Dark Mane Tiger

The sun hung high over the mountainous plains outside Three-legged-Crow-City, casting its warm glow upon eight figures dashing across rocky terrain, swathed in dark, crimson robes. Embroidered on the left chest area of the robes was a dark crow with ruby eyes that seemed to thirst for blood.

Their robes fluttered in the wind as they advanced with the speed and formation of an arrowhead, anticipation fueling their strides.

A roar as loud as thunder, with just as much anticipation, suddenly shook their surroundings, and they halted quickly. In front of them appeared the source of the ear-ringing bellow, an open maw with two large canines.

The jet-black beast resembled a tiger infused with a lion; a dark metallic mane protected its neck, and its bulging muscles could be seen from its thick hide. In size, it leaned more toward that of an elephant. Its growls were loud and full of bloodthirst as it gazed intensely at the group, showcasing its knife-like canines.

Within moments, it pounced on them.

"Of all times for a beast to appear, and a Darked Mane Tiger at that," the leader clicked his tongue and grasped his sword hilt tightly before planting his feet firmly into the earth and striking out.

The blade shone silver, tearing through the air.

With a thunderous collision, sword met claw, and a loud bang reverberated out, followed by an enraged roar as the beast charged once more, intending to sink its large canines into flesh.

"We don't have time to waste here, nor the Qi," the burly man stomped his foot into the earth, and from it, a muddy spike emerged, piercing towards the beast.

"Its roars will only cause more beasts to appear, Zhao Yang, obstruct its movements for a moment, we will continue on," the leader exclaimed, deflecting the gleaming claw which shredded through the earth spike.

After a nod, the one called Zhao Yang flicked his wrist, and a grey talisman shot from his palm, planting on the beast's temple.

The leader jumped back swiftly, and the beast tried to pursue but suddenly felt an intense pressure surrounding it, halting its movements.

The talisman enveloped it in a grey glow that receded moments later, revealing a large stone dome that expanded until it entrapped the beast fully.

Rage-filled roars reverberated out of the rocky prison as loud thuds resounded and cracks formed on its surface.

"Good," leaving the beast to its own devices, the group resumed their journey.

not too long later, they came upon a cave entrance with icy-cold air streaming out before a hot air would replace it.

"We're here," the broad-shouldered man said with a wide grin, feeling the alternating hot and cool breeze against his skin.

"Let's begin." With his words, the group looked into their bag of holdings and brought out many talismans, beginning to scatter and arrange them around the entrance.

They then sat in a lotus position and consumed pills, restoring their Qi reserves in preparation for the upcoming battle.

—-

The Darked Mane Tiger stormed out of the rocky prison, scattering stones in all directions. It had been reduced to dust under its relentless assault.

It roared loudly upon seeing that its prey had escaped and growled with indignation. Just as it was about to resume its search, a scent wafted into its nostrils, and it turned in a certain direction.

Reflecting in the beast's rage-filled eyes was a figure in a silver set of armor, with blonde locks swaying in the breeze.

The figure met the beast gaze with confidence, stepping forward as if the beast was nothing in his eyes. As the beast began to growl and grow impatient, Ember's hand drifted to his sword.

Less than a second later, the beast launched forward, revealing its sharp canines. The knight halted and held his arm out.

The cracking of bones resounded out as the beast sunk its teeth into his arm. Before the beast could rip off the knight's arm, a metallic click resounded out, and a glowing gold blade pierced through its thick hide, emerging from its back.

The beast's scream was full of pain as the blade continued downwards, cleaving it into two halves. Blood and separated innards drenched the earth red.

Looking down at the remnants, his gaze was scornful. Ember sliced through the air, flicking the blood off the blade.

"The stench of evil... Putrid," Ember said, his voice was deep and full of annoyance as he furrowed his brows. He sheathed his sword and walked forward, in the same direction of the group from before. 

—-

"What are they doing?" Zhihui asked, his eyes focused intently on the crimson-robed group outside the cave entrance.

"They're setting up formations; one seems to be a vision impairing of sorts, the others I'm not sure, but most likely offensive traps," Silas replied, hidden behind a large boulder a couple of hundred meters from the cave entrance, next to the raggedly dressed beggar. "We'll see soon anyway; it seems they're ready."

As planned they were stalking the site of the cave entrance, where inside was the Foundation Establishment beast, the double-headed fire and ice python.

In Silas's hands emerged a sword with a black blade, the hilt was also matte black with inscriptions etched into it, glowing red; it seemed to be alive and appeared to cut just by looking at it.

Zhihui glanced at the dual blades, slightly intrigued, then summoned a spear from his spatial ring.

It was about 6 feet long with a steel tip made for forward thrusts; around the neck of the spear was a black cloth that swayed with the wind.

The spear felt sturdy in his arms, and though the wood wasn't as special as the wooden staff he had received from the old man, he could tell it wasn't just ordinary wood.

Naturally, the spear Zhihui was currently holding was one he had convinced Silas to buy for him, telling him it was an investment, though he had zero intentions of reimbursing the fox for it, along with the medicinal pills he also had him buy.

'What kind of beggar is this? He owns a spatial ring yet doesn't have the funds for pills or weapons?' Silas stared at the spear and spatial ring with a peeved expression for a second, turning his focus back to the cave entrance where it seemed the bloodlust sect disciples were moments from entering.

His face was filled with restlessness, Zhihui could see his fingers twitching, and his wide smile was full of confidence. It was clear he had been waiting for this moment for a while.

How the bloodlust sect disciples came to find out about the Foundation Establishment beast, Zhihui speculated it was the fox who sold them the information, whether indirectly or directly; the current situation was one he had orchestrated.

'Hehe, let's see if everything goes according to your plans..' Zhihui thought with a smirk.