The Innkeeper

Chapter 1685: All in the same boat

After going through all of the necessary formalities, Jack and the crew were led to a designated teleportation room.

Technically, one could enter the Challenge realm from anywhere. The Artica realm was divided into multiple levels, with each level allowing only those of a certain cultivation level within.

To go from one level to another, they would need to pass through a trial, which was something which would occur in the Challenge realm. As soon as anyone felt like they were ready to go to the next level, all they needed to do was reach the peak of their existing cultivation level and try to break through.

They would be transported to their trial, and if they succeeded, would not only enter the next level, but smoothly enter the next cultivation level as well. This somehow avoided the tribulations for certain realms as well.

This way, if Jack successfully became an Earth Immortal, he would have completely avoided the tribulation one undergoes to enter into the cultivation level without any negative consequences. Naturally, to make up for that, the trial wouldn’t be easy either.

For a moment, Jack couldn’t help but wonder if there was some kind of tribulation one had to endure to become a Dao Lord. If there was one, and the Artica realm could successfully avoid that one too, then this place was far more magical than he had expected.

Since no foreigners were allowed to take the trial to become a Dao Lord, it was not a benefit outsiders would be able to enjoy. However, Jack could imagine how this could become a huge bargaining chip for the Artica realm in the future.

He pushed all the unnecessary thoughts out of his mind, and looked out at his crew - as well as the three Boblings who had paid themselves to join.

"This is the opportunity of a lifetime," said Jack, his voice solemn. "If we get through this, all of us will become Earth immortals, and our legend will grow even stronger. Just imagine the adventures we can have when we return to the Folklore realm. We have already overcome the legend of the River Styx, now imagine what other myths and legends we can overcome!"

He paused and stared at them. Whether it was fate, or some twist of luck, he’d come to learn that most of the members of his crew couldn’t cultivate normally either. Just like him, they had many obstacles preventing them from becoming immortals.

Although he never asked their backstories, after spending so much time together, one naturally picks up a few things.

Monk, as a means of survival, had attached himself to a bunch of myths and legends about bear cubs. But in most of those stories, the cubs stayed cubs, and were weak. As such, Monk was forever stuck as a bear cub, unable to grow stronger or older.

Of course, now that he had left the Folklore realm he could probably cultivate normally. But then, he’d also be giving up the many benefits he got from being linked to those legends.

Pebbles was cursed. Like, on a very serious note, he was suffering from a very powerful curse which was meant to torture him for all of eternity by constantly healing his body and then dismembering him. The curse was also meant to keep him alive forever, so he would suffer forever.

It just so happened that the curse... well, it didn’t work as intended. Now, he was just immortal, and

invincible, able to heal from all wounds. As a result, he just randomly lost body parts every so often.

But since the curse constantly kept resetting the state of his body, it would reset his cultivation as well, forcing him to stay weak forever. Perhaps the rules of the Artica realm might be able to supersede the influence of the curse and allow him to become an immortal.

The crystal alligator and Goldilocks both were babies, so it was fair to say that it was too soon to find out if they could cultivate to higher levels. But due to the unique situations with their bodies, Jack was able to guess that they’d never be able to accumulate any energy in their body, for all excess energy would always be used to convert their surroundings into their elements.

Once they became immortals and could tap into external energies, they’d finally be able to overcome this handicap. Until then, they’d be stuck the way they were. Maybe, over time, their bloodlines would allow them to grow stronger, but it was too soon to tell.

Ollie was normal, and could cultivate. But, it also suffered the same fate as all beasts, where surpassing the limitations of its bloodline was incredibly difficult, so an easy way to raise its realm was more than welcome.

Then came Tiny-Sparkles. Its dwarfism caused its body to contain way too much spiritual energy, to the point where it was basically impossible to absorb more, and so it could not cultivate. If it evolved its horn, it would be able to continue raising its cultivation level like that, but this was a much easier option.

Finally, there was Longbeard. Jack knew nothing about him. That gnome was allergic to mentioning its past. Jack assumed he had troubles keeping him from becoming an immortal too because, well, there was a pattern going on and he didn’t want to break it.

Bob didn’t count. He was an anomaly, and Jack wouldn’t be surprised if he could raise his cultivation level at will...

Nah, that was too ridiculous even for him. But as a Deity, Jack was sure it wasn’t easy growing stronger. It probably depended on accumulating a lot of faith and stuff. Completing a trial was much simpler.

So, all in all, he and his crew were all in the same boat - in more ways than one. This was an opportunity none of them could miss. Hopefully, they’d all succeed in their trials too.

"I’ll see you all on the other side," Jack said. "And I’ll still be captain on that side too - don’t think you can steal my position once you become immortals. It’s not happening."

Jack smiled, planting that small idea in their heads. Now they’d all be hoping to overthrow him as soon as they became immortals. Maybe that would give them motivation to pass their trials.

He closed his eyes, and pushed his cultivation a bit. Then, he was teleported to the Challenge realm - isolating him from the effects of the karmic curse which were about to kick in.