novelraw Chapter 1499 - 1498 - Roughing It
Chapter 1499 - 1498 - Roughing It
Due to the nature of the 4th layer, there was no such thing as a safe spot to camp that was maintained by travelers like in the lower layers. A copse of trees that once offered shelter could be shifted kilometers away from any known path and the path itself could vanish!
Thus, when it came to camping, even powerful Immortals had to make do with what they could find.
The mass exodus had been well planned so that the entire group did not all go in the same direction at the same time. It left plenty of room for people to make do on their own schedule while not impeding those that came before.
Lind walked for a week before looking for a place to camp. A solid week of travel was about as much as he could safely pull off with his disguise. A Crystal Tier was powerful in the other layers but in the 4th layer, they were fodder.
The pressure of the peak Immortal Qi wore at them and made them rest after a certain period of activity. They did not need to eat or drink but the habit was long ingrained in all of them.
Still, it cut down on what had to be carried for someone as he appeared to be. Lind walked off the main path and found a secluded spot amongst some stones. Trees covered the area but he did not dare set up in the open.
His sack was laid out with simple tools and a few Qi stones with other resources. He then took some rods to quickly erect the simple tent inside the stone cluster before laying out a formation plate to hide his presence.
After a pause, he let his nose shift slightly and scented the air. Nothing suspicious came to him so he allowed his body to revert to its natural state.
His vibrant emerald hair cascaded down his back as he stretched. It was exhausting to maintain that form around so many auras. He had not realized how wound he was until he finally relaxed.
A few jade slips appeared as Haro finally spoke.
[I did not detect anything, Master. However, while your disguise is effective, the 2 artifacts fused to your arms will be detected if we get close to even a peak Crystal Tier.] Lind nodded at his words but knew that already.
He pulled back his sleeves to reveal the metallic sheen meshed with his flesh. One arm had dark metal smoothly spread out while the other had flickering metal the color of flames.
Ember was getting close. She would not need to stay fused to him much longer by his estimation. Abby was behind in that sense but she was following a different path.
Ember was now bound to the Eternal Flame Dao. It was not impossible she could become a natural treasure in her own right, yet that was far in the future.
Haro had told him what he was doing was difficult but not impossible. To see such dramatic results even surprised his ring spirit.
Ember's lucky encounter was one thing but Abby was also showing a profound shift. It likely had to do with his expertise as both a Forger and weaver but he simply followed his heart in both cases.
It was too sad to let them perish once their functions were fulfilled to his mind.
He cultivated for a bit but he made no more progress like always. He was stuck.
He tried just a trace of Dao and felt it finally.
He felt how fragile the world really was and how powerful he had become. How had the Immortal Berserker avoided it? Had he never used his full power because there was no need?
Lind wanted to run further tests but it was unwise. He shifted back into his disguise. He then laid out his sleeping bag and laid down.
He had no need to sleep but he would relax. The musky scent of the canvas was clear to him but it brought back memories.
Cyntilla and he had camped out more than once on their early journey together. He also recalled Shoti dragging him out of Cimmeria for some hunting and gathering.
Something about being cooped up Forging all day was a boring life.
He actually felt more relaxed at that moment of melancholy recall than he had in a very long time. It still hurt, the loss of Cyntilla, but the fact her own children badgered him to get back to work had brought a smile to him.
They were so like her!
He frowned as he sat up. His memories had been interrupted by the sudden silence in the world around him. He doubted it was someone coming for him as they did not even bother to hide their approach.
He did hear something distasteful as they got closer.
His eyes narrowed as a rather finely dressed group lazily arrived. They had several bundles that appeared to be moving!
"Eh heh heh! I told you we could swipe up some fine prizes once we got far enough away. Those flying snakes only care about their home. So long as we don't stir up someone really powerful, no one will care." A clean shaven young man with blonde hair smiled as the 2 bundles were dropped unceremoniously to the ground.
The distinct whimpers were quickly revealed to be a pair of aether children women. One was actually triple colored! A very rare one!
She had black, gold, and azure coloring while the other was green and tan. Powerful combinations but their ragged clothes spoke to either poor treatment by their captors or they were not part of a power able to support them.
Given the stable auras and powerful bindings, Lind suspected they were from a mid level power at most. It still confused him how they could be taken but he then noticed the blonde young man flash a badge on his right breast.
It was a sword stuck into a dragon skull. It was a contentious name but humans were always that way.
The Empire of Ricar was legendary for killing dragons back in the day it was founded. Some even now had their scions go out to slay or tame dragons. Strength was all dragons cared about so the legend did not bother them at all.
They were notorious as a high power as well for rampaging when out in the world. Their own people were well protected but they were one of the human supremacy powers.
The other 6 men with him were clearly nobles as well. The various symbols marked noble families he knew of under the royal family badge the blonde man wore.
Their clean looks and virtuous manners would make many believe the current scene was impossible but of one thing Lind was certain. Mankind was never more dangerous when it had power.
"Now, I will go first then you all can have your way with them but we only have tonight. The Elder will have the artifact recharged by morning." Lind felt his blood boil at the casual way they spoke!
[Master.] Haro only spoke his honorific but it cooled his head. If he let his temper flare, all his work would come to nothing. Yet, he did not have to stand aside!
He left his barrier quietly. He kept his power restrained as he confirmed none of the men in front of him were more than Crystal Tiers either. Half of them were clearly pill fed foundations and unlikely to go any farther.
He also noticed they had an inordinate number of artifacts on them. Ideally, he would wait until they divested some of them to attack but time was not his ally.
Lind had no weapons when he left but that meant nothing to any cultivator normally. Yet, he was currently portraying a barely surviving Crystal Tier Immortal.
No storage treasures meant if there was nothing visible, only small weapons like daggers, throwing knives, etc could be used.
He had chosen a much simpler method.
A stray stone was in his left hand as he charged it with earth elemental Qi. It made the once smooth edges sharp enough to cut steel.
His arm bulged slightly as he launched it at the same time he charged out into the open. He made himself the distraction as his weapon struck true.
Most people protect their heads, hearts, and vital veins to prevent body death, but Lind chose his time correctly.
The blonde man had exposed a fatal weak point for any man as the stone struck true and destroyed his groin in an explosion of blood.
His screech was so high that even dogs might not have heard it.
The 6 nobles were stuck in place so they did react to the stranger barreling into them. WIth fist and kick, Lind incapacitated 2 more with ease. They had let their guard down and were too focused on their debauchery to even set up minimal protections.
These spoiled fools never faced adversity it seemed. They likely only went to be entertained and none of the contestants he knew of matched the group in front of him.
The other 4 tried to work together but they proved their skills were poorly coordinated. They usually fought alone!
He easily stole their weapons whether it was a spear, sword, or dagger, and turned it against them! Did the Ricar Empire really raise such foolish individuals in their halls of power?
He defeated the rest with ease. No one was dead. Well, not dead as in life. The young royal was likely dead to manhood unless a peak grade 7 pill was used to help him. Lind only made sure he would not bleed to death.
Death meant their soul lanterns or equivalent would go out. He did not need that kind of trouble. He then opened a pouch at his waste and made sure each man inhaled a dark violet powder.
It would not harm them but it would muddle their memories even under techniques to enhance them. The 2 women stared in shock as he quickly undid their bindings.
He held a finger up to his lips and ushered them back to his camp.
Silence reigned for the night aside from the wheezing of the injured men. A figure suddenly appeared and the aura of a Radiant Tier slammed outward.
"Who dares?!" The old man was enraged but Lind just looked on calmly as he collected the young men and left. Their conditions required immediate medical attention that was not easily to hand.
The royal blonde was the worst. Lind estimated his odds of restoration at only 20% even with a peak quality pill. He could do it with an elixir but it would still require an expert healer.
He did not make a sound and indicated to his new companions to maintain silence. The formation was effective but not impervious. The trio cultivated or slept until at least a week had passed before they left.