Chapter 18: Triple Burner Meridian

Chapter 18: Triple Burner Meridian 

In the Valdene Library, the air vibrated with the energy of the Elemental Nexus Array, pulsing with a rhythm that mirrored the heartbeat of the world itself. Darius, a seemingly normal boy, sat amidst this power, his face flushed with exertion, sweat dripping down his forehead. His breathing was slow and deliberate.

'I have unlocked eleven so far,' Darius thought, his mind calm amidst the storm. He focused on circulating his modified Taiji Talisman Technique, drawing in water mana for one final push.

 The last meridian, the Triple Burner Meridian, loomed before him – a challenge that originally, connected the body and soul with the Heavenly Dao. 'But in Gaia, there is no Dao to seek, only the unknown,' he grinned, a rush of fear and excitement coursing through him.

In Penglai, where cultivators are born with their minor meridians already open, the practice typically stopped at enhancing these existing channels. The major meridians, fraught with immense risk, were left mostly unexplored. However, Darius, in his past life as Xue Feng, had hit a bottleneck in his original cultivation technique that he refused to accept as his limit. So he developed the Taiji Talisman Technique, a method more demanding and harsh on oneself than any enemy. It was a technique built on the foundation of opening all 12 major meridians, a feat deemed more risk than reward by normal cultivators but not for Xue Feng, not for Darius. This was his path to transcend his limited innate talent.

The last meridian, the Triple Burner Meridian, was a mystery even to the most ancient practitioners. Its connection to the spiritual root made it intangible, an enigma wrapped in an impenetrable fog. But Darius was no stranger to this unknown. Upon opening this meridian in his past life, Darius was catapulted into a realm of profound comprehension, a state of heightened awareness he had rarely experienced. This crucial meridian served as a bridge, linking the body and soul with the Dao. Its activation dramatically enhanced one's ability to grasp and assimilate complex concepts, propelling the comprehension rate to unparalleled heights.

 With a deep breath, he embraced the familiar blend of fear and exhilaration that accompanied exploration into the uncharted realms of cultivation.

With the Elemental Nexus Array pulsing around him, Darius began his final cycle. He focused intently on the Triple Burner Meridian in his forehead, aware of its significance and the potential it held. 'This is the moment of truth,' he thought, channeling the mana with a precision honed by years of relentless practice. 'This is where I break through the barriers of my past and forge a new path!'

The room filled with an intense energy, the air crackling with the power of the elemental forces at Darius's command. He could feel the mana flowing through him, a aquatic torrent of energy that threatened to overwhelm yet was expertly controlled. It was a dance of power, a orchestra of arcane forces that Darius conducted and balanced with the skills of a master.

As he reached the climax of his final cycle, the energy in the room surged to a crescendo. Darius's body radiated a brilliant light. With each of the eleven meridians opened, Darius noticed a drastic surge in his mana's density. With a final push, he directed the refined mana towards the Triple Burner Meridian.

 Darius focused inward, visualizing his body's inner landscape, the surge of water mana took on the appearance of a raging flood dragon. It barreled toward the barrier at his forehead with unstoppable force. The flood dragon collided, the sound of shattering glass reverberated through the Valdene estate, echoing far into the Fang root forest, startling the birds into flight. The barrier dissolved under the mana's onslaught as if it were nothing more than a fragile window.

In that pivotal moment, Darius's perception fractured, his mind thrown into a whirlwind of rotations and twists. His consciousness became a whirlpool for an unending stream of visions from Gaia. These images, vivid and relentless, depicted the ebb and flow of life, the rise and fall of kingdoms, the passage of eras. Every creature, every spoken word of Gaia's existence flooded through him, overwhelming in its vastness.

Darius felt himself fading, his own existence insignificant amidst this onslaught of memory. He was being drawn into an abyss of endless information, sinking deeper into a never ending void. But then, amidst this chaos, one image crystallized – a robed young boy floating in a void of blackness. The boy, ethereal in his beauty, with endless dark purple hair flowing like ink in water, seemed like the embodiment of the universe itself.

Slowly, the boy opened his eyes, and a brilliant light burst forth, piercing the void. This light surged into Darius's mind with such intensity that it jolted him back into his body. His eyes snapped open in the library, unleashing a blinding radiance. This powerful light incinerated the books within a five-foot radius, reducing them to ashes instantly. In that moment, Darius had not just broken a barrier within; he had touched something profound and boundless. 

In that moment, Darius Valdene transcended the limits of his past and stepped into a system of power previously unknown. He had achieved the impossible, opening all 12 major meridians and setting himself on a path that will shake the very core of Gaia.

In the wake of the energy's stabilization, Darius took a moment to grasp the magnitude of his accomplishment. As his thoughts began to clear, they raced with questions and realizations. 'So it was Gaia itself, not the Dao, that revealed itself to me. In the future, I must delve into even a fraction of those memories. And who was that boy? His intervention felt pivotal. Without him, I might have been lost in those memories forever.' A chill ran down his spine at the thought, but he shook it off. 'No immediate use fixating on it now,' he resolved. 

With a spark of eagerness, Darius shifted his focus inward, eager to witness the transformation within his body. His vision swept over the now open major meridians, and he couldn't help but marvel at the sight. 'Incredible!' he thought, his mind alight with excitement. His meridians were thrumming with raw, potent water mana, its density far surpassing what it had been before. Encircling these channels were ethereal, glowing blue arcane runes, pulsating with a soft light.

 'My ability to cycle mana has greatly increased; compared to the Dewdrop Technique, it's like comparing a blade of grass to an ancient oak!' Darius observed, watching his mana cycle through his body at a speed akin to an arrow loosed from a bow. 'Well, let's see what else it can do,' he thought, refocusing on the Elemental Nexus Array. With regulated breathing, he began to absorb mana again, this time concentrating on the earth element.

 'This is strange,' Darius's face began to frown. 'It seems like this might be harder than I thought.' Darius tried to cycle his technique, but his attempts were like trying to grab air. 'Again.' This time, Darius focused more intently on the earth element, its density, its softness, its ability to give life and, at the same time, be devoid of it. His thoughts were able to flow at an amazing speed since unlocking his Triple Burner Meridian. The previous feeling of grasping at nothing slowly started to take form. He could feel strands of earth mana being drawn from the array, almost invisible slivers. 

After an hour with no increase in the earth mana being drawn towards him, Darius decided to stop. 'It seems I am lacking something to absorb the other elements. I could probably continue like this for another month and barely reach the level of water mana my body can cycle. The array won't last that long, and there are five other elements.' Darius's brow furrowed in concentration as his mind raced. 'Maybe I need a larger or more pure external source of mana to imprint the other elements' runes on my channels.' While absorbing the earth element, he noticed heavy yellow runes were barely being etched onto his meridians. He concluded that once he etched every element onto his channels, he would experience an explosive growth in power.

Darius's eyes flew open. "Let's see what I can do," he said, standing up to assess his surroundings. His face, full of accomplishment and vigor, abruptly changed to a look of open-mouthed disbelief.

 "Well, better clean this up and open some windows before Tilly sees this and drowns me." The ancestral Valdene Library resembled a scene of chaos, as if a herd of hippomana had stampeded through it. 

 His body felt different, more powerful, and more attuned to the arcane energies of the world than ever before. He knew this was just the beginning, but it was a beginning that promised greatness. On this day, the world's first immortal cultivator began his arduous task of "hiding the evidence." Soft chuckles from Darius echoed throughout the library that day.

----

Gaia, was a world imbued with the lifeblood of arcane energy. In its second age, known as the Age of Wonder, it is a world where magic and might intertwine. Amidst this world of diverse landscapes and races, there lie regions where the very fabric of magic behaves unpredictably – the Chaotic Mana Regions.

These Chaotic Mana Regions are unique danger zones in Gaia. In these areas, one of the five primal elements reigns supreme, manifesting in its most potent and untamed form. The energy within these regions is so concentrated and volatile that it warps the very nature of reality, creating environments both wondrous and perilous.

One such region, hidden deep within the Ember Sands, an impossibly vast burning desert, is the Pyroclasmic Expanse. Here, the essence of fire dominates, turning the landscape into a blazing inferno where rivers of lava flow freely and geysers of flame erupt spontaneously. The ground itself seems to burn with an inner light, and the air is thick with the heat of uncontrolled fire mana. It is a place where the fire element is not just a force to be wielded, but a living, breathing entity in its own right.

In the Pyroclasmic Expanse, knights and mages alike are drawn by the allure of rare fire-based chaotic crystals, magical natural resources, mana beasts unique to the region and the thrill of mastering the rampant elemental forces. Beyond these enticing treasures, the expanse is rumored to hold forgotten ruins of the Ancients, offering a glimpse into the mysteries and treasures of Gaia's Primordial Age. This region, known for its unforgiving and fiery temperament, is a formidable challenge, attracting only the most daring or reckless adventurers.

 Deep within the Pyroclasmic Expanse, hidden in a dormant volcano, stood a magnificent yet eerie sight—a colossal castle crafted from dark ruby-red stone. The stone of the castle shimmered, its glow reminiscent of lava encased within its walls. Amidst the desolate and scorching landscape, the castle's grandeur was a stark contrast, yet it was devoid of life. No knights guarded its towering walls, no nobles strolled through its splendid gardens or wandered its ornate halls. The only sign of life was at the pinnacle of the central tower, where a massive serpentine creature of stone lay coiled. Lush vines grew in the cracks of its body, while its head, wolf-like with flowing dragon whiskers, rested in slumber. Its eyes remained closed, as it enveloped the tower in its embrace. 

 At the top of the tower, within its uppermost chamber, two men sat across from each other in a room of elegant simplicity. The room's sole furnishings were a table and two chairs. The table itself was an object of wonder, carved from an extraordinary timber that radiated a soft, green luminescence, as if imbued with the soul of an ancient forest.

Between the two men rested a captivating game set, a marvel in its own right. This four-tiered construct, each level meticulously carved with a grid, showcased different colors marking each square. Floating gently above these grids were orbs of light. Each orb glowed softly, positioned strategically on the grid. 

 "I'll never understand that mind of yours, Morla. We have been playing this game for over a hundred years, and you always open with Falcors Gambit. By the time your armies even begin to mobilize, I am already in position," remarked the man with fiery red hair, his voice tinged with a mix of amusement and critique. He was garbed in ornate royal red robes that spoke of high status and power. This imposing man watched his opponent, Morla, with a keen gaze.

Morla, in contrast, appeared as an unassuming figure. He was slightly plump with a notably round nose. His hair was a tangle of messy brown locks, with hints of green moss intertwining within, giving him a somewhat eccentric appearance. "You prioritize... speed and attack, Kael," Morla responded deliberately, his voice calm and measured. With a casual flick of his finger, he directed one of the orbs on the second platform. The orb responded by glowing brighter and smoothly merged into the adjacent orb, growing slightly in size as it absorbed its companion.

 Upon closer inspection, the orb appeared to be a mere globe of light, its contents seemingly normal. However, with the aid of a certain spell, the true nature of what resided within could be revealed. Inside the orb, thousands of figures from various races of Gaia – humans, dwarves, elves, Werefolke, and pale-skinned individuals presumably Vampyres – were visible. They stood in organized ranks and files, donned in armor that, while crude, signified their readiness for battle. The expressions on their faces were ones of terror, reflecting their awareness of the strange, gaseous world they were trapped in.

 "While i prefer to wait... and listen," Morla replied, his voice tinged with self-satisfaction. His constant smile, alongside his perpetually closed eyes, cloaked his true emotions.

 "Tsk," Kael expressed his impatience, rolling his eyes and clicking his tongue in annoyance. With a swift wave of his hand, he manipulated an orb on the edge of the third tier. It plummeted directly onto Morla's orb. Instantly, the chamber echoed with the sounds of combat. Their eyes shone with a crystalline brilliance; within Kael's, tiny blue flames danced, while Morla's seemed to hold an expansive, swampland.

 Within the orb, the two armies collided in a ferocious clash, banners flying high in the midst of battle. The crest of a coiled stone snake adorned one side, while the other bore the emblem of a fiery bird, its wings majestically spread. Kael's forces charged with ferocity, but the snake-crested army held fast, their shields forming an impenetrable wall, braced to absorb the onslaught. The battle that ensued was fierce and desperate; emotions ran high. Some soldiers, tears streaming down their faces, fought with a heart-wrenching intensity, while others lost themselves in a frenzy of manic laughter. A few remained stoically silent, their expressions unyielding as they engaged in the brutal conflict. Each warrior, regardless of their state, fought with a near-suicidal determination, as if propelled by an invisible force, relentlessly pushing them forward without regard for their own safety or injury.

 Suddenly, both men rose to their feet, their gazes piercing through the ground beneath them as if to see through the very planet of Gaia itself. Kael spoke first, his voice tinged with excitement, "He moved." A hint of anticipation colored his words. "It's been 2000 years..." he began, only for Morla to interject, "one thousand...nine hundred...ninety-seven years..." Morla's voice trailed off, his attention shifting slowly to his right.

Kael's gaze followed Morla's, and he asked, "Seems everyone is moving, shall we join?" 

"Of...course!" Morla responded, his tone measured yet decisive. He walked toward the wall, which shimmered like a mirage, revealing a large platform extending out from the tower. Both men stepped onto the platform, where the giant stone serpent waited, its head bowed.

Morla gracefully stepped onto the beast's head, turned to Kael, and said with a smile, "Don't be...too long." With those parting words, the massive mana beast took flight, soaring out of the volcano.

"Tsk, Sorsha!" Kael called out, his voice echoing off the volcanic walls. A dormant lava pool began to bubble and erupt, giving birth to a giant flaming red eagle that soared up to circle the tower. As it did, Kael's regal robes transformed, fading away to reveal a glowing set of fantastical armor adorned with dragons and enveloped in dark blue flames.

With an agile leap, Kael landed smoothly on the back of the fiery beast. "I wonder if he is finally making his move? I hope this is going to be exciting! Ahahhahah," he laughed heartily, his voice echoing as the burning eagle burst out of the volcano's mouth, closely followed by an ear shattering eruption of lava.