Members Of The Ashen Hall

Jinshen made his way toward the Ashen Hall alone. Ruyu had long disappeared, called away by other duties.

I wonder. Nanomachine, could you maybe copy techniques?"

The Nanomachine didn't respond immediately instead there was a mechanical whirring before it spoke, its voice a blend of seriousness and excitment. 

I mean... I could replicate the physical movements. But I'm not integrated with your Danitans, so Qi techniques are still out of reach. But I could help with something due to my new update.

Jinshen paused in his walking for a moment before a dry smirk spread across his lips and he continued walking.

Oh? Another update huh? I haven't used your updates abilities in quite a while now.

The Nanomachine chuckled, it took a metaphorical deep breath before starting to list of the things it could do.

Well, the mode Adrenaline Rush is gone since according to some studies in the future, it was harmful to the human body. Second, now the nanites are self replicating. We don't require food anymore. Third, I can now create simulations. Neat right?

Jinshen raised an eyebrow as he stood in front of the massive iron gate of the Ashen Hall, it built into the side of the southern mountain, with parts of it carved directly from stone, its walls made of deep black stones.

Simulations? What are those?

The Nanomachine sighed softly, its tone was a bit more deadpanned

Oh, I forgot I'm in the past.. A simulation is basically me imitating a process or a fight. Like I did with Kai.

Jinshen slowly nodded in understanding as he took a step towards the iron gate, taking a big deep breath before trying to push the doors open. The doors creaked and slowly but surely a small opening was made.

Jinshen walked in through the small opening looking around the ground floor of the Ashen hall.

The ceiling was high and hanging from it were the same jade stones that were in Abyssal Cave where the trial of endurance occurred. They were now a blue color, illuminating the area in a blue light.

The floors were made of black marble that seemed to swallow the light whole, making them look like the void, it didn't help that there weren't any windows.

There was an open, wooden door at the end of the room which led to the stairway, and two metal ones in each corner of which the contents were unknown. On the right wall was a large board that had the word 'Tasks' written on it, but as of right now it was empty.

In the center, there was a large, circular metal desk behind which was a young woman with jet black hair and blue eyes. Every other part of her body was covered in a black cloth except the eyes and hair, she had a brush in her right hand as she wrote something on a paper.

Jinshen slowly approached her, his own expression was stoic but he was trying to be as friendly as he possibly could.

"Hello." He began in a cold and distant tone. But it wasn't unkind. "I'm Jinshen Zhe-"

The woman just nodded, cutting him off as she placed a black coin made of glass on the table in front of Jinshen.

"Behind the two metal doors is the training room and bathing room, to use the latter you'll need to get clearance from me first. And show the black coin to the guard on the first floor." She said simply in a matter of fact tone before curtly going back to writing something on a papers.

Jinshen didn't mind her abruptness as he took the black coin off the table, holding it in his palm as he nodded at her before leaving towards the stairway, closing the wooden door behind him.

The stairway was made of metal, and the walls were the same, black color but this time it was somewhat different. As he climbed the stairs he noticed that occasionally there were rough drawings of cats or other animals made of chalk.

That looks like the girl did it. The granddaughter I mean. Said Nanomachine in an entertained tone.

Jinshen nodded a faint smile on his face as he shook his head in amusement. He was currently imaging The Grand Marshall, a feared and almost god-like being getting his cheeks pinched by a young girl.

I suppose so.

Jinshen sighed softly as he arrived at the first floor, the iron gate was much smaller than the main one of the Ashen Hall, but it was still quite a size bigger then Jinshen. But it also had a few designs, a dragon's face on top of the gate.

A lone guard stood before the gate, clad in a stark white robe stitched with the symbol of a bow and arrow. He looked out of place amidst the gloom, like a shard of moonlight on scorched stone.. His black hair was neatly tied into a ponytail and his expression was stoic yet still welcoming.

Jinshen walked over to him, putting the black coin forward for the guard to see. 

"I am Jinshen Zhe."

The guard nodded silently, not responding, instead taking the black coin and turning it around in his fingers a few times before nodding once more, giving it back to Jinshen before he stepped aside to let Jinshen enter.

Jinshen put the coin in his pocket, pushing the gate open as he entered into the first floor.

There was a line of beds and and a cupboard besides each bed. There weren't many people in the room at all. Just 17 people in total that had survived the selection process.

Suddenly Jinshen was tackled to the ground by a person as the assailant let out a laugh of glee.

"You survived!" The person said in a happy and excited tone "Thank you for saving my butt in the labyrinth!"

Jinshen recognized that voice near instantly as he looked at the person on top of him as he shook his head in reluctant amusement.

"Yanwei. Get off of me."

Yanwei grinned as he nodded in fervor, getting off of Jinshen immediately as the latter stood up from the ground, dusting the white robe he was wearing off.

Yanwei was also wearing the same robe as Jinshen, only that it seemed to be a bit more dirty and had signs of wear and tear.