(Author: Hello! This is the final chapter of introductory phase of my story. This chapter will also signify the beginning of Lu Shu's training. After I don't know how many chapters, he will meet the Great Ancestor and head towards a martial arts sect. Just a head's up on how the story is gonna flow. Note: this is a side project so enjoy the 3 chapter spam release of chapters 3 to 5! Writer's block for main story: The Necromancer King, made me do this spam release. Enjoy.)

-------Chapter 5:Adventure Begins-------------

Lu Shu and General Meng Ce were glad that they were nearing the end of their visit. Every now and then, they would store some gold into their storage bag out of boredom as they tried to find a chained door containing forbidden water techniques. They found a few more doors, but they contained magical items or forbidden techniques to other elements. Finally, they found a door with the rune, water, on the front connected to four chains that kept the doors shut.

"Beware those who seek the power beyond this door. This is different than the other forbidden chambers, not because you could die, but because you will change. Inside is a technology used in another world. The chamber contains a tank that houses a god. It's not really a god, but it is an entity not found on our world. I brought it with me to the mortal world with five others. Four of them were stolen due to inadequate emperor of my bloodline. He was killed and his name was forever forgotten. The fifth other entity was taken by one of my descendants and he has already ascended from the Mortal Realm," Shu read from a structure next to the door.

Shu continued to recite the words aloud. It read, "These gods are living spirit techniques. Who knows what the scholars of the planet did with so many Practitioners to create these living spirit techniques. If you wish to obtain it, all you need to do is jump inside the tank. The tank is big enough to fit twenty tigers so you should be able to fit in, whoever you are. Once you go in the tank, the technique will embed itself in your mind like any other scroll containing spirit techniques."

"Part of your body will change," the general continued. "It is because the water spirit will fuse into you just as Practitioner weapons absorb other weapons. Your physical capabilities, such as speed, strength, and reflexes; will enhance so much as you absorb a piece of that god's power. Just so you know, many such entities exist in different shapes and forms. There will be others like you. Don't get a swell head now. Think of it as a symbiotic parasite. It gets to live outside the specially made tank while you gain access to a new abilities beyond what you should have. The exact changes, even I don't know. The choice is yours to accept this forbidden technique. You should only do so if your main elemental affinity is water. Good luck and hopefully you stay alive. I don't know if the descendant who took the fifth living spirit technique still lives in the Immortal Realms. I also don't know if the thieves who stole the other four remaining living spirit techniques still live, or if they are still in this world. If they still live on this planet, they will try to get their hands on you if they discover your power. Like any great power, it is best to keep it hidden. Only a fool trying to suicide would reveal all that he is capable of. There is a time to show off your power and a time to keep it hidden. For your sake, I hope you know when to do so."

"I'm not exactly human aren't I? I got nothing left to lose and water is my main elemental affinity based on what you said," Shu sighed.

"Are you really sure you want to do this?" the general asked. "Not even the Great Ancestor knows the extent of the change or what the technique actually is as it did not state anything. Even though it is tedious, we should find a different forbidden water spirit technique. We don't even know if the spirit technique would be worth it."

"We came this far. Best to see it through to the end. Who knows how long it will be until we find another door, or even if another forbidden technique exists? Besides, I'm curious. Just what is a living spirit technique? The power of a god? Part of my body won't be mine anymore? I'm just dying to find out if it's true and to what extent," Shu said, trembling with excitement. "Water is more of a defense-oriented element. Only people with high enough spirit energy are able to use ice spirit techniques as they make their water cooler and convert it into a solid shape. However, I have the bracelet. It can do that for me."

"All the reason not to learn it," the general warned. "You can just learn a water spirit technique that already utilizes ice.

"No. This is why I must learn it," Shu disagreed as he put a hand on the rune, causing it to shine and unlock the chains as the doors opened. "There is no risk without a reward. The Great Ancestor kept the water spirit technique and the five others because they were useful. I don't know about the thieves, but one of my ancestors who got the fifth living spirit technique managed to reach ascension. I'm going to obtain this technique and shake the world."

Shu's faint, glowing gold eyes shined as he entered a dark chamber. The only thing in sight was the giant tank in middle of the chamber with stairs leading to the top. Something swirled inside the tank, twisting and convulsing as if to avoid his gaze while he tried to understand what it was. This was a god? No, it was more like a piece of it. Whoever made this thing must have killed many Practitioners to bring it to life as a living spirit technique. This thing was going to be inside of him. Shu did not waver and walked up the stairs to the top of the tank. He saw a plate next to a mask which stated that it would allow him to breathe underwater. He put on the breathing mask and jumped into the tank.

Shu felt an extremely cold water rush up from his feet as he fell, deeper, into the tank. The hairs on his head and body stood on its ends and Shu saw a bright cerulean light. Shu's vision went dark as he lost consciousness. His body floated under a mysterious force as it remained in the center of the tank. Whatever was in the tank was disappearing into him, the water levels dropping while the glass began to crack. The general rushed in when he heard a large explosion and saw glass and water everywhere. He saw the broken tank with Lu Shu, unconscious, on the bottom.

Lu Shu's body had become slightly taller with lean muscles. Streaks of dark cerulean hair appeared among Lu Shu's black hair. The general closes his eyes and began to search for Lu Shu's Spirit Pulse. He cried in alarm as he sensed some cerulean creature encompassing Lu Shu's skeletal structure. As if protecting him, black clouds appeared all around Lu Shu's body. The general dodged several lightning bolts as he fled outside the chamber. Whatever it was, it used the Black Cloud Desolation technique to protect Lu Shu. It was as if it were a defensive machination of his subconscious mind.

The general did not want to accidentally harm Shu and decided to wait for Shu to wake up. After an hour, Shu opened his eyes and felt drained of spirit energy. He groaned as he moved, sluggishly, to his feet. He took out the open barrel of lin wine and a cup and drank three cups before sitting down and meditating to recover his spirit energy. Seeing Shu conscious, the general returned inside, relieved he was alright. After a moment, Shu sighed as his spirit energy returned to normal. It was then, that Shu noticed his body had changed.

"Are you alright? Do you feel anything different?" the general asked.

"I feel taller and more muscular. My body feels strange, but it is not a bad feeling. I also learned the water spirit technique. I'm in luck as it requires a blade. The name of the technique is Radiant Howl. It requires spirit energy to form on the blade and sends a crescent moon blade of chilling water that could even cut through steel. The first stage has up to nine moon blades. At the second stage, you combine the moon blades into a spiral wave, allowing you to attack in all directions around you. I'm unable to comprehend the next stages after that. Maybe there is no specific form and I have to make it up on my own," Shu said silently. "I can feel something inside my mind. It's me but it's not me. It's like it has become one with me. Over time, I'll probably discover the extent of the changes."

"At least it is not trying to take you over," the general sighed, deciding not to talk about it much further. "Let's head on back and prepare for your journey."

"Journey? What journey?" Shu asked as they left the vault, the time taking around four hours from the door of the forbidden water technique.

"Did you think you were just going to stay and train here? The palace is no place for training. You must train in the real world and gain experience. You and I will be traveling all over the country. You need to experience the world and discover how it truly is before entering a sect. I don't even know if your father, His Imperial Majesty, is sending you a sect that is inside the empire or not. Most likely, it won't be. That means there are all sorts of people who will try to take advantage, manipulate, or even try to kill you. That is the world of Practitioners. Most of the time, it is jealousy and envy of others' luck, prestige, and power that causes them to kill each other. We have almost three years to train you before we visit the Great Ancestor and go our separate ways. You're young and innocent. You wild be eaten alive if I just train you here, in this sheltered environment."

"On an adventure? Awesome!" Shu said. "This is great. I can also see different fighting styles and learn and incorporate them and invent and improve my own fighting style."

"That's right," the general smiled. "Remember, spirit energy is only meant to assist you in fighting. Techniques are also just powerful cards to use. Choosing to rely on your own skill and using spirit energy as an assisting tool is the right way to develop and become truly strong. We only have one problem. Your brother, sister, and the Imperial Emperor will definitely approve. The only problem would be Her Highness."

"Because she would try to stop me?" Shu asked.

"Oh. No, that isn't the case," the general shook his head. "Her Highness would approve. However, she would try to have some of the royal guards escort us on your journey. We don't need hindrances. You need to be in danger in order to grow. I'll leave her to you, Shu. Aunt Lu Rong never liked my mom or me. Said our dangerous lives were too much of a bad influence. My mom was a general too. She died a long time ago, but took fifty men with her."

As the general predicted, every member of his family acted just as Shu was told. Lu Xing was happy for him and gave him some maps and bought him extra clothes for the journey. His sister was envious that he went to the vault, but taught him how to cook for a couple of days. His father, Emperor Lu Yi, was quite proud as Shu told him what transpired in the vault and about his journey. The emperor told Shu some areas where bandits were hiding, saying that he should slay them for practice. Shu would have to kill people in the future, an unavoidable act by all Practitioners, and that it would be best to get used to it now and become numb to the guilt later.

Empress Lu Rong was the biggest obstacle. She and Shu argued for hours about the royal guards. She said she didn't mind him going into danger, but the general was only one man. If he was too preoccupied, Shu would have to fend for himself during a fight. It took Shu many soothing words and a few lies that everything would be fine. She gave in and gave Shu her approval. Shu hugged his mother with a smile on his face and left the palace to where the general was waiting.

They did not leave the capital at once. The general wanted to teach Shu some military arts. Shu might be outnumbered in a fight so he had Shu spar with some of the men. Occasionally, they would give Shu pointers and discuss tactics on how to ambush or escape certain situations. Shu would write down their advice in a journal and they left after two months of studying from the soldiers.

Because of drinking lion wine, meditating every day, and the events in the vault; Shu was progressing very quickly and had reached the second stage. The first stage was the quickest and easiest stage and there was really no bottleneck to consider. Shu and the general no longer wore the imperial robes and armor of the empire and changed into white robes with cerulean seams.

"The time has come Lu Shu," the general declared. "It is a little later than the emperor and I planned, but it was a good decision to have you learn along with the soldiers. Are you prepared? We won't be coming back for almost three years. If you have any unfinished business, now's the time to do so."

"I have none," Shu answered. "Let's go. I'm eager to start our adventure. Who knows how many dangers and wondrous sights we'll see? I can't wait."

The general laughed and the duo left the capital to begin Shu's training in the real world.

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(Author: Hope you enjoy the spam release. This is my new main project so expect chapters to appear if I have time to write them. Again, thanks for reading.)