Pathway

Chapter 87: Death Keep [2]

"Why, Asura?"

"Uh?"

Ju Feng uttered after being taken aback by the sudden question, coupled with the fact that he was still feeling a little groggy. He was just recovering from the damage sustained from the impact of the collision back in the arena. So, the question really caught him off guard.

Why what? And Asura, a demigod? 

He was just addressed as an Asura, but he never knew himself to resemble a demigod. Could it be his looks? But surely, it couldn't be his aura. It was just recently that he reached the zhuji stage, the true beginning of immortal cultivation. Then, how could anyone took him for an Asura? Even immortal nascent soul cultivators didn't have the same aura as demigods. Oh, how he wished that could be true about him. An Asura, just like his mother? Surely, his life would have been much more easier.

Ju Feng quickly gathered his thoughts together, and put on an appreciative smile. He was trying to mask his confused expression while showing his gratitude to the boy who saved his life.

"Thank you for saving me back there."

"There's no glory in being suicidal, Asura."

With his face displaying annoyance, fully fixed on Jufeng, the demigod continued.

"We all seek glory here, but not in a reckless manner."

"I'm not trying to get myself killed, by the way."

"Yea, I can see that. It seems you're thinking the arena has an Haven-Guard seal or something. Where you can die inside and appear outside. Oh, you would've been long dead by now, Asura. Let me ask you, why are you participating in the Eternal-legacy?"

"What Eternal-legacy?"

Ju Feng slowly asked, receiving silence from the boy. He was still looking at the boy when he suddenly remembered the words of uncle Luyang before his mother performed the demigod trials. His stomach churned in primal fear at the possibility. With difficulty, he calmed his mind and asked. 

"The rite of glory?"

"So, are you telling me you're just realizing that now?"

The demigod shook his head lightly as he examined something on the floor.

"That's a mockery of the rest of us, you know. Or don't you realize that?"

Ju Feng looked at the demigod but couldn't find any word in response. His mind was becoming flooded with information about a deadly demigod's trial that happened in a dimensional place of spacetime known as the Deathkeep. A trial so dangerous, it would take thousands of years for the young demigods to prepare before being approved for the trials. Even with that, there was no assurance of them surviving the trials.

Eternal-legacy. The rite of glory.

The extremely dangerous customary act designed for all young, coming of age, demigods. Participating demigods would have to do battle in the Deathkeep arena where they would be eliminated, one by one. Any demigod which stepped outside or was thrown out of the arena, would be eliminated from the first trial. No eliminated demigod could get back into the arena until it was all done and only one was left.

The champion, the last remaining demigod in the arena, would get the Dew of Heavens and a token. The token was a pass to the first tunnel which contained a free sacred-crest stone, more treasures and lesser amount of danger. He would also be having a period of time ahead of the other demigods to look for other treasures, if he wanted to. That was a great advantage over the rest of the demigods.

The Sacredcrest stones were used to exchange for a universal gift. The universal gifts were the divine traits bestowed on the demigods after the conclusion of the trials of the rite of passage. The Sacredcrest stones would be presented after the conclusion of the rite of passage at the valley of gods.

The rules and regulations of the eternal-legacy were set in stone by the laws of creation. They couldn't be altered or changed by any living entity. All must follow the rules.

That trial was a great benefit to true demigods from the dimensional plane between the mortal plane and heavenly plane. Alhough, the dimensional plane was more closer to the heavenly plane in divine bloodline, it was also closer to the mortal plane in heritage. There was no denying the fact that there were demigods all over the mortal plane, but all cultivators knew the true demigods resided in that dimensional plane.

The Lumence dimensional plane. The home of the true demigods.

There were five realms in this dimensional plane and each realm was made up of a different kingdom of demigods. Every ten thousand years, young demigods from these five realms that were seeking heavenly glory in the Eternal-legacy sojourn, would be sent to the Deathkeep. The young demigods would have to fully prepare and must be approved by their respective gathering of elders.

The Deepflow realm which was the home of the Yaksha demigods.

The Windglade realm belonging to the Rakshasa demigods.

The Crystalsky realm, the place where the Laksha demigods called home.

The Frozenfire realm that served as the habitat of the Asura demigods.

And the Cloudfall, home of the Deva demigods.

Out of all the kingdoms of demigods, only the Asuras fully had the human heritage. Some of them might have birth marks, but they had no remarkable birth marks associated with the other demigods. Any first glance of an Asuran would be in the semblance of a human.

"Mm. So, that's why he thought I was an Asura."

Ju Feng thought to himself as he examined his body for any sign of lingering injuries. He had sustained serious injuries back then, but right now, he couldn't find traces of them any longer.

"I had to fix you up since I couldn't bear the look."

"I'm very grateful for everything. I really am. I'm Jufeng."

JuFeng changed the path of the discussion when he noticed the eyes of the boy were still locked on him with all seriousness.

"I guess I was out for a time."

"Obviously."

With a softer gaze, the boy still sitting in the lotus position, continued to observe Jufeng.

"Why did you have to come here, Asura? Why did they even allowed you to come here?"

He shook his head before turning towards the arena.

"I don't understand. You could've died in there had I not saved you, you know. Despite the fact that I'm a Laksha and you are an Asura, I still save your live. Do you know why? Because, you reminded me of an Asura I met, many a year ago. I was in a difficult situation back then too...."

The young Laksha demigod trailed off as the memories of the past kept flooding into his mind. Ju Feng, noticing the change, quickly quipped in.

"Don't forget, we all have our teleportation seals. We can leave at anytime if we are in danger."

He still remembered the details from the words of uncle Primus and decided to raise it maybe it could make a difference.

"Mm. Still, you shouldn't be here, Asura. You're not ready for this? I know the one who attacked you was a Terra Deva, nevertheless, nobody here should take injuries like that from his blow. Or any other blow." 

The boy said with confidence. He himself was locked in combat with the Terra Deva for many hours before he was eventually sent out of the arena. He would have entered back if he could, but that's the past now. 

"Do you know what I come to realize while patching you up?"

He turned his attention back to Jufeng.

"Your soul is weak and your body is even weaker. Forgive me Asura, but I'm finding it really hard to believe that you've trained for a thousand years talkless of ten thousand."

A thousand years? He wasn't even more than ten years old. Was that a joke on him or on the Lakshan demigod?

"You're right. I haven't trained for that long and I truly shouldn't be here."

"Believe it or not, the teleportation talismans are only useful if you live long enough to use them. Unless you have a large amount of life saving talismans, which I doubt, you'll simply die here."

As they were talking, a loud chiming sound went off which indicated the end of the arena trial. It would soon be the time for them to enter the tunnels for the Sacredcrest stones and other treasures.

The Laksha demigod gave him a sympathetic look.

"If I were you, I wouldn't enter the tunnels. You don't want to rely on other Asuran demigods. In there, you're practically on your own. Others may not be that kind to you as I am. But if you decide to enter the tunnels, please, don't get in my way."

"You don't need to worry. I'll be heading towards the mountains, the tunnels are not for me."

"Your choice."

Out of his spatial sac, the Lakshan produced a silver-grey longsword which was made from a rare thorne steel, and offered it to Jufeng. Thorne steel  contained chromium, nickel and vanadium.