Tales Of Demons, Gods, And Libraries

In full control of myself again, I move back towards the bookcases. The first scroll I absorbed was a cultivation manual, and I still have two more flaws to remove from my own Legend rank cultivation technique.

It short order, I finish absorbing the scrolls and tomes around the treasury. Some of them were reduced to dust at my touch, but I still managed to absorb them into the Library of Heaven's Path in that split second of contact.

While there were several more cultivation manuals, I was only able to remove one of the two flaws for my Legend rank manual. I did gain several more battle and defensive inscriptions and a few more alchemy recipes.

Looking over the piles of treasure, I realize that I need a bigger interspatial ring. Scanning the jewelry, I notice a rather plain dark ring. A quick check with the Library of Heaven's Path reveals an empty interspatial ring with a sizable area.

Without the fear of having to be selective, I begin to collect anything that strikes my interest. Crystallized Legend rank demon spirits, gold bars, and large jewels all find their way into my possession. I didn't plan to take a large amount of gold, but I'm going to need a lot of demon spirit coins to fulfill my goals.

Walking around a mound of gold coins, I notice a long sleek metallic hilt sticking out the side. Grasping the hilt leaves me feeling a solid and comfortable grip, as if it was specifically designed for me. With a firm grip on the thick hilt, I give a mighty tug, freeing it from the mound. My efforts rewarded me with a long sheathed naginata. The entire hilt seems to be of a solid metal piece, reaching a length of one and a half meters. The naginata is perfectly balanced, with a textured surface on the metal hilt to prevent your grip from slipping.

Removing the metal sheath, I take in the sight of an unblemished meter long double-edged blade. The reflective surface of the blade seems to match the metal of the hilt. At two and a half meters in length, this would give me a huge reach advantage over my opponents.

There are no runes on the blade, and the Library of Heaven's Path states the metal to be an experimental alloy forged by Orchid City's Master Bladesmith. It was placed in the City's Treasury while a suitable enchantment was made for it. I think I know the perfect one.

A smile finally spreads across my face for the first time since I merged with the Shadow Devil. I have plans for this weapon. Big plans.

Storing my new weapon away in my soul realm, I resume my search. It doesn't take long before I'm standing over a beautifully forged golden b.r.e.a.s.tplate. A large and intricate sun is engraved in the center of the c.h.e.s.t. The Library of Heaven's Path reveals the demon spirit enchanted into the b.r.e.a.s.tplate has since dissipated, but the materials are still in perfect condition.

If the demon spirit in the b.r.e.a.s.tplate would have still been active, I wouldn't be able to wear this yet. I would have to wait until I reached the Black-Gold rank before donning it or risk soul force exhaustion. Without the demon spirit or active enchantment, this is just an extremely durable piece of armor made from a Black-Gold ranked demon beast. I'm able to wear this b.r.e.a.s.tplate now. And that's exactly what I do.

It takes me another ten minutes to find the matching greaves, bracers, and pauldrons. I'm even able to find an armored tasset belt, but the cloth seems to have rotted off. Fully armored, I move around the treasury trying to get a feel for wearing armor. The armor is a bit too big, but not enough that it would restrict or hinder my movement much. I'm just missing a helmet, or I would have the matching set.

I'm starting to feel like a wingless and helmet-less Archangel of Valor from one of my favorite video games. But the solid gold-colored armor is too gaudy for my tastes. Ripping the sleeves off my black overcoat, I slip it on. The black really mellows out the look. I can dig this.

Realizing that it's already the early morning hours, I start looking for a place to take a nap. The underground palace is supposed to be filled with hidden traps, and I really don't want to fall into a pitfall because I'm too tired to notice.

Resting across a large mound of gold, I try to wriggle myself into a comfortable position. The armor is surprisingly easy to relax in. Entering into the anatta state of mind, sleep quickly claims me.

My eyes snap open. I'm on my feet with the naginata held ready to lash out at the first sign of hostility. A sense of unease firmly grips me. I can neither sense or detect anyone or anything else down here with me.

Stupid haunted mansion. I've seen too many scary movies. Placing my naginata back in my soul realm, I curse myself for a fool. A fool for being so jumpy, and a fool for not even thinking of merging with the Shadow Devil. That should have been the first thing I do whenever I get the feeling of being watched.

Looking around the treasury, I start storing large amounts of gold in my new interspatial ring. I also grab several jewels and demon beast body parts.

By the time both my interspatial rings are nearing their limit, I have taken nearly a fifth of the treasury. There is still a large number of items left, but nothing over Gold rank escaped my notice. Chen Linjian's group shouldn't have any complaints, and if they do. Oh well.

Pulling out my journal, I start walking around the walls of the treasury, checking for flaws. On the opposite wall of the stairs, I find the hidden door. I step through the hidden door and into a hallway. A few quickly scribbled lines confirms the direction to my new destination.

Merging with the Shadow Devil, the dark halls suddenly become visible. I can easily make out everything within twenty meters. The clarity becomes darker the further past twenty meters I look, but the effects are far better than what a torch could produce.

Walking down the hallway, I can clearly see the traps along the walls and floor. Most look to be pressure plate triggered. I've not tested what would happen, and I have no d.e.s.i.r.e to trigger a possible ceiling collapse due to curiosity.

This place is massive. I don't believe it was designed to be an actual labyrinth, but the sheer size and numerous passageways does leave that impression. Nearly the entire day is spent traversing winding halls before I finally reach my destination.

Pushing open a rusted steel door, I take in the sight of an ancient study. There are several c.h.e.s.ts along the left wall, and a large decayed desk standing before them. On the far wall are several empty bookcases, and on the right wall can only be an alchemist research area. The ancient pill forge is a dead give-a-way.

I quickly check the ancient pill forge for flaws and receive a new inscription for operating a pill forge. This one seems to be more forgiving when mixing ingredients. Looking over the tables and bookcases doesn't result in anything of use.

Focusing on the c.h.e.s.ts, I move over to the closest one. Carefully lifting the lid, the room is suddenly lit with a pale blue glow.

Releasing the merger with the Shadow Devil, I take a closer look at what is causing the light. Inside the c.h.e.s.t is eight glowing stone shards. I think these are Stones of Kong Ming! The Dark Guild used one of these to summon a Legend rank Abyss Demon during their attack on the City Lord's Mansion!

Using the Library of Heaven's Path on one of the shards, I'm struck speechless by what I discover. These are pieces of Spiritual Stones! Someone must have brought these over from another realm, and they're filled with pure Heavenly Energy! These eight shards should make up two whole Spiritual Stones!

Some of my excitement dies down at that. I would need five to ten Spiritual Stones to breakthrough into the Heavenly Fate Realm. These shards are still extremely useful. In fact, I might be able to use one of them after checking the other c.h.e.s.ts. I quickly store all eight into my interspatial ring.

I have to merge with the Shadow Devil again to be able to clearly see around the room. Opening the second c.h.e.s.t, I find several stone tablets. Checking for flaws, I confirm my suspicions about this room and the Dark Guild. Contained on the tablets are rituals to summon demon beasts from other realms. Summoning demon beasts isn't the important thing about these tablets. The important thing is they contain the beginnings of a map to reach other realms.

The tablets contain rituals for reaching the Abyss Realm, the Infernal Realm, the Hell Realm, and even the Dreamcloud World! I bet this is how the Demon Lord was able to acquire the Eight-Armed Darkhell Fiend as his demon spirit beast!

This will definitely reduce the strength of what I believed the Dark Guild had. But something that I completely forgot about, is the Dreamcloud World! That's the human refugee realm! Without any demon beasts and countless demigods! The knowledge they must contain will overshadow everything Glory City has been able to provide!

Unfortunately, the tablet won't be enough to reverse engineer a gateway into the Dreamcloud World. It looks like I'll have to visit a Spiritual Goddess in the future.

Moving to the last c.h.e.s.t after storing the tablets, I had a hunch of what I would find. Lifting the lid of the c.h.e.s.t confirms my hunch. Laying in the bottom of the c.h.e.s.t is a sleeveless cloth shirt. Lifting the shirt from the c.h.e.s.t, I'm surprised by the thickness of the material and the heavy weight of it. Checking the shirt for flaws, does bring a smile to my calm indifference.

In my hands, is a Grade 3 artifact. Capable of withstanding a strike from a 3 Fate Heavenly Fate ranked opponent. It's enchanted to adjust to the size of the wearer and even casts Divine Stream once it nears breaking. This is how the Demon Lord was able to survive and escape after he murdered Ye Zong.

The inscriptions used in its making have several flaws that I will be able to correct with a bit of time. But like the Spiritual Lamp, I won't be able to make a better version with the materials available on Tiny World.

Stripping my armor off, I slid the artifact on. Watching it shrink to fit snugly against my torso was very reassuring. As I put my armor back on, I wonder about the possible improvements I could make from what I just learned.

I would love to get my hands on some better materials. This c.h.e.s.t piece will protect me from nearly any attack from anyone other than the Spiritual Gods, IF, it hits my c.h.e.s.t or back. It's still Game Over from a headshot until I step into the Heavenly Fate Realm. I really wouldn't mind finding or even forging a helmet after that thought.

Speaking of forging. I remove the naginata and one of the Spiritual Stone shards. Laying the naginata on a table, I start to review the inscriptions I want. The Thunder God's Meteorite Sword would have been the ultimate weapon if it was able to give purpose to all the demon spirits it absorbed. I'm going to apply the flawless inscription to this naginata.

The demon spirits absorbed by this sword will be given a dual purpose. Enhancing the strength and durability of the naginata, and creating a focused beam of power to strike down my enemies.

Taking a firm grip on the Spiritual Stone, I channel my soul force through the shard and begin to etch the inscription into the hilt. Nearly every inch of the hilt is covered in runes by the time the inscription is complete. I have to use a second shard to enchant the blade.

Holding a much dimmer shard, I look at my completed work. The runes on the blade and hilt are breathtaking. Placing the shard on the blade, I channel my soul force through the shard once again. But this time, I'm pushing the Heavenly Energy left in the shard into the blade.

Once the shard crumbles to dust in my hand, I firmly grasp the hilt of the naginata and left it from the table. There's a feeling of immense potential from the naginata. This will be an immeasurably powerful weapon one day, and like all powerful weapons, it needs a name.

"Solarion. I name you Solarion," I declare aloud. As if in acceptance of its name, Solarion draws a large portion of my soul force into it before I can even attempt to prevent it. Once half of my soul force has been absorbed, Solarion flares a brilliant light across her blade. As the light dies down, the character for Solarion is now deeply etched into the blade.

Now that my soul force is no longer being drained from me, I can't help but proudly smile at my new partner. Placing Solarion into my soul realm, I take a final look around the room.

Confident that I've claimed everything of importance in this room, I step out into the hallway. It's time to find a tomb!

The Library of Heaven's Path leads me to a large decorative entranceway after hours of traversing through the underground palace. I step out of the hall and onto a raised platform. And right before me lays a large stone sarcophagus. It's massive. Nearly reaching up to my c.h.e.s.t. The dark stone sides are b.a.r.e of any engravings or designs, but that is not the case for the lid.

The rounded sarcophagus lid is covered from end to end in deeply engraved runes. Even standing five meters from it, I can feel the power those runes are generating.

Releasing the merge with the Shadow Devil does little to dim my view of the runes. Entering the anatta state of mind and furiously circulating my soul force I prepare myself to be assaulted. With confidence and determination, I move towards Emperor Kong Ming's alleged resting place.

Four meters away, I can feel a pressure driving against me. At three meters away, the pressure becomes overbearing, threatening to crush my soul realm. At two meters away, I'm struck with an unimaginably dense pressure. Despite all my determination and will power, I can't move my foot forward another inch! It's as if I'm trying to walk through a stone wall!

For several minutes I fight against this obstruction, only to fail at every attempt. The pressure is becoming painful and the thought of failure starts to eat at my confidence. I desperately merge with the Shadow Devil in an attempt to force my way forward.

I can do this! I can break through this barrier! But despite my d.e.s.i.r.es, even with the Shadow Devil's calm indifferent mindset, I fail to move forward. My mind starts to race! There has to be a way or some reasoning that I'm overlooking!

An idea suddenly strikes me. Emperor Kong Ming's legacy! Quickly entering the Library of Heaven's Path to review my journal, my confidence is suddenly renewed.

Moving back to the present, I begin to chant, "Infinity has no beginning, no beginning can have no end." Over and over I repeat the chant, and with each saying the pressure shifts. No longer is it forming an invisible wall, but it starts to seep into my soul realm.

As the pressure lessens, I'm able to finally move my foot forward. One meter away, the energy seeping into my soul realm turns into an uncontrollable wave threatening to burst my soul realm! Fearing being crippled, I immediately begin to cultivate!

Like water poured into a dessert, I'm absorbing the energy as quickly as it comes in. Suddenly, a filling of fullness threatens to break my concentration. I'm breaking through to 5-Star Gold rank! Trying to control my raging soul force while absorbing the energy from Emperor Kong Ming rouses a feeling of burning needles prickling across my body. It is sheer agony.

Gritting my teeth, I endure. For when you endure, you survive. And in survival, there is hope! Through the pain and pressure, I can't help but smile. Hu Shuo, you crafty son of a bitch!

After what seems an eternity, the last bit of energy from Emperor Kong Ming's Tomb finally enters my soul realm. Panting, I extend my hand out to brace myself from falling over. Unable to focus my thoughts on anything particular, I become faint and disoriented.

Several minutes pass before I'm able to focus again. The pain slacks off and my legs are steady again. Looking up, my hand is resting on the lid of the sarcophagus. With a brief thought of flaws, I place both hands against the lid and push the stone lid with all my might.

With an echoing crash, the lid lands at the top of a set of steps, nearly sliding down and out of sight. It slid much easier than expected, but that isn't a concern right now. My attention is focused on the items inside of the tomb.

There it is! A remnant page of one of the most powerful known artifacts and a beautifully crafted jewel necklace. Seizing one in each hand, I remove them from inside the tomb and think flaws.

The Abstruse Gemstone is a relatively simple item compared to what's in my other hand. When worn, it increases the strength of attraction of nearby energy. Any energy. Even the power of a Law. It will draw in up to three times what the wearer could typically expect. That is quickly stored in my soul realm, where it will increase my natural absorption rate.

Astonishingly, the Library of Heaven's Path views the remnant page of the Temporal Demon Spirit Book as an artifact and not a book. The Library of Heaven's Path also confirms the page is flawless, and it's a missing page of a powerful artifact created by an 'otherworldly being'.

The page is covered from edge to edge in indescribable inscriptions. As I stare at the page, I suddenly start making connections between the various designs! As I make more connections, the more I begin 'seeing' the intent behind the inscriptions. As if I've spent years studying the page. I find myself knowing this is a piece of an expansive inscription to lock and displace time! I can't help but think about how infinity has no beginning, and if there is no beginning, it can not have an end. I have no idea why I thought of that...

A brutal migraine suddenly pierces through my head. I'm forced to jerk my head away from the page and squint my eyes shut. The pain seems to penetrate every possible bit of my head. Storing the remnant page in my soul realm, I stagger over towards the disregarded lid and have a seat on the steps.

Taking deep breaths, I begin circulating my soul force throughout my body. I attempt to lessen or even heal this migraine. Without much success with my migraine, I try to enter a tranquil state of mind to allow me to skip out of having to deal with this piercing pain. It takes longer than any of my previous attempts, but I'm finally able to separate my mind from my physical pain.

I don't know how much time has passed, but when I come back to reality, I'm hit with an uneasy feeling again. This time it is considerably stronger. Standing up, I cautiously walk down the steps as I scan my surroundings. Near the bottom of the steps, I can make out an odd shape on the floor.

With only a thought, Solarion is in my hands. Posed to strike at anything that moves, I quietly make my way forward. As I get closer, I can make out numerous odd shapes throughout the room. When I'm a few steps away, I can clearly make out one of the objects.

Laying there is a pair of human skeletons clothed in tattered robes in the style of commoners. The pair seem to be holding on to the other as if trying to give comfort to the other just before death took them. The worst part. Neither skeleton would reach the height of my waist.

Looking over to the other nearby shapes reveals a similar sight. Skeletons of small children scattered across the floor. Some alone, while others clinging to one another. Every one of them clothed in a style common among my citizens.

Walking farther into the room, I find more and more skeletons. Dozens of them. Most are dressed in clothing of commoners, but there are several wrapped in nobles' clothing. Despite their clothing, all are children. Innocent children.

My heart is beating faster with every step I take, and my breathing begins quickening. Near the edges of the room, I discover larger skeletons. Many of which hold the remains of a small child or baby in their arms. Grinding my teeth, I tighten my grip on Solarion.

I remember reading about remains being found near the tomb, but I never put any thought into it. Until now. The remains of hundreds of children are scattered around the room. The people of Orchid City must have led their children and nursing women down here during the attack.

These children laid down here in the dark of The Sanctum. Hungry and afraid. While their parents fought and died in the streets above them. Why did they not spare people to care for the children, the future of Orchid City? The children were left with only each other for comfort, as death slowly claimed them.

They did not deserve this! With a burst of power, my soul force rages! Every corner of this mausoleum is alight from the glow of my soul force as it starts taking form around me. An enormous pair of brilliant white soul formed wings burst from my back. A full set of soul formed armor wraps around me. Last to form, is a crowned helm of the purest white.

The halls are illuminated by my soul formed wings and armor as I storm my way to the surface. With Solarion clenched tightly in my grasp and tears refusing to fall from my eyes, I forge my purpose for existing in this world.

With a violent flap of my soul formed wings, a deafening explosion fills the surroundings, echoing down the passageways. A separate explosion seems to radiate throughout my body as I take flight and soar towards the exit.

I recite my mantra to myself as I navigate through the halls.

For the innocent. I will defend and protect them! They shall not know fear!

For the capable. I will teach and guide them! They shall stand by my side!

And for the fallen... They shall be remembered. AND THEY SHALL BE AVENGED!