Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

The following day, Zhi Qing stood outside of their room, waiting for them to come out. Having finished her daily training, Ming Yue left her quarters with Xiao Yin and Hei Yue.

"Good morning, my master is waiting for you at the Stellar Sky Foundation. Please follow me."

Zhi Qing led them outside, walking through the capital city of the Dark Water Kingdom, aptly named, "Dark Water Capital."

Despite seeing it last night, Ming Yue couldn't help but be amazed by the architecture. It was very different from what she had seen, even more unique than the spires of Heaven's Gate. Everything seemed to be melded with the ground, built inside gigantic trees. These trees were certainly tall, perhaps several meters but it was extremely thick. There were dwellings and businesses in the roots and trunk. The roads were made with the same black stone like the paths of the gates.

The style within Heaven's Gate was beautiful, fluid and glowing. But the Dark Water Capital was something else.

It was as if human creation was perfectly merged with the world.

It was a bustling place, filled with the same things one would find in other cities but mixed with new and interesting things.

Along the way, Zhi Qing would give brief introductions to the many parts of the capital.

"This is our market district, where you may find all sorts of foods and little trinkets."

What surprised Ming Yue was the popularity of tea and the many strange snacks. She heard the stalls shouting out and presenting their foods: maple candy, fried honeyleaf, marinated crabs, and an assortment cooked meats. Still, she found it familiar with the busy nature.

"Here is our craftman's district, you may find numerous stores catering to the creation of tools and armor."

Here, it was much more organized with buildings made from stone and wood, unlike before where they were built into the ground and inside trees. It was certainly a dazzling sight, for every storefront had numerous items to show. There were fancy swords and armors, necklaces and rings. More than that, she found that each store showcased enormous ores and gemstones, each one well protected and exuding energy. From lightning ores to flame gems, there was an uncountbale variety.

"We also have districts for residents as well as cultivators, government officials and researchers. Speaking of, the most important district is the research district. That is where the Stellar Sky Foundation is as well as our continuing study of energy."

As they reached the research district, Ming Yue understood just how important it was to the kingdom. It was by far the largest and most impressive place she had seen. Resembling the market district, the buildings were all built within giant trees. In fact, it seemed that they had been interwoven with the trees, like a massive fortress of stone and earth.

It was on a much larger scale that the market district. The trees were much tall and wider, the color of the leaves were shades of green but they also glowed. Even during the day, you could see the glowing branches and in the night, it was all the more apparent.

Zhi Qing led them inside the giant cluster of towers and trees and within, Ming Yue was not expecting to see that it was all one interconnected place. Everything inside had been hollowed out and filled with numerous rooms and halls.

It was just as busy as the market. All sorts of people dressed in differently colored robes, carrying papers and strange tools. Some gave Ming Yue a glance but most did not seem to care.

Zhi Qing led them away from the busy area, taking them up several flights of stairs to more secluded area.

There, they approached a set of doors with a symbol etched on them. These symbols were the exact same as Elder Shen's sigil and past those gates, was a large room. It was largely empty except for a work table and some simple furniture. It was all set to one side while the rest of the room had nothing within it.

At the end of the room, the wall had been replaced by large windows that carried a view of the capital city. There Grand Researcher Ou stood, looking at the passing scenery.

Zhi Qing walked to her side as her master turned around and smiled.

That was the first time Ming Yue had seen her face and she was taken aback by the sight.

Ou Fenhuang was incredibly old and wrinkled and her skin was paler than that of porcelain. Her hair was the braided and sported a hair brooch shaped like a jasmine flower. Her gray robes covered her body except for her hands and feet. Though Ming Yue could see at the edges of her sleeves, hints of a much larger tattoo.

The Grand Researcher walked to the center of the room and gestures for Ming Yue to come forward.

Meeting at the center, Grand Researcher Ou took off her gray robes, revealing a sleeveless top. Showing her tattoed arms, it was a strange sight to see. Her wrinkled arms were inked with red markings, strange symbols akin to some ancient language.

She held her hands out, looking at Ming Yue.

Ming Yue followed along and placed her hands onto the hands of the Grand Researcher.

Zhi Qing watched from afar, quietly studying the movements of her master.

Upon meeting hands, the tattoos of the Grand Researcher pulsated with energy and glowed. Wisps of golden light emerged from her body. As for Ming Yue, her pale blue energy emerged from her own body amd combined with the golden light.

Together, the power filled the room to which all manner of symbols begn to glow, fueled by their energy.

From where they stood, a burst of power came about, expanding into giant sphere of swirling energy including theirs.

Letting go of each other's hands, Ming Yue looked around in amazement. Like her, Xiao Yin, Hei Yue, and Zhi Qing, stared with wide open eyes.

"Everytime I see it, it still amazes me..." Zhi Qing muttered those words, finding the sight both strange and enlightening.

As Ming Yue looked around, a voice spoke within her mind.

"Welcome to the Stellar Sky Foundation, the fruit of your elder's research and a place many have entered."

She looked at Grand Researcher Ou, finding a calm but prideful glint in her eyes as the Grand Researcher continued speaking.

"The Spirit Elder Shen Zhong, formerly known as High Assayer Shen focused his research on the forces of the heart and soul. In fact, he led the research in that field, finding ways to utilize that power whether it was through techniques, items, or formations."

"The Stellar Sky Foundation, this room, can amplify those forces and help to control them. Though, I assume that he sent you here for more than that."

Ming Yue nodded, explaining her jumps in cultivation and lack of experience with the energies of the world. Though Elder Shen could help, he suggested coming here to better learn how to adjust to her new abilities.

Grand Researcher Ou listened and nodded to her words before speaking.

"That is fine, Zhi Qing will help you with this. We will also be using the Stellar Sky Foundation to help with your learning. But first, we should get you aquainted with everything."

Stepping away from the center of the room, the swirling energy and star-like structures faded away. The Grand Researcher put on her robes and walked to Zhi Qing, giving her instructions to which she nodded in understanding.

Leaving her side, Zhi Qing went towards Ming Yue with a graceful smile.

"It seems that you will be in my care for now. Let's take you to the Heaven Earth Platform."

Leaving the room, the Grand Researcher was once again left alone and she was smiling.

"How long has it been since you were here, Shen Zhong? How many years?" she thought to herself.

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