Path Of The Dragon (A Dark Fantasy Cultivation Wuxia Xianxia Progression Series)

Chapter 111 The Freedom To Fly

He led them all the way down the spiral built around the column of stone and out to the docks near where they'd first arrived. There, he ushered them onto a boat just large enough for the five of them, with a lantern that gave off an orange glow affixed to the front of the boat.

Kazzak gestured with a flick of his claws and the boat moved through the blood as though of its own accord. It was smooth, with an easy pace, and eerily silent apart from the soft ripples of blood lapping against the boat and those they left in their wake. The island shrank from view as they traveled deeper into the enormous cavern.

Jie kept her spirit sense active and focused on sensing any blood elementals as best she could. She noticed a couple, but they soon moved away. She suspected it was because of Kazzak's strength. His aura was reigned in, so it didn't crush them, but he wasn't trying to hide his cultivation.

"I don't detect anyone within earshot now. We can finally speak freely," Kazzak said, "so, allow me to finally say thank you for sparing my son's life." He inclined his head in a very slight bow.

"Thank you for not just killing us and for arguing in our favor... at least until your wife tried to use us to get at you," Jie said with her own slight, thankful bow.

Kazzak nodded. "Ahrk! That woman brings nothing but misery," he spat.

"Why did you marry her?" Jie asked.

His feathers rippled with what looked like anger. "I had no choice," Kazzak said bitterly, "She was the flock leader and she wanted me. Not that I was against it at first. It was only later that I learned how vicious she truly is."

"Oh... I'm sorry," Jie said.

Kazzak waved his hand as though brushing aside both the topic and her concern.

"It is what it is," he said, "I must admit, I'm most fascinated by your qi. Where do you hail from? Is your cultivation style common in your homeland? I'm something of a traveler, so perhaps I could visit?"

"It's not common, but as for the rest, I cannot say. I'm sure as a flock leader, you understand that some things are not for me to share?" Jie said.

Kazzak nodded. "Awrk. I mean no harm, but I fully understand. Protecting one's home is a great duty that too many disregard. Though... I am curious... what made you come here? Your qi gives me the sense that your home is far superior," he said.

"I actually prefer it here," Jie said, "my home isn't perfect either. And while there are many things I hate here... I also feel more in control of my fate. It's more dangerous, but freedom feels amazing."

"Perhaps you were an arak in a previous life," Kazzak said, "I understand the pain of being denied the freedom to fly as you wish. It's an insidious pain is it not? Like a poison that eats at your very soul as it tries to make you believe that it never really meant that much to you in the first place..."

He trailed off and stared into the dark cavern, lost in thought.

They traveled on in silence for a long while before he seemed to come back to himself.

"Would it be alright if I asked you something about cultivation?" Jie asked.

Kazzak laughed. "I would be happy if you asked for a reward for sparing my son! But I don't think you're the type to do so. Ask away," he said.

"Well... that makes me want to ask two questions actually," Jie said.

Kazzak motioned for her to continue.

"Well... it's just that I feel like I should've broken through into the middle dantian by now... but I just... can't. I was told that a conflict inside me is stopping me, but I don't know what to do about it. How did you break through? Is it always so hard?" Jie asked.