NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: The Awakening: An Encounter With The Primordial Kind.
Chapter 5.
The Awakening: An Encounter With The Primordial Kind.
Mortal realm~
YinYang dynasty's restricted caravan~
The Endless Catacombs ~
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The Endless catacombs were a natural wonder said to be a gateway to the Primordial worlds, that was before the great cataclysm that severed their connections.
There were many legends about the Endless catacombs and Lu Xitong was going over each of them in her head as she walked down the dim path ahead of her, trying to discern their mysteries and validity.
From time to time, strange runic symbols would appear, etched into the walls as well as enigmatic pictorials that seemed to convey tales lost in the rivers of time.
After traversing for a while, she finally stumbled upon a hall illuminated by white flamed torches.
Everything in the hall was monochromatic, even the floor resembled a chessboard. The stark contrast between the black and white colors created a harmonious ambiance.
Lu Xitong effortlessly blended into the hall with her black and white locks of hair, complemented by the white flowing attire she adorned.
As she roamed the hall, her attention was drawn to the domed ceiling, crafted from crystalline glass in the shape of a taichi diagram with seven sides, a heptagon.
Further exploration led her to a grand tapestry adorning the wall. Depicted on it was an image of two fishes chasing each other's tails, emanating a lifelike aura distinct from the previous one she had seen in the cavern.
With a subtle motion, the two fishes began to swirl in a circular dance in the tapestry,
*Swish*
The two fishes flew out of the tapestry, circling her before gradually materializing into human forms.
The black carp transformed into a stunning young lady exuding an air of mystery, with long black hair cascading down and piercing gray eyes capable of unraveling one's deepest secrets. She was draped in an opulent tartared black dress, exuding an aura of enigmatic allure.
The white carp metamorphosed into a debonair young man clad in scholarly white attire, his sleek white hair styled back and fastened with a jade pin. His abyssal black eyes seemed to possess a captivating depth that could drown one's soul. He exuded an otherworldly aura, akin to an immortal descending into the mortal realm, albeit with his soul- devouring eyes.
The suave young man approached Lu Xitong closely, crouching down to observe her with keen interest.
"What an extraordinary young lass," remarked the lady in black attire.
"Even more intriguing than anticipated," added the scholarly gentleman, gazing intently into Xitong's eyes, his abyssal eyes seeming to devour her very soul. Overwhelmed by his gaze, Xitong averted her eyes, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over her.
"Her physique is delicate, though," remarked the lady as she raised one of Xitong's arms.
"The maiden's constitution is quite remarkable," the scholarly man noted casually, withdrawing his intense gaze.
The duo continued to exchange observations about Xitong, treating her as an object of curiosity in a menagerie.
Growing weary of their scrutiny, Xitong finally interjected with a blend of sass and politeness, "Esteemed ancestors, I was unaware that my presence here was akin to a living exhibition. A prior notice would have allowed me to dress the part." Her words laced with a hint of sarcasm, she maintained a polite smile tho as she met their gaze.
"The young lady possesses spirit; I like that," the scholarly gentleman remarked, shooting a side glance at the lady in a black attire.
"I am Yin Yu, and this is my dao companion Yang Chen. We belong to the Primordial race and have been safeguarding your dynasty for numerous centuries. I presume you are already familiar with this," stated the lady in black attire, as she walked around Xitong with a solemn expression before settling on a throne crafted from black obsidian, crossing her long slender legs. The scholarly gentleman, Yang Chen, followed suit and took a seat on a pale white throne beside her.
"Now, the crux of the matter is that a mysterious entity has approached us, seeking our assistance in aiding your recovery," Yang Chen stated bluntly.
Xitong, "....."
Xitong remained silent, processing the information.
"You are well aware that we do not meet individuals in person unless they have proven themselves deserving of our acknowledgement. We refrained from intervening even when you were on your deathbed and your father pleaded daily on your behalf, despite facing repercussions from us," Yin Yu remarked coolly.
Xitong clenched her fists silently, her expression turning cold, though not escaping the notice of the duo.
"You seem upset, aren't you?" Yin Yu inquired with an indifferent demeanor. "Wouldn't you like to know why?" she continued.
"Isn't it because I hold no significance to you, merely another insignificant individual whose life and death didn't not warrant your attention?" Xitong replied nonchalantly.
"You assume too much," Yang Chen scoffed, no longer bothering to acknowledge her, visibly offended by her words.
"If you have already formed such a negative opinion of us, why did you bother answering our summon of you here?" Yin Yu questioned, her face bearing a knowing smile.
"Regardless, you are mistaken. The reason we refrained from intervening was due to the presence of that mysterious entity who has been secretly protecting you. Even when this entity did not intervene to save you, why would we interfere?" she posed rhetorically.
Xitong *∆* ?
"Who is this mysterious entity you speak of? Protecting me? This is perplexing," Xitong expressed, intrigued by this new revelation.
"We are unaware of the identity of this entity, and even if we desired to, we cannot uncover it. All we know is that this entity descended into this world alongside you," Yang Chen declared lazily, stifling a yawn.
"What?!" These words reverberated in Xitong's ears like a thunderclap, a myriad of questions flooding her mind. The tale of her descent into this world from colossal golden hands had been recounted to her countless times, yet the mysteries surrounding it always gnawed at her.
"Who could this mysterious entity be? Could they truly be connected to me or possess knowledge about my biological lineage?" she pondered.
"As for any questions you may have, you might ask that entity when you encounter them," Yin Yu, getting up from her throne whispered into Xitong's ear.
"We, along with that entity, have made preparations for you. If you successfully complete the initial step, you will have the opportunity to meet this entity," Yang Chen added, appearing behind Xitong at some unknown point in time.
Yin Yu and Yang Chen placed there palms vertically, mirroring each other's energy flow, gradually, black and white beady droplets materialized between them, swirling in a peculiarly odd spiral before vanishing into the grand tapestry in a ripple.
The image on the tapestry changed into a mountain range that shrouded their peaks in the sky, pulsating with life to indicating it was no illusion.
"What is this?" Xitong inquired, captivated by the unfolding scene.
"The tapestry serves as a portal to an enigmatic realm."
"The world within this tapestry is a unique space, serving as the burial grounds of a mighty Primordial carp dao pair from our race. The first progenitor of the YinYang dynasty stumbled upon their remains, becoming the first bearer of the Taichi bloodline, propelling the dynasty to its current stature. Those who earn our recognition may challenge the trials within this realm and reap rewards based on their prowess," Yang Chen elucidated.
"This realm shares a profound connection with the Taichi bloodline, being its very origin. Thus, upon successfully overcoming the trial, everyone in the dynasty will benefit by fortifying their bloodline, negating dilution across generations. Naturally, the greatest beneficiary will be the one who conquers the trial," he continued.
"The trial is straightforward: success hinges on one's ability to assimilate pure essence and withstand immense pressure. Assimilating pure essence alone is a formidable task. Be cautious not to overexert yourself, lest you risk being crippled permanently," Yin Yu cautioned.
"Remember, your recovery hinges on your abilities and fortune. Until your return," Yin Yu concluded, initiating a hand seal, Xitong was forcefully vacuumed into the tapestry.
Once Xitong had vanished into the tapestry, Yang Chen turned to Yin Yu. "Why must we go through all this trouble when that old ghost was the one who initially sealed her physique, causing her apparent condition?"
"You need not concern yourself with their matters. That elder must have had valid reasons for his actions, or else that entity wouldn't have secretly vanquished that heinous poison planted by the Nine Sacred Light Sect within her six years ago," Yin Yu responded impassively.
"You are correct. The body-stealing poison concocted by the Nine Sacred Light Sect was a well-devised scheme," Yang Chen paused before continuing, "That poison would have gradually sapped her talents until she turned fifteen, only to be transferred to the first man she associated with. This insidious plot would allow them to steal her abilities through their marriage ploy while upholding a facade of righteousness. What a despicable sect; only the heavens know the extent of their atrocities," Yang Chen spat.
"But what do you think her relationship with that old spirit is? Could they be related?" Yang Chen inquired eagerly, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
As the conversation unfolded, a distant voice interrupted, "If you must discuss me, at least have the courtesy to do so behind my back." The voice emanated from a corner, startling Yin Yu and Yang Chen breathless, indicating the mysterious entity's formidable strength.
Draped in a worn-out ash robe and c a conical straw hat concealing the entity's facial features, "It would be best not to poke your nose where they do not belong, cause I don't mind helping you sever it up." The mysterious figure warned grimly against unwarranted interference, causing a chilling shift in the room's atmosphere.
Yin Yu and Yang Chen, taken aback by the unexpected appearance, realized the entity's superior power and refrained from further conversation.Yang Chen even gulping a mouthful of saliva in fear before covering his nose and quieting down not even daring to reply or look in that entity's direction.
The entity was the enigmatic figure, who had appeared to Yang Jiang, Xitong's father on the day of her descent, maintained an air of mystery and authority, leaving those in his presence in trepidation.