Chapter no.22 Breakthrough

Deep in the heart of the dense and lush forest, Lin Lai and the others made camp among the tall trees and thick underbrush. The beauty of the forest was breathtaking, with a rich ecosystem that supported a wide variety of plants. The forest floor was covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves and other organic matter, and the canopy of trees overhead created a cool, shaded environment. The sound of birds singing and small animals scurrying through the underbrush could be heard, and the air was filled with the fresh, earthy scent of the trees and plants that thrived there.

Lin Lai kept her gaze fixed on Zhongli, who was not asleep, but rather, he was absorbing the essence of Hu Lunmei. In the depths of Zhongli's mindscape, a storm of the five elements raged. The elements of fire, earth, wood, metal, and water. Flames danced along the ground, and molten lava bubbled up from beneath the surface. The earth itself seemed to be in turmoil, with cracks and fissures forming in the ground as water seeped out, from the water wooden branches formed and frozen into metallic branches.

Despite the fury of the elements, Zhongli remained calm as his mindscape was being overtaken by the primal forces of nature that battled for dominance as Zhongli broke through to the Affinity realm. Normally, an individual would have one element dominant over the rest as they only had one pair of spiritual roots arise from one particular elixir pool, but Zhongli's case was anything but normal as the elixir pools of the five elements all had spiritual roots causing the elements to not be able to dominate one over the rest.

The elements of fire cackled as it swirled into a raging pillar piercing the sky while the earth broke apart as giant stone boulders began to revolve around the pillar of flames before breaking into shards of earth that attached itself to the pillar of flames as a pillar of molten lava formed. Water began to seep out of the ground as it cooled down the pillar of lava. Wood began to form out of the ground warping around the pillar as the entire thing began to solidify into metal. The sound of thunder boomed as the wind howled through the mindscape.

Zhongli stood at the center of the top of the pillar of elements as he oversaw his beautiful mindscape that was divided into five equal parts of fire, earth, water, wood, and metal.

.....

Outside of Zhongli's mindscape, Lin Lai couldn't help but grit her teeth as she sensed Zhongli's breakthrough to the Affinity realm. There was no burst of light to indicate it, meaning Zhongli had some kind of way to hide him trying to cultivate. The air around her was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth, as she took a deep breath trying to calm herself. She wondered how Zhongli had suddenly broken through to the Affinity realm. Normally enlightenment could be attained through battle and helped one breakthrough to the next realm, but what Lin Lai felt from Zhongli at that moment was a burst of all five elements that exponentially increased Zhongli's power to such an extent that it scared her.

She weighed her options in her mind, should she kill him before he becomes a threat? Lin Lai wondered as she gazed upon Zhongli's back. In Lin Lai's mind, she was thinking about Zhongli's unnatural and exponential rise to power in the short time they had met together. He could even extract demonic Qi from someone's blood and control it. He could be a threat to her but he could also be a weapon for her if she gained control over him. Lin Lai's smile was wide and toothy, but it didn't reach her eyes. The corners of her mouth were turned up in a way that seemed forced and unnatural, and her eyes were dark and cold, staring intently at Zhongli's back. 'Your mine,' she thought to herself.

Suddenly, a voice called out to the entire Dreamland.

[ Hello, hello, you scum have been quite busy this time. Looks like many of you want to win today's prize. Well, time for the latest update from the central command. Let's start with ... ]

Meanwhile, in the southwestern swamp, Hu Li picked up Hu Lunmei's broken marble that began to glow and project a prerecorded message to her little brother.

"You still are quite the crybaby," Hu Lunmei's projection said as Hu Li tried to keep it to himself.

"I, I waited and waited for you in the residential area, Sis," Hu Li exclaimed as his voice cracked.

"I am sorry, I couldn't make it out alive. I know my handsome little brother was waiting for me but I am sorry, I wasn't strong enough to survive. Hu Li, you were always my most precious thing, and I am sorry I couldn't keep my promise," Hu Lunmei's projection disappeared, leaving behind a disgruntled little brother to cry over his sister's death as he thought.

Why do we have to suffer? Why do we have to endure pain, hardship, and misery? Why can't we just live our lives in peace and happiness? Hu Li screamed out as his mind asked these questions not because he was seeking answers, but because he was trying to understand why his existence was so often filled with suffering. Is it simply the way of the world, or is there some deeper meaning behind it all?

What did his sister do to die this early?

What did his parents do to be killed in cold blood?

Why did his sect do to be destroyed by the so-called righteous people of the Murim Alliance?

"Is there a purpose to our suffering, or are we simply pawns in a larger game, unable to control our destinies?" Hu Li asked as he tightly gripped his sister's metal balls. Tears streaming down his face, he swore to himself, "I will avenge you sis, before I go after all those bastards that made us suffer." The sound of his sobs echoed through the swamp, as he sat alone with his grief and anger. The damp earth beneath him, the tall reeds swaying in the gentle breeze, and the distant cries of animals were the only companions he had in that moment. He sat there for what felt like an eternity, lost in his thoughts, until finally, he stood up, determined to make those who caused their suffering pay.