Pathway To Eternity

The following day would be the day for the Summoning in the Valley Of A Thousand death, the awakening for every true blood. Her uncle had already made sure of that. Chang Chang, who was now ten years of age, was already looking forward to the coming of the summoning. Which blood wouldn't want an awakening? She didn't want to have her awakening at a later age. This was the only way to undergo true manifestations due to the divine items inside the valley. Since this was her age of awakening, she would certainly be partaking in the rite as long as she got the required items prepared.

The council of blood supremes would preside and witness the awakening of each present child. Their results would be announced and kept in the records of existence of the Wushi world by the six foremost judges.

This was each blood's dream. To undergo true awakening at the right age and get a great path in order to have a strong future and be noticed by the representative of the topmost schools.

The schools.

In any continent of the Wushi, the schools were one of the most important organizations. They were comprised of powerful ancestral patriarchs some of which were at the level of the sovereign while there were also a few number of them that had attained the supreme stage. These latter ones were the ones known as the Seminals. The more a school would have seminals, the stronger the school would be.

The superior martial techniques which were needed to do combat in this chaotic world of bloods, and cultivation techniques which were simply how to harness the essence energy needed for advancement, were due to the many years the patriarchs took in experimenting and perfecting various ideas. Some borrowed ideas were added to their own and perfected to produce these techniques.

This was why these techniques were highly protected and guarded by the schools. Although there were some technique manuals in the hands of the loose bloods too, these were all regarded as rare treasures.

Chang Chang had been looking forward to this occasion for a time now. Her parents had been actively preparing her for it since she was born. Long hours of combat training and meditation to put her in the right frame of mind for the awakening rite and to deal with other bloods, later in the future. The training had been exhausting, but, she knew it was due to the fact that they really loved her and wanted her to have a good chance at survival. And the following day, would be the day that her life trials would truly begin.

"World of a bloods."

She gave an apprehensive smile as the memories of the past came flooding in. Of a time when she would sit, unbearably, in front of her parents as they meditated. She was a little mischievous then as meditation wasn't her thing. Sitting in one place with eyes closed as she freed her mind. This was simply beyond her endurance.

"Pfft..."

But now, she appreciated all the effort of her parents more than before. Nevertheless, meditation was still not her main thing. The concept of being crippled while freeing her mind from whatever there was, already beat her sense of endurance.

"Inner peace."

She thought to herself as she slowly closed her eyes. She would need a lot of inner peace as she prepared for the rite. There was nothing she could do about the rite since the awakening wasn't in her hands. She could only hope that her awakening was good enough to impress those present, especially the schools' patriarchs .

Few minutes later, she headed towards the training centre at the back of their mansion.

Martial arts!

Now, that was her main thing. She loved practising martial arts and engaging in mock combats. However, she didn't practise with any weapon since she didn't know what weapon her soul awakening would acquire. Despite this, her hand combat was incredibly powerful for her age. The power in her hand martial arts was truly a wonder. Also, she knew how to control her combat power. The general basics of martial arts that she was taught by her parents on her power output's strength.

With total eagerness, she continued towards the training centre, unaware of her parent eyes on her.

They had been cautiously observing and monitoring Chang Chang. After all, she was their only child. Despite them trying to hide all these, they still couldn't care less if others were watching them or not. They remembered the time they were hiding her in a far off world known as Lorra. In a small village of Sky-Spring. They knew what they had gone through before they could have her. They had been hiding her, but now, no more. So, whether they over-watched her or not, it was perfectly justified.

They stood by the opened window of the upper living chamber as they used their divine sight to continue watching their daughter. Chang Xi gently squeezed the arm of her husband while resting her head on his shoulder. Her sight was fixed on her child who was going in the direction of the training area. 

"Look at her, my husband. Our own child, all grown up now."

"Yes, my wife. She is."

"And do you see how wonderful she looks everyday? That's my true essence in her."

"I couldn't agree more with you, my beautiful wife. But you see how strong she is everyday? That's because of me. Don't you agree?"

"Can't argue with that at all."

Said Chang Xi with a wide smile on her face. It might be a joke on the part of her husband, but Chang Xi knew the level of her husband's power. Especially, when he was a stellar deity before the battle that got his core shattered. Even now with an amended core, he was still a powerful deity. But what could have been without the tragic incident? She knew what he had sacrificed to be here today with her.

Chang Liu could see a mixture of joyful and grateful expression on Chang Xi's face which made him smile broadly as he jokingly shook his head.

"Where would I be without you, my true strength?"

"On the throne of the underworld?"

"In my dreams, surely in my dreams."

They both laughed softly before turning their attention back to Chang Chang who was now practising her general hand combat. They couldn't teach her any named combat technique since they didn't know what her awakening would be. A named technique must be in alignment with the manifestation of a deity. Tomorrow after the rite, they would know the way forward for her. Oh, how good would it be if she could get a manifestation like her father who had the path of the Flowing Nebula or perhaps, the path of the Azure Herald like the arch-supreme, lord Chang Wu.

Chang Xi gave a soft sigh as she gently patted the hand of her husband.

"How fast the time moves. I still can't believe she's ten now."

"Yes, she is."

Chang Liu responded while patting his wife's shoulder in a soothing way.

"And, I know your mind wonders about tomorrow."

"Yes, I am worried. How will her rite go? What summoning would she have? Which school will take her? You remembered her essence energy when she was born? The dark silver energy?"

"How can I forget that, my wife? Still, I want you to rest your mind, for one thing is definitely certain. No matter what her awakening is tomorrow, our daughter will surely be fine. She's a true Xu Wu"

"I hope she does."

"She will. Now, should we go and see how her day was going?"

"Alright."

They joined Chang Vhang at the training centre where they all practise for a time before calling time on it. They moved to the dining chamber where a special delicacy of the Nine Mountain spirit deer was steaming on the table. The night was dedicated to Chang Chang as she began her immortal deity journey.

After the meal, they all departed to their various ways as Chang Chang made her way to the silent cultivation chamber. Despite not being able to cultivate until after her summoningg, she sat down and closed her eyes in meditation. At least, she could meditate. Even, if she didn't enjoy doing so.

Oh, how good would it be to be like her parents, one day. Her own journey would start the following day. A journey of no end, she was told. How far she would go, would depend on her as from the next day.

Gradually, she began to relax and free her mind of anxiety and expectation's burden. The following night would be the big day for her and the other kids. She wanted to be ready as much as possible for the events.

Inner peace!

After meditating for few hours, she left the chamber and went looking for her parents. She bid them night and left for her room. 

As sleep took over, Chang Chang began to have a calling dream. A soul-drawing dream about the void.