Chapter 43: Black Lotus Pagoda Part 2

"Bahamut is about eleven feet tall and twenty feet long," Shu grinned as he fed a piece of meat to the mini-sized dragon. "His flames can burn steel now. It's unfair really. He's already at the seventh stage while I am only in the middle of the fifth stage. Eating magical beast flesh to cultivate is cheating."

Hinako laughed and said, "How about the tiger? You named him yet?"

"I decided to name him Supaiku, for the spikes on his tail. He just started to form him and he's two feet tall and five feet long. So far, he hasn't been able to make himself smaller. I have to leave him in the room because of it, but he doesn't cry if he's alone anymore," Shu sighed. "Have you reached the third level of soul condensation yet?"

"No, I feel like I am at the bottleneck for it. I need some sort of insight. No! Don't tell me," she said as she saw him smirk.

"So, any news about the others? I don't really pay attention to what's going on in the academy," Shu said as he put a piece of meat in his mouth.

"Cassandra has been gathering some of the first years together. She still believes she can make peace with that Weiss guy," Hinako answered.

"Weiss? Who's he?" Shu asked.

"Don't you remember? He's the guy you strangled, threw against the wall, and nocked unconscious when you punched him so hard, he coughed blood," Hinako answered.

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"Oh, that guy," Shu grinned. "So he's still trying to be the first year representative. Geez. How do you know this?"

"I hear some rumors while browsing the library for magical beast research," Hinako answered. "I also met your friends. They said they sat with you during the principal's address before the academic year started."

"Ah, Joey and them. Yeah. So the two factions are still at war? Don't they care about their cultivation anymore?" Shu asked.

"Some people just like positions of power more," Hinako answered. "I heard the professor say you are looking for a new technique to learn. I have to say, the three techniques you already know are way too unfair. Your water spirit technique even evolves as you do. I saw you turn one of the blade waves of water into ice as you slashed with your katana."

"Yeah. Since condensing my soul to the next level, I can freely manipulate water into ice without creating water first. I also have a lot more spirit energy now. It makes me wonder why other people don't condense their souls," Shu grinned.

"Most people don't have the talent. Some people dropped out our class, remember. Now there's only me, you, and the guy at the seventh stage. His name's Brian Walkers. Remember him?" Hinako asked.

"Yeah. He's the guy who said that the senior students often betted on who would win between the fights of the first years," Shu nodded. "Do you know any spirit techniques that have to do with the ice element. Been meaning to learn one."

"The Black Lotus Pagoda should have some. However, you need to withstand the formation's spirit force while you are there. The higher the floor, the more powerful the spirit techniques. However, the best aspect about the pagoda is the formation array actually helps your cultivation due to the immense density of spirit energy there. It is in the basement of the pagoda," Hinako answered. "However, some of the more powerful techniques are forbidden as they can hurt one's cultivation. Some people can't withstand it and actually die while trying to learn the techniques. It has about twenty one stories. The higher you go, the more powerful the technique. However, if it proves too powerful, either you don't get any insight to practice it at all or you die."

"Oh, good. There might be some that could prove interesting. I'll head there then. Come, Bahamut," Shu said as the dragon landed on his head. "Thanks. I'm gonna go find a new technique. See you later."

Shu quickly left the cafeteria and headed to the large pagoda. He froze in his tracks as he spread his spirit senses. He detected over a hundred demons within the pagoda. He knew because their Spirit Pulse was a demonic red, like his. However, thanks to Spook, a part of which used to be the crimson ring, his Spirit Pulse looked golden in color. Shu took out a book on the demonic languages. He didn't want to be found out that he was a demon and had asked for a book from the Overseer in case he met one and wanted to converse with it. He could already talk the languages as he was of the highest tiers of demonic lineages, but the book would serve as a cover.

"What are you doing in human lands?" Shu asked one of the demons that looked like cross between a monkey and a bat eight feet tall.

"You know my language?" the demon gasped. "We were sealed here, by the one you humans call The Black Lotus Immortal. He tamed us and took control of our souls with some kind of ritual. We guard this pagoda until it no longer exists. The only way to be free is if someone tames us. The Black Lotus Immortal has allowed it, but no one survives the pact. The only other way is if a demon of nobility orders us. Their rules are absolute among demon kind. Sadly, they don't exist in the Mortal Realm."

"I have the soul of one in my body. The Snow Emperor Pearl the Great Ancestor gave me!" Shu thought. "To think the demon race had such a thing. No wonder the Great Ancestor was forced to flee. If he gave me one so nonchalantly, he must have killed a lot of them."

"Explain about the demon nobility," Shu ordered, seeing that the demon was forced to answer him due to it being tamed.

"There are many noble, ancient races. However, demon nobility refers to Demon Emperors. I don't know much about the ranking, but every demon knows the top three ranks among demons in the Immortal Realms. The rank of Demon King refers to a demon who owns an entire planet in the Immortal Realms. A Demon Emperor refers to one who rules an entire galaxy. The highest beings are the Demon Gods. Their might is eternal. They literally cannot be defied or hurt by anyone," the demon answered, awe in its voice. "According to demon lore, the Immortal Realms number seven and are as boundless as the universe, as if every planet was absorbed into one eternally big planet. However, a Demon King is nothing as some cities have little populations or have weaker life forms. Humans go by Immortal King, Immortal Emperor, and Immortal Sovereign. Magical Beasts....I don't know."

"Is it possible to visit each realm? What are the differences?" Shu asked.

"The name of the realm usually depicts the environment. It is possible to visit each one, but you have to return to the Mortal Realm first. I heard the way back is so dangerous, you have to at least be a Demon King to succeed. Something about killing the guardians of the Mortal Realm to prove your worth. It is best to be a Demon King. Not one in name, but the actual cultivation. There are many false Demon Kings who claim to be real as they rule a minor city. I hear there is an Immortal Gate. You must be at the Spirit Master tier to enter, but I suggest waiting for the Spirit Sage tier. Going at a lower tier is asking for death," the demon warned.

"I see. Thank you," Shu nodded and entered the pagoda.

"That human had a powerful soul," the demon noted before it became as still as a statue as it returned to its duties to guard the pagoda.

"Whoa," Shu gasped as he entered the pagoda. The very center of the pagoda was completely empty to the top floor which was not empty space. Each floor had two sets of stairs, one on the right and left of the entrance. One stair went to the next floor up while the other was the next floor down. Each floor had eight statues between several long book cases. Each one held the image of a demon. The plaques below described the cultivation stage, race, and assured they would only activate if the pagoda were in danger. Above every stair case was a black sigh with large, gold letters.

Each sign stated, "Fighting is prohibited within the Black Lotus Pagoda. Violating the rule will result in dismemberment and the body will be devoured by the demons guarding the pagoda. No one will be spared."

"Best to behave here. Make sure not to even puff a single ember," Shu warned Bahamut, who nodded as it flew from atop his head to his right coat pocket.

"Whoa! It's Shu!" Joey cried as he appeared behind him with the others Shu met. "Long time no see, man. What class did you take?"

"Essence of Souls: Intermediate Studies. That's it. I spent the rest of my time cultivating in my room," Shu answered and saw a pin with a swan with a gold crown of feathers on its head. "What's with the pin?"

"We joined Cassandra's faction against Weiss. We couldn't handle his bullies ganging up on us when we were divided to go to class," Bella answered. "He's really persistent with his goal."

"You should join," Jiyeon advised. "Weiss's thugs don't mess with first years who wear the pin."

"Did you guys forget? Shu kicked that guy's ass on the first day of school," Joey laughed. "Weiss would make sure he wouldn't bother Shu. He couldn't even strike back or defend himself."

"Did you come here to cultivate in the formation array?" Mary and Max asked in unison.

"He cultivated in his room all this time," Kei answered.

"He probably came here for spirit techniques," Kai agreed after he saw Shu nod.

"I'm fine cultivating in my room. My body technique doesn't suite well with formation arrays. They cut you off from the world," Shu answered as his true Archon body technique cultivated the planet's life force and natural spirit energy.

"Oh. You must have picked one of those abnormal Archon body techniques. That sucks," Geo nodded. "I heard some Practitioners forever stay at the second stage if they can't get their hands on an Archon body technique. Most cultivate what they get their hands on, no matter the price. Good thing I'm a mage. We just absorb the mana from around us and continue increasing our mana capacity until we have enough to cast more powerful spells. That's when we can learn them, if we mastered weaker spells. Right, Daniel?"

"Yup. Some elements cost a lot more mana than others. Of course, wide area spells cost the most. That and summoning magic," Daniel agreed. "Kai, Jiyeon, Geo, and I came here to browse the spells available while the others cultivate. I've been here before. The east and northern parts of the floor are all Practitioner techniques. You should search from there. You saw the signs, right? They're not a lie. Most people came here during the first week. After seeing so many deaths, no one has dared to fight here. Arguments are allowed, but nothing else. No magic, no spirit techniques, or anything else. Only words with no power behind them. Whatever you do, don't let someone's words provoke you into attacking. Some smart people got rid of their enemies that way."

"Thanks for the tip. Later guys. Good luck against Weiss. If you need any help, just look for me," Shu nodded and started walking up to the next floor.

Shu began using his Phantasmal Sky technique, black shadows flowing from his body like strips of aura. Since reaching the third level of soul condensation, he had a better grasp of his techniques. Now he does not leave a trail of shadows behind him when he uses the skill. If he had enemies, they would no longer be able to rely on following the trail to find him. Shu skipped all the way to the twentieth floor as he stood in front of a large statue that barred his path. Several others were also there, two of them being Cassandra and Weiss.

"Why won't this statue move? Dammit, the most powerful techniques, besides the ones in the principal's personal library, are in there. Only staff members or students at the eight stage of Spirit Shaman stage can go in there. Them, and also those mages who can dual-cast two advanced grade magic," Weiss cursed.

"If you went in there, the first year students would be doomed," Cassandra laughed. "No one would be able to stop your tyrannical lust for power. You're lucky the seniors don't try to stop you."

The statue moved as someone appeared from the stairs behind it. It was Brian Walkers, Shu's classmate. Brian was holding a book he found there and nodded at the statue as he waited for it to fully move out of the way. He gazed around the crowd and his eyes widened as he saw Shu. He waved at him and beckoned him to come closer.

"Hey, man. About time you came here. Geez, you should have picked up a few spirit techniques by now. Just relying on three is not good," Brian laughed.

"Three?" the crowd asked as they parted for Shu to pass.

"Fuck, It's him," Weiss cursed and quickly ordered his men out of the way as they saw the God Eater first year.

"That's the guy who stopped our fight and beat up Weiss," Cassandra noted.

"Hey, Brian. Did you reach the third level of soul condensation over the weekend? " Shu grinned as he passed through the crowd.

"Ha! You think I stopped there? I'll have you know, I reached the fourth level," Brian laughed.

"You asked the professor for a tip, didn't you," Shu asked.

"Well....for the fourth, maybe. It's my hard work that did the rest," Brian admitted with a nod as the statue barred the path behind him as he passed the front of the stairs. "Anyway, what are you doing up here? The statue won't let you up."

"Just watch," Shu grinned.

Shu looked at the statue, placed a palm on it, and said, "Awaken and move aside. I am no mere human."

The statue looked at him in surprise as it felt demonic spirit energy enter its body. The statue looked like a giant lion with images of stone fire around each paw, the hair of its tail actually flames instead. The stone covering broke and people covered their eyes as a red lion with an orange mane and green flames around its body roared. Everyone took a step back, in shock, as the former demon statue moved aside to let him pass. They noticed it no longer remained covered in stone.

"Did you speak the demonic language," Brian asked as he noticed the book in his hand. "Did it have some kind of command? Why did the stone break when you poured your spirit energy into it?"

"You're not the only one with secrets," Shu grinned. "Unless you'll tell me how to reach the fourth level?"

"Not happening," Brian smirked. "Okay, mysterious junior. Lucky bastard. You go in during your first year. Took me two years before I met one of the hidden requirements to go to the twenty first floor. However, most techniques might kill you. The rule for that floor states that you cannot go down if you have not grasped the technique. That way, if the technique kills you or injures you, the book or scroll stays there to prevent others from suffering the same fate. Not only that, you don't have to return it, like the other books and scrolls, when you master it. That means only you will know the technique. You and the principal anyway."

"How many techniques did you learn?" Shu asked.

"Three succeeded outright. One put me in a week long coma, but I learned the technique. The last four, besides the scroll in my hand, nearly killed me and weakened me for a few weeks. I'm a walking miracle among the seniors. I even got a nickname: Brian the Undeath. I think its a pun comparing me to a cockroach. Cuz they just don't die. You know, I'll make that my title when I reach the Spirit Sage level. The Undeath Immortal. Pretty sure no Spirit Sage has that title. HAHAHAHAHA!"

Shu chuckled and walked up the stairs. The lion demon bowed its head before sitting in front of the stairs again. Rumors spread around the people and they started talking about the hidden requirements Brian mentioned. Many began leaving the floor to talk with some seniors they knew. Hopefully, one was willing to tell them the details. Only Weiss and Cassandra lingered for a while with a few others at the fourth stage, among them were the other God Eater first year students. One of Weiss's thugs had superb memory and recited Shu's demonic words and poured his spirit energy into the lion. Angered, the lion suddenly pounced on him and bit off his head.

"Anyone hear what he said? Maybe he didn't recite that God Eater's words," one asked.

"No, he had perfect memory. None of us heard his words, but he did. He copied them to the letter. I'll have to bribe some of the seniors for a technique they learned from here. They should have kept the book," Weiss cursed and left the twentieth floor with his men.

"So this is the twenty first floor," Shu sighed with awe as he reached the top of the stairs. There were tons more shelves than the other floors and even the floor with the most books, the second floor. However, each one of them contained vastly superior techniques than the ones on the other floors.