READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 6: The Awakening: Trial Begins.
Chapter 6
The Awakening: Trial.
Mortal realm~
The endless catacombs~
The unique space within the tapestry~
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*Wrap*
In the distinctive realm within the tapestry, Lu Xitong gradually unfolded her eyes. Following her involuntary suction into the tapestry, she found herself at the base of one of the myriad mountains within the mountain range.
The mountain, adorned with blooming flowers, surpassed its external appearance from outside the tapestry in grandeur, its summits shrouded in ethereal clouds.
As Lu Xitong surveyed the surroundings, she observed towering trees and bamboo forests, ancient creatures going about their daily routines completely ignoring the new presence, and an abundance of rare herbs, mostly of common quality. The interior of this place proved more awe-inspiring than its exterior, with a dense essence qi that induced instant relaxation in her body.
Notably, the space within the tapestry existed in isolation from the outside world, akin to a miniature independent realm. The unique calender of the Celestes' domain did not seem to apply here, as the intangible pressure of the year of the void was conspicuously absent in this secluded space.
This made her recall the impending fourth night mentioned by the Primordial Carps, Xitong pondered the significance and secrets it held. Despite these thoughts, she refocused on the task at hand: the trial.
The Primordial Carps had instructed her to refine the essence of the grand Primordial Carps and endure the trial's pressure, offering scantly any additional guidance.
Adrift in uncertainty, Xitong aimlessly wandered in search of clues or useful insights. The vastness of the unique space within the tapestry surpassed her initial expectation by a far margin.
After an aimless endeavor of roaming the unique space within the tapestry for half a day, Xitong finally encountered a peculiar sight.
At what appeared to be the heart of this realm, an imposing mountain loomed, surpassing the already towering peaks. While other mountains concealed their summits in the heavens, this mountain entirely veiled itself in the gloomy clouds, seemingly transcending the heavenly dome. Strikingly lifeless, unlike any other mountain in this realm, not even a blade of grass grew on its barren planes.
Xitong approached this mountain, eventually reaching its base after a walking for a while.The mountain was far more majestic up close, the mountain's summit was accessible via a meticulously carved stairway, each step a testament to precision.
Ascending for hours, Xitong finally reached the peak, which proved to be a challenging feat for one who was merely mortal.
Collapsing at the summit, gasping for breath as she finally reached the summit, Xitong collapsed on her knees, her hands bracing against the rugged terrain before giving way, causing her to lie on the mountain peak, gazing up at the sky. Beads of perspiration adorned her face and body, lightly drenching her form. Utterly drained, she succumbed to fatigue, her eyes closing as she drifted into dreamland (wherever that may be) :)
Upon awakening to the still gloomy sky, Xitong realized that this peculiar world seemed devoid of night, the sky perpetually dull and gloomy. "This will undoubtedly complicate keeping track of time," she murmured wearily, her concern mounting for the impending fourth night. "I wonder how long I slumbered," she pondered with a yawn. Rising to her feet, she straightened her attire and surveyed her surroundings.
The mountain peak proved unexpectedly flat, its unnatural levelness prompting Xitong to speculate about the powerful force that had cleaved the summit, leaving it truncated. Enveloped in mist, the peak revealed a faint silhouette that, upon closer inspection, materialized into a pagoda boasting thirteen stories. Fashioned from an unfamiliar red wood, the pagoda exuded a majestic aura.
Flanking the entrance were two striking statues: one of gold exuding an imperial air, the other of a reddish hue emanating a savage presence. Resembling the Primordial Carps she had encountered earlier but grander and more magnificent, they bore short horns and limbs, each clasping a prismatic crystalline pearl in their jaws. Positioned on pedestals shaped like coiling dragons, the statues, standing at the height of a grown man, faced one another.
The pagoda's exterior appeared modest in size, with each floor spacious enough to accommodate a dozen individuals. Ascending the staircase towards the entrance, Xitong noticed a plaque hanging above, bearing the inscription "The Sky Reaching Pagoda." Pushing the door ajar, she entered unceremoniously.
Inside the pagoda's ground floor, intricate etchings adorned the walls and pillars, the interior awash in a blend of red and gold.
"It's has been decades since anyone graced these halls. I began to fear that that brats dynasty was on decline," a male noble yet resonant voice reverberated throughout the chamber.
From it's statement it could be inferred that it had been a long time since anyone came here,
"hump! you can only blame those undying ghosts of a guardian who have their eyes on their head and refusing to acknowledge anyone in decades now." Xitong though to herself, clearly still holding a grudge against them.
"Wait, did this entity just refer to our dynasty's founder as a little brat?" The revelation dawned upon Xitong that she was in the presence of another undying ghost.
"You, do not posses the taichi bloodline and a mere little lass. What brings you here? Do those now acknowledge anyone and everyone? How far has the outside world plummeted? Who are you?" the entity inquired after observing Xitong for a moment.
"You, who do not possess the taichi bloodline and are merely a young maiden. What brings you to this place? Could it be that those two youngsters now accept any willy-nilly without discrimination? How much has the outside world deteriorated? Who are you?" The entity inquired after studying Xitong for a moment.
To Xitong's surprise, the entity seemed even older than the Primordial guardians. "Speaking of the undead and whom is this entity referring to as 'willy-nilly'?" Xitong pondered as she delicately rubbed her nose, feeling bashful inside.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Lu Xitong, the youngest daughter of the current Yang emperor," Xitong responded, regaining her composure and displaying proper etiquette.
"Are you here to undertake the trial?" The entity asked with a stern tone.
"Yes," Xitong replied plainly.
"Technically, there are no restrictions on who can partake in the trial. The trial itself should not pose a threat to anyone unless they push themselves beyond their limits. A piece of advice for you - do not overexert yourself. You are too young and beautiful to meet an untimely demise, hahaha..." The entity chuckled sumgly.
"Thank you for the advice, senior," Xitong replied, uncertain whether to express gratitude for such an unusual piece of advice. She was also slightly irritated by the fact that the entity had not yet revealed itself, leaving her to converse and bow to empty space, unsure if she was facing the right direction. Xitong sighed helplessly.
"Moving on," the entity continued, proceeding to explain the trial. "The trial commences on the first floor, where you must refine the essence of the grand Primordial Carp while enduring the pressure presented on each subsequent floor. The difficulty increases with each floor, and the rest you shall discover as you progress. Crush this bead when you wish to conclude the trial. Best of luck, I shall now send you on your way."
A black bead materialized in Xitong's hand before the surrounding space distorted abruptly, not allowing her a moment to ask questions as she was forcibly transported to the first floor of the towering Sky Reaching Pagoda.
First floor of the Sky Reaching Pagoda ~
Space shimmered gently as a figure materialized - none other than Lu Xitong, who had been transported to this location.
Surveying her surroundings, Xitong found the first floor of the pagoda to be vastly different from her expectations. It was much larger than it appeared from the outside and almost entirely bare, save for a peculiar pale red jade crescent moon resting on a stone pedestal.
Standing a meter tall, half a meter wide, and about two fingers thick, the jade was nearly transparent but its surface was rough due to the intricate symbols engraved upon it. Xitong examined these enigmatic symbols, attempting to decipher their meaning. As she extended her hand to touch the rough surface, she was startled when vibrant ghostly light pulsed outwards, causing ripples in space and sending her tumbling backwards.
Following the ripples came an intense heat that scorched the air, accompanied by a stifling pressure that descended upon her. Simultaneously, a series of information appeared in Xitong's mind.
The newfound knowledge enlightened her, providing insight into her current predicament.
According to the information in her mind, the descent of the pressure signaled the initiation of the first trial. She must endure the pressure for the duration of an incense stick burning to pass the first trial, all while deciphering the mysterious symbols on the jade crescent moon. The more she comprehended these symbols, the more Primordial blood essence she could extract and refine into dao runes.
Each level of the trial contained a layer of the Primordial Carp's blood essence. The more levels she cleared, the more layers she could acquire, along with a purer and denser bloodline.
Each tier harbors a stratum of the Primordial Carps sanguine essence. The higher the tiers she conquered, the more layers she acquired, along with a purer and denser lineage.
Without further delay, Xitong swiftly adjusted her mental state. Assuming the lotus position, she commenced deciphering the enigmatic symbols adorning the jade crescent moon, each symbol holding profound insights into the laws of fire.
It didn't take long before a vibrant red rune of the dao materialized above the jade crescent moon, followed by several others forming a lotus configuration before converging into a fiery lotus. Taking the initiative, it drifted towards Xitong, bursting into a blaze that surged into her solar plexus. Xitong experienced a warm influx throughout her body, akin to parched soil quenching its thirst with rain, greedily absorbing the energy like a desiccated sponge.
Yet, this was merely the commencement of her journey. As Xitong's comprehension of the fire laws accelerated, numerous crimson runes emerged, each larger than the previous, coalescing into fiery lotuses that surged towards her. Initially the size of half a fingernail, these runes now exceeded the dimensions of a baby's thumb.
Half an incense stick's duration later~
The scorching heat transformed into an intense pressure. Xitong perspired profusely, her garments drenched, yet she remained resolute amidst the searing inferno that tested her mental fortitude and delicate physique.
As the incense stick dwindled to its end, she assimilated twenty-four drops of blood essence from the fiery lotus, condensed from the blazing red runes, now as large as a grown man's thumb, yet purer and denser than the initial drops.
As the incense stick burned down to its end, Xitong exhaled in relief, "Finally, it is over." She rejoiced inwardly. The intense heat had intensified just as the incense stick dwindled, causing Xitong to perspire profusely. Strangely, she found that she did not need to refine the essence of the Primordial Carp in the fiery lotus in order to assimilate it; it somehow seamlessly merged with her being.
Upon completing the first trial, Xitong sensed a significant enhancement in her constitution, along with a deeper understanding of the laws of fire that she had grasped.
After another duration equivalent to an incense stick burning, during which she was allowed to recuperate, the space around her distorted once more, and she found herself reappearing on the second level of the Sky Reaching Pagoda.