Vitality Spatial Vortex

Not everyone possessed the ability to fly up into the red vortex, which clearly led to the trial. Normally, only a Qi Temple Realm cultivator with a flying treasure would be capable of reaching that height, but Yaan was a 3-Star Realm demon with immense strength contained within his legs; he could just jump.

He held onto Zue Yin tightly, dragging her up and into the vortex alongside him.

Yaan acted so fast and with so little hesitation that he and Zue Yin arrived beneath the vortex before Ghu Lin and the others could even reach the centre of the hall.

The Ghu Clan elite watched expressionlessly as Yaan and Zue Yin disappeared into spiralling red depths. After seeing them vanish entirely, with no traces of their presence remaining, a faint hint of a smile crept onto his lips.

"Alive or dead, regardless…he won't return."

1,800 years of historical records assured Ghu Lin of this outcome.

Yaan and Zue Yin entered the red vortex, leaving the 3rd trial behind. The very instant they entered the vortex, a voice boomed out within their minds.

"You have entered the spatial vortex bridge between the 3rd and 4th trial realms. For most, the spatial vortex is merely a bridge, but for some, it is a cultivation haven. You will exit the spatial vortex and enter the 4th trial realm in 11 hours, 59 minutes, 47 seconds."

As this message mysteriously appeared within Yaan's mind, he realised that he had completely lost track of Zue Yin. He spent a brief few seconds looking around and attempting to locate her, until he realised the futility of his actions.

'I'm in a spatial vortex, a whirlpool of chaotic space…it's impossible to search for anything in this place. Anyway, it seems that this 'bridge' can also be used to cultivate?' Yaan mused to himself. In the next moment, his eyes flashed with an expectant light.

'I was right to enter as quickly as possible! By entering right away, I now have 12 hours to train in this strange place!'

The spatial vortex left Yaan feeling disorientated. Everything was in perpetual motion, like an endless whirlpool of liquid space. Only, this space wasn't black like one might expect, but blood red.

'This is a spatial vortex, but it's clearly more than a simple bridge used to transport people between the trials.' Yaan mused to himself.

He sat cross legged, rubbing his chin as he floated through the red sea and pondered his thoughts out loud. Yaan was much more relaxed compared to the others who had entered the red vortex…

"What the hell is this place?! So weird, way too weird, what is even going on right now?!" Zue Yin continually trembled as she couldn't make sense of her situation.

As for those Innate Qi Realm cultivators who entered shortly after Yaan and Zue Yin, they were even worse off. One young man even started crying, wanting nothing more than to return to the usual, stable world…

Yaan had no idea about any of this. Personally, he wasn't paying much attention to the absurdity of it all. After learning that he could potentially use this place to cultivate, he ignored his bizarre environment and focussed his full attention on trying to achieve this illusive 'reward'.

He spent some time trying to perceive the vortex itself. He placed special attention on the blood-like substance which pervaded this crimson space. Unfortunately, his inspection went nowhere, he was unable to see through anything at all.

And so, he shut his eyes and became completely still, giving up on trying to perceive his surroundings with his five senses for now. Strangely, he soon realised that with his eyes shut, he was somehow able to see more than before…

Yaan could no longer see the vortex, nor the substance which made up its matrix, but he could feel the movements within the vortex, including its flow and power, far more clearly. He could feel himself moving around perpetually, and eventually, he came to understand that he was sitting within the outer rim of the vortex, but he was gradually making his way inwards, slowly heading towards the centre.

As he focussed on this strange perception which had appeared within his mind, Yaan lost track of the time. How long had it been? He wasn't sure, but nor did he care. He was now totally engrossed in this feeling of his body's movement through the vortex.

Yaan started to feel as if he could understand the space which made up this vortex, just by sensing the movement of the chaotic space around him.

Suddenly, his eyes shot open.

"But…why is it red?"

As he pondered this question, Yaan's eyes gradually gained a brilliant gleam.

"This is a spatial vortex, a tunnel of space, connecting one trial world to the next trial world. However…it is manmade! This inheritance, these realms, the tunnels and vortexes between…are all man made! The operation of space within this vortex is different compared to the outside world, it is less 'perfect'. As for the colour of this place…the red colour is blood!"

During his stay in North Ghu City, Yaan had read a few books which explored the concept of dao, and how dao tied into the world's law of operation. Because of his background knowledge, he was able to reach a conclusion regarding the spatial vortex.

As he came to this understanding, Yaan's perception suddenly underwent a drastic change, allowing him to see things clearly for the first time!

"This spatial vortex doesn't contain the full dao of space. The dao of space is vast and encompasses all space throughout the world, but the space in this vortex…was created by a being who did not pursue dao at all!"

Yaan's eyes shone brilliantly as he came to an understanding. He wasn't sure how it was that he was able to see through all of this, but something in his heart told him that he had hit the mark!

As he spoke these words, it was as if the entire vortex suddenly trembled, but this was clearly only an illusion he had. As he looked around, Yaan could now finally make out the silhouettes of the other people in the vortex. Currently, there were 17 people in this place. Yaan could even tell that six of those people had not been here for as long as the others…

Slowly, Yaan looked across the red vortex. Whilst he was able to see through it, he was far from overcoming it! This vortex was unbelievably powerful, it was so intricately complex, yet also magnificently simple, that Yaan felt deep admiration for the creator…

And somehow, Yaan instinctively knew that the creator of this vortex…disdained the pursuit of dao!

This made Yaan feel uncertain. All cultivators, no matter their path, pursued dao. So then, the creator of this spatial vortex, who was in all likelihood also the creator of these trials and this inheritance…what exactly was his path? What was he trying to prove by rejecting dao itself? Did he successfully reject dao in the end? And…what about the traces of spatial dao that Yaan could feel within the vortex…?

Yaan stared forwards in a daze, until his gaze drifted down, towards the centre of the vortex. It became clear to him that this was bridge's exit.

Yaan allowed himself to be swept up by the current, but he stared down into the depths, into the centre of the vortex. The pressure reflected back into his eyes was monstrous, but it was not dao, it was not space…it was pure, unadulterated vitality!

This vitality was so powerful that Yaan could feel bloodlust and slaughter, blood and death, endless strength, emanating from it. He could feel that vitality was a true power, and it could reach such shocking extremes…

As Yaan's gaze moved back up and around the whirlpool, he shut his eyes, lay back, and felt himself being thrown around in the spatial vortex's red waters. As time passed by, he found himself relaxing into a deeper state. Eventually, Yaan started taking the vortex's fluid into his body – it entered his stomach, his lungs, and it even seeped in and out of his skin!

The crimson fluid passed in and out of his body. He hoped that by allowing the vitality to flow freely in and out of him, then perhaps, he might be able to absorb some of the vitality into his cultivation base!

Yaan's eyes shot open. He stared into the red depths with wide eyes, instantly realising that he had been wrong. This…was not the true path of body tempering!

With less than two hours remaining until he was ejected from the vortex, Yaan finally understood how he could use this vortex for his benefit.

The vortex was called a 'spatial vortex', but it was not created by someone with deep comprehension in the dao of space. Instead, an overwhelmingly powerful vitality was used to create this tunnel. This vitality was so overbearingly powerful that it drilled between the separate worlds of the 3rd and 4th trial realms! This vitality was so strong that it could pierce through space itself, and over time, the vortex which existed between the 3rd and 4th trial worlds started to develop its own law, its own dao of space!

"No wonder the vortex is red…this entire tunnel has become a spatial vortex, but its foundation is still vitality!"

After Yaan said this, he suddenly stood up for the first time. His expression became fierce as he decided to do something…that no challenger before him had dared to attempt!

Yaan wanted to take a step, just one step, against the flow of the spatial vortex!

Taking this step whilst his body was fully submerged within the heavy crimson fluid, was such a gargantuan task, that it might take Yaan years just to move his leg if he actually wanted to take a full step with his current strength.

He became stuck. Yaan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He focussed on the chaotic fragments of space which appeared and vanished endlessly all around him. After sensing the movement of these fragments, he slowly opened his eyes, which now showed a strange glint.

He did not want to resist the spatial fragments, that wasn't his goal here…he only wanted to resist the flow of vitality!

As he slowly leaned forwards and picked up his leg once again, he managed to move half an inch forwards!

Bang!

Blood erupted from his body as countless blood vessels were ripped in half, almost tearing Yaan apart in an instant.

However, he didn't pull back, he didn't so much as pause. He couldn't take a full step and he was forced to put his leg down, but he immediately lifted the other leg up, and tried to take a second half inch step!

With each step, his body erupted in countless gruesome injuries, but Yaan ignored them as best he could.

He was able to ignore these injuries thanks to the immense vitality filling his surroundings. This blood-red vitality flooded through his body, restoring the devastating injuries almost as quickly as they formed!

Yaan's tiny steps gradually increased in size, until eventually, he could step an entire foot!

It took him so long to take each step. Before he knew it, Yaan realised that he was already in the centre of the vortex. He had at most a few minutes remaining…

With a determined gaze, Yaan crouched down. He stretched his arms out behind him, then he sprang up, throwing up his arms, extending his legs, and launching himself as far forwards as he could possibly muster in this single jump!

BANG BANG BANG!

Horrendous sounds echoed out as parts of Yaan's body practically detonated in a mist of blood, but despite the agonising pain, he was feeling extremely satisfied. As he collapsed, a torrential waterfall of vitality poured down over his body, restoring him from his pitiful state and returning him to his peak condition in an instant.