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🕑 Added 2021-08-29 10:30:31 +0000 UTCTitle: Within the Fog; Heavenly Treasure Bowl (1)
"Birdy just surpassed you and Teacher based on the function of her domain, eh?" Ja Sun smiled as the nine men and women stood under the effects of a golden domain. The pale-green poisonous fog that covered the center of the forest was now condensed onto the ground, unable to phase away as usual and looked like a thick puddle only when someone stepped, it would disperse as a fog again.
Ah Yin calmly looked at Ja Sun before shrugging. She didn't particularly care. Tang Yuehua's domain is different just like how every individual is different even in the case of twins who would develop their own tastes and emotions. It's simply natural. Even Bibi Dong was quite a bit unfazed, leaving Ja Sun satisfied. How he wished someone with thinner skin to be in his group that he could slap continuously and train into mighty thickness all over again.
"It's not the best," Yuehua smiled and explained, "My Domain is now called Calm Circle. It doesn't only affect the emotion, but also various forms of activities around me of my choosing. The poison fog hasn't lost its property but it is contained in its nature and will not effects you. Similarly, as I tested with Sister Erlong, the fire also contains its heat and 'fall.'"
Liu Erlong snorted now. This domain wasn't without any limitations. In reality, everyone already knew that if Liu Erlong used a greater strength, then her attack would not have been negated but as Yuehua said, the effects now not only 'calm' the emotions like previous domain, its also 'calms' various elements and attacks and nature itself.
"So, how is it that you wanted to make this domain more useful?" Bibi Dong looked at Ja Sun as he stretched his right palm and covered it with spirit energy.
"Focus to suppress my spirit energy," Ja Sun glanced at Yuehua as she nodded. Instantly, Ja Sun felt all the movement of his spirit energy within him calming down and slowing up as if the wide channels of energy leading into his Sea of Spirit (Dantian) itself is starting to rest after all the horrors they have been put through. And as Yuehua mentioned, any feeling of anxiety within him slowly turned into calm, indicating that what this domain affected wasn't the consciousness, but the physical hormones itself that govern the said emotions. Why he was sure of this fact?
Once again, his mental energy wasn't the least bit affected.
His emotions were, yes, so were his thoughts, but not the pure mental fortitude. And with the spirit core of life and death acting as the furnace for his mental energy, this guard was even better. Since this wasn't any form of mental attack or an illusion, the Fiery Golden Pupils were unresponsive.
"You see this?" Ja Sun smiled, still activating his first ability while instantly changing the color of his rings.
A white glow covered his right palm only.
"My energy is slowed down, but constantly urging my spirit energy to move in this domain will help my control otherwise. Just like Ah Yin's domain that can be used in day-to-day operations, Tang Yuehua's can be used for her and everyone else's training, well, except me and Erlong.
You let your energy stabilize in the domain and practice, Yuehua also constantly expend her spirit energy and then restores it, increasing her spirit energy passively."
"Heh, I almost forgot you guys are less talented than me and Ka-ul," Liu Erlong smirked provocatively and Bibi Dong's eyelids twitched.
"We'll try it. In this case, my expertise falls short when compared to the two of you," Bibi Dong glanced at Ja Sun and glared at Erlong who only smirked in response.
"In three weeks, if there are any improvements, then we will continue it. However, we need to find Yuehua a spirit ring now."
Bibi Dong stated and everybody agreed.
According to Yuehua, her Martial Soul's attribute was not as simple as some element or a force of nature such as gravity or shock. If she had to term it, the attribute itself seemed to be 'stable' or 'purity.' So, they needed to see the result of the first spirit ring to even determine the actual use of Clear Phoenix for at its base level, it just appeared out of Yuehua and acted like a loveable pet and that's all. It didn't have any attacking capabilities aside from using its sharp beak to peck, its wings to fly, and its claws to tears at rocks or barks of a tree.
"Let's get out of the fog for a moment," Ah Yin mumbled as she walked out of the domain, the surrounding fog barely doing anything to her and everyone got out. The exertion from the domain once again made Yuehua breathless. Her strength was too low at this point.
"I know that Teacher had different things planned once I awakened my martial soul," Yuehua began with a weak smile as she looked at everyone. There was a hint of hesitation in her voice that passed once she took a deep breath.
"But, I heard how Brother Xie and you attained your recent spirit rings. It... involved the consent of the Spirit Beasts themselves. And I also know that such a method should be used when the capabilities of the spirit beast exceed one's limit slightly which shouldn't be the case for me. I just..."
She looked away slightly as Ja Sun glanced at Ah Yin and then back at Tang Yuehua. Over the week, there have been many jokes based on the slightly similar color of the hair of the two of them but truly, nobody should be compared to someone else easily. Just these small acts of humor had created a tiny wisp of self-consciousness within Yuehua leading her to feel hesitant in her desire to not kill which she would have otherwise stated more calmly.
"I see," Ja Sun stepped forward and looked at everyone, "When I persuaded you to join us, I promised that I wouldn't treat you any better than others. Everyone else feels the same way, and we all use our martial souls and domains for the best of the group.
Sister Jun uses her tracking abilities alongside Ah Yin's domain to keep us on safer paths. Oscar feeds us. I'm sure that if someone else has more abilities like this then they would use it in the future, too. However, last night, Teacher gave me and Ah Yin a task. Well, I admit that I wanted Ah Yin to accompany and fill in for the missing arm for me so I won't be here if you manage to find the right spirit beast.
And as it is seen, your Martial Soul has intelligence that is tied with you. Maybe... it knows better as to what spirit beasts it desires. What would you do if such a thing happens? Will you let the spirit beast go?"
Ja Sun questioned calmly. He would have folded his hands but just one arm over his tits felt weird.
Yuehua pursed her lips. Not killing to her meant not committing the task directly. It scars the soul permanently, that's what her Eldest Brother warned her with. And she had seen enough of it and the looks of despair that scared her for good.
Spirit Beasts, to her, weren't any different and now she was beginning to realize how raw her world is going to be if she wanted to climb to the higher ranks of the Spirit World.
"Or would you let go of an opportunity just because you are scared of coming out of the shell?" Ja Sun smiled as Xie Xan coughed.
"Well, go a little easy on her, alright? She will do just fine."
Ja Sun looked back and nodded before gesturing to Ah Yin as they both left into the poisonous fog when Ah Yin finally started her domain. The aura of vitality countered the poison just right and their own resistance to the fog was decent enough.
As they left, Bibi Dong glanced at Yuehua and sighed, "All of you go on to the camp without Yuehua. I need to discuss something with her."
Once everyone left, Bibi Dong and Yuehua sat down at the edge of the fog silently. Two chairs were taken out of Bibi Dong's storage essence for this act.
"I'm sorry. I feel like I pushed some boundaries," Yuehua began with a note of apology, looking at the dry and yellow leaves carpeting the ground that would rot further in the direction closer to the fog.
"It was Ka-ul who pushed it, really. Given our conversation last night, I think, he wanted to mess with you before exploring whatever is inside the fog."
"Teacher, I thought that if anyone would be curious enough to explore in anything poisonous then it would be you," Yuehua turned to face Bibi Dong as she shook her head.
"In reality, I'm only a temporary teacher. Hu Lana, Xie Xan, Jun'er, Oscar... they're all grown men and women. Teacher is merely a title. I'm more integrated into this team to be just called a teacher, really. And this goes for Ah Yin whose strength should be close to me after her recent improvements and Ka-ul... I don't think he needs more education personally. Maybe it's my time to start learning from him," she chuckled before her aura converged and she glared at Yuehua sternly, "Don't tell him I spoke of these words."
"Yes," Yuehua nodded quickly.
"Anyway, while Ah Yin and Ka-ul can explore and cover up for each other, my time is spent better with you all. At least, until Ka-ul returns from that fog. Ehm, now, I don't want you to be too affected by what he said, right? I think this should come from me but last night, we did decide that if possible, none of us would want to push you over the edge which all of us have crossed. Not willingly, at least."
"But—" Yuehua looked up as Bibi Dong smiled, "If you protest, that would mean you wish to kill. We don't have anything against you if you won't, and we wouldn't care if you eventually do. I'd say that, unlike your brothers, you have nothing to prove to us. A team should learn each member's weakness, and their strength."
Leaning back, Bibi Dong gazed towards the crown of the tree as Yuehua bit her lips and questioned.
"What did you mean about me trying to prove something to my brothers?"
Blinking, Bibi Dong looked back at Yuehua silently.
For a few seconds, both of them stared at each other until Bibi Dong sighed and looked away.
"I'm one of the few people who actually know quite a bit about the Three Upper Sects. So, I know what happened when Tang Peng's third daughter was born from the woman of the Speed Clan and how controversies spread due to that young girl's circumstances and..."
"My father was only stern because he cared," Yuehua spoke calmly but her eyes were layered with slight coldness.
"If you say care, then care it is," Bibi Dong nodded and stood up. Clearing her throat, she patted Yuehua's shoulder, "Come on, let's go back to the camp and find you your first Spirit Ring. Just the prospect of being an actual Spirit Master should cheer you up, right?"
Yuehua sighed and nodded as they both left.
---
"We're going nowhere," Ah Yin frowned.
"Given that your domain is best for scouting, it results poorly on your abilities, don't you think so?" Ja Sun questioned.
"Maybe there is nothing inside the fog," She scoffed.
"You actually believed that?" Ja Sun looked at Ah Yin with a strange expression, "Think. What intentions I could possibly have to get you alone with me and the surroundings are extremely rash to traverse?"
"I may have been a spirit beast in the past but with the way you have been treating me and trying the most disgusting places to... you know, I should already have ended our relationship," She scoffed as Ja Sun held her hand.
"Look, I thought of something," Ja Sun smiled, "With the way... well, let's face it, we're feeling awkward towards each other and it's only because of how you're acting. But I have a solution."
"Maybe I don't want to talk to a jerk, considered that possibility?"
"Yeah, that's why Xie Xan isn't here," Ja Sun shrugged as Ah Yin shook her head, "What's the solution in your amazing mind?"
"Blackmail."
Ja Sun's eyes glowed.
"What?" Ah Yin frowned.
"Just hear me out. We both have shared almost everything with each other. Even our past lives, yeah? And while your past life is the reason why you will be hunted, the same can be said about my present identity," He continued with a calm expression, "So, we use it for a game. Of course, we both understand that we're not selling each other out but that's the idea. What if one has to do something that the other one says?
For instance, you gave me a task that can be only naughty nature and I have to do it without any way out. Similarly, I will also make you do things."
"You're crazy!" Ah Yin scowled.
"It's already established."
"Incorrigible!"
"That, too."
"Wait, I just stumbled upon something," Ah Yin's eyes widened, "And it's huge!"
Ja Sun smirked. He didn't even need to say it right?
She literally said it.
They left while Ja Sun pushed his more and suppressed depraved thoughts into the back of his mind. If there's something covered by such a widespread miasma then it should truly be interesting enough to prioritize.
With that thought, both of them walked until they encountered a steep cliff running high and from what Ah Yin detected, this place was shaped like a bowl and the round lotus-like cliff perimeter was the precise 'ceramic' of the bowl. What she continued to hide was the insides of the bowl but her words happened to be: It'll take your breath away.
Truly, Ja Sun didn't feel like experiencing such a thing, and just for the suspense created by Ah Yin, he refrained from using his Trait to try and set various missions to find out what is actually hidden within the said 'bowl.'
