Threefold Forest

As the world materialized around them once more, Wei Wang opened his eyes to find himself in a forest very similar to the scene of the first stage of the selection examination.

However, instead of a single, straight road, they were in a light clearing with three pathways heading away from them. All three pathways seemed to head in the same general direction, with a clear middle, right, and left. Behind, the forest was thick and impassable.

“Three paths?” Wei asked aloud.

“I’m taking the middle path!” Thomas Portsworth immediately shouted.

Leah turned to look at Wei. “Wei, you’re our leader, what do you think we should do? Split up, or stick together?”

”Hm, the last time we came to a fork in the road, there was a treasure on each path. If that’s the case again, then it would be best for us to split up and investigate all three paths. Later on, maybe we can come back together again.”

Even though Thomas had already declared his intent to head off down the middle road, he actually hadn’t left without waiting for them to make a final decision. Indeed, earlier when he had declared himself the leader, when it came to the vote, he didn’t argue that much. It seemed like maybe he was just quite childish, but not really cold hearted.

“I’m only worried about Aaron,” Wei said, “out of everyone, he only has a cultivation technique. The rest of us all have both cultivation techniques and combat techniques.”

”I’ll be alright! No one can hurt my Earth Bearing Circle,” Aaron retorted.

”That’s right, you have high defense,” Wei commented.

”Hm, if its alright with you, Wei, why don’t you and I split up this time? If Aaron comes with me, than maybe I can help him find a weapon. As you you, its better if you go by yourself, so that that whatever treasure you find can be yours. We want our leader to get stronger, right?”

Wei thought about this. Indeed, the prospect of being able to claim what appeared to be one out of three pieces of treasure was promising. But, he also didn't want to leave Leah.

”Hm, but I’m worried about you. I don’t want you to get hurt,” Wei replied.

”Wei, think about it like this. If you and I stay on a team, then Aaron will have to go alone without a weapon. Either that, or we can get all three of the treasures. Since Aaron still needs a weapon, the treasure on the team he is a part of will naturally go to him. Also, if you go with him instead, then that would leave me alone, wouldn’t that be worse than being with Aaron, who at least can help me block some damage?”

Thinking about it like this, Leah really was correct. Since there didnt seem to be any arguing about it, Wei sighed and nodded his head. He would just have to trust his teammates judgement.

”If you get attacked, yell loudly at the top of your lungs, and I’ll come as quickly as possible,” Wei could only make an empty promise, and hope he made it there in time.

As it was decided, Leah and Aaron took the right path and Thomas took the middle. Wei didn't have any desire to fight over the middle or the left path, although in the back of his mind he realized he would be closer to Leah if he did.

Still, at this point he didn't want to lose any face by fighting over something pointlessly, so he resigned himself to take off alone once more.

”After finding the treasure, do everything you can to meet up. There is likely an area for a group fight, and possibly monsters up ahead, so stay on guard.”

With that, they split up, each heading off in their own directions. As he walked, a shiver suddenly went down his back and he stood up straight and turned around. “Where is Na Alakee?”

He turned to look. How could all four of them have forgotten her so easily? No, it didn't make sense. Was this part of her smoke ability? If she hadn’t been with them on the array, it would not have activated. The transmission array was simply part of the rules of the trials. It wasn't something the likes of one of them could tamper with. Just what was going on?

However, the other three had already departed along their way. Was he the only one who noticed this discrepancy?

At that moment, however, something like smoke shifted from beyond the treeline.

“Na?” Wei said, waiting a moment. He pondered this, then spoke out again, “Na, if you’re out there, please protect Leah and Aaron. I may not look like it, but I’m fine on my own. I think the same goes for Thomas. He can take care of himself. So, as the leader of this group, I request you go with Leah instead.”

There was only silence in response. He felt awkward, talking to a ghost like this. With a bit of blush on his cheeks, he turned to continue on his path.

He only took three steps before a sound like rustling came from the bushes where he had thought he saw a ghost before. He turned to look, and the next moment two robins flew out of the forest, singing gracefully as they went.

”So, it was just a bird. Heh, I really feel foolish now.”

Wei Wang turned and again set off up the path. After walking about fifteen minutes, the forest surprisingly gave way to barren steppes. Still, the path was clearly marked out, and he followed it up to the top of a hill.

After another fifteen minutes of walking, he had reached the plateau. Surprisingly he had yet to encounter anything of note. Looking to the right, a river crossed the valley. In the distance, what looked like a Temple rose out of the center of a medium sized lake.

“That seems to be where Leah and Aaron’s path would take them. Hm, it’s likely that Aaron can find a weapon in that Temple. That’s good. And as for Thomas…” Wei looked down at the valley below. About halfway between the mountain top he stood on and the Temple at the far end, a bridge crossed over the top of the river. As he watched, Thomas actually appeared on the edge of the forest. At that moment, a black clothed figure appeared opposite him.

Wei’s heartbeat quickened. Had he made a miscalculation? Turning quickly to the north, he was stunned to see a lean youth sitting in meditation position on a high rock opposite from the direction he had come.

Wei prepared to fight, but in that moment his heart sank. What was he thinking? He hadn’t had time to collect another spark yet, meaning that he would go into this fight with nothing but his fists! What made matters worse was that this opponent had a massive sword strapped to his back. In fact, this sword was even bigger than the one that Thomas used!

But why was this youth just sitting there in meditation? It was obvious he was confident with his sword, but if he was cultivating, than that meant they were both in the same situation! He was trying to get a spark before engaging in the fight! But to do so right out in the light of day, that was too bold, wasnt it? Maybe this other youth was just tempting him, trying to draw him in? Could it be he had an ally hiding nearby with the skill set of an assassin?

Wei’s mind churned. He thought of Na Alakee, who had vanished the moment they arrived here. In fact, it was possible she was guarding him, even though he had requested she assist Leah and Aaron. But in the calculus of the opposition, they would have no way of knowing that!

Therefore, he was in no danger if he simply mirrored this youth and began to cultivate at once, right out in the open! As long as he didn't make the mistake of getting too close and attempting to attack alone, he shouldn’t be in too much danger yet. It would just be a matter of who could finish consolidating an origin Chi spark first, and then attack without any delay.

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The blood drained from Wei’s face as he thought of this, and he immediately plopped down. He was already at a disadvantage! His opponent had already begun to cultivate, meaning that if they had the same level of cultivation talent, he would finish first and be able to strike a Chi empowered finishing blow!

Wei couldn’t waste any time. He could only hope that if he started now, he would be able to cultivate more quickly than his opponent. Without even moving from where he stood, Wei Wang immediately dropped to the ground and sat cross legged, beginning to circulate the Phoenix Ascending Hidden Flame technique.

Of course, it was naturally difficult to focus immediately in the face of such danger like this. And not only that, but he was curious to know what would happen on the bridge between Thomas and his opponent, not to mention Leah, Aaron, and Na Alakee.

He let these thoughts go. In a moment of life and death, the situation had already been made clear. He could not allow his feelings for another to cloud his mind at this moment. If he did, defeat was sure to follow, and how could that help Leah?

No, if he ever wanted to see her again, he must immediately put all thoughts of her out of his mind. He was resolute, and circulated the mantra within his core more forcefully.

The wind picked up around his legs, circling his body like a miniature vortex. It wasnt strong, barely enough to lift a leaf or cause the grass to sway. But in that moment, Wei Wang remembered the ‘secret key’ of the previous Ice stage.

That’s right, he thought. He had the key with him, maybe there was some use for it here. In fact, finding out if he could still use the key on this level was his primary goal. Setting everything else aside, he calmed his mind and focused even further.

As they sat across from each other, meditating diligently, an eagle cawed over head. It seemed to be circling the battleground. Wei ignored it, continuing to focus on his mantra recitation.

The energy was consolidating now, bubbling up within his body. Cultivation was faster inside the trials than outside, that was clear. In the Arcane Tower, when he cultivated a spark, it would take almost half an hour. Here, only five minutes had passed.

However, he wasn’t all the way yet. The spark hadn’t fully stabilized. Just a bit further.

At that moment, his opponent suddenly stood up, and launched across the battlefield in an all out assault. His massive sword leapt into his hands, somehow of its own accord. Was his opponent flying?

Wei was so close to finishing, he had to bet it all! In that moment, he pushed down hard on the Phoenix Ascending Hidden Flame core at the base of his stomach, and caused the origin Chi energies to strongly circulate through his body.

Above, the eagle gave a loud ‘Caw!’ Again and suddenly shot down like an arrow out of the sky. Just like the two of them, it had been waiting for one of them to make a move! It must have had a similar thought process to Wei! If it attacked while they were in a well guarded position, it was dangerous, but now that Wei’s opponent was flying across the battlefield, he was completely committed to attacking Wei!

That meant that his back was open for hunting season! The Eagle swept down out of the sky with lightning force, and Wei accepted it’s sacrifice at that moment as a gift of the Gods.

Instead of reacting, Wei used the extra few seconds to complete the consolidation of his Chi spark.

His opponent, on the other hand, was forced to divert course, diving out of the way and rolling across the dirt as the Eagle struck empty ground with its massive talons and beak.

Now that the fight had begun, no one was about to quit early. Having missed, the Eagle roared up in the sky and immediately came back down again, soaring directly at the massive sword wielded. This time, the sword wielded was ready, coming up on his feet with his sword prepared to strike, just as the Eagle dove he launched out.

An emmense power of Chi energy coalesced along the blade of the massive sword, and Wei’s opponent cleanly struck the heart of the Eagle.

The bird ‘caw’ed again once more, but blood poured out of its mouth and down the blade. It could only helplessly struggle helplessly as it slowly died.

However, Wei was overjoyed. His consolidation was complete, and what was more, he was sure that his opponent had just used a spark to empower that attack! That meant that between the two of them, he had the upper hand now!

He launched to his feet and activated the Pheonix Ascending Hidden Flame without waiting. Energy poured out along his meridians into his body and he began to burn with heat and light.

However, to his astonishment his opponent simply looked at him and grinned.

”Sorry, but I’ve won this one already,” the sword wielded said. At that moment he cleanly and deftly withdrew the blade from the dead Eagle’s corpse. “From the looks of it, you are still at the first layer of your cultivation technique. I got here before you, and already absorbed the treasure, a five spark Chi flame. I used that to progress to the second level of my cultivation technique, and now I have a capacity to hold three Chi sparks at once! You shouldn’t have been so slow making it here. From your behavior, you probably thought I wasn’t prepared, like you, and we were racing to cultivate. In reality, at the second layer of cultivation, my cultivation speed is three times what it used to be! While you sat their cultivating a single Chi spark, I had already accumulated three!”

Wei was stunned. So he had missed out on the treasure already? Had he really been so unprepared for this battle? He had spent all his energy and time trying to level up when they were back at the Tower, but ended up being in such a disadvantage despite all of his hard work.

”After I finished consolidating the three sparks, I used one to activate my Great Heron Limitless Prey cultivation power, which allows me to fly at the same speed I can run! Then, when the Eagle attacked, I used my second Chi spark to attack it with my empowered Chi Swordstrike technique. So, that leaves me with one more spark to deal with you!”

His speech over, Wei’s adversary didnt wait around to listen to Wei’s response. Instead he immediately launched into the air and began to fly towards Wei. However, Wei immediately noticed that this flight technique must still be in its infancy. The sword user actually never left the ground, and instead was simply gliding across it effortlessly! This was nothing more than horizontal running!

“He probably thinks I’m weak because I don’t have a weapon. Hmph, I’ll show him, the technique I thought I’d never use!”

At that moment, Wei took up a horse stance and channeled every bit of energy he could into the Phoenix Ascending mantra. His body burned hot with fire. However, his opponent didnt slow down. Instead, his sword suddenly wrapped in azure blue energy as he began to use his Chi Swordstrike technique a second time.

”There!” Wei yelled, just as his adversary descended upon him. Shifting his foot forward, he quickly dodged to the left side. “So… strong!” He yelled. Although the sword itself had missed him, just the energy from the strike cut across his chest and arms. If he hadn’t been activating the Pheonix Ascending Hidden Flame with all his might, he would have been sliced in half in that moment regardless of dodging the blow!

However, as it was, his body was illuminated in brilliant white energy, and though blood gushed out, he still had the power to reach out with his hands just as the enemies Swordstrike passed by.

Grabbing the opponents arm, he twisted and threw him to the ground! If being in the air is his advantage, then he must be at a disadvantage when he hits the Earth!

”Hurump!” The sword users eyes went wide. In truth, he already had a tremendous amount of momentum from activating the Swordstrike, so it wasnt easy to change his direction. However, Wei had imprinted 1,000 times each move from the third layer of the Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat Technique, and with an extra activation of his Phoenix Ascending Hidden Flame managed to throw his opponent into the dirt!

The opponents sword hit the ground, and he just barely caught himself with his feet beneath him. He slide for several more feet before finally using his sword like an anchor to stop himself.

”Too slow!” Wei Wang was right behind him already. The throw technique didnt require any additional Chi energy, unlike his opponents Chi Swordstrike, so he didnt have to delay to launch a follow up attack.

By the time his opponent turned to meet him, Wei’s fists were already flying. In this close, with that massive sword, there was no way his adversary could get up the momentum to get a good strike in.

However, he was still strong and fast. He managed to bring his sword hilt up and use it as a shield to block the first fist. Then the left fist came, and he blocked again.

Right, left, right, left, each fist strike was parryed by the hilt of the blade, but with each fist his opponent was quickly tiring out. That sword was far heavier than Wei’s unarmed approach. After six punches, Wei heaved out and with his right foot gave a mighty front kick.

This time, his opponent brought the blade itself up to shield the kick. Wei’s foot landed on the flat edge of the blade and sent his opponent flying backwards several feet.

”Now!” This was likely his only chance to win the match. If he didnt land this blow, his opponent would have enough time and space between them to start a counter, and when that happened the reach and strength of his massive sword would certainly win out over Wei’s fists.

Refusing to hesitate, he launched forward and brought up his left leg in a powerful roundhouse kick. The sword user was late. His sword had been on the left side of his body already, which since it was mirrored, was on Wei’s right. That left the opponent’s right side open to his left roundhouse kick!

Bang! Wei’s foot connected solidly with his opponents rib cage and crippled him, sending him into the side of the mountain with a loud thud.

Still, his opponent grimaced and tried to stand. Wei was ruthless. He would not give this opponent an inch to fight upon.

Summoning everything he had, he launched a massive palm strike with all his might. Even though this wasn’t an empowered Chi strike, it was actually the first time he had used this Palm Strike technique from the second layer of the combat manual. Not only that, but he had already spent two Chi sparks on this technique, so even without it being an empowered technique it would still hit for incredible damage.

Wei’s open palm slammed directly into his opponents wide open face, breaking his nose and snapping his neck backwards!

With a groan, his adversary dropped his sword and crumpled to the ground, dead.