Nine Paths of Asura-Original Wuxia

Chapter 10- Sheer Willpower

"Good job staying sane. While you couldn't have died with me here, it would have done you little good to survive if you didn't have the will power to keep your mind afterward. To survive such an ordeal, your bloodline couldn't have helped. Only a truly insane animalistic drive to stay alive and keep going would have kept you sane. I take back what I have said, while mediocre in body, you are a monster of the mind! To have been born in such a pitiful and small stage, your whole life has been a waste! Come, I will take you as my disciple, and bring you to the place where you belong. There, every enemy you meet will have the same mettle, and you will be able to strive to achieve ascension with every breath!" The beauty's lips moved and nobody could help but listen intently to each word. However, while in theory, her beauty was perfect, Lineir couldn't help bursting out in laughter. This engrossing figure, that bewitching body, and enchanting hair, it was all overshadowed by the fact that she was absolutely and utterly, a shorty! The idea of following someone so small to go to battle with the Heavens was just too funny!

"HAHAHAHAAHA!"

The beauty's face flushed bright red upon hearing his laugh, and she moved as if to slap him.

"Hmph, Kid, maybe you think something's funny, but might I remind you that I am the only reason you are alive? Do you find something off about my claims after seeing my true power? That was only a mere fraction of what I am capable of in my original body!!!"

Lineir controlled himself with great effort, but the spell of the beauty was already broken.

"Of course, of course, you are quite powerful, Great One. Simply say it and this lowly one will be sure to reach the highest of shelves for you and will climb above the corpses of everyone to reach the Heavens you no longer can!" The beauty failed to hear his sarcasm took this the wrong way,

"No need to make such promises! My current...state is only temporary. When I regain my body, I will be able to once again fly above all and overlook the filth below me. Now wake up, and be careful, the White Horizon Sect will still be on the lookout for you. You cannot do anything if you die here."

In the blood pool, Lineir's body, which had been submerged like a drowned corpse for some time, opened its eyes as if he had reanimated as a true undead. He yanked out the sword from his leg which was helping weigh him down. Holding it in hand, he began awkwardly swimming up to the surface. When he reached the top of the pool, he coughed out the spider pumping air into his mouth. It quickly reformed into the hilt of the black sword in his hand. The boy clambered out of the pit, a black-crimson covered figure, looking like a demon which had risen from the spawning pools of hell. He flopped over and began hacking up goo from his lungs.

"What the bloody hell are you made out of, that spider tastes like ****!"

Instantly, as his coughs reverberated off the the surroundings, a hundred white-robed figures flickered over the rooftops, floating on immortal swords. They quickly leveled their blades at him. Lineir was surrounded by what appeared to be the entire White Horizon Sect. A man wearing the embroidered insignia of an elder, on his chest, approached.

"I knew you couldn't have gotten far! To hide in such a filthy place though, I would never have expected that. I am impressed by your willpower! Nevertheless, young man, I don't need to know anything about you. Rather, you should know something about me. I am getting old, my longevity is coming to an end. In my lifetime, I have often delighted in many things, most particularly...my knowledge of the flesh is great. If you would like to experience this, you can refuse my demands and I will take what I want from you by force. However, never let it be said that the White Horizon Sect doesn't care about face. In light of your impressive tenacity, give me that sword, and tell me everything about what happened here, and I will let you go. But be warned, at your age, I had killed many times more then you have probably lied. I will know if you are being untruthful, and I am not a patient person. Speak, what will you choose!"

Hearing this White Horizon Sect member's speech, Lineir knew that he was in a bad spot. Would the White Horizon Sect really let him go, even if he said anything? More likely they would take him after learning what they wanted to know and interrogate him to make sure he wasn't lying. In addition, they would probably silence him to make sure he didn't tell anyone else about what happened here. The voice of the sword spoke in his mind then,

"Kid, I'm sorry that the Heavens really give you no face at all. You must have insulted Buddha in your last life. I'm afraid you're done for this time. I cannot get you out of this one. I used the last of my energy to change your body and heal your leg from that stunt you pulled earlier. You gambled well, but you have lost, it's fine if you tell them everything about me, they may torture you a little less if you cooperate. I really did look forward to raising such a promising young disciple but I got ahead of myself." With that, the voice went silent as if already mourning Lineir's death.

However, there was a look on Lineir's face. It was imperceptible, only those with great experience could make out such a subtle change, but it was unmistakably the look of stubbornness. Sheer willpower that no one his age should possess. In his mind he said,

"A sword as powerful as yourself, you can change shape right? Change into my blood when the time comes."

With a sigh, he spoke aloud,

"I would rather die than tell you a single helpful word! Cooperate? Are you kidding me? I'll tell you something. This sword, which you see, is a treasure which is tied to my life force! It was my blood which revived it, and it is now linked to my soul. When I die, it will disappear without something to sustain it. You had better hope we do not meet in the Hells, or else when we meet, I will be your senior and give you the same treatment you gave me!" With that, he swung his hand, holding the black blade, ferociously up and into his own heart, appearing to fall upon his own sword.

"Kid, you idiot! I don't have the power to heal this, you're definitely a dead man this time!" An anguished voice, now with distinctly feminine tones was trembling. Lineir, however, was smiling, sheer willpower holding his face into a victorious smirk.

"Shut up and change into my blood and enter my veins. They won't realize what happened. They'll think you disappeared and you can wait for another who might climb the Heavens with you. I'm sorry you used up all your power to save me and now I'm wasting my life, but at least they won't discover your existence and use your power for the great sects. If you can, try to find my sister when you regain your body. Tell her, Lineir sent you, and don't let her go hungry ever again..."

"You...leaving me with no choice! So rude!" With that, the iridescent black blade seemed to disappear as it transformed into murky, black blood and hid inside Lineir's veins. In front of everyone's astonishd eyes, the boy slowly toppled to the ground.