Nine Paths Of Asura - 71 Shady Youth

For the second time Lineir found himself traveling through space time. When he landed this time however it was much more gentle. Touching down gracefully, he quickly surveyed his surroundings. Evidently he had not traveled far, as surrounding him was still the same type of scenery he had seen before, a wide forest as far as the eye could see. He hadn’t even taken a step however when he felt a slight amount of killing intent and his sixth sense tingled. He immediately side stepped and whipped around to see the perpetrator.

Kacha!

The ground in front of Lineir was sliced into thin pieces not unlike that time against the Celestial Hummingbird. However, the slash this time, rather than parting the ground as far as the eye could see, barely cut through more than a few feet. Lineir’s eyes lit up with a dangerous red glint. Either this attack had not been serious, or the attacker was just weak. He immediately executed a movement technique and appeared to teleport behind the enemy.

“Hmph, where did that bastard go? I don’t recognize him at all, he’s definitely one of the other Chosen in disguise. If he needs to hide himself he must be weak!” Lineir peered at a hunched figure mumbling in front of him. The figure was a male cultivator with the appearance of a shady youth. Currently, this shady youth was clutching his sword and looking around frantically to see where Lineir had gone without realizing that the enemy he sought was in fact, right behind him…

“Where am I? Also, don’t move.” Lineir extended a ghastly bone scythe and reached around the youth’s neck. The slightest movement on either of their parts would at best slit the youth’s throat, and if Lineir so chose, the entire head would come off to ensure the death of this cultivator.

“Ah good sir, I mean’t no offense-” The shady youth immediately began to grovel but before he could even utter the whole sentence Lineir pressed pulled his elbow in a little resulting in the bony scythe cutting a line of blood into the youth’s throat.

“Cut the crap. Answer my questions and don’t waste my time with needless words.” Lineir didn’t enjoy hearing begging and he had better things to do than listen to this fool. Immediately the youth’s eyes began to bulge as he tried to answer the question but using as few words as possible.

“Ah…yes…I’m sorry… this is the Forest Arena of the Trial of a 1000 Chosen Cups. As I’m sure you’re aware, the 1000 Chosen will battle it out here and proceed deeper to the Mountains and River’s Canyon. In there the Hidden Heaven’s….” The youth stopped unsure if he was using too many words but Lineir’s ears immediately perked up after hearing the words Hidden Heaven.

“The 1000 Chosen Cups Trial is an expedition into an ancient heavenly testing ground. It is administrated by the Heavens and the head administrator is Lord Cao Sun, the Lordmaster of Tea. He personally administers the rewards and is also the head Alchemist of the Major Serras Sect. The Top 100 in the trials will receive an Immortal Core Forging Pill! Top 50 will receive 5 such pills. Top 10 will receive 10! And as for the number one participant, he will receive a minor pill personally forged by Lord Cao Sun!”

The shady youth’s eyes shone with a fervent light. If his desire for these pills was any greater it would probably manifest as a Dao! Lineir however was thinking of the pill he had received from the head administrator earlier. If this youth knew Lineir had received a pill the Lordmaster of Tea himself considered good fortune, he would probably immediately pass out from shock.

“Additionally, while the 1000 Chosen are indeed fighting for the chance to gain these pills, that is not the only thing they seek. Those who dare to venture deep enough into the ancient heavenly testing grounds will eventually come across treasures which were left by Heaven for the younger generation. Of course, only the strongest Chosen of major planets and sects would dare attempt that. After all, not only is the arena itself fraught with dangers, but other cultivators are all eyeing the rewards. Anyone who enters the deeper areas will have to have the qualifications and strength to keep what they find or else they will simply be searching for good fortune for others.”

The shady youth made it clear that he had no intentions of entering the deeper areas. Lineir however was contemplating what he should do.

“Very well, explain the dangers of this area a bit more for me. Also, tell me what you know about the Chosen of major planets and sects. Oh and give me your space ring. Then I’ll let you go.”

Lineir had no need to kill this youth. His power level was incredibly weak. The only reason this youth had entered was because his planet could not even be considered a minor planet and he had essentially been offered up as a placeholder. That was why he had been hanging out at the fringes of the ancient testing grounds hoping to rob some other weaklings. After questioning him thoroughly, Lineir let him go and immediately started heading deeper into the testing grounds.

“Hmmmm, I’m not sure exactly how strong I rank against the Chosen of other planets. According to that youth, there is an age limit in restriction. I am actually a few years younger than the limit. The top Chosen of other planets will not only have vast resources and cultivation techniques, but will also have a few years more time cultivating than me. Not to mention that they started cultivation from birth. I wouldn’t want to openly confront anyone until I get a better idea what the cultivation levels are like here. Fortunately, if there is one thing I’m confident of, it’s my ability to conceal myself.”

Mei’s training in movement and concealment meant that Lineir’s ability to move unseen and undetected was often enough to avoid detection from the elder generation. Mei assured him that unless these juniors possessed some sort of unusual detection technique or treasure, they would never be able to find Lineir if he moved carefully. Indeed, even if they possessed extremely powerful detection skills, Lineir could probably evade them if he was careful to mask his killing intent.

“Hehehe.”

Lineir’s cold face didn’t change expression but his eyes took on an imperceptible pleased tone.

“According to that shady youth, all of the major chosen are already deep into the trial. Anyone left in the forest… is definitely a weakling!”

Lineir had examined the spacial ring of the shady youth, and while he was poor and had apparently had already been robbed at the beginning of the trial, there were several pills and minor artifacts which Lineir had never seen before, having never been in a sect. While Lineir had obtained absolutely insane wealth in the form of high level cores from the golems in the Heavenlly Pillar, his native planet simply did not have the background to create any higher level pills or treasures for him to spend his wealth. Not to mention what few higher level sects Lineir had interacted with, he had made enemies of in the process of obtaining his wealth. He kept his eyes open for other cultivators who still lingered in the forest like the shady youth as he went deeper. It was time to see what the pill forging techniques and treasures of other planets were like…