Gu Zhi then proceeded to get drunk and drunker on the ancient ape's mead. Long into the nights did he feel like he had to throw up. He spent his time chugging the mead, slurring, and passing out.
If he had to describe the experience in one word it would be awful. The flavor was bitter, with the tiniest bit of sweetness to it. You couldn't taste much besides the alcohol though, and it lost its flavor fast when you got drunk. He looked like a miserable drunkard who couldn't handle himself while his wife had to take care of and clean up after him. He would fall over everything, piss himself, and fall asleep at random times. Truly Gu Zhi didn't think he had shown his wife a worse version of himself.
The benefits for the mead were astounding though, the more he drank the stronger he became. His muscles swelled as the more drunk he became the stronger he became. It was to a point were he would accidently tear things apart and rip them up, because he couldn't adjust to his new and rapid growing strength.
Never the less the days passed by as the trial drew close. He had to stop drinking and sober up fast for the upcoming trial. It would be a joke if he showed up drunk. Gu Xiao helped him take care of himself and fed him food, and large amounts of water to recover. By the time Gu Zhi recovered from his bender the trial was here.
"The final trial will be held in the palace alter" the guide said.
"The final trial, so soon?" Gu Zhi asked.
"Yes, the final trial, let's go" the guide said as she turned around and headed towards the elevator.
The elevator took them higher and higher up, interestingly they didn't see Ji Long, or Ji Er, it was unknown what happened to them.
The elevator stopped once it brought them higher in the palace then they have ever been. They steeped out of the elevator to find a grand alter waiting for them. It stretched to the sky for a long while, showing the luxury the palace had. The room was rather small horizontally not offering a lot of room compared to the lower floors, still it was much bigger than rooms found in everyday life. it had high vertical walls with painted glass covering every inch of the place. Blackstone dark as night covered the areas as light bathed it in a holy glow. The alter itself was made from what seemed like a priest. It was a statue depicting a priest covered in robes head to toe, showing no skin besides their hands. Their hands held a bowl held up to the sky perfectly angled to have all the light centered around the bowl. Perhaps that was were offerings were given up, for who knows what. Rows and rows of benches littered the place, all of them facing the statue. Gold candles were placed in dark spots as a window on the celling shined sunlight directly onto the bowl. It could only be described as holy.
"Who exactly was this alter made for?" Gu Zhi asked.
The guide remained completely silent and still not talking or moving.
'This is quite the alter'.
the atmosphere was quickly becoming quite creepy.
"This is will be your final trial: the trial of sacrifice." the guide said as a dagger appeared out of nowhere on her palms. "You shall cut yourself and let your blood drip onto the bowl, as your past sins shall be revealed. Both partners shall drip their blood into the bowl, one must bear the sins for you both. Leave now and you will both have your previous rewards, sacrifice yourself and your future together will be eternal." The guide stated in a very serious tone.
Gu Zhi looked over to his wife.
"Let me do this" he said in a whisper.
"Are you sure?" she said with genuine worry.
"Positive" he replied.
he took the dagger in one hand and led his wife to the alter in the other. He made his way to the alter until he was right in front of it.
'Lord have mercy on my soul' he had silent prayer to himself as he cut his wrist with the knife.
The blood bled onto the bowl in front of him. He could see distant visions in the blood playing out his sins. Every unjustified kill, every moment of sloth, greed, lust, envy, pride, and more pour onto the bowl. Gu Xiao took the dagger from his hand and slit her own wrist as she held it above the bowl. Her blood dripped onto the bowl as past sins replayed themselves just as they had done with Gu Zhi's blood. Their combined blood boiled and festered until it transformed into a blood red liquid indistinguishable from blood. But he could tell, he knew more about blood than anyone else in the room. That wasn't blood anymore, or at least it wasn't the same as before.
He looked to his wife once more and back to the guide before looking at his wife for the last time.
"I love you" he said before drinking the blood red liquid.
AS the liquid made its way down his throat he could feel the screams of killed souls scream in his ears. He could feel the crushed dreams of many, the butyral, the hate, the lust, the greed. He felt all the negative emotions and realities they caused through their actions until a voice from somewhere whispered loudly in his head.
"I condemn you to never see again" it said.
"Screeechhhh!" he screamed in total agony as his eyes bled. He could feel his vision grow darker and darker, until there was nothing, nothing at all. It was gone... gone like it was never there to began with, like his vision was nothing but a dream.
"Congratulations, for passing the final trial" was the last thing he heard before passing out.