Chapter 55- Growing Stronger

Xiannu's voice echoed through the halls of the tower, "Juanxiu, are you ready for the third test? This one is different from the others, it will put your critical thinking and problem solving abilities to the test."

Juanxiu nods, feeling a bit intimidated but also eager to prove himself. Xiannu continues, "You will be presented with a seemingly simple task, but there is a catch. A profound alchemical problem has arisen in the tower, and you must use your knowledge and skills to solve it. Are you ready?"

Juanxiu takes a deep breath and nods, "I am ready, Xiannu."

Xiannu leads Juanxiu to a large room within the tower. In the center of the room stands a large cauldron, bubbling with a bright red liquid. Xiannu explains, "This cauldron contains the essence of the Fire Phoenix, an incredibly rare and powerful ingredient. But there is a problem. The essence is being consumed by a parasitic energy that threatens to destroy it. Your task is to remove the parasitic energy and save the essence."

Juanxiu looks at the cauldron, his mind racing as he tries to think of a solution. Xiannu adds, "You have all the tools and ingredients you need to solve the problem, but you must be careful. Any mistake could cause the essence to explode, destroying everything in the room, including you. Yes, you can die from this test. Do you stil wish to proceed"

Juanxiu was taken aback upon hearing this, but he was firm. He knew he had to go through this. There are people relying on him.

Juanxiu takes another deep breath and focuses his mind, ready to tackle the challenge. Xiannu watches as Juanxiu begins to work, his fingers moving quickly as he measures out ingredients and prepares a solution. And with that, the third test begins.

Juanxiu starts by using a variety of common alchemical ingredients, such as purified water and salt, but they have no effect on the parasitic energy. He then tries mixing in rare and exotic ingredients, such as dragon's breath and starlight dust, but still nothing happens.

As the days passed, Juanxiu's frustration grows. He tries mixing the ingredients in different proportions and at different temperatures, but still the parasitic energy refuses to be removed. He begins to think that this task may be impossible.

Just when Juanxiu is about to give up, he has a sudden flash of inspiration. He remembers a obscure alchemical text he once read that described a similar problem and its solution.

Juanxiu stood before the cauldron, his mind racing as he gazed at the red liquid that bubbled within. The parasitic energy threatened to destroy the essence of the Fire Phoenix, an incredibly rare and powerful ingredient. He had to act fast to save it.

Juanxiu reached into his spatial pocket and retrieved a small vial of a milky white substance. He poured the contents of the vial into the cauldron and watched as it formed a barrier between the essence and the parasitic energy.

He reached into the spatial pouch again, this time pulling out a handful of dried herbs. Juanxiu crushed the herbs into a fine powder and sprinkled them over the barrier. The herbs immediately reacted with the milky white substance, creating a thick mist that enveloped the entire cauldron.

Next, Juanxiu reached for a small container of a golden powder. He sprinkled the powder into the mist, watching as it formed a shimmering barrier around the essence. The gold powder reacted with the mist, creating a protective shield that kept the parasitic energy at bay. This would prevent the energy from spreading further, but Juanxiu knew that the barrier was only temporary. He had to find a permanent solution.

Juanxiu begins to study the properties of the parasitic energy, looking for any weaknesses that he can exploit. He adds a pinch of a shimmering powder to the cauldron and watches as the parasitic energy reacts. The energy seems to weaken and Juanxiu realizes that the powder has a destabilizing effect on the energy.

Juanxiu watches intently as the powder begins to take effect, and he sees the parasitic energy start to writhe and shrink, the milky white barrier trapping it and preventing it from spreading any further. The essence of the Fire Phoenix glows brightly, as if it's taking in new energy and strength from the weakened parasitic energy.

Juanxiu's eyes are fixed on the cauldron, his mind racing as he thinks of what to do next. He knows that the powder he just added is not enough to eradicate the parasitic energy completely, but it's a start. He begins to consider other elements that might have a similar effect on the energy.

He remembers reading about the properties of the Void Crystal, and decides to try using it next. He takes out a small, black crystal and places it carefully into the cauldron. The crystal begins to glow with a deep, violet light, and the parasitic energy reacts immediately. The energy writhes and twists as it tries to escape the grip of the crystal, but it's no use. The crystal continues to absorb the energy, draining it until it's no longer a threat.

Juanxiu watches intently as the essence and the parasitic energy swirl together in a chaotic dance. The essence starts to turn a bright shade of red, a clear sign that the parasitic energy is being forced out. Juanxiu's heart starts to race as he realizes that he may have just stumbled upon a solution to the problem.

As he adds more of the crystal powder, the chaotic energy intensifies. Juanxiu can see tendrils of the parasitic energy being ripped away from the essence, leaving it pure and unscathed. The essence starts to glow with an inner light and Juanxiu can feel the power radiating from it.

Despite the chaos that surrounds him, Juanxiu remains calm and focused. He knows that he must be careful, for even a small mistake could cause everything to unravel. He watches as the tendrils of the parasitic energy are torn away, leaving the essence pure and unspoiled.

Finally, Juanxiu takes out a vial of a deep blue liquid and pours it into the cauldron. The liquid quickly reacts with the destabilized parasitic energy, breaking it down and dispersing it into the air.

Juanxiu holds his breath as he watches the deep blue liquid mix with the destabilized parasitic energy. At first, the energy thrashes and fights against the liquid, but then, it begins to break apart. Juanxiu watches in amazement as the once powerful parasitic energy is reduced to wisps of smoke, completely dispersed into the air.

He watches as the essence of the Fire Phoenix begins to glow brighter, returning to its original state. The essence bubbles and boils with renewed energy, its vibrant red hue restored. Juanxiu can see the raw power contained within the cauldron, and he feels a sense of awe at what he has accomplished.

He takes a step back, letting out a sigh of relief as he looks upon the purified essence. He feels a sense of pride in his ability to solve such a complex and challenging problem, but also a sense of humbleness knowing that he couldn't have done it without his knowledge and skills in alchemy.

Juanxiu talks to Xiannu, who unknown to him has been watching the entire process with a look of satisfaction on his face.

Xiannu's voice was a sound of approval as he talks Juanxiu, "Well done, Juanxiu. You have proven your abilities in critical thinking and the application of your knowledge and skills to unexpected situations. As a reward for your success, you will now be granted access to the intermediate section of Alchemy and allowed to study the techniques and formulas that are taught there. Once you leave this tower, you will also be given an unlimited supply of water from the Eternal Star Spring, which is essential for advanced alchemy."

Juanxiu's eyes widen in disbelief as Xiannu continues, "In addition, you will also be allowed to take the entire library of basic alchemy with you. There are tens of thousands of books in there, each filled with valuable knowledge and techniques that will aid you in your studies."

"Thank you, Xiannu," Juanxiu says, his voice filled with gratitude. "I will make sure to use these rewards to the best of my abilities."

Juanxiu couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had successfully purified the essence of the Fire Phoenix, and now he was being given access to the intermediate section of Alchemy, an unlimited supply of the water from the Eternal Star Spring, and an entire library of basic alchemy. He was overjoyed and couldn't wait to start his journey.

However, his excitement was suddenly interrupted by a piercing cry that echoed through the tower. The skies grew dark as ominous clouds converged overhead. Suddenly, mythical animals appeared, surrounding the tower as if welcoming the coming of their king. The Ju Wei Hu and the Erawan even joined in the congregation, and standing in front were all the legendary beasts that held divine blood. Mao Wen Lin and Du Hong were shocked to see so many spiritual beasts in one location.

Xiannu Yindao turned to Juanxiu and said, "It is time for the Curse Striker to be born." Juanxiu felt a shiver run down his spine as he realized that this was just the beginning of his journey, and he knew that he was destined for greatness.

Suddenly, a bright light enveloped Juanxiu, and he felt himself being lifted into the air. He closed his eyes, bracing for the impact, but instead, he felt himself being transported to another room within the tower.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a spacious room filled with an unusual energy. In the center of the room, he saw a massive egg, at least twice his height, surrounded by a pulsing aura. The egg was unlike anything Juanxiu had ever seen before. Its shells were made of a hard, translucent material, with spikes protruding from its surface. The shells glimmered with a soft glow, and Juanxiu could feel the energy being drawn from all around the tower towards the egg.

He watched in awe as the spikes on the shell of the egg began to glow brighter and brighter, and the aura around it grew stronger and stronger. It was as if the egg was voraciously consuming the energy of the tower, fueling its growth. Juanxiu felt his heart pounding in his chest as he realized that this was the Curse Striker, the being that was said to be a creature that threatens even the Gods.

The energy in the room was intense, and Juanxiu could feel it prickling at his skin. He took a step closer to the egg, mesmerized by its beauty, and felt the energy inside of him stirring.

As Juanxiu approached the Egg, he felt an intense pull, like a vortex drawing him closer. He struggled against the force, but it was too strong, and soon he was standing before the Egg. Suddenly, the spikes on the surface of the Egg began to glow and then, to Juanxiu's horror, they shot out, piercing his body and drawing out his energy.

He screamed in pain as his energy was siphoned away, leaving him feeling weaker and more vulnerable with each passing moment. He tried to break free, but the spikes held him fast, like a moth to a flame. He could feel his consciousness slipping away as the Egg continued to drain him of his life force.

Just when he thought he could take no more, the spikes receded, and the Egg's surface returned to its former state. Juanxiu fell to his knees, gasping for air and feeling as though he had just run a marathon. Xiannu Yindao's finally appeared at his side, a look of concern on her face. "It's done," she said. "The imprinting is complete. The Egg of the Curse Striker has accepted you as its master."

Juanxiu looked up at the Egg, feeling a sense of awe and fear. He had never felt so drained and vulnerable in his life, and the thought of facing the challenges that lay ahead was almost too much to bear.