Chapter 711
Ren Xue
The statue itself is not a physical object, but rather composed of extremely condensed, almost solidified wind elements. A bluish-green light flows ceaselessly within the statue, emanating a chilling pressure. At the foot of the statue, at the center of the altar, is a slowly rotating, azure-green vortex about ten meters in diameter. The vortex is bottomless, radiating intense spatial fluctuations and wind-attribute energy ten times denser than its surroundings. Meanwhile, the Tear of the Wind God on Bibi Dong's chest shines brightly, levitating on its own, pointing directly at the center of the vortex, conveying an overwhelming sense of longing and urgency.
“The entrance to the inheritance…” Bibi Dong stared at the vortex. She could feel something within it resonating deep within her soul. It was the call of the complete authority of the Wind God. But at the same time, she also sensed an incomparably powerful sealing force surrounding the vortex, and a kind of… scrutinizing will.
"Outsider, bearer of the token." A grand, neutral voice, seemingly composed of the convergence of countless wind sounds, resounded directly into the depths of their souls, echoing throughout the entire altar space. The colossal wind elemental statue seemed to lower its head slightly, almost imperceptibly, its invisible gaze fixed on Bibi Dong and the necklace on her chest. "You, do you wish to inherit the power of the wind, to control the rhythm of the sky?"
Bibi Dong took a deep breath, stepped forward, and declared in a clear and resonant voice, "My name is Bibi Dong, the one recognized by the Tears of the Wind God. I am here today not to steal power, but to answer the call, inherit the will, and explore the path of the sky." Her words contained a trace of the Rakshasa God's power, cold and resolute, yet strangely resonating with the lightness of the Tears of the Wind God.
The voice paused for a moment, seemingly carefully sensing and assessing. "You possess a strange divine power, dark and profound, contrary to the lightness and freedom of the wind. Yet, the token resonates with your soul, acknowledging your qualifications. The inheritance of the wind is not merely about power, but also about character and will. Beneath the sky, all things are contained, and the power of storms and thunder also exists." The voice paused, then continued, "However, the path of inheritance is fraught with peril, requiring immense perseverance, wisdom, and fortuitous encounters. Are you willing to accept the trial?"
“I am willing.” Bibi Dong answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Good." As the voice rang out, the eight enormous wind crystal pillars surrounding the altar, corresponding to the eight directions, suddenly lit up. A different cyan rune appeared at the top of each pillar, representing: swiftness, cutting, flow, perception, bearing, change, destruction, and creation—different aspects and laws of wind. Meanwhile, the vortex in the center of the altar began to rotate faster, emitting an even stronger suction force.
"The trial has three stages. The first stage, 'The Corridor of Wind,' tests your understanding and control over the essence of wind. The second stage, 'The Mirror of Emptiness,' reflects the essence of your heart and confronts the storm within. The third stage, 'Inheritance of Divine Soul,' involves enduring the impact and fusion of the divine soul of wind to forge a divine foundation. If you pass, you will receive the inheritance; if you fail, your soul will be scattered or you will be trapped in the eye of the wind forever."
Before Bibi Dong could react, the Tear of the Wind God on her chest emitted a powerful beam of azure light, connecting with the vortex. An irresistible force enveloped her, instantly pulling her towards the center of the vortex.
"Dong'er!" Dai Chengfeng exclaimed in shock, trying to step forward, but was blocked at the edge of the altar by a gentle yet incredibly strong wind wall. No matter how much he channeled his soul power, he could not break through.
"There is only one trial participant. The guardian may wait outside the altar or leave here," the grand voice said indifferently, then ignored them.
Dai Chengfeng watched helplessly as Bibi Dong's figure disappeared into the azure vortex, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. But he quickly forced himself to calm down, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the altar, his soul power focused inward, his mental energy highly concentrated. On one hand, he was protecting Bibi Dong, guarding against possible external interference—although the depths of this secret realm seemed safe, no one could guarantee that no other covetous individuals would break in; on the other hand, he was also trying to analyze the surrounding wind laws, attempting to find a way to contact Bibi Dong or provide assistance if necessary, even if the hope was slim.
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong, sucked into the vortex, felt as if she had fallen into a long passage composed of pure wind elements. All around her were swirling, rushing blue light, without substance or direction, only endless falling and spinning. She steadied her mind and focused all her energy on communicating with the Tear of the Wind God. The necklace emitted a warm glow to protect her consciousness, while simultaneously transmitting instinctive information on how to cope with the wind environment.
She didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly her feet touched solid ground, and she landed in a strange long corridor.
This is the "Corridor of Wind." The corridor stretches endlessly, its sides and ceiling not walls, but slowly flowing, translucent cyan wind walls. On these wind walls, countless intricate runes flicker, move, and combine like living things, depicting the ever-changing nature of the wind. The corridor's floor is solid, pale cyan crystal, also engraved with mysterious patterns. It is eerily quiet here; not a whistling wind can be heard. Yet, Bibi Dong can sense that every inch of space is filled with solidified and active wind laws. These laws operate in ways imperceptible to the naked eye, forming invisible pressure fields, cutting nets, and bewildering arrays.
The first test began immediately. Without warning, three spinning wind blades appeared in the previously calm corridor, silently shooting towards them in a triangular formation. Their trajectories were treacherous, their speed extremely fast, and they possessed a sharpness capable of tearing through space. Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed; she did not meet the attack head-on. Her body swayed with an unnatural lightness, like willow catkins, skillfully avoiding the wind blades' paths.
However, the wind blades seemed to possess a spirit of their own; missing their target, they immediately turned back, even faster. They also split into countless tiny wind threads, coiling around her from all directions. Bibi Dong realized that simple dodging wouldn't work; she had to understand and utilize the laws of wind here. She stood still, her mental energy highly concentrated, using the Tears of the Wind God to sense the flow of wind elements around her. Soon, she discovered that these attacks weren't entirely random. Their trajectories, intensity, and variations subtly corresponded to certain combinations of runes flashing on the wind walls.
She tried to mobilize her soul power, not to fight back, but to imitate and integrate with it. A wisp of wind-attribute soul power, similar in frequency to the attacking wind blades, condensed at her fingertips, and she gently touched a rune that was lighting up on the wind barrier. A strange thing happened: the rune's light intensified, and the trajectory of the incoming wind blades immediately became slightly erratic.
Effective! Bibi Dong felt reassured and began actively observing and analyzing the patterns of the wind barrier runes. Simultaneously, she used her movement techniques in conjunction with her soul power, sometimes interfering with the runes by pointing her fingers, sometimes guiding the attacking wind blades to collide and neutralize each other, and sometimes transforming herself into a gentle breeze to blend into the environment, avoiding fatal cuts. This was an extremely mentally and spiritually demanding process. It required instantaneous judgment, precise control, and a profound understanding of the laws of wind. Bibi Dong combined the unwavering will honed during the Rakshasa God Trial with the affinity bestowed by the Tears of the Wind God, advancing step by step. (End of Chapter)