Chapter 180 - Challenge (1/2)
”I guess you know what a Spirit Registration Sphere is. What if I told you I have a sphere containing a record of what happened one hundred thousand years ago? The great battle that saw the divine beasts' victory and decline and the disappearance of part of the Continent.”
When Hei heard Long Tian's words, his heart couldn't help but jump and start beating fast. Although he was trying not to show it, the news that there was a recording of that event had left him in an agitated state of mind.
”A recording of what happened a hundred thousand years ago? How do you get such a thing, and why are you giving it to me? Hei asked, maintaining his usual composure.
Long Tian replied with another question, ”You know what historian martial artists are, right?”
”Yes, I've heard of it,” Hei replied that he began to understand a little more about the matter.
”Spirit Emperor Chong Zemin. In addition to being a Spirit Emperor with incredible battle power, he was also a historian martial artist. Historian martial artists are in charge of recording the relevant events that happen on our continent. Therefore, since it was the final battle between humans and demons, it is normal that there were also historian martial artists among the troops. Spirit Emperor Chong Zemin was one of them.
Unfortunately, any record of what happened was lost or so the general opinion thinks. Chong Zemin managed to preserve some fragments that were then recovered by the rescue teams that arrived after the destruction of the Continent's central lands. It is for this reason that we know what happened; after all, none of the participants in that fight came out alive.”
Long Tian paused as Hei tried to keep his breathing regular. 'It is not true that nobody came out alive. Mother had survived thanks to Father. However, this only confirms the authenticity of Long Tian's claims.'
It was right. How could the Sun Empire and the Moon Empire know the culprit for so much destruction and death? How did they know that the Serpent of Darkness had reached the divine rank if all the witnesses had been wiped out together with part of the Continent?
”Thanks to the skills of our formation masters, we were able to reconstruct the fragments so that they could show us detailed images. The content inside shows three scenes - Chong Zemin, who fights against a demon Spirit Emperor, the entry into the field of divine beasts followed by the spirit beasts, and lastly, the moment when the Serpent of Darkness reaches the divine rank and the beginning of the destruction.
Since they are images from Spirit Emperor Chong Zemin's point of view, we don't know exactly how the Serpent of Darkness has reached such a level. But, by witnessing the recording, you can perceive its power level. Ever since they came into their possession, the experts of the Sun Empire have tried to study the images contained in those fragments, but to date, there have been no positive results.”
Long Tian sighed as if he was disappointed by that. It wasn't due to him being one of the Imperial Princes. As a martial artist himself, he couldn't help feeling disappointed in not being able to observe more closely the scene that had marked the history of the whole continent, leading to today's situation.
”You didn't answer my question. Why are you giving it to me?” Hei asked. Part of him had begun to suspect that Long Tian might know something about his true origins.
Long Tian, however, smiled, replying, ”What I'm giving you is a copy, not the original. The Sun Empire no longer needs to maintain secrecy over the events of that day for a long time by now. Therefore, it became a tradition of giving to the most talented children of the Imperial Family and the Eight Big Families a copy of this recording. To show them the peak we had once reached and how we lost it, so that next time it would be us humans to reach the divine rank and not someone else.
Even if you come from a remote place like the Forgotten Ocean, your origins don't matter. If you have talent, the Sun Empire will be more than willing to raise you. As an Imperial Prince, it is my duty to make sure that talented people like you are not wasted because of senseless values such as social status or lack of a noble background. We have already made this mistake in the past, and it has cost us dearly, we cannot commit it again. I can't let that happen.”
Long Tian then clenched his fists. From his position, Hei could see that Long Tian's face was contracted by the emotions he was experiencing. Looking at this, Hei was surprised because the Imperial Prince had always maintained a composed and self-confident appearance, without revealing his deepest thoughts. Now, however, he could read in Long Tian a mixture of different emotions - anger, determination, pride, frustration, pain.
Long Tian realized that he had let himself go too much and put himself together. Then he turned to Hei, ”So what do you say? Are you willing to do it? I need an answer now. The sooner we start, the better.”
Hei meditated a moment before answering. The proposal was tempting but hid an unknown danger. However, it was also true that he couldn't let go of such an opportunity. Her mother had shown no images of that day; she wanted Hei, Ye, and Xing to be more mature before doing that. Unfortunately, however, Bao Bai had died before she could do it.
”Alright. I accept.” Hei announced firmly. He had to know; no, it wasn't correct. He wanted to know. Know what had happened and see his parents even once again.
*
Canteen, Ground Floor
It was dinner, and the first-year students were all having dinner in the canteen. The atmosphere between the various groups was gloomy. Even if a week had passed, the students still couldn't shake off the aftermath of the battle against the c.o.c.kroaches and termites. It was not only frustration in seeing their shortcomings and weaknesses, but the death of their companions also weighed heavily. After all, they had spent many months together, helping each other to survive the hard life of the academy.
At that moment, a group of five people was walking across the tables. Leading them was a young man with brown skin and long pitch-black hair. The other students recognized him in an instant - Hei, the strange martial artist from the Forgotten Ocean.
Hei was walking between the tables, leading Lian, He Fen, Lang, and Leon with him. His little sisters and the other members of his group were seated a few tables further back to enjoy dinner. Hei instead had another task to perform.
”Feng Gengxin!” Hei shouted when he finally stopped walking. He had stopped at the table where the person he was looking for sat - Feng Gengxin, a member of the Feng Family, one of the Eight Big Families.
Hei's shout drew the attention of all first-year students. Since they were tormented by dark thoughts, any kind of distraction was well received. In a moment, all the tables stopped making noise, creating a glacial silence.
”Who's calling me?” replied Feng Gengxin, annoyed. He didn't like being disturbed while he was eating, but when he noticed who had called him, his face suddenly twitched.
'Hei? That beggar from the Forgotten Ocean? What does he want from me?' Feng Gengxin wondered to himself as he maintained his classic haughty expression.