Amuche and the other youths entered the cave, eager to claim the great herb. But as soon as they stepped inside, a mist enveloped their bodies, separating them from each other. Amuche found herself alone, surrounded by an eerie silence.
With her Eyes of Truth activated, she discovered that she was trapped in an illusion formation. The realization dawned on her that they weren't going to battle for the herb, but rather, they had to break out of this formation.
Concentrating her mind, Amuche tried to escape the illusion. But a gentle voice whispered in her ear, "What's your greatest fear, young lady? The one that keeps you up at night, haunting your every dream?"
Amuche hesitated, her mind racing. The voice seemed to know her deepest secrets.
"Don't be afraid, Amuche," the voice coaxed. "Embrace your fear, and it shall set you free."
Amuche's resolve wavered, her heart pounding in her chest. She thought of Jidenna, her beloved, and the pain of their separation. The voice sensed her vulnerability and pounced.
"Jidenna, your love, your heart's desire. Do you want to see him again? Do you want to know if he still loves you?"
Amuche's eyes welled up with tears. The voice was manipulating her deepest desires, making her question her own strength.
Suddenly, the cave was filled with visions of Jidenna, his smile, his laughter, his warm embrace. Amuche's heart ached with longing.
"No!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the walls. "This is an illusion! You're just a trickster, trying to break me!"
The visions vanished, and the voice fell silent. Amuche stood panting, her mind reeling from the assault.
Then, a new voice boomed, "Open your eyes, Amuche!"
This voice was different, commanding and authoritative. Amuche opened her eyes to find a woman standing before her, her eyes blazing with an otherworldly intensity.
"It's okay, you passed the first round," the woman said with a smile. "I'm the Wood Spirit, and I decided to play with you all."
Amuche's eyes widened. "So, I passed the first round? Do I get to take the great herb?"
The Wood Spirit chuckled. "Two more rounds to go, and yes, you're the only one who has passed the first round successfully. Four others have also passed, but you were the first."
Amuche's determination surged. "I'm ready for the next round."
The Wood Spirit nodded. "The next round is a puzzle competition. I'll ask you five riddles, and you need to answer all correctly or you'll be sent out and lose the chance to advance."
Amuche steeled herself. "I'm ready. Go on."
Wood Spirit: "Gwâm ọnye jíri íkpèrè gázùọ ụbí ńná gí?" (Who walks around your father's farm on his knees?)
Amuche: "Ogu!" (Hoe!)
Wood Spirit: "Good! Next one: Gwân ọzụ lírí onwé yá?" (What burial itself?)
Amuche: "Ukwara!" (Cough!)
Wood Spirit: "Excellent! Next one: Gwâm ọnye máàrà kà ọjọ́rọ̀ were ọchíchírí ná ágà?" (Who knew he was ugly and started walking at night?)
Amuche: "Usu!" (Bat!)
Wood Spirit: "Well done! Next one: Gwâm okoro chi uta na-agba ezi ezi?" (What warrior shoots his arrow without being sent?)
Amuche: "Akpi!" (Scorpion!)
Wood Spirit: "Great job! And the final question is... Gwâm ọnye n'etí nwata ihe n'ihu nne yá?" (Who beats a child in front of his mother?)
Amuche: "Agụụ!" (Hunger!)
Wood Spirit: "You answered all correctly, Amuche! You have advanced to the final round Congratulations!"
Amuche: "Thank you, Wood Spirit! I'm grateful for your guidances."
Wood Spirit: "Amuche, for the final round! I will share three proverbs with you, and you must answer them correctly to claim the great herb."
Amuche: "I'm ready, Wood Spirit. Please share the proverbs."
Wood Spirit: "Here's the first one: Eme ngwa ngwa emereghara ódachi. What does it mean?"
Amuche: "It means 'A stitch in time saves nine.' When you are fast and proactive, you are more likely to avoid problems."
Wood Spirit: "Excellent! Next one: Awó adighi agba ósó ehihie n'efu. What does it mean?"
Amuche: "It means 'Nothing happens without a cause.' Just like how toads are nocturnal and rarely seen during the day, if a toad is seen running in broad daylight, there must be a problem or a reason for its behavior."
Wood Spirit: "Well done! Last one:
Atólú omara ó mara, atólu ofeke ofenye isi na-óhià. What does it mean?"
Amuche: "It means 'If you tell a wise one, he understands, but if you tell a dunce, he runs into the bush.' It highlights the importance of sharing wisdom with those who can appreciate and understand it."
Wood Spirit: "Congratulations, Amuche! You have answered all three proverbs correctly! The great herb is yours! I anticipate seeing you become a great woman in the future."
Amuche: "Thank you, Wood Spirit! I'm grateful for your guidance and wisdom."
Wood Spirit: "You're welcome, Amuche."
Amuche stored the great herb in the storage ring given to her by Chief Ojo. As soon as she did, the mist subsided, and everyone was teleported out of the cave.
As everyone emerged from the cave, a powerful cultivator approached them and asked who among them had obtained the great herb. However, no one spoke up, unsure of who had actually succeeded.
Nedu let out a sigh and mocked them, "I wasted my time here. None of you were even qualified to take the herb, and it had to return to heaven. What a disgraceful generation!" He spread his dragon wings and flew off into the sky, disappearing from sight. Of course, he already knew that Amuche had obtained the great herb, but he only said this to deceive everyone.
With that, everyone departed from the area and returned to their respective villages. Amuche bid farewell to her new friends, Nneoma, Yemi, and Adaobi, as they had plans to meet up in Gold Rock Town for the Hundred Lion Academy's student recruitment.
Amuche joined her group and returned to the village together. Along the way, Nedu successfully transformed into a parrot and landed on Amuche's shoulder.
Amuche surprised everyone by pulling out the great herb and handing it to Chief Ojo, telling him to give it to someone more deserving since she didn't need it.
"Chief Ojo, please give this to someone who truly deserves it," Amuche said humbly.
The villagers were stunned that Amuche was the one who had successfully obtained the great herb, as they had thought no one had succeeded.
"How did you...? This is the great herb!" Kael's father asked in disbelief.
Chief Ojo handed the herb to Kael, and his father thanked Amuche profusely.
"Thank you so much, Amuche! This rare and valuable herb will significantly enhance the quality of Kael's innate pearl."
Kael's father was so moved that he invited Amuche to join them on their journey to Gold Rock Town.
"Amuche, would you like to come with us to Gold Rock Town? We're heading there soon."
"Thank you, I'd love to join you! I was already planning to go to Gold Rock Town for the academy's recruitment."
Before leaving, Chief Ojo handed Amuche a storage ring containing the Mellon spirit grass and tier two monster cores from their hunting expedition, as well as a pouch bag filled with star stones.
"Take these, Amuche," Chief Ojo said with a smile. "You'll need them for your journey."
Moved by his kind gesture, Amuche promised to use the village's name when registering for the Hundred Lion Academy.
"Thank you, Chief Ojo! I promise to use your village's name when I register for the academy, as a way to show my gratitude for your kindness."
Chief Ojo and the villagers were overjoyed, knowing that this could bring recognition and resources to their village if Amuche performed well in the academy.
After everything was settled, Amuche left with Kael and his father to rest and recover in the nearby city before preparing for their journey to Gold Rock Town.
Amuche, Kael, and his father arrived in the small town, exhausted from their journey. As they entered Kael's father's house, Amuche's eyes widened in awe. "Wow, this is a beautiful home!" she exclaimed.
Kael's father smiled, "Thank you, Amuche. We've worked hard to build a comfortable life here."
As they rested, Kael showed Amuche around the town, introducing her to the friendly locals. Over a meal at a cozy inn, Kael asked, "Why do you want to explore the Spirit World, Amuche?"
Amuche's eyes sparkled, "I want to discover its wonders and become stronger."
Kael nodded, "I understand. I want to change my fate and make my father proud."
The next day, Kael's father announced, "The great herb will be ready in three days. Then, we'll head to Gold Rock town."
Amuche's eyes shone with determination, "I'll use this time to refine the monster core and aim for a breakthrough." But she knew it wouldn't be easy - the energy required for a breakthrough was immense.
Nedu encouraged, "You can do it, Amuche! I'll guide you." Nedu helped Amuche meditate, focusing her energy and connecting with the spirit world.
As they sat in silence, Amuche felt the energy building up inside her. She could feel the monster core resonating, but it was still not enough. Suddenly, an idea struck her - she remembered the words of an ancient sage, "In times of need, seek the power of nature."
Amuche rushed outside, feeling the wind, the sun, and the earth's energy. She connected with the natural world, channeling its power into her cultivation. Slowly but surely, her energy surged, and the monster core began to glow brighter.
With a final burst of energy, Amuche reached the peak stage of the mmuo! Nedu cheered, "Congratulations, Amuche! Your hard work and determination have paid off!"
Kael, too, made a breakthrough, his innate pearl changing from yellow to blue. "Wow, my abilities have grown stronger!" he exclaimed.
After resting, they departed for Gold Rock town, filled with renewed confidence and zeal.
The cart, drawn by two large horses, carried them for five days before they arrived at the majestic town of Gold Rock. The town was teeming with people, and huge buildings towered above them. The market place was a hub of activity, with vendors urging customers to buy their wares. Amuche's eyes widened as she took in the sights and sounds.
Kael's father booked two rooms at a hotel, and they rested after their long journey. Nedu, in disguise as Amuche's parrot, sensed the aura of a powerful cultivator in the Onochie level and cautioned himself to be discreet.
As the sun dipped into the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the bustling town of Gold Rock, Amuche, Kael, and his father settled into their hotel rooms, their weary eyes and fatigued limbs a testament to the long journey behind them. The sound of horse hooves and vendor calls faded into the distance, replaced by the soft rustling of Nedu's feathers as he nestled into his perch, his wise eyes watchful and alert.
The next day, they set out to inquire about the Hundred Lion Academy's recruitment. They were directed to a large building on the northern side of town, where they registered their names, village, age, cultivation level, and innate pearl quality. Amuche struggled to register her innate pearl's quality but eventually wrote "purple" after Nedu's guidance.
After registration, they were told to return in a week for the official testing. As they departed, they overheard conversations about the New Yam Festival celebration in the town's largest hall that night. Excited, Amuche, Kael, and his father joined the crowd rushing to the location.