บท 79: Trial Of Intelligence
*Things like sexism and racism are purely for worldbuilding and to make it more realistic. Thank you for your understanding.**New favourite song: Voodoo People by Clarx.*
The remnant consciousness' voice faded away into the sky, and Qing Fang pondered on the words it had spoken.
'The repair of this world?' Qing Fang thought before he understood what was happening. His body, which stood on the smashed earth caused by the aftermath of the trial of strength, suddenly moved.
'From what I have seen from the remnant consciousness' actions so far, little things like this could possibly be an unofficial trial itself. It's better to tread carefully every step of the way and to not let my vigilance die out.' Qing Fang thought with determination before strength suddenly surged in his legs once more!
Immense pressure was suddenly built up and exerted unto the destroyed ground, a deep crater forming before Qing Fang had even exploded with strength! The earth crumbled into dust and what was left underneath was splintered into large cracks that seemed to be endlessly deep!
The air seemed to be forcefully expelled from the surface of Qing Fang's skin with his burst of strength, leaving a vacuum that was filled with extremely violent winds! The makeshift robes that could fit around his huge body thrashed madly, almost as if it was in pain!
The huge wings of Qing Fang that were each three times his height suddenly extended, making his figure suddenly a lot huger and more dominating! The arched back in preparation for a mighty downward thrust and almost touched each other behind Qing Fang's back!
A glint appeared in those shining red eyes that contained a bloodline power, and Qing Fang just seemed to disappear...
All that was left was absolute destruction that seemed to be the end of the world. A huge tsunami of dirt that was several meters tall exploded from the epicentre and continued to grow in height and power as it took hold of all the broken earth before it, creating a terrifying scene! Torrents of wind that were so violent they could be seen by the naked eye created a domain of hellish power that formed into several small hurricanes!
Qing Fang's body was like a small dot several kilometres above the earth as he hovered there with his massive wings supporting him. If he counted the huge fleshly things into his weight, he would easily weigh eight solid tons.
'Although it has been over four months, the power this body contains continues to astonish me. There is a major leap in power every time I bridge a major realm so I wonder how strong I become when I finally break through to Stage 4?' Qing Fang thought as he witnessed the absolute hellscape reminiscent of terrifying nightmares he had created. Using his power was always so enlightening as there always seemed to be a tiny bit more exertion he could call forth when one had as much strength as he did.
He had so many expectations for the future now that he had found his true affinity. Letting it end so soon would be a sin.
Suddenly, Qing Fang's eyes moved down unto the earth as an amazing spectacle was taking place. His body hovered in the empty blue sky and looked down like some heavenly being down unto the earth.
Currently, the broken earth seemed to be repairing itself. Every piece of broken or displaced land suddenly morphed into a collection of swirling golden runes that sailed through the sky! The depressions and holes in the ground were flooded with a sea of gold before the light receded and appeared to be that same grass!
Time simply seemed to be going backwards as every single piece of broken and scorched earth seemed to be mending itself. Qing Fang looked down in wonder, thinking: how many people could witness a scene like this in the Universe? A world, seemingly mending itself with its own will!
"Wonderful, isn't it?" A voice suddenly came from beside himself, and Qing Fang looked to see the remnant consciousness floating beside him and looking down at the spectacle alongside him.
"Mm." Qing Fang hummed in agreement as he looked back down to the orchestra of swirling runes that spanned a hundred kilometres. The entire surface that was once a broken brown was being flooded with a vibrant gold before returning to that luscious green.
"Well, it's not really." The remnant consciousness suddenly said, making Qing Fang look over.
"The exertion of this artificial world's power is using the energy bestowed upon it by Da Shi Fu Wen. Every time an inheritor attempts the trials, energy like this is expended and it never returns. If it wasn't for me, acting outside of my influence and restoring the runes with the flesh and blood of fallen inheritors, the energy keeping this world alive would've long been dried up.
The energy that is also keeping me alive." The remnant consciousness said the last words while staring Qing Fang dead in the eyes as if his bloodline power simply didn't exist.
Qing Fang started to understand the remnant consciousness a little. It was a being created by Da Shi Fu Wen and was obviously outstandingly loyal to him. However, it had been too long and Day Shi Fu Wen had died a thousand years ago according to the remnant consciousness. Seeking an inheritor for his creator was at the expense of its own lifespan and it didn't like inheritors much because of this. Qing Fang had felt the remnant consciousness wanting to kill him, probably to feed the inheritance of his flesh and blood to extend its own lifespan.
"There won't be another inheritor after me, so stop thinking of feeding me to the inheritance. Help me transcend the order of requiring a human inheritor, and I will keep your formation alive endlessly." Qing Fang said with serious eyes as he reciprocated the stare of the remnant consciousness.
"What makes you so sure? How are you different from the thousands of others that have stood where you stand?" The remnant consciousness said with a sneer, looking down on the confidence of this little monster before he would die like all the rest.
Qing Fang didn't answer his question and only looked away, and the remnant consciousness scowled horribly in response. The artificial world had completely healed itself and the green grass spread for dozens of kilometres in every direction.
However, there seemed to be a huge mass of golden runes still swirling in the very centre of the artificial world. Qing Fang looked down at it with a questioning gaze, wondering what it could be.
And as if to answer his question, the remnant consciousness spoke.
"That is where the trial of intelligence, your next trial, will be held. This is where that lucky Catsith you saw failed."
"Lucky?" Qing Fang suddenly said disbelievingly. How could that Catsith, chained with golden chains that sap its life to feed the inheritance, be considered lucky? Qing Fang looked at the remnant consciousness with displeased eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. That stupid beast managed to fail on the only trial that isn't lethal upon failure, keeping its little life. Then again, I did still capture it as it was leaving, chaining it with life-sapping formations. But also, I have to listen to its incessant roars of pain so that is an equivalent exchange like my creator preaches, is it not?" The remnant consciousness defended itself before falling into mutterings that Qing Fang didn't care to listen to.
Regardless of whether the trial of intelligence wasn't lethal, failure was as if this stupid golden being next to him would promptly convert himself into his own life.
"Well... Sigh, let us descend shall we?" The remnant consciousness spoke before flashing and teleporting down onto the grass before the swirling mass of runes that was to host his second trial. Qing Fang looked down at the now-tiny figure looking up at him and descended unhurriedly.
Qing Fang landed next to the remnant consciousness and dwarfed his figure, though the proud remnant consciousness that had inherited a part of Da Shi Fu Wen's formation attainment would never think himself inferior.
It took the initiative to speak. "I will be hosting the trial of intelligence, so as we wait for the place to materialise, you may ask me any questions about it."
"No, I think I'll just let you explain once the place materialises." Qing Fang responded before sitting and resting his eyes. Seeing him, the remnant consciousness crossed his legs and sat in the air, also resting his eyes.
After what seemed like an eternity due to Qing Fang's unrest, which was in reality only ten minutes, Qing Fang opened his eyes to see a lovely little wooden building placed before him.
The thing was no more than ten meters on either side and two of the walls were open as they gazed out upon the lovely green plains. A shiny wooden floor reflected the artificial light that had no recognisable source that Qing Fang could see. In the centre of the place, a small wooden table with two floor mats on either side stood humbly.
"Please." The remnant consciousness was invited inwards before floating over one of the mats and hovering in the air with crossed legs. In reality, it would've liked to sit, but the table had to be made four meters tall so Qing Fang could sit against it normally.
Qing Fang came and sat comfortably on the floor mat next to the table, resting his claws upon its surface and letting his wings drag on the floor behind him like a cape.
"I will begin." The remnant consciousness said.
"The previous trial of strength can be said to be somewhat of a screening process and is of much less importance than the trial of intelligence. This entire inheritance is meant to test, or validate, a potential inheritor's talent for formation techniques. Naturally, physical strength and combat power are not requirements, but intelligence is.
You will be tested in three aspects. Namely: memory, comprehension and articulateness. These three things have been found to directly relate to intelligence, and intelligence is directly related to talent in formation techniques.
This is because the study of formation techniques requires one to memorise certain layouts of runes so that the formation can be laid efficiently and respectably. Comprehension is required to understand the various uses of a specific formation just by gazing at the runes themselves. And articulateness is required for the same reason.
In the later stages of formation mastery, one can use their knowledge to deduct and create formations on the spot without a reference, greatly increasing versatility and making the limit of your powers only your imagination." The remnant consciousness stated, giving Qing Fang a lot of insight.
However, as he listened, a bright smile was worn on Qing Fang's face. 'This trial should be even easier for me, a possessor of an unlocked soul, than the trial of strength. Unlocking my soul directly unlocks my mental potential, greatly increasing my memory and comprehension to levels that even the greatest genius with a locked soul cannon compare to.' If the remnant consciousness could hear these thoughts, he might just directly name Qing Fang the inheritor in defeat.
"Firstly, we will test your memory simply by giving you a ten-thousand-word scripture to read. Try to memorise as much of it as you can within one hour. Then, you will recite it to me to your best ability. Begin." The remnant consciousness suddenly said and would make any other panic. However, Qing Fang was as relaxed as could be currently.
A scroll that was a meter long and a foot wide suddenly materialised out of thin air and landed in Qing Fang's hands. It was titled: "A Comprehensive Introduction to Formations" by Great-Grandmaster Tianmu.
Seeing that it was related to formations and not some random text, Qing Fang eagerly read it.
The scripture mostly described how formations were created by runes that were laid in a specific order. It also stated that every formation had a "formation core" which acted as the heart of the formation. It didn't give much insight to anything else as ten thousand words really want all that much. However, Qing Fang definitely gained some knowledge.
After merely ten minutes of a pondering read, Qing Fang laid the scripture back onto the table and proceeded to stare at the remnant consciousness that looked at him doubtfully. A questioning gaze hit him before he nodded with a smile. The remnant consciousness seemed to relent.
"Begin." It said, however, its gaze was heavy with doubt. But then again, would anyone so readily fail?
Qing Fang began to speak. "The mysteries of the grand Universe are seemingly endless, not something even the grandest of cultivators can comprehend. However, from thousands of years of experience, there seems to be a constant factor in all that exists, lifeless or not. That is: Laws. Laws create everything and construct everything. Primordial energy itself is but a Law. And Runes themselves are Laws.
So, one might ask, how are runes Laws and what does this mean? This is a question that I, Stage 8 cultivator and Formation Great-Grandmaster Tianmu, had strived to answer..."
And then, under the gaze of the remnant consciousness that first flashed with doubt, then astonishment, lifelessness and joy; Qing Fang recited every single word of the scripture perfectly. His memory could be said to be absolutely perfect due to his unlocked soul. And although his soul was injured, it didn't take the power of the soul to use its granted heightened memory capabilities.
"That is all." Qing Fang finished and looked at the remnant consciousness.
"Very good! Simply amazing! I would believe you if you told me that you weren't an organism, but a high-functioning formation like me! Unbelievable!" The remnant consciousness said with passion, and what seemed to be...hope.
Qing Fang merely smiled, but the remnant consciousness took that as a form of impatience and hurriedly collected himself. Even then, a bright smile was on its face. Its lust after Qing Fang's flesh to prolong its life vanished as if it was never there, and high expectations were all that remained!
"Next we will test your comprehension and articulateness. This will be done in a single test that covers the two, so you must treat this as the bulk of the test!" The remnant consciousness said before hurriedly materialising another two scriptures out of thin air.
"Take a look at these two things. I will give you an hour to have a good look before I will have you tell me what you think of the formation depicted there." The remnant consciousness said before eagerly eyeing Qing Fang's movements closely.
Qing Fang picked up the two scriptures and gave them a preliminary look. The first was a bulk of text while the second was more interesting. It was a circular diagram of many interweaving bold lines that formed into something like a vast symbol that was made of many smaller symbols. Above the large symbol was a single line of text that immediately grabbed Qing Fang's attention.
"Basic Tier 1 Formation: Elementary Fire Manipulation."
Qing Fang's eyes flashed as he read the words aloud. 'So this is a real formation? I have never seen one drawn out so simply before, all the ones I've ever seen are usually already formed. This is only a Basic Tier 1 Formation, the lowest level? Normal cultivators would have a hard time memorising just this, let alone even higher tiers that are probably much more complex.' His thoughts were bright as his eagerness to become a Formation Master was only growing by the minute.
Looking at the other scripture that was just a bulk of the text, Qing Fang realised that it was a description and explanation of every single rune that comprised the formation on the other scripture!
Each formation had an extremely loose and general function, and when paired and layered with others, they would form much more complex and intuitive functions. Qing Fang soon memories every single basic rune and its function and also understood how and why these runes specifically formed the Basic Tier 1 formation before him!
This action that Qing Fang completed with his heightened memory and comprehension, granted by his unlocked soul, would probably be extremely difficult to even bright and intelligent others. However, to Qing Fang, it was as simple as putting together a puzzle that he had already completed a million times!
And once again, after using just a portion of the time granted to him, Qing Fang put down the scriptures onto the table and looked over to the remnant consciousness.
"Yes?" The remnant consciousness inquired with a small voice.
"Yes." Qing Fang said with absolute confidence.
"Alright, alright, alright!" The remnant consciousness said enthusiastically, shuffling about in the air and leaning over the formation and lending his ear.
"Tell me what you understood. Specifically, what functions each of the basic runes grant the Basic Tier 1 Formation." The remnant consciousness sounded as if he couldn't wait to hear Qing Fang's words.
Qing Fang then pointed to a corner of the formation, specifically at a group of basic runes.
"These runes are the part of the formation that constructs the formation core which is manifested by this group of runes over here. These other runes state that it will take this specific form and these runes link the core of the formation to the Law of Fire that is depicted here." Qing Fang said while hovering his claw over the diagram and pointing to different collections of runes across the formation.
"To my understanding, the runes act as small "rules" that direct and coordinate the power invested into them, causing the formation to be entirely dependant on the runes it consists of." Qing Fang said, and the remnant consciousness nodded pleasingly.
"I can also already see a small number of basic runes that will be almost constant in most formations due to their versatility. I suppose this will be a big part when deducing formations on the spot once my mastery has reached a sufficient level..." Qing Fang continued to speak his conjectures and thoughts aloud as he explained his understanding.
And all the while, the remnant consciousness was nodding profusely!
"Alright, you may stop. I can see you have a lot more to say, but this is more than enough!" The remnant consciousness said after Qing Fang had spoken continuously for thirty minutes!
"Comprehensive evaluation of the trial of intelligence: pass with distinction!"
*3,125/3,000 words*
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