Pathway To Eternity

With a serene mind and equally calm appearance, he continued walking towards the direction of the refectory. However, on a day like this, he would ha prefered to stay in his room and ruminate on the past events. After the gruelling hours of previous day, he knew they all deserved a full day of solitude, at the least. But all of them had agreed to meet on this day at the refectory. And since others went through the same thing as him, to the refectory it was.

By the time he reached the place, the other three were already there, conversing while eating from their food plates on the table. With the looks on their faces, he could correctly guess they were all eager to share their adventures in the forsaken palace. He couldn't agree more with them. It had been an incredible adventure.

"Hey, Ju Feng."

Lin Cheung called to him the moment he caught sight of him entering the cafeteria.

"Hello Cheung."

Ju Feng replied before swftly turning to Da Xia and Ying Jie. He could tell through their faces that they all had fortuitious encounters at the forsaken palace of the Jade emperor.

"Hello Da Xia, Ying Jie."

"Hello Ju Feng."

They both replied in unison. They were trying very hard to hide the smile on their faces which was growing wider by chomping down on their food.

"Quickly, have a seat."

Said Lin Cheung enthusiastically, indicating the seat space beside him. He gave Ju Feng a quick nod before continuing happily.

"You want to hear this from Da Xia."

Lin Da Xia, nonchalantly, waved the comnent down. Though, there was eagerness written on her happy face.

"Come on, Cheung. It wasn't that much of a big deal as you are making it but I guess it was still something. Hehe."

She quickly looked around the cafeteria before adjusting her sitting position. She leaned closer to the center of the table and glanced from one face to another. After having their undivided attention, she continued.

"You all remembered when we were about to enter the palace? After our encounters with the Luduans? Well, the moment I raised my right leg to enter, everything around me went dark. And the next moment, I heard the voice of the giant saying that we could find ourselves in different locations. My mind went directly to portal. Are we entering a portal? At first, I was scared. What if I find myself in a demon hole? With all these going on in my head, I decided that as soon as I get there, I would use the safe word immediately. Are you with me?"

Lin Da Xia asked her silent audience. After recieving confirmatory nods in return, she continued.

"The moment my right leg landed, I found myself in the midst of the golden marmosets."

"The golden marmosets?"

Asked Fu Ying Jie in surprise.

"The fairies of the Golden-Glitters?"

Fully astounded, Ju Feng inquired before continuing.

"I thought they say any cultivator below Jindan level couldn't see them."

"Thar's true, only golden core and above."

Replied Lin Da Xia as she continued to watch them in delight.

"Then, why did you see them?"

Fu Yingjie asked with curiousity.

"I wondered the same and I really do not know the answer. But, imagine the scene before me. All holding ceremonial golden talismans and figurines, dancing around in circles. You all should have seen the surprise and shock in their eyes when they saw me. Though I was afraid, my astonishment couldn't let me react quick enough. I was standind there, inside their dancing circle, looking at their faces in bewilderment as they were staring at mine. From what I later learned from their leader, they were performing the rite of the goldrave. But, they were not expecting any summoning talkless of that of a human."

"The rite of the goldrave?"

Ju Feng asked as he thoughtfully regarded his food before he continued.

"I read they choose the ones to enter the depth of the goldrave during that rite."

"Yes, that one. Anyway, coming to my senses, I was about to use the safe word, when they started crooning in delight. This made me had a pause of my intention. The leader of the group, the one they refered to as Lord-Fae, happily approached and addressed me. He said though they were surprised to see me, they were happy that I was summoned and asked me to follow him."

"Summoned?"

Fu Yingjie observed Lin Da Xia with curiousity.

"Can you even summon a mortal?"

"Yes, you can. Extremely difficult though, since a mortal has no nascent soul to make the soul alignment easier."

Answered Da Xia before taking another bite off her food.

"So, what did you do?"

Ju Feng asked, curious to know more.

"At first, I was reluctant to go. How would I know where they were taking me to? Then I decided to a little risk of following them.  Was just hoping I had a moment to say the safe word if I eventually find myself in trouble. While following them, I had the opportunity of observing the place I found myself in. No doubt, it's a glitter world. Short golden trees that were bearing golden fruits. Flowing waters of liquid gold. You should have seen this place. Every where you look is of sparkling gold. Sparkling gold? Alright, I know they were marmosets, but, what kind of a place was that? I asked myself. I started thinking hard and fast because I haven't learned of any marmoset's place like this before."

"I don't think any one of us have done that before too."

Said Chenric who was resting his chin on his palm, deep in thoughts. He glanced at their faces before continuing in a more silent tone.

"From the records, marmoset's world is not all of gold like that. What could have happened there?"

"Good question, brother. From the conversation I was having with the Lord-Fae, I came to learn about the place. Though, it was part of our plane, it was a dimensional world. A hidden dimensionsl world. I wasn't suppose to see them talkless of when they wrre performing their ceremonial rites. He said the only reason that could have happened was because of the fact that I must have been summoned."

Lin Daxia replied and proceeded to explain.

"Alright, you are the summoned one. But did you manage to find out why you were summoned?"

Fu Yingjie quipped in with his question. 

"After asking Lord-Fae about this, he told me about the problem of the Goldsurge that was ruining their world. Every million years, the terran-energy line of the gold streams, must be sealed with the Cold-Ore to avoid Goldsurge like that. And, it was already million years but their rites had not been successful. They had been performing this rite but couldn't get the rites to choose the marmosets to seal the terran-line. However, the chosen marmosets would all die from the mission. At the same time, they couldn't just barge into the depth because of the power of the surge. The surge was as powerful as a godly attack on pure metal entities. They, as gold entity, would simply be fused into the stream from the surge."

Lin Da Xia dramatically paused as she solemnly examine their faces.

"And they couldn't find another way since they were just metal entites with no cultivation. So, their powers were limited. Though, they were performing rite to see who will go, they would rather prefer none of them to do it."

"Why?"

Asked Ju Feng quickly.

"Because, the ones they had sent in so far, didn't make it to the half-way of the terran energy-line. And because I was a different being entirely, not made of gold, they had high hope of me reaching the depth of the Goldrave. Lord-Fae said if I could seal the energy-line, they would repay me in gold and I agreed."

But, you can't take marmosets gold. It's a common knowledge that the moment it's out of their world, it would turn to pebbles." 

Fu Yingjie glared at Lin Da Xia, confusingly.

"I know that quite well. It wasn't the gold that caught my interest, Ying Jie. What do you get when you place Cold-Ore inside terran energy-line?"

"Heavens tears! Cold-Ore and terran energy! The terran-ore crystals!"

"And for a million years?"

Da Xia asked them with a self-satisfactory smile that turned wider as realization dawned on them.

"Total grade hevenly terran-ore crystals."

"Titan's torso! One crystal alone, is an incredible fortune."

"Tell us Da Xia, did you find any of them?"

Lin Da Xia smiled broadly as she glanced at their anxious and expectant faces. She reached into the inside of her robe and produced a medium-sized cloth sack. She gently placed it on the table and slowly opened it. Ju Feng and the rest, leaned closer to have a proper look at the crystal. Inside the small sack, were two bright and sparkling terran-ore crystals.

Heavens tears!

It truly existed. What a fortune?

An hour later, Lin Cheung and Lin Da xia were off to the library, Fu Ying Jie went to the training center while Ju Feng was on his way to the sect's haven to check on Su Ming. On his way, his mind went back to Lin Da Xia and her terran-ore crystals, and his heart leapt in joy. He had never seen a terra-ore crystal before until then. Now, depending on Lin Da Xia's resolve and decision, with those crystals, she could either become a very rich woman or an extremely powerful cultivator, in the future.

Ju Feng was certain of one thing, with her talent and her acquired materials, Lin Da Xia would definitely become a nascent soul at the least. Faster than most cultivators. No matter her decision.

But the choice was hers to make.

Nevertheless, the good thing was that, she had a fortuitous adventure. With the twin spirits fruit and the terran-ore crystals, Da Xia's adventure was never in vain.

About the others?  Only time would tell.