Chapter 169: Fork Ways

The crowd exploded into chatter, with some cultivators nodding in agreement while others remained skeptical.

One of the older cultivators, a burly man with scars crisscrossing his face, shouted, "Team up? And who gets the orb, eh? Are we all just supposed to fight it out after we survive whatever's inside?"

Li Xiang smiled, a flicker of cunning in his eyes. "Ah, yes, an important question. My suggestion is simple: Until we reach the orb, we face the dangers together. After that, may the one with the most capability take it."

His words hung in the air, sending the crowd into a frenzy once more. This time, the debate was fiercer, with voices rising in disagreement.

"That's just a free-for-all!" a woman shouted, her sharp eyes glaring at Li Xiang. "How do we trust no one will betray us halfway?"

"You think we should decide now?" Li Xiang asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who would want to give up the orb before we've even seen it?"

The woman opened her mouth to argue, but another voice cut through the noise—a calm, measured voice belonging to a young man dressed in black robes with a golden insignia. "It makes sense," he said. "Teaming up ensures survival until we reach the orb. After that, it's a matter of who's the strongest."

The crowd quieted as they considered his words. The logic was sound, if not brutal. No one wanted to die before even getting a chance at the treasure.

"Exactly," Li Xiang said, his voice soothing. "The challenges within will be too great to face alone. But once we're through... well, we all know the rules of the cultivation world." His smile grew sly. "Strength determines the outcome."

Ruchir, standing amidst his True Sun Sect companions, nodded quietly.

The proposition made sense, and given the mysterious aura of the mountain, it would be foolish to venture in alone.

However, Ruchir was also aware that this 'cooperation' would be temporary at best.

Once they reached the orb, it would turn into a bloodbath. He couldn't let his guard down, not for a moment.

Behind him, one of his sectmates leaned in and whispered, "We'll have to be careful. This won't end without a fight."

Ruchir nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the orb atop the mountain.

The idea of fate power intrigued him, and though he wasn't sure how much he believed in the concept, the thought of it gave him a sense of urgency. He couldn't afford to be careless.

Another voice rose from the crowd, a hulking man with a massive hammer strapped to his back. "Fine," he grunted, "we go in together, but after that, it's every cultivator for themselves."

There were murmurs of agreement, and slowly, the tension in the air began to ease. More and more cultivators were nodding, accepting Li Xiang's proposition.

The allure of the orb was too strong, and the prospect of surviving the journey inside the mountain seemed more likely if they worked together.

Li Xiang watched the crowd carefully, gauging their reactions. His plan was working.

They would face the dangers together, and then... well, he had no intention of letting anyone else take the orb. But for now, he needed them.

With a final smile, he spoke again, "Very well. Let's not waste any more time. The path awaits us."

The cultivators began to move, gathering their companions and preparing to enter the mountain. Ruchir and his group from the True Sun Sect stood ready, their eyes sharp as they observed the other sects and clans.

There were formidable enemies here—many with the power to challenge them for the orb.

As they approached the mountain, the entrance loomed before them, a jagged gap in the rock, emanating a strange energy that sent chills down their spines. The air around it shimmered, and faint echoes of roaring beasts could be heard from deep within.

Ruchir felt a sense of unease, but he pushed it aside. This was what they had come for. The orb, and whatever lay inside, was their goal.

One by one, the cultivators entered the mountain, disappearing into the darkness.

The imagery around the entrance was surreal. The towering walls of stone seemed to pulse with life, veins of glowing minerals snaking through the rock.

The ground was uneven, with jagged rocks jutting out at strange angles.

As the group descended into the interior of the mountain, the temperature dropped, and the air grew thicker with each step.

Strange sounds echoed through the cavern, the distant growls and snarls of unknown creatures reverberating off the walls. A faint, ominous glow emanated from deeper within, casting eerie shadows that danced along the jagged surfaces.

The deeper they ventured, the more the atmosphere changed.

The walls became smoother, almost polished, and strange carvings of ancient symbols adorned the surfaces. It was clear this was no ordinary mountain—it was something far older, far more mysterious.

Ruchir felt his heart race as they moved further in, the tension among the group palpable. They were united for now, but he knew that at any moment, the fragile alliance could shatter.

The journey had begun. The orb awaited, and with it, the fate of everyone present.

_____

The atmosphere inside the mountain grew increasingly tense as the group of cultivators pushed deeper into the labyrinthine corridors. A dim glow illuminated the ancient stone walls, which were etched with carvings that hinted at a long-forgotten civilization. The air was thick with mystery, and every step carried them further into the unknown.

Finally, they reached a large, open chamber, where the path split into five distinct roadways, each leading into an even darker and more foreboding tunnel. But it wasn't the split that caused the gathered cultivators to pause—it was the ancient script etched into the ground in the center of the chamber.

The carvings were intricate, made up of looping symbols and angular glyphs that shimmered faintly in the low light. They seemed to pulse with a strange, ominous energy, as though the mountain itself was alive and watching their every move.

"What... is this?" one of the True Sun Sect disciples muttered, stepping closer to examine the writing.

"An ancient script," another responded, frowning. "But I can't make sense of it. I've never seen anything like this before."

The crowd of cultivators began to gather around the carved puzzle, eyes scanning the writing in confusion. Some of the more experienced elders among them murmured to one another, while the younger disciples exchanged worried glances.

"This doesn't look good," one of the True Sun Sect disciples, whispered nervously. "We have no idea what it says. It could be a trap for all we know."

Ruchir stood quietly, his eyes fixed on the ancient symbols. He could feel the weight of the script pressing down on him, as though it carried a warning or a challenge from a time long forgotten. The air around them seemed to hum with expectation.

Suddenly, Li Xiang, the young man from the prestigious Red Feather Clan, stepped forward with a smug expression. "Ah, it seems most of you are having trouble understanding this," he said, loud enough for the crowd to hear. "But fortunately, I've studied many ancient texts in my clan. Allow me to offer my interpretation."

The crowd turned toward him, their curiosity piqued. Even Ruchir found himself listening intently, though he kept his skepticism in check.

"This script," Li Xiang began, "is a riddle. It speaks of five paths, each leading to a different destiny. Only one path will lead to the Miraculous Orb, while the others will take us to ruin or worse." He paused dramatically. "The symbols describe trials ahead, but the meaning is clear: we must choose wisely."

A murmur spread through the crowd, with many nodding in agreement. Some even seemed relieved by Li Xiang's confident explanation, but not everyone was convinced.

"I don't think that's right," another voice chimed in. A scholarly young man with thin spectacles and the insignia of the Azure Lotus Sect stepped forward. "These symbols, particularly the ones near the bottom, suggest something different. It mentions balance and harmony. I believe this is a test of fate—we must take the path that resonates most with our inner qi. Only then can we pass safely."

Li Xiang shot him a condescending look. "A test of fate? That sounds ridiculous. Do you really think the ancient civilization that built this mountain would base such an important trial on something so vague?"

Before the scholar could respond, a burly disciple from the Iron Fist Sect raised his hand, grunting impatiently. "You're both overcomplicating it. These symbols here," he pointed at the lower half of the script, "talk about strength and perseverance. I say the right path is the one that tests our physical power. That's the only thing that makes sense."

The chamber filled with voices as more cultivators offered their own interpretations, each arguing that their theory was the correct one. The confusion grew, with heated words exchanged and some disciples even readying themselves for a fight.

"This is absurd," one of the true sun sect disciple whispered to Ruchir. "They're just throwing out ideas without any real evidence. How can any of them be sure?"

Ruchir remained silent, his eyes narrowing as he studied the script more closely. Something about it felt off. The longer he looked at it, the more it seemed to shift, almost as if the symbols were alive and reacting to the chaos around them.

Li Xiang, noticing the growing discord, stepped forward once again, his voice rising above the din. "Enough of this pointless arguing," he said, his tone sharp.

"We can debate theories all day, but in the end, we need to act. I believe the third path is the correct one." He gestured toward the central tunnel, which was the widest and seemed to glow faintly at its entrance.

"Those who are willing to follow me can. But know this—only those who have the courage to face the real dangers will find the orb. If you're too scared, you can stay behind."

The crowd fell silent as they considered his words. Some nodded, impressed by his confidence, while others remained unsure. But slowly, one by one, several disciples from different sects began to align themselves with Li Xiang, their determination clear.

However, not everyone agreed. "You're making a mistake," the Azure Lotus Sect scholar said, shaking his head. "I'm going with the second path. I believe that's where balance lies."

"Balance? You'll find nothing but death," Li Xiang retorted, but the scholar paid him no heed as he gathered his own group and moved toward the second tunnel.

Meanwhile, the Iron Fist Sect disciple growled, "I'm sticking with the fifth path. If it's about strength, I'll be the one to take the orb."

Within minutes, the once unified group had splintered into five factions, each heading toward a different tunnel. The air was thick with tension, as every cultivator believed they were making the right choice.

Ruchir, standing amidst the chaos, took a deep breath and contemplated the situation. While the others argued and rushed to their decisions, he studied the script once more.

There was something about the fourth path, something that called out to him—a subtle energy that resonated with his own qi.

He turned to True Sun Sect disciples and spoke in a low, measured tone. "I believe the fourth path is the one we should take."

He frowned. "Why that one? What makes you so sure?"

Ruchir looked at him steadily. "It's not about being sure. It's about feeling. The energy there is... different. I can't explain it fully, but I sense something important."

The others hesitated, glancing at each other uncertainly. But they trusted Ruchir's instincts, and after a brief moment of contemplation, they nodded.

"All right," He said. "We'll follow your lead."

And so, as the other factions split off into their respective paths, Ruchir and the True Sun Sect disciples ventured down the fourth tunnel, leaving the chamber and its mysterious script behind.