With the revelation about the test, everyone had a decision to make. Take the treasures and resources and leave or take the test and continue forward. Reece walked over to the shelf that had ancient scrolls and all kinds of elixirs and herbs.
He stretched his hands touching the shelf and taking out one scroll from it. He tried to call Terraria, but he remembered she had gone into a deep slumber and was supposed to wake her when he reached the topmost peak.
He decided to use his own wits and try to learn something from the scrolls. He watched as others scrambled for the spirit stones, elemental crystals but to him it made no difference as he didn't see the value in them. With no way to utilize the elemental crystals they were still useless to him, and he had already gotten a piece of the treasure from Terraria.
He smiled as he watched them have heated arguments among themselves. He sat down beside the shelf and took as many scrolls as he could and tried to read them. He didn't know what alchemy was, but it was very familiar to him and the method he used to refill beast cores and what he was taught by his grandpa.
Katie spotted Reece from the other side of the temple and was attempting to escape from her fellow sisters and go spend some time with Reece.
"Oh no, you don't Katia, you're staying here where I can keep you safe " Xia Yang said as she held onto Katia preventing her from dashing off.
"Come on, I just want a sneak peek at him, please. I'll be back real quick I promise." Katia pleaded with Xia Yang. Utilizing her charms effects to try and sway her but it couldn't work on the seasoned guard tasked with protecting her.
"Enough of your games already, we've got to think and look for a treasure that'll help us go through to the next test." Xia Yang said as she let go of Katia.
"Okay but after this I'll go see him okay." Katia turned around with a serious face and begun searching on the heap of treasures.
Every faction that had entered the temple scrounged through the treasures, some taking them while others searching. Those who felt they couldn't endure through took their share of the treasure and left the temple leaving the ones who wanted to proceed forward.
"What do you think his doing seated there reading some old texts and scrolls?" Andrea asked Li Dao as she pointed at Reece who was busy reading through the ancient scrolls and trying to understand them.
Reece was curious about the so-called alchemy since it had a relation to the refining method taught to him by his grandpa. He wanted to understand alchemy and reading through the scrolls was his only option as no one knew what it was even those in the sect didn't have such information.
"Reece, some of the disciples will go back now since they can't withstand any more pressure with their level of cultivation." Huaje said to Reece as she handed him over the lead disciple token to him and led out the other disciples from the temple.
"Okay, but make sure to take enough resources and treasures to take back to the elder." Reece replied back without ungazing his concentration on the scroll in his hand.
The Baihua empire disciples did the same as before but only adding a little bit of variations as they dispersed themselves all over the place. It was as if they were searching for a particular treasure among the others.
"I see you are busy reading while everybody else is taking the treasure." Li Ziran approached Reece as he took several scrolls from the shelf," You know in Baihua they regard knowledge as the greatest treasure and weapon, I find it surprising that you can understand this ancient language and text."
"I was taught by my master how to read them, so it easy to understand it," Reece replied as he tried to avoid Li Ziran.
" You're the crimson guy from Jao sect, you look different without your crimson state. I'm Li Ziran from Baihua...." Ziran introduced himself.
"Yeah, I know who you are, you've been watching me ever since we came to this forest. Don't think I haven't noticed you even though how much you try to hide your cultivation and presence." Reece stood up and replied as he looked Ziran straight into the eye and walked away from him. and headed towards the statue at the front of the temple.
The incense stick was burning out and still Reece had not made his choice on the treasure he'd choose if he wanted to proceed to the next peak. The YIN-YANG Empire disciples had made their choice as they had picked two furnaces and three elixirs and walked towards the statue that stood before the door.
"ELIXIRS OF HIGH GRADE LEVEL AND TWO GOLDEN FURNACES, WISE CHOICE INDEED. YOU PASS." Landia's voice echoed as he assessed the treasure and whether they were worthy of proceeding on forward.
After the first group passed on the test the rest tried their luck as they just picked any treasure, they thought could make them pass. Though the passed through the door they couldn't hope to with stand what was ahead as the treasure they picked could decide their fate forward. In their haste and impatience, they chose treasures that shimmered with alluring auras and glowed with promise. Some grasped ancient furnaces, others took mystical artifacts, and a few snatched vials of rare elixirs. Each believed they held the key to passing the test beyond the temple's imposing door.
However, as they stepped forward and the door creaked open, a sense of foreboding hung in the air. The next trial was not merely a physical or intellectual one; it was a test of their character and understanding of the treasures they had selected. Unbeknownst to them, the treasures they carried bore unique qualities, some demanding sacrifice, cultivation, or courage.
One by one, they ventured through the door, and as they did, they encountered trials perfectly tailored to the treasures they had chosen. For some, the furnaces revealed a trial of alchemy. Others faced tests of bravery and sacrifice. Those who had taken elixirs found themselves in trials of inner strength, control, and making pills from the elixirs.
Reece who had yet to choose stood there looking at the shelf stocked with scrolls. Suddenly the words from Landia rang in his mind, Alchemy room, and the realization of the treasure he'd choose struck his mind as he rushed to select before time runs out.
Li Ziran watched Reece as he went over to the shelf to pick out two scrolls, a vial of elixirs that was low grade. He went over to the other side where Tranquil Lotus clan was and picked a bronze furnace and seven color prism towers. With his choice in hand, he went on to the door to accept the test and pass on to the second peak.