Vessel of Worlds

Andy soon reached the inner cavern and came before the purple restriction curtain.

"Oh! This restriction is very strange—it doesn't merely limit the cultivation of those who enter. There seem to be other conditions layered in as well." It was Youruo again, raising questions about the ward.

Andy blinked and answered in thought: Quite right. Beyond requiring Foundation Establishment or below, it admits only those bearing all five spiritual roots. But—Youruo, you seem remarkably versed in the formation path, to read the ward's peculiarities at a glance!

"I don't really understand it myself. It's only that when I look at these restrictions, the thoughts simply... arise on their own." Youruo considered a moment, then gave her vague answer with a rueful laugh.

Youlan spoke suddenly: "I half remember—we two each had our specialty in life. Youruo's, it seems, was precisely the formation path. But what was mine?"

"Ah, what use is talk like this now, with most of our memories long dissolved?" Youruo sighed softly—rare for her—then lifted her voice. "Master! Since it's so—with your Core Formation cultivation, how will you enter? Force the ward, and you may destroy the entire dwelling!"

Andy smiled slightly. No need for worry. Recluse Ximen arranged for this long ago. The restriction is built upon the Primal Unity Divine Light as its foundation—and since my Primal Unity Technique reached its seventh layer, I too can wield that power.

"The Primal Unity Divine Light? Master holds such an ability—why have we never once seen him use it? Is there some flaw in it?" Youlan asked with concern.

A flaw... you could call it that. Andy's tone turned grave. It was the first power I learned after my core stabilized—before I had refined the Soul Sacrifice Pearl, which is why you two never knew. As for why I don't use it lightly: its power is immense, but its cost in spiritual power is enormous. At early-stage Core Formation, I can sustain it only moments.

With that, he slowly extended his right palm with the utmost care, centering it on the purple curtain, scarcely a few cun away.

He murmured a formula obscure and profound, gently rousing the Primal Unity Golden Core within his dantian.

A film of pale purple qi rose first across Andy's face, then thickened rapidly until it sheathed his whole body. His extended right palm above all was wrapped in purple so dense it seemed solid—the entire arm lost from view.

His expression was stern and strained; bean-sized drops of sweat fell steadily from his brow, vanishing to nothing the instant they touched the purple qi.

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"Ha!" At Andy's low shout, all that purple qi rushed as one into his right palm, dyeing the hand a vivid crystalline purple-red, translucent, glowing with the luster of jade.

He drew the palm back—then drove it forward. From its center a beam of purple light a cun thick lanced out and struck the curtain inches away.

Ordinary as the beam appeared, it pierced the purple curtain without the least resistance, opening a hole several cun wide that spread and spread, until in moments it formed a round gap barely large enough for one person.

Andy became a streak of light at once, flashing through the opening and past the restriction.

"That Primal Unity Divine Light is truly extraordinary! To Youlan's eye, it's stronger than the five-element light of an ordinary Core Formation cultivator by far more than several times!"

"Mm! Youruo thinks the same. Another great weapon in Master's arsenal!"

The two girls, not daring to interrupt while he cast, poured out their commentary the moment it ended.

Andy said nothing. He walked into the dwelling-hall where he had once battled the Blood Intent Gate's young master, activated the concealing formation he had left, and watched an identical purple curtain form upon the far wall.

He repeated the procedure—Divine Light, breach, and through.

"So this is where Master sat for ten years? How crude! And the smell—ugh, stale man everywhere!" Youruo pronounced, dripping disdain.

Youlan gave a soft laugh and held her peace.

Andy, speechless, only seated himself once more on the cushion that had borne him a decade, took out several high-grade spirit stones, closed his eyes, and meditated.

Two castings of the Divine Light in quick succession—brief as they were—had drained more than half his power. With no knowledge of what dangers might wait beyond the chamber's last restriction, caution demanded, at minimum, a full reservoir.

Some hours later, his power essentially restored, he rose and gathered up the partly drained high-grade stones.

"Master was only restoring spiritual power—did that call for high-grade spirit stones?! What would a little extra time have cost? Rich you may be, Master, but must you waste like this!" Youruo's voice ached with vicarious pain—the tone of one watching a wastrel sell his grandfather's fields without a flinch. She had bitten the words back all through his meditation, not daring to disturb him; now they burst out at last.

"Patience, Youruo—Master surely has his reasons," Youlan soothed. Though in truth she wondered just as much, and Andy, as their master, felt that wondering plainly.

The corner of Andy's mouth curled in a small, secretive smile. No hurry on that. You'll both understand sooner or later.

In his mind's eye, Youruo pulled a face at him—vexed and impatient at once—then let him be.

"Well then," Andy said aloud, to no one but himself. "Time to answer the question of these long decades—what treasure lies behind this last restriction!"

Youruo—look for me. Is there anything unusual about this purple ward? he asked in thought.

"Nothing unusual at all—same as the two before. Only the admission condition differs: this one truly does require a Core Formation cultivator to pass!" The girl, still sulking over the squandered spirit stones, dared not cross her master's purpose, and answered faithfully. She had been studying the curtain from the moment he entered the chamber, and the reply came without pause.

No tricks—good. Andy nodded. His thought turned; his hands sketched a brief seal; and purple qi closed over his whole body.

Against every contingency, he drew out the Blazing Heaven Blade as well, and gripped it fast.

Saber in hand, sheathed in that thick purple guard, Andy walked slowly toward the purple curtain that had baffled him for so many long years.