novelraw Chapter 1177 - 1176 - The Lonely Road
Chapter 1177 - 1176 - The Lonely Road
Scar Village was settled into a shallow ravine along the less traveled roads still protected by the Law Bindings made by the Immortals. It was on a road that once thrived with trade to the northwest before Blood Talon Peak became a no man's land.
Even so, many cultivators had used the road to avoid paying taxes and bandits as even they avoided that road due to the danger of the dragons. Everyone knew they might die but it was a desperate time.
Those that needed to survive were often left without recourse if they needed to get somewhere and could not afford gateway fees or entrance taxes on the main routes. It was enough to let the village survive as well as the beasts that still clung on around them for materials.
The walls were only made of wood but reinforced by formations at the peak of grade 5. The Law Bindings did most of the work for exterior threats otherwise.
The structures were not in the best shape either as a mix of wood and stone were almost slapped together even up to the Village Head's home that was 3 stories tall.
There was 1 exception, however. A heavily reinforced stone 2 story structure was full of raucous shouts and laughter. Shattering glass and the crack of wood breaking also mixed in as the stench of blood wafted in the air.
Alcohol was powerfully blowing out of any opening to dismiss any remote chance it was just a fight as well.
A man in a ragged cloak slowly walked up the street but noted several shadows that looked wrong as he approached the tavern.
He looked slowly at each alley but felt no fear as he moved ahead. Nothing felt stronger than him.
He pulled his hood slightly which allowed a flicker of metal to be missed. It pierced his cloak easily yet the ting of metal on metal was heard!
The figure seemed to become smoke before a choked off scream came from the alley. The ragged cloaked man emerged and the other shadows became normal at that moment.
"Fun place you have here." A flick off a dagger revealed fresh blood. The dagger vanished as he proceeded to the tavern.
A slim man with a grin was picking at his filthy fingernails but said nothing as the cloaked man passed. Only a fool would challenge a clearly stronger opponent.
The violent crowd hardly noticed the newcomer. The jostling crowd did not seem to impede the cloaked man. He hardly stood out as many cloaked or hidden by technique figures filled all corners.
They were also fighting but not always with their fists. Some used mental attacks or auras but the chaos in the room made such things unfeasible quickly unless at damned close range.
The man finally reached the far side of the room but the bar was just as messy as the rest of the place. Without anyone noticing, a space was made as if the group around him wished for him to get through.
No one seemed to notice the oddity as he picked up a rickety stool and sat down. The bartender was a powerful man at the peak of the Sky Realm. Most of the patrons were in that realm or lower but a few Heaven Realms were hiding away calmly above.
The activities above were also more profane in their choices but still just as bloody or painful.
The man then proceeded to listen for anything that could help him on his journey ahead.
"You cheated! You hid that ball in your hand! Damn you–"
"She is mine! It was clear as day she was looking at–"
"Please stop! I won't do it again! I wo–"
"Just a few more stones and I will be free! Just a few–"
The man grimaced as his scarred face was briefly exposed. The massive influx of sounds was not all he heard but the thoughts as well. People were blaring all over the place and it was a massive headache trying to sift through it.
On top of that, it was all the same source. Suffering. Unbelievable suffering. Even the men and women laughing were screaming inside for relief.
He had come to hell.
He had stopped at each outpost and town gathering information but most of it was severely outdated or just legends mixed with rumors.
He had come far in his journey but the truth was he was feeling anxious the closer he got. He left a few Qi stones on the counter to keep the barkeep unaware of him.
Lind was using an art to hide from others but it had limits. If he used too much power it would out him as a Crystal Tier Immortal but if he also took actions that would normally gather notice could break it as well.
He left the tavern quickly but froze as he saw something he could not let pass! Children!
There were children in slave collars being taken up the stairs!
His disguise was burned away as emerald flames swept the room. Celestial Qi locked down the other elements with ease as his emerald eyes burned with rage.
The once busting room turned silent as the grave as an Immortal aura swept the room. The battles, gambling, and whoring were all brought to a standstill at that moment.
[If there are any other children in this establishment or village being used, bring them to me now or there will not be a village left standing!] His aura swept the village and many shook in terror but Lind narrowed his eyes as another Immortal aura came back to him.
"WHO DARES THREATEN MY FUN?!" A male voice boomed across the air as a demon with bloodshot eyes blasted out of a wall. The building behind him collapsed as screams filled the air.
He had greasy dark hair while his clothes were a horrific mash of styles. They were all of decent quality but so dirty as to make no difference.
It was also clear that his foundation was unstable as his demonic elements leaked everywhere. How did a demon get to the Shard Tier with such poor technique?
"Fun? You call all this misery fun?" The demon sneered as a rusty saber appeared in his left hand and a short sword in the other. The sword, however, was peak mid grade 7! It was a true Immortal weapon!
It also felt like it was crying! A spirit weapon!
Lind looked grimly at the man but he seemed to drunkenly stumble before vanishing and appearing at his right side!
Lind never made a move as the 2 weapons closed on his neck and heart. He only glanced right at the bloodshot eyes in disdain.
The saber shattered on his neck and he caught the naked blade with his bare hand! The demon went wide eyed before a fist slammed into his right shoulder separating the arm from the torso!
A blood drenched emerald clawed fist tossed it aside as the demon screamed. Lind realized he was losing his temper more than he should be. He was half a year out from the Rubyfire Kingdom but felt the isolation after such a short time.
Each place he had no one to rely on and had to erect weavings to protect himself each time he cultivated or rested. He had to hide his looks and all the tell tale signs of his passing as his enemies had to be looking for him desperately once he left.
He also assumed they knew he had more information about the inverted mountain as he had stayed in that kingdom for so long looking for it. His ridiculous actions made them blind but even an innocent word could betray him.
Thus, when such an opportunity to vent his worries and frustration was presented, he had now gone overboard.
Still, a glance at the dead eyed and weeping children made him swallow his concerns. He was already committed.
[I believe I gave an order. The children, now!] He re-sent his order and then looked at the sword. The spirit seemed resigned to losing its current owner and becoming his property for slaughter once more.
He looked sad as the sword was well made. He could recognize the work of a Maester in the making. The Laws were just shy of becoming Law Grade. He dispersed the imprint of the demon with ease but did not put his own on there.
For a sword spirit to resent its own existence was a dire thing. Forcing his imprint on it would be too damaging.
"I will not use you. Rest and recover." He put it in his ring and glanced at that as well. There was no damage on it but ever since he faced that Dao Tribulation, Haro had been dormant.
Had the tool spirit protected him? He had no answers but looked up as the demon slowly stood up with a new arm. A pill vial was discarded but he noticed it was a Law Grade one!
"You bastard! How dare you–" Lind let his hand glow with elements and all 3 forms of fire combined into a devastating new blaze.
"Eat some Primal Fire!" The flame was dark orange and gold with deep streaks of crimson sparking off of it as it shot across the plaza without any time to react. The demon was still mid-shouting when he was reduced to ash.
Lind had not been idle. He had been combining each version of the elements into stronger iterations. Celestial Qi refined natural Qi into demonic but he had wondered if he could do more than reverse the process.
He had been surprised at how easy it was with his new body. The result was 6 new basic attacks but their power was easily on par with any Immortal Art! He could not, however, combine the Primal versions of the elements at all yet.
He lacked something vital and could only use the 6 basic forms. Still, it was clearly more than enough to kill the foolish demon.
Once he was dead, all resistance to his order ceased. Dozens of children appeared and Lind had to restrain the desire to wipe the village from the map.
[Going forward, no children shall be harmed here. If you fail to protect or ensure such a state of affairs, the Heavens will judge this place.] The sky rumbled enough to shake the timbers of all the buildings. Shock spread across the village as a whole was torn in the air.
Lind gathered up the children and vanished back to the town he had left a month ago. It was the closest place. He knew just where to send the children. Mills would look out for them. He had a journey to continue.