Finally Alexis stopped walking, in front was a small entrance to a cave inside a hill that’s smaller than the Inferno Fist School.

Ryu observed closely, the cave was emitting a bizarre Qi. It seemed like a pure and gentle Qi but as soon as it gets in contact with Alexis’s Qi, it becomes violent and devours Alexis’s pitch black Qi.

It was not repelling but actually destroying his profound Qi? What is this place? Ryu felt a bit scared but probing for a few second, he felt as if the Qi in the cave is inviting him in.

Alexis smiled and said. “Ryu, inside there’s something really precious to me and I would be forever grateful if you could help me retrieve it. The item should be at the center of the cave. I’m not sure what it looks like exactly.”

Seeing Ryu’s hesitance Alexis unsheathed the sword that was hanging by his side, a marvelous beam of blue Qi shot forth. It gave off the same filling as Jin-Yang’s sword but a hundred more times more polished and intimidating. It feels as if the sword Qi is pricking Ryu’s skin. With his other hand Alexis took out a Wudang emblem similar to the one Jin-Yang gave him except it was much more ancient looking.

“I’ll be honest with you then, this is actually a matter of great significance for the Wudang Sect. The reason why I can’t enter is because only people under Intermediary Domain can enter! I had to find someone I could trust to undertake this utmost important task.” Alexis said humbly with a bow.

So that’s how it is. Ryu’s doubt had somewhat vanished. Ryu nodded and started walking. He has goose bumps. Alexis so far has not shown anything malicious but Inferno Fist manual and the fact that this holy place is rejecting Alexis’s black Qi is sending off warning signals inside his head. After walking past where Alexis stood, Ryu felt a sense of relief as the Qi protecting this place allowed him in without resistance. He wasn’t the only one, a soft sigh could be heard from behind.

“Remember, I will reward you with anything you want as long as it’s within my power.” Alexis shouted after Ryu as Ryu disappear into the tunnel.

After Ryu disappeared from his sight, an evil grin appeared on Alexis’s face. Finally! I found a pure soul after thirty thousand years. Good thing he bought that Wudang crap. If he succeeds where hundreds before him failed…the celestial item from the Ancient Gods will finally be mine.

After walking for a minute, Ryu reached the other end. Inside was a perfect spherical dome. The dome seemed to be at least a kilometer wide. It was well made with materials Ryu never seen before. Strange but beautiful symbols covered every inch of the place. The whole thing was a work of art but what’s even more stunning is how the whole place radiated glorious Qi. Each symbols seems to be made of its own unique strand of Qi and the Qi itself seems to be alive and dancing. To an ordinary person, it might just be magnificent sculpturing and craftsmanship for them but Ryu who can see raw Qi and even discern their color based on their property was seeing something completely out of this world.

Right in the center of the dome, there is a short golden pillar that’s around Ryu’s height. Above it there’s a golden rectangular shaped object with perfect edges floating right above it. The mysterious floating object is radiating soothing Qi that draws Ryu closer to it without him even realizing it. There seems to be thin invisible chains protruding from all over the dome shackling the object. Instinctively Ryu touched the golden pillar upon reaching the center.

Suddenly brilliant lights flared all around Ryu and entered Ryu’s body. His whole body seems to stop listening to his command and he floated upwards a few feet. Every single symbols on the dome seemed to come to life and entered from every pore of his body. Changes were happening throughout his body. He could feel his bones been broken down, his veins being ripped apart and his organs getting burnt up however regeneration was also happening in parallel. The pain is worse than getting stabbed a thousand times. He wanted to scream but no sounds came out. Ryu was unconscious within a minute. After half a day has passed, the endless cycle of torture finally stopped.

The rectangular floating object suddenly cracked and inside was a pure white light. The light overwhelmed all the previous lights. It shot downwards towards Ryu only and entered inside him through his chest. However, there was no pain associated with this process. Boundless energy seems to flow though him. Ryu slowly woke up and he could feel fluctuations within his Qi reservoir. The feeling was pleasant but fatigue won over and Ryu passed out again. Another half day passed and the lights disappeared as if nothing happened at all. The only thing that’s different is that the rectangular floating block is no longer there.

Flop, Ryu dropped from the air and onto the ground. It took him a few second to collect his thoughts.

Ouch. Ryu looked around and noticed significant changes in his perception. It’s as if he could see much better than before. In fact he’s seeing things too well that he’s getting dizzy.

His body feels more comfortable, more tuned. He could feel the abundance of Qi around him like never before, never was his senses this sharp. Pushing himself up with one hand, he noticed his strength had significantly improved as well.

What on earth just happened? Where did that thing go? Something feels different about my body. A storm of thoughts circulated Ryu’s mind.

The dome is no longer glowing and only a dim light that seems to appear out of nowhere is illuminating the place up. Ryu took some time to actually observe these odd symbols on the wall. The Qi that makes up the symbol is indeed dancing around like it’s alive! Ryu watched in fascination. Some symbols were similar while others were completely different.

Instinctively Ryu had a hunch that the symbols were telling a story. Could Qi be alive? They are moving about as if they were happy!

Brushing his hand against the walls of the dome, Ryu was expecting something to happen if he touched the symbols but unfortunately nothing did.

Sigh it’s a shame I can’t make heads or tails of these things. Some great master must have left these writings here for a reason. Ryu thought.

Ryu walked around looking for anything that might resemble a treasure but the place was empty. Could the golden pillar in the middle be the item Alexis is looking for?

Gathering his Qi, he started to push on it. As expected the pillar didn’t budge an inch. What shocked Ryu was something else completely. He finally started to notice the true changes through his body.

Before when I wanted to use any Qi, it’s always supplied by my reservoir and outside Qi from breathing… How come just now, Qi was coming through all parts of my body? Ryu thought as a confounded look appeared on his face. What Ryu didn’t know before was that there are multiple Qi channels a person can have. You need at least one channel opened to use any Qi from your reservoir and to gather the Qi from the world. For some unknown reasons Ryu’s body barely had one channel open before.

Thinking about the changes made to his body, Ryu contemplated if he should tell Alexis.

What if he dissects me instead? Could the treasure be inside me? Did I somehow use it already? Ryu thought as he frowned.

After checking the place out countless more times, Ryu found nothing but kept on marveling the perfect dome. He was reluctant to leave, the Qi from the dome was rich and held so much warmth like a mother’s embrace. However, he couldn’t stay there any longer due to hunger so Ryu left the dorm and headed out.

Ryu slowly approached the entrance of the cave and saw Alexis looking at him intently. His expression changed as he saw Ryu, no longer was he composed but he looked like a starved dog staring at a juicy steak.

“Well? Did you get it? Where is it?” Alexis yelled, excitement and frustration could be heard in his voice. He was also giving off a feeling of a madman. Alexis had saw traces of lights flashing deep within the cave, he was positive Ryu succeeded where many before him failed.

Even if Ryu couldn’t see the dark streaks of Qi seeping from Alexis, he could tell something was wrong from his expression. Ryu hesitated and stood at the entrance of the cave and slowly spoke. “There was nothing inside… Only a bunch of strange symbols.”

“Impossible!” Alexis shouted with an angry face. After a moment he calmed himself and mustered up a smile, “Don’t play jokes with me Ryu. Did you want a reward first? Here take this treasured Wudang sword, I’ll make you an official disciple of Wudang Sect!”

Something is awfully wrong with his smile, is he really from Wudang? Ryu was petrified for unknown reasons.

Seeing Ryu standing there like a mute for a few minutes, his face contorted into that of an angry beast. “The ancient records clearly stated that it would be here. It has to be! Don’t hide anything from me, take it out now! Give me your ring!”

Ryu inadvertently took a step back. He knew Alexis had a hidden agenda but he never expected him to lose it like this. He took off his storage ring and threw it towards Alexis. Alexis’s fumbled it as he desperately searched. Then he screamed towards the heavens before staring coldly at Ryu. He drew another sword out of thin air and threw it at Ryu. As expected, the sword bounced off the invisible wall. He knew that he had shown his true face too soon and now Ryu was standing in a safe sanctuary where he can’t reach.

Fuck! Why didn’t I poison him or used puppet arts to control him? No, it wouldn’t have worked. This ancient restrictive spell takes precautions against such actions or why else have none of the others made it into the cave before. Alexis was getting desperate now, he has invested countless thousands of years into this endeavor.

“Little boy, do you dare go against the Wudang Sect? Don’t you know the consequences? Your town and everything around it will be flattened with a single thought! Not even cats or dogs will be left alive.” Alexis hissed with fury.

“But there really isn’t anything in there…” Ryu said apologetically. He made a mental note not to step out even if it meant starving.

“You better find it or I’ll personally send everyone from your pathetic school and your family to hell. Their death will be more painful than you can imagine. No one stop me, no one can save them from me!” He screamed once more at Ryu. Beside his hand a ball of dark Qi formed, it seems to be sucking the Qi from all living vegetation around him as everything around him started to wither.

He threw one at Ryu then another and then another. Ryu couldn’t tell how many of these life sucking Qi balls he threw at him. Everything within thirty meters seems to have died out.

What have I gotten myself into? Should I go back into the cave and look harder? But even if I did find something, there’s no way I’m giving it to this madman… Ryu was lost as to what he should do.

“You have to come out one day, there’s nothing in this pathetic forest that can save you!” Alexis bellowed one last time at Ryu. His menacing look told Ryu that he was not kidding one bit.