Yue Fei stood at the foot of a colossal tree, its massive trunk towering above him. Its branches stretched out in all directions, reaching out like grasping hands that sought to ensnare all who came too close. The branches were adorned with ancient human face masks, each one twisted in a grotesque expression of agony. They served as a grim testament to the horrors that had once taken place beneath the tree's boughs.
As Yue Fei gazed upon the tree, suddenly something weird happened.
Yue Fei found himself in a white void surrounded by trillions of others as they gazed upon a pair of golden scales as the voice called out.
"Order!"
Yue Fei blinked and he found himself back at the Black Lotus Cult.
( ~ Roar ~ )
Yue Fei gritted his teeth and focused his energy, striving to keep the Agonibuck sealed within its tree form.
"Damn you, you ugly fuck! I will not let you break free!" Yue Fei exclaimed, his determination unwavering.
In that moment, one of the human masks adorning the Agonibuck's branches began to transform. Before Yue Fei's eyes, it took on the appearance of a decomposing zombie. The undead creature lunged towards Yue Fei, its arms outstretched, and a guttural growl emanating from its throat.
"Stay back, vile creature!" Yue Fei shouted as he deftly drew his sword. With a swift, precise motion, he sliced the zombie into pieces. As the remnants of the zombie fell to the ground, Yue Fei summoned a torrent of flames to incinerate the undead monstrosity, ensuring that it would never rise again until the great cleansing begins.
.......
The children and servants of the mansion found themselves unexpectedly in an endless, blinding white void. A heavy silence enveloped them as they peered around, searching for anything familiar, any semblance of the world they knew.
"Where are we?" uttered a young girl, her voice echoing eerily in the nothingness.
Before anyone could respond, an imposing pair of golden scales emerged, hanging suspended in the vast emptiness. It emanated an undeniable aura of order, and as it teetered gently, an inexplicable harmony struck through the void.
The youngest of the children giggled, breaking the tense silence, and inquired with genuine curiosity, "Is this where they weigh the giant's gold coins?"
An older servant shook his head, muttering nervously, "It's judgement, it must be..."
Almost as abruptly as they had arrived, they were back at the mansion, their surroundings familiar yet feeling eerily unfamiliar after what they had witnessed. A tidal wave of hysteria washed over the group as everyone began to chatter at once.
"Everyone gathered in the once-opulent dining hall, now a bustling hub of frenzied theorizing and not-so-quiet conjecture. The air was thick with an eclectic mix of fear, amusement, and pure, undiluted confusion.
A small boy with tousled hair tugged at the servant's sleeve, eyes wide with a mixture of fear and intrigue, "Did we just get weighed and measured by the universe?"
An older, more cynical servant, rubbing his temples, muttered, "I hope the universe took into account my heavy workload and didn't just weigh my physical form."
An elderly, philosophical maid pondered loudly, "What if the scales were weighing our deeds? Or perhaps our sins?"
A sassy teenage girl, twirling her hair, interjected, "Ugh, can it not? I'm not ready for a universal evaluation!"
Meanwhile, a cook, always ready with a culinary quip, wondered, "Did anyone check if those scales were calibrated correctly? I'd hate to be overjudged due to a metric error!"
An audibly distressed man paced back and forth, proposing a theory that they'd been chosen for something monumental. "Maybe we're the chosen ones...selected for a mission!"
A snarky child retorted, "Chosen for what? To be perplexed to death? Because that's where I'm headed!"
"You know, they say that those who witness the golden scales will be blessed with...well, I forget what, but it's supposed to be good!"
A dry-witted butler countered, "Blessed with mass confusion and existential dread, perhaps?"
They all chuckled, even amid the unsettling aura enveloping them. The playfulness of their dialogue, however, did not overshadow the palpable tension and deep, unspoken unease that lingered in the air. They joked, they theorized, they speculated, but the questions hung heavily over them, unanswered and enigmatic.
The humor and theories continued, a coping mechanism for the unexplainable, yet behind every laugh was a shimmer of fear, and behind every theory, a desperate need to make sense of the senseless.
But the atmosphere was suddenly shattered by a loud thud.
The door to the dining hall slammed open, and rushed Ye Mo's goons.
Blood and dirt were smeared on their bodies and clothes, and they crashed to the ground, causing a hush to fall over the hall.
"Oh my!" cried one of the servants, rushing to help the fallen men.
The sight of the injured goons sent a wave of shock and concern through the room.
Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, Ye Mo himself burst into the hall, his hand pressed to a bloody stump on his arm.
A chilling howl of pain echoed through the room, sending shivers down the spines of everyone present.
Xu Wen'an sprang into action, rushing to Ye Mo's side and administering first aid. She ripped apart Ye Mo's shirt to use as a makeshift tourniquet and forced a pill down his throat.
The other servants rushed to assist, bringing water and blankets to try and help.
"Call Lin Wong! We have someone injured here!" Xu Wen'an shouted urgently.
Her voice conveyed the gravity of the situation, and the room was filled with a sense of urgency.
The room erupted into chaos as the guests panicked and screamed, unsure of what was happening or what to do.
Amidst the chaos and the frightened cries, a cluster of the mansion's inhabitants congregated in a corner, their eyes flickering between the havoc unraveling around Ye Mo and their own frantic exchange of whispers.
A visibly shaken maid spoke first, her voice barely audible over the din, "What in the heavens happened to Ye Mo?! His arm...it's..."
A stout, pragmatic cook cut in, trying to keep his voice steady, "It's gone! But how? Why?! Was it the same thing we saw? Those scales?!"
"No...this is something from the earthly realm, I reckon. A conflict, perhaps with an enemy?"
"Did a big, bad monster bite it off?"
Chun Jiao gently approached one of Ye Mo's goons, who sat quivering on the polished floor, his eyes vacant. His body was smeared with a gruesome mix of blood and filth, yet beneath the physical disarray, it was the haunting gleam in his eyes that struck Chun Jiao the most.
Kneeling beside him, her voice gentle yet laced with an undertone of urgency, she asked, "What happened out there? Can you tell us anything?"
The goon, his eyes flickering with a distant horror, started to mumble incoherently. His voice was barely a whisper, words tumbling out fragmented and detached. "He came...so fast, so strong. Ye Mo tried to...arm...oh gods...the arm..."
Xu Wen'an grabbed Chun Jiao away as she picked up the hysterical goon as her calm voice cut through the chaos.
"We will investigate the matter and determine the truth before taking any action," she said firmly while deep down her mind couldn't help but remember Alexander.
He used to do this stuff when he was around.
Did her master .... no?!
Xu Wen'an thought.
But the crowd was not satisfied. They wanted clear evidence, and the perpetrator should be punished without delay, yet Xu Wen'an's words left many unsure.
The atmosphere in the room grew tense, and some began to question whether this was the paradise they had thought it to be.
...
Chun Jiao, lingering at the back of the dining hall, maintained a deliberate distance from the cacophony of chaos unfolding before her. Her eyes rolled subtly, unimpressed by the hysteria that had ensnared the others. It was apparent to her that amidst the anarchy, everyone was searching for something, or someone, to direct their blame towards. With Ye Mo unconscious and his goons spiraling into mental turmoil, there was a vacuum where authority and answers were expected to be.
Suddenly, the creaking of the door sliced through the pandemonium. All eyes flickered briefly towards the entrance, but Chun Jiao's lingered. Xie Dongyi stumbled in, a mosaic of wounds and drying blood splayed across his form, his chest heaving with exertion and trauma.
Chun Jiao's attention didn't waver from him, her eyes analytically scanning his injuries. Lee Min, ever-observant, followed Chun Jiao's gaze, eventually noting the pained expression contorting Xie Dongyi's face.
She felt a nudge, turning to find Chun Jiao's unamused eyes on her. With a sly, mocking smile, Chun Jiao whispered, "Go ask that loser what happened, will you?"
Lee Min blinked, hesitating, "Pardon?"
Chun Jiao leaned in, her voice firm, yet a playful malice dancing in her eyes. "I command you to go and get information from that loser."
The gravity behind her words was unmistakeable. Lee Min swallowed hard, her apprehensive eyes flitting between Chun Jiao and the beleaguered Xie Dongyi. With a hesitant nod, she slipped away, her timid footsteps tracing a path toward Xie Dongyi's room, her heart fluttering wildly against her ribcage as she geared up to pry the truth from the wounded man.
....
Lee Min, hesitantly edging closer, found her gaze locked onto Xie Dongyi, who seemed to be enshrouded in a vague confusion as he scanned the hall. Clearing her throat in a poised, albeit artificial manner, she sought to seize his attention. His eyes, upon meeting hers, were a tapestry of emotions and intent she hadn't anticipated – a blend of confidence, assurance, and something that wasn't quite arrogance but rather a hard, unyielding determination.
This was not the man she had observed previously, who carried himself like a ghost, haunted by lost connections.
"What do you want?" His voice, curt and laden with an unfamiliar assertiveness, drew Lee Min from her ruminations. Nervousness fluttered within her as she extended an offering from her pocket – a small jar of cream for his wounds.
His reaction was swift and dispassionate, snatching the jar without a word of gratitude, leaving Lee Min sputtering quietly, "Rude..."
No sooner had the words left her mouth, he whirled around, his sudden movement startling her. "Show me my room."
His impudence sparked irritation in Lee Min, but the ferocity of his gaze rendered her speechless. She meekly guided him to his quarters, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension. The room, in stark contrast, was simplicity embodied.
Once inside, Lü Bu scanned the modest setting, then directed his eyes back towards her, "What else do you want? Slave?"
Lee Min's restraint snapped, "Hey, how rude can you be? I gave you cream, showed you to your room, and was even going to have the servants fetch a doctor for you!"
His surprise was palpable, yet his reply was short. "And?"
Incensed, Lee Min's hand connected sharply with his cheek, "I only wanted to ask what happened to Ye Mo and the others since you're also injured. But..."
Her voice faded as he interrupted, his tone even, "They tried to ambush that mysterious redhead. He was too strong."
Silence stretched between them, Lee Min's eyes flickering with a blend of anger and puzzlement. Lü Bu, touching the reddening mark she left, continued with a bemused smirk, "You're the only woman so far who's sought to hurt me. Interesting. Care to have a hot night with me?"
Lee Min, repulsed and irritated, managed only a single word, "Weirdo," as she turned to leave.
But Xie Dongyi's voice halted her exit, "Hey, White-hair."
Exasperation bubbled up within her as she spun around, "What?"
"Th...than...tha."
Lü Bu tried to thank Lee Min for the cream but he never had said thanks to anyone before so it was somewhat of a new experience to him
Lee Min, her patience eroded to nothing, spat out, "Go to hell!" before storming away, her every step echoing her indignation.
Left alone, Lü Bu smile lingered. Gazing at the medicinal cream, he murmured to the empty room, "Kind yet Feisty woman... that's a kind of woman, I like."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
[ Bamboo forest - Alexander's Lab ]
The lab was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the flickering candles and the faint glow of the runes etched onto the walls. The room was filled with strange, otherworldly artifacts, each with its own unique power and origin. I sat on a wooden stool, my eyes fixed on the back of Kunlan.
Kunlan was examining a strange crystal, one that seemed to pulsate with an otherworldly energy. He cleaned his glasses before turning around to face me, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Where did you find this?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity.
"I'll tell you if you tell me what that is," I replied, my own voice carrying a hint of mischief.
Kunlan let out a deep sigh before responding, "Fine. This is a reincarnation crystal, formed within the phylactery of a demon beast known as a Lich. So where did you find this?"
I hesitated for a moment, taking in the gravity of the situation. This crystal held the power to bring someone back to life, but at what cost? I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.
I revealed the details of my adventure, watching Kunlan's reaction closely. "I found it in the depths of an ancient tomb, guarded by numerous traps and undead creatures."
Kunlan nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "And I assume that you saved a kingdom along the way."
"Of course," I answered back, trying to keep a straight face. "I even fornicated with the princess."
Kunlan raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. "And you didn't get hunted down?"
I couldn't help but smirk. "When did I say the princess was alive?"
Kunlan gasped dramatically, feigning disgust. "You sick fuck."
I laughed, joining in on the joke. "Hey, whenever there's a hole, there's a goal."
Kunlan and I stared at each other, both of us struggling to not laugh before we both broke out laughing.
Kunlan stopped his laughter and asked," So, you are not going to tell me where you found this thing ?"
"Information is not cheap, my dear fuzzy friend."
"Of course it is not, with people like you gatekeeping it."
I nodded with a smile and asked," From its name and what I have witnessed, this crystal holds the ability to cause a person to be reborn, correct?"
Kunlan let out a chuckle, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yes, do you want a cookie for your intelligence?"
Ignoring his sarcasm, I asked the question that was on my mind, "So how do you use this thing?"
Kunlan's expression turned serious, "That's the neat part, you don't. This crystal is out of juice, it needs at least a thousand years to recharge."
I raised an eyebrow in disbelief, "Oh, really?"
Kunlan frowned, "What, you don't believe me? Why would I lie?"
"To get me to sell you the crystal," I replied, my voice carrying a hint of suspicion.
"And pray to tell, why don't I just steal it?" Kunlan asked, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Come on, Kunlan, I have read Alexander's journal, I know all about your kind's integrity when it comes to trade. You would rather die than commit something like that."
Kunlan let out a deep sigh, "Fine; you got me, now what do you want for the crystal?"
I thought for a moment, "First, swear that you were telling the truth about the crystal."
"I swear," Kunlan answered while rolling his eyes.
"Fine, I want 5 things for that crystal," I said, my voice carrying a hint of excitement.
"No, how about we do two things?" Kunlan countered.
"It is a valuable crystal, how about I go down to 4?" I replied, not wanting to lose the chance to acquire something from Kunlan.
"It's valuable but it has lost its power, so how about we split in the middle and go for 3?" Kunlan offered.
"Deal," I answered as I shook Kunlan's giant paw.
"So, what do you want, my loyal customer?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "For the first item, let's do a pledge," I said, my voice carrying a hint of determination.
"A pledge?" Kunlan asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
I nodded. "A pledge where whenever I have a question, you will answer it to the best of your knowledge."
Kunlan let out a deep chuckle. "You have been reading Alexander's journal now, haven't you?"
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Hmm, you mean to tell me the journal where Alexander wrote how you tormented him for basic information, hmm; isn't ringing any bells."
Kunlan patted my head and added, "Don't be sarcastic, you look like a narcissistic jerk when speaking like that."
I felt my face flush with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come across that way."
Kunlan sighed. "It's fine. I accept your pledge. What's the second thing you want?"
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "I want a technique to increase my sensitivity to Spiritual Qi."
Kunlan shook his head. "No."
"Why not?" I asked, feeling a twinge of frustration.
Kunlan let out a long sigh. "Don't they teach you humans anything? Your sensitivity relates to the strength of your spiritual roots, and spiritual roots are intrinsically linked to your soul. A 'technique' to increase your sensitivity is impossible to create."
I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. "Then what can I do to increase my sensitivity?"
Kunlan gave me a look of disdain. "I hate sharp humans like you. Yes, there are numerous ways to increase your sensitivity without effecting the spiritual qi but for someone as weak as you, there is only one way."
"What is it?" I asked, feeling a mixture of curiosity and dread.
"You need to sacrifice one eye for it," Kunlan replied, his eyes narrowing.
I felt my heart skip a beat. "Sacrifice one eye? What do you mean?"
"While we can't change your spiritual roots, we can change your physical hardware to become more sensitive to Spiritual Qi. Your eye is going to be where the magic happens," Kunlan said with a smirk.
I felt a pit of dread forming in my stomach. "Can I see out of that eye?"
Kunlan nodded. "Yes."
"Then how is it a sacrifice?" I asked, feeling confused.
Kunlan looked at me with a creepy stare. "You'll see."
As he spoke, I felt a chill run down my spine. Something about his words and his tone sent shivers down my back. I couldn't help but gulp.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
[ Author Note: Reincarnation Crystal ]
[ Category: Mystical Artifact ]
[ Description: The Reincarnation Crystal is a rare and powerful artifact imbued with the ability to summon the Goddess of Death, who grants its bearer the opportunity to reincarnate. Formed within the phylactery of a demon beast known as a Lich, this crystal pulsates with otherworldly energy and has an ancient, mysterious origin. Although the crystal can bring someone back to life, it does so at a potentially great cost.
[ Function: ]
When activated, the Reincarnation Crystal calls forth the Goddess of Death, who will offer the user a chance to be reborn. The terms and conditions of this rebirth are determined by the Goddess, who weighs the individual's deeds and merits throughout their life. The user must be prepared to accept whatever consequences or sacrifices the Goddess may demand in exchange for this gift of a new life upon their second death.
[ Usage: ]
To use the Reincarnation Crystal, the bearer must perform a sacred ritual in the presence of the crystal, offering a personal sacrifice as tribute to the Goddess of Death which Lü Bu performed by killing alot of cultivators on Mount Tai.
This can range from material possessions to a more significant personal sacrifice, depending on the user's level of determination and the strength of their desire for reincarnation.
[ Power Recharge: ]
The Reincarnation Crystal requires a thousand years to fully recharge its power after being used. During this period, the crystal remains dormant, unable to perform its primary function of summoning the Goddess of Death.
[ Warnings: ]
The Reincarnation Crystal is not to be taken lightly, as the consequences of its usage can be severe and unpredictable. The Goddess of Death is known to be capricious, and her demands may vary greatly from one individual to another. Users must be cautious when invoking the power of the crystal, as the price for a second chance at life may be higher than anticipated.
Related Artifacts and Legends: The Reincarnation Crystal shares similarities with other mystical artifacts, such as the Soul Stone, which is said to possess the power to manipulate and control souls, and the Phoenix Feather, which can grant high end regeneration which makes one immortal under certain circumstances.
These artifacts, together with the Reincarnation Crystal, are considered among the most enigmatic and sought-after relics in the world of Cultivation. ]