At last, the ceremony began.....a moment that Wang Gung and everyone else had once eagerly awaited, but now it felt no less than a punishment. For this would confirm, beyond all doubt, that Yu Sui was not there.
Master Zu Gushion's voice thundered through the hall like a sky torn open by lightning.
"Two hundred years ago, the Sacred Golden Scripture was carefully divided into five parts....Fire, Water, Air, Sky, and Earth. Each of these five parts holds its own distinct Spiritual Beast, and each was sealed within five separate Divine Caves, protected by formidable defenses. The caves themselves are their greatest guardians."
" But their rule remains absolute....
'The sacred book is forged entirely from gold....not ordinary gold, but one that tests the purity of your heart.
Should any evil or impure thought dwell within you, if your heart is found blackened..
You shall be burned alive in an instant.
There is no place in this world for an impure heart.'"
He paused, letting the words strike their intended weight, then continued:
"This is also a chance for us, to peer into the hearts of our disciples. Around each of the five sacred books is a ring of supernatural flame. Only the soul that is pure..devoid of hatred or deceit....may pass through."
" This test is crucial for society as well...so that the moment evil is seen, it may be extinguished."
" But fear not...only the darkness within you shall burn, not your body.
Even if the flames catch you, do not be afraid....they burn only the wickedness that hides inside, not you."
"From this point onward, the path must be walked alone."Our Spiritual Animals Will Keep a Close Guard on You."
The air grew heavy with tension. A sacred silence followed.
"Remember.....show reverence to the scripture. Bow before it with sincerity and respect. Then, proceed forward one by one."
" You must complete a ritualoffer a drop of your own blood to the sacred book.
After that, your Spiritual Beast will reveal itself to you."
"But remember.....your beast will not choose you based on your elemental affinity, but by the purity of your heart and the journey of your soul."
" Your elemental trait merely nurtures the spiritual beast. Nothing more."
" When your Spiritual Beast appears, a sigil will emerge upon your back...a mark that shall remain for the rest of your life.Your spirit animal will stay in the same sigil.
But beware....if someone tries to remove Or cut that mark, Then your spiritual animal will die at that very moment.
And with a final roar, like the sky cracking open,
"Step forward!"