Myriad Rivers to the Sea

Chapter 1010: A Stroll Through the Flames

The obsidian gates stood wide open and welcomed the endless tide of cultivators into the Sunfire Sovereign legacy. The transition from the glowing red dunes of the southern expanse to the interior of the trial ground was jarring. The air inside the realm was thick with the scent of sulfur and burning ash. A vast landscape of jagged volcanic rock stretched out toward the horizon under a sky choked with dark smoke.In the very center of the realm stood a towering volcano that pierced the thick clouds. This was the location of the main trial. It was a brutal crucible designed to test the limits of those who walked the path of fire.

The inheritance required challengers to climb the burning peak while enduring waves of sovereign fire, battling ascending ranks of elemental beasts and solving intricate arrays forged and many more trails. The ultimate prizes and the core teachings of the ancient sovereign waited at the summit.

Cultivators who practiced fire arts rushed straight toward the central peak the moment they crossed the threshold. The Blazing Edge Empire delegation moved like a disciplined army and ignored the surrounding valleys to focus entirely on the volcano. They sought the grand inheritance above all else.

The presence of powerful elders from every top faction walking through the gates sent a deep chill through the ranks of the loose cultivators. Wandering warriors like Suo stuck to the shadows and avoided the main roads leading toward the center. The rogue cultivators were terrified of encountering a bad tempered elder or a ruthless heir from an apex lineage.

However, the new laws proclaimed by the legacy creator changed the dynamic of the exploration. The resources were no longer distributed on a simple first come first serve basis. The treasures required a connection to fate and an affinity for the elements.

This unexpected rule gave the loose cultivators a fighting chance. They ventured down the forgotten paths and explored the hidden caves scattered around the perimeter. While they remained scared of the orthodox sects, they still managed to obtain rare resources.

A wandering swordsman might stumble upon a patch of spirit grass that a passing elder could not pluck due to a lack of destiny. The heavy hitters could not simply sweep the area clean with strength, it became a strange and delicate balance. No one truly knew if the new laws were a blessing or a curse for the overall gathering of resources.

Zhan Tian and Li Yu broke away from the main Zhan Clan expedition shortly after entering the realm. Zhan Chen and Zhan Ling led the fifty elite warriors toward a promising mountain ridge in the east to search for tempering materials. The Worldkeeper and his grandson wandered in the exact opposite direction.

They both walked with a relaxed posture while carrying their matching glaives resting casually over their shoulders. The deadly trial ground felt more like a scenic garden to them and Li Yu loved the feeling of safety that his grandfather gave him. They enjoyed the ambient heat warming their skin and the quiet isolation away from the frantic crowds.

"The air here is very rich," Li Yu noted as he kicked a loose piece of volcanic glass across the path. "It is good for the lungs and the meridians."

"It is a well constructed pocket realm," Zhan Tian agreed while looking around the barren landscape. "The old ghost who built this place poured his entire foundation into the soil."

They crested a small hill and encountered a sunken valley filled with glowing red herbs. A dozen stalks of Fire Lotus swayed gently in the hot wind. The petals radiated a pure and vibrant energy that promised to strengthen the bloodline of whoever consumed them.

Li Yu walked down into the valley and approached the nearest stalk. He reached his hand out to pluck the delicate flower but the new laws of the realm activated instantly. A subtle barrier of intent formed around the field to test his affinity and his fate.

Li Yu felt a gentle resistance pushing against his fingers. He circulated his Qi and pushed past the soft barrier to grasp the stem. He managed to pluck two of the glowing stalks before the surrounding space hardened into an unyielding wall. The realm rejected his touch and refused to let him harvest any more. He lacked the specific destiny required to claim the rest of the field.

Zhan Tian watched from the edge of the valley with a wide grin. He possessed the physical strength to shatter the rejection barrier and uproot the entire field if he truly wanted to. However, he chose to follow the rules he had inadvertently caused. He found the restriction amusing rather than frustrating.

"Only two?" Zhan Tian teased as his grandson walked back up the hill. "Your luck is terrible today, boy."

"Two is better than nothing," Li Yu smiled while carefully storing the Fire Lotus stalks inside his spatial ring. "If we took everything, there would be nothing left for the others. The creator wanted to reward fate and I respect his wishes."

"You are too polite," his grandfather chuckled. "But it is a nice change of pace. Let us see what else this place has hidden."

They continued their leisurely stroll and eventually found a stone doorway carved into the side of a sheer cliff. The entrance led into a subterranean maze of bubbling magma and shifting walls. It was a minor trial designed to test a cultivator's physical endurance and mental clarity under extreme duress.

"I will go inside and take a look," Li Yu said while adjusting his grip on the glaive.

"I will wait right here," Zhan Tian replied as he took a seat on a large flat boulder near the entrance. He rested his weapon across his knees and closed his eyes to enjoy the warm breeze.

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Li Yu stepped into the dark tunnel and the stone doors ground shut behind him. Zhan Tian sat in peaceful silence for several minutes before a group of wandering cultivators approached the cliff. They were eager to test their luck in the minor trials shattered throughout and were carrying various water aspected artifacts to ward off the heat.

The leader of the group spotted the stone doorway and smiled brightly. His smile vanished the moment he saw the towering Worldkeeper sitting on the boulder. The oppressive weight of Zhan Tian's resting aura was enough to make the loose cultivators struggle to breathe.

The group stopped dead in their tracks. They exchanged terrified glances before turning around and running in the opposite direction as fast as their legs could carry them. No one dared to enter a trial or even approach a location while Zhan Tian stood guard outside. The Worldkeeper opened one eye to watch them flee and let out a soft sigh of amusement before going back to sleep.

Deep within the core of the realm, the automated trial spirit watched the surveillance arrays. It rubbed its ethereal temples in sheer exasperation. A trial was meant to be a brutal crucible of blood, sweat and sacrifice. It was supposed to push the younger generation to their absolute limits. Instead, this terrifying brute and his grandson were treating the legacy like a private playground.

The trial spirit watched as Li Yu cleared the magma maze with insulting ease. The physical body of the young man naturally resisted the scorching heat of the shifting walls. His abundant Qi fueled his precise strikes against the flame beasts hiding in the lava. His strong mind and his soul easily unspooled the mental illusions designed to confuse the challengers.

Li Yu walked out of the stone doorway a short time later carrying a small jade box filled with high grade tempering pills. He tossed the box in the air and caught it with a satisfied smile.

"That was refreshing," Li Yu said as the stone doors sealed shut behind him. "The illusions were clever but they lacked killing intent. Did anyone else try to enter while I was inside?"

"A few people walked by," Zhan Tian replied lazily as he stood up from the boulder. "They decided they were not interested and went somewhere else. Shall we continue our walk?"

They ventured further into the unknown territories of the trial ground. Their luck remained remarkably good as they stumbled upon several hidden caches and small patches of rare resources.

Due to his powerful foundation, Li Yu was able to clear the obstacles guarding the treasures without sustaining any injuries. They only took a fraction of what they found due to the fate restriction but they were both very happy with the experience.

They eventually stumbled upon a small cave hidden behind a cascading waterfall of liquid fire. The entrance was narrow and unassuming. Li Yu felt a strange pull coming from the depths of the cavern and decided to investigate. Zhan Tian followed closely behind him while ducking his head to avoid the low ceiling.

They stepped into a small clearing at the back of the cave. The air here was surprisingly cool and still. A small spirit floated in the center of the room. She was forged from pure orange flame and took the shape of a young woman with long flowing hair made of flickering embers.

Li Yu approached her carefully and lowered his glaive to show he meant no harm. The fire spirit opened her eyes and looked at them with a mixture of confusion and lingering sorrow.

"Who are you?" The spirit asked with a voice that sounded like crackling firewood.

"I am Li Yu," he introduced himself softly. "This is my grandfather. We are exploring the realm. How long have you been trapped in this cave?"

"I do not know," the spirit replied while floating closer to inspect his face. "I do not remember my past or how I came to exist in this dark place. My mind is empty. I only know that my name is Ignia."

"Do you know why you are here?" Zhan Tian asked while leaning against the cave wall.

Ignia shook her head slowly. The embers of her hair drifted down and faded into the cool stone floor. "I do not have a purpose that I can recall. But I feel a relentless pull toward the towering peak in the center of the realm. Something is waiting for me there. It calls to me every waking moment but I am too weak to navigate the dangers outside this cave."

Li Yu listened to her story and felt a twinge of sympathy. He understood what it felt like to be lost and searching for answers. He looked at his grandfather and then turned his attention back to the floating spirit.

"I can take you there," Li Yu offered with a warm smile.

Ignia looked at him with wide glowing eyes. "You would risk the dangers of the realm to help someone you do not know?"

"We are heading toward the center anyway," Li Yu reasoned. "It is no extra trouble for us."

He reached into his robes and pulled out a unique item. It was an ethereal looking gourd. Mists of silver and grey energy flowed constantly within the smooth surface of the vessel. He had received this treasure from Astramentis for helping to save The Veil.

"This is a powerful weapon forged by the ancient people of the Veil," Li Yu explained as the item floated into his open hands. "It can suck enemies inside and trap them. They will face countless deadly illusions while trapped within the mist. However, it has another function. It can also collect and store weakened souls for a period of time to keep them safe. The length of time depends on how weak or powerful the captured soul actually is."

He held the gourd out toward the fire spirit.

"It is perfectly safe inside. If you enter the gourd, I can carry you past the beasts and the extreme heat without you expending any of your own energy. Once we reach the main trial I will let you out."

Ignia looked at the swirling silver mist and then at the honest expression on Li Yu's face. She felt a kindness radiating from his aura so she nodded her head and willingly accepted his offer. She allowed herself to be drawn into the mouth of the gourd and settled peacefully into the comforting grey energy.

Li Yu secured the stopper and tied the ethereal vessel to his belt. Zhan Tian watched the entire exchange and shook his head with a heavy sigh. He pushed himself off the cave wall and walked toward the exit.

"You are too soft, boy," Zhan Tian commented as they stepped back out into the burning landscape. "You are willing to miss out on valuable resources and waste precious time just to help out a random spirit who does not even know her own history. The cosmos does not reward charity."

"It is fine, grandfather," Li Yu replied. "We are just enjoying ourselves today. Helping others without expending too much effort is not a bad thing. Besides, we have already gathered plenty of pills and herbs."

Zhan Tian shook his head again but he could not hide the cheerful glint in his eyes. He appreciated the pragmatic ruthlessness required to survive the Myriad Realms but he was secretly proud of his grandson's underlying humanity.

"Lead the way, soft heart," Zhan Tian laughed as he hoisted his glaive over his shoulder. "Let us go see what is waiting for your little flame spirit at the center of the world."