Chapter 16 - A Boon and a Bane

The trio lounged around in the endless white void of the Void Realm, lazily recounting the epic throwdown from yesterday.

"Man, we totally blew it back there," Ye Meng grumbled around a mouthful of dumplings. "Part of it wasn't our fault, but we could've wrecked that snake bastard so much harder."

Bai Lihua nodded glumly. During the fight, she had been too terrified to be of much use, just like always. For a chick with her crazy spiritual talents, she still had a long way to go mentally. Maybe one day she'd get less lame, but for now she was happy to defer to her immortal companions.

"Psh, I was just playing around with that thing," Xin Yang scoffed. "I could've wasted it in like a second if I felt like it." But despite the boast, a frown tugged at the corners of his lips. He hated coming across as anything less than invincible in front of his friends.

The three lapsed into uneasy silence, the quiet only broken by the sound of Ye Meng listlessly nibbling at his food with dead eyes.

Xin Yang sighed, throwing his arms wide in a 'what're you gonna do?' gesture. "The heck's with all the long faces? That snake was a Peak Foundation Establishment beast, and you offed it even though you're just a Foundation Establishment peak stage 4 chump." He jerked a thumb at Ye Meng, then nodded at Bai Lihua. "And you're just a Foundation Establishment stage 4. You should be celebrating!"

The duo glanced at each other, realization dawning. A sheepish grin crept across Ye Meng's face. "You're totally right. That thing was way out of our league, but we still stomped it. If I had more cultivation, I could've roasted it with a single fingertip!" His impression of Xin Yang's trademark arrogance was spot on.

Xin Yang cuffed him on the shoulder with a laugh. "Atta boy." Then he turned the full force of his blazing gaze onto Bai Lihua, who squirmed. "And you. With your illusions, you could've tricked it into wandering the void for all eternity."

She flushed, but couldn't contain a small smile. "I-I guess so..."

"Atta girl." Xin Yang shot her a thumbs up instead of a slap on the back. No need to bruise the fairer sex.

Suddenly, he rose with determined strides, hands on hips. "You guys don't get it. I'm not stoked 'cause we killed some dumb snake. I'm stoked 'cause you had chances to bail on the fight, but you stayed by my side. Bros to the end, man. No greater bond."

Ye Meng jumped up to clap him on the shoulder. "To the bitter end, brother. Even if the whole world went against you, they'd have us to deal with."

Bai Lihua didn't say a word, but the steely resolve in her eyes spoke volumes. She was with Ye Meng all the way.

Xin Yang's face lit up with a rare, breathtaking smile that left his friends momentarily stunned. With a hearty slap to Ye Meng's shoulders, he said, "That's why you're my boys."

The next day, bellies full of Striped Demonic Snake, the trio broke through to the next stage of cultivation. Xin Yang hit Foundation Establishment stage six, Ye Meng reached the peak of stage five, and Bai Lihua made it to stage five. The beast's powerful aura had eased their advancement.

"This is nothing to get excited over," Xin Yang said as they set off to explore the forest's inner reaches. "We've still got a long road ahead."

Thanks to Xin Yang's sharp senses and the mist obscuring their auras, they dodged the forest's powerful beasts. The ones they did face were child's play to defeat.

...

They ground to a halt before an immense, intricate spell formation. No wonder none had ever returned from these depths. The forest's guardian deities wouldn't dare intrude here.

Trapped with no way out and surrounded by the bones of fallen experts, they realized the formation was leeching their qi. Ye Meng freaked out, jumping around uselessly, while Bai Lihua huddled silently, fighting tears.

Xin Yang remained preternaturally calm. "No need to panic. I can break us out."

Hope sparked in his friends' eyes. They hurried over to clasp his shoulders as instructed, and in a flash they stood before the tomb, free of the formation's clutches.

…

Xin Yang cautiously checked the tomb for traps before calling his friends in. "All clear."

But instead of priceless artifacts or an expert's remains, only a lone crystal ball sat in the center of the bare chamber.

"An inheritance crystal?" Xin Yang guessed.

Ye Meng shrugged helplessly. Bai Lihua said, "Let's find out."

As the strongest, Xin Yang channeled qi into the crystal. A tremendous pressure slammed down, and an ancient voice rang out:

"So someone escaped my Great Way Inclosing Formation. Are you an immortal gracing the mortal realm, or a great formation master? It matters not. I pledged to share secrets lost since the Eldritch Era, an age when even the weakest crafted peerless artifacts and divine mantras. None now know why that era vanished, leaving mere traces behind.

You have found my Samsara Crystal, which even immortals would kill for. As reward for this fortune, I grant knowledge no immortal yet knows."

The voice cut out, leaving the three drenched in nervous sweat. Such a secret was far beyond their meager cultivation.

"This is..." Xin Yang swallowed hard. "Beyond us."

Ye Meng struggled against the urge to collapse. "I can't...move..."

Bai Lihua stared at the crystal in mute dread, half wishing she'd never come on this expedition.

Bai Lihua collapsed with a whimpered "Help."

"Listen well," the ancient voice commanded. "Your realm system is incomplete. In Eldritch times, ten great realms reigned instead of eight:

Body Tempering

Qi Gatherer

Foundation Establishment

Gold Core

Revolving Core

Nascent Soul

Soul Formation

Soul Transformation

Nirvana Shattering

Ascendant

The Revolving Core realm revolves the golden core at breakneck speed, easing the future Nascent Soul breakthrough. Nirvana Shattering has but three stages and comes after Soul Transformation:

Nirvana Cracking

Nirvana Shattering

Nirvana Rebirth

Its secrets remain unseen even by my eyes, but as an Eldritch creation, it must be formidable.

To reach these lost realms, you must start your cultivation anew. My end looms as countless cultivators crave my Samsara Crystal; its uses unknown save for sealing a soul. As fate would have it, your fortune led you here, so I share long-lost truths and help you unlock the crystal.

More people means a harder unlocking. Decide amongst yourselves who shall claim the treasure, and the rest must depart."

None stirred, even had they wished to. All gazed at the crystal with a mix of anticipation and dread.

"It seems the choice is made. I aided you, so you'll aid me: kill the Azure Dragon Immortal Emperor if you grow mighty, or forget this if you do not. The crystal shatters..."

The crystal fractured into three shards that fused with the stunned trio. How could mere mortals contain a peerless immortal treasure? While it wouldn't slay them, it battered their souls into oblivion.

What would come to pass when they awoke? Only time would tell!