The Clear Pond disciple leads the pair over.

  “So why don’t you guys just break through the trial to steal the treasures inside?” Xue Jiang couldn’t help but ask. He was simply curious; were the Clear Pond sect not powerful enough or was the Dragon Blood Cult's attainments simply beyond what they could handle?

  The Clear Pond disciple sighs. “There’s an array engraved into the structure of the inheritance site. If it’s forcefully broken into then it set off the destruction of the entire site. In truth, some of us considered trying anyways, but many of our leaders have the mind of scholars; it would be a shame for the cultivation world if nothing could be gained from this inheritance site. Plus, how else could we profit off this place if we destroyed it? Hah!” He explains, not having too many hard feelings.

  Wang Tian feels the lightness of his pouch of spiritual stones. “Ay, now I’m broke too…” He says, somewhat dispirited.

  Xue Jiang quickly looks away. He couldn’t help but think that the sky was somewhat beautiful today.

  The Clear Pond disciple leads the two to a circular pit, dug deeply underground; a staircase circling the circumference, leading deeper into the pit. “We’re here. Feel Free. But remember, this is an inheritance; there are others who may wait inside…” He says with a word of warning.

  Wang Tian lets out a sigh. “Prepare yourself.” He says.

  Xue Jiang lets out a bitter smile. Alas, despite my nature, I still found myself here in the end… He thinks, lamenting that there was a need for conflict in the world.

  In truth, this was a road that many cultivators found themselves walking. If the heavens allowed, many would be willing to be peace-loving cultivators but alas, in the end, their nature was to steal from the heavens, and the question was often turn back, or fight; to the many tigers and dragons who have been asked, the answer was simple.

  Wang Tian leads the way down, into the depths of the pit.

  Xue Jiang lets out a sigh. “Thank you.” He says to the Clear Pond disciple, before resigning himself, and follow Wang Tian down the stairs.

  Waiting below were three entrances, one marked by the character for flame, another marked the character for water, and the middle entrance marked by the character for earth.

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  Xue Jiang’s eyes widen and looks to Wang Tian.

  “Damn.” Wang Tian couldn’t help but exclaim. He had gone through the trouble of inviting Xue Jiang, and even paying his entrance fee, but these three doors were a clear question. “Go on, say it; which door?” He asks, feeling somewhat bitter. If they had to enter through different doors, then Wang Tian was simply forced to take a loss.

  Xue Jiang lets out a sigh, feeling somewhat bad for being a burden. “The water door.” He answers simply.

  Wang Tian shakes his head. “I must take the fire door.” He says with a sigh. “Be careful inside. Our paths may still connect in the end. For now, make sure to protect yourself; there are surely other inheritance candidates inside.” He says.

  Xue Jiang simply nods. “See you on the other side.” He says, walking through the water door.

  Wang Tian follows after and walks into the fire door.

  …

  …

  While Xue Jiang walks, he feels a power descending and checking his body, resonating with the Dragon Blood Core.

  Eventually, the power is lifted, and Xue Jiang was allowed entry.

  Xue Jiang walks somewhat slowly, examining the tunnel for traps.

  Luckily, there was not much to hinder him.

  In the end, Xue Jiang walks into an opening.

  Waiting in the room, two cultivators were sitting down. They turn to look and see Xue Jiang.

  “Hurry up and take a seat; we’ve been waiting for so long!” One of the cultivators says.

  Xue Jiang raises an eyebrow, somewhat curious what the situation was. Why are these people waiting? He wonders.

  …

  …

  Wang Tian continues walking through the tunnel with a tired countenance. His face was darkened with ash, and some of his hair had burned off; as well as his clothes.

  For each step, it was as if the shadow of death was waiting; wherever Wang Tian’s feet ended up, there was a trap waiting to spring into action.

  Luckily, he was quick-witted and strong enough, or he would surely have many life-threatening injuries by now.

  Eventually, he makes it to an opening, but before he even has time to blink, a spear flashes, and like an angry snake, it reaches out to take a bite of Wang Tian.

  Wang Tian’s eyes widen and he prepares his sword to defend. Damn, why are you attacking!? I just got here! He exclaims, frustrated.

  …

  …

  Xue Jiang hurries to sit down. There were three floor tiles engraved with flowers, before a stage that was somewhat raised above the ground.

  The two other cultivators were each sitting on a tile, and when Xue Jiang sits down, the tile is pushed into the ground. The arrays that were engraved into the room immediately activate. Suddenly, an apparition appears on the stage.

  “Hello, fellow disciples. Welcome to the Eternal Spring sect.” The ghost says with a smile.

  Xue Jiang raises an eyebrow. Eternal Spring sect? Wasn’t this the Dragon Blood Cult? He wonders. Did I come to the wrong place? He asks himself with a weird expression.

  The apparition doesn’t wait, and continues as if it was a recorded message.

  “Though you may know us as the Dragon Blood Cult; seasons pass, the river of time is relentless, and people are doomed to change. For many reasons, the Eternal Spring sect has long branched off from the Dragon Blood Cult. People find themselves with the Dragon Blood Core for many reasons, and though it is widely known that this core is formed to pursue the path of invincibility, this is not always true. This core has another name; the Eternity core, which follows the Dao of Eternity. Though the path of invincibility and the path of eternity walk in the same direction, and both spring up from the Dragon Blood core, they are not entirely the same. The path of invincibility speaks to remaining and surviving no matter which obstacles you face, while the path of eternity is to forever exist because your existence can’t be erased. For that to be true, and for you to walk this Dao, you must embody an eternal truth, and your existence; it must become indelible.” The ghost explains.