The Sole Disciple’s lumen projection entered the Leaking’s realm pocket in an instant mist. Upon his appearance, the rain ceased immediately, as if his presence were intrusive.

  Hovering mid-air, he assessed the pocket for traps and barriers.

  Above, thick gray clouds loomed with a heavy scent of rain. And below, infinite glassy waters stretched as far as the eye could see. There was nothing unusual in the air nor peculiar oddities. Which was strange, as he knew the Ancient Hall took strict measures to protect its treasured resources.

  But still, he kept his guard up.

  Streaks of light stretched from his right, and his awareness sensed it was still morning. Confirming the realm pocket was aligned with the sun from one of the upper realms.

  Please be the fourth realm, he thought. He was already disappointed it wasn’t in their third realm. Still, he was confident he could complete the task.

  The thick mist looming in the distance reminded him of the gloomy days of the rainy season. And somehow the thought of rain made him feel uneasy. Glancing at the waters below, he felt a strange pull, and his awareness sent an unsettling about them while he thought of rain.

  Slowly, he glided towards the waters to inspect them. But not before long, he stopped, realizing the more he approached, they likewise descended.

  Then it struck him. He was looking at the trap.

  The waters rise when it rains, he thought. Suddenly he understood the rain thoughtfulness of the ceased rain.

  How kind of the Ancient Hall to confirm an intruder’s intent, even for a resource of the ancient throne… he thought.

  He glanced around, seeking land. As if in answer, a breeze picked up, putting a swift end to his search.

  Hmm. No land... he concluded.

  For the air was not only crisp with the scent of clean, clear water. It left no trail of the earthy fragrance of rain-soaked soil. Most unusual for realm pockets.

  They typically had a small aisle where they displayed their treasured resource. Three at the very least, with the other two securing both ends of their protective barrier with a scroll of retrieval instructions, at the very least.

  Testing his retrieval technique, he gauged the clouds while flexing his hand in a grip. The realm’s edges curved inward, folding like the surface of a sphere until the distant mist surrounded him.

  It worked. He could grasp the Leaking’s realm pocket.

  Releasing his grip, he swelled with hope, and resumed his seeking. Portaling to the farthest point in sight, he appeared over and over until he sensed a flicker of dread settling over him. He’d returned to his point of entrance.

  "Where are you?" he finally breathed, his voice a low, resonant murmur, rich with quiet intensity.

  With willed thought, his translucent amber projection solidified. His warm chestnut eyes filled and his white flowing robe revealed its Reigning official markings. A solid light blue lining along the fold of his neck.

  Concerned, he retraced the steps of his retrieval technique which should have brought him before the eye of the Leaking. But while he attempted to recall, he could think of nothing other than his word to his Shifu.

  How would he stand before him and explain days of absence crafting a technique that failed to lead him to his target. Even though realm pockets had their own laws, treasured resources were displayed openly, and the worthy claimed them for the taking.

  He glanced at the glassy waters once more, considering a dive to inspect the ground beneath. After all, it wasn’t just an ordinary realm resource, it was a treasured realm resource. Its master would certainly want to hide it.

  But as he assessed the right spot to aim a lumen blow at the waters, to disarm its evasive technique, he sensed a warning and it came with a heavy presence, startling him.

  "Reveal yourself," he spoke with willed command. And no longer careful not to leave his lumen trace, he sent a seeking technique that rippled amber lumen throughout the pocket.

  The presence pressed heavily from his right, where rays of light reached towards him.

  He turned, but when his gaze lifted, he held his breath in stunned reverence. The clouds had not parted for the sun as he’d assumed. Nor did the lingering mist on the waters part for its rays.

  "The Eye of the Leaking," he let out, his voice catching as he beheld it in the distance.

  Surging from the depths in a brilliant surge of white light, a radiant beam ascended upward and through the clouds, towering like an endless summit.

  Its brightness stained light into the clouds around it and likewise the waters through which it pierced.

  Instantly, the Sole Disciple appeared before the beam in a swift mist. And instantly, the beam’s rays softened as if dimming to acknowledge him.

  He let out a breath of awe.

  Never before had he seen the eye of the Leaking with his own eyes. The sacred scrolls of the Vermillion Bird King's vault couldn’t capture its awe. Nor could the scrolls of the Ancient Hall itself.

  And he was certain its width spanned the length of seven spears.

  For in all scrolls, the ancient artifact were depicted as a wisping beam of light, whirling like a stray vortex. He’d felt he’d wasted months training his retrieval on tempests.

  What he saw before him was still and certain. Brimming with brilliance. And that humming… He recognized it. None of them mentioned that perfect humming pulse of a masterful technique… And suddenly he realized the cause of the mist scattered in the realm.

  It was the mist he was most certain was lumen dust coming from the force of the towering beam.

  All this lumen dust and yet you stand still, he marvelled, taking a moment while he slipped his hand into the beam, his fingers slicing cleanly through the layered streaks of light.

  He glided sideways, peeking through the incision, while a low light-hearted chuckle escaped him.

  Then, like the untimely pull of a guzheng, he paused, taken aback. Slowly, he withdrew his hand... It was soaked.

  He leaned in, scrutinizing the streaking light once more to confirm. His heart nearly stopped at the sight. Within the streaking light, mist trailed upward, carrying droplets reflecting colorful undertones.

  "Are those ancient waters?" he muttered curiously, leaning closer as he couldn't help but marvel.

  And rightfully so. For in all the realms, the ancient waters were the true source of power, and lumen was merely their conduit.

  Yes, the realms’ cultivation of lumen was a means to master their second source of power, being the seven ancient waters.

  For mastery of each of the seven waters granted ascension through each of the seven realms. And an immortal’s strength was gauged by the potency of the ancient waters in his lumen draw. The more ancient waters visible in their lumen draw, the more they were held in high regard.

  Suddenly, a solemn realization dawned on him. The streaks of light within the eye of the Leaking showed all seven ancient waters present.

  "Strange," he muttered. "The eye of the Leaking of the third realm should not have all seven of the ancient waters in its beam."

  Not only was it concerning, it posed a threat to his quest. For he was not an ancient immortal of the seventh realm. And even in the third realm, he ranked young immortal. One rank above the lowest, and one rank below the highest.

  For ever since his vow to follow the White Phoenix, no matter how much lumen he cultivated or how dense his draw held ancient water particles, the Sole Disciple had peaked with only one of the ancient waters.

  The amber hued ancient waters of form.

  The waters coveted by cultivators of the Mortal Realm when gaining ascension to the third realm. Standing there, had he known he’d face an ancient ranking artifact, he wondered if he would have given his disciple’s vow.

  Suddenly, an old familiar feeling of frustration and the force of his drive rose and enveloped his mind. He had peaked at the waters of form, and he was stuck in the third realm.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  A moment passed, contemplating. Finally, he reached his resolve. The part of the beam in sight was the portion of the third realm. Surely, he could retrieve it and fulfil his quest.

  Reaching for his Pendant, he slipped it free from his sash and held it toward the lumen beam.

  "Retrieve," he let out a willed command, his tone resolute.

  A swift gust of lumen dust swept into the beam as if it held its breath, stunned. Then, there was still silence so absolute, it spoke to his doubt… Was the beam truly an artifact of the Reigning that could heed his will? Or was he standing before a lure?

  "Retrieve," he repeated, his tone firm. Still, there was no response.

  Reaching his hand into the beam’s rays, the Sole Disciple willed his awareness to expand and course throughout its form… Then, his face turned pale, and he gazed at the beam, eyes wide in shock.

  As certain as ever, his awareness relayed the beams' sentiment deep in his mind: Intruder…

  Loud snappings sounded from both ends of the beam, one after the other, slowly picking pace. Meanwhile, he noticed the beam’s rays vibrating at the sound of each snapping.

  Soon, the rays blended into one, and the snapping gave way to a horrifying sound. Like a deep rumbling current, he sensed the roaring of a great tide crashing towards him from both ends, while lightning flashed across the realm.

  Quickly, he clutched his Pendant with both hands, and commanded as he desperately willed his every syllable, "Retrieve!"

  A faint light trailed from the beam, weak and reluctant.

  As the rushing force swelled, pressure bore down like a crushing waterfall upon his core. And he almost laughed, realizing the shifting barrier below was the least of threats.

  Then, the first piercing droplets struck from the thick clouds. Sharp as rainwater, and cutting through his skin with an unforgiving bite. He clenched his teeth in a wincing grimace.

  "Retrieve! Or I will rip out your token and cast you back to the Reigning Grounds!" he commanded with grit teeth, his tone daring the beam to defy him. And he meant every word.

  Gradually, he felt the beam’s current recoiling, and slowly reverting whence it came. The pressure on his core likewise lifted, and relief soon settled over him. He couldn’t believe the beam obeyed, panting to stabilize his heart rate.

  Quietly, before the Pendant, streaks of light seeped from the beam and entered its carved jade. They were peaceful, holding none of the threat of the crushing falls.

  "Drain," he said with willed conviction.

  The streaks of light obeyed, and a force of lumen gust lashed against the loose strands of his hair, while he shielded his eyes from the blinding surge of light retrieving into his Pendant.

  Moments later, the light subsided, and he dared to look. But instead of relief, his dark chestnut eyes reflected a flicker of deep concern.

  The beam had shrunk significantly from the length of a seven spears, to the width of a single spear. But it seemed before whittling further, it had halted abruptly, with loose trailing beams floating towards his Pendant as if snagged at both ends.

  He tightened his grip on the retrieval technique, strengthening his will to draw the bending beams closer. But they remained halted midway, trailing against the Pendant.

  Again and again, he pulled, until his strained core mistakenly heaved lumen into its depths. Causing an exhale of defeat.

  Locking eyes with the defiant wisp of beam, he assessed with a questioning eye. Then, a wry chuckle escaped him, low and annoyed, as if he'd finally grasped its long-winded game.

  "You find me unworthy..." he said, both matter of fact and questioning.

  Then, something unusual happened. Something he had never expected. The beam relayed its response through a distinct sentiment that sounded in his awareness.

  Young immortal… Turn your gaze to the clouds above and scan the depths of the lake below. Know my bounds and assess your own worth.

  Heart pounding, the Sole Disciple glanced behind him and back at the beam. But his awareness was clear. The eye of the Leaking really had emitted a sentiment, although he was certain artifacts were not sentient. They neither had awareness nor sentiment.

  Then, he felt a grip on his core, but he was certain it was not his technique.

  Like a stringed puppet, his head gazed upward, and his vision expanded through the upper realms to the seventh and highest Ancient Realm, where the beam vanished through a dense cloud.

  Then, his head tilted down, causing him to gaze below where the beam pierced past the Mortal Realm and delved into the glassy lake of the first and lowest Nether Realm.

  "It spans the seven realms," he gasped, breathless with awe and yet terrified upon seeing his reflection in the water.

  Piercing through his chest like a sword, one of the beam's sharp rays had extended from the eye of the Leaking. He prayed it wouldn’t will the waters of form on the beam, for it went right through his heart.

  Before he could steady himself, another sentiment emanated, snapping his focus back to the streaking rays within the beam.

  Look closer, the beam beckoned.

  With that sentiment, a faint glimmer of light glinted from behind the misty ray. Eyes wide, he looked closer, as he was certain he'd spotted the Leaking's lux nexus. A core for an artifact.

  The reason he hunted the eye of the Leaking.

  Focusing intently, he watched, hoping to catch sight of it again. But dense, misty rays of light obscured the tiny glimmer beyond the reach of even his augmented view.

  But as he strained further at the streaking rays, and looking closer as commanded, a sudden wave of sobering clarity washed over him. The lux nexus, once his sole focus, suddenly seemed insignificant.

  The surrounding beam was a layered form, compacted from many and converging at the lux nexus. Its stratified arrangement made it clear he was looking at elements of refined technique. Just like the core elements of technique, protecting the immortal root within a core nucleus.

  And just like an immortal, its stronghold of elements stood as an unyielding barrier, a shield protecting the lux nexus... But then he stood puzzled. Artifacts held no immortal root within their lux nexus… They had none. And yet the eye of the Leaking had a perfect core alignment.

  "Why are you formed as an immortal?" he muttered, both puzzled and annoyed. "Must I also fight to retrieve and wield you?"

  Why do you wield Qi Yuan, the ancient primordial sword? The beam questioned.

  Suddenly, he realized why the beam had initially obeyed his command.

  But before he could retrieve his sword, another beam of light pierced his core and tilted his body so his face had no choice but to gaze into the water below.

  Again, the beam gripped his augmenting element, and his view delved beneath. Deep within the waters were the unmistakable undertones of the seven ancient waters, reflecting all seven of their hues.

  But whilst gazing downward, he became aware that he couldn't look up, and it was as if the beam wanted him to notice something.

  He felt his core element of retrieval heaving a deep pull, and causing him to grip the realm pocket. In that moment, he saw every hue of the ancient waters turning into the silver undertones of the waters of chaos.

  He recoiled and pulled back, the beam’s piercing grip retrieving from his form like a sword. Gazing at its gentle rays, he finally understood its sentiment clearly.

  "If I retrieve you, your barrier will break, unleashing the minor reset and plunging the realms into the waters of chaos. Shifu’s quest for retribution… all of it will be undone," he confirmed.

  But the beam did not respond. Instead, somehow it seemed disappointed, as the shimmering hues ceased their reflection. Then, the beam reflected the seven hues of the ancient waters until the streaks of light turned to mist, and the mist turned to pouring rain.

  Below, it pattered onto an invisible barrier just above the water. The same barrier that reflected the Leaking raindrops in the skies of the realms.

  The final sentiment of the Eye of the Leaking flowed into his mind.

  Retrieve me against my will, and the realm barrier will mark you for banishment. As for the waters of chaos, the highest of the seven… To you it is merely a kind reminder of your lowly rank and not a warning… For a mere immortal ascendant from the Mortal Realm, having never mastered beyond the first of the ancient waters… You are not worthy to die by the waters of chaos. I would have to end you with my beam and forced to splatter your blood on the realm barrier for all to see… Cultivate, the beam said in conclusion.

  It took him a moment to accept the beam’s sentiment. Being referred to as a mere immortal was unfamiliar, and he wasn’t sure what to make of that.

  He thought to retreat, and he considered using his sword. Either way, he wouldn’t be able to use his retrieval.

  Somehow, in that moment of predicament, he recalled his vow to his Shifu the day he accepted his quest, "… We will retrieve our privilege of our service, to the very last drop."

  That was all the drive he needed.

  Hanging his Pendant back on his sash, he straightened his posture, and placed his hand by his chest. His core appeared over his hand, translucent from his concealment technique. He presented it before the beam.

  "I know you will not yield to one lesser than the Greats. But I have enough core elements to match an ancient core... And as for my cultivation… Assess my core, and if I am worthy, retrieve not into my Pendant, but into any of my core elements. Whichever core element you choose, I will reserve it as your new realm pocket no lesser than your abode… This I am certain my core is capable, and so it is worthy…"

  He stood, presenting his core, while the beam’s rain intensified, scattering droplets across the realm barrier. Then, gliding from behind the misty rain, the lux nexus of the Leaking appeared, and stood before his core.

  It was a small three bound wick, glowing with a deep golden hue. Its length was the height of his thumb, and it had an equally thick breadth. And somehow, its ends were blunt, as if they were cut with a sword.

  "You’ve been severed?!" he muttered.

  Within a breath, the lux nexus flashed, appearing and disappearing in an instant. The Sole Disciple hadn't blinked before it had completed its assessment and returned within its raining beam.

  He clutched his chest, feeling the cooling trail where it had coursed his core. And he shivered with a cold chill, realizing it had coursed through every trail of his lumen veins.

  The drizzling beam switched from rain to mist, and from mist to light, while he stood checking his water emblems, which looked like pure liquid from where it had trailed.

  Then quietly, one by one, the remaining beams lifted from the eye of the Leaking, and slowly seeped into his core, the lux nexus gliding slowly after.

  Suppressing a smile, a flicker of triumph ignited within him. The thought of presenting the complete harvest of the Leaking to his Shifu, the White Phoenix of the Phoenix Claw Sect, filled him with pride.

  They had only dreamed of such a feat, but never had he imagined hunting its lux nexus right into his core.

  The thought of exceeding his expectations ignited his resolve, and he hastened his retrieval.

  "Drain," he commanded with willed weight.

  The lux nexus hastened. But just as it readied to approach him, it switched from its golden lumen to a different hue… And unfortunately, not only did he recognized it, he was very much acquainted.

  Rich, royal purple lumen. A perfect amethyst hue, cultivated from the deepest of blue lumen that masked its scarlet hues.

  He revealed his sword and paused… The purple lumen completely enveloped the lux nexus as if it had taken over. How would he strike without harming his treasured resource?

  Before he could raise his shield, the purple lumen burst from the lux nexus and struck his form with a blinding blow. Every beam from the eye of the Leaking tore through his core element and surged outward like a rushing stream.

  He screamed out, the cold trails piercing from his core until they felt as if they burned.

  Disoriented, another blow struck his form element, forcing him back to a lumen projection. It was drained and translucent with no amber lumen within.

  Desperation to spare his life, his sword flashing into form. But as he aimed its edge aimed forward, it crashed and collided against another burst of purple lumen.

  His sword ricochet and the impact hurled him backward, throwing him out of the realm pocket. He caught a final glimpse of the beam, fully restored and beaming with a searing purple lumen.

  Crashing back into his form atop the cliff, he clutched his chest, while the impact on his retrieval technique opened his eyes to a mouthful of spitting blood.