[Dark Flower Cultivation Technique (Modified)]

[Attainment Level: Ordinary]

“Hey, Miss Bing Xin? Why does the Seekers Accord call it modified?” Dejiu smiled, his eyes focused on his attainment level.

“Exactly what it means. I changed it for you. Ask it for an explanation of the method.”

Dejiu raised an eyebrow. “I can do that?”

“You’ve never learned a cultivation technique, not even the basics among basics. Of course you wouldn’t know what you can do with your Seekers Accord. Now get to it.”

Her remarks were like a slap to his face when he was already on the ground. He sighed heavily and complied. “Give me a description of the Dark Flower cultivation technique.”

Immediately, characters flooded his eyes and a monotone voice sounded in his ears.

[Dark Flower Cultivation Technique (Modified)]

[Lost in the climb, [Redacted] longed for nothing more than to see the Heavens. In doing so, [Redacted] tempered her mind, body, soul, and most importantly, her core. But not all can follow the same Path. And so when the eight petals bloom brilliantly, know that you have attained the strength to climb to the same Heavens [Redacted] had longed to see.]

“This doesn’t explain much of what I asked. And who is this… redacted thing? It must be you, right?” Dejiu frowned and kicked aside another Hollow Talon corpse from blocking his path down the next flight of spiraled stairs.

Though, not before claiming his treasures of course.

[You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]

Dejiu looked behind, studying the fallen daimons. He just finished another chamber of two Hollow Talons, this time he became more effective in the Dark Flower cultivation technique. Also more acclimated to the temporary burst of painful strength.

“I won’t tell you.” Bing Xin laughed.

“...Fine.” Dejiu muttered before asking, “How much longer until we can reach the guardian of this Pillarshard?”

“I don’t know. Just keep descending and focus on continuously using the cultivation technique..”

Dejiu frowned but focused again.

Each of his steps echoed through the massive Pillarshard — it felt odd. Here he was, walking down to the Seventh Hell alone. Well not truly alone, but it surely felt like it. He’d wager anything to have the experienced Teacher Jiansu by his side. Walking alone into the unknown was a risk that could get him killed. But it seemed it was also his only option.

Time passed without disturbance. No Hollow Talons and no chambers.

Oddly enough, he grew a little bored of constantly cycling his prana even though the sharp occasional pang brought him out of his torpor.

“Miss Bing Xin, can you tell me more of the Pillarshards?”

Left answered for a while, Dejiu frowned.

“...What do you wish to know?”

“All that I don’t know, obviously.”

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“You have a sharp tongue despite being a little monk.” She chided.

“Better than not saying something direct,” Dejiu said, recalling the many times other monks, his age or not, made backhanded comments. Although they wouldn’t outright insult him, all it meant was to leave it unsaid.

“You’re right. Well, to begin with, what you asked earlier — the guardian of this Pillarshard is at the bottom. Meaning the moment we reach the last floor, we’ll be on the Seventh Hell’s floor.”

“Then shouldn’t you know how long it will take to reach–”

“No, and that brings me to the next point. Pillarshards are simply the pillars that connect the many Hells to your Earth. And so the Pillarshards rise ever so slowly until it breaches into your world. However, they could grow on both ends. One end strives to reach the highest of skies, and the other strives to reach the bottoms of the Hells. Although the Seekers Accord has called this an Impure Pillarshard, that was more than half a day ago. Who knows if the bottom of this Pillarshard reached the Sixth Hell.”

Dejiu paused. His foot dangled and hovered over the next step. “Am I dead if it does?” He asked.

“Perhaps. But even if it reaches the Sixth Hell, or even lower, it isn’t your problem. Do you recall the Seekers Accord message?”

“No-”

When he tried to remember it, the line of text appeared.

[You cannot leave the premises of this emerging Pillarshard. Snuff the Pillarshard’s core or delve down to the Seventh Hell. Only death will await those who remain complacent.]

“Convenient… ah, I see. So I’ll be traveling the Seventh Hell?” He nodded.

“It depends on what we find, little monk.”

Frowning with doubt, Dejiu walked more before asking, “Then how about the guardian? Will it be really strong? Actually, no, it can only be of the Impure Stage, right?”

“It will be. But Impure Stage or not, you’re still too weak to face it.”

“You know what it is?”

“I have a good guess.”

“Could you tell me about it like the others? What does it look like? What strengths and weaknesses does it have?”

“Enough chatter, this is a good place to rest. You must sleep.”

“I can’t sleep.”

“How come?”

Dejiu stopped climbing down the stairs and blankly looked up. “What if you take over my body? I’ve only trusted you this far because I had no choice in the matter. Sleep? You know how much I can go without sleep. Sure I’m injured, tired, and hungry… but I could probably hold up for a while. Although I’m halfway to Hell myself, I won’t let you trample over me.”

However, only laughter rang inside his head before Bing Xin replied. “Not wanting to be trampled on, there are two ways. One is to become strong, strong until no one dares to step on you. Another is to turn into the shittiest of garbage, something so foul that no one would want to step on. I think you’re the latter as of now. I won’t possess you, little monk.”

“Wench.” Dejiu grunted, yet satisfied with her answer. He sat with his back against the outer wall of the interior, right against the crisscrossed glowing lines that exposed the Seventh Hell. Cozy and warm in the hellish expanse’s embrace on his back, he set his double-ended spade across his lap.

“Wretched little monk. Sweet dreams.” She said.

“To think I’d be sleeping on the steps of a Pillarshard — the same steps leading into Hell. Ha! Accompanied by a daimon as well. Teacher Jiansu would be appalled.” He said wistfully.

“...I don’t think he’ll ever be appalled with you.”

Dejiu smiled at her remark and closed his eyes.

—

Bing Xin watched the little monk drift asleep. He looked vulnerable, more than he already was. Armed with nothing more than robes and a metal spade, he looked out of place. Bloodied and tired as he is. But she knew the truth. Talking about his teacher made her remember the first time she made contact with the little monk — ah, it would be improper to call Dejiu that. That was before his teacher found him and was made a monk.

She could remember it all so well. The tantalizing feeling from back then.

The child she found that day.

The child she found covered in blood that day.

The child she found draped in daimon innards.

The child she found with fists mangled enough to show cracked bone.

“Fitting. Oh so fitting.” She laughed to herself. “Violence found him first and has never left.”

She recalled the second Attribute he possesses yet never understood.

[Attribute Description: Shattered Innocence — You cried the throes of struggle before you cried the tears of adolescence. An echo of innocence stolen and replaced by blood and steel.]