Chapter 356 - Into the Abyss(Part-2)

Ryuu took out his trusted kiseru as he took a puff of smoke, all those nearby suddenly felt as if they were about to enter a trance it suddenly felt so peaceful only to be a voice to break it, "Don't let your guard down."

His voice jolted everyone awake as if a cloud had been lifted from their eyes as Su-Min quickly away from him as she spoke in an accusing tone, "What did you do me?"

Ryuu lazily glanced at her as he spoke, "Nothing."

Su-Min raised one of her fingers as she spoke, "You did something just now."

Ryuu shook his head as the corner of his lips curled up in amus.e.m.e.nt as he spoke, "Nothing as you can see that I am currently enjoying a peaceful smoke and since you people were dozing up I told you to wake up."

Frozen Ocean narrowed her eyes as she spoke, "That thing you are smoking it is…"

Ryuu gave her a dazzling smile as he spoke, "A concoction created by my teachers that calms the blood boiling in my veins."

Su-Min glared at him as she spoke with a growl, "You should have warned us."

Ryuu tilted his head as he spoke, "Why should I you should already be aware that I was going to smoke making you all passive smokers and I am you ally as such you did not have any problem but what if I were your enemy but most importantly I would like some private space please."

Zywia frowned at that as she looked at Ryuu, 'Something is wrong with him, since the battle he is acting not only hostile but rude as well, the Ryuu I know does not act like this.', before her eyes widen, 'No way he is still having problems since he went berserk as for others who shared the same fate they were all put down like rabid dog by their fellow cultivators but Ryuu he fought against it but that does not mean he is still not battling the side effects.'

She turned towards her fellow cultivators as she spoke, "Sister Su-Min, Frozen Ocean if you will please I need to speak with you about something."

As they duo went together with Zywia she spoke with a grimace, "I am so sorry for the way he is behaving…."

Su-Min sighed as she spoke, "Please there is no need for you to say sorry for someone like him."

Zywia shook her head as she spoke, "Ryuu is not like that, I do not know why but he is acting rather strangely I blame the strange attack that caused him to go berserk I believe he is not out of the woods as such he must be experiencing some sort of side effect so please give him some time to deal with it."

Frozen Ocean tilted her head as she spoke, "You care about him?"

Zywia sighed as she spoke, "I entered here because of my pride and things I have since then had made me realize I bit of more than I could chew and Ryuu helped me in more than one way he could have left me behind yet he did not."

Su-Min looked send a glance towards Frozen Ocean before she spoke, "Hey Zywia I wanted to ask something before she spoke, "What is Ryuu's relation with the Princess of Shangri-la?"

Zywia frowned at that question before her face broke into a smile as she spoke, "Ah I remember you missed the 'Thousand Year' banquet as such you do not know and I do not know why your teacher did not mention to you, well sorry I will not tell you here in the open maybe sometime in the future from prying ears and Daoist sister please do not thing I meant you."

Frozen Ocean nodded at that as she spoke, "I understand, though what is this thousand year banquet?"

Zywia as well as Su-Min's smile widen as they began explaining to her about the 'Thousand Years' banquet.

Meanwhile Ryuu was in a bad mood it was getting difficult for him to reign in his bloodl.u.s.t as such he decided to meditate under the effect of the special concoction created by his teacher and it was working well as he had almost reigned in his control when all of sudden someone shook him awake.

Daoist Three-Lives was old, old enough to claim that even amongst all the cultivators present he might just be the oldest as well as one of the few who have returned for the third time, others say that once you have returned successfully from this wretched place then you are guaranteed to be a Celestial in no time then what about him and those who are forced to return here again and again and fail.

As they returned his mind was working hard on how to make it to the next level, if he were forced to quit in the 2nd level he won't be able to live the humiliation, it would be too much for him to withstand, as he looked at Ryuu he found him meditating as such he went towards him and decided to draw his attention which proved to be a mistake.

Bloodl.u.s.t of the like he had never felt before it felt he had awoke something primal something dangerous yet it was regal and commanding, he felt himself wanting to prostrate and beg for mercy, the air seemed to burn from the beings anger, he felt as if he lost the ability to breath, drowning in the ocean of blood, his lungs burned as he saw something looking at him with terrifying eyes that seemed to devour his soul.

"Are you alright Daoist Three-lives?", a voice broke him out of his trance he blinked as he was greeted with the concerned voice of Ryuu, who was looking at him curiously, 'What happened?', as if the entire thing that he witnessed was a dream no not a dream but a bad a very bad nightmare, he found himself kneeling in front of Ryuu shaking as others looked at him making him feel embarrassed, 'I must be going senile with age and pressure.', he gave him a fake smile as he spoke, "I was hit heard on my head during the battle, it seems I underestimated my injury."

Ryuu's face did not lose the look of concern as he spoke, "Please fellow Daoist I urge to rest, this is a treacherous place and ignoring once health would be fatal.", Three-Lives nodded in agreement as he moved as far away from Ryuu as possible.

Daoist Heavenly Earth was a portly man with a goatee spoke in a thundering voice, "My fellow Daoist brothers and sisters we have all been able to witness the beast that is guarding the portal to the other level.", he took a deep breath as he continued again, "So now we have three choices, one slay it and move into the next level, two somehow sneak past it to the next level and three stay here till the end and wait for Eden to eject us."

One of the people who was listening spoke with a huff, "The chances of the last one happening is almost nil, our instructions were to find and move to the next level which we have yet to do as such the notion that Eden would eject us only true when we are in a level that is conquered as such the option you should say is retreat back into the first level."

Daoist Heavenly Earth gave him a nod as he spoke, "Ah thank you fellow Daoist for correcting my mistake but as I say there are three choices in front of us, and so what should we do."

"What about those who are lurking around and keeping a distance from us, more than ten thousand Mystic Immortal Emperors and Empresses had participated to enter this place, I know some have passed away already and amongst those present and fought here there is a rather healthy number who have chose not to aid us and are simply observing us."

True-Spear spoke with a huff, "What about those opportunistic cowards if they interfere we would gut them otherwise we do not care if they peacefully move to the other level or not."

"Actually there is something I want to point out.", a meek voice drew everyone's attention as they all stared at the speaker who 'eeped' at the attention as Frozen Ocean took pity on the girl as she spoke, "Please Sister do not hesitate to speak."

The woman in question nodded as she spoke, "Well after many of us had decided to check on the beast that fellow Daoist brother mentioned, my friends and I went back to check for the portal so that if it comes to worst we can retreat.", she took a gulp as she spoke in a trembling tone, "The portal from level to level 2 is not working anymore they have closed."

Her words shook everyone down to their core before everyone broke into serious discussions as they argued back and forth as some even looked ready to punch others Ryuu had enough the entire situation gave them a headache as he clapped his hand hard, it was like as if like a clap of thunder as everyone became quite as he spoke, "Enough stop acting like children you are grownups with some of having dozens of great grandchildren ourselves so act like the responsible a.d.u.l.ts you are.", he then took a deep breath as he continued, "Now as our fellow Daoist Sister had mentioned that the portal that brought us here is closed as such there is no way back correct.", the girl nodded meekly at that as Ryuu continued, "Now, there was not one but many portals that brought us here so are all of them closed?"

At Ryuu's question the girl swallowed hard before she continued again, "Well no I do not know but the portals that brought me and my friends both of them are closed, as such we came to the conclusion that the others might be as well."

Ryuu took a deep breath as he spoke, "While I do not doubt our fellow sister's reasoning but I believe we should check the portals that brought us here as well as keep an eye out for any other portal that we might encounter."

Frost Flames looked intently at Ryuu before she spoke, "I propose that we return here after a week, then not only we will have searched properly and thoroughly but we would have recovered as well as have much better ideas on how to move to the next level."

Everyone nodded as group broke and everyone started to leave upon seeing that Ryuu moved towards Zywia and the others as he spoke, "Well then shall we move as well."

"Daoist Ryuu please wait.", he turned his head as he watched Frost Flames approach him as she spoke, "I wish to join your group if you have no problems."

Ryuu turned his head towards others as Su-Min spoke with suspicion laced in her voice, "Why are you wanting to come with us, you already have people with you do you not?"

Frost Flames lowered her head a little as she spoke, "My current group is made up of mostly males even if I know them, I feel a bit awkward to move along with them and my original group with whom I am had entered here, I got separated from them as such I hope you would allow me to travel with you temporary till I reunite with them again."

Su-Min shrugged at that as she spoke, "Well you are free to follow us then."

Frost Flames simply bowed as she spoke with gratitude in her voice, "Thank you! Thank you so much."