Chapter 166: Achieved desires [end of the 3rd arc]

Allan felt his body a bit more, so he moved straight, sitting on the ground with his legs crossed. Only a single layer of cloth was over his lower body, which was still making the ground quite unpleasant, but he didn't care for that. The small sections of the grass, hiding around the rocky ground, went around the rocky stones which shoved into his butt cheeks.

Sarey long ago took off his robe-like shirt and began proper care of the bloody wound. She discovered them darker, and scorched – an aftereffect from soul fire, as she recalled. Revealed wounds were thus sanitized, so she used some medicine paste and long stretches of bandages to cover his neck, shoulders, and pretty much his whole body. He had bruises all over him from taking those barriers straight on, and his hands weren't looking that great as well.

Sarey tried her best to be patient with him, and Allan figured that he indeed made things worse, for some reason. Why? He kind of tanked the damage, during that Soul Fire was giving him the right advantage, even though he didn't believe in it unconditionally. After all, he had some confidence in himself, while the damage from Tenma came at a terrible timing of his own mistake. A mistake that almost killed him, that is.

At this time, 36 figured it was the right time to start talking.

“What happened to you inside, kid? Was it as hard as you look?” he asked as his vision traveled around his face, to his wounds, and ended on the rocks beside him. There laid three medium-sized scrolls, and a single larger one resting on the bloodied clothes. 36 was curious about the accomplished rewards that Allan chose, but he didn't know how it went. He could not help but marvel at these facts or possibilities, or what even happened to get those scrolls. It was clear to him. Those were the marital art manuals or cultivating techniques. How good? He didn't know, but only scrolls of such appearance held these kinds of things.

Allan grimaced from Sarey's care of his wounds. She wasn't gentle, and the wounds were deep, hitting him with sharper pain with her every touch.

“It… It seemed fine. Just some minor inconvenience, as I recall. It's called a close call of The Underworld or something like that? Heheheh.” Allan joked, feeling the pain to reduce, or his mind joked so he wouldn't feel like shit. It was much worse than he thought, while he didn't feel the effects of the Sparkling at all.

He managed everything that he could in the Diary, but then… what he did do to achieve what? Almost dying, he was, and now, he felt like he went through 20 hours of harsh climbing, combined with going against the raging rivers, and trees hitting his head.

“Want another slap, Allan?” Sarey commented, tightening the bandages around some bruisers he had around his ribs. Allan almost cursed and stopped laughing.

Sarey had never seen such a deep wound on his neck, which worried her. The disappearance of that claw was also unexpected, and it went back to the body, which could mean internal problems, or so she thought. 3 wounds were much deeper to be an arrow shot, and they didn't close fully from the soul fire, making it apparent that this was as 36 said. An Immortal attacked Allan, or something with energy did.

“C-calm down, please.” Allan tried to haggle out of the issue, feeling pained, but alive, so he wasn't overly terrible. “The wounds aren't good. I get it, but they aren't life-threatening. Also!” he shouted, forcing his hoarse, pained, and hesitant voice to point out the obvious. “I've got everything that we wanted!”

His proclamation was met with silence.

“You… you don't want to hear what I got?” Allan asked.

“I do… I was worried about you more than some scrolls, idiot.” Sarey said, patting his chest. “It's how I feel, so what do you get? 36 is also curious, while my treatment is over. At least… what I could've achieved, right 36?”

“Right. Right. This will do since I will move on to other things. Now, what have you got?! Tell. Tell!”

“There are those things. 3 scrolls of some Martial Arts, and one big one I found for Sarey. There was 2 choice for the rewards, so I took what I wanted, while the other things didn't seem to matter all that much. It's somewhere… Was it? I had it with me, so I hope it didn't get lost in the space like my spear and glaive.” Allan said hoping to get some clarification if he was right or not.

“It's here, so don't worry,” Sarey said, calming down his worry, and hoping to see that nothing worse will come. “Also, your spear and glaive fell from the portal after you went inside.”

“Oh. It didn't get lost. I am glad, so… what about the scrolls? I had also a few other things with me other than that. My knives and some pouch too. Are they somewhere?”

Sarey shrugged her arms, not knowing everything since she worked fast, so she didn't notice the pouch and a pierced heart with a knife inside of it. Allan had them in his pocket, so it wasn't surprising she didn't see them.

Although, Sarey only took the scrolls to her hands, picking up to see what it was. Flipping and rustling paper noises traveled to Allan's years, so he picked his 3 scrolls from Sarey's hands, shoving them to 36.

“Those are mine! Phenix Glai….” as he did shove it up, Allan shook and fell unconscious to his back. He was gone in a mere moment, which wasn't surprising. He went through things that one wouldn't take for granted, and due sleep was more than deserved.

Sarey didn't panic, nor 36 found it strange. He did notice the scrolls with engraved things on top of them. They were passable techniques for long-handled weapons. Spear and glaive weren't all so different so it was a decent starting martial art.

Sarey ended up with a scroll in the greenish-blue outside cover in her hand.

“What a lunatic,” Sarey muttered, hearing loud, yet pained breathing, which indicated that Allan at least didn't get a seizure or stroke.

“At least he has the guts! I like that about him.” 36 told, satisfied with the results, even though Allan was out of his mind. The topic of the Sparkling didn't start, but that may wait for another day. After all, the formed Sparkling will need some time to fully cycle in the heart by itself, and adjusting it will take some time.

Allan lost a lot of blood, while the mental and physical pain would succumb any normal man to deep slumber a long time ago. Blood will regenerate, and pain will subside. That's what Sarey knew since Allan was already a madman in terms of endurance, stamina, and body. At least from the mortal perspective. All she could do now was to accept his sleeping, which may take hours or more. Getting him back home to rest will be another question, however, but she didn't care about it for now.

What was in her mind was the scroll in her hand.

“I swear… Are people beyond the stars also like this? Unhinged, uncaring, and insane in terms of their hopes?” Sarey asked, looking at 36 when he lightly chuckled at Allan's condition.

“It's hilarious, Sarey. I get how funny it is. What do you think the people beyond the stars think of mortals? Or… this place in this Diary of the Body? It is a place beyond the stars from their perspective. It's like immortal realms for the mortal sense, but for people in immortal realms and high positions. Isn't it funny? Get it now?”

“I doubt I wish to get that, 36,” Sarey said. “Oh, when I think about it, it makes sense. You know, 36, you can be clever when you can, but this book isn't all that useful at first glance.” she mockingly added with a smirk on her face.

“Hah! Such a thing is sensible, and in fact, what do you think you hold, or what lays on top of Allan's chest? Normal things? No! What the hell is that scroll on your lap then?”

“A scroll. A promise between me and Allan,” she replied calmly.

“I knew you were up to no good… I knew it. It was in your heart a long time ago. A hope to achieve some hope. It's a dream, in that sense. A futile one it may be, but I don't judge Allan for his choices. He is fond of you already and you use this quite well.

“I am not using him!” Sarey argued.

“Not? I can see you do…”

Sarey gripped the scroll, unwilling to argue about such things. He was somewhat right, but she didn't feel wrong about it. This scroll. The promise that Allan acknowledged without hesitation, and in a single moment. Her help and so on. Was she not deserving of this chance?

“Fine. Keep whatever you have in your heart, but think of this as Allan's other wound, or debt to you. Are you even aware of what sort of things are within the Diary? Trials and things Allan can get from it are limited. You heard him. 2 choices out of hundreds. Those are my guesses. My hunch. Did he choose one of those choices to give to you? This sacrifice could be the end of him when every technique and new treasure matters a lot at the beginning of the cultivation.” 36 sternly said, anger, surprise, and a pinch of envy in his voice.

Sarey glanced at 36 with some hesitation. “What then… Is it that big of a problem to seek hope? A Dream? Allan did what he thought was good for me, while I am taking care of him.”

“I am not questioning your so-called, high morals. This is about his path. A chance that could shake his future.”

“And should his willingness, or a sacrifice for me, not called his path? I am not leaving him!” Sarey argued as she unexpectedly said something that she didn't want to tell.

36 chuckled. “I get you. I do. You are those kinds of people. I saw them a lot. Would you lie to Allan face-to-face? Will you leave him too when you get what you want?

“Shut up!” Sarey snapped, having enough of his voice that carried arrogance and mockery. “I am not… lying. I am grateful as if a huge burden is also there for me… Allan's generosity is heavy. This can change my fate, can't it? ”

“Alright, enough of my talk.” 36 said, deciding to go with the flow. “I may mean my words for real, but you are you. I can't blame you, even though what you did has some implications for him. He could've gotten 2 martial scrolls, or 1 cultivation manual instead. That would be incredible, but it's futile to change what already happened. What is it then? Let me see what he gave you.”

Qui Lin's Life of the Body was in the deep, and nice-looking swipes engraved on the cover of the scroll. It was a large scroll, with a secured rope-like cover made of some silk. Symbols depicting the scrolls were on that cover.

“Qui Lin? Body? Never heard of that name. Wait… Lin? That Qui Lin?” 36 exclaimed finding and remembering a certain possibility that shrouded his mind.

Such kind, that was kind of ridiculous, but not so as ridiculous, considering The One's involvement and their high standing. It was about a legendary figure. One that overlapped many already existing techniques, and create a couple of full Pathways millions of years ago. Qui Lin was her name. Her figure, notion of being, or time, disappeared from the known universe which was at that time, rather chaotic. But, where was it not chaotic? Millions of years were nothing, really.

Qui Lin made drastic changes to the lands of the Immortal Realms, and many sections of the Central Regions. Performance on the battlefield, or in the duels of the immortals, changed under her care. Not in the way of combat, per se, but in the indistinguishable ways one could save one's life. Destroying was another side of that, but it wasn't her biggest burden. It was her kind of unique Law. Qui Lin's Law.

At the prime time of her life, when her hands could lay on the battlefield, it could cause the destruction of the enemy in many ways while the other swipe would save them all.

Nor elegant, but domineering, she was a symbol of neutrality, unless she was forced to act. She wasn't part of any sect, power, institution, guild, or even had many friends. She walked her path alone, apart from occasional purchases of her power when they mattered.

Now, the scroll with her name was in front of 36, who heard a lot about her. He never personally witnessed her power, since he wasn't alive when she performed her legends. The flow of years was still not that strong for him, even though one could live for millions of years at some point in the cultivation. At length, where the years began to pass at tremendous speeds and power became harder to progress. Ridiculous prospects of figuring out the Universe, Laws, Dao, Essences of them all, and progression to a point of true immortality, took place at such stages.

The ridiculousness of such a time was known limits to 36, who wasn't a Lord, but he was close. He had seen plenty of the Central Region, forcing The Ones to imprison him and shackle him.

Qui Lin was a powerful person, among many others. She was something much higher than 36 would ever hope for. Such lofty people held straight backs and their presence could shake the heavens and earth.

“What is it, 36? You paused for a minute.” Sarey asked after putting the scroll in front of 36.

“Qui Lin… T-this scroll?! This could be a ridiculous reward! How lucky one could get to hold a piece of notes from Qui Lin? What sort of things are even within The One's reach? For them to have Qui Lin's Life of the Body as a form of reward at this stage, how could they do this? Ridiculous!” 36 said, unknowingly stating things rather poorly since this scroll was only a part of Life of the Body.

It wasn't a full Path of anything, nor did he know what this Scroll was about. Many things around Qui Lin weren't public, and he never heard of any manuals from her. In fact, he didn't even know if she ever had some students, thus, creating a manual would be less than redundant. It wouldn't be needed for it, but she had her hands in multiple Pathways, so this may be one of them.

36 fell shocked, and so was Sarey, since anything that would surprise him, should be worth it.

“So?” she asked, still holding the unfolded scroll.

“I don't blame a thing, girl… No. I am questioning common sense. That's what I do, but let's get this straight” 36 forced himself to calm down. “Take this scroll with a grain of salt. I doubt the case for your path may be possible, but I don't know about your talent, so don't take my words for granted. Qui Lin, as far as I am concerned, was an incredible figure. If something can hold a chance to change someone's fate, it's this scroll, but I don't know what it can contain. It may be part of others since this thing was a reward from the pre-spark trial. That is strange, so perhaps it isn't as good as I think?”

“Good? Could this be fake?” Sarey eyed the scroll hesitantly.

“No! I don't mean it like that. This is real. Allan took it, and Trials of that place are rules. Laws. They do things as they are. This Scroll, take it. For now, I can't blame you for anything, so let's wrap it up. I am already summoned for a long time, and Allan needs a proper place to rest. I will re-adjust myself further. Allan's path too, and your… Let's talk tomorrow about this, how about it?”

“Tomorrow? Why not now?” Sarey asked.

“Now… Don't you seek Allan at the ground? Priorities, Sarey. Priorities.” he insisted.

“Can I look inside then?” Sarey pointed to the scroll. She was yet to open it up.

“Why not? There are no manuals that can endanger someone. Though, it may be complicated. Language, or terms, or whatnot. It may be more than you can chew since it's the work of Qui Lin. Got it?”

Sarey nodded, holding the Life of the Body as an utmost treasure. She stopped grasping it and rested it on top of her palms. This will be her path or a hopeful beginning of one. She didn't know it, nor 36 or Allan held some clue about it. All she could do was open it, even though she didn't know one additional rule, that 36 also didn't know about.

That was, the rewards were meant for the students alone.

Allan only took this scroll because of Wisher's interference, and since it was an Auxiliary cultivating manual. Sarey mentioned them, but the premise of Auxiliary paths. She never stated anything serious or specific, while the Grade S and Low-Rank Immortal Manual must not be that bad, right? It was better than his own rewards from that ranking perspective, but Allan had no regrets.

After all, the term martial arts was a rare topic in beginning paths, and there were only a couple dozen of such things among the 400 barriers. Only further, up in the Trials and pathways, would one discover more of them. The further one would get, the stronger, rarer, and mightier one would they get.

Where one would get them was another topic, however. Purchasing them, finding them, stealing them, and so on. They were possible to create, but it wasn't a common practice. The most common was joining a sect, organization, or school with already created paths, or simple roads to start cultivating.

As for Allan's path? He had an incredible advantage, even though it didn't seem that way. The diary of the Body and the ship inside of it were treasures beyond normal, and even though the dangers lay inside, it held treasures that could shake the world.

Sarey secured the scroll in her bag and tidied Allan and everything up. 36 disappeared to the Diary in the same matter as usual, giving a last warning to Sarey regarding Allan's condition. If anything wrong will happen, she should immediately summon him. He also insisted on her, supervising his condition at all times, which she agreed on.

So, with a bag, spear and glaive, and other things, Sarey grasped Allan's shoulder and almost fell to her knees. “Heavy… This brat eats like a bear, yet doesn't look like that… I swear.” she complained, yet forced herself to walk on. It wasn't that long walk to her home, albeit this time, it wasn't any normal time.

Allan achieved his beginning, and so did she.

His may be hiding dangers and death, which he almost underwent again, but it was the beginning of something bigger. A path to ascending out of a normal mortal shell.

Sarey and Allan disappeared to the forest, and the valley returned to its serenity.

This time was incredible as it sounded, but it was anything but drop in the ocean of extraordinary things that were happening in the universe.

Similarly to the undeniable fate, the universe held many situations. One, in particular, was already happening for a long time. Outsdie of Allan's, or 36's reaches, that is.

At the outskirts of the Greater Nordic Galaxy, the sizzling comet was traveling through space itself, creating a long stretch of bright color after itself. The void was barren, and it was devoid of anything, but seemingly infinite starts and energy clustering streams revealed prettiness in this void. This was the Central Region of the Universe. A place where the energy was extremely dense, apart from the very core of it which held a special place in the entire universe. The Above itself.

This comet was Marshel, who was accompanying his mission to do what he shall do. Right now, he held a mission and was only a couple of days away from one of the 10 Ancient Planets, which held one target that The Ones used for their special business.

The target? Not one that he visited before, but the one that Allan visited once, albeit unwillingly, amidst the heaven-shattering plot of The Above and Kong Reian. It was an eye-opening one. A planet called Trixin Abode. An Ancient Planet, and one of the closer ones to the Plains Beyond. It was home to a similar situation to the former past but lacked the forced situation and rules of the true Ancients.

Now, it was a place of many Immortals, similar to many other planets. In this place, the little dragon named Cendirr will meet his fate. The kind that was forced upon him, while Marshel shell be the one to force it some more.

It will be an interesting time, with a fate that will be close to interesting new beginnings for both of them.