บท 10: Chapter 9 - Fall of Evergreen Clan and Sighting of Frost Wyveryn
As a fallen noble of the Azure continent, Kaiden Evergreen has had to endure through gruelling challenges the entirety of his life to emerge as he is today.
He was originally from a powerful noble clan, which was well respected throughout the entire Azure continent.
Any member of the Evergreen household including the servants was looked upon by favourable looks by many, but this was turned into expressions of disdain, instantly after the deaths of the clans strongest cultivators; including the pillar of their clan Lord Evergreen, in a lethal confrontation between Eranyth Empire.
What should have been respect and gratefulness for bringing major contributions over the years towards the Azure Empire, instead turned into looks of greed as the other noble families swiftly devoured the Evergreen Clan's territory and wealth.
The group of other noble 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 a deep foundation, with all the various noble 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 rumoured 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, oblivious 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 across 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 who died alongside Lord Evergreen, his mother a woman without cultivation only means of having enough coin to support Kaiden going to Skyclad Academy was her own body.
Kaiden remembered begging on the street for scraps 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 Skyclad 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 Skyclad Academy this is just a means of having his cultivation talent assessed.
Which Kaiden as expected passed in flying colours due to his Father being a strong cultivator himself.
Many years passed within 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 nobles 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 alongside many other benefits additionally being provided towards his future cultivation.
With Kaiden refusing with a bright smile on his face informing them he is too young to make a decision, secretly he was seething with hatred for each one of these backstabbing nobles.
Kaiden knew he would 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, thus he always carried no hope on ever being able to avenge his clan.
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 assistance like last time." Sarah a Rank 6 Body Refining student asked warmly to Kaiden.
Sarah was considered one of the most talented female students in the academy and came from a fairly strong noble family in the Azure Empire.
"Sure" Kaiden responded, he knew that hunting some spirit beasts will help him remove some of his pent-up anger.
In addition, he has been in closed-door cultivation for a while and could do with practising his martial skills on real opponents.
"Great" She smiled, clearly pleased with his response.
A week later a group of nobles ranging from Rank Six to Nine Body Refining Realm alongside Kaiden stood outside the entrance of Devils Peak.
"Everybody listens up, we are now about to enter Devils Peak even though in the outer area there is no beast above the 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 noble brats even though he went to Devils Peak with Sarah before he doesn't recognize more than half of the individuals in the group currently.
He realizes most of the nobles present probably haven't been in a real fight their lives.
"Well, well, looks like one of the so-called 'Prodigies' of the Empire is only an individual which is terrified of a bunch of mere Body Refining beasts," An arrogant noble at Ninth Level of Body refining loudly spoke out.
It was clear that his talent was mediocre as for a noble in his family having the best cultivation resources at birth and only achieving the Ninth Rank of Body Refining at 25 is considered average.
Some nobles 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 nobles," David immediately snickered, seemingly completely disregarding what Sarah said.
Four days later, after hunting, numerous spirit beasts, the group slew many spirit beasts ranging from Rank four to eight of body refining realms.
David, who slew beasts three ranks lower than himself grew increasingly arrogant.
"Hmm, looks like I was right aren't I Sarah? These spirit beasts aren't nothing much." David started with a proud expression on his face, clearly taking the opportunity to show off in front of the women he likes.
"Wait, something wrong. The surroundings have just gotten quieter." Kaiden 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 simply a coward."
Before David could continue his rant a sharp cry emerged, as a black blur ripped a Rank 8 Body Refining Realm noble in half.
A large black panther stood in front with a suffocating powerful aura emerging from it.
Its bloodthirsty eyes staring at the group of nobles like they are its prey.
"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," Kaiden 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. Kaiden... This is your fault, so you should take responsibility! Go ahead and die by that beast while we get away, that's what you owe us for putting us in this situation! I am a noble of the Red claw family I cannot die like this!" David screamed in terror.
The nobles instantly responded in agreement whilst Sarah responded with an annoyed look.
"It wasn't Kaiden'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 its 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 nobles.
"Shut up Sarah! You're the one who got me into this mess I wouldn't have left for 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 nobles immediately sprinted in the other direction in an attempt to use Kaiden and the others as sacrifices for their escape.
However, the Shadow Panther seeing its prey trying to get away, instantly killed three nobles in a blur as it shows the astonishing speed on what a Shadow Panther is known for. Sarah immediately screams, whilst Kaiden and the other nobles prepare to fight to the death. A few brave nobles charged at the beast only to be killed easily, Kaiden 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?" Kaiden muttered. As a large beast emerged from the forest, a look of disbelief emerged on Kaiden's face as he saw a believed to be extinct spirit beast a Frost Wyvern!
Normal nobles may fail to recognize the beast in front of them and assume it's a dragon, however, as Kaiden always had an interest in the legends of great cultivators millions of years ago and he has read through many books in the academy's 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 an 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 sees one in front of him!
The Shadow Panther turns its 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 its 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 defence, 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 hit by the spike of the tail crashing to the ground.
As it's 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 cold sensation throughout its body. It directs some Qi to suppress the poison, but it Qi is rapidly draining!
A terrified expression emerged in its eyes at its attempts to flee however, as it's about to run a claw pierced through its heart.
The last thought on its mind being of pure terror.
Kaiden 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 Kaiden with a curious expression, this was the most bizarre thing which happened in his life.
The remaining nobles hurriedly left Devil Peak quickly returning towards their clans rushing to report the news towards their clan heads as soon as possible.
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 hasn't mattered 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 at 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 heaven ranked cultivation method thus making the impossible possible! With these thoughts emerging in her mind, she has decided to finally break through into Qi Circulation realm.
Whilst these thoughts continually raged in Dana's mind, she didn't realize that she has caused a huge problem looming over her shoulders with most of the individuals being nobles 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.
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