened library was for the general disciples while the closed library was meant for the sect elders and core disciples. Although there were good technique manuals for martial arts and cultivation in the general library, the most powerful manuscripts were inside the closed library. Only for the chosen ones.

 Chapter 31 - The Last Sword Sect [4]

    Ju Feng arrived at the opened library an hour before the library time was over, and quickly went to the book shelves. He was only trying to see if he could find anything to study that night. And if not, he would come back another day, probably the following day. However, he didn''t want to just leave empty handed.


    As he was glancing through the books, he saw the one captioned, ''ANCIENT SWORDS''. Generally, cultivators would have good knowledge about the weapons of old, but for him, he didn''t know much about that aspect of history. He wasn''t much interested in weapons until he began seeing the beauty and deadliness of swords in the hands of mother and grandparents. Hence, he was interested in reading the book. He quickly informed the librarian who made a vanishing copy for him.


    That night he was planning on reading the book, but was lost in meditation after eating one tiny blue crystalline rock. Since his dantian and meridians had been expanding painfully rapidly, he had to quickly circulate the Chi. He was circulating and meditating that he forgot about himself, and slept in that position.


    The following morning, all the house elders would be giving their first lecture to the new disciples. After getting dressed in the new sect robe, Ju Feng headed towards the study hall of the house of light. Arriving at the big area, he searched for some time before locating it with a sigh of relief. There were five disciples in the hall already, and with him making six. Only two other disciples remained to arrive.


    "Hello."


    He said as he looked for a seat


    "Hello."


    "Hey"


    Ju Feng gave himself a nod. He was doing great. He only needed to continue keeping his calm. With time we would all come to know ourselves more. That was what his family told him. Isn''t it?


    The other two disciples arrived few minutes later, and were soon followed by the house of light''s sect leader, elder Cao Wang Xiu. She was a tall, beautiful and powerful woman, wearing a white silk robe. Looking at her, any young cultivator would feel the knowledge of light radiating from her. With a trace of smile, she looked calmly at the new disciples, from one face to the other.


    "As you are already aware, my name is elder Cao Wang Xiu. I am the leader of the house of light. Now, as I welcome you all to the house of light, I want us to be friendly and courteous to one another by standing up one by one, and introduce yourselves to your fellow disciples. Let''s start from the right."


    "Yang Yaozu, house of light."


    "Liu Ning Hong, house of light."


    "Su Pei Jing, houses of light."


    "Ding Wenyan, house of light."


    "Lin Cheung, house of light."


    "Lin Da Xia, house of light."


    "Ju Feng, houses of light."


    "Hu Ren Xiang, house of light.


    "Excellent. You all represent the house of light. So, let your light shine brighter together. Learn from the others, plan with the others begin with what they have, build on what they know. Of the best leaders when the task is accomplished., everybody will remark that they have done it themselves together. Who understands others has great knowledge; one who understands himself has wisdom. Mastering others requires patience; mastering the self needs strength. You are all welcome once again.


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu stared at them thoughtfully.


    "Let me start by asking you this, what is a sword?"


    "Okay, you, Lin Da Xia."


    She pointed at the girl with bright blue eyes, who was eager to answer.


    "A sword is a bladed weapon longer than a knife for cutting, slashing or thrusting."


    Replied the girl with the deep blue eyes, Lin Da Xia.


    "Yes, Da Xia. Considering the physical meaning, you are very correct. But what if you now look at it spiritually, what will be the true meaning of a sword?"


    "Today, I will tell you. Sword is a symbol of purification. It pierces the spiritual soul of physical bondage to release a path to an ethereal and enlightened freedom. Sword as an extension of our beingness, cutting away the contamination of ignorance from our souls, in order for the souls to achieve universal insight. The very power of life and death, heavens and terra. When your soul is purified by the sword you wield, you will become one with your sword, and then, you will become one with the universe."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu paused to watch their faces, and smiled before continuing.


    "Remember, sword is a part of our existence as sword artists. And that it purifies our souls in order for us to gain enlightenment. Now, let us see what we know about light. Light is the first phenomenon of existence, it was with light that the Alperon, the core of the universe was formed. Light means true life, it purifies our beingness, removing contamination from our entities. And when we combine sword with true light, what becomes? When we combine two sources of purification, what exists? When we combine two forms of life and death, what do we get?"


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu materialized her sword which hung in the mid-air in front of her, radiating brilliant white light. The brilliance was gradually increasing until the whole study hall was filled with blinding white light, making the disciples covered their eyes in fear. Then, the brilliance began to decrease, and the sword eventually returned to its original form before disappearing again.


    "That was the combination of sword intent and true light. And it was just a tiny little fraction of what I can make it produce."


    "What?"


    They shouted at once.


    "You''ll see for yourselves sooner than you think. Study hard and practice harder, and you will find it easier than you imagine. We will stop here for today and continue three days from now. There are manuals and texts in the library, you can check them out if you want. See you then."

 Chapter 32 - The Last Sword Sect [5]

    Leaving the class, Ju Feng didn''t pay much attention to his fellow house of light disciples. His mind was on the spectacle of the sword, and the true light that elder Wang Xiu displayed. If that was a tiny part, what would the full one be? As it was, it already looked magnificent and scary. It reminded him of his mother''s fire display. True powers.


    When Ju Feng got back to his room, he took out his parchment and started writing. Sword enlightenment, sword purity, one with sword and one with the universe. True light enlightenment, purifies, first of existence, its the universe core. Become one with it, you become one with the universe. Combine the two?


    Ju Feng stopped writing, and took out one crystalline. Crushing it in his mouth, he began to cultivate. His dantian was getting deeper and deeper, but he continued to cultivate as they had told him. Although he was still at the early stage of Lianchi, his Chi was now at a ridiculous amount and quality. The astral primal technique had expanded and deepened his dantian, making him gathered and circulated many times the amount of Chi he would have needed. If it was another technique he was using, he would have advanced to the Zhuji stage already.


    After preparing himself, Ju Feng left his room for the evening class of elder Ju Long, of the house of lightning. They were only three new disciples of the house of lightning. The other two had already arrived when he came, just before the appearance of elder Ju Long. He watched as the other two students also introduced themselves.


    "Yuan Chun Hua, house of lightning."


    "Fu Yingjie, house of lightning."


    Elder Ju Long nodded, and continued.


    "If I ask you, what do you understand of the word ''sword''? You will say for slashing for killing. But, under the Dao of sword, sword is a symbol of righteousness and justice. It''s a discipline used for conquering, reckless passion, ignorance and aggression. A true swordsman wield a sword with a calm and peaceful mind. That is why the heart of a swordsman must be filled with compassion and humility. Without that, the sword will be recklessly dangerous. We don''t see the sword as a killing weapon, but a source of energy that flows through our body parts. Like the Chi energy. The sword is a way of gaining enlightenment."


    Elder Jun Long raised one finger.


    "Lightning on the other hand, is a symbol of the might of creation. It''s beautiful yet destructive. That''s why we wield it with calm and peaceful mind, without that, lightning will be recklessly dangerous. Lightning is the image of our countenance, it strikes away the impurities in our spiritual advancement. Accepting lightning and understanding it, will make the consciousness move you forward into more personal and spiritual freedom. This will clear the mind of its inner violence, and you''ll live in a state of inner peace."


    He halted for a moment to materialise his sword which began to produce blue lightning. The expansion of the lightning made the disciples fearful before returning to normality.


    "The caveat of it is that, sword is a mighty weapon and lightning is the manifestation of the true power of the universe. Combination of the two? Understanding this will unravel the deeper truth so that you can rise out of not knowing to being enlightened. Embrace the opportunity to expand your consciousness, and see your place in the Universe in a totally new way."


    He rounded up his words.


    "Put my words in your hearts. I will see you in the next class."


    After the evening lecture of elder Ju Long, Ju Feng went back to his room and sat down in a lotus position, lost in thoughts. There was no other choice, and no other words for it. He had to get more powerful. He would study hard, and practice harder. He would meditate hard, and cultivate harder. Snapping back to the present, he popped another tiny crystalline into his mouth, and started cultivating using the astral primal technique.


    Since joining the Last-Sword sect, he had consumed two tiny blue crystalline. A number that was simply too much for him. And with the way he was getting more chi energy, he felt he could break to the late stage of Lianchi sooner than he thought before.


    During the two weeks that followed, Ju Feng had consumed one more tiny crystalline. It was during one of the nights that felt the Chi in his dantian was about to explode after his dantian had refined high amount of Chi, and was still refining it.


    After a time, his dantian exploded, and golden light steadily emanated from his body. He had reached the Ningchi stage, the Chi condensing stage. At last, he had pushed past the late stage of Lianchi which had affected the blue crystalline he had. Only two of the blue crystalline, of hundreds of millions of years, was left with him. Even at home, the crystalline had depleted.


    The first three stages of cultivation were the easiest. They were the Juchi, Lianchi and Ningchi stages. All those three stages were mortal cultivation levels. Immortal cultivation started from the soul foundation stage of Zhuji. Heavenly tribulations for cultivators would begin at the Zhuji stage.


    Titan''s torso!


    He was now a Ningchi cultivator.

 Chapter 33 - The Last Sword Sect [6]

    Ju Feng had spent a whole week pushing his dantian to the extreme and he had finally succeeded. What he did would have been fatal for any other cultivator of his age and level. Even an a.d.u.l.t cultivator with levels lesser than middle stage Zhuji would have been in a seriously damaging situation.


    But he had done it due to the fact that the Astral Primal technique had enlarged, and deepened his dantian to an alarming degree. Hence, he could absorb that much Chi without any visible side effect.


    Finally, he had time to read the book about ancient swords. After locking his door, Ju Feng brought out some dried, and well preserved turtle meat and lily tubers. He had packed more than enough for the duration of his stay here. He started to read and eat the meat at the same time. He couldn''t even remembered the last time he had been to the cafeteria to eat. He had his turtle meat to sustain, and nourished him.


    Was he going to have armoured body like the turtle shell? It would have looked really good on him but with the turtle''s shell, he wasn''t sure. Others might call him monster while running away from him. Okay, no shell, just a strong normal body.


    Returning his thoughts to the present, he started reading the book on the ancient swords.


    ANCIENT SWORDS.


    There were tales of gods and mortals, swords masters of their kinds. Tales of myths and legends. Swords masters who had performed incredible acts with their swords. Acts that were later told in tales as mythical or legendary acts.


    Mythical swords were the blades of primordial swords masters, the immortal sword celestials and gods, who lived during the time of the primordial origins, and thereafter. They fought in the great wars with the primordial beasts, and also after the great wars. These were the mythical swords compiled from different sources, both known and unknown.


    Ju Feng started glancing through the mythical swords. He didn''t need to check their deeds, but could make do with what make them as powerful as they were.


    ZAGAROTH. The mythical sword of the immortal human celestial Zhang Li. A sword of unknown origin and of unknown materials composition. The sword that severed the armoured head of one of the nine arch primordial beasts war generals, the primevals.


    AZAMARR. The mythical sword of the immortal human god Tan Zhiqiang. The sword that split the immortal world of Starspark into two separate halves. Unknown origin and unknown materials composition.


    He continued reading at a glance, these tales of the mythical swords of the immortal gods. They were all made of unknown materials and even their origins were unknown. It took him less than thirty minutes to finish with the mythical swords.


    After all, they were gods with unfathomable powers. Those were godly achievements, how could mortals like himself relate to such?


    He slowly turned to the pages about legendary swords of mortals. Legendary swords were used by ancient swords masters who lived in the ancient days, in both major and minor worlds, with their tales spread throughout the universe. Especially, tales of their swords. To these swords masters, their swords were an extension of their beingness. Swords that became symbols of their universal existence.


    OBSIDA. The legendary sword belonging to the human cultivator, Cao Hong. A sword made from the obsidian rock retrieved from heart of the Dawnfire volcano on nether plane, and the core of a Far-dark star. The sword that killed the nether titan, Bracoda.


    KETRA. The renowned sword of the dwarf cultivator, Lynx. A sword made from a meteorite and the core of the divine beast, Forgarth. There was a war between a twin worlds. Two worlds joined together by the same core. The war was about the right to sovereignty. The two worlds had been fighting furiously with their fights threatening to destroy the mortals living in these two worlds.


    Upon seeing the danger of the situation, the dwarf decided to settle that permanently. He raised his sword, and the intent of the sword was like the weight of the heavens causing the two worlds to fall on their knees. And with a single downward slash, he divided the core of the two worlds into two equal parts. From then on, each of the two planets was having its own core. That act ended a war of total destruction.


    As Ju Feng continued checking the pages for the swords origins, and materials used in making them, he came to the page of swords master Ding Bang. That was a tale he had heard before, he could check if there were things missing in the stories he had heard before. The tale of a sword that sounded unbelievable.


    VIXRA. The mythical sword of the legendary swords master Ding Bang. A sword of pure silver from the heart of the Deep-freeze star, and made with the core of the mighty primordial ice creature, Vascera.


    The daemon invasion led by the daemon supreme, Deracles, had threatened the survival of the human race in the minor world. The immortal cultivator, Ding Bang was the last line between the extinction of the human race in this world, and the daemon supreme, Deracles.


    The daemon supreme had come with fifty thousand demon soldiers, two hundred daemon lords and fifty daemon kings. They were marching through the Snowfox valley from the north to the south, after decimating the northern part. But they were met by the immortal cultivator Ding Bang, leading an alliance army of cultivators over thirty thousand warriors of cultivators from Zhuji to nascent souls. It was a desperate time and it called for desperate measures.


    The battle was fierce and furious. The army of Ding Bang had been having the upper hand despite their smaller number, the cultivators were fighting without fear or hold, until the demons initiated the Burning demon triangle, an absolute formation. A formation that required fifty thousand daemons, two hundred daemon lords and fifty daemon kings. A formation that brought nether-fire to the mortal world. Any cultivator touched by the nether-fire would instantly disintegrate into ashes.


    Ding Bang army of cultivators were dying left and right. They couldn''t retreat since it meant the destruction of their world. Hence, they made their final stand. His men continued to die in numbers. With nothing left for him anymore, he called his sword to be with him one final time, and the sword heard his voice. His voice made the sword broke the final barrier of gaining sentience, becoming a divine sword.


    On that day, Vixra, the legendary sword of ice made its name known throughout the universe. With the aid of the freezing valley, the sword started generating massive ice energy, the likes never seen before, and was transmitting part of the energy into Ding Bang which made his body trembled uncontrollably.


    Ding Bang who was filled with unprecedented ice energy, began radiating a massive freezing energy like a cultivator who had reached godhood. He raised the sword up, and slashed down diagonally. And the daemons formation rumbled. Slashing down two more times, and the formation crumbled making the demons to be panicky. Swinging the sword left and right, many demons died.


    All their attack were repelled by the walls of ice energy radiating from his body. He continued to cut them down until only one remained.


    Deracles. The daemon supreme.


    They battled nonstop for two days. It was a brutal battle. Mountains were levelled, seas were vaporised, destruction everywhere but they fought on. Then, on the third day, the sword made a sacrifice to bring an end to the daemon supreme. It gathered all the ice energy from the surrounding, and from the universe as it formed a deep-freeze dome around the daemon supreme.


    Then, the sword pushed all the essence energy from its primordial core to its tip which combined with its sword intent to generate the divine Total-Deep-Freeze sword intent. The move damaged the sword''s core, but destroyed the defence of the daemon supreme, piercing his body directly to his soul, freezing and shattering it to pieces. It damaged its own core but it ended the war of daemons.


    One hour later, Ju Feng put the book down, and started thinking about the power of the swords. The legendary cultivators were mortals, something a mortal like him could more than relate to. They were known mortal cultivators, and their legendary swords had known origin and the materials used in making them. He was able to gain ideas from them, though not that he would just start looking for a deepfreeze star or something.


    The information was precious, nonetheless.

 Chapter 34 - The Last Sword Sect [7]

    Ju Feng brought out his parchment and began writing down permutations of materials. Only if he could actually make his own legendary sword. He remembered the phoenix feather sword of his mother, and the white wyvern sword of his grandfather.


    Letting out a deep breath, he put his parchment away and finished the rest of the turtle meat and lily tubers. Subsequently, he closed his eyes and started meditating using soul serenity technique, activating the inner peace. The following day, the grand elder would be addressing the new disciples at the main hall. He would sleep early to wake up early.


    The next day, all the new disciples gathered in the main hall where they would be addressed by the grand elder. They just finished exchanging greetings among themselves when the grand elder arrived.


    "Good morning to you all. It''s been around a week since you became a member of the Last-Sword sect. It''s our tradition to give each new disciple one heavenly root spirit pill and two golden fountain medicinal pills, a week after the admission. This is to allow any new disciple with a change of mind time to leave. Any disciple who stayed after a week has all the possibilities of staying, that''s our belief. These pills are the traditional welcoming ceremony for new disciples. You are now true Last-Swords"


    He signalled the elders of the houses who then monitored the acolytes in distributing the pills accordingly.


    "These pills are some of the treasures of our sect for you to use. This is the reason we asked for our new disciples'' levels to be from the Lianchi stage to the Ningchi stage. It is very important that you take the heavenly root spirit pill before you reach the Zhuji stage. It will help you form a perfect foundation for your subsequent advancement. These were just a sample of what we have in store for you all."


    The grand elder nodded after seeing their happy faces.


    "And as you already know, more greater benefits await those who endeavour to carve a path for themselves. Every step you take is on the path. Hence, I ask you, are you ready to take the steps? Study hard and train harder, and everything will be in your hold."


    He raised a finger to calm them down.


    "Now that we have that settled, there is a sect competition, once every three months from sect resumption. This competition determines the members of the inner and core disciples. Don''t get me wrong, there''s no difference among our members. All our members are very important and unique. This competition is only extra motivation for you. Already, there are many great benefits of being a last-sword, but if you want to go extra mile for yourselves and for the sect, then you need to be ready to participate."


    He paused for a moment, then continued.


    "And in general, as a sect, we will be assigning some tasks to you, and after their completion, you will be rewarded accordingly. As we prepare you in the study hall for the conjecture , we will also prepare you in the field out there. Out there, is where you put all you have learned in the study hall to the use. Remember, there are many benefits you get from doing all these. Thus, I say again, study hard and train harder."


    After receiving a loud shout of acknowledgement, he concluded his speech.


    "Go and enjoy the day."


    The new disciples were streaking out of the massive main hall, when two of the new house of light disciples came up to Ju Feng.


    "Ju Feng, hold up."


    "Da Xia, Cheung."


    "We are going to the cafeteria, do you care to join in?"


    Asked the blue-eyed Lin Da Xia.


    "I guess so, I''m starting to get hungry too."


    Ju Feng laughed in reply.


    "Yingjie, are you in a hurry?"


    Ju Feng asked.


    "Not really."


    "We are going to the cafeteria. Do you want to join us?"


    "Okay."


    At the cafeteria, they chose a spot at the corner, and settled on their food.


    "The Heavenly Root pill is enough for any disciple to join the Last-Sword sect."


    "I heard other sects have pills for the foundation stage too, but the Last-Sword sect have the best foundation pills."


    "I also heard that they have the pills for every stage of advancement."


    "If you become a core disciple, you will even have your own immortal cave"


    "True, there are tens of immortal caves for the disciples at the valley of immortals. The elders have their caves at the Haze mountains and the acolytes at the Shroud River plain."


    Fu Yingjie who had been quiet since they arrived, indicated.


    "I have decided to participate in the competition. I want to enjoy all those benefits."


    Lin Cheung looked around the table with a knitted brow.


    "Maybe I''ll participate, I''m not sure yet. I''ll think about it."


    Lin Da Xia put in.


    "I''ll be happy to participate. There''s no harm in participating, after all, it''s a friendly competition."


    Ju Feng uttered with a smile before turning to Fu Yingjie.


    "What about you, Yingjie?"


    "Well, no matter what happens in life only one thing comes out of it, friendship."


    They all laughed at that as they began devouring their food. They finished eating, and gladly departed to their different ways. Ju Feng left for his room with his heart full of joy. Finally, he had friends. He could now relax his mind.


    Inside his room, he took out the white colored heavenly root spirit pill, swallowed it and sat in lotus position to meditate. Within few minutes, different colours started radiating from his body as his dantian was experiencing a cosmic transformation. The big orb of condensed Chi that was formed in his dantian after reaching the Ningchi stage, started to change in appearance.


    The big orb was already many times bigger than that of normal cultivator, began to expand until it reached gigantic size. The transformation had also advanced him to the late stage of Ningchi.


    He opened his eyes, and laughed mildly.


    Everything was going smoothly for him. What could go wrong?

 Chapter 35 - After Yesterday [1]

    There were three levels of dantian in the body. The lower dantian, the middle dantian, and the upper dantian. Those were the energy centres in the body, energy needed by cultivators to achieve eternal life.


    The lower dantian level started from the gathering of Chi¡ªLianchi level¡ªto the golden core forming¡ªJindan level. All the Chi energy were stored in the lower dantian which was located near the navel, and could be opened by true mortal cultivators.


    The middle dantian level began from the Nascent soul¡ªYuanying level¡ªto the Celestial soul¡ªTianshang level. The middle dantian was located near the heart and could be assessed by true immortals.


    The upper dantian level initiated at the Shensheng level¡ªthe cosmic divinity level¡ªtill infinity. It was located at the centre of the head, and could only be attuned to by the true cosmic divines.


    Chi was the vital force, the vital energy, necessary for immortality. Any mortal cultivator aiming to achieve eternal life must have Chi in his or her dantian by gathering, refining and condensing it. Afterwards, the Chi would be changed into an orb, from there to a golden core, and from there to a nascent soul. This would take it all the way to become a celestial soul.


    Absolute immortality would be achieved when a cultivator reached the level of emptiness, one with the universe.


    From creation, mortal soul was placed in permanent limbo. Blind to the light of enlightenment. This was controlled by one of the laws of creation, incarnation law. A mortal soul lived, and a mortal soul died in order to live again. Forever subjected to the wheel of reincarnation¡ªthe samsara circle. This was the mortal law of incarnation.


    It was Chi, the vital force, that could bring out the mortal soul from limbo, placing it at the navel area. After that, it would transform the mortal soul into the orb of Chi essence energy or soul energy that would travel to the heart area, changing into a nascent soul. Then the nascent soul would leave for the upper dantian where it would transform into emptiness.


    There were no level of measurements to the amount of Chi a cultivator could gather into the dantian. The amount of Chi was determined by the size of the dantian and the availability of the Chi energy.


    For Ju Feng, he had been fortunate from w.o.m.b. His mother had used the Rainbow W.o.m.b spirit pill when he was still a foetus. And since he was a young child, he had been using the astral primal technique to cultivate along with the blue crystallines to supply refined Chi energy. Then recently, the Heavenly Root spirit pill which had taken him to the late stage of Ningchi. What more could he ask for? He was very happy about everything that had happened in his life.


    He gathered himself, and walked towards the hall of the house of light. Arriving there, he quickly exchange greetings with other disciples before moving to his seat. Shortly afterwards, elder Cao Wang Xiu entered the study hall, holding a small box.


    "Sorry everybody, I had to quickly tend to this."


    "Today-."


    She began to say when she suddenly broke off.


    "Oh, I see."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu uttered as she glanced at Ju Feng, smilingly.


    "Today, It''s all about sword intent. How it relates to a swords artist. Please follow me. All of you."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu took them through the back of the study hall to the house of light training field. Stationing herself at the opposite front, she continued.


    "Sword intent. What does it mean to a swords artist? Everything is within your power, and your power is within you. This is the willpower. Every cultivator has it. The power to choose your own actions, and assert your own volition. We know we have this power, but why do we have to use this power? You may ask. The reason being that, there are things that propel it."


    She raised one finger to indicate.


    "The first is the d.e.s.i.r.e. D.e.s.i.r.e is the strong wish for something to happen or to do. Will is easily associated with d.e.s.i.r.e, it is the fuel that propels will."


    "The second is the ability. Ability is the power that enable you to do things you do. With ability comes the will. They go hand in hand."


    Then, she had three fingers in the upright position.


    "The third is Perseverance. This means persistence or resolution to do something. The trait of not giving up, the will of forging ahead no matter what."


    Hitting her fist against her palm, elder Cao Wang Xiu looked from one face to another.


    "But the question is, why? Why do we have all these? All these things are compelled by the need to survive, the need to live. The innate driving force. This is the intent of a cultivator. And just like a cultivator, every weapon has an intent. The innate driving force imbued during its forging. Since swords are extension of a swords artist, a swordsmaster will give specific details of the needed sword to the swordsmith. And a swordsmith will be in the specific frame of mind when making a sword to imbue the necessary intent into it."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu paced up and down, then stopped at their front.


    "You see, there are many intents that can be imbued into a sword. Evil intent, bad intent, specific intent, good intent and so on. Most swordsmasters prefer the general intent with more of a specific. Pay attention to how you make your sword. The intent of your sword will reflect on you and your intent will reflect on your sword too. Because your sword is an extension of you, a part of you.


    She materialised her sword, and held it slightly to the front. She glanced at their faces and gave a faint smile.

 Chapter 36 - After Yesterday [2]

    "This is my sword, Lightflex, I can simply use it to heal the heart of my enemies if he or she has a tormented heart. Not all your enemies deserve death, as a matter of fact. And I can easily draw healing energy from it in extremely critical times. The reason being that it was made based on the healing intent, and coupled with the items used in making it. Nonetheless, it can easily kill if it is really needed."


    She turned from them, and with a single step, arrived near a giant dummy used for mystical training. With a single horizontal slash, she cut the dummy into two parts.


    "We will continue next time. Study hard, and practice harder."


    After the lecture, the group of newly acquainted friends gathered together at the cafeteria again. They all talked about the new developments since they last met, since they didn''t always have the time to gather together unless after the lectures. Only Ju Feng was living in the second section of the boys'' dormitory. Lin Cheung and Fu Yingjie were both staying in the third section, while Lin Da Xia was staying in the girls'' dormitory.


    "The pill was AMAZING! My whole body was vibrating in colours. It was like I could see the foundation of Jadeite pillars in my dantian. Hehehe... I even advanced to middle stage Ningchi. Amazing."


    Lin Da Xia said in an impressive tone, with an even more expressive blue eyes.


    "It truly was incredible, Da Xia. Like I told you before, last-sword is the sect to be in. I advanced too. What a great feeling it was."


    Lin Cheung agreed with his sister before turning to Ju Feng who also nodded in agreement.


    "Same thing with me too. It''s really a wonderful feeling."


    "I''ve made my decision regarding the competition. I will be participating."


    Lin Da Xia uttered as she rested her hands on the table, and leaned closer.


    "That''s good news Da Xia. Welcome on board."


    "What about you, Yingjie?


    "Don''t know. Maybe."


    "Well, there''s still plenty of time to decide. Don''t worry that much. Take your time."


    "Yes, we still have time."


    "By the way, Ju Feng, why did elder Wan Xiu said ''interesting'' when she looked at you this morning?"


    "Wish I knew too."


    Ju Feng answered, shaking his head. He saw, and heard her too, but what would he say? He didn''t know the reason himself, and he couldn''t just go up to her and ask. Could he?


    "Doesn''t matter, forget about that. All the elders always have one or two things to say anyway."


    "Yingjie, something wrong? It seems something is not right or it might just be me."


    Said Lin Cheung with a concerned look on his face.


    "You seemed worried, Yingjie. Anything bothering you?"


    "Maybe another time."


    Fu Yingjie answered to their agreement. Yingjie would need time to come to a decision whether to tell them or not, what was worrying him.


    They continued talking about the general events as they continued eating. After finishing with their lunch, they bade their farewell as they went their separate ways.


    Ju Feng made his way to the library where he spent his time reading about the Dao of the universe. He realized that he knew simply nothing about the Dao, and the universe. The more he read about it, the bigger it got. It was a true profound mystery. How could he truly understand something so grand? He read for a bit longer, then left for the house of lightning''s study hall.


    Elder Ju Long adjusted the sleeves of his robes as he cleared his throat.


    "Swords arts. Like every beautiful aspect of the universe, they are beautiful arts. Through the arts of swords, many swordsmasters have had glimpses of the universe, giving them enlightenment and insight. They had eventually become legendary swordsmasters.


    He clasped his arms behind his body, and slowly paced up and down.


    "Simple sword arts can contain profound mysteries. Swords arts can look simple, but complex. And they can look complex, but simple. Like the beauty of swords arts, lightning displays are the true beauty of nature. Mortal eyes are mesmerized by their dazzling beauty. And when you combined swords arts with lightning display, you have swords lightning. Swords lightning is like a poetry. It lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the universe."


    He continued teaching them for the next one hour before calling it a day.


    After the lecture, Ju Feng quickly caught up to the other two in the study hall.


    "Chun Hua, Yingjie, free moment?


    "Not now."


    Yuan Chun Hua replied as she hurried off. Ju Feng wondered why she always kept to herself, even in the study hall. Maybe she didn''t like keeping many friends. He couldn''t blame her for that.


    "Yingjie?"


    "Not now, Ju Feng. I''ve got something to do right now. Tomorrow? We can meet at the training centre if you want."


    "Okay. Tomorrow morning then."


    Ju Feng departed from Fu Yingjie, and headed towards his room. He entered, and locked the door before taking out some crunchy turtle meat, and started reading the Dao of the universe. He was occasionally writing down on his parchment as he was reading. An hour later, he put down the book and put the parchment back into the spatial sac.


    He removed his robe, and started practicing the shifting heavens hand technique. He didn''t need to worry about disturbing or causing any damage to the room, he had not been practicing with Chi for a very long time. He only practiced with his body strength.


    Putting one blue crystalline in his mouth, he sat down in a lotus position, and began to cultivate. Although it was only one week and few days since he arrived at the Last-Sword sect, he could already see the benefits of the sect on his body.


    The next day, he would go to the training ground to train his body in the Spine Swift technique he found in the library. A speed and agility technique. It was a second grade technique, but it would do just fine by him. No grade was a loss. Any grade available must be cherished with a good heart.


    Heaven''s tears. That was strange.

 Chapter 37 - A Yingjie Nightmare [1]

    Fu Yingjie entered his shared room, and sat on his bed, looking into the far distance. His mind had been scrambled lately. He couldn''t concentrate during the lecture period, and had been having difficulty sleeping lately. He tried to calm his mind by meditating, but he simply couldn''t. Maybe after resting, his mind would gain some inner peace. He quickly took out the Dream Caller leaves, and started chewing them. Not long after, he was fast asleep, and with the same nightmarish dreams.


    As his memory recollected, he was only eight years old when the source of the nightmare found root in his dreams.


    His family had been returning from a journey to a village, when they were attacked by a small army of demons, led by two demon masters who were associates of the powerful Zhu clan. His parents were true Daoists, upholding justice and righteousness as part of the Nine Golden Stars.


    On this fateful day, their travelling group had fought very hard, but had been killed by the demons. His father who was at the peak stage of the golden core, was about to use his ultimate move when one of the demon lords threw a high grade major teleportation talisman at him. The demons had planned their moves properly. The seal had worked on Fu Yingjie''s father who was immediately transported to a different place entirely.


    However, his mother was only at the early stage golden core level. Facing two peak golden core demon lords was beyond her imaginable abilities. Demon lord Worm Blood, the leader of the Worm Wolf Clan. And demon lord Black Claws of the Black Wolf clan. The last two surviving members of their own group.


    With his mother holding him, they had tried to flee, but were pursued relentlessly. They were chased to a nearby cave where his mother had realized there was no other way, except to fight. Determined, she had turned to face them. She had taken out her white obelisk staff which grew into a size of six feet, and started radiating a brilliant gold light. Seconds later, the staff flew to the front, and split into nine staves.


    The nine staves formed nine walls of golden light, blocking the entrance into the cave. Although she didn''t know for how long the defence will hold. The white obelisk staff was her clan''s heirloom handed to her due to the fact that she was cultivating the Radiant Heavens Sacred arts. An ancient magical treasure from the primordial era, given to her by her grandfather, the sage of a Million Radiance. He was their clan grand patriarch who had ascended to the heavenly realm.


    Nonetheless, her power was still lacking to fully use the might of the Radiant heavens. After all, she was only at the early stage of the golden core.


    "Husband, where are you? What''s delaying you?"


    Fu Yingjie''s mother had asked through the communication pearl.


    "Please, hold on. I''m already rushing over."


    His father had replied, soon before hearing the booming voices outside their hide-out cave.


    "Give up, Golden Lights. We only need your hearts."


    Worm Blood mocked, brandishing his deadly saber.


    "Oh, those tender human hearts. How nourishing, how succulent, and how delicious. They are already causing me to forget who I am. No, I meant who I was. I can''t even think properly anymore."


    Black Claws licked his lips while holding his two flying claw weapons.


    "Why are you two looking for the trouble of the Nine Worlds clan? We don''t have any problem with the Beasts clans. To what end are you doing this?"


    His mother had asked them.


    "You don''t? Then, let me remind you. Five years ago, your husband killed two of my Red Moon clans. My own family members, and didn''t even bothered to send them to us for proper burial. Those two are my sons, or have you forgotten? The dishonour your husband brought us was overwhelming. It should be sons for sons, but since he has one son, I will settle for his son and his wife. That''s fair enough, or not?"


    Worm Blood asked with his head tilted.


    "In this lands, it is forbidden for beast kinds to kill humans without a just cause. It''s all because of the nature of some of your kind who enjoyed killing innocent people for the fun of it. Those two sons of yours nearly caused a massacre of mortal humans. Still, they killed many of them. Is that just? Their body were burned, their souls could not be allowed to linger. They were sent straight to their reincarnation where they will face the judgement of the sisters. We don''t have problems with the demonic beasts'' clans, but we don''t condone evil of such. It was against the Dao of the universe."


    "Dao of the universe? Alright, such evil, fair -."


    Worm Blood was saying before he was interrupted by Black Claws.


    "Aha, big evil is coming, really big evil, scary evil-."


    "BLACK CLAWS!"


    Worm Blood shouted through the mind voice.


    "Can you allow me to talk?"


    Worm Blood stared daggers at Black Claws with furrowed eyebrows.


    "Thank you."


    Afterwards, he had turned his attention back to Fu Yingjie''s mother.


    "As I was saying, fair enough, I understood. Don''t I also have a just cause for trying to kill the two of you? Your husband killed my sons, I kill you and your son. I believe that is also fair enough."


    "Can you please give us your hearts? We don''t have to fight unnecessarily today. As you can see, it''s a beautiful day. Your action might even give you a lot of good Karma in afterlife."


    Black Claw impatiently pleaded.


    "Alright, if you don''t want to cooperate that means we are done talking."


    "Dear wife, I will soon be there. Just hold on. I''m having problem locating you. I think they are using the Eyeless Shutter arrays to conceal your place. I will find you. Hold on a bit longer."


    Fu Hui transmitted to his wife, Fu Chao Xing, who quickly responded.


    "I''ve been holding on, but I can''t hold on any longer. Hurry up."


    "You know, this can''t stop us for long."


    Worm Blood voiced softly as he shook his head in annoyance.


    "Why are you acting this way, Golden Lights? Alright, I will make a compromise with you. What about you giving us your own heart only, and we leave your son alone? Better?"


    "Are we?"


    Black Claw asked in a whisper with bright red eyes.


    "Of course not."

 Chapter 38 - A Yingjie Nightmare [2]

    "Yes, we will do exactly so. What say you, fiery feathers?"


    Black Claw shouted in agreement after getting the concept of the deception.


    "No? Okay then, Golden Lights. If you can withstand my ultimate Ghost Shadow Claws, I promise to let you be. On the honour of my name."


    Was his name even honourable? Well, If he said it was, then it was.


    Black Claws flicked his flying claws, and giant claws of dark ghostly river attacked the flame walls, causing seven of the flame walls to crumble. His mother spat out blood and swallowed one Rootsooth pill. The pill started repairing her internal injuries. She knew she couldn''t take another attack like that head-on. She had already used the only lifesaving treasure on her, the heaven otherworld talisman.


    "Am I going to die like this?"


    "Golden Lights, I must admit, your foundation is really strong. However, you have suffered internal injuries. How long can you hold on then? If you can also withstand my ultimate attack, I also promise to let you be."


    Worm Blood shouted while grinning inwardly. At last, vengeance for a just cause.


    "Blood Moon Rite."


    The sabre light turned into a giant, blood-emitting, red moon, and headed towards the flaming walls, covering the entrance of the cave. But just before hitting the flames wall, the gigantic red moon was blocked by massive yellow stars. These were yellow wave of terra''s light from an enormous Warhammer.


    "I''m here, Chao Xing. Where are you?"


    Fu Yingjie''s father''s voice boomed out.


    "I''m inside the cave. I''m relieved you are here. I thought I was going to die."


    Fu Chao Xing looked at her son, and tears rolled down her face as she thought of what could have happened. Fu Yingjie had stared at her crying mother with a raging anger for the two demons outside the cave. He was still furious, when he heard the loud voice of his father, again.


    "You dare attack my family?! DIVINE JUDGEMENT!"


    Fu Hui''s ultimate hammer move. A rainbow hammer light formed a rainbow coloured wyvern which soared towards the two demon lords.


    "Blood Moon Rite."


    Worm Blood shouted as he quickly used a life-saving treasure.


    "Ghost Shadow Claws."


    Black Claws screamed, using his own life-preserving treasure too.


    Their defensive moves shattered instantly when they collided with the rainbow wyvern of the hammer''s light. The pressing intent of the hammer''s light which was extremely intense, continued towards the demon lords.


    "Trying to face my ultimate move from a heavenly Warhammer head-on? You are surely seeking death?"


    But before the rainbow wyvern could reach the demons, everything froze in place.


    Yingjie woke up breathing heavily, his mind was startled, and his body was shaken. When would it stop? He would do all he could to make this go away, even if it would cost him his life. After dressing up, he left his room and headed towards the training field.


    ***


    The training area was incredibly wide. The size of a small village, and was divided into three sections of Zhanshi , Guanjun and Youxiu. The Zhanshi section was for the disciples from year one to two, the Guanjun section was meant for disciples from year three to four, and Youxiu for those from year five to six.


    Upon arrival, Ju Feng stood on a spot for several minutes, just looking at the training disciples. There were hundreds of disciples on the training ground practicing different types of techniques and moves. As he walked towards the Zhanshi section of the training ground, he could see the Youxiu section not too far away, and he decided to get a little bit closer.


    These were the exceptional disciples that had been in the sect for a minimum of five years. Some of them were training together in groups while some were training individually. But the most amazing thing was the execution of their techniques and moves, it was a thing of beauty to behold. These techniques were high techniques at the least.


    He was so lost in joyous trance that he wasn''t aware of Yingjie coming up behind him.


    "Amazing, isn''t it?"


    "Yingjie, sorry, i didn''t notice your arrival."


    "These were truly great to see. The power of Zhuji level and high techniques, truly formidable. But if you think you''ve seen them all, wait till you see the geniuses of Last-Swords. Their power...." Yingjie trailed off.


    "Yes, the beauty of seeing young people perform such acts, truly beautiful. I can''t wait to see the geniuses, i can already imagine it. Uhm, not that I haven''t seen powers before, even my mother is a nascent soul demigod with really scary power, but this is us. The young ones."


    Hearing Ju Feng called his mother a nascent soul, a demigod! Yingjie''s heart skipped and beat very fast. A demigod! Should he ask for help? Could there be a way for his own family now? Could they be saved? How true were Ju Feng words? He was in deep thoughts as they moved to the Zhanshi section.


    "This is a second grade agility technique, the Swift Spine technique. Maybe it will help me move a lot easier and faster instead of crawling like a worm all the time."


    Ju Feng laughed, patting his own leg.


    Despite the fact that it was a second grade technique, it was better than nothing. It was a difficult technique and would take him quite a long time to master but he would learn it. He was practicing the swift spine technique for a time before switching to shifting heavens hand technique. He kept rotating his training between the two techniques.


    Yingjie decided to joined Ju Feng for a little training too to keep his mind clear.


    They started to train together.


    As Ju Feng was practicing the swift spine technique when he took one step only to find himself several yards from the initial place he was. He tried the taking the swift steps and was very happy when he realized that he had already learned the basics of the swift steps.


    He decided it was enough for the day, the following day he would continue again, after all, he didn''t have any lecture for the next two days.


    "Truly remarkable."


    Elder of the house of light, elder Cao Wang Xiu nodded, beaming with smile. She would wait a bit and observe some more before taking the next course of action.

 Chapter 39 - Becoming A Premier [1]

    Titan lord Primus, was an existence from the primordial time. From the time of his creation as a mountain to the time of human appearances, billions of years had passed. Billions of years of absorbing spiritual energy, making everything about his existence screamed, primal.


    And, just as it was for all titans, he was created with primordial innate techniques. One of the innate techniques, was the mountain bodyweight technique which allowed the physical manifestation of a primordial mountain before transformation to be mighty in strength and immovable. It was a mountain thing.


    Like every other primordial mountain, lord Primus too was created with primordial techniques. He was a physical mountain before his transformation. As a mountain, he had been practicing the mountain bodyweight technique. Thus, it was of no surprise that the reversed True-world bodyweight technique initiated by titan lord Primus, was an imitation of the titan lord innate technique.


    Since he had been practicing the reversed technique for a time now, Ju Feng''s body had been undergoing true transformation. His bones were solidifying and his body getting stronger at an alarming rate, from the bodyweight practice and the turtle meat mixed with the water lilies he was consuming. Despite that, he didn''t stop eating the turtle meat and the water lilies. In fact, once in his room, he ate them at every available moment.


    What was the point of having plenty amount of meat if not for eating? He would eat the turtle, and then, eat the lilies.


    Inside his room out of prying eyes, he would eat and practice. At least, the room he resided in, was big enough for him to practice the reversed True-world bodyweight technique.


    Although, the reversed bodyweight technique was a very difficult and tiresome technique to practice, it came with great benefits which made the difficulty, bearable.


    He made use of every free opportune time to practice. Especially, every morning that he had no lectures, he would clear the centre of the room and practiced the reversed bodyweight technique along with the shifting heavens hand martial technique. Afterwards, he would go out to the training ground to practice the swift spine technique.


    On his way to the training ground the next day, he decided to check the geniuses of the Last-Sword that were practicing in the Youxiu section of the training ground. The last time he was here, he had been amazed by the techniques and moves that he saw, the displays of true disciples.


    He inched closer to have a wider view of the area. He saw that, on the training ground, some of the disciples formed a parallel lines on the two sides of two disciples who seemed to be having a showdown. One was a tall and heavily built boy and the other was a boy of average height and built. But the most striking aspect of the boy was his long white hair, it was like a flowing stream of snow. And by the second look of the situation, it seemed they were engaged in a mock combat.


    Martial art, mock combat or not, it guaranteed optimum entertainment. Suddenly, the heavily built boy moved, too fast for his stature as he sent forward a thunderous fist that caused spatial warping as it moved towards the white haired boy. The white haired boy didn''t move, but at the last second, he extended his palm that seemed to be humming slowly and successfully blocked the thunderous fist. The impact knocked both of them back several steps.


    "I told you I could take your moves head-on, Li Qiang. Any more moves?"


    "Don''t be so sure, Wang Lei."


    With that he moved like lightning, reaching the white haired boy before the blink of an eye. His hands blurred as he delivered hundreds of thunderous fists from all angles. But before the fists could connect, the white haired boy appeared to turn in a circle. It was like a slow circle movement but it was actually a false image, a mirage, the actual image was like a vortex of palms blocking the fists. Before Ju Feng could bat an eyelid, the heavily built boy was already back to his original position.


    "Impressive Wang Lei, your speed technique is truly impressive. In martial combat, speed can determine the outcome of battle."


    "You flatters me Li Qiang. My speed wasn''t greater than yours and your martial art technique is not inferior to mine either."


    The combat had been too fast for Ju Feng to follow, he could only see a streak of light when the heavily built boy moved, but for a second, during their combat, he caught a glimpse of afterimages. Their movements, one was many yet one, the other was one yet many and he remembered his mother''s portal steps movement.


    With vivid imagination, he tried his own swift spine technique but with a little difference, he adjusted his movement and tried the technique again. He tried five more times and had a great success on the fifth attempt. Heavens might, he had just mastered the first level of the swift spine technique, the swift steps and gained insight into the second level, spine steps.


    He pumped a fist in the air in pure delight.


    "Yes."


    The geniuses who were closer to where he was, had stopped training and were looking at him wondering what was going on with him. Realizing there were eyes on him, he quickly smiled and slowly moved towards the Zhanshi section.


    In the Zhanshi section, he happily practiced the movement technique for a time before stopping. As he relaxed, he watched the Zhanshi disciples trained and shook his head.


    The difference in levels was simply too big but he would bide his time.


    Soon, he left the training ground and walked towards his dormitory. On his way there, he changed his mind and headed towards the marketplace of the sect. He had never been there before but since using a pill that could drive him a whole level, he would check it out.

 Chapter 40 - Becoming A Premier [2]

    The marketplace was indeed a big place with a number of large stalls organized to sections according to their products. One section had large stalls of alchemy products, another had magical artifacts and like that, the rest were arranged.


    Moving around the marketplace, from one section to another, he checked the available products until he came to the alchemy section. This section seemed the busiest with disciples coming and going. Cultivation was truly the epitome of mortal existence.


    The first stall he entered was quite big and was divided into two parts. The front part was with row of shelves filled with lower grade pills and plants while the back was where the higher grade and above products were stored.


    The alchemist was a middle aged man who was wearing a pristine white robe. He was busy attending to disciples who were looking for one form of product or another. Ju Feng out of their way and started checking the shelves since their names were on the bottle stickers. He saw stickers with intriguing names, solemn star spirit pill, heartflame spirit pill, purple dream illusion and others like that.


    The stall was a bit too busy for him therefore, he went to the next stall and met the same scenario. He kept trying the stalls until he came to one that was fairly quiet and entered. The stall owner was an old man of the golden core stage. The other disciple in the stall had left after buying the product he came for leaving only Ju Feng in the stall with the stall owner.


    "Greetings senior."


    "Greetings young one, how can I help you?"


    "Uhm senior, do you by any chance have a heavenly root spirit pill?"


    "Hmm. The heavenly root spirit pill, the heavenly foundation pill. Well, it''s not that difficult to get as long as you have your money, after all, its usefulness stops at the Zhuji stage."


    "Senior, please forgive me for asking. Why did you say its usefulness stops at the Zhuji stage?"


    "Oh, ok. It looks like you are not truly aware. You see, the heavenly root spirit pill is only a perfect foundation pill good for any disciple less than the Zhuji stage, it no longer has any effect after that. So, it''s not that scarce for people to buy though its expensive. Let me tell you, there are some spirit pill that could take your cultivation level directly to the golden core stage from the Zhuji stage, even from the Ningchi stage. You see?"


    "What? A pill from Ningchi to Golden Core? Senior, can that really happen?"


    "Yes, the white diamond spirit pill. A single pill could cost between twenty thousand to fifty thousand gold coins. These pills were concocted by the Hegemon alchemists, as you can see, they are very expensive but they do their jobs effectively."


    "Senior, there must be something to it. It can''t just be that good. Or, can it?"


    "Well, it has one major flaw which is the foundation of the user. It will be shaky, not as solid as that of a normal cultivator and could make most to be stuck at the golden core stage. The pill is mainly good for people with less chances of cultivation, but make no mistake, it may have flaws but it gives them the immortality of hundreds of millions of years if they survived their tribulations."


    "Oh, it is truly a formidable pill. But, I think the heavenly root spirit pill will be just fine for me, senior."


    "Yes, the heavenly root pill. Although you are a Last-Sword, it will still cost you five thousand gold coins."


    "That''s fine senior. Senior, can you please take a look at this?"


    Ju Feng produced a blue crystalline from his pocket.


    The alchemist eyes went wide and wild as he stared at the blue crystalline with opened mouth.


    "Is that crunchy spirit crystal? Do you know how much this can cost if it''s pure grade? Well, I will need to check the level of the spirit energy condensation to determine how much it can cost. Do you mind?"


    "Of course not, senior. I completely trust you."


    As he sent the crystal to the alchemist master.


    The alchemist master took out a small transparent mirror, a small transparent bottle and a talisman. After setting them on the table, he put the crystal into the bottle and placed it on the talisman.


    "This mirror is a scale of time, the translucent scale, it tells how long an alchemist product or a plant has been existing. The bottle is to contain the potency and aura of the thing being tested from leaking or contamination. And, the talisman is time seal on the product to prevent time effect on the product."


    A few seconds later, the crystal started to give off a brilliant radiance with the bottle slightly vibrating. Then, the translucent mirror started to glow with a faint changing lights before stopping on the rainbow light.


    "A total grade spirit crystal?"


    "How? Do you know this can make more powerful evil hearted ones to seek your death? How do you come by this? No, don''t tell me, it''s better for me not to even think about it talk-less of knowing. You don''t just sell this, you have to auction it anonymously."


    "Senior, I think I will manage by. But, is there any chance I can exchange this for the heavenly root pill?"


    "You really want to exchange it? Alright, though I don''t know how much this can sell for but i guess we can do that. I only need to find a suitable auction event for it, I have to check with neighbouring cities to see which one will be hosting an auction soon."


    Watching Ju Feng with a mixture of fascination and bewilderment.


    "Do you have any more crystals?"


    "Yes senior, I do have five more. And, we will share the money equally if you can sell them. What do you think, senior?"


    "Hmm, no problem. Let me handle it, I''ll see what i can do. But, keep this quiet, okay? I will inform you when i have some information."

 Chapter 41 - Becoming A Premier [3]

    He gave Ju Feng the heavenly root spirit pill and quickly transferred the crystal into his spatial sac. He had to be cautious since he didn''t know who the boy''s family were, he could even have an hegemon as an ancestor. He would try his best to sell the crystals, who knows what other items the boy may want to sell?


    Leaving the marketplace, Ju Feng went directly to his room and locked the door from the inside. Sitting down in the lotus position, he took out one blue crystalline and chewed it before swallowing it. Closing his eyes, he started to cycle the Chi energy by moving it from his dantian through the meridians and back to.


    Soon after that, he removed the heavenly root spirit pill from his robe pocket and swallowed it. The pill melted upon entering his body and the energy from the pill flowed into his dantian. The moment it mixed with the Chi energy in his dantian, the explosive interaction made him collapsed and fainted.


    When he finally regained consciousness, he noticed that his body was still radiating faint rainbow lights and that his body had undergone a massive transformation.


    His body was still radiating a faint rainbow light strength and power of his body had increased and all his senses are sharper and keener than before.


    The lower dantian which was the root of the spiritual tree had transformed into a large square palacium with four massive rainbow corner pillars that extended to the middle dantian.


    The most wonderful change was the transformation of the giant sphere of Chi energy into a massive orb of liquid rainbow light. Liquid energy was the true form of condensed Chi energy not the solid energy and liquid light energy was the true beginning of primordials.


    His body felt weirdly strange, it was as if he was looking at himself through a stranger''s eyes. The sensation, the feeling.


    The next time he tried to gather spiritual energy would bring down heavenly tribulation.


    His family had told him to prepare for heavenly tribulation once he reached the Zhuji stage. There would be three stages where a cultivator would experience heavenly tribulation.


    The Zhuji stage, the embryonic defiance phase. The cultivator having ideas about defying the heavens.


    The Jindan stage, low defiance phase. The cultivator would be defying the heavens by forcefully gathering spiritual energy from the heavens.


    The Yuanying stage, half defiance phase. The forming of the nascent soul by the cultivator in an attempt to be a true immortal showing heavens defiance.


    And the Shenxian, total defiance phase. Where the cultivator would be attempting to finally escape tribulation by becoming a god.


    But that wouldn''t be the end of tribulations, there would be the cosmic tribulation for any cultivator on the way of becoming a divine.


    Ju Feng stood up, flexed his muscles and executed the shifting heavens hand technique. Without using Chi, the force of the hand technique was so powerful he had to stop the execution mid way.


    Wondering how his Chi energy would be like, he released a bit of energy from his body, it was so powerful that the energy vibration was felt throughout the section.


    He cautiously opened his spatial sac and discovered that it was the pagoda causing the vibration. Then, he removed the pagoda from the sac and placed it on the floor in the middle of room. Immediately it touched the floor, the pagoda grew to the size of a small door.


    The pagoda? Could it be the same door that senior was talking about? Maybe a door to the belly of a beast. He was having mixed thoughts but after much deliberation, he finally made up his mind to enter through the door.


    "I''m impressed childling. How long has it been? And here you are."


    "Senior Hypathos, you flatters me."


    "That means you have advanced to the Zhuji level, you are now a premier cultivator."


    "I just advanced, senior, not even up to ten minutes."


    "You should have enjoyed your moment longer, anyways, do you want to take a look at any world in particular? The worlds are at your fingertips."


    "Senior, now? I''m not sure senior, I''ve never been outside our continent before. I don''t know what another world will be like."


    "No harm in trying. You can even check a smaller world, what do you say?"


    "Okay senior, I guess I can try. But how will I leave the place?"


    "There will be a door like this one on the other side, when you want to come back you only need to enter the door and you will be back here. The door will be a portal for you."


    "Senior, what if I can''t find the door back?"


    "Then make sure you know where the door is. Now, let''s try the Charat Planet."


    "Senior, maybe we should check the worlds carefully before- nooooo."


    Before he could finish his words, he was sent out through the door to Charat planet.

 Chapter 42 - The Flying Stars Sect [1]

    The free sky blazes blue. Ju Feng who was already disoriented from the use of the portal, had to cover his eyes for the sun light was too bright. Once he got adjusted, he let out a soft gasp as he smelled the fresh air around him and let out a genuine smile. He looked at the green trees standing proudly, strongly, free and healthy. He could spot some juicy red fruits hanging above on the trees.


    He looked around in amazement. The flowers were radiant and beautiful, swaying with the wind. Oh the wind, that nice breeze against his face with the wonderful smell of roses met his nose. He heard the faint sound of chirping above and saw birds soar across the sky. The warm gentle sun shone on him, filling his body with warmth but he took no notion of it for the beauty was to great.


    Lost in the sad enjoyment of the scenery, he nearly collided with the three sect Savants, the enlightened ones. They were the school safe-keepers, roaming the internal premises of the school, constantly checking for the safety of the sect and security discrepancies.


    "You! Stop right there."


    Realizing they were addressing him, he quickly glanced at where he came from but there was no door there. Then, he knew he was in some sort of troubles and his mind rang. "Why, Senior Hypatios?"


    "Why are you sneaking around in a restricted area?"


    "And, why are you not in your school attire?"


    "You''re one of the outer disciples, aren''t you? Oh, I see. Are you trying to hide from participating in the competition?"


    "Or, do you think these Ten Cloud spirit fruits will help you? Foolish boy you are."


    The savants asked simultaneously while holding Ju Feng on a spot with their will. Ju Feng looked around and sighed inside. Even without them holding in place, he wouldn''t run anywhere. Where would he run to anyway? Even the portal door had disappeared.


    "Please forgive me seniors, I didn''t mean to enter this place intentionally. It was by accident."


    Ju Feng pleaded with them. How could he have entered a place like this on his own? Only if they knew how he got here, maybe they would have pitied him.


    "Accident? Accident your head. As it is with the rules of the Flying Stars sect, sneaking around in the restricted area, trying to steal some Ten Cloud spirit fruits, trying to dodge the upcoming competition."


    "You''ll be cutting fifty bamboo trees that must be arranged in rolls of ten each."


    "One week of solitary solitude, to think of your actions and ask for forgiveness."


    "And, one week of sweeping the school premises. Now follow us."


    They led him to the outer hall of the sect which was pretty big with many sect stewards busy preparing and arranging the outer disciples for the competition that would be starting on the same morning and handed him over to one of the sect stewards. The learned ones. Some of them were graduates of the sect while some were inducted into the sect based on their quality strength and skills.


    "Find him a robe, then take him to the bamboo forest and make sure he cut fifty bamboo stems. We will be checking later."


    The steward acknowledged the Savants and waited for them to depart before turning to Ju Feng. He looked him with eyes being given to a serial trouble maker. He had been having a relatively hard day already, now he had to stay in the bamboo forest supervising an idiot trouble maker.


    "Follow me. And, for heavens tears, no talking and no stupid sound making."


    Ju Feng really wanted to ask some questions but he had just been told to maintain his peace, so he cautiously sighed and followed him. The steward kept to himself on their journey to The bamboo forest, giving Ju Feng no chance of knowing the things he wanted to find out.


    The place they came to wasn''t just a bamboo forest but a bamboo planet. Covering hundreds of acres of land, the bamboo forest was densely populated with big bamboo trees. It spread in all directions like an ocean of bamboo trees, it really deserved to be a world on its own.


    They navigated the forest for a time before they came to an area where there was a recent bamboo cutting activity. They surely had a pattern of cutting the bamboo trees.


    "We''re here now, you can start cutting from the right side. If you finish on time maybe you can participate in the competition and I can get to watch. So please, hurry up."


    There was no other option for him than to cut the bamboo trees. The steward was at the early stage of evanesce core, hence, he didn''t fancied his chances of escaping, so he wouldn''t risk it. Particularly when he wasn''t sure if the door would open for him even if he managed to reach it. It would only bring more punishments anyways, more dire punishments.


    He took his mind of it and concentrated on the task at hand. The bamboo trees. He looked at the bamboo trees again. How in heaven''s tears, would they call these things bamboo trees?


    The bamboo trees were no simple or ordinary bamboo trees, they were extremely thick and strong like timber. These were no bamboo trees, these should be called oak trees. For a Juchi or a Lianchi cultivator, it would have been seriously challenging. But, he was a Zhuji cultivator of the early stage, he should be able to breeze through the bamboo with ease despite all these obstacles.


    Or so he thought.


    It would be the first time he would actually use his Chi energy to accomplish a task, thus, he pumped enough Chi into his body. With complete focus, he raised the axe and it fell on the bamboo tree with a clean swing. But to his surprise, the moment the axe touched the bamboo tree, it sent back a reflective shock that spread through his body making him sprawled on the floor.

 Chapter 43 - The Flying Stars Sect [2]

    After recovering back from the little shock, he carefully and thoughtfully looked at the bamboo trees. These were serious foes that deserved proper attention. He started to analyse what could be wrong in his mind without allowing the steward to know that he had no idea of everything going on. Although they looked different from the ones in Lorra, they were still bamboo tree.


    Did he tried to cut a bit too high? It must be, he would try to cut low next.


    He swung the axe low hoping it would be fine the next time around but, he received the same shock that made him staggered a few steps back.


    "What is wrong with this boy? Is he sick in the head or trying to properly waste my time?"


    The steward looked at Ju Feng in bewilderment. Never had he seen anything or anyone behaved like that before.


    "Hey you! Why are you behaving this way? I still have a lot to do, get on with it and stop wasting my time. I warn you."


    "Senior, I assure you, I''m really trying to cut the bamboo trees. But, they are too strong."


    "How can you be using your Chi to cut the Ten Trigram spirit bamboo trees?. If you are really trying, you will use your natural strength and not your stupid Chi. Now, can you carry on so we can leave here on time?"


    "I will give it my all senior, you can count on that."


    Body strength. Well, he should be able to relate to that, his bones was already strong like that of silver snow bear and his body like that of a mountain.


    He continued to land his swing on the bamboo and ch.i.p.s started to appear on the bamboo stem after every swing. He continued to swing the axe and after ten minutes, he finished with the bamboo tree then moved to the next one. It took him three hours to finish cutting the twenty bamboo tree and arranged them into rolls of tens.


    "Heaven''s tears, thank you for putting my life and maybe yours, into consideration. Maybe you are not that stupid. I believe you can still participate in the competition, after all. Let''s go."


    They returned to the outer hall where sect stewards were dividing the outer disciples into groups. Ju Feng quickly joined the disciples on the instructions of apprentice. There were five groups of twenty disciples each, all together and he was in the fifth group.


    They were lined up according to their group as they walked towards the sect''s arena. The sect''s grand master, the masters, the associate masters, sect stewards and the sect''s disciples were already at the arena when the outer disciples marched in.


    The grandmaster raised his magnified voice which filled the whole arena.


    "I welcome you all to the annual Bloodgrit competition. It is our tradition to welcome new disciples into the inner sect through this competition where they would be directly under school masters after being successful. We know it would have been difficult for you to enter this sect directly to become inner disciples due to different reasons, but you have the chance to do that through this competition and you must grab it with both hands."


    He stopped to look around, there was total silence in the arena as he continued.


    "We have a total of twenty masters who are assisted by their associates, masters with great abilities and powers that will surely further your development and advancement in leaps. After successfully completing the competition, the masters will choose ten of you to be directly under them, to learn from them. So I tell you, give it your sweat and blood and maybe you can be one of the chosen. We will start with the collection of the magical beasts'' cores from the dale of beasts. Let the competition begin."


    Ah, Charat planet. Heavens tears! How did he get himself involved in all these? The world wasn''t his birth world in the first place. Would he turn to beasts'' food himself in a foreign world? How ironic would it be, for him to be eaten by a magical turtle. Really ironic. His mother, grandparents, uncle primus and his friends at sect. Heavens tears.


    Having no idea where the dale of beasts was, he decided to stay in the middle of the group of disciples. He couldn''t ask any disciple for help or direction since it was every disciple to himself or herself. Pretending to know his way around, he increased his pace to match that of the speeding disciples. He couldn''t even use the swift spine technique not to give much away, the generally known light steps was enough for him to keep up.


    Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the dale of beasts. The haven of the magical beasts was a wide area that stretched for miles and surrounded by mountains and hills. Although, the dale mostly contained less powerful magical beasts, it was not a place to be taken lightly. It was the beasts which a cultivator couldn''t detect that were the most dangerous.


    But the good thing was that, the magical beasts were not sentient animals, they could not reason or strategize. They only knew either to attack or to run away.


    Since it was a very wide area, the disciples spread out looking for magical beasts. Some of them were combing the outside perimeters while some ventured a bit further into the dale. Before long, many disciples have started engaging some beasts in gruelling battles. But one thing he could see was their strength, they were on par and some were even stronger than him.


    Are these people eating rocks and metals? They were not even Zhuji yet. How come?


    Glancing at them occasionally, he shookhis while making his way forward.

 Chapter 44 - The Flying Stars Sect [3]

    Although he would have tried if he had a weapon. Actually, he preferred to have a weapon but he had no weapon. His thought went to the training sword, he should have kept one sword in his spatial sac for times like this. But who would have thought?


    He had drifted away to the mountain side looking for something to use when he felt a deep sense of danger coming from the behind. He didn''t need to turn for him to know that it was a really big dangerous animal and was very close behind him. He quickly used the swift spine technique to move forward several yards before swiftly turning around.


    A second after leaving that spot, a mighty paw of fourteen inches iron claws raked the empty air. Those claws might have cut him into four pieces. He could see the beast clearly now, it was the rare white longdan tiger.


    The white longdan tiger was watching with him with keen dead eyes, growling as it inched forward.


    Watching the beast drew nearer, Ju Feng started to contemplate. He had never used the shifting hand in a true combat before and definitely had never used his Chi in combat. He quickly came into conclusion to use only the Shifting Heavens hand technique without using Chi. Though, he was stronger, the white longdan tiger''s claws and teeth were the dangerous weapons he would try to avoid.


    How powerful were they? He slowly took backward steps watching the white longdan tiger with complete focus. Though, he wasn''t sure about the power of the tiger, he was sure about its speed. It definitely wasn''t faster than him.


    The white longdan tiger attacked with very fast speed, Ju Feng who almost had his back to a tree, waited agonisingly until the last moment before he quickly used the swift spine technique to evade the attack. As he was moving past the tiger, he used the tiger''s momentum to twist its right arm under it. With the force of its flight, it collided with the tree, the force impact drove the nail of its claws into its own guts, disembowelling it totally. The longdan tiger tried to move but finally collapsed.


    It was a really big longdan tiger. Ju Feng looked at the corpse of the longdan tiger and wondered how he was going to remove the core from the it. He had neither knife nor sword. He had been thinking of getting a weapon. Maybe, after today, he would start looking for a weapon. Even a small one would do. He was still thinking of what to do when he heard a soft voice not too far from his position.


    "It looks like you need some help."


    "Uhm, hello. Didn''t see you there. I guess I do, a knife or something to remove the core. Didn''t bring mine. Silly me. Name is Ju Feng by the way."


    "Genji. Here have it."


    "I saw your fight with the tiger, your strength is good for an outer disciple but, your speed? No outer disciple can move like that."


    Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. No outer disciple should be able to move the way he did. The move was in the mould of the inner disciples'' techniques.


    "Don''t think like that, there''s nothing to it, I''m just naturally fast. Thank you for helping me out anyways."


    He removed the core, cleaned the knife and returned it to her.


    "Hm."


    "What about you? Have you gotten one?"


    "Yes, I have. And, are you not taking the hide and the claws?"


    "If you want them, you can take them. I don''t want to burden myself with loads, too lazy for that."


    Since you''ve finished, time for me to go then. See you."


    Tracing his path back, he left the dale of beasts with his acquired core and returned to the flying stars school with few minutes to spare on the original time and delivered his core. The core''s strength was measured and entered it to his name. They did the same to other disciples too, the strength of their cores were registered to their names accordingly.


    Afterwards, the sect grandmaster addressed the audience again.


    "The first round of the competition has finished and the names of all the successful disciples have been recorded. Tomorrow, the successful disciples will move on to the second phase of the competition, martial combat. The life of a cultivator is a hard one, you will face foes and opponents, if your martial combat is lacking, you will die. This competition is not to primarily show your combat skills but your combat hearts. A heart willing to learn is a heart worth teaching. Prepare for the second round, tomorrow morning we''ll continue. Good day to you all."


    What would happen now? He didn''t even know what he was supposed to do now. The Savants wanted him to go on solitary solitude, who knows where?


    He would just follow the other outer disciples away from prying eyes.


    He followed them to the outer premises of the sect where he saw a sect steward and quickly approached him. Twenty minutes later, he was assigned to a room he would be sharing with three others, Jiang, Fa and Chaun.


    He wouldn''t be able to practice any martial or mystical techniques because of his new room mates. He wouldn''t be able to cultivate because of heavenly tribulation that would descend the moment he tried to. He wouldn''t be able to use his spatial sac too and no meat.


    With sagged shoulders, he shook his head.


    Time to prepare for the following day

 Chapter 45 - Becoming A Flying Star [1]

    In order to learn something about where he was, Ju Feng had been feigning total memory loss. Something he said he had been suffering from despite all the medicinal plants and spirit plants he had been using. They had believed him and even sympathized with him. It was just the situation the boy found himself. After all, they all need to survive the fundamental force of life.


    And he had learned a lot from his three room mates Jiang, Fa and Chaun.


    The planet, Charat, was a major mortal world of humans which was located in the same Oclegus galaxy as the planet Lorra, the home world of Ju Feng. Charat was a massive giant planet with a surface area of over five billion square kilometres, and a population of over twenty billion people.


    Planet Charat was under the rule of a supreme sovereign who went by the name of emperor Qing Yuan. Emperor Qing Yuan was an hegemon cultivator who had reached the stage of immortal ascension but refused to ascend to the heavenly realm. Though, he would never be able to reach godhood, he had already attained natural immortality, unless he was totally killed, he would continue to live for eternity.


    Supremacy in a mortal world was determined by the level of cultivation and artifacts. Therefore, any ruler with divine artifacts was regarded as a supreme. Emperor Qin Yuan was a supreme sovereign in the possession of the Stellar Star divine armour. A water affinity armour with the total power of the universe, one of the divine artifacts created by the universe during the primordial creative expansion period. That made him a ruler of a massive planet with almost non existing opposition for hundreds of millions of years.


    The planet he ruled, planet Charat, was divided into ten massive continents. Maferion[The Fortune Empire], Tioborat[The Etherel Yonder], Amuzan[The Jade Sanctuary], Cholinica[The Golden Lands], Nutipia[The Scarlet Empire], Vlethora[The Azure Nexus], Solicia[The Sacred Vale], Chilador[The Eclipse Domain], Emmirim[The Infernal Territory] and Palitara[The Undying World]. Each of these continent was being ruled by an Overlord.


    Each continent was divided into ten Kingdoms with each of these kingdoms being ruled by a king. Each kingdom was made up of many cities and villages. The cities were governed by the lords and the villages by the chiefs.


    His three room mates were from the same continent, Maferion but from different villages.


    Jiang was from the Cloud Sea village.


    Fa was from the Spring Moon village.


    And Chuan came from Oracle Reach village.


    The Flying stars sect that he found himself in, was regarded as one of the smallest sect on the Maferion continent despite being bigger than the Last-Sword sect on his home planet. Sects were ranked according to the size of the sect, the levels of the cultivators in the sect, the types of artifacts and manuscripts they possessed.


    Despite being one of the smallest sects on the planet, the premises of the Flying Stars sect was already extremely large and wide. It had more than five hundred disciples and over twenty masters and forty associate masters.


    If the sect was one of the smallest sects on the planet, how will the biggest look like?


    The light of the morning was already seeping into the room which signified that daybreak was happening. By the look of it, the day had the potential to be a very bright and beautiful one.


    He reached for the water basin and quickly washed his face. He used some of the water to clean his mouth before he quickly put some mint leaves in his mouth. He checked his robe to make sure it was in good condition before glancing at the other boys. He saw they had already finished preparing themselves and were standing beside their beds. He hurriedly followed suit by standing beside his bed of woven bamboo mats.


    There were rules and regulations that every sect followed. For the Flying Stars sect, one of the regulations was that, every morning at daybreak, the sect stewards in charge of the outer sections of sect premises, will entered the rooms to check their states. Then, they would marched outside ahead of him where they would be assigned their tasks for the day.


    Some disciples would be sweeping and maintaining the premises, some disciples would be cutting the bamboo trees after which they would be arranging them in rolls, meanwhile, some disciples would be attending to the farms and gardens and others would be following stewards hunters to hunt.


    But today was different.


    They would be following the sect stewards to the sect arena where the names of the successful disciples would be disclosed.


    After they had all assembled together, they were arranged into groups of ten. Their faces were radiating their anxiousness, the anxiety of anticipation that was mostly affecting the outer disciples. Not knowing if you are successful in becoming an inner disciple or not.


    Not long after they arrived, the grandmaster putting on a white robe arrived alongside the masters and associate masters all in white robes.


    He raised his hands to gain silence from the audience.


    "I welcome you all to the second and final day of the Bloodgrit competition which started yesterday. Today, you will be engaging in the Twenty Golem Steps. There were twenty sinkable bamboo sticks erected on the ground of the arena, these bamboo sticks are guarded by iron golems. You will need to move from the beginning to the end on these bamboo sticks. If you stay on a bamboo stick for too long, it will start to sink. If your feet touched the ground, the arena will be locked down and you will be attacked by dark steel golems for five minutes before the lock is removed. You have the maximum of fifteen minutes to navigate the arena, if you didn''t get to the other side, your time will be up."


    The grandmaster halted his speech as he looked from one face to another.


    "Intelligence and strength. These are needed to achieve success in this competition. If you are successful, you will be accepted by a master. Put your heart into it and success is yours. Wish you all well. Now, let''s commence."


    There were fifty outer disciples left after the first phase of the competition. They formed ten lines of five near the entrance of the arena from where they will be entering one after the other.


    Intelligence with strength was truly the nature of the game. There were twenty sinking bamboo sticks arranged on the ground at irregular pattern from one end of the arena to the other. The bamboo sticks were continually changing in pattern according to the star movements making it difficult to navigate.


    Temporarily imbued in the ground, was the Space Seal array, a formation that would activate when a cultivator stepped on wrong bamboo stick and the cultivator''s leg touched the ground.


    Navigating the arena is all about the stars movements. But, the problem was the ever changing pattern.


    One by one, they started undergoing the heavenly mammoth dance.

 Chapter 46 - Becoming A Flying Star [2]

    The first disciple to enter the arena moved with great determination, he was navigating the transverse when something happened to him that made him lost his focus and triggered the arrays. He was with incredible strength that made him fought his way out of the array two times but the time was his undoing. The time had ran out while he was about to advance to the last four bamboo sticks after battling the second set of humanoids.


    With great agony, he admitted defeat and exited the arena.


    One by one, they continued to enter the arena.


    Not too long after, it was Ju Feng''s turn to pass through the transverse of the arena. He could have navigated the arena by using the swift spine technique for a much more faster speed steps but the audience, especially the elders, would have noticed that the technique wasn''t something an outer disciple would have known. Something an outer disciple couldn''t have learned.


    It was either the generally available flashstep or quickstep. Not that there was any difference, but he decided to stay with the flashstep. He enforced his body with a bit of Chi energy since the humanoid levels would automatically transform to the same level of strength and speed like him because of the talismanic seals in their cores.


    With his body strengthened with a small amount of Chi, he stepped on the first bamboo stick which immediately started to sink.


    He had never been in a competition like that before. It was exhilarating, yet concerning.


    The moment he stepped on the, the humanoids attacked him. Since he wasn''t using any weapon, they too didn''t use any weapon. He didn''t know the pattern to use to navigate the transverse but he had been watching the disciples as they stepped onto the arena. He had a vague idea of their movement but the bamboo pattern was always changing.


    He was using the shifting heavens technique to battle the humanoids, he was mainly using it to block their attacks then he would quickly used the flashsteps to move to the next bamboo stick. Too many blows were landing on his body but he didn''t stop. Whenever his strike landed on a humanoid, he would quickly use its body to launch himself to the next bamboo stick.


    Luckily for him, he was getting nearer as he continued using that method. He was almost through to the Cloud spirit fruit when he stepped on the wrong bamboo stick triggering the arrays.


    Arena lockdown and dark steel golems.


    And they attacked him in their numbers. He was blocking, he couldn''t even land attacks of his own because of their numbers were telling on him. Whenever he used the flash steps, they would use the same. He tried the quick steps with the same results and he was sure that they will reciprocate if he used the swift spine technique.


    If only he could use swift spine technique, maybe he would have left the arena since.


    The time was winding down and they kept on attacking him until one of them got in the way of a blow meant for him. Seeing that it was shaken by the blow, he quickly hit it with the shifting heavens in the c.h.e.s.t which sent it sprawling on the floor. He quickly used the golem''s body as a support to cleverly cross to the other side snatching up the spirit fruit.


    That was close.


    The competition continued until the fifty disciples had participated in the Twenty Golems Steps dance. The twenty disciples that were successful were ushered to the front where one of the sect stewards was standing with the element affinity detector.


    The detector was a pure metal scale that could determine the element affinity of a cultivator. If the cultivator had more than one affinity, it would display the one that was most dominant or major in the cultivator. The masters will use the results to select their disciples and the disciple would be taught on the dominant affinity.


    The way of Charat planet, all cultivators specialized in one affinity. Any other affinities were side effects.


    The disciples were expressing their happiness as they were being lined up in front of the masters for their affinity detection. Ju Feng was among the last twenty along with his room mate, Fa and Genji.


    When it was his turn, Ju Feng stepped forward and stood at the front of the metal scale.


    "Light and lightning. Lightning the major."


    It continued until all the successful disciples had finished determining their element affinities.


    Then again, the sect grandmaster raised his voice which covered the arena.


    "Well done to all of you that participated in the competition, you all performed very well. Big congratulations to the twenty of you that made it successfully through the stages. Those of you that fell short, continue to practice and prepare properly for the next competition. I hope this will serve as a motivation for you."


    The grandmaster pointed at the new inner disciples and contonued.


    "Those of you that were chosen, will now join the other direct sect disciples under your masters. Your sect master will provide you with your own acre of land to farm. There are seeds, stems and roots of different crops. That include some plants. Yes, you can also rear approved farm animals. What you produce, you can sell at the sect''s market place or exchange with others. Remember, you work for your wellbeing. Alright, don''t relent in learning and training. Aim to bring honour to this sect and yourself. I bid you Welcome."


    Thirty minutes later, he was at the main hall of the inner sect together with the other nineteen disciples where they were being attended to by the sect stewards. They swore oath of allegiance and good behaviour before they were given the sect disciples tokens, two new sets of blue robes and a Red Beryl spirit fruit.


    After collecting their items, they followed the steward to the Flowing Sanctum hill range, hundreds of hills chained together, the place they would be living as inner disciples.


    As they started to walk towards the place, he was joined by Fa.


    "Hello Ju Feng."


    "Hello Fa, I didn''t know you were that good. You were like a flowing river."


    "You flatters me. It was my second time participating in the competition, been preparing for it a long time. Although, the golems still made it very difficult. What happened to you in there?"


    "I couldn''t remember both the alignment and the movement of the stars. I suffered a complete memory loss, it really affected me."


    "But you managed to pass through, you are really good too. And i saw you are lightning affiliated, really impressed. Anyway, try not to electrocute me. Hehe."


    "Hehehe, you flatters me. You know it was nothing compared to yours, Air affinity. You control everything. By the way, try not to suffocate me. Ha-ha"


    "Hehehe, now you flatters me beyond my heart''s hold. We should be grateful for passing. If not, it would have been another year waiting."


    "Yes, we should be grateful. Ah, look!" Ju Feng pointed to the caves that appeared in their views.


    "The Flowing Sanctum!"


    "Truly wonderful."


    The hills were chained together in a beautiful manner with each hill having an acre of land located at the back for farming, they would be able to plant everything they would need for their wellbeing and cultivate without disturbances.


    Heavens tears.

 Chapter 47 - Heavenly Tribulations [1]

    The flowing sanctum was the official residential area of the sect. The flowing sanctum was divided into three parts. The first set of the flowing sanctum was the artificial range of hillocks for the disciples and sect stewards. The second range was a set of hills for the masters, assistants and savants. The third one was a group of mountains for the grand elder, the grand patriarch and the ancestral hegemon. These ranges were separated by large valleys.


    The hillocks for the disciples contained a personal cultivation chambers for solitary seclusion without any form of disturbance. At the back of the hillocks were the acres of land for the disciples to farm and rear animals.


    He sat cross-legged inside his cultivation chamber. The hillock had two small chambers. The first one was the small storage chamber and the second one was the smaller cultivation and sleeping chamber.


    Farming! He would have his own farm to plant crops and rear animals in a new world.


    Anyways, his ancestral family line was that of peasant farmers and he was born a peasant farmer. He would readily adjust to the new way of life at the sect.


    Still, it felt really strange and weirdly funny.


    He had entered this world by chance when senior Hypatios had sent him off, mistakenly? But two days later, he was having a small hill with a cultivation chamber and farm to himself in the space of two days.


    Really strange.


    Two days from his current time, he would have to go back to his home world because of his lectures that would happen in the Last-Sword sect. As a beginner, he only had the two houses'' lectures twice a week. The lecture time would increase as he advanced in learning.


    For the time being, he wouldn''t worry about that. He had to decide the place for his tribulations which would come if he tried to absorb spiritual energy.


    He decided to undergo his tribulations there and then. It would be better in this world than his home world. The elders and acolytes would know he had advanced the moment they saw him in his home world anyway.


    He stood up, leaving the cultivation chamber, he exited to the outside where he used the Swift Spine technique to reach the cleared bamboo area. While there, he sat cross-legged, took out the Red Beryl Spirit fruit and took a bite.


    They said it was a foundation establishment fruit, one of a kind. On this planet, it was all about fruits and plants. From the primordial times before the cultivators started concocting pills, natural existences in fruits, plants and trees were the sources of spiritual and medicinal vital forces.


    The sensation of the Red Beryl fruit in his mouth was amazing. He looked at it the rest of the fruit and shook his head. How could a child like himself measured the extent of the wonder of the universe? He finished eating the rest of the fruit, closed his eyes and started circulating the energy of the fruit. He moved the energy from his dantian through his meridians and back to his dantian.


    He was thinking about the aftermath of the heavenly tribulations.


    When the heavenly tribulations struck a cultivator with the corresponding numbers of lightning, the lightning wouldn''t strike the body but the soul of the cultivator. The soul of the cultivator that wanted to achieve immortality since it was the soul that achieved immortality not the body.


    Right from the Zhuji stage, the soul of a cultivator would be out of the limbo and into the dantian forming a orb of light. By the time the soul of the cultivator reached immortal ascension, it would have formed a true immortal nascent existence according to the nature of its cultivation, a soul that could manifest outside the body. The nascent soul was the true power of a cultivator, the body was just a living shell.


    Ju Feng''s mother, Zhang Xiu Ying, had a nascent soul of herself in white feather armour and flaming wings. That was the true existence of his mother. Her true immortal self. When she would reach godhood, her soul would be able to live on its own outside the body. As long as the soul was alive outside the body, the body would continue to live and function perfectly. This was a way the gods and celestials protected their true souls. They would be using their bodies in everyday activities but keeping their true soul secured in a safe place. Although, the body was not as powerful as the true soul in a long shot, most preferred it that way.


    The body could never live without the soul but the soul could live without the body. An immortal only needed to nurture a new body for the existing soul, though it was difficult and time consuming.


    That was the reason why the tribulations would attack the soul instead of the body of the cultivator.


    During heavenly tribulations, if a cultivator was at the Zhuji, the lightning would strike the orb in the dantian. If the cultivator was at the Jindan stage, the lightning would strike the core in the dantian. For a nascent soul, it would strike the formed soul avatar in the dantian.


    When a cultivator advanced to the Zhuji stage to become a premier but later failed the tribulations that came with the stage, the orb of light in the dantian which was the combination of the soul with the Chi energy, would start to dissipate. The cultivator would become a loose cultivator with a lifespan of ten million years before shaking hands with death followed by reincarnation. The same thing with the remaining four stages that attracted tribulations.


    But immediately after the completion of a heavenly tribulations, a nimbus will descend on the cultivator marking the full advancement onto the stage. This nimbus is the indication of a cultivator true advancement to the next stage. His powers with his aura would manifest fully as a premier cultivator, that was the thing with tribulations. Without undergoing the tribulations, without receiving the nimbus, a cultivator would never truly advance to the next stage. The cultivator could only see glimpses of the next stage powers if he didn''t experience both the tribulations and the nimbus.

 Chapter 48 - Heavenly Tribulations [2]

    The nimbus.


    It was the universal circle of light that descended on cultivators that survived tribulations.


    At the Zhuji stage, the nimbus had four colours; red, green, yellow and blue, the colours of the four primary elements of the universe. They represented the four primary elements of life; red[Fire], green[Air], yellow[Terra] and blue[Water].


    At the Jindan stage, the nimbus had five colours; red, green, yellow, blue and orange. The four primary colours with the addition of orange[Wood].


    The nascent soul formation stage had six coloured nimbus; red, green, yellow, blue, orange and indigo. The indigo[Illusions and dreams].


    The immortal ascension stage had seven colours to it. Red, green, yellow, blue, orange, indigo and violet. The colour violet[Space-time], completed the rainbow nimbus.


    The nimbus at the cosmic ascension stage had only one colour, the polychromatic white light. The combination of all the colours, true light of creation.


    Ju Feng had recently advanced to the Zhuji stage as a premier but he hadn''t become a full premier. He had to go through the tribulations and should have received the nimbus to become a full premier of the Zhuji stage.


    He decided that it would be better to advance in this world due to the fact that most of the outer disciples were at the Ningchi stage already, it wouldn''t draw attention to him. The problem would be after the tribulations. Eyes would be on him, how would he have the chance to get back home on time for his lectures? He needed to think carefully about it.


    Then, the sky began to change.


    Raging cloud started to gather overhead and spiralled with thunderous sounds. There would be five lightning strikes of the heavenly tribulations at the Zhuji stage. The first lightning strike would be fire lightning, the second would be air lightning, the third would be terra lightning, the fourth one was the water lightning and the last one was the combination of all these four lightning.


    The cloud started to gather in strength.


    Throughout the sect premises, the gathering cloud could be seen. Cultivators started to gather to observe, disciples gathered together in groups, masters observed from their hills, even the eyes of the grandmaster observed. The only exceptions were the grand patriarch and the ancestor who were meditating in seclusion.


    "Heavenly tribulations."


    "At the bamboo forest?"


    "Is it a disciple?"


    "A disciple? At the bamboo forest? I don''t think so."


    "A disciple would have used the cliff fall."


    "Maybe an elder."


    "Mm, must be an elder."


    The disciples were speculating as they gathered and continued to watch from afar. Some of the masters also gathered near the bamboo area to observe.


    The raging cloud reached its crescendo and a powerful bolt of lightning the size of a child''s torso streaked down from it striking Ju Feng''s orb of soul. The more powerful a soul was, the more powerful the lightning. From w.o.m.b till then, Ju Feng''s soul had been acquiring so much energy that his soul had formed a massive condensing orb of liquid light. After the lightning his soul, the high voltage spread around his soul making him scream in agony before it dissipated.


    The second lightning struck him, followed by the third and the fourth. The raging cloud started gathering strength for the last time, the cloud was booming with thunderous sounds before it released a lightning that combined all the previous four. The shockwave from the lightning made his mortal body collapsed but his soul was battling the lightning in the dantian.


    "Five lightning strikes. At the bamboo forest?"


    "That must be a Zhuji cultivator who became a full premier."


    "Had to be one of the new disciples."


    "Surely, a new disciple."


    "Strange. Truly strange."


    "I wonder whose disciple was that."


    "It''s a pity we couldn''t see through the walls of heavenly tribulations."


    "We''ll find out soon enough."


    The cloud cleared after the last lightning and the nimbus descended on Ju Feng''s body after his soul had successfully passed the heavenly tribulations. The nimbus entered his soul making it transformed into a true premier soul. Even his aura had become manifested.


    Regaining himself, he was full of unrestrained joy. He never knew the trial would be that powerful, but thankfully, he had passed it. He thanked everybody he knows, everybody in his life, for seeing him through.


    He knew all the sect''s members would have noticed his heavenly tribulations, thus he decided not to use the swift spine technique but the flash steps. As he was using the flash steps to return to his hillock, he saw the elders and stopped.


    "Are you the one that was undergoing the tribulations?"


    "Yes elderly masters, I just finished."


    Ju Feng replied bowing very low.


    "Why did you use the forest instead of the Cliff Falls? Don''t you think about other''s safety?"


    "Forgive me, elderly masters. I only used the place that came into my head. Please forgive me."


    "Are you a new inner disciple?"


    "Yes, elderly masters. I was accepted from the outer section today sir."


    "And you already underwent the tribulations same day? How can that even be?"


    Elder Zhou Lin, who had been watching from the side cleared his throat and looked at the elders.


    "Fellow elders, this is my new disciple, Ju Feng."


    "I remembered him now."


    "Yes, me too. Truly impressive of him."


    "It looks as if you have yourself a new genius, Zhou Lin."


    "Indeed, Zhou Lin."


    "Fellow elders, i believe we are done here. Zhou Lin, we''ll take our leave now."


    "Enjoy yourself young Ju Feng. We hope we''ll be seeing you in good health later."


    The elders departed and left Zhou Lin alone with his disciple. The two of them slowly walked back towards the hill range.


    "You''ve had a long day Ju Feng, go and have a rest. We''ll talk tomorrow."


    "Yes master."


    Finding himself alone, Ju Feng sighed and used the flash steps to arrive at his cave. He ate some turtle meat and collapsed in the bamboo bed. He would be meeting the rest of the lightning disciples the following day, it would be a long day.

 Chapter 49 - The Third Charat Day [1]

    "As I peered into the darkest of darkness, a void of no light, where no mere mortal or weak immortal ever dared to look, I saw eternal emptiness. Knowledge and wisdom were the two things standing between me and the void." - Dao of the universe.


    He dreamt of a place of creation that was as beautiful as any heavenly palacium. A place of beautiful crystal gems with a beautiful garden and lovely fruit trees. The fruit trees of different kinds, lined the palacium garden. With a river of heavenly elixir that was rich in sweetness, flowing through it and lovely birds singing beautiful songs.


    The scenery was a delightful one to watch and experience. And he was living that dream to the full. He was relaxing by the river, eating heavenly fruits, drinking heavenly elixir and listening to the birds sing making his mind peaceful and calm, a perfect mood. He was having a wonderful time enjoying the place.


    Then, he realized that he was alone in this place.


    Where was everyone? How did he get there in the first place? That couldn''t be right. Definitely, something must be wrong with this place. The solemn sense of danger with being the only one or last one in a seemingly beautiful world.


    His mind was quickly processing all those when everything suddenly changed.


    Pure black tendrils of powerfully dangerous energy started to crawl all over the world turning it into a pit of terrible darkness. He quickly materialised a light energy. The darkness was extremely strong but he had enough Chi to maintain the light energy for the time being. It was like a faint candle light in the sphere of darkness but he kept it going. He tried to move but he couldn''t raise his legs, the weight of the black tendrils was weighing him down.


    Was it a dream?


    Just as he was wondering, a dark treble voice boomed out of the darkness.


    "Child, we know who you are. And nothing can save you."


    A pair of large shining black eyes, appeared out of the darkness.


    Ju Feng woke up with a jolt from his sleep. What kind of dreams was that? The black tendrils resembled the atramental energy maybe with a little difference? He couldn''t say in totality. But that was simply a dream. What people fear, sometimes, appear in their dreams. He wouldn''t dwell on it for what it was. He remembered the words of his uncle, titan lord Primus that he needed to be much more stronger and powerful to be able to live without that kind of fear.


    The feeling of water as he splashed it on his face was refreshingly soothing and it had a little calming effect on his mind. As he was putting on his robe, he heard a knock on the door to his cave. He quickly fastened his robe and opened the door to find a disciple smiling at him.


    "Greetings brother Ju Feng, my name is Yan Zhihao. First disciple of master Zhou Lin."


    Yan Zhihao gave a slightly cupped hand gesture.


    "I greet you senior brother Yan."


    "I welcome you to the Lightning Reach. That''s the name of our faction by the way."


    Yan Zhihao beamed and continued.


    "If you are ready, kindly follow me."


    "I''m ready, senior brother Yan."


    Yan Zhihao led Ju Feng to the faction hall where other fifty disciples were waiting. In the flying stars sect, all the disciples of a master would train together, the top disciples would help in training the new disciples. The strength of a faction was the strength of the sect as a whole. He quickly introduced them to Ju Feng.


    Fifty disciples of lightning, this was much more than that of his home world''s sect. The thought of this being one of the smallest sect in this world is really hard to believe. How many disciples would the biggest sect have? Frightening.


    Couple of minutes later, master Zhou Lin entered the hall and slowly walked to the front of the hall facing the disciples. He was wearing a pristine white robe laced with gold threads.


    "Good morning master."


    They all chorused at once.


    "Hm."


    Master Zhou Lin nodded in acknowledgement.


    He glanced at their faces. His disciples were apprehensively watching him. They had been training very hard for the upcoming selection, they didn''t want to disappoint their master and the sect. He could understand their plight and deeply appreciated it. A true disciple was the one who put everything into practice not because of anxiousness of success but because of apprehension of failure. He commended that in them. While still looking at them, his mind strayed to the source of their predicament.


    Ozoros, the transient dominion.


    On every plane, there were , dominions of different sizes. It was inside these dominions that artifacts of different levels of power were hidden. One of these dominions was Ozoros, the transient dominion. A place located on the same planet, Charat. It was rumoured to be a place where a powerful artifact was hidden, a divine or luminous artifact at the least.


    There were two types of dominions. They were the wake dominions and the fallen dominions.


    The wake dominions were dominions still had masters, their masters could be divine beasts, ancient sacred beasts, primordial titans or even demigods.


    The fallen dominions were ancient ruins. Once great and powerful dominions but had become tombs and catacombs.


    These two dominions were of the same regulations when it involved cultivators'' entrance into their premises. There were some that had no restrictions, all cultivators could enter. There were some that only golden core cultivators and above could enter. Yet, there were some ruins that golden cores and above couldn''t enter, only Zhuji level and below could enter. But the issue with the third type was that, these ruins were too powerful and dangerous for anyone below golden core level yet they were the only that could enter.


    That was where a peak stage nascent soul or an hegemon came in.


    But the difference? The supreme sovereign was in possession of five heavenly seal that could steadily hold the rift opened for a period of time before disintegrating. Five of the premiers would hold a heavenly seal each that they would locate by the gates of the ruins which would be easier for them to locate from the inside. And they would activate the seals once they were placed.

 Chapter 50 - The Third Charat Day [2]

    Acquiring some divine or luminous artifacts was really extremely difficult and the Ozoros ruins was as difficult as any. For thousands of years, emperor Qing Yuan had been trying to get hold of the artifact inside Ozoros but had been unsuccessful. Every thousand years, sects would send chosen premiers to the emperor for this purpose.


    To be part of the chosen meant the sect would gain immeasurable recognition throughout the world and the cultivators would be important personalities if they could survive.


    Oh, how he wished he could provide a disciple that would represent the flying stars sect in front of the emperor. His name as a master would forever be legendary. But, their sect was one of the smallest, how could they compare to the top sects?


    Zhou Lin rested his eyes on Ju Feng.


    Could he be the difference he had been waiting for?


    "Today, we have a new disciple in our midst, a new disciple from the outer section. I know you''ve already met him but i want to formally bring him to your awareness again as tradition stated. Ju Feng, come forward."


    "Yes, master."


    Ju Feng voiced from the back as he hurried to the front.


    After having Ju Feng beside him at the front, he continued.


    "You are all once a new disciple and you know what it takes. As a new disciple, we want to make sure that Ju Feng here, feels welcome and comfortable to be with us. We all want to do everything we can to help him and guide him. Every member of our faction is valuable and precious. I know you all have your eyes set on the upcoming event but we want to train and prepare every member of our faction, together. We want to show everybody that our Lightning reach can be a main anchor of the sect and we can only do that together. Especially, as we want our faction to present representative to the sovereign domain."


    He flicked his hand in the air and it stirred a bit of lightning streaks.


    "Ju Feng, here, underwent his tribulations last night. Same day he was accepted. I don''t know what that means, but I hope it''s something for the better. He will be with Yan Zhihao but all of you have the same responsibilities."


    He turned to Ju Feng with a mild smile on his face.


    "Ju Feng, watch, listen, learn and practice. Don''t discard their words, you could always learn from them. As a cultivator you wouldn''t go wrong on this."


    He whispered to his assistant, Su Ming, a golden core cultivator who had mild temper but her eyes were like lightning hawks, to take over the martial art session before turning to Ju Feng.


    "Ju Feng, Come with me."


    "Yes, master."


    Master Zhou Lin took Ju Feng to the open area near his hill and sat down.


    "Ju Feng, I tell you this, in this world of cultivation, its all about power. The artifacts, items, techniques and your level of cultivation determine who you are and where you are in this world. Wisdom makes you discern what is and what is not"


    His gaze fell and he shook his dejectedly. As a master, he knew a cultivator may believe in having the higher cultivation level than the opponent, but if the opponent had more powerful artifacts or items, the cultivator could be dead. Likewise, if the cultivator had powerful artifacts and items, but didn''t have a high enough cultivation level to use them against an opponent who had higher cultivation level, the cultivator might easily die too.


    A cultivator might even have powerful artifacts, items and a very good cultivation level but if the opponent had a higher cultivation level and higher technique, the cultivator might also die easily. A cultivator must never think having a divine weapon as a premier warranted a confrontation with a nascent soul. The cultivator would simply die.


    "We have lost many fine cultivators who fell into the illusion they could achieve what wisely couldn''t be done."


    "Master.. ."


    Ju Feng stammered when he saw the expression of his master.


    "Its alright, Ju Feng. The important thing is for you to be strong in all aspects, if it takes time, so be it. Be sure to have all what it takes to prevent burns and heat before walking into an inferno . All the aspects must be strong for you to truly walk without watching your back or slipping. If not, you''ll simply die. It''s the simple truth."


    Master Zhou Lin stared at Ju Feng keenly before suddenly smiling.


    "Ju Feng, just yesterday you joined the inner sect and you underwent your Zhuji tribulations same day. I have to tell you, I''m really proud of you. I do hope it''s a beginning of good things for you, all you have to do is continue working harder and get stronger. We will try our best to make sure you have the best support you need."


    Master Zhou Lin walked to the side of the clearing, with his furrowed eyes seemingly set on the future.


    "Lightning is a powerful cosmic element, Ju Feng. Like lightening, all elements are universal affinities and they were not things to be wielded by a mortal or immortal body. They could only be manifested in traces or sparks through a physical body. A true nascent soul could manifest these element to a certain degree. But for the elements to be fully manifested, it must be channelled through something connected to the soul of a cultivator and also to the elements in the universe. A medium between the two."


    He paused for a moment which seemed forever.


    "A weapon! A weapon is connected to the soul of a cultivator and when it''s made with materials of the same element affinity as the cultivator? A weld. The only thing that can provide a full manifestation of elements. That''s why cultivators pay more attention to their weapons. The make of a weapon, the composition of a weapon can easily determine the outcome of a battle."


    He turned his head to the side and looked at Ju Feng.


    "I tell you the truth, Ju Feng. To a cultivator, weapon means everything. A divine weapon will not look at your body technique before cutting you into pieces unless you have a divine body which might withstand it. A fire element divine weapon in the hand of a Ningchi cultivator will cut you into two talk-less of incinerating you into nothingness despite you having higher level. Do you know why?"


    Master Zhou Lin slowly walked back to where Ju Feng was still standing and sighed softly.


    "Because of the weapon''s divinity. Even if the Ningchi cultivator don''t have the level to use its fire element against you, it will still cut you into many pieces if you meet it head-on."


    He flicked his hand and manifested his weapon. A glaive.


    "This is Mujithar. I spent hundreds of thousands of years gathering the materials. It''s about not being in a rush as you make decisions on your weapon. Your weapon is part of your soul, part of your existence. Take your time. In the mean time, you can check the market, there are minor weapons you can get to be using. It makes you familiar with all these."


    The weapon disappeared and master Zhou Lin turned towards the mountains.


    "You can go now, I will see you later."


    "Yes, master. Master please can I ask for something?"


    "Mhm. Go ahead."


    "Master, I want to be in seclusion to meditate a bit since I just advanced to Zhuji."


    "Hm. Thoughtful of you. Yes, you can. You have the time needed. See you later then."


    "Thank you master, thank you."


    He told Yan and the other disciples quietly before heading towards his hillock. He would wait for a moment before making his way to the door without suspicion.


    Time to see his home world.

 Chapter 51 - Back To Lorra [1]

    "Well, here you are childling. Safe and sound. Much more better than before if you ask me."


    "You flatters me, Senior Hypatios."


    "A full premier, that means you''ve undergone your heavenly tribulations. You now have the silver aura though too bright. Not bad for a childling."


    "Yes Senior Hypatios, I did two days ago, but was a bit difficult."


    "Of course it was. I can see you as clear as water. Look at the size of your dantian and the make of your soul orb. A soul orb of liquid light? Don''t you know that the stronger the power of your soul, the stronger your tribulations will be."


    "Oh, I see. I didn''t know that before senior Hypatios."


    "Well, now you know. Anyways, tribulations for Zhuji level wouldn''t tend to kill you, unless you have seriously bad karmic deeds. At least, you can prepare properly for future one if you are still alive till then."


    "Senior Hypatios, the planet you had, mistakenly, sent me to, is really great. I mean the Charat''s planet. It''s a very wonderful world. I''m very grateful."


    "Mistakenly indeed. You really have no idea, do you, childling? Alright, since you are grateful, do you plan on going to another world?"


    "No senior, thanks for asking but my home world will be fine for now. My home will be just fine."


    "Farewell then."


    Before he could answer, he was already in his room in the Last-Sword sect. He looked back to where the door was but no more door was there only the crystal pagoda. He quietly turned his attention towards the room and moved slowly around the room checking everything including the wall.


    He heaved a big sigh of relief after he was satisfied in going through the place. He was finally home.


    The past three days had been exhilaratingly nervy for him. It made him understood more about life and had wider perception of the universe in his own minor ways. He knew quite well that there were worlds out there, different types of worlds but he never knew he would experience going to them at all talk-less of being on one so soon in his life. How could he anyway? The people that went to another world were extremely powerful people that could use powerful teleportation items or the transportation portals. To come by a powerful teleportation item was very rare and the cost of transportation portals were enormous.


    He could only have dreamt of all these happening yet he had gone to another world and lived in another world. What would his family, especially his mother, say when they heard about it? How would his grandmother react when she found out the pagoda was really a gateway?


    Yes, this was fortunately more than he deserved. Opportunities and privileges that he didn''t deserved more than others but fortunate to have. He remembered his grandfather''s words, "the circ.u.mstances surrounding cultivator''s birth was not as important as the opportunity to live the life the cultivator could only dream of". Senior Hypatios had also told him before that powerful cultivators would kill to have opportunities that he was having.


    Yes, those were opportunity he wouldn''t let slip from his grasps.


    "Thanks to the heavens, thank you grandma, grandpa and mother."


    His mind felt a bit more peaceful. He sat down in a lotus position, closed his eyes and started to meditate. Before he would endeavour in anything, he would first free his mind completely through meditation using the soul serenity technique. A completely cleared mind would approach things in a more meaningful way.


    An hour later, his mind was completely refreshed. He took out some dried turtle meat and started to chomp on it. He was deliberating on going to the library when he remembered the senior alchemist and resolved to take a walk to the sect market to see him. Maybe he would have some information for him.


    Reaching the market place, he realized that there were more disciples and merchants at the place than the last time he was there. The area attracting more cultivators was the alchemist section. He managed to navigate and wriggled his way through to the senior alchemist stall quietly without drawing much attention to himself. Once inside, he stayed to the side as the alchemist attended to the sect disciples in front of him. When he caught sight of Ju Feng, he hurriedly finished attending to them and closed the door after the last one left. He turned to Ju Feng with big smile on his face.


    "Hello young one."


    "I greet you, senior alchemist."


    "You are well on time. Come follow me."


    He led Ju Feng to the back of the alchemist shop. At the back, was a small door leading to another inner room. He opened it and entered followed by Ju Feng. Once inside, he closed the small door and bring out the blue crystal.


    "You can simply call me alchemist master Luo Peng, young one."


    "Uhm, my apologies senior alchemist master Luo Peng, my name is Ju Feng."


    "Okay Ju Feng. I did as we talked about the last time. I went into the nearby cities to find out if any one of them would be hosting an auction soon and I found one. The city of Goujin. It will be holding an auction tomorrow. Here''s the thing, you know there are many spirit stones out there and of different quality grades. So, when an alchemist want an item auctioned, he would have to submit it for quality testing despite the alchemist''s words for it. Now, the interesting part. After I submitted your crystal stone for testing of which many tests were performed, the appraisers determined the crystal to be around eight hundred million years."


    He regarded Ju Feng with a curiously amused look before continuing.


    "It''s a total grade crystal stone. In reference to their words, the likes of this stone don''t exist anywhere in this world. This brought some bewildered looks from them. These are dangerous roads that must be walked cautiously. According to the appraisers, the equivalent of this crystal spirit stone to normal crystal spirit stones is one to one hundred of pure grades, one to one thousand of high grades, one to ten thousand of medium grades and one to hundred thousand of low grades."


    He shook his head with a bit of slumped shoulders.

 Chapter 52 - Back To Lorra [2]

    "The price could have been more. Although, the concentration of the condensed spiritual energy in the stone is higher than the thousand pure grades combined, the face value is equivalent. Because, the spirit crystals contained traces of water element, assuming it was neutral it would have cost much more. I think it must have been created where there was too much water and the likes. But, it is still quite a fortune, it''s good enough to cover any loss of value."


    "One to hundred pure grades? It would have been better to be higher but that''s still fine by me, senior alchemist Luo Peng. We can go ahead and the proceedings will be shared equally as discussed."


    "One more thing Ju Feng, there''s a request in advance for four total grade spirit stones, four of any kind in total. The potential buyer will also give some extras on the deal. There are people who want to buy it, if you have more we could easily dispose it off. You just need to let me know, okay?"


    "Okay senior alchemist Luo Peng. I''ll inform you if I have more. For now, these are the remaining three crystals."


    He gave alchemist master Luo Peng three more blue crystals and left the marketplace. He knew that Senior Luo Peng would do his best to be honest due to the fact that he didn''t know how much crystals he, Ju Feng, had. He didn''t even know who was giving Ju Feng, maybe it was an hegemon. Who would risk anything like that?


    Since the day was still a long way from dusk, he made a resolve to go for a little practice. He still needed to master the second stage of the swift spine technique and he only knew the first phase of the Skylight Technique, the Sundering Heavens. He simply had to keep practicing.


    And just as he was getting to the Zhanshi training area.


    "Ju Feng?"


    Chenric who was at the other side of the training area, quickly moved to where Ju Feng was.


    "Ju Feng, we''ve been looking for you. Where were you? Meditating?"


    Meditating in seclusion? Ju Feng''s mind suddenly went to the past events on Charat''s planet and to the Savants of the Flying Stars sect who wanted to put him in solitary solitude. Solitary Solitude they called it, for him to reflect on his wrongdoings and seek redemption of his heart. Or was it his soul? Yes, they found him in a restricted area but they gave him three wrongdoings he didn''t committed in the first place. How could he have proved otherwise since he was caught in the place? Well, fair enough.


    "Hey Chenric, uhm, about that, let''s say i was in solitary solitude. You know, secluded meditation and stuff like that."


    "Yes we know, but at least you could have informed us about it beforehand instead of us looking for you everywhere."


    Da Xia, who had caught up to them, uttered in a little displeased tone.


    "Sorry about that, it only escaped my mind. Next time, I promise to tell you."


    Ju Feng with a bit of remorse in his voice, looked at the two siblings apologetically.


    "We want to show you something, come with us."


    They took him to a quiet area, away from the eyes of others and after looking around for some time concluded it was a good place. Then, Chenric took out a small wooden box painted in red. Inside the box were a journal, a map and a big red Jasper ring.


    "I must say, it''s a beautiful ring."


    "It''s not the ring you needed to see, it''s the journal."


    Da Xia rolled her eyes and slightly shook her head.


    "Yes, the journal. What about it?"


    "The journal belonged to our grandfather, grandpa Ye Tian. We have red it and it was about a place our grandfather came across. He wrote that it was a place he found by chance when he was looking for the Heavenly Jade spirit fruit."


    Chenric removed the journal from the box and offered it Ju Feng.


    "Read it and you will see what I''m talking about."


    "Maybe you can quickly go through it, we''ll wait while you do."


    Da Xia added.


    Ju Feng quickly opened it and started to read.


    ".... I left JinJin village and entered the plain of Ivory Yonder. I was looking for the Jade Dragon spirit fruit when I came across the place. The Jade Dragon spirit fruit was the only thing in existence that could totally amend a cracked soul if three was eaten. One Jade Dragon could add ten million years to that of any cultivator, with cracked soul or not ....


    I had on my finger, the red ring I had bought by chance from an antique dealer with most of my fortune. The ring the dealer had told me would locate the place where the spirit fruit was. Nearing the place, the ring I had on me started to glow bright red, it resonated with the gates of the place which appeared right in front of me. This gate, I didn''t notice there before, it wasn''t there.


    There was no problem in me entering the yard where i saw a statue of what looked like a ruler. Upon checking closely, I realized I must have found the recreational forsaken palace of the ancient Jade Emperor, Wan Bao. It was the secret palace of Jade emperor Wan Bao, the place where he would sometime relax and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.


    The huge outer garden was filled with fruits and plants. My soul was overjoyed beyond words with this discovery. I patiently checked the garden to see if I could find the Jade Dragon spirit fruit, but I couldn''t. I found many other spirit fruits, some I didn''t even know about but later found out.


    I took many but my aim was the Jade Dragon spirit fruit. It could only be inside the closed palace, I tried but couldn''t enter the palace at that time. I left the place and marked the spot down for future references. I will be going back later when I become much stronger than I was.


    My evanesce core had been damaged when I was attacked by Headman Deng Bai, of the Wonsong village due to a dispute between me and his brother He Bai.


    Without the spirit fruit, I will surely die if I face the heavenly tribulations.....


    ....I''m going back inside the palace yard now to see if I can enter the palace or not. Until then..."


    Ju Feng was captivated after reading the journal and curious at the same time. It was a true journal of a true cultivator who wanted to survive and lived. He could only give his respect right then. But how did they come by something like this?


    "Heaven''s tears, how did you get hold of this precious box? I know it belonged to your grandfather but I guess he wouldn''t just give this to you."


    "Yes you are right. He didn''t give it to us, I found it in the place he was hiding it. There was a day I was hiding behind the tree when I saw him hiding something in a place close to it by chance but couldn''t check what it was. For the trouble it would have brought me. But after he died, I checked the place and found this box."


    "Anyway, we have already located the Ivory Yonder and the plain is not too far from here. We are planning on finding the palace next week during the sect''s luminary week and we are thinking maybe you will like to join us. So, what do you think?"


    "Of course, I''m in. How can I let you enjoy the adventure without me?"


    "Perfect. And we''ve already informed Yingjie. He is coming too."


    "Good. Shall we, then. There''s so much I need to learn."


    Ju Feng with a smile gestured towards the training ground as he used his flash step to move towards an empty section of the area followed by Chenric and Da Xia.

 Chapter 53 - Encounters [1]

    "The radiance of light contained the eternal qualities of wholeness, purity, wisdom, courage and love. When you strive to nurture these things in you, the light within you is on its way of becoming one with nature and thereby becoming one with creation. This is the true way of light affinity cultivators to achieve eternity. This is immortality ascension. It''s totally different from martial combat. When you have the radiance of light in you, it means you are light element affiliated. It means you have the capacity to call on the power of light. For martial combat, you will still need a martial technique. It''s through these martial techniques that you can display the various manifestation of the power of light element."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu halted her lecture, walked to the side of the hall and turned her head to gaze at them.


    "Do you remember the radiant light I showed you when I first began to teach you? That was called Glory of Heaven. It was part of a martial technique that belongs to the elders of the house of light. The strength level of your cultivation will determine the strength level of your light element manifestation and it will be difficult for you to master a martial technique without a good level of cultivation. Although, your physical body can only manifest a little amount of element affinity, that little amount is highly significant."


    Elder Wang Xiu raised one finger as she continued to watch her disciples.


    "Don''t get me wrong. The nascent soul or weapon still remain the best way to fully manifest the affiliated element. But, both still rely on the on the cultivation strength of a martial artist. The level of your cultivation dictates how strong your nascent soul will be. Same with your weapon, your level of strength will determine how strongly you bring out the power of your weapon."


    She clapped her hands together making a thunderous sound jolting the disciples back to the reality.


    "There are three things I have mentioned that made a cultivator. First one is element affinity and in our case is the light element. The second one is cultivation. And the third one is technique. Remember this clearly, the road to eternity is a difficult one. Even with all these, you will need luck. The least you can do, is to be adept in all these areas. I will see you the day after tomorrow. Study and practice well. Till then."


    She turned to Ju Feng who was about to leave with Chenric and Da Xia.


    "Ju Feng. Wait behind."


    Ju Feng who was fretfully confounded, stared around the hall to confirm he heard correctly and the stares he received from others confirmed it. He was the only one bearing the name among the new disciples of the house of light anyway. He patiently waited until everyone had left remaining only him and elder Wang Xiu.


    "Don''t worry, you are not in trouble of any kind. If that will ease your mind."


    Elder Wang Xiu with a smirk on her face, inspected Ju Feng.


    "How does it feel to be a true premier? Wonderful?"


    Ju Feng nodded respectfully before he replied.


    "Yes, elder Wang."


    "I remembered my own too, truly wonderful. You see everything with a different view. You can now use spiritual sight to see many things, including vibrant energy of plants, trees and animals. You can even see the aura of other cultivators if they decided to manifest it or you have higher levels than them. Which brings me to you. It''s about your aura. You need to know how to control your auric light. Your aura is getting stronger and brighter everyday. Very soon it will be drawing too much attention to you, mostly evil intended attention because you will be like a beacon of target. To show you what I''m talking about, I will teach how to use spiritual sight. Come."


    She gestured towards the other side of the hall that had mats for meditation.


    "Sit down and cross your legs in the lotus position, close your eyes. Now withdraw your sight into your consciousness, keep withdrawing it into your consciousness until you see a part of your consciousness that seemed to be watching you back. That''s your spiritual sight, let the two merged together, now open your eyes. What do you see?"


    Ju Feng who opened his eyes to see the difference, immediately had to cover his eyes. The light coming from the body of elder Cao Wang Xiu was blinding.


    "What you are seeing is my aura. I intentionally manifested it so that you can see it. With my full aura, you can easily determine my level of cultivation and strength level. In combat, you don''t want to underestimate your opponent or attack blindly because your opponent might be suppressing his or her aura. That means you are dead meat. Your aura too has manifested, Ju Feng and that shows you are a premier which is good. But, with the radiant silver light, your opponent will know that you are a true premier which can be really bad for you. That''s why I want to show you how to suppress and control it."


    Elder Wang examined Ju Feng and shook her head with a sigh. She remembered her older sister, Lu Xiu, who had wanted to take revenge for their mother but had been killed because her opponent was actually a golden core cultivator who had been suppressing his aura. She wasn''t arrogant, but the anger had made her ignorant of combat possibilities.


    "Close your eyes and free your mind. Now breathe in and breathe out. Breathe in and hold it. Wait a bit, now let it go and continue like that for a time. Now, when you breathe in, follow the movement of the air into your body until you can see threads of silver light. Now, follow the threads to the source, where the silver threads are coming from. Can you see the source? That''s your soul orb. Now let your consciousness merge with your soul. Very good. That is the true you, though still in the beginning form, but can you feel the power? Take it easy, let your awareness cover the silver light. Now draw the silver light to yourself as much as you can until you have few threads left. Very good. Now let your awareness return to your body."


    Ju Feng opened his eyes with tears of joy and appreciation in his eyes. He tried to look up but couldn''t. His emotion was still getting the best of him.

 Chapter 54 - Encounters [2]

    Elder Wang Xiu walked to his side and patted him on his back.


    "I understood. The feeling of seeing and being one with the true soul. It was truly an unforgettable experience. You see, the Soul Budding technique is only taught to the genius core disciples but you are very different. I could sense your soul the first time I saw you. Your soul is different, I could sense it swimming in a large pool of Chi energy. Never seen that before but I''ve heard of such, so I decided to watch and wait. When i saw you this morning, I knew I was right, the soul of a premier shouldn''t be that powerful. I could sense the power of your soul and it''s drawing more energy.


    Seeing the facial expression of Ju Feng, elder Wang smiled widely.


    "Are you wondering how I knew all this? It''s my ancestral bloodline, that''s all I can tell you. The truth is that, If you hadn''t learned to control your aura, you would have been like a beacon drawing all sorts to yourself. But now, it''s alright."


    After some minutes, Ju Feng regained his faculty and bowed to elder Wang Xiu.


    "This disciple thank you elder Wang Xiu. I am in your debt."


    "Debt can be too great to pay, Ju Feng. After all, you are my disciple. But, if I need your help on a good course in the future, will you consider it?"


    Ju Feng was more bewildered. How could he help an elder of a nascent soul in the future? That was weirdly funny. He didn''t even know if he should laugh at himself or at elder Wang or even at the universe.


    "On the essence of creation, I will consider it."


    "Very well then. Continue focusing on your training. You can go now."


    "Thank you elder Wang."


    It was like watching himself through the eyes of a god. A god! That was the word for it despite the fact that he had no idea how the sight of the gods worked. But for him, that was the feeling. This encounter was an eye opener, the embryonic true existence of a cultivator''s soul.


    Da Xia and Chenric had been waiting outside the hall since they came out. They were wondering why elder Wang Xiu told Ju Feng to stay behind. Could it be that she found out about their grandfather''s box? Is she after the treasures too? If not, then why?


    They were still questioning themselves when Ju Feng came out.


    "Ju Feng. What happened?"


    "Did elder Cao found out about the box?


    "Did she want you to bring the box?"


    "No, not at all. You can both relax your minds. She doesn''t know anything about the box."


    "Then, why did she asked you to stay behind?"


    Ju Feng looked at the two siblings with an easy smile.


    "It was about my spiritual aura. She said it was getting too bright and that I could suppress it to the minimum."


    "Why would she say that? Have you become a full premier?"


    Ju Feng not wanting to affect the mood of the two, shook his head. He couldn''t tell them at this time.


    "Not yet. But I think it will be next week too."


    "Yes, we are all looking forward to next week for the crazy tribulations. The elders said we will know when we are having your tribulations and we have few minutes to get to the Dragon Hide valley where it would be easier and safer for us."


    "Leave the tribulations alone for now, Da Xia. You know what Ju Feng, when I became a full premier, I would never want to suppress my aura, i would make it shine brighter."


    "You are right Chenric, especially if we want to become a core disciple."


    They arrived at the cafeteria to find Yingjie already waiting at one corner.


    "Hello Yingjie."


    They all chorused at the same time.


    "Hello Da Xia, Chenric, Ju Feng. What took you so long?"


    "Sorry about that. It''s because of Ju Feng. Elder Wang was telling him why he need to suppress his aura after advancing probably next week."


    "Aura suppression has advantages and disadvantages too. But it will be too early at the Zhuji stage. Anyway, I''m still processing the energy in the pill too and I should be able to finish that by next week."


    "Tribulations and aura aside. Now, let''s make our plan concerning the forsaken palace."


    "If we leave very early on the first day of the luminary week, we should be able to be back same day, I believe."


    "I think we should prepare for more days in the mind of uncertainty. It''s possible to stay longer than anticipated."


    "So we should prepare for the uncertainty. How safe is the place by the way?"


    "Grandpa said it was a safe place. But we still need to get ourselves ready for any danger."


    "Yes, we should. That''s settled then."


    "Where should we meet?"


    "I think outside the gate will be fine, not too many eyes."


    "Okay, outside the gate it is."


    After they all agreed to meet outside the sect gates early in the morning in two day''s time, they went their separate ways.


    Ju Feng headed towards the market. He would have to get a sword, he didn''t have any weapon to use if he needed one. Although, he wouldn''t want the situation where he would have to use it, the situation might be looking for him. Even, if he was not using it, it was better to know he had a weapon in his possession.


    He arrived at the market and found the stalls for weapons and armours. He chose one and entered. The stall was full of different weapons of different sizes to one side and armours of various forms to the other side. He didn''t need any armour since he wasn''t going to battle, he was only going to a place full of fruits and plants. Would he be using armour to defend against fruits and plants? But the armours looked great, nevertheless.


    The merchant noticed Ju Feng looking at the weapons and raised his voice a little.


    "Are you in need of a weapon, young man?"


    "Yes senior. I need a good sword."


    "Alright. It depends on the type and grade you want. I have iron swords, bronze swords and steel swords. And either low grade or high grade."


    "I want a good one that is a bit cheap?"


    "The iron swords are the cheapest at ten gold coins, the bronze swords are twenty gold coins and the steel swords are fifty gold coins. Those are the arranged prices for sect disciples, they are more expensive outside."


    All the money on him totalled twenty two gold coins, the combination of his own savings, money from his mother and grandparents for his time in school. Should he put all of it on the purchase of a sword? Very soon, he would have more money than this if everything turned out fine.


    "Okay senior. I will take a bronze sword."


    He paid twenty gold coins for the sword and left the market place. His mind was on the forsaken palace of the Jade emperor Wan Bao. What kind of a place was it? A place that contained many spirit fruits and plants.


    With his mind still occupied with these thoughts, he didn''t pay much attention to where he was going, walked into an invisible powerful force field and vanished.


    The force-field''s attack on him was a devastating one. His body and soul were almost ripped apart that he had to push a massive amount of Chi energy into his body to strengthen it. An average Zhuji cultivator would have been fatally wounded and a weaker one would have died.


    It only lasted for some seconds but he was already vomiting blood by the time he materialised flying from the impact of the force-field. He appeared just couple of feet from a group of disciples who were coming out from one of the sect buildings. This group was of core disciples and at the front was Shao Cheng. A space-time element cultivator who had already formed his evanesce core, he was the number one genius of the Last-Sword sect.


    Instantly, Shao Cheng contorted the space just before Ju Feng collided with them allowing them to move out of the way. This also slowed down Ju Feng''s flight making him hit the ground a little bit softer, few feet behind them but was still vomiting blood.


    "Who are you?"


    "Where do you come from?"

 Chapter 55 - Revenant Among Us [1]

    "Who is he? Where did he come from?"


    "Look at his robe, he''s an inner disciple."


    "So he''s one of the inner disciples. How dare him barge into us?"


    "Wait. Think. How can a disciple of the inner section just appeared from nowhere? From the thin air."


    "Maybe it''s a disguise. An enemy?"


    "Enemies can''t enter these premises without the elders and acolytes knowing."


    "Must be a disciple then. But how?"


    "Let''s check on him first, i don''t think he''s in a good condition. We''ll find out soon."


    They slowly approached the place where Ju Feng was still lying on the ground with blood streaking down a corner of his mouth. When they had neared him enough to see clearly, one of them, a female disciple from the house of water, quickly moved to Ju Feng side to assist him.


    "Be careful Su Ming, we still don''t know if it''s a trap or not."


    "I know him. He''s one of the inner disciples."


    "Are you certain, Su Ming?"


    "Yes I am. He was the disciple watching the combat training between Li Qiang and Wang Lei. He was the one acting weirdly outside the training area."


    Su Ming answered as she put a yellow medicinal pill into Ju Feng''s mouth and guided it down his throat.


    "Okay then. I think we can all relax now."


    "So, how did he turn out from thin air?"


    "Not now Quan Zhi, he''s seriously injured. We should inform the elders"


    Then, all of them started to feel the presence of a vigorous force-field. Slowly, they began to brandish their weapons. They had the urge to run but they knew they couldn''t outrun whatever it was that was approaching them.


    "Who is there?"


    "Are you a friend or an enemy?"


    "Show yourself."


    "Really? Show myself? How commanding. Hmm, I like that. Alright, I will show myself."


    "Okay, this is the best I can do. I had to drop the acolyte body I was using. You see, I can''t show the real me even if I want to. Though I doubt you''ll like the look anyway. Hehehe."


    The audible sound of laughter emanated from the mouth of the mutated figure.


    "A friend or enemy? Let me see, since I''m looking forward to killing you, I believe that makes me an enemy? Hahaha. Yes you should also inform your elders but of course, you can''t because you are already inside my force-field. They can''t even see you or hear you no matter what you do. Do you want to know why? The Golden Phantom Seal. Yes, the heavenly level seal. Do you even know how many years it took to make it? You will sympathize with me if you do. But at least, there was joy in its making. Do you want to know why? It was made using the heavenly ghost seeds, golden cores of murdered Jindan cultivators, cores and jellies of the invisible deep sea worms, the core and blood of the mirage hare and some other stuffs you can''t find in your world. What? Why are you all looking as if you''ve seen a Revenant? Oh, ok. I am a Revenant. So what? Are you not humans too? You see, you are humans and I''m a revenant. No big deal. Hehehe."


    More sound of laughter came from the revenant, making the disciples shivered in fear. They had all heard about the tales of the revenants before, and how powerful they were. Looking at one, on their sect''s premises, was more than they could bear.


    "I was in a good mood all day, not trying to kill any cultivator today, I guess. I was only trying to locate the exact position of the Sinnughar core. The core of a primordial beast you can''t even imagine inside your little heads. The core belonged to the mighty Foremost, Kamirhia, the ultimate ruler of the Phantom realm but was stolen by a filthy thief. I was finding it when that foolish boy walked into my force-field, stepped on the seal and disrupted my force-field. What a pity, I should have killed him with my own hands. He''s dead anyway. Back to the business on hand, where was I?"


    Quan Zhi was a core disciple of the house of fire, hence he had the opportunity to choose a powerful fire technique from the sect ancestral fire mystical techniques. He had chosen and was learning the Meteor World fire technique. Fire was already violent and angry in nature. This fire technique took violence and anger of fire to the another level especially if completely mastered. Quan Zhi stared intently at the area of the force-field and initiated his most powerful move.


    "From heavens above comes the blaze and from the crust below comes the fire. Meteor World."


    Immediately, circles of fire enclosed the area of the force-field, from up and down. Hundreds of flaming meteorites battered the force-field endlessly from the inside of the circles for few seconds before being torn apart.


    "Are you disappointed? Aww, don''t be, you are just a Presider, an evanesce core cultivator after all. How can you, in this obviously insane universe, compare to me? Oh, are you wondering how I know? The light of your aura is green gold, which means you are not yet a Jindan. Which means that I don''t need your filthy core. Next person? Nobody? Okay then, my turn."


    Shao Cheng was using all his might to hold the space-time in place. Being the number one genius of the Last-Sword sect and a disciple of the house of space-time, he was given the chance to choose the very best technique and he had gone with the Woven Dimensional technique. It was a difficult and time consuming technique to learn. But, it was a very powerful technique.

 Chapter 56 - Revenant Among Us [2]

    Shao Cheng had used his most powerful move, the Two Dimensional Steps. With one step, the opponent will enter the frozen space, another step and the opponent''s soul will be stuck in time becoming a living statue. The soul will forever be in continuum until the body is shattered. However, few seconds after that, the space was shattered and the force-field area returned back to normal.


    "How intriguing. You must be a late-stage Presider, an evanesce core, yet you can almost display the strength of an early Jindan, the weakest Jindan by the way. How can you compare to the wonder called myself? But, it was still interesting to see. Maybe I will take your core after all. You, come to one side and stay. Not that you have any other choice, or do you?"


    Shao Cheng moved to the right side and stayed like a statue.


    The revenant turned to the others but found himself holding the Sinnughar core. Smile broke over his face and held the core high up.


    "At last, I have the core. Now I can go home to a befitting welcome and many rewards. Hahaha."


    Li Ling couldn''t hold the move any longer. How could she? She was only an evanesce core cultivator of the house of dreams and illusion. As a genius core disciple, she had taken the Ultimate Mirage technique. Now, she was using her most powerful technique, the Dream Life. The Dream-Life was a powerful technique that could ultimately lock the soul of an opponent in a dream world. By the time the body was shattered, the opponent wouldn''t realize the radiant the light of reincarnation. But she was using it against a much more powerful opponent. Blood was streaking down the corner of her mouth and her strength was leaving her.


    The Dream Life surrounding started to fluctuate.


    "Ahhh. What? An illusion? Incredible. I''ve heard about the power of your kinds, now, I have witnessed it for myself. Truly magnificent. Are you sure we are not related? Is your father a revenant? Or is it your mother? No? Such a pity. We could have been friends, dream caster. Ah. That''s me sighing. For me to be remembering you, I will take your core with me. I believe that''s good enough or what do you think? You can come to the side too."


    Li Ling was invisibly dragged to Shao Cheng side and remained like a statue too.


    Su Ming couldn''t think properly. Why was this happening? Where are the elders? What of the sect''s security? Was she going to die like this? Her parents. Her clan. They''ve all contributed for her to be in this sect. How would they take her death? No, she could not afford to die.


    While the revenant was still dealing with Li Ling, Su Ming took out her ancestral heirloom, the Arroros needle. She knew she wasn''t at the level of using it but she couldn''t simply wait to be killed without doing anything. She also removed a seal from her bag, imbued all her Chi energy and her intention into the seal. She put the Arroros needle on the seal, put some of her blood on the needle and seal before launching it in the direction of the revenant.


    The moment the revenant turned, it was surprised to see a giant, dangerous looking needle flying towards him because he wasn''t expecting another sudden attack. He could feel the power and intent behind the needle. Definitely, a nascent soul level at the least or an ascendant. This was a formidable opponent. How could a Presider use a nascent soul attack? SEAL. She must have used a seal.


    In an instant, he took out his weapons too. Two transparent saber swords made from the fangs of a primordial dragon-like beast. The force-field grew stronger and was vibrating with a buzzing sound. He sent a wave of invisible attack towards the approaching needle.


    Su Ming was knocked flying to the side but was still inside the Golden Phantom Seal locked area. She could feel her legs paralyzed, hands twisted and was vomiting blood profusely. She knew she had come to the limit of herself and couldn''t take any more attack. The revenant too was knocked few steps back.


    The needle had split into one thousand needles and formed the Thousand Water Cycle. But the Chi energy had run out of the seal causing the needle to shrink and return back to Su Ming.


    But the disruption caused by the needle was enough for the grand elder to discover the location of the disturbance and sent his sword in the direction. Asenys, a luminous sword, was one of the several artifacts created by the first of the Cosmic divines, the three pure ones and was only inferior to a divine weapon. A space-time weapon that it was, it locked the position of the disturbance and immediately appeared inside the golden phantom area. It warped the space and shattered the seal making the whole area visibly manifested.


    The disciples who had been passing through the place without noticing anything had to scramble away when they saw the area manifesting out of thin air.


    The luminous sword continued towards the revenant causing space rifts to appear around.


    The revenant expression changed when he saw what was happening.


    "A luminous treasure?"


    How is this even fair? How many cultivators he had to kill before he could have these pair of sabers? And they are only heavenly treasures.


    He quickly used the his teleportation seal. But he wasn''t teleported beyond the sect''s premises.


    "Hm, why am I still here?"


    "You can escape from this place, revenant. The whole place is under Heavens Gate lock. I believe you never saw that coming. How can you think of leaving after what you''ve done?"


    "Phantom Whispers."


    Without waiting for more words, the revenant took out his sabers and sent out his attack. Thousands of whispering phantom heads raced towards the grand elder.

 Chapter 57 - Revenant Among Us [3]

    The grand elder brandishing his luminous sword launched his own attack.


    "Space Walls."


    Pillars of emptiness manifested and collided with the phantom heads to produce a wailing screams. The phantom heads dissipated into nothingness and the space walls disintegrated too.


    "Revenant, I don''t have the time to play hide and seek with you."


    The grand elder let go of the sword in his right hand. He clasped his right hand over his left hand that had been holding a seal.


    "End Time."


    The revenant could feel something was wrong. He tried to teleport again but it wasn''t working. He knew his life was in danger so he quickly took out his life saving talisman. He was activating his life saving talisman when the sword had appeared at his front locking him in place but he had managed to activate the talisman.


    "I hate this stupid world."


    The sword started to rotate and like emptiness passed through the revenant. Totally obliterating him but his soul managed to escape into limbo. He would have millions of years for his soul to find a way out before his soul enter reincarnation. He would take the chance. When he comes out, he would do his own ''end time'' on that stupid human. He only hoped the souls here don''t drive him crazy before escaping.


    Meanwhile, at the other side of the premises.


    Elder Wang Xiu was the first to appear in front of them. They didn''t even know if it was teleportation or steps. They only saw him appeared from the thin air. Why was everybody appearing out of the thin air?


    She bent down to check on Ju Feng who was still lying on the ground. She put one hand on his forehead and the other on his c.h.e.s.t and started sending healing energy into him. She moved to attend to Su Ming who was also unconscious. She was doing this, when the other elders started to arrive.


    "Wang Xiu, what happened?"


    "What caused the disturbance?"


    "I just arrived too and saw this."


    They brought all the disciples to the haven and placed both Ju Feng and Su Ming on the large mat at the centre of the haven.


    As they were placing them on the mat, the grand elder suddenly appeared. He was in meditative seclusion when he felt the slightest energy vibration. The energy that was sent out when Ju Feng walked into the force-field and was sent out flying. It was so minute that he almost missed it but it''s resonance with his Jumping Spider talisman, a heavenly artifact, made him to detect it. He had left his seclusion to look for the source but couldn''t locate it. He knew something was wrong but couldn''t put his fingers on it but he had waited on top of his mountain with his spiritual sense covering the whole premises. He had hoped for another slightest vibration.


    He knew that it couldn''t be a cultivator inside the sect premises that initiated the course of the manifestation of this energy. He had seen this type of energy before. It had to be a Revenant. He had prepared the seals in case of confrontation because revenants were very difficult to deal with. Especially those at the Hegemon level. He could loose his life if he wasn''t careful hence he had prepared more than necessary.


    He looked gravely concerned at Ju Feng and Su Ming that were being placed on the mat. With one step, he appeared beside them. He quickly checked Ju Feng''s condition, took out a pill and pushed it into his mouth before doing the same with Su Ming.


    "Wang Xiu, take the girl into the Seven Spirit pool. Give her the bloodroot pill every hour. She''s lucky to be alive."


    Elder Wang Xiu carried Su Ming to the pool room and placed her inside the pool. She sat beside her holding the medicinal pills she would be administering every hour.


    In the haven, the grand elder look at Ju Feng and sighed.


    "We are fortunate we didn''t loose any cultivator today. We have to be extra vigilant from today onward. Good things there are energies working inside his body to repair the damage already. The damage was serious enough to be a mortal wound, as a Zhuji cultivator, he should have been dead. He''s surely stronger than he looks and the Crust Yellow pill really helped him at that time if not he could have died."


    "Crust Yellow pill?"


    "Su Ming gave him the yellow pill."


    Shao Chen who had found his voice, said slowly.


    All the elders turned to look at the other three disciples. They had forgotten about them.


    "Well, she really saved his life."


    "He will live. Take him to the misty fountain. Keep giving him a drop of the life elixir every hour."


    The grand elder glanced at Ju Feng again. He was wondering how a Premier, a Zhuji cultivator, could survive a Revenant force-field. It wasn''t something that a Premier should be able to achieve in the first place.


    He turned to the other three remaining disciples.


    "Did you see what happened?"


    "Yes grand elder. We tried our best but he was too strong."


    "He said he was looking for the Sinnughar core."


    "The Sinnughar core? I see."


    "We thought we were going to die."


    "We are truly sorry for what you went through. Take these pills and go wash yourselves in the lake of stream light. I will see you all after that."


    "Yes, grand elder."


    The three of them replied at the same time and left the haven.


    The grand elder with his hands behind his back, shook his head as he turned to the remaining elders. He knew the revenant could have caused a great destruction to their sect, had he not be checked at that time.


    "We are truly fortunate."


    "What happened grand elder?"


    "It was an ascendant level revenant."


    "What?"


    "How?"


    "It was a long story. I should have told you this before now."


    Then, grand elder started to narrate the events that took place.

 Chapter 58 - The Forbidden Dominion [1]

    Tales of the past were meant to serve as beacons and reminders for the descendants after, and there were different ways to live the tales of any epic events of the past.


    The most common of them was the words of mouth passed down the generations. But with the passage of time, some important details could be omitted, exaggerated and muddled up.


    Records could also be accessed at the market place. There were openly acknowledged stalls which sold records and information of generally known past events. Even though their records were not totally completed, they were good sources of memories of the past.


    Also, there were private sources who were selling those records and informations. But they were at exhurbitant prices, and they carried a degree of risks.


    Then, we had the clans and the more powerful sects who had more complete records in their archives.


    Before the Last-Sages sect elders became their more knowledgeable selves, they had known about the tales of the forbidden lands from the words of mouth passed from generations to generatios. They had also read the vague records written in books that were sold in market stalls. Therefore, they had become acquainted with the ancient tales. And then, after becoming Last-Sages elders, they had accessed the complete archives of the past.


    An archives where records of legendary acts and events were kept. They had read the events of the past events recorded in this book from the copy that belong to the sect. That had given them a complete details of the events leading to the establishment of the Phantom-Ghosts realms in the Forbidden Domonion, as well as the nature of the revenants.


    The moment the grand elder mentioned the the forbidden dominion and the revenants, the minds of the elders recalled what they had learned about the past of the revenants.


    Records of the Revenants.


    The records of the revenants commenced with the Forbidden Dominion. It was a vast space once known as the Ageless Dominion, and was located between the Nether plane and the spacetime of the Void. It used to have beautiful landscape, amazing terrain and lovely grasses and trees.


    But now, it had turned to a giant landmass of broken terrain smattered with gigantic shrubs and foul-smelling grasses. A nightmare of the grandeur it once had before the grinding changes.


    There were different realms in the Fobidden Dominion. Realms with distinguished appearances and qualities. Those realms were the homes of the race of mutated immortals who were banished to the dominion by the cosmic divines. It was there they lived as revenants.


    Once normal immortals, they were blinded by their greed for power and quicker path to immortality. Greediness which made them leave the true path of the universe. They abandoned the orderliness, oneness and harmonious laws of creation, and followed a chaotic path fueled by the corrupt nature of greed.


    Their lives became twisted by the ambition to be at the pinnacle of the universe without the proper and gradual steps of advancement. They craved the power and strength the Cosmic Divines wielded. They forgot all creations were the work of the Alpheron core. Their thoughts were only on what they could have if they were the rulerd of the universe, not what was expected of them. All those things they d.e.s.i.r.ed without thinking of working for them.


    Other immortals had tried to make them reason on the true meaning of immortality and eternal life. They put effort into making them see the truth. With greater power comes greater responsibilities. Responsibilities they were not even ready for.


    But those greedy immortals didn''t listen to any words of reasoning. Their minds were already set on the path of destruction. The path they sought? A way to harvest powerful traits of the divine beasts through the secrets of their bloodlines. There was practically no way they could learn any true means of achieving that in the universe. There were no known records in the entire universe on methods for immortals to harness the bloodline of beasts for themselves. It was simply against the meaning of the pattern of life.


    Since they had no means at that time, they could only dream on while their hearts grew darker. Then, their Utmost leader, Kemurah, a celestial of the giant race, came across a gourd.


    At first look, the gourd appeared ordinary. But on a closer inspection, it turned out to be a valuable treasure. From all the facts gathered, the gourd wa actually a divine artifact. It was an ultimate portal to all the planes of existence. A prime divine artifact.


    After many years of using the gourd, he developed a destructive idea he believed would make them achieved their dreams. He began to source for different information. Eventually, he mapped out where to find the ultimate bloodline powers. Where he could acquire powers even greater than that of the cosmic beasts.


    The primordial chaos.


    In possession of a divine artifact that could open portals to anywhere he wanted to go, Kemurah decided to even go beyond the boundaries of our universe. He would go for the bloodlines with extreme powers that would enable them to take up the position of ultimate rulers of the universe and beyond. The ultimate bloodlines?


    The primordial beasts.


    Now he had the problems of where and who, but their was a bigger problem. How to harness ultimate bloodline powers. After delibrating on the issue, all his fingers pointed to the primordial chaos as a place to find the solution.


    Determined to risk it all, utmost leader, Kemurah, used the gourd to travel to the primordial chaos. Somehow, he had met and formed alliance with a powerful group of primordial beasts who regarded themselves as the Primevals. How did he managed to do so? That was a question with no answer till the present. But certainly, he had met the Primevals. The group was led by a powerful primordial beast.


    The records were not certain whether it was the same primal Kamodi or not. However, from the look of it, it could be the supreme primal which fought against the cosmic divines during the great wars, leading to the death of a number of them.

 Chapter 59 - Dilemma Of A Demigod [IV]

    Reena sat behind the closed doors as she gathered herself after a gruesome encounter with the dreads. What in heaven''s tears, got into them? How could entities like that even existed? They were more than mutation, they were forsaken. Despite advancing due to the energy water, she had only managed to escape them by pushing her vast amount of chi energy and her divine energy into her divine evasion.


    The defensive formation on her robe had been exhausted after bearing much of the brunt of the dreads. Even with the robe, she had barely escaped with long scratches and slahes to her body. This was, mainly, due to her own evasive skills. Checking her body properly, Reena put one bloodroot medicinal pill into her mouth as she tilted her backwards. The injuries were nothing that medicinal pills couldn''t take care of.


    After resting for a while, Reena examined her sorroundings. She was in an alleyway that led to a large emerald hall. She noticed there were images and symbols lining the alleyway up to the large hall. Looking closely at the images and symbols, she felt a tug at her memories. There was something about this that looked familiar but she couldn''t place her hand on it. She proceeded cautiously, towards the center of the hall while she continued to observe the images and symmbols.


    The massive doors and walls of the hall, had no image or symbol. Only the floors. As she entered the massive hall, she noticed that the images and symbols had intertwined to form a spiralling image all over the floor of the hall. Fourteen images and fourteen symbols. Eyes farting back and forth, realization dawned on her as she remembered the words of uncle Primus.


    "Images you see, the shadows you don''t. Symbols you notice, the signs you don''t. On the path you thread, are the threads of your path. As you thread the path, a spiralling threads you see."


    Titan''s torso!


    She had seen something like this inside the mountain abode of uncle Primus. Although, this one was much more bigger than the one in uncle Primus mountain. The only visible thing about the images and the symbols, was their beauty. The deadly arrays of pure-grade heavenly formation they contained, wouldn''t be noticed at all. After seeing her lost in the seductive illusion of the images and symbols, uncle Primus had told her about the godly arrays. She clearly remembered what uncle Primus called the arrays.


    Infernal lock.


    Arrays like this could only be in place by a god or higher entity, to protect immense treasures and artifacts. Could they be protecting the martial legacy? Possible. But, there was no way she would face an array like this? Inspite of her advancement, she knew little of formations to be able to deactivate this one.


    "I will be careful, if I were you."


    Reena turned to the sight of a tall old man in a black-green robe with a divine aura emanating from his body. The human appearance could only mean one thing, an Asura demigod. Coiling out from under his robe and resting its head on his shoulder, was a Thorne viper, his divine beast.


    "Uh?"


    "The heavens Infernal lock and it''s already active. Any wrong step and you''ll be locked in the infernal chains. Given, for a million years but I reckon your soul wouldn''t be the same again, after that long in those chains. All these you already know, I believe."


    Reena materialized her phoenix sword as she took a few steps back. Flaming force-field bust into life around her as she kept her gaze on the demigod before her.


    "Relax, Asura. No need for all that. If I meant you harm, I don''t think you''ll still be alive. Though, you''ve reached the gates of the peak-stage nascent soul, you are still a late-stage nascent soul. But you see me, believe it when I say I''m something else entirely. So, you can relax. By the way, It seems you''re surprised to see me here. Hmm. You probably thought you were the only one here, didn''t you? Well, sometimes I''m surprised I''m still here too. Hehe."


    He laughed painstakingly, as he stared at Reena. He walked up to the edge of the huge image at the center of the hall, keenly observing the details of the image.


    "Once, we were many here. I can''t even remember how many years ago that was. One thousand? One million? The time is not that important. What matters is that, now, only I remain. You see, these pictures are prisons. Once locked inside, the time would have to pass to be free. Imagine being locked in infernal chains for a thousand, needless to say a million years. Strange, you''ll say? Yes, strange it is. Many years facing the infernal lock and I tell you, this one is meant to incapacitate all."


    "So close, yet, so far away."


    Raising up his head, he turned in the direction of Reena who had relinquished her flaming force-field but was still extremely cautious. With eyes still fixed on Reena, he pointed upwards at the floating scroll.


    "I believe you are after that legacy too, Asura. I know you''ve earned the right to be here, to take a shot at the legacy, but I tell you this Asura, this lock is a different thing entirely. It''s a world of its own. You see it floating harmlessly, but the dangers are of godly plane. I know you have no reason to believe my words as we are after tge same thing, but this?"


    Was it pity Reena saw in his eyes? Why would she need him to pity her? This wasn''t a do or die affair for her. If she couldn''t get the heavens'' forsaken legacy, she would simply leave this place and go home. What was the need for pity in that? Even the Thorne Viper had hint of pity in its eyes. Did they think she was insane like them?


    "If I can, why not? But it appears that I can''t. I know what the heavens infernal lock is and I know it''s beyond me. So, it''s all yours."


    "Mhm. A good resolve, to be sincere, but do you know what martial arts this legacy entails? No you don''t. You see, Asura, in this world of cultivation, only the strongest can truly survive. And this... this legacy, is what you should have. If you want to be one of the surviving ones. You may think you are strong by your own standard, but let me tell you, there are many stronger than you. And some of them, won''t need an excuse to kill you. You will need a martial arts technique like this one."


    "So, what do you want me to do? You said it''s dangerous, of which I know, yet you want me to have it. Is that not like courting death? If I''m dead, to what purpose will the legacy be? And moreover, we are talking about a legacy. A very special one from the looks of it, which made it even more glaring as we already know. Only one can have the legacy and from the way it appears, you are stronger than me. So, whats the purpose of me wasting my time here when you''ll be the one having it, if at all?"


    "Ah, important question you ask, Reena. Hm. The more I think about it, the more I see your point. Alright, let me put it this way. If you help me get the legacy, I will make a vanishing copy for you. That I assure you, whatever happens after that will be on you."


    A vanishing copy. Though, it was time limited, it was good enough. Despite the fact that she would need a grandmaster scribbler to transfer the content into a true scroll, this was the best she could get as long as the scroll is concerned.


    "Alright, what help do you need?"


    "When we first arrived here, we thought these images were just formations we could disable here inside this hall. We were wrong. Many lives were lost before we realized what it was we were dealing with. You see, these images are not just formations, they are blackholes. Each image, from the entrance of the gates to the center of this hall, are elemental destinations. In each of these destinations, are fragments of the key. To survive this blackholes, life-essence is required. I have exhausted mine and there is one more image I need to complete to get the last fragment of the key. That''s where I need your help."


    "So, you need my life-essence in-order to get a fragment of a key in-order to get the legacy. Pfff. Why would I want to do that?"


    After Reena''s question, the Thorne-Viper began to hiss dangerously making Reena took a step back. This made Zhang Wei to calm it down with a gentle wave of his hand. He tried to maintain an uneasy smile as he continued looking at Reena.


    "Is there something you want to know about the events of your past, Asura?"


    "What do you mean?"


    Reena replied with furrowed brows. The question really caught her off-guard as her brain processed different informations. Events of her past? Was that a joke?


    "We were five nascent soul demigods that arrived here, inside this very hall. It was a long journey for us to get here. Long dangerous journey but we made it. When we reached here, we met quite a number of others here trying to decipher and attempt the infernal arrays. We waited and we observed. By the time hey figured it out, many had died. But that was the beginning. The hardest part was getting back once you get inside the blackholes of the images."


    He shook his head as he let out a soft sound.


    "After many years had passed, the very last ones of us, finally figured it out. The solution? There must be one of us here, on the outside, that must make a life-essence connection with the one going in. The connection must be maintained while the other is still inside the image, if not, the lock would come into effect. And there''s no known way of beating the lock from the inside when its locked. But, you see Asura, there''s a good in all these madness. Each of these images, can reveal a secret of the past. And the only image remaining, is that of the Death-Necron. Thus, I ask you, is there any death or sorrow of the past you wish to know?"


    "Are you truthfully serious?"


    "I am, Asura. So, can that and the vanishing copy of the legacy, be enough bargain to gain your interest?"


    "Can you make this bargain of yours under eternal oath?


    "That I can do, Asura. By the way, Call me Zhang Wei."


    "Reena."


    "Alright Reena. Let''s begin with the oath."


    After the eternal oath was made, Reena agreed to help with the life-essence connection. But she couldn''t help but wondered how this demigod had managed with the images until only one was remaining.


    "Insanity. You stayed here, for that long, because of a legacy? Total insanity."


    "You know little of the martial world, Asura. What stage of martial arts are you even on? Yinhu? I''m already knocking on the doors of Jinlong. With my eyes closed, I can still kill you. Not that I need the sight to do that anyway. But, in the world of true martial arts, I mean nothing without a graded martial arts technique. And what''s better than a supreme technique. You want to be at the top, where no one bothers you? You have to be the best."


    Zhang Wei floated to the mid air before landing gently in front of Reena.


    "I know that not many could boast of it, but as you advance in your arts, the aim is to form a mythical art. No better mythical art than a combination of a supreme martial arts and a total-grade mystical arts. An artist will be a supreme divine."


    "How many cultivators have you ever seen that have combined their martial arts and mystical arts together to form one mythical art? Even if they are low grade arts?"


    Asked Reena with a raised brow.


    "Good question, though, I won''t answer that one. But the point is, you have a chane to form an excellent mythical art with a legacy like this. And for someone like me, it''s the top of martial arts or nothing at all. Enough with the talk, Reena."


    Zhang Wei gently swiped his hand as he acknowledged Reena, expectantly.


    "So, is it a death or a sorrow you want to know about? Either way, I will need something of the dead or of sorrow."


    Recieving the item from Reena, Zhang Wei gently flicked his hand and it disappeared.


    "If you are ready, please let''s proceed."


    Composing herself, Reena circulated a massive amount of Chi energy as shenade the connection with Zhang Wei. The moment the connection was made, Zhang Wei made some hand seals as the space at the top of the last image started shimmering. Sensing the life-force connection of Reena, Zhang Wei stared at her before nodding his head in agreement. With a mirage step, Zhang Wei disappeared into the shimmering space.


    It was several hours later that Zhang Wei returned massive cuts and slashes. Breathing heavily, he collapsed on the floor beside Reena . Fully exhausted from the amount of energy and life-force dispensed, Reena was solemnly looking at him with great expectations and eagerness. Was he saying the truth about the elements in the images? Did he manage to find anything out about her request?


    A demigod in the netherplane. They would rip her apart. She would have to go with adequate powerful forces, to have any chance of survival. But at the least, she now knew what she had been longing to know for ages.


    With the vanishing copy of a lunatic celestial in her spatial sac, Reena left the immortal cave with joy and complete anxiety. What would the future hold for her? In time.


    Waking up from her memories of the past events, Reena adjusted the position of her head properly as she smiled anxiously.


    "Soon."


    And she fell asleep.

 Chapter 59 - The Forbidden Dominion [2]

    But for the simple fact a the leader of the Primevals was believed to be controlling a section of the primordial chaos, proved how big a threat the Primevals were to the universe.


    The primordial beasts couldn''t believe their fortune. An enemy, dangerously, tresspassed into their territories and asked them for help. They could''ve killed him there, but they saw a door of opportunities opening before them. For their own benefits, the primevals made a pact with him. They would teach him how to harness the power of primordial bloodline, they would even give him the bodies of powerful primordial beasts from the chaos to harness. They would help him and his cohorts in ruling their universe.


    Only one simple thing they required.


    The essence cores of Jindan cultivators. Only the essence of their golden cores.


    The mortal worlds had no chance against a determined and deranged celestial. The pact led to the death of many Jindan cultivators in the mortal worlds. Millions of golden core cultivators had been killed before the cosmic divines noticed the developments and intervened.


    Restraints were promptly placed on them and they were justifiably incapacitated. The auric lights of their Karmic sins were intensely dense, showing the level of their sins. Their utmost leader and the other subordinates involved, were brought into the white hall at the valley of the gods. The cosmic divines had convened their avatars to give their judgement on the events that took place. The divines could see through the immortals'' lies and their driving motives. Some of the cosmic divines in their fury were about to destroy the offenders when they were reminded of the ways of the universe. The laws of creation.


    Following the laws of creation, the cosmic divines decided against totally eliminating them. Yet, they couldn''t be allowed back into the midst of the immortals, punishments or not. Many immortals had died in their hands in a act of defiance. It was a gross sin to be committed. How could they allow them back into civilization without it affecting the balance of the universe?


    The cosmic divines took into consideration the fact that the race had become many in numbers over the years. Numbering hundreds of thousands. The only place furthest from civilization was the Ageless Dominion. With great reluctance, the cosmic divines agreed on the place. They banised the race to the Ageless Dominion located between the Nether plane and the void terrain of Ogonia. The extreme end of the universe.


    The banished immortals were then given the cursed marks that would be from generations to generations. With authoritative declarations and divine seals, the revenants were forever cut-off from the cosmic energy and the essence of life from the core of the universe. They would recieve no form of communication, whatsoever, from all mortal and immortal entities. They would be that way until they entered reincarnation.


    They would forever be marked outcasts.


    Their utmost leader, Kemurah, who was the sole reason behind the depressing events was imprisoned in the Black Yonder water of Shargas. He would be there for three immortal reincarnation time to reflect on the grevious sins he committed, and made others to partake in.


    The Forbidden Dominion was truly a terrible place to be confined to, but the outcasts couldn''t be forgiving or given leniency for the crimes they had carried out. The place would forever be their home.


    With the passage of time, their terrible fates should have made them lived a more sober lives and contemplated on their lives'' decisions. No contact with the cosmic energies, and no communication with any source. They were devoid of the means of cultivation. But their greed for power continued to live on in their hearts. They still dreamt of ruling the universe. Hence, they pursued all means to continue gaining power and to advance in their levels. It took them hundreds of thousands of years but they found a way to continue their cultivation.


    The demons of the nether plane.


    The Nether plane was a vast space containing many demon worlds of various sizes.


    A demon world could be under a single power called the demon gods. Or could be under more top powers of demon gods, depending on the size of the world and relationship of the demon gods. Some colossal demon worlds which were almost without end, could have more gods. The demon worlds was divided into large zones. Each zone under a demon supreme. A demon zone was divided into various regions known as demesnes. Each demesne was under the rule of a Daemon King. Each demesne was split into smaller sections called demeanors, and they were under the rules of the daemon lords.


    The immortals of the Forbidden Dominion made use of that opportunity to further their plans of achieving their aims.


    So, it began with the demonic reavers.


    The ultimate Nether scavengers. The reavers were burrowers. Land animals who gained sentience after absorbing so much heavenly spiritual energy on the Nether plane. Thus, they were naturally of the terra element. When a group of Nether army were to be sent out to scout and salvage any form of items or materials, it would be the reavers.


    Some demons living in the worlds on the border regions had discovered a particular material in the ground of Ogonia. Transparent soil grains which they generally refered to as the Demon-Dust. A very valuable material that was gaining prominence among the demons, giving the demons in the border region a way to rebuild their dying worlds.


    Those demon worlds had a sort of hope against extinction. Nonetheless, they knew it would come at a massive cost of crossing the border dividing walls of energy of the Heavenforce. They spent thousands of years attempting to reach the other side, but to no avail.

 Chapter 60 - Da Xia [The Summoned?]

    As the march of dawn besieged the stars, brilliant orange poured out of the sun and across the horizon. The sky was blood red as the light consumed the sky with ferocity. The furrowed clouds were every shade from palest pink to deep crimson. Dawn broke over the horizon, the brilliant orange egg yolk sun spilled across the clouds as far as the eye could see. Thus, returning it to its uplifting powder orange appearance of an early morning.


    Wispy cotton clouds gradually acc.u.mulated high above, only adding to the blissful ambiance of the morning that marked the beginning of the second day of luminary week.


    Stepping outside, Ju Feng took in a long deep breath before slowly releasing the air. He bathed himself in the soul-soothing comfort of the sky while tracing some patterns in the air with his fingers. He was back in a familiar territory and seeing familiar faces.


    Happy familiar and not too-familiar faces!


    Immediately, he remembered Su Ming and the other core disciples that faced the revenant when he was down. They all had fought the heaven''s forsaken entity, but it was Su Ming who had saved his life. If not for her quick intervention with the pill, he would have died for sure. But, seeing the conditions of others, surely, she came out worst for wear, from the encounter. And from the words of the elders, she could have died too. The last time he asked about her, he was told she was still recuperating. Though, it had been a couple of days since the events, to him, it seemed years had passed. He would have to check on her and the rest, later.


    He lifted his head up to sky and gazed at its glory.


    Despite being a glorious morning, the words of the world oracle were still ringing at the back of his mind. Her words that predicted his death. Knowing you would die no matter what happened? Not so good. But, there was something nagging at his mind from the very last words of the oracle.


    ''There are many ways to die''.


    Of course, everybody knew there were many ways to die in a martial and mystical world. Disintegration, decomposition, granulation, combustion, explosion, implosion and many other ways. What could the oracle have meant by that? After much thought on it over the night, he had made a decision.


    First, he must be stronger. He had to be stronger. In this life, he had a family, his hamily! Reincarnation was not of an appeal to him at this stage in his life. He would only accept it if there was no other option. Second, he would secretly ask the elders about the meaning of those words. Apart from these, he couldn''t think of any other way.


    Closing his eyes, he didn''t even know when his mind initiated the Soul-Serenity technique. Inner peace! It had been quite a time since he had a feeling like this. After some minutes, he slowly began walking towards the location of the cafeteria. As he walked, he observed the joyous atmosphere in various location of the sect premises. All the disciples of the Last-Sword sect were really having a fill day from different events and competitions.


    It was indeed a beautiful morning.


    With a serene mind and equally calm appearance, he continued walking towards the direction of the cafeteria. However, on a day like this, he would ha prefered to stay in his room and ruminate on the past events. After gruelling hours of yesterday that were literally of eternity, he knew they all deserved a full day of solitude at the least. But, all of them had agreed to meet today at the cafetaria. And since others went through the same thing as him, to the cafetaria it was.


    By the time he reached the place, the other three were already there, conversing while eating from their food plates on the table. With the looks on their faces, he could correctly guess they were all eager to share their adventures in the forsaken palace. He couldn''t agree more with them. It had been an incredible adventure.


    "Hey, Ju Feng."


    Chenric called to him the moment he caught sight of him entering the cafeteria.


    "Hello Chenric."


    Ju Feng replied before swftly turning to Da Xia and Ying Jie. He could tell through their faces that they all had fortuitious encounters at the forsaken palace of the Jade emperor.


    "Hello Da Xia, Ying Jie."


    "Hello Ju Feng."


    They both replied in unison. They were trying very hard to hide the smile on their faces which was growing wider by chomping down on their food.


    "Quickly, have a seat."


    Said Chenric enthusiastically, indicating the seat space beside him. He gave Ju Feng a quick nod before continuing happily.


    "You want to hear this from Da Xia."


    Da Xia, nonchalantly, waved the comnent down. Though, there was eagerness written on her happy face.


    "Come on, Chenric. It wasn''t that much of a big deal as you are making it but I guess it was still something. Hehe."


    She quickly looked around the cafeteria before adjusting her sitting position. She leaned closer to the center of the table and glanced from one face to another. After having their undivided attention, she continued.


    "You all remembered when we were about to enter the palace? After our encounters with the Luduans? Well, the moment I raised my right leg to enter, everything around me went dark. And the next moment, I heard the voice of the giant saying that we could find ourselves in different locations. My mind went directly to portal. Are we entering a portal? At first, I was scared. What if I find myself in a demon hole? With all these going on in my head, I decided that as soon as I get there, I would use the safe word immediately. Are you with me?"


    Da Xia asked her silent audience. After recieving confirmatory nods in return, she continued.


    "The moment my right leg landed, I found myself in the midst of the golden marmosets."


    "The golden marmosets?"


    Asked Ying Jie in surprise.


    "The fairies of the Golden-Glitters?"


    Fully astounded, Ju Feng inquired before continuing.


    "I thought they say any cultivator below Jindan level couldn''t see them."


    "Thar''s true, only golden core and above."


    Replied Da Xia as she continued to watch them in delight.


    "Then, why did you see them?"


    Ying Jie asked with curiousity.


    "I wondered the same and I really do not know the answer. But, imagine the scene before me. All holding ceremonial golden talismans and figurines, dancing around in circles. You all should have seen the surprise and shock in their eyes when they saw me. Though I was afraid, my astonishment couldn''t let me react quick enough. I was standind there, inside their dancing circle, looking at their faces in bewilderment as they were staring at mine. From what I later learned from their leader, they were performing the rite of the goldrave. But, they were not expecting any summoning talkless of that of a human."


    "The rite of the goldrave?"


    Asked Ju Feng as he thoughtfully regarded his food before he continued.


    "I read they choose the ones to enter the depth of the goldrave during that rite."


    "Yes, that one. Anyway, coming to my senses, I was about to use the safe word, when they started crooning in delight. This made me had a pause of my intention. The leader of the group, the one they refered to as Lord-Fae, happily approached and addressed me. He said though they were surprised to see me, they were happy that I was summoned and asked me to follow him."


    "Summoned?"


    Ying Jie observed Da Xia with curiousity.


    "Can you even summon a mortal?"


    "Yes, you can. Extremely difficult though, since a mortal has no nascent soul to make the soul alignment easier."


    Answered Da Xia before taking another bite off her food.


    "So, what did you do?"


    Ju Feng wondered.


    "At first, I was reluctant to go. How would I know where they were taking me to? Then I decided to a little risk of following them. Was just hoping I had a moment to say the safe word if I eventually find myself in trouble. While following them, I had the opportunity of observing the place I found myself in. No doubt, it''s a glitter world. Short golden trees that were bearing golden fruits. Flowing waters of liquid gold. You should have seen this place. Every where you look is of sparkling gold. Sparkling gold? Alright, I know they were marmosets, but, what kind of a place was that? I asked myself. I started thinking hard and fast because I haven''t learned of any marmoset''s place like this before."


    "I don''t think any one of us have done that before too."


    Said Chenric, who was resting his chin on his palm, deep in thoughts. He glanced at their faces before continuing in a more silent tone.


    "From the records, marmoset''s world is not all of gold like that. What could have happened there?"


    "Good question, brother. From the conversation I was having with the Lord-Fae, I came to learn about the place. Though, it was part of our plane, it was a dimensional world. A hidden dimensionsl world. I wasn''t suppose to see them talkless of when they wrre performing their ceremonial rites. He said the only reason that could have happened was because of the fact that I must have been summoned."


    "Alright, you are the summoned one. But did you manage to find out why you were summoned?"


    "After asking Lord-Fae about this, he told me about the problem of the Goldsurge that was ruining their world. Every million years, the terran-energy line of the gold streams, must be sealed with the Cold-Ore to avoid Goldsurge like that. And, it was already million years but their rites had not been successful. They had been performing this rite but couldn''t get the rites to choose the marmosets to seal the terran-line. However, the chosen marmosets would all die from the mission. At the same time, they couldn''t just barge into the depth because of the power of the surge. The surge was as powerful as a godly attack on pure metal entities. They, as gold entity, would simply be fused into the stream from the surge."


    Da Xia, dramatically paused as she solemnly examine their faces.


    "And they couldn''t find another way since they were just metal entites with no cultivation. So, their powers were limited. Though, they were performing rite to see who will go, they would rather prefer none of them to do it."


    "Why?"


    "Because, the ones they had sent in so far, didn''t make it to the half-way of the terran energy-line. And because I was a different being entirely, not made of gold, they had high hope of me reaching the depth of the Goldrave. Lord-Fae said if I could seal the energy-line, they would repay me in gold and I agreed."


    "But, you can''t take marmosets gold. It''s a common knowledge that the moment it''s out of their world, it would turn to pebbles."


    Ying Jie glared at Da Xia, confusingly.


    "I know that quite well. It wasn''t the gold that caught my interest, Ying Jie. What do you get when you place Cold-Ore inside terran energy-line?"


    "Heavens tears! Cold-Ore and terran energy! The terran-ore crystals!"


    "And for a million years?"


    Da Xia asked them with a self-satisfactory smile that turned wider as realization dawned on them.


    "Total grade hevenly terran-ore crystals."


    "Titan''s torso! One crystal alone, is an incredible fortune."


    "Tell us Da Xia, did you find any of them?"


    Da Xia smiled broadly as she glanced at their anxious and expectant faces. She reached into the inside of her robe and produced a medium-sized cloth sack. She gently placed it on the table and slowly opened it. Ju Feng and the rest, leaned closer to have a proper look at the crystal. Inside the small sack, were two bright and sparkling terran-ore crystals.


    Heavens tears!


    It truly existed. What a fortune?


    An hour later, Chenric and Da Xia were off to the library, Ying Jie to the training center while Ju Feng was on his way to the sect''s haven to check on Su Ming. On his way, his mind went back to Da Xia and her terran-ore crystals, and his heart leapt in joy. He had never seen a terra-ore crystal before until then. Now, depending on Da Xia''s resolve and decision, with those crystals, she could either become a very rich woman or an extremely powerful cultivator, in the future.


    Ju Feng was certain of one thing, with her talent and her acquired materials, Da Xia would definitely become a nascent soul at the least. Faster than most cultivators. No matter her decision.


    But the choice was hers to make.


    Nevertheless, the good thing was that, she had a fortuitous adventure. With the twin spirits fruit and the terran-ore crystals, Da Xia''s adventure was never in vain.


    About the others? Only time would tell...

 Chapter 60 - The Forbidden Dominion [3]

    Then finally, they discovered the way to cross to the other side. The reavers. The demon gods had laid their hands on some forms of teleportation talismans. The seals were given to the reavers to try out. Many reavers died from the trials. But after thousands of failed trials, they had found a way to perform it.


    A reaver had succeeded in teleporting to a region in the ground area under the walls of energy and burrowed over to the other side where it laid a teleportation array that it had on a secret place. From then on, the reavers could teleport to the region under the energy and burrowed their way to the other side.


    A huge sigh of relief to great beginning of good tidings.


    For many years, the reavers had been mining the transparent demon-dust peacefully and secretly, untill the arrival of the banished immortals. That made things extremely complicated and dangerous for them. Mining began to come at a greater cost. Whenever they had burrowed their ways to the void terrain of Ogonia to mine the demon-dust, they would be hunted and killed for their cores which contained Chi. Although the cores of the demons contained more Chi than their body in a thousandfold, they were not enough to satisfy the greed of the banished immortals.


    They started thinking of harnessing the bloodline of the reavers despite knowing the reavers were not primordial beasts or divine beasts. The banished immortals commenced using the method they learned from the primordial beasts to harness the essence of the demons. The method which inculded the demonic cores which contained the demonic energy. Gradually, they started to capture more reavers for various trials to have more powerful bloodlines.


    After thousands of years, their trials started to yield results. They began to develop dangerous bloodline powers. Totally different from the original thoughts of their utmost leader. They also began manifesting various changed traits. Their physical bodies were undergoing mutation. A terrible mutation. Their forms were being distorted to the point of not resembling immortals anymore.


    But they didn''t stop.


    They continued in their pursuit of ultimate powers.


    Then one day, everything changed again. One of the reavers from the demon worlds had discovered a hove of transpsrent item, the Lucent Phantom stones. But it was captured before it could escape with the information. On the verge of being killed, the reaver had told revenants about the phantom stones he recently discovered.


    The Lucent Phantom stones contained different powerful energies.


    With the lucent phantom stones, their mutation took another dangerous turn. Their bodies started to loose physical manifestation, and began to be transparent in appearance. Neither reflecting nor absorbing light.


    From the reavers in captivity, the revenants started to learn of the ways the reavers had been transporting themselves from the Nether plane to the void terrain of Ogonia. It had taken the demons hundreds of thousands of years to find a way. So, the immortals knew it would be a while before they would be able to do the same. If they could at all.


    But most importantly, they had learned the method and its concept.


    As time passed by like flowing river, their power slowly increased. Secretly, the banished revenants embarked on the journey of sending powerful immortals into the nether plane to continue hunting for cores..


    Gradually, they began to enter the mortal plane.


    They would enter the mortal planes then killed as many mortal cultivators as they could before disappearing into the thin air. Those acts of killing innocent cultivators made them the mortals grave enemies. The revenants had learned when to stop a particular attack to avoid the attention of the celestials and the divines. As long as there was a reasonable balance, higher attentions wouldn''t be drawn.


    The grand-elder looked at the elders around him with sadness and shook his head.


    "Some of you were here when a certain revenant entered our world. But for the new elders, I''ll tell you about it. The revenant that entered our world that day, was a very powerful one. From the looks of things, he would be at the immortal ascension level and was displaying extreme powers. He also appeared to know about this world from his spoken words, which meant he had been coming here before. On that day, he had already started killing cultivators before he came into the premises of the Last-Sages sect."


    Tinge of sorrow was showing in his voice as he paused in his recollection of the events.


    "I was only a senior elder at that time. At the middle stage of golden core formation while the other elders were mostly at the early stage of the golden core. Our sect''s young patriarch was already on a journey of oneness outside the sect premises, deep into mortal civilization. And the grand-patriarch was undergoing his immortal ascension''s heavenly trbulations at that moment."


    With a heave of sigh, the grand elder slowly continued.


    "Only the former grand-elder was available. And we were fortunate he was around. If not, all of us could have died before the grand patriarch arrived. After the grand elder, luckily, discovered the revenant, he had immediately engaged him in a terrible combat. The old grandelder who was at the peak stage of Jindan, had fought bravely but couldn''t hold up to the revenant who was as powerful as a peak-stage nascent soul. The Grand elder came to realize that his mystical art as a water cultivator, had no effect on the superior revenant. So, on the verge of defeat which would have meant death, the old grandelder used the ancient forbidden technique in order to use our supreme martial move. The Final Edge of Divinity."


    The new grand elder, who was lost in his own memories, had his eyes looking back into the past.


    "He had used the forbidden heavenly technique to power the Final Edge of Divinity. The forbidden technique from the primordial time that belonged to our sect not to be used under any circ.u.mstances. But he had found it necessary to do. The millions of years he could have spent in life was wrenched from him and pushed into the ultimate move. This supreme Last-Sages move had made his sword passed through the revenant, causing the revenant to turn into ash instantly, body and soul."


    The grand elder paused for a moment before continuing.


    "The grandelder too died on the spot. A bitter taste in my mouth. I couldn''t help but only watched. Then, after the revenant''s death, we found his spatial sac. Since he was a revenant, he couldn''t make use of spatial dimension. Anyway, we checked his spatial sac and found many items including the Sinnughar core."


    The grandelder flicked his hand and produced a big transparent core, vibrant with chaos energy.


    "The Sinnughar core."

 Chapter 61 - Chenrics Heart Of Adventure

    Walking towards the sect''s haven, Ju Feng noticed the frequent side-glances and ocassional regards he was recieving from other disciples, as well as from the acolytes. Disciples and acolytes he didn''t even know by names, all acknowledging his presence, openly or secretly. This was in relation to his encounter with the revenant. An outer disciple who had entered, and survived the force-field of a revenant. The news of his near-death experience had spread like wildfire throughout the sect premises. N0w, there''s beaconlight on him as an outer disciple.


    "Ah, there''s always a danger in such a fame."


    Ju Feng was half way to the sect''s haven, when he passed by the Youxiu training center of the core disciples. At a corner of the training center, he saw the core disciples'' group of Shao Cheng. With a quick glance through their numbers, all of them were there, except for Su Ming. Quan Zhi was in a mock combat with another core disciple, while Li Ling was testing out a technique on her own.


    Although, the Youxiu area was off limit to the outer and inner desciples, Ju Feng really wanted to check on them and ask about Su Ming. He walked slowly towards them and stopped at the outskirts of the area. Ju Feng noticed the stratospheric level of fame the group appeared to be recieving. If he thought that he was recieving some acknowledgements from the students and the acolytes, the attention that Shao Cheng''s group was recieving, was way more than he could have imagined.


    Everywhere he looked, he could see eyes fixed on the core disciples as if they were celestials. All around them, were regarding eyes, showing respect and appreciative acknowledgement. Afterall, they had used their skills and techniques, to help fight a dangerous ascendant that could have resulted in the death of many students. It was true that fame was a distraction, nonetheless, they truly deserved every bit of it. They could all have easily lost their lives in the encounter. They should be revered, moreover, they were core disciples with the best techniques. The future of the sect.


    "Best techniques! The benefits of being a core disciple."


    He shook his head slightly, and sighed inwardly. Somehow, he had to be a core disciple.


    Shao Cheng noticed Ju Feng and recognizing his face, waved him over to Ju Feng''s utter surprise. This was the core-disciples training area, not to be tresspassed by other disciples. Ju Feng waited to see if Shao Cheng was actually waving him over or waving him off. After confirming that Shao Cheng wanted him to approach, Ju Feng cautiously but steadily, walked over.


    There were some dangerous gazes, non-chalant gazes and mystifying gazes. He turned his attention to the sounded voice of Shao Cheng.


    "Ah, you again. Ju Feng, that''s your name, isn''t it?"


    "Yes, Xiong Shao Cheng. I meet you all well."


    Replied Ju Reng with a cupped hand.


    "Hm. We meet you well too, Ju Feng."


    Said Shao Cheng as he nodded at Ju Feng, as he regarded his state of being. He couldn''t help but wondered at the remarkable recovery of this young kid. The yellow pill that Su Ming gave him must be a treasure indeed. All the same, he had survived an ascendant force-field at the early stage of the Zhuji. How about that?


    "I can tell you need something, Ju Feng. You must know this place is for the core disciples. Any loitering around will draw unnecessary attention. You should be more careful."


    "Yes, I know. I just want to find out if everybody is fine."


    "You mean, if we are still alive? Yes we are, as you can see. And I know you really want to know about Su Ming."


    Said Shao Cheng as he waited for Ju Feng''s confirmation before continuing.


    "She''s recovering well. Should be out by tomorrow."


    "So happy to hear that. I will check on her later to give my thanks. Thanks xiong Shao Cheng."


    "Think little of it. By the way, be careful around Su Ming. Quan Zhi is a little bit over protective."


    "I will remember that. Thanks xiong Shao Cheng."


    Returning to his room, Ju Feng decided to check the items he brought back from the forsaken palace. Sitting on the floor, he took out the items and placed them in front of him, one by one.


    A primordial seed of pure element of water called the Star-Tide bead.


    A large yellow-gold crystal known as the mystical order.


    An antique white medallion with godly touch but no inculcated energy.


    A blank scroll of unknown origin.


    A copper coin.


    A Soul Banishing scroll.


    And, the heavenly solitude spirit fruit.


    He headed towards the direction of the training center where he met Chenric and Da Xia. Both were synchronizing to some martial arts move until they saw Ju Feng and came over.


    "Hello Da Xia, Chenric."


    "Hello Ju Feng."


    "We are getting ready earlier for the coming competition. If we don''t get to be core disciples, we should be inner disciples at the least."


    Said Da Xia with grim determination.


    "But, the competition is still some miles away."


    Ju Feng voiced in light-hearted manner as he tried to take away the grim seriousness.


    "That''s why we are training now, Ju Feng."


    With a wry smile on his face, Chenric replied. Paused for a second before continuing.


    "Good things are involved in being one."


    "Hm. I know."


    Ju Feng nodded in agreement.


    "Hello everyone."


    Said Ying Jie as he flashstepped into their midst.


    "Hello Ying Jie."


    "Sorry I came a bit late. Took care of few things."


    "It''s alright. Now, you are here."


    "We are simply too weak."


    "Uh?"


    "Why did you say so, Chenric?"


    Chenric looked around and shook is head slightly. There was a tinge of helplessness in his eyes as he turned around, staring into the far distance.


    "My time inside the forsaken palace showed me how weak we all are.


    "I accepted the fact that eye of the Crucible was a divine artifact and that the golems were godlike, I still can''t accept what happened inside the forsaken palace. I know it''s all good in the end, yet... . The moment I stepped into the forsaken palace, I heard the voice of the giant, Darggek, saying the same words as mentioned by Da Xia. At first, I was also concerned about the whole portals thing, though, I wasn''t scared that much. I knew if the dangers are getting overwhelming, I only had to say the safe word. So I went with it.


    "As soon as my right foot landed, I found myself at the mouth of a yellow mountain, close to another five human kids of my age. From the look of things, they were yet to reach the Zhuji stage. But just like us, they should be at its gates. You are dead right, at first, I was a little surprised and shocked to see them. Moment ago, I was in the palace belonging to an emperor and now, only to find myself at the mouth of a yellow mountain, looking at some kids. Yes, I was surprised. Though, I was a bit taken aback, they were not at all. It was as if it was alright for me to be there."


    "That was a little strange."


    "Yes, I thought so too, at first. Then, they beckoned to me to come closer. The five of them, three boys and two girls. Duan Yang, Zeng Wuhan, Dong Jun, Xie Heng and Jia Ai. All human mortals. From the way I was addressed, I think they thought I was from the next village to theirs."


    "Which village was that?"


    "The amber forest village. The village next to theirs, the Twin-Dragon village. On a planet known as Jarlig."


    "Jarlig? Never heard of that before."


    "Neither had I before then. Imagine, I was transported to a different world. My shock was more profound but I kept it hidden. From them, I learned about the yellow mountain. Yellow mountains were the homes of the Goutou creatures. Little nasty creatures that love to horde minor treasures. And they believe there were some treasures inside this very mountain. So, with an adventurer''s heart, I followed them as we proceeded into the mountain.


    "The smallest kid, Duan Yang, was extremely good at tracking, hence, he was the one taking the lead. As we entered the mountain, we noticed that forceful torrents of water had run into its depths. The force of the corrosive water had left a slantwise crack in the area of limestone at the right part of the mountain while the other areas had shafts scattered with boulders, pebbles and potholes. It had scoured the shaft smooth, burnishing the stone to a more brilliant yellow l.u.s.ter.


    "We bounded from boulder to boulder. I kept up with them despite finding the going more difficult. It was at this time I started noticing their strength. At times, the slope would approach in a vertical part, making them slowed down slightly to readjust their trajectory. I kept up with them by using more chi energy. We continued our journey until we reached a place where the path descended into a pit."


    "Though we didn''t know the depth of the pit, Duan Yang, the smallest and the scout, crouched and leapt down the pit."


    "Titan''s torso! Anything could be down there."


    Uttered Ying Jie in a whisper.


    "Dead right. At this stage, I wished I had reached the Zhuji stage to be able to use a little bit of spiritual sight.


    "We continued watching and waiting to hear from him until he called to us that everything was fine at the bottom. I remembered the saying that, the heart of an adventurer, was that of a leap into the unknown. I totally reasoned with that. I fortified my body with Chi energy, and together with others, jumped into the unknown. I landed a little rough to a gentle laugh from all of us. But we pressed on.


    "We came to a narrow crack, lined with geodes that were winking silver in the light of the bugs that were attached to the mountain walls. Beyond the crack was darkness. One of the kids, the one they called Zeng Wuhan, opened his backsac and took out the hundred manifestation firebug."


    "That was a risk, wasn''t it? If there was something powerful in there, you could have been in mortal danger."


    Said Da Xia, looking at Chenric angrily.


    "Yes, I thought so too. But, after careful delibration, we all agreed with him sending the firebug. The firebug multiplied instantly, and its light filled the whole crack space and beyond. We could see the path was clear and cautiously followed as Duan Yang led the way through the crack and into another cavern, as huge as the one before. There we saw the Goutou creatures. The kids made light work of the Goutou as they anticipated the arrival of mountain spiders, the necrophilias. That was a battle when the giant spiders arrived but we killed them.


    One thing was glaring to me. The strength of those kids, were mighty in battle. One of them could crush a boulder in a battle with b.a.r.e hands."


    "Heavens tears!"


    Exclaimed Ju Feng as he imagined the scenario before asking no one in particular.


    "Battle-Frenzy talisman? The Berserker Seal? The Godly-Essence technique?"


    "That, I do not know, Ju Feng. All I know is that they were beyond our level despite being at the same stage. Anyway, after killing the spiders, we heard a splash off in the darkness and the boy, Zeng Wuhan, quickly directed his firebug in that direction as we followed, manouvering our way across the uneven shards of rock.


    "There in front of us in a seperate chamber, was the pile of treasures. It was a lot of gold to be true. Enough gold to make a cultivator''s life easier in a world where resources are harder to find. Enough gold to make a mortal rich for the rest of his or her life. A lot. And it wasn''t just gold, either. There was the occasional flash of other treasures; there were chalices, few swords and all sorts of other items poking out of the pile. The pile was a treasure, but the true treasure was what was under the pile. A golden glowing stone, the size of a head. This made them extremely happy. This was a treasure of their village. They will be rewarded.


    "We were actually happy with what we found and we just finished with the sharing, when we heard a giant impact on the ground. We thought it was a quake of the ground until we heard a form of alarm whisper coming from the kid they refered to as Dong Jun."


    "What happened?"


    Asked Da Xia in anticipation as she urged Chenric to continue who quickly obliged.


    "Couple of yards away, there were two feet planted on the ground. The disturbing aspect about these giant feet was that the body to which they were attached wasn''t visible. Not that there was no attached body, exactly; the body was just so massive that we couldn''t see it all in the average light of the bugfire. All you could see was a pair of huge, scaled, greenish feet, each with four toes, each toe sporting a claw the length of an a.d.u.l.t mortal''s arm. Also visible, hanging about fifteen feet off the ground, was a brown mastodon, clutched in a huge, clawed hand."


    "A Shouren? Heavens tears."


    "A Shouren humoid? And you are still alive?"


    "Yes, very much alive as you can see. And, a very angry Shouren humoid. Maybe because of the missing pile of treasures, the dead Goutou and the spiders or just seeing us in the place. The Shouren was really angry. I was standing near where the treasures were, but instinct made me moved away. The moment I left where I was, the ground exploded in a deafening burst. It was a terran attack that I didn''t even see coming. I could have died right there."


    "How could you have seen it? A Shouren is at the least at the evanesce core stage."


    Ying Jie stared at Chenric before shaking his head.


    "Yes. I was aware of that fact. So, immediately, one of the girls, Xie Heng, threw a mist in front of the giant Shouren. The mist turned blood red as the giant froze in place."


    "The Bloodfrost?"


    Asked Ju Feng in slight shock.


    "You know about the mist?"


    Chenric asked the surprised Ju Feng.


    "Yes. Uncle of mine made mention of it before. Very rare to get. That was a treasure."


    "And we all know that where you find one Shouren humoid, there will be more around. Thus, we decided to run for it. We had only started, when we were cut off by the rest of the Shourens. It was a great battle. From where I was standing, I could see the kids fighting the Shourens, head on. Four Shouren taking on five powerful kids and me. And, we were winning. The two girls had removed one Shouren from the battle. He was down injured. The Shourens were on the back foot, retreating, until a dark glowing Shouren appeared. This one could only be of the Jindan at the least and their leader. Without waiting, the two girls took out two seals and activated them.


    "Giant pillars of black water formed between us and the Shourens just in time to block the terran attack of the glowing Shouren that shook the entire mountain. Even the girls knew deadly power when they saw one. The fear in their eyes was like a solar flare. We knew that the pillars won''t hold them forever, so, we quickly used our flashsteps, to reach the place where we jumped down before. The loud wailing sound at the distant, was an indication that the pillars had collapsed or will soon do so. All the kids started bounding up. I was about to do the same, when I saw a blue-white light after a narrow crack we didn''t see before. I turned to look at the kids, but they were already out of my sight.


    "I knew the Shourens would soon be after us and we wouldn''t escape them unless we get to into the light of the dsy outside the mountain. I wanted to leave but the blue-white light kept calling to me. It was like a fate I couldn''t escape. So, I decided to check it out. Afterall, the heart of an adventurer is taking the leap into the unknown."


    "That was dangerous and silly risk. How could you do that?"


    Asked Da Xia in a seriously angry mood.


    "What happened then?"


    Asked Ying Jie, grinning expectantly as he ignored Da Xia''s anger.


    "Well, I reached the source of the light just as the Shourens were reaching the space outside the pit. I was just placing the item in my sacbag when I saw the glowing Shouren, blurring towards my direction. He was passing through the cracks without stopping. He was almost through to me when I uttered the safe word. It was a dangerous move, probably silly too, but I believe it was worthy of the risk."


    "What did you find, Chenric?"


    "What was the source of the blue-white light?"


    "So, what is it? That you almost killed yourself for?"


    "See for yourself, Da Xia."


    Chenric answered and opened his sacbag as others gathered around the bag to see the treasure inside.


    "The Azure Dragonblade!"


    "A blade of unknown nature. Worldly? Heavenly? Luminous? Divine? Nobody knows."


    "Heaven''s tears!"

 Chapter 61 - The Forbidden Dominion [4]

    The elders were surprised by the item in front of them. The Sinnughar core. A core belonging to a primordial beast from chaos. They had seen many items or artifacts before, heavenly and luminous treasures. Those were expected appearances with some degree of surprises. But this was a different thing entirely. What they were seeing wasn''t what they were expecting. They were expecting to see a normal core with a different color but they were seeing a wonder of its own.


    Their facial expression was that of amazement. A complete display of wonderment. The primordial beasts were legendary creatures which none of them had seen before. How could they? When the primordial beasts were creatures beyond their universe. And now, the grand elder was holding what contained the essence energy of one of them.


    "The Sinnughar core!"


    "Yes, I was like you too when I first saw it. Surprised and bewildered by its look."


    The grand elder who was watching their faces, nodded with a wry smile before asking.


    "How can this even be a core?"


    "Yes, grand elder. It looks more like a heavenly artifact."


    One of the elders quipped in.


    "More like a luminous treasure."


    "How did you come by this core, grand elder?"


    Words were coming from the elders in a flurry and directed at the grand elder.


    "How, you asked? We''ll get there as soon as I finish telling you the rest of the events. Alright, where was I? Yes, Immediately I saw the core, I started asking myself many questions too. What type of core could it be? Where did it come from?"


    He paused, still observing their facial expression.


    "At that time, none of us had the answer to these questions. Hence, we could only find out from the grand patriarch who was undergoing his immortal ascension tribulations. We knew the dangers and the risks he was facing. Although we couldn''t interfere in his tribulations, any form of distraction or disturbance could be very costly. So we patiently waited for his return despite being anxious to know about the core. But at that time, we could only hope for the grand patriarch''s success, and for him to return to us in good health."


    The grand elder put the core back into his spatial sac, walked over to the stone stool and sat down on it.


    "After several weeks, the grand patriarch returned back to us alive and in good health. He had successfully completed his tribulations and would soon be ascending to the heavenly plane in seven days after his alignment. Since we were extremely happy and joyful that he had succeeded, we waited for many hours before telling him about the incident. When he heard of what happened, he was extremely furious. His anger grew to the extent that the ground he was standing on began to dissolve. That was the first time I truly witnessed the force of an ascendant. Terrifying. He was angry with us too for not telling him when he got back despite knowing there was nothing he could do at that time."


    With his eyes staring at the ground, he let out a deep breath.


    "For several hours, the grand patriarch was furious. We had to wait for many more hours before we could show him the core. ''Primordial beast'' was his response. Not just any primordial beast but a powerful ancient one due to the size of the core and the amount of power of the chaotic energy exuding from it. The sect defensive arrays were tightened and redoubled. Grand patriarch continued to be alert to any danger, but he was also preparing for his impending ascension. The excitement of joining his ancestors was evident in him despite the threat of the Revenants. His ascension was only days away when he received a need of urgent help from his friend, Targgom."


    "Targgom was the demon god of a small demon planet known as Urgorod. He was a good and kind demon. Targgom and the grand patriarch had been friends for millions of years without a single form of dishonesty between them. It showed the level of trustworthiness and reliablity between the two."


    He raised his head to look at them in silence, then continued.


    "Urgorod was one of the planets by the border of the Netherplane and the Forbidden ddominion. Targgom said there were some extremely powerful revenants killing many cultivators in his world. He had been trying to recover his world from the brink of extinction only to be facing new form of threat."


    He opened his spatial sac and brought out a Red Cloud seed which he deposited in his mouth.


    "When he took hold of the message, the anger in him escalated. ''The revenants can''t just be coming to kill us and disappeared. Even the demons are not safe?'' Those were his words which were totally understandable and accepted. The grand patriarch made up his mind to go and help his friend in his time of need."


    The grand elder remembered the accounts of the grand patriarch. He had tediously journeyed to the Netherplane and arrived at a time of raging battle and the situation was getting dire for Urgorod. With the death toll mounting on Urgorod, the grand patriarch had fought fiercely with his mighty sword, Astoroth. An ancestral heirloom of incredible power used at critical times.


    "Whenever he takes the heirloom, you know something drastic was about to happen. And with him was the Dead-God seal. The luminous treasure of the sect only to be used in an extremely critical time because it''s a forbidden talisman. Although it saved his life, he also broke the heavenly rule of forbidden items. He was concerned about the powers of the Revenants. The army of revenants were at the ascendant level with unbelievable powers. They had been killing demonic cultivators in the surrounding worlds, either looking for something extremely unusual or indiscriminately collecting demonic cores."


    He shook his head as he remembered grand patriarch''s words.


    "The battles had been intense."


    From his words, the grand patriarch''s first surprise attack had mortally injured one revenant. The revenant wasn''t involved in the battle for a while after that. But more revenants had joined the battle against him. He was quickly exhausting most of the items he took with him. Afterall, he was just entering godhood, but he could only enter full godhood after his ascension. His godhood powers were greatly limited which was totally different from that of the revenants. They had been been cut off from immortal cultivation, but had been consuming various sources of power, secretly.


    "Although they couldn''t advance in levels anymore, their strength kept on increasing. A godlevel revenant possessed the power in the region of a true god''s stage. It could face a god of the same level and below, in battle. But they didn''t have the aura, divinity and traits of godhood."


    The Grand elder stood up and glanced at them before shaking his head.

 Chapter 62 - Ying Jie And The Deathless-God Armor

    Ying Jie sat in a lotus position inside his room, removed the two valuable content of his sacbag and began to examine them.


    The first was the Wyvern Scale spirit fruit that would make his body almost indestructible when facing a jindan level cultivator and below. What a fortuitous encounter this was. Though, he was still far from the stage necessary if he wanted to make any difference concerning his parents, this was a step in the right direction.


    And the second item?


    Never in his wildest dreams, would he ever imagine himself in possession of it. His mind started repeating the events of the forsaken palace. After acquiring the fruit in the garden of the Jade emperor, he remembered the gruesome encounters with the Crucible and the golems. He had never experienced such mind-wrenching confrontation in his life before that. He never even thought he could experience such in this world, yet, he had.


    Nonetheless, he had entered the forsaken palace and everything had frozen around him. Only, his ears were functioning as he heard the words of the giant guardian, Darghek, about appearing in various fruititous, yet, deadly places.


    As his feet landed on the other side, he struggled for a firm hold as they were crunching over the crystal carpet of snow blanketing the ground. A storm had recently battered this area from the feel and look of things. Ying Jie steadied himself before looking around. He was standing on a snowy plain with scattered pine trees covered in snow. Right in front of him, was a road that led to a passage between two small mountains at a distant.


    After taking a closer look, he could guess the passage led to a valley of some sort. With no one around him, he walked with a cautious steady pace in the direction of the valley. As he forged ahead, he noticed another storm that was rolling in with deadly icy wind. But he ignored the slashing wind, clawing at the exposed flesh on the face and hands as he pushed some Chi energy into his outer body.


    An icy wind like this, he could ignore. He remembered when his parents were captured in that cave when he was young and he had to spend many nights shivering in the abandoned caves and desolate valleys as he hid himself from the sinful demons. And they could have caught him, if not for the two elders from his village who happened upon him at the right time.


    He could still remember, like tormenting nightmares, everytime he closed his eyes. Before rising through the ranks of the village''s rising stars, he had fought and impressed with other kids of his village to lay a claim to the village''s susteinance and support. One of the given support, was sending him to the Last-Sword sect. A privilege that came with his position as a rising star.


    With eyes kept on the road ahead, he continued moving forward. Though, he had no idea of where he was heading, yet, he understood that there was a compulsion laid on him to forge ahead.


    The storm and icy winds, were only ephemeral, an illusion brought about by his appearance in an unknown place and a way to make his nature, stronger.


    Ying Jie quickly ducked for cover behind a large boulder before peeping around the boulder to observe the scene before him. The small hills and mountains in the sorroundings of the fighting beasts, had been shattered and the ground was filled with giant slashes and gashes with few bodies of giant birds littering the ground.


    Volants.


    Air sacred beasts.


    Since they were in their bed forms, it meant they were yet to reach the full transformation stage. Yet, they were still powerful enough to kill him.


    Ying Jie continued to watch the raging battle from behind the boulder. At the other side of the batle, was a sealed massive cave that was shimmering in death energy. It appeared the two sacred beasts were fighting over what was inside the cave. What could possibly be inside a cave like that? A death treasure or a primordial beast? No matter what it was, he was not going towards that direction.


    He had to be very careful here. If they sensed his presence nearby, they would be quick to turn on him, though, he would simply use the safe words and leave the place. Still, he had no plan to leave until he was sure of leaving. With extreme caution, he continued to watch and he saw the two battling birds, separated for a moment as they regarded themselves.


    From where he was hiding, he could clearly hear what they were saying as their voices sounded out.


    "Raven!"


    Shouted the giant crow whose feathers were like deadly arrows.


    "Don''t make me do this. We came on this sojourn together based on the agreement we had. I remember a time when the crows and ravens were together as one. Though, we have move our seperate ways, we are still tribes of the same lasting accord. Or, have you forgotten that?


    "Forgotten what?"


    "That any treasure found in the Land of Beyond, would be taken according to the Ways of Lives. That was the rules agreed on between us."


    "Rules? You talk about rules? Hahaha, you made me laugh. You mentioned rules but do you follow the same rules, crow? A tribe for a sojourn? Is that not the rule? And, wasn''t the last sojourn for your tribe? I still remember clearly, in case you''ve forgotten. The Cloud Sword that was inside the dream cave was for your tribe to take, yet, you left it behind. You left it behind not us. That day, was the day of your Way."


    "What was not taken couldn''t be counted. And, you know that!"


    "Know what? Your group was led by Orodian. Have you forgotten what happened? You all abandoned the treasure hunt when you saw the Black Dragon of Dream Cave. You saw the dragon and you ran. You could have stayed and fought, but, you ran. That was your treasure as agreed. If you didn''t take it, your loss. Rules are rules."


    "There are exceptions when no treasure is taken."


    "No exception!"


    Shouted the Raven in a deafening sound as its eyes started to emit shadow energy.


    "Do you want us to settle this now or you want the others including the Thousand-Talon Eagles to meet us here when they arrive? We still have many other sojourns to make together, crow. The Conchi Shell in the realm of the Shadow Shield? That is yours as agreed."


    "Do you even know where the Shadow Shield realm is? NO. Move aside Raven, and let me get what belongs to us. I won''t tell you again."


    "A pity then. You have no idea what I am, crow. For the sake of who we once were, I will give you a last chance to leave and live."


    Said the Raven as it turned its back on the Crow.


    "Give yourself the chance to live. You want a battle, you get a battle."


    With raging anger, the Crow flipped its wing and closed the distance between them in a single flap as it gathered vortex of terra energy before releasing it. The Raven swirled around suddenly to face the Crow, and with swirling wings, sent a mighty shadow blast that collided with the terra flare of the Crow.


    The impact created huge boulders all over the valley as the two engaged in close combat. Furious energy claws clashed in rapid succession as colossal deadly beaks sought openings to deliver fatal blows.


    After what appeared to be infinite exchange of claws, the Crow let loose a battle cry as it shot into the sky and descended in a yellow terran energy as it aimed its spear-like beak at the head of the Raven. The beak dove through the head of the Raven, burying itself several inches deep.


    With a quick flick of its head, the Crow wrenched its beak from the Raven''s head and watched the Raven with expectant keen eyes. But the Raven didn''t fall to the ground, but instead dissipated into nothingness before re-appearing a few yards back.


    "What?!"


    Screamed the Crow in utter shock as it flipped backwards a few yards and continued to stare at the unscathed Raven. There was no way the Raven could do that. A messenger Raven. Was that a life-saving talisman or heavenly grade technique? How could this Raven have a life-saving talisman or know a heavenly grade technique? It hadn''t even reached full-transformation stage.


    "Oh Crow. I told you, you have no idea who I am."


    Uttered the Raven as he transformed into a mortal form. A wide grin on his face, the Raven slowly shook his head.


    "Titan''s torso!"


    Ying Jie exclaimed in total shock. The raven sacred beast must be at the nascent soul stage at the least to attain full transformation. For him to be pretending before, could only mean that the treasure they were after was of huge value. The more the risk his presence was in. Ying Jie shook his head to dispel the rational fear he was having.


    In a quick movement, the Crow flapped his wings and tried to flee. But the shadow raven initiated his own technique, a freezing shadow technique that gripped the Crow and held it one place as the Raven arrived in front of it. In a twirling wind of shadow hurricane, the raven delivered a vicious killer blow with a hooked talon that sliced horizontally across across the crow''s belly, cutting it into two in a long, wide gash.


    A single-blow kill?


    Surely, a Yinlong martial master, at the least. What type of treasure could he be after inside the cave? Ying Jie was still pondering on the content of the cave, when he heard the voice of the Raven and quietly peeked.


    He saw the Raven looking at the eyes of the dead Crow before talking.


    "Do you even know what is inside this cave? How could you have known about the Deathless-God armor, anyway? A armor that, for the eternal beyond, could be used for everything on this plane. Even, for the heavenly ascension tribulation. You were here because of the new, day blood of the sacred ravens and crows needed to be pour on the threshold around the armor. Anyway, you''ve served your purpose."


    The Deathless-God armor? Ying Jie asked himself in wonder. The wearer couldn''t be killed in combat on the mortal plane, once it was worn. Even, if the soul was trapped by a more powerful artist, the soul would still escape the confinement. Unless, the soul was banished with a total grade heavenly soul banishing scroll or a luminous scroll.


    As he was pondering in bewilderment, the shimmering energy sorrounding the cave, exploded outwards. And, a tall dark fairy, twice his own size and was carrying a black and red spear. His black eyes with red iris, was emitting dangerous death energy.


    A Death Imither!


    Death imithers. Nascent soul entities of the ascendant level. They were created from pure death energy in the realm of Ogitha. So powerful and deadly, that they were forever isolated from other realms. But, they had allies. The Xue Kus. Equally powerful and extremely deadly.


    "Who dares enter the land of the Eternal-Cave without permission?"


    The imither demanded in a loud voice as he examined the damages caused to the area.


    "What?!"


    Tilting his head to the side, his eyes narrowed, as if he was trying to process the level of the destruction he was seeing. With eyes fully red in anger, the imither gripped his humming spear tightly with his right hand and holding the tip out toward the Raven.


    "A forsaken Raven caused all these?! I. Am. The. Guardian!"


    The spear of the imither whirled and spun, lashing out with quick, ferocious strikes that caused the air to sizzle and wail as it turned dark green.


    The raven, now in mortal form, moved in lightning speed as he countered the incoming strikes by dodging and redirecting each attack with the giant sabre in his hand. He was on the back foot as the strikes of the imither continued to come in quick and deadly succession. After several strike exchanges, the raven twisted away, slashing out with his sabre as he sent out two shadow blade lights. The imither slashed through the blade lights but the extra space allowed the raven to retreat backward for a few yards.


    "Impressive combat skills, imither."


    The mortal raven jumped high into the air as shadow energy covered on his body in a shimmer before turning into a massive mortal figure in an obsidian shadow armor with a raven head, raven wings and raven claws. His true nascent soul. He threw himself forward before transitioning into a forward flip that contort the airspace as shadow ripples were formed. At the same time he twisted in the air before descending as his shimmering sabre tore the fabrics of space in huge unctrollable ripples.


    The Shadow Assunder Descent.


    The imither slammed his foot on the floor as he transformed into a phantom figure of raging dark death energy. The only visible part were his angry red eyes. He pointed his spear to the floor and started to raise it slowly. The spear was humming and vibrating with death energy in pulsing convulsion. As he pointed the spear to the sky, the air hummed violently as the spacetime convulsed. All the death energy converged on the tip of the speare pointed the spear towards the sky. The imither leaped into the air towards the descending Raven.


    The Hallowed Death Realm.


    The collision was of heavenly proportion. Two entities who were beyond the nascent soul stage. The sky was covered in dark shadow and death energy as the vicinity was thrown into complete darkness.


    Few minutes after the darkness receeded, the two entities couldn''t be located but they could still be sensed. Both of them had entered the spirit realm, but, could be returning soon.


    Ying Jie quickly left his hiding space behind the boulder and sourced for the blood of the ravens and crows before speeding towards the vacant cave. It didn''t take him long to locate the armor and poured the blood along the threshold around the armor to claim the armor. He was saying the safe word when he heard a powerful energy explosion. But, he was already back in the forsaken garden.


    Though, anything and everything could have gone wrong. He had no choice. He would take anything and everything to help him free his parents.


    Recollecting his mind, Ying Jie put the items back in his sacbag before standing up. He gently smoothened his bed and quietly lay down. The following day, when he would tell them about his own adventure, he would ask them for help. Especially, Ju Feng. He would ask Ju Feng, if Ju Feng''s demigod mother and the uncle he was talking about, could help him with his parents.


    He couldn''t wait to tell them and see their reactions in particular. He closed his eyes and slept soundly with a renewed hope for the future.


    The following morning he related his own adventure to them and their reactions were truly wonderful.


    "The Deathless-God armor."


    They all exclaimed in complete shock, when they saw it inside Ying Jie''s sacbag.


    "Eternal beyond!"


    "A total grade heavenly treasure? Heavens tears on my head."


    "And you saw an imither? Titan''s torso."


    "Are you sure you are not dead yet?"


    "Truly, you were courting death."


    Ying Jie watched their bemused and happy faces as they rejoiced with him. He couldn''t ask them for help in regards to his parents yet. As he didn''t want to spoil their happy days. He would wait and find a good time to that. Now, wasn''t the right time.


    After their day together, the two siblings, Chenric and Da Xia, went towards the training center while Ying Jie walked with Ju Feng towards the library.


    "Ju Feng. You said you want to know more about the Conchi Shell."

 Chapter 62 - The Forbidden Dominion [5]

    "The grand patriarch had been coping with the battle when two powerful revenants joined the fight. It was during the battle he realized they were God level r evenants, and he couldn''t match up to them on his own. His life was on the line. He was limping and bleeding profusely while his left arm hung loosely in his shoulder''s socket, almost torn off. With the other three revenants streaking towards him like lightning, he was forced to use the Dead God seal.''


    "The Dead-God seal?"


    One of the elders asked in shock. A forbidden luminous seal that shouldn''t be used in a mortal world. All the immortals around during the use of a God Scroll would be locked inside the scroll. Then, the scroll will appear inside the White hall at the valley of gods. All souls would be locked for the period it would take the bell of the judgement room to sound. And that was one million years.


    "Yes."


    Then grand elder replied before turning away from them, staring ahead.


    "One million years of total agony for everyone in the immediate surrounding when it was being used. The reason it was forbidden. Yet, grand patriarch had used it making the Revenants and many demons to be locked inside it before it disappeared and reappeared in the valley of the gods. The injured one who was staying far-off was the only one to survive among the Revenants when he quickly used teleportation seal. Grand patriarch will face the heavenly consequences for using a forbidden item when he ascended to the heavenly plane."


    He slowly turn around raising one finger.


    "But, it was during the battle that grand patriarch learned some valuable information about the circ.u.mstances surrounding the revenants and the Sinnughar core."


    The grand elder raised an indicative finger.


    "First, during his battle with them, he discovered that the revenants are much more powerful than we think. He had gone there to find out in person the danger level that the revenants pose to us. He found out that, although their level was reduced to that of nascent souls by the cosmic divines, they''ve increased their powers to that of ascendants. Some of them are even with ridiculous strength."


    "How?"


    One of the elders asked in disbelief.


    "Either they''re reviving their old god powers, or they found a way to increase their powers on their own. This made them a grave danger to both the mortal and demon worlds."


    He raised the second finger making two.


    "Second. That the cosmic divines would not intervene in any conflict or battle that doesn''t threaten the balance of the universe. Cultivators in the mortal worlds, especially the ones below nascent soul, need to always protect themselves against this present danger. The revenants know this now, and they are planning their attacks accordingly".


    The third finger joined the raised two.


    "Third, that the cores of the primordial beasts are like divine artifacts, and they do exist. A number of others may be in the hands of other cultivators, demons, revenants, gods , and even the celestials. The Sinnughar core was as powerful as a divine artifact, therefore the reason to protect it more."


    Raising four fingers up.


    "And lastly? That dimensional domains are different from the dimensional worlds, and they exist. One can be containing the body of fallen primordials. It can be a beast, celestial or even that of a divine."


    "The revenants had discovered one of the dimensional domains containing the dead primordials. After the great wars, the cosmic divines had been dealing with the primordials bodies both the divines and beasts left in this universe. But some of those bodies had entered dimensional domains. These domains are discovered by chance and pure luck. The revenant must have discovered the one belonging to a primordial beast."


    The grand elder adjusted the folds of his robe as he recalled what he later learned from the grand patriarch. The foremost leader of the Phantom realms had sent a group of Revenants led by his general into the domain to retrieve the valuables that were inside the domain including the body of the primordial beast or the core and any part they could take. The group of ten Revenants had entered but only two survived the implosion of the domain. The leader of the group had the core with him and was at the other end with another revenant when the implosion occurred. They had quickly used the teleportation seal before the complete implosion but the implosion altered their destination.


    "Unfortunately for them, their teleportation portal had appeared on Urgorod just at the same time and the same place the demons were opening their own portal. The portals energy had collided on a massive scale and exploded outward with a loud bang. The explosion caused many around to be teleported to different places."


    With his hand folded behind his back, he paced up and down.


    "The revenant leader was transported into our world. It was after he arrived in our world, that he had that encounter with our sect grand elder."


    He stopped for a moment to think.


    "The other revenant must have found his way back to the Phantom realm and reported to their foremost leader. He sent more powerful revenants to the demon world of Urgorod to find out where they were hiding his general and the core to recover them by all means. The first world they entered was a neighbouring world to Urgorod. It wasn''t the right world they were looking for. But this had already alerted them at Urgorod. That was when Targom called for help."


    The grand elder voiced before continuing his pacing.


    "The Sinnughar core wasn''t with me before, it was kept secured in the sect''s inner safe. But, when the grand patriarch returned from the Netherplane, he asked me to keep this on me at all time. He asked me not to let it get back into the hands of the revenants."


    "True. Who knows what they plan to do with it?"


    "Especially when the ruler of one of the phantom realms wants it at all cost."


    "Maybe another bloodline power harness."


    "Or he would just consume the chaos power inside the core and mutate more."


    "Perhaps to make a divine weapon?"


    "Imagine the power he will have."


    "The core can''t be allowed to fall into their hand, grand elder."


    "Yes, we can''t allow them."


    The Grand elder replied.


    "That''s why the grand patriarch embarked on having an empyrean golem made to add to the sect''s protection. It''ll be infused with the Sinnughar core. It''s construction had been going on ever since and will soon finish."


    "Really?"


    They all asked at the same time.


    Yes. I wanted to show you all as a surprise, but now, the circ.u.mstances have changed."


    They continued discussing for a while before the elders left to attend to their daily duties. They were to assemble later in the day.


    Few hours after the remaining elders had left, the three core disciples, Shao Cheng, Quan Zhi and Li Ling returned from the lake of Streamlight. Their bruises and cuts had disappeared. Their nerves had settled, no longer their jittery old selves.


    The grand elder smiled tenderly after seeing them.


    "How are you all feeling now?"


    "Much better, grand elder."


    "Gran elder, we''re sorry for looking very bad be-"


    "No need."


    The grand elder cut them off with a gentle swipe of his hand.


    "You don''t need to say anything about it. We understand your plights. Only few disciples of your levels could stood up and performed the way you did in the face of true mortal danger. We commend your efforts."


    He raised his hand in a gesture.


    "Come, follow me. I have some gifts for you."

 Chapter 63 - A Fated-Death?

    A conchi shell in the realm of Shadow-Shield! In the Land-Beyond? Another immortal seed of the Adi-Buddhas. From the information he recieved from Ying Jie, it looked as if the shell could only contain the Dusk-Shadow bead. One of the luminous six beads of the Bodhi tree. A tempting situation, but, where there was an immortal seed, there would also be a Principal. An entity made solely from pure elemental energy.


    Forsaken entities.


    He could clearly remember the appearance of the water Principal. And, the mighty sword that could have, cleanly, severed his head from his body. He knew he had already pushed his fortune with the guardian Principal of the Star-Tide bead and that in the future, he might not be so fortunate with the dangers of looking for another bead. Luminous treasure or not, immortal seed or not, he would definitely not be searching for any of the beads in the foreseeable future. Any attempt in the near future, would simply be courting death on his part.


    Unless, he was powerful enough to face a mighty Principal which he didn''t see happening in the predictable future. Now that he was already walking in the shadow of an inevitable death. Ah, shadow of death! He had been walking in the shadow of death all his life but this one was different. He recollected the words of the Worldly Oracle before she faded away.


    "The words I''ve spoken are not of my volition. Hand of fate is locked with the hand of death, on you, young mortal. A fated-death, that''s what you have. When it comes, you will know."


    He would know? What if he were to wake up tomorrow and suddenly knew he was going to die the very day? What time would he have to prepare for uis imminent death? Should he even tell his family? How would they recieve the information, especially his mother?


    Ah, Fated Death!


    Ominous declaration of a death that must be, through the mouth of an oracle. A destined death that was unavoidable by a universal decree. One way or another, he would have to die and, not just any death, but that particular fated death. Even with a protective treasure like the Deathless-God armor, he would still die the fated-death. What a life?


    While Ying Jie was busy going through the records on the Deathless-God armor, Ju Feng decided to check the information on fated-deaths. The information he found, were the same with what he already knew. He would die.


    After having enough for the day, Ju Feng left the library and headed towards the male dormitory. He was lost in thoughts as he walked and almost barged into one of the school acolytes who had to use a bit of his energy to push Ju Feng away. His annoyance was evident in his expression.


    "Watch where you''re going, disciple."


    "Sorr... sorry, senior."


    The acolyte observed Ju Feng for a moment before sighing after his anger had receeded. What was the point in punishing him for that? He was in a happy mood due to the luminary week and the kid appeared to be genuinely unaware and apologetic about the whole situation.


    "Just be careful next time, you don''t want to be barging into people like that."


    "Yes, senior. Thank you."


    Said Ju Feng, as he watched the acolyte departed in relief. Oh, that was too loose of him. He continued staying in one place as he raised his head to the sky, observing its glory. He was interrupted by elder Wang Xiu who had been watching the whole scene, quietly, from afar. A disciple of hers whose help she would be needing in the near future.


    She continued to examine Ju Feng with her inherited ancestral-bloodline''s sense. She had been sensing a dark cloud on Ju Feng''s soul since leaving the forsaken palace. Something definitely happened to him inside that place that left a gloomy mark on his soul.


    "Haven''t you had enough of the sky already?"


    "Elder... Wang Xiu."


    Said Ju Feng while bowing his head with a cupped hand.


    "This disciple greet you."


    "Hm. Walk with me."


    "Yes, elder Wang Xiu."


    After walking in silence for few minutes, elder Wang Xiu cleared her throat and glanced at Ju Feng.


    "Mm. Now tell me, what is going on with you?"


    "What do you mean, elder Wang Xiu?"


    Asked Ju Feng in reply as confusion was written all over his face. What was going on with him staring at the sky or for standing in one spot? Probably, for almost barging into the acolyte?


    "I noticed a cloud over your soul, Ju Feng. A little too strong cloud. What is troubling you?"


    A cloud? Over his soul? Realization dawned on him as remembered the ancestral bloodline trait of elder Wang Xiu. She could see immediate things that were related to the soul. Ju Feng sighed deeply in resignation before answering solemnly.


    "Ah. This, I couldn''t hide from you, elder Wang Xiu. To tell you the truth, elder Wang Xiu, there was a worldly oracle I met at the forsaken palace. She told me about a fated-death."


    "Heavens tears! A fated-death?"


    "Yes, elder Wang Xiu. My fated-death."


    "Yours? And you didn''t bother to let me know?"


    Asked elder Wang Xiu in utter shock and annoyance. Despite the fact that she would be needing him in the near future, he was still her direct disciple. An important disciple. So, how could he have a death he couldn''t escape?


    "Do you even know what that means, Ju Feng?"


    "Yes, elder Wang Xiu. That I must die."


    "Sorrowful heaven. That is no joke. No wonder how lost you were in thoughts, no wonder the cloud I saw on your soul. But, a dark cloud? That was a sign of uncertainty in a soul''s reincarnation. That powerful death? Sorrowful heavens. Quickly, come with me. We must seek the grand elder."


    Elder Wang Xiu led Ju Feng towards the sect''s haven as she sent out her mind connection to the grand elder. She knew grandelder along with some elders and avolytes, was recieving honored guest, but she hoped he would be able to spare her a minute or so.


    "Elder Wang Xiu."


    "Forgive my intrusion, grand elder. I know you are busy now, but if you have a second to spare later, you need to see this."


    ***


    This was the annual free and happy week for the sect members to practically enjoy themselves, but without breaking any sect rule. The only week in the sec''s year that members of the sect could decide not to do anything but recline, or hold and participate in one form of activity or the other. As the disciples, the acolytes and some of the elders, entertained themselves with various forms of exploits, the sect''s heirarchy was also recieving different honored guests. This was the main reason for the luminary week.


    Planet Lorra, was an ancient world. One of the first major worlds created during the expansion and it was one of the first to be occupied. At a time when few worlds had only been sparsely occupied, planet Lorra was already occupied. And, the Last-Sword sect was already established in this world by this time. The sect was here, as a first of its kind, when the world was still under one emperor, the first Jade emperor, who was also a friend of the sect''s ancestral patriarch.


    The luminary week was to celebrate the long term existence of the Last-Sword sect and its peaceful friendship with others, especially the equally ancient ones. Just as it was with the tradition of the Last-Sword sect, it recieved the notable guests from different places, every year.


    And like every year, honored guests had been coming-in from all over the continent and other worlds through out the week. Gifts were brought, also rare and expensive ones were exchanged. All these honored guests, were attended to by the grandelder. Only few of the honored guests, required the attention of the sect''s patriarch. But, the sect''s patriarch had been unavailable for many years now after sealing himself inside the Never-Ending immortal cave. This made the responsibility of recieving all the guests fell on the grandelder.


    And on this day, the grandelder was recieving one of the few uppermost guests, stellar Wind-Eternal, a true ascendant who was more powerful than most hegemons. Despite his power surpassing the threshold of the mortal plane, he had found a way to have balance and avoided being pushed out of the mortal plane. After rejecting ascension to the heavenly plane during his immortal ascension, he became an hegemon.


    However, since he wasn''t a world ruler, he would be addressed as a stellar, instead of a monarch or emperor[monarch was a title taken by a ruler of a continent in a world with more than one continent and one ruler, while emperor was the title taken by the only ruler of a world]. He was the patriarch of the Sky-Sunder sect in the floating city of Sincho on the Anchu planet.


    "Stellar Wind-Eternal, I know very well that our patriarch would love to see you before you leave. Please, allow me to get in touch with him, if you will permit."


    "No need for that grandelder, you have recieved me well. I knew my friend was in complete solitary meditation before coming here. I simply wanted to walk around that was why I came here myself. As you know, if I wanted to contact him before coming, I would have easily done that but that would have been a dent on him."


    Replied stellar Wind-Eternal. He paused for few seconds as he went through some information in his head with his gaze on the floor. He looked at the bowing maids and acolytes and sighed. Even the elders were under struggle to remain upright. This was after he had completely masked his aura and totally reduced his energy emission. He shook his head and turned to the grandelder.


    "Ascension tribulation is a dangerous and deadly feat. Whether you want to ascend to the heavenly plane or reject ascension to become an hegemon, you must not fail the ascension tribulations. If not, you''ll become a loose cultivator with numbered years to live unless you find the Jade-Dragon Spirit fruit. High preparation is needed to undergo the tribulations. Let him be, we will see, another time."


    "Yes, stellar Wind-Eternal."


    "Let me get going now. I thank you for my good reception. More than I expected."


    "You are too kind, honored stellar Wind-Eternal. Your visit is more than pleasant to us."


    It was at this time that the mind-voice of elder Wang Xiu sounded in the grandelder''s own mind. This wasn''t the right time to be interrupted, not when he was recieving an important guest like the stellar Wind-Eternal. Nevertheless, he knew there must be something of significance for her to be contacting him at this time.


    "Elder Wang Xiu."


    "Forgive my intrusion, grand elder. I know you are busy now, but if you have a second to spare later, you need to see this."


    "True, not the right time. You can come by later when I''m through."


    "I''m already on my way, grandelder."


    "Alright. Stay around, I will see you when I''m through."


    "Uh?"


    Stellar Wind-Eternal who was about to take his leave, stirred as wind of divinity reached him and he raised his head in surprise. The words of an oracle had gone forth, a world oracle at the least. An oracle of such calibre wasn''t that easy to come by at all. Utterances of an imminent death that must happen. He turned to the grandelder who was cautious of the surprise look on the stellar''s face.


    "What is the matter, stellar Wind-Eternal?"


    "A fated-death."


    "A fated-death?"


    "Yes, grandelder. A fated-death. Through your mind connection, I could sense the wind of divinity. Whoever is on the other side of your connection must be related to the fated-death."


    "Elder Wang Xiu?"


    The grandelder asked himself a little bit aloud. Realizing this, he quickly turned to stellar Wind-Eternal apollogetically.


    "Sorry for bothering you with this, stellar Wind-Eternal. This will address this as soon as possible."


    "No bother at all. Perhaps, I can be of assistance."


    "That, I can''t ask of you, honored stellar Wind-Eternal."


    "It will be my p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to be of help, grandelder. Now, let''s take a look and see."


    Stellar Wind-Eternal retraced the wind pattern and having located elder Wang Xiu and Ju Feng, flicked his finger and both of them were pulled into a wind portal and re-manifested right in front of the stellar and grandelder, inside the haven.


    Ju Feng fell on his knees and bowed his head in total compulsion. Elder Wang Xiu bowed her head in front of much more superior power before raising it after some struggle with herself.


    True power.


    Even the grandelder nodded his head in acknowledgement of true power. He looked at the stellar who was examining the two in front of him. How could he trace his, grandelder''s own, mind connection? He could accept the wind portal since he knew the stellar was a wind affiliated cultivator of the hegemon level, but this displays together, were still a power apart.


    "How profound are the ways of the universe. Sometimes sorrowful and sometimes joyful. Hm. Terrible fate you have, young one. A fated-death is on you, but this you already know. Yes, your death was arraigned and your death has been uttered. Nothing can change your death, that''s certain enough. But, your death is not now."


    His death was not now! Ju Feng couldn''t contain his total relief as he heard those words. His family and his friends, they would still see him for a longer time?


    Heavens tears on his head!

 Chapter 63 - Twilight [1]

    Ju Feng opened his eyes to the sight of endless light from the sky which appeared diffused and pinkish in colour. It was easy for him to determine the nature of the time he was in. Twilight. A time of day between the daylight and darkness. That time after sunset or before sunrise, when the sun was below the horizon. How come?


    He held his head while trying to recall what happened to him. He remembered himself barging into a massive barrier. Then stepping on something? He wasn''t sure, but knew his body should be in a bad condition. He looked around and realized the magnitude of the place. Vastness with no sign of the living nor the dead, only filled with the endless light from the sky. The eeriness of the place was stretching to him, yet he felt no form of discomfort.


    Nonetheless, he knew the place was of no comfort for him to be. It was no normal twilight period. He had heard of something like that before. Something... If only he could remember. Yes! He finally remembered.


    The threshold''s twilight. The gates of death.


    How? It was suppose to be an ancient myth. Although it was recorded in the ancient mythology, they had thought it was a form of fear instilled in the heart of cultivators. But now, he was witnessing it with his own eyes. Was he dead? As he was ruminating on the question, he heard a voice behind him.


    "Welcome, mortal."


    Ju Feng turned to the source of the voice in apprehension. He saw, floating in the mid-air in a lotus position, an old man in pure white robe with long flowing white hair. The sight was that of no mortal man, but of an ancient immortal. He appeared to be harmless, but Ju Feng knew he was staring at an existence which was above everything he had seen, combined. The eyes of the old man were closed but Jufeng could still feel their soul piercing gaze. The feeling of his soul being a transparent glass. A sense of extreme danger which could cause his soul to explode if he was to get too close.


    Ju Feng instantly felt a primal fear. Could the old man be a god?


    He quickly knelt down and bowed his head low.


    "Greetings senior."


    "Rise up, mortal. I don''t indulge in your mortal ways."


    The old man opened his eyes to look at Jufeng who was now standing before him.


    "However, I''ve been waiting patiently for you to finally wake up."


    A little fragment of the weight of the past dead souls hit Ju Feng like a titan''s hammer. His legs became undone and he collapsed on the ground.


    While on the ground, he raised his head towards the direction of the old man and could only see the ancient eyes. Oh, the terrible things he saw in those eyes. Things that shouldn''t be seen by mortals like himself. He began to have the feeling his eyes were on fire. When he couldn''t take it anymore, he started clawing his own eyes, screaming.


    "Aaargh."


    "Oh, childling."


    "Senior, please help me. My eyes are burning."


    With the sway of a strand of his hair, the old man relieved Jufeng''s pain.


    "Mortals."


    "Thank you, senior. Thank you."


    "It''s the law of creation for a soul at the threshold to experience a strand of the burden of the past souls. It''s a beacon of Karma on your soul. This beacon will be a witness that you have experienced the burden of souls. If you were to leave this place, any future karmic deeds of yours will be on your own head. The consequencies will be yours to face. Childling, you only experienced a strand of the burden of your level."


    "Senior, how can I stand things so terrible."


    The old man shook his head slightly.


    "Mortals. Very fragile, yet what a burden they bring. It''s alright, young mortal. This is the reason why I''ve always been using the Dark-Shadow scales. Without the shadow scales, how can you stand a strand of reflections of the threshold''s truth?"


    "What truth, senior."


    "The simple truth that comes with the burden of inumerable number of souls, gods and mortals alike. If you hear the truth, your soul will explode. Even many gods can''t withstand it."


    "Even the gods?"


    "Yes, even the gods."


    "Senior, am I dead?"


    "Are you dead? The ultimate question every soul ask me eventually. Well, you are at the threshold of death which I believe will be me. You are not dead, but you are dying."


    The old man pointed to a ball of light hovering a distance away from them.


    "Can you see that light? That''s your life force. If it fizzles out, it means you, I prefer using ''you'' by the way, since your soul is the true you. It means it ceases to exist, you can no longer go back into your body. The life force is the link between your soul and your body. So, once the life force is severed or broken, your soul must simply leave your body. And you''ll enter reincarnation. I know it''s hard for many people to take but that''s the way it is."


    The old man glanced at Ju Feng who was still standing nervously.


    "I tell you, young mortal. Life can be cruel. But with me, you''ll be at peace with yourself and the world. You''ll have your solitary solitude to reflect on your deeds until your reincarnation if it comes to it. Come sit down with me, and let''s continue talking while we wait."


    Ju Feng slowly went to sit beside the old man. Solitary solitude again! He would forever be wary of the words and anyone saying them.


    "Senior, what do we wait for?"


    "We wait to see if your life force will fizzle out or get stronger."


    Seeing the utter fear and apprehension in Jufeng''s eyes, the old man let out a near silent breath.


    "There''s nothing I can do to help you, young mortal. Life is trying to hold on to your life force but there''s little she can do. Maybe if you have woken up earlier before coming to my presence, it might have been different. But you are here now. If it fizzles out, you''ll go into reincarnation. But if it gets stronger, then, I''ll have to bide you farewell. We''ll go our seperate ways."


    Jufeng cautiously glanced at the old man. He cautiously observed the old man and found that there was no aura or light of any sort coming from the old man but Ju Feng knew this was an entity beyond imaginable existence. This was a terrifyingly powerful entity. Since they were still waiting after what seemed like forever, maybe he should ask who he was. But, was that not courting death? He was dying anyways.


    "Senior, please forgive me for asking. Are you a divine?"


    "A divine? No, young mortal. I''m no divine. Your immortal gods and divines are from this universe, I''m not. I''m a law of creation. Anywhere there is creation, I exist there. This universe, the chaos and the void. My existence is in all. Many call me, Death, with disdain. This I accepted because they don''t know any better. Young mortal, if I tell you my name, your spirit will forsake you, and you''ll cease to exist."


    The old man looked at Ju Feng with closed eyes. How could this young mortal know the shadows that trailed his soul at a distance? Shadows that had gone through length and will go through longer length. He felt a bit of sympathy for Ju Feng which made the lids covering his eyes glowed fervently.


    Ju Feng staring at the lidded eyes, realized that this was an existence beyond the universe. He couldn''t control the chills that ran down his spine in qiuck succession.


    "Let''s talk about life, young mortal. Your life. Do you think it''s truly beautiful?"


    Was life truly beautiful?

 Chapter 64 - Strands

    Through the corner of his eye, Ju Feng glanced at the back of the leaving Stellar Wind-Eternal. That was an extremely powerful cultivator who could have used a flying treasure or even a portal, yet, he preferred to walk like a mortal. More so, he was more than concerned about him, who was just reaching the Zhuji stage, in regards to his fated-death.


    As he was deep in contemplation, he recollected seeing something in the honoured stellar''s eyes while he was addressing him. Though for a fraction of a second, it appeared to be something of a recognition. Could it be a flash of the memory of a past? Or maybe it was just his own Zhuji''s mind displaying a ruse on him. Yet, he could have sworn he saw something he thought was an accreditation in the stellar''s eyes.


    After the departure of Stellar Wind-Eternal, Ju Feng heaved a sigh of relief as he stared at the life-stone in his hand. This was a farewell gift of a great significance, from a diviner who happened to know the impact and true extent of a fated-death. Although, it couldn''t prevent his imminent death, the lumence stone could tell him how close his death was, after the honoured stellar had linked it to his life-force.


    There were three colours that the stone would display regarding the nearness of his impending death. Blue colour was an indication of years, yellow would be for months while red signified days of impending death. At the moment, the stone was only transparent which meant that he had some time before beginning the herald of his death.


    With a smile of relief on his face, Ju Feng decided to go back to his room. There were still many more days to go before the luminary week would come to an end. More so, his friends were all busy with their own at the moment. Hence, it would be the right time for him to visit planet Charat. He was just hoping they hadn''t gone to his hillock to check for him. It would be a strangely suspicious sight if they couldn''t find him inside, when they knew he should be, especially after his heavenly tribulations.


    How would he explain it to them after re-appearing again? They might even think that he was a daemon or a member of another school, who could open a portal inside their protective arrays. That would be a scenario he wouldn''t want to be in at all.


    He was just turning to leave, when he saw Su Ming coming out from the other side of the haven. The true martial sister Su Ming, who had sacrificed a rare pill of hers to save his life. A debt he hoped he would be alive long enough to repay. The more she came into view, the more he realized something looked different about her appearance. Was it a more vibrant aura? Thinking faster, he recollected that he had also experienced this vibrant aura before. It was an aura of advancement in the stages of cultivation.


    Had she advanced as a result of her near death experienced with the revenant?


    Ju Feng''s rapid hand wave caught her attention prompting her to slow down her movement as she turned her head in his direction. She stopped as the realization of Ju Feng''s identity finally dawned on her.


    That outer disciple?


    Su Ming flicked her hand, an indication to approach, at Ju Feng who quickly flashstepped towards her. Su Ming gave a slight shake if her head as she acknowledged Ju Feng. There was something about him that kept nagging at the back of her mind. Anyway, just like herself, this was somebody who had reached the threshold of death but had survived to tell the tale. Wasn''t it a great feeling to be alive?


    "Still alive?"


    "Thanks to you, Shijie. If not for you, I wouldn''t be here today. You saved my life."


    With a cupped fist extended forward, Ju Feng gave her a slight bow.


    "Think nothing of it."


    With a shrug of her shoulders, Su Ming waved away his comment, casually.


    "You needed help and I helped. Simple as that."


    Ju Feng shook his head in a strong conviction before staring at the sky. Light of Radia was never a simple matter. He could have easily entered the light and be on his way to reincarnation. The moment he entered the revenant''s force-field, he knew he was in mortal danger. He had lost total consciousness and there were memory gaps he couldn''t even fill. Those were the signs of the threshold of death. For him to recover and avoid walking the path of reincarnation was no simple thing at all.


    "No Shijie, reincarnation is not as simple as that. I could have died without me even knowing it. Words alone can''t express how happy and grateful I am for what you did, Shijie. A debt I hope to repay one day."


    "Think nothing of it. All that matters is that you are alright now."


    "And for that, I thank you, Shijie."


    "Don''t sweat on it. It was simply the necessary thing to do."


    Something in the distance caught her attention. She turned her gaze towards it for a moment before returning her focus on Ju Feng. She could feel the scrutinizing eyes of Ju Feng as he tried to decipher the changes in her aura. With an easy smile on her face, she gave a mild shrug of her shoulders.


    "I guess it''s all about a higher soul''s stage. Well, I have to go now, so much to do. See you later then. And, try not to die soon since you got a debt to repay."


    "Thank you, Shijie. I will. See you later too."


    With a smile on his face, Ju Feng headed towards the male dormitory. So, Su Ming had truly advanced as he suspected. That meant there could be benefit in death experiences, though, he would prefer not to have any death experience. The risk of reincarnation was greater than the benefit of advancement.


    He entered his room and gently locked the door, securely, behind him. With the weight of the fated-death and of a living Su Ming, lifted off him temporarily, he felt himself a little tired. Falling heavily on his bamboo bed, he decided to rest a bit, before heading for Charat planet. As soon as he closed his eyes, he was transported into the world of dreams.


    Just as before, Ju Feng found himself sitting on a floating cloud while observing a raging event unfolding before him. He was like a phantom presence who was observing a scene from a memory. The terrible scene he was witnessing appeared to be the continuation of the one concerning those two entities he saw before in his dreams. Two beasts of unknown origin to him but of immense power and size. One was a wyvern who was residing inside a raging cloud, while the other was a devonian armoured turtle that was staying inside the water.


    Unlike the last time he was here, now, there were many spatial rifts and tears that were causing the gradual destruction of the fabrics of this world. Was this how a world could easily be destroyed? The moment he turned to observe the massive turtle who was half way submerged in the water, he was instantly absorbed into the turtle''s spirit domain. In spite of it being a dreamworld, he appeared to be roiling from the intense power of the turtle. Inside this place, was the engraved memory of the ancient turtle.


    ''I, Zothikos, stood there awaiting the end of my world as the raging cosmic void encircled it. Such a sad and lonely life it had been for me for billions of years. A life that was now ending by the power of the Cosmic Void Rift seal. A forbidden seal used by my ancient nemesis, Fotios, in his desperate attempt to have what never belonged to him. For billions of years, he had been a bane in my existence, a bane which I had come to accept in accordance with the laws of this universe.


    What laws of the universe?


    I was never a creature of this universe. I was a voidbeast, the same as my nemesis, Fotios. During the explosion that created the Alpheron and Ominu cores, there were other reactions in the void too. The particles of matter in the void formed other cores and one of the cores formed my universe, Hypagus. A universe that was made up of many worlds. It was one Hypabeast to one world with the strongest taking the biggest world. Despite this, there was a relative peace in our universe until the coming of an extremely powerful entity alongside few other shadowy entities. This particular shadowy creature who appeared to be the leader had no particular form or variation but had a whole massive creation''s core at the centre of its existence.


    There was a colossal war between us and this shadowy entities that lasted many years. The Hypagus core tried as much as possible to seal them off, but they were exceedingly powerful. After many years of battle, this leading shadowy entity made a single move that eventually caused the destruction of my universe. A universe that took creation millions of years to achieve, about to be brought to total annihilation by this dangerous entity.


    Some of us escaped before the total destruction of our universe. I, and a few others, decided to seek shelter in this very universe since it had energy that was similar to ours while the rest sought abode in other universes. One of the others that came with me, was Fotios. A wyvern who had his world next to mine when we were still in Hypagus. Anyway, when we arrived in this universe, we met the guardians of this universe, a set of exceedingly powerful beings who called themselves, the primordial divines. They too had encountered this shadowy figure but had managed to rebuff it''s aggression, hence, we made the decision to stay in this place.


    We were here during the great wars of the primordials between the primordial divines and the primordial beasts. Though, some of our chaotic brethren were with the primordial beasts, we never indulged in any confrontational battle between us, as we fought alongside the divines. Our core values wouldn''t allow us to wallow in killing. And after the last battle, we did our possible best to help the divines in creating the cosmic seals that blocked off the primordial holes. We never wanted another battle that would force us to kill. With seals done, we returned to our worlds to live peacefully. And this peace continued until one day when a crystal with immeasurable power, arrived in my world.


    On this fateful day, I was roaming about in my world when my nemesis, Fotios, appeared right in front of me to taunt me as usual. He had just arrived in my world through an opened portal, when a crystal entered my world through the closing portal. I was the quickest to react and with a flick of my hand, I caught the crystal. The moment my hand closed around the crystal, there was a massive energy surge that got me reeling in absolute shock. It was then that I realized the nature of the crystal in my hand.


    I took a glance at Fotios and saw recognition in his eyes. He too had guessed what the crystal was and there was more anger and hatred in his eyes. I still remembered his first words to me that day.''


    "Zothikos, hand over the crystal. It followed me through the portal and by its right, belonged to me. Now, hand it over."


    ''That was the beginning of Fotios'' obsession with the crystal. For many millions of years, he had been devising means to take the crystal from me. Though, he was an irritation and I regularly chased him away, any intention of killing him had never crossed my mind. Now, I watched as my nemesis had finally abandoned the values of his existential core and succ.u.mbed to the dark side of chaos. He had finally decided to destroy me through the cosmic void rift seal. How he came about this, I had no idea but I knew something was amiss.


    Yet, there was nothing I could do now. The end of all these was near. With my impending death at the corner, I would have to seal my memory in a spatial dimension and hope it would sift through the void rift. Only a truesoul would be able to find its existence. For I know that since I wasn''t an entity of this universe, my soul essence would have to make the journey back to my home universe for a time of rebirth in limbo. If it was still in existence. ''


    As Ju Feng continued to watch, the turtle''s head suddenly turned in his direction, staring him dead in the eyes.


    "You."


    His gaze was held by the turtle''s glowing eyes that suddenly released a gust of powerful energy blast that knocked Ju Feng off the floating cloud and into the fiercely cold water. But, just as his body was touching the water, Ju Feng woke up with a big jolt, sitting upright with his hands still shielding his body.


    What was he even rambling about? Sometimes, dreams could have ways of disarranging the minds. But that was a dream he wouldn''t want to have again.


    Well, time to go to Charat.


    He sat down in a lotus position and placed the pagoda in front of him. He sent his energy into the pagoda and watched as the pagoda grew into an average sized door like before. This door was a risk if seen by anyone when he wasn''t around. He would have to think of a way to avoid this. In the meantime, he simply had to go to Charat planet. He shouldn''t delay any further.


    Standing before the portal door, he turned his head to take a look at his room and with a great anxiety, he stepped through the portal door.

 Chapter 64 - Twilight [2]

    Ju Feng remembered his mother and grandparents. The faces he knew from birth. The love they''ve been showing him, the beautiful things they''ve shared together and the near-death experience they also shared together.


    How could he ever forget uncle Luyang, the powerful titan lord who had bought him his spatial sac.


    The memory of his friends at the Last-Sages sect, the concern he felt with the troubled Yingjie. How seeing the faces of the two siblings Cheung and Daxia made him smile. The feeling of weirdness he recieved when observing the strange Yuan Chun Hua. Not to mention elder Cao Wang Xiu, the ever graceful light Daoist. Or, the grand elder who would say "Remember, study hard and train harder" and would look at them as if they were about to face the gods. That was awesomely funny.


    Or when he had been sent to Charat planet by the guardian Qiyuan. Ah, senior Qiyuan, the ancient gatekeeper. He remembered participating in the trials as if he was a member of the outer sect. Although it was by accident, it was fun all the way despite the threat of solitary solitude. He had meet his three roommates, the beautiful Lu Mei Ying. He even had his own hillock.


    Life was indeed beautiful.


    True, we are exquisitely aware of the terrible, threatening and scary things in life. The enormity of all those terrible awful things could make the universe seemed devoid of light. The awareness is just our ability to survive. The beauty in life could never be denied.


    "Senior, I think life is beautiful."


    "And why is that?"


    "Because I have people who love me."


    "What about people who don''t have anyone to love them?"


    "Then, maybe they have people they love in their lives."


    "Mm-Hmm, true. But what happens when the people or things you love are taken from you? Will you still find beauty in life?"


    Ju Feng bowed his head in thought. If he was to loose everyone who loved him and he loved? How could he even think of living? Would there be beauty in life then? Part of him screamed ''there would be debt to be paid'', while the other part shouted ''peace with the world.. A crossroad.


    "Senior, It''s so hard to determine. But being alive is the beauty of its gift."


    "You want to be alive, yet you are here, don''t you wonder why?"


    "Senior, I believe it was an accident. Sometimes accident happens."


    "Oh, yes.You walking into the force-field and stepping on the heavenly seal was an acident. I agreed. I mean, If you find so much beauty in life, why are you still here in this threshold?"


    "Because I''m dying?"


    "Yes, i kmow that. But, do you really want to die?"


    "No senior, I don''t want to die."


    "Then, why are you still here?"


    "I don''t know what to do, senior. Please help me."


    "Isn''t that funny? You want me to help you against death? But, I will help you. Your attitude and your Karmic virtues intrigued me."


    The old man turned mid-air to face Jufeng.


    "I know who you are Zhang Ju Feng. I know about the shadows that have been chasing you. It''s true that i don''t get involved in these matters because of my creation, but as long as I don''t go against creation itself, no entity has any power over me. I''ll tell you this once, so listen carefully. Two we are. A sister I have. And we are laws of creation. The understanding of this is left to you. As for your current predicament, think about all the reason you find beauty in life and push them into the thread of your life-force. Only the thread, if you still want to live."


    Ju Feng did as he was told and his life-force started to get stronger.


    "Farewell young mortal, may we meet in the future if you are strong enough."


    Ju Feng slowly opened his eyes to see elder Ju Long sitting very close to him with his eyes closed. He slowly shifted his head to find out about his location. Minute later, he relaxed his mind in relief. Alright, he was at the sect''s Misty-Fountain, but what was he doing there? He didn''t recollect coming to the place. His last memory was of him walking into an invisible barrier. Nothing after that. For him to be at the Misty-Fountain, he must have sustained a severe injury at the least.


    He was trying to move into a sitting position when the sound made elder Ju Long open his eyes.


    "Ju Feng, you are awake. Don''t move. Let me quickly inform grandelder first."


    Elder Ju Long quickly located the grand elder through his spiritual sense and informed him about the development through the mind voice.


    "Grrrand elder."


    "No need, young one, I''m happy to see you have recovered. How are you feeling?"


    "I''m fine grand elder. Only having an headache."


    "That''s fine, it will go with time. At least, the worst is over."


    "How long have I been here, honoured elder?"


    "Four hours without moving a muscle."


    Elder Ju Long answered while he was still attending to Ju FenJ.


    "I remembered walking into some sort of energy and was trying to get out when i stepped on something and I though I saw myself flying. That''s all I remembered, grand elder."


    "That''ll do. I believe you stepped on a seal which is why you are still alive. Although you could have died easily, it also gave you a chance at survival. If you were stuck inside the force-field with the revenant, you would have been dead by now. We are fortunate you are still alive. Get some rest, when you are feeling better, elder Ju Long will bring you to the haven."


    "Thank you, grand elder."


    He turned to elder Ju Long.


    "Thank you, elder Ju."


    He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

 Chapter 65 - Back In Charat [Circle Of One]

    Emerging into his small storage chamber, Ju Feng quickly look around in order to confirm his location. After a moment of observation, he nodded his head in confirmation as he regained his familiarity with the place. Most importantly, the storage chamber of his hillock was still in the same way he had left it. Which meant that nobody had been inside his storage chamber, the most important part of his hillock.


    First time entering his hillock, the attention of an outsider would be focused on the living chamber rather than the storage chamber. He just had to pack the storage room full of farm products in order for him to mask the location of the portal door. Although it''s appearance was just like the storage wall when inactive, a much more powerful cultivator could easily detect strings of energy coming from its direction. But for disciples and anyone less than the Jindan stage, it wouldn''t be possible for them to detect.


    It was definitely a good thinking on his part in placing the portal door seal on the wall of the storage chamber.


    He made his way to the living chamber where everything was also the way he had left it. He checked the lock behind the entrance door and found it still securely locked. Unless an elder or a savant had invisibly entered, this surely meant that nobody had been inside his hillock. Or, a disciple who was strong enough to enter without touching the lock and was careful enough to leave everything the way they were? He didn''t think so.


    He quickly opened his spatial sac and removed the sect''s disciples blue robe. Checking himself after donning the robe, he nodded in satisfaction. With a heave of soothing relief, Ju Feng unlocked the stone door.


    Stepping outside, Ju Feng raised his head and with his eyes closed, took in a lungful of fresh air. Circulating the air in his lungs, he slowly exhaled and opened his eyes. Being able to take-in fresh air while staring at the beautiful sky in another world, was an evidence of the importance of being alive. No life in death, only reincarnation. His mind wandered off for a second before he recollected himself.


    "Ah, planet Charat!"


    The soul refreshing air of this world felt like that of his home planet. This place was beginning to feel like home too. Opening his eyes, he lowered his head and observed his surroundings. The chains of hillocks which served as their homes as disciples, was a welcomed sight to him.


    "The Flowing-Sanctum!"


    Standing transfixed outside his hillock, Ju Feng continued to revel in the fact that he could travel between the two places he could relate to. His parents would have loved to see this one day. Oh, the surprise looks that would be displayed on their faces. He still remembered how utterly shocked he was when he first came here through the door. Ah, he never imagined he would have experienced such in this life when his own mother and grandparents had never left planet Lorra before and after he was born. Yet, here he was.


    But for now, he had to survive in this world and be able to stand on his own. Well, if he lived long enough. He shrugged his shoulders and turned towards the direction of the Lightning-Reach''s hall. He had come to accept his fate but the good thing was that this fate was still far away. As long as he would die quietly...


    While examining his immediate environment more keenly, he slowly made his way to the hall of the Lightning-Reach. He was now seeing the area in a different light which manifested the massiveness of the sect as a whole. Reaching the outskirts of the area, he stopped as he saw the lightning disciples training fervently in two groups under the supervision of the assistant masters. First assistant master was in charge of Yan Zhihao''s group and the second assistant master was supervising the second group.


    The level of the disciples'' strength was indeed incredible to behold. Despite his own strong nature from birth, he would have to use a high amount of Chi energy to get closer to matching his fellow disciples in strength. Even then, the outcome would be a far cry. He recalled the strength level of the outer disciples which he could barely match. Mighty strength. Indeed remarkable or perhaps, ridiculous?


    He was still thinking of how he was ever going to relate to them in strength when he suddenly remembered his talisman. The Mountain-Bark talisman. He almost forgot about it again. He quickly reached into his spatial sac and removed the talisman, putting it on himself. Would this be enough? He could only hope so.


    Still looking at the training disciples, he contemplated whether to join them or wait this one out. He decided not to disturb their training and wait it out. He would stay in one corner and watch their practise. Maybe he would see how he could fit into their midst.


    But his presence was already caught by the assistant masters who directed the two groups of disciples to stop their training. The assistant masters waited silently for couple of seconds for him to join them, but to no avail. Then, the second assistant master slowly turned towards Ju Feng''s direction and calmly asked.


    "Are you not joining the rest, young one?"


    Ah, spiritual sense! Realizing the assistant master was addressing him, he quickly came forward in a pretended eagerness and bowed deeply to the two assistant masters. They should not see his apprehension in a bad light.


    "Assistant masters."


    "Hm."


    "Hm."


    The two assistant masters acknowledged him with nods of approval in return. The second assistant master, stared at Ju Feng before smiling.


    "We were wondering when you''ll eventually show up, young one. And here you are. In a good mood. That''s the spirit of advancement. Isn''t that wonderful?"


    "Yes it is, assistant master."


    Ju Feng smilingly bowed as he answered but his heart was already accelerating. So, there was no way he was going to watch the day''s training without participating in it. He had planned to see how he could learn from their ways before he would join them. But now, he would put in the centre of it as the newest disciple.


    "Why don''t you take a moment with other disciples first. We''ll continue after that."


    Ju Feng happily exchanged greetings with other disciples. It seemed like many years ago he had seen them last. They were his immediate martial brothers and sisters in this sect. Basically, they were his first family in here. While he greeted Yan Zhihao, Ju Feng noticed the worried look on his face. What could be the problem with him? As he was about to ask Yan Zhihao what the worried look was about, Yan Zhihao quickly uttered to him.


    "Be ready."


    "Uh?"


    Ju Feng exclaimed quietly. What should he be ready for? He was about to ask Yan Zhihao what he meant about that when he heard the voice of the first assistant master.


    "Come forward, Ju Feng."


    Ju Feng slowly approached the assistant masters and was directed to the centre of the training ground.


    "Today is your first day in training. As a new disciple, you''ll be having your group foundational training, now. It''s a very important training that all new disciples must undergo. This is the tradition."


    The first assistant master made a series of hand seals and a large circle of symbols formed around Ju Feng. As he stood there, at the centre of the training ground, the words of Yan Zhihao came rushing back to him. Was this what ha had to be prepared for? He didn''t know the type of training that was awaiting him but he sensed it must be more than a common one. He couldn''t leave anything to chance, especially after being tipped.


    Promptly, he pushed a high amount of Chi energy into his body from his dantian through his meridians. The Chi was making his meridians to throb greatly which made his body veins to vibrate endlessly. With all his effort, he was holding the Chi energy inside his body while staring at the first assistant master.


    "The Sattaghar Circle-Of-One."


    Said the first assistant master as he signalled the ten core disciples who rapidly surrounded the circle. After confirming their positions around the circle, the first assistant master continued.


    "Around the circle are your enemies and your allies. You can call on your friends to help you out by touching them or other discreet means. If you touch your enemy, you could be dead. If you shout, you could also attract the interest of your enemies. Which ones are your friends and which ones are your foes is for you to differentiate. Don''t forget, you call on your friends, you could be saved. But if you call on your enemies, you could be dead. This will be your first training and a very important one for what it takes. Watch out and be careful. Commence!"


    Immediately after those words, a large phantom clawed hand appeared before Ju Feng who quickly raised his own palms as his Chi energy bust forth from his palm and managed to block it on time before it could reach his c.h.e.s.t cavity. The blow seemed light but the impact was heavy on him. It was as if he was hit with a titan''s hammer. He wasn''t like the disciples of this world. His body wasn''t on their level of strength. If not for the talisman and him fortifying his own body with great amount of Chi, he could have been gravely injured.


    The phantom claw retracted into an invisible space on the right hand side of the circle causing energy flickering around the area. The invisibility mirage slowly faded away, to reveal a Scavenlike creature but with bigger claws and incredible body strength. Large yellow eyes on a flickering black body that was sparsely dotted in yellow colour. A Tinogoth Feral. He had only heard of them but never faced one before. Harbingers of death, they were called. Its large yellow eyes were still fixed on Ju Feng when its body suddenly burst into dark flame. Shadow flame.


    He knew they wouldn''t allow him to be permanently injured or die, nonetheless, this would be a terrible experience for him. Especially, if they had to see him as a weakling.


    He quickly pushed more chi energy into his body and his palms as he initiated the The Shifting-Heavens hand technique. His palms started to flutter silently in many afterimages as the Chi essence complemented the hand combat technique. He watched in utter shock as the Tinogoth feral made its move while it was dangerously covered in Shadowflame. It was as if the feral was using the Heavenly-Mirage movement as its speed was lightning fast.


    Ju Feng hurriedly used the Swift-Spine technique to move out of the way of a diagonal claw swipe that could have cut him half. Although he was still practising this second level of the movement technique, it was the fastest for any cultivator of his stage as far as he knew. Unless, the crazily powerful demigods.


    He thrust his shifting palm towards the ribcage of the feral but its direction rapidly changed to swiftly block the feral''s lightning fast tail that was aimed at his c.h.e.s.t. The benefits of the Shifting-Heavens technique. They continued to exchange deadly strikes as the two of them moved in fast speed that soon turned to blur. However, the speed and strength of the feral was increasing as the fight progressed. This was beginning to give him serious concern as he was already at his maximum speed and strength.


    The assistant masters and the disciples were now watching in silent wonder of the scene they were witnessing. Never had they all seen a new inner disciple that almost matched a Tinogoth Feral in both strength and speed. The strength they could believe, but the speed? The two assistant masters glanced at each other before turning back to unfolding scene. There was no way an inner disciple could move like that. No way. The disciples couldn''t help but focused unwaveringly on Ju Feng and the Feral who continued to do battle inside the circle.


    Suddenly, just as the Feral''s body was covered in a dark bright glow, it delivered a mighty blow to Ju Feng who was knocked flying despite his best attempt to block it. After he managed to scramble to his feet, he noticed that the Feral''s body had transformed into a mortal giant. Its energy emission had also changed and was now giving off a glowing black flame.


    Death flame.


    Only a shadow beast of the Jindan level stage at the least, could manifest a body transformation. And deathflame? He couldn''t even bring himself to think about the stage it had to be. This was death. It was as simple as that.


    He quickly looked around the faces of the core disciples standing around the circle but didn''t know which one to call. Seeing Yan Zhihao close by his left, Ju Feng quickly swift-stepped to him and was about to touch him when everything froze in place for a second. When everything returned to normal, the Tinogoth Feral had disappeared and the circle too had vanished. But at Ju Feng''s neck was the tip of a long sword that was in the hand of Yan Zhihao.


    "Trust is the foundation of any group of existence. While an individual trust is built on trustworthiness and honesty, a group trust is warranted. In a deadly battle, where your life is on the line, trust will make you rely on others to survive."


    The first assistant stood in front of Ju Feng and looked deep into his eyes with all seriousness.


    "As a member of the Lightning Reach, you will be making a number of journey outside the sect''s premises in hunts. Your fellow disciples will be relying on you and you will be relying on them too. Without trust, your group will simply collapse on itself and lives could be lost. Yet, trust can also make you vulnerable to unsuspected attacks. So, how do you call your friends who are not immediately around you when your life is in danger? Remember, you may be surrounded by both friends and enemies who you couldn''t differentiate due to the situation at hand. Of which, any wrong turn can be your death. In this particular situation, Yan Zhihao was your enemy."


    He sighed while continuing to stare softly at Ju Feng. Then, touching Ju Feng slightly on the c.h.e.s.t, he continued.


    "The answer is the Heartpulse. Every heartpulse has a recognition imprint to determine the sender. The heartpulse lets your friend know your need for help or your location. This is very difficult for your enemies to intercept and may allow your survival. This is a warranted trust that must be honoured. Although the vulnerability risk was there, a heartpulse must be honoured. That is why here in the Flying-Stars sect, all must swear the oath of One-Soul to make it easier to honour a heartpulse."


    The first assistant reached into his spatial sac and produced a glowing ruby oath stone. An Eternal flame stone.


    "Now repeat after me."

 Chapter 65 - We Are Adventurers, Are We Not?

    It was around six hours after his encounter with the Revenant that Ju Feng was able to leave the haven. According to the words of the grand elder, the attack on him was a soul based one. When he stepped on the heavenly seal, It directly attacked his soul bypassing his body.


    The only effect on his body was when he was thrown flying from the force-field. After regaining full consciousness, he had been checked thoroughly and was declared fit to return to his dormitory. The banging headache he was having when he first woke up had subsided too after resting.


    Heavens tears.


    He was not dead, and he had neither broken bones nor damaged dantian. He had been fortunate. On this, he would agree with the elders. After he had recovered, he had learned about Su Ming, the female cultivator who had saved his life. She had given him the expensive yellow pill after he was thrown into their midst. He wanted to thank her for saving his life but he was told she was still recuperating. He would thank her later, he was in her debt for that.


    As he was going towards his dormitory, he tried to remember the past event but he could only remember stepping on something that felt like a thunderbolt. He couldn''t remember what the revenant''s force-field looked like or what happened after he saw himself flying away from it due to the impact. Nothing at all.


    In many ways he could have been dead during the encounter. The Revenant could have beaten him into a pulp and then turned him into ash. Even from the effect of the heavenly seal, he could have died so easily. But thanks to the timely intervention of disciple Su Ming, of elder Wang Xiu and the grand elder.


    Yet again, he was in the debt of elder Wang Xiu.


    Not that he wasn''t happy for her help, he was worried about dying before paying his debt. He couldn''t afford to die with debt tied around his neck. He didn''t want the Karma of debt to tag his soul in the afterlife on the road to reincarnation. The most important thing was for him to be alive and he was grateful for this. As long as he was alive, he would have the chance to pay his debt.


    Sighing, he continued walking towards the male dormitory.


    He arrived at the male dormitory, went straight into his room and locked the door behind him. He took out some turtle meat and lily tubers from his spatial sac and started chomping down on them.


    Oh, how much he missed the turtle meat in what was less than a day. Maybe that was what death experience brought to his body and soul. After having his fill, he sat in the lotus position and began to meditate.


    The Soul Pith technique his grandmother taught him was invaluable. He began attuning his breathing to the rhythms of the technique. Few hours later, his mind had become peaceful enough for him to think with clarity.


    He had to be ready for their adventure to the forsaken palace the following day. Adventure or their demise? Why were they so much in a hurry to their death? He couldn''t back out now, that would be a disappointment to himself and his friends. Besides, he really wanted to see what a place like that would look like.


    His curiosity won over.


    He checked his items. Food, water, milk, bronze sword and rope. What would he even do with a rope? To tie himself? After what happened to him recently, he should be getting an armour of solid steel or something. Then, he remembered the mountain bark talisman he bought at the market from the antique dealer. He quickly rummaged through his spatial sac and found it. He put it near the other items in a matter of future need.


    He closed his eyes and commenced his cultivation. He was at the early stage of Zhuji but the amount of spiritual energy that he would need to advance to the next stage would be ridiculously high. This was due to the vast size of his dantian and his soul orb of liquid light. The effect of the astral primal cultivation technique.


    By the time he opened his eyes, it was the earliest period of the following morning. This was the day that commenced the sects free events week.


    The luminary week.


    The Last-Swords luminary week would be starting on that very day. The week when the disciples, the acolytes and the elders would be having all the days of the week to themselves to enjoy as they deemed fit. They could organize events, competitions or anything else they wanted as long as it was in accord with the rules and regulations.


    But for Ju Feng and his friends? Adventure week.


    All their planning led to this day, the day that began their journey into the world outside. They had all agreed to meet near the gate where they would cautiously exited the sect''s premises. Being new disciples, they were not allowed to go outside on their own without the supervision of a senior disciple or an acolyte. The rules of the sect. Only disciples from the third level could go out on their own because by that time, they would have what it takes to survive out there at the least.


    But Chenric and Da Xia had no intention of bringing any senior anyways. They had already planned it out.


    "Hello Da Xia, Chenric."


    "Hello Ju Feng."


    "You came earlier than me. I hope I didn''t keep you waiting for long. Where''s Yingjie?" Asked Ju Feng looking around.


    "He''s yet to arrive."


    "We still have ample time for him to be here."


    "You see why we came early? So we don''t keep you all waiting."


    Few minutes after that, Yingjie rushed over to them using the flash steps.

 Chapter 66 - Important Anouncement

    Hello immortals,


    It''s been a long time since I''ve last updated my work. This was due to events beyond my power. I''ve also been down with sickness, but I''m getting better now. Many nights I spent in thoughts of my work and you, the readers, which greatly affected my soul.


    I really thank and applaud all of you for staying with me through these turbulent times. I''m extremely grateful for all of these from the depth of my heart. You mean everything to me as readers. Without you, there''s no me. My humble heart rejoice for your loyalty and patience.


    I will be updating the book from now on that I''m back. I will also be changing the name to "The Path".


    I will be deleting this chapter of announcement by my next update.


    Once again, I thank you all.


    Kindly join me on discord: discord.gg/k7AnccE


    Regards


    Primate

 Chapter 66 - We Are Adventurers, Are We Not? [2]

    Zhang Xiu Ying sat in a lotus position with her eyes closed, deep in meditation. She was inside an abandoned immortal cave, some miles away from the JinJin village. Her awareness through her divine sense was covering the whole area including JinJin village. As a golden core demigod, her conscious had expanded greatly since returning from the valley of the gods.


    She didn''t want to be monitoring her son all the time, but as a mother, she was still concerned about Ju Feng leaving their home for the sect. But in as long as her son was inside the sect boundaries, it was alright with her. However, to be certain of Ju Feng''s safety, she had spread her divine sense around, outside the sect''s premises, to know of anytime her son would be outside the Last Sages'' premises.


    Earlier that morning, she had been notified of Ju Feng''s presence through her divine sense. Immediately she sensed her son, she had used her divine evasion to arrive at a safer distance from Ju Feng''s position. She would determine the situation of things before acting. After close examination with her divine sight, she had come to the conclusion of her son being in a group of something resembling, adventurers.


    Adventures?  What was Ju Feng thinking? He was just a child, and also were the other two kids. Yes, the nether demons might not come back in the time being, there were still many other sources of danger out here.


    Although she wanted to keep a keen eye on the situations, she didn''t want to appear as an obtrusive element to the adventurers union. Things with being young cultivators. She could have been more relaxed is she had been aware of their sect elder who was secretly following them. She had overlooked the possibility of that, probably due to her not sensing any form of danger in the vast area her divine sense was covering. It was during the recent attack she knew of the elder''s presence.


    Now that the sect elder was with them, their group was reasonably covered. She would wait for a bit more time before returning home. Or She could just continued watching them to be certain of their true safety. Nonetheless, the elder''s presence was a huge relief. She relaxed her mind and continued to meditate.


    ***


    Their journey had no disturbances since the event with the crystals. The presence of elder Wang Xiu gave them great confidence but also brought reservations too. An elder was in no way a disciple. What they would discuss among themselves, would be difficult to talk about in the presence of the elder. They had only planned on finding the forsaken palace on their own, as friends. But now, they had an elder''s eyes on their back. Although, elder Cao Wang Xiu tried to mingle and be more friendlier, they could still feel the intimidating discomfort of her presence. After all, she was an elder of the Last Sages sect.


    But left for Jufeng, he was extremely happy for elder Cao Wang Xiu joining them. At least, anything seeking their death again, would have to pass through her first. If not for her at the clearing, they would''ve fell prey to the black demon spider. There was no doubt in his mind what could have happened back then. And now, his mind felt much more peaceful and relaxed. Lately, his mind had been trying to know why death was seeking him. Or him seeking death? Snapping out of his thoughts, he followed others as they continued using the flash-steps.


    Led by the group of the other kids, they came to an open area and stopped. From there, they could see the outskirt of the village of JinJin in the far distance.


    "Is that JinJin?"


    Lin Da Xia asked, pointing in the direction of the village.


    "Yes, that''s JinJin. We''ll stop here as agreed."


    Replied Shi Xiang before turning her attention to her own group.


    "We leave now. We''ve got arrangements to make."


    They had only promised to take their group half-way towards the village, which they had done anyway. They thanked elder Cao Wang Xiu for saving their lives. They offered her the extra Eddaros crystal which she rejected, saying she had no need for it since she was already at the late stage of the silver core. They also thanked Jufeng and others for their help before disappearing into the distance.


    After the kids had gone, the group gathered themselves and happily intensified their steps knowing their journey was on course. As they got closer to the village, it became obvious that it was a farming village, mainly in rice. Several farms of rice could be seen some kilometers away from the road leading to the village.


    As they were approaching, elder Wang Xiu noticed a Steller eagle flying in their direction. She signalled the others, making them reduced their speed too. The eagle was making a muffled sound while locking eyes with the elder. Steller eagles were magical birds with no awareness or reasoning, therefore, it couldn''t be making an intelligent connection on its own. And Chi cultivators wouldn''t use magical beasts, intricately, like that. For a Chi cultivator, magical beasts were only good as pets.


    There were two types of beasts in existence. The primordial beasts of chaos and the cosmic beasts of the universe. The cosmic beasts of the universe are divided into four groups. The divine, sacred, demonic and magical beasts.


    The divine beasts were powerful creatures born with golden cores. And they had divine bloodline which could take them to immortality. But they couldn''t attain mortal transformation or cultivation. They would forever remained in their animal forms.


    Whereas, the sacred beasts were created with copper cores as the basis of their soul ecistence. However, they could cultivate like mortals and achieve mortal transformation at a certain stage. But unlike the divine beasts, they didn''t have any bloodline traits. They had to use cosmic energy to cultivate to reach immortality. That was their fate.

 Chapter 67 - JinJin Village [1]

    The demonic beasts on the other hand were animals which gained sentience after absorbing large amount of demonic energy over a long period of time. Demonic energy was one of the energies of the Nether plane. But every now and then, the demonic energy would seep into the mortal plane through the occasional cracks in the fabrics of the universe.


    Then, the magical beasts. They had neither awareness nor intelligence. They simply had no sentience, and they were the weakest of the lot. Their energy imbued bodies served as sources of nutrients for cultivators.


    The steller eagle was a magical beast, but was acting with sentience. A sentient magical beast? That could only mean one thing.


    Xue Wu.


    Blood cultivator, or simply blood.


    Xue Wus, blood cultivators or bloods, were powerful mortals who used the mystical life-force power of blood to gain extreme powers. They were mainly diviners. They used blood essence to power their oracle bones, for seeing the past and future. Unlike Chi cultivators that formed cores in their dantians, blood cultivators were not able to form cores. They would form eternal core bonds with mighty beasts, and the beasts would serve as their cores.


    The less powerful Xue Wus, would go for magical beasts. But the more powerful Xue Wus, would make pacts with the divine beasts before forming eternal bonds with them. The divine beasts would be the blood cultivators'' cores. Their power would grow as the beasts grew in power.


    Generally, blood cultivators would bond with magical beasts and draw energy essence from their blood. That was much more safer, though, there would not be much increase in their power. But for them to really grow in power and advance in their levels, they had to bond with divine beasts and draw from their life-force-infused blood. The reason due to them being innate bloodline beasts.


    Although, the divine beasts and magical beasts made them more powerful due to the fact they could draw directly on their power. However the more powerful divine beasts could also be their death. If the beasts died, they would no longer have any source of power. They would no longer be able to bond with any beasts. And unless they could find the Jade Dragon spirit fruit, they would be stuck in their advancement.


    Blood cultivators who were satisfied with their states of existence would settle for magical beasts. But more ambitious blood cultivators would go with the divine beasts since it was only through them they could attract the heavenly tribulations. And both the blood cultivator and the beast, would have to undergo the tribulations together. Hence, increasing their slim chances.


    Over the years, the heavenly tribulations had been incredibly strong against the Xue Wus, especially the ascension tribulations. Most of them had died from the effects of the tribulations. Only a handful had ever made it to ascension. Due to the fact that here was no other way for them, many blood cultivators had decided against attracting the tribulations. Life was better than the samsara cycle.


    Zhang Xiu Ying sat in a lotus position with her eyes closed, deep in meditation. She was inside an abandoned immortal cave, some miles away from the JinJin village. Her awareness through her divine sense was covering the whole area including JinJin village. As a golden core demigod, her conscious had expanded greatly since returning from the valley of the gods.


    She didn''t want to be monitoring her son all the time, but as a mother, she was still concerned about Ju Feng leaving their home for the sect. But in as long as her son was inside the sect boundaries, it was alright with her. However, to be certain of Ju Feng''s safety, she had spread her divine sense around, outside the sect''s premises, to know of anytime her son would be outside the Last Sages'' premises.


    Earlier that morning, she had been notified of Ju Feng''s presence through her divine sense. Immediately she sensed her son, she had used her divine evasion to arrive at a safer distance from Ju Feng''s position. She would determine the situation of things before acting. After close examination with her divine sight, she had come to the conclusion of her son being in a group of something resembling, adventurers.


    Adventures?  What was her son even thinking? He was just a child, and also were the other two kids. He didn''t even care being attacked by the crazy demons? Yes, the nether demons might not come back in the time being, there were still many other sources of danger out here.


    Although she wanted to keep a keen eye on the situations, she didn''t want to appear as an obtrusive element to the adventurers union. Things with being young cultivators. She could have been more relaxed is she had been aware of their sect elder who was secretly following them. She had overlooked the possibility of that, probably due to her not sensing any form of danger in the vast area her divine sense was covering. It was during the recent attack she knew of the elder''s presence.


    Now that the sect elder was with them, their group was reasonably covered. She would wait for a bit more time before returning home. Or She could just continued watching them to be certain of their true safety. Nonetheless, the elder''s presence was a huge relief. She relaxed her mind and continued to meditate.


    ***


    Their journey had no disturbances since the event with the crystals. The presence of elder Wang Xiu gave them great confidence but also brought reservations too. An elder was in no way a disciple. What they would discuss among themselves, would be difficult to talk about in the presence of the elder. They had only planned on finding the forsaken palace on their own, as friends. But now, they had an elder''s eyes on their back.


    Although, elder Cao Wang Xiu tried to mingle and be more friendlier, they could still feel the intimidating discomfort of her presence. After all, she was an elder of the Last Sages sect. How could they express themselves freely with her being around?

 Chapter 68 - JinJin Village [2]

    But left for Jufeng, he was extremely happy for elder Cao Wang Xiu joining them. At least, anything seeking their death again, would have to pass through her first. If not for her at the clearing, they would''ve fell prey to the black demon spider. There was no doubt in his mind what could have happened back then. And now, his mind felt much more peaceful and relaxed. Lately, his mind had been trying to know why death was seeking him. Or him seeking death?


    Snapping out of his thoughts, he followed others as they continued using the flash-steps.  Led by the group of the other kids, they came to an open area and stopped. From there, they could see the outskirt of the village of JinJin in the far distance.


    "Is that JinJin?"


    Lin Da Xia asked, pointing in the direction of the village.


    "Yes, that''s JinJin. We''ll stop here as agreed."


    Replied Shi Xiang before turning her attention to her own group.


    "We leave now. We''ve got arrangements to make."


    They had only promised to take their group half-way towards the village, which they had done anyway. They thanked elder Cao Wang Xiu for saving their lives. They offered her the extra Eddaros crystal which she rejected, saying she had no need for it since she was already at the late stage of the silver core. They also thanked Jufeng and others for their help before disappearing into the distance.


    After the kids had gone, the group gathered themselves and happily intensified their steps knowing their journey was on course. As they got closer to the village, it became obvious that it was a farming village, mainly in rice. Several farms of rice could be seen some kilometers away from the road leading to the village.


    As they were approaching, elder Wang Xiu noticed a Steller eagle flying in their direction. She signalled the others, making them reduced their speed too. The eagle was making a muffled sound while locking eyes with the elder. Steller eagles were magical birds with no awareness or reasoning, therefore, it couldn''t be making an intelligent connection on its own. And Chi cultivators wouldn''t use magical beasts, intricately, like that. For a Chi cultivator, magical beasts were only good as pets.


    There were two types of beasts in existence. The primordial beasts of chaos and the cosmic beasts of the universe. The cosmic beasts of the universe are divided into four groups. The divine, sacred, demonic and magical beasts.


    The divine beasts were powerful creatures born with golden cores. And they had divine bloodline which could take them to immortality. But they couldn''t attain mortal transformation or cultivation. They would forever remained in their animal forms.


    Whereas, the sacred beasts were created with copper cores as the basis of their soul ecistence. However, they could cultivate like mortals and achieve mortal transformation at a certain stage. But unlike the divine beasts, they didn''t have any bloodline traits. They had to use cosmic energy to cultivate to reach immortality.


    Then, the magical beasts. They had neither awareness nor intelligence. They simply had no sentience, and they were the weakest of the lot. Their energy imbued bodies served as sources of nutrients for cultivators.


    The steller eagle was a magical beast, but was acting with sentience. A sentient magical beast? That could only mean one thing.


    Xue Wu.


    Blood cultivator, or simply blood.


    Xue Wus, blood cultivators or bloods, were powerful mortals who used the mystical life-force power of blood to gain extreme powers. They were mainly diviners. They used blood essence to power their oracle bones, for seeing the past and future. Unlike Chi cultivators that formed cores in their dantians, blood cultivators were not able to form cores. They would form eternal core bonds with mighty beasts, and the beasts would serve as their cores.


    The less powerful Xue Wus, would go for magical beasts. But the more powerful Xue Wus, would make pacts with the divine beasts before forming eternal bonds with them. The divine beasts would be the blood cultivators'' cores. Their power would grow as the beasts grew in power.


    Generally, blood cultivators would bond with magical beasts and draw energy essence from their blood. That was much more safer, though, there would not be much increase in their power. But for them to really grow in power and advance in their levels, they had to bond with divine beasts and draw from their life-force-infused blood. The reason due to them being innate bloodline beasts.


    Although, the divine beasts and magical beasts made them more powerful due to the fact they could draw directly on their power. However the more powerful divine beasts could also be their death. If the beasts died, they would no longer have any source of power. They would no longer be able to bond with any beasts. And unless they could find the Jade Dragon spirit fruit, they would be stuck in their advancement.


    Blood cultivators who were satisfied with their states of existence would settle for magical beasts. But more ambitious blood cultivators would go with the divine beasts since it was only through them they could attract the heavenly tribulations. And both the blood cultivator and the beast, would have to undergo the tribulations together. Hence, increasing their slim chances.


    Life was better than the samsara cycle.

 Chapter 69 - JinJin Village [3]

    As a result, a number of blood cultivators had decided to avoid making pacts with the divine beasts. Rather, they would obtain the much less powerful magical creatures. No ascension tribulations meant no sudden death and no fright of death over a dying divine beasts.


    Nevertheless, the importance of Xue Wu was significant in any cultivation world. Due to their scrying oracles, they had become an integral part of the cultivation world. Every village had a Xue Wu who carried out the village''s divination.


    Elder wang Xu sent out her awareness to intercept the bird.


    "Xue Wu?"


    "Yes, immortal one. My name is Yan Dai."


    "Yan Dai?"


    "Yes, immortal one. Please, help me."


    "Where are you?"


    "JinJin village, immortal elder."


    "JinJin? Hmm. Why do you need my help?"


    "They''re going to kill me."


    "Why? What did you do?"


    "Nothing, immortal one. They are blaming me for what I didn''t do."


    "Continue."


    "First, they accused me of being Xue Ku. And now, they''''re saying I''m responsible for the disappearances of many children in JinJin and other villages too."


    "Are you?"


    "No, immortal one."


    "You better don''t tell lies. Those are serious offenses in a mortal world."


    "No, immortal one. I''m not lying."


    "So, why are they accusing you?"


    "I don''t know. But I believe the one responsible is still here in JinJin?"


    "Huh? How did you know?"


    "Before my parents died, I heard them talking about something they discovered. There''s a powerful Xu Ku who has a connection to the villages so the children could be taken. My parents were about to expose the roots of the disappearances when they were killed."


    "Continue."


    "Something powerful and extremely fast entered our house. But before he could enter, it had to pass through the defensive array. Although it took seconds for it to break the defense, but while trying to do that, my father used our ancestral heavenly artifact on me and I couldn''t remember anything from there. By the time I came around, I found them decayed. Please immortal elder, I can no longer hold the connection."


    "Okay, go. If what you say it''s true, I''ll see what I can do. But if you are lying, you must face their consequences."


    A Xue Ku in the village?


    A Xue Ku, rogue blood cultivator. It was the forbidden side of Xue Wu, true blood cultivator.


    Rogue blood cultivation. Completely draining the life-force of innocent mortals thereby turning them to Spectres before bonding them. They didn''t bond with one but hundred or thousands of spectres. That gave Xu Kus more power than the Xue Wus due to the pure karmic virtues in innocent mortal souls. The power of the spectres could also allow the rogue blood cultivators to launch powerful soul attacks. Extremely powerful blood cultivators.


    Elder Wang Xiu recalled her awareness and turned to the waiting group. Caution was greatly  needed when facing a situation like that or else, she could easily loose her life. She began to explain what was happening to the disciples.


    "Elder Cao, should we be involved?"


    Lin Cheung asked worryingly. They were only out to find the forsaken palace and should be on their way. Why should they complicate things in this way?


    "Something''s wrong. Follow me. Stay quiet and leave everything to me."


    Entering the village, they saw a young girl being tied to an Etcher tree with the spectral chains by the side of a path at the entrance of the village. A large number of the villagers, who gathered in front of the tree, were being held back by the village guards.


    Combining her spiritual sight with her ancestral bloodline sense, elder Wang Xiu examined the girl but she couldn''t detect any form of Karmic sin in the girl. But she had the feeling of something not quite right. With her aura masked, elder Cao Wang Xiu approached one of the gathered villagers.


    "Excuse me, what''s going on here?"


    The man turned to see who was talking to him. When he saw the scholarly robe of elder Wang Xiu, he respectfully replied with a slight nod.


    "Yes, Xiansheng. The girl''s found to be a rogue blood."


    Another villager who was close to them also quipped in.


    "She''s a Xue Ku. Xiansheng."


    "A Xue Ku?"


    Asked elder Wang Xiu as she acted to be contemplating on the situation.


    "Yes, xiansheng. Her name is Yan Dai. She was the daughter of the old village diviner, Wen Dai, a true blood cultivator and Wang Dai, an evanesce core cultivator."


    "Where are they now?"


    "They are both dead. They died in mysterious condition on the same night, their bodies decayed and disintegrated before morning. She was the only survivor. At that time, many villagers were wondering if she was the cause of their death or not. But because she was too young then, the suspicion was overlooked. But now, with the happenings around now, all fingers pointed to her."


    "What happenings?"


    "There have been many disappearances and death of children in this village and sorrounding villages."


    Are you certain she''s a rogue blood cultivator?"


    "Yes, Xiansheng. The village headmen came together and consulted their diviners but they couldn''t locate the problem. It continued like that until our village diviner confirmed it that the girl was the one behind them."


    "The village diviner?"


    "Yes, Xiansheng."


    The man pointed to the woman in black robe with half mask on her face.


    "That''s her over there, in the black robe. Wu Yu Cui, a true blood cultivator."


    "Is that the village chieftain?"


    Elder Wang Xiu asked as she gestured toward the man wearing the yellow silk robe.


    "Yes, Xiansheng. That''s chieftain Xu Xinyi. He lost a son too."


    "Hm, I see."

 Chapter 70 - JinJin Village [4]

    Zhang Xiu Ying left the villager''s side and walked towards the center where the chieftain was still addressing the crowd. She understood the enormity of the task on the head of a chieftain. Especially, keeping the village safe from dangers. Any cultivator indulging in the killing of innocents people must face the consequences, blood cultivator or not. Yet, wrong person shouldn''t die wrongly for the acts of another.


    "We''ve found her guilty of these crimes. As with the laws of the land, she would have to be put to death inside the infernal chamber."


    "Greetings, chieftain Xu Xinyi."


    "Who is that?"


    Chieftain Xu Xinyi turned towards the voice in anger. Nobody in the village could interrupt the chieftain without consequencies. Not at the time when the whole village was on edge after the recent happenings.


    "Please forgive me, chieftain Xu. I''m sect elder Cao Wang Xiu."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu replied with a raised cupped fist. The village chieftain was a peak-stage copper core, but elder Cao Wang Xiu knew the importance of honour accorded the chieftains. She continued raising her cupped fist until the chieftain recovered from the slight shock of having a sect elder in the village.


    "We welcome you, sect elder Cao."


    "Thank you, chieftan Xu. Forgive me for intruding. But I think you should thoroughly investigate the matter before making that decision. Don''t you think?"


    "We have checked and confirmed it, sect elder Cao. There''s no doubt about our findings."


    "Please, allow me."


    As she said that elder Wang Xiu dropped the Light-Caller seal she was holding in her hand, and the light from the seal covered the whole area.


    "Into the light and let it be revealed."


    The shield surrounding the grim-faced man shimmered and quickly faded, revealing the true sickening aura of the man. Aura which had been moulded by blood and karmic sins.


    "You?"


    Chieftain Xu Xinyi asked in shock. He couldn''t believe the man acting as a trusted ally was a shifer. Was he the one killing the children? But the village diviner confirmed it was the girl. Then, what about this shifter?


    "Yes, me. So what? Can you can be quiet now? Thank you."


    The grim faced man replied, as he turned his attention towards elder Cao Wang Xiu with a smile that resembled a scowl. He had been hoping to carry out his task silently and leave the people to their confrontations. But things had changed after the sect elder used the truth-revealing seal.


    "Now, you have my attention, silver core Cao Wang Xiu. I''ve been watching you since you arrived."


    The grim-faced man shook his head slightly before giving a mocking bow.


    "Please, forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Blood Blade."


    The grey-robed man, still smiling, stared fixedly at elder Wang Xiu.


    "Shall we?"


    Since the revelation of Blood Blade, the village center had gone distinctly quiet. All the gathered villagers had since disappeared from the vicinity of the area. Some, in their little understanding, had barricaded themselves in their homes while the most discerning had simply left the village in high speed and were watching from afar. Only high level blood cultivators could shape-shift conveniently and avoid any detection from lower levelled cultivators.


    Unless, through a shape-shifting seal? Ah, the dream and illusion cultivators could easily create such illusions too. The crazy world of cultivation.


    Looking at the villagers who were watching from afar, elder Cao Wang Xiu shook her head. Why wouldn''t they run for their lives? The situation was already beyond the height of mere mortals. The man in black robe was already an immortal cultivator beyond ordinary comprehension. He was one of the cultivators who could easily cause the destruction of the whole place in seconds. That would certainly result in the death of hundreds or thousands of innocent mortals. Any bystander would simply be a part of the casualties.


    That was the major reason why only the avatars, and not the true physical bodies, of the heavenly gods were permitted by the universe to enter the mortal plane. The utter destruction that could occur from exposure to their conflicting powers would be too devastating for any mortal worlds. The avatars of the heavenly entities contained lesser powers which the mortal plane could still handle.


    Blood Blade keenly observed elder Wang Xiu for few seconds before smiling bitterly.


    "Cao Wang Xiu. I''ve been patiently waiting for you for some time. I knew you''ll come eventually."


    Elder Wang Xiu trembled slightly when she heard those words. Why in heavens tears would an extremely dangerous being, a murderer of innocent children, be waiting for her here? Oh, why her at all? She knew from the records of The Dominants, what the name of this black robed man meant. Peril and death. That''s what. And she was now staring into his very eyes. At that time, she realised she took a mortal risk with the talisman. It wasn''t even the power of the truth revealing seal that exposed the identity of the black-robed man. The man intentionally revealed himself.


    The legendary Blood Blade.


    An Immortal at the peak of cultivation on the mortal plane. Named Blood-Blade after his luminous red sword, his level of power could only be imagined. A sword made from the mythical red primitium and the core of an ancient Spada-beast. Only extremely powerful martial artists who had left great marks on any planes could take the name of their swords. And Blood-Blade was one of them.


    He was a double elements affiliate, representing the dream and illusion, and lightning. He had already reached the gates of the heavenly precinct of mystical arts. Without holding his legendary sword, he could manifest a higher degree of dreams and illusions or lightning than before. The most terrifying was the web of red lightning of his mystical arts, produced through his sword. It was almost compressed into a single streak of stroke, but packed with more devastating power.


    Those were the traits of the gods and celestials.

 Chapter 71 - JinJin Village [5]

    From what she had learnt, he was categorized as a high tempered danger. A complete lunatic with extreme powers. All his battles had been frightening, according to the detailed information. They said during battles, his anger would always take hold of him. Hence, he wouldn''t be able to differentiate friends from enemies. Although he tried to control his temper, especially during a normal mortal dealings, his temper would still come to the fore every now and then.


    His planet of origin was not quite clear, but some fingers are pointing at a major human world known as Taiyuan. A world of dangerous and deadly cultivators. Not many mortal worlds could boast of such reputation.


    As she continued looking at the legendary Blood-Blade, information from the archives of the dominants started flooding into Cao Wang Xiu''s head.


    Every plane had records of its exceedingly powerful figures and their impactful deeds. Entities who demanded honour from the other cultivators. They were the figures who others needed to be watchful and careful of. Some of them were peaceful and easy going, but tremendously deadly. While others were petulant in nature and intensely dangerous. Only adequate knowledge of who they were, could help others to avoid courting death if they were to be faced. For the mortal plane, it was the records of the dominant.


    The Dominants.


    They were the extremely powerful figures from the mortal plane. Although they came from different mortal worlds, their names were known throughout the mortal plane due to their displays of powers. Some of them were in possession of divine treasures, some had luminous treasures or combination of both.


    Anyhow it was perceived, one thing was certainly clear. A cultivator must have at least two total grade luminous treasures and displayed tremendous power to be considered as a dominant out of trillions of people in different worlds on the mortal plane.


    The deeds of those powerful figures were recorded in the archive of The Dominants.


    There were some dominants that were peaceful in their daily dealings but extremely deadly when crossed while there were some that were dangerously hazardous whether they were crossed or not. The second group of dominants were to be avoided at all cost for the simple reason involving their petulant nature. In that second group was Blood Blade. A dangerously hazardous cultivator. Many were the immortal cultivators who had died in his hand.


    Elder Wang Xiu stared apprehensively at Blood Blade, occasionally glancing at his red robe in wonderment. Even his robe was a luminous treasure. It was said to change colour according to the state of his heart. When in battle, it would change to red the colour of his heart, and at that time, he would only see red.


    "Why do you belittle me, Wang Xiu?"


    Blood Blade grimaced at Elder Wang Xiu before shaking his head slowly.


    "Many children have died due to rogue blood cultivation.How can you, in your silly little head, associate me with those crazy blood cultivators? Or is it because of what they call me, Blood Blade? Who do you even think I am, Wang Xiu?"


    He continued shaking his head dejectedly.


    "Ah, maybe you don''t really know me at all. Or, you know, but can''t really comprehend. It''s truly sad how this life''s changing for the worst."


    Suddenly, his expressions changed and he glared at Cao Wang Xiu in anger.


    "Now, keep your thoughts silent and listen. Those death were not due to my actions. If I was in a bad mood, I would have thrown you off this planet. If you had paid more attention, perhaps you could have seen what was in front of you. But no, silly head. You didn''t. You were more focused on me, despite me being the one drawing your attention. You should have seen through it as a golden core, you fool."


    "Wang Xiu, you should be more careful next time."


    "Huh?"


    "Don''t loose focus on the details of your surroundings, you silly. Do you even know you are inside my force-field?"


    "Huh?"


    Seeing the expression on her face, he gave a bitter smile.


    "Aha, I thought as much. Focus Wang Xiu, focus. You are inside my force-field of illusion. From outside, they would be seeing the two of us having a standoff. I will hold this only for few minutes to avoid any form of suspicion."


    Elder Wang Xiu was contemplating furiously in her head. What suspicion? What was he talking about? Was he not the Xue Ku? Was he trying to take her for a fool? She had used the light revealer, and he had reacted. That made him guilty. Wasn''t it?


    "If it was me, you would have been dead already, Wang Xiu."


    He furrowed his eyebrows as he looked intensely at elder Wang Xiu who was having a confused look.


    "The one who committed the acts was already waiting for you outside this force-field. Yes, the one who called himself Yan Dai. To create a good ground between me and you, I''ll tell you what you failed to see. The girl you are seeing tied to the tree was actually a male cultivator at the peak stage of the golden core stage. And you see the chains, they were total grade heavenly weapons."


    Blood-Blade looked at Cao Wang Xiu and pointed to the ground they were standing on.


    "On this ground is the Thousand-Wraith seal meant for you and you walked straight into it. I don''t know what connects you two together, but the blood cultivator is seeking your death, by the looks of it. Not that it matters to me, but if not for me, you would have been dead by now. I can''t allow that to happen."


    Shrugging, he lowered his voice.


    "Not that I really care, anyway. Okay, maybe I care a little bit. You see, me and you have a settlement to make."


    "What settlement?"


    Seeing the expression on elder Wang Xiu''s face, Blood Blade''s face wrinkled into a frown.

 Chapter 72 - JinJin Village [6]

    "Don''t worry, I''ve told you already. It wasn''t for combat. Not at all. Since I have no dispute with you before, why would I pick up a fight with you? Not that I can''t pick up fight with you. It''s just that, you have something that I really need, Wang Xiu."


    "I do?"


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu asked in surprise. She wondered what she could have to prompt Blood -Blade''s search for her.


    "Yes. The Soul-forged orb of Light-Caller. I know you have it before you came here. And I intentionally made you use the Light-Caller seal just to be absolutely certain."


    He gazed at her with dead seriousness.


    "I have searched different planets, looked far and wide for this, Wang Xiu. The many hardsh.i.p.s and dangers I''ve faced looking for it, you don''t want to know."


    Elder Wang Xiu contemplated the situation in her head. Although the Soul-forged Light-Caller was a heavenly artifact which belonged to her ancestors, it wasn''t worthy of her being dead for. She was looking at an extremely dangerous cultivator who was trying his best to control his temper and maintained his patience.


    "Yes, I do have the artifact. But I believe it has to be given voluntarily."


    "That is true."


    "And do I have any other options?"


    "We always have options in life, Wang Xiu. The problem is choosing the right one. You can name your price or ask for something in return. If you do want something in return, I have other heavenly artifacts you can choose from. You can even choose two if you want."


    " What if I say no?"


    "Then, I can only hope you reconsider."


    Elder Wang Xiu continued to look at the black robed man in front of her known as Blood Blade and came to the realization that he could be nearing the edge of his patience with her. How could she even measured up to him? A nascent soul compared to an ascendant. Wouldn''t that be like comparing a hill to a mountain? She didn''t need the Light-Caller that much anyway. So, why would she kill herself for such a thing? But he might have something she could need in the future.


    "This treasure belonged to my ancestral lineage. It''s of great value to me. But I will need the Soul of the Frozen-Light in return."


    "The Soul of the Frozen-Light?"


    He asked slowly as he observed her.


    "A formidable heavenly artifact that can make you extremely powerful when facing many enemies at once. Are you planning on going on a rampage, Wang Xiu? You won''t do that, will you?"


    "Not at all, lord Wu Heng."


    "Hm. Anyway, It''s a pity I don''t have that artifact. But..."


    Blood Blade flicked his hand and produced a round bright orb.


    "I do have this."


    "The Heavenly Light-Carver!"


    Elder Wang Xiu exclaimed.


    "I''m afraid this is the best I can do."


    Blood Blade slowly uttered with a wry smile.


    "I hope it can satisfy your need."


    Elder Wang Xiu quickly composed herself and cleared her throat.


    "Mhm. I''ve considered the offer Lord Wu Heng and I''ve made a decision."


    "Taking into account how much you really need the Soul-forged Light-Caller, I''ve decided to make the exchange with you. You are more than deserving of it."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu quickly flipped her hand and produced the artifact.


    "Here it is, Lord Wu Heng."


    With a swerve, she sent the artifact towards Blood-Blade.


    "Don''t you think once I have the artifact, I can change my mind and simply kill you?"


    "It did crossed my mind to speak the truth. But then, I told myself you could''ve killed me before now. Whether you have it or not. But being a man of your word, you put honour before anything else."


    Blood-Blade looked at the artifact, then at Wang Xiu and nodded his head.


    "Maybe, you do know me after all. Anyway, for the fact that you talked reasonably, and showed trust in me, I''ll help you out with the seal. But, what you do after that will be on you. Okay?"


    "Yes."


    "As a nascent dream cultivator, I can see into him. Like I said earlier, the Xue Ku that was trying to kill you is a peak-stage nascent soul. You may think you can cope against him, buy you can''t. And his eagle you saw was a divine beast, not a magical beast. It could reason well enough on its own. The innocent souls he was gathering was to prepare the artifact he''ll use to face the tribulations. They would be undergoing their heavenly tribulations together sooner than expected but as a Xue Ku with so many innocent death on his hand, the tribulations can definitely kill him."


    Blood-Blade raised the orb in his hand, examining it.


    "And I think he could also be looking for the soul-forged Light-Caller just like myself. Despite my best effort, this mortal plane is already pushing me out. Soon, I''ll have to face the tribulations. This artifact will greatly help during the tribulations."


    He looked worryingly at the illusion he had set around them.


    "It''s almost time for me to dissolve the illusion. Let me quickly tell you this then. For me, the problem isn''t him but his ancestral fathers. The ones watching over him. His immediate father is a nascent soul while his grandfather is already a highgod. Can you imagine how powerful a Xue Wu has to be to become a puregod, not to mention a Xue Ku? I can''t even imagine it myself."


    He gazed into the distance and shook his head with a sigh.


    "I don''t want to go into the tribulations with another burden on my shoulders. And if I manage to pass the tribulations, I don''t want to go to the heavenly plane to face the wrath of a highgod. Even his image can appear here at any time."


    Turning to elder Cao Wang Xiu, he uttered.


    "Take out your weapon and act as if you are attacking me. When I remove the illusion, I will send a wayward blast towards the spirit seal to remove it in what will look like a mistake. After that, you will be by yourself. Is that fair?"


    Elder Wang Xiu''s mind was occupied as she was furiously thinking about the situation. How could she cope with a peak stage cultivator? With a puregod at his back? It''s impossible, unless she could call for help. But that would take them time to arrive. It was not looking good.


    Blood Blade was looking at her as she contemplated. Why couldn''t people understand the need to get more powerful? He simply shook his head.


    "Take this seal, it''s the Ten Tirade seal. Use it when the illusion is off, it will protect you for the time period you need to get away from here."


    "Thank you senior Blood Blade."


    "Don''t worry about it, It''s nothing. How good fated we are that we wouldn''t be facing each other in combat though I think you wouldn''t have fared better. But destiny brought us together. If we both live till then, maybe we can share a cup of heavenly elixir. Farewell Wang Xiu. Now, go ahead and send your most powerful attack."


    Blood Blade removed the illusion just as elder Wang Xiu''s attack was reaching him, parried it and with the same fluid movement, sent a single arc of compressed lightning towards the Thousand Wraith seal causing it to crack into many fractures. With that, he streaked off in a flash of red lightning.


    Elder Wang Xiu intentionally looked around before walking towards the group of her disciples who were already coming back to join her. The group couldn''t believe a dangerous situation was over in an instant. They were very happy as they used flashsteps to move towards elder Wang Xiu.


    Ju Feng was totally relieved the deadly atmosphere had passed. Their adventure was turning out to be a walk in the shadow of death. For him, ever since his encounter with the revenant, his life seemed to be on the road to reincarnation. He would have to be extremely careful henceforth.


    As they almost reached where she was, elder Wang Xiu turned back to take a look at the girl only to find her standing few yards from her.


    "Hello Wang Xiu, I know you couldn''t recognize me. How could you anyways? I could''ve finished with you if not for that mad man who made the situation about himself. He couldn''t even wait to finish it, pathetic. Now it''s all about me and you."


    Elder Wang Xiu glared at the man standing few yards from her. Her memories returned to her birth village. The village where all her ancestors grew up before the painful incidents that led to her leaving the village. The bane of her misery.


    "Wonyong."

 Chapter 73 - JinJin Village [7]

    Wonyong.


    A relatively large village in the northern province on the continent of Anhui. The village was located near the legendary Anji sea to the front and Zhoudao city to the back. The curve of the Anji sea also connected with the city of Zhoudao. Opposite Wonyong on the other side of the sea, was a small fortified city formed by the three villages of Fushui, Darsa and Sinsan.


    The vast body of water known as the Anji sea, was the home of three different groups of the thalassics [Water sacred beasts]. Those three thalassics were the fishfolk, the dragonborn and the lionkind. Over the ages, there had been many wars over the territories of the sea. But after millions of years of disputes, an agreement was finally reached. The Anji sea was equally divided among the warring groups, bringing peace to the sea.


    The agreement also created a free region in the sea. A place where all the sea sacred beasts could come together without barging into each other''s territories. Trades and meetings, among others, could be carried out in the free region.


    On land, Wonyong village was situated at the free region of the sea where the three thalassics came together. In the immediate waters of Wonyong were three tribes of those thalassics. They were the White Sybils of the fishkind; the Ruby Crowns of the sea dragons and the Grey Runes of the sea lions. Due to them living closer to the free region, there was a close interaction among them.


    To consolidate the unity among the three thalassics, a significant decision was made regarding an invaluable artifact of the sea. The Frozen Ember pearl. A total grade luminous treasure. It was divided into three fragments, and each was given to a group of the sacred beasts. The three groups then gave them to the three tribes living near the free region of the sea. They would carry the symbols of peace and unity in the sea of Anji.


    The peace was extended to the land. The three groups of the water sacred beasts, made an agreement with Wonyong village. The arrangement was in regards to the region and depth of the water to fish. After all, the sea was their home.


    Wonyong was also a village with abundant vegetation. Due to the availability of vegetation towards the other side of the village, half of the villagers were farmers. The various produce of the farm along with the mundane sea creatures caught in the water, was bringing a fair amount of visitors, cultivators, traders and merchants to the village.


    The Righteous World was a total grade luminous treasure of high importance. It was located in the valley on the other side of the village. Just before the chains of mountains which separated them from the city of Zhoudao. The valley area of the village had no building or any other structures. But the whole place had been reconstructed with many bamboo mats, covering the floors. Cultivators would sit on them to meditate and practice their cultivation. The effective power of the pillar covered the whole area of the valley.


    Due to all these, cultivators were coming from far and near to cultivate under the Righteous World. Among them were the sacred beasts who could transform into mortal forms. Once a sacred beast reached a level of power, it would attain mortal transformation. They would often visit Wonyong to trade or to practice cultivation under the Righteous World.


    A relatively peaceful harmony ensued among all. Gradually, the older members of the water sacred beasts began coming out to join the meditating cultivators.


    Among them was Liqiris from the White Sybils of the fishkind. He was a sacred beast at the early stage of the golden core who had already reached the cultivation levels of full transformation. In his possession was one of the fragments of the pearl, the one belonging to the White Sybils of the fishfolk. It was the responsibility of his clan to keep the fragment and produced it when required. Being a diligent sacred beast, he was chosen to be the keeper of the fragment.


    It was around the same time that a Xue Wu named Lang Hou came in from the Zhoudao city. He was an extremely powerful cultivator at the peak stage of the ascension level of power. As a blood cultivator of the nascent soul, not many cultivators on the mortal plane would be able to threaten him. On the mortal plane, hegemons were the highest in ranks. His core beast was a divine red eagle who had gained complete awareness of its existence.


    With him was a young blood cultivator of the peak-stage of the nascent soul who happened to be his son, Lang Hai. They would come to the Righteous Valley to meditate for long hours, building up trust with the others. It was there they met Cao Wang.


    To maintain the sacredness of the pillar, some workers were assigned to see to the upkeep of the valley as a whole. To regularly attend to it. They were known as the Righteous Keepers. One of those keepers was Cao Wang. Joyful for being part of the order, he had been carrying out his daily task efficiently. He was a late-stage golden core cultivator who had been looking forward to breaking through to the silver core stage. The treasured pillar had been of a great help after he was stuck at a bottleneck for a quite a long time.


    Due to the long hours spent by Lang Hou and his son at the valley to meditate, they had come to the attention of Cao Wang. And with time, they had come to know one another. Cao Wang had learned about them, and they too had acquired some information about him. Sometimes, they would provide him with some assistance in his bid to breakthrough to the next stage.


    Gradually, he became accustomed to their presence and conversations. He would tell them many things of interest whenever he had the moment. Parts of what they were talking about included cultivation, artifacts and treasures.


    But Cao Wang wasn''t alone. With him was his only child, Cao Wang Xiu. Most of the time, she would join her father at the Righteous Valley where she practiced her own cultivation. She was doing that whenever she had the slightest chance to do so. While with her father, she would listen to his conversations with the Lang father and son. Although Cao Wang Xiu was a young girl of Lianchi stage, she understood everything they were talking about.


    She couldn''t have been more proud of her father for everything he had done in her life. Ever since the death of her mother many years back, her father had been the one taking care of her. There was no denying the pain her loss had borough them. Oh, how much they missed her. She had died in a strange necrosis attack. Though the perpetrator was killed too, the weight of the scar it left on them was still enormous to bear. Yet, her father had never left her wanting of anything. He had been taking good care of her. Why wouldn''t she be proud of him? The weight on her shoulders had been massive, but she had been trying her best to carry it.


    Cao Wang Xiu remembered being at home one day preparing the evening meal when her father suddenly staggered into the living room, still vomiting blood.


    "Wang Xiu."


    She had ran to her father after recovering from the shock of the sight of him. She was very afraid when she saw the blood on his father. Who could have done that to her father? She knew her father never had any quarrels with anybody, even at the righteous valley. More so, he was a copper core and a good martial artist. Who could''ve gone after him? Whoever attacked her father had to be a very powerful cultivator. Cao Wang Xiu heart began to beat faster as she held on to her father.


    "Pa!"


    Holding her father, she knew something was very wrong. The wounds, why were they not healing? Bloodroot pills should stop the bleeding. Why were they still bleeding? She didn''t know when she started crying. She was losing her father.


    "No, no, no."


    She tried to stop the bleeding, but couldn''t. The many deep cuts on his body kept on gushing out blood. Her anger at being helpless to help her father was making her hands shook uncontrollably.


    "Do something, Pa!"


    "Wang Xiu, take...take this spatial sac."


    Cao Wang Xiu couldn''t stop herself from crying as she continued to hold her father. She didn''t want to take any sac. She just wanted him to be healed. Not to die.


    "Nooo father, noooo."


    Cao Wang coughed up more blood as he tried to speak.


    "Listen to me, my daughter. What''s inside this... sac I''m giving you is... very important. It belongs to the Anji sea sacred beasts. Es-pecially... the White Sybils of the fishfolk. It''s a... fragment of the Frozen Ember pearl. Please... keep... it... safe. Don''t let... it fall... into the... wrong hands..."


    He coughed more blood as he took out a seal.


    "This... teleportation seal will take you... away from here. It''s the last one... I have. After you leave here, go to the... Lijiang continent. Look for.. the Last-Sages sect, and show them... this token."


    Cao Wang produced a golden token and gave it to his daughter. He touched her cheek with one bloody finger while looking at her affectionately. He had tried his best to be there for her, but his best wasn''t good enough. He could only hope she would find her feet after he was gone.


    "Hurry up, my... daughter."

 Chapter 74 - JinJin Village [8]

    Cao Wang activated the teleportation seal and sent his daughter into the opened portal with a shoveof his palm. He could have gone with his daughter, but his depleted Chi wouldn''t allow them to go far with a mask. They would have been followed easily and killed before they could reach the Last Sages Sect.


    As Wang Xiu was sent flying into the portal, she turned her head to take a last glance at her father. It was at this time that she saw a young looking man with blue-black hair and dark blue eyes appeared out of the thin air. He was holding a silver glaive. That was the face of the one who had mortally wounded her father. How could she forget his face? He and his father had been friends with her own father at the valley of Righteous World. But they had betrayed her father and killedl him. How could she forget that?


    Elder Wang Xiu stared at the man in front of her in burning fury.


    "Lang Hai!"


    " So, you remembered me, Wang Xiu. I''m highly honoured."


    Lang Hai happily nodded before patting his robe.


    "It took me thousands of years to locate you, Wang Xiu. I''ve searched far and wide. It was very painful to see you escaped that day. Very painful. But fortunately, my path was redirected to you."


    "Why, Lang Hai?"


    He looked at elder Wang Xiu with knitted brows.


    "Why what?"


    She returned the look with burning anger and slowly shook her head.


    "You killed my father, Lang Hai."


    He watched elder Wang Xiu with a bitter smile on his face.


    "Cao Wang? Pfft. His death was on him. You see, I had nothing against your father. After all, he was a valley keeper. However, he should''ve faced his own task. But no, he had to get involved in m matter. So, he paid for it. His fault."


    He shrugged and extended his left hand.


    "Hand over the artifact, Wang Xiu. And I''ll consider letting you leave."


    With eyes burning with anger, elder Wang Xiu took out her sword, Light-Flex. With two downward swipes, sent two blades of radiant blue lights towards Lang Hai. He raised his glaive and blocked them in quick succession. Only to find Cao Wang Xiu appeared before him after using eternal light steps, forcing him to raise his glaive, hurriedly.


    They continued to exchange numerous deadly swords moves as their swords clashed ferociously. After several minutes, Cao Wang Xiu light-stepped backward. Before Lang Hai could follow her position, numerous images of her came at him from different angles. All the images were launching different sword moves.


    "The Thousand Heavenly Immortals?"


    Asked Lang Hai as he looked at elder Wang Xiu in utter disbelief. He quickly summoned the power of his divine fire eagle and released rings of red liquid fire. The rings collided with the sword moves creating massive energy field. His glaive was also moving with ferocious speed as he continued to block the images that passed through the rings. By the time the energy receded, only two images of elder Wang Xiu were left attacking Lang Hai. But he managed to hold them off and dispersed the last image. The true elder Wang Xiu streaked back to her original position.


    "It was truly remarkable for you to have learned such a move. It really caught me off guard. If it was the old me, I could have been in mortal danger. You even forced me to use the Two Worlds Liquid fire."


    Elder Wang Xiu didn''t answer him, but lifted her sword over her head and released it. The sword shot into the sky before projecting downward. A blinding red light spread around the sword from its pointed edge.


    The Divine Vermilion.


    This was her most powerful mystical art. Once the sword started to descend, the opponent would never be able to hide from it, but had to face it.


    Lang Hai couldn''t believe a cultivator at the Yinlong stage of the martial art, and the early stage of nascent soul in cultivation could be that powerful. He raised his glaive which had visible throbbing red veins and was beginning to make a loud thumping sounds. He hit the base of the glaive on the ground, stationing it upright with the bladed side facing upward.


    He clasped his hands together and the glaive turned into a massive glaive of liquid fire. And almost instantly, he opened his hands. The massive fire glaive shot upward to meet the descending massive red sword light.


    They collided and the impact was extremely frightful. If it had happened on the ground, the whole village and its vicinity would have turned to dust. Still the effect had dangerous effect on the village. Many houses were knocked down and the whole village was turned red. Even the vicinity of the village was affected.


    Both the sword and the glaive returned to their owners.


    He shook his head slowly with a sigh.


    "I never saw that coming. The Divine Vermilion. Two powerful arts you have shown me and twice you have forced my hands. Now, I can no longer hold back."


    Lang Hai took one giant step and disappeared.


    "Oath Of The Fallen Souls!"


    Elder Wang Xiu exclaimed in utter alarm.


    The Oath of the Fallen Souls was a martial arts move that could only be executed by an artist of a Qingzhong [world master] level at the least. The move would make its executioner pass through the body and soul of the opponent. By the time the martial move executioner appeared behind the opponent, the opponent''s would''ve been long dead. While the lifeless body would still be standing. Nonetheless, the move consumed high amount of energy and a level of the body strength.


    Elder Wang Xiu realised that her opponent must have reached the Qingzhong[world sovran] level as a martial artist while she was at the Yinlong[silver dragon] level. She knew it would mean her death to take this attack head-on. She learned from Blood-Blade about Lang Hai being a late stage golden core, but she never expected a move like that. It was a martial move which only a few martial artists on the mortal plane could master.


    Quickly, she took out the Jaded-Life seal, a life saving seal, and activated it. Then, she raised her sword and used her most powerful mystical arts technique, the Timeless Guardians Light, to barricade herself.


    The Jaded-Life heavenly seal was supposed to be used twice, but by the time Lang Hai appeared behind her, it had completely disintegrated.


    Elder Wang Xiu was on one knee with blood trickling down the side of her mouth.  She realized she couldn''t defeat him in martial arts. Maybe, she should have used the escape seal given to her by Blood Blade. But at least, she now knew the level of power of her opponent. He wasn''t a cultivator she could face in her current stage.


    She knew she couldn''t withstand him in both martial and mystical arts, but her anger wouldn''t let her be. They had betrayed her family and killed her father. They had to pay for it. She turned around slightly to look at the man behind her.


    "Why?"


    "Are you still asking me why?"


    "The Frozen Ember Pearl."


    He flew up and caught it before descending.


    Elder Wang Xiu stared at him with more burning anger.


    "You and your father killed my father because of this?"


    "No Wang Xiu, my father wasn''t after this. He was after what was under the pillar. The Legacy Of Dawn. He managed to get it and people won''t know it''s gone anyway."


    He shook his head as he gave a faint smile.


    "My father? No, Wang Xiu. It was all me. Do you even know what this is, Wang Xiu? Well, it doesn''t matter. I''ll tell you. You''ll die soon anyway."


    He looked at the pearl in his hand smiling.


    "They said this pearl was an ice luminous treasure, that it was an artifact only for the water element cultivators especially the ice element affiliated. Oh, how wrong they are. This is as good as a luminous treasure. This is my way through the heavenly tribulations."


    "I can''t let you live, Wang Xiu. You are this powerful now. How strong will you be in the future? I can''t allow you to come after me, Wang Xiu."


    He jumped into the air and spun his glaive as he descended to deliver the killing blow.


    Ju Feng, who was knocked flying from the impact of the collision, tried to do something to help Cao Wang Xiu. Only for him to scream in agony, knowing there was basically nothing he could do. He was simply incapacitated. The situation was already another death knocking on his door.


    Elder Wang Xiu looked at him and others with defiance as she activated the seal given to him by Blood Blade. At this time, a flaming sword was colliding with the throbbing glaive.

 Chapter 75 - JinJin Village [9]

    The flaming sword collided with the descending glaive, creating a deafening thunderous sound. The enormous blast from the impact of the collision vibrated throughout the area leaving blared of echoes. Some of the villagers who were still watching the proceedings from a distance, quickly vanished from sight. It had gone beyond any curious observation they could ever imagine having. Now, their lives were on the line, even from such distances. After all, theirs was a small village which had never seen a battle of such power before.


    The sudden appearance of the sword that blocked his glaive surprised Lang Hai as he returned to the midair. He already saw himself delivering the killing blow, until the sword had come out of nowhere to block his glaive. Who in their right minds would get involved in others dealings as such? With anger, he keenly stared at the flaming sword as it returned to its owner who was standing at a distance from him. Examining the new figure, Lang Hai disvovered there was a divine presence, blanketing the vicinity of the newcomer. That could only mean one thing.


    A demigod!


    Oh, how much he hated those demigods. Yes, there was no denying their powers, but thinking the universe belonged to them? That was simply annoying. They were only half deities, but they were already thinking they were heavenly deities. Maybe, due to the traits of divinity they possessed? Pathetic. But as annoying as they demigod were, they weren''t the main problem. The major issue was the exceedingly powerful figures behind them.


    The heavenly gods.


    How could he know which demigod was related to a powerful god, and which one wasn''t? He didn''t want any situation where he would have to face the anger of a god if he managed to ascend to the heavenly plane. Yes, he had powerful ancestral gods too. But what was the assurance of him surviving a war between gods? That was why he had been trying to avoid encounters with them to the best of his capabilities. Yet, they would seek him out. Disputes with a demigod could only mean big troubles for any cultivator if an opposing demigod was related to a mighty god.


    Even if he could avoid ascending to the heavenly plane, the involved gods could employ a more powerful cultivator on the mortal plane to deal with him. How could he survive a confrontation with an hegemon? Oh, how much he hated all of them. And here was one who wasn''t minding her own matters, but interfered in his own important dealing.


    Scrutinizing his sorrounding in a flash, he realized Cao Wang Xiu was no longer there. She and the kids had simply vanished. She must have used a seal. And the seal must have left traces behind. He could''ve pursued and located her. If not for the new development. The demigod''s divine aura was covering Cao Wang Xiu''s after-images and traces. That must be a delibrate attempt on the part of the demigod to help Cao Wang Xiu. Was the demigod trying to be his true enemy?


    He knitted his brows tightly together as he sent his awareness into his divine eagle. Carefully observing Zhang Xiu Ying through his eagle''s eyes, Lang Hai gave a low growl. He was annoyed to find out that the demigod was only a nascent soul. A late-stage nascent soul for what it meant. But how would he know about her ancestral lineage? Maybe, she even had a highcelestial as an ancestor.


    With a scowl, he recalled his awareness from his divine eagle and used his mindvoice.


    "Why do you interfere in my matter, demigod?"


    His brows became tightly knitted together in a fierce frown.


    "Leave now, and I''ll let this be."


    Zhang Xiu Ying stared at the blue-robed man standing in the midair, a distance from her. A Xue Ku! He was a rogue blood cultivator, albeit an extremely powerful and dangerous one. She had seen a bit of his power in his battle with Cao Wang Xiu, and realized the enormity of the rogue blood''s powers. But how could she just leave when it involved her son?


    But where, even, were they? She had seen the group of the disciples including her son, knocked back from the impact of the collision. She had also seen elder Wang Xiu kneeling as the blood cultivator was descending to deliver what seemed to be the killing stroke. She had used her divine presence with the intention of masking their visibility. Thereby, shifting the focus of the blood cultivator to herself.


    But all of a sudden, they were no longer where they were. Could it be a seal? If it was, their passage would leave traces behind.


    She used her divine sight and discovered their after images that streaked in a direction behind her. How did they manage to do get a seal like that? It must be the work of the sect elder. The elder was definitely prepared for the fight. Nonetheless, Zhang Xiu Ying knew the elder couldn''t have escaped the rogue blood for long without help arriving. But the traces were taking longer time to dissipate, so she left her divine aura in place. At least, it would make it difficult for the blood cultivator to see beyond her unless she was no longer in the vicinity. But she had no intention of doing that.


    "Leave? How can I just leave?"


    She knew she couldn''t leave yet, if she did, the blood cultivator would be able to trace them eventually. She would have to delay him for as long as possible despite the considerable danger it entailed.


    "Don''t you think you''re taking advantage of the situation?"


    "Huh?!"


    "You saw her, she was already defeated. Why do you seek her death?"


    "Do you think it was an act of sparring or who was a better fighter?!"


    "Can''t you let it be?"


    "For the last time, demigod. Stop interfering, and I won''t hold this against you."


    Zhang Xiu Ying knew the rogue blood was more powerful than her. She had seen his martial arts skills and moves, and knew he wasn''t someone she could ignore. Any martial artist in possession of a supreme move, mastered or not, should be taken seriously. She could easily loose her life, demigod or not. With a worried look on her face, Zhang Xiu Ying looked at him and shook her head.


    "I really can''t do that."


    Lang Hai''s eyes started to dilate in anger and his glaive began to throb aloud as he gathered blood energy. There were times when the ancestral lineage of a demigod wouldn''t matter much to an opponent. He was at that point now. When he reached the heavenly realm, he would face the wrath of any god. More so, it wasn''t his fault that a demigod wouldn''t let him be.


    "Then, this is on you."

 Chapter 76 - JinJin Village [10]

    With a swift forward thrust of his throbbing glaive, Lang Hai released the gathered energy. Myriads of fiery blood wraiths were sent towards Zhang Xiu Ying. Those were powerful angry souls which were captured and harvested immediately after their death. It involved using the forbidden rogue blood cultivation art originated in the primordial chaos. An immensely dangerous mystical art.


    Vengeance of the Fallen Stars.


    Seeing the launched move, Zhang Xiu Ying didn''t waste any time. Any Xue Ku attacking move was always deadly to any cultivator. She began pushing vast amount of chi and divine energy into the Phoenix sword. Then, she immediately jumped into the mid-air and initiated the fourth stage of the Infernal Phoenix technique.


    The Phoenix Whirlfire.


    The most powerful mystical arts move she had. Still holding the move, she hurriedly enforced it with a vast amount of Chi, making it more powerful than before. As soon as she released it, a storm of liquid fire was sent in the direction of the coming wraiths.


    They collided and the impact knocked the two of them backwards.


    Zhang Xiu Ying was just recovering from the knockback when Lang Hai appeared in front of her with his glaive aimed at her shoulder. She quickly raised her sword to deflect it and slashed upward as their weapons clashed frantically in what turned out to be a blur before she was knocked back several yards again.


    "You''re at a disadvantage in martial arts, yet strong in mystical arts. Nevertheless, you''re no match for me, demigod. But if you leave now, I''ll not hold this against you."


    Zhang Xiu Ying remembered the earlier incidence. When the female elder from the Last-Sword sect, the one called Cao Wang Xiu, had saved her son''s group. And how they all related with one another like one group of friends. How could she turned her back on her after that, knowing the rogue blood would just go after them before they could reach a safe distance? More so, from what she had seen, the elder had done nothing wrong which deserved death.


    She stared at Lang Hai indifferently and shook her head. She would hold a litle bit longer for their after images to disappear, so they would become untraceable. However, she had no plan of dying here. When she could no longer hold the blood cultivator back, she would definitely have to flee.


    "I''m afraid I can''t do that."


    "So be it."


    "Tear of the Sorrowful Heaven."


    Reena''s eyes went wide from the knowledge of the executed move. From the moment the red drop was released, the strong baleful aura coming from its direction was an acknowledgement of its power. Even a weaker nascent soul would find it impossible to face head-on. That could only be from a powerful artist who was almost at the pinnacle of mystical arts on the mortal plane.


    Covered in nimbus light, Reena quickly called on the power of the divine aura. She combined all the Chi she could muster with the divine aura into her sword. She twirled in mid-air, and slashed the sword forward, horizontally. It released a gigantic flaming phoenix which covered the sky as it flew towards the expanding red drop.


    The two mystical attacks collided and created a deafening sound. The force of the impact spread in the air and extended upward creating a burning sky.


    Zhang Xiu Ying was knocked hard to the ground while Lang Hai was sent several yards back. She managed to stand up but her stomach was roiling uncontrollably. She spat out a handful of blood as drops of blood streaked down her eyes.


    Lang Hai looked at Zhang Xiu Ying with bloodshot eyes.


    "You should''ve left, demigod."


    Zhang Xiu Yinh spat out more blood before asking.


    "How could I have left when my son is one of them?"


    "Your son?"


    Lang Hai asked with bloodshot eyes, and shook his head in disbelief.


    "You think this is about your son?"


    "The one you want is with my son. How can I simply turn my back?"


    "You should have left, demigod."


    Beyond reasoning and with total bloodshot eyes, Lang Hai manifested his nimbus light. It slowly covered his whole body before disappearing. By the time Lang Hai reappeared, he was covered from head to toe in a blistering red armor, shimmering with dark energy. The red armor had shrank and fused with his mortal body.


    The baleful killing intent coming from his direction was unbelievable.


    Zhang Xiu Ying, who had been watching Lang Hai''s transformation, realized he was more powerful as a blood cultivator than she previously thought. The shimmering dark energy that was blistering on the red armor got her thinking fast too. At last, realization dawned on her as she remembered what she knew about the armour.


    "The Chaotic blood armor?"


    During her many years of existence, she had only heard of the legend. Only a cultivator with a primordial legacy could manifest something like this. Whether he had mastered it or not, he was a true living danger.


    But how was she going to leave the place? She could use a teleportation seal, but Lang Hai would''ve followed her easily in his current state of power. Thinking quickly, she formed an image with a portion of her life-force and Chi essence. Pouring her divine aura into the image, she was able to hold it in position while she used the divine evasion to flee the area. By the time he would realize it was just an image, she wouldn''t be anywhere near the vicinity. She would''ve been long gone.


    Using her divine sight, she saw the faint traces of the after images of elder Cao Wang Xiu and the rest of the group. She quickly used the divine evasion to follow them and arrived at the plain of the Ivory Yonder.


    "Ivory Yonder?"


    She asked in surprise, sddressing her question to no one in particular. As the echoes of Lang Hai''s voice reached her location, she quickly examined her surroundings.


    Some miles away from where she was standing, she could see what appeared to be massive red gates which were about to close. Since the after-images she was following passed through the gates, she quickly intensify her divine evasive steps. A moment later, she arrived at the gates.


    She looked at the massive gates and beyond the gates was a landscape different from the scenery outside. What in heaven''s tears was this place? She was thinking about it when her mind wandered back to the closing gates and she quickly entered.


    As the gates were closing, she could hear the echoes of the booming voice of Lang Hai which was getting louder while he was getting nearer. She kept watching the gates until they were completely closed before heaving a sigh of relief. Then, she turned towards the scene inside with utmost curiosity.

 Chapter 77 - What Happened? [1]

    Earlier in the day.


    Ju Feng, Lin Chenric, Fu Yingjie and Lin Da Xia, were standing at a safe distance from the area where elder Cao Wang Xiu was confronting the blue-robed blood cultivator. The four of them were watching the developing scenario with intense concern. When they thought it was safe, danger surfaced again. It was only a moment ago, when the grey-robed man suddenly left in a flash. And in their joyful state, they had been flash-stepping towards elder Cao Wang Xiu with eagerness. They were about to reach her position, when the blood cultivator appeared behind her making them stopped in their tracks.


    Slowly and cautiously, they had back-tracked their movement, and left the area to a safer distance.


    As a full premier, a true Zhuji cultivator, Ju Feng could use his spiritual sight. Although his spiritual sight was still limited, he could see the vastness of the golden red aura emanating from the rogue blood cultivator.


    Although cultivators below the Zhuji stage wouldn''t manifest a full spiritual aura, they could still display the partial traces of aura. The Zhuji stage was where manifestations of full aura began.


    On the mortal plane, after a cultivator reached the Zhuji stage, the aura displayed would be iron. At the Jindan stage which was the core formation stage, there were three aura''s manifestations. The copper aura for the copper cores, the silver aura for the cultivators of the silver core and the golden aura displayed by the golden core cultivators. While that of the nascent soul was platinum. A nascent soul cultivator could manifest the platinum aura in relation with the elements of the Chi essence in the dantian.


    For the aura of the Lang Hai, Ju Feng saw pure platinum-red mixed with the element of blood essence. It was truly a sickening sight which made his stomach churned. He glanced at elder Wang Xiu and saw the blinding platinum-white aura she had manifested. He quickly switched from the spiritual sight to his normal sight which couldn''t see any aura manifestation.


    From the way elder Cao Wang Xiu''s aura was exuding, the extent of her killing intent was glaring.


    It was now becoming a dangerous situation. My Feng was trying to envision the thoughts of elder Wang Xiu to no avail. But he was certain of the fact that, the rogue blood cultivator too was out for blood which could result in mortal harm to any of the two. Although, it was elder Wang Xiu he was worried about. Would she be able to take care of herself?


    From the little he had seen of her, he knew she had the power to hold her own against such cultivator. Yet, something kept nagging at the back of his mind that the blood cultivator was extremely dangerous. He could be more than elder Cao Wang Xiu could handle.


    A grievous situation, but with great optimism, he held the resolute conviction of elder Wang Xiu holding her own, if the need was to arise.


    With his mind occupied, he didn''t pay much attention to the troubling conversations which were going on around him. Especially to Lin Cheung who was trying to get Ju Feng''s attention with his words.


    "Ju Feng, Ju Feng!"


    "Eh?"


    "What''s the matter with you? We''re facing a serious situation,  and you''re here,  daydreaming?"


    "Sorry, I was just thinking."


    "Have you thought of what to do?"


    "What are you saying?"


    "What am I saying?"


    Lin Chenric looked at him in disbelief.


    "Are you with us, Ju Feng?"


    "Yes, Cheung. What were you saying before?"


    Lin Cheung stared at him and nodded.


    "Okay. We''ve been thinking of what to do if it escalate."


    Lin Cheung leaned closer towards them and glanced at their faces.


    "As for me, I think we should flee, if it comes to that."


    Fu Yingjie, who had been looking at the unfolding event in silence, suddenly began to speak.


    "There''s nothing we can do to help her here. Maybe, some of us should go and look for help while the rest stay to keep an eye on the situation?"


    "Why don''t we wait a little bit more before deciding. We don''t want to do anything that''ll put elder Wang Xiu in a more difficult situation."


    Lin Da Xia said in a seemingly convincing way, receiving a nod from Ju Feng.


    "Mm. I''ll go with DaXia. I think we should first wait and see before doing anything that''ll jeopardise the whole situation."


    After further delibration, they agreed to wait at a distance where they would be watching the proceedings. If the situation began to spiral out of control, they would split into two groups. One group would go and look for help, where ever they could find it. While the their group would stay and do what ever they could to help.


    Ju Feng continued observing the two golden cores cultivators as they faced off in a confrontation. He held a faint hope of them settling their differences amicably with no need for a fight. But the moment elder Wang Xiu took out her sword, he knew his hopes were simply a mirage. Reality quickly dawned on him. The differences between the two cultivators were beyond reconciliation. From the looks of it, the two golden core cultivators were on the path of the last one standing.


    He watched on as elder Wang Xiua sent two blade lights towards the blood cultivator.  A fight between two golden cores was always grave news for the bystanders and their surroundings. He still had vivid memories of the legendary swordsman and swords he had read about which had caused utter destruction in some mortal worlds. Although they were still golden cores and not nascent souls, the dangers their powers posses to the mortal places couldn''t be denied.


    He looked around his surroundings and wondered whether they were safe at the distance they were standing. They would simply disintegrate if they were hit by an attack from a nascent soul cultivator. They might walked the path of reincarnation if they only died. But if their souls were to be obliterated in the course of the attack? That would be their existential oblivion.


    He snapped out of his thought just as the two nascent souls were in a blur as they exchanged swords in clashes. This was on a different level of power compared to the one he witnessed displayed by the two genius core disciples at the sect''s training ground. He tried to follow their movement but his eyes became dizzy and his head turned heavy. He closed his eyes as a banging headache arose in his head.


    He opened his eyes at the same time as elder Cao Wang Xiu was sent flying backwards. All around him, the others were again deliberating on what to do.


    "We can''t just stay here, let''s help."


    "How can we help?


    "We''ll simply die if we try to intervene."


    "If not for her, we would''ve died in the hand of the demon spider, anyway."


    Although his mind was not on the conversation, Ju Feng could still hear their words. He too, had been thinking of ways they could help, but knew there was none. They were only Zhuji cultivators, after all. But no matter how it might seem, they had to help her. At least, they would''ve tried even if they didn''t succeed. He looked at them and sighed inwardly. No matter how hard he tried to avoid it, he was always walking in the shadows of death. Well, if that was it, then that was how it would be.


    "Yes, we can''t just stay here. We need to help out."


    "By doing what exactly? Cut him up with your iron sword? You''ll just die."


    Lin DaXia observed her brother as she ruminated on his words. She knew doing anything would just get them killed, yet they couldn''t allow their elder to get killed without doing something. Zhuji against Jindan? She laughed bitterly inside before speaking.


    "You''ve got a point Chenric, but we can''t stay put without doing anything. Maybe, we can even take him by surprise if we approach with caution. Who knows."


    With a sad expression, Fu Yingjie nodded his head in agreement. It would be them walking to their certain death. He never planned to die here. Saving his parents still weighed heavily on his mind. If he were to die, how would he be able to save them? But still, the elder was in a dire situation and she needed their help. He looked up and sent a thought of a perfect afterlife to his parents. They wouldn''t receive it, but it was good enough for him.


    "We are who we are. Both in life and in death. We can''t just stand still, and it''s already too late to look for help. We do whatever we can to help now."


    Not long after, they headed in the direction of the two battling golden cores. They were cautiously moving towards them, when elder Wang Xiu suddenly executed the Vermillion Divine which was blocked by the move of the blood cultivator. The impact launched them in a flight, several yards backwards, leaving them in a disoriented scramble.

 Chapter 78 - What Happened? [2]

    Ju Feng, partially recovered in time enough to see Lang Hai executed the Oath of the Fallen Stars. He didn''t know what the move was, but he could sense the deadliness of it. He tried to raise his hand but knew there was practically nothing he could do to help elder Wang Xiu as she spat out blood. In complete agony of the situation, Ju Feng kept on looking as the rogue blood cultivator lept into the air with authority. He swirled his glaive around and was bringing it down, only for every thing to change.


    They had tried, but the end was inevitable. He closed his eyes as he waited for the killing blow to land on elder Cao Wang Xiu. However, instead of that, he felt a breeze of fresh air on his face. What? How could that be?


    He opened his eyes to find himself inside the powerfully encircling right hand of elder Cao Wang Xiu. Beside him was Lin DaXia while Lin Chenric and Fu Yingjie were on the other side of elder Wang Xiu who was moving in high speed away from the battle ground. Somehow, she had managed to survive the killing blow of the rogue blood, and was now literally carrying them. More impressively, she was moving at a breathtaking speed despite the injuries she had sustained in the fight.


    It was quite after some time that they suddenly stopped and elder Cao Wang Xiu released her hold on them, making them crashed on the grass of the valley. She moved to one side and quickly reached into her spatial sac. She took out some medicinal pills which she quickly put in her mouth while tilting her head backwards.


    Lin DaXia who was now sitting very close to elder Cao Wang Xiu, observed her with a disoriented look on her face. She was totally lost for words while rumaging through the events of the recent past in her head. She remembered when she had been sent flying from the impact of the collision. She recalled herself thinking it was over when she found it difficult to open her eyes.


    Then, all of a sudden, she opened her eyes and found herself next to Jufeng speeding away from the village vicinity. That could only mean elder Cao Wang Xiu was acting defeated to create opening for their escape. She would take that. After gaining more composure, she began to examine her surroundings.


    Fu Yingjie could only staring at elder Cao Wang Xiu with raised eye brows. Utter disbelief was written all over his face. He never thought he would still be alive. He remembered scrambling on the floor, trying to get away from the area of the collision, but found his legs too heavy to carry. He was still trying to crawl away, when he found himself being held by elder Wang Xiu alongside others as she sped away.


    How could he explain that? Elder Cao Wang Xiu was truly powerful. Could she help him with his parents? As the thoughts of asking her for help crossed his mind, he quickly discarded them. How could he even think about that? It wasn''t her duty to see to the safety of his family, anyway. He pried his eyes away from her and looked around the plain.


    Lin Cheung who had quickly composed himself, held the map for Ju Feng, who was now sitting beside him, to see. Yet, his mind couldn''t erase the events he just witnessed. When he thought the end had come after the impact, his mind had gone to his sister, Lin Da Xia. She was the only one alive who meant everything to him. How could he continue if anything was to happen to her? Even thinking of it now, was making his stomach roil. He shifted his thoughts on the map as they tried to check their location. The most important was to find the direction to the Forsaken Palace.


    Everybody was still trying to determine their location, when, suddenly, they heard the voice of elder Cao Wang Xiu.


    "Ivory Yonder."


    "Huh?"


    They all voiced in unison as they turned towards her position.


    "Ivory Yonder. That''s where we are."


    "And we better get going."


    They all stared at her as if she was a talking statue.


    "Now!"


    Her word quickly brought them out of their trance as they hurriedly readied themselves. They were about to move when Lin Cheung suddenly stopped them.


    "Wait."


    They turned around and saw him opening his structural bag. He brought out the red box and placed it on the ground. He slowly opened it, revealing the large red Jasper ring which had changed in appearance. The red was more brighter and the ring itself was making a soft vibranting sound.


    "Careful. There''s a strong aura coming from it. Let me see it."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu uttered and collected the ring. She examined it with her spiritual sight before giving them a nod.


    "It''s a powerful item. It must have been created by a true Soul-Forger. I can''t see any ill-intent from it. If it''s from your grandfather, you can try it on."


    "Maybe the forsaken palace is nearby?"


    Lin Cheung asked, looking at elder Cao Wang Xiu.


    "It''s possible."


    She answered while glancing at the direction they were coming from.


    "Let''s move, now."


    Lin Cheung quickly extended his hand, which was holding the red ruby, forward towards the side of the valley. They all focused their eyes on elder Cao Wang Xiu as they waited on her words. Receiving a confirmatory nod from her, they all headed towards the direction.


    As they approached, they saw the red light of the ruby getting brighter as it started to resonate with that side of the valley. That part of the valley began to turn to red and two massive gates began to materialise out of the thin air.


    "I think we found it!"


    Lin Cheung shouted happily before grabbing his sister and Fu Yingjie who were beside him.


    "The forsaken palace? Are you sure?"


    Fu Yingjie asked in surprise.


    "The forsaken palace of the Jade Emperor Wan Bao."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu smiled apprehensively as she read the runes on the massive gates.


    "A legendary tale that turned myth."


    "So, it''s real."


    Ju Feng uttered in a low voice as he too gazed at the massive gates. He never thought the place was real. Never mind, finding it so easily after coming to the valley of the Ivory yonder. But there, were the gates of the forsaken palace. Right in front of his eyes. How fortunate for him to witness it.


    "Now, we confirmed it. Grandfather was right. It does exist."


    Lin DaXia nodded joyfully before turning her attention to elder Wang Xiu.


    "Elder Cao, what do we do now?"


    "Are we not on adventure?"


    "Yes, we are."


    "Then, forward we go."


    Yet, none of them moved as they continued to look at her. After everything that had happened, why would any of them take the lead? Wouldn''t it be better for her to lead and they to follow? The strongest would stay at the front to ward of attack while the weaker ones would follow. That was a principle of survival provided danger didn''t come from the back. Anyways, as far as this was concerned, they would stay behind her.


    Seeing their reactions, elder Wang Xiu nodded and moved forward.


    "Alright, follow me. But stay alert."


    They reached the closed gates where they discovered a key hole on one of the pillars of the gates that fitted the size of the Jasper ring on Chenric''s finger. They placed the ring on the key hole and was s.u.c.k.e.d inside. Slowly, the massive gates started to open. When they finally opened, the scenery inside, was one of a magnificent sight.


    The long entrance led to a large emerald Jade palace flanked by two statues of Luduans [wise but deadly divine beasts with the bodies of lions and paws of bears] and a row of metal golems on each side. To the right and left side of the palace were trees of different varieties of fruits, sections of variants of plants and a glowing river flowing through the landscape. It was truly a beautiful scene.


    Seeing the large red Jasper ring floating in the air in front of them, elder Wang Xiu plucked it out of the air and handed over to Lin Cheung.


    "Keep it in the box."


    Ju Feng rubbed his eyes to see if he was seeing clearly or it was just an hallucination. He couldn''t help but look in total disbelief and shock at the woman in front of him.


    "Mother?"

 Chapter 79 - The Forsaken Palace [1]

    "Ju Feng?"


    Zhang Xiu Ying pretended as if she was just seeing her son, on the day, for the first time. A look of shock and surprise displayed on her face.


    "Ma! It''s really you!"


    Ju Feng ran to his mother and gave her a hug. Momentarily, he forgot about the situation they were in as he continued to hold his mother. After taking control of himself again, he looked in bewilderment at his mother.


    "What are you doing, Ju Feng? "


    "How''s everybody at home? Grandma and grandpa? And uncle Luyang?"


    "Easy, child. They''re all fine."


    "How come you are here, Ma? Did you also know about this place?"


    "Yes. I heard about the location of the palace from some merchants and decided to come and check it out. Sometimes, it''s good to see the world outside. Luckily for me I found it just as described with the gates opened and I entered."


    With her head lowered a little, she continued to feign surprise as she stared at her son affectionately.


    "But, what are you doing here? Are you not suppose to be learning right now?"


    Zhang Xiu Ying raised her head and glimpsed at the other disciples.


    "It seems we have a group of adventurers here."


    "Yes, ma. This is our luminary week. So, we decided to go out on a little adventure. These are my friends, Cheung, Da Xia and Yingjie. We''re together with our sect elder, elder Cao."


    "Hm."


    "I greet you, elder Cao of the Last Sages sect."


    "My greetings too, lady Zhang."


    "Hm."


    Zhang Wang Xiu responded before receiving a mindvoice from Cao Wang Xiu.


    "And thank you for saving my life back there."


    "Don''t mention it. You would''ve escaped the place without me, anyways."


    "Hard to say, but you came at the right time."


    "How do you know it was me?"


    "My traits. Just like yours."


    "Ancestral bloodline. By the way, what happened back there? You could''ve left once that seal was destroyed, but you stayed."


    "Yea. Escaping wasn''t the best option, was it?"


    "Hm. You could''ve ran for it, but you''ll be leaving your disciples behind. So, you stayed behind."


    "I''m their elder, lady Zhang. It''s what I had to do."


    "I commend you, elder Cao. You''re a true elder."


    "Nothing to it, but thank you, demigod."


    "You''re welcome, honoured elder.""


    Zhang Xiu Ying replied before they both turned their attention back to the scenery in front of them. Truly, the forsaken palace was a glorious place to behold. The place looked so peaceful and serene, even a cultivator could meditate without any disturbances. It was a place truly befitting a Jade emperor, and emperor Wan Bao was as ancient as they could be.


    After a moment of delibration, they decided it would be the best course of action for them to continue moving forward. Since they didn''t know who or what could be outside the gates they had entered through. It would be a good idea to leave, especially with Lang Hai still trailing them.


    Gradually, they began walking down the entrance path which led to the palace. They had only taken a few steps down the path when they heard a voice, all of a sudden .


    "Stop! Show me your pass!"


    Suddenly, out of the thin air, a huge figure in a large black dr.a.p.e, silently appeared right before them. His exceedingly large frame could only mean one thing, a giant. White, curly hair tied in a ponytail. A furrowed face of hollow brown eyes which were set firmly within their sockets.  The half dead eyes seemed to watch, cautiously, over the soul they had been isolated from for so long. A large ragged beard that matched his eyes and would leave a haunting memory of his former glory. But, what really caught the eye were the golden seal around his neck and the golden rune on his forehead.


    A remnant.


    Remnants were the remaining fragments of entities. What were left of their previous selves which contained part of their consciousness necessary to function, their life-forces residues, and the entrapped soul which was kept inside the broken shell of the entity''s own body at the point of death. The entity was no longer dying or completely dead. And wouldn''t be able to fully die in order to reincarnate, until it would be freed from the bondage.


    The act of entrapping a remnant was a forbidden practice. When an entity was subjected to death, the soul had to undergo a reincarnation. That was the law of creation. Preventing a soul from undergoing reincarnation was against the laws of creation.


    "Your key."


    Lin Chenric quickly fished out the large jasper ring and showed him. As soon as he saw the red ring, the giant waved his hand and the ring appeared in his hand. With a swift glance, he examined the ring and lifted his head to gaze at them, giving a short nod of his head in cognizance.


    "Welcome to the grand palace of the eternal Jade emperor, Wan Bao. I am Dargehk, the caretaker of this palace."


    The giant uttered in a hard but mellowed voice.


    "Since you have the ring which showed you can be here, I''ll treat you fairly. However, you won''t be getting the ring back."


    "The alignment is right, and all the five keys are now here. It means the palace would cease to be accessible after this period of time. As you all know, this palace is a domain world created with rules. The rules are my words, and my words are the rules. Obey them while you are here, and you may live."


    "You are entitled to a fruit each as a welcome gift. If you are ready, follow me."


    Dargehk moved to a location on the right side of the walkway which overlooked the garden, and made hand seal gestures. Suddenly, an archway to a new path appeared before him, and he gestured for them to follow. They moved behind him to the opened entrance leading to the garden. They expected to see what they already saw from outside the archway, but what they were seeing was a different scenery from the one they saw on the outside.


    The first sight was that of a path of marble stones that looped around the garden. Ruby beds of grass which were accompanied by what seemed to be mutated ruby-flower bushes and shrubs. There was a runic fountain of mist which stood near the back of the garden, spouting mist high up into the air. Behind the ruby flower bushes and shrubs, were the plants and different types of spirit grasses. After them were the ancient huge trees with single fruit each. But most of them had no fruits since they had been plucked already.


    Ju Feng and the other three disciples could only look on in utter alarm at the scenery in front of them. What had appeared to be a peaceful and beautiful garden on the outside of the invisible archway, turned out to be the exact opposite on the inside. Now, they realized the need for them to thread carefully there.


    "This is different from what we saw from the outside?"


    "Doesn''t look the same garden?"


    "What''s with the place?"


    Zhang Xiu Ying and Cao Wang Xiu turned to their divine and spiritual sight respectively. After careful observation, they found no sign of any deception.


    "What did we missed?"


    "This is the true state of the garden."


    Degarhk said as he turned to look at them with indifference.


    "The ruby beds are ancient death beds that would entrap anyone who forcefully enters or disobey the garden rules. The same thing with the misty fountain. But how could you have seen it from the outside? This is a godly domain after all."


    Shrugging his shoulder, he continued.


    "True, you''re seeing this place in your mortal world, but it''s not part of the mortal plane. You''re both golden core cultivators. Even if you couldn''t see this place from the outside, you should''ve known about it once you saw it. Well, maybe not."


    "Are you an ascendant?"


    "Or an hegemon?"


    The highest a cultivator could go in the mortal plane before being ejected from it, was the ascendant stage. Ascendants were nascent soul cultivators who had reached the gates of godhood and had traces of the godhood traits. If an ascendant didn''t want to be sent out of the mortal plane, the ascendant would have to let go these traits of godhood. It was then the ascendant would be able to undergo a different tribulations from that of ascension.


    The abate tribulations.


    "Ascendant or hegemon?"


    Dargehk asked as he glared at Zhang Xiu Ying and Cao Wang Xiu in dismay.

 Chapter 80 - The Forsaken Palace [2]

    "Ah, what a pity. I, mighty Dargehk of the giant race. A once renowned powerful figure from planet Zorda. My fame was known throughout my birth world and different parts of the mortal plane. So mighty I was in those days that few cultivators ever confronted me."


    He looked at the them before shaking his head.


    "You have no idea who I am, do you? Hm, I don''t fault you. You definitely had never seen me before now. I became a lowgod when most giants were still trying to form a nascent soul. It never took me long to even become a highgod. But my ego got the better of me... I Dargehk, how many could face the wrath of my Oblivion?"


    Suddenly, Cao Wang Xiu remembered a text she once read about an axe called Oblivion, owned by a mighty giant. The giant who caused chaos and destruction in the Mightybound realms which eventually attracted the intervention of the celestials.


    "Dargehk, the barbarian?"


    "Aha, so you''ve heard of my name before."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu, in utter alarm, could only nod her head but kept her mouth shut. The others didn''t know who the giant was, but from the expression of elder Cao Wang Xiu, they realized the giant must be of tremendous power..


    Seeing their tensed state, Dargehk made a gentle but bitter laughter.


    "Hahaha. You don''t need to worry. In here, you are totally safe with me as long as you maintained the rules of this place. So, relax yourselves and enjoy the place. Now, back to the garden. There are many trees you can choose from, each tree as you can see only has one fruit which had taken thousands to millions of years to reach this stage."


    With a swipe of his hand, he sent six golden tokens to them before continuing.


    "Take these tokens, and place them under any tree or plant which connects to you. Do this before taking the fruit or the plant. Remember, only one fruit tree or plant. You can begin."


    Ju Feng watched as everybody contemplated on Dargehk''s words, and the whole happenings. Although the state of apprehension had receeded and they were already warming up to the giant, they were still cautious of the place. After all, it was a godly place according to the giant.


    He turned his attention to the trees. Despite many fruits being taken over the years, there were quite a number of coloured fruits still left in the garden. Moving around cautiously, he examined the trees and fruits. He could see some of the others placing their tokens under the tree of their preferred fruits. None were choosing the plants. He couldn''t blame them. Fruits were more revered than plants.


    Ju Feng continued until he came to a tree with a yellow fruit freckled in red. He observed the tree and the fruit for a time before deciding to move on. He had started moving when he suddenly changed his mind and stopped. He turned back and inspected the tree again before placing his token under it. In complete amazement, he watched as the tree lowered its fruit enough for him to pluck it. The power of the token. In his hand, the fruit seemed a bit strange with the freckles but looked robust. He would take it.


    He joined others who were holding their own fruits and examining them. They waited for elder Wang Xiu who also arrived shortly afterwards. With all of them back with their fruits, they turned their attention to Dargehk who had been patiently waiting where he''d been standing.


    "Now that you all have your gift, would you like to know what each one of you each?"


    "Alright then. You, young mortal."


    He pointed at Lin Chenric.


    "What you have is the Immortal Root spirit fruit. The Immortal Root tree was taken as a seed from the ever dangerous Crimson realm due to a fortunate encounter. Though it was here on the mortal realm, the Crimson realm was an extremely dangerous place. The fruit you are holding can easily take you to the Jindan level, if not to the threshold of nascent soul, from your current stage. Even a mortal could form a bronze core, at the least, from eating that fruit."


    The remnant paused to inspect Lin Chenric.


    "You''ve recently moved to the Zhuji stage as I can see. But you need not worry. With that fruit, you''ll easily form your golden core. The quality of your golden core is left to you by the way."


    Beside Lin Chenric was Lin DaXia who had been apprehensively waiting for her own turn.


    "Your own is the Twin Soul spirit fruit. One of the rarest fruit you can find on any plane. This particular tree seed was found in the Million Dreams realm. With that fruit you are holding, you can form your mortal avatar. A second image of you with all your features but with only a minor part of your will-power and soul. How wonderful it is to have another you in the mortal realm. How you protect your image is left to you."


    Fu Yingjie got the Wyvern God spirit fruit.


    "The spirit fruit you''re holding is a very powerful one. The fruit tree was grown from a seed of a tree that grew on the spot where a dragon-like primordial beast was found by the divines after the last primordial war. How fortunate you are. It would make your body almost indestructible when facing an opponent of Jindan level and below. Though a nascent soul would still incinerate your body. So, if you see one, you should run."


    "The Infernal Essence. The tree of which could only be found in the Fiery Abyss after the Seven Infernal realms. As a demigod of the fire element, you''re extremely fortunate to have that fruit. If you eat that fruit, it could make you form your nascent soul. Meaning, your ascension could be near after that. The fruit will transform the fire element in your Chi to that of a nascent soul at the least."


    Dargehk looked at the fruit in Cao Wang Xiu''s hand.


    "Your fruit is called Godly Valor spirit fruit. You can''t even phantom the power of the fruit you are holding. Although, it has good sides and bad sides. When you eat the fruit, it will give you a godly power for a day. The type of the godly power, lowgod, highgod or truegod depends on you, by the way. And only last for a day. The day after eating it, I''ll advice you to stay away from fight, as far as possible. If not, you may die."


    When it finally reached Ju Feng''s turn, he stared expectantly at the terrifying giant who was standing a few yards away from him. He extended his hand forward properly for the giant to see his fruit clearly.


    "Ah, the Heavenly Solitude spirit fruit. In the world of cultivaton, few things compare to soul meditation. Every cultivator needs meditation to advance the soul. This fruit tree was from the Slumbering Monks mountain in the Bodhi realm on the heavenly plane. A fruit of this kind would take millions of years to be like this. It''s only when you eat it that you''ll see its work with your own eyes."


    After watching their reactions for a while, Dargehk raised his voice.


    "You''ve all recieved your welcome gifts. You''ve now bore witness to the generousity of emperor Wan Bao. Time to leave the garden. Follow me."


    He moved towards the way they came from and they all followed him.


    Ju Feng, who had been quiet since he received the description of his fruits, continued to wonder what he did to deserve his fate. Why that particular fruit out of all the ones in the garden? Everybody in the group got a great fruit apart from him. Heavenly Solitude! Soul meditation! Sounded more like solitary confinement fruit. He had been meditating from his childhood. Why is everybody now looking for a way for him to die in meditation?


    Dargehk turned around to face them with firm eyes.


    "From here onward, you''ll face the powers of the garden. Now, I ask you all, do you want to go back or you want to proceed to the palace?"


    His gaze was still on them as he continued.


    "If you decide to go back now, the gates will be opened for you to leave. But If you proceed to the palace, you must face the powers of the garden until you reach the palace. It''ll take six hours before you are all ejected to the portal archlit. If you proceed, you''ll have to bear till then. But mind you, everything you get, you keep."


    They looked at one another, and after thoughtful delibration, they decided to proceed. Why not? They would have to bear whatever would come their way for just six hours. Moreover, they wouldn''t be able to come back in the future.


    "Continue along the walkway until you come to the palace. If you''re able to pass the outer walkway,  you''ll meet me inside."


    With that, Dargehk disappeared silently and the group continued to walk on. As they neared the front of the palace doors, two voices suddenly boomed out.


    "Well, well, well. Femara, What do we have here?"


    "Oh Neviria, we have new souls seeking entrance into the palace. Emperor''s palace. Hehehe."


    "Six seekers. From five no-gods to one half-god. Very interesting."


    "All of you, come forward and stand in front of the eye."


    The group cautiously stepped forward and a large emerald eye appeared in front of them.

 Chapter 81 - The Forsaken Palace [3]

    The sudden appearance of the large emerald eye right in front of them, caused the disciples to panick. They tried to control their fear but they couldn''t. The powerful oppresing aura emanating from the eye was putting a seemingly massive pressure on them. They couldn''t help, but scrambled on their knees. The two golden cores were not spared from the effect of the aura either. Their hearts lurched in primal fear while they barely stood on their feet. Afterall, the eye was a total-grade luminous artifact. If it was to reveal its true power, their souls would''ve exploded from its sheer force.


    The Divine Crucible.


    A treasure of immense power which could even gaze into the depth of the mind of a god. They might find it difficult, but only the celestials could manage to resist its power. For mortal and immortal cultivators on the mortal plane, they simply had no chance against the power of the crucible.


    With all his might, Ju Feng was fighting the extreme pressure, coming from the eye. But after some seconds, he slumped on the ground. Any second from then, he would have to enter the state of unconsciousness. The other disciples had already succ.u.mbed to the pressure and had already passed out. It wasn''t their fault. How could they resist the immense pressure from a divine artifact when they were yet to step fully into the Zhuji stage? Their cultivation level was simply not strong enough at that time to withstand the little amount of pressure from the emerald eye.


    As Ju Feng was passing out, the voices sounded again.


    "Weak, too weak. They couldn''t even withstand a little immortal pressure."


    "Yet, they want to enter the Jade palace. I''m surprised, Femara."


    "Indeed, Neviria."


    "But the golden cores seemed to be holding their own, Femara."


    "Yes. They seemed to be withstanding the eye with no visible effect on them."


    "Why wouldn''t they, Femara? After all,  they have golden cores. Compared to the others who haven''t even formed a phantom core. Can the two of them withstand a nascent glare? Do you want to find out, Femara?"


    "Let them be, Neviria. That would be unnecessary oppression."


    "No. That would be finding out."


    " We''re not oppressors, Neviria. Are we now?"


    "Are we not, Femara? Mm?"


    "Maybe, we are."


    "Hehehe."


    "Okay, let''s focus on the matter before us."


    With that, the pressure coming from the eye receded much to the relief of the adventurous group. A green-gold mist was released from the eye which made Jufeng recovered his full composure as the other disciples also regained their consciousness. Zhang Xiu Ying and elder Cao Wang Xiu were also restored from the fatigue which their minds suffered.


    "We, not-humbly, welcome you all to the ancestral palacium of the mightiest of the emperors. The immortal Jade emperor himself, Wan Bao."


    "Welcome."


    "You must be wondering what kind of palace is this after your visit to the garden. Well, you are right to wonder. As you can see, this is not your traditional kind of palace, just to confirm your thoughts. This is the palace turned myth. The Immortal Jade Realm itself."


    "A place that transcended the mortal plane and directly connected to other planes. How about that?:


    A palace which connected to the heavenly and nether planes? Ju Feng asked himself. That sounded like what gatekeeper Luoyang told him about his own pagoda. He was still thinking about the palace when the two voices brought him out of his reverie.


    "The outer premises of the palace is a gift from the Jade emperor to all that enter this place. Like yourselves."


    "There are fruits and plants you wouldn''t find in many other places, but do exist here. Even if you''ve turned back without entering the palace, you would''ve recieved worthy gifts in remembrance."


    "But inside the palace? It''s a different thing entirely."


    "A true immortal domain beyond mortal comprehension. You may easily die in there, that''s why the Jade emperor designed the following trials."


    "To see how strong your cultivation levels and martial skills are. So, you can prepare for what''s ahead. You never know what you could get in there."


    "Since you are here, it means you must''ve reached the conclusion of moving forward. Well, that''s good. But you must pass our trials, first."


    "Only two of them, for you to be able to enter the Jade palace."


    "First of the trials is the Divine Crucible. After that, you''ll face the the Golems Might."


    "But do not worry treasure hunters. The trials will be according to your levels and capacities."


    "If you are all ready, then let it begin."


    "Starting from the left. Let your truth be revealed, and your agony be known."


    As soon as the Luduans finished talking, the large emerald eye settled in front of Fu Yingjie. He was holfing his head with both hand while a powerful voice sounded in his head.


    "Fu Yingjie! What a beautiful name you have. Ying-Jie. Do you even know the meaning of your name? Yes, of course you do know. How brave you are born to be. Yes, how heroic was your birth alignment. Born on a beautiful solar morning, the path of greatness was set. Yet, when you suppose to live up to your name, you proved to be a disappointment. You were there on that day. When two lowly demons attacked you and your family. You watched your parents being captured and you did nothing about it. Oh, you actually did something. You ran! Hm? What do you say? That you were young? Mhm, you''re right. You really were young when that happened. How old are you then? Five? Six? Pathetic. Some kids were that age when they performed unbelievable things. But you? You were simply a coward and a weakling. Do you agree to your failures?"


    The Emerald moved to elder Wang Xiu as she stood there, transfixed. After seeing what happened to Fu Yingjie, her unyielding stare was on the emerald eye. She could faintly sensed the power of the eye, and wondered if she could withstand the truth it would bring.


    "A true golden core. Cao Wang Xiu, elder Cao, or should I simply say ''Wang Xiu''? Mhm, what a beautiful child you were born. Friends and foes praised your parents and revered your birth. The elegant jewel in the eyes of her parents, Cao Wang Xiu. You were once a brilliant child. Yes, I would have been proud of you if I was there too. I have to agree that you came into cultivation a bit late, but you advanced rapidly. You even became a nascent soul faster than most. I''ll give you that. But at what cost? You are what you are because of your parents, yet they died because of you. And when your father was dying, you ran away instead of saving him. How pathetic was that? Cowardice is one thing but to add weakness to it? Truly pathetic. However, you had the chance to take revenge on the cause, but what did you do? Nothing. You were too weak to do anything. Admit it,  you are a curse and not a jewel, to your parents. You miserable coward, and a pitiable weakling."


    "Noooo."


    The words made elder Wang Xiu screamed with tears, while her body released blinding flares of light. The words weren''t fair on her. Not able to bear the words any longer, she fell on her knees. She deserved to be reminded of the truth she had been suppressing in her mind.


    "Yes, face the truth and let your mind be at peace. Now that''s better. Nothing relieves more than the truth."


    The emerald eye moved from one to the other as the truth hidden in their mind was brought into bear for them to confront.


    Lin Da-Xia was holding her head sobbing as she sat on the floor, crawled up and shaking after her own encounter with the eye.


    Lin Cheung was kneeling down with his head bowed low, and tears dropped from his eyes.


    Zhang Xiu Ying had already manifested pillars of fire in anger. It was as if she wanted to burn her pain away. She had faced moments of truth before when she performed the divine trials at the valley of the gods. So, she readily admitted it when the emerald eye brought them to the fore again. She should''ve controlled herself, but so many painful hidden truth. They really aroused her anger to burn something, anything.


    "Zhang Ju-Feng, the one who comes with the wind. The mortal storm. True, you are not like many. Your name is even more unique than you can imagine. Do you even know why they called you Ju-Feng only? Yes, according to the prophecies. But do you really want to know the irony of your name? Alright, I''ll tell you. You''re not the one who comes with the wind, Ju Feng. You''re the one who comes with death. Yes, you are. Intentionally or not. Your father suffered because of you. A whole village suffered near destruction because of you. Your folks left their birth place because of you. How many people are still going to die because of you? You want to know? Well, many. It''s good you already admitted that you''re walking in the shadow of death. That''s so thoughtful of you for the fact that it''s true. I commend you for also admitting that you are a lamentable weakling who happily hides in a cave. You''re just too weak to save yourself, mindless of saving others. Let me compound your misery a little bit more, young mortal. A time is coming when you''ll loose it all. Even your soul. Then, what''ll you do?"

 Chapter 82 - The Forsaken Palace [4]

    When the emerald eye left him, Ju Feng continued to stand like a statue. He was staring into the unseen future, showing no sign of awareness. He was completely lost in his own mind. The effect of the eye on him was totally different from the others from the appearance of it. The others had outward expressions, but for him, it was all inward which raised a look of concern from others.


    The emerald eye released another green-gold mist that restored their frames of mind to the normal state. They also regained their body strength. It was truly a divine artifact. If the Crucible trial was of their levels, how would a godly one be like? Ju Feng couldn''t help but shook his head at the thought. He was glancing at the others when the Luduans began to speak again.


    "That was the moment of truth. The ultimate burden we love to hide."


    "Or hidden by forces beyond us."


    "The eye has done it''s part."


    The large emerald eye suddenly disappeared leaving behind a faint mist of green-gold.


    "The second trial will commence now."


    "All you have to do is fend off the golems within a period of six hours."


    "If you fail, you''ll continue to try. You don''t stop for anything until the time runs out. After that, you''ll be transported to the portal archway and out of this place."


    "However, if you make it, you''ll be able to enter the dimensional gates of the palace."


    A giant time scale appeared in the mid-air, a little distance from their position. The second trial, the Golems Might, commenced. Each of them was facing the golems, starting from one golem. The golems were different from normal golems in any mortal world. They were designed in mortal forms, and powered by mighty cores. They had to be the hand work of a powerful soul forger. Probably, a celestial?


    Despite the golems displaying level-limited powers, they all had great difficulty passing the trial. Time was spent, but they all managed to pass it. The timescale disappeared and the golems returned to their statue''s state. Blinding green light covered the statues the Luduans. By the time the light had disappeared, the Luduans had turned into their true immortal selves. They stared at the bedraggled group in front of them and made audible sighs.


    "The worlds inside the palace can be sweet and soothing, or dangerous and deadly. It''s a many facets domain created by a group of immortal friends."


    "The friends came across a divine artifact on a quest for the emperor."


    "The Jade monolith. A spacetime treasure of the utmost power."


    The Luduans, Femara and Neviria continued to speak to the group of cultivators standing in front of them. The two of them were perfectly executing their anticipatory transitions of talks.


    "The friends are of different mystical elements of fire, water, terra, air and dream and illusions."


    "They knew they only had one artifact, and there was no way to divide it among themselves. And besides, any one holding a divine artifact without the power level to support it, was only seeking death. Yes, more powerful cultivators will come after it, you know."


    "So, they delibrated on what they should do with it and they all agreed to present it to the emperor as a gift. That way, the emperor would reward them all with gifts they could share."


    "When they returned with the artifact and presented it to the emperor, telling him about their idea of creating an illusion into the traditional palace of the emperor, the emperor was joyfully pleased. So, he compensated them handsomely. But, instead of creating illusion into the traditional palace, the emperor decided to make a domain."


    "As a spacetime ascendant, he managed to create a domain to an extent while he was still on the mortal plane. With the help of the five friends, he created this palacium. The palace you are looking at, is the divine artifact."


    "A divine spacetime domain. Where you find yourself on entering is always different from time to time, but there are treasures to be found inside. One thing you need to know though."


    "There are two more entrances leading into this palacium. This is only one them. There''s one from the Nether plane and one from the heavenly plane. Those two were added after the Jade emperors ascension. Which means, you could meet others from the other planes in there."


    "After today, there''ll be no more access entrance on the mortal plane. Make use of the chance you have. Just be cautious in there."


    "Since you entered through the mortal plane, you''ll be given a safe-word to use in a difficult situation. Don''t forget it. Or else, you might just die in there."


    "That means, we may never meet again. So, farewell hunters."


    "Yes, farewell. Now, you may enter the palace."


    After finishing their admonishing talks, the Luduans returned to their statue form.


    But the allure of treasures was there. And they''ll be given a safe-word which they could use in danger. They could even use it immediately after they''ve entered. Hence, they made their decisions to enter and see the condition of the place first.


    "We must proceed cautiously."


    Elder Wang Xiu looked at Zhang Xiu Ying who nodded in return.


    "And don''t forget the safe-word for any reason."


    Since they''d reached that point, they would simply forge ahead. They entered the palace through the two opened massive doors. With half a step into the palace, time appeared to freeze in place as Dargehk addressed them from inside the palace.


    "Remember, the palace is a spacetime. You will find yourselves in different places and if you find yourselves in difficult positions, simply ''Dargehk'', and you''ll be safely exited. May you get what you seek."


    Things returned to normal immediately after the words of the giant. As his foot landed on what should be the palace''s floor, Ju Feng found himself alone in a snowy, but not too cold, place. He was looking around to observe his immediate surroundings when he heard a voice.


    "Eh, you. Over here."

 Chapter 83 - The Forsaken Palace [5]

    "Eh, you. Over here."


    Slowly, Ju Feng turned towards the direction of the voice in apprehension. But he couldn''t find who was making the utterances. He knew he heard someone''s voice, calling to him. And the voice sounded very close. Looking at the direction more closely, he could only a plain of snow and ice. High on alert and with his mind firmly on the safe-word, he called out.


    "Who''s there?"


    He strained his eyes in his attempt to detect the exact location of the voice when he remembered he was actually a premier and could use his spiritual sight. Quickly, he switched to his spiritual sight and discovered that the whole area to his front was devoid of any living entity. Every direction on the open plain was of the view of the falling snow and snow-filled ground. The whole area was giving off the normal ice auric light, except for one particular thing.


    A single small grey tree.


    The small grey tree wasn''t radiating any auric light. Although it looked strange in the snow, it was a beautiful small tree in the large area of falling snow. Moreso, it appeared to be generating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.


    "Over here."


    "Uh?"


    It couldn''t be the tree talking. Could it? The only type of tree which could talk was a daimon. Could the small tree be a daimon? He moved away from the tree and keenly observed it from a distance. He waited for a time to be sure whether it was the tree that was talking or not. After being satisfied, he heaved a sigh of relief.


    A small serene tree like that couldn''t be the one talking, could it? Just looking at the tree, he felt at peace with himself. Although the existence of a single tree in a place filled with snow and ice looked strange, the serenity it brought couldn''t be denied. He moved closer to and touched one of its leaves.


    "Got scared for a moment there. A daimon talking tree that wasn''t. An illusion."


    "Illusion? What illusion? I''m surely talking to you."


    "Daemon!"


    Jufeng shouted as he jumped back in alarm.


    "What demon? Haven''t you seen a talking tree before?"


    True, he had seen some strange occurences before. From alking statues to large emerald eyes among others. But never seen a talking tree before, mindless of a lone talking tree on a snowy place like that. It must be either be an extreme illusion or a dangerous daimon. But the way he was looking at the situation, he could feel the reality of it all.


    "Do I really look like a daemon to you? Daemon is a strong word, young one. You can''t go around and be calling every talking tree you see, a daemon. As a young child that you are, some daimons may overlook it while others may still find it extremely rude. And they could kill you for that, you know. Don''t let ignorance be the end of you, child."


    An audible sigh could be heard coming from the direction of the tree.


    "Because I''m a talking tree doesn''t mean I''m a daemon. Even as a child, you should know that. You can''t find any demonic aura on me, can you? Moreover, this is not the netherplane. That should have given you the idea of what I am. I''m a daimon. Do you see the difference?"


    "I do."


    Ju Feng nodded his head in confirmation while he continued to gaze at the grey tree with a mixed feelings of fright and curiousity. As he had learned in the ancient Book of Findings, apart from illusion, the only type of trees that could talk and reason were the cognizant daimons. Or daimonic trees as appropriately applied.


    The daimons were the trees and plants which gained sentience and awareness due to vast amount of spiritual energy they''d absorbed over hundreds of millions of years to billions of years. Although their emerging awareness was slow, they would become powerful entities upon transformation. That was the reason why their cultivation was slower than that of mortal and immortal cultivators. Cultivation was an added advantage since they had absorbed a lot of heavenly spiritual energy before gaining sentience.


    The daemons on the other, were once daimons but turned to daemons due to the amount of karmic sins they had accrued. They were the daimonic trees which were reincarnated as daemonic trees on the netherplane. Karmic sins and karmic virtues determined what a daimon would become and where it would be reincarnated after experiencing death.


    Nonetheless, whether it was a daimon tree or daemon tree, he would be weary of them all. No matter the glaring differences. Again, he contemplated using the safe-word, but decided to wait a while longer.


    "I''m just wary of all demons. That''s all."


    "What is it with you and demons?"


    "Not that I have anything with them."


    "Is it a grievious disputes?"


    "No, but I think they have something against me and my family."


    "Why do you think so?"


    "They did tried to kill us before."


    "Hm. Why do they want to kill you for any grudge they might have against you? Makes little sense. They should''ve tried to resolve it amicably at first, before deciding to kill you. Let me check you."


    The tree twisted slightly before returning to its original state.


    "I can''t seem to find any demon sign on you. So, I think you''ll be fine. Nevertheless, you can still die. You should know that."


    Ju Feng appeared to be having a more clearer perspective of the daimon tree. While talking to the tree, he could feel a gentle but powerfully deadly aura emanating from it. He had seen powerful demonic auras before when the demon army led by the daemon kings attacked them by the lunar mountain. But this small grey tree was beginning to generate a different aura. An aura which made the atmospheric condition of its surrounding area rang a primal danger alarm in his head.


    Yes, he had felt extreme fear from powerful entities before. But that was on a different level of primal. From the primeval feeling he was having from the aura, he realized the tree could either come from the nether plane or the mortal plane. Probably, it could even be an ascendant daimon.


    "Come closer, child. I''m not going to bite you now, am I?"

 Chapter 84 - The Forsaken Palace [6]

    Ju Feng took a couple of steps towards the tree before mindfully checking the surroundings. He had to be sure he wasn''t walking into any trap of illusion or the ever deadly trap of dreams.


    "Don''t stress yourself, young one. If I want you dead, you''ll be dead by now."


    He continued to observe the grey tree with extreme caution as he contemplated maybe it was time for him to use the safe word and bade farewell to the place instead of facing another revenant-like situation.


    "Are you just going to stand there while my poor soul wallows in sadness? A lonely tree like myself can do with a little company. It''s been a long time since I last saw a living soul, though, never seen one pitiable like yourself."


    Ju Feng closed his eyes and continued to ruminate on the situation. It would be reasonable and just for him to call it a day and to return to safe archway. But from the little he had seen of the small grey tree, he could truly have been dead already. The aura of the tree convinced him of its power. What''s the point of standing where he was if it didn''t make any difference? Hence, he decided to move closer to the tree and to find out more about the place.


    "What is this place? Is it even real?"


    "Is this place real? Do you want to find out by me killing?"


    "Uh?"


    "Hehehe. Relax your mind, young man. That''s only for a good laugh."


    "Now, tell me who you are."


    "I''m Ju Feng."


    "Okay, Ju Feng. You should be able to know the difference between an illusion and reality by now. Maybe you are too young to know, which is fair to you. But you are definitely too weak, which could''ve also affected you."


    The tree changed its voice to a more serene one before continuing.


    "Can you see me?"


    "Mhm."


    "Can you hear me?"


    "I can."


    He replied with a thoughtful nod.


    "And you can also feel the snow. That''s real enough for you, young Jufeng. Now that we have settled that. Welcome to Aculum Divinis. The unending frosty space between illusion and reality."


    "This place has no end?"


    "It''s the effect of this place that affects the space and time creating traps of illusion and dreams. You could be lost in illusion or dreams of this place forever if you are not strong enough. The time in here is very much different from that of the outside space. This I have come to know. Do you understand what that means?"


    "Yes."


    "I don''t care how you got here or why. But, ignorance could easily get an entity killed. Maybe you wouldn''t have come if you had known what this place is. But, here you are and I don''t mind a little company either. And if I were you, I would try to make the best use of my time here. Although, this place is filled with illusion and dreams, many are the great things hidden in here. Great things like treasures, if you know where to look."


    "I guess you know where to look."


    "How did a tree like me knew where to look? For millions of years I''ve been existing here. At first, I wasn''t the only one here. There were others but they gained transformation before me and they went after most of the treasures. Some were fortunate enough while others were not so fortunate, but most left with one item or the other. Then, I came to be, at this side of the Divinis, all by myself. One thing is that, It takes a very long time for divinis daimon trees like myself to gain awareness talkless of any form of transformation."


    After a brief pause, the tree continued.


    "During all this time, I''ve been gathering more information about some valuable things,  especially treasures. Treasures you wouldn''t even imagine could exist here. It may look like saddened life, but solitary life has its advantages too. I guess you also want to know where to look, don''t you?"


    "Well, if it''s not too dangerous. It''s worth a try."


    "That''s the spirit of an adventurer. We all know that every adventure carries an amount of danger. It is left for you to use your own initiative to survive them. I will give you the location of the treasures you need to know and are much more safer for you, their specific directions and steps. The rest is left to you. Is that alright by you? "


    "It''s alright."


    "But first, you have to bargain for the information you are going to get."


    "Bargain? What bargain?"


    Ju Feng stared at the tree in disbelief.


    "Yes. Life of a daimon is about give and take, young one. So, what do you have?"


    Ju Feng started to think about the situation. How could he tell whether the grey tree was telling the truth about the treasures? And if it was telling truth, where could treasures be in a place like this? What was the assurance that he wouldn''t die trying to get the ''so-called'' treasures? Moreover, he had nothing he could even use to make a bargain for the information?


    "I have nothing to make a bargain with."


    "How can you be here with nothing?"


    Ju Feng contemplated harder. Apart from the recently acquired heavenly solitude fruit, he had only the Eddaros crystal. But he knew there was no way the tree would accept the Crystal. And he wasn''t prepared to part with the heavenly solitude fruit, although he never like the type of fruit he got in the gardens of the palace.


    "Nothing."


    There was a long silence from the tree which was beginning to make Ju Feng nervous. It was after a long while that the tree finally spoke.


    "Alright then. You''ll have to agree to bring me certain items under oaths. After I tell you about the treasures, but not the locations."


    "I don''t know if that''s fair enough, but I accept."


    He replied with a nod. What if the tree decided not to tell him the locations of the treasures. He would still be under oaths to bring it the treasures it required. He really wanted to say no, but it was as if he was under compulsion to accept the oaths according to the words of the tree.


    "Wise decision, nonetheless. You have the adventurous spirit in you for accepting, dedpite not know what you''re getting in return. But I can assure you, you''ll find them worthy."


    The grey tree made a rustle with the branches as it was adjusting his position to be more comfortable.


    "There are five treasures I''ll tell you about. It''s left for you to choose the three you want and after that I''ll tell you the specifications, directions and steps. Alright?"


    Jufeng nodded in acknowledgement.


    "Perfect. First, there''s the Soul Banishing Seal. From what I managed to gather, this is a low-grade heavenly treasure. However, it could send the soul of any being into the samsara cycle on the mortal plane. Even the hegemons couldn''t escape its power if it was used by another powerful nascent soul. Although, it had no use of sort on the heavenly plane, it''s still a powerful mortal item. And by the way, it should be one of the forbidden seals on the mortal plane."


    "The second one is the bracelet of destruction. It''s a magical treasure that belonged to a fallen primordial necronom celestial during the primordial wars. The ring could raise a powerful army of daemon kings from the netherplane. The ring is so powerful that it could conjur the gods and also open a portal for them to pass through. This is a truly terrifying item to possess."


    "The third one is a spatial sac. It''s no longer in good shape, so if you are fortunate enough, you may find it whole. What it contains? I have no idea. But since it''s a spatial sac, it means it didn''t belong to any god since the gods use spatial dimension."


    "The fourth one is the Mystic Order. A small crystal spark which I figured should be either a heavenly or luminous treasure. Though, it might also be a powerful magical item."


    "And lastly, a soul ring. I don''t know if you know about it, but it''s a valuable orb. Although it has no greater use, it could still help anyone below the nascent soul to form a soul space in advance. So, these are the five treasures, and I know you are not disappointed by them, are you?"


    "No."


    Ju Feng replied still in disbelief of what he had just heard. All the items were immense in significance to him. He was finding it difficult to believe he could have any of those.


    "You can have them. All you need to bring back to me, are the Scripts of Sentience. They''re even the easiest to find. So, what do you say, young one?"


    Jufeng stared at the grey tree lost in thoughts before asking.


    "What if I couldn''t find the scripts?"


    "Since there are three scripts, you''ll have to leave the three items you bring back with you. But, I don''t really want to take from your treasures. So, it''s better to just try and bring back the scripts."


    "Fine. I accept."


    "You do? Excellent. I truly admire your will-spirit, little one. I really do. Now, let''s take the oaths that you are agreeing willingly. After that, I''ll give you the directions, and the steps you need to take."

 Chapter 85 - The Forsaken Palace [7]

    The snow was falling more heavily when Ju Feng came to an area specified by the grey tree. Frost had gathered on his face and streaked his robe. He was beginning to grow acustomed to the dense frost due to his mind being occupied by the task at hand. He knew he had to be very careful, if not, he could easily walk into a dream or an illusion he wasn''t prepared for. That was why he couldn''t use the flashsteps, but rather, walked slowly and steadily.


    The words of the tree was still sounding in his ears.


    "Follow the direction I''m giving you and you will come to a place where the snow falls in a spiral. From the edge of the spiraling snow, turn and face the eastern side. For you, twenty feet forward will take you to a small snow mound. Three steps to the right before taking three steps to the front, followed by three steps to the left will take you inside the dream."


    Those were the clear instructions given by the tree which he needed to follow. To enter the right place for the Script of Sentience, he must do exactly as the tree told him. The directions the tree gave him had brought him to where he was now standing. He looked at one of the four dream crystals the grey tree gave him. It had told him whenever he was about to enter the dream field, he should put one crystal in his mouth. The crystals would be the remedies against forever succ.u.mbing to the effect of the dream. Afterall, he was still an infant immortal at the Zhuji stage, and he was only ten mortal years of age.


    With the crystals in his hand, he knew the tree really meant its words. But he didn''t know if it was reasonable of him to accept. It was as if it was all a dream to him. How could he even fight off the simplest of the dreams inside other dreams? After giving a careful thought to his recent life, he sadly laughed aloud.


    "He he he."


    Although it appeared he had been courting death, that particular endeavor was like receiving the romantic kiss of death. It looked as if he wouldn''t be escaping his fated path, afterall. Therefore, why not cautiously follow it courageously? He paused for a moment to think about that. To die with courage? No, he needed to rephrase that. How about not to die at all? Whether it was in his hands or not, it would take courage not succ.u.mb to death.


    Yes, that fitted his essence perfectly. He prefered the living part of existence. But, where was he even going? Why in heaven''s tears did he even agree to come on this crazy path? How was he even sure the grey tree wasn''t a lunatic daimon? As he was trying to think about the questions, his mind became muddled, making him forget about them.


    Ju Feng slowly put one of the crystals in his mouth. As the the sweet burning sensation of the crystal erupted in his mouth, he took a few steps forward into where the dream field would be. The moment he stepped into the unseen field, he found himself in narrow way between two huge walls. Immediately, he knew he had entered the dreamworld which the tree told him about. He quickly took his mind off his thoughts, and focused on the task at hand.


    At the other side of the narrow passage stood a small house.


    The walls'' surface were smooth and perfectly patterened. But the most striking aspect of the walls were the types of the stones used to make the walls. A beautifully polished and smooth quartz walls blending to the perfectly crafted hypnotizing patterns on them that could make a soul gazing on them, lost in the moment of time forever. He didn''t know the time his right hand started c.a.r.e.s.sing one of the walls.


    "This is truly a terrifying place."


    If not for the dream stone he put in his mouth, he would be trapped in dreams forever. That means the words of the grey tree were true. He continued walking towards the house and noticed the details of the house. It was made of dull quartz stones with runes all over it. As he stepped on the large cobblestone in front of the entrance, the door immediately swung open. It was as if the house was expecting his arrival, and there was no need for attendants.


    What did he expect in a dream-world in the first place?


    There was something about the dying glow of the house which was putting him off. He was sure about the place, but his courageous determination was pushing him forward.


    Colorful light flowed out of the walls to encompass him. Although it was faint,  it was the brightest he had seen in this dream. It was as if the white runes on the walls were giving off a dying radiance. There was a large oak table at the center of the room along with an oak chair. They were smoothly polished and giving off a shining glow. There was a large opened book to the left side of the table, and to the right was another larger golden scroll. Behind the table and chair was a large oak shelf filled with scrolls and manuscripts.


    Sitting at the table was an elderly man in a light golden scholar robe. His golden hair was an eye catching one, and perfectly matched his long and flowing beard. The elderly scholar was holding a golden feathered pen and appeared to be lost in thought.


    From his first glance at the elderly man, Ju Feng could tell he was looking at an ancient scholarly being. The wisdom and knowledge they possessed were a thing of unparalleled pride in the world of cultivation. In there, he knew he had to maintain his silence until being told otherwise. He patted his robe and adjusted his scholar hat. The tree had prepared him for the task.


    Few minutes later, the old man raised his head to observe Jufeng. He took a look at Ju Feng''s robe and hat before giving a nod. The young boy might not be an adept, but a scholar nonetheless.


    "Young scholar, welcome to the House of Riddles."


    "Greetings, elder scholar."


    "You must be here to help me with some of these riddles, I suppose."


    Without waiting for any reply, he continued.


    "Very well then, come closer. Young one, these riddles are a thorn in my robe. I just couldn''t find the right answers to them. Since you are here, maybe you can help me solve them."


    "Okay, elderly scholar."


    "But there is a little problem, young scholar. You see, with the importance of what I''m doing here, I can only afford a total of two wrong answers. The third wrong answer can create some sorts of problem."


    The elderly scholar raised a finger to draw Ju Feng''s attention and alley his fears.


    "But then, you can still leave or continue after the second wrong answer. Only, if you can afford five Irrium gold coins. Do you understand that?"


    "Yes, senior."


    Ju Feng replied with a nod of his head. What else could he say? He had a telling comfort in knowing that he was having the Irrium gold coins given to him by the tree. The tree truly had knowledge of the happenings there.


    "Excellent. Here are the riddles."


    And there we go. Ju Feng knew the trial had started. He could only miss the answers twice, missing them three times meant he would be in serious trouble. The tree already told him that the questions would be on his level of understanding and reasoning. The tree better be right. If not, then it would be on the tree for not getting the cursed scripts. But the oaths put the burden on his shoulders.


    The elderly man gently raised the feathered pen as he stared at Ju Feng with a slightly raised eyebrows.


    "The first one.


    "I never was, am always to be,


    No one ever saw me, nor ever will,


    And yet I am the confidence of all,


    To live and breathe on this creative existence.


    What am I?"."


    How would he know? Ju Feng scratched his head as he mused on the riddle. He had done a few riddles before but nothing close to this. That was a hard riddle. If the first one could be that hard, he wondered what the other two would be like. The time was gradually passing by, and he was yet to come up with an answer.


    "Young scholar, why do you ponder so long on something that never comes?"


    "Ah, I see. That''s it!. The answer is ''tomorrow''."


    Ju Feng voiced in delight after recieving the hint from the elderly scholar. The joy of getting the answer right was satisfying despite the dire situation of things.


    "Thank you senior."


    "Aha. That''s the Grace you have, young one. Hint is on every first question, but after that, the rest is on you.  Now, for the second one. This second riddle is no better than the first. Here it goes.

 Chapter 86 - Death Keep [1]

    ''I''m the beginning of eternity,


    The end of time and space,


    The beginning of every end,


    And the end of every place.


    What am I?''."


    The beginning of eternity and the end of time and space? It could only be one thing. The Void. The beginning of every existence. Everybody knew that. Could the answer be that simple? Jufeng was musing very hard in thoughts as he tried to resolve the riddle. He came to the conclusion that it had to be the void.


    "The Void?"


    "That is a wrong answer, young one. Do you want to give it another try?"


    Huh? Wrong answer? If it wasn''t the void, what else could it be? Could it be the Alpheron then? That was the beginning of everything in the universe. He had to be careful especially now that he only had one more wrong answer left. After thinking hard for what seemed to be an eternity, he cleared his throat as he drew the attention of the elderly scholar.


    "The Alpheron?"


    He had just said those words when something flashed through his mind and it instantly dawned on him that he gave a wrong answer. But before he could make adjustment, the elderly scholar gave his remarks.


    "Wrong again, young one. You know what that means. Five Irrium gold coins. Then you''ll decide whether you want to leave or continue."


    Ju Feng sighed deeply as he removed the five Irrium gold coins and gave them to the elderly scholar. He felt a huge relief knowing he would have another chance at the riddles. But heavens tears, now that he had used the precious Irrium gold coins, he had no substitute left. Only, if he had waited a bit longer. It didn''t matter anymore. With a bitter smile, he answered.


    "I want to continue, senior. You are ''E'', letter E!."


    "Don''t be too hard on yourself. Though it took you time and missed chances, you are still wiser for your age. You should take pride in that. Just one more riddle for you to help me with. Here it is."


    The scholar responded before continuing.


    "Three men are standing, each is holding a box. In only one of the boxes there is a treasure, the other two are containing evil. The men know what is in their respective boxes. Each man will say only one sentence. Only one of them is telling the truth about the treasure and the other two are lying.


    The first person says: The treasure is not in my box!


    The second person says: The treasure is in third person''s box!


    The third person says: The treasure is not in my box!


    In whose box is the treasure?"."


    Ju Feng closed his eyes as he pondered on the riddle. It was a difficult riddle. How would he answer this one when he couldn''t tell from their responses? After thinking for some time, he opened his eyes only to discover that the elderly scholar, the table, the chair and the shelf, are all gone. The room had grew darker and the only source of faint light was the runes on the walls. At  the center of the house were three boxes labelled from first to third.


    Why did he had the alarming feeling that it was related to the third riddle of the elderly scholar? It would mean that one of these boxes was containing the script he was looking for while the remaining two contained stark evil. Who knew what kind of evil would be inside them? What was the possibility of him surviving any of the evil, anyway? Which one of them was even telling the truth? First one said plainly that it wasn''t in his box. Second one indicated that it was in third one''s box. The third one straightly denied that it wasn''t in his box.


    As he continued to think about the riddle, a scene which happened back then on the sect''s premises, flashed in his mind. The more he compared the two, the more he could see the similarities. Moments later, he stepped forward and slowly opened the first box with great caution. He held his breath as he raised the lid cover of the box and inside it were the sealed bamboo scripts. Three of them.


    The Scripts of Sentience.


    Joyful relief washed over him as he took the scripts from the box and turned them over in his hand, revelling in their acquisitions. He put them in his spatial sac before looking around the room. The closed door had opened again. Seeing that, he wondered what could''ve happened if he had been wrong about the first box. Shaking his head, he made his way to the door while keeping an eye on the remaining two boxes.


    He left the house and walked back through the passage while avoiding making contact with the walls. He stepped out of the dream and into the frosty plain. How lovely was it to be in the open again? He decided to take his time to relax. He brought out some turtle meat and preserved goat milk. He was having another adventure inside the original adventure. The thought of it was frightening enough. It would be better not to delibrate on it.


    Ah, the wonder of the magical turtle meat and finest homely made goat milk. He smiled happily as he finished up with the tasty delicacies.  After considering the next place he was heading to, he stood up and patted his robe. The next place would be him entering a real illusion to acquire the first treasure he had chosen, the Mystic Order. He couldn''t help but wonder what that meant. According to the grey tree, reality is but an illusion and illusion is nothing but reality inside the Accula divinis.


    Ju Feng followed the directions he was given and he came to an area where the snow appeared to be gravitating upward. He was told to use his spiritual sight to examine the area. He would see a particular place containing a single line of bigger levitating snow. That was where he would have to enter the illusion. After locating the place, he put another dream crystal in his mouth and enter the levitating snow field.


    He nearly stepped into the path of a passing blade-light which would have split him into two. He quickly sidestepped and dodged behind a huge fallen statue.


    What situation did he just walked himself into?


    He raised his head to take a peek, and saw battles of powerful nature, going on at every corner. Although some of the battling cultivators were around his age while others were a little bit older, their powers were immense. He quickly dodged back after confirming he was in the right illusion.


    That called for a careful observation. As he slowly raised his head a second time to take a look, a flaming arrow which was blazing like a meteorite, streaked past his head, prompting him to duck again. From the powerful aura of the arrow, he knew the shooter was definitely more than a premier cultivator. A cored cultivator. Which meant the people fighting were cored cultivators. Could they even be demigods just like the tree told him?


    The route he needed to take was through the left side of the battle into the valley of mountains, scattered in broken chains. The mountain he was looking for, had a white patterns on it. He had to enter the mountain through a hidden opening on its side. At the heart of the mountain was the Mystic Order. He slowly took out his sword, but he wasn''t really sure of how effective an iron sword could fare against powerful attacks. Anyway, he had no choice. It was all the weapon he had on him. He was just leaving his position behind the fallen statue using flashsteps when the statue exploded into ashes.


    The impact of the explosion knocked him forward, but he didn''t stop. Instead, he used the momentum of the impact to increase his speed. He knew he had to leave that battlefield if he didn''t want to be turned into ashes. He was almost out of the battle area when an alarm sounded in his head. It was of an incoming mortal danger from the right sdie of the battlefield. Without much thought, he pushed all the Chi he could muster into his body. He raised his sword in a blocking position and turned towards the direction of the approaching danger.


    In a lightning speed, a battle axe appeared right in front of him and collided with his raised sword. The impact broke his right hand. And his arm was almost torn off his shoulder''s socket while his left hand was awkwardly twisted. The iron sword he was carrying, was shattered into fragments, lacing his body. As he laid on the floor, semi-consciously, he could sense the hand of death as the light of the axe reflected into his eyes. The descending axe was about to remove his head, when a hand suddenly thrust into the arena and pulled him out.


    "Thank you."


    Ju Feng managed to say before drifting into uncosciousness. He was carried off to a reasonable distance before he was placed on the floor. A couple of hours had passed when he finally regained full consciousness. He was looking around to see where he was when his gaze fell on the boy, few feet away from him. The boy was sitting in a lotus position, watching him without making any sound.

 Chapter 87 - Death Keep [2]

    "Why, Asura?"


    "Uh?"


    Ju Feng uttered after being taken aback by the sudden question, coupled with the fact that he was still feeling a little groggy. He was just recovering from the damage sustained from the impact of the collision back in the arena. So, the question really caught him off guard.


    Why what? And Asura, a demigod?


    He was just addressed as an Asura, but he never knew himself to resemble a demigod. Could it be his looks? But surely, it couldn''t be his aura. It was just recently that he reached the zhuji stage, the true beginning of immortal cultivation. Then, how could anyone took him for an Asura? Even immortal nascent soul cultivators didn''t have the same aura as demigods. Oh, how he wished that could be true about him. An Asura, just like his mother? Surely, his life would have been much more easier.


    Ju Feng quickly gathered his thoughts together, and put on an appreciative smile. He was trying to mask his confused expression while showing his gratitude to the boy who saved his life.


    "Thank you for saving me back there."


    "There''s no glory in being suicidal, Asura."


    With his face displaying annoyance, fully fixed on Jufeng, the demigod continued.


    "We all seek glory here, but not in a reckless manner."


    "I''m not trying to get myself killed, by the way."


    "Yea, I can see that. It seems you''re thinking the arena has an Haven-Guard seal or something. Where you can die inside and appear outside. Oh, you would''ve been long dead by now, Asura. Let me ask you, why are you participating in the Eternal-legacy?"


    "What Eternal-legacy?"


    "The rite of glory?"


    "So, are you telling me you''re just realizing that now?"


    The demigod shook his head lightly as he examined something on the floor.


    "That''s a mockery of the rest of us, you know. Or don''t you realize that?"


    Ju Feng looked at the demigod but couldn''t find any word in response. His mind was becoming flooded with information about a deadly demigod''s trial that happened in a dimensional place of spacetime known as the Deathkeep. A trial so dangerous, it would take thousands of years for the young demigods to prepare before being approved for the trials. Even with that, there was no assurance of them surviving the trials.


    Eternal-legacy. The rite of glory.


    The extremely dangerous customary act designed for all young, coming of age, demigods. Participating demigods would have to do battle in the Deathkeep arena where they would be eliminated, one by one. Any demigod which stepped outside or was thrown out of the arena, would be eliminated from the first trial. No eliminated demigod could get back into the arena until it was all done and only one was left.


    The champion, the last remaining demigod in the arena, would get the Dew of Heavens and a token. The token was a pass to the first tunnel which contained a free sacred-crest stone, more treasures and lesser amount of danger. He would also be having a period of time ahead of the other demigods to look for other treasures, if he wanted to. That was a great advantage over the rest of the demigods.


    The Sacredcrest stones were used to exchange for a universal gift. The universal gifts were the divine traits bestowed on the demigods after the conclusion of the trials of the rite of passage. The Sacredcrest stones would be presented after the conclusion of the rite of passage at the valley of gods.


    The rules and regulations of the eternal-legacy were set in stone by the laws of creation. They couldn''t be altered or changed by any living entity. All must follow the rules.


    That trial was a great benefit to true demigods from the dimensional plane between the mortal plane and heavenly plane. Alhough, the dimensional plane was more closer to the heavenly plane in divine bloodline, it was also closer to the mortal plane in heritage. There was no denying the fact that there were demigods all over the mortal plane, but all cultivators knew the true demigods resided in that dimensional plane.


    The Lumence dimensional plane. The home of the true demigods.


    There were five realms in this dimensional plane and each realm was made up of a different kingdom of demigods. Every ten thousand years, young demigods from these five realms that were seeking heavenly glory in the Eternal-legacy sojourn, would be sent to the Deathkeep. The young demigods would have to fully prepare and must be approved by their respective gathering of elders.


    The Deepflow realm which was the home of the Yaksha demigods.


    The Windglade realm belonging to the Rakshasa demigods.


    The Crystalsky realm, the place where the Laksha demigods called home.


    The Frozenfire realm that served as the habitat of the Asura demigods.


    And the Cloudfall, home of the Deva demigods.


    Out of all the kingdoms of demigods, only the Asuras fully had the human heritage. Some of them might have birth marks, but they had no remarkable birth marks associated with the other demigods. Any first glance of an Asuran would be in the semblance of a human.


    "Mm. So, that''s why he thought I was an Asura."


    Ju Feng thought to himself as he examined his body for any sign of lingering injuries. He had sustained serious injuries back then, but right now, he couldn''t find traces of them any longer.


    "I had to fix you up since I couldn''t bear the look."


    "I''m very grateful for everything. I really am. I''m Jufeng."


    JuFeng changed the path of the discussion when he noticed the eyes of the boy were still locked on him with all seriousness.


    "I guess I was out for a time."


    "Obviously."


    With a softer gaze, the boy still sitting in the lotus position, continued to observe Jufeng.


    "Why did you have to come here, Asura? Why did they even allowed you to come here?"


    He shook his head before turning towards the arena.


    "I don''t understand. You could''ve died in there had I not saved you, you know. Despite the fact that I''m a Laksha and you are an Asura, I still save your live. Do you know why? Because, you reminded me of an Asura I met, many a year ago. I was in a difficult situation back then too...."


    The young Laksha demigod trailed off as the memories of the past kept flooding into his mind. Ju Feng, noticing the change, quickly quipped in.


    "Don''t forget, we all have our teleportation seals. We can leave at anytime if we are in danger."


    He still remembered the details from the words of uncle Primus and decided to raise it maybe it could make a difference.


    "Mm. Still, you shouldn''t be here, Asura. You''re not ready for this? I know the one who attacked you was a Terra Deva, nevertheless, nobody here should take injuries like that from his blow. Or any other blow."


    The boy said with confidence. He himself was locked in combat with the Terra Deva for many hours before he was eventually sent out of the arena. He would have entered back if he could, but that''s the past now.


    "Do you know what I come to realize while patching you up?"


    He turned his attention back to Jufeng.


    "Your soul is weak and your body is even weaker. Forgive me Asura, but I''m finding it really hard to believe that you''ve trained for a thousand years talkless of ten thousand."


    A thousand years? He wasn''t even more than ten years old. Was that a joke on him or on the Lakshan demigod?


    "You''re right. I haven''t trained for that long and I truly shouldn''t be here."


    "Believe it or not, the teleportation talismans are only useful if you live long enough to use them. Unless you have a large amount of life saving talismans, which I doubt, you''ll simply die here."


    As they were talking, a loud chiming sound went off which indicated the end of the arena trial. It would soon be the time for them to enter the tunnels for the Sacredcrest stones and other treasures.


    The Laksha demigod gave him a sympathetic look.


    "If I were you, I wouldn''t enter the tunnels. You don''t want to rely on other Asuran demigods. In there, you''re practically on your own. Others may not be that kind to you as I am. But if you decide to enter the tunnels, please, don''t get in my way."


    "You don''t need to worry. I''ll be heading towards the mountains, the tunnels are not for me."


    "Your choice."


    Out of his spatial sac, the Lakshan produced a silver-grey longsword which was made from a rare thorne steel, and offered it to Jufeng. Thorne steel  contained chromium, nickel and vanadium.

 Chapter 88 - Death Keep [3]

    "I noticed your sword was shattered. Take this sword. It was forged by my father''s own hands.  Athough it has no core, there''s are sharpness runes embedded in it. Consider this a small gift."


    He appeared to be in thought for a few seconds before continuing.


    "Fang Zedong, that''s my name."


    "Thank you, Fang Zedong."


    Jufeng cupped his hands and gave a curt nod.


    "Be watchful of the armored critters. Remember, demigods do die. Farewell, Asuran Ju Feng."


    "Farewell, Lakshan Fang Zedong."


    Ju Feng watched Fang Zedong blurred towards the arena before turning his attention towards the longsword he just recieved. The sword was no small gift. He had seen steel swords in the Last-Sages stalls before, but he hadn''t seen one like that longsword. Despite not having any mystical core, the sword was made from the finest thorne steel. But the best part was The craftsmanship. The craft work on the sword could only be made by a master Swordsmith. The runes of sharpness also indicated a master Soulforger. He couldn''t contained his joy knowing the sword now belonged to him. To him, it was a perfect sword.


    He heaved it in his hand and performed some sword moves. It was of the right feel. He smiled broadly as he headed off to the scattered mountains, in order to find the mystic order. As he headed towards the mountain, he noticed many blurred afterimages streaking past him, heading towards the opened tunnels. Those were the after images of the demigods who had been eliminated from the arena, but were now going for the tunnels. He could only observe and shook his head in silence. He knew that some of them wouldn''t even return from their cursed search. Oh, how happy he was that he wasn''t heading in the same direction as them.


    After the figures of the demigods were gone, Ju Feng looked at the scattered mountains at the far distance. Hoping to reach them on time, he decided to make haste. Ju Feng started using the quicksteps as he made his way to the first of the scattered mountains. Nearing the base of the mountain, he slowed down and approached cautiously. He saw what looked like a loose boulder with bright glitters on it at the other side of the rocky mountain. He was trying to examine it with a strained eyes, when a voice sounded near him.


    "That''s a mountain critter."


    A young human girl materialized out of the thin air beside him and streaked off towards the tunnels before he could say anything. Going by what he had recently learned, she must be an Asura demigod.


    "Thanks."


    Ju Feng shouted to her disapperaing back. He hadn''t seen a critter before, so he took his time to examine it. He switched to his spiritual sight and saw the death aura coming from the critter. Not wanting to attract unwanted attention to himself, he quickly adjusted his steps. He went round the other side of the mountain towards the white patterned mountain at the far distance.


    After waiting for few minutes at the base of the mountain, and didn''t hear or notice anything out of place, he proceeded forward. He reached the place at the base of the mountain where the sealed rift was located. He put the talisman given to him by the tree on the rift. Immediately, there was a silent breeze and a visible entrance appeared. His passage into the mountain and to the Mystical Order.


    Watching carefully to make sure no one and no critter was following him, he made his way inside. As a zhuji cultivator, his eyes were fairly sharper than before and he could see more clearer in darkness. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Ju Feng saw a dark narrow passage with various runic inscriptions, in front of him. He touched the walls of the dark passage and inspected it more closely.


    "Obsidian black diamond."


    Ju Feng muttered to himself. Although it was one of the hardest rock stones in the universe and extremely precious, its true value lied in its ability to contain defensive runes. Obsidian black diamond was one of the two known types of rock stones that could take the Total-Fortress runic inscriptions without dissipating. The other being the emerald-cloud stone. Extremely rich cultivators used it to build safe rooms containing their treasure vaults.


    For it to be used here with runic inscriptions, which he suspected to be defensive runes, made the situation clearer to him. Whoever made the extreme measures, was either trying to keep something much more larger and stronger from getting out, or going in. But he had the notion it must be to keep something big from getting out. This was an ancient mountain without a shadow of a doubt. It could contain something powerful. So, he had to be exceedingly careful.


    The passage between the walls was about big enough for him to squeeze through. He managed to drag himself forward, though slowly, for a few yards before he finally exited into an open space,  facing a large tunnel. From the look of the it, it appeared the tunnel was leading downward in a spiralling pattern.


    He removed the new silver sword that the demigod, Fang Zedong, gave him and inspected the tunnel. Then, he stopped and stared at the darker path which winded downward to the unknown. He was beginning to think the place was no illusion of reality, but a true reality. Even if it was a reality of illusion, the illusion was already proving to be a danger to his life. He had nearly died inside the heavens'' forsaken arena. He wondered what would have happened to his soul if he had died. His mind told him he would''ve entered the samsara cycle for reincarnation.


    And now, he was having a sense of a danger alarm. Of him walking in the shadows of death. He had been doing that lately, and he didn''t like the idea of him getting used to it. If he continued living that way, one day, he could die without him knowing he was already dead.


    "From the shadows of death, straight to the light of reincarnation."


    He couldn''t turn back.


    The tree was right. The adventurous spirit in him, of knowing the unknown, was simply too much for him to ignore. The reason why he agreed to come on the adventure with the others. The free life to explore the wider expanse. He knew the immensely inevitable darkness and shadows who were seeking his death, right from the time of his birth. He knew the dangers of looking for the hidden things. But, he couldn''t stop. He was simply who he was.


    An adventurer.


    A soft sigh of resignation escaped from him. He looked at himself and the sword he was holding, and smiled.


    "At least, I have a better sword."


    In that knowledge, there was comfort. But he needed to be extra careful all the same. He entered the more darker tunnel and paused in order for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. A source of light would have been a welcome sight, but it could also put him in the spotlight. Slowly and steadily, he continued to follow the downward path of the tunnel. It was much better in navigating the darkness.


    Some meters downward, the spiralling tunnels stopped. Ju Feng saw an open area which led to another three tunnels. Scattered all over the place were lunar bugs which were giving off a faint light. Those were delicacies. Though they were not magical, they were of excellent taste as lunar grubs. On a different day, Ju Feng could have taken a handful, but that particular day was no mild day. That could be a terrible idea in a place like that.


    Thinking, he was beginning to notice that the layouts inside the mountain were more than that of average tunnels. He could easily get lost while looking for the mystic order talkless of getting killed by whatever monster was down there.


    Still, better than the Eternal-legacy tunnels. What did they called the spiders and critters in those tunnels again? Yes, nephilias. It wouldn''t be nice to be eaten by one of those. What about the ancient killers, the Death-Eaters. How many demigods had they killed in those tunnels. He could only imagine. No, even thinking about was already making his heart palpitate.


    Ju Feng entered the first tunnel and found himself inside a dense black mist. Realizing he was beginning to loose consciousness, he quickly retraced his steps, back to the lunar-bug lighted area. That was a scary experience. He wouldn''t be going back inside that one for sure.


    The second tunnel, he would try. He entered it slowly and after walking for several minutes, he found himself looking at a wide area of chanels of water streams. Walking cautiously along a channel of stream, he found a radiance coming from one area of the stream. Upon closer look, he discovered it was coming from a small orb-like source in the shallow stream.


    "Waterglade."

 Chapter 89 - Death Keep [4]

    Waterglades.


    They were rare crystal-clear and transparent water shells. Beautiful as they might appear, they were not the real treasures, but what was inside them. The ever magical and translucent water jellies. Apart from the fact that they were magical and could purify and fortify the power of the soul, they were one of the best delicacies on the mortal plane. He had seen one like that before, when the antique dealers came to their village. Only one was brought to their village, and was already purchased before they could even admire it.


    He had seen, but had never tasted one. His mother had also told him about their uniqueness. That was why they were simply too expensive. He was already relishing the delicious taste and couldn''t wait to have a taste. As he was cautiously and gradually approaching the source of the radiance, he was certain he could not be anything more than a waterglade.


    As he peered into the shallow and clear water, the size and the shell-like shape of the source of the radiance couldn''t make it more obvious.


    "Yes. Waterglade."


    With a face full of joy and anxiety, he picked it up and inspected it further. It looked a little bit different from the glade which he saw at the market, but the difference wasn''t enough to make any major alterations. Once the glades were removed from water, it would be best to consume them instantly. Then, the famous glade-taste would be at its peak. Or, to keep them in a runic container of the same water in order to preserve their taste.


    Ju Feng quickly sat down in a lotus position and put his sword across his l.a.p. He pried it open easily and slurped it into his mouth. He could already feel the power of the glade in his mouth. He chewed a bit longer to savour the taste before swallowing it. Truly, that was magically unique in nature. Even tasted better than the striped magical goat. Instantly, his soul received a pure energy surge which made him shivered a little. Five of these jellies, and he could advance to the middle-stage of the Zhuji level.


    He closed his eyes and started to meditate for several minutes in order for his soul to fully process the energy of the jelly. After some minutes, he stood up and checked the water channels for more waterglades. While checking for the waterglades, he saw a water lily like the magical lily in their pond back at home. He pulled the lily tuber and was checking it, when his eyes caught a faint blue glow from where the lily tuber was. The tuber was previously over the blue glow. He found the source of the blue light and remove the item.


    Cautiously, he rolled It over in his hand while he continued to examine It closely. It was almost like a waterglade, same shell and size. The only difference was the blue glow instead of white. Ju Feng continued to ponder on the nature of the shell. Maybe it was an ancient waterglade. That would explain the blue glow. It had to be more powerful than the white glowing ones. For him, that was even better.


    He found a spot and quickly sat down crossed-leg. His fortune was beginning to come to fruition. After sitting down, he tried to pry it open but he was of no success. How could it be so hard to open? Well, probably because it was an ancient one. The thought of it being an old glade brought his heart palpitations. He decided to use his new sword to open it. Cautious of not making a mess of the jelly, he delicately and gently applied force as he continued to pry it open. He kept increasing the pressure on it, but he still couldn''t open it.


    Then, he thought. What if he was to push his chi into the sword? Maybe, he could force it open that way. As long as it wouldn''t greatly affect the jelly.


    Ju Feng continued to push his chi into the runic sword as he tried to force the glade open. After several minutes, he noticed the shell was beginning to loose its closed grip. Anxious of what was to happen, he pressed ahead with renewed vigor. Almost there, he told himself. Finally, he was so happy to hear the sound of the shell opening.


    "Phew."


    That was a difficult one. He had used vast amount of Chi. The second time he had used energy in such a way. The first time was when the demigod had attacked him inside the arena.  He could manage to do that due to the large amount of chi in his dantian. He would ever be grateful for the Timeless-Soul technique of his family.


    If not for the large amount of chi energy in his dantian, he would have found it impossible to open. Any cultivator of his age would have found it impossible to open. With the exception of the young demigods. He remembered the powerful display of the young demigods back at the arena. Yes, apart from them.


    The importance of the vast amount of the Chi energy available to him in his dantian, couldn''t be emphasized enough. It was an invaluable way for him to reinforce his body strength.


    He recalled his thoughts, and pried the glade opened. But seeing what was inside, the smile disappeared from his face.


    "A coral?"


    It was no edible magical jelly. How could he eat a stone seed? He turned the spherical stone-seed around in his hand as he felt the smooth surface. He almost missed the tiny and transparent symbol on the coral and quickly inspected it.


    "The Star-Tide!"


    Ju Feng shouted in surprise alarm as he bolted upright. A cosmic conchi? A water Cosmic-Conchi shouldn''t be here. It should be at the heart of a deep and dangerous waters. Not in a shallow streams like this one. That couldn''t be right. And he had actually forced a Cosmic-Conchi open. A Cosmic-Conchi! He could have seriously injured himself, or worse still, he could''ve killed himself. The kickback from the effect of the conchi''s energy would''ve disintegrated his body if he had continued using force to open it.


    Every cultivator knew about the legend of the Cosmic-Conchis. There were various books and scripts that mentioned them, along with many other heavenly and luminous treasures. The Cosmic-Conchis were the orb-like shells which were radiating a variety of brilliant colours according to the elements affiliated with them. The radiant colours were not coming directly from the shells, but from the true treasures inside the shell-like orbs.


    Each of these was a total-grade heavenly seed. They were often referred to as the Immortal Beads. They were one of the treasures or artifacts, created by the Adi-Buddhas. They were to give the mortal cultivators the sovereign chance to achieve immortality.


    There were fourteen of those beads crafted by the divine Adi-Buddhas.


    Lord Buddha Bhavana created eight heavenly beads according to the ways of the Eight-Fold path. When the eight heavenly beads were aligned, they formed the Dharma Wheel. A total grade luminous treasure.


    The Spire-Wood, a bead made from a prehistoric lotus seed of virtuous wood element.


    The Thunder-Stroke bead, from the ancient silver-moon seed of pure lightning element.


    The Light-Flare bead, a product of an archaic amber seed of pious essence of light element.


    The Flowing-Flame, made from an ancient redwood seed containing pure fire essence.


    The Wind-Storm, from a primal Saffron seed housing virtuous air element.


    The  Void-Whispers, a bead made from the Empty-Wood seed of absolute spacetime element.


    The Terra-Vale, from a primordial Peach seed of pure terra element.


    Lord Buddha Bodhisattva crafted six heavenly seeds in accordance with the Bodhisattva path. Their alignment would form the Bodhi Tree. Also a total grade luminous treasure.


    The Dusk-Shadow bead was made from a primeval ebony seed of pure element of shadow.


    The Woven-Dream, from the primal Rudrahska seed of virtuous dream and illusion element.


    The Metal-Peak bead was made from an ancient bronze-cactus seed of pure metal element.


    The Flora-Meadow bead, from an archaic rosewood seed of pure metal element.


    The Bone-Gore bead was made from a Titan-Nacre seed of pure necrosis element.


    Each of these artifacts, was a powerful high grade heavenly treasure. And when all the fourteen were combined together, they formed a divine treasure. The World of Buddha. The Ultimate Dharma.


    "Not good."


    Ju Feng said as the words regarding those shell-like orbs, struck his mind like lightning. Where ever a Cosmic-Conchi was opened, the fundamental essence of the guardian protecting it, would be released. These particular ones were guardians of extreme powers created by divine Adi-Buddhas, who had access to the true essence of the universe.


    The conchi guardians.


    Immortal creatures of pure essence of elements.

 Chapter 90 - Death Keep [5]

    They had the same nature of elements as that of the beads inside the crusts. They were only formed due to the true knowledge of the principles of the laws of creation.


    Aside from the guardians created by the universe itself, only cosmic divines could also create lasting pure essence guardians. Celestials could produce high essence guardians which would loose their potent powers with the passage of time. Gods could materialize low essence guardians. Hegemons couldn''t create true elemental guardians but they could conjur strong replicas, and could also confine an existing principal for later purposes.


    Ju Feng realized he was in serious trouble and knew he had to leave the place at once. There was no way he could face a water guardian at this point in his life. He was only at the Zhuji level in cultivation, and yinying level in martial arts. He had only learned the Shifting Heavens which was a low level martial hand technique. His swordsmanship was even worse. He had only learned the basics of swordsmanship from his grandfather due to their different affinities. The sect''s teaching was just starting, and he was yet to learn a proper technique.


    How could he face any type of elemental guardians? Was that not like knocking on death''s door?


    Suddenly, a danger alarm echoed in Ju Feng''s head. In that instant, he knew he had to run away from the area without delay. With high amount of chi fortifying his body, he turned to flee towards the tunnel using the flash-steps. But one step forward, he saw a large blade of water essence almost at his face. On instinct, he reacted by quickly bending backward, using his sword to slightly redirect the direction of the blade. Basics of swordsmanship. Although he was mainly unscathed, the impact still knocked him flying into one of the water channels.


    Realizing he was still conscious, he checked his body and to his relief, his bones were still intact. He hadn''t even seen the appearance of who attacked him. But from the impact of the elemental sword, he had a feeling he was dealing with the water elemental guardian. From the direction of the blade, it was to the right side of the area. He would have to take the left side and hoped he made it to the tunnel. No other way.


    At the moment, he was still breathing. He tried to remember the safe-word but couldn''t. It was at the tip of his tongue but still couldn''t remember it. So, he decided to make a run for it, but he wouldn''t be using the Swift-Steps technique. He pushed the maximum chi his body could take into it which put a great strain on his soul. As a premier, his soul hadn''t reached the Jindan stage where it would be able to form a core to fortify his soul. But, his body was much more stronger and faster than most cultivators of his age. That made the flashsteps much more faster than before.


    He was almost at the mouth of the tunnel, when he saw his life flashed before his eyes. He had a premonition of a certain death. Was it his own death? It had to be his own death. Who else was there? Knowing primal danger was on him, he turned his head towards the direction of his fears. But at that moment, his right leg slipped.


    A moment of fate.


    The words of divine Asha, came to the fore at that moment of true primal danger. What she granted at the time of reincarnation was fulfilled. The boy wouldn''t be entering the road to reincarnation just yet. She never tampered with fate after reincarnation, as a matter of fact she never had the time to, but whatever was granted during the reincarnation must be fulfilled. That was the law of creation in regards to incarnation.


    Just as Ju Feng slipped, a massive clawed hand passed the spot where his head was, a moment before. The claws collided with a giant sword made of true essence of water. The sound of the impact was like a colossal thunderstorm. The whole mountain shook with great tremors which made Ju Feng''s body trembled in fear. Queitly, he crawled away from the spot, to a more distant location. From there, he could clearly see the look of the water elemental guardian.


    A giant body of water in the shape of a Nefrim. Its body detail was so clear that it almost looked like a real Nefrim. Dense water was flowing all over its body like a thick body armor. The massive broadsword in its hand, was in the semblance of clear and solid water. It looked like a glass sword which was reflective of pristine water. The water aura coming from guardian was exceedingly overpowering.


    The water guardian wasn''t something a mortal cultivator below nascent soul should be facing. He would have been dead had the sword made contact with his body. The sword would have cut him into two diagonal parts. But the water elemental wasn''t alone. The guardian''s expressionless face was now focused on a mighty beast which was now stalking it. Maybe it could sense the power of the beast or not, but it didn''t attack but abided its time. The fact that it hadn''t attack the beast showed the level of power the beast possessed. After all, for the Star-Tide to be on the mortal plane meant the guardian would be having a power at the level of a nascent soul at the least.


    The beast looked at the water principal, unchallantly, before turning towards Ju Feng. It was staring at him like the most tasty meal which made him swallowed hard.


    "Mortal, I can smell the rich aroma of death on you. A mortal who dared walked where immortals are dying. No wonder the death''s aroma on you smelled so good. I can even taste it. It actually pulled me out of my slumber. Your web of death is strongly threaded. You''ll really go a long way in satisfying my hunger. Oh, how long it has been."


    Death-Eater.


    A slumbering desth-eater? Then, he recollect that when he slipped, he saw a shadow of claws passing over his head. He couldn''t recall them clearly, he didn''t even see where they came from. But he knew he could have died from the sharp massive claws had they connected with his head. They could have easily cut off his head like a thread. Without moving, Ju Feng continued to observe the two powers.


    Just as the death-eater was turning his attention towards the water guardian, the guardian made its attack move on it. When the water guardian neared the death-eater, it split into two replicas of itself. With the two guardian replicas holding identical large water blades. In an instant too, the death-eater raised its green glowing paws and moved in a lightning speed. It had anticipated an attack from the guardian.


    The two collided and a great battle ensued.


    Seeing them engaged in a mighty battle, Ju Feng quickly stood up and fled the area through the tunnel. He decided it was time for him to leave the mountain, Mystic Order or not. Then, he remembered the instructions of the grey tree about the Scripts of Sentience. That he had to show them to some of the grey tree''s friends, and one of them was inside the mountain. How could he look for the friend now, with death-eaters, conchi guardians and nephilias on his way. Let the tree send his roots to the nether region for all he cared, but he was getting out of there.


    As he exited to the open area outside the tunnels, a giant leg of a large multiple-eyed venomous spider, almost slammed into him before he could even see it. The nephilia spider was fighting with a nephilia critter.


    Nephilias? Where did they even come from?


    The place should be having mountain spiders and critters. Not nephilias.The nephilias were so fast that he wondered if he could actually outrun them. And more of them were blocking the spiralling tunnel. His only way up. Well, he had to go up. Which meant he would have to fight his way out. And he had to do that quickly. It was better to face any of the nephilias than either the death-eater or the conchi guardian. If any of the two monsters inside the tunnel were to get near him, that would be his death.


    He was about to engage the nephilias who hadn''t yet noticed him, when he heard the shrieking sound of a death-eater almost at the mouth of the misty tunnel. Another death-eater? U Feng couldn''t believe what was happening inside the mountain. The mountain was suppose to be a direct and simple journey, not a death trap. He quickly turned and made his way into the third tunnel with fortified flashsteps, before they could be aware of his presence.


    Inside the tunnel, he discovered it was a dead end. He turned towards the entrance and could hear the nephilias battling the death-eater. The sound of their battles was getting closer. Ju Feng knew it would take more than the nephilias numbers to stop a death-eater. He was also aware that he couldn''t hide from the death-eater inside the tunnel. The monster could smell his soul. Soon, the death-eater would make its way into the tunnel.


    While thinking of a solution to his predicament, he noticed a small hole at the base of the dead end. A way out there or a way out of life ? It would be better to find out than to stay and die. Hence, he quickly began digging .

 Chapter 91 - Death Keep [6]

    Ju Feng sat down with his back to the wall of the tunnel, smiling bitterly. His mind was still ruminating on the incident which took place back at the water channels. He was certain of seeing a premonition of a death, and he was sure the death was his. Yet, there he was, still breathing. How could he explain that? Maybe, the heavens didn''t want a soul to enter reincarnation on this day. Or perhaps, death was simply too busy to bother with him.


    Either way, he knew he had by-passed a disastrous outcome.


    He stared at his raw and dirty hands. Oh, how fast and hard he had dug in order to escape the many deadly claws. It was good that his body was strong from birth and that he grew up stronger. The energy from the magical pills and beasts that his mother had took when she was pregnant was showing on his body. Moreso, he had fortified his body with chi energy. How else could he have managed to do this?


    He looked at the hole he had dug through the base of the tunnel but there was no hole there. It had disappeared.


    "Uh?"


    No way was that an illusion. The hole he had dug had to be right there. Actually, it was meters long hole. Alright, it was a collapsed hole and that he had the sharpness runic sword. Still, he had spent long time digging the collapsed hole and his hands would testify to this.


    He placed his hand on the spot where the hole should be and his hand actually passed through the space. It was as if an illusion was protecting the entrance to the hole. As long as the hole was there, he would have a chance of leaving the mountain. Although it was only big enough for him to crawl through, it would do just fine. He wondered why the original hole was there in the first place. It would have allowed only one averagely grown man to squeeze through. Who made the hole? Seeing no way of finding the answers, he put his mind off the questions.


    After cleaning his hand, as much as he could, he decided to check his body for further sustained injuries. He was doing that, when he felt a lump through his robe. He opened his robe and dug out the lump casually. When he saw what the lump was, he sprang up in utter shock and joy.


    "The Star-Tide!"


    He shouted in disbelief. As he held the bead up in his hand, the broad smile on his face could dampen the brightness of the sun. Still, he found it difficult to come to terms with him holding the immortal bead. Before he was attacked by the conchi guardian, he thought he had lost it the moment he jumped up from his lotus position. And after that, he had totally forgotten about the bead. All he was thinking about was his survival. Fate was definitely on his side there.


    A heavenly treasure! Belonging to him, Ju Feng! What about that!? Even if he had no use for it at the moment or in the nearest future, it was still an extremely precious treasure. He wrapped the bead in a small parchment before keeping it in his spatial sac.


    As he was putting away the bead, suddenly, he remembered the Dragon-hide talisman he was given by the old merchant at their village''s market. He had prepared it beforehand, with the intention of using it at the beginning of the adventure, but had forgotten about it. So silly of him. Maybe, he would''ve suffered less than he did, had he used the talisman. Although he didn''t even know if the talisman would work, he still put it on himself. Any little form of a potential defence was important in this place of death.


    To regain expended strength, he took out some turtle meat and a jar of preserved goat milk as he revelled in the moment. Oh, how he wished he had the bloodroot medicinal pills. He would''ve used one and had his body restored. As he waited while relaxing, Ju Feng could hear the banging sound of battle, still ensuing on the other side of the tunnel.


    After waiting for several minutes for the battles to recede to no avail, he decided to check the tunnel he was in. He kept in mind not to venture deep, but to only check his immediate vicinity. Heavens knew what other dangers could be lurking inside the tunnels. This tunnel was not the direction he had to take to where he was going. It was the first tunnel. But with the c onchi guardian and the death-eater laying in wait, he knew he had to leave the mountain altogether. While he was still thinking, he noticed that new area was totally different from the area he was in before.


    He cautiously walked forward slowly. Then, all of a sudden, a thick stone wall sprang up in the passage behind him, cutting him off from the hole he had dug.


    Heavens'' tears! It was a tunnel trap! He must have triggered an unseen hatch or ...


    Ah, the walls. They seemed covered in some sort of symbols. Ju Feng was still examining the walls, when large sections of the two sides of the passage walls, suddenly sank. And another two large passages replaced the old ones. From the appeared new passages, he could hear low screeching sounds, and a wailing noise approaching from the other end of the three passages.


    "Shifting tunnel."


    The nightmare of adventurers. He had tried his best to check out for any hidden tunnel traps, yet, he was caught up in a more dangerous one. Ju Feng could vaguely see the bodies of the creatures in the darkness of the passages as they got nearer.


    Critters.


    Much smaller than their nephilia neighbours. They were definitely mountain critters. He switched to his spiritual sight and was temporarily relieved when he saw their aura was also not as strong as their giant neighbours. Nevertheless, he was dismayed to discover a large number of them coming from the three passages. No matter how he looked at it, he knew trouble was coming. There was no other option than to face them.


    From the spot he was standing, he would be at a disadvantage when fighting. He decided to shift forward, thereby, narrowing it down to two smaller directions.


    He quickly brought out the silver-grey sword and prepared himself for their onslaught. Although the silver-grey sword had no core and wasn''t elements affiliated, it was still an incredible sword. Back at the sect, a sword like that could have cost a lot. It was obviously forged by a master soul-forger. The sharpness runes were an added advantage. He would have to do with that and try not to die. He circled vast amount of Chi energy through his meridians and into his body, hoping the swordsmanship basics he knew would be enough. Feeling his body was getting stronger and lighter, Ju Feng went on the attack before they could totally back him to the wall.


    The critters were fast, but with his swift-steps, he was faster than them. And the blade? It was more than a thing of beauty. It was cutting into the critters like threads. That was why soul-forgers were greatly revered in the cultivation''s world.


    Despite taking some injuries, he went on cutting them down as they kept on coming. It was actually a good way for him to practice and improve the basics of his swordsmanship. He remembered the words of his grandfather.


    "To defend one''s life and others, killing would be justified if it couldn''t be avoided. And would surely be justified if it concerned creatures with no awareness or sentience."


    Creatures like these critters. There was no joy in killing them, but in a battle for survival, any killing would be satisfactory. And the silver-grey sword wasn''t helping the situation with its power. The more he killed them, the more the strange sensation he was having. So, this is how a continous killing felt like. No wonder many demons had so much karmic sins when they couldn''t stop themselves. Or wouldn''t? To them, it didn''t matter when their minds were already corrupt.


    The nephilia critters were much more faster than their mountain counterparts, and more or less faster than Ju Feng. How could they be so fast? They had to be magical beasts.


    More Chi energy into his body.


    With the nephilia critters, he was probably on equal footing with the swift-steps. However, the longsword was not doing much damage to the critter. There was something about its strange carapace that was acting like a defensive armor. Its claws were extremely sharp too. it was attacking with so much rage that Ju Feng had to be in defensive stances most of the time. Although, he suffered many minor cuts, he managed to avoid any mortal injuries.


    He knew those cuts should have resulted in serious wounds, yet, he couldn''t even feel them much. Surely, the effect of the talisman was complimenting the robe he was wearing and his Chi fortified body? Maybe, he actually had a chance against the nephilia critter.

 Chapter 92 - Death Keep [7]

    Ju Feng continued to block and backtracked, until he found the opening he was looking for. The critter was expecting the same routine. It would slash with its claws while Ju Feng would block. But when Jufeng saw the opening, he stepped into the beast''s left and rolled under its left hand. He swung the longsword in a low blow, slicing the softer under-arm of the critter.


    The critter, instinctively, swiped the back of its claws at Ju Feng. The force of the impact, sent Ju Feng flying further back into the tunnel where he was sprawling on the ground. It was as if he had been hit by a titan''s hammer. He thought he was fortunate it wasn''t the razor ends of the claws. Those would have been fatal to him, talisman or not.


    Quickly, he staggered upright and regulated his laboured breathing. He looked at the place his sword had made contact on the critters'' body and smiled. The critter had been making cuts on his body, and now, he had actually managed to inflict one good cut on the critter.


    Yes! His sword had drawn its own blood. How did that feel, critter?


    But the wound and the trickling blood further infuriated the critter. Its claws began to glow in a sizzling hunter green color. The death and rotten aura coming from it was becoming exceedingly overpowering.


    Organic poison.


    A dangerous form of necrosis. There were some creatures created with some portions of the elements in their organs. The nephilia critters and spiders were one of them. They were created with poison glands in their bodies which they could harness into their claws. That made them extremely dangerous.


    Ju Feng watched the sizzling green claws in shock. How could that, even, be fair? Before, the fight with the critter was more or less at a disadvantage to him, but now, the fight was on survival. His survival. Since the talisman couldn''t prevent the cuts, he musn''t allow the poisonous claws to come in contact with his body. He had no medicinal pills, and the poison could be deadly.


    He contemplated using the much faster swiftsteps, but decided to stick to the flashsteps. Since he didn''t know what sort of traps or creatures he could run into, it was better for him to be flexible. The less faster flashsteps would allow him to adjust his tranjectory in the shortest notice when faced with incoming dangers.


    He took off and the two nephilia critters followed. They were as fast as lightning, really fast. He was carefully watching the passage as he ran by. The critters were almost on him when the passage shifted again, throwing them off balance as they came to a halt. Ju Feng realized they were now in a lighted circular area, engraved with symbols and signs of various letters and designs.


    And a dead end.


    There was nowhere to go. The critters, sensing blood, went in for the kill. They attacked him together.


    With his back to the wall, Ju Feng was preparing to defend himself when the ground of the circular room, opened. The two critters couldn''t control their momentum and they fell into the hole. As they began to spiral down the large hole, the last one of the critters reached out with his right claw and caught the robe of Ju Feng who was trying to gain his footing.


    Jufeng, who was desperately struggling at the edge of the opening to retain is footing, was dragged down the hole into the chasm beyond. It was as if he had been falling for a thousand years, athough it took only seconds. It had to be an ancient mystical art. The main effect wasn''t even the eerie feeling of forever falling, it was the force of impact. The impact knocked the air out of him, making lose consciousness for a time.


    When he came through, he discovered he was on top of one of the critters. The claws of the one he was on, was inches away from his face. Any closer, they would have gored his head. The two critters had been impaled on the obsidian spikes that protruded out of the ground. How fortunate he was to land on one of the critters. If not, he would have been on his way to reincarnation by now.


    He managed to sit up and looked around. He needed to leave the area of the obsidian traps. Using the bodies of the critters as cushions, he managed to propell himself out of the area. Upon landing, he checked himself for any sizzling wound from the poisonous claws but couldn''t find any, much to his relief. Although his robe was torn in many places, his body only had the normal cuts.


    Relieved, he removed some turtle meat and lily tubers from his sac, and began to chew on them. He found a place close-by and rested for a moment. After regaining most of himself, he carefully checked where he was.


    He decided to take the tunnel on the left. He had walked a short distance when he saw two young kids, of his own age, battling one death-eater and quickly turned back. On a closer look, the kids were like ones of those demigods. Demigods!? How could that be? Weren''t the demigods suppose to be inside Death-Keep tunnels. So why were they here? Could it mean he was now inside the deathkeep tunnel? It couldn''t, and shouldn''t be!


    All the tunnels he tried were filled with kids battling various creatures. Only one tunnel was free from the sound of clashing metals. But the tunnel was too silent for his comfort. He was contemplating what to do when a death eater suddenly appeared to his far right. The decision was made for him. He quickly took the silent tunnel. If only he could find a spot to hide in there. He hadn''t gone far when a hand suddenly reached out and pulled him.


    "Uh?"


    He found himself staring at young kids like himself. But the place he was standing now had been an empty space a few seconds ago. Why was he now looking at other kids when there suppose to be no one there? Invisibility? Force-field? The kids had deadpan seriousness on their faces which made Ju Feng cautiously watched them in utter silence. Although they''d surpressed their auras, but from their looks, he could guess they were Asuras.


    That meant he was definitely inside the Death-Keep. He reasoned it had to be when he fell into the obsidian hole. He was still looking at them questionably, when one of the Asuras, the same girl he saw at the mountains, held a finger to her lips and pointed at the path ahead.


    What could possibly be at the front that could scare the demigods more than the death-eaters? But as for him, he was much more concerned about the death-eater. There was no way he wanted to face one.


    Ju Feng followed the girl''s pointed finger''s, and soon saw what she meant.


    "A plane-drifter."


    The powerful immortal the tree had told him to find inside the mountain. He was meant to deliver a message to him. Ju Feng could only hope the immortal wouldnt kill him before he''d delivered the message. There were powerful immortals who could easily move from one plane to another without much difficulties. One of those immortals was the Plane-Drifter.


    Upon getting to the edge of the silent tunnel, the death-eater stopped and made a calling sound. Only for it to be hit with one massive and lightning-fast light of blade. Ju Feng stared at the corpse of the death-eater, who was cut into two, in shock. He was turning his attention back to the plane-drifter, when the figure suddenly looked straight at them.


    "You three are in my spacd, you know. Drop that little cover, and step closer. Now!"


    The plane-drifter looked at the two demigods with pure contempt.


    "You two should know better than entering this tunnel. I''ll let you live, but don''t ever come back here. Now, leave."


    Turning away from the Asuras, he pointed at Ju Feng.


    "You, stay."


    After the two Asuras had diappeared in a flash, the plane-drifter observed Ju Feng keenly.


    "You have something for me, mortal. Speak before I change my mind."


    Ju Feng ruminated on the words the grey tree had told him, carefully. If the plane-drifter was not in the mood, either he would oblitrate him or let him live, for now. Nevertheless, he needed to speak.


    "Senior, I''m told to ask you where I should I go if I''m lost in the tunnel?"


    "Emberless grove."


    "Please, forgive me senior. Who am I going to ask for?"


    "I admire you courage, child. You ask for Regallash. Now, speak.


    "Senior, I''m asked to show you this scroll."


    Ju Feng produced the scroll of sentience and handed it to the plane-drifter before continuing.


    "And to tell you that, ''when the sun and the moon sings, eternity dances''."


    The plane-drifter was quiet for a long time, appearing lost in thought. Then, he turned and settled his gaze on Ju Feng.


    "What do you seek in return, mortal?"


    "Senior, all I seek is the Mystic-Order."

 Chapter 93 - Death Keep [8]

    "The Mystical Order?"


    The Plane-Drifter asked while glowering expressionlessly at Ju Feng. The mortal child sought the stone of mystical order. One of the strangest treasure on the Lumence dimensional plane or any other plane. The item had to be used before the formation of a soul core. Whereas, all demigods were born with a bronze core. Hence, the stone had no relevance in their world, yet it was placed there. Although it could be a great item for any young cultivator before the formation of a bronze core, the stone could be drastic for any young mortal. Nevertheless, it was what the child wanted.


    He shook his head before shrugging.


    "I''ll point you in the right direction, and the rest will be on you. Do You understand?"


    "Yes, senior."


    Thus, in return for the services rendered, the Plane drifter gave Ju Feng the direction to find the mystical order. He had to continue walking forward, and he would come to a place of boiling yellow liquid. He must keep going forward until he would come to a path of three. He had to remember to take the one in the middle which would lead him to a place of mist. There, he would search for a shadow cave. What he was seeking was inside the cave.


    Jufeng cupped his hands and bowed deeply.


    "Thank you, senior."


    He really wanted to ask the plane-drifter more information on the mystical order. But he could be stamped to death or disintegrated for being an irritant.


    "En."


    The plane-drifter glanced at him as if he had enough of people for theof the tunnel before vanishing. Ju Feng heaved a sigh of relie the moment he became alonef. He stared at the tunnel in front of him, before turning to look at the place he was coming from. Going back wasnt an option for him. Just like he had known after falling down the hole, forward was the only choice he now had. Although, the silence in the tunnel was disturbing, he entertained the notion of not facing a death-eater in the tunnels behind him.


    Since the tunnel was still in the Plane drifter''s space, he knew the tunnel would indeed be quiet. But for it to be extremely long? He didn''t factored that one in. However, he continued walking for many meters. He was cautiously using flashsteps as he neared the large opening indicated by the plane-drifter. While almost out of the tunnel, Ju Feng could hear the sounds of hard battles, coming from the open area.


    As he slowly exited the tunnel, he could see different battles going on between demigods and death-eaters. And, not too distant from where he was standing, he saw two other tunnels leading to the large opened area. But what really caught his eyes was the landscape of the area.


    There were different areas on the ground bubbling with the hot yellow liquid. Areas like that were located at intervals throughout the area. The whole place would''ve been a plain of bubbling yellow liquid, if not for the huge shafts sparsely covering the area. Palladium rocks. They were in the form of large shafts which protruded out of the ground. Each of those shafts were like massive boulders of pillars.


    Despite the place looking colossal and strangely weird, the yellow boiling liquid really looked scary. It had to be corrosive from its appearance. He must be exceedingly cautious of falling inside one, medicinal pills or not. He didn''t even have any medicinal pills anyway.


    Ju Feng, who was lost in the reverie of the landscape, quickly snapped out of it as the two battles intensified. On one side, two demigods were battling one death-eater, while on the other side, another two demigids were battling another death-eater.


    The two battles were of epic proportions.


    But, the two demigods on the other side, were battling a much bigger and different death-eater. Ju Feng was transfixed on that specific battle as he watched the incredible moves in wonder. One of the two demigods, the one covered in thick twirling vines, was sent sprawling on the ground as she held her injured side. She quickly took out a pill from her spatial sac and crushed it in her mouth. Ju Feng could only sigh. That was one of the big differences between him and the demigods. They had access to pills which could repair and replenish their bodies.


    Regaining his thoughts, Ju Feng saw that the other demigod was still fighting the death-eater. He was covered in light black metal armor and was holding a black largesword. Although, his armor was withstanding the battle, he was slowly loosing his ground. As the death-eater was pressing its advantage, the demigod raised his largesword and slammed it on the floor. A large black round metal enclosed the death-eater in a cocoon. And instantly, the cocoon began to shrink. It appeared as if it would continue to shrink but, then, suddenly stopped and exploded outwards.


    The other demigod, who was still laying down, had now rejoined the battle. Ju Feng suspected her to be a flora or wood demigod. After taking the pill, she appeared to have totally recovered. She was holding a powerful dark brown staff. As she fought, the staff was constanly changing shape and radiated a green-gold light. She engaged the death-eater in close combat at the same time as the metal armored demigod.


    It was a fierce battle. They exchanged hundreds of blows in minutes as they all blurred into apparitions. They couldn''t do much damage to the death-eater due to the colossal scales covering it. It was a powerfully strange defense mechanism. The likes Ju Feng had never seen before.


    After a moment of continous exchange, the demigods withdrew backwards for a few yards and launched their mystical arts. It seemed their martial arts wasn''t going anywhere, and in turn, decided to use their mystical arts.


    The flora or wood demigod made her most powerful move as she hit hee staff''s base on the floor creating a chimera-like creature of great power made of flora element. A Flora Curiosa. That was a creature of pure essence of flora. Surely now, Ju Feng was convinced she was a flora demigod.


    At the same time, the metal armored demigod made his own attack move. He had been holding the metal energy inside his sword for few seconds, and now slashed his sword forward, diagonally. It created a giant Nether-Blade.


    Both the Curiosa and Nether-Blade, attacked the death-eater simultaneously.


    Running out of essential energy, trickles of blood could be seen on them as they strained to hold their own. The shadowy dark energy on the body of the death-eater had turned to a raging storm. If they could hold on, maybe, they could surpress the dark energy enough to attack its head. The only weak area on its body.


    The flora demigod was the first one to run out of essential energy. The reverse effect of the counter-reaction, threw her backwards in collision with a protruded palladium shaft. She was trying to take another essential pill from her spatial sac when she saw a frightning dark energy of shadow, coming in her direction. She looked at the other demigod in a sorrowful manner before activating her teleportation seal. And in a flash, she disappeared making the shadow attack hit an empty space.


    The metal elemental demigod noticed a window of opportunity when the death-eater shifted its attention to the other demigod. Quickly, he took out a seal and put it on his largesword, before launching it at the death-eater. The move would completely destroy the sword, and have adverse effect on him, but he was ready to do it. There was no other option left for him.


    The largesword made a mourning sound while speeding towards the death-eater. The size of the sword became enormous as its core moved to its pointed tip. Seeing the danger coming its way, the death-eater''s black eyes suddenly turned bright. Dark shadowy light started emitting from its eyes like luminence obsidian. Then, it raised its massive claws, and mammoth shadows of claws formed a defensive barriers around him.


    The impact was enormous.


    Since a weapon with a core would be connected to the soul of the owner, the repercussion knocked him against of the protruded shaft, making him spat out some blood. Although, It was a bone-cracking collision, his body wasn''t affected much. The real injury was sustained by his soul. The soul was everything to any mortal or immortal cultivator. Inside the dantian, the soul connected the life-force to the body.


    Even with the gods who could form different avatars and images, it was a single soul that controlled all of them. Although with the necessary materials, a certain godly ritual would allow the gods to create threads of souls for their avatars and images. The ritual was called, the Threading of The Parallel Souls. But, everything came with a price. If any of the avatars or images suffered destruction, the real gods would suffer greatly from the repercussion.

 Chapter 94 - Death Keep [9]

    That was due to the loss of the parallel souls associated with them.


    The same with the weapons that had cores. Or, as they were generally known, soul weapons. Due to the fact that they were connected to the owners'' souls, their loss would have an adverse effect on the main soul of the owner.


    Since the largesword was on a self-destructive path and was powered by the seal, it managed to shatter the massive claws. It struck the death-eater at the center of its heart or where its should be.


    The core of the black largesword which had now moved to the tip of the sword, struck and pierced the hard body of the death-eater. The death-eater was straining to pull the sword out of its body, when Ju Feng, who had crept up behind it, pierced its skull through the opening at the back of its head. Since he arrived, he had been watching their battle and noticed the death-eater constantly protecting the back of its head. It was then he decided the back of its head had to be its vulnerable place. The risk was high, but he chose to help the demigod out.


    Ju Feng had planned to quietly pass the area without attracting any creatures. All he wanted was to keep looking for the mystical order. He had the directions, but he had stopped for some reasons unknown to him. Maybe, it was to look at the might of demigods, or to see the destructive powers of the death-eaters, he didn''t know. But one thing clear, he had seen the mighty powers of the two sides. He wasn''t at their stage of power yet.


    After piercing its head from the back, the creature fell, face down, on the largesword. The impact shattered the already damaged sword into pieces. A shining, white, oval-crystal, dropped from the death-eater''s mouth and rolled towards the demigod. Slowly, the demigod removed his helmet, thereby, revealing his face.


    "Fang Zedong? Heavens tears!"


    Jufeng looked at him in a surprisingly bemused way.


    "Hey, Ju Feng."


    With cold eyes, he looked at the stone and at Jufeng, who quickly nodded his head in agreement. He still remembered the words of Fang Zedong warning him not to stand in his way inside the tunnels. More so, if his memories would serve him right, Fang Zedong had lost a thread of his soul when the largesword shattered. A fragmented soul was not a major problem, but their would never be an advancement or ascension without a complete soul. There were pills and fruits which could repair the fragmented soul, but were expensive to find and would take some time to fully mend the soul.


    "It''s all yours, Fang Zedong."


    Ju Feng said as backed away from the stone.


    "I only helped out. Moreover, it was your sword that did the work. As long as you are alright, that''s fine by me."


    Fang Zedong nodded and picked up the white stone.


    "Sacredcrest."


    He found a spot and sat down, resting his back on the remains of the shard he had collided with. He put the stone in his spatial sac and took out a pill which he slowly put in his mouth.


    Jufeng had taken a good look at the shining stone before it was put away. Although he was impressed by the appearance, he wasn''t shocked by the stone itself. So, that was the Sacredcrest stone that demigods would fight for in order to gain an extra divine ability? Well, if it was a divine ability, then, it probably worth it. But for him, it had no use and his mother was already through with demigods'' trials. He practically had no need for it. Even if he had use for it, would he be chasing a death-eater for one? Or try to take this one? Definitely no. He would surely ended up a dead soul.


    "I saw the battle, well, part of it and you were really good."


    Jufeng was demonstrating with his sword.


    "With the black sword and black armor? You were like a death god, Zedong."


    "Death god? You are having a laugh, aren''t you?"


    Fang Zedong asked with a shake of his head.


    "I could have died if you hadn''t come, you know."


    "Maybe not."


    Ju Feng stopped his sword display and gave a shrug. The rule of the trials was simple. If any demigod couldn''t continue, the demigod must activate the transportation seal in order to leave the Death-Keep and stay alive. Why would any demigod refused to use the seal in the face of death? He just couldn''t comprehend it.


    "Why did you stay? You could''ve left this place like the other demigod, but you didn''t. I still remembered what you told me. That the eternal glory wasn''t worth dying for. Then, why didn''t you leave?"


    Fang Zedong stared at the empty space for a time before turning his gaze at Jufeng.


    "For us Lakshas, it''s very different. You Asuras don''t worry that much about the Sacredcrests, do you? Maybe, you don''t want to accept that, but it''s true. For us, especially me, the honor of my family depends on this. It''s even worse going home without it than not coming at all."


    "Yea, the traditions we follow. You have the stone now, so, be happy? By the way, sorry about your sword. It was a true beauty."


    "It once belonged to my grandfather. At its centre was the core of an ancient Huli-jing. It''s a sad one."


    Fang Zedong sighed as he peered at his shattered sword. The hilt, still protruded out the death-eater''s c.h.e.s.t.


    "Been preparing for this a very long time. This armor, the sword and the seals, all are my family''s minor treasures. Losing the sword and a seal is going to be bad for me, but I do have the stone. It''s all that matters at the end of the day."


    He raised his head towards Ju Feng.


    "What about you?"


    "I need to go forward towards the rising path."


    "That''s towards the death cave. Why?"


    "There''s something I must find."


    As the two were talking, three Asura demigods streaked into the area in a blur. From their side, they didn''t see Ju Feng and Fang Zedong. They were focusing on the bodies of the demigods and death-eaters. There were two to three bodies of demigods and equal numbers of death-eaters. The Asuras were still checking the bodies, when they finally noticed Ju Feng and Fang Zedong, sitting in front of the corpse of a giant, black, death-eater. The two Asuras decided to come over and see what was going on.


    "An Asura and a Laksha."


    One of the Asuras said with a devilish smile before asking.


    "How often do you see that?


    "You."


    One of the Asuras, the only girl in their midst, uttered, indicitating Ju Feng.


    "Good to see you are still alive. Thought the drifter was having you for lunch."


    Ju Feng made a chortle as he shook his head.


    "Thanks for your help back there. I''m in your debt."


    "Oh, pfff. Come off it. We are Asuras, aren''t we? We are not like some other demigods that don''t understand this."


    She turned her gaze on Fang Zedong whom Jufeng was quick to defend.


    "He, actually, saved my life at the arena. If not for him, I would''ve been dead. I owe him much."


    "How about that? A Laksha saving an Asura. I never saw that coming."


    The first Asura said as he raised an eyebrow at Fang Zedong before glancing at Ju Feng again. He indicated Ju Feng''s dantian where his core should be.


    "Although you''re a little weaker yourself, Asura. Well, whatever."


    "An ancient death-eater? And you two managed to stay alive? That''s truly insane."


    The third Asura voiced while inspecting the body of the giant death-eater.


    "Anyway, we''re heading towards the rising path."


    "You''re going to the death cave?"


    "Yes. Why do you ask?"


    "I''m going that way too. Maybe, we can all walk together?"


    "Hm.... Just a minute."


    The three Asuras consulted with one another. After a few seconds, the girl turned towards Ju Feng and Fang Zhedong.


    "Only you, or the two of You?"


    Ju Feng had no idea if Fang Zhedong would be willing to follow them. After all, he his own sacredcrest stone already. He glanced at the Laksha who nodded in return. Fang Zhedong would follow them. But Ju Feng knew the metal elemental demigod was doing because of him. He just wanted to repay him in some ways.


    "Yea, the two of us."


    "Alright, you two can join our group. But the first stone comes our way. Is that okay?"


    After recieving confirmatory nods from the two, she smiled widely.


    "I''m Fan Xinyi."


    She said before indicating the girl in bronze b.r.e.a.s.t plate standing beside her.


    "This is Kang Ya."


    And then, she pointed to the boy in pristine white robe who was standing further back.


    "And that''s Liu Luoyang."


    Ju Feng and Fang Zedong introduced themselves in return before the five of them headed towards the rising path.

 Chapter 95 - Mystical Order [1]

    They continued taking the upward path while remaining cautiously alert. A couple of Nephilia spiders and critters were met, but were effectively disposed off by the group. The combined power of the five was simply unmatched for the spiders and critters. As the five of them neared the outskirt of the misty area, Fan Xinyi waved for them to stop. She opened her spatial sac and brought out some red flowers and seeds.


    "Red fiery flowers and serpent fang seeds."


    She said as she signalled them to come closer. She handed a red flower and a seed, to each demigods, including Ju Feng. But first, to the other two demigods that came with her. Kang Ya and Liu Luoyang collected theirs without questions, and quickly started to consume it. From the looks of it, they were already aware of the whole plan. Afterwards, she gave one flower and seed each, to Ju Feng and Fang Zedong.


    "I know what the serpent-fangs seeds are. Poison. So, why would I eat one?"


    Fan Zedong looked curiously at Fan Xinyi and the other demigods. He wasn''t eating any crazy poison without knowing what it was all about.


    "If you don''t want your mind to collapse on you, and you die in the mist, then you''ll need to eat it."


    Fan Xinyi who was still gazing at the flower and seed on her hand, raised up her head to stare at him. The memories of the past were coming back to her in a flurry.


    "Ten thousand years ago, my brother was here to participate in the trial. They took this particular path and they made it to the mist. They couldn''t go much further in the mist due to what he called ''Misty-Wraith''."


    "The Misty-Wraith?"


    "Yes. That''s what he called it. He said that it was the mist itself that became the wraiths. It was as if it was alive. I recalled him saying the mist could wrench at the mind of demigods making them an easy target for the death-eaters."


    "Sounds like the poisonous devil mist."


    "Yes, it is. A poison so powerful that, it renders the mind of demigods, void. When I learned of it, I started looking for the best possible ways to prepare for it. I began searching different scrolls and books that could provide materials to positively negate the effect of the devil mist. Do you know what I found at last?"


    She gave them a wry smile and continued.


    "Red fiery flowers and Serpent-fang seeds."


    Some answered her with sighs while others simply smiled.


    "Mhm. Mind you, these items used to be common in the Lumence dimension, but they are now getting more and more difficult to find. The only place you''ll find them in numbers was the Nether-Plane. But, that''s not the point I''m making. You see, the Red fiery flower is a soul poison while the Serpent fang seed is a mind poison."


    "Double poison?"


    Fang Zedong asked in shock.


    "Extreme poisoning."


    Kang Ya replied, giving Fang Zedong a wink.


    Liu Luoyang, who had finished swallowing his portion after he had chewed it, turned in Fang Zedong''s direction.


    "Gu necrom."


    "Thanks for letting me know."


    Fan Xinyi rolled her eyes as she nodded with a faint smile. She had been reveling in the bemused faces of their two new companions. She wanted to keep them guessing, but Liu Luoyang already put an end to that.


    "Gu necrom. One of the advantages of being a necrosist with many manuals. When this two are consumed together in this proportion, they neutralize each others poison."


    She raised one finger to indicate her point as she continued to look from one face to another.


    "Then, they form an invisible defensive cloud around the body. Thereby, protecting the mind. Should be able to work efectively for the Misty-Wraith. Probably."


    Ju Feng watched Fan Xinyi put her own portion in her mouth and began to chew. He quickly throw his own portion into his mouth as he clamped down on it. He couldn''t be more grateful For meeting the three Asuras. He would always welcome additional protection. For him, it was easier to believe the words of Fan Xinyi. He had seen the effect of the mist on him when he first entered the mountain. Provided it was the same mountain, then, the mist was extremely powerful. Back then, he had only taken a few steps in before running back.


    The moment he swallowed them, he could feel the effect deep down in his soul. He could sense the energy seething through the pores of his body. Through a spiritual or divine sight, a transparent cloud would be seen on him at this time. It was a welcome additional protection.


    Although he had consumed the crystal given to him by the grey-tree, he wasn''t sure if it was still effective or if it could even work against mind poisoning. He lnew the power of the crystal was immense since he had seen the effect from the events at the runic walls of the house of riddles. The burning sensation of the crystal that woken up his mind from going into slumber. It was good to know. He just wanted all the protection he could get. And with those materials from Fan Xinyi, he could only wish for the best possible outcome.


    Ju Feng glanced at the faces of the demigods as they prepared. Those were demigods, true demigods. They were born as demigods in the Lumence dimension, a plane specifically created for them. Yet, here he was. A mortal. In their midst where he was being treated like a demigod. How could he come to terms with that? Well, It didn''t matter if it was illusion, dream or reality. The effect of the experience on him was already unforgetable.


    "Remember, no aura manifestation. Only divine sight."


    "And we stay together."


    And together, they entered the mist.


    Ju Feng, switching to his spiritual sight, could see that the mist was truly alive. The way it moved, like nether wraiths. He could see why they called it Misty-Wraiths. He could feel the mist, probing at the cloudy defense to see the weak point. It was a relief to him that the mist couldn''t affect his mind. For now, he felt he was safe and that was good enough for him.


    Slowly but cautiously, they approached. As they neared the center of the mist, they saw two bodies of death-eaters. Dead death-eaters? Could other demigods have come the way before them? They carefully approached the spot and quickly checked them for any sacredcrest stones. There was none on them. Cautiously, they continued their forward movement knowing the cave must be nearby. There were four death-eaters that made up a cave. Meaning, two more death-eaters were still out there. High on alert, they continued scrutinizing the area as they tried to locate the remaining death-eaters.


    Towards the other side, they saw quite a number of dead nephilia spiders and critters. They reckoned there must''ve been a war there, not long ago. They easily killed off the weakened and dying spiders and critters, as they continued to search for remaining death-eaters or their cave. It took them several long minutes to finally locate the entrance of the cave. But near the entrance of the cave, they saw one body of a gigantic ancient death-eater. They had never seen any desth-eater like that before. The sight stopped them on their track as they took the opportunity to observe it carefully from a distance.


    Could it be a primal death-eater?


    After confirming that it was totally dead, they cautiously approached it to check further. The death-eater was like none they''ve seen before. Much more bigger than the ancient ones. Even its dark scale was giving off a blue glow. It had to be a sentient and the leader of the cave. It had to be a good thing it was dead. If the stone was still there, it would be a massive return for their efforts. They could also wonder what other treasures would be inside the cave.


    They found one Sacredcrest stone beside the head of the death-eater which Fan Xinyi swiftly picked up. But, what really caught their attention, were the massive clean slashes on the death-eaters. A dead primal desth-eater, but the deep slashes? Who or what could have done them? That couldn''t be the work of some powerful demigods, could it? Demigods who had been preserving their powers until now? But why would demigods leave a Sacredcrest stone behind after killing a death-eater? And an exceedingly large one for that matter?


    Definitely not. It couldn''t be demigods. What could it be then? They continued to press forward into the cave, cautiously. The inside of the cave was bigger than they thought, showing the size of the cave. There was nothing that caught their eyes inside the cave except for some inscriptions on the cave walls. But, there was a large passage at the back of the cave.


    After reaching an accord, they cautiously entered the passage and waded forward. Remains of nephilia spiders and critters could be seen littering the passage. It could possibly be that they were serving as a source of food for the death-eaters. Deeper into the cave, they went. Until they reached a massive area that resembled a colossal dragon''s chamber. No matter how it was seen or percieved, that was the lair of a powerful death-eater or death-eaters. They contemplated turning back, but their curiosity won over them. However, they all agreed to use their teleportation seals if they ran into an extremely difficult situations. As they proceeded to examine the chamber. They saw large sword marks and claw marks all over the place.

 Chapter 96 - Mystical Order [2]

    Whatever or whoever killed the death-eater by the entrance, had been inside too.


    The chamber seemed void of any other living creature until they turned to the other side of the colossal lair. They nearly jumped off their skin, save for Liu Luiyang who continued to observe calmly. There, reclining on the dais, was an extremely huge death-eater. That one was totally different from the massive one by the entrance. The dark colour of its scale was gleaming with gold radiance. Although, there were many deep slashes and wounds on it, the death-eater was still giving off immortal danger signal.


    Ju Feng recognized it immediately. The same death-eater that almost cut off his head with its giant claws. Oh, that answered the two questions that had been bugling his mind. He now knew that the Conchi guardian was here at the cave, and that the mist was the same mist he first entered. That means the first tunnel could''ve led to the Death-Keep tunnels. The tree didn''t tell him that. He could''ve easily died entering the tunnels.


    As Ju Feng was pondering, the death-eater raised its head and leered at them, one by one until it reached Ju Feng. In its eyes was the recognition of the one who woke it up from its deep slumber. The one it could taste the death-aura emanating from him. It had almost got him, but he had managed to escape its attack somehow. Then, the cursed guardian had prevented it from chasing the boy. It had underestimated the guardian''s power, almost to its peril. Now, it could guess it had to be a treasure guardian at the cosmic level of power. Many of its members had died, and knew It had something to do with the crazy young mortal.


    "Death-Walker."


    It''s eyes rested on Ju Feng with burning anger.


    "At long last."


    Immediately, the demigods stepped back except for Liu Luoyang. He continued to watch the death-eater with furrowed brows. Only one type of death-eaters could speak the Ortal language. A primal death-eater. A death-eater who had gained complete sentience or awareness after many millenia of absorbing spiritual energy. This was a death-eater that could claim divinity. A true immortal danger.


    It was a crossroad. They looked at one another and they all nodded their heads in agreement to engage. No turning back and no running, for now.


    Kang Ya''s bronze b.r.e.a.s.t-plate started to give of faint blue-white glow. Soon, the fiery glow covered her body like an armor. In a swift movement, she produced a bronze bow and fired a runic arrow at the death-eater.


    "Breath of fire, flames of destruction."


    The arrow burst into flames as it neared the death-eater. From where they were standing, the orhers could feel the burning and destructive power of the arrow. Swiftly standing up, the deayh-eater raised its massive claws that was roiling with immense dark energy. The arrow collided with it, creating a deafening sound before dissipating. But, the effect could stil be seen on its claws and scales that were glowing in red light.


    "Do you think you are a match for me, demigod?"


    The death-eater asked, making a gurgling sound of a laugh.


    Fan Xinyi quickly flung her hands and tens of poisoned needles, flew straight at the death-eater.


    "Fangs of death, a rotten world."


    The needles hummed as they sped towards the death-eater. Sizzling in dark green glow, the needles combined together to form one needle. The dark green needle began to expand as it continued streaking forward. The rot and death aura coming from the needle was exceedingly overwhelming. The things around the needle appeared to suffer from it as they turned rotten green.


    The death-eater''s golden glow became thicker, and the roiling dark energy also became stronger. It formed a barrier with his giant claws. The impact from the collision was astonishing. Green glow covered the body of the death-eater for an instant before vanishing. The golden glow returned to its scale.


    "Now, I look forward to killing you all. You little, disgusting demigods."


    Fang Zedong looked at the new blade in his hand and shook his head. It was no heavenly sword like the black largesword of his family whic was already broken. It was only a worldly sword. How could a worldly sword do much damage to a primal death-eater? He didn''t even have any more sword-seals on him. He would still do his best. And if it got out of hands, he would simply disappear with his teleportation seal. He raised his sword, pointing the sharp tip upward.


    "From the heavens above, the forged steel descend."


    An enormous largesword made of pure metal essence energy appeared above the death eater. The death-eater could feel the pressure of the descending sword. It knew the demigod''s attack was weaker than the previous two. Hence, it raised only one massive claw hand. Although the impact was incredible, the essence sword was easily blocked.


    Definitely the fight was too much for him. He watched the three of them as they exchanged blows with the death-eater, but knew they were loosing. Despite its weakened state, the death-eater was much more stronger than the three. He quickly decided to join them, at least, he had to try. Even with the good intention, he was careful not to get in their way.


    The death-eater was now moving in a massive dark energy and it had already reached a stage of Shadow-Grazing. The four of them were on the floor, injured and not far from them was the death-eater who was speeding towards them. They were about to use their teleportation seals when Liu Luoyang, who had been watching and waiting, made his move.


    He had been holding two concealed seals. The Gloomy-Sky seals. A pure grade luminous treasure. He activated it and threw it skyward in the direction of the death-eater and other demigods. The death-eater was about to deliver an immortal blow to Fan Xinyi when it froze. The other demigods too were frozen in place.


    All their elements manifestation, disappeared.


    Kang Ya''s flame, Fan Xinyi''s necrosim and Fang Zedong''s metallisk, all vanished. The death-eater''s roiling dark energy also ceased. It could sense the danger at hand. It tried to manouvre his way but the seal was already locked in. The call of terra, made the ground beneath the death-eater to rumble.


    Although, they were frozen in place, they could move their eyes and their hearing was still functioning.


    "Three Luminescent Light Steps, I take."


    "Two Luminous Gloomy Skies, I walk."


    "One Luminant Sword, I wield."


    Just like that, it was over.


    Ju Feng couldn''t believe what he saw. He had seen a few grand moments, but nothing compared to that. It was true power in its majestic form. And to think it was displayed by a demigod kid like himself, made him realized how little he was in the martial and mystical world. Although he took comfort from the fact that the demigods were thousands of years old, if not more. He waited patiently, hoping the demigod wouldn''t decide to leave him there. He would simply die where he was, alone.


    Liu Luoyang landed softly in front of them and looked at their faces with a wicked smile. He went to where Fan Xinyi was staying and waved his hand in front of her eyes. His smile continued to broaden as he saw the anger in the eyes of Fan Xinyi and Kang Ya.


    "Easy now, the two of you. Just checking. Easy."


    He made some hand signs and retrieved the seals. The lock on them was removed and everything returned to normal.


    "How could you made fun of me?"


    Fan Xinyi asked angrily as she sent a fist made of necrom essence at him.


    "What''s wrong with you?"


    Fan Xinyi continued to glare angrily at Liu Louyang.


    "You could''ve removed it right away instead of rubbing it in our faces. In my face!"


    "I''m sorry. Fan Xinyi? "


    Liu Luoyang looked pleadingly at her. The two of them, together with Kang Ya, had been preparing for this trials together. As a matter of fact, their friendship started from their childhood. Hence, they knew one another very well.


    "Didn''t know you could do that."


    "What was that, Liu Luoyang?"


    Liu Luoyang thpughtfully peered at them before answering.


    "The two seals combined are total grade luminous treasure. They are my ancestral treasures. The longsword is also a high-grade luminous treasure. It belonged to my grandfather. They gave them to me like safety measures. But, the Three Light Steps, are my martial arts. Don''t forget, I''m already at the Yinlong level."


    "You could''ve killed it before all the fighting. Why didn''t you? It could''ve killed us all?"


    "Sorry about that. I had to make sure its power wasn''t above the heavenly treasures. Else, the seals would''ve disintegrated and we would''ve been in a dire situation."


    "Anyway, your plan paid off. It''s dead and we''re all safe."


    "So this Sacredcrest stone belongs to one of you two, as agreed."


    Fan Xinyi said as she picked up the stone. It was an epic stone. She wished it was for them, but an agreement was already made. She flicked the stone towards Fang Zedong who passed it to Jufeng.


    Liu Luoyang was checking the death-eater, when he remembered something. When he was using the light steps, he had seen something like a crystal at the helm of the dais of the death-eater.


    "Wait a minute."


    He leapt into the air and landed behind the dais. He reached out and pried something out of the vale of the dais. A large yellow gold crystal. He examined it before giving a shrug. Didn''t look like a treasure of great value, but keeping it wouldn''t do any harm.


    When Ju Feng saw it, his face lit up. He quickly controlled himself in order not to give it away. Liu Luoyang was holding what he was looking for. The reason why he was there in the first place. After they had searched the chamber and other parts, they found a few other treasures. But Ju Feng already knew what to do since the other group still needed one more Sacredcrest stone. He turned towards the direction of the pristine demigod who was folding his hands behind his back.


    "Liu Luoyang, do you mind if I tempt you. My sacredcrest stone for that yellow gold stone you have in your hands?"

 Chapter 97 - Springflame [1]

    Wth a happy smile, Ju Feng took a deep breath of the fresh air. Ahh, the snowy plain, he thought. What a welcome sight to behold after a journey to a place that was truly a keeper of death,. He slowly exhaled the air as a relief sensation washed over him. He bent down and scooped up a handful of snow. The feel of the snow gave him assurance that he was truly back to the snowy plain.


    He looked around and found a moundy spot to sit. He looked around and smiled mildly, as he patted his spatial sac. The mystical order was safe and sound in his spatial sac.


    Nevertheless, he opened his sac to check, just to be sure. He brought out the golden colour stone and his smile broadened. The mystical order. That was the only thing he knew about the crystal. He didn''t even know what power the crystal held and what it was used for. Even the demigods had thought he had gone mad for asking Liu Luoyang to exchange the stones. They didn''t waste any time in agreeing to the trade. The alpha death-eater''s Crystal was the ultimate sacredcrest stone any demigod could get in the death-Keep. Maybe, the demigod could even get an extra divine gift.


    The grey tree had said the Mystical Order was a heavenly treasure. But was it truly a heavenly treasure? And not simply a worldly treasure or no treasure at all? Liu Luoyang had easily accepted the exchange of the two stones, despite not knowing what he had. True, his group still needed one more Sacredcrest stone. Also, maybe because the heavenly seals he had on him, could only be used three times. His grandfather had used it once before, and he too had used it again recently. It only had one use left. So, he had decided not to waste the seals if they would come across another primal death-eater?


    That was the question he had asked Jufeng while they were exchanging the stones. That could be the reason he hadn''t even worried much about the crystal he had found. No demigod would pass the oportunity of having an extra divine ability like that.


    Divine evasion, divine projection, divine emission, divine sight, divine craft, many divine abilities they could receive in exchange too. The advantages of being a true demigod. It was a good thing that only one stone could follow any demigod out of the Deathkeep. He was fairly sure that if not for that, some demigods could attempt more Sacredcrest stones. More Sacredcrest stones would have meant more divine abilities. Even when they knew looking for more sacredcrest would mean facing more death-eaters.


    By the way, one divine ability for one stone? How was that fair to mortal like himself?


    Ju Feng shook his head as he contemplated what he could do with a divine ability. Divine evasion. Before enemies could look for him, he was already gone. Or a divine craft. Like a divine soulforger or a divine farmer. Something like that?


    He sighed as he recollected that his fate was already sealed as a human mortal. There was no need for him to think about the benefits of being a demigod. He would never be a demigod. The Asuran bloodline had already overlooked him. He continued shaking his head as he remembered watching them bid their farewells, looking at them disappeared in an instant white flash. They would be returning to the Lumence dimensional plane while he, human mortal, would be returning to the mortal plane. They were from different planes. No matter how they might look, half gods or not, he knew he was only fortunate to have been among them. He had no reason to question the fairness in the ways of the universe.


    Snapping out of his thoughts, he looked at the crystal again. With a sudden strange feeling, he knew the grey tree was telling the truth. It could only be a heavenly treasure.  He would only have to ask the tree about the crystal''s power when they would meet again. His mind returned to his peaceful state after the thoughts. He looked at himself and his torn robe. Only his robe was torn in many places but knew he could''ve died many times in there. Somehow, he had managed to survive them all. Probably, death was allowing him to enjoy a little more of his strange life.


    He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. He freed his mind as he began to meditate. He needed some inner peace. After meditating for a time, he decided to proceed to the next entry point. What he would be searching for? The soul ring. Just like the Mystical Order, he couldn''t remember why he chose it. But, he knew his mind was totally with him choosing them.


    Reaching the place, he took out another dream stone and put it in his mouth. Also, he removed his sword from his spatial sac and held it ready. He would be prepared going in. He didn''t want to be looking at his body with the eyes on his cut-off head. He had learnt that every first step into the unknown was of the utmost importance. The memory of Deathkeep was still fresh.


    After confirming his readiness, he stepped into the space.


    Scavens!


    Ultimate scroungers of dimensional planes. Far descendants of the black dragon, Heilong. One of the four ancestors of the dragonblood. They were creatures driven by their l.u.s.t for the blood of the living. Even the sacred ones among them could be hard to reason with. Anywhere Scavens appeared, death would follow. From the records in the book of sacreds, Ju Feng had learned about them.


    Slowly, he raised his left hand with his palm facing the creature. He didn''t know if the scaven could reason and understand him, but he had to try and diffuse the situation.


    "Easy. You go your way, and I go my way."


    Maybe, due to it being surprised or the sight of the sword or both, the scavens sent out a big roar as he, speedily, charged at Ju Feng. Definitely, that scaven was not a sentient one. It could neither reason nor talk. Using the flash-steps technique, he moved out of the way as the scaven sped by, lashing out with his tail. If it was only that one, Ju Feng knew it couldn''t do anything to him. But, where there was one Scavens, there would be several others.


    He knew the direction he had to take to find the soul ring. The words of the tree were still ringing in his ears. He changed to the swift-steps technique, and left the area in a blur. He was in no mood to be having a fight with the Scavens when he could simply leave.


    Although he was avoiding the main road, he stayed close to it nonetheless. It was the main road which would lead to the place and made him avoid more scaven. He continued moving in high speed towards the intended direction. The Scavens could follow scents to a great distant. But with this, they should have lost the scent by now.


    After swift stepping for several minutes, he came to a place full of large shrubs. From there, he could see a small town in the distance. Dropping the steps, he slowed down and moved onto the road. He decided he would stop by the town. Since his journey would take him pass the front of the town, he wanted to find out more about the place. Any information he could learn was important to him.


    From its appearance, it was a human city despite its worn-out look. It must have been a remarkable city before. But now, it was a ghost of its former glory. Ju Feng noticed a number of guards at the entrance, along with two white-robed cultivators. One of them was holding a scrying orb.


    "Halt!"


    He stopped as he saw the scrying orb flying towards him. The orb circled him before returning to the cultivator who said some words to the guards.


    "Approach!"


    As he passed them, he heard the white-robed cultivator.


    "Go and report to the council of elders."


    Report? What was he to report? Without another word or  look from them, Ju Feng proceeded into the town. After walking for few minutes, he quickly veered off the main road onto a more quieter street. Some of the buildings had been abandoned. It looked like a place that had suffered attacks over many years.

 Chapter 98 - Springflame [2]

    As he was passing by a tavern, he saw three men talking in whispers. He could barely hear what they were saying but looked an important matter. He was about to be moving on, when he heard the word ''Scavens''. With his acutely improved hearing, he strained his ears to get more meaning of what they were discussing.


    "The Scavens will be all over the place."


    "I say we hire some mercenaries."


    "Mercenaries?"


    "Mercenaries could be a bad idea. They can''t be trusted not to turn on us."


    "If we don''t, we would die on our own."


    "I agreed with the two of you. It will be extremely dangerous to cross the Argonian traits. If we are unfortunate, we could come across the Scavens and the Argonians. We would easily loose our lives."


    Whispered the one at the center, who appeared to be the leader. He paused for a second before continuing.


    "Also, if we manage to cross and get the Irrium coins, web still have to deal with greedy mercenaries. They could ambush us on our way back."


    "What about the cavalry?"


    "The cavalry going north. I don''t think we could afford to join them. It could be a bloodbath at the traits."


    His voice trailed off.


    "I''ll try to figure something out."


    Ju Feng quietly left the area as he proceeded down the street. It seemed the Argonian traits would be a dangerous place to pass. And his way, happened to pass through it. As it was beginning to get dark, he found a shaded spot at an abandoned house and settled down. He would''ve preferred a comfortable inn, but couldn''t afford that at the moment. After checking to make sure he was alone, he brought out some turtle meat and started eating.


    Halfway through his food, he sensed an approach towards his position. Using his spiritual sight, he watched as the figure move quietly and slowly from one shadow cover to another. A shadow affiliate. He couldn''t detect any mortal threats from the shadow affiliate since the emanating aura was too weak. Either the person was truly weak or extremely powerful to conceal his or her aura. But he suspected the former. No powerful being would loitering in the shadows watching someone like him. Either way, he had to stay watchful.


    "No need to hide. I can see you in the shadows."


    Few seconds later, he heard a shaky voice to his right.


    "Don''t move. Give me everything you have, or else."


    Ju Feng sharply turned to the source of the voice. To his surprise and relief, he found a boy in a tattered robe with a short sword in his hand. The boy''s tattered robe made the one Ju Feng was wearing look like royalty. Even the way he was holding the sword showed someone who haven''t had a formal martial arts training. He was only a weak and starving boy.


    "Stop showing a sword like that, it could get you killed."


    Ju Feng shook his head as he watched the boy with pity. He took some of the meat and lilly tubers and offered them to the boy.


    "Take. You look starving yourself."


    "I''m warning you now. You better give me everything you have."


    "Put that sword away before you injure yourself."


    "Ah, no matter how hard I try, it never worked. I couldn''t even threaten you to give up what you have. You even saw me in the shadows."


    He found a spot opposite Ju Feng and settled down.


    "How can I take care of my family if I can''t even take from people like you?"


    "Taking from people like yourself, is not the right thing."


    "For people like me, around here, no other way."


    He divided his food into two and kept one half in his loin sac. He started munching the other portion of his food. The moment he swallowed the chewed lump, he held his head in total agony due to the sheer power of energy from the meat and tuber. As a being of a dimensional plane, the boy was born with a phantom core, just like all mortal immortals there. They weren''t born immortals with bronze cores like the demigods, nonetheless, they were more than mortals who were born with no cores. They had phantom cores from birth which they only had to cultivate to the bronze cores and beyond.


    After regaining his composure, the boy laughed warily.


    "Strong food."


    "Yea. Strong seasoning."


    "Hmm, commendable."


    The boy nodded in appreciation before continuing.


    "Which village are you from? I saw you entering the village, and I know all the faces around here."


    "Two villages from here."


    "You mean, Haidong?"


    The boy asked in shock.


    "Yes, Haidong."


    "I thought they said Haidong was overwhelmed by the Scavens."


    "Well, some of us are not dead, yet."


    "I guess so. This village too has been suffering from the attack of the scavens too. We''ve been holding them off,  but many villagers are still dying."


    "Any help from the city?"


    "The fortified city? Pfff. They don''t really care that much about a small city like this. Once in a while, they''ll send a couple of warriors that meant little to the scavens. I guess they''re pulling their resources into one place in case of an attack."


    The boy stared at Ju Feng as he pointed at the floor.


    "This city can''t afford to hire a large number of true mercenaries. High level cultivators to raise the reputation of this city and scare off the Scavens. Me and my family could have moved to the fortified city. We love to, but we can''t afford the money to move. That''s why I''m also going to the Springflame tomorrow despite its extreme dangers."


    "Must you go when you have a family that relies on you?"


    "I have to. This place is at the outskirt of our territories and is already turned to an outland. Not much here to survive on, and the Scavens are ambushing us outside. If we stay, we''ll just die. I''ve already bid farewell to my family. Tomorrow, I leave for the Springflame."


    "I see your point. I''ll be going too."


    "Till tomorrow then, fellow. I need to rest now."


    The boy put his loin sac under his head and slept off.


    He was like that until the following morning, when the sound of the cavalry rang through the town.

 Chapter 99 - Springflame [3]

    "The cavalry''s getting ready."


    The boy picked up his sac and quickly tied it to his back. The expectation on his face made Ju Feng confused. He stared at the boy and asked.


    "For what?"


    "Springflame, of course."


    The boy looked at Jufeng in bewilderment. He wondered if Ju Feng was serious with his question or was just playing around. He decided it had to be the latter. He shook his as he moved towards the exit of the abandoned building. He turned to look at Ju Feng.


    "If you are coming, I reckon we get going. We should be at the town center for the processing."


    "What processing? To join the cavalry?"


    "Without that, no springflame with their protection. We don''t want that. I, definitely, don''t want that."


    "Is that really necessary."


    "Necessary? Only if you want your name to be in remembrance. We''re soul cultivators. We are already part of the city''s cavalry. The processing is for us to be accounted for, provided we don''t make it back."


    "Tell me something."


    "Sure. Just make it quick."


    "Why is the calvary going to the Springflame?"


    "Why?"


    The boy asked Ju Feng back in utter shock. Now, he fully believed Ju Feng had totally lost his memories. He might be suffering from a far more intense concussion for what it takes. Such a sad state. Well, a good medicinal pill should make him better. He really felt sorry for Ju Feng.


    "For the Irrium coins, of course."


    "And, why should the town council care about some Irrium coins?"


    "You seem to have lost quite a bit of your memory, friend. I understand. I truly do. Sometimes, tragedy can be difficult to cope with. You''ve gone through so much already."


    With a sad look, the boy let out a soft sigh.


    "Well, don''t worry about it. It''s temporary, your memories will come back in no time. But for now, I will tell you the things you''ve forgotten."


    Ju Feng listened as the boy started to explain. From the words he heard, Ju Feng came to know more of the place.


    Planet Wuzhen.


    It was a massive planet which was formed from the fusion of three major planets. Those three planets were; Zhaji - the human planet, Arghar - of the Argonians, and Aalag - of the Scavens. That was how Wuzhen became the conjuction of three major planets. It was one of the first planets of its kind that were created after the intrinsic expansion of the universe. Three planets coming together to form a conjuctiom planet. The uniqueness of planet Aalag, didn''t stop there. The fusion of the three neurons brought about the creation of an opened dimensional dominion.


    Springflame.


    Dominions were one of the places where the cosmic divines hid luminous treasures and artifacts for mortals to find. They were also the homes of other numerous treasures, both naturally and artificially. Some dominions even had divine treasures in them. Those dominions were divided into wake dominions and fallen dominions.


    Springflame had changed its status twice due to unforseen problematic situations.


    The Shadow-rage spear.


    A total grade luminous treasure taken by a nameless black-dragon. A dragonblood who was a direct descendant of their ancestral black dragon, Heilong. A sacred beast who had reached ascendant stage and attained total transformation. An ascendant who had already surpassed the mortal plane and immortal dimensional planes. The black dragon had turned on the gold dragon after acquiring the shadow-rage spear.


    The death of the gold dragon had an adverse effect on Springflame and planet Aalag.


    Springflame became a fallen dominion after the death of the dragon. With no one to oversee it, all the regulations of the dominion broke down. Everything inside the dominion became active, including the deadly traps. Many, a treasure seeker that perished inside the dominion during this period until, suddenly, a new guardian appeared.


    A Dawn-Gazer.


    Since his appearance, new regulations had been introduced. Springflame became a wake dominion again. Most importantly, it was no longer an opened wake dominion, it became a closed wake dominion. Only Zhuji and Jindan level cultivators could enter it. Nascent souls and hegemons weren''t able to enter. That made it more difficult for advanced treasure-seeking cultivators, but still maintained the regulations of the dominion.


    Of all the cultivators that came to planet Wuzhen to explore the Springflame dominion, only three half-immortal races beared the difficulty and stayed behind. They stayed behind due to some specific treasures that could be found in the dominion.


    The Irrium coins.


    Coins, produced by the soul-forger purecelestials at the heart of the eternal cosmic-flames. This they performed in accordance with the laws of creation under the watchful eyes of Divine Caishen. The primordial lord of fortune and wealth. Those coins, served as monetary means for the immortals, gods and celestials alike.


    In no time, these three races quickly formed the three powerful kingdoms of Aalag. They scrambled for the outskirt territories, for raw materials and for places where spiritual energy could be found. That was why Wuzhen became known as the world of three opposing kingdoms. The human kingdom, the scaven kingdom and the argonian kingdom.

 Chapter 100 - Springflame [4]

    THE HUMAN KINGDOM.


    The cored-human kingdom was under the sovereign rule of Yin Qiang, an ascendant of extreme powers. Under him were the marquis and marquess of the nascent souls, who were in control of the fortified cities. Each of these mighty fortified cities was a conjecture of many cities. These cities were under the power of the city lords. Then, we had the villages that were being supervised by the village chiefs.


    The most intriguing thing about the human kingdom, was not the cities, but, the humans. The human kingdom was an evanesce immortal kingdom, quite alright. Since all the humans on this planet were born with a phantom core, and could sense and gather Chi right from birth. But it wasn''t a total immortal kingdom like that of the demigods. Nonetheless, all the humans were born a cultivator and no mortal human actually existed there.


    But, all of them were not the same in cultivation, despite the fact that all of them could sense and could gather Chi energy. That was where the differences and divisions came into fore. The human cultivators were divided into three types on this planet. They were the body cultivators, the soul cultivators and the dual cultivators. Although, there were a fewer number of humans who were cultivating both. It was possible for a soul cultivator, to cultivate the body to the undying stage with the necessary items and procedures.


    While for the body cultivators, it wasn''t possible for them to cultivate the soul.


    Why?


    Because, they couldn''t gather Chi energy into their dantian. They could only gather it into their physical bodies. Therefore, they couldn''t transcend planet Aalag. Since, the nascent soul formation was necessary to undergo ascension''s divine tribulations. That was why they were training their bodies rigorously in various techniques. Once their bodies reached the undying stage, they would become true immortals. They wouldn''t be dying from any other cause, unless they were totally killed. And, they would be given an elusive martial arts technique making them become top martial artists to rival that of any world.  Afterwards, they would be moved to the fortified cities.


    Their importance couldn''t be emphasized enough, especially when facing the threats of the Scavens and the Argonians.  They were the pillars of the human kingdom for two main reasons. Firstly, they had undying bodies. Secondly, they wouldn''t be leaving the planet for ascension in the future. So, they would always be around to defend the human kingdom.


    The fusion of the three planet cores, really affected the spiritual energy''s presence on this planet. The formed large Neron core, wasn''t much connected to the mother core of the universe. Hence, spiritual energy was scanty on this planet. And, due to this and lack of other needed resources on planet Aalag, cultivation was extremely difficult. This was also affecting the welfare of the minor cities and villages at the outskirt of the human kingdom.


    Lack of necessary resources meant that these minor cities and villages couldn''t properly defend themselves against the scrounging Scavens from the south-eastern part of Aalag.


    THE SCAVEN KINGDOM.


    The scrounging scavens. Creatures of extreme violence. They were the variant descendants of the mighty black dragon, Heilong. They weren''t as powerful as the dragons, but they were still of the dragonkind. Creatures with incredible powers. There were three types of scavens. The regular scavens, the sole scavens and the sacred scavens.


    The regular scavens hadn''t achieve any form of awareness. They were the ones sent out to scrounge for items and were also the first ones in the line of fire on the battle fields. They were the ultimate workers and they weren''t easily tired out. They love going on marauding raids. Mostly on the humans, while occasionally on the Argonians which never ended well for them. As long as their leaders were happy, they were happy too. So, was their thinking.


    The sole scavens had achieved awareness and half-transformation. They could reason properly and applied logic. But, they remained in their beastly form until they could achieve total transformation. They were the next in the chain of command.


    While the sacred beast had attained soul awareness and total transformation. They could transform into mortal forms including that of the humans. Although, it could only be one form. Once they chose one mortal form, they would stay with that very form. And, the advanced sacred beasts, could veil their beastly aura. Hence, the reason why the humans used the scrying orb to identify humans from the sacred beasts


    The Scaven kingdom was divided into various colonies. Big colonies and small colonies. The big colonies were controlled by sacred scavens refered to as, gerents. While the small colonies were under the sole scavens called onliests.


    But the whole kingdom, was ruled by the Scaven king, Nargoa. An hegemon-level sacred beast who had achieved total transformation and lived in human form.


    THE ARGONIAN KINGDOM.


    The ultimate survivalists. Huge hominid creatures with green-gold scales, narrow waists and broad shoulders. They were like a race made of humans, giants and scaled beasts. They were extremely formidable and deadly, which made them an exceedingly feared race. The reason why the scavens made a lasting pact with them.


    The argonian kingdom was ruled by the argonian highest, Giraq. An exceedingly powerful ascendant. The argonian kingdom was made up of four territories. The northern territory, the southern territory, the western territory and eastern territory. Each territory was ruled by an argonian prevalent. The territories were made up of terrains which were under the supervision argonian regnants.


    The argonians were fully, true cultivators too. Therefore, they were also affected by the scant resources.


    The fusion of the three planet cores, had seriously affected the spiritual energy''s presence on this planet. The formed Neron core, had lost most of its connection threads. Thus, it wasn''t much connected to the mother core of the universe.


    Hence, spiritual energy was scanty on this planet. And, due to this and lack of other needed resources on planet Wuzhen, cultivation was extremely difficult. This was also affecting the nature of the three kingdoms. The only hope of the three kingdoms, was the Spingflame. Under the supervision of the guardian of Springflame, an agreement was reached among the rulers of the three kingdoms to maintain peace around Springflame at large. There could be minor wars and disputes among the dwellers, but the higher hierarchies would never get involved. If they wanted to pitch their powers against one another for supremacy, they would have to do that among the three of them alone. All other cultivators were allowed in the minor wars.


    One of such minor wars was the battles of Springflame. Only the strongest participating cultivators would survive. The same applied to all cultivators participating from other worlds too.


    Ju Feng quickly gathered his wandering thoughts as they neared the town center. The city lord was about to address the cavalry when the two of them arrived. They quickly joined them as they listened to his words. After his talk, the cavalry began their processing.


    "Hm."


    "I remembered you. You came here yesterday, right?"


    He asked with one eye brow raised.


    "Yes, senior."


    Ju Feng answered politely with a bow.


    "From one of the destroyed villages?"


    "Yes, senior."


    "Terrible fate, truly terrible."


    The man uttered, shaking his head before turning to Ju Feng. He knew the agony of loosing one''s home. Many years ago, it had happened to him too. The scavens were really terrible creatures. Due to their nature, they never cared if their actions were causing destruction or not. They were only after what they could take away from others which would be beneficial to them. And their Lord ruler didn''t care about the actions of his scrounging subjects, or if the scroungers were killed. As long as the humans didn''t invade his territories, he was fine with the rest. And their own emperor had no intentions of doing that. He was all about peace.


    "Ddo you know what this journey''s all about?"


    "Yes, senior."


    Ju Feng nodded gently as he spoke in a sad tone. He portrayed a childling that was still under the anger of losing his home and want to be part of soul relieving journey.


    "Hm. Come to this side, then."


    After testing Ju Feng''s affinity and confirming he was a soul elemental affiliate, they began his processing. He was registered as an orphan dwelled after making the native oath as a denizen of the city.


    Several minutes later, they were on their way to Springflame as part of the cavalry.

 Chapter 101 - Springflame [5]

    Ju Feng was lost in thoughts as he pondered on what lay ahead before him. From what he had learned at the beginning of the journey, he knew hey would soon be entering the argonian pass. Although it was an outland, it was still at the outskirt of the scaven kingdom, and part of the argonian territories. The original pass started from the scaven kingdom and ended in the argonian area. The humans living at the outskirt had fashioned another pass from their outskirt territories which joined argonian pass at the outskirt of the scaven kingdom. But every now and then, the scaven and the argonian scouts would patrol the outland for any discrepancy. Confrontations was always avoided as much as they could.


    However, on this day, the pass was peaceful and quiet. No sign of any form of aggressive alerts or dangerous auras coming from lurking scavens.


    Although they had an invisibility array arround them, they knew it couldn''t do much if a sentient scaven was sround. But at least, it was a form of protective assurance against regular and sole s cavens. With the way things were looking, unless they would run into a planned ambush, they should pass through the place without any sort of problems. Ambushes and other sorts of attack were allowed among opponents going to the Springflame, as long as a nascent soul and above, was not involved.


    That was the reason why they had nascent soul cultivators observing from all sides of the kingdoms. They were constantly monitoring those types of encounters with their awareness and other scrying seals.


    His mind wandered off to Springflame. According to the information, Springflame was located at the center of the planet. The island was sorrounded by two oceans. Xiang and Tagau. The Xitang ocean covered a diameter to the other side of the springflame which fell in the territories of the scavens and argonians. The Tagau ocean was covering the other diameter to the territory of the humans. Which meant that, the outland cavalry could have passed through the human territory of the planet.


    But then, they would have to fly over the dangerous waters of the Tagau ocean. Even if they wanted to, they couldn''t do that with flying clouds or flying weapons. This was due to a very extreme gravitational anomaly in the fused cores of the planet. This dangerous anomaly, happened in the Tagau ocean. Thus, they would have to use the fortified flying sh.i.p.s which were specifically built for transportation to the Springflame. But those sh.i.p.s were exceedingly expensive, despite not being big enough. The cost of using them as transportation ways to the Springflame was simply too high for the outland territories.


    Although, the ocean provided a great defense to the human territories in regards to other kingdoms, it was also a great hindrance in terms of Springflame. But just like the Xitang waters, the Tagau ocean had a safe zone for other kingdoms too. Part of the agreement made among the three rulers of the kingdoms. Any form of attack, must not be carried out in a safe zone. So far, the pact was still standing.


    Therefore, for the outland territories, the only reasonable way to the Springflame was through the argonian pass. Once they were about to reach the other side of the pass, they would have to cut out to the Ralat river before reaching the mainland of the argonians. The Ralat river would link them to the Xitang ocean which was a much more safer route than the Tagau ocean. The dangerous pull was not happening in Xitang waters. Hence, the reason why they always endeavoured  to take that best possible route


    Gathering his thoughts, he looked around himself. Sorrounding him, were dozens of cultivators. All from the same city of Chanuan. They were all a mixture of soul, body and dual cultivators. They were led by a golden core dual cultivator named Shi Jian. A cultivator of the water affinity. They said he had cultivated his body to the third level of the nine-stage Undying-Immortal body. Only heaven''s knew what type of technique he was using. With his level of cultivation, he could have moved to the fortified cities, easily. Rather, he had been planning for this day for a long time. Like the other golden core cultivators among them, he was flying on his weapon''s light, emanating from a large titanium broadsword.


    Ju Feng, along with the rest of the zhuji cultivators, were standing on a flying cloud. The flying cloud would be at the level of the mountains peaks, according to the reports. And for him, the flying cloud was better than flying on any weapons or walking on the ground. It provided the experience of a solid ground, though softer and faster.


    Several hours later, they came to an open plain. Ahead, they could see the mountain ranges on both side of a road which extended for miles without end. The rocky mountains heights which were covered in some eerie mist, produced a captivating scenery. He had seen something like that before on a grander scale at the lunar plain. On a mountain which turned out to be the home of the titan lord.


    "The argonian pass."


    Whispered the tattered clothed boy seated by Ju Feng''s side, moments before they came to a halt in total silence.


    "We are now entering the argonian pass. Stay alert, and always be in formation at all times. The invisibility array should provide us some covers if needed."


    The golden-core dual-cultivator''s voice sounded in their mind through the mindvoice. With a body emanating a dangerous aura and a deadpan face, he glanced at them. Passing through the argonian trait was no simple feat. Many human cultivators from other villages had attempted the traits before, all had suffered defeat at the pass. One way or the other, they had been killed. That was why many human villages at the outskirt of the fortified areas had to be abandoned. When their caravans didn''t return with treasures for them to maintain their villages and keep the scavens away.


    "But maintain your silence."


    As they proceeded, Ju Feng keenly observed the road ahead. The ever dangerous road that the outland humans dreaded to take. Even from the sight of the place, he could feel the deadliness of the place. Though, they were flying inside an invisibility array, he knew it might not be enough to shield them. What if the scavens or the argonians had a much more powerful array and army waiting for them? Battle. That would be the outcome.


    He gently shook his head as he continued to focus on the pass ahead. Why, grey tree? Was this what the tree wanted him to come and face? What if there was no cavalry going to the Springflame? The cavalry had been planning and preparing for a very long time, but he just came with few days'' idea of going to the Springflame. Well, he could simply go back, couldn''t he? At least, the tree had given him the option of turning back. He could always do that if it was necessary.


    On their journey to the Springflame, they met a few scaven and argonian scouts who didn''t detect their presence. They continued their forward journey without any further disturbances. Yet, they could feel a watchful presence observing them. They couldn''t place the feeling but they knew something or things were out there in the covers of the misty mountains biding their time.


    After several hours of flight, they reached the Ralat river to their brief relief. They had reached the place without any battle and without loosing any member of their cavalry. That was unusual. Very unusual. The scaven scouts must be taking a break or something. Upon reaching the safe zone of Iling ocean, the invisibility array which was cloaking their presence, was removed. The sorrounding scavens and argonians, were a bit startled by their sudden appearance. Although they were aware of people using the invisibility array to come to the dominion, they would still be startled.


    Their shock turned to anger. Humans taking their route always put them off-guard which was of great annoyance to them. But as annoyed as they could be, there was nothing they could do. That part of the Xitang ocean, was a safe zone. There wouldn''t be any fighting on this part of the Iling ocean. Not until they would reach the Springflame at the least.


    Ju Feng, couldn''t help, but took in the account of what was happening around him. And in regards to the tale he heard about the Xitang ocean, there was a slight pull in its waters. There was no way he could have reached here by himself. He wondered if the tree knew everything in advance and already planned it for him. He shook his head as he stared at the water. The pull didn''t disturb them from continuing their flight, safely, towards the Springflame.


    Several hours later, they saw from afar, a large mass of land which could be a separate world of its own. There appeared to be no structures on the massive island. Just an empty plain that stretched far and wide into the great beyond. But they knew this was the result of the cosmic array which transformed Springflame into a close dominion. The Springflame dominion was there without a doubt. A place of fiery fire.

 Chapter 102 - Springflame [6]

    Once they arrived at the Springflame, the golden core dual cultivator leading their cavalry raised his hand to draw their attention. His voice sounded in their minds through the mindvoice.


    "We are here. Everything we are, comes to the fore here. The future of our village and of us will depend on whatever happened here. As we can see, this an extremely large area. To cover more area quickly, we will be divided into groups of six. Two Jindan cultivators, one dual cultivator and three zhuji cultivators. Each of you will be given a presence stone. If you are seperated from your group, it will lead you back to them and to us. But try not to seperate from your group. Remember, once inside, it''s every kingdom for itself. This place is full of dangers and you could be attacked by anything and anyone at any time. You must be alert and ready, at all times."


    After they were grouped accordingly, the golden core dual cultivator''s voice, sounded in their mind, again.


    "Be cautious. No glory in death in this place. There''s only remembrance and samsara, when you are dead. Hence, if any group finds a springster, inform the others. And together, we''ll engage the circle of spingflame. Do we understand?"


    He brought a seal and with a swift movement, made a simple hand movement. The seal turned to runic symbols which flew to all the cultivators and attached to their robes.


    "Fire seals. It will protect you and your robes. Or what''s left of it..."


    The golden core cultivator said while looking at the tattered clothed boy before turning towards the rest of the groups.


    "...to some extent. But, make sure to fortify yourselves with your own elemental powers."


    Ju Feng had been hoping to be in the same group with the tattered clothed boy, but he wasn''t. He gave a gentle shrug as he prepared himself for what lay ahead. In the end, it didn''t matter which group they were in, all the groups were strong enough to face the dangers within. Moreover, getting the Irrium coins and other treasures, was what really mattered to them. He took his mind of his thoughts and focused on the task at hand.


    Once inside, Ju Feng could see the reason why they called it Springflame. It was a place of fiery nightmare. It was like a desolate ruin of a dying world of fire.


    His group would have to find a springster. After finding the springster, they would be able to open a circle of springflame which was still being guarded by a fire beast. Not a true living beast but a fire guardian. Those guardians were the creation of the universe, but their powers were reduced to that of Jindan cultivators. Once a guardian was defeated, it would simply vanish. Although, their strength would be at the level of a peak-stage nascent soul and their fiery bodies were on the level of a top-grade worldly treasure.


    They would be extremely hard to defeat.


    Yet, they had to be defeated in order to get the treasures in the circle of the springflame, beneath the ground of the guardians. While they were looking for a springster, they would have to be wary of the springing vortexes of flames and the roaming fiery beasts. But the most dangerous of all, were the contingents from the scaven and argonian kingdoms. They could attack at any time. All were allowed under the rules of the dominion.


    Two times it was, that they encountered the vortex of flames. The second time, they almost lost two members of their group. Fortunately, the Jindan cultivator leading their group, brought a seal that dispensed the vortex. The group had been so fortunate not to have lost any member of their group.


    Until they had been surprised by two packs of giant dire fire-wolves. Fire wolves on the Jindan level of elemental but nascent level of strength. They could have ran, but knew there was no way they could outrun those fire wolves. The surprise and sudden attack, had caught the group off-guard. One of the cultivators had given Ju Feng an iron sword after seeing he had none. They had lost a zhuji cultivator before they could rally themselves together. It was the might of the body cultivators that limited the casuality to one cultivator. Ju Feng saw the mighty power of the body cultivators, both their undying bodies and martial arts. It was a true display of power. Only if he could be able to develop his body too.


    He let out a soft breath as he looked at the iron sword he was holding. It truly saved him a lot. He knew he couldn''t take anything out of spatial sac, especially not the tunic sword the demigod gave him. He would have to be explaining to all of them how he got a spatial sac and a runic longsword when he was only a wretched young boy from a poor village. He continued attacking the wolves the best way he could.


    The intense battle had also seen all of the flaming wolves displayed their true powers. They were not like guardians who had their powers reduced. The wolves with their normal powers couldn''t be dispersed so easily.


    Jufeng, heard the strong words of the golden core cultivator which renewed their strength in battling the wolves.


    "Keep cutting at them. They''re loosing their strength."


    The battle against the fire wolves, had taken bigger effort on their part. The body cultivators did most of the fighting and were supported by the soul cultivators. Ju Feng''s knowledge of some basic forms of martial arts received commendation. Even his slightly fortified body as a soul cultivator, raised a few eye brows. He knew they would be asking if he was a body cultivator too. Only if they knew about his use of Chi to fortify his body. That he had a massive amount of it. Only if they knew he had trained in the basics and stances of martial arts and swordsmanship as a beginner. Only if they knew all that, they wouldn''t be surprised about him at all.


    Ju Feng''s group continued searching the dominion for some time before coming to a place of molten fire. There were many charred bodies of scavens on the floor which indicated a great battle had been fought there. On the molten fire, they could see a springster. Which meant that a circle of Springflame was still there. And with the circle, would come a guardian.


    Was that as a result of a peak guardian?


    The Jindan cultivator, quickly used the communication stone to contact the other groups. But, it was at this time that another group also communicated to have seen another springster. The golden core dual cultivator had quickly made a decision for each group to face a circle. If they could successfully get the treasures of the two circles, they and their village would have a great future.


    Ju Feng''s group slowly approached the large circle of molten fire. When they got near the lake of liquid fire, it came alive. Tens of massive fire snakes came out of the shallow lake and a battle ensued with the cultivators. The lake kept on producing more fire snakes. There was no way they could stop them without getting the springster first.


    Heavens tears! How could a shallow lake produced such monsters.


    Seeing ripples of fire already forming around the springster which meant it was about to sink, the golden core leader of the group quickly sent out a mindvoice to all of them.


    "Keep them back. We''ll get the springster."


    He wheeled around and pointed at Jufeng and one other cultivator.


    "You, and you, with me."


    After affirmation, the three of them sped like lightning towards the springster. The other cultivators provided cover for them as they battled the fire snakes out of their way. The springster was the key to the fire snakes. Once the springster had been acquired, the fire snakes would cease to exist and the guardian beast would emerge. That was when the true test would surface.


    Ju Feng hoped his dragon hide robe and talisman would still hold up against the incoming attacks as much as possible. He would have to fight, just as it was intended. Though, the body cultivators would engage the fire guardians and they would be supported by the soul cultivators.


    It was a situation where water and ice cultivators would prove more useful. For him, he would have to make do with what he got. Nowhere to hide inside the Springflame, especially, not there in the open plain of molten fire. He continued pushing as much Chi as possible into his body, fortifying it more as they continued speeding in the direction of the springster.


    "We''ll only have a period of a second. Once I jumped to freeze the lake, you must grab the springster before it sink into the fire."


    The leader of the group said pointing at Ju Feng. Then, he turned to the other cultivator.


    "You, cut off the one retreating fire snake before it touches the springster. The frozen seal can only hold for a second before I run out of energy. The two of you must make it count. Okay? Now, on me."


    The golden core cultivator made a hand seal before leaping into the air, high above the flaming lake of fire.

 Chapter 103 - Springflame [7]

    Ju Feng was sprawling on the floor after being impacted by the deadly pulse of the fiery flame emitted from the molten lake of fire. The air grew hot around him and wisps of smoke began to appear from the slightly churned ground. As he groggily stood up, he tried to recollect what happened. Although he could only remember being hit by a massive energy blast which felt like a titan''s hammer, he knew the intense fiery heat and shock waves must have hit the whole area like a cosmic comet.


    The impact had hit him from the back as he was facing a fire snake that was approaching him from the front. It had sent him flying like a fickle straw, several yards backward.


    He remembered hitting the ground with a bone cracking sound while the fire snake that was advancing towards him had been dispersed. And that was it. He couldn''t remember much after that. How long was he out? He managed to stand up and hurriedly checked himself for any sort of injury. Fortunately, his body was still intact and his torn robe was holding up, also. That meant the fire seal was still working, if not, his robe would have turned to ashes by now. Probably his body too.


    What could cause a blast like that, exactly?


    He tried to remember what events led to the energy blast. He was meant to get the springster whike tge other cultivator guard against the snake, but the other cultivator went for the sprinster, so he decided to guard against the retreating snake. His back was to the lake, but he ocassionally looked back towards it, in order to monitor the event with the springster. It was during one of those moments of him glancing towards the lake, that he saw the other cultivator''s hand closing in on the springster.


    And he remembered that it was at this time that the waters of the lake, started gathering together in a lightning speed. But his attention had been drawn back towards the advancing fire snake. Yes, the cursed fire snake. He didn''t want the fire snake to catch him off-guard. So he had faced the fire snake and turned his back to the lake.


    He had prepared to engage the snake, but the next thing he felt, was a forceful blast to his back. It was as if the heavenly gods were in immortal disagreement with him.


    It must be the lake or the guardian of the circle that caused the blast. Had to do with either of them.


    No other reasonable explanation for what happened. While on this, Ju Feng''s mind struck back to the springster, making him panicked. He couldn''t recall seeing the springster sank into the lake or if it was claimed before the deadly pulse. Quickly, he looked around himself. A number of cultivators were also struggling to get up from the impact of the blast. But many others, who he knew could only be body cultivators, were already engaging a raging vortex of liquid fire.


    As he regained his full body strength, Ju Feng staggered towards where the springster was. While walking forward, he saw something he felt familiar with. He slowly picked it and his nightmare was confirmed.


    Immediately, the raging vortex exploded outward in another deafening blast. A shape of orange and white burst into life out it. And a nightmarish and deadly creature of pure liquid-fire manifested. A gigantic ten-headed liquid-fire hydra!


    With no need for further confirmation, Ju Feng knew he would be facing another pure liquid-fire Guardia,? As Jufeng gasped, he felt scorching heat run down his throat. He staggered back and held his left arm to protect his exposed eyes as swirling hot trails danced in the air. He could also felt a slight weight pressed in on him from the overwhelming auric presence of the guardian. At the level of a top-grade world artifact body and an ascendant soul.


    Titan''s torso!


    As if a pure liquid-fire hydra wasn''t enough, they would be dealing with ten of its deadly heads. Already, one head would be difficult to deal with and now, they got ten to deal with. What had they gotten themselves into? Ju Feng quickly located his sword, just as the voice of the dual golden core ice cultivator, sounded in his mind.


    "Heavenly dragon defensive formation!"


    The golden core cultivator threw a talisman in his hand towards the hydra. His voice continued to sound in their minds as he leapt into the air.


    "Two single-heart formations. One with me, the other with Yi Zemin!"


    Five body cultivators quickly moved to the front and aligned into a formation to the right as the golden core cultivator, landed in their midst. Another single-heart formation was formed to the left and led by Yi Zemin. The formation to the right was spear-headed by the ice affiliated golden core cultivator who wasted no time in moving the formation straight into attack.


    They were moving like single giant but with many blade phantoms as they engaged the hydra. The soul cultivators inside the defensive formation were using elemental projectiles to attack the hydra and support the blade phantoms. The air was roiling with various elemental energies in essence blades, essence darts, elemental orbs and other forms.


    He quickly located his sword and rejoined the battle. They were intensely, fighting the hydra, when the army of scavens and argonians, attacked. The attack came from the back. It put them, right at the middle of the assaults from the two sides. The hydra to the front while the scavens and argonians were to the back.


    The first sight of the might of the argonians, had Jufeng''s jaw hitting the floor. Really, they were terrible foes to have. Ju Feng had thought the human body cultivators had the ultimate impenetrable bodies, but the display by the argonians, was on a different level. Their bodies were like that of an ancient dragon''s scales. It was almost impossible to injure them talkless of defeating them. The most disturbing thing about them, was their battle prowess. Despite the ones here being at the Jindan level at most, they could stand toe to toe with nascent soul cultivators from Jufeng''s world.


    The argonians didn''t attack in formation but individually. They had so much trust in their individual might. Together with the scavens, they could have overwhelmed the human cavalry, if not for a golden-core dream and illusion cultivators. They used half of their life-force to power an ancient talisman and projected a dream into the minds of the argonians and scavens. They were locked in battle with their own inner demons as they remained frozen in place.


    Ju Feng was already wary of dream and illusion cultivators, but now, was frightened of their powers. They were truly terrifying.


    The cavalry quickly sneaked in-between the argonians and scavens and retreated to the other side, away from the fire hydra. This changed the battle scene. The argonians and the scavens were now inbetween the fire hydra and the human cavalry. But the dream only disrupted them for a moment before it was shattered. Fortunately, the respite was enough to allow the other group of the human cavalry, led by the golden core dual cultivator, to join them in battle.


    The moment the dual cultivator arrived, hundreds of spears made from pure shadow essence, were already hitting the argonians and the scavens. The shadow spears were hitting their bodies and souls. Though, their bodies were on another level, their souls were affected by the shadow essence spears. Every time he moved his hand, tens of this spears would be manifested.


    That drew the attention of the leader of the argonian army. He turned to face the incoming threat with a primal hatred. He was holding a lightning infused glaive which denoted a lightning affiliated cultivator. With a loud roar, he turned to a streak of lightning and collided with the golden core cultivator.


    The air shimmered with dangerous energies as the two faced each other in a deadly battle. The thunderous sound generated from the collision of their weapons was causing ripples in the spacetime fabric. In the space of a second, they had exchanged hundreds of weapons'' strikes. At this time, the remaining cultivators on both sides, stepped away from the battle area.


    "That''s shadow-lance."


    "Huh?"


    Asked Jufeng absent mindedly as he kept his eyes on the battle going on.


    "Name of the spear. It''s a total-grade heavenly weapon."


    The dual cultivator was moving like a shadow god. It was nearly impossible to follow his movement if not for the light coming off the fire hydra.

 Chapter 104 - Springflame [8]

    "He''s incredible."


    "Shi Lingxin. Son of the city lord. They are the true descendants of the founder of the fortified city of Chanuan, Shi Guanting. He''s already a world sovran in martial arts and with his spear, he''s a real immortal threat."


    There was no lie in the boy''s words. Shi Lingxin, had already reached the Yinlong stage of martial arts, and soon, it woulde be at the Jinlong stage. He could call himself a grandmaster in martial arts at that time.


    As he was fascinated by the unfolding action, Ju Feng was being pulled forward by its alluring force. The sheer beauty of powerful displays of martial and mystical arts, made him forget about the space-rippling energies that were being manifested, all around. He was already standing on the same line as the watching golden core body cultivators who were the closest to the battle.


    When the spiralling energies of the weapons of the two Jindan cultivators collided through their tips, the impact emanated a massive shockwave of uncontrolled energies that knocked the cultivators on both sides flying.


    Since Ju Feng was having a front view, there was no way for him to avoid the force of impact. He was sent flying, like a divine eagle, towards an area of fiery rocks and into a waiting dimensional force-field. He stood up and checked his body. His body was intact to a welcome relief. Nevertheless, he should have landed much more harder than he did. Then, he noticed the place was peaceful, no sign of the ongoing battle, at all. No sign of flames too. Where was he?


    Since Ju Feng was having a front view, there was no way for him to avoid the force of impact. He was sent flying, like a divine eagle, towards an area of fiery rocks and into a waiting dimensional force-field. He stood up and checked his body. His body was intact to a welcome relief. Nevertheless, he should have landed much more harder than he did. Then, he noticed the place was peaceful, no sign of the ongoing battle, at all. No sign of flames too. Where was he?


    "You''re in my dimensional space, mortal."


    Ju Feng wheeled around at the sound of the voice to the sight of an old man in orange robe. Despite the distance, there was a powerful aura coming from the direction of the old man that depicted heavenly essence.


    "In here, there''s only me."


    Quickly, Jufeng cupped his hand and bowed deeply.


    "I meet you well, senior."


    "Depends. Might not be for long."


    Suddenly, the old man appeared in front of him like a mirage.


    "What message do you have for me?"


    Still deeply bowed, Ju Feng realized from the question that, the old man must be the new guardian of this dominion. The one he was told to find. The Dawn-Gazer! Swallowing hard from utter apprehension, he managed to continued.


    "Senior, I''m lost in this fire?"


    "Then, go to the Emberless grove."


    "Senior, I don''t know who to ask for?"


    "Regallash. Any more question?"


    "No, senior. Here''s the scroll."


    "Hm."


    He gave it back to Ju Feng after reading it.


    "What is it you look for?"


    "Senior, this one search for the soul ring."


    "Hm, the soul ring. Very well. Take that path. It will take you to a small stream of fire. Cross it and you will see a small flaming mound. It''s a worldly illusion, no cultivator of Jindan level can see through it. Inside the mound, you''ll find what you seek."


    "Thank you, senior."


    The old man looked at Ju Feng for a time before shaking his head slightly. He had never liked people with a load of virtues in the first place. He, himself, was here as a guardian of this dominion due to his karmic sins. He remembered clearly how the four of them, the heavenly cuboid, had been found guilty by the heavenly palace''s celestials, headed by the Jade Emperor. The four of them had been sent out to different dimensional places as their guardians for the adjudged equivalent duration of their sins. What a pity. They, that used to roam the heavenly plane in a moderate, not too chaotic, way, were now confined to dimensional prison. Though, they had free movement in the new dimensions, they were still incapacitated.


    Coming here and still maintained the procedure, the boy made a good impression. What ever bargain the boy made to be here, it would never be fair to him. Never at all.


    The old man looked at Ju Feng for a time before shaking his head slightly. He had never liked people with a load of virtues in the first place. He, himself, was here as a guardian of this dominion due to his karmic sins. He remembered clearly how the four of them, the heavenly cuboid, had been found guilty by the heavenly palace''s celestials, headed by the Jade Emperor. The four of them had been sent out to different dimensional places as their guardians for the adjudged equivalent duration of their sins. What a pity. They, that used to roam the heavenly plane in a moderate, not too chaotic, way, were now confined to dimensional prison. Though, they had free movement in the new dimensions, they were still incapacitated.


    "Take this."


    Ju Feng caught the token and looked at in surprise.


    "Show it to him when, or if, you get back."


    "To who, senior?"


    "You''ll know when you get back. If you get back."


    "Okay senior, I"ll do accordingly."


    The old man disappeared as Ju Feng bowed. He looked at where the old man was standing for a moment before realizing he was now alone there. Quickly, he took the path that was indicated by the old man. The path led him to the mound where he found the soul ring and quickly put it inside his own spatial sac. He would be checking the content later. He took the same way back and when he reached the place where he first found himself inside the dimension, the dimensional space disappeared.


    Two blade-lights headed his way, forcing him to dodge hurriedly. He realized that the battle was now raging hotter than before.


    Heavens tears!

 Chapter 105 - Springflame [9]

    The old man sighed and shook his head. The boy coming there and still maintained the procedure, made a good impression. What ever bargain the boy made to be there would never be fair to him. Never at all. Although he never liked people with a load of virtues in the first place. He, himself, was here as a guardian of this dominion due to his karmic sins. He remembered clearly how the four of them, the heavenly cuboid, had been found guilty by the heavenly palace''s celestials, headed by the Jade Emperor.


    The four of them had been sent out to different dimensional places as their guardians for the adjudged equivalent duration of their sins. What a pity. They, that used to roam the heavenly plane in a moderate, not too chaotic, way, were now confined to dimensional prison. Though, they had free movement in the new dimensions, they were still incapacitated.


    The old man flipped his hand.


    "Take this."


    Ju Feng caught the token and looked at in surprise.


    "Show it to him when you get back."


    "To who, senior?"


    "You''ll know when you get back. If you get back."


    "Okay senior, I"ll do accordingly."


    The old man disappeared as Ju Feng bowed. He looked at where the old man was standing for a moment before realizing he was now alone there. Quickly, he took the path that was indicated by the old man. The path led him to the mound where he found the soul ring and quickly put it inside his own spatial sac. He would be checking the content later. He took the same way back and when he reached the place where he first found himself inside the dimension, the dimensional space disappeared.


    Two blade-lights headed his way, forcing him to dodge hurriedly. He realized that the battle was now raging hotter than before.


    Heavens tears!


    It was a chaotic situation.


    On the other side, the colossal fire hydra was having a field day with the argonians and scavens. The massive hydra''s body was at the level of a total-grade worldly artifact, despite being a pure fire principal. Since they couldn''t do much to its pure elemental body, the hydra was proving impossible for the army facing it, to defeat it. But the most dangerous thing of all, was its speed. The speed of its movement and attack, would rival that of a peak stage nascent soul.


    At this stage, only two of the hydra''s head had been destroyed. Though, this drastically reduced its power, the hydra was fighting with more burning rage. It was now looking more of the annihilation of the argonians and the scavens. Already, more than half of their army had been destroyed by the hydra. The sheer display of power by the hydra, testified to its terrifying might and significance.


    That was no ordinary circle of Springflame guardian. Whatever it was or they were, that the hydra was guarding, would be of top values. The more reason for the humans to get their hands on the treasures.


    The hydran battle was huge, but, it was the battle between the two contingents'' leaders, that drew Ju Feng''s attention. The quality of the attack moves being displayed was staggering.


    Ju Feng continued to watch-on as the argonian blurred forward in a blue lightning shimmer. The green massive body armour on the argonian body, started to disintegrate and was cascading from its body as it moved with impossible lightning speed. He had covered the ground between them less than a heartbeat, thrusting forward, in a thousand in one move, a glaive that was shimmering, violently, with blue lightning bolts.


    Shi Lingxin shadowed himself back in a blinding speed, but the argonian followed, exceedingly fast for a Jindan level cultivator, his lightning glaive distorting and causing spatial ripples as they continued to exchange strikes. In a mirage of movement, they traded thousands of blade strokes as they broke, and moved again, and again.


    Ju Feng could hardly follow the blurring speed of their movement. He couldn''t believe what he was looking at. They were supposed to be Jindan cultivators, but from what he was seeing, they were not in a making of Jindan. How could that even be? Straining his eyes, he continued to follow their movement in a valiant attempt.


    The argonian had made a named martial arts move.


    "The Lightning-glide."


    The cultivator beside Ju Feng said. Citing that the move was a world level devastating martial art.


    Shi Lingxin was blocking with total comprehension of the deadly outcome if he lost focus and make mistakes. Their weapons were moving too fast for other cultivators to clearly see. His defensive robe, turned a glancing lightning thrust in a shower of shadow sparks. The glaive continued to cause giant spatial ripples in the air as it passed.


    Suddenly, the argonian''s move changed without disrupting his initial attacking move. Staying in the blue lightning blurr, there were massive lightning pulse and bolt webs, spiralling out of it. With every, thousand in one, thrust of the glaive, the spatial ripples were now burning the air and scorching a wide area of the ground.


    Shi Lingxin went briefly onto the attack with a giant shadow burst and an array of eclipsing shadow spears in an attempt to disrupt the move. His attack would have caused mortal injuries to any low level cultivator, but each of the spears was met and blocked. The sound of their blades came like a million shattering glasses.


    The argonian pressed his glaring opportunity. Like a blurring ancient caster, he dipped and weaved his way through the shadow burst, cutting through the shadow spears with his pulsating glaive. He spun in a double circle before releasing his glaive. The glaive turned to a thousand raging blue-white lightning bolt that sped towards Shi Lingxin, covering the whole area and causing spatial rifts.

 Chapter 106 - Springflame [10]

    Apprehension dawned on Shi Lingxin as he recognize the move executed by the argonian. A mystical art.


    "The Rift-World."


    The argonian had used two named move in succession. Shi Lingxin decided, he would have to use a named move of his too, otherwise, he would be in dire trouble. He made a firm hold on the ground with his feet and slightly shifting, he executed his own defensive move.


    "The Silent-Shade."


    Although it was a Jindan level mystical art, it was a powerful one still. The thousand raging blue-white bolts collided with the walls of shadow and disappeared. There was no sound of impact but the effect on Shi Lingxin, was a devastating one. How could the argonian be this powerful?


    He was still thinking of how powerful the argonian leader was, when the argonian appeared in front of him with a glaive meant to pierce Shi Lingxin''s heart who quickly blocked it with his spear and deflected the glaive to the side. The deflected thrust caught Shi Lingxin across the ribs. It didn''t do much damage to him but his robe was giving off large amount of shadowy smoke. A sign that the robe was loosing its potency.


    Shi Lingxin whirled around and hurled gigantic shadow wraiths forward, but the argonian cut through them like water. Shi Lingxin was aware of the fleeing time. He knew they had limited time before the dawning of the Springflame for another hundred thousand years on the side of the argonians. The humans and the scavens already had their own periods. They would wait the dawn of time until it was their turn to explore the Springflame again. That was the traditional ways of things in Aalag.


    That was the last day of the argonian period in Springflame and it was only a limited time now until the dawn of Springflame. No time to waste.


    Then, the argonian split into two images and one of the images flew forward to the left of Shi Lingxin while lightning bolts danced on the ground all around them. Shi Lingxin twisted with a powerful swift grace, parrying the lightning blow with his spear and filling it with more shadow essence as he swiped a mournful shadowy trail down the image''s c.h.e.s.t, but his blow was turned by an eloquent slide of the glaive. The image had already pivoted out of the way when Shi Lingxin caught a glint of enormous red bolt in the air, from the right side, and quickly manifested a shadow dome of energy.


    The impact was a deafening thunder. Ju Feng, who had been achingly following the battles was on his knees, holding his head. With the pain in his head subsiding after a time, he looked around himself. There were few cultivators affected by the impact, but to his total astonishment, there were many cultivators still standing and watching.


    The heaven''s forsaken body cultivators and the cursed argonians. Why couldn''t he have a body like that too? He had been practicing the Trueworld bodyweight technique since childhood. And the reverse one too. He looked at them again and observed their bodies.


    "Tremendous bodies. They must''ve been practicing a great technique for thousands or millions of years."


    He sighed and turned his attention towards Shi Lingxin.


    The golden core dual cultivator had been, agonzingly, biding his time, as he battled the argonian leader. He had thoughtfully, observed what it would take for his ultimate move to be successful. They had two major obstacles. The hydra and the argonians alongside the scavens. He had waited for half of the hydra''s head to be destroyed before he finally decided to act.


    He knew the argonian was stronger than him physically. Though, he wasn''t sure about the mystical arts, he knew that the argonian wasn''t better than him in martial arts. Although, he was aware of the argonian''s glaive as a low-grade heavenly treasure. He couldn''t delay any longer. It was time to leave the Springflame. Since he didn''t know the number of argonian contingents heading their way. The battle energy here would have resonated far into the distance.


    Shi Lingxin had been relying on the Shadow-Lock to make his ultimate move. But the issue was to align the lock in a correct pattern around the argonians and the hydra. And now, the Shadow-Lock stones were in place. The last stone had been aligned correctly by a Jindan cultivator who managed to get behind the hydra after great difficulty. He threw six pellets of shadow into the air. Pellets that had taken hundreds of thousands of years to pack with refined shadow essence. His power at the Jindan level, couldn''t activate the Shadiw-Lock, but with six pellets holding hundreds of thousands of years of shadow essence, he could activate it. The pellets would be serving a greater purpose now.


    With that, he activated the Shadow-Lock.


    Ju Feng watched as the whole place in front of him was quickly engolfed in a devastating shadow world. He couldn''t see through the shadows and the people inside, couldn''t come out either. This was a nascent soul level of mystical attack. Shi Lingxin had done this due to the shadow energy he had been storing inside the pellets. Genius. Jufeng took a glance towards the golden core cultivator in time to see him spun his spear overhead before slashing it down in an arc.


    Ju Feng continued to stare at the standing figure of Shi Lingxin while admiring his brilliant thinking. He was slowly nodding his head when he saw the figure of Shi Lingxin, disintegrated into nothingness.


    "Uh?"


    He looked around only to see others looking at the Shadow-Lock area without paying attention to the dissipated figure of Shi Lingxin.


    "Was he missing something?"


    He asked to himself silently, but his expression was that of bewilderment.


    "Order Of The Afterlife."


    A golden core cultivator beside Jufeng, slowly muttered.


    "Only his uncle, the hegemon, has mastered the art. But he''s on his way to. This is a supreme martial art. Only two other confirmed martial arts of its kind, I know of. Pride of the True Glory and Oath Of The Fallen Souls."


    He slowly turned his gaze towards Jufeng and spoke gravely.


    "If you know a supreme martial art, then, you may be on your way to become a true legend."


    Ju Feng was still lost in thought, when the shadowed area became visible. The whole place was filled with the bodies of the argonians and the scavens. But the most disturbingly unusual thing, was the bodies of the standing argonians and the scavens. They were still standing with their eyes opened, but were long dead. The leader of the argonian was covered in transparent white stone. Or was he turned to a transparent white stone statue? Shi Lingxian was standing at the other end where the hydra was few minutes before. But the hydra was no longer seen.

 Chapter 107 - Springflame [11]

    This reminded Ju Feng of Lang Hai and Liu Luoyang. The remarkably powerful martials arts he had seen them displayed. Truly beyond words.


    Shi Lingxin assigned some of the body cultivators to stay guard while he arranged a few to himself. He opened the secret entrance to the large area under the circle of flame wirh the springster and turned to the few cultivators.


    "Come with me."


    This circle of Springflame was literally, a lake of Springflame. Inside the large area that resembled a conjecture of chambers, they found a relatively high amount of Iranium gold and silver coins. The place was not short of artifacts too. One low-grade luminous artifact, one pure-grade heavenly artifact and two high-grade worldly artifacts. This was more successful than they had anticipated. Together with the Iradium coins they found in the other circle of flame, it was a heavenly blessed voyage.


    "We are out of time here. We leave now."


    The most difficult part now, was getting home. The only possible route back would be through the argonian pass. If they want to, safely, navigate their way through the argonian pass, they had to move before dawn. They had chosen the argonian Bardarth ceremonial day to use the pass. The argonians would be busy with their ceremonial festivity and focus less on the pass. Though, there was the dangers of the scrounging scavens, it had worked for them in the distant past.


    This circle of Springflame was literally, a lake of Springflame. Inside the large area that resembled a conjecture of chambers, they found a relatively high amount of Iranium gold and silver coins. The place was not short of artifacts too. One low-grade luminous artifact, one pure-grade heavenly artifact and two high-grade worldly artifacts. This was more successful than they had anticipated. Together with the Iradium coins they found in the other circle of flame, it was a heavenly blessed voyage.


    "We are out of time here. We leave now."


    The most difficult part now, was getting home. The only possible route back would be through the argonian pass. If they want to, safely, navigate their way through the argonian pass, they had to move before dawn. They had chosen the argonian Bardarth ceremonial day to use the pass. The argonians would be busy with their ceremonial festivity and focus less on the pass. Though, there was the dangers of the scrounging scavens, it had worked for them in the distant past.


    It was a risk they had to take.


    Under the cover of the invisibility array, they silently left the area. Few hours on the Iling ocean, they arrived at the they arrived at Ralat river where they diverted towards the argonian pass. As they neared the mountainous region of the pass, they could feel the eerie atmosphere that enveloped the whole area. Since they couldn''t turn back, they forged ahead silently. The invisibility formation was still active.


    They were at the middle of the mountainous area, when they were all frozen in place. The cloudy mountain tops became clearer. Ten golden core scaven cultivators, led by two peak stage golden core cultivators, were at the top of the mountains. They were accompanied by two green robed argonian cultivators. Large white orbs of ice were floating around them.


    Frozen Stars lock.


    No escaping this one from the inside. Once it''s locked, everything inside including the spacetime, would be frozen. The Orbs would then start to come together, hence, shrinking the spacetime inside the lock. This would eventually cause the spacetime to implode, thereby, killing all that was inside.


    As the orbs were getting dangerously closer, a golden colored portal suddenly opened. The energy released from the opening of the portal, swiftly dispersed the orbs, thus, releasing the spacetime of the area.


    And a portal, that was opening in front of them.


    A white robed elderly man with a flowing white hair, white eye brows and long white beards, came out of the portal. He was holding two small bags with intricate designs of pure beauty.


    Almost simultaneously, two more portals opened and two men stepped out of the portals respectively. One was wearing a gold-lined emerald green robe while the other was wearing a glowing midnight black robe. Their ancient and powerful presence, couldn''t be mistaken in any circ.u.mstances.


    Despite masking their auras, the divine presence of the three rulers had caused the cultivators to fall on their knees and bowed deeply. How could they even look at the faces of their mighty rulers? They could suffer grave consequences despite not knowing who the rulers were.


    The white-robed elderly man gave the two men a curt nod as he spoke.


    "Highest Giraq, King Lhunox. I meet you two well."


    "Sovereign Yin Qiang. We meet you well."


    Highest Giraq and king Lhunox returned the curt nod.


    "And I believe your visit here is not interfering with these juniors'' affair, sovereign Yin Qian."


    "Sovereign Yin Qian wouldn''t intentionally do that, would he?"


    "King Lhunox, don''t you know me before now? But since you mentioned it, wouldn''t they be spoiling this beautiful day and the gift I brought, as promised? If they continued disrupting this lovely peace?"


    Sovereign Yin Qiang displayed the two bags as he smiled at the two rulers.


    Almost simultaneously, two more portals opened and two men stepped out of the portals respectively. One was wearing a gold-lined emerald green robe while the other was wearing a glowing midnight black robe. Their ancient and powerful presence, couldn''t be mistaken in any circ.u.mstances.


    Despite masking their auras, the divine presence of the three rulers had caused the cultivators to fall on their knees and bowed deeply. How could they even look at the faces of their mighty rulers? They could suffer grave consequences despite not knowing who the rulers were.


    The white-robed elderly man gave the two men a curt nod as he spoke.


    "Highest Giraq, King Lhunox. I meet you two well."


    "Sovereign Yin Qiang. We meet you well."


    Highest Giraq and king Lhunox returned the curt nod.


    "And I believe your visit here is not interfering with these juniors'' affair, sovereign Yin Qian."


    "Sovereign Yin Qian wouldn''t intentionally do that, would he?"


    "King Lhunox, don''t you know me before now? But since you mentioned it, wouldn''t they be spoiling this beautiful day and the gift I brought, as promised? If they continued disrupting this lovely peace?"


    Sovereign Yin Qiang displayed the two bags as he smiled at the two rulers.

 Chapter 108 - Springflame [12]

    Ju Feng stepped out into the snowy plain and looked around before lifting his head up as the snow flakes gently c.a.r.e.s.sed his face. Standing on a spot with his eyes closed, he took in a lungful of air before exhaling, slowly. The feel of the freshness in the air, was beginning to have the traces of comfort to him.


    "Ah, my snowy plain."


    Having confirmed he was truly back at the beautiful snowy plain, he crashed down on the ground. He planted his face on the snow filled ground to his much needed respite. Oh, the calming solace of the snow.  The feel of the snow had become a soothing relief from the apprehension of these recent events.


    Several minutes later, that seemed like hours, he stood himself up and quickly located a moundy spot of snow where he sat down heartedly. He rumaged through his sac and brought out some preserved turtle meat and goat milk. He chewed the meat and washed it down with the milk as he ruminated on the events of the recent past. He had found the soul ring before the dimensional threw him out. The more he looked at the soul ring, the more he was happy with himself. But how did he had to find a soul ring on this journey? Heavens sent it must be.


    Anyway, sooner or later, he would form his own soul space without the need for any artifact. But he knew it wouldn''t be a matter of sooner. And with the way things were going, especially with the feelings of an impending death, he would need his soul space sooner. He was putting the soul ring away, when he remembered the fireglade he found on the lake of the molten fire. He quickly check inside his spatial sac and found it.


    Looking at it, he already knew it wasn''t an ordinary glade, but a conchi shell. He slowly checked it and found that it was already opened but the bead was still inside. No wonder the hydra-guardian was released. The shell was already opened. But what could''ve opened a conchi shell at that place without them knowing? It had to be from a fortunate action during the raging battles. Slowly, he opened it and removed the bead.


    The Flowing Flame. Crafted from an ancient redwood seed.


    He could help himself, but bust into laughter. It seemed the beads were the ones looking for a way for him to enter Samsara cycle. He would''ve been dead by now if not for the heavens smiling on him. Remembering the two guardians he had seen, he made note to avoid the beads by all means. The beads were death in disguise. He put the bead away carefully, and his own share of the Irrium coins from the sojourn to the Springflame.


    Ju Feng''s mind trembled slightly as he recalled the time they were sorrounded by an army of scavens and two argonians when they were coming back through the mountain straits, without them knowing. And then, the sight of the three rulers of Wuzhen.


    He remembered that, from the words of Shi Lingxian, they had unknowingly entered the Frozen Stars lock. A time freezing lock. They would have been killed at that point, if not for Shi Lingxian uncle, sovereign Yin Qian, who was the ruler of the human kingdom. He had, coincidentally or intensionally, opened a portal near the spot of the arrays which had destroyed the frozen lock. From the sound of it, the portal alone shouldn''t have destroyed the lock, which meant that sovereign Yin Qian had intentionally destroyed the lock.


    On the soil of the scavens!


    Although there was no visible prove, that was a major breach of the pact. A nascent soul and above must not get involved in the affairs of lesser ones. Ju Feng recalled his conversation with the tattered clothed boy, who he later learned his name to be Tan Wu.


    "As you already know, the sovereign had intervened because of his nephew."


    "Yea, such a great risk."


    "That was why sovereign Yin Qian had brought those gifts. Their values could only be imagined."


    "He must truly be fond of his nephew."


    "Very much. You see, Shi Lingxin''s mother, Yin Ying Hui, was the elder sister of Yin Qian, the sovereign. Long before the foming of the fortified cities, there was only one human city. This human city was founded by their father, Yin Xinyi. It was the first human kingdom. Despite being a turbulent time, the human city was holding fort. Yin Xinyi came to have two children, Yin Ying Hui and Yin Qian. Two geniuses of the human kingdom. But since Yin Ying Hui was born way before Yin Qian, she was given the first-born spirit pill. Her cultivation kicked off in a bang. She was growing up very strong in mystical and martial arts. There was a great expectation of her being the future pillar of the kingdom."


    "So it seems."


    "Thousands of years after the birth of Yin Ying Hui, Yin Qian was born. He turned out to be a genius of his kind. Despite being born several thousands of years after Yin Ying Hui, he reached Jindan stage only few years after his sister. But, he was too impatient and too eager to impress their father. After both reach the golden core stage, they decided to have outland cities in expansion of the human kingdom. Yin Qian moved to the right of the city towards the argonians while Yin Ying Hui, took the left on the side of the scavens."


    "Please, continue."


    "Although there was no pact then and the kingdoms were just few in population, there was regard shared among the rulers. But in his eagerness to expand the human territory, Yin Qian was systematically infringing on the argonians. One of the outland territories of the argonians, infringed, was gorverned by a member of the argonian highest. Yin Qian thought at the Jindan level, he was at the top to prove himself. But, he was wrong."


    "Was he?"


    "Absolutely."

 Chapter 109 - Springflame [13]

    "There was a first son of their founding Highest. His name was Khutam. He was much stronger and powerful than Yin Qian. He had gone a great length too, to prove himself and avenge their member. He had been, patiently, planning his attack. And masterfully, he had attacked Yin Qian when Yin Xinyi was undergoing his ascension heavenly tribulation."


    Tan Wu continued to explain to Ju Feng who asked curiously.


    "How did he survive it?"


    "Yi Ying Hui. That was how."


    Tan Wu slowly replied.


    "Uh?"


    "Have you totally forgotten about it, Feng? Oh, okay. You see, Yi Ying Hui, had used the Chains Of Targarsus."


    "Chains Of Targarsus?"


    "Yes. The ancestral heirloom of the house of Yi. As the first child, it was hers by right to maintain but with an acknowledgement. She couldn''t use it anytime soon, if at all. It was only to be in her care. If it was absolutely necessary, it would be used by a nascent soul at the least."


    "Why was that? I''ve seen cultivators used higher level weapons before. Even a luminous one, I believe."


    "You are probably right. Though, I''ve not seen one before, I''ve heard of such, also. But, the Chains Of Targarsus was different. It was an errant weapon. Created by a shadow soul-forger, a highcelestial refered to as, Thudom. A true-born Natthada dwarf. As you know, Natthada was a heavenly shadow realm created on the Abyssal Shadow Deep."


    "Very true."


    Myths had it that, Thudom was plagued by shadows of his own demons, hence, he had proceeded to the depth of the abyssal shadow core to forge his heart manifestation. And his heart manifestation?"


    "The Chains Of Targarsus?"


    "That''s right. Chains Of Targarsus. According to the tales, some claimed he was already lost in his own shadowed mind before he began to forge the chains. While others said he had totally lost his mind to the shadows of his own demons while forging the chains. But, one thing they all agreed was that his demons had fed on the abundance of shadow element at the abyssal depth."


    Errant weapons!


    Ju Feng''s mind trembled in primal fear at the potential existence of an errant weapon on the mortal plane, talk less of being in that world. Errant weapons were totally different from other weapons. Divine weapons, luminous weapons, heavenly weapons, worldly weapons and terran weapons[weapons with runes], were definitive in their creation. A luminous treasure would forever be a luminous treasure. It''s power would never increase further. Same went for the others. But errant weapons were completely different.


    Errant weapons would continually and greedily devour the soul elements of the owner when in use, making them progressively dangerous. Once an errant weapon was brandished with the intension to use, soul demons would be manifested, plaguing the owner. A cultivator''s soul could be lost in its own shadows, if the cultivator couldn''t control the streaming of the soul elements and the soul demons.


    Errant weapons could only be forged by celestial soul-forgers at the depth of an elemental core. But most importantly, the soul-forger would be totally lost in the elemental soul. Only soul-forgers plagued by their mind demons could ever undertake the forging of an errant weapons. Since the primordial beginning, only a few had ever found their way out of their soul elemental bondage. And they were the ones that managed to leave the depth of the elemental core with their souls in their bodies. Any forger that left the soul behind, would never find the way out. Forever lost.


    That was why errant weapons were not common on the heavenly plain talkless of the mortal plane. Unlimitedly powerful, but extremely self-hazardous.


    "True immortal danger."


    "It is. As I was saying, Yin Ying Hui, who was trying to locate her brother due to some development, had came upon the dangerous scenario. Realizing that if she didn''t do anything, her brother would die, Yin Ying Hui had used the chains."


    "I''m listening."


    "Granted, the chains had shattered the mind of Khutam and chained his soul in eternal shadows, still, the shadow energy of the chains was too much for her to manipulate. It had spiraled out of control, making her soul lost in its own shadows. She was only at the Jindan level at this point, how could she withstand the backlash."


    "Terrible."


    "Yes, terrible fate. Two first-born, nothing more than living corpses. It could have led to war, but due to the fact that it happened to the two of them of the same cultivation level, the two rulers made a pact. Any disputes between two cultivators of the same level, must not be intervened by a higher level cultivator. And, unless a kingdom is threatened, no nascent souls and above should engage in any form of battle. Only Jindan and below could indulge in battles. Any loss must be taken in good faith."


    "A good-will pact."


    "Absolutely. The pact still delicately stands till this day."


    "What about Yin Ying Hui?"


    "She resides in the shadow-Maw cave, under the lord manor of Chanuan city. She had never been seen outside the cave since that battle."


    "Hm. So, Yin Qian had intervened to save Shi Lingxin for the reason that, his own sister and the mother of Shi Lingxin who had lost her own soul to save him before."


    "Indeed."


    "Honourable."


    From the information he had gathered, the three kingdoms of Wuzhen was sitting on a fragile pact of good-will. The human sovereign was a reasonable leader to still be maintaining the pact. He really cared for his kingdom inhabitants. More so, Ju Feng was now a member of the Chanuan city. Whatever affected the other humans, would concern him too. Hopefully, they would continuing living in peace


    Ju Feng recollected his thoughts as he snapped back to the present. Not all doom and gloom. He looked at the single piece of Iradium gold and silver coins in his hand as he smiled broadly. His own share from the sojourn to Springflame. He looked around satisfactorily, he had Iradium coins of his own. Coins of the immortals and gods. How about that?


    A cheerful smile on his face, Jufeng walked towards the last entry point.

 Chapter 110 - Sayong [1]

    Blue-white lightning played along the black ridges in the sky above him, as Jufeng found himself in a dark and what appeared to be a desolate plain. The appearance of this place was already living up to his name. The absence of thunder made the silence of the lightning-filled sky, extremely mind saundering. With no sound coming from the night and no sign of the whistle of wind over the arid plain, the silence was profound. It was only interrupted by the interminent faint break of a wave on the protruded rocks and his own heartbeats.


    Sayong.


    A worldly heave-domain where banished souls resided. In the eerie dark condition of Ju Feng''s sorrounding in that night-world, the only sources of light were from the dancing lightning in the shadowed sky and his own nimbus light. His nimbus light of red, blue, green and yellow which confirmed his identity as a zhuji cultivator. According to the grey tree, this was one of the disadvantages of this domain. A nimbus light was visible to all, which determined a soul''s ranking on the ladder of a heave-domain.


    Things never appeared to match up in a heave-domain. On a night like that, there should be deafening sounds everywhere already, rather, there was an absolute silence. And, no signs of any night creatures? What creatures was he expecting in a spirit world in the first place? Spirit birds? As Ju Feng was still observing the strange world and contemplating on it, he heard two angry voices behind him.


    "A-ha."


    "We found you, mortal rogue. Do you think you can escape us?"


    Ju Feng whirled around to the sources of the voices. He saw two large phantom figures with diffractive gold-yellow nimbus light which made their white halo light to refract. Heave-Spirits. He had never seen one before, but from the words of the tree, he knew that all entities in this world were heave-spirits. Entities whose souls were now trapped in this dangerous and deadly world. A world where souls would be in constant and continous extreme difficulties, with little, to no possibility of escape. Souls of immortals and gods alike.


    He had to make sure he didn''t die in this world if he wanted to see the physical worlds again.


    Golden core dragons.


    Or, the soul avatars of the golden core dragons. And going by these two''s nimbus light''s diffraction, these were powerful golden core demigods at the least. To be faced by two angry demigods upon entry, it wasn''t a situation he wanted to be in at all. Why was he even there? He knew he was there to obtain the Soul Banishing Scroll, but didn''t know why he would choose such an item. What did he even need that for, exactly?


    "Or you mean, immortal rogue? I can smell something of immortality in him."


    One of soul creatures spoke in jest of Ju Feng.


    "What immortality? I can even taste the mortality in him."


    The other creature responded.


    "Are you sure you are not tasting the memory of your own rotten flesh?"


    "Are you questioning my power of judgement, brother?"


    "Since you are also doubting my discernment power, I guess I am."


    "What did I do to deserve this? You are like a thorn in my rotten flesh."


    "I beat myself in sadness all the time because of you. You are like a rotten flesh in my thorn."


    "A crossroad we are, then, brother."


    "Yes, a crossroad we are."


    With the two spirit entities having a concentrated stand off, Ju Feng silently walked backwards a few yards. With a side eye on the situation, he slowly turned and was about to use the swiftsteps when the two entities, swiftly appeared before him. Their sudden appearance made him staggered backwards in alarm. He tried to use his swiftsteps in fright, but he was glued to where he was standing. He looked at his legs but couldn''t see what was holding him. What could be happening to him? He raised his head to the sight of the two entities, staring at him with cold, disturbing eyes.


    "Forgive us, immortal mortal."


    "It seems we didn''t introduce ourselves properly to you."


    "Rorrom, nascent soul sky gold-dragon."


    The first of the identical heave-spirits uttered with his hands spread to the sides.


    "And, I am Dorrom, also a nascent soul sky gold-dragon."


    "You see, we gold-dragons, we are naturally content with what we have. And what we have, we protect. As the same with everybody. Can you see those markers? It means this our territory."


    "What we keep in our territory belongs to us. Ours. Do you understand that?"


    Ju Feng nodded in fear as he continued to watch where the two heave-spirits were going with their words.


    "We don''t like when dubious ones come into our territory uninvited."


    "Especially, ugly one that would steal our treasure."


    The two demigods'' souls glowed in anger as their eyes turned blood red and their nostrils flared smoke.


    "Wait, what treasure? I didn''t steal your treasure."


    "Really? Denial is even detrimental to your own soul."


    "Either you return our treasure to us right now or we rip your soul off your body."


    "Woa! On eternal flame, it truly wasn''t me."


    "On eternal flame? Really? Then why is your heart beating faster?"


    "And your very soul frightened."


    These entities were getting more frightful and going beyond reasoning. He had to think faster. They were gold dragons and they were looking for a treasure.


    "This treasure you are looking for, what does it look like?"


    "A-ha. The guilty one confesses before death."


    "Something shining, something golden. Do you remember seeing it now?"


    "Something golden?"


    Ju Feng asked curiosly. He was about to tell them he didn''t have any shining treasure, when he remembered his share of the Irrium gold coins from Springflame.


    "I think I have something you might like in place of your treasure."

 Chapter 111 - Sayong [2]

    Swiftly his hand movement to the spatial sac fastly tied to his waist and brought out the Iradium gold coin. His share from the Springflame sojourn.


    "Irrium coin? That''s not our treasure."


    "Are you trying to buy our treasure?"


    "Well, that might do, brother. One treasure for another. Besides, I like his voice. It''s soft."


    "Not soft. You mean pleasant."


    "We will agree to disagree, brother."


    Voiced Rorrom in a cold undertone before focusing on Jufeng.


    "Immortal mortal, this is a hard bargain but we accept. One gold coin it is."


    The two gold dragon recieved the Iradium gold happily and moved out of his way.


    "If you want to buy more treasures, you know where to come."


    "We already noted you as a patron of ours, immortal mortal."


    "Until then, farewell."


    Phew that was really close.


    Ju Feng also bid his farewell and quickly left the area of the two dragons towards the direction of the Gloomvale. He was moving extremely fast using the swiftsteps. He couldn''t afford anymore encounter like this one before reaching his destination. He might not survive it.


    He was about to reach the outskirts of the Gloomvale, when he stepped into a formation trap. Stopped on his tracks, he looked around and saw a group of five heave-spirits. Gold-green nimbus light coming from giant human bodies with heads of lions. Terran lions. Sacred beasts of the early stage of nascent soul. Their nascent souls were easier to identify. Out of all the lionkinds, the heavily long mane of the terran lions, made them stood out.


    "Stranded soul? What a blessing. Hehehe."


    The one that appeared to be their leader pointed at Ju Ffeng as he laughed coldly.


    "Take him."


    Ju Feng shook his head as he tried to wriggle free from the force-field he had just walked into. This was not what he envisaged. The situation in this place was getting more dire for him than anticipated. He had recently escaped one that looked grim, only for him to walk into this one. Heavens tears. Why? As he was ruminating on the circ.u.mstances at hand, he heard two familiar voices.


    "Why should we allow that."


    The two sky gold dragons voiced aloud as they streaked into the area.


    "Gold dragons, this is our matter. It doesn''t concern you."


    "Actually, it does. He''s our new patron. Our own prospect."


    Replied Rorrom as Dorrom quipped in.


    "So, how about that, huh? We simply can''t allow it. Look for another soul, not this one."


    "The two of you won''t fare well against the five of us, if it comes down to it."


    "Why don''t we find out then."


    The two groups were having a stand-off, when a massive heaviness descended on the area. The pressure was like weight of a thousand mighty mountain. Everybody involved was knocked in different direction. Ju Feng was knocked hard to the ground, with his head taking the brunt of it. Flat on the ground, he struggled to breathe as blood was streaking down his eyes, ears and corners of his mouth.


    "In my terrace?"


    "Who dare?"


    The faint shadow gathered together to reveal a shadow figure clothed in a shadow black robe. Two large red eyes could be seen in the hooded shadow face. The shadow energy sorrounding the figure was raging with incredible force. The force of an ascendant who had reached the gates of godhood.


    "White lions and gold dragons?"


    The shadow figure raised its hand and a huge shadow palm appeared and swinged in a circle. Despite the lions and the dragons blocking the palm, they were knocked flying in different directions.


    "If not for the ones you serve."


    Looking around, the shadow figure saw Ju Feng lying on the floor with a bloody face and struggling for air.


    "Pathetic."


    The hooded figure made a flick motion with his fingers that sent Ju Feng flying towards the Gloomvale. He landed hard on the ground, knocking the wind out of his lungs and twisting his left arm. The pressure on him had disappeared but he had suffered greatly. Yet, he couldn''t stay here. How could he knew where he was or whose territory he was right now? With great difficulty, he readjusted his twisted arm and managed to pop one bloodroot pill into his mouth.


    With the remaining strength he got, he crawled towards the large hallway of the Gloomvale at the nearest distance. He knew that, if not for the crystals which the tree gave him, he would have been dead already. Though, his own soul of liquid orb was an added advantage, they meant little in this spirit world.


    When he came around, he found himself in an immense hall that resembled a keep or a dominion. There were large incomprehensible runic inscriptions carved into the floor. The profound scripts winded slowly in from the entrance of the dark hallway to the foot of two closed massive doors, the only other features of the strangely dark place.


    The massive doors rose up from the floor, in the expanse of several meters up through the air, then stopped before it could meet the hall''s rooftop. Stopping with some yards short. The space between the rooftop and the massive doors was occupied with dark cloud that was filled with silent dancing lightnings.


    It was a stranger place than the outside.


    He remembered the words of the grey tree as he followed the oblique path of runes. Each step he took towards the massive doors, was of agonizing pain as the runes flared with each step. Every flare would travel to his dantian and wrench at his soul. He would take one step and waited for a long time to recover himself before he continued at a slow pace until finally he reached the immense doors.


    After a moment of pause, he placed his feet squarely on the large rune at the front of the closed doors before inserting the last Iradium gold coin given to him by the tree, into the gold slit on one of the massive doors. The air was getting denser in the hallway as lightning were streaking down the massive doors


    The massive doors made a thunderous snapping sound before it gradually began to open.


    Beyond the doors was a hoard of nightmares.

 Chapter 112 - Sayong [3]

    Total darkness, extending for miles without end, was the scene before him. Ju Feng watched in apprehension as the massive doors slowly closed behind him. The darkness was soul disturbing in its complex entirety. Only the vicinity where he was standing, which was of a few yards, had some sort of light. After the small region of the light, was the area of complete darkness.


    As he watched the darkness and listened closely, he decided to use his spiritual sight to have more knowledge of the situation. Within seconds, Ju Feng quickly backed himself up to the closed doors as he gasped in primal fear. The complete darkness was not the source of that fear, but what he could faintly detect in the darkness. He couldn''t see or hear the source of his fear, but he could sense a powerful force in the darkness.


    There was definitely a colossal raging shadow in the darkness. There was no way in this reeling existence, he would enter this darkness. He knew he would simply die the moment the darkness enveloped him. He might think he was on a sojourn to acquire an artefact, but rather, he would find himself on a journey into the light of Radia. Straight into reincarnation. Not an ideal path to take at any moment in time.


    Ju Feng was still contemplating on the disturbing scene before him when a soft voice sounded beside him.


    "The Soul-Phantoms."


    "Uh?"


    Ju Feng swirled to his right side in the direction of the voice. A small figure, dressed in luminance white robe was floating in the air, right beside him. He took a few steps back as he cautiously examined this new entity. How did he even get beside him without his knowledge?  And that solemnly ancient face. Ju Feng could already sense a dreadful alarm radiating from the entity. Upon closer observation, Ju Feng saw a faint mark in the shape of a full-lunar circle on the entity''s forehead. He swallowed hard as comprehension dawned on him.


    A Rakshasan god!


    The lunar circle was the symbol of the Rakshasans. As demigods, they were born with the half lunar circle''s symbol on their foreheads. This symbol would later turn into full circle after their ascension into the heavenly realms. Rakshasans were renown for their wildly erratic mentality. And here was one, hovering silently in the mid-air, not too far away from him. Caution! His attention shifted back to the eyes of the Rakshasan god. Pitiless, solemn and refractive. These were the eyes of a silent but extremely deadly entity.


    There was something about the figure that made Ju Feng felt like digging a hole and buried himself inside it. Despite appearing in his demigod form and masking his aura, the feel of the energy coming from the figure was exceedingly frightful. Necessity was laid upon Ju Feng to bow in the face of such enormousness.


    "Greetings, senior."


    Ju Feng cupped his hand and bowed low. Though, he had no idea who the entity was, he had to be careful. His life could depend on it. He had to wait for the Rakshasan god to acknowledge him before he would raise his head.


    "Hmm."


    The Rakshasan god nodded his head as he continued to examine Ju Feng, closely.


    "The Soul-Phantoms, that''s what''s inside the darkness. They are the manifestations of Sammar, one of the guardians of the Rembulum realm on the cosmic plane. A shadow entity that fell during the great wars. So sad. As long as you have no reason to take the path, you need not fear."


    With a soft sigh, he gave Ju Feng a solemn smile.


    "Enough with that already. Coming here, is a dangerous path  to take, young one. A dangerous errand for a mortal who just started the path of immortality to embark. I guess you agreed to a bargain. Is that right?"


    Receiving Ju Feng''s nod as a confirmation, he continued.


    "To make a bargain blindly is not wise, young one. Not wise. Yet, little you could have done in a face of a power far greater than yours. How fortunate of you to still be alive. Truly fortunate. Anyway, I could smell the scent of the others on you the moment you appear in this world. I guess that means they are still alive. Ah, so long, indeed."


    The god slowly shook his head before gazing into the past beyond the darkness. After a moment of silence, he turned to Ju Feng and asked.


    "Well, what do you have for me, young one?"


    "Please forgive this young one, senior. I''m to ask you where to go if I find myself in the dark and who to ask for."


    "You can only go to the Emberless grove and ask for Regallash."


    "Thank you senior for your patience with me. I''m to show you this scroll."


    "En."


    After reading the scroll of sentience and had it returned to Ju Feng, he turned his attention back towards the direction of the total darkness ahead. His gaze was fixed on them for a long time before his voice sounded in a soft but firm tone.


    "Several millions of years ago, there were four demigods. The Frost-Dreamer. A Yakshasan who was adept in manipulating the energies of ice and dream and illusion. The Plane-Drifter. A Lakshasan who could conjure the energies of air and shadow. The Dawn-Gazer. An Asura who was a master of fire and light energies. And a certain Soul-Carver."


    There was a soft sigh followed by a short pause that seemed eternity.


    "Yes. The Soul-Carver is myself."


    He took an expressionless glance at Ju Feng before focusing on the scene ahead.


    "They called us geniuses of the martial and mystical arts. It didn''t take us long to pass the trials of the demigods. Though we were new lowgods on the heavenly plane, we could survive most highgods and could even match some of them in power."


    Turning around, he faced Ju Feng with a shake of his head.

 Chapter 113 - Sayong [4]

    "Young one, open your ears. For an unchecked mind, power brings out its full ignorance. With that comes the dangers, both intentional and unintentional. You see, knowing our power levels, we were defiant of the heavenly ways. We abandoned the universal laws and made our own ways. Lost in time, dangerous intentions crept into our hearts. Many were the havoc we wrecked. And indeed, souls died due to our actions. "


    He nodded his head, non-nonchalantly, as he glanced towards Ju-Feng.


    "Many souls, to be sincere. Though, we didn''t attract the attention of the divines or the  celestials, the gathering of the gods noticed and got involved. The consequences? Either to be imprisoned or have death-fights. Fight would have been futile, we would just be killed in the end. Surrendering was the better option, none of us wants to face the sisters for reincarnation. Hence, where we are now. But we are still grateful that we are made guardians of different dominions. This was an easier way out for us, despite the fact that my soul is here and my body is chained somewhere else. Extreme danger I was, that, I acknowledged."


    The nimbus light surrounding the Rakshasan god dimmed as he descended from the mid-air.


    "As the guardian and gatekeeper of the Gloomvale, I''ve had enough time to reflect on the past deeds. My soul is much more enlightened and at peace now. Nonetheless, I have seen the content of the scroll and this I acknowledged. Now to you. What do you seek in return, young one?"


    "Senior, this young one seek the Soul Banishing scroll."


    "That''s an audience with the heavenly sage of divination. The Immortal Oracle. Only from her can you get what you seek. Get ready to take the path through the darkness then."


    The Rakshasan god floated a bit higher of the ground and his light flared as he flicked his fingers. A narrow path materialized out of the darkness. The path extended all the way to the other side.


    "The Path Of Sorrow. This is yours to take if you want to, young one. Do you?"


    "Yes, senior."


    Ju Feng answered in a sad tone as he nodded his head. He looked at the darkness again, with a feeling that he couldn''t stop himself from walking in the shadows of death. Deep down he knew death was always holding his hand.


    "This is the Orb of Vale. The light indicates your life-force. Don''t let it fizzle out. Many are the souls lost to the darkness. If you are ready, you may proceed."


    Ju Feng was about to step onto the path when he was signalled to stop.


    "Oh, by the way, take this bamboo strip and give it to Frost-Dreamer. That is, if you make it back to him. At least, in your afterlife, you''ll know I repaid your effort even if you loose your life here. Don''t beat yourself, young one, there''s nothing you could have done otherwise. You may now proceed."


    "Thank you senior."


    Holding the orb of light, tightly in his hand, Jufeng stepped onto the narrow path.


    "En."


    The moment his feet touch the ground of the path, the voice of one of the manifestations sounded in his mind.


    "Ju Feng!  Or isn''t that your name? Yes? Aha, let me introduce myself. I''m the Heckler. The manifestation that sits on the tip of your nose. Thank you for coming to my world. I''m honoured. But that your name, Ju Feng, I don''t like it. It''s a curse. You don''t know that, do you? Just mentioning your name wants to make me rip my heart out. What kind of a soul would b.a.r.e a cursed name like that? Ju Feng. Sounds more like a heavens curse. Are you a cursed soul? No? How do you know you are not a cursed soul? Even pronouncing your name makes me want to cut my tongue out. Born cursed and given a cursed name. Totally cursed."


    Ju Feng couldn''t help but shook his head in grievance. He knew there was a curse about himself he couldn''t name. To hear it now, but confirmed this realization.


    "But, I don''t blame you. I mean, look at your life. It''s a cursed life. What? You have a say? Do tell me. Ah, this is worse than sadness. Your parents must have despised you to a great extent. To give you that name and added to your curse, they really hated you. No? Can''t you see for yourself? Well, how can you see for yourself? You wake up in the morning, you do a little puny exercise, you eat some puny turtle meat, drink some puny goat milk and sleep as ignorantly cursed as you are. Have you forgotten how you were kept in isolation with no friend, living under a little hill? Now you know why. You are cursed. Your family understood that some curses do spread. They tried to keep others safe from you, yet, here you are. Trying to curse me too. Don''t you agree with me that you should have killed yourself?"


    The manifestation disappeared, bringing a much needed relief to Ju Feng as he felt like sitting down and be lost in thought. But he knew that if he stopped, he would never be able to carry on. As he was relishing the brief respite, another voice sounded in his mind.


    "Death-bringer! Surprised? Oh, I know who you are. If I may introduce myself, I''m the Soul-Taunter. So, let''s talk, soul to soul. If I were you, death-bringer, I will gladly feed my soul to the wraiths and let it be done with. End to your wretched and miserable life. Do you even know how many death you have caused, knowingly and unknowingly? Directly and indirectly? Ah, you will cry as I''m crying for you right now, if you do. Xuanpu! Hundreds of people died because of your stupid ignorant self. Many innocent children were killed because of you, death-bringer. It doesn''t matter if you were still in the w.o.m.b or nor, it was because of you. Ankhora! Many are the numbers of the dead, also because of you."


    "Nooo."


    Ju Feng screamed out in pain. Despite hearing this before at the entrance to the palace of the jade emperor,, the pain was still too much for him to bear.


    "And if I mention those that have died without having any knowledge of you, you will jump into my hand and beg me to take your soul. How many souls are you willing to destroy? Not all of them even had the chance to reincarnate. They are on you. Your soul is tainted, death-bringer. Can you see the life you live? Won''t you agree with me that you should have killed yourself?"


    As the manifestation vanished, Ju feng stared at the light orb in his hand. Its shine is getting dimmer as the time passed by. The distance was still a long one. He knew he was in dire situation and could easily loose his life. Just as he was ruminating on this, he heard another voice.


    "Hello, Death-Walker. You can call me, Soul-Mocker. The eternal mocking shadow."


    Sorrowful heavens.

 Chapter 114 - Sayong [5]

    "Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don''t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality and fate be fate. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way the universe designed and the light within you will make you see clearly"- Dao of true existence.


    Ju Feng awoke with a start to find himself in a large garden, the solar high in the heavens. That was strange, he thought. He expected to see the raging darkness. It was just now, few seconds ago, that he was with the phantoms. How did he now found himself staring at the solar? Was he actually seeing the light of heaven''s solar or the solar of Radia? Or, a dream inside the belly of the darkness?


    He remained motionless as the questions went through his mind. He need a to have the true feel of what was happening and where he was. He could be dead. Slowly, he raised his head as his eyeballs darted madly in their sockets. Despite his state of bewilderment, he was in deep appreciation for the freshest of air that was invading his nostrils. He took a savoury moment to breathe in and out, in order for his lungs to have a fill of this freshness. Softly, he muttered to himself.


    "I think I''m alive."


    There was a trace of life essence in the air. Indication of being alive. Still sitting down, he patted himself in quick examination. His robe and spatial sac were also still intact.


    "I''m alive!"


    He continued to fill his lungs with the fresh air as he smiled inwardly. This was the true meaning of fresh air. Surely, the air in this place was totally different from the other areas of this Heave-world, if he was still in one anyway.


    After having his fill of the air, he examined his surroundings. He was sitting on a large garden leaf that resembled a fluffy fishing boat. Some sort of leaf indeed. On the ground to the right of where he was sitting down, was a small mortar containing some mixture of spirit grass and certain medicinal plants. To his left, was his orb of vale,on a heap of straw. This meant someone or some people were here with him while he was sleeping.


    Panic took hold of him as realized he couldn''t be alone in the place. He quickly rolled to his feet, glaring around wildly. Not seeing or sensing anyone at his vicinity, he quickly picked up his orb of vale. The light of the orb was now down to few threads of faint pulsating fibres. It was an evidence of how close he was to dying. Close wasn''t the right word. He knew he should have been dead by now. Whether he had the crystals given to him by the grey tree or not, he knew he should have been dead in the darkness.


    How did he manage to escape the forsaken manifestations?


    He searched his brain in recollection as he desperately attempted to have a clarification of what happened and where he was. He recalled his encounter with the Rakshasan god and being given the orb of light. The narrow path that opened across the complete darkness, and himself grasping for air from soul suffocation as his legs became deadly heavier. He had a fleeting recollection of a light he saw, but he recalled no detail of the light as he was trying to lay hold of it. It was in an act of desperation. But after that, he had no memory of what happened as he fell into unconsciousness.


    And now, not only were the phantoms and their voices gone, but the darkness was nowhere to be seen. It was as if they never existed. After gathering his thoughts together, he surveyed his surroundings more buoyantly. The mortar of mixed medicinal plants, indicated that someone or something was definitely here with him. With his back in a downward arc, Ju Feng decided to take a closer look at the mixture in the mortar.


    "The Sailing Spirit."


    Ju Feng whirled around as a voice sounded behind him. He took a few steps back as he watched the empty place beside him shimmered. From the shimmering energy, came the true nascent soul of a half-dwarf covered in a refractive nimbus light. The first striking aspect of the half dwarf, was his head. It was as if there was a yellow-gold light inside his head. It made the half-dwarf eyes and braided yellow hair and beard, glowed softly. Wearing a Varthorian battle armour that was glowing brightly, he truly protruded a terrifying figure.


    Varthorian battle armour. Definitely, a terran cultivator.


    The nature of the battle armour of any true nascent soul varied. It depended on the type of mystical arts embedded in the core of a soul before reaching nascent stage. Although the dwarf presented a mixed aspect, the aura coming from him was that of a peak stage nascent soul at the least.


    "Gre...eetings senior. I,...I thank you for saving my life."


    Ju Feng stammered in appreciation as he bowed with his cupped hands.


    "Yea, your spirit was departing."


    The half-dwarf grimaced as he acknowledged Ju Feng with a shake of his head.


    "It''s incredibly foolish of you to come here, kid. You could have died in there. How could you decide to face the darkness without you forming a core st the least?. Are you that eager to reincarnate?"


    "No, senior. I''m happy to be alive. To you, I owe this."


    "En."


    Grunted the dwarf, setting down some items before the circle he drew on the ground.


    "But let it be known, I didn''t save you intentionally. I didn''t know you were clinging on to me until I stepped out of the darkness. Your path of sorrow was yours alone to take. In no way did I interfered."


    He croaked.


    "I only take responsibility for saving you here, in this garden. Do You understand?"


    "Yes, senior. I understand. I thank you greatly."


    "Mm. Since you''re here, I can make good use of you."


    As they were talking, they were joined by two other entities. One was a blurring slim and tall true nascent soul, appearing to be that of a human lady. Despite being covered in nimbus light, the brightness of her true features were visible. Long white hair and white eyes that were dancing like lightning''s bolts. Her whole body was covered in White-Fortress, a very rare skin armour of the lightning cultivators.


    The other was a massive dark figure with scaled boulders covering his body. The big red eyes and a large single horn on his head that curled to his back, was a simple enough evidence of his nature. A demon. The demonic aura coming from him could only be that of a demon lord. For him to be able to manifest his true nascent soul in this spirit world, he must definitely be a demonic cultivator. But Ju Feng had no idea what his mystical nature was.


    The three of them appeared to be familiar with one another as they exchanged pleasantries.


    "Yu Guiying! Kugau! Thought I won''t see you two again."

 Chapter 115 - Sayong [6]

    "Hehehe. You should know we don''t die easily, Barang. Hehehe."


    Said Yu Guiying as she firmly clasped arms with the half-dwarf, Barang. Her happiness couldn''t be suppressed as she continued laughing.


    "So good to see you again too."


    "Hahaha, great to see you alive too, my friend."


    The demon, Kagau, uttered as he took his turn in clasping arms with Barang. He was nodding his head as he smiled broadly.


    "Knew you''ll surely make it. You truly have undying soul."


    Indeed, they were friends. Ju Feng watched as their auras grew stronger the more they happily crooned with one another. Yes, these were powerful entities. Although not like the Rakshasan god, their auras were still highly oppressive. He decided to maintain his silence until they would acknowledge his presence.


    Removing some items from her spatial storage, the human lady flicked her hand and a bamboo-padded seat appeared. She sat down and set down the items beside the drawn circle. Using one hand to grab some medicinal herbs from a little container beside her chair before dumping them in her mouth. She was closely examining the circle as the others joined her.


    "The square?"


    "Yes, Yu Guiying. You know with the square formation, we have the utmost chance."


    "Yes, I know that, but the square formation requires four of us. There''s no short way to it, unless we risk our lives."


    The demon, who was sitting on a rise on the floor, also observing the circle, quipped in his agreement. The square formation requires four immortals for it function properly. There was no question about the failure of any attempt with lesser number number of people.


    "That won''t be good, Barang. We could die in the process."


    "Wait, wait. I understand your concerns. I know this too. Before, I wouldn''t have indulged in this, but now, I can."


    "And why is that?"


    The two of them looked at him with cautious curiosity.


    "You failed to notice the fourth person when both of you arrived."


    "What?!"


    "Who?!"


    They stood up and looked around until their gazes fell on Ju Feng who had already moved to a far corner of the place. From the moment they''d arrived, he had withdrawn to the corner, leaving the nascent immortals to their own. From their talks, he knew he had no reason to be there. What they were about to do would certainly kill any cultivator below the golden core stage.


    "Oh... didn''t see you there, young one. My bad. Come closer."


    Yu Guiying said as she waved at Ju Feng.


    "Four we are. It must''ve escaped my sight too, kid."


    "I guess you are right to indulge big, Barang. Although he''s extremely weak for such formation, we can actually make it work."


    "Yu Guiying, Kagau, meet Ju Feng."


    Barang said as he did the introduction, just as Ju Feng joined them around the drawn circle.


    "As you already noticed, he''s still at the foundation level. Your expectation of him shouldn''t be too high."


    "Don''t worry, Barang. In our situation, I don''t think we can have too high expectation of anybody. Though, he''s extremely weak, I believe he can do."


    Yu Guiying waved the concerns away before focusing on Ju Feng.


    "Well kid, it doesn''t matter why you embarked on this journey... Why you want to see the oracle. Right now, you''re here and you''ve got to be ready. See the light of your vale? It''s faint. If you don''t leave this place, you''ll die eventually. If you leave this place on your own, you''ll also die. Be ready when we are. That''s your only option if you want to live pass this day."


    "Fate beckons, kid."


    Kagau beamed at Ju Feng before voicing more louder.


    "Audience with the oracle."


    The dwarf who was making some additions to the circle drawn on the floor, paused.


    "Patience, Kagau. Patience. You''ll have your audience with the oracle soon. We just need to survive the Valley of Retribution."


    "Yes, Kagau. Patience."


    Yu Guiying nudged the demon as she smiled brightly.


    "Hope you''re not that eager to ask if you have a chance with me. You''ll be so disappointed,  Kagau."


    "Ah, my poor soul is fully broken. I guess I''ll drown myself in my tears now. Goodbye everyone."


    Kagau removed a jar from his spatial storage and downed the content in gulps.


    "Finest nectar wine. Now, I''m reborn."


    "Hehehe."


    After making necessary adjustment to the circle, Barang  finally achieved the best arraignment for the formation.


    "This is how we''ll arrange ourselves once we enter the valley. Then after the third bell, we move to this. When we reach the outskirts of the  palace of the oracle, that''s when we will activate the Four Souls Diadem. Everything we have laboured for together, will go into use there. Let''s make good use of it."


    After going through the plan, they gave Ju Feng some medicinal pills. The pills would raise his strength, almost a level, for few hours. He would have the strength of almost a Jindan cultivator, albeit only for some hours. Now, his chance of survival had increased and he couldn''t contain his delight as he moved around.


    "This will be a death battle as we already know, my friends. Are we ready?"


    Uttered Barang with a grim face, receiving nods from others in confirmation.


    "To fate, we go."


    They all affirmed in response.


    "To fate, we go."


    ***


    Ju Feng''s soul avatar stepped out of the Heave-world and into his body on the snowy plain of the Aculum Divinis, before collapsing. The feel of the frosty air and the falling snowflakes, were both soul and body soothing. He had left his body behind in this snow while his soul had journeyed into a spirit world. He pulled himself up and started to chew some spirit plants he could find in his spatial sac. How happy he was to be alive, at least for the moment. The words of the oracle echoed in his mind as he headed towards the direction of the grey tree.


    "Ju Feng. Son of Zhang Huan and Zhang Xiu Ying. As far as death is concerned, you will certainly die.!"


    Everywhere he turned, the only prophecies he heard about himself were never good ones. The prophecies of the fire diviner when he was younger. The ones of the bone diviner too. Not to mention that of the blood diviner. He was only ten. And he just reached the Zhuji stage. Yet, he already had a death prophecy on his head.


    Ah, such a life.

 Chapter 116 - Aculus Divinis Again [1]

    As Ju Feng continued to walk towards the direction of the grey tree, his mind was occupied with his encounters in the Gloomvale. Oh, many were the times he could have died in that heavens forsaken place. More time than the previous two places combined. The Gloomvale was as dangerous as a place can get. He recalled their fights with the dread-beasts at the valley of retribution. He should have been dead many times over, but somehow, he had managed to survive them all. No small thanks to the three true nascent souls, surely. The organized battle formations they displayed were a sight to behold.


    And when he was starting to think that his luck could actually keep him away from death, he encountered the world oracle. His only intention was to find the Soul Banishing scroll which he didn''t even know why he would need such. But the words of the oracle turned everything on its head. She had told him true things about himself and the certainty of his future death. No matter the way taken, the outcome would be the same. That wasn''t even what was troubling his soul, it was the last words of the oracle. She had whispered to him in cryptic words. Possibilities of the ways he would die. He knew he would have to accept the certainty of his death. But could there be a possibility of...


    "Is that really you, child. Or is my ageing sight deceiving me?"


    The voice of the grey tree sounded as Ju Feng neared its location. He quickly snapped out of his troubled thoughts and refocused his mind. He had been lost in his own mind, not knowing when he even reached the vicinity of the tree. Seeing the grey tree, he remembered the words of the Soul-Carver.


    "You must be very careful, young one. You don''t want your presence to anger or annoy the Frost-Dreamer in any way. You could easily loose your life."


    Ju Feng quickly cupped his hand and bowed. Why wouldn''t he be careful in the propinquity of an entity like this. Frost-Dreamer, a Yakshasan god that pretended to be daimon tree. The more for him to extremely careful. He knew the Frost-Dreamer was already aware of his presence and knew exactly who he was the moment he appeared back in this place. He just had to maintain his countenance if he wanted to live.


    "Senior, I meet you well."


    "Titan''s torso! It is you! All good and well despite your gloomy face. I believe you can agree with me that treasure hunting is really good for you, young one. So can I say that I did you a good favour? That I''m a generous soul?"


    "You are indeed very generous, senior. I''m very grateful."


    Ju Feng responded while still bowing down. But in his mind, he thought there was not that much generosity in anynof thr tree''s acts. All tthe many times he could have died, how generous was that? But, could he even blame the Frost-Dreamer for all that? Maybe or maybe-not, but left for him, why would he decide to go into the realms of immortals. Was that not like seeking death? Why did he even exchanged his items in the first place? Surely, it must be the  Frost-Dreamer.


    Then, he remembered some scenes from his encounters in the realms and sighed before smiling inwardly. Well, the adventures were not all doom and gloom. The  good memories flooded his mind as he continued to muse over the past.


    "Don''t beat yourself, child. Though, I gave a nudge to your thoughts, you already had the d.e.s.i.r.es to go on adventure. That was acceptable within the immortal rules of dealing with mortals. Since I couldn''t force you to go to the places you went, I gently stoked your thoughts. Your going was on you, so, wipe the gloom of your face and cheer up. True, I''m bound by rules in this place, but make no mistake child, I can easily kill you. I just have to find a reason to blame it on and there are many I can think of. But as far as you are concerned, with me, you are good. Come and have a sit beside me."


    "Yes, senior."


    "Child! No experience is a waste. I surmised you''ve had an encounter with the oracle. It''s yours to keep, not mine. Words of advice, child. Take both the good and bad things from your experience, and make good use of them. They could save your life. Right, enough with yours. Can I predicate you are with my scroll?"


    "Yes senior. I do have it."


    Ju Feng reached the grey tree''s side and sat down on the mould beside it. He reached into his spatial sac and produced the Scroll of Sentience, showing it to the tree. The scroll floated to the space before the tree and spread itself. Their was a silence as the scroll continued to hover before the tree. After some long minutes, the scroll folded up and entered the opened space on the trunk of the tree.


    The air started to get heavier as the energy began to roil strongly. The energy contrasted before exploding lightly outwards. An elderly man wearing a snow white robe with long flowing white hair and grave icy eyes, emerged from the centre of the exploding energy. The aura and icy energy coming from the man was that of a god, no doubt about that.


    Despite the slight explosion, Ju Feng, who was sitting down, was knocked scrambling several feet away. He quickly recovered himself but remained on his knees as he cautiously and deeply bowed before the elderly man.


    The Frost-Dreamer.


    A Yakshasan god. The fourth member of the dangerous circle of gods. The powers that made a number of damages on the heavenly plane. From the words of the Soul-Carver, the Frost-Dreamer was definitely an exceedingly powerful figure among them. He was a clear and present danger.


    "Long last. Sentients we evolve. So it begins."


    The Yakshasan god gave a wry smile as he looked at Ju Feng''s alarmed face.


    "Stand up, young one. Great service you rendered, you need not worry. As I said before, if I wanted you dead, you''ll be dead already. And yes, as you can see, the tree was an illusion. But, since you''ve met the others, there''s no longer need for me to maintain the illusion. By the way, how are they doing? My friends."


    "Senior, the last time I saw them, they were all doing wonderfully well, I suppose."


    "Yes, I know. I already saw their marks on you. Just wanted to ask you."


    Ju Feng suddenly felt a compulsion on his soul as he was replying the Yakshasan god. His hands searched his spatial sac and produced one Arthurian cube of silver and a runic branch of redwood tree. He offered them to the Yakshasan god as he bowed low.


    "Senior, if it''s well with you, Can I make a demand."


    "A demand? As long as I can afford it, why not?"


    "Senior, I would like to invoke the Divinis Ordis."


    The moment he said it, Ju Feng knew he could be in dire trouble. This was not his making, definitely the work of the Soul-Carver. Ju Feng was certain of that. He recollected that upon seeing him in the Gloomvale, the Soul-Carver had told him he had made an unfair agreement coming there. He had told Ju Feng he would do him a little favour when next he would see the Frost-Dreamer. Ju Feng never liked this idea that could get him killed but the Soul-Carver had dismissed it as nothing. Since an Order between immortals must be just and fair, even more so was an Order between an immortal and a mortal. As long as he was careful not to be annoying, he would be fine.


    "The Divine Order? Why is that? Is it that I didn''t treat you right, child?"


    "No, senior. You treated me well. This little one was only thinking maybe you can render a favour regarding the heaven''s trade.


    "Hm, I see. Favour of the equal ground. What is given, what is taken. "


    The Yakshasan god observed Ju Feng with a raised brow.


    "If I treated you fairly, why should I follow such rule with you then?"


    "Senior, maybe to show I''m just a mortal beneath your feet?"


    "Hehehe. Smart words you speak but they can also get you killed, child. Hehehe."


    The Frost-Dreamer laughed gently as he gave a slight shake of his head.


    "Though, I wasn''t expecting you back so soon, if at all, it''s good to see you''ve made such progress in a short time. Nonetheless, I could have killed you, you know. But I''ve seen the effect of the others on you. They must have liked your person. Strange."


    He turned towards the direction of Ju Feng and asked.


    "Do you believe in fate, young one?"


    "I do, senior."


    The elderly god gave a soft sigh before snapping his fingers.

 Chapter 117 - Aculus Divinis Again [2]

    The illusion covering the whole place appeared to have disappeared. The falling snowflakes and the frost, seemed to have vanished too. Ju Feng could now see the place for what it was. There were portals everywhere, hundreds of them. Portals of different nature, reeling with powerful energies. The amount of energy in this place was scary. Ju Feng was shocked by the sheer power of the energy in this place.


    "Uh!"


    "Now that you can see through the illusion, seeing this place for the first time can be intimidating for any mortal, I know."


    The Yakshasan god swiped his hand around, gently. He encompassed tge whole area while watching the reaction of the boy. There was no need to hide it from him. Since he had done him a great service, he should know what was happening.


    "This place, is truly known as Aculum Divinis. Which means, Time Divinity. This conjecture was an artefact that belonged to the Jade emperor. It was a divine artefact for minor spacetime teleportation. Teleportation to and from specific places on the three planes of mortal, heavenly and nether. As time passes, the Jade emperor had friends who are spacetime artists, to work on this place. Celestials and gods alike. Using different rare techniques, portals to realms, dominions, domains and hidden places, were added. The energies and elements expended during the rework of this place, changed this place drastically. It became a conjecture of portals. Where we are right now, is the heart of the conjecture. The portals in this place are only used by true immortals. Ascendants, hegemons, gods and celestials. Mortals or evanesce immortals, use the outer conjecture. The outer conjecture was the one that leads to places where mortals reap various rewards. Unlike this place."


    With a nod of his head, the god observed Ju Feng, keenly.


    "You are now getting the sense of it. Yes, you shouldn''t be here in the first place, child. With the illusion uncovered, you can see where you entered from. It''s a broken gateway, never been used since I''ve been the guardian of this place. Hegemons and ascendants from the mortal plane, use the gateway on the opposite side. When I saw you arriving, I started asking myself different questions. Then I realized it must be fate."


    The Yakshasan god tilted his eyes as he reminisce in the past.  After a long pause, he directed his gaze to the far distant.


    "You see. To enter the house of riddles for the scroll of sentience, would have killed someone like myself. The scroll was the missing piece in the four of us. I have asked a number of ascendants and gods to help out but they either gave up or met bad fate. The Karmic string in the house of riddles was a divine threat. No possible way for me. As I was contemplating of what could be, there you were. Out of the thin air. A mortal cultivator of the Zhuji level with a glowing halo of Karmic virtues. Immediately, I came to the realization of your importance. There were no treasures here as you can see.  But for you to be of service, I gave you personal destinations of few items that were no part of any conjecture rewards. And with a little cajoling, here we are with the Scroll. Agreed, you could have died in there but your journey coming here, was fate. Fate brought you here, child. Whatever you get from your adventure, I believe, is the reason why you came. Me making use of the opportunity? Call it what you may, we are who we are. Now, back to the present issue."


    Said the Yakshasan god as he swirled around, facing Ju Feng.


    "Divinis Ordis you invoked, Divinis Ordis you get. Three you gave me before and one you brought me now. Only of the three that were yours can you ask. So, what would it be?"


    Bowing low again, Ju Feng replied.


    "Senior, this humble one ask for the Heavenly Solitude spirit fruit."


    "Heavens tears. I was hoping of getting to keep that one. You have no idea what it is, do you? Assuming you said this moment ago, I could have killed you. But now, I see why others liked you. Strange isn''t it? Yes, existence can be strange sometimes. Anyway, here is the fruit."


    The Frost-Dreamer flicked his fingers, sending the fruit towards Ju Feng.


    "I hope you have your means of leaving this place, child. Don''t tempt me by lingering around. I will close my eyes to meditate now, by the time I open them, I don''t expect to see you. Fate brought you here but don''t tempt it child.


    Ju Feng fell on his knees and bowed deeply. He definitely had a means of living that place. A means that he couldn''t wait to use.


    "Thank you senior. Thank you. I won''t forget your kindness."


    "En."


    The moment the Yakshasan god closed his eyes, Ju Feng looked around the place once more. Aculum Divinis. It was time to leave the gods forsaken frost place. He had seen many places in his short life, but this death place was high on the list. He slowly uttered the safe word and was immediately transported to the safe place. Some of the members of his group were already there, waiting.


    "Hello, Ju Feng!"


    "Hey, Ju Feng."


    "You are back. How was your time in there?"


    "You must have been enjoying yourself like Da Xia, for you to stay longer."


    The sight of Chenric, Da Xia, Ying Jie and elder Wang Xiu, was a soothing relief to Ju Feng. Oh, how much he missed them. Instead of replying, he hugged them one by one to strange looks in return.


    "Ju Feng, you were only gone for few minutes. Few minutes."


    "I''ve been gone for eternity, elder Cao Wang Xiu. Been gone for eternity."


    They conversed among themselves as they await Zhang Xiu Ying. After another minute, she finally came out.


    Dargehk looked at them all with unconcerned and emotionless eyes.


    "This will be the last time on the mortal plane. Farewell to you all."


    After a brief conversation  with the two a.d.u.l.ts, the giant residuum made some hand seals and a massive portal was opened under an archway. They all returned their farewell and entered the portal. They emerged on a clearing, a few kilometres from the Last-Sages premises.


    "And from adventure, we returned."


    Elder Cao Wang Xiu beamed from the sight of a familiar terrain. She inhaled the air before turning towards the direction of the sect.  She didn''t want to appear to be anxious in the presence of all the others, but as an elder who just confronted one of the demons of her past, she found it difficult to contain. About her leaving their home for the sect. But in as long as she was inside the sect boundaries, it was alright with her. However, to be certain of her true safety, she had spread her divine sense around, outside the sect''s premises, to know of anytime her enemies would be outside the Last Sages'' premises. Although they wouldn''t be able to penetrate the defense of the sect.


    Earlier that morning, she had been notified of disciple''s presence through her divine sense. Immediately she sensed them, she had used a disguise to follow them at a safer distance from their position. She knew they were on a mission but wasn''t sure. She had decided to determine the situation of things before acting.


    After close examination with her spiritual sight, she had come to the conclusion of the disciples being in a group of something resembling, adventurers. Adventures? That sounded like fun. Despite them being kids, they were also allowed to have a safe adventure. The vicinity around the sect was safe enough for the kids. She hadn''t believed they could encounter everything they had. Yes, the blood rogue might not come back in the time being, there were still many other sources of danger out here.


    Although she wanted to keep a keen eye on the situations from now on, she didn''t want to appear as an obtrusive element to the adventurers union. Things with being young cultivators. She could have been more relaxed is she had been aware of their sect elder who was secretly monitoring them. She had overlooked the possibility of that, probably due to her not sensing any form of danger in the vast area her spiritual sense was covering. They would just have to be extremely careful whenever they were outside the sect''s premises.


    Now that the she was with them, their group was reasonably covered. She would wait for a bit more time before returning home. Or She could just continued watching them to be certain of their true safety. Nonetheless, her presence as a member of their group should come a huge relief. She relaxed her mind and continued towards the school premises.

 Chapter 118 - Worries Of A Demigod [1]

    Chu Shang Wu was moved like lighthing, as he retraced the direction of the voice-cryer back to the last-possible position of Zhang Xiu Ying. He wasn''t at home since the night before. He had left on a self-attuned journey inside an immortal cave near the border of Lijiang continent. He was returning from the journey when he became aware of the voice-cryer sent by Zhang Xiu Ying. She must have been trying to get in touch with her, but had decided to send a coice-cryer since she couldn''t.


    Voice-cryers were messages of high importance and urgency, sent through the mind force. They were only used when mind-voice connection couldn''t be made with the entity intended. No immediate connection was needed to send a voice-cryer but their must be a previous connection between the sender and the receiver. The mind-force containing the message, would travel through spacetjme until it reached the receiver. Provided that it wasn''t intercepted by a more powerful force.


    Depending on the time and distance, these cryers were extremely dificult to make and highly tasking. The more powerful the sender, the more difficult and tasking the voice-cryer. The reason voice-cryers were not used frequently.


    Chu Shang Wu continued to move at maximum speed as his mind was anxiously occupied. This particular voice-cryer, was sent to him by the demigod. It was Zhang Xiu Ying he was talking about here. The golden core demigod. Who didn''t like her in their village? A very beautiful soul in every possible ways. Moreover, she was the third golden core of their village. And as golden cores, they were bound to help one another in their time of needs, as long as it was justified. The message he recieved was short.


    ''Trouble. Xue-Ku.''


    A Xue Ku? He had asked himself in shock. That was justified. With a deadly grim face, he intensified his flight. Retracing the direction of the voice cryer, he was led into the JinJin village. From there, he follwed  the after-sense of Zhang Xiu Ying''s divine aura into the Ivory-yonder, using his spiritual sight. Since he already had a mind connection with Reena before, it was easier for him to trace her after-sense aura.  As soon as he entered the plain, he saw a dense blood aura with traces of dark blood essence, surrounding a cultivator in a red armor, walking towards the direction of closed gates. The same direction of the after-sense of Reena''s divine aura.


    It didn''t matter if he was the same Xue Ku that Zhang Xiu Ying was talking about or not. A Xue Ku was a rogue blood cultivator. A rogue blood cultivator, killed innocent mortals and immortals alike. As simple as that. Descending to the ground in full force, Chu Shang Wu raised his massive war hammer and hit the ground with great force.


    The Raging Abyss.


    A powerful terran energy that could grind anything caught inbetween, unless the opponent was more powerful. That was a move Chu Shang Wu recently learned from lord Luoyang. Oh, how wonderful to use it against such a rogue cultivator, even if he wasn''t the one Reena was talking about.


    "Uh?"


    Sensing an impending martial arts move, Lang Hai stopped and quickly created a force-field around himself. As the tremor passed through the ground and headed his way, he floated into mid-air and retreated backwards. The terran abyssal energy dispersed with great force, out of the ground, between the blood cultivator and the forsaken gates.


    "Argh!"


    He twirled around with a face full of grievous anger. Who or what, could be the source of such a display? He cast a quick backward glance at the Raging Abyss that was still in effect, before focusing on the streak of light, blurring towards his position. Why did everyone like interfering in his dealings? He squinted his eyes as he examined the new entity before him. An immortal of the middle-stage nascent soul. Even if he was sent by the gods, he should have known better than to confront him.


    "Why?!"


    With his eyes on Lang Hai, Chu Shang Wu digested the details of the body-infused red armor that Land Hai was wearing. A chaotic blood armor? Could it be? An ascendant? Gaius knew this was trouble, definitely more than his power level. But, he would just act as if he was unaffected.


    "You are a Xue Ku."


    "Another one? I''m a Xue Ku! So what?!"


    "Only Xue Wu is permitted under the laws of this land."


    "Laws of what lands?! I follow no mortal law. They''re not for me."


    "Yea, I know. Xue Kus don''t care about any laws. Easy way to power, using innocent lives. Detestable."


    "Think what you may. We''re not for you to judge, creation will decide that when we face the sisters. And that, is not in any of my plans. Immortality is what we all seek. Isn''t that what you also seek, fellow immortal?"


    Lang Hai stared dangerously at the terra bane, as if daring him to contradict. When he didn''t receive any answer, he continued.


    "Life is what it is, no space or time for regrets. Now I employ you, to go your own way while I go on mine. We can still maintain our peace on this day."


    "And if I say ''no''?"


    "Then, it can end up a sad tale."


    Chu Shang Wu continued to observe Lang Hai, as he thought about his next step. The powerful aura emanating from the blod cultivator, was an indication of his cultivation''s level as a peak-stage golden core. But in the world of combat, Chu Shang Wu knew that it depended on both the nature of the martial and mystical arts techniques, and the cultivation level. If the rogue blood cultivator was an ascendant as he thought, then he could have a better technique than him, putting him in mortal danger.


    Lang Hai glanced back just as the gates of the Forsaken Palace disappeared from view.


    "Argh!"


    This time, his anger was echoed by his mighty divine eagle that was circling overhead. Suddenly, his chaotic blood armor gave a blast of flaming blood before lighting up. He was slowly materialising his glaive, when a lady''s voice sounded as she descended from the cloud.


    "Why are you two fighting? You don''t want to do that."


    She was dressed in a pristine white robe, lined at the helm with glistering gold threads.


    "Have you two fogotten the rules of the Forsaken palace? Better you settle your disputes another time."


    Seconds later, other nascent soul cultivators started to arrive from different angles.With his chaotic blood armor rescinded, Lang Hai looked at Chu Shang Wu with deadly pale eyes before shaking his head. He was well aware of the rules of the vicinity of the forsaken palace. Who would, in their right mind, offend the Jade emperor. Still staring at Chu Shang Wu, he sent a mindvoice across.


    "You''ll see the light of Radar another day."


    He looked at the gathering golden cores before streaking off into the sky.


    Lang Hai was well aware of the rules of the vicinity of the forsaken phantom palace. Who would, in their right mind, offend the Jade emperor. Still staring at Chu Shang Wu, he sent a mindvoice across.


    "You''ll see the light of Radar another day. I assure you."


    After a moment, Chu Shang Wu was standing on a small hill, overseeing the plains of Ivory-Yonder. That was so close to a battle. He later realized that he wouldn''t fare well against the blood cultivator. And the death-gaze, he still remembered the looks on the face of the rogue blood cultivator before he left. That was the look of a deadly predator. He would have to be on guard, always, to protect himself from such a dangerous cultivator. Snapping out of his troubled thoughts, his mind wandered back to the present.


    Ah. The plains of Ivory-yonder. One of the places that used to be the homes of the ancient ivory magical beasts. The mighty white Mastodons and the powerful golden saber-toothed tigers. Beasts with immense strength to rival that of some land divine beasts. Of them, there was even an ancient mythos. That those beasts with ivory tusk, could only be found in places of abundant terran energy. That was the reason for their incredible body strength. A pity it was now a shadow of its former self.


    But, who could''ve known that an entrance of the Jade emperor''s forsaken palace, would be here. Why here? Though, he could sense traces of heavenly spiritual energy but not that much for any significant cultivation. Chu Shang Wu remembered that the after-sense of Zhang Xiu Ying''s aura had indicated she had entered the forsaken palace. The mythical palace of fortune. How he wished for it to be opened again now. He looked around, at the many nascent souls waiting for the gates to appear and open for them.


    They were still waiting, when he felt a faint familiar connection. Instantly, he sent out his mind voice.


    "Lady Zhang ?"


    "Yes it''s me, Chu Shang Wu."

 Chapter 119 - Worries Of A Demigod [2]

    Quickly, he disappeared in the direction of the connection. Forsaken palace could wait, if it was still there. He would have to find her, to see if she was alright.


    Not long after, he found Zhang Xiu Ying, standing under a mighty oak tree.


    "Lady Zhang, Joyful heavens, you are alright."


    "I guess I am, Chi Sheng Wu. Joyful heavens, indeed."


    "I received your message as soon as I returned from my journey of self-enlightenment and came as quickly as possible. I guess it wasn''t quick enough. I only saw traces of your divine aura, entering the forsaken palace."


    "I came across the forsaken palace by chance. I was running from the blood cultivator while tracing the direction of my son and his friends."


    "Oh, I see.  I had an encounter with one, possibly the same one. Blood aura and chaotic blood armor."


    "Yes, he''s the one. His name is Lang Hai. An ascendant with great powers and techniques. You should be more careful of him in the future. He''s much more powerful than you think."


    "Hm. I will do that. By the way, what are they doing this faraway from their sect? I mean your son and others."


    "It''s their luminary week, so they decided to go on an adventure. There was an elder with them also."


    "Good enough. Glad you are safe and sound. I will probably join the other nascent souls at the Ivory-Yonder to wait for the next gate opening, lady xiu."


    "No need to worry yourself, Cu shang Wu, the entrance is gone. It''s no more."


    "Very well then. Any thing you still want to take care of, lady Zhang?


    "No, Chi Shang Wu. We''re done here. I give my thanks, for coming."


    "En. Nothing to it, lady Zhang."


    Back at the Skyspring village, Zhang Xiu Ying''s mind wandered back to the forsake palace. At the least, she would be needing the help of Chu Shang Wu, soon. Lord Luoyang would''ve been the obvious choice but he already left on a journey. Sooner than later, he would be having his ascension tribulations Order of the gathering of the gods and would take years for him to return at the least. Or, Adong, the other titan on the Kaifeng continent, if she would be available. Reena decided she would wait to see the best way to go about it when it would be the time. Maybe, lord Luoyang would have returned by then.


    She hoped it wouldn''t be a sorrowful taking.


    ***


    Zhang Wang Jing was pacing restlessly, as she casted frequent glances at her husband who was standing with his sight set on the far distance. A look of anxiety and apprehension on their faces as they contemplated the situation on hand.


    It''s been over half a-day since they lost the contact with Zhang Xiu Ying. She always maintained her contact with her parents anytime she''s outside, though she never went outside the Lijiang continent. Nothing on the other continent to warrant a voyage from her, away from her family. At the least, she would inform them of this if she planned on taking one. And they knew as a true demigod of the golden core stage, her mind connection could cover a great distance on Lijiang continent if stretched. Thus, the reason for the concern of the sudden disconnectionin of their minds contact with her.


    What could possibly have caused the disconnection?


    Zhang Li Qiang asked his wife while stroking his beard anxiously.


    "It seems strange. Not like Xiu Ying."


    "A demigod like our daughter wouldn''t have lost connection like that."


    Zhang Wang Jing uttered, pacing up and down.


    "The distance was within her range, unless she''s gone to another continent."


    "Could she have done that without informing us?"


    "I don''t think so. Something seems off. I can feel it."


    "What do you think of it?"


    "I don''t know what to think of it,


    As Zhang Wang Jing and Zhang Li Qiang continued to conversed outside their cave, worried expressions on their faces, their connection to Zhang Xiu Ying was restored. They couldn''t contain their joy as they shouted in chorus.


    "Xiu Ying!"


    ***


    As the sun began to set at the horizon, spreading its largess into a grateful sky, rich hues of red blended with oranges, purples and crimsons. They turned the sky into a wonder of a creation that cast an eerie beauty on the landscape .


    Zhang Xiu Ying stared at the beautiful sky, captured in its serenity. That was no time to reminisce about the events of the past or think about the future. That was a moment in time for a soul to experience the harmonious peace of the universe. Lost in the wonder of the sky, she closed her eyes as the serene feeling encased her nascent soul. But immediately, her closed eyes flew wide open. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but closed it, quietly. The moment was gone but not before Reena could grasp a thought. Although it was for a fraction of second, she laughed softly.


    ''Hehehe.''


    Reena was still laughing while staring at the sky, when she heard her mother''s voice to her to her right.


    "Beautiful, isn''t it?"


    Still smiling herself, Zhang Xiu Ying turned to the sight of her mother''s own beautiful smile. She nodded in answer before turning her gaze towards the sky as her mother continued.


    "The true joy of a sunset is something we no longer understand. Only the mind of the discerning ones, when there were no lights, could understand the true joy of a sunset."


    "True words, Euanthe. True words."


    Mother and daughter, directed their attention towards Zhang Li Qiang, who was staring at the sky with converged insight.


    "Sunsets and sunrises are the moments of transitions. Though they are beautiful to behold, they carry with them hidden secrets, obscured information and aspects of the universal truth. When a soul discerns any of these, it attains some form of enlightenment. This is a step closer to being one with the universe. A complete oneness with the universe brings the true immortality."


    Lowering his gaze from the sky, he watched his wife and daughter for a time before letting out a long breath of sadness.


    "This discernment and insights are the most difficult parts of a cultivator''s life. The reason why many cultivators focused on immortality instead. I do not blame them. Immortality without anyone killing you, is good enough for any cultivator. And as you know, Reena, immortality starts from the nascent soul. That is why your mother and I, are also striving towards forming our nascent souls."


    "True, and we are on the right path. The crystallines have been a great help to us since we came to this cave. I''m already a middle-stage golden core while your father is a late-stage golden core. Surely, we are on the right path."


    Reaching where his wife and daughter were standing, he put a hand over Zhang Xiu Ying''s shoulder while holding Zhang Wang Jing with the other.


    "Indeed, we are. But we must always keep this in mind, immortality doesn''t come into account when facing a more powerful entity. Even a celestial, can easily go into reincarnation."


    "Yes, we know. Before any combat, always know your way out. If there''s none, you run."


    Zhang Xiu Ying said, resting her head on her father''s shoulder. Her son could have been here too, enjoying this with them, but he had now gone back to his sect. Let him continued to learn, knowledge was too important to ignore anyway. Moreover, the sect premises was more safer for him for now, especially when uncle Luoyang wasn''t around. Her mind would be peaceful if she should undergo the taking, knowing her son would be protected in the face of any attack, as much as possible.


    Her thoughts were disrupted by the voice of her father.


    "Not really running, Xiu Ying. It''s simply ''staying alive''. Staying alive to enjoy the beauty of nature like this."


    They continued to enjoy the scenery, until Zhang Wang Jing brought them back to reality.


    "We should go inside now, before the food looses its aroma."


    "The smell of the food can''t even let me concentrate on the beauty of the sky."


    Bem.o.a.n.e.d Zhang Xiu Ying jokingly, as they all laughed while walking back into the cave.


    Could it?


    Not now. She took her mind of it as she looked at her parents before turning to the contents on the table.


    Sitting on the table, was a large pot of steaming mountain fowl meat. One of the ocassional change in meat since the discovery of the pond turtles. Accompanying it, were one smalk container of goat milk and two large containers of grubs and lily tubers layered with wasp honey. The aroma of the food, filled the whole interior of the knoll. This was due to a new cooking recipe that Euanthe bought from a food merchant, a week before.

 Chapter 120 - Worries Of A Demigod [3]

    As she sat down at the table, taking her time to relish the aroma of the food, Zhang Xiu Ying couldn''t help but be appreciative outwardly. She had really missed the cooking of her mother. The enjoyment of eating together with them. The satisfaction she always get from the beautiful moments. She had missed them all.


    "Hmmmm, smells soooo good."


    "I agreed with you, Xiu Ying. Ever since your mother brought home that recipe, I often smell her food in my dreams."


    "Hehehe."


    The two of them bust into soft laughter as Zhang Wang Jing smilingly shook her head. Oh, she had missed her daughter so much. What would be the joy of a mother more than seeing the happiness on the faces of the ones she really loved?


    "Are you two going to eat or you''ll just continue smelling the food?"


    "We wil, mother. The aroma of a good food must be properly appreciated, inorder to prepare the body and soul for the incoming food."


    Answered Zhang Xiu Ying to more laughter from her father.


    Since her mother brought back the cooking recipe from the market, she couldn''t have enough of her mother''s cooking. Where in titan''s torso, did the recipe even came from? Well, no matter where, it was really a divine blessing.


    Zhang Xiu Ying took a bite of the fowl meat and exclaimed with delight.


    "Hm...hm...hm. Soo delicious."


    ***


    As the sun began to set at the horizon, spreading its largess into a grateful sky, rich hues of red blended with oranges, purples and crimsons.


    Zhang Xiu Ying stared at the beautiful sky, captured in its serenity. That was no time to reminisce about the events of the past or think about the future. That was a moment in time for a soul to experience the harmonious peace of the universe. Lost in the wonder of the sky, she closed her eyes as the serene feeling encased her nascent soul. But immediately, her closed eyes flew wide open. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but closed it, quietly. The moment was gone but not before she could grasp a thought. Although it was for a fraction of second, she laughed softly.


    ''Hehehe.''


    Zhang Xiu Ying was still laughing while staring at the sky, when she heard her mother''s voice to her to her right. The voice she had lovingly grown up to hear.


    "Beautiful, isn''t it?"


    Still smiling herself, Zhang Xiu Ying turned to the sight of her mother''s own beautiful smile. A smile she had been seeing ever since the day she was born. She knew her mother''s love for her couldn''t be more obvious. She nodded in answer before turning her gaze towards the sky as her mother continued.


    "The true joy of a sunset is something we no longer understand. Only the mind of the discerning ones, when there were no lights, could understand the true joy of a sunset."


    "True words, Wang Jing. True words."


    Mother and daughter, directed their attention towards Zhang Li Qiang, who was staring at the sky with converged insight.


    "Sunsets and sunrises are the moments of transitions. Though they are beautiful to behold, they carry with them hidden secrets, obscured information and aspects of the universal truth. When a soul discerns any of these, it attains some form of enlightenment. This is a step closer to being one with the universe. A complete oneness with the universe brings the true immortality."


    Lowering his gaze from the sky, he watched his wife and daughter for a time before letting out a long breath of sadness. He knew life of a cultivator was a dangerous one. Those who were in the line of the martial arts knew the danger of it. Many had died. Only those that stayed focused on immortal cultivation could live to tell the tale.


    "This discernment and insights are the most difficult parts of a cultivator''s life. The reason why many cultivators focused on immortality instead. I do not blame them. Immortality without anyone killing you, is good enough for any cultivator. And as you know, Zhang Xiu Ying, immortality starts from the nascent soul. That is why your mother and I, are also striving towards forming our nascent souls."


    "True, and we are on the right path. The crystallines have been a great help to us since we came to this cave. I''m already a middle-stage golden core while your father is a late-stage golden core. Surely, we are on the right path."


    Reaching where his wife and daughter were standing, he put a hand over Zhang Xiu Ying''s shoulder while holding Zhang Wang Jing with the other.


    "Indeed, we are. But we must always keep this in mind, immortality doesn''t come into account when facing a more powerful entity. Even a celestial, can easily go into reincarnation."


    "Yes, we know. Before any combat, always know your way out. If there''s none, you run."


    Zhang Xiu Ying said, resting her head on her father''s shoulder. Her son could have been here too, enjoying this with them, but he had now gone back to his sect. Let him continued to learn, knowledge was too important to ignore anyway. Moreover, the sect premises was more safer for him for now, especially when uncle Luoyang wasn''t around. Her mind would be peaceful if she should undergo the taking, knowing her son would be protected in the face of any attack, as much as possible.


    Her thoughts were disrupted by the voice of her father.


    "Not really running, Xiu Ying. It''s simply ''staying alive''. Staying alive to enjoy the beauty of nature like this."


    They continued to enjoy the scenery, until Zhang Wang Jing brought them back to reality.


    "We should go inside now, before the food looses its aroma."


    "The smell of the food can''t even let me concentrate on the beauty of the sky."


    Bem.o.a.n.e.d Zhang Xiu Ying jokingly, as they all laughed while walking back into the cave.


    She had a perfect family. Loving parents and a loving son. Her family was once bigger than this. She used to have a loving husband too. Although not from their clan, he had been a really good husband. Until, he died during the attack of the antramental demons on their village.


    Could it?


    Sitting on the table, was a large pot of steaming mountain fowl meat. One of the ocassional change in meat since the discovery of the pond turtles. Accompanying it, were one smalk container of goat milk and two large containers of grubs and lily tubers layered with wasp honey. The aroma of the food, filled the whole interior of the knoll. This was due to a new cooking recipe that Zhang Wang Jing bought from a food merchant, a week before.


    As she sat down at the table, taking her time to relish the aroma of the food, Zhang Xiu Ying couldn''t help but be appreciative outwardly. She had missed this. The magical cooking of her mother. She never had enough of it.


    "Hmmmm, smells soooo good."


    "I agreed with you, Xiu Ying. Ever since your mother brought home that recipe, I often smell her food in my dreams."


    "Hehehe."


    The two of them bust into soft laughter as Zhang Wang Jing smilingly shook her head. She was happy to see them enjoying the time.


    "Are you two going to eat or you''ll just continue smelling the food?"


    "We will, mother. The aroma of a good food must be properly appreciated, inorder to prepare the body and soul for the incoming food."


    Answered Zhang Xiu Ying to more laughter from her father.


    Since her mother brought back the cooking recipe from the market, she couldn''t have enough of her mother''s cooking. Where in titan''s torso, did the recipe even came from? Well, no matter where, it was really a divine blessing.


    Zhang Xiu Ying took a bite of the fowl meat and exclaimed with delight.


    "Hm...hm...hm. Soo delicious."


    She closed her eyes as she savoured the taste of the food. She couldn''t believe she had only been gone for around twelve hours in Lorra''s time. But due to the Forsaken Palace, she knew she had missed several days of her mother''s cooking. Several days! How could that be? There was no doubt in her mind that she had spent several days in the palace. Not that she was totally complaining of her time at the forsaken palace. Afterall, what she took back with her from the place was more than she bargained for. The treasures were simply astonishing despite the dangers of getting them. Treasures that she couldn''t be able to get on the planet of Lorra.


    The palace was really something profoubd. And after remembering the palace being a divine spacetime artifact that had been reworked over the years by many including the celestials, she sighed inwardly.


    ''The extreme power of Spacetime.''

 Chapter 121 - Worries Of A Demigod [4]

    They continued to eat as they relished the moment together. After they''ve had their fill of the food and had the rest put away, Zhang Xiu Ying called the attention of her parents.


    "Father, mother, there''s something I want to show you."


    The demigod sat down at the table and her parents followed suit. She reached into her spatial sac and retrieved the Flame Essence spirit fruit. She placed at the center of the table as she glanced towards her parents.


    "A spirit fruit?"


    Zhang Li Qiang and Zhang Wang Jing stared curiously at the red fruit. They could sense the high energy coming from the red fruit. As farmers, they knew the differences among the fruits. Back in their home village on the continent of Kaifeng, they were, once, farming medicinal fruits. The low-grade Red-Water medicinal fruits, used to nourish the blood''s life-force. And this, was nothing compared to the lowest-grade Spirit-Fruits.


    "Yes. It''s the Flame-Essence spirit fruit."


    "I''ve never seen one with this high energy before."


    "Me neither."


    "I believe it''s because of its pure essence of fire."


    The two continued to stare in abject shock at the red fruit. This was no common fruit that could be found easily on the mortal plain. How did their daughter come into possession of it? Zhang Wang Jing turned to her daughter in utter surprise.


    "How did you come across this, Xiu Ying?"


    "It was only by chance."


    Zhang Xiu Ying recapped what happened to them. From the moment she sensed Ju Feng to the moment she picked the fruit in the garden of the Jade emperor''s forsaken palace. Everything he relayed to them including what happened inside the spacetime palace, except a tiny little part.


    "Since I''ve already formed my golden core, you have more need of the fruit than me. So, I want the two of you to have it."


    Recollecting the words of the fairy as she left the forsaken palace, Zhang Xiu Ying knew she couldn''t afford to advance any further if she wanted to avoid early tribulations. It was true that demigods didn''t undergo heavenly tribulations, but that was only true for demigods born on the Luminence Dimensional plane. But for Zhang Xiu Ying, she was born on the mortal plane. Her life essence was connected to the mortal plane until she attain ascension to the heavenly plane.


    "Is that really necessary, Xiu Ying?"


    "I mean, we can make do with a spirit fruit but you need it more than us."


    "Don''t worry about it, mother, father. As I said earlier, I no longer have use for it. Please, accept it from me."


    After staring at his daughter for a moment, Zhang Li Qiang nodded his head in agreement.


    "If it''s as you said, then we accept. We cannot thank you enough, Xiu Ying."


    "It''s alright, father. It''s only a spirit fruit."


    Zhang Wang Jing, lightly squeezed ''s hand as she looked at her.


    "Thank you."


    "Nothing to it, mother. It''s the least I can do."


    After much hesitation, her parents finally divided the spirit fruit into two, each taking a half. In great anticipation, they ate their shares of the fruit before proceeding towards the pond area. They sat down in lotus position and started meditating, using the Soul-Pith technique which was a mystical technique. Mystical techniques focused on the elements inside the Chi essence. The Flame-Essence fruit was a fire element fruit, hence, they had to use the Soul-Pith technique instead of the Astral-Primal technique.


    The importance of mystical elements couldn''t be emphasized enough. They had direct connection to the soul of a cultivator through the Chi essence. The nature and appearance of the nascent soul would reflect the mystical elements of the cultivator. The more a cultivator advances in the mystical arts, the more conditioned the soul would become for cultivation.


    As they continued to meditate, they started to feel the power of the fruit''s energy growing stronger in their core. Then, all of a sudden, a red flaming essence materialized around Zhang Li Qiang. The essence continued to get denser and thicker until it finally encased Aodh in a cocoon. Few minutes later, Zhang Wang Jing too was covered in a cocoon of flaming essence.


    The demigod, who was sitting on the knoll-top, looking at her parents, smiled widely at their transformations. This would make their mystical arts much more stronger than before. Their ancestral mystical art was the Infernal beast technique. Zhang Xiu Ying, remembering her own nascent soul creation of a tall figure cladded in feathered armor with large flaming phoenix wings, could only wait in anticipation. They wouldn''t form their nascent souls this day, they would have to advance to the nascent soul stage first. Their conditioned souls would make that easier.


    "However..."


    She frowned at the thought of their impending tribulations inorder for them to reach the nascent soul immortality. For now, they would have to take their cultivation slowly until they were fully prepared for the heavenly tribulations.


    "They would be ready."


    Zhang Xiu Ying spoke out softly into the dark night, nodding her head. She was about to lowered her head when she saw the flaming essence converged on her father before dispersing outwardly.


    Her father floated into the midair before executing the Heavenly Dragon Stance move of his Dragon-Inferno technique. A bit surprised, Zhang Xiu Ying was still staring at the manifested move when her mother''s cocoon of flaming essence was dispersed too. Her sight was grazed by powerful energy coming from the manifested flaming giant eagle claws.


    Titan''s torso!


    Filled with joy from the events of the evening, Zhang Xiu Ying lay In bed as she softly hummed to herself. Soon, her parents would be on their way to become true immortals when they formed their nascent soul. She wouldn''t have to worry much about their eternal being anymore. As long as they endeavor to stay out of trouble and harm''s way, they would be able to live for eternity.


    Immortality!


    Deep in thoughts, the demigod let out a soft breath as her mind wandered back to the proceedings of the forsaken palace. The godly palace she came upon by pure luck due to her keeping a reasonable awareness on her child''s whereabouts. His safety was of utmost importance to her. This decision had been proven right. Or else, how could she have been there for him and the rest, when they were in difficulties. On that, it was a right decision.


    Ah! The forsaken palace. She closed her eyes as she recollected the events from them leaving the Luduans. With one leg half-way in, she heard the voice of the giant residuum, Darghek.


    "Remember, this palace is a spacetime. You will find yourself in different places and if you find yourself in difficult positions, simply exit. May fortune smile on you."


    As her right foot landed inside the palace, cold wind rushed to meet her face. The wind was, mildly, plucking at her hair as she stepped into the open valley. Her light yellow robe, made from an ember spider''s silk and embedded with the lower-grade defensive runes, danced to the rhythm of the cold air.


    Quickly adjusting to her surroundings, she slowly looked around, in detail examination of the place.


    The place was a small valley yet it felt large to the demigod The medium-sized path she was standing on, led to an old-looking cave at the other end. Even though she didn''t feel herself at any risk, she could sense the valley''s air had traces of immortal elements.


    Suddenly, she had the feeling of being vividly alive and anxious. It was as if her immortal soul was being weighted on a divine scale.


    "Immortal transient."


    A moment in immortality. Zhang Xiu Ying thought to herself as she lowered her head and indulged herself in the feelings. Briefly, she had the moment of seeing herself through the eyes of the universe.


    "All souls can be immortal but not all souls can be divine."


    "Welcome to Suorang!"


    A chiming voice sounded out from all directions, stopping Zhang Xiu Ying on her track. The echo of the voice continued over the cacophony of the valley, creating a vibrating world of sounds. In a flash, she looked around but couldn''t find the location of the voice, only a gathering energy field. From the field, emerged a four-feet tall entity with four gossamer wings, hovering in the air.

 Chapter 122 - Worries Of A Demigod [5]

    A Saladar fairy.


    Fairies! Extremely powerful entities of the Starstride dimensional plane. Their powerful immortal nature was due to the fact they were born as innate bloodline entities like the divine beasts and with a golden core.  That was the reason why they were directly used by the celestials to carry out deeds and errands.


    "That was a loud voice, right? Yes, I know. I had to put some effect on it to sound like that. It''s first-time effect is impressive. You should have seen your face. Hehe."


    "All-right, now back to you, Who are you, and why are you here?"


    Just as the demigod was about to reply, she was quickly and swiftly cut off.


    "Just joking with you. I know who you are, Asura. And, I know why you are here. A demigod looking for her share of the treasures of the Silent-Seeker. I know that too well but don''t get me wrong, that''s fine by me and by you too, I guess. If not, you wouldn''t be here. Right?"


    The fairy stared at Zhang Xiu Ying in expected confirmation of his words. After recieving a shrug from Reena which he took as an agreement, he continued.


    "Very well then. Kindly follow me, demigod."


    The Saladar fairy made some hand seals before ceading the xemigod into the immortal cave. The sight of the interior made her smile in surprise. The inside of the cave reminded her a little bit of their own cave-house. It was a cave, no doubt, but the inside was an open space that led to two massive stone doors. The place could have passed for a plain if not for a small mildly glowing energy pool to the right of the cave and a designed area to the left.


    "I welcome you to Suorang, Asura. This was the immortal cave of the highcelestial Silent-Seeker. He left behind many treasures for worthy souls. Most of his treasures had been claimed over the years but some still remain. Which one are you here for, Asura? Are you here for his martial arts legacy?"


    With gleaming eyes, the Saladar fairy asked Zhang Xiu Ying in anticipation.


    "Yes."


    Zhang Xiu Ying answered. She had no idea what martial arts legacy the fairy was talking about. But, she would just play along. Though, the thought of having a martial art legacy of a highcelestial was more than appealing.


    "The Symphony of the Soaring Sky? At last, after many years, a demigod is here to claim the martial legacy. If only you could see how happy I am for you, Asura. But there''a little problem, Asura. This legacy is behind those doors. All you have to do, is just to pass through those doors to the other side. If you don''t mind this, then you need not worry much."


    The fairy spread his hands around as he gave a nod to Zhang Xiu Ying.


    "As you can see, this is a spacious area. You can replenish your lost energy and quickly recuperate here, if there''s need for it. You have the energy pool to the right and training area to the left. It''s possible you might not need them, though I doubt that. But if you need them, as I know you will, You can make use of them as much as you want."


    "What is this about, fairy?"


    "High treasures come with some obstacles. This one is no difference. You see, for you to get to the legacy yo seek, you have to face a little obstacle. Don''t worry, it''s just a little one. But if you try to pass and you manage to, you can come back here to replenish yourself in the energy pool and then do some practise, if you want. No need, if you don''t want.


    He waited as he keenly observed the demigod.


    "Or rather, you can just go back and leave this place behind you. No harm done."


    After waiting for couple of seconds and no response from Zhang Xiu Ying who had her eyes fixed on the doors with grim determination, the fairy nodded his head.


    "I see you have made up your mind. Proceed when you are ready. And please, try not to die in there. I''ve had enough of demigods who thought they could make it in fastlight to the other side but ended up in Radar''s light. You will have a fixed time to try your luck, Asura. When the time runs out, you will have to leave this place. There will be three warnings that your time is running out, if you are inside, you should leave immediately. If not, you will certainly die."


    With a flaming force-field sorrounding her, Zhang Xiu Ying approached the massive doors. As she neared the doors, they slowly swung open outward, giving off a grinding sound. She examined the doors, carefully, and discovered that they were covered in different types of runes. The runes were giving off strong white glows and powerful energy emission.


    Though the energy were not posing any known threat to her, she could feel its intense power. They had to be inscribed and embedded with an heavenly grade rune-maker, at the least.


    Inside the doors of the Saurang cave, she found a wide path in front of her. They led to an opening at the other end. That must be the exit out of this place. To her instict, everything seemed too quiet and too peaceful. Using her divine sight, she could see traces of powerful essence but couldn''t detect what was causing them and why. She didn''t wait for long before she had her answers. There was a shimmer of energy and entities started to manifest on the two sides of the path.


    Invisibility array. Had to be heavenly grade too. She should have thought about that possibility. Her attention was quickly drawn back to the present. She couldn''t afford to be lost in focus in a place like this with this entities. Heavily built mortal-like entities with arms and legs that resembled oak trees. With their pebbly dark skin, wide mouths with sharp pointed teeth. Large and dark unblinking flat eyes, showing no emotions. Their large bodies were covered by big throbbing veins, sparsely covered by obsidian armor plates.


    Dreads.


    Just like the demigods, the revenants and many other dimensional entities, the dreads were also located on a dimensional plane. The Dark Sumara dimensional plane. Naturally, they were more powerful than mortals and some immortals. They were ones of the most powerful entities on any dimensional plane.


    And these were not just dreads, these were the mutated dreads. Without their mutation, dreads were already powerful immortals. Adding mutation to that, increased their power level beyond their natural limits without ascension.


    And there were tens of them standing there, lining the path. Zhang Xiu Ying could feel the cold stares and the twisted divine auras coming from the dreads. A demigod she might be, but she also knew the indications of true forces when she saw one. And these dreads? They were true forces. With the look of things, she would have to pass through them to get to the other end.


    How would she do that?


    She knew she couldn''t defeat even one at this level of her stage, talkless of a double figure. Alright, she would have to rely on her divine evasion to get to the other side or to flee.


    "If you are ready Asura, you may step out of the array and proceed towards the cave. Remember, you have limited time. You can come back outside and prepare yourself again if you need to."


    Few minutes after entering, Zhang Xiu Ying returned to the outside in a rush. Looking very uncomfortable, she had come to realize that the dreads are more powerful than she thought. True, she had faced the godly golems at the valley of the gods, but these ones, they were totally different. These were deadly opponents who were ready to cut her into little pieces. Unlike the golems, they were not reducing their strength rather, they were happy to get rid of her as quickly as possible.


    She had tried to use her phoenix inferno mystical arts but was not even effective against one dread. She had also used the divine evasion but realized that they were as fast as she was. There was no way she could face them in martial or mystical arts, she would have to outrun them. The only possible way to stsy alive.


    Where was the fairy, anyway?


    Quickly checking her sorroundings, she couldn''t locate the whereabouts of the fairy. If he was here, maybe he could tell which way to go. Heaven''s forsaken Salader. She decided to replenish herself from the energy pool before trying again. Every day, she would attempt the the dreads path and would come back to the pool to replenish herself. Though, she noticed the water of the energy pool was fast depleting, she continued making use of it.


    On the second day, immediately after drinking from the last amount of the energy water, the demigod sat down in a lotus position and started to cultivate using the Timeless Soul technique. Before, she was only drinking the water to replejish herself and now, she decided to cultivate with it. This was a random thought that came to her mind.


    Several hours later, the nimbus dissipated and Zhang Xiu Ying stood up smiling. Her nascent soul had advanced from the middle stage to the gates of the late stage of nascent soul.


    "Hehehe."


    Her joy knew no bounds. Advancement like this, was the dream of all cultivators. Divine favour on the the highcelestial Silent-Seeker. She continued doing this and trying the dreads passage, for the remaining days. By the end of the fourth day, Reena wal already knocking on the doors of the peak-stage nascent soul.


    With the energy pool drained, she decided to try the dreads passage. With a stronger flaming force-field, she proceeded towards the massive doors.

 Chapter 123 - Worries Of A Demigod [6]

    Zhang Xiu Ying sat behind the closed doors as she gathered herself after a gruesome encounter with the dreads. What in heaven''s tears, got into them? How could entities like that even existed? She asked herself thoughtfully. They were more than mere mutation, they were heavens forsaken. Despite her advancing due to the energy water, she had only managed to escape them by pushing vast amount of chi and her divine energy into her evasion technique.


    The defensive formation on her robe had been exhausted after bearing much of the brunt of the dreads. Even with the robe, she had barely escaped with long scratches and slahes to her body. That was mainly due to her own evasive skills. Checking her body properly, she put one bloodroot medicinal pill into her mouth as she tilted her backwards. The injuries were nothing that medicinal pills couldn''t take care of.


    After resting for a while, she examined her sorroundings. She was in an alleyway that led to a large emerald hall. She noticed there were images and symbols lining the alleyway up to the large hall. Looking closely at the images and symbols, she felt a tug at her memories. There was something about this that looked familiar but she couldn''t place her hand on it. She proceeded cautiously, towards the center of the hall while she continued to observe the images and symmbols.


    The massive doors and walls of the hall, had no image or symbol. Only the floors. As she entered the massive hall, she noticed that the images and symbols had intertwined to form a spiralling image all over the floor of the hall. Fourteen images and fourteen symbols. Eyes farting back and forth, realization dawned on her as she remembered the words of uncle Luoyang.


    "Images you see, the shadows you don''t. Symbols you notice, the signs you don''t. On the path you thread, are the threads of your path. As you thread the path, a spiralling threads you see."


    Titan''s torso!


    Zhang Xiu Ying had seen something like that inside the mountain abode of uncle Luoyang. Although, this one was much more bigger than the one inside uncle Luoyang mountain. The only visible thing about the images and the symbols, was their beauty. The deadly arrays of pure-grade heavenly formation they contained, wouldn''t be noticed at all. After seeing her lost in the seductive illusion of the images and symbols, uncle Luoyang had told her about the godly arrays. She clearly remembered what he had called the arrays.


    Infernal lock.


    Quite different from what she initially thought of them. When she first saw them, she thought they were just magical images. It was to her utter surprise when she eventually learned about them. Once activated, this array was one of the most deadly and dangerous heavenly arrays. And, much more difficult to fully understand, if not impossible.


    Arrays like this could only be in place by a god or higher entity, to protect immense treasures and artifacts. Could they be protecting the martial legacy? Possible. But, there was no way she would face an array like this? Inspite of her advancement, she knew little of formations to be able to deactivate this one.


    "I''ll be careful, if I were you."


    The demigod turned to the sight of a tall old man in a black-green robe with a divine aura emanating from his body. The human appearance could only mean one thing,  an Asura demigod. Coiling out from under his robe and resting its head on his shoulder, was a Thorne viper, his divine beast.


    "Uh?"


    "The heavens Infernal lock and it''s already active. Any wrong step and you''ll be locked in the infernal chains. Given, for a million years but I reckon your soul wouldn''t be the same again, after that long in those chains. All these you already know, I believe."


    She materialized her phoenix sword as she took a few steps back. Flaming force-field bust into life around her as she kept her gaze on the demigod before her.


    "Relax, Asura. No need for all that. If I meant you harm, I don''t think you''ll still be alive. Though, you''ve reached the gates of the peak-stage nascent soul, you are still a late-stage nascent soul. But you see me, believe it when I say I''m something else entirely. So, you can relax. By the way, It seems you''re surprised to see me here. Hmm. You probably thought you were the only one here, didn''t you? Well, sometimes I''m surprised I''m still here too. Hehe."


    He laughed painstakingly, as he stared at the demigod. He walked up to the edge of the huge image at the center of the hall, keenly observing the details of the image.


    "Once, we were many here. I can''t even remember how many years ago that was. One thousand? One million? The time is not that important. What matters is that,  now, only I remain. You see, these pictures are prisons. Once locked inside, the time would have to pass to be free. Imagine being locked in infernal chains for a thousand, needless to say a million years. Strange, you''ll say? Yes, strange it is. Many years facing the infernal lock and I tell you, this one is meant to incapacitate all."


    The Asura shook his head solemnly as he continued to look at the image.


    "So close, yet, so far away."


    "I believe you are after that legacy too, Asura. I know you''ve earned the right to be here, to take a shot at the legacy, but I tell you this Asura, this lock is a different thing entirely. It''s a world of its own. You see it floating harmlessly, but the dangers are of godly plane. I know you have no reason to believe my words as we are after tge same thing, but this?"


    Was it pity she saw in his eyes? Why would she need him to pity her? It wasn''t a do or die affair for her. If she couldn''t get the heavens'' forsaken legacy, she would simply leave this place and go home. What was the need for pity in that? Even the Thorne Viper had hint of pity in its eyes. Did they think she was insane like them?


    "If I can, why not? But it appears that I can''t. I know what the heavens infernal lock is and I know it''s beyond me. So, it''s all yours."


    "Mhm. A good resolve, to be sincere, but do you know what martial arts this legacy entails? No you don''t. You see, Asura, in this world of cultivation, only the strongest can truly survive. And this... this legacy, is what you should have. If you want to be one of the surviving ones. You may think you are strong by your own standard, but let me tell you, there are many stronger than you. And some of them, won''t need an excuse to kill you. You''ll need a martial arts technique like this one."


    Zhang Xiu Ying stared at the demigod in contemplation before folding her arms.


    "So, what do you want me to do? You said it''s dangerous, of which I know, yet you want me to have it. Is that not like courting death? If I''m dead, to what purpose will the legacy be? And moreover, we are talking about a legacy. A very special one from the looks of it, which made it even more glaring as we already know. Only one can have the legacy and from the way it appears, you are stronger than me. So, whats the purpose of me wasting my time here when you''ll be the one having it, if at all?"


    The demigod smiled and nodded at her.


    "Ah, important question you ask, demigod. Hm. The more I think about it, the more I see your point. Alright, let me put it this way. If you help me get the legacy, I will make a vanishing copy for you. That I assure you, whatever happens after that will be on you."


    "Alright, what help do you need?"


    "When we first arrived here, we thought these images were just formations we could disable here inside this hall. We were wrong. Many lives were lost before we realized what it was we were dealing with. You see, these images are not just formations, they are blackholes. Each image, from the entrance of the gates to the center of this hall, are elemental destinations. In each of these destinations, are fragments of the key. To survive the blackholes, life-essence is required. I have exhausted mine and there is one more image I need to complete to get the last fragment of the key. That''s where I need your help."

 Chapter 124 - What Happened?

    "So, you need my life-essence in-order to get a fragment of a key in-order to get the legacy. Pfff. Why would I want to do that?"


    After Zhang Xiu Ying''s question, the Thorne-Viper began to hiss dangerously making her took a step back. This made Zhang Wei to calm it down with a gentle wave of his hand. He tried to maintain an uneasy smile as he continued looking at the other demigod.


    "Is there something you want to know about the events of your past, Asura?"


    "What do you mean?"


    Zhang Xiu Ying replied with furrowed brows. The question really caught her off-guard as her brain processed different informations. Events of her past? Was that a joke?


    "We were five nascent soul demigods that arrived here, inside this very hall. It was a long journey for us to get here. Long dangerous journey but we made it. When we reached here, we met quite a number of others here trying to decipher and attempt the infernal arrays. We waited and we observed. By the time hey figured it out, many had died. But that was the beginning. The hardest part was getting back once you get inside the blackholes of the images."


    He shook his head as he let out a soft sound.


    "After many years had passed, the very last ones of us, finally figured it out. The solution? There must be one of us here, on the outside, that must make a life-essence connection with the one going in. The connection must be maintained while the other is still inside the image, if not, the lock would come into effect. And there''s no known way of beating the lock from the inside when its locked. But, you see Asura, there''s a good in all these madness. Each of these images, can reveal a secret of the past. And the only image remaining, is that of the Death-Necron. Thus, I ask you, is there any death or sorrow of the past you wish to know?"


    "Are you truthfully serious?"


    "I am, Asura. So, can that and the vanishing copy of the legacy, be enough bargain to gain your interest?"


    "Can you make this bargain of yours under eternal oath?


    "That I can do, Asura. By the way, Call me Chang Wei."


    "Zhang Xiu Ying."


    "Alright Zhang Xiu Ying. Let''s begin with the oath."


    After the eternal oath was made, Reena agreed to help with the life-essence connection. But she couldn''t help but wondered how this demigod had managed with the images until only one was remaining.


    "Insanity. You stayed here, for that long, because of a legacy? Total insanity."


    "You know little of the martial world, Asura. What stage of martial arts are you even on? Yinhu? I''m already knocking on the doors of Jinlong. With my eyes closed, I can still kill you. Not that I need the sight to do that anyway. But, in the world of true martial arts, I mean nothing without a graded martial arts technique. And what''s better than a supreme technique. You want to be at the top, where no one bothers you? You have to be the best."


    Chang Wei floated to the mid air before landing gently in front of Zhang Xiu Ying.


    "I know that not many could boast of it, but as you advance in your arts, the aim is to form a mythical art. No better mythical art than a combination of a supreme martial arts and a total-grade mystical arts. An artist will be a supreme divine."


    "How many cultivators have you ever seen that have combined their martial arts and mystical arts together to form one mythical art? Even if they are low grade arts?"


    Asked Zhang Xiu Ying with a raised brow.


    "Good question, though, I won''t answer that one. But the point is, you have a chane to form an excellent mythical art with a legacy like this. And for someone like me, it''s the top of martial arts or nothing at all. Enough with the talk, Zhang Xiu Ying."


    Chang Wei gently swiped his hand as he acknowledged the other demigod expectantly.


    "So, is it a death or a sorrow you want to know about? Either way, I will need something of the dead or of sorrow."


    "If you are ready, please let''s proceed."


    Composing herself, Zhang Xiu Ying circulated a massive amount of Chi energy as shenade the connection with Zhang Wei. The moment the connection was made, Zhang Wei made some hand seals as the space at the top of the last image started shimmering. Sensing the life-force connection of her, Zhang Wei stared at her before nodding his head in agreement. With a mirage step, Zhang Wei disappeared into the shimmering space.


    It was several hours later that Zhang Wei returned massive cuts and slashes. Breathing heavily, he collapsed on the floor beside her. Fully exhausted from the amount of energy and life-force dispensed, she was solemnly looking at him with great expectations and eagerness. Was he saying the truth about the elements in the images? Did he manage to find anything out about her request?


    After resting for a while, he told Zhang Xiu Ying about the outcome. Zhang Ju Huan exist. Information at the netherplane in the Mourninghall. She must go before the next lunar alignment which was not too far away.


    A demigod in the netherplane. They would rip her apart. She would have to go with adequate powerful forces, to have any chance of survival. But at the least, she now knew what she had been longing to know for ages. With the vanishing copy of a lunatic celestial in her spatial sac, Zhang Xiu Ying left the immortal cave with joy and complete anxiety. What would the future hold for her? In time. Waking up from her memories of the past events, she adjusted the position of her head properly as she smiled anxiously.


    "Soon."


    And she fell asleep.


    ***


    As the march of dawn besieged the stars, brilliant orange poured out of the sun and across the horizon. The sky was blood red as the light consumed the sky with ferocity. The furrowed clouds were every shade from palest pink to deep crimson. Dawn broke over the horizon, the brilliant orange egg yolk sun spilled across the clouds as far as the eye could see. Thus, returning it to its uplifting powder orange appearance of an early morning. Wispy cotton clouds gradually acc.u.mulated high above, only adding to the blissful ambiance of the morning that marked the beginning of the second day of luminary week.


    Immediately, he remembered Su Ming and the other core disciples that faced the revenant when he was down. They all had fought the heaven''s forsaken entity, but it was Su Ming who had saved his life. If not for her quick intervention with the pill, he would have died for sure. But, seeing the conditions of others, surely, she came out worst for wear, from the encounter. And from the words of the elders, she could have died too. The last time he asked about her, he was told she was still recuperating. Though, it had been a couple of days since the events, to him, it seemed years had passed. He would have to check on her and the rest, later.


    He lifted his head up to sky and gazed at its glory.


    Despite being a glorious morning, the words of the world oracle were still ringing at the back of his mind. Her words that predicted his death. Knowing you would die no matter what happened? Not so good. But, there was something nagging at his mind from the very last words of the oracle.


    ''There are many ways to die''.


    Of course, everybody knew there were many ways to die in a martial and mystical world. Disintegration, decomposition, granulation, combustion, explosion, implosion and many other ways. What could the oracle have meant by that? After much thought on it over the night, he had made a decision.


    First, he must be stronger. He had to be stronger. In this life, he had a family, his hamily! Reincarnation was not of an appeal to him at this stage in his life. He would only accept it if there was no other option. Second, he would secretly ask the elders about the meaning of those words. Apart from these, he couldn''t think of any other way.


    Closing his eyes, he didn''t even know when his mind initiated the Soul-Serenity technique. Inner peace!  It had been quite a time since he had a feeling like this. After some minutes, he slowly began walking towards the location of the cafeteria. As he walked, he observed the joyous atmosphere in various location of the sect premises. All the disciples of the Last-Sword sect were really having a fill day from different events and competitions.


    It was indeed a beautiful morning.

 Chapter 125 - Lin Da Xia, You Were Summoned.

    With a serene mind and equally calm appearance, he continued walking towards the direction of the refectory. However, on a day like this, he would ha prefered to stay in his room and ruminate on the past events. After the gruelling hours of previous day, he knew they all deserved a full day of solitude, at the least. But all of them had agreed to meet on this day at the refectory. And since others went through the same thing as him, to the refectory it was.


    By the time he reached the place, the other three were already there, conversing while eating from their food plates on the table. With the looks on their faces, he could correctly guess they were all eager to share their adventures in the forsaken palace. He couldn''t agree more with them. It had been an incredible adventure.


    "Hey, Ju Feng."


    Lin Cheung called to him the moment he caught sight of him entering the cafeteria.


    "Hello Cheung."


    Ju Feng replied before swftly turning to Da Xia and Ying Jie. He could tell through their faces that they all had fortuitious encounters at the forsaken palace of the Jade emperor.


    "Hello Da Xia, Ying Jie."


    "Hello Ju Feng."


    They both replied in unison. They were trying very hard to hide the smile on their faces which was growing wider by chomping down on their food.


    "Quickly, have a seat."


    Said Lin Cheung enthusiastically, indicating the seat space beside him. He gave Ju Feng a quick nod before continuing happily.


    "You want to hear this from Da Xia."


    Lin Da Xia, nonchalantly, waved the comnent down. Though, there was eagerness written on her happy face.


    "Come on, Cheung. It wasn''t that much of a big deal as you are making it but I guess it was still something. Hehe."


    She quickly looked around the cafeteria before adjusting her sitting position. She leaned closer to the center of the table and glanced from one face to another. After having their undivided attention, she continued.


    "You all remembered when we were about to enter the palace? After our encounters with the Luduans? Well, the moment I raised my right leg to enter, everything around me went dark. And the next moment, I heard the voice of the giant saying that we could find ourselves in different locations. My mind went directly to portal. Are we entering a portal? At first, I was scared. What if I find myself in a demon hole? With all these going on in my head, I decided that as soon as I get there, I would use the safe word immediately. Are you with me?"


    Lin Da Xia asked her silent audience. After recieving confirmatory nods in return, she continued.


    "The moment my right leg landed, I found myself in the midst of the golden marmosets."


    "The golden marmosets?"


    Asked Fu Ying Jie in surprise.


    "The fairies of the Golden-Glitters?"


    "I thought they say any cultivator below Jindan level couldn''t see them."


    "Thar''s true, only golden core and above."


    Replied Lin Da Xia as she continued to watch them in delight.


    "Then, why did you see them?"


    Fu Yingjie asked with curiousity.


    "I wondered the same and I really do not know the answer. But, imagine the scene before me. All holding ceremonial golden talismans and figurines, dancing around in circles. You all should have seen the surprise and shock in their eyes when they saw me. Though I was afraid, my astonishment couldn''t let me react quick enough. I was standind there, inside their dancing circle, looking at their faces in bewilderment as they were staring at mine. From what I later learned from their leader, they were performing the rite of the goldrave. But, they were not expecting any summoning talkless of that of a human."


    "The rite of the goldrave?"


    Ju Feng asked as he thoughtfully regarded his food before he continued.


    "I read they choose the ones to enter the depth of the goldrave during that rite."


    "Yes, that one. Anyway, coming to my senses, I was about to use the safe word, when they started crooning in delight. This made me had a pause of my intention. The leader of the group, the one they refered to as Lord-Fae, happily approached and addressed me. He said though they were surprised to see me, they were happy that I was summoned and asked me to follow him."


    "Summoned?"


    Fu Yingjie observed Lin Da Xia with curiousity.


    "Can you even summon a mortal?"


    "Yes, you can. Extremely difficult though, since a mortal has no nascent soul to make the soul alignment easier."


    Answered Da Xia before taking another bite off her food.


    "So, what did you do?"


    Ju Feng asked, curious to know more.


    "At first, I was reluctant to go. How would I know where they were taking me to? Then I decided to a little risk of following them.  Was just hoping I had a moment to say the safe word if I eventually find myself in trouble. While following them, I had the opportunity of observing the place I found myself in. No doubt, it''s a glitter world. Short golden trees that were bearing golden fruits. Flowing waters of liquid gold. You should have seen this place. Every where you look is of sparkling gold. Sparkling gold? Alright, I know they were marmosets, but, what kind of a place was that? I asked myself. I started thinking hard and fast because I haven''t learned of any marmoset''s place like this before."


    "I don''t think any one of us have done that before too."


    "From the records, marmoset''s world is not all of gold like that. What could have happened there?"


    "Good question, brother. From the conversation I was having with the Lord-Fae, I came to learn about the place. Though, it was part of our plane, it was a dimensional world. A hidden dimensionsl world. I wasn''t suppose to see them talkless of when they wrre performing their ceremonial rites. He said the only reason that could have happened was because of the fact that I must have been summoned."


    Lin Daxia replied and proceeded to explain.


    "Alright, you are the summoned one. But did you manage to find out why you were summoned?"


    Fu Yingjie quipped in with his question.


    "After asking Lord-Fae about this, he told me about the problem of the Goldsurge that was ruining their world. Every million years, the terran-energy line of the gold streams, must be sealed with the Cold-Ore to avoid Goldsurge like that. And, it was already million years but their rites had not been successful. They had been performing this rite but couldn''t get the rites to choose the marmosets to seal the terran-line. However, the chosen marmosets would all die from the mission. At the same time, they couldn''t just barge into the depth because of the power of the surge. The surge was as powerful as a godly attack on pure metal entities. They, as gold entity, would simply be fused into the stream from the surge."


    Lin Da Xia dramatically paused as she solemnly examine their faces.


    "And they couldn''t find another way since they were just metal entites with no cultivation. So, their powers were limited. Though, they were performing rite to see who will go, they would rather prefer none of them to do it."


    "Why?"


    "Because, the ones they had sent in so far, didn''t make it to the half-way of the terran energy-line. And because I was a different being entirely, not made of gold, they had high hope of me reaching the depth of the Goldrave. Lord-Fae said if I could seal the energy-line, they would repay me in gold and I agreed."


    But, you can''t take marmosets gold. It''s a common knowledge that the moment it''s out of their world, it would turn to pebbles."


    Fu Yingjie glared at Lin Da Xia, confusingly.


    "I know that quite well. It wasn''t the gold that caught my interest, Ying Jie. What do you get when you place Cold-Ore inside terran energy-line?"


    "Heavens tears! Cold-Ore and terran energy! The terran-ore crystals!"


    "And for a million years?"


    Da Xia asked them with a self-satisfactory smile that turned wider as realization dawned on them.


    "Total grade hevenly terran-ore crystals."


    "Titan''s torso! One crystal alone, is an incredible fortune."


    "Tell us Da Xia, did you find any of them?"


    Lin Da Xia smiled broadly as she glanced at their anxious and expectant faces. She reached into the inside of her robe and produced a medium-sized cloth sack. She gently placed it on the table and slowly opened it. Ju Feng and the rest, leaned closer to have a proper look at the crystal. Inside the small sack, were two bright and sparkling terran-ore crystals.


    Heavens tears!


    It truly existed. What a fortune?


    An hour later, Lin Cheung and Lin Da xia were off to the library, Fu Ying Jie went to the training center while Ju Feng was on his way to the sect''s haven to check on Su Ming. On his way, his mind went back to Lin Da Xia and her terran-ore crystals, and his heart leapt in joy. He had never seen a terra-ore crystal before until then. Now, depending on Lin Da Xia''s resolve and decision, with those crystals, she could either become a very rich woman or an extremely powerful cultivator, in the future.


    Ju Feng was certain of one thing, with her talent and her acquired materials, Lin Da Xia would definitely become a nascent soul at the least. Faster than most cultivators. No matter her decision.


    But the choice was hers to make.


    Nevertheless, the good thing was that, she had a fortuitous adventure. With the twin spirits fruit and the terran-ore crystals, Da Xia''s adventure was never in vain.


    About the others?  Only time would tell.

 Chapter 126 - Lin Cheung, The Adventurer [I]

    Walking towards the sect''s haven, Ju Feng noticed the frequent side-glances and ocassional regards he was recieving from other disciples, as well as from the acolytes. Disciples and acolytes he didn''t even know by names, all acknowledging his presence, openly or secretly. This was in relation to his encounter with the revenant. An outer disciple who had entered and survived the force-field of a revenant. The news of his near-death experience had spread like wildfire throughout the sect premises. Now, there''s beaconlight on him as an outer disciple.


    "Ah, there''s always a danger in such a fame."


    Ju Feng was half way to the sect''s haven, when he passed by the Youxiu training center of the core disciples. At a corner of the training center, he saw the core disciples'' group of Shao Cheng. With a quick glance through their numbers, all of them were there, except for Su Ming. Quan Zhi was in a mock combat with another core disciple, while Li Ling was testing out a technique on her own.


    Although, the Youxiu area was off limit to the outer and inner desciples, Ju Feng really wanted to check on them and ask about Su Ming. He walked slowly towards them and stopped at the outskirts of the area. Ju Feng noticed the stratospheric level of fame the group appeared to be recieving. If he thought that he was recieving some acknowledgements from the students and the acolytes, the attention that Shao Cheng''s group was recieving, was way more than he could have imagined.


    Everywhere he looked, he could see eyes fixed on the core disciples as if they were celestials. All around them, were regarding eyes, showing respect and appreciative acknowledgement. Afterall, they had used their skills and techniques, to help fight a dangerous ascendant that could have resulted in the death of many students. It was true that fame was a distraction, nonetheless, they truly deserved every bit of it. They could all have easily lost their lives in the encounter. They should be revered, moreover, they were core disciples with the best techniques. The future of the sect.


    "Best techniques! The benefits of being a core disciple."


    He shook his head slightly, and sighed inwardly. Somehow, he had to be a core disciple.


    Shao Cheng noticed Ju Feng and recognizing his face, waved him over to Ju Feng''s utter surprise. This was the core-disciples training area, not to be tresspassed by other disciples. Ju Feng waited to see if Shao Cheng was actually waving him over or waving him off. After confirming that Shao Cheng wanted him to approach, Ju Feng cautiously but steadily, walked over.


    There were some dangerous gazes, non-chalant gazes and mystifying gazes. He turned his attention to the sounded voice of Shao Cheng.


    "Ah, you again. Ju Feng, that''s your name, isn''t it?"


    "Yes, martial brother Shao Cheng. I meet you all well."


    Replied Ju Reng with a cupped hand.


    "Hm. We meet you well too, Ju Feng."


    Said Shao Cheng as he nodded at Ju Feng, as he regarded his state of being. He couldn''t help but wondered at the remarkable recovery of this young kid. The yellow pill that Su Ming gave him must be a treasure indeed. All the same, he had survived an ascendant force-field at the early stage of the Zhuji. How about that?


    "I can tell you need something, Ju Feng. You must know this place is for the core disciples. Any loitering around will draw unnecessary attention. You should be more careful."


    "Yes, I know. I just want to find out if everybody is fine."


    "You mean, if we are still alive? Yes we are, as you can see. And I know you really want to know about Su Ming."


    Said Shao Cheng as he waited for Ju Feng''s confirmation before continuing.


    "She''s recovering well. Should be out by tomorrow."


    "So happy to hear that. I will check on her later to give my thanks. Thanks, martial brother Shao Cheng."


    "Think little of it. By the way, be careful around Su Ming. Quan Zhi is a little bit, protective."


    "I''ll remember that. Thanks martial brother Shao Cheng."


    Returning to his room, Ju Feng decided to check the items he brought back from the forsaken palace. Sitting on the floor, he took out the items and placed them in front of him, one by one.


    Another conchi seed of pure element of fire known as the Flowing-Flame.


    One large yellow-gold crystal known as the mystical order.


    One soul ring.


    One Soul Banishing scroll.


    And one heavenly solitude spirit fruit.


    In truth, the items were more than he had bargained for. Despite not knowing the function or reason for some of the items, he knew they were more than a fortune on their own. Some were heavenly treasures while others were still unknown. He would examine them properly later. He, carefully, put them back in his spatial sac before putting it away. After getting some rest, he headed towards the direction of the training center where he met Chenric and Da Xia. Both were synchronizing to some martial arts move until they saw Ju Feng and came over.


    "Hello Da Xia, Cheung."


    "Hello Ju Feng."


    "We are getting ready earlier for the coming competition. If we don''t get to be core disciples, we should be inner disciples at the least."


    "But the competition is still some miles away."


    Ju Feng voiced in light-hearted manner as he tried to take away the grim seriousness.


    "That''s why we''re training now, Ju Feng."


    With a wry smile on his face, Lin Chenric replied. Paused for a second before continuing.


    "Good things are involved in being one."


    "Hm. I know."


    Ju Feng nodded in agreement.


    "Hello everyone."


    Said Ying Jie as he flashstepped into their midst.


    "Hey, Ying Jie."


    "Sorry I came a bit late. Took care of few things."


    "It''s alright. Now that you''re here."


    "We are simply too weak."


    Lin Cheung suddenly said.


    "Uh?"


    They all asked in reply. Then, Lin Da Xia looked at her brother in confusion and asked.


    "Why did you say so, Cheung?"


    Lin Cheung looked around and shook is head slightly. There was a tinge of helplessness in his eyes as he turned around, staring into the far distance.


    "My time inside the forsaken palace showed me how weak we all are. I accepted the fact that eye of the Crucible was a divine artifact and that the golems were godlike, I still can''t accept what happened inside the forsaken palace. I know it''s all good in the end, but still. The moment I stepped into the forsaken palace, I heard the voice of the giant, Darghek, saying the same words as mentioned by Da Xia. At first, I was also concerned about the whole portals thing, though, I wasn''t scared that much. I knew if the dangers are getting overwhelming, I only had to say the safe word. So I went with it."


    "As soon as my right foot landed, I found myself at the mouth of a yellow mountain, close to another five human kids of my age. From the look of things, they were yet to reach the Zhuji stage. But just like us, they should be at its gates. You are dead right, at first, I was a little surprised and shocked to see them. Moment ago, I was in the palace belonging to an emperor and now, only to find myself at the mouth of a yellow mountain, looking at some kids. Yes, I was surprised. Though, I was a bit taken aback, they were not at all. It was as if it was alright for me to be there."


    "That was a little strange."


    Fu Yingjie uttered.


    "Yes, I thought so too, at first. Then, they beckoned to me to come closer. The five of them, three boys and two girls. Duan Yang, Zeng Wuhan, Dong Jun, Xie Heng and Jia Ai. All human mortals. From the way I was addressed, I think they thought I was from the next village to theirs."


    "Which village was that?"


    Asked Ju Feng.


    "The amber forest village. The village next to theirs, the Twin-Dragon village. On a planet known as Farling."


    "Farling? Never heard of that before."


    "Neither was I before then. Imagine, I was transported to a different world. My shock was more profound but I kept it hidden. From them, I learned about the yellow mountain. Yellow mountains were the homes of the Goutou creatures. Little nasty creatures that love to horde minor treasures. And they believe there were some treasures inside this very mountain. So, with an adventurer''s heart, I followed them and we proceeded into the mountain."


    "The smallest kid, Duan Yang, was extremely good at tracking, hence, he was the one taking the lead. As we entered the mountain, we noticed that forceful torrents of water had run into its depths.

 Chapter 127 - Lin Cheung, The Adventurer [II]

    The force of the corrosive water had left a slantwise crack in the area of limestone at the right part of the mountain while the other areas had shafts scattered with boulders, pebbles and potholes. It had scoured the shaft smooth, burnishing the stone to a more brilliant yellow l.u.s.ter. We bounded from boulder to boulder. I kept up with them despite finding the going more difficult. It was at this time I started noticing their strength. At times, the slope would approach in a vertical part, making them slowed down slightly to readjust their trajectory. I kept up with them by using more chi energy. We continued our journey until we reached a place where the path descended into a pit."


    "A pit?"


    Lin Da Xia asked curiously, with a hint of anger.


    "Though we didn''t know the depth of the pit, Duan Yang, the smallest and the scout, crouched and leapt down the pit."


    "Titan''s torso! Anything could be down there."


    Uttered Fu Yingjie in a whisper.


    "Dead right. At that stage, I wished I had reached the Zhuji stage to be able to use a little bit of spiritual sight. Anyway, we continued watching and waiting to hear from him until he called to us that everything was fine at the bottom. I remembered the saying that, the heart of an adventurer, was that of a leap into the unknown. I totally reasoned with that. I fortified my body with Chi energy, and together with others, jumped into the unknown. I landed a little rough to a gentle laugh from all of us. But we pressed on. We came to a narrow crack, lined with geodes that were winking silver in the light of the bugs that were attached to the mountain walls. Beyond the crack was darkness. One of the kids, the one they called Zeng Wuhan, opened his backsac and took out the hundred manifestation firebug."


    "That was a risk, wasn''t it? If there was something powerful in there, you could have been in mortal danger."


    Said Lin Da Xia, looking at Lin Cheung angrily.


    "Yes, I thought so too. But, after careful delibration, we all agreed with him sending the firebug. The firebug multiplied instantly, and its light filled the whole crack space and beyond. We could see the path was clear and cautiously followed as Duan Yang led the way through the crack and into another cavern, as huge as the one before. There we saw the Goutou creatures. The kids made light work of the Goutou as they anticipated the arrival of mountain spiders, the necrophilias. That was a battle when the giant spiders arrived but we killed them. One thing was glaring to me. The strength of those kids, were mighty in battle. One of them could crush a boulder in a battle with b.a.r.e hands."


    "Heavens tears!"


    Exclaimed Ju Feng as he imagined the scenario before asking no one in particular.


    "Battle-Frenzy talisman? The Berserker Seal? The Godly-Essence technique?"


    "That, I don''t know, Ju Feng. All I know is that they were beyond our level despite being at the same stage. Anyway, after killing the spiders, we heard a splash off in the darkness and the boy, Zeng Wuhan, quickly directed his firebug in that direction as we followed, manouvering our way across the uneven shards of rock. There in front of us in a seperate chamber, was the pile of treasures. It was a lot of gold to be true. Enough gold to make a cultivator''s life easier in a world where resources are harder to find. Enough gold to make a mortal rich for the rest of his or her life. A lot. And it wasn''t just gold, either. There was the occasional flash of other treasures; there were chalices, few swords and all sorts of other items poking out of the pile. The pile was a treasure, but the true treasure was what was under the pile. A golden glowing stone, the size of a head. This made them extremely happy. This was a treasure of their village. They''ll be rewarded."


    "Go on."


    Fu Yingjie said cheerfully.


    "We were actually happy with what we found and we just finished with the sharing, when we heard a giant impact on the ground. We thought it was a quake of the ground until we heard a form of alarm whisper coming from the kid they refered to as Dong Jun."


    "What happened?"


    Asked Da Xia in anticipation as she urged Chenric to continue who quickly obliged.


    "Couple of yards away, there were two feet planted on the ground. The disturbing aspect about these giant feet was that the body to which they were attached wasn''t visible. Not that there was no attached body, exactly; the body was just so massive that we couldn''t see it all in the average light of the bugfire. All you could see was a pair of huge, scaled, greenish feet, each with four toes, each toe sporting a claw the length of an a.d.u.l.t mortal''s arm. Also visible, hanging about fifteen feet off the ground, was a brown mastodon, clutched in a huge, clawed hand."


    "A Shouren? Heavens tears."


    "A Shouren humoid?"


    "And you are still alive?"


    They all asked him at the same time.


    "Yes, very much alive as you can see. And, a very angry Shouren humoid. Maybe because of the missing pile of treasures, the dead Goutou and the spiders or just seeing us in the place. The Shouren was really angry. I was standing near where the treasures were, but instinct made me moved away. The moment I left where I was, the ground exploded in a deafening burst. It was a terran attack that I didn''t even see coming. I could have died right there."


    "How could you have seen it? A Shouren is at the least at the evanesce core stage."


    Fu Ying Jie stared at Lin Cheung before shaking his head.


    "Yes. I was aware of that fact. So, immediately, one of the girls, Xie Heng, threw a mist in front of the giant Shouren. The mist turned blood red as the giant froze in place."


    "The Bloodfrost?"


    Asked Ju Feng in slight shock.


    "You know about the mist?"


    Chenric asked the surprised Ju Feng.


    "Yes. Uncle of mine made mention of it before. Very rare to get. That was a treasure."


    "And we all know that where you find one Shouren humoid, there will be more around. Thus, we decided to run for it. We had only started, when we were cut off by the rest of the Shourens. It was a great battle. From where I was standing, I could see the kids fighting the Shourens, head on. Four Shouren taking on five powerful kids and me. And, we were winning. The two girls had removed one Shouren from the battle. He was down injured. The Shourens were on the back foot, retreating, until a dark glowing Shouren appeared. This one could only be of the Jindan at the least and their leader. Without waiting, the two girls took out two seals and activated them."


    Lin Cheung stopped to make ill.u.s.trations with his hands.


    "Giant pillars of black water formed between us and the Shourens just in time to block the terran attack of the glowing Shouren that shook the entire mountain. Even the girls knew deadly power when they saw one. The fear in their eyes was like a solar flare. We knew that the pillars won''t hold them forever, so, we quickly used our flashsteps, to reach the place where we jumped down before. The loud wailing sound at the distant, was an indication that the pillars had collapsed or will soon do so. All the kids started bounding up. I was about to do the same, when I saw a blue-white light after a narrow crack we didn''t see before. I turned to look at the kids, but they were already out of my sight. I knew the Shourens would soon be after us and we wouldn''t escape them unless we get to into the light of the dsy outside the mountain. I wanted to leave but the blue-white light kept calling to me. It was like a fate I couldn''t escape. So, I decided to check it out. Afterall, the heart of an adventurer is taking the leap into the unknown."


    "That was dangerous and silly risk. How could you do that?"


    Asked Ying Jie, grinning expectantly as he ignored Da Xia''s anger.


    "Well, I reached the source of the light just as the Shourens were reaching the space outside the pit. I was just placing the item in my sacbag when I saw the glowing Shouren, blurring towards my direction. He was passing through the cracks without stopping. He was almost through to me when I uttered the safe word. It was a dangerous move, probably silly too, but I believe it was worthy of the risk."


    "What did you find, Cheung?"


    "What was the source of the blue-white light?"


    "So, what is it? That you almost killed yourself for?"


    "See for yourself, Da Xia."


    Lin Cheung answered and opened his sacbag as others gathered around the bag to see the treasure inside.


    "The Azure Dragonblade!"


    "A blade of unknown nature. Worldly? Heavenly? Luminous? Divine? Nobody knows."


    "Heaven''s tears!"

 Chapter 128 - Fu Ying Jie, Where Are You? [I]

    Ying Jie sat in a lotus position inside his room, removed the two valuable content of his sacbag and began to examine them.


    The  first was the Wyvern Scale spirit fruit that would make his body almost indestructible when facing a jindan level cultivator and below. What a fortuitous encounter this was. Though, he was still far from the stage necessary if he wanted to make any difference concerning his parents, this was a step in the right direction.


    And the second item?


    Never in his wildest dreams, would he ever imagine himself in possession of it. His mind started repeating the events of the forsaken palace. After acquiring the fruit in the garden of the Jade emperor, he remembered the gruesome encounters with the Crucible and the golems. He had never experienced such mind-wrenching confrontation in his life before that. He never even thought he could experience such in this world, yet, he had.


    Nonetheless, he had entered the forsaken palace and everything had frozen around him. Only, his ears were functioning as he heard the words of the giant guardian, Darghek, about appearing in various fruititous, yet, deadly places.


    As his feet landed on the other side, he struggled for a firm hold as they were crunching over the crystal carpet of snow blanketing the ground. A storm had recently battered this area from the feel and look of things. Ying Jie steadied himself before looking around. He was standing on a snowy plain with scattered pine trees covered in snow. Right in front of him, was a road that led to a passage between two small mountains at a distant.


    After taking a closer look, he could guess the passage led to a valley of some sort. With no one around him, he walked with a cautious steady pace in the direction of the valley. As he forged ahead, he noticed another storm that was rolling in with deadly icy wind. But he ignored the slashing wind, clawing at the exposed flesh on the face and hands as he pushed some Chi energy into his outer body.


    An icy wind like this, he could ignore. He remembered when his parents were captured in that cave when he was young and he had to spend many nights shivering in the abandoned caves and desolate valleys as he hid himself from the sinful demons. And they could have caught him, if not for the two elders from his village who happened upon him at the right time.


    He could still remember, like tormenting nightmares, everytime he closed his eyes. Before rising through the ranks of the village''s rising stars, he had fought and impressed with other kids of his village to lay a claim to the village''s susteinance and support. One of the given support, was sending him to the Last-Sword sect. A privilege that came with his position as a rising star.


    With eyes kept on the road ahead, he continued moving forward. Though, he had no idea of where he was heading, yet, he understood that there was a compulsion laid on him to forge ahead.


    The storm and icy winds, were only ephemeral, an illusion brought about by his appearance in an unknown place and a way to make his nature, stronger.


    As he walked on, Ying Jie came to a side of the valley that was a little bit steeper than the rest of the area and was littered with rubbles and some boulders. It sloped down to a strait of a flowing river. On the other side of the strait, were two creatures engaged in a gruesome battle. One was a massive Shadow Raven while the other was a huge White Mountain Crow.


    Ying Jie quickly ducked for cover behind a large boulder before peeping around the boulder to observe the scene before him. The small hills and mountains in the sorroundings of the fighting beasts, had been shattered and the ground was filled with giant slashes and gashes with few bodies of giant birds littering the ground.


    Volants. Air sacred beasts.


    Since they were in their bed forms, it meant they were yet to reach the full transformation stage. Yet, they were still powerful enough to kill him.


    He had to be very careful here. If they sensed his presence nearby, they would be quick to turn on him, though, he would simply use the safe words and leave the place. Still, he had no plan to leave until he was sure of leaving. With extreme caution, he continued to watch and he saw the two battling birds, separated for a moment as they regarded themselves.


    From where he was hiding, he could clearly hear what they were saying as their voices sounded out.


    "Raven!"


    Shouted the giant crow whose feathers were like deadly arrows.


    "Don''t make me do this. We came on this sojourn together based on the agreement we had. I remember a time when the crows and ravens were together as one. Though, we have move our seperate ways, we are still tribes of the same lasting accord. Or, have you forgotten that?


    "Forgotten what?"


    "That any treasure found in the Land of Beyond, would be taken according to the Ways of Lives. That was the rules agreed on between us."


    "Rules? You talk about rules? Hahaha, you made me laugh. You mentioned rules but do you follow the same rules, crow? A tribe for a sojourn? Is that not the rule? And, wasn''t the last sojourn for your tribe? I still remember clearly, in case you''ve forgotten. The Cloud Sword that was inside the dream cave was for your tribe to take, yet, you left it behind. You left it behind not us. That day, was the day of your Way."


    "What was not taken couldn''t be counted. And, you know that!"


    "Know what? Your group was led by Orodian. Have you forgotten what happened? You all abandoned the treasure hunt when you saw the Black Dragon of Dream Cave. You saw the dragon and you ran. You could have stayed and fought, but, you ran. That was your treasure as agreed. If you didn''t take it, your loss. Rules are rules."


    "There are exceptions when no treasure is taken."


    "No exception!"


    Shouted the Raven in a deafening sound as its eyes started to emit shadow energy.


    "Do you want us to settle this now or you want the others including the Thousand-Talon Eagles to meet us here when they arrive? We still have many other sojourns to make together, crow. The Conchi Shell in the realm of the Shadow Shield? That is yours as agreed."


    Unlike most Volants[air sacred beasts], the Thousand-Talon eagles were one of the epitome of the air. Extremely powerful and exceedingly angry. If the cave truly contained a great treasure, they would not hesitate to attack the two of them. The lure of an ancient cave like this would prove too difficult for the other volant sacred beasts to ignore. And, with only the two of them remaning, they could simply be courting death to stay.


    "Do you even know where the Shadow Shield realm is? NO. Move aside Raven, and let me get what belongs to us. I won''t tell you again."


    "A pity then. You have no idea what I am, crow. For the sake of who we once were, I will give you a last chance to leave and live."


    Said the Raven as it turned its back on the Crow.


    "Give yourself the chance to live. You want a battle, you get a battle."


    The impact created huge boulders all over the valley as the two engaged in close combat. Furious energy claws clashed in rapid succession as colossal deadly beaks sought openings to deliver fatal blows.


    After what appeared to be infinite exchange of claws, the Crow let loose a battle cry as it shot into the sky and descended in a yellow terran energy as it aimed its spear-like beak at the head of the Raven. The beak dove through the head of the Raven, burying itself several inches deep.


    With a quick flick of its head, the Crow wrenched its beak from the Raven''s head and watched the Raven with expectant keen eyes. But the Raven didn''t fall to the ground, but instead dissipated into nothingness before re-appearing a few yards back.

 Chapter 129 - Fu Ying Joe, Where Are You? [II]

    "What?!"


    Screamed the Crow in utter shock as it flipped backwards a few yards. It continued to stare at the unscathed Raven in disbelief. He couldn''t believe there was any chance the Raven could do that. A lowly messenger Raven. Was that a life-saving talisman or heavenly grade technique? How could this Raven, even, have a life-saving talisman or know a heavenly grade technique? When it hadn''t reached full-transformation stage.


    "Oh Crow. I told you, you have no idea who I am."


    Voiced the Raven as he transformed into a mortal form. With a wide grin displayed on his face, the Raven slowly shook his head.


    "Titan''s torso!"


    Ying Jie exclaimed in total shock. The raven sacred beast must be at the peak stage of the golden core the least to attain full transformation. For him to be pretending before, could only mean that the treasure they were after was of huge value. The more he thought about it, the more he realized the risk he was in. Ying Jie shook his head to dispel the rational fear he was having, and continued watching.


    In a quick movement, the Crow flapped his wings and tried to flee. But the shadow raven initiated his own technique, a freezing shadow technique that gripped the Crow and held it one place as the Raven arrived in front of it. In a twirling wind of shadow hurricane, the raven delivered a vicious killer blow with a hooked talon that sliced horizontally across across the crow''s belly, cutting it into two in a long, wide gash.


    A single-blow kill?


    Surely, a Yinlong martial master, at the least. What type of treasure could he be after inside the cave? Ying Jie was still pondering on the content of the cave, when he heard the voice of the Raven and quietly peeked.


    He saw the Raven looking at the eyes of the dead Crow before talking.


    "Do you even know what is inside this cave? How could you have known about the Deathless-God armor, anyway? A armor that, for the eternal beyond, could be used for everything on this plane. Even, for the heavenly ascension tribulation. You were here because of the new, day blood of the sacred ravens and crows needed to be pour on the threshold around the armor. Anyway, you''ve served your purpose."


    The Deathless-God armor? Ying Jie asked himself in wonder. The wearer couldn''t be killed in combat on the mortal plane, once it was worn. Even, if the soul was trapped by a more powerful opponent, the soul would still escape the confinement. Unless, the soul was banished with a total grade heavenly soul-banishing scroll or a luminous scroll.


    As he was pondering in bewilderment, the shimmering energy sorrounding the cave, exploded outwards. And, a tall dark fairy, twice his own size and was carrying a black and red spear. His black eyes had red irises which were emitting dangerous death energy.


    A Death Imither!


    Death imithers. Nascent souls creatures of the ascendant level. They were created from pure death energy in the realm of Ogitha. So powerful and deadly, that they were forever isolated from other realms. But, they had allies. The Xue Kus. Equally powerful and extremely deadly.


    "Who dares enter the land of the Eternal-Cave without permission?"


    The imither demanded in a loud voice as he examined the damages caused to the area. He couldn''t believe what his eyes were seeing. The whole place had been destroyed on his watch.


    "What?!"


    Tilting his head to the side, his eyes became narrowed. It was as if he was finding it difficult, trying to process the level of the destruction he was seeing. With eyes blazing red in anger, the imither gripped his humming spear tightly with his right hand before pointing the tip at the Raven.


    "A forsaken Raven caused all these?! I. Am. The. Guardian!"


    The spear of the imither whirled and spun, lashing out with quick, ferocious strikes that caused the air to sizzle and wail as it turned dark green.


    Death necrosis.


    The raven, now in mortal form, moved in lightning speed as he countered the incoming strikes by dodging and redirecting each attack with the giant sabre in his hand. He was on the back foot as the strikes of the imither continued to come in quick and deadly succession. After several strike exchanges, the raven twisted away, slashing out with his sabre as he sent out two shadow blade lights. The imither slashed through the blade lights but the extra space allowed the raven to retreat backward for a few yards.


    "Heaven''s forsaken imither."


    The mortal raven jumped high into the air as shadow energy covered on his body in a shimmer before turning into a massive mortal figure in an obsidian shadow armor with a raven head, raven wings and raven claws. His true nascent soul. He threw himself forward before transitioning into a forward flip that contort the airspace as shadow ripples were formed. At the same time he twisted in the air before descending as his shimmering sabre tore the fabrics of space in huge unctrollable ripples.


    The Shadow Assunder Descent.


    The Hallowed Death Realm.


    The collision was of heavenly proportion. Two entities who were beyond the golden core stage.  They could well be knocking on the nascent soul stage. The sky was covered in dark shadow and death energy as the vicinity was thrown into complete darkness.


    Few minutes after the darkness receeded, the two entities couldn''t be located but they could still be sensed, spiritually. Both of them had entered the spirit realm, but, could be returning soon.


    Fu Yingjie quickly left his hiding space behind the boulder and sourced for the blood of the ravens and crows before speeding towards the vacant cave. It didn''t take him long to locate the armor and poured the blood along the threshold around the armor to claim the armor. As he finished saying the safe word, he heard a powerful energy explosion outside the cave. But, he was already back in the forsaken garden before he could see what caused the explosive sound.


    Fu Yingjie quickly left his hiding space behind the boulder and sourced for the blood of the ravens and crows before speeding towards the vacant cave. It didn''t take him long to locate the armor and poured the blood along the threshold around the armor to claim the armor. As he finished saying the safe word, he heard a powerful energy explosion outside the cave. But, he was already back in the forsaken garden before he could see what caused the explosive sound.


    Although anything and everything could have gone wrong, he knew he had no choice. He would take anything and everything to help him free his parents.


    Recollecting his mind, Fu Yingjie put the items back in his sacbag before standing up. He gently smoothened his bed and quietly lay down. The following day, when he would tell them about his own adventure, he would ask them for help. Especially, Ju Feng. He would ask Ju Feng, if Ju Feng''s demigod mother and the uncle he was talking about, could help him with his parents. He couldn''t wait to tell them and see their reactions in particular. He closed his eyes and slept soundly with a renewed hope for the future.


    The following day, when he would tell them about his own adventure, he would ask them for help. Especially, Ju Feng. He would ask Ju Feng, if Ju Feng''s demigod mother and the uncle he was talking about, could help him with his parents. He couldn''t wait to tell them and see their reactions in particular. He closed his eyes and slept soundly with a renewed hope for the future. The following morning he related his own adventure to them and their reactions were truly wonderful.


    "The Deathless-God armor."


    They all exclaimed in complete shock, when they saw it inside Fu Yingjie''s sacbag.


    "Eternal beyond!"


    "A total grade heavenly treasure? Heavens tears on my head."


    "And you saw an imither? Titan''s torso."


    "Are you sure you are not dead yet?"


    "Really, you were courting death."


    Ying Jie watched their bemused and happy faces as they rejoiced with him. He couldn''t ask them for help in regards to his parents yet. As he didn''t want to spoil their happy days. He would wait and find a good time to that. Now, wasn''t the right time.


    After their day together, the two siblings, Lin Cheung and Lin Da Xia, went towards the training center while Fu Yingjie walked with Ju Feng towards the library.


    "Ju Feng. You said you want to know more about the Conchi Shell."

 Chapter 130 - Fated Death [I]

    A conchi shell in the realm of Shadow-Shield! In the land of Beyond? Another immortal seed of the Adi-Buddhas. From the information he recieved from Ying Jie, it looked as if the shell could only contain the Dusk-Shadow bead. One of the luminous six beads of the Bodhi tree. A tempting situation. But where there was an immortal seed, there would also be a Principal. A powerful entity made solely from pure elemental energy.


    Forsaken entities.


    He could clearly remember the appearance of the water Principal. And, the mighty sword that could have, cleanly, severed his head from his body. And then, the fire hydra. He knew he had already pushed his fortune with the elemental guardians of the Star-Tide and Flowing-Flame beads. In the future, he might not be so fortunate with the dangers of looking for another bead. Luminous treasure or not, immortal seed or not, he would definitely not be searching for any of the beads in the foreseeable future. Any attempt in the near future, would simply be him courting death.


    Unless, he was powerful enough to face a mighty Principal, which he didn''t see happening in the predictable future. Especially, now, that he was already walking in the shadow of an inevitable death. Ah, shadow of death! He had been walking in the shadow of death all his life but this one was different. He recollected the words of the Worldly Oracle, just before she faded away.


    "The words I''ve spoken are not of my volition. On you, hand of fate is locked with the hand of death. A fated-death, that''s what you have. When it comes, you will know."


    He would know? What if he were to wake up tomorrow and suddenly knew he was going to die the very day? What time would he have to prepare for his imminent death? Should he even tell his family about all this? How would they recieve the information, especially his mother?


    Ah, Fated Death!


    Ominous declaration of a death that must be, through the mouth of an oracle. A destined death that was unavoidable by a universal decree. One way or another, he would have to die. And not just any death, but that particular fated death. Even with a protective treasure like the Deathless-God armor, he would still die the fated-death. What a life?


    While Ying Jie was busy going through the records on the Deathless-God armor, Ju Feng decided to check the information on fated-deaths. The information he found, were the same with what he already knew. He would die.


    After having enough of the sorrowful day, Ju Feng left the library and headed towards the male dormitory. He was lost in thoughts as he walked and almost barged into one of the school acolytes who had to use a bit of his energy to push Ju Feng away. His annoyance was evident in his expression.


    "Watch where you''re going, disciple."


    "Sorr... sorry, senior."


    Replied Ju Feng as he bowed with a cupped hand. He quickly gathered his thoughts. He was so lost in his own mind that he wasn''t paying any attention to his immediate sorroundings. Not a very good sign at all. That was the same way he barged into the force-field of the revenant. The acolyte observed Ju Feng for a moment before sighing. His anger had receeded to the ignorance of the disciple. What was the point in punishing him for that? He was in a happy mood due to the luminary week and the kid appeared to be genuinely unaware and apologetic about the whole situation.


    "Just be careful next time, you don''t want to be barging into people like that."


    "Yes, senior. Thank you."


    Ju Feng said and watched the acolyte departed in relief. Oh, that was too loose of him. He continued staying in one place as he raised his head to the sky, observing its glory. He was interrupted by elder Wang Xiu who had been watching the whole scene, quietly, from afar. A disciple of hers whose help she would be needing in the near future. She continued to examine Ju Feng with her inherited ancestral-bloodline''s sense. She had been sensing a dark cloud on Ju Feng''s soul since leaving the forsaken palace. Something definitely happened to him inside that place that left a gloomy mark on his soul.


    "Haven''t you had enough of the sky already, young one?"


    "Elder... Wang."


    Ju Feng said while bowing his head with a cupped hand.


    "This disciple greet you."


    "Hm. Walk with me."


    "Yes, elder Wang."


    After walking in silence for few minutes, elder Wang Xiu cleared her throat and glanced at Ju Feng.


    "Mm. Now tell me, what is going on with you?"


    "With me? What do you mean, elder Wang?"


    Asked Ju Feng in reply as confusion was written all over his face. What was going on with him staring at the sky or for standing in one spot? Probably, for almost barging into the acolyte?


    "I noticed a cloud over your soul, Ju Feng. A little too strong cloud. What is troubling you?"


    A cloud? Over his soul? Realization dawned on him as remembered the ancestral bloodline trait of elder Wang Xiu. She could see immediate things that were related to the soul. Ju Feng sighed deeply in resignation before answering solemnly.


    "Ah. This, I couldn''t hide from you, elder Wang Xiu. To tell you the truth, elder Wang Xiu, there was a worldly oracle I met at the forsaken palace. She told me about a fated-death."


    "Heavens tears! A fated-death?"


    "Yes, elder Wang. My fated-death."


    "Yours? And you didn''t bother to let me know?"


    Asked elder Wang Xiu in utter shock and annoyance. Despite the fact that she would be needing him in the near future, he was still her direct disciple. An important disciple. So, how could he have a death he couldn''t escape?


    "Do you even know what that means, Ju Feng?"


    "Yes, elder Wang. That I must die."


    "Sorrowful heaven. That is no joke. No wonder how lost you were in thoughts, no wonder the cloud I saw on your soul. But, a dark cloud? That was a sign of uncertainty in a soul''s reincarnation. That powerful death? Sorrowful heavens. Quickly, come with me. We must seek the grand elder."


    Elder Wang Xiu led Ju Feng towards the sect''s haven as she sent out her mind connection to the grand elder. She knew grandelder along with some elders and avolytes, was recieving honored guest, but she hoped he would be able to spare her a minute or so.


    "Elder Wang Xiu."


    "Forgive my intrusion, grand elder. I know you are busy now, but if you have a second to spare later, you need to see this."


    ***


    It was the annual free and happy week for the sect members to practically enjoy themselves, but without breaking any sect rule. The only week in the sec''s year that members of the sect could decide not to do anything but recline, or hold and participate in one form of activity or the other. As the disciples, the acolytes and some of the elders, entertained themselves with various forms of exploits, the sect''s heirarchy was also recieving different honored guests. This was the main reason for the luminary week.


    Planet Lorra, was an ancient world. One of the first major worlds created during the expansion and it was one of the first to be occupied. At a time when few worlds had only been sparsely occupied, planet Lorra was already occupied. The Last-Sword sect was already established in this world by this time. The sect was here, as a first of its kind, when the world was still under one emperor, the first Jade emperor, who was also a friend of the sect''s ancestral patriarch.


    The luminary week was to celebrate the long term existence of the Last-Sword sect and its peaceful friendship with others, especially the equally ancient ones. Just as it was with the tradition of the Last-Sword sect, it recieved the notable guests from different places, every year.


    And like every year, honored guests had been coming-in from all over the continent and other worlds through out the week. Gifts were brought, also rare and expensive ones were exchanged. All these honored guests, were attended to by the grandelder. Only few of the honored guests, required the attention of the sect''s patriarch. But, the sect''s patriarch had been unavailable for many years now after sealing himself inside the Never-Ending immortal cave. That made the responsibility, of recieving all the guests, fall on the grandelder.


    ***


    And on this day, the grandelder was recieving one of the few uppermost guests, stellar Wind-Eternal, a true ascendant who was more powerful than most hegemons. Despite his power surpassing the threshold of the mortal plane, he had found a way to have balance and avoided being pushed out of the mortal plane. After his heavenly tribulations, he rejected ascension to the heavenly plane. Hence, he became an hegemon.

 Chapter 131 - Fated Death [II]

    However, since he wasn''t a world ruler, he would be addressed as a stellar, instead of a monarch or emperor[monarch was a title taken by a ruler of a continent in a world with more than one continent and one ruler, while emperor was the title taken by the only ruler of a world]. He was the patriarch of the Sky-Sunder sect in the floating city of Sincho on the Anchu planet.


    "Stellar Wind-Eternal, I know very well that our patriarch would love to see you before you leave. Please, allow me to get in touch with him, if you''ll permit."


    "No need for that grandelder. You have recieved me well. I knew my friend was in complete solitary meditation before coming here. I simply wanted to walk around that was why I came here myself. As you know, if I wanted to contact him before coming, I would have easily done that but that would have been a dent on him."


    Replied stellar Wind-Eternal. He paused for few seconds as he went through some information in his head with his gaze on the floor. He looked at the bowing maids and  acolytes and sighed. Even the elders were under struggle to remain upright. This was after he had completely masked his aura and totally reduced his energy emission. He shook his head and turned to the grandelder.


    "Ascension tribulation is a dangerous and deadly feat. Whether you want to ascend to the heavenly plane or reject ascension to become an hegemon, you must not fail the ascension tribulations. If not, you''ll become a loose cultivator with numbered years to live unless you find the Jade-Dragon Spirit fruit. High preparation is needed to undergo the tribulations. Let him be, we will see, another time."


    "Yes, stellar Wind-Eternal."


    "Let me get going now. I thank you for my good reception. More than I expected."


    "You are too kind, honored stellar Wind-Eternal. Your visit is more than pleasant to us."


    It was at this time that the mind-voice of elder Wang Xiu sounded in the grandelder''s own mind. This wasn''t the right time to be interrupted, not when he was recieving an important guest like the stellar Wind-Eternal. Nevertheless, he knew there must be something of significance for her to be contacting him at this time.


    "Elder Wang Xiu."


    "Forgive my intrusion, grand elder. I know you are busy now, but if you have a second to spare later, you need to see this."


    "True, not the right time. You can come by later when I''m through."


    "I''m already on my way, grandelder."


    "Alright. Stay around, I will see you when I''m through."


    "Uh?"


    Stellar Wind-Eternal who was about to take his leave, stirred as wind of divinity reached him and he raised his head in surprise. The words of an oracle had gone forth, a world oracle at the least. An oracle of such calibre wasn''t that easy to come by at all. Utterances of an imminent death that must happen. He turned to the grandelder who was cautious of the surprise look on the stellar''s face.


    "What is the matter, stellar Wind-Eternal?"


    "A fated-death."


    "A fated-death?"


    "Yes, grandelder. A fated-death. Through your mind connection, I could sense the wind of divinity. Whoever is on the other side of your connection must be related to the fated-death."


    "Elder Wang Xiu?"


    The grandelder asked himself a little bit aloud. Realizing this, he quickly turned to stellar Wind-Eternal apollogetically.


    "Sorry for the trouble with this, stellar Wind-Eternal. We''ll address this as soon as possible."


    "It''a alright. Perhaps, I can be of assistance."


    "That, I can''t ask of you, honored stellar Wind-Eternal."


    "It will be my p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to be of help, grandelder. Now, let''s take a look and see."


    Stellar Wind-Eternal retraced the wind pattern and having located elder Wang Xiu and Ju Feng, flicked his finger and both of them were pulled into a wind portal and re-manifested right in front of the stellar and grandelder, inside the haven.


    Ju Feng fell on his knees and bowed his head in total compulsion. Elder Wang Xiu bowed her head in front of much more superior power before raising it after some struggle with herself.


    Even the grandelder nodded his head in acknowledgement of true power. He looked at the stellar who was examining the two in front of him. How could he trace his, grandelder''s own, mind connection? He could accept the wind portal since he knew the stellar was a wind affiliated cultivator of the hegemon level, but this displays together, were still a power apart.


    "How profound are the ways of the universe. Sometimes sorrowful and sometimes joyful."


    Stellar Wind-Eternal said, shaking his head.


    "Terrible fate you have, young one. A fated-death is on you, but this you already know. Yes, your death was arraigned and your death has been uttered. Nothing can change your death, that''s certain enough. But, your death is not now."


    His death was not now! Ju Feng couldn''t contain his total relief as he heard those words. He would die, but not now. His family and his friends, they would still see him for a longer time?


    Heavens tears on his head!


    Through the corner of his eye, Ju Feng glanced at the back of the leaving Stellar Wind-Eternal. That was an extremely powerful cultivator who could have used a flying treasure or even a portal, yet, he preferred to walk like a mortal. More so, he was more than concerned about him, who was just reaching the Zhuji stage, in regards to his fated-death.


    As he was deep in contemplation, he recollected seeing something in the honoured stellar''s eyes while he was addressing him. Though for a fraction of a second, it appeared to be something of a recognition. Could it be a flash of the memory of a past? Or maybe it was just his own Zhuji''s mind displaying a ruse on him. Yet, he could have sworn he saw something he thought was an accreditation in the stellar''s eyes.


    After the departure of Stellar Wind-Eternal, Ju Feng heaved a sigh of relief as he stared at the life-stone in his hand. This was a farewell gift of a great significance, from a diviner who happened to know the impact and true extent of a fated-death. Although, it couldn''t prevent his imminent death, the lumence stone could tell him how close his death was, after the honoured stellar had linked it to his life-force.


    With a smile of relief on his face, Ju Feng decided to go back to his room. There were still many more days to go before the luminary week would come to an end. More so, his friends were all busy with their own at the moment. Hence, it would be the right time for him to visit planet Charat. He was just hoping they hadn''t gone to his hillock to check for him. It would be a strangely suspicious sight if they couldn''t find him inside, when they knew he should be, especially after his heavenly tribulations.


    How would he explain it to them after re-appearing again? They might even think that he was a daemon or a member of another school, who could open a portal inside their protective arrays. That would be a scenario he wouldn''t want to be in at all.


    He was just turning to leave, when he saw Su Ming coming out from the other side of the haven. The true martial sister Su Ming, who had sacrificed a rare pill of hers to save his life. A debt he hoped he would be alive long enough to repay. The more she came into view, the more he realized something looked different about her appearance. Was it a more vibrant aura? Thinking faster, he recollected that he had also experienced this vibrant aura before. It was an aura of advancement in the stages of cultivation.


    Had she advanced as a result of her near death experienced with the revenant?


    Ju Feng''s rapid hand wave caught her attention prompting her to slow down her movement as she turned her head in his direction. She stopped as the realization of Ju Feng''s identity finally dawned on her.


    That outer disciple?


    Su Ming flicked her hand as an indication to approach. Ju Feng quickly flashstepped towards her. Su Ming gave a slight shake of her head as she acknowledged Ju Feng. There was something about him that kept nagging at the back of her mind. Anyway, just like herself, this was somebody who had reached the threshold of death but had survived to tell the tale. Wasn''t it a great feeling to be alive?

 Chapter 132 - A Dreamy Mind [I]

    "Still alive?"


    "Thanks to you, martial sister. If not for you, I wouldn''t be here today. You saved my life."


    With a cupped fist extended forward, Ju Feng gave her a slight bow.


    "Think nothing of it."


    With a shrug of her shoulders, Su Ming waved away his comment, casually.


    "You needed help and I helped. Simple as that."


    Ju Feng shook his head in a strong conviction before staring at the sky. Light of Radia was never a simple matter. He could have easily entered the light and be on his way to reincarnation. The moment he entered the revenant''s force-field, he knew he was in mortal danger. He had lost total consciousness and there were memory gaps he couldn''t even fill. Those were the signs of the threshold of death. For him to recover and avoid walking the path of reincarnation was no simple thing at all.


    "No martial sister, reincarnation is not as simple as that. I could have died without me even knowing it. Words alone can''t express how happy and grateful I am for what you did, Shijie. A debt I hope to repay one day."


    "Think nothing of it. All that matters is that you are alright now."


    "And for that, I thank you, martial sister."


    "Don''t sweat on it. It was simply the necessary thing to do."


    Something in the distance caught her attention. She turned her gaze towards it for a moment before returning her focus on Ju Feng. She could feel the scrutinizing eyes of Ju Feng as he tried to decipher the changes in her aura. With an easy smile on her face, she gave a mild shrug of her shoulders.


    "I guess it''s all about a higher soul''s stage. Well, I have to go now, so much to do. See you later then. And, try not to die soon since you got a debt to repay."


    "Thank you, martial sister. I will. See you later too."


    With a smile on his face, Ju Feng headed towards the male dormitory. So, Su Ming had truly advanced as he suspected. That meant there could be benefit in death experiences, though, he would prefer not to have any death experience. The risk of reincarnation was greater than the benefit of advancement.


    He entered his room and gently locked the door, securely, behind him. With the weight of the fated-death and of a living Su Ming, lifted off him temporarily, he felt himself a little tired. Falling heavily on his bamboo bed, he decided to rest a bit, before heading for Charat planet. As soon as he closed his eyes, he was transported into the world of dreams.


    Just as before, Ju Feng found himself sitting on a floating cloud while observing a raging event unfolding before him. He was like a phantom presence who was observing a scene from a memory. The terrible scene he was witnessing appeared to be the continuation of the one concerning those two entities he saw before in his dreams. Two beasts of unknown origin to him but of immense power and size. One was a wyvern who was residing inside a raging cloud, while the other was a devonian armoured turtle that was staying inside the water.


    Unlike the last time he was here, now, there were many spatial rifts and tears that were causing the gradual destruction of the fabrics of this world. Was this how a world could easily be destroyed? The moment he turned to observe the massive turtle who was half way submerged in the water, he was instantly absorbed into the turtle''s spirit domain. In spite of it being a dreamworld, he appeared to be roiling from the intense power of the turtle. Inside this place, was the engraved memory of the ancient turtle.


    ''I, Zothikos, stood there awaiting the end of my world as the raging cosmic void encircled it. Such a sad and lonely life it had been for me for billions of years. A life that was now ending by the power of the Cosmic Void Rift seal. A forbidden seal used by my ancient nemesis, Fotios, in his desperate attempt to have what never belonged to him. For billions of years, he had been a bane in my existence, a bane which I had come to accept in accordance with the laws of this universe.


    I was never a creature of this universe. I was a voidbeast, the same as my nemesis, Fotios. During the explosion that created the Alpheron and Ominu cores, there were other reactions in the void too. The particles of matter in the void formed other cores and one of the cores formed my universe, Hypagus. A universe that was made up of many worlds. It was one Hypabeast to one world with the strongest taking the biggest world. Despite this, there was a relative peace in our universe until the coming of an extremely powerful entity alongside few other shadowy entities. This particular shadowy creature who appeared to be the leader had no particular form or variation but had a whole massive creation''s core at the centre of its existence.


    There was a colossal war between us and this shadowy entities that lasted many years. The Hypagus core tried as much as possible to seal them off, but they were exceedingly powerful. After many years of battle, this leading shadowy entity made a single move that eventually caused the destruction of my universe. A universe that took creation millions of years to achieve, about to be brought to total annihilation by this dangerous entity.


    Some of us escaped before the total destruction of our universe. I, and a few others, decided to seek shelter in this very universe since it had energy that was similar to ours while the rest sought abode in other universes. One of the others that came with me, was Fotios. A wyvern who had his world next to mine when we were still in Hypagus.

 Chapter 133 - A Dreamy Mind [II]

    When we arrived in this universe, we met the guardians. A set of exceedingly powerful beings who called themselves, the primordial divines. They too had encountered this shadowy figure. From their explanation of the entity, we came to know that this universe was one of the first creation. The entity found it impossible to conquer the Alpheron core. Together with the divines, the core had managed to rebuff it''s aggression, hence, we made the decision to stay in this place. It was far safer than any other place in the universe.


    However, there were two of rules we had to follow, if they were to allow us into the universe. These were rules we could live with, after careful consideration. First rule was not to kill any living entity in this universe without a just cause. Second was to fight alongside the divines whenever it was necessary since it would be our universe too in the nearest. And if we were to accept, we would have worlds of our own. A world to a Hypabeast and these worlds were closer to the primordial holes. Since we were not a killing type, this agreement we readily accepted.


    We were here during the great wars of the primordials between the primordial divines and the primordial beasts. Though, some of our chaotic brethren were with the primordial beasts, we never indulged in any confrontational battle between us, as we fought alongside the divines. Our core values wouldn''t allow us to wallow in killing. And after the last battle, we did our possible best to help the divines in creating the cosmic seals that blocked off the primordial holes. We never wanted another battle that would force us to kill. With seals done, we returned to our worlds to live peacefully. And this peace continued until one day when a crystal with immeasurable power, arrived in my world.


    On this fateful day, I was roaming about in my world when my nemesis, Fotios, appeared right in front of me to taunt me as usual. He had just arrived in my world through an opened portal, when a crystal entered my world through the closing portal. I was the quickest to react and with a flick of my hand, I caught the crystal. The moment my hand closed around the crystal, there was a massive energy surge that got me reeling in absolute shock. It was then that I realized the nature of the crystal in my hand.


    I took a glance at Fotios and saw recognition in his eyes. He too had guessed what the crystal was and there was more anger and hatred in his eyes. I still remembered his first words to me that day.''


    "Zothikos, hand over the crystal. It followed me through the portal and by its right, belonged to me. Now, hand it over."


    ''That was the beginning of Fotios'' obsession with the crystal. For many millions of years, he had been devising means to take the crystal from me. Though, he was an irritation and I regularly chased him away, any intention of killing him had never crossed my mind. Now, I watched as my nemesis had finally abandoned the values of his existential core and succ.u.mbed to the dark side of chaos. He had finally decided to destroy me through the cosmic void rift seal. How he came about this, I had no idea but I knew something was amiss.


    Yet, there was nothing I could do now. The end of all these was near. With my impending death at the corner, I would have to seal my memory in a spatial dimension and hope it would sift through the void rift. Only a truesoul would be able to find its existence. For I know that since I wasn''t an entity of this universe, my soul essence would have to make the journey back to my home universe for a time of rebirth in limbo. If it was still in existence. ''


    As Ju Feng continued to watch, the turtle''s head suddenly turned in his direction, staring him dead in the eyes.


    "You."


    Ju Feng''s gaze was held by the turtle''s glowing eyes. He tried to turn his head but couldn''t. The turtle''s eyes suddenly released a gust of powerful energy blast that knocked Ju Feng off the floating cloud, into the fiercely cold water. But just as his body was touching the water, Ju Feng woke up with a big jolt, sitting upright with his hands still shielding his body.


    What was he even rambling about? Sometimes, dreams could have ways of disarranging the minds. He rembered when he first had the dream about the two enemy beasts. At first he thought it was just a simple dream, but now, he was too sure about that anymore. But that was a dream he wouldn''t want to have again.


    Well, time to go to Charat.


    He sat down in a lotus position and placed the pagoda in front of him. He sent his energy into it. He watched as the pagoda grew into an average sized door like before. This door was a risk if seen by anyone when he wasn''t around, Ju Feng thought. He would have to think of a way to avoid this. In the meantime, he simply had to go to Charat planet. His house master would surely be expecting him to come out of seclusion by now. He shouldn''t delay any further.


    Standing before the portal door, he turned his head to take a look at his room. He knew He wouldn''t be coming back until the luminary week was over. He had so much to do on the other world. With a great anxiety, he stepped through the portal door.

 Chapter 134 - The Circle Of One [I]

    Emerging into his small storage chamber, Ju Feng quickly look around in order to confirm his location. After a moment of observation, he nodded his head in confirmation as he regained his familiarity with the place. Most importantly, the storage chamber of his hillock was still in the same way he had left it. Which meant that nobody had been inside his storage chamber, the most important part of his hillock.


    First time entering his hillock, the attention of an outsider would be focused on the living chamber rather than the storage chamber. He just had to pack the storage room full of farm products in order for him to mask the location of the portal door. Although it''s appearance was just like the storage wall when inactive, a much more powerful cultivator could easily detect strings of energy coming from its direction. But for disciples and anyone less than the Jindan stage, it wouldn''t be possible for them to detect.


    It was definitely a good thinking on his part in placing the portal door seal on the wall of the storage chamber.


    He made his way to the living chamber where everything was also the way he had left it. He checked the lock behind the entrance door and found it still securely locked. Unless an elder or a savant had invisibly entered, this surely meant that nobody had been inside his hillock. Or, a disciple who was strong enough to enter without touching the lock and was careful enough to leave everything the way they were? He didn''t think so.


    He quickly opened his spatial sac and removed the sect''s disciples blue robe. Checking himself after donning the robe, he nodded in satisfaction. With a heave of soothing relief, Ju Feng unlocked the stone door.


    Stepping outside, Ju Feng raised his head and with his eyes closed, took in a lungful of fresh air. Circulating the air in his lungs, he slowly exhaled and opened his eyes. Being able to take-in fresh air while staring at the beautiful sky in another world, was an evidence of the importance of being alive. No life in death, only reincarnation. His mind wandered off for a second before he recollected himself.


    "Ah, planet Charat!"


    The soul refreshing air of this world felt like that of his home planet. This place was beginning to feel like home too. Opening his eyes, he lowered his head and observed his surroundings. The chains of hillocks which served as their homes as disciples, was a welcomed sight to him.


    "The Flowing-Sanctum!"


    Standing transfixed outside his hillock, Ju Feng continued to revel in the fact that he could travel between the two places he could relate to. His parents would have loved to see this one day. Oh, the surprise looks that would be displayed on their faces. He still remembered how utterly shocked he was when he first came here through the door. Ah, he never imagined he would have experienced such in this life when his own mother and grandparents had never left planet Lorra before and after he was born. Yet, here he was.


    But for now, he had to survive in this world and be able to stand on his own. Well, if he lived long enough. He shrugged his shoulders and turned towards the direction of the Lightning-Reach''s hall. He had come to accept his fate but the good thing was that this fate was still far away. As long as he would die quietly.


    While examining his immediate environment more keenly, he slowly made his way to the hall of the Lightning-Reach. He was now seeing the area in a different light which manifested the massiveness of the sect as a whole. Reaching the outskirts of the area, he stopped as he saw the lightning disciples training fervently in two groups under the supervision of the assistant masters. First assistant master was in charge of Yan Zhihao''s group and the second assistant master was supervising the second group.


    The level of the disciples'' strength was indeed incredible to behold. Despite his own strong nature from birth, he would have to use a high amount of Chi energy to get closer to matching his fellow disciples in strength. Even then, the outcome would be a far cry. He recalled the strength level of the outer disciples which he could barely match. Mighty strength. Indeed remarkable or perhaps, ridiculous?


    He was still thinking of how he was ever going to relate to them in strength when he suddenly remembered his talisman. The Mountain-Bark talisman. He almost forgot about it again. He quickly reached into his spatial sac and removed the talisman, putting it on himself. Would this be enough? He could only hope so.


    Still looking at the training disciples, he contemplated whether to join them or wait this one out. He decided not to disturb their training and wait it out. He would stay in one corner and watch their practise. Maybe he would see how he could fit into their midst.


    But his presence was already caught by the assistant masters who directed the two groups of disciples to stop their training. The assistant masters waited silently for couple of seconds for him to join them, but to no avail. Then, the second assistant master slowly turned towards Ju Feng''s direction and calmly asked.


    "Are you not joining the rest, young one?"


    Ah, spiritual sense! Realizing the assistant master was addressing him, he quickly came forward in a pretended eagerness and bowed deeply to the two assistant masters. They should not see his apprehension in a bad light.


    "Assistant masters."


    "Hm."


    "Hm."


    The two assistant masters acknowledged him with nods of approval in return. The second assistant master, stared at Ju Feng before smiling.


    "We were wondering when you''ll eventually show up, young one. And here you are. In a good mood. That''s the spirit of advancement. Isn''t that wonderful?"


    "Yes it is, assistant master."


    Ju Feng smilingly bowed as he answered but his heart was already accelerating. So, there was no way he was going to watch the day''s training without participating in it. He had planned to see how he could learn from their ways before he would join them. But now, he would put in the centre of it as the newest disciple.


    "Why don''t you take a moment with other disciples first. We''ll continue after that."


    The first assistant master quipped in after a moment of silently observing Ju Feng.


    Ju Feng happily exchanged greetings with other disciples. It seemed like many years ago he had seen them last. They were his immediate martial brothers and sisters in this sect. Basically, they were his first family in here. While he greeted Yan Zhihao, Ju Feng noticed the worried look on his face. What could be the problem with him? As he was about to ask Yan Zhihao what the worried look was about, Yan Zhihao quickly uttered to him.


    "Be ready."


    "Uh?"


    Ju Feng exclaimed quietly. What should he be ready for? He was about to ask Yan Zhihao what he meant about that when he heard the voice of the first assistant master.


    "Come forward, Ju Feng."


    "Today is your first day in training. As a new disciple, you''ll be having your group foundational training, now. It''s a very important training that all new disciples must undergo. This is the tradition."


    The first assistant master made a series of hand seals and a large circle of symbols formed around Ju Feng. As he stood there, at the centre of the training ground, the words of Yan Zhihao came rushing back to him. Was this what ha had to be prepared for? He didn''t know the type of training that was awaiting him but he sensed it must be more than a common one. He couldn''t leave anything to chance, especially after being tipped.


    Promptly, he pushed a high amount of Chi energy into his body from his dantian through his meridians. The Chi was making his meridians to throb greatly which made his body veins to vibrate endlessly. With all his effort, he was holding the Chi energy inside his body while staring at the first assistant master.


    "The Circle-Of-One."


    Said the first assistant master as he signalled the ten core disciples who rapidly surrounded the circle. After confirming their positions around the circle, the first assistant master continued.


    "Around the circle are your enemies and your allies. You can call on your friends to help you out by touching them or other discreet means. If you touch your enemy, you could be dead. If you shout, you could also attract the interest of your enemies.  Which ones are your friends and which ones are your foes is for you to differentiate. Don''t forget, you call on your friends, you could be saved. But if you call on your enemies, you could be dead. This will be your first training and a very important one for what it takes. Watch out and be careful. Commence!"

 Chapter 135 - The Circle Of One [2]

    Immediately after those words, a large phantom clawed hand appeared before Ju Feng who quickly raised his own palms as his Chi energy bust forth from his palm and managed to block it on time before it could reach his c.h.e.s.t cavity. The blow seemed light but the impact was heavy on him. It was as if he was hit with a titan''s hammer. He wasn''t like the disciples of this world. His body wasn''t on their level of strength. If not for the talisman and him fortifying his own body with great amount of Chi, he could have been gravely injured.


    The phantom claw retracted into an invisible space on the right hand side of the circle causing energy flickering around the area. The invisibility mirage slowly faded away, to reveal a Scavenlike creature but with bigger claws and incredible body strength. Large yellow eyes on a flickering black body that was sparsely dotted in yellow colour. A Tinogoth Feral. He had only heard of them but never faced one before. Harbingers of death, they were called. Its large yellow eyes were still fixed on Ju Feng when its body suddenly burst into dark flame. Shadow flame.


    He knew they wouldn''t allow him to be permanently injured or die, nonetheless, this would be a terrible experience for him. Especially, if they had to see him as a weakling.


    He quickly pushed more chi energy into his body and his palms as he initiated the The Shifting-Heavens hand technique. His palms started to flutter silently in many afterimages as the Chi essence complemented the hand combat technique. He watched in utter shock as the Tinogoth feral made its move while it was dangerously covered in Shadowflame. It was as if the feral was using the Heavenly-Mirage movement as its speed was lightning fast.


    Ju Feng hurriedly used the Swift-Spine technique to move out of the way of a diagonal claw swipe that could have cut him half. Although he was still practising this second level of the movement technique, it was the fastest for any cultivator of his stage as far as he knew. Unless, the crazily powerful demigods.


    He thrust his shifting palm towards the ribcage of the feral but its direction rapidly changed to swiftly block the feral''s lightning fast tail that was aimed at his c.h.e.s.t. The benefits of the Shifting-Heavens technique. They continued to exchange deadly strikes as the two of them moved in fast speed that soon turned to blur. However, the speed and strength of the feral was increasing as the fight progressed. This was beginning to give him serious concern as he was already at his maximum speed and strength.


    The assistant masters and the disciples were now watching in silent wonder of the scene they were witnessing. Never had they all seen a new inner disciple that almost matched a Tinogoth Feral in both strength and speed. The strength they could believe, but the speed? The two assistant masters glanced at each other before turning back to unfolding scene. There was no way an inner disciple could move like that. No way. The disciples couldn''t help but focused unwaveringly on Ju Feng and the Feral who continued to do battle inside the circle.


    Suddenly, just as the Feral''s body was covered in a dark bright glow, it delivered a mighty blow to Ju Feng who was knocked flying despite his best attempt to block it. After he managed to scramble to his feet, he noticed that the Feral''s body had transformed into a mortal giant. Its energy emission had also changed and was now giving off a glowing black flame.


    Death flame.


    Only a shadow beast of the Jindan level stage at the least, could manifest a body transformation. And deathflame? He couldn''t even bring himself to think about the stage it had to be. This was death. It was as simple as that.


    He quickly looked around the faces of the core disciples standing around the circle but didn''t know which one to call. Seeing Yan Zhihao close by his left, Ju Feng quickly swift-stepped to him and was about to touch him when everything froze in place for a second. When everything returned to normal, the Tinogoth Feral had disappeared and the circle too had vanished. But at Ju Feng''s neck was the tip of a long sword that was in the hand of Yan Zhihao.


    "Trust is the foundation of any group of existence. While an individual trust is built on trustworthiness and honesty, a group trust is warranted. In a deadly battle, where your life is on the line, trust will make you rely on others to survive."


    The first assistant stood in front of Ju Feng and looked deep into his eyes with all seriousness.


    "As a member of the Lightning Reach, you will be making a number of journey outside the sect''s premises in hunts. Your fellow disciples will be relying on you and you will be relying on them too. Without trust, your group will simply collapse on itself and lives could be lost. Yet, trust can also make you vulnerable to unsuspected attacks. So, how do you call your friends who are not immediately around you when your life is in danger? Remember, you may be surrounded by both friends and enemies who you couldn''t differentiate due to the situation at hand. Of which, any wrong turn can be your death. In this particular situation, Yan Zhihao was your enemy."


    He sighed while continuing to stare softly at Ju Feng. Then, touching Ju Feng slightly on the c.h.e.s.t, he continued.


    "The answer is the Heartpulse. Every heartpulse has a recognition imprint to determine the sender. The heartpulse lets your friend know your need for help or your location. This is very difficult for your enemies to intercept and may allow your survival. This is a warranted trust that must be honoured. Although the vulnerability risk was there, a heartpulse must be honoured. That is why here in the Flying-Stars sect, all must swear the oath of One-Soul to make it easier to honour a heartpulse."


    The first assistant reached into his spatial sac and produced a glowing ruby oath stone. An Eternal flame stone.


    "Now repeat after me."

 Chapter 136 - The Desolate Ruins [1]

    The encampment surrounding the Desolate Ruins, which Yan Zhihao called the Titan''s Tears, remained a wonder to behold. Even though it appeared as if it had been tossed together in an hour in a strange manner. Shacks and stalls were cobbled together from raw materials, many in a half-constructed state all over the wilds.


    Every year, all the sects on the continent of Dajing would come together to participate in the competition known as the Run-Of-Ruins. Disciples from these sects would be pitched against one another in finding the treasures of the ruins, especially the extremely valuable cores of the powerful beasts. The black dragons in particular. This year was no different. The only one road leading into the ruins was packed with different types of cultivators from various sects who couldn''t wait to get going.


    Since this was a major ruins, the anticipation was high for the sects'' elders and students. Some large fireflies dashed between ramshackle huts, making buzzing sounds that sounded across the Desolate Wilds. But all these details could not hide the obvious from the groups of disciples which surrounded Ju Feng from every angle.


    Ju Feng had been selected, alongside another young girl from the house of fire, Liu Bo, to go with the appointed peak stage cultivators of the Flying-Stars sect.  Ju Feng watched in fascination, young cultivators from different factions of the Flying Stars sect, all dressed in sect''s robe designed with their factions emblems. Some had outer robes sewn with images of dragons and birds in flight, others of lions and tigers.


    Ju Feng had never seen so many sects and different factions of disciples packed into such a tight space. Disciples carrying various types of weapons. Ranging from swords, spears, wh.i.p.s, hooks, axes, awls, to halberds and other weapons. He was really admiring all the disciples. They were dressed in intricate formal robes. Some that burned like a phoenix''s flames, and others that were of shoddy brown castoffs.


    Above it all, the titanic layers of the Desolate Ruins loomed like a mountain carved of brown stone. It reminded Ju Feng of the Deathkeep on Lumence dimensional world which he had visited back at the forsaken palace. It was so strangely familiar when compared to Deathkeep that Ju Feng wasn''t quite sure what to make of it. But he knew it wasn''t of the same make. Deathkeep was on a dimensional plane while this was on the mortal plane.


    Looking around properly, he discovered most of them were peak stage zuji cultivators. Only a few of them were at the early stage like himself, with specific purposes.


    Yan Zhihao, who had been looking anxiously at the ruins, brightened up. He waited until a massive cart had rattled by before he spoke.


    "The cores of the divine beasts of the Desolate Ruins are the most prized, Ju Feng. But we still take any treasure we see. You can seek treasures individually, but don''t stray too far from the group. And if you encounter a black dragon, call for help. Everybody seeks a core of the black dragon, forgetting about its dangers. But I won''t lie to you, the corevof the Desolate dragon will elevate one faction to the heavens."


    Yan Zhihao couldn''t contain his excitement. He began to prepare himself, gesturing with his hands so that his spear bobbed wildly, causing several rifts to appear in the air. He continued as though he hadn''t seen them.


    "You see this ruins, it''s a treasure on its own just like the others like it. They are drawing heavenly energy from hundreds of miles around, and filled with ancient secrets of great power. Almost a thousand years ago, the Desolate Wilds were totally lawless, plagued by beasts and by mutated daemons no better than animals themselves. Each man considered himself an Emperor, each woman an Empress, and they ruled whatever they could take at the end of a blade. But one day..."


    Yan Zhihao stared at Ju Feng proudly.


    "...A woman emerged from nowhere with a heavenly treasure in her hand. A red spear. She united these rogue sacred artists under one name, killing those who resisted, and spreading law and civilization across the Wilds. No one could stand against them, because no one could oppose her powers."


    He smiled wider, because even Zu Tao, one of the other cultivators of the house of lightning, was also listening with obvious interest.


    "You see, her heavenly powers were said to devour spirits. When she destroyed a daemon, she consumed its power, until she grew so strong that she could slay entire armies at a stroke. For the next two centuries, while she was around, all the Desolate area remained peaceful under her rule."


    He waved a hand as though brushing aside two hundred years.


    "The story of her ascension is a long one, but it''s enough to say that the Ruins rose on the day of her ascension. She entered and never emerged again. She ascended while inside the ruins. Some say that she received her power from the Ruins in the beginning, and she was only returning the power she had borrowed before she ascended. I believe that she found some treasures inside the ruins. Her legacy could be inside, who knows. But our aim is the core of the desolate black dragon. That''s power."


    "I believe you can retrieve the shadow dragon core, brother Zhihao"


    Ju Feng said with a nod. Though it was clear that Yan Zhihao wasn''t the most powerful young cultivator in the Flying Stars sect, Ju had a feeling about him. Yan Zhihao clapped Ju Feng on the back so hard that Ju Feng thought he would bruise.


    "I know my place, Ju Feng. I''m only here to bring some small glory to our sect as much as I am capable of. But the dragons are not for individual disciple to confront. Same thing applied to you. You see, the Desolate Ruins is a deadly place. The group must work together when needed. That''s why you trained in the circle of one."


    He smiled wider, because even Zu Tao, one of the other cultivators of the house of lightning, was also acknowledging with obvious nods.


    "You''ll be tested inside."

 Chapter 137 - The Desolate Ruins [2]

    Once they entered through the main gates of the ruins, they discovered there were many entrances into the inner sections of the ruins. From their own entrance passage, Ju Feng and others from the Flying-Stars sect, opened the massive doors onto a scene of total chaos. Inside of the ruins was like a massive abandoned city on its own. There were creatures battling themselves everywhere. Dreadbeasts and daemons battled themselves fiercely. Pale and giant dreadbeasts, designed for battles and hunting, tearing into the mutant daemons who were built like solid hills.


    Slowly but steadily, they moved away from the fights and headed towards the center of the ruins. They had only moved a few miles when a deafening roar came from their right. Even the battling daemons and dreadbeasts stopped for a second by its sheer force. As the disciples watched cautiously, they saw hundreds of mutated Ghostbeasts. Mutation of dreadbeasts and daemons. Their arms transformed into the limbs of topmost jungle predators, while their heads were things that would make dragons jealous. Claws and fangs like heaven''s blade.


    They slashed a savage furrow through the army of dreadbeasts and daemons alike who came to confront them. A handful of daemons tried to stand against them, but were no match for the magically augmented Ghostbeasts. The surprise attack was rapidly turning into a slaughter.


    Ju Feng and others hesitated, weapons already drawn. Their way forward was being blocked by fighting beasts and daemons. However, they would have to wait for the beasts to kill themselves before stepping in. They were cautiously strategizing, when something struck them from behind.


    Ju Feng slammed face-first into the ground. Claws raked his shoulder, drawing blood. Teeth snapped for his neck. He twisted and saw he''d been knocked down by a ghostbeast. A tiger ghostbeast. Ju Feng loooked at the other cultivators and saw that they were also fighting other ghostsbeasts. It snarled, its breath hot with fresh blood on Ju Feng''face.


    He screamed as he tackled the ghostbeast. Then, he pushed all the amount of chi he could muster, into his body, equal in volume to the shriek that wailed from his lungs. His body ache and jolt from the sheer force of the energy. The ghostbeast sprang back, ears flat, belly to the ground as Ju Feng''s energy infused punch struck it. Ju Feng scrambled to his feet and started to back away but then realized he''d dropped the sword. It lay on the ground between him and the ghostbeast, which lashed its tail, trying to work up the courage to attack.


    "Heavens tears."


    With swift-steps, Ju Feng scooped up the sword using swiftsteps and cut off the beast''s head. Then, an enormous flames from behind. The world burned. His skin was on fire. His breath was scalding steam. The sword was a brand of molten metal in his fist. The light in the ruins stamped white-hot patterns into his prickling eyes, and the cold grey shapes made from blue words and black iron.


    Fear washed out of Ju Feng in sickly waves, but his robe absorbed most of the fire. Fear and pain were fuel on the fire, and the flames surged high, and higher yet. The world of that side of the ruins burned, and at its centre were the disciples of the Flying-Stars sect.


    The great claws of the drahon lashed at the Ju Feng''s face, who was the closest to the dragon. Its great hands snatched at Ju Feng''s body, but he used the swift-steps to evade it. All the dragon caught was his afterimage. Ju Feng struck with his sword, but the dragon deflected it and attacked with his clawed hands. Ju Feng evaded again and the sharp claws bit into the face of one of the daemons who was trying to get away from the scene.


    It''s head burst apart and sprayed blood across another, a hole torn from the wall around the circle. The other daemons shuffled back, into the dreadbeasts. The dreads and daemons both of them swelling with their fear. They feared the dragons more than any other creatures in the ruins. And they were wise to. Everything that lived was its enemy, and when the dragon had made pieces of the daemons, he would set to work on them.


    The dragon knew it was easier to strike with the burning fire. Easier to catch the rolling smoke. The circle was an oven. The blades of yellow grass were tongues of yellow flame beneath it. The sweat, spit, blood dripped onto it like gravy from cooking meat.


    Ju Feng looked around and discovered that others were, heavily, battling the ghostbeasts. His throat released a growl, iron spattering from the forge.


    Ju Feng struck again, and the blade stayed true. The dragon pressed his blue hand to the pale side of his head, face squirming like a nest of worms. The blade of the weapon had missed the dragon''s skull, but had somehow, stolen away the top half of its ear. Blood bubbled out from the wound, ran down the side of its great neck in two thin lines, and did not stop.


    The great eyes went wide and the dragon sprang forward with a thundering bellow. Ju Feng rolled under its flailing claws and slid round behind him, saw the black iron on his leg flap away, the bright buckle dangling. The sword sn.a.k.e.d out and slid into the gap, ate deep into the great pale calf inside it.


    The dragon roared in pain, spun, lurched on his wounded leg and fell to his knees. But its great arms slid round Ju Feng''s back, folding him in a smothering embrace. The edges of the black metal pierced his flesh in a dozen places. Closer the giant drew him, and closer, and a ragged spike slid into Ju Feng''s face, cut through his cheek and scr.a.p.ed against his teeth, bit into the side of his tongue and filled his mouth with salt blood. The Feared''s grip was the weight of mountains.


    No matter how hot Ju Feng''s rage, no matter how he squirmed, and thrashed, and screamed in fury, he was held as tightly as the cold earth holds the buried dead. The blood trickling from his face, and from his back, and from the great gash in the armoured robe soaked into his clothes and spread out blazing hot over his skin.


    The World burned.

 Chapter 138 - The Desolate Ruins [3]

    Ju Feng remembered the Circle-Of-One. The heart pulse. If he wasted time, he would die. Other disciples would come to his aid if he could call them. He closed his eyes and sent out a mind pulse. The dragon was squeezing Ju Feng harder when a shadow warping arrow hit it on the side, knocking it against a wall. Arrays of weapons began to hit the dragon as other disciples began to arrive. When all the disciples of the lightning faction had artived, they formed the Circle-Of-One around the black dragon. While the seals prevented the black dragon from leaving, it also reduced its power.


    Then Yan Zhihao used his ultimate lightning technique. The Tyrant Of Heavens. This was a mystical technique that had passed the level of any Zhuji cultivators. The black dragon was a sacred beast for a reason. Seeing the danger, it activated a powerful technique of its own. Before Ju Feng could know it, he was already in a dimensional portal. After he landed on the hard ground, he slowly stood up while looking around cautiously. From the looks of things, he was in another place entirely. A place that resembled a summoning ground. A little distant from him, he saw many people, preparing to enter the area ahead. But they didn''t pay him attention.


    A little closer, he saw the sign indicating the name of the place. Valley-Of-A-Thousand-Death. Immediately, he realized he was in a summoning world and where he was standing was one of the summoning places. A deadly closed-valley with an appearance that proved true to its frightening name. Located at the centre of three enormous ash mountains that co-joined together to form a terrible arc, this could be one of the summoning valleys for soul weapons, divine beasts, demon gods, divine angels, fairies etc. But before he could speculate more, he saw that the large entrance to the valley was divided into five smaller entrances, with each entrance leading to a seal-demarcated section of the valley.


    Each had symbols which indicated their uses. Soul weapons, divine beasts, divine armour, divine pills, and divine artifacts. At the entrances, were fairies who handed out seals and instructions to the summoners. Right from these entrances were the exploding death shards that were rotaing over the craters of poisonous bubbling ash-coloured liquid. However, the most dangerous were the phantoms lining the sides of the valley. These dangerous entities were placed there in the event of any young deity that failed to come for summoning within three days after the awakening.


    Once inside, there was no other way of escaping the valley apart from the entrance, since there was only one way in and out of the death valley.


    Here on this day, at the outskirt of the valley''s entrance, were many people, both young and old,mwaiting for their turns. Not to raise any suspicion, Ju Feng waited in total apprehension as he continued to watch them going went into the valley, one after the other. Since he had arrived, all the people had been completing their summonings with no greater difficulties. And when he saw some of the things they brought out with them. He couldn''t help but wondered where he was.


    However, Ju Feng was particularly fascinated by the weapons summoning area. There were seven types of weapons in all of the universe. They were ¡ª generic, imperial, legendary, epic, mythical, astral and cosmic weapons. And during summoning, lightning was the universal indicator of the nature of the weapon coming to the summoner.


    White lightning was an indication for the generic weapons[basic weapons], blue lightning for imperial weapons, yellow lightning represented legendary weapons, red lightning for epic weapons, mythical weapons by green lightning, astral weapons was heralded by orange lightning, and the cosmic weapons through the violet lightning.


    Six times, he witnessed the blue lightning summoning which meant an imperial weapon. Four times, the yellow lightning struck, indicating legendary weapons, while epic weapons were summoned three times through the red lightning. And once, he saw the green lightning which greatly increased her anxiety. Although she had been preparing for today for a long time, being here now, was totally unnerving.


    Ju Feng also decided to try and see what would happen if he tried. He slowly but steadily made his way to the entrance and entered the valley. As he walked on, he noticed that with each foot he placed on the ground, there was a loud thudding inside his soul that made his head banged achingly.


    Reaching the centre of the valley, he stood in front of the giant monolith and recited the words written on it, just as he saw others did. After the recital, the air of the valley began to form a raging wind while the ground started to vibrate uncontrollably. He quickly took out the summoning scroll he received from the fairies at the entrance, and threw it into the air which slowly calmed things down. The summoner''s soul would be linked to the given summoning scroll to be used in a summoning valley.


    As he watched, the scroll suddenly let out a wailing scream before busting into flames, sealing off the entrance to his section. He rapidly check his robe and planted her feet firmer on the ground. He didn''t know before-hand how the events would happen here, but he had read about things like this. There would be a thunder to indicate the beginning of the summoning, but she had no idea of what would come next.


    Just as expected, there was a thunderous sound as a gigantic white lightning descended on his section of the valley making him shield his eyes with his hands. Seconds later, after the lightning had vanished, Ju Feng saw a gold coloured sword floating in front of him. Ah, his soul weapon. His own weapon. His heart was beating faster as he kept on looking at the weapon. This was the moment. Ju Feng moved closer and grabbed the weapon with his extended hand. Instantly, his mind went blank.

 Chapter 139 - Chang Chang [1]

    As the sun emerged from the horizon in the glory of the early morning, serene gold petals pushed into the blue colour of the sky after being cast in different direction, creating a wonderful scenery. After the wondrous blackness of the night, an amazing rising sun was an indication of the beginning of another day as a deity in the Underworld.


    Dressed in her low-grade Spire-Shield cloth armour, Chang Chang came out of her room with a determined look, holding her wooden glaive in her right hand while the left was clenched in a fist. Raising her head, she closed her eyes and basked herself in the wondrous early morning sunrise. Her Spire-Shield cloth armour brought out the uniqueness of her stature in the way she was standing there with her eyes closed. The sensational feeling she was having was some sort of inspiration for her soul as she held her wooden glaive, more tightly.


    Since this past day, which was a day after her Xu Wu blood awakening rite, she had spent most of her time practising her martial arts while devoting at least equal amount of her time to her mystical arts. What was the essence of martial arts if she couldn''t even infuse it with her mystical arts. Every blood cultivator would need mystical art to be at the top level, even when using blood essence, talk-less of harnessing it. The Shadow-blood technique was specifically meant for harnessing chaos blood energy.


    With a greater cultivation technique, she would only be able to sense the higher blood energy. Harnessing it would practically be impossible. If she would try to harness the blood energy without honing her mystical arts. The perfevt blood energy was needed at the same time, for her not to permanently be destroying her life-force. These were the problems of her path of the Blood-Realms. The only possible solution were the energy-essence crystals. Therefore, she would be concentrating more on her martial arts. For now.


    And she had been training relentlessly. Especially, to get more familiar with a glaive while using the wood replica of the glaive. She had to be ready before going to the valley of a-thousand-death. The reason being that, after she had conjured the weapon, their will be blood-energy elementals that would follow her weapon''s manifestation. These elementals were the universe''s way of testing the mettle of the young deities'' worthiness of having a soul space that would open after a successful trial.


    Hence, she would have to battle these elementals for her survival. Though, it was uncommon to find a young blood cultivator succ.u.mbing to these minor elementals, it had happened a number of times before. If she didn''t want to be one of those, she would have to be prepared to her best possibilities. She would have preferred taking her time to train for a longer time, probably weeks, but tradition didn''t leave any room for this.


    According to the tradition of all the three worlds, a young blood must go to the place of a weapon conjuration within three days of the awakening rite. If any young deity made an attempt after three days, the deity might easily loose his or life when facing the elementals. The reason being that the conjured elementals wouldn''t be the minor ones anymore, they would be the major ones with much higher powers.


    This was not even an option Chang Chang wanted to consider. So, she was going to train harder and would be going to the valley tomorrow morning. Opening her eyes, her face was set in grim determination as she made her way to the training ground. Weapon ready, she checked the seals before activating the Ground-Gravers. These were the artificial underground beasts used for training all sort of deities. They were of different grades and levels according to the strength of the opposing deity.


    Immediately activating the Ground-Gravers, the surface of the training ground changed as twisting tunnels were manifested. This was her second day of facing these artificial beasts after her awakening and acquiring her wooden glaive. Despite them being more or less of her level, she knew she would need more time to get acquainted with their ways. Her time with them the day before, was a disaster. Although, the strikes of the beasts wouldn''t kill her, they would leave extremely painful marks behind.


    Thus, today, she would try a different approach. With a nod of self assurance, she descended into the opened tunnel.


    It was at this stage that she quitted the day before, but today, she decided to carry on with a renewed determination despite her obvious cons.


    Knowing that the beasts would be dashing out of the ground at anytime now, she hurriedly removed a commonly known strength replenishing pill, the Tide-Flow medicinal pill, from her dimensional space. She was about to put it in her mouth when an invisible force wrenched the pill from her hand. The pill shot towards the direction of the shadowy figure that she failed to notice. It was then that she saw the figure for the first time and realized her predicaments. The figure was completely covered in gleaming shadow energy.


    Although, there was no danger alarm coming from the shadowy figure, there was still primal fear in Chang Chang, knowing this was an exceedingly powerful entity. She looked around uneasily while slowly moving backwards, away from the shadowy figure. She was still moving backwards when she remembered that the seals on the training ground were still active.


    Knowing that the beasts would be dashing out of the ground at anytime now, she hurriedly removed a commonly known strength replenishing pill, the Tide-Flow medicinal pill, from her dimensional space. She was about to put it in her mouth when an invisible force wrenched the pill from her hand. The pill shot towards the direction of the shadowy figure that she failed to notice. It was then that she saw the figure for the first time and realized her predicaments. The figure was completely covered in gleaming shadow energy.


    Although, there was no danger alarm coming from the shadowy figure, there was still primal fear in Chang Chang, knowing this was an exceedingly powerful entity. She looked around uneasily while slowly moving backwards, away from the shadowy figure. She was still moving backwards when she remembered that the seals on the training ground were still active.


    The Ground-Gravers!


    Like lightning, she swirled around with her glaive in an horizontal arc''s slash. But the moment she turned around, her face was some feet away from the extended claws of the five beasts. The shocking effect of this scenario made Chang Chang dropped her glaive as she scrambled backward in fear. After recollecting their attacks wouldn''t kill her, Chang Chang stopped her scrambling and slowly regained herself. Then, she realized that the beasts were all frozen in place with only their eyes that were moving.


    Why were they frozen? Did she do anything wrong?


    Chang Chang was still thinking about the extremely painful experience she could have had provided the beasts were not frozen, when she heard a deep voice behind her.


    "In a true battle, you are already dead."


    "Huh?"


    Exclaimed Chang Chang, turning around to the sight of the shadowy figure, now a few feet away from her before scrambling backward again.


    "Very dead."


    The grave beasts had occupied her mind making her forgot totally about this entity. Staring at the figure, she could see primal traces with her young deity eyes. Despite no evil intent coming from the figure, the figure was even more fearful than she had thought. Now she was stuck between a powerful shadowy figure and some grave beasts.


    How did this figure passed through their manor''s defensive arrays? Most importantly, where was her parents? How could they not notice this entity? Probably, more powerful? She was still thinking about this when the figure''s voice brought her back to reality.


    "In a battle, a distracted deity, is a dead deity."


    While Chang Chang cautiously watched the shadowy figure, the shadow covering it suddenly retracted and revealed a tall, muscular deity in a glowing signature black robe. His black pupil covered most of his eyes, matching his long flowing black air and beard. Recognition dawned on Chang Chang as she slowly asked.


    "Second uncle?"


    "Took you long enough. Now walk with me. Your parents are waiting."

 Chapter 140 - Chang Chang [2]

    Lord Chang Wu glanced at the young Cang Chang who was making her way out of the living chamber and signalled her to stop. Although she was still a young cultivator in the looks of it, she had undergone her blood awakening rite which made her a full blood cultivator. As a full blood in the cultivation world, she would be treated as an a.d.u.l.t xu wu if a raging chaos descended. That was why, in the world of cultivation, cultivatots would have to grow up quick or die quicker.


    Without the necessary motivational push, she could easily die on her extremely dangerous path. He would have to give her the needed motivation to encourage her to put more effort into her developmental growth. He had seen the strength levels of her body and martial combat, and knew they were well beyond her age. Obviously, her soul''s strength was lacking, but she was much more stronger than most of her age physically.


    Therefore, as the patriarch of the Shadow-Flame clan, he had decided to make her a named deity. He had already sent the decreed decision through soul projection to his assistant to be taken to the judges at the Ivory Conjecture for the record keeping. This was very early for her since she just completed her awakening rite and yet to open her soul space. Even after opening her soul''s space, she would have to advance her soul to a certain stage in order to be a named true blood in a clan.


    Nonetheless, by now, her name would be entered into their clan''s list of known bloods which would appear when their clan''s public list was assessed. Clan''s list was a way to project the clan''s strength, prestige and power to the other clans. Despite knowing that all young cultivators always looked forward to being a named deity, lord Chang Wu knew they still dreaded the dangers that accompanied it. With what he had seen, he knew he was right.


    As long as she was alive, she would always be an asset to their Shadow-Flame clan. Especially during a clan challenge. Hence, she needed to be aware of everything concerning the Shadow-Flame clan from now on. Shadow Flame''s tradition dictated that a clan''s patriarch would decide the state of a blood after the awakening rite. And he had made his own decision regarding Chang Chang. This was a major declaration in their clan. Despite the danger and risk of being a named blood, this was a deity with a grim determination that was exceedingly salient.


    "Stay. This concerns you too."


    Said lord Chang Wu as he raised his palm to stop the exiting Chang Chang.


    "Today, I came here purposely because of you since I didn''t have the chance to congratulate you after your awakening. From what I''ve seen of you today, I believe your congratulation is well deserved. So, I have made a decision and the decree has been sent to the Ivory Conjecture for the records."


    He looked at their expectant faces before focusing on Chang Chang and slowly made the announcement.


    "From today onward, you are a named blood."


    "Ah!"


    Gasped Chang Chang with mouth agape as she stared at her second uncle in utter disbelief. Her? Now? How? She just did her awakening rite two days ago! Moreover, she had a cursed path with no future assurance and was yet to open her soul space. How could she be a named blood at this time? Her name would now be known as a named blood albeit a young one that was yet to reach the incipient stage as a true beginner. Highest honour for her in that. But, was that not like walking the path of reincarnation at this stage?


    Chang Chang didn''t know whether to scream or cry as she turned to look at her parents who were as shocked and surprised as herself. She could see that they were having the same feeling as hers. Seconds later, she could see them smiling bitterly and she knew why. Sooner or later, she would have to be a named blood having undergone her awakening. It was just that, this was happening way too fast for her. It suppose to be during the third stage of incipient at the least, yet she hadn''t even started the first stage which would be after opening her soul space.


    But knowing her second uncle, she had the belief that he did it for a good reason, no matter what it entailed. She had to appear strong to her uncle to show he could rely on her.


    "Thank you, second uncle. I promise not to let you down."


    "Hm."


    Lord Chang Wu stared deeply at Ethera and sighed inwardly. As a named blood, her name would be known throughout the cultivation world as a full member of the Shadow-Flame clan, if the records at the Darkfall Conjectures were accessed. This meant that she could be challenged as a part of the Shadow Flame''s clan during clans'' battles. It was very uncommon but sometimes, other named deities of a top clan could be challenged. Despite this not having any effect on the outcome of the ruler-ship battle between the supreme patriarchs, it was still a way to show the strength of a clan.


    Although Chang Chang wouldn''t be challenged by any blood of the Premier level and above, she could be challenged by any blood of the Incipient levels. There were two general levels; the incipient levels and the ranking levels. The incipient levels were for the new bloods while the ranking levels were for the veteran bloods. The incipient levels were five. They were; bronze puritan, silver puritan, gold puritan, platinum puritan and diamond puritan. While the ranking levels were premier, paragon, paramount, stellar, sovereign and supreme.


    It was a big responsibility to be placed on the young girl''s shoulder, but it was a necessity. Yes, these were dangerous times but one never knew. She might not even participate in a single clans battle until becoming a ranking blood.


    "Our clan has been challenged by the Death-Skulls clan."


    "Ah!"


    "The Death-Skulls? I thought they no longer existed as a clan after their last battle."


    Seeing the worried look on their faces, lord Chang Chang shook his head before lowering it in contemplation.


    "Apparently, they only staged their disappearance."


    "Second brother, that means lord Fu Zhi is still alive?"


    "Yes. And he has challenged me."


    "This is concerning, second brother. We both saw what he did in his battle with lord Olonem. For him to be challenging you now... You will have to be careful, second brother. Even their whole clan will be more dangerous than before. We both saw what they did during their battle with the Rapid-Slayers clan."


    "Hm. Let me worry about him, fourth brother. You have been issued a challenge also. A premier blood by the name, Fu Hao. For him to challenge you, he must have known much about you. For what it took, he could be a peak stage premier or even more. I will find out more about him before the clan''s salient meeting, a lunar from now. Then you''ll decide if you want to go ahead or not. Until then, fourth brother."


    "This is concerning, second brother. We both saw what he did in his battle with lord Olonem. For him to be challenging you now... You will have to be careful, second brother. Even their whole clan will be more dangerous than before. We both saw what they did during their battle with the Rapid-Slayers clan. Hm. Let me worry about him, fourth brother. You have been issued a challenge also. A premier deity by the name, Fu Hao. For him to challenge you, he must have known much about you. For what it took, he could be a peak stage premier or even more. I will find out more about him before the clan''s salient meeting, a lunar from now. Then you''ll decide if you want to go ahead or not. Until then, fourth brother."


    Lord Chang Wu flicked his hand and three black crystals with one white crystal manifested on his palm. For the first time that day, he smiled thinly when he saw the look on their faces. Especially the shocking expression on Chang Chang''s face who was already on her knees. They should have known by now that he would do everything he could for his clan.


    "Take these crystals, child. They are all for now."


    Lord Chang Wu flicked his hand and the crystals flew towards Chang Chang who quickly extended her hand to receive them.


    "Th... thank you, second uncle."


    "Welcome to the world of chaos."


    With a swipe of his hand, a wide portal opened inside the living chamber. Without looking back, lord Chang Wu stepped into the portal and vanished alongside the portal. With a swipe of his hand, a wide portal opened inside the living chamber. Without looking back, lord Chang Wu stepped into the portal and vanished alongside the portal.

 Chapter 141 - Chang Chang [3]

    In the world of cultivation, cultivators had to grow up quickly or die even quicker. Lord Chang Wu glanced at the young Cang Chang who was making her way out of the living chamber and signalled her to stop. Although she was still a young cultivator in the looks of it, she had undergone her blood awakening rite which made her a full blood cultivator. As a full blood in the cultivation world, she would be treated as an a.d.u.l.t xu wu if a raging chaos descended.


    Without the necessary motivational push, she could easily die on her extremely dangerous path. He would have to give her the needed motivation to encourage her to put more effort into her developmental growth. He had seen the strength levels of her body and martial combat, and knew they were well beyond her age. Obviously, her soul''s strength was lacking, but she was much more stronger than most of her age physically.


    Therefore, as the patriarch of the Shadow-Flame clan, he had decided to make her a named deity. He had already sent the decreed decision through soul projection to his assistant to be taken to the judges at the Ivory Conjecture for the record keeping. This was very early for her since she just completed her awakening rite and yet to open her soul space. Even after opening her soul''s space, she would have to advance her soul to a certain stage in order to be a named true blood in a clan.


    Nonetheless, by now, her name would be entered into their clan''s list of known bloods which would appear when their clan''s public list was assessed. Clan''s list was a way to project the clan''s strength, prestige and power to the other clans. Despite knowing that all young cultivators always looked forward to being a named deity, lord Chang Wu knew they still dreaded the dangers that accompanied it. With what he had seen, he knew he was right.


    As long as she was alive, she would always be an asset to their Shadow-Flame clan. Especially during a clan challenge. Hence, she needed to be aware of everything concerning the Shadow-Flame clan from now on. Shadow Flame''s tradition dictated that a clan''s patriarch would decide the state of a blood after the awakening rite. And he had made his own decision regarding Chang Chang. This was a major declaration in their clan. Despite the danger and risk of being a named blood, this was a deity with a grim determination that was exceedingly salient.


    "Stay. This concerns you too."


    Said lord Chang Wu as he raised his palm to stop the exiting Chang Chang.


    "Today, I came here purposely because of you since I didn''t have the chance to congratulate you after your awakening. From what I''ve seen of you today, I believe your congratulation is well deserved. So, I have made a decision and the decree has been sent to the Ivory Conjecture for the records."


    "From today onward, you are a named blood."


    "Ah!"


    Gasped Chang Chang with mouth agape as she stared at her second uncle in utter disbelief. Her? Now? How? She just did her awakening rite two days ago! Moreover, she had a cursed path with no future assurance and was yet to open her soul space. How could she be a named blood at this time? Her name would now be known as a named blood albeit a young one that was yet to reach the incipient stage as a true beginner. Highest honour for her in that. But, was that not like walking the path of reincarnation at this stage?


    Chang Chang didn''t know whether to scream or cry as she turned to look at her parents who were as shocked and surprised as herself. She could see that they were having the same feeling as hers. Seconds later, she could see them smiling bitterly and she knew why. Sooner or later, she would have to be a named blood having undergone her awakening. It was just that, this was happening way too fast for her. It suppose to be during the third stage of incipient at the least, yet she hadn''t even started the first stage which would be after opening her soul space.


    But knowing her second uncle, she had the belief that he did it for a good reason, no matter what it entailed. She had to appear strong to her uncle to show he could rely on her.


    "Thank you, second uncle. I promise not to let you down."


    "Hm."


    Lord Chang Wu stared deeply at Ethera and sighed inwardly. As a named blood, her name would be known throughout the cultivation world as a full member of the Shadow-Flame clan, if the records at the Darkfall Conjectures were accessed. This meant that she could be challenged as a part of the Shadow Flame''s clan during clans'' battles. It was very uncommon but sometimes, other named deities of a top clan could be challenged. Despite this not having any effect on the outcome of the ruler-ship battle between the supreme patriarchs, it was still a way to show the strength of a clan.


    However, their could be dire consequences for the loosing clan. This was what they had to avoid.


    Although Chang Chang wouldn''t be challenged by any blood of the Premier level and above, she could be challenged by any blood of the Incipient levels. There were two general levels; the incipient levels and the ranking levels. The incipient levels were for the new bloods while the ranking levels were for the veteran bloods. The incipient levels were five. They were; bronze puritan, silver puritan, gold puritan, platinum puritan and diamond puritan. While the ranking levels were premier, paragon, paramount, stellar, sovereign and supreme.


    It was a big responsibility to be placed on the young girl''s shoulder, but it was a necessity. Yes, these were dangerous times but one never knew. She might not even participate in a single clans battle until becoming a ranking blood.


    "Our clan has been challenged by the Death-Skulls clan."


    "Ah!"


    "The Death-Skulls? I thought they no longer existed as a clan after their last battle."


    Seeing the worried look on their faces, lord Chang Chang shook his head before lowering it in contemplation.


    "Apparently, they only staged their disappearance."


    "Second brother, that means lord Fu Zhi is still alive?"


    "Yes. And he has challenged me."


    "This is concerning, second brother. We both saw what he did in his battle with lord Olonem. For him to be challenging you now... You will have to be careful, second brother. Even their whole clan will be more dangerous than before. We both saw what they did during their battle with the Rapid-Slayers clan."


    "Hm. Let me worry about him, fourth brother. You have been issued a challenge also. A premier blood by the name, Fu Hao. For him to challenge you, he must have known much about you. For what it took, he could be a peak stage premier or even more. I will find out more about him before the clan''s salient meeting, a lunar from now. Then you''ll decide if you want to go ahead or not. Until then, fourth brother."


    "This is concerning, second brother. We both saw what he did in his battle with lord Olonem. For him to be challenging you now... You will have to be careful, second brother. Even their whole clan will be more dangerous than before. We both saw what they did during their battle with the Rapid-Slayers clan. Hm. Let me worry about him, fourth brother. You have been issued a challenge also. A premier deity by the name, Fu Hao. For him to challenge you, he must have known much about you. For what it took, he could be a peak stage premier or even more. I will find out more about him before the clan''s salient meeting, a lunar from now. Then you''ll decide if you want to go ahead or not. Until then, fourth brother."


    Lord Chang Wu flicked his hand and three black crystals with one white crystal manifested on his palm. For the first time that day, he smiled thinly when he saw the look on their faces. Especially the shocking expression on Chang Chang''s face who was already on her knees. They should have known by now that he would do everything he could for his clan.


    "Take these crystals, child. They are all for now."


    Lord Chang Wu flicked his hand and the crystals flew towards Chang Chang who quickly extended her hand to receive them.


    "Th... thank you, second uncle."


    "Welcome to the world of chaos."


    With a swipe of his hand, a wide portal opened inside the living chamber. Without looking back, lord Chang Wu stepped into the portal and vanished alongside the portal. With a swipe of his hand, a wide portal opened inside the living chamber. Without looking back, lord Chang Wu stepped into the portal and vanished alongside the portal.

 Chapter 142 - Chang Chang [4]

    After the departure of lord Chang Wu, Chang Chang had been sitting alone in her small chamber, contemplating on the words of her second uncle. She was now a named blood of their clan. A named deity! A full blood! She beamed in a wide smile as she glanced at the bronze crest on the upper left side of her Spire-Shield armour robe. The bronze crest was bearing her name which indicated that she was now a named bronze-puritan. Even before becoming a bronze-puritan.


    As the receding blue and orange colours of the sky battled the forming blackness of the incoming nightfall, a beautiful colour array was cast across the surface of their small manor. A strand of this light, seeped through a small opening in the living chamber and created a light of no significant display. But, this light enchanted Ethera, who was draining the last drop of her portion of the Nine Nebula Nectar. Similar to being in a trance, she stood still and continued to watch it with transfixed eyes.


    A moment later, after regaining her awareness, Ethera turned towards the direction of her parents who were standing by the opened door of the living chamber, watching her with amus.e.m.e.nt.


    "A reverie?"


    Asked her father, who was smiling while raising an eye brow.


    "Probably an awakening of her consciousness."


    Answered Chang Xi, feigning a surprise as she glanced at her husband before slowly asking.


    "Another jar of the nectar to celebrate?"


    "Huh?"


    Exclaimed Chang Liu in despair, only to be met with a hearty laughter from his wife. Chang Liu released a long suffering sigh as he shook his head to Chang Xi''s continuous laughter as she warmly held his hand. Chang Chang who was now smiling after moment of laughter, ran to her parents and held them tightly in an embrace. She continued to hold them while they gently patted her on the shoulders.


    After some long seconds, she raised her head to look at her parents. Observing the wide and easy smile on her parents'' faces, Chang Chang''s mind was full of gratitude to them for her life.


    Their colossal roles in her current existential state, couldn''t be emphasized enough by her. Despite her disappointment destined path, they were still, eternally, joyful that she was existing in their lives as their daughter. After a while, Chang Chang left to cultivate.


    As she was going, she couldn''t help but think about herself being a full blood. That was something she had never imagined. Think of it, she would now be attending the regular gatherings of their clan''s full deities to have discussions on the clan''s general welfare and other less important issues. Although as a no-ranking blood, she was exempted from their clan''s Shadow Council and First Conclave, the Regular Gathering was more than enough for her as a young deity who just performed her awakening.


    She closed her eyes as she gently patted the crest. Yes, it was a great honour and a dream that came true, yet, there were great responsibilities that came with it. Especially, the risks that came with being a named deity of a ruling clan which were guided by a set of ways.


    The Damora laws.


    According to the binding laws of the underworld regarding the clans, a named blood of any level of the incipient stage could be challenged by another opposing named blood of any level of the incipient stage too. Which meant that she could be challenged by a diamond-puritan deity when she became a bonze-puritan. Despite the goodness of the Damara law protecting the incipient levels deities from being killed, she could still be immortally harmed. Particularly her essence core, which could be shattered.


    Well, if her level of advancement remained the way it was now, she would simply surrender when faced with a diamond-puritan or any deity above her level, just like most others. Without advancement, how would she face a silver-puritan talkless of a diamon-puritan. Where as, without the essence crystals, there wouldn''t be any advancement.


    "Ahhh!"


    She let out a quick breath as she agonized about her predicament. Her uncle had done great for her to soothe her agony. She reached into her spatial dimension and removed her four crystals. Three chaos essence crystals and one writ essence crystal. Normally, two chaos essence crystals would be enough to take her to the silver-puritan stage, but her path of Twin-Realms would also require two light energy essence crystals. She would need one more to reach the next stage.


    However, if her uncle could find only one writ essence crystal, she knew she wouldn''t be able to find any on her own. Anyway, it was better to take her mind off it for now.


    As her mind wandered off to her father, Chang Chang stood up and went looking for her parents. Since it would soon be twilight, she decided to check the cultivation room. As she made her way to the cultivation room, she wondered why any deity would want to challenge her father who wasn''t even part of the Conclave Of Bloods.


    True, her father was a Premier blood which meant he was still a ranking blood and could be challenged, however, he was a dormant premier. Since his core was shattered, he had become a latent deity. There was simply no accredited honour in challenging him. So, why would someone challenged her dormant father? No matter what might come up later, her father must concede and relinquish the challenge. He had the right to do that as a latent blood. She would have to talk to her parent about this.


    Nearing the cultivation room, Chang Chang could sense the presence of her parents inside the chamber. She gently eased the stone door opened and peeked inside. The cultivation room was serene and her parents were sitting down in lotus position with their eyes closed. Meditation. Why were they even meditating? They should be worried about the upcoming situation.


    With a slight frown on her face, she walked into the room. Seeing that they didn''t acknowledge her presence, she sat down silently and joined them in meditation. After a couple of minutes, she opened her eyes to find that her parents were still deep into meditation. She knew they had already realized her presence through their spiritual sense before she entered the cultivation room but didn''t want to disrupt their meditation.


    Well, sooner or later, they would have to open their eyes and she would be the first thing they would see. As she was about closing her eyes, her father''s voice sounded in a whisper in her mind which made her snapped her eyes wide open.


    "In this chaotic world of Xu Wus, the one thing we have is our honour, my child. Honour is the immortality in us as bloods. It is the shield of the deity soul. The very first thing to be put on by it and the last to be laid down. Soon, you will understand this, my daughter."


    Chang Chang was staring widely at her father''s closed eyes while his words sounded in her mind. What honour was her father talking about? Wasn''t there honour in admitting defeat and avoid the unseen dangers of a challenge?


    She continued gazing at him as his eyes slowly opened. It was at this time that her mother''s eyes suddenly flew open which caught her attention. She turned her head towards the direction of her mother who gave a soft breath before locking eyes with her which threw her off. There was a dim blue-white glow in her mother''s eyes that she had never seen before. She quickly realized she truly knew little about her mother.


    "We know why you are here, my daughter. You are worried about your father because of the immortal challenge. Aren''t you? You don''t need to be. This is a clan''s challenge, not a clan''s war. Honour will be at stake on both end to prevent mortal harm. As a blood of honour, your father has to be there. His hard earned honour is at stake as well as the honour of the clan."


    "But mother, father is a member of the ruling clan. The honour is always there. He doesn''t need to accept any fight."


    "There are better ways to concede defeat in a challenge without tarnishing the honour, Chang Chang. If your father thinks he can''t continue with the challenge, he would concede in a way where he won''t loose too much face as a ranking blood. But it will be a great dishonor if he won''t appear to duel at all. Dishonour that he may not be able to amend and the consequences could be severe."


    With an easy smile on his face, lord Chang Li stretched his and placed it on his daughter''s shoulder.


    "Rest your mind, Chang Chang. I have no plan on dying anytime soon. And surely, not in a challenge. Alright?"


    After recieving a nod from his daughter, Chang Li''s smile became wider s he examined the spire-shield robe armour on Chang Chang. Today was the third day after her awakening and the day she had to get her soul weapon in the valley of A-Thousand-Death. Going by what he had seen of his daughter, he knew she had prepared so hard for this day.


    "Now let''s go and get your soul weapon."

 Chapter 143 - Chang Chang [5]

    The following day would be the day for the Summoning in the Valley Of A Thousand death, the awakening for every true blood. Her uncle had already made sure of that. Chang Chang, who was now ten years of age, was already looking forward to the coming of the summoning. Which blood wouldn''t want an awakening? She didn''t want to have her awakening at a later age. This was the only way to undergo true manifestations due to the divine items inside the valley. Since this was her age of awakening, she would certainly be partaking in the rite as long as she got the required items prepared.


    The council of blood supremes would preside and witness the awakening of each present child. Their results would be announced and kept in the records of existence of the Wushi world by the six foremost judges.


    This was each blood''s dream. To undergo true awakening at the right age and get a great path in order to have a strong future and be noticed by the representative of the topmost schools.


    The schools.


    In any continent of the Wushi, the schools were one of the most important organizations. They were comprised of powerful ancestral patriarchs some of which were at the level of the sovereign while there were also a few number of them that had attained the supreme stage. These latter ones were the ones known as the Seminals. The more a school would have seminals, the stronger the school would be.


    The superior martial techniques which were needed to do combat in this chaotic world of bloods, and cultivation techniques which were simply how to harness the essence energy needed for advancement, were due to the many years the patriarchs took in experimenting and perfecting various ideas. Some borrowed ideas were added to their own and perfected to produce these techniques.


    This was why these techniques were highly protected and guarded by the schools. Although there were some technique manuals in the hands of the loose bloods too, these were all regarded as rare treasures.


    Chang Chang had been looking forward to this occasion for a time now. Her parents had been actively preparing her for it since she was born. Long hours of combat training and meditation to put her in the right frame of mind for the awakening rite and to deal with other bloods, later in the future. The training had been exhausting, but, she knew it was due to the fact that they really loved her and wanted her to have a good chance at survival. And the following day, would be the day that her life trials would truly begin.


    "World of a bloods."


    She gave an apprehensive smile as the memories of the past came flooding in. Of a time when she would sit, unbearably, in front of her parents as they meditated. She was a little mischievous then as meditation wasn''t her thing. Sitting in one place with eyes closed as she freed her mind. This was simply beyond her endurance.


    "Pfft..."


    "Inner peace."


    She thought to herself as she slowly closed her eyes. She would need a lot of inner peace as she prepared for the rite. There was nothing she could do about the rite since the awakening wasn''t in her hands. She could only hope that her awakening was good enough to impress those present, especially the schools'' patriarchs .


    Few minutes later, she headed towards the training centre at the back of their mansion.


    Martial arts!


    Now, that was her main thing. She loved practising martial arts and engaging in mock combats. However, she didn''t practise with any weapon since she didn''t know what weapon her soul awakening would acquire. Despite this, her hand combat was incredibly powerful for her age. The power in her hand martial arts was truly a wonder. Also, she knew how to control her combat power. The general basics of martial arts that she was taught by her parents on her power output''s strength.


    With total eagerness, she continued towards the training centre, unaware of her parent eyes on her.


    They had been cautiously observing and monitoring Chang Chang. After all, she was their only child. Despite them trying to hide all these, they still couldn''t care less if others were watching them or not. They remembered the time they were hiding her in a far off world known as Lorra. In a small village of Sky-Spring. They knew what they had gone through before they could have her. They had been hiding her, but now, no more. So, whether they over-watched her or not, it was perfectly justified.


    They stood by the opened window of the upper living chamber as they used their divine sight to continue watching their daughter. Chang Xi gently squeezed the arm of her husband while resting her head on his shoulder. Her sight was fixed on her child who was going in the direction of the training area.


    "Look at her, my husband. Our own child, all grown up now."


    "Yes, my wife. She is."


    "And do you see how wonderful she looks everyday? That''s my true essence in her."


    "I couldn''t agree more with you, my beautiful wife. But you see how strong she is everyday? That''s because of me. Don''t you agree?"


    "Can''t argue with that at all."


    Said Chang Xi with a wide smile on her face. It might be a joke on the part of her husband, but Chang Xi knew the level of her husband''s power. Especially, when he was a stellar deity before the battle that got his core shattered. Even now with an amended core, he was still a powerful deity. But what could have been without the tragic incident? She knew what he had sacrificed to be here today with her.


    Chang Liu could see a mixture of joyful and grateful expression on Chang Xi''s face which made him smile broadly as he jokingly shook his head.


    "Where would I be without you, my true strength?"


    "On the throne of the underworld?"


    "In my dreams, surely in my dreams."


    They both laughed softly before turning their attention back to Chang Chang who was now practising her general hand combat. They couldn''t teach her any named combat technique since they didn''t know what her awakening would be. A named technique must be in alignment with the manifestation of a deity. Tomorrow after the rite, they would know the way forward for her. Oh, how good would it be if she could get a manifestation like her father who had the path of the Flowing Nebula or perhaps, the path of the Azure Herald like the arch-supreme, lord Chang Wu.


    "How fast the time moves. I still can''t believe she''s ten now."


    "Yes, she is."


    Chang Liu responded while patting his wife''s shoulder in a soothing way.


    "And, I know your mind wonders about tomorrow."


    "Yes, I am worried. How will her rite go? What summoning would she have? Which school will take her? You remembered her essence energy when she was born? The dark silver energy?"


    "How can I forget that, my wife? Still, I want you to rest your mind, for one thing is definitely certain. No matter what her awakening is tomorrow, our daughter will surely be fine. She''s a true Xu Wu"


    "I hope she does."


    "She will. Now, should we go and see how her day was going?"


    "Alright."


    After the meal, they all departed to their various ways as Chang Chang made her way to the silent cultivation chamber. Despite not being able to cultivate until after her summoningg, she sat down and closed her eyes in meditation. At least, she could meditate. Even, if she didn''t enjoy doing so.


    Oh, how good would it be to be like her parents, one day. Her own journey would start the following day. A journey of no end, she was told. How far she would go, would depend on her as from the next day.


    Gradually, she began to relax and free her mind of anxiety and expectation''s burden. The following night would be the big day for her and the other kids. She wanted to be ready as much as possible for the events.


    Inner peace!


    After meditating for few hours, she left the chamber and went looking for her parents. She bid them night and left for her room.


    As sleep took over, Chang Chang began to have a calling dream. A soul-drawing dream about the void.

 Chapter 144 - Chang Chang [6]

    When a soul was in the threshold of true awareness, what followed was the profundity of true silence. And the projection of this massively significant silence, was the beginning of a soul''s true becoming. And, deep in the threshold of the world of dreams, Chang Chang felt an awareness of herself floating in the light of dark energy of the underworld.


    As she floated, she saw a massive phantom-like landscape underneath her while her spirit proceeded to soar, high above the dark sky. Gradually, as she soared higher, the ghostly landscape began to change into a more recognizable one that was of utter wonder to the gazing eyes. Five infinite lucid oceans that separated five un-ending realms, took form in her eyes.


    Wushi.


    A lasting world of chaos that had infinite possibility of expansion. She had never seen the whole of the Wushi realm before, talk-less of the other realms on the plane. However, going by the way the world''s landscape was naturally formed and carved, other realms would also be magnificent to behold.


    As she continued to soar higher, the landscape continued to enlarge and the structures of the five dark realms of the Blood plane, began to take shape. She noticed five massive energy flares at the centre of the realms which made her to wonder in bewilderment. Spiritual vision? The only plausible explanation for her to be seeing all these was due to an aesthetic spiritual vision. For, there was no way such divine energy flares could be seen with the n.a.k.e.d immortal eyes.


    Floating sensation. Spiritual vision.


    Astral projection!


    It had to be astral projection. Despite the fact that she had never used astral projection before due to the protection of her parents, she could truly identify one. She remembered the words of her parents about how souls travelled to any part of the universe almost instantly. Much more faster and safer than the physical body. However, the deity wouldn''t be able to alter much of anything with only the presence of the soul. Yet, the soul could still be intercepted and trapped by a more powerful Xu Wu.


    For certainty, this astral projection wasn''t of her doing. She wouldn''t have initiated one before her awakening. Moreover, she would have kept her conscious knowledge of her own soul''s projection from the very beginning, if she was the one that actually performed it. Nevertheless, anything or anyone that instituted the astral projection of her soul without her knowledge of it from the start, must be exceedingly powerful. True, she was still a young blood who was yet to undergo summoning, but she should still be aware of her own soul''s projection. For her not to be aware, extreme caution was needed.


    Since she couldn''t control her soul''s projection and was still a young blood, she had to thread cautiously here. Blood or no blood, she could easily be trapped in here or even be killed without her knowing any better. This thought alone, gave her a degree of fear since she would soon be taking her first steps into the immortal life of a true deity.


    Ever onward, she continued to float. The expansion of the landscape continued in a blur as everything melted away from her view. This made the floating soul of Chang Chang, ache badly prompting screams that couldn''t be heard. As her spirit neared the point of combustion, the image slowed down and showed the scene of darkness. Complete darkness that engulfed her soul too.


    Panic took hold of her as she strained her spiritual vision to no avail. Was her soul being trapped? Was she now in reincarnation? Why? As she was wondering in total anxiety and apprehension, she heard a gentle and soft voice that seemingly echoed from the distant.


    "The is the void. The true beginning."


    A male husky voice sounded behind her.


    "Huh?"


    With a mind gripped in fear, Chang Chang turned to the source of the voice, only for her to continue seeing complete darkness. She looked sideways, to the same results. She tried to reach for her dimensional crystal, storage container, in order to take her defensive talisman but realized that she was in an astral projection.


    "Who... who are you?"


    "Who I am, is not for you to know. Not yet, anyway. Since your power is still lacking. But, the time will come and won''t be long. That, I can assure you, young mortal. Do you even know the great length I went through to be here, to bring you here?"


    "Are you going to take my soul?"


    "Take your soul?


    A raspy laughter echoed forth from the surrounding darkness.


    "To what purpose would that be, young mortal? That''s the work of death, not mine. Anyway, I understand your concern but I never meant to startle you."


    The already rattled Chang Chang, looked around in the darkness in utter disbelief. Not meant to startle her? ''But, you already did!'' She wanted to scream and kick something, then, maybe whoever brought her here would simply throw her out of this place in annoyance.


    "Alright. Maybe, meant to startle you a little bit."


    The raspy laughter ensued from the darkness again.


    "But, I won''t throw you out yet. Now, you are wondering why you are here?"


    Someone that could read her mind? A Xue Wu? Not really. This figure was more powerful Slowly, Ethera calmed her jostled mind. Who knew maybe this entity would simply decide to chain her soul if she should slightly annoy him. After recovering herself, Chang Chang answered.


    "Yes."


    "Of course, I can. Anyway, I will get to why you are here, shortly. Meanwhile, your first question should be about how you got here."


    "Astral projection?"


    "Close, yet, far away. You see, young immortal, this is Astral-Dream Projection."


    "Astral-Dream projection? If it''s a dream projection, don''t I need to be induced with a dream since I don''t sleep?"


    "Of course, someone like myself don''t sleep unless we are induced with a dream. That''s why I went to great length to induce you with one. And, don''t ask me how. The reason why there is a huge difference between this and astral-projection. Dream projection has its own advantages. It can be used to transmit or communicate extremely important information since it is safe from interception unless the interceptor is exceedingly more powerful. This is the reason why astral-dream projection is much more difficult to initiate. Regarding what you are seeing, you can only be here through the Astral-Dream projection. If not, your soul would simply disintegrate."


    "Is that why I''m here? To see?"


    "You are here to know. But first, for us to meet."


    "I can''t even see you."


    "No, you can''t and you wont. At least, not with the stage you are now. But don''t worry, you might see me if the time comes, depending on you. For now, Is there a better way to meet you than your introduction to the tiniest glimpse of what was? What was of the universe, of myself and of yourself? How we all came to be? This way, you will fully understand me if the time ever comes. Are you with me, young mortal?"


    "Do I have any choice?"


    "Yes. You can decide not to listen which will give me a reason to lock-up your soul."


    "Huh?"


    Exclaimed Chang Chang, as she swallowed hard as she thought about her summoning coming up the following day. If her soul was locked up, how would she performed her summoning?


    "Hehehe. Good. Now that I have your undivided attention, there won''t be any need for soul chains. Hehehe."


    The husky voice produce a deep sounded laughter before a profound silence engulfed the place.Then, it continued speaking.


    "First you must know about your origin and your fate. Do you even know who you are? Do you know about your parents? I know your father is a Xue Wu, but what of your mother? What do you know about her? Do you know your mother is half blood and half fairy? Have you ever wonder why you have a core when Xue Wus don''t have one? Why you could directly cultivate? Have you ever wondered why you are different from other bloods?"


    There was a great silence as Chang Chang''s mind went up in turmoil. She had a core? She never knew that. Her mother was half fairy? She was asking herself these questions again when the voice continued.


    "A prophecy was uttered before your birth, child. Your fate is entwined with another that''s also entwined with another. This soul is your past, but this is a past that will find you. It has already found you. This is a past you can''t do without. This soul is part of your existence. Your soul is locked in a web, young, one. A time will come when you''ll have to make a decision regarding your fate. Your life, your world, this universe, all of us, everything would rest on this decision of yours."


    Chang Chang was nearing the limit. She doubted she could even take anymore of all this. She held her head to calm her her mind.


    "Are you ready to know?"


    "Noooo."

 Chapter 145 - Knowing [1]

    " Child, existence is beyond the power of words. To explain it, different terms may be used, but none of them is absolute. In the beginning of the universe, there were no words. Words later came out of the w.o.m.b of matter. And whether a man dispassionately sees to the core of life or passionately sees the surface, the core and the surface are essentially the same. Words made them seem different, but words only express appearance. If name be needed, wonder names them both. From wonder into wonder, existence opens."


    The voice began before halting. After few seconds, it continued.


    "At first, there was the void. This was the true beginning. A single existence of temporal infinity of space ¡ª formless matter ¡ª of infinitum energy, from which, the first two forms of creation were made. The Alpheron and the Ominu. The two essence cores that represented the ultimate Yin and Yang of existence.


    It was from the Alpheron, that the primordial universe was formed. It was the essence core, the source of life, of the universe. All universal energy originated from this essence core, since it was the force that underlay everything that ever existed or happened. The Alpheron was the ultimate existence of order and harmony. Truly, a creative harmony that displayed the ultimate order of the universe.


    The immeasurable mighty force of the Alpheron was truly unifying, creative and harmonious. And since the Alpheron was the true origin of life in the universe, every existence in the universe was created from its essence core. As the true source of life, all things received their energy from the Alpheron in order to exist. Without the energy from Alpheron, an existence in the universe would simply cease to be.


    After forming the embryo of the primordial universe, the life essence of the Alpheron began to expand the space-time of the primordial universe. This happened in an intrinsic expansive way which caused the scale of space itself to change. This significant act, made the primordial universe to evolve rapidly which allowed the cosmos, galaxies and planets to be formed. The created cosmos was made up of many galaxies and the galaxies were made up of countless numbers of planets.


    Yet, in spite of the magnitude of its creation, the universe kept on expanding infinitely. Thereby, creating space for more galaxies and planets to occupy.


    The harmonious force of the Alpheron was evident in the fact that, since it was an essence core, every other existence with perpetuity had a core. The planets as part of the universe had Nerons. These were smaller essence cores connected to the Alpheron, the mother core of the universe. The Alpheron would absorb infinitum energy from the void of infinity and refined it, in order to create the cosmic energy or cosmic spiritual energy.


    It was only after then, that the Nerons would absorb the cosmic energy and release it on the planets. This released energy was often referred to as the heavenly spiritual energy.


    Then, the Ominu. The second essence core that was created from the infinitum energy of the void. The essence core of the Ominu was the life force of the primordial chaos. It was the source of life of all existence in primordial chaos. The Ominu core absorbed infinitum energy from the Void and refined it, to form the chaos energy which was the vital energy of life in the primordial chaos. The primordial chaos was a space-time of complete disorder ¡ª total disarray ¡ª which was the exact opposite of the order and harmony of the universe.


    Nonetheless, like the universe, the primordial chaos was also infinite in its gradual expansion. Although they were different in every terms of existence, the primordial universe and the primordial chaos literally coexisted. Despite their differences, one could not exist without the other. Hence, they were connected through the primordial holes. These holes were passages of total darkness made of infinitum energy that passed through the void and joined the primordial universe to the primordial chaos.


    The habitual significance of the primordial universe and primordial chaos, couldn''t be emphasized enough. They were the homes of the mighty primordials.


    The primordials.


    The primordial divines were the creation of the universe from its pure essence energy. Entities of total cosmic energy, refined from the void''s infinitum energy. Pure divine beings of immense powers that were seeing to the well-being of the universe in relations to the laws of creation. While on the other hand, the primordial beasts were created in the primordial chaos from the essence of the Ominu''s core. The very life force of absolute chaos energy that was refined from the infinitum energy. These were powerful beasts at the pinnacle of existence in the chaos.


    Order and chaos, would always collide despite their co-existence and would always co-exist in-spite of their collision. This was evident in the fact that, these two primordial entities were constantly at war against one another, right from the time of creation. Many vicious battles had been fought as a result of this simple truth.


    The great wars.


    For billions of years after creation, many great wars were fought between the primordials divines and primordial beasts. The primordial beasts, either in search of things unknown or to capture the universe, had invaded the universe many times. But their efforts were always thwarted and they were continually pushed back. Occasionally, the primordial divines would also respond in kind by invading the primordial chaos. Eventually, a number of primordials ceased to exist.


    The divines who fell inside the universe, would only enter into limbo[a dormant state] for billions of years before starting on their road to recovery. This, they could achieve due to the Alpheron core which would absorb their life-essence. Whereas, any divine who fell inside the primordial chaos, could be in dire danger if the primordial''s essence didn''t make it back to the universe. It could become a mutated essence, or simply cease to exist permanently. The same thing with the primordial beasts.


    Although there were losses on both sides, the divines suffered fewer losses than the beasts. The reason for this being that the primordial beasts were always trying to invade and conquer the universe. The last great war ¡ª the war that led to the primordial beasts'' greatest loss ¡ª proved very costly. And the remaining beasts were pushed back through the primordial holes, into chaos. Finally, the divines created the cosmic wall seals and the gates were completely shut. These gates were forever guarded by the Nefrims ¡ª the cosmic golems.


    Although the primordial beasts would occasionally intrude through a temporary tear in the cosmic walls, they were quickly and efficiently rebuffed. Once again, peace reigned supreme in the universe. Billions of years after the great wars, life took forms in the cosmos. Different living entities sprang to life in the worlds. Among them, were the immense sentients of nature.


    The primordial titans.


    The mighty titans. Powerful forces of nature that gained the knowledge of awareness and started to reason. They realized their existence and became sentients. These were living entities that could materialize in the mortal forms as they advanced in their spiritual existence. They evolved from various existence of nature, in the forms of rivers, seas, mountains and others.


    The cosmic beasts were different from the primordial beasts in their existential manifestations. The primordial beasts were from the chaos, whereas, the cosmic beasts were the creation of the universe. As animal creatures much more intelligent than mundane animals, they were capable of speaking in mortal languages, transforming into mortal forms and practicing cultivation. These were sentience creatures of great strength and power, and were divided into three categories ¡ª the divine beasts, the sacred beasts and the demonic beasts.


    The divine beasts were innate bloodline creatures. They grew stronger and more powerful over the course of time. The epitome of their powers, was when they awakened their bloodline which could lead them directly to immortality. Despite all these traits, they couldn''t transform into any mortal forms. They remained forever in their animal forms.


    Whereas, the sacred beasts didn''t have innate bloodline but they were born with primal evanesce cores. These cores made them particularly strong and powerful from birth. They also had the benefits of being capable of cultivation. Although, their cultivation was quite slow due to their level of adaptation.


    And lastly, the demonic beasts. These were creatures born when animals and plants absorbed corrupted cosmic spiritual energy over a long period of time and then gained spiritual awareness. It was after gaining sentience that they would form essence cores. Being creatures with demonic traits, their existence was based on their Karmic virtues. However, there were good karmic demons that protected and maintained the laws of creation, and there were many demons with bad karma due to the numerous sins they had accrued over time.


    Then, millions of years after the cosmic beasts, came the mundane animals. Although some of them started to exhibit magical traits, they neither had nor gained sentience. They were never aware of their existence since they had no reasoning abilities. These were the magical beasts, and their bodies contained great benefits to both mortals and immortals alike."


    The voice paused and waited for Chang Chang to adjust herself.

 Chapter 146 - Knowing [2]

    "You see, child. The essence of the Universe was Oneness, and harmony was the underlying nature of the Universe. Oneness, Unity and Harmony were the basic qualities that the Universe operated on. Those who knew these insight facts, were truly enlightened. The more one was able to understand oneness and creative harmony in all areas of life and situations, the more enlightened one would become in viewing and interacting with reality.


    Millions of years later after the cosmic beasts, mortals came into existence. They were created from the vital essence of life of the Alpheron ¡ª the Chi essence of life ¡ª according to the laws of creation. Mortals were created on different planets ¡ª worlds of different sizes. These worlds were divided into minor worlds and major worlds. Among the mortals, were the humans. You are half human. So, you should know. Although you took more to the human side. Many mortal worlds belong to humans while other species occupied numerous worlds too.


    For millions of years, mortals were living extremely short and difficult lives. It was a circle of short life, death and reincarnation. But mortals were reluctant to accept these forms of living. Hence, they started the ultimate search, the search for immortality. The ability to gain eternal life, the capacity to live forever. The cosmic divines seeing the mortals predicament, decided to give mortals a chance to achieve the eternal life they had been craving. The answer provided by the divines was cultivation! Immortality through tribulations and trials. Cultivating chi and practicing martial and mystical arts through the created methods.


    The first of the cosmic divines, the three pure ones ¡ª lord of primordial origin, lord of luminous treasure and lord of true way ¡ª decided to teach the ''Dao'' of the universe[the way] to mortals. The teaching ¡ª Dao produced Taiji; Taiji produced Yin and Yang; Yin and Yang produced Yin, Yang and Chi ¡ª was spread throughout the mortal worlds. Luminous treasures from them, were scattered all over the universe to aid mortals in their cultivation and other arts.


    Cosmic divines, the Adi-Buddhas ¡ª lord Buddha Bhavana and lord Buddha Bodhisattva ¡ª added the "Dharma" of the universe, the path. They taught the Eight-fold path and the Bodhisattva path. The enlightenment and awakening of the mortal self to reach immortality. Luminous artifacts from them were also created and placed all over the universe.


    The roads were opened for mortals cultivating these techniques, to have eternal lives. This was due to the fact that the mortal body had a dantian ¡ª the centre of oneself. By sensing the heavenly spiritual energy, and absorbing the energy to form Chi in the dantian, mortals were capable of improving their health, increasing their longevity and growing more powerful. Mortals were able to achieve these through the circulation of Chi through their meridians. The cultivation of Chi in the dantian, was the root of the immortality tree.


    As you already know, in order to record and preserve these techniques, manuscripts were created. These were scriptures and manuals containing detailed instructions on different techniques in cultivation, mystical arts and martial arts. Over the course of millions of years, many mortals had used these manuscripts to achieve immortality. Therefore, these manuscripts became being regarded as extremely valuable treasures and were well-guarded by clans, sects[schools] and loose cultivators who were in possession of them.


    Mortals have their paths towards immortality designed for them. Nonetheless, cultivation was an act of defiance against the mortal laws of creation. Mortals lived, died and reincarnated. That, was a mortal law of creation. For mortals to be immortals, was going against the natural order of creation. And that immortality, would not come easily. This also applied to sacred and demonic beasts that practiced cultivation.


    Though cultivation was an act of defiance, it would bring immortality after its trials. The immortality trials were the wrath of creation which came as the heavenly tribulations. This also applied to sacred and demonic beasts that practiced cultivation. Every major steps into immortality brought heavenly tribulations. But, surviving the tribulations meant immortality."


    The voice paused, and continued after a long silence.


    "Cultivatiion of cosmic energy was for mortals and immortals that could sense the energy. But what about those that couldn''t sense the heavenly and cosmic energies. Yes, there were many like that. That was where divine Xue Wu Ye and Xue Wu Ma, the divine blood twins, created the Xue Wu. Life-force cultivation. The one you know as blood cultivation. Every living thing has blood or life force. It was an extremely powerful cultivation that, initially, received rejection from other divines. But with time, they came to accept it. Why, you asked? On the day of its creation, there was a divine prophecy from the cosmic oracle about a young blood, a girl, that would determine the fate of the universe. A prophecy about you. Ask your mother about your birth. Tell her about me and she''ll tell you. Good bye, child."


    Chang Chang woke up with a strong startle. It was an astral dream projection that was definitely of dreamy reality. What kind of astral dream could that be? Chang Chang couldn''t bring herself to believe the idea of the essence of a dying entity could summon her and appear to her in a dream. Moreso, an entity from an all-seeing place? It had to be an illusion of a dream.


    Dreams!


    Although she was only ten deity years of age, she knew this could only be a mere astral dream of her subconscious self. Nonetheless, even if it was only a dream, could she actually have a core?  Also, what was he talking about regarding her mother? Of course, she knew her mother was a blood from another realm, but a fairy? What else was there to know about her? Even if the dream projection was true, the entity got it wrong that she didn''t know much about her mother.


    Anyway, she wouldn''t allow herself to dwell on these things so as to affect her mind. Next morning was the Rite of Summons. She pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind while concentrating on the night. The day she had been preparing for, for so long, which had finally arrived. She knew she couldn''t afford a bad trial.


    True, she was of a notable clan but that didn''t mean much in this chaotic realm. The realm bloods could be challenged or attack at any time. She feared for her uncle, Lord Chang Wu. If he was to be killed, they would loose their status in the realm. If they were to loose their main protection which was lord Chang Wu, they could be opened to annihilation in the hands of angry bloods. And the first one to go, would be the weakest ones. This, she wouldn''t allow. She had to show strength tomorrow at the summoning valley.


    After recollecting herself, she sat down in a lotus position to meditate. As she closed her eyes, she wondered if she could truly cultivate. It would be beyond comprehension in the realm. She had woken up quite early from the induced sleep, hence, she decided to meditate a bit. Moments later, she cleaned herself and put on the new armoured robe that her parents had bought for her for this glorious night. After preparing herself, she went looking for her parents and found them in the living chamber, deep in discussion. They were pretending as if they hadn''t been watching and expecting her. With their side to the entrance, they appeared to be lost in their conversation.


    "Good morning, father, mother."


    "Oh, Chang Chang! Good morning to you too."


    Her parents replied in surprised pretence as they turned their attention to her.


    "We didn''t see you come in. A bit early for you today, don''t you think? "


    "And look at you, Twin essence. All dressed up and looking lovely this morning."


    "Is there any occasion for you today?"


    "Huh?"


    Chang Chang exclaimed in astonishment. What is going on? Could they have forgotten about her summoning rite this morning?


    "Arrgh."


    Screeched Chang Chang before smiling while shaking her head. She might be a young deity, but she knew the extent of  her parent''s love for her. She knew they were even more concerned about the rite than her.


    "Thank you, father, mother."


    "It''s the least we could do, Twin essence."


    With faces full of smiles, they proceeded to check the prepared items together. Everything in order, it was time to head towards the valley of a tbousand death for the rite of paths. After checking the protective arrays of his small manor, lord Chang Liu removed a seal from his dimensional space and threw it into the air. The Valley''s portal seal. The seal that was delivered to them after their confirmation of their daughter''s participation.


    Immediately after its activation, a portal opened. On the other side, they could see the valley in its glory. Feeling a little apprehensive, Chang Chan glanced at her parents who nodded their heads in assured confirmation.


    "It''s all good."

 Chapter 147 - The Valley Of A Thousand Death [Part - 2]

    "Ah, the valley of a thousand death."


    Chang Chang exclaimed in apprehension. The dreaded valley of the summoning. It resembled the Valley of The Flowing Blood where she summoned her companion beast, a blood phoenix. But this valley was very different. The level of danger it contained and its importance, were greater than the The Flowing Blood valley. Weapon is regarded highly than a beast companion. A blood was measured by the soul weapon. A weapon could easily place a powerful blood at the top of the ladder in this world.


    Chang Chang sighed and followed her parent. She had been preparing for this day her whole life. Her existence as a blood would be based on the outcome of today. As long as she could summon a soul weapon, her blood life was assured. Looking at the place, she nodded her head. The valley of A-Thousand-Death was a place with an appearance that proved true to its frightening name. The three enormous  mountains that surrounded the place formed a great dome over the valley.


    The enormous gateway to the summoning valley was made into five. Each of these entrances lead to a separated section of the valley which allowed five bloods to summon at the same time without much interference.


    From the moment the bloods entered through these passages, they would be met by exploding death shards. They were rotaing over the craters of poisonous bubbling ash-coloured liquid. However, the most dangerous were the phantoms lining the sides of the valley. These dangerous entities were placed there in the event of any young blood who failed to come for summoning within three days after the awakening. The entities would face the bloods in gruelling battles.


    "Once inside, there was no other way of escaping the valley apart from the entrance, since there was only one way in and out of the death valley."


    Chang Chang remembered the words of her parents. Looking around, she saw many bloods who were waiting for their turns to summon. Despite her coming very early with her parents, she still met quite a number of bloods at the valley. She waited in total anxiety as she continued to watch them. They were going in and coming out of the valley, one by one.


    Since she had arrived, all the bloods had been completing their trials with no greater difficulties. Their summoning had been going on smoothly too. And when she saw some of the weapons they were bringing out, she couldn''t help but sighed inwardly. Weapons meant everything to the clans. They showed the power of a clan. It was true that there were seven different types of weapons in all of the universe. Ranging from the generic, the to the cosmic weapons.


    But the true prizes lay with the astral and cosmic weapons. Although it had been ages when a cosmic weapon had been summoned. Maybe the cosmic weapon was beyond her, but what about the astral weapon, could she summon one?


    Chang Chang continued to watch the summoning as she waited for her own time. Different ightning bolts escorted the summoned weapons from the heavens. Lightning was the universal way for the on-lookers to know the nature of the weapon coming to the summoner. She knew all the colours by heart.


    White lightning signified the generic weapons[basic weapons], blue lightning for imperial weapons, yellow lightning represented legendary weapons, red lightning for epic weapons, mythical weapons by green lightning, astral weapons was heralded by orange lightning, and the cosmic weapons through the violet lightning.


    Chang Chang saw the blue lightning summons six times, which meant an imperial weapon. Four times she witnessed the yellow lightning struck which showed legendary weapons. The epic weapons were summoned three times through the red lightning. And once, she saw the green lightning which greatly increased her anxiety. Although she had been preparing for today for a long time, being here now, was totally unnerving.


    When her turn finally came, she looked at her parents who gave her a confirmatory nod, before she slowly but steadily made her way to the entrance and entered the valley. As she walked on, she noticed that with each foot she placed on the ground, there was a loud thudding inside her soul that made her head banged achingly. The power of the valley over any blood.


    Reaching the centre of the valley, she saw a giant monolith. This particular summoning spot used the monolith as the source of power. She had prepared for them all. She stood in front of a giant monolith and recited the words written on it, just as she had practiced. After the recital, the air of the valley began to form a raging wind while the ground started to vibrate uncontrollably. She quickly took out the summoning scroll she had received directly from her lord uncle, and threw it into the air. The raging wind began to rescind and things slowly calmed down.


    Once a young blood was gifted a summoning scroll, the blood''s soul would be linked to a summoning scroll to be used in a summoning valley.


    As she watched, the scroll suddenly let out a soul wrenching whistles before lighting up in flames. It sealed off the entrance to her own section. She rapidly check her armoured robe and planted her feet firmer on the ground. She had learned before-hand how the events would happen up to this stage, there would be a thunder to indicate the beginning of the summoning, but she had no idea how the summoning would go after that. She only knew of the experiences of her parents during their own summonings.


    Just as she expected, there was a massive sound like a heavenly devouring thunder. A colossal orange lightning descended on her section of the valley making her shield her eyes with her hands. An astral weapon? She couldn''t believe it as she waited for the light to disappear. Seconds later, after the lightning had vanished, Chang Chang saw a white coloured blade of a glaive floating in front of her. Ah, her soul weapon. Her own weapon. Her heart was beating faster as she kept on looking at the weapon. This was the moment. As Chang Chang moved closer to grab the blade, the sky began to rumble again, stopping Chang Chang on her track.


    Then, there was another thunderous sound followed by another orange lightning which quickly sent a vibration throughout the valley, drawing the attention of all powerful bloods and waking up the slumbering ones. Another astral weapon in the same place, at the same?


    Chang Chang was left stunned at the sight of the sky and the sound of another thunder. What was this all about? This couldn''t be right since there was no telling her about any second lightning. And the thunder couldn''t be for her since she already had her own soul weapon, still floating before her. Although it was only a blade she was seeing of the weapon. When she recollected that there were other four young deities who were undergoing their summoning at the same time as hers, she relaxed her mind and waited for the light to clear, probably.


    Few minutes later, the light dissipated to the utter shock and fright of Chang Chang. Floating in front of her, was an obsidian black pole that appeared to be a glaive, but with its blade missing. Realization dawned on her as she figured out the fact that the two weapons were one.


    She observed anxiously as the two weapons joined together in a blinding. They formed a gold-silver glaive.


    Huh? Her? A double astral weapons of one? Another soul wespon?  Astral weapon!


    The moment she lay her hand on the glaive, a strong energy wave was released from the core of the glaive that travelled straight into her soul. She gasped for air and her body shook slightly, as her soul made the connection with the weapon, opening the long awaited Soul-Space. With a wide and easy smile, she looked at her soul weapon again. An astral weapon, why wouldn''t she be happy. Her parents would be proud of her. Her lord uncle would be pleased, as well as her clan. Despite it being her own weapon, it was for the glory of her clan as a whole.


    But for now, there was a minor problem. An astral or cosmic weapon always brought forward a trial battle. A beast, a demon or an elemental would follow such a weapon to the valley. The summoner would have to battle it to prove the worth of the soul space and divine weapon.


    And now, Chang Chang would have to undergo trial battles to prove her worthiness of her soul space. This was the moment she had been preparing for. All the many hours she had been putting into her martial arts training would be brought to fore here. All her effort and training would be put under a difficult but important trials now. Holding the glaive tightly, she adjusted her stance as she waited for the summoned entities.

 Chapter 148 - Chang Chang And The Summoning

    Chang Chang held the silver glaive tightly in her hand as powerful lightning bolts streaked down from the cloudy sky. Appearing before Chang Chang was a massive beast of fire with six giant heads. A dreadbeast of true fire. Chen Chen couldn''t believe what she was seeing.


    A dread beast was way above her in strength and power. She began to think furiously about how she was going to survive. A pair of the beast''s six heads spotted the blood girl and lunged upward in great speed to snap at her. Chang Chang used flash steps to evade the beast at the nick of time. Before she could gather herself, the beast attacked again. The first attack missed, but the second head managed to nip at Chang Chang ''s arm. She felt a surge of heat through her armor and jerked her hand away.


    When she was slightly further away from the deadbeats, she slowed to a stop and flocked the glacier in her hand. As the creature came at her again in lightning speed, Chang Chang took off to meet it. She aimed the glaive at the dreadbeast and swing it in a swift move. The killing intent of the sword made it vibrate in her hand and she saw four glowing rings of blood erupt from its tip. The magical drops of blood slammed into the nearest head of the dreadbeast, destroying a small part of it. Three of the beast''s six heads roared in pain and snapped at her, just out of reach.


    Heaven''s tears! Chang Chang thought. The killing intent of the weapon alone did that. How powerful could an astral weapon be?


    The injured head roared at her and a wave of noxious fumes wafted over Chang Chang, making her infuse her body with more blood essence. The young blood had to cover her nose and mouth with her energy. The fumes were of the golden core level of attacks. As she cringed from the poisonous smell, the beast reared up on its hind legs and stretched two of its necks forward. Eyes blazing a superheated blue, the two heads latched onto Chang Chang''s feet and pulled.


    With a yelp, the Chang Chang staggered and pitched forward, losing her balance. She felt himself slipping off her battle stance as the twin heads tugged her closer. The searing pain of molten fire penetrated her armoured feet, scorching her flesh. Despite the protection of the armour, the fiery heat broiled her flesh and made her arch her back in agony.


    Desperate and enraged, the young blood swirled the glaive and slashed at the head on his right. The blade bit deeply into the skull of the fiery creature, nearly slicing it from its neck. A hiss of steam and liquid sprayed from the wound, spattering the cambion. The globules sizzled as they ate through her armour and scalded her skin. Chang Chang clenched her teeth in pain but held on to her glaive.


    The jaws released their grip on Chang Chang and the entire appendage recoiled. The neck flopped about crazily and the head bounced awkwardly, screaming in anguish. More of the white, superheated blood spewed from the wound. The quivering, thrashing neck grew weaker and the head grew silent. The blue-hot eyes faded to darkness as the appendage crumpled to the ground.


    The other head still had a firm grip on Vhok, and it seemed to have a mind of its own, unaffected by the damage to one of its other heads. With another ferocious yank, it pulled Chang Chang off her feet. The young blood''s hip felt nearly dislocated. Chang Chang cried out and tumbled into space.


    In her armor, Chang Chang was too difficult for the creature to hold aloft. Still clutching her in its mouth, the beast slammed her to the ground head first, striking her hard against the ashy terrain on one shoulder as she landed. The jarring blow knocked the wind from her, and Chang Chang gasped as spots filled his vision. Her knee wrenched as the yanking, thrashing head jerked her across the scorched ground. She rolled to the side, twisting herself in a desperate attempt to keep her body from being torn apart.


    The beast paused and adjusted its grip on Chang Chang''s leg. She took advantage of the delay and slashed at its neck. His cut was awkward and only glanced off the glowing skin with a shower of sparks. The glaive was difficult for her to use in close combat. She raised her arm high for another blow. A second head swooped in and bit at the glaive''s blade. It grabbed hold of blade and began to wrest the glaive from the Chang Chang''s grip.


    Chang Chang snarled. "No, you infernal thing" she thought. "You''re not taking it!"


    The young blood reached into her spatial sac while clinging to the weapon with the other hand. She gritted her teeth as the head tried to yank the glaive away. Chang Chang winced as her arm was whipped back and forth. She felt the two heads tug her taut and lift her from the ground. Fighting through the pain to refocus her efforts, Chang Chang managed to bring out the seal.


    She activated the seal and threw it in the air. She watched with satisfaction and relief as a burst of energy was released, encircling the deadbeast''s second head in death blood. The beast released its grip on both her glaive and her foot, and roared at him. As Chang Chang fell again with a painful thunk, the two heads sn.a.k.e.d away in retreat.


    Chang Chang rolled into a kneeling position, gasping for breath. Her foot and ankle throbbed with searing pain, and she wasn''t certain she could stand. She knew she had to defeat the beast before it could recover from the power of the seal. She took out an energy replenishing pill from her spatial sac and crunched it in her mouth. With renewed energy, Chang Chang turned and saw the dreadbeast trying to break free from the seal.


    She held her astral glaive at the ready and advanced toward the floundering, snarling beast. She feinted to one side and got one of the heads swaying that direction. Before the dreadbeast could bring the other head in the direction of the young blood, she stepped the opposite way and in close, swinging the astral weapon. The blade connected and the young blood heard a deep thump.


    The beast''s head and neck snapped up and back, recoiling with violent force from the deadly strike. Before the beast could recover, she struck again and the whole appendage bounced against the beast''s flank before it slid down to the ground and lay still. Chang Chang raised the glaive and smiled. A little more for her to rejoice in triumph. Then, the young blood dashed forward to press the attack home against the great beast''s other head. The beast puffed with its might, releasing smoke which swirled thickly and obscured the young blood once more.


    Chang Chang adjusted her eyes without stopping. She had to press forward. The dreadbeast thunderous roar filled the whole place as the ground vibrated. Chang Chang swing the glaive in circle and the swirling smoke parted briefly. The remaining one of the dreadbeast''s serpentine heads suddenly lurched forward, but Chang Chang was deft enough to evade it while performing her ultimate mystical move.


    The Blood Of The Saints.


    She had been waiting for this time. Now, she could perform the art successfully. When the move was complete, Chang Chang jumped upward and slashed the glaive twice, diagonally.  The head of the dreadbeast exploded into a million pieces. Its body slumped to the ground, lifeless.


    At that moment, Chang Chang appeared again, chopping into the great first head of her foe. With both hands, the young blood drove the head of her glaive deep into the creature''s b.r.e.a.s.t. The strike raked down its embered flesh, cutting open a wound that sprayed white-hot goo. Chang Chang spun away, flailing at the scalding fluids as they overwhelmed the magic of his ring to burn his face and hands. But the blow she had delivered was the killing one.


    The giant thing shuddered and collapsed to the ground. For a few moments, a few of its necks twitched and writhed, but Chang Chang was certain it was dead. Thanks to the blood saints, Chang Chang thought, sagging onto her back, exhausted. Being mangled by a giant double-headed beast of fire was not the way she had expected her summoning to go.


    As Chang Chang nudged one of the necks of the deadbeast, a crystal fell out that she slowly picked up. A reward for a deadly battle. She turned towards the entrance that was now slowly clearing of the invisible energy blocking it before. She pulled the glaive into her soul space and headed towards the entrance. The young blood gasped slowly as she steadied her breath.


    The young blood came out to many eyes watching her. First astral weapons in a hundred years. That changed everything. The Chang clan''s fortune had increased, so also was their ranking. Those present knew she had received an astral weapon. But the lightning had descended twice. There was no way she could have two soul weapons, could she?


    Chang Chang''s parents joyfully met their happy daughter and supported her. After their lord uncle, she was the second blood to summon an astral weapon in thousands upon thousands of their clan''s recent years. She had made them proud. They would be seeing her soul weapon when they reached home. For now, she had to rest.


    Chang Chang was about to depart from the valley when she saw a face that stopped her dead on her track. A face she knew well enough, a face from her recent past she could never forget. The face of a boy who had done her great kindness. The face of a young cultivator the oracle had told her family about.


    Ju Feng.

 Chapter 149 - The Summoning Of The Greatsword

    Ju Feng saw a bronze coloured sword floating in front of him. His own soul weapon. His heart beat faster as he kept on looking at the weapon. This was the moment he was expected to take the weapon. He could only hope nothing would go wrong. Ju Feng moved closer and grabbed the weapon with his extended hand.


    Instantly, his mind went blank. It took him several minutes to regain consciousness. He fell on his as his breath came in shallow takes. He looked at the bronze sword and smiled happily. It was a generic sword, but it was his. He would take it anyday. He would keep it until he opened his soul space, probably. If he was alive by then. He sighed and put the sword in his spatial sac.


    He turned towards the entrance and was about to leave when darkness descended on the whole valley. There was a great silence in the valley. Apart from Ju Feng, every blood knew darkness indicated the birth of a cosmic weapon. Who had summoned a cosmic weapon? Which clan? These were the questions going on in the minds of those present.


    There was a thunderous sound that covered the whole valley. The ground of the valley shook violently. Ju Feng watched in apprehension as a violet lightning streaked down from the raging sky. As the light disappeared, Ju Feng saw dangling in the air, a silver-white greatsword. With his mouth wide opened, Ju Feng rubbed his eyes in shock. Silver-white? That could only be divine Mithril blade. Was it for him? He looked around his section of the valley but didn''t see any other blood there. He was the only one there. It had to be for him.


    Knowing what happened to him when he touched a generic weapon, Ju Feng decided to prepare himself. He pushed all the chi energy he could afford into his body and mind. After some seconds, he walked up to the greatsword and grabbed its hilt. The moment his hand touched the hilt of the sword, he screamed out in total agony. It was as if his soul was almost rendered apart from his body. He pushed more chi energy into his body and mind, fortifying it further. He fell on his knees still holding the sword in his right hand. His left hand held his head. It was as if his head would explode.


    It took several long hours for him to regain himself as his headache receded. He stood up and stared at the greatsword. It was a massive sword but it was as light as a feather. Even a mortal could wield it easily. He was still looking at the great sword in shock when he heard a sound of drifting water. It was like that of a stream. He turned to the sound and saw the stream of water no more than five yards to his left. The churning column of water suddenly resolved into the shape of a giant figure striding towards him in great speed. Water seething and dancing furiously at its feet as it ran. Despite the fact that it hadn''t gained momentum, its speed was still frightening.


    Water elemental.


    Immediately, Ju Feng remembered the conchi guardian he encountered in Deathkeep. If this one was like that, there was no way he could face it in battle. A quick glance at the approaching elemental, Ju Feng couldn''t help but wonder how powerful it was. He looked at the entrance, it was still sealed. Then, he stared at the greatsword in his hand and nodded. He quickly raised his arms, holding the greatsword up to the sky, and blistering light burst into life in an arc beyond his hands. He could feel the heat it gave off; even with his eyes almost entirely closed the light was nearly unbearable.


    The powerful energy vibrated in the swrod as he fought to control the power of the massive sword. The impact of the magic smashing into itself reverberated down into his massive shoulders. The air shuddered and screamed around him as the streams of energy within the arc writhed about each other, but after a few moments Ju Feng felt the magical power of the sword slowly submit to his control.


    He felt as though he were rising up on the air, and all sensation other than the enormous power in his hands fell away. Ju Feng struggled not to scream at the overwhelming strength flowing through his body. And for a moment, he felt invulnerable, divine.


    But there was a little difference to the previous encounter he had with the water elemental. He was now a true premier. As the elemental surged towards Ju Feng, fists bunched and ready,  With a simple control, Ju Feng split the weaves of chi in his body and pushed it into the greatsword. But the elemental didn''t stop. The vast energy in the sword would disrupt the elemental''s body, even if nothing showed.


    Nearing Ju Feng, the elemental manifested massive claws and swung them towards him. The young cultivator ducked and spun around, letting momentum carry the blade into the elemental belly and on through its body. The elemental howled as it stopped and turned. It looked at the greatsword again in fury. Slowly, it raised one claw after the other. Then all of a sudden, it blurred towards Ju Feng in different after images.


    Seeing the deadly attack , Ju Feng swung the sword in circles. The attack of the elental collided with the great sword, knocking Ju Feng flying. To Ju Feng, it felt like a titan hammer had been slammed down on him. It drained a bit of energy from him, reeling him for a moment. The elemental saw its advantage and moved. Instictly, Ju Feng slashed wildly upwards and felt the greatsword cut something, momentarily driving the elemental off.


    The elemental seemed to be wary of the greatsword now. It was trying to avoid the sword by all means. Watching the sword, the elemental attacked again. But this time Ju Feng was prepared, riding the blow as he cut to the knee, then reversing his blade and ripping it up into the groin, and right through to the elemental''s shoulder.


    Again the creature screamed, but the cuts, heavy impacts as Ju Feng felt them, seemed to pass through and out without causing any obvious damage other than a blaze in the water of its body as the greatsword cut through it. Ju Feng wished he knew any sword technique now. If he was fighting the water sword elemental, he would have been dead since. This elemental was fast, but far from the level of the one he encountered at the Deathkeep.


    Ju Feng gave steady ground, cutting forward again and again, until at last the elemental seemed to slow and he felt his chance come. With every scrap of a premier''s power and speed, he slashed and tore at his enemy, using the size of the sword as a defensive shield while following each blow with another. The elemental reeled under his furious assault and squealed like a wounded boar before bursting apart into a sudden torrent of water.


    Ju Feng stopped and looked around at the puddle of water he was standing in. There was no sign of the elemental. The still air above seemed frozen with shock at the raw power of the greatsword. He noticed his breathing again, ragged through his tight throat, and then the sounds of the valley once more rushed back to him. His toes twitched automatically as he felt the chill of the water invading his straw boots and that brought him much needed relief.


    After some seconds, he looked at the greatsword and put it inside his spatial sac. He was supposed to pull it into his soul space but he hadn''t opened his soul space yet. If he was to loose his weapon before forming his soul space, he would never be able to have another one until he entered reincarnation.


    The darkness covering the valley disappeared. The seal blocking the entrance to his section of the valley also vanished. Ju Feng slowly made his way to the entrance just as the other four bloods too were leaving their own sections. There was no way for the bloods present to know who had the cosmic weapon among the five that exited the summoning grounds.


    Outside the entrance, Ju Feng stopped and looked around. He was holding the generic sword. Others present didn''t pay him much attention after seeing his soul weapon. Realizing no one was paying attention to him, he quickly made his towards the main entrance. He was about to exit when he heard his name.


    "Ju Feng?"

 Chapter 150 - Ju Feng And Chang Chang [1]

    "Ju Feng?"


    Ju Feng turned around and stared at the young girl coming towards him. As the girl got closer, Ju Feng saw the lunar symbol on her forehead. Realisation dawned on him as he remembered a recent memory. One of the young girls of his village. The girl living st the outskirt of the village with her


    "Chang Chang?"


    "It''s really you!"


    Chang Chang said happily. She looked at Ju Feng as if he was a ghost. The memories of the past came flooding into her mind again. She remembered the lonely boy who would come into town with his mother to sell goat milk. The boy who gave her the money that changed everything.


    "Come. Meet my parents."


    After the introduction, Ju Feng followed Chang Chang and her parents home. When he got there, he didnt know when he fell asleep. When he woke, Ju Feng had no idea what time it was. The room was shadowy and still, but there were cracks of light through the bamboo window that told him it was daytime. He rose immediately and went to the windows to peer out. The sun was directly overhead. Midday. He had slept a whole day.


    Way too long!


    Slowlyly, he washed his face and hands, dressed, and left the room. Chang Chang was nowhere to be found, so he went out the door and walked toward the large area at the front of the house, thinking to find her there. But he had only taken a few steps to his destination when Chang Chang appeared on the path ahead. On seeing He Feng, she glanced around as if looking for someone and rushed over.


    "Hello Ju Feng. Why dont you wait at the cottage? I only left to find the Striped Water spirit grass for you. How are you feeling? Better?"


    "After an entire day''s rest? I would guess so."


    Chang Chang grinned. "Almost two days. You never woke once."


    Ju Feng couldn''t believe it. Now he really was worried. Too much time had passed while he was sleeping in a strange world he had no clue of.


    "Thanks for taking care of me, Chang."


    "Dont mention it, Feng?"


    Chang Chang said before continuing.


    "You''re not from this world, Feng, and certainly, I know you''re not a blood. How did you end up at the summoning ground."


    "I wasn''t sure I know how, myself. I was in a battle with a black dragon inside an ancient ruin when I suddenly found myself near the summoning valley."


    Brecon did not answer, his blond head lowered, his blue eyes intense as he studied the path in front of him.


    "Follow me."Chang Chang said finally.


    They walked over to the clearing at the other end of the cottage, detouring to the far end where large stones were set in circle. Beside the stones were Chang Chang parents. Chang Chang hurried to them and whispered something to them. They signalled Ju Feng to come near.


    "Tell us what happened."


    After listening to the words of Ju Feng, Chang Li stroked his beard gently.


    "The Frozen Time. That explain the lack of blood aura on you. Keep this to yourself. These are dangerous times in this world. You''re a chi cultivator, you''re not suppose to be at the valley.  Hmm.. follow me."


    They left for somewhere at the center of the city. Once there, Chang Li led the way inside a hallway, his long stride lengthening as they drew closer to the destination. At one point, Ju Feng heard voices from down the forest, surrounding their path, and Chang Chang shook her head before smiling. Ju Feng squinted his eyes as he realized where they were going. It had to be the place of the Oracle Of Xue.


    Moving more quickly now, Chang Li took them into a room at the end of a hallway and from there into another room beyond, each time pausing to close and lock the doors behind them.  was looking around guardedly now, sensing that something was wrong.


    "Don''t worry," Chang Chang reassured him as her father secured the second door and motioned to a grouping of chairs. Together they seated themselves, facing each other across a small, round table. Chang Li glanced at a sideboard.


    "Let me get you something to drink. Is a glass of ale all right?"


    Without waiting for a response, he filled glasses from a cask concealed in a cold box and carried them back to the table. There was a furtiveness about him, an uneasiness that told Dar something was definitely not right. But he held his tongue and waited for his friend to reveal it in his own time. When Chang Li was seated again, he raised his glass.


    "In the house of the oracle, to health and good fortune."


    "What of the oracle, father?" Chang Chang asked.


    "Almost here. Be assured."


    Ju Feng looked around curiously. The place was better than most Xue Wus houses in his homeworld. Strange. He was in a bloody strange world and inside a blood oracle''s mansion. How strange was that?


    "Dont be confused. All will be revealed. But it''s all so strange to say the truth."


    "I never this time would come."


    Chang Wang could not believe it¡ªbut then it was exactly the sort of impulsive impulsive prophecy they had received, a long time ago.


    "I couldn''t believe it, either,"


    Chang Li agreed, seeing the look on his wife''s face.


    "And then we had listened to the words of the oracle, thinking it might not come to be."


    What prophecy? Ju Feng wondered she he heard those words. Deep in thought, not quite two feet away, in a room that sat apart from the house, there was a silent whisper. The power of the whispers carried strong echoes with it. Then, the door opened. The look of mingled shock and wariness mirrored on Ju Feng''s face was both priceless and gratifying when he saw the oracle.


    The oracle was dressed in full Skara regalia¡ªwhite silk robes and scarlet accessories. Her accessories and items dangled on her body like the herald of heaven''s. She stood with her back bent a little and her head slightly lifted as she spoke. She had lived before the comings.  She knew the secret to the world, the profound mysteries hidden on it.


    She sat down in great composure. Her eyes were fixed on Ju Feng, unblinking. She knew she must tell them from the start what she had already seen and known.


    When she had finished and stood waiting, there was a long silence. She resisted the urge to look over her shoulder to the grim-faced Home Guards, who stood behind her like expressionless statues. Unlike her, they bore swords and knives. But she didn''t regret her choice to forgo weapons. She knew the nature and reputation of her audience. Coming armed would have sent the wrong message. Any sort of confrontation at this juncture would have been disastrous.


    "You are in any mortal danger, young one. Unless you intend to enter reincarnation, you''ll heed my words. The fates of the two of you are intertwined. But you''ll suffer death, child. Your fate has been sealed. It can''t be broken."


    She used an example she was certain would resonate. Thanks to the blood divination, the oracle knew the becoming of the prophecy that brought the young boy to their world. She knew the history of these lands before the age of time. The dreadbloods had, in fact, attacked the finebloods on more than one occasion. The dreadbloods had, in fact, attacked them on more than one occasion over the centuries, seeking to subdue or at least dominate them. This had been a part of their history with other nations, as well, for as far back as anyone could remember.


    "I know your presence meant no harm"


    "But you yourself are in great danger."


    "As it happens," Chang Li said, "I''ve come to ask for your help."


    It wasn''t quite the truth, but it was not a big enough lie that she couldn''t speak the words. She watched as the Council members exchanged uncertain glances.


    "You''ve managed well enough. But without any assistance, youll die."


    The oracle observed and turned to look at Chang Chang.


    "You seem a very capable young lady. And your fate seem a fair and well planned one. It''s hard to believe you require help from anyone, but you do."


    "The bloods are a strong and determined people, and we fully expect to succeed in our efforts to make a home here. But a small number of our people, although it is ordained, have fated lives on their heads. These lands are ours, but we do not seek to dislodge those already living in these lands before us. We are not the original occupiers of it. We only seek a place for our own people. The Dreadbloods were a powergul, selfish, disorganized order that thought only of themselves. They were charged to be protectors of the land''s magical powers, Heavens Blood. Yet they squabbled and sniped at one another and did very little to aid those who were supposedly under their protection. Then, came the prophecies of the divine blood oracle. The prophecy that now brought you to my place."

 Chapter 151 - Ju Feng And Chang Chang [2]

    Leaving the house of the blood oracle, they walked slowly back to the Chang''s home. Ju Feng was lost in thoughts as he continued to walk. The oracle had confirmed hos impending death. She had told them his fate was intertwined with that of Chang Chang. And that he was locked in a Frozen Time array. If he didnt open his soul space, he might never survive his predicament. The oracle had told them to find the Heavenstone. That they must find the talisman that was needed back into the city of the Four Lands. But the fact that in all probability it was still inside the Shadow Keep¡ªwhere Shadow Curses resided¡ªput them at a great disadvantage.


    So for the day following their unpleasant discovery, as they walked beside and sometimes rode within the caravan wagons, she puzzled over what to do. By the following morning, on arriving at their destination, they still did not have an answer. Their choices were admittedly unattractive.


    Because they had left Dragon scryer orb behind, they had some connection with Heavenstone, however tenuous. Their decision on the matter had been deliberate and purposeful. Should they somehow survive the Keep''s Guardian¡ªunlikely as that seemed¡ªthey would be happy. The orb would provide her with a way. But now matters had moved beyond simply satisfying their curiosity. Now it appeared that their only chance for recovering Heavenstone lay in them having succeeded in doing what they had intended do¡ªavoid the death they were walking into. And if they were still alive by then, they needed to not only confirm the presence of the guardian, but also learn whether or not he actually had possession of the Heavenstone.


    Just at the moment they could not think of a way to proceed without tossing everything up in the air. They needed to be certain if the shadow guardian was active¡ªbut without giving away their chase after the Elfstone. If the guardian found they were after the stone without them setting the arrays in place first,  eventually they would die¡ªwhich would be the simplest outcome. But then the Heavenstone, the shadowkeep, and all its vast and treasured magic would be lost to them.


    As they continued walking, Chang Chang couldn''t help it but be lost in thought.


    What would eventually happen to her?


    The answer to this conundrum eluded her, so instead she quit thinking about it and looked at Ju Feng. That he would stay only a short time in Anjing was a given.


    She had no regrets about what she had done for him¡ªjust as she had no regrets about what she was doing for him now. She knew Ju Feng had to leave. Apart from the fact that he would die if he stay longer in the Frozen Time array, the dreadbloods oj Anjing would kill him. They had lost their bearing and diminished their ability to impact proper reasoning. Increasingly, they were becoming dangerous in their blindness. She might save him, had she had enough might of her own.


    Besides, she was a passable blood with a few years of experience¡ªeven if most of those years were in the past¡ªso she opted to keep herself to herself for now. And she believed the time spent wandering alone would provide her with a chance to think through her future plans and divine the means for carrying them out. There was much to consider, and it would be best accomplished if she was left undisturbed. But now, they would have to find the means for Ju Feng to be able to return to his home world.


    One of the more intriguing prospects she found herself considering for the second time since leaving lost Anjing centered on what use she might make of the mysterious words of oracle and the ancient prophecies. Drisker did not waste time on those lacking ability to employ magic, and she sensed there was something more to her than what the oracle had revealed. There was an air of secrecy about her, revealed not by any act of the oracle but by her ecpressions alone.


    Chang Chang was very good at reading people. She prided herself on being able to see right through anyone. The oracle was archaic but her face was a book waiting to be read, and as a blood herself, she could do that.


    ©¤©¤©¤


    They arrived in Juyan close to sunset on the third day of travel, weary and hungry to get on with things. They brought theI''d transportation cloud down in a landing field occupied by less than half a dozen trees, all looking decidedly safe. Her items was not new, either, but it was well maintained and fully provisioned. She left it under the care of the field manager¡ªa man who seemed willing enough to look after it, especially after she promised him a sizable bonus if she found her craft to be in the same condition when she departed as it was now.


    A more extensive inquiry into the location of Drisker''s home than she had anticipated proved necessary; it appeared that it had been burned to the ground some weeks earlier and a number of brigands had paid the ultimate price for doing so. Informed that he had found temporary lodgings, she set out to find them, carrying a sack filled with food and clothing¡ªa black-cloaked wraith, bent and gnarled and unapproachable.


    They found the new home dark and silent amid other similarly shadow-bound residences, its bulk hunkered down within a heavy screen of trees and noticeably set apart. A brief scan with the spiritual sight of Chang Li revealed no one waited within. They climbed the porch steps, opened the locked door with ease, and entered. They had hoped to find the girl still in residence¡ªassuming they hadn''t been scared off¡ªbut it appeared no one had been there for at least several days.


    There were bodies and left over items in a back chamber that might have been one of the dreads, but no other trace of its presence. They undertook a cursory search, but they did not waste their time trying to discover where the guardian of the keep might be residing, saving that for when they were better rested and placed the arrays.


    Then they began checking the spaces inbetween. When they found nothing but more ruins, they moved to the inner hall of the ruins and began their search for the guardians in earnest. Whatever else the keep had lost in the fire that had destroyed most of the place, the guardian would have made certain to protect the heavenstone. They went from one area to another, determined minds.


    The day was nearly done when they finished checking the ruins, and she had nothing to show for her efforts. Non items and no traps. It was an empty ruins. It was disappointing, but they were not discouraged. They had never once believed that finding something of such importance would be easy. The guardian was nothing if not clever, and he would have been more so concealing the Heanenstone. Toward evening, an oddity surfaced, one they could not explain.


    Glancing haphazardly into the trees surrounding the ruins, they caught sight of movement. It was gone as fast as it came, but they thought from the glimpse they caught that it might be anything. They saw it again a little later, no clearer than before. Who or what was out there or what its purpose might be in prowling about remained a mystery. They thought to lie in wait for it or track it or even set a trap. But that seemed a foolish waste of their time, given what little they was apt to discover. The thing could be more powerful than them.


    Lingering at the periphery of their expectations was the faint hope that the guardian might appear, but still there was no sign of him. Chang Chang and Ju Feng were determined and strong-minded, but they knew their limit in terms of power. As a result, they began to wonder if they should abandon this effort and go in search of the Heavenstone somewhere else. The stone would be useful for Ju Feng to get back, but dying before that could happen would be efforts in vain. Quite possibly, they began to think, it might be the better choice.


    And then abruptly, on that same evening, everything changed.

 Chapter 152 - Heavenstone [1]

    For a few endless moments, Chang Chang and Ju Feng stared at each other in anticipation. Both of them knew what was about to happen. Either to run or stay. To flee could be fatal for them. Ju Feng tensed as he watched deadly tendrils of energy steam leak from an opening in the under ground. He looked at the shadowy tendrils and glanced at Chang Chang. They drew back from the probing acts of the tendrils. At any moment, the tendrils could make a move. It could strike at them. Ju Feng held his bronze sword before him like a shield, wondering if he had the strength to withstand what was about to happen.


    There were moments in life so charged with terrible possibility and so rife with hushed warnings that everything seems to slow to a near stop in anticipation. Those who experience such moments always remember later how clear everything seemed¡ªhow much they distinctly recalled¡ªor they remember nothing at all. For Ju Feng, it would be the former. His gaze fixed on tow shadowy tendrils with an intensity that, if visceral, would have burned a hole completely through the tendrils.


    When they saw the tendrils move¡ªa barely noticeable shifting of fingers that a less experienced man would have missed completely¡ªthey threw themselves to one side. Even so, the deadly energy of the tendrils from the underground whistled close enough that they could feel their deadly powers.


    As they both struck the ground, they rolled. Chang Chang threw a seal into the and a deep layer of fog, momentarily covered them like invisibility cloaks. Ju Feng knew the shield wouldn''t stand for long. The tendrils would break it. They would have to fight their way through. As if to prove his point, he watched the shadowy tendrils sliced through the insubstantial brume of their concealment. He glanced at Chang Chang who pointed to the place where they had landed moments earlier, dark flames of destruction bursting brightly as they struck the hard earth, leaving scorch marks in their wake.


    Shadow-Flame elemental powers. Extremely destructive force.


    Ju Feng got to his knees, his sword still in his hands, as he waited for whatever was to happen next. The shafow-flame crackled with powerful dark aura, and he knew the owner of the tendrils was hunting for them. Following the cues of Chang Chang, he flattened himself against the ground within the mist, scooting swiftly to one side as the shafow-flame burned all around them in dark lines. He told himself to be patient, not to panic.


    But how much more was required before the owner showed itself?


    Then they heard someone scream from inside the underground tunnel, the sound sharp and piercing, but they could not tell whose scream it was. A roar of anger surfaced at the end of the scream, high-pitched and terrifying, dying almost immediately into an oddly strange growling that then went silent. The shadow-flame tendrils disappeared back into the ground. Chang Chang stared at Ju Feng wondering what was happening, too. She sprang to her feet in response, certain that something was going on and it involved the Heavenstone they were seeking. She could swear it.


    Emerging from the layer of fog-covered trees, they saw the cloaked figures they had seen earlier. The figure was already turning toward the entrance to the underground. The figure''s dark form slouching for the opening. The figure made a hand seal, and the blade the figure was holding blazed to life with the glow of its magic. Bloodflame. The figure turned back momentarily, then gave them a dismissive look and took another step toward the opening.


    The figure was about to enter when a massive creature emerged fromFade filled the entry with her considerable bulk¡ªsnarling jaws, muzzle pulled back to reveal her huge, curved fangs. Even from where they were standing almost twenty feet away, they heard the gasp that escaped the cloaked figure''s lips. It was a man''s voice. The man was momentarily paralyzed by the suddenness of the creature''s appearance, but he quickly regained itself. It was only one of the dreadwolves.


    The minions of the Drydra. The creature with the tendrils.


    The man raised his blazing sword and attack like lightning. The resulting howl was bloodcurdling. The creature gritted its teeth against the pain, emitting a dangerous growl, then shook its body free as it attacked the man. The creature was extremely fast too. It clawed and bit the man like phantom ghost. The man''s response was more a roar than a scream. When shaking his attacker off failed to work, he finally reached down with both hands, fastened his fingers on the creature''s neck, then yanked it loose and threw it across the open place.


    Then, in the next instant it had disappeared back into the underground. But almost without looking, the man removed a talisman from his spatial sac and threw it into the opening, and jumped inside.


    Cautiously, Ju Feng and Chang Chang followed them inside, into the underground. Inside the underground, they could hear the raging battle between the man and dreadwolf. The two of them, having entered the tunnel soundlessly, watched the fight between the two powers. Beyond them was the Drydra, the guardian. This they could tell. The Drydra had the Heavenstone, but they were now faced with the threat of the man. Maybe he was after the Heavenstone too.


    They would have to find another route. More dreadwolves were still out there, possibly blocking their path. Gently, they took another path. To their surprise, there were no dreadwolves blocking their way. But they could still hear the faint echoes of the battle between the man and the dreadwolf.


    Dreadwolves?


    More than one dreadwolf. That was why they didn''t see any dreadwolf blocking their path. They had gone to the battle point. Moving forward a bit, they saw the guardian, holding a girl. It dangled the girl some inches from it and held her up with no apparent effort.


    Chang Chang took out her bow and fired a blood arrow at the guardian without wasting time. The arrow ran into the Drydra with such force that it knocked the drydra backward onto the floor. The girl was flung and her head slammed against the wooden planks as she fell, but it seemed to have no effect. Her eyes fixed on the drydra, filled with malice, and her hands began to summon her own dark aura.


    Again, the drydra changed its stance.


    Had there been more time to think about it, they would have prepared a battle plan. But at this point they were only thinking about getting out of there as quickly as possible¡ªof going somewhere safe to plan.


    The fog had risen considerably; it was now almost to the cottage roof. Deep in its midst, the magic of the Sword of Leah was scattering arcs of brightness as it cut at the vapor.


    "Chang!" Ju Feng shouted.


    "Feng!" Chang Chang managed to yell, and then her voice was cut off by the impact.


    The girl realized what was happening and responded at once, pointing the magical artifact toward the hydra. Brilliant blue light blazed to life and flashed into the thickest of the tendrils. As it burrowed in, the tentacles drew back with a shudder, shrinking away from the artifact''s power as if burned.


    Seconds later it was back to its former depth of about three feet, and the girl could be seen standing within it. The artifact was burning with intensity as the girl fell on her knees. She was choking and gasping as she breathed the night air, but she signaled to Ju Feng and Chang Chang that she was all right. She threw the artifact at the drydra as they made for the concealment of the tunnels, together. They were anxious to get clear before the atifact exploded.


    After the artifact exploded, the girl looked at the Ju Feng and Chang Chang before nodding.


    "The dydra isnt dead. It will be angrier than before. I suggest you take whatever youre after and disappear before then."


    "What about you?"


    Ju Feng asked.


    "I came for the Hydracrown. I have it. By the way, thanks for your help back there. See you later."


    The girl wheeled around and disappeared.


    "We have to go back now!"


    Chang Chang grabbed Ju Feng''s arm.


    "If we take too long, it will beva great problem. Look, that drydra, is too powerful to face alone. We have to act when its weak."


    Ju Feng looked at Chang Chang, but finally nodded. He was only worried for her. She was going out of her way to help him. He would be angry with himself if anything was to happen to her.


    "Let''s hurry, then."

 Chapter 153 - Heavenstone [2]

    By the faint glow of the orblight, Ju Feng and Chang Chang stood at the beginning of an underground tunnel. Smooth stone walls rose to a flat ceiling high over their heads. Ju Feng could see the trapdoor through which the drydra had fallen. The talisman of the girl had caused great destruction to the hydra and the place.


    The tunnel was now blocked by the bases of the thick stone walls that had nearly crushed them in the room above. The darkness was dense and stifling here, retreating sullenly before orb light of Chang Chang''s orb. A rank odor like the putrid reek of decay hung in the air, so thick that it almost seemed to leave on oily residue on their skin and inside their lungs. It was a stench of evil.


    With no other options evident, the two started down the corridor. The tunnel plunged straight through the darkness, without openings or side passages. The sickening odor grew more intense as they walked, but there was nothing to do but swallow their bile and press on. Soft, ropy strands dangled from the ceiling. Ju Feng guessed they were moss, for they glowed with a faint and noxious green light.


    They ducked to avoid the strands and kept moving. Though he couldn''t be sure, Ju Feng had the sense that the passageway was leading gradually downward. He swore inwardly. They needed to go up, but it seemed everything they did only took them farther down. It was as if Underground itself were somehow conspiring to pull them deeper.


    After a time, the inky mouth of a smaller tunnel opened up to the left. The fetid stench was stronger here, pouring like black water out of the side opening. Yet it wasn''t just the smell that spilled from the tunnel¡ªthere was a malice as well, distant and faint, but chilling all the same.


    "I think the hydra is down there," Chang Chang whispered softly. "And I think it''s terribly hurt and angry." She added in a squeaky voice.


    "Let''s be careful." Ju Feng said. He felt the malevolent aura of the hydra had increased greatly. He wiped his sweaty palms on his robe and kept his s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e eyes peeled. They continued down the murky passageway. The mouths of more tunnels opened to their left and right. Some were blocked by fallen rubble, and others were dry and dusty. But the same pungent reek wafted outward from several tunnels, as did the aura of evil. Without deciding aloud to do so, the two picked up their pace.


    Then they saw the outer layers of the hydra on the floor.


    "It''s changing form." Chang Chang whispered cautiously. "It should be closer now."


    After they hadvtaken a few steps, the aura of malice swelled befor them. They reeled, nearly overwhelmed by the vile emanations of hatred. Something was coming at them, and it was gaining. They readied their weapons as they made their stands. As they watched, tens of bloated forms bust forward. They were spiders, but like none Chang Chang had ever seen. But Ju Feng remembered their kind. Nephilia spiders.


    They were huge, each the size of a dog. Their bulging bodies, as pale and waxy as corpses, were eerily translucent, and their long gray legs trailed off into dim tendrils of gray mist. Dark saliva bubbled from their vague pincer mouths, and their multifaceted eyes shone malevolently, like flame reflected off black jewels. Whatever these spiders were, it was clear they were not truly alive like the nephilia spiders, but wraiths, in hideous spider form. Their swords met the claws of the spiders as they engaged in battle. The more they fight, the more the spiders.


    "Do you have anything to stop them?" Ju Feng asked Chang Chang.


    "No, not anymore."


    "We better run then."


    Gasping, they hurled themselves down the tunnel, the darkness following thickly on their heels. An eerie whispering sound echoed all around. Lungs burning, the three kept running. All at once the walls of the tunnel fell away, and they found themselves dashing across a cavernous chamber. Strange white shapes littered the floor, crunching brittlely underfoot. Dense clumps of the same strands that had filled the tunnel hung from the high ceiling like a weird inverted forest, filling the room with a ghastly green glow. They caught another wisp of fresh air, stronger now. Ju Feng saw it on the far side of the hall¡ªa faint rectangle glowing amid the gloom. A doorway.


    "Hurry!" he shouted, heedless of what might hear his voice.


    The eerie whispering grew louder, filling the chamber. Thick blackness poured out of the opening behind them like a putrid flood. Legs pounding, they ran towards the doorway. As they neared the doorway, they saw that it was covered with more of the same green, glowing strands. With a cry, he hurled himself at the portal. Instantly his cry became one of pain as bitterly cold threads burned the skin on his hands and face. The silken material stretched under the force of his impact, then abruptly snapped back, throwing him roughly to the ground.


    He stared up at the door in surprise, rubbing his throbbing hands. Then he leapt to his feet, drew a knife from his boot, and slashed at the chaotic weave that covered the door. The blade bounced back, jarring his wrist painfully. He had not so much as damaged one of the cords.


    "What is this stuff?" he said in hoarse amazement as Chang Chang came to stand beside him.


    Chang Chang drew in a sharp breath, staring upward. "I think I know."


    The strange whispering grew to a maddening din. The threads hanging from the ceiling stirred. Ghostly shapes scuttled down the glowing strands.


    "Auric webs," Chang Chang gasped. "They''re archaic webs from dark energy."


    Sge branded her grey sword. The hilt tingled in her hand¡ªit was the first time it had done that since acquiring it. Warm energy flowed up her arms as red fire glimmered along the edge of the blade. A wraith spider lunged forward, and Chang Chang swung her glaive. The creature let out a mind-piercing shriek as two of its legs fell to the floor. For a moment, they twitched of their own volition, then evaporated into wisps of fog. The spider lurched backward.


    Chang Chang made some hand seals. Blue-red energy crackled from her fingertips. It struck two of the wraith spiders, but passed through their ghostly bodies. They continued to scurry forward.


    "My talismans has little effect on them!" Chang Chang shouted.


    "Then let''s work on freeing the door!"


    Ju Feng gritted through clenched teeth. "Try to hold the spiders back as long as you can. I''''ll try to open it. "


    Chang Chang swung the glaive in whistling arcs, and a dozen more many-jointed legs fell to the floor, turning to mist. The spiders advanced more slowly now, wary of Chang Chang''s grey glaive. The plan was working for the moment, but there were too many of the wraiths. It was only a matter of time until one got through.


    Chang Chang glanced at Ju Feng and growled. "You might want to hurry, Feng."


    Ju Feng looked at the door and remembered the fire seal of his grandfather he was holding. He activated and thrust the seal at the webs. Instantly the sticky strands ignited, engulfed by brilliant fire. In seconds they were burned to fine ashes, clearing the doorway.


    "It worked!" Ju Feng cried excitedly.


    "Go, I''ll cover you."


    Chang Chang was slowly walking backward towards the door when a giant dark elemental spider dropped down from above, landing behind her. Ghostly pincers dug into the back of her neck. Her body went limp, and she fell to the floor. The glove hung loosely in her hand.


    Suddenly, the glaive in her hands jerked violently. As if imbued with a life of its own, the blade danced forward. Seeing that, Chang Chang decided to use her mystical arts. She strained against the power of the glaive in her hands, face twisted in effort, then managed to turn it on the archaic spider that was approaching her. A giant blade of blood shot forward and sliced through the thing''s bloated abdomen. It waved its thin legs, then exploded into a puff of foul vapor. Chang Chang sunk on her knees as her energy depleted from the use of the mystical technique.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Ju Feng saw Chang Chang forcing herself to stand. She was still alive. Grim satisfaction turned to cold terror as Ju Feng realized that his back was now toward the other archaic spiders. Sensing their prey''s vulnerability, they chittered hatefully, closing in. Ju Feng knew he had mere moments to act and live. His eyes fell upon Chang Chang who was struggling with the archaic elemental spiders, and an idea struck him.


    There was only one chance.

 Chapter 154 - Heavenstone [3]

    Chang Chang''s orb of light flashed in a place of darkness-some sort of large chamber. It seemed, liberally endowed with rough heaps and pillars of blackened stone. In this second flash, they both saw the unmistakable sphere of eye-stalks writhing in pain or rage, quivering in the air low over some sort of beast . . . probably a beastfolk. The guardian. They were shocked to find the guardian in such a place.


    Ju Feng walked slowly, the fingertips of one hand just touching the boards in front of them, and looked again at the guardian. The problem was, Skullport was all too apt to be crawling with this sort of thing: the kind of strife Mirt and Durnan would get caught up in ... but had they chosen this particular strife, or found amus.e.m.e.nt elsewhere? Then their eyes fell on what she''d been searching for- a little ahead of her, along the narrow alley that ran from beneath them to the ruins where the guardian was standing. The heavenstone. Perched on round holder.


    This was their fight, then. Ju Feng frowned. He quickly checked his robe, plucked something from under it, and gave it to Chang Chang. The Dragonhide talisman. It would go a long way in protecting her from the power of the guardian. Whose aura alone could hurl blasts while carrying that little bauble.


    Chang Chang collected the talisman and watched Ju Feng charged the guardian. She put a medicinal pill in her mouth and buckled up her belt again, bit her lip in thought, turned smoothly, and ran a little way along the edge of the stone wall. There, someone bolder than most had strung a line of washing from the high, hanging way to a balcony.


    Though the cord was old and soft where glowmold had been washed away many times, it held one hurrying, catlike woman in leathers long enough for her to reach the wall. Chang Chang got one boot on the boulder and kicked hard, the mighty stone squealed in protest as she leapt away into darkness, fingers straining for the lantern line she sought.


    Her eyes were on the battle ahead. The guardian seemed to be trying to impale Ju Feng, who was ducking and rolling among stubby fingers of stone wall. As Chang Chang''s feet found the boards of the stone walk, slid in something unpleasant, and shot her right across it into empty air beyond, she saw the guardian''s clawed hands.


    Blocks of stone crumbled, and Ju Feng dived away, a dagger flashing in his hand. Chang Chang was getting close now, and beyond them all-as she brought her feet together to crash down through the rotting roof of a bone-cart Chang Chang could see a few warily watching creatures behind the guardian. They were greatly wounded. A dark spider and a dreadwolf. Then Chang Chang''s feet plunged through silk that was gray with age, and into brittle bones beyond. She shut her eyes against flying shards as she sank into a crouch, letting her legs take the force of her landing.


    "Grrrenarrr!" The guardian''s roar of rage echoed off the buildings around, and Chang Chang  dodged sharply as she joined Ju Feng. She brought her glaive up and back behind her without looking or slowing. A heavy iron-like claw rang off its tip and rattled along a a stone boulder beside her. Up ahead, the guardian shook the air in a roaring frenzy that far outmatched the snarls of the ore behind her. Rays lashed out in all directions from its writhing, coiling eyestalks.


    Ju Feng stabbed down met some sort of shield and faded away, and one that lashed out toward Chang Chang had a similar fate. The others were causing spectacular explosions, bursts of flame and lightning-and in one spot, the stone was melting like syrup and slumping down upon itself in a slow flood. Auric light flashed and curled around the eye tyrant as it poured forth dark energy in a display that had the spider and wolf scrambling for cover. The last of the ruin''s blackened walls toppled, with slow majesty, down atop the struggling spider and wolf. Dust rose slowly, the heaving underfoot subsided.


    Then, beams of deadly radiance flashed from the eyes of the guardian. Something unseen in the air blocked the rays, which struck with such savage force that the very emptiness darkened. Ju Feng and Chang Chang staggered to keep his footing, thrust back under the weight of the energy that clawed and tore at them. The guardian screamed in fresh rage. Was every puling human protected against all its powers?


    The guardian lashed out repeatedly with energy blasts and thrusting eye beams. The ground shook anew, and Chang Chang disappeared down a sliding mound of rubble as stones broke free from buildings all around and plunged to the streets. As Ju Feng crouched low and scrambled forward, stones broke off a large boulder to his left and crashed on the ground, splitting paving stones.


    A stone shard whirled out of nowhere and laid his cheek open with the ease of a slicing razor. Ju Feng hissed at the close call and put a hand up to shield his face, spreading his fingers to see Chang Chang struggling along like someone battling his way into the face of a gale-force wind. Blackness sparked and roiled around him as his shields slowly melted away - soon they would surely fail, and he would be blasted to a rain of blood . . . and she would lose him, forever.


    There was only one way he could go about this, and it might mean his life. Thrown away vainly, too, if he fouled up the lone chance she''d get. Ju Feng swallowed, tossed his head to draw breath and blow errant hairs from his eyes, and slapped the hilt of his sword so that the rune carved there would be smeared with the gore still leaking from his torn fingers. He felt its familiar ridges, slick and sticky with her blood, and nodded in satisfaction. Turning himself carefully to face the raging guardian, he firmly closed his hands together and performed the first stage of the infernal beast.


    It was a terrible decision. He wasn''t a fire elemental. The repercussion would be too much to bear. The sword shuddered in his hands and then bucked, and he clung to it grimly as the sword''s power was unleashed. It blazed away into nothingness as the sword dragged him up into the air and flung him on the ground. He held on to it as the sword shot forward. Eerie silence fell.


    He was somehow brimming with energy that was slowly burning his veins. Springing up into the air on a one-way vault that would end in a bone-shattering encounter with the cavern wall or a sickening plunge to the ground if he judged wrongly. The guardian hadn''t noticed him, it was still lashing at the fallen boulders with futile gazes and hurled blasts as Ju Feng rose out of the flashing and trembling air, passing up and over the monster-now!


    The sword''s power winked out reluctantly in obedience to his will, and Ju Feng found himself falling, sword first. Straight down at the curving, segmented body of the eye tyrant he plunged, headed for just behind the squirming forest of its eyestalks. Ju Feng spread his legs and braced himself for the landing-he''d have only a b.a.r.e breath to strike before it flung him away.


    With solid thumps, Ju Feng''s boots struck the beholder''s body, and the blade in his hands flashed once and back again before he''d even caught his balance. Almost cut through, an eyestalk flopped and thrashed beside him, spattering him with stinging yellow-green gore as another eye turned his way. His boots found purchase on the curving body plates, and Ju Feng lunged desperately, putting his sword tip through the questing eye and shaking violently to drag the steel free before another orb could bathe her in its deadly gaze.


    Three of the eyestalks were turning, like slow serpents, and the guardian was rolling over to fling her off. Ju Feng kicked out at one eye, as his balance went, and flailed with his blade at another. He fell hard on the bony plates of the monster''s body, arm wrapped around an eyestalk. He clung to it with one hand and drove the quillons of his blade into the questing orb that came curling at him. Milky fluid burst forth, drenching him. Spitting out the reeking slime, Ju Feng grimly slashed at another eye. Then he was falling, the guardian''s bony bulk no longer under him.


    Stones rushed up to meet him, and Ju Feng tucked himself around his sword, trying to roll. There was no time, and with numbing force, he crashed into what was left of a wall, and then reeled back helplessly. He fell heavily on the floor as his whole body shook unctrollably. His soul appeared to be on fire. His meridians were at the point of combustion. Mists swirled in front of his eyes, and a new wetness on his chin told where he''d bitten through his lip.

 Chapter 155 - Heavenstone [4]

    Ju Feng was roaring out her Chang Chang'' and sprinting toward her, arms spread to embrace her. Would his failing shields protect them both?


    Not from this death. The beholder''s large central eye was a rent, shriveled ruin, milky liquid dripping from a slash in the sightless bulge, but the smaller eyes on their stalks glittered with maddened rage. They stared at Ju Feng, growing swiftly nearer. The charging monster would either ram him into the stones and crush the life from him, or roll over at the last instant to shred him with its fangs- teeth adorning a jagged mouth quite large enough to swallow him.


    Chang Chang shuddered, shook her head to clear it, and raised the gore-streaming blade she still held. Ju Feng came gasping up to her, bronze sword raised-and the beholder''s eyes vanished behind its own bulk. It rolled over to reveal the gaping maw that would devour her. A powerful blood among her peers of her own kind. She was armed with a weapon that many lacked.


    Ju Feng fetched up against Chang Chang, panting. "Are you alright?"


    "I''ll live," replied Chang Chang.


    Chang Chang shoved him away, hard, spun about, and dived away. Ju Feng staggered backward and, with a roar of pain, sat down hard on bruising stone. The beholder crashed into the stones where they''d stood, snapping and tearing with its teeth. Rubble sprayed or rolled in all directions as the beholder raked the heap of stone apart, teeth grating on rock. The impact sent it cartwheeling helplessly away through the air-and uncovered a battered, unsteadily reeling them.


    Ju Feng found his feet and climbed grimly out of the heaped stones, growling at the pain of several stiffening bruises. He''d been buried long enough to know the first cold touch of despair and was in a mood to rend beholders.


    "Beholders. Revenant of the guardian," Chang Chang snarled, waddling awkwardly to her feet.


    A scream of utter agony echoed around the dank cavern, underscored by the eerie sound of chanting. Ju Feng craned his neck, straining against the large boulders, trying to see what was happening. He was not the only one sentenced to become a drider that day. It was difficult to see anything. Noxious smoke hung on the air, rising from the opening leading to the other side. No matter what happened, they had to reach inside the opening and get the Heavenstone. The scent of fear was strong and sharp in his nostrils. This was an evil place no doubt. The screeching form the beholder beasts rose to a feverish pitch as another scream was ripped from the lungs of whatever they were facing. For a moment, the smoke swirled, thinning, and Ju Feng caught a glimpse of a gruesome shadow play.


    To their right, eight spiders gathered around an altar to which was strapped a writhing figure.. At the head of the stone slab, hovering in the garish green flames rising from a copper brazier, was a nightmarish form. The thing was a mass of bubbling flesh, snaking tentacles, and bulbous eyes. It was like the guardian but different. A Scaran, one of the deadliest b.r.e.a.s.ts of the underworld, summoned from the depths of the Abyss to work its evil here. A wave of fear and revulsion crashed through Ju Feng at the sight of the Scaran. As powerful as the deatheaters. He clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to vomit.


    The spiders raised their arms in exultation as their sounds reached a shrill peak. The scaran extended its tentacles, wrapping them around the head of its sacrifice. The death spider female screamed one last time, back arching off the altar. Then, with horrifying swiftness, the change began. Wriggling legs sprouted from the drow''s waist as her belly swelled in grotesque distortion. Her scream turned into a weird chittering that was part anguish and part mad glee. The spiders stepped away, and for a moment Ju Feng saw, in perfect silhouette, a new form standing on the altar where the dark scaran spider. The thing was shaped like a s scaran from the waist up-now neither male nor female-but its abdomen and legs were those of a huge, misshapen spider.


    Tensing his body, he waited for the moment of his doom to come. Before it could, a strange thing happened. A tiny form pulled itself up over the edge of the altar and walked in halting fashion across the stone slab. Ju Feng stared, his fear replaced by puzzlement. What was this creature? It looked like a crude, clay figurine of a scaran, no bigger than a dreadwolf. Only it was alive.


    With jerky steps, the tiny clay golem approached Zak''s right hand. It raised a stiff arm, and green firelight glinted off cold metal. A small knife had been fastened to the thing''s hand. Zak''s eyes widened as the golem slashed downward. The sharp knife struck the leather thong that bound his wrist, cutting it through save for a small thread of leather. With clumsy but surprising speed, the clay golem scuttled into Zak''s pocket. Black-robed forms appeared out of the swirling smoke. Cruel smiles cut across dark drow faces. Emerald light pierced the gloom as a fire was lit just behind Ju Feng''s head. The flames roared, and something rose from them. Ju Feng arched his head back and caught a glimpse of half-melted flesh and spongy tentacles. Unholy dread turned his guts to water. As one, the spiders began their sounds. A slimy tentacle brushed across the surface as they watched. Ju Feng grimaced, feeling the first tug of pain deep inside his body. Now was his only chance.


    JuFeng spun around. Following cue, Chang Chang spun around too. The remaining beholders had recovered their wits. They lifted their daggers and wh.i.p.s, surrounding him. One raised its claws. Ju Feng kicked out, crushing its jaw before it could realize what was happening. It fell to the floor, squeaking. Another spider raised two claws that glowed with fell magic, ready to strike him down. Ju Feng lashed out with his sword, and the spider fell to the ground.


    Despite himself, Ju Feng grinned. These spiders were smaller the dark nephilia spiders outside the chamber. He could face them without problem. They had sought to work their deadly power upon him. Well this was his justice. These were the ones who gave the deadly guardian his power.


    His grin broadened as he disposed another spider and plucked his sword from its corpse. The hilts hummed against his two hands. It was a generic sword, but the blade was wickedly sharp. Terror blossomed in the eyes of the four remaining spiders. To them he seemed a fiend, a more terrible than a creature of the Abyss. They turned to flee towards the inner chamber, and two more died as Chang Chang drove her glaive into each of their backs, piercing their hearts. They started to pursue the remaining two spiders, but was brought up short by the duo of dreadwolf and giant spider who had been waiting in silence. The spider thrust out its pincers. As it did, Chang Chang performed a move she had invented herself long ago. She poised the glaive high, before turning it low, and was a able to render mortal damage to the spider.


    As the dreadwolf lunged forward, Ju Feng brought his sword''s blade down in a swift move, catching the dreadwolf by the neck. Bone shattered with a sound like glass grinding. The dreadwolf went down howling in pain. Ju Feng smiled, making quick work of the dreadwolf. He leapt over it, no longer thinking, driven by instinct to pursue the two spiders before they could enter the inner chamber. They would seal the chamber behind them, making it impossible for Ju Feng and Chang Chang to enter. They couldn''t afford that, especially with the cloak figure still somewhere in the tunnel.

 Chapter 156 - Heavenstone [V]

    Chang Chang weaved her hands over a talisman she had thrown in the air. A blue aura shimmered around the talisman as it slowly levitated off the ground. Guided by the motions of her hands, the talisman drifted through the air. A sheen of sweat broke out on Chang Chang''s brow. This was the most powerful seal she had. It was even above her level of enlightenment of power, and if it failed, she could not try it again. She moved her fingers in intricate patterns, weaving invisible threads of magical aura. It was all she could do to keep the spiders from sealing the entrance to the iner chamber.


    As she concentrated, the talismam floated over the head of one of the spiders scurrying towards the inner cavern. Chang Chang twitched her fingers, and the talisman burst into flames, dousing the spiders with fiery flames. Heedless of the flames, the mindless creature continued to lurch forward, trying to reach the inner chamber. Chang Chang weaved her hands, and the flames floated toward another zombie. Once again, the flames spread, engulfing the other spider. As she continued, Chang Chang tightened her control over the flame, and the flame spread more swiftly through the air. Finally, the flame was depleted. With a groan, Chang Chang released the power the flames. Her head throbbed with the effort, but there had been enough fire to halt the spiders.


    Ju Feng ran forward like lightming, raised his sword, aimed at the head if the spiders who were still reeling from the fire, and swung. The bronze sword traced a crimson arc through the air, then plunged directly into the center of the spider''s head. For a second the spider stared stupidly at the hilt of the sword embedded in its body. Then, all at once, the spider burst into crimson flame and crumbled on the floor. Legs waving spastically, the spider squealed and fell on its back, exploding in a spray of charred flesh.


    Ju Feng released another swing of his sword, and the other writhing spider  was engulfed in a pillar of searing flame. The flame of the seal was now working its full power. Gripping the tingling hilt of his sword, Ju Feng slowly approached the open entrance to the inner chamber. He glanced at Chang Chang who was now beside him. She nodded as they continued walking towards the entrance.


    Inside the inner chamber, they saw the round stone on one of the silver holders. The Heavenstone. Cautiously, they approached. Checking for any traps, Chang Chang held out her hands and grabbed the red stone. Immediately, a giant wrath materialised in front of them


    The wrath stood before the two of them, steering wildly, its back to entrance. As the two of them tried to adjust their footing, the wrath moved. The wrath moved alarmingly alarmingly fast. Just when it seemed the wrath would run through them, the chamber suddenly tilted in the opposite direction, and the wrath swivels in its direction, running dangerously close to the left side of the cavern. A deep, throbbing roar now mingled with the frothy voice in the tunnel


    Ju Feng and Chang Chang quickly moved towards the entrance. Without warning, the wrath appeared before them. Its dead black eyes saw them, and the death aura coming from it doubled. Ju Feng swore under his breath. The blasted, god forsaken evil creature. He sprang forward, hoping to make his swing. The wrath weaved with surprising speed and raised its deadly claws, blocking Ju Feng''s blow. Ju Feng grunted as a jolt of pain ran up his arm. He stumbled backward, then caught himself. Chang Chang swiftly attack with her glacier only to be repelled too. The wrath was stronger than the others they had met in this tunnel. Perhaps it was the true revenant of the guardian?  Regardless, they now stood before a foe who would not be as easily defeated as the others.


    Ju Feng crouched warily, looking for an opening. He feinted left, trying to draw the wrath''s attack in that direction so that Chang Chang could attack from the other side. However, such subtle moves were quite lost upon the wrath. Utterly ignoring the feint, the wrath charged forward. Ju Feng barely managed to spin aside, avoiding the wrath''s lumbering blow. Before Ju Feng could fully recover, the wrath charged again, claws raised. The move caught Ju Feng completely off guard¡ªno sensible opponent would move so madly, leaving himself completely open. Of course, the wrath had no need to follow the rules of the living. It was an unread.


    Exploiting the opening created by the wrath''s upraised sword arm, Chang Chang lashed out with her glaive, slicing through the wrath''s shadowy form and carving a deep gash across its side. Once again she realized her mistake and tried to move away. Any living opponent would have stumbled back in response to this grievous wound, but the wrath, oblivious to pain, did not hesitate to charge. It swung its claws at Chang Chang in a wild arc. It was so fast that it caught her by surprise. Chang Chang tried to lunge out of the path of the claw, but she was too slow. The deadly tips of the claws traced stinging lines across her left side. Chang Chang gasped, her head reeling with sudden pain. She clutched at her side with her free hand, and his fingers came away wet with blood.


    Ju Feng quickly reacted with his sword and the wrath charged at him heedlessly. He parried a series of bludgeoning blows that left no chance for a counterstroke. Ju Feng tried to reach for Chang Chang, but he nearly got his hand cut off. Then he drew the wrath away from Chang Chang. Steadily, the wrath''s mindless advances pushed Ju Feng backward, away from the injured Chang Chang. The throbbing roar grew louder, echoing deafeningly off the rough stone walls of the cavern.


    Ju Feng had to turn his head back to the wrath, or lose it. With renewed urgency, he fended off the wrath''s attacks and even gained some ground. However, he knew it was only a matter of moments until the wrath reached him, at which time he wouldn''t be able to see how Chang Chang was faring. Without warning, crimson light flared behind him. Ju Feng risked a second glance over his shoulder, and what he saw almost made him drop his sword in surprise. The approaching wrath had burst into flame. Writhing and burning, it stumbled away. Even as he watched, scarlet fire engulfed the wrath completely. He turned around to see Chang Chang performing a hand seal. She was fine. Despite his predicament, Ju Feng could not suppress a sharp-toothed smile¡ªshe was alive and still fighting.


    It had bought him time. The fire could never kill the wrath but could slow it down. Ignoring the searing pain in his side, Ju Feng attacked the cloaked figure with redoubled vigor, driving him back toward the main entrance. Somewhere the boulders of the cavern cracked like old bones. Decayed limbs unable to keep their balance, the zombie captain stumbled backward against the ship''s wheel. It was now or never.


    Ju Feng sprang forward, letting the cursed saber have free rein. The blade struck once, hewing off one of the wrath''s clawed arm. Then it swung again, severing the wrath''s other arm. Finally, the cosmic weapon pulled pulled Ju Feng forward in a mighty thrust. The blade pierced the wrath''s heart. And with one clean swing, he removed the head of the wrath. Ju Feng took out one bloodroot pill and gave it to Chang Chang. They made their way out of the inner chamber. Going out of the outer chamber, they could still hear the faint echoes of the distant battles. They couldnt help but wondered what the the cloaked figure was fighting all this while.


    With a cautious approach, they left the cavern and headed towards the other side, away from the battle echoes. For a terrified moment they thought something or someone was going to come after them before the could leave the ruins. There was a horrible splintering sound as the port side of the hull grated against the rough stone wall. They were tossed to their knees as the cavern convulsed violently. Then the grating noise ceased and the shaking ended.  They climbed to their feet, gazing in silence at the open exit ahead. They had done it.


    "Chang Chang!"


    Ju Feng cried out beside her.


    "I think that we''re in a spot of trouble."


    Chang Chang turned to see what Ju Feng was pointing at. Behind them, the entire aft section of the cavern was in flames, thick smoke drifting in the air.


    "We have to hurry before we''re sealed inside."


    Chang Chang agreed, as they both hurried towards the edit. Something is sealing the tunnels. The tremors are signs of the impending collapse of the tunnel too. They agreed they didn''t want to be there when that happened. When the tremors strikes the cavern wall, large rips would be torn along the tunnels. With renewed vigour, they made haste.

 Chapter 157 - Leaving The Underground [I]

    The tunnels were penetrated by the flickering light, and silence broken only by the hollow echoes of their footsteps were starting to give the two a terrible headache. How much farther before they wandered out the other side of tunnel? They had thought they were very close to the exit the other time. Eventually, though, the tunnel before them emptied out into a barrel-shaped cavern, and Icelin heard the sound of rushing water. An underground river gushed over stones, and a forest of stalactites hung low over the water.


    Chang Chang stared at the river, grateful for anything to look at besides dark tunnel walls. The water foamed around the stalagmites as if from the mouth of a crooked-toothed beast. Blue-green fungus grew among the rocks on the shoreline, and there were a few stepping stones out in the river itself, but these looked dangerously slick and barely large enough to hold one person.


    How many souls had actually crossed this river in all the centuries since its creation? As a blood, Chang Chang had never dreamed, when they set out, that the tunnels would lead them this far into the Underground. She''d never thought of herself as being afraid of extremely tight spaces, but the idea of being so far from sunlight unnerved her. Yet another part of her thrilled to the idea that she walked in a cavern unknown to most of the people above. They had stepped into another world. If only her parents had been there to share the sights with her, Chang Chang would have been content.


    Well, content might not have been the best word, not while he things in the tunnels continued to affect the two of them. What had gotten into the underground anyway? When they''d stood near the last tunnel, for a second she''d thought they were leaving the underground. She wondered how they would find their way out now.


    A sharp hiss and twang cut the air, vibrating down the length of her staff. Chang Chang flinched as she stared at Ju Feng. Chang Chang opened her mouth to say something to Ju Feng, when suddenly a second black quarrel buried itself in her arm. Staring at the missile in shock, Icelin at first didn''t feel any pain. Blood welled and flowed in a warm trickle down her arm. Icelin found her voice. "We''re under attack!" she cried.


    Ju Feng spun, and pulled Chang Chang to the ground behind some rocks. Chang Chang clutched her wounded arm and looked through a crack between two rocks. In the middle of the river, three figures levitated near one of the larger stalactites. One wore a warrior''s robes, and the other two wore armor that fit their slender bodies like a second skin. These two reloaded hand crossbows. Even in the dim red light of her staff, Icelin could appreciate their graceful forms, elegantly pointed ears, and obsidian skin.


    Chang Chang shouldn''t have been surprised to see the yaoguai in the Underground, but knowing such beings existed in the world, and seeing them firsthand, was quite a different experience. Red eyes¡ªa wave of fascination and revulsion swept over Icelin. The tales don''t prepare you for seeing such burning eyes.


    Throbbing pain in her arm reminded Chang Chang that they were not safe even crouched behind these rocks. Gritting her teeth, she wrapped blood-soaked fingers around the quarrel''s shaft and pulled it out. Flesh tore as streaks of fiery pain shot up her arm. When she could stand it, Chang Chang examined the barbed weapon. A mixture of blood and a black, ichor-like substance coated the point.


    "Are you all right?" Ju Feng asked, his gaze traveling from her wound to the Yaomo and back again, as if he couldn''t decide which danger to address first.


    "The quarrels are poisoned," Chang Chang said. Her fingers shook when she touched her wound. A numbing fatigue traveled up her arms, weighing them down. "I think it''s a sleep poison. At least I hope it is and not something worse."


    The fatigue quickly spread to her c.h.e.s.t, her legs¡ªIcelin rolled onto her side, putting her back against the wet rocks by the river. The frigid water revived her a little. She had to stay alert, but all she wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep.


    "Hold on," Ju Feng said. He yanked up a cloth and covered the wound, then folded her fingers around her staff. "Keep the light down," he said. "Don''t make yourself a target."


    "Come ashore and fight us, you bloody cowards!" shouted Ju Feng, drawing Chang Chang''s attention momentarily away from her wound. He made a sharp gesture. A ribbon of water coiled up from the river and encircled his hand, forming the shape of another rune. The water snapped out, its foam crests like barbs that lashed at the drow crossbowmen and caused them to waver in midair.


    The Yaomo raised his hands, but he wasn''t fast enough to avoid the blows. Water slapped the skin of his cheeks with audible cracks. His red eyes burned, and he shouted in incoherent fury. He shouted something in an unfamiliar tongue, snarling the words as his hands clawed the air in a complex gesture. A curtain of flame rose at the Yaomo''s feet and rippled across the river.


    "Get down!" Chang Chang cried, and Ju Feng, who had been moving among the stones, making his way to the river, went down on his belly. Flames roared over their heads, leaving a trail of steam over the river that temporarily obscured the drow.


    "Got them angry now!" Ju Feng touched the rocks along the shoreline, tracing symbols furiously as he crawled to where they crouched. A burst of gold light shot up from the rocks, pushing the flames back to the edge of the river and creating a pocket of protection around them. Steam still rose in thick clouds. They couldn''t see the Yaomo, but at least the Yaomk couldn''t see them either.


    Ju Feng again began crawling to the river. "What are you doing?" Chang Chang demanded. "The river''s still covered in fire."


    "I know."


    Ju Feng leaped to his feet and ran toward the river. He jumped through the flames beyond the land''s protective barrier and disappeared. A breath passed, and Chang Chang heard a splash. She looked over the rocks, but Ju Feng was underwater.


    Icelin brought her glaive up close to her face. The blood needed to be able to get at the Yaomo through the fire and steam, and Chang Chang wanted to make sure Ju Feng was all right. That meant getting rid of the fire. Her body was still sluggish from the poison, but manipulating water was not a difficult spell, not with the cave breezes to aid her, and the staff guided and focused her energy.


    Whispering the words of the mystical arts, Chang Chang held up the glaive. She pointed it across the river, and a burst of air shot out, stirring up waves. The roiling water from her spell pierced the curtain of fire and quelled it. Cool air flowed through the cavern in the wake of the blaze. When the steam flowed through the cavern in the wake of the blaze. When the steam dissipated, she saw the Yaomo warrior was still standing on air in the middle of the river. One of the other Yaomo warriors had levitated high above and hovered near the cavern ceiling, his hand crossbow held at the ready. The third Yaomo was nowhere in sight.


    The missing warrior didn''t seem to trouble Chang Chang. She shouted a laugh and hurled her glaive at the yaomo hovering near the ceiling. The weapon flashed straight forward, black horns flashing. The yaomo tried to dodge, but it was too late. Chang Chang''s glaive impaled the warrior in the c.h.e.s.t with a sickening thud. The force of impact bent the Yaomo''s lithe body backward and knocked him out of the grip of the levitation move. He fell into the river, and both he and the axe disappeared beneath the water.


    "You''re outmatched, cursed yaomo!" Chang Chang shouted at the wizard. "Your arts won''t protect you forever."


    The yaomo laughed scornfully and spoke in human tongue. "You hardly have the advantage, blood. You are getting weak from our poison, and the other is missing inside the river. How much longer will your own art protect you? Why don''t you retreat to your tunnel? We''ll root you out there eventually, but why not claim some peace while you can?"


    Chang Chang watched warrior''s face. He expected her to react with anger, to strike out at the him with her glaive, but Chang Chang''s expression remained a mask of impassivity.


    "We''re not lost yet, ," Chang Chang said and touched her glaive. The runes along the blade flashed.


    The Yaomo''s gloating expression vanished. An astral weapon! Furiously, he began casting again¡ªconjuring shields, Chang Chang guessed, so he wouldn''t find himself with her glaive protruding from his stomach.


    At the same time, Ju Feng burst from the river, coughing and scrubbing water out of his eyes. The second yaomo warrior surfaced in front of him. A dagger glinted in his grip, reflecting the light from above.


    "Feng!" Chang Chang shouted.


    Ju Feng grabbed the yaomo''s wrist before he could finish him with the weapon. They grappled with each other and the current for a breath, but Ju Feng was the stronger. With a simple hand technique, he turned the dagger aside and forced the yaomo''s arm down, driving the weapon into the warrior''s own stomach. Ju Feng pushed the drow''s body aside, letting the river carry it away.

 Chapter 158 - Leaving The Underground [II]

    Chang Chang''d been in the Underground less than a day, and already she was sick of it. Instead of them to be going upward and out of the tunnel, it appeared they were moving deeper into the underground. She stared at the Yaomo leader and raised her voice.


    "Your friends are gone, and I''m strong enough to hurl more spells at you."


    She shouted at the Yaomo wizard.


    "Surrender and we will let you leave!"


    Shields in place, the Yaomo turned to look at Chang Chang. Surrender? His eyes changed, the red light deepening with hatred and a resolve that frightened her. Cornered as he was, he''d kill himself and all of them before he let himself be dishonoured by surrendering. The Yaomo raised his hands and so did Chang Chang, spitting out the words to one of her most potent arts. She did it without thinking. Or considering the consequences.


    Her glaive clattered to the ground as an all too familiar wave of sickness washed over her, a clawing sensation in her stomach that spread outward to her limbs. She tried to concentrate on the mystical arts, but it was too big, a wild thing growing inside her. On a broken cry, Chang Chang thrust her arms out from her body.


    Blood lightning erupted from her hands, but what should have been a contained burst instead manifested as huge, jagged bolts that sizzled from her flesh and raised the hair all over Chang Cjang''s body. Stalactites rained down from the cavern ceiling as the lightning tore through them. Loud cracks and pops filled the air, and amid the chaos came the yaomo''s scream. Blood lightning had burned through his spell shields all at once.


    "Chang Chang!"


    Ju Feng''s voice came to her distantly, through the blue blur of the electrical storm.


    "Stay away!!"


    She screamed and bent double, clutching her stomach to try to rein in the spell, but the lightning came from everywhere: her hands, arms, and c.h.e.s.t. Smoke rose around her, and even the blood from her wound took on an eldritch blue radiance. Gods, I''m bleeding aura now, Chang Chang thought. The smell of charred flesh filled her nostrils, making her gag. She prayed that only the Yaomo warrior had been killed by her lightning. But what if it wasn''t his burning flesh she smelled? What if Ju Feng had gotten too close? It was too much. Icelin''s legs gave out, and she fell, curling into a ball on the cavern floor.


    She stopped fighting the sleep poison, let it cloud her mind and numb her limbs. Sparks burst in the air, bright pops in front of Icelin''s eyes, but the storm appeared to be dying down. The poison might even be helping to calm the lightning storm of magic. Chang Chang never thought she''d be grateful to the yaomo for that favor. Her eyes drifted closed, and when she opened them, Ju Feng was leaning over her. He was alive, his flesh not charred and stripped away by lightning. Chang Chang almost couldn''t think beyond her relief, but then she saw Ju Feng''s face. It was a tight, pale mask, his eyes wide.


    "Are you all right?" he asked.


    Slowly, Chang Chang sat up, aware of what Ju Feng said earlier.


    "I think."


    They were still recovering from the encounter with the yaomos when they saw two dwarves coming their way. Tunnel dwarves. They were friendly to humans. They appeared to have been in a recent battle. The dwarves too them they had been watching the battles from afar but could come in time due to their own battles too. They led them through a tunnel filled with bodies of both dwarves and yaomos. Seeing the situations, Chang Chang guessed she knew what the yaomos sought.


    "This isn''t about the guardian, Feng. It''s about the Arcane Script Sphere."


    "What sphere?" Ju Feng asked in surprise.


    "A powerful artifact I once learned about when I was younger. It had created battles between the dwarves and yaomos over the year''s. Maybe, they thought we''re after it."


    "I see."


    The conversation subsided. Despite their optimism, they marched for what felt like hours, and as the time passed, Chang Chang leaned more and more heavily on her glaive. She didn''t want to be a burden, but the remnants of the Yaomo poison lingered in her blood, and the wild energy had taken an even greater toll. She almost called out to Ju Feng to ask for a rest when she saw the tunnel ahead widening. A string of adjoining passages met up with the main one, and voices drifted from the smaller tunnels.


    Chang Chang gasped as the reek of sweat and blood hit her nostrils. On the heels of these grim heralds, a score and more dwarves spilled out into the passage ahead of them. They carried swords, shields, and maces¡ªand litters. At least a dozen dead or injured were among the group. Some of them had no visible wounds, but they shivered and convulsed as if in the throes of some horrible fever. Their bearers stumbled and struggled to keep them on the litters. It appeared they had been fighting the Yaomos.


    One of them was pointing at Ju Feng and Chang Chang while explaining something to the dwarfleader. Chang Chang took a wavering step as if to follow the left path to the tunnel head, but she found she couldn''t move. She covered her mouth with her hand, suddenly afraid she might be sick.


    "It''s all right," one of the dwarf said from behind her. "It''s minor gu poison. It will wear off. Follow me."


    Ju Feng dr.a.p.ed an arm across Chang Chang shoulders as he helped her to stand. Until she felt his warmth, Chang Chang hadn''t realized she was shivering. She leaned into Ju Feng''s body gratefully and let him support her as they walked on. Finally, they passed out of the long tunnel, and suddenly there were dwarf guards all around them, a dozen warriors heavily armored and grim looking. Chang Chang might have been afraid of the presence of so much steel and so many dour-faced dwarves, but the passage ahead temporarily distracted her, for it contained the largest door she''d ever seen.


    Ten feet tall and made of solid iron, the gate to the upper world wedged perfectly into the stone, an immovable titan that Chang Chang couldn''t imagine an enemy ever being able to break down. That was assuming the enemy made it so far, past the armored dwarves and clerics who stood on either side of the door. The dwarf physicians immediately went to work tending the wounded dwarves, but Ju Feng noticed a few of them watching him and his companion with different glares as they approached the iron door. Was it his imagination, or did their disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e deepen when they caught sight of Chang Chang? It must be her glaive¡ªthey recognized it for an astral weapon¡ªor else they sensed the blood arts inside her.


    Ju Fengl shook those irrational thoughts away. Likely they were simply suspicious of outsiders. There was no point in dwelling on his fears. He had no control over how the dwarves felt about him or his companions, but they''d obviously brought them here for a reason, one that Ju Feng suspected had little to do with them being in their tunnels.


    As soon as they started moving towards the area of the massive iron doors, the dwarves had become relaxed. Ju Feng sensed their reaction wasn''t directed at them specifically, but he''d known enough of secrets in his life to know when someone was eager for them to leave a place. A shattering groan lifted Ju Feng from his thoughts. The massive iron door creaked open under the direction of the guards, and Ju Frng had another cause for wonderment. The door itself was at least three feet thick, lumbering open by inches, guided by the grim-faced warriors.


    The dwarleader came up beside them. "Few outsiders are allowed to witness the Gate Guardians opening the outer door," he commented.


    "The outer door?" Ju Feng echoed, incredulous.


    They passed through the mithral door, leaving the dozens of Gate Guardians behind and passing into a wider cavern, where the ceiling soared high above their heads. Being suddenly in the open space, Icelin felt as if some of the pressing weight lifted from her. The fear of being trapped underground started to leave her. It was impossible to feel too much trepidation with the upper world spread out before her. Orblight gave way to glowing, silvery-blue lichen that covered the ceiling, spidering in and out of cracks in the stone and hanging down in clumps throughout the cavern.


    Once their eyes adjusted to the silvery radiance, they found it easier to see by than the flickering, smoky orb glow. The light revealed a broad avenue of worked stone flanked by towering statues of dwarves, their shadows thrown far across the cavern floor. Massive staircases led to buildings carved out of the stone¡ªhomes, shops, and temples¡ªwhile winding among them to the centermost cavern was a great river.

 Chapter 159 - King Laggarma [I]

    The dwarf guards led them through the doors. The excited to a place of grandness that resembled a palace. Surely a palace. Ju Feng had thought they were going back to the surface, but now, they were going to a palace. From the outside, the king''s hall had looked immense, but inside, perhaps because of the guard''s words, the soaring, empty space struck Ju Feng anew. Lit by spherelight that barely reached the barrel-vaulted ceiling, the hall was a cold place, filled with shadows and lonely echoes.


    At the far end of the room, a throne sat on a raised dais, flanked by a series of pillars engraved with Dwarvish runes. Ju Feng couldn''t be sure, but by the arrangement of the letters, he thought the writing contained names. Several symbols repeated down the columns, perhaps indicating members of the same clan. More silvery-blue lichen dr.a.p.ed the tops of the pillars, casting them and the throne in a cool silver glow that contrasted with the warm torchlight in the rest of the hall.


    On the throne sat the oldest dwarf Ju Feng had ever seen. Not that he had seen many by the way. Enhanced by the light of the lichen, his beard and hair were pure silver. His hands where they gripped the throne had a grayish tinge, and there were hollows carved out of his cheeks and dark shadows around his eyes. He stared straight ahead and did not react to the group''s presence until they''d reached the dais. Slowly, his gaze focused on them, sharpened, his eyes flooding with shrewdness and power.


    There was great energy in him, probably at the golden core level, Ju Feng thought. His body was like a sagely statue, but his mind was alert and dangerous.


    "What have you brought me, Druya?" asked the king. Ju Feng heard the note of challenge, almost anger, in his voice, but if Druya noticed it, she didn''t react.


    "King Laggarma, I bring you these two named Ju Feng and Chang Chang. We encountered them on the upper level of the tunnels when my father was sealing one of the upper tunnels,"


    Druya explained.


    "One of them desecrated a burial ground near our temple, but later they aided my father and brother against the drow. They risked their lives for my family and the two are skilled in battle."


    The king''s expression did not change, but he inclined his head in acknowledgement of Joya''s words.


    "Why bring them to me? Do they have any dealings with me?. If not, why bring them here?"


    Druya hesitated. "They claim they are looking for the Arcane Script Sphere."


    Hearing that, the king''s countenance transformed. His eyes narrowed¡ªthe silver-blue irises burned, though Ju Feng was sure it must be a trick of the light. When they came into contact with the dwarves, they had decided not to tell them they came for the Heavenstone but that they were searching for a different item. The king stood up, towering over them from his place on the dais. Color flooded his cheeks, filling the hollows and suffusing his face with a vibrancy that bordered on frenzy.


    "Explain," the king said. His voice was soft, calm, and completely at odds with his expression. "You," he said, nodding at Chang Chang, "the one carrying the glaive. You seek the sphere?"


    Ju Feng glanced at Chang Chang, but he couldn''t draw her gaze. How would she answer? Echoes of the king''s exhaustion reflected in her face in lines and shadows. She needed to rest. It had been a mistake to allow the dwarves to bring them all the way down here. They should have insisted on them going their own way. Or maybe they could have fought while they had an advantage. Now they were at the king''s mercy in this city deep beneath the earth.


    "King Laggarma," Chang Chang said, her voice ringing out clear and sweet. Despites his jests, Ju Feng had always thought Chang Chang had one of the loveliest voice.


    "I mean no harm or disrespect to the dwarves of this great place. I seek the sphere because I have heard it is a stabilizing force, a powerful conduit for arcane blood arts. This is of great interest because wild blood energg¡ªthe result of a spellscar¡ªis killing me."


    The king eyed her speculatively, but his gaze still burned with that same unsettling intensity.


    "Is this true, Druya?" he said, not taking his eyes off Chang Chang.


    "I was not aware that she is dying," Druya said, "but I see no reason to doubt her. In the tunnels, I witnessed one of her mystical arts go wild. The magical power shattered through a Yaomo''s energy shields as if they were nothing¡ªa humbling sight."


    "Shattered them?" Laggarma said, his tone sharp. "Are you certain?"


    "Yes, my king."


    "Impressive. So you think the sphere will help you, girl?"


    King Laggarma asked. He stepped down from the dais and approached Chang Chang. Despite the fact that she was taller by several inches, Chang Chang looked small and fragile in the presence of the king. Her tongue, however, had never been fragile, not since Ju Feng had known her.


    "I don''t know," she said. "All I know for certain is that I''m bloodscarred, I have been seeking the means to cure myself, and the Arcane Script Sphere is the first true hope I''ve had."


    The king glanced at Ruen and furrowed his brow.


    "You''re no blood. But yet you''re here, in the lands of the bloods. Hmmm... there''s a curse on you. But you already knew that, dont you?"


    A faint smile creased the king''s face¡ªbrief it was and gone immediately¡ªbut it was enough to make Druya blink in surprise. In shock, Ju Feng looked at the king who raised his hand and made a beckoning gesture. Instantly, a pair of guards advanced from the shadowy corners of the hall. Ju Feng hadn''t even known they were there. Shadow elements at its best.


    Servants entered the hall carrying platters of food and drink, and two of the guards brought in a plain wooden table and chairs for four people, Druya having excused herself to go find the master armswoman. It was hardly the grand banquet of a dwarf king in a story, but as Chang Chang sank gratefully into a chair, she reflected that the whole underground place was not what she''d expected.


    Where were the masses of servants, the guards, courtiers, and advisers who flocked to meet a king''s commands, just like the blood kings? Why were there no echoing shouts of people in the city streets, and what had happened to still the bustle and dirt of commerce and labor¡ªthe pulse of daily living? Had the yamao and yaoguai really taken all that from these proud, strong folk? Chang Chang couldn''t believe it. This king with the bright silver eyes surely wouldn''t let such a thing happen.


    The king in question sat at the head of the table, and when the servants placed the food, he swept a hand out. "Eat," he said. He made no move to take food himself.


    As quickly as it had come, the tension dissipated. Grateful, Chang Chang picked up her spoon and ate. For a time, nobody spoke, and there was only the clink of tableware and cups plunked against the wood, the sounds of chewing and swallowing, all conspicuously loud in the silent hall. Once, Chang Chang caught Ju Feng''s eye over the rim of her wine cup. She grinned at him, and his face softened in something that was so close to a smile that it renewed a bit of Icelin''s energy.


    "What are you grinning about, girl?" the king said suddenly.


    Startled, Icelin put down her wine cup and wiped her mouth.


    "Nothing of importance, I assure you, King," she said.


    "Hmmm ¡­ I''ll be the judge of that," king Laggarma said. "Go on, out with it."


    Chang Chang felt a blush coloring her cheeks.


    "In all honesty, I was just thinking that when I look back on this day at some future time, I''ll remember it as the night I dined with a dwarf king, not knowing for certain where this encounter is heading"


    "That troubles you, does it?"


    Chang Chang paused with a spoonful of stew halfway to her lips.


    "Not at the moment. Whatever the outcome, I''ll still get to say I dined with a king."


    "You''ve an active mouth on you, like most humans. Other than your mystical predicament and the boy''s curse, I see nothing special about the tow of you. Why shouldn''t I treat you as intruders, then, and lock you up?"


    "His highness, we told you why we were searching the ruins,"


    Chang Chang said patiently.


    "When it came out that we are searching for the sphere, it triggered some great suspicion. Druya told us your city is about to be attacked by the yaomos and yaoguai, so you obviously have larger concerns. Why bother feeding us and speaking to us personally if there isn''t something you want from us? His highness, don''t you think it''s time to tell us what that is?"

 Chapter 160 - King Laggarma [II]

    The king wiped his mouth and pushed his chair a little away from the table.


    "I see you have some sense in your head too."


    He stood up, moving restlessly around the table. "It''s true Myria is under attack. Yaomo and yaoguai scouting patrols and small advance forces of slaves and monsters target our outposts, each assault more aggressive than the last. They spread out the attacks in order to take advantage of our inferior numbers. We''re losing even small skirmishes, forced to seal off tunnels to prevent access to the city, letting them drive us back behind our stone doors. We''re as rats herded to one big hole. They''re just waiting for the right time to bring their wrath down on us."


    The king slammed his fist on the tabletop, rattling the cups and bowls, spilling his own wine cup.


    "Why attack you now?"


    Chang Chang asked.


    "Your underground city has stood for centuries. What do the yaomos and yaoguai gain by mounting this offensive?"


    "We captured one of their advance scouts,"


    "What little information we''ve been able to get from him tells us they''re after an artifact, a powerful sentient item that channels arcane power. Sound familiar?"


    "The Arcane Script Sphere,"


    Ju Feng said, understanding at last.


    "Small wonder you were so suspicious when we told you we sought the item as well. In truth, we know little about it."


    "That much is clear."


    The king said. He righted his wine cup but left the red stain untouched on the table.


    "The Arcane Script Sphere is an heavenly treasure. It contains a piece of the dead divine Mystra. A small piece, mind you¡ªa sliver of memory and personality, but even a fragment of a divine holds terrible power, for it also contains a bit of her Silver Fire, which it imparts to wielders the divine deems worthy. With power such as that, it''s likely you could shatter the greatest energy and tame the wildest magical powers."


    Chang Chang swallowed, her throat gone dry as dust, but it was not the king''s promise that the sphere could calm her wild magic that rocked her so. At the mention of the lost divine of silver-fire blood magic, Chang Chang felt a stirring in her gut, a sharp excitement. So much of her life would have been different, had the divine lived. The need to see the artifact, to touch an object connected to the divine of blood mystical arts, flared in Chang Chang. Would she feel that connection, however faint, with the lost Mystra? Would the Silver Fire truly stabilize her energy, prolonging her life? Since they couldn''t cultivate like the soul and body cultivators.


    Glancing at Ju Feng, Chang Chang saw the same d.e.s.i.r.e that she felt lay b.a.r.e on his face. She cleared her throat, and he schooled his expression. But not before Mith Barak saw it.


    "Perhaps we have something to offer each other."


    The shrewd king said before continuing.


    "I will not allow the Yaomo demons to herd and slaughter us. I''ve fought them for centuries in the Night Wars and always beat them back, but I don''t have the numbers to drive them off any longer. There will be war, and I need warriors willing to fight for this city. You risked your lives fighting the yaomos alongside my kind, the dawnaxes. A family I respect a great deal."


    "You want us to fight for Myria?"


    Chang Chang hadn''t expected this¡ªthe proud dwarves, Obrin and the rest, asking for help from people like her? A child in many ways? Who was just at the lowest level of power?


    "Not just in the battle that''s coming,"


    The king said, and when he looked at her with those shrewd silver eyes, Chang Chang felt a stirring of unease in her gut.


    "I want your particular talent: your mystical arts."


    "No, your lordness."


    Ju Feng said immediately.


    "That would defeat the purpose. Her wild energy is what''s killing her."


    Chang Chang held up a hand to stop Ju Feng''s protests.


    "What do you mean?"


    "I told you we''d captured a yaomo scout,"


    King Laggarma said.


    "I pulled information about the enemy''s plan from his mind, but still he hides secrets from me, protected by powerful magical arts. The only force I know of that''s strong enough to penetrate this barrier is the Silver Fire, but as I said, the Arcane Script Sphere only confers this power on those it deems worthy. No one in this city has been able to call on it. You are human, a practitioner of the Art, and you seek the sphere for a worthy cause. It''s possible the artifact might grant you the power. If so, you could use it on the yaomo for me."


    "We don''t know what the Silver Fire might do to Chang Chang."


    Ruen argued.


    "And it would probably kill the yaomo anyway."


    "A risk I''ll take,"


    "But one I won''t,"


    Ruen said.


    "Not where Icelin is concerned."


    "I have much to offer in exchange."


    Laggarma said.


    "What if I gave you the Arcane Script Sphere? You would have the Silver Fire and perhaps the means of curing an artscar."


    That shut Ju Feng up, but Chang  leaned forward, eying the king warily.


    "Why would you be so generous, gifting us with an artifact that the drow would invade your city to obtain?"


    "Because my city stands on the verge of annihilation."


    "If I don''t find out what the yaomos are plotting and find a way to stop it, my people will die. I''m willing to sacrifice a great deal to keep that from happening."


    The king fell silent and looked at the three of them expectantly. Chang Chang realized he was waiting for an immediate answer¡ªno, an immediate acceptance. He knew how much this chance meant to them. She''d admitted that it was a matter of life and death. How could they refuse? His confidence put Chang Chang on her guard, but a part of her wanted badly to accept. She had to bite back the words. An artifact with a piece of Mystra''s memory.¡­


    But to get it, she''d have to somehow prove herself worthy of the Silver Fire¡ªand then be willing to unleash it. Her dream, the boardinghouse fire, was still fresh in her mind. That time, she hadn''t intended any harm. This time it would be different. She''d be intentionally using unspeakably powerful magic that she had no idea whether she could control. Even the thought of doing so against a drow sickened her. She was tired of losing control, of unleashing killing force. She''d already done it too many times, injuring both her body and spirit.


    Yet, what if she never had to feel her magic rage out of control ever again? She''d never risk hurting anyone else. What if that piece of Mystra and the Silver Fire were the key to everything?


    At a loss, she looked at Ju Feng.


    "What do you think?"


    "It''s a risk."


    0Hhe said, and Chang Chang could see his inner struggle reflected in his muddy eyes, normally so difficult to read.


    "But it might be the best hope we have."


    "What if it doesn''t work?" he asked. "If Chang Chang can''t use the Silver Fire or break through this drow''s magic, will you still honor your promise?"


    "I will," the king said, "so long as you agree to help defend my city. The drow have stepped up their attacks in recent days. I expect the invasion to happen before Uktar is out."


    "What happens if we don''t agree," Chang Chang asked, "to any of it?"


    "Then you''re free to go," the king said. "You aided the dawnaxes against the yaomos. I''ll consider that penance enough for your companion''s desecration. But I don''t truly believe you''re going to refuse."


    Chang Chang suppressed a shudder. This dwarf was a wily, ancient schemer. He had power, and he knew how to manipulate people. The meal, their conversation, all of it felt like a carefully constructed dance, a stage performance culminating in this moment. Chang Chang took a long drink of wine, held the cup in her hand, then set it carefully on the table. Her hand trembled, making ripples in the wine''s surface, but she didn''t care.


    "Before I decide, I want to talk to the."


    She said.


    The king looked briefly surprised. "Why would you want to do that?" he asked.


    "Because if I use the Silver Fire, there''s a chance both of us will be killed," Chang Chang replied. "I want to talk to him first, to at least know who I risk killing."


    "It won''t make it any easier,"Ju Feng said.


    "Maybe not, but those are my terms," said Chang Chang. "Take them or leave them, King Laggarma.."


    "Done."


    The king proclaimed, and again the triumphant light came into his eyes.


    "You said you didn''t know whether you were a guest in my city or a prisoner. Allow me to call you my guests and welcome you. I''ll arrange for you to speak to the yaomo when you''re ready."


    Chang Chang tried to put aside the sense of foreboding that settled in her stomach. Everything was happening so quickly, and the king was being far too accommodating for her comfort. Yet his offer was too good, the chance too precious to just throw away.

 Chapter 161 - King Laggarma [3]

    "And you, young man. Maybe, just maybe, there''s something you can do about the darkness surrounding your soul."


    "Huh?" Ju Feng exclaimed. Something about his death? There was nothing he could about it, was it? Everybody confirmed that to him.


    "Don''t get me wrong, you''ll certainly die, but there could be a way to go about your death. I''ve seen it done before. If you all help out, I will tell you about it."


    The king replied after seeing Ju Feng expression.


    "I''ll leave you now, so you can discuss this without my shadow cast over you. I''ll send a guard to you in a while to show you to where you''ll be staying."


    The king said, as if he sensed his shock and anxiety.


    They all stood as the king left the hall. Chang Chang listened to the dwarf''s heavy, echoing boot tread recede until the great doors opened and shut, and they were alone.


    "I don''t trust him. He''s hiding something."


    Chang Chang said. She didn''t care if the guards overheard her. She shook her head before drinking the rest of her wine in one gulp.


    "He''s hiding many things," Ju Feng said. "But he''s also desperate."


    "Must be, if he wants our help," Chang Chang said.


    "Desperate men are dangerous, especially desperate rulers." Ju Feng added.


    "Even if we stay, what can we possibly do to make a difference in this fight? Many dwarves don''t even want outsiders here. Will we truly find a welcome?"


    "It doesn''t matter."


    Ju Feng said before continuing.


    "He offered us the sphere that you need. He also want to help me about the death that''s following me around."


    "And if I die trying to strip the magical energy from this yaomo prisoner or you die in a fight against a yaoguai army, the sphere will mean nothing,"


    Chang Chang said and continued.


    "And the knowledge you are aiming to receive will mean nothing. Too many things could go wrong here."


    "It''s best if we aid the dwarves however we can, but we''ll be careful,"


    Ruen said and raised a hand before Chang Chang could protest.


    "It''s dangerous, yes, but that part of the bargain is easy enough for me to fulfill. The dwarves obviously need all the help they can get."


    "That''s true. I don''t like the idea of any of these folk bein'' herded like rats by their enemies. It''s not a fair fight."


    Chang Chang had to agree. Droya and her dwarven family were good people. They didn''t deserve the doom fast approaching them. Weariness hit her again. She put her chin in her hand, resisting the urge to lay her head on the table. But the gesture failed to deceive Ju Feng.


    "It''s time to rest."


    He said, standing. He held Chang Chang''s glaive out to her. The blade glowed faintly when she took it. Though she hadn''t had it long, the glaive seemed to recognize her touch, knew it apart from any other. After all, it was her soul weapon. She drew the glaive into her soul space which attracted Ju Feng''s interest, but she wasn''t paying any attention to it. Her mind was on the heavenly artifact. Would the Arcane Script Sphere be the same? Would the divine''s memory reach out to her? Chang Chang''s heartbeat quickened at the possibility, the temptation so near at hand.


    The guards snapped to attention when king Laggarma entered the dungeons, a black glare fixed on his face. "Open the cell," he commanded the nearest guard.


    "Yes, my king."


    The dwarf hurried ahead and fumbled with the keys.


    "Be careful, my king. He got hold of some poison somehow. We searched him and chained him, but he might have more of the stuff hidden."


    "I''m not afraid of his godsdamned poison."


    King Laggarma shoved open the cell door, slamming it against the adjacent wall. Gallazza, the yaomo, lay on the floor, his hands chained behind him. King Laggarma crossed the room in two strides and grabbed the drow by the robe. He lifted him bodily from the floor and slammed him against the wall. The breath whooshed out of Gallazza, and his face creased in pain, but he did not make any sound. He kept his gaze on the floor and did not meet king Laggarma''s eyes.


    "We should kill him, my king," said a rough, feminine voice from the doorway.


    King Laggarma swiveled his head to regard his weaponmaster. The hatred in his expression did not abate.


    "No one is to touch him, Moriaka. Let me be understood on this. Swear an oath!"


    He shouted when she didn''t immediately reply.


    "I''ll have a godsdamn oath from all of you! Those who won''t do their duty are free to leave this city."


    Gasps and murmurs echoed from the hall outside the cell, but king Laggarma ignored them. Moriaka met his furious gaze and did not flinch or turn away from his wrath. She was his weaponmaster for a reason, he thought, but her proud, stubborn gaze only fueled his anger. He wished they would leave him alone with the yaomo. None of them understood the danger he posed, not truly. They wanted him dead. He was a curse of ill luck, a bad omen for the battle to come. King Laggarma agreed with them. He wanted nothing more than to rip the yaomo''s head from his shoulders, but he dared not. He dared do nothing until he knew what sort of Gu necrosis, dark energy, had remade the drow.


    "By my oath to your service, my king, I won''t let anyone harm the yaomo."


    Moriaka said steadily.


    "All the men and women here share that oath. We are yours."


    "I know it."


    Kibg Laggarma said, nodding curtly.


    "Go and wait for me at the outer door. Keep one of your men with you. We''ll be along in a moment."


    Moriaka raised an eyebrow at we, but she made no comment. She bowed and left the cell.


    Throughout the exchange, the yaomo had not said a word. He kept his eyes on the floor, and to all appearances was as tame as a whipped dog. But king Laggarma knew better. He grabbed a fistful of the yaomo''s black, greasy hair and jerked his head back, forcing the yaomo to look at him.


    "So it begins again?"


    The yaomo said, swallowing. His eyes rolled in their sockets, but he couldn''t escape Mith Barak''s gaze. The dwarf leaned forward until his silver beard touched Gallarzzas face.


    "I''m not here to interrogate you, Gallazza,"


    King Laggarma said.


    "I thought about killing you, but that''s too easy. It''s what you want, isn''t it? That''s why you killed your guard, why you took a man from his wife and son, made him die horribly just by sticking him with a death needle."


    He released a breath, leaned back, and dropped the yaomo. Gallazza crumpled to the floor. He was weaker than king Laggarma expected¡ªor else he was only playacting. King Laggarma shook his head in disgust as he gazed down at the yaomo. He''d almost forgotten what it was like to deal with these creatures. To him they looked smaller, more pathetic than they had the last time he''d emerged from his sleep. Yet gather enough of them together and they threatened everything he loved. They leaped from dark corners and slaughtered his men with poison and dark energy. He hated them, not for what they were¡ªit was in their nature to kill and to feel nothing, to revel in wanton destruction¡ªbut because they continued to thrive, to press forward while his city steadily declined.


    Heavens tears, it wasn''t fair. None of this was fair.


    "Get up."


    King Laggarma said. When Gallazza didn''t move, he took a key from his spatial sac and held it up.


    "I''m taking you from this cell, Gallazza. On your feet¡ªI know you can walk."


    The yaomo fixed his gaze on the metal key in king Laggarma''s hand.


    "You''re going to kill me, then?"


    He betrayed no emotion other than curiosity. Slowly, he sat up, braced his feet, and stood. Though bound, he exhibited a grace and strength that reminded Laggarma how lethal even this small creature could be when free. Until true immortality and heavenly ascension, we are all simply shells, king Laggarma thought, our inner natures masked until it''s impossible to tell what is real and what illusion.


    "Walk ahead of me, Gallazza,"


    The king instructed. He followed the yaomo out of the cell and down the hall to the outer door, where Moriaka and one of the guards waited. They kept their features in check, but king Laggarma felt their hatred for the yaomo. He saw it in their stiff postures, the way their hands gripped their weapon hilts. They held themselves in check only for the love of their king. Seeing them stretched like that to the breaking point gave king Laggarma yet another reason to despise the yaomo.


    They left the dungeons and ascended to the main caverns. Pools of silvery light splashed on the stone avenues, deserted except for a line of guards deployed at various points between the dungeons and king Laggarma''s private chambers at the back of his hall.

 Chapter 162 - King Laggarma [4]

    "You planned this well."


    Gallazza said and continued.


    "No angry dwarf mob waiting to pelt me with elemental stones, just a quiet execution when no one is around to see."


    "We wouldn''t waste normal stones on the likes of you, talkless of elemental stones."


    Moriaka uttered before continuing.


    "Nor would we stab you in the back or jab you with a hidden needle. You''ll see your death when it comes, drow. I promise you that."


    Gallazza chuckled and made no reply.


    When they arrived at king Laggarma''s chambers, the king dismissed the guards, except for Moriaka. He led the way through a set of double doors and down a short hall to another pair of doors. The one on the right led to his private bedchamber, though he rarely used the chamber. He opened the door on the left and ushered Gallazza through.


    "You can go, Moriaka."


    The king said and nodded in her direction.


    "I''ll tell you what guards I''ll need when I''m finished here."


    "I''ll be waiting outside this door for you, my king."


    Moriaka rep led before continuing.


    "You call if you need me."


    The king touched Moriaka''s shoulder.


    "Thank you."


    Moriaka closed the door behind them. Magical orbs shone from six silver orb holders, lining the center of the room. They rested on a long stone table with fourteen chairs arranged around it. Maps, parchment, and books covered every available surface of the table. A fire burned in a grand gray marble fireplace on the far side of the room. King Laggarma advanced into the room, but Gallazza lingered at the door, openly staring at the walls.


    Carved into the stone were hundreds of shelves, containing what must have been thousands of tomes and scrolls. The hoard of books was so large that Laggarma had stopped counting them over the years. The most ancient tomes he kept under glass in one corner of the room, preserved by the strongest magical symbols and energy. Those books were too fragile to handle with anything other than magic anymore, king Laggarma reflected sadly. A shame it was, too, for he still remembered what the cracked leather felt like under his hands, the crisp pages, and the musty book scent that had gradually settled into the whole room.


    These tomes and scrolls were memory, poetry, power, and lore. They were king Laggarma''s oldest friends.


    "Impressed, are you?"


    The king barked at Gallazza.


    "So you should be. Even one as corrupt with dark energy as you must feel the power here."


    He touched one of the open scrolls on the table, lifting the handles to close it.


    "I used to bring only my most trusted advisers and friends to this room, to speak on matters of importance," he said and uttered a bitter laugh. "How things have changed."


    He walked back to Gallazza and again removed the key from his spatial sac. He asked the yaomo to turn around and the yaomo did. The king then removed the chains that bound the yaomo''s wrists.


    "In a mamner of speaking, you''re free." The king said.


    "I don''t understand."


    Gallazza said. He rubbed his wrists, his gaze wandering over the vast library.


    "What game are you playing?"


    "Surely you''re accustomed to intrigue and deception in?" King Laggarma said, his laughter echoing eerily in the quiet chamber.


    "You should feel right at home. Or don''t you enjoy playing these games among the dwarves? You think we can''t manipulate and cheat with the best of your kind?"


    The drow took a step back. King Laggarma suddenly realized he''d raised his voice to the point of shouting. With an effort, he controlled himself. He didn''t want Moriaka storming in and skewering Gallazza.


    Every encounter with the forsaken yaomo was an engagement, a battle of wills. He needed to win this fight, though he wished he wouldn''t neee to bring out his weapon. However, if the need be, he will do that. Weapons make him feel more in control¡ªor it might increase the already overwhelming urge he had to crush this spider, this invader in his private space. No, I need him. I must bring him and the other two kids together.


    He''d decided to let Chang Chang and Ju Feng talk to the yaomo here. It was a risk, letting him out of his cage, but if Chang Chang saw the yaomo imprisoned, she might start to feel for the creature. He needed their powers, and he couldn''t afford to let pity shake ther resolve. Besides, if Chang Chang was going to claim the sphere and the Silver Blood Fire, she would have to do it here in the library. The artifact itself had determined that.


    Droya had said Chang Chang''s power was a humbling sight. Droya had never said that about anyone, save perhaps her father. Maybe Chang Chang really could break the grip of the spider bitch''s magic.


    "My library will be your new prison,"


    King Laggarma said.


    "You''ll be under guard, but as long as you don''t leave this room, you have the freedom to explore and learn all that you d.e.s.i.r.e."


    He listened as Gallazza gradually made his way across the room. So soft were his footfalls, so gracefully and stealthily did he move that it sent a shiver even through the dwarf king. He did not fear an attack from the yaomo. He had protections in place against such treachery, but.¡­ Can I truly leave her alone with this creature? the king asked himself. Am I that desperate, or cruel? Perhaps I''ve slept in the stone too long. It''s infected my heart.


    "What is it you want in exchange for this grand gift you offer me?"


    Gallazza said.


    "You''ve already stripped b.a.r.e my mind. What else could you possibly want from me?"


    "That''s for me to worry about,"


    King Laggarma said.


    "Your concern, Gallazza, is living moment to moment. I''ve given you new life, taking you out of that dungeon cell. Loyal as they are, it is only a matter of time before one of my guards refuses to stay his hand against you. I''m offering you a degree of freedom, comfort, and access to the secrets of this city, the history and lore of countless generations. You''d be a fool not to take advantage of the knowledge here."


    "You''ll kill me before you''ll let me use such knowledge against Myria. I see no advantage here."


    Gallazza said.


    "Ah, what a shame,"


    King Laggarma said. He clasped his hands behind his back and clucked his tongue.


    "Have you given up all hope of escape, then, since your grand potato scheme failed? I expected better of you, yaomo. You should be planning your next bid for freedom even as we speak. Where is the cold calculation, the survival instinct of your race?"


    "It isn''t lost, not yet."


    King Laggarma heard the hate in his voice. Gallazza''s eyes scanned the room in a quick, assessing glance.what he was looking for.


    "Oh, yes, Gallazza. Even the sphere is somewhere in this room,"


    King Laggarma said. "You see, it''s hidden itself¡ªfrom me and everyone else in this city. It will only reveal its presence to one it considers worthy. Perhaps you might root it out from its hiding place."


    "You''re lying. You would never give me that chance."


    "I admit I''m fairly certain the sphere will never give itself over to a drow. But don''t you enjoy a challenge, Gallazza?"


    "Always."


    Gallazza stood next to the fire, the orange flames bringing a bit of life to his dull red eyes.


    "I accept your hospitality, King, Laggarma. I''ll play your game. Let it lead us where it will."


    King Laggarma again suppressed the urge to cut the yaomo down where he stood. Irrevocably, I have tainted this place, he thought. Whatever happens, there''ll be a price to pay.


    Chang Chang again dreamed of sphere and spell fire. She sat on a bamboo chair in her great uncle''s chamber, a tome propped on her knees. Eagerly, she flipped the pages, but each one was blank. She went through the entire tome, one page at a time, searching for the story, but it eluded her. Slamming the tome shut in frustration, she hurled it across the shop.


    It''s not there, said a familiar woman''s voice in her mind. She recognized it from her dream the night before, the soothing voice that spoke to her while the valley fire raged. You''re not looking in the right place.


    "Then where is it?"


    Chang Chang cried, waking herself up. Groggily, she pushed herself to a sitting position. The woollen robe covering her slipped off her shoulder, awakening her body with a quick draft of cold. Her h.i.p.s and legs ached with little pains and complaints, and her arm was stiff from lying on it on the hard bed. She took out some medicinal herbs and started chewing. A low fire burned in a hearth nearby, but even by its light, Chang Chang had trouble sorting out where she was. Her sleep-fogged brain was slow to react to her new surroundings.


    She took a breath, and the thick stench of forge fires entered her lungs, eclipsing the more subtle, sweet smoke coming from the hearth fire. With the smell, the events of the previous day came back to her in a rush.


    She was miles beneath upper world, in the dwarf city of Myria. The room she''d been given contained a straw padded stone bed, a small stone table with a basin of water on it, and a fireplace. On the walls were empty hooks where earthly weapons used to hang, and discolored patches of floor marked where other pieces of decorations had once rested. These phantoms gave the room an empty, cheerless aspect, broken only by the fire, which cast a golden glow over everything.

 Chapter 163 - King Laggarma [5]

    Chang Chang sat up and stretched her back. She reached into her spatial sac and brought out a medicinal herb. She''d been too tired the night before to use it. After their audience with the king, Druya had escorted them to a large stone dwelling in one of the smaller caverns. Icelin hadn''t known it then, but it was the private residence of the Yellowhorns. Neither Obarn nor Abron had been at home when they arrived, so Druya had led them to a pair of rooms at the back of the house, which faced the cl.u.s.ter of forges in the back of the cavern.


    "These are Ongara''s rooms."


    Druya had explained.


    "Most of her things have already been moved to the house she and her husband will share, and she''s been eating and sleeping at the forges while she finishes her wedding gift, so you''re welcome to them. These days, the house is empty. My father and brother are out on patrol for days at a time, and when I''m not with them, I''m at the temple. It''ll be nice to have some voices in the house to make it feel lived-in again."


    Druya was right. The large, empty rooms felt lonely and neglected. It had taken a long time for the fire to chase the chill away. Chang Chang lifted the water basin and set it before the fire. Whoever had left it for her¡ªDruya had said there was a pair of dwarves, a husband and wife, who looked after the house and would see to their needs¡ªhad left a washcloth and soap as well. Druya splashed cold water on her face and used the cloth and soap to clean the sweat and road dust off her. When she''d finished, she slipped quickly into her spare clothes and sat close to the fire to warm herself. Her hair was full of tangles and knots. She leaned over the basin and dipped it into the soapy water.


    Shivering, she wrung out the strands and combed them with her fingers. She pointedly ignored the gray streaks that stood out against the darker black. Wisdom comes with the gray, her great uncle used to say. Icelin wished she could dream about him instead of cryptic images of blank books and disembodied voices. Then again, she rarely slept through the night anymore. Maybe her mystical scar was to blame, or maybe it was just that she wanted to waste as little time sleeping as she could.


    Though, what had brought her awake so early this morning wasn''t hard to guess. Visions of the Arcane Script Sphere floated in Icelin''s mind. Her excitement at learning that the artifact contained a piece of Mystra was eclipsed only by her trepidation when she considered King Laggarma''s bargain. Nothing was settled. She could still back out. Would the king be prepared to let her and her friends go if she did? Chang Chang wondered. Or were they only guests here as long as the king got what he wanted from them? They would find out soon enough.


    For now, her body refreshed, Chang Chang felt renewed. Druya had tended her needs the previous night, and she must have slept off the last vestiges of the yaomo''s poison, for she detected no lingering weakness. Even the wild magic she''d unleashed the day before hadn''t left her as weary as she''d thought it would, which was a good sign.


    In the next room, there was silence. Ju Feng must be stirring, Chang Chang thought. The king had promised to let her speak to the yaomo today, and Chang Chang was curious to see more of Myria, anyway. The underground city, spread over several large caverns, bore the most intricate carved stonework Icelin had ever seen. Such beauty, all of it buried underground where most of Faer?n would never see it.


    She met Ruen in the hall. The rest of the house was quiet. Druya must have already left for the day.


    "You ok?"


    Chang Chang asked.


    "I''m fine.,"


    "Are the effects of the drow poison gone?"


    "Gone completely."


    Chang Chang turned in a circle, lifting her hands in the air.


    "What do you think? Am I fit for polite company?"


    Ju Feng pursed his lips.


    "Polite company?"


    Chang Chang made a face at him before saying.


    "Fit for the king''s company, at least, and time''s wasting."


    The two of them entered the kitchen to see Ongara and Orban taking plates and cups from a shelf, while Abron stoked the kitchen fire. Orban laughed at something his sister said. The boisterous sound echoed in the room, and Icelin marveled at how the humor transformed the dwarf''s features. The hard lines at his eyes and lips softened. He stroked his beard excitedly, twirling the mahogany strands around his index finger. He and Ongara laughed like a pair of mischievous children, and they looked and sounded so alike in that breath that Chang Chang, with a sudden insight, realized the two were likely twins.


    Chang Chang would have been content to stand in the doorway for a long while, soaking up the dwarves'' mirth and good cheer, but Abron looked up from the fire just then and saw the three of them standing there.


    "Up at last, are you?"


    He said, giving the fire another good poke.


    "We thought you''d sleep the day away."


    Instantly, Orban and Ongara''s laughter ceased. An awkward silence fell over the room as dwarves and humans regarded each other, neither seeming to know what to say. For Orban, it was as if a shutter had closed over his face. In silence, he took the rest of the cups and plates from his sister and set them out on a round table across from the fire.


    Ju Feng''s heart sank a little. Looking at the situation, he regretted them staying now. They''d obviously intruded on a family ritual that was no less sacred for its casualness. Thankfully, the silence didn''t last long.


    Ongara broke it.


    "Look at us all, standing around as if we''ve never had guests in the house before. Come in, all of you. We don''t have any food on the table yet, but the fire is warm, and you can have some drink. Father, will you show them?"


    "You''re very kind,"


    Jun Feng said as Abron laid out a pitcher of something that smelled a little too strongly of liquor for her stomach. Wordlessly, Orban handed around cups while Ingara retrieved more chairs from the next room. They were large enough for all.


    "What about those?"


    Ju Feng looked at them and asked.


    Orban said something under his breath and tipped his cup back, draining its contents. He pursed his lips.


    "We''ve been conserving supplies in case of a siege, so the fare''s been simple of late."


    "It won''t come to a siege."


    Obarn said quietly. He''d stopped tending the fire and sat at the kitchen table with a clay mug clasped between his hands. The runes tattooed on his cheek emphasized the lines and wrinkles there, and Icelin saw a pair of scars near his left eye that she hadn''t noticed before. They distorted the skin and made his eye appear half-closed.


    "The king will throw open the city gates and invite the yaomos in for a bloody battle before he allows them to starve us out like rats."


    Abron said and cobtinued.


    "Better to have one last glorious fight."


    Abron raised his cup at that pronouncement. He and his father exchanged a private, knowing glance.


    "Myria''s outer defenses are formidable."


    Ju Feng said in an attempt to calm their minds.


    "The yaomo could lose hundreds, thousands, trying to break through. After that they still have to take the city."


    "Their powers are also formidable,"


    Ongara said. She reached into her loin pouch and pulled out three objects, which she held up to the firelight.


    "We''ve been pulling these off of yaomo''s corpses."


    They were rings, thick gold bands ornamented by a cl.u.s.ter of rubies and onyxes in the shape of a spider. Chang Chang''s eyes widened.


    "I know something of appraising. The gems alone would fetch an astounding price at the markets of the upperworld."


    "Shame we''re so far from Upperworld then,"


    Orban said.


    Chang Chang ignored him and took one of the rings from Ongara''s hand. A tingling sensation danced in her palm, confirming what she already suspected.


    "They''re magical."


    Chang Chang said before turning towards Ongara.


    "Have you seen them used in battle?"


    Ongara shook her head.


    "Damned yaomo are full of magic, so it''s hard to tell where any given mystical arts comes from. You being a blood diviner, I thought maybe you could tell me its powers."


    Another heavy silence fell over the group. Chang Chang was beginning to wish she''d taken some of that liquor after all. Her stomach had twisted up into knots. She handed the ring back to Ongara.


    "I''d be happy to come to the forges and examine the rings with you, Ongara."


    Ju Feng who had been watching all the development in silence nodded in agreement.


    "I''ve an interest in seeing this war axe you''re forging. Not many times have I seen great weapons being forged. Your weapons are of great quality. In the mortal worlds, they don''t get any better than this."


    Ongara smiled at him and said.


    "My thanks, we can go over now, if you like."

 Chapter 164 - The World Of Myria

    "We should go."


    Ju Feng said calmly. He could tell they were all eager to be out of the chamber, and he was all for it, too. He wondered why the Yellowhorns dwarves had invited them to stay in their place since they were obviously so unwelcome by the many of the the dwarven clans. Was it truly out of respect for the aid they''d given the family, or was there more to it? Judging by what Ju Feng had seen so far, Druya, at least, had the ear of the king and spoke more familiarly to him than any of the other dwarves she''d seen. Maybe the king instructed Druya to watch them during their stay? If so, why?


    They entered the forge, and heat and smoke enveloped them. Ju Feng and Chang Chang coughed on the acrid fumes, and their eyes watered, while Ongara''s face glowed like a child''s on coming home.


    "The air''s a little fresher if you stand over here."


    Ongara said, pointing to a crescent-shaped slit in the wall where the cave breezes drifted in off the river and thinned the smoke. She went to a stone slab, where an object lay under a black cloth. She lifted a corner of the fabric to expose a section of shining, silvery blade.


    "My life''s work," she said.


    Ju Feng bent to examine the war axe. Chang Chang stood at his shoulder. She was not as good a judge of weapons as she was of fine gems, but she knew the purest of metals when she saw it, and this axe was the finest quality mithral she had ever seen in her life. Although it wasn''t a heavenly treasure, it was an excellent earthly weapon. If a powerful core could be put into it, it could easily become a legendary weapon. Carved into the blade were runes similar to those she''d seen on the Blackhorn axes, but these had been done with the delicacy and precision of a master soulforger.


    "You did the runes yourself?"


    Ju Feng asked, resisting the urge to trace the intricate carvings with her fingers. Were those sparks of red fire he saw flashing from deep within the lines of the runes? Even with the runes, it must have reached the legendary stage. This was a weapon fit to carry a king into battle¡ªor Ongara''s beloved.


    "My mother didn''t think I had a smith''s hands."


    Ongara said. She paused for a few seconds before continuing.


    "She told me they were made for delicate work, and I suppose she was right, but I managed both. She would have been pleased with this axe. Oh, that she would have."


    "How long did it take you to craft the weapon?"


    Ju Feng asked.


    "From the beginning of its tale to the end¡ªtook me almost a year."


    Ongara lifted the war axe in her hands.


    "I named it ''Skyfire,'' for the stories Arngam used to tell me of his travels in Aejun, of the mountains and grassy plains, the openness of the sky. The rune for the name lies here in the center of the blade with my family''s symbol and his on either side."


    "Will you travel again after you''re wed, or do you intend to settle here?"


    Chang Chang asked.


    "Heavens willing, we''re going to see the surface lands. Arngam has it in his head to show me the places where he adventured in his younger days."


    Ongara uttered as she laid the war axe back on the table and carefully drew the black cloth over the weapon.


    "We have a battle to settle here first."


    Ju Feng didn''t know what to say. The cold specter of the invasion hung over even the golden-lighted forge. He wanted to help, but again he felt like she was only one small pawn in a greater game, a conflict as ancient as the dwarf race. Yaomos, dark elven race who lived inside the dark tunnels of the underground alongside the dwarves.  But small steps could be taken, even by outsiders like them.


    "You said you wanted me to look at those rings you took off the drow? May I see them now?"


    "Of course."


    Ingara led them to the forge fire and took out the rings. She laid them in a semicircle on the anvil.


    "My father''s right. I don''t like keeping dark magic here, but I hate to melt them down without knowing what they do. Next time we face the yaomo, maybe we can turn their mystical arts against them."


    Ju Feng watched as Chang Chang held her outstretched hand above the rings and murmured the words of powers. She felt the focused energies pass through her body, channeled and steadied by her blood energy.


    Whispers folded around the arcane words, coaxing out any magical and mystical arts that might be hiding in the depths of the rings. At once, Chang Chang felt an answering call, a magical thread that wound around her fingers like icy needles. The sensation unsettled her. She''d never felt Art that was this cold and unwelcoming before. Even different from the death energy or gu necrosis. She supposed she shouldn''t have been surprised, but still, she was glad to lower her hand and sever the connection between herself and the rings.


    "The rings hold magical powers. It isn''t strong, and I sense it''s not inherently destructive in nature."


    Chang Chang said. Carefully, she picked up one of the rings from the anvil and slipped it on her middle finger. She dismissed the chill that passed through her body as nerves. She turned to Ongara and asked.


    "Did you hear any of the yaomo using command words to activate the rings or by inner energy?"


    The dwarf woman nodded and replied.


    "Words. Are you going to try to activate that one?"


    "Wait Chang Chang. Can you control it?"


    Ju Feng asked worryingly.


    "Yes, but I''ll only test them if you want me to, Ongara."


    Chang Chang responded before turning towards Ongara.


    "This is your home, your private sanctuary. I won''t bring forth hated magic if it will hurt you."


    Ongara touched the anvil and then touched her c.h.e.s.t, as if following an invisible thread between them.


    "My thanks for that. You understand better than most outsiders. I want you to test them. Nothing is sacred while the drow stand at our doorstep."


    "Stand back, then. Just to be safe."


    Chang Chang held up her hand, repeated the activation word, and waited.


    "It''s all right."


    She said, speaking more to reassure herself than Ongara and Ju Feng.


    "They aren''t attacking. They obey the wearer of the ring."


    "Chang Chang, banish them before they become nephilias."


    Ju Feng said in a strained voice.


    A sharp cry ripped Chang Chang''s attention away from the dozens of spiders now gathered at her feet. Across the room, Ongara clutched Ju Feng''s arm with both hands. The dwarf woman was obviously strong, but Ju Feng didn''t flinch. Chang Chang knew he already fortified his body with chi ebergy. Ongara''s face was white and frozen in a wretched, terrified mask. She stared at the spiders, unable to look away.


    More came.


    Glossy-bodied arachnids as tall as Ingara''s stone table crawled from the shadows on graceful black legs. There must have been hundreds of the smaller ones now, swarming over the tables, the anvil, forming a living carpet on the cloth covering Ongara''s axe. Seeing that, the dwarf woman broke. Screaming, she dropped to her knees, covering her eyes with her hands. Sobs wracked her body.


    "Heaven''s tears, make it stop!"


    "It''s everywhere! I can''t get it off!"


    Chang Chang tore the ring off her finger, scooped up the others from the anvil and hurled them all into the forge. The fire surged hungrily, consuming magic and metal at once. Icelin turned away from the heat, though the sweat that poured down her face had little to do with the fire. At her feet, the smallest spiders turned and scurried away from the heat and light, retreating to their dark corners. The larger ones simply vanished.


    "Illusions."


    Ju Feng said calmly. The forger must be a worker of the dreams and illusions arts.


    Chang Chang nodded in agreement.


    "I should have seen it at once. The ring''s magic attracts smaller spiders and uses their forms to create illusions of much larger ones. Seeing a massive swarm like that coming at you in a battle would be enough to shake the morale of even the toughest soldiers. The yaomo are using that fear to gain an advantage against your city."


    "It''s ok, Ongara. They''re all gone now "


    Ju Feng said quietly. These people were no cultivators. If only they were, they would be mighty race. Yet, they possessed great knowledge of the mystical arts. He sighed as Chang Chang pushed off the table. Ongara crouched on the floor, her face in her hands. She trembled violently. Chang Chang went over and knelt beside her. When she touched Ongara''s shoulder, the dwarf woman flinched away and pulled into herself even more, as if she could disappear.


    "It''s all right."


    "They''re gone. They''re all gone."

 Chapter 165 - The World Of Myria [2]

    "What''s going on here?"


    A gruff voice rang out from the doorway. Ju Feng looked up to see a thick-c.h.e.s.ted dwarf enter the forge. He had pale blond hair and beard, almost white, which contrasted oddly with his darker skin and eyes. When he crossed the room, Ju Feng noticed he walked with a slight limp, barely noticeable had he not been moving so quickly.


    The dwarf crouched in front of Ingara and uttered soothing words in the dwarven language. Ju Feng stood to make room as Ongara looked at the blond dwarf with wide, red-rimmed eyes and shook her head furiously from side to side. She reached up to claw at her hair again, but the man caged her hands between his own and whispered soothing sounds that rolled out like low, distant thunder.


    Breaths went by, but Ju Feng stayed where he was. Every movement made Ongara flinch and whimper, as if she expected the host of spiders to descend on them again in an instant. Ju Feng glanced at Chang Chang whose knees were cramped and cold from being so long on the floor, but she was ignored the pains.


    Meanwhile, the blond dwarf was slowly getting through to Ingara. He whispered softly to her in Dwarvish, and Ongara answered¡ªintimate words not meant for outsiders to hear. Chang Chang a flush of shame, but still she dared not move for fear of breaking the calm, protective circle that she, Ju Feng and the blonde dwarf had formed around Ongara. At last, the dwarf kissed both Ongara''s hands and leaned close to brush away the tears that lingered at the corners of her eyes. They rose to their feet together and the man pulled her close, stroking his fingers through her wild hair. When they broke apart, Ingara was smiling tremulously.


    "You must be Arngam."


    "It''s not their fault. Don''t look at them that way, Arn."


    Ongara said as she stepped from Arngam''s embrace and smoothed her hair.


    "It was my own stupidity. Forsaken yaomo worship spiders. I should have been expecting something like that. Tell the patrols the next time they''re overrun by spider attacks that they''re probably illusions. That''s what the rings we''ve been finding on all the drow corpses do. They''re trying to break us with the fear of seeing so many of the bastards at once."


    "I see. I''ll inform the patrols and the master armswoman at once. This is valuable information."


    Arngam replied. The chill had left his voice, and he nodded at Icelin.


    "You have my congratulations."


    "On your upcoming wedding. I''m certain you''ll be very happy together."


    At the mention of the wedding, Ongara whirled on Arngam and jabbed an accusing finger at his c.h.e.s.t.


    "What are you doing here, anyway? You know you''re not to set foot over this threshold before the wedding. You''d better be on a mission from Moradin himself, if you don''t want a beating."


    Arngam smiled fondly at his betrothed.


    "There''s my lovely one in all her fury. I heard you cry out. How could I not come to your aid?"


    "And get a peek at your wedding-day gift. Don''t think I don''t know what''s really in your head."


    Arngam raised his hands in surrender and added, sobbering.


    "Don''t worry, taerin, I haven''t seen a thing. I''ll leave you now¡ªas long as you''re all right."


    "I''m fine."


    "Go, and remember to tell the patrols."


    He nodded and left the forge. When they were alone, Ongara turned to the table and laid her hands over the cloth covering the axe.


    "Were they truly illusions?"


    She asked, not meeting Icelin''s eyes.


    "They did not taint this?"


    "Illusions and common spiders."


    Ju Feng said assuredly.


    "On a yaomo''s hand, the ring might have called out to more monstrous creatures of the abysmal realm for it to mix with the illusions. On my hand, no touch of the dark goddess''s magic reached those spiders. I''d have felt it."


    Chang Chang quipped I''m.


    "Thank you."


    "Do you want us to leave you alone?"


    Ju Feng asked.


    "No, I''m all right."


    Ongara uncovered the axe and lifted it in her hands, as if to feel the reassuring weight, the reality of the weapon. Her eyes clouded with memories.


    "I started dreaming this design the night they brought Arngam and me to the city on our backs and out of our heads with fever. We were in the mines, inspecting the structure of one of the dead-end tunnels to see if we could dig through it and join it to the main passages. Giant spiders set upon us. We must have disturbed a nest¡ªno one had been in that tunnel for months. The worst part was that I didn''t see the attack coming."


    Ongara shivered and touched her hair.


    "I felt one of them land on my back. The hair on its belly was soft, like warm fur. It wound into my hair and brushed against my neck¡ªand then it bit me. I thought someone had put a fire in my veins."


    Ju Feng remembered the spider that had dropped on her from the cavern ceiling on their journey to the city. Pinned beneath its legs, she hadn''t had time to think about the horror of becoming the monster''s prey. She''d been too busy trying to escape. But she would always remember those eyes staring at her, the black, soulless orbs that looked on her as food and nothing more.


    "How did you escape?"


    Ju Feng asked.


    "I didn''t. Arngam fought off as many as he could, while I writhed on the floor with cramps in my stomach like nothing I''d ever felt before. It was as if someone had taken hold of my insides and just kept twisting, twisting. Got so bad I could barely draw a breath. We''d have both died, but I screamed at Arngam to get away and bring back help. It was the only way. The spiders had enough time to work on me while he was gone."


    "You were awake for it?"


    Chang Chang said, horrified.


    "Heavens tears, had I been in your place, I would have gone mad."


    "Not quite,"


    Ongara said, lips twisting in a bitter smile.


    "A spider''s web, from the inside, smells like decay and something sharp and sweet that invades the lungs and makes a person lightheaded. Sometimes I still smell it, that scent¡ªArngam says I wash my hair more than any dwarf he''s ever seen, but he''s gentle with his teasing because he knows I''ll never really get all the smell out.It''s too much in my head."


    "He''s a good man said. He saved you from the spiders?"


    "Aye, he brought a group back to rescue me, but it was still a nightmare of a fight."


    Ongara put the axe down and began absently cleaning her tools and arranging them near the forge. The familiar rituals seemed to comfort her.


    "I hated him too, while I was in that web. Out of my head with pain and fever, I cursed Arngam horribly for leaving me, even though I was the one who told him to do it. I pray to the gods he never heard any of the things I said."


    "Even if he did, he knows you weren''t yourself."


    Ju Feng said and continued.


    "Pain and fear change a person. It''s no shame to you."


    "You sound like my sister."


    Ingara smiled, chasing some of the shadows from her face. She glanced at them before recalling recent memories. Slowly, she continued.


    "Druya is always eager to forgive anybody any offense, bless her. In the end, Arngam got his share of poison too, ripping me out of that web, and the physicians spent days nursing us out of the fever. While I was lying in the grip of it, I started making the axe in my mind. If Arngam was able to forgive me for all that had happened, I knew we''d be good for each other. I took away my share of scars from that web, but some good came of it, too."


    She stared into the forge fire.


    "My thanks for your aid and for destroying the rings. I know you''ve not felt welcome, but we''re grateful you''re here. We need friends now more than ever. Father knows this. Orban, for all his stubbornness, knows it too."


    "I don''t know how much help we''ll be able to provide. We are only two people. Young ones for that matter."


    Ju Feng said, echoing Chang Chang''s earlier thoughts.


    "The king disagrees. Druya''s told me a little of it, but King Laggarma keeps his own counsel¡ªand his own secrets¡ªon some matters. He thinks you''re important."


    Why does that give me no comfort? Ju Feng didn''t voice the thought, but then stared at Ongara and uttered.


    "Speaking of the king, we should be going. Ongara, are you sure you''re all right?"


    "Once I begin my forge work, there''ll be no other thought in my head. Any more of those rings come my way they''ll go in the fire."


    Ongara said assuredly as they made their way to the king''s private chambers.

 Chapter 166 - The World Of Myria [3]

    It must have been market day, for a handful of merchants had set up stalls in the plaza, and there were more dwarves about than Ju Feng had yet seen, though not nearly as many as there should have been on such an occasion. A handful of families milled about, buying supplies, but there was a subdued quality to their movements. Most spoke in low voices instead of the loud, boisterous shouts and curses Ju Feng expected from a busy marketplace.


    Soon, they arrived at tge palace of king Laggarma. Silence fell between them. Ju Feng noticed more guards than he''d seen yesterday cl.u.s.tered around the entrance to the king''s hall. They parted when Ju Feng and Chang Chang approached, and one of the guards led them inside to a smaller hallway than the one that led to the king''s audience chamber. At the end of the hall was a pair of doors. As they approached, the right hand door opened, and King Laggarma himself stepped through to greet them.


    "You waste no time. Good."


    The king said. He fixed a keen gaze on both of them and continued.


    "Looking a little melancholy today, though, aren''t you? What''s it about? Beds uncomfortable¡ªtoo short, were they?"


    Ju Feng sensed the thread of humor running beneath the king''s scowl and tried to respond in kind.


    "Not being overly blessed with stature, they were more than adequate for me. I''m afraid there''s not a bed in the city big enough for my shadow, but it managed fine as well."


    "Glad to hear it. So if you slept well, your dour faces must mean you''ve reconsidered our bargain."


    The king reached out and took hold of the knob of the adjacent door, but his penetrating gaze never left Chang Chang''s face.


    "I haven''t decided anything. The threat your city faces is a monstrous one. Even if I do what you ask with this drow prisoner, I don''t see how it will make a difference in the fight that''s coming."


    Chang Chang said.


    "You let me worry about that."


    The king said¡ªrather sharply, Chang Chang thought, but she had no time to ponder why he was agitated. He turned the knob and swung open the door.


    Ju Feng couldn''t believe his eyes when he stepped into the king''s library. The sheer size of the chamber, the vaulted ceilings, the rugs and furniture arranged around the room. A large table took up most of the space in the center of the room, but smaller, more inviting tables and chairs occupied the corners, arranged near a set of books resting under glass on marble pedestals. He''d been expecting a dark cell, or some other confined space where prisoners were interrogated, but this ¡­


    When he gazed at the books on the walls, Ju Feng grew lightheaded. The smell of old parchment filled his nose, and he fell into the scent as if into the trance of a powerful dreams and illusion cultivator. He''d always loved books, but the volumes of knowledge contained in this room eclipsed anything he''d ever seen in the libraries of his sects. This is knowledge, but he wasn''t sure if they would contain martial and mystical arts techniques or cultivation techniques.


    Standing in the middle of it all, one arm leaned against the mantle of a huge marble fireplace, was the yaomo. He looked up from a book he held in his hands and met their gazes. For a breath, they made no reaction at all. The yaomo''s presence was so out of place in the warm, inviting room, they thought he couldn''t be real.


    "What game is this?"


    The yaomo said.


    "They''re my guests."


    King Laggarma said. He nodded at Chang Chang. He made a gesture, and a pair of guards strode into the room, taking up positions near the door.


    "She''s here for the same reason you are, Gallazza. I told her you''d behave yourself."


    "You send a child to interrogate me now?"


    Gallazza sneered before flashing a lascivious grin at Chang Chang.


    "Am I expected to roast the girl over the fire and devour her flesh to satiate some unholy appetite? No, she has barely enough flesh to make a meal. Still, there are other p.l.e.a.s.u.r.es she might supply, for a tenday at least, before I tire of her."


    Chang Chang materialized her glaive in an instant. The king stepped forward, and despite his shorter stature, he more than compensated with his bulk to block Chang Chang''s path.


    "He won''t touch you, Chang Chang. You have my word. And the lady is not without her own protections. Don''t mind him. I''m the one he wants to kill. He''s bitter because he missed his chance. Aren''t you, Gallazza?"


    This time the yaomo actually smiled.


    "How much easier my task might have been, had I found you in the form of a statue. Were those simply legends, King¡ªmad tales spun by your followers? Do your guests know what rumors your own people whisper about you?"


    Ju Feng glanced at king Laggarma, but the king''s face had gone cold, his silver eyes devoid of expression or apparent feeling.


    "Beyond the guards, there are protections in this room¡ªolder than any of the tomes¡ªthat will activate if the yaomo tries to attack. No, the only thing you have to fear from this one is his tongue. There is no greater weapon, no more lethal poison. He will try to break you with nothing more than words, and he has succeeded on many hapless souls in the past, I''ve no doubt. Take care and do not heed him."


    Slowly, Chang Chang return her glaive back into her soul space. She hesitated, then turned to the king.


    "What did you mean when you said he and I are here for the same reason?"


    "The sphere."


    The king said and waited for it to sink in before continuing.


    "It has hidden itself somewhere in this library. Gallazza seeks it, too, so I''ve decided to let both of you look for it, though I have a feeling it will reveal itself to the lady first."


    "You mean you don''t know where it is? But how will I find it? I don''t even know where to begin to look."


    "If you prove worthy, it will find you."


    Chang Chang knew she shouldn''t have been surprised. She''d sensed the king was hiding something. Now her task seemed twice as impossible as before.


    "I need to speak with Ju Feng privately."


    Chang Chang told the king. She would have used her mind voice if she could.


    King Laggarma nodded and replied .


    "Take your time."


    "I like nothing about this,"


    Chang Chang began when they were back outside in the plaza.


    "Hmmmm, neither do I. For whatever reason, king Laggarma thinks you will be able to find the sphere. One thing I''m sure of, if that yaomo dies under the dwarven Silver Fire, I for one won''t shed any tears for him. Nor will any of the dwarves."


    Chang Chang shook herself to ward off the chill of the cavern. How easy it would be to justify the action if she let herself. No one would blame her this time. No one would mourn the loss of a yaomo who''d already taken dwarf lives and would take more if given the opportunity.


    "But it feels wrong."


    "You''ve always had a soft heart, Chang. Too kind for a Xue Wu."


    "One of my greatest faults. It''s not just for the sphere itself that I''m considering this."


    She paused, gathering her courage.


    "I need to know something, Feng."


    "Say it."


    "If we get the sphere and it does what we hope it will do for me, is there a chance for us? These last days we''ve spent traveling together, I''ve become more and more certain of the prophecy I received about us. What will happen once you activate the Heavenstone?"


    "Fate is fate, Chang. I know about my fate and the prophecies that shape my destiny. Two fates bounded together by the sisters can''t be undone. It''s not my fate I''m worried about, it''s yours. Can you accept my forsaken fate?"


    "I see. Thank you for telling me. I won''t have to wonder now. I''ll search for the sphere while you aid the dwarves however you can."


    "You want to go back in alone?"


    "If I''m going to accept the king''s bargain, I need to speak to him, and I need to do it alone. In the meantime, please take care of yourself. I couldn''t ¡­ I don''t want anything to happen to you."


    She walked away without another word. Light steps carried her across the place. Allowing in any more emotion would have been a distraction to her heart. When she was back in the hallway, just outside the library door, alone, she rested her back on the door frame, and raised her head up. She recalled the words of her dreams and the divination of the oracles and nodded her head in acknowledgement. She would see how it would unfold. Then, she opened the library door, and stepped inside.

 Chapter 167 - Hunt For The Blood Sphere Of Sky Fire

    Caught in the throes of a dream, king Laggarma flew. He followed the spirit road toward the dim horizon of the Astral Sea, streaks of silver stars passing by at impossible speeds. As he flew, the stars whispered to him, fragments of thought and memory that drew king Laggarma''s attention. He reached for these shreds of dreams, but they slipped through his fingers like wisps of cloud. All that remained were the whispers.


    "Come back, Laggarma, you''re straying ¡­"


    "What was that? The silver shadow, don''t touch it ¡­"


    "Please guide me ¡­ I beg you ¡­ I''ve been lost so long ¡­"


    "Gods, I''m flying ¡­ it''s ¡­ magnificent ¡­"


    Whispers turned to weeping.


    Laggarma turned away from his fellow travelers. These were old memories, old dreams. Was he doomed to be trapped in the past the way he''d been trapped in the stone?


    The sky grew darker as, one by one, the stars retreated from a burning object that appeared in the east. Red¡ªthe color of fire and agony, slicing along his flank like steel drawn from the forge. The burning force slammed into his spirit form so hard that he lost himself for a time, spinning into oblivion. Where had the attack come from? Where had the power come from? Had he become so complacent, so safe in his vault deep beneath the earth, behind mithral doors and layers of magic so complex he''d thought them inviolate?


    He''d been a fool. No safe place existed in this life.


    Darkness engulfed him. Pain raked his back like claws. Feebly, he lashed out, trying to fight back. In the darkness, a single voice rang out, peals of cruel laughter that echoed in Laggarma''s ears. He opened his mouth to scream. The sound came out as a rough, aged m.o.a.n, a small cry from a small c.h.e.s.t. He sat up in his bed, clutching his face. He ran his hands over his flanks and combed his fingers through his beard. The pain was slow to leave him. Even in dreams, the memory was so fresh that for a moment he couldn''t move. His skin was on fire, and sweat poured down his face, soaking his beard. For a moment, he stroked the coarse hair, as if his own skin were unfamiliar to him. It was as if his existence in the universe was of mystery.


    On the spirit road, there were no limits, Laggarma thought, but his body creaked with age and old wounds that refused to completely heal, his skin stretched taut over his spirit. Sometimes the confinement was so harsh that he wanted to tear his skin with his teeth like a beast.


    He rose from his bed and set b.a.r.e feet against the cold stone floor. The chill chased away the sleep phantoms and returned, if not peace, then a bit of clarity to his mind. Stretching out his awareness, he felt the echoes of heartbeats and footsteps coming from the room next to his. His own room sealed in all sound, so Chang Chang and Gallazza would not have heard his dream cries, nor would the guards stationed outside the door and in the library.


    Chang Chang''s awareness concerned him most. The more powerful boy had left with the dwarves, leaving her alone there. But he knew Gallazza would do no physical harm to her¡ªafter his escape attempt, the guards had searched him thoroughly for hidden needles or other poisonous substances, and Laggarma''s own protections on the library would come to her aid if needed. Besides that, it wasn''t in Gallazza''s interest to attack her, not while he had the opportunity to search for the sphere.


    Not that any of it mattered. Although Chang Chang was a powerful blood, king Laggarma would not fool himself into thinking Chang Chang was completely safe around the yaomo. He was too old to take comfort in self-deception.


    He hovered around her, not so close that she would sense him, but close enough to detect the quickness of her heartbeat, the tightness in her movements. He couldn''t actually see her, but then he didn''t need to. She was afraid¡ªof course she was¡ªand king Laggarma was the cause. Alone in a room with a strange and deadly creature such as Gallazza¡ªshe''d be insane not to be afraid.


    King Laggarma turned his attention to Gallazza. Dark energy still swirled around him, creating an impenetrable wall that rebuffed king Laggarma''s own energy probe. He sighed. Perhaps he''d been hoping for too much, thinking that she would be able to find the sphere when it had hidden itself so thoroughly from him. He supposed it was still possible Icelin would change her mind and refuse his bargain, even with the enticement of the sphere''s Silver Fire.


    King Laggarma severed the spiritual connection to the library and began donning his clothes and armor. A thought struck him. Perhaps he could offer Chang Chang something else, an added recompense for the danger he had placed her in. She sought knowledge of the truebloods, the means to tame her wild blood energy, and his library was a vast resource.


    Abruptly, he sent out a mindvoice. It had been so long. Would she still answer his summons?


    "Lachol. Lady of the ancient scrolls, do you hear me?"


    Silence met his call. King Laggarma felt an unexpectedly sharp stab of sorrow in his heart. Had she gone to sleep for good?


    "Lady, forgive me. I did not mean to leave you in the dark so long."


    "How sweetly you talk, Old Master. What would you have of me?"


    King Laggarma smiled as the familiar voice wrapped him like a warm blanket. Tears pricked his eyes.


    "I have missed you,  Lachol. It has been too long."


    "Centuries."


    The clear, feminine voice chided him.


    "I feel the pages stirring. You have guests."


    "Yes. But some more welcome than others."


    "The girl needs aid. Will you show yourself to her?"


    Lachol made no immediate reply. Laggarma waited in respectful silence. He knew what he asked of her.


    "I have offered my services to none but you for thousands of years, Old Master. Is this truly important to you?"


    "It is. Many things are come to an end, Lady. Our time together, I fear, is short. Will you grant me this one last favor?"


    "For you, Old Master, I will."


    The Lachol said.


    King Laggarma felt her affection and love through the mind-link. His sorrow returned, for a moment threatening to overwhelm him. Clenching trembling hands into fists, he mastered himself and finished tying the laces of his tunic. He needed to meet with the regents and the master armswoman, and to speak to the council about some specific defenses for the city gates. His thoughts lingered on Chang Chang and the Lachol. King Laggarma allowed himself a wry chuckle. To see the look on her face when she realized all the library had to offer ¡­ he would have given much to observe that moment. Standong just inside the library door, Chang Chang half-hoped the yaomo had vanished overnight.


    After her conversation with Ju Fengin the large cavern, she''d spoken to king Laggarma and accepted his challenge to find the sphere, but found she didn''t have the strength to begin that search just yet. She''d gone back to the Blackhorn house and rested, stalling, until Ju Feng left to help Abron and Obarn a scouting mission. Once Ju Feng was gone, she knew she couldn''t put off the inevitable Her heart sank when she saw the drow sitting in a wingback chair by the fire. One leg propped on the hearth, a book open across his l.a.p, he was the picture of relaxed self-assurance. He looked up when she entered and flashed a lazy smile.


    Like a wolf grinning at a lamb, Chang Chang thought. The image made her indignant. Let him have his fun. His presence wouldn''t intimidate her. Squaring her shoulders, Chang Chang crossed the room and stood before the fire, warming her hands against the chill. Without looking at the yaomo, he said.


    "Good morning,"


    The yaomo closed his book and rose smoothly to his feet. Instinctively, ChangChang  pivoted so her back would not be facing the yaomo.


    His smile grew wider.


    "We haven''t been properly introduced. I am gallazza."


    Out of the corner of her eye, Chang Chang saw the guards stationed at the door tense. She assumed they hadn''t taken their eyes off the? since she''d entered the room. She offered them a small nod, hopefully communicating that she wasn''t afraid.


    "My name is Chang Chang."


    The young blood said, ignoring the yaomo''s acknowledgement.


    "It is ¡­ interesting to meet you. What are you reading?"


    Gallazza picked up the scroll and held it high for her to see.


    "A personal journal of the oracle of Durban." .


    "Durban?"


    Chang Chang raised an eyebrow.


    "Are you a student of dwarf history?"


    "Myria is all that remains of an ancient dwarven realm on this planet of Wujin."


    Zollgarza explained.


    "The history of this planet. Do you know this planet is one of the first planets ever created by the divines? Yes. This planet was created by the divine Xue. The essence on this planet was heavenly blood energy. Unlike other worlds, this made normal cultivation difficult. But there was great power and divination in this world. That was why the old bloods were extremely powerful. That was Ages ago. It is ¡­ refreshing to see how the mighty are diminished over the centuries. No empire lasts forever."


    "Well, I find most historical accounts to be dry, mind-numbing reading."


    "Really?"


    Gallazza said in amus.e.m.e.nt before asking.


    "What books, scrolls, parchment do you prefer?"


    "Adventure tales of ancient legends and myths. Full of hard-won battles against impossible odds ¡­ that sort of thing. Add a splash of romance and intrigue and you''ve won my attention forever."


    Chang Chang replied.


    "If I find any such tales, I''ll be sure to lay them aside for you. However, I was under the impression you''re here for a purpose other than reading. You''re here to hunt for the sphere, yes?"


    At the thought of the artifact, longing rose in Chang Chang again. What would it be like to hold a bit of Mystra''s essence near her heart, to be so close to the divine she had never known? Even if the sphere''s Silver Fire didn''t cure her energyscar, the memory of the divine would be enough. But when she looked at Gallazza, those hopes shattered.

 Chapter 168 - Hunt For The Blood Sphere Of Skyfire [II]

    Slowly, Chang Chang turned to the bookshelves. Ladders fastened to a track on the highest shelves rested on wheels on the floor, allowing access to all the shelves, even the books she could barely see. No doubt they were covered with an inch of dust and served as a home for countless numbers of tiny eight-legged horrors. Chang Chang ran her hands absently over the spines. Many of the titles were in Dwarvish or languages she couldn''t even identify, but she found others in Common.


    Was the Arcane Script Sphere hidden somewhere amongst them? Did king Laggarma expect her to tear apart the room in a mad search for an ancient artifact that likely had all sorts of magical means to conceal itself?


    Yet the king said that if she were worthy, the sphere would find her. Did that mean she was supposed to stay here and wait while the sphere silently considered its decision? Bemused, Icelin imagined the great artifact watching her every move, looking for faults and failures in her character. Chang Chang g.r.o.a.n.e.d and thought, I''m doomed.


    Pacing the room wouldn''t help. She selected one of the ancient books¡ªa history of the Wujin and the dwarves, similar to what Gallazza was reading¡ªand took it to the long table in the center of the room. Maybe if she explored the library and cleared her head, inspiration on how to find the sphere would strike. It was warmer near the fire, but she wasn''t eager to share the yaomo''s company like that. Reading together in front of a fire had a certain unavoidable intimacy that she wasn''t ready to experience. She opened the book, inhaled the scent of the scroll and age, and began to read.


    Gallazza sat motionless by the fire, pretending to read his book while he watched the girl. Once she got over her initial nervousness and started reading a scroll, she seemed to forget he was in the room. She leaned over the book with her elbows propped on the table and pulled one of the magical lights closer. Every now and then she squinted at the text and mouthed the words aloud as she ran her fingers along the page. When she wasn''t doing that, often she hummed to herself softly as she read. She had a steady, melodious voice, but that was the only compliment Gallazza willingly gave her.


    His assessment of her physical features was that she was a small, but powerful thing. However, she was suffering from some forms of ailment. Thst much he could tell. Whether mystical arts or some other malady had taken its toll on her, he couldn''t say, but if king Laggarma had wanted to threaten him, he''d chosen a poor creature as his hand.


    He had to give the old dwarf credit, though. Laggarma knew how to scheme and deceive with the best of the yaomo. Gallazza couldn''t believe the king had allowed him access to the dwarven library, and the introduction of this newest obscure element in the form of the girl was even more frustrating. What was the dwarf up to? Was the Arcane Script Sphere truly so hidden from him that he needed this little blood girl and a yaomo to locate it for him? This would have amused Gallazza no end had he not been so suspicious of the girl.


    He knew she was a blood, but what was her true power? Was it something king Laggarma hoped to use against him? But the king had already probed his mind and raked through his memories. There were no secrets for this human child to uncover. If she could. Except the ones being kept from Gallazza himself. If king Laggarma''s words were to be believed.


    Gallazza clenched the scroll in his hands, resisting the urge to throw it into the flames. Knowledge and lore surrounded him, yet the answers he sought most were denied him. Who was he truly, and where did he come from? Had the oracle of yaomos altered him at the mother''s comand? To what end? Was there some dangerous knowledge he possessed that the mistress mother had stripped from his mind in order to protect other things? But why deny him his own identity, unless she simply meant to toy with him?


    Gallazza considered the girl. Frustration and rage made him tremble. He wanted to lash out, grab her by her slender throat, and demand her purpose here. He had already begun a search of the library for the sphere and turned up nothing. She would have no better chance than he had of finding the artifact, unless it somehow considered her a worthy recipient.


    Perhaps that was what king Laggarma hoped. Was there something special about the girl''s character that he hoped to exploit? Gallazza thought it might give him some satisfaction to try to root that information out of her, to play with the girl as he was being played, a pawn in some larger game. But who knew what artifacts the young girl had? Maybe, a heavenly weapon? She might not be worth the trouble, but she was a mystery and a distraction. Zollgarza enjoyed a good mystery, and he certainly needed the distraction.


    She tensed and looked up from her book. Gallazza flicked his eyes to the page and pretended to read but continued to watch her out of his periphery. She pushed her chair back and stood up. Slowly, she walked to the bookshelves and began pacing in front of them, head c.o.c.ked as if listening for something.


    What was she doing? Gallazza wondered. He almost called out to her to ask, but he clamped his mouth shut. He didn''t want to betray the fact that he''d been watching her closely.


    "Do you hear that?"


    The girl asked, breaking the silence.


    Zollgarza rubbed his eyes and adopted a weary tone.


    "I''m sorry. What did you say?"


    "Just now, did you hear ¡­ I thought it sounded like voices ¡­ whispers." .... You heard nothing?


    She asked, rubbing her hands up and down her arms as if she felt a sudden chill.


    Gallazza listened, but all he heard was the crack and pop of the fire and the cave breezes coming down the chimney. The dwarves had a sophisticated ventilation system¡ªhe''d utilized it himself sneaking into the city¡ªthat kept the smoke emanating from the homes and forges from choking off all the fresh air in the city.


    "You''re imagining things,"


    Gallazza replid. He approached the fire and stood with her back to it, still listening for mischievous phantoms. His attention taken up by her, he didn''t detect the movement out of the corner of his eye until a loud bang echoed in the library. Instinctively, Gallazza leaped from his chair and went into a crouch. Beside him, the girl tensed, but as she was in a better position to see the source of the noise, she was the first to relax.


    "It''s all right ¡­ I think."


    Chang Chang said. Cautiously, she strode across the room to the bookshelves, where a particularly large tome bound in green leather had fallen to the floor near the ladder. She bent to pick it up.


    "I must have knocked it loose when I pulled my book off the shelf."


    Before she could touch it, the cover of the tome flipped open by itself.


    Ju Feng followed Abron, Obarn, and a contingent of dwarves past the forges to a smaller cavern on the eastern edge of the city. The first thing Ju Feng noticed was the overgrowth of the glowing silver lichen hanging from the cavern ceiling and in some cases growing in patchy carpets along the ground. The light it created was uneven and pained Chang Chang. No one had tended to the lichen in some time. Ju Feng soon learned why.


    "We''ve evacuated these caverns."


    Abron explained as they marched along, joined at intervals by more dwarves, until Ju Feng counted their group at least a hundred strong. They were a mixture of warriors and clerics. If they were in a different world, a world of chi cultivation, they would have been powerful folks.


    "The population was too thin on our outer fringes¡ªwe relocated everyone closer to the city to conserve resources. Water doesn''t have as far to travel, and people don''t have to feel saw the logic in the decision, but by Garn''s tone, he knew the dwarf didn''t like it.


    "It must have been difficult for so many families to leave their homes,"


    Ju Feng said, and indeed, some of the stone dwellings looked as if they had not long been abandoned. Mushroom gardens still thrived around the fringes of the homes, and through open doorways, Ju Feng saw that much of the furniture remained in the homes, left behind as if their occupants anticipated that someday they would return.


    Abron approached one of these open doors and pushed it open.


    "A few dozen, maybe¡ªthey''re around here someplace, but they won''t show themselves while we''re passing through. They''re afraid we''ll make them pack up and leave. I wouldn''t do it for a dragon''s hoard."

 Chapter 169 - Hunt For The Blood Skyfire Sphere [3]

    The dwarves at the front of the group had begun forming the others into three columns. Ju Feng watched them as two dozen more dwarves spilled into the cavern and glanced at Abron.


    "This is no scouting mission we''re undertaking."


    "No, it''s not,"


    Abron agreed.


    "Last night, a couple of scouts reported that the Cavern of The Forgotten Souls had been cut off by a cave-in. They claimed they heard fighting on the other side, but the debris was too much for them to clear alone. We''re venturing out to clear the passage and get our people out of there ¡­ if any are still alive."


    I


    "The cavern of the  Forgotten Soils?" Ruen asked.


    "A mining outpost three miles straight east of here. It''s got lots of long, narrow tunnels emptying out into wider spaces, like knots on a rope. We''ve been filtering our warriors to the outpost for a tenday now because we thought it one of the likeliest places for the yaomos to assault."


    "Why would they risk fighting on a battleground like that?"


    Ju Feng asked. Small spaces and bottlenecks could cut soldiers off from each other quickly. While this would hamper both sides, the dwarves knew the sizes of their own tunnels better than the drow did and could better control the field.


    "Because if they can take those tunnels, it cuts off one of our major supply routes to the surface and denies us access to a major source of ore. We''ve tried to keep its importance a secret, but the damn drow spies are everywhere. Some of them are infiltrating the outposts in magical disguise. For all we know, they might have had their scouts in place for months."


    Abron said. He and Ju Feng fell into step with the company, walking side by side in two of the columns. Obrin walked in the third column, but as usual, he remained silent.


    "New faces weren''t noticed?"


    Ju Feng asked before continuing.


    "With the diminished population, I''d have thought spies would be easier to detect."


    "Sometimes they are, but other times, the yaomo kill our people in secret and take their places. We don''t find the bodies until later, if at all."


    Abron''s hand tightened on his axe. Ju Feng saw the rage barely contained by the gesture. The Blackhorn patriarch''s only comfort lay in the promise of spilling yaomo''s blood. He sighed as he reminisce on the luxury of cultivation they enjoyed in his home world and others like that. He could imagine what the dwarves would be willing to do to be able to cultivate and achieve immortality.


    "Your family was kind to offer us hospitality."


    Ju Feng said, thinking it wise to change the subject.


    Abron looked at him and nodded. His lips twisted in what might have been a smile, but the bitterness underlying the expression made it difficult to tell.


    "My daughters offer you their hospitality because they have faith in the king''s judgment. For my part, I think we should have killed that yaomo prisoner long ago. The king''s wasting valuable time worrying about him. Now your friend has given him another excuse to sit in his hall and fret over the creature instead of focusing on readying our armies. You''ll not be offended or surprised to learn that I am not as glad of your presence as my daughters."


    "I''m not offended. But why doesn''t king Laggarma have your loyalty?"


    Temper flared in the runepriest''s eyes. Ju Feng wondered what he had said wrong, but Abron quickly hid the emotion and regarded him with a measured glance.


    "Perhaps it''s a failing in the language. I don''t count faith and loyalty to be equal. I would die for my king¡ªhe is one of my oldest friends¡ªbut there are limits to what he can accomplish, especially ¡­"


    Abron stopped. He seemed suddenly reluctant to speak. Ju Feng waited, but he saw the restraint enter the dwarf''s expression, the mistrust, as if he''d just then remembered he was talking to an outsider and not one of his own people.


    They walked on in silence. Ju Feng''s''s thoughts were a little troubled. If the dwarves of Myria doubted their king, it was yet one more obstacle they had to overcome in their struggle with the yaomo. Was it age or infirmity in king Laggarma that brought out Abron''s doubts?


    Ju Feng had not noticed any such deficiency in the king during their audience. King Laggarma had come across as strong, cunning, and dedicated to his people. Perhaps there was a deeper, unknown madness that Ju Feng feared. The thought stirred the blood in Ju Feng''s veins. He pictured Icelin sitting in the library with the yaomo prowling around her. He dreaded the prospect of leaving the city, of leaving her unprotected. Well, she had her glaive. And her mystical arts were very powerful for her age, albeit some issues she was having.


    Still, Ju Feng was uneasy. He reminded himself that obtaining the Arcane Script Sphere and prolonging Chang Chang''s life was worth the risks they took, but the words didn''t give him as much comfort as they marched along increasingly narrow tunnels and left Myria behind.


    ***


    Chang Chang froze in the act of reaching for the fallen book, which now lay open to the third page, blank but for an inscription written in an elegant hand. Chang Chang read the words aloud.


    "''To my lovely Aribella, on the occasion of the end of a life.'' Strange."


    Gallazza walked over and stood beside her and asked.


    "You read dwarvish?"


    Chang Chang blinked at him.


    "You''re mistaken. The language is Common tongue."


    She pointed to the text on the tome. She wasn''t brave enough to pick up the book. One of the first things she''d learned in her study of magic was never touch anything magical without first knowing the nature of the magic¡ªa lesson she''d already been reminded of with the yaomo rings.


    Gallazza went down on one knee and squinted at the inscription.


    "It appears it alters the appearance of the text to suit the preferences of its reader. I''ve encountered such tomes before."


    "Where you came from?"


    Chang Chang asked, unable to contain her curiosity.


    "Yes ¡­"


    But the drow paused, uncertain, drawing out the word and staring intently at the book as if he could conjure the other from his memory.


    "Was it dangerous?"


    "What?"


    "The scroll you encountered. Did it contain harmful magic?"


    "I don''t ¡­ it doesn''t matter,"


    Zollgarza said and continued.


    "This is a different tome. It may have any number of powers or destructive magic stored in its pages.The tome will do you no ill, so long as you intend no ill toward the tome," said a woman''s voice.


    Chang Chang and Zollgarza both jumped.


    The sepulchral voice seemed to come from every corner of the room at once.


    "Show yourself!"


    Gallazza shouted.


    "Another one of your mind probing spell?"


    Ignoring the yaomo''s trade, Icelin turned to see how the guards at the door reacted to the voice. There were two of them dressed in the king''s livery, and both wore gleaming mithral maces at their belts, though neither had drawn their weapons. Their gazes were fixe Gallazza, but other than the obvious distaste in their eyes, Chang Chang detected no emotion.


    "Did you hear that voice?" she addressed them.


    The guard standing to the left of the door nodded.


    "Nothing to be scared of."


    The said, shooting a mocking smile in Gallazza''s direction. His smile softened when he addressed Chang Chang.


    "It''s the king''s Lochal. She means no harm."


    "Never thought I''d hear her voice again."


    The other guard said wistfully.


    "Is she a wraith or simply invisible?"


    Chang Chang asked again.


    "It''s complicated. Better to let her explain herself."


    The first guard said.


    Soft, throaty laughter echoed from near the fire turned and saw a dwarf woman sitting in the chair Gallazza had occupied. She rose, spilling golden hair over her shoulders and down to her waist. The woman was shorter than most of the other dwarf women Chang Chang had seen, including Ongara and Droya. Her bright green eyes matched the robes she wore. The loose sleeves were lined in gold brocade, and she wore tan leather boots on her feet.


    "Well met."


    "I am the Lochal of the library and the caretaker of scrolls and tomes."


    l


    She approached Chang Chang and held out. Chang Chang took it. She was half-surprised to find it solid.


    "King Laggarma instructed me to aid you. He indicated that time was short."


    The woman''s face creased with sadness.


    "I will be happy to render any assistance I can. I am familiar with the titles and text of every book in the library and can retrieve any tome or scroll you wish."


    "You''ve read them all?"


    Chang Chang said, stunned.


    "And you remember everything in them?" She wondered if the woman was afflicted with a spellscar just like her own. CHANG CHANG couldn''t imagine trying to find space enough in her head to store the knowledge of all these books. She''d go mad with the effort.


    The Lachal smiled.


    "Yes, I remember¡ªmore accurately, instead of reading them all, I am them all."


    "She''s of the spirit, not flesh¡ªa magical constructs for fetching books."


    He went back to the fire and sat down, retrieving his book.


    "A shame it is to have the library polluted in this fashion."


    The Loschal said, eyeing the yaomo in disgust. She turned to Chang Chang and addressed her..


    "What would you have of me?"

 Chapter 170 - Hunt For The Skyfire Blood Sphere [4]

    "Um ¡­ a few questions first, if you don''t mind?"


    Chang Chang didn''t know how the woman could help her, unless she knew where the Arcane Script Sphere was. But if she did, she would have surely told king Laggarma, wouldn''t she? For some reason, the woman''s deep, wise gaze and aura of serenity made Chang Chang a bit uneasy. She felt insignificant standing next to her, though the dwarf woman was much shorter.


    "Not at all. Ask what you will."


    The woman smiled kindly.


    "Is he right? Are you a spirit?"


    Chang Chang asked, nodding at Gallazza. The yaomo seemed not to be paying attention, but Chang Chang knew he heard their conversation.


    "I am the Lochal of the library and the watcher of the scrolls. I have knowledge and control of all the scrolls and tomes you see."


    She lifted her hand, and in response, the tome on the floor rose into the air and snapped shut. It floated over to Chang Chang and hovered in front of her face. Hesitantly, Chang Chang reached up and took it. Then, the woman continued.


    "Memories of any life I had before my time as Lochal are gone. I am bound to one of the tomes in this room, but which one, I will not name. My thoughts are full with the knowledge of thousands of profound ancient texts. They are enough."


    "It''s just ¡­ how long have you been here?"


    Chang Chang asked.


    The Lochal smiled.


    "Do you mean, how long have I been here in this room, or how long have I been with King Laggarma? In truth, I have lost count of the years. No future exists here, only the past."


    She spoke in truth, but a pang struck Chang Chang''s heart. No thoughts of the future¡ªChang Chang knew something of living that way. Her future was extremely complicated. She could tell that much from the prophecies she had received.


    "Since I''ve been in the library, I''ve thought I heard voices, whispers. Was that your voice?"


    "Not me. You''re hearing their voices."


    The woman reached out and ran her fingers gently over the book spines on the nearest shelf.


    "The books? You mean they¡ª"


    Chang Chang stammered. There was no way books could talk, could they? She had never heard of such. Not even when she was in Lorra, a cultivation world.


    "Many of them are no more than what they appear. Others are living entities, sleeping for centuries at a time, stirred awake by the breath of life¡ªthe presence of a seeker of knowledge."


    The seneschal removed a tome from the shelf and pressed it to her c.h.e.s.t reverently. She spoke a word Icelin didn''t understand, and then she returned the book to the shelf before continuing.


    "When they sense such a person, the pages whisper and sing, and the ink may as well be blood in living veins."


    Caught by the Lochal''s voice, Chang Chang couldn''t take her eyes off the woman''s face. For the first time, fear of the library and this ancient spirit shivered through her body. She had thought she had seen it all on this planet called Wujin. She had seen the world oracle, valley of summons, all types of weapons, all types of beasts,  and others. But all this she was now seeing was of different level entirely. The fire cast long, ominous shadows on the walls. Whispers that had lingered at the edge of her consciousness grew louder, more insistent. Chang Chang didn''t want to listen to those voices, not like this. Whatever secrets she heard, she would never be able to forget.


    "You''re frightening her, spirit. Cease with your romantic prattle and make yourself useful."


    Gallazza said.


    Chang Chang tried to stop the yaomo but let him be. Not that she was that scared, she was only afraid of the things they could know. She turned to the woman and knitted her brows together. She didn''t know how the woman could help her, unless she knew where the Arcane Script Sphere was. But if she did, she would have surely told king Laggarma for certain. Chang Chang blinked and freed herself from the seneschal''s penetrating gaze. She dipped her head, rubbing her temples, which had begun to throb.


    "Forgive me. Understand I mean you no harm. It has been a very long time since I spoke to another person like this. I fear I am out of practice."


    The Lochal said, bowing.


    "No, it''s all right."


    Chang Chang stifled a groan. She''d let herself be trampled on by a ghostly phantom¡ªalbeit a very powerful one¡ªand had to be rescued by a Yaomo of all. Ju Feng would be appalled if he heard that about a blood who they said had a bright future. She''d been trying not to think about him too much or worry about where he was at that moment. Most likely, he was with one of the dwarf patrols. He might even be fighting right now. If a yaomo slew him, she might not find out for several days. But she knew not these yaomos could kill Ju Feng. Not them. She had a feeling Ju Feng had been hiding his true power. Stop it, she told herself. You''re here to find the sphere.


    "Very good. You have strong mental discipline for one so young and afflicted."


    The Lochal uttered.


    "You can read my mind? You might have mentioned that earlier!"


    Chang Chang''s head snapped up. A mindscryer!


    "Again, forgive me."


    The spirit smiled wider.


    "Please don''t be uneasy. I doubt any thought you entertain would surprise me."


    "What about the other books¡ªspirits of books¡ªin the library? Can they read thoughts too?"


    "No, they''ve not gained much awareness. They''re not sentience. They are objects of power, presence, and memory, but only in the most primal sense. I was surprised you heard their voices so soon. However, you are not without power yourself, and as I said, they are drawn to the true seeker."


    "Is that why they remain silent to me, spirit? Because I am not a ''true seeker''?"


    Gallazza said, smirking. He looked at the Lochal who replied coldly.


    "Lost soul, what you seek cannot be found within this room."


    Gallazza met her stare with a look that made Icelin shiver.


    "Pitiful wraith, you have no idea what I''m looking for."


    "I see the emptiness in your soul. Memories gone ¡­ pieces of yourself you long to reclaim."


    A strange thing happened then. Gallazza''s cold mask cracked at the edges, and through the broken bits, Chang Chang glimpsed pain¡ªpain and anger so intense she stifled a gasp. He tore his gaze away from the woman''s face, as if he''d also been caught by her power. Meeting Chang Chang''s eyes, the yaomo pulled the mask back into place over his features.


    Oh! I saw something I wasn''t supposed to see, Chang Chang thought. A weakness or a d.e.s.i.r.e¡ªwhat was it the yaomo sought? Was it immortality? Was it somehow tied to the power that cloaked him, or his mystical aura? Judging by the mask Gallazza had adopted, he would not speak of those d.e.s.i.r.es, especially not to her. Not that it mattered. She had her own d.e.s.i.r.es and her own task to complete. She turned to the spirit and addressed her.


    "I''m ready now."


    "Very well. Know before you begin that great power surrounds you. There are dangers here, as well as treasures."


    The spirit put a hand out, though she did not touch Icelin.


    "What sort of dangers?"


    Chang Chang asked. Heavens tears, what now?


    "I told you some of the tomes already gained sentience. They possess souls. Like any living thing, they are capable of compassion and deceit, of manipulation and regret. Some will give up all their knowledge and secrets for a kind word, while others will use any means to deny and destroy you."


    "Can''t you tell me which one is which?"


    Chang Chang said, feeling helpless. She doubted she was strong enough to face a sentient scroll. She was just starting on the road of blood cultivation.


    The Lochal smiled sadly.


    "Can you tell that of any living being? Like the depths of any soul, they are changeable, mysterious, and sometimes frightening. Never forget to use your judgment, and you won''t go astray. When you are ready, tell me what knowledge you seek."


    The knowledge she sought¡ªChang Chang didn''t have to consider the question long.


    "The Arcane Script Sphere. said. "If I''m going to find it, I need to know more about it. Are there any written accounts of it in the library?"


    She expected a long delay while the Lochal explored her memory. Efficient as Chang Chang''s young mind was, the older the memory, the longer it took her to recall all the details. She started in surprise when the Lochal answered her question almost immediately like a divine oracle.


    "There are four such texts in the library."


    The woman said and continued.


    "One of these I am forbidden to share."


    "Why?"


    Gallazza interjected, surprising Chang Chang again. She hadn''t expected him to show interest in what she asked the Lochal. Then again, that confirmed her suspicion. The yaomo was seeking the sphere as well. Chang Chang had to be careful of him.


    The spirit''s lips compressed in a line. She repeated, stiffly.


    "It is forbidden."


    Or perhaps they contained knowledge the yaomo could use against Myria if they obtained the sphere, Chang Chang thought. But if it contained such information, why did the king allowed the yaomo to come here and search for the sphere? So strange. She turned her attention back to the Lochal and asked.


    "Can I examine the other tomes?"

 Chapter 171 - A Divine Touch? [1]

    The Lochal lifted her hand. Two scrolls floated down from a high shelf and settled in the air in front of her. To Chang Chang, they appeared to be mundane scrolls, but the spirit''s warning rang loudly in her mind, so she assumed nothing.


    "An Eternal View of the Arcane and The Divine Touch."


    The Lochal recited and continued.


    "Which contains the most detailed account. I have also included an untitled collection of observations on various powerful artifacts, including records on the Seal of Horns and the Death Moon Orb. There is a passage discussing the Arcane Script Sphere written by an ancient ascendant. The other written word is protected under glass. When you have finished with these, I will show you how to read it."


    "My thanks."


    Chang Chang said. Her fingers itched to snatch the scrolls out of the air, but she thought that would be impolite.


    "Perhaps you''d like to read by the fire? If you require anything further, simply call for me."


    The Lochal made a sweeping gesture, and the scrolls sailed across the room and made a neat stack on a table by one of the wingback chairs. A blanket lay folded beside the chair. With that, she vanished as soundlessly as she''d appeared.


    Chang Chang followed in the wake of the flying scrolls and sat down in the chair. The leather cushion was wide enough for her to tuck her legs up, and she dr.a.p.ed the blanket over them. The blanket and the fire chased away the chill, and the flames provided ample, if wavering, light to read by. She picked up the first book and opened the cover. As soon as she did so, the whispers lingering at the edge of her hearing quieted. Perhaps they were trying to be polite while she gave her attention to one of their fellows. Chang Chang smiled slightly to herself at the thought.


    Before she began, she risked a glance at Gallazza. He''d not moved from his own seat, but his tome lay discarded before the hearth. He stared into the fire, his face frozen in that same stony mask. She wondered what he could be thinking. For a moment, Chang Chang felt a swell of pity for him, but she quickly banished the feeling. He didn''t want her pity, and it was dangerous to feel sorry for the yaomo. She would have to tread carefully around him.


    For now, she had information in front of her, the opportunity to learn more than she ever had about the Arcane Script Sphere. Ju Feng would want her to take advantage of that, to do everything she could to get the sphere. Especially after the entity in her projected dreams had told her about the enormity of the weight on her shoulders. She had to be stronger. That was the simple truth. This was what she wanted, wasn''t it?


    ***


    Ruen fell on his knees, gasping and waited for the pain to recede. But it didn''t. A second wave of dark energy slammed into him from behind. He rolled behind a rock, where a pair of dwarves and Garn had stacked stones on three sides to form a protective trench. Barbs of pain rippled along his skin, the most intense concentration focused on his left hand. Pain cramped his muscles. He clutched his hand, tried and failed to close it into a fist.


    Abron saw his contorted features and knelt beside him. Streams of blood ran down the side of the runepriest''s face, but the runes tattooed into his skin glowed with a faint, white light, shining thorough the blood. He looked like a phantom, an avenging spirit. Sitting in a strange position, Chang Chang had a strange view of the chamber''s dominating feature. Carved dwarf faces¡ªsix of them¡ªstared down at him from the far wall. Each carving was at least ten feet tall and five feet wide, the mouths in each face slightly open, as if they were great generals issuing commands to their troops. The Cavern of Lost Souls was named for the smiths these likenesses were based on, according to Abron. He''d been able to tell Ju Feng a bit of the place''s history before the yaomo attacked.


    "Dont use your inner energy. It enhances the attack."


    Ju Feng couldn''t believe their was an attack like that but quickly did as he was told. Almost immediately, the pain ebbed, and it no longer hurt to draw breath. He sat up slowly, using the wall of the trench as a prop.


    "What was it?"


    Ju Feng asked as he helped Abron and Krodorn lift an unconscious dwarf and carry him quickly across the chamber. A hail of crossbow quarrels followed them as they took cover behind one stone outcrop after another.


    "We call it the Divine Lash. Mystical arts that turn all your own power into pain."


    Krodorn growled. He was a gray-bearded dwarf with scars crisscrossing the left side of his face. Not ten feet away, a dwarf pelted across the chamber, chased by a web of blue-black lightning. Ju Feng lifted a hand feebly, as if he could will the dwarf to run faster, but he couldn''t. Deafening echoes, the sounds of close fighting, rang in the cavern. Yaogai, yaoling, and the yaomo commanding them swarmed the Cavern of Lost Souls.


    The energy of their attack slammed into one of the dwarves, driving him to the ground. Ju Feng heard the warrior''s skull crack when he hit, but he was dead before that. The black lightning crawled sickly along his skin, opening up small cracks in his flesh. The air sizzled and reeked. Blood and poisonous spiders poured forth from the wounds, dozens of the creatures covered in gore. He knew what it could only be.


    Gu necronom.


    "Heavens killing blasts!"


    Abron shouted.


    "Krodorn, we''ve got another one!"


    One of the other dwarves in the trench turned and muttered a short prayer. Ju Feng recognized it and knew to put his head down as a hail of stones appeared from nowhere, showering the dead dwarf''s mutilated body. The spiders ran from the hail of pellets, but they weren''t fast enough. The rocks crushed them. After a moment, nothing recognizable remained of the soldier''s body. The dwarves had been reduced to mutilating their own dead in order to drive back the spiders.


    "Can you stand?"


    Abron shouted at Ju Feng.


    "We''re falling back. We''ve got to draw more of the yaomo into the chamber."


    Ju Feng could see no such end in sight. Dwarf and yaoling corpses tangled their feet as they fell back to a more fortified position beneath the carvings on the wall. Ju Feng tripped over a yaoguai corpse and scr.a.p.ed his knee against the ground. He had to push off the creature''s body to lever himself to his feet.


    His hands traced rough, scarred flesh. Ju Feng glanced down and saw a livid mark carved into the dead creature''s flesh. He thought it might have been a slave''s mark, indicating which clan the yaoguai belonged to, but the carving ran in intricate lines and whorls all across the creature''s back. The yaomo would not be so elaborate in marking their property. He didn''t have time to ponder it further, though. The yaomo were mustering for another assault. They gave the unconscious dwarf over to the clerics for healing and dived for cover.


    Energy and mystical arts glows illuminated the stone faces in eerie white light. Ju Feng blinked, realizing that at least some of the energy dispensed and power cast in advance of the army were aimed at the carvings. A breath later, he understood why.


    Spiders erupted from the mouth holes, the noses, and the eyes of the carved faces. Summoned from some dark, undisturbed hole by drow magic, Ju Feng thought, but then he remembered the rings, their ability to conjure illusory spiders. These must be similar spells, designed to create the illusion of a spider swarm and an impossible number of targets the dwarves couldn''t hope to eradicate. All of it carefully calculated to destroy the defenders'' morale.


    "They''re coming! Beat them back! They''ll eat us alive!"


    The scream came from a dwarf feebly crawling among the rocks on the battlefield. An axe slash had ripped open her t.h.i.g.h. She held the torn flesh together with one hand and dragged herself across the floor with the other. Ju Feng cursed as he passed the last bloodroot pill to the dwarf. In the quickness of their retreat, they hadn''t been able to collect all the wounded. Dozens of dwarf and yaomo corpses littered the battlefield, and now the spiders swarmed among them, covering their bodies. It didn''t matter whether they were real or not, not to the wounded and dying soldiers who imagined their flesh covered with swarms of hairy bodies.


    The cavern they''d been fighting in was a mile long at this point but not so wide, with intermittent stalactites and stalagmites, many of which had been smashed by yaomo powerful magical energy or the sheer pressure of so many bodies fighting together in the restricted space. The yaomo gathered at the opposite end of the chamber, near the widest tunnel, but only fifty or so slaves and their masters were visible. There was no way to tell how much of an army waited behind those front lines. If they tried to go back for the wounded, they''d be fodder for crossbow and mystical arts quarrels.


    "No, get them off!"


    The screams of the wounded filled the chamber, and on their heels came the sound of delighted yaoling squeals and the yaomo''s smoky laughter.


    "Keep your heads in the fight! They''re shadows¡ªnothing more!"


    Cried Abron. Ongara and Arjun had spread the word about the illusions, but the sight of hundreds of the eight-legged creatures scuttling across the surface of the carved stone faces was enough to send a shudder of revulsion through the dwarves.


    The miners, smiths, and warriors together were the soul of the people.

 Chapter 172 - A Divine Touch [2]

    "You well enough to be on your feet?"


    Abron said, pulling Ju Feng''s gaze away from the tunnel.


    "I''m fine."


    Ju Feng said. He assessed his injuries. He''d taken a blow to the head from a yaoguai''s club, and there was a faint ringing in his ears from all the noise in the cavern, but the pain from the yaomo''s arcane mystical arts was gone, leaving only a slight tremor in his hands. Ju Feng clenched a fist, closed his eyes, and took several breaths to calm his racing heartbeat. The chamber reeked of blood.


    "Godsdamn dismal way to fight."


    Abron said. He cast his gaze over the battlefield¡ªlooking for Orban, Ju Feng surmised. Father and son separated soon after the battle began. Though Abron hadn''t mentioned him, Ju Feng could tell by the way the Yellowhorn patriarch clutched his axe that his thoughts were with his son.


    "There are dozens of us here and in the cavern to the south, and others who''ve fallen back with the wounded down the side passages. Obrin could be with them."


    Ju Feng said assuredly.


    "He won''t fall back, not unless he''s unconscious and they''re dragging his body away from the fight."


    Abron said, glancing at Ju Feng.


    "Here they come!"


    The shout came from the front lines. Ju Feng looked up to see yaoguai and yaoling swarming across the cavern. In response, a chorus of battle cries deafened Ju Feng as the dwarves surged up from their stone trenches.


    Abron stood, opened his arms, and cried out as he performed his mystical arts.


    "Give me your strength, Soul Forger. Father of the deep places and sacred stone, give me aid!"


    The attacking slaves saw the floating stones and staggered, breaking their charge. Behind them, the yaomo hissed and screamed in Undercommon, sending out webs of black lightning to prod them. They charged ahead, not so frenzied now, instead moving hesitantly, and let the dwarves slam into their lines in a crush of steel.


    With a grim smile, Abron took another step forward. He swayed on his feet. He''s weak, and it''s taking all his concentration to maintain the activated arts, Ju Feng realized. He stood and took up a protective stance ahead and slightly to the right of Abron.


    "I''m here. Mind your arts. I won''t let them touch you."


    As he watched, one of the oldest dwarves came and slid his silver ring onto the Abron''s smallest finger. From its appearance, Ju Feng could guess what it was for. To enhance power and arts. Using it was a risk, but if Ju Feng was right about what Abron was about to do with his conjured arts, it would give the dwarves an advantage.


    Abron''s eyes widened as the elder dwarf slid the ring over his knuckle, and a broad smile spread across his face.


    "Let''s have some fun, then,"


    Abron said in a strained whisper. He made a fist and punched the air. One of the larger stones shot across the cavern, hit the ground rolling, and plowed into a group of four goblins, two of whom were killed instantly. Abron moved forward and wiggled his fingers, sending a hail of smaller stones against a charging pack of bugbears. They went down under the force of the smaller pellets hurled at lightning-fast speeds.


    But the attacking force came in fast. Ju Feng spun to face a yaomo warrior darting toward Abron like an obsidian shadow, a bronze sword drawn and ready in his hand. The yaomo saw him and lunged, but Ju Feng slid to his knees, coming up beneath the yaomo''s guard. Energy and focus hummed from his core as Ju Feng gathered a small amount of inner energy and drew it inward, funneling it all to his right hand. He drove his open palm into the side of the warrior''s leg. Dimly, he sensed the impact of the yaomo''s armor against his hand, but the pain he should have felt was absorbed by the energy and sloughed off harmlessly. He didn''t even need to use his martial hand technique.


    His punch was anything but harmless. Bone snapped, and the yaomo staggered, crying out in agony. Ju Feng came smoothly to his feet and thrust his other hand against the yaomo''s sword hilt, pushing it above his head and away from Abron, the yaomo''s intended target.


    Now that they were standing face-to-face, Ruen could look the yaomo in the eye. He didn''t want to be killing yaomo in a war that was never his. He saw the pain and hatred in the warrior''s face, but he also glimpsed a deadly resolve Ju Feng hadn''t counted on. Bones in the drow''s leg were shattered, but he would crawl on his belly to reach Abron if he had to. Ju Feng read that truth in the yaomo''s eyes.


    His right hand tangled with Ju Feng''s as he fought for control of the sword, and the yaomo used his left to fumble at his belt for a dagger. Ju Feng applied pressure to the hand of the yaomo, and the warrior howled in pain. In a swift movement, the yaomo yanked a dagger out of his loin pocket and lashed out at Ju Feng''s c.h.e.s.t.


    It was enough. Ju Feng reared back and drove his fist into the yaomo''s c.h.e.s.t. He poured all his pent-up energy into the strike and felt it reverberate through the yaomo''s armor, a wave that passed through flesh, shattering ribs and b.r.e.a.s.tbone. The killing wave reached the yaomo''s heart. Through his premier sense, Ju Feng felt the yaomo''s death a breath before the drow did. The coldness, the cracks in the yaomo''s life force, spread out from that one central point where his fist made impact. The warrior''s eyes widened, he opened his mouth, and then his gaze became a fixed stare. His sword clattered to the floor.


    Ju Feng had a familiar feeling, unpleasant but hardly alarming. The breath of life and the aura of death. Death always proved stronger, in the end, and it was no different this time. Cold seized his body, and his bones ached from this feelings death. It reminded him of his own impending death. Ju Feng tried to ignore the sensations and sprang to his feet. Abron had moved a few feet away, hurling more rocks at the enemy. It was as if a storm had enveloped the chamber. Mighty cracks of thunder shook the foundations of the cavern each time the runepriest cast a stone down on his enemies. Abron''s eyes glowed with the light of his mystique. Those same glows outlined the runes on his face, making him look more and more like an avenging spirit.


    The enemy had taken notice as well. The slaves cringed and ran from the hovering death that moved inexorably across the cavern. The yaomo did not run, but Ju Feng saw their wizards gathered near the tunnel mouth, watching Abron''s progress. They''ll turn all their mystiques loose on him in a moment, Ju Feng thought. Abron would make too big a target. Ju Feng didn''t have time to warn Abron. A pair of yaomo warriors charged the runecaster. Crouching low, Ju Feng ran to intercept them. He flung out his arms and caught both yaomo at the c.h.e.s.t. The impact sent a tingle into his shoulders, but the yaomo''s forward momentum halted, and they both went down.


    Fragile, Ju Feng thought. Most on this planet had fragile bodies. They were not body cultivators. The bloods had a way to go stronger and more powerful at a cost, but the yaomo are too weak physically. These yaomo sets weren''t even strong, and they were not used to these kinds of attacks, blows that went through their fine armor.


    Ju Feng knew he couldn''t keep up his defense of Abron forever without showing his true powers. He called out for aid, and several dwarves stopped their charge and fell back to form a protective perimeter around the runecaster.


    "That''s right, you crawlers, run!"


    Abron screamed in fury as more yaomo and yaoguai fell before him. His voice carried on the thunder of falling rocks. Shaking all over, he thrust his fists into the air.


    Ju Feng fell into a crouch, sweeping the legs out from under another yaomo. They were attacking side by side with the slaves, but the enemy spells he''d expected hadn''t yet come. What were they waiting for? Ju Feng tried to see the tunnel mouth, but the shower of rocks and the close press of bodies and flashing weapons made it impossible to see the yaomo at the far end of the battlefield.


    Distracted, Ju Feng saw the blade slicing at him out of the corner of his eye only just in time. He wanted to release a chi blast but decided against it. He ducked, but the axe bit slightly into his flesh. He swung around and grabbed the yaoguai''s wrist, twisting its arm behind its back. The creature squealed and dropped its weapon. Ju Feng brought his hand back, aiming for a blow to the yaoguai''s spine. He halted in mid-strike. Although he avoided killing any yaomo unnecessarily, he was there to help the dwarves on the promises made by the king.


    Beneath the creature''s filthy, blood-splattered armor, he glimpsed a familiar marking carved into the yaoguai''s flesh. Unlike the dead yaoguai he''d seen earlier, this slave''s mark glowed faintly and pulsed with a blood-red light. Instead of striking the creature, Ju Feng forced it to its knees, careful to keep pressure on its axe arm to hold it in place. With his other hand, he ripped the flimsy armor aside to get a better look at the rune. It was obviously magical, but he had no idea what it meant.


    Glancing across the battlefield, Ju Feng noticed a pattern he hadn''t seen before. The yaoling slaves fought mostly together, not counting the creatures that broke ranks and ran from Abron''s hail of stones. But the yaoguai fought scattered throughout the cavern, spaced evenly amongst the dwarf attackers, as if they''d been assigned to those places.


    Immediately, he knew something was wrong.

 Chapter 173 - A Divine Touch? [3]

    "Abron!"


    Ju Feng called out, frantic, but there was no way for the dwarf to hear him. He shoved the yaoguai to the ground and forced it on its back. Ju Feng pressed his finger to the creature''s throat, and growled.


    "What are your uamsters planning?"


    The creature whimpered and stared at him blankly, its face creased in pain. Lightly, Ju Feng punched the yaoguai. Bright blood welled up around the creature''s mouth. It squeezed its eyes shut, tensing for another blow.


    Ju Feng cursed, digging his hands into the creature''s filthy tunic. He reached up and laid his palm flat against the creature''s cheek. The yaohuai''s eyes widened with fear. It expected violence, but that wasn''t Ju Feng''s aim. He felt his internal soul react to the creature''s flesh. The yaoguai''s heartbeat surged through him, strong, yet wild and fearful. Ju Feng gasped at the burning red pain he felt from creature''s shattered arm. He pushed forward, past the pain, seeking¡ªthere!


    A blemish spread throughout the creature''s body, a creeping darkness in the shape of a spider''s web¡ªor perhaps that was merely Ju Feng''s perception of it, compounded by his fury and dread. The ya owasguai going to die, but instead of slowly consuming him, the magic hovered like a growing storm, waiting to burst from the creature''s body with violent force.


    Ju Feng pulled back from the yaogua breaking the skin-to-skin contact. The yaoguai stared fixedly at him. Red light crept into its eyes, and suddenly, the creature smiled, exposing broken teeth and a mouthful of blood.


    "You''ve touched your doom, human."


    It said. The voice that issued from the creature''s lips was not the rough, animal rasp of a yaoguai, but a smooth, musical murmur that sent a chill crawling over Ju Feng''s flesh.


    "The earth shakes, the heaven rumbles and the walls come tumbling down."


    One of the dwarves grabbed the yaoguai''s head between his hands. He twisted sharply, breaking the yaoguai''s neck. The red light faded from the creature''s eyes, leaving a blank, peaceful stare on the slave''s face.


    "Watching the gods damn you all. We''ll take as many of you with us as we can."


    Climbing unsteadily to his feet, Ju Feng slowly walked toward Abron, gently waving his arms. His feet felt sluggish and clumsy. He tangled with a crowd of dwarves and yaomo warriors locked in vicious swordplay. One dwarf turned and almost took his head off with his short sword before he realized Ju Feng was an ally.


    "Get in the fight or get out of the way!"


    The dwarf screamed angrily, shaking Ju Feng by the shoulder. Ju Feng reached for the dwarf, intending to tell him, to shout at them all to fall back. They didn''t realize what was going to happen, that they were all doomed if they didn''t move. The dwarf had already turned away. Ju Feng trod on quickly, determined to get to Abron without using any flashsteps. The runecaster would give the order. His booming voice could carry over the entire chamber, warning everyone that death was coming. For them, not for him.


    A burst of orange and blue light erupted somewhere over Ju Feng''s left shoulder. The cavern went silent except for a loud ringing in his ears and a distant pounding. Ju Feng had a strange feeling in his soul. There was a liquid flame explosion that rang in his head. He reached up, touching his ear. When he took his hand away, blood coated his fingers.


    Turning, he saw the orange fireball spreading across the chamber in waves like bright, fluffy orange clouds. It was raining, too¡ªchunks of stone fell around him as the cavern ceiling came down on their heads. Another blast came, farther away, or maybe Ju Feng just couldn''t hear it. It shattered the stone near him and threw him a few yards backward. He looked up in time to see a third blast as a yaoguai standing not far away suddenly shuddered, bent double, and exploded in a brilliant flash of red and gold light.


    Maybe, it was time for him to use his spiritual sense. Ju Feng was about to spread his spiritual sense when darkness covered him.


    ***


    Chang Chang looked up and shivered as if a cold hand had touched her on the shoulder. Nothing appeared amiss¡ªthe tomes and scrolls stood silently upon their shelves, behaving themselves, and Gallazza sat at the table in the middle of the room, eating a bowl of stew the guards had brought him. Chang Chang shook away the sense of foreboding that had momentarily gripped her and turned back to her scroll.


    In front of her, suspended above a glass case, gold letters shaped themselves out of the air. As soon as Chang Chang stopped reading, the letters stopped forming. She removed a gold ring from her index finger and hooked it on a peg protruding from the glass. The writing began to fade, leaving only a faint afterimage on the air, but the memories of the text were forever imprinted in Chang Chang''s mind.


    The glass case contained one of King Laggarma''s oldest tomes. According to the Lochal, the last time the pages had been touched by living hands was more than ten thousand years ago. No magical arts had ever been cast on the book, and the pages were too fragile now to be exposed to the air. The text could only be read using the ring to recall it from the book. The Lochal had drawn her attention to it because there was a physical description of the Arcane Script Sphere in the written words.


    Mystra inscribed the Arcane Script Sphere with mystical arts known only to the divine, written across its surface in the tiniest script, unreadable to the n.a.k.e.d eye. She''d intended to give them to worthy bloods. She placed a part of her memory, personality, and Silver Fire inside of it, so the artifact would seek out the bloods she wanted, bloods who would use the sphere, add their own arts discoveries to it, then pass it on to others who would learn from it in order for them to attain immortality. Just as the three pristine ones and the Adi-Buddhas did for the other energy cultivators. A cycle that went on for centuries. These bloods would feel their divine as they learned, her soft voice like a teacher''s echoing in their heads, encouraging, guiding them. Although many would still die by the way. Only a few ever made it to true immortality.


    Chang Chang rubbed her c.h.e.s.t, where a hollowness had taken root. Her own guardian was gone, killed by her wild mystical arts.


    "Finished already?"


    Gallazza said, twirling his spoon deftly between his fingers.


    "Or did you tire of reading messages on the air?"


    Chang Chang sighed and rubbed her burning eyes.


    "Don''t you think it''s a little exciting? Mysterious? Words conjured out of the air¡ªknowledge preserved with elegant magic."


    Gallazza snorted derisively.


    "It''s impractical. Why not simply cast a protective seal over the book and its pages?"


    "Such means can fail or be dispelled."


    The Lochal''s gentle voice echoed from across the room, making Chang Chang jump. She wasn''t used to the dwarf woman''s entrances and exits, which often occurred with little or no warning. At the moment, she sat serenely in a chair in the far corner of the room.


    "King Laggarma believes in preserving valuable objects for their own sake. Magical essence is not always the best way to accomplish that. It is a tool, something that should never be relied upon in place of natural skills and abilities."


    "A lovely speech, but I have a difficult time taking you seriously when magic saturates this room. For a dwarf, your king seems to have a particular obsession with the arcane."


    Gallazza drawl.


    Chang Chang hated to agree with the yaomo, but he had a point. She had never seen such a collection of magical powers and magical knowledge contained in one place before. True, there were many texts on the dwarves'' history, culture, and especially smithcraft, but Chang Chang was shocked at how much knowledge of the Art she''d found. Her thoughts whirled with all the information she''d acquired, so that she didn''t hear Gallazza''s approach until he was right beside her. Tensing, she tried to act natural.


    "You have ¡­ an interesting smell."


    Gallazza remarked, standing at her shoulder. Chang Chang pushed the scroll she held back up on the shelf and selected another without replying. She resisted the urge to leave the place, to put the space of the library between them.


    "Are you trying to intimidate me?"


    She said, turning toward him. She didn''t quite manage to look into his red eyes, but she had the passing thought that they were a bit like Ju Feng''s, masking his emotions well. Stop treading that road, Chang Chang silently chided herself. Ju Feng and this creature were nothing alike.


    "Why do you seek the Arcane Script Sphere?"


    He asked, ignoring her question.


    "Why does anyone?"


    She countered, slanting him a look.


    "It''s a powerful arifact for¡ª"


    "Precious arcane energy¡ªI know."


    Gallazza dismissed her explanation with a wave.


    "That''s what the sphere is. I asked why you want it."


    "I''m a blood. All bloods are diviners."


    Chang Chang said as if that explained everything. But Gallazza waited bfore asking.


    "And?"


    "And what?"


    Chang Chang was stalling, scrambling to decide how much she could tell him. She didn''t want to mention the Silver Fire at all, if she could help it.


    The yaomo saw through her tactics and asked in a teasing voice.


    "Why don''t you want me to know? I''m harmless. I may as well be in a cage."


    "You''re many things,"


    Chang Chang said before pausing. She stated at the yaomo and shook her head.


    "Harmless isn''t one of them."

 Chapter 174 - A Divine Touch? [4]

    The yaomo smiled.


    "True. Come now, if you don''t tell me, I''ll simply hang about your elbow, whispering, until your nerves won''t let you concentrate. You''re already hopelessly distracted."


    Damn him, but he was right. Chang Chang sighed.


    "I am bloodscarred."


    She said, hoping that a small piece of the truth would satisfy him. After a second, she continued.


    "The affliction is slowly killing me. The sphere contains a piece of Mystra''s essence, so I hope the artifact''s power may be able to prolong my life."


    Surprise touched Gallazza''s features. And something else¡ªa hint of consternation? He asked.


    "The sphere contains a piece of the divine?"


    "According to the records, yes."


    Chang Chang c.o.c.ked her head.


    "You also came here looking for the sphere, though not for the same reasons, I assume. Why do you want it?"


    Gallazza stared hard at her, and Chang Chang knew he wasn''t fooled by her casual tone.


    "Who are you? Why did king Laggsrma send you here? You''re innocent enough looking, but there''s more to you. I can sense it."


    Chang Chang took a chance¡ªagain, the truth, or at least part of it.


    "He wants me to learn your secrets."


    Gallazza scoffed at that.


    "He thought I''d tell you?"


    Now it was Chang Chang''s turn to smile, though her heart pounded.


    "You''ve already told me things. For instance, you don''t know everything about the artifact you''re seeking. You didn''t know that it contains a piece of Mystra."


    She''d expected anger from him, but he merely regarded her with a tight, calculating expression.


    "Well, well. You do have some small talent for interrogation. Perhaps it''s your beautiful, innocent face, so pure and sweet."


    "You''re trying to intimidate me again."


    "I can''t help it. I can''t find the sphere, and the dwarf won''t have left anything else of value here to interest me. This is just another cage, except¡ª" he lifted a hand and touched a strand of her hair with the tips of his fingers¡ª"he''s left a pretty little bird here to entertain me."


    Gallazza replied, forcing Chang Chang to jerk away from him then, and he smiled, which infuriated her.


    "So that''s all that''s left for you?" she said.


    "You''ll stay in this room and taunt me until the yaomo march on, myria?"


    "Or until king Laggarma decides I''m no longer of any use to him. You must forgive me a few petty p.l.e.a.s.u.r.es."


    Gallazza said. The color of his red eyes deepened, betraying his anger.


    "The Lochall said you were missing pieces of yourself. What does that mean?"


    "It means exactly that. Memories that I should have are gone. Most of my life is a hazy shadow in my mind. Somehow, I never questioned it, not until Mith Barak laid my mind b.a.r.e. I didn''t even know there was an emptiness inside me. I only ever d.e.s.i.r.ed a purpose¡ªwhat the universe wants for me."


    "What the universe wants?"


    Chang Chang held her scroll against her c.h.e.s.t and replied. She gritted her teeth at the faint amus.e.m.e.nt that flitted across his features.


    "Isn''t that just as futile as pacing this cage? I''ve read about your kind. Of course the dwarves have written about you. They''ve chronicled their constant war with your race. They talk about your people too. What has your ancestors ever done for you? What has your divine goddess done to earn your reverence?"


    Far from being provoked, the yaomo actually chuckled.


    "What a question, especially coming from you. I never expected it."


    "You''re mocking me. I should have known better than to expect plain speaking with you."


    "Oh, but my surprise is genuine."


    Gallazza said, coming to stand with his back to the fire. Once again, he was too close. Chang Chang felt the unease coming from the yaomo. It had to be an artifact or a mystical art. The pressure was making her whole body tense, but she tried not to show it. She knew he was doing it on purpose. Everything the drow did was calculated to put his opponents off balance. How could a race live like that? Her thought was interrupted by the voice of the yaomo.


    "I wasn''t being boorish when I told you that you have an interesting smell. I was referring to the magic on you. The Art is so strong. It must be terribly hard for you, being bloodscarred."


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    Chang Chang said. She flipped open the scroll and stared at the writing without seeing it.


    Gallazza''s soft chuckle mingled with the cracks and pops of the fire.


    "Of course you do. You think you have people, but deep down you know how alone you are in the world. The divine Xian Xia, or simply Mystra, who might once have steered your course in life, the guiding force behind all wielders of the blood arcane, is lost to you. In fact, you dont know much about her at all, do you? Very pathetic. My divine, Lolith, may be a divine, but at least I know that when I cry out in the night, someone hears me. You cry out alone. It''s no wonder you seek the Arcane Script Sphere. Even a scrap of a divine is better than none."


    "I''m not alone."


    Chang Chang said before continuing.


    "I walk with companions who would give their lives to keep me safe. We adventure in the world together, embracing life. Does your divine care when you cry out in the night? Is she there to give comfort? Can you understand that kind of devotion?"


    "Ah, your divine beast."


    Gallazza said. His smile turned cruel. He took a step toward her.


    "A beast protects its companion with an equal fervor. I can train beasts to answer my command, so yes, child, I understand the devotion you speak of. Of course, a beast is usually willing to offer affection to its master in addition to service. Does your beast fulfill this role as well?"


    "That''s enough."


    "But why?"


    The yaomo crouched in front of her.


    "In your eyes, I''m just a worthless yaomo that could be killed without second thoughts. But to me your existence shares as many echoes of tragedy as you see in mine. You stand on the edge of oblivion, spellscarred, victim of a lost goddess''s power. So you adventure in the world, embracing life, as you call it, even taking on the dwarves'' burden as your own¡ªwhatever it is that will fulfill you, ease the emptiness inside. All this I understand. We all do what we have to do to survive the darkness. I am surprised because you are what we have to do to survive the darkness. I am surprised because you are the last person in Wujin who should pity me for my existence. Pity yourself."


    He left the fire, retreating to the other side of the room. Chang Chang felt the heat burning into one side of her face, but she couldn''t move. If she moved, she could either attack the yaomo or leave the room.


    "What troubles you?"


    The Lochal asked. She''d remained silent during Chang Chang''s exchange with Gallazza, but now she came to stand beside her. She looked at Chang Chang and further asked.


    "Can I help?"


    "I don''t think anyone on this plane can. For now, I need enlightenment and a clear head."


    Chang Chang said. She tried to push the drow''s taunts from her mind, but they lingered like a poison.


    "The latter can easily be remedied. You''ve not been outside this room in many hours. Walk about and clear your mind. As for enlightenment ¡­"


    "What is it? You have a book to recommend?"


    Chang Chang asked eagerly.


    "Perhaps. It might aid both of you, in fact. Or it might drive you mad."


    The Lochal said as she glanced uneasily between Chang Chans and Gallazza.


    Gallazza was the first to respond.


    "You have my attention, spirit. Speak."


    "Don''t be so eager."


    The seneschal cautioned him. She held her hands palms up in front of her. A black leather-bound tome appeared, heavy and intimidating, with two brass locks to secure it.


    "If enlightenment is what you seek, this tome may provide the answer."


    "What is its power?"


    Chang Chang asked. A faint reddish aura surrounded the book, which intensified the longer she stared at it. Power¡ªbarely contained, Icelin thought. Whatever knowledge was stored within, it must be significant.


    "Enlightenment to the discerning hearts."


    The Lochal said enigmatically and continued.


    "The book itself contains no words."


    "Then what purpose does it serve?"


    Gallazza asked the dwarven spirit who shook her head and answered..


    "For clouded thoughts, it brings clarity. For troubled minds, certainty."


    "Clarity and certainty are two friends I don''t often converse with. But why are they dangerous?"


    Chang Chang asked curiously.


    "Because of the ways used to arrive at them."


    Said the dwarf woman as she continued.


    "The tome delves into the deepest parts of your mind, draws out secrets, confronts truths you may be unable¡ªor unwilling¡ªto see. By facing your own truth can you discover the true enlightement."


    Saying this last, the Lochal looked pointedly at Gallazza who laughed scornfully, but Chang Chang thought she detected a spark of eagerness in his eyes before the yaomo replied.


    "You cannot frighten me, spirit. Let your tome work its magic. I''ll master it."


    The Lochal inclined her head, seemingly unsurprised at Gallazza''s bravado. She turned to Chang Chang.


    "What say you?"


    Chang Chang raised her hands in a defensive gesture.


    "I think you''re right. I need to walk outside and clear my head. When I return, I''ll make my decision."


    "A wise choice."


    The Lochal smiled at her.


    "Go, then. All will be ready when you return."

 Chapter 175 - A Divine Touch? [5]

    Chang Chang stepped out into the open space and breathed the cool cavern air. Immediately she felt better. The open space was a buzz of activity, as a couple dozen dwarves moved about, setting up tables and benches and rolling in casks of ale and cider. Shouts, jests, and laughter greeted her ears¡ªa sharp contrast to the attitudes she''d glimpsed when she''d first come to the city, and a welcome relief after the oppressive silence and strange whisperings of King Laggarma''s library.


    "Careful with that! Aw, gods¡ªhere, let me help with it, I''m beggin'' you."


    A wide smile spread across Chang Chang''s face at hearing Dawoll''s voice. The dwarven cook they first met inside the tunnel. He had been making delicious food for them. He followed a pair of dwarves carrying a large metal cauldron between them into the plaza. Thick, bubbling liquid sloshed in the pot, threatening to spill over onto the ground.


    "Ignore him. He gets grumpy when his food''s in peril."


    Chang Chang called to the other dwarves. Laughing, she hurried across the plaza, dodging ale casks and bumping into a woman carrying a handful of torches. Smiling an apology, she ran up to Dawoll..


    "Hey!"


    Dawoll spared her a wide grin, but it quickly turned sour when the dwarves plunked the cauldron down in the middle of the plaza. He bellowed.


    "How''s it going to feed three dozen mouths if you spill it all over the stones?"


    In unison, the dwarves made a rude gesture and walked away. Chang Chang covered her mouth to keep from bursting into laughter. Gods it felt good to hold in laughter instead of worry and fear.


    "What''s all this? Are you cooking for the whole of Myria?"


    She said, bending over to sniff at the brew in the cauldron. Burrowers meat juices, mushrooms, and broth¡ªher mouth watered at the scents.


    "Almost."


    Dawoll said. He affected weariness, but the pride was clearly discernible in his voice.


    "Druya had me helping out with the wounded. We''re set up in the Flamingaxe''s old temple, and I was bringin'' food over two, sometimes three times a day. I didn''t really have anyone to cook for since Abron and Orban left, and Ongara spends all her time at the forge."


    Dawoll looked affronted.


    "Well then, what do you think happens? Ongara shows up and wants me to help with the cookin'' for her wedding feast. She said they weren''t plannin'' to have any food at all because of supply shortages. They were just goin'' to drink. Then Ongara said since I loved to cook so much and had a bit of talent makin'' a little bit of food go a long way, could I cook for her wedding?"


    Dawoll''s c.h.e.s.t puffed up with pride.


    "How could I say no to that? Not have a feast on a weddin'' day¡ªrubbish, that''s what that is. I don''t care if there''s a battle comin''."


    "Of course. But what''s this? Surely you''re not cooking already."


    "Ah, this is just a test batch. Goin'' to feed it to the wounded."


    He glanced anxiously in the direction the other dwarves had gone.


    "Think they''ll be comin'' back soon?"


    "Don''t count on it. It''s good to see you, Dawoll. I''ve missed your grousing and cooking."


    "Anything''s better than that yaomo you''re shut up with."


    The cook looked down at his hands. Something in his tone, the slump of his shoulders, caught Chang Chang''s attention. Fear stirred in her belly.


    "Is something wrong?" she asked.


    "Nothin'' to be worried about yet,"


    Dawoll said hastily, but his guilty expression made Chang Chang''s heart speed up.


    "What is it? What have you heard, Dawoll?"


    "Well ¡­"


    Dawoll hesitated, and then he uttered a weary sigh before continuing.


    "You knew Abron and Orban had gone out with Ju Feng and a bunch of other soldiers to secure the Cavern of The Lost Souls."


    "Yes, I knew they were going on a scouting mission, but I thought they''d be back by now. What happened?"


    Chang Chang waved a hand impatiently.


    "Some scouts brought word a little while ago that they fought with the yaomo in the Cavern, and it was a big one. There was some kind of explosion, and it sealed off the tunnels between there and Myria."


    "Explosion? What happened to Myria''s forces? Were they caught in the blast?"


    Chang Chang asked in succession as she felt lightheaded.


    "Nobody knows. They''re tunnelin'' through to send reinforcements. We won''t know anythin'' until they clear the debris and make sure the tunnels are safe."


    "Ju Feng is with them. Why didn''t you tell me about this sooner, as soon as you found out? We have to do something, go after them."


    Chang Chang didn''t know why she said it. Of course, Dawoll knew that. She knew Ju Feng was a strong cultivated who could hold his own, but still, there were deadly forces everywhere that could threaten his life easily. Wujin was as deadly as they could be. Even the ascedants could fall in Wujin. The underground was also of no exception.


    "Chang, they''re already doin'' everythin'' they can. We just have to wait."


    "But why didn''t you tell me? All this time, I''ve been in the library reading, sitting in front of a warm fire like nothing was wrong, while Ju Feng ¡­"


    Chang Chang said, trying to quell the panic that gripped her. She couldn''t finish. For all she knew, Ju Feng could be in mortal danger,  if not dead. His body lying somewhere in a dark cave. Maybe the dark elves had taken him prisoner, the way the dwarves took Gallazza. What would they do to him? Hands trembling, Chang Chang covered her mouth. She thought she might be sick.


    "What about the king?"


    "What about him?"


    Dawoll repeated curiously.


    "I''ve heard the dwarves whispering about him, how he sits in his empty hall alone day after day. Will he sit there, worrying about Gallazza and what he might be plotting, while all this is wiped away? While his soldiers are dying in the Underground?"


    Chang Chang spread her hands, encompassing the open space.


    "Keep your voice down, young one. "You can''t speak of our leader that way in our own home."


    Dawoll looked around, uneasy. A few of the dwarves had paused in their work to stare at them.


    "Then let him lead. Let him come out and show his face to his people¡ªgive them hope."


    Dlawoll raised his hands in a placating gesture.


    "He has reasons for being the way he is."


    "You mean because that yaomo Gallazza¡ªtried to assassinate him? "But he''s still¡ª"


    Chang Chang said.


    "That''s not it."


    Dawoll interrupted her. He guided Chang Chang over to a bench set against the temple wall and sat down beside her.


    "The king''s been fightin'' the yaomo for a long time, ten times longer than you or I''ve been alive. He''s worn down with it and with seein'' his city taken apart bit by bit."


    Chang Chang felt a stab of sympathy for the king, but at the same time, she couldn''t understand him. Perhaps it was the difference between being a dwarf and a human.


    "He carries a heavy burden, but if it''s too much to bear, he should set it aside for another, for the good of his people. Something happened to the king a few years ago. You see, the king is different from us, the other dwarves. He rules the city for only a quarter of a thousand years."


    Dawoll said, dropping his voice even though they were quite alone in the shadow of the temple.


    "Only two hundred and fifty years ? What does he do for the other seven hundred and fifty? Does he leave the city?"


    Chang Chang''s brow furrowed. Somehow, it didn''t fit with what she knew of King Laggarma. Why would he abandon the city for so long?


    "He stays in the city, but he ''goes to the stone. It''s something to do with the dwarven celestial ancestor, Moradin. His avatar transforms into a mithral statue and stays that way, locked in stone, for five thousands of years at a time."


    Chang Chang lifted her head to stare at Dowall, stunned.


    "Heaven''s tears. Why would he leave his city for so long without a leader?"


    "A regency council rules in his place while he sleeps. Only, something happened the last time he went to the stone. On the day he was supposed to wake up, he didn''t. Druya said it was awful, frightening. No matter what they tried to rouse him, he stayed in his statue form. Nothing like that had ever happened before."


    Dawoll said, shrugging.


    "But he changed back eventually. How long did king Laggarma stay a statue?"


    "A long time. When he finally woke, he was ¡­ different. He''s still king, and strong, but there are shadows around him now that weren''t there before. The stone took something from him. Probably, part of his soul."


    "He didn''t say what had happened to him? Didn''t his people demand an explanation?"


    Chang Chang asked.


    "They''ve enough to worry about with the yaomo. Maybe they were just glad to have their leader back."


    Dwell replied.


    Chang Chang tried to imagine it, a king locked in stone for years. There were mystical arts performed by mighty artists that could do that. Still, it was a bard''s tale. If the king removed himself from his city for so long, how could he truly claim to be a part of it? How could one person, even one as old and wise as king Laggarma, rule Myria when he existed half in the world and half in stone?


    "Yet his people are loyal. What if he''s no longer fit to rule? Will they follow him to their own destruction?"


    Chang Chang murmured.


    "I don''t know¡ªmaybe we would. "The dwarves are tradition and honor bound, and they need their king now more than ever if they''re going to survive."


    Dawoll said, his eyes filling with sadness.


    But at what cost? Chang Chang thought. Ju Feng and an entire patrol of dwarf soldiers were missing, the city echoed with silence, and king Laggarma stood apart, believing a single yaomo was the key to it all. Was that true, or was the king losing touch with the world, with his people? Chang Chang''s mind was more troubled than ever, and she knew she had to go back to the library. She didn''t want to face her task now. It was small in comparison to what the dwarves faced¡ªthe extinction of her own life compared to the destruction of an entire people, an entire dwarven history.

 Chapter 176 - A Divine Touch [6]

    The Lochal placed the tome on the table in front of Gallazza. The black cover bore a single onyx gem nestled in gold embellishments, and a forked black ribbon marked the section where some unknown reader had left off. The reader was likely dead now, the yaomo thought, but then perhaps so am I, if this is another of the king''s plots.


    He reached for the book, but the Lochal''s voice stopped him.


    "Will you not wait until she returns?"


    She referred to the young girl, Chang Chang, of course. Gallazza scoffed at the notion.


    "What difference could her presence possibly make? If I''m to go mad, as you claim is a distinct possibility, she can''t save me, nor would she want to."


    "Isn''t it preferable, even for one such as you, to go into the unknown with someone by your side? While she is present, you will know you are not alone."


    "You''re mistaken. ''Alone'' to me means safety, Lochal. It means there is no knife poised at my back, no enemy waiting to take advantage of a weakness."


    "Chang Chang is not a yaomo. Her sense of treachery does not stand as a virtue."


    The Lochal pointed out.


    "It doesn''t matter. Vice or virtue, when it comes to survival, everyone has a drow heart,"


    Gallazza replied. He flipped open the book. What he''d been expecting, he couldn''t truly say. He''d avoided thinking about the consequences of delving into the tome, focusing instead on the Lochal''s promise of enlightenment and insight. If this tome would tell him who he was, he thought. He would risk madness. He would embrace it.


    The first page of the book was blank. Gallazza scowled and flipped to the next. Blank. He turned the pages rapidly, searching for the words, but there next. Blank. He turned the pages rapidly, searching for the words, but there were none. He whirled angrily on the Lochal, but she was gone. Zollgarza slammed his fist against the tabletop.


    "Are you playing with me?"


    He picked up the tome, intending to cast it into the fire, but he stopped. Shifting his grip, he held the book open flat on his palms. He thought he must have been imagining what he was seeing. The book''s pages stood upright¡ªheld by an unseen power. Gallazza reached out with his index finger to touch a page. It turned over slowly, ever so slowly, and fell from the right side of the book to the left.


    Gallazza released the breath he''d been holding. The air felt different¡ªheavier, somehow. Dust motes drifted in front of his face, hanging like miniature stars, crystal clear. He reached up to touch one, and the ground dropped out from underneath him. A dark void yawned, and Gallazza felt himself falling, his stomach heaving.


    A trap? He should have known. He landed in a crouch on a cold stone floor. Gallazza instinctively reached for weapons he did not have and turned in a quick circle, looking for enemies. The library had vanished. He was in a room lit by bluish arcane light. The source was an altar at the back of the room. Gallazza rose to his feet, but he felt more exposed and vulnerable than ever. He recognized that altar. Once he''d run his hands over the symbols carved upon the obsidian surface, symbols now outlined in fresh blood.


    "Kneel," said a voice from the darkness.


    Gallazza tensed as he felt his spirit gave way. Was that his ancestor''s voice? No, this was deeper, colder. Pulled from the darkness, the voice crawled over his skin, a seductive whisper, and a command so forceful Gallazza felt his knees give way before it. In a breath, he was on the ground with his back to the altar.


    A figure stepped from the shadows. Gallazza recognized it and fell prostrate upon the floor.


    "Foremost Akhart!"


    The wraith smiled at Gallazza. She was the utmost''s handmaiden, a high demon appearing as a young yaomo female with silky white hair, a form-fitting black dress with the figure of a pair of fangs belted at her waist, and a necklace of diamonds that glittered in the arcane light. She stood before Gallazza''s prostrate body. The scent of night-blooming flowers wafted from her, but there was an underlying odor, a hint of decay.


    Bending, she lifted Gallazza''s chin and forced him to look into her bottomless red eyes.


    "Why are you asking questions, child? Why are you so lost like a mortal?"


    "I want to know who I am."


    The yaomo uttered. It hurt to speak, to look at her. She was a beautiful, all-encompassing creature, and in a breath, she could devour him, taking all the pieces that were left of his mind.


    "You are Gallazza. Loyal servant of the Utmost Queen."


    The wraith''s breath ghosted over his face, that same rich smell of flowers and rot, sweet and terrible.


    "My memories ¡­"


    "Do not think on the past."


    The wraith purred, but there was a note of warning in her voice, a deepening of her crimson gaze. Slowly, she continued.


    "The past clouds your purpose. Identity, self¡ªthese mean nothing to the Utmost Queen. You must surrender them to her greater glory."


    "I ¡­ but there is such emptiness. The void threatens to consume me. I must give the void meaning. I must know my purpose."


    Zollgarza begged. Those places where identity and self dwell, they were gone. If he couldn''t fill them, he had to know why they''d been taken.


    "You''ve failed in your purpose. Laggarma lives, and you''ve failed to obtain the Arcane Script Sphere."


    "Forgive me. The dwarves should have killed me, yet I live. My failure in the eyes of Lolth should have meant my death, yet I live. What is the purpose of it? Am I meant to be trapped¡ªcaged¡ªforever? Is that my fate? I beg you, Foremost, don''t waste me like this! Don''t damn me to a dwarven prison. I can be so much more to you."


    His voice gave out, and he collapsed, pressing his forehead against the ground at the handmaiden''s feet. The wraith walked past him, pausing before the altar to run her hand over the blood-filled carvings. Gallazza followed her with his eyes, not daring to breathe, to hope that she would show him mercy. Arkhat was not merciful, but she might give him a second chance if she thought him worthy.


    "Is that what you believe? Do you believe the goddess sees in you a worthy servant?"


    The wraith purred. She lifted her hand from the altar, examining the fresh blood on her fingers. Inhaling the scent, she closed her eyes and with obvious p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e, licked the blood from her fingers.


    Gallazza raised himself to his knees and parted the folds of his dark tunic to expose his c.h.e.s.t.


    "I would spill my lifeblood for her. She has only to ask."


    "And what is that worth, foolish one?"


    The wraith laughed¡ªa hard, cruel sound that echoed in the quiet chamber. She held up her bloodstained fingers.


    "This is the blood of a thousand priestesses, beloved of the utmost herself, mingled upon the altar to Arhkat''s glory. They, too, shed blood willingly for Arkhat. Do you claim your blood is purer than theirs?"


    "I ¡­"


    The denial stuck in his throat. Questioning the high demon''s view was not only forbidden but would certainly result in a slow and excruciatingly painful death. Yet the words burned in his throat, and the urge to shout a denial, to scream at the demon that she had no idea of what greatness he was capable. Instead, he bowed low again to the wrath, the handmaiden.


    "I know my place, but I can be more¡ªto Arkhat."


    "Perhaps, but not as you are now. In this form, you are beneath her notice and caring. When you spill your blood and lie dying upon the floor, screaming Arkhst''s name, she will not be there for you."


    "Why?"


    The scream burst from Gallazza''s soul. He was unable to contain it. Let the handmaiden damn him. Do what she will. He needed answers, or he truly would go mad.


    "Why won''t the goddess accept my offering? Why am I not worthy?"


    "Because you''re still becoming."


    The wraith knelt before him and put her hand on his stomach. She let her fingers explore his flesh, drifting below his belt, nails digging in, penetrating his armor as if it were silk. Gallazza closed his eyes and m.o.a.n.e.d as the pain and p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e crashed over him. This was only an avatar of the high demon, he wondered how powerful the true from would be.


    "You are a child, unable to comprehend what lies ahead."


    The wraith grabbed his flesh and twisted effortlessly. This time the pain was so blinding, Gallazza could not find it in himself to scream. He stared at the high demon servant of Arkhat, begging with his eyes, pleading for answers or for an end to it all.


    "Don''t worry."


    The wraith purred as Gallazza''s awareness slipped in and out. After a few seconds, she continued.


    "You''re almost there. You''re standing at the edge of the void. Remember the sphere, Gallazza. The sphere is the key to finding what you seek. I will make sure you do not forget this."


    The pain came again.

 Chapter 177 - A Divine Touch [7]

    Chang Chang reentered the library just as a piercing scream filled the air. The cry of pain and anguish ripped from Gallazza''s throat. He stood up on his knees, his back to the fire, arms raised in supplication. He appeared to be staring at¡ªor through¡ªChang Chang. Beside him, the Lochal watched the yaomo with an impassive expression. When Chang Chang came into the room, she looked up.


    "He is in the grip of The Phantom Black Tome,"


    She explained which sent a chill through Chang Chang.


    "It''s driving him mad. I warned him what the outcome could be. Whether he comes back or not is up to him."


    Gallazza''s anguished expression as he reached out to clasp the empty air pulled at Chang Chang''s heart. She took an involuntary step toward the yaomo.


    "Can he hear me?"


    Chang Chang asked the Lochal before turning towards the yaomo.


    "Gallaxza, can you look at me?"


    "He won''t regard you. His mind¡ª"


    The dwarven spirit was saying before stopping midway. Just then, Chang Chang stepped closer¡ªtoo close. Gallazza swung toward her and snatched her by the wrists. Chang Chang gasped and tried to pull away, but the yaomo, small as he was, appeared to be stronger. He yanked her down until she, too, was on her knees, at eye level with him.


    "Tell me why."


    Gallazza said. He paused for a second before continuing.


    "Beloved maiden, high demon¡ª. Tell me who I am!"


    Gallazza, it''s me¡ªChang Chang."


    Chang Chang''s wrists ached where he held her and she quickly circulated a portion of blood energy to it. They''d be bruised later. Behind her, she heard the clank of armor and weapons bursting free from their scabbards. The guards were coming.


    "Wait! He doesnt kmow what he''s doing."


    Chang Chang shouted as they flanked Gallazza and pressed their blade tips against his throat.


    "Our orders were clear. If he harms you, he dies."


    Said the guard closest to Chang Chang. Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. He''s been waiting for this, Chang Chang realized, maybe praying for it, for Gallazza to give him a reason to cut him down.


    "He''s done nothing yet. Let him be."


    Gallazza, for his part, ignored the deadly steel pressed against his throat. His entire being focused on Chang Chang''s face. What did he see when he looked at her? Love and hate warred on his features. Was he seeing another yaomo, a woman he''d once loved? It didn''t fit with what she knew of the race or of Gallaza himself. The yaomo trusted no one, loved nothing so deeply, except perhaps their utmost demon queen. Their faith in Arkhat was the driving force behind their ecistence.


    "Hear me, Gallazza,"


    Chang Chang said. She bit her lip, hesitating. Did she dare try to reach him? If something didn''t happen soon, it was clear the guards would act. Chang Chang had no love for Gallazza, but she also had no d.e.s.i.r.e to see him slaughtered right in front of her. Or maybe you''re just afraid he''ll die before you''re able to fulfill king Laggarma''s request, a small, spiteful voice inside her whispered. Steeling herself, Chang Chang leaned closer to the yaomo, she whispered.


    "Hear your divine, Gallazza."


    Gallazza s.u.c.k.e.d in a breath. Tears rolled down his cheeks. Chang Chang didn''t know whether he''d heard her or if the hallucination still trapped him. The dwarves exchanged tense glances, and the Lochal looked on with something that might have been approval in her fathomless eyes.


    "Gallazza, you must free yourself from this."


    Chang Chang said.


    "It''s not real. Your divine calls you. Come back."


    "I have killed for you¡ªin your name, always,"


    Gallazza sobbed. Chang Chang quelled a wave of revulsion. The sight of a crying yaomo was not pleasant to the eyes.


    "But all I want ¡­ I want¡ª"


    "To know yourself. Yes. It''s all right. Come back now. Come back."


    Gallazza uttered a choked, inarticulate cry and pulled Icelin against his c.h.e.s.t. He wrapped his arms around her. Dwarven sword tips hovered in the air next to Chang Chang''s head, but the guards seemed at a loss as to what to do. They''d clearly never expected this reaction. They weren''t the only ones, Chang Chang thought. She crouched awkwardly on the floor as Gallazza held on to her.


    .


    "He seeks the truth of his own identity. But it is that very identity that Lolth requires him to sacrifice. Will he choose his goddess or himself?"


    The Lochal murmured. She raised her hands, and The Black Tome appeared between them. The onyx crystal in the center of the cover winked in the firelight.


    Chang Chang didn''t have time to wonder at the meaning of the Lochal''s pronouncement. A change swept over Gallazza''s body all at once. His muscles went rigid, and his sobs cut off abruptly. He''s come out of his hallucination. The thought passed through Chang Chang''s mind an instant before Gallazza shoved her violently away from him. She landed on her backside on the rug. The cushion softened the impact, but was dazed by the impact.


    She might have been nonplussed, but Gallazza was a wreck. C.h.e.s.t heaving, he tried to scramble away¡ªfrom Chang Vhang, from the dwarves, or from his hallucination, Chang Chang couldn''t be sure, but he had nowhere to run. The fire blazed hot at his back. Dwarven weapons pressed in on him right and left. In the end he simply crouched in their midst like a trapped beast, hatred and defiance radiating from his tear-stained face.


    Chang Chang rose slowly to her feet. She turned away from the scene and went to the long table. She laid her hands on its surface and breathed in and out to clear her head. She stared at the guard''s.


    "We won''t be needing you now. You have my thanks, but please, return to your places."


    "Alright, but we''ll need to tell the king what happened here."


    One if the guards told his partner as they sheathed their weapons.


    "No need."


    Said a voice from across the room.


    Chang Chang looked up sharply to see the king standing in the doorway. Laggarma stared at them all, his face a stone mask, unreadable. Chang Chang wondered how much of the scene he had witnessed.


    "Are you all right?"


    "I''m fine."


    King Laggarma nodded curtly and backed out of the doorway.


    He''s going to leave, Chang Chang thought. The king of Myria would retreat to his cavern to do ¡­ what? Hide from the world and ignore the war that descended upon them all? His people were dying. Ju Feng was ¡­ Something snapped inside Chang Chang making her yell in anger.


    "Why!"


    King Laggarma froze in the doorway. Dead silence took over the room, broken only by the shifting logs in the fireplace.


    "Why do you retreat? Do you know how many folk are counting on you? Do you care? Where is the king of Iltkazar? What happened to him?"


    King Laggarma stared at her. For an instant, his expression distorted, offering a glimpse of pain that smote Chang Chang''s heart. But before she could speak, the king turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind him. It was the last reaction she''d expected. The guards obviously thought so as well, for they exchanged uneasy glances as they returned to their posts by the door.


    The Lochal glided up to Chang Chang. The young blood thought for a moment the dwarf woman was going to touch her, but she did not. She placed The Phantom Black Tome carefully on the table and glanced at Chang Chang.


    "You''ve seen now what this can do. Will you use it to seek your answers?"


    "What will I gain from that book? Will I discover truths I didn''t want to face? I''ve already done that. Will I find the answer to what I''m seeking? I thought I wanted the Arcane Script Sphere, that Mystra or whatever piece of her is left in the artifact, was the answer, but it''s not."


    Chang Chang looked at the Lochal and felt a pain pierce her as she added.


    "It''s not."


    "What is it you want?"


    The dwarf woman asked gently.


    "I want to stop. Ju Feng is missing, maybe dead. All he wanted was to find a cure for my bloodscar. I told him I would get the Arcane Script Sphere, but I don''t want it anymore."


    Chang Chang closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.


    "How can I worry about one life when an entire city stands on the brink of destruction? So much of my life has been taken up with that godsdamned bloodscar, and I''m tired of it! Whether I die tomorrow or live another thousand years, I don''t want to give another breath or thought to that bloodscar. I want to put that part of my life away and start anew. Yet, Ju Feng¡ª"


    She still remembered the prophecy clearly. About the fate of the universe depending on her decision. If she died, wouldnt that be the end of the prophecy. Many people would die too. She felt like every word she spoke was a betrayal of creation itself. Yet, at the moment, an entire city of old civilization would die if care was not taken.


    "Am I a terrible person for wanting that?"


    "I can''t answer your question."


    The Lochal lifted her hand and let it hover over the tome. The book disappeared, sent back to whatever high, hidden shelf from which she''d pulled it. She smiled approvingly at Chang Chang.


    "You have wisdom beyond that of many your age and older. It will serve you well."


    Her voice and form faded, and Chang Chang was alone in the room, with only Gallazza and the guards. Chang Chang straightened. She had to leave. There was nothing left in this library for her, except ¡­ she turned to Gallazza, but the yaomo stood with his back to her, staring at the fire. He was never more dangerous than he was right now, Chang Chang thought. She couldn''t approach him, even with the guards standing watch. She''d invaded the most private spaces of his mind, places king Laggarma had not even seen. He might want to kill her now as much as he wanted to kill the king.

 Chapter 178 - A Divine Touch [8]

    Ju Feng awoke in the dark in ache. At first, he didn''t realize how badly he was hurt. He was too surprised that a blast like that could actually injure him at this place. Even his robe should have been enough to mitigate the impact of the explosion. He was now certain this part of the underground was against his protective measures. Maybe, even against his powers as a cultivator. But he was relieved at being alive to appreciate the large, solid weight pressing down on his right arm. He tried to shift to see if he could pull himself free. A white-hot bolt of pain shot up his arm, and darkness swirled up to claim him again.


    He floated between consciousness and oblivion, dreaming little half dreams that ran together in his mind. In his dreams, he crouched on the ground as a yaoguai came for him, raining blows down upon his head. The punches burned where they struck his flesh, hotter and hotter, until Ju Feng looked up and saw the creature was on fire. Its flesh melted and reshaped into Orban''s bright face and red hair.


    The dwarven butcher shouted at him, laughing, but Ju Feng couldn''t hear what he was saying. He raised his hands imploringly, trying to tell Orban to slow down. Couldn''t he see Ju Feng was hurt? Ju Feng tried to grab Orban''s arm, but the butcher pulled back, and a spasm of fear twisted his face. Orban was afraid of him. He didn''t want Ju Feng to touch him. Ju Feng m.o.a.n.e.d and turned away from the butcher. The scene faded, and he was in the dark again.


    When he opened his eyes, he beheld a wall of moving green. His vision focused on oak tree branches stirring in the breeze. He sat up and saw that he was in a grove of the tall oaks. And he wasn''t alone. Chang Chang sat with her back against one of the tree trunks. She wore the same plain linen dress he''d seen her wear in the cavern. A scroll lay open in her l.a.p.


    "It''s all right. You''re not broken."


    She said, speaking to him without taking her eyes off the page she was reading.


    "I ¡­"


    Pain shuddered through his body. He was hurt, maybe dying? He doubted that, but he was certainly hurt. Why wouldn''t she look at him?


    "Help me, Chang."


    "I can''t."


    She replied before turning the page.


    "Why?"


    He crawled to her, reaching out to lay his trembling hand over hers. Heat radiated from her body, suffusing her skin with a hellish glow. Ju Feng screamed an instant before she burst into flames. He screamed, but he couldn''t look away as Chang Chang burned to death in front of his eyes. The darkness came for him again.


    When he awoke from the dreams, cold sweat stood out on his face, and he was shivering. Ju Feng licked his dry, cracked lips and smiled bitterly into the darkness. The expression pulled at cuts and bruises all over his face. Learned new things. He wouldn''t try to move his right arm again, but his left arm was free.


    Ju Feng lifted it, flexed his fingers and twisted his wrist. He reached into his spatial sac¡ªseeking the small medicinal plant that he kept there, the healing plant he saved for the worst, most debilitating wounds in case he ran out of the pills. This one certainly qualified. His fingers closed around the herbs and dumped the plant in his mouth. The energy stirred up stone grit in his mouth. He swallowed it all, wincing. Dust burned in his eyes, so he kept them closed while he waited for the herbal plant to take effect. There was nothing to see anyway. Darkness lay over the cavern like a shroud.


    The pain in his arm slowly ebbed, and the dark cloud around his thoughts receded. At least, medicine were still working. With clarity came purpose. Lying quietly and listening, Ju Feng began to make out other signs of life around him. Whimpers, coughing, cursing, and the scr.a.p.e of boots on stone told him he wasn''t alone. As far as he knew, he was still in the Cavern of Forgotten Souls¡ªwhat was left of it. Thinking back, Ju Feng remembered the explosions, the falling stone as the cavern collapsed around him. The yaomo had planned it all, sacrificing their own warriors and slaves to decimate the dwarf forces.


    But why engineer a cave-in? Why not occupy the tunnels and press forward, begin the siege of Myria in earnest? After this victory, what were the yaomo waiting for? Unless they didn''t intend to take the city. Ju Feng considered the yaomo''s strategy. So far, they''d struck at Myria in a series of small-scale engagements, harrying the dwarves and dwindling their numbers, never committing too large a force to any single attack. What if it was all a ruse to distract from their true objective?


    Gallazza and the Arcane Script Sphere. King Laggarma was right. Somehow, they were the key, important enough that the yaomo sent their warlocks with a sacrificial army. And the whole dwarf group fell right into their trap without knowing better.


    Fury brought renewed energy to Ju Feng''s body. If he could use his full power here, he would have dealt a great damage to the yaomo forces. But this strange blood world wouldn''t allow that. He had to get out of here, get back to Myria¡ªand Chang Chang. First, he had to free himself. Luckily, whatever had crushed his arm initially wasn''t what pinned it now. Wedged between two large boulders, his arm had healed enough from the herbs that he could move it with very little pain. He worked it carefully free from the stones'' grip, tearing the sleeve of his robe and earning a dozen smaller cuts and bruises in the process.


    When he was free, he sat up. Magical lights had kindled at various points around the cavern, and Ruen could begin to see the shadowy remnants of the Cavern of Forgotten Souls. Bodies lay everywhere, though there was very little left of those corpses that had been closest to the entranced yaoguai.


    "Abron."


    Ju Feng spoke the name in a hoarse whisper. The runecaster had been near him when the blasts started. Ju Feng looked around but saw no sign of him. He got gingerly to his feet and moved through the dark cavern, keeping his eyes on the ground. Every few feet, he encountered a body. He knelt next to the still forms and felt for a heartbeat. None that he touched were alive. Grateful for the wavering darkness so he would not have to see the full extent of the mutilation inflicted on the dwarves, unless he switched to his spiritual sight which he wasn''t inclined to do.


    Ju Feng kept moving, searching for Abron. He worked his way to a wall, leaning against a pile of rubble. The medicinal herbs had mended his arm and taken away the greater share of the pain, but he was still exhausted from the fighting, the squinting and creeping in the dark, and the stench of death that blanketed the cavern.


    He reached into his spatial sac and threw a piece of turtle meat into his mouth. He continued moving slowly. His leg bumped against a solid object. Ju Feng heard a soft m.o.a.n then the hiss of a weapon cutting the air as a dark shape lunged at him. Ju Feng threw his hands out blindly¡ªbetter to lose his fingers than his head¡ªand got lucky. He caught a wooden axe handle, but the weight of the blow knocked him several feet backwards.


    Flashing eyes and a dirty brown beard filled his vision. Ju Feng didn''t recognize the dwarf at first, but the axe blade had three familiar yellow horns jutting off it.


    "Obarn, It''s me¡ªJu Feng."


    It took Obarn a long time to recognize him. Ju Feng''s arms ached from holding back the axe, but finally the dwarf eased back. Ju Feng expected a stream of curses in Dwarvish to follow, but Obrin did the last thing he ever expected.


    He burst into tears.


    Ju Feng caught the dwarf at the shoulders before he fell. It was as if he''d used the last shreds of his strength for the blow with his axe. He sobbed quietly, barely making a sound, but his shoulders trembled violently under Ju Feng''s hands. Looking over his shoulder, in the dim light, Ju Feng saw the reason for Orban''s tears.


    Abron lay on the ground, his face swollen with bruises and gashes that made him almost unrecognizable. Ju Feng wouldn''t have known him if not for the runes still faintly visible under the dirt and blood. A pile of rubble buried the right side of his body. Ju Feng was convinced the runecaster was dead, but when he guided Orban to sit next to the body, he saw Abron''s c.h.e.s.t rising and falling.


    "He''s alive. Orban, your father lives."

 Chapter 179 - A Divine Touch [9]

    Orban grabbed Ju Feng''s robe and jerked him close. The dwarf growled in anger. His voice was so thick, Ju Feng barely understood him.


    "He''s dying. Dying in agony. Can''t even pray!"


    "Let me look at him."


    Ju Feng worked Orban''s fingers loose from his robe and knelt next to Abron. The runecaster opened his eyes and looked at Ju Feng. For a breath, there was no recognition in his eyes.


    "Abron, your son is here."


    Ju Feng said as Orban''s hands lay slackly in his l.a.p. Ju Feng lifted one and placed it in Abron''s. Garn drew in a breath and gasped. Pain clouded his vision. Orban held his hand and leaned in close, whispering something to his father. Abron m.o.a.n.e.d softly and moved his head from side to side. Orban looked up at Ju Feng imploringly.


    "Abron, do you hear me?"


    Ju Feng said. He placed his left hand on the dwarf''s forehead. He''d expected the cold, but it still made him gasp with its intensity. His heart stuttered in his c.h.e.s.t. Inside and out, Abron''s body was broken. It was surely a divine luck that he still drew breath at all.


    "I don''t have any more healing draughts. Can you call on your god to heal your wounds?"


    Abron moved his head from side to side again. A cough shook his body, wracking the already devastated frame. Abron cried out in anguish.


    "Leave me. Leave it be!"


    "He''s out of his head. Doesn''t know what he''s saying."


    Ju Feng leaned over Abron and squeezed the juice of the herbal plant into his mouth before guiding it down his throat. Then, he put both hands on his c.h.e.s.t. Energy tingled at his fingertips, indicating Abron responded to the plant.


    "Help him."


    He told Orban as he continued.


    "Say the words in the Dwarvish tongue."


    "It''s too late. He''s going."


    Or ban replied, looking at his father gravely.


    "He''s not gone yet!  Ive seen this before. He needs to hear his son''s voice. If he knows he''s not alone, he''ll come back. He just needs to move beyond the pain and remember who he is."


    Orban scrubbed a hand across his wet eyes and nodded. He began speaking softly in Dwarvish. The words turned into a rhythmic chant, the sounds rumbling from the dwarf''s c.h.e.s.t, rolling out smoothly on the air. Ju Feng closed his eyes and let himself be lulled by the soothing words, though he couldn''t understand the words.


    Energy, life¡ªit all comes from nature around us. His grandparents and mother, back at home, had told him this, though he''d never truly understood what they meant. The power provided strength, balance, and peace. He''d never understood because he''d never thought the teaching applied to him. In his mind, the spellscar eclipsed everything, tainted all that he touched, the power that slept inside him.


    "Look at the plants, Ju Feng. The peace they radiate can help you gain enlightenmenr?"


    Zhang Li Qiang¡ªhis grandfather''s words. It appeared to have been eternity since he had seen him. Same for his grandmother and mother. Ruen tried to refocus his concentration, but Abron''s broken body faded, and an image of Chang Chang replaced it. She smiled at him while flames licked at her flesh. The memory of the dream slammed into him, and Ju Feng''s resolve wavered. Power surged and died.


    "You''ve always let the darkness hold you back."


    His grandfather''s voice cut at him. How can I not? Ju Feng thought. It breaks down my body, piece by piece, bone by bone. No one should hold death in his hands. How could he have a peace of mind, knowing what was coming for him?


    Ju Feng looked down and saw Abron''s eyes open and fixed upon him. Something¡ªa light, a spark of life¡ªkindled in the dwarf''s eyes.


    "I feel it," he rasped. "So warm ¡­"


    "I can''t ¡­ it''s not what you think,"


    Ju Feng faltered. He was no healer. All he felt was cold. Orban laid his hand over Ju Feng''s, linking the three of them.


    "Great ancestors, aid us,"


    Orban prayed.


    "We''re alone in the dark and lost. Guide us. Show us the way." He looked at Ju Feng as he spoke the words. Ju Feng fought to clear his mind. He breathed in deeply and released the breath, forcing himself to release his doubts as well. Abron''s life depended on it. A little bit of power surged in his hands, warmth swelling to replace the cold. His life force extended from his hands to cradle Abron. It was not healing, but strength he lent to the dwarf¡ªbalance and peace. He was happy to be able to summon any form of energy.


    Abron opened his eyes wide. A flash of gold light outlined the runes on his face. Orban gasped, but Ju Feng couldn''t look away from the dwarf''s eyes. Tears dripped down the runecaster''s face.


    "Ancestors, be with me,"


    Abron murmured.


    "I''m not done yet. Please."


    The prayer''s effect came from within Abron''s body. Ju Feng felt the flesh and bone mending, the cuts and bruises on Abron''s face closing. The healing magic enveloped his own life energy, and Ju Feng stifled a shocked cry.


    Heaven''s blessing washed through him, hot like the time he''d stepped into Ongara''s forge. He saw her face in his mind''s eye, working the rare metals for her wedding gift to her man. The image faded, and then he saw Orban, swinging his axe at a group of yaomo that surrounded him. They outnumbered him four to one, but he took them on fearlessly, and fatherly pride swelled in Ju Feng''s c.h.e.s.t.


    Abron''s memories. Linked to the dwarf body and mind, Ju Feng felt the dwarf''s memories swell in him even as healing magic swirled through them both. He tried to pull away. He felt like an intruder, but the dwarven power held them fast.


    In memory, Orban''s battlefield changed to an open cavern, where two dwarves stood, waiting to be married. Was this a premonition of the future or hallucination?  Ju Feng thought. Was he seeing Ongara''s wedding? No, it wasn''t Ongara. The female dwarf looked a bit like her, but her hair was golden, more like Druya''s, and the man standing next to her was definitely not Orban but a younger version of Abron. The couple smiled happily at each other, and the woman leaned over spontaneously to kiss Abron.


    The scene melted to the interior of a grand temple. Abron knelt before an altar, his arms wrapped around Druya as she wept.


    "They''re gone"


    Druya sobbed.


    "What am I going to do now, Father? Both halves of my heart¡ªthey''ve been torn out."


    "You know better than that. Your mother and your goddess are still with you. Be strong, child. Your mother carried so many sorrows. I hoped it wouldn''t be your fate, but we do what we must ¡­"


    Garn gently chided his daughter.


    The vision faded. Images crowded together faster now, dizzying Ju Feng. Abron being embraced by his king¡ªa feeling of sorrow so strong it choked the dwarf silent, though he desperately wanted to speak to his friend. King Laggarma turned away and ascended his throne. A brilliant flash of light, and suddenly the king transformed, his flesh turning grayish silver and solid. He''d become a statue upon his throne, his eyes staring vacantly at Abron.


    Too much. Ju Feng cried out as the memories blended with his own¡ªimages of his mother when he was a child, the people in his village running away due to the demons attack on the people of the nine villagers.. They were afraid he would bring the darkness to them, again. He was ill luck, a child of death. Even the grandmaster had looked at him as a child who walked in the shadows of death. When others looked at him, Ju Feng saw the fear and revulsion lurking just under the surface.


    His masters loomed over him, admonishing him to be strong, to look past his impending death. None of them understood. The memories pressed in on him all at once, shadows he''d thought long buried, drawn from the dark places in his heart.


    Gods, Abron was seeing it all too, Ju Feng realized, all of his deepest secrets and fears. Their memories blended. He had nowhere to hide. Instinctively, he tore himself away, and a searing pain enveloped his hands.


    Then it ended. Ju Feng came back to himself slowly. Afraid that he''d find himself trapped in another memory, Ju Feng cautiously looked around. Soon enough he recognized the dark cavern and the smell of death. He lay on his back next to Abron, who was sitting up with Orban''s aid. Sometime while the two were linked, Orban must have cleared the rubble to free his father.


    "Are you all right?"


    Orban asked Ju Feng, speaking again, haltingly.


    The movement revealed a dull ache in his head, as if he''d had too much to drink. Drunk on memories. Ju Feng almost chuckled at the notion, but he was too weary and heartsick with everything he''d just seen. He looked at Abron. The runecastert had his eyes closed and fingered the divine symbol he wore around his neck. He spoke softly under his breath, still communing with his ancestors. Ju Feng didn''t blame him. His ancestral''s power still thrummed in his veins¡ªa warm touch, but rough like a calloused hand. Healing energy suffused his limbs. They''d completely healed his broken arm.

 Chapter 180 - A Divine Touch [10]

    "The others are regrouping."


    Orban said as more lights kindled around the cavern, revealing dwarves moving around the battlefield, tending to the wounded and collecting the dead.


    "We need to be on the move, see how bad the tunnels are."


    "We''ll have a lot of digging ahead of us."


    Abron said, opening his eyes abruptly. His voice was clear and free of pain.


    "Moradin knows we''ll need every hand we can spare to get us back to the city."


    "This attack was just a decoy, a distraction. Their target is the sphere, not the city itself. By now they must know Gallazza''s failed to get it, so they''ll attack the city directly."


    Ju Feng said, checking his body.


    "Then we dig fast. My hands are healed, and heavens tears, I know how to move the earth. Moradin gave me a second chance to do what I do best."


    Abron said. He glanced at Orban.


    "And you¡ªyou have my thanks. When you touched me, I saw¡ª"


    "So did I."


    Orban interrupted before continuing.


    "Things we didn''t mean for the other to see. I won''t speak of them, I promise you."


    Abron looked puzzled.


    "Or maybe we were meant to speak of them. Whatever''s inside you, it touched me, and it wasn''t death. You shouldn''t be afraid of your power."


    Abron started to reply, to dismiss the dwarf''s point, but he hesitated under the scrutiny of Abron''s gaze. The dwarf had seen inside of him, his memories and fears. Lies and dismissals couldn''t hide the truth from him. He looked at Orban who raised his hand to halt to him.


    "Everyone I''ve ever let close has turned from me. You saw it for yourself, in my memories. The spellscar made my bones brittle and brought me so close to death that it became a part of me. I can measure your life force just by touching you, I believe."


    "Bah, that doesn''t mean you cause death, Orban"


    Abron said.


    "You touched me, and I felt warmth, not ice. You brought me back from the brink, cleared my head, and let me reach out to our ancestral source. That''s worth something, Orban."


    "What if you were in my place? What if you''d known before it happened that your wife was going to die?"


    Orban challenged him.


    "I did know."


    Abron said flatly. Beside him, Urmen, who''d been quietly watching the two, put his hand on his father''s arm.


    "You didn''t see all the memories. I didn''t know it on the day she got sick, but soon after, I saw it. I read it in her eyes. You don''t always have to have magic to know when you''re looking death in the face."


    Ju Feng looked at Orban, staring into his son''s eyes. He realized then that Orban had his mother''s eyes.


    "Knowing what I knew didn''t taint the time we had left," Abron went on. "I wouldn''t let it."


    "This isn''t the same."


    Orban said softly, and then turned to Ju Feng.


    "I know you don''t want me to speak of what I saw in your mind. I won''t talk about the girl, but you can''t run from yourself. You know what your future holds. The darkness that follows you. The death that comes. Now, the girl."


    "Her choice. I trust her."


    Ju Feng said, and this time it was his own body that felt like ice. Ju Feng stared at Orban. The gruff, taciturn dwarf actually smiled at him. It was a faint, tremulous expression, and completely out of place on the warrior''s face, but then again, nothing made sense on this battlefield. Ju Feng had never dreamed he''d be sitting with these two dwarves in the middle of a war, talking about his hopes, fears, and loves.


    Yes, Chang Chang was special. He actually liked her. Although there was Su Ming, the water cultivator. Still, Orban was right. Ju Feng couldn''t lie to himself¡ªor run¡ªanymore. He had to get out of here, back to Myria before the yaomo attack came. He had to get back to Chang Chang. Reality hit Ju Feng then. Several tons of rock lay between him and that lofty goal. Not to mention the fact that Chang Chang was probably furious at him for how he''d vanished. He likely had a lot of digging and then a lot more groveling ahead of him. Ju Feng g.r.o.a.n.e.d silently.


    "We should get moving."


    Ju Feng assured himself for perhaps the fifth time that day that his arms were on the verge of falling off. Doubtless they''d just be hauled away with the rest of the debris from the tunnel collapse, along with Ju Feng''s exhausted body.


    They''d been digging for hours, though time, in Ju Feng''s mind, had blurred together into an endless series of motions, fitting his hands around a piece of stone, prying it loose from the pile blocking the tunnel, and hauling it away to the Cavern of Lost Souls. The man or woman in front of him and behind him shared those same motions, and at first they''d talked¡ªand even jested a little, once they''d got over the initial horror and shock of the battle''s aftermath¡ªas they worked to reopen the tunnel. Exhaustion had gradually set in, and they worked in a silence of lumbering movements and glazed eyes. Ju Feng had a new appreciation for the lot of a beast of burden.


    The dwarf behind him tapped him on the shoulder. Ju Feng reached back automatically to accept the waterskin the dwarf held out and nodded his thanks. Not that he needed water to drink, his cultivated body could go many days without water. He took a measured drink and passed it on to Orban, who worked in front of him.


    They took brief rests for food and sleep, but the only thing worse than the backbreaking labor was sitting idle in the empty cavern among the wounded and the dead. They''d gathered all the bodies together beneath the carved stone faces and covered them with blankets. Only then did it become clear how costly the battle had been. Seeing the bodies did not bother Ju Feng, he had seen worse, but he felt trapped in the tunnel, the stone pressing in on him from all sides. He was weary, sore, and so damned tired of being underground. Endless darkness and no sky above his head¡ªhe couldn''t live the dwarf life.


    Ahead of him, a commotion erupted. Excited whispers drifted back to Ju Feng, but he was so absorbed in his own world that at first he didn''t realize what they were saying.


    "They''re breaking through the wall!"


    "I heard his voice! He came for us¡ªthe king!"


    The dwarf standing behind Ju Feng began shaking him by the arm. Ju Feng turned and saw the wide grin stretched across the warrior''s dirt-streaked face.


    "Did you hear? We''re gettin'' out."


    Ju Feng smiled wearily at the dwarf.


    "The king himself comes to rescue us."


    The dwarf patted him roughly on the shoulder.


    "We''ll get those yaomo bastards yet. Watch and see."


    By the time Ju Feng worked his way to the front of the line of diggers, they''d cleared a path through the debris just large enough for a small man to crawl through it. Orban stood near the opening. He gestured to Ju Feng.


    "You''re thin enough to go through. The king wants a report on the battle."


    Ju Feng crouched down and, with his lean body, had little trouble squeezing through the makeshift tunnel. He came out the other side after a few moments to see a similar digging force assembled at the debris pile. They still had a long way to go before they''d be able to get the dwarves out in numbers.


    King Laggarma stood at the front of the gathered diggers, looking as haggard and dirty as the rest of them. An amused smile flickered across his face when he saw Ju Feng poke his head out of the tunnel.


    "Should have known they''d send the scarecrow."


    The king said. He held out a hand to help Ju Feng to his feet.


    "Your girl will be glad you''re alive. Save me another tongue lashing."


    "We suffered heavy losses."


    Ju Feng said, dusting his robe. What was left of it.


    The king nodded gravely. He led Ju Feng to one of the smaller tunnels off the main passage so the diggers could continue their work. Ju Feng imagined he also did it so the others wouldn''t hear as he enumerated their losses and the strategy used by the yaomo to cripple them.


    "They''ll hit us on the morrow, the day after at the latest."


    The king said and continued.


    "Doesn''t hardly make sense, though. The yaomo threw as much at us as we did at them. They may have sealed us off in our own tunnels, but they paid for it. Or am I wrong?"


    "You''re not wrong. We decimated their ranks as well. They have superior numbers, but I can''t believe they''d recover soon enough to attack us in two days."


    Ju Feng replied.


    "They''ve picked up the pace, hitting us hard and fast. It''s a risky strategy."


    "Agreed, yaomo scheme and plan their conquests for months¡ªyears¡ªbefore they spring their trap, attacking and retreating like shadows. These strategies have been successful for them. Large-scale, brutal attacks fly in the face of their natures. Unless their target has nothing to do with the city."

 Chapter 181 - A Divine Touch [11]

    "The Arcane Script Sphere."


    King Laggarma said to Ju Feng. He looked into the far distance and let out a soft breath. He shook his head and continued to mutter.


    "It''s the artifact. I knew it was calling out, trying to free itself. It wants to move on to other wizards, but its purpose was established before Mystra''s limbo. Now that she''s gone, I thought by keeping it I was keeping it safe, preserving a part of her. Instead the artifact hid itself from me, and I''ve brought doom upon Myria because of it. And there''s Gallazza."


    "It always comes back to that yaomo, Gallazza. What is his part in all this?"


    Ju Feng asked.


    "I don''t know, but it could be his part in the scheme is the most dangerous of all."


    King Laggarma said to a frown from Ju Feng.


    "That''s suitably cryptic. Have you considered the possibility that he''s also merely a distraction?"


    Mith Barak waved a hand dismissively. He looked Ruen over, and his gaze softened.


    "Call me a fool if you want, but I''ve felt the touch of their goddess on Zollgarza. He came to the city to kill me, but he has a purpose beyond that, and until I know what that is, I mark him a threat to my city greater than ten drow armies. You should head back to the city. The girl will be wanting to see you."


    Ju Feng abruptly realized how long he''d been gone and quickly asked.


    "Chang Chang hasn''t found the sphere yet?"


    "Talk to her about it. She''s stopped looking for it."


    He''s gone." said the weaponmaster when Chang chang entered the ball. But the ing never left his audience chamber.


    "Where is he?"


    "He went to supervise the digging. We''ve got a narrow passage cleared into the Cavern of Forgotten of Souls. The king went to see the first of the survivors through. Said he had to be there. No one expected it, but he insisted. I haven''t seen him so afire since ¡­"


    The weaponmaster shook her head. Pride shone in her gray eyes.


    "It''s been a long time," she said thickly.


    Chang Chang could only nod. Her thoughts were a disconnected jumble.


    "Thank you for telling me," she murmured.


    "You''re welcome, and oh, I almost forgot to tell you who was asking for you. She''s at the Mystra''s temple."


    The dwarf woman clapped Chang Chang on the shoulder and hurried away, leaving her alone in the great hall. Chang Chang went back out to the open cavern, wandering aimlessly as the wedding preparations went on side by side with preparations for war. It was the most incongruous sight Chang Chang had ever beheld. War banners and white silk¡ªthe latter covering a raised dais where Ongara and Arngam would stand to face their loved ones during the ceremony and gift exchange. After that, a feast and celebration¡ªa revelry to end all revelries, judging by the amount of wine on hand.


    In the midst of all this, there had been no word from Ju Feng. Whether he was alive or dead, Chang Chang had already decided that she would fight with the dwarves. She told herself it was not out of revenge, though she did feel that need burning inside her. It was pointless to lie to herself about that. She would also fight for the Yellowhorn family, and even for the king. She would unleash the most powerful Art within her, regardless of the consequences.


    Chang Chang made her way to Mystra''s temple. Within the thick walls, silence reigned. Though the wounded dwarves¡ªsome of them came from the Cavern of Lost Souls¡ªstill recovered here, the stone soaked up much of the sound, and the muted light coming from the silver lichen hanging near the ceiling created many dark corners and lonely alcoves.


    Lonely¡ªthat was the word for this place, Chang Chang thought. Not abandoned or neglected, but sadness lingered in the absence of their divine who''d once gathered her flock here through her avatar. She found Druya standing in front of an icon of the divine Mystra which stood clearly visible to all who entered. The stone sculpture depicted her with her hand raised as if in salute to those she welcomed to her house.


    Druya turned when she approached. Her distant expression made Chang Chang hesitate who then asked.


    "Am I disturbing you?"


    "Not at all. I was just meditating."


    Druya said, laying her hand companionably on Chang Chang''s arm. A glint of light at Druya''s b.r.e.a.s.tbone caught Chang Chang''s attention. The holy symbol of Xian Xia hung there. Chang Chang glanced between symbol and statue, but she bit back the question that rose to her tongue.


    Druya must have seen it, for she smiled.


    "You wonder why I wear Xian Xia''s symbol, yet I walk in Mystra''s path?"


    "I think I understand."


    Chang Chang said.


    "Sometimes I pray to Mystra too, though I know your dwarven divine can''t hear. What I wonder is, does Xian Xia mind that you stay here, instead of walking the halls of her temple?"


    "Your blood divine and I have an understanding."


    Druya said, her gaze lingering on the statue even as she gripped Xian Xia''s holy symbol in her fist.


    "I put my faith and trust in Mystra, the divine dwarf, to guide me and my people, but what kind of servant would I be if I were so easily able to cast aside our ancestral divine after she entered limbo. Although most of us dwarven folk gained the gifts of oracle through Xian Xia, she understands, even if that lasts for millennia. The loss of Mystra is a weight on ours heart that can never truly be removed."


    "I''m sorry," Chang Chang said. "We don''t have to speak of it."


    "It''s all right."


    Druya said, smiling.


    "Speaking Mystra''s name keeps the divine''s memory alive."


    "This is your chamber, isn''t it? It''s lovely."


    Chang Chang said as Druya led her to the center of the room. She looked up at the ceiling and found herself tilting her head far back to stare at a dome lit by small cl.u.s.ters of lichen affixed to the interior like stars.


    "The anvils of the forge symbolize our home beneath the earth. But the constellations mimic the world of Wujin above. Between the two stand the people of Mystra. In answer to your question, it is a room for all, but I am the only one who comes here now. I thought it appropriate to bring you here. I have news to share."


    "What news?" Chang Chang asked, her heart thudding against her ribs. "Is it Feng?"


    "Word came not long ago of the first of the survivors. He is among them. He and the others, including the wounded, are on their way back to the city even as we speak."


    Chang Chang closed her eyes and swayed on her feet. Druya''s strong arm on hers kept her upright.


    "Heaven''s tears," she breathed. "What of your family¡ªyour father and Orban?"


    "They live, Chang. His comrades say Orban is having the heavenly oracle touch now¡ªwhether that heralds a miracle or the end of all things, they cannot say, but clearly there''s a tale to tell of what they went through in the battle."


    "Thank you for telling me."


    "Are you all right? I thought this news would make you happy, yet your face is so full of sorrow. What''s wrong?"


    Druya asked, looking suddenly concerned.


    "It''s nothing. I think I''ll go for a walk, if you don''t mind my leaving you."


    "Not at all. Go out the rear door of the temple and circle around the waterfall. There is a hidden garden attached to the temple. Few go there, especially now. It is a good place to be alone with your thoughts."


    "Thank you."


    Chang Chang passed out of the red-lit chamber and exited the temple. She did not look around her or pay attention to the people she passed. Ju Feng was safe. Unspeakable relief washed over her, making her dizzy, but coldness had settled in her stomach. Ruen would return, and she''d have to tell him that she intended to stop searching for a cure for her bloodscar.


    What would he think of her? What would happen to her in regards to the prophecies foretold? What would be her fate? Chang Chang thought as she walked around the outside of the temple until she saw the waterfall Druya had mentioned. It enclosed the garden on three sides, creating a private little space accessed by a walkway.

 Chapter 182 - Life Or Death? [1]

    When Ju Feng at last saw the buildings of Myria reveal themselves through the widening tunnel, he wanted to go to Chang Chang immediately. But the dwarven clerics had other ideas. They pushed and prodded him into following the wounded to Mystra''s temple, where he accepted more healing and let them clean him up and give him fresh robe. He hadn''t realized how filthy he was with dirt and caked blood until he caught one of the dwarves wrinkling his nose in disgust.


    Amidst these ministrations, he asked for Chang Chang and learned that she''d gone out to the temple garden. He left to find her as soon as they let him. The temple garden was peaceful¡ªnot at all what Ju Feng would have expected from an ancestral divine who''d reveled in battle, but perhaps even Mystra needed peace and solitude sometimes. A waterfall spilled from channels in the upper balcony, enclosing the garden below on three sides with water and the fourth side with a wall of stone. The narrow footbridge Ju Feng stood upon provided the only access to the garden. The stone path gently parted the water curtain, revealing silvery blue lichen hanging from wire baskets on the far wall.


    Through the entry, Ju Feng saw Chang Chang. She moved past the opening and then behind the water curtain to become a distorted shape, a play of shadows and light, not quite real but no phantom either. Ju Feng''s silent steps carried him to the opening. His heart beat an aching rhythm in his c.h.e.s.t. Her back was to him now. She faced the wall, her arms knotted around herself. The garden was made of stones. Beds of them ringed the base of the waterfall, the outermost stones dark with wet, and the inner ones silver from the light of the glowing lichen. Ju Feng allowed himself a small smile. He should have expected no less from the dwarves.


    He stalled. Ju Feng wanted to speak, to make Chang Chang turn and look at him, but now that the moment had come, he continued to stare at her back while so many thoughts passed through his mind. How was he supposed to give voice to everything that was inside of him, the prophecies, the darkness and death that kept following him around.


    "It says on a plaque here that travelers used to visit this garden, bringing different forms of crystals."


    Chang Chang said, shattering the silence and startling Ju Feng so badly that he actually jumped.


    "How did you know I was here?"


    He asked, trying to tamp down his incredulity.


    She turned to face him. Her eyes were clear¡ªclear, and so remote, so distant that he grew more frightened.


    "She said travelers chose the rarest, most beautiful stones from their journeys in Wujin and brought them back to Mystra''s temple to place in the gardens."


    Chang Chang walked along the stone beds, her eyes on the rocks. She seemed to be looking everywhere in the tiny garden except at him.


    "The divine''s memory is strong here."


    Ju Feng said. He could think of nothing else to say. The pain in his c.h.e.s.t nearly overwhelmed him.


    "There are crystals from Wazhu and Daji."


    Chang Chang went on.


    "From Thau and Ribang and from Mulin¡ªlands that have disappeared from the world. Magicaland precious stones. Can you imagine it? It made me wish I''d brought a stone from South Ward in Wujin. A flat rock, worn down by caravan wheels and caked with dust, though I doubt Mystra would have minded. So many divine lost."


    Chang Chang murmured, speaking as if to herself. The knowledge of the fall of many divines during the primordial wars was still fresh in her memory.


    "Maybe, you''ve been in that damn library too long."


    Ju Feng said suddenly, harshly.


    "Surrounded by sorrow-filled lore and with that yaomo creature haunting your every move, it''s no wonder that you''re ¡­"


    "What?"


    She did look at him then, waiting for him to finish, but he just stared at her. He took a step toward her, unsteadily, his arm half-raised. She backed away from him. If she''d used magic to erect a barrier, it could not have been more effective. Ju Feng dropped his hand to his side and closed his fingers into a fist. Chang Chang closed her eyes, and a tear slid down her cheek.


    "I''m very sorry, Feng."


    "Why? What have you got to be sorry for?"


    "Because I couldn''t do it."


    Her voice echoed in the small garden, swallowed up by the water.


    "The king''s library was beautiful. All those tomes and scrolls filled with arcane knowledge from the time immemorial. Tomes that have gained sentience and have souls, living memories, stories that draw you in¡ªliterally!¡ªto their secrets. So much that''s been lost, and I remember it all now. I can''t forget all the names I read or the people who used to inhabit the city and gave it life."


    She slid into a crouch, leaning against the temple wall. She continued so softly.


    "I don''t mind remembering it all. But Zollgarza is there too. He speaks, and I remember everything he says¡ª"


    "I knew it¡ªthat evil creature drove you out of there."


    Ju Feng lashed out, kicking the stone wall in frustration. A wave of pain shot up his leg. It was a stupid thing to do.


    "The king told me you stopped looking for the sphere."


    "That''s right. I don''t want the Arcane Script Sphere anymore. It''s over."


    Chang Chang stood shakily and faced him. Ju Feng again suppressed the urge to reach out and support her. Ju Feng heard the catch in his voice and despised himself for it. When had he become so weak?


    "Don''t say that. We can still find a cure elsewhere on this planet or elsewhere. The universe is a vast place."


    "How long will we search?"


    "What?"


    Ju Feng was absorbed in thoughts and plans. They would leave the city in the morning. Godsdamn the drow, Mith Barak, and all the rest. If they couldn''t find what they were looking for here, it was time to move on. Why waste more time? Every second wasted was putting Chang Chang more at risk of death.


    "Ju Feng, look at me."


    "Chang Chang, it''ll be all right. We''ll find a way."


    "I don''t want to look for a cure anymore."


    "What?"


    Ju Feng repeated. She wasn''t making any sense. The yaomo had done more damage than he''d thought.


    "You''re tired, and you don''t know what you''re saying."


    She shook her head. She clasped her hands in front of her, but when she looked at him, she was no longer weeping. Clear-eyed, she stared him down.


    "I do know what I''m saying. I want to live my life on my own terms. I won''t spend any more of it chasing down a cure for my bloodscar. What happened to me shaped who I am. I''m not ashamed of it, and I''m not afraid to die. Gallazza showed me that, if you can believe it. His existence is so empty, so utterly devoid of warmth¡ªof anything, that isn''t bitterness and hatred."


    "You''ll never be like him."


    Ju Feng said calmly.


    "I know."


    Chang Chang took a step toward him. Ju Feng tensed, but it wasn''t out of fear. His heart pounded in his c.h.e.s.t. She lifted her hand and laid it gently against his cheek¡ªthe lightest touch, but within it a world of meaning. The pulse of Icelin''s life beat against his skin, warmth and vibrancy radiating from each fingertip¡ªbut the whole was weaker than it should have been. The life force was brittle at the edges, cracks and seams running through it, flaws that would only spread until it ate away at all the warmth. All the memories of the past came rushing to him. The deaths, dreams and premonitions. Ju Feng gasped. The pain of it was a tangible force, like five needles in his skin.


    "Don''t run away from me. Please."


    "If you only knew."


    Ju Feng closed his eyes tightly. He forced himself to focus only on her touch, the warmth of her fingers on his, the softness of her skin. The physical pain was all in his mind. He breathed deeply, pressing down the fear and hopelessness that always came with his gift. If he could find inner peace, the pain could go away. It was impossible to ignore the rest, but if only he could distract himself¡ª


    Chang Chang smiled as Ju Feng opened his eyes. Thoughts of Ongara''s wedding led her to think about the Yellowhorn family and the battle ahead. Since they''d come together, a peace such as Chang Chang had never known had settled over her. It was as if the dwarves were of the same bloods as they were. It was as if they shared the same ancestral lineage. Her mind snapped out of the reverie. Their immediate future was still uncertain.


    "Where do we go from here?" she asked.


    "We stay and fight or we leave the city after the wedding."


    "I don''t want to run, Feng. But there''s a good chance that if we stay to fight, we''ll die."


    "A very good chance,"


    Ju Feng agreed, never taking his eyes from her face.


    "Isn''t this the kind of thing adventurers are supposed to do? Live on the edge of death and take on impossible causes for treasures?"


    "Hmm, treasures to be taken or death to be had."


    Ju Feng said as he shifted his view to the far distance.

 Chapter 183 - Life Or Death? [2]

    They emerged from the garden together and crossed the walkway back to the central plaza. Chang Chang''s mouth dropped open when she saw the size of the crowd that had gathered. The cavern was completely full, the crowd spilling over onto the surrounding bridges over the river. They packed into any open space, waiting to get a glimpse of Ongara and Arngam.


    And the king, Ju Feng realized. King Laggarma stood on the raised dais with the weapons master, Druya, Abron, Orban, and a group of dwarves that Ju Feng didn''t recognize. They must have been Arngam''s family.


    "This is more than just a wedding."


    Chang Chang said, echoing Ju Feng''s thoughts.


    "The city gathers to hear the king speak on the night before the battle."


    "What will he say?"


    Ju Feng wondered.


    "Whatever it is, we won''t hear it. We won''t get near the center of the cavern."


    Chang Chang replied. She looked up at the surrounding buildings. One of the shops near the temple had a stone lip running around it about fifteen feet off the ground. She led him through the crowd until they stood beneath the lip.


    "I have an idea,"


    She said. She stepped closer to Ju Feng and put her arm around his waist. She plucked a talisman from her bag of holding and murmured the words of the spell.


    "Hold on."


    The magical power of the talisman took hold, and they levitated above the crowd. Ju Feng grunted in surprise. He had forgotten there were talisman that could work this way. His thinking was in accord with the world of xultivtion where they could float with their energy.


    "This wasn''t what I had in mind."


    "Why not? You''re not afraid of heights, are you?"


    Chang Chang said teasingly. She raised an eyebrow when he didn''t respond.


    "Heavens tears, you aren''t really, are you? What kind of cultivator are you?"


    "No."


    Ju Feng said tersely as they halted before the stone lip. He hoisted himself onto the edge and helped Chang Chang up beside him.


    "Shall we go a little higher? It''d give us a wonderful view down into the cavern."


    "This edge is very narrow. I''m not sure the crowd would react in time to catch you if you fell."


    "I''m a blood. I''ll rise again."


    "You''ll simply enter reincarnation."


    "Huh?"


    "Just joking, Chang. You look beautiful by the way."


    "Pffft."


    "Titan''s torso. She''s beautiful."


    Dressed in the suit of armor her beloved had made for her, Ongara looked every inch the warrior queen as she stood before her king and bowed. Her long mahogany locks had been meticulously plaited. On her head rested a magical helmet. Three obsidian horns curled from the top and sides. In her hands, she carried God''s Carver.


    King Laggarma stepped forward and raised his hands as the couple came together. A roar erupted from the crowd, and Ingara raised the war axe above her head for all to see. Red light glowed from deep within the carved runes on the axe, a ruby flame like the heart of the forge.


    "The heart of the blood dwarves."


    Chang Chang murmured.


    "What did you say?"


    Sitting slightly behind her, Ju Feng leaned over Chang Chang''s shoulder and wrapped his arms around her waist.


    "The war axe, the armor¡ªthere''s so much more here than a wedding."


    "They know what''s at stake."


    Arngam stepped forward, and Ongara held out the axe to the king. King Laggarma took it and held the blade upright. Ongara lifted her hand to the axe and pressed her finger against the n.a.k.e.d blade. They were too far away to see the blood that welled up from the wound, and Ongara''s gaze never left Arngam''s as she raised her finger to her lips. Arngam stepped forward and opened his own wound on the blade, brought it to his lips, then stepped forward and took Ongara''s hand.


    The king spoke then for the first time.


    "I stand as witness to this union between Ongara Yellowhorn and Arngam of the Boneshield clan. His shield is hers, and her blade strengthens him. May weapon and shield never be sundered. May their family thrive, and may Mystra''s blessings be upon them."


    Blood from their wounds on their lips, Ongara and Arngam kissed. Before they parted, the axe passed from Ongara''s hands to her husband''s, and he raised it above their heads, shaking it in triumph. The crowd erupted in cheers and raucous shouts.


    Ju Feng''s arms tightened around her, and Chang Chang leaned back against him. Tears blurred her vision as Ongara embraced her husband again and planted another kiss on the blonde dwarf''s lips. The cavernous, lonely city filled with the sounds of joy and new beginnings, and for that instant, Myria was full of life and vigor. Time pealed back, and Chang Chang imagined the city as it was at the height of its glory.


    Did the dwarves feel it too? Did it give them hope? Chang Chang''s gaze strayed across the cavern, seeking the king. In this moment, more than any other, he had the chance to rally his people for the battle ahead. He was gone. Sometime between the king''s declaration and the kiss, king Laggarma must have slipped away. Neither the crowd, nor Ongara and Arngam seemed to notice his absence. Chang Chang sought Druya in the crowd and found her standing beside Abron. Even from this distance, Chang Chang saw their troubled expressions.


    "The king''s gone."


    Chang Chang said, unsure if Ju Feng heard her over the crowd noise.


    "I saw him heading for the hall."


    Ju Feng said into Chang Chang''s ear, disapproval in his voice.


    "Or the library, back to Gallazza."


    Chang Chang said, giving Ju Feng a glance.


    "There''s the dwarves chef."


    Ju Feng said, pointing to a table at the base of the dais, where the butcher directed several dwarves carrying platters of food. The wedding feast was about to begin. Once the drinking and merriment started, the dwarves weren''t likely to notice the king''s absence. It was clear they wanted to celebrate while they could.


    "Try to get the chef''s attention."


    Chang Chang said, sliding toward the edge of the ledge.


    "Where are we going?"


    Ju Feng asked, holding out a hand to steady Chang Chang as she replied.


    "To see the king."


    She activated the talisman again and waited for the levitation to take hold of them.


    "I''ve seen the damage obsession can do¡ªin that yaomo prisoner and in us. No race is immune to its grip. King Laggarma can''t afford to be distracted now. Many of his people are going to die. He has to be there for them now, more than ever."


    "It''s likely he won''t listen. If he''s not able to speak to his own people, he won''t let outsiders into his confidence."


    "Let''s wait and see."


    At the doors to the king''s hall, Chang Chang gave her name to the guards and told them to relay it to King Laggarma. After only a few moments, they returned and ushered her, Ju Feng, and the three members of the Yellowhorn family inside.


    King Laggarma was not seated on his throne, but rather paced the floor in front of it. When he saw the group, he scowled and said testify.


    "All come at once to badger me, have you?"


    "The king''s absence at the wedding feast is conspicuous."


    Druya said, ignoring king Laggarma''s deepening scowl.


    "The king''s absence from his city is conspicuous,"


    Chang Chang said. The dwarves tensed, but she had no more patience for dallying around the subject. She barreled on.


    "Your city and your people need you, yet you hide in this room¡ª"


    King Laggarma stopped pacing. He turned a black glare on Hang Chang.


    "Have a care how you speak to me, little one. I am not your blood kind or your man, that you can tame me with a tongue lashing."


    "She''s right. Your people need their leader. Why don''t you go to them?"


    Ju Feng quipped in.


    "I will lead them! To death, to annihilation, whatever the gods will, but for this last night, leave me in peace! Heaven''s tears, you don''t know how I''ve longed for just one moment of peace in a millennia."


    "They don''t understand, my king,"


    Druya said gently. She went to the king and tried to take his arm, but he shrugged her off with an incoherent cry.


    "Your people don''t know what you have suffered. You must tell them the truth."


    "What right do they have to the truth?"


    King  Laggarma roared.


    "What right to rip open the wound, to pour through my mind and heart?"


    "Because they have shed blood for you."


    Abron said. He gazed at the king with hard eyes, and his voice was not gentle like Druya''s.


    "Your people have endured torments of their own. They will not see their king as weak for having his own share of scars."


    "Scars, aye. Claw marks raked into stone. Is that what you want, then? To see into the abyss, to stare at the inferno?"


    King Laggarma was standing before a light orb. The king let out a bitter laugh. He walked and stood before Chang Chang. Fear surged through Chang Chang, but she didn''t back down.


    "We want to understand."

 Chapter 184 - Life Or Death? [3]

    "Very well."


    King Laggarma said hoarsely. Silver flecks swirled in his eyes, a hypnotic light that snared Icelin and wouldn''t let go.


    "I''ll go with you to the dark places, as bloods. Only you. I hope neither of us gets lost."


    Chang Chang opened her mouth to reply, but an icy gust of wind cut off the words, filling her mouth and making her c.h.e.s.t ache. The world fell away, and she was flying, soaring high above dozens of mountain peaks. In and out of the cloudbanks, she dived and reeled. Terror and elation filled Chang Chang as she soared upward to even more dizzying heights. Astral projection.


    "What is this?"


    She cried. She expected the wind to steal her voice, but instead a mighty roar split the air and shook the snow from the mountain peaks. Above her, the sun broke through the clouds and bathed the mountains in gold light.


    "Look below you."


    King Laggarma''s voice reverberated in her mind. Chang Chang recognized it, and yet the voice was different, bigger, and full of an immense, mind-shattering power barely kept in check. Chang Chang looked down and saw the shadow of a massive body of a white dragon on the unblemished snow. A pair of talon-tipped wings unfolded from its body, and its frilled neck ended in a thick, horned head.


    By the heavens, Chang Chang thought. This can''t be happening. If she''d possessed a body in this strange vision, she''d be trembling, weeping with the wrongness of what she saw. I can''t do this. I can''t ride a dragon''s mind.


    "You''re not seeing the worst of it, girl. If you can''t handle a simple flight, you''ll go mad with what''s to come."


    "You''re not a dwarf at all. For centuries, you''ve ruled Myria, yet you''re¡ª"


    Chang Chang said. The mountains fell away, and they flew over a vast pine forest just as a flock of crows broke from the trees and surrounded them. The birds screeched loudly in Chang Chang''s ears and flew away.


    "A dragon."


    King Laggarma finished for her. He glanced at Chang Chang and continued.


    "I came to the dwarves over fourteen hundred years ago. When their ruler died, he appointed me, Laggarma the Clanless, his successor, knowing what I was, because he knew I could protect his people."


    "But why? I see your mind. You don''t belong underground, in the dark."


    Chang Chang exclaimed. Images of open spaces and fresh, cold air blasting her in the face¡ªit couldn''t be a coincidence that these were the memories king Laggarma had sought first when he let her enter his mind.


    "Neither do you. Yet here we are. Suffice to say, the dwarves needed me, and I needed them. Don''t doubt that it was a fair exchange."


    King Laggarma said, his booming voice full of an unexpected humor.


    "How?"


    Chang Chang asked. The dragon''s shadow rippled over the treetops. She couldn''t stop staring at it, couldn''t reconcile the dwarf she''d known these past several days with the creature whose mind she rode.


    "Why? How? Do you really want to know, or are you still dumbstruck?"


    King Laggarma echoed.


    "Can you blame me? You could have warned me!"


    "I am warning you. Where we''re going next won''t be pleasant. If you want to know how it was a fair bargain, I''ll tell you. You''ve heard the stories of the king who becomes a mithral statue for decades, leaving his people to fend for themselves."


    King Laggarma said. All traces of humor disappeared.


    "Do you sleep for that time? Is it something unique to ¡­ er ¡­ dragons? Some kind of hibernation?"


    "In a way. It allows me to travel. When last I went to the stone, I was gone a very long time."


    "Where did you go?"


    "I came here to the Astral Sea."


    Heavens tears, Icelin thought, the dwarf¡ªdragon¡ªhad been right. She wasn''t ready for this. Part of her wanted to close her eyes, to shut away the scene, but if she did, she might miss something extraordinary.


    A vast ocean of darkness enveloped them, broken by starlight and misty threads of cloud. On the horizon, the darkness lightened, reminding Chang Chang of the times she''d watched the light change over Myria deep, or the early mornings when she sat on the peak of the Shadow Sage mountain and waited for dawn. The dragon swam in an ocean of starlight, and Chang Chang rode his memories, tasting each image as if it were alive.


    I''ll never forget any of this, she promised herself.


    "Your people say you weren''t the same when you came back from here the last time."


    Chang Chang said, struggling to focus. She could lose herself in the beauty of this place if she wasn''t careful.


    "I was delayed by that."


    Chang Chang looked ahead, and a scream welled up in her throat. They flew toward a massive darkness, ripped like a gigantic scar across the Astral Sea. Roiling within the scar was a five-headed beast. Its serpentine necks braided together in shades of red, black, green, white, and blue. Chang Chang tried to pull back, but Laggarma flew them relentlessly toward the maw.


    "Turn away. Why are you taking us toward it?"


    "Because it''s already too late."


    King Laggarma said in a remote voice.


    Before Chang Chang could answer, a loud screech split the air, and two giant masses slammed into them from either side. King Laggarma roared and went into a diving roll, so that the stars blurred together in a sickening storm. Blue and white ightning tore apart the sky, but it was not a natural phenomenon. Energy crackled in blue waves across the dragon''s body. Chang Chang saw it through king Laggarma''s eyes, the electric heat rippling over his belly. She felt no pain from this attack, but kng Laggarma''s anguish ripped through her as keenly as the lightning bolts.


    They were going down. Chang Chang''s gut twisted. A breath later, an object loomed in front of them, large and brown with jagged peaks not unlike the mountains they''d flown over earlier. The floating mote had very little open ground, but it didn''t matter. The dragon slammed flat onto it with the full weight of his body and the other bodies clinging to him. The crash echoed across the remoteness of the Astral Sea


    .


    He''s surely dead, Chang Chang thought. No one can survive a fall like that. Yet he obviously had, and already the dragon stirred, attempted to lift his broken body while the lightning burned black threads into his scales and the creatures pinned him from either side.


    "It''s all pain now. All pain for so very long. Pain ¡­ and then silence. I couldn''t move. They had no need to restrain me. The pain¡ªand fear¡ªkept me still."


    king Laggarma said thickly.


    "Who were they? Why did they capture you?"


    Chang Chang asked when she''d recovered her voice.


    "Servants of Heilong, the ancestral black dragon. You saw the five-headed serpent."


    Mith Barak paused for a few seconds before continuing.


    "I beheld her image just before they took me. As to why¡ªbecause I am old, powerful, and I guard knowledge they covet. Perhaps they did it because I oppose their celestial. Perhaps they did it for the pure enjoyment of it. After the first century, I stopped asking why. After the second, I prayed for my own death. Sometime later, I simply lost myself to pain and madness. I did not care what happened to me."


    "Heavens tears,"


    Chang Chang said. Sorrow welled inside her. How long had he stayed there, in life and in his memories? Had he ever truly escaped this nightmare? She glanced at Laggarma and asked.


    "How did you escape?"


    "Luck and a lapse in judgment. My captors grew complacent. I''d stopped resisting centuries  ago. They thought I was mind-dead. I realized this gradually, and a part of my soul woke up. I conserved my strength, planned, and waited for my moment. Finally, it came, and I broke free. I still remember what it felt like to wake from the stone, to shake it off like molted skin. It had become so much a part of me. And my dwarf form¡ªintact, unblemished¡ªit was a miracle not to feel pain."


    "But you weren''t intact. Your spirit had been scarred."


    Chang Chang said. The dreamlike world, the glimmering stars floated in her periphery, but king Laggarma wasn''t looking at it. He hadn''t stirred since they''d crashed on the drifting island.


    "Being in my cavern was a comfort. A large enough nest that I could return to my true form if I needed to defend myself, yet it did not have the openness of the Astral Sea or the vast, echoing caverns of Myria and the Underground as a whole. I stayed there as much as I could when I awoke, dispensing counsel. At first, no one knew anything had changed. My people were too grateful I was back."


    "You felt safe."


    Chang Chang said. It was not so different from how she''d felt in Wujin, nestled in her great-uncle''s shop. Wujin''s walls protected her from the outside world and all its dangers. Adventures into the wider world of Wujin held no interest for her, until she''d met Ju Feng at the Valley-Of- A-Thousand-Death. The beginning of her ventures outside her small world.

 Chapter 185 - Life Or Death [4]

    "There''s no such thing as safety."


    King Laggarma said.


    "I''d thought of everything. A vast underground city, heavily fortified with walls and magic, protected by the dwarves¡ªmy physical body could not have been safer while I traveled the Astral Sea. I was arrogant and left my spirit vulnerable."


    "That''s why you rule Myria."


    Chang Chang said and continued after a pause.


    "Why you dwell among the dwarves when you''d rather be soaring through the skies. They protected you, and in return you guided the city and shared your wisdom with the dwarves."


    "I failed them."


    King Laggarma said, glancing at Chang Chang.


    "I was gone too long, and what came back from the Astral Sea ¡­ it''s an empty shell."


    "That''s not true. You can still lead your people. They need you now more than ever."


    "I see yaomo faces in my dreams. They strike at my body and reopen old wounds. I have to protect my city from them, from Gallazza."


    King Laggarma''s voice broke, and he sounded small again, like the old dwarf she knew.


    "Gallazza isn''t your torturers. His only power over you comes from what you allow him to have."


    "No!"


    The dragon snarled, making Icelin quail with fear.


    "I let them catch me unawares once before. Never again! I will not let my people suffer the way I suffered."


    "Is that what you''re trying to do? Protect your people¡ªor are you really just trying to protect yourself?"


    "Of course I am!"


    King Laggarma shouted, rage and anguish filling the dark corners of the Astral Sea.


    "I would rather die than let myself be taken¡ªused¡ªagain."


    "You''ve lost so much, and you have scars that won''t ever go away. Yet you live, and you are needed¡ªyou are also loved."


    Chang Chang responded, watching the dragon keenly.


    "You don''t love a broken thing, something scarred beyond recognition. It''s not worthy."


    "You''re wrong, king Laggarma. Those are the souls that have truly lived."


    The stars around them faded, and shapes pushed out of the darkness¡ªcolumns and a throne, the outlines of figures standing in a semicircle before them. Gradually, their faces resolved into those of the Yellowhorn family, and Ju Feng.


    Chang Chang looked for king Laggarma, but her vision, caught for a breath between the Astral Sea and the dwarven cavern, perceived the shape of a great serpentine body of the dragon filling the room. Its skull brushed the vaulted ceiling, white scales arranged like a fall of pure snow. One of its curving claws stood as tall as Chang Chang''s body. She saw her distorted reflection in its polished surface.


    The moment passed, and the dragon''s body faded into nothingness. Ki.ng Laggarma stood before her, shrunken, aged, and so weary that Icelin wanted nothing more than to step forward and wrap her arms around him.


    Abron and Druya got to him first. They positioned themselves on either side of their king and lent him their shoulders when he wavered on his feet. Druya turned, likely intending to lead him to his throne, but king Laggarma resisted and instead sat down right where he was on the cold stone floor.


    "Are you all right?"


    Ju Feng stood at Chang Chang''s shoulder, concern shining clearly from his muddy red eyes.


    "I''m fine,"


    Chang Chang assured him and nodded to Sull, who looked pale and scared.


    "How much did you see and hear?"


    "We heard you cry out, and in the end, when you came back from wherever you were ¡­"


    Ju Feng hesitated. Briefly, they had seen king Laggarma in a dragon form. Could he be a dragon who had achieved complete awareness? A sovereign at the least. Heaven''s tears! How could such a powerful creature be in this situation? He had the power to level a city at a strike. Then, his mind went back to the black dragon he was fighting before he was transported to this planet. A powerful dragon who was yet to achieve transformation. Ju Feng could only wonder the level of power of king Laggarma.


    "Was it real? Is he truly a dragon?"


    Chang Chang nodded. She related in a low voice what she''d seen in the Astral Sea. King Laggarma stared off into the distance, seemingly unaware of their presence. Druya and Abron stood on either side of him while Orban looked on, fingering his axe helplessly.


    "Did we do the right thing, forcing him to confront the past? Or did we do more harm? Did you know what had happened to him?"


    Chang Chang asked, staring at the king. She addressed Druya, she who of all of them seemed closest to the king.


    "Parts of it, I guessed the rest. My family¡ªplus several others who are not here¡ªknows what our king is. We know where he went, the dangers he faced. I thanked Mystra when he was restored to us, but I did not know how to heal his grief."


    King Laggarma stirred, blinked, and slowly pulled back from the vision that held him in its grip. He looked at Druya as if seeing her for the first time.


    "You''ve too much grief already, girl, to think so much of an old wreck like me."


    He patted her hand. When his gaze rested next on Chang Chang, she instinctively dropped her eyes, embarrassed at having seen him so exposed. He was an ancient dragon, and he''d given her glimpses of things beautiful and terrible. She hadn''t meant to pry into those memories. No mortal was meant to see such things.


    "No, don''t look away."


    Mith Barak said.


    "You deserved to know the truth as much as those gathered here. I would have used you without regard for the consequences."


    "You offered a fair bargain."


    Chang Chang said.


    "I was obsessed with knowing Zollgarza''s secrets. I''d tried everything to break through that drow''s magic and uncover the truth of his purpose here. Then you arrived in the city like a gift from the gods. I thought you''d find the sphere and use the Silver Fire, succeeding where I couldn''t. I didn''t care if I put you in danger. I was still half-dead, broken."


    With Abron and Druya''s aid, king Laggarma stood up. Silver light burned in his eyes. He stood straight and shook himself as if chasing away shadows.


    "I made the choice.You didn''t force me."


    "You showed courage when you confronted me in the library¡ªcourage that I lacked. It shamed me out of hiding, if only for a little while."


    "I would have hidden as well if I''d endured what you have. It''s enough to break most people."


    Chang Chang said, giving the king a nod.


    "I was supposed to be stronger than that..I should never have let it happen in the first place."


    Mith Barak said harshly.


    "You mean because of what you are? That''s a lot of rubbish. I mean, all beings in Wujin feel pain, don''t they, whether they''re among the high and mighty or the lowliest creatures. They can be hurt, and they can be broken. It''s a sad truth, but it makes us all equal in somethin'', at least."


    King Laggarma stared silently at the young blood. Chang Chang thought she saw Abron nod in approval is right, she thought, though it gave her no comfort. We are equal in our ability to suffer¡ªeven Gallazza suffered at the hands of his inner demons.


    In the battle ahead, there was no such equality. The yaomo outnumbered them, but if their target was the Arcane Script Sphere, if it had been the artifact all along, and its purpose was tied to Gallazza''s memory loss, then there was only one thing left for them to try, one way to give back Gallazza''s identity and discover what the yaomo were plotting. She''d refused to do it for herself, but if it saved the dwarves ¡­


    "None of the yaomo know your secret, do they?"


    "Not from what I''ve gathered from Gallazza''s mind."


    King Laggarma replied, turning towards Chang Chang.


    "What are you getting at?"


    Joya raised an eyebrow.


    "I think she''s suggesting you meet the yaomo as you truly are."


    "As a dragon?"


    Ju Fengl whistled.


    "That''ll surprise them. You can be sure of that. They''ll think their king is willing to do whatever it takes to save his people. Even reveal a secret that makes him vulnerable."


    Ju Feng uttered slowly.


    But Abron shook his head in rejection of the idea.


    "We''d never ask him to take such a risk."


    "And why not? Earlier you said my people have shed blood for me, and you were right. How can I do less?"


    King Laggarma quipped in. He looked at Chang Chang who nodded in return.


    "And while you fight, I''ll strip away the magic that cloak Gallazzza."


    "No. "It''s too late anyway. There''s no time to find the sphere."


    "But I think I know where it is."


    Chang Chang said.


    "Where?"


    Chang Chang, sounding skeptical.


    Chang Chang shook her head.


    "I want to be sure. I need to go to the library to speak with the Loscchal."


    "Lass, are you sure about this?"


    Chang Chang nodded.


    "Yes. I''m doing this because¡ª" but she couldn''t finish. Her throat closed around the words.


    "Because Myria isn''t dead yet. The city can still be saved."


    Ju Feng finished it for her. He glanced at the king who nodded in agreement.

 Chapter 186 - Life Or Death [5]

    "The city will be saved."


    The king said, looking at Chang Chang. He nodded, as if coming to a decision.


    "Druya, Abron, Obarn¡ªbring the weaponmaster, the warmaster, and the regency council here. We have a lot to talk about and little time to do it. I want our scouts recalled as soon as possible. Collect all their information, their best guesses as to the strength of the drow force and where they''ll hit the city''s defenses first."


    "They won''t attack the doors. That much we know. They''ll hit us at our weakest points along the wall and try to breach it."


    Obarn replied the king.


    "That''ll be perfect,"


    King Lagarma said, nodding. He pointed at Chang Chang.


    "Take yourself and your men to the library, but wait for me outside the doors. Do you hear? Don''t go in to Gallazza unless I''m there with you. Whatever happens, I''ll do what I can to protect you."


    "You''re needed with your army. I can do this¡ª"


    Chang Chang protested.


    "You forget you''re arguing with a king, and a dragon. Didn''t anyone ever teach you that that''s not a wise thing to do? We do this my way or not at all, understand?"


    King Laggarma said. His voice held a trace of humor, but his eyes were hard.


    Chang Chang nodded and bowed.


    "As you say, my king."


    Around her, the others bowed as well, and a chorus of "my king" echoed in the vast hall.


    Chang Chang waited with Ju Feng outside the library doors. Nerves tossed about in her stomach, making her fidget and pace, until finally Ju Feng drew her near him and held both of her hands in his. He reminded her.


    "You don''t have to do this. You can change your mind."


    "I''m not afraid for myself. But I spoke for both of us back there. I never asked if ¡­ if you could accept it, if the worst happened."


    Chang Chang said. She squeezed the hand of Ju Feng who looked at their joined hands and said firmly.


    "My fate makes me confront the darkness, and it will make me encounter my death¡ªthe thing I most want to deny. That being said, we''re going to do everything we can to make sure the worst doesn''t happen with you. Do you have a plan?"


    Chang Chang smiled bitterly at him.


    "The plan is the Lochal. I think she knows where the sphere is, she just doesn''t know that she knows."


    "Really?"


    Ju Feng said in confusion.


    "Just trust me."


    Chang Chang told him.


    The door to the plaza opened, and king Laggarma and an escort of guards came down the hallway to meet them. King Laggarma''s eyes gleamed with an eager light. Color suffused his face, and everything about his movements suggested new life. Ju Feng wondered how much of his energy was a mask he wore for his people''s sake. They and she would likely never know what this cost him.


    "Are you ready?"


    The king asked aloud, pulling Ju Feng from his thoughts. He heard the voice of Chang Chang saying.


    "I''m ready."


    Gallazza sat in his customary place by the fire when they entered. When he saw them, he stood, putting his back to the wall as if expecting an attack. Chang Chang ignored him and called to the empty air.


    "Lochal?"


    The dwarf woman appeared at her elbow, making Chang Chang jump.


    "I am here."


    "I''ve come for the sphere."


    Chang Chang was aware of a palpable tension in the room as the others, even Gallazza, waited to hear the dwarf woman''s reply.


    "I do not know where the sphere is."


    The seneschal said sadly and continued. "If I knew¡ª"


    "But you also said there was one tome about the library. But you also said there was one tome about the Arcane Script Sphere you were forbidden to share. What tome is that?"


    Chang Chang interrupted


    "It is forbidden. I''m sorry."


    The Lochal said softly.


    "Call forth the tome. You have my permission."


    King Laggarma commanded the Lochal who had confusion written all over her face.


    "I ¡­ I ¡­ cannot."


    "You can''t because the artifact is inside of you. It made itself a part of you, just like all the ancient tomes in this room, but it did so to hide."


    "I don''t know if I''m worthy to wield the Heavens Silver Fire or not, but I want to help Myria. Please, let me help the city."


    The Lochal''s ghostly form wavered, and they all thought she was going to disappear. Then they were staring at a tiny silver crystal hovering in the air in front of her, no bigger than a pea. Miniscule symbols scrawled across its surface, but they were indiscernible to their eyes. Despite its size, when they beheld the sphere, their hearts raced with excitement.


    Then it began to grow.


    The sphere expanded, spinning as it swelled to three, four, then ten times its original size. Transfixed, they watched as the primordial symbols on the artifact''s surface sprang into focus. Seals revealed themselves, the patterns graceful, elegant, and unfamiliar, the seals of a lost divine.


    "Written by Mystra herself."


    Chang Chang whispered. A prickling sensation touched the back of her neck. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Gallazza moving toward her, faster than she thought possible for anyone to move. Without thinking, she grabbed the sphere in her two hands and called Mystra''s name in her mind. Gallazza charged her, hands reaching for the sphere, but Ju Feng was suddenly between them, and the two men slammed into each other. Gallazza howled, grasping for Ju Feng''s neck. Ju Feng twisted out of the yaomo''s grasp and pinned Gallazza''s arms behind his back.


    The sphere warmed in Chang Chang''s hands. Tendrils of silver energy swirled from it and closed the space between her and Gallazza. The energy enveloped the yaomo, and distantly, she heard him scream again. Divine Mystra, Icelin uttered silently, may your memory protect us now. Her stomach clenched, and a familiar sickness took hold of her. The Silver Fire swelled, and Gallazza''s mind opened to her in a rush. Images¡ªan audience chamber where a yaomo female sat, then a gathering of drow prepared to go to war. She saw a temple made of crystal spider webs, beautiful and cold, where whispers drifted from the shadows.


    "The Dark Creeper."


    "Nameless, shadow wanderer."


    "How does he earn the mistress''s favor?"


    "He is nothing."


    Sweat broke out on Chang Chang''s skin. Fire rose up from the spider''s web, hungrily consuming the temple. Somewhere, she heard Gallazza''s scream of surprise and fear. This was no memory she pulled from his mind. It was her own memory, mingling with his¡ªfire, the wild magic unleashed within her. Chang Chang gasped. She felt herself losing control, her body trembling. Every part of her screamed at her to rein in the power of the crystal, to stop now before someone died. Probably, herself.


    No. I can''t do this.


    Then, from the depths of the fire, a new voice spoke directly into her mind: Let it go. I''m here. I will watch over you. King Laggarma''s voice, Chang Chang thought, dazed. Yet the rough scr.a.p.e of the dwarf''s voice changed and distorted in her mind, becoming by turns a woman''s voice, gentle, soothing, and familiar, before turning back to the king''s again. A presence enveloped her, like cool hands clasping her shoulders, urging her to relax, and fall. Chang Chang released a breath and let herself go.


    The Silver Fire erupted in a storm.


    Distantly, she heard Gallazza scream again. Perhaps the Silver Fire would tear both their minds to pieces¡ªyet Chang Chang felt no such madness descend upon her, linked as she was to the yaomo. Wherever Gallazza''s pain came from, the Silver Fire wasn''t causing it.


    Instinctively, she reached for the drow with her mind, seeking him among the fiery ruin of Phodoma. She ran down unfamiliar city streets, rearing back as flames surged out at her, forming strange shapes in the air. Spiders, the face of a yaomo priestess, a demon formed of ripples of melting flesh. Chang Chang cried out and covered her eyes.


    "Chang! Chang, wake. Wake!"


    Ju Feng''s voice echoed above the roaring fire. He knew the power of trance. He had been there before. It wasn''t an illusion, she could die inside the trance. He made a hand seal and began to lift her up.  Chang Chang uncovered her eyes, but a light blinded her. Unseen hands grabbed her and pulled her off her feet. She soared above the city. The buildings shrank beneath her, and the fire and black smoke became a dizzying blur.


    "Wake!"


    Her eyes snapped open. She was in the library, lying on her back on the floor, the sphere clutched to her b.r.e.a.s.t. Ruen''s face floated above her, his voice calling to her, but faint and jumbled, as if she were underwater and it slowly drawing her up.


    "What happened?"


    Chang Chang asked. She blinked to clear her vision and tried to sit up.


    "Take it easy for a breath or two,"


    Ju Feng said. He supported her back so she could look around the room. Slowly, the objects and people in the library swam into focus. She saw king Laggarma lying on the floor not far from her. His face glistened with sweat, and he was pale, so pale that Chang Chang instinctively reached out to him and cried out.


    "He''s hurt!"


    The dwarven king waved away her concern.


    "I''ll be fine. You can hold a lot of power for one little girl with little to no level of power herself."


    He drew in a wheezing breath. He coughed and wiped a stream of blood from his chin.

 Chapter 187 - Life Or Death [6]

    A figure lay sprawled on the floor, n.a.k.e.d, obsidian skin slick with sweat. A thick fall of pure white hair obscured its features. Muscles stood out in rigid lines on b.a.r.e arms and legs. As they watched, the figure m.o.a.n.e.d softly and rolled over.


    "Heavens tears," Chang Chang said, breathless. "What have I done?"


    Beside her, Ju Feng grunted and shook his head. "Not what I was expectin'' either."


    The yaomo lying on the floor was Gallazza. Echoes of his features shone through plainly in the face. A face that was also unmistakably female. His last coherent knowledge of his surroundings was the young boy intercepting him while he was going for the sphere. King Laggarma''s eyes glowed silver; then the girl, Chang Chang, released the sphere''s power. After that, reality faded, and suddenly she was in his mind.


    He''d braced for an immediate assault, fully expecting that this was the end. Talismans given to him by Arkhat''s maidens. Something was wrong, though. She didn''t try to probe his thoughts the way the dwarf had. She only watched, waited, hovering at the edges of his consciousness. Her terror filled his mind until he gasped with the force of it. What was she frightened of? Pain tore apart Gallazza''s world.


    He remembered once, long ago, he''d been hit by a powerful energy bust that sent dark bolts of black lightning rippling across his skin. He didn''t remember who had released the mystical move at him, but the energy had seized his heart and threatened to explode it out of his c.h.e.s.t. He couldn''t breathe, couldn''t think, and he''d lost all control over his muscles. That pain had been nothing compared to what he felt now.


    Muscle ripped off his bones, swelling and reshaping while he howled in agony. Then even his voice failed him when one by one his bones shattered and reformed, grating against each other and pushing at his skin. Gallazza squeezed his eyes shut. The pain made him weep. He didn''t think he could stand to witness whatever transformation his body was undergoing. It would drive him mad. He gritted his teeth and tried not to bite through his tongue as his body convulsed and slammed against the stone floor.


    It was over faster than he''d expected, or more likely, the pain had made him lose consciousness. When he opened his eyes, the first thing Gallazza noticed was the curtain of white obscuring his vision. He reached up to brush it away. That was the moment he realized he still had hands and hair¡ªthough the latter had lost all its black color and was now pure white. Pushing the hair out of his face, Gallazza noticed something curious about his hands. He held the left one up in front of his face and tried to discern what the curious thing was.


    His hands were larger than they had been before¡ªlarger, yet the fingers were long and slender, ending in finely sculpted nails. Had he seen such hands on a female yaomo, Gallazza would have called them exceptionally beautiful. Running his thumb along his palm, Gallazza discovered more curiosities. His calluses, those hard skin patches where his dagger always pressed into his palm, were gone. For some reason, this absence disturbed Gallazza more than anything else that had happened to him. His hands trembled, and an oily knot of panic welled in his stomach.


    Wrong¡ªthis is all wrong. What have they done to me?


    A soft m.o.a.n escaped Gallazza''s lips. But the voice¡ªthe voice wasn''t his. The sound that came from his throat was soft and rich as velvet. It put him in mind of the mistress mother as she whispered in his ear. Gallazza could bear it no longer. He rolled over and pushed himself up so he could look at the rest of his body. What he saw was stranger than anything he could ever have imagined.


    B.r.e.a.s.ts.


    N.a.k.e.d, Gallazza could take in the full extent of his alteration. Hard muscles had reshaped themselves into feminine curves. The muscles were still there, and the power, but that power came from a different source. He no longer had the body of a yaomo warrior, one who fought with short blades, daggers, and crept in the shadows. The lithe body he inhabited now most closely resembled that of a yaomo priestess. Female yaomo were naturally bigger and stronger than males¡ªwhat they lacked in battle techniques and training they made up for in sheer body strength.


    Gallazza licked his lips¡ªeven those felt different, strangely full under his tongue¡ªand angled his n.a.k.e.d body toward Ju Feng and the others. King Laggarma had collapsed several feet away, no doubt spent by the force of the sheer energy essence needed to transform the yaomo while sustaining the power in the spiritual soul realm.


    "Why?" he asked in his new, unfamiliar voice. "Why did you change me?"


    The four of them stared at him without speaking for several breaths. Gallazza swallowed, trying to force down that knot of panic that continued to swell within him. Why were they staring at him that way, their mouths open like dumb beasts? Were they playing with him?


    Finally, Icelin answered. "The Silver Fire didn''t change you," she said, "but it stripped away the magical essence that did."


    She was lying, of course. Gallazza laughed at the absurdity of it. Did she really expect him to believe she and the others weren''t responsible for his condition?


    "You''re all mad," he said.


    A chill passed over him. With his n.a.k.e.dness came awareness of how vulnerable he was. Gallazza crossed his arms over his c.h.e.s.t and tucked his knees up close to his body. The empty space between his legs jarred him. Heaven''s tears, they''d taken everything from him. Arkhat, why? The question wracked him. What''s the purpose of it all?


    "Watch him ¡­ her, I guess," the boy crouched next to Chang Chang said. "She''s goin'' wild through the eyes."


    "Titan''s torso," the boy said, addressing king Laggarma. "If this is her true form, she had no idea."


    "She must be one of their higher-ups," king Laggarma said. "An abyssal priestess or some other ranking female¡ªmust be why they''re coming after us now. They want her back."


    "Stop calling me a female!" Gallazza screeched. The high-pitched sound mocked him. He wanted to kill every one of them. Hatred roiled in his belly, suppressing the panic for a moment. "You did this to me! You¡ª"


    "No," Chang Chang said, interrupting him. Compassion shone in her eyes, which made Gallazza hate her more. "Listen to me, Gallazza," she pleaded. "I don''t know why this was done to you, or what it means, but this is your true form. There is no more magical essence left on you."


    "Lying bug," Gallazza snarled. He couldn''t contain himself any longer. He lunged at Chang Chang, a feral cry ripping from his lungs.


    Next to her, the young boy reacted like lightning, blocking his path, but he needn''t have worried. Gallazza''s strength had not yet returned in the wake of Chang Chang''s mystical bust, and he was not used to this new body. His limbs refused to obey him properly, and he ended up collapsing on his stomach, the breath knocked from his c.h.e.s.t, his long hair spread around him. S.u.c.k.i.n.g in ragged breaths, Gallazza tried to channel his hate into energy but to no avail. He slammed his fist against the floor and screamed in impotent rage.


    "She''s as weak as I am ¡­ or nearly," king Laggarma said. Gallazza didn''t look at the king. He couldn''t bear to see that smug dwarf face, those silver eyes he wanted to tear out. "If she is someone valuable, we might have the advantage over the yaomo."


    "But why was she sent here in this form," Ju Feng said, "with no knowledge of her true identity?"


    "Maybe she was never meant to be a weapon used against Myria," Chang Chang said. "Titan''s torso, I know she''s caused enough chaos, intended or not, but what if this is part of some other yaomo plot?"


    At her words, Gallazza went very still. Like a candle lit in a darkened room, a memory came to him in faint images, whispers. King Laggarma''s voice and the voices of the others faded, replaced by a soothing chant. Gallazza closed his eyes to hear it. In his mind, he saw an obsidian altar covered in symbols and stained with the blood of old sacrifices. His perspective hovered above the altar, so that he could not see the face of the female yaomo who crouched before it, chanting in a soft, velvet-smooth voice. He recognized that voice. It had issued from his throat only a breath ago.


    "I knew I''d find you here," said a new voice, coming from somewhere out of sight.


    The figure before the altar halted in her prayers and looked up. For the first time, Gallazza was able to see his new face, and it struck him, bewilderingly, how beautiful it was, and at the same time how faintly similar to his own male visage. The flaws he''d exhibited in his male form were corrected in the female. Muddy red eyes deepened to a rich scarlet, and high cheekbones accentuated them. The crooked nose was now straight and small. In his vision, his fall of white hair had been tied back, secured with ribbons studded with onyx and ruby. Taken together, the features looked so natural, that Gallazza felt the first twinges of foreboding deep in his gut.


    "The preparations have been made. You can''t stop what I''ve begun," said the kneeling woman. A second figure joined her at the altar. Gallazza recognized Mistress Mother Furtha. She angled herself on her knees so she faced the altar and Gallazza''s double.


    "I know. May we both be worthy for the task ahead."


    Swaying forward on her knees, she kissed the other female, raising a hand to bury it in her thick white hair. Gallazza watched with a sense of detached amazement as his double leaned into the kiss, and his own body reacted, filling with warmth, d.e.s.i.r.e, and frightening affection¡ªfor the woman he hated above all other yaomo.


    This can''t be right. He had no memory of such an interlude between himself and the mistress mother, yet the physical sensations coursing through his blood were so familiar. His skin tingled, reawakened by the phantoms conjured before him. More images crowded his thoughts, superimposing themselves over the scene.

 Chapter 188 - Recall Of A Demon Priestess

    The night before¡ªhe remembered the two of them lying side by side in a bed covered in white silk sheets. Arjun''s head rested on Gallazza''s belly, her fingers stroking Gallazza''s t.h.i.g.hs. She likes to lie this way, Gallazza thought, facing away from me, her delicate neck exposed. It makes her vulnerable and excites her at the same time.


    "Doesn''t it ever frighten you, just a little," Gallazza asked, her voice rough from sleep, "the hatred you see in their eyes?"


    "Is that really what you were thinking about just now?" Arjun purred. "You see, I''ve been contemplating all the wicked things I''m going to do to you in the next few breaths, yet all that consumes your thoughts are the males. Should I be jealous, Gallazza?"


    "I can''t imagine you any other way," Gallazza replied. She lifted Arjun''s hair and scratched her neck gently while the mistress mother gave a soft little sigh. "I worry that we''ve grown complacent, too secure in our power and confidence. Arkhat''s plan to become the divine of magical essence¡ªit has shifted the balance, given hope to the males. Such a dangerous thing, hope. It may cause them to plot against us in numbers."


    "They''ve given no indication of such a plot," Arjun said, leaning into Gallazza''s touch.


    "Perhaps we just aren''t looking at them closely enough," Gallazza replied. "The more the males give the appearance of subservience, the more I worry what they are thinking down in the depths of their souls."


    "I assure you, love, you don''t want to know," Arjun said, rubbing her cheek against Gallazza''s belly.


    "But I do," Gallazza whispered so softly, the mistress mother didn''t hear her.


    Gallazza remembered how she''d felt in that moment. She''d been unsure how much to confide in Arjun. The threat of betrayal hung between them always, and the more knowledge one had of the other, the more the threat intensified. Arjun thrived on that threat, and Gallazza managed it by not giving too much of hersyaomo away, but so far neither had had cause for betrayal. Perhaps it was because they had spent so long being stronger together than at odds.


    Gallazza made her decision. She''d struggled too long with her doubts and questions. Despite the risk, it was time for an outside perspective. "I''ve asked Arkhat for guidance, but she remains silent to me. I am ¡­ worried," Gallazza said.


    Arjun''s reaction was immediate. Her lover stiffened and pushed hersyaomo up on one elbow to glare at Gallazza. "How could you be so foolish?" she hissed. "It is not for us to seek Arkhat''s aid for trouble with a few males. If we can''t handle the problem ourselves, we are not worthy to be in her service."


    "We have proven ourselves worthy, a hundred times over," Gallazza argued. "Arkhat sees that and blesses us with her power. Why should we not seek her guidance as well?"


    Arjun slid off the bed and reached for her piwafwi. She shook her head in disgust. "I tire of having this discussion with you, Gallazza. You have always expected more from the divine than what you''re owed. It is dangerous."


    "I seek purpose," Gallazza said passionately. "I want to be the instrument of Arkhat''s will, to earn her love over and over until my death. Tell me, how is that bad?"


    "Because it is presumptuous!" Arjun cried. "What makes you worthy of being Arkhat''s instrument in anything? Is your pride and arrogance so great that you think yoursyaomo her equal?"


    "Never that." Gallazza bowed her head. "I hear your words, and I take your warning, but I must have the answers to my questions."


    There must have been a hint in her tone, for Arjun spun in the act of dressing. Her breath caught audibly. "What do you intend to do?"


    "I''ve prepared a ritual to summon the Empyrean fiend."


    "Alone?" Arjun''s eyes narrowed. "That is too bold. You should have more priestesses present to satisfy Arkhat."


    "My request is personal and private," Gallazza said. "I would only have one other."


    She knew that would appeal to Arjun''s vanity, but she did not truly expect her lover to agree. Arjun risked too much personally helping Gallazza with what she considered a fool''s presumption.


    "What made you change your mind?" Gallazza asked, half-grateful, half-suspicious of her lover''s motives.


    Arjun''s forehead creased in irritation. "You planted doubt inside me," she muttered. "I told mysyaomo over and over that you are a fool, but then a voice inside whispered, what if you''re right? What if the divine does favor us and this bold venture? So I am here. Let us proceed."


    Arjun gestured to the shadows, where two slaves waited. They dragged forward a bound captive. Through dirt and ragged clothing, Gallazza recognized a young female yaomo, her golden skin covered in bruises, her eyes bulging with fear.


    "Tie her to the altar," Arjun commanded.


    As the slaves hurried to comply, Gallazza smiled at Arjun and offered her a half bow. "You honor me," she said. "I know she is a favorite of yours."


    Arjun waved it away. "A bold act requires an item of value," she said. "You may risk the full brunt of Arkhat''s ire, but I do not."


    The slaves finished their work and retreated. Gallazza took up her dagger with the figure of the spider affixed to the hilt. With the tip of the blade, she opened a deep cut on her forearm. She held the bleeding appendage over the yaomo and let her blood drip on her exposed skin. Arjun removed her own dagger from the sheath at her belt and repeated the gesture, their blood mingling on the yaomo''s stomach and dripping down to fill the carvings in the altar. The candles in the room flickered and flared red for an instant before returning to their normal color. Arjun began to chant, her eyes closed, her body swaying back and forth as she praised the divine.


    Gallazza stood over the yaomo. She writhed on the altar, whimpering around the gag in her mouth. Ripping away the rags covering her belly, Gallazza held the knife poised in the air. "We offer this flesh to you, Mother Arkhat. Hear your servants'' prayer and share your wisdom in our time of need. We call upon you, and as we give you this life, put our own lives into your hands."


    She brought the knife down in a quick, brutal arc. The moment the blade passed through the yaomo''s flesh, Gallazza felt a burning explosion of pain in her gut. She collapsed, writhing on the floor in front of the altar. At the same time, the yaomo''s lifeblood flowed through the carvings and glowed a brilliant red.


    Somewhere behind her, Arjun began to laugh. "Yes! divine, yes!" she cried, exultant.


    Only then did Gallazza begin to realize the depth of her lover''s betrayal.


    Arjun bowed deeply before the fiend. The beautiful demon stood over Gallazza, lip curled in disgust. Agony kept Gallazza on her back, watching the blood drip from the altar.


    "On your feet," the fiend commanded and, without waiting for Gallazza to comply, made a gesture and spoke a word that pounded against Gallazza''s temples. Unseen force yanked her to her feet and held her suspended in the air. "See what your ritual has wrought this day, Priestess," the demon said. "Behold your offering to Arkhat."


    Arjun looked at Gallazza, and her face contorted with a mixture of triumph and revulsion.


    I remember it now. This was the moment when my memories twisted. I am Gallazza. A priestess born in the city of Guallidurth. Lie. A renegade male seeking refuge in the Temple City of Arkhat. Lie.


    Who am I?


    I am Gallazza.


    "You d.e.s.i.r.ed knowledge of the males in Guallidurth," Arjun said, running a sculpted fingernail along Gallazza''s throat. "At first I dismissed your worries, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized you were right. The balance is shifting, and we must assure our dominance. You gave me the answer, my love, when you said you wanted to be Arkhat''s instrument."


    A wicked light burned in Arjun''s red eyes. "You shall. Female becomes male By arcane power is the divine transformed. When the time comes for Arkhat''s ascension, you will be the nexus, the conduit for the creation of the Demon Weave. You will have purpose¡ªa sacrifice to Arkhat''s greater glory."


    Is that what you really are?


    Show me your face, Gallazza.


    No, I am a high priestess of Arkhat. I serve none but the divine. Arjun is my equal. I know her flesh as intimately as my own. So many contradictions in your flesh¡ªunremarkable male. Unworthy ¡­ lesser creature.


    No! divine, forgive! Don''t do this.


    Too late. I am already lost.


    I am Gallazza.


    They call me the Black Creeper. I must keep my head down. I have felt the sting of the snake-headed whip too often.


    No!.


    Yes.


    Gallazza screamed as the scene faded. Her last sight was of her male form standing in a pool of yaomo blood, gaze fixed beseechingly on the fiend''s cold face as the demon stole her memories, filling her with Arkhat''s dark power.


    The library faded back into focus around Gallazza. Shadows shrouded the room, and the whispers still hissed from the empty corners.

 Chapter 189 - Daemon Priestess Gallazza

    "Show me your face, Gallazza. Lost child, helpless male, newly born female."


    The voices mocked her. Gallazza pawed the air as the shadows crept closer, taunting. Was it the seneschal''s books¡ªwhispers Gallazza was too lost to hear? Or was she truly going mad?


    "Who am I? My sovereign, please tell me!"


    "There''s no hope for questioning her," King Laggarma''s deep voice yaomoned out the whispers briefly, but Gallazza could not see the dwarf''s face. She''d fallen into darkness, and the shadows wouldn''t let her go. "She''s half-mad already. Look at her."


    "Show me your face, Gallazza."


    Yes, look at me, Gallazza wanted to scream. Someone, look at me. Tell me who I am. During those times in her life when she''d felt lost, Gallazza had taken comfort from the knowledge that she was strong in her sovereign''s love. But that was a lie. Hadn''t she also felt strong as a male, knowing she would one day earn Atkhat''s favor?


    "I am not beloved by my divine. I am cursed, an abomination ripe for sacrifice."


    Dark laughter bubbled up inside Gallazza.


    "Goddess, behold your servant. Mother Arkhat, behold Gallazza¡ªsmile at your instrument, your broken disciple."


    You need healing," Ju Feng said. "We''ll get you to Druya."


    Trying to be as gentle as possible, he and Chang Chang helped King Laggarma to his feet. The dwarf swayed unsteadily, breathing hard, but he waved off their support. "Don''t worry about me. I''m thinking about that one," he said, nodding at Gallazza.


    The female yaomo lay on her back, c.h.e.s.t heaving, staring vacantly at the ceiling. Every few breaths, she laughed, a horrible sound that raised the flesh on Ju Feng''s arms. Chang Chang walked carefully up to the yaomo and spread a blanket over her to cover her n.a.k.e.dness before asking.


    "Can we leave her like this


    "We don''t have a choice," King Laggarma answered. "If we can''t question her, then we''ll use her as bait. I''ll send the scouts out with a message, see if her mistress wants to parlay for the return of her pet¡ªor whatever this is." King Laggarma looked at the yaomo in disgust.


    Ju Feng met Chang Chang''s gaze. Surely he saw the compassion there and the guilt. He must have known she felt responsible for Gallazza''s current state. "We have hope for the battle now that we didn''t have before," he told her. "And she may recover in time. You''ve given her back her true form."


    Whatever reply Chang Chang might have made was interrupted when King Laggarma succ.u.mbed to a fit of coughing. "Are you well enough to fight?" Chang Chang asked the dwarf, "or even to parlay with the yaomo?"


    "Aye, I think I can manage not to plunge my axe in the mistress mother''s skull while we have a conversation¡ªa short one," King Laggarma said with a dark smile as he wiped a blood smear across his lips. "Whatever''s amiss inside me isn''t going to be cured quickly. May as well live with it while I can."


    When Chang Chang stepped out of the hall, she swallowed an awed cry.


    The dwarves of Myria had assembled. Bodies filled the plaza as if again in preparation for a wedding feast. The difference was the light from the glowing lichen that reflected of thousands of swords and axes, and the finest suits of armor in all underground by Chang Chang''s judgment. Beyond the plaza, they stood shoulder to shoulder, filling the city streets. Banners from the dwarf clans waved when King King Laggarma emerged from the hall behind Chang Chang. Grim-faced and deadly, Iltkazar''s sons and daughters had gathered for a fight. They awaited only their king.


    The weaponmaster stepped forward. "The scouts have reported in," she said. "We know the location of two of their attacking forces for certain¡ªthe western and southern walls. They must be planning to break through the magical barriers. The rest of their forces, if there are more, have the advantage in that we don''t know where they will strike."


    "My thanks, Dorla," King Laggarma said. He turned to the gathered army. Chang Chang heard him mutter a word under his breath, and a tingling sensation kissed the back of her neck, a momentary flush of arcane power.


    "Warriors of Myria!" King Laggarma cried, and his voice carried to the farthest corners of the cavern, amplified by magic. "We knew this day was coming, and now we stand on the precipice. The yaomo press us from all sides, attacking from the west and the south. They have already desecrated the Cavern of Lost Souls, slain thousands of our people in these endless battles, century upon century. We have suffered, bled, but we have not fallen!"


    A deafening roar arose from the crowd. Boots stomped and blades pounded on shields, striking sparks in the cold cavern air. Gooseflesh rose on Chang Chang''s arms at the fervor in the dwarves'' faces.


    King Laggarma raised his hands, and the army quieted.


    "There are those who would have us believe we are a doomed people. They would have us roll over quietly and accept our fate, abandon our city to the shadows."


    "Never!" cried a single voice, and the cry echoed through the crowd like wildfire. "Never!"


    King Laggarma raised his hands again for silence. He hesitated, gazing with shining eyes over the army, though only those standing closest to him saw the tremor that passed over his face, the breath of sorrow and joy that seized him.


    "I have lived long enough to dwell among the greater and lesser races of this universe and this world. Along that path, I''ve seen the towering spires of mighty empires and the hovels of the poorest, meanest wretches. I have walked alone and with others at my side. In all that time, I have never claimed a true home or family for myself. Clanless, I called myself, and clanless I remained. Until now."


    Chang Chang expected shouts and cheers from the crowd, but a hush had fallen over the army. Thousands of dwarf bodies pressed close, hanging on the words of their king, a kind of desperate longing in their eyes. Tears standing in her own eyes, Chang Chang reached behind her for Ju Feng''s hand.


    King Laggarma bowed his head; then, gazing at those dwarves nearest him in turn, he nodded. A peaceful stillness descended over his weary face. He moved forward, passing into the gathered throng.


    "This day, I say that and ever was my home, my clan."


    The crowd parted, but only enough to let the king pass. The dwarves reached to meet the hands King Laggarma stretched out to them. In a minute, the army had enveloped him, and the only way to follow his progress across the plaza was by the joy that broke over the faces in the crowd. The weaponsmaster man followed the king. Chang Chang smiled as Druyaya and the rest of her family emerged from the crowd. Ongara and Arngam followed close behind.


    "We should get ready," Ongara said. She turned to Chang Chang and Ju Feng. "Our family is overseeing the defense of the city near the main gate. We''d be honored if you joined us there."


    "The honor is ours," Ju Feng said. "Lead the way."


    Chang Chang hesitated. She glanced back at the great hall.


    "I need to do something first."


    "You''re not thinkin'' of goin'' back in there to see the yaomo?" Ju Feng asked. "He''s ¡­ she''s out of her head, lass."


    "Then it won''t matter one way or another," Chang Chang said. "I won''t be long."


    "I''ll come with you," Druyaa said. "She might benefit from healing."


    "Don''t be long," Abron. The king walks among his people for a purpose. He''ll be getting the army into position, and we don''t know yet if this ''parlay'' is going to happen."


    Abron''s tone left little doubt what he thought of negotiating with the yaomo. Chang Chang followed Druya back through the hall to the library door. Druya drew her axe in answer to Chang Chang''s questioning glance.


    "Just in case,"


    When they entered, Gallazza was sitting up by the fire. Chang Chang blinked in surprise when she recognized the Lochal standing over her.


    "Any change?" Druya asked, tension stiffening her posture.


    The Lochal looked up at them and smiled faintly. She turned to Chang Chang.


    "I knew you would come back one last time. I am pleased you found what you sought."


    "Thank you for everything."


    Chang Chang said as she glanced at Gallazza and was surprised again when the yaomo met her gaze. A bright, feverish light danced in her eyes. Chang Chang didn''t know if that was a sign that she was coming out of her madness or descending further into it.


    "You, you''re the one I need. She spoke with an effort. I can''t ¡­ kill you."


    Gallazza said with an effort. She had a beautiful voice, soft and husky.


    "Better you don''t try, either."


    Druya remarked, though she made no move to brandish her axe.


    Gallazza didn''t seem to hear her. She reached out a hand to Chang Chang, who tensed but let the yaomo clasp her wrist and spoke hoarsely.


    "Take me to him. To King Laggarma. I have what he needs."


    "The king?" Chang Chang said. Understanding dawned on her. "If you''re a yaomo priestess, you have information about the attacking force, don''t you?"


    "Part of me does."


    Gallazza said. Beads of sweat stood out on her forehead. She gritted her teeth as if fighting off physical pain.


    "It''s not strong yet, dominant. It fights with him, with the unclean parts of me. But it won''t win. We have to hurry."

 Chapter 190 - Battle [1]

    Ju Feng tensed when Chang Chang and Druya came out of the hall with the yaomo in tow. Abron and Obarn cursed and gripped their weapons. Ongara turned away in disgust.


    "I can''t wait to hear this."


    Ju Feng said, raising an eyebrow and looking concerned at Chang Chang.


    "Don''t blame me, Feng. I never ask for the sort of trouble that follows me around like a plague, do I?"


    Chang Chang said, putting a hand on her hip. She related Gallazza''s request quickly. Then, she added.


    "The king can decide what''s best to do. We need to get to him, quickly."


    "You can use the stone flyers," Abron said. "This way."


    He led them over the bridge to a set of caves in the back of the cavern wall. Iron bars set across the entrances kept in two massive creatures with skin made of stone. To Chang Chang, they vaguely resembled wolves with wings folded alongside their flanks. Abron spoke to the beast-tamer and got the keys to one of the pens.


    "The rest of them are already being used by the army. These are older, but the stable man says they''ll fly true. The king''ll be at the front of the army near the main gate,"


    He told them as he swung open the door to the pen. He raised a hand and spoke soothingly to the stone creatures, who watched the group warily. Stroking the necks of two of the beasts, he led them out of the pen.


    "Obarn," he said to his son, "you carry the yaomo."


    "I want to go too," Chang Chang said. "Will they carry Ju Feng and I?"


    "Can you ride a horse well?" Ongara asked, looking concerned.


    "Yes," Chang Chang said.


    "That''ll help," Abron said. "We''ve trained them as aerial cavalry. They''ll follow a leader, and Obarn''s riding one of the ones we''ve trained to lead. Guide them only when you have to. They know what they''re about. Just be careful."


    "I will," Chang Chang promised.


    Obarn mounted the lead flyer, and Gallazza crawled up behind him, being careful not to touch the dwarf but instead holding on to the raised stone ridges along the beast''s flank. Chang Chang and Ju Feng mounted the second flyer. The roughness of the flyer''s stone skin scratched and caught at her breeches. Could statues fly?


    She wrapped her arms around Ju Feng''s waist for balance and held the Arcane Script Sphere tightly in the other. Seeing the discomfort, she deposited the artifact in her spatial bag. The lupine creature rocked back and spread its wings. A weight pressed down on Chang Chang as the creature''s wings came down, lifting them off the ground. Beating its wings furiously, the flyer took off, gaining momentum as the cavern floor disappeared beneath them. In a breath, the weight lifted, and a light, giddy sensation clawed at Chang Chang''s stomach. She tightened her grip on Ju Feng''s waist. It was then she noticed how rigid he sat on the flyer''s back, as if he, too, were made of stone. They were very high up in the air.


    "Sorry," Chang Chang said, wincing as she looked down at the stone buildings passing beneath them. "I never expected we''d be doing this."


    "I''ve been in worse situations. Although this whole adventure is starting to look a little bit mad from where I''m sitting."


    Ju Feng replied as a gust of wind hit them, and the flyer changed direction slightly. Ju Feng put up a hand to hold the reign in place. Below them, the army assembled before the main gate. Other flyers hovered in the air in formations of ten and twenty beasts, flying their own banners and following a single lead. Mystical projectiles arranged in a semicircle near the main gate stood poised to fire. The king stood near one of the constructs, surrounded by a group of scouts.


    Soldiers looked up and saw the flyers descending. They hurried to clear a path, but several pointed at the yaomo and murmured in alarm. Chang Chang wondered briefly if they''d made a miscalculation, bringing Gallazza into the middle of the army. There was a chance the dwarves would slay the yaomo on sight. Then they landed, and Chang Chang had no more time for doubts.


    The king must have seen them approach as well, for he pushed through the crowd when the flyers'' feet hit the ground.


    "What is this, Obarn?" he growled, pointing at Gallazza.


    "Ask her," Obarn said in Common.


    Chang Chang flinched as the gazes of hundreds of dwarf soldiers and their king turned her way. Surprisingly, Gallazza spoke.


    "I have what you wanted."


    She said to the king. She paused briefly.


    "I can tell it to you, or you can rip it from my mind¡ªmore damage won''t matter."


    "Speak."


    The king said bluntly.


    "The sovereign''s armies will distract your forces while her infiltrators seek out the Arcane Script Sphere. When they find it, and me, they will use my body and the sphere as a conduit for a ritual that will aid in the creation of a new Weave, reshaped by Arkhat''s power. She will become the new divine of mystical essence after the demise of Mystra."


    Chang Chang gasped. She looked at Ju Feng who was completely shocked. She turned to the yaomo.


    "Can she do that? A demoness sovereign becoming a divine? The sheer power involved ¡­"


    "Preparations are being made in yaomo cities all throughout the Underground. Artifacts, powerful tools of arcane might, are being gathered by the faithful. The Arcane Script Sphere bears a piece of Mystra''s essence and memory, and my body and mind are the union of male and female, arcane and divine. I would have been the nexus for the power the first maiden intends to channel. At least that was her intention."


    "Was?"


    "All I want now is to go free, away from this city, away from Whuji, away from every living thing. I have lived as a male. I am already tainted. I will not be Arkhat''s sacrifice."


    King Laggarma raised an eyebrow. "And if you''re lying? What if you''re captured again? Why shouldn''t we kill you to make sure Lolth''s plan doesn''t come to pass?"


    Chang Chang spoke up.


    "I believe Gallazza speaks the truth."


    "Why? Because of what you saw in her mind? She could spin lies to ensnare you too. Be careful with your compassion."


    King Laggarma stared sharply at Chang Chang.


    "Not just because of what was in her thoughts. I saw it in her eyes, the same shadow I saw over Druya¡ªand in me. I know what it''s like to grieve the loss of your goddess, whether by death, betrayal, or simply never knowing her at all."


    Chang Chang replied as she met Gallazza''s feverish gaze. Slowly, she continued.


    "The yaomo betrays her people because she herself has been betrayed."


    The king considered Gallazza. The lines around King Laggarma''s face had deepened, and he moved more slowly than he had before, but Druya was right. A new fire kindled in his eyes. He clapped his hands together and grinned.


    "So be it, then. We''ll have a hell of a fight, and you''ll have your freedom. Dorla!" the king cried. "Prepare the doors, and sound a call to march."


    "You''re opening the doors?" Chang Chang said.


    "Aye," King Laggarma said, smiling wickedly. "We have guests, so it''s only right that we surge out the doors at full strength to meet them. With a bit of luck, we''ll be able to circle around and flank the dark elf forces at the western wall. Numbers mean less when you''re surrounded, trapped like rats in a tiny hole."


    "Won''t you leave the city open to invasion?" Ju Feng asked.


    "Looks that way, doesn''t it?"


    King Laggarma asked, giving a faint smile.


    "Too bad we haven''t got flyers poised above the city," he waved at the stone beasts hovering overhead, "or a thousand more dwarves hiding in the homes and temples all along the river."


    "You have more soldiers than those assembled here? But your numbers¡ª"


    Chang Chang said in bewilderment.


    "The yaomo aren''t the only ones able to deceive."


    King Laggarma said.


    "They use dreams and illusions to make us think their numbers are overwhelming. I told every one of my warriors that if they were captured and interrogated, to say that Myria''s numbers were less than a third of what they actually are. Oh, we''re still outnumbered and probably outmatched, too, but we''ll give them a surprise or two that might give us the edge we need to win. I''ll be defending the city as well."


    The king looked at Chang Chang whose eyes widened in shock. He truly was going to reveal himself. Heavens tears, they might win the battle yet.


    In the distance, a horn blared, a loud, ominous sound that drew the attention of the assembled army. The soldiers around Chang Chang raised their weapons and pounded fists once against their c.h.e.s.ts.


    "It''s started.The yaomo are here."


    King Laggarma said aloud. He gestured impatiently to Gallazza.


    "You''re with me. The rest of you know your stations. Go, be safe, and fight with the Blackhorns."


    The king said. He nodded to Chang Chang briefly. Then he was gone.


    Chang Chang and Ju Feng hastily mounted the stone flyer again as one by one the doors to the city opened, and the army marched to meet the yaomo.

 Chapter 191 - Battle [2]

    Ju Feng had the passing thought that, years later, they would call this the Battle of the Nine Passages. King Laggarma''s forces flowed out the doors in rivers of glittering battle armour, darksteel, and weapons. King Laggarma''s plan carried much risk, but he won his first victory when half the dwarf soldiers circled around the perimeter of the city and flanked the Yaomo army burrowing at the western wall.


    Scouts brought back word that the magical defenses had triggered at the Yaomo dig sites. Gaping stone mouths opened in the walls to attack and swallow the diggers, while waves of magical force blasted the army back, crushing dozens of Yaomo soldiers and slaves in the tunnels. Into this chaos, Myriar''s forces attacked, and the echo of Dwarvish battle cries passed through each of the nine doors to the ears of the defenders within. The cry strengthened them, and they would need that strength, Ju Feng thought, for once the Yaomo forces realized King Laggarma had thrown open the doors, they''d launched a massive assault on the city.


    Yaomo poured into caverns and engaged the city defenders at the River Ironmade and the Deepflood. The water slowed their progress, but the fighting had become one bloody snarl between the rivers and the doors. Reinforcements trickled in from either side, but neither had gained significant ground after hours of fighting.


    Ju Feng and Chang Chang flew over the battlefield on their stone flyer, along with the other aerial cavalry units. From the skies, they were able to pick out Yaomo targets, but they had to be extremely careful not to hit their own soldiers. Chang Chang held the Arcane Script Sphere in a white-knuckled hand.


    "Go left," she told him, "angle toward the back of the cavern."


    "I can''t," Ju Feng said. "There''s too many cavalry already picking out targets."


    Chang Chang cursed.


    "Not very ladylike," he remarked. Then he added, "Be patient. I''ll find you a suitable spot to hurl down death and destruction." He dug his knees into the flyer''s stone sides, and the beast flew higher, making a tight circle that had Ju Feng gripping the reins and Chang Chang clutching his waist in a death grip.


    "Sorry,"


    He tossed back over his shoulder. Though he''d gotten more adept at guiding and controlling the beast over the past few hours, he suspected his knees were going to be covered in bruises from digging them into stone flanks.


    "Are you sure you can control the Silver Fire?" he asked.


    "No," Chang Chang admitted. "That''s why I want to find a spot as far away from the dwarves as possible. Then it won''t matter if the Silver Fire goes out of control."


    "And you?" Ju Feng asked, feeling a clench in his gut. "What will happen to you?"


    He felt her press her forehead against his upper back. "I''ll be as careful as I can. I promise."


    "That''s all I ask." Ju Feng murmured a prayer for protection to whatever gods happened to be listening. "There," he said, pointing, "in that alcove."


    "I see them¡ªperfect," Chang Chang said. She readied the sphere. "Wait for my signal."


    Ju Feng brought the flying beast in on a level course that would pass right over a portion of the Yaomo force regrouping at the back of the cavern. When they got close, Chang Chang clutched his arm, giving the signal. Ju Feng fell forward, wrapping his arms around the flyer''s neck, and sent it into a dive. It gave Chang Chang a clear line of sight ahead and below them. She raised the sphere, and the cavern erupted in Silver Fire.


    The silver radiance raced through the air to strike the Yaomo. It bounced from one Yaomo to another, knocking them to the ground. Harsh screams and the smell of burning flesh filled the air. Behind him, Ju Feng heard Chang Chang gag, but she kept a firm grip on the sphere and on the Silver Fire, as far as he could tell. She brought the sphere up and held it in both hands above her head. Sheets of silver poured forth, this time shielding them as the Yaomo on the fringes of the spell saw them and aimed their hand crossbows. The black quarrels burned away to nothing when they struck the silver barrier.


    They approached the cavern wall. At the last moment, Ju Feng pulled up on the reins, and the stone flyer struck its clawed feet on the wall and turned, wings pumping furiously to get them out of their dive and back to a safe height. Chang Chang shifted the shield around to protect their backs as more quarrels poured in. They leveled out at the same moment a ball of fire streaked past Ju Feng''s left ear. He flinched away from the heat of the orange mass, and the flyer staggered in midair.


    "He''s getting tired," Ju Feng said. "We have to land."


    "Can we make one more pass?" Chang Chang asked.


    Ju Feng shook his head. "Even if he had the energy to keep going, they''ve seen we''re a threat. They''ll be looking to blow us out of the sky."


    "Heavens tears! Frs!, look at that!" Chang Chang cried. She pointed at a spot below them, where the  and the Deepflood joined.


    A silver dragon burst from the river and took flight.


    Laggarmantha spread his wings and joined the sky outside the Astral Sea for the first time in centuries. He raised his head and roared as he flew over the battlefield. Below him, Iltkazar burned under the ravages of Yaomo magic. They and their slaves crossed the rivers and charged into the center of the city, toward the temples of Mystra and the lost Heavenly Brightaxe. Toward his cavern.


    If he allowed them beyond the river, his soldiers would not be able to purge them from the city. Gallazza''s information, King Laggarma''s own strategy, Chang Chang''s sacrifice¡ªall of it had given them hope, but in the end, they didn''t have the numbers.


    Myria¡ªhis home. He had to save it, no matter the cost. Reaching out through a mindlink still active¡ªthough the one on the receiving end was not aware of it¡ªLaggarmantha sent one final command to his army.


    *****


    Chang Chang screamed and clutched her head. She lost her grip on the sphere, and it spun away into the chaos below. Dizziness seized her, and she felt herself slipping, falling off the side of the stone flyer. Distantly, she heard Ju Feng curse. He snatched her wrist and hauled her back upright, but he must have jerked the reins sideways to do it. For that violence, the stone flyer had apparently had enough. The beast went into a dive and skidded across a stone path on the opposite side of the river from where Chang Chang had cast the Silver Fire. The flyer crouched and shook itself, dumping Chang Chang unceremoniously onto the ground.


    Ju Feng landed beside her a touch more gracefully, but he immediately went to where Chang Chang lay.


    "What happened?" he demanded. "Was it the sphere?"


    "No." Chang Chang started to shake her head but thought better of it. A throbbing that started up in her temples threatened to make her sick. "It''s ¡­ something else." An image of King Laggarma''s dwarf face flashed in her mind, intensifying the pain. More images followed it¡ªthe river, the bridges, more instructions, and an overwhelming urgency that set her heart pounding in her c.h.e.s.t.


    "Watch out!" Ju Feng cried.


    Chang Chang looked up in time to see a group of three Yaomo surging over one of the smaller bridges toward them. They carried rapiers, not crossbows, thank Chang Chang screamed and clutched her head. She lost her grip on the sphere, and it spun away into the chaos below. Dizziness seized her, and she felt herself slipping, falling off the side of the stone flyer.


    Distantly, she heard Ju Feng curse. He snatched her wrist and hauled her back upright, but he must have jerked the reins sideways to do it. For that violence, the stone flyer had apparently had enough. The beast went into a dive and skidded across a stone path on the opposite side of the river from where Chang Chang had cast the Silver Fire. The flyer crouched and shook itself, dumping Chang Chang unceremoniously onto the ground.


    Ju Feng landed beside her a touch more gracefully, but he, immediately went to where Chang Chang lay.


    "What happened?" he demanded. "Was it the sphere?",


    "No." Chang Chang started to shake her head but thought better of it. A throbbing that started up in her temples threatened to make her sick. "It''s ¡­ something else." An image of King Laggarma''s dwarf face flashed in her mind, intensifying the pain. More images followed it¡ªthe river, the bridges, more instructions, and an overwhelming urgency that set her heart pounding in her c.h.e.s.t.


    "Watch out!" Ju Feng cried.


    Chang Chang looked up in time to see a group of three Yaomo surging over one of the smaller bridges toward them. They carried long swords, not crossbows, thank the heavens, but Chang Chang had no powerful defense. She''d dropped the sphere. Heaven''s tears, it was gone! The pain in her head made it hard to concentrate. Was King Laggarma trying to contact her, through the mindvoice? Not now, she pleaded silently.

 Chapter 192 - Battle [3]

    Ju Feng sprang to his feet and hurled a dagger he picked up earlier. The metal flashed once and buried itself in the neck of one of the running yaomo. He choked and went down at the foot of the bridge. He wasn''t dead, but was dying. The other two ignored their comrade and kept going. It wasn''t his war, but he was bound to fight the yaomo. Although they were not demons, but their ways were not that different from that of demons.


    Dropping into a crouch, Ju Feng ducked the lead yaomo''s sword swing and slammed his shoulder into the yaomo''s stomach. The force of the impact was audible, and for a moment, Chang Chang didn''t think Ju Feng''s slight weight would slow the yaomo, but suddenly Ju Feng thrust his hands out and shoved the yaomo away from him. Reeling, the yaomo fell and struck his head against the stone bridge. He lay still, dazed.


    The other yaomo was faster than his comrade had been. He side-stepped the palm thrust of Ju Feng and stabbed him in the shoulder. Ju Feng hissed and danced back. The dragon-shield robe absorbed most of the blow. He brought his hands up, palms out but held close to his body. To them, he appeared as if he was gathering his strength. Meanwhile, Ju Feng was performing the first stage of Eternal World hand technique. In this world, it wouldn''t be that much useful, but it was enough to achieve what he wanted. When the yaomo lunged at him again, he thrust his hands forward, catching the yaomo in the c.h.e.s.t. The yaomo fell back, driven to the edge of the river. He fell and clutched his c.h.e.s.t, gasping for breath.


    Ju Feng pressed a hand to his shoulder and went back to where Chang Chang lay.


    "We have to move. There''s no cover here, and they''ll be coming over the bridges in waves. How are you doing?"


    "I have a message from the king. We have to pull all the soldiers across to this side of the river."


    Chang Chang said, though she could hardly believe what she''d heard King Laggarma say in her mind.


    "I''ll find someone to sound a call. What''s the king planning?"


    Ju Feng said, glancing around.


    "Do you remember what Abron did to that bridge on our trip down to Myria?"


    Chang Chang said grimly.


    "Yes."


    "He''s going to do the same thing, only a lot bigger."


    ***


    Gallazza, this is all your doing, Fizzri thought. A surge of hatred for her old lover went through the mistress mother. If only Gallazza had succeeded in obtaining the Arcane Script Sphere, this attack wouldn''t be necessary.


    Rage and frustration burned in Fizzri. Ever since the Arcane Script Sphere began calling to her, disturbing her dreams, she''d been planning her tribute to Lolth. The artifact that held Mystra''s essence¡ªin Gallazza''s hands, the conduit would channel the arcane and the divine. Gallazza''s sacrifice, the sacrifice of a piece of Mystra¡ªall to Arkhat''s glory. Fizzri would earn ultimate favor with the divine. When Gallazza had been captured, she''d feared all was lost. Now they were on the verge of taking the city, yet they still hadn''t located Gallazza or the sphere. She shouted to Levriin, who stood with one of his apprentices, looking worn and battered from the continuous magical assault.


    "Press forward! The priestesses will deal with the dragon."


    She filled her voice with confidence, but in truth, Fizzri had noticed that several of the priestesses had disappeared since the battle began. For all she knew, they were dead or separated from the main army.


    "Aagona."


    Fizzri called out to her second in command, who''d been directing the yaomo mages and watching for treachery at the same time. But no answer came. Fizzri turned and saw Aagona lying on the ground, sightless eyes staring up at the cavern ceiling. Cursing, Fizzri approached the body. A dagger protruded from the dead yaomo''s c.h.e.s.t, a dagger affixed with the figure of a spider. Fizzri drew the dagger out, saw the remnants of the poison seeping from the spider''s hollow leg, and a chill passed over her.


    "Hello, my lover."


    Said a velvet-soft, feminine voice behind her.


    "Gallazza, you''re back."


    "I never truly left, Fizzri, you knew that."


    The noise and frenzy of the battle faded into the background. Amid the bodies of dwarf and yaomo, the two females faced each other. Gallazza''s dagger fell from Fizzri''s hand. The look on Gallazza''s face¡ªthe crazed, triumphant light and the hatred smoldering in her scarlet eyes¡ªFizzri felt that up until this moment she''d never seen Gallazza''s true face, whether male or female. This face heralded something entirely new, something that frightened Fizzri terribly.


    "What happened to you? How did you return to your true form?"


    "You won''t believe it. A human girl, a child, broke the spell. She''s one of Mystra''s faithful."


    "Mystra is in limbo," Fizzri said.


    "Oh, my beautiful Fizzri, the truth has unknotted my tongue. I sought purpose, and purpose found me. A battle rages inside me, brighter and bloodier than anything you see on this field.  "Purpose will win. Female will win. I know this."


    Sweat shone on Gallazza''s face, and she breathed heavily, as if she''d been running for miles through dark tunnels.


    "You''re insane, Arkhat has revealed your weakness¡ª"


    Fizzri said, lip curled in disgust. She had nothing to fear from this broken creature. "


    "Weakness?"


    Keening laughter burst from Gallazza''s throat. A pensive expression creased her sweaty face as she pounded a fist against her c.h.e.s.t. The sound raised the hairs on Fizzri''s arms.


    "I have played the game from both sides. Secrets live in me that wizards and priestesses would kill to know. I understand now. The strongest will win out. I will tear the weakness from my soul. If it destroys me, so be it. But if I win ¡­ if I win, I will have found my purpose¡ªLolth be damned."


    Fizzri hissed and drew her snake-headed whip.


    "I will tear your tongue from your mouth."


    Gallazza smiled indulgently at her, which incensed Fizzri more.


    "I don''t blame you, my precious one. You''ve not known true desperation. Throw yourself on the ground, prostrate yourself before the divine, crawl, crawl, and crawl, and all will be well again. Arkhat needs those like you, the pliant and the blind, those she can twist to suit her."


    Her smile widened, and her shoulders shook¡ªwith contained laughter or hysterics, Fizzri couldn''t say.


    "Godsdamn you. Let your sacrifice be now. I will take the sphere without you."


    She didn''t bother with the whip. Hissing the words of a spell, she reached for Gallazza, fingers curled in a clawlike grip. Black lightning poured from her hands. The dark energy struck Gallazza and twisted around her, encasing her like a cage. Gallazza staggered, but her fixed, hysterical smile remained in place. She lifted her trembling hands in the air and shouted an answering spell. She thrust out her hands and poured the energy back at Fizzri.


    Fizzri had her defenses in place, but the shadow of the dragon passing overhead distracted her, and the black energy poured past her spell shield and seized her. Gasping with the pain, Fizzri suddenly looked to the sky. A build-up of arcane energy¡ªpower that sizzled, crackled, and created spatial rift in the air itself¡ªcame from the dragon. Gallazza must have felt it too. She tipped her head back, white hair spilling amidst the black energy of Fizzri''s attack. Spreading her arms, she sketched a shaky bow to the silver dragon soaring overhead.


    "What have you done? You''ve destroyed everything! For what? Arkhat, why have you let this happen?"


    Fizzri screamed at Gallazza. She spit out a phrase and hurled a sheet of flame at Gallazza, but the yaomo leaped nimbly aside and took cover behind a large rock. The exclamation burst from Fizzri before she could stop it. She covered her mouth in horror at her own words. Trembling with fear and pain, she backed up a step.


    Fiery pain erupted at the small of her back. Fizzri looked down and saw the tip of an axe blade protruding through her stomach. She tried to turn, but her legs would not obey her. With a jerk, the axe came free, and Fizzri dropped, loose-limbed, to her knees. Her attacker circled around so she could see his bloody axe. Three black horns protruded from the weapon, all stained with blood. The dwarf stared down at her and muttered something in his own language that Fizzri didn''t hear. Then he was gone, running across one of the bridges over the river.


    Above her, the arcane energy continued to build, along with Gallazza''s laughter. Fizzri tried to summon the strength to care about any of these events, but her thoughts were getting fuzzy around the edges. She reached out with her fading consciousness, seeking Arkhat''s power, but her cry was a hollow echo, met with only silence.

 Chapter 193 - Battle [4]

    Chang Chang squinted through the smoke of a dozen fires that raged on this side of the riverbank. The battle had begun to shift, the dwarves pouring across the river at the sound of a horn. Abron and Obarn  stood at the bridges, shouting to anyone within earshot to fall back. The yaomo forces seemed confused by the sudden exodus and did not immediately follow. Perhaps they sensed a retreat and wanted to take advantage of the lull in the fighting to regroup and hit the dwarves while they fell back to more secure ground.


    Chang Chang saw this from her vantage on the ledge at the edge of the cavern, the same spot where she and Ju Fenghad watched Ongara and Arngam''s wedding. It felt like many days ago.


    "He''ll do it now."


    Chang Chang said as she levitated to the ground. Sull and Ju Fengstood waiting for her. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms.


    "Heavens tears, the power¡ªI can feel it in the air, as if the whole city is one huge conduit for magical essence."


    "He''s calling upon the runes,"


    Abron said, pushing through the stream of dwarves flowing into the plaza.


    "Protective energy and symbols placed all over the city¡ªthey react to the king''s will, and he can use them¡ªor destroy them¡ªas he wishes."


    "The same thing you did to the bridge on our way down here," Ju Feng said.


    Chang Chang remembered the look of sorrow and loss she''d seen etched on Abron''s face when he''d destroyed the ancient piece of architecture. Her heart ached for what the king was about to do. She asked.


    "Is this the only way?"


    Abron nodded once. His expression softened somewhat as Druya and Ongara came through the crowd, looking pale and weary.


    "W here have you been? We were worried."


    "At the temple. I asked Druya to tend to Arngam."


    Ongara replied.


    "Is he all right?" Chang Chang asked.


    "I think so¡ªtook in too much smoke. He''s unconscious. Are you ready?"


    Druya nodded. "We should hurry."


    "Where are you going?"


    Abron demanded as the two women headed for the bridges. He continued.


    "The king ordered us to fall back."


    "There are wounded on the other side of the river. I''ll get as many of them up and moving as possible."


    "It''s too late for that."


    Abron said, looking at Druya,


    "And even if you got there in time, the yaomo will tear you apart as soon as they see you."


    "They''ll be too distracted by the king. I can''t abandon the wounded."


    She put her hand on her father''s shoulder and said something in Dwarvish. Abron''s expression hardened, and he shook his head. But Druya was equally stubborn. She took her father''s face between her hands, kissed the runes on his face, and then she pressed her forehead against his. A breath passed, and Druya pulled away. Ongara took her place and repeated the gesture. Then the women headed for the bridge.


    "Wait, Druyaya!" Chang Chang cried.


    Druya turned to look at her, but Chang Chang found herself at a loss for words. She didn''t know why she''d called out to the cleric. A lump rose in her throat. Druya smiled and nodded. Then they were gone, passing through the smoke and hidden from sight. Chang Chang turned to Ju feng, but before she could speak, a tremor shook the cavern, raising dust clouds from the stone. Awareness surged in Chang Chang''s blood, a massive buildup of power, pulsing, raging ¡­


    As if in a dream, Chang Chang looked up, and for an instant, all the magical runes in the city flashed with brilliant, blue-white radiance. In the heart of the magical storm, the white-silver dragon pulled up, wings beating the air, and released a breath of gas in a line along the opposite side of the river. The yaomo caught in the blast collapsed, paralyzed. The dragon flew higher, and the runes continued to pulse until Chang Chang raised her hands to her head as if she could ward off the surge in magic. Frantically, she turned to Ju Feng.


    "Get down!"


    She cried, but the words were lost in an explosion that deafened her. All around her, yaomo and dwarf eyes turned to the sky, their expressions reflecting fear and awe. Chang Chang looked with them, but she could barely see King Laggarma beyond the glow of the magical light. The runes burst apart before her eyes, and the cavern ceiling above the dragon collapsed. A roaring filled Chang Chang''s ears, and the tremors became a shuddering that threw her to the ground. Ju Feng,crawled to her, and the three of them huddled close as the world came crashing down around them.


    Heaven''s tears, make it stop, she cried silently. I can''t bear any more.


    Let go.


    The feminine voice came from the darkness, and again Chang Chang had the sensation of hands encircling her from behind. The same soothing coolness and sense of calm she''d felt in the library when she''d been connected to Gallazza''s mind reached out to her now.


    She''d heard the woman''s voice before, in her dreams.


    Who are you? Chang Chang asked.


    "Let go."


    The voice repeated. Don''t fight the storm. All will be well.


    I''m afraid. Chang Chang let the invisible hands draw her through the darkness, as if she floated on her back in a pool of deep water. She was terrified of sinking, but she wanted to relax into the arms that held her. Warm hands they were, like a mother''s touch.


    ""That''s better. The more you fight, the more the magic will bind and drag you down into the abyss."


    "Who are you?"


    Chang Chang repeated, desperate. Please tell me.


    "You know."


    Humor touched the woman''s voice. We haven''t been formally introduced, but I think we''ll get on well. Mystra? The memory of the divine, speaking to her through the Arcane Script Sphere? Had the artifact been speaking to her through her dreams all along? All this time she''d been connected to the divine and hadn''t known it. Chang Chang''s fear evaporated. She floated in the dark, but she no longer felt alone.


    "Lady, she called out in her mind, I am very, very glad to know you."


    The next several hours were largelyblurfor Chang Chang. She remembered waking, her head jostling against''s shoulder. He carried her, stumbling, across the rubble-strewn plaza. Staring up at the smoke-filled sky, Chang Chang saw that half the temple of Haela Brightaxe had been blown away by the explosion. The stone garden lay in ruins. The king''s hall and the temple of Moradin had both sustained damage, but they and most of the other buildings in the plaza still stood. Ju Fengcarried her in the direction of Moradin''s temple.


    "I''m all ¡­ all right."


    Coughing, Chang Chang tried to slip from Ju Feng''s arms, but he held on to her.


    "Try not to move. You hit your head. You need healing. Others already at the temple."


    "Druya."


    "She can ¡­ heal me."


    "She''s missing."


    Ju Feng''s arms tightened around her. A weight settled in Chang Chang''s stomach. Hane''s tears, I''m so weary, she thought. Fires still burned throughout the city, and soldiers moved through the plaza, but she saw no sign of the yaomo.


    "Is it over?" Chang Chang asked.


    "The yaomo fled in the wake of the explosion. The soldiers are dealing with the stragglers. From what I hear, there''s no sign of the mistress mother or any of their other leaders."


    "What about the king?"


    Chang Chang asked. She was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. Her mouth tasted like smoke.


    "He''s alive. I don''t know any more than that."


    He looked down at her. The lines at his eyes and mouth had deepened. He looked aged, and as weary as Chang Chang felt. Yet he refused to put her down.


    "Questions can wait. Sleep now."


    "But I have to tell you ¡­ Mystra ¡­ she ¡­"


    But Chang Chang''s strength failed her. Her eyes drifted closed. She wanted so badly to tell him about the woman''s voice, the arms that had comforted her. Instead, she let go, and relaxed into the warmth of Ruen''s arms.


    When she woke again, she was in Moradin''s temple. Lying on her back, she looked up at a carving of Moradin''s symbol on the far wall. Veins of mithral ran through the stone grooves, which created a soft, liquid glow in the dim light from bunches of lichen arranged low along the walls.


    Slowly, Chang Chang sat up. The temple was full of wounded, and dozens of soldiers milled around, offering aid, but there was a noticeable hush in the air. Chang Chang looked for familiar faces and found Ongara standing on the other side of the room, talking in low voices. Chang Chang made her way over to them. Her body felt emptied out, hollow inside from all the magic she''d used in the past days.


    There would be a price for what she''d done. Chang Chang had accepted that going into the battle. She couldn''t bring herself to feel regret, but for Ju Feng''s sake, and for the sake of the life they had ahead of them, she wondered how much more of her longevity she''d given up, hoping the price hadn''t been too high.


    Let go, she told herself, echoing the voice she''d heard whispering to her in the darkness. The future would take care of itself, and no matter what happened, she would not have to face it alone.

 Chapter 194 - What Then? (I)

    "You''re awake," Ongara said when Chang Chang reached them. "How are you feelin''? We were worried when you didn''t wake up right away."


    "How long have I been asleep?" Chang Chang asked anxiously. She touched Ingara''s arm. The woman hadn''t spoken or greeted her. A haunted expression lingered about her eyes. "What''s happened? Is it Arngam?" she asked.


    Ongara managed a small smile. "He''s well," she said. "A little bit of smoke won''t slow him down."


    Chang Chang swallowed and nodded, but her relief was tempered by a terrible knowledge that filled her as she looked around the temple and failed to see Joya''s familiar presence there. "Your sister," she said. "She didn''t make it, did she?"


    Ongara shook her head. Her eyes shone. "We found her near the bridge. Not a mark on her¡ªshe was just ¡­ gone. Father thinks the grief was too much, that it was time. came for her. And it wasn''t in vain. At least a dozen dwarves are alive because of her."


    "I''m so sorry, Ongara." Chang Chang closed her eyes and let the grief come.


    They had lost Druya, and Chang Chang had let the sphere slip away from her. Yet Chang Chang had heard the artifact call out to her, the memory of Mystra. Was it in yaomo hands now? Or had it moved on, freeing itself? She hoped and prayed it was the latter.


    "Where is Ju Feng?" she asked.


    "He''s with the king in his cavern along with Abron, Orban, and the weaponsmaster, plus the regency council," Ongara said. "You were summoned too, but we didn''t want to wake you. The council''s decidin'' what''s to be done."


    "Done about what?" Chang Chang asked. "Is the king all right?"


    Ongara glanced at the direction of the door. "You''d better go," Ongara advised. He held out a hand to help her. When they exited the temple, Chang Chang was able to take in the full extent of the damage to the city. Fully half of it had been destroyed, buried in piles of rock and debris from wrecked dwellings. Fresh grief seized Chang Chang at seeing the devastation.


    "They got the nine doors closed," Sull said, following her gaze. "Whatever yaomo didn''t get out in the retreat got trapped, and the soldiers took care of them. They weren''t expectin'' the explosion, and they were too slow reactin'' afterward."


    "It cost the dwarves, too," Chang Chang said. "I wonder how many of them were also caught in the blast. But it was the only way, wasn''t it? The yaomo won''t risk attacking again."


    "Don''t see how they could," Ongara said. "They lost half their force and their mistress."


    "What happened to Gallazza shrugged. "The king was going to let her go free, but she disappeared during the battle¡ªprobably killed in the explosion too."


    They entered the hall, and a pair of guards escorted them to the king. King Laggarma sat on his throne, his hands resting heavily on the stone arms. A shell of what he had been, pale, his once silvery beard flat gray, the king nevertheless stood when Chang Chang entered the hall.


    "Thought you were going to sleep the winter away," he said gruffly. "Are you all right, then?"


    "I''m fine," Chang Chang said, "just a little bruised." Ju Feng, Abron, and Orban stood off to the side, behind the council members. She nodded to father and son. They acknowledged her by lifting their weapons. No words needed.


    "My thanks to you all," King Laggarma said, directing the words to the council. "You know what to do, and I trust you t o do it."


    "My king," the council murmured. One by one, they bowed low and left the hall. When the doors closed behind them, King Laggarma said to Abron, "Well, old friend, I''m leaving you a fine mess, that''s certain." The king held out a gaunt hand to the runecaster. "I wish it could be otherwise. I truly do."


    "We''ll be all right, my king," Abron said roughly, clasping the king''s forearm. "When you reawaken, the city will be built anew."


    "You''re going back to the stone," Chang Chang said. Of course. Magical essence had exacted its own price from the divine dragon. Before the war, he had been using illusion to maintain his dwarf from. Mighty King Laggarma would have to sleep a very long time to recover from the battle. Longer than her life, and Ju Feng''s, maybe longer than Abron''s. Judging by the look on the runepriest''s face, he knew it too.


    King Laggarma turned when Chang Chang spoke. "The sphere is gone," he said. It wasn''t a question.


    Chang Chang nodded. "I''m sorry."


    The king waved her off. "It''s for the best," he said. "It''ll find its way into better hands than the people of Arkhat. Their kamic sins knew no bound." King Laggarma beckoned Chang Chang closer and leaned in to speak. "Will you think less of me, girl, if I admit to being afraid?"


    The statement surprised her, but Chang Chang immediately said, "Not at all. I understand."


    "Do you? I''m afraid for my people, but it''s more than that. I haven''t felt safe in so long, and I see an uncertain future before me." King Laggarma smiled ruefully. "You''d think, at my great age, the fear would go away." His voice dropped. "But it never does. It shames me to say it, but it never does."


    Chang Chang hesitated. What could she possibly say to him? She reached out to touch the king''s shoulder. If he was surprised by the gesture, King Laggarma didn''t show it. Chang Chang remembered her dream, the voice in the dark. "You have to let go," she said. "No one can be certain of the future. Trust in your people. They will watch over you and think of you every day of their lives."


    King Laggarma looked at her for a long time in silence. Slowly he nodded. "I''d forgotten what it''s like to be so young, to have so much belief," he said. "My thanks."


    He turned to ascend to his throne, and Chang Chang could bear it no longer. She looked at Ju Feng pleadingly, and he nodded. Together, they left the chamber to give Abron and Orban one last moment of privacy with their king.


    Outside the hall, the three of them stood silently in the middle of the ruined cavern. Chang Chang felt as though she''d just attended the first of many funerals for the days ahead. She wiped her eyes and tried to smile, but she couldn''t manage it. She found herself thinking of the library suddenly. What would happen to the Lochal while King Laggarma was gone to the stone? Would she carry on, alone, guarding the tomes of dwarf lore? How many of them had been lost, damaged beyond repair in the explosion?


    "They''ve lost so much," Ju Feng commented, echoing Chang Chang''s thoughts. "But it''s worth it."


    This time Chang Chang did manage to smile. "Don''t tell me you''re becoming an optimist about life too. I''ve had one too many shocks today. I might expire from this one."


    She''d intended it as a pure jest, but she hadn''t thought about how the words might affect Ju Feng. Glancing uneasily at his face, she saw humor alight there. He gave her a nod. "Being in your company as long as I have, I suppose it was only a matter of time," he said.


    He smiled at her, and Chang Chang''s heart warmed. It''s going to be all right, she thought. We will heal from this.


    "We should be leaving soon," Chang Chang said. "I''m ready to see the sky again."


    "You have a destination in mind?" Ju Feng said, raising an eyebrow at the young blood.


    "Well, I''m all for this adventurin'' life, but I''m goin'' to need to go back home at some point. But yes, I have a place in mind. Before you return to your world, I think I know where to get the Undying Twin fruit that the king said you''ll need for your impending death."


    "Really? Adventurers, then?" Ju Feng said. He looked at Chang Chang. "That''s what you want?"


    "I think so," Chang Chang said. "My parents embraced the life, and it brought them happiness. In truth, I think it doesn''t matter where I go or what I do. I have what I want most right here, within reach."


    ***


    Gallazza emerged from the shadows of the, past the last remaining outpost of the Myria. No one hindered her. No one was left alive to do the job. Still, she moved cautiously, using instincts honed from years of stealth training¡ªtraining that had happened only in her mind. Gallazza''s lips curved. Even a false personality had its uses.


    Those false memories slipped into her conscious mind, whispering to her, trying to assert themselves over the other, true memories that were just coming back to her. Gallazza leaned against the wall and pressed her forehead to the stone, concentrating. Suddenly, she slammed her head against the stone on a curse.


    Pain erupted behind her eyes, and Gallazza slid limply to the floor. Shivering, Gallazza clutched her shoulders as if she could hold herself together by sheer force of will.


    "I am Gallazza," she whispered to the darkness. "I am Gallazza."


    The vast expanse of the Underdark loomed before her, but it offered no answer. She''d considered going back to her home place. With Fizzri gone, she could assert a place for herself in the temple of Arkhat. She''d once held great power in the city. Whatever story Fizzri had made up in her absence could easily be denied or altered. If she wanted to, she could ¡­

 Chapter 195 - Bonds Of One [I]

    They gazed at each other, their faces inches apart. Something like admiration passed over Ju Feng''s face. He started to speak, but suddenly his face was illuminated by a brilliant, arcane light.


    Chang Chang looked down, and saw the source coming from the space of water between the boat and the raft. A second apparition glowed from the water, but this one shone clearer, and its form melded into a twisted mockery of a human face¡ª


    "Watch out!" Ju Feng shouted. He hauled her up, but it was too late.


    The sea wraith burst from the water in a shower of wet and light. The force of its appearance blew the small boats into the air. Pressure, then fire shot up her right arm, but Chang Chang didn''t dwell on that calamity. She felt her body leave solid ground¡ªshe was flying, the world tilting¡ªand then the fetid water closed over her head, blocking out all sensation except cold.


    Frantically, Chang Chang kicked in her bulky robe, propelling herself to what she hoped was the surface. She came up gulping air. Nothing but cold blackness surrounded her. Ju Feng''s lantern had been extinguished.


    Raising her hand above the water, Chang Chang recited arcane words, praying all the while that the weakness she knew would come would not render her unable to swim.


    Light burst from her hand, transforming her arm into a makeshift torch. Nausea hit her hard in the gut. The queasiness in her belly combined with the stench and motion of the harbor proved too much. Chang Chang turned her head and retched, spitting water and filth. Her throat burned, but she forced herself to ignore it.


    By the light of the spell, she saw a crooked gash running from her elbow to the middle of her forearm. There were splinters in the wound.


    Ju Feng was swimming for his raft, which had been flipped upside down. He reached it, hoisted himself up, and pulled a knife from his belt. The thin blade bore a coat of rust. It was a not a weapon at all, but a gutting blade for fish. Chang Chang watched, incredulous, as Ju Feng brandished the copper blade confidently at the sea wraith. The apparition swooped down from the clouds to hover above the water.


    He''s completely mad, Chang Chang thought. The blade would not put much damage on the undead horror. Why not used the other sword?


    A glint of silver on Chang Chang''s left middle finger caught Ju feng''s attention. She''d removed her glove, and he could see a ring glowing with arcane power, illuminating her pale flesh. Where did she get that from? Ju Feng wondered.


    The glow spread down her arm, then flowed across her body like a weird, sped-up river. The light died away, except for where it illuminated the gutting knife. A single strand of silver lit the blade, eclipsing the rust. Chang Chang swam to the raft, searching her memory for some spell that might aid them. Holy light had been a harmless light trick. Gods, could she bring herself to remember how to call fire and ice? If she could, would it affect the wraith at all? She''d never faced anything like it before.


    Her father had purposefully guided her training to suit a woman traveling alone on the streets of Overworld. While her thoughts spun and her arm burned, Ju Feng moved with preternatural speed across the raft. His sword flashed, cutting into the creature where its shoulder might have been.


    Chang Chang saw no wound, but she heard an unearthly screech issue from the wraith. The apparition twisted away, blasting through Ju Feng''s body in its incorporeal form. For a breath, Ju Feng appeared to be treading water as the ghostly mass enveloped him. Then it passed, and the boy fell back onto the raft. Chang Chang was close enough to see his muscles bulging from the brutal exposure to the wraith''s body. But no major effect on him.


    She grabbed the raft with both hands and hoisted herself up next to Ju Feng''s. The wraith circled above their heads, as if trying to decide which of the two posed the greatest threat. Chang Chang swung her glowing arm back and forth, trying to keep the creature''s attention away from Ju Feng.


    She could recall no bigger arts to fight the monster, but if she wanted to find them. They would Come to her. The arcane power, locked away in the topmost tower room of her mind, like a princess in a tale. She needed no spellbook to find them, only the will.


    She could picture her farhe4''s words of admonishment. This thing before you isn''t alive, he would say. It has no warmth, no compassion. It seeks only death. When confronted with such creatures as this in the world, you have no choice but to deal death first.


    The wraith, finally distracted by the waving light, swooped low across the water, its face inches from the rippling current. It was coming at her from the right. Chang Chang braced her feet, certain she''d be knocked from the raft if the thing hit her.


    A sharp arc, and the wraith was up and over the side of the raft¡ª Suddenly, Ju Feng sprang up between them. He''d only been pretending to be injured. He planted the bronze sword in the wraith''s c.h.e.s.t and held on. The wraith thrashed and screeched and lifted Ju Feng off his feet. For a scant breath, they hung suspended over the water. Ju Feng jerked, tearing ghostly flesh. He jerked again, and the wraith spun, flipping the thief over its body to shake loose his grip.


    The move worked. Ju Feng''s fingers slipped from the knife, and he plunged into the murky water. His hat floated to the surface, but Ju Feng did not reappear. Alone on the raft, Chang Chang at last found a spell. Calmly, she waited for the wraith to circle again. She watched it come, a ghastly glowing arrow running parallel to the water. Ju Feng''s fish knife protruded from its c.h.e.s.t, but the light had faded from the blade. As the creature glided closer, Chang Chang saw the blade and handle crumble, sprinkling ashes over the water.


    This time the wraith would not be distracted from its prey. Ju Feng was either drowned or too far down in the water to help her.


    Trembling, Chang Chang extended both hands out from her body. Pressing her thumbs together, she chanted the dusty words and prayed that she would not be burned alive.


    "Begone!" she screamed


    Nothing happened. The cone of flame that should have spread from her hands manifested as a feeble yellow sparking at her fingertips. The palms of her hands grew faintly warm, but the heat soon died.


    "Get down!" Ju Feng shouted from somewhere to her left. Chang Chang was too shocked to react. She saw the wraith bearing down on her, but she couldn''t think or move. There came a rush of air, and the creature enveloped her.


    Light blinded Chang Chang. She closed her eyes, but it was all around her. Cold. A bitter, biting freeze crawled over her skin like wet snakes, immobilizing her limbs. She tried to take a step. Her boots scr.a.p.ed the raft. She opened her eyes, desperately seeking escape.


    Hollow eye sockets stared back at her. Ghostly flesh clung to the wraith''s lipless mouth. It was nothing more than a parody of a human face, but the body was smothering her, freezing her to death. In the faint gray light between consciousness and oblivion, her teacher''s words came to her, propelled from her memories with a life all their own.


    "If, heavens forbid, you ever have to fight a monster in the wilds, remember that it does you no good to think like a human woman. Each being responds differently to magic, and some can resist even the most potent arts."


    "How will I be able to survive," Chang Chang remembered asking, "if I''m too weak to fight?"


    "By being smart before you are powerful," her teacher said. "Certain creatures owe their existence to magical perversions. They are drawn to the Art, and can be distracted by it. Remember that."


    S.u.c.k.i.n.g in a ragged, painful breath, Chang Chang choked out the simplest spell she knew, one that always worked and never caused her pain. Long ago, she''d used it to mend tears in her clothing.


    An invisible pulse of energy engulfed her hands as she finished the casting. Every successful spell she''d ever cast brought the sensation. Her teacher explained it away as one of the physical effects of magic on the body. Since the bloodplague, arcane energy was in a constant state of flux, manifesting in different forms for different wizards. This was hers.


    According to Ju Feng, the wraith was a slave to the spellplague. Her distorted spell energies, however slight, might be enough to get its attention. Chang Chang prayed her simple spell would be enough.


    Arcane energy sparked inside the wraith''s incorporeal form. Whether from surprise or some other effect, the creature recoiled, forcing her out of its body.


    Chang Chang stumbled back, but she was too weak to steady herself. She managed one feeble breath before she fell into the water. After her brush with the wraith, the harbor actually felt warm. Chang Chang tried to swim, but her arms were still clutched into tight claws at her sides. She couldn''t get her limbs to function.


    Black spots popped in front of Chang Chang''s vision. A part of her mind urged that drowning would be a better option than returning to the surface to face the wraith. Her lungs disagreed. She expelled her breath in a rush of bubbles. Above her, she could see the wraith''s darting light. It was back in the water again, disoriented, searching for the arcane energy it craved. But the creature and its light were growing smaller the farther she sank.

 Chapter 196 - Bonds Of One [II]

    At first she didn''t feel the arm that encircled her c.h.e.s.t. The burning was too painful for her to notice anything. It jerked her upright, and Chang Chang felt herself smashed against a hard wall. The wall moved, drawing her to the surface. Whenever Chang Chang thought she would slip, the arm would pull her back from the abyss.


    She broke the surface gasping, choking foul water when she tried to suck in air. Her muscles were on fire. But she was alive.


    Ju Feng was treading water directly behind her, holding her afloat with his right arm. The wall she''d been crushed against was his c.h.e.s.t. The light spell on her arm still functioned. She could see the wraith making mad, swooping circles all around Ju Feng''s raft.


    "What did you do to it?" he demanded. "Its senses are blinded."


    "I''m not sure." Chang Chang coughed and spat water. "We have to get away from here."


    She felt Ju Feng shake his head. "Won''t get far without a boat," he said. "Drive it away. Use your arts."


    The wraith burst into the air, spraying them with water. Its attention refocused on the swimming pair. A high-pitched scream rent the air, and the creature dived at them again.


    Ju Feng dragged her underwater, and they barely dodged the attack. When they came back up, the wraith had circled around for another pass.


    "Make your blood magic," Ju Feng ordered her. "Make it a good one. You won''t get another before it kills us."


    "You don''t understand. I have no power." Chang Chang tried to swim away from him, but he pinned her against his c.h.e.s.t.


    "Your glowing arm suggests otherwise," he said.


    "It''s also bleeding. Let me go!"


    "Listen to me." He raised her left hand in front of her face. Chang Chang remembered the silver ring given to her by king Laggarma. It rested on her finger, its light dull. "Everything this ring touches grows in strength, including magical essence. As long as it touches your skin, your runecasting should work."


    Chang Chang closed her palm and felt a tingle of electricity coming from the ring. She searched her memory again. The fire rune was gone, but there was another¡­.


    "When I cast this, I will likely lose consciousness," Chang Chang said. She fought to keep her voice steady.


    Ju Feng tightened his grip. "You won''t drown¡ªyou haven''t paid me my fee yet. I''ll hold you up, only work your rune!"


    Chang Chang blocked out his voice, the icy water, the wraith''s screams. She waited for the creature to glide close to the water again. When it was in her line of sight, she muttered the words.


    Burning pain erupted behind her eyes, a side effect Chang Chang only vaguely remembered from her early lessons. She had not cast spells of this magnitude for years. Her body was not ready for the shock.


    Fighting oblivion, Chang Chang thrust her free hand above her head. The arcane pulse came again, strong and sustained. This time, the castl was going to work.


    A stream of white vapor unfurled on the air like a sheet. It snapped and coalesced into a savage-looking spear, which shot across the water, trailing ice shards in its wake.


    The magical spear impaled the wraith through its eyeless head. Unholy screams shattered the air. Ice flew in all directions. The force of the magic drove the creature back a full ten feet, and the light in its body flickered and died. The wraith collapsed in on itself, disappearing into the water without creating a wake.


    For a long time, there was no sound except Chang Chang and Ju Feng''s breathing. Chang Chang saw her breath in the wake of the cold spell. A fine layer of ice rimed the water in a straight line to where the creature had been. She watched the shards flake off like so much paint.


    "That''s i-impossible," Chang Chang said. Her head swam. "Never should have been so much, so big."


    "It was the ring," Ju Feng said.


    "Oh, well." Chang Chang felt unconsciousness looming. She was more than ready for it. "That''s nice, isn''t it?"


    "You live up to your name," he said, grunting as he lifted her onto the deck. The ice had melted, but he could still feel the brittle chill in the air, a chill that had nothing to do with the wraith''s presence.


    Ju Feng put a hand on Chang Chang''s c.h.e.s.t to make sure she lived. She breathed deeply¡ªthe sleep of exhaustion. Her light spell flickered and died, leaving him only moonlight for navigation.


    He knew magic taxed a caster''s strength, but he''d never seen a spell affect anyone the way the ice spear had wracked Chang Chang''s body. He''d felt her trembling in pain. He just couldn''t understand why cultivation was not functioning in this world. It would have been easier for them. He needed to get back to shore. Then he would find a safe location to attend to Chang Changl. He gazed down at the sleeping blood girl and smiled. Adventurer they were. She didn''t even think about it before agreeing to help him. She was a hardy thing. Already her color was coming back.


    "This way," he said, and began running.


    Chang Chang hurried to follow. She could hear them now, the sounds of running feet pounding against the sand, gaining ground with each step.


    They circled a caravel that had had its hull split in two. The jagged wood opened a dark maw into the ship''s interior. Chang Chang thought Ju Feng meant them to hide inside, but suddenly, Ju Feng stopped short and cursed. He shoved her behind him and took a stance. He''d decided not to use his own swords.


    "They''re herding us!" She shouted to Ju Feng, just before the men jumped them.Two figures leaped over the side of the ship, landing on either side of Ju Feng and Chang Chang. One had bright, corn silk hair, the other was dark and compactly built. Ju Feng skidded on the sand to avoid plowing into their sword points. He dropped into a crouch and swept out with his leg, catching the two men at the ankles. He hit so hard Chang Chang thought she would hear the bones in his leg crack. But they did not, and the two men stumbled and fell.


    "Behind us!" Chang Chang drew her glaive. She charged a second pair of men coming from the rear. Before they could reach for weapons, She cut a wicked gash across the first man''s arm. He backed off a pace, clutching his arm and shredded shirt.


    His companion came in low, dodging Chang Chang''s swingin. He wore dirt-caked traveling clothes and a hooded, threadbare cloak. He brought a broadsword up to halt ChangChang''s advance.was no trained fighter, Chang Chang knew. But what she might have lacked in skill, she made up for in sheer ferocity. She twirled the glaive once, letting the bloodied weapon dance in her hand. She smiled at the man with the sword, and the whites of her eyes were huge in the campfires'' glow.


    "Come on now." she shouted, stomping the ground, feinting left and right between his two opponents, letting his size intimidate the men and keep them on the defensive.


    Caught between her companions, Chang Chang wrenched a loose board from the ship and swung it at the dark, burly man before he could rise to his feet. The plank hit him in the c.h.e.s.t; a protruding nail tore into his skin. The man screeched in pain and fury.


    "You better leave now." Chang Chang barked. The man with corn silk hair brought his sword down in an axe chop. Chang Chang dodged, and the blade buried itself in sand. She rolled away and came up practically between the man''s legs. She snapped out a fist, connecting just below his attacker''s ribcage. The blow would not trouble the man, Chang Chang thought. The man was much larger than her and she had seen the glint of mail armour through his thin robe.


    To her shock, the man whooped out a breath and bent double. His sword dropped, allowing Ju Feng to come in around the man''s guard. He locked an elbow around the man''s neck until he was fast asleep. The sudden battle sent a sick coldness through Chang Chang''s body.


    "Watch out, Chang."


    Chang Chang turned in time to see Ju Feng''s weapon fly from his hand. The butcher fell back, clutching his arm against his c.h.e.s.t. Blood dripped through the gaps between his fingers.


    Horrified, Chang Chang dropped the board and started to run to him.


    She felt a presence rise up behind her. She''d forgotten the dark-haired man. She tried to spin, but the sand slowed her. Large hands grabbed Chang Chang around the waist and slammed her sideways into the caravel''s hull.


    Chang Chang felt the breath leave her body in a rush. Her head hit an exposed board. Stars burst in her vision. She tried to call a spell, but her mind wouldn''t function. She collapsed back against her attacker''s c.h.e.s.t. He manhandled her to the ground, pinning her arms in front of her while he fumbled for a piece of rope at his belt.

 Chapter 197 - Bonds Of One [3]

    Chang Chang knew she was dreaming. The scene was familiar. Barefoot, she walked on green grass, up the side of a wide, rocky hill. Shafts of sunlight shone on her white dress. There were wildflowers blooming, gold and purple, all around her feet. She stopped at the crest of the hill. A stone tower rose up before her. A single opening had been cut into the curve facing her, a dark and unblinking eye. The western side had caved in, leaving a gaping hole into which birds flew and nested. Their cries were the only sounds on the hilltop. But Chang Chang felt she was not alone.


    There were other figures moving up the hill toward the tower, indistinct shadows darting in and out of her field of vision. She tried to grasp them with her eyes, but they had no more substance than the wind brushing her cheeks. I will follow them, Chang Chang thought. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to stride across the grass to the gap in the immense tower. She put her hands on the exposed stone. Warm from the sun, bleached with age, and ribboned with thousands of miniscule cracks, the stone held secrets. Someone had told her this.


    "All the ancient places of the world hold secrets. Who knows what manner of men walked here, be they beggars or kings¡ªmen who now lie in dusty tombs, their memories husks. Will the stones remember who touched them, when you lie beside these somber lords of the earth?"


    Chang Chang remembered the words vividly, but for the first time in her life she could not recall who said them. The thought was vaguely disturbing, but she pushed it to the back of her dreaming mind. She had entered the tower now. The stones blotted out the sun at her back. The tower''s wood floors had long rotted away, leaving the interior open from earth to sky. Crushed grass and the remains of a small human body were strewn on the ground.


    Chang Chang tilted her head as far back as she could, taking in the circle of blue rimmed by blackened stones through a gap in the ceiling. The tower had been damaged by fire; she could see the soot stains streaking the walls. Had this small human been the only person to die here? How had it come to be?


    She felt tired now. Chang Chang sat down in the middle of the tower, still staring up at the sky. The shadow shapes moved around her, but she wasn''t afraid of them. She felt that if they would only be still, she would be able to name them. It was the same with the tower¡ªa living presence that, if she knew its name, would open its secrets to her and welcome her inside. Unnamed, it cast an immutable shadow over her dreams, dominating everything. "Have you found anything?"


    The voice, so loud in the peaceful place, made Chang Chang jump. The shadows flitted closer to her, and Chang Chang felt their urgency. Something was happening. The stones around her changed color and became bright orange and blue like storm clouds. The sun pouring through the tower roof was too hot, too hot. She looked down at her skin and found it melting off her bones. She was burning alive.


    Chang Chang awoke to darkness and more shadows moving around her. This time she felt real terror, for she knew where she was. The gag stank in her mouth, and voices floated around her.


    Someone p was there, somewhere in the darkness. She heard the person say, "We''ll wait for gateclose. Bring her, if she''s awake. Be careful of her arm."


    Chang Chang looked down and saw the clean bandage tightly wrapped around her injured arm. There was a dull ache where the pain had been.Two pairs of rough hands grabbed her shoulders and hauled her to her feet. The dark-haired man stood to her right. Her captors guided her over to the center of a large, rectangular room. Chang Chang looked up, just as she''d done in her dream. Timber beams crisscrossed above her head. Tin sheets formed parts of the walls. Wooden crates lined the whole building, some stacked as high as the ceiling.


    A warehouse, Chang Chang thought. She felt the floor slope down sharply; the ground the warehouse was built upon had shifted over the years. There was a good chance they were still in Mistshore, near the harbor. In the center of the room, twofemale elf stood talking. The two men guiding her sat her on a crate before them. The dark-haired man removed her gag.


    "Wait outside," he said. "Greyas, you remain here, but step back so we may talk."


    With the men dismissed, Cerest focused his attention solely on Chang Chang. "Hello again," he said softly. The female elf¡ªShenan, he''d called her¡ªbrought a lantern close and handed it to Cerest. The elf held the flickering flame close to her face so he could see her clearly.


    "What do you want?" Chang Chang asked.


    To her surprise, the elf went down on one knee in front of her, so that he was looking up into her face. She supposed he meant to appear non-threatening, but Chang Chang found the effort he took more unsettling than comforting. He angled his body so that the unscarred portion of his face was most visible.


    "I would like," Cerest said, "for you to tell me how much you remember of your childhood."


    The question was so bizarrely out of context with the situation that Chang Chang didn''t immediately answer. Cerest, intent on her expression, seemed to take her silence as defiance. He frowned.


    "Chang Chang," he said, at the same time gesturing to the dark-haired man¡ªGreyas, he''d called him. "I know you don''t trust me. That''s to be expected. You don''t remember who I am." He smiled. "But I have known you for a very long time. Gods, I named you. I remember the night you were born¡ª"


    Chang Chang lunged at him. Shenan caught her by the throat and pushed her back, but Chang Chang''s gesture had the d.e.s.i.r.ed effect. Cerest stopped speaking and stood back a safe distance. He regarded her with wounded curiosity.


    .


    "Why do you behave this way?" he asked. "I''ve not hurt you, and I don''t intend to."


    "You killed Brant," Chang Chang said. Her throat burned. "All your lies, no matter how prettily spoken, won''t change that."


    "I''m not lying,


    t said. "Brant cared for you. He was a good man. I know that." When Chang Chang only stared at him, he went on, "But I think you''ll discover Brant had his share of secrets, especially where you were concerned. I''m confident he acted to protect you, but in doing so, he shortened his own life."


    "Master." Greyas stepped forward again, dragging a smaller figure. Chang Chang pulled her gaze away from the figure, placed a hand on either side of Fannie''s head. Fannie quailed, but he did not exert any pressure on her skull. He didn''t have to. Fannie stood utterly still, held in place by the mere threat of what he could do to her with those large hands. She was gagged, as Chang Chang had been. Her eyes were huge above the scrap of dirty cloth. She looked beseechingly at Chang Chang.


    "We took her at the same time we took you,. He motioned for Greyas to bring Fannie into the light. He pushed her, stumbling and barefoot, into the small circle of illumination.


    "Shenan," The figure said, and the female elf stepped forward, taking Greyas''s place at Fannie''s back. She patted the woman on the shoulder, whispering comforting noises that made Chang Chang''s skin crawl.


    "What do you remember of your childhood, Chang Chang?" The figure repeated the question slowly, glancing meaningfully between Fannie and Chang Chang.


    "I am an orphan," Chang Chang said. She met Fannie''s eyes, trying to silently reassure her. "My parents were killed when I was barely two summers old. Brant, my great-uncle, raised me.


    "Your great-uncle," Cerest said. "What about your grandfather, Chang Chang?"


    "My grandfather is dead. I have no other living family," Chang Chang said. "Why are you asking me these questions? If you want to revenge yourself on me, let this woman go and have your p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e! What more can I possibly give you than my life?"


    The figuhh''s brow furrowed in confusion. "Revenge?" he said, sounding almost amused. "My dear girl, far from it. I have no quarrel with you. What gave you that notion?"


    "I¡ª" Chang Chang turned away. Her mind raced. He wasn''t after her. She''d been wrong this whole time. He hadn''t been in the fire¡­.


    Relief and fear vied for control of Chang Chang''s emotions. She hadn''t injured the elf. But if it wasn''t revenge he sought, why had he killed Brant? Why had he hunted her so diligently?


    "Shenan," The figure said quietly.


    Fannie''s muffled scream snapped Chang Chang back to the present. She looked up in horror to see the female elf holding Fannie''s head back by the hair. She placed a gleaming dagger blade against Fannie''s arched neck. Blood welled where the blade pressed flesh. The dagger was so sharp, one slip and Shenan would slice open the woman''s throat.

 Chapter 198 - Bonds Of One [4]

    Chang Chang swallowed. She looked at Cerest, letting him see the undisguised hatred. "I studied the art of blood divination and magical essence under the tutelage of a powerful blood cultivator, Fung Shi." she said. "My great-uncle paid out most of his savings to apprentice me to the man because he specialized in handling wielders of unstable mystical essence like mine. I learned from him for three years and acquired a reasonable level of skill in the Art."


    "A reasonable level¡ªdid he believe you had the potential for greater power?" Cerest asked.


    Chang Chang''s jaw clenched at the eager light in his eyes. "You mean advancement? Yes. He wanted me to travel with him, to test my skills out in the world. But I had no d.e.s.i.r.e to leave my home. That mistake cost my master his life."


    "What happened?" One of the men called Cerest said.


    "First tell her to move the dagger," Chang Chang said, looking at Shenan but addressing Cerest.


    Cerest nodded to the elf woman. Shenan, the lady elf, appeared disappointed as she removed the blade from Fannie''s throat.


    "Fung Shi took me into the city to test my powers. He wanted me to be able to defend myself in the rougher districts. None of the runic arts I was to cast that day were dangerous, and is more stable than many cities when it comes to magical energy going awry." Chang Chang knew she shouldn''t care what the elf thought of her, but the need to explain, to justify what couldn''t be justified, clawed at her.


    "We were in a large area. A fight broke out at a tavern as we were passing by, and the brawl spilled into the street." Chang Chang could see it clearly in her mind: the shattered door, the man being thrown into the street. Another pair of men followed, brandishing weapons. She''d thought¡­


    It didn''t matter what they''d intended. She never had the chance to find out.


    "I ran toward the fight. I left Fung Shi. When I saw the man about to be attacked, I use the only art I knew that would hurt. I''d never called the blood fire before, but Fung Shi had showed me how it was done."


    "To manifest and summon fire to your finger tips is one of the easiest attack spells to master, because you cannot burn yourself, as real flame would."


    Her teacher''s words, Chang Chang thought. But he''d never given a care to what might happen to him if things went wrong.


    "The essence ran wild?" Cerest asked. He touched his face, rubbing the scars thoughtfully. "The fire spread?"


    "I can still remember how high the flames soared," Chang Chang said. She was dimly aware of wetness on her face. She reached up with her bound hands and felt the tears. It didn''t matter. They had already seen how weak she was. "There was a stay house¡ªold wood, and a dry season¡ªnext door to the inn. The fire took the roof first, caving in the ceiling on the people inside. Five people on the topmost floor were killed instantly, including a Watchman who''d been investigating a woman''s disappearance. The people below escaped¡ªheavens might, I thought." She took a shuddering breath. "Until the energy expended itself, and I realized Fung Shi wasn''t with me."


    "What happened to him?" Cerest asked. But Chang Chang wasn''t listening. She recited the tale automatically, numbing her mind to the most painful part of all.


    "Fung Shi had gone into the stayhouse to save the rest of the people inside. He got them all out, and then he collapsed outside the building. I tried to get him to take healing herbs, but he said he''d breathed too much of the smoke, that healing wouldn''t save him. How could that even be? Smoke shouldn''t be any trouble for someone like him. He spent his last breaths telling me not to blame myself."


    Chang Chang looked up. The cavern was utterly silent. Greyas stood somewhere in the shadows, unseen, but probably listening. Nothing seemed to exist outside the dim circle of lantern light: it was only herself, Cerest the halfling, Shenan the elf, and Fannie the shifter. She glanced at the two women and was horrified to find them both looking at her with pity in their eyes.


    Heaven''s tears, she''d never thought to be making a confession before two monsters and a shifter. She''d never imagined such beings pitying her.


    "I understand now," Cerest said. "You believed I escaped the stayhouse fire, horribly scarred and out for revenge against the blood who''d maimed me."


    Chang Chang nodded.


    Cerest smiled gently. "You have nothing to fear from me, Chang Chang. My scars are from a different fire. Like your teacher, I see great strength in you. I want to help you harness your gifts¡ª"


    "Never!" Chang Chang''s shout shattered the stillness. "I swore I''d never pursue blood essence again."


    Cerest and Shenan traded glances. Chang Chang couldn''t tell what passed between them.


    "She is untried, Cerest," Shenan said, voicing her thoughts aloud. "You have led us on a fool''s chase." Her tone was mild, but she tightened her grip on the dagger.


    Good, Chang Chang thought. Let them slay each other and have done with the whole business. For the first time in her life she felt grateful for being inadequate.


    "She can learn," Cerest said. "She''s already had a Xu Wu''s training, which is more than Chang Fei had."


    "Chang Fei," Chang Chang said, surprised, "you knew my grandfather?"


    "It''s true," said Cerest. "Chang Fei was my best friend. Your grandfather was afflicted with a powerful bloodscar. Did nobody ever tell you that?"


    "They should have. The scar gave Chang Fei substantial powers," Cerest said, "powers that I believe you also possess."


    "That''s not possible. You have to be exposed to the blood-plague to bear such a scar," Chang Chang said. "I have never been to any other blood tar apart from this overground."


    "You were too young to remember¡ª"


    "I remember everything!" Her body shook with suppressed fury. "I possess all my memories, whether I want them or not. And you, sir, are not among them."


    Out of the corner of her eye, Chang Chang glimpsed movement. A slender shape flowed down the sloping floor toward them. Chang Chang thought it was a snake moving in a crooked line, but as it drew closer, she recognized the metallic smell. The substance pooled in a thick circle at her feet.


    Cerest recognized it at the same time. He summoned his sword.


    "Greyas!" he cried. But there was no answer from the shadows. Cerest looked down at the blood pool and cursed. Shenan shoved Fannie away and brandished her own blade, moving into position at Cerest''s back.


    Chang Chang used the distraction to slide off the back of the crate, putting it between her and the elves. She heard Fannie stumbling for cover, but Cerest was no longer paying her any attention. He was watching the shadows intently.


    "Show yourselves!" He shouted.


    A breath passed, and a sound like beating wings came out of the darkness. A huge metal cleaver buried itself deep into the crate where Chang Chang had been sitting. The handle quivered from side to side.


    Chang Chang reached up and snatched the weapon. As soon as her fingers touched the handle, the attack came. Chang Chang backed away, seeking cover. Cerest broke to follow when another shadow moved¡ªa large burst of darkness that came from above.


    Ju Feng dropped from a column of stacked crates, landing behind Cerest. He grabbed the halfling around the throat, dragging him away from Chang Chang.


    "You?!" Cerest shouted, twisting to shove the man off. "Rondel!" He spun. Chang Chang saw the instant the elf locked eyes with Ju Feng.


    For a breath, Cerest froze like a frightened deer. Chang Chang heard him mutter, "soul cultivator, here?" before he went for his sword.


    Ju Feng stood before him, unarmed and at ease. His knees slightly bent, he all but danced on the balls of his feet. Cerest thrust with his blade, and Ju Feng jumped back. The thrust never came close to his flesh. The elf swung again, and again Ju Feng dodged with ease, this time finding an opening to punch Cerest in the gut.


    The elf stumbled back. His sword wavered; he didn''t know whether to attack or defend.


    He has no notion of how to fight an unarmed man, Chang Chang realized. It would be more to his advantage if Ju Feng had a weapon.


    Ju Feng, on the other hand, appeared to be reading Cerest''s attacks before he made them. He stepped back, sweeping his foot out in a kick that connected solidly with Cerest''s knee. The elf had his full weight propped there; he went down with a cry of fury.


    This wasn''t even fighting. Chang Chang observed Ju Feng''s measured stance, the balance between rest and motion. He stayed suspended between the two, almost floating, until Cerest''s attack came. Only trained, disciplined martial artists fought this way, facing whirling steel with an air of serenity and absolute comfort in the strength of their bodies.


    Ju Feng Morleth was not a blood, nor was he from this world. He was a true cultivator, a martial artist trained in martial combat.


    A loud pounding sounded outside the cavern. Chang Chang tore her attention away from the battle. Ju Feng must have sealed the door from the inside when they''d entered the warehouse. Cerest''s men¡ªgods knew how many had come running at the elf''s shout¡ªwere trying to break down the door. The flimsy wood and rusted iron wouldn''t hold for long.

 Chapter 199 - Bonds Of One [5]

    Not this time. She wouldn''t be caught again. Chang Chang took a deep breath and searched her mind, cycling through manuscripts and tomes of blood arts in the vast tower library. Wind. Force. Her master had shown her how the mystical arts could be used if she was ever attacked in her later journey.


    Good enough to seal a door. Mystical arts opened and flew before her mind. She discarded the safe arts, those that would do no harm. She threw them all into a dusty corner and pictured a black book, something fearful and dangerous. Yes. Those were the arts she feared most, but they were the only ones that would aid her friends.


    Then it came to her: a black tome with a gold spine. The words were written in faded ink, as if her mind were instinctively trying to protect itself from the deadly power in the words. She forced herself to visualize them clearly. Her heart tripped rapidly in her c.h.e.s.t. She thought of a song to calm herself, chanted in time to the music, but her voice quivered. She was no monk cultivator. There would be no serenity for her in this fight.


    The arts manifested in a burst of energy. Chang Chang''s hair blew straight back from her face. The hot wind made her eyes stream. She lifted her hands, and the wind rose, spiraling outward to the door in a contained funnel. The force of it grated against the wood, forcing the door tight into its frame. The pounding ceased.


    "Ju Feng! let''s go! I can''t hold it for long!" Chang Chang screamed above the wind.


    Chang Chang heard a loud thud. It sounded like someone had been thrown into a pile of crates. She was too focused on the spell to see whether it was a friend or a foe. The breath burned in her c.h.e.s.t. Too hot, she thought. The air thickened, and sweat poured down her face. The blood art was too strong. It was happening just like before, but this would be much worse. She could feel the heat building. Paint bubbled on the warehouse walls.


    Heavens don''t do this to me. Not again.


    Five years fell away like scales. She was losing control; the essence of the arts was slipping away, taking on a life of its own. Chang Chang was powerless to stop it. She could hear the screams coming from the stayhouse. So many people, trying to get out¡­.


    The wooden door buckled in its frame. Frightened shouts rang out from the other side. Chang Chang fought to contain the wind, to keep it caged in its deadly funnel. Flames burst into being and flew along the funnel''s rim. Chang Chang could do nothing but watch them, a dozen restless wraiths spiraling through the air. Pain shot through her after each flame appeared, as if they were being torn from her body.


    Chang Chang dropped to her knees, and the funnel burst. Freed, the fire shot in all directions. The deadly flame arrows buried in crates or ricocheted off the tin walls. Everyone in the cavern would be a target, Chang Chang thought wildly. She couldn''t end the spell; the magic became unrecognizable once the spell went wild. She had no way to contain it now.


    Through a haze of smoke and pain, Chang Chang felt a presence behind her. For all she knew, it could have been Cerest or one of his men, come to stick a dagger in her back. Somehow, she knew it was Ju Feng. The boy crouched behind her.


    "Can you walk?" He had to shout to be heard above the roaring wind.


    Chang Chang shook her head. The slight movement made her vision swim.


    "Where are they?" Chang Chang said. She couldn''t see them through the smoke. The crates were on fire, the blaze spreading to every corner of the warehouse. Soon the ceiling would collapse, just as it had done five years ago.


    "The others fled in fear of your power display."


    "Go," Chang Chang said. "Get out of here."


    A wave of energy shuddered through Chang Chang''s body. She felt the last vestiges of the spell inside her explode outward. The door and part of the wall blew apart, but Chang Chang didn''t hear the grinding, tearing metal. The force of the blast deafened her.


    "How convenient," Ju Feng said. He was still shouting, but his voice seemed to come from very far away. He had his hands at her armpits, dragging her to her feet. "You made us a door."


    "You shouldn''t have¡­ done that," Chang Chang said. She swayed on her feet. A beam broke away from the ceiling, trailing a sheet of flame all the way to the ground.


    "We''ve got to run," Ju Feng said. He took her hand, yanking her behind him. "Put your arms around my neck. Do it!"


    Chang Chang wrapped her arms around him. Ju Feng lifted her onto his back and sprinted to the gap in the wall. Chang Chang felt as if she were flying. More beams dropped around them, but Ju Feng found a path through as if by magic. The fire and smoke were everywhere, but he kept running.


    Suddenly they were through. Cool air hit Chang Chang''s face. It was daylight.


    The twisted opening spat them out onto a small dock behind the warehouse. Parts of it burned with the building, but Ju Feng didn''t stop to see if it would hold their weight. He charged down the narrow platform all the way to the edge and jumped into the water.


    The impact shook Chang Chang loose from Ju Feng''s back, but he stayed beside her. The cold water shocked her limbs into functioning. With Ju Feng''s aid, she swam to the surface.


    "We''ll stay in the harbor," Ju Feng said when they''d caught their breath. "Swim underwater as much as you can," he told her. "They''ll be watching to see if we survived. We''ve got to find cover."


    He dived down. Chang Chang followed, keeping a hand on his flank so she wouldn''t lose him in the murky water. As far as she could tell, they were headed roughly in the direction of the shore.


    They surfaced in a thick stand of brush about thirty feet from the dock. Sull waited in the weeds.


    "I saw you go off the dock," he said. "Fannie slipped away. No one''s watching that I can see."


    Chang Chang was shaking by the time she got out of the water. When she came within reach, Sull pulled her against his c.h.e.s.t, hugging her so hard Chang Chang couldn''t breathe.


    "I''m all right," Chang Chang said weakly. She patted him on the back.


    "Gave me a fright back there." the butcher said roughly. He released her and mopped his eyes with his apron. Ju Feng stood a little apart, scanning the area. The warehouse continued its slow collapse, but they were clear of the devastation.


    "Let''s get out of here," Ju Feng said finally. He moved away, crouching low along the shoreline, not waiting for their reply.


    ?  O"Where are we goin''?" Sull asked.


    "Conrinue to look for the items." Ju Feng said as he led Chang Chang by the hand, half-supporting her. "She needs rest."


    "Back into the water," Ju Feng said. He waded in up to his waist. "Keep her head up. She''ll be fine."


    The water felt colder. Chang Chang''s teeth chattered, but she swam with Ju Feng into the harbor They swam clear of the dock and out into open water. The sky was gray and overcast. In the distance, deep blue clouds threatened rain, but the day was still too bright. Chang Chang felt horribly exposed. At any moment, she expected shouts to go up from the shore."Don''t worry," Ju Feng said, seeing her expression. "We''re going under." He took in her chattering teeth and general state of disarray. "you''ll have to tow her if she slows."


    "I can make it," Chang Chang said, but she slurred the words.


    "We''ll stay under until we reach the wreckage," Ju Feng said, nodding to the floating mass of Mistshore''s main body. "We should be able to swim under the docks and footpaths. Ready?"


    Chang Chang nodded, and they dived. Sull kept one arm around her and used the other to swim close to Ju Feng.


    They swam for what seemed like an eternity. After a time, Chang Chang simply floated in Ju Feng''s grip, concentrating on keeping her breath in her body. When she felt she could bear no more, Ju Feng angled upward to the light. They came up under one of the wooden pathways. There was barely room for their heads underneath the rotting planks, but the sound of the waves lapping against the pilings concealed their gasping breaths.


    Chang Chang could hear footsteps echoing loudly just above their heads. "Where are you taking us?" she whispered.


    Ju Feng put a finger to his lips. He disappeared beneath the surface, leaving her to tread the water.

 Chapter 200 - Bonds Of One [6]

    Ju Feng broke the surface a few feet away and waved a hand. Chang Chang experienced a renewed shock of weakness as she slogged through the water. "We''re here," Ju Feng said.


    "Where?" Chang Chang asked.


    "If you can hold on for a little longer, I''m taking us someplace safe," Ju Feng said. "Nine feet straight down there''s a figurehead: the Blind Mermaid, they call her. She sticks up from the sand, so you can''t see her fish half. She''s buried along with the rest of the The Water Caller."


    "The Water Caller?" Sull said. "You mean she was part of a ship? How do you know all that? You''re not even from this world. "


    "She still is," Ju Feng said. "And yes, I''m not from here, but I heard them talking about it earlier. Anyway, I figured something out. She has a more important job now. She''s the guardian of a door, a secret door we''re going to need. So we''ll be paying her a visit." He raised a hand to forestall more questions. "When I go down, you''ll follow a few feet behind. Don''t be afraid of what you see, or how deep we go. Just keep following me."


    Chang Chang nodded, but her hesitance must have shown. Ju Feng scowled and shook his head impatiently.


    "This is important," he said, speaking to both of them. "You can''t turn around. Once we go down, it''s all the way. Or you''ll drown. That''s how they keep out the ones who aren''t supposed to be there."


    Isn''t that us? Chang Chang thought, but she didn''t give it voice.


    "I''ll follow you," she said. She''d decided to trust Ju Feng once, and now she seemed convinced of the boy. He''d saved her from the fire, risking his own life to do so. Well, she had saved him too before.


    The wooden mermaid was covered in a shawl of seaweed, the thin, green streamers trailing behind her like a living cloak. Buried to the waist in sand, the mermaid stared up to the surface through her sightless eyes.


    Ju Feng put his thumbs to both her eye sockets and pushed. The wooden orbs disappeared inside her skull, and Ju Feng back-stroked furiously, propelling himself away from the figurehead.


    Light burst from the mermaid''s eyes, beams of illumination that spilled over her wooden sockets and down her rigid face like tears. The rotting wood glowed golden, suffusing, impossibly, with life.


    The mermaid''s skin turned white, and her hair moved in the water, shifting colors from brown to blue-green. She uncrossed her arms from in front of her b.a.r.e b.r.e.a.s.ts, brandishing a trident in one hand, and a glowing green orb in the other. She turned her head at an odd angle to regard them. Though her body now throbbed with life, her eyes remained vacant.


    She doesn''t really live, Chang Chang thought. She''s a construct of some sort. A guardian, Ju Feng had said.


    "Welcome to the Haven," the mermaid spoke. The words reached Chang Chang''s ears clearly, magically propelled through the water. "Those who seek entrance, come forward. But do no harm in Sanugai''s depth, or face a slow death in the cuddle of the amber one."


    With those cryptic words, the mermaid lifted her arms, crossing the trident in front of her. The orb flashed green, and the trident glowed in answer. She brought it down in one swift stroke, driving the weapon into the sand covering her lower half.


    A deep rumbling echoed beneath them. Awestruck, Chang Chang watched the sand roil, parting on either side of the mermaid''s body. Contained by magical essence, the tempest of sand and water swirled around the mermaid and revealed her glossy silver tail. Beneath the webbed fin, a dark space yawned.


    Lit by spheres of magical radiance, the narrow passage led into the hull of what looked like an ancient sailing ship. The wood around the animated figurehead was rotting and caked with barnacles, but somehow it remained intact.


    Ju Feng swam for the passage; Chang Chang followed quickly. Chang Chang''s c.h.e.s.t ached to draw breath, and as she swam down the dark tunnel, she realized what Ju Feng meant about not turning back.


    The sand was already swirling behind them, sealing off the entrance. The mermaid resumed her frozen pose, her sightless eyes betraying nothing of what lay beneath her fin. There was no way out behind them. It was death or forward.


    "Cough it out, Chang. Good, that''s good." Ju Feng smacked her on the back, forcing up more of the loathsome harbor water than Chang Chang thought possible for anyone to swallow.


    She crouched on the floor of the lowest deck of The Water Caller, Ju Feng stood on either side of her. Behind them, a wall of water stretched weirdly from floor to ceiling, kept from rushing into the cabin by an invisible magical field that faltered and sprayed jets of water at random intervals.


    In front of them, a trio of large, armored guards stood with drawn swords, the unfriendly ends pointed at each of their throats. The one pointed at Chang Chang bobbed uncertainly as she threw up around it. Chang Chang tried to appear as contrite as she could, under the circ.u.mstances.


    "Where are we?" she asked when she could speak again.


    "Well, as I said earlier. I believe this is the back door," Ju Feng explained. "They''ll check our weapons here, as I''ve learned." As he said it, the guards stepped forward to search them. They took nothing from Ju Feng since he had nothing on him except the small spatial sac. Chang Chang saw the glint in his eyes, but he said nothing.


    Chang Chang allowed them to take the pack off her back without resistance. She saw one guard''s eye linger on the gold box buried at the bottom.


    "What''s in it?" he asked.


    "An heirloom," Chang Chang said, "bequeathed to me by the last of my family."


    "Open it," the guard said.


    Chang Chang looked at Ju Feng uncertainly. He knew what she was thinking. She''d not yet opened the mysterious box, found buried beneath the floorboards of Chang Wei''s shop. Who knew what it might contain?


    "Sarugai''s rules state that no one may lose their possessions while under the protection of his hospitality," one of the guards said. Chang Chang wondered whether his words were for her benefit, or themselves.


    The man glared at the other guard and spat on the deck. "I know the rules better ''an you, keep quiet." He looked at Chang Chang. "I said open it, girl."


    Chang Chang took out the box and laid it in her l.a.p. She ran her fingers along the edges until she found the clasp. Thank the heavens it wasn''t locked. Releasing the catch, she lifted the lid. Red velvet lined the inside of the box, but it was frayed and soaking wet from their swim. Nestled in the small space was a stack of folded parchment sheets, tied together with a black ribbon. The parchment and the ribbon were dry and perfectly preserved, obviously via some magical means. "Chang Chang" was inked on the top sheet.


    "They look like letters," she said. She traced her name and felt a stab of disappointment. She had hoped Chang Wei''s words would be on the pages, but she didn''t recognize the thick, black script proclaiming her name so boldly.


    "Some heirloom." The guard sniffed. His fellows chuckled.


    Chang Chang clutched the letters and tried not to let her anger show. It would be foolish to provoke these men.


    Ju Feng laid a hand on the closest guard''s arm. Immediately, the other two raised their swords.


    "Step back," the largest of them warned.


    "My apologies," Ju Feng said. He smiled easily and removed his hand. "I couldn''t help but notice how cold your friend''s skin is."


    The guard he''d touched paled. Reading the mocking light in Ju Feng''s eyes, he gripped his sword as if he might strike out at the boy.


    "Get on with you," he said, his teeth gritted. "Though if it were up to me, I''d stick your head through that wall and let you breathe seawater."


    Chang Chang quickly sealed the box and stood up. She wished she could read whatever was in the letters, but this was not the place. Palpable tension thickened the air. She had no idea what Ju Feng had done to offend the guards, but they stared at him now with murder in their eyes.


    "You know the way," the guard said, still eyeing Ju Feng hatefully. "He''s expecting you."


    "You know this Saragui figure?" Chang Chang asked when they were past the guards. "I hope he likes you better than that lot."


    "From what I heard,  Saragui was the leader of The Water Caller," Ju Feng said, "a mercenary vessel for twenty years. When his ship finally went down, he''d strung it with so many magics salvaged from old cargo that the ship stayed intact. It drifted into the harbor and stayed here, resistant to water and, mostly, to time."


    "What is The Water Caller''s purpose now?" Chang Chang said.


    "Without a ship, Saragui had to turn his hand to another profession," Ju Feng said, running his hand along the wall.


    "The Haven?" Chang Chang said, echoing the mermaid''s words. "Sounds awfully harmless for a mercenary, but we know that can never be."

 Chapter 201 - Bonds Of One [7]

    The guards opened the portal and Ju Feng ushered Chang Chang through.


    Chang Chang''s mouth fell open in shocked amazement.


    She''d expected to enter another cramped cabin, but instead she beheld a tunnel through the seawater. It extended eight feet above their heads, reinforced by another magical shield. Water beaded and dripped on their heads in a steady drizzle. The air reeked of salt.


    "They drain the water periodically," the second guard said, "so it doesn''t flood the passage."


    "Don''t look sturdy to me," Ju Feng said.


    "It isn''t." Chang Chang pointed to the stutters in the shield. The sensation of walking on water unnerved her. She kept her eyes off her feet. "Was the shield here before the bloodplague?" she asked.


    "Yes," the guard said. "The enchantments held. Most people who come to the Haven come from WaterWay, walking above water. Only the lucky souls who can''t afford to be seen entering the Cradle use this entrance now."


    "Who?" Chang Chang asked.


    The guard shrugged. "Maybe a young noble. He wants a night of fun but doesn''t want his face known in WaterWay. Long as he doesn''t mind a swim, this is the way he comes."


    The tunnel began a gradual, upward slope. At the end loomed another water wall.


    Ju Feng passed through the opening first. Chang Chang followed, bringing up the rear.


    Behind the wall Chang Chang could tell they were in the belly of another ship. The hull had been reinforced several times over. No visible magical shield greeted them beyond the water wall. A ladder led up to the main deck, and Chang Chang could see a square of dull sunlight above. The breeze blowing down the ladder was cool and smelled strongly of rain. She couldn''t see anything beyond the opening, but she heard muffled voices.


    She turned around and noticed for the first time the pair of guards standing on their side of the wall. One of them, a young man not much older than Chang Chang, stepped forward to speak to Ju Feng.


    "Saragui sends his greetings, and I bear a message. If you wish his protection, the cost will be one of you fighting in the Haven. Can I tell him you will fight in the Haven?"


    "Yes," Ju Feng said.


    "No, he won''t," Chang Chang interrupted. "Ju Feng, what is this? We''re not here to fight. You told us you were taking us someplace safe."


    "Safety comes with a price, Chang" Ju Feng said. "This is what you know. Fighting is Sarugai''s business. So if we want to stay here, that''s what we do. Tell your master that I''m in," he told the guard. "Expect his champion to fall tonight."


    "Bold words," the guard said. His face split in an involuntary grin. "Changa has no equal this past tenday."


    "Changa?" Sull said. He snorted. "The champion is called Changa?"


    "Death knells, that''s why," said the guard. "They nicknamed her after she sent that poor bastard Tanshi into the pool. She hates it, but everyone likes a good nickname, you know."


    "We need time to rest," Ju Feng said.


    "Saragui says if you''re committed to fighting, you can stay here in safety for the day," said the guard. "Fight''s tonight, after gateclose."


    "Give him our gratitude," Ju Feng said. The guard nodded and climbed the ladder. His partner followed, leaving them alone in the cabin, which reeked of mildew and the general stink of the harbor. Chang Chang found she was growing used to the smell. She wrinkled her nose. Likely because she was soaked in it, she thought.


    "You''ve not been here before. So, how do you know much about this place?" Chang Chang asked Ju Feng when they''d arranged themselves on the floor near the back of the cabin.


    "I only heard people talking about how they come here when they need protection," Ju Feng said, "when they desperate enough. We''re safe here for the day, I guess. We should both sleep." He looked at Chang Chang. "We''ll need whatever spells you can muster if things don''t go well tonight. I see no way Cerest could track us here, but I want to be prepared."


    "You said one night, and then we''d renegotiate the price for your aid," Chang Chang said. "The cameo can''t possibly cover all you''re doing for us."


    Ju Feng laughed. "That, my lady, is the most profound understatement I''ve yet heard from you."


    Chang Chang bristled. "You don''t need to throw it in my face. In fairness to me, I hardly expected to be menaced by the undead, ambushed by a dozen men, interrogated by an insane elf who knows more about my life than I do, which, considering my powers of recollection, is distressing in the extreme. Then you drag me underwater, half drown me, and where do we end up? Back in WaterWay, in the teeth of gods alone knows what type of men, with only a warm place to sleep as consolation." Her brow furrowed. "Come to think of it, that''s not terribly awful under the circ.u.mstances."


    "Hehehe," Ju Feng laughed.


    "Only when I''m under immediate threat," Chang Chang said. "Keeps me calm."


    Ju Feng nodded politely¡ªa ludicrous gesture, considering his previous attitude toward her.


    re, she''d admitted it. He would abandon them now, Chang Chang was sure, but at least she''d offered him truth. She heard Sull, already snoring softly in the opposite corner. Gods, she hoped she could keep him safe. She would give anything if he would abandon her to her fate too.


    Ju Feng looked at her for a long breath. Chang Chang couldn''t guess what he was thinking. The boy had little range of expressions she could measure. He wasn''t cold at all. In fact, he was livly. Isolated, was more like it. His eyes curtained his emotions. She remembered the child she used to know back in Lorra.


    Ju Feng reached into her pack and pulled out the gold box. The feathery designs caught the dim light from above and sparkled.


    "You can give me that," he said. "Keep the letters."


    Chang Chang considered. "What about our friend''s protection?" she asked.


    Ju Feng''s eyes hardened. "Saragui is not our friend. He won''t give us aid unless we fight in the Haven. You heard the guard. His champion''s been on a streak for a tenday; his crowd will be getting restless for new blood. No matter how much they may like Bells, they love an upset even more."


    "So if you beat his champion, you help his business," Chang Chang said. She was beginning to understand the stakes. "You have to win his aid, not buy it."


    "Yes. If I can win, we can negotiate with Saragui to hide us all, maybe for days."


    "Then¡­ we are agreed?" Chang Chang could hardly believe it. "You''ll stay with us?"


    He kept his eyes on the box. "I''ll stay with you. Where else would i go?"


    "You have my deepest thanks," Chang Chang said.


    Ju Feng slid the box away into her pack. "Keep it hidden for now. And don''t thank me. We made a bargain, and I''ll keep it."


    And with that, he was removed again, aloof. For those few breaths, he''d seemed like a normal man. Now he was the scarecrow¡ªa blank face and a floppy hat, which he seemed always to hold onto, no matter how many times they''d been dunked in the harbor.


    Chang Chang leaned back against the hull. With her immediate concern assuaged, she could feel her body relax. The frightened energy that had kept her moving was beginning to ebb, and she could feel the effects of the wild magic on her body.


    To say that she was more exhausted than she''d ever been in her life would be a vast understatement of what was happening inside her. She felt like a child coming around from a long illness¡ªor descending into one.


    Every time she cast a spell, her energy returned more slowly. She''d never felt that strain before, not during her most arduous lessons with her master. What would the implications be if she was forced to cast more spells?


    Ju Feng was right. She needed sleep to recover as much strength as she could. Her eyes burned, but she couldn''t drift off. Restless questions flitted through her mind: Cerest, Ju Feng, the letters, her family. She couldn''t settle on which mystery baffled her most. To distract herself, she picked the easiest.


    "Why did the guard recoil when you touched him?" she asked Ju Feng. She remembered vividly the shocked, frozen look on the man''s face.


    "Because I have cold hands," Ju Feng said. He shrugged dismissively.


    "No, that was what you said about him."


    "Did I?" Ju Feng leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "You have a perfecf memory."


    "I have a perfect memory," Chang Chang said.


    No one has ever said that to me, Chang Chang thought. The observation was so simply, absurdly true, an echo of everything she''d ever tried to tell people, that she started to laugh. At first out loud, then under her breath, until tears streaked her cheeks.

 Chapter 202 - Bonds Of One [8]

    The wave of grief shocked her with its intensity. She slid down the curving wall, curling into a tight ball. She covered her head with her hands, trying to be silent, unwilling to cry out her misery in front of her companions.


    She heard a stir in his corner, but Ju Feng said, tersely, "Leave it, Chang. Go back to sleep."


    He thinks if something comes over, that will be the end of me, Chang Chang thought. I''ll be howling, and bring every damn guard above and below the water running to throw us off the ship. He was probably right.


    Wiping her eyes, Chang Chang took out the box again and removed the stack of letters. She wanted to read them. Even if they weren''t in Chang Wei''s hand, they were the closest link she had to her first great-uncle. She removed the ribbon and unfolded the topmost sheet, the one bearing her name.


    Dear Granddaughter,


    I leave today on a new adventure. Wuzhi calls to me, and I find I must answer her gentle whisper.


    Granddaughter. Chang Chang mouthed the word. The letters were from Chang Wei. She read the rest of the letter, hastily scrawled in the same bold writing. There was no mention of spellscars or powerful abilities, just a farewell from an aging adventurer setting off on another journey.


    Chang Wei was my best friend.


    Cerest''s words haunted her. Did she really want to know the man who''d been friends with the monster that hunted her now? She held the letter, staring at it but seeing Cerest''s scarred face instead. She folded the parchment and laid it beside her with the other letters. They beckoned to her, silently, but her arms felt weighted to her sides. She couldn''t focus her eyes. Sleep, so elusive, was claiming her at last.


    You speak to me of adventure, Grandfather. Chang Chang sighed. I know the word. I''ve already had enough for one lifetime.


    Ju Feng waited, alert in the dark hold. He watched the square of dull sunlight above him turn steel gray, and then the rain came with full force. The air in the hold grew chilled, and a puddle formed at the foot of the ladder. The rain did not abate until the sky began to darken and the gateclose bell was near to sounding. Through all the weather changes, his companions slept, the butcher snoring in intermittent gulps and wheezes.


    Chang Chang lay on her side, twitching now and then in the throes of some dream. If not for those small movements, Ju Feng might have thought she was a resting corpse. Her face was pale, her cheeks etched with dark circles where exhaustion had worked on her.


    Ever since they left the dwarven underground city of Myria, she had not rested. Looking at her, Ju Feng nodded in appreciation. She had done more than enough for her. And now, she''s still doing more.


    Before the past night''s ordeal, she might have been beautiful, in a fragile, glass-blown sort of way. Grief had certainly left its mark on her, but the unstable magical essence she wielded had drained her more than any emotional trauma. She was dangerous, to herself and those around her, anytime she used the Art. Yet, what choice did she have, if she had any hope of survival?


    ***


    The dream took her again.


    She stood in the center of the ruined tower, looking straight up at the sun burning through a gap in the ceiling. Her skin tingled. The hair stood up on her arms. She didn''t like this place. The shadows moved when she wasn''t looking. Frightened whispers¡ªthe footsteps of folk who''d walked and died here a century ago¡ªmade it impossible to hear her own thoughts. She turned in a circle, searching for the gap in the wall, but something impeded her.


    She started to cry. Her knees hurt. The sun burned her neck. It was so hot in the tower. Why didn''t someone come to pick her up, to take her away from this place?


    "Chang Chang," said a feminine voice. She didn''t recognize it, but it spoke with enough urgency to make her turn. Chang Chang tried again to stand and was suddenly knocked from her feet.


    "Get her out!"


    The shadows were shouting at her. It was too hot. Chang Chang looked up, and her body burst into flames.


    ***


    Chang Chang awoke shivering, but her body poured sweat. Her bodice was saturated. She buried her head in her hands and waited for the dream fear to subside.


    In the panic and grief of the night before, she''d almost forgotten the nightmare. After the boardinghouse fire, she''d been terrified of seeing the faces of the dead in her nightmares. But she only ever dreamt of the tower. It was a perversion of the tower had created for her. She thought she''d left it behind when she''d left her great-uncle''s shop, but the tower had followed her, to the warehouse and now here.


    Drawing a slow breath, Chang Chang forced away the frightening images. Her heartbeat resumed its normal pace, and she drifted for a time, meditating, summoning the energy she would need to call her magic for another day. The words of the spells were there; she had no need to memorize them, but the power required concentration.


    When she was finished, she opened her eyes and looked around, blinking in the darkness. Slowly, she recognized her surroundings. The ship''s hold¡ªtheir sanctuary for the day.


    "How do you feel?" he asked tentatively. His face was pale under his black hair.


    "Food," Chang Chang said. She tried to run a hand through her hair and ended up getting her fingers stuck. Cursing a streak that would have made Brant blush, she yanked her hand free. "Food," she repeated, and smiled for Sull''s benefit. "Delicious lamb''s stew, to start, with fresh vegetables smothered in butter. Sharp cheese melted on bread slices. For the main course"¡ªshe scrunched up her face, pretending to give the matter grave consideration¡ª"nothing whatsoever that includes fish." She waved a hand imperiously. "That''s my order. Off with you."


    Ju Feng''s deep chuckle filled the hold. "Ah, thank you, Chang. I was worried you''d lost your good humor forever." He shot her a look of chagrin. "As to the food: the waterskins are fine, but the rations are soaked. I don''t think they''re fit to eat. But I found this next to me when I woke up."


    He handed her a loaf of crusty bread. Chang Chang tore off a hunk and bit into it, expecting the worst. Surprisingly, the bread was flavorful and chewy inside. She took several more bites and a swig from her waterskin and immediately started to feel better.


    "What''s happening?" she asked, noticing for the first time that the thief¡ªmonk, she reminded herself¡ªwas not in the hold.


    "Don''t know," Ju Feng said, but I heard a lot of activity going on up there. Must be near fightin'' time."


    Chang Chang listened to the footsteps clattering above them. Ju Feng was right. The voices were building into a dull roar. She wondered how many people would be present for the fight. Her earlier apprehension returned in full.


    Ju Feng meant to win them protection by fighting in the Cradle. But for how long could they realistically hope to stay safe? Chang Chang had never met Ju Feng''s contact, but already she didn''t trust the man. If Cerest offered him coin enough, Chang Chang had a feeling he would betray them in a heartbeat.


    "Feng," she said.


    "If you succeeds tonight, it will be protection for us. But there are danger there too."


    "Aw, don''t go startin'' that again, Chang." Sull wiped the crumbs from his mouth with an angry swipe. "Doesn''t matter what danger lies there,."unless you think I''m slowin'' you down." He clenched his hands into fists. "I know I''m not much good in a fight."


    "Feng, that''s not what I¡ª"


    "I know it!" His face crumpled. He looked near tears. The sudden shift in mood caught Chang Chang completely off guard. "I know you''re worried about me gettin'' hurt on our account. It isn''t fair¡ªme strappin'' myself to you, makin'' you worry. Selfish is what it is."


    "Selfish?" Chang Chang said incredulously. "You''ve risked your life over and over for me. I''m the one who''s selfish and no good in a fight. Without you,  I''d be lost." Chang Chang felt dangerously close to tears herself.


    "But it isn''t for you," Ju Feng said, his voice barely audible. He dropped his head in his hands.

 Chapter 203 - Haven [1]

    "I''m a new entrant, Chang" Ju Feng said. "I''ll have at least three matches before I get to fight their champion." He picked up Chang Chang''s cloak and pack. "Keep these close," he said, handing them to her. "They''re ready for us."


    No matter how intense her apprehension about the Haven, Chang Chang was grateful to climb the ladder out of the oppressive ship''s hold.


    On the main deck, night had fallen. Stars canopied the harbor, and the remnants of the day''s rain glimmered on the wet wood. Torches lined the deck, lending smoky illumination to a sight Chang Chang could not have imagined in her wildest fancies.


    The Haven perched on the water, bounded by a loose circle of four half-sunk sh.i.p.s. The vessels listed at various angles, half supporting each other, their masts crisscrossing in a vast web work of rigging and wood. Rope bridges hung suspended from the main masts, allowing foot traffic to flow between the four sh.i.p.s. Figures swarmed the bridges or climbed, monkeylike, on the rigging to find a better vantage point for the activity.


    On each of the four sh.i.p.s, wooden benches were bolted in rows to the deck, creating a sort of graduated seating on the listing surfaces. These rough seats were already packed with people, and the unlucky few who couldn''t find a bench were perched on the rails, their feet dangling above the water. All told, there must have been hundreds of people crowded on the sh.i.p.s.


    In the center of the Haven, water was allowed to flow freely in a sealed off pool. Wooden platforms, not unlike Ju Feng''s raft, had been arranged at various points, so it was possible to cross from ship to ship without touching the water. Four guards arranged themselves on the outer fringes and took charge of distributing weapons.


    Chang Chang watched a pair of men walk out onto the platforms. Both carried the same weapon: a spiked ball and chain. To her shock, they bore no shields and wore no armor. The crowd screamed and pounded their feet when the fighters faced each other and swung the chains like deadly pendulums in front of their bodies.


    "Heavens teard," Chang Chang said, shaking his head. "I''d never have believed such a sight if I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes."


    "Yeah." Ju Feng quipped in.


    "The platforms are stained red," Chang Chang said, half to herself. "What happens if they fall in the water?"


    "Nothing, if they can get out fast enough," Ju Feng said. "They stock the pool with blindfin, shark, eel, and whatever else they can find that''s vicious enough."


    "The winner will bleed to death before he claims his prize," Chang Chang said.


    Ju Feng shook his head. "He only has to stay on his feet. Once the victor is confirmed, Saragui authorizes the winner to receive healing."


    "Where is Saragui now?" Chang Chang asked, leaning close so Ju Feng would hear her over the crowd.


    "You won''t see him until after the tournament," Ju Feng said. "He watches the matches from there." He pointed to the largest ship in the circle.


    In the Haven, the combatants were already tiring. The heavy weapons were difficult to maneuver under the best of circ.u.mstances. On the water they were clumsy and shook both men''s balance. The taller of the two swung with both hands. His opponent dodged back but tripped on an uneven board. He went down on his knees at the edge of the platform.


    Sensing victory, the man still on his feet leaped across to his opponent''s platform. Frantically, the man on his knees tried to scramble away, but there was nowhere left to go but into the water. Hurling the heavy weapon at his opponent, the man dived into the water.


    The crowd went crazy, piling against the rails to see if the man would be devoured by sharks.


    His head popped up a few feet away, next to another platform. He hoisted himself up, and for a breath it looked like he would make it. But the taller opponent had been watching, biding his time.


    As soon as the man''s shoulders came out of the water, the taller opponent swung the ball, releasing it to fly across the water.


    The ball impacted between his opponent''s shoulder blades. Blood spurted, and the man lost his grip on the platform. Jerking, he sank into the water.


    Chang Chang thought the wound hadn''t been very deep, but then she saw the water churning, the flash of a gray fin.


    "Heavens tears," she said, "how could he leave him for the sharks?"


    "It was a clever move," Ju Feng said. He watched the man intently. "He''d already taken a wound to the t.h.i.g.h. He couldn''t jump from platform to platform, which is what his opponent was counting on. Essentially, he had one shot, and it turned out to be a good one."


    "Do they always fight to the death?" Chang Chang asked.


    "No," Ju Feng said. "You have the opportunity to yield, but many don''t. The winner''s purse is too tempting, and the crowd doesn''t like a coward."


    A guard approached their group. "I''m to escort you down," he said to Ju Feng.


    Ju Feng turned to follow the guard down a ladder. "Stay at the rail where I can see you," he told Chang Chang. "This will likely take all night."


    "Stay safe," Chang Chang said doubtfully. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Ju Feng at the rail. Both were too tense for conversation.


    There was no formal announcement when the fighters came into the Haven¡ªno names, no mention of how many victories each entrant had won. The crowd cheered their favorites and jeered others, according to no pattern Chang Chang could see.


    She waited for the crowd''s reaction when Ju Feng entered the Haven. Would they favor him?


    After what seemed like an eternity, she saw his old leather hat bob into view as he came up a short flight of stairs to the platform on the far side of the Haven. Hushed murmurs ran through the spectators when they caught sight of him. He removed his hat and handed it to one of the guards standing at the bottom of the steps. When he returned to the platform, he raised both hands in the air, like a conductor readying his minstrels. He bowed low¡ªChang Chang could have sworn he winked at her as he straightened.


    The crowd erupted in wild applause.


    "Seems they like ''im," Chang Chang thought as she nodded absently. She was waiting to see Ju Feng''s opponent. "We should take that as a good sign."


    ''E''s a stick, this one," wheezed a man standing at Chang Chang''s elbow. "Zu Ruo''s gonna break him, you watch now."


    "Oh, really," Chang Chang said, her temper prickling. "The crowd doesn''t share your opinion."


    "Ha!" The man slapped the rail. "Don''t jingle your coins on this bunch. They''re only cheering the poor bastard ''cause they know what''s coming. Crowd loves to see the little ones get squished. Borbus!" he shouted across the deck. A pudgy man with skin the color of prunes looked up. "What''re the odds on the little boy?"


    "Ten to one, Sheems," the man shouted back. "There''s a side bet says the sharks get to cut their teeth on ''im."


    "You want in on that?" Sheems said, turning back to Chang Chang.


    Chang Chang didn''t bother to reply. She was watching Ju Feng stride confidently out to his starting platform. He waved to the roaring crowd, a lopsided grin stretched across his normally expressionless face. Chang Chang had never seen him look that pleased with himself.


    "Gods give me strength," she murmured. "Tell me he''s just playing the crowd. If he doesn''t keep his wits, he''ll get his head bit off out there."


    "Among other parts of ''im," the man beside her said, pointing to the other side of the Haven.


    A man stepped away from the guards and climbed the stairs. He was not as big as Chang Chang had feared, but his musculature far outstripped Ju Feng''s wiry frame. He carried a long, barb-tailed whip in his right hand. On his left, he wore a shackled fist.


    The guard holding Ju Feng''s hat stepped forward, raising his sword to silence the crowd. He then turned to Ju Feng and said something that Chang Chang and the watching crowd couldn''t hear.


    Chang Chang saw Ju Feng shake his head. The guard''s face scrunched up in confusion, and he said something else, more emphatically this time. Ju Feng shook his head again. The same lopsided, complacent grin was still plastered to his face.


    The crowd was starting to get restless, stamping their feet and whistling. This seemed to galvanize the guard, who waved a hand at Ju Feng as if to say, "good luck," and walked back down the stairs.


    Zu Ruo, the man with the whip, assumed a crouched stance on his platform. Ju Feng stood, weaponless, with his arms loose at his sides.


    "He was tryin'' to get Ju Feng to take a weapon," Chang Chang said to herself, nodding to where the guard stood at the base of the stairs. A whip dangled from his right wrist. "Guess Ju Feng didn''t need it.".


    The guard raised his sword again, and an ear-piercing whistle sounded from somewhere above their heads. It must have been the starting whistle.

 Chapter 204 - Haven [2]

    Ju Feng''s opponent immediately charged forward, leaping from his platform to the one floating adjacent. He swung his whip and snapped it above the water.


    Shouts and wild applause erupted from the crowd.


    "He''s a peac.o.c.k," Chang Chang said. "Strutting around like that''s a waste of energy." She switched her attention to Ju Feng, but the boy still hadn''t moved. He stood, his arms at his sides, watching Zao Fei with a bored expression. "Oh, that''s perfect," she murmured.


    "What? The guard said. Chang Chang noticed he was gripping the rail as hard as she. "What''s he doing?"


    "Baiting him," Chang Chang said, "drawing him in. But he can''t keep it up for long. The whip has reach. The barbs will tear him open."


    Zao Fei jumped again, and this time when the whip cracked, the edge of Ju Feng''s platform splintered.


    "That''s done it. He''ll have to move now," The guard said. "What''s he waiting for?"


    "I don''t know. Oh, gods, he wouldn''t go that far, would he?"


    "What?"


    "Move. Move!" Chang Chang shouted, but the crowd drowned out her voice.


    Crack.


    "Zao Fei takes the first bite!" One of the onlookers yelled gleefully from next to her.


    Chang Chang gripped his hand and cusred. A dark stain soaked through Ju Feng''s sleeve. The barbs tangled in cloth and flesh.


    Ju Feng staggered back, clutching his injured arm. He slid to his knees amid thunderous applause from the crowd. They might as well have been foaming at the mouth, Chang Chang thought.


    Zao Fei grinned at Ju Feng. He let the whip sway in his hands, swinging it back and forth like a skipping rope. The force was not enough to dislodge the barbs, but the whip pulled and tore new gashes in Ju Feng''s skin.


    He''s waiting for Ju Feng to make a move so he can pull the whip out, Chang Chang thought. No matter what Ju Feng did, the wound would tear open when the barbs came out. Why had he let himself be hit? Chang Chang had seen Ju Feng fight. He could have dodged the blow easily.


    She saw Zao Fei take a step forward, then another, and suddenly Chang Chang wasn''t paying attention to Ju Feng anymore. She was focused on Zao Fei''s shuffling steps, and remembering the way Ju Feng had dodged Cerest''s attacks in the warehouse. Zao Fei was far less graceful than the elf. His body was painfully readable.


    "It can''t be that easy," Chang Chang said.


    "What?" The guard repeated, with a look of anxious annoyance. "If you''re going to map out the battle, lass, at least let me in on the outcome."


    "Watch," Chang Chang commanded.


    Zao Fei shuffled another step and jerked the whip. Ju Feng howled in pain. Chang Chang couldn''t hear the sound, but she saw his face twist in agony. The whip hadn''t come out of his wound. He pivoted toward her, and Chang Chang saw what she''d been hoping to see. She grabbed Sull and pointed.


    Ju Feng glanced at his small wound nonchalantly. Slowly, it continued to heal. He was clutching the slack end of the whip. Zao Fei couldn''t see it. He gave in to the cheering crowd and turned his face up, smiling in smug satisfaction. As soon as his attention left Ju Feng, the boy yanked the slack end of the whip with enough of his strength.


    Zao Fei''s body teetered, his eyes bulging as the whip left his hands. He stumbled to the edge of the platform, but instead of pitching into the water, he jumped, using his forward motion to get him across the water.


    He landed on Ju Feng''s platform. The monk had already steadied himself in anticipation of the extra weight. Ju Feng tore the barbs out of his arm and threw the whip across the Haven. Blood dripped copiously from his wound, but he ignored it and turned his attention completely to Zao Fei.


    Now he''s within striking distance, Chang Chang thought. No more reach weapons to deal with. For Ju Feng, the match had not truly begun until now.


    Zao Fei, for his part, looked furious. Ju Feng had humiliated him in front of the mob, and now he was down to one weapon.


    Raising his hands so Ju Feng could not help but see the white gloves, Zao Fei came in low, aiming for a quick jab to Ju Feng''s ribs.


    Ju Feng dodged, grabbed the man''s wrist and twisted it away from his body. The crowd collectively winced and sat back in their seats. Their reaction might have been comical had Zao Fei''s arm not been dangling at an odd angle to his side. He staggered back but kept his other fist raised to defend himself.


    Ju Feng kept his distance and spoke to Zao Fei. They couldn''t hear the words, but Chang Chang could see the guard at the base of the stairs preparing to draw his sword.


    "He''s offering him the chance to give it up," One guard said. He''d been subdued ever since Ju Feng turned the fight around. "Crowd won''t like that."


    He was right. Jeers and booing came down from the crowd. People on the rope bridges stamped their feet, spitting at Ju Feng and sending dust and debris raining over the crowd.


    Egged on by the violence of the outburst, Zao Fei shook his head and spat at Ju Feng''s feet. He charged, swinging his functioning fist for Ju Feng''s head.


    Twisting, Ju Feng caught Zao Fei around the mid-section in a series of quick punches Chang Chang had trouble following with her eyes. When he ceased, Zao Fei folded, collapsing to the platform. He was unconscious before his head hit the wood.


    And just like that, it was over. The guard drew his blade and pointed at Ju Feng. The crowd cheered the newcomer''s victory.


    So it went throughout the night. Chang Chang stood at the rail, watching combatant after combatant enter the ring. Ju Feng fought three more times, and each time he took no weapon, but managed to disarm his opponent and end the fight with his hands. Sometimes it took longer, and he collected wounds over various parts of his body. He never showed it in his face, but Chang Chang could tell the injuries were taking their toll on him. Ju Feng wasn''t moving as fast, and his punches were easier to track. He was certainly holding back.


    Although most of the cultivation world ideals never worked in this world, Ju Feng was still much more stronger than any here. Chang Chang knew that.


    "He''s going to be worn out for the final match," Chang Chang said to the guard. "How many damn fighters are left? It must be almost dawn."


    "They''re down to it now," the guard replied.


    "Hmm...ok. Your boy''s got where he needs to be. I heard that the the winner''s purse is a big one, on account of how long Zuo Ruo''s been champion." He leaned heavily against the rail, looking as anxious as she felt. "She won''t give it up easy. Still, he''s got this far. If he can hold out, he''ll get healin'' at the end of the match."


    Chang Chang wondered what this Zuo Ruo would look like. As reigning champion, she was only required to defend her title against the winner of the tournament, which meant she would be rested and, more importantly, she''d probably been watching the entire tournament to get a measure of her opponent.


    Chang Chang saw Ju Feng climb back to the platform. He was still moving slowly, but his muscles were loose. He looked as relaxed as he had during the first match.


    At the other end of the Haven, the guards parted to admit a stout figure with a wild mane of strawberry blonde hair.


    Zuo Ruo was a heavyset dwarven woman with ruddy skin and large blue eyes. She wore plain brown breeches and a white vest cross-stitched with leather cord. Her face was as devoid of expression as Ju Feng''s when she ventured out to her platform. She nodded to Ju Feng, and he returned the gesture.


    Instead of cheering Zuo Ruo, the spectators stamped their feet, and several of them produced small hand bells, waving them furiously above their heads. The din was shrill and loud enough to drown out Waterdeep''s own great bells.


    The guard raised his sword for quiet and approached the combatants. He spoke to each of them in turn. Zuo Ruo answered his query regarding weapons with a shake of her head.


    "Hand combat," The guard said when anothrt left the platform without distributing weapons.


    This did not reassure Chang Chang. As soon as the guard was down the stairs, Zuo Ruo darted forward, jumping nimbly from her platform to Ju Feng''s, landing as far from him as she possibly could in the small space. The dwarf looked up, meeting Ju Feng''s gaze and smiling.

 Chapter 205 - Haven [3]

    "Hello challenger," Zuo Ruo said.


    Ju Feng inclined his head. "hello champion."


    The dwarf''s expression darkened. "You know better than that, young one. That''s going to cost you."


    They were circling each other now. "You don''t like being called ''champion''?" Ju Feng said. "I''d have thought you would have embraced the nickname by now. Your fans certainly have. Or are they plants by your master, to drum up support for his champion?"


    He lunged, aiming a slight fist at the dwarf''s face. The soft blow glanced lightly off her jaw, and Zuo Ruo was already ducking under his guard for a jab to his midsection. Ju Feng fell forward into a roll. He tried to snag Zuo Ruo''s ankle as he passed, but she jumped out of the way.


    Ju Feng sprang to his feet, his arms out in defense, but the dwarf kept her distance. He would never show any form of his hand combat technique. Or even his strength. He could feel the slight discomfort in his ribs where she''d jabbed him, but he pretended as if it burned. Quick punches, just enough force to give pain. She thought she knew exactly where and how hard to hit him. That was the damnable part of this fight.


    "I did warn you," the dwarf said. "What is it you need from Saragui, young man? Protection? Coin? Whatever it is, it won''t be worth it." She moved in again, throwing a quick succession of punches, all aimed low where he had trouble defending. Ju Feng took another blow to the flank, but he caught the dwarf a weighted blow to the shoulder that had her backing off.


    "Only a place to hide, thats all" Ju Feng said. He took the reprieve to catch his breath. The air burned against his cracked ribs. "There''re one other with me. I assume he''s seen her"


    "A bird.," Zuo Ruo said. "Not the sort of company I generally keep. He''d love to hear the tale behind it."


    "I''ll happily throw the fight and tell it to him," Ju Feng said, "but I think he wants me to win."


    The dwarf''s swings faltered. Ju Feng got in another blow, a numbing shot to her arm. He pressed forward, but Zuo Ruo kicked, catching his knee. Ripples of pain shot up Ju Feng''s leg but quickly faded. In act, he wobbled, gritting his teeth to keep from collapsing to the platform. Breathing fast, he stepped back, unable to press his momentary advantag


    "Give this up, young man," the dwarf said. She massaged the feeling back into her arm while he seethed in pain. "It doesn''t matter if Saragui wants me to lose. The title is mine. I''m not letting you or him take it from me."


    "If you think so little of my chances, come ahead," Ju Feng said, opening his arms.


    The dwarf shook her head. "I''m not to be baited like that, child. I was giving you a chance." She dodged to the side when his fist came in, hooking an elbow around his arm. Securing her hold, she squeezed.


    Ju Feng felt the bones snap. His mind momentarily blanked, but he kept his feet, largely by holding onto the solid dwarf. When he looked into her face, he could see she''d put very little effort into the attack.


    "I''m the only person in the Haven who knows how much pain you''re in," she whispered. "I know how many of your bones are broken, and if I wanted to, I could drop you to the floor or the sharks. You can''t win without your ring, and you know it." Her eyes softened. "One last chance, Morleth. Give this up."


    "I have a better idea," Ju Feng said. He licked blood from his lips. The ribs were not broken, nor cracked, he thought. "How about a side bet of our own?"


    "You''re mad," Zuo Ruo said sadly. "What is it you want? Why are you fighting for the bird?"


    In response, Ju Feng jerked the dwarf close. He wrapped the palms of both his b.a.r.e hands around hers. Zuo Ruo''s eyes widened in shock. She had not seen him move at all. His finger pressed against her temple.


    Ju Feng did not attempt to strike her. He waited a breath for her to see the blue light, to realize what he was doing, then he whispered against her ear. When she drew back, her expression was unreadable.


    "Fine," she said, breaking his hold. "It''s a bet. I''ll try not to kill you, but I make no promises."


    "Fair enough." Ju Feng set his feet. He didn''t trust himself not to reveal anything, anymore. He would have to work on the defensive.


    She struck at him again, hitting his jaw, his collarbone, his shoulder. Each time her fist glanced off a bone, Ju Feng felt himself come apart a little. She left him his legs. Aside from the blow to his knees, he could remain upright and maneuver enough to dodge the worst of her attacks. It wouldn''t last. She would bring him down soon.


    He took another blow to the shoulder, but this time he snagged her arm before she could dance back. Immediately, she began punching with the other, struggling to free herself. Ju Feng absorbed the blows, letting his weight shift against her. She stumbled, off balance by the sheer dead weight of him.


    Ju Feng brought his good knee up, planting it in her stomach. She gasped and bent double, but he struck again before she could fold. Wildly, she clawed at him, but he kept pressing down with his weight, until they were both crouched on the platform. He forced his knee across her throat, pinning her. Choking, she tried to sit up, but he kept her down. Her reach wasn''t great enough to get around his long legs. She could keep punching him in the gut, but Ju Feng was beyond the pain.


    The dwarf sn.a.k.e.d an arm up, grabbing his leg. She twisted viciously, no longer concerned with his balance. Ju Feng bit his lip; blood filled his mouth. The Haven wavered, the faces of the crowd blurring into indistinct smudges. He kept Zuo Ruo down with his ruined leg. She hissed and sputtered and cursed him.


    "You''ll never¡­ stand," she said. "Your legs are ruined." Her voice was nothing more than a whisper. He''d cut off her airway. If he could hold on long enough, she would lose consciousness.


    "Hmmm... Maybe you are the better fighter here," he said, as her body went limp. "The only thing that separates us is our bodies."


    He looked up. The crowd was on its feet, screaming and stamping at the turn the match had taken. Chang Chang and Sull were still watching from across the Haven.


    Directly behind him, the guards were cl.u.s.tered around a figure coming up the stairs. Long, meticulously trimmed gray hair fell across his shoulders. His face was pale, his skin wrinkled but not yet taken heavily by age. He might have been a handsome figure, but his eyes were yellowish, his jaw tight, as if some hidden strain were working on his mind.


    The man stopped ten paces from Ju Feng. His gaze moved from the crowd to Zuo Ruo''s unconscious body and finally to Ju Feng''s face. He raised his hand, and the Haven noise died instantly.


    "You know the rules, Ju Feng," he said, his rich voice pitched loud enough for the crowd to hear. "Stand and declare your victory. Stand, or forfeit."


    He''s playing the scene for all it''s worth. A part of Ju Feng had to admire the man''s gall. Whatever the outcome, there''d not be an empty seat in the Haven after tonight.


    Ju Feng slid his knee off Zuo Ruo''s prone body. He felt the grating of bone against bone, the pull of muscles and tissue twisting in ways nature had never intended. He shivered. Cold sweat stood out on his skin. The blood was still hot in his mouth.


    Best to do it all at once, Ju Feng thought. It was the only way he would be able to gather the strength. One quick thrust to his feet, and the bastard would have to give him healing. The crowd demanded the rules be obeyed. Even the master of the Haven couldn''t deny the crowd.


    Ju Feng closed his eyes and breathed. "Give them what they expected," he murmured. He pushed it all¡ªthe broken bones, the torn muscles¡ªto a far corner of his mind, a box whose lid he could fasten tight and push away from conscious examination. He waited until the pain was safely contained, then forced himself to stand.


    Chang Chang covered her ears against Ju Feng''s scream. She knew the cry was involuntary. He would probably never remember uttering such a sound, but she would forever remember the terrible, animal whimper that followed the scream. She''d known his wounds were severe, but now she was terrified he might have killed himself just by climbing to his feet.


    He swayed. Chang Chang dug her nails into the rail, willing him to stay upright. His head lolled to one side; blood dripped in tiny rubies from his lips. But he stood, facing the tight-lipped man and his retinue of guards.


    "I stand," she heard him say into the silence of the Haven.


    Saragui didn''t react. He stood, watching Ju Feng with amused curiosity. A smile played at his lips.


    "No," Chang Chang hissed. She grabbed the iron rail. "No, no! He''s going to wait until Ju Feng falls." She turned to the guard, grabbing him by the back of the neck and hauled him aside. "He can''t do that! Tell me he can''t."


    The guard''s sighed "The rules aren''t clear on how long he has to stand. Depends on the master''s mood. Makes for a good show¡ª" He caught himself when Chang Chang bared his teeth.


    Chang Chang reached for her neck pouch, frantically searching its contents for a spell focus.

 Chapter 206 - Haven [4]

    "What is it?" Chang Chang asked. "Are you still in pain?"


    "The bones are reknitting," Ju Feng said. "Painful though."


    Chang Chang ran her hands over his robe''s sleeve and across his body. "You''re right, they''re mending," she said. "Gods above, she must have broken every bone. How could she hit so hard?"


    "Don''t let her height fool you." Ju Feng said as a guard poured healing potion down Zu Ruo''s throat. The dwarf was already stirring. When the liquid hit her tongue, she spluttered and opened her eyes. "She''s much stronger than she looks."


    Zu Ruo sat up and looked around at the crowd filtering off the sh.i.p.s. Chang Chang thought she must be looking for her master. She didn''t realize he''d left her unconscious on the Haven floor.


    "Suppose I owe you congratulations," Zu Ruo said, offering a hand to Ju Feng.


    "It was a good fight," Ju Feng said. "You''re still too merciful, champs. You should have taken my legs first."


    "I won''t make the same mistake twice," the dwarf assured him.


    "Merciful?" Chang Chang said. "She broke practically every bone in your body."


    "He knew the rules," Zu Ruo said. "No magic allowed in the Cradle and your powers are of no use too."


    Chang Chang decided not to tell the dwarf about her miscast spell. "Why would Ju Feng need magic to protect himself?"


    "You didn''t tell her." Zu Ruo snickered, her eyes alight with humor. "Well, that''s interesting, isn''t it?"


    Ju Feng glared at her. "Cultivation levels dont work here, as you''ve already seen," he said to Chang Chang. "Magic would have aided me most."


    "He means size means nothing here. Only magic," Zu Ruo said. "Can''t you tell by how broken he is? Without the magic to strengthen the bones, he''s going to get pulped in any fight."


    "Sarugai knew that going in, didn''t he?" Chang Chang said. "He knew how hard it would be for you to win."


    Ju Feng shrugged. "He can''t fix his own game. Like Zu Ruo said, there''s no magic allowed in the Cradle. That''s the rule."


    "But he made you stand longer than was needed," Chang Chang said fiercely. "He But he made you stand longer than was needed," Chang Chang said fiercely. "He wanted you to fall."


    "Maybe, maybe not. He can''t break ''em, but sometimes Arowall tries to bend the rules," Zu Ruo said. She stood. "He''s a twisted creature, make no mistake."


    "Why do you serve such a man?" One guard spoke up.


    The dwarf looked at the guard for the first time. "He pays me well. I don''t want for anything, and I like the crowd''s attention. Might be I''m a bit twisted myself." She shrugged.


    "We should be going," Ju Feng said. "He''ll be waiting for us. Coming, Ruo?"


    Zu Ruo''s face hardened. "Don''t have a choice, do I? You won the side challenge."


    "What did you win?" Chang Chang wanted to know. They climbed the gangplank and joined an escort of guards. Ju Feng smiled cryptically. "You''ll see."


    Unlike the sparse ship''s cabin they''d slept in, Saragui''s quarters were carpeted with blue rugs that looked as if they''d been meticulously cleaned. The furniture was dark wood; an oak table and matching chairs were arranged in one corner of the room. Saragui sat at the desk. A guard stood behind him.


    In the middle space, a couch and another small table sat against the hull. Fist-sized globes of magical light floated along the ceiling. The portholes had been blacked over. There was no seeing in or out of the ship.


    Chang Chang could sense the tingle of enchantments protecting the cavern. This room must be where the master''s more interesting audiences take place, she thought.


    Their escort indicated the chairs for Chang Chang and Ju Feng, then returned above.


    "You fought well, Zu Ruo," Saragui said, waving a dismissive hand at the dwarf. He looked at Ju Feng. "I''m pleased you survived, Ju Feng." He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a ring. He handed it to Ju Feng. "The Soul Of Saints. Yours, with my thanks."


    Ju Feng took the ring. He slid it into his spatial sac. "These are the people I wanted you to meet," he said. "Chang Chang you already know¡ª"


    "Of course," Saragui said. His gave one of the guards a disinterested glance before turning his full attention to Chang Chang. "My p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e, Chang Chang." He held out a hand.


    Reluctantly, Chang Chang took it, surprised at how warm his hand was. She''d expected a cold, clammy grip. He held her hand for a breath and released it.


    "Well, Chang Chang, your champion has won in the Haven," Saragui said. "You''ve earned the right to ask for what you need. If it is in my power, I will provide it."


    Chang Chang exchanged a glance with Ju Feng. He nodded.


    "I would request protection," she said, "for myself and my two companions. "We are hunted by the Catchers and a party of yaos and men. You''ve given us a place to rest, but we need concealment during the day. If you hide us, we will leave at nightfall and not trouble you again."


    Saragui inclined his head. "Easily done. I have a place where you could be concealed quite well"¡ªhe leaned forward¡ª"if you''ve the stomach for it."


    Chang Chang met his calculating gaze. "What place do you speak of, sir?"


    "He calls it the Isle," Ju Feng spoke up. "A half-sunk ship behind the Haven."


    "I appropriated it some years ago to take care of a minor inconvenience to my operation explained.


    "What sort of inconvenience?" Chang Chang asked, knowing instinctively she would not like the answer.


    "WaterWay is a unique entity in this place," Saragui said. "We welcome all folk, no matter how desperate or murderous, so long as they''ve coin to spend. Unfortunately, being such a large enterprise, the Aven attracts its share of¡­ lesser beings."


    "The diseased, the starving, the scarred," Ju Feng said. "The beggar folk, shunned even among the damned."


    "We used to dispose of them¡ªdiscreetly," Saragui said. "It was a mercy, I assure you. Their conditions were affronts to nature; whitewasting and darkrot, godscurse and worse. A few here or there were never missed."


    "I wonder why you stopped," Chang Chang said sarcastically. The man''s callousness knew no bounds.


    "Some days I wonder that myself,"Saragui said.


    "Don''t let him lie to you," Ju Feng said. "He knew that mass murders would not go unnoticed for long, no matter what sort of folk were dying. He devised a surprisingly merciful solution."


    "I took them in," Saragui said. "They live on the Isle now, in relative comfort and, more importantly, out of sight of normal folk."


    "No one goes there," Ju Feng said. "They''re afraid of catching somethingat


    "Don''t worry," Ju Feng said. "If he intends to send us there, he will provide us with disguises and spell protection against the sicknesses."


    "Absolutely," said. "I would not send you off unprepared. You will have your disguises, which I daresay will continue to serve you after you''ve left us."


    "Then we are agreed," Chang Chang said. She stood and extended a hand, but there was no warmth in her eyes. "We thank you for your hospitality."


    He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her fingers. "You are not easily unsettled, my dear," he said. "I admire your nerve."


    He looked past her shoulder, his brow furrowing in consternation. "Zu Ruo, you may go. I have no further need of you."


    The dwarf shifted uncomfortably. "There is a matter I must discuss with you, Master. It concerns Ju Feng Morleth, and a wager we made during thefight."


    Her master raised a brow. "I have the distinct impression I''m not going to like this, Zu Ruo."


    "It was my doing," Ju Feng said. "I made a side bet with Zu Ruo. If I won the match, she promised to accompany us for three nights¡ªto whatever destination Chang Chang names¡ªas a bodyguard."


    "And you agreed?" Chang Chang said, looking sharply at the dwarf. "I did," Zu Ruo said. "No offense meant, lady, but at the time I believed I could win the fight."


    "You discovered differently," Saragui said. He kept his voice even, but Chang Chang saw his cheeks flood with color. "Your arrogance will be the death of you yet."


    The dwarf said nothing, only bowed her head.


    "I will honor the wager,"Saragui said, rising and coming around the desk. He towered over Zu Ruo. "Take her, but don''t be gone long, little one," he said softly "And don''t displease me again."


    "Yes, Master," Zu Ruo said.


    Chang Chang turned to leave, but Saragui held up a hand. "Ju Feng, a word with you in private, if you please?"


    Chang Chang started to speak, but Ju Feng shot her a quelling glance. "I''ll be along soon," he told her.


    "If you say so." Chang Chang nodded to Arowall and climbed the ladder. She wondered if she would spend the rest of her life passing from the belly of one strange ship to another. "Well," Ju Feng said to Saragui when they were alone. "What is she?"


    "Your friend is a human girl and nothing more," Saragui said. "I detected no concealment magics, nor modifications to erase her memory. No wizard, in the Watch''s employ or any other, has tampered with her."


    "Why is she so powerful, then?" Ju Feng said. "Is it the bloodplague?"


    "You already know the answer to that," Saragui said, waving an impatient hand. "She is bloodscarred, and her powers are debilitating. But her condition is perhaps more serious."


    "In what way?" Ju Feng demanded.


    "I can sense the spellplague as clearly as you smell the rot coming off the harbor. I have met few individuals living with so strong a taint in them.

 Chapter 207 - The Cloaks

    "To put the matter bluntly, that girl is rotting with bloodscars. While you can live with the knowledge that you''ll die one day, Chang Chang is dying."


    "What?"


    "About you or her?"


    "Well, her."


    "Heavens tears, haven''t you touched her yourself?" Saragui took in his expression. "If you did, you''d doubtless find her frigid."


    Ju Feng lowered himself into a chair, in the way a cat sinks into a wary crouch. "Why is she dying? Explain."


    "I am only speculating, of course, but I believe that whatever ability Chang Chang gained as a result of her brush with the bloodplague is interfering with her essence. Her arts go wild more often than they succeed. Am I correct?"


    "You are," Ju Feng said.


    "Then, in effect, every time she casts a mystical spell, her body wages war on itself¡ªthe bloodscar fighting the ordered forces of magic. Her scar must be a powerful talent, to cause such a chaotic reaction. What is it, exactly, that Chang Chang can do?"


    "That''s for her to say." Ju Feng stood. Tension hummed in his blood. His body must be readjusting to the ring, he thought. He held up his hand. "Is there any magic like this ring that can calm the forces in her, make the bloodscar sleep?"


    Saragui smiled. "That''s why I like you You think of it as a living thing, just as I do. It surrounds the city, weaving into the wood and stone. Folk think they''re safe here, but they breathe the plague every day. They just don''t realize it. You and I are the only ones who know how doomed the world is."


    "You''ve spent too long in the harbor rot," Ju Feng said, "and you''re wasting my time. If you can''t help me¡ª"


    "There is no magic that can stave off the bloodplague forever," Saragui snapped. "You know that as well as anyone."


    "She''s stronger than she looks," Ju Feng said. He turned away from Saragui. "Stronger than you."


    Saragui laughed. "Yet I would not trade places with her for the world. My men will bring your disguises. Bring them and Zu Ruo with you when you return to the Haven to fight for me. I''ll give you a tenday before I hold another tournament. A tenday, Ju Feng. You''ve tried my patience more than any other man and lived. Don''t displease me again."


    Ju Feng nodded. A question burned on his tongue, but he did not ask it. He climbed the ladder and left the ship, but the thought haunted him.


    How long does she have? He''d have to touch her¡ªthe b.a.r.e skin of her hands¡ªto know for sure. He could touch other parts of her and get impressions, but they wouldn''t be as strong.


    He''d never known why it had to be so specific a touch. The buddhist monks and cultivators of his world believed the hands were the links that most strongly connected mortals to the world. A warrior''s hands could take a life; a midwife''s could bring a babe into the world. Chi manifested through the hands. He would see about that later.


    "Everywhere we go has a name," Chang Chang said. "WaterWay , the Hearth, Whale Cavern now it''s the Sinking Isle." She gazed at the latest jumbled wreck of a ship. This one, a cog, had been hollowed out, the decking torn up to form one high-walled chamber at the bottom of the ship.


    "There''s a ladder here," Zu Ruo said, stepping onto a short gangplank off the raised dock. She pointed to a rickety ladder laid against the inside of the ship. It descended into the cog''s belly, disappearing from sight. "That''s our way down."


    "We''re at the nether end of WaterWay, yet they still get around to namin'' everythin'' here," Chang Chang babbled on. "Unsettlin'', that''s what it is." He shot a quick glance at the ladder. "Unnatural."


    Ju Feng handed Chang Chang a rolled bundle of cloth. "Put it on," he said. "You''ll feel better once you''re protected. Saragui said even the stench is blunted by the magic."


    "Why does he have these?" Chang Chang said, taking her own bundle and unrolling it. A simple cloak of layered rags, it hardly looked like it could stop a swift breeze, let alone be magical.


    "He''s never told me, but I suspect he uses them for spying," Zu Ruo said. "His own man poses as a beggar, then the master sends him wandering around the Haven. Folk try to ignore him. They don''t see him as a real person, with ears and a tongue that can tell what he''s seen."


    "So after he''s done spyin'', the guards grab him and throw him on the Isle, just like a staged play," Chang Chang said, shaking his head. "Everyone serves a purpose. Tidy little business he keeps. Too bad someone hasn''t killed him." She ignored Zu Ruo''s narrowed eyes.


    "He''s offered us shelter," Ju Feng said, trying to head off the confrontation, "such as it is." She donned her cloak and felt a warm wave as the magic flowed over her. "How do we look¡ªany worse than before?"


    Chang Chang turned green in the face. She looked like she might gag. "You could say that, Feng. I wouldn''t go searchin'' for any mirrors if I were you."


    "Some gallant comforter you are," Ju Feng said. "Let''s see ourselves, then."


    Ju Feng and Zu Ruo donned their cloaks together. Chang Chang knew instantly when the magic had taken hold.


    "That''s¡­ effective," was all she could think to say.


    Open sores blossomed from Zu Ruo''s and Sull''s faces. Yellowish fluid seeped from the bulging skin. Sull''s red hair turned gray and lifeless, and his skin had a distinctly wasted tinge. Ju Feng looked no better. His red eyes sank into his skull, and his already gaunt face looked skeletal. Chang Chang could see the crooked blue veins just below the surface of his skin.


    "No one will recognize us," Chang Chang said. And indeed, she did feel better. Cerest''s gaze would never linger on creatures like this. "We''ll be safe, even in broad daylight."


    "I think we''re all good now."


    "If we''re so well disguised, why do we need to stay here at all?" Chang Chang said. "We can walk about Waterway as we wish."


    "No," Ju Feng said. "They''ll start searching magically for such disguises, if they haven''t already. I don''t want to test the limits of the cloaks in daylight. At night, perhaps. Besides, we need to sleep sometime, and I''d like to be as protected as possible."


    And I''ll be able to read grandfather''s letters, Chang Chang thought. It was fast approaching dawn. She had until nightfall to find some clue as to the nature of Chang Wei''s relationship with Cerest. She had no idea if such knowledge would aid her in defeating the elf, but she had to know the truth. She had to know if Chang Wei had been Cerest''s friend. "Dawn is coming," she said, putting her hands on the ladder rungs. "Let''s get this over with."


    She descended the ladder. Shapes moved below her¡ªbrown humps that stumbled and pushed each other out of the way in the small space. The farther down they went, the more she could distinguish the babble of voices.


    "All at one end, you know better than to crowd the stage, Bao, you old fool."


    "I want to be able to hear the music this time. I''m a full ten feet back. You mind your own seat; it''s wide enough to demand your full attention."


    "I''m not fat, you bastard!"


    The voices died when they reached the bottom of the ladder. Chang Chang could see dozens of rag-cloaked figures angling for a space at the far end of the ship''s belly. They all stopped what they were doing when Chang Chang''s foot touched the ground.


    A tense silence followed. Chang Chang stepped forward, raising a scarred hand in greeting. "W-well met," she said.


    "Well met." A man with a crooked back ambled over to take her hand.


    It was like greeting a skeleton. His fingers had no meat. Real sores peppered his arms and b.a.r.e legs. Chang Chang swallowed hard and tried not to pull her hand away.


    "You look like you could use a rest, friend," the man said eagerly. "I''m Bao, and I won''t bother you with the rest of the names for now, just you remember mine. Taken together, we''re the Drawn Cloaks. Lovely and mysterious-sounding, isn''t it? I came up with the name myself. Come and sit over here. We''ve some food and drink to spare."


    Chang Chang let herself be led over to the others. Hands patted her on the back and guided her to a seat on the ground. Immediately, a cup of water was pressed into her hand, and a bowl of some unidentifiable substance appeared in front of her. Similar treatment greeted Ju Feng and Zu Ruo.


    Chang Chang sniffed the food and looked at Zu Ruo. Her mouth was already watering, but she wanted to be sure the meat wouldn''t kill her. Zu Ruo nodded slightly. Chang Chang scooped up a handful of the stewlike substance and ate.


    She tasted stringy meat and hard potatoes, liberally seasoned with grease that pooled at the bottom of her bowl. Not a king''s feast, by any standard, but it was more substantial fare than her body had taken in days, and did much to clear her head and soothe the raw churning in her belly. She''d been so hungry, her hands shook when she brought the food to her mouth. She looked at Bao, unable to speak, grateful tears standing in her eyes.

 Chapter 208 - A Song Of The Past

    "Yes sir, that''s what they all say." He chuckled. "Now then. Where do you come from?"


    "We¡­ are not from WaterWay," Chang Chang said quickly. "We came in on a caravan. Our village was dying. Everyone was leaving, so we thought we''d come here, to start anew."


    Bao nodded gravely. "Aye, that''s the story among many of us. And here we are"¡ªhe waved his rag-dr.a.p.ed arms expansively¡ª"in WaterWay mighty, a city that looks precious little like a city and smells a bit like the rotting bowels of a once-fine ship. Alas, the bards, how cruelly they exaggerate!"


    There was a smattering of applause and rude gestures from the beggar folk. Shouts of, "Save it for the real performers!" Boa said throwing up his hands and laughing. "Eat hearty, all of you," he said, and he waddled off to find his own bowl. "We''re fed and clothed and grateful, and the troupe''s comin'' in. What more could kings ask for?"


    "The troupe?" Chang Chang said. But Bao was gone, and the others were immersed in their own conversations. The temporary distraction of their arrival had passed; the people seemed to be waiting for something. They kept shooting glances at the bow of the ship, but Chang Chang saw nothing except a stack of rotting crates. Rats weaved among the loose boards.


    "Surely Saragui doesn''t provide food and entertainment for ''em," Zu Ruo said. "Not when he''d just as soon be killin'' ''em."


    They looked to Ju Feng, but the young cultivator shrugged. "They seem in high spirits, which is more than I expected. Perhaps one of them is a musician."


    Bao came around again to collect their bowls. Chang Chang tugged on his rag cloak. "Are they waiting to see a show?" she asked politely.


    He grinned. "Aye, lass, the best in WaterWay , though we''re the only folk knows it. Sit you all right here and see what there is to see." He patted her arm and settled back on the ground.


    A crow flew over their heads, descending into the ship to pluck a rat from one of the crates. The bird was large and sleek, with oily black eyes that watched the beggars even as it snapped the rat''s neck. Chang Chang cringed.


    The sun had risen outside the ship, but a shadow fell across Chang Chang and the rest of the crowd. She looked up; more crows were flying in an uneven formation, cl.u.s.tering close and snapping at each other as they dived down into the belly of the ship.


    Instinctively, Chang Chang ducked. The birds flew over her head and landed on the rotting crates. The air filled with restless caws, but a hushed silence had fallen over the beggar folk. Every face, including Hatsolm''s, was tuned in rapturous attention to the crows.


    "What''s going on?" Chang Chang whispered to Ju Feng.


    "Halt your lips, you ungrateful lot!" shouted a voice that made Chang Chang jump.


    A crow''s head stretched, its black feathers shrinking into pale flesh. The bird stood up on two spindly legs, which lengthened and shed more feathers. The creature shook itself, and was suddenly not a bird any longer, but a boy, a boy grown from the body of a crow. The ungainly creature hopped up on one of the crates and surveyed the crowd.


    "Are we the show this night or not?" the boy demanded. He looked to be about eleven years old¡ªhuman¡ªwith greasy black hair tucked under a brown cap. A crow''s feather rested behind his ear like a quill. His eyes shifted around like restless insects, never settling on one object. "Answer me, dogs! Are we the entertainers?"


    "Ho!" A chorus erupted from the beggar folk. For a breath, Chang Chang thought she was back in the Haven.


    "They''re new arrivals, Wang, not true Drawn Cloaks," said Bao. "Give them a chance."


    The boy regarded Chang Chang''s group with interest, his gaze fixing on each of them in turn. "They''re false fronts," he said.


    Ju Feng glanced up sharply. He''d avoided eye contact with the boy until that instant. Not due to fright, but because he never gave it much thought. "We''re only seeking shelter, the same as any person here," he said. "What of you? What do you have to say for yourselves?"


    The boy hopped from crate to crate, his arms spread. "Do you hear, friends? He wants to know who we are."


    The crows flapped their wings in a grim chorus, and suddenly the air was full of feathers. When the black shades fell away, a dozen men and women stood where the crows had been.


    Chang Chang gasped. The crates were gone, transformed into a wide, foot-high stage that stretched from the port bow to the starboard. The boy pranced from one end to the other, pulling lit torches from a bag at his hip. He placed them in sconces at the edges of the stage. Their fiery brilliance lit up the suddenly shadowed hold. It was as if all the sunlight had been s.u.c.k.e.d from the ship, replaced by torches that gave off light but no heat.


    "They can''t be real," Chang Chang whispered to Ju Feng. "It''s mystical arts. Dreams ans Illusion."


    "Complex magic that can transfigure and interact by itself, all for a crowd of beggars?" Ju Feng said. "No one would take such trouble."


    "Then what are they?" Chang Chang asked.


    It was Bao who answered. "Ghosts," he said.


    A woman strode to the center of the stage and pulled a lute from her back. She began to play a lively tune for a pair of jugglers that somersaulted onto the stage. They tossed a dizzying handful of colored balls into the air and caught them before they gained their feet. Hatsolm laughed and clapped. The beggars were enraptured.


    "They''re such a motley troupe," Chang Chang said. "Shouldn''t they be haunting a playhouse?"


    "That''s the charm of it," Bao said. He leaned closer so his voice wouldn''t carry to the stage. "They''ve never said, but I think the whole group was lost in a shipwreck. I''ll wager they''re chained to it still, so they seek out the audience that''s closest. Before we came, they said they performed for the crows. After we arrived, they took the shape of the crows and performed for us. Isn''t that lovely?"


    "They sound friendlier than the sea wraiths, but are they dangerous?" Chang Chang asked.


    "Not so long as you fix your attention on them and keep your tongue between your teeth," Bao said pointedly. "They don''t like to be interrupted."


    "Of course." Chang Chang gave up and fell silent. She sat back against the hull and watched the boy, Kaerin, flitting through the crowd. He straightened a cloak here, shushed an errant tongue there, and teased an old woman who called him her boy. He seemed excessively fond of touching everyone. Chang Chang didn''t know if they could feel him, but all the faces turned up eagerly at his approach.


    The jugglers bowed and ran offstage, leaving behind a trail of balls that burst into sparkling fireworks. When the light spots faded from Chang Chang''s eyes, the lute player was back, changing her tune to something mournful. It took Chang Chang a breath to recognize the tune.


    The last falling twilight


    shines gold on the mountain.


    Give me eyes for the darkness,


    take me home, take me home.


    Chang Chang''s heart stuttered in her c.h.e.s.t. It was the same song she used to sing for Chang Song. The woman on stage looked directly at her while she strummed the lute.


    "What''s wrong?" Ju Feng asked. He reached out but stopped short of touching her


    "Nothing," Chang Chang said, "I''m cold." She wrapped her arms around herself.


    Ju Feng continued to watch her intently. Chang Chang kept her eyes forward, but she couldn''t look at the woman''s face. The song was painful enough. She stared at the bard''s feet and tried to blank her mind. She felt a weight across her shoulders. She looked up, off balance as Ju Feng pulled her against his side. His arm, hidden under the cloak, was dr.a.p.ed across her shoulders. He was staring straight ahead.


    "Ju Feng," she said, fighting a smile, "your arm seems to have fallen on me in a suspicious gesture of comfort."


    "Is that so?" He still wouldn''t look at her. "I suppose your virtue is distressed by this turn of events?"


    "Terribly. I believe I will expire from shock."


    "Better than expiring from the cold. Why is the song bothering you?"


    "Chang wei my great-uncle, loved this song," Chang Chang said. She let the words in. The lute player''s voice enveloped her like a warm blanket covered in needles.


    "It''s a sad song," Ju Feng said. "He''s lost in the wilderness. Does he ever find his way home?"


    "The song doesn''t tell," Chang Chang said. "What do you think?"


    "I think a bard should say what she means. Otherwise what''s the point of the show?"


    "What''s the point?" Kaerin shouted incredulously from right behind them. The lute player''s song ground to a halt.


    Chang Chang s.u.c.k.e.d in a breath. Kaerin''s hand came down on her shoulder; it was ice cold and strangely invasive, as if he had put his hand inside her skin. She could tell by the lack of color in Ju Feng''s face that he''d had no idea the boy had been behind them.


    Kaelin patted Ju Feng on the back before the monk could flinch away. "The point, he wants to know. He wants the full story of the boy lost in the wilderness." Kaelin''s eyes sparkled. "But will he want it told, after all''s done?"


    He looked at Ju Feng expectantly. Ju Feng shrugged. "Tell your tale. You''re the bards, and it''s no difference to me."


    "Truly, then, I have your permission?" Kaerin bent in a half-bow, so that his face was close to Ju Feng''s.

 Chapter 209 - A Song Of The Past [2] 首歌

    "How wonderful," Kaerin said. "It will be a fine tale. Clear the stage! Places!"


    The lute player vanished. She reappeared a breath later, without her lute and wearing a black cloak. She flipped her hood over her face and joined the rest of the troupe assembling at the back of the stage. They were all dressed identically, their clothes and features covered by the cloaks.


    Kaerin jumped onto the stage, taking his place at the front of the assembly. "Who will play the lead?" he asked. He put his hand theatrically to his ear to hear the response of the crowd.


    "Kaerin!" they cried on cue.


    "Yes, and don''t you forget it," Kaerin said. "Tonight, I will be playing the part of the boy lost in another world, the boy named Ju Feng." He swept an arm up, and suddenly he was swathed in black too.


    Ju Feng sat forward, his jaw muscles rigid. "What are they doing?" he said.


    Bao answered. "They''re going to tell your story," he said eagerly. "You''re lucky to be chosen. Most newcomers never get picked until they''ve been here at least a season."


    "How do they know what to say?" Chang Chang asked, as Ju Feng lost more color. "They know nothing about us."


    "Silence before a performance! We know all we need, just by touch," Kaerin said from the stage. His voice sounded deeper, older. He swept off the cloak. It dissolved into a flurry of crows that flew out over the crowd. The stage transformed in the birds'' wake.


    The bow of the boat was now a forest glade, dr.a.p.ed in dense green ferns. A small, stagnant pond dominated the scene, its watery arms wrapped around the exposed roots of an oak that crawled up the hull.


    Chang Chang''s eyes blurred at the sudden appearance of the illusion. She knew it wasn''t real, yet she swore she could smell the moss clinging to the pond stones. Unseen, a sparrow chirped its shrill song. Wind rustled in the wild grasses.


    "Not natural," Zu Ruo said. She swiped a hand across her nose, as if she could smell the green too. "Magic can''t mimic life, not like that."


    "Ah, but death can mimic life. The dead remember." Kaerin''s voice echoed from the heart of the glade, though they could not see him. His voice still sounded strange.


    Two cloaked figures, male and female by their shape, came from opposite ends of the glade to stand in front of the pond. They faced each other. Only visible were the skin of their hands and b.a.r.e feet.


    "Where is my son," the woman cried, "my foolish, fanciful boy, who runs through the forest like a wild animal?"


    "He likes to run," hissed the man. "Loves to run away and worry his mother. What a terrible boy; he thinks the village is not good enough for him. Poor, foolish boy."


    "This is not true. I never remembered this. This wasn''t me. " Ju Feng murmured in confusion, but only Chang Chang could hear him above the cloaked woman''s wailing.


    "Where are you, Ju Feng!" With her slender arm extended to the forest, the woman dropped to her knees as a blue light foun-tained from within the green pond. The light cast the ferns and the cloaked figures in glowing relief. The woman shouted, "He is doomed!"


    She disappeared. The man crouched to address the audience in a stage whisper.


    "But does the boy know why he is doomed, of his prophecies? Did his mother never warn him of what lurks in the dimensional worlds? Poor, poor mother. Poor, ignorant son."


    The blue light faded, and the man vanished, his cloaked form revealing a small figure sitting by the pond, his back to the audience. Lazily, he reclined on his elbows and tossed a fishing line into the water. Somewhere, a bird called, and the boy turned his head to stare at the audience.


    Chang Chang felt Ju Feng stiffened in confusion next to her. She made to put her hand on his arm, but he moved away, closer to the stage. Chang Chang looked at the boy. It took her a moment to realize that it was not Kaerin sitting there, but an older boy. He lacked Kaerin''s mischievous air and had an overly serious demeanor, his mouth twisted in an introspective frown.


    His hair was dark, with brambles and grass clinging to its wild strands. But his eyes¡­ they were common brown, yet so familiar.


    Chang Chang looked from Ju Feng to the boy and back again. In her mind she filled in the progression of years¡ªthe widening jaw, the added height and musculature of manhood. Ju Feng was around eleven years old, the boy only five or six, but Chang Chang could see it. They were not so different, except for the eyes.


    The boy was Ju Feng.


    Chang Chang watched the younger Ju Feng strip down to the waist and wade out into the pond. Up to his elbows in the green muck, he took swipes at the water, coming up with a bright green frog. He put it back in the water and watched it swim.


    When the dark energy came back, the boy didn''t see it at first. He was too absorbed in watching a dragonfly glide in dizzying circles over the water. Its wings touched the edge of the dark energy. There was a flash, and the dragonfly disappeared, vaporized by the magic surge.


    Seeing the roiling dark energy, the boy tried to get away but couldn''t. The boy waded to the spot of the dark energy his hand outstretched.


    "Don''t do it," Chang Chang said. "Don''t touch it, you''ll be killed!" Bao and the others were looking at her strangely, but she ignored them. She looked at the a.d.u.l.t Ju Feng. His body was still tight, but he watched the scene with a kind of bewilderment. It was as if he had never lived this life before.


    The boy stepped into deeper water. The darkness wrapped around him, flowing up his legs and c.h.e.s.t until he had to squeeze his eyes shut against the brightness. Panicked, he tried to back away, but he lost his balance and fell, his head going under the water.


    The beggars gasped. Hatsolm murmured, "He''s lost now. The plague''ll rot his mind."


    Chang Chang knew better. She waited, her hands clutching her skirt.


    The boy''s head burst from the water, and he was screaming, clutching his face, and thrashing while he tried desperately to find the shore. He crawled onto the bank and collapsed in a snarl of cattails. Their brown heads quivered above him.


    The dark energy continued to whirl furiously, but Chang Chang could see the pond''s surface bubbling. The floating plants and moss shriveled up and turned black, their essences consumed by the Soul-plague. Soon, the water itself began to recede, pulling away from the bank and leaving behind a jagged shelf of claylike soil.


    The boy rolled onto his back, his eyes staring vacantly at the crater where the pond had been. Streaks of blood ran down his cheeks. He climbed unsteadily to his feet and ran blindly into the green glade, away from the empty crater.


    He stumbled and fell against the oak tree. There was a loud, sickening crack. The boy screamed and clutched his arm. He stumbled and ran on. The boy vanished, the glade melted from green to brown, and suddenly a small parody of a village square grew from the ship''s hull. The tallest buildings stood to the port and starboard side. Each adjacent building was smaller than these, making the village appear to recede down a long tunnel.


    An old woman hobbled across the dusty path down the center of the village, passing in front of a thatched house with no windows. In the open doorway, a sullen boy crouched, playing with the rocks at his feet. A dirty linen bandage covered his left eye. The other was red and swollen. He blinked rapidly when the wind kicked up.


    That same wind yanked the old woman''s shawl from across her shoulders. The scrap of green fabric tumbled through the dust and tangled with the boy''s dirty feet.


    Wearing an irritated expression, the boy tore the shawl away and started to hurl it across the square, but he stopped when he saw the old woman. They watched each other¡ªthe shawl dangling from the boy''s hand¡ªeach unsure what to do. Slowly, the old woman walked to the doorway and stood over the boy. When she stretched out her hand, he put the shawl in it and started to back away, but she caught his hand in both of hers.


    "I am so sorry about your soul, boy," she said. "Your soul is failing you.. Someday soon, we both of us will have to help each other."


    "I''m not dying," the boy cried. "I don''t need any help! Let go¡ªyour hands hurt." The boy struggled to loose his hand, but the old woman clutched him tighter.


    "It''s all right to be scared," she said. "It'' s all right to be scared."


    "You''re cold," the boy whimpered. His hand had turned blue in the woman''s grip. "Your hands are too cold. Get away from me!"


    He shoved her. She dropped his hand and fell in the hard dirt. Her cry of pain brought more figures running from the neighboring buildings. The boy ran inside his house, screaming, "Mother!"


    The old woman''s shawl drifted away on the wind. Chang Chang''s eyes were still following the patch of green when the scene changed again.

 Chapter 210 - A Song Of The Past [3]

    This time it was the smoky interior of one of the thatched cottages. The old woman lay on a bed below a dark window. Candlelight illuminated her sunken features. She was clearly dead


    .


    Kaerin''s black-cloaked figures stood over the bed, talking in hushed whispers.


    "They say he touched the oracle, the day before she died. His hands were red and raw, like he''d been frostbitten. Frostbitten in the middle of a sunlit afternoon!"


    "I say he made it happen," a female voice whispered. "The deathplague wormed through his fingers and killed the oracle. Any of us could be next. Don''t let him touch you. He''s got death in his hands!"


    The black cloaks melted, and the scene changed again. Another cottage, a dirty kitchen, and the boy now sitting on the floor in front of a fire pit. A woman sat on a chair behind him. She had gray hair and bony arms. She cut herbs in quick little chopping motions on a board. Every few breaths, she would look up at the boy. Her eyes were shadowed.


    "Where did you go to play today?" Her voice was strained. "I told you not to stray out of sight of the house."


    "You mean out of your sight," the boy said without looking at her.


    The board clattered to the floor. The woman yanked the boy to his feet by his belt. "You will not defy your mother, do you hear? If they find out you''ve touched anyone else¡ª"


    "I didn''t kill the woman!" He reached up to wrench her hand away, but she released him before he could touch her.


    "You''re just the same. You think I''m death-touched!" he shouted.


    "Darling, that''s not true, I only¡ª"


    "She was already dying." Tears ran down the boy''s face. "She was going to die anyway. I could feel it." He looked at his hands. They were still swollen. "She was so cold. How could she live like that?"


    His shoulders shook. His mother turned him around and wrapped her arms around his waist. She stood behind him, rocking him slowly. The boy continued to sob, but eventually he quieted, soothed by his mother''s arms.


    Arms which were very careful not to touch his b.a.r.e skin. Chang Chang could see the fear in her eyes, the fear she tried to hide from the boy.


    The cottage vanished, whisking away the boy and his mother. In their place, Kaerin reappeared on top of a rotting crate. He held a rat comfortably in his l.a.p. The rest of the troupe was gone.


    "Well played!" The beggars were on their feet, applauding and whistling as enthusiastically as the crowd at the Haven. Chang Chang could only sit and marvel at how quickly the illusion had come and gone. How fast a boy''s life could change.


    Kaerin slid off the crate, letting the rat run free. He walked over to stand in front of Chang Chang.


    "Did you enjoy the show, false front?" he asked, his eyes alight.


    Chang Chang shook her head. "You should have asked his permission. That wasn''t right."


    "Oh, but I did ask. He wanted to hear the tale of the boy lost in the wilderness. You should be grateful. He would never have told you himself."


    "You still had no right."


    "Ah well, then you have my deepest apologies," the boy said. He didn''t sound the least bit abashed. "Perhaps I should tell him your tale, to even the ground between you."


    "I have no secrets left from any of my friends," Chang Chang said. "You don''t scare me."


    Kaerin leaned down. "What about the secrets you''re keeping from yourself?" he said, his words for her ears alone. "The tower where you''ve hidden them all?"


    Chang Chang felt a chill. "I''m not the only one with secrets," she said unsteadily. "You are not truly a boy, are you? You are spirits imitating flesh."


    "Of course we are," Kaerin said, sniffing as if he''d just been insulted. "But I remember what a child is, and so do they," he said, nodding at the beggars. "Everyone knows the best liars are children, and the best storytellers are liars. I am what I am, in service to my craft."


    "So all that," Chang Chang said, waving to where the imaginary glade had been, "that was a lie?"


    "To the senses, it was," Kaerin said. "As for the story itself¡ªask him."


    Chang Chang blinked, and suddenly a sleek crow was sitting on her knee. The bird cawed once, loudly, and took flight. Chang Chang watched it until it disappeared beyond the wrecked ship. The crowd of beggars broke up, each going to separate nooks of the ship to sleep or talk.


    "We should all be resting," Zu Ruo said. She stood with Sull off to one side, where the beggars wouldn''t hear.


    "You two sleep," Chang Chang said. "Ju Feng and I will keep watch. I''ll wake you in a couple of hours."


    "Why should it be you?" Zu Ruo said. "You both look exhausted."


    "We are," Chang Chang said. She looked at Ju Feng, who was staring at the crates and rats. He hadn''t said a word. "Yet neither of us will sleep."


    Chang Chang lay awake as darkness fell. She watched the stars come out, the tiny lights framed by a ship''s hull. There were no floating crags tonight. She usually only saw them from her roof, on nights like this when she couldn''t sleep. They were often illuminated in purple, their underbellies some kind of crystallized rock.


    It had never occurred to her to wonder where the drifting motes came from. They''d been a part of that distant world for so long she''d never questioned what happened to them when they left WaterWay''s view.


    P


    Just as she''d never before questioned what her dreams meant, until Cerest, and Kaerin''s whispered taunts. Now she wondered about the strange rock crags and the crumbling tower of her dreams. Why did she dream of a place she''d never been to? Why was an elf from distant lands seeking to possess her like an object of power?


    "What are you thinking about?"


    It was Ju Feng. He sat a few feet away from her in the dark. These were the first words he''d spoken since Kaerin''s strange play had ended.


    Chang Chang shifted so she could make out his profile. "How long did you stay in the village after you''d been scarred?"


    "That''s not what you were thinking about."


    "I was thinking I should read Chang Wei''s letters. I have all this time to examine them, yet I haven''t."


    Ju Feng turned his head. She saw the slash of red in his eyes. "That was a lifetime I can''t remember."


    "Could it be a certainty?" Chang Chang asked.


    "Doesn''t seem possible for someone to have a perfect memory either," Ju Feng said.


    "What do you mean?" Chang Chang asked.


    "He touched all of the beggars. Not many barriers can keep the dead out, and the mortal mind is exceptionally fragile when it''s weakened by illness or infirmity."


    "If that''s true, how did he know our stories?" Chang Chang said. "We''re not sick."


    Ju Feng looked at her a long time without saying anything, his gaze burning her with its intensity. It frightened her.


    "What is it?" she whispered. "What''s wrong?"


    He blinked and shook his head. "Nothing. Maybe the boy could see through us because somewhere inside we wanted our stories told."


    "Yet my letters sit unopened."


    "So open them," Ju Feng said, his voice rough, tired. "Even this place can''t hide you indefinitely."


    But I''m afraid. "Do you already know how all this is going to turn out?" Chang Chang asked. "Will I¡­ die from this adventure?"


    "I don''t have that touch." Ju Feng said. He looked down at her, and Chang Chang saw him chewing something over in his mind. When he spoke, it was hesitantly. "If you''re afraid for your life, why not stop now? Turn yourself in to the Watch, and you won''t have to cast any more mystical arts. I can see how they weaken you," he said when she started to speak. "Why do you hold onto magic, when it brings you so much grief?"


    Chang Chang was silent for a long time. She knew exactly how to answer him, but she couldn''t at first, because she''d never admitted it outright to herself. It felt strange to do so now.


    "The first time I cast a spell, it was agony," Chang Chang said. "My head hurt; my stomach felt like it was being yanked inside out. When it was over, my teacher told me not to worry, that the pain would not always be so debilitating. I knew even then that he was wrong. I didn''t care. I cast spell after spell; I learned every magic he taught me."


    "Why?" Ju Feng said. "Why put yourself through the pain?"


    "Because it made me forget," Chang Chang said. "In that breath when I called the magic, the pain made me forget everything. Me, who can forget nothing. It was a miracle. All the memories I couldn''t bury disappeared when the magic engulfed me. Their weight was gone. For that short time, I was free. Give up magic? I couldn''t conceive of it, not until the fire. Even after I killed those people¡ª"

 Chapter 211 - A Song Of The Past [4]

    "It was an accident," Ju Feng said.


    "When I swore I would never use magic again, I broke my promise almost immediately. I locked all the dangerous spells away, yes, but even the little magics caused me pain. I kept those spells close, and cast them often. It was the only way I could forget."


    "It''s not so easy for the rest of us to forget," Ju Feng said. "The worst and the best memories stay with you. Some things you''re supposed to experience, no matter how painful."


    "Do words like that aid you, when you touch a man''s b.a.r.e flesh?" Chang Chang asked. "When you learn when he will die?"


    "No," Ju Feng said. "But I still say the words. It''s all I can do."


    He turned his head away from her and tipped his hat down over his face. Chang Chang started to say something else but let it go.


    She pulled the letters out of her pack and laid the bundle in her l.a.p. The first she''d already read. She folded it carefully and laid it aside.


    The second letter had dirt caked around the edges of the parchment. Chang Chang fingered the stains. This letter had come from outside WaterWay. She wondered what it had gone through to make its way to her great-uncle''s house.


    Breaking the brittle seal, Chang Chang unfolded the pages.


    Dear Granddaughter, I wish you could be with me as I pass through the lands. You would love this country. The sun is rising, the air is crisp, but the dying hints of campfire keep me warm. If I listen closely, I can hear the most remarkable sounds. Brant would call me sentimental, but I imagine I can hear the voices of those who walked these roads long ago. What stories would they tell, these brave phantoms, if they could stop a while by my fire? Would their adventures be of storming perilous castles or tilling fertile fields? Would they slay dragons or raise daughters? All these things I wonder, as I sit by my fire and think of you.


    Chang Chang clutched the parchment in her hands. This letter and the handful following all came from a different land or city¡ªsome she had never heard of. Four years went by in a bell as she read. The only thing she could conclude of her grandfather, besides his affection for her, was that restless was too weak a word to ascribe to him. He never stopped moving.


    ***


    Today I looked for the first time upon the city of Luskan. I pray you never have cause to enter this den of depravity and violence. There is no law but that of the thieves'' guilds and street gangs. Ever at war with each other, they take no notice of a lone man seeking shelter.


    I sat upon a rooftop and looked out over Saint Island, at the ruins of the Host Tower of the Arcane. The locals say it is a cursed place, and I cannot help but agree. The restless dead walk that isle, sentinels to its lost power. In my younger days, I would have longed for the challenge and promise of treasure to be found in such a forgotten stronghold. I can see the magic swirling under shattered stone. It drifts among the bones of the once mighty wizards who ruled here. The riches tempt me even now, but my strength would never hold out long enough to reach the isle, which seems as distant as gentle Waterdeep. No, tonight I long only for a warm blanket and unspoilt food. Strange how one''s priorities shift with age.


    Chang Chang stopped reading. Hatsolm rolled onto his side, bumping against her leg. He coughed once, deep in his c.h.e.s.t, then again. A fit overtook him, and he curled upright into a ball, his body shaken by the hacks and wheezes. Chang Chang pulled his blanket up over his shoulders. He opened his eyes and looked at her.


    "I''ll get you some water," she said.


    "No need." He wiped the blood from his mouth. "It''s over." He pulled the blanket over his head and laid back down, his face turned away from her.


    Chang Chang looked at the letter in her hand. Chang Wei had come to WateWay seeking refuge from the world, and he''d found it, in a way, through Kaelin and his ghostly troupe.


    Chang Wei spoke of being old. The tone of this letter was much different from his earlier messages to her. Perhaps he wasn''t sick like the other, but he seemed in no fit condition to travel in Luskan. Her great-uncle had always said the city was not a city at all, but a damned place where only the desperate sought refuge.


    She went back to the letters. They continued in Luskan for a year, all written from the same perch on the rooftop. Chang Wei had constructed a rough shelter from abandoned slates of tin and wood, in the ruins of a condemned tavern. The more she read, the more Chang Chang suspected that her grandfather''s adventure would not continue beyond the hellish city.


    At the bottom of the pile, Chang Chang found an especially thick bundle. The seal was cracked; the wax had not been sufficient to hold the folded parchment. Was it a memoir? A deathbed request? It was the last letter. Chang Chang''s fingers shook as she unfolded the sheets.


    Dear Granddaughter,


    The time has come. You are old enough now to be told the truth. But even if you were not, I have no time left to delay this tale. I pray it never happens, but if Cerest comes looking for you, you must be prepared. Ju Feng watched Chang Chang reading her letters. Her attention was completely absorbed by the writing on the page. He sat up quietly, slid into the shadows, and climbed the ladder. When he got to the dock he glanced down to be sure he hadn''t been followed. He slipped the illusion cloak from his shoulders and moved through the shadows in his own form.


    When he was safely out of earshot of the beggars, he pulled the sava pawn from his pouch and warmed it between his fingers. He felt the connection at once.


    "What is it, Morleth?"


    Tallmantle''s voice. "Where''s Tesleena?" he asked. "Has she tired of me so soon?"


    "She walks in Underway, seeking Chang Chang," the Warden said. "Know that if Tesleena comes to harm through your delays, none of the squalor in WaterWay will be able to hide you from me." The Warden''s voice was polite, even conversational.


    "Your wizard will be fine," Ju Feng said. "Chang Chang is another matter."


    "What''s happened?"


    Ju Feng hesitated before plunging into the tale. He left nothing out¡ªhis battle in the Haven, Chang Chang''s letters, her unique memory, and every instance of her spells going wild. He gave a detailed account of what Saragui had told him about Chang Chang''s gifts. When he''d finished there was a long silence.


    "Are you certain?" the Keeper asked. "Certain she is dying?"


    "I haven''t touched her," Ju Feng said. "Nor will I, so do not waste breath in asking. "But I see the evidence of my eyes. She needs help. Perhaps Tesleena¡ª"


    "Are you saying you''re willing to bring her in?"


    Ju Feng clenched the pawn in his fist. "Can you aid her, if I do?"


    "Tesleena and I will do everything in our power. Tell me where you are, and I''ll send a patrol to get you."


    She won''t forgive me, Ju Feng thought. But she''ll be alive.


    "Not yet," Ju Feng said. "It has to be her decision."


    "Ju Feng¡ª"


    "Thank you, Warden. I''ll be in touch. Give my regards to Tesleena." He severed the connection.


    In the end, there was no choice. Perhaps, if he let the Watch capture them, the Warden would take pity on him and not reveal his identity to Chang Chang and the others.


    "So it''s the coward''s way, as always." He shook his head. Soon he would be well and truly hidden in the Watch''s skirts, a tamed dog they used for their own amus.e.m.e.nt. Or was he already there, and he just didn''t realize it? If that was so, what more could the opinion of one dying woman matter to him?


    Tarvin couldn''t believe his luck. Ju Feng, expelled from the bowels of the beggar ship by the gods'' own sweet blessing.


    He considered subduing the man, but thought better of it when Ju Feng spoke into the sava pawn. Tarvin recognized the Watch Keeper''s voice, though he could make out little of the substance of the conversation.


    If Ju Feng was here, then Chang Chang Tearn was somewhere nearby. Tarvin looked down into the ship, but he could see nothing except rag-cloaked bodies.


    Odds were she was hiding among the sick. It was brilliant, in a twisted way. The wench must be truly desperate.


    There was no chance in the Nine Hells he was going down there to search for her. He could go back to the Court and warn the others. They would come in force and root the beggars out, but in the meantime Chang Chang might leave her hiding place for a safer one. If she did that, he would lose his chance to capture her.


    Tarvin sank low in the shadows, hiding himself again behind the crates¡ªabandoned food cartons, by the smell and the buzz of flies. For now, he would wait.


    He watched Ju Feng clench his fist and slide the pawn away in his pouch. He looked angry, perhaps at something the Keeper had said. Was he upset that he was about to lose his wild little plaything?


    Go on and sulk, dog. The Keeper will have you both. Tarvin smiled at the thought.

 Chapter 212 - A Song Of The Past [5]

    Cerest watched Ristlara and Shenan work their magic. Arcane radiance lit up the ship''s cabin.


    Ristlara had Saragui''s hands pinned to his desk with two gold-hilted daggers. Magic pulsed down the blades into the man''s skin. The pale blue light ran sickly up his arms, creating new veins while pushing others out of the way.


    The man''s face twisted in agony. A steady stream of blood and spittle ran down his chin. His eyes were fixed on some unknown distance. He would not look at either of the females while the magic sapped his life energies.


    "I don''t understand," Shenan said. She sounded like a parent disappointed in the performance of a beloved child. "We never have this trouble with the daggers."


    "He''s strong-willed," Cerest said, but Ristlara shook her gold tresses impatiently.


    "He''s human. He should have broken by now."


    At her words, Saragui spat blood and a piece of what looked like his own tongue. He collapsed facedown on the desktop, his head between the glowing blades. Ristlara moved hastily out of the way.


    "Pull the blades out," Shenan told her. When the magic faded from his skin, she rolled the man over and laid her head against his heart. "Dead," she said.


    "Your daggers aren''t as effective as you thought, Shenan." Cerest slammed his fist against the ship''s hull. A waste of time, all of it. He was no closer to finding Chang Chang than he was a day ago.


    "She''s obviously here. Half the crowd saw her, but strangely, none of them know where she went," Ristlara said sardonically.


    "They fear Saragui," Shenan said. She ran her fingers through the dead man''s thin hair. "He''s not so terrifying. Perhaps Mistshore has its own sense of loyalty. Incredible thought, isn''t it?"


    "Search the sh.i.p.s," Cerest said. "The ones circling the Cradle must belong to Saragui. If she''s still here, we''ll find her."


    The Locks exchanged glances. Ristlara nodded at her sister and went above. Cerest could hear her gathering her men.


    Saragui''s domain had been shockingly easy to penetrate, despite the guards stationed on deck. Cerest supposed Saragui had put the majority of his resources behind maintaining the Cradle instead of seeing to his own protection. A fatal mistake.


    Shenan stayed perched on Saragui''s desk. She folded her arms across her c.h.e.s.t and gazed at him with that parental expression he loathed.


    "Well?" Cerest demanded. "Say whatever is on your tongue. I don''t have time to waste."


    "Cerest, why not give this up? Shenan said. "We''re all exhausted near to dropping, and we''ve come closer to the Watch patrols than any of us are comfortable."


    "I never took the Locks for cowards," Cerest said.


    The elf woman smiled faintly. "Oh, Cerest, sometimes I forget how young you are, how like a spoiled child who never gets his way. Do you believe those sorts of taunts will move either Ristlara or I to action?"


    "You''ve been compliant so far."


    "We have, because the chase amused us, in the beginning. Also, we recognized the profit to be made by aligning ourselves with you and the girl. But you''re ruled by your impulses, Cerest. That''s why you will never make a proper merchant, because your emotion gives you away. People can always tell when you want something so badly it threatens to break you. Isn''t that why your father let you live but denied you your birthright, because he knew you valued it more than your own life?"


    She knew it would provoke him. Cerest could see it in her eyes. He obliged her. He strode to the desk and backhanded her across the face. She fell over Saragui''s body, her hair spreading wildly over the dead man''s face.


    Sitting up, Shenan put a finger to her split lip. Blood welled against her hand. Her face would swell and bruise, but she smiled as if he''d kissed her mouth instead of punching it.


    "In the end, that''s why we love you, Cerest," she said. "Allow me to be equally blunt: if you continue to pursue Chang Chang, you will likely be killed, by the Watch or by the allies Chang Chang has gathered. Perhaps Chang Chang herself will be your undoing." She raised a hand to stop his argument. "You may continue to hunt her as long as you like. I don''t mind how many of the human dogs we lose¡ªkeep them and use them with my blessing¡ªbut I will protect my sister and our business interests."


    "You would leave me?" Cerest said, and he realized he sounded very much like a bewildered child. But this was how it always ended. Everyone in his life had deserted him when he needed them most: his father, Chang Wei, now the Locks.


    "Where did I go wrong with all of them," he said aloud.


    Shenan slid to the edge of the desk so her knees were touching Cerest''s t.h.i.g.hs. She put a bloody hand against his cheek. "You don''t have any notion of what a conscience is, do you? Of how to trace your actions to consequences? Your mind doesn''t work that way. It''s fascinating. You don''t realize what you did to them, to Chang Wei and the others, do you?"


    Cerest pulled away, wiping the blood from his face. He felt unsteady in the knees, but he didn''t know why. Was Shenan right? Was there some part of his mind that functioned differently from other folk, beyond the differences that separated elf from human? He''d never considered it before. He''d always taken for granted that he was an oddity, an elf in a swell of humans. But to hear her say it gave him pause. "Chang Chang is different," he said. "We can start over."


    Shenan shook her head. "You killed her great-uncle¡ª"


    "Wang Fu is not her blood," Cerest said. Why couldn''t they understand? "He lied to her about her family. She owes no loyalty to him."


    "She loves him as she will never love you, Cerest. She will act precisely as Chang Wei acted. She will resist you, or she will run. That is the truth."


    "You''re wrong," Cerest said. "I can convince her. I can make her see that it wasn''t my fault."


    She searched his face, read the conviction there, and nodded. Standing on her toes, she kissed him on the brow, on his scar, and finally on his mouth. When she was done, she put her lips against his good ear so he would hear her whisper.


    "I wish you good fortune, my love, and I will mourn you when you are gone to the sisters."


    Cerest didn''t reply. He stood, stiffly, and let her have her way. When she''d gone, he remained at Saragui''s desk, staring at the dead man. Ristlara''s men, he knew, would be waiting for him on deck. To leave him such resources was more than generous, but he wasn''t feeling generous at the moment.


    His head ached, and his mind screamed with the implications of Shenan''s words. What if she was right? What if Chang Chang rejected him, as Chang Wei had?


    Cerest acknowledged that Shenan was probably justified in her concerns. Between Chang Chang''s magic and the sheer number of hunters he''d had after her, they''d been attracting too much attention. Perhaps it was time for a different strategy.


    When he climbed the ladder, Ristlara''s men were waiting. "We''re going separate ways," Cerest said. "The first man who sights the girl and returns to me at Whalebone Court will be paid in more gold than any of you have ever seen. Look, listen, but do not approach her. Follow her to whatever hiding place she''s using during the day. Once we know where she goes to ground, we''ll have her. Do you understand?"


    They nodded. Cerest dismissed them. He looked around the empty Cradle, but he knew he would not see Shenan or Ristlara. If Shenan was right, he wouldn''t be able to keep Chang Chang from deserting him. But there were options, magics that controlled the mind and made a person''s will pliable. Wasn''t he the expert in objects of such Art?


    Everything would work out this time. Shenan was wrong. He had it all under control.


    Chang Chang turned the page over, but there was no more writing. The letter simply ended.


    "No," she said, her breath coming fast. "That can''t be all." She went back over each page, thinking one had gotten out of order. When she didn''t find another, she sorted through all the letters. Panic made her clumsy; the pages sailed out of her hands, blurring in a yellow haze as her vision swam. The world seemed to spin.


    It was too much to take. Chang Wei wasn''t her grandfather. Brant wasn''t her blood at all. She had always been alone in the world, she just hadn''t known it. All because of Cerest.


    "How," she said, her voice shrill. "How did it happen? Gods above, tell me!"


    "Chang Chang."


    She jumped, but it was only Sull. He looked like he hadn''t slept at all. There were great red pouches under his eyes. "What''s wrong?" he asked.


    Zu Ruo was sitting up too. She rubbed her eyes with a fist. "What''s all the noise?" she demanded.


    "Nothing," Chang Chang said as she looked around.

 Chapter 213 - A Song Of The Past [6]

    Chang Chang looked around. "Where''s Ju Feng?"


    She heard footsteps on the ladder. Ju Feng climbed down to them.


    "I''ve been scouting," he said. "It''s almost full dark. We can move around soon." He looked to Chang Chang. "If you''re ready to leave?"


    "I''ve read the letters," Chang Chang said, aware of Wang Jin and Zu Ruo listening. "My grandfather, Chang Wei, tried to warn me about Cerest. He knew he might come after me." She looked at Wang Jin. "Brang must have known. Even if he''d never read the letters himself, he must have known about Cerest. Chang Wei wouldn''t have left his own brother ignorant of the danger."


    "Of course he wouldn''t," Wang Jin said soothingly. "Your great-uncle probably thought, after so much time, the elf had given up lookin''. And what was the sense in frightenin'' you if that was the case?"


    He had given up, until I saved his life in the street, Chang Chang thought. The bitter irony of it made her dizzy. She remembered thinking, in the moment she''d pushed the elf to the ground, that she was doing something good¡ªa small act of penance for all the harm she''d done. The gods had a cruel streak in them.


    "Why''s he so interested in you?" Zu Ruo asked. "Begging your pardon, but you don''t seem worth all the men and coin he must be losing."


    "I couldn''t agree more," Chang Chang said. "I thought Cerest wanted revenge, but he said he wanted me for my abilities. He said Chang Wei had a powerful spellscar; he thought I shared it. Why he would pursue someone with such unstable magic is beyond me, though Chang Wei did allow that Cerest''s interest lay heavily with magic."


    Kredaron had said the same, that Cerest was fascinated by the Art. He''d thought, just as she had, that the elf''s scars were a result of a brush with wild magic. If that was the case, Cerest should want nothing to do with her.


    "Is there more?" Ju Feng asked.


    "Yes," Chang Chang said. "This is the part where things get muddled. Cerest used to work with my parents and Chang Wei. They adventured together. But for some reason, Cerest betrayed them."


    "Why?" Ju Feng asked.


    "I don''t know. The letters end. They were either lost or sent incomplete to Brang. I''m sure Cerest would tell you the tale, the next time he catches up to us."


    "Maybe it''s time that happened."


    It was Wang Jin who had spoken. Chang Chang looked at him. "You can''t be serious?"


    "I am," Wang Jin said. "That elf''s used to huntin'' us, drivin'' us to ground. Let''s turn the tables on ''im, see how he likes being chased."


    "We''re outnumbered," Ju Feng reminded him, "even with Zu."


    The dwarf snorted. "I''m not afraid of an elf with a mashed-in face."


    "None of you are attacking Cerest on my behalf," Chang Chang said. "We''re not discussing it."


    "There''s another option," Ju Feng said.


    Chang Chang waited, but the monk didn''t speak. She c.o.c.ked an eyebrow at him. "This option involves throwing us headlong into more danger and strangeness, doesn''t it?"


    Wang Jin threw up his hands. "I thought it didn''t get any stranger than this!"


    "I think it''s time we go to the Watch," Ju Feng said.


    Silence fell over the group. Chang Chang thought at first he was jesting.


    "You''re mad," she told Ju Feng. "I''m not giving myself up to the Watch. I''d rather spend my life in WateraWay."


    Zu Ruo regarded her as if she''d just asked what color the sky was on clear days. "You''re just as daft as he is, if you mean that," she said.


    "She''s only a child," Ju Feng said, which made Chang Chang want to plant her fingernails in his eyes. "She doesn''t know what WaterWay is."


    "Then what is it?" Chang Chang said, forgetting to keep her voice down. "Open my eyes, Ju Feng, to more horrors. I don''t think I''ve had enough thus far."


    "He doesn''t mean to hurt you, girl," spoke a voice, and everyone except Ju Feng jumped.


    Fa Mu rubbed the sleep from his eyes and regarded them blearily from his curled-up pallet. There was a crust of dried blood at the corner of his mouth.


    "I''m sorry," Chang Chang said, ashamed. "I didn''t mean to wake you."


    "Doesn''t matter, I wasn''t sleeping anyway,"  said. He sat up slowly. Wang Jin put his hand on the man''s shoulders to steady him. "The problem is that when we''re children we''re only conscious of our own suffering."


    "I don''t understand," Chang Chang said. She felt like a child, and she didn''t like it. Nelzun had never made her feel this way.


    "You only know the safe space in which you were brought up," Fa Mu said. "That''s a wonderful thing, but it doesn''t lend itself well to wisdom, or to understanding why folk do the things they do."


    "So to understand why Cerest is after me, I have to go right back where I started?" Chang Chang said. "Into the hands of the people who think I murdered my own great-uncle, the same people who hate me for killing one of their own?"


    "No." This time it was Ju Feng who spoke. "To understand yourself, you have to put your pride and fear aside. Believe me, I know what that costs a person. But the Watch can help you."


    "How?"


    "I think you know." He looked her in the eyes. "Your great-uncle would not have you live as a fugitive. More than that, the Watch have casters, folk who can help the bloodscarred."


    Chang Chang felt like she''d been struck in the stomach. "No," she said automatically. "I have never been touched by the bloodplague."


    "Are you certain?" Ju Feng said, his eyes boring relentlessly into her. Those red eyes. Bloodscarred eyes.


    "Of course!" Chang Chang took a step back from them all. "I grew up in South Ward! WaterWay is safe from the plague."


    "Safe, is it?" Fa Mu said gently. "WaterWay is a refuge to those scarred by the plague. They may be scorned, shoved into forgotten corners like Weizin, but the plague is part of us."


    "No!" Chang Chang wrapped her arms around herself. The weeping sores stood out on her arms. Repulsed, she ripped the cloak off, peeling away the layers of rags and rotting flesh. She needed to see her own skin, needed to see it normal.


    "Put your cloak back on!" Ju Feng snatched the cloth and covered her. "You''ll be contaminated."


    "I''m not plagued or spellscarred. I''m not like¡ª"


    "Like me?" Ju Feng said.


    She took a step back. "You know that''s not what I meant. Stop twisting my words."


    Wang Jin touched her arm. Chang Chang tried to back away, but he held her fast. "You know I''m with you, girl. But just because you''ve got gifts others don''t, doesn''t mean you''re not a Waterdhavian. You have the right to be protected. You shouldn''t be afraid."


    "Why not?" Chang Chang''s c.h.e.s.t heaved. "Look what my gifts have done." Her magic brought nothing but disaster, and her memory ensured that she never forgot any of it. Every experience, frozen in her mind, perfectly preserved.


    Except one.


    "I have the same dream every night." She spoke haltingly. Wang Jin squeezed her arm. "I''m in a tower, surrounded by people whose faces I can''t see. There''s a bright light, a burning light, and I''m afraid." She looked at Ju Feng. "There''s no such tower in WaterWay. I''ve looked."


    "If you''ve been outside the city, why don''t you remember?" Ju Feng asked.


    "I don''t know," Chang Chang said. "You''ve no idea what it''s like, to have everything lined up and catalogued in your mind, a vast library of things you can''t ever be rid of; yet there''s this huge crack in the wall, a terrifying maw, and that''s the knowledge you''d give anything to have."


    "What''s the Watch going to do for her?" Zu Ruo spoke up. "If she''s scarred, then that''s that. Doesn''t help her with the elf."


    "There are too many missing pieces," Chang Chang said. "The rest of the dream, Chang Wei and his bloodscar. That''s what Cerest wants. Zu Ruo''s right. The Watch can''t help me with any of that."


    "But if you accept the spellplague is the source of your flawless memory, that''s a place to start," Ju Feng said. "WaterWay has done better than any city keeping the plague at bay. There''s a reason for that. You won''t find another realm in Faer?n where folk know more about the plague''s effects."


    Zu Ruo smiled grimly. "And you think she''ll just stride up to them and start interviewing likely candidates to help her, do you?"


    "The other choice is confrontin'' Cerest," Wang Jin said.


    "He won''t harm Chang Chang, but he''ll have no compulsion to spare the rest of us," Ju Feng said. He looked at Chang Chang. "Do you want to risk Wang Jin''s life? Do you want to see the elf slide a blade into him the way he took your great-uncle?"


    "Don''t say that to her," Wang Jin said sharply. "I can see to myself fine enough, and I don''t need a magic ring to do it."


    Ju Feng shook his head. "You''re a fool. You claim you want to protect her? You''re letting your guilt cloud your judgment. It makes you useless to her."


    Wang Jin went pale. His hand slid off Chang Chang''s arm.


    Chang Chang looked at Ju Feng. He was like a stranger, his eyes bright, almost feverish. "What''s wrong with you?" she demanded. "The last place you would ever put yourself is in the path of the Watch. Your instinct for self-preservation is too strong." Her eyes narrowed. "Why is it so important to you to see me safely delivered to them?"


    "Because he''s finally smartened up to doing what he''s told."


    The voice rang out above them, and a crossbow bolt twanged into the hull a foot above Chang Chang''s head.

 Chapter 214 - A Song Of The Past [7]

    The cl.u.s.ter of beggars, stirred to wakefulness by their argument, sprang into frightened motion at the shot. Filthy bodies crowded toward the ladder.


    "Stay down!"


    Another bolt stuck in the wood above the ladder. The beggars fell back, knocking each other aside in their haste to get away.


    Chang Chang took an elbow to the ribs. Her feet and arms were jammed in the press of bodies. She tried to look up, but the sky spun wildly as she was pulled in one direction or another. She crouched down, trying not to be hit by the bolts she knew were meant for her.


    Ju Feng slammed into Chang Chang from the side, knocking her to the ground. Her breath whooshed from her c.h.e.s.t, and she lay, gasping, staring up at the sky. She tried to roll onto her back, but Ju Feng was suddenly on top of her. He threw his disguise cloak over both their bodies. Darkness closed in on her completely.


    "Stop! Ju Feng, we have to get out¡ª"


    "Quiet!" he said in her ear. "He can''t know which one you are, not after all that uproar."


    Their attacker must have come to the same conclusion. The firing stopped, and the beggars gradually wore out their frenzy. Chang Chang could feel them pressing together and against her. They protected themselves by sheer numbers, blending into one form.


    "Come out, come out." The voice, mocking and deep, rang out again. "I''ve already seen your pretty face. You look much better without the sores, Chang Chang Tearn."


    "Gods, I''m a fool," Chang Chang whispered.


    Ju Feng put a finger to his lips and listened. "He''s pacing the dock," he said. "I can hear his bootsteps. I think he''s alone."


    "He''s had plenty of time to reload," Chang Chang said. "If you try to reach the ladder, he''ll put a bolt in your head."


    "I''m not convinced he''s that good of a shot," Ju Feng said. He pitched his voice louder. "Name yourself, friend, and we might invite you down to Eveningfeast. We''re having stew and apples with the cores plucked out. Are you coming to us from the Watch?"


    "I am. Tarvin is my name, and I won''t be sharing your table, Ju Feng Morleth," the man said. "I''m here for the woman, but I''d just as happily bury a bolt in your eye, if you don''t hand her over."


    "I would happily oblige you," Ju Feng said, "but I''m afraid she doesn''t want to go with you. She''s a stubborn, difficult creature. I''ve almost drowned her a time or two."


    "You''re a smooth liar, but in this I believe you. What of the rest of you, then?" he said, his voice rolling over the heads of the beggars. "You willing to give your lives to protect a fugitive? She''s not one of you. I saw her. She wears a mask of disease. She mocks you and your suffering."


    "She''s fresh air to your foul breath," Hatsolm said, and the crowd laughed, tentatively. "If she wants to stay in WaterWay and deigns to walk among us, she''s welcome. She''s a lot braver than your Watch friends, who won''t come to WaterWay at all."


    There was a collective murmur of agreement from the crowd. Chang Chang closed her eyes. Gods, he wouldn''t kill them, would he? Not for hatred of me.


    The crowd tensed, waiting. Chang Chang couldn''t breathe.


    "Ju Feng¡ª"


    "Don''t," Ju Feng said. He tightened his grip on her. "He''s bluffing."


    He was right. There must have been a spark of decency in Tarvin, for in the end he only laughed. "You''re truly a wonder, lady. You''ve got the freaks lapping at your hand."


    "Be silent!" The words burst from her before she could stop them.


    "She speaks," Tarvin cried, and his voice moved past them. "Sing out again, lovely one, and show yourself."


    "Tell your friends to leave WaterWay," Chang Chang said. "I''d rather die here than be taken and tried for what''s in the past. Your bitterness makes my choice for me, Tarvin."


    "How long do you think you can survive here?" Chang Chang could hear him toying with the crossbow string. "We''ll drag you and your friends out of there one by one. Is that what you want for them?"


    Ju Feng shifted, alert again. "Now that''s an odd statement," he said. "You haven''t yet mentioned your friends. Hard to believe they''d be waiting in the shadows while you have your tantrum. Hardly professional conduct for a Watchman. No, I think you''re alone up there, and you can''t quite figure out what to do about it. If you leave for help, we escape; and if you stay, you''re outnumbered. I don''t envy you, truly."


    "Shut up," Tarvin snarled. "I can wait you out well enough. How would that be? A tenday with no food, no water, and no one to clean your filth¡ªhow friendly will you be to the pretty bitch then?"


    "Maybe he''s right," Chang Chang whispered. "If he keeps us here, people could get hurt. You said yourself I should turn myself in."


    "Not to him," Ju Feng said. "Not to that one. He''s no Watchman."


    "I killed his friend," Chang Chang said. "He has reason to despise me."


    "The beggars have done nothing to him," Ju Feng said. "No Watchman is so cowardly as to threaten the weak." He didn''t realize his voice was rising.


    "He thinks he knows so much about us," Tarvin said. "Don''t you wonder why that is? You want to stake your chances with Feng, Maybe you''d be grateful to hear some truth about him, eh?"


    "Don''t listen to him," Ju Feng said. There was a note of panic in his voice Chang Chang had never heard before. Dread stirred in her belly.


    "Is she too shy to ask? Are you keeping her silent, Feng, with the weight of your eyes? If you''re innocent, what could you possibly have to fear?"


    "What truth is he talking about, Ju Feng?" Chang Chang said. His body was rigid. He could have been carved of stone.


    "Did you ever ask him how he escaped Waterdeep''s dungeons?" Tarvin asked. "It must have been a marvelous feat. I''m shocked he hasn''t bragged of it up and down WaterWay. Didn''t you ever think it strange that a man like him, a thief, would risk his life to aid you?" Tarvin was pacing again. His voice came from directly above them. "Such men work only in exchange for wealth you''ve never possessed, my lady. Of course it was easy enough for Morleth to steal the treasure he wanted. He lived like a king, with Hawlace''s collection to sell off piece by piece. You get used to that kind of lifestyle, well then you can''t stand being put in a cage. Makes a man do things. Maybe make bargains he''ll come to regret later."


    Chang Chang twisted, trying to look into Ju Feng''s face, but he pressed her down.


    "Don''t move," Ju Feng said tersely. "He wants you panicked. As soon as you throw the cloak off, you''ll be staring down his crossbow. Don''t be stupid!"


    "Let me go," Chang Chang said. She pushed against Ju Feng''s c.h.e.s.t, but she couldn''t move him. The cloak and his body were suffocating her. Smells of sweat and fear and sickness mingled together in her nostrils.


    "Or maybe," Tarvin said, "the question you should be asking yourself is why a master thief turned Watch agent can''t deliver one murdering wench to his betters?"


    The strength left Chang Chang''s body. She stopped struggling and lay still on the cold floor.


    "Chang Chang," Ju Feng said. The guilt in his voice sealed everything. "Listen to me. He''s baiting you. He knows your temper; he''s using it to paw at you."


    "Deny it," Chang Chang said. "Tell me he''s not speaking the truth."


    At last, he looked at her. Was it any harder for him now than it had ever been? His red eyes betrayed no expression, as always. Somehow that made it worse.


    "What can I tell you that you will want to hear, Chang Chang?" Ju Feng said. "That I''m not a Watchman¡ªwith fervor I tell you I''m not."


    "Are you working with them?" Chang Chang said.


    "Yes."


    Unexpectedly, Chang Chang had the urge to laugh. "It might have been easier if you''d tried a denial," she said. "At least then I would know you regretted it."


    He clenched his jaw. "You''ll never know how much. There were reasons."


    "So many things make sense now," Chang Chang said. "It''s very freeing, you know. You risking your life for so little payment, how easy it was to find you¡ªI should have known my tracking prowess left too much to be d.e.s.i.r.ed. I suppose Fannie was in on everything? I probably had that one coming, though, since I almost got her killed. You should pay her extra for that."


    "It was never about coin," Ju Feng said.


    "Actually, that might have made things turn out differently," Chang Chang said. "On the raft, I should have offered up my virtue after all. It might have been inducement enough for you not to betray me."


    "Spew venom at me later," Ju Feng said. "We don''t have time for this."


    ''


    "You''re right," Chang Chang said. "Don''t worry. You thought I should go to the Watch, and now the Watch has come to me. I''m going to give everyone what they want."


    "I won''t let you," Ju Feng said when she tried to push against him. "We''ve danced this dance before. You won''t move me."


    "Probably not," Chang Chang said, "but I have other weapons now."


    She lifted her head and put her lips against his mouth. It wasn''t a kiss, and not remotely romantic. But it was skin to skin contact, and that was all she needed.


    For Ju Feng''s part, she might have hit him with a lightning bolt and evoked a similar reaction. He recoiled so fast that, for just an instant, he lost his balance.


    Chang Chang shoved him with all her strength. She couldn''t roll him off her. He locked his legs around her knees, but she managed to get one hand free. She ripped the cloak from her body.

 Chapter 215 - A Song Of The Past [8]

    Fresh air and startled cries from the beggars swamped her. Chang Chang blinked in the darkness, trying to adjust her eyes. She heard a clattering on the ladder and looked up.


    Tarvin stood halfway up on the rungs, the crossbow leveled at her c.h.e.s.t.


    "Well met, lady," he said. "I''m glad you could see reason." Ju Feng released her and rolled to his feet. He was an easy target, but Tarvin kept the crossbow trained on Chang Chang.


    "I''m not going to bother with you, Ju Feng," he said, his gaze never leaving Chang Chang''s. "Tales of your weapon-catching skills abound. But I don''t think your lady is quite as talented. Step back, please. Give Chang Chang room to climb the ladder."


    He climbed back up, slowly, keeping the weapon level on her. When he was back on the dock, he motioned to her.


    "Climb up and keep both hands on the rungs," he said. "Bring your clever disguise."


    Chang Chang picked up the cloak and spared one last glance at Ju Feng and the cl.u.s.ter of beggars. She made her eyes move unseeing over Zu Ruo and Fai Ma, who were huddled near the back of the crowd.


    They must have been herded there by the others, for protection, Chang Chang thought. Zu Ruo gripped Fai Ma''s arm to keep him from moving. Chang Chang inclined her head a fraction at the dwarf, as if to say, keep him back. Zu Ruo returned the nod.


    "Thank you," Chang Chang said to Hatsolm, who stood at the front of the group.


    "Be wary, lass," Hatsolm said. His eyes were sad. "Remember what I said. You aren''t in a child''s world now." She nodded. She didn''t look at Ju Feng.


    The ladder climb was quick, much faster than the descent had been, though she tried to go as slowly as possible. When she was on the dock, she held out her disguise cloak to Tarvin.


    "Put it on," Tarvin said. "I want to see what you look like."


    The group below stirred angrily, but Chang Chang didn''t react. She unfolded the cloak and dr.a.p.ed it over herself. Immediately, the sores reappeared, and her flesh took on the ghostly pallor of disease.


    "Is this to your liking?" Chang Chang said. "It''s not a punishment equal to Therondol''s death."


    "You''re right," Tarvin said. "I take my vengeance where I can."


    "I understand, but if you march a plagued woman through WaterWay at the end of a crossbow, you''re bound to attract unwanted attention. Is your vengeance worth that?"


    "Worth my life and yours." He took her by the shoulder and spun her around so her back was to him. He put the crossbow at the base of her spine. "Walk, lady, and don''t fret. We aren''t going far."


    Wang Xiu was cold, and he didn''t like the harbor smell. Not that anyone asked his opinion. He walked slightly behind Liu Da, his partner. The yaomo with the funny face had told them to split up, but Wang Xiu never went anywhere without Liu Da. When Liu Da wasn''t around, things got fuzzy. If the yaomo was angry, well that was too bad.


    "What we doing out here, Liu Da?" Wang Xiu asked. He must have asked this question before, because Liu Da turned around and made a dirty gesture at him. Wang Xiu grinned. He couldn''t help it if his memory was short.


    They fell into step together, but Liu Da was quiet for a while. That didn''t bother Wang Xiu. He knew Liu Da would answer him before too long.


    "You know, Boss, I''m walking here, asking mysyaomo that same question. Frightening that I''m starting to think at your level, isn''t it?"


    Liu Da always called him "Boss." Wang Xiu wasn''t any higher rank than anyone else in the band, but he was bigger than all of them, and stronger.


    "If you don''t know why we''re out here, Liu Da, how do you know where we''re going?" Wang Xiu asked, not because he was overly curious, but because he didn''t want to get lost in WaterWay. He didn''t like the place.


    He didn''t like the city much, either. If they were traveling, he''d be happy. Outside the walls, the air was cleaner, and there weren''t so many people. People scared him. They moved too fast, and he had a hard time keeping up with their speech.


    It wasn''t that way with Liu Da. Liu Da had lost part of his leg in a tomb raid, had it chopped off by a portcullis that hadn''t stayed up like it was supposed to. So now he walked with a limp. Wang Xiu had no trouble keeping pace with Liu Da.


    "We''re going to stay close to those whale bones, or whatever they are," Liu Da said, "maybe go in for some ale. Let the yaomo rot for a while, I say."


    "Boss won''t like that," Wang Xiu said, referring this time to their actual boss, Huizhong.


    Liu Da stopped again, so suddenly Wang Xiu almost ran him over. "Have you got maggots for brains?" Liu Da said. "Huizhong''s dead. He got himself killed in that fight with Saragui''s guards. We''re thin in numbers, my dumb friend, and it''s starting to make me anxious."


    It took an effort, but finally Wang Xiu remembered. That''s right. Huizhong was dead. So were others of his friends. What if Liu Da was next?


    Liu Da seemed to know what he was thinking. "Don''t you worry, Boss, nothing''s going to happen to me. I''m thinking the coin''s not enough to find this little girl. I''m thinking we go off, round up the rest of the company what''ll come with us, and leave the city tonight. What you think of that?"


    Liu Da seemed confident, and that made Wang Xiu feel somewhat better. "Where will we find the others, Liu Da? We''re all split up.


    Liu Da?"


    But Liu Da wasn''t listening to him. He was looking at something behind Wang Xiu. Without a word, he grabbed Wang Xiu''s arm and pulled him behind a stack of barrels.


    "What is it, Liu Da?" Wang Xiu asked, but Liu Da waved a hand for him to be quiet. He pointed across the harbor. On a walkway that ran paralell to their own, two figures stood. One of them, a woman, had a crossbow pointed at her face.


    "That girl look familiar to you, Boss?" Liu Da asked. He sounded delighted.


    Wang Xiu squinted at the woman. She was shaking out a bundle of rags. She looked tired and underfed. Pretty, though. He would have liked to have a wife as pretty as her. Then, the larger impact of Liu Da''s question hit him.


    "Is that her?" Wang Xiu said. "The girl the yaomo wants?"


    "I''d lay any amount of coin it is," Liu Da said. "Looks like someone got to her first, though."


    "He doesn''t look nice," Wang Xiu said.


    The man with the crossbow was talking to the girl; they couldn''t hear what was said. The girl cast the rags over herself. Her body shriveled and transformed, assuming a horrifying shape.


    Wang Xiu clutched Liu Da''s arm. "What''d he do to her?" he said, frantic. "He''s cursed her!"


    Liu Da shook him off. "No, he didn''t. He''s no wizard, not a dark god''s priest, either. It''s just a disguise, so people won''t know who she is. Doesn''t matter, though, we''ve already seen her."


    "We should tell the yaomo," Wang Xiu said. The yaomo would come and get the girl, and they could finally leave Mistshore.


    "Still trying to think, are we?" Liu Da said. "Don''t you remember, we''re supposed to bring the girl to the yaomo. Then we get our reward."


    "But it''s only the two of us," Wang Xiu said. "I thought the yaomo wanted us to tell him so all of us could go after her together."


    "The yaomo hasn''t managed to do anything right since we started this chase," Liu Da said angrily. "We bring the girl to him, we get more coin than the others, and we get out of here sooner. That sounds right to me, Boss. What about you?"


    The explanation sounded simple enough, but it still bothered Wang Xiu. He tried to put the doubts out of his mind. He could never remember anything properly. Maybe Liu Da was right, and it would be better to bring the girl directly to the yaomo. It would save time, and Wang Xiu wanted to get out of WsterWay more than anything.


    "What''s the plan?" Wang Xiu asked.


    "Well, seeing as that fellow with the crossbow''s not one of us, he must be a Watch spawn in disguise. First we take her from him, but we have to make sure he doesn''t shoot her, or us. Think you can get the crossbow if I get him?"


    "Yes," Wang Xiu said. The one thing he was good at was taking things. Lately they were objects from tombs and ruins, but he''d taken people before, for coin or food.


    "Let''s go, then," Liu Da said. "There''s a lady in distress."

 Chapter 216 - A Song Of The Past [9]

    Chang Chang walked slowly. It was difficult to see out from under the raggedy hood and difficult to think with the tip of a crossbow bolt shoved into her spine. Tarvin wasn''t taking any chances. He kept her close, one hand on the crossbow trigger and the other on her arm to steer her in the right direction.


    They were headed back to the Dusk and Dawn. It made sense as a meeting spot for the Watch patrols, especially if they were moving around without their official regalia. Would Kersh be among them? Chang Chang hadn''t thought of her friend in days. Her former life seemed nothing more than a distant dream.


    They reached an intersection. The pathway to the left ended in collapse, wooden planks floating on the water. The other three paths were intact. Tarvin pointed her to the right. Chang Chang paused to pick her footing and thought she heard the cl.i.c.k.i.n.g of boots echoing off the planks behind them.


    She tried to turn, but Tarvin twisted her arm painfully.


    "No going back," he said. "Face front, keep marching."


    "There''s someone behind us," Chang Chang said. "Can''t you hear?"


    "To get behind us they''d have to swim," Tarvin said. "We''re alone out here, and if you stall me again I''ll put a limp in your step."


    He forced her forward. Stumbling, Chang Chang went, but she could feel eyes on them. She couldn''t hear the footsteps anymore, and that made the sensation worse.


    Could it be Ju Feng? If it was, you''d never have heard him, she told herself. Not that she should expect a rescue from that corner, which meant the eyes behind them were probably unfriendly.


    Chang Chang searched her mind for a spell. There were empty corridors all throughout her mind. She''d spent herself of all but the harshest spells. She couldn''t risk her magic going wild now.


    "Tarvin, please," she said, "think. What if¡ª"


    She angled her head in time to see the board. It was one of the planks from the collapsed walkway. She saw it pass out of her peripheral vision and instinctively dropped to the walkway.


    She twisted; Tarvin still gripped her arm. He cried out, but the board silenced him. It smashed him in the side of the head.


    Chang Chang heard a weird, hollow crunch. Tarvin slumped to a half-sitting position on the walkway. She could already see he was dead.


    Chang Chang went for his hands, seeking the crossbow, but it was gone. Two pairs of boots filled her vision, one of the pairs at least two sizes bigger than the other. She looked up to see a man as tall as Fa mu and twice as round. He held Tarvin''s crossbow like it was a toy. He had brown hair and a long shirt that he''d belted clumsily below his gut. His clothes were soaking wet.


    His partner was slicker, his dark hair shaved to stubble. He had green eyes above a pointed nose. His clothes were saturated too.


    "It''s amazing how often, in WaterWay, the goods change hands," the slick man said. In response, the giant pointed the crossbow at her. "You can take off the cloak, though. We''re not so nasty as the Watch."


    Chang Chang slid the cloak off her shoulders. She cast it into the harbor. "So you belong to Cerest?" she said.


    They stood on the walkway, and a breath later they all heard the approaching footsteps. It was something akin to a herd of elephants charging in from the sea.


    Chang Chang turned. Horror crashed over her. "Fa mu, no!"


    The butcher barreled into the two men from behind. He got both arms around the giant, pinning the crossbow against his side. Chang Chang didn''t think the man could be moved, but Fa mu hauled him off his feet and slammed him to the walkway.


    He went for his cleaver, but the giant kicked sideways, sweeping Fa mu''s legs out from under him. The butcher twisted and came down on top of the giant. Part of the walkway splintered and collapsed into the harbor, but the big men didn''t notice. They were wrestling each other with a vengeance, punching and kicking and grabbing at hair. They might have been children, but the blows they landed were hard enough to break bone.


    "Settle ''im!" Trik said. He started forward to aid the giant.


    Chang Chang brought her bound arms up, smashing Trik in the face. He took the blow in complete surprise, his jaw cracking painfully into her knuckles. He staggered back. She drove him forward, trying to push him off into the water, but he caught himself against a piling.


    He hooked an arm around her waist and swept her back. She tripped over his leg and fell on her side on the walkway. Her head smacked the wood, and her teeth clamped painfully together. She bit her tongue and tasted blood. Dazed, she tried to get up, but the world swam in and out of focus.


    "Don''t worry, lass," she heard Fa mu cry, "I''ve rolled bigger hunks of beef than this lout. I''m comin¡ª" He took a punch to the jaw. Plucking the giant''s fist out of his cheek, Fa mu gleefully bit the pudgy fingers.


    No, no, Chang Chang thought. She lunged for Trik''s ankle, missed, and lost her breath again when she came down on her c.h.e.s.t. Forcing herself to her knees, she bit into the knots binding her hands. She managed to loosen them enough to slip the rope off, but Trik had moved out of reach.


    I''m not going to make it, she thought. "Fa mu, Fa mu!" she screamed. "Get back¡ªJu Feng!" Where was Ju Feng? And Zu Ruo?


    "Hold him," Trik yelled.


    The giant rolled onto his back, pulling Fa mu on top of him. He locked his arms in an arrowhead across Fa mu''s c.h.e.s.t. The butcher wheezed, his face turning bright red. He couldn''t break the grip.


    "You want to¡­ get¡­ ''fectionate¡­ with me¡­ do you?" Fa mu jammed his elbow into the giant''s gut. The giant grunted, but he didn''t let go. Fa mu drove the elbow in again, and again.


    Each blow contorted the giant''s face. He coughed, blood dripping down his chin. Both the men panted furiously, but the giant maintained his grip.


    "Hurry¡­ Trik," the giant m.o.a.n.e.d. His head lolled to one side. His eyes were black glass.


    Chang Chang tried to call a spell. Ice. Fire. Wind. She couldn''t find them. Pain and fear took her down twisting corridors in her mind, places that led to songs and stories and visions of her great-uncle, dead in her arms, and Fa mu''s face, his wild red hair.


    Concentrate!


    But the magic wouldn''t answer. The pain in her head blocked it all out. Her body was trying to protect itself, to preserve the few uncorrupted parts she had left.


    Chang Chang gave up. She was searching blind. Instead she concentrated on Trik''s dagger. He held the weapon crosswise in his hand. He wanted a quick slash to the throat. A quick cut, and Fa mu would be gone.


    A quick cut. She repeated it, and suddenly everything crystallized in her mind. The alternate paths fell away, leaving her a clear line to the tower. She ran for the door, threw it off its hinges. The spell was waiting, had been waiting, for her to get past the fear. It appeared as a glowing tome of light in the middle of the room.


    "Fa mu, roll him!" she cried. "Keep moving!" She whispered the spell, her voice cracking.


    Over the arcane phrases, she heard more footsteps charging down the walkway. Shouts, Zu Ruo''s voice. So far away. They might have been coming from the other side of the city.


    She risked a glance at Fa mu, but kept her concentration fully on the spell.


    He wasn''t moving. He knew the knife was coming, but he wasn''t struggling anymore. She saw a strange, peaceful expression settling over his face. He gazed over Trik''s shoulder at her, and the look in his eyes held such a boundless affection and acceptance that Chang Chang felt her heart tearing open.


    Go, his eyes told her. I''m fine, now.


    Trik came forward. Chang Chang screamed the rest of the spell. The words were fire in her throat. She felt the spell hold, and the scene erupted in shadows of torch and spell light.''


    Chang Chang''s world lost focus. The pain was unbearable. The spell burst from her like something newly born. She could only crouch on the walkway and hope that she lived through it.


    His balance gone, Trik pitched forward, collapsing half on Fa mu and half on the walkway. The magic held him immobile.


    "Fa mu!" She came up to her knees, forcing her body to move. There was blood running down her forehead. She must have hit her head harder than she''d thought. Everything was tilting, the torchlight was too bright, but Fa mu¡­


    The giant let go, freeing one of Fa mu''s arms. The butcher reared back, trying to get a hand on the giant''s throat. He didn''t see the giant pick up Trik''s discarded knife, or turn it toward Fa mu''s c.h.e.s.t.


    "Fa mu." The name framed her lips, but there was no sound. The dagger went into Fa mu''s c.h.e.s.t and pinned his leather sash to his body. He fell back, and the giant fell on top of him.

 Chapter 217 - A Song Of The Past [X]

    In the same breath, Chang Chang felt the backlash from her spell. There was a distant drumming, the blood forcing its way through her body. Her skull felt tight. Would the vessels burst and her mind go dark? Yes. She welcomed it.


    Fa Mu''s lifeblood dripped between the planks, crimson on the brown water. The colors were just like Ju Feng''s eyes.


    Chang Chang felt herself fall, half-curled into a ball. She could see Fa Mu''s face. He was looking at her, the fear intense in his gaze.


    Not for himself, Chang Chang thought. He didn''t care at all that he was bleeding to death from a c.h.e.s.t wound. He was trying to get up, to get to her. To see if she was safe.


    She could hear Ju Feng''s voice now. He came into view, running full out down the walkway. She saw his floppy hat bobbing. He grabbed the giant, peeling him off Fa Mu like a fly. Before he could raise the dagger, Ju Feng grabbed him from behind, pushed his knee into the small of his back, and used both hands to pull the giant''s head back.


    There was a soft popping noise, and the giant went limp.


    His spine, Chang Chang thought, snapped in one movement. Such a small sound on such a big man. But Ju Feng had known exactly what he was doing. He dropped the giant''s body and went for Za Tau, a bland expression on his face. Same intentions, his course set.


    He grabbed the spell bands that held the smaller man. When he was sure they were secure, he dragged Za Tau to the edge of the walkway.


    "No, please!" Za Tau cried, when he realized what Ju Feng intended. He kicked and struggled, but Ju Feng kept dragging him. His expression didn''t change. "Not the water, don''t!"


    "Ju Feng," Chang Chang said, but it was too soft for him to hear. He gazed at Za Tau''s frantic expression reflected in the water. "Ju Feng," she said, louder.


    The monk paused and turned to look at her. His face visibly softened. He started toward her but checked himself. He looked from the water to Chang Chang, as if he were suddenly waking from a dream.


    "Leave him," Chang Chang gasped. The blood pounded a sick rhythm against her temples. "Check on¡­ Fa Mu."


    Ju Feng nodded and left Za Tau at the edge of the walkway, facedown toward the water.


    He crossed to Fa Mu and examined the butcher''s wound. When he saw all the blood, he turned to the giant''s body. He fisted his hands in the giant''s baggy shirt and ripped the fabric down the middle. The tearing was loud in the darkness. He stripped the giant to the waist and left the body where it was.


    "Help me," he told Zu Ruo.


    The dwarf came around to Fa Mu''s other side. Together they hoisted the butcher into a half sitting position. Zu Ruo put her back against Fa Mu''s to prop him up.


    Ju Feng looped the ruined shirt around Fa Mu''s middle, tying off the end under his armpit to try to slow the flow of blood. Zu Ruo gently laid him back horizontal.


    "He''ll live for a while," Ju Feng said.


    Chang Chang put her head down to quiet the spinning, the roaring blood. She heard Zu Ruo''s footsteps, a short, heavy tread that stopped behind her.


    "She''s almost as far gone," the dwarf woman said. Chang Chang felt Zu Ruo gently roll her onto her back. She probed her c.h.e.s.t for wounds, then started on her arms and legs. Chang Chang started to tell her not to bother, but she didn''t have the strength.


    "Well?" Ju Feng said when she was done. He hadn''t come any closer. He used Fa Mu''s body as a buffer between them.


    "Whatever''s hurting her is going on inside," Zu Ruo said. "She needs healing, and even that might not be enough. Her eyes are strange¡ªglassy, like yours."


    "Ju Feng." Chang Chang sat up, gripping the dwarf''s shoulder for support. "Tarvin''s dead."


    He followed her gaze to the Watchman''s body. "He shouldn''t have tried to take you alone."


    "Ju Feng, can you call the Watch?"


    He hesitated. The pain twisting his face was all the answer Chang Chang needed. "What do you want to tell them?" he said.


    "Give them our exact location." The tide of pain was slowly leaving her. Chang Chang felt strangely calm, her body inert. She had no more reserves of strength to lose. This was where everything settled. She had to start the slow climb back up. "I assume they''re still searching for me somewhere in . Tell them we have wounded and need immediate aid. Go quickly, please."


    Ju Feng stood and walked a little distance away. He removed something from his pouch and spoke a word Chang Chang didn''t hear.


    He''s been connected to the Watch all this time, Chang Chang thought. Yet he never brought them roaring down on our heads. He and Fa Mu had followed her, no matter where she went. They''d kept her safe.


    The conversation was short. When Ju Feng returned, the familiar tightness was in his jaw, the only sign of concern he ever betrayed.


    "They''re not far away," he said.


    "Good. Would you help me, Zu Ruo?" Chang Chang asked.


    The dwarf helped Chang Chang to her feet. When she could walk steadily, she went to Fa Mu.


    He was unconscious, but he still breathed. His face had no color, and his skin was cold. Did it feel worse to Ju Feng?


    "I never touched him," Ju Feng said, in answer to the unspoken question. "I couldn''t know¡ª"


    "Of course you couldn''t," Chang Chang said. "And I wouldn''t have listened, if you''d tried to tell me. I would have denied it until I was blind to everything else."


    Ju Feng removed his gloves and slid his silver ring off his finger. Replacing his gloves, he picked up Fa Mu''s left hand. The ring would only fit on his smallest finger. Ju Feng slid it snugly into place.


    "It''ll keep his heartbeat strong until the Watch gets here," Ju Feng said. "He should live, if they hurry."


    Chang Chang nodded. "How long do we have?"


    "Not long."


    "Then I need to get going."


    She kissed the back of Fa Mu''s hand, folded it over his c.h.e.s.t, and stood up. Her eyes fell on the bound man hanging over the walkway. The sense of detachment settled over her again as she approached him.


    He watched her seat herself on the walkway so he could see her in his peripheral vision. She left him as he was, dangling over the water. The threat was there. She didn''t need to tell him.


    "He was your friend," Chang Chang said, pointing to the shirtless, dead giant. When Za Tau didn''t answer, she said, "Fa Mu is mine. You don''t know how hard it was for me to tell that man"¡ªshe pointed at Ju Feng¡ª"not to kill you. A tenday ago I could never have conceived such a thought in my mind, but time and hunger and desperation and fear work so many worms into the most pristine thoughts, and mine weren''t clean to begin with.


    "You can''t imagine how much I want to kill you myself right now. It should matter that you''re helpless, that you can''t fight back. I know it should, but it doesn''t. I just want to punish someone, for all of it. Perhaps it''s the same for you, and that''s why you could kill Fa Mu without even knowing him. I don''t care about that either."


    She put a hand in the air. He flinched, and she took a gross stab of p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e in his fear. "I talk too much. It''s a curse Ju Feng warns me against, but I won''t waste much more of your time. I''m going to release you. You''ll go back to Cerest¡ªyou''ve got no other employment, or you''d have taken it by now. Go back to Cerest, and tell him that I want to talk to him."


    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ju Feng and Zu Ruo exchange glances. She didn''t look at them or try to explain. They knew this conversation was as much for their benefit as Za Tau''s.


    "Do you know what the Thousand Ferryman''s Clove is?" she asked Za Tau.


    For a breath the man didn''t answer. Then he nodded, a quick jerk of the head.


    "That''s good. That will make things easier. Tell Cerest to meet me in the heart of Ferryman''s Clove."


    "You''re mad," Za Tau said, breaking his silence at last. "No one¡ª"


    "No one goes there," she said over him. "That''s why it has to be there. No one to hurt, no more friends to kill. Only enemies. If you come there, Za Tau, I will kill you, with no words preceding the deed. If Cerest wants me, he''ll have to come to the Clove. Will you carry that message to him?"


    Za Tau nodded again. Chang Chang flicked her hovering hand. The bands around his c.h.e.s.t flickered and melted away. He exhaled sharply and slumped on the walkway. Until then, Chang Chang hadn''t realized how tightly the bands had constricted his breath.


    She sensed Ju Feng stepping toward her. His protective shadow fell across her, seen clearly by Za Tau as he got to his feet and took off running down the walkway.


    When his footsteps receded, Chang Chang stood and faced the others. Fa Mu was still unconscious, his head tossing fitfully from blood loss and fever. She knelt, dipped her arm in the harbor, and smoothed her cool, wet fingers across his forehead.


    "Do you approve?" she asked Ju Feng without looking up.


    "Of your plan?" Ju Feng said. "I don''t know. It''s very possible that if Cerest doesn''t kill us, the wild magic at the Clove will do the job."

 Chapter 218 - A Song Of The Past [11]

    "I know. I am tempted to wait for the Watch, as I should have done back at the ship. I''ll be a long time regretting that." Her voice broke, but she plowed on. "There are some questions I need answered. Cerest has the knowledge, and I think he''ll give me what I want."


    "I''ll go with you," Ju Feng said, "in case he proves reluctant."


    "Thank you," Chang Chang said. "I know it''s more than I deserve, after the way I''ve used you."


    "Don''t," Ju Feng said tersely. "You don''t owe me anything."


    "I never should have kissed you," Chang Chang said. "I made you feel my death, and you weren''t ready for that. It was a very unromantic gesture." She put her head on Fa Mu''s c.h.e.s.t. It took several breaths, but when she was strong enough, she looked up at Ju Feng. "How long have you known? You said you''d never touched me¡ª"


    "I haven''t," Ju Feng said. "I only suspected. It was Saragui who confirmed it. He has a power to sense those touched by the spellplague, and how badly they''ve been afflicted."


    Chang Chang nodded, accepting it. "I hope Cerest can tell me that too¡ªwhy I''m dying."


    "You don''t have to rush to your demise so soon," Ju Feng said, his voice harsh. "You might have years yet, if you stop using magic now."


    "But I have to use it, if I''m ever to be free of him," Chang Chang said. "One last time, that''s all I need."


    "No. We''ll do it another way."


    "You think you can change fate?" Chang Chang said.


    He looked away. "Just yours."


    "That''s not true. You wouldn''t have brought Zu Ruo with us if you didn''t believe you could change things. I saw you touch her hands in the haven. You wanted her out of there, and not just to be my bodyguard. You knew her death waited in that place."


    "She''s stubborn enough I wonder if anything can kill her," Ju Feng muttered, but he didn''t deny her words.


    "You can''t protect me by yourself," Chang Chang said. "Without your ring, we''ll need my magic."


    Ju Feng started and looked at his hand, as if he''d forgotten it was b.a.r.e. He looked at Fa Mu, at the ring keeping him alive. Defeated, he dropped his hand to his side and clenched a fist. "Is your raft still intact?" Chang Chang asked.


    "Enough to get us out to the Haven," Ju Feng answered. He looked at Zu Ruo, and a spark of black humor lit his eyes. "What''ll it be, Ruo? Should I tell the people you were too frightened to take on the fair folk, golden locks and all?"


    "You won''t be telling any tales when I have your head underwater for the sharks to nip at," the dwarf said, smiling sweetly. "But I''ll go to the Haven, and gladly."


    "You don''t have to do this, Zu Ruo," Chang Chang said.


    The dwarf nodded curtly. "I do, but not for you, so don''t let your conscience prickle you. After Tarvin led you off the Isle, we got word from the guards that Saragui''s dead."


    Chang Chang was shocked. "How?"


    "How do you think? It was the elf. The survivors said he had a pair of pretty elf princesses with him." Zu Ruo looked at Ju Feng. "Might be you were onto something about my death waiting in the Haven. I owe you thanks for letting me live long enough to get my revenge on the pretties. But in the meantime, do we leave the butcher here?"


    Chang Chang didn''t know what to do. The thought of leaving Fa Mu alone on the walkway was a physical pain. He would be vulnerable to any attack until the Watch arrived.


    "I have to protect him," she said to Ju Feng, half in defense, half in apology.


    The spell had gone awry the first time she''d used it. For once, that would work to her advantage.


    She put a hand in her pouch, grasping the cameo as she''d done in the Haven. She pictured the woman''s face in her mind, the blue curve of her cheek, carved forever in stone. Letting the image float in her consciousness, she wove the spell.


    Mist slid off her hands and coiled in the air. It took on the shape and substance of the woman in lace. She stood before Chang Chang in her vaporous gown, her face impassive.


    Chang Chang didn''t know exactly what to do. The last time, the servant had automatically gone where her mind willed it. She remembered that she''d been mentally screaming for something to aid Ju Feng.


    "Can you understand me?" she asked the strange apparition.


    The woman didn''t answer. Her expression didn''t change. "She has no consciousness," Ju Feng said. "There''s nothing in her eyes."


    "So she only has life when Chang Chang pulls her strings?" Zu Ruo asked. "Tell her to play guard dog, then."


    "It wouldn''t work," Chang Chang said. She raised her right arm slowly out from her body. She concentrated on nothing except moving the appendage. The lady in lace mirrored the gesture until their fingertips were practically touching. "She only does what I directly imagine her to do. Once I''m gone, she won''t act independently."


    Chang Chang slowly turned her body until she was facing Fa Mu, who lay a few feet in front of the servant. The lady again mimicked the gesture.


    "There," Chang Chang said. "As long as I picture her standing here, she''ll remain. The folk of WaterWay should be wary enough of sea wraiths to stay away from this apparition until the Watch arrives."


    Still, her gaze lingered on Fa Mu. She took a step toward him, but Ju Feng laid a gloved hand on her arm.


    "If we''re going, we need to go now," he said.


    "You''re right. I just¡ª"


    "I know," Ju Feng said. "You''ll see him again."


    She looked at him. "Do you truly think that?"


    He shrugged. "You were right. If I didn''t think I could beat the odds, I''d never play the game."


    They looked at each other for a breath. Then Chang Chang smiled. "So let''s play."


    Ju Feng''s raft was in good condition, considering it had gone through a sea wraith attack. Ju Feng and Zu Ruo worked the oars while Chang Chang sank into her thoughts. She kept a part of her mind fixed on the apparition watching over Fa Mu, but she knew she would lose the spell soon. The battle ahead would require her complete concentration.


    The Watch would be there by now. They would save Fa Mu. Chang Chang could not consider any other outcome.


    She took inventory of what magic she had left. She had never used so much in so short a time. Some of the spells left she hadn''t meditated on in years. They were at the very edges of her consciousness. Her teacher had insisted that she be able to protect herself, but she''d put the harrowing magic as far from her active mind as she could.


    Now, mentally, she entered the tower room. The sunlight spilling in the windows had become stygian night. When she entered the room, flames sprang from tallow candles, long unused in their brass candelabras. Black shadows stretched to c.a.r.e.s.s the bookshelves. It was only her fear made manifest, but she was still unsettled at the changes.


    Chang Chang walked to a place at the base of the shelves. A black tome floated down from a high shelf to meet her outstretched hand. Arcane writing was burned into the silver spine. The book opened in her hand, and she read.


    The spells were powerful, but she was more concerned with the backlash. She''d been caught completely off guard and made helpless when she''d incapacitated Trik. All the offense she could muster wouldn''t be worth anything if she were incapacitated herself.


    Chang Chang blinked, and the tower disappeared. She stared out at an endless stretch of dark water. Ju Feng didn''t have his ring. With his body unfortified, he''d be significantly weakened by any blow that managed to land on him. But she trusted his speed. If they couldn''t catch him, they couldn''t hurt him.


    That left Zu Ruo. She would anchor all of them, and she would make Cerest''s men answer for her master. It worried Chang Chang that she would be walking into a potential den of spellplague, but she knew the dwarf woman would not be dissuaded.


    "What will you do when this is all over?" she asked.


    Zu Ruo looked up from her rowing. "Go back to the haven," she said, as if it was a foregone conclusion. "No one to run it, the champion should step in. I don''t think he''s going to be doing it," she said, nodding at Ju Feng.


    "The title''s yours," Ju Feng said. "I have no interest in the haven."


    "Don''t know what you''re missing," Zu Ruo said.


    "What do you love so much about the fighting?" Chang Chang asked.


    Zu Ruo shrugged. "I like the crowd, like it when they cheer for me. It''s what everyone wants."


    "She likes to be seen," Ju Feng said.


    "Isn''t that what I''m saying?" The dwarf woman looked irritated. "What of it?"


    "Bells grew up in a family with eight brothers," Ju Feng said.


    "Eight? Isn''t that quite¡­ prolific, for a dwarven family?" Chang Chang said.


    "Not so much these days," Zu Ruo said. "I''m thinking our sire wanted a small army, not a family, so he got all of us on my mother. As far as he was concerned, I would grow my cheek fuzz and be indistinguishable from my brothers. Nine soldiers, nine sons. That''s what he wanted. He cut my hair himself, when I refused to do it. My brothers held me down."


    "Gods," Chang Chang said. "Your own family?"


    "Blood doesn''t mean much. The next time he came for me, I bruised him good before he could get the shears on me. After that, I almost took out his eye. Each time I hurt him a little more, until he stopped coming for me."

 Chapter 219 - A Song Of The Past [12]

    "That''s when you came to WaterWay?"


    "Not at first. I wandered a little, busied my hands at different jobs before I ended up in WaterWay. But the Cradle." Chang Chang shook her head. "They''d never seen a dwarf woman pretty as me who could fight as hard as the boys they bet their coin on."


    Chang Chang smiled at Chang Chang''s pleased expression. "No one ever tried to make you grow a beard?"


    "And they know better than to touch my hair," Chang Chang said.


    In the distance, Chang Chang could see the behemoth outline of Ferryman''s Haven. Wraiths circled in an endless dance in the water, occasionally swirling up to curl their bodies sinuously around the broken masts of the inverted ship.


    The leviathan''s bones twined seamlessly with the rotting greatship. There was no flesh left to suggest what the creature might have looked like in its original form, but the thought of it driving the massive ship straight into the air was boggling. The leviathan''s remains kept the Ferryman from plunging into the deep by sheer force of an old will, a need beyond death to remain locked in battle.


    Chang Chang looked unimpressed by the sight. "How you thinking of getting past them?" she asked, nodding at the wraiths.


    Chang Chang closed her eyes. She hummed the familiar ballad to brace herself against the magic. The lost boy, trying to find his way home. She didn''t look at Ju Feng to see his reaction to the song. She couldn''t let herself be distracted.


    "Find a path into the wreckage," Chang Chang instructed them. She reached into her pouch for foci, careful this time to make sure they were the correct objects. "When the wraiths scatter, make for it with all possible speed."


    Chang Chang snorted. "They''re not just going to let us glide in¡ª"


    "Quiet," Ju Feng said. "Let her work."


    Chang Chang finished the spell and threw her arms into the air. She released a handful of coin-sized stones, three in each hand. They soared high and burst into orange flame. She pictured them in her mind, the wild, soaring orbs, pulsing with arcane energy.


    To the wraiths, arcane energy released from a body steeped in spellplague was like a bone cast in the path of starving dogs. Their bodies glowed in concert with the flames. They streaked after the orbs in cl.u.s.ters of three and four, leaving a clear path between the only three living souls on the water and a cavernous hole snugged between the wrecked Ferryman and the leviathan''s bones.


    The raft drifted up to a slash of sail dr.a.p.ed across the upper half of the opening. Ju Feng pushed it aside with his oar. He maneuvered the raft between hull and rib and they floated on, into the Haven.


    Cerest listened to Tau''s report in fascination. "You''re certain it''s only the three of them?" he said. Trik looked uncomfortable. Cerest narrowed his eyes. "I''m sorry for the loss of Borion, but if you''re lying, it won''t go badly for just me. We''ve lost Guani and Dangong."


    Tau''s eyes bugged out and he half-swayed on his feet. "How?"


    "Saragui''s guards," Cerest said. "They caught them just after we split up. I underestimated their loyalty. But don''t worry, Feston is safe. He''s gone to get three more of your fellows to aid us."


    "Six of us," Trik murmured. "Six of us against three of them."


    "More than passable odds, if Chang Chang is willing to cooperate."


    Tau shook his head. He looked at Cerest in a way that made the elf''s skin prickle with anger¡ªdisgust swimming in pity. But Tau wasn''t looking at the elf''s scars.


    "You go find her on your own," he said. "Take the others if you want. Hells, they''ll all fight ''til they''re dead, if there''s coin in it."


    He turned away, the torchlight burning his profile orange.


    "Don''t you want revenge?" Cerest asked him. "They killed your friend."


    "And I killed hers, or near enough," Tau said. "I''m out of it."


    Cerest watched the man walk away. It didn''t affect him the way it had when the Locks had left him. He felt nothing now, not in light of what Trik had told him about Chang Chang.


    He''d finally worn her down. She was coming to him, and she was coming angry. He would have to fight to bring her to heel, but he wasn''t worried about that. He would have the upper hand, because he had the truth Chang Chang wanted.


    All he had to do was make her give up everything to get it.


    Ju Feng''s lantern flickered and went out. Chang Chang started to cast a light spell when she felt Ju Feng''s hand on her arm.


    She knew it was him by the cool touch of leather.


    "Save your strength," he said. "I''ll get the lantern going. Ruo, keep rowing."


    She tried to get a sense of the interior of the Haven by the moonlight filtering through the gaps in the rigging, but the sheer bulk of the vessel and bones prevented much detail from being discernible. The structures had massed together in one hive shape, eclipsing all the individual parts.


    The raft bumped against something solid about the same time Ju Feng got the lantern lit. Chang Chang thought it was debris floating in the water. It took her a breath to realize that it was a boot, propped against the front of the raft. The boot''s owner floated six inches above the water.


    Chang Chang looked up into the most frightening collage of a human face she had ever beheld. N.a.k.e.d above the waist, the man''s torso and shoulders were disproportionately wide. Veins and bone bulges stood out from his pale skin.


    Thin patches of hair grew like scrub grass all over his head. His bottom lip folded over on itself in one corner, giving him a perpetual sneer and allowing a stream of drool to escape from his mouth in a needle-thin waterfall. This type of deformity, the godscurse, Chang Chang had seen before. But the gods weren''t done with their jest at this poor soul''s expense.


    From the man''s neck sprouted a quartet of bulbous gray tentacles. He had them dr.a.p.ed across his shoulders like a mane that ended at his belt. The tentacles were moving, seemingly independent of any conscious mental direction on their owner''s part.


    With his boot on the raft, the man brought forward a long polearm, its tip reaching well above his head. He swung the point down level with her c.h.e.s.t. His arm muscles tensed. Chang Chang thought he was going to drive the weapon through her b.r.e.a.s.t, but instead, he let out a keening whistle that threatened to shatter her eardrums.


    Chang Chang folded into herself, clutching her head against the high-pitched whistle. When it was over, she noticed Chang Chang and Ju Feng had adopted similar protective positions.


    "We mean no harm here," Chang Chang said shakily. "We came here for refuge¡ª"


    A howling cry echoed from somewhere deep in the inverted Ferryman, cutting off Chang Chang''s words. It rose in intensity, so that it mimicked the man''s whistle perfectly. The sound rang out again, nearer, and with it came clicks and rapid pounding on wood.


    "Get the oars up!" Ju Feng shouted. Chang Chang was already hauling hers out of the water.


    Ju Feng ran past Chang Chang and swung his oar. He batted the man''s polearm away from her c.h.e.s.t and reversed the swing for a swipe at the man''s legs.


    The deformed man backed off, blocking Ju Feng''s swing with his polearm, but he made no further move to fight back. He smiled, and the expression was horrid, his lips curling like worms around uneven rows of teeth.


    Ju Feng plunged the oar into the water, trying to push them away from the Ferryman.


    "Beware!" Chang Chang cried, pointing to the ship. Pinpoints of light were visible from a gap in the hull. There came another howl, and a breath later, two enormous bodies leaped through the opening. In size and movement they resembled stags, but their faces were a cross between canine and badger. They launched into the air using massive haunches, one and then the other landing on the small raft.


    The stink of rotting flesh and gamey fur swelled in Chang Chang''s nostrils. Their craft was not big enough to contain the beasts. Chang Chang fell to her knees to avoid being slammed off the raft by the weight of the furry bodies.


    The beast farthest from her whipped its head around, catching Chang Chang by the leg. She fell on her backside. The beast shook her like a playtime doll, and for the first time Chang Chang heard the dwarf woman scream. Terror widened her eyes, but she fought back, and folded her body up to get at the beast''s head.


    It lifted her by her leg and swung her, tossing its head and snarling. On the second backswing Chang Chang grabbed her belt dagger and planted it beneath the beast''s eyes. She missed its burning orb by half an inch.


    The beast keened and snapped its head down. The knife came out of its flesh. It bit the blade in half, nearly severing Chang Chang''s fingers too. The dwarf woman dropped the ruined weapon. Her skull smacked the raft, and she went senseless.

 Chapter 220 - Burden Of The Beast

    "No!" Chang Chang cried. She tried to crawl between the second beast''s legs. Ju Feng had his arms around its head. His muscles strained as he attempted to keep the beast''s teeth from his neck.


    "Get up," Ju Feng hollered when he saw her weaving between the beast''s legs. "They''re beast. They''ll trample you!"


    Chang Chang lunged forward, but the second beast had already seen her. It dropped Zu Ruo in favor of a moving target. Curling sideways, it lunged. Its massive weight hit Chang Chang from the side and bore her to the ground.


    She hit the planks hard. The beast''s rancid breath was all over her. Bone-ridged jaws snapped inches from her face.


    Chang Chang pushed against the beast''s throat. Her hands slipped off the oily fur and down its c.h.e.s.t. She had the brief impression of a wild heartbeat and stone-hard muscles. She would never throw the beast off. Her only advantage was the size of the raft. The craft bobbed wildly between the leviathan''s bones and the bow of the Ferryman. The beast were positioned half on these shores and half on the raft.


    Chang Chang couldn''t see Ju Feng now, but she could hear his punches vibrating along the other beast''s body. It squealed in pain, and Chang Chang heard a splash when its back legs skittered off the raft.


    She kicked up, into her own foe''s belly. It hacked a foul breath and became meaner. Nine feet of muscle and bone settled on top of her. Chang Chang couldn''t breathe. She flopped back and tried to pull her c.h.e.s.t free, but the beast latched onto her wrist and began to shake the appendage in its teeth.


    Fire exploded up Chang Chang''s arm. She cried out as the flesh was stripped from her wrist, exposing white bone. The pain was mythic. She felt the blood dribble down her arm and almost passed out. She tried to rip her arm out of the beast''s mouth, but that only made the pain worse.


    Haltingly, she chanted a spell. Her concentration was in shreds, her attention too caught up in her trapped arm. She imagined how the magic would go wild, but she didn''t care. Any pain was better than watching the beast tear her hand off. It was playing with her, enjoying her pain before it ate her alive. She shrieked the arcane words and braced herself for the backlash.


    Metal spikes burst bloodlessly from her skin. They were two inches long and curled at the tips. She felt them puncture the roof of the beast''s mouth. Willingly she gave the beast her hand, driving the spikes deep.


    With a high-pitched wail, the beast released her. The beast pulled its weight off her c.h.e.s.t, but more of the spikes were growing from Chang Chang''s skin. She felt each one as a tiny pinprick. They stuck and tore the beast''s skin until both woman and monster were drenched in blood. The beast ripped free and retreated, whimpering pathetically. It limped to the edge of the raft and licked its wounds.


    Chang Chang could see the wicked intelligence in its eyes as it re-evaluated her. She stretched out her wrecked arm, daring the creature to come at her and taste more spikes.


    It watched her with those frightening eyes like the burning edges of coins, but it came no closer. That''s right, Chang Chang thought. I''m not as weak as I look.


    She sat up and looked around, careful to keep one eye on the injured beast. Ju Feng lay on his back; his beast had worked its way onto his c.h.e.s.t, but it couldn''t keep him still. He punched the beast in the side of its wedge-shaped head over and over. His fists moved in a blur, delivering quick, alternating punches down either side of the beast''s flank. Distracted by the constant stream of hurts, it couldn''t bite his fists or sever fingers. He would wear it down eventually, but not before he exhausted himself.


    Not far away, Zu Ruo lay in a wrecked heap. Chang Chang saw she''d taken a bite to the neck before the beast had grabbed her. Her leg flopped in a blood pool. The stench of copper and oily fur was dizzying.


    Chang Chang crawled to the dwarf''s side. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the beast''s deformed master pacing the air among the leviathan''s ribs. He was agitated, his tentacles writhing over his c.h.e.s.t. He propped the polearm on his shoulder, but he didn''t throw it.


    He won''t risk hitting the beasts, Chang Chang thought. She tore her sleeve, wrapping it three times around the deep gash in Zu Ruo''s leg. The spikes made it take twice as long, but she didn''t want to end the spell yet.


    When she was done, she tore her other sleeve and wrapped her own wrist as tightly as she could. Blood immediately soaked through the makeshift bandage. She felt light-headed. She prayed she could kill the injured beast before she passed out.


    Standing on her knees, Chang Chang chanted again. The spikes sank back into her flesh and dissolved. On the heels of the dispel, she pushed her arms out from her body, the sweep encompassing both beast.


    Blue missiles of magical energy shot from her hands. They hit the injured beast in the c.h.e.s.t. The beast howled. The blue streamers sank into its flesh, briefly illuminating the beast''s face.


    Before the injured one could recover, the missiles rebounded, striking the beast Ju Feng was fighting in the spine.


    In the explosion of pain and surprise, the beast lost its balance at last, its back legs collapsing underneath its body.


    Ju Feng took the distraction and flipped himself onto the leu-crotta''s back, raking his body across the beast''s singed fur. The beast howled and bucked, trying to throw the boy off, but Ju Feng locked both arms around its head.


    The beast turned and charged toward the water. It would force Ju Feng off one way or another. When the beast turned its head, Ju Feng sprang up, contorting his body so that his full weight landed on the beast''s left flank. With his arms locked around the beast''s head, Ju Feng had the beast disoriented. It tried to twist free, but Ju Feng pulled straight up and to the right with all his strength.


    The beast''s neck popped with a stomach-turning crunch. It sagged against Ju Feng, biting and snapping at random, its senses shattered by the trauma it had suffered.


    Ju Feng grabbed the jagged remains of Zu Ruo''s dagger and plunged it into the beast''s throat. It coughed once and expired, collapsing half on top of Ju Feng. He shoved the body off into the harbor.


    The injured beast howled furiously, a cry echoed by the deformed man. He hefted his spear, aiming it at Ju Feng, while the beast lunged for him.


    "No!" Chang Chang cried. Ju Feng dodged, but the beast grabbed him by the shoulder, tearing out a chunk of flesh.


    He crab-crawled back, putting a little distance between them, but the beast was already tensing to spring again.


    Chang Chang gauged the distance and cast another spell. She twisted her arms together and waited, sweat from the pain pouring down her face, until the deformed man threw his spear. He aimed for Ju Feng''s heart.


    Chang Chang spoke a word, and Ju Feng and the beast disappeared. She untwisted her hands and instantly they reappeared, but they had exchanged places on the raft.


    .


    The deformed man stared, his jaw slack with horror, as his own spear punched a hole in the beast''s flank. Its wicked point protruded out the other side, between two of the beast''s ribs.


    The beast collapsed¡ªdead before it hit the ground¡ªand Ju Feng was up and moving, grabbing Chang Chang, hauling her to her feet.


    She sagged against him, her strength gone. She''d done too much. Three spells practically at once, and she was losing blood, despite the bandage.


    "He''s still armed," Ju Feng said, and as he spoke, the deformed man drew a broadsword from a ratty leather scabbard. He let himself fall out of the air, landing on the raft with a crash that sent Chang Chang and Ju Feng to their knees and jarred the beast''s body.


    Seeing the corpse up close seemed to incense the man more. He came forward, slashing wildly with his blade. Ju Feng let go of Chang Chang and rushed him. He ducked under the man''s reach just before his slash would have come around and decapitated him. He brought his forearm up and blocked the slash at the man''s wrist, leaving his other hand free for a counter attack.


    One of the few things Chang Chang had learned to be true about Ju Feng ¡ªhowever much honor he showed as a thief, as a Mistshore fighter he would never fight fair.


    So Chang Chang was not in the least shocked when Ju Feng brought his other hand up and snagged one of the tentacles writhing at the deformed man''s waist. He wrapped it around his fist and yanked.


    The man''s sword arm flew out wide at the same time his face came down, until he was nose to nose with Ju Feng. The boy snapped his skull against the deformed man''s and released the tentacle.


    The deformed man staggered back. He tried to bring his sword up, but Ju Feng had him this time. The boy took his thick wrist in both hands, twisted and brought the sword point down, driving it harmlessly into the raft. The deformed man released the sword and it bobbed there, a scar in the wood.


    Ju Feng brought his fist around and punched the deformed man in the stomach. He stumbled backward and off the raft. No spell held him as he plunged into the water.

 Chapter 221 - Burden Of The Beast [2]

    Ju Feng went back to Chang Chang''s side. "Are you well enough to walk? We have to get to a hiding place. We won''t be able to fight Cerest like this."


    "I know," Chang Chang said, "but Zu Ruo''s wound is bad. I don''t think we can move her."


    A pitiful wail erupted from the water. Chang Chang and Ju Feng tensed. Ju Feng turned, his fists raised to defend against another attacker, but it was the deformed man. He thrashed in the water, his tentacles floating weirdly around his head. It gave the impression an octopus was latched onto his neck.


    "Gods," Chang Chang said, "he can''t swim." She took a step toward the edge of the raft.


    Ju Feng latched onto her arm. "Or maybe he''s a clever play actor who''ll stick you with a hidden dagger when you get close enough to help him."


    The cries intensified. Chang Chang flinched. "If that''s so, you''ll finish him when he makes his attack. If it''s not¡ªI can''t listen to him die like that."


    "He was willing enough to let us be eaten by his dogs," Ju Feng said, but Chang Chang had already shaken off his restraining hand.


    She walked to the edge of the raft and got down on her knees. She buried one hand in the strapping that kept Ju Feng''s raft together and extended the other out to the deformed man.


    He thrashed for a handful of breaths, his eyes huge in the lamplit darkness. He watched her for sign of a trick, but she just let her hand linger in the air like a bird hovering before a cat.


    Chang Chang tightened her grip on the strapping. She felt Ju Feng''s legs on either side of her. He grabbed her shoulders to steady her, and hauled her up by the armpits with the deformed man in tow. Together, they dragged him up and onto the raft.


    He lay on his side, in a pool of water and leucrotta blood, coughing up harbor filth from his slack mouth. Chang Chang stood over him, unsure how far the uneasy truce was going to stretch.


    The hairs on the back of her neck prickled, like sudden heat in a cold room. She looked up and saw a man standing in the torn gap of the Ferryman''s hull. She didn''t know how long he''d been standing there, watching them, but the man looked to be about a hundred and ninety years old.


    He had a narrow, jaundiced face, but his expression was not unkind. Green eyes peered out from eye sockets that were heavy on top and papery with age on the bottom. His thick, stark white eyebrows were raised in speculation. He was clean-shaven, head and face; and wore a long set of robes, white over gray. A black belt that looked like it had been chewed on by wild dogs circled his waist.


    But the feature that demanded the greatest portion of Chang Chang''s attention was the carved wooden staff he held in his right hand. The wood had been notched with arcane markings over every visible surface At its peak, a swirling red mist encircled thin shoots of wood, like foliage on a burning tree.


    He had the staff slightly pointed forward. Chang Chang could imagine a ray of arcane power shooting from the tip and striking Ju Feng down before the two of them could flinch. This was not a warrior''s polearm; this was a wizard''s staff. It relied not on human strength, but on a connection with its master. The staff would respond to its wielder''s slightest instinct, and it would do so in the space between heartbeats.


    Chang Chang raised her hands, palms out. "We surrender," she said.


    When he heard the doglike howls, Cerest motioned for his remaining men to abandon the boats. At first they hesitated, their eyes drawn to the wraiths circling endlessly above the gap between the Ferryman and the leviathan.


    The undead creatures did not appear to notice them. They chased and dove at three flaming orbs hanging in midair; but for all their frenzied efforts, they could never capture the arcane energy. Cerest thought the orbs must be Chang Chang''s doing, and wondered for a breath if she had laid a trap for him here.


    The dwarf woman''s screams rang out in concert with the snarls of beasts. Cerest slapped the boat nearest him with an oar to get his mens'' attention. Reluctantly, they slid into the dark water. Stealth was the wisest option for whatever lay ahead of them.


    They were only five, but they were the deadliest of the Locks''s muck-rakers, in Cerest''s opinion. Up to their noses in the water, they swam silently through the gap between the Ferryman''s corpse and the leviathan''s. They carried no light source, trusting Cerest''s vision to lead them through the complex tangle of ship and creature. Above their heads, the wraiths continued their oblivious circling.


    One leucrotta was dead, and the second dying, by the time they came within sight of the raft and its torn occupants. Cerest watched the boy fighting a hideously deformed man, and then a breath later helping Chang Chang save the man''s life.


    So that was how it was between them, Cerest thought. He was her dog, awaiting the command to throw himself into death''s path. He felt a strange surge in his c.h.e.s.t, a heat that did not diminish, even with the harbor soaking his clothes to his skin.


    He didn''t like the way the boy touched Chang Chang, the rough way he hauled her back upon the raft, as if she were so much refuse he couldn''t wait to cast off. Yet at the same time he stayed as close to her as polite proximity would allow. Like the dog Cerest had named him, he soaked up the energy of her presence; and his body practically vibrated, begging for more.


    Cerest didn''t want to see that type of connection between the boy and Chang Chang. Chang Chang was his.


    "Kill the thin man," Cerest whispered to his men. But one of them lifted his hand to his throat, gesturing for silence.


    Cerest followed the man''s gaze and saw the old man standing on the Ferryman''s ruins. His staff glowed brightly, illuminating too much of the ruins for Cerest''s comfort. The old man looked shrewd, and comfortable in his power.


    "Dive down," Cerest said. "We''ll swim a safe distance away and watch. If we get the chance, kill the old man quickly and bring me his staff. Do whatever you wish with the thin man, as long as you kill him in the end. By that time, Chang Chang and I will be safely away."


    He sank under the water, knowing the men would follow. The burning sensation remained in his c.h.e.s.t.


    "Who are you?" the old man asked.


    Chang Chang felt a strange pull on her scalp, as if some invisible hand were tugging at her hair. The strange lifting sensation brought the truth to her lips, like drawing up water from a deep well.


    "Chang Chang Tearn," she answered, and felt strangely calm, unafraid of this powerful stranger. "My companions are Ju Feng and Zu Ruo."


    As soon as she''d finished speaking, the calm force shattered, and terror burst free in Chang Chang''s c.h.e.s.t.


    "His magic compels truth," Chang Chang said, her words running together. "Don''t answer his questions."


    "My apologies," the man said. "I only wished to confirm your identities. I won''t invade your private space again. I owe you thanks for saving my friend''s life."


    "It was her doing, not mine," Ju Feng said. "In thanks, why not tell us your name, friend, and how you know who we are?"


    "The wraiths whisper things on the edges of my hearing," the man said. "Lies, mostly, and tantalizing hints about secrets that are better left unspoken. I can''t help but listen. They have whispered your names in fear."


    "Good," Ju Feng said. "And your name?" he prompted.


    "Call me Aldren," the old man said, "faithful servant of Mystra''s memory." He stepped down from the Ferryman onto the raft. He never lost his balance, and the raft did not stir in the water. Chang Chang suspected that like the deformed man, he was hovering inches above the water.


    The deformed man was sitting up on the raft, his head dipped between his bent knees. He looked like he was going to be sick. Wan Feitouched the glowing nimbus of the staff to the deformed man''s shoulder. Cast in red, his tentacles basked in the arcane heat. The deformed man looked up at his master.


    "It is all right," Wan Feisaid. "Take three deep breaths and you''ll be feeling back to normal."


    Chang Chang watched the deformed man do as he was told. The pain creases slowly left his face, and a peaceful resignation descended over his features, as if, for this man, "normal" was simply a chosen level of bearable suffering.


    "Who is he?" Chang Chang asked. The unshakable trust in the deformed man''s eyes when he looked at Wan Feigave her courage. Surely, no one who could inspire that kind of love would hurt them without cause. "Why are you both here?"


    "Darvont has been a friend to me for a long time," Wan Feisaid. "He attacked you in defense of me. It is difficult for his mind to grasp the subtleties between intruder and refugee." He moved his staff back to its upright position beside his head. "Come inside my home, if you will. I can help your friend and give you the answer to your other question."


    Chang Chang looked at Ju Feng, who shrugged. "He has the upper hand as either a friend or foe." He added, "Zu Ruo will not survive without aid."

 Chapter 222 - Burden Of The Beast [3]

    Chang Chang nodded. Together they lifted Zu Ruo between them and followed the old man through the wound in the Ferryman''s hull. Chang Chang cradled Zu Ruo''s head gently and felt the lifebeat in her neck. She thought of Sull, and a fresh prayer surged within her, a plea for the lives of her friends.


    They came through a dark passage and into a chamber of muted spell light. Fa Mu had cast a light spell on the preserved nests of insects cl.u.s.tered near the ceiling. A dank chill filled the air, creating the unsettling atmosphere of a tomb. Jagged planks and ripped sail gave way to what Chang Chang could only describe as a nest carved of rotting wood and arcane power.


    Planks from the main deck had been stacked against the wall, their ends warped by magic so that they curled back on themselves like wood shavings. The rough chairs had been fastened to the hull for stability. Their curling ends seemed to have been done purely for style.


    "Put her here," Fa Mu said.


    Chang Chang and Ju Feng laid the dwarf woman in the corner, on a narrow straw pallet stacked with blankets. The crude bed had been stuffed into a wooden frame set six inches off the floor. Chang Chang saw a mouse burrow into the straw and disappear.


    While Fa Mu moved his staff over Zu Ruo''s body, Chang Chang surveyed the rest of the odd living quarters. Another chair and a table stood in the center of the chamber, reinforced by more wood to make a crude desk. Like the wizard''s staff, the surface had been covered with inscribed symbols, some scratched and some burned into the wood. Chang Chang couldn''t imagine how long it must have taken to carve the symbols so meticulously.


    Fa Mu stood straight. The light in his staff dimmed. His eyes looked more sunken than ever, but he smiled wanly. "She will sleep heavily for a time, but she is healing. There will be no permanent damage."


    Before Chang Chang could speak, he brought the staff up and passed it in front of her face. Briefly blinded, Chang Chang felt warmth and strength flow back into her body. The terrible pain in her wrist went away in an instant. She didn''t realize how close the agony and weakness had been to consuming her until they were gone. When the light faded, she saw Fa Mu make the same gesture before Ju Feng.


    "I''m in your debt," Chang Chang said. "I am truly sorry to have brought my burdens to your door."


    The old man waved a hand dismissively. "I am not so easily intimidated at the prospect of other people''s burdens. I welcome the distraction from my own." He followed her gaze to the desk and its writings. "Wood is the only reliable substance to hand," he explained. "The harbor and the wild magic together are so toxic the ink is eaten and the parchment crumbling before a decade is out."


    "A decade?" Chang Chang said. "You''ve been here that long?"


    "What is that?" Ju Feng asked. He pointed to the back of the chamber, which was cast in shadow outside the spell light.


    Fa Mu spoke a word, and two candles jumped to burning life from the back of the hold. They sat in brass dishes on another wooden table, this one free of symbols but dr.a.p.ed in a cloth runner of purple velvet. Faded gold braiding lined the edges of the runner, and in its center, true gold glinted in the candle light.


    "Is that an altar to Mystra?" Chang Chang asked. As she approached, she thought the glintings were jewels, but when she got close she realized her mistake. They were not jewels, at least not in the sense that a high lady of Waterdeep would value.


    They were holy symbols. She recognized Mystra''s symbol, and Deneir, Helm, even Mask and Eilistraee. There were several others she didn''t know.


    "I don''t understand," Chang Chang said, turning to Fa Mu. "I thought you served Mystra''s memory?"


    Fa Mu seated himself on a chair and propped his staff next to him.


    Darvont sat on the floor across from him. His eyes never left the old man''s face.


    "I first came here in the Year of Blue Fire," Fa Mu said. "I was a man of thirty, then. I awoke on a slope of sand with water lapping my face and found that I had been brought to the place by this man," he said, gesturing to Darvont. "I remembered only that I had been caught in an arcane storm of the magnitude you only imagine in nightmares."


    "The Year of Blue Fire," Chang Chang said. "You were there at the beginning of the Spellplague? But that would make you¡ª"


    "Over one hundred and twenty years old," Fa Mu said.


    "How is it you''re still alive?" Chang Chang asked.


    "Your spellscar keeps you alive," Ju Feng said. He stood next to Chang Chang at the altar, but he did not touch any of the pieces arranged there.


    "In a way," Fa Mu said. "I have died several times over the course of these nine decades, but my scar, as you call it, restores me."


    Chang Chang stared at the old man. She thought she''d ceased being surprised at the suffering endured by those the plague had touched, but she was wrong.


    She looked at the holy symbols. "You were a priest of all these gods?"


    "Over each of my ''lifetimes,'' and sometimes more than one," Fa Mu said. "I served them all, faithfully, not realizing at first that they, like Lady Mystra, had passed on. How could they cease to be when I could not? It was one of the more horrifying truths I''ve had to face: to accept immortality when the gods were dying around me. When I realized that none of them would be able to grant the long sleep I d.e.s.i.r.ed, I dedicated myself to what the Art had lost¡ªto Mystra''s memory."


    "How does your magic function?" Ju Feng asked. "From whom do you receive your divine power?"


    "The gods are silent to me," Fa Mu said, "even those I know to be alive and thriving. I don''t know why. Fortunately, the magic in this staff has remained strong. It is my only link to the power that once was Mystra''s, and so I will watch over it, this small shard of the unbound weave that no longer has a weaver."


    "But why stay here?" Chang Chang asked. "Why not live in the city?"


    "Because I feared the day I would be struck down. I imagined awakening in a sealed crypt, enduring a slow death over and over until I descended into madness. And I couldn''t leave him." Fa Mu touched the side of Darvont''s head. "He saved me and shares my curse. I suspect part of his mind dwells forever in the heart of that arcane storm."


    "So you''ll live here forever, custodian of the same magic that scarred you," Chang Chang said, "venerating gods who won''t answer your prayers?"


    The old man shook his head. "You should not anger yourself on my behalf. Many others suffer greater trials. You yourselves are touched, are you not?"


    Chang Chang and Ju Feng exchanged glances. "How do you know that?" Chang Chang asked.


    "Because we are all the same, now," Fa Mu said. "Weavers¡ªcustodians of the Art that was lost."


    "Only Mystra could control the weave," Ju Feng said. "We aren''t gods, and we aren''t immortal."


    "Then what is magic, without its caretaker?" Fa Mu challenged. "Lost, ungovernable. Yet in some few individuals it finds a vessel. You''re quite right: we are not gods, and most of us do not survive the blue flame that burns our flesh and bores our minds. But without the Lady, where can the Art go? It''s been too long mastered. I say it cannot survive on its own, so it clings to the mortal realm and threatens to destroy what it loves most."


    Ju Feng snorted. "You can think that, if you find it comforting. The truth is magic doesn''t have a soul. There''s no beauty left in the Art. The only thing it can do is burn."


    "Is that why you gave Fannie the quill?" Chang Chang asked softly. "Why you stole a collection of magic at amazing cost to yourself? Did you risk your freedom because you believed there was no beauty left in the Art?"


    Ju Feng stared at her. He pressed his lips into a hard line, but his expression wasn''t exactly angry. "What has the Art ever done but bring you misery?" he said. "Why would you defend it?"


    "I would defend you," Chang Chang said. "I don''t know if what you say is true," she said to Fa Mu, "but my friend and I must leave soon. We''re being pursued by a group of men. I led them here, thinking only the wraiths would be disturbed by our presence. I would lead them away¡ª"


    "But there is no better place than here for confronting demons, real or imagined," Fa Mu said, "Please don''t fear for my safety. Darvont and I will be protected within the Ferryman''s hold. You are welcome to share its sanctuary, but I suspect that would defeat your purpose."


    "It would," Chang Chang said. "Yet I would beg sanctuary for my friend Zu Ruo. I''ve no right to ask, and I have nothing to offer you in return. But if I live long enough I would find a way to repay you."

 Chapter 223 - Burden Of The Beast [4]

    "She''s true to her word," Ju Feng said. "Stubbornness has never known a more faithful lover than Chang Chang Tearn."


    Chang Chang shot him a look, but Fa Mu said, "Of course your friend will stay. No one will harm her while I keep watch."


    "My deepest thanks," Chang Chang said. She looked at Ju Feng. "Are you ready, clevermouth?"


    Ju Feng nodded. They made their way to the gap in the hull. Chang Chang paused by Zu Ruo''s pallet. The dwarf was still unconscious, her skin the color of the moon, but she breathed evenly and deep.


    "She truly would have been killed," Chang Chang said to Ju Feng, "if you hadn''t made her come with us. Cerest killed the master of the Cradle¡ªsuch a mad action even someone so well protected as Arowall couldn''t have predicted it. And Zu Ruo wouldn''t have abandoned her master to save her own life."


    "Doesn''t mean she''ll live any longer than she was meant to," Ju Feng said.


    "Maybe," Chang Chang said. She looked at Fa Mu. "Do you think your fate can be changed?" she said. "That one day the plague will allow you to die?"


    "That is my fondest hope," Fa Mu said. "Until then, I will live as best I can."


    "You and I are two halves of the same curse," Chang Chang said. "The plague lives in me. It causes my memory to be nigh perfect, for a price. Ju Feng says it will take my life before age does. The more I use my own magic, the quicker that fate will come for me."


    Fa Mu''s soft green eyes reflected the spell light. "I am sorry for your burden," he said.


    Chang Chang shrugged. "I am sorrier for other burdens¡ªloss and pain done to my friends because of my own fear. I think you''re right. We, all of us, can only live as best we are able, and hope to change our fates¡ª" She stopped as something took hold inside of her.


    Memory came, this time uncalled. With trembling fingers, Chang Chang removed her pack from her back and dumped its contents on the floor. The deformed man skittered out of the way.


    "What are you doing?" Ju Feng said. Seeing her face, he crouched beside her and helped her gather the scattered letters from Chang Wei. "What''s wrong?"


    "He tried to live as best he could," Chang Chang said. "Just like us, like Fa Mu, retreating to this place."


    She found the letter she was looking for and practically tore it in her haste to unfold the old parchment.


    "Cerest isn''t after a perfect memory," Chang Chang said. "Chang Wei''s scar was different from mine. Here!" She read part of the letter aloud. "I sat upon a rooftop and looked out over Cutlass Island, at the ruins of the Host Tower of the Arcane. The locals say it is a cursed place, and I cannot help but agree. The restless dead walk on that isle, sentinels to its lost power. In my younger days, I would have longed for the challenge and promise of treasure to be found in such a forgotten stronghold. I can see the magic swirling under shattered stone. It drifts among the bones of the once mighty wizards who ruled here."


    Chang Chang stopped reading and looked at Ju Feng. "Do you see?"


    Ju Feng shook his head. "What are you talking about?"


    "I can see the magic swirling under the shattered stone," Chang Chang repeated. "He could detect powerful magic, through stone and earth, just with his eyes. What gift would tempt a treasure hunter more?"


    "Cerest will be disappointed when he finds out you inherited a very different gift," Ju Feng said.


    "Yes," Chang Chang said. "A perfect memory is of little use to him. His hunt was for nothing."


    It was all a tragic jest. Chang Chang was grateful to have the one mystery solved, but there were still missing pieces. "I have to know why he betrayed my family," she said. "If Cerest won''t confess it¡­ how do you remember something you''ve managed to forget so thoroughly that even the spellplague can''t penetrate the defense?"


    She''d meant the question rhetorically, and was surprised when Fa Mu answered, "If your mind has seen fit to bury something so deeply that even the spellplague can''t touch it, I would count the power a blessing."


    "Blessing?" Chang Chang said. "I don''t see how. If I had this memory, it would explain so much about my life. Why would I want to bury it?"


    "You mistake me," Fa Mu said. "I didn''t mean it was a blessing that you be denied a piece of yourself. I meant to say that if you could find within you the same power that pushes the plague back from this one, vital memory, you might find the power to change your fate."


    As Chang Chang digested this, she noticed Ju Feng looking at the old man intently. "Can you help her?" he asked. "Is there any priestly magic in that staff that can help her remember what she needs to know?"


    "There are ways of bringing memories to the surface, if you truly want to relive them," Fa Mu said. "When dealing with the bloodplague, such methods are never certain to work and carry their own cost. I have stored the memories of each lifetime I''ve lived," Fa Mu said. "I don''t know if I can impart such a thing to your friend, but if she is willing, I would try."


    "At what risk to yourself?" Chang Chang said. "No. We''ve caused you enough grief."


    "Are you afraid, Chang Chang?" Ju Feng said.


    Chang Chang could hear the challenge in his voice. "No," she said, "I''m not afraid. But I''m tired of other people risking pieces of themselves for me. I think it''s time Cerest was made to answer for what he''s done. I will make him tell me."


    She stepped to the gap in the hull. She could feel an invisible presence. The old man''s magic formed a protective seal over the opening.


    "Thank you," she said to Fa Mu. "Whatever happens, I''m glad to have met you."


    "And I, you," said Fa Mu. "The gods go with you."


    Chang Chang nodded and stepped through the opening. Ju Feng followed behind her.


    She didn''t know what she expected to happen once she crossed the seal. An ambush, another monster, or a spray of magic from the elf woman who''d taken her on the shore? She got none of those things, but she sensed the change in the air as soon as the harbor scent hit her nose.


    "Look above you," Ju Feng said quietly.


    Chang Chang looked up and lost her breath. She could see slivers of moonlight through the Ferryman''s tangled rigging. The skeletal forest canopy swelled with movement. Sea wraiths circled each other and the wreckage. More were floating up from various parts of the ruins to join the mass. The unearthly choir keened softly, as if singing to the moon or some other, invisible celestial body.


    "You said there was wild magic here," Chang Chang said, "that it draws the wraiths. Can they feel it¡ªthe three of us here together?"


    "I don''t know," Ju Feng said. "But it''s possible we''re stirring up whatever''s been lying dormant here since the Ferryman was destroyed."


    "Not just us," Chang Chang said, "him too."


    Cerest sat cross-legged on Ju Feng''s raft. He was alone, and looked completely at ease beneath the canopy of swirling wraiths. Chang Chang knew his men would be nearby, but wherever they were, Cerest had them well hidden. She wondered if Ju Feng, with his sharper eyes, could detect them. The only illumination came from the lantern on Ju Feng''s raft and a torch Cerest had propped in front of him.


    He looked up when they appeared, and smiled in genuine p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. "Well met, Chang Chang," he said. "I received your message. I''m happy to see you are well."


    He didn''t seem to notice or care that there was a puddle of drying blood¡ªleucrotta and Zu Ruo''s¡ªbehind and to his left. The copper scent combined with the leucrotta''s naturally pungent stink must have been overwhelming. But like the dying horse that day on the Way of the Dragon, Cerest took the horror completely in his stride. His pleasant expression never faltered.


    Somehow, though, the sight of him amid the blood was less intimidating instead of more. Here at last he wasn''t trying to hide what he was, the deficiency of mind that had set him on her like a crazed hunting hound. She could see him in this true state and feel pity, though it was a fleeting emotion."Greetings, Cerest," she said. "I hope you haven''t been waiting long."


    "I''m accustomed to being patient. I was more than willing to wait for you," Cerest said. "In the end, I knew you''d come back to me."


    Chang Chang felt Ju Feng tense behind her. She reached back to touch him, but of course he moved just out of her grasp. She dropped her hand.


    "Are we alone?" she asked, deliberately affecting a teasing tone


    "There''s at least one in the crow''s nest," Ju Feng said. "Ten feet up." He pointed, and Chang Chang heard the scuff of boots on wood, a figure hastening to conceal himself in the shadows. Ju Feng smiled. "I don''t think he enjoys heights."


    Cerest was not so amused. Hatred came alive in his eyes when he looked at Ju Feng, an emotion so intense Chang Chang wondered at its root. "I would be more than willing to dismiss my men, Chang Chang, if you would send your friend away," he said. His voice was unsteady. He swallowed.

 Chapter 224 - Burden Of The Beast [5]

    "But that''s hardly fair," Chang Chang said. "I have so few friends left, thanks to you." She reached into her pack and pulled out the stack of letters. "Do you know what these are?"


    Cerest stood and walked toward her outstretched hand. Chang Chang allowed him to approach but kept her body squarely between Ju  Feng and Cerest, noting the irony of her protection of the yaomo.


    Not for long, she thought, as the viper took the letters from her hand. I won''t need you for long.


    Cerest shuffled through the letters, and Chang Chang could tell he recognized the handwriting immediately. "These are Chang Wei''s," he said, handing them back to her. "I never would have credited him with the strength to write them. He was in poor shape when I left him in Luskan."


    She thought she''d been prepared for anything, but at his words, Chang Chang felt a cold kiss on the back of her neck, as if one of the wraiths had drifted down to whisper hateful truths in her ear.


    Anger bloomed in place of the cold, and the contrast made her tremble. She felt the letters flutter from her hands. They landed on the harbor''s surface and became tiny, worn boats carried away by the rippling current.


    She had felt many things upon learning of her grandfather''s identity and subsequent fate: grief, confusion, loss, but always a place removed from her heart. It wasn''t that she was callous. It was simply that nothing could surmount the pain and anger that lived there after Brant''s death¡ªuntil now.


    "Why?" she said. "If you found Chang Wei in Luskan, why didn''t you bring him home to WaterWay? You said he was your best friend. How could you leave him in that godscursed place?"


    "He was too far gone to walk," Cerest said, "and I didn''t have enough men. I never would have made it out of the city with him. We would have been set upon¡ªfresh carrion for the vultures."


    "Of course," Chang Chang said bitterly. "You wouldn''t have risked yoursyaomo to make your old friend comfortable in his last days."


    "Whatever you think of me, Chang Chang, I was Chang Wei''s friend," Cerest said. "I would have given anything to have brought him home. He should never have gone to Luskan."


    "He went to protect me," Chang Chang said. "He must have been terrified you would find me. What was it, Cerest? What did you do to betray my family''s trust in you so completely?"


    "I never intended to betray them," Cerest said, "just as I didn''t intend for Chang Wei to run from me. You are too young to understand. My family was composed of artisans. They had centuries to hone their skills. My father could craft weapons that sang with arcane music. He only made a handful of blades in his lifetime, but they were named. If not alive, they were near enough to sentient that men in Myth Drannor craved the bond between sword and man more than they craved a mate. And it was all because my father could sense magic and make it bend to whatever shape he d.e.s.i.r.ed. It didn''t matter that the Spellplague was ravishing magic all over Faer?n. My father might have been a god. He was master of the unbound weave."


    "But his son did not inherit his ability," Chang Chang said.


    "No," Cerest said. "I tried, but the gift never came. There were reasons, my father said. A question of birth."


    The n.a.k.e.d longing in his eyes was of a kind Chang Chang had never seen except on a grieving person. Cerest had long ago realized what he could never be, but he refused to come to terms with his inadequacy.


    "It was easier after I left," Cerest said. "I comforted mysyaomo by thinking that this kind of gift was an aberration. I would never see it again, even in my long lifetime." His voice was ragged, emotion breaking through at last. "I met Chang Wei, and your parents, and everything was perfect. We would have continued together, year after year, explorers all"¡ªhis face contorted¡ª"if Chang Wei hadn''t wanted to explore the Rikraw Tower."


    As Cerest spoke, Chang Chang felt a kind of stupor descend upon her mind. The fog thickened and deepened. This was not like the other times she''d gone into her mind, seeking a stray piece of lost information. This was not in her control. She was being led down the twisting corridors by a hand that belonged to a person that was her and yet not her. This person was a child and yet possessed of more wisdom than her waking yaomo.


    Chang Chang was only half-aware, in this state, of Cerest moving closer to her and Ju  Feng farther away. This repositioning made no sense to Chang Chang, but she had no time to consider the implications. The hand pulling her was moving faster, sweeping her along with its urgency.


    The corridors turned to aged stone; dust and cobwebs clung to the corners. Was she going backward in time? An appropriate metaphor, Chang Chang thought. Brant always said her mind worked with the same practicality of a history text. Past was old, present was new.


    She came to the end of the passage and found a swathe of green cutting brilliantly across the stone. Stepping out of the passage, Chang Chang found hersyaomo in a vast field.


    At first she was afraid. The space was too open. The smells of the city were gone. She could only detect grass and the distant smell of smoke in the air.


    This was what outside the city smelled like. This was what space smelled like. Gone were the constant press of animals and South Ward wagon traffic and the refuse of so many folk living side by side. She felt¡ªremembered¡ªthe grass tickling her ankles, the movement of insects in the living carpet.


    She breathed deeply and caught the hint of smoke again. Mingled with the ash and fire was the scent of onions cooking, and fresh game nearby.


    A dusty ribbon of road, stamped many times over with hoof prints, sn.a.k.e.d out in front of her. It led up a steep hillside and out of sight. She followed it, and when she crested the rise saw the campfire, the stew pot cooling in the grass, and the circle of figures waiting for their meal.


    The feeling of familiarity cascaded over Chang Chang with such intensity that it left her dizzy and unmoored in her own memories. It was like encountering beloved friends with whom she''d corresponded for years but never seen face to face.


    Chang Chang recognized her young syaomo only distantly. Her black hair was trimmed short. She looked like a boy, except she was delicately framed and wore a dress of thick cotton and indeterminate shape.


    How strange to see hersyaomo this way. She was no longer walking through vague half-memories, as she had been in her dreams. Her mind was spinning the completed story, as vividly as Kaelin had staged his play.


    A woman stepped into view and dropped a blanket over her younger syaomo''s head. The child squealed and crawled out from under the quilt, her eyes staring adoringly up at her mother.


    Her mother and father. Chang Chang saw them more clearly than she saw her younger syaomo. Her father sat behind her mother, pulling his wife back into his l.a.p, trapping her between thin arms. He was not nearly as burly as Chang Wei. His back was slightly hunched under the weight of the pack he wore. His spectacles had been bent and repaired so many times they gave his face a misshapen appearance. When he looked at her mother, his face was so full of love. And in that breath he became the most beautiful man Chang Chang had ever seen.


    Her mother looked exactly like Chang Chang. She had the same dark hair, trimmed short, but there was no mistaking her curves for a boy. She had the full mouth and healthy weight Chang Chang lacked, but their eyes were the same, their cheekbones as finely chiseled.


    How did I keep you away from my memory for so long? Chang Chang thought. Where have you been hiding? She sat down on the grass, determined to stay forever in the field, content to bask in the presence of the family she''d never met.


    When she looked back at the scene, she noticed the tower for the first time. An ugly gray spike that was slightly off center from the rest of the landscape, the tower cast a shadow that reached nearly to the campsite.


    She noticed other things. Her father kept shooting glances in the tower''s direction, a look of barely contained excitement stretching his face.


    Thirty paces from the fire, Chang Chang saw another figure, small with distance, agile when he moved. The figure had his back to her, but Chang Chang could see he was male. Two points of flesh stuck out from his golden hair. When the figure turned, Chang Chang was shocked to see the smooth, handsome features, the lively eyes unmarked by grief and trauma.

 Chapter 225 - Burden Of The Beast

    Cerest was an angelic blight on the idyllic scene, Chang Chang thought. She could see how anyone, man or woman, human or elf, would be taken with him. His face, in its symmetry, was more beautiful than any she''d ever seen. He motioned to her family, his face bright with exhilaration.


    The camp broke up. Chang Wei left the venison smoking in the grass. Her mother scooped her younger self up in her arms and tossed her over one shoulder. Her delighted squeals trailed away down the hill toward the tower.


    Don''t do it. Don''t go. Stay, and be with me always. Chang Chang got to her feet and followed her family. She tried to run, but the tower seemed always at a safe distance from her footsteps, and no shout would reach the ears of the living memories before her.


    She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she was inside the tower, just as she had been in every nightmare that had haunted her from childhood.


    This time, she was no spectator. She resided in the body of her younger self. She could feel the cool ground beneath her b.a.r.e feet, and the shadows swirling around her had form and substance. They were her family. Her father was taking scrapings from the brittle stone walls and placing them in vials on his belt. Her mother was chanting in an undertone, her hands on the spine of what had once been a massive tome. The spine was all that remained. Her mother''s eyes were closed. Yellow light encircled her fingers.


    Her mother¡ªa wizard! Chang Chang couldn''t believe it. Her mother had carried the gift of the Art, and Chang Chang had inherited it. Gods, how much her mother could have taught her, guided her, if she had lived to see to her daughter''s tutelage.


    "Be cautious," said a voice.


    The sudden interruption jarred Chang Chang from her thoughts. She looked to see who had spoken and saw Chang Wei standing next to her mother.


    "It''s all right," her mother said. She touched Chang Wei''s arm. "I sense no pockets here. Cerest was right. The plague has abandoned this place. Have you found anything?" she asked, addressing her husband.


    "Where''s Cerest gone to?" Chang Wei asked.


    "I think he''s putting out the campfire," her mother said. She touched Chang Wei''s cheek affectionately. "I expect we forgot to douse it in our excitement."


    Chang Chang only half-listened to the rest of the conversation; her attention was caught by the ruined book. She got on her knees and turned her head to see the letters on the spine. They were outlined in blue fire, the edges of the script blurring and fluttering like wings on a dying butterfly.


    As she watched, the flames punctured the leather binding, leaving blackened curls in their wake. The smell of charred leather rose in her nostrils. She looked up, and saw that her mother was watching the book too. Her eyes widened, and the color drained from her lovely face.


    Chang Chang, hampered by her younger body, could not get to her mother. She tripped over a pile of wood and fell. Her face caught the sunlight coming from a gaping hole in the tower ceiling. The light beating down was too intense. The ground had been cold only a breath ago, yet everywhere around her she felt heat. It was like she''d stepped into the middle of the campfire.


    "Chang Chang."


    She heard her mother''s voice. It had never sounded like that before. With a child''s certainty and an a.d.u.l.t''s memory, Chang Chang knew this was the end.


    The spellplague pocket, awakened by her mother''s simple magic, swirled to life from the rafters of the ruined tower ceiling. A cerulean cloud that looked like a tiny, confined thunderstorm, it crawled along the walls, finding cracks in the stone and exploding them, spraying shards of rock on the helpless people below.


    Someone was at her side, hauling her roughly under a cloak.


    "Get her out!" she heard her mother scream. Then her voice faded. Chang Chang was running, running on legs that didn''t belong to her. Chang Wei had picked her up. The blue fire was everywhere¡ªin her eyes, her mouth. She was blind. She couldn''t see either of her parents.


    They broke free into daylight, but the blue fire wasn''t done with them. It stretched out hungry tendrils and snared her hair and her arms. Chang Wei dropped her to the grass.


    She started to cry. The heat was too intense. It was the worst sunburn she''d ever had. Her flesh should be melting from her bones. She heard Chang Wei next to her, screaming. She reached for him, but she couldn''t touch him. The blue light was everywhere. There were other screams, shouts her young mind couldn''t comprehend but that the a.d.u.l.t Chang Chang recognized as the Yaoan language.


    Cerest was nearby, crying out in agony. His beautiful face was melting and being reforged into something new, a visage that more closely matched his soul. Chang Chang curled up in a ball on the grass and waited for it to be over. She didn''t care if she died, as long as the pain stopped.


    Oblivion came, sweeping its cool hand across her body. She was resting in a dark place. She wanted to sleep there forever. To wake was to re-enter that world of horrid pain.


    When she opened her eyes again, she was still on the ground. She could see the tip of the tower, weirdly, in her peripheral vision, as she stared up at the sky. Star and moonlight illuminated the scene now, and somewhere, far off, she smelled another campfire burning.


    Chang Wei leaned over her, adding another blanket to a growing pile on her small body. Her nose was cold. Chang Wei''s breath fogged in the night air.


    "Is she awake?" It was Cerest''s voice. He spoke in the human tongue. He sounded weak.


    Chang Wei didn''t reply. He stroked her cheek, and threaded his fingers in her hair to push it away from her face.


    He looked broken, the a.d.u.l.t Chang Chang remembered. Gone were the light-hearted smile and the fringes of youth that she''d seen by the campfire. They had been replaced by a tremendous weight and sadness.


    She reached up to touch him. His skin was warm, his moustache hair brittle. He smelled like smoke. It was no campfire that burned, only the remnants of the Chutan Tower¡ªthe funeral pyre for her parents.


    When Chang Wei left her at last, she crawled out from under the blankets and walked to the tower. Chang Wei called to her, screamed for her to stop. But she couldn''t. Her parents were somewhere in the wreck of stones.


    The tower''s collapsed wall was a black blemish on the landscape. Scorch marks sprayed out from it in jagged, oily streaks. Viewed from above, the tower might have been a stygian sun.


    Chang Wei was still screaming. He''s injured, Chang Chang thought, or he''d be running after me. I am wrong for leaving him. But she couldn''t make her feet stop walking.


    She caught her foot on a rock. When she looked down, she realized the rock was a hand, clutching her ankle. The fingernails were black, the palms blistered and oozing white pus.


    Frightened, Chang Chang jerked away. She followed the arm attached to the hand and found Cerest, curled on the ground. He had one arm thrown across his face. The appendage was out of its socket. His other arm stretched toward her, trying to stop her.


    Chang Chang looked at that blistered, trembling hand for a long time before she turned and resumed her long journey to the tower.


    The stones vibrated with a power beyond sun-warmth. Everything was cold now, but she could feel where the energy had been. When her eyes adjusted to the dimness inside the tower, Chang Chang could see there was nothing left. Her mother''s hair, her father''s spectacles¡ªthe spellplague had burned them to ash.


    She touched the blackened stones, caught the ash-falls drifting through the air. Illuminated in moonlight, they might have been dust or the remains of flesh. She caught as many as she could in her small hands and clutched them against her c.h.e.s.t. She started to cry and found she was too dehydrated for the tears to form.


    Carefully, she got down on her hands and knees and placed her cheek against the ground. The ash stirred and warmed her skin. She stayed there, imagining her mother''s arms around her, while Chang Wei screamed for her outside the tower.


    Boa Long was a patient man, and his office demanded discipline, but, as he surveyed the wraiths circling the distant Ferryman''s Tau, he concluded that he''d been patient long enough.


    "That''s the place," he said.


    "Can we trust him?" Tao Li asked.


    The Warden thought of Tarvin, his head crushed by a plank. His body had been borne away to the Watch barracks and then to his family.


    He surveyed the group of men and women that stood before him in homespun disguises. Their eyes flitted between the Ferryman''s Tau and his face.


    "You know what''s expected of you," he said. "If any man or woman among you feels he cannot perform his duty, you may accompany Tarvin''s body back to the barracks. I look you in the eyes and ask this plainly: will you see justice done?"


    A chorus of "ayes" answered him. As promised, he stared each of them in the eyes, hunting deceit. He found none, and was satisfied.


    "On the boats," he said. "''Ware the wraiths, but Chang Chang is the one you want. Bring her in."

 Chapter 226 - Time

    "You have to untangle yourself from this," said a voice Chang Chang did not, at first, recognize.


    She looked up, and for some reason was unsurprised to find Tau standing in the shadows of the tower. "I didn''t think you could weave yourself into memories," Chang Chang said.


    "Only yours, it would seem," Tau replied. "But I would rather not be here. This is a foul place, and you''re needed elsewhere."


    "I don''t know how to leave," she said. "What if the plague won''t let me?"


    Tau made a motion with his gnarled hand, and his staff appeared in the clawed grip, as if it had always been there, invisible.


    "To weave magic requires discipline," he said. "At the best of times, anything can go wrong, because the Art runs unchecked. We are its only shepherds now." He held out his staff to her. "To be a weaver requires a focus," he said, "a tool to channel your energy. You should never rely on such a thing completely, but in the worst of times it can help you endure the wildness of the raw Art."


    Chang Chang touched the staff and felt a pulsing energy. The Art ran through the staff like blood in wooden veins. She could feel the contained power, frightening and pure.


    "What if it gets away from me again?"


    "It surely will," Tau said. "Such things are inevitable. The only thing you can do is focus on what is most important to you¡ªwhat''s worth saving."


    "Ju Feng." She remembered his name as if he had been the dream, and this her only reality. She stood up, and her body was an a.d.u.l.t''s, though weak and fragile.


    The tower melted around her. The black stones faded, as if all the filth was being drained from her memory. She closed her eyes against the swirling, turbulent cleansing.


    She smelled the harbor, but when she opened her eyes, the scene had changed. Her mind couldn''t process it at first.


    Ju Feng stood thirty feet away, fighting two men at once. A third man floated in the water, his right arm and c.h.e.s.t contorted at an odd angle in the water.


    She was lying on Ju Feng''s raft. Cerest crouched over her. His crumpled face showed concern, but Chang Chang noticed he held a dagger slackly in his right hand.


    "Are you well?" he asked.


    She licked her lips and tried to speak, but she''d been in her mind too long. The words came out as incoherent mumbles.


    Cerest leaned closer. "Say it again, Chang Chang. I didn''t hear you."


    Chang Chang didn''t repeat what she''d been trying to say. She brought her knee up and crushed it into Cerest''s stomach.


    He lurched back onto his right elbow, losing his balance when he tried to bring the knife to bear. He pitched over the side of the raft into the water.


    Chang Chang sprang to her feet and immediately saw that Ju Feng was in trouble. He held off the two men at his right and left flank, but the man on the crow''s nest was frantically cranking a crossbow into position. He propped it on the lip of the nest to steady his aim.


    Cerest thrashed in the water. He grabbed for the raft. Chang Chang kicked him in the face. Blood exploded from his nose; her heel had knocked it out of position. The elf cursed and backstroked, putting a safe distance between them.


    Lifting her arms, Chang Chang chanted a spell and brought her hands together, as if she were cupping them around the crow''s nest. The basket of rotting wood burst into flames that rose up around the man with the crossbow.


    The man shrieked and dropped the weapon. It landed in the water and sank. The man dived from the nest, fistfuls of flame eating at his clothing. He hit the water belly first.


    The men fighting Ju Feng had their backs to the crow''s nest. They tried to turn to see their companion''s fate, but Ju Feng wouldn''t give them a respite. He clipped the shorter of the two in the jaw, spinning him half toward the water and upsetting his balance on the bones of the leviathan.


    It was all about balance. He kept them both at bay because they couldn''t keep their feet. If they''d been on level ground, Ju Feng would have had several of his bones crushed by now.


    While the shorter man steadied himself, Ju Feng dodged a roundhouse punch from a man wearing a mail vest and thick gauntlets. Built like a brick, this man would be harder to move with simple punches.


    Chang Chang picked her spell carefully, focusing on the chain links pressed tight against the man''s body. She could feel the trembling in her fingers as she worked through the complicated gestures.


    Two spells, by the gods. Give me two spells without pain, Chang Chang pleaded. Lady Mystra, I can''t pray to your memory. I never knew you. But if any goddess can hear me.


    She flexed her fingers and released the spell. Her vision blurred. Nausea rose in her gut, and she felt cold, sticky sweat clinging to her forehead. She forced past the sickness and concentrated on the brick man''s mail vest.


    There was no visible change. Ju Feng took a glancing punch to his shoulder from the shorter man. He answered with a kick that took the man''s right leg out from under him. The short man grabbed an overhanging bone, perhaps a rib of the long-dead creature. The bone snapped off. The man grabbed wildly for his companion and buried his fingers in the mail links.


    The brick man roared in pain, and the shorter man cried out as well. Smoke rose from the brick man''s clothing where it had pressed against the metal links.


    Wide-eyed, the brick man patted his c.h.e.s.t, touching hot links wherever his hands rested.


    Ju Feng shot a quick glance at Chang Chang across the water. He jerked his head in acknowledgment.


    "Let me help you with that," he told the brick man. He aimed a kick to the man''s midsection. The brick man howled and fell backward into the water. A chorus of snakelike hisses rose from where the hot metal touched the cold water. The brick man sank to his chin, a look of relief crossing his face.


    "Get back up ''ere!" cried the short man. He dodged a second kick from Ju Feng. "Help me!"


    The brick man shook his head and swam away. He was obviously done with the fight.


    Chang Chang turned her attention from Ju Feng to Cerest, who was climbing onto the raft behind her. His knife was gone, but he looked furious enough to kill her with his b.a.r.e hands. His nose was a red, twisted mass on his face. The blood seeping into his scars made him look like a demon. Chang Chang remembered the scene outside the tower, when the newly scarred elf had looked up at her young self in agony.


    "I remember now," she told him. "The tower. My parents. Chang Wei. Did you really think it was safe for us to go in, Cerest? Or was that just what you told yourself? The same way you convinced yourself it wasn''t your fault that they died?"


    "I had to weigh the risk and reward," Cerest said. There was no remorse in the words. "The knowledge and artifacts we might have found would have enriched all our lives, including yours."


    "Oh yes, my life has been enriched indeed," Chang Chang said.


    "I was more than willing to take care of both of you afterwards," Cerest said. "Chang Wei could have used his scar to unearth treasures unimaginable. He''d become just like my father, a god of magic¡ªthe very aberration I never thought to see again. But he refused to help me. He forced me to look to you."


    "And here we are," Chang Chang said, "in another plague den." She listened to the sounds of fighting behind her, Ju Feng''s muffled cry of pain as he took a blow to some vulnerable part of his body.


    "I''m sorry," she told Cerest as she came to a silent decision. "You named me, Cerest, but you were never my family. I thought my family was WaterWay and a sundries shop. That would have been more than enough for me. But my family is everywhere: WaterWay, the Dalelands, Aglarond, Luskan¡ªeven a burned-out tower. Their footsteps can be heard in the tombs and lost places of Faer?n."


    "You can be more than they ever were," Cerest said. "You survived, when Chang Wei did not."


    "I survived because my gift is different," Chang Chang said. "Poor Cerest, I share your curse. I don''t have Chang Wei''s sense of magic. I only know memory."


    She took a step toward him and lifted her hands, the palms facing each other. Cerest flinched, but only for a breath. His eyes reflected the blue glow illuminating her fingers. He was transfixed, watching the power swirl in the empty air between her hands.


    "What are you doing?" he asked.


    "Protecting what I have left," Chang Chang said. She felt the cold touch her palms. She thought it was the first taste of the frost ray forming, but the sensation spread up her arms and lingered around her shoulders.


    Chang Chang looked up and saw the wraiths swirling silently, less than ten feet above their heads. Like Cerest, they seemed transfixed by the radiant glow that was now climbing her arms. Her flesh glowed cerulean, far beyond the scope of the attack spell.

 Chapter 227 - Time [2]

    "What''s happening?" Cerest demanded. He looked up at the wraiths. Chang Chang followed his gaze. Beyond the undead, another blue glow was forming on the bones of the leviathan. More of the creatures dived and chased the light around the bones. Like mad fireflies they soaked up the raw spell energy.


    "It''s the bloodplague," Chang Chang said. Her magic had released the long dormant energy. The wraiths were finally going to have their feast.


    "Get off the raft," Cerest cried. He grabbed her arm, trying to tow her toward the Ferryman. "If we can make it to some cover¡ª"


    Chang Chang stumbled and fell. On her knees, with one hand on the raft and the other caught in Cerest''s grip, she looked up and saw the blue light descending the magnificent bones, a waterfall coming down a mountainside.


    "It''s too late," she said. "Ju Feng!" she screamed, and turned to see the cultivator holding onto one of the rib bones for support. He clutched his c.h.e.s.t with his other arm. The short man lay at his feet, a strip of blood leaking from his mouth. His eyes stared vacantly up at the doom working its way down to them.


    Ju Feng jumped into the water. He surfaced five feet from the raft and started to swim to her.


    "No!" Chang Chang waved him off. "Go down," she cried. "Swim down, as far as you can. Get away from the light." She could barely see him now. The light was so bright, she had to squint. "We''ll be behind you."


    Ju Feng hesitated. Chang Chang could almost see him calculating their odds. "I''ll try to find an air pocket around the ship," he said. Then he was gone, diving beneath the surface. Chang Chang crawled to the edge of the raft to follow, when suddenly a heavy weight hit her from behind.


    Her breath gone, Chang Chang fell flat to the raft. She could feel Cerest pressing his body against hers.


    "Get off!" she cried, but her scream was lost in the cry of the wraiths. They dived and hovered around the raft, blocking her escape into the water.


    "They still smell the magic," Cerest shouted. His strength held her immobile. The blue light fell over them in a curtain.


    The glare brightened to a painful intensity, and suddenly everything went black. Chang Chang thought she''d gone blind.


    Blinking reflexively, she felt a warm breeze against her face. She looked up and saw a crescent of sunlight spilling over a pile of stone. It was the remains of a rooftop.


    She was back in the tower. The heat continued to build, just as it had in her vision. Her two realities were merging, past and present bridged by the bloodplague.


    But this time something was different. Chang Chang rolled onto her side and saw the body lying next to her. Cerest was staring, disoriented, up at the sunbeams and the tower roof.


    He doesn''t know where he is, Chang Chang thought. His mind is joined to mine by the plague.


    "What happened?" The elf sat up and swung toward her. His face paled visibly. Chang Chang turned to see the specters of her parents and Chang Wei searching the tower. They went about their exploration, smiling and laughing, oblivious to the two figures sitting on the ground.


    Cerest''s lips formed the name of his old friend, but he couldn''t speak. His eyes welled with unshed tears. Chang Chang couldn''t believe the sight.


    He''s in pain. This pains him. Does he know what''s coming? She looked up at the light. It fell in sunbeams and blue threads. Did Cerest know how few breaths stood between his friends and oblivion?


    She reached out, against her will, and touched the elf on the shoulder. "Cerest," she said. "Close your eyes."


    "What?" He turned to her, gripping her shoulders. "It''s them, can''t you see them? They''re alive!"


    Chang Chang winced at the pressure he exerted. His hands trembled. Half-crazed joy shone in his liquid eyes.


    "They aren''t real," Chang Chang said. "This is memory. Everything''s going to burn, Cerest." Maybe us too.


    "No!" He shook his head. Sweat dripped from his hair. "Not this time. I''ll be able to warn them this time. I''ll get them out before anything happens."


    "They can''t hear you," Chang Chang said. She closed her eyes. She couldn''t watch it a second time.


    Cerest continued to hold her in a crushing grip as the heat built to a roar in her ears. She heard the screams. Cerest''s raw shriek pricked icy needles all over her flesh. She tipped her head forward, resting against his c.h.e.s.t while he wept and screamed, over and over.


    He was seeing everything as he had never seen it before¡ªfrom the inside of the inferno. Chang Wei had long since carried her young self away, but the memory and Cerest''s imagination had taken over. She could hear her mother crying out for her husband and for Cerest. The smell of burning flesh filled the air.


    To distract herself, Chang Chang conjured an image of Ju Feng, swimming deep in the rotting harbor. She prayed he''d found safe haven from the plague''s reach. He''d already drowned in its grip once.


    And what about Tau, Fa and Zu Ruo? Would they be safe inside the Ferryman, or would the plague consume the ship and crush them all? She held onto the screaming elf and hoped that one of Tau''s deities would take pity on all of them.


    Chang Chang awoke staring into darkness. She flexed her fingers¡ªgrateful that she still possessed the appendages¡ªand cast a spell using the least possible amount of energy.


    A pinprick glow lit her fingertip and spread to her whole hand. By its light, her eyes adjusted to her surroundings.


    She stared up at the sky. It took her a long time to realize that the Ferryman''s masts and rigging had been incinerated by the bloodplague blast. Small fires burned at various points along the Ferryman''s length.


    The entire ship had listed far forward, but by some miracle the leviathan''s bones held it stable and prevented their being crushed under its weight. The small chamber created by the wreckage had been reduced to half its size, but Ju Feng''s raft was miraculously still intact. Gaps yawned in the planks like missing teeth. Water seeped freely across the ship''s surface, but for now it stayed afloat.


    As her vision adjusted, Chang Chang became aware of the bodies. There was one on either side of her and another dr.a.p.ed half on the raft and half in the water directly across from her. She could smell the burning, the singed flesh and hair. Her breath quickened.


    The body on her right stirred. Chang Chang swung her spell light toward the movement. Her wrist stopped in midair, caught in an iron grip.


    Chang Chang''s heart lifted. "Ju Feng," she whispered. She removed his sodden hat from where it had fallen over his face. His skin was wet but unmarked by arcane fire. His eyes, when they opened, were the familiar rust red color. "Are you all right?"


    He nodded and released her wrist. "Hat, please," he said.


    Chang Chang helped him sit up and put the hat back on his head. "How did you manage not to get that thing incinerated or lost in the harbor?" she asked.


    Ju Feng looked at her, his expression grave. "Magic," he said.


    Chang Chang had the urge to laugh, but it died in her throat when she remembered the other bodies. She moved the light away from Ju Feng. Her spell illuminated a face she didn''t immediately recognize. The man was beautiful, his face smooth-skinned and symmetrical. His long golden hair fell across ears that were pointed like needles.


    "Merciful gods," she said. "This is Cerest."


    Ju Feng looked over her shoulder. The elf''s face had been perfectly restored. His eyes were open and staring glassily at something invisible in the distance. The expression on his face was both peaceful and sad.


    Chang Chang put her hand against the elf''s cheek. It was ice cold. "He''s dead," she said.


    "So is this one," Ju Feng said, checking the man dr.a.p.ed across the raft. He put his hand against the man''s c.h.e.s.t to find a heartbeat, but they both saw the burns on the man''s face and torso. His skin was blackened, and his hair was gone. His clothes had been burned to brittle strips that turned to ash when Ju Feng touched them. His chain vest had melted into his skin.


    Ju Feng met her gaze. Chang Chang knew they were both thinking the same thing.


    "Maybe Tau''s magic protected them," Ju Feng said.


    Chang Chang shone her light around the wreckage. The entrance to Tau''s chamber was now underwater. The channel they''d used to get the raft into the wreckage was filled in with debris.


    "We''ll have to swim out," Chang Chang said. Her gaze strayed involuntarily back to Cerest''s face, perfect now in its death pose. "Why did it happen?" she asked. "Why were we spared?"


    "I don''t know," Ju Feng said. "We''re already scarred. Maybe we''re immune to the plague now."


    "Cerest was scarred," Chang Chang said, "in body, if not magically. Why would the plague restore him and then kill him?"


    Maybe it hadn''t been the plague. She remembered Cerest''s anguished screams inside the tower. "He saw my mind," she said. "In that breath we were joined, he saw everything he''d done, for the first time. He was inside the tower with me, watching my parents die."

 Chapter 228 - Time [3]

    "A perfect memory," Ju Feng said. "Maybe Cerest''s mind couldn''t survive that kind of clarity. To have all the defects of your own psyche laid out for you in a ring of fire¡ªnot many people could face it and live."


    "So this," Chang Chang said, touching the elf''s smooth face, "this is memory. His last memory." She felt an overwhelming wave of sadness¡ªfor her parents, Chang Wei, and for Brant. So many lives destroyed.


    "We should get out of here," Ju Feng said. "There''s no telling how long the structure will hold."


    "The Ferryman''s Haven is over," Chang Chang said quietly. She turned away, leaving Cerest on the raft, staring peacefully up at the sky.


    They swam out of the wreckage together, Chang Chang''s bobbing light leading the way. Gray mist clung to the harbor''s surface. In the distance she could smell the Hearth fire burning. The orange glow gave the impression of a false dawn.


    Out of the darkness, Chang Chang saw the line of boats coming toward them. Lantern light swayed at each prow. Chang Chang could see there were at least two men in each boat.


    "Think you can take ten of them?" she asked Ju Feng, who was treading water next to her. "Leaves eight for me."


    "Only ten?" Ju Feng said. His face twisted with a gallows humor smile. "Bring me a true challenge, lady."


    The lead boats drifted to a stop practically on top of them. Chang Chang squinted up into the face of a woman in robes. She wore a tense frown, but she seemed more interested in the wreckage than in the two figures in the water.


    A tall man leaned down to Chang Chang. This man she recognized immediately, though she''d never expected the Watch Warden to come for her himself.


    "Warden Tallmantle," she said. "I understand you''ve been looking for me."


    "Well met, Chang Chang Tearn," Tallmantle said, inclining his head gravely. "Would you care to come aboard?"


    "I would, and if you''ve a spare blanket or two, I''d be weepingly grateful for those as well. But I''ve a problem. Three of my friends are trapped in the wreckage. We can''t get to them."


    "''Ware!" shouted one of the men at the back of the group. "We need more light over here."


    Tesleena spoke a word, and the surrounding harbor lit as if a miniature sun had risen.


    A single small boat drifted toward the group. Her oarsman was hunched over, forcing the craft through the water.


    The Watch officer nearest raised his crossbow. The oarsman lifted his head, and Chang Chang shouted, "Stop! He''s a friend."


    When Mut got close enough to Tallmantle''s boat, Ju Feng grabbed an oar and hauled the boat in the rest of the way. There were two figures lying side by side in the bottom of the boat. Chang Chang recognized Zu Ruo and Fa, but she couldn''t see if they yet breathed.


    The deformed man slumped against the side of the boat, exhausted by whatever toil had brought them out of the wreckage. Tears streaked his face. Chang Chang could see him stroking Fa''s robes. Her heart lurched painfully.


    She swam to the boat, but Tallmantle was closer. He bent over the prone figures. "The old man is dead," he said. "The dwarf lives."


    "The Art is around her," Tesleena said. She put a hand on the dwarf''s shoulder and rolled her onto her back. Clutched between her two hands was Fa''s staff. It pulsed with pale, crimson radiance, but it was clear at Chang Chang''s touch that the item had been drained. It was nowhere near as powerful as it once had been.


    "Is he truly dead?" Chang Chang asked. She saw Tallmantle nod, but she was looking to the deformed man. He met her gaze and seemed to understand what she was asking. He nodded. The sorrow in his eyes pierced her.


    "It was what he wanted," Ju Feng said.


    "He protected Zu Ruo," Chang Chang said. The Art requires a focus, Fa had told her. She lifted the staff from the sleeping Zu Ruo''s arms and cradled it in her own. "Thank you," she murmured. "In Mystra''s memory, thank you."


    "In Mystra''s memory," Tesleena whispered. The words echoed down the line of boats.


    Chang Chang sat outside the Watch Warden''s private office, awaiting her audience and her fate. It was strange, to be alone in the small chamber, not to hear the constant flow of the harbor and the people on the twisted walkways. She felt, in some ways, that she''d lived her whole life in Mistshore, and was only now venturing out into the sun-washed world.


    She ran her hands over the bodice of her dress, marveling at the softness of a fabric that was not stiff with salt water and grime. All trace of the harbor stink was gone from her body, though her hair had been a struggle. She''d ended up cutting most of the muck out of it. The strands barely brushed her shoulders now, and the shorter locks at her temples were stark white. She ran her fingers through the strands self-consciously.


    The forced haircut had yielded another secret of her past. Tesleena had seen it first: a faint, almost indiscernible blue light appeared at the back of her neck when she drew deeply on her memory. Tesleena said the spellscar was a circle broken in two places, the lines so thin she would never have seen them unless she''d known to look.


    It was one of many things she was going to have to grow accustomed to in her new life. Another was the staff resting beside her on the bench. The red light had fallen dormant, but she could recall it again with a word of power. She had divined no further secrets from the item, but she was satisfied with her small progress. For now, she used it mainly as a walking stick.


    It had been five days since her confrontation with Cerest and her second exposure to the spellplague. Since that night, exhaustion overtook her easily. She found herself leaning on the staff often to maintain her equilibrium.


    Her strength was slowly returning. Tesleena had assured her it would, though they both knew she would never again be as spry as a normal twenty-year-old girl.


    Tesleena had also told her if she stopped now, she would likely live another twenty years or more. Chang Chang hadn''t asked what the last several days had cost her in longevity. She didn''t want to know. She would change very little of what she''d done in defense of herself and her friends. Whatever time she had left was the gods'' gift. She didn''t intend to waste it on regret.


    A door to her left opened, and Kersh came through. Chang Chang stood to greet him, but he got to her first. The Watchman wrapped his arms around her and lifted her onto her toes.


    "Have a care for an aging woman," Chang Chang said, laughing.


    "Not a chance," Kersh said. He pulled back to arm''s length and regarded her with mock sternness. "Every time I let you out of my sight you work yourself into more trouble."


    "Lucky for you I''m too stubborn to let anyone do away with me," Chang Chang said.


    "Are you well, Chang Chang?" Kersh looked at her intently, as if he could take her apart piece by piece to find any deficiency. "I don''t expect you to ever forgive me, but as long as you''re all right, I can be content."


    "I''m more than well," Chang Chang said. "You followed the right course, Kersh. I should have trusted you from the beginning."


    "We should have made ourselves more worthy of your trust," said a voice from the open doorway.


    Chang Chang looked beyond Kersh to see Daerovus Tallmantle towering over both of them. He regarded Chang Chang with an uncertain expression. Chang Chang had never expected to be on the receiving end of such a look from the imposing Warden.


    A memory came to her, with crystal clarity as always, of another time when she had sat in this chamber. She''d been much younger, and Brant had been with her, holding her hand.


    When she looked into the Warden''s eyes, she knew he was remembering that same day.


    Kersh squeezed her hands and stepped away. She felt suddenly adrift. She looked at him imploringly, but he shook his head and smiled. "I''ll leave you two to talk," he said. He gave her hand another squeeze, the Warden a salute, and left the room.


    "I am truly sorry," Chang Chang said, "about Tarvin, and any other men you lost these past nights."


    "Tarvin was our sole loss, and that was none of your doing," Tallmantle said. He sat on the bench across from her and gestured that she should resume her seat. "I know you''re tired," he said, "so I''ll be brief. Cerest is dead. What of his men? Are any of them still hunting you?"


    Chang Chang shook her head. "The only ones that might be are a pair of elf women Cerest had working with him. I don''t know who they are or what their fates were."

 Chapter 229 - Time [4]

    "I know. I am tempted to wait for the Watch, as I should have done back at the ship. I''ll be a long time regretting that." Her voice broke, but she plowed on. "There are some questions I need answered. Cerest has the knowledge, and I think he''ll give me what I want."


    "I''ll go with you," Ju Feng said, "in case he proves reluctant."


    "Thank you," Chang Chang said. "I know it''s more than I deserve, after the way I''ve used you."


    "Don''t," Ju Feng said tersely. "You don''t owe me anything."


    "I never should have kissed you," Chang Chang said. "I made you feel my death, and you weren''t ready for that. It was a very unromantic gesture." She put her head on Fa Mu''s c.h.e.s.t. It took several breaths, but when she was strong enough, she looked up at Ju Feng. "How long have you known? You said you''d never touched me¡ª"


    "I haven''t," Ju Feng said. "I only suspected. It was Saragui who confirmed it. He has a power to sense those touched by the spellplague, and how badly they''ve been afflicted."


    Chang Chang nodded, accepting it. "I hope Cerest can tell me that too¡ªwhy I''m dying."


    "You don''t have to rush to your demise so soon," Ju Feng said, his voice harsh. "You might have years yet, if you stop using magic now."


    "But I have to use it, if I''m ever to be free of him," Chang Chang said. "One last time, that''s all I need."


    "No. We''ll do it another way."


    "You think you can change fate?" Chang Chang said.


    He looked away. "Just yours."


    "That''s not true. You wouldn''t have brought Zu Ruo with us if you didn''t believe you could change things. I saw you touch her hands in the haven. You wanted her out of there, and not just to be my bodyguard. You knew her death waited in that place."


    "She''s stubborn enough I wonder if anything can kill her," Ju Feng muttered, but he didn''t deny her words.


    "You can''t protect me by yourself," Chang Chang said. "Without your ring, we''ll need my magic."


    Ju Feng started and looked at his hand, as if he''d forgotten it was b.a.r.e. He looked at Fa Mu, at the ring keeping him alive. Defeated, he dropped his hand to his side and clenched a fist. "Is your raft still intact?" Chang Chang asked.


    "Enough to get us out to the Haven," Ju Feng answered. He looked at Zu Ruo, and a spark of black humor lit his eyes. "What''ll it be, Ruo? Should I tell the people you were too frightened to take on the fair folk, golden locks and all?"


    "You won''t be telling any tales when I have your head underwater for the sharks to nip at," the dwarf said, smiling sweetly. "But I''ll go to the Haven, and gladly."


    "You don''t have to do this, Zu Ruo," Chang Chang said.


    The dwarf nodded curtly. "I do, but not for you, so don''t let your conscience prickle you. After Tarvin led you off the Isle, we got word from the guards that Saragui''s dead."


    Chang Chang was shocked. "How?"


    "How do you think? It was the elf. The survivors said he had a pair of pretty elf princesses with him." Zu Ruo looked at Ju Feng. "Might be you were onto something about my death waiting in the Haven. I owe you thanks for letting me live long enough to get my revenge on the pretties. But in the meantime, do we leave the butcher here?"


    Chang Chang didn''t know what to do. The thought of leaving Fa Mu alone on the walkway was a physical pain. He would be vulnerable to any attack until the Watch arrived.


    "I have to protect him," she said to Ju Feng, half in defense, half in apology.


    The spell had gone awry the first time she''d used it. For once, that would work to her advantage.


    She put a hand in her pouch, grasping the cameo as she''d done in the Haven. She pictured the woman''s face in her mind, the blue curve of her cheek, carved forever in stone. Letting the image float in her consciousness, she wove the spell.


    Mist slid off her hands and coiled in the air. It took on the shape and substance of the woman in lace. She stood before Chang Chang in her vaporous gown, her face impassive.


    Chang Chang didn''t know exactly what to do. The last time, the servant had automatically gone where her mind willed it. She remembered that she''d been mentally screaming for something to aid Ju Feng.


    "Can you understand me?" she asked the strange apparition.


    The woman didn''t answer. Her expression didn''t change. "She has no consciousness," Ju Feng said. "There''s nothing in her eyes."


    "So she only has life when Chang Chang pulls her strings?" Zu Ruo asked. "Tell her to play guard dog, then."


    "It wouldn''t work," Chang Chang said. She raised her right arm slowly out from her body. She concentrated on nothing except moving the appendage. The lady in lace mirrored the gesture until their fingertips were practically touching. "She only does what I directly imagine her to do. Once I''m gone, she won''t act independently."


    Chang Chang slowly turned her body until she was facing Fa Mu, who lay a few feet in front of the servant. The lady again mimicked the gesture.


    "There," Chang Chang said. "As long as I picture her standing here, she''ll remain. The folk of WaterWay should be wary enough of sea wraiths to stay away from this apparition until the Watch arrives."


    Still, her gaze lingered on Fa Mu. She took a step toward him, but Ju Feng laid a gloved hand on her arm.


    "If we''re going, we need to go now," he said.


    "You''re right. I just¡ª"


    "I know," Ju Feng said. "You''ll see him again."


    She looked at him. "Do you truly think that?"


    He shrugged. "You were right. If I didn''t think I could beat the odds, I''d never play the game."


    They looked at each other for a breath. Then Chang Chang smiled. "So let''s play."


    Ju Feng''s raft was in good condition, considering it had gone through a sea wraith attack. Ju Feng and Zu Ruo worked the oars while Chang Chang sank into her thoughts. She kept a part of her mind fixed on the apparition watching over Fa Mu, but she knew she would lose the spell soon. The battle ahead would require her complete concentration.


    The Watch would be there by now. They would save Fa Mu. Chang Chang could not consider any other outcome.


    She took inventory of what magic she had left. She had never used so much in so short a time. Some of the spells left she hadn''t meditated on in years. They were at the very edges of her consciousness. Her teacher had insisted that she be able to protect herself, but she''d put the harrowing magic as far from her active mind as she could.


    Now, mentally, she entered the tower room. The sunlight spilling in the windows had become stygian night. When she entered the room, flames sprang from tallow candles, long unused in their brass candelabras. Black shadows stretched to c.a.r.e.s.s the bookshelves. It was only her fear made manifest, but she was still unsettled at the changes.


    The spells were powerful, but she was more concerned with the backlash. She''d been caught completely off guard and made helpless when she''d incapacitated Trik. All the offense she could muster wouldn''t be worth anything if she were incapacitated herself.


    Chang Chang blinked, and the tower disappeared. She stared out at an endless stretch of dark water. Ju Feng didn''t have his ring. With his body unfortified, he''d be significantly weakened by any blow that managed to land on him. But she trusted his speed. If they couldn''t catch him, they couldn''t hurt him.


    That left Zu Ruo. She would anchor all of them, and she would make Cerest''s men answer for her master. It worried Chang Chang that she would be walking into a potential den of spellplague, but she knew the dwarf woman would not be dissuaded.


    "What will you do when this is all over?" she asked.


    Zu Ruo looked up from her rowing. "Go back to the haven," she said, as if it was a foregone conclusion. "No one to run it, the champion should step in. I don''t think he''s going to be doing it," she said, nodding at Ju Feng.


    "The title''s yours," Ju Feng said. "I have no interest in the haven."


    "Don''t know what you''re missing," Zu Ruo said.


    "What do you love so much about the fighting?" Chang Chang asked.


    Zu Ruo shrugged. "I like the crowd, like it when they cheer for me. It''s what everyone wants."


    "She likes to be seen," Ju Feng said.


    "Isn''t that what I''m saying?" The dwarf woman looked irritated. "What of it?"


    "Bells grew up in a family with eight brothers," Ju Feng said.


    "Eight? Isn''t that quite¡­ prolific, for a dwarven family?" Chang Chang said.


    "Not so much these days," Zu Ruo said. "I''m thinking our sire wanted a small army, not a family, so he got all of us on my mother. As far as he was concerned, I would grow my cheek fuzz and be indistinguishable from my brothers. Nine soldiers, nine sons. That''s what he wanted. He cut my hair himself, when I refused to do it. My brothers held me down."


    "Gods," Chang Chang said. "Your own family?"


    "Blood doesn''t mean much. The next time he came for me, I bruised him good before he could get the shears on me. After that, I almost took out his eye. Each time I hurt him a little more, until he stopped coming for me."

 Chapter 230 - Time [5]

    We''re getting closer," Chang Chang said without prompting, startling Ju Feng next to her as he held the crodlu reins.


    They had been in the wastes for two days without incident, which was nothing short of miraculous. Ju Feng just knew that meant something horrible would happen that day, so he was completely on edge. Just then, they were trudging slowly up a rise. Fa and Fu Ma were asleep in the back¡ªthey were taking more and more midday naps.


    From behind him in the front part of t chittered something in Chachik, then: "We know we''re getting closer, that''s kind of the point of going through the wastes to Urik¡ªto get closer."


    Shaking her head, Chang Chang said, "No, I mean we''re closer to where Gan is. I can feel him now."


    "Good," Ruo had been walking alongside the carriage¡ªhis long legs could easily keep stride with the pace the crodlus were making while pulling the carriage uphill¡ªand he suddenly moved closer to the front where Ju Feng and the others were. "We need to be alert."


    Peering ahead, Ju Feng saw what the mul was talking about. "That''s the top of the rise."


    Nodding, Zu Ruo said, "Prime ambush spot." Then he started moving faster, wanting to be ahead of the crodlus when they arrived at the top of the rise in case there was an ambush.


    Nervously, Ju Feng flicked his wrists to whip the crodlus with the reins. It didn''t serve any useful function except to annoy the mounts, since they couldn''t really go any faster with the burden they had. But the last thing he wanted to deal with was an attack on the carriage, especially since they were traveling alone. Zu Ruo could handle most problems¡ªfew of the desert scavengers could stand up to a mul¡ªand Tricht''tha could hold her own in a fight too.


    That was more for use against those who couldn''t be talked to. Opponents who could hold a conversation were not ones that they were too terribly worried about.


    Zu Ruo was standing at the top of the rise when the carriage arrived, hands on h.i.p.s.


    We''re clear," the mul said, three seconds before four people leaped out from beneath the sand.


    Ju Feng barely had time to acknowledge that they were there when one of them had grabbed Chang Chang and yanked her down off the carriage. He smoothly wrapped an arm around her neck. They wore the trademark all-black of the Black Sands Raiders, though the outfits were a bit ragged and torn. Of their mounts, there was no sign¡ªwhich was odd, as atop the rise, they could see everything for miles.


    "Oh great," Ju Feng said, as much for the benefit of the others in the emporium still inside the carriage as it was for their attackers, "more raiders. Is there any way this trip can get worse?"


    "Give us everything you have," demanded the man with his arm on Chang Chang''s neck, "or the girl dies."


    Tricht''tha chittered. "Thought the Black Sands only traveled in groups of twelve."


    "We did. The others''re dead, and our crodlus ran. We got nothin'' left, so we got nothin'' to lose. We want all your coin."


    Ju Feng pointed behind the carriage. "Go about ten miles that way, you may catch up with it. You''re the third set of thieves we''ve hit since we left Raam."


    Another Raider spoke. "That''s a pretty well-laden carriage." He was closest to Zu Ruo, and the mul was staring daggers at him, his fists clenching and opening. Zu Ruo wasn''t going to do anything until Chang Chang was safe, but the fact that Chang Chang was in danger didn''t speak well for the Raider''s continued survival if Zu Ruo had anything to say about itShrugging, Ju Feng said, "That''s merchandise. You wanna take it, knock yourself out, but without crodlus, you''re gonna have a hard time of it."


    The one holding Chang Chang said, "We can take your mounts."


    "You crazy, Voras? It''ll take us weeks to get back if we''re carrying all this crap."


    Voras turned on the other one. "Shut up, Tralk."


    Another one said, "He''s right, I ain''t takin'' no carriage."


    The last one said, "Why not?"


    From behind Ju Feng, he heard his sister say, "Oh, please, let them take the carriage."


    Whirling around, Ju Feng cried, "What?"


    Climbing to the front of the carriage and taking the seat next to Ju Feng where Chang Chang had been before being grabbed, Kariang said, "Just let them take it. We''re close enough that we can get there on foot within a few days." Before Ju Feng could say anything, she said, "Just take it. We''ll walk to the spot on the map."


    Voras''s eyes widened. "What map?"


    Ju Feng put his head in his hands. "Nice one, Sis¡ªwhy''d you mention the map? Two other sets of thieves come by, they take all our coin, as well a half the merchandise, and you don''t mention the map. Now you mention the map?"


    "What map?" Voras asked again.


    "Who cares?" Kariang pointed at the raiders. "They obviously want the merchandise. Look at them, they''ve got no mounts, no coin¡ªthey go back to their bosses like this, they''ll get their hands cut off. They bring back a merchant carriage, and it''ll be fine." She turned to Voras. "Just let us keep the map, and the rest of it''s yours."


    Tightening his grip on Chang Chang''s neck, Voras spoke very slowly. "If I have to ask again, the girl will be dead on the sand. What map?"


    Kariang waved her arms back and forth. "Don''t hurt her. Look, it''s a treasure map, but you don''t want that. There''s merchandise in here that''s worth hundreds of gold."


    Ju Feng didn''t react to that, but he was smiling inside, as the merchandise was actually worth thousands.


    With one arm, Voras tightened his grip on Chang Chang''s neck; with the other, he pulled out a bone knife and put it at Chang Chang''s jugular. Ju Feng saw Zu Ruo tense and take a step forward in the sand.


    "Go ahead," Voras said to Zu Ruo. "Move closer and kill her." Then he turned to Kariang. "You will fetch this map."


    "What?" Kariang sounded stunned. "No, you don''t want that. It''ll take months to dig up the treasure. You''ve got all this merchandise right here, and we¡ª""Fetch the map now or I will slit this woman''s throat."


    Zu Ruo moved toward the carriage. "I''ll get the fripping map."


    "No, Zu Ruo, please." Kariang was starting to weep. "After all we went through to get that map¡ªthe merchandise is just stuff, they can have it, but the map is¡ª"


    Voras interrupted. "The map is going to be mine in about seven seconds or your woman¡ª"


    "Will die," Ju Feng finished, "we got it, already. Zu Ruo, get the map."


    The mul was already climbing into the back of the carriage. Ju Feng prayed to the bright red sun of Athas, although he knew it wouldn''t heed his prayer, that Zu Ruo''s thumping around wouldn''t wake Fa and Fu Ma. Not that he doubted that they''d be able to go along with the game, but Fu Ma especially tended to be a bit out of it when he first woke up, and that might have ruined the whole thing.


    But all he heard was Zu Ruo''s rooting around in the back of the carriage. So he kept an eye on Tralk and the other two, who also had gotten bone knives out.


    Tralk said, "We should take the crodlus too."


    Another one shook his head. "No, these are carriage-trained. We''ll never get ''em to ride through the sand unless they''re draggin'' something."


    Ju Feng breathed a sigh of relief. He was really worried that he was going to have to convince them that the crodlus would be of no use without the carriage, and Ju Feng had always found it easier to convince people of things that were false than to do so with the truth. If they couldn''t convince them, the raiders would actually take the crodlus, then waste at least an hour while they tried and failed to make the crodlus move while untethered to the carriage.


    The carriage shook as Zu Ruo''s weight was removed from it. Slowly, the mul walked over toward Voras, a rolled-up parchment in hand.


    "Let her go, and the map''s yours."


    Voras grinned, showing yellowed, broken teeth. "Nice try, mul. Tralk, get the map."


    Nodding, Tralk moved cautiously toward Zu Ruo, keeping his bone knife at the ready. "Give it to me, mul."


    Scowling down at the Raider with a look that Ju Feng knew Zu Ruo had used in the arenas of Tyr back in the day, the mul held out the map. Tralk hesitated a moment and gulped down a swallow before actually snatching the map.


    He backed up slowly, keeping his eye on Zu Ruo the whole time.


    "Take a look at it," Voras said.


    Ju Feng stole a glance at his sister. Kariang was fidgeting. "Look, okay, it''s a treasure map," she said as Tralk unrolled it, "fine, but like I said, it could take months before¡ª"

 Chapter 231 - Time [6]

    "Shut up." Chang Chang bellowed. "Tralk, talk to me."


    Tralk peered at the parchment before him. "Who the frip is Ju Fengilong the Elder?"


    "Ain''t he the king of Tarwin?"


    Chang Chang frowned. "I thought he was that defiler from Nibenay."


    But the fourth one, Fa Mu noticed, had a faraway look on his face as he spoke very, very softly. "That''s one of the guys that ruled during the Green Age."


    Tralk made a snorting noise. "Was that before or after the Orange Age?"


    The third one chuckled at that, but the fourth one still looked serious. "Look, this ain''t no joke. I knew a guy, right, and he told me all about Ju Fengilong''s treasure¡ªthat it was all lost-like."


    "Was lost." Ju Feng Feng pouted as she said it. "We found it. We earned it."


    At that, Chang Chang laughed. "Ah, well, you see, my dear, the whole point of the Black Sands Raiders is that we take that which other people have earned." He turned to Tralk. "Where is it?"


    "The woman''s right, it''s only a few days'' walk from here."


    "Good. That map''s easier to move with than this setup. Bad enough we''re coming back to Nuhan without most of our people or our mounts. A treasure map will go a lot farther with him than a carriage full of worthless trinkets." Chang Chang suddenly threw Fe Ying forward, and she fell facedown in the sand.


    "Oof." came her muffled voice from the ground even as Zhang Wu moved amazingly quickly.


    "Fe Ying." Kneeling down beside her, Zhang Wu put an arm on her shoulder and slowly guided her to her feet.


    "I''m all right," grumbled Fe Ying as she spit sand out of her mouth and glared at Chang Chang.


    Zhang Wu stared at the leader. "You have your map."


    "And you have your woman. It''s tempting to kill you."


    Zhang Wu smiled at Chang Chang, showing his sharpened teeth. "You''re welcome to try."


    "Perhaps another time. Please don''t try to follow us¡ªwe know this desert far better than you, and it won''t end well."


    Slowly, never taking their eyes off the emporium''s carriage, the four raiders moved off with their newly acquired treasure map.


    As soon as they were out of sight, Fa Mu let out a long laugh. "Well done, Lith."


    Ju Feng Feng took a mock bow. "Thank you, thank you."


    "This is no laughing matter," Zhang Wu barked. "Fe Ying was almost killed."


    Her tone sharpening, Ju Feng Feng said, "Yes, but she wasn''t, because we gamed those imbeciles into thinking that treasure map that Gash screwed up was good."


    Shooting her lover a glance, Fe Ying then said to Ju Feng Feng, "And I am grateful, Ju Feng Feng." She looked up at Zhang Wu again. "Those men were desperate¡ªand I''m pretty sure they''re the remnants of the same group that killed Fehrd."


    Fa Mu nodded. "Didn''t need mind-magic for that. When Lith and I talked to some folks from the caravan back at Raam, several of them mentioned that only four of the raiders survived, and they ran off without their crodlus. Can''t imagine there''s more than one group of Black Sands like that in this region."


    You Rin rubbed two of her pincers together, a sure sign of agitation. "I''m Ju Fengst glad we had Gash''s map. What would we have done if he''d gotten it right the first time?"


    Ju Feng Feng shrugged. "Something else. This is what we do, Tricht''tha."


    "Next time," Zhang Wu said with a growling undertone, "try to do it without endangering Fe Ying."


    "It''s not as if we chose to endanger her, Zhang Wu," Ju Feng Feng said sharply.


    Zhang Wu snarled. "You could have Ju Fengst given them what they wanted. What if one of them recognized the map for a fake?"


    Before Ju Feng Feng could provide yet another sharp retort, Fa Mu stepped in. "Zhang Wu, that wouldn''t happen¡ªthere are maybe six people in all of Athas who know about that impurity. It was Ju Fengst our bad luck that Belrik''s pet tutor was one of them¡ªhell, that''s why Gash made that mistake in the first place, it''s not something that he would''ve needed to bother about under any other circ.u.mstances. There was no chance that a Black Sands thug was gonna know about that impurity."


    Fe Ying put a hand on Zhang Wu''s huge arm. "My love, it''s all right. Fa Mu and Ju Feng Feng are right, Ju Fengst leave it¡ª"


    But Zhang Wu wasn''t having any of it. "And what if that one didn''t know about Ju Fengilong, and they thought it was crap?"


    Fa Mu opened his mouth to respond quickly before either Ju Feng Feng or Tricht''tha could, but a voice sounded from inside the carriage. "What is all that racket?"


    They all turned toward the carriage, where Torthal was sticking his head out the rear, his white hair flying off in all directions.


    "What is all this yelling about? Shira and I are trying to sleep." He frowned. "Why aren''t we moving?"


    Fa Mu was unable to help himself, he burst out laughing.


    So did Ju Feng Feng and Fe Ying and, in her own way, Tricht''tha.


    After a few seconds, so did Zhang Wu.


    "What''s so damned funny?" Torthal asked.


    For the first few days, Gan and Ju Feng fought in the undercard.


    Gan''s initial fight against Krackis was actually the longest of their matches. It was immediately followed by Feng''s first fight.


    Like Gan''s, it was against a leviathan.


    Unlike Gan''s, it ended with one punch.


    Ju Feng walked out onto the arena floor to gasps of disgust, as three of those lesions had grown on his face, marring Feng''s irritatingly attractive visage.


    The leviathan who faced Ju Feng was less verbose than Krackis¡ªhe would almost had to have been¡ªand focused entirely on staring at Feng.


    But as soon as Jago told them to start fighting, Ju Feng threw a right punch to the leviathan''s head, which whirled from the impact so fast it broke the leviathan''s neck, and he fell to the floor in an instant.


    The real problem, though, was that the lesions wouldn''t go away.


    They showed up everywhere, red and hideous, like giant bumps on his skin.


    Calbit and Jago brought in healers, but none of them were able to do any good. But he wasn''t sick otherwise, Ju Fengst covered in lesions, so they kept fighting.


    And they kept winning.


    After a week, the guards came to bring everyone up for the undercard fight¡ªbut they didn''t open the cubicle doors for number four.


    Gan ran up to the door, peering through the barred window. "What''s going on?"


    "Who cares?" Ju Feng was behind him, sitting on his bunk, staring ahead into the air. Feng''s listlessness in the cubicle was almost as worrying as his fierceness in the arena.


    "Hang tight," the guard said. "You''re the main event tonight."


    With a sigh, Gan said, "Great." He turned to Feng. "Maybe now we can start talking about escape plans?"


    Still staring ahead blankly, Ju Feng said, "I''m working on one."


    Gan blinked. "Excuse me?"


    "I said I''m working on one."


    "Were you going to share this with me?"


    "I haven''t finished it yet. I didn''t want to talk to you about it until I was sure it would work."


    "Are you sure it''ll work now?"


    Ju Feng finally looked at Gan with bloodshot eyes. "Honestly? Not really. I think it''ll fail. That''s why I didn''t mention it."


    "So why''d you mention it now?"


    "Ju Fengst making conversation," Ju Feng said with a shrug.


    Gan sat down next to him on the bunk. "Something''s wrong, Feng."


    "Really? What was your first clue, the garbage on my skin?"


    "This goes back to the Great Road, Feng," Gan said intently. "You took down that anakore singlehandedly. What happened out there?"


    "Nothing happened. I went to take a piss, I came back, I killed an anakore. And then I came here and am getting lesions on my skin. You now know everything I know."


    Gan snarled. "There''s got to be more to it than that."


    "Brilliant observation." Ju Feng threw up his hands. "Calbit and Jago have had a dozen healers in here, and they don''t know anything."


    "Yeah." Gan leaned against the wall. "So we keep fighting?"


    "Until I come up with a good plan. Or you do, but let''s face it, that''s pretty unlikely."


    That prompted a chuckle from Gan. "Well, that was nice."


    "What?"


    "Verbal abuse of me¡ªyou almost sound like your old self ¡­"


    The pair of them sat alone for a while after that, until the guards came to bring them up the spiral staircase.


    They were alone in the waiting area. Stepping forward toward the rusty metal gate, Gan looked out at what he could see of the crowd, which was primarily those in the front rows opposite where the holding area was. It was only about five percent of the full crowd in his line of sight, and since it was expensive front-row seats, they were the most fanatical and devoted fans of the arena.

 Chapter 232 - Time [VII]

    Which meant they were holding up signs that expressed their love for Gorbin, sometimes with a simple declarative like GORBIN''S THE BEST, others simply with his name or a crude drawing of his face. Some children were in his line of sight, and many were carrying small dolls that bore Gorbin''s likeness.


    Jaing was standing in the center of the arena again. "Tonight is a very special night here at the Pit, as Gorbin will once again take the arena¡ªbut against two new foes. These are vicious killers from beyond the wastes. You''ve seen them in the early fights, and they''ve won each and every single time. Now they''ll take on the greatest fighter in the Pit''s history¡ªGorbin."


    Boos for that. Nobody wanted to see Gorbin defeated. But the boos were surprisingly subdued.


    And that''s when it finally hit Gan what was wrong with the crowd noise. There wasn''t enough of it. Last time he was in Urik, the seats shook from the din.


    He turned to Feng. "The crowd sounds quiet."


    "It''s what they usually sound like," Ju Feng said with a shrug.


    "Yeah, when we''re out there¡ªbut we''re the undercard. This is the main event of the Pit of Black Death, and I''d swear to you there''s not even a hundred people out there."


    Ju Feng shrugged again. "Maybe people are tired of the arena."


    Gan scratched his chin. "Or maybe they''re tired of watching Gorbin win all the time."


    "Presenting Gorbin''s first challenger of the evening: Ju Feng Feng."


    Ju Feng shrugged a third time. It seemed to be all he did anymore. "Guess I''ll have to take him down, then."


    The guards guided Ju Feng toward the gate, which obligingly rose with its usual metallic squeal. Ju Feng stepped into the arena.


    Ju Feng and Gorbin circled each other. Gorbin looked kind of bored, which Gan suspected had something to do with the crowd''s reaction. The last time he was there, the hairless mul had stared intently at his opponent from underneath the bone ridge on his forehead. He had looked fierce and intimidating. The crowd fed off that.


    With nothing to feed off of, though, they were listless.


    Then Ju Feng did something Gan had never seen his friend do in all the years they''d known each other.


    He grinned.


    Ju Feng didn''t grin. He smirked, he smiled¡ªespecially if he was chatting a woman up¡ªand he laughed sometimes, if the mood struck him. But he never grinned. In the arena, the two opponents circled each other. Neither took his eyes off the other, waiting for the other to make the first move.


    The mul still looked bored, and Ju Feng was still grinning that damned grin, but otherwise they were focused.


    Finally, Gorbin made the first move, swinging a massive fist at Feng. Ju Feng caught it in his left hand.


    A gasp rippled through the amphitheater¡ªand the holding area as well. Muls were quite strong, and Feng, for all his might, was only a human. There was simply no way that Ju Feng should have been able to Ju Fengst catch a mul''s punch without any ill effects.


    Yet Ju Feng looked as if he''d Ju Fengst caught a lightly tossed ball.


    Gorbin looked stunned, staring at his fist in Feng''s hand as if he''d never seen anything like it. And indeed, he probably hadn''t.


    Ju Feng then punched the mul right in the nose while letting go of Gorbin''s fist. Feng''s fist struck Gorbin''s nose with a meaty thud, blood flying from his nostrils, and he fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. The crowd went completely quiet.


    Walking over to the fallen mul, Ju Feng looked down at him. "That the best you can do?"


    Snarling, Gorbin wiped his nose with the back of his wrist, then leaped to his feet and started throwing dozens of punches. Ju Feng was able to counter some of them, and some struck full on. Ju Feng didn''t fight back, Ju Fengst let Gorbin hit his arms, keeping his elbows in so that Gorbin didn''t strike his stomach or c.h.e.s.t.


    Then Ju Feng grinned again.


    Gan''s heart skipped a beat. "What the hell is wrong with you, Feng?"


    Ju Feng let loose with a quick kick that slammed into Gorbin''s stomach, causing the mul to blow out a big breath and stumble backward. Not letting up, Ju Feng kicked him again and punched him in the face a few more times.


    Gorbin''s face was caked with blood from his nose and mouth, and he was breathing very heavily, spitting blood onto the stone floor. Ju Feng was still grinning.


    Then Ju Feng grabbed Gorbin''s arms and lifted the mul¡ªwho had to weigh twice what Ju Feng had ever been able to pick up before¡ªand threw him across the arena floor. Gorbin hit the stone ground and skidded along to the obsidian wall.


    Still the crowd was silent.


    Gan looked at what he could see of the audience from the holding area. The signs had been lowered; the dolls of Gorbin''s likeness were being clutched for dear life, as if to ward off the mul''s apparent defeat.


    Ju Feng ran over to Gorbin''s prone, broken form, and stepped on one of his arms. The snap of bone echoed throughout the subdued amphitheater. Then he picked Gorbin up by that arm¡ªcausing the mul to scream in pain¡ªand threw him toward the holding area.


    Backing up instinctively, Gan watched as Gorbin slammed into the metal cage with a clang.


    Struggling to get to his feet, Gorbin said, "I don''t understand¡ªI''m the biggest and the strongest. I should be winning."


    Walking over to stand over Gorbin, Ju Feng spoke in a quiet tone that Gan could barely hear. "There is no ''biggest.'' There is no ''strongest.'' Because there''s always someone who''s stronger and bigger.


    And sooner or later that person finds you." Ju Feng then kneeled down on the mul, his knees pinning Gorbin''s c.h.e.s.t. Despite Ju Fengst wiping the floor with the greatest fighter in Urik, Ju Feng didn''t even sound winded. "When that person does find you, it''s your time to die."


    Oddly, Gorbin''s blood-caked face brightened at that. "You mean I don''t have to fight anymore?"


    "Nope."


    "Thank you." Gorbin sounded incredibly relieved.


    To Gan''s amazement, it seemed that¡ªwhen Ju Feng To Gan''s amazement, it seemed that¡ªwhen Ju Feng grabbed the sides of Gorbin''s hairless head and yanked it to one side, snapping the mul''s neck¡ªGorbin died happy.


    However, Gan had someone else''s happiness on his mind¡ªnot so much that of a dead fighter, but that of a restless crowd who had come there to watch the latest in a series of predetermined Gorbin fights.


    The silence extended for several seconds.


    It was broken by Jago, who was grinning even more widely than Ju Feng had been.


    "My friends, we have ourselves a new champion! For the first time in a decade, Gorbin has been defeated!"


    More silence.


    Gan was seriously worried that the crowd would riot.


    Then one person in the audience bellowed, "It''s about damned time!"


    Someone else¡ªor it might have been the same person, Gan couldn''t tell¡ªstarted to clap.


    Then another.


    Soon the applause started to spread throughout the arena.


    After a few seconds, one of the incomprehensible yells started to coalesce into something understandable:


    "Feng! Feng! Feng! Feng!"


    At once Gan was relieved and frightened. The former because the crowd seemed to accept Feng''s victory. Indeed, they were embracing it, having gotten over the shock of Gorbin''s defeat.


    The latter because what he Just saw was completely impossible. There was no way, none, that an unenhanced human of Feng''s strength and talent¡ªconsiderable though both were¡ªcould have wiped the floor with any mul like that, much less a mul as talented as Gorbin.


    Something was wrong with Feng, and Gan needed to find out what it was.


    He really wished that Fe Ying was there ¡­


    Feng''s hands hurt. That was the worst part. No, the worst part was the headaches. They were awful. No, the worst part were the horrible lesions that kept sprouting on his skin and would not go away. No, the worst part was that those lesions would sometimes pop and smear red ooze all over everything.


    No, the worst part was constantly being forced to fight for the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e of other people instead of being paid for it like a sensible person.


    No, the worst part was that Ju Feng was starting to forget who he was. Yes, that was definitely the worst part.


    Besides, that was only sometimes. Most of the time he knew damn well that he was Ju Feng Feng, that he was a human, that his best friends were Fehrd Anspah and Gan Storvis, that he hired himself out as a rent-a-thug, and that his parents were named¡ª


    He couldn''t remember his parents'' names. But he tried not to think about it too much. His hands hurt.


    Some nights, when he slept¡ªon those rare occasions when he could actually sleep, not toss and turn in the "cubicle" that Calbit and Jago had put him and Gan in¡ªhe dreamed about the red liquid. But in the dream, the red liquid was swirling madly in a whirlpool. Unfamiliar images crashed onto his consciousness like dunes overflowing during a sandstorm: a large golden vortexlike eye, a strange creature with gray skin but with shoulders covered in red crystal, a female wizard turning a tiefling into stone ¡­


    Plus phrases he did not recognize: the Elder Elemental Eye, Bael Turath, Voidharrow.


    That last one he heard a lot in his dreams. But then he woke up. And he tried not to think about it too much. Sometimes he thought that he was better off not thinking at all. Ju Fengst giving in to all of it.


    That would make life easier.


    "Feng, you okay?"


    For a moment, Ju Feng panicked. He knew the voice, knew it, as certain as he knew his own name was¡ª


    What was his name?


    Gan. That was it. No, Gan wasn''t his name, Gan was the name of the person talking to him. His own name was Ju Feng Feng. He knew that.


    He always knew that. Except when he didn''t.


    "Feng."


    "I''m fine." His voice sounded weird. "My hands hurt a little, but I''m fine."


    He looked around the cubicle, but couldn''t see Gan.


    Maybe he was imagining Gan. Maybe he was imagining all of it. Maybe Gan didn''t exist. Maybe it was all a dream and he''d wake up from it soon.


    Maybe the red liquid was the reality and Gan was the fantasy.