*Kaiden Evergreen POV*As a fallen n.o.ble of the Azure continent Kaiden has had to walk through grueling challenges in cultivation to emerge as he is today. He was originally from a powerful n.o.ble clan which was respected through out the Azure continent. Any member of the Evergreen household used to be looked upon by favourable looks by many but now this has turned towards expressions of disdain, immediately after the majority of the clans most powerful cultivators were killed in a deadly confrontation between Eranyth Empire. What should be looks of praise and admiration for dying for their country and bringing major contributions against an opposing Empire, instead turned into looks of greed as the other n.o.ble families swiftly devoured the Evergreen Clans territory and wealth. The group of other n.o.ble families which shown looks of reverence whenever they were previously in front of Lord Evergreen turned into a pack of hungry wolves as soon as the news the death of himself and his most trusted subordinates was spread throughout the Empire.
Although the Evergreen clan was a powerful clan with deep foundation, with all the various n.o.ble families influence they managed to forcefully take over the Evergreen territories in a "righteous" manner with the reasoning being they no longer have the strength to protect it from the opposing Empires. Instead of protecting the Evergreen Clan, the Azure Emperor who was rumored to be close friends with Lord Evergreen did nothing. Without the Azure Emperor"s backing the once mighty Evergreen Clan was completely seized, with Kaiden"s mother and their other fellow clan members being thrown out with nothing but the clothes on their back.
Kaiden was only a young child at the time, obvious towards towards the severity of the situation. Throughout his childhood Kaiden remembered different men visiting his mother each night, which shortly after followed by banging noises and loud grunts in the other room. At the time Kaiden was only a young child and didn"t realize what his mother went through to ensure he has a bright future.
As Kaiden"s father was one of the cultivators which died alongside Lord Evergreen his mother a women without cultivation only means of having enough coin to support Kaiden going to Sky clad Academy was her own body. Kaiden remembered begging on the street for sc.r.a.ps constantly desperately trying to help his own mother, as day by day she increasingly lost weight becoming frail.
Until, eventually his mother told him he was leaving towards the best place for him to be a cultivator in Azure Continent, the famed Sky clad Academy. He wanted to stay with his mother but she told him to not waste the opportunity in becoming a powerful cultivator as the only way in being successful in this world is having strength.
Even though his mother paid the entrance fee to be tested in order to enter Sky clad Academy this is just a means of having his cultivation talent a.s.sessed. Which Kaiden as expected past in flying colours due to his Father being a strong cultivator himself. Many years past in the academy in which Kaiden emerged as a rare genius reaching the 9th Rank of Body Refining Realm at 19 years old. He continued to visit his mother bringing her valuable medicine and coin which was the majority of his earnings in the Academy, although her condition improved eventually she died leaving Kaiden alone in this world.
The former n.o.bles which contributed towards the fall his clan instead of the mocking expressions they previously had as they threw both he and his mother out of their clan approach him with flattering smiles with offers of joining their families with a marriage with many benefits also being provided towards his future cultivation. With Kaiden refusing with a bright smile on his face informing them that he was to young for marriage, secretly seething with hatred for each one of these backstabbing n.o.bles.
Kaiden knew he will never be able to seek revenge for his clan, as the Azure Emperor will never allow it and no matter how much of a genius he was, Kaiden wasn"t the best genius in his generation with the Prince being even stronger than him at his age.
Whilst lost in thought a beautiful young woman approached him.
"Hey Kaiden, want to come with us to Devil"s Peak to hunt for some Seventh Rank Body Refining beasts again? It will be much easier with your a.s.sistance like last time." Sarah a Rank 6 Body Refining student asked warmly to Kaiden. She was considered one of the most talented female students in the academy and came from a fairly strong n.o.ble family in the Azure Kingdom.
"Sure" Kaiden responded, he knew that hunting some spirit beasts will help him remove some of his pent up anger. Also, he has been in closed door cultivation for a while and knows he needs some practical experience urgently.
"Great" She smiled, clearly delighted by his answer.
A week later a group of n.o.bles ranging from Rank six to nine Body Refining realm and Kaiden stood outside the outskirts of Devils Peak.
"Everybody listen up, we are now about to enter Devils Peak even though in the outer area there are no beast above ninth Body Refining realm, we still need to be cautious. Spirit Beasts are vicious and are naturally stronger than humans." Kaiden urgently tried to convey his message towards these n.o.ble brats, even though he went to Devils Peak with Sarah before he doesn"t recognize more than half of the group now. He realizes most of the n.o.bles present probably haven"t even been in a real fight in their life.
"Well, well looks like the one of the so called "prodigies" of the Empire is only a person terrified of a bunch of mere body refining spirit beasts" An arrogant n.o.ble at Ninth Level of Body refining loudly spoke out. It was clear that his talent was mediocre as for a n.o.ble in his family having the best cultivation resources at birth and only achieving Ninth Rank of Body Refining at 25 is considered average. Some n.o.bles snickered at his comment clearly pleased that a commoner which has more talent than them being mocked.
"David, Kaiden has been here many times before and has great experience fighting spirit beasts and hunting in Devil"s Peak, perhaps you should pay more attention to what he has to say" Sarah urgently uttered.
"Hmmm. Merely a commoner with a little bit of talent, how could he truly compare to us n.o.bles" David immediately snickered, seemingly completely disregarding what Sarah said.
Four days later after hunting numerous spirit beasts, the group slayed many spirit beasts ranging from Rank four to eight of body refining realm. David, who slew beasts three ranks lower than himself grew increasingly arrogant.
"Hmm, looks like I was right ain"t I Sarah? These spirit beasts aren"t nothing much." David stated with a proud expression on his face, clearly taking the opportunity to show off in front of the women he likes.
"Wait, somethings wrong. The surroundings have just gotten quiet." Zaiden muttered urgently, this wasn"t something normal and he feels a strange sense of danger. After two minutes of staying silent nothing occurred, David clearly impatient shouted in a loud voice.
"Another false alarm from Mr. Genius. See, Sarah this is the boy you look up to. A commoner acting like a genius when he is simple a coward." Before David could continue his rant a sharp cry emerged as a Rank 8 Body Refining Realm n.o.ble was ripped into half. A large black panther stood in front of them with a suffocating powerful aura emerging from it. It"s blood thirsty eyes staring at the group of n.o.bles like its looking at its next feast.
"What is that....?" David screamed in fear, his previous "brave" expression completely removed from his face showing a terrified expression.
"That is a shadow panther a Rank 1 Qi Refining beast." Zaiden responded with a grave expression.
"That"s impossible... You said there is no Rank 1 Qi Refining beast in the outer parts of the forest, how can it be here. Zaiden... this your fault. This is your fault so you should take responsibility! Go ahead and die by that beast while we get away, that what you owe us for putting us in this situation! I am a n.o.ble of the Red claw family I cannot die like this!" David screamed in terror. The n.o.bles instantly responded in agreement whilst Sarah responded in an annoyed expression.
"It wasn"t Zaiden"s fault, no one could have expected any better we should all fight it together its the only chance we have to survive. The only reason why we are alive currently is it is playing with us, do you really think we can get away against a beast known for it"s speed in the Qi Circulation realm. And Zaiden is no match for that thing, a beast at the same rank as a human is already superior , not mentioning this beast is an entire realm!" Sarah tried to convey her message to the n.o.bles.
"Shut up Sarah! Your the one who got me into this mess I wouldn"t of left to this place if it wasn"t for you. You stay here and die with that commoner I"m getting out of here!" David and a few n.o.bles immediately sprinted in the other direction in an attempt to use Zaiden and the others as sacrifices for their escape.
However, the Shadow Panther seeing it"s prey trying to get away, instantly killed three n.o.bles in a blur as it shown the astonishing speed on what a Shadow Panther is known for. Sarah immediately screams, whilst Zaiden and the other n.o.bles prepare to fight to the death. A few brave n.o.bles charged at the beast only to be killed easily, Zaiden knew that the beast was playing with them. It could have easily killed them all by now. But as soon as he lost hope an intimidating roar sounded from behind.
"What is that?" Zaiden muttered. As a large beast emerged from the forest, a look of disbelief emerged on Zaidens face as he saw a thought to be extinct spirit beast a Frost Wyvern! Normal n.o.bles may fail to recognize the beast in front of them and a.s.sume it"s a dragon however as Zaiden always had interest on the legends of great cultivators millions of years ago and he has read through many books in the academy library which record ancient beasts which lived thousands to millions of years ago. A Frost Wyvern, which contains the dragon bloodline is one of these beasts. It was described in being a exceedingly rare beast which was one of the most powerful beings thousands of years ago. The last Frost Wyvern was believed to have died a thousand years ago, but now he is seeing one in front of him!
The Shadow Panther turns it head regarding the new foe in front of it. It feels a sense of danger from the beast in front of it however as a Qi Circulation beast it naturally has its own pride so it immediately dashed towards it drawing Dark Qi towards its claws for a fatal attack. As it thought the Body Refining ant was going to be smashed to pieces by its strike, a shocked expression emerged from its dark eyes as a layer of frost emerged on it claws and blocked its attack sending it stumbling from the encounter. It actually lost in that exchange and it is weaker than a Body Refining Beast! Impossible, the humiliation of being sent back by a Body Refining beast caused it to rage in anger. It continuously launched attack after attack, using its superior speed to try land strikes against the beast but it found out that its body is made out of steel! Each strike sends scorching pain throughout its body, due to the force of the impact. It has killed many Iron Bears which are known for their defense but they are nothing compared to this! As soon as this thought came to mind, the beast which was originally being suppressed by it launched an attack twice the speed of its former attack. Caught by surprise the Shadow Panther was. .h.i.t by the spike of the tail crashing on the ground. As it gotten up realizing that the beast in front of it was actually stronger than it, it realized that there is a raging poison in its bloodstream causing it to feel a chilly sensation throughout its body. It directs some Qi to suppress the poison but its Qi is rapidly draining! A terrified expression emerged in its eyes at it attempts to flee however as its about to run a claw pierced through its heart. The last thought on its mind being of pure terror.
Zaiden watched as the large Wyvern regarded him and the others with cold eyes, and as he thought it was going to kill them it turned around and left, quickly disappearing into the distance.
"It spared us? I"m alive?" A happy expression was on Davids face as the previous cowardice immediately disappeared.
"Yes, yes it did" Muttered Zaiden with a curious expression, this was the most bizarre thing which happened in his life.
The remaining n.o.bles hurriedly left Devil Peak quickly returning towards their clans rushing to report the news towards their clan heads as soon as possible.
*Dana POV*
After Dana swiftly left after quickly taking the Shadow Panthers core. Unfortunately, the Shadow panther didn"t have a bloodline like the Golden Monkey King. However this didn"t matter to her and purely pure happiness filled her thoughts, she killed a Qi Circulation beast! She didn"t think that her strength has increased this much. The only attribute the Shadow Panther was superior compared to her was its speed, which was the only reason why she aimed in getting the Shadow Panther to let down its guard and underestimate her. As she didn"t want it to escape. Usually, towards a spirited beast which is a full realm above there would simply be no comparison in strength however she has the rare Frost Wyvern bloodline and also contains a heaven ranked cultivation method thus making the impossible possible! With these thoughts emerging in her mind, she has decided to finally break through to Qi Circulation realm.
Whilst these thoughts continuously raged in Dana"s mind she didn"t realized that she has caused a huge problem looming over her shoulders with most of the individuals being n.o.bles in the group she just saved all having connections towards the most powerful clans full of the strongest cultivators in Azure continent, with them knowing her existence it can cause endless troubles.