Meteor
Tiansu is split into two regions, Lou Ping and Sheng Ming, Mount Hua Xi is in the latter. Both regions are separated by a small but deep rift valley.
When I approach the landform, I realise a subtle profound Qi being expelled from the rift valley, I cannot see the bottom.
...
Ignoring it, I fly over the rift valley and enter Lou Ping.
As expected, the Qi here is much more refined.
The green parts of nature are starting to turn slightly purple as I go further in. I can see several flying structures and islands on the horizon.
The first city I reached is Liu Meng, a small city that accommodates travellers. Even the vendors over here are at least in the Qi Condensation realm. The only noticeable mortals are travellers and merchants.
I land in the city and walk into an inn for a break.
!
The bartender is at the foundation establishment. I sat at the bar and place a silver coin on the table. "I want your recommendation," I say.
The bartender nods and pockets the silver coin. A man in the kitchen whips up a bowl of noodles, some dumplings, and a bottle of wine.
I place another silver coin on the table. "Do you mind telling me more about the meteor?" I ask.
...
Locals in the Lou Ping region don't seem to recognise me.
"Many cultivators have asked today. A rumour that the meteor will provide fortunate inheritance and gifts attracted many. Many locals in Lou Ping claimed to have seen the meteor striking Lou Ping, I have seen it too, but the location of the meteor is mysteriously hard to find." Says the bartender.
The location of impact was searched and nothing was found from top to bottom. Even after leaving no stones unturned, the only thing they can find is a suspicious circular structure plunged into the ground.
"Thank you, boss," I say.
After the meal, I changed my appearance into a bandit that I killed using the golden tower artifact, a scrawny man with a pointy chin.
No one should recognise me for now and I approach the location of the structure. I feel a sudden increase in Qi density.
Many cultivators gathered around the circular rock structure, which has mysterious engravings, have gone into meditation. The circular rock is emitting very intense Qi.
"Hey! This was my spot!"
"Is your name on the floor?"
Many cultivators fight to get a spot. While the majority are cultivating, some are examining the structure. In particular, an old man wearing a yellow robe is drawing some arrays to decode the words. Behind him are a group of yellow robes, each of which radiates a high Qi density that states their cultivation base. All of them are in the Golden Core Realm.
A huge "Luo" is written on the back of the robes. That's the Luo family!
-----------------
Mission complete!
Secret reward:
(Approach the "meteor")
-----------------
Approach?
Behind the Luo family is another group of people in red and orange outer lining robes. They are snickering at the Luo family for their foolish attempt to decode the structure.
"Kekeke, if the Eight Shield School can't decode it, what makes you think that the Luo family can decode it?" Says the man with red and orange robes.
"Fuck off! Do you want to start a war?" Says a member of the Luo family.
The disciple of the Eight Shield School smirks. "Bring it."
In that commotion, I get closer to the structure and touch it.
------------------
Secret Reward:
Key to the ?????
------------------
The rock starts to glow.
"Huh?" I mumble.
Every cultivator's attention was turned to me and the rock as the blinding lights engulfs us.
---------------------
We find ourselves in a space similar to the concept of "hell". Lava and molten fill the void around with red bloody mist and smokes filling the atmosphere. Beneath us is nothing but crumbled rocks that is about to collapse at any moment. All of us are squeezed into one tiny narrow path.
What the...?
"M-My cultivation?! It's gone!!" A man exclaims.
?!
All of our cultivation bases suddenly disappeared but channelling of Qi is still possible, this place is full of impure Qi.
A set of words abruptly enters my mind.
"There are two ways out of this: Death or pursue the end. The trial must be overcome, for it is the only way through."
What the...?
A path emerges
...
A woman walks down the path and takes the initiative, as she does so, the path behind the rest breaks and collapses.
?!!
A few cultivators fall into the pits of fiery and their screams of agony echo.
All of us start to chase after that woman.
The path becomes narrower as times go by. Bit by bit, parts start to separate and we have to jump from one to another. Luckily, only our cultivation is sealed and we can still use Qi.
I stay in the middle of the group, the safest position. Such that whatever happens at the front or back doesn't affect me first.
(!)
Azrim is reacting?
Azrim? What's wrong?
(I...)
I duck as a wave of lava shoots across the path, killing some cultivators.
(Master, you have to trust me, you must be the first to reach the end. Everything will be explained when you do and leave the "extraction" to me. It will be a very fruitful reward.)
?
...
I understand.
I take out a lance from my pouch and swing it at the cultivators near, instantly killing them.
?!!!!!!!
"W-What are you doing-"
I pierce the lance through his skull and jump forward. The lance expels a wave of golden energy before I slam it on the ground.
?!
The energy severs the ground while travelling to the first running woman.
"Huh-"
The energy precisely splits the woman's body into a bloody pulp and death came for her.
This lance is the most powerful artifact I found and I kept it for myself. Indeed in a situation where everyone is a "mortal", the lance can kill them like a bug.
"Psychopath! Do you want to make an enemy out of the Eight Shield-"
I decapitate the man to silence him.
...
The remaining silently followed me.
"A monster!" A man shouts.
Beside the path, a giant monster in the shape of a golem covered in molten lava erect and slams down onto the path.
"Damn it! I can't hold on."
All managed to survive by erecting some sort of barrier but their weak body is giving out. Some of them spit out blood as the body is unable to handle the circulation of extreme Qi.
However, with just one thrust of the lance, sharp energy shoots out from the tip and pierces through the golem with ease. Simple and small energy about the size of a pencil managed to plummet a hole as wide as an average Ferris wheel. The golem cries out and dissipates back into the lava.
"Huff huff. Fuck..."
The path behind crumbles into dust, not giving us a chance for us to rest.
The majority of the journey afterwards is them supporting me in fighting all sorts of the beast. Even a Phoenix appeared once and attempts to dive and scoop all of us.
In the end, we finally reached a door and I quickly push it open.
Once in, everyone can finally take a breather.
"Huff...huff...huff..." I pant as I wipe the sweat off my head.
"What the hell?"
"Is this a tomb?"
We realise we are in a throne room. A skeletal corpse is resting on the throne chair at the end of the hall.
"Interesting..." A voice echoes throughout the room.
?!?
"Although the numbers were higher than expected, the one at the front must be the leader that decoded the array. You shall now be the demonic lord's sacrifice. Be honoured."
A translucent white soul flies out of the skeletal and into my body.
?!!!
"Argh!!!" A sharp piercing feeling explodes in my body as I grasp my head.
The cultivators around start to back off.
"There is no need to be so frightful, once I take over his body, all of you will be next."
(Master, calm down and go into your sea of consciousness. Let me handle this.)
...
I close my eyes and separate my body and mind.
...
...
I open my eyes to find myself in a dark dimension. This feels familiar, the area where I first met Azrim.
I look at my arms and find that I am once again back in my original, old, and ugly body.
A man with black sclera and yellow iris stares at me from a distance. I can sense a very compatible form of Qi from him. Is this demonic Qi?
"You...are interesting." The man says when he notices me. "Be grateful. Don't resist. I will help you and we will both rise to the top. Those bastards who killed me will pay."
"Indeed. You, a mere demonic transcendent realm practitioner, dare to go against my lord?" Says Azrim.
!!
His loud voice echoes in the pitch dark.
"What?!" The demonic practitioner exclaims.
A big smile appears as a huge hand envelops the man and crushes him. "ARGHHHHH?!!!!!!!!!!!"
...
Energy dissipates from the hand and integrates with my soul.
!!!
The scars and wrinkles on my original body soul disappear as a blueish light emits from some sort of water in the void, slightly illuminating the surroundings as the only source of light.