Chereads / Divine Contest / Chapter 17 - Crucial Choice

Chapter 17 - Crucial Choice

A young man, tall with long, sleek black hair, stood at the center of a vast floating plaza amidst the clouds—it was Shen Yi.

Surveying his surroundings, he noted several buildings resembling small sanctuaries connected by wooden bridges to the platform on which he stood.

*Ding! [Detected that the host possesses an embryonic form of elemental stigma]*

*Ding! [Please choose an object from one of the palaces to merge with the embryonic stigma within you]*

*Ding! [Object 0/1]*

"So, this is why my semi-elemental stigma was almost undetectable by the experts. I thought it was due to its weakness..." he murmured, shaking his head as he embarked on the path leading to the "Palace of Knowledge."

Upon reaching the palace's entrance, he beheld an immense library within, its interior space stretching far beyond the modest exterior.

Without entering, he gazed upon the rows of shelves before him, contemplating the countless tomes and the years it would take to read them all. With a fluid and practiced motion, he turned away, heading towards the second palace.

Minutes later, he stood before the "Palace of Memories," which shared the same peculiarity of being grand within yet small without.

Entering, he encountered an array of objects stored haphazardly, reminiscent of a bazaar. Among them, he paused at a blue orb engulfed in beautiful flames.

Normally repulsed by fire and heat since the manifestation of his semi-stigma, he found himself inexplicably drawn to this flame. Fascinated by its serene azure hue, he felt his embryonic stigma urging him to take it. Yet, he resisted, choosing to explore the other palaces first.

Hastening to the third palace, the "Palace of Protections," he was aware that lingering longer would only deepen his temptation.

Inside, he found an assortment of armor and defensive gear, none of which piqued his interest. Resolved, he departed for the final palace— the "Armory."

Arriving, he was greeted by a vast array of weapons adorning the walls. Each sword, each lance, exuded an aura of power and nobility. Shen Yi, a member of the esteemed Shen family, understood the significance of this tradition.

In the Shen family, every child of the main branch was given a "name" composed of "Shen" and a lucky word. For him, Yi had been bestowed upon him by the patriarch, and from birth until death, he would be known as Shen Yi.

In the Shen family, from childhood until the end, everything was about weapons. Each child must choose a weapon from the armory at the age of sixteen, a weapon made especially for them. Shen Yi, like others, had become a weapon fanatic rather than succumbing to the trauma suffered by some of his peers who could not stand this training.

As he meticulously examined each weapon, his eyes gleamed with excitement, particularly drawn to the majority of swords, his preferred armament.

Yet, his attention was soon captivated by a pristine katana displayed within a magnificent glass case. Its immaculate white blade and near-invisible guard spoke of elegance and purity.

*Ding! [Object 0/1]*

"The choice between what I need and what I desire, huh..." Shen Yi furrowed his brows, gazing at the katana before steeling his resolve. He turned away, leaving everything behind except for the orb he had seen earlier, hurrying towards it to ease his decision-making.

Arriving before the orb once more, he felt a compelling urge to choose it, despite knowing little of its origin or purpose. Trusting his instincts, he reached out and touched the orb.

*Ding! [Object 1/1]*

*Ding! [Selection of the Nature Orb: Fire]*

*Ding! [Elemental embryo of ice type will mutate to take on the properties of fire]*

As Shen Yi watched the world fade away, his system emerged before him.

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Name - Shen Yi

Stigma:

Name - Flamming Ice

Type - Elemental

Rank - White 

- Weapon Enchantment (White) - 

Allows the use and manipulation of ice element through his weapon, imbuing it with fire properties. The ice element can "burn" the target. 

Statistics - lvl1

 - Spiritual Strength: 3 

 - Physical Strength: 4

 

Mana Exercises:- 

[Promotion Condition to Bronze: Level 10 + ???] 

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