Survival’s Path
“Yeah, I’m sure he’ll be back,” Kaelan said.
“We need to leave.” Kaelan picked the four daggers up then headed for the door. The duo left the room and made their way down the stairs.
“Huh? Are you leaving?” the innkeepers voice sounded behind them. Two scythe is hand, each connected to chains. “You havent paid your clean up fee. Im sure you two messed up the room with your fun.”
Kaelan raised a brow, but Lira spoke first. “How much?”
“Ten Sarls.”
She didnt complain. She placed it on the front desk beside and asked, “can we leave now?”
“Yes, yes. Do come again. I like customers like…” the innkeeper paused. His grip on the scythe got tighter. “Tch, they are back again.”
Liras ears twitched, and her hand tightened around her dagger. “They are here,” Kaelan said, while looking around.
A shadow moved across the broken window. Then, the door burst inward, splintering at the edges.
Three assassins tumbled in, cloaked in black, daggers flashing in the dim light. One lunged straight for Kaelan.
Kaelan bent to the side, letting the blade slash past him. He grabbed the table and swung it, smashing the first attacker into the wall. The impact sent dust into the air, and the man groaned.
“Hey! My Sarls,” yelled the innkeeper. Glass shattered as assassins came in through the window. “I’m gonna kill ya,” he said and charged at them.
Lira was already moving, slicing, dodging. Her attacker was fast, but she was faster. Kaelan tossed a dagger at him. It pierced his neck from behind. Lira turned to him, but he didnt pause. He grabbed the third assassin, swung him like a rag, smashing his back into the wall.
Kaelan bolted out the inn and Lira leapt after him.
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Chapter: Chapter 9“Ash move!” Kaelan pulled Neritha and Lira into an alley as flame rushed by like a flood. The heat deadly enough to cook them. Stone cracked, the woods turned to ash and people screamed. Ash had a red glow on his body, Neritha had a white glow, Lira’s body was covered in green. While Kaelan? His body burned from the heat. “Why aren’t you using your aura?” Ash asked.“Aura? What…”The ground quaked interrupting Kaelan. A deafening roar tore through the sky. “What… what was that?” Lira’s face turned pale.A monster had descended. It true barely came to light through the smoke. Twice the height of the tallest buildings in the district. Obsidian black scales clothed its body. Each uneven and rough looking. Molten red veins glowed underneath the cracks in its hide, pulsing as it breathes. Wings wide open. Each wider than a city street. It edges tattered and lined with hooked bones. When it flexed them, the force flattened market stalls and sent rocks flying. They were far from graceful.
Last Updated: 2026-01-21
Chapter: Chapter 8Morning arrived quietly. Pale light slipped through the shutters, cutting thin lines across the bare wooden floor. The city beyond the walls of the room stirred awake, footsteps, distant voices, the muted clatter of carts rolling over stone. The upper district woke without panic or fear. They lived as if no danger existed outside. Kaelan lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Sleep had come, but rest hadn’t. His body felt fine, but his thoughts refused to settle. Stars. Rankings. Mind realms. Words that should have meant something, yet floated. Beside him, he heard Lira shift. “You’re awake,” she said. “Didn’t sleep well,” Kaelan replied. “Figures.” A pause, followed by the sound of fabric moving, and a quiet yawn. “Today’s going to be annoying,” Lira said. “I can feel it.” Kaelan sat up. “Because of the assassins?” “No. Because of people.” That earned a faint smirk from him. In the other room, Ash stood by the window, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the street outsi
Last Updated: 2026-01-19
Chapter: Chapter 7“Do not draw that blade.” Kaelan raised a brow at Ash. The atmosphere tense. Ash felt his hand shake. “What?” His instinct told him, if he drew the blade at best he’ll survive with heavy wounds.“What is a fiend?” Kaelan asked.“A demon human or a demon kin. They used to dwell in the demon realm but a few of them live among us,” Neritha’s voice sounded. Kaelan turned and found her and Lira before the hallway. White snow colored hair, and ocean blue eyes. She had pointed ears, though not as long as Lira’s. “He isn’t a fiend Ash, I would have sensed it,” she said. Kaelan frowned at her. ‘What is this?’ he thought. Something pulsed heavily. He held the crystal and felt it. The crystal was calm. He turned to Lira, her blond hair was perfect and her green eyes enticing, however, he didn’t feel anything. His eyes moved and fell on Neritha…“If you say so my lady,” Ash said and released his sword.Neritha turned to Kaelan. “I find it strange though. You seem not to know a lot.”“Because I
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Chapter 6“Can I have a decent meal just once?” Lira groaned as they ran.Kaelan didn’t answer. His focus was forward, on the turns and corners. The streets of the upper district were clean, but crowded. Morning traffic had begun. Merchants were opening shutters and moving goods. Servants crossed streets carrying baskets. A few people turned at the sound of running feet.“Don’t slow down,” the beastfolk said behind them. His breathing was steady, and his movements coordinated. The masked companion stayed close to Lira, light on their feet. They cut left into a narrower street. Kaelan skidded to a stop, raised a hand.“Wait.”Too late.Steel rang.A blade flashed from an alley on their right. Kaelan twisted, catching the wrist and slamming the attacker face first into the stone wall. Bone cracked. The man dropped without a sound.“More,” Kaelan said.As if summoned, three figures stepped out ahead. One an alleyway, and two dropping from a low balcony. No shouting. No threats. Just weapons out an
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Chapter 5At the gate of the upper district.“Here you go, your identity tag,” said the guard. He handed two silver plate to Kaelan and Lira. Each plate had a diamond inscribed on it. “With this you are third class citizens of the upper district.”“What if these gets misplaced?” Kaelan asked. “We just have to check our records to confirm. Don’t worry we upper district citizens are civilized.” Kaelan looked at him, then at the record book. The guard got up. “I’m sure you’ll need a place to stay, will you be renting or buying?” he asked.“Renting,” Kaelan replied. “How much is the rent?” Lira asked. “It depends on the region and the number of rooms. We have the eastern region, central region and the western region. I’ll advise you to avoid the central,” the guard said.“Why?”the guard turned to Kaelan and replied. “It’s too expensive for third class citizens and you’ll get in trouble with the rich folks. They are quite annoying.” He shook his head and continued. “The western region is the c
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Chapter 4Lira suddenly opened her eyes. Dagger held tight, arm stretched out. She placed her dagger before, just beneath a figures neck. “Relax, it’s me,” Kaelan voice sounded. He placed her down gently on the bed. “Didn’t want blood to touch you.”“Blood?” Lira frowned. When she looked she found two corpses. Blood poured out from their slit neck. Kaelan wiped two daggers on his shirt, placed them on the bed and picked up two more. “How come I didn’t…”“You must have been so tired,” Kaelan interrupted and placed the daggers on the bed. “Right, they had these on them.” He pointed to two bags beside her head. Lira turned to them.“These… storage bags,” she said.“We’ll need to change location tomorrow. One of them got away,” Kaelan said.“So many Sarls.” Lira gulped at the Sarls that pour out of one bag. Kaelan watched her count. She looked like a little kid that found a new toy. “Three thousand, we can move into the upper district with this,” she said, as she packed them up. She opened the ot
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: ~She’s Gone~Huno appeared inside a room. In it Sarai who sat beside an unconscious Wu Yi, held a napkin. With it she wiped Wu Yi’s body. His heart ached at the sight.“Mom,” Huno called out and Sarai paused. When she looked behind, her eyes widened. Tears flowed down her eyes and weak sobs escaped her. Huno walked up to her and embraced.“You are back… I’m… I’m so sorry…”“It’s not your fault mom,” Huno interrupted. “It’s not your fault.”“Ah!” she cried her heart out in his arm.“It’s alright, everything is gonna be okay,” said Huno, embracing her more.“But Yi’er won’t wake up. The alchemist said there’s nothing they can do,” she said gripping his shirt. “I’m sorry.”“There’s something I can do, so relax mom. Yi’er is going to wake up,” Huno assured her. “I’m here now. Everything is going to be alright.”“There’s something you can do?” Sarai asked with tears still running down.“Yes.” Huno nodded. He disengaged himself from her. “Give me a second,” he added.Sarai nodded and watched him move to
Last Updated: 2024-09-27
Chapter: ~Should Have Come Earlier~“Dear, dear,” said Lee Wei who arrived behind her. He patted her shoulders and added. “She’s alive and that’s all that matters.”Xue Li faced him and nodded. Her embrace loosen a bit. Luna pulled out and flashed her a bright smile. “You are right husband,” Xue Li said.“Elder brother Wei, Sis Li, brother Chiro, I missed you all,” one of the ladies called out. Luna gave way for her and she hugged Xue Li.“You are… Saint?” Xue Li asked.“Yes,” the lady nodded. “Husband, brought me a body.”“Husband!” Chiro coughed. He and everyone else turned to Huno with questions written on their faces.Lili eyes twitched while she faced him. Lin Si cleared her throat while Lu Yal and Lu Yan stared confused.“A lot happened, we’ll explain,” Luna said getting everyone’s attention. “But first…”She bowed to Lin Si, hands cupped. “Greetings second mom,” she said.Lin Si looked at her. “I’m Luna, Huno’s first wife and I pay my respect,” Luna said.“Raise your head…”“Not yet mom,” Luna interrupted. “I kno
Last Updated: 2024-09-10
Chapter: ~I’m Sorry!~Without a word she shot forward. No one among them saw where she went next. She moved faster than anything they’ve ever seen.“Huh?”“Ah!”With every gasp, every scream, a head flew or a body got divided into two. People lost their life before they even realized it. Lin Si watched the scene in awe. Something within her ignited. She couldn’t explain it nor could she describe it. However, she knew she had to meet the real Lin Si quick. The onslaught before her made her blood boil.She turned to Luyi and said. “Tell her I need to get back to my main body. It’s urgent.”“Huh? Yes ma’am,” Luyi said and yelled, “mom, madam needs to get to her real body.”Fuyi halted before a man, her sword stopping inches away from his neck. He sighed quietly as she turned to Luyi’s direction. The man tried to leave quietly, but she swung her hand, uprooting his life in a slash. She took a deep breath and sighed before she flew towards Lin Si. The orders of Huno’s mother came before her desire to kill.***
Last Updated: 2024-09-10
Chapter: ~The Dou Realm~***“Is there any need to continue this pointless war, Lin Si?” a man roared while striking the sword in his hand. His torn garment had blood stains on it from the ugly wounds he had all over his body. He looked terrible but his opponent looked worse. “Surrender, and your city will remain intact, I promise.”The woman he spoke to, Lin Si, turned a deaf ear to his words. She couldn’t believe him, not in a million years. Lin Si had only one intention, kill him and end this war.She let out a loud shriek and transformed to an eagle. Flames rushed out of her mouth at him.“You are a monster race,” he frowned as he blocked the flames. His frown grew intense when he found three Lin Si staring at him. “You think two fakes will prevent me from pinpointing you.”He struck at the Lin Si to the left. However, she dodged while the others attacked.“Tch,” the man tsk. “How come the attacks of the fakes are real?” he thought.He could barely block their combined attacks. “It’s as if they can all re
Last Updated: 2024-09-10
Chapter: ~I Mean It, Elder…~He disengaged, stared at her and smiled. She had a black and white dress on, her hair flawlessly white and eyes blue just as his own.Huno kissed her lips, they were as soft as he remembered. Well, he couldn’t really remember how soft they used to feel.“How’s junior sister Saint?” Luna asked him.“She’s possessing the body I brought,” he replied her with a smile, then took her hand. “Let’s go see.”Their surroundings changed, they had returned to the house. The duo watched quietly and made sure they did not interrupt her.“Huno,” Shinari’s voice sounded in his head.“Huh?”“Are you close to Melina’s body?” she asked him.“Yeah why?”“Open a portal towards it,” she instructed him.“Is something wrong?”“Who are you talking to?” Luna asked.“Shinari, the world spirit of my world in Cosmo,” Huno replied.“Nothing is wrong, just do it,” Shinari replied.“Alright.”A portal appeared before him and Luna. Nearly instantaneously, a green light shot out of it and entered the body on the floor
Last Updated: 2024-09-10
Chapter: ~Melina~“Everyone is gone to where?” Huno frowned.“To the Dou realm, Lin Si took them away,” Saint said.“Everyone left you?” Huno’s frown turned to a sad face.“No, I kicked them out. They didn’t want to go,” Saint replied. “It’s not their fault I’m stuck here. I’ve made peace with fate. Everyone is meant to leave me one day.”“Not if I have something to say about it,” Huno said. “I brought a body for you… why are you laughing?”“Come on Huno, you think in all my years alive, I haven’t tried possessing a body?” Saint asked.“Oh, it didn’t work?”“I tried one thousand one hundred and sixty seven times. Every time the body I tried to possess disintegrated before I got to complete the process,” Saint replied with a sigh.“Hmm, it wouldn’t hurt to try again,” Huno said with an encouraging smile.“Alright.” Saint rolled her eyes at him then asked. “Where’s the body?”Huno stretched his hand out and a body appeared on it. With it’s appearance came a terrifying aura. Huno felt his body go numb. Th
Last Updated: 2024-09-10
Chapter: Chapter 39A white light shot Bin Tong as he spoke. “How?” He stared at his arm in this belief. Half his left arm was gone. Blood poured down endless from his arm. At the last he evaded, however he was unsuccessful. “No!” he yelled as he sealed the wound with his qi.“You dare attack my family!” a voice roared. Bin looked down and found a shattered red dome, a shattered white dome beneath it and an unfazed blue dome beneath both.“Impossible,” “No way!” Du Rumeng and Ja Qu exclaimed at the sight before them. Bin Tong attack was blocked. The little girl glared at him, releasing a strong killing intent. Her hair completely white and her aura that of a strong peak core formation master. “How dare you?!” Her eyes had only one target in them, Bin Tong. The blue dome disappeared and in an instant she shot into the sky. “You will pay for my arm!” Bin Tong roared and greeted her strike. Shockwave flew in all directions. Yang Xiao fell from his sword. A smile appearing on his face and a sigh escap
Last Updated: 2025-12-31
Chapter: Chapter 38“Enji Lu, what is going on here?” a bald old man, one of the three in the sky, asked.“I greet the three seniors,” Enji imbibed qi in his throat and replied. “Forgive me for not being able to welcome you properly.”‘Good job by us time,’ Yang Xiao thought.“I am truly sorry. Allow me to make it up to you lat…”“Enough, answer the question,” a grey hair old lady roared.“This junior is placing an array formation over his manor,” Enji replied.“An array formation this grand? Did you spend your entire fortune on this?” the bald old man asked.“Enji is not stupid. I found a master…”“I apologize seniors, please I need him to concentrate,” Yang Xiao interrupted.“Are you the array master?” Yang Xiao did not reply. He focused on the array as hard as he could. “You dare ignore me?” the bald old man roared. “Still as hot tempered as ever, Bin Tong. Let the little one concentrate,” the third person spoke. A middle aged lady with brown hair and amethyst eyes.“Ja Qu,” Bin Tong, the bald ol
Last Updated: 2025-12-31
Chapter: Chapter 37“That is the situation. What are your thoughts?” Yang Xiao asked. He, Taeyang, Xue Yue and Yinyue sat on a round table, while Baek Yi, Baek Er, Baek San, Baek Si, Enji Lu and Denju stood around them. “Do junior sister and I have to be here?” Xue Yue asked. “This is for the both of you to decide. I was in seclusion. You guys have reached the core formation realm, I’m still at the peak,” she cried. Yinyue laughed while Taeyang and Yang Xiao smiled.“What do you think brother?” Taeyang asked.“We stay quiet and gather more strength,” Yang Xiao said.“Since we agree on that, then it’s decided,” Taeyang said.“Sir, this is…”“Baek Yi,” Taeyang interrupted. “Is there a need to announce ourselves to the public? Why drag attention to ourselves when we don’t have the strength to stand at the peak yet?”“I’m sorry sir.”“A quiet life is for the best. We have enough qi stones to raise dozen of peak core formation masters. If words of that get out, the YangYue family will be crushed before it
Last Updated: 2025-12-31
Chapter: Chapter 36“It’s weird how I know what to do with this,” Taeyang said while holding on to a core.‘That’s the beast core?’ Hiroshi asked.“Yeah, when I broke through the core formation realm some knowledge came to light.”‘It’s because of the ancient beast blood in your veins. Powerful beasts tend to pass knowledge through their bloodlines.’“If I am successful in what I want to do, I’ll have a beast core,” Taeyang said.‘Won’t you transform to a beast if that happens?’“Only one way to find out.”***“Congratulations sir,” Baek Si greeted as Yang Xiao stepped out from seclusion.“How long have I been in seclusion?” Yang Xiao asked. “Almost 4weeks sir.” “That’s a long time, I should go see my brother.”“He isn’t out yet,” Baek Si said.“Has Yinyue gone to check on him recently?”“Yeah, I did,” Yinyue replied and dropped before him. “Congrats senior brother.”“Thank you. So Taeyang is fine?”“Yeah, he broke through successfully and said he needs to solidify his realm. I don’t know why
Last Updated: 2025-12-31
Chapter: Chapter 35“And if I don’t?” Taeyang asked.“Then we will be more than happy to embrace death,” he replied. “Our pride will not allow us be treated like actual slaves. We will be your swords and shields, but not your dogs. We will protect you with our lives, but we will not lick your feet.”“I like this guy,” Taeyang said. “What is your name?”“Baek Yi, sir.”“I’m intrigued to know how you guys became slaves and ended up being sold together,” Yang Xiao said.“We willingly became slaves. They didn’t have a choice but to sell us together,” “Baek Yi, White and one?” Taeyang muttered. He looked at the lady to Baek Yi’s left. She had a scar across her left eye and two swords behind her back. “What is your name?”“Baek San, sir,” she replied.“Number 3?” Xue Yue said.“Yes ma.”“Your names are numbers?” Yang Xiao asked.“Yes sir,” Baek Yi replied. “Let me properly introduce everyone. I am Baek Yi, the leader. And this is Baek Er, the vice-leader.” The man to Baek Yi’s right bowed. He had almos
Last Updated: 2025-12-31
Chapter: Chapter 34“You dare defy me?” Enji Lu raised his voice.“To get you to the peak, I will defy you over and over again,” Denju replied with unwavering look. Enji Lu sighed and shook his head. “Sometimes, I wonder if your loyalty is a blessing or a curse,” he said.“It is both sir. You have to live with it.”“Let’s wait till I reach the peak.”“Sir!” Denju retorted. “Listen to me. No matter how hard we try to hide it some families will hear of the commotion today. They will try to find out the details and we can’t let that happen. What use is wealth if we can’t protect it?”“I understand sir.”“For now, we increase our strength. Leave one bag filled with qi stones and sell everything else in the underworld. Be thorough and ensure it’s not tracked back to us.”“Yes sir.”“Hire an exclusive slave master and buy many ordinary slaves at the peak of the foundation realm. Half of them will be for him, the other half for us. Be sure to pick the best ones for us,” Enji Lu instructed.“As you wish
Last Updated: 2025-12-31
