Pathway

Walking towards the sect's haven, Ju Feng noticed the frequent side-glances and ocassional regards he was recieving from other disciples, as well as from the acolytes. Disciples and acolytes he didn't even know by names, all acknowledging his presence, openly or secretly. This was in relation to his encounter with the revenant. An outer disciple who had entered and survived the force-field of a revenant. The news of his near-death experience had spread like wildfire throughout the sect premises. Now, there's beaconlight on him as an outer disciple.

"Ah, there's always a danger in such a fame."

Ju Feng was half way to the sect's haven, when he passed by the Youxiu training center of the core disciples. At a corner of the training center, he saw the core disciples' group of Shao Cheng. With a quick glance through their numbers, all of them were there, except for Su Ming. Quan Zhi was in a mock combat with another core disciple, while Li Ling was testing out a technique on her own.

Although, the Youxiu area was off limit to the outer and inner desciples, Ju Feng really wanted to check on them and ask about Su Ming. He walked slowly towards them and stopped at the outskirts of the area. Ju Feng noticed the stratospheric level of fame the group appeared to be recieving. If he thought that he was recieving some acknowledgements from the students and the acolytes, the attention that Shao Cheng's group was recieving, was way more than he could have imagined.

Everywhere he looked, he could see eyes fixed on the core disciples as if they were celestials. All around them, were regarding eyes, showing respect and appreciative acknowledgement. Afterall, they had used their skills and techniques, to help fight a dangerous ascendant that could have resulted in the death of many students. It was true that fame was a distraction, nonetheless, they truly deserved every bit of it. They could all have easily lost their lives in the encounter. They should be revered, moreover, they were core disciples with the best techniques. The future of the sect.

"Best techniques! The benefits of being a core disciple."

He shook his head slightly, and sighed inwardly. Somehow, he had to be a core disciple.

Shao Cheng noticed Ju Feng and recognizing his face, waved him over to Ju Feng's utter surprise. This was the core-disciples training area, not to be tresspassed by other disciples. Ju Feng waited to see if Shao Cheng was actually waving him over or waving him off. After confirming that Shao Cheng wanted him to approach, Ju Feng cautiously but steadily, walked over.

There were some dangerous gazes, non-chalant gazes and mystifying gazes. He turned his attention to the sounded voice of Shao Cheng.

"Ah, you again. Ju Feng, that's your name, isn't it?"

"Yes, martial brother Shao Cheng. I meet you all well."

Replied Ju Reng with a cupped hand.

"Hm. We meet you well too, Ju Feng."

Said Shao Cheng as he nodded at Ju Feng, as he regarded his state of being. He couldn't help but wondered at the remarkable recovery of this young kid. The yellow pill that Su Ming gave him must be a treasure indeed. All the same, he had survived an ascendant force-field at the early stage of the Zhuji. How about that?

"I can tell you need something, Ju Feng. You must know this place is for the core disciples. Any loitering around will draw unnecessary attention. You should be more careful."

"Yes, I know. I just want to find out if everybody is fine."

"You mean, if we are still alive? Yes we are, as you can see. And I know you really want to know about Su Ming."

Said Shao Cheng as he waited for Ju Feng's confirmation before continuing.

"She's recovering well. Should be out by tomorrow."

"So happy to hear that. I will check on her later to give my thanks. Thanks, martial brother Shao Cheng."

"Think little of it. By the way, be careful around Su Ming. Quan Zhi is a little bit, protective."

"I'll remember that. Thanks martial brother Shao Cheng."

Returning to his room, Ju Feng decided to check the items he brought back from the forsaken palace. Sitting on the floor, he took out the items and placed them in front of him, one by one.

A primordial seed of pure element of water called the Star-Tide bead.

Another conchi seed of pure element of fire known as the Flowing-Flame.

One large yellow-gold crystal known as the mystical order.

One soul ring.

One Soul Banishing scroll.

And one heavenly solitude spirit fruit.

In truth, the items were more than he had bargained for. Despite not knowing the function or reason for some of the items, he knew they were more than a fortune on their own. Some were heavenly treasures while others were still unknown. He would examine them properly later. He, carefully, put them back in his spatial sac before putting it away. After getting some rest, he headed towards the direction of the training center where he met Chenric and Da Xia. Both were synchronizing to some martial arts move until they saw Ju Feng and came over.

"Hello Da Xia, Cheung."

"Hello Ju Feng."

"We are getting ready earlier for the coming competition. If we don't get to be core disciples, we should be inner disciples at the least."

Said Lin Da Xia with grim determination.

"But the competition is still some miles away."

Ju Feng voiced in light-hearted manner as he tried to take away the grim seriousness.

"That's why we're training now, Ju Feng."

With a wry smile on his face, Lin Chenric replied. Paused for a second before continuing.

"Good things are involved in being one."

"Hm. I know."

Ju Feng nodded in agreement.

"Hello everyone."

Said Ying Jie as he flashstepped into their midst.

"Hey, Ying Jie."

"Sorry I came a bit late. Took care of few things."

"It's alright. Now that you're here."

"We are simply too weak."

Lin Cheung suddenly said.

"Uh?"

They all asked in reply. Then, Lin Da Xia looked at her brother in confusion and asked. 

"Why did you say so, Cheung?"

Lin Cheung looked around and shook is head slightly. There was a tinge of helplessness in his eyes as he turned around, staring into the far distance.

"My time inside the forsaken palace showed me how weak we all are. I accepted the fact that eye of the Crucible was a divine artifact and that the golems were godlike, I still can't accept what happened inside the forsaken palace. I know it's all good in the end, but still. The moment I stepped into the forsaken palace, I heard the voice of the giant, Darghek, saying the same words as mentioned by Da Xia. At first, I was also concerned about the whole portals thing, though, I wasn't scared that much. I knew if the dangers are getting overwhelming, I only had to say the safe word. So I went with it."

Lin Cheung continued.

"As soon as my right foot landed, I found myself at the mouth of a yellow mountain, close to another five human kids of my age. From the look of things, they were yet to reach the Zhuji stage. But just like us, they should be at its gates. You are dead right, at first, I was a little surprised and shocked to see them. Moment ago, I was in the palace belonging to an emperor and now, only to find myself at the mouth of a yellow mountain, looking at some kids. Yes, I was surprised. Though, I was a bit taken aback, they were not at all. It was as if it was alright for me to be there."

"That was a little strange."

Fu Yingjie uttered.

"Yes, I thought so too, at first. Then, they beckoned to me to come closer. The five of them, three boys and two girls. Duan Yang, Zeng Wuhan, Dong Jun, Xie Heng and Jia Ai. All human mortals. From the way I was addressed, I think they thought I was from the next village to theirs."

"Which village was that?"

Asked Ju Feng.

"The amber forest village. The village next to theirs, the Twin-Dragon village. On a planet known as Farling."

"Farling? Never heard of that before."

"Neither was I before then. Imagine, I was transported to a different world. My shock was more profound but I kept it hidden. From them, I learned about the yellow mountain. Yellow mountains were the homes of the Goutou creatures. Little nasty creatures that love to horde minor treasures. And they believe there were some treasures inside this very mountain. So, with an adventurer's heart, I followed them and we proceeded into the mountain."

Lin Cheung paused for few seconds before continuing.

"The smallest kid, Duan Yang, was extremely good at tracking, hence, he was the one taking the lead. As we entered the mountain, we noticed that forceful torrents of water had run into its depths.