novelraw Chapter 1518 - 1517 - Soul Clash
Chapter 1518 - 1517 - Soul Clash
Lind found an inn near the wall of the city. It was not the best place but it was clean. He found its arrays were stable but nearly worn down.
It would take little effort to break them. He dropped a few formation plates to reinforce the protection wards before starting to look like he was cultivating.
It was not even a breath later that he felt something press on his wards. He did not react but one of the plates lit up with blue flame light.
A small yelp was heard before he smiled. It was a harmless defense that would burn the attacker only slightly.
Demonic fire did not burn like natural fire. It was cold and would not scar unless exposed to its extremes.
Thus, it made for a good deterrent.
No one else tried to pry on him for the rest of the night. He pretended to cultivate for other reasons too. A Shard Tier could easily advance in the 4th layer but it still took time dedicated to progress.
If he acted like he had no need to cultivate, it would hardly draw much attention but merchants were far too shrewd to chance one of them noticing extended active times without at least one session.
It sounded paranoid but Lind knew he was being hunted. He had to account for all variables since anyone could be a spy knowingly or unknowingly for the Fiends.
The more normal he was, the less attention he drew. Even his countermeasures were perfectly sound for a cultivator at his realm.
The next day he walked out and noticed the younger assistant was looking crossly at him. Lind ignored them as he simply paid for the room and left. He had a long journey ahead of him today.
The streets were just as busy as before but he threaded through while buying a few tasty morsels from the stalls. He noticed many of the humans looked at him warily but that was all.
The blindfold likely was the least of the issues as his well worn armor showed he battled a lot. The short sword hilt was also redone several times so the leather looked fresher than the metal and its scabbard.
It showed that the blade had seen a lot of action.
It really had as Lind had practiced with all his weapons regardless of grade. He was hardly the only demon in the crowd but many of them strutted like they were the most powerful being in existence.
Pride was always strong in demons but Lind knew the more dangerous demons were the battle maniacs that quietly walked through life. They moved like predators but hardly bragged.
He finally cleared the throng to reach what he wanted. A long line that was not disturbed stretched from a massive open gate. It led into the area that made Carta City exist.
A place where 2 Immortals clashed with their very souls.
A soul without a body was damned fragile, but if an Immortal had touched on Dao, it could more than fight beyond the power of Laws!
Long ago, 2 experts had refused to pull back after their bodies were destroyed. They had done something very rare.
They clashed soul to soul and Dao to Dao.
The result was total devastation but it also infused the area with everything they once held. Their very souls were now part of the 4th layer.
The minds were long gone but the Daos, Laws, and other aspects were still very much active and working against each other.
It was dangerous but also beneficial. The exposure to refined Laws and Dao actively working against others allowed Immortals to deepen their own grasp on their path.
Of course, those same energies could kill if caught off guard or too weak to withstand it.
To top it all off, it was a human and a demon that died there. Both races benefited as well as the rest.
Even beasts could learn much from the Laws and Daos.
The line was always there but Lind simply joined the end of it. No one said a thing but a few demons eyed him harshly. They were Crystal and Shard Tiers.
He did not react at all but the binding on his eyes made them sneer.
He thought nothing of it. The loss of a limb was deeply scorned in demon society. There were exceptions but normally there were few outsiders that would accept them.
He was about to settle for a long wait when something ridiculous walked up behind him.
A pair of women, one demon and one aether child he was more than familiar with.
"I never caught your name, junior demon." Astra's voice almost made him sigh.
He turned and bowed with respect. Still, the demoness was staring at him as if he was an affront for getting there first!
Lind had even taken his time but why were they there?
While both could benefit, it did not explain why they entered the line today of all days.
They could have gone to it last night!
"My name is no longer of importance. Your companion should have told you why that is." His voice was polite but the demoness flared at his words. Astra, however, slowly nodded as she held her hand up.
"Yirana did confirm for me that demons with disfigured limbs gave up their names. Yet, your eyes seem to function properly." Lind smiled at her mistake.
He then produced acidic tears. It burned his skin a bit but he was able to heal as an Immortal. Yet, the burning sensation certainly was not pleasant.
"I attempted to master the Smelting Tears Art. While I have succeeded, it cost me my eyes. I need to advance to regain them." The demoness actually looked at him vastly differently at that moment.
Losing a limb to increase his power was one of the few exceptions demons accepted to lose a limb! Lind, however, did not show off more.
The conversation ended there but it seemed as if fate was really angry at him for escaping.
The very Sovereign Tier woman and her group joined the blasted line! He looked up at the Heavens and wanted to know why he was being punished!
The tense silence pressed on their area that even the demons that had sneered at Lind now looked at him with pity.
The line moved fairly quickly compared to his expectations but the reason was both sad and unavoidable. The dangers of entering into the area of the soul clashing resulted in retreat or death very quickly for those unprepared.
Lind saw the end in sight when it happened.
One of the Radiant Tiers with the human Sovereign Tier had an argument with an Elemental behind them. The content was missed but Lind saw the human summon a sabre to strike them with lethal intent.
He would have to reveal his true strength to stop it but the demoness, of all people, moved first. She was only a low Crystal Tier but her glaive moved elegantly to intercept the sabre.
The 2 weapons clashed and Lind acted quickly to protect those ahead of him. His short sword danced in his hands as he used a blade ward to protect everyone.
His prowess actually garnered appreciation. Still the demoness and the human were going at it now.
He was impressed as she could clearly fight above her realm. Astra did nothing but that was because the rest of the group was glaring daggers at her.
Lind was straining under his restrictions to keep the rest safe so he took a shot. His dagger shot out at the man and he proved his foundation was not just for show as his sabre blocked it but it gave the opening the demoness needed.
Her glaive sliced his weapon away and stopped at his neck. Radiant Tier or no, the fight was over.
Lind was sweating heavily and heaving as he finally put his sword back in its sheath.
The situation had barely settled when peak Sovereign Tier auras locked onto them all.
The Carta guards had come and brandished their weapons fiercely. Lind was exempted, even the guards looked at him with gratitude.
"You are all under arrest! Come with us, now." The human woman wanted to shout but she was quickly restricted by the multiple auras. She was severely outnumbered.
The group, with Astra, was taken away. Lind was then confronted with a woman who had an impressive badge on her robes.
"Thank you for protecting the other members of the line. I know that was not easy for you at your realm." Lind nodded but then offered his version of events.
She took down his words and smiled at him but left him in peace. He was glad they did not include him in the group but even a blind man would know he had helped attack the human.
Likely it was him not fighting that spared him.
He resumed his place but the spots in front of him looked at him with respect, even the demons that had sneered at him.
Power was always respected.
The line resumed and he wondered how things would fall out between the Goresh Kingdom and Carta City but he doubted they would come to much. The city had an ironclad reason to take them out of line.
Beyond that, he had no idea what would happen. He simply hoped to enter the soul clash and find what he wanted. Any other drama could please leave him alone!