Chapter 185: Lord Longsword


    Jack opened his eyes, ncing at the dancing bonfire before him.


    He was still inside thebyrinth, of course. It was just ridiculous what kind of resources people like Lord Longsword got. He had his own bonfire, fuel-free and foldable enough to fit in his pocket.


    Despite the homely light, there were still dark brown walls around them. Stone under their feet. Monsters lurking just around the corner.


    Jack scowled and stood, eager to stretch his feet. By the side, Bocor was lying on his back, sleeping like a log, while Longsword meditated cross-legged. On the slightest hint of Jacks aggression, he would stand and draw his sword in the blink of an eye.


    Though Jack was technically their ally, they didnt trust him to keep watch alone.


    He paced back and forth, keeping his footsteps light on the stone. The mes illuminated his bare chest and toned muscles, his dark hair, his deep eyes. The deadly fists he carried.


    The torches on the wall were extinguished. Longsword insisted that his bonfire was more atmospheric and brought better results when meditating. It was truethough the bonfires calming effects were induced through the specially crafted incense stick in its center, not the brightness of its mes.


    Jack sighed.


    <em>What am I even doing Is this what they call sleeping with the enemy?</em>


    It was already their second day together. After Jack agreed to join Longsword and Bocor for this ring, they had traveled in light silence. Jack was tense. So was Bocor. Longsword, on the other hand, was cheerful. Despite his rugged exterior and tattered mantle that might indicate a silent person, Longsword was always quick with small talk. He was witty and had his way with words, as well as a smile always tucked away, ready to be released at the first opportunity.


    Lord Longsword wasnt just a strong swordsman. He was a charismatic man; a calcting, approachable genius. Despite his doubts, Jack found himself enjoying his talks with Longsword. The Lord always knew the right thing to say, making awkward silences seem like a distant memory. He had interesting and well-thought opinions on everything under the sun, and his sharpments, humorously phrased, often provoked Jack into deep thought.


    Of course, Jack wasnt an idiot. Throughout their many talksnot like they had much else to dohe kept his cards close, not revealing anything that Longsword could use against him. The Lord, on the other hand, seemed like an open book. He freely shared information about his sect and techniques, and even offered to give Jack battle training, though Jack refused that.


    He still wasnt convinced. As pleasant as Longsword was, he was d in a clear veneer of arrogance. Bocor was ignored. When Longsword addressed him, it was mostly to avoid seeming too distant. Obviously, this grated on the minotaur, who acted calm but boiled inside. Jack could see it clearly. So could Longsword, but he didnt care.


    Jack kept his guard up.


    <em>What I wouldnt give for Brock, Nauja, or Salin</em>


    He sighed again.


    Whats the matter? A cheery voice came from behind him. Fruitless meditation? Or, perhaps, something more private?


    Jack turned to find Longsword still in a meditative position, but with his eyes open and a cocky grin on his lips.


    Something like that, he replied.


    Me too. Bing an immortal is so difficult. Who would have thought?


    Everyone?


    Longswordughed. I guess. But perspective changes when youre high up. For most people, bing an immortal is a pipe dream. For me, its the bare minimum.


    Are all Lords so arrogant?


    We are all so skilled.


    Jack sat down, cing his back against the cold stone wall. Doesnt it ever irk you? he asked, letting his head fall back. That you are so above the world. Most peoplebillions of themwork their whole lives to achieve what you were born with, and still fail. They will never reach your level, no matter how hard they try. Doesnt that seemunfair?


    What is fair, then? Longsword replied. Would it be fair for everyone to have the same things? Would it be fair for everyones efforts to be equally rewarded? Or should they be judged based on their results?


    Its just an uneven fight. You were born with everything. Some people dont even have food, let alone high-end cultivation resources.


    Longsword thought for a moment, then shrugged. There isnt much I can do about that. I could disperse my factions resources to the world to give everyone equal fighting chances, but whats the point? The people with talent and hard work would rise. I cannot distribute my talent to the people, nor my devotion to cultivation, and certainly not the mental fortitude it takes to rise above the masses.


    But doesn''t that irk you? Jack insisted. Exactly that. Rising above the masses. Doesnt that make you feel I dont know, like youre making some sort of mistake? Like youre putting them down by daring to be above them? Doesnt it make you feel bad?


    Not at all. His eyes twinkled, but the hard line of his jaw made it clear that the next words would be spoken seriously. I was not raised with such considerations. Perhaps you were, given your grassroot origins at an un-Integrated, but these are merely feelings left over from when you were weak. As the person below, it is natural to view the ones above you with scorn and identify yourself as against them. Its a coping mechanism.


    Jack narrowed his eyes in thought.


    But again, those are left-over emotions, Longsword finished, leaning back against the wall with a straight back. You are at the top now. In time, you will realize that being better than others is no sinthat you should not be ashamed of having power. Instead, it is something to take pride in, and use it to better ce yourself in the world. He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. He then added, After all, you are the living proof that anyone can rise if the proper conditions are met.


    Not necessarily. I was lucky, too. A person can have all the talent in the world, but if they arent born in the right circumstances, there is nothing they can do.


    I guess. But children are a continuation of their parents lives. It is fair for the children of sessful people to start high, as is the opposite. If you do well in life, you help your children start at a better ce than you didand dont forget that talent is often hereditary. If youre born at the bottom but with great talent, maybe you wont reach the top, but you will certainly give your children a much better starting point.


    Shit, man. You arent holding back at all, are you?


    Am I wrong?


    Maybe. If Im being honest, thats a pretty brutal way to look at the world, not to mention unfair. How about you chill and think about it some more?


    In the face of Jacks cutting words, Longsword simplyughed. He was not the least bit bothered. Thats what I like about you, Jack: your directness. Yes, it is a brutal way to see things, but its how Ive been raised. The world is brutal. And whoever sees that goes farther than the people who dont.


    I dont necessarily disagree with youbut goddamn is that a way to put it, Jack replied. He did not particrly like the way Longsword saw things. It was toocold. Too uncaring.


    Longsword shrugged and smiled. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing, my friend. We are different people; naturally, we have different opinions. But lets stop here for now. Going too far out of ourfort zone can be counterproductive. Change happens one step at a time, be it yours or mine.


    Right, Jack replied. Just so you know, you have some messed-up opinions.


    Its how you know theyre true! Longswordughed rowdilyso rowdily he might have awoken Bocor. I want a break from meditation. Failing consecutively can bedisheartening. How about you join me in bonfire-gazing?


    Fine by me, Jack replied. He didnt feel like speaking with Longsword more, but he, too, wanted to take a break. Thats why he had been stretching his legs before. And he couldnt just sit by Longsword and ignore him. What are you meditating on? Trying to break through? he asked. Youre already at the absolute peak of the E-Grade, right?


    Absolute peak is a bit of a stretch, but yes, I am. Longsword settled down near the bonfire, making himselffortable. His cloak covered the floor behind him, amassing dirt, and his legs were crossed near the edge of the fire. His nine-foot-long sword rested on his knees, ready to be drawn at any moment. I have already fused all my Dao Roots, he exined, but there is still a gap between maturing your Dao Seed and sprouting it as a Dao Tree. A mental leap, if you will, thatbines all of your understandings into a singr entity. Obviously, the more Dao Roots you have fused into your Seed, the more difficult this final step bes.


    And you have fused many? Jack asked, fishing for information.


    A good few. Its the eternal dilemma. The more power you reach for, the more difficult it is to im. Its why many star disciples get stuck at the peak of the E-Grade for decades, or even forever. In fact, there is already a person from my generation in the Wide Swirls that has be an immortal. She only had one Dao Root, of course, but that was a good thing. She knew her limits. Right now, funnily enough, she is stronger than me.


    He chuckled.


    So you are trying tofurther fuse all your insights into one? Jack asked, frowning.


    Longsword threw him a nce. Through narrowed eyes, he undoubtedly spotted Jackspleteck of information, and chose to assist. Not an insight. A system of thought. A philosophy, if you will. A way of life and thought that perfectlybines all your understandings, defining your own, personal path through the Dao. It defines your life henceforth. Forming and cementing a path like this is the path to immortality, but it is also damn difficult.


    He sighed in frustration, lost in his thoughts. That is what we Lords use Trial for. The Garden Ring contains all sorts of wondrous treasures. The best ones can help us form our Dao Treeand it is those treasures we kill each other for. He then snapped out of it. Of course, that doesnt concern you. You are far from the peak of the E-Grade, where those treasures would be used, and you are also far from the power you need to contest for them. Dont worry, though. There are many precious treasures in Garden Ring. With my assistance, you couldy im to some of the best.


    Only if we are still allied in the next ring.


    True. He smirked. But I dont see why not. Its not like Im asking for much, and were getting along just fine, arent we?


    Jack chose to simply shrug in response. The more he observed Longsword, the more conflicted he became. This was clearly a great cultivator and a superficially pleasantpanion. But, under all his gifts, was he actually a decent person?


    Jack was not sure. You keep mentioning Garden Ring, he said, but thats only the eighth ring, right? What about the ninth?


    The Final Ring? Longswordughed. I know what youre thinking, Jack, but get it out of your mind. Conquering that ring ispletely impossibleeven for Lords. The Garden Ring is the best we can get.


    So even you, an ambitious Lord, arent even considering it?


    I told you, its impossible.


    Why?


    Oh, youll see. In fact, its so impossible that many believe its only meant to beat us downa final exercise in humility, if you will. A lesson that no one is infallible.


    Jack scowled. Thats so disappointing <em>But I will still take a look, </em>he added mentally.


    I know, Longsword replied, smiling sadly. Jack didnt say anything more, and Longswords mood must have soured, because he returned to meditation a few momentster. So did Jack.


    Not that he was actually meditating. He was just diving into his soul world and fighting Copy Jack, increasing his battle ability and sharpening his Dao usage at the same time. With all that practice, Meteor Punch already felt on the cusp of evolving again, and Jack had great ns for it.


    Right now, he had fused two of his three Dao Rootsthough one wasnt really a Dao Root, and it had fused itself. That was enough to get a grasp of how the progress worked. Fusing a Dao Root meant integrating its Dao with his Dao Seeds. Essentially, it meant theplete fusion of the Dao Root into one of his Dao Skillsor, at least, thats how it had gone the previous two times.


    So far, both of his fused Dao Roots had gone to enhancing Indomitable Body. That wasnt bad. Thebination yielded an incredible skill. His bodys regeneration was off the charts, and its durability was also impressive.


    However, Jack thought that was enough for defense. His remaining Dao Root was that of Power, and he knew just the skill to fuse it into.


    Good old Meteor Punch.