CHAPTER 57
Unawakened: Foul-Mouthed-Nercromancer
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Lela brought Lu Xie before a unique structure—a tall wooden Pagoda that possessed a roof but no doors, no windows, and no walls. It was an open-air pavilion, designed so that the Heavens themselves could witness the fates being revealed within.
Inside the massive hall, a grey stone altar about a meter high sat squarely in the center.
This was a Stone-Fate Altar, the judge of destiny used to test one's Innate Spirit and Mythical Attributes.
Currently, a queue of nervous disciples sat in a row on the left side of the altar, waiting for their turn to be judged. On the right were those who had already been tested, their faces either beaming with relief or pale with despair as Elders instructed them on their next steps.
Overseeing this entire ceremony was a shrewd old woman. Her grey hair was pulled back severely, secured by a red pin that matched her crimson Demoness robes.
Lu Xie instantly recognized her from the stolen memories. This was Demoness Anthara.
She was infamous for her complete lack of a mouth filter. There were even rumors that she had once mocked a dead man so viciously that his spirit refused to cross over, resurrecting just to argue back.
Appropriately, her nickname was the Foul-Mouth Necromancer.
At that moment, a young boy around fourteen walked up to the Stone-Fate Altar. Trembling slightly, he placed both hands on the cool stone surface.
Hummmmm.
Within a few seconds, the altar hummed, turning a deep shade of blue. A phenomenon quickly followed, projecting into the air above him.
The space around the boy rippled, transforming into a deep, illusionary ocean. A massive Azure Axe could be seen cleaving through the spectral depths. Following this, a spiky white serpent with a head shaped like an axe blade rode the waves, quietly curling around the young boy's shoulders.
The crowd gasped in appreciation.
But a snide voice cut through the room like a rusty knife.
"I have seen enough. What a disappointment."
Anthara yawned, looking at her fingernails. "Your Innate Spirit is grossly inadequate. Honestly, it's a waste of the food you've eaten since birth, let alone the resources the Coven has wasted on you."
The boy's face crumbled.
"A mere Blue Ocean Axe makes the dead want to lament in their graves. However..." she paused, squinting at him. "Your Pine Axe Serpent Mythical Attribute perfectly compliments your spirit. It can be considered a horrible pass. Get out of my sight. Next!!!"
She slammed her hand on the podium, calling for the next candidate, a young girl who was clearly vibrating with terror.
Anthara, seeing this, couldn't help but offer a depressing confidence booster. "Stop shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. If you have no spine, at least try to borrow one."
It was at that moment that Demoness Anthara's sharp eyes spotted the duo standing outside the Pagoda.
The eyes of the crowd followed hers, landing on Lela and the veiled girl in red.
In less than a second, their identities were discerned. Murmurs cut through the silence like bubbling water.
"Demoness Menlela," Anthara called out, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "I see you have finally arrived with Her. The High Priestess has been waiting. She wants to witness just what kind of fabled Innate Spirit the Seventh Yogi possesses."
"Cut the pleasantries, Anthara. I can sense Her Eminence's presence myself."
Lela brushed past the old woman, walking into the Pagoda with Lu Xie tailing behind.
Lu Xie walked with her head held high, though inside, she was screaming. Her luxurious red robes and veil conspicuously screaming her rank as the lowest of the Seven Children of Principalities—or as Anthara called them, the Yogis.
Lu Xie's eyes flickered, a shiver running down her spine.
She had a premonition when Lela mentioned the High Priestess, but feeling it was different.
She was already in the presence of one of the few who knew Alia's real face and was risking exposure.The air in the Pagoda felt heavy, like the gravity had doubled.
Lela stopped in the center of the hall and bowed towards a seemingly empty corner of space. She clasped her palms together respectfully.
"Greetings, Your Eminence."
Lu Xie quickly mimicked the motion, bowing deeply.
There was no answer. No sound. No movement.
But then, an intangible gaze settled on her from beyond the fabric of space. It was oppressive—heavy, ancient, and terrifyingly observant. It felt like being studied by a god under a microscope.
"Rise."
A nonchalant, echoing voice resonated from the empty air. It wasn't loud, but it vibrated in Lu Xie's bones. It was oppressive... Very oppressive.
Lela and Lu Xie quickly straightened their postures.
"Let's not keep Her Eminence waiting any longer. Let the Seventh Yogi test her spirit immediately," Anthara stated, eager to get the show on the road.
However, a rebuttal echoed from the void.
"No. She will take the test in the order that is already in place." The High Priestess declared.
Anthara bowed hastily. "As you wish."
With no further ado, Lu Xie was directed to take her place at the very end of the queue.
This delay, however, was disastrous for Lu Xie's desire to keep a low profile.
In just a few moments, a crowd began to gather outside the open-air Pagoda. Naturally, the news of the "Seventh Yogi's" induction had spread like wildfire—probably with added fuel from malicious gossipers.
Everyone had gathered, anticipating a great show. Or a great failure.
'Tsk tsk tsk,' Lu Xie mused to herself, scanning the eager faces. 'You all came all this way just to be disappointed? Why does that give me such a deep sense of satisfaction?'
"Well, what do we have here?"
A voice dripping with sarcasm echoed from the entrance, drawing everyone's attention.
"Our youngest Yogi is finally going to be baked. Or is it half-baked? It is quite fortunate you didn't meet your ancestors in the 'tragedy' that befell you a month ago. Though, perhaps the ancestors simply rejected you."
"The Heavens must be really blind to spare such a waste," another female voice added.
They weren't trying to hide their conversation in the slightest. In fact, they projected their voices so the entire hall could hear.
Two ladies stepped forward, parting the crowd like royalty.
One was dressed in Yellow, the other in Blue. Like Lu Xie, they both wore veils, marking them as fellow Children of Principalities.