PtM 18 - Chapter 34: The Gallery

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Unlike Serrendil and Silver Fish, there were no medicines that could help Cha Ming recover. He could only mobilize Clearmist energy to fix the major gaps in his inner world before turning his attention to other means of increasing his strength.

Let’s hope I’m right, thought Cha Ming before hitting the old suit of armor he’d obtained from Elder Yang with a single palm strike. The suit of armor shattered, revealing sixteen fragments made from extraordinarily tough materials.

Cha Ming then performed a series of tests on the fragments. He tried striking them physically and burning them and attacking them with his various paintings. In the end, he concluded that only Erasure stood a chance at harming the fragments.

Other people had thought the suit of armor was the precious item, but in Cha Ming’s opinion, the one who crafted the armor was wasting heavenly materials. It was an old suit, but it hadn’t been damaged by any specific attack—it was the sixteen fragments that were responsible for this, as their power was too great for the saint armor to bear.

Each of the sixteen fragments was inky black and were covered in precious runes that couldn’t be seen by the naked eye. The runes were worn and faded, and only a small portion of their might remained. Cha Ming was sure that once upon a time, they’d been immortal-rank runes.

“Let’s hope this works,” Cha Ming muttered. “Titan Thunderfist, I’ll be relying on you once again.” The Titan Clan’s Patriarch and his clansmen were currently living on the Flamewing Demiplane.

“It’s me who should be thank you,” said Titan Thunderfist. “I’ve always wanted to try my hand at crafting worlds, and you’ve finally given me the opportunity.” He took the Sky Forge Hammer and infused it with a portion of his blood. A starry skyscape appeared overhead. “Lend me your cauldron and your flames, and whatever energy you can spare.”

Cha Ming summoned the Star Void Cauldron and the Heartforge Spirit Flames and began to heat up the fragments as per Titan Thunderfist’s instructions. The temperature was far from sufficient to melt these materials, but it made the remnant will and laws inside the fragments malleable and susceptible to change and transformation.

It took a day to heat the materials sufficiently, after which Titan Thunderfist struck down with the Sky Forge Hammer. Sparks and dust flew off the fragments as they slowly shed away their impurities.

Soon, only the core runes remained, along with a trace of immortal energy. Titan Thunderfist continued to pound on them for a day until they began to glow with a faint light as the runes were partially restored. Titan Thunderfist wasn’t just refining these materials, he was breathing life into them as well.

At the beginning of the third day, Titan Thunderfist ceased working and summoned the sixteen rune fragments. They glowed with an inky-blue light and were each around the size of his thumb.

“These fragments aren’t simple at all,” he said to Cha Ming. “I wasn’t sure when I started, but I can now confirm that these are the shell fragments of a demon emperor. Specifically, they are fragments of the Inkwell Ancestor’s shell. Are you sure you want to use them as construction materials for your inner world?”

“I’m sure,” Cha Ming confirmed. “There are risks to this approach, but in my opinion, the benefits outweigh them.”

“If you’re sure, then I’ll help you,” said Titan Thunderfist. He moved on to the first step in the process: forging the framework. He connected the sixteen fragments with supplementary demiplane materials and started hammering once again.

The titan’s hammer blows were softer than in the initial refinement. These laws were troublesome and required careful coaxing to fall into place.

He worked for nearly a day before the runes finally showed signs of coming together.

“It’s time!” shouted Thunderfist.

Cha Ming threw out his final source core, the Core of Recombinant Splitting, and fused it with the incomplete framework.

What remained was a lustrous misty blue sphere that pulled together the water-based demiplane materials around it while simultaneously splitting them apart. It was a core that govern crashing waves and nautical storms.

Unfortunately, it couldn’t quite assemble the materials it gathered into a proper demiplane, and even showed signs of destabilizing. Cha Ming had to draw upon the four other demiplanes in his inner world to make up for its deficiencies.

“I wouldn’t recommend fusing your regalia core with it yet,” said Titan Thunderfist. “You’ll need to slowly build up planar materials and nurture them until the core develops a will. Only with a will can it become a true world. Or so my world-forging instincts tell me.”

“Thank you for your hard work,” Cha Ming said. “How long has it been in the outside world? Three days?” He could sense Elder Yang’s presence in the outside world. “I’ll be off. Let me know if any issues pop up.”

“Don’t worry about this fledgling world,” said Titan Thunderfist. “I’ll do what I can to grow and stabilize it, and so will my clansmen.”

Cha Ming took one final look at his wounded but recovering inner world before returning to the Inky Sea Emporium.

***

Silver Fish and Serrendil had emerged from seclusion before Cha Ming. Judging by the silver and red striations on his tattoos, Cha Ming guessed that Silver Fish had broken through to the saint realm by fusing the kraken bloodline with his original silver koi bloodline. As for Serrendil, her cultivation as a first-level saint had stabilized, and her demon armor and weapons were now fully restored and had already undergone a round of Clockwork Reforging.

“If the three of you are ready, it’s time to head out.”

Powerful spatial laws enveloped their group and teleported them outside the Inky Sea Emporium. Elder Yang was floating above the emporium with arms crossed behind his back. His appearance was carefree and leisurely, but his posture betrayed a hint of concern.

They flew above the streets of Tyrant’s Rest, bypassing normal traffic thanks to Elder Yang’s monstrous authority. No one dared stop or impede them, though Cha Ming noted a few equally powerful monsters monitoring their progress and following them from a distance.

“So they’ve chosen a less-aggressive approach,” Elder Yang muttered. “Oh well. And here I was hoping to take down a few of the more hated elders with me.”

“Will everything be all right?” Cha Ming asked.

“They will be if you three can relax and refrain from giving in to their provocations,” said Elder Yang. “It’s unlikely that only the three of you will be able to enter the Gallery this time around.”

They soon arrived at a building that towered over all others in the city. Its walls were blue, and black runes swam across its surface like aquatic animals. The only entrance to the place was a pair of golden double doors on the ground level. These doors were currently sealed.

Elder Yang set them down on the ground before calling out in a loud voice, “Why play this game, brothers and sisters? We’re all members of the same sect. If you have a matter you wish to discuss, just be straightforward about it.”

Six inky-black clouds flew out, each one revealing a cultivator as powerful as Elder Yang. Like Elder Yang, these cultivators were elders of the Inky Sea Sect.

A group of cultivators emerged. A wiry old woman with a wrinkled face and a head of white hair was at their head, a snake demon coiled around her arm. Its aura was as powerful as Elder Yang’s three-eyed crow.

“Ah, so it’s Elder Wei,” Elder Yang greeted. “I see many elders have gathered behind you. Is there a matter that I can assist you with?”

Elder Wei smiled with her mouth but not her eyes. “That depends on what your intentions are, Elder Yang. The Gallery is a restricted area and is sealed to all but the West Sea Daoist and the West Sea Witch.”

“Stop pretending this is all a big surprise to you,” said Elder Yang. “It is as you think. I’ve brought these youngsters recommended by Daoist West Sea to enter the Gallery. This is all according to the West Sea Guardian’s intentions.”

“And under whose authority will they be entering, exactly?” asked Elder Wei. “I don’t see the West Sea Guardian around, and the West Sea Witch has entered closed-door seclusion.”

“Like I said, stop pretending,” said Elder Yang. “It’s no secret that Daoist West Sea left me his seal. Otherwise, there would have been no point in the six of you obstructing me in the first place.” He took out a black jade tile. Only a single sky-blue character could be seen on its surface—the character for “west.”

The jade tile flew out toward the sealed entrance to the Gallery. It floated to a small slot on the boundary and was about to enter it when another jade flew out and obstructed it. It was the same inky-black color as the other but bore the sky-blue character for “sea.”

“We should calmly discuss this matter instead of rushing things,” said Elder Wei. “The Gallery’s inheritance is of concern to the entire sect, and the council of elders won’t allow just anyone to enter these sacred halls.”

“There are thirteen elders in the sect,” said Elder Yang. “Seven are required to unseal the elder’s authority jade. Why don’t you tell me who crossed over? I’m not sure what you promised them, but I’m certain it’s nothing a firm beating can’t change.”

“Two members of the council abstained from voting when we alerted them of a frightening fact,” Elder Wei said. She pointed behind Elder Yang to Silver Fish. “You dare bring a member of the Inkwell Clan into this sacred city? Worse, you wish to grant him entry into the Gallery. Have you gone mad?”

Things were not moving in a good direction, so Cha Ming inquired with Elder Yang about the situation.

Don’t worry, Elder Yang sent back. They’re just scrambling for benefits. At most, you’ll have a bit of competition.

“The council of elders has long known about the existence of Silver Fish and his true nature,” said Elder Yang. “He is a half demon with a grafted Inkwell Clan bloodline. Furthermore, it was personally sealed by Daoist West Sea and has further been weakened via the silver koi and kraken bloodlines. Besides, isn’t it ironic that you’re criticizing his bloodline? Everyone knows that the West Sea Witch is a half-descendant of the Inkwell Clan.”

Elder Wei did not seem bothered by his words. “The West Sea Witch is an excellent example. There’s a reason she recused herself from council matters and sealed herself inside the Gallery.”

“So you admit that the will of the world’s influence is reduced inside the Gallery,” Elder Yang shot back. “Silver Fish will be fine inside, and if that is your only objection, then you can go back.”

Elder Wei’s smile faded a bit. “I’m aware that all this is a matter of debate. Why don’t we discuss the topic at length? It should only take a few months to negotiate the specifics. I guarantee we’ll be able to come up with an appropriate solution.”

“Just get to the point,” Elder Yang said. “I don’t have all day. Under what circumstances will you allow me to unseal the Gallery today?”

“I’m just concerned with the inheritance of the West Sea Guardian, that’s all,” said Elder Wei. “Daoist West Sea has been absent for quite some time. While he did vouch for two of these three individuals, the council of elders believes that he may have lost his touch. Why not allow other members of the younger generation to try their hand at the Gallery’s trials?”

“There is as precedent,” said Elder Bai from beside her. He wore the same black elder’s robes but bore a white sword at his side. His demon companion was a deceptively small mouse, which was currently gnawing on the broken half of a saint weapon, eating it away, piece by piece. “As you may well remember, it was with the West Sea Witch’s blessing and the council of elders’ support that the Gallery was opened all those years ago. Elder Ling prevailed over his contemporaries to claim the mantle of West Sea Guardian from his predecessor.”

“So the dog speaks up,” Elder Yang said. “Though I admire dogs that bark over dogs that cower, a dog is still a dog. And what about the rest of you? Have you all lost your backbone? Or is that you know you’re no match for this old man and can only find shelter behind this half-dead snake?”

It was obvious from the reaction of the multiple elders that Elder Yang could not be underestimated. His aura alone put great pressure on them, and it was only with Elder Wei’s support that they could continue standing tall.

“Stop bullying junior elders, Elder Yang,” said Elder Wei. “Elder Bai is right. There is precedent, and we are willing to cooperate with you and allow entry for these three juniors if you’ll compromise with us on a few things.”

“What do you propose?” asked Elder Yang.

“I propose a fair competition,” said Elder Wei. “Have them enter with the five hundred strongest core and elite disciples. Only then can we rest assured that the West Sea Guardian’s inheritance isn’t wasted.”

“Yes, why don’t I send these three into a den of lions?” Elder Yang said. “Personal disciples only,” he countered.

“Only seven elders currently have a personal disciple,” said Elder Wei. “Surely you have a bit more faith in Daoist West Sea’s picks?”

Elder Yang gritted his teeth. “Fine. Include the core disciples. But only fifty at most.”

“I can’t go any lower than a hundred,” Elder Wei said. “Otherwise, we’ll have to fall back on a more violent approach to resolving this conflict.”

Elder Yang grunted. “Fine. Choose ninety-seven, and the remaining three will make it a hundred. I’ll give you a day to chose them.”

“That won’t be necessary,” said Elder Wei.

As she spoke, ninety-seven powerful cultivators appeared behind the elders. They clapped their hands and bowed in unison.

“We greet the elders!” the group shouted. Their joint presence caused the air to ripple and shake.

They’re all first-level saints, Serrendil sent to Cha Ming. Moreover, they aren’t ordinary saints. Seven of them are powerful to the extent that even I feel threatened.

Isn’t this a bit much? Cha Ming replied. When I was in Mendin, I only encountered two saint-level rankers.

There are others in Mendin, but it has always been the weaker continent, said Silver Fish. According to Elder Ling, the Paper Tiger’s Eightfold Curse weakened the entire continent. Conversely, the Central Inkwell Sea is where most of the power on this plane is concentrated. Each branch of the Inky Sea Sect is located near a rich leyline that provides the best growth conditions the plane has to offer.

Cha Ming inspected each of his opponents and confirmed their findings. He was confident in facing off against most of them individually. But as a group? Impossible. Moreover, more than half of them had demon companions that were only slightly weaker in comparison.

But it was the seven personal disciples that worried Cha Ming. Even in his unwounded state, he wasn’t confident at all in being able to defeat them.

“Since it’s decided, let’s not waste any more time,” said Elder Yang. He formed a few dozen hand seals, then sent a portion of his saintly will into the token at the entrance. “By the authority of the West Sea Guardian, I command thee: open!”

“By the authority of the council of elders, I command thee: open!” Elder Wei echoed.

Both jades glowed with a faint blue light. An invisible lock turned, and the barrier faded. The golden doors to the Gallery opened wide.

“You all have a month to pursue good fortune inside the Gallery,” said Elder Yang. “How far you go, and whether or not you can inherit the West Sea Guardian’s mantle, is up to fate.”

“I wish all of you disciples the best,” said Elder Wei. “Go forth and make us proud.”

Cha Ming, Serrendil, and Silver Fish joined the ninety-seven other Daoist cultivators and flew through the Gallery’s entrance.