The White Tiger, huh?
The White Tiger, Bai Hu, one of the Four Symbols of the ancient constellations. Guardian of the West, sovereign of autumn, embodiment of metal.
A being revered not just for strength, but for its symbolism. In the old myths, it represented righteousness, the edge of war, and the quiet, final authority of the blade.
And if this realm followed that structure, then the others must be here too.
The Azure Dragon of the East, sovereign of spring and wood.
The Vermillion Bird of the South, ruler of summer and fire.
The Black Tortoise of the North, keeper of winter and water.
That made four.
But the elemental cycle in wuxing was five.
So... what about earth?
There was only one candidate that came to mind—the Yellow Dragon... or perhaps... the Qilin.
If this Obsidum Sanctum mirrored the five elements, then it wasn't just four regions... but five.
Each one aligned not just to an element, but to a mythical guardian.
If only I'd studied Chinese mythology more carefully. I'd skimmed through texts out of curiosity during downtime but never truly immersed myself. Now, that knowledge could've been a key to my questions.
But even with my incomplete understanding, a pattern was forming. A pattern rooted in both mythology... and cultivation.
As the thought settled, a pulse reverberated through my chest.
The two metallic shards stirred.
They didn't grant power, but they responded to my awareness, resonating like distant bells. And in that moment, I somehow knew.
Fifty.
I didn't know how or why, but fifty shards were needed. Not thirty, not forty, not forty-nine. Fifty was the threshold.
Only then would their purpose unfold.
This realm also no longer pressed down on me as it once had.
The suppression lifted, not completely, but enough.
My Qi was still based in darkness, so the environment didn't enhance my strength. But it no longer rejected me either. The suffocating heaviness had thinned. The air no longer fought me at every step.
And with that, I also started to grasp the true value of the Sanctum.
A heaven for comprehension.
Enlightenment, the kind usually stumbled upon through life-and-death experiences or decades of contemplation and understanding, was forced upon me here.
The White Tiger had planted a seed in my mind.
A seed of Metal.
I sat down, breath slowing, and closed my eyes.
Metal does not bend like water...
It does not burn like fire...
Nor give life like wood, nor bury like earth.
Metal endures.
It exists to define. To separate
Life from death. Weak from strong.
Metal is judgment incarnate.
Each phrase became a mantra.
And with each repetition, visions unfolded:
The White Tiger standing amidst a battlefield, unmoving.
Enemies surged like waves, but they were broken like glass.
Not with rage. Not with madness.
But with inevitability.
It didn't chase.
It didn't flee.
And when it struck, it was decisive.
Each image seared into my mind like strokes of a forging hammer against my core.
Why had I never understood this before?
I knew metal in theory—composition, conductivity, tensile strength. I understood it scientifically.
But this was different.
This was the truth behind the truth.
And I had only just scratched the surface.
It was a strange sensation... to realize how little I had truly known.
It seemed that I had an affinity for the element metal.
This seed that the White Tiger planted in me wasn't just enlightenment, but it also awakened something innate within me.
This wasn't a temporary attunement or borrowed resonance from the mural. It was mine now.
In the very near future, I will be able to handle Metal Qi, just as I harness Darkness Qi.
Metal was part of the five elements, and with this, the path forward had become clear.
The eighth stage of Qi Condensation was also not far away.
All I needed now was Qi. Enough to push myself over the threshold.
With one last look at the mural of the White Tiger, I turned away and began retracing my steps.
I explored a few more chambers within the labyrinth out of curiosity, but all led to dead ends.
If there were more secrets in this maze, I would need time, time I didn't know if I had.
So, I chose to leave.
As I stepped back outside and stood before the towering walls, I noticed it much more.
The world no longer resisted me.
Now, it was almost inviting, like the world was embracing me.
A faint warmth curled in my chest.
I glanced downward, toward the place where the two metallic shards now rested, nestled beneath my robes.
They pulsed faintly in response.
I needed much more of them.
That meant I would have to hunt more beasts. Many more.
But not just that.
If this place were structured as I think, then there had to be other domains. And with that, also similar places to this.
And what of the others?
Where had the rest of the disciples ended up?
Had they all been sent to different places?
Having no answer to these questions, I moved forward.
Time here flowed differently, and nearly one full cycle had passed since my arrival. Yet the environment hadn't shifted at all. The sky was still gray and still shimmering faintly with ambient light. There was no day or night here.
The sect leader had told us almost nothing.
What was our goal?
Was it to simply stay here?
To collect these shards?
To comprehend?
How long were we meant to stay here?
I forced myself to push those thoughts aside.
That was when the ground shook.
It wasn't a mere tremor like before, but it was like the convulsion of the world itself.
Dust rose in thick clouds. The metallic monoliths around me trembled in their roots.
And then I looked up.
The sky split.
A blinding light tore across the heavens, shifting through colors with impossible fluidity—blue, red, grey, green, yellow—until finally settling on grey.
And with this light... something else was now visible.
Far in the distance, rising above the veil of fog, stood a mountain.
Not a mountain range or a mountain system.
But a singular, solitary mountain.
It pierced the sky. The base alone dwarfed every structure I had seen. The peak wasn't visible, just the base. It vanished beyond the clouds.
The mountain seemed like the pillar of the world, as if this entire Sanctum was based solely on this mountain. That was the scale it had.
Even from here, I could feel the pressure it was emitting.
Back on Earth, the tallest mountain was Mount Everest, just under 30,000 feet.
This one had to be at least 40,000 feet, no, 50,000 feet, if not more.
And just as quickly as it had appeared, it began to vanish.
The colored light, which was now grey, moved.
Too fast.
It was coming toward me.
In an instant, the light arrived.
It pierced down, descending like a divine spear, and then it crashed.
A thunderous explosion erupted, the shockwave rippling through the forest like a tidal wave. Dust and metallic shards surged into the air.
Without hesitation, I rushed toward the impact site.
All around me, the beasts of the forest howled and shrieked, the wolves from before, iron-plated snakes, silver-feathered crows, all types of beasts stirred into a frenzy by the sudden upheaval. The quiet stillness that had ruled this land was shattered.
I wasn't the only one drawn to the impact sites; the beast, too, rushed toward the direction of the impact.
I moved quickly, weaving between beasts and ruins, ignoring the beasts as they converged on the location like a horde driven by instinct. But I was closer.
In less than the time it took to brew and drink a cup of tea, I reached the outer edge of the crater formed by the impact.
There, nestled in the center of torn earth and shattered stone, lay a massive shard.
It was shaped like the small obsidian fragments attached to my chest, but this one was far larger, nearly the size of a shield, and emanating waves of raw, dense Metal Qi.
I stepped forward cautiously, every instinct on alert.
Then, a sudden spike of Qi appeared. It locked onto me from the right.
I moved to retreat, but it was too late.
The aura surged, and then the owner appeared.
A figure landed directly ahead of me, sending up a burst of dust and debris.
A man, young, early twenties at most. He had a powered, broad-shouldered frame, clothed in midnight-trimmed robes, a core disciple. He was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. His eyes were narrow, his jaw square, and his steps carried the weight of someone who had never once doubted his sense of superiority.
For a brief moment, he was still, carefully scanning his surroundings.
Then he recognized me, and his expression changed.
A sneer curled across his lips.
Disdain flickered in his eyes.
He didn't need to speak for me to know exactly what he was thinking.
I could practically hear the contempt without him saying a word.
I felt the pressure of his cultivation. He wasn't just some newly broken-through disciple. He had been in that realm for a while.
The sneer twisted deeper across his face as he stepped forward again, each motion radiating scorn.
"Brat," he started, "I'll give you the time it takes to breathe to leave your Minor Metal Shards and scram."
He didn't need to shout. The sheer pressure behind his words struck like a blade held at my throat.
Just then, the forest stirred.
A dozen beasts emerged from the metallic underbrush, sleek, silver-furred wolves and other creatures with jagged plating. Their eyes gleamed, and their killing intent flooded the air.
But the man before me only chuckled.
He raised his hand and released his aura.
A wave of Metal Qi burst outward like a crashing tide, sharp and oppressive.
So... he was also attuned to Metal. Just like me.
The moment his energy surged, the beasts faltered. Their aggressive cries turned into reluctant growls. Their instincts overrode their hunger, and one by one, they slunk back into the shadows, cautious but not gone. They were waiting, waiting for an opportunity to arrive.
He didn't spare them another glance.
His eyes locked on me again.
"A breath has passed," he said, his tone now laced with amusement. "And yet, you're still standing there. No shards left behind."
"You're either deaf... or you're mocking me."
He straightened, tapping his knuckles against his palm.
"It seems you wish to insult me, Zhao Wuying."
An evil grin spread across his face, like a cat playing with a mouse.
"You know the sect's rules. We can't kill each other..."
He shrugged, mockingly apologetic.
"...but they never said anything about breaking a few bones."
His grin widened.
"So allow me, Zhao Wuying, a man known across the Nocturnis Vale for my compassion and virtue, to extend you a second chance."
He raised two fingers, mockingly noble.
"Bow to me. Call me 'father.' Drop the shards. Crawl away."
"Do all that, and I might let you leave in one piece."
His eyes glittered with cruelty.
He was enjoying this far too much.
Sigh.
I didn't have many options.
Standing before me was an opponent I couldn't defeat head-on, not when he was at full strength.
Crossing major realms was a task that was almost suicidal.
To even consider equally fighting him, I'd have to draw on every ounce of my newfound Metal affinity and push the Crimson Sacrifice Method to its third stage, the Bloodfire Ascension.
That wasn't worth it. Not for this.
Silently, I reached toward my chest.
The two Minor Metal Shards responded to my will. I infused a thin thread of Qi into them, and they expanded, returning to their original size.
Without a word, I tossed them to Zhao Wuying.
He grinned. It was a smug grin.
To him, it was confirmation of his power. His superiority was unquestioned.
"Now call me daddy, and bow," he said, crossing his arms. "Then I might let you leave unscathed."
I stayed quiet.
But beneath the surface, I began gathering Qi in my feet.
Just a little more...
And then, I used this power and exploded in movement.
I bolted away across the terrain.
The scenery shifted, and the wind howled in my ears.
But I hadn't made it far before the energy around me shifted.
Space warped, and beside me, a massive gray palm formed from Metal Qi surged out of thin air.
I barely had time to react. I poured all my Qi into defense—
—but it shattered the moment the hand made contact.
BOOM.
A thunderous gong rang out as the metallic force burst outward like an explosion.
My body was hurled through the air, and several ribs cracked.
Blood sprayed out of my mouth as pain filled my body.
Metal Qi started surging into my meridians, threatening to rampage through my body.
Luckily, I had an affinity toward metal now.
And that meant I could suppress it.
I subdued the rampaging energy, making it mine, but still, the injuries I received were serious.
I tried to rise, but a heavy foot slammed down on my back, driving me into the ground, grinding against my spine.
"Stay down, insect."
Zhao Wuying's voice was cold, tinged with mockery.
"It seems that you are not as impressive as stories tell."
I let his words wash over me.
They didn't bother me.
I couldn't retaliate, not yet.
He again kicked me in the ribs, and I was again flung away.
I heard even more cracks.
The pain was rising.
Midair, before I even hit the ground, his fist slammed into my stomach.
The blow hammered me into the dirt, and another mouthful of blood erupted from my lips.
Agony was surging through my body.
This level of pain was almost enough to trigger Bloodfire Ascension... had it been caused by me.
I continued to endure.
"How disappointing..." he muttered again, voice tinged with disdain. "I don't know what the elders see in you. Especially Elder Sun Min."
He stood over me, lifting a palm skyward.
I felt the rising pressure. I couldn't let that hit me. It would seriously injure me.
This had gone far enough.
I gathered every strand of the Metal Qi still swirling inside me from his last strike.
Then, drawing it into my palm, I slammed my hand down onto the earth.
A pulse burst outward, a ring of pure Metal Qi, translucent, rushing along the ground like a shockwave.
The air clanged, as a bell struck from deep within the earth.
Zhao Wuying stumbled. His Qi faltered.
He grabbed his head, a dazed expression flashing across his face, disoriented by the sound reverberating through his ears.
That was my moment.
I moved up, working against the pain.
In an instant, I surged forward, Dark Qi in my soles giving me momentum. Then, switching, I pulled Metal Qi into my feet, skimming across the hardened ground like gliding over polished steel.
The combination launched me hundreds of meters away.
And then, a loud, furious roar echoed behind me:
"YOU DAMN BRAT! COME BACK HERE!"
I didn't even glance back.
He wouldn't follow. He couldn't.
Only a fool would chase someone while leaving behind a prize coveted by dozens of beasts.
And Zhao Wuying, arrogant as he was, wasn't that stupid.
Sure enough, moments later, I heard a sharp, frustrated "Tch.", followed by the ripple of his aura pulling back, moving in the opposite direction.
Right back to the large shard.
As expected.
I didn't stop running.
Time passed, at least half an hour of full-speed movement.
Despite my injuries, I hadn't tapped deeply into my Qi reserves. I'd saved most of my strength. My endurance hadn't waned, but my body still throbbed in protest.
Eventually, I found what I was looking for, an old, jagged fissure in the side of a ruined hill. A narrow cave, dark and dry, deep enough to conceal my presence.
I slipped inside and sealed the entrance with loose rubble and a thin veil of Qi.
Then I sat down and began to treat my wounds.
I retrieved a handful of healing pills from my pouch and swallowed them. Their medicinal essence spread like warmth through my body, dulling the pain. I guided it slowly with my Qi, circulating it through my meridians, focusing on the most damaged areas.
After an hour, the worst of the pain had subsided.
My ribs still ached with every breath, and a few bones remained fractured, but the healing process had begun in earnest. With rest and focused treatment, I would recover in a few days.
So that was Zhao Wuying.
Honestly?
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator... it was pretty underwhelming.
Yes, he beat me down, overwhelmed me physically, without effort.
But that was to be expected. He was in a higher realm. That kind of suppression was natural.
Yet I couldn't help but feel... disappointed.
If I had used everything, my full arsenal with no reservations, he wouldn't have walked away unscathed.
I might not have won, but I wouldn't have lost so badly either.
Still... even in retreat, this encounter had given me something invaluable.
His Metal Qi.
The energy that had invaded my body... I had absorbed it, subdued it, and bent it to my will.
In doing so, my body had adapted.
What would have taken a week or more of slow accumulation and adjustment... had been forced into place within an hour.
I could now freely draw on the ambient Metal Qi of this realm.
Just like I did with darkness.
In a twisted way, Zhao Wuying had helped me.
He gave me exactly what I needed—
That said...
I held no grudge against him.
But one day... I would return the favor.
I closed my eyes and refocused my mind, continuing my meditation.