Chapter 229: Three Powers Against a New Continent

Chapter 229: Three Powers Against a New Continent

Despite Kai's fears that something would go wrong and prevent their arrival, it looked like nothing else would stand in their way. Rosemount covered the horizon now and there were ships moving all around them. Everyone had acted like the continent was a constant lethal threat, but the sailors just seemed to be going about their work, no matter what species they were. He didn't see how any new disasters could stop them, even with his terrible luck.

They could actually have arrived already by docking at Crescilor City, the capital of the trade nation, but Omilaena had said it would be too risky. Instead they sailed further south, aiming to reach the coast at a gentler port. Since he had no expertise, Kai accepted her judgments about all that.

Even though their gambit to brave the Blood Current had worked, it had taken a heavy toll on their ship. They were completely out of backup crystals for the engines and the hull was too damaged to survive another long voyage. It sounded as though they planned to sell it for whatever scrap it was worth and use the diamond star from Krysal. If Omilaena was right about being able to hide their presence, it shouldn't let them be tracked if they were careful.

Technically he should have been more anxious to be setting foot on a new continent. He'd heard so many warnings: overconfident warriors who had died instantly or successful warriors who had been seduced by a life of luxury. Kai couldn't let either happen. He needed to grow strong enough to help Zae Zin Nim and to stop the next apocalyptic monster incursion, that was all.

Still, he could only get there by constantly pushing himself. Kai glanced at his own soul and hoped that it would be enough.

Name: Kai Clanless

Total Power: 354

Cultivation: Body Refinement 21% (105)

Physique Level: D-0 (200)

Soul Level: 7 (49)

Monstrous Hunger - X (kappa)

Behemoth's Heart - VII (eta)

Direboar's Strength - X (kappa)

Isulfr's Bite - VI (zeta)

Tyrant's Claw - VI (zeta)

Baleful Breath - II (beta)

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Void Gaze - V (epsilon)

Sahagin's Soul - IV (delta)

Lizarkyl's Tail - III (gamma)

Direurchin's Spikes - III (gamma)

Wallcrawler's Feet - I (alpha)

Beastbat's Wing - I (alpha)

Crystal Slime - I (alpha)

>

Having more than 450 Power made her strong by most standards, especially given the new power of her Coldfire Corona. Yet it wasn't enough now. Kai might have looked weaker than her at a glance, but with his monstrous power he was actually substantially stronger. Omilaena was stronger any way you measured it and likely to grow even more powerful on Rosemount.

Somehow she had become the weak link, even as they protected her from the cultivators her father had sent. How long before they realized and left her behind? Kai might be so kind as to be naive, but he was walking a difficult path. If he kept moving forward, he would soon leave her behind.

Except he wouldn't. She wouldn't allow it. Zae Zin Nim took a deep breath and with renewed focus cleared her mind of all distracting thoughts. She was first and foremost a cultivator, and she would not let herself fall behind.

.

..

.

They'd be setting foot on Rosemount by the end of the day. Once, that would have filled Omilaena with either dread or relief. Now, she wasn't sure what to think.

Years ago, she had left her home continent because she recognized that she was up against a wall. To attain the heights of power that she knew existed beyond the highest peaks, she needed more leverage to climb higher. Without the strength to force her way into the top ranks, and especially not to enter the most important libraries, she couldn't find what she needed.

Instead she had fled to Deadwaste, the destination of the lazy and the desperate alike. She understood how it could be easy to be lulled into a false sense of ease there, since even her middling strength was far more powerful than so many of their strongest.

Instead, it filled her with a sense of dread that made her push her experiments even harder.

Just as she was stronger than the inhabitants of Deadwaste by virtue of where she'd been born, she knew there were those out there far more powerful than her. She'd even gotten proof of it, during the strange battle at the Frontier. In order to match such overwhelming power, it wasn't enough to merely train, she needed a deeper understanding of the true powers of the world.

Yet how much progress had she really made? Krysali cultivation had proved to be less fruitful than she had hoped, and though she'd advanced her primary abilities, it wasn't enough to overcome that gulf. Compared to the swift progress of the others, she was practically stagnant.

When Omilaena glanced at her own soul, she grimaced.

Name: Omilaena

Total Power: 648

Heart of Poison: Level 56 (224)

Lethal Artisan: Garnet Rank (175)

Physique: D-0 (200)

Soul Level: 7 (49)

>

Currently she stood at 648 Power, which was enough to be formidable but nowhere near the heights she needed to attain. How strong had she been when she first left Rosemount? She recalled having barely reached 500 and realizing that she was blocked. That meant a nearly 30% improvement... not trivial, but not much compared to cultivators whose power moved in huge leaps. Nothing compared to the growth of demonic arts, which she still hesitated to pursue.

The truth was that the real advantage she'd gained wasn't her own strength, it was her allies. Zae Zin Nim could grow into a useful ally, if she could be trusted, and Kai might hold one of the secrets she needed for true advancement. Having two people she could rely on was an advantage more important than any new power system.

Assuming that she could rely on them. Omilaena had never wanted to depend on others and she still hated the idea now.

But she didn't have a choice. They'd arrived at Rosemount and there was no more time.