I decided to rest on the island today, where one of the Spirit Masters guided me to my accommodation. The path was serene, surrounded by dense greenery that pulsed with mysterious energy, but my thoughts were still troubled by the intense experience, burning pain, and the clash of divine powers.
We arrived at a large, tranquil house adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures, and the air was filled with a soothing, light fragrance. After the Spirit Master left, I headed to my room, which was simple but comfortable, with a small bed, a table with some fruit, and a jug of water.
A young priestess entered gently, carrying an ornate box, and said, "The High Priestess sent this for you." She placed the box on the table. "It contains herbs and ointments to aid in your recovery. Please use them."
I thanked her and placed the box on the table. Inside, I found bottles of shimmering liquid and fine powders. I hadn't expected that the High Priestess would send me treatment for my injuries, as I appeared fine on the outside but was wounded internally. It seemed she had noticed, as expected from someone of her power.
The night was quiet, though sleep came with difficulty. My dreams were a mix of images, visions of the Sea God, and the intertwined powers of Rakshasas in an eternal struggle. I woke early despite my discomfort, determined to decide whether I would continue the test or be sent away.
I spent the morning meditating and practicing calming techniques to stabilize the lingering effects of the divine conflict. Though the pain had subsided, the energy remained unstable and volatile. As I prepared to leave the room, I reflected on the conversation I had with the High Priestess.
Some Spirit Masters arrived to take me to the main hall where the evaluation would resume. The atmosphere was charged, with priests from the previous day watching or conversing. I felt their curious gazes on me.
After waiting for a quarter of an hour, the High Priestess descended from the large platform and approached me. Her eyes met mine with wisdom as she said, "After careful review, I confirm that you may continue the test without any issue. There was no objection from the Sea God regarding what happened."
I felt relieved upon hearing this, as the High Priestess's statement meant that the Sea God did not see me as a threat or problem. This news was reassuring, increasing my confidence in completing the test.
While I was contemplating, a golden beam emanating from the High Priestess's spear caught my attention. The light added a touch of majesty and divinity to the place, causing a comforting feeling and the appearance of a mysterious mark on my forehead.
I tried to understand what was happening. I noticed that the Rakshasa's divine power I had felt during the previous conflict did not react to the golden light. It seemed that the power present at this moment was entirely different from what I had encountered before, so there was no interaction or mutual effect between the powers.
I thought, "Perhaps the type of energy is different from the previous divine power, so it does not interact. The golden light might signify a different kind of neutral energy."
The High Priestess looked at me with a calm expression and signaled me to move. "Now that your situation has been clarified, you can prepare for the next stage of the test and begin when you are ready."
I suddenly asked with curiosity, recalling Qian Renxue, "Sorry, but can I leave the island and bring someone with me?"
"Usually, this is not allowed, but since you are a divine heir, I don't think I have the authority to restrict you. However, I must remind you that you have only one year to complete the test, and it might take a month for you to go and return. Are you sure about this?"
"No problem, I trust myself. Don't forget that I'm a divine heir, and a test of this level shouldn't take more than two months," I said confidently.
"Alright, you are free to go. I'll inform someone to assist you with your departure," she said reluctantly.
---
After a few weeks…
I'm now sitting in a coastal city, waiting for Renxue to arrive. It has been a while since I fully recovered and sent her a message. I won't hide that the wait is frustrating, but there's nothing I can do but wait.
As my beloved, I haven't taken her out on a date or done anything to please her. When I arrived at the island and saw its beauty, I thought of her and stopped the test to bring her.
"Hello, Enlil!"
Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice. I turned to see a beautiful girl walking towards me like an angel. I smiled at her and stood to greet her.
"Well, why is our esteemed Empress late?" I said seriously with a barely visible smile.
"Since I've removed my disguise, we're alone now, so there's no need to call me Empress," she said with a slightly shy smile, ignoring the passersby.
"You didn't answer my question."
"Ah, sorry. I was delayed due to some matters in the empire," she said apologetically.
"Didn't you already take control of the entire empire?" I asked, surprised; as she mentioned, the last time she visited me while I was injured, she had left others in the palace to handle tasks, which was why she could visit me.
"Yes, I've taken control of the entire empire, but my mother recently told me she wanted to expedite the plan and asked me to make some people from the Star Empire attack the Heaven Empire," she said with a hint of displeasure.
She mentioned the plan because she knew I was aware of Bibi Dong's plan.
I was surprised to hear her now referring to Bibi Dong as "mother," when previously she referred to her as "that woman." It seemed Bibi Dong was doing well. Then I focused on her words and thought: It seems Bibi Dong has started working earlier than I expected. I believe her current plan is to make the Star Empire threaten the Night Empire and make the Spirit Hall an ally of the Heaven Empire, so when Spirit Hall is established, there will be less resistance from the Heaven Empire's inhabitants. This is a good plan, but the problem is that I won't take precautions regarding my sister's sect.
"Alright, it seems the plans have started early. No problem, but there's something I need your help with," I said.
"I think you want to discuss the Ning Rongrong Sect, right?" she said with a slight hint of annoyance.
"Yes," I said calmly, though I was surprised by her quick understanding of my request. Indeed, besides her ridiculous love for Tang San in the story, she is very intelligent.
"Don't worry, I'll ask that woman not to attempt to attack their sect. But I don't think I can stop her for long, as you know, their presence might affect the plan," said Renxue.
Hearing this, I thought: It seems she's back to calling Bibi Dong "that woman." I ignored that and said, "No problem, I have a good plan to solve the issue, but I didn't expect the plan to start early, so I needed your help."
"Alright, enough talking about this. Tell me why you summoned me here," she said with curiosity.
"As I mentioned, the goal is training. I know a good place for that, but first, we should take the opportunity to explore the city a bit since such opportunities are rare to see a coastal city like this," I said calmly.
"Hmph, where can I train in a place like this? For your information, my current spiritual power is 79, but I don't mind spending two days resting," she said boastfully.
Despite her boastful tone, I could sense her joy. I thought it seemed she realized it was a date despite saying that, whaunstableep the Poseidon Island matter from her now so she doesn't get distracted on our real first date.