Your Choice . . .
Cha Eun Xiao moved with increasing speed through the dense bamboo forest. The once formidable Illusory Sky Array, which could stymie countless heavenly soldiers from the Ninefold Heaven's Hall, no longer held any mystery for him.
He navigated the labyrinthine pathways as he pleased, shattering the illusionary walls with each determined stride. Confidence coursed through him, propelling him forward with the swiftness of the wind.
It wasn't long ago that he had felt trapped and powerless in this very place. Even Master Bai couldn't fathom how he had achieved this transformation. In truth, Cha Eun Xiao himself only had a partial understanding of what he had done. He knew he had succeeded but lacked a complete comprehension of how he had accomplished it.
His breakthrough had not solely resulted from the musings about the interplay of 'fake' and 'real' within the array. He hadn't genuinely penetrated the Illusory Sky Array. It was a different revelation entirely.
Cha Eun Xiao had indeed experienced a moment of enlightenment, gaining insight into the array. However, he was struggling to discern the path forward. It was during this period of uncertainty that he had activated the Yin Yang Eyes, a move born out of curiosity more than expectation. Yet, what transpired took him entirely by surprise.
In the vision of his left Yin Eye, certain pathways within the illusory bamboo forest became unmistakably clear. They were genuine routes through the forest. However, when he switched to the right Yang Eye, the landscape remained unchanged.
He contemplated this revelation briefly, then deactivated the Yang Eye and chose to follow the path unveiled by the Yin Eye. This decision marked a turning point. As he stepped onto this newfound path, the Illusory Sky Array could no longer impede him. A sensation of liberation washed over him, akin to breaking free from invisible shackles.
Cha Eun Xiao covered hundreds of steps along this altered route, and the world before him transformed. The endless bamboo forest remained, yet it was now bathed in a bleak gray hue.
Gloomy bamboo surrounded him, and he hesitated, unsure of his next move. He attempted to examine the area with the Yin Eye but found nothing significant. Refusing to give up, he endured the discomfort and fatigue in his right eye, reopening the Yang Eye.
Before him, the path became brilliantly illuminated. The Yang Eye had prevailed!
Cha Eun Xiao felt as if he had hit the jackpot. He had never realized the incredible potential of the Yin Yang Eyes. It left him pondering whether he could unravel all the arrays in the world with this newfound power.
Nonetheless, this was not the time for celebration. He calmed himself and advanced, one step at a time.
After another few hundred steps, brightness once again broke through the illusion. The endless bamboo forest vanished from behind him, replaced by a courtyard with several cottages nestled amidst the bamboos. The scene was serene, with the bamboo swaying gently in the breeze.
Yet, something about the dozens of bamboos surrounding the courtyard caught his attention. They appeared distinct from what he had seen earlier, prompting him to shift his focus to the front.
There, a man stood.
The man adorned himself in a Snow White robe with gracefully broad sleeves. His hair, as dark as ink, framed a striking and handsome visage. His demeanor exuded an air of casual elegance that matched his pristine appearance. However, what truly captured one's attention was his eyes – they seemed to hold within them the entirety of the sky, the depths of the ocean, the radiance of stars, the brilliance of the sun, the serenity of the moon, and the vast expanse of the universe.
Seated upon a wheelchair, he was the sole imperfection in an otherwise immaculate presence. In his gaze, he harbored an awareness that transcended the worldly confines. It was as if there was no perception in the world, and there never had been.
Cha Eun Xiao found himself gazing upon this remarkable figure, feeling as though enlightenment had dawned upon him. "I move when the cloud moves. I exist when the sky exists," he thought to himself.
This extraordinary being before him was none other than Master Bai. There was no one else in the House of the Chaotic Storms who possessed such boundless vitality. The only potential contender, Zuo Wuji, lacked the broad-mindedness that characterized Master Bai. Zuo Wuji's scope was confined to a single era, a single realm.
"Feng Monarch, you have truly proven your excellence. You have not disappointed me," Master Bai remarked with a smile, his gaze fixed upon Cha Eun Xiao. "In the past nine thousand years, you are the only individual who has managed to enter this courtyard unaccompanied. You are truly unique."
Cha Eun Xiao responded with characteristic modesty. "It's just a few simple tricks. I'm honored."
Master Bai chuckled in response, appreciating Cha Eun Xiao's sense of pride.
Their exchange, while seemingly casual, carried profound implications. It was a subtle dance of offense and defense, a strategic engagement that had culminated in this conversation. There was no clear victor, and the tension that had once enveloped them had dissipated, but the undertones of danger still lingered in the air.
Surrounding them, an aura of impending conflict seemed to gather and intensify, as though it might erupt at any given moment.
Master Bai's voice cut through the mounting tension. "Feng Monarch is a distinguished guest. Let's not be discourteous. Bring forth the tea."
With his words, the palpable pressure from their surroundings abruptly dissipated. It was a surprising development, though neither Master Bai nor Cha Eun Xiao paid it any mind.
This place belonged to Master Bai, and he regarded the various factions and powers with indifference, a stance that was well within reason. However, it was Cha Eun Xiao's nonchalance that piqued interest. Observers might speculate that he was either oblivious to the palpable suppression that hung in the air or harbored no concern for it due to his perceived invincibility.
The former suggestion held little ground, as Cha Eun Xiao, despite recent enhancements, remained at the early stages of the Sky Origin Stage, still far from the intermediate levels. In terms of physical prowess, he remained significantly weaker than any of the enigmatic figures in black who stood with Master Bai. The raw power differential was a stark reality.
But it was important to remember that power wasn't solely a measure of physical might. Cha Eun Xiao possessed a unique and formidable skill set, with his expertise lying in the creation of supreme dan beads. He was renowned as a master of dan-making, particularly for his ability to craft the coveted Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan, a substance of great value to Master Bai, who had been seeking it for his own recovery. Cha Eun Xiao held the certainty that Master Bai would not harm him before he had crafted the dan bead, a conviction that rendered him indifferent to the external forces that sought to exert their influence in this moment.
Without missing a beat, Master Bai turned his attention to Cha Eun Xiao and spoke casually, "As the first mortal to grace this place, Feng Monarch of the House of the Chaotic Storms, you have the privilege of selecting any tea you desire to drink."