Footsteps echoed through the dark cold hallway.
Akira followed by Jin Boqin was relaxed and composed whereas the latter, though anxious tried his best to look confident and forced the fear crawling in his heart to recede gradually.
However, as they delve deeper into the Pavilion Jin Boqin, not his fear but bewilderment increases.
At first glance, the cold brick of the hallway looks bland and not a matter of importance.
That changed when a howling wind brushed passed them therefore accidentally triggering Jin Boqin's divine senses.
When his surroundings became transparent his chest tightened seeing what was inside the stone brick.
Spirit Stones.
Not just Spirit Stones. His divine senses won't play a prank on his eyes when he is presented with the rough formation of Earth Grade Spirit Stones.
Walls.
Ground.
Ceiling.
He felt suffocated surrounded by luxury!
The brick served as a cage to isolate the Spiritual Qi of Spirit Stones from leaking.
Jin Boqin harmonizes the unstable flow of Spiritual Qi in his body. He doesn't want to look like a fool for a second time in front of the Dungeon Master.
He risked his life to collect Spirit Stones and amassed dozens of Essence Stone Grade figures, thinking he was wealthy. However, compared to the grandeur of the temple, he felt dirt poor.
He thought he had overcome the overwhelming pressure of seeing the Spirit Stones, but Fate had something in store for him.
Once they entered what seemed to be a great hall, Jin Boqin lost it.
His mind goes blank.
His brain goes haywire.
His body numbed.
The smooth columns parallel to each side supporting the ceiling were nothing ordinary but made of Essence Spirit Stones, a higher grade than Earth Spirit Stone!
"I brought him. Begin the remedy." Akira's cold voice reverberates in the great hall.
Jin Boqin wake up from his stupor.
He sighed. Solemnly and curiously looked around.
It is not my place to ask. I am content to gaze upon the brilliance of this treasure hoard.
A fire was ignited and hovered over the ceiling illuminating the great hall.
Out from the dark slowly shows Wu Kong's serious face, sharp eyes looking at them.
Jin Boqin had to swallow the air.
The terrifying existence that rendered him useless weeks ago was again in front of him.
He is just there, sitting on his throne gazing down upon him like he is some kind of lowly lifeform.
His massive build.
His golden Staff.
Everything about him frightens him.
Akira noticed the terrified atmosphere behind his back. He turned around and said, "Wu Kong intends to remedy the problem of your cultivation root. If you have a strong desire to live on, it would be good for all parties if you stayed still and listened to what I had to say during the process."
Akira didn't wait for Jin Boqin's response and gave the two their respective space and stood aside.
It took everything for Jin Boqin to remain calm and turn around to flee.
Wu Kong stands and walks straight toward Jin Boqin.
The latter did not dare to gaze upon the magnificence and glued his eyes to the grounds.
Wu Kong's golden Staff was pulled to his hand from his throne.
The golden Staff let out a faint golden glow.
Without warning, heavy pressure suddenly weighs everyone present in the Pavilion except for Wu Kong.
Akira quivered due to the intensity of the pressure while Jin Boqin instinctively induced a barrier.
A warning and notification are prompted simultaneously.
Akira read it immediately while in pain.
[Warning: Gravity on the First Floor of the Dungeon increases threefold]
[Notification: The Geminate Pond initiated]
Akira frowned seeing the notification but set it aside as the pressure increased after the notification was read.
[Warning: Gravity on the First Floor of the Dungeon increases sixfold]
Gravity? Is…is that some kind of pushing or pulling force?
He suddenly thought about the barrier.
Without further ado, he transmitted his thoughts on the System, and the barrier was triggered to activate.
Akira was suddenly released from the pressure weighing him down.
Akira heard Wu Kong's squeak a few sounds.
[Order the rascal cultivator to remove the barrier and endure]
Akira didn't question Wu Kong and proceeded to notify Jin Boqin.
"You can remove the barrier."
Jin Boqin hesitated.
Even isolated by the barrier he can still feel the force weighing him.
Gritting his teeth, Jin Boqin abides and removes the barrier.
Immediately afterward, Jin Boqin was forced to kneel.
Strangely enough, the ground was intact. Hence squeezing Jin Boqin in the middle between two indistinctive forces.
Akira stares at Jin Boqin trying his best not to be squashed between the two forces squeezing him.
Owing to his Body Refinement not being proportional to his cultivation talent causing dissonance to his Cultivation State, even with his current cultivation realm, Jin Boqin is having a hard time fighting off.
[Warning: Gravity on the First Floor of the Dungeon increases tenfold]
Jin Boqin lost all strength and was forcefully slumped to the cold ground.
Amidst the torturing hell of gravity, Akira saw a reflection of water on the ground, everywhere.
Akira looked up and saw actual water replacing the dull brick ceiling, free from the pulling force of gravity.
Contrary to the dreadful force of gravity on the surface, the water is serene and calm.
Wu Kong revolves his golden Staff around and performs numerous martial arts dances.
The scene was truly exceptional if not for Jin Boqin treading the line between being squashed or living to see another day.
Alas, Wu Kong throws his weapon and the Golden Staff touches the projection of water in the ceiling.
The water rippled and a tiny amount of water dropped.
Wu Kong motions his right hand and controls the droplet.
Wu Kong slowly guides the droplet until it touches Jin Boqin's back.
[Notification: Gravity stabilized]
The force weighing Jin Boqin down ceased and life returned to his pale and bloody face.
The water in the ceiling vanished and returned to dull brick.
Jin Boqin thought it was over but then a fiery heat enveloped his body.
The intense pain made Jin Boqin's eyes turn white.
Wu Kong turned around and returned to his throne as Jin Boqin writhed in pain.
His repeated howling scream filled the Pavilion and Wu Kong was forced to conjure a barrier to isolate him.
Akira turned to face Wukong. "How long will it last?"
Wu Kong threw him a single glance before arrogantly squeaking a sound.
[Depends]
Akira didn't argue and just switched his gaze to Jin Boqin.
He sighed and turned around to leave.
"Inform me if he is healed."
His footsteps echoed through the dark hallway.
He saw Jin Boqin in a new light. Respect for his unyielding will and endurance.
His passion for achieving longevity is admirable.
Ever since they met, the Sect Master had to go through all the trouble that could definitely kill him but endured.
Though Akira respected him now, he had something urgent to do and wouldn't waste his time watching Jin Boqin writhing in pain.
His attention is needed outside the Pavilion not inside.
Akira opens the lid of the opaque container and undid the scroll.
Snake Devouring Sect was the first few words written.
15 hours have passed since then.
Akira put the scroll back on the opaque container.
He'd gone through the scrolls compilation according to their sequence and finished reading half of it.
"Strange. Nothing seemed amiss in their founding history."
A notification prompted and Akria had to stand up and enter the Pavilion.
Inside the great hall, Akira saw Jin Boqin sleeping soundly inside the barrier while Wukong's expression said it all.
He couldn't wait for Jin Boqin to get out of his Pavilion.
Out of curiosity, Akira prompted the system to display Jin Boqin's details.
[Jin Boqin]
[Cultivation Realm: Mid-Stage Nascent Soul]
[Cultivation Talent: XL]
[Cultivation Manual: Rare Manual Rank – (IX/X)]
[Body Refinement: Heaven Body Refinement Manual Rank – (V/X)]
[Cultivation State: Balanced – (V/X)]
His left brow arched and threw Wukong a questioning look.
Aside from curing his inflicted cultivation root, his body refinement not proportional to his cultivation realm increases to V hence the balanced cultivation state.
It defied the cultivation logic… and his cultivation talent increased a bit.
The latter seemed to understand and tell everything after a soulless sigh.
With a looming somber look, Wukong squeaked a few sounds.
[The Geminate Pond is a rudiment of Elixir but not subject to increase the Spiritual Qi of a cultivator. The healing capability is potent it could cure almost anything.]
Akira attentively listened but his face couldn't bring about his astonishment.
Thinking about all the possibilities this Geminate Pond could provide him with is almost limitless.
Be that as it may, Wukong's gray atmosphere speaks differently.
Geminate, huh?
"What's the price?"
Wukong snorted before closing his eyes.
[Throw this rascal away before I decide to squash him with my bare foot.]
"Understood," Akira responded.
[Furthermore, no one is to enter my Pavilion for a day and preferably, the whole first floor of the dungeon, even you.]
Akira meets Wukong's piercing gaze.
"I'll be sure to repay my debt."
Akira turns around and leaves.
Not long after, he brought Fairy Xi Niu who was numbed and absently minded after entering the great hall to pick up Jin Boqin still sleeping.
After bidding their farewell and reminding them that they could come back the day after tomorrow, Akira decided to stay outside the Dungeon for a change of atmosphere.
He brought with him the opaque container filled with scrolls and picked up where he left off.
Meanwhile, a few kilometers away from where the Dungeon was situated, two small shadows clumsily tread in dense and tangled areas of vegetation under the veil of night's darkness.
"Big Brother…so thirsty and tired… my feet are hurting." The worn-out voice of a little girl reached the big brother.
The big brother bit his lip replacing it with a smile and turned around to face the little girl.
"Little Xiaoxi, please endure a bit longer. We'll find a shelter soon and we can find food to fill our tummy later."
Little Xiaoxi's eyes moistened, tears looming to fall. But seeing her big brother's body situation made her hold back her tears.
"Big Brother Yitian, I-I can still run for a bit longer." Little Xiaoxi tried her best to lift her tone but Yitian could clearly trace her exhaustion.
A little bit more. Please, a little bit more.
The fiery resolve that burns in his heart to keep his younger sister safe and away from danger pushes him to his limits.
His wounded limbs and exhausted body have been numb from pain.
The painful sensation piercing his barefoot has long vanished from his unstable mind. He even forgets momentarily the grief of losing their homes, and families, and thoughts of taking revenge on the perpetrator.
His main goal is to outrun their pursuers and to keep his younger sister.
He tightly holds his younger sister's trembling hand slowly losing the strength of her grip, afraid to let it go.
He could hear her gasping for air.
He could feel her arm getting heavy and her movements continuously slowed down.
Zhang Yitian stopped confusing his sister.
"Big Brother?" Zhang Xiaoxi asked with her head tilted slightly.
He smiles and pats her head.
"You don't have to be afraid little Xiaoxi. Your big brother will protect you. So, come on. I'll carry you."
Zhang Yitian kneeled and offered his back to her. "Come on, hop in."
Little Xiaoxi smiled sweetly. "Yay. My Big Brother's giving me a piggyback ride!"
The little girl clumsily hops to Zhang Yitian's back.
She rested her head on his small back and felt her eyes getting heavy.
Zhang Yitian grunted.
He made sure Little Xiaoxi was comfortable.
"You can sleep while Big Brother is giving you a piggyback ride."
"Hmm…yeshh.. wlittle bwather…"
The siblings silently move forward without looking back.