Soul slaves

"Soul slaves? Master what are you talking about? And what is that goal you are referring to? It's not because you are old that you have to talk in riddles. I will have to know sooner or later whatever it is you want me to reach, better tell me now so I can prepare."

Straightening his back slowly and stroking his beard the old man very carefully responded in between some sips of his wine…

"Fang'er, you don't need to know those things right now. Not because it is very secret or confidential info, but because knowing that information will only put pressure on your cultivation journey. For now first focus on this hurdle instead of jumping to the finish. It might be training but it is in no way different from a series of life and death battles. One mistake and you will likely die just like your first senior brother."

"Didn't he die protecting my senior sister, Fatty Zhang and Blind Ye? When did it suddenly become a battle against soul slaves. And what the hell are soul slaves supposed to be? Aren't all these cultivators standing around free to go wherever they want? When did they suddenly become slaves of yours old man!"

"What do you think soul slaves are, little fourth?"

"I don't know, did you steal a piece of their soul to keep them from escaping? I know soul element cultivators exist amongst the three thousand rare elements, so it seems possible if you hired someone to do this."

"You are looking way too far for the answer that is right in front of you. Soul slaves are simply people who made a heavenly oath to become someone's follower for an extended period of time or often even life. This happens more than you think in a world where power rules all. To many, becoming a soul slave is at least better than death when their is no other way out. All twenty three of these soul slaves have at one point in time made an oath to follow me in order to survive. The only limitation on soul slaves is that I can't send them to their deaths against their will. Aside from that they will do almost anything I ask aside from s….."

Interrupting the old man Fang Qiu interjected. "Wait, if you can't send them to their deaths, then how can you make them fight me till they either give up or me killing them? That doesn't seem right, shouldn't their oath prevent them from fighting to the death."

"Hahaha little fourth, didn't you find the loophole in my earlier explanation? I can't send them to their deaths AGAINST THEIR WILL, but what if I were to offer them…I don't know…freedom! If they manage to kill you that is… wouldn't that make them willing to risk it all?"

"Okay, I understand now, but that still doesn't answer some of my other questions I might have surrounding this topic. And what about my senior brother? You still didn't answer that either."

"Your first senior brother had to protect your senior brothers and sisters from my soul slaves for one hour, if he failed he would die. This was his trial because everyone great cultivator needs life or death struggles to grow. Sadly he succumbed to his wounds not long after succeeding and no pill he had on him could save him at the time."

"Then why did you send him to his death, didn't you take him in from a very young age? You were like a father to him!" The bystanders could start to hear an angry undertone in the one armed youth's voice. And so could the old man. Yet instead of growing angry or retorting the old man grew silant and just started chugging his wine. In less than a minute the bottle was empty, after which the old man finally faced his disciple with an aged look…

"Everyone has their heavenly oaths binding them, and so do I. Heavenly oaths can make your life easier and functions as the laws in the worlds below the heavens, but they also have a painful and dark side. I couldn't save your first senior brother due to an oath. Just like how I won't be able to save you during your fights… so don't make this old man lose another precious disciple. I wouldn't have stopped your pain and skill trainings if I didn't think you were ready."

"Very well old man, I will complete the trial you have made for me…otherwise how can I count myself as your disciple. I haven't even started eating the high ranked food yet so how could some measly cultivators faze me.

So, when do we start!"

"Remember, there is a big difference between confidence and arrogance, we shall see which of the two you are showing right now."

Little fourth, you will be fighting these twenty-three soul slaves one by one. You have no time limit for each battle. But remember, these cultivators are no puppets, they can also take advantage of this rule.

They will fight you weakest to strongest, otherwise the weakest would have no chance of freedom if the strongest went first. You have one hour to prepare before the first of them will face you. And as a reminder…DO NOT underestimate any of them. In a battle where life is at stake, even a dragon will use everything it has to kill a snake.

With that said everyone went back to their lodges leaving just the old man, Fang Qiu and little dice near the lakeside. Two of them curiously awaiting what Fang Qiu would do in this one hour timespan.

________

"Oh, there you are." You have about ten minutes left, little Fourth. You did some clever things in the forest just now, but will it be enough? Maybe you should utilise these last ten minutes to the fullest also no?"

Fang Qiu wasn't the slightest bit surprised by the old man's capabilities to see what he was doing in the forest far away from his seat by the lakeside. A divine spirit realm cultivator was almost like a god to most cultivators.

"I did all that I could setting up the terrain and using whatever I had on hand that could be used as preparation. But there is one thing I forgot about that isn't mine which I can also use."

"Oh? And what would that be? Don't try asking me for information about the slaves. I'm not telling you. The only information you can use is what you know from talking to them these past weeks."

"Old man, do you really think I am planning to use you as a trump card? What I have planned could be way more powerful than your information…though, it could also backfire massively and lower my chances of survival by a! Incredible amount.

Oh well, you know what they say. No risk…no reward!" Placing his hand on Buxing zainan's* shoulder he whispered something in his ear though the old man could perfectly hear it with his incredible senses.

His eyes slowly widening like saucers the old man couldn't help but interject. "Fourth! Are you sure you want to risk "that"? A good roll might massively increase your chances of survival yes. But you would be way less tempered by the experience, so the one hundred battle streak would be a lot harder afterwards. And if you were to get a low roll…may the heavens bless your soul in the afterlife because you will likely die today if that happens.

Oh, and before I forget. The big event is coming up in one month. And I need you to be ready by then with this trial, if you survive that is."

"Big event? Old man, is it another one of these life or death trials?"

You will see when the time comes. First focus on your current situation before thinking about other things."

"Brother dice…ROLL IT!

….

….

….

All three of the faces slowly turned from curiosity….to horror at the sight of the dice which stopped in the middle of their table full of wine jars.

A natural two. Survival odds: incredibly low.

_____

Buxing is the disaster dice kid's name for those who didn't know as i didnt mention the name a lot yet.