READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 14: The Awakening: Trial Ends.
Chapter 14.
The Awakening: Trial Ends.
Eleventh Floor of the Sky Reaching Pagoda~
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The prismatic crystal had transformed into a third eye, delicately positioned between her eyebrows. In a fleeting moment, it seamlessly merged into her glabella, leaving no trace behind.
The entire process was devoid of any discomfort, as she did not experience even the slightest unease.
With a gentle hum, the eyes of the colossal golden carp statue sparked to life, emanating a radiant glow that filled the room. Luminous specks converged, shaping the phantom of an elderly man. His hair completely grey with age, a flowing beard matching his hair, swayed gracefully without the aid of any breeze. Despite his advanced age, his tall stature exuded wisdom, his face retaining a hint of youthfulness and benevolence.
Clad in a pristine, tailored Daoist robe, his presence commanded reverence and instinctive worship.
Witnessing the manifestation of this figure, Lu Xi Tong immediately recognized him as the elder with the imposing voice, whom she had conversed with earlier.
"Greetings venerated elder," Lu Xi Tong bowed deeply, almost at a 90° angle, towards the phantom visage.
"No need for such formalities, trial taker," the phantom elder replied, waving his sleeve gently, sending a wave of subtle energy that righted her posture. "Ah, yes! What is your name, young lass?" He inquired.
"I am Lu Xi Tong," she responded succinctly.
"Lu Xi Tong," he mused, "A truly exquisite name!" He exclaimed appreciatively.
"How may I address you, esteemed elder?" Lu Xi Tong inquired.
"Our encounter may be deemed fateful; simply refer to me as Old man Bu Si," he replied with a warm smile.
"I will senior," she replied with politeness.
"It has been eons since this place came into existence, yet you are the first genuine successor this old man has acquired. It would be uncouth of me not to reveal myself," Old man Bu Si remarked as he strolled past Xi Tong, casting a friendly smile her way.
"The prismatic third eye you have acquired is a magnificent and invaluable treasure that has been in my possession for countless ages. Its willingness to merge with you signifies a level of affinity that you may not yet perceive," Old man Bu Si elucidated.
"Its primary capability lies in its power of bestowing upon its user a third vision that can penetrate all falsehoods and illusions, yet its most invaluable attribute is none other than granting its master the ability to perceive the flow of energy surrounding them, whether it be the energy flow of a martial skill or the density of qi. As long as it is energy-related, one would be able to discern it," Old man Bu Si paused his step turning to face Xi Tong.
"It possesses other wondrous abilities as well; those are for you to discover yourself," he continued, turning back ahead and continuing with his strides.
Arriving at one of the walls within the room, Old man Bu Si silently gestured his phantom hands across the wall.
*Rumble*
The wall slid aside, revealing its treasure to the world. Lu Xi Tong couldn't help but gasp at the sight before her; a vast stash of treasures akin to a treasure vault.
Within were rare herbs piled into small mountains, medicinal pills of exceedingly high grade, and mountains of crystal qi stones containing pure yet immensely dense qi energy.
Such crystal qi stones were solely utilized by the top powers within the mortal realm, and even they could procure only a few pieces per year.
Xi Tong thought to herself, "If I am able to transport such a grand amount of wealth back to the YinYang dynasty, we would undoubtedly ascend to a top power in no time. More importantly, this is merely a third; if I could gather all three parts, I would be affluent for the remainder of my days." Xi Tong's eyes glimmered with a hint of avarice, abruptly halted by the subsequent words tho.
"This constitutes a third of the total treasure housed within the Sky Reaching Pagoda. However, you can only claim it all once you have triumphed over the other two trials of physique and soul. For now, you may only take a third of the total treasures present here," Old man Bu Si said with a teasing tone, noticing Xi Tong's change in demeanor upon seeing the treasures. Being limited to claiming only a third must have left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"Despite it being just a fraction of the total treasures here, it is still a substantial amount," Xi Tong cheered herself mentally.
Without further ado, she entered the room and collected a third of the treasures before exiting.
Mentally, Xi Tong couldn't help but express gratitude for her fortune and that strange youth who bestowed upon her the spatial ring. Without it, there would have been nowhere to contain the spoils.
"Thank you for this opportunity," Xi Tong graciously acknowledged, maintaining her utmost decorum.
"Finally, this old soul of mine can find eternal rest after a prolonged slumber," Old man Bu Si unexpectedly interjected.
"What do you mean, Senior Bu Si?" Lu Xi Tong inquired, finding it difficult to address him as "Old man Bu Si" due to its over informality.
"The sands of time have passed, my era has long faded into the rivers of time. I only retained a fragment of my true essence to witness the arrival of my successor. I am content that you are that successor. Now, I can peacefully relinquish this aged soul of mine, as I have defied fate for far too long. It brings me joy to have encountered such an exceptional young woman like you," Old man Bu Si spoke with a melancholic tone as his ethereal form dissipated into the nether.
Lu Xi Tong felt a tinge of nostalgia. Despite their brief time together, she had formed a connection with him.
A heavy sigh escaped Xi Tong's lips as she found herself alone in the imposing halls, missing the commanding presence that had once accompanied her.
Unknown pocket space in the Sky Reaching Pagoda~
Xie Xing and the enigmatic entity continued to observe Lu Xi Tong. A solitary tear trickled down Xie Xing's cheek, his countenance clouded with grief. The enigmatic entity remained oblivious to this unusual display of emotion.
Eleventh floor of the Sky Reaching Pagoda~
Lu Xi Tong eagerly anticipated the spatial distortion around her, eager to discover what awaited her on the twelfth floor.
*Warp*
As anticipated, she was transported, but not to the expected twelfth floor. Instead, she found herself back on the ground level of the Sky Reaching Pagoda.
This unexpected turn of events left her bewildered.
What had transpired?
Why had she returned?
Was this some form of prank?
A deluge of inquiries inundated Lu Xi Tong's mind, demanding immediate answers.
"Your constitution is currently restricted, thus you are unable to partake in the physical trial. You may attempt again once you have cultivated and restored your physical prowess. Until then, your trial concludes here," the previously serene feminine voice echoed across the chamber, albeit with a slightly more shrill timbre.
"Your constitution is sealed, hence you cannot partake in the trial of physique; you can try again when you have developed and restored your physique. Till then, your trial ends here." The shrill voice from earlier echoed in Lu Xi Tong's she was finding it a bit hard to accept her dismissal, with a tinge of indignation, she bid a courteous farewell before leaving.
The words of the shrill voice stirred emotions within her. "Sealed? How did my constitution end up sealed?" Her thoughts immediately gravitated towards the enigmatic figure who seemed to be orchestrating events behind the scenes. This revelation only fueled her anticipation of an encounter with this enigma.
On the twelfth floor of the Sky Reaching Pagoda~
Two figures engaged in a discussion – a human figure and a phantom lady. If the enigma were present, he would have been astounded, as one of the figures was Xie Xing, who was concurrently by the enigma's side.
Unbeknownst to the enigma, who was wholly focused on monitoring Lu Xi Tong on the ground floor, Xie Xing had discreetly sent out a soul shadow of himself after the dispersion of Old man Bu Si's soul. It became evident that Xie Xing had deliberately concealed his abilities to deceive the enigma.
"Why did you instruct me to dismiss the young lady in that manner? She possesses great potential and could be the key to your liberation," the shrill voiced lady lamented.
"But it would come at the cost of your soul. Venerated uncle Bu Si had his soul scattered, and I am not prepared to endure solitude once more, Aunty," Xie Xing responded with a solemn expression tinted with grief.
"We have long departed, only mere remnants of our souls linger to accompany you. You must learn to let go to attain freedom," the shrill voice echoed before fading away, leaving Xie Xing to contemplate his next steps.