Chapter 5: Beyond Comprehension

"Greetings, ye who have come into the vault. I am the First Immortal. I know not who has arrived in my vault, save that it has to be someone of the Tempered Body cultivation stage. Those who are above and enter my city are killed by the unique formations and traps I created. I only know that four will enter my vault. I have seen it," the voice said, a ghost of amethyst energy appearing before them in the outline of a male human.

"You can foresee it?" Toshio asked, but the ghost-like figure did not respond.

"You foresaw my coming here?" Nathan asked as he suspected it would respond only to him.

"Yes, child who follows my own cultivation method. By now, my methods should be considered obsolete. It is the inevitability for future generations to surpass the elder generations and forge a new path. This ghost before you is but a fragment of my consciousness that I left for my successor. It will only respond to you. Certain areas, your friends or comrades can enter. However, my personal effects can only be used by you, destroyed when you die. I made it so no one would profit from your death if they sought my legacies," the ghost said.

"Sounds fair. Honestly, we already made huge profits and did not expect to even enter the underwater tunnel," Wei nodded.

"So where do they go?" Nathan asked.

"Your friends are to enter the left path. It will lead you to three rooms, each one can only be entered by one person. When you are finished, you simply break the jade talisman on the pedestal in the back of your chosen room. You will appear above the waterfall and never again enter the vault. I do suggest taking everything you see there. Time is slowed here. By the time you, yourself, leave; there should be an hour left for your task. What it is, I do not know," the ghost continued.

"Let's go. Thanks again, Nathan. See you by the riverbank near the waterfall," Toshio said. "I can't believe the First Immortal can see the future. It even knows we have a task. Look, the jade talisman seems to be stuck at an hour and forty minutes.

"Yeah, it is seriously creepy. Well, see you there Nathan," Wei said and Qing waved goodbye before following the others.

"Where do I go?" Nathan asked after they left.

"You will take the right path. You will come across a room full of terracotta warriors. There will be treasures for you there. Minor, but it should serve you well. The ghost will appear once more as you arrive in the room," the ghost said and vanished in thin air.

"Terracotta warriors? I thought those were all destroyed by now," Nathan said and took the right path as he headed further in.

Sure enough, he entered a giant room with the terracotta warriors in numbers which equated to an entire army. In ancient times, ancient to the 21st Century, the Chinese emperors once had tombs with terracotta warriors. They were built as a sort of escort for the emperor into the next life. Various relics and treasures would also be found within such tombs. Nathan scoured the area and found several hundred purple spirit coins, even green spirit coins here and there. There were also many jewelry and weapons there.

"This is the room where I buried my father. He lacked the talent to even reach the seventh layer of the Tempered Body Stage. He died when I was very young. His ashes were in my storage ring for a very long time, finally buried in this imperial casket," the ghost said as it appeared in the center of the room and floated above a golden chariot with a giant casket inside. "I foresaw how you died. You are an elder who once lived many thousands of years before me. I was quite shocked, but I learned to not doubt my visions. They always came true, much to my misery on some occasions. Take what is within."

"His visions could even see the past? How is this possible?" Nathan frowned as he opened the casket. Inside was a tiny pot which held ashes. Next to it was a gold robe with a white fur collar. He noticed an insignia of a black dragon and smiled and bound it before putting it on. He wore it over his shirt and pants and noticed there was also a black sash in case he wanted to close it over his chest.

"I foresaw you wield the gold element. I assumed you wished to make the metal specific element your primary one and foresaw you possess black dragon spirit energy. Should I call you a the future Gold Immortal or Dragon Immortal? That cloak is a Class 7 robe. In my time, they were rare. It has incredible defensive qualities and can repair itself. It also as the special ability to control gravity which I call Gravity Domain. With it, you can attract or push any object within fifteen yards of yourself or manipulate the gravity around the person. I suspect you'll discover its many advantages. The robe is called Gold Serenity because you just seem like a serene noble lord wearing it," the ghost said. "The ultimate move of the robe is the ability to use a practitioner technique I developed by studying death and gold qi.Only a strong physique can endure the spirit energy strain. The ability can be enhanced by imbuing your spirit energy into the cloak. I'd keep that a secret in the event you expose Gravity Domain. Keep the enemy guessing. Now, head to the next room. That is where you truly need to go. Inside the case is also a jade orb. That has the ability to create ten terracotta warriors who are half your cultivation and can never be destroyed with their self-repairing ability. Use it well."

"That is awesome! This First Immortal is truly terrifying beyond belief. Not only will my items be destroyed upon my death, as stated when I first entered, but the effects are jaw-dropping!" Nathan sighed with praise.

He arrived in the final room and noticed only three things in the room besides the jade talisman that would teleport him outside the vault. The ghost floated around the items once before staring at him.

"Finally, we arrive here. I must tell you that I have a total of ten vaults, six others should already be opened by those I foresaw. First, there is this giant egg. Inside this egg is a Class 3 magical beast known as the Jade Hammer Beast, the last of its kind. It is has the body of a giant tiger, but with dark green shark skin with jade stripes. It also has the head of a hammer head shark and gills. It can survive in land or sea. I was responsible for nearly wiping out its species. However, I altered it so it also has the potential to ascend. I can only hope you raise it well," the ghost said sadly.

"I will," Nathan said, feeling sad for what was in the egg before he stored it away.

"The second item is known as the Nascent Soul Fruit. In cultivation, there are several stages. The Tempered Body and Xiantian Stages have nine layers. The third realm is known as Sage Realm or Shengren Stage. At the peak, use this Nascent Soul Fruit to reach the Death Realm or Siwang Stage. The fruit will allow your soul to create a Nascent Soul that will be able to create an immortal body with a higher chance of not dying. The stage after that, you are not ready to learn," the ghost said and Nathan gently put a strange orange coconut with a blue aura glowing around it into his storage ring.

"The final item is that map there," the ghost said. "My consciousness will return into the map and this ghost will tell you about the map once you reach the Shengran Realm. All I can reveal is that the origin of the virus that changed the world, where the virus first spread after the experiments escaped, is there. There is one single word that you need to hear: Atlantis. Your storage ring will  be modified by the map once you store it. In this way, no one will know you have the complete map. My consciousness will tell the others that the complete map is in the tenth vault, two halves in the eighth and ninth vault. It is the truth However, your map does not lead to the room they all desire but a secret room. Do not let others you know of it. Their maps lead to the heart of the palace. Yours leads to the heart of the city. There is a truth you need to know. You're a lucky brat, you know. My lucky number is seven and this vault was predicted to be opened after six others. Good luck."

"I thank the ancestor for all your treasures and your guidance in the future," Nathan said respectfully as he watched the ghost nod before entering the map. Once he bound it, he stored it in his storage ring. He didn't know what Atlantis was and would worry about it later. He broke the jade talisman and dried himself with his spirit energy as he reached the riverbank.

"Fancy robe you got there," Toshio grinned as he and the couple waved at him. "Get anything good?"

"A Class 3 magical beasts said to be the last of its kind. It's alright. This robe has defensive properties and the greatest treasure is a jade orb which creates ten terracotta warriors that cannot be destroyed," Nathan answered, lying as he could not tell anyone the truth as well as the hidden cameras and microphones nearby. "Well, I also got a few hundred purple spirit coins."

"A few hundred? Okay, that and those two items are cool," Wei nodded. "That jade orb, it's like having your own indestructible army squadron. Still, the fact that it creates terracotta warriors suggest the First Immortal really is Chinese or descended from one and a mix."

"Any word on those guys from the Black Wing Mercenaries?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah. Their leader is pretty pissed. He took his henchmen over to fight the three devils. Heard some died while he selfishly desired some amethyst crystals from the guardian that appeared after you closed the door. Least, that's what some guy told me for thirty purple spirit coins. Pretty expensive, but we definitely made huge profits because of you," Toshio laughed. "So, you going to go to the Sky Sage Temple too?"

"I don't do so well with naval warfare and don't want to join the academy or army," Nathan thought and answered. "Yes. Seems to be the only option for me right now."

"It's not so bad. They also hunt magical beasts and devils. It's only a rumor, but people claim that certain members of the Vermilion Phoenix Palace are part devils due to some dark pact and secretly meet with them while they claim they are hunting them outside the city. Course, there's no proof but some merchants believe it is true and they don't care about the welfare of any city so long as they can still trade," Wei said silently.

"What do we do with the remaining hour we got left?" Qing asked as she looked at the jade talisman the soldier gave her before they entered the city.

"We got more than enough purple spirit coins and various items. We got powerful magical weapons and beast eggs. However, I am interested in the crystal formation at the top of the tower. This might be the only time we enter the City of Ancients and I always wanted to see how dangerous devils are," Toshio began when they heard an announcement.

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~ Dun. Dun. Ding~

"This is an announcement from your soldier proctor of the trials, Howard Tin. There is approximately one hour until the third trial is over. There are currently three devils of the Tempered Body seventh layer. They are no longer restricted to the area above the fountain and the central tower in the city. Access into the tower is now possible, but be wary of the three devils. The only safe place from them is the red formation arrays. Unless you wish to fail the third trial, survive their wrath," a voice boomed and the applicants were soon thrown in disarray.

"I never heard about this!" Wei cried.

"How is this possible? Only eight of us are at the sixth layer and devils are superior to humans of the same cultivation on average," Qing whimpered.

"Oh....I almost forgot. This is the fourth trial. It has been dubbed by the five representatives as: The Three Terrors. The first terror is the risk of death by the devils. The second terror is the risk of death from magical beasts still remains. The third terror is the greed from other applicants. Why is that? The grand treasure is that same giant crystal in the center of the formation. There are many, but the no one has succeeded in two hundred years," Howard Tin began. "The giant rainbow crystal orb is none other than a Millennium Stone! There are also three soul stones! Get them while supplies last, recruits."

"M, Mil, Millennium Stone!" almost every applicant cried out, Nathan able to hear many cries of shock in the distance.

"Uh, what are those?" he asked.

"We have got to get them," Toshio began and paused as he heard Nathan. "Eh? You really don't know? Millennium Stones are crystals formed from a dead dragon magical beast after a thousand years. You see, they are more valuable dead than alive, besides their magical cores. Millennium Stones grant the spirit technique of a dragon's breath, enough spirit energy to reach all the way to the Shengran Realm no matter how low the cultivation. The down side is that your cultivation stops at the initial Shengran Stage, but most people never break through the peak of the ninth layer of the Xiantian Realm in their entire lives!"

"Soul Stones are mere trinkets compared to them, only increasing the power of your soul and its defenses. There are many artifacts for that and do not cost much green spirit coins, maybe a few ten thousand purple spirit coins if one is desperate for money," Wei answered. "They reside in your Spirit Realm and increase your cultivation. Of course, there are tons of cultivation methods that are so superior, you don't need soul stones. Nathan, you definitely need it as you cultivate the First Immortal's methods and Qing needs it as mages have higher difficulties in breaking bottlenecks between realms. Kind of like the price for such over-powered techniques."

"You two don't need them?" Nathan asked.

"We don't look like it, but our clans are pretty well off. They just don't reside in Tang City. Our clans lay further south, in Shanghai. It still exists and is the only Chinese city from the 21st Century that hasn't been destroyed and renamed after its reconstruction," Toshio said with pride. "However, the sects there pale in comparison and the army is dominant there. They also established a trade route with the Japanese and only the strong can survive as they suffer assaults from oceanic magical beasts every few months."

"Then let's go. We flee if we see more than one devil," Nathan said.

"I just can't understand why the five organizations made this month's recruiting so different. The devils were never let loose before and a Millennium Stone was never the grand prize. Something must be happening that we're missing. We need to stay together and keep alert," Toshio ordered.

"No arguments there," Wei nodded and the four ran toward the central tower, the tower equal to a fifty story building in height.

When they heard screams, they would take a detour of two blocks and then proceed to the tower. By the time they arrived, they saw bodies sprawled all over the base of the fountain, some even directly below the tower with their blood dying some of the fountain water crimson. However, Qing and Wei had seen the slaughter the four made with the wolves and arrived at the base of the stairs. They could hear fighting and cursing above.

"Looks like only one devil is guarding the four stones. Either we use them as a distraction, or Wei and I do it and run into the crowd. That way, you two can get the stones. Don't go for the Millennium Stone. It'll take too long to carve out of the formation and we don't know what happens when the formation is broken as it is the catalyst for its sustenance. Less people will be inclined to chase you to death and there is less than ten minutes left. Let's do this!" Toshio said and the four bumped fists before proceeding up the stairs.

"Did I mention how much I hate stairs?" Wei said as they started up the fifty flight climb. However, their speed was quick and they easily reached the twentieth set of stairs in less than one minute seconds.

"Qing, stay in front of me. As I run for the stones, I'll use my Art of Lightning Star and dash for the stones. You use your fire ball spell to make the distraction and use the explosion to block their vision between them and the stones," Nathan said.

"Right," Qing said and ran around him, Toshio nodding in agreement.

"Wei! The stones at your ten o'clock!" Toshio said as he reached the top of the stairs, Wei jumping up and shooting at the ordered direction. A boy cried as his arm was pierced by Wei's arrow and the ground trembled as Qing used her fire ball spell. Blue sparks crackled around Nathan as he ran to the right of the explosion, grabbing two red spheres with red auras and runes swirling around a glowing white core. He put one in his storage ring and pocketed another as urged his body back to Mei before the explosion cleared; crashing into the side of the door.

"Take it," Nathan whispered and Mei stored the soul stone in her storage bag behind her back.

"What the fuck was---you!" a big boy roared as he saw Nathan.

"Ah, crap. They're still alive. I thought they were toast with the other two devils gone," Wei cursed as four more people turned towards them as ten others fought the devil. It appeared like an adolescent human but had bull horns that had orange and red scales near the tip, the horns on fire. It had bigger scales on its arms and legs, a muscular physique, crimson eyes of a lizard, and had bright orange hair that fell to its waist.

"Get him!" the big boy roared and the four boys in scarlet robes ran toward Nathan with their swords and axes drawn.

"Stay near the stairs!" Toshio screamed as he stabbed the ground with Frost Fang. The cement floor instantly turned into ice, shattering half the floor as the four boys drew near. They screamed as they fell and sickening crunches resounded a few seconds later.

"You bastard!" the boy screamed as he and his men were entirely cut off from the stairs, the devil at his back.

"Later loser!" Wei laughed as her dashed down the stairs with Qing, leaving the big boy, his three henchmen of the sixth layer, and the rest of his cronies with the devil.

"What are you waiting for? You're not going to do something stupid, are you? We got about five minutes left!" Toshio asked, seeing Nathan draw Death Repulse.

"Can you knock that Millenium Stone out of the socket?" he asked. "Those guys' timers on their talismans should have already expired and there's still a third soul stone."

"Yeah. With my sword, the lodged stone can't resist despite my weak cultivation....Oh," Toshio realized and grinned as he yelled to Wei and Qing. "Hey, we're going to raise hell up here. Just wait for your timers and break the jade talismans to get the fuck out of this city!"

"I have to grab it!" the big boy screamed as he raced to the soul stone, his jade talisman's time already expired. He already passed but he needed the stones and saw two soul stones missing. "What? There were three soul stones!"

"I'll get the brute!" Nathan yelled, the muscular and slightly chubby giant and started turning back his head as he heard Nathan.

He turned back his shoulder to see Nathan already jump across the gap on the floor by utilizing his increased speed and enhanced strength. The big boy frowned as black flames covered Death Repulse, chilling death qi from the sword making shivers run down his spine. His eyes widened as Nathan appeared in front of him all of a sudden, forced to block with his two-handed sword.

"Dragon Star Scream," Nathan said coldly and his sword slashed at the boy, the sword creating cracks and burned the giant sword of the bigger boy. Nathan followed with a sweep kick as the bigger boy was knocked off balance by the attack.

The bigger boy started to fall after the kick connected and Nathan secretly experimented with his Gravity Domain and pushed the boy away as his did a spinning right upper cut while recovering from the sweep kick. The big boy's ribs cracked as he smashed into the ceiling, cracking it before falling to the ground.

Toshio arrived on the other side as well and ran toward the soul stone while Nathan first attacked the boy. He glanced once, seeing the bigger boy smashed into the ceiling, before grabbing the remaining soul stone and putting it in his storage ring. He did a running start and smashed the Millennium Stone, nearly knocking it out of the socket to the other side.

"You grab it! I want a different souvenir!" Nathan shouted, as he stared at the devil as it fought the henchmen, a familiar face staying back to recover from a burn. Nathan threw a sword of gold qi made from the talisman and it pierced the boy's back.

"Ugh--!" the boy coughed blood and could not scream as Nathan appeared behind him and covered his mouth.

"Never piss off the enemy general. That only gets you killed," Nathan said as he rammed his left hand into the hole in the boy's back, the boy's scream muffled by his right hand as a gold qi sword protruded from his chest as it appeared in his left hand. The others did not see a thing as they were preoccupied staying alive while Nathan tossed the dead boy down the hole in the floor.

He noticed a crack on the devil's left horn, below the scales, and lowered into a stance. He used the Art of Lightning Stars to blitz and ram past four boys in his path as he raised Death Repulse high. The devil had its back turned to him as the boy and girl of the sixth layer attempted a flank attack with the four boys. It howled in pain and rage as Nathan chopped its horn off. He quickly grabbed the horn and admired the scales, fire still burning at its tips as he was still in a run.

"Devils do exist. Now I got proof. Fancy that," Nathan said as he held a jade talisman in his hands, the timer already at zero. He grinned and crushed the jade talisman right before the devil almost smashed his face in with its fist, the fire around it warming his face before he vanished in a flash of jade light.

He crashed onto the platform as he appeared out of thin air there. He returned Death Repulse into its sheath and Toshio stared at him, eyes widening as he saw the devil horn in his hand.

"You did all that to beat up the boy and get the devil's horn?" Toshio asked incredulously as Wei and Qing greeted them.

"Well, you got the Millennium Stone. Bet it's worth a fortune. Besides, it's that brute's fault I can't get into the sect in the first place. He said he was the patriarch's nephew, right? I failed my mother's dream. I got nothing left to lose," Nathan shrugged and the five representatives and Howard Tin stared at the four, obviously impressed by what they accomplished.