A large structure had forced its way from the swamp protruded from the murky undergrowth. This, tower seemed strange as it radiated the same type of hou I had felt earlier.
Even the path had changed some.
There was now a large paved walkway that lead to the tower's entrance.
Not to mention the hundreds of strength dragons that now waited the tower's massive but closed doors.
Of the hundreds of Dragonborn that swarmed the area none of them seem hostile, at most there were a few engaged in a bit of roughhousing but that was mostly just that. Most of them didn't seem to mind me being there except for the few that gave me disapproving and disrobing stares . I figured this was probably due to me being human. Then the occasional few that wanted to cross the threshold to force the doors open those unlucky few were struck down mercilessly by guards that patrolled the area and it wasn't long before I realized something else.
These people seemed to all be under stage 2 body refining. Only the guards and a few others radiated the same type of force the one I had fought before used.
But Why did these dragons come here? Was it for some hidden opportunity and If so what was it?
My curiosity grew by unimaginable measures.
Could there be some profound treasure hidden here? Was my luck finally coming about?
I glanced around but could not locate my squad.
But with this crowd, I wouldn't blame them.
They would probably go incognito till I returned. So I guess I'll wait till they notice me and try to make contact.
But for now, lets join in the fray.
If I could seize this treasure and rescue master then it would all be worth it.
But with all these other guys vying for it, it would be no doubt challenging to get but this was still within my abilities.
Without warning a violent wave of hou rolled over the whole crowd.
The pressure was similar to what master had originally trained me with but several times weaker than the force that allowed me to comprehend the ki-shroud. It had hurt then and it took me almost a month before I could even stand under the constant pressure created by master.
These strength dragons on the other hand seemed to cultivate no form of hou resistance technique but instead opted to use their physical bodies to withstand the force.
This force was nothing for the current me and could not compare to the sharp force I had felt before of course. I didn't even need to use the ki-shroud.
The force did little to nothing to me, but all around me the strength dragons seemed to be under a great struggle to even keep their footing.
Some of them even were even forced to the ground. Seemingly pressed by a giant palm from the heavens.
But out of the hundred that occupied the area around the tower, eight of them stood completely unfazed.
These were probably peak second stage body cultivators and out of the many that were there these eight looked particularly strong. Not even bothering to pretend as if the force had any effect on them.
Slowly the large doors to the tower slowly opened, with the pressure not lifting in the slightest.
Was this the first trial?
Make it through the doors under the pressure?
The other eight started towards the doors with many of the other lower realm strength dragons in tow. But of the weaker ones who under the relentless hou force also tried approaching the doors, none made it to the entrance. All that followed were forced to the ground with broken bones or damaged muscles without being able to get close to the tower's doors.
Meanwhile I followed the eight who had entered before, being the last to cross the threshold before the doors came to a close once again.
The silence was deafening at first as none of us moved.
The inner chamber was empty save for small entrance to many small rooms and a large staircase leading to the next floor.
"I'm feeling generous right now so feel free to take what's in these rooms." The tallest strength dragon announced promptly before proceeding to the grand staircase "my goal is what's at the highest floor! So don't you dare follow!"
"Wait!" I interjected.
He paused and turned towards me.
"What gives you the right to give the treasures here away, do you own them?"
He turned towards me and the others "do you all also share her point of view?"
Silence.
The others held their breath even though they seemed as irked about it as I was. Even going so far as to avoid his gaze.
"Well then I guess it's unanimous."
He half turned to leave again.
"I was being generous, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a loss!"
His eyes were sharp and penetrating. If it wasn't for his arrogance he'd probably be cute but given his and the others' fancy outfit, I could safely say that these guys were probably geniuses of their respective clans.
It's always the same, the wealthy and powerful are always the the ones who're adorned with shiny or expensive while the poor or are only wrapped in tattered or plain clothes.
Most of the independent cities were the same. And if it wasn't for Aurelia's faction of jiya's guards being stationed at that nameless city i don't know what it's condition would be like now.
I took a look around, these guys were obviously pampered. The three girls out of the others reeked of old closets filled with silver spoons. Not to mention the four remaining guys.
"I'm also being generous by asking that you proceed with this fairly." I replied coldly.
He laughed at this loudly.
"Those guys obviously don't share your opinion. So isn't this already as fair as it gets?" His point was actually sound but it was clear that they were being suppressed by him or his backing.
"Ok, strength rules, right?" I purred.
"As long as you know-"
"-oh I'm not done." I had cut him off and he didn't seem to take kindly to it. "It's simple, since you're apparently the strongest then I suppose you wouldn't mind proving yourself."
I stepped up to him, face to face and he was taller than me. Which forced me to look up at him.
"Let's have a match, if you can suppress my movement with your hou or any means you have then I'll give up my right to any treasure here." he laughed in response as if I'd said something incredibly funny.
"Do you really think I don't dare destroy you?Just because you obtained a token to take part in this trial. Don't let it get to your head!" His smirk even more condescending than his holier than thou attitude. "You're nothing but a remnant of the cultivators the humans once had, now you're just human scum and I think I ought to put you back in your place!"
He placed his hands behind him in a relaxed manner. "Behold! This is the reason us strength dragons are far superior to the wastes that dwell outside our borders!" His relaxed posture and cold stare suddenly radiated killing intent so vicious and primal that for a second I considered stepping back.
What was that?
I felt it clearly, it caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. I had even started to tremble slightly.
"Oh?" He mused "10% of my aura and you managed to keep standing!"
He laughed a little, "Then! Let's make it 50%!"
This time the room shook slightly and his white horns glowed lightly pulling the darkness over the edges of my peripheral.
Look away! Damnit!
This!!!
I was slowly loosing control of my body!
Look away!!!
The darkness almost completely enveloped my vision only his face and that cold dark fear ravaging my senses making me want nothing more than to run away.
Suddenly I was in that place again.
Jiya sat on a throne looking down at me with disgust in her eyes.
"Oh? Is this all you amount to?"
Those eyes….
Dont…
"Don't you dare look down on me!"
"Or what!?" She demanded "you're still too weak to even be of use to this queen!!"
"I'll destroy you!" I pulled in the surrounding ki compressing it in my golden orb.
"That's it!" Jiya laughed as she started to fade "Use your anger!"
My vision cleared.
My fist was in the strength dragon's grasp.
He had used both hands to restrain my attack and now struggled to to resist my strength.
His rugged appearance as he struggled to not be forced into the ground by me, brought a smile to my face.
"I don't know what you just did, but that was rude. Using my memories like that!" I pushed harder.
"And after all that big talk just look how you're struggling to against me, a human. If this is the limit to your strength then you might as well just leave right now!"
"Keuk!" He struggled fruitlessly as he leaned backward being forced into a pretzel. "Stop! Aren't you afraid of my mountain mist clan's ancestor?"
"Mountain mist?!" I asked.
"Ha ha ha now do you fear this young masters backing?!" He bellowed.
"-I'm sorry I don't know what that is!" I replied smiling before planting him below the hard stone floor.
I circulated my remaining ki again.
That punch had taken a lot from me but not my comprehension had grown even more.
I looked at the dimming residue of ki which enveloped my fist.
"You killed him!" One of the girls stated before the other screamed.
They stared at me with a terror in their eyes that I just know will be hard to forget.
"You guys." I sighed "take advantage of this opportunity! I punished him because he did something unforgivable so you guys won't share his fate just stay out of my way in the future and you'll be fine!" I smiled.
And they all stepped back two of them falling on their asses.
Are they that afraid of me?
Good!
———————-@—-////——@———————
The rooms on the ground floor all had strange items which I took storing them in a temporary storage rune Jaxon had created before placing it on my arm. It would eventually fade after a day and the items will all fall out at that point. So I only need to be wary of the time.
Slowly I proceeded to the stairs. The upper floors probably had clues to where master is being held.
As I neared the stairs I noticed a strange mist which wafted down the stairs.
This smell!
It smelled sweet. What is this?
Suddenly the stairs tilted and and the ground came up at me.
Huh?
I had fallen! But how?
"What, is this?"
The others slowly approached.
"Ha, I didn't think she'd be that stupid." One of them stated before stepping over me and climbing the stairs.
"Wait.." I tried but all that came out was a whisper.
Six of them passed.
But the seventh just stood keeping his distance as it became harder to breathe.
No! What's happening?!!