Chapter 3: Beast Horde
Tempering Body Realm, as it name suggested, all it did was to temper the fleshy body, strengthened the bones, and purify the blood. Those who initiate in these realm was called the Body Refiner, possessing strength far surpassed Earth's body builder, yet not quite as they were essentially just super soldier, with enhanced strength but ultimately, still a mortal.
Might sounded weak to many as all the Body Refiner could do was just lifting and crushing few huge boulder, which compare to Silver Beginner practitioner who could utilized the world's essence and amplify their strength even more, turning the said boulder to dust instead of rubble with a single punch, was like comparing the disparity between heaven and earth. However in the end of the day, these realm was essential to all that wished to be martial practitioner, they were the one that founded ones foundation, after all.
The said foundation in cultivation was like the very base of a skyscraper. If the foundation was the supporting pillar for the towering building, then the further cultivation realm that they reach would be the neatly stacked floor till the pinnacle of the skyscraper.
With a shaggy foundation, the skyscraper would be in a constant threat from falling, probably from the swaying wind, or maybe the quaking ground. And once it fall, all effort would come to an end, worst, they wouldn't even had a change to recover from their fall much less starting from ground zero. That was why a firm foundation was essentially needed. For a better future without a flaw, as well as a firm base that could support his rise, Zed know that he should never commit the same mistake again.
In the past, due to his anti-social nature, barely interacting with people much less taking an advice from those in the know, he had committed a sin in cultivation history. Rushing his way to the very top without even giving much emphasize on the pillar that supporting his cultivation base. Essentially, making him vulnerable in many part of his cultivation's ordeal, such as heavenly tribulation, a story for another time.
Fortunately, his cultivation survive even till he reached the rank of Sovereign. But for better or worst, he couldn't advance and had to lay low for a long time. Finding way to fix his mistake, a road he thrive that always failed him in the end. Fortunately or unfortunately, his nemesis come knocking on his front door, and while exerting more strength than his foundation could hold make it so that he was gambling with his all, destroying his own cultivation base in exchange for one final attack however, allowed him to escape his miserable fate.
But even that was a gamble, that Zed found success in. And to say that he was surprise was an understatement, because, he was overjoyed instead.
While knowing that a destroyed spiritual sea, the flat disc that supported ones cultivation base, could be restored by many mean, that doesn't mean that all could recover from what they lost, after all. If not, why would there exist many old-folks who remain cripple for life. If recovering ones strength was as easy as bathing in a miraculous flame or snapping one finger, what was the point of crippling someone if they could easily rise from ashes once more? Aren't that action was just plain fool, as they were essentially breeding a poisonous snake in their own yard? Or was their pride and arrogance was too high up the sky, that they rather humiliate other and be killed by them at a later date instead.
Probably both. Many cliche moment was like so after all. Not that it concern him anyway.
"Hah..." Zed let out a mouthful of faulty air as his eyes slowly open itself. A flicker of profound light emerged within his golden pupil, and as if resonating with it, a radiant holy glow erupted faintly throughout his form.
As he mentioned before, initiating into the Tempering Body Realm was as easy as breathing. And given that he already possessed a great understanding and experience of this particular realm, his rise within them was unchartingly fast. Not to mention the abundant primal qi that he used to refine his fleshy body, blood and bones, he even utilized his divine sense to make sure that he get his foundation as firm as possible. And with it, the bitter bit of impurities left in his body was thoroughly forced out of his body, allowing him to possess the purest body that many yearn for.
After all, the purer one body, the less impurities that cloaked their ability to absorb spiritual qi, and by that, it mean that he could essential absorb more spiritual qi than anyone in the world. Like having two network router connected and brigade into one, the speed you had would definitely doubled if not tripled.
"The peak of Tempering Body Realm, huh... how weird, should have been happy about achieving this feat in within few hours in the past. Now, it just felt kind of empty. Like grinding the same dungeon over and over again, the thrill was no longer there, huh..." Zed mumbled absentmindedly.
True, ordinary human would never be able to match his feat. Even when they miraculously able to cultivate at the age of 12, given that their talent far surpassed their peer, it was very normal for them to take a year or two to reached the peak of Tempering Body Realm. So for Zed to reached it peak within 10 hours to be precise, it was far-cry to say the least.
But if they were to emphasize in his stand, they would definitely know that Tempering Body Realm, was in the end of the day, the beginning road. Far and beyond, each realm took longer, hundred years might not be enough, thousand sometime event billion. Which is why, Zed didn't felt much about his current feat, while it was indeed his first time doing so, the joy brought upon them was nigh compare to the security he felt after regaining a small portion of his strength.
"Master," as Zed's thought goes far in reminiscence, a crisps call pulled him back to reality. As if finally lifting the cloaking veil before his form, he could now perceive what was happening around him.
The first thing to enter his eyes, the serene night shrouded by his glaring scarlet flame. The warm sensation and the sudden fatigue, hit him lightly after his senses return. For once, Zed found himself in a difficult position. Always standing on top of the food chain, never in his life he would expect to see him in such state. Too special that pick many interest's, yet too weak to defend himself.
Not the first time to sense the severity of his crisis, Zed sighed and shrugged it off.
Maybe this was his punishment, for devouring an Immortal's soul and defying heaven's will. Or maybe this was just another ordeal, a fate that he couldn't escape no matter how hard he tried. Nevertheless, it matter not. So long as he was breathing, a way, a path, he will forged it with his own hands. For now however...
Zed shifted his gaze left and right, before turning them downward to find the missing girl. Not a bit startled by the fact that she leave the safe-zone he specifically created for her, seeing her determination and all, he know that while Master-servant their relationship was, deep down in her heart, he knew she were more than willing to be his tool.
What did taken him aback however, was her meticulously jade like figure before his golden eyes. Possessing a snow white skin that glowed under his scarlet flame's light, her entirety were exposed to Zed like an open book that he couldn't help but ogled them. Her ample chest, slender body, and bountiful butt, making it so that she immediately rise up the beauties rank within Zed's list. And as if that wasn't enough, her enticing blue eyes as well as slightly rosy lips, and snowy white neck were too alluring for any man, including Zed himself.
As a matter of nature, the slumbering dragon roses up little by little, forcing the already blushing girl to blush even harder. But even so, her azure eyes remain glued on them, as if mirroring it movement, they went up together.
"Master, this... I'm sorry. I just wanted to help," quick to snapped out of her stupor, knowing her own status and the disrespect she was giving him, Yui shifted her gaze away and nailed them on the silver whitish sword on her hands. Unfortunately, granted that it reflected light and image, the towering shaft remain on her eyesight no matter how hard she tried to avoid it.
Noticing this issue, Zed snapped his fingers and waved his hand. As if carrying a magic of their own, clothes started to appear out of thin air and dressed the couple in a blink of an eyes. The fire domain retracted in size, slowly turning into a little orbs that floated about as their source of light. But even after all these happen, the couple remain silent, with his eyes on her, while her on the sword.
"Help... You mean you're a blacksmith?" breaking the awkwardness with a cough, Zed candidly took a sit beside the embarrassed Yui. With his fragmented sword on her hand, what other form of help that she could gave other than reforging them. Sharpening a fragmented sword, yeah right...
"Yes, master. The reason I was valued and hunted by many was all because I have the potential, the talent, and the requirement to be a blacksmith in Maple Leaf City..." Yui started her story while Zed silently listened them. His arm wrapped around her a moment later, taking her closer to his chest as they enjoyed the serene night and bathed in moonlight. Though his advance startled her, she only showed a wide mischief grin. In a glee, she snuggled deep into his embrace, a place she found the most secure and comfortable in the entire world.
-
-
-
In the dead of night. In Red Leaf Winery situated in the middle of Maple Leaf City.
"How was the pursued going? Still couldn't find her yet?" a man in black attire asked to no one specifically, with one of his eyebrow raised high. In his hand, a white chess piece, a knight to be precise remain. For a long time he just raised his hand high, and as if finally enlightened, he placed them on the board.
"That check for you," he reminded, but unbothered, the man sitting opposite him just blocked it off with a single move. Immediately, his expression turn gloomier. Because it did not only repel his advance but even ruined his formation, worst, checking his king as well.
"That was unfortunate, for a moment there, I though you're winning, Hades," the man dressed in white robes said in a sarcastic tone, making his opponent's face even more gloomier. And seeing them, he couldn't help but chuckle, so sinister it was that the surrounding guard had a chill down their spine.
"Humph! You're just lucky, bastard." Hades growled and ultimately make a decisive decision, using his queen as a trading tool, he saved his king and reset his formation. With a smug, he sees the man in white's expression change, falling to Hades's old trap, was never a feeling that the latter wished to experience again after all.
"So what now, old man. Can you win against this move? Had to remind you, you had fallen for it for like 20 times now." Hades sneered, however, as if undisturbed, the man in white's contemplated the chess board carefully, before slowly lifting his rook and taking his opponent's pawn.
Barely, before he could even set them on place, the door to their private room were barged open. Two heavy and quickstep entered unceremoniously, and already fumed by Hades's taunt, and knowing that he would fail to win again, the man in white smashed the chess board and killed one of the unlucky guard.
"You bastard! Don't you know manner? I was going to win, dammit!" he roared. Nailing his rage filled eyes on the other guard that escaped his death, as if satisfied by his horrified pale white face with trembling leg that almost fail to support his body, the man in white took a deep breath and return solemn. As if nothing had ever happen before, he sat back to his seat with a faint smile in his face.
"Humph, hypocrite," Hades sneered silently, but ultimately didn't say a single thing. Unbothered by the commotion, he raised his brown eyes and stared at the guard,
"If the news you're bringing to me was nothing note worthy, prepare yourself for your untimely death." he said a moment later, and expecting such treatment for their leader, the guard quickly passed the message that he was bringing.
"Th-the pursuing team wa-was eradicate in the forest dept, Captain. And worst, beast horde were now approaching our city!"
"Beast horde!?" if the first sentence make Hades angry, hearing the latter make him frightened. And as if trying to proof the guard's word, the sound of ringing bell echoed throughout the city. Repeatedly it ringed, the sign that tell all about what was about to struck the city.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone