"I guess we're done for today Rai, what're your plans for tonight?" It'd been four days since they started going through the piles of books, he'd witnessed the stories of over a thousand immortals and received their inheritance or portions of their cultivation experience from more than a dozen.
Placing down the last book Yue sighed in relief - despite the fact that the books of immortals would be considered millennial treasures by any person from any Dimension or Universe, reviewing them all takes their toll on the reader. With a last reluctant glance at the books - unwilling to part despite the mental exhaustion he was now facing he pulled his gaze onto Rai who sat crossed legged deep in thought, beads of perspiration on his forehead.
"Yeah.. Over at last, how do you do it Yue?" With a questioning gaze he looked at his friend, not even a hint of physical exhaustion was present on his face - of course he knew the toll that the mind took was much greater than that of the physical body he still couldn't help but feel surprised every time he saw how easily Yue recovered, it was the same as if a mortal was reading a normal book without a hint of Immortal Intent, the physical body wouldn't feel exhaustion from the task however the mind would - with Immortal Books it was an inescapable fact that even the Elders would feel a physical toll, over the countless years that the library had existed Yue was the only case to ever be at his peak state physically after reading these books.
With a soft chuckle Yue returned his gaze, "Rai - if I knew I'd tell you, trust me being different is the last thing I need right now.."
"I guess you're right, we're best friends after all!" With that Rai got on his feet and walked towards the main hall gates - "I was thinking of watching the Immortal Battles - the Treasure Arena's been open for the past day now we should hurry, I heard that they're letting the Ancestral Immortals and the Elders fight for their positions. Who knows, maybe the Elders will ask for your help?" With a light laugh Rai disappeared into the wind - letting it carry him to his destination.
"Let me join in...?" With a soft sigh Yue shook his head - holding out his right hand in front of him, his pale skin and bony arm seemed to come to life as if possessed: Toned, tanned skin now replaced the paleness, muscles instantly began to appear along the arm causing a disproportionate look, if someone had looked on him right now they would have seen a boy with pale skin and a thin arm - with another arm larger than his torso looking as if belonged to an Immortal God it radiated might. Again with a sigh he shook his head a second time, the thought of participating was too outlandish, too rogue... too dangerous for the others - "Still too weak..." Muttering to himself he dived into the nearest shadow rushing in the direction of the winds Rai had scattered.
...
"What an interesting kid..." An old man stood gazing down at the spot that Yue had just disappeared from, "It seems like you've found another unique Specimen Rochu - how do you intend to use this one?" The man spoke into the air - not even a speck of dust was in the surroundings yet.. "During the Battles - I will have him battle my own Avatar, should Yue win I will allow him another year of peace - should he lose he will be dealt with and disposed off, my Heavens have no need for someone with so much potential." The voice flew in the air, it was everywhere and yet nowhere, yet the Old Man stood unfettered before turning his back and looking towards the sky with a gaze filled with greed, "It's been so many countless years this we created this place - those that would remember us and this places origins would long have turned to dust, we have complete control over all the mortal planes! Every Universe and every Dimension is under our influence. Soon it will be time, soon.. the library shall open." With a maniacal laugh, completely different to his previously calm and cold exterior, "Soon my friend!" With that he vanished into the sky.
...
"Fight, Fight, Fight!" Roaring voices came from the Arena as Yue stepped foot inside, the immeasurable amount of rows of seats were filled to the brim - Billions if not Trillions of people were sat here, only the Elders responsible for the construction of this place would truly know.
"Yue! Yue! Over here!" From a distant seat almost a million kilometers from the entrance of the Arena Yue could just barely make out the waving figure of Rai seating next to an empty seat - it was truly helpful that mental links existed or else he'd have had to found a seat by himself; which, looking around him at the amount of people currently still entering, would be an impossibility in itself.
"You finally made it, we're already halfway through the third battle! It's been going on since yesterday - the longest one yet!" With a bitter look, probably because of having missed the other two fights he stared into the dust filled arena, of course to a cultivator dust was nothing more than a visual obscure to the people who could already see with their minds eye, to even reside in the dimension required that as a bare minimum so people ignored it and continued to stare into the dark mist of sand with reverent gazes.
"Dark Palm Blast!" With a roar from within the Arena a Immortal in full black burst through the dust, throwing a ball of energy down towards the dust he'd just emerged from.
"Hmph, Immortal Dark you truly live up to your name - every move with the prefix of dark, I have to admit however that it's such an uninteresting way to name techniques, but I'm sorry - we have to end this now." A beautiful voice resounded through the mist.
"I knew it! Elder Skycloud is such a beauty, how could that small amount of energy harm her." Rai looked at the figure of beauty floating directly apart from Immortal Dark with a gaze of admiration, Yue had heard many times how Rai wished he could ask her out on a date - he'd always thought that the effort wasn't worth it, why have a relationship with a woman that could last an immeasurable amount of years after the amount of times he'd seen Woman betray their Dao Companions because of benefits, it was an unnecessary danger that Yue didn't need in his tranquil life. With a soft shake of his head he stopped staring at his love luster friend and returned his eyes to the battle.
The Immortal Battles, the trading of pointers between the Elders and the Ancestral Immortals - both groups having lived through countless Era's until now - however when one stepped into the Arena it was a battle of life and death, one could choose to forfeit but they would also lose out on their chance for the benefits that came with winning - if the Immortal won they would regain their corporal body, if the Elder won they would gain the knowledge and entire cultivation of the Immortal they defeated, over the countless Era's only six immortals had ever regained their body - the Elders trained within the depths of the library were simply too strong.
Back in the Arena, Elder Skycloud looked at Immortal Dark with a small grin, her hands moving fast she darted towards him at fifty times the speed of light. Almost like teleportation the vast majority of cultivators with lower realms in the crowds.
"Heaven Sealing Charm!"
"Mwcha" She landed her soft lips onto Immortal Darks' cheeks, instantly his face went red - confusion could be seen in his eyes, suddenly replaced by terror - a mental seal had been directly placed into his brain! Within an instant she had taken control of his entire body.
"Now please, die for me would you?"
With that his head fell from neck, his body and now decapitated head dissipating into the atmosphere as they fell towards the ground, by the time they should've fell they had already disappeared from existence.
"Thank you for watching my Babies!" Elder Skycloud looked at the crowd and blew a kiss towards the crowd before walking out the Arenas doors."
...
"WOOOOOOOO! ELDER SKYCLOUD! ELDER SKYCLOUD!"
Roars of admiration could be heard from the countless spectators, admiration gleamed in the eyes of everyone, well almost everyone - Yue sat there with a deadpan expression on his face, the feeling that something was going to happen next couldn't be shook from his mind, it was something that could threaten his existence was all that he could tell from his intuition.
"Thank you all for attending this last day, the fights have been exciting to say the least - I thank you for coming, however we have one last event, we had hoped that the fights would last much longer however due to the two Immortals that had challenged the Arena yesterday being too weak we had started the third battle already on the first day, such a pity."
A voice was directed into everyone's brains mentally, it was a voice they all had known - since the moment of their birth and it was the very same voice that had given them meaning in existing in this place. "We humbly greet the Spirit of the Library!" Every voice sounded in unison, looks of reverence on every face - even the youngest of children who had come with their parents.
A moment of silence came before the Library spoke again - it was if it was acknowledging the words they had just spoke with its own silent approval. "As I was saying, our last event is a special one. The challenger shall be fighting my Avatar." Gasps came from the crowds, everyone had known of the prowess of the Library - it could destroy even a Universe with a wave of its hand, who had the qualification to challenge it? Even if it was only an Avatar of its true form.
"I know you're all desperate to know who I have chosen to challenge me, I will not keep you in suspense any longer."
Before the name was even said Yue rose from his seat and began flying towards the Arena - it was obvious who the Library meant, there was only one person who it could be..
A blurred figure appeared in the sky above the arena facing Yue, the disapproving looks that had glanced at him as he flew towards the Arena who had been ready to voice their disdain immediately shut their mouths and watched.
The blurred figure did what appeared like a nod, "I challenge Disciple Yue to the Arena, let him know that this is a request not a command - he may decline if he so wishes."
The voice sounded indifferent to whether he agreed or not, but Yue could sense it - if he disagreed he wouldn't live. If he agreed there was at least a chance of survival - no matter how small that feeling was.
"I accept the Avatars Challenge!" With a resounding voice he shouted back. Immediately his body began to transform - the sickly pale glow of his skin had disappeared, the skinny bony figure that had once floated above the Arena was gone. Now there stood a God of War, muscles rippling and his once mediocre face turning radiant with life and beauty.
"Interesting, as you've only just reached the Dimensional Palace level I shall suppress my cultivation there also, we can't have anyone saying I cheated can we?" Seemingly like he was teasing Yue but at the same time projecting unwavering confidence the Avatar spoke.
"No... no we can't." He muttered as he faced off against the Avatar - floating in the air above the Arena, everything was still, no one dared disrupt the ensuing battle.. no one.. until...
Author Note: (500 Word limit apparantly ;( sad times)
Hi! Aileus here, currently I aim to release an average of 2 chapters a week with potential for 3 or more should my time free up! On average it takes me an hour, 2 hours at most, to write a chapter, of course this includes time I spend creating drafts and editing - currently I'm setting aside an hour everyday from: 8/17/18 to write chapters with these being the first 2 so thanks for reading!
If anyone is willing to proofread (I really don't have time so I skim read) I would really appreciate it!
(Contact me if you can please! Thanks a lot!)
Discord ID: Aileus#5323
Have a good day! <3
(This is for my own reference thanks! :) Ignore it)
Start Time of Chapter Writing: 9:19pm
End Time of Writing: 10:43pm
Author thoughts above this, there's a 500 word limit and I have too much to write hahah :)