Chapter 378: The Pits of Strength
Even though Kai had ventured out from the Bloodcoral sect multiple times, that usually meant hunting monsters near the coast, so this was his first time venturing deep into the Western Wilds. At first he practiced using his flying sword, but eventually Cor Li Xan brought out his floating disc and gestured for him to fly over.
"We're about to visit the Pits of Strength," Cor Li Xan said once Kai landed on his disc. "It's time to explain exactly what we'll be doing here."
"Why not tell me earlier?" Kai asked.
"Because this is a great potential danger for the weaker members of the Bloodcoral sect. It is a chance to acquire power, yes, but the risks are high. In the past, we had many cultivators go out to enter the competitions, only to lose their lives. For that reason, we forbid anyone to join and keep the matter a secret. But today, if we are successful, we might change that."
They had left the coasts behind and now flew over the supposed "wastes." Unlike the wasteland Kai knew, there was greenery all over the landscape: the trees had sharp ridges and many of the plants had bladed leaves, but spiky life was still life. The qi in the air felt chaotic, but it was still strong, and he could sense mana and chakra in the plants around him. He supposed that his standards had been distorted, because what would have been a paradise of power on Deadwaste was undesirable land on Cloudspire.
"Don't worry, our destination is stronger than this," Cor Li Xan said, misunderstanding his reaction. "In this region, power accumulates in great pits, where it can be harvested. Even qi can be found here, though it needs to be refined and purified for proper cultivators to use."
Kai nodded and strained his senses forward to find these pits. "You called them pits of strength?"
"No, I refer to the Pits of Strength. An immense collection of extraordinary pits, one of the top four most prestigious resources in the Western Wilds." Cor Li Xan shook his head. "Unfortunately, they are controlled by the Thundering Scorpion tribe, so they cannot be simply accessed by anyone."
"And no one else can take over?"