Walking out from Azlans den, Edward is happy with the understanding the two have come to. Edward rearranged the items inside of his rings emptying one entirely and filling it with spirit water, preparations for his breakthrough. Outside of the cave and walking through Azlans arrays, Shady is in a shadow watching Edward. Noticing him Edward releases his soul, which brightens the area and removes the shadows, Shady standing before suppressive force lets out a roar before turning and fleeing.
[I will make time for you later kitty] Activating his divine art heading towards his Golden Eagles hill
Releasing it from his ring "I will be cultivating here, patrol your territory and keep the region quiet." bowing and flying off the eagle is motivated to serve
"I can't count on her completely, this should do" setting down an illusion array to stay out of sight, unable to remain in control of the forests array while cultivating, Edward releases the teeth taken from Sham and stimulates them. The hemisphere Edward is inside of is densely filled with green smoke, that presses against the array nearly cracking it.
Inhaling the poison and pulling it into his spirit veins, circulating it faster and faster, the poison turns into a Chi adjacent energy. Pulling the energy into his core it becomes thick and pressures it, folding the energy and compressing it Edward is surprised at the lethality of the poison. His body's natural resistance to poison still suffered slight internal damage, mostly in his chest.
[Hmm the heart of my vessel is weak. Maybe from it working too much and pumping my blood so hard all day]
Staying inside of his array and taking in all the poison for a week, Edward let the damage in his body accumulate and worsen. Breaking through to tier 8 of Chi compression, Edward could have already forged his spirit but preferred to build himself one piece at a time. His alchemy prowess could have taken him beyond just forging his spirit, but he wanted to build his body along the way instead of just having great internal strength, knowing his body is a key factor in reaching his peak. However, he does use his alchemy skill to create body tempering pills, repairing his body with his soul, giving acute attention to his heart and tendons this round. Rebuilt and stronger Edward is still unsatisfied, summoning the Poison Scalded Viper, and making it submit through his soul, Edward promised to release him after he uses him for his cultivation. The viper not really having a choice agrees and releases his poison for Edward. Continuing on for another week, using the beast for his ends, Edward regrets promising to release the beast. The poison from the viper not only creates poison endlessly for as long as it has Chi, something Edward provided via spirit stones, it was also very potent. Having done no damage across the week of cultivation, Edward is healthy and at tier 9 of his realm.
[Come back] Spreading his thought throughout the Golden Eagles territory he recalls her and summons her back into the ring, while also staying true to his word and allowing the viper to slither away
After two weeks of practice Edward is feeling his gain but remains indifferent to his power, thinking its small and is hungry for more. Divine art active and heading towards Azlans den to claim his promised commodity, Edward feels familiar eyes on him.
[I was going to settle our score last, but you won't give up]
BOOM
Falling from the air instead of using his art to descend, Edward makes an entrance of provocation. Shady who has felt Edwards soul and its aspect felt fear but decided to face that fear. Having spent time with and learned from Lady Azlan, Shady knew that the path towards his dao wouldn't be given like it was with her. He would have to claw his way through and standalone wherever he walks, desiring to leave his cage and challenge the world before returning to take on his master, he would first have to get rid of the mark Edwards soul was leaving in his heart.
"You are intelligent. You know that if you don't reap my life, you will live the rest of your life unable to advance."
"GRRRR"
Edward who has broken through only two realms but gained strength much greater than it suggests, was confident he could take the panther on evenly now.
Shady pounces, his claws covered in purple aura similar to Edwards, enhances the point of his claw as he slashes at Edwards throat. Catching the leg of the panther, the force cracking his wrist, Edward punches its sternum knocking him in the air.
"Little kitty, your master is a fully matured dao beast. She is content with not fighting and living here peacefully. I on the other hand am not, I will continue to follow my dao and take everything I want, while not allowing anyone to make me bend my knee. That is how you want to live, is it not? Follow me, I will give the opportunity you desire to chase your dao, and whenever you are ready, I will let you challenge my authority. You have a master, so I wont become one to you, I will just be your superior that demands your willing servitude."
"ROOAR" Shady with a broken rib is still showing fighting spirit
Edward releases his soul which shakes Shady, his instinct screaming to flee from the area, but he remains ready to fight
[Shady, walk with him. He can show you the path you want] Lady Azlan interrupting the pair again, the words freeze Shady driving him to think about the offer. Thinking about walking with Edward, or to continue biding his time to leave the forest on his own, Edward use his art to get behind him. Swinging his arm at the back of Shadys throat and activating Roaring Dragons fang, Edward forces his head into the ground
"I gave you the chance to walk with me as less than an equal, but more than a subordinate and you didnt take it. Your only choices now are submission or death." Soul in the form of wings and bloodlust thick around him, Shady realizes he is now a victim to the rule of the jungle.
"Roar" He was barely able to let out
[He submits, let him go now] Azlan demands
Mending the rib cage of Shady then summoning him into his ring, not yet trusting him to live in his shadow, Edward strides into Azlans den focused on the main reason he came.
[You didnt have to be so rough with my student] Azlan in human form swimming in the pond of spirit water
"Covering him with my soul and leaving him to feel my aspects majesty could have reeled him in, yes. But I admired his spirit and wanted to give him the chance to become my partner, now he will live as my tool."
[You don't mean that, in time you two will become friends]
"Azlan, I didn't come to talk about what might happen"
[Yes, you came because of your greed]
"True"
Azlan stepping out from the pond [Are you ready] not a question but a command to get ready
Edward assuming a meditative position "Ready" Lady Azlan stepping over him and biting her thumb, the drops of blood falling directly into Edwards mouth
The blood sliding down Edwards throat, warms his entire body and widens his eyes. Feeling the aspect of Azlan and summoning his soul as forcefully as he can. The two remain in this pose, bleeding and summoning for twenty minutes until Edwards body is broken and twisted. Azlan stepping away having fulfilled her favor, Edward moves her blood to his heart and wraps his soul around it guiding the blood into his bone marrow. Repairing his bones Edwards screams "AZLAN. MORE." Attempting to replace his human blood with Azlans by making his bone marrow produce blood cells that match hers. Azlan who was watching Edward intently in case he tried anything funny, realizes his intentions
[How greedy] Stepping back over him in a flash, she cuts her wrist with her claws, three gashes in her arm open up and spill her blood in good amount
Using the favor to continue his process, almost drowning in Azlans blood. Grabbing his own throat and widening it with his Chi, he feels the new blood cells being made, attack his human ones. The elimination of his blood cells is painful but rewarding, switching the blood from his bone marrow to his tendons, repairing his body one step at a time now with his soul and Azlans blood. Taking her arm away, Azlan gave all she could without threatening her life, while laughing at the absurd situation. Edwards body fixed and in working order, he pulls out his storage ring full of spirit water, placing his tongue in the peg of the ring and resting it inside of his mouth, Edward releases the water little by little, drinking it slowly. Taking the Chi from the water and compressing it inside of his core, he finds the path towards his middle core, thanks to insights of the dao. Compressing Chi inside of his core until it starts to crack, he lets a tiny bit run, run up the pathway to the middle core. His middle core founded and created, isnt the last step in his breakthrough, he needs to fill it full of Chi or it will collapse, severally hindering future attempts to breakthrough. Drinking the spirit water until his middle core is full Edward doesn't stop, spitting the sludge he has held in the deepest pit of his stomach, and palming his stomach, he forces all the used spirit water back out, throwing it up. With his stomach empty, Edward drinks more while compressing the Chi from it. By the time he completely fills it, he officially broken through to tier 2 of spirit forge.
[Call me lady]
Having no chance to appreciate his own effort, confused by Azlans demand he responds "What?"
[You have inherited from me greatly. Look at yourself, my blood flows through your body freely. So, call me lady]
Inspecting his body Edward is surprised to see the blood in his body is granting him physicality that would be hard to achieve otherwise "I understand" smirking
"Thank you, Lady Azlan"