Chapter 2: Is Heaven Supposed to Hurt This Much? (2)
Unbeknownst to Anlin, a new cloud began to form in the mist behind him. Unlike the previous thunder soul, this new soul was jet black with sparks of purple flittering across its firm surface.
With his vantage point at the bottom of the mountain, Elder He saw the new cloud and the blood drained from his face. "Anlin! Behind you! Run!"
Showing an agility far beyond the limits of a normal person, Hetain rushed to the peak of the mountain in seconds. He hoped that he could pull his future disciple out of the Thunder Path before the new thunder soul struck.
Anlin spun around to check on the danger, spotting the thunder soul just as Hetain reached the end of the Thunder Path. The slight hesitation from the student became his downfall.
A crash of thunder resonated across the mountain as a thick purple bolt snapped out of the soul and lifted Anlin off his feet as the impact slammed him back against the stairs.
The strike seemed to take everything out of the cloud. Wisps of smoke escaped from its sides as it grew smaller, and even the purple sparks were gone.
But it didn't matter. Anlin tumbled down the stairs, unconscious and helpless to stop himself.
Each time his body hit the ground, a new splotch of red was added to the steps. When he finally came to a stop a dozen steps away from the path's entrance, everyone knew that the genius of their year was gone.
—
Xun woke up with a raging headache. His skin, his face, and even his lungs burned with pain. The stone under his hand felt rough and the wind blowing against his skin felt sharp. Is heaven supposed to hurt this much? Or is this hell?
Before he opened his eyes, he heard a heated conversation somewhere in the distance.
"Pidao! How could you have let the thunder soul grow to the Consecration Realm?! Anlin was the most promising student of this entire year!"
"I understand your feelings, Senior He. But I don't believe checking the cultivation level of the elemental souls was one of my assigned responsibilities. Traditionally, the most senior member of the exam was responsible for the maintenance of exam equipment."
"Are you saying that this is my fault?"
"Of course not, Senior He. But this is quite an unfortunate occurrence that we could perhaps chalk up to happenstance…"
"Elder Pi. Enough. I'll report this matter to the sect leader. He will mete out the corresponding punishments according to his own judgement. In the meantime, I'll be at the top of the paths, welcoming those who successfully passed and ensuring that such an incident doesn't happen again."
The sound of clothes shuffling concluded the conversation.
Xun tried to understand what was happening. A moment earlier, he had been lying in his silk bed, listening to his children and the elders of his sect argue and bicker like hyenas over who would inherit the sect he had founded.
It would have infuriated him if he wasn't on his deathbed. The eternal darkness had a funny way of making most things seem unimportant.
In the end, Xun realized that his spirit weapons, the sect he founded, and the spirit stones he hoarded meant little. In life, they were useful, shiny, and beautiful, but they meant nothing to someone on death's door.
In the end, he found, all that mattered was life. He would have given any amount of spirit stones to extend his lifespan, even if only by a single day. Unfortunately, lifespan pills cost more than mere spirit stones.
Holding on to that final thought, he had closed his eyes for the last time... or so he thought.
The darkness took him for a brief moment before he was unceremoniously spit back out into his current situation.
"Zeran, did you see what that old dog just tried to do?" The second voice from the earlier conversation sounded again.
"I'm sorry, Elder Pi, I didn't." Xun heard a new voice, this one female.
"That's okay. You've been relatively sheltered as an alchemist and haven't had to deal with the politics of the sect. That old dog rushed down the mountain and faked his anger in hopes of cowing me into taking the fall for what just happened on the Thunder Path."
"I see."
"But I caught on to his tricks. He failed the sect by forgetting to check the paths. That's not my responsibility."
"I agree."
"See? I knew you'd understand, Disciple Zeran. When the sect leader asks you about what happened, I'd appreciate it if you could repeat what we just talked about. We smiths and alchemists need to stick together. The meatheads that only know how to fight don't understand our struggles."
"Of course."
A small crack sounded from somewhere behind Xun. A moment later, he felt a stinging pain hit the small of his back and he twitched involuntarily. He flipped to his side to see what was attacking him.
A cloud?
"Elder Pi, did you see that? I think Anlin is still alive!"
"Well, I guess his life force is a bit stiffer than most people's. But it doesn't matter. His spirit channels are likely damaged after that shock. I'm not sure if it's luck or misfortune that he's still with us."
"Could we help him?"
"And risk the wrath of the thunder soul? A Consecration Realm elemental soul is no laughing matter. I could probably deal with it, but if you try while still at the Foundation Realm, there's a chance that you'll hurt your own cultivation. If he's truly that tough, let him climb out himself."
"Anlin's the first to attempt the Thunder Path in four years. That's worthy of something."
"Yes, it's a worthy lesson to stay one's greed. Elder He was being stupid when he pushed the boy to attempt the path. Did he think cultivating is a child's play? The path to eternity is not meant to be taken lightly. Greed has slain more cultivators than every other sin combined."
"But…"
Another lightning bolt struck down and Xun stopped paying attention. He watched the electricity gather at the bottom of the white cloud floating on top of him and then flash down onto his body. His pain somehow reached a new level.
It was worse than anything he had experienced before. Not even the agony of the Thunder Tribulation could compare.
I'm not dead. Xun's brain finally comprehended that he was neither in heaven nor in hell. If the conversations weren't enough of a clue, then the pain was pretty good evidence. There's no way the afterlife is this painful.
As his mind began to thaw from the pain, Xun realized something far more important. His body was in an extremely sorry state.
If he took any more of the lightning bolts, he was going to die. Again.
Load failed, please RETRY
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone