Chapter 69 - One Against a Thousand Part 2

Shu wielded the elements in his left hand as he wielded Nether Tiger Sword in his right. After feeling so much pain, Shu knew this was his first true life-or-death match. He could have died from blood loss without his enhanced physique. The wounds he suffered were due to the Eclipse Indestructible Body technique temporarily gone from his body. It had fused with him but still counted as a spirit technique. Shu felt his left eye burn ever since being hit with countless energies. As his wounds healed, the foreign energies which harmed his body were drained into his left eye.

He grit his teeth as he tried to fend off the other man. His sword strokes were as smooth as water, each hit transitioning into another. He parried and deflected each strike but was unable to get past the range of the longer swords and enter his ideal ranged. He would throw daggers of darkness only to watch the wounds heal by the divine energy of one of the swords. His lighting could only stun for half a second before the other man recovered. Shu stomped on the ground, turning it into mud. With a shout, he stabbed his sword into the ground, spikes of ice piercing the other man's feet multiple times. He swirled and a rising wave of nether fire burst toward the man.

However, the other man could not be underestimated. He severed his own legs, re-growing them as he entered a front roll. He threw his Divine Weapon, the two-handed sword cutting through the fire as it was covered in a holy energy. Shu's balance was off after the swirl and spat blood as he frantically blocked the sword. The Nether Tiger Sword flew from his grasp as he crashed onto the ground. As he got up, he saw the man moving toward him, his remaining two-handed weapon ready to pierce through Shu's body.

"I will not fall here!" Shu roared, his left eye glistening a radiant orange as a cross of white appeared before the eye. Laozi the Undying, sleeping within his Soul Realm, stirred as the Old God felt a portion of its spiritual energy drain. However, it was not in the Spirit Road so how could it know what happened before its sleep took hold and slept again.

Shu's eye burned as the man froze in his tracks. Multiple blades of infinite colors slashed at him, the shape of crescent moons. The man coughed blood, as his legs and arms were cut multiple times as he was blasted back. He fell onto the ground, wet by his own pool of blood. His eyes dilated, his breathing quickening, before his skin turned pale as he died. She fell on his left knees as he held his burning eye as the white cross faded. The chief of the Tiger Tribe laughed as Meng Wan and the other members of the Tiger Tribe stared at him.

"That brat, after so many years, finally awakened the power of Laozi the Undying: the Eye of Execution," the chief laughed. "He had the eyes of the Old God but not the energy. However, the energy of another Old God runs in his veins and soul: the energy of Tralagafa the Magnificent. Even if he can only use one Eye of the Old God, it is better than none at all."

"What is the Eye of Execution?" Meng Wan asked, curious as the guardian lion appeared out of its own will and began feasting on the dead bodies.

"Laozi the Undying is the Old God of Stars. He was the judge, jury, and executioner of the Mortal Realm. All that changed when the 'Gods' took over while he became an Old God," the chief began. "Laozi the Undying could see the strands of spirit energy and other energy. With his left eye, he could sever the strand, killing whatever it belonged to. That is how he killed two of the Forgotten Old Gods that killed Borgan the Almighty, an Old God you might not have heard of. The Eye of Execution could see the weak points of what it gazed upon and cut them. However, this second ability could be dodged or blocked. Lu Shu seems to be able to use the latter ability, even though he can see energy strands. If my guess is right, he might even be able to use a power of Tralagafa the Almighty as he has the Old God's energy."

"What is that ability?" Meng Wan asked, relieved as she saw Shu sit and begin meditating to recover his spent energy.

"Brilliant Star Fall," the chief murmured, fear and awe in his voice. "Think of it as meteors raining down from the heavens. However, it is not a spell or technique that can be blocked. If you are in its striking range, you either pray to the Heavens you dodge them all or die in vain. I suspect that Lu Shu will be able to do it if he is an Archon Dragon, peak Archon Phoenix if he is lucky."

"Have you ever seen it used?" Meng Wan asked.

"Yes," the chief murmured. "A descendant of the Tiger Tribe saw, from a few miles away, countless meteors fall from the sky when Tralagafa the Magnificence was still alive eons ago. Although Lu Shu cannot use the same technique on that scale, he can reduce an entire canyon or battlefield into countless craters on the ground with no trace of what used to be there left behind. The Old God could destroy entire nations. Lu Shu can only destroy a valley, martial sect, magic academy, or army of Practitioners and mages. No one survives Brilliant Star Fall. No one. You can hope and pray to dodge, but it never happens."

As the guardian lion appeared, the way it ate was peculiar. As soon as it opened its mouth, the corpse would disintegrate into tiny particles that zipped into the mouth. Once the guardian lion ate the last corpse, it was still a cub at a foot in height. Shu frowned as the happy cub disappeared. Shu scratched his neck as white dragon scales appeared. They looked like the same scales Laozi the Undying had. On the plus side, Shu did not have to worry about his head getting cut off. Members of the Tiger Tribe celebrated as they returned to their village with Meng Wan and Lu Shu. Lu Shu was told about the Eye of Execution and Brilliant Star Fall. Naturally, he was surprised and was elated to find out that it would become more powerful as he did, forever being his ultimate trump cards besides his totem transformation. As the First Tiger said before, a black tassel of its fur appeared at the bottom of the Nether Tiger Sword. All members of the Tiger Tribe bowed as it appeared.

"After centuries of being unable to compete in the One Against a Thousand trial, we won!" the chief cried, the tribe cheering as they hugged and congratulated each other and Lu Shu.

"It happens often?" Shu asked.

"If there are enough people. There are countless universes and galaxies in the Mortal Realm. You can think of it as the largest in existence. After all, there are seven Immortal Realms and only one Mortal Realm. Usually, it's the daily One Against a Hundred. However, some planets have been growing in power and trials like today happen at least once a month, your real world time. By the time you get back, only a few hours will have passed," the chief grinned. "Congratulations to you both. You are both true Archons with totems infused with Spirit Beasts. You will also be at the tenth stage!"

"How will I ascend to the Archon Phoenix tier?" Shu asked.

"You need flames. Other than that, no one really knows. It just happens. The Path of Fiend Cultivation is different. There is no norm for advancing. You just know when it comes and what to do. No one knows, why or when, but you'll know. Every true Archon does. You're not false Archons. Your power can't be measured by normal means," the chief smiled.

"Why is my guardian lion still a cub?" Shu asked.

"You have five spirit reactors. Thus, it takes five times the norm for your Holy Spirit Beast to grow. However, your totem's abilities are five times more powerful than the norm. It is a win-loss situation," the Chief nodded as he stared at Meng Wan. "Yours is unaffected as they are eight pieces of one. Now, I will present you both with your small gifts. Meng Wan, you've been here long enough. You will return to your world as soon as you are given your gift. Lu Shu, you will leave tomorrow to allow your body to accustom to the many changes in your body."

"Yes, chief," the duo said.

"I call it Tiger's Shield Bracelet," the chief said as he presented Shu and Meng Wan with different bracelets. "When you need them, they will become white silver hexagon shields with an image of a black tiger with stripes the color of bones. Yes, it is the face of the First Tiger. Fighting with swords and shields is useful, especially if you are surrounded or attacked with projectiles. Meng Wan, you use a short sword with a blade similar to a katana. Your bracelet is capable of summoning knives that disappear after piercing on contact. In Shu's world, the Japanese called them kunai knives. Speed is your forte and a shield would deter your fighting prowess. I call your bracelet Kunai Tiger Bracelet."

"Names are not the chief's forte," a warrior whispered, the others snickering until the chief glared at them.

"Goodbye Shu," Meng Wan said as she disappeared in a pillar of white light.

Shu waved goodbye and spent the night in the tent, his spirit energy returning. He was surprised to feel that only a fifth of his spirit energy returned even after his vermillion energy replenished. His left eye no longer burned, but he knew his ability could still be used. Now that the trials were over, he could think about what happened. At morning, he decided to exercise to calm his mind. He accepted the actions of his past life and wanted to be distracted to no longer think about it.

"You will be leaving us soon, son of Tiger," the chief said as he appeared. "Your past life's memories must still weigh on your mind. If you truly wish for it, I can return it to you. No more memories will come."

"No," Shu said as he stared up at the sky. "It's better this way. All I could think about was what I did to kill millions of people. How else could I make my killing intent into a visible aura? Now that I know the truth, I just want to accept it and move on."

"In my opinion, the best distraction is a woman. It is both pleasing and exhilarating," the chief laughed mischievously. "You're a prince, not married, so you can easily take one of the palace's maids and fuck her. They would want you to anyway."

"I might do that. Did I ever have a family in my past life? I don't think I did, but I don't have all my memories," Shu asked.

"No. You weren't a virgin though as some assistants seduced you and you happily complied, even though you knew their intentions. You had a single relative left, a nephew. He was one of the children you sacrificed your life for to save. He also became the leader of those kids when they left for Mars and started a colony. Through him, the future generations knew you as their savior and not the devil the government made you out to be," the chief answered.

"All I wanted was to live a new life, free from escaping from the Keeper of the Dead that chased me. I don't know what to do with this life," Shu said.

"You don't have any dreams?" the chief asked.

"No. I might wonder about the Pantheon of Devils and where my map leads to, but that's it. I only cultivate to become strong enough that I can protect what is mine and live my own way," Shu answered.

"That is also considered a dream," the chief said as the familiar white light pillar shined on Shu. "You are one of the Chosen of the Tiger. You have his mark and a tassel of his fur. You might not know it, but you are destined for great things. Give yourself some time and take things one step at a time. We, of the Tiger Tribe, will be watching. You have abilities you haven't even unlocked. Each tiger stripe represents an ability. It is a shame you don't have six or eight, but four is more than enough. Good luck, Shu of the Lu Clan."

"Goodbye," Shu said as he vanished from Spirit Road.