Echoes of divinity book.., p.6
Echoes of Divinity: Book 13 of Painting the Mists, page 6
Cha Ming moved in to grab the core, but a single arrow snuck past him, striking the core and stealing it away. Damn you and your Snatching Shot skill, Archer, Cha Ming sent.
What’s taking you so long? Archer teased. I’ve already got one core. Aren’t you going to get the other? It was light-hearted banter, and given their tone, one would think they were out on a morning jog. Then again, this was easy.
Too easy, Cha Ming thought.
Suddenly, a prickling sensation ran up the back of his neck, and the stars called out to him. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt a wrongness in the air, along with a tingling in the Crown of the Starry Sky. It was his intuition warning him. He had to act, and fast. Before it was too late.
“Tempest, fill in for me—and fight with your damned cauldron!” Cha Ming shouted. He summoned a platform of earth and metal midair and pushed off it. A second pair of wings erupted from his back as he activated the second stage of Thirty-Six Heavenly Transformations. He burned dragon metals like he’d never burned them before, and time slowed to a crawl as he shot back toward the group of students, using his expanded domain range and the world projection within it to teleport three times consecutively.
Between teleportations, Cha Ming saw the beginnings of a technique. It pushed out of the desert in a straight line toward the unprotected class. There was a second worm, and it was angry. Cha Ming had no time to think. Every second mattered. He threw out a mid-grade talisman called Demonbane’s Mighty Rampart, the only one he owned, along with one of his precious Matter Talismans. Both were mid grade, though they could be considered late grade if you accounted for the Iridescent Aura he’d imbued them with. The cost of both talismans was large, but he couldn’t worry about that. As a wall sprung up, Cha Ming threw out five metallic orbs and a thousand marbles. Each was of a different hue, and each had been carved with intricate runes. He immediately started pouring his vast pools of qi into them.
Many things were happening simultaneously. While Iridescent Tempest joined the others in finishing their onslaught on the first worm, a huge blast of sand smashed into Cha Ming and the orbs. Cha Ming used his domain to defend as best he could, but it was like throwing rocks in a river. Sand came gushing at him and blasted away skin and bones. It wore away at his vitality, but he couldn’t be bothered with the pain it caused him. Only the orbs mattered. They remained steady as he continuously poured a frightening amount of qi into them—almost his entire reserves, eighty percent of his very deep qi pools.
That was when he saw the worm emerging from the sandstorm. It hadn’t been idling either. It had hidden the ultimate surprise inside its technique—its own massive body. The tiny legs lining its rows of plate wriggled forward as though it were crawling through the ground. Its goal was undoubtedly to save its companion, which was on the direct opposite side of the students. It aimed to take the shortest way there.
Of course, it hadn’t counted on such a timely reaction. Demonbane’s Mighty Rampart was erected just in time. The massive wall completely rebuffed the entire sandstorm. Meanwhile, the formation Cha Ming had been pouring his qi into finally activated with him and the sandworm only twenty meters apart. Its roar hit him, and his spiritual sea shuddered; he ignored it in favor of unleashing the work of art he’d been perfecting for the past three years.
Five large shadows appeared before him, completely stilling the sands. The worm froze in the air as though it hit a visible wall. The five shadows descended around the worm as they began regaining their color and form thanks to the orb and the intent Cha Ming poured into them. It was an experimental technique, and it failed as often as it worked, but it was the only thing strong enough in this situation.
“Descent of the Five Sovereigns!” Cha Ming shouted. The five shadows came to life. They were none other than the ancestors of the five great demon clans on the Inkwell Plane, the guardians of this land. The Iridescent Phoenix acted first, unleashing a torchlike projection that filled their surroundings with a blinding iridescent light. Her Dazzling Light of the Weeping Flame burned away all positive emotions and left the worm trembling with fear.
The Runebound Python acted next. It summoned the sands still settling from the worm’s attack and formed a mighty tail. The scorching desert sun combined with Searing Sands of the Sacred Desert as it smashed into the worm.
Next came the Clockwork Dragon. It coiled its shifting body of gears, building up pressure before letting out a broken screech. Dissonant Sound of the Broken Symphony shattered the worm’s defenses just as the Inkwell Turtle swooped in, unleashing Raging Waves of the Inky Sea. Then came the Star-Eye Monkey, who’d been coordinating the battle. Thousands of glowing stars appeared and plunged into the worm’s body, leaving gaping holes where there once was flesh. Water and sand bored into these holes and began eroding away at the worm’s once-mighty body.
This continued for a single second, until Cha Ming could take it no longer. His qi reserves ran out, and his soul could no longer keep up. His wings scattered in the wind as he floated down to the ground, greatly weakened from his efforts.
The sand cleared, revealing a whimpering demon. Cha Ming gathered what little energy he had and summoned his Tri-Sealing Pillars. The Demon-Subduing Pillar floated above the creature’s bare core, and the worm, having been frightened nearly to death by the aura of five emperor-level demons, and having been beaten half to death, meekly accepted the sealing brand.
The remainder of the dust cleared, and Demonbane’s Mighty Rampart crumbled away, revealing a group of students, a pack of subdued demons, and a half-mutilated worm.
Archer, who’d just lit up a cigarette, raised an eyebrow. “I never took you for such a brutal man,” Archer said. He held out his hand. “Take a look, kids. Your kind teacher isn’t just good in the classroom—he can also smash giant worms to bits on his own. Study hard and you can do the same.”
“Right…” Cha Ming said, hobbling over. He was in pretty rough shape. “It looks like you all managed to subdue your targets. Good job. Now let’s go take a look at what they were hiding.”
“I couldn’t find anything,” Silent Ambush said, appearing beside the students. “Neither could Iridescent Tempest or Archer.”
“That’s because you all can’t sense anything underground,” Cha Ming said. “Where else would sandworms be guarding something?” He stomped his foot, sending tremors into the earth, which had been stripped of sand by his attack. The rocky ground shattered, revealing a dark tunnel below. “I’m sure these two worms will tell us where to go as long as we promise to heal them up. Now, who’s up for a little cave exploration?”
The students perked up, and together, they descended into the darkness.
Cha Ming and the other three teachers led the group of twenty students through the caves in a tight formation. After their near-death experience, no one dared take any chances. They left the worms outside to guard the tunnel entrance while Silent Ambush led the way, as per the worms’ directions.
As they walked, the four teachers offered feedback to their students. Silent Ambush and Archer focused on combat and tactics, while Cha Ming and Iridescent Tempest focused on professions.
“Vanished Trace, you froze out there,” Cha Ming said. “Why?”
“I’m not a fighter,” Vanished Trace said, looking down. “I’m just a talisman artist.”
“You’re a member of the Light-Weaving Ghost Hawk Tribe, are you not?” Cha Ming asked. “Your parents are traders between Verdant Crossroads and the city of Ishaar?”
“You are correct, Teacher,” the young man replied.
“One part of the assignment was to test your ability to use runic-sealing arts under pressure, but another was to refine your instincts,” Cha Ming replied. “You are an initiate. It’s in your blood to fight for your clan and your land. Tell me, will you not be returning to your parents after you are done with your training? Would it do to lose your calm if you and your family were attacked by raiders in the desert?”
The young man bowed his head in shame.
“Think on it. There was nothing you could do about the big sandworms, but you can still learn something from your experiences with the smaller ones.”
He then shifted to the next student. “Drezil, you froze again.” Drezil was from the Runebound Python Clan. One strange thing about his clan was that despite being demons, they used no lordly titles, no matter what. “This was not your first time out in the field. In fact, from what I gather, you spent much time in the desert when you were younger.” The man mumbled something under his breath. “What was that?”
“Sloppy,” Drezil said. “Failure. Failed. Stupid formation. I made a mistake.”
Cha Ming sighed. “You’ll always be a little off. It’s not a big deal to make a mistake. Just take it in stride and finish the formation.”
“I don’t think he made a mistake, Teacher,” said Ingriss, one of the Mendin runesmiths said. “His formation was perfect, and then he gave up on it just like that.”
“What do you know?” Drezil snapped. “It’s not my fault standards are so low around here.”
Ingriss’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean ‘around here’? We’re in Mendin, and our standards aren’t any lower than yours. You come from a band of nomads, for Jezeriah’s sake.”
“Peace,” Cha Ming said, and the students quieted. “Ingriss, I think Drezil is just irritated at his own failure. Please forgive his unkind words. That being said, nomadic doesn’t mean savage. Both of you, apologize.”
Drezil bowed his head. “My apologies, Miss Waylen.”
“I as well,” Ingriss said.
“I didn’t mean to offend,” Drezil continued. “It is only… you wouldn’t understand unless you see it. My people are nomads, yes, but we train every day. Even for something simple like a punch or a kick, our elders would have us repeat them ten thousand times at a minimum, eliminating any flaws until we could perform them in our sleep. As for something like formations… well, formations are sacred. They shouldn’t be done unless done properly.”
Cha Ming raised an eyebrow. “So you’re saying I shouldn’t use my imperfect formation arts?”
The young man hesitated.
Cha Ming could almost see the serpentine demon coiling upon himself, ready to lash out in frustration. He might be one for standards, but he was also very respectful, despite the occasional outburst. The relationship between a student and teacher was sacred as well, or so the young man had told him. “Relax. Speak your mind,” Cha Ming said.
Drezil nodded. “Very well. Truth be told, if our high priestess saw your runic arts, she wouldn’t say anything out of politeness. But she wouldn’t praise them either. To her, you would be akin to a child waving about a sword without skill.”
“Drezil!” Ingriss scolded.
The demon shrugged. “It is the truth. Teacher asked for it.”
“Then I would very much like to meet this high priestess of yours,” Cha Ming said. “I am curious as to the difference between our formations and their effectiveness. Remember, Ingriss, that there is always someone better. I am fully aware that I am far from the best.”
Up ahead, the tunnels were converging, transforming into a single larger pathway. They no longer needed to rely on their directions, as the glow up ahead was enough of a hint for everyone. They soon entered an underground cave, complete with a small but valuable inky well. The place was lush with vegetation, but at its center was a clear bright flower that shone with an attractive light.
“Is that a Crystal Sand Flower?” Iridescent Torch asked. “That’s an extremely valuable ingredient.”
“It’s probably the reason the worms were here in the first place,” Cha Ming said. “Monstrous demons can be very territorial when guarding something important to their growth, or so I’ve been told. If we clear this area out, the worms probably won’t come back to threaten the roads after we ransom them.”
“That flower is also worth a considerable sum if traded in to the Adventurers Guild, or the Alchemists Association,” Archer observed.
“It’s in Star-Eye Clan territory,” Silent Ambush said. The two glared at each other, and a miniature storm began to brew between them.
Cha Ming coughed lightly. “We’ve been awarded this mission by the Star-Eye Clan. Gathering up this item is part of resolving this mission. As per the contract, the school will get sixty percent of the value, and the Star-Eye Clan forty. Both we and the students will get contribution points that can be used to purchase this flower or the other herbs growing in the cave.” There were a lot of those growing about. “That being said, I’d appreciate it if you let me have this flower.”
“That’s the best treasure,” Iridescent Tempest protested.
“I’ll purchase it from the school with merit points,” Cha Ming said. “Unless any of you are opposed? We could bid on it.” He knew he could outbid them, and they knew that he knew.
“I have no need of this treasure,” Silent Ambush said.
“I’m no alchemist,” Archer said. “I’m just happy we’re getting a nice fat bonus out of this.” He shook his head. “The demon cores from those worms would be worth a fortune, though. I still say we kill them off and steal them.”
“Ransoming them will still fetch us plenty, and we’d avoid angering the local demon tribes,” Cha Ming said. “There’s no need for infighting. Plenty to go around. Why fight when peace is possible?” It was their school’s maxim, and his own personal motto since coming to this demon city.
“Whatever you say, group leader,” Archer said. “That last attack, though. I didn’t get a good look at it. What do you call it?”
“Descent of the Five Sovereigns,” Cha Ming said. “I’m surprised you didn’t catch a glimpse.”
“I would have if it the attack didn’t involve blinding everyone with all the colors of the rainbow,” Archer said. “Actually, come to think of it, I bet it’s intentional. Smart. You can’t fight what you can’t see coming.”
“Well, Archer, it seems you’ve found yourself a weakness,” Cha Ming said, neither confirming nor denying. “Seems skills aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.”
Iridescent Tempest was most experienced with gathering herbs, so it fell to her to retrieve the flower. She used an ice-jade sickle and stored it in a glass box, making certain that she didn’t touch the flower in the process. The glass itself was far from normal. It was speckled with crystal gold, which immediately drew Drezil’s attention. He watched her like a hawk as she worked, and though Cha Ming asked why, he refused to answer.
They crawled back up to the surface once they finished harvesting. The alchemists had learned much from their impromptu adventure, while the trackers and pathfinders had gotten to experience wandering through underground caves. As for the talisman artists, formation artists, and runesmiths, they spent their time discussing the formations they’d used and how they might go about not wetting themselves the next time a swarm of monstrous demon worms was charging at them. They didn’t manage to find an answer, though Cha Ming could tell from the looks Silent Ambush gave them that he was already planning on a surprise training.
As for Cha Ming, he regretted the whole affair. Was there a need for all this fighting? Three years had gone by so peacefully, only to end in bloodshed. And much more was coming.
He was certain of it.
Chapter 2: Forest of Glass
Returning to Verdant Crossroads didn’t take long at all. They were only a hundred kilometers or so out of the city, and the road they stuck to was well traveled and well guarded, sandworm aggressors excluded. Though they had no transports, and the occasional sandstorm forced them to hunker down, they were cultivators and therefore had no trouble traveling long distances.
Every type of cultivator had their own set of skills. Demons were the most common in this group, and their bodies were the quickest and had the best endurance. Rankers were the second-most common type of cultivator, and movement abilities were hit and miss in this group. Physical classes such as warriors, archers, or the many rogue subclasses were quick, while magic-based classes like mages and rune binders had it very hard. There were also two Daoists in the group, and they were in the same situation as the mages. They used flying weapons to close the gap and keep up with the remainder of the group.
All in all, they were a diverse bunch. One of them was even a demigod from Slovana who had joined their school. Normal schools would have never accepted all of them all, but the Merging Lights Institute of Higher Learning was different. It was operated by the Iridescent Clan, whose duty was to establish relationships and mediate conflicts. In a place like the Mendin republics, only a fool would think that peace was achievable unless humans and demons worked together. Of course, the implementation was tricky, and the actual desire for peace low.
After a full day of travel, their group arrived at Verdant Crossroads. The sight of Cha Ming’s home for the past three years never ceased to amaze him. The city was full of greenery despite the lack of rain in the area and the shortage of inky wells, mostly due to its wood-aligned demonic energy, which curbed the rigors of the nearby Sacred Desert. It was for this reason that Verdant Crossroads was able to remain relatively independent of the Asherall Republic.
“Yep…” Archer said as they drew a bit closer. “It’s a big tree.”
“That’s an understatement,” Cha Ming said. The Tree of Life towered over the rest of the city, casting a large shadow that made the circular assembly of buildings resemble a giant clock. The city was filled with trees and vines and bushes that merged the patchwork of demon-controlled areas and the clusters of glass-and-steel buildings preferred by Mendin natives.
The city was naturally far from ordered. It was a demon city, after all. As such, different types of buildings and construction styles stood in a seemingly random order, and zoning rules were completely nonexistent. This also meant that the city had no wall despite the vicious creatures roaming the lands just outside it. Instead, there was an abrupt shift in aura and environment, which hit them suddenly as they walked. The desert heat faded, and a sense of safety enveloped them. They knew that within this boundary, no monstrous demons would dare attack, and even sandstorms would die out before they reached the outermost buildings.
