"We'll come and get you from your residence early. You can celebrate with us for at least a little bit and then we can go to the entrance," Pan Tian said, "I used to think I worked hard before I met you... now I just feel lazy."
"Your cultivation has improved massively though," Jie said.
"Only because I end up training twice as hard as I used to just to keep up with you," Pan Tian said, "Not that I can... I've never even heard of anyone cultivating at the speed you do. At this rate, you could probably become the youngest Crimson Academy elder in history. You could take it easy and you'd still be one of the strongest in the region before long... I hope you won't forget us when you're obliterating mountains with a single punch."
"I'd never forget my friends," Jie said, "I'll see you guys tonight."
***
As promised, Ithilix and Pan Tian collected Jie from her residence. The three of them and Xue headed out together. It was night, but it was bright outside with all the lanterns and fireworks. Each with incredible effects like dancing people in the sky, dragons, planets, and at one point a flaming ship with singing pirates for some reason. All of which showered the air with that strange healing fire.
Jie couldn't get rid of the massive grin on her face. This world was amazing.
"So, how long is this event?" Jie asked.
"Only ten days," Pan Tian said, "so we want to get entry to the dungeon as quickly as possible. That way we'll have the most time to explore it, and we want to get first shot at the loot as well."
"Ten days?" Jie said, "But, I don't have enough supplies for that long."
If she'd known, Jie would've ordered a larger batch of prepared meals and resources. As it was, she only had eight days' supply remaining with the next delivery still a few days away.
Jie cursed herself for her foolishness and the fact that not only had she not replenished her stock but that she hadn't even thought to check what she'd need for the treasure hunt.
I should've ordered more in advance and kept a larger stockpile just in case anything happened. It's not like I need to worry about them going bad. How could I be so stupid!? Jie thought.
"What do you mean you don't? How can you not be prepared? Everything is ruined. We'll never possibly do it now!" Pan Tian said. Though her voice sounded suspiciously lacking in any real anguish.
"You knew I wouldn't know to bring supplies, didn't you?" Jie asked.
"Of course. And I bet you didn't even think to bring utility potions, scrolls, and pills. You're great at cultivating and fighting, but you're terrible at everything else. I had a feeling you might not prepare properly. No offense. You didn't even know the treasure hunt existed until my brother and I told you. I brought more than enough for all four of us," Pan Tian said, "in the future, you should think about things like that for yourself though."
"I'm sorry. I will. Thank you. But, if I did, you wouldn't get to make fun of me as much. The more I get to know you, the more I see that you're like your brother. How can you both be so mischievous in such an overbearing family?" Jie asked.
"If you think our family is overbearing, you really have led a sheltered life. And, you should always have supplies with you. What if the school is attacked by a powerful expert and we all have to flee into the wilds for forty years? You need to think of these things. This kind of stuff is exactly why you can't just cultivate all the time," Pan Tian said.
"I guess you have a point... I'll have to make sure I get supplies in future," Jie said, "Will you teach me?"
"Of course," Pan Tian said, "it'll be my pleasure to help you. I kind of feel like your big sister now. And I bet Ithilix could teach us both a lot."
"This one isn't sure," Ithilix said, "your preparations are quite thorough."
Pan Tian rolled her eyes. "The Hive has incredible gathering abilities. So, I hope you'll instruct us when we go inside," she said.
They worked their way through the crowded grounds, filled with students, and elders.
"I had no idea there were so many people here," Jie said.
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"Not everyone comes out for the tournaments, but who doesn't love World Creation Day? Of course, everyone is here along with their families and a bunch of guests of the school," Pan Tian said.
"All these people are going into the valley?" Jie asked.
"No way. This hunt is only for outer court disciples and even then only the strongest of us go into the Crimson Valley. Though if you're smart you can do it when you're weaker but it's pretty tough and most people would just die so they don't bother. Even the elders have to be careful and avoid some areas in there," Pan Tian said.
"If elders have to be careful, how will we survive?" Jie asked.
"We'll just avoid the most dangerous areas, obviously," Pan Tian said, "Don't worry so much. I've been there before, and so has my brother. And that was when we were much weaker than we are now. I can't imagine how much easier it'll be with you in our group. I bought maps and information from other students so I know it well enough to keep us from going anywhere too dangerous. We'll still have to be careful, but we can hopefully avoid getting instantly killed. And the elders do a good job of keeping the more dangerous areas contained. We should be fine. Risk and reward go hand in hand."
"I'll rely on you to guide us then... but do you have any maps I could study?" Jie asked.
"Worried we'll get separated?" Pan Tian asked.
"Or that you get knocked out or something," Jie said.
Pan Tian nodded. "See? Now you're thinking ahead. Here you go. And for you too Ithilix," she said as she handed them both copies of hand-drawn maps, "Just remember that it's not totally accurate and it changes every year so some things... well... just use your own instincts as well. It's a rough guide at best."
Jie glanced over one of the maps as they walked before storing it in her storage ring. She frowned slightly as either the map was extraordinarily detailed or this valley was bigger than she'd expected. Especially as she'd only looked at one of several maps. But, she set such thoughts aside for now and focused on enjoying the festival with her friends.
They had a couple of hours before midnight, so they visited some of the stalls, bought some snacks, watched a short play, and listened to beautiful music.
What Jie enjoyed most were the Elementalist performers. They wove their elemental affinities into beautiful, choreographed dances together. Earth, fire, metal, water, and wood elements all intertwined in an artistic display of skillful control with not a single drop of power out of place.
Jie watched them with rapt fascination, excited that one day soon she may be able to do something like that.
Finally, the beginning of the Crimson Valley Treasure Hunt neared, and Jie made her way with her friends to a beautiful plaza with towering statues of Xiannu and the Great Lightning Dragon. Jie couldn't help wishing that Ming could see all of this...
Beyond the plaza was a giant archway with statues of the usual stern-looking woman built onto the pillars supporting it. The stone was a deep, rich red like blood and the eyes of the statues gleamed like gems. The detail was so fine that her clothes looked as though they ought to rustle in the wind and that she might suddenly move. She looked fierce. Unbreakable. Indomitable.
On either side of the statues was a stone wall with people's names grouped together with the number zero below all of them. Jie saw her name together with Pan Tian's, Ithilix's, and Xue's all on the same shimmering metal plaque.
Headmaster Siluvius walked up to the foot of the massive archway at the top of a staircase lined with flaming braziers, elders flanked his sides.
Without a word, he spread his arms and behind him, countless fireworks launched into the sky. The burning lights rocketed up and then hung suspended for a moment, forming the number ten in the air. Right after, more fireworks launched forming the number nine... and so they counted down, with the crowd counting down together with the fireworks, yelling to be heard over the crackle and pop of the explosions.
The countdown reached one and more fireworks launched, of myriad colors and all spiraling in complex patterns until it formed a massive dragon in the sky. The dragon was so huge he looked as though he were holding them and all of the world in his mighty claws as blue fireworks raced and exploded over his scales like lightning.
The roar of the fireworks drowned out people's voices as they all screamed "Happy World Creation Day!" together. Jie couldn't keep the smile off her face as her friends embraced her and even Xue seemed enthralled by the beautiful display in the sky. Utterly unafraid of the noise.
More fireworks followed after the dragon dissipated. Motes of healing flames drifted through the air like a glowing fog as the sky lit up like it was on fire. Xue stared at the motes as they drifted toward the ground, and as some neared him, he batted them out of the air with a paw.
Eventually, the fireworks wound down and the roaring crowd settled.
Jie frowned as a massive dark shape approached in the distance. It looked like a mountain in the sky above.
"We are fortunate, all of us, to have the gift of this world from the mighty Lightning Dragon. Every World Creation Day is a time to be grateful for all the things we've gained over the last year. The friends we've made. The progress in our cultivation and martial skills. But, it's also a time to consider how to move forward and what we want to achieve by the next World Creation Day.
"This is a time for gratitude, renewal, reflection, and rebirth. Some of you have worked incredibly hard and made extraordinary progress. Others have wasted their time here. Now is a time to reflect and to move into this new beginning to become who you want to be," Headmaster Siluvius said as the enormous shape in the sky drew closer and seemed to block out the stars, "And as part of the new beginning... it's time for the Crimson Valley Treasure Hunt!"
The dark shape flickered, and a barrier melted away, allowing moonlight to reach it. The silver light revealed an enormous collection of connected floating islands. Each capable of housing entire cities with room to spare.
The crowd applauded and cheered.
"What's that?" Jie asked Pan Tian.
"That's the Crimson Valley," Pan Tian said.
"That's... a valley?" Jie asked.
"Well, it does have valleys," Pan Tian said a little defensively.
End of book 1.
Continued in Path of the Dragon Book 2...