Chapter Twenty-Four: Entering the Genius Fall Cave and the Dragon's Coin
Tian Phai returned to his main body and started swimming toward the surface of the Ancestral Blood Pool.
As Tian Phai ascended, he noticed that besides the Sovereign, no one else was outside the pond.
The Sovereign still wore a smile that resembled a grandfather looking at his grandchildren.
As Tian Phai emerged from the pond, the Sovereign kindly looked at him and said, "You're the last kid you spent a whole week awakening your bloodline."
Observing Tian Phai more closely, the Sovereign continued, "Ah, a low-grade Celestial Dynasty. Not bad, not bad. You haven't disappointed me, kid. But when you enter the Genius Fall Cave, you must strive harder and not become complacent. Otherwise, everyone will leave you behind."
"Of course, Sovereign. I will not disappoint you," Tian Phai respectfully replied, fully aware of the Sovereign's intentions
. Tian Phai could sense that this Sovereign in front of him was stronger than the one Tian Jiangxi had previously killed.
"Hm, well, well. It seems you have eliminated the consciousness within your bloodline without my assistance. Impressive. Now, a guard will escort you and lead you to the entrance of the Genius Fall Cave," the Sovereign stated.
A silver-clad armorer appeared at the Sovereign's words and began directing Tian Phai.
Tian Phai followed closely behind the silver-armored guide as they spoke. "Once you enter the cave, you will interact with a very strong individual. Show them respect and never offend them. Even the Sovereign cannot save you if you do. Understand?" the silver armorer warned.
"Understood," Tian Phai nodded. Then he asked, "So, the Genius Fall Cave is not under the Sovereign's authority?"
"The Sovereign is just a subordinate for the cave. Despite the Sovereign's strength, he is just an Examiner with decent achievements. Inside the cave, you will find individuals who have taught Sovereigns before. Show respect to all of them," the Silver Armorer explained while leading the way.
Eventually, Tian Phai and the silver-armored guide arrived in front of a plain-looking cave. The silver armorer stated, "I cannot proceed any further. You may continue on your own from here."
Approaching the cave entrance, Tian Phai took a step forward and entered the cave.
After an unknown period, Tian Phai noticed a light at the end of the corridor. As he approached the light, he was astounded by what he saw.
A blue sky and a large sun hung in the cloudless sky, creating the illusion of an entirely different world within the cave.
Tian Phai saw some participants near the entrance, turned towards them, and greeted, "Hello."
One of them, an 11-year-old boy with black hair and an ordinary appearance, immediately recognized Tian Phai. They had all been present during the Heavens tier Challenge.
The boy pondered, "What does someone from the Heaven Tier want with someone like me?" However, he remained respectful and replied, "Hello, hello. How may I assist you, young master?"
"I have just arrived. Could you enlighten me about the Genius Fall Cave?" Tian Phai asked, unsurprised by the boy's humble manner of speaking to him.
The boy responded, "If you've just arrived, young master, you can find all the information on your identification bracelet, which you received upon exiting the cave."
"I see. Thank you, then," Tian Phai replied routinely and began examining his bracelet as he walked away.
"Why did you bother answering that arrogant person from the Heaven Tier? He can't harm us here, even if he wanted to," a friend of the boy who had responded to Tian Phai inquired.
"Well, he might not be able to harm us right now, but we are required to fight each other every six months. If he decides to kill us during that time, do you think you'll have enough time to react?" the ordinary-looking boy replied.
"Come on, nobody kills someone just because they didn't answer. Don't be so paranoid," his concerned friend retorted.
"You never know. For now, it's better not to provoke those Heaven Tier lunatics. Our current situation is already challenging enough until we become stronger," the boy advised.
...
Meanwhile, Tian Phai finished reviewing the information on his bracelet.
In the beginning, there were different layers within the Genius Fall Cave, each providing different levels of treatment and a monthly allowance based on the layer. The third layer received 30 Dragon Coins, which served as the currency within the cave. The second layer received 300 Dragon Coins per month, while the first layer received 3,000.
As a resident of the Heaven Tier, Tian Phai received a monthly allowance of 100,000 Dragon Coins.
The bracelet explained that the purchasing power of Dragon Coins was substantial. Three coins were sufficient for an average person to sustain themselves for several months.
However, to survive and fully benefit from the Genius Fall Cave, Tian Phai realized that he would need much more than his current 100,000 coins.
Fortunately, the monthly allowance was not the only way to acquire Dragon Coins. Students were allowed to exchange coins with each other, provided both parties agreed.
Tian Phai noticed the wording on his bracelet. They were referred to as students, emphasizing the educational aspect rather than merely being participants or testers. Upon completing the information provided by the bracelet, Tian Phai understood the reason behind this distinction.
The Genius Fall Cave appeared more like a boarding school or academy, with specialized teachers providing lessons. However, everything came at a cost in Dragon Coins. Without sufficient coins, one would be reduced to a lowly slave, unable to make progress or retreat.
Among all the information, Tian Phai's attention was captivated by the Mysterious Library, where the lessons took place.