Yang Qi sat there, his eyes wide, still stunned by what he had just experienced. The warmth of the golden aura that emanated from Tianxu bathed the room in a soft, almost unreal light. He tried to gather his thoughts, but his mind was assailed by a multitude of questions. Who was this divine spirit really? How was it related to this mysterious artifact? And most importantly, why did it call him "Master"?
As he was lost in his confused thoughts, a gentle and benevolent voice rang out in his head.
—"No need to get so worked up, Master. I am here to bring you answers."
Yang Qi jumped, his eyes staring at Tianxu in disbelief.
—"You... You can read my thoughts?"
The divine spirit gave an amused smile before nodding slightly.
—"It's a bit more complex than that, Master. Our souls are now linked, thanks to the Starry Pagoda. I do not read your thoughts, we simply share a deep connection. You can, if you wish, speak to me directly in thought. It is one of the many benefits of our bond."
Yang Qi remained silent for a moment, trying to adjust to this new reality. The idea of mental communication with a divine spirit unsettled him, but in this world of cultivation, where miracles and supernatural phenomena were commonplace, it seemed almost… normal. He took a deep breath, gathering his courage.
"Very well… then… who are you really, Tianxu? And what is the Starry Pagoda?"
The divine spirit crossed its arms and began to explain calmly, its voice echoing both in the air and in Yang Qi's mind.
"As I told you before, Master, I am the divine spirit of the Starry Pagoda. This artifact is one of the 27 divine artifacts that exist throughout the cosmos. Each divine artifact has a soul of its own, a consciousness created during its creation. As for the Starry Pagoda, it was forged millions of years ago by my creator, a being of unimaginable power. I was born from this creation and bound to this artifact ever since."
Yang Qi, attentive, frowned slightly. The mere mention of millions of years of existence made his head spin.
—"A being of unimaginable power… who was he? What kind of existence could create such a powerful artifact?"
Tianxu hesitated for a moment, seeming to weigh his words. His voice deepened as he replied.
—"My first master was a being of a cultivation level that you can't even begin to conceive in your current state. Master, there's really no point in revealing all of this to you now. He was in what is called the Eternal God Realm. He was called in the divine domain he was called Eternal Sovereign."
Yang Qi remained silent, stunned by these revelations. The Eternal God Realm… It was beyond anything he had ever heard or even imagined. Yet, another question nagged at him.
— "How could such a powerful being create a divine artifact like the Starry Pagoda?"
Tianxu's mind grew more intense, the glow of his golden eyes lighting up the room as he delved into his memories.
— "Creating a divine artifact is not a task that can be accomplished in a matter of days, months, or even centuries. My creator has spent millions of years crafting me. Every detail, every thread of power, every bit of the celestial essence that makes up the Starry Pagoda has been meticulously woven across time and space. To forge a divine artifact, he has drawn upon energies that you cannot yet comprehend, cosmic energies that exist far beyond this realm." To create it, he used the souls of a dozen deities as the core, he also added several will-o'-the-wisp, and searched for 749 rare substances across the 20 universes of the cosmos for a very long time."
Yang Qi felt his heart race. Millions of years to create a single artifact? The prospect of this time scale seemed completely crazy to him. He shook his head, trying to imagine a being capable of such a feat.
"Millions of years…" he murmured, still in shock. "How is this possible?"
Tianxu burst out laughing, a hearty laugh, without a trace of mockery.
— "You are still so young, Master. In the vastness of the cosmos, you are only an ant for now. But don't worry, with my guidance and the power of the Starry Pagoda, you will be able to reach heights that you would never have dared to imagine. The world is much larger than what you know, and it is full of mysteries and powers that are still unsuspected."
Yang Qi felt a new determination awaken within him. He had always known that the path of cultivation was long and arduous, but Tianxu's words gave him an even broader vision of what awaited him. If he could achieve a power comparable to that of the creator of the Starry Pagoda, then nothing would be able to stop him.
— "Okay, Tianxu. I am ready. I want to become stronger. More powerful than ever." »
The divine spirit nodded, a glint of approval in his golden eyes.
—"Very well, Master. The first step is to understand the workings of the Starry Pagoda and the different levels of cultivation. For now, there is no point in overwhelming yourself with information about the realms that are too high. Focus on the ones that you can reach in the near future."
Tianxu raised his hand, and luminous symbols appeared in the air, representing different levels of power.
—"These are the main levels of cultivation that you should know for now: Disciple, Warrior, Master, Dominator, Legendary, Supreme, King, Sage, Great Sage, and finally, Emperor. Each level marks a significant advancement in your understanding of the heavenly energies and your own potential."
Yang Qi watched the symbols dancing in the air, fascinated.
He thought deeply to himself, "I was truly a frog at the bottom of a well, even in the spiritual realm, the dominator is nothing."
"And I'm starting at the Disciple level, right?" Yang Qi said aloud
Tianxu smiled slightly.
"Yes. But don't worry, master. With the Starry Pagoda by your side, you will progress faster than any other cultivator. This pagoda contains treasures and mysteries that will allow you to overcome many obstacles. However, each step must be taken with wisdom and patience."
Yang Qi nodded, although another question was burning on his lips.
"And the Starry Pagoda? How exactly does it work?"
Tianxu raised a finger, and suddenly a small, luminous pagoda appeared in the palm of his hand. It was spinning gently, its floors sparkling with starlight.
— "The Starry Pagoda is more than just an artifact. It is a world unto itself. Each floor holds secrets, trials, and treasures that will allow you to grow in power. As you evolve, you will be able to access deeper levels of the pagoda, discovering ancient techniques and long-forgotten weapons."
Yang Qi straightened up, his eyes shining with excitement.
— "A whole world… in an artifact?"
Tianxu smiled, pleased to see his master so determined.
— "Exactly. But don't be in a hurry. First things first. If you truly want to discover the mysteries of the Starry Pagoda, you must first strengthen your body, your mind, and most importantly, your soul."
Yang Qi clenched his fists, more resolute than ever.
— "Very well. Teach me, Tianxu. I am ready to face this path, no matter how difficult it may be."
The divine spirit nodded, satisfied. Tianxu raised his hand again, and the image of the small luminous pagoda reappeared, floating between his fingers.
The five floors flickered faintly, symbolizing the locks that prevented access to the upper levels.
— "The first floor," Tianxu continued, "was already opened to you when your soul connected to the Starry Pagoda. It is the only floor you have access to at the moment. But to unlock the second floor, you will have to reach the realm of the Great Sage. And the third floor can only be opened once you have reached a level higher than that of the emperor."
Yang Qi listened attentively, his mind in turmoil. Each floor of the pagoda represented a key stage in his journey as a cultivator, and the idea of exploring these mysterious worlds aroused a burning curiosity in him.
"What about the fourth and fifth floors?" Yang Qi asked, his gaze fixed on the pagoda.
Tianxu nodded slowly.
"The fourth and fifth floors... to access these floors you must be in levels that I prefer you to ignore for now, master. These are worlds where power reaches levels that you cannot even imagine at this stage. Each level of the Pagoda contains thousand-year-old secrets, unimaginable trials and treasures worthy of the greatest cultivators."
Yang Qi clenched his fists. The magnitude of what awaited him was colossal, but he would not be intimidated. He had already decided to walk this path, no matter how difficult it was.
"Very well," he said with determination. "Tell me how I can enter the first floor. I want to start now."
Tianxu smiled, impressed by his master's will.
"Follow my instructions. Close your eyes and concentrate. Visualize the Starry Pagoda in your mind. You are now bound to it, and it is an extension of your being. Breathe deeply, feel the connection of your soul with mine."
Yang Qi closed his eyes and followed Tianxu's advice. He inhaled slowly and emptied his mind. Little by little, he felt a bond forming in his mind, a connection with something immense and profound. The image of the Starry Pagoda became clearer in his mind, and he felt his soul bond more intensely with this ancient artifact.
"Good," Tianxu murmured. "Now, dive into this space. Let your soul guide you."
Suddenly, Yang Qi felt a strange stretching sensation. As if his spirit was being pulled out of his body, he was thrown into an infinite void. When he opened his eyes, he was standing in a vast space that stretched as far as the eye could see.
He was on the first floor of the Starry Pagoda.
Before him, a landscape of unearthly beauty stretched for thousands of kilometers. The air was saturated with pure Qi, so dense that he could almost touch it. Towering mountains lined the horizon, and in the distance, he could make out rivers of pure energy winding through verdant valleys. The sky above him sparkled with unknown constellations, and a gentle breeze filled with spiritual energy caressed his face.
—"This is… incredible," Yang Qi murmured, stunned by the grandeur of this inner world.
Tianxu, floating next to him, smiled softly.
—"Welcome to the first floor of the Starry Pagoda. Here, the Qi is abundant, far purer and more concentrated than anywhere else in the spiritual realm. This place will allow you to cultivate faster, refine your body and mind, the time here is shortened; one day here is equal to half a day. Every time you become stronger, you will be able to increase or decrease the time ratio with the outside world."
Yang Qi nodded, absorbing every word. He could feel the energy around him, ready to be absorbed. This was a perfect place to cultivate, a priceless treasure.