Rearing Demons
Chapter 132: Azure Mountains Three Essence

Chapter 132: Azure Mountains Three Essence

"Where is this?" Luna wondered aloud as she found herself in a most peculiar place. It was as if she were surrounded by glass, nothing else. There appeared to be a blue sky, yet it, too, was made of glass; so clear, so empty.

The environment was an odd blend of transparency and nature, making it difficult to discern one from the other. At times, she thought she could see a starry sky, yet she couldn’t be sure.

"Welcome to Selynth: The Sea of Silent Stars!" Elder Ci’s voice resonated as she suddenly materialized in the realm, though she was almost as translucent as the glass surrounding them. At moments, she was visible, while at others, she merged seamlessly with the glass, leaving Luna able to see through her.

"What is this place?" Luna asked, her voice laced with curiosity. "It feels so strange."

"Selynth is an important realm to the Fiend Devouring Sect. It is one of the many realms we have discovered and... taken," Elder Ci said, emphasizing the word taken with a cold edge in her tone.

"What do you mean?" Luna inquired, confused by the choice of words.

"For now, don’t worry about those details. Once you reach a certain realm, or attain a level of importance—you will naturally understand everything," Elder Ci explained briefly before reappearing right beside Luna. "Now then, you were trying to learn how to attune yourself to essence, right?"

"Yes. I want to figure out which essence I’m most compatible with," Luna replied, nodding. "I just don’t know what I’m supposed to feel. I get different sensations from different essences, and I can’t tell what they mean."

Elder Ci nodded, her eyes glinting with approval. "I’m impressed that you can perceive any feeling from essence, normally, that’s something only cultivators in the Shining Core realm can do.

Before the Luminous Heart realm, everyone used their essence without proper control or understanding, and such sensitivity was unexpected. One only delves into a deeper understanding of essence in the fifth rank and beyond."

"Let me ask you something," Elder Ci continued. "Would you prefer to choose only from the three essences that Celis showed you, or would you like to explore other options?" As she spoke, she waved her hand, and thousands of strands of essence suddenly appeared.

The world of glass transformed before Luna’s eyes. It burst into brilliant hues, each strand taking on the form of an animal or insect.

She saw majestic tigers sprinting, graceful insects flitting about, and even colossal dragons soaring in the distance, their size breathtaking.

"Keep in mind, I have essences ranging from common to epic, and a few even reach the Legendary rank." Elder Ci did not specify which belonged to which realm, for even Luna could discern the more potent essences by their very forms. "From what I know, the three essences of the Azure Mountain are, at most, on par with my own."

Luna nodded, recalling that Celis had mentioned the same.

"I may even have some essences more powerful than what you currently possess," Elder Ci added. "So, would you like to take a look at these as well?"

Luna gulped, tempted by the prospect. Yet she recalled the badge she had been given and promptly shook her head.

"I belong to the Azure Mountain, so it would be disrespectful to Celis and the Azure Lord if I used an essence not linked to them."

Elder Ci smiled approvingly. "I’m glad you made that decision." With a graceful wave of her hand, the additional essences vanished. "Loyalty is important, especially to those two."

Luna nodded once more.

"Now, let’s first let your own essences out," Elder Ci said.

"How?" Luna asked. She wasn’t even sure how to locate them, they were hidden somewhere in her mind, emerging only by chance, purely through luck.

"I’ll help you with that." Elder Ci reached out and gently placed her hand on Luna’s head. Closing her eyes, three strands of essence were instantly drawn forth and projected into the world.

"Wow." Luna’s eyes flew open as she watched the three strands transform into enormous, magnificent beings. The Azure essence manifested as a flaming blue dragon, its mouth so vast it seemed to dwarf the world itself, its body extending into infinity.

Opposite the mighty dragon was a white serpent, grand and beautiful. Although it matched the dragon in size, its aura was distinct, exuding a calm, authoritative presence that contrasted with the fierce energy of the Azure.

The Nivaric essence, represented by the snowy serpent, moved with a serene grace, its twisting form evoking the gentle rhythm of a lullaby through the void and glass.

As for the final essence, the Starbrand essence took on an entirely different form, a singular humanoid figure fashioned from obsidian and starlight, seated atop a throne forged from a collapsing star. Its eyes, like nebulae, observed everything with a calm, indifferent gaze. It radiated a stable, omnipresent aura; a quiet yet dominating force, utterly detached from the world around it.

"Fascinating as always," Elder Ci commented, her eyes sparkling as she observed the essences. "Whenever I see the essences of the Azure Mountain, I always marvel at how the Azure Lord could have gathered such power. The other lords possess potent essences as well, and I have been fortunate enough to witness a few of them. Despite being categorized only at the Legendary rank, their strength and uniqueness are unmistakable."

Luna merely nodded. Although Elder Ci had displayed some essences of comparable aura, the three from the Azure Mountain were distinct; ancient, almost primordial.

"Alright, let’s begin the training," Elder Ci said, turning her attention back to Luna after another moment of quiet praise.

"What do I need to do?" Luna asked, her voice trembling slightly as she took in the intimidating forms of the essences before her.

Despite her worry and a touch of paranoia, Elder Ci’s calm tone reassured her.

"Honestly, it’s actually a very easy process," Elder Ci replied. At that very moment, Luna felt a strange twist from deep within her body.

Before her eyes, two more copies of herself materialized, soon there were three Lunas standing in perfect synchronization.

"What is this?" Luna gasped, staring at the two identical copies that mirrored her every gesture. "There are more of me?!" The other two Lunas echoed her words precisely, moving in flawless unison with her.

"It’s a race," Elder Ci explained. "All three of you—or rather, one of you—will be racing toward the one essence. There are three tests in total, one for each of you. The first to complete them all, if you can, will be deemed the one with the highest compatibility."

"That simple?" Luna asked, her tone a mix of disbelief and cautious hope.

"That simple, but do not be deceived. The tests themselves are hard. The concept is straightforward, yet the challenges you face will be intense. Each test is different, each one uniquely challenging and even dangerous," Elder Ci continued, her eyes narrowing with seriousness as she surveyed the three essences. "You might get hurt, or even suffer severe mental strain. Do you want to try?"

Luna paused, her thoughts drifting to her mother; the sacrifices her mother had made for her. Although she felt little for the absent father who left a void in her heart, her desire to help her mother and become stronger burned fiercely within her.

"I am willing. It’s not as if I haven’t been foolish before," Luna replied with a small, rueful laugh as she recalled the hazy fragments of a past she struggled to remember.

"Alright." Elder Ci smiled warmly as three elaborately designed doors appeared, one in front of each version of Luna. "Enter these, and begin the first test, the test of physical compatibility."

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