The Pathway

The Gloomvale was as dangerous as a place can get. He recalled their fights with the dread-beasts at the valley of retribution. He should have been dead many times over, but somehow, he had managed to survive them all. No small thanks to the three true nascent souls, surely. The organized battle formations they displayed were a sight to behold. And when he was starting to think that his luck could actually keep him away from death, he encountered the world oracle.

His only intention was to find the Soul Banishing scroll which he didn"t even know why he would need such. But the words of the oracle turned everything on its head. She had told him true things about himself and the certainty of his future death. No matter the way taken, the outcome would be the same. That wasn"t even what was troubling his soul, it was the last words of the oracle. She had whispered to him in cryptic words. Possibilities of the "hows" of his death.

He knew he would have to accept the fact that he would die, but could there be a possibility of...

"Is that really you, child or my ageing sight is deceiving me?"

The voice of the grey tree sounded as Ju Feng neared its location. He quickly snapped out of his troubled thoughts and refocused his mind. He had been lost in his own mind, not knowing when he even reached the vicinity of the tree. Seeing the grey tree, he remembered the words of the Soul-Carver.

"You must be very careful, young one. You don"t want your presence to anger or annoy the Frost-Dreamer in any way. You could easily loose your life."

Ju Feng quickly cupped his hand and bowed. Why wouldn"t he be careful in the propinquity of an ent.i.ty like this. Frost-Dreamer, a Yakshasan G.o.d that pretended to be daimon tree. The more for him to extremely careful. He knew the Frost-Dreamer was already aware of his presence and knew exactly who he was the moment he appeared back in this place. He just had to maintain his countenance if he wanted to live.

"Senior, I meet you well."

"t.i.tan"s torso! It is you! All good and well despite your gloomy face. I believe you can agree with me that treasure hunting is really good for you, young one. So can I say that I did you a good favour? That I"m a generous soul?"

"You are indeed very generous, senior. I"m very grateful."

Ju Feng responded while still bowing down. Generosity? Sure. But, the many times he could have died, how generous was that? But, could he even blame the Frost-Dreamer for all that? Maybe or maybe-not, but left for him, why would he decide to go into the realms of immortals. Was that not like seeking death? Why did he even exchanged his items in the first place? Surely, it must be the Frost-Dreamer.

Then, he remembered some scenes from his encounters in the realms and sighed before smiling inwardly. Well, the adventures were not all doom and gloom. The good memories flooded his mind as he continued to muse over the past.

"Don"t beat yourself, child. Though, I gave a nudge to your thoughts, you already had the desires to go on adventure. That was acceptable within the immortal rules of dealing with mortals. Since I couldn"t force you to go to the places you went, I gently stoked your thoughts. Your going was on you, so, wipe the gloom of your face and cheer up. True, I"m bound by rules in this place, but make no mistake child, I can easily kill you. I just have to find a reason to blame it on and there are many I can think of. But as far as you are concerned, with me, you are good. Come and have a sit beside me."

"Yes, senior."

"Child! No experience is a waste. I surmised you"ve had an encounter with the oracle. It"s yours to keep, not mine. Words of advice, child. Take both the good and bad things from your experience, and make good use of them. They could save your life. Right, enough with yours. Can I predicate you are with my scroll?"

"Yes senior. I do have it."
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Ju Feng reached the grey tree"s side and sat down on the mould beside it. He reached into his spatial sac and produced the Scroll of Sentience, showing it to the tree. The scroll floated to the s.p.a.ce before the tree and spread itself. Their was a silence as the scroll continued to hover before the tree. After some long minutes, the scroll folded up and entered the opened s.p.a.ce on the trunk of the tree.

The air started to get heavier as the energy began to roil strongly. The energy contrasted before exploding lightly outwards. An elderly man wearing a snow white robe with long flowing white hair and grave icy eyes, emerged from the centre of the exploding energy. The aura and icy energy coming from the man was that of a G.o.d, no doubt about that.

Despite the slight explosion, Ju Feng, who was sitting down, was knocked scrambling several feet away. He quickly recovered himself but remained on his knees as he cautiously and deeply bowed before the elderly man.

The Frost-Dreamer.

A Yakshasan G.o.d. The fourth member of the dangerous circle of G.o.ds. The powers that made a number of damages on the heavenly plane. From the words of the Soul-Carver, the Frost-Dreamer was definitely an exceedingly powerful figure among them. He was a clear and present danger.

"Long last. Sentients we evolve. So it begins."

The Yakshasan G.o.d gave a wry smile as he looked at Ju Feng"s alarmed face.

"Stand up, young one. Great service you rendered, you need not worry. As I said before, if I wanted you dead, you"ll be dead already. And yes, as you can see, the tree was an illusion. But, since you"ve met the others, there"s no longer need for me to maintain the illusion. By the way, how are they doing? My friends."

"Senior, the last time I saw them, they were all doing wonderfully well, I suppose."

"Yes, I know. I already saw their marks on you. Just wanted to ask you."

Ju Feng suddenly felt a compulsion on his soul as he was replying the Yakshasan G.o.d. His hands searched his spatial sac and produced one Arthurian cube of silver and a runic branch of redwood tree. He offered them to the Yakshasan G.o.d as he bowed low.

"Senior, if it"s well with you, Can I make a demand."

"A demand? As long as I can afford it, why not?"

"Senior, I would like to invoke the Divinis Ordis."

The moment he said it, Ju Feng knew he could be in dire trouble. This was not his making, definitely the work of the Soul-Carver. Ju Feng was certain of that. He recollected that upon seeing him in the Gloomvale, the Soul-Carver had told him he had made an unfair agreement coming there. He had told Ju Feng he would do him a little favour when next he would see the Frost-Dreamer. Ju Feng never liked this idea that could get him killed but the Soul-Carver had dismissed it as nothing. Since an Order between immortals must be just and fair, even more so was an Order between an immortal and a mortal. As long as he was careful not to be annoying, he would be fine.

"The Divine Order? Why is that? Is it that I didn"t treat you right, child?"

"No, senior. You treated me well. This little one was only thinking maybe you can render a favour regarding the heaven"s trade."

"Hm, I see. Favour of the equal ground. What is given, what is taken. "

The Yakshasan G.o.d observed Ju Feng with a raised brow.

"If I treated you fairly, why should I follow such rule with you then?"

"Senior, maybe to show I"m just a mortal beneath your feet?"

"Hehehe. Smart words you speak but they can also get you killed, child. Hehehe."

The Frost-Dreamer laughed gently as he gave a slight shake of his head.

"Though, I wasn"t expecting you back so soon, if at all, it"s good to see you"ve made such progress in a short time. Nonetheless, I could have killed you, you know. But I"ve seen the effect of the others on you. They must have liked your person. Strange."

He turned towards the direction of Ju Feng and asked.

"Do you believe in fate, young one?"

"I do, senior."

The elderly G.o.d gave a soft sigh before snapping his fingers. The illusion covering the whole place appeared to have disappeared. The falling snowflakes and the frost, seemed to have vanished too. There were portals everywhere, hundreds of them. Portals of different nature, reeling with powerful energies. The amount of energy in this place was scary.

"Uh!"

"Now that you can see through the illusion, seeing this place for the first time can be intimidating for any mortal, I know."

The Yakshasan G.o.d swiped his hand around, gently.

"This place is truly known as Aculum Divinis which means, Time Divinity. This conjecture was an artefact that belonged to the Jade emperor. It was a divine artefact for minor s.p.a.cetime teleportation. Teleportation to and from specific places on the three planes of mortal, heavenly and nether. As time pa.s.ses, the Jade emperor had friends who are s.p.a.cetime artists, to work on this place. Celestials and G.o.ds alike. Using different rare techniques, portals to realms, dominions, domains and hidden places, were added. The energies and elements expended during the rework of this place, changed this place drastically. It became a conjecture of portals. Where we are right now, is the heart of the conjecture. The portals in this place are only used by true immortals. Ascendants, hegemons, G.o.ds and celestials. Mortals or evanesce immortals, use the outer conjecture. The outer conjecture was the one that leads to places where mortals reap various rewards. Unlike this place."

With a nod of his head, the G.o.d observed Ju Feng, keenly.

"You are now getting the sense of it. Yes, you shouldn"t be here in the first place, child. With the illusion uncovered, you can see where you entered from. It"s a broken gateway, never been used since I"ve been the guardian of this place. Hegemons and ascendants from the mortal plane, use the gateway on the opposite side. When I saw you arriving, I started asking myself different questions. Then I realized it must be fate."

The Yakshasan G.o.d tilted his eyes as he reminisce in the past. After a long pause, he directed his gaze to the far distant.

"You see. To enter the house of riddles for the scroll of sentience, would have killed someone like myself. The scroll was the missing piece in the four of us. I have asked a number of ascendants and G.o.ds to help out but they either gave up or met bad fate. The Karmic string in the house of riddles was a divine threat. No possible way for me. As I was contemplating of what could be, there you were. Out of the thin air. A mortal cultivator of the Zhuji level with a glowing halo of Karmic virtues. Immediately, I came to the realization of your importance. There were no treasures here as you can see. But for you to be of service, I gave you personal destinations of few items that were no part of any conjecture rewards. And with a little cajoling, here we are with the Scroll. Agreed, you could have died in there but your journey coming here, was fate. Fate brought you here, child. Whatever you get from your adventure, I believe, is the reason why you came. Me making use of the opportunity? Call it what you may, we are who we are. Now, back to the present issue."

Said the Yakshasan G.o.d as he swirled around, facing Ju Feng.

"Divinis Ordis you invoked, Divinis Ordis you get. Three you gave me before and one you brought me now. Only of the three that were yours can you ask. So, what would it be?"

Bowing low again, Ju Feng replied.

"Senior, this humble one ask for the Heavenly Solitude spirit fruit."

"Heavens tears. I was hoping of getting to keep that one. You have no idea what it is, do you? a.s.suming you said this moment ago, I could have killed you. But now, I see why others liked you. Strange isn"t it? Yes, existence can be strange sometimes. Anyway, here is the fruit."

The Frost-Dreamer flicked his fingers, sending the fruit towards Ju Feng.

"I hope you have your means of leaving this place, child. Don"t tempt me by lingering around. I will close my eyes to meditate now, by the time I open them, I don"t expect to see you. Fate brought you here but don"t tempt it child."

Ju Feng fell on his knees and bowed deeply.

"Thank you senior. Thank you. I won"t forget your kindness."

"En."

The moment the Yakshasan G.o.d closed his eyes, Ju Feng looked around the place once more. Aculum Divinis. He slowly uttered the safe word and was immediately transported to the safe place. Some of the members of his group were already there, waiting.

"h.e.l.lo, Ju Feng!"

"Hey, Ju Feng."

"You are back. How was your time in there?"

"You must have been enjoying yourself like Da Xia, for you to stay longer."

The sight of Chenric, Da Xia, Ying Jie and elder w.a.n.g Xiu, was a soothing relief to Ju Feng. Oh, how much he missed them. Instead of replying, he hugged them one by one to strange looks in return.

Though elder w.a.n.g Xiu was a little reserved of the hugging reunion, she allowed with utmost curiosity.

"Ju Feng, you were only gone for few minutes. Few minutes."

"I"ve been gone for eternity, elder w.a.n.g Xiu. Been gone for eternity."

They conversed among themselves as they await Reena. After another minute, she finally came out.

Dargehk looked at them all with unconcerned and emotionless eyes.

"This will be the last time on the mortal plane. Farewell to you all."

After a brief conversation with the two adults, the giant residuum made some hand seals and a ma.s.sive portal was opened under an archway. They all returned their farewell and entered the portal. They emerged on a clearing, a few kilometres from the Last-Sword premises.

"And from adventurer, we returned."

Elder w.a.n.g Xiu beamed from the sight of a familiar terrain.