Master approached me with solemn determination, his steps deliberate, his gaze steady as he carried something wrapped in a deep red cloth embroidered with golden threads.
He paused before me, his presence commanding as always, and spoke with a tone that brooked no refusal.
"Yin,"
He began, his voice imbued with both care and authority,
"You have come far in your journey, but to truly harness your power, you need more than skill. You need a weapon.
Not just any weapon, but one that can channel your strength and spirit. Therefore, I will entrust you with the Erlang Axe."
To acquire one must go through many tests and exams, if we fail, then we will suffer backlashes and reduce our soul star.
My eyes widened in awe as he slowly unfurled the cloth, revealing the weapon within.
My breath caught. The Erlang Axe was not merely a tool for battle; it was a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship, radiating an aura of ancient power.
Its massive blade gleamed with a dark, almost otherworldly luster, etched with intricate patterns of swirling clouds and celestial symbols.
The carvings told stories of storms unleashed and mountains split, as if the axe itself had borne witness to the heavens' wrath.
The haft was long and sturdy, wrapped in supple leather that seemed to pulse faintly with energy, as though alive.
"Wow," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
"This… this seems like a legendary weapon."
Master nodded; his expression unreadable.
"It is. But more than its legend is the weight it carries. The axe is not merely heavy in your hands—it is heavy with its history and the expectations of those who wield it.
Be warned, Yin. If you are not ready, this weapon will exhaust you.
It demands much of its wielder. Every swing draws upon your energy and your soul. It is a weapon of gods, not mortals."
I reached out tentatively, wrapping both hands around the haft.
The moment I lifted it—or tried to—I felt its immense weight press down on me, as if the heavens themselves were anchored to the axe.
My arms trembled, and I barely managed to lift it off the ground. Swinging it was out of the question.
Master chuckled softly at my struggle, but his eyes remained serious.
"It is no ordinary weapon, Yin. Perhaps you will find a way to make it yours. Perhaps your connection to the air elemental core will allow you to wield its true strength.
That remains to be seen."
The History of the Erlang Axe
Master's gaze softened as he sat down, placing the axe carefully before him.
"This is not just any axe, Yin. It was once wielded by the Erlang God, a celestial warrior of unmatched strength and valor.
Erlang Shen, as he is known in the ancient texts, was no mere mortal.
He was a divine being, a demigod born of the union between a celestial maiden and a mortal man.
Known for his third eye of truth, which allowed him to see through deception, and his mastery over the elements, Erlang Shen was the protector of both heaven and earth."
The Erlang Axe was his signature weapon, a tool of justice and destruction.
Legends spoke of the axe cleaving mountains in two with a single swing, of storms conjured with the motion of its blade.
The weapon was said to contain the essence of the skies, a gift from the celestial forge itself, where the gods imbued their creations with fragments of their divine power.
Master continued; his tone reverent.
"The axe was not merely a weapon; it was an extension of Erlang Shen's will.
It embodied the balance of destruction and protection, a tool to defend the righteous and obliterate the wicked.
But when Erlang Shen ascended to the heavens for his final rest, he left the axe behind, hidden away so that only one deemed worthy could find it."
How Master Acquired the Axe
I leaned in, captivated, as the Master began to recount his own journey.
"Many years ago, when I was still young and foolish,"
he began with a rueful smile,
"I sought to follow the path of Erlang Shen. I was fascinated by his legacy, drawn to the idea of mastering the elements as he had.
My search for his relics led me across the lands and through countless trials."
Master's eyes grew distant, as though he were peering into the past.
"The axe was hidden in the Valley of Celestial Echoes, a place where the veil between the mortal realm and the heavens is thin.
The valley is treacherous, filled with storms that rage without end, as if the skies themselves protect the treasure hidden within.
I spent weeks navigating the labyrinth of cliffs and clouds, enduring lightning strikes and gale-force winds.
The air was so thick with divine energy that breathing became a challenge."
Finally, after nearly succumbing to the valley's wrath, Master saw the axe after one year of searching.
"It was buried deep within the heart of the valley, embedded in a slab of black stone that shimmered like a starry night.
To acquire that, I went to five examinations.
Each examination has 5 levels. I went all through it. And I was chosen as the descendant of Erlang Sheng God.
The moment I laid eyes on it; I knew it was the Erlang Axe.
But retrieving it was no simple task. He lifted the axe and held it aloft, its blade cutting through the raging winds around him.
"The moment I touched it; I felt its power surge through me. It was overwhelming, almost unbearable.
But I endured.
I trained with the axe, learning its ways, though I knew I could never fully master it.
It is a weapon meant for a god, after all."
Master looked at me, his expression grave.
"Yin, this axe is a gift, but it is also a test.
You must find a way to balance its power with your own. Perhaps your connection to the air elemental core will allow you to wield it in ways.
The core's essence may resonate with the axe, lightening its weight and amplifying your strength."
I nodded, determination swelling within me.
"Maybe," I said slowly, "I will use my air core element to wield this legendary weapon.
If I can channel the core's energy into the axe, perhaps I can overcome its burden."
Master smiled faintly, though his eyes remained watchful.
"That is for you to discover. Remember, Yin, the axe does not simply grant strength—it reveals the strength already within you.
Wield it wisely."