40 Aculum Divinis III (1/2)
”Why, Asura?”
”Uh?”
Jufeng uttered after he was taken aback by the sudden question. Coupled with the fact that he was still feeling a little bit groggy as he recovered from the damage sustained from the impact of the collision back in the arena.
Asura? A demigod? He never knew he resembled a demigod. Could it be his looks? But surely, it couldn't be his aura. It was just recently that he reached the zhuji stage of immortal cultivation. Even immortal nascent soul cultivators didn't have the same aura as demigods. Oh, how he wished that could be true about him. An Asura, just like his mother? Surely, his life would have been much more easier.
Jufeng quickly gathered himself together and tried to mask his confused expression as he put on an appreciative smile.
”Thank you for saving me?”
”There's no honor or glory in being suicidal, Asura.”
With his gaze that was displaying annoyance, fully fixed on Jufeng, the demigod continued.
”We all seek glory here but not in a senseless manner.”
”I'm not trying to get myself killed, by the way.”
”Pff, If you are not carelessly courting death, then, why are you participating in the Eternal-legacy?”
”Eternal-legacy? The rite of glory?”
Jufeng asked in surprise as his stomach churned in primal fear.
”So, are you telling me you are just realizing that now?”
The demigod shook his head lightly as he examined something on the floor.
”That's a mockery of the rest of us, you know. Or don't you realize that?”
Jufeng looked at the demigod but he couldn't find any word in response. He recalled the words of uncle Primus to his mother before she attended the rite of passage for the demigods. About a deadly demigod's trial that happened in a dimensional place of spacetime known as the Deathkeep. A trial so dangerous that it would take thousands of years for the young demigods to prepare before being approved for the trials. Even with that, there was no assurance of them surviving the trials.
Eternal-legacy. The rite of glory.
The extremely dangerous customary act designed for all young, coming of age, demigods. Participating demigods would have to do battle in the Deathkeep arena where they would be eliminated, one by one. Any demigod that stepped outside or thrown out of the arena, would be eliminated from the first trial. No eliminated demigod could get back into the arena until it was all done and only one was left.
The champion, the last remaining demigod in the arena, would get the Dew of Heavens and a token. The token was a pass to the first tunnel which contained more treasures and lesser amount of danger. He would also be having a period of time ahead of the other demigods to look for the Sacredcrest stones, as an advantage over them.
The Sacredcrest stones were used to exchange for a universal gift. The universal gifts were the divine traits bestowed on the demigods after the conclusion of the trials of the rite of passage. The Sacredcrest stones would be presented after the conclusion of the rite of passage at the valley of gods.
The rules and regulations of the eternal-legacy were set in stone by the laws of creation. They couldn't be altered or changed by any living entity. All must follow the rules.
This trial was a great benefit to true demigods from the dimensional plane between the mortal plane and heavenly plane. Though, it's more closer to the heavenly plane. True, there were demigods all over the mortal plane, but the true demigods resided in this dimensional plane.
The Lumence dimensional plane. The home of the true demigods.
There were five realms in this dimensional plane and each realm was made up of a different kingdom of demigods. Every ten thousand years, young demigods from these five realms that were seeking heavenly glory in the Eternal-legacy sojourn, would be sent to the Deathkeep. The young demigods would have to fully prepare and must be approved by their respective gathering of elders.
The Deepflow realm which was the home of the Yaksha demigods.
The Windglade realm belonging to the Rakshasa demigods.
The Crystalsky realm, the place where the Laksha demigods called home.
The Frozenfire realm that served as the habitat of the Asura demigods.
And the Cloudfall, home of the Deva demigods.
Out of all the kingdoms of demigods, only the Asuras fully resembled human mortals. They also had no remarkable birth marks associated with other demigods.
”Mm. So, that's why he thought I was an Asura.”
Jufeng thought to himself as he examined his body for any sign of lingering injuries. He had sustained serious injuries back then, but right now, he couldn't find traces of them any longer.
”I had to fix you up since I couldn't bear the look.”
”I'm very grateful for everything. I really thank you. My name is Jufeng in case you are wondering.”
”Mm.”
Jufeng changed the path of the discussion when he noticed the eyes of the boy were still locked on him with all seriousness.
”I guess I was out for a time.”
”Obviously.”
With a softer gaze, the boy still sitting in the lotus position, continued to observe Jufeng.
”Why did you have to come here, Asura? Why did they even allowed you to come here?”
He shook his head before turning towards the arena.
”I don't understand. You could have died in there had I not saved you, you know. Despite the fact that I'm a Laksha and you are an Asura, I still save your live. Do you know why? Because, you reminded me of an Asura I met, many a year ago. I was in a difficult situation back then too....”
The young Laksha demigod trailed off as the memories of the past kept flooding in. Jufeng, noticing the change, quickly quipped in.
”Don't forget, we all have our teleportation seals. We can leave at anytime if we are in danger.”
He still remembered the details from the words of uncle Primus and decided to raise it maybe it could make a difference.
”Mm. Still, you shouldn't be here, Asura. I know the one who attacked you was a Terra Deva, nevertheless, no demigod here should take injuries like that from his blow. Do you know how long I was locked in combat with him for? Many hours, trading blows with him before I was eventually out of the arena. I would have entered back if I could but that's the past now. Do you know what I come to realize while I was trying to patch you up?”
He turned his attention back to Jufeng.
”You are far from being ready for this. Your soul is weak and your body is even weaker. Forgive me Asura, but I'm finding it really hard to believe that you have trained for a thousand years talkless of ten thousand.”
Thousand years? He wasn't even more than ten years old. Was that a joke on him or on the Laksha demigod?
”You are right. I haven't trained for that long and I truly shouldn't be here.”
”Even with our teleportation talismans, they are only useful, if we are alive long enough to use them. Unless you have a large amount of life saving talismans, which I doubt, you will simply die.”
As they were talking, a loud chiming sound went off which indicated the end of the arena trial. It would soon be the time for them to enter the tunnels for the Sacredcrest stones and other treasures.