Qilin Jade Staff
Fangsu turned to the group, "Does anyone have an affinity with fire?" She look at the group to find a few but their affinities were quite weak as they could not light the torch. Sim Siu walked up to the torch and created a small spark of electricity which ended up burning the torch and producing a flame which lit up along with the symbol. Walking to each torches, Sim Siu went to light all of them, however, at the third one the torches extinguished themselves which confused Sim Siu and she continued to try to lit up the torches to only have them extinguish themselves again and again and again. But, Fangsu immediately understood that there had to be a certain pattern that the torches had to be lit otherwise the torches would immediately would extinguish themselves and they would have to start all over again.
Fangsu grabbed Sim Siu's hand, stopping her from getting frustrated from making no progress and she looked at the cryptic words on the pillar that stood proudly amongst all the pillars that were within the area. Focusing spiritual energy to her eyes, reading the cryptic language once again and being able to read it.
'Start from the west,
Crossing to the east,
Returning to the south west
Up to the north
Down to the south east
Finally, returning to the start.'
Discreetly using her sleeves as a cover to take out a piece of paper from her spatial ring to write down the instruction before returning to the group. Her uncle took the paper reading the cryptic language like it was natural to him which it was. The cryptic language was a secret language that was pass down the Chen Family for generation as it was the only way that the Chen Family communicated with each other especially in times of despair. A code of sorts. Fangsu was given permission by her uncle to diverge the information that was on the pillar, however, she understood that she won't not allow anyone to knew the language was something she understood. After explaining the direction of the which torch had to lit up in which sequence.
Sim Siu followed Fangsu's instruction, blasting each torch with a shot of lightning which caught aflame. After all the torches were lit. the same twinkle of a bell rung in the air and a blue summoning circle lit up the ground under the feet of the crowd's feet. water began forming and rising trying to fill up the room. this caused panic for many as the majority of people did not know how to swim as they mainly lived more inland which did not have many bodies of water and it wasn't required to learn how to swim. There were very few people who knew how to swim and began grabbing anything or anyone that was taller than me, gripping them like they were their lifeline that kept them from drowning. Sadly, many of them drowned as they couldn't manage to stay afloat for long enough. Fangsu took a deep long breathe and rushed to see if there was any escape underneath there was a center of the torch circle was a hole that blocked water from flowing in. Seeing that this might be the only way to survive from the watery death; Fangsu dragged everyone in the group into the hole. One by one she dragged the members of her group into the hole which allowed for people to breathe; her uncle and Ang Siu also help to take people to safety into the hole.
The last one that entered the water was Fangsu who was desperately gasping for air as her lungs were burning from physical exertion. Both her uncle and Ang Siu wouldn't as exhausted as Fangsu but they were also gasping for breathe. They were then faced with another room that was similar to the room that was filled with water and the dead bodies. But, this time it was a field of rocky structures that stood at various height like a mountain range and sudden shadow flashing in between the rock dashing behind other rock whilst throwing a black shiny object with impaled one of the cultivator's throat catching aflame. Blood spilled from the cultivator's throat as they chocked on their blood, suffocating themselves to death; a slow and painful death, "Everyone find cover! They're imps," After hearing that everyone ducked behind the rocks to find cover and shield themselves from those horrendous spears which which easily rip through flesh, "Fangsu! Do you still have the Beast Warding Bells that I gave you?" Wu Song asked Fangsu who nodded as she summoned out the Beast Warding Bells.
Fangsu lightly shaked the bells as a violet waves were emitted and the imps were being lulled to sleep from the gentle sounds of bells, "When will we be able to move?" She continued to shake the bells continuing the enchantment of the bells.
Wu Song frowned expression did not mean a good thing would occur, "The thing is that imps are highly resistance to enchantments and any sudden movement will wake them from their stupor," This caused worry for the group, however, another group saw that imps were under the enchantment and decided to hurry to the other side where they would be safe. However, the sudden movement of multiple people caused the imps to awaken from their stupor quickly attacking the cultivator, "Once, imps are awaken from the enchantment they become more aggressive and attack another on sight and the only that can calm them are mermaid singing," This caused the group to despair as there was no mermaid to calm the aggressive imps. Fangsu tugged her uncle's sleeve who was apprehensive at her silent request but if his refusal would lead to their own to them having to walk to their graves.
After seeing there was no option, her uncle took out a conch shells that was iridescent once the light reflect off and the white shell was powdery white like bone that had been dried in the sun for a long time. Releasing a small tune of a melodic song the imps soon began swaying to the rhythm completely hypnotized by the beautiful melody. Fangsu then took out a mysterious paper packaging, unfolding the packaging revealing a slivery powder. Holding the silvery powder close to her face and blowing it in the direction of the imps, they began to limply hold themselves up before lying down on the ground to sleep. Both Xiulan and Sim Siu were bewildered by the uncle and niece duo, "What was that powder you used?" Sim Siu poked at Fangsu who carefully wrapped the fine powder so that it wouldn't go everywhere.
Fangsu returned the powder back into the spatial ring before turning to Sim SIu and Xiulan who were curious about the powder that Fangsu has used on the imps, "It's a specialty sleeping powder that is made from a sap of a miasma sapling but the only problem with it is that it requires the fire breath of a dragon to dry the sap," The horrid memory of burning her fingertips with the dragon breath was painful, "This sleeping powder is very difficult to use as it can disperse extremely easy and knock out a person within seconds regardless of their cultivation level," This sleeping powder is extremely versatile against a number of enemies and creature and mostly used by beast tamers and assassins alike but the only reason that many did not know such a item even existed was because that it's extremely different to acquire the sap from a miasma sapling and the entire process from beginning to end is extremely labor intensive. Hence the reason there was such a low supply of it but the demand for it is strictly monitored as miasma saplings are incredibly fiddly plant to deal even for the most experienced botanist.
Once anyone heard such a thing existed they would want to request for the item to only be rejected by Fangsu who was adamant that no one is allowed to have the sleeping powder since the it was quite difficult to make and in combination with the horrid memory of being burnt by dragon breath. Seeing the imps were completely asleep, Fangsu hurriedly pulled her uncle and the two sibling over to the side avoiding the imps completely as she didn't know if the sleeping powder would keep them asleep for a long enough time. Seeing that a small petite figure running to the other side, everyone chased after her fearing the imps attacks. They soon entered a maze which separated everyone from each other. Fangsu was partnered up with her uncle who instantly knew that they were special cases in this dungeon as it recognized that they were descendants. A ghostly figure in the shape of their ancestor appeared, "Kin of the Chen Clan, are you here to loot my treasures for your own benefit like the others?" The aura of the majestic was overpowering which caused the uncle to want to bow his head.
Fangsu went to kowtow on the floor, "Ancestor, my family are spirits and require physical bodies," Her forehead leaned on the ground as she pleaded with the ancestor to direct her to the area which would hold the materials required.
The ancestor stared at the kowtowing girl with ash grey hair, "You understand that you have to risk shortening your lifespan," Closing the distance between the two the ancestor lifted Fangsu's chin to face her, "You already been afflicted with the Unending Illness yet why do you still want to risk your already short live for family members that already have died," The factual tone that the ancestor emulated made Fangsu re-evaluate her position in her current situation but the fact that her family still had more to live. This only made her more determined to continue through her decision to rebuild physical bodies.
Fangsu began kowtowing three times towards the ancestor, "I understand the consequences but that won't stop me," She continued to kowtowing as her head touched the floor multiple times as to allow Fangsu to essentially raid the place to revive her family. The ancestor seeing a young descendant of the Chen Family was already willing to do such life threatening task to bring her family back struck something inside of her that she approached the girl, placing a kiss on the girl's forehead before a magically being that was shaped as a koi fish directed the two descendants further in the dungeon leaving behind the lonely ancestor.
As the two followed the fish further in the dark and musky hallway with only the koi fish as their only light source, dimly lighting the way. But, as they were peacefully strolling through the hallway peacefully; a slow throbbing at Fangsu's feet immediately froze her in the pathway blocking her uncle who instantly knew that the illness was taking a toll on her body. Fangsu began clutching at her clothes to help with the pain but the pain seem to intensify as she crounched to the ground almost about to lay on the floor. But, before Fangsu could take the medicine to relieve the pain. The mark that was given to her by the ancestor instantly emitted a soft glow before slowly relieving the pain within her body. It was the quickest relief that she even have in her life but the only thing that was the problem was that it was only a temporary fix to help her until it would run out.
Fangsu quickly took a bit of time to recover from the pain, summoning Bai Xue to carry her and continued following the koi fish to an opening where was a stone platform which had a metal pedestal which held a jade stick was in the middle of a body of water. Bai Xue continued forward towards the edge of the ground which lead to the water, gently placing its hoof on the water and a ripple disturbed the serene still water. Taking Fangsu was a flustered at Bai Xue who was walking on the water towards the platform that held the jade stick. On closer inspection, the jade stick was actually a staff that had a beautiful vermillion red colour which was accompanied with a silver steel that elaborately designed to wrap around the staff like a vine. Bai Xue leaned forward so that Fangsu could dismount with ease but Fangsu was confused to why Bai Xue would want her to take the staff for herself.
But, seeing the vermillion jade staff was such a beautiful weapon that she never seen before. Fangsu approached the jade staff cautiously to see that there was a continuous swirling white mass within the staff as it it was clouds. As she went to touch the jade staff with her finger, it was cool to the touch but it wasn't shockingly cold and it soon warmed in her hand as if it was trying to adjust to her. The warmth soon match her own temperature as if wanting to taken away from this isolating place so her fingers wrapped around the staff. It soon began to gently hum in her and the jaded parts of the staff reduced its size leaving only the metallic sheath so that it would be easy to travel. Fangsu was completely surprised but the staff but it was inconvenient that the staff was only another weapon in her arensal but it was as if the staff was read her mind the staff dissembled itself into fragments before flying straight for Fangsu to only have it disappear.
Fangsu spun away to see where the staff went only to see nothing but Bai Xue nudged her back to tell her that it was on her back so that meant it was embedded her skin like a tattoo. But, it didn't bother her much since it could be hidden under clothes and no one would know unless someone forcibly strip her. As the staff now recognised Fangsu as it's new master, the door that would lead them to a new area appeared at the other side, "Uncle, you have to get to the other side to get to the door." Fangsu called out as she watched her uncle run the full circumference of the room to get to the door whilst Fangsu only needed to ride Bai Xue to get to the door.