Chapter 9-10-11-12

 

     

     Chapter 9- Next Phase

     

     The testing grounds have changed. And admission were more closely monitored now. It was a lake, and everyone had to move

     there by boats. The elite were selected now, so the expectancy were of high also. People wanted to see wonders... They were

     curious what would these disciples be able to refine or craft. 

     

     Larchen tried to read the  12-summon art, and he got nothing, it was invisibile... He was sweating like pig left in sun to dry.. 

     His hopes...was crushed, entire documents was blank.. He had only to really on himself now...If you panicked you lost, anyway... 

     He calmed himself, setting his mind not to cause too big an embarassment.

     

     Embarassment... wait.. the nature of negative feelings, closely related to destruction...One has to apply it to nature to gain violent yet

     stable chi.. He tried to circulate it in his meridians, and read the scrool again... voila, being an asshole was the key to reading this.

     The nature only served if you followed its rules.. life and death were also similar.

     

     Thankfully the art was quite an easy one to understand, he immediately memorized it. Elder Fowliang were aware of Larchen's

     pig sweating demenaour by now, but she also noticed that he has calmed himself now. 

     

    -- Alright, make us a spirit grade pill or a mechanical servant.. You have 2 hours..

     

     Larchen was feeling mischevious.. He decided to use the final step of the mechanical art, he understood it easily, it was simple enough..

     Competition were rough and complex, so .. why not some overkill ? It couldn't hurt..

     

     He followed the instructions, ... what am i lacking.. restore the fourth plant again, here we go

     

     Hey what is your disciple doing, someone from the Ectoparasite court inquired.. it looks quite

     strange.. What are you teaching your disciples..  she laughed

     

     Hey, don't be rude..

     

     Mind your own business.. Thrash sect...

     

     Perhaps wait and see, our disciple is great, you parasite sect... people

     

     Calm down people, its just a friendly jab, another elder tried to calm the sudden ruckus...

     

     Mind me, the ectoparasite elder continued, if he's doing something strange we'll file a complaint

     about it.. there will be a inquiry

     

     Elders face changed, He was basically doing anything to cause them unhappiness and discomforrt.

     But they said nothing, it was a childish attempt of provocation after all.

     

     It looks like a monster.. 

     

     He wasn't wrong per say.. the creature had some sort of large shoulder and massive lungs.. and it was tall.. Larchen kept

     adding parts and gears regardless. Next was the brain.. which often included dumping coal process.. If there was enough

     refinement of talent, it would somehow be intelligent.. He added an ingredient he snatched from the darklands expeditions... 

     which wasn't in the recipe, he was keeping it for such an occasion.

     

     

     Chapter 10 - Summon the Twelve

     

     Alright, activate your golems, and finish refining your pills..

     

     He made some signs, he learned in he class... and, nothing happened..

     

     There was quite a  laughter,

     

      the winged deamon does it again...

      

      what a motherless..

      

      at least its an entertainment

      

      Ehm, Larchen, you weren't able to bind your construction ? You are considered able to do this

      at this stage.

      

      Ah, exactly. he thought,.I was considered able, so i'm not able to do this, for this art.. I'm unable..

      Well, elder, i wanted to surprise you, would you like to activate it yourself ?

      

      Elder looked at the jury... after some deliberation, there was a nod. no rule said you

      had to activate your creation on your own... but to make it..

      

      The elder tapped the golem, which then went on to move, it was looking like a make shift

      pebble art with toilet papers.. It shrug off for some time, then transformed into a full

      martial blood demon...

      

      The shock on the air was palpable, many people have shat their pants, and some were looking

      emptily.. The violent blood aura was to much. 

      

      The golem approached the Larchen, I'm number 12, what is your biddin master

      

      Ehm... there was an awkward moment, then there was massive applauds... Many sect elders

      were also applauding.. this thing... was a massively useful martial blood demon, that were used

      in more serious battles between armies, or to guard precious treasures.

      

      Alright, calm the commotion, move on...  Elders tried to enact order

      

      Hmph, the ectoplasmic elder were giving deadly look to Larchen.. This idiot is worth a dime or two,

      huh ? He is responsible for dampening my mood... You'll all get your upper commance soon..

      

      This was a terribly dominant move by the sect.. He really made it this time.. He passed in this manner.. After, elder Frohne

      approached him to offer congratulations..

      Hey, disciple, good on you...youve made us proud. here take this..

      No need elder..

      Come on, don't make me insist.. he threw an onion at Larchen..

      Ehm, thanks elder.. 

      

      What was he supposed to say, He didn't need to have an onion ? This was a sect elder, so

      even an onion was considered an honorable gift..

      

      Don't look awkward... its not an onion...

      

      I see, many thanks elder, he cusped his hands..

      

      Elder nodded.

      

      What is this curious thing.. He peeled a layer.. 

      

       - What is your level, a voice asked..

 

       - Huh 

 

       - There was silence... 

 

       - I'm a great hero, i'll be winning many victories, i'm at the second realm,tazeling  .... i'm a man

 

       - i see, a comedian... what do you wish, tell me your one wish.

 

       - Larchen reacted immediately.. withut thinking he said... I ...want to continue

       my education with in the sect.. and improve the town.

 

       - sigh.. a lackey then..        here, let me show you a memory...

         

      At the top of the village, there were twelve guardians. Someone were carrying a baby, and running away, while the attacking

      cultivators were relentless cuting down everyone. The person who was carrying the baby, put it down on a river, and made a

      hand signal andput its finger palm on baby's forehead, a symbol shone, then disappeared. He let go of the basket and it traveled

      down the river in a massive speed. Although the basket was overthrown the baby was a child now, and were able to swim quitewell. Sensing

      the danger perhaps, it fled immediately.

      

      - So what about it ?

      

      - Its said that the river runs through this sect... the child has traveled here...and was later buried here when he lived his life, and founding the sect

      

      - But there is no proof ? 

      

      - what an odd question. Not really..

      

      - Okay, so what then...

      

      -.... Did you notice the symbol ?

      

      - yeah..

    

      - here letme apply it also to your forehead..

    

      - okay..

    

      - how do you feel ?

    

      - ....nothing a bit nauseous..

    

      - this wil help you focus your mind, and clear away your constant depression

    

      - ah i see, thanks...

    

      - depression is an other word for heart demon...  so don't think this as a bad gain.

    

      - thanks, i guess..

      

      

      

      

      Chapter 11- Free points

      

     The next part of the competititon were free roaming, and it was scored by contribution points. All the points from stages

     so far were also added, to make a ranking. Larchen checked out the list.. He was at a medium rank.. Quite acceptable.

     

     To be honest, his depression was like an infection inside him. He was able to guard it against it.. it was a relentless lazy feeling

     creature... it made one uncaring. Somewhere somehow, it was always the bad day for him... It stole his brilliance..day by day.

     

     The old religions were terrible.. Larchen encountered hints of it in the dark forest, while he was gathering for artifacts and valuables.

     The horrible sludge on the air, was also apparent in the souls of creatures, their mysteriously pessimistic and tricky ways

     and behaviors constituted a pattern of such terrible forms. One can for example advance with a heart demon, in these religions...

     They could gain levels on cultivation, desperation after all is better than death. But their results were truly terrible, the social

     fabric that makes up the society was torn away, and the physical effects were also, of mutilation and mogrification, rotting of skin

     and likewise grotesque and difficult to live with. One could still defend their cultivator heart at such cost of degeneration.

     

     But often it was the worldview that didn't survive. People simply, forgot, why they did enjoy normal things, and common sense.

     Perhaps to Larchen it seemed, these arts were searched on purposed rather than despereation. At old times, it was probably normal

     to cultivate these dark religions. He gathered, many of the cultivators of such sects, finished their education, and contributed to

     the sect again, and the result was of thatrestrictions was put on their spirit to control them. But still, to many it was purposefully

     seeked.

     

     At the highest center of such a path, were the real happy heart. At each phase if one choose darkness intentonally, there would

     be only light left, in technical terms. True light, unused.. So it was the myth around this religion's interpretation. Judging by

     the strange smoke and ruin aronud the place, one could certainly not agree with that.

     

     Larchen's instructiors have told him to go directly at the higher plains, and jump into trial gate instead of collecting points since

     he would be ground meat in 15 seconds..Larchen nodded. and agreeed, then he asked them to hand him an item that was

     taken away from near the plains.. they didn't ask why and proceeded to do it..

     

     This was for his teleportation art, if he had been to that place before and as soon as it was visible distance to human sight,

     he could teleport there with his wings.. A token would also do, intead of visiting it..

     

     The bell rang and everyone jumped to the forest. Larche shot like a tomahawk missile and flew over the distance in a blink... 

     it was quite a spectacle but it was hardly noticable

     

     He immediately entered to trial portal, since he was sure to be killed otherwise. Most people around were 2 realms higher than his..

     and it was a "free" test.. if you know what they meant...Grudges would be avenged.. there would be many fights... and trial wasn't time

     based, of it it was, it a few days wouldn't make such difference.

     

     Elder Fowliang was laughing, she was sort of too nervous when this Larchen was involved, he rocketed like a jet pack and

     jumped into the portal amongst shocked onlookers still scratchin their things... She 

     didn't know how to feel except that it was amusing..

     

     

     Chapter 12- The Song of the Sun

     

     Larchen was in pain... the depression has descended on him.. He woud surely die, if it wasn't for the onion... he realized.

     pressure was a test, for old religion.. and this was such an old gate.. He stood there in pain for quite a while, whimpering and whimpering..

     

     After some time, he openied his eyes...There were a few more songs now.. He was able to pick them out differently now a bit..

     He advanced in the dark cave.. The portal's light made a quite natural hue, and he could see a bit forward..

     

     Well, who do we have here ?

     

     Huh..

     

     Come on, don't be so gloom, everythin is on sale. The figured declared, it was a fresh faced woman who was dressed in juggler pants, which

     looked like a carnival artist's attire. We have many arts for sale, our acrobatic hall boasts many artifacts...She took a sales person

     posture, shouting particularly at no where,

     

     - come on,  have alook at our stall

     

     Uh, i guess, Larchen said

     

     He was at a shock to realize, a 3d figurine of himself were on the table... Next to it, there was the Ectoparasite elder, veins

     on his neck frozen in a shouting stance...Next, the sect punishment hall officials... Near there was a house and some poor people

     were testing the clothes they got from charity for holidays.. They looked sad, and the estate so grand, and it was snowing.

     

     Larchen felt cold... it wasn't just temperature and strange situation, he felt free of depression, yes, but it was being also alone,

     to feel normal suddenly. Next, he saw, there were an army of ectoparasite disciples, training to attack the city... they were.. doing

     an army exercise for such a scenario. Fortune were a fickle thing... They tested their karma in these ways, he realized.

     

     He felt even colder.. But that were also in his emotions. He wasn't guarded now, as he usually were. Together with

     his depression, so did he crumble, and was about to faint. The saleswoman were looking at him with a curious pity.. It reminded

     Larcheb of the elder Fowlian, who were so generously supportive of him, athrash...His depression eased a bit... He then thought

     of her in a romantic manner.. He could, dothings to her body..if he hang on and survived...She would be quite pleased. 

     

     There appeared many recordings of their encounters around about. Many spoke at once, many things were observable at these

     point of view, that it wasn't quite possible before, or that he never thought on them much, in his regular way of acting. Recording

     got strange and someone was howling, now in his voice, at every time... It went on like a song, made of blood, fuill of natural

     sequences and toning.

     

     He then saw another device at the stalls... It was similar to the summoing art he used, the script was familiar..It was an art to modify

     Golem's weapon so that it coudl use alchemical bombs...

     

     Ehm, how much is it ? he asked

     

     Hmm, you have to stay here for... 20 days..

     

     Ah. i see.. At least it's not money, for he sure couldn't afford it.. What's so bad about staying here..

     

     You tell me, she smiled strangely.. Well, she said, it could.. overtake your senses and your brain.. And you will become a cripple..

     unable to find your way out..

     

     Larchen suspected, she was lying... He expected it.. The violent death aura emaneting from the saleswoman was quite clear

     to his better senses..In fact he thought everything she did and said so far were a lie. Arranged for his benefit.. Her skin were white.

     But she wore a southern bering, and southern people were often said to use mind altering spells and tricks in their daily life.

     

     Okay i'll take the test, but 20 days is too much,.. i dont' have time..

     

     Don't worry, time passes much faster here than outside she said.. about 10 times, so its 2 days..

     

     Agreed, he said.. He sat down, and meditated. He tried focusing on the various tunes going around, and decided to best way is

     to find a sunny,  more energetic one. He focused on the sales woman who were belly dancing now, in front of his face... She was quite

     slippery, and natural in her dance, accompanying the tune regardless. He focused on her smell, as a material anchor. 

     

     Suddenly Larcen realized, he was advancing levels,. Tazeling realm had 9 levels also, as any other. He gained many insights, and shot up

     two levels at once, which created a catashtrophically violent energy inside his body, luckily it merged with the rhytm of the song, and

     he started jumping levels rapidly. one more.. one more.. he was now at the 5th stage of this realm, the middle place. He thought it'd

     stop here, but it went on, his understanding was perfect and his realm was really too weak, it went on until 7th and stopped just before the 8. 

     

     He would be able to advance also but his chi volume weren't high enough. The energy circling weren't being kept due to requirements

     of a large capacity. His dantian were being transformed still, not stopping its advancement. He was in catathonic catastrophic pain and

     now were drooling in the ground. The sales woman danced near and did some arousing moves. She put her foot near his

     face, it wasn't quite a clean smell.. to his sense.. She then didn't stop and put her toe in his mouth..

     

     Larchen was very angry...Wasnt this woman a secular sales person, what was she doing ? He thought maybe he was imagining things,

     and it was an illusion, but he couldn't really tell. Marriage were a lifetime affair to Larchen.. He would now forever... think of this woman... 

     whenever he had romantic urges... He decided there was nothing he could do... so he tried t somewhat fix

     himself together... he used every last bit of strength to be able to move again.. While he was in  pain he was also feeling great..

     the level advancements always came with massive strength upgrades. So the pressure from the cave was much less..

    

     He tried to push the woman's toe away from his mouth. Unfortunately she was of a much higher cultivation. Her dantian was much

     larger than his.. and her feet stink like fish salt...Larchen almost fainted... but still he was gaining new insights. He remembered the

     elder Fowliang, what would she say now, if she saw what was happening..Surely there were no feelings between them, but for some

     reason his mind kept going to her, he felt like he was betraying her.. Elder were a stunning specimen, the expression on her face

     were as natural as the lightning on the cloudy day. The sales woman was a jovial person instead.. Larchen felt so helpless, and depressed,

     he realized once again, he didn't know what was going on. Didn't have a clue.

    

     Suddenly there were some larger than life actors, playing a scene. The main lead were shouting until his veins were bulging, and then

     one did.. He was a huge tall giant, holding his neck, blood flowing down. People were gathering around, asking his about his condition.

     There were quite a few murmurs..

     

     Larchen were often akin to emotional scenes. There were many, in the dark lands, just like this woman but more deadly and

     unstructured.. He was used to being hurt in his mind, until like a patch of sponge only thing left was forward. However,the women

     weren't stopping. He sank his teeth into the giant king's vein, huging his body.. making onlookers cry in disbelief. 

     

     They were having sex, in front of a million people... Larchen looked at the absurd scene, checking his senses.. He noticed the song

     has changed ever so slightly now... diverting his senses.. He focused on the sunny song once again.