"Grandmother! Don't you see that Qinyue is injured? Let's not have this debate over ancient myths now. " Weilong said.
"Everyone leaves now. Grandmother, I'll talk to you later" he said.
On the king's order. The dowager, Xinli and Xiuying left the room. The Queen dowager kept staring at the rock. "It is coming", she kept saying.
"What is coming? Grandmother, what were you saying earlier?", Xinli asked.
"Princess. You are quick to slander someone. But you are really slow at learning the history of Shanling" Xiuying commented.
"What do you mean? How dare you accuse me of slander? We don't believe in myths and black magic like your kingdom" She replied,
"Xinli. Where are your manners? You can't speak to her that way no matter what you think of her" Queen dowager scolded her.
"Does this mean you don't know anything about the origin of Shanling? Dowager empress, forgive me if I offend you, I would like to hear your version of the legend of Shanling, to see if it aligns with what I have heard in Ying kingdom. This could also be an opportunity for Princess Xinli to learn the legend of Shanling " Xiuying asked.
"Sit with me in my palace", the Queen dowager instructed. Xinli and Xiuying followed her to her palace and sat in the main hall.
"My son, the former king, like Weilong did not want further generations to learn about it. Even if he didn't do it, the legend would have died out as, for many years, people started seeing it as a myth, things that never happened. But there were always a few, like my father and me, who believed that it was a truth and that all people needed to remember it to prevent the great upcoming danger. Centuries ago, when there was a lot of suffering and slavery, there existed rulers controlled by dark, evil forces and demons. When Shanling, like the one we know today, did not exist. When a lot of people were oppressed under cruel rulers of other kingdoms and empires and tribes, like Rhalor and Khatin
Goro, a powerful soul cultivator, came from afar. Many didn't know Goro's origin. Some said he was a man who became immortal by learning and practicing spiritual techniques. Some said he was a God who came down to earth from his spiritual realm, to defeat the forces of evil. He would always look young and his hair never turned gray because of his strong spirit. It was claimed that he was immortal. What all the people he took under him knew for certain was the mightiness of his power. He could control air, water, wind and fire. He liberated a lot of people from suffering and slavery and took them under his care. They travelled with him, crossing mountains and seas. They reached a place called Thralsol, the land of the tormented. It was infested with dark spirits and tormented souls. This was the place through which the evil forces entered the earth from the Underworld. The land spread across four big mountains, with vast lands in between them. Not one sign of living could be found. The dark and gloomy land will torment anyone who enters it. It was impossible for human beings to survive there because of the inhuman forces. Goro used his power and made a magical stone. He contained the dark powers and souls in the stone and bound them in it with the power of fire, water, wind and earth. Now the stone had the power of all the evil forces trapped in it. He used the power of the stone to close the portal between Thralsol and the other side, with a barrier that protects it. He called it the spirit flame stone. The stone became the prime element that balances good and evil in Thralsol. It kept the tormented souls from underworld from entering the land.
Thralsol, which was formerly uninhabitable, now became the new home to his followers. They were entrusted with the responsibility of making sure that the barrier is never broken. He chose three disciples from the people and trained them to use spiritual cultivation to protect the land. People under the leaders were divided into three clans. The Ling Clan, The Shen clan and the Ying clan. The clans were entrusted with the protection of stone. Thralsol was then renamed as Shanling. There was peace and happiness. There was no intervention from any evil spirits, as the four clans guarded the barriers with their powers and protected the stone, with Goro as their Chief.
Once he was convinced that the four clan leaders were capable enough, Goro decided to travel towards the north of Shanling. He entrusted the stone to the chief of the Ying clan, as he was said to be the most talented and powerful and chose him to be a leader of Shanling. For many years it was kept safe. There were many powerful cultivators from the three clans and the river of Heiling protected the land from other invaders. But...." She stopped. Her facial expression changed to an alert one. She was not sure if she wanted to continue as she is alerted by the presence of Ying Meili. Xiuying realised this.
"Your highness, a tale like this one should not be left halfway....." Xiuying said. She smiled gently.
"Grandmother, please continue..." Xinli said.
Dowager empress left out a gentle sigh and continued:
"The son of the 10th Ying chief became the new chief when he was just 20 when his father gave up worldy ties to attain immortality and went away crossing the Heiling river. He knew that his young son was not trained enough to protect the stone like his ancestors did. So he entrusted his dear friend, the Ling clan chief to train his son and protect the stone till he is capable. It is said that a curious mind can lead to death. He was curious about the power of stone. Now the stone was really unique. Not everyone could completely control it. Goro had warned the clans that they can only protect it. They should not attempt using it as if the person does not have sufficient training, it can lead him into darkness. None of the chiefs had the power to master the stone. Only Goro could. But, the young chief started delving into the power of the stone. He wanted to master it. He tried using the stone. The other clans chiefs noticed this and warned the young king. Once you get involved too much in darkness, it can take over your mind. The Ying chief summoned demons inside the stone, who taught him the dark arts. Word about him turning evil started spreading. The other clan members started to have fights with him. He wanted all the power. He corrupted his clan. Some of his clan members started following his ways too. He used the power of the stone to defeat other clan chiefs, and he demanded everyone to surrender and submit to him as the only King. He wanted to take over the world. He started absorbing the souls of those who disobeyed him. He was called the demon master at such a young age, terrifying the other clans. He tried to use the power of the stone to open the portal to the Underworld again. But his power was not enough to control the stone to that great extent. But it led to a crack in the barrier of protection laid by Goro.
Goro returned to protect his people and stop the chaos. According to Goro, closing the portal to the underworld took years of cultivation. If the cracked barrier is not fixed as soon as possible, it will lead to the destruction of the entire barrier. He used his powers to control the stone and took it from the demon master, as he was the only one who had the power to completely control it. The crack was made in the area where the Ying kingdom is. He used the power to make 4 protection rocks. Placed it in four places in Shanling. The first one was placed in Ling. He asked all the spiritual cultivators of Shen to transfer their powers into the stone. He called it the first balance. The second one was located in Ling. It absorbed the power of Ling clan members. He called it the second balance. And the third one in the in the Ying kingdom. It acquired the powers of the Ying people who did not practice evil cultivation, Goro did not let anyone know where he placed the last rock. He hid the stone in the last rock. Goro sacrificed his powers and combined it with the power from all the rocks. Goro trapped the soul of the demon master somewhere in Shanling temporarily until he is reborn." she stopped.
"what happened after that? Temporarily?? Does that mean he will return again?", Xinli asked with curiosity.....
"The last words of Goro prophecised his return. When the northern king crosses Heiling, When all the balance breaks, the demon master shall return. Shanling be aware." Dowager empress said.
"My lovely Xinli, go check in Lady Li" she said.
Xinli was still thinking about the tale she just heard. She still obeyed her grandmother and went out of the hall.
"Thats where the tale ends. You might know it better than me. Don't you Consort Meili? Does it aligns with what you have learnt? " Dowager asked as she got up and walked towards a lamp in the hall.
"Yes it..."
"Maidservant Xue, go get a candle and bring it to me" dowager interrupted.
The maidservant in the room left to get a candle.
Now the dowager looked at Xiuying.
"Your highness, I was telling you that it is very similar to what I have learnt. I will not take up more of your time. Allow me to take my leave." Xiuying said. She bowed and started walking away when suddenly the words from the dowager stopped her.
"Your aunt used to visit me a lot when she was alive...come visit when you can"
Wait? She knows?