Chapter 3 Devil Soul Awakening (1/2)

In more than two months, Lyu Liang's mantra had achieved the Qi Refining Realm, but this was only the initial stage. He had not stabilized it yet. As for swordsmanship, he had only learnt the basics of Unification Move.

Lyu Liang walked out of the house and directly in front of the giant tree. He gave a fist and palm salute before saying, ”Senior, I am sorry to disturb your rest, but I've met some problems for my cultivation. I am hopeful that you could provide me with some guidance.”

Immediately after he finished his sentence, a lady flew down from the tree. It was Fairy Qingci. Out of the three treasure spirits, Lyu Liang liked this fairy the most. He had a strange feeling every time he chatted with the fairy, as if a child was sharing his thoughts with his mother. He could not help but reveal his love towards his mother no matter how hard he had tried to suppress that feeling in the past. Fairy Qingci seemed to understand how Lyu Liang was feeling, so she often treated him like her own younger brother.

”Elder Sister!” Lyu Liang greeted her aloud every time he saw Fairy Qingci, then smiled at her in a silly manner.

”My brother, you've already stabilized the early stage. You're pretty fast, aren't you? Since you're here, did you encounter any problem?” The fairy's eyes sparkled with astonishment and looked at him with tender care. She added, ”Grandpa and Feiling are cultivating now. The Land Spirit had gone to the south again. If you've any problem, I can help.”

”Yes. Thank you, Elder Sister. I've stabilized the Early-stage of Qi Refining Level, but I kept feeling there was a bottleneck whenever I wish to advance further. I hope you can provide me with some guidance.”

”Hehe, this is a common problem faced by most cultivators. If you wish to bypass the bottleneck, the best way is to consume Bottleneck-breaking Pill or enlighten yourself through battles. If you don't have that pill, you can go to the Training Tower to fight with puppets,” the fairy explained. She looked at Lyu Liang gently and advised, ”In fact, the most effective way to make a breakthrough is through death battles; however, they're not necessary for you at this stage. Most importantly, you need to adapt and cultivate the feeling of battle.”

”Yes. I did think about going to the east as well. However, can Elder Sister disclose the basic situation of the puppets in the east?” Lyu Liang asked. He felt that it was better for him to learn about his opponents first.

After bidding goodbye to Fairy Qingci, Lyu Liang started his journey to the Training Tower in the east. ”It's the first time! This is my first time challenging as a cultivator! No matter what, I should be able to fight the first puppet I face!” Lyu Liang exclaimed as he stood in front of the eastern side of the Training Tower and clenched his fists tightly. After touching the round plate on the tower door, a white light appeared and surrounded him, teleporting him to the first foor of the Training Tower.

It was a very wide and spacious hall. The only thing that caught his attention was a sleeping wolf laying in the middle of the place. It did not even bother to open its eyes after Lyu Liang had entered the place!

”Senior, I am Lyu Liang, who is here for training. May I know how can I address you? Also, how do I start my training?” Lyu Liang understood that he was still considered weak among the many cultivators in here. Hence, he must be humble.

”Hehe, so you're the third destined person who've entered here! Early-stage of Qi Refining, have yet to master the first level of mantra and I supposed you've only learnt the basics of swordsmanship,” the wolf-like puppet was still lounging on the floor. ”I am a War Wolf guarding the first floor of the Training Tower, and I am created by Master. By right, you should defeat me before you advance to the next level. But now, you can try to attack me. If you make me move from this place, you will pass the test.”

Lyu Liang was taken aback and had only recovered after a long while. ”Did I mishear? That's considered as a pass?” he thought. Nevertheless, Lyu Liang did not put down his guard. He was left with no choice since he was anxious to get home.

The moment Lyu Liang took his sword out of its sheath, he started chanting his mantra, and concurrently doing his best to display the Unification Move sword style as he slashed his sword towards the War Wolf.

”Not too bad, but you're too weak.” The War Wolf shook its head and shut its eyes again.

”Bam!” A loud noise sounded. The War Wolf did not even move an inch, yet the sword flew out of Lyu Liang's hand. He himself had also tumbled and landed on his buttocks as he gave a stunning look on his face.

”You're way too weak. Go back and train for another ten years or more before challenging me again.” The War Wolf concluded and continued to rest.

Lyu Liang was shocked. All of his confidence had drained from him. ”This... this is all I have now? Why...vwhy is it like this! Train for another ten years or more? Is the first floor too tough, or am I too weak? Yes, after all, I... I am just a twelve-year-old kid...” Lyu Liang seemed to have lost his last hope as he felt the sense of despair in his heart.

Tears! Ever since he was beaten up by his father at seven, he vowed never to cry again. Yet now, his tears uncontrollably rolled down his cheeks like waterfalls.

Lyu Liang did not know how he had returned to his house. He laid down on his bed. For the first time, he felt like sleeping. Ever since he had entered the Virtual Land, in order to return and see his father as soon as possible, he had been busily practising cultivation. Other than practising, he was seeking guidance from the seniors. In order to master cultivation and return home, he had not even gotten a wink of sleep. Who knew that the truth could be so cruel!

At this point of time, returning home seemed impossible. Lyu Liang felt that there was an extremely tall mountain standing in front of him right now and it was impossible for him to climb over it. For the first time, Lyu Liang fell asleep in the Virtual Land. Two rows of tears rolled down from the corner of his eyes as he cried, ”Father, what should I do...”

Outside of his house, there were four silhouettes standing beside the giant tree. One of them said softly in a gentle yet sorrow female voice, ”After all, he's only a child, and he was only a mortal being before that! The former two entered here with at least Gold Core Level and above.”

Another person sighed as he said in a deep, wavery voice like an old man, ”Sigh, poor child. As what I've expected. That's why I've purposely avoided seeing this.”

”Can... can I just lend him my actual self? With his lousy sword, how can he ever beat that wolf that is nearly at the Foundation Establishment Level?” The shortest person pouted his mouth and said bitterly.

”Don't even think about it! I pity him as well, but Master has set the rules. We can not help the cultivators! Though I did not say that the lowest level of the Training Tower is the Late-stage of Qi Refining Level, if he were to give up like this, he's not qualified to inherit Master's legacy at all!” the tallest person said helplessly and he looked to the south of the land. ”Only that senior is not within Master's restriction; however, hehe, I guess it's easier to become immortal than to get help from her!”

...

Lyu Liang was indeed very tired. Even though he was crying, he was in deep sleep.

”That's it? Don't you want to return home and see your father? Are you going to give up finding your mother?” Lyu Liang heard an unexpected echo in his head. It felt strange yet familiar.

Lyu Liang was shocked when he heard the voice and struggled to open his eyes, yet his eyelids seemed tightly shut. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to open them.

”Don't waste your effort trying to open your eyes. Instead, relax and enjoy my presence,” the voice continued. ”I can help you settle all these problems.”

Lyu Liang had indeed calmed down. The voice seemed to have a magical power that could instantly give him a sense of warmth. Most importantly, it gave him a sense of hope. That hope was like a seed that was waiting for a drop of water to make it sprout and grow.

Then he remembered. That voice was similar to his voice, or should he say, it was the same as his voice. Even the pauses and tone in his voice were exactly the same as his!

”Seems like you're finally willing to calm down and listen to me. Let me make it quick then. The strength of the seal is too strong. I've accumulated 500 years' worth of the Devil Qi, and had managed to grasp the opportunity when you break down just now to reveal a soul consciousness. If you wish to know what's bothering you, then travel to the south in the night. I can sense that someone there will be able to assist you!” Following which, that voice began to laugh once more and sounded more relaxed than before. ”This soul consciousness will be gone soon. I'll lose my consciousness again temporarily. Before I disappear, I will return you what you meant to have. Do your best and don't give up. You still have not understood yourself!”

Lyu Liang fiercely opened his eyes and said, ”Is that a dream? No, this feeling...”