Chapter 15
The Awakening: The Means of An Enigma.
World within the tapestry~
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Lu Xi Tong emerged from the pagoda, instantly gaining a panoramic view of the mountain ranges that sprawled across the unique world from the summit she now stood upon.
At an indeterminate moment in time, the customary shroud of clouds and mist that typically enveloped the mountain peak had dissipated, revealing a clear view of the distinctive world from her elevated vantage point. The first sight that captured her attention was the heaps of debris and crumbled mountains that dominated her field of vision.
She was taken aback by the sight, completely ignorant of her involvement in the collapse of these mountains. It was due to her soul pulse in the contrasting starry expanse that she had shattered them. Xi Tong could only ponder on what transpired here, as it would forever remain a mystery to her.
Endless Catacombs~
In an hall themed in black and white, two figures—a youthful lady cloaked in a dark black gown and a debonair, handsome young man—engaged in a fervent discourse.
They were none other than Yang Chen and Yin Yu. Having been disregarded like a mere sack of potatoes by the enigmatic entity after siphoning a portion of their vital qi, they couldn't help but feel debased.
They had held esteemed positions in this world for as long as they could recall, and suddenly being reduced to someone else's lackeys did not sit well with them. They found themselves cursing vehemently at the figure that had tormented them for some time now, resorting to the most vulgar language within their vocabulary, some you wouldn't even dare to listen too, sparing not even his ten ancestors and ten generations from the warth of their mouths.
Amidst their heated "discussion," a figure cloaked in a conical straw hat that concealed their facial features stealthily approached them from behind, walking up to them unnoticed.
The duo was too engrossed in their exchange to perceive the newcomer, who abruptly interjected by poking his head between them, hands clasped behind his back.
"Cursing at me again?" he inquired, causing the duo to freeze in trepidation. They realized they were in a precarious situation, unprepared for his sudden and swift return. The duo turned towards the enigmatic entity, sharing a dry chuckle, which the enigma reciprocated as well sarcastically.
"Little Miss Xi Tong will be joining us shortly; ensure she is received appropriately before she is sent to see me. We have matters to discuss," the enigmatic entity stated before striding away.
*Whoose*
A short while later, with a gentle rustle, Lu Xi Tong elegantly emerged from the tapestry, landing gracefully on the floor of the hall. The sight of her emerging from the tapestry left the onlookers shocked. The young woman who had just appeared had disheveled hair, tattered clothing, and numerous minor wounds and bruises on her body. The current appearance painted a picture of someone who had just returned from the heart of a fierce battle, covered in dirt and injuries, and this figure was none other than Lu Xi Tong.
The observers could not even begin to imagine the ordeal she had just endured.
Approaching the duo, she inquired urgently, "Where is that mysterious being you spoke of earlier? I have completed the trial and returned. When do I have the opportunity to meet him?"
"You should first change into more suitable attire and tend to your wounds," Yang Chen spoke calmly, but Xi Tong remained unmoved.
"You must change swiftly, as it is also the wish of the enigma before you can meet him," Yin Yu added.
With no other recourse, Lu Xi Tong could only comply, nodding her head lightly before inquiring, "What am I supposed to change into?"
She had not anticipated the trial to be so treacherous, and combined with the information about the ancestral primordial guardian, she had not seen the need to bring an extra set of clothing.
With a wave of her sleeves, Yin Yu instantly released a surge of essence qi that transformed into a golden robe, replacing her initial garments in a dazzling flash of light.
"Take this as well, it will aid in healing your wounds," Yang Chen tossed a jade green pill to Xi Tong, who instinctively caught it. A delicate sniff revealed that the pill shared a familiar fragrance with the emerald droplets of the Jumbling Decal Bushweed.
She realized they might have a common origin. Without hesitation, she popped the pill into her mouth, feeling a warm surge of energy coursing through her. The miraculous healing properties of the pill began to mend her injuries, most of which were internal from her fall from the stone pillars on the seventh floor.
As the medicinal effects of the jade green pill faded, she could no longer contain her long-suppressed curiosity and inquired about the challenges she had encountered during the trial. Bombarding the duo with a myrid of questions.
"Explain every aspect of your trial experience in detail," Yang Chen interjected, her line of questioning slowing down. Without hesitation, Lu Xi Tong proceeded to recount her ordeal during the trial.
"This is peculiar; the trial was not supposed to transpire in this manner," Yin Yu mused aloud.
"Could it be that even you are perplexed by the events that unfolded?" Xi Tong inquired, visibly surprised.
"Regrettably, that seems to be the case," they replied in a matter-of-fact tone, exchanging a subtle glance that conveyed their shared understanding. It was evident to the duo that Xie Xing, the master of the Sky Reaching Pagoda, had tampered with her trial, a fact they chose to withhold from her.
"Now that you are feeling more composed, I believe it is time for you to meet that enigmatic being," Yin Yu swiftly changed the subject. "Proceed down this path and enter the room at its end; there you shall find the individual you seek."
Following the instructions, Xi Tong promptly reached the designated door, lightly knocking on it before being welcomed inside. A man sporting a conical straw hat sat with his back towards her, perched on a futon with his legs folded. Xi Tong surmised that he must be the enigmatic entity who had descended into this realm alongside her.
"Please, take a seat across from me," the enigma gestured towards another futon positioned opposite him. Lu Xi Tong complied, settling down opposite him.
"I presume you have numerous inquiries," the enigma initiated the conversation.
"Indeed, I do," she affirmed.
"I can anticipate some of them already, so allow me to address those first. It is true that your innate constitution is currently sealed, and I am the one responsible for the sealing. Six years ago, you were severely afflicted by a disharmony within your dual soul, prompting the Nine Sacred Light Sect to intervene and grant me the opportunity to seal your constitution, thereby preventing your soul from dispersing.
The intentions of the Nine Sacred Light Sect were never pure; their primary aim was to slowly steal with your exceptional aptitude by the means of the malevolent toxin they implanted within you. Once you turned fifteen, they planned to forcibly extract your talent through dual cultivation, hence the proposed alliance and your betrothal. Their machinations were meticulously crafted, but fortunately, I managed to seamlessly eradicate the toxin," the enigma explained slowly.
Lu Xi Tong was taken aback by this revelation, but a realization dawned upon her. How did the enigma discern that she had uncovered the truth about her constitution being sealed?
After some contemplation, she posed the question, "How did you ascertain that I had found out about the sealing of my constitution?"
"That's too simple, my divine sense had by-passed all the constraints of the Sky Reaching Pagoda, starting from the contrasting starry expanse until your forcefull elimination. The shrill voice at the ground floor had mentioned it."
Lu Xi Tong was taken aback, contemplating the immense power required to surveil the Sky Reaching Pagoda. The current version of herself could not grasp it. The means of an enigma are truly unfathomable.
"As for your other inquiries, I shall address them in due course, but for now, you must center yourself through meditation as the fourth night approaches rapidly. I orchestrated the summoning of the primordial carps to bring you here and partake in the trial solely to prepare you for that imminent moment," the enigma spoke slowly.
"Why is the fourth night of such significance?" Xi Tong couldn't resist inquiring.
"Can you once again feel that intangible pressure on your soul, now that you have left the world within the tapestry. You have experienced its mysteries since its descent this year, right?" the enigma questioned.
"Yes," Lu Xi Tong responded, nodding like a chicken pecking grains.
"That force is known as the void power, one of the reasons I directed you to descend into the realm of the Celestials in the first place. Tonight, that power will reach its zenith, and with its assistance, I can firmly stabilize your soul's harmony and fully unlock your constitution, bestowing upon you numerous benefits and setting you on your journey to martial peak. Hence, I tasked you with undertaking the trial to accumulate the sanguine essence of the primordial carp lineage, which will aid in stimulating your bloodline," the enigma explained.
Before Lu Xi Tong could pose another question, the enigma interjected, "All your queries will be resolved by the end of tonight. For now, concentrate on your meditation."
Though Lu Xi Tong complied, she couldn't shake off the dread she felt towards the depths of this enigmatic being unphantomable means.