Arriving at the tall, dull gray door, Yan Zaizen stored his skyship. The surrounding area was filled with red sand, but this door stood tall amidst the storms. This was Hell's Soul Gate, something mentioned in both the Anima Syndicate's Medallion and Spirit Matrix Method. Despite its appearance of a door, it was a profound grand-tier soul-based formation which can send out a Pneuma Disruption that could kill True Essence Realm experts.
Not only that, it could convert normal essence into soul-attributed energy, which was beyond special. In the Fallen Stars Continent, there was no such thing as that! However, there were formations that converted basic essence into attributed essence, just not pure energy like this one.
Taking out the Anima Syndicate's Medallion, he sent his soul energy into it and placed it upon the door. The dull gray color started to slowly turn a brighter shade of gray, but after a while, it reverted back to its dull gray appearance.
"?" Bai Lufeng was confused. Wasn't that the key to the door?
However, Yan Zaizen and Tao simply waited.
Several minutes later, the gray door started to become incorporeal. It was as if it was turning into a ghost, and the insides were becoming faintly clear. Besides darkness, they could see an old man with bright eyes, grey hair, and wrinkly face. He seemed to be in his 80's in terms of mortal years, but his back was straight, and his eyes carried intelligence and vibrance.
It gave one an odd feeling of contrast. The old man's eyes looked over the three, and he spoke in a very weak yet ancient voice, "these two are?" The old man spoke directly to Yan Zaizen, as if knowing he was the one who held the medallion and the rest were randoms. In truth, how could he not have a method to discern one's soul cultivation base?
If so, with a single glance, one could spot Tao and Bai Lufeng's Advanced Nascent Souls. In the qi cultivation world, they may be exceptional giving their qi cultivation base, but in the soul cultivation world, they were trash. If one compared them based on soul alone, It was like comparing a Qi Unification Cultivator to a True Essence Cultivator. The difference...it did not need a description.
"They are my companions." Yan Zaizen responded calmly, his eyes filled with intrigue as he inspected the old man. However, he received no information. Unlike others who may be able to perceive the soul strength, he didn't have such a method.
"Mhm. Come." Turning around, he slowly walked into the darkness. Without hesitation, Yan Zaizen's group of three followed. They walked like mortals for nearly an hour before the darkness was abolished by white sunstones. The brilliance of this light was such an extraordinary shift that it blinded them temporarily.
"You two, follow her," The old man instructed. "Followers aren't allowed further."
After regaining his sight, he saw a cute young girl about twelve or thirteen years of age, her eyes were brilliant and one could tell she had a strong soul. Yan Zaizen didn't show any disagreement at his instructions. They weren't here for Tao or Bai Lufeng, but his official induction into the Anima Syndicate. Tao and Bai Lufeng agreed without any fuss, following the girl as she took them through a basic white door.
"Follow me." The old man proceeded through a corridor. Yan Zaizen glanced around, seeing that the current area they were in was a circular shape, and at the end of this was twelve white doors and three tall and long corridors. They had white sunstones emanating light at the top of the corridor, so there was no distinctive darkness as they walked through.
"Your name?" The old man asked calmly.
"Yan Zaizen."
"You can call me Old Tai." He responded with his own name, it seemed he was polite.
"Mhm, I shall."
They travel for several hours by foot like mortals. Yan Zaizen couldn't help but wonder why they don't simply dash forward, these several hours could've been reduced to seconds. However, it wasn't proper to do so. Since this old man didn't seem to be antagonizing or purposefully wasting time with malicious intentions, there was no need to break some rule he didn't know.
After these hours, they arrived at another circular room, but this one had two silver platforms on the left and right. Besides that, there was an empty high-height podium. Old Tai brought him to the front of the podium, "Wait."
After that, he went around until he situated himself at the high podium, looking down at Yan Zaizen. It seems this Old Tai was someone with a great status here.
"Present your medallion."
Yan Zaizen sent his medallion towards Old Tai with a trace of his soul energy, it floated into his hands, and he inspected it for a second. After a while, he looked at Yan Zaizen with curiosity. "This is a lesser medallion. Where did you obtain this?"
Lesser medallion?! What did that mean?
"I obtained it in the Fallen Stars Continent, in a city named Xuanwu City, from a person named Wu Yuanxu." He explained everything simply, there's not point in going into too detail.
"I see. Wu Yuanxu…" As if trying to recall something, he constantly tapped the podium. "Ah! Wu Yuanxu. Earth-Rank, 4th Crest Member. Last recorded soul sultivation at the Advanced Nascent Soul. Current status: bodily death." He listed off some information, but when he reached the last bit, his expression twitched. He wanted to say something about the ranking. The Anima Syndicate Medallion he had indicated three rankings: Anima Initiate, Anima Lieutenant, and Anima Commander.
However, before he could ask Pinaka's voice resounded in his mind.
"Bodily Death?!" It sounded shocked, and Yan Zaizen was just as shocked.
Bodily Death? That meant he was dead...right?
Wait.
"Bodily Death means he has a soul remnant or second soul! With his soul cultivation, it's impossible to produce a soul remnant, so he must've segregated his soul at birth and linked the two, therefore his memories, instincts, and thoughts would all correspond to this second soul. However, without a body, one could only stay in a state of suspended animation." Pinaka explained, her voice filled with incredulity.
One must know, the segregation of one's soul was exceptionally difficult to do, and it was essentially impossible as an adult. Only a newborn, with a nascent soul without any memories, instincts, or substantial thoughts created could do that, and that was extreme! The chance to survive was about 10%, but that did not mean it was okay! Afterwards, the segregation of the soul could cause countless problems!
However...if it succeeded…
Hearing Pinaka's explanation, Yan Zaizen's eyes widened with shock. Could this mean...Wu Yuanxu was alive?!
Old Tai's eyes narrowed as he looked at Yan Zaizen, there was like a shroud preventing an in-depth inspection of his soul form. Only thing he could obtain from this youthful man was that his soul cultivation base reached the Aurora Soul Realm, but he couldn't determine its exact stage. Also, his lifeforce was far too vibrant to determine his age. If he went off vibrant lifeforce, then he had just been born. It was a little frustrating, like looking in a fog.
"Wait, where's Wu Yuanxu's second soul?!" Yan Zaizen asked, his voice erratic and filled with excitement. Old Tai was a little shocked, but he regained his calm immediately.
"Currently in our Anima Pond."
"How can I revive him?!" Yan Zaizen nearly shouted out his lungs with this, his hand grabbing the podium. Wu Yuanxu died because of him, if he could save him, then he wanted to, no, needed to! It has been weighing on his heart for far too long.
"You must either pay 100,000 contribution points or have a status of an Sky-Rank, 9th Crest Member to request it." Old Tai explained patiently.
What? How much is 100,000 contribution points? How high of a status was a Sky-Rank, 9th Crest Member?
Seeing Yan Zaizen's confusion, Old Tai explained, "Contribution Points is obtained by doing select missions by the syndicate, turning in materials, pills, or elixirs beneficial to soul development, earning a stipend depending on your status, or turning in unique cultivation methods, arts, and formations relating to the soul."
"There are Three Ranks: Earth, Sky, and Heaven, with Crests from 1 to 9. Each additional crest can be obtained by turning in contribution points, this will allow you to possess more access to the Anima Syndicate's storage of knowledge in regards to soul cultivation, arts, or materials." After this explanation, Old Tai waited for Yan Zaizen to digest what was said.
It took him several dozen seconds before his eyes brightened in comprehension, he understood now. Having never personally experienced a contribution points system or this type of ranking, using only a few dozen seconds was already extraordinary. "Will my soul cultivation base help my status?" He asked, curious if cultivation level mattered, especially since stipends were given to members because of it.
Old Tai was surprised, not many would ask this question right off the bat. This child may seem to be a little slow, but he asked the most important question. Typically, people would start taking out items to see if they were worth anything in exchange, or ask if there were any missions available.
"Of course. One's cultivation base determine your minimum rank and crest status. Initial Nascent Soul: Earth-Rank, 1st Crest. Advanced Nascent Soul: Earth-Rank, 4th Crest. Perfect Nascent Soul: Earth-Rank, 9th Crest. The Sky-Rank and Heaven-Rank are similar, corresponding with the Aurora Soul Realm and Astral Soul Realm respectively." Old Tai felt happy to get all that out of the way.
Yan Zaizen's eyes lit up in happiness! Currently, his soul cultivation base was at the half-step Perfect Aurora Soul Realm, but it lacked the requisite energy to make that final step. During this time, he's been focused on his qi cultivation base, but if all he needed was to breakthrough, then that was as simple as eating!
"I need a cultivation room!" He shouted.
He was going to save Wu Yuanxu!!!