Chapter 40: Gid Chu’s Plan

“Prizes?” Zax eyes glittered in anticipation to hear what Gid Chu has to say. How much did he need now a treasure that could quickly enhance his cultivation only the Gods, if they are bored enough to spy on, know.

“Calm down, Zax, while they are beyond anything offered in past Elite Tryouts, do not forget that you go there on the Pretense of just another contender. Your actual purpose there is to bring me what I need from the Grand Abode. If the opportunity arises for you to afterwards obtain either of the prizes, then I’ll recommend you do the best to get it.”

“Yes”. Zax complied. Haggling over what he wanted and what Gid Chu wanted would have brought him nowhere.

“Well, there are two prizes this time that roused even experts of the other four powers”. Gid Chu was not convinced by Zax’s compliance, yet proceeded to elaborate for he knew the latter will otherwise investigate the matter himself. He wanted his head in the task. “Second place’s prize, they called it ‘Solar Basil Leaf’. Luminous Church claims that when eating, as is, its solar properties will reform the body into fiery physique, which will make understanding the fiery attribute tens of time easier.”

‘Fiery physique?’ Zax was disheartened. What use it was for him?

“I suspected you will not be interested”. Gid Chu smiled.

“Enriching the understanding of an attribute can only help you to reach the fourth or fifth Martial Mortal level. While it’s an amazing accomplishment, it is not the crucial component in paving the road to Immortality. The bottlenecks of insight are”. What any Martial Mortal needed most after reaching the peak was a stroke of luck by Nature’s benevolence.

“The first place’s prize...” Gid Chu continued as he, too, was not interested in the Solar Basil Leaf and though it could be of great help to those close to him, there were more important matters to attend. “To be frank, learning on the existence of thing took me by surprise, as well... ‘Diluted Element’ is the prize shook the foundation of Earth’s cultivation world and that caused the leaders of the other four powers to send their finest members, who meet the criterions, to participate in the Elite Tryouts despite never doing so in the past.

“First of all ‘Element’ or ‘Elemental Energy’, according to Luminous Church’s press release to all noteworthy circles of cultivators, is an elevated state of the worldly attribute energy that only Immortals have hegemony on.”

“You mean...” Zax felt a jolt of electricity running down his back. His eyes opened wide and he felt dryness in his mouth.

Gid Chu gravely nodded. “The attributes we, Mortals, pursue are just a portion of something on a much grander scale.”

It was a revelation that the other four powers were already aware off, but the rest of the high level experts, inhabiting the plant with no direct relation to the three entities behind the five powers, were completely oblivious to this knowledge.

“Why? Why are they now of all times offering such prizes and information?!” Before even getting to the benefit of the Diluted Element, Zax felt an immense sense of insecurity that he had to relieve by, at the very least, knowing Luminous Church’s intentions.

“I ... don’t know”. It was apparent that Gid Chu, too, felt apprehension toward revolutionary advanced concept of energy. He, a reputable expert whose understanding of the lightning attribute was prominent among fourth level Martial Mortals, was reduced to an ignorant runt by one sentence. It will be a lie if he said that his resolve to face the five powers was not shaken in the least, even if for an instant. “Maybe it was the Cardinal’s decision to disclose this knowledge to further entice Earth’s cultivation world to make it the most excellent Elite Tryouts.”

Zax listened in contemplation. He could understand if that was the case. “And the Diluted Element ... what is its usage?”

“Diluted Element is said to be a refined, pure elemental energy that all of its properties were eradicated so cultivator of any attribute could use it. Apart from being an extremely consolidated form of energy, vastly superior to any attribute’s essence and energy, should you consume it orally and direct it to every fiber of the body and sea of consciousness, you’ll experience a fundamental baptism. For a single breath you will gain enlightenment to four or five bottlenecks of insight and the order in which they are aligned to your Martial path. You won’t instantly perceive and comprehend any of them, but if Luminous Church’s words are true, you will in the future and so are destined to become an Ascended Elite!”

‘Ascended Elite ... this the most acclaimed status one can hope for! Even the previous owner of the Black Cores said than an Ascended Elite has roughly ten to fifteen percent chance for Evolutionary Ascension!’ Zax’s heart pounded in his chest. ‘I have only one bottleneck to perceive and comprehend, if I’ll obtain the Diluted Element... !’

“Listen, Zax!” Gid Chu’s severe tone grounded him. “I also feel the enticement. Believe me, if my soul had not broken through to the third realm I would’ve probably try my luck of getting it regardless of the risk”. He sighed. “Some members of the chain had left me no choice but to let them join the tryouts ... But you ... word from Luminous Church specified that a cultivator can enjoy the benefits of the Diluted Element only once in a life time. Even if you get your hands on it again, it will be of no help to your insights, just compact abundance of energy. Second, it can at maximum enlighten you to five bottlenecks. I’m uncertain about your accomplishments, but after our exchange I’m sure that apart from that kid, Neyrar, no earthling is remotely close as you to be equal or beyond those most talented prospects, Ascended Elite.”