Death... and me

3062  Heavenly Marine Jade

Rean saw all of that and sighed helplessly. 'Are you sure it was a good idea telling them so much?'

Roan, who already started to trash- Ahem... teach Diliy, didn't seem concerned. 'It matters not. First, I can leave whenever I feel like. Second, they are Sword Maniacs. If this deal results in them learning more about swords, they will even put their lives on the line. Last but not least, I don't think they will try anything funny, considering how Sword Cultivators usually behave themselves.'

Rean nodded. 'Since you think so, I won't say anything else.'

---

Time passed fast, and the Sea Demon Beasts kept waiting for Drefin's message to arrive. During this time, Rean took it to give Yuan some personal training. There wasn't much time, and he wasn't a Demon beast either. Nonetheless, he could at least help him improve his skills a little.

Finally, the message arrived.

-All participants must come to the meeting hall as soon as possible.- That was the only content in Tana and Yuan's message. Rean didn't even get one since no one was expecting him to participate to start with. Of course, he still tagged along through the influence of Tana.

In the meeting hall, Drefin wasn't in his Golal Shark form anymore. Instead, he used his Human form to approach the other Demon Beasts... and Yuan. "I have decided. The best way to test your skills and bloodlines is the Heavenly Marine Jade. I want you to go get one for me and return."

Immediately, the expressions of all Sea Demon Beasts changed, including Tana and Yuan's. It was as if they had heard something ridiculous.

"Father!" Surprisingly, even Tana felt it was too much. "The Heavenly Marine Jades are impossible to acquire at this time. We still need to wait at least six more years before the Heavenly Marine Tunnel Natural Formation even opens."

The others Demon Beasts nodded. "Palace Master, your daughter is right. If we try to approach it now, we will never return alive. The Spiritual Currents and chaotic elements will most likely kill us. If they don't, the countless invisible spatial rifts are bound to swallow us at some point. Going into that place now is suicide!"

That and other complaints arose there. However, Drefin didn't seem to want to hear. "Enough! Who said that acquiring my Daughter's Hand would be easy?! All you want is to have the Charybdis Bloodline in your own race. This bloodline alone could make your race the next one to sit on the throne of the Saramina Sea Demon Palace. My Golal Shark was the last one to acquire it, and look at me now."

15:57

Everyone went silent. They all knew the importance of that bloodline.

Drefin continued. "I don't expect even ten percent of you to return alive. However, this is absolutely a fair contest. Your bloodlines have no use here, nor do your cultivation levels. Wasn't that what you all wanted? A contest where the time you had been alive to cultivate doesn't matter? A contest where those at Stage Seven wouldn't be at a disadvantage against those at Stage Eight? Or a contest where a bloodline wouldn't be stronger or more useful in certain conditions than others? Well, you got it!"

Rean took the opportunity to ask Tana and Yuan through Spiritual Sense. 'What is this Heavenly Marine Tunnel and Jades?'

Yuan quickly explained. 'It is a very rare gem whose energy can be absorbed by a Demon Beast Core, usually Sea Demon Beasts. They are known to strengthen one's bloodline if used during cultivation over many years. You could say the reason the Charybdis Bloodline hasn't completely diluted until now was because each one who possessed it used the Jade in cultivation since a young age. Tana has one herself.'

Tana nodded. 'He is right. They are treasures of our race, extremely hard to acquire. They don't last forever, either. Each Jade can be used for a hundred years before it breaks. The only place you can get more is the Heavenly Marine Tunnel. But, as you can imagine, that place is just hell.'

'I see...' Rean faintly smiled.

Drefin crossed his arms, and the elders behind nodded, seeming satisfied by Drefin's decision. The elders of the Saramina Sea Demon Palace obviously represented the various races that make it. None of them could think of a more fitting challenge.

Drefin continued. "Yes, you have a high risk of dying, but I'm not telling you to go now. As my daughter mentioned, the Heavenly Marine Tunnel will get a lot safer six years from now. If you want... well, you can just wait. This contest has no time limit. But what if someone enters now and manages to find a Jade? Then, the rest of you will have lost before you even started. Well, that's a good thing since the bloodline wouldn't be passed ahead to a bunch of spineless fish."

Drefin then brought out a few orbs, which shined with a deep blue light. "Do not try to play tricks in this test. I've seen and know every single piece of Heavenly Marine Jade that came out of the Heavenly Marine Tunnel. If you try to bring to me one of the jades that were extracted in the past, not only will you be disqualified, I will end your life right there and then. I've never had patience to those who try to make a fool of me."

Finally, he threw the orbs to the participants. "If you get within ten meters of a Heavenly Marine Jade, this orb will react. It is not much, but it is better than nothing."

Yuan caught one as well, feeling conflicted. He couldn't see himself coming out alive from that place. However, Yuan noticed Tana's eyes on him. That brutal girl respects power and courage above all else, so he couldn't give up now. Then, out of nowhere, he felt a hand grabbing his shoulder and pulling him away.

Drefin turned around. "I have already discussed it with the races of the Sea Demon Palace, and they agreed with this method, so it is up to you, youngsters. You can bring a few subordinates with you if you feel like. All I want is a Piece of Jade, that's all."

Drefin reached his seat and changed back into his Golal Shark Form. "Well, why are you still looking at me? Yuan is gone already. Are you truly willing to let that trash pull ahead?"

"What?!" All the Sea Demon Beasts looked around and noticed that only Tana was there. Yuan and Garfield were already gone! "Fuck!"

So what if it was almost suicide. The rewards were worth the risks. Besides... they all looked at each other. They knew they didn't really need to find the Jade themselves. Drefin didn't comment, but it was pretty obvious that he wouldn't stop anyone from stealing someone else's jade. Or... getting rid of the competition ahead of time.

And as always, any Golden Tickets and Stones are welcome. ;)