Pull it Up!

Juanxiu moved swiftly through the land, his body cutting through the air with ease. He could feel the rush of excitement and curiosity inside him as he moved, this has been a fruitful journey. The Chaos Striker was once again back in his necklace form, securely hanging around Juanxiu's neck.

As he approached the edge of the forest, he could hear the murmurs of the students growing louder. They were all talking about the Shadow Stones, and the rumors that they had heard about the forest. Juanxiu listened intently, his eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of trouble or danger.

The forest was dense and dark, with tall bamboo shoots reaching up towards the sky like spires. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and vegetation, and the sounds of birds and insects filled his ears. The students moved in a hushed silence, their eyes darting around nervously as they made their way deeper into the forest.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Juanxiu quickened his pace and joined the crowd of students. He weaved his way through the sea of bodies, his senses heightened by the bustling energy around him. The chatter of excited voices, the rustling of leaves underfoot, and the crisp scent of bamboo filled his lungs.

Juanxiu continued to follow the crowd of students until they reached a beautiful waterfall that seemed to emanate an otherworldly energy. The powerful water cascaded into the stones below, giving birth to some type of glowing stones. Some of the students from the other university recognized it.

"These are the Shadow stones," said one of the students.

Another one chimed in, "According to the stories by those who came before us, these stones contain treasures inside. However, these stones will only follow those who they acknowledge. It will appear like it has a life on its own and will move toward those whom it acknowledges."

One student pointed over to a group of students trying to pull a stone, but it wouldn't budge. There has been an exchange of conversation happening around.

"I guess those stones don't acknowledge them,"

"They have to prove themselves first," said a student from another university.

"How do you prove yourself to a stone?" asked another, raising an eyebrow.

The student shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I've heard that the stones have a mind of their own. Maybe they can sense strength, determination, or loyalty."

"Well, we won't know until we try," said another, stepping forward.

The rest of the students followed suit, each trying their luck with the Shadow stones. Most were not successful, but they all knew that they had to keep trying until they found the stones that would acknowledge them.

One of the students from Harbinger University, a muscular young man with a determined look on his face, approached one of the glowing Shadow Stones. As he got closer, the stone suddenly leapt into the air, as if recognizing the student's worthiness.

With a powerful chop, the student split the stone in half, revealing a page of a martial scripture that had been lost in time. The other students around him gasped in amazement, but the successful student quickly hid the page away from prying eyes.

As he started to make his way back and regroup with the other students from his Unviersity, a group of envious students exchanged glances. They noticed what he had obtained and decided to follow him.

Meanwhile, Juanxiu observed from a distance, unfazed by the commotion. He knew that secret realms were full of opportunities, but also full of those who were willing to do anything to get their hands on them. He continued on his way, searching for his own treasures amidst the chaos of the realm.

Juanxiu stood there, observing the pile of stones with a sense of detachment. He knew that there was little chance that any of the stones would choose him, and he was fine with that. He had already obtained valuable insights from his journey so far, and he felt content with what he had gained.

As he was lost in thought, the Chaos Striker suddenly spoke to him, its voice resonating in his mind. "Go in the opposite direction of the current," it said, and Juanxiu felt a sense of curiosity stir within him.

"But why?" he asked the Chaos Striker, hoping to gain some insight into the reasoning behind the suggestion.

The Chaos Striker was silent for a moment before responding. "I do not have all the answers," it said. "Sometimes, one must follow their instincts, their intuition, their gut feeling. The treasures of this world are not always obvious or apparent. Sometimes, they are hidden in plain sight, waiting for someone to recognize their true value. If you want answer, it seems something is pulling me toward that direction."

Juanxiu nodded thoughtfully, taking in the Chaos Striker's words. He knew that the beast spoke the truth, and he felt a sense of excitement building within him as he contemplated the possibilities that lay ahead.

With a determined look on his face, he began to move in the direction opposite of the water's current, guided by nothing more than his intuition and his sense of adventure.

Juanxiu followed the command of the Chaos Striker and began to move in the direction opposite of the water's current. As he continued, the number of students in the area decreased until there were none.

Then, the water stretched out before Juanxiu, vast and endless. The sound of rushing water filled his ears, as the rapids crashed against the land and boulders that lined the riverbed. He felt the spray of water on his face, and the mist clung to his clothes. The whirlpool in the center of the river was like a great black hole, swirling and churning with a fierce intensity. It seemed to beckon to him, drawing him in with an eerie pull.

It was then that the Chaos Striker spoke to him again, urging him to dive into the whirlpool. Juanxiu hesitated at first, his mind racing with all the possible dangers that could be lurking in the depths below. But the Chaos Striker's urging grew more insistent, and Juanxiu knew he had to trust his instincts.

"Do not fear, Juanxiu. I will guide you. Trust in me and you will find what you seek."

Juanxiu took a deep breath and replied, "But what if there are dangers down there? What if I cannot hold my breath long enough?"

The Chaos Striker reassured him, "I will protect you from any dangers, and I will ensure that you have enough air to breathe. You must trust in me, Juanxiu."

After a moment of hesitation, Juanxiu nodded and took the plunge into the middle of the whirlpool, with the Chaos Striker leading the way.

With a deep breath, Juanxiu plunged into the churning waters of the whirlpool. The water was cold and dark, and the pressure on his body was intense as he descended deeper and deeper. He felt a sense of weightlessness as he tumbled through the swirling currents, unsure of which way was up and which way was down.

Suddenly, he felt a tug at his wrist, and he realized that he was being pulled down by a powerful force.

He kicked his legs and stroked his arms, trying to fight against the current, but it was too strong. The whirlpool dragged him deeper and deeper, until he was surrounded by darkness and silence.

Juanxiu was thrown mercilessly in all directions by the immense force of the whirlpool. His body was battered left and right, and he struggled to keep himself afloat. The pressure inside the whirlpool was immense, and he could feel the weight of the water bearing down on him.

Suddenly, the Chaos Striker enveloped his body with a ball of energy, protecting him from the relentless onslaught of the water. The ball was glowing, illuminating the darkness of the water and making it easier for Juanxiu to see.

"You are really weak," the Chaos Striker said, his voice echoing in Juanxiu's mind.

Juanxiu was taken aback. He had never heard the Chaos Striker speak so bluntly before. But he knew that the Chaos Striker was right. Compared to the power of the whirlpool, he was indeed weak.

But with the barrier from the Chaos Striker, descending into the depths of the water was no longer an issue. The swirling waters no longer pose a threat as they descended deeper and deeper.

As Juanxiu reached the bottom of the whirlpool, he felt a strong energy drawing the Chaos Striker towards a certain direction. The Chaos Striker communicated telepathically, instructing him to follow the source of the whirlpool towards the east. Juanxiu propelled the ball-like barrier with his qi, and they moved swiftly towards the designated direction.

The journey was not easy as they had to navigate through strong currents, but the barrier provided enough protection for Juanxiu to endure. After what seemed like hours, they finally arrived at the source of the whirlpool. Juanxiu could see something sticking to the bottom of the water, but the current was just too strong for him to approach it.

The current was too strong and there was nothing he could hold on to. He was tossed around like a leaf in a storm. Every time he got a bit closer to the object protruding from the ocean floor, he was immediately blown away again.

Frustrated, Juanxiu drew two blades from his spatial pouch and struck them into the ocean floor. He used them to hold onto and propel himself forward. He continued to stab the ground forward with his blades, making slow progress but progress nonetheless.

Juanxiu was shouting in frustration, the pressure of the whirlpool weighing down on him despite the barrier protecting him. He could see the protruding thing just a meter away, but it felt like a mile. He struggled against the powerful current, trying to inch closer to his target.

The Chaos Striker's voice echoed in his mind, urging him to keep going. "Just a few more, and we can already find out what that thing is," it said.

Juanxiu gritted his teeth and dug his blades deeper into the ocean floor, using them as anchors to pull himself forward. Even the barrier of the Chaos striker was being warped due to the extreme pressure. He could feel the strain on his muscles as he battled the current, inching ever closer to the object of their search.

Finally, he was within reach, and he reached out to grasp it. But the pressure was too much, and he was thrown back once again. He let out a frustrated yell, his body battered and bruised from the relentless assault of the whirlpool. But he refused to give up. He drew his blades once more and began to stab the ground forward, slowly making his way towards the object that had brought him to this place.

With all his might, Juanxiu pulled the mysterious object out of the ground. It felt incredibly heavy, and for a moment, he doubted if he could do it. But then he remembered the Chaos Striker's words and put all his strength into it. With a sudden jerk, he managed to pull it free from the bottom of the whirlpool.

As the object came into view, the Chaos Striker shouted, "Pull it up! We need to see what it is!"

Juanxiu looked at it in disbelief. It was just a root, no longer than four inches and not much thicker than a chopstick. He couldn't understand how something so small and seemingly insignificant could create such chaos and changes, even giving birth to Shadow Stones.

He felt baffled and frustrated. He had risked his life for this? He looked at the Chaos Striker and telepathically asked, "Is this really what we came for? A root?"

The Chaos Striker's voice was filled with awe as he spoke, "This is not just a simple root, this is a piece of root from the World Tree." Juanxiu's eyes widened in amazement as he heard the words. The World Tree, the tree that holds the heavens and the earth together, the tree that is said to be the source of all life in the universe.