Pathway

"He's incredible."

"Shi Lingxin. Son of the city lord. They are the true descendants of the founder of the fortified city of Chanuan, Shi Guanting. He's already a world sovran in martial arts and with his spear, he's a real immortal threat."

There was no lie in the boy's words. Shi Lingxin, had already reached the Yinlong stage of martial arts, and soon, it woulde be at the Jinlong stage. He could call himself a grandmaster in martial arts at that time.

As he was fascinated by the unfolding action, Ju Feng was being pulled forward by its alluring force. The sheer beauty of powerful displays of martial and mystical arts, made him forget about the space-rippling energies that were being manifested, all around. He was already standing on the same line as the watching golden core body cultivators who were the closest to the battle.

When the spiralling energies of the weapons of the two Jindan cultivators collided through their tips, the impact emanated a massive shockwave of uncontrolled energies that knocked the cultivators on both sides flying.

Since Ju Feng was having a front view, there was no way for him to avoid the force of impact. He was sent flying, like a divine eagle, towards an area of fiery rocks and into a waiting dimensional force-field. He stood up and checked his body. His body was intact to a welcome relief. Nevertheless, he should have landed much more harder than he did. Then, he noticed the place was peaceful, no sign of the ongoing battle, at all. No sign of flames too. Where was he?

Since Ju Feng was having a front view, there was no way for him to avoid the force of impact. He was sent flying, like a divine eagle, towards an area of fiery rocks and into a waiting dimensional force-field. He stood up and checked his body. His body was intact to a welcome relief. Nevertheless, he should have landed much more harder than he did. Then, he noticed the place was peaceful, no sign of the ongoing battle, at all. No sign of flames too. Where was he?

"You're in my dimensional space, mortal."

Ju Feng wheeled around at the sound of the voice to the sight of an old man in orange robe. Despite the distance, there was a powerful aura coming from the direction of the old man that depicted heavenly essence.

"In here, there's only me."

Quickly, Jufeng cupped his hand and bowed deeply.

"I meet you well, senior."

"Depends. Might not be for long."

Suddenly, the old man appeared in front of him like a mirage.

"What message do you have for me?"

Still deeply bowed, Ju Feng realized from the question that, the old man must be the new guardian of this dominion. The one he was told to find. The Dawn-Gazer! Swallowing hard from utter apprehension, he managed to continued.

"Senior, I'm lost in this fire?"

"Then, go to the Emberless grove."

"Senior, I don't know who to ask for?"

"Regallash. Any more question?"

"No, senior. Here's the scroll."

Ju Feng produced the golden scroll and handed it to the old man.

"Hm."

He gave it back to Ju Feng after reading it.

"What is it you look for?"

"Senior, this one search for the soul ring."

"Hm, the soul ring. Very well. Take that path. It will take you to a small stream of fire. Cross it and you will see a small flaming mound. It's a worldly illusion, no cultivator of Jindan level can see through it. Inside the mound, you'll find what you seek."

"Thank you, senior."

The old man looked at Ju Feng for a time before shaking his head slightly. He had never liked people with a load of virtues in the first place. He, himself, was here as a guardian of this dominion due to his karmic sins. He remembered clearly how the four of them, the heavenly cuboid, had been found guilty by the heavenly palace's celestials, headed by the Jade Emperor. The four of them had been sent out to different dimensional places as their guardians for the adjudged equivalent duration of their sins. What a pity. They, that used to roam the heavenly plane in a moderate, not too chaotic, way, were now confined to dimensional prison. Though, they had free movement in the new dimensions, they were still incapacitated.

Coming here and still maintained the procedure, the boy made a good impression. What ever bargain the boy made to be here, it would never be fair to him. Never at all.

The old man looked at Ju Feng for a time before shaking his head slightly. He had never liked people with a load of virtues in the first place. He, himself, was here as a guardian of this dominion due to his karmic sins. He remembered clearly how the four of them, the heavenly cuboid, had been found guilty by the heavenly palace's celestials, headed by the Jade Emperor. The four of them had been sent out to different dimensional places as their guardians for the adjudged equivalent duration of their sins. What a pity. They, that used to roam the heavenly plane in a moderate, not too chaotic, way, were now confined to dimensional prison. Though, they had free movement in the new dimensions, they were still incapacitated.

The old man sighed and flipped his hand.

"Take this."

Ju Feng caught the token and looked at in surprise.

"Show it to him when, or if, you get back."

"To who, senior?"

"You'll know when you get back. If you get back."

"Okay senior, I"ll do accordingly."

The old man disappeared as Ju Feng bowed. He looked at where the old man was standing for a moment before realizing he was now alone there. Quickly, he took the path that was indicated by the old man. The path led him to the mound where he found the soul ring and quickly put it inside his own spatial sac. He would be checking the content later. He took the same way back and when he reached the place where he first found himself inside the dimension, the dimensional space disappeared.

Two blade-lights headed his way, forcing him to dodge hurriedly. He realized that the battle was now raging hotter than before.

Heavens tears!