Archean Eon Art c1-766

by I Eat Tomatoes, Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi, 我吃西红柿

  Falling didn’t matter. They would only lose consciousness for a short while. When they regained consciousness, they would be outside the Pit of Bewilderment. As for what they would encounter when they fell to the bottom of the pit? Nobody knew. It was why it became one of Archean Mountain’s ten great mysteries.

  Even a Marquis Godfiend can’t complete the fifth ring. Meng Chuan sighed inwardly.

  “Qiyue, I’m prepared to give it a try,” said Meng Chuan.

  “I’ll accompany you,” said Liu Qiyue with a smile. “Let’s try it out together.”

  The two walked to the Pit of Bewilderment’s entrance. Two stewards were waiting there.

  “Lord Meng Chuan, Lady Liu Qiyue,” greeted a female steward with a smile. “The Pit of Bewilderment has a huge impact on one’s mind. Many disciples often have nightmares, so after entering once, they need to rest for ten days, at least. They can only attempt the Pit of Bewilderment again after ten days. Every attempt requires 500 credits.”

  “We know.” Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue nodded.

  “Please.” The female steward smiled and moved aside.

  “I’ll go ahead,” said Meng Chuan. The stairwell was very narrow—only three feet wide. It wasn’t suitable for them to walk together.

  Meng Chuan immediately descended the staircase, but no illusions attacked his mind. Instead, he only felt his consciousness sink. The churning black fog inside the Pit of Bewilderment was tempting him into jumping down.

  Chapter 109 - Surprise (1)

  Meng Chuan walked down the stairs along the Pit of Bewilderment’s perimeter, step by step. He got closer and closer to the bottom of the Pit of Bewilderment, and the temptation was growing stronger.

  What a strong temptation. Meng Chuan was secretly shocked, but he calmly resisted it as he descended.

  His consciousness had a “heavy” feeling. The deeper he went, the heavier he felt.

  When he finished the second ring, he found his Essence Soul being suppressed. The Power of Essence Soul was sealed, and he was unable to resist the temptation by using it.

  It actually suppressed my Power of Essence Soul? Meng Chuan was extremely shocked. He tried to use the Power of Essence Soul, but it was useless. When I scaled the Darkness Altar, my Power of Essence Soul wasn’t suppressed even towards the end. However, my Power of Essence Soul is already completely suppressed when I’m at the third ring?

  The Pit of Bewilderment was clearly much more mysterious than the Darkness Altar. After all, Regis Godfiends and Marquis Godfiends would occasionally come here to test their willpower.

  Meng Chuan continued walking, and his consciousness felt extremely heavy. He could barely resist the Pit of Bewilderment’s temptations with just his will.

  Once he reached the third ring’s 50th step, the urge to jump filled Meng Chuan’s mind gradually. He couldn’t even think about anything else. All he could do was look at the churning black fog at the bottom of the pit. He felt like it was the most beautiful place in the world. He felt an intense urge to jump down like a moth flying into a flame. Everything in the world, including death, couldn’t stop him from submitting to the temptation.

  Resist it. If you can’t even withstand this bit of desire, how are you going to refine the Six Desires baneful aura? Meng Chuan’s consciousness continued roaring. His consciousness was like a bound dragon that struggled with all its might.

  He struggled to free himself from the black fog’s control. Meng Chuan’s expression began to distort.

  Compared to what I’ve been pursuing, these temptations are nothing! Scram! Meng Chuan’s consciousness grew more crazed as it roared, Get lost!

  However, his face was turning blank. Currently, his consciousness was very weak. He couldn’t move his body or influence his facial expressions.

  A terrifying temptation suddenly invaded Meng Chuan’s thoughts. He let out a faint roar inwardly, but his weak roar was drowned out by silence.

  Meng Chuan no longer had any other thoughts.

  The only thing he remembered was that the best place in the world was just beside him. He was born to go there! Nothing could stop him.

  Whoosh.

  With a single step, he fell downwards.

  He was getting closer and closer to the Pit of Bewilderment’s end.

  I’m finally here. As he arrived at the end of the pit, his mind blanked as he was smothered by a sensation of comfort. He felt incredibly comfortable, just like a baby returning to their mother’s womb.

  Oh? Meng Chuan suddenly jolted awake.

  He found himself standing at the exit of a tunnel. Liu Qiyue was beside him; she was already awake. She immediately shouted, “Ah Chuan.”

  “Why am I here?” Meng Chuan looked around.

  “I was standing here when I woke up,” said Liu Qiyue. Then, she pointed at the tunnel behind her. “I waited for quite some time and saw you walk over in a daze. You stopped before waking up.”

  “I walked over dazedly?” Meng Chuan was somewhat shocked. “I don’t remember that at all.”

  The feeling of losing oneself was terrifying. Most Archean Mountain disciples didn’t like to lose consciousness. They were willing to cultivate here because they had absolute confidence in the sect. Furthermore, the Pit of Bewilderment had remained very safe for tens of thousands of years. Nothing bad had ever happened to the disciples.

  “Lord Meng Chuan.” There were two stewards at the entrance. The fatter steward smiled and said, “You fell to the bottom when you reached the fourth ring’s 1st step.”

  Meng Chuan nodded slightly. His willpower had improved slightly compared to when he had ascended the Darkness Altar. The experience seemed to have tempered his will.

  “I fell to the bottom of the pit when I reached the third ring’s 2nd step. I did worse than you, Ah Chuan,” said Liu Qiyue.

  “That’s already equivalent to fifty steps on the Darkness Altar,” said Meng Chuan with a smile. “It’s already very good.”

  The fat steward added, “Lord Meng Chuan, Lady Liu Qiyue, you will need at least ten days of rest before you can enter the Bit of Bewilderment again. In terms of will-tempering, you will have the best effects during the first two months. The longer you train here, the slower the tempering will be. After half a year, it will be almost useless to enter the Pit of Bewilderment.”

  “I know.” Meng Chuan nodded and left with Liu Qiyue.

  The two walked along the mountain path, discussing the Pit of Bewilderment.

  “What’s at the bottom of the Pit of Bewilderment? Why is its bewitchment so strong?” Liu Qiyue asked.

  “It’s very powerful.” Meng Chuan nodded. He was unable to use the Power of Essence Soul at the third ring. How terrifying! Reaching the bottom of the pit meant that one’s will was at the top ten of all humans. What exactly was the Pit of Bewilderment?

  “Ah Chuan, cultivating at the Pit of Bewilderment during the first two months provides the best will-tempering effects. The tempering only slows down later,” said Liu Qiyue. “Do you have any hope of finishing the fourth ring in the next few months?”

  Meng Chuan shook his head gently. “Willpower depends on many factors. What you’ve experienced and insights in life are more important.”

  Constantly entering the Pit of Bewilderment would be dumb. After doing such a thing for half a year, it would be almost useless to enter the PIt of Bewilderment.

  According to books, it was very difficult for one’s willpower to increase as long as they cultivated peacefully. If they entered the battlefield and swam in seas of blood, they would be involved in life and death battles.

  The grief after seeing companions die, the joy from killing a demon monarch successfully, the helplessness after seeing many ordinary soldiers die in battle… The joy of marriage, the excitement of having a child, the mental anguish after being stuck at a cultivation bottleneck for a decade or two, and the relief after an epiphany that resulted in a breakthrough…

  All these life experiences could strengt
hen one’s heart and will.

  The heart was the material, and the will was a weapon.

  Only materials of sufficient quality could be used to forge a divine armament.

  If one always cultivated peacefully and had very few life experiences, they wouldn’t be able to strengthen their will very much. Therefore, powerful Godfiends often fought on battlefields for many years before entering the Pit of Bewilderment to temper their will. This would result in higher efficiency and better results.

  “I’ll think of a solution eventually,” said Meng Chuan.

  It was very difficult to increase one’s willpower.

  For example, Ji Yuantong’s will was weak. Although he had become an inner sect disciple, Meng Chuan and the others had never seen him. Everyone suspected that Archean Mountain had special arrangements for him.

  With Ji Yuantong’s weak will, he would probably never become a Great Solar Godfiend his entire life if he remained on the mountain for ten years. To temper his will, he had to leave the mountain and enter the battlefield. His experiences on the battlefield would change him and temper his will.

  …

  Night.

  Meng Chuan was sleeping soundly in bed and had fallen into a dream.

  “Jump down.”

  Meng Chuan dazedly stared at the churning black fog in front of him. The churning black fog drew closer to him from every direction.

  Meng Chuan smiled and jumped into the black fog.

  Currently, the black fog was the most beautiful place in the world. The black fog was the only thing he lived for.

  No! A strong resistance rose in his mind. This shouldn’t be what I live for. I’m still alive. There are other things I need to do. Such thoughts gradually surfaced as he resisted the black fog’s bewitchment.

  “Come.” The black fog flew towards Meng Chuan and attempted to envelop him.

  Why am I alive? Meng Chuan’s consciousness questioned his reason for existing. Why?

  Suddenly, he remembered Meng Dajiang, Liu Qiyue, and… his mother smiling at him!

  Dad, Mom, Qiyue. Meng Chuan suddenly understood. I’m Meng Chuan! I’m Meng Chuan!

  After remembering who he was, his dreamscape began to twist and distort, making it seem unreal.

  “‘m Meng Chuan. I swore to kill all demons in the world. How can I be tempted by you? Begone! Meng Chuan roared and shattered the dreamscape completely. His consciousness finally broke through the nightmare. He could now sense his body and the outside world.

  Whoosh.

  Meng Chuan suddenly sat up, his forehead covered in a cold sweat. It was still dark outside.

  “I had a nightmare?” Meng Chuan murmured softly. It’s said that many disciples who enter the Pit of Bewilderment will have nightmares. I didn’t expect that I would have nightmares as well. The pit influenced me that much? He shook his head. According to the books, I should be fine after ten days.

  This was the reason why Archean Mountain only permitted disciples to enter the Pit of Bewilderment every ten days.

  Chapter 110 - Surprise (2)

  Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon

  The next day, at dawn, Liu Qiyue came looking for Meng Chuan.

  “Ah Chuan, Ah Chuan.” Liu Qiyue found Meng Chuan practicing his saber art at the training grounds. Meng Chuan was currently executing the complete Heart Intent Saber Art. Although he had only comprehended the Heart Saber Stance’s Saber Intent, it wasn’t difficult for him to make the other stances look correct on the surface. Every day, after he woke up, he would practice the complete saber art several times to comprehend the Saber Intent within.

  “Why are you here so early today?” Meng Chuan stopped. Qiyue came to have breakfast with him every morning, just like when they were at Mirror Lake Meng Manor.

  “I had a nightmare yesterday. I was bewitched and fell into the black fog. When I woke up, I was exhausted.” Liu Qiyue’s face was rather pale. “I couldn’t sleep after that.”

  Meng Chuan comforted her. “I also had a nightmare. However, in my dream, I had a nagging suspicion that something was amiss. I suddenly realized that I was Meng Chuan, allowing me to wake up quickly.”

  “I was in a stupor during my dream,” said Liu Qiyue helplessly. “I couldn’t shake off the bewitchment.”

  “It’s fine. We’ll be fine in a few days,” said Meng Chuan with a smile. “It’s said that resisting the nightmare is also akin to tempering one’s will.”

  “Forget it. I won’t be going to the Pit of Bewilderment for now. I’ll continue improving my archery skills,” said Liu Qiyue. “I need to reach the Realm of Intent as soon as possible before I can master the Phoenix Divine Body.”

  It was very uncomfortable when one was unable to escape from a nightmare. Liu Qiyue suffered from nightmares for five days before finally breaking free from the torture. Meng Chuan was in better shape. He only suffered for three days before completely returning to normal. He managed to regain self-awareness in all three nightmares.

  …

  Ten days later.

  In the evening, Liu Qiyue went to the Earth Fire Lava Pond for two additional hours of training! As a genius who had awakened her phoenix bloodline, cultivating in the Earth Fire Lava Pond was a form of enjoyment! Furthermore, her talent with fire was much higher than before she awakened, so her cultivation speed accelerated. This was why Archean Mountain was so confident in nurturing her.

  Anyone who awoke a phoenix bloodline became talented with fire.

  Whilst she was doing so, Meng Chuan went to the Pit of Bewilderment. This was his second time entering the Pit of Bewilderment.

  This time, he reached the fourth ring’s 6th step! His improvement was huge.

  …

  Time passed.

  He went to the Pit of Bewilderment every ten days. In the beginning, he would often have nightmares after entering the Pit of Bewilder. After his fifth entry into the Pit of Bewilderment, he no longer had any nightmares. However, the pit’s effects on will-tempering reduced after his fifth entry.

  …

  In the blink of an eye, more than three months passed. On 5th April, drizzle poured.

  In the early morning, Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue headed to Grotto-Heaven Pavilion. They traversed the mountain with movement techniques, and the rain didn’t touch them at all.

  “Ah Chuan, what books did you bring?” Liu Qiyue realized that Meng Chuan was holding two books.

  “They are history books,” said Meng Chuan with a smile. “After the lecture is over, I’ll head to the library and exchange these for two new books.”

  A disciple was allowed to borrow two ordinary books at a time. He would have to return these books for ones he hadn’t read.

  “History books?” Liu Qiyue was puzzled.

  “I’ve already stopped training at the Pit of Bewilderment,” said Meng Chuan as they traveled. “During my first two months at the Pit of Bewilderment, I kept improving and reached the fourth ring’s 22nd step. But in the third month, I’ve only managed to take one more step. The more I enter the Pit of Bewilderment, the weaker the will-tempering effects are. Anyway, our willpower will also improve when we cultivate normally.”

  Liu Qiyue nodded. “Your current willpower hasn’t reached the Six Desire baneful aura refining threshold. What are you planning on doing?”

  Currently, he reached the fourth ring’s 23rd step at the Pit of Bewilderment. The Six Desire baneful aura refining threshold was the fourth ring’s completion. He still had 56 steps to go!

  “I’ve already made preparations. I’d rather take five to six years to complete the Ninth Refinement,” said Meng Chuan. “Although it’ll take some time, I’ll cultivate my saber arts during this period. My saber art cultivation can’t be delayed.”

  His future would be affected depending on whether he completed the Eighth or Ninth Refinement before becoming a Godfiend. His future wouldn’t be affected much even if he took years longer to become a Godfiend.

  Just like what was written i
n the books, when one’s willpower ranked in the top ten of the human race, even mortals could become Marquis Godfiends within a year. By the same logic, if one’s saber art reached a high realm, a mortal could also become a Great Solar Godfiend very quickly.

  “Willpower is more reliant on life experiences and the insights one has in life,” said Meng Chuan. “It’s very difficult for us to gain such life experiences when we’re cultivating on the mountain. After reading several books, I discovered that reading is a way to improve one’s willpower. It’s especially so when reading history books. I read about the lives of all famous individuals in history and the rise and fall of dynasties.”

  Meng Chuan said, “Although I haven’t experienced it myself, I have gained insights from reading about history. I believe that after five to six years of reading, my knowledge pool will be massive.”

  He planned to focus on many aspects for five to six years. He had decided to focus on his saber art, reading, and an escape art.

  His saber art was the most important! He understood that his talent with the saber was at the average genius level. He was only a peerless genius when it came to painting. He mastered the Heart Saber Stance in half a year purely because the Saber Drawing Stance and the Heart Saber Stance were very similar. Since his talent wasn’t as high as his master had said, he had to be more diligent.

  Cultivating diligently—rain or shine—also tempered his will.

  Reading broadened his horizons and gave him insight.

  The escape art was a technique created by an Archean Mountain senior. Deep in the Thousand Sabers Cavern—over 1000 feet deeper than where Meng Chuan normally cultivated—the wind blades could heavily injure Meng Chuan. A handful of wind blades were enough to kill him! He had to use his movement technique to avoid the wind blades. If he was careless, he could die.

  There was something terrifying about being on the edge of life and death! His psyche rapidly improved as he dodged and blocked desperately.