The Lantis Republic. Celestial Island. Two Days Later.
Shin's win over the five Luminaries had solidified his position as the Prince of Water. With over a hundred thousand people witnessing the youth beating five of the Republic's best talents, there was no way that the High Council could justify blocking Shin's Trial anymore. People chanted his name whenever they wanted. Some had even started a fan club, just like they did for Bingying or Xunyu Feifei.
So, what did Shin do after becoming the best youngster and most in the entire region?
He went back home to sleep.
No one could honestly blame him. After hustling for a full month, analysing all five Luminaries abilities, training to counter them, mapping out possible fight endings… It was about time that he got burnt out. Longyu Tian and the rest of the Longyu Clan left him alone for the next two days. Even Kanari held back, and the nightly visits stopped.
Alas, the Longyu Clan knew the concept of striking while the iron's hot. Those two days were good for Shin to recuperate, but it was also a chance for them to amply prepare the Trial. Fully booking the Celestial River, the Longyu Clan pushed for Shin's baptism, much to the dismay of the other High Elders. In the end, due to public pressure, the consensus from the Spirit Saints and the trump card of the Longyu Clan, the High Council was forced to acquiesce.
Celestial Island. The Republic's largest island and the central hub for everything in the nation. The government, the busiest commercial district, the most populous island, home to the world's largest navy… The list could go on. However, for Shin, the island was only one place…
The location of the Celestial River.
An empyrean wonder of the world, many historians dispute the origin of such a divine phenomenon. Lantis Republic philosophers claim that it was once the home of the Celestial Dragon, the Primordial Beast that all water-elemental originated from. Others say that it was just a chance encounter by the ancient clans that decided to use the river as their nesting ground. Nonetheless, no matter the origin, the Celestial River had an undisputable purpose. To serve as the baptism of all Scions of Water and the Trial grounds for any bearing the Mark of the Celestial Dragon.
And that was what Shin was here for. Standing in the middle of the Himmel Empire's delegation, Shin stared in awe at the colossal mountain in front of him. Clouds obscured the peak, and spiritual energies skyrocketed to the absolute limit. Shin never felt so breathless before a natural landmark in his life. He couldn't see the Celestial River, but he could sure as hell feel it.
"Nervous?" Kanari asked, her hand magnetically attracted to Shin's.
"Of course, I am..." The youth replied. Every fibre of his being screamed out in a plethora of emotions. Joy at finally achieving what he sought out to do. Excitement at experiencing the Celestial River for the first time, and most importantly… Anxiety, as he did not know what's to come. No one did actually. If Shin managed to trigger a Spirit Evolution, great! The young man would be one step closer to his dreams. However, what if he disappointed everyone and nothing happened?
Kanari knew precisely how the youth was feeling. Taking two deep sighs in, she gently brushed on the youth's hair, hoping to calm his nerves even if it was just a little. "You don't have to worry. You won't fail at all! I'm sure you'll become even stronger through this Trial!"
"Thank you, Kanari..."
The group continued onwards, ignoring the many stares that were being shot their way. Celestial Island was the most populous place in the Lantis Republic. Naturally, when the news broke that Shin was about to attempt his Trial, many would flock out from their humble abode just to catch a glimpse of the newly ordained genius. Longyu Clan guards flocked to the perimeter and created a solid wall of trained professionals, just to prevent the youth from getting disturbed during his Trial.
The congregation of Shin, Kanari, her two guards, Claudia and Thea, Lady Seph, Kesyl, Shizen and the twins were continuously led through an array of tight checkpoints, each one manned by at least one Rank 60 Spirit King. As they got deeper into the cove, even security guards with cultivations of Spirit Emperors appeared. Perhaps it was because of Shin's Trial, but the Celestial River was one of the most guarded places in the world at the moment. It took a while, but the entire team eventually reached the final checkpoint, where all the important people laid in wait.
Familiar faces such as Longyu Tian and Meijing Bingying were the first to catch Shin's eye. They were all smiling from ear to ear, eager to watch Shin, the miracle-worker, stun them one final time. Of course, they weren't the only ones there. The three other Spirit Saints, Jingyu Han, Shenshe Zemin and Heigui Zhengkang all sat idly, sipping on their favoured tea. If not for the hundreds of armed guards surrounding them, Shin would have thought that this was an entrance to a picnic ground.
There was a beautiful brown wooden canoe waiting on the bright and tranquil waterway leading towards an open basin. Shin couldn't see what lay beyond as there were so many guards blocking the view. Most of the High Elders, particularly those from the Longyu Clan, didn't even notice Shin arriving and were still busy in a debate. Hence, only one person came forward to welcome the youth into the basin.
"You're finally here!" Meijing Bingying cried. She leapt forward and tapped Shin on his shoulders, checking for any specks of dust, even though that was hardly necessary. "What took you so long?!"
Shin rolled his eyes, "I didn't bring myself here, you know."
"Hehe, sorry! I'm just so excited for you!" The Pearl in the East chuckled. She eyed the boy up and down, realising that something was a little off. "Nervous?" Bingying asked the same question that Kanari did.
"Birds of a feather really do flock together..." Shin thought out loud for the two beauties to hear. "Of course I'm nervous! How did you feel when you'd first taken the Trial?"
"Ah, don't worry, you'll get over it..." Bingying replied, puffing her chest out. "We'll all be there supporting you! The Trial sounds hard and all, but in truth, it really is quite simple!"
Shin's ears perked at the new information he received. Curious, he asked: "By the way, what is the Trial of the Celestial Dragon? I've heard of it many times, but no one actually told me what it entails..."
Bingying gasped, her eyelashes flickering about wildly. "You don't know?!"
"Regrettably..." The youth pouted. There was no need for such a big reaction, right?
"Ah, maybe they wanted to brief you on the spot..." Bingying had lived most of her life in the Lantis Republic, not to mention a blood member of one of the eight ancient clans. Thus, knowledge about the Trial was just common sense to her. She smiled and patiently explained. "The Trial of the Celestial Dragon is honestly quite simple. All you need to do is to summon out your Spirit and climb the Celestial River."
"... That's it?"
"That's it!" Bingying nodded in affirmation. "Honestly, just touching the basin of the Celestial River is enough to trigger a change in any one of our Spirits. That's the baptism that you know of. However, those with the Mark of the Celestial Dragon can attempt to climb up the river due to a prophecy that has been handed down throughout the generations!"
Shin and the Himmel Empire congregation, particularly Lady Seph, opened up their ears even more. It was rare to get an insight into the secretive Lantis Republic's lore. Fortunately, Bingying had a rather loose mouth.
"What's the prophecy?" Shin asked.
Bingying gave a mischievous smile and leaned in closer, hoping to evade the sensitive ears of her seniors. Only when the coast was completely clear, did the young maiden shoot. "Legend claims that those who conquered the Celestial River would gain the inheritance of the Lady of Water, becoming the sole heir of all the Eight Ancient Clans. The Spirit User who conquers the Celestial River will be the one who would unify the eight scions of water and reign supreme as the Child of Water."
"There was such a legend?" Lady Seph questioned, evidently puzzled. Even her encyclopedia of knowledge didn't contain such an astonishing fact. "Then why isn't it more well-known?"
Bingying sighed, "Lady Seph, how old are the Eight Ancient Clans of Water?"
"At least five hundred thousand years old?" Accounts varied on the history of the Eight Ancient Clans, but most historians have concurred that the Lady of Water was born in an archaic age.
"That's right. And in all those years since, guess how many cultivators actually conquered the Celestial River?"
"Ermmm..." Lady Seph harrumphed. She didn't even know the existence of the Trial, let alone who attempted or passed it.
Fortunately, Bingying wasn't here to embarrass her. "Zero..." The girl said to many gasps. "Throughout the long history of the Lantis Republic, the Eight Ancient Clans of Water, even to the time where water Spirits weren't in the norm… There hasn't been a single person that passed the Trial of the Celestial Dragon." The girl said calmly.
"In the end, after generations of failure, the superiors eventually gave up on the prophecy. Many just see the deed as a symbolic gesture. Still, the Trial can bring good things for those that attempt it! Saint Longyu Tian is the prime example! She triggered a spirit evolution that gave her the Time-Element, and she cultivated all the way to a Spirit Saint." Bingying further elaborated. "It doesn't matter what happens, the Trial can only be beneficial for you. The question is, to what extent?"
"..." Shin thought about it silently and his anxiety, like the Celestial River before him, began to wash away into oblivion. Furthermore…
'So what if I don't trigger a spirit evolution?! I can just work hard as I always do!'
Shin had always struggled in cultivation by himself. There weren't any teachers around to tutor him in the Celestial Water Mantra, so he taught everything himself. No one forced Shin to train in one way, and he has been succeeding thus far. All that matters now is for him to take the Trial on.
"Shin, it's time," Longyu Tian walked over from the calm waterway, where hordes of High Elders remained waiting. However, the first person she looked to wasn't the young black-haired youth, but Lady Seph and Kanari's Spirit Venerate guard, Thea. "I apologise, from here, only Lantis Republic personnel are allowed in. No exceptions."
"T-that's!" Lady Seph raised her hand, ready to protest, but Longyu Tian's was faster.
"We can't risk our national wonder being desecrated. It doesn't matter how close you are to Shin, the Lantis Republic, or more importantly, the guardian of the Celestial River would never allow it."
"The guardian?" The blonde healer murmured, but Longyu Tian could evidently hear her.
"Unfortunately, that's classified as well," said the Spirit Saint, her voice void of any emotion. "All you need to know is that if you enter not carrying the blood of any Scion of Water, your life would most likely be forfeit." Without any warning, Longyu Tian grabbed onto Shin's wrist, telling him to bid his companions farewell.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon!" Shin exclaimed, turning to all his friends and family.
"Good luck!" Shizen was the first to holler back. Kesyl was quick to follow. Lady Seph didn't need to say anything. She had said enough yesterday and earlier this morning. All the blonde healer needed to do was sit back and wait for the good news of her disciple.
"Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip!" Bingbing excitedly chirped, wishing that she could be there for the young man. Still, the Tier 8 Spirit Beast knew her place and nestled right on Lady Seph's shoulder.
"Shin, I know you can do it!" Kanari cried, like a wife bidding a sailor bon voyage.
"You better do us proud, Shin!" Ella was the first to scream. Emma, seeing her sister so agitated, chuckled a little before adding her two cents. "Shin, no matter what, we still love you!"
"???" The odd confessions of the twins threw Shin off for a moment, but it was already time for departure. Taking deep breaths in, the young man was pulled into a long canoe, with Bingying seated at his side.
It was finally time… It was finally time for the young man to tackle the Trial of the Celestial River.
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