Sensing sorrow in the air Elder Dame takes leave to his room without finishing the match "Please excuse me, Lord Patriarch, Grand Elder." slight bow and the sounds of footsteps followed by creeks of a shoji
"Lord Patriarch, you have gained a knot when Dame loosened his. Not speaking of it doesn't make it disappear, sit and lets discus your feelings."
"Grand Sage, how can I not be saddened. Both my sons are dead, and my only daughter is under the palm of some ghost."
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[I have scouted the rank 7 beasts, and the only one I am interested in is the Shadow Panther] Shadow Panthers are unlike most spirit beasts, it is born with great speed and strength like most, but it possesses innate technique to dive inside of shadows. Its ability is remarkable, considering using it affectively requires intelligence and planning. Edward had seen what they are capable of when the solitary predators are forced into packs.
To fight the beast that is in its prime Edward would need to make preparations. Dashing through the forest using the array to remain invisible, stalking a rank 6 Golden Quadruped Eagle. A beast that strides faster than a horse, and can take flight nimbly like a smaller aves, the perfect choice for cultivators who are unable to fly. Moving around in unpredictable directions, Edward remains patient like a hunter waiting to strike. The eagle plunging from the air and slaying its dinner, grabs the corpse with its hind legs and flies off.
[Finally. Now take me to your children] Edward who had been patient in his efforts, releases bloodlust faintly, causing the spirit beast he is standing among to scatter.
Using Divine Void Steps not to travel large distances, but to maintain height in the sky Edward follows the eagle back to its nest. The lair of the eagle atop a hill that pierces through the brush of tress hundreds of feet tall, bones of its prey litter the foothill. Watching as it tears the flesh of its meal and spits the nutrients at its babies, Edward is disappointed that there is only five.
[This was the only Golden Quadruped Eagle I found, yet its litter is so small]
Edward stepping side to side in the air with his divine art an improvised hover, steps downward with a use of the art. Smashing into the hill directly behind the eagle, he releases his soul causing the eagle to spread its wings. Assuming that the eagle was ready to engage combat, but it bends its front legs and lowers its head.
[This minor beast actually recognizes a superior. How does his eagle know of dao beast, and how can it differentiate the aspects?] "Do you understand me?"
SCREECH the eagle exclaims while nodding its head
[It has very high intelligence] "You know of dao beasts?"
SCREECH nodding again
"Have you ever met one?" Edwards blood begins to flow faster and faster and the hair on the backside of his neck stands
The eagle folding its right wing and pointing with its left screeches again
[The heart of the forest?] "A dao beast lives there... are you telling the truth?" Releasing mild heat from his soul that is in the form of wings, causing the baby eagles to screech and whine
The mother eagle hops Infront of the bed of her young and bows again while nodding
[So this is why my blood has been wild and my instincts screaming. The center of zone 4 is a dao beasts territory]
"Golden Eagle you are very intelligent. You know its kill or be killed in our world, but I will offer you an alternative. You will come under me and serve me as I crusade, then I will set you free. Naturally your children will be assigned to people I deem worthy, if you don't accept, I will slay you and raise your children as weapons." Edward recalling his soul back inside of him, wanting to relieve the pressure and allow the eagle the opportunity to think clear. However, it didn't take long for the eagle to bow in acceptance, an action Edward expected, but not so soon.
"Very good, you will be my mount and sword. Rest inside of here with your children I will call upon you shortly." Summoning the six beasts inside of Lions right, Edward notices that they are in deep sleep and unconscious inside.
With phase one of his plan completed Edward strides back to the edge of the Shadow Panthers territory. Finding the funnel of its prey, Edward takes control and pushes all the beasts into its territory. The spirit beast who exits the funnel regain clarity, a feature that keeps the rank 7s sharp by not getting completely free meals. Starting to fight, the beasts are confused about why they are so close to others. The noise of beasts fighting and roaring in its territory brings the Shadow Panther out from its den. Falling into the shadow of a tree Edward notices the beast while hiding using the array.
[Go ahead and strike little kitty]
The panther remains hidden taking in the entire fight, until there are only a few ranks 6 left. A Poison Scaled Viper a beast that can rise its poison to the outside of its body and cover it then shoot its scales in attack. A Tusk Boar that uses its tusk and strong jaw to battle, relying on its dense bones for defense. Then an Air Grizzly a bear that has no ability to bend the air but is nimble like a feline despite its massive frame and weight. The three beasts remain in standoff, none of them making a move, and the Shadow Panther takes the stillness as opportunity to pounce on the boar.
Bolting from the trees shadow its paw increasing in size as it swipes at the Tusk Boars neck, severing its head from its body in a single strike then leaping back into a different trees shadow. The attack had Edward remiss, seeing that its attack was a technique, something that required it move its Chi in a pattern to accomplish.
[Only a dao beast should be able to use its Chi like this, I have never seen a regular spirit beast accomplish it without a master in the wild]
Thinking that the dao beast inside this forest was its master and must be extraordinary to be willing to teach a regular beast their ways, his blood flow begins to stabilize as he gains anticipation. Feeling his emotions and losing sight of the panther, Edward develops a sense of urgency. Wanting to take the Poison Scaled Viper and Air Bear in, he needs to prevent their slaughter. Glancing around in a hurry, Edward feels the wind shift as the panther targets the Air Bear. Using his art to step between the beasts Edward summons the Viper and Bear into his ring and ducks the panthers claws. The panther sensing he is stronger than Edward doesnt return to the shadows, but instead remains seen and ready to clash.
"You are a courageous kitten" Edward disappointed that the beast cant sense his aspect even though it isnt in use
Launching at Edward and swiping at his throat he misses, then turns his body as he flies past Edward and takes a shot with his tail. The two now staring into each other's eyes the Shadow Panther flinches, feeling the intention radiating off of Edward. Strongly using Roaring Dragons Fang only with his left hand, the bottom jaw of a dragon pierces the ribs of the panther. The attack does damage but doesnt incapacitate the beast.
[This is a problem, I cant beat a rank 7 head on without killing it. I needed to get a critical strike off in surprise]
Racking his brain to come up with when to release his eagle and fight together, Edward decides against his plan. Only having means to kill it and not to incapacitate without leaving lasting damage, he realized he would still have to fight alone and without his soul for it to submit wholly. The panther looking at its wounds grows furious, it has never been hurt since it was granted territory in the fourth layer. It has lived the life of the ultimate predator, answering only to a deity. Angered at its wounds and Edward, it circulates its Chi aggressively preparing a technique. The beast with bloodlust concentrated in its blue eyes, growling and showing its fangs angered Edward. The notion that a mere rank 7 spirit beast would bear such killing intent at a dao beast, made his blood boil and his fighting spirit overflow. Pouncing and bringing his hands together in a wide clap, the pair are now putting their lives on the line unrestrained by the thought of living with the scars of battle. Edwards martial art lagging behind the speed of the Shadow Panthers technique, a voice clear and domineering inside their minds interrupt.
[Enough young ones]
The voice makes the panther release its technique to the side of Edward and dive into his shadow. Edward who still had time to stop his own realized he would have died from the panthers attack if he wasn't ready with his divine art. What bothered him the most was not his brush with death but his instinct yelling to flee and his blood rushing so fast his brain became hard.
[Shady, bring my guest to me] the voice again in the minds of the two
[My instincts telling me to flee have never been an issue before, but even my emotions are eerie and telling me to leave. Am I afraid right now? What dao beast lives here, I can sense nothing]
Shady, the Shadow Panther still sulking that he got hit and didnt get to respond shows Edward the path. Walking through arrays Edward couldn't sense, let alone the mirrors and shields protecting the dao beast's den. Walking along Shadys trail, Edward has calmed down, feeling his emotions and emptying himself he realized the dao beast doesnt want to kill him or they would have allowed the panther try.
After walking through a cave for multiple minutes, it opens up to a room wide and tall. An island floating in spirit water, and a blue furred lion without a mane laying with their back towards the entrance commands Edwards attention.
[A lion dao beast? Something so unique, I dont sense any other aspect inside of it. This is a self made full blooded dao beast] Edward thought while witnessing the anomaly