Ch.4 The Trial Of The Devil - 18 Levels Of Hell (2)

Suddenly the cursed orb that Feng Jiang had nearly forgotten about appeared in front of him and started to vibrate, as if scared of something. It suddenly blasted a ball of condensed power at him.

Feng Jiang knew that the orb was scared and it was somehow related to him and was ready to end him. Feng Jiang had no fear of death and accepted it. He closed his eyes, waiting for his demise, as he could not resist it in anyway.

Suddenly Feng Jiang felt a surge of power in his soul; its source seemed to be far away. This power was something Feng Jiang couldn't even comprehend. Even with his comprehension, he couldn't even begin to understand the power.

Feng Jiang felt his soul shake and felt it getting more and more refined. He gained control of his soul back, and Feng Jiang felt so happy that he could jump in joy, but his senses were still dampened, and he couldn't enjoy the feeling of happiness for long before his mind started to crumble again.

Feng Jiang established a connection with his soul and tried to peer inside of it. He noticed that his soul was far more complex than he had realized; it was composed of the same crimson red color as what he saw on the inside. He saw that the night black color had faded away with the help of that power.

He saw the orb's power from the night of his birth; it was shaped like a chain, binding two parts of his soul. He knew that during his birth, two sacred treasures from outside the universe flew straight into his bedroom and fused with him, but they were sealed away with the rest of his talents by the purple orb.

He dug deeper into his soul and noticed an ethereal power that he couldn't locate; it felt like it was connected to somewhere else and was just borrowing his soul to attack the orb. He noticed another power there; it was the orb.

It was radiating malice towards Feng Jiang, but the orb was too fearful to attack him in the ethereal power's presence. Feng Jiang didn't know why the mysterious power was willing to help him. But Feng Jiang couldn't care any less as long as it was harming the orb.

The mysterious power suddenly attacked the orb in his soul. It looked like it barely took any effort. The orb was split in half by the attack, and from within it, Feng Jiang saw a scroll, the same scroll that he had signed.

The deal he made with the orb was written on it. Feng Jiang was now sure that not only was the orb not planning to help him, but instead it was absorbing Feng Jiang's soul core into the scroll to turn him into his slave.

Feng Jiang was not surprised; he knew that the orb wouldn't give him powers just for passing the trial. It could have taken his talent and left; it had no reason to make the deal with Feng Jiang. But while he was not surprised that the orb would betray him, he noticed another fact: The power that destroyed the orb was different than the power that attacked the orb outside. The power that saved his life outside was far stronger and felt more ethereal and mysterious yet warm.

This power seemed to have the same origin as the orb except it didn't have the same malice and was still something that Feng Jiang could observe and comprehend.

As long as the power didn't try to harm Feng Jiang, he was more than happy to allow it to stay in his soul. The power that had split the orb in half suddenly took the scroll and destroyed it, and then, as if reversing time, fixed it again.

This time the scroll had different conditions: instead of the orb giving him a test to gain power, The orb must support Feng Jiang in reaching the pinnacle of this universe to regain its freedom. But the contract wasn't all that unfair; Feng Jiang must pass the nine trials to get the orb to submit to him, but the orb is not allowed to interfere or make trouble for Feng Jiang.

The mysterious power had turned the contract in his favour; now instead of a life and death contract, it was a slavery contract with the orb being his slave. The tables have been turned. Why would the power help Feng Jiang? Feng Jiang had no idea, but he vowed to find the person who helped him and return the favor.

Feng Jiang turned to the power and said "Thank you for saving my life; I promise to repay this favor even if it costs me my all.", Feng Jiang couldn't locate the power's source, so he decided to say this facing the location where the attack came from.

Feng Jiang felt a shiver run up his spine as he felt someone staring at him.

He then heard an old voice that seemed to be filled with mystery and wisdom. "You can't repay me, child, not anymore; I am no longer alive. This world may look endless, but in reality it's a small world in a vast sea. This world may stand at the pinnacle of realms in this sea. But above it is a bigger and vaster ocean. You live in a sea, while I belong to the ocean. If you can reach that realm, I wish for you to find my son, you will realise who he is just by looking at him, all will make sense once you do."

The voice paused and continued, "The orb in front of you belongs to my master; it is a peak artifact that has the power to turn even a mortal into a god-like cultivator; it can defy fate and destroy heaven. But it has been corrupted by a group of greedy cultivators who shall not be named, as heaven forbid they may notice your existence.".

The voice seemed to be in deep thought for a while before continuing, "You possess talent that is impossible to find even in the higher realms, and some things about you are a mystery to even me. Maybe if I were to be still alive, I would have some thoughts about your talent, but what can a dead man take with him? All I want you to know is that If you pass the orb's trial, you will gain the same power that my master had. I see more potential in you than him. I want you to remember my master's name "Shang Tian" (1).

Feng Jiang promised to remember this name and to repay the favor of saving his life by taking upon the 'Tian' lineage and helping it reach newer heights.

The Old man continued, "This is no longer a trial for you, Feng; This is a trial of my lineage. I couldn't locate the orb's location until today. When it unleashed its true power to deal with you. I do not know who it was who helped you, but he is a great man, someone who is as strong as my master if not stronger; without his interference, an innocent life would have been lost. I also hope you forgive your parents; they fear you, they fear the orb's power, and they abandoned you not just due to your lack of talent.

They think you're no longer their son. I saw through the orb's memories; it revealed its existence to your parents without your knowledge. As it's said, 'people fear what they don't understand'. I know you want revenge, but I hope you spare them. I let you suffer so much; in return, I helped you with my last remaining power by freeing you off the heaven-sealing contract."

Upon hearing the reason behind his abandonment, Feng Jiang showed no emotions. Feng Jiang had already gained a new motivator for his advancement; revenge was something he would achieve on the way there; he wouldn't break his vow of surpassing the lineage that had discarded him.

If they no longer wanted him, they could have just avoided him; instead, they decided on killing him even though he was their own flesh and blood and still a child.

Feng Jiang decided to thank the old man and leave his soul after learning the truth.

Feng Jiang looked at the orb, which was floating lifelessly at the center of its domain in the void (2), and said in a loud, mocking, and commanding voice, "Continue the trial, but this time you won't interfere, and you will return me my birthright." Feng Jiang turned towards the floating ethereal power that had started this whole thing.

"I am very grateful for your help and for saving my life. May I know my benefactor's name so that I can return this favor when I can?" Said Feng Jiang.

The ethereal power morphed into a silhouette of a man with no real facial structure; it waved its hand at Fang Jiang's soul. Fang Jiang, who wanted to know what the man was doing, also peered into his soul. He was astonished to discover that the chains that bound the teal and golden red parts of his soul were destroyed.

The man once again waved his hand, and the two parts of his soul started to spin and make the tai-chi symbol.

The Tai-Chi then went deeper into his soul, reached the soul's core, and floated above a dent in it. The Tai-Chi fit into the dent like it always belonged there. After the symbol inserted itself into the dent, Feng Jiang felt an unprecedented surge of vitality, as if he was alive again; he felt a heavy burden lifting off of his body, a burden he wasn't even aware of.

Feng Jiang exited his soul and once again thanked the man. The ethereal power that had taken the form of a man slowly dissipated without responding to him.

Feng Jiang, who had a newfound motivation and sense of relief, decided to continue the trial. He called the orb with the help of the contract.

"What is the trial after these 18 Levels of hell? I want to finish this fast," Said Feng Jiang to the Orb.

A translucent purple screen appeared above Feng Jiang's head.

.....

.

[The next Trial is The abandonment of the Seven Cardinal Sins.]

"I will do what it takes," Said Feng Jiang.

(A.N--> (1) Tiān (天) is one of the oldest Chinese terms for heaven.

"shàng" (上), which means"above" or "up".

Thus, 'Shang Tian'- Means - 'above heaven'.

(2) Recall to the 3rd chapter, The orb covered the void with it power and i named it 'Mysterious Aura', after a suggestion, i have decided to change it to 'Domain'. )

(A.N.2--> This chapter was a spur of a moment chapter, i wrote it from the top of my head, if i made any grammatical mistakes, do inform me.

Also, I intentionally didn't mention anything in the title, as to not spoil the twist.)