Chapter 217: The Tomb

He nearly tumbled straight into the pool when a voice spoke from directly behind him.

“Curious little thing, aren’t you?”

Yang immediately rose to his feet and spun around, Senior Brother Fan Xiao’s talisman clutched already in his hand, ready to be used as he took in the being that spoke to him.

It was a being made of complete white light. Same as the light that was pouring through the gaps of the gate he had entered through. The contours of its forms were distinctly masculine, so Yang assumed the being was male or at least preferred the male form. 

The voice that had spoken also sounded deeper in tone. It also echoed strangely, like it was coming from both very close and impossibly far away. 

“Forgive me,” Yang said as he offered a slight bow of head. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“Didn’t you?” The voice mused. “You did, after all, continuously make decisions to reach this tomb, never once turning back or even hesitating.”

Tomb?

He was in a tomb?

Yang stood silent as his mind raced. He was in a tomb and had been under observation while unaware. The question was for how long?

Were they under observation as soon as they entered the secret realm? The connected world? The temple?

“You need not struggle to fabricate an answer for me.” The voice continued indifferently as if speaking of the weather. “I am well aware of all that goes down in this broken realm.” 

Yang remained quiet as he stood still, taking in the full weight of the attention of the being. The figure had not moved once since appearing. Yang had a feeling that it was studying him intently even though all he could see was the shape of a body with no distinguishable feature.

“Introduce yourself,” came the order.

Yang immediately obeyed, recognizing the command for what it was, hoping compliance would help get him out of this safely. 

“I am Chen Yang. Thirteenth disciple of Hua Yong, Peak Master of the Soaring Cloud Peak of the White Cloud Sect.”

“White Cloud Sect?” For the first time, the voice turned curious from the indifferent tone it had kept so far in their interactions. “It had indeed been long since I last heard that name.”

Yang's eyes widened in curiosity. “Senior, you know of White Cloud Sect?” He couldn’t help but blurt out the question. After all, they were standing in another world. WasWhite Cloud Sect franchised across multiple realms? He couldn't help but imagine the absurd image of a golden arch and a red clown.

“It must be an ancient sect by now.” The voice contemplated. “I never anticipated it to endure this long.”

“White Cloud Sect is an honorable and powerful sect,” Yang said with a note of pride and displeasure creeping into his tone. “The elders and Sect Masters have worked tirelessly to ensure that it remains so.”

“Have they?” He felt the amusement in the voice. “No need to take offence, Young Daoist. I meant no disrespect to your sect.”

“Tell me what has brought disciples of your sect to Qiarnan.”

“Qiarnan?” Yang repeated the strange word.

“This remnant world you're standing upon was once called Qiarnan.” The voice explained. “Before we destroyed it.”

Yang felt the hair on his arm rise. “You destroyed this world, Senior?” but he kept his tone even as he felt chilled at realizing what this being was capable of.

“Don't be frightened. I had some help.” Was the being trying to reassure him?

Yang waited for him to elaborate further before he realized that the being was waiting for him to answer his initial question.

“My honorable sect discovered a secret realm, Senior. This world remnant is connected to it. The White Cloud Sect has been mapping out the secret realm.” Yang answered truthfully.

He didn't receive any answer as the person seemed to be lost in thought. Yang felt the intensity of its gaze leave his form, allowing him to relax and finally realize how much the attention had been straining him.

Suddenly, before Yang even had a chance to use his talisman, the being was in front of his face, barely an inch away from touching him. 

“And what about the little remnant in you?” He felt the voice echo in his head as if it was Yang speaking to himself.

Yang took a step back in shock to put some space between them. 

“Careful, young Daoist.” The being warned. “Those waters are far more powerful than you. If you were to touch it, I doubt anything would be left of your soul apart from that little carry-along you have brought in with you.”

Yang immediately halted his backtracking and stood frozen in front of the being of white light that was right in his face. No one should have been able to see the bead, not after the concealment, he thought as he looked at the ring on his hand.

He saw the being bent slightly so that what would have been his face was closer to Yang as he quietly said. “Bear with it,” and placed his hand on Yang’s forehead. 

Yang felt a warmth infuse him as all his memories rushed through his mind in an instant. As the being went through his memories, Yang realized with horror that the being was specifically sifting through for memories in relation to the bead. Before he could even muster an ounce of effort to fight off the assault, the being took his hand off his forehead and took a step back.

Yang panted, his breathing coming out in ragged gasps, feeling raw and exposed. Cold sweat drenched his back as he warily eyed the being.

“I am relieved to know it's not as I suspected.” The being said calmly.

Yang, who was breathing hard after the short but intense mental onslaught he had just gone through, couldn't help but ask. “What did you suspect?”

The being answered the question Yang had thought about before rather than the one he had voiced just now. “I am too strong for your ring to be an obstacle for me, but your Master was right; it will serve you well enough in your world.”

Yang blinked as he processed the implication. 

The entity drifted toward the edge of the sunken pool, standing beside Yang. Yang turned slowly; his gaze went down toward the churning liquid below.

“Do you know the reason for this pool of water?” The being asked him, making Yang shake his head.

“It's a cultivator.” That being said simply. “Far more powerful than your imagination is yet capable of comprehending.”

“There is a cultivator trapped under?” Yang asked.

“There is a part of a cultivator.” The being corrected.

“A part?” Yang repeated, unsettled.

“Indeed. Some beings are too powerful to be bound intact.”

“Why not just kill him instead?” Yang wondered aloud. After all he was now realizing that  the whole mountain fort was likely built to restrain this person, though personally he thought their security system left much to be desired.

“Not all beings can be slain. Some grow into such power that they can only ever be restrained and never destroyed.”

“What did he do?" Yang asked uneasily, eyeing the dark, heavy liquid as it rolled against the edges of the pit.

“Many disagreed with his cultivation path and hence sought to cut him off from it.” The being explained.

At Yang's silence, he was asked. “You disagree?”

Yang honestly answered. “I can’t agree or disagree until I know the nature of his path.”

“You must have gleaned an impression of it while enjoying the wonders of Qiarnan.” The being said with a hint of dark amusement.

Yang's mind immediately flashed back to the creature in blood soaked chamber and then the statue. “He practiced a path centered on sacrifice?”

“Nothing so simple. But it was an aspect of it. A minor one.” The being admitted.

“Then I do believe I would agree with the imprisonment,” Yang said firmly.

"Yet something else bothers you," the being observed, picking up on Yang's lingering hesitation.

“Isn’t the security a bit lacking? If the person was so powerful that he had to be hacked into pieces and sunk under a pool of soul destroying waters. After all, I was practically led to this place.” Yang exclaimed. He was a bit emotional. After going through those two chambers he wished the bastard rotted in pieces under water even longer.

“Do you see anyone else inside or outside the fortress?” The being asked softly.

“What do you mean?” Yang asked cautiously, taking a step back as some realization slowly came to him.

Yang could feel the smile in the being’s voice as he answered. “Surely you've realized that only you were able to enter because I allowed it to be so.”

Sorry for the delay in the update. I got busy taking care of a stray with delivery issues. Had to get her surgery and then arrange another place to hospitalize her and her babies since the original vets closed shop and left the animals alone for over ten hours.

Next update on Monday. I've just finished vol 3 on patreon and will not be posting here until I post the next chapter there.

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