"In this fourth trial, you only needed to return with a treasure box. The box will be something like this.."Shingggg!
The princ.i.p.al took out a treasure box from his spatial ring that is square in shape. It is deep red in color and seemed to be made up from some kind of a wood that they hadn"t seen before.
"According to the research division, this treasure box is made up from the nine roots tree. It is extremely tough and prevents weathering over time. However, the real starking features of this treasure box is at the bottom." said the princ.i.p.al as he turned the treasure box over.
Duan Li and the rest craned their necks out to observe this treasure box that was laid on the coffee table. They saw some kind of a runic formation was inscribed onto it that seemed ancient and profound.
Furthermore, the symbols and letterings used in the formation are quite foreign and doesn"t resembles their language characters at all.
Truly mysterious!
Kacha!
The box opened after the princ.i.p.al drove his spiritual Qi signature onto it. Within it, is a pill that is white in color.
"A pill?" the rest of them looked over suspiciously over this pill.
Seeing their expression, the princ.i.p.al chuckled for awhile before explaining;
"This pill and this treasure box is one part of the same body. When I drove my spiritual Qi onto the runic formation below the box before, it had registered my spiritual Qi as the owner."
"The box had then processed my spiritual Qi into a pill that was then mixed with the essence of this treasure box. If you don"t believe me, Ling Yu and w.a.n.g Guozhi, try using your soul sense onto this pill and see it for yourself." gestured the Princ.i.p.al.
"En!" the two of them nodded as they extended their soul sense onto the pill.
Soul sense could be said to be the sixth sense of a human that could be unlocked once one reached the nascent soul realm. It can scan the surroundings or any materials to peer the secrets within.
Furthermore, the higher one"s stage in the nascent soul realm is, the better their soul sense would be.
Of course, compared to Duan Li"s future self of Heavenly sense, which could only be acquired after reaching the immortal ascension realm, they pale in comparison.
After a thorough check on the pill using their soul sense, they both nodded to the princ.i.p.al"s statement as they could feel his spiritual Qi signature within it.
How peculiar!
They cupped their chin together.
"Next, if you swallow this pill.."
Gulp!
The princ.i.p.al swallowed the pill and then hold the box with his right hand.
Shingggg!
The treasure box jolted as it remolded itself into a whip in but an instant. The three of them were shocked by this sudden transformation!
"This nine roots tree wood are tough in nature but is already extinct. From the historical records, its origin could be traced towards a distant lands that was called as Mirealith. The records also mention that the people in these lands are slightly different in physical features than us, particularly their long pointed ears, and their indistinguishable gender." explained the princ.i.p.al.
"Furthermore, it seems that with the augmentation of this runic formations, the owner could change its shape at will with just a thought after swallowing the pill." he added.
It could change its physical shape at just a thought from the owner?
That"s incredible!
Everyone looked at the whip on the princ.i.p.al"s hand with extreme interest as they stroke their chin.
"Also, the moment you found these treasure box, a voice will speak within your mind whether you would like to continue on the journey or exit the eternal maze."
"At that point, naturally you should exit the eternal maze and your fourth trial will be complete! You may keep the treasure boxes as well!"
Duan Li and Xiahou Yu nodded in understanding. They clenched their fist tight in excitement of wanting to have their own treasure box that could change at will!
"But princ.i.p.al, how do you know about this and obtain this treasure box? Did you enter the eternal maze yourself?" asked Ling Yu in curiosity.
This is because, not a single teacher or senior teacher have ever ventured into the eternal maze. It isn"t that they were forbidden to enter, but those who had entered it, had never made it out back alive.
"No, I didn"t enter it, if I did, perhaps I would"ve died too!" answered the princ.i.p.al as he shook his head.
"This treasure box was found by the explorer squad that consists of Qi Condensation realm students!" he added.
Hearing this, Ling Yu and w.a.n.g Guozhi frowned.
Why haven"t they heard of this squad before?
Furthermore, Qi Condensation realm students?
"Explorer squad? We have never heard of them!" said w.a.n.g Guozhi and Ling Yu as they shook their heads.
"Hais, naturally this is a secret squad that the founding ancestor formed personally to raise the prowess of the empire.This tradition is only known to a select few, and now that you both knew of them as well, I would like for it to remain that way."
"Otherwise.."
Flash!
A whip appeared on his right hand momentarily as it danced in the air looking for a prey. It then disappeared as quickly as well.
The principle then explained things further for them.
It turns out that from the a.n.a.lysis of the founding ancestor and several other princ.i.p.als of the academy after that, the lower the realm of someone who entered the eternal maze, the lower the risk of the dangerous encounter will be.
In their best estimate, Qi Condensation realm will face difficulties of one stage above them. For example, a student with an early stage Qi Condensation realm will face difficulties similar to that of the middle stage, which doesn"t really amount to anything at all.
One had to know that in every realm, there are ten levels altogether.
The early stage would consist of the first, second and third level.
The middle stage would consist of the fourth, fifth and sixth level.
The late stage would consist of the seventh, eight and ninth level.
Whereas the pinnacle would be at the tenth level of the Qi condensation realm.
For the explorer squad party, they are usually consisted of either early stage, middle stage or the late stage only. Students with the pinnacle stage of the Qi condensation realm would not be allowed to enter the eternal maze.
Should they enter, they will find the difficulties to be fatal as it would be on a whole other realm, which is the next realm, Foundation establishment realm.
To make an anology, students with the pinnacle stage Qi Condensation realm could shatter a boulder the size of five by five meters using a single punch.
A student with the early stage of Foundation establishment realm on the other hand could shatter a boulder the same size with just their index finger alone!
Therefore, the gaps between them is as vast as the earth and the sky!
Only those students with the pinnacle stage of the Qi Condensation realm who are tired of living could enter the eternal maze just to court death itself.
"Hmm.. so only those with the Qi Condensation realm except the pinnacle stage could enter the eternal maze safely huh.." thought w.a.n.g Guozhi in contemplation as he cupped his chin.
Hearing this, the princ.i.p.al shook his head.
"Not necessarily! Other than the explorer squad, we also have the advance explorer party that consist of top students from the academy in the early stage of the Foundation establishment realm!" said the princ.i.p.al.
Foundation establishment realm?
"This.. is their difficulties are also at one stage higher too?" asked Duan Li as he was becoming more interested in this topic.
The princ.i.p.al shook his head again.
"Unfortunately, no.. " he sighed.
The princ.i.p.al then explained that early stage foundation establishment would find the difficulties to be three times their realm, in other words, the late stage!
Furthermore, there was even once a student with a level 3 early stage Foundation establishment realm whom entered even found the difficulties to be at the pinnacle level!
Fortunately, that student managed to return alive as he brought a lot of life saving talismans with him.
Therefore, with that logic, middle stage and beyond that stage of the foundation establishment realm would only encounter swift death if they entered.
Foundation establishment realm against the core formation difficulties?
It would be easier to clash head on with a mountain and still live rather than that.
What more to say when the next few realms up to the nascent soul realm who wanted to try challenging the eternal maze?
One should just travel to the past to report those unfilial children back to their parents so they could get a good thrashing.
Your mother had put a lot of work to give you birth, and here you are trying to court instant death.
"Needless to say, it would be better for you two to reach the first level of the Qi condensation realm first before heading into the eternal maze to avoid any mishaps. I will give you both three days to do so, it should be achievable with the means the academy has!" said the princ.i.p.al with confidence.
Three days to reach the first level of Qi Condensation realm..
Duan Li tightened his fist as he realized that his martial path are beginning to unfold..
...