Chapter 29 - Steel Armor Basilisk Part 1

"Congratulations. You did well with those people," Meng Ce approved as they returned to their room. "No doubt, many people will seek vengeance against the Blood Vein Sect. However, don’t think such a large ambush, like a landslide, can stop someone at the third stage."

"Yes, master. I underestimated the amount of control an Archon has over his element. He used the lightning to amplify his spirit techniques. It was probably already a thunder technique, but he converted the spirit energy around him into lightning to reinforce the output," Agemo said. "I got rid of the others as planned."

"Yes, you did," Meng Ce agreed. "However, you let him utilize his power. An Archon at the third stage of Spirit Shaman cultivation is not able to manipulate his spirit energy so easily. Like the guy with the flames from the first trial, they likely used forbidden methods to amplify their powers. He displayed way too much power. No doubt he absorbed the life force of his victims to forcibly increase his spirit force—the power of his spirit energy. When you absorb his Practitioner weapon, there might be a change. However, there is always only a chance. That Hyperion sword, the Retribution whatever it was, barely had any effect. His might as the owner was more human. Always be picky when absorbing weapons. Never underestimate a person’s desperation in a fight to the death. He might use a method to increase his power drastically at a cost."

"So there are such methods too. Interesting," Agemo nodded as he recalled the powerful lightning bolt during Balmus's final attack.

"Anyway, I see that you have reached the peak of the Spirit Shaman second stage. In the entire world, you could be considered among the low tiers of geniuses. Now, you must begin the true Archon body training. The Eclipse Indestructible Body has already become one with your skin and the white energy no longer appears, right?" Meng Ce smiled.

"That's true. It didn’t appear to block Balmus's sword, but he still couldn’t cut me," Agemo realized.

"Yes. Although, most people believe regenerative abilities are superior and most geniuses have some methods to increase their regeneration," Meng Ce laughed. "Anyway, what you learned was a breathing technique. It was only meant to protect your body as you began cultivating. Now it is time to learn a real body technique. You will soon walk the true path of a Practitioner. There are seventeen true Archon body techniques. Like I said before, thirteen of them require a spirit reactor. The other four that don’t are nearly impossible to cultivate. Thus, the ancient clans respect and don’t force those disciples to marry into their clans. Take your time choosing among them. Once you reach the third stage, most of the impurities in your body will disappear. The more elements you have, the weaker your elemental manipulation and manifestation abilities become. Those two were purely fire and lightning Practitioners. At least, you will finally be able to fight mages on equal grounds. When you make a breakthrough with the true Archon method, you will also break the bottleneck to the third stage as you set the foundation to become a true Archon."

"Yes, master," Agemo said and laid all seventeen books in front of him.

He pushed the four manuals aside and gave them back to Meng Ce. He had a spirit reactor and would be a fool not to utilize its true benefits besides expanding his spirit energy capacities and spirit force. He opened the first page to look at the brief description and warning. After considering them, he returned all but seven that remained. He thought about the vermillion energy and decided that he should use a method that incorporated more than one energy force inside the body. That left just four techniques.

The first was called [Heaven and Earth Calamity]. Death energy was not meant to be present in the living. One had to kill souls and forcibly absorb all their death energy. The Practitioner would face incredible pain as they used the death energy as a fuel source to enhance their spirit reactor. The reactor combines spirit energy and death energy into one, allowing the Practitioner to ascend from mortal lifespans. This method was popular among the ancient clans as it did not extend lifespan but increased it indefinitely. Time no longer mattered.

"Whoa. No wonder the ancient clans fight the Hyperion so much. They do so to absorb their death energy to become immortal from time. However, I don’t want to reach the third stage through such an inhumane method," Agemo sighed. "I can kill if I have to, but I’d rather not. It might become the only thing I know. The more you kill, the more you become numb to it. Eventually, you become a heartless killing machine. That Balmus guy and the rest of the Blood Vein Sect might have chosen a similar method for their regular Archon body technique. Perhaps he already did as he was at the third stage."

Agemo took out Balmus’s sword from the storage bag. He didn’t take any of the storage bags from the Blood Vein Sect members as he already had enough from the second trial. He laid the sword against Rain Slayer and the sword merged with the blade. Rain Slayer shone, and the cerulean and black blade turned vermillion. Puzzled, Agemo realized the vermillion energy was the source. It made sense, though, as the Practitioner weapon is linked to the owner’s soul. As for the changes caused by Balmus’s sword, there were none. Agemo sighed with disappointment, put Rain Slayer in its sheath, and tossed it onto his bed before returning to the manuals.

He skimmed through the second and third manuals and tossed them aside. One had a more specific requirement for dual spirits, both being weapon spirits. The other required the ability to learn all elements. However, his first spirit was a beast spirit. Thus, even though he knew he had an armor spirit, there were already elements he could not learn due to the influence of the first spirit. It was called [Nature Devil] and was a body technique that utilized all eight elements in harmony. It allowed the Practitioner to transform the spirit reactor into eight smaller reactors in an eight-point octagonal formation with the spirit or spirits at the center.

"I could pick some of the ones I tossed aside, but I would not be able to cultivate both types of energy in my body. The vermillion energy actually devoured the death energy as if it were sustenance. What a violent spirit energy," Agemo sighed as he stared into his soul lake and gazed upon the vermillion spirit energy outline of the fanged beast mask before focusing on the last manual and began reading.

The white leather manual contained the [Titan Creator] body technique. It required the Practitioner to have a spirit reactor. The Practitioner would be able to absorb the actual life force of the planet. Planets and universes are said to have been molded by Creator Gods. The Creator God of their own planet was a Scorpion Titan. As it died, its soul became the core of the planet, its blood became the magma and lava, its tears became the oceans, and its exoskeleton became the land and mountains.

Each of the thirteen true Archon body techniques that require a spirit reactor is inspired by the Creator Gods. However, this technique allows the Practitioner to become one with the world. Upon awakening and forming the true Archon body, a large black tribal tattoo in the shape of a scorpion will appear on the person’s back. It is a Creator tattoo, the tattoo that identifies the true Archon body technique. You, who wish to practice this manual, beware. Your body will form a cocoon and a new body will be born.

"Oh? You picked that technique?" Meng Ce said as he looked at Agemo. "It’s not bad. A tattoo, though. I guess true Archon bodies are different. I studied the [Golden Earth] body technique, the cultivation method used solely by Golden Earth Fiend demons and those of their lineage. Most of our Lu Clan Practitioners use this technique as it is nearly as good as a true Archon body technique."

"Do I practice it now?" Agemo asked.

"No. It is not safe here, seeing as this description says you will form a cocoon. Besides, absorbing the very life force of the planet draws too much attention. We must be in isolation somewhere before you practice it. Among the seventeen true Archon body techniques, that is officially recognized as the fourth strongest. Of course, the Practitioner makes the technique. In the end, you must depend on insights and your own hard work to succeed," Meng Ce said as he collected the other books. "Our journey really did wonders for you. If you truly transform, people would not care if you had horns or wings by then."

"Huh? Why?" Agemo asked.

"There are all kinds of Archon techniques. Some of them cause physical changes. Although, I suspect your changes will be vermillion wings, like those of your necklace and the ones around your spirit reactor. That vermillion energy originates from a divine weapon. It even devoured the death energy in your body. I suppose it is a good thing," Meng Ce shrugged. "When we return, right before you turn thirteen, we must get you into an academy. There are some people who have spirit reactors and live outside the allied nations to the ancient clans. They also go to academies. It would be best to make friends with such people as you both have the potential to be the best among Practitioners."

"Does my dad know I have a spirit reactor?" Agemo asked.

"Yes, I reported it to him after the second trial. He is sure to make various inquiries about which academy to enter. Academies don’t require loyalty upon graduation but contain many opportunities to form connections. Ultimately,

everything is for the glory of the Lu Clan. You can never trust others as much as your own clan," Meng Ce said. "Tomorrow is the last trial. Rest now. Your next step has been decided. Now we just need the rewards, whatever the tournament gives you, and continue our journey."

"Yes, master," Agemo said and put the manual and Rain Slayer in his storage bag before going to sleep.

The next day, Agemo and the remaining participants stood on the stage in the center of the stadium for the first time. All one hundred and five of them looked around and noticed the stadium was full. It was finally time for the final trial. Bakura waved over at Agemo as he and the other recruits of Golden Wyvern Academy appeared.

"Heard anything from Elder Wu?" Agemo asked them.

"No. The guards were more tight-lipped in the bars last night. In the last few years, the final trial was a battle royale. However, I think they are changing the rules of the tournament based on the number of people passing. Seeing as the numbers are too low and the final trial is always the most dangerous, I think the tournament will go from top sixty-four with six rounds to the top eight with three rounds."

"That bad?" Kairi asked.

"The fifth trial is usually more bloody and violent than the tournament itself, unless it is a rather merciless contestant," Karen agreed. "We need to watch our backs. Look at the stadium. They have an elemental barrier up. They never have those up unless magical beasts are involved in the tournament. However, they are usually reserved for higher-level tournaments. I don’t like this. That Spirit Master is toying with our lives."

"Keep it down. We can’t offend the likes of him," Jasper whispered. "Let’s just stay alert and see what comes out of that cage door over there."