Tales Of Demons, Gods, And Libraries

The crushing pressure on the sides of my head gives me a downright rude and painful jolt back to conscientiousness. My head seems packed with wool, and the wool is on fire. Every breath I draw sends bee stings across my body. Laying still is the only thing I can think about. Nothing else matters.

After an eternity, the wool in my head is replaced with an ordinary throbbing. Finally able to form thoughts again, I try to open my eyes. My first attempt ends in utter failure. The rays of light seem to be trying to sear my retina. Slightly squinting my eyes is once more met with searing pain. I give up on the thought of sight at the moment.

I try circulating my soul force to alleviate the pain, but my pathways seem nearly empty. Sending the minuscule amount of soul force to my head proves to be as difficult as the first time, all those weeks ago.

With a limited amount of success, I circulate what little soul force I have throughout my head. Ever so slowly, the pain in my head lessens. As the pain eases, I gain more control over my soul force.

My third attempt to open my eyes finally bears fruit. Everything is blurred and bright, but things slowly start to clear. I find myself laying on my back in the middle of the sand-filled ruins.

To make matters worse, I think a demon beast used my mouth for a litter box. Rolling my head to the side, I forcefully cough out a wad of sand. I can feel the grit of sand on my tongue and between my teeth. I desperately want to wash my mouth out right now.

As I'm looking to the side, all thoughts of water disappear. I see it. My Precious.

Disregarding the pain lancing throughout my body, I reach my shaking hand out to the Temporal Demon Spirit Book laying beside me. With a supreme effort, I firmly grasp the divine artifact and bring it to my c.h.e.s.t.

The moment the book lands on my armored b.r.e.a.s.tplate, I immediately store it in my soul realm. Confirming the Temporal Demon Spirit Book is within my soul realm, relief floods over me. Through the pain and exhaustion, I let out a grating laugh.

Words can't even describe how I'm feeling... Well, that's not completely true. I feel like shit. But I'm unbelievably happy!

While my hand is still on my c.h.e.s.t, I remove a Soul Concentration Pill from my soul realm. It's a struggle, but I finally get the pill in my mouth.

Almost instantly, I can feel the energy from the pill seeping into my system. I can honestly say, soul force exhaustion is something I don't want to repeat.

I have to take another pill while continuously circulating my soul force before I feel strong enough to stand up. Deciding not to push it, I settle for leaning up against the worn pedestal.

Finally sitting up, I take out a water skin and thoroughly rinse out my mouth. After a few sips from the water skin, I take out a few field rations.

Judging by the placement of the sun, it's early morning. Not sure if I went back in time, or if I was unconscious for at least a day. My money is on being unconscious for at least a day. It's borderline infuriating not knowing how much time I've lost.

As I'm chewing on a second field ration, I suddenly remember the remnant page. Looking around, I don't spot it anywhere. Quickly looking into my soul realm, I find the Temporal Demon Spirit Book but no remnant page.

I don't know if the page blew away, was used in retrieving the book, or was somehow placed back into the Temporal Demon Spirit Book. Whatever happened to it, I'm in no position to go searching for it.

Still not recovered enough to move about, I can't wait any longer. Choking down the rest of the ration, I remove the purpose for this trip.

Holding the Temporal Demon Spirit Book in my hands, I can feel indescribable energy deep within the pages. With a quick thought of flaws, I enter the Library of Heaven's Path.

Calling for the Temporal Demon Spirit Book results in a plain booklet appearing before me. I had suspected the Library of Heaven's Path would view it as an artifact, but this confirms it.

Eagerly, I read over the book formed on the Temporal Demon Spirit Book. It appears there are two flaws with the Temporal Demon Spirit Book. The first flaw is caused by the missing seven pages. Guess that answers my early question about the remnant page. The second flaw is it must accept you as it's master to unleash its full power.

Of course, it doesn't even hint at how to get the book to accept you as its master or even how you would know if it did. That would just be too convenient. Unlike with the Thunder God's Meteorite Sword, there are no inscriptions on the book. It's possible all it's powers come from the collection of inscriptions on the pages.

It does confirm the Temporal Demon Spirit Book it is not of any known world. Since I barely know of a few realms, that's not a surprise. It describes how the book is filled with time and space inscriptions and arrays. There are even hints on how each page contains a mysterious power that can be triggered, but nothing on what those hidden powers are.

At least the booklet confirms there is a time-locked subspace within the Temporal Demon Spirit Book, filled with books from across the greater realms. That is what I need. The time-lock is useless to me now. If I use it to reach the peak of Legend rank now, my body would explode the moment I left the time-lock.

Once I form a Fate Soul, I might be able to survive the sudden power surge, but that's still far off in the distance.

Exiting the Library of Heaven's Path, I attempt to recover more of my strength. It just seems like a sensible idea to not attempt to enter the library in the Temporal Demon Spirit Book while still recovering.

Returning the book to my soul realm, I struggle to get into the lotus position. Taking two Soul Concentrating Pills, I begin absorbing the energy as I circulate my soul force. Entering the anatta state of mind wasn't easy, but my pain feels more distant.

By the time the sun is setting, much of my strength has returned. I'm still feeling slightly off, but it can easily be managed. I've been patient long enough.

Withdrawing the Temporal Demon Spirit Book from my soul realm, I pick up a small pebble in my offhand. Stretching my offhand out to the side, I focus on entering the library within the ancient artifact. I push my soul force into the Temporal Demon Spirit Book and let the pebble fall.

I never hear the pebble impact the stone beside me.

As smoothly as if entering the Library of Heaven's Path, I find myself in an enormous library. The bookcases are elegant in their simplicity and filled with an extensive variety of various sized books. Slowly walking through the aisles, I catch a whiff of parchment and leather. Carefully pulling a leather-bound book from a bookcase, the smell of parchment and leather intensifies.

I release a sigh of relief and a smile stretches across my face. This place is real. I can't detect a difference between standing here and when I was standing in the Holy Orchid Institute's Library. Looking around at all the bookcases, my smile fades. There must be a million books here.

Releasing another sigh, "This is gonna take a while."

After several weeks, I've finally managed to absorb every book into the Library of Heaven's Path. When I developed a migraine after absorbing the first ten thousand books, I couldn't have been more thrilled. Dealing with a migraine s.u.c.k.e.d, but it was a relief at the same time. I was worried my head would explode once I left the Temporal Demon Spirit Book. The migraine confirmed I wouldn't have to worry about mental strain building up when I exit.

Speaking of the exit. I left the Temporal Demon Spirit Book shortly after the migraine started. The pain wasn't bad enough to miss the soft pop of a pebble striking the stone beside me. I spent hours in the Temporal Demon Spirit Book, while reality was put on pause. I would call this OP, but three months with the Library of Heaven's Path has allowed me to get used to the idea.

Speaking of which, I excitedly enter the Library of Heaven's Path. After absorbing 3,629 of the most powerful cultivation manuals in existence, it's time to update mine. Demanding every bit of knowledge on the cultivation in the Library of Heaven's Path, I focus on my d.e.s.i.r.e.

As the unnamed book takes shape before my eyes, apprehension suddenly fills me. Carefully grasping the newly formed book, I swiftly think 'Flaws'.

[Heaven's Path to Black-Gold rank Demon Spiritualist...]

Before I can read further, I'm taken aback. It didn't start off by saying the normal 'flawless book' line. Opening the newly formed book, I begin devouring every written word. I'm instantly drawn to the book. It bears similarities to my Black-Gold cultivation manual, but this new one is so much more profound. It feels whole. Complete.

Forcing myself to put the book aside, I hastily call for the other ranks.

[Heaven's Path to Bronze rank...]

[Heaven's Path to Silver rank...]

[Heaven's Path to Gold rank...]

[Heaven's Path to Legend rank...]

Before I attempt to form a cultivation manual for Heavenly Fate rank, I'm struck with an idea. Focusing on my idea, I order another book to be compiled. Carefully taking the incredibly thick book, I think about its flaw.

[Heaven's Path to Inscriptions...]

Adding this book to the collection of cultivation knowledge, the minutes tick by as I expand on my d.e.s.i.r.e. As my concentration becomes more focused, hundreds of books are assembled the already massive collection.

With my objective clear in my mind, I issue the command to compile. The unnamed book before me is far bulkier than any cultivation manual I've ever seen. Gently bringing the book towards me, I call for flaws.

My eyes slowly grow wider as I follow the first few lines. As I continue to read, I don't notice my when my hands begin to tremble.