Nine Paths of Asura-Original Wuxia

Chapter 74 - The Sightless Plains

When you get stood up 3 times in 3 weeks for interviews. I'm lovin it, Mcdonalds you hiring?

In a short while, Lineir had gathered all the pills which had been consumed by various wildlife throughout the swamp. Having done so, he decided to leave as he was finished comprehending what he could of the laws of Death from the acid rain. He started to progress through the bog in a linear fashion and eventually found himself on the edge of a boundless plain. There grass as tall as a grown man waved gently in the wind.

"Based on the answer of that youth I interrogated this must be the Sightless Plains. The final battles for this trial will begin here!" 

Lineir's eyes gleamed in anticipation of the danger and challenge. Unlike most who pursued the Dao, Lineir's views differed from the traditional path. Most when pursuing the Dao sought perfection, and thus by extension would pursue the hardest most difficult path in their cultivation to match their Third Heart's philosophy. However, Lineir's path was simply survival. To grow strong, one must be alive, and thus Lineir would not unnecessarily seek out hardships without proven benefits. It would remain to be seen whether or not one can truly reach the peak with such an attitude.

"There's something strange about this grass... it's blocking my ability to sense killing intent..."

 Lineir frowned as he realized that the Sightless Plains were indeed a strange and bizarre area of the trials. The tall grass naturally inhibited ones divine senses and obscured detection techniques. Lineir actually had a rather weak divine sense considering his comprehensive battle power. He had spent his time focusing on cultivating his physical abilities and augmenting them with the elements of darkness and lightning. This naturally gave him some ability to sense things using the classical ability of divine sense, to see without one's eyes, but he was a bit lacking. This was partially because of his late start to cultivation. Simply put, he was not as finely attuned to these things as those who had cultivated from birth, and he had not had the time to bother cultivating divine sense techniques. However, despite the fact that his ability to sense others was practically nil, Lineir's lips curled up into a slight snicker.

"Hahaha kiddo, you really hit the jackpot this time. While you might not be able to sense anything, that doesn't really matter as your divine sense is so weak all the time anyways. However, this grass is hardly enough to block MY divine senses. Additionally, while you may not have the ability to see everything in the area, your natural ability to detect danger is inherently high. I will be your eyes and should any danger come which I cannot see, you should at least have a chance to evade at the last second!" Mei chortled slightly putting on the airs of an old master. It was a baffling combination with her youthful girl's voice though Lineir had long since gotten used to it. 

"Let's get going, the stealth skills combined with this grass mean you are practically invisible to most cultivators. They will never see you coming..."

Lineir silently disappeared into the tall waving grass of the Sightless Plains. He was only mildly interested in the prize for winning such a competition. Considering the rather unorthodox method he had entered the Trials he was doubtful he could even claim the prizes if he came in first. However, he was sure of one thing. The many Chosen in the Trials would definitely have plenty of magical artifacts and relics. In such a situation where he could see them coming but they couldn't see him he would have to be an idiot not to gain some benefits!

Clang! Clang! KACHA!

Two swords clashed and sparked as swathes of the tall divine sense blocking grass were scythed away by the ensuing ripples of violent Sword Qi. 

"Die! Anyone who messes with the Song clan will know only death!" The medium sized youth in dazzling blue wizard robes, Wei Song, clashed swords with another hooded black robed youth.

"Lin De, you vastly overestimate yourself to dare fight me!" The youth in blue robes cried out as he locked swords with one hand and in his other a swirling blue staff appeared. The ancient symbols carved into the wood seemed to sizzle with arcane might and he quickly chanted an incantation. Immediately a blue crystal atop the staff lit up and suddenly the youth's sword glowed blue and sheared right through the blade of the other youth.

"DIE!!"

Upon his sword breaking, the youth wearing black revealed an expression of horror and immediately vaulted back. His sword destroyed he instantly disappeared into the tall grass. The blue robed youth launched several balls of arcane fire into the grass but the grass stubbornly resisted his efforts and refused to alight. Snorting Wei Song called out,

"Lin De! A coward like you should just cower until the day you die! When we next meet I shall be sure to break more than your sword!" He clenched his fist and the arcane symbols on his robes flashed brightly before fading away. 

"Pathetic. Is this all the Trials has to offer?"

The hooded black robed youth whose sword broke sprinted through the dense grass taking no note of his route. 

"Shit that Song bastard is stronger than I thought. To actually break my family heirloom, an earth step treasure in half... the rumors must be true. He truly walks the path of a Spellsword. I'd best avoid him. I'll have to find a new sword in the meantime or if I encounter anyone else my only option is to flee in this grass. I, Lin De refuse to believe my path in this Chosen Trial ends here!"

SCHIIIING!

A dark light flashed through the air and Lin De's face twisted to reveal a look of utter horror even more intent than when he had seen his sword destroyed. His head turned to the side and toppled off his body as a few specks of blood spurted from his severed neck. Lineir glanced at the face as he quickly grabbed Lin De's bag of holding. His strike from the darkness a moment ago infused with the weight of Darkness and the searing ability of Lightning had not only instantly decapitated the foe before he could react but had also simultaneously cauterized the wound.

"Hmph, your mastery of Lightning is clearly still lacking. The wound is not even close to fully cauterized. You'd best practice, your opponents in the future will not be simply dispatched by mere physical force." Mei admonished Lineir as he observed the wound. He shrugged and pocketed the bag of holding while vanishing back into the grass. He would have plenty of time to practice his technique upon these unsuspecting chosen...