Novel Full Chapter 1587: Three Paths
Chapter 1587: Three Paths
“Hmm…”
Rubbing his chin as the man’s question lingered in his mind, Ataraxia focused his attention on the signs that appeared beside the three paths.
“Whispering Winds, Soaring Skies, and Breaking Barriers,” murmured the young man to himself, the gears in his mind beginning to turn as he tried to recall more information about them.
’Is there any significance behind these names?’
Shifting his gaze between the signs and the man every once in a while, the young man briefly remained silent as he tried his utmost to rummage through his memories for information that could shed even a bit of light on what the three names meant.
Unfortunately, no matter how many times he rummaged through his memories, Ataraxia ended up finding nothing on the topic.
’I suppose that shouldn’t come as a surprise,’ thought the young man to himself after that conclusion, a bitter smile adorning his face. ’After all, I only heard of the inheritance and how to enter it through my friends back then.’
’Even though I knew my combat skills would improve if I were to enter it, I still didn’t set a single foot in the inheritance at all.’
Though this situation briefly reminded him that his past life’s memories wasn’t all-encompassing, the young man wasn’t discouraged by the fact that he hadn’t gleaned any information on the three names whatsoever.
Instead, it gave him more courage to ask the man about the three paths instead.
“If you don’t mind… would it be possible for you to shed a bit more light as to the differences between the three paths ahead?”
As this question left his mouth, Ataraxia immediately thought that there was a high chance that the man before him would decline his request.
After all, knowing one’s limits and figuring out how not to bite off more than one could chew was an additional hidden test of sorts in an inheritance.
Yet, contrary to his expectations and his prior understanding of inheritances, the man showed no hesitation in giving him a bit more detail on the three paths.
“As I’ve mentioned earlier, the amount of hardships you’ll be undertaking during the inheritance, as well as the reward you obtain at the end is dependent on which of the three paths you end up taking.”
“To your left is the path of Whispering Winds,” said the man, his expression that of slight enjoyment. “As the easiest path among the three, then it goes without saying that you’ll be going through the least amount of hardships by choosing this.”
“Though this choice also affects the quality of the rewards you receive, the final reward is still a powerful ability that allows you to cross a large forest in just a matter of minutes.”
“Plus, if you choose to go above and beyond during its trials, there’s the possibility of the rewards being improved one step further.”
Pointing towards the middle path, the man continued, “As for the path of Soaring Skies, you could say that it’s a path wherein the rewards you obtain from it are truly worth the effort you put into its trials.”
“Even if you were to achieve a passing rate on all of its trials, you would still end up obtaining an ability that allows you to arrive at one kingdom to another in a matter of hours, as well as a title that considerably improves your overall movement.”
“Naturally, it goes without saying that such rewards would be improved if you were to excel in the trials the path of Soaring Skies offers.”
“Though, its rewards still pale in comparison to the third and final path among the three.”
Just as these words left his mouth, the man’s expression turned solemn.
Taking a few steps to the left to give Ataraxia a better view of the rightmost path, it was only then did the man continued with his explanation.
“Consider the path of Breaking Barriers that embodies most of the hardships I’ve gone through on my path to the pinnacle.”
“Though the trials have been slightly toned down to where at least a dozen more people are able to accomplish it, this path shall not show you any mercy once you’ve begun to go through its trials.”
“However, if you persevere through each one and obtain even the minimal rate in each trial to reach the end, the rewards that await you end up being more than worth the hardships the trials force you to face.”
“The distances between empires and sovereignties immediately become trivial the moment you receive the ability at the end of this path.” The man gave him a slight smile.
“If you were to include the titles and other additional skills that come with clearing the path’s trials, even crossing continents would become a trivial endeavor.”
“But… in the rare possibility that you clear all of the Breaking Barriers’ trials beyond the expectations I set, then not only would the ability to cross continents be yours…”
“But you’d also be given the opportunity to inherit the true abilities that I’ve polished throughout my journey to the pinnacle.”
Feeling as if the man’s explanation was a large hammer that slammed him directly in the head, it took a while for Ataraxia to process everything the man discussed about the three paths, gaining a better idea of the opportunities and risks that come with each path.
’Considering how the opportunity to fully inherit the man’s abilities is only possible if I were to choose the final path, I suppose choosing the path of Breaking Barriers would be the best way to tackle the inheritance,’ thought the young man to himself as he took in a deep breath.
’However… he did mention that the trials I’ll be facing in that path are basically the trials the man had to go through in order to get to where he was.’ As these words echoed in his mind, the young man could not help but slightly shudder.
’Should I choose the path of Soaring Skies instead?’ he asked himself inwardly. ’After all, there shouldn’t be that big of a difference in the rewards the three paths offer.’
’Plus, if I do great in all of the trials, then it probably wouldn’t be impossible for me to get my hands on a skill that’s on par with what the path of Breaking Barriers offers.’
’But then again… if I were to choose it, I’d be forfeiting the opportunity to inherit the man’s true abilities…’
For a while after that, the young man was at a crossroads on which of the three paths he should take in the Realm of Breaking Horizons.
Weighing the pros and cons of each path in his mind, Ataraxia eventually came to a conclusion the moment he glanced at the man, seeing that there was something else in the man’s gaze that he hadn’t noticed at first.
“I’ve made up my mind,” said the young man, inwardly hoping that his decision was the correct choice.
“I’ll be choosing the path of Breaking Barriers.”
“Finally!” Surprisingly, the man let out a cackle in response to Ataraxia’s words. “Throughout the thousands of years this realm has been in existence, only a few have dared to tread the same path I’ve taken in my youth.”
“For choosing to take the path of greatest hardship without fear nor hesitation, you have earned my utmost respect.”
“With that, it is only right that I give you the opportunity to choose a path only trekked by those who are willing to push beyond their limits over and over again… a path I’ve taken countless times to get to where I am.”
“Inheritor… no.”
“Ataraxia…”
“Are you willing to trek the path of Shattering Space?”