Treasure Assimilation Scripture.
This is...? A cultivation method? Is that the next trial? Hmm... Ah! I know this trial should be about comprehension. There is no enemy to defeat or place to go. Only this scripture.
Calum deduced the nature of this trial after thinking for a bit, but he wanted to be sure. He looked around, noticing that the area beside the waterfall was swallowed by thick mist. He tried pushing through it, but an invisible force repelled him. As expected, this was it; he needed to study the scripture. He wasn't very confident, having been barred from studying such things in the past due to his abysmal talent. Still, he had taken a vow before his father's grave. He would at least give it his best.
Calming his mind, he sat in a lotus position, his gaze fixed upon the characters of the scripture.
Calum started as the words lifted from the stone monument and flowed directly into his mind.
One begets two, which begets three. Three leads to an infinite number of possibilities...
As the opening lines settled in his consciousness, he drifted into a deep trance. He couldn't quite comprehend what was happening, yet he felt as though he were floating on an endless ocean of knowledge. Droplets of wisdom splashed against him before fusing smoothly with his core.
After an indeterminate stretch of time, when the ocean had emptied, he opened his eyes. He found himself still sitting cross-legged in front of the statue, but the words upon it had vanished. In their place, a vast, foreign compendium of knowledge now resided within his consciousness: the Treasure Assimilation Scripture.
"Congratulations! You've passed all the trials and even fully comprehended the scripture I left behind," a young man—looking not a day over twenty—spoke joyfully.
Calum turned to meet the owner of the voice. The first thing he noticed was the man's golden eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything. The youth before him was unusually handsome, yet an air of absolute callousness radiated from his tall figure.
"Thank you, Senior...?" Calum inquired after observing him for a moment.
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Reigen, the Saint of the Demonic Saint Sect—the strongest powerhouse at its helm," he replied with a placid demeanor.
"Calum Seren greets the Saint." He cupped his fists respectfully.
"The trial you just went through is called the Nine Torments Trial. You've passed every level. As such, you are officially accepted into the sect as a core disciple to be fully nurtured," the Saint explained.
A smile of quiet gratification touched Calum's face.
"Also, you unexpectedly managed to comprehend the scripture I created. I was starting to lose hope, you know?"
"So it was the Saint's own scripture..." Calum muttered.
"Indeed. My masterpiece. The singular work that took me millennia to complete. Sadly, I cannot cultivate it myself, as my cultivation is far too advanced. It would require me to shatter my foundation and start anew, and we certainly can't have that, can we?" He smiled like a cat that had caught a mouse.
"That is where you come into play. The reason I accepted disciples with no restrictions on 'talent' or background this past century was to find someone possessing enough endurance, willpower, and insight to cultivate this scripture. Not to mention, the so-called 'talent' defined in this continent is utter rubbish. Sadly, although a few disciples passed the trial, they fell short on comprehension. You are the first to truly grasp it," he explained, jubilation coloring his face.
"I see. I am glad this disciple could meet the Saint's expectations," Calum finally understood a great deal from the Saint's explanations.
"Saint, I have a question." Seeing that the Saint was forthcoming, Calum asked what had been bothering him since the trials began. "Is this world real, or is it an illusion?"
"Hmm... Both. This place is the space inside a treasure called the Three Realms Steps. As the name indicates, there are three realms inside this treasure. Furthermore, we are presently at the intersection of those three realms—the core, if you will," the Saint answered patiently.
"The scenarios you encountered in each trial were intentionally constructed. For example, the war you took part in was the historic battle that saw the establishment of our empire, the Luo Empire. The souls of the deceased warriors were absorbed by the treasure. As for the endless plain, the wolves and beasts you fought were forged from the souls of monstrous beasts I collected over the years. The demonic woodland holds real demons, not mere souls—they were impetuous things I found displeasing to the eye." The Saint spoke casually of monumental matters, as if they were of no consequence.
"Impressive." Calum was awestruck by the Saint, or more precisely, by his sheer power. What manner of domineering aura was required to capture real demons? Calum desperately needed that kind of power to fulfill his vow.
"Not at all," the Saint brushed the compliment aside. "I have one more thing to say to you before we proceed to your lodgings. The cultivation of the Treasure Assimilation Scripture is exceptionally painful. I know you must have a strong will to have passed the trial, but the pain you endured before is nothing in comparison." The Saint warned him seriously. Although he did not cultivate it himself, as its creator, he understood its intricacies better than anyone. It was an agony capable of crushing the staunchest individual.
"I am ready. I came prepared to endure the sufferings of hell the moment I stepped upon this path," Calum spoke resolutely.
Appreciation shone in the Saint's eyes. Still, he wasn't entirely optimistic about this new disciple's chances of success; after all, he knew how dangerous the scripture truly was. Only his stubborn obsession had driven him to keep searching for a practitioner, an obsession that had even impeded his own cultivation. He was currently stuck at the ninth state of foundation, on the cusp of passing the ninth tribulation, yet he remained blocked by an invisible barrier. If he didn't resolve this obsession, who could say if he would ever ascend to immortality in this lifetime?
"As long as you understand." The Saint said no more. After all, this was a demonic sect, not an orthodox one; they walked the less trodden path, no matter how perilous.
"Come."
The Saint grasped his shoulder, and with a blink, they vanished from the space. Reappearing in the real world, Calum felt a mild wave of dizziness.
"Don't worry, it will pass," the Saint commented.
They followed the mountain's stone steps until they reached a collection of grand mansions near the peak. Along the way, Calum caught sight of magnificent manors, soaring pavilions, and ornate towers.
"This is the residence area for core disciples. There are currently thirty-eight core disciples in total," the Saint explained as they approached one of the estates. He handed Calum a token etched with mysterious inscriptions. "This is your core badge. It contains your disciple robes, one hundred high-grade spirit stones, a general guide on cultivation and the sect, and a few of our foundational spells."
"My gratitude." Calum accepted the token.
"Use your token to access the mansion," the Saint instructed before fading away like a dream. "Good luck with your cultivation. If you die, I'll be sure to collect your soul in the Three Realms Steps," he added cheerfully, trying to be encouraging.
Calum's eye twitched at that parting remark.
This Saint is quite the eccentric.
He thought to himself. Waving his token before the gates, the courtyard doors groaned open.
This will be my home for the near future.
The image of a tranquil courtyard in the Seren Clan compound flashed briefly through his mind before he firmly shoved it away.
Stepping across the threshold, Calum embraced his new life as a core disciple of the premier demonic sect in the Luo Empire.