Pathway

Chapter 94: Death Keep [9]

That was due to the loss of the parallel souls associated with them. 

The same with the weapons that had cores. Or, as they were generally known, soul weapons. Due to the fact that they were connected to the owners' souls, their loss would have an adverse effect on the main soul of the owner.

Since the largesword was on a self-destructive path and was powered by the seal, it managed to shatter the massive claws. It struck the death-eater at the center of its heart or where its should be. 

The core of the black largesword which had now moved to the tip of the sword, struck and pierced the hard body of the death-eater. The death-eater was straining to pull the sword out of its body, when Ju Feng, who had crept up behind it, pierced its skull through the opening at the back of its head. Since he arrived, he had been watching their battle and noticed the death-eater constantly protecting the back of its head. It was then he decided the back of its head had to be its vulnerable place. The risk was high, but he chose to help the demigod out.

Ju Feng had planned to quietly pass the area without attracting any creatures. All he wanted was to keep looking for the mystical order. He had the directions, but he had stopped for some reasons unknown to him. Maybe, it was to look at the might of demigods, or to see the destructive powers of the death-eaters, he didn't know. But one thing clear, he had seen the mighty powers of the two sides. He wasn't at their stage of power yet.

After piercing its head from the back, the creature fell, face down, on the largesword. The impact shattered the already damaged sword into pieces. A shining, white, oval-crystal, dropped from the death-eater's mouth and rolled towards the demigod. Slowly, the demigod removed his helmet, thereby, revealing his face.

"Fang Zedong? Heavens tears!"

Jufeng looked at him in a surprisingly bemused way.

"Hey, Ju Feng."

With cold eyes, he looked at the stone and at Jufeng, who quickly nodded his head in agreement. He still remembered the words of Fang Zedong warning him not to stand in his way inside the tunnels. More so, if his memories would serve him right, Fang Zedong had lost a thread of his soul when the largesword shattered. A fragmented soul was not a major problem, but their would never be an advancement or ascension without a complete soul. There were pills and fruits which could repair the fragmented soul, but were expensive to find and would take some time to fully mend the soul.

"It's all yours, Fang Zedong."

Ju Feng said as backed away from the stone.

"I only helped out. Moreover, it was your sword that did the work. As long as you are alright, that's fine by me."

Fang Zedong nodded and picked up the white stone.

"Sacredcrest."

He found a spot and sat down, resting his back on the remains of the shard he had collided with. He put the stone in his spatial sac and took out a pill which he slowly put in his mouth.

Jufeng had taken a good look at the shining stone before it was put away. Although he was impressed by the appearance, he wasn't shocked by the stone itself. So, that was the Sacredcrest stone that demigods would fight for in order to gain an extra divine ability? Well, if it was a divine ability, then, it probably worth it. But for him, it had no use and his mother was already through with demigods' trials. He practically had no need for it. Even if he had use for it, would he be chasing a death-eater for one? Or try to take this one? Definitely no. He would surely ended up a dead soul.

"I saw the battle, well, part of it and you were really good." 

Jufeng was demonstrating with his sword.

"With the black sword and black armor? You were like a death god, Zedong."

"Death god? You are having a laugh, aren't you?"

Fang Zedong asked with a shake of his head. 

"I could have died if you hadn't come, you know."

"Maybe not."

Ju Feng stopped his sword display and gave a shrug. The rule of the trials was simple. If any demigod couldn't continue, the demigod must activate the transportation seal in order to leave the Death-Keep and stay alive. Why would any demigod refused to use the seal in the face of death? He just couldn't comprehend it.

"Why did you stay? You could've left this place like the other demigod, but you didn't. I still remembered what you told me. That the eternal glory wasn't worth dying for. Then, why didn't you leave?"

Fang Zedong stared at the empty space for a time before turning his gaze at Jufeng.

"For us Lakshas, it's very different. You Asuras don't worry that much about the Sacredcrests, do you? Maybe, you don't want to accept that, but it's true. For us, especially me, the honor of my family depends on this. It's even worse going home without it than not coming at all."

"Yea, the traditions we follow. You have the stone now, so, be happy? By the way, sorry about your sword. It was a true beauty."

"It once belonged to my grandfather. At its centre was the core of an ancient Huli-jing. It's a sad one."

Fang Zedong sighed as he peered at his shattered sword. The hilt, still protruded out the death-eater's chest.

"Been preparing for this a very long time. This armor, the sword and the seals, all are my family's minor treasures. Losing the sword and a seal is going to be bad for me, but I do have the stone. It's all that matters at the end of the day."

He raised his head towards Ju Feng.

"What about you?"

"I need to go forward towards the rising path."

"That's towards the death cave. Why?"

"There's something I must find."

As the two were talking, three Asura demigods streaked into the area in a blur. From their side, they didn't see Ju Feng and Fang Zedong. They were focusing on the bodies of the demigods and death-eaters. There were two to three bodies of demigods and equal numbers of death-eaters. The Asuras were still checking the bodies, when they finally noticed Ju Feng and Fang Zedong, sitting in front of the corpse of a giant, black, death-eater. The two Asuras decided to come over and see what was going on.

"An Asura and a Laksha." 

One of the Asuras said with a devilish smile before asking.

"How often do you see that?

"You." 

One of the Asuras, the only girl in their midst, uttered, indicitating Ju Feng.

"Good to see you are still alive. Thought the drifter was having you for lunch."

Ju Feng made a chortle as he shook his head. 

"Thanks for your help back there. I'm in your debt."

"Oh, pfff. Come off it. We are Asuras, aren't we? We are not like some other demigods that don't understand this."

She turned her gaze on Fang Zedong whom Jufeng was quick to defend.

"He, actually, saved my life at the arena. If not for him, I would've been dead. I owe him much."

"How about that? A Laksha saving an Asura. I never saw that coming."

The first Asura said as he raised an eyebrow at Fang Zedong before glancing at Ju Feng again. He indicated Ju Feng's dantian where his core should be.

"Although you're a little weaker yourself, Asura. Well, whatever."

"An ancient death-eater? And you two managed to stay alive? That's truly insane."

The third Asura voiced while inspecting the body of the giant death-eater.

"Anyway, we're heading towards the rising path." 

"You're going to the death cave?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"I'm going that way too. Maybe, we can all walk together?"

"Hm.... Just a minute."

The three Asuras consulted with one another. After a few seconds, the girl turned towards Ju Feng and Fang Zhedong.

"Only you, or the two of You?"

Ju Feng had no idea if Fang Zhedong would be willing to follow them. After all, he his own sacredcrest stone already. He glanced at the Laksha who nodded in return. Fang Zhedong would follow them. But Ju Feng knew the metal elemental demigod was doing because of him. He just wanted to repay him in some ways.

"Yea, the two of us."

"Alright, you two can join our group. But the first stone comes our way. Is that okay?"

After recieving confirmatory nods from the two, she smiled widely.

"I'm Fan Xinyi."

She said before indicating the girl in bronze breast plate standing beside her.

"This is Kang Ya."

And then, she pointed to the boy in pristine white robe who was standing further back.

"And that's Liu Luoyang."

Ju Feng and Fang Zedong introduced themselves in return before the five of them headed towards the rising path.