Chapter 405: Against the Very Limit
The pit walls seemed to extend upward forever, to the surface that was just as far away as Sky Soul. Zae Zin Nim cultivated as intensely as she could, but at the Pits of Power it would take centuries to reach the next stage, if she reached it at all. Attaining Sky Soul required an enormous amount of qi and was difficult even for those with every advantage in the world.
Yet that was what she needed, if she wanted to keep up with her spouses and eventually challenge her father. It didn't seem like it would be possible for her to reach Sky Soul unless they were able to remain hidden for literal years, and none of it was relevant while she remained beneath the 999 Power barrier. All her abilities seemed to be filled to bursting, straining against the boundaries of her soul and yet unable to break through on their own.
Just as she began to spiral into her own thoughts, she felt two people land outside her pit. Zae Zin Nim scrambled to her feet and leapt out, hoping...
Cor Yan Wei and Cor Li Xan waited outside and Zae Zin Nim scowled at them. The younger man had avoided her ever since their previous conversation, even though she monopolized the qi pit, while the old man was the average elderly cultivator who had reached his limits. She did not want to see either of them.
"Sorry to disturb you," Cor Yan Wei began, "but we have a bit of a problem. The Thundering Scorpion tribe has been conducting a war against a branch tribe, and they've just absorbed them, leading to a gain of several Earth Souls. They intend to tighten their control over the Pits of Strength."
"And you wish me to engage in duels to defend the Bloodcoral position?" Zae Zin Nim nodded curtly. "Very well."
"Actually, it is more complex than that. The Bloodcoral sect hopes to maintain our position here for generations, so we need to build an alliance. Your participation would be essential."
Even though Zae Zin Nim's expression darkened, they were truly insistent. Since this wasn't the time to cause trouble, she went along with them as they met with the Thundering Scorpion tribe. It took them hours to make arrangements for the negotiations, which sounded as though they would be elaborate.
First, there would be an event called a "Grand Scorpion Hunt" where everyone would be required to pass the tribe's requirements. Then all tribes and sects would engage in several days of negotiations, culminating in a four round tournament that would determine who had access to the Pits in the future.