Chapter 17 - 13: The Essences Trial (1) (2/2)

”What kind of trial is that?” Without hesitation, she threw a question.

Dmitri, hearing it, slowly stopped his tracks in front of the lakeshore while his eyes bore into a stone table rooted in the middle of the lake.

Before voicing out, Dmitri made a silent sigh and pointed his gaze towards Ziro behind him.

”As for its system, I don't really know. But the Essence Pearl has the power of diving into the very depths of your soul and materialized inside. Meaning to say, it can see what kind of person and how powerful you are. If you truly believe you are unfit to be its beholder then this pearl will immediately know your essence is worthless to be its next master.”

”…”

Ziro was lost in words as she realized Dmitri was just trying to say she just needed to do this trial without even knowing what will happen to her.

Hearing no replies from Ziro, Dmitri slowly turned his back from the young 'prince'.

”We're here.”

Ziro halted when she realized the swordsman had already stopped his tracks for a while.

They were actually standing at a lakeshore. She quickly swept her gaze in front only to see a pristine lake with a peculiar stone table on the middlemost. But as peculiar as it is, Ziro was in awe, as she noticed a reef of spirit stones blossomed on top of it comparably similar to a piece of a green lotus flower.

However…

”Is that…”

Ziro gasped when she caught a glimpse of a medium-sized jade pearl floating above the lotus reef of spirit stones. Judging from its look, it was packed with condensed mana as verdant lights were pulsating out of it.

Far from Ziro's awareness, Dmitri had actually been staring at her just as she rolled her eyes on the lake, waiting for her 'Woah-ing' reaction.

As expected, the moment Ziro gasped, the swordsman's lips were tugged into a smile. He rubbed his nose and chuckled silently.

Fully satisfied with the young 'prince's reaction, Dmitri slowly broke his stare from Ziro and rolled it on the pearl.

”Yes. That is indeed the Essence Pearl. Beautiful, isn't it?”

Ziro lost her words. She stared at the pearl and its graceful flight above the spirit stones. Although she was really annoyed by Dmitri, she couldn't agree more with what he just said. The sight was truly magnificent.

This was her first time seeing this kind of powerful item. The more she looked at it, her heart beats faster, a strange heat gradually welling inside her ċhėst.

Her eyes fluttered and cupped her ċhėst. This feeling was the same as what she felt before – auras! However, this time it was incomparably calm and serene. It felt like she was being pulled and drowned into the sea of tranquility.

But, she didn't know that her face was already frowning.

”You okay? You really looked surprised.”

Dmitri chuckled. But even though he made a snicker, his glabella knitted slightly as he scanned the complicated expression of the young 'prince'.

He was in deep thought for a moment.

******

Ziro continued a watchful gaze on the pearl as she slowly parted her lips.

”Hey, Dmitri.”

She paused for a bit as she contemplated how to ask the swordsman about the strange sensation brewing inside her ċhėst. Dmitri might be able to answer it.

Apart from her curiosity was a sliver hope of her being able to discern auras. If this was the case, she might be able to cultivate!

”Mmh? What?”

Dmitri shortly asked.

Ziro: ”…”

But she went silent for a couple of seconds unable to utter any question as fear immediately overthrow her morning hope. What if she was mistaken? This would only worsen her already worse confidence about her cultivation matter.

At this moment, she could only let out a sigh and pinch her glabella.

”I'm sorry. Nevermind.”

And immediately dropped the idea, and instead…

”So… what do I need to do? Ah, for this trial, I mean?” She just jumped into the main point.

Dmitri somewhat perturbed by Ziro's abrupt cut-off, creases surfaced on his forehead. Only a question remained inside his head, what did Ziro was about to ask him.

However, this wasn't the time to be too nosy. Dmitri carefully laid all the necessary instructions for the Essence's Trial. It turns out, Ziro just needed to walk up to the stone table and rest her palm on the pearl. That simple.

But because it was as simple, Ziro became even more conflicted. She didn't know what'll happen to her after that.

”Are you really sure this is safe?”

Just as her words were saying, her face painted the most worried look she had ever made in front of Dmitri.

”Like hell I know. You're the first one to touch that.” And it was quickly brushed off by Dmitri.

Ziro: ”…”

Her temples immediately throbbed as she was reminded of how Dmitri really burst her patience.

'Damn it. Can you be a little more helpful?'

But thinking about it again, this was the only solution for her to get out of this cave. And she was a hundred percent sure, her father and the rest were already trying to search her.

Reinforcing her heart to scrape a bit of courage, she clenched her fists.

”Fine. Here comes never.”