Kapitel 21: Tai Yang
I stood at the base of the second staircase. Senior Brother Sun was standing beside me, looking at the stairs with a serious expression. Then, he said in a low tone, "Remember not to underestimate this one, Orion. In terms of difficulty, this won't just be to test and improve your physical strength, but it will also target the mind as well as the soul."
"Thanks for the reminder," I nodded. "Here goes nothing."
I took the first step and immediately felt my mind on the verge of collapsing, it was like ropes were tightening on my brain. I was forced to sit and endure the pain since I would fail the test if I stepped back apparently. Emperor Sun seems to have forgotten this part last time.
The first step took me three days while the second one took seven days. With each step, I got several attacks on my body, mind, and soul. In the blink of an eye, two years have passed since I started.
Surprisingly, my soul took on the form of a sword. Whenever a cultivator's soul grows powerful, it starts to materialize into a certain shape. The more powerful the soul gets, the shape becomes less transparent and even solidifies at the end, providing the soul the ability to flee without the body. Although frowned upon by most cultivators, people who have abandoned their bodies and escaped with their souls may be able to possess bodies that don't belong to them.
On this day, I finally took the last step after spending a month on the one before it. Then, like the last time, I felt my vision blur and I was back at the base with the blade piece in my hand. After that, it was a simple matter of fusing the piece with my sword.
"Ughh..." Pangu grunted, but this time, his voice came out loud and not in my mind. "Finally... I can finally speak!"
"Congratulations," I said, "Now let's be serious for a second. Preferably, only talk out loud when we are alone or with someone trusted. I don't appreciate others knowing that my sword can talk."
"You fear people will get greedy and would covet me? Well... That's fair enough. You have a deal, kid."
"That's good."
"Oh, and what's your name?"
"I'm pretty sure you know my name since you were conscious for such a long time now."
"My memory is not exactly in its best state right now. It might take time to remember the small details."
"I am Orion Fistore, Lord of Wind, Water, and Ice, and the Ice clone of Richard."
"I haven't met a lot of Orions... In any case, a pleasure to meet you, kid. I hope you don't die soon because I'm not in the mood to be dispersed again by Richy."
I could feel Richard's annoyance at being called Richy again even though we were so far apart. Apparently, Pangu didn't want to keep talking so I left for the sect.
Suddenly, I felt myself being teleported forcefully. Feeling a bit nauseous, I stabilized myself and looked around. The first thing I noticed was that I was in a small room. And, by coincidence or not, it was Tai Yang's.
The poor boy was so startled that he jumped from the freight. I smiled awkwardly and said, "Apologies, I don't know what happened."
"Not a problem, martial uncle," he said while bowing.
"Please, I am exactly your age, I am not an 'uncle'. You make me feel too old."
"Which you are," said Pangu.
"What have we talked about earlier? Don't you learn?"
"Not really. I split my soul into two in order not to create a chaos-verse, but here I am, in the same one I created! And the second one also created a small chaos-world!"
I turned to Yang helplessly and said, "Please, don't tell anyone about him. Would you mind a walk?"
"It would be my pleasure," he replied. We walked through the sect while he gave me many historical facts and stories about China. Then we strolled through the forest, I wanted to show him the stairs. I am 90 percent sure that senior brother Sun didn't tell anyone of this. And I was right. But once we went to the place, we only found trees like other parts in the forest.
"Eh?" I said, "Pangu, what happened here?"
"Dunno, lad. But I think that it was only an illusion. Or it may be an artifact, that can help in cultivation, for the emperor and he took it back."
"The second one is more likely," said Yang, "Master has a lot of artifacts that are even useful to him."
"It's okay," I said, then asked Tai Yang, "How come you are not arrogant and spoiled? Every Chinese story I have read mentioned that the most talented members of sects and families are spoiled brats. You can choose not to respond if you like."
"In other sects, they are just as you described. However, I hate arrogance."
"Same as me. But Your name, Tai Yang, means the Great Sun, isn't it a bit too arrogant?"
"It was the name that my parents gave me. I was a spoiled brat before the accident that led to my parents' death."
"Oh. I am so sorry, Yang. I didn't know."
"It is okay, I am proud to be their son. But their death was also my fault."
"How come?"
"I angered a very ill-tempered guest of ours, and he also happened to be a powerful cultivator. I refused to admit my mistake, which angered him more. My parents tried to calm him with precious things but that only led to their death. However, he left me alive to live in torment. Ever since, I had made a vow to destroy that man and kill him."
"I understand you're in grief, but sometimes, it would be better to let go."
"Why would I let go?"
"Calm down. I am just saying that no one can know his destiny. What if you die, huh? What if you'll never reach his level?" He didn't answer and we stood in silent. Once he calmed down, he said, "Forgive me, uncle. I shall return to the sect."
And without looking at me anymore, he stormed to the palace to meet his master.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
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